I’ve thought about my play a lot recently and one interesting trend has developed. I seem to be playing the opposite of what I suggest people do. This isn’t intentional by any means, but I thought it was kind of funny and further goes to show that poker isn’t nearly as black and white as people make it out to be.

 

I typically advise players to play position and keep their patience in cash games and play very aggressively and pick their spots in tournament play. However, lately I’ve noticed that I don’t really mind playing out of position and fast in cash games and I usually play a very passive tournament style, waiting for people to make mistakes rather than putting them to tough decisions.

 

Maybe I’m not playing optimally right now, or maybe I’m just becoming more comfortable with new situations that I wouldn’t otherwise have put myself in earlier in my career. Possibly it’s a desire to beat the game from all different angles. Whatever it is, I can’t help but wonder if I should return to the basics, or if I’ve stumbled on a new style that will later become the norm, just as the hyper-aggressive re-raising and squeeze plays eventually caught on.

 

It almost seems circular in how the game seems to evolve. Assume for the moment that players have evolved what they feel is a winning strategy, playing solid, tight, ABC poker. Then a few “pioneers” come along and start running over the tables and creating havoc, getting people to start making marginal calls against them (after all, they usually have nothing, right?). A few of the grinders see how effective this style is and give it a try and eventually come up with some creative plays, maybe a squeeze play or two, and before you know it, the norm is now everyone bullying, fast playing, and pushing their draws heavily. It gets to the point where now a few players feel like if they slow down just a bit, they might be able to trap the maniacs for a few buy-ins. Now the so called pioneers are the ones who have now adapted their style back to the basics and are just playing their cards… hence the cycle repeating itself.

 

Personally, I’m always looking for new and creative ways to play hands – mostly to educate myself so that I’ll have the proper tools to counter whatever style I see someone falling into.

 

One thing that I have noticed recently is that I don’t switch my style up nearly as much as I used to and I think my play has become a little predictable at the live scene. In Australia, expect to see more angles and a completely different player, not the same tight, boring player that I feel I’ve evolved into. Most people need to go back to the basics and quit bluffing; I think that I need to go back to the maniac I once was – not afraid to get it all-in drawing dead or looking like an idiot.

 

I almost equate it to an undefeated fighter who only cares about the record rather than what made him love the sport to begin with. The competition. Maybe he ekes out the win, but the love for the game is no longer there.

 

No matter what happens when the scorecards are in, for 2008, I'd like to wish you guys health, happiness, and a little luck, both on the table and away. Merry Christmas and happy New Year! Paul