Are you a Level 1, 2 or 3 studier? Maybe Level ZERO?

Most poker players think they’re studying the game… but they’re barely scratching the surface.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the 5 Levels of Poker Study so you can find out where you stand and how to level up.

If you can make it to Level 3 and stay there, you’ll smash 97% of your competition.

Watch this episode #547 on YouTube:

Listen to the podcast as you follow along below:

Level 1: Study and Practice

At the most basic level, you just need to study something, take notes on it, and then practice what you learned. It could be as simple as receiving an email from my newsletter where I teach you one simple thing.

For example, maybe I teach you that the best flops to bluff on are super dry and hard-to-hit.

Now that you’ve learned that, apply what you learned in-game. Open a couple of tables and try to bluff on every super dry and hard-to-hit flop.

Even if you only studied at this level for the rest of your poker journey, you’d still do better than 90%+ of your opponents. Most of them just watch videos or listen to podcasts. They don’t actively practice what they learn.

Level 2: Study and Practice, Then Review

Now we add hand history reviews. This means active review and analysis of hands related to the strategy you’re working on.

So, you’re practicing bluffing on super dry and hard-to-hit boards. Go through your database and find 50 recent cbet bluffs. Review each of those flop textures.

• Were they all dry and hard to hit?
• How often did your bluffs work on those boards?
• How often did you try bluffing on wet flops, and how often was that successful?

Use Flopzilla Pro to analyze flop textures. Try to find the driest flops for the best bluffs, and the wettest flops to minimize bluffing.

After review and analysis, apply new insights in another play session.

As a Level 2 studier, you’ll do better than 95%+ of your opponents. Most of them, even if they have PokerTracker 4, don’t review hands.

Level 3: Get the Most from a Course or Book with Level 2 Determination

Most of us don’t get everything we can from a course, a training site like www.thepokerforge.com or a poker book. We’ll binge the course or book, without practicing anything.

Don’t binge! Approach every book or course with Level 2 determination.

How this works:

Course:

Start with video #1. Watch and learn something, note it in your poker journal, stop the video, and practice it. Keep your journal open as you play to add new notes and to reference what you’ve written.

Sometimes a 30-minute video can take 5 or 6 days to finish. That’s great… time well spent as long as you’re practicing and reviewing.

Keep studying and practicing every day, video after video, until you finish the course.

Book:

Treat each chapter like you would a video in the course.

Read, learn something and take notes, practice, review. Simple. Chapter by chapter until you finish.

Doing this, you’ll maximize the value from every course or book. And, you’ll outperform more than 97%+ of your opponents.

You’ll Smash 97%+ of ‘Em

If you stay at Level 3 for the rest of your poker journey, you’ll smash ‘em all!

You’ll be ahead of 97%+ of players.

Level 4: Study GTO

Level 4 is taking Level 3 determination and applying it to GTO. GTO is Game Theory Optimal, and it’s a strategy focused on making mathematically sound decisions that are difficult for opponents to exploit.

GTO software like GTO+ and GTO Wizard makes this study possible. These programs help you study scenarios, ranges and give detailed responses for every hand in your range.

Both players know everything about each other’s strategy, so neither can fully exploit the other. It’s balanced and unexploitable, but difficult to implement in real games.

With GTO study it’s key to constantly ask, “Why?”

Maybe it tells you to cbet bluff with A♠x 20% more often than non- A♠x hands on a spade-spade-heart board. “Why?” What does the spade matter? What about K♠x or Q♠x?

Asking “Why?” forces critical thought into your studies, leading to new insights and better strategies.

You’re still applying Level 3 studies to GTO. So, take notes, practice what you learn and analyze related hands.

Level 5: Get a Coach

The final level of study is hiring a coach.

A coach can spot your leaks and give specific strategies to fix them. They understand the stakes and the player pool you face. They’ve coached dozens or hundreds of students and have helped them overcome the same issues you’re facing.

It’s easier to take action and improve with a coach giving targeted feedback than trying to figure it all out yourself.

If you’re studying at Level 3, you’ll benefit greatly from a coach. But if you’re still at Level 1, take your studies more seriously before investing in coaching. A coach expects you to put in the time, to practice what you’re taught and review tons of hands. If you’re not already at Level 3, focus on getting their first before coaching.

Enjoyment of Study

This is the final and maybe most important aspect of study: enjoying it.

Enjoyment fuels consistency and growth.

• The more you study, the better you get.
• The better you get, the better the results.
• The better the results, the more you want to study.

So starting today, build a study habit that supports long-term success.

Studying is a beneficial cycle that only serves to make you a greater force to be reckoned with.

Take Action

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What level studier are you?

If you can reach Level 3, you’ll outperform more than 97% of your opponents.

So, strive to become at least a Level 3 studier. It’s going to take time, but it will be well worth it. Keep climbing from there.

Your poker future depends on the study you do today.