Prior to reading Harrington on Holdem, the only real no-limit strategy I had read was Doyle Brunsons Sypersystem 1 and Super System 2 No limit section. Sure, I read all the pot odds stuff and everything by Sklansky etc, and knew when I was probably ahead, and what I likely wasnt, but I would say I was playing a Semi-Tight/aggressive game. Playing position was a big part of my game, as was reading the players.

For example, in the past, I'd raise A-9 in mid-late position, but I also knew that if re-raised, I needed to be aware of better kickers, and play post flop accordingly. Now, I'm laying A-9 down, and even A-T, which I used to love playing aggressively from any position. It's almost as if I've forgotten how to play these.

Supposedly, tight is better, but since I've read/re-read Harrington on Holdem, I have moneyed in one tournament, compared to a >50% ITM rate prior to reading it. I'm not seeing enough flops, and for the past few years, I had played a style in which I saw 25-30% flops. Seems high yes, but it worked for me, my post flop play was where I was good. I was definitely not a great player, but damn, I really suck now. I'm finding myself to be playing Ultra-Tight/Aggressive, not able to build any chips, and then getting run over in the later stages by bigger stacks. When you play as tight as Harrington says to, people generally fold when you raise. You occasionally limp, but people know what you are playing, and it kills you. It's too predictable. You don;t get paid on your big hands, and get run over if the flop is lower cards. If the flop comes 2-9-7, and you bet into it, people will know you're not holding 2 pair. Your only holding's may be pocket 9's or 7s. They know what range you are holding, and that puts you at a disadvantage. Heck, the old me would play 9-7 from late position. Yeah, I'm throwing it away if the flop doesn't hit me, but when it does, I'm making a killing, and no-one can put me on that hand.

To be honest, I don't even remember my old style of play. Now I find if I try to see too many flops, I don't know what to do post flop, Harrington on Holdem is always lingering in the back of my head saying fold... fold... fold.

Example, yesterday, I'm on the button with Q-4. I think the old me would raise this pre-flop to steal the blinds so I try it. SB Calls, oh well, UTG calls, and now all of a sudden, I have doubts. The old player in me would have been, oh well, you can lay it down, there are other hands. But, when you are seeing only 15% of the flops, there are not that many hands, you are limited to the very few hands that Harrington on Holdem says you should play. Flop come x-k-q. SB Checks, UTG bets about 1/3 pot. I am about to fold this hand. Q-4 is trash. Harrington on Holdem says fold... fold... fold. Someone has a King. Fold... fold fold. But, some of the old player is still there; the old player would have raised to see where I was at. Instead I smooth call. SB Calls. I have no clue where I am bad play. Turn is another Q. the Harrington on Holdem in me is now putting at least one of the other players on A-Q, K-Q. SB Bets 1/2 the pot, UTG Calls, I call just incase I am ahead. Turn is a rag. Checks to me, I check thinking I'm going to get trapped if I bet. My trip queens win. The other players had nothing, yet I was unable to see the weakness. Wow. I should have won this on the flop. Sure, I won more money by calling it down, but that is only because I was lucky to get the queen. I should have represented the King strongly after the flop. It would be better to win the pot right there.

Prior to my newfound knowledge from Harrington, I was winning 30-40% of hands I played either post flop or turn. Now, I am winning <20%, and too many are heading to a showdown. Thing is, on most those 30-40% of hands I won, I was ahead in most of them, showdowns were rare, and when I was in a showdown, I was ahead. I was winning 80% of my showdowns, if not more. So if Im seeing 30% of flops, and winning 30% of the flops I see, Im doing pretty well. Now Im seeing 15% of the flops, and winning very few of them, Im just not building my stack to where it needs to be to money in tournaments.

That is why Negreanu and Ivey are such good players. They dont play proper poker.

Right now I'm re-reading Harrington on Holdem 2, so I should become an even worse player after that.

There is a big game towards the end of September; $300 buy-in and ~$10,000 prize pool. If my game is not better by then, I am in deep trouble.

Source: I'm all in....