The answer is definitely, yes! One thing I see when I play poker tournaments is a lot of people staring at their cell phones between hands. Thatâs not the best use of their time at the table.
When I used to play professionally, I picked up a lot of information from people. I don't mean just things like physical tells, but betting patterns, how people react while playing a hand, how they act before the flop, or even when they don't want to play a hand. It's a ton of information that helps to keep my mind sharp by staying in the action.
If I'm on my phone, I'm thinking about something other than poker. And then, when I suddenly get a playable hand and start to think about how to play the hand, thatâs very difficult for me. It's much easier to stay engaged in the game's flow.
What I like to do, even when I'm not in the hand, is picture myself in one thatâs being played. I ask questions to myself. What would I do if I had that hand? What would I do with the opponentâs holding? Then, I compare that with the actual result of what people are actually doing.
That approach at the table gives me so much insight into how people think about the game. That allows me to internalize it and assign levels for people. I think, âOK. This person thinks on a very high level. This other person thinks on a slightly lower level. Seat four thinks at a medium level. The person across from me is a pure recreational player.
I'll adjust my strategy by doing this work at the tables. I wouldn't have any of that knowledge about my opponents if I were on my phone the whole time.
