Can you stay a good poker player without studying the game?

EarnDAStack · Oct 13, 2025

I think the mentality is kind of antithetical.

Most people aren't going to dedicate a significant amount of time to differentiating themselves from millions of other poker players to then shut it down and rest on their laurels. Poker is so incredibly competitive the people who get that good tend to want more and at least online are playing against players who are working hard to improve everyday so if you don't have the same mentality you're going to end up falling behind.

Obviously there are situations where someone can make a reasonable amount of money (especially if you factor in cost of living or currency arbitrage when playing online) without spending too much time working on their game once they have reached a certain point of skill, but you increase your hourly the easiest by jumping up to the next stake.

EDS

Leandro Moecke · Oct 13, 2025

nabmom said:
Espero que todos concordem que, para ser um jogador de pôquer lucrativo, é preciso estudar o jogo. Isso inclui coisas como analisar mãos, observar jogadores de sucesso e talvez até mesmo receber treinamento. Você acha que existe um ponto em que você poderia ter habilidade suficiente para parar de estudar? Você seria capaz de continuar jogando um bom jogo?

I think that, as in any other profession, if you don't study and don't update yourself, you end up being left behind

Gritz18 · Oct 15, 2025

nabmom said:
Would you be able to continue playing a good game?

I know I'll never get beyond freerolls, so I don't intend to become a successful player.

rsparente · Oct 16, 2025

I don’t think there’s ever a point where you can stop studying. The game keeps evolving, and what worked a year ago might not work today. Even top pros keep reviewing hands and working with solvers or other players. For me, studying isn’t just about fixing leaks, it’s about staying sharp and keeping up with how others are adjusting.

ZenonBR · Oct 16, 2025

nabmom said:
Espero que todos concordem que, para ser um jogador de pôquer lucrativo, é preciso estudar o jogo. Isso inclui coisas como analisar mãos, observar jogadores de sucesso e talvez até mesmo receber treinamento. Você acha que existe um ponto em que você poderia ter habilidade suficiente para parar de estudar? Você seria capaz de continuar jogando um bom jogo?

Well, let me tell you about myself. When I started playing freerolls on CardsChat, I didn't have much knowledge about the game. I didn't understand ranges, positions, or other concepts. For me, what mattered was knowing that AA, KK, QQ, AK, AQ, and AJ were the strongest hands in the game. I had a basic understanding of combinations such as top pair, trique, sequence, flush and I knew a bit about full house. My game was based solely on that.

Even so, I used to win several freerolls here at CC quite often - without even knowing the basics of poker. After some time playing, practicing, taking courses, and studying the game, I learned concepts such as almost never giving limp, 3-bet, squeeze, 3-bet light, theft, suit connectors, and position-based ranges. But when I started to apply all this in practice, I felt that something changed!

The best range hands don't show up as often as before, when I didn't know the basics of poker. The hands also no longer connect with the flop. And for me, that's surprisingly negative — because I studied, I dedicated time and energy to learning what to play, only so that hands like AK, AQ, and AJ would now lose to worse hands. It has been difficult to reach the final tables, even with the best pre-flop equity. In the post-flop, I end up losing to weaker hands very often.

So I honestly don't know what's going on. It seems that all the study and learning has no effect, as high-equity hands continue to be defeated in every tournament. It's rare to achieve anything nowadays with that level of variance, which didn't exist when I started playing. At that time, things seemed much easier, even though I barely knew anything about it game.

So something has really changed drastically in the cards and post-flop, as there's no longer a winning game, and this has made online poker extremely difficult to be profitable in. A shame.

Marcwantstowin · Oct 16, 2025

ZenonBR said:
Well, let me tell you about myself. When I started playing freerolls on CardsChat, I didn't have much knowledge about the game. I didn't understand ranges, positions, or other concepts. For me, what mattered was knowing that AA, KK, QQ, AK, AQ, and AJ were the strongest hands in the game. I had a basic understanding of combinations such as top pair, trique, sequence, flush and I knew a bit about full house. My game was based solely on that.

Even so, I used to win several freerolls here at CC quite often - without even knowing the basics of poker. After some time playing, practicing, taking courses, and studying the game, I learned concepts such as almost never giving limp, 3-bet, squeeze, 3-bet light, theft, suit connectors, and position-based ranges. But when I started to apply all this in practice, I felt that something changed!

The best range hands don't show up as often as before, when I didn't know the basics of poker. The hands also no longer connect with the flop. And for me, that's surprisingly negative — because I studied, I dedicated time and energy to learning what to play, only so that hands like AK, AQ, and AJ would now lose to worse hands. It has been difficult to reach the final tables, even with the best pre-flop equity. In the post-flop, I end up losing to weaker hands very often.

So I honestly don't know what's going on. It seems that all the study and learning has no effect, as high-equity hands continue to be defeated in every tournament. It's rare to achieve anything nowadays with that level of variance, which didn't exist when I started playing. At that time, things seemed much easier, even though I barely knew anything about it game.

So something has really changed drastically in the cards and post-flop, as there's no longer a winning game, and this has made online poker extremely difficult to be profitable in. A shame.

Hi @ZenonBR

I think what you are going through is known as a downward fall, and as you won so many games, knowing the basics of hand ranges, the poker gods are looking at you and taking things away. It may also be that now you have learned some of the concepts around poker, you are now more aware of the dangers, and this has made you play differently.

Variance is a thing that can affect all our games; however, there is no specific timeline of how long it will last.

My suggestion is patience (no, not the card game version). You will come through it, and when you do, make the most of it.

Good luck

Marc

P.s. To answer this thread, you cannot improve your game without reviewing your play and taking note of any new "ideas" that surround the game.

There is one other consideration, which is sometimes lost in this thread and on the forum. "Are they good players in the 1st place?" I doubt it, based on my experiences.

bremp555 · Oct 17, 2025

I think you can only stop studying and still win if you keep playing at very low stakes. The higher you go, the faster the game evolves and players get way too good. If you don’t keep up, you’ll just fall behind.

At the micros, though, you can probably rely on solid fundamentals and experience to stay profitable for a long time, but once you move up, studying isn’t optional anymore, it’s part of surviving.

BetterThanAvgButNotByMuch · Oct 17, 2025

It depends on the person's skill level and the ppl they're playing. People that have already put in the time to work on their game and have a clue what they're doing don't have to study to beat the folks below them.

Its like any other skill, once you have it, then its yours.

The problem is, most players can't recognize how good or bad they really are at a game as things like their egos, ignorance of the game or one the many illusions of poker fools them to believe something other then reality.

So nope, once you get to a certain level, and can accurately recognize players below their skill level then they don't have to study.

RDews · Oct 17, 2025

Skill comes from experience first IMO. Study only when you think theres a gap.

margmilo44 · Oct 21, 2025

if you're not up to date your behind. if you don't know the current strats you can't counter them!

s0ftdumps · Oct 21, 2025

nabmom said:
I hope everyone agrees that in order to be a profitable poker player, you need to study the game. This includes things like doing hand reviews, watching successful players, and maybe even getting coaching. Do you think there is a point where you could have enough skill to stop studying? Would you be able to continue playing a good game?

The best players never really stop learning because there is always something new to understand, whether it is population tendencies, solver outputs, or simply how people adjust at different stakes.

Even if someone reaches a high level of skill, I do not think there is ever a point where studying becomes unnecessary. Once you stop learning, your edge starts to fade without you even realizing it. Studying keeps your mind sharp and helps you adapt to new strategies, new player pools, and changing game dynamics. It also keeps your confidence steady, because you know you are staying up to date with how the game is being played at the highest levels.

That being said, the balance between study and play depends on the person. Some players learn best through experience and analysis of their own sessions, while others benefit more from structured study or coaching. The most successful players I have seen usually combine both. They keep playing, but they also take the time to review mistakes, study theory, and experiment with adjustments.

Dmitriy_rus7 · Oct 21, 2025

I think it's possible. Just like adaptation always happens to each new table for each player.

Iryna Stryzheuskaya · Oct 21, 2025

I think learning something is always useful. The brain must work, otherwise you yourself will not notice how you begin to degrade.

NDim · Oct 21, 2025

I think freerolls can be played for fun at any level, but playing professionally requires training.

gustavofuentes2 · Oct 21, 2025

I think yes. You most know your game and stay true to it. Stay with what works for you and disregard the rest. Good luck at the tables

Chebchoub · Oct 21, 2025

I definitely agree with you, however, a player who is not interested in poker schools and learning it in the correct and optimal way may be able to win first place or a decent place from time to time, and this is what happens with most players who are more interested and follow poker study and learning methods.

nabmom said:
I hope everyone agrees that in order to be a profitable poker player, you need to study the game. This includes things like doing hand reviews, watching successful players, and maybe even getting coaching. Do you think there is a point where you could have enough skill to stop studying? Would you be able to continue playing a good game?

I believe the method and duration of mastering poker varies from person to person, depending on intelligence, practice, and the level of their ability to observe, focus, be patient, and choose the right game and time.
I believe that intelligence is inseparable from talent.
Good luck to all

lulu pk · Oct 21, 2025

Yes, studying is essential at the beginning,without it, you're just a gambler. But after a few years, in my opinion, skill and experience become the most important.

finaltable1 · Oct 21, 2025

Yes!
I know such players, there are a lot of them in the local casino, I think their skills would be useless in online poker, but they play great in live cash games.
One lady surprised me, she has no idea what UTG, VPiP etc is. BUT she worked about 30 years as hiring manager for different companies. She's an incredibly good psychologist. Most of her poker decisions are not based on the runouts, odds, ranges and other complex poker related things. She looks at you while you play and you need to be able to hide your body language because if you don't know how to do this, then without saying a word you will simply tell her whether you have a good hand or you are bluffing. It will be even worse if you answer her questions or start talking to her during the hand.

Few other casino regulars do the same: they know the basic rules of poker, they don't care about solvers, your past results, they don't care about the cards at all, I don't think they care much about the money because they're playing with you.

dibroff777 · Oct 22, 2025

In my opinion, every table makes adjustments to your game, somewhere you play with aggressive players, somewhere with passive players, and you constantly have to adapt to the game, sometimes you come out, sometimes you don't, and this is constant self-development.

scobido · Oct 23, 2025

As long as you have balance in the game and play small stakes, I think you can become a good player, of course patience and the more games that mean practice, will make you better and better.

martinoni · Oct 23, 2025

I think yes because I am an example in this situation

Spielkind · Oct 23, 2025

you should never stop to learn and have Expereance live and online. your decision is to go way of MTT or Cashgame. Good Luck

Argonaut · Oct 24, 2025

I am generally happy being a receational player at best, and I mostly play for fun. But I do enjoy playing well, and sometimes go back and listen to one of the CC tutorials read a section from a poker book. I almost always learn, or re-learn, something that seems helpful for my game.

nabmom · Oct 24, 2025

martinoni said:
I think yes because I am an example in this situation

I’m curious if this means you think you don’t have anything more to learn about playing your game.

nabmom · Oct 24, 2025

RyanGpokrDotCom said:
Skill comes from experience first IMO. Study only when you think theres a gap.

How would you address the catch that I think is inherent in this: How do you know what your gaps are of you aren’t studying your game?

Can you stay a good poker player without studying the game?

EarnDAStack

Visionary

Leandro Moecke

Rock Star

Gritz18

Legend

rsparente

Rock Star

ZenonBR

Legend

Marcwantstowin

Member of the T.S.T

bremp555

Rock Star

BetterThanAvgButNotByMuch

Visionary

RDews

Rising Star

margmilo44

Rock Star

s0ftdumps

Visionary

Dmitriy_rus7

Legend

Iryna Stryzheuskaya

Legend

NDim

Rock Star

gustavofuentes2

Visionary

Chebchoub

Poker is one of life's mysteries

lulu pk

Legend

finaltable1

Legend

dibroff777

Enthusiast

scobido

Visionary

martinoni

Rock Star

Spielkind

Visionary

Argonaut

Legend

nabmom

Community Guide

nabmom

Community Guide

About CardsChat

Our Community

Our Site