What Can You Learn From Watching Others Play Poker?

As a species, humans learn a lot by watching. Yes, there’s huge value in the “do” aspect of picking up a new skill, but we’re also keen to learn by example, to take on new skills by seeing how others do them. That applies to a lot of things, but can it also apply to poker? Can you become good at this game just by watching other folks play?

Is Poker Spectating Worthwhile?

The answer is, to an extent, it depends. You can definitely get good at poker by watching, but only if you’re paying close attention and dissecting moves in your mind to figure out what’s being done and why.

Let’s say you’re keen to learn about Texas Holdem real money poker rounds. You can join these rounds yourself or you can watch somebody else playing. There are pros and cons to both options, depending on what kind of learner you are.

The advantages of playing yourself are pretty obvious. You get hands-on experience and immediate feedback on your approach. You get to try things for yourself. You get to see what works and what doesn’t. You can experiment, play at your own pace, take your time, and - in the right setup - ask other players about their moves and why they’re making them.

So why would anybody want to watch someone play Texas Holdem real money poker instead? Well, the benefits are significant. Firstly, you’ll see approaches and tactics that might never occur to you, especially as a beginner. You’ll get to watch how they handle tricky situations, bad hands, physical tells, and more.

If you’re watching someone who’s good - and they probably are if they’re filming it - that’s all amazing news for your own learning curve. It’s easy to get stuck in a bit of a rut when you’re a beginner, not knowing how to get above your current level of play and move to the next one. Watching somebody else and seeing how they handle the challenges and opportunities of this game can make a huge difference.

Plus, there are some people who specifically specialize in teaching others this game. Check out this video on how to learn poker fast to see what we mean.

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When you watch people like this, you’re being deliberately guided through the challenges and pitfalls new players commonly face, and getting a boost toward better gameplay and more satisfying rounds. You’ll learn techniques that it might otherwise take years to come across and master. In short, there’s a lot to be gained from taking in tutorial material.

What’s The Best Learning Method?

If your goal is simply to get as good as possible as fast as possible, what approach should you pick? Well, there’s no simple answer to that. Some people learn better by trying things for themselves, while others prefer to watch the experts, analyzing and collating their strategies in a methodical approach that lets them put together their own game style effectively.

Both are valid! Different people have different learning preferences. We’d recommend a combination, though; don’t just hammer away at poker games with no external advice until you get frustrated. Similarly, don’t focus so much on theory that you never handle a game yourself. Mix it up, blend the two techniques. When you see an expert do something cool in their game, have a crack at it yourself the next day. When you get frustrated by difficult hand setups in your matches, watch how a pro approaches such moments.

This is generally the best way to get good at poker fast! You should combine this with other techniques, like implementing regular breaks, which can help you learn new skills faster. This 2021 study found that during a rest period, your brain repeats versions of the challenge but much faster, perhaps even 20 times faster. Therefore, a rest to consolidate what you’ve learned is key.

You can combine that with other things, like starting sessions when you are well-rested, hydrated, and focused. Various studies have found that being well-hydrated improves your cognitive abilities, and being just 1 or 2% dehydrated can reduce your performance.

Wrap Up

Overall, then, there’s little question that we’ll pick up useful poker skills when we watch others play - though obviously you want to choose players who are genuinely good at the game, not just those who are charismatic and fun to watch. Get yourself a notebook and keep a log of how they approach situations, good moves they make, and anything that surprises you. If possible, watch more than one player so you can see diversified strategies. Analyze your notes and use them to inform your own game.

When it comes to a complex option like Texas Holdem Poker, you can’t spend too much time learning! There are so many strategy layers to grasp and so many complexities, the more time you spend studying, the better.