Team competitions as a tool to improve the quality of your own game

Replay Poker Poker Discussion
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Have you ever considered team games as a poker improvement tool? If not, I suggest we do it right now.

Let’s look at the advantages of playing as a team.

1. New acquaintances and gaining experience.
By joining the team, we get to know other players, share experiences, find like-minded people, and broaden our horizons.

2. Responsible play.
You may not have noticed, but there is a huge difference between when we play only for ourselves and when we play for the overall result of the team. In the second case, we are responsible for the team result. This forces us to think differently, to make unusual, new decisions for us, to be more flexible or more careful, perhaps to step out of our comfort zone. All this helps us to look at our own game and, perhaps, find a new style of play for ourselves, having discovered our own mistakes

3. Support.
Team play brings players together and supports each other during tournaments, which has a beneficial effect on the player. It’s much easier for you to get over a tilt when you have the support of your teammates - especially if you tend to tilt.

4. Game analysis.
When playing in a team, you regularly analyze your own game, as well as the game of your teammates - this is very effective, because you discuss it with those who are primarily interested in your success. You are involved in the same process.

5. Fun.
After all, playing in a team is much more fun. We have a great time and it has a beneficial effect on our spiritual state - another important factor for improving the quality of the game.

There was a great team event here in the community - RTC. The CardsChat community also regularly hosts team games. These events really help us move forward in our poker journey.

If you haven’t participated in team events yet, you should definitely try it, because it’s an incredible experience that every player needs.

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I do agree that team games are one of the greatest assets in the community and am full of admiration for the players who give so much time organising them.
However, the advent of the monthly Marathon games organised by Chasetheriver has also created a unique atmosphere and have become almost like an ongoing team competition, with the great advantage that games run every three hours and it is always possible to find games in your time zone which are convenient and you do not actually feel under pressure to play, as you do not let any teams down by not turning up.
They have certainly helped my game, and I am learning patience, something I have always had difficulty acquiring!
I hope both the regular team leagues and the Marathon continue to have such great support.

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This is certainly a one way to look at it.
Although, having the peer pressure element involved we might shy away from situations that otherwise could have been lucrative.
In general it is just hard to view poker as a group “sport”.

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I agree with the original poster. Team poker is hard to get used to and yes you have to lay down monster hands to hook your teammates up occasionally, but I think it is a blast.

There are many different types of team leagues. Leagues like Barnyard Muckers or the Replay Team Challenge where there are three games and one player from each team play so still playing solo but scoring as a team. Leagues like Lighting Pairs 4 teams four tables 2 teammate per table and team play is allowed or Dream Weavers where there is one game and four teams and the top 18 score points for their team and of course team play is allowed. Team play does tend to emphasize learning to read both your opponents and teammates hands, Most beginners tend to focus on their hand team play forces you to go a level deeper think alot more about what their hands are and what you think they think your hand is. That also helps you learn good spots to bluff to help out your teamates and yourself.

But most importantly, the team league that I am a part of have a fun and friendly vibe as well as being competitive. It is social poker at its best. Plus it is fun to win as a team is a game that is normal one player vs the world. Who wins is replaced by which team wins. Having a multi way blind all in with your teammates at the final table to celebrate a team win is awesome.

So I’d highly recommend joining a team play league that fits you playing preferences and your schedule. And I’d say it has without a doubt improved my game.

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Hi G :stuck_out_tongue:
Do you think this thread might be more appropriate in the “Poker Discussion” sub-forum?

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I really appreciate the enthusiastic way you are “selling” this idea that team games can offer an invaluable mix of learning, support, and a fresh perspective on your own play. The benefits are clear: you get to network, share insights, and even push yourself out of your comfort zone because you’re accountable not just to yourself, but to the entire team. It’s like having a built-in support system when the poker table gets too intense.

That said, it’s not all good in the long run since poker is an individual game most of the time. Relying too much on team dynamics might sometimes lead to groupthink or even a bit of friction over strategic decisions. And if you’re someone who already battles with tilting, the added pressure of not wanting to let down your teammates might just crank that pressure up to a whole new level.

In short, while the team approach can transform your game with fresh insights and shared responsibility, it’s important to keep a balance between collaboration and maintaining your own unique style.

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I played for team poker for two games the second game I couldn’t last they have a whole hierarchy and it’s a bunch of bull. They could take their game and shove it somewhere else. All I did was comment on how a hand was marginal and they went off on me like I had denounced Christ the savior. Stay away from team party Poker if you wanna join a league there are many others out there that are way better. I am on five of them.

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Yeah . These are good reasons to join a team , and that way your game will be improved significantly , learn new strategies , new tricks , better shove fold decisions . But on the contrary , if you play all together for a poker game , then you need to have a certain skill level , or else you will be the plumb for the team , keeping them out of good results . But if we are talking only for a study group , of course the answer is always yes , I think then you will only get benefitted byt studying all together the game .

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I never thought about team play for poker improvement, but it makes sense!
Learning from others and getting support during tough spots could really help.
I will definetly give it a shot!

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Hi and thanks for this interesting topic. I completely agree to ur points, maybe I agree also to sone of the negative aspects but in general I think the benefits do overweight the negatives.

Must be nice to be in a big stable and work as a team.

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Thanks for the topic, Masha! I agree that team poker can be helpful for your game. I definitely try to play tighter and more responsibly when I am in a team event. When I am just playing for myself, it is a lot easier to make hero calls or stubbornly stay in the hand hoping to hit my outs. I do like being able to share hands and get feedback from my team mates.

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team game has really improved my game on replay… as your team really will count one you to show up and help all team mates to make it to the points… some teams only allow 6 players per game… like the barn yard muckers… and some teams will allow up to 25 players per team. i fell the privet invite league games are the best…

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as a side note to the original post… i was playing American games open invite games on replay and was doing well… I was invited to play inn dream weavers … privet invite league… I played there for close to 4 years… took a break… and started playing open invite American games… and won … mt 1st … MMT game and opens 2 … award’s… i do fell that team poker made be a better player…

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Team play is a lot of fun, particularly if you enjoy the social aspect. It can also be appealing as a unique variant with its own set of strategies.

That said, I tend to disagree with claims that you can improve your “regular poker” game by playing team poker. I suppose in the sense that any poker game could create transferrable skills, this might be true. But the dynamics are completely different.

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So, I read all the comments: I waited a bit to see the general mood about this topic, and it’s really cool that basically everyone sees something positive in this idea. To be fair, I also see the disadvantages that the authors mentioned, but I see more advantages if we keep a balance between playing as a team and playing alone.

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