A little off topic but can anyone explain to me how these top players are so consistent? I've played a little poker, even won a local tournament a few years back. It was about 100 hundred players but the hundred dollar entry fee went mostly to charity. I think I walked with around 2 grand. I definitely got lucky during that tournament but felt like I played well.
All that being said I can't play online poker for crap. I've heard people throw around terms like "feel" players and "math" players and was wondering if most of these top pros are game theory and math nerds.
The best players have several things going for them that most recreational players don't. Top among these are:
1. They have experience. They have played a LOT of hands and a lot of tournaments. Top players know that you need to play different ways in different parts of a tournament. Inexperienced players typically just play their way, with no thought to the cycle of a tourney. In non-tourney play, better players will mix up their styles of play while most lesser players are consistent in how they play.
2. They know the odds -- both pot odds and odds of their "outs" hitting. If you don't know the odds of your hand winning at any point in a hand, you are at a disadvantage. Also, if you don't understand how the size of the pot should influence your bet, call or raise, you are at a disadvantage. Professionals know their odds and play them accordingly. IMO, this is the most important aspect of becoming a good player.
3. They have good intuition and can read other players. This comes with experience, but the best players in the world have a "knack" for this aspect of the game. You can win money at poker if you have experience, know your odds, and simply play the cards. But the best players have experience, know their odds and play the other players.
As for Helmuth, I can relate to what makes him go off at times. When a donk is in a hand that s/he has no reason to be in and hits, it freaking hurts. Especially when you have read them perfectly, taken your time to set them up perfectly, and then get beat due to simple stupid luck -- it hurts. I like watching him go off on a poor player simply because I would want to but wouldn't in the same situation.