What is it with ordinary people?

I don't want you to be thrown off by the title of this post, but Ordinary people here can be anyone and some of them are by far not ordinary. You will understand what I am getting to.


What is it with people that don't understand that Poker is not completely a game of luck. Yes luck takes it's toll here and there, but what about the people that you talk to. I for instance try to explain to my very good friends that Poker is infact not a game of luck and it is much so a game of skill. Then we start talking about Casino gambling I tell them how the Casino has the advantage in all the table games. They proceed to tell me, "ohh well one time, I saw this guy play and he was hitting the whole night. The trick really is Mikey, that you have to find the right dealer."

I tell them the odds, the probablities, position at the table, the odds compared to pot odds but that stuff just doesn't click. They just look at it as a game of luck and gamble. I sit there and laugh to myself, when someone tells me that they can have the best of it when playing Roulette-and they tell me Poker is a game of all luck. TRUE, Poker can be a game of luck if you weren't allowed to fold!! But you are allowed to fold. Anyhow you guys get the picture.


By the way, it's pathetic and so irritating that these people don't see Poker the same way I see it.


What I ask of you is this? What I can I say in a short phrase that will get them to think that Poker is not a game of luck that an ordinary person will understand.

its a game of luck with an element of skill. they wont understand the 'long run' so sont waste your breath on that... /images/wink.gif


"I tell them how the Casino has the advantage in all the table games."


being a former BJ player i hate this line. Bj is a highly beatable game if the conditions are right. couldnt help myself...


b

"What can I say in a short phrase that will get them to think that Poker is not a game of luck that an ordinary person will understand."


Nothing.


"By the way, it's pathetic and so irritating that these people don't see Poker the same way I see it."


I agree somewhat, but if they did see it our way, there would be no soft money.


Ryan

it is these ordinary people that allow you to win.


are you trying to get people to think you are smart, or are you trying to win money at poker?

You say: I for instance try to explain to my very good friends that Poker is infact not a game of luck and it is much so a game of skill.


The problem goes both ways. Amateurs and beginners often under-estimate how much skill has an effect on the outcome of a poker game.


However, almost without exception, experienced players completely over-estimate how much the results are determined by skill.


natedogg

nate-web@thegrovers.com

They also over estimate the importance of playing tight. Trust me. looser is better. Play loose Natedogg. Play loose.

Mikey, you ask for a short phrase to convince people that poker is not a game of luck. My short phrase is usually something like "Let's go to the card room and sit at the same table!"


ThePokerDoc

From the movie Havana:

What do you do for a living? I play cards.

Oh your a gambler.

I try to keep the gambling part to a minimum.

And how do you do that?

By being good at it.

Forget looking for a short phrase. Make them watch Rounders. After that, they'll be convinced that there's no luck in poker and that an expert will never lose a session no matter how bad the deck gets.

But then when you come home from a losing session, they will send you to Gamblers Anonymous. I can't tell you how many of my friends have decided that I have a "gambling problem" since I started playing poker.

When they say poker is a game of luck, ask them "How much do you want to bet".

To very loosely paraphrase the movie 'Rounders'--God help me--"Why do you think the same people keep placing at the WSOP year after year? It's a skill game."

He asked why the same players keep making it to the final table year after year, and said "what are these the luckiest guys in the world?" Too bad that isn't true.

It's important to let people know that that even though poker is a game of skill, there is still a *large* element of luck involved.


When I leave the office in the evening my colleagues often ask if I'm playing poker tat night. If I tell them "yes" then I know that their first question in the morning will be "Did you win last night?"


I have trouble convincing them that poker (especially tournaments) are not that kind of game.

Which golfer was it who replied to a comment of "You're a very lucky player aren't you?" with the witty retort "Yes, and the more I practice, the luckier I get." ?

Yes exactly, or they ask, "how much did you win?"

You know what I get upset about too, is that when you win, they feel that because you have gambled and won money they expect something from you.

I think it was Gary Player

I've really changed my game lately to loosen up considerably! You should have seen the hands I played last week in the no limit game.


I played AK in early position! I played QJs on the button! I played 55 in the blinds for a small raise! It was amazing. Now I know what it feels like to be a maniac.


natedogg

nate-web@thegrovers.com

Why is this a problem? Who cares what ordinary people think?


If you are playing poker to make money let the world think it is pure luck.


If you are playing poker to show people and yourself how smart you are the bad beats are going to drive you crazy (or at least piss you off and make you go on tilt)

I'm sorry, i can't stand a poorly reconjured line from a movie. The line is: "Why do you think the same 5 guys make it to the final table at the world series of poker EVERY YEAR? What are they, the luckiest guys in Los Vegas?"

"Ordinary people" don't really care. They may be mildly interested (as in conversation) but they don't care enough to look into it, study it, etc.

I warned you, it was "very loosely paraphrased"!!! lol ty for the exact wording.

Ask them how many professional roulette players they can find. Ask them how many professional slot players they can find. Ask them how many professional baccarat players they can find. Ask them to find ANY professional lottery players.


Then proceed to name the thousands of people who make their (modest or luxurious) living at the poker table. One cannot be a "pro" at a game of dumb luck, yet professional poker players abound.


The Falcon

I must agree; I have made some good customers from using this same strategy.