Would you tell someone about 2+2?

[VoxGibson]

I thought about this after being repremanded by a fellow two plus two member about telling someone about the 2+2 forum during a shorthanded game on party. If someone asked you for poker advice, would you inform them of the two plus two forum or the sklansky books?

[emonrad87]

If someone asked me for my advice on an internet table I would tell them to do some googling and read every book they can get their hands on. But because I don't try to create a table image of an exceptional player, I don't see myself ever getting asked this question.

[wrto4556]

First off, your avatar is creepy as hell, emonrad.

Secondly, I never try to better anyone elses game at the table. Why teach someone how to beat you and take your money?

[einbert]

I have told my friends who are serious about poker and who want to become good players about it. However, I would never say "two plus two" or "david sklansky" or anything else dangerous on an internet table. I don't mind my friends improving and becoming better poker players, but I don't want the general poker population to improve. It isn't difficult for someone who wants to learn how to play poker to find out how, with google, twoplustwo, etc. Any player who really wants to conquer the game is probably eventually going to find twoplustwo and their books. On the other hand, mentioning it on an internet table probably wouldn't be devastating, simply because most "fish" don't really try to improve their poker game (afaik)--they see the game as a fun gamble, not an investment or something that can be conquered. I just wouldn't take the risk, though.

[TStoneMBD]

the players who are actually willing to take the time to learn the game deserve to, i dont think its fair of you to withhold information from the small populus of players that fit this category. most people that you link to twoplustwo.com are just going to skim it over and say "nice site." theyll never look at it again. either that or theyll just rant with the leeches in the WPT forum.

[cnfuzzd]

i find it amazing that few of my friends that i tell about this website actually end up making it here, yet they all want me to tell them how to be a good player.

peace

john nickle

[afk]

[ QUOTE ]
i find it amazing that few of my friends that i tell about this website actually end up making it here, yet they all want me to tell them how to be a good player.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. I have a friend who wants to become a good player (at least that was the case when he heard how much money I had made playing micro games). I keep telling him, "2+2! micro forum! sign up! read! post hands!" yet nothing... I've just kinda given up. He's the type of guy who could be a great player if he applied himself. But if he doesn't have the drive then that's ok too.

[TStoneMBD]

same problem

[Mr. Graff]

A friend yes. But you have got to be a complete moron if you tell total strangers at the tables anything that may result in them becoming better players.

I prefer the pool of fish to be as large as possible. I know not everyone feels this way though.

[BarronVangorToth]

You first have to assume that not everyone on this board stumbled here by randomly typing into the address bar on Explorer... Sure, Google, the books, happenstance, fine -- but lots of us are here because of being recommended the site.

I've "played poker" since University but at no real competent level, I've always played a strange tight game, so I managed to be a winning player to the point where I could play for ten hours at a casino and make enough to cover what my gas was. So.... it was a free hobby. Which in and of itself is terrific and I've been blessed in that I know many people lose tons of money in this game and they can't afford to.

End digression.

Anyway, about a year ago I was playing on some 5-10-kill game at Foxwoods with a random group of people, of which was this one guy who was far better than everyone else (me included). I forgot what he won but he won quite a bit AND he wasn't like the other people I had seen who had won a lot via flipping over random nonsense and getting lucky (you know those people who lose $500 five times in a row and then win $1,000 the next time they go).

He picked up and left. Yay! (He was a nice guy and all but you're never upset when the best player at the table leaves.)

Ten minutes later my big blind was coming up and I needed to use the restroom, so I hopped off the table and walked over to the bathroom, and there's the guy, waiting at the cage to cash in his winnings. We make random small talk and he out of nowhere tells me about this site, saying he thinks I could apply some of the stuff from here.

Coincidentally, I think I already had a number of the 2+2 books (untouched or, at the very most, skimmed through with no application).

But a player I saw as a huge step above my game recommended this place.

I owe him a thanks if I ever run into him again.

I avoid strategy like the plague at the table but someone outside of the game if we're talking and I think it's applicable, I have no problem mentioning 2+2 as I think of it as a public service -- and repaying the debt I owe.

Barron Vangor Toth
www.BarronVangorToth.com