Re: Terrible Players

I have been playing online for about a year now and have moderate success (this website has already changed my game incredibly in less then a month) So I decided to go to Foxwoods about 3 weeks ago and Atlantic city 2 weeks later. I played 4-8 limit and jumped up to 5-10 at one point in AC. I was baffled at how bad the players were. I know these limits are somewhat low stakes but really could not believe what I was seeing. Is this a common trait? Are online players (such at Stars) that much better? When everyone talks about how the poker boom will eventually even out, I agree that some players will get better over time, but some of the people I watched and played against have no concept or approach to what they are doing. I guess my question is are these players going to get better in 5 years? Are they going to learn theory, odds, hand selections etc? You would think that with poker getting as popular as it is more people would know what they are doing.

[AKQJ10]

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Are online players (such at Stars) that much better?

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Long story short: yes.

Brick-and-mortar players tend to fall more into the "tourist" category, even if they go to the cardroom regularly. The attitude is, "I'm out for a night on the town, so damned if I'm going to sit here folding every hand for two hours." Some probably fool themselves into believing they're winning. Some probably know they're losing but consider it entertainment expenditure.

But be warned: while a game like Foxwoods $4/8 is extremely beatable, it also is higher-variance than you might be used to. Don't panic if you have a -50 to -75 BB session.

yah I'm def prepared for that variance, I guess I thought casino players really would be that much better.

Thats exactly how they looked at it like playing a slot or black jack. When you check raise them on the River, and they they call, and lose, they look at you and say "Hey nice hand, you got me" lol

[cgwahl]

I was still learning to play 5c/10c and got invited to play live at a local card room.

We only played $1/$2 and I could not believe this people were looser with dollars than the people online were with pennies.

One lady sat down while waiting for a $2/$4 game only to play every hand for 30 minutes before she got called to play! I wanted to follow her but I know I am not ready for it...heck only playing at that time just for a change of pace and to get some experience at live play...

Shocked really.


Few months ago while at a casino I played $4/$8 half kill and they were just as loose, if not looser. It just surprises me so. I can't wait until my roll is big enough to actually play this more often.

Only play 50c/$1 online so it may be a while, but it will be great.

[ZenMusician]

But be warned: while a game like Foxwoods $4/8 is extremely beatable, it also is higher-variance than you might be used to. Don't panic if you have a -50 to -75 BB session.


I Second and Third this post!!

-ZEN

[Pov]

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I was still learning to play 5c/10c and got invited to play live at a local card room.

We only played $1/$2 and I could not believe this people were looser with dollars than the people online were with pennies.

One lady sat down while waiting for a $2/$4 game only to play every hand for 30 minutes before she got called to play! I wanted to follow her but I know I am not ready for it...heck only playing at that time just for a change of pace and to get some experience at live play...

Shocked really.


Few months ago while at a casino I played $4/$8 half kill and they were just as loose, if not looser. It just surprises me so. I can't wait until my roll is big enough to actually play this more often.

Only play 50c/$1 online so it may be a while, but it will be great.

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It can be amazing, but before you get too excited, take a look at the rake you're paying. Most of the time you'll need those players to be that bad, just to barely beat the rake because it is so high percentage-wise to the pot.

I recommend you build your roll until you can play $4/$8 in the B&M. Otherwise you may find yourself losing money and wondering how it is possible against such terrible opponents. But it's not the opponents, it's the $3 or $4 of rake (depending on the room), $1 tip and $1 jackpot drop taken out of every decent pot. Some don't think it can be beaten at $3/$6. I happen to believe it can be, but you really have to put the beat-down on your opponents so you may actually be better off at $4/$8.

That's my .02 BB for you anyway.

good contributions by all..

and i would just underline that people play poker for different reasons..... alot of us what to try to grind out a few BB/100 hand win rate, and some of us laugh at these terrible fish. but then some of those fish are playing strictly for entertainment and would laugh at how pathetic we are trying to grind out some small win rate. (don't get me wrong, i have a good time at B&M even if i lose)..

players at B&M are bad for alot of reasons. but don't forget that online you can multi-table or surf the internet or watch TV while playing so the wait for the big cards isn't that great. but as was mentioned, at B&M most players don't want to fold hands for an hour waiting for something. and for beginners who don't know, you can go a long time between decent cards.

I was on both ends when I was there. I got sucked out on some monsters the first night, and hit all my draws the second night to win a good amount (I think 7-800)so I won about 4-5 hundred. Now have you heard the table talk that goes on at these tables? When a guy wins a hand and explains his rationale? I cannot beleive what I hear. Just got Millers SSHE has this book drastically improved your games? I feel like I'm already thinking about how I play much diffently and things are making more sense (variance, EV etc.)

table talk is hilarious...

and to a certain point, the more the player talks a good game ("i put you on queens", "i was confused by your check on the turn" etc.), the worse their game is... i see this sophisticated talk and then the guy flips his cards and was playing Q8o UTG. i'm like "wow, you don't play like you talk!"