Playing against people who “don’t play properly”!

I’ll start this post by saying that I am very new to poker and not yet a winning player.

But I would just like some feedback on the way that I am thinking about poker.


I have read many posts on 2+2 to the effect of “you can’t beat the nano / micro limits because people don’t play like they should “

To me, this is a NONSENSE. For two reasons:

1) They are implying that you can’t beat them because they aren’t playing in a predictable manner

And MUCH more importantly


2) They seem to be missing the concept of winning long term. The simple concept is making each decision when you have +EV. If you take this as the starting point (and IF you can achieve this) then it is IMPOSSIBLE to lose over the long run? Sure, you will get drawn out on more, BUT if you are getting the correct odds to play- the higher amount of people calling you down will mean that the rewards (when you do take the pots) will more than offset the losses?


Sorry if this is really obvious to some. And I don’t claim I can even beat the nano’s at the moment- but I just want to check that my line of thought is correct?

So in short, my understanding is that:

ALL games at ALL levels are beatable, IF you understand the fundamentals of how the money is gained.


Different games / limits will require different strategies, BUT the fundamental principle that guides those decisions does not change in any shape or form.


Some people use the “you can’t beat the nano / micro limits because people don’t play like they should” excuse because they don’t really understand the PRINCIPLE behind it all- and have just learned ABC from a book.


Let me put this to the forum: If you put the same argument into the context of Blackjack, SURELY every casino in Vegas would ONLY allow you to play the game if you could DEMONSTRATE that you can “play properly”!!!! Daft play doesn’t effect their “edge”. I know it’s not a DIRECT comparison because their edge is (virtually) fixed at a set rate, as opposed to poker where your edge is dynamic depending on the decisions you make. But the principle is surely the same- IF you have an edge, it doesn’t matter how you opponents play- you will profit long term.

I’m going to keep learning and grinding away at the 0.02/0.04 until I’ve cracked it. I appreciate I will have to adjust my play as I move up, but I NEED to KNOW WHY I am adjusting my play.

Sorry to rample!

Regards,
Ian