Professional players would state that poker is not even gambling. They don’t mean this literally, as clearly the wagering of cash against an outcome that’s beyond the reasonable control of the person is gambling, however what poker players mean is that while they are skilled enough at the game, they can eliminate a lot of the risk that’s a fundamental part of most forms of wagering. In short, they have a distinct advantage by playing poker.
Before you decide to even sit at a poker table, you are able to employ a lot of tactics to give you one advantage.
You’ve got available to you many books and strategy items available both on and offline for learning to play properly. Sklansky, Brunson, and several other well recognized poker players have excellent books available. Besides the card counting Blackjack books, where are you able to get that level of support from every other game? Certainly not Roulette! There’s absolutely no excuse for a ‘novice’ to enter a trusted safe casino not fully prepared for the challenges ahead. The new player may be full of theory (and having practised for relatively small stakes online) be nothing short of fully prepared when they wager their first chip into the live poker pot.
Joining a sizable poker forum can even give you the chance to analyse hands and also have your opinions discussed and debated by more capable players. Don’t be disheartened if you’re mocked or blasted for your ‘bad’ postings on strategy, these people who criticise may indirectly put thousands of dollars into your pocket with their good advice, however direct they may be.
The fact that you’ll be not playing against the house but other players is obviously an enormous advantage. The house edge in casinos is built in to the games and impossible to beat within the long-term. Poker, on the other hand, you are encouraged to win because that both keeps you within the game and maintains the rake (the percentage of the pot the poker room takes out of each pot for hosting the game). If you use the correct quantity of bankroll management and discipline you may win short, medium and long term. Unfortunately many gamblers by nature are not disciplined, and don’t exercise sensible practices when betting, but as a great poker player you may take advantage of this inadequacy and win their cash. Business is business after all.
By employing good strategy over a long period, any lucky or unlucky streaks balance out over time. This means the only difference among players is their starting hands selection and their skill. You’ll find millions of bad players due to the massive coverage poker is getting at the moment. The prize funds on offer offline and online are unprecedented in sports.