popularity of poker
 

With the popularity of online poker suddenly, isn't there the possibility that eventually everyone will go out, start reading poker theory books, checking out online strategy, etc. and then there won't be any fish left ?!

Re: popularity of poker
 

There will always be fish...

People who havent played before will start playing (and losing), there are degenerates out there who will always gamble it up, and for the most part, many players are recreational, not pros. While recreational players can be good, most are not (especially true in live games). As long as people continue to drink and play live, there will always be fishy players

Re: popularity of poker
 

Yeah, they'll all stop buying lottery tickets and playing slots too.

cjx

Re: popularity of poker
 

My concern was that instead of people slowly being turned on to poker and keeping a steady (but much smaller) stream of fish coming in slowly, we are just dumping all the fish in the ocean at once and soon everybody who ever would have tried to play poker has tried it, realized they suck or busted out and then we will enter an age where there will be no more fish.

Re: popularity of poker
 

Im sure if you ask the oldtimers they will sat there fish back when and will be fishing for a long time. I thought poker had peaked but lately it looks like it still has not peaked and more growth to come

Re: popularity of poker
 

Luckily, there's one born every minute.

Re: popularity of poker
 

There will always be fish, because the fish dont care. They dont want to read books or check out strategy. The are very happy gambling and having fun. And if they loose, thats fine. The ocean will never be empty. Life is sweet.

Re: popularity of poker
 

Moneymaker didn't have to read any books and neither do they.

Re: popularity of poker
 

Variance would suggest otherwise. Good players win more over the long run, but a 200BB downswing WILL happen to even the best players. Therefore, fish will win when they shouldn't and the halo effect will keep them in the game. When poker no longer rates TV coverage, then the inflow of fish will slow, but I really don't think we will ever return to the pre-Moneymaker days.

Re: popularity of poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
With the popularity of online poker suddenly, isn't there the possibility that eventually everyone will go out, start reading poker theory books, checking out online strategy, etc. and then there won't be any fish left ?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Why didn't that happen before the poker boom? Wouldn't it have been more likely given the smaller player pool?

b

Re: popularity of poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
My concern was that instead of people slowly being turned on to poker and keeping a steady (but much smaller) stream of fish coming in slowly, we are just dumping all the fish in the ocean at once and soon everybody who ever would have tried to play poker has tried it, realized they suck or busted out and then we will enter an age where there will be no more fish.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL That's a good one.

b

Re: popularity of poker
 

Yea you know, I first thought this too. However, reading a book isn't everything. You have to be able to apply that knowledge to your game. That's what separates the winning players from the fish. In addition to that, I know alot of people who read books and still don't change their game. It's hard to go from playing every hand, to a selective few for some people. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

-HoldemPokerPlyr

Re: popularity of poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
With the popularity of online poker suddenly, isn't there the possibility that eventually everyone will go out, start reading poker theory books, checking out online strategy, etc. and then there won't be any fish left ?!

[/ QUOTE ]

In a word, No.

I think you are underestimating how difficult it is to get good at poker. (I'm not there yet, but I certainly have much respect for the task ahead)

The MAIN attributes you need for poker (IMHO) are:
Discipline
Drive
Enthusiasm
Vision
Open mindedness
Intelligence
Empathy / People skills
(probably more, but I can;t think of any [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img])

You need all of these, to some degree.
I think the percentage of the population that meets the above criteria (even before buying a poker book) is quite small.

Also, you have to remember that learning to play well, requires learning in a "different" way than most people have been used to. That's why it can (with the wrong mentality) be a very frustrating game.

That's the BEST thing about poker, for me. The APPARENT simplicity that alures people to it- until they get their fingers burnt! [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Regards,
Ian
www.PokerPlan.net

Re: popularity of poker
 

No. I'd guess that 3/4 of all people who read poker books are unable to either grasp the concepts or implement them at the tables. And considering the quantity of terrible advice I've seen in the strategy boards here, internet poker groups add to the fish rather than subtract from them.

Re: popularity of poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
No. I'd guess that 3/4 of all people who read poker books are unable to either grasp the concepts or implement them at the tables. And considering the quantity of terrible advice I've seen in the strategy boards here, internet poker groups add to the fish rather than subtract from them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Heh.

-HoldemPokerPlyr

Re: popularity of poker
 

Considering that the shark to fish ratio on 2+2 forums, where arguably the largest group of poker afficionados in the world are collected, is probably 60:40 or worse.....no, I don't think we have anything to worry about.

"Hello. My name is Ineedaride.......and I'm a fish."


"Helloooo fish."

Re: popularity of poker
 

>> requires learning in a "different" way than most people have been used to. <<

Provide an example, please!

Re: popularity of poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
>> requires learning in a "different" way than most people have been used to. <<

Provide an example, please!

[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is referencing the fact that it is hard for learning players to not be results-oriented. If they are making +EV decisions, but not they are not working out, they might start rethinking what they've learned. Most learning disciplines provide more accurate earlier feedback on the information digested (ahh, variance).

Re: popularity of poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
>> requires learning in a "different" way than most people have been used to. <<

Provide an example, please!

[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is referencing the fact that it is hard for learning players to not be results-oriented. If they are making +EV decisions, but not they are not working out, they might start rethinking what they've learned. Most learning disciplines provide more accurate earlier feedback on the information digested (ahh, variance).

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks SMB, thats' EXACTLY what I meant. You articlulated it better.

Regards,
Ian.
www.PokerPlan.net

Re: popularity of poker
 

Re: popularity of poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
With the popularity of online poker suddenly, isn't there the possibility that eventually everyone will go out, start reading poker theory books, checking out online strategy, etc. and then there won't be any fish left ?!

[/ QUOTE ]

The short answer is no, you'll never run out of fish.

it might help to clarify what we mean by fish though. In my mind a fish is a really bad to attrocious player. A not particularly good player doesn't qualify as a fish, but those not particularly good players are our bread and butter because there are so many of them.

And even if all the fish went away, you'd still have plenty of not-particularly good players because that jump up to actual good player is harder than you would think and requires more than just reading a book or two. Most players just want to play, they don't want to study and work. They play poker because its fun, after all.

So no worries.

--Zetack

Re: popularity of poker
 

It's terrible how Blackjack went away and the casinos all went broke after Dr. Thorp published "Beat the Dealer" in 1962.

Re: popularity of poker
 

HAHAHAHA NO!

Re: popularity of poker
 

Books dont make you good at poker.

Do you all worry that there may be no humans left in the world in a few years? I mean loads have been born, worked hard, made some money, spent some... then they died. WTF IS THE POINT IN THAT?!


You realise theres new humans born every day, and in 18 years when they can gamble... they will think they're as good as their daddys thought they were... and come online toplay poker and get owned by tags.

Yes, humans are born daily. I KNOW!! SHOCKER!!!!

Re: popularity of poker
 

I wondered the same thing. I offered to loan some of my buddies a book or two to learn why, they were playing online, and the refused because, they don't think it makes that much of a difference, and that they are better off just learning as they play. Even when one shows intrest in a book, they usually only read one chapter at most.