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Its still gambling right? Even blackjack is a game of skill albeit with a negative expectation, exclusive of counting, but you have to play it with basic skill to minimize the -ev. I just don't think the luck vs. skill arguement does any good, everybody here knows that for a skilled player to profit off of poker 9 out of 10 players must be overall losers. You are going to make the arguement that it should be legalized for that 1 in 10 skilled player? I just want to be able to gamble legally, whats wrong with that? The bottom line to making it legal is to show someone in power the money and that they are not getting it when they could be.

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There difference is this. No matter how optimal a players performance at a game like Blackjack, they are ALWAYS going to be looking at a negative expectation, over the long run. Keep in mind, the long run is what matters, both in poker and in life. Anyone can get lucky and pick up a 10 one night at a bar in their lifetime, but it is a combination of the luck involved with personal traits and the experience to take advantage of these situations over and over. Refer to the Nash Equilibrium. I would argue that on any given night in a bar, there are several players all using their abilities to reach the same goal. However, in most cases anyways....lol, only one player can be successful. I attest to you that the winner of this game is such because his SKILL was superior over his villain's. Agreed or not?



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A. Randomly taking a 10 home is lucky, getting her to make breakfast in the morning is skill.
B. What bar do you go to where there's only one chick?

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I don't mean to respond to the posts in this thread in such a random order but I'm going to tend to respond to the ones which need less thought first......

I said nothing about one girl at a bar, although the statement was theoretical so I easily could have. If it helps you, imagine it this way. There are are a dozen 4's, a dozen 8's, and one 10. The 10 is just so far and away better looking than all of the rest. You would agree that without doubt, there would be a number of players using their best game to outdo the other players, yes?

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Thanks for the subtle jab at my laziness.

In that scenario there is still incomplete information. How many players are there? What is each player's taste in women? One player may think the 8 is a 10 and the 10 is a 4. You may have some chubby-chaser that thinks the 4 is a 10 (sorry all you big women out there, please don't hate me). What is the 10's choice in men? How slutty are the 8's?