How do you explain the difference to stupid people?

[jjp]

Here is a suggestion. Tell them to read "Bringing Down the House" about the MIT blackjack team. While not the same as poker, the idea is the same. You have an advantage that over the long haul will be profitable.

[morphball]

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...offered to bring me a Native American plant that would surely bring me luck since it has helped her with her slot machine goals.


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I want this plant!!!

The slot machine story reminds me of my first trip to Bally's in AC. One of my friends needed to hit the ATM, and we were stuck behind this lady trying to get money out. Denied, swearing, try again for a lower amount. This went on for like six attempts, and then she finally got a $20 out of the thing and went right back to the slots. It was a Friday night, so I am betting her payday didn't last that long.

[MoistToes]

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Just show them your bank statement.

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Might as well write them blank checks and toss them a few spare credit cards so they get the point. Since they are stupid you also better light up a few hundred dollar bills and laugh maniacally while they burn just to make sure they REALLY get the point. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Percula]

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Carry a wad of 100's around and just tell people your +EV in the game. When they go WTF IS EV pull out the wad.

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FYP

No self respecting live player is carrying lots of 50's, 100's and/or high denomination chips only.

[Percula]

I have been pretty fortunate that I don't have a lot of stupid people around me.

But my explanation generally goes something like this...

"So you know that the house has the edge in blackjack, its a small edge, for the sake of example, lets say the house edge is 51% to 49%."

Almost everyone can agree on this.

"OK, now that we agree the house has an edge in BJ... If you play 5M hands of perfect BJ you will you be a winner or loser?"

Most will agree that they will be a loser over 5M hands.

"In poker I generally have an edge over the other players. I have more skills, knowledge and experience than they do. I have enough knowledge and experience to know when I do not have an edge against a player. Since poker is a skill based game, the more I play, the longer period of time I study the game, the better I get.

Since poker is a skill based game, I have a edge in the game over the long run, just like the house has an edge in BJ."

[ryanghall]

I work at a high school with a staff full of (mostly) brilliant people. The vast majority of them don't "get it" either. I've given up with the people who don't get it. My energy is better spent elsewhere than trying to convince them of something they won't consider.

Ryan

[prodonkey]

I really try not to associate with mentally handicapped people.. I just take their money when they are playing poker.

[pushpushshove]

I normally don't even bother trying. Most people are so completely unfamiliar with poker and the poker "lifestyle" that it could days to explain this stuff.

I had a conversation the other day where I told someone that I have been playing for a living for 2+ years. He kept asking me how often I lose and how big my losses are when I lose. Even after I told him that the last deposit I made from outside my bankroll was in 2003, he couldn't grasp the fact that I was paying my bills with poker. He was still focused on finding out how much I lose and was acting like I'm some sort of gambling addict. He's convinced that I'm blowing an imaginary trust fund or something.

It's not worth the time and energy required to explain it to most people.

[asterion]

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or how every time their aunt goes to Vegas, she comes back having made money on Pai Gow.

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This used to be quite possible, when being the house rotated among the players, Pai Gow could be a +EV game.

[/ QUOTE ]All the casinos I routinely play at ("routinely" now being defined as almost never, due to distance and having more important things I need to do with my money) allow for banking to rotate at Pai Gow. A lot of players don't want to do it, but it's possible (where I play) for one guy to bank every other hand, if nobody else wants to bank. Most players I've met don't mind if another player banks, since they'd rather lose money to another person than to the casino.

[RR]

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I'm pretty sure that quote is MUCH older than Dutch Boyd.

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Surely you're not suggesting a man of his integrity would steal a quote.