Will poker ever become a coin flip?

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Even if everyone playing the game eventually were to attain approximately the same level of knowledge, the fact that it is virtually impossible to play your A game 100% of the time, there would still be many opportunities to outplay your opponents.

Not that I think it'll ever get to that point.

[binions]

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I was wondering on a philosopical level if there will ever be a time when all poker players whether it be online, live, or both will ever become as good as one another.

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No. Not even close. Now, there will be some games that will be tough to beat because the players are tight, aggressive. Just find a new game.

Bottom line, there are too many action junkies who cannot help themselves. There are too many weak tighties. There are too many bad LAGs. Most of these people lose their ass very quickly online. For this reason IMO live games will almost always be better than online games at the same blind structure/buy in.

[Flip-Flop]

Online poker will die when the bots take over.
Live poker will go on same as always.

[sweeng8]

I am relatively new to online poker, having only been playing about a year and a half, and find it amazing when people talk about how soft games used to be. I could only wish I was playing then, as I find games super soft online (usually playing 1/2). Some i see deny belief online- things that I wouldnt do even the very first time i played poker. This may be sweeping, but most people are happy to be ignorant in most things. I see blackjack players at my local casino playing so stupidly that they arent even giving themselves a chance. similarly, there will also be poker players happy to gamble and throw money around without caring to understand the game or better their basic strategy of chasing and pushing with trash

[timmay28]

If it's going to turn into a coin flip it won't be anytime soon imo. Just sign up to a regular $24+2 FTP tourney and during the first few hands look up everyone's ROI at the official poker rankings website. 9 times out of ten the rest of the table is in the negative, and it's astonishing how many of those in the negative have played for a long time.

[TheAcesRToxic]

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If it's going to turn into a coin flip it won't be anytime soon imo. Just sign up to a regular $24+2 FTP tourney and during the first few hands look up everyone's ROI at the official poker rankings website. 9 times out of ten the rest of the table is in the negative, and it's astonishing how many of those in the negative have played for a long time.

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Yep. I find that many times ppl learn how to play a certain way when they're young, have some success against their buddies then assume they know everything about the game simply because of the classic line "I've been playing poker for over 20 years, kid". The problem with this is that they never actually learned more than the basic ABC poker strategies, if any strategies at all. Their is actually a marked resentment of the new crop of young players from the older crowd.

While it is a very small sample size, an example of such is the home cash game I play .vs my uncle and his old HS buddies. I crush the game with ease. Its like a friggin joke. But before I started going all I heard from them is how they will school me because of their poker prestige, lolz. Anyone live in South Jersey and want the address??

The whole point here is that most ppl just learn one way to play and form their own opinions about the game and never deviate. The ones that continue to learn and apply their new knowledge are the professionals, albeit a very small amount. I feel it will ALWAYS be this way.

[Baby Mantis]

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Even if everyone playing the game eventually were to attain approximately the same level of knowledge, the fact that it is virtually impossible to play your A game 100% of the time, there would still be many opportunities to outplay your opponents.

This was my line of thinking as well, I was just pondering this and wondered what everyone else thought about it. Thanks for all of the replies you guys!

Not that I think it'll ever get to that point.

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[Albert Moulton]

Poker is a form of gambling. Gambling is addictive for addictive personalities. Gambling addicts thrive on self-destructive impulses. So, at the very least, there will always be a portion of the game that has a need for action and self-destruction that more patient grinders will profit from.

Besides that, gambling is also fun for the non-addicts who like it as recreation. Recreational players will never have the time or interest to study and practice as long and hard as a pro or semi-pro. So, as long as recreational players go on vacation to someplace with a card room, there will be pros to scoop up some of their entertainment money.

Finally, some people are just better suited to playing well and consistently than others. Like any game, a certain amount of natural talent will always be a differentiator between people with an equal amount of study and experience.

So, the answer to your question is no.

[Dogballs88]

I agree with everyone else when I say the answer to OP's question is no.

One point that no one touched on - poker can't ever become a coin flip - if everyone had the same exact skill level and always played perfectly vs. one another, there would be no flip & no breaking even - we'd all be losers. The reason is simple: Rake.

[LGs0pHT]

lol Poker is a game of experience. There will always be people new to the game.