In this forum we are a community (like a family) so people want to help their fellow members if they actually want the help.
I don't think it is necessarily cutting into anyone's profits as the ppl who are wanting to learn play at different stakes than those who have figured it out and are providing help.
I really like the sense of community that cardschat has. I would say it has one of the strongest feelings of camaraderie amongst its members in comparison to other poker forums I have perused.
However, even though the participating members are a community helping each other to grow, we are NOT a private community and all threads and posts are easily within view of a google search or any random joe who passes on by. It is in this sense that any information or advice given is really part of the public domain, and not so much directed or kept within an insular community -- although information shared here does help make cardschat grow which is actually a pretty good motivator.
In regards to stakes, myself being in the micros/
freerolls I do actually find myself questioning whether or not to provide insight on actual playing strategy to others at the same levels. I probably wouldn't have any issue with this at all be it not for the fact that hundreds/thousands of non-cardschat members could also see the information. The things I have to say are not any different than what one could find elsewhere, but why increase the chances that someone sees it and is then able to make it harder for me to play?
I do feel very comfortable offering advice and discussing topics such as bankroll management and promotions and such for getting a bankroll started, but find myself pulling up short when it comes to actual playing strategies for people playing the same games I am in. Maybe I am being too paranoid about this that I would actually end up at the same tables as someone I have helped?
I make it a rule to not give helpful advice to people when I'm playing on the tables, so should it be any different when I am off the tables?
The idea is to help people the same way you have most likely been helped in the past. Least that is what I hear from all the people that have ever given me solid advice.
I think this is the main reason why I do like to offer help where I feel I can; the sense of altruism one gets for imparting some knowledge that will help a fellow in a similar or familiar spot.
But isn't altruistic behavior at
odds with this hobby that we love so much?
Personally, I think there is a balance to be struck between brutally maximizing profits at every possible avenue and in enjoyment of the game -- and there is plenty of enjoyment that can be gleaned from helping others and in being helped by others.
Well put it like this.
There are many free forums offering poker advice.
There are also many video coaching forums offering great information at very little cost.
With all of this information available why are you not crushing the nose bleed levels?
True, the standard of play has risen due to these resources, but the level of difficulty remains roughly what it was historically.
I wouldn't imagine the ratio of winners to losers has changed all that much in the last 20 years.
With all of this info out there people are still limping A2o UTG and that just the tip of the iceberg of mistakes people still make.
I do see your point about the information being available, but it still requiring dedication and skill for a player to synthesize and apply the information properly.
While the ratio of winners to losers is probably still the same, the amount of effort required to be a winner is probably higher now that the bar has risen, and I think this is due to the ubiquity and ease of finding good
poker strategy information for free almost anywhere.
I am just conjecturing here, as I didn't really start playing poker more seriously until about 6 months ago, but I imagine that one could have been fairly profitable in the early 2000's by simply studying preflop hand charts and having an understanding of
pot odds. As these things became common knowledge, people had to study and learn more to gain an edge on the average poker player, so that to beat the average player now requires a little more knowledge than just hand strength and pot odds.
Sure, you still do get some people doing silly things like always playing any suited two from any position, or people calling off their stack with improper odds on a 6-outter, but I assume the numbers of these types is less than it was in the days when good information was harder to come by.
In this sense then, perhaps the availability of information really does not matter, as long as one stays ahead of the curve? But will it ever reach a point when joe average fish is already imbued with the ability to make accurate ev calculations on the fly?
I guess probably not. And my reasoning for this is that those who are dedicated to be winners will be the ones who seek out the information, and those who are destined to be losers are the ones who won't bother to learn beyond a certain point. In which case, discussions and advice threads on sites like cardschat only help the winners get stronger, as the losers won't bother to read what is posted.