Poker %'s and how a large edge makes little difference?

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William Martin

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I've been playing poker now for about 2 years and I'm now very very concious of how I get my money in.

A lot of the time, I find myself in a 60/40 or 70/30 type situation in my favour. Leaving aside how I find myself in these situations, that is not important - I am interested in percentages.

To me, a 20% edge seems quite significant, but it doesn't seem to be. I would say I probably win more than I lose which is as it should be, I normally have the best hand. However - the 60% player loses so often, both myself and when I watch other players, it just doesn't seem that 20% is a big edge at all.

Those are my thoughts really. Is 20% a big edge? If not, how big? 80/20? 80/20 is where I don't really sweat a bad beat, I feel happy with my hand. 70/30 and I'm sweating a bad beat.

Just feels wierd the more I play the more the %'s don't seem to balance out and feel right.

Anybody any thoughts?
 
Monoxide

Monoxide

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80/20 is a big edge. Thats "dominating" in poker, lol.

20% still seems small but it happens fairly often still, sadly.
 
zachvac

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If you're sweating every hand you're missing the point. Get your money in good consistently and it doesn't matter how you do in the short run.
 
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William Martin

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I take your point now Zach. I am winning 6 times out of 10 in the long term. But that is just a little over half, so it's not a big edge at all. When you think of it as "times in 10" instead of just a % figure, you see 60/40 is little better than heads or tails.

I prefer 10/10, but I rarely get them drawing dead :p
 
PokerVic

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As long as you're beating the rake, your edge is high enough. But, the smaller your edge, the more you have to grind. Poker isn't a get-rich-quick situation; more of get-rich-slow-and-be-careful-not-to-tilt-or-it-will-be-even-slower situation. :)
 
ythelongface

ythelongface

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it may not seem like your winning a lot if your winning 6/10 over the long haul, but look at it this way. how many players are losing 6/10 maybe even 5/10 on a consistent basis. it would be be fantastic if you could win 70% or 80% of your hands long term, but thats only taking into account pure math. to get a more accurate view, you have to factor in that intangible thing we call luck which can drag down even the best players and the best hands.
 
smd173

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I've heard more than a few pros refer to 60/40 as a coin flip. So those guys obviously don't feel 20% is that big.
 
zachvac

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I've heard more than a few pros refer to 60/40 as a coin flip. So those guys obviously don't feel 20% is that big.

Probably with context though, like pot odds may make a 60/40 decision a coin flip. If you honestly know people who think it is, I will bet them any amount of money that if we do the "flip" 10,000 times that it will land on the 60% side more.
 
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Nassau22

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i agree with zachvac. i have been playing for about three years and i win about 7 out of 10 of those 60/40 flips. its just being consistent. you always have to be consistent.
 
dexter smith

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I am fairly new to online poker, and not really sure about all the percents, but i have found it very frustrating, when i am dominating a table, it seems to go down hill rapidly, maybe just purely bad luck, but i have been loosing with a full house AAAKK to KKKKA, Pocket Aces seem to be deadly for me, I very rarely win with them, I guess what I am saying is to me the percent does not mean much to me. I simply try to play my hands the best i can. Doesn't always work, but hey, like I said I'm fairly new.
 
RickH2005

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Huh??

I am fairly new to online poker, and not really sure about all the percents, but i have found it very frustrating, when i am dominating a table, it seems to go down hill rapidly, maybe just purely bad luck, but i have been loosing with a full house AAAKK to KKKKA, Pocket Aces seem to be deadly for me, I very rarely win with them, I guess what I am saying is to me the percent does not mean much to me. I simply try to play my hands the best i can. Doesn't always work, but hey, like I said I'm fairly new.
If I lost to THAT hand--K-K-K-K-A--I think I'd want to LEAVE that game!!! ESPECIALLY if I had the boat---A-A-A-K-K!!!!:eek: I mean, FIVE KINGS in one deck--SOMEBODY'S Cheatin'!!!
 
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Gavinski

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If I lost to THAT hand--K-K-K-K-A--I think I'd want to LEAVE that game!!! ESPECIALLY if I had the boat---A-A-A-K-K!!!!:eek: I mean, FIVE KINGS in one deck--SOMEBODY'S Cheatin'!!!

How you work that out? Or are you joking? Can't tell :confused:

Anyway, this situation can happen when pre-flop it is AA vs KK, and the flop comes down KKA....
 
TRB1965

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If you listen to the Pros (I've heard Phil Helmuth say this a number of times), when it comes to major pots that could effect their tournament life, they are looking to get in as a 70/30 favorite or higher.

Of course all poker is situational. If you are getting desperately short in a tourney, you might be happy to be of the 40 end of a 60/40.

But in general, you should be looking for at least a 70/30 advantage to make a major stand.
 
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