What you see on TV isn not how it really is!

Tv Breeds bad players?

Do you think that this comes from tv? In order for tv to make poker not the mind numbing experience it really is to watch, they show huge suck outs that are taking place at shorthanded tables.
When the best hand wins, ell thats not really exciting and lands on the cutting room floor.

Isn't it strange that you rarely see a hand which someone wins on the turn?
When someone folds, well, not interesting, so it doesn't make tv. I go to these things often, and these pros fold a lot. I mean a real lot. For that show on tv it is hours and hours of blind stealing and pre flop folds. Are we starting to see folks playing poker like they see on tv? everyhand every way?

My question is TV poker breeding terrible players?

Bill

In a word, yes. TV is a huge reason all these players mentally belive a showdown is part of every hand. And inexperience leads them to call (mostly) anything in hopes of rivering a hand and winning a pot.

Of course TV poker isnt really how the game is played...

The WPT and wsop shows only show the hands where some big action is taking place... This would include a player getting knocked out, a bad beat, or a big bluff.

Most of the events that they fit into the TV shows really last 8-12 hours, sometimes more and they cram them into 1-2 hour shows (+ commercials).

I am thankful for this, and if you are a good player you should be too. Many new and in-experienced players are brought in by the TV shows and they try to play super loose-aggressive (Like a Gus Hansen for example). They have no concept that most of the shows they see are the final table and that play is different at the final table than it is earlier in the tournament.

I only watch poker on TV for entertainment value and to see how some of the pros play their hands from the different positions, if they go for a check-raise, slowplay, etc...

What you see on TV....

IMO, the popularity of poker on TV is a double-edged sword. It has brought a LOT of money into the game, but it is also detracting from the game. I think it is extremely difficult for the name players to advance in the WSOP and WPT tourneys these days. Myself, I would rather see a final table with all names (maybe one amateur), rather than what is started to happen.

Jennifer Tilly actually won a bracelet for pete's sake. I know it was the Ladies Championship, but there are an awful lot of female players that are far superior to her. Another actor made a final table at this year's WPT. While he was decent, his game was far from pro quality.

I heard that there was a woman this year who had not played before, and had to have things explained to her. That's a joke. There should be a basic test one should have to pass in order to play (pros excepted). Amateur involvement is all well and good, but too much of a good thing is still too much. Moneymaker has proven that he does belong, but I still cringe when I think about how he made Ivey the last player eliminated before the final table in 2003. Phil Ivey definitely should win a WSOP and soon. He has had the worse luck on the WPT. 6 final tables and no wins. Ok, I've ranted enough.

Mike

I've only recently gotten into poker. I've started downloading a few of the TV shows off the net. (I don't have cable, and can only pick up one channel well where I am.) First thing I noticed was how much was cut out. I can understand keeping it like that. I mean watching the whole thing would be mind numbing. I mean it's bad enough actually playing it For every two minutes of excitement, you've got 20 minutes of boredom.

Saw something the other day that said Fox Sports (I think it was them) will be showing six hours LIVE or something in the next week or so.Curious to see how that does in the ratings.

Yes. I love how people know I have them beat but they just want to see the next 2 cards anyway. They think maybe the will hit runner runner like on TV.

Yea but it doesnt show you the "Darker side" of gambling

I was chronically addicted to slot machines about 15 years ago. Wasted a fortune on the damn things.

Luckily my life is a lot different now, so I don't worry about my interest in poker getting out of control. (Plus my wife would kick my ass if it did, and rightly so)

TV has brought an explosion to poker. Its a good thing and its a bad thing. Good cause more players means bigger pots, Bad cause they don't know how to play . But on that note its up to us to educate them by removing a few bankrolls from them till they learn.

people who learned how to play poker from tv are definately shortchanging themselves. it is so totally edited