Poker is hurt: Many Sharks, Few Fishes

[A2345Razz]

Ive been in poker since the boom playing as high as 5/10 nlh (LIVE) and as low as microstakes.

I definitely regret not going pro and taking the game more seriously in 2004/5 when the fish were flush with HELOC money and out playing live/online.

The fact is the games were getting noticeably different/tougher by 2006 BEFORE any regulation...people just were tired of losing and the huge fish played less and less. By 2008ish the game had really changed and a lot of the MEGA fish (im talking Arab dudes who would come into the casino on friday and ALWAYS drop a G at NLH in 1 hour) were gonzo.

This is the nature of inefficient markets; eventually they move towards equilibrium. Unfortunately we don't keep the money within the community due to rake.

You want more players; lower the rake at the lowest stakes, have more winners and hook more players.

 

[zEric7x]

I thought about it and the way I think about fish contradicts my own thoughts. If somebody fishy beats me and I feel like it was injustice even if logically I know playing against them is good I get frustrated and even change tables sometimes. But on the other hand I get frustrated if I can’t find any fish to play against. I know now (somewhat better) to look for fish and play with them. I learned to appreciate their fishiness more.

To be more on topic I still see fish at the micro stakes I play at. I might not be good enough to spot a shark but I tend to notice when people make very goof looking plays.

 

[arizoney]

theres an old saying we have all heard if you cant spot the fish then well you know lol. hears another old saying a shark is just a big fish. but one fish that should scare ya is a whale they can throw money out there until they have a profit.

 

[Gorak]

poker books and poker schools have made poker a lot harder.

Now at some point, players are just exchanging money while the poker rooms are taking the rake. We are not quite there yet, but the gap is closing fast enough.

 

[lilnewtdog]

of course, the US is where most play poker and most fish think it is illegal here. When licensed and regulated in the US there will be so many fish in the barrel to shoot.

 

[the lab man]

Yeh 03-07 were the glory days.

I remember being in HS and everyone having card games at home every weekend. I miss those days

There was more shenanigans as well at the tables, things you dont see anymore. Its too serious now which I think hurts as well. New players dont want to sit down at hoodie, earphones table. They want talkers and people having fun.

Agree with this Carl... I could attend 3/4 home games a week like every wed and thurs and weekends ..there would be local tourneys twice a month.. now nothing. Been 8 months since the last home game and we scrambled and called for players. Miss those days

 

[Poker Orifice]

You can work on your game all you want but there is a limit. Besides studying is not as fun as playing.

Bring back the loose passive calling stations fish please!

In the microstakes there are PLENTY of fish. Maybe learn to adjust ... exploit the bad regs. & bad aggros, etc. etc.
If you want to be competitive at anything, it pays to put in the work.

I see still tons of weak players at the micro tables!

And sharks are also some kind of fish, right? (in the animal world)

ditto

Poker books and poker schools have made poker a lot harder.

Now at some point, players are just exchanging money while the poker rooms are taking the rake. We are not quite there yet, but the gap is closing fast enough.

Sure it's getting tougher but one also needs to be constantly improving if they hope to remain competitive. Micros is still ez money.

 

[Poker Orifice]

Agree with this Carl... I could attend 3/4 home games a week like every wed and thurs and weekends ..there would be local tourneys twice a month.. now nothing. Been 8 months since the last home game and we scrambled and called for players. Miss those days

That's the same here where I live. Some regular home games & even a couple of underground clubs with decent turnouts (& that's in a city with pop. of <10k). Few tournaments every month too... & another weekly one in neighbouring town. Now there's like one small tournament per month & 1 local game running with far less people at it.

 

[Gorak]

In the microstakes there are PLENTY of fish.

You make it sound do easy. For me it is hard even at the micros.

 

[duggs]

You make it sound do easy. For me it is hard even at the micros.

Way more learning resources than before so it's easier to get better

 

[slash407]

i dont think there are to many sharks. have you listened to poker radio sites they talk about this and say there are alot of donk players

 

[glenn161274]

There is alot of truth to this, the only way to get more recreational players to play is to give great offers to get them to play. Live poker still seems to be softer, especially on a weekend when there seems to be many non serious players..