why i gamble poker not pool

[mark tadd]

does that seem strange to some of you . sounds hypocritical to me
give me your thoughts then when i see enough posts i will try to explain if i can unless someone just blows me away with a respons. then i guess my answer at that point will be just so much double talk. i went to another forum and they were wondering the same. so i will post the same there

 

[drivermaker]

does that seem strange to some of you . sounds hypocritical to me
give me your thoughts then when i see enough posts i will try to explain if i can unless someone just blows me away with a respons. then i guess my answer at that point will be just so much double talk. i went to another forum and they were wondering the same. so i will post the same there

Funny that you started this thread...I was going to pop the question.

Here are my guesses in no particular order: Marriage mellowed you out; you lost so many arguments against your wife that you lost confidence in your woofing skills to make a good match; you got tired of all the woofing and having to give up too much weight; the action in cards along with the exchange of money moves much quicker than it does in pool; opportunity for greater financial gain in cards; playing video poker, you don't even have to get off of your ass and leave the residence; you realize that pool is dead end;
you lost your stroke compared to yesteryear; your mistress has you chained in a dungeon but she'll allow you to use the computer but not let you out for pool; you can't bet on pool with a credit card.

That's all I can think of right now...one might be right...most or all might be wrong...and some might have given you a laugh.

 

[tonyk]

because this year the World Champion of pool recieved $80,000 or something.

the World Champion of poker recieved $5 million.

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

[OldHasBeen]

It's Simple!

I Bet At Pool & Gin Rummy!
I Gamble At Poker & Black Jack!
Ty & Gl

 

[RunArak]

Mark,

I would venture to say that you do not feel like you are stealing when playing poker. The playing field is even and you are not burdened with guilt when you take the pot, it does not feel as personal.

I do not know if it is true, but many have said that you are "born again" and with that come some new standards and morals, I would hope!

Taking money from one person that may be their grocery or bill money can make a man with a conscience feel pretty rotten, at least most men.

I am a Christian and no longer gamble for the stakes that would break someone, I play a cheap friendly game now and then or a ring game with guys that are of equal of higher skill than myself and the bet is always something that we can ALL afford. It is just entertainment "to me" and no one is going to get hurt. I make sure that it is a friendly game and only play with guys that know how to win and lose gracefully. I do not do it for the money but for the love of the game and to heighten the competition.

We all have to answer for our actions one day. When and if I feel conviction for playing in a ring game or a cheap race for $10 or $20, then I will stop. Until then, Rack Em Up!
Best of luck to you if you decide to come back Mark. I look forward to your reply!

Joe Koontz

 

[mark tadd]

There are a few "pro type" or "hustlers" that are switching to poker...It's a way more "controlled" enviroment...Your not as likely to have someone "ask for their money back"..."pull a knife...or gun"...or wait for you with a couple other guys out in the parking lot...

The other thing is...you can actually "quit up"...You don't have to sit there and play for hours to give the guy an opportunity to win his money back...(I like that aspect the most)...

You don't have to "negotiate" a match...you pick the table stakes you want...and you don't ever hear anyone saying "when you play you have to keep one of your cards face up" ...No one asks for "weight"

And contrary to popular opinion...It actually take NO SKill to play Texas Holdem...(limit games)....If you are smart enough that you can multiply a # (less than 20) X 4....You can usually set yourself up to win money...

no skill to play limit holdem? can we play pleeeeeeeease

 

[mark tadd]

Funny that you started this thread...I was going to pop the question.

Here are my guesses in no particular order: Marriage mellowed you out; you lost so many arguments against your wife that you lost confidence in your woofing skills to make a good match; you got tired of all the woofing and having to give up too much weight; the action in cards along with the exchange of money moves much quicker than it does in pool; opportunity for greater financial gain in cards; playing video poker, you don't even have to get off of your ass and leave the residence; you realize that pool is dead end;
you lost your stroke compared to yesteryear; your mistress has you chained in a dungeon but she'll allow you to use the computer but not let you out for pool; you can't bet on pool with a credit card.

That's all I can think of right now...one might be right...most or all might be wrong...and some might have given you a laugh.

Marriage mellowed you out; you lost so many arguments against your wife that you lost confidence in your woofing skills to make a good match

good one that was funny lol

 

[mark tadd]

because this year the World Champion of pool recieved $80,000 or something.

the World Champion of poker recieved $5 million.

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

another good one lololololo

 

[mark tadd]

Mark,

I would venture to say that you do not feel like you are stealing when playing poker. The playing field is even and you are not burdened with guilt when you take the pot, it does not feel as personal.

I do not know if it is true, but many have said that you are "born again" and with that come some new standards and morals, I would hope!

Taking money from one person that may be their grocery or bill money can make a man with a conscience feel pretty rotten, at least most men.

I am a Christian and no longer gamble for the stakes that would break someone, I play a cheap friendly game now and then or a ring game with guys that are of equal of higher skill than myself and the bet is always something that we can ALL afford. It is just entertainment "to me" and no one is going to get hurt. I make sure that it is a friendly game and only play with guys that know how to win and lose gracefully. I do not do it for the money but for the love of the game and to heighten the competition.

We all have to answer for our actions one day. When and if I feel conviction for playing in a ring game or a cheap race for $10 or $20, then I will stop. Until then, Rack Em Up!
Best of luck to you if you decide to come back Mark. I look forward to your reply!

Joe Koontz

nice to meet another chrstian in the pool world

 

[Troy]

I disagree... It takes a certain amount of skill whether it be $4/$8 or No Limit.
Obviously, no one can play without decent cards.
I would play against you any time with your attitude...

And contrary to popular opinion...It actually take NO SKill to play Texas Holdem...(limit games)....If you are smart enough that you can multiply a # (less than 20) X 4....You can usually set yourself up to win money...

 

[mark tadd]

SURE....Pokerpages.com....or Partypoker.com...My nick is "cptnhook"
More likely I will be at Casino Arizona (I prefer live games) I like to watch people wine...I love it when they go "on tilt" ....$4/$8 Holdem is all I play....

At that low a limit.. There is NO skill (ok VERY little) ...and even at the $20-$40 limits there is no skill...its all "pot odds" and good starting cards...

POT LIMIT or NO LIMIT....There is skill involved there....But just like anything competative...There is a fair amount of luck involved...(ala Chris Moneymaker)

very little skill can we three and others who think there is no or very little skill meet for a little game say 20-40

 

[mark tadd]

I disagree... It takes a certain amount of skill whether it be $4/$8 or No Limit.
Obviously, no one can play without decent cards.
I would play against you any time with your attitude...

im with you troy

 

[1on1pooltournys]

It's a no brainer

Imagine this......being able to play like efren and every pool room in the world had a 100 dollar ring game and they had to let you play.

Basically, I feel that is the reason one might want to become a good poker player. One thing is that there is a poker game everyday of the week just about wherever you are. Where as pool, lots of times you can't get a game have to travel all over and pay all the expenses for nothing. Once i went on a trip and didn't get played for 5 days. Not the case with poker, all you have to do is drive to a casino. Or in my case, not even leave town because there are 10/20 games 4 days a week where i live.

Also, with the texas hold em fad that's sweeping the country, every one thinks they are a card player. Imagine if you played run out pool.....and all of a sudden every bar and pool room you went to there were people lining up to play. I could only imagine how much money a guy can make right now if he's a champion poker player. For those of you who feel there is no skill in poker....just sit down in a game with some good players and see how long you keep your chips in front of you.........lol......actually quite funny.

Now, on the flip side. Poker is an easy game to cheat at. I would say that if you play in house games or any game other than a casino...60% of the time you are being cheated. Some may say, well i win some and lose some, this is true, there are winners in games that are being cheated or manipulated, but you will soon meet your demise. I hope that all of the aspiring poker players get educated on how games are cheated, because i will not reveal them on this forum......as the saying goes....."if you are smart enough to know, you are smart enough to keep your mouth shut".

So, in general, i'd say that pool and poker both have good and bad things about them, but as we all know, poker is so much more lucrative it's a joke.

 

[mark tadd]

Imagine this......being able to play like efren and every pool room in the world had a 100 dollar ring game and they had to let you play.

Basically, I feel that is the reason one might want to become a good poker player. One thing is that there is a poker game everyday of the week just about wherever you are. Where as pool, lots of times you can't get a game have to travel all over and pay all the expenses for nothing. Once i went on a trip and didn't get played for 5 days. Not the case with poker, all you have to do is drive to a casino. Or in my case, not even leave town because there are 10/20 games 4 days a week where i live.

Also, with the texas hold em fad that's sweeping the country, every one thinks they are a card player. Imagine if you played run out pool.....and all of a sudden every bar and pool room you went to there were people lining up to play. I could only imagine how much money a guy can make right now if he's a champion poker player. For those of you who feel there is no skill in poker....just sit down in a game with some good players and see how long you keep your chips in front of you.........lol......actually quite funny.

Now, on the flip side. Poker is an easy game to cheat at. I would say that if you play in house games or any game other than a casino...60% of the time you are being cheated. Some may say, well i win some and lose some, this is true, there are winners in games that are being cheated or manipulated, but you will soon meet your demise. I hope that all of the aspiring poker players get educated on how games are cheated, because i will not reveal them on this forum......as the saying goes....."if you are smart enough to know, you are smart enough to keep your mouth shut".

So, in general, i'd say that pool and poker both have good and bad things about them, but as we all know, poker is so much more lucrative it's a joke.

being around poker for about 17 years i cant agree with the cheating part.

 

[jjinfla]

Everybody thinks poker is easy. It is only luck.

So when you win they all call you lucky. You won because you got the cards.

You can go on forever with people thinking you are lucky.

You run one rack of balls and people say keep away from him. He is too good.

Meanwhile, the poker suckers just keep coming back and back.

Of course one pocket is that way too. A person can really hide his talents in that game.

Jake

 

[LastTwo]

SURE....Pokerpages.com....or Partypoker.com...My nick is "cptnhook"
More likely I will be at Casino Arizona (I prefer live games) I like to watch people wine...I love it when they go "on tilt" ....$4/$8 Holdem is all I play....

At that low a limit.. There is NO skill (ok VERY little) ...and even at the $20-$40 limits there is no skill...its all "pot odds" and good starting cards...

POT LIMIT or NO LIMIT....There is skill involved there....But just like anything competative...There is a fair amount of luck involved...(ala Chris Moneymaker)

As for online poker, there still is skill involved in playing. There are certain online "tells" that you can figure out, although some players are aware of it and purposely do things to throw you off.

In live action limit poker, even from 3/6$ and up, there is plenty of skill involved. It's not just pot odds. In fact, if you sat down at a table with skilled players, and you think it's just pot odds to win, you would probably get snapped off. Any limit poker there is alot involved to maximize your winnings/minimize your losses (which is the goal of playing poker for a living). You must pay attention to the advantages that certain positions give you. Me, personally, when I am late position, I loosen up on hand selection that I will play, and when I am early position, like the small blind, I will usually only play premium hands. You must also pay attention to betting patterns of certain players. I play very agressive poker, usually I either raise or fold. I rarely will just call someone. Aside from all the basics, there are certain reads you can get on alot of players. When someone makes a bet or raises, are they leaning back, looking uninterested or relaxed? That is a tell that someone has a monster hand. If someone raises before the flop, when the flop is dealt, watch that person. If you see his eyes scanning back and forth across the flop, it usually means that he didn't hit his cards. If you see him staring at one card, and then stare at his chips, that usually means that he hit something and he is gonna fly out and bet. These are common poker tells, and there are thousands more. To learn them and recognize them is definately a skill. People who think that there is no skill are the people that good poker players make a living playing poker from.

 

[mark tadd]

Well.....You being a poker player should know that would not really prove anything now would it....There are too many "swings" in limit games....That is why the "real" players Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Howard Ledderer, Phil Hellmuth all play "pot limit" or "no limit"....

Hell even Phil Helmuth said if it wern't for luck he would win every tournament...

We would have to play for a few weeks to find out...

However....Anytime your in Phoenix...I will be glad to donate some money to you in a $4/$8 game...Just let me know when your going to be there and I will meet you at Casino AZ... but I work for a living and can not afford a "bad swing" in a $20/$40 game...if I had the money...sure I would play...

I'll bring my cue as well so we can stop by a pool room somewhere so you can teach me something about pool...

ok sounds like a date. would luv to go to pool tourny there

 

[JPB]

..That is why the "real" players Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Howard Ledderer, Phil Hellmuth all play "pot limit" or "no limit"....

Hell even Phil Helmuth said if it wern't for luck he would win every tournament...

..

One of these things is not like the others. You are overrating Phil Hellmuth by putting him with Doyle and Howard. Ivey too. Really overrating him. Doyle and Howard can beat all games, all limits, pot limit or no limit. And tournaments. Hellmuth has had success in tournaments, mostly no limit tournaments which are not the best test.

FWIW from what I hear of his poker skills, Tadd can probably outplay Hellmuth in a cash game. Tournaments are better for Hellmuth. But he will not win as many in the future as he has won in the past.

 

[1on1pooltournys]

being around poker for about 17 years i cant agree with the cheating part.

well......i guess you have been fortunate that's all i know. Because Mark Wilson gave Phil Helmouth pool lessons and Phil told mark that any poker game not taking place in a casino......65% of the time was a gaffed game.

 

[mark tadd]

Are you all kidding me ?
Believe me... If I can win at POKER ....It can't take any skill...(I have none) I know all about "early position" , "late position" "check raise" "fake tells" "real tells"...."The Table Captn".. I have seen guys who buy in for $500.00 in a $3/$6 game just so they can look like a "table bully" I also know that it is pretty rare to see the river rats lay down bottom pair or even an Ace High "runner runner" flush draw in a $3/$6 $4/$8 and even The $6/$12 and $10/$20 have the "fishermen" in the pots...Believe me...you want those players in the game....(There is an saying around the Casinos..."Asians...very good customer" no offense) ...They play to the river every time...The odds in the long run are in your favor...But don't sit there and tell me your going to "bluff" them out of a pot...I've seen many a "sucker" that watched the WPT on TV and thought they were going to sit down in a $4/$8 game and "bluff" the pot...Those idiots are going to throw in $8 for a river card every time to try and "catch" whatever it is they are going to catch...If you have not been "sucked out" on either online or in a live game that has cost you a loser night or "break even" night...You have not played enough...and I will say it again...There is no skill in that...Knowing what cards to play and in what position and what your "odds" are of catching your "outs" is not "skill" its obvious knowledge....(multiplying a # less than 20 X 4 is not skill..its 5th grade math)....

There is NO camparison between "low limit" (and yes $20/$40 is low limit)....with Pot Limit (with big blinds) or No Limit....Its not the same game....

I have played enough low limit poker to know that the swings can be incredible...(forget the 1 big pot per hour crap)...How about just 1 pot the whole night....

Actually I love to see you guys that come in and "press" the table...It creates bigger pots for me when I've got the "nuts".....and when I have the "nuts" I will put the check raise on and hold my breath that I don't get sucked out on the river....Because I am sure you know...In low limit...The bigger the pot...The more they are going to call....Man....have you ever seen the "splash pot"....You better have the "nuts" on that hand...

Now that I think about it....Limit poker does have a major "skill" involved...It's called "patience"....I guess you were all right....sorry...

ahhhhhhhhhh finaly also short handed is a huge advantage for good agressive players tight players have no chance. i won 156k in 92 at horse sho plated mostly limit. 200-400,150-300,300-600 100-200 blinds plo omaha which ive played the best in the wold head up and usualy won. beat a guy out of 40k one time. beat howard lederer out of 20k playing 200-400 holdem . my only problem back then was money management . i would grind out 50,000 for months and ego gets me cause i played the highest games back the with puggy , doyole and ted forest and all the boys like pool when i decided to grind i played with them all . but if i was running bad i wouldnt quit till i was broke instead of firing 10% of my bank roll id fire it all win 8 sessions lose one and crash go back to pool and grind it out again.i won alot 150k in month and a half and lost it in 4 sessions there is more skill than most people think id say most people are off about the skill level about 20%.oneil longston was at that time considred to be the best pot limit omaha player in the world. k we playrd 5 times i beat him 4 times the funny thing is i play about 30% better now than i did then so we shall see. on monday i will post why i quit gambling pool and in detail . and why i gamble poker. cause i know some are confused on how i think one form of gambling is right and the other isnt i will try to explain . cause i dont want people to think im a hypocrite or something. though many of you dont mind or care some do so i will give my veiws why i think the way i do on this issue. ........