playing tight is underrated

[dilanesp]

All gambling games give rise to delusions, and one of the delusions of poker is that bored players who hate folding and having to watch other players play loose and make lots of money in a session, can just play loose and then "outplay" the other players.

Here's a chart that was published as part of the Mike Postle possibly-cheating scandal in Sacramento (a very interesting story if you haven't been following it). It's a convergence between VPIP, which is the percentage of hands you play pre-flop, and profit in big blinds per 100 hands.

You will see that the vast, vast majority of the profitable players play very tight pre-flop and the ones who play very loose pre-flop and win aren't making appreciably more money than the tight players.

Tight is right, folks:

https://i.gyazo.com/9640d7665da6f5fb...c935334fbb.png

[thaskalos]

In gambling, my motto has always been: "If you are not BORED...then you are playing the game WRONG".

Serious gambling isn't an "entertainment" venue. Those who gamble for "entertainment" had better stick to the minimum stakes...lest they find a bankruptcy court in their near future.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

In gambling, my motto has always been: "If you are not BORED...then you are playing the game WRONG".

Serious gambling isn't an "entertainment" venue. Those who gamble for "entertainment" had better stick to the minimum stakes...lest they find a bankruptcy court in their near future.

I actually think that poker does offer real opportunities for entertainment (as do horse racing and sports, actually).

Table talk at the right table with the right people can be lots of fun. It doesn't have to be-- and really shouldn't be-- 9 complete zombies sitting there at the table with scowls on their face.

But definitely one of the biggest mistakes players make is expecting that the betting and raising and playing hands part of the game always has to be fun.

[davew]

Stone's Hall live trouble on SportsCenter

YouTube

[Michael]

Even if you're a real nit... if you're opening fairly balanced you're playing a crap ton of hands. The issue stems from chris money maker era egos. The majority of them are mtt superstars that are now getting beat up by real cash players. Tight isn't right... it's balanced play is what you're after. It's being able to play where nobody can exploit you. Most people just don't know how to balance their play.