Professional players would state that poker isn’t even gambling. They do not mean this literally, as clearly the wagering of money against an outcome which is beyond the reasonable control of the individual is gambling, however what poker players mean is the fact that since they are skilled enough at the game, they can eliminate most of the risk that’s a fundamental part of most forms of wagering. In short, they have a distinct advantage by playing poker.

Before you even sit at a poker table, you are able to employ an abundance of tactics to give you an advantage.

You have at your disposal many books and strategy items available both on and offline for learning to play properly. Sklansky, Brunson, and many other well-known poker players have excellent books available. Aside from the card counting Blackjack books, where are you able to get that degree of support from any other game? Certainly not Roulette! There is no excuse for a ‘novice’ to enter a casino not fully prepared for the challenges ahead. The new player can be full of theory (and having practised for relatively small stakes quality online gambling) be nothing short of fully prepared when they wager their first chip into the live poker pot.

Joining a sizable poker forum will likely give you the chance to analyse hands and have your opinions discussed and debated by more experienced players. Do not be disheartened in case you are mocked or blasted for your ‘bad’ postings on strategy, these people who criticise may indirectly put thousands of dollars into your pocket with their good advice, however direct they are.

The very fact that you are not playing against the house but other players is obviously a massive advantage. The house edge in casinos is built into the games and impossible to beat in the long-term. Poker, on the flip side, you are encouraged to win because that both keeps you within the game and maintains the rake (the percentage of the pot the poker room takes out of each pot for hosting the game). If you use the correct amount of bankroll management and discipline you may win short, medium and long-term. Unfortunately many gamblers by nature are not disciplined, and don’t exercise sensible practices when betting, but as a good poker player you can take advantage of this inadequacy and win their cash. Business is business after all.

By employing good strategy over a long period, any lucky or unlucky streaks balance out over-time. What this means is the only difference between players is their starting hands selection and their skill. You will find millions of bad players due to the massive coverage poker is getting at the moment. The prize funds on offer offline and online are unprecedented in sports.