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Poker isn't like this. Think rock, pair, scissors, crap where rules are that crap always loses. Now uniform strategy between rps will yield profit vs an oppo

Poker isn't like this. Think rock, pair, scissors, crap where rules are that crap always loses. Now uniform strategy between rps will yield profit vs an opponent who plays crap sometimes. It's very easy to play crap in poker

3pt14159 5y ago
Right, but so what? If the optimal strategy is a 50-50 split against someone else playing the optimal strategy and at least a 50% win against someone who is not, it doesn't follow that if they other player plays crap every game that the optimal strategy is best against them. Identification of the crap player means that you increase your bets vs what you would normally bet for perfect play. Perfect play is bullet proof, but it isn't necessarily maximal yield against a non-perfect player even if thats the rough trendline.
- kuboble 5y ago
  The point being that in poker and in particular Texas Holdem - unlike in RPS - the optimal strategy will win against good players and completely obliterate weak players. Yes, the good human can win even more against bad human but make no mistake - it's extremely hard to not lose a lot vs optimal strategies. >Identification of the crap player means that you increase your bets. That's not true. There are a lot of different ways to exploit bad players depending on how bad they are. Also a lot of weak players these days have much more subtle leaks (e.g. never bluff-raise the river) and it takes some skill to spot and exploit them.
  - 3pt14159 5y ago
    I reread the entire chain and realized I misinterpreted the context around what you said and thus came to the wrong conclusion of your understanding and meaning. > > You can only win in poker if you recognize how your opponent deviates from the optimal strategy and then play a strategy to exploit him. > This is not true. You were right here when you said "This is not true." I still think there is more nuance than the discussion as a whole credits, but overall I think you were more right than wrong in our discussion and I was more wrong than right. Thanks for the chat.

3pt14159 5y ago

Right, but so what? If the optimal strategy is a 50-50 split against someone else playing the optimal strategy and at least a 50% win against someone who is not, it doesn't follow that if they other player plays crap every game that the optimal strategy is best against them. Identification of the crap player means that you increase your bets vs what you would normally bet for perfect play. Perfect play is bullet proof, but it isn't necessarily maximal yield against a non-perfect player even if thats the rough trendline.

kuboble 5y ago
The point being that in poker and in particular Texas Holdem - unlike in RPS - the optimal strategy will win against good players and completely obliterate weak players. Yes, the good human can win even more against bad human but make no mistake - it's extremely hard to not lose a lot vs optimal strategies. >Identification of the crap player means that you increase your bets. That's not true. There are a lot of different ways to exploit bad players depending on how bad they are. Also a lot of weak players these days have much more subtle leaks (e.g. never bluff-raise the river) and it takes some skill to spot and exploit them.
- 3pt14159 5y ago
  I reread the entire chain and realized I misinterpreted the context around what you said and thus came to the wrong conclusion of your understanding and meaning. > > You can only win in poker if you recognize how your opponent deviates from the optimal strategy and then play a strategy to exploit him. > This is not true. You were right here when you said "This is not true." I still think there is more nuance than the discussion as a whole credits, but overall I think you were more right than wrong in our discussion and I was more wrong than right. Thanks for the chat.