how do you explain "having an edge" kinda long

lhemke

i have a friend who, when i started playing poker i thought was good. now that ive studied the game, i realize how much more ive learned in this last year than he ever has his whole 5 year playing career.
anyways we were having a conversation
i dont know how we got to where we were talking about having an edge but we got there
i said that i have an edge on just about any live game that i would sit at in spokane and he told me that i dont have enough proof to know that im better than everyone at the table
i said that im not necessarily better than everyone at the table but i know that i have a slight edge. and its so hard to explain because i think on a different level than him. like everyone on here thinks about the game on every level. we know the basics of like bankroll management, and position but he doesnt get either of those. i dont wanna sound like im the best alive because i obviously have a ton more to learn. but how do i explain that i know that i have an edge, however slight it may be, over any game filled with drunks that i would sit at.

orentha · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 1:40 am Post subject:

imo, you cannot explain anything to people like this.

they just dont/wont listen to obvious logic

Reef · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:13 am Post subject:

now don't go getting a big head on us, ya still got a lot to learn yourself lhemke Wink

(as do I, but to a different degree/level). It's often best just not to talk to non-serious students of the game about poker. Poker is a touchy subject because it deals with peoples' pride.

-----------------------------
FWIW

Poker learning goes in cycles.

stage 1. I know it all, I'm the greatest!
stage 2. Hmm maybe I don't know it all
stage 3. I really have a lot to learn
stage 4. omg I don't know anything

*go back to studying / working on game, then repeat to stage 1*

omgwen3rds · senior member Joined: 11 Jul 2009 Posts: 1238

"Poker is a touchy subject because it deals with peoples' pride. " ...........lol so true.

But the thing about poker is your only truely learn/progress when you stay a humble student to teh game and admit you dont know anything.

Reef · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:47 am Post subject:

agree, soon as a person stops trying to get better because they are happy with what they have achieved so far or bc they are 'already way better than everyone else' .... well, they are destined to not go very far.

RikaKazak · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:11 am Post subject:

I say

1.) you play other players, not vs. the house

2.) I explain it like I'm the "house" and that justl ike how you can win or lose 1 casino trip...eventually you'll lose all your money (it's just that I'm in the house in poker Very Happy

)

lhemke · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:51 am Post subject:

i wasnt trying to but i guess my head got a little big. making my way to stage 4 Smile

Reef · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:08 am Post subject:

actually I was really tired when I made that post, I think I switched #3 and 4 on accident. Or maybe they go together.

stage 1. I know it all, I'm the greatest!
stage 2. Hmm maybe I don't know it all
stage 3. omg I don't know anything / I really have a lot to learn

*learning phase*

repeat

Reef · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:09 am Post subject:

from another site: