Online Poker Players Vs. Online Poker Gamblers

Taking a lousy beat now and then is all in days work for a poker player who is either playing for a living or just grinding every night after the day job. But sometimes the severe player can go full on tilt when the 'gambler' at the table take chances on cards no semi-professional poker player would ever dream of. Then he hits his hand. Raging slope will then ensue, especially if the poker player folds a side that could have potentially beat the gambler. When that player tilts, the first act of rationalization is to attack the integrity of the software.

Some players make risky betting decisions that pay off due to pure luck. This does not evidence that a Random Number Generator (RNG) has been tampered with or that a cheat program is being used. No cheat programs exist that can reveal your hole cards to others or determine which cards will come up next on the board.

In the game of poker, some people play because they strive to win, while other players are there to gamble. Playing against gamblers is a very different experience from playing against poker players.

In general, poker players make logical choices, react to the odds, and get a feel for each opponent as the game progresses. Poker players make rational betting decisions and tend to enjoy poker the most when playing against like-minded players.

On the other hand, gamblers often chase through to the river card if there is even a small mathematical possibility of victory. For players, part of the thrill of winning comes from knowing they can win despite the odds being stacked against them. Hitting a miracle river card for a suck out the victory is much more satisfying than dominating an average, predictable hand. This makes gamblers' betting decisions frustrating for rational poker players who play by the odds.

Online players are free to adopt their style of play, and should not penalize other players, who may just be starting out, for taking unnecessary or seemingly senseless risks. Find a way to deal with the frustration of losing a hand when the 'poker player' played more skillfully than the 'gambler,' and leave the emotion out of it! Occasionally, even more than occasionally, these types of dangerous beats will always exist to remind us that poker, regardless of the skill involved, still contains a significant element of chance.