What's the Biggest Advantage Pros Have Over Rec Players?

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teepack said:
This will not be a popular answer amongst people who consider themselves pros, but I think the biggest advantage for pros is bankroll. They are in it for the long haul and have the ability to sustain losses that Rec players simply don't have. That gives them the ability to play a little more aggressively compared to Rec players.

When I play a live tournament at one of the WSOP Circuit stops, I scrimp and save to scrape together the buy-in. I use my hotel points to get a free room at a hotel with free breakfast (and I take yogurts and milk cartons and the small boxes of cereal back to my room for dinner), I pack a lunch for the five-hour drive to the casino, and I only bring enough money for one bullet plus another $100 to play some $1-$2. That naturally affects my playing style. I'm not going to risk my stack 40 minutes into the tourney to try a bluff, or call off half my stack chasing a flush on the second level.


Pros, however, bring enough cash to play multiple events. They are more than willing to chase and bluff early in a tournament to try to build a big stack and take advantage of us tight Rec players. If they bust, it's part of the cost of the business they are in. They'll fire another bullet or wait for the next event.
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I've seen enough wealthy folks sit down in televised events to say I disagree with you. They sometimes hold their own for a while, but over time they get their asses handed to them by the pros. Sorry, it ain't the money.
 
Mindset...

Pros think more about the hand and are more business like about poker

Rec players think about cashing instead of wining.
 
teepack said:
This will not be a popular answer amongst people who consider themselves pros, but I think the biggest advantage for pros is bankroll. They are in it for the long haul and have the ability to sustain losses that Rec players simply don't have. That gives them the ability to play a little more aggressively compared to Rec players.

When I play a live tournament at one of the WSOP Circuit stops, I scrimp and save to scrape together the buy-in. I use my hotel points to get a free room at a hotel with free breakfast (and I take yogurts and milk cartons and the small boxes of cereal back to my room for dinner), I pack a lunch for the five-hour drive to the casino, and I only bring enough money for one bullet plus another $100 to play some $1-$2. That naturally affects my playing style. I'm not going to risk my stack 40 minutes into the tourney to try a bluff, or call off half my stack chasing a flush on the second level.

Pros, however, bring enough cash to play multiple events. They are more than willing to chase and bluff early in a tournament to try to build a big stack and take advantage of us tight Rec players. If they bust, it's part of the cost of the business they are in. They'll fire another bullet or wait for the next event.
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So....you are describing yourself as a player who plays tournaments and cash games that he's not properly bankrolled for.

Furthermore you claim that the pro's advantage is that he IS properly bankrolled for the tables that he plays at.

Hmmmm…. I think you answered your own question.

Scared money can't win consistently.

If you won that wsop Circuit event then would you immediately begin playing $50/$100 stakes cash games? I hope not.

Good luck !
 
Knowledge, Fear and bankroll.


Knowledge, well everyone should know it's value.
Fear can cause illogical decisions and over exaggeration of your opponent.
With risk tolerance, a person can play multiple situations the exact same and benefit in the long-run, despite any short-term loss. Bankroll affords this.


Draws can be weary to the little guy because any misfortune may take them out the game.
 
playing a lot

my answer is repetition is the biggest advantage they have.
 
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Situational plays. They have seen so many situations over and over and over, they know how to play them better than everyone else and can get a better read on everyone than we can on them.
 
They have the advantage of spending time at poker tables and if they have a strong balance, they can afford more ways to attack.
 
Biggest Advantage Pro Players have over Recreational Players is Experience... and maybe a little more patience?

There are some Recreational players that could pay in and re-buy as much as any Pro Player But Where a Pro Will Have them Beat is in the Experience Department for sure...

Hmmm I Wonder if Bill Gates plays Poker?
 
Ryan Laplante said:
Strong fundamentals and lots of experience.
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One need not read any further, just pay attention to the person who has "been there, done that". Many recreational players do their research and reading...most do not. One can gain a great deal of experience from playing, but if you do not read or study hands online, you are limited in your knowledge growth to only your own experiences. Learn from others, especially the pros who have already shown they can succeed.

Ryan, thanks for contributing to Cardschat, and good luck in your future tournaments.
 
Inequitas said:
Biggest Advantage Pro Players have over Recreational Players is Experience... and maybe a little more patience?

There are some Recreational players that could pay in and re-buy as much as any Pro Player But Where a Pro Will Have them Beat is in the Experience Department for sure...

Hmmm I Wonder if Bill Gates plays Poker?
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Discipline and Bankroll Management come to mind. Pros pinpoint that moment when to strike and scarf your chips and they know when to lay down a strong hand even with the laws of probability in their advantage, ie bankroll stack point...
 
The ability to exploit weaker players, thats the only way to win in the long run.
 
teepack said:
This will not be a popular answer amongst people who consider themselves pros, but I think the biggest advantage for pros is bankroll. They are in it for the long haul and have the ability to sustain losses that Rec players simply don't have. That gives them the ability to play a little more aggressively compared to Rec players.

When I play a live tournament at one of the WSOP Circuit stops, I scrimp and save to scrape together the buy-in. I use my hotel points to get a free room at a hotel with free breakfast (and I take yogurts and milk cartons and the small boxes of cereal back to my room for dinner), I pack a lunch for the five-hour drive to the casino, and I only bring enough money for one bullet plus another $100 to play some $1-$2. That naturally affects my playing style. I'm not going to risk my stack 40 minutes into the tourney to try a bluff, or call off half my stack chasing a flush on the second level.

Pros, however, bring enough cash to play multiple events. They are more than willing to chase and bluff early in a tournament to try to build a big stack and take advantage of us tight Rec players. If they bust, it's part of the cost of the business they are in. They'll fire another bullet or wait for the next event.
Click to expand...


Throughout my years of playing poker on bothsides of the coin, ill tell you the answer. The answer is PATIENCE. A pro who just got a sick cooler can smile, re-up and toss in the big blind and is ready to go. Knowing a sick cooler = a fish is ready to gamble against his odds. Knowing that although he lost, his chips is at the hand of someone he can get back.

A rec player, who in the same spot, who go on TILT, re-up, and forget what he knows is good poker and now gambles in spot he knows is not sound poker but has big pays. He can win his money back, or go broke again.

I know this because I've been on both sides of the coin.

Good Luck!
 
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I want everyone who replied EXPERIENCE to be careful with that thought. It seems obvious but the answer is not the case. If its experience, then whoever been playing poker the longest is obviously the better player. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE.

there a bunch of young pros on pokerstars who is crushing the game where people who have played for 10 years + can't even touch. Obviously its not experience, but talent and dedication.

Experience is good but also if led to pride, can be one's downfall. The feeling of you having more experience and that you deserve to win, can cause frustration and lead to tilting.

Always study this game, be humble, and you will go far.

GOOD LUCK!
 
I have always asked myself the same question and yet I give the answer when I face them in KO tournaments, the benefits are immense
 
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