Is poker getting harder? What's your take?

[Alpha737]

Is poker getting harder… or are players just overthinking?

 

[wushibala]

Poker has become more aggressive — that’s probably the right way to put it. There are more tools for poker analysis now, but no matter what, the final decision is still up to the player.

 

[thwenth1983]

In my opinion, online poker is becoming more difficult. I started playing poker in 2018, and I have the impression that it was easier to make a profit back then. Of course, nowadays it is still possible to be profitable, but you have to dedicate a lot more time to studying and practicing. I believe the amount of information available today is huge, and more and more people are studying poker. The creation of poker teams has also contributed to this, making the game more competitive. At the micro stakes, I think the overall level has increased a bit, but it is still possible to make money, even with a certain degree of ease. However, as you move up in stakes, it becomes much, much harder. There are many poker teams and a large number of strong players who study a lot, which makes the games significantly tougher.

 

[black and]

I think poker is becoming more difficult precisely because players think too little. And so it is difficult for players who think to predict the actions of players who do not think.

 

[marco198121]

The same, poker doesn't change. People change.

 

[fernandofcp]

Access to information and opponent training makes poker more difficult every day. This significantly increases the average level of knowledge and strategy of players, even at amateur levels.

 

[GrannySmit77]

I think players have access to the same information, same training sites, they all use the same strategy. Everybody has gotten better. For small stakes players, online has become very difficult to make a profit. Better players play in live tournaments and cash games, so it's not as easy to make a profit and make a living out of poker. Unless you started a Youtube channel a decade ago like Brad Owen, or built a brand like Doug Polk, and then sell it to a big site, or represent a site like GG- like Daniel Negreanu, it's difficult to make money otherwise.

 

[hobojim1247]

I don't think it is getting harder. I think it is getting harder to adjust to the evolving strategies because one first has to understand new strategies before they can develop counter strategies. A lot of players don't want to put in the effort, they would rather live the life of a "professional " poker player.

 

[TheniT]

I don't think poker has become more difficult, but the way it's played has certainly changed; players are more aggressive today.

 

[Kasztor007]

I think it’s a bit of both.
Poker did get harder because there’s way more information and tools now, so the average player is more aggressive and more aware. At the same time, I also feel many players are overthinking spots where simple poker would work better.


At lower stakes especially, solid fundamentals, patience, and mental control still beat fancy lines. The game hasn’t become impossible it just punishes autopilot and emotional play more than before.

So for me it’s less about poker being “harder” and more about adapting without overcomplicating.

 

[padman400]

For me poker is harder than it was 10 years a go when I played a lot. Much more information and training sites now. The only people making it pay long term are the online rooms and the people flogging the poker training sites.

Fish do not stay fish for long these days

 

[chicbulls2]

no, we just get complacent a bit

 

[ankurdholakiya]

Poker is harder in terms of average skill, but a lot of players overthink and copy strategies without understanding them. Solid fundamentals and good adjustments still win, especially at lower stakes.

 

[hobojim1247]

I think it’s a bit of both.
Poker did get harder because there’s way more information and tools now, so the average player is more aggressive and more aware. At the same time, I also feel many players are overthinking spots where simple poker would work better.


At lower stakes especially, solid fundamentals, patience, and mental control still beat fancy lines. The game hasn’t become impossible it just punishes autopilot and emotional play more than before.

So for me it’s less about poker being “harder” and more about adapting without overcomplicating.

Absolutely, I agree on all points.

 

[andron205]

complete nonsense, poker is healthier than ever

 

[Nicolas Lacerda]

Is poker getting harder… or are players just overthinking?

poker has become tougher at many levels, and many players sometimes make it harder on themselves by overthinking.

 

[rufininha14]

To make a living from poker, I believe you have to invest in paid games. But if it's just for a hobby or to make extra income occasionally, you might play freeroll tournaments. However, to build a bankroll and live off poker, you undoubtedly have to play paid games.

 

[TulasMoreno]

Yes it is, because more players are now studying and learninr from other players and also using hubs and other tools to improve their game.

 

[Noobgila]

I think the biggest challenge with poker is staying sharp.
Once you understand how the game works, the typical patterns that people use to bet in, when they bluff, etc. I think its easy to become complacent and just make moves, without much thought.
Remember to slow down and think on every hand, snap decisions can often cost you.

 

[Cooking]

For me yes. I've started to play around 18 years ago and definitely poker was easier back then. For many reasons. The main reason for me we used to have many more good and trustable poker rooms available (like more than 20 poker rooms) - probably more players too?. Nowadays, we have like 4 or 5 good rooms. So, you don't have choice, you need to play in the same room as the regular players do (usually GG, PS, ACR, 888, PP), so, it's much more difficult to be profitable. Because you can be a good player, but you're probably playing against another player as good as you. I remember that when I started to play, the regular players used to play on Full Tilt. PS or Party Poker. You still had like 20 others rooms to choose and play with weaker players.

 

[Roller]

Poker is definitely getting harder, because more tools, solvers, and training resources mean the average skill level keeps rising, but at the same time, many players overthink situations, trying to be “perfect” instead of focusing on solid fundamentals and reading opponents.

 

[Julpukka]

Poker is always hard. Its not easy to not overthink, but try enjoy your gameplay and have fun. I think thats is most important

 

[BillyR23]

First of all, I want to agree with the members that said poker is in a good place 👍, still the poker skills of the average player increased by a lot in the last few years because of sites like CardsChat, the many learning tools available and the free content on YT/Twitch/Kick... So, IMO the games in general are harder to beat nowadays, especially if you are in a country with tough poker regulations(high taxes) and/or limited access to sites...

 

[dompoker]

For me the difficult part, when the flop falls, sometimes I manage to love a pair, it turns out that a high card has fallen on the table to the one I have, the opponent increased too much, that would be a good thing to think about, if I risk paying or better I retire.

 

[Phoenix Wright]

Is poker getting harder… or are players just overthinking?

If the average player gets better (as I believe they are), then "yes" the game is getting tougher. That being said, there's still a ton of mistakes the average player makes to still make the game profitable.