PRO CHAT TRANSCRIPT - April 7th 2007
QUESTION FROM Monti123: How is it possible that someone can become one of te best players in the world, even when someone only has played for two years or something (Brian townsend for instance), I mean with chess this would be impossible...
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Anyone with enough passion and dedication for the game can reach the very top level in a short time, therefore for someone like Brian with enough talent and dedication can easily reach a high standard after 2 years
QUESTION FROM KingKongKK: Hey Ben, I totally agree with you theoretically about poker being 100% skillful in the long-term. But practically does any player ever reach the long-term in his poker career to the point where luck plays no role whatsoever?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Good question, if you are already a winning player then the element of luck over a long period does not come in at all. We are talking about long term.
QUESTION FROM zimarilli: U think there is more skill or luck in PLO?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: The same applies although the fluctuations may differ between the 2 games, the final result will be the same.
QUESTION FROM mountain_goat: Any Suggestions on how to play small pocket pairs in early and late postions? Same with 7 8 9 and also Jacks the toughest of all.
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Pocket pairs are often useful when they turn into sets on the flop. Basically you need to work out that you can get at least 8.5 times your money back, if you can go for it.
QUESTION FROM smiley2448: Do you think some people are just "lucky" when sitting at the table?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Only in the short-run
QUESTION FROM WalkmanA: Hi Ben ! It's hard for me to handle long bad beat "series". My play changes too, when I had a lot of bad beats and play much worse. What's your suggestion to handle this problem ?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: When you're running bad the prime objective for you should be to play well. You need to make sure that you are capable of playing the very next hand well. If there is any chance of you doubting this in your mind then take a long break and return later.
QUESTION FROM cad115: ben would u rather pkay live or internet?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I think the quality of decisions in a live game is always going to be better than in internet games. I prefer the live games because of this very reason.
QUESTION FROM Patada Voladora: Hi Ben. Do you use poker thiniking schemes in other aspects of your life?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Yes I do. Being able to control your temper on a poker table,developing a long term vision and continuous learning are all major contributors for success in life.
QUESTION FROM pistol_pete8: i'm currently building my bankroll by playing sit and gos. What would you say is the minimum number of buyins I would need in my account?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Depending on your ablility, i would generally suggest 20 times your buy in for SnGs.
QUESTION FROM IplayforMOknee: Ben- Do you think poker being skill or luck is a big issue in the ban against internet poker being played in the US?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Yes it is a big issue, but unfortunately the politicians and members of juries are not poker players and their decisions are made as an observer rather than a winning player of the game.
QUESTION FROM VRod105: I have learned that Bad Beats happen, and have acquired an attitude to deal with them. But in light of that how can poker be 100% skill. Are you back to saying it all works out in the long term?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Yes it does, as long as you have a strong game.
QUESTION FROM spider sense: how long have you been playing?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Over 33 years
QUESTION FROM loki116: Do you nessarily need to play a lot of live poker in order to become a great player?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: No, not necessarily. You become more practised playing on the internet therefore improving at a more rapid rate.
QUESTION FROM addbball: Bankroll management is important in being successful as a professional gambler with any game. Since you define poker as a game of skill would you say that video poker, sports betting, and blackjack are all games of 100% skill?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: In general all the games in which your opponent is the casino you will lose at.
QUESTION FROM ICdedmoney: Hello Ben, what edge does a good tourney pro have over an average amateur in the WSOP ME?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: A good player will always have an edge over bad players whether it is a cash game or a tourny. The only difference is that with tournaments it takes a little longer for the profit to come in.
QUESTION FROM Watanga: Hi Ben, just wanted to ask you how can i learn to deal with long bad runs even being a winning player? I found very frustrating those streaks and they affect my confidence,even if im putting my money in with the best hand most of the time
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Visualising yourself as an overall winner before the game can be a great help in controlling your bad beats. Also remember that losing in a session or 2 is absolutley OK. Be confident in your game, concentrate on performing well.
QUESTION FROM RaulUrriola: Hi Ben ive been playing for 7 months and im doing great i started from $0 to almost 3k...how u use to handle with bad beats in ur early days?...it seems like the other players get paid by making mistakes
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: The other players will eventually get penalised for their mistakes. You duty is not to copy them and have faith.
QUESTION FROM roboem: is it not that the best players are the ones with the bankroll who can play more tourneys?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: The top 10% of pro players have 1 thing in common. They all started at the bottom 10%.
QUESTION FROM gambit333333: is it easy to make a living playing poker
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: You need passion because when you fall, which you will, your passion will energize you to move on. As long as it remains a labour of love its easy.
QUESTION FROM Stomplebane: Do you have any superstitions when you play poker?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: No I don't but i do believe in carrying a positive attitude.
QUESTION FROM tNaCarN: Hey ben, by playing AA-KK all in preflop does it reduce a bad beat :)
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: You may not lose with them as often but you're not necessarily making the maximum profit out of those hands over a long period of time.
QUESTION FROM beanrn: how can you learn how to play holdem when nunkle heads play like donkeys an play hands like 82 o an hit ?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Just play with better hands than 82o
QUESTION FROM gr1nd1n: You say poker is 100% skillful longterm... would u consider brian townsend "lucky" to reach such success in a short period of time then?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: No Brian is a highly skillfull player, who had practised an awful lot by playing between 60-70 hours every week, before you heard about him.
QUESTION FROM PHMERC: Ben I know you say luck doesn't matter, and in a lot of ways I agree. I play NL exclusively but there are times when I seriously wonder because the bad beats seem to roll on me all at once. It takes awhile for it to even out sometimes.
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: You said it yourself, " It takes awhile for it to even out sometimes."
QUESTION FROM MusHansen: in a big multi table tourney... would you get into a coin flip situation on the first hand? ie. AK vs 22 If yes... which hand would you prefer to have?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Yes i would, and I would rather have 22.
QUESTION FROM bigbluff85: Which game in your opinion has more skill Limit Hold em or No limit Hold em?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: No limit Hold'em is generally a richer and more profound game.
QUESTION FROM socalsuzi: tourney play question..would you advise to start aggressively or conservatively (sit back and learn about the other players)?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I prefer to start conservatively and gather as much information as I can, for future decisions.
QUESTION FROM ONOTHINGO: Hi Ben. Which do you think is the highest level of poker: the mathematical approach or using instinct and going with your gut feeling?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I would go with my instinct and my gut feelings, although a mathematical knowledge is needed to begin with.
QUESTION FROM portdeco20: pokers a game of skill. Its about playing your opponents and not your cards. Do you think this theory is correct?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Yes I do to an extent. Generally, when you know what your opponent holds, the rest is easy.
QUESTION FROM SNG Jedi: Hi Ben....what game(s) do you believe have the smallest variance in the long term i.e. Cash, MTTs, SNGs or do you believe it evens out the same for all in the end
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I do believe it evens out for all in the end.
QUESTION FROM Emart499: Hey Ben, what would you say to a player who constantly plays well and who always get his money in with the best hand outdrawn by a weak and horrible hand?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I would tell him to continue collecting those deals, because he will end up a rich man by the end of year.
QUESTION FROM pistol_pete8: Do even the best poker players experience alot of variance? Can they have a negative ROI over say one month of play?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: That is quite possible, although still unlikely for great players.
QUESTION FROM SlimPickins212: how long should you play at a table to over come the "luck' facter
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Normally 200-300 hours should take care of it.
QUESTION FROM tNaCarN: Yukon Brad's move all in on the flop vs ivey in last weeks HSP was risky do you think it was "skill" that he chose to move all in at that time or was it just a maniac move :)
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Without knowing the hands, it is difficult to answer the question.
QUESTION FROM smheilbron: why is JJ the worst hand in poker? arent they better then tens?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: JJ is not the worst hand in poker, just learning how to use it is the key.
QUESTION FROM yosoyveneno: Can a non-skilled player make money long term?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: No, they cannot.
QUESTION FROM Saphira II: Would you say luck plays a slightly bigger role online - since it's harder to "read" your opponents?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Only slightly
QUESTION FROM Frank The Bunny: Do you think the WSOP is losing significance because of the sheer size of the field and the luck it requires to make the final table...or do you think it is as vaild as ever?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Although it is more difficult to beat a large field in a tournament, on the other hand the rewards will be much higher.
QUESTION FROM TPro5: how much skill is it
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: 100%
QUESTION FROM payup99: are you a fulltime pro
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Yes, i have been a pro for over 33 years and winning every year.
QUESTION FROM burns1986: how sick were u when scotty cracked your aces at the world series in 98?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Not sick at all, I was happy that I had played well throughout the tournament, and I knew with that kind of performance my financial future was in tact.
QUESTION FROM mountain_goat: To clarify my PP question, I meant how so bet them preflop. Eaarly with small PP i call the BB. late or on the button I make a small raise to drive out the Samll and BB. Middle pair late, I may raise to isloate.
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: You can generally come in with a raise with 5 or 6 players in any position
QUESTION FROM BigDan30: Hi, Ben - You probably heard about the recent English crown court case in which a jury decided that poker is not a game of skill (but one that involves both luck and skill). Do you have any thoughts on that outcome?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Hello Dan, I wish I was in court that day to explain to the members of the jury that the game is 100% skillful
QUESTION FROM trustor: speaking about long-term... what is this really mean ... winning more than losing..winning 12345 hours out of the 15000 you've played .... getting a solid win eventually that makes up for bad runs (even though you were playing skillfully)
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Long-term means having more winning sessions than losing ones.
QUESTION FROM puma7995: Do you think a pro will win WSOP main event this year or a guy sitting at home right now?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Who knows.
QUESTION FROM jaydog2: DO u think books are required in this day in age in order to be a top poker player?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: They are certainly helpful to begin with.
QUESTION FROM Themistocles: since, at all sports, skill is what makes someone a champion,dont u think that the WSOP main event should be the HORSE 50K buy-in and not the NL HE 10K buyin? I believe much more skill is needed at HORSE than at NLHE
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I do not think that one tournament will determine the true champion, it does not matter which game is involved.
QUESTION FROM payup99: ben, how do you play against people who do not know how to fold and always catch cards no matter how good your hand is
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I can assure you that bad players do not always catch cards.
QUESTION FROM Antsu: what is the right table for beginner
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Play money games.
QUESTION FROM roboem: Is it not true that you could play technically perfect yet still lose?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Yes in the short term.
QUESTION FROM cad115: ben my bank roll is about 3k what do u think the best game is to play to increase that
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Test yourself in the smallest games to begin with, after passing the test of time, then maybe a 1-2 will be a suitable starting point.
QUESTION FROM ColorMeUp-com: When you sit down for a session, do you have a goal or let the table opportunities dictate this?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Just go with the flow.
QUESTION FROM jaydog2: Do you find live games easier them interenet games?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Yes I do.
QUESTION FROM Mr_Miraculous: when ur on a loosing streak how do you get cash besides loans?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I have never borrowed money to play in a poker game. I advise you not to take on the games beyond your financial reach.
QUESTION FROM HNRY_GONDORF: I have success at single table sng's but have had much less success with multi-table sng's. What tips can you provide?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: It is much easier to be successful in single table sng's than it is with multi-table ones.
QUESTION FROM Sick Reed: Do you have a stop lose rule when things are not going well?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: When things are going well, it would be wise to carry on playing, as it is likely you will be playing at your best and your opponents will be playing at their worst.
QUESTION FROM pistol_pete8: your advice on playing low stakes inexperienced players? Would you say tight agressive would be the best strategy?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Generally, playing tight but capitalising on the opportunities and picking your moments carefully will serve you well.
QUESTION FROM RazzBerry: Ben, what is the biggest difference in cash game play versus tournament play, in your opinion?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: You need to change gears in tournaments more often, whereas cash games do not necessiate this so much.
QUESTION FROM kyblue007: In regards to luck or skill. In Fulltilt, luck becomes more important on weekends as there are more inexperienced players online. Betting to the river with A rag or something similar. I usually move up in buy-ins on weekends. Sensible?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Hmmmmmmm
QUESTION FROM beanrn: skill has nothing to do with winning on ft cause they reward the bad players ,why is this?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: This is an illusion.
QUESTION FROM scatory: Do you prefer to multi-table online to offset the varience, or do you prefer to concentrate on one table.
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I prefer to concentrate on one table, if the object is producing best quality decisions.
QUESTION FROM JCorley: if you get out drown by the only card in the deck that can beat you multipal times how do you stay off tilt
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Just think that this is not the first time for a one-outer to beat you, nor is it going to be last time. It is all part of the package.
QUESTION FROM PHMERC: Hey Ben. There have been a million occaisons now where I have Ax suited and two cards of my suit drop on the flop but I don't get the third card to drop. This has been killing me. Am I overreating this scenario because I'm still on a draw?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Just relying on making the flush is not enough, you need to make moves with those hands pre-flop in order to make them more profitable.
QUESTION FROM scatory: Have you read Bill Chen's the MAthematics of Poker? If so, did you understand all the math jargon?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I looked through it and I understood some of it.
QUESTION FROM Lexigon_5: Hi Ben. Would you agree that the luck factor in poker increases the lower the level that you play at
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: No I do not. Although you may lose more often against bad players, the overall profit will be bigger for sure.
QUESTION FROM RenegadeX777X: Have you won any major tournaments?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I have won some tournaments is Europe.
QUESTION FROM scatory: In a sit'n go where you are the best player and no one folds, would you consider limping with all hands and out playing them after the flop an optimal strategy?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I would like to make the game bigger pre-flop with better hands and then take it from there.
QUESTION FROM GeorgeWalker: whom do u think is the best tournament player ever/now?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: It is hard to say.
QUESTION FROM mountain_goat: It frustrates me when people make make call when they should know from the betting that they have 3 or outs or worse they go all in with 2 or 3 and then hit. I would never do that (maybe if I was short stacked and pot commited)
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: You should be delighted if people make bad calls, not frustrated.
QUESTION FROM TheStrngr: In terms of general randomness, and card distrubution, how do you feel live and online differ?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: They are exactly the same.
QUESTION FROM pistol_pete8: How do you feel about minors taking up the game? With internet poker you now have a great number of teenagers playing poker.
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: My son and my daughter are learning the game and I don't see anything wrong with that.
QUESTION FROM spider sense: what would you say is the best way to improve your game (internet or live) to gain the best skill edge?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Internet can provide more concentrated practice over a short time.
QUESTION FROM RenegadeX777X: Do you think that some play money poker players can stand up to real money players and win?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Maybe.
QUESTION FROM steves0910: Ben, I was wondering how much a typical professional poker player earns in a year, and idea?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: A few 100 000 per year.
QUESTION FROM scatory: On the river, do you vary the size of your value bets and bluffs or do you keep them the same in relation to the pot?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: It varies.
QUESTION FROM demon1022: what kinda style do u prefer to play in nl cash games?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Tight and aggressive.
QUESTION FROM gr1nd1n: is it jus me or does it seem like there are more bad beats online??? is this b/c of the greater amount of hands you see online??
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: It does magnify itself, purely because you get more hands.
QUESTION FROM BRUSHAY: Do you think women have more luck at the tables , or are men more likly to win , i am a woman
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: They have the same.
QUESTION FROM Lexigon_5: I only play in tourney's and SNG never in cash games. I plan that it will always be this way. I play purely for the love of the game, not caring about winning lots of money. Will this attiitude limit me in terms of becoming a better player ?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Not at all.
QUESTION FROM spiget: Who do you think the better players are - tourney players or cash game specialists?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Great players are good at both.
QUESTION FROM wardogistheman: is it a bad call if you thing someone has AA and you call with 8harts 9harts?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: It depends how deep your stack is.
QUESTION FROM beanrn: KNOW I SEE ,THIS CHAT ROOM IS LIKE THE POKER SITE IT FAVORS ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE.
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Please repeat your question.
QUESTION FROM RenegadeX777X: Which style of play pays off more in the end tight aggressive or loose agressive?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Tight aggressive.
QUESTION FROM demon1022: besides nl he whats ur favorite game?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Pot limit omaha.
QUESTION FROM Legal Tender: Hey Ben, Do you think that bad beats have held back otherwise talented players from making the transition to playing professionally or are these players just not putting forth the effort and the time at the tables that is needed?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: More time and effort is helpful to produce positive results.
QUESTION FROM Race Driver M3: Ben, why do I constantly see the perfect bad turn /river combinations here on FTp that very rarely seem to hit in live poker? I realize , and fully believe, that the best players win in the long run.
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Bad rivers do not come forever.
QUESTION FROM brimick1287: I play only tournaments and I feel like I'm a very good player my ROI is about 100%, but I get very frustrated when I have a drought of even a few days of not making a final table, any advice?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: Just take it in your stride.
QUESTION FROM jaydog2: How did you learn to play poker correctly 33 years ago when there was so little info out about the game?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I just played and played and played with love of the game.
QUESTION FROM rock toker: Hi ben .. whats a good starting bankroll for 2 and 4 dollar blinds ?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: $5000
QUESTION FROM cprice2: How many hours a week of poker would you say you play?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: 30-40 hours.
QUESTION FROM OM and ID: Hi Ben, I've heard that you're part Iranian. Is this true? If so, is you mother or father Iranian?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I am in fact completely Iranian.
QUESTION FROM ICdedmoney: In what type of NL holdem is it the easiest or fastest to see if you're a winning player in the long run? Full ring games, 6-handed, heads up, STT, MTT?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: 6-handed games.
QUESTION FROM AceRockJ: Hi Ben, In your 33+ years of playing poker, whats been your longest downswing in terms of time?
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: 180 hours of breaking evens.
QUESTION FROM Setanta: Hey Ben do you ever think the day will come when poker will offically be recongnised as game of skill similar to chess for example
ANSWER FROM Ben Roberts: I hope so, it certainly deserves it. Thank you everyone for taking part in my chat show. I look forward to future chat shows soon. All the very best.