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Originally Posted by truesyalose
Yes and all of the instances you listed would force players to adjust and learn the best way to play that game. My main point is that everyone would be better off working on improving their game instead of taking to the forums to cry and make excuses for why they can't win/don't win as much as they use to. I just started shortstacking and honestly didn't realize it was hated so much (I've never paid attention to cash games) so I'll adjust and honestly don't care that much but I think most ppl itt are comical and need to look at what is really their problem.
Well, the good players could adjust, but the problem with these examples is that it "cheapens" the game, it allows luck to play a bigger part in those games, and it lessens the ability for the best players to truly rise above the rest. It dums down the game, but most importantly, it makes it easier for people who have put very little effort into the game to compete on an even footing withe people that have devoted their lives to mastering the game. Those types of games typically are a short fad and then die out because one cannot truly master the game, or if they do, what's the point, they're hardly better than the people that started last week and read a one page sheet on how to play. It would be like forcing Tiger Woods to play Put Put golf, why would he want to, why would he have devoted so much effort into the game, the answer is he wouldn't.
You seem like a reasonable guy and you said you just started learning the game. Be glad that PokerStars made a change that should strengthen the game you just starting putting effort into, because if it is dumbed down too much, it would no longer be a skill game and would not be worth learning other than pure entertainment from time to time, it couldn't be learned at all, it would be all or nearly all luck, there would be no "adjustment" like you're suggesting even possible.
Finally, there's one last thing that makes poker even MORE susceptible to having the game watered down. I discussed that all of those examples I gave bring more luck into the game, but I was talking about highly skilled games where the element of luck is very low and the cream rises to the top quickly as they're currently structured. Poker ALREADY has a huge element of luck and it's what makes the earning potential of the game good, it is a big reason why the game has become so popular, the armchair warriors at home can compete for a bit against the best. The problem is, it already has so much luck built into the game, it can't afford more to be added, it's in a good place already, or at least was before the SS'er/online strat caught on, the game can't afford to become more watered down, we don't need to lessen the skill gap any at all and that is what the SS strategy was doing.
Pokerstars has made a great change for the longevity of the game so that we can all play it at the level we're at but can all devote much time to mastering it if we want and not "waste" our time in that endeavor because our time will be well spent and rewarded, this is what is REALLY important about this change they made. Thanks again Pokerstars!