where have all the donks gone?

dooish · #1 (**permalink**) 04-21-2009, 09:16 PM

Anyone agree it's much harder now to win than about a year ago. Especially at the lower levels there seem to be far fewer bad calls made. The new player pool must be drying up and the donks have learnt to read poker books. Maybe it's me though that has become a despised donk. If I could read Rumainian I would know for sure.

khicks26 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-21-2009, 10:37 PM

i have to agree it is harder to win than a year ago. i think there are less new players, and people are just getting better.

but i do think that the play in tournaments is as bad, as it was. its just hard to win a tournament.

JCuervo · #3 (**permalink**) 04-21-2009, 10:54 PM

Dang, then you not playing at any of the tables I've been on lately. I've never seen so many people chase an inside straight draw or especially a flush draw no matter what the bet is. I sometimes feel like I got a sign on my screen saying...call him with any two cards...you'll win. Well it's not as bad as that, but almost...glad their not at your table though.

LyndaNova · #4 (**permalink**) 04-22-2009, 01:36 AM

In general I would have to agree that across the board, there are definitely less donkeys than a year ago.

But of course, this has an upside as well as a downside to it.

paussylover · #5 (**permalink**) 04-22-2009, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LyndaNova

In general I would have to agree that across the board, there are definitely less donkeys than a year ago.

But of course, this has an upside as well as a downside to it.

Yes agreed its somewhat differant as for freerolls and tourneys than it was just one yr ago ,,there are still sites where the romainians out # all the players from other country`s combined .I just go somewhere else to play ,as posted by mee before ,i`m Irish and have a short temper for stupid pot buyers .

willie beaman · #6 (**permalink**) 06-28-2009, 04:55 PM

It maybe due to all of the poker resources available now. With everyone starting to study the game more, better play has resulted. The good thing stemming this is now there's better play.

Terminal Frost · #7 (**permalink**) 06-28-2009, 05:38 PM

You have to be kidding! Try a few freerolls. A few years ago, I could regularly cash in public freerolls. Not anymore. Its donkalicious out there.

Chasing is an epidemic and unfortunately seems to get rewarded more often than the odds would imlply. Even the forum freerolls are overrun with donk play. Players are playing 4 or more at the same time and just overplay their hands hoping to get lucky and when they do, those are the ones they concentrate on.

nb1961 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-28-2009, 06:13 PM

The donks are alive and well and playing in the games that I'm in. As Terminal Frost says I think there are a far greater number of very bad players in the freeroll/low buy in games that they are getting more and more difficult to win. You need a large slice of luck and good cards to stand any chance of getting a decent pay off.

I agree it's nice to have a few donks around when you are getting cards but if your card dead it's just a misery sitting there folding hand after hand watching your chip stack dwindle because you know any bluff you make is going to get called.

So if you want donks look in any $1 to $5 buy in they have to put stables in the lobby there are so many of them

PokerJonny · #9 (**permalink**) 06-29-2009, 10:22 AM

I do not play micro-stakes or freerolls (I only play games with greater than $20 buy in).

As the OP stated it is certainly the case that poker is becoming harder to beat.

Far more players know how to play correctly, and this can make alot of games unprofitable.

I play alot of SnGs and it seems even if a player does not understand ICM (alot do) then at least they have a good understanding of overall game strategy.

The reason for this is summed up by Willie Beaman above

NB:
All of the above comments about 'more donks = harder to win games' are so far off the mark I would not know where to start!!

How can any player make a statement like this?

nb1961 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-29-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PokerJonny

All of the above comments about 'more donks = harder to win games' are so far off the mark I would not know where to start!!

How can any player make a statement like this?

Well lets see how about simple maths for a start

Chances of AA winning against 1 player 88%

Chances of AA winning against 4 players 68%

If you get more players calling regardless of what they hold it is harder to win the hand. when you play micro games it happens all the time that you put in a large 5 or 6 times BB raise and get 4 or 5 callers who don't care that they are holding crap cards. They stand as much chance as you do of hitting the flop. In your $20 game your raise may get respect, if you miss your c-bet may get respect or your 3 bet may get respect. In micro games it will get none. Therefore I stand by what I say more donks harder to win.