At what point are you just a gambler?

[Talking Poker]

I like the Sklansky quote. Yes, I realize in the short term, poker is gambling, but in the long run, I don't believe it is. There is no house edge. It is a beatable game of skill.

Regarding your question earlier Aeq, about me learning Triple Draw... How about an analogy?

Say you are a baseball player. Not one of the best in the world, but one of the best on your team. Sure, you have off days where you go 0-4, but by the end of the year, you know you'll hit .300 and make decent money.

For whatever reason (maybe you are in a slump, maybe you are bored, maybe you've just heard how cool it is), you pick up a basketball one day for the first time in your life. Turns out you really like it, and for being completely new to the sport, you think you're pretty good. So you decide to play for a while, practicing, and improving your game. Could you spend this same time playing baseball, knowing you are better at it? Sure....... but why not learn basketball too, in hopes of being one of the best in that sport someday as well? Especially if you are enjoying yourself along the way...........

Ok, this analogy has gotten a bit long winded, but hopefully you see the point I'm trying to make. And with different games of poker, a lot of the fundamentals are still there. Sure, you might not understand the nuances of a certain game, but concepts like aggression, pot odds, and so on - those are all useful tools that translate from game to game.