KidPoker weighs in on the modern game and divides poker community.

Daniel Negreanu split the poker world this week when he used his Twitter account to express his opinion that winning at the game now is easier than in the late 90's.

The Canadian wrote that today's players should not be underestimated in terms of skill and dedication, but that it's easier to make it as a professional than before the internet.

As expected, the player's comments, since clarified in a blog, caused a bit of a stir between modern day players, both live and online, and the previous, pre-boom generation.

Rather than dismissing the modern era, the player explained that the reason so many players make a living from the game today is because there are many more things around to help them.

As a player that was making his breakthrough in the 90's, he outlines the differences, especially in resources, offered by the internet.

The boom in online poker was, Negreanu explains, "the best thing since sliced bread" for a player like himself at the time, as it allowed for convenient play and practise, particularly the increased number of hands available to play, as well as bringing in new money and a wealth of new players.

Modern day resources

Put Doyle Brunson at 40 against ANY of these kids at 25 with no internet. @TexDolly would just murder them and still does most of em'! — Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) May 22, 2016

While accepting increased participation has led to more complicated game theories, much of Negreanu's assessment boils down to the availability of resources now.

With online poker forums, tools, coaches, differing stakes and games and a general poker web presence, the internet changed everything and made the game more accessible.

In contrast, previous generations relied on street smarts to win live games in casinos with a sound hand knowledge and understanding of the game.

Hall of famer Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson, who was part of a sixties nomadic gambling group, was, as the player himself stated, part of a generation that hustled the game due to a lack of qualifications and had fewer options to make it in the world.

In contrast, as Negreanu explains, many of today's players are educated and have opportunities and access to good jobs.

Is KidPoker right, was it tougher to make it before the internet?

Peter Fryers One part sports betting, one part casino and one part poker, Pete is a journalist and online gaming content writer from the team's UK community. Twitter

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