[wafflestomper]

Good question. In my mind (and I haven't thought this through much) the difference is that in basketball, I have a physical advantage. I am bigger. There is nothing he can do about being smaller. It's just a fact.

In poker, everyone is physically equal. The only thing that makes you different is your experiences and how you use what you have learned to your advantage.

Should a beginner beat an experienced player in basketball? No. Poker? Not unless they suck out. I suppose I could see someone arguing to beat them in poker, but to make it a close loss. But that can be a tricky thing to do, and I think the better lesson is that there is a lot of work ahead of you to be a good poker player. Again, I haven't thought this through a whole lot, so there may be some large and obvious holes in my thinking...