Biggest Misconceptions

I just saw the newest High Stakes Poker... and they asked the players what the biggest misconceptions about poker are. I would like to know what the CC community thinks the biggest Miscon's are. I'd like to hear the biggest from inside the poker community and from the general public at large. If you'd like to also address how the poker community could address these misconceptions if it would be in the communities interest... then feel free to add that on. Maybe addressing some of the misconceptions would help to legitimize our industry and add some credibility to our regulatory cause.

STIX

To me (and i think someone said it on the show) it's that you have to play the cards to win.

Poker doesn't need credibility, we have eachother.

A world of poker love!

+1!

But aside from that, I believe the biggest misconseption is that poker is gambling, like bingo and slots.

There is an element of luck, but IMO poker is a skill game.

Except PLO, then it's all bs luck.

Tom Dwan once said something like, "I hate folding. You can't win if you fold."
I got a kick out of that.

I mention some of the misconceptions I see in online poker here.

One misconception is that you have to play alot of poker to make alot of money. I have days where I play for 8 hrs. and barley make anything. I`ve also had days where I can only play for an hr. or so and have had some of my biggest wins.

The only misconception that I've come across that bothered me at all, was that some people seemed to think that, after I told them that I play poker, they think I'm some problem gambler... which is totally not true at all lol.

The biggest misconception is that people think it is so easy to win a lot of money in poker but the truth is that it takes hard work. It also bothers me when people consider poker a "luck" casino game, and connect that with gambling problems. When in reality its the only casino game where you can control your odds of winning

The cards certainly help. And if you dont play the cards its pretty easy to lose.

That playing poker is easy-no effort at all, and it is all luck.

Biggest misconception is being labeled and looked at as some kind of drug addict or drunk and not really getting the respect you deserve for all the long hours, effort and hard work you put into your game. Until you turn pro or take down a major tournament then they'll respect you.

this is so true, happens to me every single time i tell someone i play poker, especially friends and family.

this couldn be any more spot on. My mom let me use her credit card to deposit $50 2 years ago...obviously i blew it because i took it all to one table and since than she knows i play poker and she hates it..calls me an addict n shit.

little does she know there will be a check comin in the mail for $350 woot woot....what do u think of ur son now mom haha

I think theres a lot of misconceptions the general public have about poker

1 Its all or mostly luck like other casino games like roulette.
2 Playing poker is easy and people do not work hard to excel.
3 The poker scene is very connected to the Mafia and crime.
4 Poker players are mostly problem gamblers, alcoholics and drug takers.
5 Poker players are mostly not very nice people.

The biggest misconception is that it is more skill than luck. Isn't there luck/ bad luck involved with the deal of each and every card? If you get dealt A Q it's only a good hand because other players did NOT get dealt AA, KK, or QQ, for example. You can get paid off eventually if you practice at making good decisions, but your luck has to hold up at some point. Luck (bad luck) is always the big winner. It is constantly at play with every single card. Skill helps you to recognize probable outcomes if you play a hand a certain way, but you still have to rely on luck (bad luck) that the cards will behave somewhat according to the laws of probability.

Nah --the people who have a real issue with poker as gambling will just see that as luck, just as if you win big at slots. They still have no respect and remain wary. They might respect the money, but expect you to lose it right away. To my friends who think poker is gambling, a big win would worry them. Not that they seem to have much to worry about.

You forgot to mention that it's evil!!

I seem to remember that one of the misconceptions mentioned was that there is some trick to playing poker, some secret, and once you learn it, you will win. And I thought: darn! There isn't?

HAHA. Yeah that was a really interesting point. I thought it was especially interesting to look at a misconception within the poker community as opposed to looking at one from outsiders looking in.

Stix

1 Statement: Poker is a luck based game.

That skill is what you need to win the WSOP Main Event, and that winning the Main Event means you're a highly skilled player.

You can win and be bad??? NO WAY. (sarcasm)

That one is a trip. I don't know how many times I've watched C-Money play and just been shaking my head. I mean Joe Cada always got his money in when he was ahead... right? lol

Stix

Exactly.

Raise one million IMO

Winning the WSOP is an accomplishment but it does not mean you are an elite player by any means.

Biggest misconception: it's a luck game (from the viewpoint of non-poker players of course). Unfortunately, there is a lot of luck and variance, but there is a reason why some are considered the best in the world. If you play it right, you consistently win

Well, there's a grain of truth to that. No matter what you're like away from the table, you have to be hard-hearted when you're at the table. The fish you're fleecing might be a problem gambler and you might be winning his food money, but if you let that consideration affect your thinking, you're not going to be profitable. But that doesn't mean you're going to behave the same way in every context. Poker players are like all other groups--some are nice, some are downright rotten, and the bulk have good and bad aspects to their personality and character.

buttgirl