Motives

Assume that money is not the only reason that you play poker, that there are other reasons that draw you to the game. Which of the following would be your primary motive for playing poker and how do you think these motives impact your game:


Most of the motives listed are taken from the book The Psychology of Poker by Alan Schoonmaker in strategic consultation with David Sklansky.

Sense of accomplishment from winning would be second to money, for me.
Then test myself against a competitive challange.
socializing pops up every once in a while and I sure look forward to relaxing at a game after tough day at work.

And I suppose that I feel like a bit of a reble (it's good to have a cause) in that I only know one co-worker that plays poker and a friend who plays but other than that most of the people that I interact with outside of poker don't really understand that it is not all mobsters who play...

i was hoping for a all of the above choice hehe..... so i picked other

bump for the new members

"Fun" seems to be missing - ?!?

Sure, I play for a lot of the other reasons too. But if poker weren't fun, the other reasons wouldn't be enough for me to bother with it.

I picked Test self against competitive challenge.

But I gotta agree with Oz. Fun is the primary reason I play poker - some nights when I lose a little at the table I always tell myself that I'd have spent about as much on a big night out on the town and probably wouldn't have had nearly as much fun.

I play because I want to learn the game. The money is ok but becoming a great player is what motivates me to keep playing.

I would check more than one. I'm sure most people would.

Good point. Having more fun playing poker is one of my goals for October
I wasn't thinking too much along the lines of having fun when this was first posted.

Maybe a mod can adjust the poll

All of the above depending on who I'm playing.

That makes it easier to switch up my game.

I like the challenge of a tournament, hate getting over a bad beat though, but motivates to beat those people after

in the parking lot? or at the tables

What motivates you to play poker?
Prove you're a winner
Not really, maybe partly to myself, but if it's true it's far down on the list.

Socialize, meet people
This is a benefit, but I wouldn't call it a reason I play

Relax
Yeah right, poker is fun, but it isn't exactly relaxing

Get excitement of risk
No, if this is a main reason, you probably have a gambling addiction

Test self against competitive challenge
This is a lot of it for me, fun competition

Sense of accomplishment from winning
I do get a sense of accomplishment when I win, but it's hardly the reason I play

Pass time
To the extent that I have to fill the time somehow, and poker's the best way to fill the time I end up playing poker

Escape pressures of job and/or family
Gambling addiction? Poker should not be an escape.

It's just the money, really...
Money is certainly a perk

Other, please list below



I play because the game is fun. It helps in all walks of life mostly with decision-making and problem-solving. I've found I'm pretty decent at it and it's a lot of fun to play, and I have a long way to go, but I'm willing to work to get better. I hope to get to the point where I can depend on it for at least a secondary income (spending money ). If any of these reasons were the only reason, I don't think poker would be worth it. I don't know how anyone can be good at poker without at least somewhat enjoying the game. Sure plenty of people do jobs they don't like, but poker is something you have to be engaged in, and someone who dislikes the game and just does it for the money will probably find they aren't getting much money. Anyway, that's all I have to say for now. It's getting late and I'm tired.

Very good answer.
Cheers

A mix of all of the above, but you didn't even have fun as one of the options.....I play poker for fun + money + meeting people mostly.

Fun was Covered in the previous posts in the thread

for fun

i checked the other option...

even though you said money cant be one of my motives, well, it is.





but in all seriousness, i like to challenge myself and my friends, and then that escalated to other players, which escalated to the whole money thing stated above ^^^^^

i forgot the fun, not the money--see option nine

I think that with the exception of the hobbiest, that must poker players are drawn by the money. But if money is the only reason someone is playing, I think that they would make a very volitile opponent.
Cheers