It's not about the money

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marcoslopezbl

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I've played poker for as long as I can remember.

From the home gatherings in my early teens to sneaking inside the local casino before I was 18. From the early days of virtual poker rooms to the mind-blowing reality that online poker has become.

All along, the tantalizing dream of earning our living by virtue of our superior poker skills kept us moving forward. We grew up believing we had a serious shot at building a decent bankroll, and someday taking the big leap to the world stage.

Like all hard truths in life, this one hit hard. Santa Claus doesn't exist, no one is THAT great in bed and you're probably not making it to the WSOP this year.

Or ever.

Still. We keep grinding. And, even though I'm sure that some players are still awaiting that blinding strike of luck that will catapult them out of oblivion, most of us have found a comfortable space in our daily tables.

So, what is it that keeps us glued to our seats for days on end? Is it the thrill of peeking at pocket rockets? Is it the satisfaction of winning a huge pot? The relief of recovering your foothold after a series of bad beats?

Sting once wrote that we "deal the cards to find the answer, the sacred geometry of chance" and although some of you might disagree with the concept, he got one idea right.

It's not about the money.
 
Branimir84

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It is true for a lot of players including my self, but do not underestimate how many poker wishful there are who dream of making it money wise in poker.

I actually think they are in the majority.
 
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marcoslopezbl

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Branimir84 said:
It is true for a lot of players including my self, but do not underestimate how many poker wishful there are who dream of making it money wise in poker.

I actually think they are in the majority.
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I believe we all started with that idea branded inside our brains. And I still find players who are younger than me (most players are younger than me TBH) with that kind of drive. In my case, I enjoy the feeling of pushing my brain to the task of building the best possible mathematical model and testing it at the tables. I'm really into the "study, formulate strategy, test strategy, get results, improve" cycle. I'm assuming most of those who'll agree with me are no rookies either. What is it that keeps you coming back?

:)
 
acidburnfx

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Hello Marcos, welcome to Cardschat! Those are the mysteries of life. Perhaps it is the hidden law of an interconnected Universe that makes it work even if the fit is not perfect.
 
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tuku222 said:
pienso que el factor economico en el poker le pone un condimento especial, quien no quiere vivir del deporte que le apasiona, pero tambien me gusta mucho jugar con amigos y flia. el poker es una forma de vida , el dinero es relativo.:cool:
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I believe It's hard to find games with the massive reach of poker that haven't turned into money-oriented businesses. Still, we'd still play football and make music even if we were sure we'd never make a dime doing it. I believe poker is in the same category. Although money is a central element of its existence, it has always transcended that. The desire to cash in is not the #1 reason that keeps us here.
 
Mohamed48

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What can I say: I learned the principles of playing poker inside the casino by virtue of my hesitation from time to time to play roulette, and the thing I learned was playing for profit because I realized that it was better for me to play against the person and not a programmed machine. But with the passage of days, I started to adore poker with its fun, and it was a major reason for me to quit playing roulette, actually playing poker is not related to money and it is difficult to reach this point. .
 
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i play microstakes ($0-$1) mtts because i enjoy the thrill of tournaments, but i also play because i enjoy making money.
 
Psyanide14

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Yeah to me it definitely more of a hobby and something to pass the time. Having the CardsChat freerolls available is a huge bonus and allows me to play some real money micro tournaments as well as occasionally cashing out for $100 or so. Bit of fun and bit of money..not many other things allow both. Have fun!
 
Garfield52

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For me it is certainly NOT about the money. I just play online poker for the fun of it and to pass the time. I have never won much more than $20 in a tournament. I just love the challenge of trying to beat the other players.
 
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For me online poker is mostly about the money, live poker is about the fun, specially when you are playing with friends.
 
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marcoslopezbl

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Mohamed48 said:
What can I say: I learned the principles of playing poker inside the casino by virtue of my hesitation from time to time to play roulette, and the thing I learned was playing for profit because I realized that it was better for me to play against the person and not a programmed machine. But with the passage of days, I started to adore poker with its fun, and it was a major reason for me to quit playing roulette, actually playing poker is not related to money and it is difficult to reach this point. .
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I quit all casino games (roulette, BJ, craps) shortly after I turned 20. I have no problem tagging along a group of friends and trying our luck at any of those but I no longer play them systematically. Poker for me is different, though. I don't claim to be an enlightened soul who has found the hidden Zen balance in the game, but it's nice to hear from people who understand that, while there will always be money involved, we play for something else.
 
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Money?

marcoslopezbl said:
I believe we all started with that idea branded inside our brains. And I still find players who are younger than me (most players are younger than me TBH) with that kind of drive. In my case, I enjoy the feeling of pushing my brain to the task of building the best possible mathematical model and testing it at the tables. I'm really into the "study, formulate strategy, test strategy, get results, improve" cycle. I'm assuming most of those who'll agree with me are no rookies either. What is it that keeps you coming back?


:)
Click to expand...

I lived the life of a professional poker player back in the 80's. We were called the 0ne-percenters. I'd have to say it was a combination of the love for the game and the money, but I don't care to ever return to that lifestyle.

For me now, as you say macroslopezbl, I'm in agreement with the
"study, formulate strategy, test strategy, get results, improve" cycle. And I'm writing a book about winning micro SnGs. It's not that I think I'm such a great player, but I tend to write about anything that interests me and I haven't seen any books written specifically for the micro games, and these are the games most players begin playing in. And yes, though it'd be rare any of them will rise to stardom stratus, some will rise to make a decent living at it if they so desire.


The money? No, I don't even need the money anymore.


May the poker gods favor your journey.​
 
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Hsac said:
I lived the life of a professional poker player back in the 80's. We were called the 0ne-percenters. I'd have to say it was a combination of the love for the game and the money, but I don't care to ever return to that lifestyle.

For me now, as you say macroslopezbl, I'm in agreement with the
"study, formulate strategy, test strategy, get results, improve" cycle. And I'm writing a book about winning micro SnGs. It's not that I think I'm such a great player, but I tend to write about anything that interests me and I haven't seen any books written specifically for the micro games, and these are the games most players begin playing in. And yes, though it'd be rare any of them will rise to stardom stratus, some will rise to make a decent living at it if they so desire.


The money? No, I don't even need the money anymore.


May the poker gods favor your journey.​
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Thanks for taking the time to read my banter, Hsac. I'm a poker atheist, maybe I've spurned the gods and that's why I win so rarely.

I love the fact that you're writing a book about Poker while at the same time admitting it stopped being about the money long ago. I'd love to know what aspects of that lifestyle are those which you "don't care to ever return to." I believe I remember reading in one of Brunson's books that casino touring in the '80s was very physically and mentally taxing.
 
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playing poker is pure dopamine. each hand that is won by playing is a jet of dopamine in the veins that brings the false feeling of having won something valuable, but it is mostly false because the only reward (in the case of sng) is when it arrives at ITM. it is the same to play games of chance like those machines in the casinos, they are programmed to almost always hit the 3 numbers and miss the last, but this from the same "almost won and got rich" sentence that forces the person to play again and again again, until they lose everything.


it may really not be about money, but surely it is about filling a void within ourselves, about taking stress out of a tiring day at work. The same neurotransmitters are activated in poker, sugar, when they smoke cigarettes, when they drink a drink or use a drug or when we play online games, if we don't take care without realizing we take hostages from these mundane things.
 
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marcoslopezbl

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bempassado said:
playing poker is pure dopamine. each hand that is won by playing is a jet of dopamine in the veins that brings the false feeling of having won something valuable, but it is mostly false because the only reward (in the case of sng) is when it arrives at ITM. it is the same to play games of chance like those machines in the casinos, they are programmed to almost always hit the 3 numbers and miss the last, but this from the same "almost won and got rich" sentence that forces the person to play again and again again, until they lose everything.


it may really not be about money, but surely it is about filling a void within ourselves, about taking stress out of a tiring day at work. The same neurotransmitters are activated in poker, sugar, when they smoke cigarettes, when they drink a drink or use a drug or when we play online games, if we don't take care without realizing we take hostages from these mundane things.
Click to expand...


Hey Bempassado! Thanks for taking the time to read my post. One of my best friends and godfather to my son is a neuroscientist and has books on the search for dopamine "hits." He even wrote full chapters about the non-existence of love which were markedly unpopular with his wife. I won't disagree with you, but would it be strange to say that poker, in my case is more a source of relaxation than one of excitement?
 
VVi10

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Yes, I agree that. This type of thing, the important is about have fun and do it your best as playing, will have a great chance to bring good things and not always about money, but general learning
 
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marcoslopezbl said:
Thanks for taking the time to read my banter, Hsac. I'm a poker atheist, maybe I've spurned the gods and that's why I win so rarely.

I love the fact that you're writing a book about Poker while at the same time admitting it stopped being about the money long ago. I'd love to know what aspects of that lifestyle are those which you "don't care to ever return to." I believe I remember reading in one of Brunson's books that casino touring in the '80s was very physically and mentally taxing.
Click to expand...


Hi again, thanks for asking.

I had a wonderful wife and four sons. Problem is I was always on the go, always hustling. I hate to admit I missed a good portion of my sons growing up, but I had to keep hustling to keep us in the lifestyle we were accustomed. I even got a pilot's license and bought a Cherokee to fly back and forth between Vegas and Reno and Southern California. It wasn't just the casino touring, but I was mostly looking for high stakes private games. Brunson was right, it was a hard life.

I think I mentioned this somewhere on the forum before, but then disaster struck in the early nineties. My 15 year-old son committed suicide. After that my heart wasn't in it anymore. My wife and I separated. I handed over my bankroll so they could continue to live in comfort, and then I lived in the streets for about a year until we reconciled. After we got back together I had no desire to spend that much time away from my family, or ever have to hustle like that again.
 
jeanpierre1279

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It really is a big mystery. But I think first because it is a game you should like it and how to play football or basketball while you are able to play you play.

Second, any game that involves money up to even or odd with a friend makes the game more engaging and keeps you playing longer until you have some advantage, even if illusory.

Third, the dynamics of the game behind the cards make us have the distinct impression that it is a game of minds and you ask yourself, why can't I play better than the villain? and that challenge goes up to you to prove it, over and over again.

Fourth and I think last, instead of you betting on lotteries because it's not a game that involves luck, but that involves some technique? the odds are much better.

About surviving the game, I believe it is possible but as long as you play higher levels where the moves are sharper than your professional level
 
Igorek1313

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only in money. the game itself is also attractive.
 
ToNy70929

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The game of poker has always caused a desire to win and get rich. A good dream that still remains just a dream:)
 
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marcoslopezbl

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Hsac said:
Hi again, thanks for asking.

I had a wonderful wife and four sons. Problem is I was always on the go, always hustling. I hate to admit I missed a good portion of my sons growing up, but I had to keep hustling to keep us in the lifestyle we were accustomed. I even got a pilot's license and bought a Cherokee to fly back and forth between Vegas and Reno and Southern California. It wasn't just the casino touring, but I was mostly looking for high stakes private games. Brunson was right, it was a hard life.

I think I mentioned this somewhere on the forum before, but then disaster struck in the early nineties. My 15 year-old son committed suicide. After that my heart wasn't in it anymore. My wife and I separated. I handed over my bankroll so they could continue to live in comfort, and then I lived in the streets for about a year until we reconciled. After we got back together I had no desire to spend that much time away from my family, or ever have to hustle like that again.
Click to expand...


I'm really sorry about that, Hsac. I'm new to the forums and never read about your son. Although I probably would never read a technical manual on micro SNG, I would definitely be interested in the memoirs of an 80s hustler. Hope you are thinking of including some of that in the book you're writing.
 
Deedgee

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The 'It's not about the money" blurb applies to gambling as a whole. Even when you win, you know that you're going to put it all back. As far as poker, I think that the appeal is the excitement of anticipation and the unknown, just waiting for something to happen.
 
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