For the Love of Poker

LarkMarlow

LarkMarlow

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Several months ago a dealer in one of the riverboat rooms, who has become a good friend of mine, said that one of the things she first noticed from the time she started working there was how much I love poker. I was kind of taken aback and laughingly asked "Does it show that much?!" She laughed too and replied "Sure does. So tell me, why do you? Is it the strategy? Is it the game itself? The competition? Going up against the guys?!" I thought for a minute and then said, "You know what? It's all that and so much more. The culture, the community, and even the controversy."

Since that conversation, I started to give a lot of further thought to her question and began to jot down notes and collect quotes.

In the book Risky Business, by A. Avarez, a quote about the poker community by Eric Drache describes part of why I love this aspect of the game. He says, "…there are no prejudices. Poker reduces everyone to a simple level. Degrees, languages, education, colour, none of that means a thing. All that matters is the amount of chips in front of you. You cannot find a more open-minded group of people than poker players."

I would also add interesting and endlessly fascinating people. People I would never be likely to encounter in my day to day life. In addition, poker transcends age and, as I have said before, gender too. online poker expands this experience exponentially via the plethora of sites and wonderful forums like CardsChat.

In a CardPlayer magazine interview conducted by Justin Marchand, Jack Binion "says that poker prowess also translates well into professional success. Complex problem solving [in poker]", he says, "is a microcosm of life. You are making decisions, putting yourself at risk, and every two minutes you are having a life crisis", he laughs. "In poker, all strategies are almost like a life condensed into a couple of hours to me."

In my own experience, I absolutely concur. I can’t even begin to describe how playing poker, and much more importantly working on learning how to play better, has helped me deal more effectively with all manner of life situations--from the personal to the professional.

I have so much more to share along these lines. In the meantime, I'd really like to hear why everyone else loves poker as much as I do. I just can't imagine that I am alone in my passion for and perceptions about the game.
 
Mortis

Mortis

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I've said it before.. at times, I've actually had more of an adrenaline rush and nervousness feeling at the poker table than I have fighting in the cage.

Very nice post!
 
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luckforsome

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...thats a tough question...being honest, I couldnt give you an answer..Im gonna think about that, and come back, and give it...i thought it would be easy to answer that, but when you really think of it, its hard to describe..Im told by some people that I am more in love with poker than anything else, I wonder if its true..:)
 
GeorgeCostanza

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Always something new but it's always the same.
 
LarkMarlow

LarkMarlow

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I've said it before.. at times, I've actually had more of an adrenaline rush and nervousness feeling at the poker table than I have fighting in the cage.

Very nice post!

Thanks, Mortis. I used to play tennis on a local, regional and state level so I can really relate to what you're saying. The rush, oh yes--the RUSH. What's funny is sometimes after a SNG I'm still in a kind of quasi-tennis zone and have even said more than once stuff like "wow, that was a really intense match"!

...thats a tough question...being honest, I couldnt give you an answer..Im gonna think about that, and come back, and give it...i thought it would be easy to answer that, but when you really think of it, its hard to describe..
That is exactly what happened to me and I'm still thinking :). That's also why I began this thread--even though I'm not done thinking, I decided I better start writing down the thoughts I have had so far and am able to describe. Who knows, maybe the reasons are infinite!

Im told by some people that I am more in love with poker than anything else, I wonder if its true..:)
While no one's ever said that to me, poker certainly ranks very, very high on the list of what I love. Whenever I've tried to go there with my friends they either yawn or look at me like I'm crazy. That's why it's so cool to have this discussion here--at least everyone will understand what we're talking about to one degree or another.
 
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always2away

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...all that and more...

Poker truly is an arena wherein nearly anyone can enjoy the thrill of competition.

Like most Americans, I am competitive by culture. I made good grades. I am well educated. I enjoyed competitive sports.

At age 30, I developed a heart condition that rendered me useless for most physical activity. No more biking, hiking, running, skiing, swimming, golf, tennis, football, basketball, baseball, etc. for me, except vicariously through watching others.

Then, a few years ago, I stumbled onto a televised NLHE tourney and quickly realized there was a lot more going on than just the two cards sitting in front of the players.

I downloaded partypoker (pre UIGEA) and began learning the game. To my delight, I experienced the same competitive euphoria that I had enjoyed with sports.

I feel this way playing all forms of poker. Having given me a fresh and exciting new purpose in life (besides family and work) I have come to believe that poker may actually help me live longer than expected. I am not being facetious. I love poker.
 
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