It's not about the money

[Claudiunm]

I have played poker for as long as I can remember.

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

All the while, the dream tries to make a living because of our superior poker skills kept us going. We grew up believing that we have a chance to build a decent bank and someday make the big leap onto the world stage.

As all truths last a lifetime, this one hit hard. Santa Claus doesn't exist, no one is so good in bed, and you probably won't be available at the WSOP this year.

Or always.

Still. We keep grinding. And while I'm sure some players are still waiting for the blinding stroke of luck that will catapult them from oblivion, most of us have found comfortable space on our daily tables.

So, what keeps us stuck in our seats for days on end? Is it the thrill of spying on pocket rockets? Is it the satisfaction of winning a huge pot? The relief of regaining your foothold after a series of bad times?

Sting once wrote that "we negotiate letters to find the answer, the sacred geometry of chance" and, although some of you do not agree with the concept, he understood an idea.

It' not about the money. [/TO QUOTE]

So, Marcos, I think it's one of the big questions in the Universe: Why do we continue even after realizing an inexorable truth that those reached or at the top will be rare. Even so, we continue. I think that, despite the money we got here, it is the excitement of being here that we continue.

 

[Havik]

That was never my intention, DS Your opinion is as valid as mine and it's OK for us to disagree.

I'll leave you with a question, though. Let's suppose you make it to the final table of one of the PokerStars Sunday Million Anniversary Tourneys and pocket north of 600k. Would you quit playing poker?

No, I will always play poker forever and ever

 

[marcoslopezbl]

No, I will always play poker forever and ever

Then, for both of us, it's not about the money

 

[CCWannabe]

Poker not about the money. It about the people and the banter.



Money a close second though

 

[Havik]

Then, for both of us, it's not about the money

what do you mean? Its always about the money lol

 

[marcoslopezbl]

what do you mean? Its always about the money lol

I mean that if after making enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life, you keep coming back to the tables, what brings you back is not the drive for more money.

Unless of course, you tell me you'll never be satisfied with whatever amount you make, that your life's objective revolves solely around money and that poker, for you, only represents a means to that end.

 

[diego farfan]

for some if it is about money since they dedicate 100% of their time to achieve profits and for others it is the passion of jguar as it is my case that I am doing quite well and I only dedicate 65% of my time

 

[albosaltenio]

I also played poker for a long time, I also had the illusion of being able to give the great blow but over time I learned that I should take it only as a game.Obviously I would like to earn a good amount of money, but I am content to hit small wells sporadically.This game got me out of monetary trouble several times, that's why I keep playing it as a hobby that has pleasant surprises.

 

[youri]

NO its not about the money but it is about the money.

Poker is one of the few passions I've had in life.
I do not only play poker everyday and grind trying to build a decent bankroll, I dream about playing everynight when I'm asleep and I'm obsessed with it. I love it and the idea that I can make money out of something I'm good at without doing a 9 to 5 job at is pretty cool. It is to me both a passion and a way to earn a living.

 

[neptun1914]

For most people playing it is just pure fun. The game is interesting and if you win few $ here and there it is even better. For me poker is just one of my hobbies and i like it this way.

 

[capo1014]

Money Money Money

When I was younger I use to win a nice chunk of change playing with friends from all over. It was a good feeling and in the end I would spend the money I won on my friends. Sometimes I would play in casinos as I am from New Jersey so I would drive to Atlantic City and win once and a while which would pay for the trip. I know I will never become professional, for me it is a recreational hobby. I love the game and will always play poker where ever I am. As long as I am having fun that will suit me just fine win, lose or draw. I have taught my four children to play with play money chips and we have a blast. Money Money Money take it or leave it. Capo1014

 

[ringworm]

I used to think I wanted to be a professional poker player. When I really think about it, I imagine it would be a pretty horrible job. I love player poker because I choose to play poker. If I was forced to play poker to make an income, I don't think it would be nearly as fun.

 

[FF2586]

Hi!

I agree! It seems like it is about the money! Playing poker is partially about the money! But it is mostly about the adrenaline and the competiion! It about my biggest dream ever!

gl gl gl

 

[TpaEnforcement]

I play for the competition, and the thrill of winning tournaments. It has never been about money, also improving my game and skills. Competitiveness in me to try to win as many tournaments as possible, money comes with it but not about the money.

 

[ucdengboss]

I only play $1 single table double on nothing SNGs (and occasional MTT), so the money is insignificant. I have not played for several years and just came back a couple days ago. There is something special about studying and developing a solid winning system. There is still a thrill to winning a single dollar for some reason, even though there is no significance to that dollar in my life. Again not the money but my fingertips still get tingles when I am all-in for my life.

 

[rj_montana]

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

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.

Beautifully spoken mate your experience is showing! Nice to hear from someone seasoned

 

[blix177]

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.

For me it isn't about the money, nor is it trying to be better. It is just something I like to play even if it is a grind sometimes. I also play online games, Civ 5, Skyrim, Fallout, Starcraft, LOL... I play them for the same reason. It is fun to play.

 

[caracaski220]

caracaski220

The 63k was a huge amount of money to me , waht i am trying to say is that taking first place and winning the trophy was much more important to me.

 

[stil370]

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.

Wow!! Im sorry you had to live through that. Your story hit me like a ton of bricks. God bless you.

 

[eagleaces]

who needs money

I fell in love with the game of poker when i was 8 years old and my family sat down to have a family game. NO chips just the four or five of whom ever was home at the time. I learned quick, as i was the youngest, and i won a lot more than everyone else. Then as an adult wandering around the casino after successfully counting cards for the first time, i had money in hand. I saw the Poker room and sat down at a 4-8 limit hold'em game. Three hands in, the table erupts in cheer when another hand comes to an end. Bad Beat Jackpot hit at my table and i got the table share. It wasnt more than 150.00$ but it was cool. The next day i return thinking i was hot stuff. lost all i had won the night before and on my last rebuy of 30$ a miracle happened that solidified my poker love. My last 5$ left i look down and see pocket deuces and im all in. Flop hits two deuces and queen. I think, "wow i just flopped quads, i got this".The miracle was the running tens that hit the turn and river. There were 5 players in the hand well over 30$ in the pot. and the player on the button stands up and throws down pocket tens. The money is gone now but the feeling and the experiencewill be with me for the rest of my life. So no its not about the money.

 

[Jlo111888]

R u kidding all is about money! Dont speech

 

[nutzing]

true not at all about the money its about having fun and entertainment.

 

[Pokerpoet2]

Yes I am of the same mind, I have dreamed of going to Vegas and playing with some of the greats, but dreams rarely come true, closest I have ever come to it was 2nd place in a Redtooth tourney a few years ago and when I called an all-in with K,Q, suited and was dominated by pocket Kings heads up.

That's Poker!

 

[JopyJoost]

It's Not About THE Money...but it is About MY Money

Does that make sense???

I realized early on I was not serious enough or for that matter, good enough to play this game with MY money. I do try very hard to win the online poker Room's money.

There in lays the problem.

I do not put in the necessary time to seriously play with my money so I try very hard to win with the poker room's money.

I am a recreational player who spends a fair amount of time playing online and the best I have ever done is win approximately $300 dollars.

Once a year I enter a charity tournament and in the three years I have done so I have made more money than on line. Approximately $500 dollars.

I do love the game but there are times I really hate it bad and swear I will not play again and here I am trying to write something about playing poker so I can continue to play this game.

I am not a great writer and I prefer not to give away all my secrets as to how I play this game. (tongue in cheek)

Thanks to Cardschat for all you do to allow us to continue to play the freeroll games.

 

[jorgetorres0]

you can play for fun, you can play for recreation, but at the end of the day if you are a regular player you are going to want to play for money. To do this, study, practice and, above all, play volume in order to overcome the variance.