S
seghill
Rock Star
Silver Level
for most players it is a recreation not a main source of income.
I have a laugh when in a $2 tournament some loser vents his/her anger. I tell them an Ice Cream would cost more than playing, last a shorter time and be bad for their health. Instant gratification v longer term fun.
I have a laugh when in a $2 tournament some loser vents his/her anger. I tell them an Ice Cream would cost more than playing, last a shorter time and be bad for their health. Instant gratification v longer term fun.
vinnie
Legend
Silver Level
Even losing players win sometimes. And, they remember the times they win and consider them more important than the times they lose. It is like most gambling games. In the long run, they stand no chance, but they can sometimes show a profit from a session. They remember that session.
I wrote a program, once, that demonstrated this to someone I worked with who loved casino tables games. They told me that they won a lot of the times they played. In the program, they played a short-ish session (typical for them of about 50 hands), and were up or down at the end according to the odds. In the end, the computer won over 40% of the sessions. But, the long term results were right in line with what the odds said. They were losing right in line with what the percentages said. But, you could see why they believed they were winning. They won almost half the time they sat down to play!
This is what keeps people playing. Poker isn't as forgiving, the edges against bad players can be astonishing. But, it provides the opportunity for huge wins. They will remember that time they sucked out for a $700 pot, and not the 10 other pots where they put in $200 and missed.
I wrote a program, once, that demonstrated this to someone I worked with who loved casino tables games. They told me that they won a lot of the times they played. In the program, they played a short-ish session (typical for them of about 50 hands), and were up or down at the end according to the odds. In the end, the computer won over 40% of the sessions. But, the long term results were right in line with what the odds said. They were losing right in line with what the percentages said. But, you could see why they believed they were winning. They won almost half the time they sat down to play!
This is what keeps people playing. Poker isn't as forgiving, the edges against bad players can be astonishing. But, it provides the opportunity for huge wins. They will remember that time they sucked out for a $700 pot, and not the 10 other pots where they put in $200 and missed.
Lheticus
Legend
Silver Level
This goes back to one of my favorite quotes I ever came up with. (Based on one that already exists.)
"It's not whether you win or lose. It's not how you play the game either. It's why you play the game."
If you play poker to win money, or just to win, if you prove chronically incapable of that of course you're not going to keep playing. This is exactly why I'm a tournament/sitngo only player--I proved myself chronically incapable of being a winning cash game player. But there are many possible reasons to play poker. In fact, I think I talked about this exact concept in one of my blog posts a while back. They can do it because it's fun somehow even in losing. They can do it for the social value. They can do it because, as others have said, they believe if only get lucky they can get a big win even though they know they probably won't--the "thrill of the chase." Personally I'd think lottery would be a better bet for those people, but whatever. The point is, just because in theory everyone who plays a game is trying to win doesn't mean that victory is the only acceptable outcome for playing it. It depends on the person.
You're getting concern from the OP? Because I'm not. He just seems curious to me.
solodorec
Enthusiast
Silver Level
Long time ago i play poker for win money, but then i understand that this hobby takes to much time and it cant be hobby))) it can be work if i want win a lot. so now i play for fun and dont think about how much i loose. thats why i think some players for sure keep playing
T
Two6JJ
Visionary
Silver Level
Most people that lose money in poker is a part of the game and something they enjoy recreationally. So a few bucks a week into their hobby is not going to kill them. Now if you are talking about someone who has put the mortgage payment on the felt and has to win in order to pay bills then we are talking gambling addiction and not just losing.
starting_at_the_bottom
Legend
Silver Level
I think there are two main types of losing players. The type that realises they are not very good, and just plays for a bit of fun, and the other sort that for some reason thinks that they are better than they really are. The players that think they are good, need another reason to justify why they dont win long term. Hence if you look in brags beats and variance, you will find the "Rigged megathread" with 10,000+ posts.
Cliffs, most bad players dont want to / cant admit they suck at de pokerz, blame rigtard, keep playing.
I should know, I used to claim rigtard back in the day. Though that was an awfully long time ago. I didnt even know what position was lol.
Cliffs, most bad players dont want to / cant admit they suck at de pokerz, blame rigtard, keep playing.
I should know, I used to claim rigtard back in the day. Though that was an awfully long time ago. I didnt even know what position was lol.
W
Whiterosemov
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I think some players really like the game, even if they are losing money, so they keep on playing and try not to lose so much
but there's also bad players who just become addicted to the game and, even knowing they are losing and will keep on losing, they don't stop to play because in their minds they always think that "next time I gonna win and never go down again" (in the statistics graphics, I mean)
but there's also bad players who just become addicted to the game and, even knowing they are losing and will keep on losing, they don't stop to play because in their minds they always think that "next time I gonna win and never go down again" (in the statistics graphics, I mean)
fiveohtwo502
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I think everyone summed it up well. Theres rec players that enjoy it. Using others money is more of a problem gambler imo. By saying they have to win to have fun isnt right though. To say that you would have to ask people that enjoy going to casinos why they would go...they enjoy it. Furthermore, its all relative too. $500(just a example) to you could be a lot or a little to someone else...
C
coachlary69
Rock Star
Silver Level
I think losing players keep playing on the hopes that one day they will win big. It's like the american dream or the lottery, which is why people keep playing, with the mindset that someone has to win and maybe this time it's me. I also think some players continue to play because it's a hobby, a distraction from real life.
antonis32123
Legend
Loyaler
Some are addicted to poker like gambling .They play again and again waiting to win .They remember the time they had a victory , a win , and they look forward to repeat it .They are on tilt permantly .
Of course there are some who play their money inconsiderately and lose a fortune , all thei salary .
But I think most of them just are , what are used to be called , recreational players that play for fun .They spend some money ,not all of them-they are not so tilt/addicted - , it's like a hobby for them , it makes them feel happy , they could pay casino instead but they choose poker.
This is their choice ,must be 100%respected and words like garbage I think must be avoided , cause these guys pay you .If they didn't play, the field would be smaller ,with sharks , then you wouldn't be able to have many victories , or not even one , so then .....
who would be the ""garbage '"?
Of course there are some who play their money inconsiderately and lose a fortune , all thei salary .
But I think most of them just are , what are used to be called , recreational players that play for fun .They spend some money ,not all of them-they are not so tilt/addicted - , it's like a hobby for them , it makes them feel happy , they could pay casino instead but they choose poker.
This is their choice ,must be 100%respected and words like garbage I think must be avoided , cause these guys pay you .If they didn't play, the field would be smaller ,with sharks , then you wouldn't be able to have many victories , or not even one , so then .....
who would be the ""garbage '"?
