When I first started playing poker a few years ago, I didn’t really have a lot of expectations and mainly played for fun. I didn’t know much either about strategy or how much money you could eventually win, whereas most are attracted by this when they see poker on TV. This wasn’t really the main reason why I started playing, sure the thought was nice but I was also realistic enough not to expect that this will happen for sure. But it is part of the human nature that we love the competition and poker involves a certain thrill and the opportunity to compare your skill with others.
I was fortunate enough to win a small package and experience the WSOP and the atmosphere, at first you are impressed but after a while you realize that all the opponents also just get dealt 2 hole cards … at least at all the Hold’em events. The knowledge and personal experience as a player surely plays a specific role and gives others an edge, yet everybody can still win and make a fortune. You should not go to such an event and expect to win big, but you should also not imagine that you will fail miserably … because with the proper education and preparation, you can increase your theoretical odds to win.
If you don’t dedicate much time to learn more about all different aspects of this game, you cannot realistically expect to be the next Chris Moneymaker. It was the perfect name and the perfect story that has drawn the attention to the masses and gives the illusion to beginners that they can repeat this victory. In theory, it is not impossible, but the odds are not very high. As long as you approach this adventure and challenge with the right attitude and mindset, you are on a good way.
Due to work and other commitments, I was not able to dedicate as much time into playing and studying poker and also by far don’t play as much either. The thrill and passion has gone, you can pretty much compare it with the online poker boom that has reached its peak a while ago and now times are also tougher for all the competitors. More and more poker sites want to get a piece of the profit, yet the economy and average money that players can invest is slowly decreasing.
I still love the game, but I don’t need to play every single day and I am also not addicted. I enjoy playing poker when I find some free time to do so, but it doesn’t make sense for me to play when I don’t have the right mindset, just for the sake of saying that I played poker. The more I learn about the different aspects of the game and also poker as a business, the more I realize that there is by far more behind that simple card game than I expected at first.
Poker is still a nice distraction and fun, but I don’t consider it as my single source of income, at least not by grinding and depending on making profit while spending my time at the tables. Many players dream to become a Pro, yet most of them don’t know what it actually means and that you have to invest a lot of time and work consistently on your game. Standing still is no option because this means that you will lose your edge and others will be able to close the gap and take the lead.
Despite the economical crisis and also the recent development in the United States, poker itself is still moving. We will probably soon see the consequences of the action that has been taken by the Department of Justice and the FBI, it might be a step towards the legalization of online poker in the US … or it might have thrown the efforts in the last few years over board. Nobody knows yet the final result of that coin flip, because we just know the hole cards and the flop, turn and river are still to be dealt.
One thing though is for sure: If you stand still now and give up temporarily, you might not be able to close the gap in the near future whereas others worked on their game and used the timeout to eat, drink and breathe poker. Now the time has come to step up and learn more about the game, discuss it with other people all over the world that share the same passion. You can pretty much compare it with a scare card on turn or river, has your opponent actually hit or is he / she just trying to represent a strong hand?
As long as you are realistic enough to realize why you play poker, you should be safe. Always keep your goals in mind and dedicate as much time into reaching these goals, it always helps to have a specific target to establish and maintain the own motivation. Just look into the mirror and ask yourself: “Why do I play poker and what do I want to achieve with it?” If you can answer that question honestly, you will know what to do. But please think twice before you make your decision, because it is also part of the human nature to let emotions take over control.
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