Poker Articles

By Lenny | Published Jul 13 2006, 05:37 PM |
Perhaps one of the most overused sports cliches, second only to, "I just want to be a team player" is "for the love of the game", but since we are a team of one in poker the first doesn't apply and the second could perhaps be given a little more attention. With the 24/7 convenience of online poker some of us may lose sight of what of what brought us to the game in the first place. I know there have been moments when I'm card dead, can't catch a break, or just going through the motions that I really am not enjoying myself.

First I don't think I should be playing under those conditions, but also I need to remind myself of the things I love about poker - the camaraderie, the competition, the challenge, the strategy, the thrill ride that is a coinflip that goes one way, and then the other and then back again. When I am having fun, I play better, I feel better and I win more, so why would I approach the game any other way?

I have been thinking about this a lot lately, as I don't get to play often and when I do sometimes I feel like a troll, hunched over the keyboard, giving the odd grunt when my I lose a pot or smashing my computer with my club when I get a bad beat. That's no way to go about playing a game that used to be so much fun.

So, what exactly does "for the love of the game" mean? Well, one thing that struck me about Scott Fischman's book Online Ace, is that he describes his approach to the game and strategies but he always returns back to the fact that he is having fun, and playing cards for a living! What could be better than that? It doesn't mean that he doesn't put in countless hours of hard work improving his game, but it comes more easily to him because he is passionate about what he is doing. Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest of all time in basketball, and is also notorious for pushing himself harder than anyone could expect, but when he laces up and goes out on the court he plays with a joy that show every time he takes flight.

Although he is not the most popular player sometimes, I think Daniel Negreanu is the perfect example of a positive, relaxed attitude paying off big time at the tables. Even in the 2005 World Series when he was having one of the worst runs of his career he smiled and laughed, sometimes bitterly, but you could still tell he knew he was playing a game, and that soon enough his luck would turn. Doyle Brunson is another prime example, he may sit there like a stone 90% of the time, but when that slow smile spreads across his face, you know Texas Dolly is enjoying himself as he rakes in another mountain of chips.

I play in a weekly league where we keep track of our results. It is a friendly game filled mostly with bad players, but we have a good time. Other than myself, and a few others who have put in the time and effort to think about the game seriously there is one player who stands out. He plays aggressively and seriously, but he is always enjoying himself and willing to gamble. When he gets a hold of some chips he is a force to be reckoned with and has more 1sts than anyone else. While I grind out my 2nds and thirds he goes big or goes home, and always with a smile on his face. He is definitely my biggest competition at the table and I love the challenge and spirit he brings to the game.

So next time you are going through a dry spell, or tempted to bash your mouse to smithereens, take a moment to remember why you play—to have fun! Granted this hobby has turned into much more for many Pocketfivers and the stress of a negative session, week or even month when you are playing for income is hard to deal with, I am convinced that a positive attitude and enjoying yourself at the tables is perhaps the greatest +EV move you can make.