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Why do you play poker?

SpringsSprings Member Posts: 67
edited May 2010 in Poker Chat

Last week when there was a flurry of bad-beat posts on the forum, with people showing their anger at results of various hands, I began to wonder why some people play poker.

Surely, the vast majority of people on all online sites - and SkyPoker in particular - are recreational players. So the huge depths of emotions people show when they lose confused me. Aside from the fact a buy-in on a cash game / tournament represented a high proportion of one's bankroll, how do people get quite so worked up about what is effectively, a game?

I still don't know the answer to this question; perhaps it's because I'm not a "serious" poker player, but merely play to enjoy myself / relax after work.


There are numerous reasons for playing poker;

1) Fun and entertainment. A couple of tournaments can represent a cheap night out.
2) Social reasons; to relax and enjoy the chat with others. Particualrly in live games.
3) Competitive element of facing different challenges - poker is, after all, a mighty complex game.
4) To make money.

So ... why do YOU play poker?

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Comments

  • BlackFish3BlackFish3 Member Posts: 2,418
    edited May 2010
    booze money
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  • DazlerDazler Member Posts: 3,970
    edited May 2010
    Beats playing Bingo and the lottery! i think!!! :)
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  • CowgomooCowgomoo Member Posts: 749
    edited May 2010
    Some times (but not very often) 1, never 2, most of the time 3, always 4.
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  • GaryQQQGaryQQQ Member Posts: 6,804
    edited May 2010
    To pay off my gambling debts ;)
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  • DOHHHHHHHDOHHHHHHH Member Posts: 17,929
    edited May 2010

    Moneyyyyyy If I didnt win money, theres no way I'd play !  Well maybe once a week or something....as it would be more fun in lower volume. 


    Hard enough finding motivation to play when making money as it is, but no choice sometimes. Might explain why Im always down after a couple of hours and need to spend all night getting it bak !!!

    I enjoy watching poker alot more than I enjoy playing it :)
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  • bobcat52bobcat52 Member Posts: 568
    edited May 2010
    lol Gary.....as for me....all of the above!
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  • offshootoffshoot Member Posts: 1,049
    edited May 2010
    to make money. I find it quite boring a lot of the time.
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  • SpringsSprings Member Posts: 67
    edited May 2010
    Thanks for the replies, all.

    Definitely makes interesting reading that two of the more 'high-profile' and successful players admit to not always enjoying the game.

    Still, I suppose to you guys, poker is a "job", and most of us don't like our jobs, so I can understand that. However, I'd guess the winnings must make it seem worthwhile!
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  • dylan12dylan12 Member Posts: 2,343
    edited May 2010
    In Response to Re: Why do you play poker?:
    to make money. I find it quite boring a lot of the time.
    Posted by offshoot
    +1
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  • DeuceAK_47DeuceAK_47 Member Posts: 381
    edited May 2010

    All four really although making money is the most important for me as it means you are winning more than you loose and i dont really play sports unless im good at them... except skiing as i suck at that lol.
    The best thing i like about poker is that im constantly improving where as in other sports i would of plateaued ages ago.
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  • DazlerDazler Member Posts: 3,970
    edited May 2010
    Im also a lazy so and so and only sport i play is golf and i suck at that. With poker its a game of the mind and only exersise i get is pressing down my finger on the mouse. + when i play live i can have a pint and a chat with golf you gotta keep quiet and im not very good at that :)
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  • BananaDogBananaDog Member Posts: 1,390
    edited May 2010
    In Response to Why do you play poker?:
    There are numerous reasons for playing poker; 1) Fun and entertainment. A couple of tournaments can represent a cheap night out. 2) Social reasons; to relax and enjoy the chat with others. Particualrly in live games. 3) Competitive element of facing different challenges - poker is, after all, a mighty complex game. 4) To make money. So ... why do YOU play poker?
    Posted by Springs
    All of the above for me :o)
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  • elsadogelsadog Member Posts: 5,677
    edited May 2010
    I'm an addict for winning. The money is nice but I don't 'need' it. What I crave is the win ....... so whether I come 5th or 500th is the same to me. I need to win and when I don't, the cat gets it!

    As for the money, when I do win, the other half has it spent pdq.

    My golf is still good but I find it hard to win off my handicap/age combination.
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  • xFALLENxxFALLENx Member Posts: 826
    edited May 2010
    Fed up with being a poker widow
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  • NoseyBonkNoseyBonk Member Posts: 6,184
    edited May 2010
    "Why do you play poker?"

    Just want the kudos of a letter from Her Majesty The Queen for hitting my first Royal Flush. After that I'll probably quit.
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  • dav1964dav1964 Member Posts: 2,526
    edited May 2010
    I play for the fun of it,END OF, of course its nice to win and i can honestly say i would rather win an MTT for £200 than a £250 profit on a cash table simply for the achievment of it.dav
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  • robcrobc Member Posts: 521
    edited May 2010
    I play for fun and also because i find it really enjoyable trying to get better and learn more and more of the game. i dont normally complain about bad beats on here thats saved to the other half...how she must love it when i lose lol. 

     But i think the reason a lot of people who play for fun still complain about the bad beats occasionally is because they are like me very competitive and hate to lose and poker is one of those games where you can do everything right and still lose so makes it harder for the competitive side of someone to take. i do agree some people go way over board. but its the same in every sport/game. how many times have you heard people complain about a football game they have played or watched? 


     People just hate to lose lol
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  • bigbiker22bigbiker22 Member Posts: 218
    edited May 2010
    I play for FUN.

    I'm not good enough to play for money so I keep donating my cash to the needy.

    The other main reason I play is you lot. You cheer me up when I feel down and I feel part of a great community even though I don't contribute that much.

    Just keep doing what you all do and you will keep this OLD man a happy one.

    Thanks for everything,

    Steve
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  • OMahonyOOMahonyO Member Posts: 1,883
    edited May 2010
    to build a roll big enough to enter massive tourneys and take one down so i can pay off my mortgage
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  • donkeyplopdonkeyplop Member Posts: 3,795
    edited May 2010
    I play mainly because i think im phisically addicted to the game! ;)

    i play purely as a hobby/fun and just about make a small profit.

    for me the most addictive thing about poker is when you have a big hand in a big pot and you go all in and the buzz/raised heart beat you get from it cant be matched by most everyday things!!

    oh and the great banter you get in the chat box!!
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