poker and life (part 1 - "getting involved - aka: the buy in")
Anyone who knows me can tell you that I cherish the opportunity to become obsessed. I have gone through it with relationships (yikes! Did I really just admit that?) crafts, movies, video games and more recently – No Limit, Texas Hold’em.
“Poker is the game closest to the western conception of life, where life and thought are recognized as intimately combined, where free will prevails over philosophies of fate or of chance, where men are considered moral agents and where - at least in the short run - the important thing is not what happens but what people think happens.” (John Luckacs)
Okay – I know that it’s a bit dramatic, but once I sat down to think about it - The philosophies, theories and strategies of poker are applicable to many aspects of conventional living. Before I proceed, I have to clarify that I’m talking about No Limit Poker. The risks and rewards are far more intense than most other poker games.
The first decision you have to make in poker – do you want to play a cash game or a tournament? In a cash game, you have the option to continue playing even if you get taken out of the game. If you have the resources, you can continue to invest in the process for as long as you like, or until the game completely ends. Whereas in tournament play, once you lose – you’re done.
In life, it’s obvious that whenever we decide to start anything, the choices are quite similar, except that the investment is different – it could be your heart, your money or your time. So, what are these choices?
1) Don’t play
2) All or nothing
3) Gradual progress/loss
Okay – so the first option is not to play. I think that’s pretty self explanatory.
As for the tournament route (all or nothing), it involves a lot more liability, maneuvering, initial resources, and knowledge. Many of the general rules of thumb aren’t applicable in tournament play – because the further you get, the more aggressive you have to be, in order to win the game – having a big stack merely allows you more opportunities to gamble. If you’re not willing to take risks or try to outplay your opponents, most likely – you won’t end up at the final table. Most starting hands that you’re encouraged NOT to play in a cash game, HAVE to be played in a tournament.
Whenever you’re involved in any “all or nothing” situation, the intensity is usually pretty overwhelming. The little kiddie roller coaster of emotions you normally feel are multiplied and become that psychotic ride with the crazy twists and 90 degree drops. But, the payoff is usually big, if you win. Who hasn’t had one of those agonizing relationships where it’s either cloud nine or the depths of hell (the ones that you love but can’t live with)? What about that one business deal that you believed was a goldmine, but ended up being touch and go all the way? That big bet you made on a long shot? Regardless of the scenario – if you want a big payoff, you have to work for it, emotionally and physically.
The cash game is a different situation. Players have the luxury of learning as they go. So you got bluffed by Joe Blow, well – when you rebuy, guess who you’re going after? Or when you realized that someone called all the bets down to the river with a 10/6 offsuite for a gut shot straight draw? Again, you have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes, smoke a cigarette, down a shot and dive right back in. It’s like taking an entry level position for your dream job, investing in property in California, or dating in general. You work towards a goal, you win some and you lose some, but ultimately – you learn and earn along the way.
In both cases, the rules of the game are pretty much the same. You get the same number of cards, a royal flush is still the best hand, and you still have to wait your turn - but how you win is totally different. So the bottom line is that we each have a choice in how we like to play the game or how we choose to live our lives. Some people perform better under pressure and live for the adrenaline rush. Others prefer slow and steady, over a fast and bumpy ride. Either way, you can probably reach the destination - but again, it's your choice.
Industry executives and analysts often mistakenly talk about strategy as if it were some kind of chess match. But in chess, you have just two opponents, each with identical resources, and with luck playing a minimal role. The real world is much more like a poker game, with multiple players trying to make the best of whatever hand fortune has dealt them. ~David Moschella
“Poker is the game closest to the western conception of life, where life and thought are recognized as intimately combined, where free will prevails over philosophies of fate or of chance, where men are considered moral agents and where - at least in the short run - the important thing is not what happens but what people think happens.” (John Luckacs)
Okay – I know that it’s a bit dramatic, but once I sat down to think about it - The philosophies, theories and strategies of poker are applicable to many aspects of conventional living. Before I proceed, I have to clarify that I’m talking about No Limit Poker. The risks and rewards are far more intense than most other poker games.
The first decision you have to make in poker – do you want to play a cash game or a tournament? In a cash game, you have the option to continue playing even if you get taken out of the game. If you have the resources, you can continue to invest in the process for as long as you like, or until the game completely ends. Whereas in tournament play, once you lose – you’re done.
In life, it’s obvious that whenever we decide to start anything, the choices are quite similar, except that the investment is different – it could be your heart, your money or your time. So, what are these choices?
1) Don’t play
2) All or nothing
3) Gradual progress/loss
Okay – so the first option is not to play. I think that’s pretty self explanatory.
As for the tournament route (all or nothing), it involves a lot more liability, maneuvering, initial resources, and knowledge. Many of the general rules of thumb aren’t applicable in tournament play – because the further you get, the more aggressive you have to be, in order to win the game – having a big stack merely allows you more opportunities to gamble. If you’re not willing to take risks or try to outplay your opponents, most likely – you won’t end up at the final table. Most starting hands that you’re encouraged NOT to play in a cash game, HAVE to be played in a tournament.
Whenever you’re involved in any “all or nothing” situation, the intensity is usually pretty overwhelming. The little kiddie roller coaster of emotions you normally feel are multiplied and become that psychotic ride with the crazy twists and 90 degree drops. But, the payoff is usually big, if you win. Who hasn’t had one of those agonizing relationships where it’s either cloud nine or the depths of hell (the ones that you love but can’t live with)? What about that one business deal that you believed was a goldmine, but ended up being touch and go all the way? That big bet you made on a long shot? Regardless of the scenario – if you want a big payoff, you have to work for it, emotionally and physically.
The cash game is a different situation. Players have the luxury of learning as they go. So you got bluffed by Joe Blow, well – when you rebuy, guess who you’re going after? Or when you realized that someone called all the bets down to the river with a 10/6 offsuite for a gut shot straight draw? Again, you have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes, smoke a cigarette, down a shot and dive right back in. It’s like taking an entry level position for your dream job, investing in property in California, or dating in general. You work towards a goal, you win some and you lose some, but ultimately – you learn and earn along the way.
In both cases, the rules of the game are pretty much the same. You get the same number of cards, a royal flush is still the best hand, and you still have to wait your turn - but how you win is totally different. So the bottom line is that we each have a choice in how we like to play the game or how we choose to live our lives. Some people perform better under pressure and live for the adrenaline rush. Others prefer slow and steady, over a fast and bumpy ride. Either way, you can probably reach the destination - but again, it's your choice.
Industry executives and analysts often mistakenly talk about strategy as if it were some kind of chess match. But in chess, you have just two opponents, each with identical resources, and with luck playing a minimal role. The real world is much more like a poker game, with multiple players trying to make the best of whatever hand fortune has dealt them. ~David Moschella
posted by serena @ 12:50 PM
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