If you're new to poker, you'll want to know: What is poker? and Why do people play poker?
What is Poker About?
We all know that poker is a card game usually played for money and enjoyed by millions.
The most important thing for the rookie to learn is this simple fact:
POKER IS A GAME OF SKILL !
Of course, luck plays a role in each individual hand, but in the long run, the best players will win and the worst players will lose.
Being a good poker player involves many skills, but fundamentally it is about making good decisions. The player who can consistently make good decisions and avoid bad ones is likely to be a winner. Your ability to make good decisions is largely based on an understanding of two important factors: probability and psychology.
Poker is also a game of deception. You don't want your opponents to know what cards you have. If they can work out what you have, you'll probably lose. If you can consistently deceive them and keep them guessing, then you are on to a winner!
Why play poker?
For the vast majority of poker players, poker is a game they simply enjoy playing. They enjoy the mental exercise of pitting their wits against other players and having the potential to win money. Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose. They don't make a noticeable profit overall, but they enjoy playing the game. Even players that lose consistently may still find that poker is a cheap form of entertainment, since their loses may well be small in comparison to the enjoyment they get from the game.
A relatively small percentage of poker players develop their skills to such a extent that they can make a regular profit from the game and even turn professional.
Whichever type of player you are, you will probably benefit from improving your game. Even if you play for fun, you will probably get more fun if you have the skills to win at least some of the time.
Beyond enjoyment and making a profit, poker can have a much more profound effect on people's lives. At the poker table, there is no hiding place. Your weaknesses and vanities are open to being exploited and may cause you to lose money if you don't admit to them. Poker, therefore, can be a great way for people to learn more about themselves- and the lessons you learn at the poker table may well pay dividends in other areas of your life.
Responsible Gaming
Because it is a game of skill, poker is not gambling in the traditional sense. Skill rather than luck is the overriding factor in deciding whether a player wins or lose money in the long run. However, we should admit that the vast majority of people who play poker online do not make a profit. Indeed, many of them never really expect to make a profit. They play poker because they enjoy the game. They don't mind making a loss so long as they enjoy themselves and so long as those losses are not too big.
Most people do not get carried away when they gamble or play poker. They know they are taking a risk, but they will not put at risk more money than they can comfortably afford to lose.
A small proportion of the population, however, have a significantly greater risk of developing a gambling problem, even a gambling addiction. They may get addicted to the buzz they get from taking risks with their money, but perhaps need to move to ever bigger stakes in order to get the same buzz. They may have a deluded idea that they can win even when they always bet at unfavourable odds. Whatever the reason, however, there are some people who are simply not suited to games such as poker that involve risking money.
Anyone who has a problem controlling their gambling instincts may be better off avoiding playing poker in the first place. And people who find themselves suffering from an addiction to gambling would be advised to seek help and advice at the earliest opportunity.
I have never personally known anyone who has taken up playing poker who has not found it to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Indeed, poker has actually helped temper some people's gambling instincts. Some top poker pros are reformed gamblers who have learned to risk their money only when the odds are in their favour.
Nevertheless, I'm aware that the game of poker may not be for everyone, especially people with strong gambling instincts who risk forming addictions, and I would, in any case, urge anyone who does play only to risk money they can comfortably afford to lose.
