The misconceptions of poker

[Shells]

Non-poker players often have misunderstandings about the game of poker. If you have ever had a conversation with a non-poker player in the past, they will have some reservations about the game.

In your opinion, what is one of the biggest misconceptions people have about poker?

 

[seiya1989]

For me, the biggest mistake that people who have never played poker say. It's when they say it's a game of chance like any other. I don't even try to explain anything to them. I just let them continue with that thought.

 

[Shells]

For me, the biggest mistake that people who have never played poker say. It's when they say it's a game of chance like any other. I don't even try to explain anything to them. I just let them continue with that thought.

I totally understand that.

 

[MK_]

I think the biggest misconception is that poker is a game of pure luck played by degenerate gamblers lol😎👍

 

[thedarkman]

That it is a game of skill. Just had a horrible Micromillions on pokerstars. Twice in the razz tournament, clowns called a raise in the blind with a king and outdrew me. In the stud hi I have 3 kings on 4th street and the clown is raise, raise, raise with nothing. hitting a flush on the river. I don't improve. I don't cash in either tournament. Totally unreal.

 

[pentazepam]

That it is a game of skill. Just had a horrible Micromillions on PokerStars. Twice in the razz tournament, clowns called a raise in the blind with a king and outdrew me. In the stud hi I have 3 kings on 4th street and the clown is raise, raise, raise with nothing. hitting a flush on the river. I don't improve. I don't cash in either tournament. Totally unreal.

Now you know why I hate MTTs.

Skill wins in the long run.

But in Tournaments, the long run can be VERY loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong.

 

[pentazepam]

That we are (at least when playing cash games live at a little higher stakes) degenerates, addicts, and pure gamblers. Even gangsters.

This newer gets old - or maybe I'm just easily amused:

 

[MK_]

That we are (at least when playing cash games live at a little higher stakes) degenerates, addicts, and pure gamblers. Even gangsters.

This newer gets old - or maybe I'm just easily amused:

A pokah playah!... a pokah playah! 😅😅

 

[Canaldo Kao]

Some uninformed people confuse poker with Casino, they don't know how to differentiate that poker is a sport of the mind, card chess and end up saying nonsense that it's a game of luck!
Some understand this explanation, but for people who don't want to understand, I don't waste my valuable time.
Your question was very intelligent!

 

[Flyer35]

I think the biggest misconception is that poker is a game of pure luck played by degenerate gamblers lol😎👍

That we are (at least when playing cash games live at a little higher stakes) degenerates, addicts, and pure gamblers. Even gangsters.

This newer gets old - or maybe I'm just easily amused:

I may be wrong, maybe my parents' work ethic and other morality values are poking their heads up out of the grave. But I yes, I do believe that many people used to have the degenerate gambler label ready to assign to anyone who admitted to being a poker player. I think that's less so today though than it was once was. But we are who and what we come from, and that one's burned into my psyche.

 

[recerveau]

Definitely the issue of it looking like a gamble. Given the complexity of poker, I think it's difficult for them to understand it without studying the game.

 

[Mortis]

I was once told by a good friend that I need to stop playing poker, because I will lose everything or I will "get caught counting cards." And I had to explain to him that was blackjack, not poker. And he was like, "Oh."

So, the biggest misconception that I've seen about poker, is that every poker player just bets their house and entire life savings when they play, and they will end up homeless.

 

[Lena M]

Non-poker players often have misunderstandings about the game of poker. If you have ever had a conversation with a non-poker player in the past, they will have some reservations about the game.

In your opinion, what is one of the biggest misconceptions people have about poker?

Hi
I think one of the most common misconceptions people have about poker is that it's a game of chance that is necessarily addictive. People who don't play have no idea about such things as bankroll management, and therefore they think that all gamblers are primarily addicted people who spend all their money on the game.

 

[Delenia]

The biggest misconception is that all poker players are degenerate gamblers. I know there are degenerate gambles that play poker, but lots of us are not gamblers.

 

[iwont20]

That poker is pure gambling and you're addicted.

 

[john_entony]

Non-poker players often have misunderstandings about the game of poker. If you have ever had a conversation with a non-poker player in the past, they will have some reservations about the game.

In your opinion, what is one of the biggest misconceptions people have about poker?

I think a lot of people (who have never played poker) evaluate poker as a game of chance where there are no plus players. I used to think the same way, to be honest. But I find the possibility to enjoy poker by playing with no cash investment.

 

[Poker Orifice]

That it is a game of skill. Just had a horrible Micromillions on PokerStars. Twice in the razz tournament, clowns called a raise in the blind with a king and outdrew me. In the stud hi I have 3 kings on 4th street and the clown is raise, raise, raise with nothing. hitting a flush on the river. I don't improve. I don't cash in either tournament. Totally unreal.

So you don't believe it's a game of skill?

 

[Pabloro10321]

That people who don't know poker think that the game is not profitable

 

[Propane Goat]

Misconception - that poker is either something that was played by booze-soaked outlaws in Wild West saloons and generally followed by gunfights in the street outside, or that poker is only something that bankrupt bums with destroyed marriages play because they're gambling addicts.

Typical faulty logic: poker is played in a casino, only sinners and gambling addicts go to casinos, therefore all poker players are sinners and gambling addicts.

 

[Poker Orifice]

I was once told by a good friend that I need to stop playing poker, because I will lose everything or I will "get caught counting cards." And I had to explain to him that was Blackjack, not poker. And he was like, "Oh."

So, the biggest misconception that I've seen about poker, is that every poker player just bets their house and entire life savings when they play, and they will end up homeless.

Some folks figure that's why I don't have a house, lol.

Visiting with my nephew one Christmas long ago, I was just a year or two into the online poker scene. I was excited about the game, loved to learn and had a few good scores from micro/low buyins. He seemed real keen to know more about it, asking me loads of questions. After explaining about strategy, math, analyzing player types, exploiting tendancies & weaknesses of other players etc. he responds "So do you like count the cards & stuff?" (end of conversation, lol)

 

[MikeCarasone]

Big misconception is that poker is gambling and has a negative connotation of being a nafarious activity.

 

[iwont20]

Some folks figure that's why I don't have a house, lol.

Visiting with my nephew one Christmas long ago, I was just a year or two into the online poker scene. I was excited about the game, loved to learn and had a few good scores from micro/low buyins. He seemed real keen to know more about it, asking me loads of questions. After explaining about strategy, math, analyzing player types, exploiting tendancies & weaknesses of other players etc. he responds "So do you like count the cards & stuff?" (end of conversation, lol)

Well, to be fair, it's hard to grasp all of these in one sitting 😹😹😹

 

[hamon08]

Non-poker players often have misunderstandings about the game of poker. If you have ever had a conversation with a non-poker player in the past, they will have some reservations about the game.

In your opinion, what is one of the biggest misconceptions people have about poker?

All the strangers I told that I was playing poker immediately made a surprised or frightened expression. They would tell me to quit playing poker quickly because it was a casino and that I would lose all my money. Sometimes I try to explain to them that this is not true, but I rarely succeed, only after I show them a screenshot of a tournament I won where they give 1000 dollars for the first place, their opinion changes a little and then they ask how you can win like that, you're just lucky, it's all blind luck and you will still lose your money and go into debt

 

[Flyer35]

Okay, we agree that poker players are often mislabelled. But there are good reasons for that. Consider what it takes to be a good 'professional' poker player, and hence not a 'gambler'.

We often talk about the skill component while downplaying the luck component. But it takes a lot of study, practise and 'honed' skill to be a consistent winner at poker. It takes expensive training and mentoring. Even then, not everyone with those credentials has that special knack or ability to turn it all into magic. It takes a certain individual who can read eight or nine other players accurately virtually all of the time and make hundreds of correct decisions every day of play. It only takes one or two wrong decisions to bust. That's one or two out of hundreds. It takes strict discipline to manage one's bankroll. It takes a strong business savvy to manage a hectic schedule that may take you all over the world. It takes stamina and good health, both physical and mental. Professional poker is a business not a pastime.

So, you argue, you don't have to be a professional jetting all over the world to become proficient at poker. True, and you may be the exception. But not many of us have the time and resources to become good enough to say that we are absolutely not gambling, unless we put everything into becoming a professional.

 

[Poker Orifice]

So, you argue, you don't have to be a professional jetting all over the world to become proficient at poker. True, and you may be the exception. But not many of us have the time and resources to become good enough to say that we are absolutely not gambling, unless we put everything into becoming a professional.

I'd say 'it depends' When I think of 'poker professional' I don't think of the players seen in the tournaments on TV, or ones at wsop. I actually picture the ones who are playing low & mid-stakes online, putting in the work... putting in a 5x 10-12hr days/week.