Does anyone still play with heart? Or have we all become accountants?

The casino isn’t just about money. It’s about lights, noise, glances that dart, and burning decisions. Does anyone still play with heart? Or have we all become accountants?”I've noticed more and more players showing up with spreadsheets, strategies, calculations, and simulations. Nothing wrong with that , but where's the adrenaline, where's the instinct, where's the madness that made every hand tremble? Does anyone still play for the thrill, for the glory, for that “all-in” that defies logic but speaks from the heart?Played yesterday with no math. Just pulse. Lost, but felt alive. How do you play?

Regarding accounting in games of chance: The paradox is precisely this: the more we try to control the outcome, the more we realize that luck has its own accountant—and we can’t fool him.

Brigistul said:

”I've noticed more and more players showing up with spreadsheets, strategies, calculations, and simulations. Nothing wrong with that , but where's the adrenaline?

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I think strategies, calculations, spreadsheets and simulations also pomp/increase the amount of adrenaline in your blood, maybe even more than instinct.

najisami said:

I think strategies, calculations, spreadsheets and simulations also pomp/increase the amount of adrenaline in your blood, maybe even more than instinct.

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You're mostly right, but I prefer to play freely — no HUD, no GTO, no gimmicks. I feel more at peace this way, and I don't want to hold an edge over those who might not rely on charts, systems, or algorithms. You know what? This spirit lives in the game of bridge — a game of fair play — and I cannot abdicate from that principle...

Brigistul said:

I prefer to play freely — no HUD, no GTO, no gimmicks

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That's actually a personal choice. But I think either way, it'll be no shortage of adrenaline flowing.

In my case, mathematics is part of who I am. I cannot play without calculating my decisions. Games without calculation are bingo.

I currently don't use any tools to aid decisions, just use muscle memory, and feel that are implicitly informed by calculations. Of course, sometimes you've got to slam your (expletive deleted) on the table, and push your chips in!

Lena M said:

In my case, mathematics is part of who I am. I cannot play without calculating my decisions. Games without calculation are bingo.

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You're referring to doing calculations using your head, without any auxiliary tools, and in that case I commend you for using your mind instead of what I mentioned above!

nasty bent gorilla said:

I currently don't use any tools to aid decisions, just use muscle memory, and feel that are implicitly informed by calculations. Of course, sometimes you've got to slam your (expletive deleted) on the table, and push your chips in!

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Muscle memory, you say? Nicely put. It’s like dancing tango with probability, without checking your footwork.But you see, between instinct and calculation lies a fine line — and sometimes, that line is the edge of the poker table.

Why not use all the available tools. Can you imagine a builder saying "I dont need a tape measure, I build with heart" or a Doctor saying "you look pretty good I don't need to look at your labs".

The more you put into it, the more you will get out.

Like most of us, I play for money, but when it comes to slots or roulette, I rely on my intuition, so in fact I play for entertainment. Mathematics is an important part of the game, but sometimes intuition can bring in really big money.

TeUnit said:

Why not use all the available tools. Can you imagine a builder saying "I dont need a tape measure, I build with heart" or a Doctor saying "you look pretty good I don't need to look at your labs".

The more you put into it, the more you will get out.

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You’re right refusing tools is like going to war with a spoon.You can feel the game, but it’s wise to have a chart, a HUD, a cold calculation to back your intuition. I choose to use my mind not because I lack soul, but because I don’t want my soul to play alone. Effort doesn’t guarantee victory, but its absence guarantees confusion.

Hey, even Bible knows that heart sucks at decision making:
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

That’s true even the Bible warns us: the heart is deceitful. And yet, how many players blindly follow it, hoping they “feel something”? I’d rather put my mind in front and my heart in the background like music in a casino: present, but not decisive. When it comes to decisions, I choose logic over lyricism.

@Brigistul Well, some people do, some don't. At least you play with heart. At least in poker freerolls. You play very aggressively, sometimes it works.

Brigistul said:

The casino isn’t just about money. It’s about lights, noise, glances that dart, and burning decisions. Does anyone still play with heart? Or have we all become accountants?”I've noticed more and more players showing up with spreadsheets, strategies, calculations, and simulations. Nothing wrong with that , but where's the adrenaline, where's the instinct, where's the madness that made every hand tremble? Does anyone still play for the thrill, for the glory, for that “all-in” that defies logic but speaks from the heart?Played yesterday with no math. Just pulse. Lost, but felt alive. How do you play?

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I always try to play with mathematical calculations. But that's when it comes to poker. When it comes to slots, roulette, or blackjack, it's always an intuitive game that brings joy and for which you have to pay dearly

black and said:

Încerc mereu să mă joc cu calcule matematice. Dar asta e valabil și când vine vorba de poker. Când vine vorba de sloturi, ruletă sau blackjack, este întotdeauna un joc intuitiv care aduce bucurie și pentru care trebuie să plătești scump.

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There, it's no longer about calculations, but about emotion. About a joy that comes without guarantees and a price paid in silence.
It's like dancing with luck: sometimes it catches you, sometimes it lets you fall. But if you know you're paying for the show, it may be worth it to feel, at least once, that the world revolves around a single ball.

Brigistul said:

You’re right refusing tools is like going to war with a spoon.You can feel the game, but it’s wise to have a chart, a HUD, a cold calculation to back your intuition. I choose to use my mind not because I lack soul, but because I don’t want my soul to play alone. Effort doesn’t guarantee victory, but its absence guarantees confusion.

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Please don't include 'charts' in your comment>>> you're suggesting players are using them in 'real time' and although some might be, it is against the rules of the sites. Great tool for studying off the tables though.
Why are you scared to play 'real' poker and to try to get better at the game?

I feel like I still play a lot of games with my heart but at the same time I kind of feel a bit like the accountant mentioned by OP 😎

Poker Orifice said:

Please don't include 'charts' in your comment>>> you're suggesting players are using them in 'real time' and although some might be, it is against the rules of the sites. Great tool for studying off the tables though.
Why are you scared to play 'real' poker and to try to get better at the game?

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Not all sites have that requirement! For example, 888Poker and others allow the use of HUDs! Maybe you should study a bit more!And GGPoker prohibits it!I play freely, without any external help, and I’ll leave youthose who use it to exhaust your memory!

I play relying on both mathematics and intuition, depending on the situation. In my opinion, mathematics and intuition combined can significantly increase the chances of winning, even though sometimes one may contradict the other.

Hello Poker Fans,

It is very important not to get carried away with the thrill, lights and excitement from others around you. There are some games in a casino that rely on luck more than others and some people who come to just have fun without any fear of losing their money. It is the games where you have an edge if you nurture skill and restraint that I see no problem with having your spreadsheets and calculations. It is engaging in "on the job training" !

At the poker table, when the odds are in your favour and the price is right - you are free to play with heart and enjoy the excitement that follows. It is the moments that giving up on a hand does not make sense and despite the odds you have to give in to your instinct to call or shove that are most emotional. Another important aspect of enjoying the game and playing with heart is playing within your bankroll. I have about a $400.00 bankroll and still play for $1.00 and freerolls. I started from zero and worked my way up. I play freerolls with heart and really enjoy them because there is no risk and just reward.

It boils down to game selection and mood - if I just want to have fun, I select the game that allows me to do so. If I want to take a stab at making money, you bet that I will pull all the stops; spreadsheets, calculations, simulations and the works. In summary, I am both - sometimes I play with heart, others I am an accountant and there are times that I am both(instincts and odds are right)!

Poker is a great game and there is something for everyone - from freerolls to mega buy-ins. It is a matter of choosing the right game based on your mood and bankroll.

Brigistul said:

Not all sites have that requirement! For example, 888Poker and others allow the use of HUDs! Maybe you should study a bit more!And GGPoker prohibits it!I play freely, without any external help, and I’ll leave youthose who use it to exhaust your memory!

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HUDs are not the same as CHARTs. (you might want to look this up)
GG has their own HUD integrated into the software... or does it not show up in your freerolls?

For me, slots are primarily entertainment. Therefore, mathematics is beneficial, but intuition, in my opinion, is even more advantageous in this area. I play based on experience, emotions, and intuition

I do not feel like I should have to answer this lol

but yes, I am a heart player and giver <3 <3 <3 there are three for you