It's not about the money

Hsac · Jun 25, 2020

Thank you

marcoslopezbl said:
I'm really sorry about that, Hsac. I'm new to the forums and never read about your son. Although I probably would never read a technical manual on micro SNG, I would definitely be interested in the memoirs of an 80s hustler. Hope you are thinking of including some of that in the book you're writing.

Thank you for your sympathy, marcoslopezbl. It happened a long tome ago and I've fully gotten over it. Seems like it was another life now.

More sorry to hear you wouldn't be interested in reading my book. It's minimally a technical manual, and contains a lot of humor. Not your usual book about how to play poker. Those who have read my early chapters think it's more entertaining than technical, probably partly because I use a lot of cuss words when describing the negative aspects of the game. I've posted a few excerpts from the book on the forum, including an updated review of Bet Online. You might check them out when you have a chance.

Take care,

Cliff

19aleks57 · Jun 25, 2020

You are right, Marcos, it is not a matter of money, but of its quantity ...

marcoslopezbl · Jun 25, 2020

Hsac said:
Thank you for your sympathy, marcoslopezbl. It happened a long tome ago and I've fully gotten over it. Seems like it was another life now.

More sorry to hear you wouldn't be interested in reading my book. It's minimally a technical manual, and contains a lot of humor. Not your usual book about how to play poker. Those who have read my early chapters think it's more entertaining than technical, probably partly because I use a lot of cuss words when describing the negative aspects of the game. I've posted a few excerpts from the book on the forum, including an updated review of Bet Online. You might check them out when you have a chance.

Take care,

Cliff

I'll definitely check it out. I didn't mean I wouldn't be interested in reading your book. Just that the anecdotal aspects of hustler life in the 80s appeal more to me than pages and pages of charts. I'll gladly give it a read. Could you post a link for us, please?

Martin Carreira · Jun 25, 2020

Poker is a great strategy game, one of the best I know. And without a doubt that if we didn't play it for money, it loses a lot of sense. But the purpose is to play in the best way and this will undoubtedly bring us great results.

manzanillo53 · Jun 25, 2020

Yes it is, the money is the trophy in poker when you are first starting out. Once you are financially set and money is no longer an issue then it just about the win. Not sure as I am not financially set yet.

Lena M · Jun 25, 2020

Hello.
I agree. Indeed, it is not about money. The game brings me pleasure and for me it is the most important thing. Personally, it is important for me to make the right, informed decisions, and thus gain an advantage over my opponents.

Adakain · Jun 25, 2020

I started playing poker without thinking about real profits at all. At home with friends on matches played. It was only later that I learned that you can make a little money from it. But to each his own, as they say.

BlackJesus · Jun 25, 2020

For me, it IS about the money. If there were no money, I wouldnt play.
The more properly you play, the less pleasant the game becomes. Sad but necessary truth.

molokheia · Jun 25, 2020

Hi There

If it´s not for money then for what?
Pleasure to loose to some fish?
Pleasure to loose with an AA hand?
Pleasure to loose a all in hand?
Really?
Come on
Rgds

caracaski220 · Jun 25, 2020

caracaski220

The money is great if you win it . However, there is nothing like making it to a final table in a big tournament. I will allways remember A big stack tourney win in Vegas. The 63k for first was great but what I really wanted was the trophy and the picture.

Zvezda kz · Jun 25, 2020

And yet it is money, but it is not as important as many people think. Money will give us the opportunity to participate in live tournaments and, possibly, to prove ourselves. And money is still one of the indicators of our skill: the more you win, the higher your skill.
Maybe I'm not one of those who play for the sake of interest in the game, for vanity, or for other reasons. Mostly I play to win money. Only I still have not defeated them.))

Shawnt · Jun 25, 2020

More then $

I agree I've been playing for a long time and it's not truly about the money the money with icing on top of the cake I like to play I love the sport I love the game the strategic aspect of it. I think most of all I love the people when I play in our local home game.b I don't care if I win. and I don't care if I lose. really I just want to hang out with the boys and have a good time. again. like I said before the money is just a bonus. icing on the cake. good luck on the tables everyone and as always good luck

enzomyn · Jun 25, 2020

marcoslopezbl said:
I've played poker for as long as I can remember.

From the home gatherings in my early teens to sneaking inside the local casino before I was 18. From the early days of virtual poker rooms to the mind-blowing reality that online poker has become.

All along, the tantalizing dream of earning our living by virtue of our superior poker skills kept us moving forward. We grew up believing we had a serious shot at building a decent bankroll, and someday taking the big leap to the world stage.

Like all hard truths in life, this one hit hard. Santa Claus doesn't exist, no one is THAT great in bed and you're probably not making it to the WSOP this year.

Or ever.

Still. We keep grinding. And, even though I'm sure that some players are still awaiting that blinding strike of luck that will catapult them out of oblivion, most of us have found a comfortable space in our daily tables.

So, what is it that keeps us glued to our seats for days on end? Is it the thrill of peeking at pocket rockets? Is it the satisfaction of winning a huge pot? The relief of recovering your foothold after a series of bad beats?

Sting once wrote that we "deal the cards to find the answer, the sacred geometry of chance" and although some of you might disagree with the concept, he got one idea right.

It's not about the money.

I fully agree with your text, including congratulations on the elaboration. Poker is a source of income, but stop playing is not an option precisely because of the love that the player has acquired for the game.

marcoslopezbl · Jun 25, 2020

molokheia said:
Hi There

If it´s not for money then for what?
Pleasure to loose to some fish?
Pleasure to loose with an AA hand?
Pleasure to loose a all in hand?
Really?
Come on
Rgds

Hi Molokheia, thanks for taking the time to read my post. I believe most of the examples you pose have to do with the fickle nature of short term results. Of course there are going to be bad beats here and there, we'll lose with the odds in our favor against opponents we deem inferior in skill, and maybe in your case there is something seductive about the profits that can be made through good, solid poker. I'll still maintain that, while the prospect of winning and losing money is an enticing element of the sport, there comes a point where it loses its role as the cornerstone of the experience.

Do we play for money? Yes, sure.
Is it THE reason why we play? No way.

marcoslopezbl · Jun 25, 2020

Zvezda kz said:
And yet it is money, but it is not as important as many people think. Money will give us the opportunity to participate in live tournaments and, possibly, to prove ourselves. And money is still one of the indicators of our skill: the more you win, the higher your skill.
Maybe I'm not one of those who play for the sake of interest in the game, for vanity, or for other reasons. Mostly I play to win money. Only I still have not defeated them.))

Hi Zvezda! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on this post. I'm glad to find people that agree with my point of view, I honestly didn't think we were so many

There's a scene in the movie Moneyball in which Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) tells Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) that really resonated with me when I first heard it. I believe it applies to the point you're trying to make.

02:00:38 You're not doing it for the money.
02:00:40 No? No
02:00:45 You're doing it for what the money says.
02:00:49 And it says what it says to any player that makes big money.
02:00:53 That they're worth it.

I can fully get behind your concept of money earned as an indicator of skill and success. I believe that is true for most walks of life, including poker. Thanks again for your insight and see you at the tables

Zvezda kz · Jun 25, 2020

marcoslopezbl said:
Hi Zvezda! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on this post. I'm glad to find people that agree with my point of view, I honestly didn't think we were so many

There's a scene in the movie Moneyball in which Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) tells Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) that really resonated with me when I first heard it. I believe it applies to the point you're trying to make.

In this community you will find like-minded people from all points of view. There are very adequate participants and many qualified players. Here you can find the answer to many questions of poker and much more. You just have to ask them.
I wish you good luck in conquering the tops of poker.

rmcmullen2003 · Jun 25, 2020

I play for the feeling I get when I shove all my chips in and that nervousness, short of breath, anxious feeling. It is nice to follow that up with the thrill of winning a big pot but you can't win them all.

vittopio · Jun 25, 2020

For me personally, playing poker is only making money! I am glad to have more than 63 places than 1 if the win for 63 places is greater!

Pokerstudy · Jun 26, 2020

The game is meant to be about Money.

zinzir · Jun 26, 2020

marcoslopezbl said:
It's not about the money.

The funny and ironic thing is that only the players who understand that concept are capable of actually beating the game and turning a profit from playing poker

azforlife · Jun 26, 2020

You can see this two way, by this I mean what you're referring to as " it's not about the money"
The first is saying don't think about making money, play the game, have fun
The other & most pertinent angle is that you're right but not in the way you mean, but in the way that any profession, achievement or project will be successful only if you focus on the craft & the processes rather than the lump sum you'll receive at the end. Poker is not a get rich quick scheme, & even if you happen to hit it big one day, you need to master the marathon approach to have a remote chance of keeping your wins. That's why Poker takes you on such an interesting spiritual journey, it's fueled so much by Ego but 1% of Ego could be your downfall on the felt & it's all about making money in the end, but that's a by product of the accumulation of +EV decisions you make day in & day out as well as the BRM decisions you make daily or at least that's how I took your o.p

marcoslopezbl · Jun 26, 2020

zinzir said:
The funny and ironic thing is that only the players who understand that concept are capable of actually beating the game and turning a profit from playing poker

Hi Zinzir! As I said before, I don't claim to be an enlightened soul by any means. I believe there are plenty of players who really do this for the money and are extremely efficient at what they do. Hats off to them. I know the odds of me becoming one of them are extremely long but I still find poker to be one of the most entertaining, enduring and fascinating hobbies/sports one can take up. Thanks for your comment!

bempassado · Jun 26, 2020

marcoslopezbl said:
Hey Bempassado! Thanks for taking the time to read my post. One of my best friends and godfather to my son is a neuroscientist and has books on the search for dopamine "hits." He even wrote full chapters about the non-existence of love which were markedly unpopular with his wife. I won't disagree with you, but would it be strange to say that poker, in my case is more a source of relaxation than one of excitement?

Hi bro, how are you doing.
It depends if are playing for hobby or if you are playing to pay your bills. If you are the choice number one, then no problem poker is fun 100% of the time. But if you play to put some food on your table the emotional changes.

mclaughlinph · Jun 28, 2020

marcoslopezbl said:
I've played poker for as long as I can remember.

From the home gatherings in my early teens to sneaking inside the local casino before I was 18. From the early days of virtual poker rooms to the mind-blowing reality that online poker has become.

All along, the tantalizing dream of earning our living by virtue of our superior poker skills kept us moving forward. We grew up believing we had a serious shot at building a decent bankroll, and someday taking the big leap to the world stage.

Like all hard truths in life, this one hit hard. Santa Claus doesn't exist, no one is THAT great in bed and you're probably not making it to the WSOP this year.

Or ever.

Still. We keep grinding. And, even though I'm sure that some players are still awaiting that blinding strike of luck that will catapult them out of oblivion, most of us have found a comfortable space in our daily tables.

So, what is it that keeps us glued to our seats for days on end? Is it the thrill of peeking at pocket rockets? Is it the satisfaction of winning a huge pot? The relief of recovering your foothold after a series of bad beats?

Sting once wrote that we "deal the cards to find the answer, the sacred geometry of chance" and although some of you might disagree with the concept, he got one idea right.

It's not about the money.

I totally disagree it is all about the money. people play the wsop main event for the $10 million first place prize not the $40,000 bracelet. The only people who can truly say they dont spend all this time playing poker for the money is the millionaires and billionaires where the money doesnt matter to them and they want to win first place to be the best. Every other poker player is playing for the money I think most people who work do so for the money. It just happens with most poker players they are doing what they love in playing poker so if they make millions at it they are a successful poker player. Just like the difference between a lawyer who is a civil prosecutor or a corporate lawyer they both love the law one makes $60,000/year and the other makes $550,000/year respectively and they both keep working until they feel like retiring. Poker is a heavily money driven sport where the more you make the generally better you are thought to be at the sport.

mclaughlinph · Jun 28, 2020

marcoslopezbl said:
Hi Zvezda! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on this post. I'm glad to find people that agree with my point of view, I honestly didn't think we were so many

There's a scene in the movie Moneyball in which Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) tells Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) that really resonated with me when I first heard it. I believe it applies to the point you're trying to make.

I can fully get behind your concept of money earned as an indicator of skill and success. I believe that is true for most walks of life, including poker. Thanks again for your insight and see you at the tables

If you play poker for a living you are playing to eat and for somewhere to sleep if you are good enough then the place where you eat and sleep gets better and better as time goes on but you are still playing to eat and to have somewhere to sleep. So it is a little different than just proving your worth at something you do in life. Whether you are a recreational player who wins the wsop or a professional low stakes grinder. Professional Poker is about the money to have somewhere to eat and sleep along with all the other things.

It's not about the money

Hsac

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19aleks57

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marcoslopezbl

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Martin Carreira

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manzanillo53

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Lena M

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Adakain

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BlackJesus

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Zvezda kz

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Shawnt

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enzomyn

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vittopio

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bempassado

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