The misconceptions of poker

Here in Brazil we don't have the tradition of playing poker until the emergence of the internet and online poker, so those who don't know it think more or less what was said above, it's a drunken game in the old saloons of the west, it's a game of chance which will only bring you problems... many also think and say that if I am as skilled a player as I think I am, why am I not a millionaire yet? hahahaha

Shells said:

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?

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Poker is just luck. Well, yes luck (variance) doesn't play a large role in the short-term, but long-term this has very little impact. If poker was just luck, then there wouldn't be poker pros who consistently find themselves at Final Tables.

Shells said:

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?

Click to expand...

One of the biggest turn offs for non-poker players is they always say "Oh, that's gambling" When the fact remains that in over 20 years of playing On-line Poker I have never lost a Dime, not a single penny, Simply because I started playing freerolls, and only moved on to buying into games with money I won by finishing ITM in many Tournaments.
Sure there are people who will deposit Hundreds or even Thousands of Dollars/Pounds because they think it's an easy way to make money, It's not, far from it, It's harder trying to build a bankroll from Zero ,rather than throwing money into it, But winning cash from freerolls, makes you appreciate how hard the game is, How much discipline you need, and teaches you to be Patient.
I have lost money in Live games, but playing on-line gave me the practice I needed and the understanding of how to limit your losses without it costing you Relationships, and getting into a financial hole you could find yourself in. Poker has given me the opportunity to travel to many different Casino's across the UK. Staying in some great hotels all paid for from the money I made in Live games.
I am not what I would consider rich, but now I am retired, I live comfortable on a Government and Private Pension, and still could play in many more games than I do, I just don't want to any more. Been there, Done that, got the T-Shirt.

Shells said:

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?

Click to expand...

I have quite a few friends who don't play poker. Most of them think I'm a ludomaniac, quite seriously. When I tell them that for me poker is just entertainment that brings me extra income, they are incredulous, they think I'm lying to justify myself and my addiction. I don't see the point in explaining anything to people like that, because whether they understand me or not, my results won't get better or worse, and therefore there's no point in explaining.

The actual mechanics of the game. I don't know if it's the same everywhere, but TV and movie depictions of the game in my country almost always got it wrong. I didn't know any better either growing up as that was my only exposure to the game. I'm sure it influenced how people think you can play.

They'd always show string bets with the characters saying something like - "I'll see your 100 and raise you 300".

Then they'd have situations where the characters could just keep rasing the stakes over and over, betting things that weren't in play at the table. Someone would pull out a fat wad of banknotes from their pocket in the middle of a hand and put in a huge raise, then their opponent would gamble their car, another would gamble away a house or a business, lol.

There was never any concept of alll-in and the players would have to find more and more to gamble away or lose what they'd put in the pot already. If you could actually do that then the richest player in terms of resources would win all the time! Your house, car and business is worth more than anything the other players at the table have? Throw them in the pot every hand and all your opponents would have to fold because they can't match it.

For me, the misconception in poker was that poker is easy!

People don't understand that poker is pure mathematics and equate it to roulette/slots, claiming that it can't be used to make money or be considered a profession.

I only tell my closest friends that I play poker because for most people poker is synonymous with gambling addiction. I think that's a drawback of poker advertising.

One of the biggest misconceptions people have about poker is that it's purely a game of luck. While chance does play a role in the short term, skill, strategy, and psychological acumen significantly influence long-term success. Many fail to recognize the depth of strategic thinking, probability calculations, and reading opponents involved. Professional players consistently outperform due to their superior understanding of the game's nuances, disciplined bankroll management, and ability to make calculated decisions under pressure. This misconception undermines the dedication and expertise required to excel in poker.

Shells said:

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?

Click to expand...

The main is Poker is a pure gambling game!

that it is a game of luck or that online poker is rigged. But it is normal to think that when you are having a bad streak. I must admit that when I started playing poker, I thought that sometimes, but when I started to learn more about poker, and study, I realized that it is normal to lose, even the best player in the world loses money. I always tell someone who is starting out, that if they have good bankroll management, and study, in the long term they will make money.

Considering poker as a game of chance, one of the things I heard most from these people was "You win but you also lose everything later, right!?"

People who do not play poker often think that poker is just a kind of card lottery. It is difficult to explain anything to such people, primarily because they have no idea about the basic rules of the game. But nevertheless, this attitude of the people around me does not affect my results in any way, and therefore it simply does not matter.

I still experience people with ideology that poker is deviant and is just another word for gambling and that they struggle to get pass that, more so in the UK then the states where it is more widely seen (and accepted) as a cross between normal recreational life, socialising with friends as well as gambling.
That said - it also depends on the circles you mix within and also of whom you share your information with, i have great friends who lead good lives with good jobs and have a great family/work life ethic so its not all judgemental.
Poker as i have always said - its not only brilliant fun but a great way of making friends and a social event in the right contexts - its how we manage that that counts.

In my opinion, studying poker hours will make you money, they talk about poker as if it were advanced formulas and mathematics hahahaha, in my opinion most of the time it's luck.