Pleasure or earning?

chicbulls2 · Jan 5, 2026

it has to be both

DiazPoker3101 · Jan 5, 2026

Both — you don’t necessarily have to choose one. I think you can enjoy the game while making money at the same time.

andron205 · Jan 6, 2026

In tournaments that involve many thousands of people, I play in the hope of winning a big prize, and sometimes I just combine fun with usefulness.

Nicolas Lacerda · Jan 6, 2026

flamenkit154 said:
We all want to make a lot of money playing poker. But at the same time, many of us take real pleasure (maybe we’re a bit masochistic 😄) in playing, bluffing, and hiding our intentions at the table.
What really matters most to you when it comes to motivating yourself to risk your money?
The pleasure of the game itself, or the goal of becoming financially successful through poker?

For me, it’s mainly the pleasure of the game 🃏. The strategy, the bluffs, and the mental challenge are what really motivate me. The money is important, but it comes as a result of playing well and enjoying the process 💰.

burba · Jan 6, 2026

I mostly stick to freerolls or tournaments where I’ve earned tickets. For me, the real motivation isn’t chasing big payouts—it’s the thrill of competing against other players, reading situations, and making the right moves under pressure. That feeling when a bluff works or when you outplay someone is priceless. Winning money is nice, of course, but I see it more as a bonus rather than the main goal. At the end of the day, I play because I enjoy the challenge and the strategy behind the game.

bowserdon · Jan 6, 2026

For me the game, I got enough money,not going to make a fortune playing freerolls.

Aleksandr1991 · Jan 6, 2026

flamenkit154 said:
Все мы хотим заработать много денег, играя в покер. Но в то же время многие из нас получают настоящее удовольствие (возможно, мы немного мазохисты 😄) от игры, блефа и сокрытия своих намерений за столом.
Что для вас действительно важнее всего, когда речь идёт о мотивации рисковать своими деньгами?
Удовольствие от самой игры или цель — добиться финансового успеха в покере?

If you play for money, prepare yourself for hard work that requires discipline and training
If you play for fun, don't expect a stable profit and treat the money in the game as chips to enter an exciting intellectual duel.

Tadi · Jan 6, 2026

I am a recreational player, I play for fun and for pleasure. I like to compete and I like to win. Of course defeats are part of this game and I accept that, depending on the mood, sometimes easier and sometimes it is difficult for me to fall. I play poker primarily because I love it. I don't want to lose money so I try to provide enough money with my game that I don't have to deposit and in that for now I succeed. At first I paid regularly, and about 5 years have passed since my last payment.

SPANKYSN · Jan 6, 2026

flamenkit154 said:
We all want to make a lot of money playing poker. But at the same time, many of us take real pleasure (maybe we’re a bit masochistic 😄) in playing, bluffing, and hiding our intentions at the table.
What really matters most to you when it comes to motivating yourself to risk your money?
The pleasure of the game itself, or the goal of becoming financially successful through poker?

The competition. At 72 years old, 5'1"stature, I cannot beat Tiger Woods at golf, can't even take a game off Roger Federer in tennis, can't out-homer Shohei Otani and I can't zip a 100 mph puck shot by an NHL goalie...but I can be competitive with top pros in poker...already did that in the 2019 wsop Colossus event, where I made it to Day 2 and cashed. I outlasted many pros, but only faced one pro head-on...my pocket 8s against his AJ...the 8s held and he doubled me up...busted later on, but it was one of the most exciting moments of my life. The atmosphere at the WSOP is just electric...playing there was an incredible experience. I know that I shall never make enough money to earn a living...I play for fun and competition,,, online, I have never withdrawn money from a poker site. I have made over a thousand dollars with no deposit, starting with freerolls, then playing cash games. The money I earn only serves to increase more playing time and the odd increase in stakes.

Dejana · Jan 6, 2026

Pure pleasure - I'm earning money in different ways, not on poker...

userX · Jan 6, 2026

I am motivated to play by the opportunity to make money. For me, poker is of course entertainment, but it is entertainment that sometimes significantly supplements my budget, so I try to both enjoy the game and spend my free time usefully. A wonderful hobby, in my opinion

Mantinhoo · Jan 7, 2026

For me it’s both, but pleasure comes first. Without enjoying the game, consistent earning is impossible.

RocknRoll6356 · Jan 7, 2026

For me, the enjoyment of the game comes first — the thinking, bluffing, and mental battle.
But without long-term profitability, the fun doesn’t last.
So it’s the love of poker that keeps me playing, and the money that keeps me disciplined. 🃏

Rosylly · Jan 7, 2026

You definitely have to enjoy playing poker, otherwise you’ll stop playing eventually, even if you are profitable player

diegovasques90 · Jan 8, 2026

it's a perfect combination... a well-played poker game and the money it can give you.

csabika94 · Jan 11, 2026

You play a completely different game when you see poker as a hobby and when you see it as a way to make money. When I saw it as a source of income, the game time was much more stressful. It was less enjoyable.

Oxinthewater · Jan 11, 2026

Only for fun. Way back in the early days of online gaming when I was studying, I used to exploit bonuses and the like (both casinos and poker) to make a small amount of money, which back then was enough to be meaningful.

ankurdholakiya · Jan 11, 2026

For me it’s both, but pleasure comes first. Enjoying the game is what makes me sit down and keep playing.
Money is the measure — it gives decisions weight and keeps you disciplined. Without enjoyment it feels like work, and without money it loses meaning. You need both.

Toruk Makto · Jan 11, 2026

Poker allows us to be the best and at the same time the worst at a table. It all depends on your positioning!

Lena M · Jan 12, 2026

I think enjoyment is more important. It is unlikely that someone who does not enjoy the game but forces themselves to play for many hours a week will be able to achieve consistently good results.

GarotoMaroto · Jan 12, 2026

Both I guess, but if I must pick one, than earning of course I can have pleasure playing valorant or dating beautiful girls
God bless

dompoker · Jan 15, 2026

I get distracted playing, but when it comes to risking my money, it consists of achieving success to win, through poker.

Baco · Jan 16, 2026

If you play poker without any pleasure and focus only on profit, you’re on the right path to failure. Enjoying the game is essential to stay motivated, keep learning, and perform well in the long run.

hardongear · Jan 16, 2026

3-way tie. Earning, pleasure and because I enjoy the challenge of online poker which is what I mainly play.

Cheers!!!

fernandovr · Jan 16, 2026

For me, it’s about balance. Enjoyment comes first, but aiming for profit makes the game even more motivating.

Pleasure or earning?

chicbulls2

Rock Star

DiazPoker3101

Visionary

andron205

Visionary

Nicolas Lacerda

Enthusiast

burba

Rock Star

bowserdon

Legend

Aleksandr1991

Visionary

Tadi

Visionary

SPANKYSN

Legend

Dejana

Meat pounder 🥩

userX

Legend

Mantinhoo

Rock Star

RocknRoll6356

Rising Star

Rosylly

Rock Star

diegovasques90

Enthusiast

csabika94

Rock Star

Oxinthewater

Visionary

ankurdholakiya

Enthusiast

Toruk Makto

Legend

Lena M

Legend

GarotoMaroto

Visionary

dompoker

Legend

Baco

Rock Star

hardongear

Legend

fernandovr

Legend

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