Walk of Life

I mentioned in my first post that I would be sharing about the lessons I have learned at the poker table. As someone who loves to observe human behavior and analyze it to death, I find the poker table to be a fascinating cross section of humanity, both as a dealer and a player. Since the advent of televised poker and the invention of the pocket camera for the poker table, the game of poker (sport if you must) has become HUGE in American culture, specifically Texas Hold 'Em. In 2000, 512 people played the main event at the World Series of Poker. Last year, 6,358 people played, which was down from the 8,773 players in 2006. With this huge surge in players, poker has moved out of back rooms and has reached to all walks of life. The possibilities of the personalities at any given table are amazing if you really think about it. 20 somethings playing with seasoned professionals with a mix of stockbrokers and housewives, actors, wannabe professional players and I could go on and on. What is of interest to me, is that how these people interact at the table, I would assert, mirrors how they exist in life.

One of the things I have noticed about this, is in my own game. When I started playing poker, I was not a good player. I only played "premium hands" (pocket pairs, high cards like an Ace with a King or Queen or Jack in the hole) unless I was in the blinds (forced bets depending on the position of the deal at the table) and no one raised. I would fold to raises and I played very scared. People could bet me off a hand very easily. I was so tight I barely raised unless I had pocket aces, kings or queens and would get upset if others raised! And, when I did raise pretty much the entire table would fold because they knew I had a monster and I never got paid off. I had lots and lots of rules for how I was going to play those two cards I got dealt!

How does that mirror my existence in life? Ask anyone who knows me, and they know I live with all sorts of "rules" that I created for myself. It used to be much worse, but let's face it, I have lots of rules for my life, as well as how you should interact with me! Also, when I am learning something new in life, I am typically cautious and I have to get ALL the information I possibly can about it. I won't take any risks, even after it's proved to be OK and I'm always looking out for the danger that could possibly be there. I'm typically held back, conservative, but very aggressive if I've got something. When I get angry about something, I get mean. Same thing happens on the poker table. I can put a table "on tilt" quickly, and myself if I am not careful! (emotional) As my game has evolved it's picking up on other aspects of my life and I can see how to use a lot of it to my advantage.

I see this with my friends who play, their characteristics playing out on the table, just like they do in life. The ones who take more risks with activities they do, (skydiving, adventure sports etc) are much more likely to call hands down to the river (the last community card) and chase draws (like a straight or a flush) Listening to players talk, you pick up on this and it gives you insight on how to play hands with them. Playing the players is the next level of my game, and I am excited to bring this lesson with me!

If you get a chance to watch that inevitable rerun of the world series of poker, watch the players and the way they interact and predict what kind of player they are!