Oh yeah, it seems the popularity of poker as a popular card game won’t fizzle out anytime soon. Being a game that is a product of skill and strategy, poker has been a choice for many who take it up as either a hobby or career path.
Despite all the testimonies, stories and all that out there, many doubting Thomases who are thinking of pursuing the game and possibly making a profit from it have contemplated the question of today’s post and you might be one of them. Come on, read on to see if it is worth it or just another passing fad!
Before going into the question of whether learning poker is worth your time and effort, understand the fundamentals of the game first. Even if you have played a few rounds or have already learned them somehow, somewhere, it is still for you because a little refresher won’t hurt.
Alright, getting to it. As mentioned before, poker does not want to die out. Despite all the tragedy that has hit it, the game’s tempting nature, excitement, features, and all-around coolness have kept folks coming back for more over the years.
At its core, poker involves players competing to craft winning hands (the cards you hold during a poker round) or compelling opponents to fold (discarding hands). When you’re playing poker, you’ve got a deck of 52 cards to work with, and each card comes with its own suit and rank. There are 4 different suits: Clubs (♣️), Diamonds (♦️), Hearts (♥️), and Spades (♠️). There are 13 different ranks: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K), and Ace (A).
An important point in understanding the basics of poker is understanding hand rankings. A deep understanding of hand rankings will direct your wins and losses. Knowing the hand rankings well will help you determine when to make a bet, fold, or raise. The well-known hand rankings generally accepted in most forms of poker are:
Beyond the basics, numerous variants of poker exist, with Texas Hold’em sitting on the “most popular” throne. Each variant offers unique rules and gameplay styles.
You know, for years, people have sort of looked down on poker, labeling it as just another “gambling game” where you’re bound to lose everything you’ve got. And while those old-school ideas are somewhat fading away, they’re still up for debate among plenty of folks. But that hasn’t stopped some incredible success stories and massive wins from making waves.
Come on, just look at the past 10 years. The poker industry saw some seriously impressive players rake in millions. Ever heard of Bryn Kenney, Justin Bonomo, or Jason Koon? You could call these guys poker legends, sitting pretty at the top of the all-time money list. Bryn’s, as of February 2024, pulled in a jaw-dropping $65,115,882 in winnings, with Justin not far behind at $63,405,743, and Jason with $55,762,108.
And do not forget the underdog stories that make poker so darn exciting. Take Alex O’Brien, for example — a poker hobbyist who scored a massive $10,000 win in an online tournament. That win catapulted her into a confrontation with a notorious player, famous for his flashy lifestyle and less-than-stellar views on women.
Then there’s Vanessa Kade, who shook up the poker universe by snagging a cool $1.5 million in the biggest online tournament of 2021. Pretty wild, right? It just goes to show there’s real excitement and some serious potential for big rewards in this game.
A closer look into the game will show that it offers more beyond the game itself. Poker has many transferable elements that will positively impact one’s life. A few of them are:
One of the benefits you will gain from playing poker is sharpened decision-making skills. Just as in any other strategic game, poker teaches you how to make smart choices, both in your career and in your everyday life. From deciding when to raise the stakes to knowing when to fold ’em, each move you make at the poker table helps you learn how to make quick decisions, even when the pressure’s on.
But it’s not just about making split-second choices — poker also helps you become a better analytical thinker. You’re constantly assessing risks and weighing your options, which is an important skill in poker that you can transfer to areas such as investing and planning for the future.
Playing poker is a real emotional ride, with highs and lows that can really get your heart racing. But keeping your emotions in check — whether you’re feeling frustrated, angry, or over-the-moon excited — is super important. Learning to stay cool under pressure isn’t just an ingredient to your success at the poker table; it can also have a positive impact on your relationships and other parts of your life.
Furthermore, poker has a dynamically changing nature. Adjusting to these changes through different strategies will help any player of the game. A player who can adapt to these will gracefully sail through other stressful environments and situations.
One of the upsides of the game is that you are given the opportunity to interact socially with different and diverse groups of individuals. The game has been used as a networking field for many professionals and entrepreneurs. Besides being a platform for networking, it’s also an excellent opportunity to level up your gameplay. You will get to learn from the bosses’ experiences and strategies and make relationships beyond the table.
By now, you must have grabbed a good understanding of poker and its benefits. So, if you conclude learning poker is worth it, how and where do you learn?
The internet has been a gigantic contributor to poker’s popularity in recent years. Due to online poker gaming, the game is accessible to anyone around the world and not just in casinos. But how do you familiarise yourself with the game? In this section, you will see the various mediums that will aid you in learning poker.
Due to their easy accessibility and convenience, online platforms are the best sources to learn poker. You can learn from the comfort of your home or anywhere where you want and seek to know the game more.
Many websites are out there, ready to help you learn. These platforms are packed with materials, including videos, guides, books, etc. They will also have forums or communities that will allow you to learn more by interacting with other poker players. You’ll be able to enrich your skills and gain practical experience through this.
It might sound out of pocket to say that casinos are good places to learn poker, but they are one of the best ways of learning poker. In casinos, you will get real-life learning experiences, whether you’re a beginner or a professional. You will learn through observing other players play and interact with the game.
It’s similar to the saying, “A smart person learns from his mistakes, but a truly wise person learns from the mistakes of others.” By understanding what led one player to either win or lose, you can avoid blunders at no cost. You will see different strategies and ways of playing to put in your toolbox.
No one really needs to convince you whether learning poker is worthwhile or not. Really, because when you have seen the big bucks, famous faces, and the potential to attain some seriously badass skills, what more is there to say? It is what it is: an unchangeable fact that learning poker can indeed change your life.
Being stuck in an office all day or spending your hours baking bread shouldn’t hold you back. Learning poker is something you can do in your free time — because, to be real, everyone has some downtime. In the end, just make sure you’re learning from someone who knows their stuff, or if you’re learning from others’ mistakes, remember to keep your head straight and don’t let any nonsense sneak in as truth. Learning poker is a gift that forever keeps giving.
