Many people have chosen poker as a career over the last few decades.
One of the primary factors causing this phenomenon has been the almost limitless potential for earning money combined with the free lifestyle.
Although there are many thousands of people who make a living playing poker today, it is evident that a select few have achieved much greater success than the majority.
Players who are successful in making money from the game invest a lot of time learning the ins and outs.
Most people experience many ups and downs before finding their comfort zone, but some people seem to completely skip this process and go from learning the rules to winning.
Naturally, this raises the query, “Why?”
What is it about these players that allows them to master the game so quickly? Are they innately more likely to excel at poker?
What Characterizes a Good Poker Player?
If you’re a fan of poker in any way, you’ve probably thought about what it would be like to play the game professionally once or twice. The concept has some appeal, even to the most composed and grounded of spirits.
But the big question that arises from these ideas is always present. Have I got what it takes?
1. A Mind Predisposed to Mathematics
Poker is first and foremost a game of numbers.
Although there are many viewpoints on the subject, the fact remains that if you don’t comprehend the mathematical principles underlying the game, you won’t succeed over the long term.
Have percentages, graphs, and numbers always come natural to you? If so, you have a good chance of succeeding at poker. But if this is not a good thing for you, you can always switch to lozuri razuibile.
More than most people can imagine, a lot of the players you see on TV build their bankrolls from nothing.
Understanding the operation of percentages is one thing. It’s entirely different to revel in them.
There’s still hope if you’ve been shaking your head while reading the last few sentences. A poker player doesn’t necessarily need to be obsessed with numbers, but it can be a huge advantage.
That being said, poker is probably not in your DNA if you despise math and don’t want to be around it.
Poker’s mathematical component is one of the elements that makes it a game of skill and strategy. Without it, it would just be another card game where the person with the best luck prevails.
2. You Can Trust Your Gut Feelings
Good instincts are another personality trait that might suggest poker might run in your family.
Although we all have instincts, not everyone is as sure of them.
By this time in your life, you most likely already know if you possess excellent instincts and intuition. They will have assisted you in getting out of some tight spots when you needed them most.
At the poker table, sound judgment can be truly priceless.
3. Tolerance for Risk
Poker does, in the end, have a short-term gambling component to it.
Even the best players have frequently found themselves in a situation where they were on the verge of losing their entire bankroll (or actually did), either as a result of extremely unlucky circumstances, poor bankroll management, or, typically, a combination of both.
However, you can almost hear the excitement in their voices when they talk about it. They don’t give off the impression that they are talking about anything unpleasant.
This is due to the fact that those who have a gene for poker have a much higher risk tolerance and do not view this aspect of the game as tragic.
Even the less enjoyable aspects of the game will be enjoyable to you if you are truly naturally inclined to enjoy it.
Poker players frequently refer to themselves as “degens” (short for degenerate gamblers, which means always broke due to gambling).
You might be wondering how this word could possibly have a positive connotation.
In the world of poker, that is the response.
4. Not being overly concerned with what others think of you
Given that poker is still not very well liked, you probably need to think outside the box to fall in love with the game.
How does one come up with the idea of playing cards and shuffling chips for a living in such a society?
What happened to ambition and good old-fashioned hard work?
The majority of people outside the poker community are unaware of how difficult it is to play poker professionally. It’s not just about getting better at playing.
It’s challenging to give your all each time you sit down at the table, and to keep doing it throughout each session.
Even if poker is in your DNA, it’s anything but easy, even though it may appear that way to someone on the outside.
In light of all the aforementioned factors, you must possess the type of personality that is at ease stepping outside of conventional social boundaries.
Your loved ones will likely be at least slightly shocked to learn that you consider poker to be a viable career option, unless you’re exceptionally lucky.
To withstand all the negativity and maintain one’s composure requires a particular type of person.
However, it won’t matter as much if poker is something you genuinely love and enjoy and if you feel naturally good at it.
It’s really strange, but one of those things you’ll likely understand after taking part in your first cash game or tournament.
The game will just make sense to you, even if you know very little about precise strategies.
Despite being surrounded by players who are much more skilled than you and having a feeding frenzy on your stack, you will feel like you belong at a poker table.
Are you then a Poker Winner?
It’s possible that you love the game to some extent if you’re reading this article.
If not, I fail to see how you could possibly find it, let alone make it all the way to these closing passages.
The chances are good that you have at least a bit of poker in your soul if you can relate to some of the points I’ve made here.
Without additional testing, it is impossible to tell whether they are minor traces or a significant portion of your entire genome.
On a more serious note, you shouldn’t give this concept undue attention.
You don’t need to be brilliant to play poker well. You’re halfway there if you like the game and don’t mind learning about it.
The biggest mistake you can make is to believe that you are too talented and accomplished to accept any advice.
It doesn’t matter whether you have poker in your DNA or not, if you aren’t consistently beating the games. It’s an obvious indication that you need to get better, and you won’t do that without putting in some serious effort.
Take every chance you can to learn and improve, and before you know it, the stakes will be raised, and you’ll be watching all the “talented” kids in the rearview mirror!