Poker is a Gambling Game

My latest poker strategy article, Poker is a Gambling Game, is now appearing in 2+2 Magazine. I suspect the title will seem like an obvious statement to some and a controversial (heretical?) one to others, but I don’t think there’s any arguing with the content:

Winning at poker isn’t about finding a “sure thing”, such as an unbeatable hand or a bluffing spot where you are certain your opponents will fold. It’s about learning to make good wagers under conditions of uncertainty. That means uncertainty not just about the next card to come but also about your opponents and their likely holdings and strategies. The only sure thing in poker is that you’ll never be a long-term winner if you wait around for a sure thing.

As always, please let me know what you think!

3 thoughts on “Poker is a Gambling Game”

  1. It never ceases to amaze me how many players – good players, even some who play for a living – will quit a game immediately after getting “stacked” (losing the last of their chips).
    Some people, pros even, won’t play No-Limit. They can’t handle the swings.

  2. Paragraph nine has a typo:
    “The smart ones smile and congratulate here and plaster her…”

  3. Congrats on getting featured on 2+2 magazine : )

    Yes it’s very true. You need to get lucky to win especially in a poker tournament. You can never be certain of anything but you can exercise good bankroll management. If you are playing online it is a good idea to go for the maximum deposit bonus available to give you a better chance of making any money.

    But there are others, like Doyle Brunson, who consider No-Limit the only pure game left. Like Papa Wallenda said…”Life is on the wire. The rest is just waiting.”

    Great Movie!

Comments are closed.