Frens,
I played in a poker tournament yesterday. No limit holdem tournament.
NLH poker is essentially psychological warfare. It is infinitely more complex than chess, and involves both controllable and uncontrollable elements.
In chess, all the moves are defined, and it's just you against one competitor.
In NLH, the random arrangement of the cards via shuffling means that there is always an uncontrollable 'luck' factor, and in this sense, it resembles life. To navigate this well, you need a wide variety of skills, including mathematical and calculation skills.
There is normally more than one opponent you have to deal with. The psychology of each opponent is a variable that is very often something quite hard to discern.
There is position, as opponents are seated in different positions and act in a particular sequence, and the power and strength of both your hand and your betting ability changes and is directly impacted by your position in the play.
In a tournament, the play is carried out over a period of time, and step by step, the value of the chips you hold and others hold changes.
Successful NLH play requires mental strength and emotional balance. Navigating the ups and downs, dealing with difficult situations, including what appear to be no-win scenarios, takes a certain amount of effort and discipline.
In NLH, when confronted by other players of even moderately comparable (or greater) skill, you yourself are the most important factor to control. Your stamina, your thinking, your emotions - all these are critical over an extended period of time.
You also need to have the capacity to take risks, and deal with the outcomes, both favorable and unfavorable, without getting knocked off your own inner track.
In some ways, playing NLH poker is akin to participating in the Great Awakening as an anon. I find there are many similarities.
BTW, yesterday, I played against a field of 192 opponents, and gained 2nd place. It took about 6 hours. I had to push myself and keep focused. I made some mistakes, but I also made some great moves.
Although it was great to get the prize money for 2nd, the best thing I took away was the feeling of satisfaction that I had performed mentally (and emotionally) at a high level, and I praise God for that.
I know that lots of different folks will play NLH for a wide variety of reasons, but for me, it's a love of the game, and the way it challenges me, about myself.
And I just wanted to say that.
Frens,
I played in a poker tournament yesterday. No limit holdem tournament.
NLH poker is essentially psychological warfare. It is infinitely more complex than chess, and involves both controllable and uncontrollable elements.
In chess, all the moves are defined, and it's just you against one competitor.
In NLH, the random arrangement of the cards via shuffling means that there is always an uncontrollable 'luck' factor, and in this sense, it resembles life. To navigate this well, you need a wide variety of skills, including mathematical and calculation skills.
There is normally more than one opponent you have to deal with. The psychology of each opponent is a variable that is very often something quite hard to discern.
There is position, as opponents are seated in different positions and act in a particular sequence, and the power and strength of both your hand and your betting ability changes and is directly impacted by your position in the play.
In a tournament, the play is carried out over a period of time, and step by step, the value of the chips you hold and others hold changes.
Successful NLH play requires mental strength and emotional balance. Navigating the ups and downs, dealing with difficult situations, including what appear to be no-win scenarios, takes a certain amount of effort and discipline.
In NLH, when confronted by other players of even moderately comparable (or greater) skill, you yourself are the most important factor to control. Your stamina, your thinking, your emotions - all these are critical over an extended period of time.
You also need to have the capacity to take risks, and deal with the outcomes, both favorable and unfavorable, without getting knocked off your own inner track.
In some ways, playing NLH poker is akin to participating in the Great Awakening as an anon. I find there are many similarities.
BTW, yesterday, I played against a field of 192 opponents, and gained 2nd place. It took about 6 hours. I had to push myself and keep focused. I made some mistakes, but I also made some great moves.
Although it was great to get the prize money for 2nd, the best thing I took away was the feeling of satisfaction that I had performed mentally (and emotionally) at a high level.
I know that lots of different folks will play NLH for a wide variety of reasons, but for me, it's a love of the game, and the way it challenges me, about myself.
And I just wanted to say that.
Frens,
I played in a poker tournament yesterday. No limit holdem tournament.
NLH poker is essentially psychological warfare. It is infinitely more complex than chess, and involves both controllable and uncontrollable elements.
In chess, all the moves are defined, and it's just you against one competitor.
In NLH, the random arrangement of the cards via shuffling means that there is always an uncontrollable 'luck' factor, and in this sense, it resembles life. To navigate this well, you need a wide variety of skills, including mathematical and calculation skills.
There is normally more than one opponent you have to deal with. The psychology of each opponent is a variable that is very often something quite hard to discern.
There is position, as opponents are seated in different positions and act in a particular sequence, and the power and strength of both your hand and your betting ability changes and is directly impacted by your position in the play.
In a tournament, the play is carried out over a period of time, and step by step, the value of the chips you hold and others hold changes.
Successful NLH play requires mental strength and emotional balance. Navigating the ups and downs, dealing with difficult situations, including what appear to be no-win scenarios, takes a certain amount of effort and discipline.
In NLH, when confronted by other players of even moderately comparable (or greater) skill, you yourself are the most important factor to control. Your stamina, your thinking, your emotions - all these are critical over an extended period of time.
You also need to have the capacity to take risks, and deal with the outcomes, but favorable and unfavorable, without getting knocked off your own inner track.
In some ways, playing NLH poker is akin to participating in the Great Awakening as an anon. There are many similarities.
BTW, yesterday, I played against a field of 192 opponents, and gained 2nd place. It took about 6 hours. I had to push myself and keep focused. I made some mistakes, but I also made some great moves.
Although it was great to get the prize money for 2nd, the best thing I took away was the feeling of satisfaction that I had performed mentally (and emotionally) at a high level.
I know that lots of different folks will play NLH for a wide variety of reasons, but for me, it's a love of the game, and the way it challenges me, about myself.
And I just wanted to say that.
Frens,
I played in a poker tournament yesterday. No limit holdem tournament.
NLH poker is essentially psychological warfare. It is infinitely more complex than chess, and involves both controllable and uncontrollable elements.
In chess, all the moves are defined, and it's just you against one competitor.
In NLH, the random arrangement of the cards via shuffling means that there is always an uncontrollable 'luck' factor, and in this sense, it resembles life. To navigate this well, you need a wide variety of skills, including mathematical and calculation skills.
There is normally more than one opponent you have to deal with. The psychology of each opponent is a variable that is very often something quite hard to discern.
There is position, as opponents are seated in different positions and act in a particular sequence, and the power and strength of both your hand and your betting ability changes and is directly impacted by your position in the play.
In a tournament, the play is carried out over a period of time, and step by step, the value of the chips you hold and others hold changes.
Successful NLH play requires mental strength, and emotional balance. Navigating the ups and downs, dealing with difficult situations, including what appear to be no-win scenarios, takes a lot of work and discipline.
In NLH, when confronted by other players of even moderately comparable (or greater) skill, you yourself are the most important factor to control. Your stamina, your thinking, your emotions - all these are critical over an extended period of time.
You also need to have the capacity to take risks, and deal with the outcomes, but favorable and unfavorable, without getting knocked off your own inner track.
In some ways, playing NLH poker is akin to participating in the Great Awakening as an anon. There are many similarities.
BTW, yesterday, I played against a field of 192 opponents, and gained 2nd place. It took about 6 hours. I had to push myself and keep focused. I made some mistakes, but I also made some great moves.
Although it was great to get the prize money for 2nd, the best thing I took away was the feeling of satisfaction that I had performed mentally (and emotionally) at a high level.
I know that lots of different folks will play NLH for a wide variety of reasons, but for me, it's a love of the game, and the way it challenges me, about myself.
And I just wanted to say that.