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Maryann Guberman has been a writer and editor with many gaming publications, including Sports Form, Card Player, Poker World, Player's Panorama and Systems and Methods. She also has written and edited numerous books on gambling.

Sep. 15, 2007

Why We Love Poker

Some years ago I worked for a company that published martial arts magazines. The week before I reported to work I knew only eight letters about this stuff and those letters spelled "Bruce Lee." I quickly learned that while the various forms of the arts required discipline, they were open to anyone who wanted to study them. Young boys and girls through older men and women, little people and very tall ones, overweight individuals and stick skinny folks could all find some aspect of martial arts they could master. Not everyone achieved a black belt; not everyone wanted to reach that lofty goal. Hardly any thought they would ever be good enough to go up against a Chuck Norris or a Bruce Lee. Some were interested in the mental discipline, some in the physical workout, some the beautiful kata, some the potential to demonstrate their skills in competition, including full-contact and some the actual defense aspect, and just about anyone could take lessons.

The sport of boxing didn't offer the range of programs or reach the diverse population the way the martial arts did and few people would get to train under boxing masters.

Some years later a neighbor kid became obsessed with soccer. I started to wonder why so many American schools were promoting soccer as a sport but I eventually realized what a great activity it was. This game was on a par with the martial arts. Just about anyone who could breathe could play soccer, young or old, short or tall, even the overweight and disgustingly thin could go out on the field and play. Hardly any of them thought they could become a Pele or Beckham or compete in the pros, but most enjoyed the mental discipline or the physical workout and the fun of competition.

The more fan-popular game of football wasn't the kind of sport everyone could play, and enthusiasts certainly wouldn't be getting out on the field with the likes of the brutes of the NFL.

Today, when a lot of people are wondering why everybody and his brother, and sister, and favorite fading movie star think they can play hold'em, some folks are wondering along the same lines about poker, and we can come up with the same answers. Just about anybody who can figure out the hand rankings can play poker. Neither age, nor height, nor weight-(and sometimes not even the loss of sight) can act as an inhibitor. Not everyone who plays wants to be Antonio Esfandiari (well, since his high-priced night of bliss with Pamela Anderson many fellows will likely change their mind on that one) or Kathy Liebert, but most enjoy the mental discipline (forget that physical workout comparison), the competition and the social camaraderie.

A mind game like chess certainly can't accommodate all facets of the population and it isn't likely Vladimir Kramnik would be willing to sit down with amateurs who love the game.

Poker's a great game and it can be played for matchsticks or millions. It's either fortunate or unfortunate (depending a lot on whether you're playing for those matchsticks or millions) that amateurs can and do play against experts and win. True, many of today's newer players have more guts than sense but poker allows for that.

And again, that's televised tournament poker, which doesn't compare to low-buy-in competitions and doesn't come close to comparing to ring games. Put those same maniacs (that's an affectionate term) in the trenches against journeymen competitors where they have to earn their entire living from the game and we've got our old poker game back. Put them in live action and we're definitely booking a winner.

On another note but still relative to the equation here, if you want to learn to be a winning poker player, check out the First Annual California Poker Players Conference, Saturday and Sunday, October 20-21 at Hollywood Park Casino. Notables such as Barbara Enright, Vince Burgio, Lou Krieger, Susie Isaacs, Robert Turner, Marsha Waggoner, Stan Sludikoff, Charlie Shoten, Russell C. Fox, Tony Guerrera and George Epstein will be offering advice. (You can get in at a discount if register online at www.2007CPPC.com.) And even though you'll get to rub elbows and learn the secrets of these stars, you'll also know that part of the fee is going to help homeless youths.

That's basically what we love (and sometimes hate) about poker and what keeps us coming back for another shot at a big pot.