Poker can spark a flurry of reactions or ideas just at the very mention of its name. With fans who hold intimate knowledge of the game, these ideas are overwhelmingly accurate and positive. Yet, with those who have only experienced poker through television and popular culture, there can be misconceptions about the game.
Read on to discover exactly what these misconceptions may be and the truth behind them.
Poker is an Underhanded Game
Kicking off our list is one of the most widely broadcast fallacies about poker - it’s only a game for the underhanded personalities of society. A familiar mistruth is that the game of poker somehow draws in the shady types - those lowly characters itching to make a quick buck. This couldn’t be further from the truth. One of poker’s resounding virtues is its ability to attract all types of people from all walks of life. It’s a game of precision and skill. Thus, it can attract highly intelligent people, intent on challenging their skills at all levels.
The majority of players are good-hearted, genuine, friendly people. Naturally, as with any game, career, or pastime, there can be a seedy element that gives the rest a poor reputation. On the whole, however, you’ll find poker players passionate, skilled people, who welcome all to the game they love.
You Need to Be Aggressive to Win
In our humble opinion, tv and film have something to answer for with this one. People often see intense head-on showdowns depicted on-screen. Then they imagine every game comes to a close with two players embroiled in an aggressive battle of wills until one claims the pot. While no one is disputing that intense and passionate scenes can brew in poker, nobody will even come close to blows. It’s typically a far more cordial affair.
In regard to an aggressive playing style, the truth is that there are several different styles, each with its pros and cons! Yes, there are times when being aggressive in your betting could secure you the pot. Yet, equally, there are games where a tight playing style will help you survive and even thrive within the game.
Poker Inevitably Leads to Addiction
Poker is without doubt a thrilling game composed of elative highs. Couple this with the prospect of winning life-changing sums of cash and of course, there’s the potential for immense addiction. Especially if you’re someone who has a habit of forming addictive attachments already. Whether it’s food, alcohol, drugs or otherwise, if you know yourself as someone who finds something they enjoy and then latch on for dear life, perhaps this game isn’t right for you. However, like alcohol, food, and shopping, poker isn’t inherently bad or addictive - it’s just not for everyone!
What’s more, there is the ability to play poker without the financial incentive, decreasing the risk of addiction. Social casino games like KamaGames’ Pokerist are a bit of a phenomenon due to the nature of how differently they operate from traditional, real-money casino games. The most important aspect of their difference is that within the confines of social casino gaming there is no ‘cash out’ option, which rules out the possibility of real-world monetary gain. Anyone who participates in these games is aware that there is no possibility of winning back the money they’ve invested, if they choose to spend any money at all, or winning more. Within our own Pokerist app, there are only virtual chips which hold no value outside of the game. As this is an absolute certainty, in this sense, there is no risk or gamble involved with playing.
Poker is a Game for the Rich
Yes, the rich play poker. No, poker is not exclusively for the rich. In fact, just like how poker is accessible to players of all skill levels, it’s also open to players of all bank balances. While at the highest levels of the industry, poker can adopt a lavish public identity, in reality, the masses of poker players are made up of average people who love the game.
Anyone can afford to play poker once they stick to tables in line with their income. Across casinos and online gaming, there are copious tables with a wide range of buy-ins and max bets. Once a player identifies how much they’re willing to bet, it’s just a matter of picking one.
Furthermore, there are games where players don’t have to forgo any cash at all! Take KamaGames’ very own Pokerist. In our free-to-play app, players can make an account, play games and get rewarded with free chips daily.
Poker is Governed By Luck
There’s no doubt that luck has its part to play at the tables. After all, you could be the best player in the room, holding an amazing four-of-a-kind hand. But even with the odds stacked in your favour, your opponent could technically still land a straight flush…with a little luck. This element of chance is part of what makes poker such an unpredictable and thrilling game. Regular players know that feeling of riding both hot and cold streaks. It can feel like, no matter how much experience or skill you bring to the table, fate is ultimately dealing out the winning hands as she pleases.
Yet, in the same way, that we can’t deny chance is present in poker, skill also has an important role to play. If you want to win more than one hand in every hundred that is. Many experts tout the idea that poker is getting more difficult each year. Is this because luck is getting scarcer or because poker players are refining their skills to become more adept at the game? We think it’s the latter!
Poker is Only for Men
Poker is often branded as a male-centric game but that’s not to say that female poker players haven’t left their mark on the landscape. In both online and live mediums, women have proven they have the temperament, intellect and clarity of thought to dominate the tables. But don’t just take our word for it. Look at the winnings of players like Kristen Foxen, Jennifer Harman and Vanessa Selbst if you need any more convincing. With the phenomenal growth of online poker opening up the game to new audiences and making it more accessible than ever, we expect poker to see even more female poker players at the tables in years to come.