Am I Addicted To Poker?

Is it possible to become addicted to poker? Not to gambling per se but poker in particular.

If all the things you hear from friends and colleagues who play, then there could be some strong evidence to suggest that you can.

Do you dream about cards? do you dream about that elusive tournament winning hand?

Here is a slightly comic view of an online poker playing.

When you first start playing online poker you approach it with apprehension, what do I do? what does this mean or what does that mean? even in the safe and comfortable environment of your living room.

It can be so perplexing and some of the sites have you playing at breakneck speed and you just cannot keep up at times. That leads to sleepless nights for a very different reason than an addiction, it is bewilderment.

As you get better at the game, not necessarily better but a little more at ease, you can keep up with the play, but you can still take it or leave it.

In a relatively short space of time you find yourself thinking “right my goal is to try and make it to the first break this time” disappointment when you don’t, but pure determination to do it! This is the start of what may become an addiction, because you cannot wait to get back in there and crack that first hurdle you have promised yourself to overcome.

When you finally make it to that first break you let out first, a big cheer, then a big sigh of relief, but you have now got to do this every time and even better, so, again the next night you rush home and switch on the computer, oh boy is it getting a hold on you!

Next goal, second break, it doesn’t matter how long the tournament lasts you intend to get just that bit further this time, then suddenly, Good grief its midnight, chuffed to bits to still be in, but knowing you have to go to bed, mistakes start happening and you are knocked out, so its off to bed with a heavy heart so near yet so far. Promising yourself you will not play the following night.

That evening you look at the computer with ill disguised hatred, then you turn it on, just to see if there are any mates online, that’s all.

“Oh well maybe just a turbo game then, they don’t last too long” but before you know it you are on your favourite site and looking at you favourite tournament, first break, no problem at all, try for second break now. and yes at last done it!! What now? only one goal to aim for now, the dreaded final table.

Night after night passing the second break with a few more chips each time. Top 30 finish, then a top 20 finish. “oh boy it cant be long now can it”? Then after a few false hopes, getting so near but not quite there, it happens, “Congratulations you have reached the final table”

Wow! there you are, short stacked yes, but there all the same, What do I do now, in a state of euphoria you press that button “all in” with a 9,5 off suit, what the hell was I doing? a very ordinary finish to a wonderful journey, still you made some money, pack it in now, no more poker ever again.

Until the next night of course.

It does get to you this game but as you play it more often you realise that although you still find it exciting, you can live without it and get a proper nights sleep, so it should be looked upon as a habit rather than an addiction.

This has been a whimsical look at the game of poker, however gambling addiction is real and can be a harmful thing and nothing should distract people from that.