Why do you play poker?

[JoshuaD]

Money, Competition. I love games that mix chance and skill.

Money.

[OrangeHeat]

Money.

I hate poker.

Orange

[David04]

Enjoyment and challenge. Mostly challenge though.

Plus, like someone else said, money if you become a good player. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[PapiChulo503]

When I first learned how to play poker it was just for fun. I thought it was all gambling and no skill. All my friends played and we had a good time. I started going to the cardrooms in SOCAL just before going to college and got spanked, lots of BAD BEATS. After losing appx 500 bucks I got discouraged with the game and ran out of money. Probably like everyone on this forum im SUPER COMPETITIVE and just couldnt get it out of my head how I lost all my cash. I didnt play much while in college because I didnt have the cash or the time. I recently picked it up again and found that playing poker allows me to apply a lot of the skills that I use at work. Now im on the road to MASTERY, it may take me 20 years but I have the patience to be a student of the game for however long it takes. I play poker because its challenging on many different levels.

[BobK]

Who would bother to play more than once or twice if there was no money involved?

[the_rookie]

Because it's the new trend.... Just kidding, I play because I like the competition and the money is good too.

Wait on second thought, it is the new in-thing. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[manpower]

[ QUOTE ]
Who would bother to play more than once or twice if there was no money involved?

[/ QUOTE ]
I actually play with my friends all the time for "pride", no money, or other stakes rather than bragging rights. So why do we play? Well it's fun, we are competetive about it and i'm not interesting in taking my close friend's money (they all stink at the game). I've always found this "It's not poker unless it stings" idea kinda silly. Play to win regardless of the stakes.

Of course I play online for fun and profit.

[mordecaibrown]

Check out The Psychology of Poker by Alan Schoonmaker. IMOP one of the better poker reads printed in the past few yrs.
You can probably find a more detailed response in the psychology forum.
I first answered this question without thought and said MONEY. I think the people who say they play for pure profit don't win long term.
Sense of accomplishment even if for a slight minute when dragging the occasional pot. I get a sense of self motivation to be good at this game that nothing else give me in my life.
But that's just me. What is your reason?M.

[Trix]

because it annoys me that I´m not better at it.

[Festus22]

90% Money, 10% entertainment.

When I reach a predetermined profit amount, I'm done. There are much more enjoyable PC and PS2 games to play when I need my video fix. Being dealt 2 cards over and over and over... It gets incredibly boring after a while.