Don't worry, be happy

/ Editor / 31 August 2007 /

Poker used to be a game of cards. Now it's starting to feel more like a job... Matt Broughton wonders if we should all stop worrying so much.

I fist ran into 'proper' poker in about 1996. There were two icons on my internet start-up page under the heading of 'play cards against humans now!' (and if you're young enough to have never known anything other than a globally-connected, facebook/myspace-flavoured world, I can assure you it did once exist. Scary thought eh?). Anyway, one icon was the shape of Omaha, and the other the shape of Texas. I don't remember why I initially picked Omaha (I think it was ironically the more intriguing shape - just like the game).

At the time I was getting off more on the fact that I was sitting in my front room with a dial-up modem playing poker with a housewife in Germany and two Americans than the game itself (again, you'll have to trust me that the World Wide Web was a BIG deal in 1996) but the key point was that I was having fun. I later went back and clicked the other shape and Texas Hold'em entered my world. It also entered the world of friends and family as I went about the business of teaching them so I could practice without the need of a dial-up modem.

Then I went to Las Vegas in the late 90's and played my first live games. I sat down in a $3-$6 limit game and - with a total disregard for bankroll management (mostly because I'd never heart of bankroll management!) - bought in for $100. I had a wonderful time; played some nice poker; and never once left a session at the table down. Oh, and VERY importantly - I HAD FUN!

Fast forward ten years, and I've made a big decision. I'm going to stop worrying about poker. I'm going to stop worrying that I don't play enough; I'm going to stop worrying that I don't play at high enough limits; I'm going to stop worrying that I don't read every strategy article in every magazine; I'm going to stop worrying that I only know three chip tricks; I'm going to stop worrying that I've never won a 'big name' tournament; I'm going to stop worrying that I don't play enough satellites; I'm going to stop worrying that I don't read every poker blog; I'm going to stop worrying that I don't make the most of the big guarantees; I'm going to stop worrying that I don't participate in poker forums; I'm going to stop worrying about playing in every single bloody freeroll...

As you might have picked up, I'm basically going to stop worrying about poker. Full Stop.
What I am going to do is remember that I got into poker because it's an awesome game. It's fun, satisfying, frustrating (in a magical way), and probably the greatest social catalyst since 'winner stays on' Street Fighter II on the Mega Drive.

The next time you find yourself worrying about poker, take a deep breath, count to ten, remember that you are playing a game, and try to enjoy yourself.
Life's simply too short.

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