Poker Values

In fact, a constant source of turmoil for many poker players is explaining to their loved ones why they spend so much time playing the game, something people outside the poker community are reticent to grasp.

There are nine basic `values' that make people play, and they are not mutually exclusive. I call them:

• Money makers
• Strategists
• Competitors
• Ego needy
• Camaraderie seekers
• Audience seekers
• Gamblers
• Escapists
• Addicts

Money Makers

These people comprise the elite of any poker circle. Their skill will correspond with the level of poker that they can dominate. Their primary motivation is to make money. If they could not win, they would not play. They are usually thoughtful of placing themselves into a situation where their time is the most valuable.

Strategists

The intricacies of the game itself are the primary concern for strategists. These people are generally of high intelligence (even in poker circles). The fascination of matching wits with opponents and solving the never-ending puzzles that develop in poker are the draw for these people. These players can run the gamut of playing styles from rock to hyper-aggressive.

Values and Lifestyles Survey

The intricacies of the game

competition at the poker table

the center of attention

the turmoil of peoples