Understanding that your Boyfriend/Girlfriend is a Poker Player
Poker players aren’t going to change: There’s something unique about this game, and the relationship probably isn’t going to work if you don’t understand that.
Wise words
This is an article I found on askmen.com. The original article can be found here. I thought it would be a good idea to post it here as a lot of people rarely understand what a poker player goes through and believe that the anger their significant other is showing is directed towards them, when in reality they’re nowhere close.
1. If your future rock star walks through the door looking a little gray, don’t ask, “Did you win?” Just back off and give some space. I promise you, your loved one simply needs to analyze what happened and replay a few hands in his mind. The last thing he wants to do is disappoint you.
2. Poker players aren’t going to change: There’s something unique about this game, and the relationship probably isn’t going to work if you don’t understand that. Andy Bloch, for instance, has to have the most supportive girlfriend (soon-to-be wife) in poker. This gal is smart, because once she started dating Andy, she realized that she had to get on board and travel with him if they were going to make it work. So you know what she did? She started a website called PokerWire.com. She travels everywhere Andy goes, and reports on chip counts and interviews players.
3. If your poker pro doesn’t come home until 5 a.m., you can take it to the bank that he was stuck in some game or a sucker walked in the door right as he was about to leave. Most poker players are honorable people. They might bluff an opponent at the table, but they don’t bluff in life — we are weird that way. So, give him the benefit of the doubt, unless your guy has given you reason to believe that he is up to no good. I’d say he is probably sick enough to really be at that poker table for 36 straight hours.
4. As players, we can never choose the day that a sucker turns up at the table, so sometimes we will need to play on Thanksgiving, Christmas or your birthday. If we get that phone call that “Ramin’ Jamin’ John” is in town, there’s nothing that can stop us.
5. If you want to learn how to play the game, your partner may not be the best teacher: He will have less patience with you than with anyone else. It can be difficult and frustrating to teach someone completely new to the game. Get some books on poker and start with that. Then play online at the lower limits to put into practice what you have learned.
6. After your rock star wins the big one… spend the money!
Until next time,
Good Luck and Good Skill
deBulletMan
