There are many conflicting theories about the question, “is poker a sport?” My take is, “It’s neither a sport nor a hobby.” To play a good game of poker, you need to have some ability and strategy. The game is not “fair,” but there are no mechanical rules that determine how people will act or what cards they will hold. It is purely a matter of chance.
There are various arguments on this issue. Some say, “Poker is a sport because it makes you think and use your brain.” I don’t necessarily agree. You must indeed be able to think and reason, but it’s not like chess, where you can memorize a board or instantaneously understand its movements. In poker, all you need is an overall grasp of how the game is played and a basic understanding of mathematics if you’re fortunate enough to have access to that kind of information. Besides, chess was invented as a practical learning tool and not a serious game of sport.
Another argument about whether poker is a sport is made by those who say, “If you play poker a lot, you’ll be playing for keeps.” They say, “You may not make a living playing poker, but you’ll certainly make a lot of money playing it.” Of course, that’s not saying that poker is a “sport” in the classic sense of the word–I’m just saying that there is a specific mental element involved in winning at poker. poker
Is poker a sport? That depends on whether you want to call it a “sport” or not. If you’re someone who only considers yourself a casual player, you probably will not view poker as a “sport.” For you, it is just a hobby.
The next question to ask yourself when asking is poker a sport is, “Do I like to play?” If you love to play, you’re likely going to want to play as much as you can. You will do what you love.” For many players, poker is their second sport. They enjoy competing with other people and the challenge of trying to “beat the world.”
So, whether poker is a sport can depend on how much you want it to be. Do you find that playing a good poker game every so often helps to relax and refresh your mind? Are you someone who thinks highly of your skills, and you play to win? Do you enjoy playing a variety of games and seeing what winners look like?
