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Whenever times were tough, I could always fall back on poker. For what it's worth, I don't _gamble_ as stupid as it may sounds; I have no appetite for craps/roulette/lottery tickets/sports better, or anything like, because anyone who knows anything knows that poker is game of skill.
But whatever on that front, because poker has a very bad reputation, and deservedly so. Regardless, when I graduated from college, I tried very hard to do the desk thing, and whenever I had a full time job, I never played. Out of college, I worked in nonprofits, and had a really perfect upward trajectory for a year and a half, finally moving to a company where I thought I could make a career. Within 6 months, I was out -- not for lack of working very hard, but because it was a simple case of not-the-right-fit (and not-the-right career). In fact, when I started to see the writing on the wall, I didn't look for a way out -- I worked even HARDER, hoping to turn things around. I got fired ultimately, conducted myself well, etc.
I was depressed as heck, but I always knew how to make money through online poker, back from mid-college. So after I lost my job, feel back on it. I didn't make a ton, mind you; $25k in 8ish months, and I even temped in there, and applied to regular jobs, but not with particular gusto because I was making money and could cover my expenses.
My cover is that I'm also professional freelancer, and I've actually been published pretty prominently. But it's nothing impressive, revenue-wise. I haven't played poker since Black Friday, the day that all the online poker sites shut down -- and it was good that it happened because it was the kick in the butt that put me back into school and taking a good internship in a related field. So now, after a year at the internship and still freelancing, I finally have a really promising job situation (interviewed by my actual would-be supervisors). However, HR is the barrier, and they still need a formal application from me, including full employment history, and a background check.
So what would you do? I will NEVER put poker on a resume, even though I pay my taxes on it, never been arrested, or anything like that. But what options does that leave? Leave it off? Stress the freelancing?
because anyone who knows anything knows that poker is game of skill.
Maybe there is a certain amount of skill, as far as trying to read people. But poker is mostly luck. You have no control over the cards you get or the cards your opponents get. That`s why casinos make a killing and can afford to give away free rooms, liquor, food,etc. People always trying to beat the odds. Some do, but most don`t. To win at poker you have to bet against someone that has a good hand and be lucky enough to have a better one.
Casinos don't make a killing off poker since they only get a portion of the pot or sometimes a fixed amount per player. The players aren't playing against the casino. Before the poker boom a few years back a lot of casinos were getting rid of their poker rooms since it wasn't profitable.
Players who are skillful will come out ahead against less skilled players most of the time, but the variance swings still happen and even good professionals go through broke periods. A lot of the pros make a lot of their money these days by having a piece of the various websites, etc., not so much from playing poker.
Casinos don't make a killing off poker since they only get a portion of the pot or sometimes a fixed amount per player. The players aren't playing against the casino.
Depends on what kind of poker you are talking about. But the casino still comes out ahead,even when you aren`t playing heads up against a dealer or the house.
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Players who are skillful will come out ahead against less skilled players most of the time, but the variance swings still happen and even good professionals go through broke periods.
The bottom line is, you have no control over the cards you, the dealer, or an opponent gets. When you get a good hand, you have to hope an opponent also has a good hand, so he will continue to bet. You just have to hope you have the better hand. But again, you have no control over either hand. If you have a flush but your opponent has a full house, you`ll probably lose your shirt. But neither one of you has any control over it. The other guy was just lucky that you had a flush when he had a fullhouse.
The bottom line is, you have no control over the cards you, the dealer, or an opponent gets. When you get a good hand, you have to hope an opponent also has a good hand, so he will continue to bet. You just have to hope you have the better hand. But again, you have no control over either hand. If you have a flush but your opponent has a full house, you`ll probably lose your shirt. But neither one of you has any control over it. The other guy was just lucky that you had a flush when he had a fullhouse.
Sure you have no control over what cards you get, but poker is absolutely skill based. You don't have to have better cards than your opponent to win, by watching betting habits you can detect patterns in how people bet and figure out what cards they likely have, among other things. If you are playing poker based on luck and only betting when you have "good" cards than you are probably one of the suckers this guy has been winning money off to support himself.
The the OP: Just how long is the gap in your resume? In this economy, while a gap makes things harder, potential employers aren't exactly going to assume you were resorting to gambling or illegal activities if you have a gap on your resume. If pressed on what you did during the time you were unemployed point to your freelance work and say something about odd jobs to keep yourself afloat while looking for the right job. I assume you have a good poker face.
Sure you have no control over what cards you get, but poker is absolutely skill based. You don't have to have better cards than your opponent to win, by watching betting habits you can detect patterns in how people bet and figure out what cards they likely have, among other things. If you are playing poker based on luck and only betting when you have "good" cards than you are probably one of the suckers this guy has been winning money off to support himself.
If you are betting when you have a crappy hand then you may be one of the suckers he is winning money off of. But then again, he doesn`t seem to be making much money doing it.
People can talk all they want about how it is a game of skill. But there is a reason hardly anyone can maintain a living doing it over a sustain period of time. You can watch the wsop with the bracelets and the money,etc. and get sucked in. But they don`t last. As I said earlier, there is a certain level of skill trying to read people. I agree with that. But the bulk of the game is luck. You can read someone all you want. But if they get better cards than you, you`ll be broke in no time.
I`ve played with guys before who come to the table with their dark glasses on and hood up, thinking they are all that. Then watch them be the first ones off of the table. Why? Because they weren`t getting any good hands. Obviously if you are playing against a bunch of amateurs and you`ve been playing for a long time, you will fare much better. That`s true of anything. But all things being equal..it`s the luck of the draw. There are old pros who lose to young guys fresh on the tour. Is it because the old guy who`s been playing before his opponent was even born is less skillfull? No. The new young guy just got the better hands.
I'd think a casino would be making a lot of money off poker rooms just by taking a rake from each pot. People are basically paying rent to use the space and as long as the rake is more than the cost of paying the dealer, they are doing fine.
I'd think a casino would be making a lot of money off poker rooms just by taking a rake from each pot. People are basically paying rent to use the space and as long as the rake is more than the cost of paying the dealer, they are doing fine.
Blackjack is considered poker. Some would say there is a skill to playing that. I think they are right. There is a certain amount of skill of following cards, knowing what`s been played, narrowing the odds on when to hit,etc. And someone who is a little more skilled will win more money, over time, than someone who isn`t as experienced. But in the end, the casino wins.
With holdem, or draw, etc. there is a certain level of skill. I agree with that too, as I have stated. An experienced person playing against someone who is relatively new will have the advantage. That`s true of any game. But, with all things being equal.... several players sitting at a table with relatively equal experience, it comes down to luck. People who have played for any length of time, will change up their betting habits and style. The only thing you can do is guess and hope you have better cards. If you guess right, you win. Guess wrong, you lose
Casinos do use "prop players" who are playing for the casino who gets a portion of the winnings, but it is not the same as blackjack where the house gets all the money when the player loses. Generally poker players are playing each other, not the house. They don't win the house's money, they win each other's money. Blackjack players are playing against the house, not each other.
Blackjack is more of a "skill" game because a good player can reduce the house edge, but the house still has an edge. But the two games are vastly different as far as one being player vs. player and the other being player vs. the house.
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