What Disciplines Does Poker Teach?
Non-Christians and Christians alike, knowingly and unknowingly, live by a great deal of principles outlined within the book of Proverbs. Much of the books 31 chapters offer individuals instruction derived from natural revelation, or through observation of the world at large. Books, sports, movies, games, relationships etc. all have something to offer in teaching us about who we are, what we value, and how we relate to the world around us.
Think about the game of Chess. If I were to ask you "what lessons from Chess could valuably be applied to your life?" I would receive answers such as "Always think two moves ahead, evaluate your position in reference to the situation, or re-examine the pros/cons before making an important decision." Poker is no different as it has much to offer in making optimal decisions, both within and outside of the game.
Every time I play, I learn something new. Below you will find a collection of the lessons I've been taught thus far.
Practical Applications
Joy
I began playing poker at a young age, finding interest in the game after telling my uncle I could get him a full house in return for $100. I had no clue what I was saying; all I knew is the little poker knowledge I had at age 8 had just gotten me a crisp $100 bill. It was at this time I began to associate poker with the ability to earn money. As a high school kid not old enough to work, it sounded like a great solution to fund my recreational interests.
When I first started out, I really enjoyed the strategy and analytics of the game. Yet over time, I hadn't realized that my love for winning money outshined my interest in the game itself. When I began hosting cash games and playing at poker rooms, I believed I was doing so to grow in my hobby. Reflecting back, I now realize that I was also being motivated by pride and greed. I wanted to show my friends and the gentlemen in the casino that I was better than them. I wanted to show them that poker wasn't a game of luck but a game of skill, and I understood it to a greater capacity. All this stirred in my heart while I simultaneously loved turning a profit. It's not that money itself is corrupt; on the contrary, it's a tool to be used for a good purpose. However, a heart solely devoted to gain and the accumulation of wealth is depraved, unable to give due glory to God.
I had to take a break from playing poker in all forms to truly realize my heart had been set on worldly pleasures, showing no regard for my Creator. After taking the prolonged break and playing in a free tournament with no prize to win, I discovered my enjoyment for the game again. This time around, I tithed my winnings and played for enjoyment. The difference was immediately noticeable, both spiritually and personally. I now find so much joy in the fellowship and evangelism opportunities as I meet players from all over the world in tournaments.
Reflection:
1. What is your heart posture when playing Poker?
2. What is your reason for playing?
3. Do you only find joy when you win?
Bring these questions before the Lord and allow the Spirit to illuminate the truth.
Peace
Though it comes as a great challenge, we are called to find peace no matter the circumstance. When I began playing competitive poker, I found myself anxious in decision-making, frustrated at being "rivered," and nervous about telling my wife I was in the hole. Scripture promises to provide a "...peace which surpasses all understanding" (Php. 4:7), and I wasn't finding it nor seeking it. I had to take an honest look at myself and ask if playing poker was beneficial to my mental and spiritual health.
If a hobby is causing you instability, whether it's poker, video games, or golf, this is an indication of having an improper relationship with it. Like all things, hobbies and pastimes are meant to glorify God. If the activities you're partaking in move you further away from Biblical truth, it's time to set them before the Lord. Go to Him in prayer, surrender your desires/activity over to Him, and wait and see if He rightly returns it.
There are times where items in your life have to be removed entirely, and other times where the Lord restores them to you. Regardless of the outcome, you need to find satisfaction in the Lord, that He knows best, and that there is no worldly item you would not sacrifice to grow closer in relationship with Him.
I am fortunate the Lord returned poker to me once I developed a proper relationship with the game. However, with some initial difficulty, I would have been just as fine if I never was able to play the game again. While this is an instance where an activity was restored to me (after giving it up for almost a year's time), there have been other areas of my life that I've had to part with for good. I am grateful for both these avenues, as I know it was for my benefit and Christ's glory.
Reflection:
1. Identify the Isaac's in your life and offer them before the Lord.
2. Are you able to have true peace playing poker?
3. Evaluate where you spend most of your time. Do you have a proper Biblical relationship with your activities?
Patience
I often lose in poker for the same reason I lose in chess: I get impatient. Time after time, session after session, you can sit at the table and go card dead for hours. I remember making it to the final table of a tournament at Talking Stick, AZ, looking down at terrible hand after terrible hand immediately after sitting down. After bleeding blinds left and right, I had finally woken up with A-K and shoved all in. To my excitement, I was called, heads-up against A-Q. The flop came A, X, X... and on the turn, a Queen. The entire table audibly gasped.
I had been patient, played as best as I could, and got little in return. Right? Wrong. The reward was never in the outcome, but being able to see the growth in my discipline and patience. Prior to this moment, I would not have exerted enough patience to even make the final table.When things aren't going the way we wish, or on our timeline, we are tempted to take matters into our own hands and try to gain control by forcing the matter at hand. In poker, this often translates into bluffing, erratic decision-making, terrible bets, playing hands that shouldn't be played, and altogether gambling. The same can be said for our lives when we become impatient and seek the control only God possesses. This manifests itself in our lives in similar manners: lying, making unwise decisions, putting ourselves in situations we should never be in orbit of, and gambling with the opportunities and resources Christ has entrusted us with.
In poker, you have no control over the hand you’ve been dealt, the situation, or the actions of the players sitting at the table with you. Once again, reality presents itself in the same manner, as your resources, stature, intelligence, life circumstances (when not a consequence of your negative actions), and the behavior of those who share the planet with you are all factors out of control. We are called to seek God expectantly, remain patient, and steward our gifts and talents to the best of our ability. Approach your poker playing in the same manner: waiting patiently for the right hand, taking advantage of the right opportunities afforded to you, and serving as an ambassador of the Kingdom to those you’re playing with.
Reflection:
1. Where do you find you are most impatient in your life?
2. Are you praying without ceasing, expectantly seeking the Lord's answer?
3. How can you consciously make an effort to practice patience daily?
Self Control
Poker teaches self-control through numerous methods. First, the game is often time-consuming. There is a line between enjoying a pastime, overconsumption, and eventually addiction. I’ve flirted with and crossed these lines numerous times in my early days. There were times when I could play online poker 6–8 hours straight, neglecting many priorities. Another time, a friend came to town to visit, and we spent 10 p.m.–7 a.m. in the poker room playing. I would watch movies while playing on my phone and would look for an excuse to play at any moment. I had an improper relationship with the game, and it was affecting my relationship with Christ, my finances, and personal goals. Like many things, poker can quickly become an idol. It was necessary for me to take an extended break from the game to nurture my time with the Lord and begin serving others before I served myself.
Next, it is no secret that poker can impact your finances. At the end of the day, poker is still a casino game and can tempt you into significant gambling. Poker players are not immune from the “one double up” fallacy, always starving to get even after taking a substantial loss. If poker is causing you to be an improper steward of the money God has given you to use rightly for His Kingdom, then drop the game immediately.
“The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and the one who is unrighteous in a very little thing is also unrighteous in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true wealth to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?” (Luke 16:10-12).
In addition, if your conscience convicts you that poker is wrong or should not be played for money, also drop the game. [See “Is Poker Gambling” article here]. If you do decide to play, you must set a budget for yourself, play within your means, not spend more than you would for another means of recreation, and exert self-control when it's time to walk away. Do not place yourself in a situation where money lost will affect how you perceive your relationship with God, harm your marriage, or debilitate your financial health. You must be honest with yourself and ask, “Am I maintaining self-control?”
Reflection:
1. Do you spend more time with poker than Christ?
2. What guardrails do you have in place to make sure you are stewarding well?
3. Do you struggle with self control in other areas of your lfie?
Wisdom
God is sovereign over every aspect of life. While we may set our plans, it is He who directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9). While the Lord is in control and working all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28), we are called to participate in His eternal plan by displaying wisdom and prudence in the decisions we make. At its very core, poker is a game of discernment and decision-making. The best players are the ones who analyze the situation, evaluate their position, and make the most optimal decision given the information at hand. The same is true for our daily walk. Difficult circumstances arise both due to uncontrollable factors and as a result of our negligence/poor decision-making. It is impossible to see the future, but you can plan accordingly. Before most decisions in poker, you ask:
- What position am I in?
- How will others' actions impact me in this situation?
- What have past circumstances indicated about their behavior?
- If I make X action: What response do I expect, what reaction do I want to see, and what reaction do I not want to see?
- Where are the potential traps?
- Is this risk worth it?
- How do I mitigate against the worst-case scenario?
While there are many more, these are some common thoughts that reoccur. Similar questions can be asked when evaluating a decision in reality, though this thought process should always begin with, “Have I sought the Lord in this?” and “Does the Bible offer truth and wisdom relating to this situation?” You cannot be faulted when you pause and contemplate all the necessary criteria to make the best decision possible.
The reality of the matter is that sometimes you think the right thoughts and make the best decision, and still find a way to fall short on the river card. Unforeseen trials and events are a part of everyday life for all individuals, giving us an opportunity to be strengthened and react to them well. Despite the outcome, you should be at peace, expecting to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” as a result of the wisdom you displayed. While your actions do not justify you, we should continuously seek the path of righteousness. In the event you make a neglectful or rushed decision, praise God that grace abounds, and seek to repent and learn from your mistakes. While the river card may end your tournament life, the same is not true for your actual life. Our omniscient God has accounted for every event accordingly and will bring His many sons and daughters to glory.
Reflection:
1. Are you continuously testing the spirits to find what is pleasing to God?
2. Do you often act without thinking twice?
3. What areas of your life have you been unwise? Develop a plan to make the necessary changes.
Kindness
f you play enough times, especially in casino or tournament settings, you'll often run into individuals who don't use the kindest of words. After betting into a standard pot and subsequently chopping with the player to my right, he began to yell at me, "You think you're better than me? You think you can outplay me?" He continued on to himself for a few more seconds as I offered him no response. While I didn't say anything rude or unbecoming in return, I couldn't stop thinking, "I am going to get this man back with my gameplay." The frustration he brought to me distracted me from my normal style of play and shifted my only goal to eliminating this player. I thought my behavior was warranted, but I realized after that I was harboring anger against my brother. I felt publicly wronged and believed it was my role to teach a lesson to this man. Yet, that is not my job at all. It's God who is the arbiter of justice and rights the wrongs of mankind.
Some months after the tournament, I saw the man who had ridiculed me in a recently ended live stream of a large poker tournament. I began looking into the man and found online that he's been going through a difficult time. My demeanor nearly instantly changed, as I now felt bad for the hardship he was enduring. At that moment, I took time to pray for him and his family and forgive his previous outburst. This is what we are called to do as Christians. My mistake was to harbor anger in the first place and not forgive him right then and there. We are called to pray for our enemies and "forgive those who trespass against us." The poker table is no exception to this
Reflection:
1. Are you led to anger at yourself, the game, or other players when you play poker?
2. Do you find enjoyment seeing others lose?
3. How can you guard your tongue and represent the kingdom well when you're at the table?
Stewardship
Reflection:
1. Are you stewarding your finances rightly before the Lord?
2. How can your organize your day to better make use of your time?
3. Is there an achievement on earth that your heart believes is better than the eternal gifts to come?
Within the self-control section, we speak about how Poker can impact your role as a steward of God’s resources. Here, we address how poker can make you a better steward. Tournament poker is an endurance event. I don’t view the game monetarily, but rather as a Need for Speed video game. Your chips are gasoline; they determine how far you can go, and without any, your race is over. Winning pots is equivalent to gaining time on your opponents; every pot won shaves off seconds and puts you at a greater distance from your opponent. When I make a bet, I am effectively asking, "Is expending this much gas worth gaining X amount of time?" Using 90% of your gas to gain 1 second on the field doesn’t seem appealing, but expending 15% for a 2-minute lap advantage seems worth it.
This risk-reward analysis can be applied to all aspects of your life, but most importantly in your finances and time. French novelist Marc Levy once wrote, “Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course? Each of us has such a bank; its name is time. Every morning, it credits you 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as a loss whatever of this you failed to invest to a good purpose. It carries over no balance.”
How you spend your time and finances is important to God. Not every positive action you take will have a tangible ROI, but it will have a spiritual one. Imagine taking your family to Disneyland. While the cost may be alarming, the joy on your children's faces and the time spent bonding is priceless. This does not mean you should spend 90% of your gas (earnings) to make this happen, but there are rewards greater than the material. Think about these principles in your daily walk and as you play poker. Remember, every incremental win leads you to your destination; you do not need to take big leaps. While there may be times in poker where you must risk all your gas for a shot at the finish line, the same is not true for life. There is no reward in this world that is ever worth risking your life, ethics, or relationship with Christ.
Remember, “...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.’” (Romans 10:9-12). Christ has already won the race; you have already achieved the greatest reward possible.
Gratitude
I hadn’t realized how much the blessings in my life made me struggle with gratitude. While I was overall grateful for my salvation and the “large” material blessings I had received, I became unknowingly apathetic to the blessings I deemed smaller in nature. The same became true for poker. Know this: if you are striving to play tournament poker, every pot you win, no matter the size, is of great benefit. However, I started to become frustrated rather than grateful as I won smaller-sized pots. If I received Aces in the SB and everyone folded, I was upset. If I tried to trap opponents but they check-folded, I was angered. I stopped recognizing that each small win was incrementally moving toward my desired destination. The same even became true as I started to win tournaments. The amount of dollars that I was winning was not satisfying me internally. With my tongue, I gave praises to God, all while my heart was bitter. I had not even recognized my heart posture until I reflected on these occasions months after. I won’t claim to be perfect at it, but after offering Christ my all, I am now grateful for even the opportunity to play. I am able to find gratitude in aspects of my life I had previously overlooked. How wretched a man am I! God had more than provided his daily bread, and I took no regard in it.
Recognizing this was painful. I was ashamed and disgusted I was operating in such a way. I now thank Jesus after every pot I win, as ultimately, He is the provider of every good thing in my life. Win big, win small, win not at all, I will forever be grateful to the God who has restored me, providing me with a new life in Him.
Reflection:
1. Take this time to reflect on all the Lord has done in your life. Say a prayer of thanksgiving.
2. Do you often neglect to show gratitude in your life?
Goodness
In every situation, we can always exemplify goodness. If you’ve played poker long enough, you’ve encountered your fair share of bad beats. If you’ve lived long enough, you’ve probably encountered your fair share in life as well. How we react to these situations offers us great insight into our character. When faced with a trial that has not arisen out of your own doing, we are called to approach it with grace and humility. Many poker players yell, curse, or slam chairs/tables after losing to a marginal percentage hand. As Christians, it's important that we reflect Christ to others in how we handle these situations, showing humility and sportsmanship to our competitors after facing a tough loss. Be sure to say "good game" and even make it a point to shake everyone's hands at the table. Those around you should recognize something was different about their interaction with you—not for your exaltation, but so Christ may receive the glory.
Another way you may show goodness is by standing up for others, especially those who cannot defend themselves. I fortunately have never seen the poker table get violent, though I have witnessed players and dealers berated by other patrons. When most people stay silent, find the strength to stand up for those that need it, and even offer an apology on behalf of the aggressor. Actions such as these are paramount in representing the Kingdom well.
Reflection:
1. Seek God's forgiveness in all the times in your life where you have failed to be bold in your faith.
2. Do others see Christ when they look at you?