PHOTOS

Winning in poker doesn't create any value to humanity (just a closed circle where money migrating from one to another). Do you agree?

Olivier Busquet

Basically I agree that poker doesn't really contribute to humanity. But neither do a lot of other things. Poker is a form of entertainment for a lot of people, I mean, soccer doesn't really contribute to humanity but it's a form of entertainment, fans enjoy it, and it teaches the people who do it some important things that go beyond soccer itself - teamwork, discipline, hardwork, etc. I see poker similarly, it has taught me a lot of important personal lessons.

I can make a pretty good living doing it, it gives me a special kind of freedom that very few "jobs" can provide. Ultimately, though, when the timing is right, I will start to focus on other things in my life, because I would like to be more engaged with my community, with other people, and be involved with a project/job that has a more direct positive effect on other people. 

Melanie Weisner

I agree that in its base form, professional poker doesn't really create value to humanity aside from entertainment and recreation. Winning in poker doesn't really benefit anyone except the winner (and perhaps a poker company that would find value in sponsoring said player). Olivier made the argument that poker is essentially a selfish pursuit, and for the most part, I agree. So, what is it that necessarily makes this "selfish" pursuit different from any, say,  non-team sport (tennis, for example)? The difference is that in most cases, the winners cultivate relationships and support of each other entirely around money, will do everything possible to keep their strategies secret or in-house, and have no interest in bettering the upcoming generation unless it is monetarily beneficial for them. As Liv said, poker players value themselves and others largely by the amount of money they have won. Many people even exploit gray areas of the "system" in order to achieve personal gain, where refusing to do so might not be to personal advantage, but advance the experience and game as a whole. Poker also promotes this idea of instant, accessible fame--achieved by little more than cunning and savvy--and does not necessarily always reward hard work, but does promote the goal of money and glamor however you can get it. I don't think that a player who wins a WSOP bracelet feels that they have, for instance, worked a lifetime and achieved something for all of humanity to take pride in, something that shows the amazing feats that we are capable of--rather, they revel in the attention and celebrate the amount of money they have won. Now, I do have close friends who do not operate in this way, but for every one of them there are ten others looking to get whatever they can and get out. It's not all negative--for instance, I have always been impressed with some of the self-regulating nature, amidst such a "swindling" profession, that my generation has with regards to ethics; i.e. trusting people with enormous sums of money, ostracizing any player who shows poor ethics, etc, and I hope this can prevail and become an even bigger part of poker. I also hope that poker may eventually be moving in more of a direction of a true sport; one that is regulated, has higher ethical standards, charitable events (this is already happening with things like the One Drop), and in turn provides a service and value to society with the community working together and supporting eachother, and the advancement and betterment of the game and its accessibility, rather than each player's own cutthroat goals. Poker should really be one of the best sports in all these ways since it is accessible to absolutely everyone, but unfortunately there have been a lot of hindrances to its progression as such.

HANDS

No Limit Holdem Tournament • 2 Players • PokerStars

$1962.50+$37.50

Hand converted by the official HUSNG.com hand converter

Effective Stacks: 38bb

Blinds 15/30

Pre-Flop (45, 2 players)

Adonis112 raises to 60, Helio TYF raises to 165, Adonis112 calls 105

Flop (330, 2 players)

Helio TYF bets 150, Adonis112 calls 150

Turn (630, 2 players)

Helio TYF bets 207, Adonis112 calls 207

River (1044, 2 players)

Helio TYF goes all-in 619, Adonis112 calls 619

Final Pot: 2282

Helio TYF shows high card King

Adonis112 shows a pair of Kings

Adonis112 wins 2282 ( won +1141 )

Helio TYF lost -1141

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No Limit Holdem Tournament • 2 Players • FullTiltPoker



$350 Heads-Up Sit & Go

Hand converted by the official HUSNG.com hand converter

Effective Stacks: 21bb

Blinds 10/20

Pre-Flop (30, 2 players)

Hero is SB

Melanie Weisner raises to 40, The Maslow calls 20

Flop (80, 2 players)

The Maslow bets 40, Melanie Weisner calls 40

Turn (160, 2 players)

The Maslow checks, Melanie Weisner bets 80, The Maslow folds

Final Pot: 160

Melanie Weisner wins 240 ( won +80 )

The Maslow lost -80

Melanie: This flop is an ok flop for villain to lead but a really bad turn as I'm gonna fold a lot of hands on spade and 7-q type turns that can give him two pair etc, and this turn gives me a pair often and makes it less likely I'll fold to a turn/river bet as I'm usually not floating the flop with anything but a/k high or a pair ;), and there are no aces in his range. This is the type of turn that a better player might check-call a jack on, but a more inexperienced player will just give up on.I call the flop due to the knowledge that he gives up on later streets very often, and there are some pretty decent turn cards whereby I can jam over another lead. it's a mandatory bet by me on this turn as the villain would lead again with just about any equity in the hand (very few hands he wants to show down that this player will play check-call on the turn)