My Poker Business

I’m always on the lookout for tweaks to my thinking about poker that help me decrease tilt.  One that has been some help lately I came across from several writers is the idea that my poker game is my business.  Now, I’m not talking about approaching the finances and performance of my game as a business.  This is a very good idea, I think; using accounting and success measurement principles to manage your poker.  But, what I’m talking about is that basic element of a business, the buying and selling of a product or service.

So, if I’m a poker player and my game is my business, what is the product that I’m selling and who are my customers?  I think this question is related to a few of my previous posts about players of my meager skill needing to play against weaker opponents in order to make the enterprise sustainable.  What the casual poker player gets out of the exchange is the thrill of beating the odds.  They know they will likely loose their money but they consider it entertainment.  So, what I’m selling in my poker business is sort of analogous to a horror movie.

Why would anyone want to pay good money to sit in the dark and get the crap scared out of them for two hours?  It’s the rush or the thrill of your animal brain thinking it’s in danger and shooting you full of adrenalin.  I was at the table a week ago and a couple brothers were at the other end.  One was pretty loose aggressive and bet out on me when I turned two pair.  I raised, he turned white and croaked out, “I call.”  He checked to me on the river, I bet and he looked sick as he called.  He let out a gasp of relief as he saw my two pair and turned over a set.  His brother mumbled something to him as he stacked his chips and he replied loud enough for the table to hear, “Yeah I was scared!”

This is what I’m selling in my poker business.  The thrill my opponents get when I give them action.  As any experienced player knows, giving action doesn’t always result in winning the hand.  When my customer pays probably won’t be on the big hands but on the numerous small mistakes he makes that don’t feel all that painful at the time but ultimately will result in his stack migrating to mine.

So, if my customers are all the weaker players I’m up against at the table, as the proprietor of my poker business, how do I “take care” of them with good service?  Well, the first thing would be to NEVER berate them for their poor play.  Quite the opposite, I want to encourage them to play on just like they always have!  I don’t want to gloat or lecture over my wins or brood over my loses.  I want to give a smile and a sincere “Nice hand!” when they win.  I want them to come away from the table with empty pockets but happy for the thrill of playing and looking forward to their next adventure to the casino; because as any good business man, I’ll be there ready to supply all their needs!