Why people start playing poker and why nits play poker?

[Vinetou]

So - I played 400NL 6max 4 tables and all my opponents were huge nits. Not talking about TAG players, talking about nits. And I started wondering why do these nits even play poker. I mean, nits are risk averse individuals, and this doesn't seem like a good profile for a poker player. How do nits even get involved into the world of poker? I obviusly play poker for money, but I started because I loved the thrill of poker. I love when there is a lot of money in the middle, it is such a wonderful feeling when I shove all my stack into the middle and the guy calls and we gamble for a big pot.

Some of guys here on 2+2 say: "I don't play for the thrill." Well, you might not now, but this is probably why most people start playing poker. My guess. Well, 2+2ers are usually not the kind of nits I am talking about.

So maybe this question is also a question of why people start playing poker. I started because of the thrill of it and possibly most people do because of that. During the progress, some of them lose that feeling, but this is another story. But why do nits start playing poker? I don't see how can they even be interested in such a risky bussinnes.

[Rek]

I can’t speak for everybody but I am a very competitive person. I love all games where skill plays a part and I love winning. From a very young age I played various sports and winning was the most important factor. Even if I play monopoly with kids I cannot let them win (sad I know, but that’s me). We always had family card games that were competitive even with no money riding on it.

I like “gambling” if there is a skill aspect but I don’t get a huge buzz from winning a big pot if I have been outplayed and get lucky. I need to have played the hand correctly and got the better of someone to really be happy. Playing bad and winning just does not do it for me.

I hate luck games such as roulette and craps. I consider myself a TAG at heart but will change gears as and when necessary. At the moment I play poker as a secondary income but am considering a switch full time. I hope this does not turn me into a nit but I could see that if somebody’s full time profession relied on results that is possible. Perhaps that’s how some of these nits come about.

Also the fact people play 20 tables at a time can mean they play very tight in each game but still see lots of action. Just my ramblings on this.

[Vinetou]

Nice post, Rek. I have a similar view as you. It is just that these nits seem to hate to risk money and I don't know why they even play poker.

[Yoshi63]

Do you think these nits are winning players? If so, I'd say they got involved in poker because they heard you could make money, and that's exactly what they've done. That would seem obvious.

I'm assuming these nits are not very good, and just way too tight and risk-averse to make poker profitable at anything other than microlimits. If that's the case, then my guess is they love the ANTICIPATION of a big hand. They don't even care that nobody ever gives them action (since a raise from them = the nuts). They just can't wait for the next time they flop trips or turn the nut flush with AKs. They are obviously very patient people, and don't mind waiting a while between these big hands.

Also, they probably feel like they are winning players, because they usually show down the best hand. The times where they lose at showdown, it's usually because they got "sucked out on" by some "donk" (named Vinetou [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]) chasing a flopped straight flush draw against their TPTK. So even then they still see themselves as a better player, but just unlucky that hand.

[fearless2k]

wtf nits own the games...
I always thought NIT = TAG? am i wrong?
Nits obv see u raising junk, wait till they have trips, then wait for you to raise ur junk again and devleop a big pot so it gets shipped to them, unless u lukbox out ofc..

With rakeback/multitabling/ INTERNET DONKS!/Lags/lagtards, being a nit is actually pretty profitable till u hit NL 400 (can possibly work at nl600 although its harder).. Oh and the low variance side of it/ more likly for their bluffs to wrk etc etc.. a lot of upside to beng a nit...

I just wish i had the patence to be one [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Johnes Benjamin]

obviously they play b/c they think they have an edge on the game and want to make money

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

nit = tight passive, weak-tight player. LAGTARDS run over nits.

[ReMMy]

Just because YOU know the nits have the nuts and don't give them any action does not mean that everyone else does the same.

If these guys sit around breaking even until a fish comes along and donates they might make an hourly rate that seems to not even be worth it to you. However, if said players alternative form of gambling entertainment is something like baccarat or blackjack where he is a long term loser than his hourly rate for choosing to play poker is actually what he wins plus what he would have lost in the alternative endeavor.

If you're truly a better player then just thank them for keeping the games going as you pass on through to the next level. If for some reason you can't seem to ever reach that next level then perhaps your desire for the "thrill of gamble" is just creating a whole lot of fluctuation for you and not much profit.

[JeffBship]

There are many reasons to play poker other than making money. I think the greatest demographic percentage of nits is old retired people who are at the tables more for the social aspect and to get out of the house doing something that's not physically demanding. They are nits because they want their allowances to last as long as possible before they have to go home to their Nagtard wives.

[PokrLikeItsProse]

I have been called a nit before and I actually came into this forum thinking about asking if it bothered people to be called a nit or a rock at the table.

Does it bother you that people get "wonderful feelings" from different things than you do? I don't. If gay folk get "wonderful feelings" from having a human penis stuffed up their rectum, I don't feel bad that I have no interest in the same sensation. Why should poker be any different just because I'm not an action junkie? Maybe most poker players get intrigued by the rush of gambling, but most poker players are long-term losers.

If there's any thrill I get out of poker in addition to the money I make, it is the thrill of outsmarting people, especially those who think they are smarter than you, which is why I am happiest to take money from multi-tabling TAGfish even when easier money is out there.