A Competitive Edge
As the Seattle - Denver Football game came to a conclusion, I sat at a table across from my interviewee, and I could not help, but recall the events that had transpired less than a week ago. On a recent night, we were sat at opposite ends of a different type of table, a table laid with green velvet, where I was beat and demoralized by this card shark. This shark is Devon; a friend, an imposing player, and I was eager to interview him.
As we settled in, I began by inquiring about his first time playing. He began to describe a family affair when he was nine, where his uncle and cousins taught him to play. Little to his knowledge, his uncle was actually a player on the professional World Series of Poker tour who has played with celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. Needless to say, Devon was badly beat. I proceeded to ask about how he felt, and he laughed and explained how he did not have high expectations going in. He then went on to explain how he hated that a supposedly skill game has so much to do with luck. I was perplexed about why decided to continue to play since he seemed to have such negative feelings towards the game. As I began to inquire about this issue, he sensed the nature of my question and cut me off and said, “although I didn’t like the rules, I hated losing even more, and my competitive nature took control.” I then asked about why he plays today, and he described how it has a little to do with the company of other people, and more the competitive outlet it provides. After probing into his competitive nature, he expresses his love for gambling of all forms. I joke about the possibility he may be a gambling addict, and he laughs it off stating, “I just like to win and am confident in my general judgment to do so.” Reference:
http://ceoiq.com/peer-advisory-groups-we-tell-it-like-it-is/ |
I then redirect the question to poker and ask about what he has picked up on through his thousands of hands. He then said, “well I try to play with better people, such as my cousins because by watching and playing with them, it improves my game, but I also have to be careful about playing with terrible players cause they will screw up your game.” He turns, and glances in a joking matter at his girlfriend in the corner of the room.
I then ask him how he feels when playing. He pauses, and then bluntly responds “powerful,” but then goes on to explain how it’s "a a control thing" for him and loves all the head games that poker has to offer. He continues by saying he tries to be condescending and trick other players “by any means necessary.” As I ask about his style of play, he tells me, he focus’s on not making frivolous bets and no matter what not showing weakness. I notice the reoccurring trend of power in his answers and begin to wonder if that’s how I feel while playing poker. As I process my inner conflict, I ask him what his favorite part of poker is. He tells me its when he knocks someone out of the game and getting even closer to victory. I then realize how I am not at all like him, and contrast our ideas about poker. He sees it only as a competition meant for destruction and efficiency, while I see it as a social event where the goal is be with others rather than eliminating other players. In fact, the elimination of other skilled players is one of my least favorite parts of the game, and this shows why I may be never as good as him. While Devon is an efficient poker-winning machine, I play with a conscience and this could be the source of one of my greatest poker faults. I end the interview here, reflect a little about where my place in poker truly lays |