Four Most Common Myths About Poker

The game of poker has been played for many many years and although some people say that its golden years are over, the game is still popular. The rise of technology and online gambling made playing poker “cool” again. There are many myths about poker that are clearly not true. In this article, we’ll look at four most common poker myths, explore their origins, and try to explain why these beliefs are simply not true.

Myth #1: Poker is a game of luck

Anyone who has ever played poker knows that in order to win at poker you need skills and a strategic approach. Of course, there is an element of luck but without skill there is not much you can do with it. 

Because of the belief that poker is a game of luck, many people think that poker is gambling. This belief is wrong because you play poker against other people and not against the casino. Many countries apply the same laws for poker as for gambling due to it being an addictive game. 

Myth #2: You have to be a professional to win

Yes, you have to have some skills in order to increase your chances of winning but you don’t have to be a pro. 

And by the way, professionals do not always win. They have a higher chance of winning than a regular player but luck is not always on their side. Even though good players always end up as winners in the long term, the short-term results can easily be negative.

It is important to remember that it’s impossible to always win.

Myth #3: You can learn poker with free games and play money

While you can learn poker rules by playing free games, practicing with play money is not the best idea because there is no real money involved and people tend to make silly and random decisions when there is nothing to lose. So you are more likely to not be invested in the game as much as you would be if there was real money on the line. 

Myth #4: Online poker is rigged

There are different interpretations of that myth. First one is that online poker sites “help” new players win in order to keep them around for longer. It’s almost impossible to pull this off as there are lots of sensors and trackers that are programmed to stop players and websites from potential cheating. 

Another view on online poker being rigged or fixed is that the cards are fixed to build bigger pots. The theory behind that myth is that poker rooms have pre-set “action hands” (strong hands) that are given out to 2-3 players. That creates bigger pots which generate more rake in the room. The reason that’s not true is the same - there are trackers that are programmed to stop cheating.