Poker Playing Alpha Men

Stu from Kingston Upon Thames in England writes on his blog:

To answer a question...

on the wave of people playing poker. And it is not just men, it's women too. In fact, The Times newspaper in the UK printed an article recently that suggested that women are playing the game just as well as (sometimes better than) men. See here.I could only answer why men play - because I am of the XY (male) persuasion.

Although, it would not be out of character as a male for me to assume a reason or two as to why females play too. However, I am not here to tell you (if you are female) why you play if you do, or should if you don't. However, I know that Z resents the game of poker and my computer because I spend time on these pursuits and not on her.I play because of the fact that there is no sacrifice in lifestyle or social standing on my part if I lose, but the bravado of saying that I won 100,000 chips if I win. It's a win-no lose situation. The alpha-male argument has been thrown around as well - a point with which I wholeheartedly agree.

I guess I play because I feel that I am getting better (my chips stack is growing) although my measure is purely imaginary. But I know that I am nowhere as good as some others. Which means that there is the chance to improve even more... in endless pursuit of perfection and a Royal Flush - only odds of about 650,000 to 1.The game of poker, in particular Texas Hold'em has come out of the musty card-pits and on to the High street - perpetuated primarily through the success it has achieved online.

It is a simple game compared to other poker variations, however it is easy to become good; tough to become a seasoned player; and downright impossible to become a great.The Internet is rapidly changing the way people accept and view things - blogs for instance are a social revolution of the peoples minds, bodies and souls. Some of us put everything on here. Others put recipes, some people put adverts.

Poker has changed because of the Internet.People are no longer ashamed of the game and the fact that they can play; and want to.

http://stugom.blogspot.com/

How true is that last statement?!? Men (and women) now no longer need to hide their fascination with the game, and now its become very "cool" to be a "poker shark".

Maybe it is this that I havent realised - that poker is now becoming a recognised sport, not some activity simply played by men in a smoky basement chewing on cigars.

Competition is one way that the Alpha Male keeps his place in the hierachy. Now the Alpha Men have an excuse to do it openly.