Many sports lovers are naturally drawn to poker as their favourite card game. There are many alternatives including blackjack and baccarat, which are also widely available online, but poker is a clear preference for most.
At first, it would seem that there are clear differences between the two, but there must be some obvious similarities which we will aim to uncover.
On the Public Radar
In recent years, poker has received far more exposure than it may have done in the past. While it’s been accessible at online casinos since the first platforms arrived in the mid-1990s, TV broadcasters have acknowledged its wider appeal more recently.
Many of the major poker tournaments are shown live on mainstream television channels or can be watched online. Those who want even more entertainment can stream minor events from regular outlets. It helps that some high-profile celebrities get involved, but many online poker players have become stars in their own right.
That extra exposure has increased poker’s reach, but why are so many sports fans switching on to the game?
Opening Comparisons
Of the many available card games, it can be argued that poker is the one that most resembles a mainstream sport. While there may be differences, the most obvious comparison is that this is a game played against a series of opponents.
In other online casino card games such as blackjack and baccarat, the player faces a lone battle against a dealer. It may not be a team sport, but poker can be compared to individual disciplines such as tennis and golf. The prize money on offer is a big attraction, but there is that incentive to beat opponents running through both poker and certain regular sports.
Drama at Every Turn
Sport is meant to be entertaining, with drama and excitement all part of the game. In soccer, American football, rugby and all team sports, the outcome of the match may not be decided until the final whistle. Drama runs through those sports from the very first play.
It’s a similar scenario in poker, which is the best card game to follow from an entertainment perspective. Texas Hold’em is the most popular variant and this provides a perfect example. The action builds slowly from the very first deal, at which point players decide how to proceed.
For those that stay in the round, the drama develops as the community cards are dealt. The flop is followed by the turn, until it’s time for the final card to be dealt. Tension builds to a climax as the river lands on the table and hands are won and lost.
No other card game can develop that tension and excitement in the way that poker does. The excitement is comparable to a professional sports game, but that’s not the only similarity.
Talking Tactics
While there will always be an element of chance attached to the turn of a card, poker relies on skill and strategy more than any other card game. Each successful professional player has spent years perfecting their approach to play.
They may be an attacking type who likes to up the stakes, taking the game to their opponents. Others will be more defensive, and likely to fold when their hand is below the top levels.
Professional athletes and sports teams will also devote time to developing their tactics and style of play. In the modern day, there are also some highly developed techniques involved in assessing the opposition.
Analysts have access to advanced statistics revealing details of their upcoming opponents. The sports team or individual will then identify certain strengths and weaknesses and they may adapt their style of play accordingly.
The same approach is taken by poker players: Reams of data will be studied before a tournament begins. Players will try to identify whether their opponents display certain body language or other tells that may indicate a strong or weak hand.
Their styles of play will also be assessed. No poker player goes into a game without this data behind them, and the same approach is taken in mainstream sports.
Flexible Friends
The most successful athletes, teams and poker players must also have the ability to adapt to any game situation. A football side may be a goal down at half-time, but a change in tactics could rescue their position.
The same theory applies in poker. The game isn’t necessarily over until the very end, and that’s how the level of excitement is maintained.
Having studied both, it’s easy to see where the similarities lie between poker and sports. Each involved skill, strategy, entertainment and excitement in equal measures, and that drama will often extend to the very last play.
There will always be minor differences, but we can say that about any two separate sports. As long as those key comparisons are maintained, sports fans will always be attracted to poker as their favourite card game.