Poker and Booze Make for a Great Time To Make Money

There have probably been more times than you can remember that you sat down to play and you watched somebody order a drink. Maybe you have even done it yourself. Perhaps you had a long day, or you just wanted to unwind and relax. Whatever the reason, I am positive that you have witnessed people drinking at a poker game. In fact, I would go so far as to say that some people don't play without a drink by their side. A bottle of beer or a mixed drink of some kind with straws or umbrellas can always be seen somewhere at a poker table.


There is good reason for the popularity of alcohol at a poker game. For one thing, depending upon where you play, drinks might be free. That means you can plow them back and only have to worry about tipping your wait staff. You had better be tipping your wait staff. It is typical for many players to enjoy drinking while they play. It relaxes them and sometimes they will have been sitting for a long time. Whatever the reason, alcohol can often be found at the poker table. The issue becomes one of judgement.

If you are the kind of person who enjoys an occasional drink, save it for another time. If you have been sitting in a game for a while and feel like you need a drink, that's actually your body telling you that it is time to get up and go. You can grab a drink after you leave the table. Here is what you need to know. Alcohol is a mood altering depressant drug. Are there any other drugs you would continue to consume while playing? Probably not. Although, on many occasions I have seen players take breaks for that very reason.

If you are going into a depressed state while sitting in a game, you are going from a state of heightened awareness, to one where your cognitive functioning is slowing down. In so doing, your brain is actually functioning slower. Simply put, your judgment is affected and you are unable to make clear decisions. On many occasions I have seen people drinking at the games I am in I will hear them say things like "I didn't realize it was my turn." or "I didn't even see the flush up there." These are all indicative of somebody whose judgement has been impaired.

During the course of a game you have to do your best to maintain your emotional stability and play strategically, deliberately and with careful deduction. Alcohol's first effect as it reaches the outer brain is to distort your judgement and lower your inhibitions. While people may say that a couple drinks relaxes them, as they continue to imbibe alcohol, they become susceptible to feelings of anxiety, depression and uncontrollable aggression. Some might say that an aggressive mind set is good for poker, however, it is only effective if it is controlled aggression. Everything else that comes along with it can only damage your game and reduce the likelihood of a profitable session.

The message is simple. When playing, stay away from the booze. However, a drinker at a table will in all likelihood be a provider for you. They are likely targets for the more attentive players at the table. They will make more mistakes on average and correspondingly, get themselves into more situations that can be profitable for you. So if you are playing with drinkers, watch to see how their games are being affected. If you see they are making a lot of mistakes, get in there and take advantage. Anybody who is willing to get smashed at a poker game knows the risk and deserves to take a beating.

Now I know some of you are saying that you actually play better after a few drinks. In that case, go to it. If you honestly believe that your game improves under the influence of alcohol then don't let me stop you. In fact, I'd love to be at your table if you plan on drinking continuously. Seriously, stick with whatever works. It is simple science that continuous drinking during a poker game will lead to diminished judgement and poor decision making.

Now some of you might be thinking, hang on didn't Scotty Nguyen just take down a bracelet at the World Series HORSE championship this year in Vegas. The answer would be yes. The next question you might have could be, 'wasn't he drunk out of his mind when he did it?' The answer to that is, who knows. He might have been drunk or may not have been. What you need to remember is that Nguyen is a seasoned veteran. He had been to the Series many times before. He had played many of these guys many times before and he really knows what he is doing. If you want to take the chance and get wasted and hope you can play like him, be my guest. I would say that most of the time Scotty knew exactly what he was doing and he had his opponents thinking what he wanted them to in order to take advantage. My advice would be not to use him as an example.

Best idea for the long run is to stay away from drinks at the table, especially if you are building a bankroll. Keep an eye out for those players who are drinking and make reasonable assessments about their play in determining if they are worth going after. If you keep yours eyes clear and your ears open, you will continue to have an edge over players who choose to do otherwise.