Similarities between soccer & poker

BeSoccer 3 years ago 399 |

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Similarities between soccer & poker. AFP

Soccer and poker. On the face of it these two sports could not be more different. Poker is a test of the mind. You spend the entire time sitting down so the only injury you are ever in danger of is slightly stiff back or neck. Soccer on the other hand is the ultimate physical test. 22 players on the field, battling it out for the win. You are likely to work up a bit of a sweat when playing the beautiful game - something there is no danger of doing at the poker table!

However, when you dig a little deeper, there are actually plenty of similarities between the two games. For starters, both require extensive training. The players at the top of both sports have devoted thousands of hours of preparation to get there. For top poker players, there’s no better place to improve your game than the Beasts of Poker website. This is a one stop shop for strategy, reviews and professional tips. It isn’t quite as easy for soccer players who have to go through a load of physical and mental training drills throughout their lives.

Another similarity between the two games is that outside of the professional ranks, there is a lively semi-professional and amateur scene. It is likely that regardless of ability, you yourself have probably partaken in both poker and soccer in your life. If you haven’t, you should give both a try. Picking up soccer is as simple as finding a few friends, buying a ball and heading to a local park, using your jumpers for goalposts. Poker is similarly easy. Due to the growth in iGaming, you don’t even need a table or poker set anymore. Simply log onto your phone, tablet or computer and enjoy a social game of poker over the internet.

The accessibility of both games has also led to another similarity. Both soccer and poker are truly global games. If you take a look through the rosters of all the major soccer leagues, including the English Premier League and the MLS, you will find players and coaches from almost every country on Earth. It is the same for high stakes poker tournaments. The last four World Series of Poker Main Event winners have all been from different nations. This shows how the game has an international player base - just like soccer.

Another similarity between soccer and poker is that they are both brilliant spectator sports. This is largely due to the range of styles exhibited in both games. Soccer teams opt to use wildly different offensive and defensive styles. This helps to keep the game entertaining for spectators. A similar phenomenon can be seen in poker tournaments. In a certain competition you are bound to get players who are more conservative as well as those who are far less reserved.

All in all then, while it’s certainly true that soccer and poker have their differences, there are also plenty of similarities between the two wildly popular, global games.