Originally Published: May 31, 2009, 03:09 AM

Similarities between soccer and poker

Posted By Diego | Soccer News | May 31, 2009, 03:09 AM |

Are there any similarities between soccer and poker? Maybe more than you’d imagine! Here we’ll have a look at the things that unite soccer and poker.

Two really global games

Both soccer and poker is enjoyed all over the planet. Soccer, or "football" as it’s called in Europe, is the most popular sport in almost all countries except the US. The Soccer World Cup every four years contains teams from all continents, from small countries like Austria and Switzerland to big nations like China and Russia.

In the same way, poker has become an international phenomenon in the last years. In the last two years, the final table in the World Series of Poker has seen players from Russia, Britain, Scandinavia and other countries. Just like soccer worldwide abides to the same set of rules, poker players around the globe plays under the same set of official poker rules.

Both feature great variations in tempo

The WSOP winner from 1983, Tom McEvoy, has depicted no-limit Texas holdem as being hours of boredom interspersed with moments of sheer terror. It’s true that poker games require shiploads of patience in periods of bad cards and bad situations, just to explode in throat cutting action when two strong hands clash and the board cards complicate matters to a max.

Soccer work the same way to a great extent. While players spend a big part of the match taking positions, building thrust and looking out for weak points in the opposing team’s lines of defence and then strike with full power to achieve a shot at the goal.

Both games are often claimed to be rather boring to watch, except then for exactly those short, intense moments. Of course, real fans of either sport don’t agree on this point. Only the long, slow struggle shows the true nature of the game.

Skills in soccer and poker

Soccer players must have very good endurance in order to run short stretches at short intervals for 90 minutes or more in a game. Poker players on the other hand complain about the hardship of sitting at a poker table for 12 to 14 hours every day for a week during big poker tournaments, while at any time a tiny mistake can mean the end. Soccer players and poker players certainly have the discipline in common.

Poker requires its players to be very competitive and prepared to do almost anything in order to win the hand or tournament. Soccer players are known to be some of the most determined athletes around and definitely tend to bring this quality to the poker tables when they change field of play.

Both allow deep strategic thinking

Both soccer teams and poker pros use plenty of quiet strategies to achieve their designated goal. Poker players are known to use long hours to assessing opponents, picking up on their weaknesses, jabbing at the pot, taking a step back when the opponent strikes back, then jabbing again to grab an extra pot here and there while avoiding the big clash – until they think they have the best of it.

In much the same way, soccer teams may jockey for position, moving their forces back and forth on the field, from one side to the other, all the while making sure they have their back covered. Teams gain and lose position and there’s no clear advantage for anyone, while silently waiting for a chance to penetrate the enemy's defenses and move in for a decisive goal.

Embed Are there any similarities between soccer and poker? Maybe more than you’d imagine! Here we’ll have a look at the things that unite soccer and poker.<br /> <br /> Two really global games<br /> <br /> Both soccer and poker is enjoyed all over the planet. Soccer, or "football" as it’s called in Europe, is the most popular sport in almost all countries except the US. The Soccer World Cup every four years contains teams from all continents, from small countries like Austria and Switzerland to big nations like China and Russia. <br /> <br /> In the same way, poker has become an international phenomenon in the last years. In the last two years, the final table in the World Series of Poker has seen players from Russia, Britain, Scandinavia and other countries. Just like soccer worldwide abides to the same set of rules, poker players around the globe plays under the same set of <a href="http://www.pokerjunkie.com/poker-rules.html">official poker rules</a>.<br /> <br /> Both feature great variations in tempo<br /> <br /> The WSOP winner from 1983, Tom McEvoy, has depicted no-limit Texas holdem as being hours of boredom interspersed with moments of sheer terror. It’s true that poker games require shiploads of patience in periods of bad cards and bad situations, just to explode in throat cutting action when two strong hands clash and the board cards complicate matters to a max.<br /> <br /> Soccer work the same way to a great extent. While players spend a big part of the match taking positions, building thrust and looking out for weak points in the opposing team’s lines of defence and then strike with full power to achieve a shot at the goal. <br /> <br /> Both games are often claimed to be rather boring to watch, except then for exactly those short, intense moments. Of course, real fans of either sport don’t agree on this point. Only the long, slow struggle shows the true nature of the game.<br /> <br /> Skills in soccer and poker<br /> <br /> Soccer players must have very good endurance in order to run short stretches at short intervals for 90 minutes or more in a game. Poker players on the other hand complain about the hardship of sitting at a poker table for 12 to 14 hours every day for a week during big poker tournaments, while at any time a tiny mistake can mean the end. Soccer players and poker players certainly have the discipline in common.<br /> <br /> Poker requires its players to be very competitive and prepared to do almost anything in order to win the hand or tournament. Soccer players are known to be some of the most determined athletes around and definitely tend to bring this quality to the poker tables when they change field of play.<br /> <br /> Both allow deep strategic thinking<br /> <br /> Both soccer teams and poker pros use plenty of quiet strategies to achieve their designated goal. Poker players are known to use long hours to assessing opponents, picking up on their weaknesses, jabbing at the pot, taking a step back when the opponent strikes back, then jabbing again to grab an extra pot here and there while avoiding the big clash – until they think they have the best of it. <br /> <br /> In much the same way, soccer teams may jockey for position, moving their forces back and forth on the field, from one side to the other, all the while making sure they have their back covered. Teams gain and lose position and there’s no clear advantage for anyone, while silently waiting for a chance to penetrate the enemy's defenses and move in for a decisive goal.<br /><a href='http://www.balldigg.com'>Balldigg</a> | <a href='http://www.balldigg.com/Soccer/Similarities-between-soccer-and-poker'>Similarities between soccer and poker</a>