by King Leonidas

Created on: December 16, 2009

Poker is not only a sport, but it is one of the most demanding sports there is. Anyone who has ever played a 16 hour session can attest to this. Poker forces you to draw on mental and emotional strengths as well as physical endurance. Many people fail to realize that Poker is a sport due to the fact that there is no physical contact involved in Poker. Golf does not require any physical contact but it is not under any scrutiny. What about Ping-Pong or Badminton? Just because no one is attempting to break an opponents bones or do severe bodily injury does not take away the fact that these are all sports.

Though there is no physical contact involved in Poker, the physical demands can be grueling. Sitting at a table for hours on end and attempting to be totally aware of every action and every tell or subtle gesture an opponent makes is exhausting. If anything, Poker should be considered one of the toughest sports there is (at least mentally).

The definition of "sport" from Merriam-Webster's is: "physical activity engaged in for pleasure." Thus, undeniably, Poker is in fact a sport. Though Poker is a physical activity, I would consider it more of a "Mental Sport" (if such a category even exists). If there were such a category as "Mental Sport", Poker would reign king. The mental focus, capacity, and endurance it takes to be a poker player often goes widely overlooked, especially in regards to the debate of whether Poker is or is not a sport.

Just like with any other sport, in order to become a proficient player of the game, patience and practice are a must. Before a baseball game or basketball game, players are usually seen warming up; practicing, and getting ready for the task at hand. Poker is no different in this aspect. Any decent poker player mentally and physically prepares for an upcoming cash game or tournament. Eating a healthy meal, getting good sleep, and pondering situational hands is one way to prepare for a game. Another way of getting ready for a game may include meditation which is also widely used by many athletes as a warm-up before a sporting event.

Regardless of personal opinions or those who are closed minded, Poker is definitely a sport and one that is not going anywhere anytime soon. It is the majority that make anything so. Such as it is clearly defined in the socially excepted dictionary, a definition accepted as fact; you cannot argue the truth.

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