Banker attitudes towards poker?
(Chimp, 15
Points)
on 1/4/13 at 1:00am
Hey guys,
I'm currently a full-time student and I play poker (a lot) at the nearby poker room. I have made enough to pay for college and etc. I have an interview with an IB firm coming up and was hoping to emphasize on some of the skills I learned from poker. General speaking, do bankers usually think positively of poker?






Success and discipline at
Success and discipline at anything is good. For IB I would emphasize the analytic and grinding element (especially if you play limit) and less the risk taking. Opposite for S&T.
More questionable if poker is not legal in your state. In that case, I would just say (at least on paper) that you play online or keep it ambiguous enough that you can make that claim.
Thanks! I will try to
Thanks! I will try to emphasize on those points. I just wanted to make sure that most bankers see poker in similar ways as banking.
I had direct experience with
I had direct experience with it since I have been working for a while in a poker room and I have been talking about it during some interviews. As stated by meabric, if you use this experience to talk about your discipline or your committment for things you like it can help. Also you can leverage it to talk about paying attention to details under pressure or very late at night. Just don't give them the feeling that you are addicted to it.
Anyway, I have been talking about poker with at least 4 people (1 english, 1 iranian, 1 italian, 1 greek) and only the italian was against it (he believed that any poker player was addicted to it) while all the other people were very intersted in it and it gave me something to talk about which was not that common.
If you have seriously and
If you have seriously and honestly made enough playing poker to pay for college, then I'd be very impressed. Lots of people eat that shit up and plenty of banker types either play poker or pretend to really like it. Hahaha.
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Thanks for all the input
Thanks for all the input guys. My college is not expensive like an ivy so that probably puts it more into context (its only 6kish tuition in state).
meabric: For IB I would
For IB I would emphasize the analytic and grinding element (especially if you play limit)
Who actually plays limit?
Many of my banker friends are
Many of my banker friends are into poker, but IMO it is most common among traders. Played LP on the floor and regularly attended poker games / casinos and bet on various things with traders.
In a banking interview, I would mention that its one of your interests, but try not to come across as obsessed or all about poker.
gammaovertheta: meabric: Fo
For IB I would emphasize the analytic and grinding element (especially if you play limit)
Who actually plays limit?
Limit is just a terrible concept. Totally ruins the fun of the game. At the same time though, sitting down in a poker room where people have already been playing for hours and have amassed a massive amount of chips leaves you at an inherent disadvantage to start because even buying in at the max will still leave you short stacked, and subject to reckless intimidation by higher chip players even when they have nothing. Interesting but frustrating dynamic. I suppose it's best to play tournaments where everyone starts on a level playing field.
To OP, I would not mention it if your "poker room" is underground, such as in place like NYC. This could make you seem like a liability even if it's just cards.
You have to play the game to find out why you're playing the game.
Going Concern: Limit is just
Limit is just a terrible concept. Totally ruins the fun of the game. At the same time though, sitting down in a poker room where people have already been playing for hours and have amassed a massive amount of chips leaves you at an inherent disadvantage to start because even buying in at the max will still leave you short stacked, and subject to reckless intimidation by higher chip players even when they have nothing. Interesting but frustrating dynamic. I suppose it's best to play tournaments where everyone starts on a level playing field.
I know exactly what you mean. That's why you should go to big poker casinos like the Borgata in AC or Aria and Bellag in Vegas. If you wander around the room you should be able to find a 1-2 that you can buy in below the max and still not be brutally short stacked. And play tight until you land that boat on the flop.
You have to look for those casinos that draw tourist money - people who play poker to play poker at a big name casino, not people who play poker to really play poker.
Going Concern: To OP, I would
To OP, I would not mention it if your "poker room" is underground, such as in place like NYC. This could make you seem like a liability even if it's just cards.
Yeah, or I would even just stretch the truth a little and say you play at a nearby casino. Then you can even regale them with some "comped meals and limos" stories (in your best humble-brag).
Poker skills are something you should definitely try to work into an interview, even offhand. Then again, I'm speaking from the S&T point of view. (A credit MD at my bank for example likened hold 'em poker to market-making beyond any other analytical/logic game. It makes sense if you really break it down.)
gammaovertheta: Going
Limit is just a terrible concept. Totally ruins the fun of the game. At the same time though, sitting down in a poker room where people have already been playing for hours and have amassed a massive amount of chips leaves you at an inherent disadvantage to start because even buying in at the max will still leave you short stacked, and subject to reckless intimidation by higher chip players even when they have nothing. Interesting but frustrating dynamic. I suppose it's best to play tournaments where everyone starts on a level playing field.
I know exactly what you mean. That's why you should go to big poker casinos like the Borgata in AC or Aria and Bellag in Vegas. If you wander around the room you should be able to find a 1-2 that you can buy in below the max and still not be brutally short stacked. And play tight until you land that boat on the flop.
You have to look for those casinos that draw tourist money - people who play poker to play poker at a big name casino, not people who play poker to really play poker.
I was at the Bellag recently. Won some decent dough which was nice (god bless beginners luck). When I was playing though, you couldn't really choose your table given the wait list and amount of players. But I hear you on playing tight unless you scoop up something solid, which is what I did. With 9 other people and inflated egos running wild, someone will always call even when you go all in with your tiny stack.
As far as I can tell though, the good thing about Vegas poker rooms is that the rake is tiny to the point that you don't even notice. In poker rooms at regional casinos the rakes can be massive. $9/hand is just insane for 1-2 NL.
You have to play the game to find out why you're playing the game.
valkek: Thanks for all the
Thanks for all the input guys. My college is not expensive like an ivy so that probably puts it more into context (its only 6kish tuition in state).
It was a really impressive feat until you told us that!
Going Concern: I was at the
I was at the Bellag recently. Won some decent dough which was nice (god bless beginners luck). When I was playing though, you couldn't really choose your table given the wait list and amount of players. But I hear you on playing tight unless you scoop up something solid, which is what I did. With 9 other people and inflated egos running wild, someone will always call even when you go all in with your tiny stack.
As far as I can tell though, the good thing about Vegas poker rooms is that the rake is tiny to the point that you don't even notice. In poker rooms at regional casinos the rakes can be massive. $9/hand is just insane for 1-2 NL.
$9/hand is obscene. I've never heard of that. Yeah I wasn't thinking about waitlists at the Bellagio - I think they're cool about choosing tables at the Aria as long as the room isn't packed. If you haven't checked out the new MGM complex (Aria, Vdara, etc) be sure to visit or stay next time you're in Vegas. Beautiful, modern casinos (no tacky NY NY shit), more smokeshows per capita than the rest of Vegas for sure, and within walking distance to Marquee. Craps is expensive as shit there though.
I haven't experienced a waitlist yet in AC, though limited experience there.
gammaovertheta: $9/hand is
$9/hand is obscene. I've never heard of that.
Pretty sure that is the sad state of affairs for Chicago area casinos, for example.
I think they're cool about choosing tables at the Aria as long as the room isn't packed. If you haven't checked out the new MGM complex (Aria, Vdara, etc) be sure to visit or stay next time you're in Vegas. Beautiful, modern casinos (no tacky NY NY shit), more smokeshows per capita than the rest of Vegas for sure, and within walking distance to Marquee. Craps is expensive as shit there though.
Duly noted. Not touching craps though.
You have to play the game to find out why you're playing the game.
haha sorry! I wish I was that
haha sorry! I wish I was that good but I only play the 1/2 NL & 2/5 NL (a lot of grinding during the weekends when I'm free and it probably kills some GPA). The hours are a lot better than an actual job and I only consider it as my part time job. I'm just happy I'm not restricted to a work schedule. And, it is a legitimate poker room.
I went through a similar
I've made a decent amount of
I think talking about Poker
Not entirely related, but
My experience is that most
I agree that it seems
Anyone able to point me in
I help people with the tough situation of not knowing how to respond to emails.
I'm more familiar with online
I also played a lot of poker
***sorry, be ready to be
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Going
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computerized: I agree that it
Raise every hand you play
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