Gambling Versus Tournament Play

We have all heard how gambling and tournament play differ. 

I'm sure you have heard of the gambler who gambled for years and then decided to play in tournaments?   Well, they may be one the best gamblers, but then they enter a tourney and they don't place too high.

At first.

It takes time to see the difference and feel the difference and deal with the differences.  Not many gamblers went straight to tourneys and won.   It takes time figure it all out.

Races are shorter in tournament play.  You don't get a second chance if you lose a match.  You can't just say, "flip it" and play another set in tournament play.  You also can't just keep playing all night and try to get your money back.  Further, you also don't decide ahead of time who you get to/want to play.

And the reverse is true.   Going from tourney play to gambling.  When you do this, you suddenly see you may HAVE to play all night.  Or, you are pinned to play another set. In tournament play, it's one match.  Not so in gambling. 

Gambling also involves many outside factors.   Tourney play is scheduled and under certain conditions, time restraints, and most of the time professionalism.   Gambling can lead to big arguments,  people stiffing you, people watching and being rude, your opponent acting up, not getting paid, and long nights.

It's a whole different mind frame and going from one to the another (if you have not experienced one or the other before) takes time and patience.

I'm not saying one is better.  I know several guys who ONLY play high stakes, long sets gambling and could care less about ever playing in a tournament again.  Whereas I know another guy who LOVEs tourneys and will never gamble, even though he's asked all the time.