Poker and Horse Racing – very different but very similar

With the biggest horse racing festival in the world on the horizon, it made me think that the world of horse racing and poker are not so distant. The Cheltenham festival and World Series of Poker are both the elite multiple day events of their respective calendars and have legions of fans worldwide who spectate and bet on the outcomes. Much like when a poker site offers a freeroll, there are plenty of incentives for people to start betting through generous bookie sign up offers.

There are a lot of similarities when approaching a horse race and poker game. You need to consider which event is best suited, consider the tactics you’ll employ, make key moves when the time is right and wish for some luck. In this article I’ll discuss the similarities in horse racing and poker.

Horses for Courses

Just like poker players, horses are also individuals. The worlds of equestrian and cards are so diverse that the participant will always be stronger in one area than another.

An elite racehorse could be the best in the world over seven furlongs, but struggle to keep up in a two mile race. Likewise, a poker player could be a champion at No Limit Texas Hold ‘em but face a battle just to challenge at Razz. Each individual is suited to a specific skill set, and it’s important to understand what that is to maximize winning potential.

Locations have a huge impact in both areas too, with some excelling or struggling based entirely on the setting. Some poker players will dominate in cash games at casinos, but will go on losing streaks when they head online. The differences in styles and hand management detracts from some players, which allows others to get an edge. Similarly, with horses you find some are regular winners at a particular course due to the layout or familiarization with the track, but it won’t perform elsewhere.

One thing which does align poker and racing regardless of the location or event is the thrill of the chase. Whether you’re third with a furlong to go or waiting for the bubble to burst, the adrenaline rush is palpable. For participants and spectators, the excitement of pursuit and unknown of what will happen next will always keep people coming back for more.

Tactics

Tactics play a huge part in most sports and games, but especially so in the worlds of horse racing and poker. In horse racing, it’s commonplace to see the underdog win. Only about 35% of favorites win races, which demonstrates that most of the time it’s an outsider who emerges victorious, and that’s oftentimes due to better deployment of tactics.

There are many strategies to win horse races, but an often-utilized method is to implement streamlining in order to minimize unnecessary expenditure of energy. By closely following the steed in front, horses can reduce the wind resistance they face and require less effort to maintain their speed. Jockeys know that their ride will have extra power in the tank at the closing stages to overtake and seize victory.

Poker players also need to employ tactics and importantly, need to know when to turn the screw. Players will find themselves in frequently changing situations, from short stack to chip leader and this must be weighed up against the number of players in a hand. Employing suitable bullying tactics could buy you some chips or maintain your position in the game long enough for the bubble to burst and win some money.

Study the opposition

Studying the opposition is paramount in any professional sport and it’s no exception here. Taking the time to understand who and what you’re up against will give you a significant advantage and prevent any surprises. Analysis of the opposition will reveal their weaknesses and you’ll be able to plan accordingly to expose the gaps in their performance.

Knowing that a rival horse likes to be a front-runner will be advantageous to a jockey as they’ll be able to plan to prevent it from leading, and thus unsettling it from its comfort zone. Likewise, a poker player who can learn a rival’s tells will help them to differentiate between an authentic play and a bluff.

They say that class is permanent and form is temporary, but form is the more important attribute in racing and poker. A horse on a win streak is enough to strike fear into the competition and, similarly, if a poker player has won back-to-back tournaments, it makes their competitors second guess their plays.

Understanding yourself and your limits can be a huge benefit for a poker star or a jockey

Know your limits

Understanding yourself and your own capability is imperative. Honing your own skillset and realizing what you’re good at will make the rest easy. If you know that concentration is one of your best attributes, then you know there’s no need to rush, as you’ll be effective later on in a session when other competitors are starting to feel the fatigue and make mistakes.

It’s just as important for jockeys and trainers to understand their rides and to know what they’re capable of. If a rider knows that the horse doesn’t have enough raw speed to win a race, they can improve their chances to win by gaining distance at jumps and streamlining other horses.

As a player or horse gains more experience and exposure to competition, it enables more opportunities for learning and making enhancements ahead of the next race or tournament. Growth in terms of physical and mental maturity means that there are more references to draw upon when it comes to the crunch.

Physical limits are one thing, but coping with mental pressures are another. When it comes to the clutch, knowing whether players will crumble or raise their performance is important. Being able to elevate yourself and push through in moments of pressure separates the great from the good athletes and it’s exactly the same for poker stars and champion jockeys.

Knowing your own ability improves your chances to succeed.