A Comparison of Snooker and Poker

When you think about Snooker and the game of Poker, you would probably say that the only thing that they have in common is the use of green felt to cover their game tables. The truth is, both games do have a lot in common aside from having a huge mental component that is required for success. Both games are highly competitive and both require a high level of concentration and skill. Snooker matches are long and challenging, with each player reacting to the shots of their opponent and capitalizing on even the smallest mistake of the other player. The same goes when you play poker. Poker tournaments usually require long hours of playing and you need to maintain your concentration in order to be successful. A poker player's ability to assess the given situation and act accordingly can be the difference between a good game and a bad one. Snooker and poker also have some players in common. Jimmy White is a former Poker Million winner, while Ken Doherty has made it to the finals of the WPT Dublin twice. On top of this, six time world snooker champ, Steve “The Nugget” Davis has cashed in on three WSOP Main Event.

Poker players know that position is very important in the game. The better position you have means having a wider range of hands in a game. Position in snooker is important too. You need to be mindful of the position you are going to leave your ball at the conclusion of each shot. You also need to find a way to give your opponent the worst position possible so that it will be difficult for them to have a good shot. Both games also require intense focus on the player's part. Whether you are playing online or playing in a live poker room, you need to stay focused at all times to be a consistent winner in poker. The same holds true to snooker. You can make an error on a shot or angle if you lose focus on what is going on in the game. Poker and snooker also require a player to have the ability to make calculations on the spot. Poker players need to be aware of the odds of each hand that they play, and snooker players need to have a decent understanding of how certain angles and spin on the ball will affect a shot.

Clearly, there are a lot of similarities between snooker and poker. That is probably why many snooker players move on to or include poker in their games of choice whenever they have the chance. If you play snooker or poker, and don't play the other, consider taking up the game. You may be surprised to find out that you are ahead of the learning curve over other new players.