The language of poker
Barry Carter pays tribute to all our bilingual members who are able to learn the game in a second language.
Like a lot of Brits, I feel a certain sense of shame that I can only speak one language. We learn second languages a little bit too late in school, and English is such a widely spoken second language for others, so few of us are bilingual (and some of us are barely lingual).
Poker has allowed me to meet people from all over the world, all of whom had to speak my language to keep the relationship going. I recall a night out with my colleagues at PokerStrategy where it dawned on me that everyone was speaking English to each other, just for my benefit, which was a very humbling experience.
I was explaining to a friend this week that part of my job is making sure what I write is translated (and easy to translate) into 19 other languages for our other PokerStrategy sites. He assumed it was hard getting 19 other countries to understand the poker terminology I used. The reality, however, is that poker is a language in itself, one which I feel makes it much easier to allow two people from foreign lands to understand each other.
Complex strategic language
Poker has taken me to a lot of different countries, but no matter how foreign they may be, I always know when I’m listening to a bad beat story or two players discussing strategy, regardless of the language they use. In fact, generally speaking I am able to follow the action of a hand discussion in another language, because the keywords are all universal poker expressions.
“Blah blah blah three-bet preflop, blah blah blah King-Queen suited, blah blah blah, Jack-two-eight all diamonds on the flop”, is what I hear, essentially.
I saw this in action a few years ago when we filmed the PokerStrategy.com TV World Championships in London. There was a young guy who could not speak a word of English who played in the event. He struggled to even get to the studio, and simple things like asking if he wanted a drink required hand signals.
However, as soon as everyone started talking poker, despite nobody speaking his native language, he was conversing enthusiastically like a local. It was very impressive to witness how basic discourse was tricky, but complex strategic discussions were somehow easier.
It’s not quite the same, but I am always reminded of this video when I think of how there is a special language to this game. I know nothing of Magic: The Gathering, I've never played it or read up on the rules. However, despite this, I feel like I 100% understand what is happening in this video, because the way the drama unfolds is so much like poker. I know what happens below is the equivalent of a one-outer on the river, because somewhere deep inside I have learned about the language of variance in card games, from poker:
Learning poker in a second language
I am always impressed with the technical proficiency of some of our coaches and members when they talk about poker in their non-native language. Talking poker is often mentally taxing as it is, so when you factor in having to speak a second language with highly technical terminology, I am overawed.
It makes me wonder if you learn poker better or worse when you get strategy advice in a second language, because of how mentally taxing it is? I could make a case for both sides of that one.
It also leaves me pondering if, were I ever to attempt to learn another language, if using poker discussions as a form of practice would be effective? Despite being a solitary game, I am always amazed how much poker brings people together. I think this is in no small part down to the fact that whether it is English, German, Russian, French or Klingon, poker players ultimately all speak the same language.
Do you speak several languages? How hard is it to discuss poker in your non native language? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
