A Different Game

Though they each have different backgrounds, different personalities, and different specialties, these world-class competitors are proof of the universal appeal of poker. These Olympic contenders symbolize all that is good about the sport of poker and are a wonderful reminder for players around the world that you don’t have to win a million dollars to be a true champion.

Poker has plenty of sibling rivalries thanks to the game’s tendency to permeate family life. From brother and sister Howard Lederer and Annie Duke to the Sexton brothers, Mike and Tom, poker might be considered the glue that keeps some families together. The Lopez family, who competes in Taekwondo, considers poker to be a creative outlet that offsets the rigid and exacting nature of their training. This tight-knit group of three brothers and one sister uses the game as a way to relax when they are not kicking ass on the Taekwondo mat.

Led by their coach and oldest brother Jean, who himself won silver at the World Championships in 1995, this fearsome foursome includes Mark, a two-time Taekwondo Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Champion, Steven, a three-time World Championship medalist, and the youngest Lopez family member, Diana, who also boasts a World Championship. The group has qualifi ed for this year’s Olympics in Beijing and is looking forward to taking home a heap of gold medals. As the fi rst family to have four siblings involved in the same sport at the Olympics, the Lopez posse has already made history, but they could add another chapter to their legacy if they all strike gold.

When they have down time, the family turns to poker to decompress and get away from the stress of competition. According to Mark, poker gives the group a chance to get away from the structured setting of the Taekwondo mat and lets their individual personalities come out. Roughly three years ago, the family introduced No Limit Hold’em to their line-up of card games and it quickly took over as the family favorite. However, not everyone welcomed the newer, riskier form of poker. Steven admits: “At fi rst I was a little reluctant because I don’t like to lose. I am ultra-competitive by nature and I especially don’t like losing money. It took close to six months for me to sit down and take part. I saw my family and friends having a good time and I realized there were a lot of similarities between poker and Taekwondo. There is a lot of bluffi ng in both and they are mental games.”

As with their styles on the Taekwondo mat, each sibling has his or her unique playing style at the table. Mark considers himself tight and conservative, Steven is an aggressive player who likes to bully players in the early stages of a tournament, and Diana or "Lady Di” as she likes to be called, is a big bluffer who is working on fi nding patience the tables.

Each member of the family believes that he or she is the best player. While Mark suggests that perhaps the family playing fi eld is level, Steven is quick to note that Diana is best bluffer. “I think she has a knack for being deceitful. She is the best bluffer by far. I can’t read her as well as my brothers,” he says.

The family is quick to cite the game’s competitive nature as a way to stay mentally sharp. “We are extremely competitive and we each want to be the winner in everything do. It’s something that I feel has made us successful over the years. Competition yields novation and raises the bar in all aspects of life. It’s great,” Mark said.

In addition to having different approaches to playing, the family members have also taken somewhat different paths when it comes to improving their game. Both Diana’s and Steven’s philosophies are based in continuous practice, while Mark has focused on learning the mathematical and psychological aspects of the game by studying the statistics and learning about other players’ physical tendencies at the table.

The whole family agrees that playing poker helps them prepare for competition in Taekwondo and that there are a lot of similarities between the two sports. “That’s one of the reasons why we love to play poker. Taekwondo is based around a mental game as well. Of course it takes speed, power, and timing, but it’s that mental edge that differentiates a champion from a chump. Poker helps us refi ne that mental edge over our competitors,” says Mark.

The Lopez family loves playing poker and they take every chance they get to play, but don’t expect them to trade Olympic gold for World Series of Poker gold, as all three agree that a gold medal far outshines a WSOP bracelet. As Diana put it: “I would win millions if I won the WSOP Main Event, but winning the gold at the Olympics would be priceless.”

When it comes to speed, few Olympians can hold a candle to Michelle Perry. This 29-year-old track superstar is ranked number one in the world in the 100-meter hurdles and is considered an early favorite to take home Olympic gold. Having already won two World Championship gold medals in 2005 and 2007, Perry is only the second athlete in history to have successfully defended her 100 meter World Championship title and she is now looking to add an Olympic medal to her record.

When she’s not working on her strict training regiment, Perry spends a lot of time at the poker table. Having learned the game from her boyfriend, this highly competitive Olympian takes to the felt whenever she has the chance. According to Perry, the mental competition of poker is a refreshing break from the everyday struggle and physical focus of an Olympic athlete.

Although she doesn’t consider herself to be a serious poker player, she thrives on the game’s competitive nature and has tried her luck in tournaments and casino cash games. “I enjoy playing, especially with friends, but I’m not the kind of person that sits in a casino all day,” she said.

According to Perry, she is fascinated by the psychological aspect of the game. “The thing I love about poker is that you can have a weak hand, but if you have a good read on your opponent, you can bluff your way into winning the hand.”

In addition to profi ling her tablemates, Perry uses the art of deception to her advantage. “I think I win sometimes because people think that I can’t play. I make some mistakes early on and then people don’t think I have anything when I do. It may look like I don’t know what I’m doing, but I can play,” she said.

Specifi cally a No Limit Hold’em player, she prefers cash games to tournament play. “I enjoy cash games more because you can win each hand and see immediate results. With tournaments, you have to play differently because if you make one mistake you are out of the money.”

Perry believes that the mental preparation necessary for poker is just as crucial as physical preparation is for running track. “The two sports share an emphasis on the individual, as opposed to the team concept, and you have to be ready to win at all times.”

Although winning money is fun, Perry cites the camaraderie at the poker table as the major reasons she plays. “The thing I like the most about poker is that it gives me a chance to hang out with my friends and have some fun. I also enjoy meeting new people when I play.”

Although she loves playing, Perry agrees with the Lopez crew when it comes to medal versus bracelet. “Although my boyfriend thinks I’m crazy, I would rather win Olympic gold.”

Gymnastics is one of the most beloved Olympic sports thanks to the grace and strength of its athletes. Requiring skill, determination, and mental fortitude, a gymnast must be able master a variety of styles and be able to perform at a level nearing physical perfection. According to U.S. gold medal hopeful Todd Thornton, playing poker parallels competing in gymnastics — minus the physical exercise.

“Discipline is crucial for both sports. You also have to have a game plan and know what you are going to do as a gymnast, and that carries over to poker. I may start off playing one way, but I can switch things up as time goes on,” Thornton says.

As with many other poker players, Thornton was introduced to the game at home. As one of many games that brought his family together, Thornton developed an early passion for poker that continues today. “For a while, I was pretty serious about playing, but once training started I had to cut back. There was a time when I would come back in between workouts and get online. I would also play online all night after practice. Now I have to put my training first.”

As with many athletes, Thornton does most things with a passion that carries over to the poker table. "I love how unpredictable the game is. I love when people are counting you out and then you sneak up on them with a monster.”

Having played mostly $1/$2 and $2/$4 Limit Hold'em and a good number of tournaments, Thornton has learned to adapt to what is happening at the table by adjusting his playing style to each new scenario. “I think it depends on who I’m playing with and what type of poker I am playing. I might play a little differently during a sit-n-go than I would playing a tournament with 300 people. For the most part, I’m pretty conservative. I like to sit back and try to get a read on people.”

When asked whether he would choose WSOP gold over Olympic gold, Thornton struggled briefl y with an answer. “That’s tough. Right now, I would have to say Olympic gold because I spent the last 18 years doing gymnastics and I’ve put a lot of time into it. Winning the WSOP is a close second.”

Although he doesn’t have much time now because of training, Thornton is seriously considering trying poker as a career. “After I’m done with the Olympics, I’m thinking of taking some time to give it a shot.”