Column | Gambler's "Qi"

by YU-LING

最後更新/Last Updated:2023-09-03

On a rainy afternoon in Macao, I decided to visit the famous Ruins of St. Paul's and enjoy the view. While standing in front of the remaining facade of St. Paul's Church, I couldn't help but admire the beauty of those ancient walls. However, strangely, my thoughts kept wandering back to the vibrant casinos.

Before dinner, I returned to The Venetian. However, this time I wasn't heading to my hotel room; I was going to the casino. I didn't exchange any chips and simply wanted to quietly observe the people in the casino.

At one table, people were playing a poker game that resembled blackjack. The minimum bet was HK$1,000. Two men at the table were deeply engrossed in their game.

The notable difference between them was that one of them would cheer loudly when he won, while the other remained emotionally composed. After approximately twenty minutes, the composed man, with his stack of chips increasing from three to seven, had won around HK$4,000.

Despite the noisy surroundings, the atmosphere seemed to freeze with each move of the composed man. His calm reminded me of the Daoist concept of “Qi.” Is it possible for successful gamblers to also be individuals who understand how to regulate their inner energy?

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