Writing About a Game of Wits? Poker Players to Draw Inspiration From for Your Next Horror Novel

Writing a good horror story is often more complex than it seems. While the thrill of the chase is essential in building suspense in horror, a satisfying resolution is the cornerstone of ensuring your work leaves a lasting impression and provides readers with a sense of closure. 

To guide your readers towards this resolution, you’ll need appealing characters who can help move the narrative forward and keep your audience hooked. Seasoned writers know the importance of drawing inspiration from real life when building their characters. But if you’re looking for characters who are larger than life, you may want to focus on one demographic in particular: poker players. After all, poker and horror writing, while both distinct, are similar in several ways. 

Photo by Madison Inouye: https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-playing-cards-flatlay-photography-1216346/

According to psychologist and poker player Maria Konnikova, poker involves risky and emotional decision-making—it is, essentially, a “game of unknowns.” The same is true for any horror situation where central characters are dealt with uncertainties that they need to overcome by taking chances. 

Poker has also been used in several books, like Pete Hautman’s The Mortal Nuts, to show how the card game affects characters’ motivations, circumstances, and fate. So, if you’re writing about a game of wits, look no further than pro poker players for inspiration. Here are some pros to draw inspiration from:

Chris Moneymaker 

Studies show that people love to root for underdogs, so it’s essential to have a character that readers can cheer on as they navigate through the events of your novel. The humble origins of Chris Moneymaker, credited for the early 2000s online poker boom, are a good source of inspiration. Moneymaker works with ACR Poker, the leading online poker platform in the US, as a pro player. Prior to his success and eventual Moneymaker Tour with ACR Poker, Moneymaker worked as an accountant before winning the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event as an underdog via a $86 satellite on PokerStars. You can take cues from his humble beginnings and historic WSOP run to create an “everyman” character in a disadvantageous position trying to overcome forces (supernatural or otherwise) in your story.

Scotty Nguyen 

As in any professional poker career, a good horror novel can’t advance if your character lacks the perseverance to surpass adversities. Pro poker player Scotty Nguyen is a living example of that. Nguyen is a five-time WSOP bracelet winner who won the 1998 WSOP Main Event and the 2008 WSOP H.O.R.S.E. World Championship. In a 2014 interview, he admitted that most of his winnings dropped due to gambling and drug use. He even had to borrow $5 to tip a valet guy at some point in his career. Despite financial hardships, Nguyen bounced back and currently has over $12.7 million in total live earnings. His perseverance in poker can help you plan your character’s journey in navigating various mysteries – whether they’re murderers, ghosts, or even their own private demons – throughout your work.

Phil Ivey

Making strategic and highly calculated decisions is essential for poker players and characters trying to overcome challenges in your horror novel. In that case, you can draw inspiration from pro poker Phil Ivey. Dubbed “The Tiger Woods of Poker,” Ivey belongs to an elite roster of players who have won 11 WSOP bracelets. But Ivey’s success isn’t based on luck alone, as the skilled player is highly regarded for his ability to analyze and adapt to his opponents’ gameplay before making his moves. You can pattern characters on Ivey’s strategic approach to winning poker, whether they’re faced with supernatural obstacles or relentless killers.

Annette Obrestad 

According to an article by the School of Library Journal, teen-centric horror stories are appealing because they feature developmentally appropriate fears. If you plan to write a horror novel with a teenager as your protagonist, you can draw inspiration from Annette Obrestad’s rise to fame. Obrestad is the youngest WSOP Europe Main Event winner, winning at 18 and claiming £1 million (around $1.2 million) in 2007. Like Moneymaker, Obrestad had a humble beginning and started playing online poker before playing live tournaments. You can take inspiration for your horror novel’s main character from Obrestad story – young, unassuming, and persevering – when portraying how your protagonist takes risks to overcome paranormal entities.

Creating a compelling horror novel requires building an engaging and appealing character. If you need inspiration for characters who want to fight against their fates, try looking at poker players. For more articles on horror and other genres, visit The Horror Tree website.