Hold'em or Fold'em

Winning $1200 yesterday (New Year's Eve), playing $200 NL Hold'em for about 3-4 hours at a local casino, got me thinking about the financial dynamics of this game. (I won a $850 pot with Aces against Kings)

I have been playing Hold'em for around 18 months now. Books, probability and tells help one manage risk in Poker. However, trying to understand the psyche of a gambler is the most fascinating aspect of the game.

1. Some people enter a casino with a bank-roll they are prepared to lose i.e. they know that in all likelihood they will lose their money but they still make wagers.
2. I have found some players who play with $100-$300 without a solid understanding of basic rules. It is amazing that people would do more research before buying a can of orange juice than understanding the nuances of a $100 bet.

Anyway, the game of Texas Hold'em is greatly nuanced. I really enjoy the sense of competition and wonder if I could continue to play it during my 2 years at Wharton.