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I used to LAUGH at those
Poker Tournament tv shows. I never understood
how the exciting medium of television had
degenerated to the point of showing such boring games
like golf (unless Tiger Woods was playing),
pool, bowling, and now of all things... POKER!!!
Well, now I know. And I'm hooked!
It started with Joe from work asking me to join
his weekly game - which was a big event with
a dozen or more people. My problem... gambling.
It was playing for money, and I don't want
to
do that.
But I started to ask questions, dig on the
internet, watch a few of those boring TV
shows ... and it slowly hit me. This is a
GREAT game! It's more about psychology and
reading the other players than the actual
cards. As someone said, "You don't play your
cards, you play your opponent".
I started looking for poker items: chips,
tables, cards, etc. I wanted THE best items
I could get to set up my own game. Mind you,
I STILL hadn't played a single game yet...
That didn't matter, when I get my head
wrapped around something I'm prone to going
over-board. And this was no exception.
I got Copag Plastic Cards, maybe 600 or more
11.7 gram chips, a chip carrier, and a
decent foldable felt poker table top. I even
got a buddy of mine to sell me his large
round table with the tall, heavy, wooden
stools. It's not like a spend a TON of
money. Some of those items were clearance
priced. Anyway... I was set.
I decided Friday night was the night and
invited a few buddies over. Some had played,
some not. While it was a learning experience
for the first couple of weeks - we
eventually stopped making newbie mistakes
and started playing real poker.
Then the word got out...
Now, there are a dozen or so who could come
at any given time - the most on one night
was 7 -and that's perfect in my book.
Mainly, because my table can't comfortably
hold much more. However, I DO have a small card table
w/chairs that I can set up for the overflow
when necessary.
What puzzles me is that ANYONE comes
considering the
'House Rules': "NO Smoking,
Drinking, Chewing, Cheating, Cussing,
Shooting, Gambling..." But they do come...
Go figure!
The 'no gambling' part drives a few people
CRAZY.
"It's not POKER if you don't play for
money!" To which I ask, "Is it not Monopoly
if you don't play for real money?"
"You can't play the same if it's not for
money, you'll bet too easy and the stakes
are high enough." To which I ask, "How much
do you play for... $20? THAT'S not real
poker either! I see people play for MILLIONS
on TV. Now THAT is poker! I'll bet those
players would laugh at you more than they
laugh at me."
Anyway, weeks later, the core group is still
coming each Friday (stil growing) and we've
all won at least one or two games. Playing
styles are still evolving making for
interesting games. Now my addiction has lead
to the addiction of others in the group...
noted by the fact that poker is a common
topic of conversation whenever we get
together or talk on the phone.
And now you know why I set up this
website... |
