What's With the Poker Obsession?

Off Topic
1

I’ve been an expat for the past 7 years so have naturally become detached with the Canadian “norm”, but can anybody explain to me just how the fuck poker has become so popular?

When I left in 2003, we’d play the odd home game, which was mainly just an excuse to get wasted off single-malt scotch. When I return for visits in 2010, several of my friends have been spending thousands of dollars on online poker sites.

They’ve bought books and instructional DVDs. They watch poker on TV! I didn’t believe them when they told me there were not one, but several poker TV shows, until I tuned in for myself. Tables of guys in shades, heads cocked to the side like some sort of desert lizard, shuffling chips around in near silence. For an hour!

I went to a home game recently with some acquaintances. It wasn’t friendly. Nobody was drinking, there was an air of tension, and occasionally guys would lose their temper. I left. My conclusion…this “new” style of poker is fucking gay.

What triggered all this?? I don’t think it was the movie “Rounders”, as the phenomenon seemed to peak several years after it was released.

2

I don’t get it either.

Then again, I always thought card games were a waste of time.

3

they put it on ESPN…?

4

In 2003 the World Series of Poker was won by an unknown amatuer poker player by the name of Chris Moneymaker ($1 million prize). This inspired millions to believe that they also had a shot at winning a million. Also, the online poker rooms became available giving people access to poker 24/7. Poker hit its peak around 2005/2006 but is still been changed forever due to the “Moneymaker effect”.

5

[quote]accox wrote:
In 2003 the World Series of Poker was won by an unknown amatuer poker player by the name of Chris Moneymaker ($1 million prize). This inspired millions to believe that they also had a shot at winning a million. Also, the online poker rooms became available giving people access to poker 24/7. Poker hit its peak around 2005/2006 but is still been changed forever due to the “Moneymaker effect”.[/quote]

This is exactly why, except he won over $2 million.

6

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
I don’t get it either.

Then again, I always thought card games were a waste of time.[/quote]

you’ve yet to draw a black guy

are there no black dwarves?

7

Phil Ivey can bluff people out of a royal flush. Certain players are really entertaining.

8

I think on one level it is an unperceived level of tension and calculation/strategy most people wouldn’t appreciate but also has to do with making money of course. I personally find it boring 95% of the time. Its also as a great way to get away from nagging wives/girlfriends and being with ur friends and share the mutual experience of a hellish relationship XD

9

Um, easy money. It is not easy unless you are good, but it seems like easy money.

10

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:
Um, easy money. It is not easy unless you are good, but it seems like easy money.[/quote]

Hell, in most online games you don’t even have to be good, just patient. But of course everyone wants to get rich quick.

11

Around where I live it’s fucking weird, the people who play poker here are kind of like the mma tapout wearing dorkos, they think they are the coolest shit on the planet…and i just think…ok? Why? You play a fucking card game, and you’re not even that good at it. YOU ARE SO COOL YOU CARD SHARK YOU.

I don’t like any card games really, and when people I meet find out, they look at me like I’m a fucking alien.

It’s gotta be a fad+money thing.

12

Funny thing is that the ones I know are the same people who don’t have time to train or money to spend on a gym subscription…

13

I rather be shooting pool.

14

I am more of an Omaha or Stud guy.