Poker is without a doubt one of the biggest global phenomena of the last decade. If you will enter any of the major poker rooms in a 'peak hour' you will see thousands of players going at it. What turns poker into such a popular game? The answer is not as simple as you might think. Poker has many sides to it and every player may be fascinated with a different aspect of it.
First, poker is frequently considered as a competitive and entertaining sport. This point of view was mostly brought about by dozens of poker television shows that glorified poker as the ultimate battle of skill. These poker players see poker as a competitive game that requires practice and skill as well as the indispensable amount of luck. This approach is quite reasonable and very entertaining but you must keep in mind that your money is in stake. Playing solely for amusement purposes can be very pleasing up to the moment you go out of cash, so remember that this is still a money game.
Some people play poker because of the social aspect of it. House games were always more of a social gathering than a hardcore poker match. A casual low limit game makes good ground to establishing new friendships and making friendly chatter. Of course if you play poker for its social benefits you should always stick to the low limit games, where the play is easier and people tend to be less reluctant to spend time on chatting.
Of course and almost without saying, money is one of the most common reasons to play poker. Unlike casino games or almost any other form of betting, poker gives you the opportunity to make money on the long run. There is no possible way to win money in a casino, on the long run that is. Each casino game has a fixed edge in favor of the house. You can win the occasional pot but you will always lose if you will play long enough. In poker you are not playing against the house, you are playing only against other players just like you. Hence, a skillful player with a good understanding of the game has a statistical edge over his opponents and can win steadily over time.
Remember that the skills you will acquire while learning poker can be useful in other areas of your life. Good and fast judgment, risk management and reading your opponents are all skills that will prove to be valuable in many situations. If you think that you relate to any of the views in this article then go ahead and try it for yourself. Of course, we recommend you to first return to poker4real and read some of our online poker articles and guides.
Peter Jacobs, Editorial Staff
2005–12–25