Historians can’t quite agree how the game of poker emerged. They think the name of the game may have originated from the French word “poque”, a variation of the German “pochen” or “to knock” or “to brag”. This may refer to how bluffing is an integral part of the game—you pretend to have great cards,… Continue reading How Poker Developed Over The Ages
Category: Articles
Johnny Chan – Living The American Poker Dream
Johnny Chan is one of the greatest poker players of all time. He has 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, and became world champion twice. And look at how much the man’s won—over four million dollars from career tournament earnings, not counting what he’s earned from cash game winnings. He’s always at the famous Bellagio’s… Continue reading Johnny Chan – Living The American Poker Dream
Andy Bloch – A Poker Millionaire
When Andy Bloch first started playing poker in 1992, he was a law student looking for a way of relaxing between midterms. Then he started getting serious about it, joining small weekly tournaments about once a month (paying an entrance fee of $35, which he saw as an “investment”). As Bloch’s skills grew, so did… Continue reading Andy Bloch – A Poker Millionaire
Poker Alice – The First Great Female Poker Player
Poker was a popular pastime in the days of the Wild West, and Hollywood pays homage to this sport in many films that either revolve around poker or feature it in one of its scenes. What Hollywood doesn’t tell you is that not all the poker players were men. Sure, it was a macho society… Continue reading Poker Alice – The First Great Female Poker Player
Beginner To Poker? Think Omaha Poker!
Poker has several variations, with different levels of complexity. Poker enthusiasts can pick from the whole lot, finding the game play they find most interesting and appropriate for their skill level. For example, relatively new poker players may be better off trying Omaha Poker before jumping into Texas Hold Em. The game may not have… Continue reading Beginner To Poker? Think Omaha Poker!
Poker Goes To Hollywood (Part 2)
Hollywood tends to distort poker with stereotypes and really stupid moves and tricks described by scriptwriters who obviously know nothing about the game. But once in a while, you come across a movie that does a decent job of bringing the excitement of poker to the big screen. Here are a few films to rent,… Continue reading Poker Goes To Hollywood (Part 2)
Poker Goes To Hollywood (Part 1)
Many movies incorporate the high-stakes, fast-action world of poker — hoping, perhaps, to spice up their plot and add edgy glamour to their characters. Unfortunately, many of those gambling scenes border on the ridiculous. Think of the downright ludicrous House of Games, the painfully stilted Honeymoon in Vegas, and the kitschy Maverick—all of which can… Continue reading Poker Goes To Hollywood (Part 1)
Texas Holdem – What You Need To Know
Who hasn’t heard of the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tournament? These two very popular tournaments have contributed a lot to making Texas Holdem Poker become one of the most popular variations of poker in existence today. From face to face games to online gambling, Texas Holdem Poker is played all over… Continue reading Texas Holdem – What You Need To Know
Understanding The Casino’s House Edge
No matter what the ads tell you, there’s no such thing as completely overcoming the house odds in blackjack. The casino will always have a slight advantage; they have to, it’s a business for them. They wouldn’t be dumb enough to bother with running a gambling operation where they have a higher risk of losing… Continue reading Understanding The Casino’s House Edge
Why Einstein Would’ve Made a Good Poker Player
Thanks to cheesy Hollywood movies, some people think that poker is all about mindgames: outwitting the opponents, making a cool bluff. Take the phrase “poker faced”: expressionless, unreadable. They get the impression that Poker is about knowing how to tell a good lie. Well, possibly, but some “mindgames” are basically about good math. Yes, math.… Continue reading Why Einstein Would’ve Made a Good Poker Player
Beginner’s Tips for Texas Hold ‘Em Tournaments
Online Texas Hold ‘Em is one of the most popular poker games on the Internet. It attracts thousands of players — making it exciting, and also difficult. With so many experienced poker players battling it out for some of the highest pots on the web, online Texas Hold ‘Em can be intimidating to the beginner.… Continue reading Beginner’s Tips for Texas Hold ‘Em Tournaments