PocaPoker.com

I'm hooked. I even watch the Poker Tournaments on TV. I used to LAUGH at those shows. I never understood why TV had degenerated from showing such boring games like golf (unless Tiger Woods was playing) and bowling - then POKER of all things!!!

Well, now I know.

It started with a coworker asking me to join his weekly game - which was a big event with a dozen or more ppl. My problem... gambling. It was playing for money, and I don't/won't 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 the other players".

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. 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 yes, I set up a website for that too.. but it's not really completed. www.PocaPoker.com