Challenger

Every Thanksgiving, and every Christmas at the family get togethers, it has been the long running tradition for all the guys to play poker. This usually includes five card draw, tonk, and all the other old fogie games you can think of. However, last summer I got into the poker action, playing the game we all know know as Texas Hold ‘Em. Walk into Famous Barr, Target, or Walmart and you will see Texas Hold ‘Em sets with poker chips and cards. This is a game anyone can play, of course not everybody wins.

I always hear people complain about how there is nothing to do on the weekends, and everything there is do, is too expensive. While going to the movies is fun, it costs about $30 for two people when you include the tickets, and the food. Playing Texas Hold ‘Em is a great thing to do on the weekends. You can get a game together of about seven to ten people, put $5 dollars a piece in the pot, and you’ve got about four hours of great entertainment on your hands, and you might end up winning a little money. It is such a fun game to play with a big group of people.

If you want to learn how to play, all you have to do is watch TV. The World Series of Poker comes on ESPN 2 sometimes, and you can even learn some from shows like Celeberity Poker. Of course the ultimate way to learn the game is from experience. You may see the pros go all in on pocket aces and come out okay, but this is not always the case. It’s not all about skill- a little luck is involved too. A note to all you fellow gals, this is not just a game for the guys. Girls can play too, and sometimes have an advantage. There have been women who have won bracelets on the World Seies of Poker like Annie Dukes.

The thing I love about Texas Hold ‘Em is that it’s a lot like life. You’ve got to know when to play your cards. You have to be able to study people, and learn their give aways. You have to be confident. You have to play smart, but know when to take a risk. You have to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.