(OMG, it’s Liz Lieu, a Vietnamese pro poker player. I have the hots for her ;D)
I been playing Texas Holdem under a year now and I absolutely love it. I think I got into poker when some 20 years old on this message board was making good money playing online poker and that’s how I got into it.
First off, poker is a game of skills with a blend of luck. There is the luck factor, that’s why you have people who suck at poker win some money but lost it all again on one night.. And come back again tomorrow! (I’ve seen this countless times on the poker table. They think they need luck ;))
Other reasons why I love poker:
1. It’s profitable. Instead of playing against the casino (which they always have the edge) you’re playing against other players. I used to play online but I find brick and mortar casino to be more profitable with newbies playing.
2. You get better as you play. Unlike football or soccer you won’t be past your prime as you age nor does age matter. When I’m at the table, I’m usually playing people twice my age.
3. It’s intellectually stimulating. Bluffing, knowing the odds, reading your opponents, reading tells, pretending to give off fake tells, it’s all here.
4. This is minor but the social aspect is fun also. I talk most of the time when I’m playing and had made an acquaintance or two. (You can’t say no to free drinks!)
5. Fun. It’s simply just fun! In fact, most old folks who play in the poker room play for entertainment purposes.
So I’m definitely playing poker for years to come, and I don’t see the popularity dying down any time soon. If anything, it’s going up. Plus poker has a sexy allure to it, I’m sure you could use “I’m a poker professional in training” as a pick up line :D
Edit: Whoa my god, Liz left a comment. Thanks Liz ;D