| The game of poker is the one that is easiest to | | | | games popularity is also evident in the number of |
| identify with gambling. Unlike in the case of the slot | | | | phrases that began as terms in a poker game, but |
| machines, you do not need to take yourself to a | | | | went on to entrench themselves in common everyday |
| casino if you want to play a game of poker. All you | | | | speech in the English language. Phrases such as "call |
| have to do is call some of your poker-playing friends | | | | one's bluff", "when the chips are down" and "beats |
| over and sit down with a few mugs of beer and a | | | | me" had their humble beginnings in the poker games of |
| decent amount of money to throw away. | | | | yore. |
| As with all modes of gambling, an amateur generally | | | | The game of poker became a full-fledged sport in |
| starts out by putting in a small amount, but with every | | | | 1970, which saw the beginning of the World Series of |
| win he becomes more confident, more reckless, and | | | | Poker in the United States. Amarillo Slim and Johnny |
| every loss thereafter merely eggs him on to throw in | | | | Moss were among then earliest winners of this |
| even more cash. | | | | tournament. |
| A large number of movies have very dramatic scenes | | | | Today, with the emergence of online poker as a way |
| where the protagonists get together to play a game | | | | of playing the game, we can play poker on our |
| of poker -- which often becomes a symbol of a | | | | computers as well. There are countless websites |
| full-out battle, replete with anger, jealousy, fear, hope | | | | urging us to throw away our money by "upping the |
| and strategy. In his Essays on Elia, the eighteenth | | | | ante" or "calling someone's bluff". |
| century English author Charles Lamb had said, "Cards | | | | If you are new to the game of poker, or are |
| are war, in disguise of a sport." | | | | surrounded by ace players, make yourself the wild |
| The game of poker is easily one of the most popular | | | | card by reading up on some of the tips and tricks that |
| card games of all time. And this is evident not just in | | | | the best of poker players swear by. It is easy to call it |
| the number of casinos that have sprung up, or in the | | | | a game of luck, but it also involves a great deal of |
| number of people that play the game, or even in the | | | | strategy and psychological manipulation. It certainly isn't |
| number of movies that have poker game scenes. The | | | | a sport for the faint-hearted. |