tsabbat
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I learn to play because i had a friend that saw me making money shooting 3pts at a basketball court lol and he told me i can make triple what i made which was $50 in a house game so i learned and we came 1 and 2 in house game so we made like 125 a piece lol so yea then i became hook... Im a natural born gambler i think my blood is thick or something 
J
jo-shel
Rising Star
Bronze Level
I have played all kinds of card games since I was a very little girl. As an original midwesterner, cards have always been a form of entertainment in our family and social situations (and that included draw poker and another small gambling type game, Tripoly). However as far as the current card games most widely played: Holdem, Omaha, Stud, Razz and Horse, these I learned to play in the last 5 years in a pub poker club and of course online. I have been playing at casinos in the last three to four years also (poker rooms or blackjack only - I am not a slots player).
I find it interesting to learn about others and how they came to play also. Thank you for starting this thread.
Your post brought up memories from when I was little. My favorite uncle was lost at sea from a navy ship (God Bless Him) and in the items that were shipped back were things like a diamond engagement ring and other jewelry and money. We learned later that these were winnings from poker games on board ship. (Although I understand that poker games on ships were common, they were intensely frowned upon by the upper echelon of the various military services). Since my family wished to return the engagment ring (feeling badly that someone had lost it that way), they tried to find out out which other shipmate lost it to my uncle. However they were never able to find that out and it is still in my family.
I find it interesting to learn about others and how they came to play also. Thank you for starting this thread.
Your post brought up memories from when I was little. My favorite uncle was lost at sea from a navy ship (God Bless Him) and in the items that were shipped back were things like a diamond engagement ring and other jewelry and money. We learned later that these were winnings from poker games on board ship. (Although I understand that poker games on ships were common, they were intensely frowned upon by the upper echelon of the various military services). Since my family wished to return the engagment ring (feeling badly that someone had lost it that way), they tried to find out out which other shipmate lost it to my uncle. However they were never able to find that out and it is still in my family.
I learned to play poker while onboard ship in the US Merchant Marines.
Back in those days, 1960s, there was lots of Poker playing on board.
After a few years they seem to get away from on board poker and it was hard to find a game.
We would start playing poker in the messhall right after Dinner was over and we could use the messhall tables to play on.
We would play all nite until the messboy would come in the morning and run us out inorder to set the tablefor Breakfast.
Buys would play all nite. Grab a nap by sleeping on the table and get up and play again.
We would get so involed in the poker games that we would pay someone to stand our watch in order to stay in the game.
We did not play Texas Holdem in those days.
We played mostly: Jacks or Better, Five Card Stud, Seven Card Stud and Low Ball. (now called Razz)
Some of the games were played for some pretty high stakes. It was not unusually to call a $50.00 bet on a draw for a low card in Low Ball.
I have been on ships where guys would be at sea for months and lose all their money in the poker games. They would have to sign back on for another trip because they did not have enough money to get home or live on ashore.
And, trust me, some of those fellows were pretty tough guys. And, you were going to pay up after the trip.
Here is a true story. My fireman wanted me to hit his hand with a hammer and break it, because he lost all his months of pay in the poker game. And, he wanted to be taken off the ship on a medical so he would no have to pay up.
I refused. But, a couple days later, the Captain came to me and said the fireman was going to be put ashore in Panama because he had an accident in the engine room and broke his hand. haha yea right. I said nothing.
OK bored you enough
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pokerpro08
Rising Star
Silver Level
I first learned way back in my teenage years.Then it was mainly BlackJack. About 18 years ago I was seriously injured at work and it did'nt take long to determine I had worked my last day. Caught WPT on TV and quickly progressed to playing online. I discovered quickly that my game was sloppy and not progressing with play chips so I bit the bullet and loaded 50.00 into pacificpoker.com(not good i n u.s. anymore. I now travel a couple times a year to live tourneys but the bulk is on line I classify myself as a semi-pro. My cards and a little disability check keep us all afloat
JCuervo
Legend
Bronze Level
I first began online poker at a site called "redlight", I still play there, but like alter sites it's not as fun as it was way back then. Then people playing actually tried to win, now there seem to be, what we call "bingo" player they'll go all-in with any two cards and hope for the best. Guees it's one way to play, but it's not as much fun util they weed themselves out.
Harthgrepa
Enthusiast
Silver Level
In a semi-weekly poker get together every Friday where the dealer got to call the game. It was my senior year in high school and we played in a room at the local newspaper (Friend of a friend was the local sports guy) or at a local gaming store after hours. One of the guys would always call Texas Hold'em towards the end of the night (next morning usually) and we'd set aside a small amount (usually just a dollar or two) and play a winner take all set of Hold'em with .05 .10 blinds.
I learned most of the different kinds of poker like Omaha, Stud, Draw etc. during that time, along with a lot of oddball games like Anaconda and the suchlike.
Some good times were had. It just sucked the next morning because I had to be at work at 6am Saturday morning. I usually didn't bother sleeping.
~H
I learned most of the different kinds of poker like Omaha, Stud, Draw etc. during that time, along with a lot of oddball games like Anaconda and the suchlike.
Some good times were had. It just sucked the next morning because I had to be at work at 6am Saturday morning. I usually didn't bother sleeping.
~H
X
xXShannonAXx
Rock Star
Silver Level
i first learnt to play poker at a live freeroll event and ended up coming 7th that night not having a clue what i was doing i then started playing online for playchips and reading numerous books i found and now im a better player because of it
HELLBILLY
Rock Star
Platinum Level
I learned poker as a boy watching the "grown-ups" play. Of course, they always played all manner of crazy wild cardin' ,low in the holin', pot splittin' nonsense ("dealers choice" of nonsense). But after learning all those strange games, hold'em,omaha,omaha hi/low, stud, stud hi/low,and h.o.r.s.e. was a breeze to learn. Mastering them on the other hand.... So anyway that's it. Been playing or watching since I could see over the table.
:beer:
:beer:
I
Igor30
Enthusiast
Silver Level
Interesting question!
Most of us are still learning this game!When I saw this game on TV a few years ago,I told myself "This is easy!" Then I was start to play online last year and I realize -"isn't that easy".
When I played live,at the table,I realize that I don't know nothing!!!
For me this is a lifetime learning game!
Most of us are still learning this game!When I saw this game on TV a few years ago,I told myself "This is easy!" Then I was start to play online last year and I realize -"isn't that easy".
When I played live,at the table,I realize that I don't know nothing!!!
For me this is a lifetime learning game!
B
bobphilallo
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I started to watch poker on TV. You know the WPT tours where there is no good player and loser commentators. I thought it was fun and started to play and now i'm prety good at it. I won about 200$ at school and about 50$ on freerolls. But online poker doesnt define your talent as a poker player as it is really unfair.
D
deankn68
Enthusiast
Silver Level
Online!!!! Well that is where I started and like most new players, I figured going all in every hand was the way to go. You learn the hard way quickly!!!!
But the best way to learn is to watch other people play. I have spent hours just watching the replays on pokerstars. They are a great learning tool.
But the best way to learn is to watch other people play. I have spent hours just watching the replays on pokerstars. They are a great learning tool.
KevGuy
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I learned basically from watching poker in 04. It just came to me and the first time i played was at Card shop.. i lost, but amazingly i knew what i was doing. Since then I have just been a natural. I wish i could learn other things faster. lol. GL!
Latvian Queen
Enthusiast
Platinum Level
My hubby taought me to play about 4 years ago. Then we started playing at friends house like every other night until we discovered Full Tilt. We played about a year with play money until we got the guts to deposit real cash. Ohhh boy and then i was "hooked"..lol...About 2 years after I learned how to play i tried my first live limit table...omg I was sooo scared...but it went good and poker has become a huge part of my life.
Btw, I started playing on FT because that was the only big site with a software for Mac computer, until a few months back Pokerstars finally fixed up their Mac version. Now I'm palying on both!
Btw, I started playing on FT because that was the only big site with a software for Mac computer, until a few months back Pokerstars finally fixed up their Mac version. Now I'm palying on both!
aquadad
Enthusiast
Silver Level
used to play nickle/dime poker with friends back in H.S. Didn't play for years until my son (10 and living with his mom) introduced me to P.S. and Texas Holdem. He now plays with us in our friday night neighborhood games.