Lew Crippen

Agreeing with George, I never play online and have no desire to do so. For me, poker is a game of human interaction. I enjoy playing with friends and acquaintances at someone’s home. Some food, drinks, perhaps music in the background and some raucous and rowdy conservation are all a part of an experience that I don’t think can be duplicated online.

I no longer play for high stakes (which I define as playing for more money than you can afford to lose), so I’m happy to have a beer or a wee dram of whisky as the evening goes along.

Just a comment on real money. Poker, unlike almost all other card games is not much of a game, unless you are playing for money—or something of value like your clothes (actually not a very good analogy, as the object here is to get your clothes off ). Further I would go so far as to say that it is at its best when played for substantial sums (see above). You want to be able to make someone think hard about matching a bet—and if this is only putting another 50 cents into the pot—many won’t care.

I’ve never done this, but I do think that it falls into the category of ‘never play pool with a stranger who wants to play you for money—he is better than you’. I did play extensively when I was in the Army, often with strangers.

As an aside, I love card games, especially bridge which I have not played much for years, but expect to pick back up again soon. And games of all types—I am a game player over many years.

I only mention that to give my (perhaps gratuitous) next piece of advice some minor credibility: if you decide to play in some of these games in bars and you don’t soon know who is better than you at the table—you are in the wrong game. Get into one where you can learn (by playing against strong players), but where you won’t be overwhelmed.

¡Time is not my master!