New poker player survey reveals THESE startling facts...
LUCK OF THE IRISH? It doesn’t get any better than this. The well known Irish bookmaker and poker room Paddypowerpoker.com have issued their 2006 Poker Survey report on the “State of Play”. Some of their findings will be of interest to poker players in the wider world.
Apparently one third of all poker players would happily part with their wives or partners for $1,000,000. (Ah, Family Values. George W. would be so proud).
Almost two thirds would rather play poker than have sex which probably links in rather well with “finding number 1”.
Ten per cent of all poker players have actually injured themselves whilst playing poker. (Presumably the third in “finding number 2” who were trying to combine sex with Texas Hold’em).
Over thirty per cent believe Gerry Adams would make the best poker player amongst Irish and British politicians.
When asked who would win a poker game between George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Kim Jong 11, Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro, Fidel came out on top by a mile.
All of this goes to prove what a fine cross section of humanity poker players represent.
OVER-SKILL! If you trawl some of the “bad beat” stories on the web there is a recurring theme about why “skill” at the hands of experienced players doesn’t over-power poker virgins as often as the complainers feel it should. There are two important factors here. Poker is played better on more occasions by people who have developed insights and skills. However, poker isn’t chess! The luck element can never be taken out of a game of Texas Hold’em. You can’t bluff in chess. A skilful over-view is almost always going to crush a less experienced player. Hence the term Chess Master. A poker master can and often is, demolished by a lucky newcomer. This is precisely why poker will always be more popular than chess. Everyone has a chance to win and to improve but luck is always in the mix.
MAGIC TERM A sweet older lady I met at a dinner party recently overheard a pal of mine talking about the “Seigfried and Roy” he’d picked up at social poker. When I explained it meant “A pair of Queens” she had the look of someone who wished they hadn’t asked.
