by Mike Kilgore

Created on: May 06, 2008   Last Updated: May 08, 2008

I'm hooked. Addicted I tell you. I never thought it would happen to me, but it has. And I couldn't be happier! Poker, specifically Texas Hold 'em, has taken hold of me and isn't letting go! What is it about this old game's newest incarnation that has infected millions of people from around the world (just check out the number of on-line players)?

If you are one of the handful of people who don't know what it is, let me enlighten you. Poker hands consist of 5 cards and people bet on who's hand is the best. Yes, its just that simple, and also that complicated. In Hold 'em each player gets two cards. There are two forced bets immediately to the dealers left called blinds because you must make these bets without the benefit of seeing your cards. The first player to the dealer's left is in the small blind and the second to the left is in the big blind. The small blind is half of the big blind. The player to the big blinds left has the first action of the hand and has the option of calling the amount of the big blind, folding his hand or raising the bet. This follows around the table until everyone has bet, checked, called or folded.

Next comes the flop where the dealer throws away the top card (called the burn card) and deals the next three cards face up. These cards are community cards and players use them in conjunction with their two hole cards to start making their respective hands. After a round of betting, the dealer burns another card and lays the next one face up. This card is called the turn card and is also a community card. Another round of bets, another burn card and the the dealer turns up the final, or river, card. A final round of betting occurs and all players in the hand reveal their hole cards and a winner is determined. Sounds kind of dry, doesn't it?

Its not. The action ensues from each player's ability to read other players and determine their odds of winning the pot. All can see the five community cards but no one knows what cards the other players have in their hands. There is a great deal of betting and bluffing and player's personalities have a huge effect on how they play. Some are very bold, others may play a tighter game and wait for great hands before they enter a pot.

So what's the attraction? I can only speak for myself, but nothing is better than winning a huge pot or pulling off a great bluff. The social interaction is another plus, as poker players are a wildly diverse group. People of varying socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicity and ages love poker. I have met people I would never have talked to at the poker table. I've been in on-line games against people from all over the world. Would I have ever interacted with all of them without poker? I doubt it.

If you've never tried it, it may be hard to understand my passion for poker. You can find venues both on-line and live action for no stakes, low stakes and , if you're a gambler, high stakes. You may find that you're addicted, too! If you do, I'll see you at the table.

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