Poker, until recently, was the habit of hard core gamblers and the excuse of some others to get together, yell, drink, and smoke cigars. But now the game has exploded. And the science of poker is not far behind.

The Poker game currently played in homes and on the reservations throughout the nation is a relatively new game: not even two centuries old. According to the World Poker Tour's official website, "Modern Poker was born on the Mississippi and carried up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers by steamboat, quickly spreading into the interior by wagon and train." Poker began to spread, changing slightly and growing in popularity.

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During the Civil War, soldiers who played in the barracks played together and instituted small modifications, further developing the game into the form seen today. Many games with varying rules evolved, some more popular than others.
During Poker's birth and maturity, the draw and stud versions were most popular. Today, however, Texas Hold 'Em poker, Seven card stud, and Omaha are now en vogue, with the game's most prestigious event, The World Series of Poker, currently decided over a Texas Hold 'Em table. This tournament has recently achieved cult obsession in the USA, making stars out of gamblers from across the globe. Poker is growing madly.

ESPN's coverage of the World Series of Poker enjoyed unprecedented viewer ship. Poker websites have exploded all over the internet: mostly offshore companies with romantic sounding names and promises of big bucks. But other legitimate companies have surfaced, and command thousands of members. The sale of poker chips and poker sets hit record highs in sales this past Christmas. So what is fueling the poker fires?
"Poker is a thinking man's game," said Takahiro Hoshino, a sophomore from Banff, AB, Canada. Hoshino plays recreationally in home games and on the internet and says he "enjoys the competition with the other players. Taking a big pot is like hitting a really nice drive. It makes you feel good."

The explosion of poker has set off secondary burning in the production of poker accessories, literature, tips, tricks, and guides. And the players are working at their games, studying each hand and getting better with each bet.
Jon Castro, a senior from Charlestown, MA, learned in the garage while he worked, and cut his teeth weekly in his Uncle Carl's Friday game. Now he plays the internet version every chance he gets and often plays at the Foxwoods casino.
"I get a kick out of the game," Castro said. "I go some Sundays and watch football, take the odd pot and enjoy the atmosphere." He isn't alone. The weekends host hundreds of players from all backgrounds and skill levels. Many games are hosted by the casino with varying degrees of difficulty and reward.

In the Poker Room, players are segregated. "All the beginners play limit poker games," says Castro. "The bets are small and you can stay at a table for hours." Stronger players, and especially players looking for money, play the High Stakes or No Limit tables. Many Casinos also hold tournaments offering huge sums of money. The money draws players like piranha to cow.
When asked if he was up or down, Castro replied that he wins "his share."

There are also those who enjoy Poker purely as a game of chance. Rocco Molinaro, a junior from Dearborn Michigan, plays occasionally but doesn't put much stock in the all the hype.
"It's all about the cards," he says with a wave of his hand. "You get the right cards, anyone can win. It's all about the river." The River is infamous. It is the final community card pulled: salvation for some, sudden death for others. Millions. And therein we find the luck.
But poker isn't just luck. Poker is a set game. Once the deck is shuffled and cut, the outcome is predetermined. The hand hierarchy is set. Someone has already won. The goal is to win the hand when yours is strongest, and to get out when yours is doomed; the trick is to use your chips to win even when you don't own the strongest hand. And therein lies the skill.
For a list of tournaments and games near you, consult your local computer.

Source: The Spectrum