Have you ever sat at a poker table with a whole host of people and while the excitement and tension is there, but there is a notable silence across the table? Well, if you haven’t been in that situation, you are either extremely lucky or you haven’t sat at many poker tables, and we suspect it is the former. Whether it be a live poker tournament, an online casino, the spoken word or the chat bar, the noticeable air of silence exists. Even if you opt for reliable poker rooms, it’s always good to have some in-depth knowledge about the game before you play. To break any future silences, here are some fun facts about your favourite card game that will at the very least, hopefully prove to start some conversation across the table!
Fact #1
Every country plays a different game of poker. If you are keen on playing your cards and travelling the world, then you will eventually learn over 100 different poker variants from different continents and cultures.
Fact #2
Surprisingly, the oldest person who has ever won a World Series of Poker event had a vast amount of experience, at the grand age of 80. The player was as long as 200/1 to win the event before it began but he managed to defy the odds and the age gap to win the jackpot at the event.
Fact #3
Poker is not just a hit to the public, but to their bank accounts. In the US alone, the average person plays online poker to the point that they spend $775 a month out of their own pockets due to their affliction with the game. Whether they win or lose, that’s a different story.
Fact #4
This one is sure to be a debate-starter at your tables. The likelihood of you winning and succeeding at poker is not through your own exceptional play, but through the mistakes of your opponents. Brilliant play can only get you so far, but not only is forcing your opponents into a false move more satisfactory, it is also more rewarding, as a mistake warrants confidence in the first place.
Fact #5
One of the more stranger facts about the game of poker is that ex-US President Richard Nixon actually created his own funding for his very first presidential campaign, by winning none other than a poker game with his naval friends. Nixon won $6 million which and in turn he then used the winnings to fund his campaign. It is also believed that the trend continues in today’s leadership, as current US president Barack Obama is thought to enjoy an occasional game of cards himself.
So, how many did you know yourself? Chances are, if you didn’t know all of those facts listed, then your table rivals are unlikely to either. So, next time there is an eerie silence crossing your poker table, waste no time in dazzling your opponents with your poker knowledge. Who knows, you may get them thinking to the point they make some mistakes with their chips.
Photo Credit: frozenchipmunk