Do you like gambling or just playing a game with your friends? Because playing poker does not require gambling. You do not have to play with money in the pot.
While technically true, I think poker actually is one of those games in which the stakes (providing a tangible fear of loss) are a valuable element to the game. Tournament style poker would essentially accomplish this, but it’s not always easy to round up enough friends to make it enjoyable. And even then, the people who drop out early on have to either watch or find something else to do.
Tangible loss is a big part of it because it helps keep betting sane. If there’s no stakes you can just do whatever you want and there’s not really much strategy to it.
Cash games solve the problem of how long it takes. 20 years ago or so I’d play nickel, dime, quarter max bet cash games, dealer’s choice of the poker game, round robin dealing. On a real bad night you’d be down $15, or you’d be up $20 on a great night.
It was a blast. $5 was the price of a premium fast food meal back then, if that helps to level expectations of stakes for the younger crowd.
All the best parts of having stakes in the game without risk of losing your shirt. We’d hang out, make food, drink, etc. It was the best of all worlds.
Periodically we’d do a tournament, usually hold em, stud, or Omaha. Then it was a $10 or $20 buy-in with maybe a rebuy depending on how long we wanted it to go. Usually top three were the money, depending on how many at the table. The early drops would start playing dice until there were three people to start a regular cash side game at the table (we’d just shift chairs)
So there’s ways to address your points, but most people these days only know what they see on WSOP, which is no limit holdem. There’s SO many poker variants out there that the old dawgs played back in the 80s and 90s that didn’t come into light with the poker revolution. Red/black, no peek, guts, hi/low split, etc.
I’m not a gambling person at all but I do like the mix of betting inconsequential amounts on a poker game and just doing a game night with a few friends. We’ll do poker night occasionally where we all put in $20 CAD and while most of the fun comes from having some pints and chatting, the idea of maybe ending with an extra $80 or whatever in beer change makes it a little more exciting even if i usually expect to lose it.
I always describe gambling as non-alcoholic vodka.
It just does nothing for me and leaves an awful taste in my mouth.
I like it as a group activity, like poker night, but casinos are depressing.
Do you like gambling or just playing a game with your friends? Because playing poker does not require gambling. You do not have to play with money in the pot.
While technically true, I think poker actually is one of those games in which the stakes (providing a tangible fear of loss) are a valuable element to the game. Tournament style poker would essentially accomplish this, but it’s not always easy to round up enough friends to make it enjoyable. And even then, the people who drop out early on have to either watch or find something else to do.
Tangible loss is a big part of it because it helps keep betting sane. If there’s no stakes you can just do whatever you want and there’s not really much strategy to it.
Cash games solve the problem of how long it takes. 20 years ago or so I’d play nickel, dime, quarter max bet cash games, dealer’s choice of the poker game, round robin dealing. On a real bad night you’d be down $15, or you’d be up $20 on a great night.
It was a blast. $5 was the price of a premium fast food meal back then, if that helps to level expectations of stakes for the younger crowd.
All the best parts of having stakes in the game without risk of losing your shirt. We’d hang out, make food, drink, etc. It was the best of all worlds.
Periodically we’d do a tournament, usually hold em, stud, or Omaha. Then it was a $10 or $20 buy-in with maybe a rebuy depending on how long we wanted it to go. Usually top three were the money, depending on how many at the table. The early drops would start playing dice until there were three people to start a regular cash side game at the table (we’d just shift chairs)
So there’s ways to address your points, but most people these days only know what they see on WSOP, which is no limit holdem. There’s SO many poker variants out there that the old dawgs played back in the 80s and 90s that didn’t come into light with the poker revolution. Red/black, no peek, guts, hi/low split, etc.
I get that same fun playing D&D. There’s risk and a thrill you might lose, but it’s super cheap.
I have my doubts about DnD being cheap, unless you do 🏴☠️ (Which i do cough)
Even if you’re not pirating, you can still play using the SRD. You can skip the DMG entirely and get monster stat blocks online.
I’m not a gambling person at all but I do like the mix of betting inconsequential amounts on a poker game and just doing a game night with a few friends. We’ll do poker night occasionally where we all put in $20 CAD and while most of the fun comes from having some pints and chatting, the idea of maybe ending with an extra $80 or whatever in beer change makes it a little more exciting even if i usually expect to lose it.
Yeah i can understand that others enjoy it, but even a poker night with friends sounds unpleasant to me - like a game night ruined.
I like board games with bluffing mechanics, but once you put money into them, they’re no fun.
Agreed!
That 6 pack of non alcohol beer I accidentally bought in my fridge about to hit the 3rd year…
Except there’s actually good non-alcoholic beer! Most vodka doesn’t taste like much of anything…
I’m not actually drinking it for the taste.