Is money always involved when playing Poker?

duchy

If you are looking to join friends who already play then it'll depend what they are doing already. Some people are happy to play for matches or smarties others money is an essential element in the group. What do the friends you hope to join in with do ?

Pixie5740

If you just want to learn how to play sociably with some friends then just get a few folk together with a £5 buy-in and start playing. Money is a big element of poker. I like to play and when I play sociably with friends where the buy-in is just £5 I play a lot looser than I do when the stakes are higher. When I first started playing I tried some of the free online poker games but I didn't learn anything from them as you always get some tube who continually goes all-in because there's nothing to stake their decision on.

Guest101

Agree with other £5 buy in is the best way. otherwise you don't learn the game


If there's nothing to lose/win the bets get silly - it's over in 20 minutes.


I've had some great nights playing cards and drinking beers with friends which in toal cost me £9 (or -£21 in many cases)

Gavin83

Malthusian wrote: »

The problem with poker as a social game is that if you are playing it this way, once you have lost all your chips you can't play any more. Which in my opinion is why it falls down for someone looking for a social game. Someone's game can easily be over in five minutes if they go all-in on what looked like a sure thing, and then they have to twiddle their thumbs while everyone else plays. By the end only 2 people are left playing and everyone else has sloped off to the bar or the sofa.

Games consoles are great for this. Those who have been eliminated can head to the sofa and play a few games on the xbox while they're waiting for the poker to finish.

Bogalot

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

Poker really needs to be played for money, and for an amount that means something to you. Otherwise it's pretty pointless and you will never learn to play properly because nothing hangs on your decisions.

Rubbish. A friend started playing with pennies, joined a local pub team, progressed to regionals, now goes to Vegas several times a year all expenses paid. At that point you're playing for prize money, but you're not putting in anything yourself.

geek84

Hi Folks

Thanks very much indeed for your responses.

Guest101

Bogalot wrote: »

Rubbish. A friend started playing with pennies, joined a local pub team, progressed to regionals, now goes to Vegas several times a year all expenses paid. At that point you're playing for prize money, but you're not putting in anything yourself.

You only put nothing in by qualifying through tournaments though.


Most people will be paying in several thousand pounds (dollars) - that is what create the prize pool

Marvel1

If playing for for no money then the bets won't be serious, with money people will play more different.

anotheruser

Many people play with clothes...

Rain_Shadow

Bogalot wrote: »

Rubbish. A friend started playing with pennies, joined a local pub team, progressed to regionals, now goes to Vegas several times a year all expenses paid. At that point you're playing for prize money, but you're not putting in anything yourself.

Yeah, right.