Poker

It's not just the 500 year history that makes poker as popular today as it ever was - it's simply the mind play. Yes, poker, like no other casino card game, is a game of human psychology. The constant flitting of eyes, weighing up the opponent, wondering whether that next dealer card will give you the top hand, all these factors make the game what it is - a game for professionals. 

While poker's history stretches back many centuries, it was only since the American Civil war that it became what it is today - a major game of bluff. The famous poker face is what poker's all about. Can you outsmart your opponents with a simple look, or raised eyebrow...?

Poker contains so many variants that it would be impossible to describe every one in this short review. Essentially, players are dealt a hand of three, five, or seven cards, a number of which they may discard in place of other cards from the dealer, or from cards available in a community pool on the card table. Once each player's hand is set, rounds of betting begin. This is where the skill and the fun begin. Most players can be read like a book, folding when they have a bad hand, and betting on when they have something to show. However, the best players play a totally neutral game, with bluffing proving to be the most effective weapon in the poker player's arsenal.

The poker game climax comes with a showdown. Whether it's the player with the best hand, or the best bluff - you can often never tell, as the best players will always keep their cards, and strategy, close to their chests. If it's excitement you're looking for, then poker's your game. So get out the cigars, and pull up a chair...