What made POKER take off?

Actually, the "boom" began after Varkoni won it. He won it in 2002 and it was the first year they started the pocket cam. Then ofcourse with a last name like Moneymaker...he got alot of attention the farther he got. I think seeing two players like this win the Main Event and the movie Rounders is what made poker take off. It proved that ANYONE could win and thats just not so in pool. I just want to add, you will never see Varkoni or Moneymaker EVER win another major poker tournament....

Southpaw
 
Its all about the hole cam and the odds. I've spoken with people at ESPN about this and they say the same thing. Keep in mind that ESPN has been televising the WSOP for quite some time but it wasn't until they came up with the hole cam and displaying the odds of a player winning a hand that poker really took off.

Pool on TV isn't going to take off until they (or someone else) figure out what pool's "killer app" is.
 
It's about time

Russ Chewning said:
To those who keep dropping Moneymaker's name, I just want to make one thing clear.

The guy was a GOOD tournament player. Yeah, of course they caught him getting lucky on a failed bluff or misread once or twice, but they catch the pros making the same mistakes.

No matter what anyone says, you DON'T get to the final table of the WSOP Main Event unless you are a GOOD tournament player.

Chris Moneymaker was KILLING the online tournaments before he qualified for the WSOP main event.

And my thoughts on why Rounders sparked such a huge resurgence in poker.

1. The aforementioned luck factor. Everyone now thinks they have a chance too. And to a certain extent, they DO.

2. The other side of the coin. Rounders showed people that there was a METHOD to poker. People played a lot of home poker games, losing their money left and right, before they even KNEW there was a "system" that could be learned.

I fall into group #2. I have always been a person that if I get interested in something, I read everything I can about it, and generally, become pretty good, if it is the sort of thing book learning can help teach.

I liked Rounders because I LOVED the characters. I recognized so many types that hang out in pool halls too. So, loving the movie, I figured I'd go online and see if there was any FREE poker to be played.

I found www.pokerschoolonline.com, and paid $15.00 a month and was provided with a virtual bankroll that I could lose or build, according to my skill. If there had not been a fairly inexpensive or free way to learn poker, I would not have gotten into it. I think a lot of people are like that. They are not gambling fiends, but if they can find a way to consistently beat the game, they are all about "easy money".

And as far as internet tournament poker players, keep in mind that your average internet poker player (like Moneymaker) has seen more hands, more situations, in 3-5 years of playing, than most brick and mortar pros have in their entire LIVES. So, it is no great surprise that experienced internet poker players have been having great success in brick and mortar tournaments.

Russ
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Finally, an intelligent post on this thread. Moneymaker would clean house against 99 percent of the poker players out there. No, he's not a world-beater, but he hung in, drew his cards, played them correctly and won the tournament. It's threads like this that made me want to get into poker again ... seems to be lots of ignorant people.
 
Southpaw said:
I just want to add, you will never see Varkoni or Moneymaker EVER win another major poker tournament....

Southpaw
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I love ya like a brother, Southpaw...But again, you are showing a lack of knowledge as to how well Moneymaker actually plays.

He finished second at the World Poker Tour Shooting Stars event, earning $200,000. He had FOUR money finishes at WSOP events. He had TWO money finishes on the WPT, and had a money finish on the European Poker Tour.

He has admitted that once he got his millions, he lost his drive to win. I would never go so far as to say he would never win another major, though. He is a dude that had a life before poker that was pretty crappy, and his life has been totally transformed by the game. I'm just saying, don't make out like he is a hack who CAN'T win.

I'd probably lay back and just enjoy the good life too. :D

Russ
 
Yes Russ is correct. Some dogs taste the steak and slow down because they are full. Others taste the blood and hunt for a lifetime for that high. Everyone knows the math. Ask yourself how far appart is Earl and Phill Hellmuth are.

Nick
 
DeadPoked said:
Chris Moneymaker and........... the hole card cam.
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Right on both counts!

The big money at stake doesn't hurt either. First prize in the big events (with $10,000 buy-ins) is always over $1,000,000.
 
imo, online poker

Daniel Negrenau feels online poker allows you to improve 7 times faster

I would argue that a 7 fold increase is just a minimum for alot of people who play night and day

think of that appeal for a moment....imagine a ten fold increase shooting pool, the possibility of shooting like Earl or Efren in a year or two

mind boggling motivation to take up the game

it also allowed the introverts to get into the game as well as people who ordinarily didn't have access to low stakes games
 
Rounders certainly didn't hurt either, nor did moneymaker, nor all the celebrity bandwagon jumping

it's starting to level off now that the fad is gone and for the first time I can remember the most recent WSOP main event grand prize paid out less than the year before, but it's still a GOOD time to be a poker player
 
ScottW said:
One word: Internet.

How many online poker sites have popped up in recent years, that you can throw real money into via credit card, and withdraw real winnings from?

Nevermind the whole you-can-play-poker-naked-at-your-computer side of things. *shudder*

Now how many internet sites are there like that for pool/billiards?

Edit: Also, the fact that the only thing you have to invest in for poker, equipment-wise, is a pair of shades. And even those are optional.
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agree here! i am playing online as i speak (or type)...much more conveinent(?) than having to leave the house to play pool..since i dont have a table at home..
 
I'm headed for the WSOP in eight days to play some of the preliminary events. There are something like 50 tournaments scheduled this year. Even the "small" tournaments generate prize pools in the millions. Wish me luck! :)
 
Russ Chewning said:
I love ya like a brother, Southpaw...But again, you are showing a lack of knowledge as to how well Moneymaker actually plays.

He finished second at the World Poker Tour Shooting Stars event, earning $200,000. He had FOUR money finishes at WSOP events. He had TWO money finishes on the WPT, and had a money finish on the European Poker Tour.

He has admitted that once he got his millions, he lost his drive to win. I would never go so far as to say he would never win another major, though. He is a dude that had a life before poker that was pretty crappy, and his life has been totally transformed by the game. I'm just saying, don't make out like he is a hack who CAN'T win.

I'd probably lay back and just enjoy the good life too. :D

Russ
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Out of the last 6 years, Raymer is the only really solid poker player that has won....Moneymaker just got lucky. Hell, when the deck hits you in the face almost every hand, how can you not win. Just ask Jamie Gold. Please dont tell me you think he is a good poker player too.....

Southpaw
 
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jay helfert said:
I'm headed for the WSOP in eight days to play some of the preliminary events. There are something like 50 tournaments scheduled this year. Even the "small" tournaments generate prize pools in the millions. Wish me luck! :)
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Put me in jay, I play for 40%, and when im catching cards im tough to beat!
 
jay helfert said:
Right on both counts!

The big money at stake doesn't hurt either. First prize in the big events (with $10,000 buy-ins) is always over $1,000,000.
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NO THAT DEFINATELY DOESN'T HURT EITHER... BUT I ALSO GUARANTEE IF 7000 POOL PLAYERS WANTED TO PUT UP $10,000 "OF THEIR OWN MONEY" TO PLAY FOR IN A HUGE EVENT... THE PLAYERS WOULD HAVE TO BEAT SPONSERS OFF THEM WITH STICKS... SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN POOL WOULD RAISE THE SPORT INTO THE SPOT LIGHT FOR SURE... JS
 
Southpaw said:
Actually, the "boom" began after Varkoni won it. He won it in 2002 and it was the first year they started the pocket cam. Then ofcourse with a last name like Moneymaker...he got alot of attention the farther he got. I think seeing two players like this win the Main Event and the movie Rounders is what made poker take off. It proved that ANYONE could win and thats just not so in pool. I just want to add, you will never see Varkoni or Moneymaker EVER win another major poker tournament....

Southpaw
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Southpaw......100% CORRECT bottom line and I'm sticking w/ it!!!!!

ANYONE can win in poker. I cant win a major pro billiards event, ever...LOL

Marketing poker with that anyone can win attitude, then it accually being true out in the open.....$hit stake me, I'll give it a shot. In pool I will just tell my stakehorse, "Let's just split the entry, 60/40...lol lol
 
jay helfert said:
Right on both counts!

The big money at stake doesn't hurt either. First prize in the big events (with $10,000 buy-ins) is always over $1,000,000.
Click to expand...



There it is Jay.............The odds on the money!!!!!

I could take a shot for 10 dimes.......To win 10 million..........I will take that gamble, "ALL DAY EVERY DAY". Just like every other true gambler would.

Frankie
 
Well, I think we covered most of the answers to why Poker took off and none of them really will work with pool.

Not every fool sitting on there couch (right now) has any chance at winning a pool tournament. It just ain't gonna happen.

Any all those married dudes that jump online and play poker as soon as the wife's head hits the pillow isn't going to transfer to pool either.
 
Chris Moneymaker, ldo.

I made $1k last week playing $6 sngs poker is sooo ez you guys should all play just make sure you're at my tables.

PS: OMG NPR plz!
 
Any all those married dudes that jump online and play poker as soon as the wife's head hits the pillow isn't going to transfer to pool either[/QUOTE]



wow! u just called me out exactly!!..but i can play pool a little though too....
 
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