Would someone care to explain the attraction of Texas Holdem.
XVP-Texas Holdem
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "deuceswild1000"
<deuceswild1000@y...> wrote:
Would someone care to explain the attraction of Texas Holdem.
It's a deceptively simple game, and just about any chowderhead can
learn it in five minutes.
Because there are only two cards in each hand, it's easy for said
chowderheads to determine if they have the best hand (it's almost
impossible in seven-stud or draw poker to be SURE).
The game can be played ten-handed.
It's actually profitable to sit there like a barnacle and only play
the top four hands, which is how the local rocks extract the dollars
from the chowderheads.
It lends itself to TV (as we have seen), where selected hands are
chosen to give the impression that no-limit hold'em is some kind of
studly bluffing game, when in reality it's all about slowplaying and
trapping, and the rocks are just waiting for Cal Chowderhead to
switch off the Poker Channel, come bouncing down to the poker room,
and shove his whole stack in on a pair of fives, just like that guy
on TV did, so they can call him and take his money.
The difference between the worst hand and the best isn't NEARLY as
large as in other poker games. A 7-2 offsuit is only about a 4.5-1
underdog vs. a pair of Aces. This means that any old crap can (and
does) win; you see snot like 9-4 offsuit overtaking QQ ALL the time.
This encourages the dumdums, fries the brains of the rocks, and
keeps people playing longer and the money churning, which the house
LOOOOOOOVES (they rake EVERY pot, pot after pot).
I personally think it's the worst poker game ever invented, it's
stupider than seven-card no-peeky, it's not subtle or interesting,
all of which are factors that are contributing to its current
immense popularity. Call it the "Gilligan's Island" syndrome.
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "rockofjello333"
<rockofjello333@y...> wrote:
I personally think it's the worst poker game ever invented, it's
stupider than seven-card no-peeky, it's not subtle or interesting,
all of which are factors that are contributing to its current
immense popularity. Call it the "Gilligan's Island" syndrome.
That is the way I feel also. That is why I asked what the
attraction is 
Watching it on TV is like watching paint dry.
deuceswild1000 wrote:
That is the way I feel also. That is why I asked what the
attraction is
It's hardly a spectator's sport. (And the "Celeb" show makes me
retch.) Take a shot at a low stakes game on the internet and I think
you'll change your tune.
- H.
rockofjello333 wrote:
I personally think it's the worst poker game ever invented, it's
stupider than seven-card no-peeky, it's not subtle or interesting,
all of which are factors that are contributing to its current
immense popularity. Call it the "Gilligan's Island" syndrome.
Great minds think alike, eh?
Quoting from the Two + Two Gambling Forum:
http://www.twoplustwo.com/digests/holdem_arch_jan00_msg.html
ยทยทยท
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* Limit HoldEm: Can you win without losing your mind
Posted by: Kevin L
Posted on: Sunday, 2 January 2000, at 2:40 a.m.
If you want to play poker in the Western US you HAVE to play limit
HoldEm. Ecch. This is like only riding bicycles equipped with training
wheels, or only eating oatmeal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or if
every channel on cable showed Gilligan's Island 24 hours a day.
Nonetheless I accede to reality. So I sit there, hour after hour,
throw a hand away throw a hand away throw a hand away throw a hand
away aha! get AK suited, raise, flop comes 678 of spades, my AK is
diamonds, throw that hand away, etc etc etc etc etc etc. Limit HoldEm
has to be the most dull, unimaginative poker game on Earth. It's less
skillful than Old Maid. You can't put any moves on because the bet
size is so small relative to the pot that the lemmings just call,
call, call. You play KK for the last raise, Gilligan hangs in with J5
suited, rivers a flush, and there you are. Nothing to do but throw
away the hand. It's IMPOSSIBLE to sneak up on anybody. I win at this
game--don't get me wrong--but it bores the living CRAP out of me to do
so. I'd rather be ironing my laundry. The only thing I can try to do
is as they say, "switch gears", but playing crap cards costs me money
just as it does anyone else, and it makes no impression on the zombies
at the table anyway. Can anyone offer an insight on how this game can
be beaten without boring oneself to death in the process?
------
I know, forty lashes with a wet noodle for bringing up a dead topic
(or perhaps more aptly, a mugging in a dark alley). No need for
discussion. And, Rock, I fully accept that you and Kevin are of like
minds but separate bodies.
- H.
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "deuceswild1000"
<deuceswild1000@y...> wrote:
Would someone care to explain the attraction of Texas Holdem.
There are two different games. Limit Texas Holdem is as boring a
poker game as possible. I's rather watch my wife apply fingernail
polish for three hours at a time.
No limit Holdem is only boring 98% of the time. Two percent
is absoultely terrifying, hence my interest.
Dick