The Growth of Poker
It is quite certain that people, not only in the United Sates, but all over the world, have acquired an intense desire to learn and master the game of poker. They see people making millions on television and hear about their success on the internet and they want to be a part of it. Making this phenomenon all the more interesting is the great speed in which it has unfolded. People who normally wouldn't dream of gambling are now talking about flopping sets, turning flushes, split pots and many other poker terms.
Looking back through the history of entertainment and recreation, it is not difficult to isolate moments in which the national interest began to grow. For poker, it began in 2003 when Moneymaker won the Main Event. Another example in history is when the hula hoop first appeared on the scene, it was only a matter of weeks before every kid on every block in suburban America had a hoop of his or her own. From this and other examples we can see how quickly our collective attention can be drawn to something new and exciting.
On one level, the increase of poker's current growth should not be considered unusual. However, a closer look reveals one large discrepancy. Poker is not a game which can be easily learned, much less mastered. Let's face it, unless you are a hopelessly uncoordinated individual, you can probably get the hang of a hula hoop after less than an hour of practice. But, if you are a poker amateur seeking to build a solid poker game, you had better be prepared to devote a substantial amount of time and money toward that particular endeavor.
It is only honest to admit that Americans - especially those of us living in the 21st century of technology - are not generally known for having long attention spans. A lot of people are more interested in finding the best poker games than in actually learning how to play good poker. We are a society obsessed with instant gratification, which makes the phenomenon of amateurs taking the time to learn poker and master it, inspiring.
Obviously, the Internet plays a huge role in introducing millions of new players to this challenging game with considerable growth each year. However, the internet is like any other tool, in that it must be used properly in order to achieve maximum benefit. Therefore, many new players are a bit confused when it comes to the matter of practicing poker online. In particular, how is one able to do this without placing actual money at risk? Fortunately, thanks to the wide range of poker web sites offering free play or "free money". A simple online search is sure to reveal dozens of options where you can practice poker for free. Another option is to read unbiased online poker reviews that contain information about the poker room's software, player traffic and much more. There are now many trusted poker rooms online, many of which are now endorsed by professional poker players.