<p>So I've recently learned how to play No Limit Texas Hold'em (the most common association we have when we play poker, I believe, at least in the U.S.), and it's awesome - I've quickly gotten a grasp of the game (although there's a lot more to learn), but the problem is I don't get to play much, maybe like once a month or two (for obvious reasons).</p>
<p>So basically, Anyone play? Which variations of poker? How often? Usually for how much?</p>
<p>As I said, I play Texas hold'em (NL). Other than the basic 5 card draw, I haven't really learned other variations like Omaha or anything like that yet. When I do play with my friends, I play with $15-20 buy-in, not a lot, but we're no world-class players or adults yet. </p>
<p>Some have mentioned online poker, but even for that I need to be 18 to deposit real money successfully (or win freeroll tournaments which can get really annoying).</p>
<p>I'm planning to play a bit more my senior year and in college. I'm quite sure some of you definitely play this. There's no way..</p>
<p>We play at school a lot, and our family plays a lot of cards.</p>
<p>I’m a calculator, I do the math a lot and calculate all of the odds in my head so I like the versions that have lots of face up cards. Seven Card Stud is my favorite followed by Ohama Hold 'Em. Omaha Hold 'Em is like Texas Hold 'Em but four cards are dealt instead of two and in picking your final hand you take two of those cards. It means that if you play with fewer people you will be more likely to get good hands and therefore good rounds.</p>
<p>Oh, you’re one of those “math” type players…boring. =)</p>
<p>Jk. I have enough fundamental understanding of the mathematical concepts to play solidly and not foolishly, but I don’t let that become the basis of my play - it’s more fun and I think it often requires to think beyond the math for these games. As you said, some are more mathematically-favorable than others.</p>
<p>I play texax hold’em a lot! I usually play online and sometimes with my friends or brothers/sisters. I play online tournaments whenever I’m bored, about a few tournaments per month. I never play for real money because I’m under 18 too and can’t deposit money. It must be much more fun to play with real money though.</p>
<p>^^ That’s pretty amazing that you can calculate the math in your head while playing!</p>
<p>^ It’s more fun for me too when I don’t think about the math while I’m playing. It takes my concentration away too, haha.</p>
<p>texas hold 'em is tight. i actually played it with my friends today (we had a snow day and decided to make it interesting). each buy in was $25 and it was super fun.</p>
<p>it’s especially interesting b/c of the psychology of the game. it’s ridiculous. i love trying to read my friends’ faces or trying to catch their bluffs. i’m usually pretty good at it, too. </p>
<p>p.s. i won; my friend took me all in and he had four of a kind but i had a straight flush; the look on his face was PRICELESS.</p>
<p>@ Invoyable.</p>
<p>The thing about playing as a math type player is that once you develop a reputation for being a math-type player you can bluff like a fiend because everyone else thinks that you’ve calculated the odds.</p>
<p>I know how to play. It is fun. I have only played for money a couple times though…</p>
<p>Hold em is dumb if you’re not playing with real money. It’s a betting game not a card game.</p>
<p>= people at my high school -_-</p>
<p>^you can play with chips/fake money and it’s fun…to me…haha.</p>
<p>it’s actually still kind of fun playing without money. we usually play (with chips of course) without money to see who’s the better poker player.</p>
<p>At school we play for money, it’s just coins but it end up being $10 in $50 to the winner which is not bad. Playing without money isn’t really playing because you can be reckless without consequences…</p>
<p>^ that’s true. you could easily bluff without losing money and i guess that makes the game more fun in a way.</p>
<p>has anyone ever had a royal flush? i think i’ve never even witnessed one.</p>
<p>^ I had a straight flush 9 thru K (diamonds). It’s not a royal flush but it’s pretty close!</p>
<p>^nice! i love diamond flushes for some reason.
i think i actually did have a royal flush once but didn’t win much for it, lol.</p>
<p>I have been a blackjack and Texas Hold 'em dealer. I played a Hold’em tournament on my 18th birthday. I won Just over $600. Whoot. </p>
<p>I learned how to count cards as a blackjack dealer, but I hate playing. So boring.</p>
<p>One time I was playing poker in middle school and three of us had royal flushes (5 card obviously). The 4th guy was surprised.</p>
<p>Another thread showed that Aero and I think tomjonesistheman had pro poker skilz compared to my n00bishness</p>
<p>My most recent obsession lol. No limit Texas Hold’em is my favorite, but I’ve regularly played games of Omaha before.</p>
<p>Playing online is a good way to sharpen your betting strategies, practice calculating odds and outs, and catch bluffs based solely on chip play. Unfortunately, you can’t work on your poker face or watch for tells, which I think are very important in strategic playing. And obviously, you probably won’t be making any money if you’re under 18. </p>
<p>Facebook (Zynga) poker recreates high-stakes holdem pretty well, and since everyone’s working for their online chips, reckless betting isn’t a usual occurrence. </p>
<p>Once a month or so, about 6-8 friends and I get together for a poker night / sleepover party, with a $20-$30 buy-in, no buy-outs, no-limit. It’s fun lol, and since we’re all pretty good players, the games are interesting.</p>
<p>My best hand ever was a straight flush to J, and my second best was quads 9 with K kicker. My worse beat was A quads (on the table), so I lost with the kicker. I’ve never seen a royal flush outside of a video lol.</p>
<p>I too never had a royal flush before. Not even a straight flush yet (I haven’t been playing very long, and as I’ve said, I can’t play much). Best hand was Quad 8’s. </p>
<p>Yeah, I won’t be turning 18 for quite a while so I’ll probably have to stick to playing cheap play money occasionally (if I do play online) or get a game going occasionally.</p>