how/why did you first start playing poker?

[Benedict]

Injuries made me drop out of martial arts. Had to find a non-physical hobby that is challenging and rewarding. Friends play poker.

[btmagnetw]

freshman year college, someone came and found me in the dorm, asked if i wanted a game. beginner fish lucks his way into $60, LOL I LOVE THIS GAME!

[killphilNI]

started at the age of 11 because gambling was fun.

[derosnec]

When in prison, there's not much to do. So I taught myself.

[GeraldGiraffe]

Played Triple Draw at school for pennies and then when I got to uni someone told me about the magic of No Limit Hold 'em. Went to University Poker Society and played the cash game and lost about £20 in 10 minutes, but I was hooked. Played there and online unsuccessfully for a short while before I read Super System, at which point I started winning home games.

[nextgenneo]

high school lunch $10NL games

[sdfsdf]

because all my starcraft buddies were doing it

[stickdude]

because there's no real money to be made playing chess

[Kiddmother]

[ QUOTE ]
plus he's lebanese. which is sorta close to iranian. so there's that.


[/ QUOTE ]

Wait, Wait, WTF, BTYS, are you Iranian? Why did I have you pictured as all-American?

[Janis N.]

Guys at work beat me first time we played. I had even practiced the play money tables at Party for a few days before that to learn the rules. I remember a hand where I was trapping a guy on a 3-flush board with Ace-high (he had the nut flush, ldo).

I figured I cannot leave it that way and must get better.

I still play in their $0.20/$0.40 NL game with $20 default buyin for amusement.