Why Not Swap the Bar for a Poker Night With Friends?

Going down to the local bar has always been a great way to wind down after work and socialize with mates, but let’s face it, you’re not really giving your mind much exercise. Although it’s a total myth that alcohol kills brain cells, standing around and drinking heavily is not too healthy. Playing poker with friends instead of going to the bar will help you drink less, give your brain a workout, and is still a great way to socialize.

Organizing a home poker game should not be that difficult. Poker is one of the most popular games in the world, with over 20 million people playing online for money. So it’s fairly likely that your mates enjoy a few rounds of the card game and will happily accept your invitation to a weekly poker night. It’s fairly cheap to get started as well, as all you really need is a deck of cards and something to use as chips. But if you plan on making the poker night a regular event, it would be more impressive to splash out on a decent poker table with red or green felt and drinks holders, along with some professional poker chips of varying denominations.

Of course, if you’re not already well-versed in all things poker, you’ll probably need to get some practice in to avoid embarrassment as the party host. There are plenty of ways to do this, and downloading a poker app to play on your smartphone would probably be the best way to play some hands. Joining the 10 million players that play at 888poker is a good option, as there is a £20 no deposit bonus for all new customers.

Remember, though, that playing online will require an entirely different strategy to playing face-to-face with your opponents. In an online setting, players need to try to read the other players based on what kind of bets they make. In real life, you will also try to evaluate body language and speech to ascertain if a player is bluffing or not.

Although you will doubtlessly want to win, playing poker in a home setting with mates shouldn’t be too serious. Poker isn’t just a competitive game, it’s also a great way to bond and chat while you play the cards. In addition to that, it is highly beneficial for the brain. It can improve your maths skills as you work out your probability of building a winning hand, your strategy skills as you seek to outwit your opponents, and your money management skills as you decide how much you are willing to stake on your hands.

Deciding to host your own poker night doesn’t mean you have to stop going down to the local watering hole. It just provides you with another option and a different way to socialise with your friends. There are plenty of reasons to play, though, especially seeing as though stocking up on booze to drink at home is much cheaper. Who knows, you may even prefer it to going to the boozer.

 

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