Where did you learn to play?

I started playing poker when I was 5. My grandfather taught me the hands and how to play draw and stud. I didn't really get into it until last year when my roommate at the time, who was a big poker fanatic, got me playing. At first, I didn't really care to play, but when I entered my first live poker tournament this past January (32 player tourney), I ended up winning, which got me hooked.

Learned the game online and only on 3Dpoker clients such as Vegas007, LeePoker and World3dpoker... After that i have tried Vegas247 and PKR but i prefer Vegas007.com

Actually i first tried poker on Sony PSP but that didnt do it for me :-)

I learned while playing cribbage i saw a link for holdem poker.... DAMN

i learned playing .5 -.10 dealers choice games with my older brother and friends when i was about 10 (23 now) we would play 5 card and 7 card and all sorts of diff games. Holdem was introduced to me at about 15

I first began playing poker (5 draw) with my dad. He later (in my teens) invited me whenever my parents needed a fill in on their Friday and Saturday night games with friends. This continued into my twenties.

Later I played a few sit and go stud games in Vegas back in the 80's. Did pretty well.

One of my son's got me interested in Holdem, started watching on TV then my sis bought me into a small weekly tourny at a local casino. I didn't really have a clue what I was doing. I thought of Hold'em as stud with a twist. I made it to the final table but finished just out of the $$. Tried it again a few weeks later after spending some time at the casino and when there weren't any games going having several dealers play some "play" games with me. Again, I made it to the last table but out of the $$. I had spent $75 and lost it all. I can't afford that cost for training so I found PokerStars and read a bunch of books and watched some "training" videos. Though I play for play money right now, I do hope to go back to the Casino one day and give it another shot.

Actually my wife found holdem 1st. She started playing and I picked it up. After about 10 minutes, I was hooked. Now, it's just a vice.
It's one of those love/hate games, dependin on the last card dealt.

i started at colorado poker league we played for points to get into a monthly game for $1000. they held an online game for our club at bet holdem got lucky and won 2 of those been winning enough online freerolls to keep me going ever since,currently at ultimate bet. moved to missouri and got couple of local bars for live games that i win at consitantly but seem to lose it at the casino (got to stay out of casino)

I first heard of Holdem at a bike rally when the guys kicked my tail.. I came home, started watching on TV, then started playing on FT. Since then I have played in the WSOP Ladies only event, local bars, and recently started playing live Ts at a local casino.

Have I learned. NOT enough............

GL ALL

my brother and father had a weekly game in the basement 5 card draw and 5 card stud nickel dime . i was about 9 years old. first played a holdem tournament at a friends house when i was 16 $20 buy inwith 1 rebuy and i came in 2nd winnig a couple hundred bucks and i was hooked

i havent learned how to play. i am learning, it is a lifelong process. once u think u got it u stop learning!

I started 2 years ago. I read books and forum to improve myself.

i learnt poker how to play i wastched on eurosport EPT tournaments so

I learned by playing with friends! and online practice did help too when friends were not around to play a game with

I learned pull down the sunday million... jk.. haha actually learned play for pennies nickels and dimes with the neighborhood kids back in the day. Let's just say I could pay for lunch everyday

i learned to play 5 card stud from my dad and brothers when i was younger we played just 4 fun but then i got huked on holdem about 2 yrs ago ,ive been playing on line 4 only 6 months still a beginer but im a fast learner [lol] well goood luck at the tables tnks

I started playing stud with some friends when i was growing up, all fake but got a feel for the game. Fell out of playing for years until my old roommate introduced me to Full Tilt 3 years ago. Moved from there to party, then to bodog.

A little over a yr ago.. closer to 2 years now, watching all the Pros on t.v. playing. I watched them. My brother helped me figure out the best sites to play at. I started on Hollywood Poker and it took me to the cleaners. Live and learn, but for me it started at a few hundred.. I was too green to go in like I did. Now, I rarely buy in to a site, until I am comfortable with their layout and see how others view their site ethics.

My boss taught me 4 years ago ... *cough cough* he told me I had to use both hole cards ... and gee ... my dumb ass did and won tourneys doing that ... took him for a ride today though ... he hasn't played me in 2 years (been south building levies) ... yes ... I still use both cards ... just makes for a stronger hand ... and not to mention ... I'll always be a newb when it comes to any type of game of poker

I learned to play poker from my uncles when I was alot younger....but about a year ago I learned how to play Holdem from my fiance'. Every since then I have been playing and improving my game. I love Holdem. Learning to play Razz, Stud, Omaha and Horse. Enjoying it all!!!!!

I learned on TV.. then books, then home video game, then online. I am going to get the braclet some day !

I started in 2004 on the old Prima site - Royal Vegas playing 5 card stud!!!

Being from Michigan I miss Prima dearly. 5 card was the only thing I was familiar with and I was successful, but I hated Hold'em because I did not do well at first. Now, I am a semi-pro at Hold'em and don't even know where to find 5 card online. Does anyone (for U.S. in Michigan)?

Alan

I started in 2004 on the old Prima site - Royal Vegas playing 5 card stud!!!

Being from Michigan I miss Prima dearly. 5 card was the only thing I was familiar with and I was successful, but I hated Hold'em because I did not do well at first. Now, I am a semi-pro at Hold'em and don't even know where to find 5 card online. Does anyone (for U.S. in Michigan)?

Alan

sorry, server slow?

My uncle taught me to play stud and draw poker when I was 8 because one time at his home game 2 fellas didn't show up and they wanted to play but not 4 handed. I learned to play hold-em at the Hard Rock Cafe in Tampa after getting bored with watching my girlfriend at the time lose a zillion dollars on the slots. After watching on the rail for a bit I figured what the hell I can play that..........haha playing one thing winning another.........Come a long way since then.

Peace

I learned to play in my boyfriends garage! Before you know it I was taking his and all his friends money..he hee!

Please PM me if you know a site that has 5 card stud for U.S. Michigan.

thank you.

my dad

I watched my father play picked it up that way but texas holdem was a whole new ball game, a very good friend of mine taught me that one and I am still learning but enjoy it, I think I might even be addicted lol.

I leaned to play at pokerstars, just playing at the tables

i have watched poker on tv @ dsf ( german sports channel ) for some weeks, then i startet to play @ pokerstars.

Reading books and playing with friends. TV's influence in the rise of popularity didn't help much either...

I never learned HOW to play, but I did learn how NOT to play by playing in Railbird Freerolls. That helped alot. If you want a crash course in what not to do, go read some of those alleged "helpful blogs."

You can say I have been living under a rock if you like; but I had never seen holdem before about 18 months ago. I saw the game on a chat site and was told by a friend to try ESPN. Then I found Pokerstars and actually started learning how to play. Only 12 months ago I fist saw a big tourney on TV(remember holdem only got big here a little while ago in Australia) and have been watching as often as possible, and actually realised there was a very real psychology to the game. Whereas now I can look at actually getting well into the top end and not just look at a big hand, go all in and die like a fool. I guess I only regret one thing and that is that I didn't find such a great and fun game a long time ago. But the favourite game of mine OMAHA H/L was the biggest shock of all the first time I played and drew a 5 high straight flush first hand and had no idea why I had won both pots or how to play. I suppose I'm just trying to say that for all those who think of poker as a game only should catch up with the fact that it truely is a sport!!!Love from oZ