I learned simple 5-card draw from my parents: it was one of those camping card games we played, among Gin and others. I learned Hold'em when I was pretty young, about 12-13. My first true tournament was at a friend's 14th birthday, we played for like 4 hours and whoever had the most chips got $25, 2nd got $20 yadda yadda. I got 2nd in that tourney (behind the birthday boy, figures
), and that is where it began. When poker showed up on TV, I began watching it, along with playing with friends more often, mostly not for money. I started sorta playing online with playchips a year ago, and I have been placing higher and higher in freerolls (we are talking the last 2 months or so). I'm not exactly sure where this will lead, but we'll see. I greatly enjoy the game for the sake of playing it, and I will continue to do so until it doesn't.