The zip of the shuffle of a deck. The clink of the coins. The soft pat of nervous fingers. Those are the sounds that have been spreading throughout Ohio University's campus.
OU students are taking more of an interest in poker, particularly Texas hold'em, because of the World Poker Tour on the Travel Channel and the World Series of Poker on ESPN. Poker was first broadcast on television in 1993, but it wasn't until 2002 that the broadcast of Texas hold'em made the game enjoyable to watch. In a Sept. 9, 2003, story, Time magazine reported that last summer's World Series averaged 1,248,000 viewers and the World Poker Tour averaged 844,000.
Before it was televised, poker was known as a manly game played in saloons and smoke-filled back rooms, but now, it is showed as a legitimate game that also includes women.
Many OU students, including junior Dave Spannhake, said their interest in poker increased because of the televised tournaments.
Actually
about a couple of years ago I was watching ESPN2 and saw the World Series of Poker. It just looked real interesting and we just started playing Spannhake said.
OU students across the campus are forming their own groups to play poker and even create informal competitions. Sophomore Phillip Mazarowski, a resident assistant in Washington Hall, plays with his residents whenever they can get a game together. He said the media influence his playing and how it is structured.
When I got here Fall Quarter I found out who knew how to play poker. I showed them the rules I had for the tournament
which I pretty much copied the World Poker Tour almost exactly except we use a lot less money
Mazarowski said.
Even though they usually play with $1 to $5 in the tournaments, most do not play for the money. Mazarowski said it is not about the money, but the competition.
It's a lot easier to say you are addicted to play because it is a form of gambling
but when I compare that to other stuff that I like to do
it really is just in the line (with them)
he said.
Many students do not consider themselves addicted to the game, yet they thrive on the competition and excitement of it.
Junior Chris Evans described a time when he was having the worst game. He kept losing with the last card. Instead of quitting, he kept playing.
I keep saying that this is it and I'm not going to play... but somehow I keep doing it
Evans said.
Mazarowski said poker is a mental game that requires skill. He called Texas hold 'em the Cadillac of poker.
If you lose
you feel like you've been defeated mentally
he said. With Texas hold'em
