Watching Poker on TV

TV has been one of the main factors in the recent surge of poker’s popularity. Hardly a day goes by that one channel or another doesn’t have solemn-faced men and women, some in dark sunglasses, sitting around a table and trying to figure the chances of them winning versus their opponents.

 

Poker on TV is not just for experienced players, either. With the commentators, the look at all of the players’ hands, and the odds of winning calculators even rank amateurs can watch and enjoy poker on TV.

Some of the more popular shows are NBC’s Poker after dark; the World Series of Poker on ESPN; the World Poker Tour on the Travel Channel, Game Show Network (GSN), and Fox Sports; GSN’s High Stakes Poker and Poker Royale; Celebrity Poker Showdown on Bravo; Poker Superstars on Fox Sports; and Ultimate Poker Challenge. There are also shows devoted to specific variations, like Head's Up Poker.

Just to look at one of the poker on TV shows, let’s take NBC's Poker After Dark. It features one exclusive tournament each week, is on for six consecutive nights, and offers $120,000 in prize money. You get to follow the action from the first deal to the last.

 

All poker on TV can help anyone be a better player just by watching the pros and trying to understand what they did and why they did it. If you’re watching where they show you the odds of each hand winning, it’s interesting to try and understand his logic when he doesn’t know what his competitors hold but you do. It can be fascinating at times!

Players can usually enter these tournaments by entering through a satellite tournament. In satellite tournaments, a win gets you a seat in a bigger tournament, for example the WSOP. Some players have worked their ways up by winning poker satellite tournaments and gotten seats at the tables with the ‘big boys.’

 

Watch Online Too

Another good way to increase your skills is to watch online. There are several sites where you can watch online or play if you like, with real or play money. You can usually find a variety of games including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, and Draw games. Other sites to play or watch poker online include Titan Poker, Pacific Poker, and bet365. All give enthusiasts or serious paricipants bonuses and promotions that make the game more interesting and more lucrative.

Whether you want to watch poker on TV or online, there are plenty of opportunities for every level.

If you are ready to stop watching and start trying it for yourself, see OnlinePokeReport's poker room reviews page for the best places to play for free and for real cash!