There was no worse form of merchandising for poker once Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) than video games. They spread faster than the snail mail disease known to the world as AOL discs. In fact now, they are probably less valuable.
When people could easily download the poker software of their choice and within minutes be playing live people from across the world, game developers thought they could cash in by having you play, what else, a computer. Did I mention this computer would look like the pros you saw on TV? Cool! Time to put on my WSOP hat, t-shirt, and sunglasses, put my Milwaukee’s Best Light in my WSOP koozie, and sit in front of my Playstation 2 and take on Greg Raymer or Annie Duke. It’s like I’m actually playing for high stakes from the comfort of my couch! And if there’s one thing I love more than pretending to be playing pros, it’s being one. You could play other people online as your favorite player and rake in all those fake, meaningless, digital chips. I reraise you what shred of dignity I have left. I’m ALL-IN!
Howard Lederer seemed to be the official spokesperson for these DVD coasters, whoring himself out to the front covers of what seemed to be a dozen or so similar titles, each indistinguishable from the next. At the game’s core, a horrible mechanic, similar in every way, shape, and form to a poker bot. It played like it knew your hands because it did. Shove 8 high and it would call you with 9 high. Make a river bluff and it would call you down every single time. There was no point to even trying outside of jamming every hand and seeing how many in a row you could win.
What’s the worst part about this game? It’s a sequel. What’s even worse than that? Realizing somebody must have purchased the first title in order for them to make a sequel. Just imagine being the poor bastard getting this for Christmas when all the other kids were getting Halo 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3. At least with a stocking full of coal, you can light a fire and do something useful. Instead, you’re stuck with Howard’s gimmicky stoned-faced intensity starring back at you, his thank you for buying him a nice dinner with your parents’ purchase.
Being up with the birds, bingo, dinner at 4:30, death—it’s all you have to look forward once you’ve lost the breaks going over the hill. As if that wasn’t enough, the man in Idaho is out to crush your smiles and memories like the afternoon snack in the Wednesday compartment of your pill organizer.
The best evening in televised poker has just gotten better, and you won’t have to choose between two shows like the mother at the end of Good Son.
This April, the International Federation of Poker will be accepted as an esteemed member of the International Mind Sports Association. This means the game of poker will be recognized as a “sport” by the International Olympic Committee, included amongst other games of skill such as chess or Go. Other mind sports nominees this year include Go Fish, Fifty-Two Pickup, War, and Up the River, Down the River.
Hellmuth gets felted, Ivey gets richer, more Europeans in one place than the World Cup—High Stakes Poker is back on the Game Show Network (GSN).
Some of you may remember Jeff Madsen’s breakout onto the poker scene in 2006. His first year in the series at the ripe age of 21, he had an unprecedented four top three finishes: third in the $2000 
It would be great to start out with thousands of dollars and build your bankroll from there. But even if you don’t have much cash to start out with, you can still build your bankroll to a significant amount one day. In fact, you might even be better off starting with a smaller bankroll since it will give you a chance to slowly move through the ranks.
