Charity Poker Tournaments

Charity poker tournaments are some of the best ways to gain experience playing in structured events while helping worthy causes. When I recently discovered an event was coming up next month in my rural county north of Tampa, Florida, I started thinking about what makes these charity events a real deal.

First, they are close to home. Even in locations where poker is not allowed by law, a registered not-for-profit charitable organization can legally sponsor a poker tournament. After Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 World Poker Championship, companies sprang up all over the county that help with just such events. They actually truck in regulation tables and professional dealers. It is like experiencing the Las Vegas strip in your own back yard.

Second, most of the people who come to a charity poker tournament are there for a good time. They want to have fun. Sure, I take my competitive spirit along with me, however, I am more prone to laugh and cut up than I am in a paid event.

Third, it is a safe place to learn the game with folks just like you, free from the intimidation of a real casino. I remember the first time I walked into a poker room, I felt uncomfortable because I did not know what to say. I felt like a goof ball. It was particularly hard on me because I was a successful woman in business my forties stepping into an environment where I was a novice. Thinking back, it would have been terrific to first experience the game at a charity event.

Finally, the suggested donation for an event is usually reasonable, while the prizes are often very appealing. The laws differ depending on the locale; however, frequently they are called raffle prizes. That does not mean you only win if they pick your ticket out of a hat. The next time you see the final table of a poker event on television, just think, that can be me. Maybe I will start practicing at the next charity poker tournament.

Remember, there are many reasons for playing poker: as a social outlet, as a diversion from your everyday life, to supplement your income, or just for the fun of it. Download a free report on playing winning poker by visiting http://BigGirlPoker.com/ because, regardless of why you play, it is always more fun to win. Poker Places Poker Rate

Donna Blevins, professional poker player and poker coach, has been in the industry since 1998 and teaches people how to play winning poker in record time through free teleseminars, online courses, and private coaching.

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Charity Poker Tournaments