But why not keep it casual when you get bitten by the poker bug?  The current state of the economy makes it difficult for a lot of us to even think about going on the road and playing the big tournaments.  For us, there’s variations of Nickle and Dime poker instead.  Think about it: you can have some fun, most of all; you can win some money, also good; and you can hone your skills so that, who knows?  Maybe one of these days you will be ready to take it on the road.

Now, don’t start groaning.  The games we’ll be discussing in the coming weeks are not lame, it’s not kiddie poker.  Have an open mind — you might surprise yourself and find a new favorite game.