Hi, Everyone:
I'm pleased to be returning to
Card Player after taking four months off from writing. I've decided to have my new column focus on women in poker. In future columns, I will be writing interviews with women who have won poker tournaments and giving you their strategic tips, writing about my travels to various cardrooms, writing about women's poker associations and forums, discussing women's issues, and providing some human-interest stories about women in poker.
Mostly, I want my female readers to know that times have changed for women in the poker room. When I started playing poker in the '70s, I was often one of the very few women in the room. Back then, the poker environment was different than it is today, and I would not have wanted to have my mother or sister "sweat" me while I played. There was a lot of profanity and abusive behavior. In the cardrooms of the 21st century, we no longer have this offensive behavior. There are behavior rules, and floorpeople are quick to react to any complaints about infractions of these rules. Many of today's cardrooms are beautiful, modern, elegant, clean places to play. I am proud when my mother comes to visit me while I play. Women have a lot of fun and enjoy their poker experiences in our cardrooms today.
For the first topic in my new column series, I would like to discuss whether or not women's-only poker tournaments should even be held. Much has been written lately about this issue, and the debate often gets quite heated. I admit that I have changed my view on this issue over the past few years. For many years, I was not supportive of women's-only events (WOEs) because I believed that they weren't necessary, since women could compete equally with men, and therefore didn't need their own separate tournaments. Let's face it, although there should be separate events for men and women in most sports like tennis, basketball, hockey, golf, and soccer, due to the strength factor associated with them, strength doesn't come into play between men and women in the poker arena. Today, I continue to believe that women have the skill and ability to compete in open events. However, in traveling to many cardrooms around the world and giving seminars to many women's groups, I have learned that WOEs truly do help to bring women into the poker world … women who would not otherwise venture out to play.
It can be very intimidating for a woman even to walk into a poker room. This is the reason that the percentage of online female players is so much larger than the percentage of brick-and-mortar casino female players. Imagine how uncomfortable it could be for a first-time female player to be seated at a tournament table full of men who are talking about sports and "male" topics, and perhaps leaving her out of the conversation. She might never come back to play.
Although women do take poker seriously, the atmosphere at a WOE is often more lighthearted, fun, and non-intimidating than that of an open event. In my seminars with women's groups, I do encourage them to get out and play in open events once they have gotten some experience and are comfortable playing. Many women got started by playing in WOEs, and have gone on to play and enjoy open events.
I think Allyn Jaffrey Shulman summed it up very well when she said, "Some women are perfectly content to play women's-only events, some women refuse to play in them, and some of us enjoy both. There should be no negative judgment about anyone's choice. It is unkind to suggest that all women must strive to play in tournaments with men. It is not the decision of anyone but the individual woman. I am delighted to play in women's-only events. I enjoy the camaraderie, the silliness, the prizes, the laughter, the poker, and the new friends. I also have played in the main event of the
World Series of Poker. My point is that both experiences are great."
I also play in both WOEs and open events. I love to have choices in life. I wish all women wonderful poker experiences, whether they play in open events, WOEs, or online. I love this great game.
Ladies, if you have topics or issues that you would like me to address in future columns, please contact me at
[email protected].
And speaking of women, I'd like to join so many others in congratulating Barbara Enright for her induction into the Poker Hall of Fame. Barbara has many poker accomplishments and deserves this tribute.
On a sad note, I am sorry to announce the recent death of Byron Liggett. Byron wrote for Card Player in its early years, as well as for many other poker publications. He will be missed by the poker community.
Now, let's play poker!
Linda is available to host charity events, corporate nights, tournaments, and poker seminars. You can contact her through her website at www.cardplayercruises.com.
