[AceDeuceNoUse]

I know it's hard to believe, but not everyone grew up with Internet poker, and not all of us started with NLHE.

What was the first game you learned?

On a related note, do you think that on average, players who first learned games other than HE, are more open to the idea of non-HE or mixed home games?

I began my poker life with casino stud first, and played that exclusively for several years before I attempted hold-em. Today, all the players in my younger-set game started with the most recent boom and I can't get anyone to bite on the mixed game idea.

[Vince]

Hold'em. The guys I play with are no real poker geeks, so they don't know another game. Well, they do know, but they can't play.

[AlbinoDragon]

I learned draw when I was maybe seven. Played it with my friends for a penny a hand. Big bucks considering my allowance at the time was $1 a week and something from the ice cream truck put me back that same $1.

Funny as in my home game, I introduced stud as well as Omaha (dealer choice) and we tend to revert to them far more often than HE....

I'm trying to convince them that Pineapple is a fun game (we call it regrets). Most don't agree. I seem to be the only one to deal it.

[sn0wstorm]

Draw Poker for me too. Not sure when it was, but around 15 or 18 years ago?

[shadesofgrey]

two penny limit 5-draw - that was my very first game.

i voted wrong... i was thinking .05/.25 limit....

[Rob1466]

Yeah...5 card draw for me too around 25 or so years ago, I introduced the game to my cousins...my uncles & grandfather all played 7 card brag & they wouldn't let us play so I went to the library & hired a card game book. I have a copy of the book right here...let me see, ah yes first published in 1979. Theres no mention of holdem' in here at all, goes to show how modern the game is.

First recorded by name in 1829, Poker evolved in New Orleans & spread along the Mississippi in the steam-boat saloons. It was first played with twenty cards, but increased to fifty-two within a decade, and without the recognition of straights or flushes, which only became an integral part of the game this century.
The name derives either from a French game Poque, whose details are unrecorded, or from the German Pochspiel, in which a player passed by knocking on the table (saying 'Ich poche).

Rob (UK)

[imperial10]

5 card draw. If you ever watch any episode on tv before 2003 where the cast of the show has poker night, it's usually 5 cad draw.

The simpler times of poker.......5 card draw with interlocking bicycle chips 3 colors (red,white,blue, and if you're game is fancy yellow) bicycle cards and an octagon table. I kinda miss those days.

[links_slayer]

5 card draw with my dad when I was about 6 or 7. We played for peanuts and pretzels. Brings a huge smile to my face just thinking about it.

One time we were playing and I had to go the bathroom. He stacked the deck and dealt me a Royal. I my jaw almost hit the table...my hands started shaking and he just laughed and laughed...good memories.

[jdunford]

I started playing draw (high) when I was a kid. Soon learned 7-stud (with some variations, including wild cards, Chicago, follow the Queen, etc.) and played that almost exclusively as a teen. Oh, I also liked Guts, but that was more of a "dealer's choice" thing. Knew of Razz, and played some Stud Hi/Lo. Didn't start playing hold'em until a few years ago, followed by Omaha.

[hachkc]

I believe it was Draw but might have been stud. Probably learned when I was around 8 or so.