| Poker in Denmark
Poker in Denmark is booming at the moment, and it seems like the
game has changed its image in a way that appeals to a wider audience.
Not very long ago the mention of poker would evoke images of middle-aged
men, cigars and whisky in shady clubs. Now all of this has changed.
Fuelled by the Internet and TV, poker is growing in popularity.
More and more Danes are playing the game, in casinos, in tournaments,
at home and on the Internet. The Danish Poker Association has turned
1000 members and estimates say that around 50.000 Danes play the
game.
Gus Hansen
While Internet and TV are probably the main reasons for the rising
popularity, the country also has some good role-models. Especially
the wild and unpredictable Gus Hansen has many followers. During
the first season of the World Poker Tour he made it to the final
tables in the Bellagio and Commerce Casinos, and he won both events.
In Gus Hansen’s own words it is hard to argue against that
he is one of the ten best poker players in the world. In any case,
the playing style of The Great Dane is entertaining and very far
from the recommendations you will find in any textbook.
He is feared by his opponents because of his unpredictable way
of playing. It is simply hard to put him on a hand. He can play
and even raise sub-standard cards pre-flop for deceptive reasons,
but even though he is a talented bluffer, he knows when its time
to fold. Gus is mainly known for playing No Limit Texas Hold’em,
and he seems to have found one of the keys to this fascinating game:
It’s not about playing the cards, but playing your opponents.
Poker books in Denmark
In the spring of 2005, a Danish poker magazine and several poker
books in Danish have hit the market. Most of them are translated
from other languages, except for a few, e.g. the book “Poker
– så kan du lære det!”, which was the first
poker book by Danish authors. The book is written by journalists
Erik Bork and Christian Kongsted and has appeared on several bestseller
lists.
Even though it seems that everyone is playing poker in Denmark
at the moment, there are no signs of people getting tired of the
game. Every day new players come to play in the poker rooms on the
Internet and several Danish TV-stations are broadcasting the main
poker events.
Danish pokerunion
Danish Poker Association
Danish
gaming legislation
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