Poker is a game of high drama where the turn of a single card can be life changing. After a protracted round of dealing, the tension builds to an almost unbearable crescendo with a winner takes all finale.
Because of the many dramatic elements in poker, it’s a perfect game to be picked up by popular culture. Many films feature poker, either as an integral part of the plot or as an incidental yet important piece of byplay.
But what about the TV shows? These are often overlooked when we consider poker in popular culture but television has played its part in promoting the game. Here are some of the more memorable TV shows dedicated to the game.
High Stakes Poker
The TV shows can play two distinct roles when it comes to showcasing poker. Some will touch on the game as part of the overall entertainment package while others will go all in and showcase poker play as the main event.
High Stakes Poker falls into the latter category with its look at how the biggest players in the game are faring at the tables. The show was first run in 2006 and its eighth season crossed from December 2020 into March 2021.
The series has featured some of the best names in the business including Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Gabe Kaplan and Johnny Chan. The first series took place in the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas and many high profile venues have been used since.
There’s no great mystery to the format: All we see in High Stakes Poker are the pros in action. What it can do is provide all the tools needed to succeed and many have studied the programme before heading to an online poker site and taking in a few hands.
Head Online
Outside of the traditional TV medium, it’s worth heading online to check out the many dedicated poker channels on YouTube. One of the more popular is Doug Polk Poker where the eponymous hero of the show talks us through many tips, tricks and strategies.
Doug Polk Poker is known for its all round entertainment package with some funny videos included for those who don’t always want to focus solely on the serious side of poker.
Many of the top poker pros have their own YouTube channels. Daniel Negreanu, who we met as one of the stars of High Stakes Poker, is especially active and he headed into 2022 with no fewer than 596,000 subscribers.
Other top YouTube channels to consider include Poker Night in America, Team Never Lucky and Live at the Bike.
Pokerography
Want some round the clock poker action? Poker Central made its debut in 2015 and is still the only 24/7 TV channel dedicated to this great game. Tournaments hold center stage but there are lots of news and instructional programmes here too.
High Stakes Poker series can be found here while one of the most popular shows on the network is Pokerography. There’s a clue in the name there as this specific tv series provides a regular biopic on some of the biggest names in the game.
The debut season of Pokerography featured players such as Jennifer Harman. Chris Moneymaker, Mike Sexton and Phil Laak. It’s an intimate portrayal of each of those names and the show gets closer to those individuals than ever before.
The Big Game
This is a show unlike many of the other poker programmes currently on TV. Instead of focusing slowly on the high stakes rollers, The Big Game takes a look at those who are trying to work their way up the ladder.
Each episode in the series features a little known qualifier who finds himself up against five seasoned professionals. The qualifier is known as the Loose Cannon and they are given $100,000 to enter the game. Any amount won over that level is theirs to keep.
The format of The Big Game helps viewers to really root for the underdog. It also underlines just how tough it is to make it in the poker world but the occasional wins tell us that a pro career isn’t impossible.
Shark Cage
The Shark Cage show also uses the concept of pro players up against the qualifiers but it adds an extra element. This is the program where well known celebrities like to hang out so, if you want to see your favorite sport or TV star take their chances in the big leagues, Shark Cage is a must watch.
Among the celebs who have previously appeared on Shark Cage are Don Cheadle, Natalie Hof, Victoria Coren Mitchell, Jennifer Tilly and Jason Alexander. Many have experience of the tables and are far stronger opponents than you may think.
Watch and Learn
Poker on TV covers a lot of bases: There are those shows that include the game as part of the overall aim to entertain. Others are dedicated to the pastime and can help with tips and strategies for those who want to improve when at the table.
But perhaps the most thrilling poker shows on TV are the ones that simply look to focus on the tournaments. This is where the true drama is showcased as the pros go up against each other with huge prize pots on the table.
The shows in this guide take in a lot of aspects of the game and will continue to highlight all the thrilling elements of classic poker play.