The two richest men in the world, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffet, are also big time card players. So why aren't they challenging Phil Hellmuth and Doyle Brunson to heads-up matches, you ask? Well, actually, their passion isn't poker, but rather bridge. For years now, the two multi-billionaires have enjoyed the four-player card game, whose heyday was back in the 1950s.
Whereas a poker frenzy is sweeping across the United States, Gates and Buffet have not fallen in love with the game just yet, and prefer to spend their time bidding away and piling up tricks instead. Buffet and Gates have let it be known that their mutual love for the game stems from the intellectual stimulation it provides, the potential for constant improvement, and the camaraderie among its players.
Putting their money where their mouths are, Gates and Buffet have alloted a $1 million grant to fund a junior high school program dedicated to teaching the game to teenagers. So far, however, it seems that their money isn't good enough, as they have no takers among U.S. schools. Sharon Osberg, Buffet's longtime playing partner and two-time world-champion bridge player, believes that it will be very difficult to get kids to stop playing poker and take up bridge, as its players are usually on the older side. As the average age of American Contract Bridge League members is 67, Osberg definitely has a point.
For now, poker's popularity doesn't seem to be waning at all, especially among American teens and twenty-somethings. With all the enjoyment and intellectual cunning that bridge might have to offer, this writer can't see it overtaking poker as a national pastime, at least until it gets the same type of television and media exposure. Gates and Buffet will have to dig a lot deeper into their tremendous pockets if they really want bridge to give poker a run for its money. On the other hand, if they'd offer me a million bucks, hey, I'll teach bridge to anyone.
Club Vegas USA is latest casino Powered b...
Popular online Poker room review and rating site PokerRoomReview.com announces its first of many to...
Although a restraining order on the implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act...
Israeli poker player Ziv Bachar from Tel Aviv survived an initial starter field of 186 players in th...
It is online appropriate that the Internet gambling sector will usher in the month of October with a...
The casinos of America are fast becoming video-poker paradises as video poker machines begin to bump...
Although a restraining order on the implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act...
Revenues at the betting exchange Betfair have risen by a third after is succeeded in luring record n...
When you see the bug poker players on television, you may wonder how it is that they got to be so su...
One of the most popular ways to have fun at online casinos is to create a free play money account. T...
The host of online casino, PlayersOnly.com, Carrie Stroup, is celebrating her Babe of the Month spre...
Britain's new gambling law came into force at midnight September 1, legalizing U.K. advertising camp...
Inver Hills Community College announced today its online Casino Gaming program is now available for ...
Swedish online gambling software developer and turnkey provider Net Entertainment has announced a de...
Online Poker News - news
from the world of
Online Poker RSS Feed.
The OPN directory is currently in development and will be available soon. If you are interested in adding a link, just click on the “Add Link” button. Thanks for your patience.
Club Vegas USA is giving you 5 BONUSES to choose from ranging up to 300% on your first deposit. Depo...
Had enough practice? Are you ready for Real money action? LuckyAcePoker.com will help get you on th...
Enjoy a 100% match bonus up to $200 on your first deposit, free prizes, comp points, a unique Player...
Recommended Poker Books
You do not need prior permission to link to any of the pages on this site. Limited copyright is granted for you to use and/or republish any of the articles on this site for any legitimate media purpose as long as you reference OPN as the source, and include a link referring the reader to the OPN site.