in the wild west, why would you ever sit down at a poker table knowing that someone will possibly get shot?

Question

it would be too nerve wrackin

Answer 1

Cause it's still easier than working all day for minimum wage.

Answer 2

Wild Bill Hickcock did get shot and killed at the poker tables in the old west but that was the exception. The movies are myths. The reality is there were not that many gun slayings in the 1800's that are portrayed in the movies. It's funny how fiction can become perceived as reality.
Trivia question: what were the five cards that Wild Bill was holding when he was shot.....it came to be known as the dead man's hand.

Answer 3

Step into reality. I live in what was once considered the wild west and people do NOT get shot playing poker. I think you have been watching too many western movies.

Answer 4

That's the movies honey bunny!
Bizarrely enough your correspondent is a casino manager who is also a pistol coach for combat shooting, strangely apropos!

In my experience the level of violence in gaming situations is very low, the more so when games have there rules well defined as in poker. The problems arise when a 'taunt' is used at the 'show down' then the loser flares!

But this doesn't make good films. So I'll have to go with; Scum floats to the top, and sometimes they get what they deserve.

Answer 5

Because most of them were "card sharks", and knew the hazards... Plus, there was a lot of money to be taken from "cow-pokes", or the locals, and thats why people drifted from town to town looking for a high stake poker game.

You only got shot if you were caught cheating...or, some one lost too much and wanted retribution... (If they lost thier ranch, as land was the only valuable thing anyone could have...cause you couldnt farm or cattle ranch with out the land).

Besides, good honest people werent the type to play poker, they were the ones out there making a living either farming or ranching...

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 6

Presumably if mortality was as high as depicted in the films, the astute poker player would regard pistol skills a pre-requisite to joining a game.
In an environment where people are killed over a card game, it is probable that any minor incident could lead to fatality so the poker table was not significantly different to the bar.

Answer 7

with all the terrible poker playing i run into i am thinking of arming myself
Watch out suck out kings

Answer 8

it's a hard life back there. winner gain all, looser lost all.
with those gunslingers you never knew when your soul will say goodbye to your body, why don't have some fun and make some easy money?

Answer 9

i suppose it would depend on how much you had to drink cause they are always drunk in the wild west

Answer 10

The thrill of making money when life was hard and money was scarce.