Mind Games: chess and poker revived

Whether it’s from grandma’s midnight poker sessions, or the brainy kids in science class, we’ve all heard of poker and chess. These age-old games, played practically since the Stone Age, have been part of our pop culture for the past two centuries, and yet in this last decade they have been overlooked. With the fast rise in technology, virtual games like Tiny Wings and Temple Run that require less patience and focus now reign. But are chess and poker really dying?No. In fact, this year there was a significant increase in their popularity among Samo students. Although some have been playing for a long time, it seems many are now willing to openly share their passions. Suddenly, it’s become “cool” to play board and card games like chess and poker. Games of wit are no longer reserved for “nerds” or adults; on the contrary, more and more people are beginning to appreciate them for their strategy values.At lunch, students play chess in social studies teacher Robert Alvarado’s classroom. Despite the fact that the Chess Club is less popular than it was at its peak in 2007, Alvarado has noticed that this year a more varied crowd of students has been participating instead of the “same old group.”“Chess is the best for me. It combines various elements of strategy, and it manages to be very simple and yet very complex at the same time,”Sophomore Bill Shaffer, a new member, who has only been playing for a year said.However, the high-stakes, high-intensity world of chess is not for everyone. Sophomore Michael Botfelt is a keen chess player who has been playing since he was five years old. Botfelt has participated in many chess competitions struggles with juggling homework and chess. He plays chess merely for pleasure now and is almost relieved to not be part of the competitive chess environment anymore.“The chess tournament world is not a nice world,” Botfelt said. “There is a lot of cheating and pressure. I don’t like it.”Unlike chess, poker has never been classified as a game for high school students, yet this year Samo students have shown a sudden curiosity.Over the weekend there is a group of seniors that come together at an undisclosed, hyper-secret location often referred to as “the lab,” and play.“We play poker all night,” senior and poker regular Noah Rosenberg said. “Over the summer it was a daily routine, go to Anthony’s and play poker.”But why the appeal, you might ask? Apart from the fact that we all secretly fantasize about looking like Brad Pitt in “Ocean’s Eleven,” poker is in itself a very intricate game. In order to win, lucky cards aren’t enough; you need wits, forethought and the ability to read people.For example, when players bluff, or, in other words, pretend to have better cards than they really do, they must be wise about their bets, and take the right risks balanced with the necessary amount of precaution.These skills are not just useful on the game table, but are in fact “essential in real life,” sophomore Eva Wholey said, referring to her dad who plays at local poker tournaments.“Lying is a huge component of the game,” Wholey said. “Poker is one of those games where you need to lie to win, and I think that’s part of the appeal. That’s why my dad loves it.”When it comes down to it, these brain games are rooted in simple ideas. Maybewith the rise of “those darn iPads,” as Alvarado calls them, students are beginning to crave more basic, stimulating pleasures to balance out their digital lifestyles. After all, the rules are simple, and their appeal is universal. Each player is unique.“Chess is indicative of someone who’s passionate about a lot of things. It’s the unifying symbol of all intellectual passions,” English teacher Berkeley Blatz said.You’ll never find an expiration date labeled on your chessboard, nor will you ever hear of Poker 2.0. These games are survivors.mazcarate@thesamohi.com