There are hobbies, and then there are ultimate hobbies. The difference being that the former may not provide an alternative to a mundane routine, while the latter can not only enrich and invigorate, it could also provide you with some cool cash. Take poker, for instance.

Worth Your Time and Effort

The first thing about a hobby is whether it really is worth your time and effort. There are many of us who start something, with the full intention of keeping up with it, only to drop it later. The beauty of poker is that it offers just about everything a hobby should:

• One, it gives you a good mental workout without being too taxing. You need to think of strategy and how you bet.

• Two, the card game gives a good life lesson as well: When to raise your stakes and when to buckle down.

• Three, and perhaps most important, poker allows people to socialise. You can host a fun poker night with your buddies, or join a group that plays the card game. A bit of company, a bit of laughter, a bit of gamesmanship, all of which go a long way in adding some spice to your life.

Wrapping Your Head around Poker

The card game can take some time and practice to pick up. And perhaps that is one of its more alluring aspects. Here are a few handy tips that can get you started on the right foot:

1. Don’t Think Of A Favourite Hand

Anyone and everyone who plays poker has a favourite hand. The expert advice is to ditch a favourite and instead use cold, hard logic.

2. Be Consistent

It is always better to stick with a strategy, in each session and each game, rather than to switch.

3. Have Fun

Do not forget to have fun. After all, that is why you took up the game in the first place.

Poker Table Etiquette

For anyone new to the poker world, it can be an intimidating experience. We have a few tips for newcomers that will help you avoid a faux pas when getting to grips with poker.

• Pay attention – keep an eye on the play, there is no faster way to annoy other players than missing your turn or appearing to lose concentration. There may be some distractions going on but keep your head in the game.
• Be polite – whether online or at a real table, being rude to players is never the way to go.
• Be modest – in the same way as above, if you do win, be modest. Showboating or gloating about your winnings will not make you popular at a poker table. Being new to a poker table doesn’t mean you won’t win, in fact, even amateurs can take the poker world by surprise sometimes.

Getting Started

The best way to learn the game of poker is to get playing. You will find lots of great websites and online casinos that allow you to play the game for free while you are new. When you get more confident and feel like you are ready to put some money on the table, go for it! Having a wide range of hobbies is a great way to keep your mind active and in good shape. Whether you enjoy crafts or other hobbies, poker is a great one to try.

• Decreased stress: Repeated actions like those necessary in knitting and crocheting calm the body and brain, lowering your heart rate. These repetitive motions can also aid in improving your mood. Relaxation helps to eradicate irritability and anger, helping you to cope better in your day-to-day life.
• Better at coping with physical and mental illness: Having something you enjoy and which helps you relax and unwind is important to allow your mind and body the space they need to get better.
• Reduced chance of cognitive impairment as you get older: knitting and crocheting require fine motor skills, which keep you feeling good using your hands as you get older. As a rule, patterns involve some elements of math, which keeps you mind active and practices numerical skills.
• Socializing: Crocheting and other activities like knitting are often done in clubs, allowing crocheters and knitters the chance to socialize. Institutions like prisons and schools, where social interaction and integration are of prime importance, are common venues for such clubs. Beyond this, being a knitter or a crocheter allows you to be part of a wider community of hobby crafters, something which makes you feel supported by other crafters. Socializing creates general feelings of well-being and helps alleviate loneliness and depression.
• Anxiety: The rhythmic motions can help create feelings of calmness which help combat anxiety. Furthermore, the feelings of accomplishment after finishing a project can help build self-esteem, another means of overcoming anxiety.

1. Our favourite activity emerged in the early 1800s, where it was referred to by the name ‘shepherd’s knitting’.
2. The craft was invented as a means of cheaply producing lace, and as such, gained a nasty reputation as a talentless skill. Queen Victoria was instrumental in changing this perception, buying crocheted lace and learning how to crochet herself.
3. In the 1920s and 30s, crocheting ceased to be solely for the creation of embellishments and began to be used as a way of making entire garments or accessories.
4. Wartime in Britain became a time where crochet production flourished as women crocheted items for soldiers on the Front. During clothes rationing, crocheting allowed individuals to customize and individualize outfits and garments.
5. In the 1950s, crochet remained a popular way of creating clothes and keeping up with the trends of the day. Against the backdrop of increasing rates of machine-produced clothes, crochet remained a craft carried out by hand.
6. The 1960s and 70s ushered in a crochet renaissance when the craft was used in the production of everything, particularly all aspects of home ware, from cushions to tea cosies! These two decades also coincide with the creation of the granny square.
7. Now, crochet has come back into fashion in a big way and can be seen all over the catwalk, particularly in 70’s inspired designs!

1. Eva Longoria: The Desperate Housewives actress has topped various polls for being the most beautiful woman alive and has attracted as much media attention for her love life as for her acting choices, having been connected with various A-list male celebrities. She is reported to spend her time crocheting on set in between takes.
2. Madonna: A musical icon that needs no introduction, Madonna’s career has spanned decades of award-winning musical material. Her provocative fashion choices make her a trend-setter whose looks have been copied endlessly by devoted fans. Given her reputation for being a thoroughly self-possessed and dynamic individual, we’re sure that her crochet habit is one of her methods for keeping focused.
3. Alyssa Milano: Best known for playing Phoebe in the supernatural drama Charmed, actress Alyssa Milano has admitted on Twitter, and in her 2009 biography, to enjoying crocheting.
4. Bette Midler: The legendary American singer is famous for songs such as ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’ and has told the press that she started crocheting after the birth of her daughter.
5. Katy Perry: The American singer who is known for her outlandish wardrobe, goofball humour and hits like ‘Firework’, admitted on a UK chat show that she loves nothing more than a bit of crocheting to help her unwind. Who knew!
6. Julia Roberts: Famous for nineties romantic comedies like Pretty Woman, Notting Hill, and My Best Friend’s Wedding, Julia Roberts admitted in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph that knitting is her favourite hobby.