Contributed article on poker runs (Image source: Pexels)
Poker runs are a growing craze in the motorcycle community, as they provide an opportunity for camaraderie and competition. They allow bikers to traverse routes they may not have considered going on in the past, and also act as a great way to raise money for charity. Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world, and most people now have at least a rudimentary knowledge of how it works. Poker runs use the rules of poker to determine who has the best hand, but it always comes down to chance when deciding a winner. If you are looking for a fun day out and a new way to meet like-minded people, you could find out when the next poker run is taking place near you.
How Does a Poker Run Work?
In traditional forms of poker, players make a hand out of five cards. In Texas Hold’em, for instance, each player receives two hole cards and has to use these in conjunction with the community cards in order to make the best possible hand. In 7-card stud, each player receives seven cards and has to use five of those to make a hand. Thanks to the rise of online poker, it’s easy to find out the hand rankings which determine what beats what. For example, the best possible hand is a straight flush, with a royal flush being the highest form of that category. The lowest value hand is a pair, with a high card determining the winner if nobody has a hand.
During a poker run, participants follow a predetermined trail with checkpoints at various locations. There may be five or seven stopping points, and whenever players stop they receive a card. This is written down, and by the end of the race they will have a set of card values with which to make a hand. If the event allows participants to pick seven cards, they will only use five of those to make their hand. Poker runs are usually done with motorcycles, but they have been known to use various other forms of transport in the past. You could even do a poker run on foot.
When playing poker traditionally, players need to carefully consider their options as each new card is dealt. There are numerous rounds of betting which serve to eliminate those who are drawing dead or have weaker hands. For this reason, there is some skill involved as players have to assess what their opponents may have. In a poker run, it is slightly different. This form of the game is more comparable to video poker, in that the hands dealt are completely random. The winner of the competition is chosen by chance, but players can sometimes give themselves a better chance of winning by paying double the entry fee to get an extra hand.
What’s the Aim of a Poker Run?
Poker runs are sometimes done using speedboats.
Poker runs are like any good motorcycle event in that they give like-minded individuals a great opportunity to get together and have some fun. Meeting up with other bikers allows you to discuss different makes and models, and take some great photos. Combining the joy of biking with poker just adds another thrilling element to proceedings. While poker runs usually have a time limit, the racing aspect doesn’t help players win. It is purely down to the cards that are dealt. This means that participants don’t need to rush, and can instead take in all the scenery on their journey.
Poker runs can give you a chance to explore some territory you may not have visited before, and they often encourage people to go off the beaten track to discover new lands. Another reason for these events is to raise money for charity. Some of the biggest poker runs ever have managed to drum up significant support for major foundations. For instance, the largest event ever was in 2009, and it featured 2,136 motorcyclists who collectively raised money for the Fallen Firefighter Survivors Foundation. Another huge outing was in 2012 when 586 motorcyclists collected sponsorship donations for Prostate Cancer in Ottawa, Canada.
When’s the Next Event in the UK?
One of the most notable poker run events coming up in the UK in the near future is in September 2020 at the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum. This is an annual event organised by Ali Scott and her team, and it is set to take place on the 13th of the month. The location is New Milton in Hampshire, which is an ideal spot for an event like this. The town has gorgeous architecture and beautiful surrounding scenery, and the roads are popular with motorcyclists.
The motorcycle museum is one of the most famous attractions in New Milton, and it is among the biggest museums dedicated to the vehicles in the world. Sammy Miller is a one of the biggest icons of the sport, and has won over 1400 events in his glittering career. In addition to that, the Belfast-born motorcyclist was an 11-time British champion. The museum itself features a number of racing bikes, some of which belonged to Miller during his career. Some of the most notable models on display there include the V8 Moto Guzzi and the 1950 Bicilindrical. There are also some pretty impressive road bikes on show in the museum, including the 3-cylinder Scott and the 1000cc Grindlay Peerless V Twin sleeve valve engine machine.
Motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country flock to the Sam Miller museum when there is a big event on, and the poker run is an ideal time for people to get together. In September, the weather is perfect for this type of occasion.
Most motorcycle lovers are constantly looking for events where they can meet others. Poker runs combine two much-loved pastimes, and also help to raise money for charities and communities.