W Midlands Poker Club Boosted By Online Interest

Black Country pub happy to let local poker club use its premises.

The growing popularity of online poker is helping a pub in the West Midlands to attract more customers.

Although it was only set up four months ago, the Black Country Poker Club is already drawing scores of amateur card sharps to the New Talbot in West Bromwich, the Express and Star reports.

The monthly league was set up by local poker fan Brian Yates and other players he had met on the amateur circuit.

Mr Yates, who only took up the game on the internet in 2005, believes that playing competitively is already helping him to sharpen his skills.

He told the newspaper: "I wouldn’t consider myself a brilliant player but I do OK.



"I'd always fancied playing and I read a few books. But the more you play, especially against better players, the better you get."

The New Talbot is able to host the poker club's events because its members bet with chips and are competing for league positions rather than cash.

Dave Woods, editor-in-chief of Poker Player Magazine, recently said that online poker is helping the UK's live tournament scene to thrive.