Alberich writes:

Explain this to me...poker matches are NEVER shown live...games are
EDITED for maximum effect to show only the "exciting" hands played. Now
games of poker can last for hours on end...yet with editing...these
games can be shortened down for managable bit sized one hour "events"
shown on cable.

Actually, a few poker tournaments are shown live, the boring hands are
just that--boring.

The reason poker is so popular is because most average players think they
can beat the pros, and if their luck is good they can. In chess, it
becomes brutally clear to fish that the top players are going to prevail
99.99% of the time. I might be able to beat Doyle Brunson in a few hours
of hold-em every now and then, I don't stand a chance against a top GM.
--
Mike Nolan