I have been playing bar poker for a long time. I find that most of the time it is more like a bingo free for all. So if you are okay with something that is played with cards and looks like poker, you will be happy. The biggest issue I have with it, is that the tournament hosts engage in dissparrent treatment, when seating players. I hope to be with a group, that tries to play poker but due to the favoritism involved, I am usually at a bingo table. There are several hosts that are related and they take care of their relatives when setting up tables. It can be very hard to get to the final table when the deck is stacked against you. It also effects the quality of the experience. Most bars pay out $50 bucks for first place with gift cards for 2nd and 3rd. There are even a couple of places that pay out $100 bucks for first place. All you have to do is buy a soda. However there a places that allow players to purchase up to 5 shots and get $500 dollars per shot in poker chips. This puts you at a serious disadvantage if you are not spending at least $15 to $30 bucks at the bar. I usually just buy a soda, it's silly to me to spend $20 bucks trying to win $50. If you are going out anyway it's no big deal but for me I have no desire to spend $400 a month playing bar poker. If you are going to go play, You should learn some key phrases...but they were suited, I got someplace, I gotta be. ATC, SFL, I was priced in. The donkey's will get you, if you don't watch out.