It was love at first sight for many women … Poker that is … Poker is an opportunity that is enjoyed for a lot of women at what seems like a perfect time for something new to come into their lives.  Recently separated women, single women, and mothers as well.  Sitting down to enjoy a poker game becomes a way to "have a break" and "go out socially" without ever leaving the house, getting dressed up, or looking for a sitter for the children. 

Women can meet all types of people of all ages and walks of life, and have something in common.  An unspoken love that unites them: poker.  Some women I know are so passionate about it, they are even wearing poker jewelry everyday, and sometimes on their wedding ring finger as if to proudly promote their marriage to poker. 

The same as in any relationship, poker is an ever-learning process and compromise in the way you do things so that you can win over your partner.  Poker too is sometimes challenging and at times evokes all the emotions you can feel when in a whirlwind romance.

Players experience that nervous yet exciting feeling as they are about to sit down at the table table for the first time.  They are filled with anticipation, nervous tension, and a thrilling feeling very much like someone would on a first date.  Yes, there are many similarities to poker and to being in a relationship.

You see there are various endorphins in our body; released when you are in love, of some called oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine.  Officially called "neurotransmitters"  they are like little transmitters to the brain that are released when we are feeling good, experiencing  happiness, passion or excitement.  But these endorphins are also extremely addictive and the more we experience the high we feel -  the more we want it, kind of like our bodies natural reward system!

Women who remember that first win at the poker table, may find it similar to the feeling of first love. That feeling of being on top of the world, of an emotional high, and wanting to shout it out to the world.  Proud of yourself, you multi-tasked to perfection, being mysterious, listening, and learning as you go to know each other better.  Dodging bad luck, or moving forward regardless of bad luck, you did good.  You overcame the obstacles and the odds and found love … the wonderful feeling of an accomplishment, the thrill of the win pushing you forward to experience that feeling again and again.

It is the endorphins that make us come back to love and poker time after time again.  Even when there has been a year of bad beats, or heart-breaks, there is that good feeling of the win or being in love that brings us back.  It could be fair to say that passionate women who have experienced being shot once by the poker cupid are now captured by a love of poker.