Looking for more ideas for your next date night in? Why not try your hand at poker? It’s a classic game, and chances are that both you and your date already know how to play. If not, it’s pretty easy to pick up, too!
Here are some other reasons why poker is a great date night idea:
It’s competitive
Research has shown that healthy competition can be great for couples, and playing games against your partner is a great way to inject some passion into your relationship. Poker is a great choice, as it has the potential to be among the most competitive mental games out there – specifically because no two games will ever be exactly the same. There is variance built into poker, and although the more skilled player will always have better odds at winning, there’s always a chance of an upset. This keeps both players on their toes, and as you play more games, you’ll learn to read each other better, making games more interesting.
Just make sure to play for fun, and don’t get too serious about it! As with everything else, moderation is the key here. Don’t get overly competitive, and keep things light – nobody likes a sore loser!
It’s convenient
How many times have you planned a date night, but ended up just watching a movie on the couch because you couldn’t be bothered to set things up? In this day and age, we don’t always have the time, energy, or budget to expend on complicated board games that take an hour just to set up – especially if you’re busy and just trying to squeeze some quality time into your workdays.
With poker, all you’ll really need is a deck of cards and some chips (or even stand-ins for chips). Even better: you can play poker with friends online via Zoom, so you can turn your poker night into a group date activity. Poker is inexpensive, easy to set up, easy to play, and easy to clean up – what more could you want in a date night activity?
It’s customizable
Some date night ideas are like one-hit wonders: try them once, then never again. Poker is a great choice because it offers some great customizability. Not only are there several different variants of the game, from the popular Texas Hold’em and Oklahoma, to lesser-known Follow the Queen and High/Low Chicago.
Depending on the type of game you decide to play, poker sessions can last anywhere between 20 minutes and 2 hours – and even longer if you decide to invite friends. It’s a great go-to activity, and the more games you play, the better you’ll get. These will make your games more interesting, and you can then begin to explore other variants.
Poker can also easily be adapted if you’re looking for something that could lead to the bedroom. It’s an incredibly versatile game – and whether you’re the type of couple that wants to find something that you can really spend hours on or the type who just wants to sit down and play a casual game after dinner, it’s an excellent choice for date nights.
