Amateur poker players tend to view the professionals as a group of strict men and women that take the game seriously. However, the truth is that most professional poker players have a goofy side to them. They understand poker in and out, which means they know that sometimes luck is not on their side. It is much better to take those situations as they come and meet them with a good laugh. Many have said throughout the years that laughter is the best medicine. While that may not be quite true, it is accurate to say that a well-timed joke can take anyone out of the deepest funk.
What could possibly be a better joke form than the humble pun? Masterfully crafted by all comedians from two-bit stand up artists to the Great Bard Shakespeare himself, the pun has served to entertain people for centuries. Poker players have a particularly high-developed sense for pun crafting. We’ve assembled some of funniest and some of the most cringe-inducing below. They are sure to make friends or even opponents fold from laughter.
Classic Poker Puns that Will Put a Smile On Your Friends’ Faces
The poker night is making a bit of a comeback. Once more we are seeing friends and family gather at a neighbor’s house and play the game we all love all across the United States. Poker nights may be friendly at their core, but they can often get a bit too serious. Particularly if two of the players have a competitive edge to them. When a poker night starts going grim it is best to lighten the mood with a little comedy. Let us share some classic poker puns that are sure to put a smile of some sort on your friends’ faces.
“I’m all-in on having a good time.”
Jokes are about recognition and subverting expectations. All In is a well-known poker term. The joke works best if the player saying it actually does go all-in. However, it can also work if the player is making hints that they are about to go all in, only to say the joke instead, and frustrate the rest of the table in a playful manner.
“Folding isn’t in my cards tonight”
Giving up is not in the cards for many poker players. The pun in question is a fun and playful way to convey the message. It works just as good when the player is not actually in the game; but doing a mundane task.
Playful Puns that Suit Every Hand
A poker pun does not need to be thoroughly thought-out or incredibly deep. All it takes for one of the players at the table to say something silly. The poker table can get quite tense, whether you are playing online or offline. The growing popularity of free online poker tournaments with cash prizes means that a lot of new players are going in it to win it. One might want to drop some of the puns below in order to avoid a brooding table mood.
“Keep calm and shuffle on.”
The pun calls to mind the British World War II posters that served to calm the island nation’s population during the horrific air raids. A poker player might use this pun in just such a way. Once they notice that one of the players is having a rough time and might be getting frustrated, they could drop this doozy on them. The sheer silliness of the joke is bound to put a smile on their face.
“You can’t beat a royal flush, unless your —- outta luck.”
We have here a particularly crude pun, but the poker table is no place for those who can’t handle. The pun relies on the double meaning of the word “flush.” It refers to the poker term of course, but also references flushing the toilet once the deed is done. While the joke may be crude, it is bound to provoke a laugh from most players at the table.
Poker Puns for Every Day Life
Poker puns are not just fun at the table. They can entertain players both in and out of the game. A friend at the club who seems interested in a girl might need encouragement. At that point, you might say tell them the joke below.
“Ace your poker face, and you might just win hearts.”
It may not be the greatest wingman line. But, it does capture the essence of poker and dating. Approaching a situation with confidence is the best way to get a number. We can’t say the advice will always be effective, but it will rarely not bring a smile to someone’s face.
An excellent pun could be implemented in any situation. Whether you are playing your best hand at the table or enjoying some fine grilled burgers during a 4th of July get-together, this joke is sure to resonate with many of the people around you.
“Life is too short to fold when you can go all-in.”
Of course, this joke may fall flat if the people you are with are exceptional players in their own right. Any poker player will tell you that this is bad advice. But, a joke is a joke. There doesn’t need to be a life lesson here. All you really need to do is make someone laugh.