Check out this New York Times book review:

There’s some really interesting information on how a whole lot of the US presidents, past and present, really enjoyed poker. It also implies that a lot of famous political manouvres where influenced by the game of poker.  Who said it was just a game?!

Barack Obama features prominently in the article. Apparently he usually leaves his weekly poker games a winner (no surprises there), and has used his poker skills to ‘break the ice with people he needed to work with in the legislature’.

Another intersting point the article makes is that poker is symbolic of the american dream and democracy, stating that ‘ the dreamlike and in a way democratic fact that an intelligent, persistent and lucky amateur can rise and thrive among the professionals.’

So there it is: next time you get home at 3am after a lengthy  poker session, reeking of cigars and whiskey, say that you’re following the example of a long line of US presidents.