That’s why many poker tables feature soft armrests-to protect the radial tendons over long periods of gameplay. You can get carpal tunnel from habitual poker playing just as easily as from keyboarding.

Comfortable chairs play a big role, but consider the hours spent with forearms resting on the table, cradling cards away from prying eyes. Poker games can last a long time, with many reversals of fortune before someone claims the whole pot. The felt may even be illustrated like a casino table to enhance gameplay. The green felt surface looks snazzy, but it also serves a purpose-the felt adds friction, preventing cards from flopping or sliding out of place and possibly getting lost or (worse) revealed too soon. Traditional poker tables are either circular, octagonal, or oval-shaped, the perfect shape to position players where other players can’t see their cards. Players who are grown-ups, aspiring grown-ups, or even the young-at-heart - all can benefit from the sophistication and function that comes from playing on a surface designed for the playing of poker. Serious poker players, however, should look into a dedicated, purpose-built poker table to add to their home, place of business, or gaming hall.

All you need is a deck of cards, some chips, and a flat surface. You can play poker on just about any flat surface available to you-the kitchen table, the dining room table, the coffee table, the floor.

Deluxe folding poker table top