When you mention card games, the majority of people will start thinking about poker. It is a game that has become very popular. Whether you are playing poker for fun or as a professional, it is certain that you will enjoy your time. It’s a card game that has a lot of variants. Texas Holdem is one of the most popular types of poker, played in many casinos across the United States and other parts of the world.

A critical aspect of playing poker is knowing how to play the game. Many new players find it hard to learn and understand the sport. An excellent place to commence your beginner class is learning the various types of poker hands. Getting the basics can increase your skill level which will help you when taking on the best. Considering that there are different poker hands, ensure you are familiar with all of them before you start playing at tournament level.

The Dog Playing Poker Paintings
Although poker has become somewhat mainstreams today, very little is known about arts that relate to the game. Nevertheless, die-hard poker fans appreciate arts and images that particularly touch on poker. Dogs Playing Poker, painted by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, is arguably the most widely known poker artwork. Coolidge not only painted one but 18 pieces in total. The entire collection includes an 1894 Poker game painting, as well as other oil base paintings that were commissioned by Brown & Bigelow, in 1903. They were to advertising cigars, which were later followed by an additional piece in 1910. Although only 11 paintings of Coolidge have a poker theme, his entire collection is utterly stunning and hilarious that have dogs that personify humans.

In his entire collection, the painting A Friend in Need (1903) is the one that won the hearts of many. Coolidge’s paintings were not considered “art” when compared with other famous painters such as Botticelli and Da Vinci; it’s because they have a sense of humor in them. Coolidge paintings, particularly those that have dogs with smoker pipes, expressive faces, and whiskey glasses, have garnered a lot of popularity. The artworks have been featured in several popular TV shows that include The Simpsons, Parks and Recreation, and Cheers. On November 18, 2015, the Poker Game (1894) sold at a staggering $658,000 in New York.

It is unclear where Coolidge got the idea of his paintings. Nonetheless, many believed that he drew a lot of inspiration from other famous painters such as Paul Cézanne and Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio who had their art that depicted poker. However, the works of these artists had humans instead of animals. The painting A Friend in Need has a lot of similarities with Laying Down the Law (1840), which was drawn by Sir Edwin Landseer. Both Coolidge and Landseer drew paintings that have animals personifying humans; still, many people seem to like Coolidge’s painting since it is very comical.

The Narrative Paintings
Among the Dog Paying Poker collection are two pieces of art that are related. They tell a story of what was conceived in the mind of Coolidge. The Bold Bluff (1903) was the first to be painted; it depicts a Saint Bernard betting on a pair of deuces while his opponents trying to establish whether he is bluffing. The second piece of painting, Waterloo, was released later in the same year. The art shows the other dogs shocked at the Saint Bernard’s hand as he racks in his pot. The two paintings were auctioned for a staggering $590,400, which was a record sale for Coolidge back then.

Final Thoughts
In the entire collection of Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s painting, the Friend in Need is arguably the most popular piece. The depiction of the bulldog secretly passing an ace to his counterpart is very unique and evokes a sense of humor. The personification of animals playing poker has made the art very captivating besides promoting the game.