Popular Culture Review Vol. 18, No. 1, Winter 2007 | Page 112

108 Popular Culture Review Bad Beat II: Busted with Four Aces And so in our final sentences we answer the question: why are Coolidge’s ‘‘dogs” so dog-gone popular today? Maybe it is because dogs playing poker (or baseball, or going to court) are just plain funny. Poker is considered by many gambling experts to be an analytical game of strategy. So the idea of dogs playing this type of brainy game is viewed as ridiculous or silly. Finally, the appeal of Coolidge’s work comes from nostalgia. For a generation of Americans growing up in the 1970s, “dogs playing poker” has become an icon of leisure. What family rec room would be complete without the image of dogs playing poker? Certainly not mine. University of Nevada, Las Vegas William Thompson Works Cited Alvarez, A. Poker: Bets, Bluff, and Bad Beats. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. 2001. Alvarez presents a wide range of information about the origins of poker, the psychology of play, leading players, as well as his experience playing in the World Series of Poker. Brunson, Doyle. Doyle Brunson's Super System: A Course in Power Poker. New York: Cardoza Publishing. 1979. World Series of Poker champion, “Texas Dolly” Bmnson shares his vast knowledge, including histories of tournament games, and his “secrets” for winning at no limit Texas hold’em. Caro, Mike. Caro's Book o f Tells. New York: Cardoza Publishing. 2003. Champion player Mike Caro describes one of poker’s most interesting facet, “the bluff”