Im originally from san diego... just moved to spain for a couple months now am going to izmir for the summer( my bff lives there) he doesnt know shiet about poker or anything like that so he wouldnt be of any help... Would u guys be able to tell me wtf to expect there? are there casinos? the games they spread? style ? buy ins? etc? id really appreciate it.... and if any of u guys come to izmir ur welcome to stop by my bff and i got a sick place on the beach

hey im going to same place at the end on the month, and jus wondered did u find any were to play poker? and if so what was it like? level of play n stuff. thanks

They shut all the casinos in turkey a few years ago and as far as I know they have not reopened . Private games undoubtably exist from what I remember they are not for the faint hearted.

Will probably have to go to the US Air Base to get a game. Go civilian and risk the local Cleric cutting your hand off........... (Cultural Bias Filtered)

Jalmavi & ROSGN. Why would you answer questions when you guys know nothing about Izmir or Turkey in general?

Jalmavi, please enlighten us. What do you remember about private games that is not for the "faint hearted". Seriously, you are being ridiculous. I'm 100% sure, you have never gambled in Turkey. Actually, I think you haven't even been to Turkey. I bet you two watched Midnight Express and have your opinions about a place that you know nothing about. We have turkeys running around all over the country and we travel by camels as far as you guys are concerned. Almost 20 million tourists don't come to a place for their vacations every year if it's dangerous like you guys are describing.

Gambling is in the heart of most guys in Turkey. They do it all the time. They have coffee and tea houses where most older and young unemployed guys go and gamble on a daily basis on games like Backgammon, Okey and horse racing.

As to OP's question. Texas Holdem is not as popular there as it is here. However, I am sure if you ask around, you could find a game. I'm not sure it will be in the stakes that you would like to play but I bet you could find a game to play.

Also, I would never go to an "underground" illegal casino and play poker (not even sure if they offer poker in those casinos) because 1. police may arrest you 2. probably they would take like 50% rake

On behalf of California, I apologize to Turkey. We are not all this dumb.

Stop being dumb.

Apologize to Turkey? lol, you sound like our President. I admit my post was a huge fail at attempted humor. But an international apology, you saved my bad joke........

I did spend time at Incirlik AFB (Izmir) and Adana AFB back in the late 80's. During that time, I would never venture out for a home game with people I didnt know very well. It was too much of a risk.

I understand there has been a Muslim Resurgence since then, making it even more of a risk now for the average American. I'm sure you can point to some other Wikapedia link to prove otherwise, but my point that was missed due to my humor fail was find a way to play poker on base or on line. When you venture out, go to Kushadasi or Ephisus and experience the culture and historic sites in the area.

This is like a quadfecta of stupidity.

- Overt political bias / gratuitous political commentary
- Claim of prior stupidity as just a joke
- Labeling Turkey as any sort of risk for Americans (except perhaps in the east)
- Basing 2010 poker advice on your personal experience 20 years ago

Turkey's been a secular republic for 80 years, and had legalized gambling for a good chunk of that. I mean, you do realize that if the OP does go to home games he's going to have a "bff" there with him, right?

I'm glad that you at least feel ashamed enough to try and namedrop some of the cultural sites in the area, but maybe you should try and go back as a tourist one of these days to get a perspective on Turkey which doesn't involve you being stationed there. Americans get around just fine in at least the western half of Turkey, and Turkey's one of the most pro-American states in the Middle East. Didn't it ever strike you odd that a Turkey which you describe as some hand-cutting, cleric-dominated culture allowed an American military base on their soil?

And incidentally, online poker is illegal in Turkey, one of the real (as opposed to imagined) effects of the "Muslim Resurgence."

ROSGN,

Please, don't make judgments about a country you know nothing about. Ignorance is one of the most dangerous things in this world.

I have met so many people in the USA, that whenever I tell them that I am from Turkey, they all tell me what a great time they had over there and how they would love to go back and spend more time if they had the time and the money. They tell me how they love the food, the culture and the FRIENDLINESS of the people. I am going to assume that they have no reason to lie to me.

If you have the money and the time, why don't you take a trip to Turkey? I assure you that you will have a great time. Also, put on your USA jersey, the only comments you'll hear will be about how good you guys did in the world cup. If anyone has any judgments against the USA, it will be about the government's politics, not about individuals.

A final note... There are so many Christian architecture in Turkey that you maybe surprised. From the sound of your posts, I understand that you know nothing about them. Do a little bit research on that.