Why is poker cool but chess is not?

What poker has that chess lacks?

Chess is cool... /thread

Poker has money. Lots of it.

Because it was advertised in a lot of movies. Chess not so much.

Part of it is that chess is a complete information game while poker isn't. That introduces a lot more variance to short term performance, and that risk seems to get a lot of people interested.

Poker can generate a lot of tension even for viewers that only know the basics, chess is mostly incapable of doing that.

Poker is accessable because anyone can get lucky and win at poker ;).

...any dope can get lucky and win some $....

True.

This.

Poker doesn't require hours and hours of research and playing to understand but chess does.  I'm not saying that poker requires less skill than chess, but the fundamentals are easier to grasp.

Because poker has a suggestive name (say it out loud, and think about what 2 words put together have the same pronunciation), while chess does not.

Chess is only not cool in the US.  It's cool many European countries, and now it's mainstream in India riding the waves of the WCC in CHennai.  So the question is why is chess not cool in the US?  

The reason is I think most American youth appreciate stupidty and not true skill.  Just look at all the idiots that think the cast of Jersey Shore is cool.  I mean, Snooki is about as talented as my dog, but she is still far more popular than Magnus Carlsen in America. 

well i can say something for chess ... i haven't lost all my clothes playing it ... yet ...

What you said might be true for adults, but I'm telling you, many of my teenage friends look up to Ronnie and M.V.P.  They went out and got tans and tried to hit the gym hoping to get that "Mike the situation" six-pack.  Many jersey shore cast members have been endorsing products and shot commericals.  Snooki even got his own show with JWow following Jersey Shore.  Carlsen doesn't have any American sponsorships and doesn't rep any businesses here in the US.

What is "cool" about poker?   The idea that you can do everything correctly and still lose?  How exactly is this "cool"?  And there are so many hands that you shouldnt play and you just sit there and wait?  I would rather watch paint dry.  Best way to win at poker?  Dont play.

Well,

Let da' game begin sweety!

Poker is more TV friendly than chess.  If we can get chess on TV, it would become more popular for sure.

Neither are cool.

Who said nobody watched it?  A lot of people watched Fischer-Spassky and Kasparov-Deep Blue. 

Chess on TV needs to be covered in a way that makes it more interesting.  Perhaps a reality show like Survivor involving chess players playing chess in an elimination format.  Kind of like "The Ultimate Fighter" except for chess.

Media coverage = champions getting more recognition = more money in the sport = more people want to take up the sport.  Plus, positive chess coverage will educate the public about chess.  Most of the public have a misconception of what kind of people chess players are or don't understand the game.

Poker and Chess are highly competitive, in that regard, they have much in common. It's a zero sum game, there is only one winner for Chess or Poker, if you don't count 2nd payout in poker as winning. Both Chess and Poker rely on understanding the psychology of your opponent(s).

Yes, the luck factor in Poker is high, while the luck factor in Chess is virtually zero. Poker, especially Texas Hold'em No Limit is a game of skill, although luck can and does affect the outcome of the game, the more skillful player is going to win more than not, i.e. be a profitable player.

Maths, specifically probabilities play a big role in both Chess and Poker. Poker may not have the intellectual prestige of Chess, but it is still a game of great wits. Psychology factors in, a player must be able to predict or at least contemplate the actions of 9 or 10 other players at the table, risk vs reward is a prominent motivator. Essentially, Game Theory.

The games are two different animals, but niether is superior. Chess has an advantage in pedigree, it is older and considered timeless. The possible number of move combinations are endless. Poker is newer and considered the working man's game. But both are games worth playing as they both workout the brain in different ways. I play both, I am much better at Poker than I am at Chess. But I have been playing Poker a lot longer. Both games have their place. I find both engage the intellect and keep the mind sharp. And keeping the mind sharp and forever learning are things almost all Chess players desire. Think of both games as working out different areas of the brain. They are wonderful tools that also happen to be fun.