Video games

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POKER 2

♦♦♦ PS2, PSP, XBOX, PC
Out now £29.99
www.amazon.co.uk

WORLD POKER TOUR

♦♦ PS2, PSP, XBOX
Out now £29.99 (PSP) £19.99 (PS2, XBOX)
www.amazon.co.uk

Two video game offerings , with the official WPT game up against the industry stalwart back in sequel form and backed by – among others – Howard Lederer. Both are more of a giggle than anything else, with semi-decent but often erratic artificial intelligence providing a decent diversion to doing the washing-up.

Put the two heads-up and World Championship Poker 2 takes the title (narrowly), looking and playing better than its opponent, but without Shana Hiatt.

If you’re thinking they’re both fairly redundant seeing as you’ve got chips, cards and an internet connection, don’t write them off completely – they’re useful for teaching the kids how to play the great game without risking arrest and both are available on the PSP, which is a good reason to buy one if you’re travelling alone for any length of time.

As a bonus, bump into someone else playing nearby and you can hook up for a network game (and agree to play for cash). Otherwise you should use your money to buy a set of travel chips (review coming soon) and play poker the way it was intended.