Had a bash last Easter with an instruction book and some cardboard chips; it seemed surprisingly easy after a while which makes me think we'd got it wrong, or I just didn't get it. Probably because I am not a gambler by nature - I am a classic anal retentive - I put my chips in a pile and wouldn't spend them.
I can play newmarket with pennies, I am comfortable gambling with 20 pennies. - Or even buttons. But not smarties.
It is easy, but it's the old 'minute to learn, lifetime to master' chestnut. Last year Stu was playing in his first ever games and ended up in the money a few times and winning one!