Poker Perambulation

We are entering the season of reflection. Badblood’s recent post really emphasizes an important aspect that we can let get away from us in turning poker into ’something more’ and losing in the process. And, while you are there, look at the post under it. It isn’t something you’ll see Iggy link. But, it does give a big reason why he’s one of the top bloggers on the planet.

As we look back over the year(s), we’ll all probably say with either justification or rationalization galore that we “grew our game.” Badblood’s ‘home game’ post points out that objective sometimes leaves us a bit poorer than better off.

In the forums, there is a repeating theme. A guy hits a heater and thinks it is all him and then flames out. He comes with his anguished tale and get a bit of sympathy along with flames about “playing over his bankroll” and all the rest from the pseudo-expert critics. There are a lot of ways to find success. By the same token, there are blogs galore that glory in their heat turned to anguish. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

The most fun I have had online was a ‘home game’ on PokerRoom. There were a bunch of us that ganged together in a group forum and would meet afternoons for a SnG or two. And the chatting was as important as the outcome. The lobby there was a place we could chat it up and those that didn’t make it into the SnG could harass those that did. Placing in the money or knocking someone out meant bragging rights for the next 24-hours — more important than the cashing. I don’t recall when I had more fun in poker. That was long enough ago that its hard to recall names. One that is here in the forums was Brian Meitiner. (I think I called him Matt the other day — an easy mistake 90% of the guys seemed to be named Matt.) A couple I can still YM!, but most are only memories. I mentioned one in a comment on CC’s blog — one of the Matt’s, BTW. But there were a hundred or so of us at the peak. And probably 25 of us making at least a lobby visit most days.

The holiday season is at hand and that gets nasty for some folks. Doctors will prescribe more mood altering drugs to help many cope with the season. And it is one that sees an increase in suicides. It is a good time for all of us to reflect and maybe return to our roots a bit. Look back and find the fun in your life and in poker. Seek out that fun that may be eluding you this season as “you grew your game” beyond that.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

Last verse:

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gies a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right gude-willie-waught,
for auld lang syne.

Which translates – with some extra poker meaning — to:

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give us a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right cordial drink,
for old time’s sake.

Addendum:

Google created a thing called “the sandbox” and what it does is prevent a ‘new site’ from getting a good page listing on a search by excluding new sites. It is supposedly done to limit the spamblog sites from sneaking in. Unfortunately, it also penalizes legitimate ‘new sites’ like Iggy. If you go there and enter blog: poker, you will see guinessandpoker in second position. It will be months before IggyAtPokerworks shows up because of “the sandbox.” There is supposed to be a way to speed the process and that is with new links to the spot. So, if you want to give Iggy (just like this link) a little Christmas gift, link frequently to him to create active, new links. It will help him (and the rest of us here) out.

I’ve mentioned fuel55 in the past. It is one of the few poker blogs that can do hand histories with success. The most recent one is his B&M replay of his first day in the BCPC. The guy must keep notes that are unbelievable or have total recall. It is as darn near long as Gibson’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire or an Ubber.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 27th, 2006 at 5:21 am and is filed under Journal, Poker Philosophy. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.