POKER AND YOUR BUDDIES

How many of you out there are into poker? Have you been playing regularly for more than 3 years? Or did you get bitten by the bug when Chris Moneymaker became famous for winning the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event? A large percentage of people have obviously been bitten by the poker bug since it became popular on TV. I've been playing fairly regularly for about 8 years, but became serious about my game when the boom hit. I have played alot of tournaments over the last 3 years, at low-level buy-ins of anywhere from $20 up to $100. Friendly, yet competitive tourneys, always wanting to play for more, but never really willing to part with $1000 to get invloved with a serious tournament.

The best I ever finished in a large tourney (larger than I'm used to) was 2nd place in a 76-person tourney. Believe me, after outlasting that many people, I was on cloud 9. The 2nd place finish was good, around $1600. Most times I play in 24-40-person tournaments which are played in someone's home. They are usually VERY competitive, with around 90% of the players being very experienced. The other 10% are usually fish or donkeys (if you play you know what that means).

TODAY'S HOME POKER GAMES
If you came to the game of poker over the last couple of years, and you've become involved with home games, especially if you're younger, the game you're playing at your friend's homes is most likely No-Limit Texas Hold-'Em. And you're all probably throwing in $20 per player and playing 2 or 3 quickie tournaments per night. Teens, college students, young marrieds, and even guys between the ages of 30 and 50 are sitting down and playing Hold-Em tourneys every weekend while socializing with the guys (or girls).

Why is the tourney the main game being played nowdays? Simple. You can sit down and play cards for 3-5 hours and not lose that much money. It's relaxed, it's fun. The camaraderie, the food and drinks, the laughs. No one's taking it too serious. I mean how much fun is it when a guy goes All-In with 3-4 unsuited, because he's bored, gets called by a guy with Jacks in the hole and the table watches a 2-5 and Ace come up on the board making a straight sweet enough to put up the butt of the guy with Jacks without lubrication. I suppose that's kind of crude. And truly, it gets me a little steamed when people play stupidly and sloppy and beat me. But with these home tourneys, when you've got 5-10 guys sitting around, it makes for stories that you'll remember for a long time.

Stories? Who needs that shit? Well, if you've got stories to recount from times when you were with your buds, it ensures that good times will always be remembered. That's the real purpose of these games. To hang out and share some life with your friends. So, for the casual player who goes to friends houses to hang out once a week or every couple of weeks, it's relaxation.

IS THAT ALL THERE IS THESE DAYS?
Well, of course not. There's larger weekly tournaments at the local Knights of Columbus. There's trips to the closest casino or card room to try your hand against 150 other players in weekly tournaments. There are alot of different options. But let's not forget one very important thing...

It ain't all about tournament poker. How many have forgotten the game called 7-card Stud? Do we remember how fun it is to watch the pot grow when someone calls Jacks or Better/ Trips to Win? Is there a problem with playing Limit Texas Hold-Em? I mean it's a lot different game from the No Limit game played in tourneys. And really, it's every bit as challenging, depending on what level you're playing at.

Do we want camaraderie or do we want serious competition in order to beat our friends brains in, hoping to be the guy who walks out of your buddy's house $300 richer? I've got to admit that I can honestly answer YES to both questions.

HOW CAN YOU BE ON THE FENCE ABOUT THIS?
Very easy. I was always a cash game low limit Dealer's Choice player before the craze hit. When I first learned about the ins and outs of Texas Hold-Em, it was the Limit version that I was taught. As time went, I started playing tournament-style No Limit Hold-Em. Then, one day I was reading a poker magazine or book, and the author was speaking with poker superstar Phil Ivey. Phil said the most important thing about playing poker that I think I've ever heard. He said, "Don't spend all of your poker playing time playing just one game. It's the better player, the winning player that becomes well versed in as many styles of poker as possible." Now when he talks about as many styles as possible he means, I believe, No Limit Hold-Em, Limit Hold-Em, 7-Card Stud, Omaha regular and Hi/lo, 5-card draw, 5-card stud, and the like. Even, maybe, a silly game like 7-card No Peek.

I don't believe, however, he was talking about Queer games. Excusing my lack of P.C.-ness, a queer game is one that uses wild cards ( I freakin' HATE wild cards). Or games where you have to pay to see cards turned up on the table and you aren't allowed to raise till the last card is turned over. That's not poker to me. That's Scratch-Off Lottery. I might as well go and buy a scratch off ticket. It's about as much fun and as challenging. I mean, at least make your friends do some thinking before they throw their money in.

Last night was small home tourney night with 3 friends. I came in 2nd the first tourney, 1st in the 2nd tourney (both times I played some really great cards), and then busted out early in the last 2 tourneys because I got sloppy, making calls when I knew I was beaten. I had a great time either way, and was unconcerned about the money. I was there to relax and have a few laughs with my friends.

You'll never believe what the main topic of conversation was during the evening. Why, none other than the illustrious Len Is Right blog. They wanted to know what future topics would be discussed. They wanted to chime in with comments about certain blogs they disagreed with. And they wanted to just bust my balls about Len being Right. Now, we all know that Len Is Right, don't we? If you didn't know that, then you wouldn't be here reading this, would you?

A NEW MANTRA
I've got a new one to celebrate all of you reading my blog. Since you are reading Len Is Right, YOU MUST BR RIGHT, right? So let's give ourselves a little credit for once. Let's acknowledge the fact that not only is Len Right, but so are the rest of you, my faithful readers. In light of that theorem, we must start a new mantra...a new chant, which should now be lifted, loudly, to the heavens for all to hear. "I, (state your name), Am Right!!"

Say this 5 times loudly every day and the world will start to feel right again. This exercise can only help to boost our self-esteem. Try it. Remember, 5 times very loudly................
I,(state your name), AM RIGHT!!"

Remember, by saying this, not only will you be right, but you will prove forevermore that.......
LEN IS RIGHT.

Peace, my Brothers and Sisters.
I am,
Len Tollerton

p.s. To the Edge of Darkness, the Dot Com Destroyer, and the G. B. King, thanks for the game fellas, I had a ball.