The Dragon in the Bag

It’s an open secret that only a select number of highly skilled and simultaneously sun-running players will make anything of a life playing live poker tournaments. It is all the more perilous for United States citizens, where income tax nullifies the advantage of real opportunities and a legitimate touring sequence. However, tournaments aren’t necessarily about…

The Dumb Money

The dumb money follows an idea out of the overwhelming desire for it to be true.  Last night, that was me. It was brutal. Worse, it felt inevitable, outside my control. After months of winning, I had returned to Vegas overconfident and unprepared, ready only to give it away. They bluff me out and then…

Higher Love

The play is for the higher ground. I four-bet AQ massive. Too big. It’s deliberate. Still a mistake, just not the one you think it is: I should have moved all-in. I’m not grousing. I’m surprised myself at how this is right, and how right it is. It’s new to me all over again, this…

die frauenfrage persuadeo.nl

Die Frauenfrage

One of the great confusions that returns again and again to poker unresolved is the “woman question,” as in how to add more to the player pool and to retain them. Much like the “Jewish question,” “homeless question” or any of the other rather clammy propositions you’d really be better off avoiding at the poker…

Mon Ami Kenney

Mon Ami Gabi is a replica restaurant in a replica locale, the vendue de fer straddled Las Vegas mid-tier casino resort Paris. Mon Ami is owned by the holding group Lettuce Entertain You, itself a player in the corporate kitchen scene; you know, restaurants that can have billboards. Lettuce brings in annual revenues north of…

the widening gyro

The Widening Gyro

It wasn’t always like this, I used to eat well. I was vital, even as I aged, but didn’t know why. Still, as things fell apart, my standards slipped. I became pudgy, then unhealthy, and finally, fat. Not high on success fat, either: fast food fat, poison fat. A purge is necessary, a clean-up. This…

persuadeo.nl

An Immodest Proposal

It’s an auspicious moment to restart the blog. Quietly, though, under cover of scandals in our “field” (Lord help me if I say “community”). For one, nobody really writes about poker anymore. The great blogs are dead. Short Stacked Shamus hasn’t penned a non-promo in years. My friend Fernando likes to keep his so obscure…