I have not updated this blog since I left Chile. I have been super busy with the re-opening of Garwoods after it's month long renovation. Between a couple of great trips to Fenway Park and Garwoods being so busy I just haven't had that much time.
I also haven't been very motivated to post a blog due to Black Friday. I guess I knew it was coming eventually but I didn't think it would be so abruptly.
Even though I understand it has very little to do with the players and everything to do with money between the off-shore poker sites and the greedy US Government, I still can't help but feeling like I am being robbed of my rights. A piece of me died on (oh, how ironic) Tax Day, April 15th, 2011.
I really am so sick of living in a country where the government is constantly finding new ways to squeeze our rights and continually makes poor decisions. If I could move to a place like Chile I would do it tomorrow but it is not that easy. There are many factors stopping me from doing this.
These feelings are not just motivated by the recent hindrance of online poker in this country, I have harbored these feelings about this country since my first trip to Chile seven years ago. Seeing another culture mixed with observing how mine is run is just a huge eye opener. I understand that I am in a much better situation than most of the people in this crazy world that we live in and I do truly appreciate that but I really despise the people who run this country and the decisions that they make.
Where does this leave recreational players like myself???
I am certain that the powers that be have a master plan to make online poker available to players in the United States. My true feelings are that the US already has software ready to go and when they are done bluffing the off-shore sites and realize that PokerStars, Full Tilt and UB are not going to fold to their bluff of the billions of dollars they want in "back pay" and tell the US Gov to "Go FUCK themselves, we don't need your business any longer" that is when they will roll it out immediately with a good size rake and tax system that will benefit the US Gov greatly.
In the meantime, I guess I go back to where it all started 7-ish years ago.....playing live poker. I have played 4 live tourneys over the past 2 weeks. I cashed in 2/4 and won the biggest one I played (154 players).
What have I learned about going back to the live poker?
I have a lot more edges live than I do online. My aggression is a lot more effective live. Live players make so many crucial stack size mistakes it's laughable. Once and a great while there is a decent looking female dealer. Those were the positives.
Onto the Negatives....
Money spent on gas/food/tipping/time spent traveling/lodging (gets very expensive if I do make the trek to the big houses in CT)...... LIVE PLAY IS SOOOOO FUCKING SLOW!!!!! I mean really, pay attention! Not only the players, half the dealers are super slow/make so many mistakes. I can't stand listening to live players try to talk about poker and sports, it really is tilting for me. I find myself turning my ipod up louder and louder as the session goes on. I wouldn't hang out with 85% of the scumbags that go into these cards rooms in a normal setting. Don't get me wrong here, I have met some really nice/interesting people in live card rooms, but most of them are testosterone spewing monkeys that are either borderline criminals or hate their lives and want to try to berate people while blowing money they are not suppose to be spending. The biggest negative of all; I get to put up $50-$250 for a buying in NH (bigger buying in CT) and play in ONE tournament with less than 200 runners for a small 4 figure score. At home I can put up the same amount of dough and play 15-20 tournaments while playing for 5 figure scores, without spending a dime on gas and whatever little I spend on food in my house.
hmmmmmmmm. What would you rather do?
I really feel bad for the people who made a living out of this game. I can only imagine what they are going through based on what my feelings are in regard's to this game just being a hobby for me.
So a big thank you to the US DOJ for taking my biggest hobby out of my home. Please RAIPI&DIAGF....
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