WSOP anti-climax?

Monday, July 14, 2008

Mid July used to be exciting for poker fans. It was when the biggest prize in poker was decided - the World Series of Poker Main event.

Now it's a anti-climax...

I briefly got excited when catching up with the main event chip counts, until I realised we wouldn't get a winner until the made-for-TV final table is played in an ESPN studio in November.

And between now and then we'll have to endure endless pimping of the nine players that make it.

It was kind of sad. No more co-workers huddling around a often refreshed page of chipcounts this July, or trying to project the final table stream on a projector so everybody can watch while they work.

At first I thought it was a good idea, that was worth a try. But now I really wonder if this attempt to re-invigorate poker on TV will work. It's beginning to feel like people will become less interested in the event every July and then not really care about the final table when it rolls around a few months later.

People like poker, there's no doubt about that. But in my experience, it's something that the general population will like when they have nothing better to do at the time. I can't really see it becoming a must watch TV event. I don't see WSOP final table parties taking place like it's a big football, soccer or basketball game.

Maybe I'm wrong - perhaps it will turn into a bigger event than I foresee. One thing is for certain though, and that is that the TV execs will have their fingers crossed that the only female remaining - Tiffany Michelle (pictured) - makes the final table. Their ratings will be looking a lot rosier if they have a pretty young girl to advertise!


Posted at 7:08 PM Permalink | 0 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


No more poker love?

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

I've got a confession to make.... I was sick of poker.

I hadn't been playing much, and when I did play I was just throwing money away. Chasing pots, making stupid bluffs - I had gone back to being a little fish in a big pond.

It kind of snuck up on me. I'd loved poker for so many years, I couldn't imagine not liking or playing anymore.

It wasn't just online poker either, but with everything to do with the game. I wasn't reading my poker magazines -they still arrived every month, but sat in a pile, their envelopes unopened. I flicked through the cable TV guide, skipping over the poker show listings I once salivated over.

I ignored the emails and text messages from my regular live games. My own table was folded up in the garage gathering dust.

Was it because nothing was new and exciting in poker any more? Had I just gotten bored with it? Why didn't I love poker anymore!

The day I noticed I had been neglecting poker, I had a good think about how it happened. I came to the realization that it was because poker had become a chore rather than a joy. It was going to take some work for me to get any better and I think that had dulled my passion.

I was good enough to beat some games, but had never devoted enough time to my game to become a really good player. I hadn't put any hard work in, not enough to reach that next level.

And I hadn't really expanded my repertoire past Hold'em. Sure I 'know' how to play most poker games. As in I know the rules.... But I wouldn't even think about entering a big Omaha, Razz or Seven Card Stud tournament! The only big buy-in tournaments I had ever played were all Hold'em.

So I made myself a promise. I wouldn't let my love affair with poker die without a fight.

I dusted off the table and invited some friends over for a game - of H.O.R.S.E! Most of them didn't even know how to play some of the games, but it was the most fun we'd had around a poker table in years! We even invented our own game variation - D.H.O.B.S - Draw, Hold'em, Omaha, Badugi & Stud.

So now we have a regular DHOBS game, and I love poker again!

I started playing more Omaha & Stud online in the micro-limits. It was so much fun to go back and play for cents instead of dollars! I realized that the best thing about poker isn't winning money - it's more about making friends, having fun and trying new things. And I'd missed it...

So over the next few months you might see some changes on Poker.com. We're going to start adding a lot more info about games other than Hold'em and start hosting our own tournaments featuring other games. We're going to try and get everyone else enjoying more than just Hold'em. It may be the Cadillac of poker, but everyone knows it's sometimes fun to drive an old Mustang too.

Your in poker,

Ed


Posted at 10:02 PM Permalink | 1 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum

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