Luckily Skillful

Luck is not an element of poker. It is an integral part of the game. Saying luck is an element of poker is akin to saying passing is an element of pro football (no, not soccer). Almost as much as when athletes thank "the Lord" for their performance, I am disturbed that no winning poker player these days admits to luck playing a part. I prefer the term chance myself, but, nonetheless it plays a significant role in the game. It seems the preferred terms are age, experience, a good read, etc. Rarely will the winning poker player own up to hitting the two-outer that propels him to the chip lead and eventually the win as anything but timeliness, or position, or being priced-in, pot-committed, as an explanation. It is not that those explanations are not valid, they most certainly are, but how tough is it to admit that luck was involved?
What also irks me is that I think I know the reason why they do it. With the growth of the poker industry, and so much money and exposure at stake, it seems an unspoken rule not to use the word "luck" or any variant thereof. It would not promote the game and it would somehow damage the image if the general public were exposed to seasoned pros admitting that luck regularly played a significant role in their games. For me, personally, it would certainly not alter my outlook on the game if occassionally the term were mentioned. Everyday low-limit grinders, such as myself, see it play out online all the time. It does not diminish the skills that the pros clearly possess, as well as the guts, I might add. It just feels like Clinton telling us he didn't have sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky all over again. Ah well, that's poker. Everyone, at least, seems comfortable with saying that.

bntwn

Slow playing the kinda nuts...

Just a quick post on a recent smack in the face...
I am dealt AK hearts in the big blind and am playing 6-handed at .10/.25 with just under a full buy-in of $25...UTG smooth calls and the small blind makes it $2. I call and UTG comes along for the ride. The flop comes 5-7-8 all hearts. Check, check, and initial caller puts out a bet of about half the pot. SB makes a min raise, I call, and lead goes away. Turn comes 5 pairing the board. Check. I put SB on a big pair and figure he's not going away and I shove...he calls and turns over KK. The river comes, naturally, case K. I drop a few f bombs to no one in particular.

bntwn

Introduction

My name is Joe and this is my blog. I recently, along with numerous others, caught the poker bug and play as "bntwn" at FullTilt.com. I have accounts with a few other sites as well, but for the purposes of this blog will solely focus on play on FT.
I am a 20yr+ service industry employee and currently grind away at that as well as poker, but would love to make poker my main interest. This story is not new and mine is certainly not unique and that is, in a sense, the purpose of this blog. I wanted an opportunity and a forum for average joes (like myself) to discuss poker.
I play relatively low limits i.e. .10/.25 tables either 6 or 9-handed. I have, when things are going my way, gone up to 1/2 and 2/4, but that is probably not the norm. I do regularly play in online tourneys as well. I stick to NoLimit HoldEm, and on occassion will mix in some Limit, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, but, again not the norm. The long and the short is that probably most of the discussion in this blog will center around NoLimit HoldEm.
This is also my first crack at blogging. If things seem a little low-rent to begin with I apologize, and certainly welcome any advice and or comments to improve and impress.
I should also mention that I am giant (higher than average) Boston sports fan and may, on occassion, digress with some sport related comments that will probably have an eastern bias. I hope this won't deter anyone from participating. Sports is often my haven when poker becomes "challenging".

Virtually Yours,
Joe