With Apologies to My Opponents

So I haven’t spent a lot of time at The Caribbean lately; in fact, I’ve been down at Diamond Lil’s playing 8/16, and at Snoqualmie playing 2/5 no-limit almost exclusively.  Tonight (actually yesterday technically; it’s now 2:30am and I just got home) I decided to play at The Caribbean.  I really enjoy playing at The Caribbean.  I know it’s small stakes and the rake is huge and the bad beats really suck, and there are a thousand reasons why someone trying to make money should find and stay at higher stakes.  But I’ve been playing at The Caribbean for a few years now – I used to count cards at The Caribbean not long after they opened, and when I started playing poker it became a natural place to play.  I know just about everybody I play with, and I like almost everyone.  The dealers are extremely friendly, and have an amazing ability to put up with drunk annoying players.  :)

When I play at Snoqualmie and at Diamond Lil’s the players don’t care who I am, generally.  They tend to be a lot more aggressive, and of course, they want my money more than they want to know who I am.  Not that I blame them – they’re trying to make money just like I am.  Still, when I play at The Caribbean it’s become more clear to me that it’s not only more fun, but more relaxing to play there.  Tonight I found myself getting caught up in the action, not caring as much about winning a big pot but finding out who had the least likely draw that they caught.  And if I was in the hand and lost to a long shot, so be it.  I know where I stand and as far as I care, I get more from relaxing and playing a less stressful game than I do from caring about winning or losing.  I walked away only $34 ahead tonight, after playing for 4.5 hours – as my friend once said, “McDonald’s pays better” – but you won’t have as much fun.  :)

Anyway, I think everyone who plays at The Caribbean, who cares to find it, has found my blog, and I’ve had some really great talks with other players because of this blog.

I think I came across to ColdPlacePoker’s comments a little harsh; I still don’t know who he is although I’ve asked and some people seem to know but aren’t saying.  :)  I had narrowed the choices down to about 4 people, and I’ve been able to eliminate each of them – the last of whom I was almost 99% certain, but based on what somebody told me tonight I was wrong.  So I’m still in the dark.

I was too defensive, especially when family started asking me about the comments – I just didn’t want them to worry, and I felt the comments might actually make them worry.  Anyway, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – if you know me from poker at The Caribbean, you probably already know I’m a pretty friendly person and open to talk about anything – even my blog.   Heck I’ll even talk about my strategy opinions – which are probably not worth a single chip, but I’d still be happy to talk.  :)

And to ColdPlacePoker, I hope someday you feel comfortable talking to me in person.  You had some good points and I don’t want to discredit you.  I think I was too defensive and I apologize for that.  Please feel free to talk to me and I will be much friendlier in person.  I love to talk about poker (which is why I write about it, and go to Vegas as often as I do).

Anyway, I hope to see you at the tables and if that happens to be at The Caribbean, I hope to be able to laugh with you over our bad beats.  :)