An astounding mathematical fact: when you shuffle a deck of cards, it is almost certain that the particular order in which the cards are arrayed is unique.
I used to love playing Texas Hold 'Em. With friends, poker nights with others, on apps, you name it. For a lot of the reasons you detailed above. At some point, I guess I just decided to free up the limited room in my brain for other things and now I'm intimidated to try and jump back in. Unpolished and forgotten. This post reminded me of a thing I enjoyed and didn't realize that I miss.
"Over the long run, better poker players will always win money from worse poker players."
I learned this important lesson the hard way many decades ago. I was a young sailor, fresh out of BUD/S training in Coronado, relaxing at the end of a day. I was "invited" to "play cards" with the guys in the break room, an invitation I honoured, wanting to be "one of the guys." NOTE: the only "play cards" I had done to that point was with my family; money was never involved, but money was involved here.
I was the sucker and the others knew it. Oh, how they knew it. At the end of my time at the table, I was without money or pride. NOTE #2: A sailor at my pay grade in those days made $137.70 a month, so my money was pretty valuable to me.
The most embarrassing--and more educational--part of the lesson was what happened after the rest of them stopped playing. The Chief Petty Officer came by my bunk and said I owed another $80 and I had to pay up. I did not--and do not--understand why, since I wasn't even in the game anymore, but somehow (probably involving a call to my father), I did.
It was the last time I was invited to "play cards" and the last game of poker I ever played.
Great story! Keep us updated with what happens on the table.
I used to love playing Texas Hold 'Em. With friends, poker nights with others, on apps, you name it. For a lot of the reasons you detailed above. At some point, I guess I just decided to free up the limited room in my brain for other things and now I'm intimidated to try and jump back in. Unpolished and forgotten. This post reminded me of a thing I enjoyed and didn't realize that I miss.
Hope your opponents don't read your Substack. You never know...
Do great! We are cheering you on! Can we watch this anywhere?
Cool - hope you win big! 💰
Where can we watch it??
Break a leg? Merde? Is there something that poker players say to wish each other a good game?
I hope you win it all.
"Over the long run, better poker players will always win money from worse poker players."
I learned this important lesson the hard way many decades ago. I was a young sailor, fresh out of BUD/S training in Coronado, relaxing at the end of a day. I was "invited" to "play cards" with the guys in the break room, an invitation I honoured, wanting to be "one of the guys." NOTE: the only "play cards" I had done to that point was with my family; money was never involved, but money was involved here.
I was the sucker and the others knew it. Oh, how they knew it. At the end of my time at the table, I was without money or pride. NOTE #2: A sailor at my pay grade in those days made $137.70 a month, so my money was pretty valuable to me.
The most embarrassing--and more educational--part of the lesson was what happened after the rest of them stopped playing. The Chief Petty Officer came by my bunk and said I owed another $80 and I had to pay up. I did not--and do not--understand why, since I wasn't even in the game anymore, but somehow (probably involving a call to my father), I did.
It was the last time I was invited to "play cards" and the last game of poker I ever played.
Awesome story. Yeah, those sharks bite.
Good luck! Hope you get hit with the deck. Can't watch to watch!