Yes, I have joined the legions of young ne'er-do-wells who have become addicted to Texas Hold-'Em. I've been spending vast swaths of my weekends -- Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights -- in marathon ten dollar buy-in games, mostly with folks I know from Covenant. (John Calvin spins silently in his grave.) Last night, after my best night of winning (I cleaned out the table; took $20), I was trying to explain to fellow Hold-'Em addict Josiah why I play: something about needing to prove myself at a game that holds so much symbolism as a mark of the adult male world, but values brains over biceps.
And then today I discover some Washington Monthly essayist has already pegged me: "It makes sense that today's college-educated young adults, especially young men, choose poker. Strategy-oriented, individualistic and embedded in a nice masculine mythology, poker is the perfect game for the revenge-of-the-nerds generation looking to square their intelligence with their inner maleness."
Meanwhile, a Slate piece notes that the Hold-'Em fad is dilluting the quality of play at the World Series of Poker -- and making it harder for the best players to wade through the sea of neophytes. Consider that, as I head out to find my inner maleness. And lose 10 dollars.
Posted by mesh at June 4, 2004 05:24 PM | TrackBackMesh,
While I have no desire to "...square [my] intelligence with [my] inner maleness," I, also, do enjoy the game of Texas Hold-'Em. I played, in fact, two weeks ago with some friends from the Waffle House. This question may be unorthodox--no pun intended--but do those of you from Covenant College ever allow other Chattanoogans to join in? Just curious. (By the by, I enjoy your blog.)
Carl
Posted by: Carl at June 4, 2004 09:46 PMI love the "Sigfried and Roy" reference. It is one of my favorites. That is also my favorite hand to play.
FYI--the 2004 WSOP will air on ESPN starting in July. While this is not exactly live action (it ended 5/28) it should still make for some good tv.
Also Carl more players are always welcome, with or without a tie to Covenant.
Posted by: ARoss at June 8, 2004 12:45 PMI'm just curious, but just how important is the psychological element of bluffing and reading players in Texas Hold Em? Is a good understanding of probablity theory more important or less important? I ask because at least two of the guys to make it to the final table had learned the game by playing online poker. I believe this applies to the second place winner - the economics and math major from SMU. This made me think that perhaps, outsiders are wrong in believing that bluffing and "reading players" is the more important skill in Texas Hold Em. Online poker seems to make both of those impossible, forcing one to focus more on the probabilities of certain cards appearing, etc. Just wondered if you thought that was true or not.
Posted by: scott cunningham at June 8, 2004 03:01 PMdude whats with teh blogosphere? You're falling down on the job there mate!
Posted by: holton at June 13, 2004 10:31 AMhey, i put a few pictures of the amicolola trip on postonfam.atlblogs.com. hope to see you soon.
Posted by: ari at June 19, 2004 10:07 AMmesh....that regal cinemas # is 877.835.5734 press option 2
Posted by: sean at June 19, 2004 08:04 PMMesh I love what you've done with the blog! The whole nothing thing is so chic and in right now!
Posted by: holton at June 20, 2004 02:50 PMEmpty is the new full.
Posted by: mesh at June 21, 2004 01:18 PMWow it's been a rough month for your fans, Mesh. Can't we feel a little love...?
Posted by: heidi at June 28, 2004 10:10 PMYou are a total and complete asshole.
Posted by: Sally Richardson at June 29, 2004 05:22 PMwell Sally, he's not a COMPLETE asshole, I can promise you that much, but he is an asshole. At least he doesn't go 'round on folks blogs calling them names...well, except for the whole "sunuvabitch" fiasco a year or so ago, but lets not bring that up again...
Posted by: JosiahQ at June 29, 2004 05:44 PMmesh, what's your e-mail?
Posted by: ari at June 29, 2004 06:41 PMYou know, looking back, these are some particularly rich comments.
Posted by: mesh at August 16, 2004 04:01 AM