Re: So what\’s up with …

Friday, Saturday, Sunday … sorry about that … but anyone who spent any time at the WSOP understands how all the days just start to blur together.

Anyhow, to answer some questions: No, I will not be throwing the tournament at the Lodge today. Nor will I be in future weeks. Neither will B. Armendariz, as far as I know. This task has been put in the hands of \”Wild Bill & Posse.\” To be honest, I don\’t know much about them. He clearly understands how to run a poker tournament, but I\’m hearing he doesn\’t yet see the value of 20-minute levels and non-doubling blind increases. I found that info out here and here.

So people are wondering if I am pissed. I am not. A little sad, maybe — but no differently than when I bid farewell to my kids at St. Mark\’s. (When they get all drunk these days and for whatever reason feel the need to call their former teacher in the middle of the night, I strangely feel proud … and then hang up.)*

I will probably have much more to say about all this in coming weeks — or maybe not — because really, when you look at it, the transition Lodge Amateur Poker is going through is simply a microcosm of a new reality faced by poker everywhere, from free games at the neighborhood tavern on up to the WSOP. Inevitable corporate influence is hardly a bad thing — it brings more money and prizes into the game, which theoretically should make the game better. But from there it\’s up to players and people who really care to make sure these interests don\’t corrupt/pervert/bastardize the game.

Yes, Texas Hold\’em could move along faster if you eliminated burn cards and the betting round on the turn and players would stick around longer if you decide kickers don\’t count … but really, ask yourself … would Brunson be proud?

With that in mind, do I want \”my\” players to bolt? Of course not! Lodge poker was an awesome thing, and there\’s no reason it can\’t still be. After all, the prizes are getting bigger and better. And in many cases, so are the players. Not sure how many of you remember the olden days — but there was a time when our winners received a pair of Lodge driving gloves. Now we have guys like Como kicking The Grinder\’s butt at Bellagio for 5-figure payouts.

And as to the game running well … believe it or not, that didn\’t have much to do with me. Seriously, I had to learn as we went along, and so will the new guy. During the first year I was there, a week didn\’t pass where I didn\’t have to make a ruling on the table, then look it up when I got home to see if it was correct. And there was even a time that I forgot to bring cards. You see, here\’s a little secret: it was you guys (and ladies) — the volunteer dealers, the real dealers, the players who helped with chip stacks and seat cards … not to mention the rule codifiers, point system analyzers, blind-clock reminders, and semi-regular Tuaca shooters — who made this game what it was. I couldn\’t have done it without you. As for the new guy, he won\’t be able to either.

That\’s how it is in poker, amateur or otherwise … the future of the game is in your/our hands. It will always be what we make it, for better or for worse.

* The drunken ReMarker Campout guys let me know they were calling from a river, and thus were being ritualistically clever; they also were excited about making it back to Dallas in time for the poker tourney at The Lodge.