A - Z of Poker: Day 12

From London to Vegas in 26 Letters

Day12: L is for ...

L is for Live. Live is the kind of poker I prefer, I have concluded. Yes, it's slower, more expensive, less comfortable and theoretically less profitable. However, I don't really play for profit (I'm not playing deliberately for loss either, despite any evidence to the contrary). So, really, the appeal of internet poker is mainly that it's there for all those times that I cannot get to a live game.

I especially like playing live where I know the place, the people, their names and they know me. So I have always enjoyed playing at the Gutshot (before it closed) and at The International now.

I also love playing live in Vegas, obviously. Clearly that is a different live experience to playing in a small (by Vegas standards that is !) club in London but it's one of the Wonders of the World and the fact is that I do know a lot of people even in Vegas (like me they are visiting from London) - especially at this time of year. Those friendly faces enhance the Vegas experience for me.

"Live" is also what my cards tend to be at showdown. Since I often play the most ridiculous hands at the slightest excuse, I am often caught out with 9-2o vs A-K and similar match-ups. The best that can be said about that is that my cards are "live". The definition can also be extended, when the need arises, to 9-2o facing AA.

"Live one" is not a label one wants to attract of course. But no one would argue that any game with me in it is likely to be Live-ly !

L is for Legal. Is poker legal? Is internet poker legal ? I simplify the question considerably, of course, especially as the most important qualifier to the question is L for Location. My view is that the answer in most cases is that it hasn't been definitively shown NOT to be legal.

In the event that the decision is that it is NOT legal, then my view is that the decision is ridiculous ! The situation in the US is of course ridiculously ridiculous.

I think that, on the face of it, poker and/or internet poker may be illegal in quite a few places in the US (but not in others ... the very definition of ridiculous imo). The idea that one of the most popular and perfectly defensible pastimes can be illegal in the country with more poker players than anywhere else in the world just beggars belief. It's even less reasonable than that other brilliant idea ... Prohibition.

Reportedly, President Obama is pro-poker (following quite a tradition amongst US presidents)and may sort the mess out, but I would imagine he's busy and wouldn't want to be holding my breath.