Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evoloving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
Frens,
I played in a poker tournament yesterday. No limit holdem tournament.
NLH poker is essentially psychological warfare. It is infinitely more complex than chess, and involves both controllable and uncontrollable elements.
In chess, all the moves are defined, and it's just you against one competitor.
In NLH, the random arrangement of the cards via shuffling means that there is always an uncontrollable 'luck' factor, and in this sense, it resembles life. To navigate this well, you need a wide variety of skills, including mathematical and calculation skills.
There is normally more than one opponent you have to deal with. The psychology of each opponent is a variable that is very often something quite hard to discern.
There is position, as opponents are seated in different positions and act in a particular sequence, and the power and strength of both your hand and your betting ability changes and is directly impacted by your position in the play.
In a tournament, the play is carried out over a period of time, and step by step, the value of the chips you hold and others hold changes.
Successful NLH play requires mental strength and emotional balance. Navigating the ups and downs, dealing with difficult situations, including what appear to be no-win scenarios, takes a certain amount of effort and discipline.
In NLH, when confronted by other players of even moderately comparable (or greater) skill, you yourself are the most important factor to control. Your stamina, your thinking, your emotions - all these are critical over an extended period of time.
You also need to have the capacity to take risks, and deal with the outcomes, both favorable and unfavorable, without getting knocked off your own inner track.
In some ways, playing NLH poker is akin to participating in the Great Awakening as an anon. I find there are many similarities.
BTW, yesterday, I played against a field of 192 opponents, and gained 2nd place. It took about 6 hours. I had to push myself and keep focused. I made some mistakes, but I also made some great moves.
Although it was great to get the prize money for 2nd, the best thing I took away was the feeling of satisfaction that I had performed mentally (and emotionally) at a high level, and I praise God for that.
I know that lots of different folks will play NLH for a wide variety of reasons, but for me, it's a love of the game, and the way it challenges me, about myself.
And I just wanted to say that.
That's awesome! I have the opposite of a poker face... my boss once said I needed to learn to hide my FU face. Lol
I used to sell bottles of Quaaludes when I was 14 years old. There was this nurse that lived by us, and I would get bottles for 50 bucks apiece. Huntington Beach in the 80s. Yes… I did a lot of other drugs too!
I’m so grateful to the Lord brought me out of that lifestyle. It was pretty rough for a while there. However; I will say that we did have some of the best acid. Timothy Leary was living just down the street in Laguna Beach.
Sort of makes you wonder….