Guest Blogger

The New Year is upon us and it’s time for resolutions. The recent explosion of new blogs and columns is ample evidence that a January shot of adrenaline has put some prolific pens in the hands of the writers here at Wise Hand.

My resolution lies in the title of this blog, and I will strive to become a better writer in 2007. This will be a top-to-bottom plan of attack from vocabulary and grammar to research and interviews. I know this will pay dividends to you the reader.

In his memoir, "On Writing," Stephen King has this advice to offer aspiring writers. “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut. ” This simple advice is great because it cuts right to the heart of the matter.

There is a conversation I always recall when I think about this advice. I was back at home for Christmas one year and attending your standard holiday reunion party with friends. I was chatting with a girl when this conversation took place. Here is my best recollection:

“How’s (Fresno) State treating you? What are you majoring in?” I asked.

“Pretty good, I’m majoring in English and want to become a writer.” She replied.

‘That’s cool, what do you want to write about, what do you want to do after school.” I asked.

“I just want to be really artistic, you know, like, write the great American novel.” She said.

“That’s a lofty goal. What books have you read recently? Which authors do you admire?” I asked.

“I don’t really like to read.” She said.

That is where I checked out of the conversation and quickly excused myself to go to the restroom. I don’t like to read, COME ON. You have undoubtedly run into this adorable character in your card playing experiences. They usually take the form of someone who tells a bad beat story where they clearly make mistakes in their own play on the hand.

My resolution can be easily applied to your poker play as ‘Play a lot and read a lot.’ There really are no secrets to improving your game, you have to put in the hours at the table to develop your strategy, and then learn from your mistakes when things don’t work out. It also wouldn’t hurt to pick up a copy of "Super/System," "The Theory of Poker" or "Championship No-Limit & Pot-Limit Hold’em" while you’re at it to round out your game. It takes hard work to reach that next level in your game or that next limit with your bankroll. You have to build your knowledge brick by brick in every endeavor, taking shortcuts will only lead to weaknesses that will eventually be exposed. I know I will remember that while I pursue my endeavor. Every book I pick up will have lessons to teach either from the brilliant example it sets or the mistakes it makes blatantly apparent. Every hand you play will have lessons and mistakes for you to learn from at the poker table as well.

Ryan “Force” Lucchesi
force@wisehandpoker.com

Every lobby in the Atlantis offers wireless internet access for $10 a day. There is no wireless internet in the rooms. So, every lobby in the Atlantis turned into a personal playground for the 700+ internet players who were there for the PCA. It didn’t matter what time of day or night it was, they were there. It was like a group of furious moths drawn to a lantern that hung off a back porch in the bayou. I wanted to climb up on a table and scream at the top of my lungs, “YOU’RE IN THE BAHAMAS, GO OUTSIDE!”

Mark Newhouse and I were heading back from the casino late one night to meet up with the usual suspects at the water slides when we stumbled upon a surreal situation in the Coral Tower lobby. It was Sunday night, and the big PokerStars tournament was down to the final two tables. The sight before me involved over 70 people and at least two dozen of the top internet players in the world. They were collectively sweating the last two guys in the room who remained in the tournament. Cliff Josephy sat in the middle of the room like a Father Time of the Internet World.

I turned to Newhouse and said, “This is kind of strange.” He agreed, and we joined in the crowd who were watching the action unfold. I didn’t know the two players who remained, but one of them was getting ripped constantly for playing like a donkey. We watched for a few minutes and then tried to recruit some people for the water slides and beach, but I quickly saw it was going nowhere. As I walked away I took one last glance over my shoulder and captured the image of this group of people glued to the computer screens. This was as good a real-life picture of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” that I would ever hope to find and wanted to commit it to memory.

I could go on here and continue to bash this anti-social band of brothers, but I know that these internet junkies are the heart and soul of the poker industry. So, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, play to your hearts content. I will definitely join you from time-to-time, but when I’m in the Bahamas you can find me down at the beach.

Ryan "Force" Lucchesi
force@wisehandpoker.com