Talking to ya cordless!

I am over in London on business right now. I have never played cards in London, mostly because I am a cheap bastard and the exchange rate (2 for 1) keeps me from being able to sit at the table without balking. So, I have never looked up the GUTSHOT card room. But on Friday, I am sitting at a cafe with my wife, who is wearing a FullTilt Hat (courtesy of Bill Rini). Out of nowhere, a bloke comes up and asks us if we play poker. One of them was tournament director Matt Savage. Apparently there was a European tournament series this weekend at the card room and it was only 4 blocks from our hotel. How could I resist?

Well, it was hard not to go there, but pretty easy to not play. The card room, by casino standards, was reminiscent of a newsroom from the 1970s. No paint, no décor, unless you count a poster of Negraneau on the wall. (He has posters?!) The tournament had taken up all the tables on the main floor (all 10?). But next door there were cash tables in the “lower level”. Well, the lower level was NOT as nice as my basement. It had room for 4 tables, 3 of which were full. No one else managing the place down there. This was obviously not the right day to visit them.

Not only that, there were about 2 dozen players playing at Gutshot.com via terminals? Why would you play online whilst AT the casino? Am I just a spoiled American with my internet and computer in my own house with its shower and its AC current? Gez.

So, I am here for one more night, and again doubt I will go over to play cards because there is so much to do in London with the wife. Plus, we live within 30 minutes of 2 very nice card rooms, so there is no feeling that we have to play cards. Next time I am in London, and alone, I’ll give them a whirl.

In some non-poker news, I ran into the web site of an old roommate. Timharrod.com Turns out he is now a writer for Conan O’Brien in NYC. He always had that great sense of humor that you could just envy from off-stage. Great to see other people (whom you don’t hate) be successful!