My Vision for the Poker World (from Feb. 2014)

It’s been quite a while since I have posted on here, but it’s time to let bygones be bygones and move forward. I’m not sure that I will be a regular poster on here, I never really have been, but if there is something I feel the need to chime in on, I’ll do so.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the state of poker, sparked by Joe Hachem’s comments, and I think it’s great to have a healthy discussion on where we are at and what we can do collectively to help promote the game we all love. If you haven’t read Phil Galfond’s blog yet, please do, it’s extremely well written and right on point. He does a great job of illustrating the strengths and weaknesses of the old school and the new school.

It all got me to thinking about what is my vision for a poker world that works? Not to say that it doesn’t right now, but what is my vision for a poker world that works. It goes something like this:

My vision for a poker world that works is one where the professionals are aligned in their goals to work together to make sure we aren’t just taking, but also giving back for the greater good. A world where amateurs look forward to sitting at a table with the pros to both satisfy their competitive spirit as well as be entertained. A world that they feel comfortable and encouraged to join without fear of humiliation or embarrassment. A world where the game is fun first and a competitive endeavor second. A world where players think about whats best for everyone first, understanding that in the end they will benefit from that as well.