Grand Adventure

I’ve acquired a new hobby, and like all things I do in this manner I’ve started “studying up” on how to be more than a novice.  Last summer I purchased an XBox 360 when the price dropped by $100.  I did this to help fill time since my new job at Fort Sam was shaping up to be quite normal.  (this in contrast to my most demanding, yet rewarding, assignment in command of Wounded Warriors). 

One of the games on XBox Live (it’s online play capability) is a simple Texas Hold Em game.  I got hooked on playing this game at the LaPine House earlier in the year during a visit with Brady.  I played blindly that trip, not really knowing hand strength or anything yet still did passably well.

When I got my own XBox I tried this game out.  I was especially nervous about online play with unknown people.  It took Brady (who is a exceptional player) holding my virtual hand through a couple of tournaments to get over the fear.  On my XBox my game time is split roughly 60% Texas Hold Em and 40% all other games.  Kinda scary.  I play it for stress relief (that’s ironic now to me) because the pacing is what I determine.  v. a Shooter where you are very active, or some of the puzzle games where there is a lot of thinking.

So…while snow-bound in LaPine the last two weeks I wanted to keep playing XBox or some sort of poker.  I have three different poker/gambling games for my original Xbox.  None of them are great, though one teaches and reveals to the player about pot odds.  None could connect to the internet (2-6 yr old games)  and the artifical intelligence of the players was maddening.  I had gotten too used to playing against real people where patterns can get predictable.  (Even in online play you get a sense of the player’s style).

I decided to try out one of the online poker sites to play for free.  And got immediately hooked on this mode of playing.  What I was surprised to find out is that you can play for real $$ even being located in the US.  Online casinos are blocked in the US, but poker is an exception.

Over the last two weeks I’ve placed “in the money” in two tournaments.  It’s been a fun mental challenge with some competition to liven the spirit.  I’ve deposited a minimal amount of real funds to try that level next.