So, I finally made it to 2005 and turned this into a blog/information page. This site has been looking a bit rough, and the colours could use a bit of updating as well. For all of you that substitute acid with the ICM calculator, I'm sorry, you'll have to go find a new way to experience the 1970s again. I'm sure there are some questions about what is going to change, and what's going to stay the same, and simply put - nothing is going to be removed, but I'm actually going to add some content. Online poker players on the whole are quite intelligent, and have a desire to be challenged in new ways - I'd like to give them a few ideas for such new challenges.
All of the old resources, such as the ICM Calculator and the Heads Up charts are still here - they can be found at the very top, above the new logo header. They'll have the same functionality, if not added functionality. I completely see how the ICM Calculator and Heads Up charts could be linked together to provide a completely awesome ICM calculator, I just haven't had the time or the desire to improve that currently. At some point, I'm sure those will be combined into one tool, but for the time being, they just got a much needed colour face-lift.
As for the new content, admittedly my poker playing has decreased, with the problems of the UIGEA and specifically the difficulties it has caused with payment plans such as Neteller. With that being said, poker has never been my strongest game, by any means. My main game is cribbage, which may be a bit of a shock to most as it's generally an older generation game, but I'm a full ACC member. I play weekly in grass roots play, and I also try and play all the live tournaments in the South East US, which typically amounts to 4-5 total. I play a slightly unorthodox style, but I think I've brought a lot of concepts from poker into cribbage, which has brought my cribbage game to a new level. I'm going to try and cover some interesting hands, and explain the traditional play, and explain any deviations I may have from the experts.
The other subject in life which I feel I have an expert knowledge of is the subject of game shows. As many of you are aware of, I was a former Jeopardy! champion in 2004, and have an extensive high school/college quiz bowl background. On top of that, having played hundreds and hundreds of board games and watching hour upon hour of game shows, I think I have a good understanding on what makes a game or game show good, and what makes a game or game show inherently bad. Note to any game show producers/developers that need a writer -- I'm always available!
I'm also exploring some new board games as well. Right now I've been on a great backgammon kick, playing against gnubg as my main opponent. I definitely still have a lot to learn, especially with the doubling cube, but hopefully I can share things that I learn that might provide some insight to players learning the game at the same time. I also want to learn how to play go, or goban, but that's on the back burner. I also am rediscovering many of the newer board games that I've missed out on in the past five or so years when focusing on cribbage. I've started playing Settlers of Catan again, which I still think is an amazing game. I just received Puerto Rico as well, which is supposedly the greatest board game of today. I get the feeling that it's not going to be social enough, but I'm definitely willing to give it a few tries.
Anyway, if you don't like any of the new content, I kept all of the old stuff at the top so you don't have to deal with me. For those that are interested in learning something besides poker, enjoy!