Strawberry

[elindholm]

Actually that phrase was originally coined for no-limit poker, where it's much more appropriate.

In honor of that observation, if anyone is interested, the final table (nine players) of the WSOP main event is today. Updates are available at worldseriesofpoker.com. 1998 champion Scotty Nguyen was the last big name left, but he was eliminated late last night (actually early this morning) in 11th place.

 

[Errntknght]

Actually that phrase was originally coined for no-limit poker, where it's much more appropriate

.

I've heard it used to describe NL Hold'em but I've also heard it being used to describe baseball and other things going back at least twenty years. I don't think the word 'panic' was used early on, though... probably 'excitement'.
Maybe that change was made for the poker game, and thats what you are referring to.

 

[elindholm]

I've heard it used to describe NL Hold'em but I've also heard it being used to describe baseball and other things going back at least twenty years.

An internet search on generic versions of the phrase seems to assign it to nearly every field, so I guess we're unlikely to figure out where it originated. However, no-limit poker (including hold'em) has certainly been around for more than 20 years. In poker, the phrase is usually attributed to Doyle Brunson, whose heyday was the mid-1970s (and who is still a dangerous player today).

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Wrong! My grandpa coined the term!

 

[Errntknght]

Eric,

However, no-limit poker (including hold'em) has certainly been around for more than 20 years.

Everyone who's watched any Western movies knows that - the story of the small rancher losing his entire 'spread' on one hand is virtually a cliche of the genre.

I played a little 'limit' hold'em about 30 years ago - I didn't care much for the game and thought it was unlikely to really catch on. I did try to simulate the no limit variety on a computer to see if I could come up with a good strategy - all I discovered was that unmitigated aggression seemed to beat almost anything else - I decided there must be something I was overlooking because that didn't seem sensible. Now, after watching the experts play for a few years on TV, I think maybe the simulation was pretty good after all.

 

[azirish]

This forum is so educational. Here I thought it came from Homer Simpson and the nuclear power plant.

 

[elindholm]

I did try to simulate the no limit variety on a computer to see if I could come up with a good strategy - all I discovered was that unmitigated aggression seemed to beat almost anything else - I decided there must be something I was overlooking because that didn't seem sensible. Now, after watching the experts play for a few years on TV, I think maybe the simulation was pretty good after all.

Heh. It's not quite that simple, because experienced opponents will adjust. But yes, in general, aggression pays in no-limit poker. It pays in limit too, but you have to be a bit more accurate in diagnosing when you have the best of it.

 

[Joe Mama]

God, this looked like it would be one exciting off-season about a month ago. Now it's just dead.

Joe

 

[Errntknght]

I found a 'famous quotations' site and it had this listing

Al Boliska, "Airline travel is hours of boredom interrupted by moments of stark terror."

It had no other parallel ones.

I'd never heard of Boliska but I got a ton of hits for his name - he was a radio call-in show host or disc jockey in Toronto in the early '60s. Many of the hits mentioned he authored that phrase but none I saw gave a date.

 

[mribnik]

A variation of that phrase was also used in the movie, "Apollo 13."

 

[elindholm]

And after all of that, apparently the final table is today, not yesterday. Sorry about that.

 

[Errntknght]

There was a WSOP final table yesterday - a mixed 'limit' and 'no limit' game if my ears weren't deceiving me. The winner was 21 years and 11 days old, a new record for the youngest WSOP bracelet winner.

 

[elindholm]

I hadn't heard that; that's funny. But I was talking about the main event, of course.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I never got the whole story on Ford, but my guess is that he had a bad case of "slow" and did not work hard enough to get into better condition or improve his skills.

There may have been other problems with Alton, but IMO, he was never a real "prospect" because he lacked an NBA body. He had to bend over to scratch his belly button! I've been an avid fan since the 60's and I can't remember seeing a player with less "length" for his height.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

I played a little 'limit' hold'em about 30 years ago - I didn't care much for the game and thought it was unlikely to really catch on. I did try to simulate the no limit variety on a computer to see if I could come up with a good strategy - all I discovered was that unmitigated aggression seemed to beat almost anything else - I decided there must be something I was overlooking because that didn't seem sensible. Now, after watching the experts play for a few years on TV, I think maybe the simulation was pretty good after all.

The game changed considerably about 15 years ago with the advent of the Indian Casinos and the legalization of open faced card games in California. Now, aggression, truly is the most valued commodity in Texas Hold 'Em games at all levels.

I played professionally for several years until the game just passed me by (I retired in 93). It used to be a good thing to be called "a Rock" but now it means you're just another fish.

If you decide to give the game another try, I'd suggest trying a higher stakes game because the lower limit tables and tournaments in general especially reward the more aggressive players.

Steve