#136 - FTOPS, Tony Holden, Mob Murders … and Steve Martin?

I’m back from New York and in a writin’-gambin’ mood. I had a great time, saw some remarkable stuff, met up with some incredibly people, and have a lot written and notes for much, much more. Here’s what’s coming over the next few days:

[Not in this order!]

* Some cool conversations I had with players and railers in FTOPS #5, the HOSE. I’m sorry to say that I missed #6 - the 6-handed, where I saw a couple players who went pretty deep that I regularly trounce (that’s a couple out of 2,500, okay?) - and #7 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, a game that, frankly, terrifies me.

* I am back with a vengeance (which is a great thing to be back with) for FTOPS #8, FTOPS #9, and FTOPS #10. I’ll be playing and writing, hopefully doing both until the end.

* I hung out for a couple days in New York with Tony Holden, who was commemorating both the publication on both sides of the Atlantic of BIGGER DEAL, the amazing sequel to his classic BIG DEAL. Also on hand were Peter Alson and Colin Fox. Those three form 75% of the reason why I play and write about poker now. Because of Tony, I got invited to two incredibly cool book parties.

* I went out researching The Full Tilt Poker Guide to Manhattan, talking with refugees of the Mayfair Club, visiting the Algonquin Hotel, and checking out the site of the murder of the loser in what was for decades the biggest poker game of all time.

* Finally, I attended an event, riding Tony Holden’s coattails, hosted by Harold Evans and Tina Brown, New York media/literary/publishing royalty. I fell in love with the hostess, got kicked out by the host, and played poker with Steve Martin, who is an excellent poker player and an even better con man.

I also want to finish The Full Tilt Poker Guide to Buying a Car (the rest - the juicy stuff at the dealership with Ted Forrest - in nearly written), give me opinions about this business of bots on Full Tilt, and let you know what Andy Beal is up to … because I visited him recently.

So stay tuned. The posts are going to come fast and furious over the next several days. Just a little snack in advance of what you’re in for if you check in on me regularly during the World Series.

And we are FIFTEEN days from publication of THE FULL TILT POKER STRATEGY GUIDE: TOURNAMENT EDITION.