Ego and Poker....Synonymous

Why on God's green earth can't people (and by people I mainly mean men) admit when they don't know something? As I have discussed many times, I am an avid online poker player. There are some "tricks" some things that not everyone knows about the program or the game. But god forbid they admit it! I have played over 4000 games online that are "registered"....ask me if I know what I am doing lol...

I have played at "real"casinos. I live 20 minutes from Council Bluffs, IA (look it up, trust me there are plenty of casinos there). I have been to Las Vegas no less than 5 times in my 40 years and spent (god I hate to admit this) 16 hours at one table, in one chair playing blackjack once upon a time. Not to mention the poker games for cash I have been in local and otherwise.

Let's just say, I am a "seasoned" poker player since the age of 18.

I am not overly proud of the fact that I know a lot about poker, but let's face it, I do. Therefore, when I play someone online that has, let's say, 800 games, I'm not that impressed. Online is different than " real life" there are nuances to the game that are not there in live poker. My name online name is TXGAL (texas gal for the illiterate). I get a lot of "sweetie" girlie" and "sugar" comments. It infuritates me. In response I will ask the "offender" if they know certain things about the online program. Invariably they do not. At the end of my "training session" I say to them...."Better get a few thousand more games before you refer to me as girlie again( or whatever the infraction)."

There are two sides to this; I am training my opponent to beat me in a sense, by giving them the tricks of the trade (they would learn anyway, given enough time). I am displaying my knowledge that they do not possess therefore eradicating the "girlie" syndrome.

In the end, it's all still about my ego. I have got to learn to get passed this. I know that I shouldn't display my knowledge. I just can't help it. I want them to know they are but the grasshopper in my master's world. Crude and egotistical I know, but I get something out of it. I get a sense of satisfaction. Trivial as that satisfaction may be, self sabotaging as it may be; I still won money off that asshole tonight.

There, there you have it. I am still a self celebratory ass myself. Anyone feel better knowing that I am not a saint?