Under Construction

Welcome to the new Up For Poker (and more!). If you hadn't noticed, the site address has changed to it's new permanent home of upforpoker.com. It was a long time coming and it's finally happened.

With the move comes a new perspective and attitude. We're not just writing about poker anymore. Frankly, we just don't play as much as we used to and we've discovered there's lots more we would have written about without the constraints of a "poker blog."

The look of the site will continue to change... so please bear with me. And we hope to get back to regular posting very soon.

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5 Years, By The Numbers

Five years ago today, I launched Up For Poker. At the time, I had a personal blog called Up For Anything. I was apparently boring my dozen or so readers with my tales from the table, so, like Pauly before me, I created my first niche blog. Later, there would be the short-lived Up For Sports and the even shorter-lived Up For Hollywood. Today, only Up For Poker survives. And I'm surprised it's lasted this long.

Here is a brief look at our history, by the numbers:

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4 Years, 364 Days

Five years ago tomorrow, I wrote about three bad beats that knocked me out of an online tournament. If you go back and read it now, you won't get your three bucks. Bad beat payoffs aren't retroactive.

Over the last half-decade, we've virtually eliminated bad beat stories from Up For Poker (unless you win a lot of money doing it). It's just one of the many things that have evolved over the years. We've had as many as 8 different writers here, although all but three of us came and went pretty quickly.

Today, it's Otis, G-Rob and the Luckbox. And over the next few days, we'll be taking a trip down memory lane. Five years is a long time, and I don't think any of us thought we'd be around that long!

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Seat Open, Table 1

It seems as though a few of the blogs in our blogroll have been away from the table too long. I've requested the floor pick up their rather pitiful stacks so that we can get some fresh blood at the table.

So, with that in mind, take a look at the blogroll. If you think you should be on it, but you're not, send me an email. If you're on it, but shouldn't be, send me an email. If you think you're too low or too high on the list, send me an email. The email address you should use is blogroll -@- upforpoker (dot) com.

If you're asking for a link, there are a few qualifications: 1) You've already linked to Up For Poker Blog, 2) You post at least semi-regularly with a couple of posts at least in the last month, 3) Your email includes the name of your blog and the blog link, and 4) You recognize my awesomeness.

Gee... two posts from me in one week. That's crazy. Oh, and for Little Willy... YES WE CAN!

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I'm Sorry, It's Not True

It was a glitch, nothing more.

Apparently, some of you received emails that were either from me or generated from an old WPBT mailing list in which I announced a June WPBT event at the Aladdin Casino. Unfortuntely, that email was more than a year and a half old and was re-sent by mistake.

I'm not sure how it happened, but I do apologize if people started making plans or getting excited by the prospect.

I have no doubt that there will be a summer WPBT event in 2007. I'm not sure who will take the lead, but I have a feeling it won't be me. If it is, I'll certainly let you know. I hope to see you all there... whenever and wherever that is!

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Branching Out

The Up For Poker crew is branching out and we're taking some of your favorite writers with us.

Go visit the Up For Sports Blog and enjoy thoughts on the sports world by some of blogging's finest.

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Ch-ch-ch Changes

You've probably noticed a new addition to our sidebar. With all the talk of blogs and blogging, it's interesting that we were in the process of negotiating for our first true advertisers for Up For Poker. It's not something we ever planened for or ever expected, but, frankly, it's worth it. And it will keep G-Rob off my back for a little while. And the good news for readers is that it should encourage us to post even more!

If you are interested in advertising on Up For Poker, limited space is still available. Please click here to contact the webmaster or send an email to: advertising@upforpoker.com.

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Otis and G-Rob Hate Me

I can't say I blame them.

I suppose if I were in their situation, I'd hate them to.

I wasn't going to write about this until Friday at the earliest, but Boy Genius broke the seal, so the secret it out.

It's true, this Saturday night, I will be inside the Playboy Mansion.

Let's get the important questions out of the way (in BG style):

Can I come, too!?!?!?!?

No, sorry, you can not. And asking makes you a little girl.

Why can't I come?

Life is unfair. Why doesn't your hand hold up when you're an 80% favorite on the turn?

How'd you get picked?

Thankfully, the other two contributors here are happily married. That makes those poor saps ineligible to oogle half naked Playboy Playmates in person on a Saturday night.

Yeah, but how'd you get picked?

If you haven't heard, my nickname is "The Luckbox." 'Nuff said.

What the hell are you doing there?

There is a charity poker event, and I am assisting in live online coverage.

Aren't you freaking out right now?

Yes. Half of me doesn't believe this is true. The other half is completely mortified. At least I'll have BG to share my insecurities with. I also know that I won't be the worst dressed (thanks AlCantHang!) and I won't be the best dressed (screw you Joe Speaker!). In fact, I'm shopping for clothes tonight, thankfully I'll have a little help with that.

Can I hate you more now than I did before?

Yes.

Will you have a camera?

I own a camera phone, and I plan to pick up a nice digital camera that they may or may not allow me to bring inside.

Can you get Kendra's phone number for me?

If I get her phone number, you're not getting it. She is a Philadelphia Eagles fan, though, so I got that going for me.

So can I come!?!

You're such a little girl.

Is there anything else you can tell me??!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?

No. Further discussion may force my removal from the list, and, frankly, you only get a chance to get on this list about once in a lifetime. I'm eternally greatful to those who made it happen and I promise to bring the best stories and pictures I can back to the loyal readers of Up For Poker.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS

Thanks for making this the best Up For Poker year yet.

More... better... to come.

Until then, have a perfect holiday.

(CJ Update: I'd like to echo G-Rob's thoughts. Thanks to all of you for making this such a tremendous year. 2006 will be even better!)

(Otis update: I'd echo what G-Rob and CJ said, but it just seems so trite now. So, I'll take this opportunity to wish you a happy New Year and Happy Valentines Day. Oh, and okay. Merry Christmas and Happy Chaka Khan).

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On Hiatus

Two years and three months, 577 entries, 3772 comments, millions of hits and one too many bad beat stories.

We're worn out.

Otis, G-Rob and I need a break. It's hard to be ghey cubed with our multiple blogs and, frankly, no one's reading this stuff anyway.

Up For Poker is taking a break. We're going to re-tool, refresh and re-something else (it always works better in threes). Look for a return of Up For Poker sometime in the next 6 months.

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Did I Just Burn This Site?

On the advice of blogger-extraordinaire Wil Wheaton, I've installed FeedBurner as Up For Poker's feed service. In doing so, I may have screwed up everyone's feeds, so let me know and I'll try and fix it. Thanks.

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New Player, Seat Six

Up for Poker is proud to announce we have a new contributor. Look for an official introduction soon! (That's what we call a tease in the news biz!)

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