blonde poker forum

For me, Blonde started as a way to follow how my friends / heroes were doing in the big tournaments. I think my first post was wishing Deadman good luck in a deepstack.

I posted a few threads asking for some advice about getting started, building a bankroll etc, and also blonde helped me plan my first Vegas trip.

Once I went pro, I knew I was jumping into an unknown world, I decided that if I started a diary, I'd get all sorts of good advice that would steer me on the right path and it would raise my profile in the community, and I'd be able to use that to "go places" in this world. I started my diary in January 2011.

It did exactly that, and negative feedback and constructive advice helped me overcome initial bad attitude, ungracefulness, amongst other bad traits. It helped me get my first staking deal. James Keys and Keith Johnson only knew who I was through my blonde blog. I gather I wrote well enough to bluff them into thinking I was a smart young man, and could a profitable horse for them.

In February 2011 they staked me for Eureka Prague, a €1500 buyin event, purely based on the diary, and a few meetings IRL. Everything since then has stemmed from that, so I have blonde entirely to thank.

Blonde has helped me through tough times, kept me grounded during good times, supported me through all successes and failings. Given me some of my closest friends, and meant there's theres never a lack of friendly faces to say hello to at any casino. I've logged into blonde probably 99% of days in the last 5 years and posted nearly 15,000 times.

What has Blonde done for you?

I've put nothing into blonde over the years, but it has given me 100's of hours of light reading and helps pass the day at work. I get great enjoyment from reading Alex's diary and Pleno's, and the sport threads such as the cricket and Tips for Tikay. I understand this is pretty selfish of me that I don't really look to give much back in terms of content, and if there were less people like myself, blonde would probably be in a stronger place. But I also know that i would never complain if i disagreed with a moderator or thought there was a clique, because it really wouldn't be my place to say.

Oh, and I won 20 notes in one of the £20 giveaways. CASHBACK.

Accelerated my poker learning.
Helped me win at poker.
Gave me the confidence to play live poker.
Got me backed as a poker player.
Helped me understand I was never going to earn a living playing poker.
Turned avatars and nicknames into friends for life.

Thinking about it, the people I have met through this place is staggering.  From a nod across a card room or street, to being able to email/PM people for help and advice, to having people in my life that I know will always be there to help and support me - Blonde has given me all those things and much more.
It might not be the same as it once was, but that does not mean its worse, its just different.

Like most of us, I am sure Blonde has given us more then I have given it.  For those few that have given more then they have taken, I thank you, because this place would not be the same without you.

I've never been the most active poster but it's rare that a day passes where I don't 'check in'.

In terms of what Blonde has done for me....

- Provide a place to talk about a game few of my real life friends (in before) have any interest in.

- Be the first stepping stone in meeting a number of now friendly faces on my occasional foray to a card room.

- Fill many, many hours of commuting time / general boredom / time I really should be spending on other things.

- Provide a really insightful sports betting thread.

- Offered me the platform to stake Doobs and win some new wardrobes / miscellaneous spend by self/wife.

Great place :)

introduced me to my husband  ;sexybanana;

great thread Dewi, btw.

I'm tempted to call Gatso on the husband brag.

Congrats x

I didn't know we had an 'open' relationship, although to be absolutely honest, I did suspect you were seeing someone else.

So... where do we go from here?

oh yeah - sorry Tom.

Also introduced me to my moustachioed bit on the side!

Good post Alex- it's my second longest relationship - I don't plan to  give up on it and I hope it doesn't give up on me.

Love the recent politics threads
Like the general level of intelligence on here
Love the amount of 'experts'
Have loved the spats at times
Have loved the controversies
Made me froth and fume at times
Given me loads of opportunities to indulge in Tikay's hated schadenfreude (I love it as long as it's not too damaging)
Given great opportunities to celebrate others successes
Definitely a good feeling to live life vicariously through people I've met through here- Alex fo sho, and imagine seeing Flushy win a bracelet - incred
Quite nice to live life vicariously through people I've never met like  Pleno
Amazing array of  funny people here too
Shrewdie era was too much fun at times for an old guy- made me laugh so many times
Some really nice human interest stuff along the way too
A few of the diaries are excellent too - honourable mention to the Red Dog - he's run out of interesting things to say but he used to be great

I could go on

I don't really care if it's quiet or super busy, I appreciate the place, plenty to keep me entertained for an elapsed half an hour or hour a day

 :)


People are crazy and times are strange,
I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range....

Rather than writing something as long basically +1 to this

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux0ZuiKjtQc

Geo

FYP Geo. Your version is pants.

Well said nirvana..... +1 too

What a scum bag

All of this.

What has Blonde done for me?
Irritated me (content, not the forum as a whole)
Amused me (ditto obv)
Astounded me at times with some of the scandals and their aftermath
Improved my mind and inspired me at times - Vagueness and the Aftermath in the early years was a real education. What happened to the guy that used to write so beautifully there? Taximan's story continues to deliver even if only with occasional updates.

Improved my understanding of the game of poker at a time when PHA was one of the busier boards. I went to St Kitts having benefitted from that education.

Stop wetting on

Given me an extended family for the past 10 years 😃

Blonde has provided me with the opportunity to sponsor Tony Tikay Kendall in Vegas, specifically PLO and PLO8. I'm sure all fellow stakers would agree how rewarding and financially beneficial that experience has been.

Made me smile or laugh every single day.

Too many people to mention and no doubt I would miss someone out so I would
just like to say thank you to all the people who regularly contribute to keep the
forum alive.

I know I ought to contribute more but I just can't put my thoughts into words as well
as the majority on here.

Oh , and I miss Tikay's favourite son , Mantis