To all my r.g.p. friends...

I've just gotten back from Florida and had a chance to review all the entries over the weekend. I want to thank everyone who participated in the contest. We had about 350 total responses posted to this board in several threads, and almost 200 actual entries. You can find the entries conveniently listed, thanks to Ken Churilla, at GoCee.com Poker Center -- http://www.GoCee.com/poker/.

The first two Challenges (three $100 prizes, because one had two winners) were very technical, and it was understandable that they were both won by regular r.g.p. analysts. This third Challenges allowed anyone to have a shot at winning. In 25 words or fewer, you had to give advice that was meaningful to a beginning player.

I was sort of hoping that the award would go to a brand new contributor to r.g.p., but it didn't. Maybe the next six Challenge winners will all be people we don't know well on this forum. Or maybe they will all be people we do know well. In any case, these Challenges will all be judged fairly.

I'm saying this because the person I'm giving this award to is well known to r.g.p. This fact had no impact whatsoever on my decision, and I hope that the result doesn't discourage new forum members from entering future challenges.

In reviewing the entries, many made me laugh. Many were right on the money. But my favorite was from Abdul Jalib. It is, quite simply:

"If you want to be successful in business, surround yourself with smarter people. If you want to be successful in poker, surround yourself with idiots."

In my mind, seeking weak opponents to play against, especially in the developing stages of poker strategy, will help more than anything else. Of course, you need other advice as well. You need to learn a basic game plan. You need many other things. But as a primary bit of advice that's easy to grasp and will really help, Abdul Jalib's tip (using all 25 words!) hit the mark for me. If a beginner ignores them, he may never advance at all. He may simply go broke, become discouraged, quit poker, and never have the chance to master the game.

Additionally, I liked the way the advice was worded. (Abdul, please give me a mailing address by private e-mail, so that I can send your $100 check and certificate.)

Straight Flushes,
Mike Caro

The contest rules are here.
The entries are here.