A new year, a fresh start for Gus Hansen?
Barry Carter brings you all the best PokerStrategy.com has to offer this week and asks if the Great Dane needs to quit online poker?
The good thing about a New Year is that it lets all of us press the reset button. We can all pretend that we are starting afresh without worrying so much about the failures of the last year.
It would probably be a mistake for Gus Hansen to think like that. Last week we reported that he lost $8,461,472 in nosebleed online games last year. Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that this is the third time he was the biggest online loser of the year.
It makes me quite sad, because I have always been a big fan of Gus. He made TV poker really exciting, he has always been a likeable and funny guy, and I've always thought he was a great ambassador for the game.
Perhaps even more sadly he is clearly a good player. It's not like he is the typical drunk businessman everyone wants to play. It is simply that game selection (and perhaps also bankroll management) are not his strong point.
He is not alone. It always amazes me that for all their talents, there are many great players who do not understand the basics of game selection and bankroll management. It is like an F1 driver who doesn't have a driving license.
It probably shocks me so much because as a player, game selection and bankroll management are the only skills I have. I'm probably the least skillful player in our community, but because I have a knack for sitting in easy games and not risking much money I'll probably never go broke (it's just that my annual winnings usually amount enough for a happy meal and a DVD).
In the comments box, let me know - do you think Gus is just a losing player at the nosebleed games or a losing player at most stakes? Should he quit or move down?
Thread of the week
This could be popular in 2014. The only thing our very own 
pleno1 can talk about is poker, so he has made a thread exclusively to contain his own chatter.
I like poker, lets talk poker promises to be updated daily by our hero with a new subject for everyone to discuss.
It has already started off well, with topics including "what bankroll management system should pro players use?", "should players be able to change screen names?", "how big should rake be at the micros?" and the latest "why exactly is the standard stack 100bb?".
LOL of the week
If you didn't know, we have a funny videos thread in our Small Talk forum and I was reminded of this classic from that thread this week. Obviously it is not poker related, but you'll love it anyway (Am I wrong for enjoying it so much?):
Running hot
Plenty to shout about last week including:
• We announced our first $10,000 depositor freeroll of the year at PKR.
• A new look Gemstone promotion begins with triple Gemstones.
• Once again our Top100 race is double prizes and we have a new race at 24hPoker.
• Pleno1 has started a new community tour where he will be reviewing the play of members from each of our 18 communities.
• Get more done in less time this year with Schnitzelfisch.
Coming up
The first full week back of the year is going to be pretty full, including:
• Live coaching from pleno1TomSom87UnamUriPeleg
• Videos from ObliooSchnitzelfischKatieDozierCollinMoshman
• We will have the live stream every day from the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.
• Expect an exclusive tracking software promotion at the end of the week.
• Plus also the announcement of the return a popular iPoker tournament series.
Happy New Year everyone! If you ever want to give me feedback just post in my thread linked below:
