Solitude has but one disadvantage -

it is apt to give one too high an opinion of one's self. In the world we are sure to be often reminded of every known or supposed defect we may have. -Lord Byron

Ok, it is a long way from one of the standard bearers for English Romanticism to the 21 year old computer jockey sitting 1-2 NL in his sunglasses and hooded sweatshirt. But if poker was around, Byron would have been playing (likely with someone else's money). Additionally, he knew the joys of solitude and making one's own way.

This quote cuts several ways for me. Like many regular players, I'm a loner. I do not remember when I became such a person, but at some point I just got into the habit of spending more time with me than with others to the point where now it feels like real work to "socialise". Small talk is for small minds and all that. For my poker this can be a problem because it is good to have people to discuss hands with, not to mention some support to cushion the inevitable crushing turns of fate. I am also prone to believe (despite much incontrovertible evidence to the contrary) that I am the smartest guy in the room. Which also results in my poker earn suffering.

I suppose this is much on my mind because I just returned from a long weekend in another city where I went to play poker. The main draw was a tournament with a decent payout (I don't play tournaments as a rule, but this was an exception). My tourney story can be summed up by saying I finished 55th out 523 entrants (bubble was at 42) having spent the entire morning of the second day looking for appropriate moments to get my stack in pre-flop. But I spent some time with some people I know from my regular game who were also in the same town for the same tournament. This, in turn, reminded me how out of practice I am at spending time with people away from the table. It also provided some interesting insights into my image at the table from those whom I play with.

Nothing earth shattering, but Byron was right.