What a great prize night

On Monday night, the 2010 British Poker Awards, run by Bluff magazine, were held in central London. Naturally, your first question will be: was the "Best contribution to poker" award won by that dedicated author Victoria Coren, whose gripping memoir of midnight adventures with colourful characters, For Richer For Poorer: A Love Affair With Poker , is surely the greatest contribution to gambling culture in the last 12 months? And the answer is: why yes, funnily enough, it was. So that's a helpful prize, if you're wondering what to seek out at your local bookshop and might otherwise panic-grab the latest Jeremy Clarkson. Another useful category is "Best UK card room" (Dusk Til Dawn in Nottingham): the endorsement should encourage more players to discover this airy, comfortable, well run poker room. "Best poker league" points players to thenutspokerleague.com , which is a neat way to find pub tournaments in your local area. "Best UK poker forum" directs you to thehendonmob.com ; you should also check out the forum at Blonde Poker , which is full of lively content, but the Hendon Mob has the biggest readership and its complete website is a beacon of the UK scene. Next week I'll discuss the individual awards (best tournament player, cash player, all-rounder and so on), in the hope of nailing the question: what makes a great poker player? Awards to individuals are always controversial, because people inevitably raise alternative names – and some disapprove of the very principle, on the grounds that poker winnings are their own prize anyway. But what the hell; it's fun to have those arguments. I am reminded of a priest friend, whose diplomatic comment on the pope's imminent visit is, "I look forward to this greatly, not least for the debate it will create." victoriacoren.com