I'll admit - I think that I'm smarter than most people. I'm not fully sure what it means (there are all sorts of intelligences out there. For example, I think my overall emotional intelligence is average at best), but I have done very well academically and in most competitive situations which has over time molded my self image to be where it is.

I am around a lot of smart people, but seldom do I meet someone who just utterly humbles me on an intellectual level. Someone who is not just on another level, but I feel that they are on a whole different dimension.

So ... anytime I read something that Haseeb "INTERNET POKERS" Qureshi writes or discusses in a video, I experience this humbling sensation. To me, he defines intellectual genius. With some smart people, I look at what they did and think "yeah ... given their education and experience, I probably could have done with they did", but when I read one of Haseeb's blog posts, or listen to him break down a poker hand, this happens:



For example, I was discussing Rush with Citizenwind yesterday and we started talking about running good or running bad. We both agreed that the EV line isn't really that indicative of whether you are running good or bad. We discussed the obvious situations of getting a set-over-set and losing, as well as getting to the river in a cooler situation and losing. The EV line doesn't really reflect those situations. Obviously there is more to the whole "running good/running bad" discussion, but Alvin and I pretty much kept it on level 2-3 when talking.

I remember reading something a long time ago that Haseeb wrote about variance, and remember it being on a whole other level. This morning I decided to find that post and when I made my way down to January 26, 2009, I found it aptly titled "Poker is a whore." As I proceeded to re-read it, my mind busted a nut all over my brain. This was written on level one billion. Not only is he able to even think of relevant ideas the way he does, but he is able to articulate that to others.

There are other posts in his blog which are equally as insightful, deep, and generally mind-blowing, but I can't really read another until my mind reloads, which might take a few days.