The Fickle Game

There is only one thing that is certain in the game of Poker: You WILL lose. You will suffer seemingly endless amounts of bad beats, unlucky drawouts, and horrendous plays that always seem to suck out against you. Almost all players, from Doyle Brunson to the two great Phils, Ivey and Hellmuth, have gone on terrible losing streaks and gone broke many times. But to be a successful poker player you have to play the percentages, and understand it is a game of patience. You may go bust 10 straight times when you have a 70% to 30% advantage and get drawn out. It happens to the best of us. Fortunately for us, the percentages WILL even out over the long run, its just the nature of mathematics.

So I guess this rant has 2 main points to it.

1. If you are serious about playing online poker, start with a high enough bankroll to be able to withstand these inevitable swings of luck. There is no set amount you should start with, but many poker pros believe that 20 times the amount of the tournament buy-in is a safe amount to start with.

2. Don't go on tilt. When you lose a tough hand, you aren't thinking as clear as you normally would about the next hand. It is just one hand, and there will be many others to play. Continue to play your game and avoid making reckless decisions trying to make up for the chips you just lost.

Gettin Wet

Its been quite awhile since I have actually played online poker (3 years actually), but Ive started to reintroduce myself to the water.

To be honest I've played four games in the past week and haven't placed quite yet but even a blind squirrel finds a nut. But I'm not doing this for just any nut, I'm doing it for THE NUTS, so the poker world beware cause here comes Pro Pain.

Poker tip: Get pumped up before taking down some serious chips; whether its eating your favorite comfort foods, listening to some kick ass jams or enjoying a tall bloody Mary. Getting yourself in the game is always the first step towards taking home the gold.

Your friend- Pro Pain

A Poker Observers Stab at the Truth

Having watched much more poker than I have actually played, this portion of the blog will be devoted to a thorough exploration of the game, by a definite “outsider”. As I reflected on my knowledge and ideas of poker, I realized I knew little to nothing about the actual history or origins of the game. Beyond the tangible history of poker, is the irrefutable impact poker has had on modern culture. I will also track the economic, cultural and possibly even political impacts that poker has had on our country and world.

Sound boring? Well that is exactly what I'm going for, ask anyone I am the most boring person you will every meet.

So where to begin? As I scour the Internet for relevant facts, journals, statistics, etc. you will, I’m sure, wait with baited breath for the enlightened products of my exhaustive research.

Enjoy!?