Poker Down Under and Every Where Else: July 2009

Dress for Poker Success!

Every time we go somewhere we wear certain clothing to suit the location and function, and also the purpose of our outing. If going to the beach, we would wear our swimwear, to a cocktail party; a cocktail dress or suit. To be dressed suitable for each outing serves a purpose. To swim successfully of course we need swimmers. To discuss business at a cocktail function we cannot wear our sportswear. Our attire serves a purpose. The attire worn during a poker tournament has the same reasoning as swimmers and a cocktail gown. The attire serves a purpose.

Many people think that attire makes little difference, but it makes a huge difference for most of us, especially novice and amateur poker players!

To wear glasses hides our eyes; some say our eyes are the windows to our souls – the last thing we want to show at a poker table is what our “soul” is feeling and thinking. Wearing sun glasses is necessary attire for almost every poker player – unless they play with their eyes closed!

To wear a cap at a poker table can hide some obvious “signs” (tells) also – firstly they aid in shading the eyes from view a little more; they also cover points such as our temples which in some people can be seen pulsating a million miles per hour during times of stress.

Wearing a hoody or collared shirt is another must! Indeed the pulsating neck can be a dead giveaway.

Wear all attire that has a purpose during a poker tournament or cash game. We may look like idiots when wearing such items as caps and hoodies, but to not wear them and lose all your chips you are going to look stupider!

Drinking Kills - Poker Skills!

“Drink Drive – Bloody Idiot” is a commonly used phrase in Australia. We have bumper stickers and continual commercials indicating the issues of driving under the influence of alcohol. The commercials explain how alcohol effect a person’s; coordinate movement, making of sensible judgements and dealing with complex problems after each alcoholic drink. Playing in a poker tournament or cash game is something that we can make comparison to driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol with. Drink Play! – Bloody Idiot! Drinking Kills POKER SKILLS!

When playing in a poker tournament we need precision decision making skills and very good response actions. There are many poker players who sit and have a “few” drinks and assume this does not alter their game. Some of these players who have a “few” drinks actually say it helps improve their game. Indeed they may relax more after a “few” drinks, but let’s look at the facts of what really happens to their brain!

After your first drink, it takes just 5 minutes for alcohol to enter your brain and start to interfere with the way brain cells communicate. First, you lose the ability to assess risks. Then, it affects your capacity to make decisions. After just a “few” alcoholic drinks, you have lost your ability to be able to handle complex problems. You can still look at and fold cards BUT – it’s the higher skills you lack, the ones that are of HIGHEST IMPORTANCE in your game. I now ask you – Are you happy to sit and have 3 drinks and play for a nice sum of money during an online poker tournament or even a poker tournament at the WSOP or EPT? Although “relaxed” as some might say – determining even pot odds can be difficult!

Let’s face the facts, if you do; You are going to have to be a true champion as your skills and poker strategy are going to be crippled compared to those who have decided not drink at the table! Play Poker and Drink – Bloody Idiot! Drinking Kills Poker Skills

Omaha hahaha

Although the game of Omaha has been around for a very long time, takes a lot of skill, and is far from an easy game, many people laugh it off! “You are playing Omaha; hahaha”. I am often asked what I am doing, and when I say playing Omaha that is usually the response.

No Limit Texas Hold’em is seen as the KING of poker. Let me tell you though that Omaha is no laughing matter. For anyone who hasn’t played Omaha, it is a very difficult game to master. Omaha is also a game which can be very profitable over time, especially with new comers fooling around and making a joke of this serious game. In realistic terms Omaha is the same as Texas Hold’em, but as many would know you are dealt four hole cards instead of two. Most players who are in-experienced in this game see this as making it easier to play when in fact having 4 cards makes it harder. Let’s say we have trip 7’s in our hand as our hole cards. We can only use 2 of them. An inexperienced player can see this hand as a great hand! They immediately think they have trips!

Think again, in every aspect! Omaha is far from easy and having a good hard look at the rules, Omaha strategy and skill needed for it is a must before hitting an online poker table. Don’t laugh off Omaha, give it a go!

3 Stage NL Texas Hold’em Tournament Play (2 – Second Stage)

It has always been certain in my mind that tournament play must be split into 3 stages, the start, middle and final stage. The middle stage of a poker tournament is a very important stage. This stage is where we must really start making our moves and playing hard, strong and solid poker to ensure we are ready for stage 3!

Stage 1 is all about chip gathering. Depending on your position there are no 2 cards that are not worth looking at in a poker tournament. I read a book by a major poker tournament winner not so long ago; of over 350 hands of poker tournament play he only played 22 premium hands. Players who sat back in the middle phase of their tournament and didn’t “make enough moves” and chip gather were mince meat by stage 3; with antes and blinds eating their chip stack alive.

Never sit back and wait until you have a premium hand in the middle stage of your tournament play. Watch your opponents, pick on their weaknesses and treat them as customers. Be your poker table’s cash till! Alike the initial tournament stage; steal, feel out weaknesses and like a chip monk gather chips! Make sure that when stage 3 of your poker tournament arrives you are not in a position where a double up is necessary. I am always out in front come the final poker tournament stages because I chip gathered and did not sit waiting for pocket aces.

If you are in your “zone” alike the kings of poker – you can take down a pot from any unexpected player with 7 and 2 in your hand! Be careful though – know when to back off! Alike the first stage of poker tournament play small suited connectors, A 10 off suit, you can even play junk hands in position assuring to pick the smaller stacks. Do not try blind thieving every orbit as players will pick up on this. Move your game around and be a non predictable. My number 1 piece of advice above all this is never rack up against the chip leader in a big hand unless you have the Nutz!

Luck Vs Skill in Texas Hold’em

There has always been an argument about poker that it is a game of luck and skill. How much luck is involved? And how much skill is involved? People have used all kinds of statistical databases to determine the answer to this question and from my research there are many varied figures. Some say it is 50% luck 50% skill, others say as little as 15% luck and even 4% luck is involved.

I sit back each night and watch televised poker. I look closely at players online poker statistics. Without doing huge mathematical equations I believe that from what I see the results speak for themselves. It is always the same well known professional poker players on final tables at the World Poker Tour. It is always the same people with high online poker win rates and statistics. This comes to make me believe there isn’t a chance on earth that Texas Hold’em could be 50% luck, if this was the case we would see different “lucky ducks” winning all the time!

A well skilled poker player can push anyone out of a hand with any 2 cards by careful analysis and precision betting. Doing this is indeed skill and that’s why we see some poker players with 6 to 12 World Series of Poker Bracelets and some players with no chance of even making it to the tournament. Indeed at times some luck is involved there is no doubt. There is also no doubt that poker; including online poker is a game of skill!

Tilting Twitter Twits

Of late it has come to my attention - and most likely yours too if you are on Facebook, Twitter or other similar online sites that a twitter phenomenon has started. Most importantly I have noticed the effect this is having on the world of poker and some poker player’s poker game, some of the biggest guns of poker being involved too!

In case you don't know, twitter is an online site basically used to tell people continually what you are doing via mobile messaging. You type something such as "I am currently writing an article for an online poker blog". This is done on a device such as your mobile phone or directly on the twitter site - www.twitter.com So let’s say I am a Twitter Twit, a very popular one at that! I type as above that I am writing this article and my "followers" receive this on both their computer at twitter or if pre-set, on their mobile phones. I must add before continuing, some people have more than 2000 followers in the poker world. This is a lot of mobile SMS texting after 1 tweet. A big bonus for the telecommunications companies!

The point I am getting to is the following: people (Twitter Twits) are doing continual updates instead of having continual focus and concentration on their poker strategy. They should PLAY POKER not Tweet! They tell the world, "how many chips they have, how they are currently grinding, how they are going all in or about to be busted". Even more alarming is a lot of these people are tweeting from of all places, the World Series of Poker! Not surprised when I see their tweet: "I have just been busted out". What do they expect?

Using a mobile phone whilst driving a car is extremely dangerous we are told. Similarly incompatible are poker tables and Twitter Twits, although these usually represent danger to themselves only. Twittering in my opinion equates to loss of concentration and foreshadows danger even if done during a break from the table. There is a bonus though, for those who follow and don't Tweet. Make sure you are following the Tilting Twitter Twit on your poker table and you are sure to know their next move. Be a follower whilst playing - avoid being a Twit!

Feel free to follow me on twitter - HotAusChick is my twitter name – I can assure you however I won’t be playing online poker or at the World Series of Poker and tweeting!

3 Stage NL Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament Play (1 – First Stage)

It has always been a certainty in my mind that tournament play must be split into 3 stages, the start, middle and final stages. I have had many people tell me that it is the first stages of a poker tournament that they find very relaxing. Play safe, play tight, sit back and relax is their theory.

The survival stages of a tournament are seen as phase 1 and 2 by most of these players. The final stage: cashing!

I tend to think a little differently, especially seeing these people who find “the first stages of a tournament very relaxing (that according to them is merely a “survival stage”) come to me for advice on the final stage of their poker tournament. Usually I direct them to look closely at their initial tournament phase, as I know this is where the actual issue is. They haven’t played enough hands! They have played the “safe, survival” theory!

Surviving is a must in a poker tournament, especially in the first stage; but survival does not mean playing completely safe and taking no risks, in my opinion. I have been cashing non-stop lately during online poker tournament play. In fact, not just cashing, but winning. I am taking down a lot of tourneys! I shall discuss my tournament play strategy as compared to most.

I don’t just play premium hands in the first stages of a poker tournament. I play position; I steal, and like a chipmunk I gather chips! I don’t fold every hand that isn’t premium. I play what people see as “risky” but it is all worthwhile! I am always out in front come middle and final poker tournament stages because I chip gathered and did not sit waiting for pocket aces.

Try my method in your next tourney. Forget about the common theories! See how you go using my theory and see if it works for you. The main points of my first stage theory are; thieve blinds, play small suited connectors, A 10 off suit, the unexpected hands, do it while everyone else plays SAFE - but back off when you smell danger. Remember the blinds are small and you can take advantage of playing these types of poker hands cheaply!

Attacking Multi-Table Players

There are many online poker players multi-tabling (playing on multiple poker tables) each time they are online gaming. Some players play 6-10 tables, even more! Although these people see themselves as money making sharks I see them as fish. Multi-Table internet poker players pay no attention to the players around them, merely the hands in front of them. Multi- table players are easy to pin point, they take a long time to make their moves, at times using all their time clock to the point they are sitting out. Checking they are actually multi – tabling is easy, search for them with the search tab and see how many tables they are actually playing on. Unless they have internet connection related issues (which could be the cause of slow play) you will see a list of poker tables they are currently playing poker on.

If someone is multi-tabling more than 3-4 tables they can be an online gaming player’s feast. They can be attacked and attacked, again. They have no idea as to really what’s going on at their table. They pay no attention to their surrounding playing patterns and half of the time have no idea how many players are left in their poker tournament or sitting at the table! In general, these players play “A grade” starting hands only. They are what I call auto players. They have automatic fold and call responses. Raising them with ANY two cards pre-flop with no one else in the hand time; and time again can increase your chip stack like no tomorrow! If they bite back a little, you know they have one of their A grade hands. If you multi-table, ask yourself – are you really a shark?

Auto Select Feature Can Be the Devil!

The auto select feature on an online poker tables can be a handy little tool, especially when multi-tabling (playing on multiple tables). This tool can also be the devil though. I learnt a hard lesson the other day, one I will not forget while using this feature. Don’t get me wrong! Again, I say that this internet poker tool can be a highly handy one indeed. Forever will I use it for FOLDING, auto call/check though I am now not so certain! ;)

Here’s why: I was deep into a tournament only 2 days ago and leading by a mile. Blinds were 800/400; antes had kicked in. I was sitting in the 1st place with 29k+ in chips; the 2nd player was on 25k chips. Third place was on 7k chips and from third down, the chip stack obviously was lower. A massive 22k lay in front of everyone in the pot. I thought I had another tourney wrapped up! BUT! I used the auto call button!

In online gaming; bad beats are quite common; though not usually inflicted upon you by yourself! I had 4, 5 of clubs for the 3rd time in a row, this time in the big blind and in an emotional burst I decided that I would play it this time! There was a raise of only $800 (minimum raise) till then. As I clicked “CALL”, 2nd in chips went all in with their 25k – since I was multi-tabling I could not change the option to fold quick enough, the other online poker players following this person had “auto fold” already clicked. And there I was! Up against pocket aces, my little 4 and 5 of clubs stood no chance. My stack was all but gone.

From now on I will use the auto feature to FOLD ONLY! This is a choice we can make and always a personal choice for each of us. So here is a wise lesson learnt through the loss of big money. A nice weekly wage down the drain and me final table bubble girl!

Though this won’t classify as a classical example of a bad beat, it is said that “bad beats happen and that’s poker!”

Play Texas Hold’em Cash and Pay for Your Poker Tournaments

Many people have a preference to play either cash or tournaments. When we take a good hard look, personally we all have a preference between cash and tournament play. Our preference cannot come into consideration though. To keep our bank roll balanced we must play cash games to play poker tournaments. Let me explain!

When a poker player only plays poker tournaments it becomes quite expensive. Most poker professionals only make final table in a major tournament once per year. Poker professionals cash in tournaments maybe 23% of the time – depending on who they are and how they play. With the cost of major poker tournaments more than $10,000.00 entry we need a big bank roll and it needs to come from somewhere! CASH TABLES!

Most poker professionals that I have spoken to (poker professionals who are NOT sponsored) play Texas Hold’em cash tables regularly to fund their poker tournament play. Their poker tournament entry is a lot higher than most of ours but we need to use the same concept regardless of the stakes we play. Play online poker cash tables and build your bank roll for online poker tournament play. Play cash tables at the casino to fund casino tournament play. Your bank roll needs to come from somewhere and that’s cash tables! Get on those cash tables now! Learn the difference between cash and tournament play. Play free poker games and see how you go! Good Luck!

The Negative Poker Killer

Each day, most of us play a game of poker; either online poker or at a casino. Sometimes, for no known reason we have a losing streak. No matter what we do we can’t seem to win. With the losing streak and inability to win comes a huge amount of personal negativity. Let me tell you, without canning this negativity, this streak will not end.

As we sit at a poker table we vision what lies ahead in our poker tournament. Those who sit down saying to themselves “here we go again, time to lose” – lose! The negative energy they have embedded into themselves convinces them they can’t win. It kills their game, kills their chance of winning whatsoever. A person in a state of negativity will be holding pocket aces and wonder: who is going to be the player cracking my aces? Their aces seem to be cracked every time! Their focus is more on the cracking than playing them right.

Killing your game with negativity is a hard thing to avoid at times. Many people say “I am on a losing streak, when will this end?” This comment alone shows negativity; while you are negative, the losing streak won’t end! With a negative outlook you are setting yourself up for a loss in any poker variant, texas hold’em , Omaha , stud ; basically, any internet poker game!

It has always been a suggestion from various people on poker forums to have a break when you are losing. I say simply kick the negativity and focus on the poker tournament AT HAND. Forget the losses and leave them behind. Clear your mind, clear your thoughts and start THIS game as one separated from the previous games you played and lost in. You do it when you win: “Wuuhuu! I won; next game”. The same applies to losses; “Next Game!”

Leave the past behind on the poker table , and of course, in life itself.

Danielle AKA – Hot Aussie Chick

Your Poker Career (3) Living Your Poker Dream!

The poker world is indeed a big one; one with many avenues, potential and profitability. I have covered a few questions that have been asked of me lately A LOT! These are regarding sponsorship and becoming a pro player. I hear time and time again though “I just want to live my poker dream!” It made me think: What is this poker dream, indeed?

Which poses the question: Is everyone’s poker dream the same?

Can we, those with an interest in this industry all live it?

What is a poker dream? What is this dream made of?

Is it merely playing online poker and poker tournaments?

Soon I shall explain the dream that I am living, to show you the industry, and living a poker dream that is beyond the obvious. But for now, I will write about what I see as the dreams dreamt by most people. Hopefully by writing this, you will see that living a poker dream goes beyond just being a champion. There are many ways to “live the dream!” both on and off the internet and attained by doing several other things than just by playing Texas hold ‘em poker.

To have the poker dream to win the WSOP final event is a dream, which is possible to live, yet with low odds. To win a WSOP event (bracelet) is another dream; again, 55+ events each year gives you a minimal chance to live this dream. The chance of cashing is good when playing the events, but winning a bracelet is long odds at the most! The same applies to all other major events. This surely cannot be the poker dream that everyone wants to live. It is a great dream but less then possible for most.

Being a poker professional is indeed living a poker dream. It can be fruitful and more than fun. Travel, drinks, socialisation, wonderful meals, a hospitable life - the spoils one can only dream of having forever. Living this dream, if not managed properly though, can have huge slumps; slumps that you have to be prepared to get out with a whatever-it-takes attitude!

Being a “sponsored poker professional” is another dream people have, one that they want to live. Indeed, again the good life can come from this – it is the same as being an independent poker professional (pro, for short). Living this dream can be seen as probably easier than the rest, but is it? Being a sponsored pro gives you the necessary entries – among other things - to play for your sponsoring poker company . And with this, come the demands of the job and the requirements. You are a marketing tool and usually chosen as you are indeed the role model for this job. You need to be certain, because if this is the dream you wish to live, then it is exactly what it says it is. The how’s and why’s are something that I will no doubt cover in my next few blog posts - the specific requirements and job features of each position. In accepting the position of a “sponsored poker professional” you generally have to download online poker software (specific) and play poker on request. Sounds easy but may not be particularly so for some folks set in their mind with what is good for them! Remember, someone else is staking their hard-earned cash and reputation on YOU and it is only fair that they set the terms on quite a few of your gaming activities.

Living the poker dream can be done in simpler format also. Like playing on an online gaming software site day in and day out as a living, using your winnings for that exact reason: to make a living! Use funds to travel, but not necessarily the live poker tournaments. You can play poker as you choose, wherever you choose and whenever you choose. This was my original plan. Play internet poker games and win - simple. Regarding my own personal poker dream though, and importantly so, I will show you that there is life beyond a table in this world of poker!

Living a poker dream to me equates to having a career based purely in the poker world. Living and breathing poker, day in day out. There are many people who do this in many ways, who look beyond the square that we live in. Living a poker dream can be much more than merely playing poker day in and day out. The poker industry has many niches to carve for many people.

I live my poker dream in a completely different way, yet I breathe poker all day every day! My poker life equates to living the poker dream. I write poker, talk poker, broad cast poker on air. I manage poker, I play poker. My life is poker and therefore my “poker dream” is fulfilled. As I said at the beginning, it is a big industry. As part of your dream you can be in management, report, deal, work with poker software developers to develop poker software, sell, manufacture, market, co-ordinate and play. Poker is just like any business and it runs like any other business. It needs many little busy people to make it a successful one. Think of how a successful business works. Poker is the same – we even need accountants! Anyone reading this could have useful skills needed in the poker industry!

Well I am living my poker dream and I even play lesser than before living my dream. Ask yourself, again, after reading this: What is my poker dream and do I really want to live it? If yes, keep reading my blog as the days, weeks and months go by.

Feel free to jump into this fun world of online gaming and poker tournaments on and off the felt by using my handy hints.

Danielle – AKA – Hot Aussie Chick

Your Poker Career (2) How to Gain Sponsorship

A question I asked myself some time ago was “How Do Poker Players Gain Sponsorship?” Of recent times this is a question I have been asked a lot by other people! By a lot, I mean a LOT! So why are people asking me this question? Aiding Cindy QUEEN-BEE Morgan to alter the path in her life and gain sponsorship as a brand ambassador from raidbet.net has made this question a big one! This appears to have made me a contact everyone wants to have. Not surprisingly, it is every poker players dream to step into the world of poker sponsorship. There are certain paths and requisites that need to be full filled for this to happen for anyone. Before giving out any hints however, I ask you; my readers; Do you need sponsorship?

There are many well known poker players in the world that have no sponsorship. There are many players who make hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, again without sponsorship. Sponsorship is not a necessary tool for making it big in the world of poker. This is one aspect I suggest everyone take into consideration. As you read my blog remember you are reading the blog of a fairly well known player, possibly the most well known female player in Australia (Closely followed if not now following Queen-Bee LOL). I am not sponsored. I am making a great living from poker. I am not taking down huge tournaments and winning big in live ring games at major casinos worldwide. But indeed I have made it big (in different ways) and on my own. This is my point to this paragraph.The most obvious way for any player to have online poker rooms crawling over them begging them to be part of their team is to win big. Take down the WSOP, WPT, Aussie Millions, EPT and the like. One may say they cannot afford the buy-in, there can only be one winner. Indeed, this is right. Again I state this is the obvious way and until this year when online gaming companies such as raidbet.net started changing the way player sponsorship works. This was the only way. I took a big part in making this revolutionary concept happen, a change in the outlook of player sponsorship. It has taken a revolutionary company such as Cybertech Holdings International to hear my voice. One can only hope that other companies will follow this world leader! Perfect Yet Changing! Recently signed Erik Aude shows other companies have started following Cybertech. Erik was snapped up by Ontilt Clothing without any major event win.

Performing a miracle such as Chris “Jesus” Ferguson has, is another way to get needed sponsorship. Fight your way from nothing to something. Rack up against the big guns. Another example is Brandy Hawbaker (god bless her heart). These people took grinding to the next level. In doing so (I refer to my first blog of this series) became a professional poker player big time! They made themselves known this way. Until this day I am unaware if Brandy was ever sponsored, if not indeed she was a good contender prior to her death. Chris Ferguson was by FTP.

The final way is to be known to gain sponsorship. Cindy QUEEN-BEE Morgan is a classic example. Queen-Bee made herself known. She was passionate, poker was her life. She made others need her, she supported. She became an APL ambassador. She was her own voice. Be your own voice. Those who speak out get noticed. Cindy spoke, spoke to the world. This must not be confused with talking to thousands of people. By speak, I mean with all tools available to communicate who you are. Who you are is what makes you marketable. Marketable is what companies require. Hence, be marketable. QUEEN-BEE packs a sting! This is a marketable name and phrase. Cindy stuck with this. She also stuck with her favorite hand to accompany it AQ. This may seem like nothing but when 500 people call AQ QUEEN-BEE it becomes something. Quite possibly one day equitable to the dead man’s hand A8. Let’s continue on these self promoting tactics. Play the same online poker site, play at the same internet gaming place, write on the same poker forums. Make yourself a well known player and use the same name everywhere you go. I made an immediate mistake with my name. My screen name was Danielle Angel, hardly marketable for any company and something that would not stick in the minds of poker associates. Regardless, I was becoming well known and fast due to my online communications in that name. Suddenly my name changed, an article changed it for me! “It’s All About Poker for Hot Aussie Chick”. From the day of the article print this was my poker name, Hot Aussie Chick (See Blog Hot Beyond Hot). Again as Marketable as a Queen-Bee who packs a sting.

So, I now ask you, my reader, my friends – Do you need to be sponsored in order to make it big in the poker world? If so I have hopefully given you some ideas to help you make this happen. Regardless of Sponsorship or being a professional poker player as the world sees one, you CAN live your poker dream. Stay tuned for my next blog which is exactly that! Living your poker dream! A life of poker and not necessarily only playing! In depth knowledge from me – to you!

Your Poker Career (1) How to Become a Pro Player

Of recent times a lot has happened in the poker world, from UGEIA through to the EPT and the unfortunate passing of popular players in our poker world. Poker is televised every night on television and is indeed in a boom that I can not see stopping. Amidst all of this, there is one topic many people keep coming to me asking about. It is certainly a questionable topic that has been

around for many years and also one that most recently has become thousands and thousands of peoples’ dreams. “How do I become a poker pro? How do I get sponsored? How do I live my poker dream?” This sums the questions up I have been recently asked.

It appears to many that I am the person to ask this, I guess I am. I have had discussions with many a poker pro in this world, from the biggest to the smallest; specifically on this subject. I have recently been a main contributor in the sponsoring process of Cindy “QUEEN-BEE” Morgan as the Brand Ambassador for raidbet.net from start to finish and indeed was one of the first to speak to Billy The Croc on his recent FTP signing. I believe I was the first to write both stories.

So to save everyone asking me all the time, I thought this would be a great thing to write down for you all; my thoughts, beliefs and advice on doing the above.

The 3 questions asked above indeed all need in depth answers. There is a lot to cover for all three. More then I can place in this blog entry. Because this is the case, I shall answer one of these questions for three weeks running.

Firstly as mentioned in Eat Professional Poker Players Alive, I wrote that “I myself am not a Pro!” I must make this clear. Many people do believe I am a professional poker player but again, I am not. This however is through choice. I would have been a pro player by now if I wanted to. I do not wish to do this at this time in my life. This brings me to answer question number 1 that everyone asks me. How do I become a pro?

A professional poker player can be defined as someone who makes their entire living from poker. A person whom is a professional, who pays taxes each year as a professional! Being a professional poker player needs to be clear in your mind. It does not necessarily mean “Sponsorship.” “Playing on an online site with a red mark against your name” or anything of that kind. It is a job in basic terms.

To clarify how to become a pro is simple for me to do. You need to have your timing and finances perfect, this is not an easy job/position to step into. Firstly, ensure that your poker earnings are exceeding your 9 to 5 job earnings. As the saying goes, don’t give up your day job! Until you are making a large enough income to pay rent, utilities, food and all living costs from poker you must not attempt to become a pro as your living. Many people get to this stage by working their normal job and designating an extra 4 hours minimal per day to increase their poker bank rolls. This is the most important factor of how you become pro. Ensure you can!

When you are making enough money to support yourself living wise and have a great “poker” bankroll to continue playing in tournaments and cash games which will fund you daily. Basically you ARE a pro. There is no real answer as to how do I become one, it happens through poker skill, bank roll management and careful planning. You will indeed know when you are at that stage. When reaching it, in the bin with your old job and best of luck on the felt. Remember though that as a pro you will need to pay taxes. Ensure you know all legalities revolving around your new job.

Stay tuned for question number 2 to be answered in my next blog, “How do I get sponsored?”

Danielle - AKA - Hot Aussie Chick xoxoxoxox

Hot Beyond Hot

We all see the words 'Hot and Chick' combined together in a sentence and what do we think? Most people think of a young, sensuous woman who is physically beautiful in every way. This is a very natural way to think. It has been implanted over periods of time into our brains a hot chick is SEXY, big breasted, has beautiful hair, face, legs you name it!

My name in the world of online gaming is none other than Hot Aussie Chick. I remember the first article ever written about me. The heading read “It’s All About Poker For Hot Aussie Chick!”. Indeed I was in shock especially when seeing the glamorous toned and over sexy picture of Pamela Anderson on the page next to me in almost full size! My tiny little picture was nothing on hers and one could never expect to see them self as a “Hot Aussie Chick” the way the world perceives one in any case.

I thought “Oh well! Hot Aussie Chick it is!” and took that name on board for the poker industry. Never for a second did I give a thought as to the expectations I would have to live up to and the personal physical maintenance involved. Regardless, the name stuck. I soon started writing for the publication with my column being called Hot Topics.

I gained excessive attention and suddenly found myself as a poker podcast segment host, for the Australian sector mainly. Again surprised, shocked and every other associated word that comes to mind when hearing my introduction – “Hi Your listening to poker down under and everywhere else with that Hot Aussie Chick Danielle Benham”.

It seemed there was no escaping this name. It stuck like glue. Panic set in as to whether I could live up to being a “Hot Chick”! This set me into a real spin. I was then on a mission. I went to such degree to decipher this word “Hot” it wasn’t funny. I looked up definitions in various dictionaries; I asked people “do you really think I am a “Hot Chick?””. The answer was always “Hell Yeah”. Although it seemed a pointless quest, I continued on this mission finally getting an answer which was more than philosophically right. I now knew why i was branded a “Hot Chick”.

To look at the real definitions of hot and take away the implanted slang and put it in the context of calling a woman “hot” now made sense. Let me explain how!

I was told by my philosophical friend and colleague that hot was more than just looks, it was a combination of things. Indeed he was right. Hot could be placed in front of many words. "a hot temper"; "a hot topic"; "a hot new book"; "a hot love affair"; "a hot argument". All of these things are not “hot” because of physical appearance. In fact, they are not physically attractive at all! A hot chick can be compared.

I realised I was being called hot for many reasons. I was smart, witty, on time, organised, fast and furious on a poker table, quick with compliments, on top of marketing, awesome with computers, knew my online gaming, full on in the poker world in every way indeed I was HOT – BURNING in fact!

I keep on top of my physical appearance as well as I can; regardless I will remain “hot” forever, maybe not a chick (being seen as a young lass), but for now I will accept the “chick” part of my name. Forever will I be in the poker industry and hot on the tails of the best online gaming systems, players and strategies. Forever will I burn less then expecting opponents at the poker table and each and every day my skills and abilities will only get better in every aspect of my career. Now that’s hot! In the industry of online gaming, specifically the poker side there are few “chicks” that go beyond a poker table. To all those that do, I call you HOT.

I hope after reading my first blog some embedding has left your brain on the typical “hot” definition. Next time someone says to you that “she is not hot” think beyond a physical appearance and remind the person telling you this, “physically; maybe not so, but she is smoking in every other way!”

Watch for my next blog, Becoming a Professional Poker Player! Indeed helping others do this is one HOT NICHE of mine ;)

Danielle - Aka - Hot Aussie Chick xoxoxoxo

Poker Down Under and Every Where Else