The Poker Genetic Study - Part 1A. Do our genetics contribute to our mental skills and abilities in poker?

It has often been noted to me that poker is in the blood. Thinking back many years at my Great Grandmother Ballard’s Post Christmas Lunch table they were playing draw poker for coins (3 tables actually – we have a big family and could basically make up half the Aussie Millions contenders if we made an effort. My cousins may correct me but I believe I have around 280 of them LOL). There was no doubt they all loved their cards, it wasn’t just poker they played but all kinds of games.

I think of the post xmas lunches and then think of the city I live in and my relatives that are in it. I have quite a few of my cousins and uncles etc that live here. I rarely see them. When I do, it’s usually head to head at a poker table or briefly as we pass ways at my mums. My sister Roe plays poker too. She is only just 18 but plays pretty good for someone who has never delved beyond an online freeroll game. Then there are my kids ......

My question to me and everyone else as I think deeply on this subject Carrie Bradshaw style (Sex in the City writer who has a personality somewhat like mine) is:

Do our genetics contribute to our mental skills and abilities as a poker player?

Let me start by saying some names. Brunson, Hachem, Shulman, Mizrachi, – got the picture? It seems that poker runs in families. There is no doubt. You are either a black sheep or you fit right in. Well in my case I fit right in! With half of my clan anyway! Hello relatives who frequently read my posts! Xoxo

Anyway, back to the question – is it genetics? You know that’s a hard one to answer! Without in-depth scientific analysis, study and huge research which I clearly can’t afford to do I will never know. But what I do know is that it can only be one of 2 things. Genetic makeup or the daddy see, daddy do theory; or in other words poker as a second language. One of these things is what contributes to our natural skills and abilities as poker players. Maybe it is both?

I started thinking deeply about this a few months back when I was playing a home game of poker with my kids. It was them that begged me. They begged not only me but my boyfriend, my friend, they wanted a game with the “winner takes the bragging rights” and that’s all there was to it! So we played!

My children were talking like men in a strategy meeting. I was shocked! When you have a 12 year old, 11 year old and a 10 year old talking outs, probabilities, positioning it really gets kind of trippy, trust me on that one! Needless to say these kids have brilliant poker faces amidst their bursts of laughter at the obvious confusion of the adults that they are playing. I was hustled. There is no doubt; I was hustled for my home game bragging rights by a pack of minors. They cashed in their bragging rights in order of age, oldest to youngest with all of us adult poker players speechless.

My ex husband (he is surely going to read this ooops) is a gambler. Saturday he is betting on horses and raises 5 times the big blind on a cash table because his hole cards are 2 and 6 (his favourite hand) and he feels lucky is about his poker standard. If my children have poker in their blood it isn’t because of him, that’s for sure!

To add to this analysis my daughter is 5 years old and knows hand rankings, how to look at her cards, when to bet and when to raise (she isn’t too technical of course; she is very young). If poker was in her genetic makeup I believe that at her age she still wouldn’t have a clue on any of these things unless she learnt it alike children learn foreign languages. The same applies to my older kids and their talk on odds, positioning, probabilities and what not. Even if poker was in their genetic makeup they can’t just know these terms. They have soaked them in like a sponge.

When I look at the relatives in my over populated extended family that play poker it is immediate family groups that all play. In example: Uncle Ray, his son Box and Boxes son Little Box all rock at poker. On the other hand I have a string of cousins that don’t even know what a poker table is.

It appears from this brief research (and likely first research) that not only is poker in genetic make-up (as poker runs throughout whole families) but also that a poker players skills and abilities can be greatly attributed to by soaking in strategy at a very young age through the daddy see, daddy do theory.

In saying all of this I often wonder where I fit into the equation. No one in my immediate family plays poker except for my little sister Roe. My mum has no clue, my dad has no clue, my two brothers have no clue. Sure they have played once or twice but they are blackjack players. It is likely Roe soaked up poker as a second language from being around me too much alike my kids; as from what I know her dad didn’t play.

One thing is certain. Each and every family member that I have that plays poker has poker associated personality traits. They are good with money, they love a bit of a punt, they are patient, they all kind of have loud and outspoken personalities and they can all be very intimidating (I won’t continue on these pointers right now).

My question isn’t fully answered so I will continue to conduct research in an attempt to answer the question on genetic factors relating to a person’s poker ability. It appears after quick look in google there has been no previous genetic research on humans and poker. You can now classify this blog as Poker Down Under and Every Where Else Including the Deep in the Human Brain. Poker players have a right to know, genetics plays a big part in many sports on earth and one where you use your brain, body and soul is a necessity for research.

I am adding a page to my blog after passing / Easter called “HAC Poker Genetic Research Institute” or HPGRI in short J If anyone is interested in participating in my research on this topic or has some information, study notes or articles of interest related to it; please contact me via email on hotauschick@gmail.com you will be given credit!

I hope you enjoyed my first research article.

Copyright 2010. ~Danielle Adams-Benham Hot Aussie Chick Blog Spot. All Rights Reserved.

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Poker Scammers and Scandals? – Or Not?

It is my greatest interest to try to protect my friends in the poker industry; specifically that of the online industry which has been under the hammer for a long time now.

There have been a few online poker scams or scandals that have been in the news – this is old news, there is no doubt about that. Until another one occurs (which is less than likely) this is hopefully the last time they will be mentioned. I am not talking about these past poker scammers and their unethical tactics and scandals but others that people should be very cautious of at all times.

It is seen with pyramid selling in day to day life and also in “too good to be true deals” that these cults pray on the poker players who are under privileged, the same occur in the online poker industry and it is very sad. Thank fully it isn’t our trusty online poker sites that are doing this; I call it the people doing it the “hidden online hustlers”.

I have tested out all the “free bankroll deals” as an example of in my opinion of invisible online hustlers. Let me tell you my analysis. My analysis ends with – good luck cashing out your winnings, you are going to spend endless hours trying to gain enough points to do so. When you are talking $25 no deposit deals (as an example) you are going to have to spend weeks on end playing at very low limits to get anywhere and I mean WEEKS. You will in reality be very lucky to ever get the points required to cash out if you play by the book and stick to bank roll management. Poker Scam in my opinion – you may as well go and play on a play money site or deposit $20 and be done with it! At least if you win $1200 in a tourney you can get your cash depositing.

This doesn’t apply to every person who gets a free bankroll of course. Some WILL pass the requirements of the “promotion” eventually and cash out. There is always the minority. If you are one of these people please let me know. There isn’t anyone I have spoken to yet though that has cashed out (there are millions of players out there though).

So why do they do the whole “free bankroll deal” promotion? Why do they advertise $30 No Deposit at “whatever the site is”? They do it so they can make money from your rake. The offer is only available to clients who haven’t been a member of “whatever site it is” before and sign up through their affiliate links. People get frustrated playing at low, low limits and eventually make deposits if they like the site and WALLA! The free bankroll provider is in the money! Of course the more you play the more they earn.

I have some advice on using these promos for your best interest if you really want to use them. Choose a site, choose a free bankroll AND deposit. Do this if you plan to play higher stakes just to take advantage of a little bit of extra cash (although if playing higher stakes this isn’t much money to you) and the deposit bonus that comes with it. You see; with deposit bonuses you need to earn points to claim them anyway.

Additionally you could of course play the low limit stakes, earn as much as you can for a bit of fun and eventually make the point’s quota if you do it within their sometimes impossible time qualifying timelines.

For the right person, these deals are not all bad. They are not for me though!

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Getting a Poker Sponsorship - Is This For You?

Poker Sponsorships have many benefits to a poker player. The ultimate win for some poker players is gaining sponsorships of any type, shape or form. There are also many people who avoid gaining poker sponsorship at all costs and that’s because there are good reasons for them to do so.

I am betting that minimum 90% of people who read this blog are all for getting a poker sponsorship. That’s no doubt why you have come to read it. Some sponsorships offer more than others. Poker sponsorship contracts do vary! There is the obvious full sponsorship being for online and offline play. There is also live play sponsorship and then online as two separate types. A full sponsorship is likely to include a contract with deals along the following lines:

- Live Tournament Entries Paid

- Online Poker Play Funding

- Clothing Provided

- Travel and Associated Expenses Paid

- Bonuses for Huge Media Attention (summarised in short)

- Personal Page Website Dedication

However; there is always a catch and the catch isn’t avoided with sponsorship deals. It sounds absolutely fabulous right? Play online whenever you want, travel the world, dressed like king and bonuses when you gain nice media attention and a nice little spot on the sponsors site. Financial difficulties are now G.O.N.E. Again there is a catch though.

By taking on the role of a fully sponsored professional poker player there are things you have to provide in return and it isn’t just playing poker. These things make players in the know avoid such deals. Yes, you have your tourneys paid for but what % do you get when you win $2,000.000.00? I can tell you it isn’t the whole 2 mil; it isn’t nearly the whole 2 mil actually. The same applies when you are online funded time to pay up!

In addition to loss of winnings you lose the ability to relax. You are expected to blog, sign, and market – basically work an office job. Your emails, meetings and phone calls will be endless. Your working day is going to increase to around 16 hours. After 6 months you are going to be very tired! Even keeping control of things like facebook accounts, twitter etc can become very mundane.

You are expected to not just play at tournaments but also do whatever interviews, meetings and signings you are requested from your marketing boss. In fact; you may have a family members wedding to attend – too bad! You also have a tournament and a multitude of jobs to go with it. There is no up and bolt, it’s in your contract! These things must be abided to; and I can understand why too! The sponsoring company is paying you a lot of money.

Bookwork and taxes are likely to become a hassle for you also; there’s no doubt about that. Just remember you need receipts! Some are lucky – the best of the best professional sponsored players do get assistants. Is this really lucky though? They get assistants as they are so damn busy they need them!

Do you have an idea now why some people avoid sponsorships at all costs? Do not get me wrong; every company obviously has different contracts. Every sponsorship deal is going to be different. Mark my words though, have a look around – go see what some of the biggest pros in the world have done in the last few months and don’t forget the things you can’t see. Google search their name and you will find their blogs, and what they have had to do in order to complete their jobs: It shouldn’t be too hard to track the life of a pro for a week by google searching – unless they are on a working holiday.

Being a sponsored pro is a job and everyone needs to remember this! I get asked every day, can you hook me up with some sponsors? Who do I see for sponsorships? My suggestion is that unless you want a somewhat controlled life – go get backed instead! Also research how to gain a poker poker sponsorship. An article can be found by clicking here: How to Gain Sponsorship

On the complete opposite hand - poker sponsorships can be a brilliant thing for many players and completely suit their lifestyle. If it wasn't the case, there wouldn't be any. Do your research though before signing the deal!

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