Who is a Recognised Poker Player? The List That SHOCKED the World!

Who is a Recognised Poker Player? The List That SHOCKED the World!

I recently wrote an article on Maxim naming the 20 Hottest Female Poker Players. I endeavoured to ask my partner Tyrone; which poker hotties do you think made the list? Tyrone started to rattle off a few names such as Vanessa Rousso, Tiffany Michelle, Jennifer Tilly, Clonie Gowen, Beth Shak and then paused and said “I don’t know of any other women who would be on that list! There are 20?”

I started to name some more names of female poker players that Tyrone would know such as Pamela Anderson; let’s face it every man knows Pamela Anderson! He said “She plays poker?” I advised him that: “Not only does she play poker but she used to own her own online poker site”. Tyrone’s immediate response was a sarcastic one “Well that makes choosing the top 20 easy! Basically any woman who picks up a deck of cards could be in it!” I stopped, I thought and my jaw dropped. It dropped because for once when it came to poker he was right!

Really should the listed women be in the list? Does everyone know them? Hell; I don’t even know half of them! I expected to see Maria Ho in the list before any of these women. Pamela Anderson I understand being part of it; she deserves to be; I know she plays poker but so does Jennifer Hawkins and Jennifer Hawkins was MISS UNIVERSE and is SMOKING hot!

Doesn’t everyone know Jennifer Hawkins? Why wasn’t she on the list? She plays poker she is one of the world’s hottest women! My friend Jill Russin is smoking hot, she plays poker too! In-fact Lacey Jones the face of the Canadian Poker Tour didn’t even make the list! I am shocked! Shouldnt she be in it above ladies who just “pick up cards and claim to be a player”. Needless to say what about some of the names Tyrone mentioned? Beth Shak and Clonnie Gowen?

It brings me to name these ladies and question – Who is a recognised poker player and how do they get on these lists?

A recognised poker player in my opinion is someone who has achieved. These are the players should make lists for being “The Hottest Female Poker Players” not just someone who may have played a few times in their life! Most of the women listed seem to be randoms of the poker industry. Let me use an example. I will place the results of google searches and you decide how much these ladies PLAY POKER!

Odette Yustman:

Wikipedia says nothing about her playing poker

The Hendon Mob has no listing

Adding Poker to the search “Odette Yustman Poker”shows “Stepping out for a night of gaming action, Odette Yustman and Dave Annable attended the 8th Annual World Poker Tour Invitational”

Traci Bingham:

Wikipedia says nothing about her playing poker

The Hendon Mob has no listing

Adding Poker to the search “Traci Bingham Poker”shows The online casino site Empire Poker has tapped former ''Baywatch" star Traci Bingham to be the website's new spokesgirl. (Fair enough she is in there I guess!)

Jennie Garth:

Wikipedia says nothing about her playing poker

The Hendon Mob has no listing other than an article with her name in it

Adding Poker to the search “Jennie Garth Poker” shows a celebrity show down and a charity tournament result

My search for results for them stops here! It’s a waste of my time. For a list of the rest of the ladies click on this link www.womenspokernews.com and feel free to search the rest yourself.

I will do one last search: Let me show you one hotties results that should in my opinion be in the list, you can then decide what you think. Do you think that a player should more than just pick up a deck of cards now and again to be marked in our industry in any list of any size shape or form?

Beth Shak:

Wikipedia – Shows Poker life, poker career and relationship with Dan Shak poker player!

The Hendon Mob shows career winnings of $ 450,143.00

Add poker to the search “Beth Shak Poker” and the first listing is Beth Shak Professional Poker Player Official Site following another 163,000 poker related results!

I could do the same with Lacey Jones, Connie Glowen I am Sure! I could do the same with 200 other women who are serious in this poker industry!

Here is a list written by a man called John Bukenas I think it is more suitable!

1. Shannon Elizabeth
2. Jennifer Leigh
3. Isabelle Mercier
4. Liz Lieu
5. Erica Schoenberg
6. Vanessa Rousso
7. Clonie Gowen
8. Cyndy Violette
9. Cecilia Nordenstam
10. Lacey Jones
11. Evelyn Ng
12. Tiffany Michelle
13. Maria Ho
14. Chantel McNulty
15. Beth Shak
16. Mimi Rodgers
17. Jennifer Harmen
18. Jennifer Tilly
19. Kristy Gazes
20. Annie Duke

A recognised poker player is recognised for POKER – not the occasional shuffling of cards. It doesn't matter what list they are going on they should have the above criteria. Do tell me if you disagree!

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I Am Giving You "The Silent Treatment"!

I Am Giving You "The Silent Treatment"!

It is a common thing in relationships between males and females for the male to assume that he is in big trouble when given the “silent treatment”. This silent treatment often results in the males friends joking about him being in the dog house again.

This brings me to the thought of the poker table. Of course it does! I compare everything to poker. Let me explain!

A male often feels threatened by the “silent treatment” of his female partner. He doesn’t know what to do, what to say, he has no clue how to make amends. It seems everything he does just backfires in his face. I have witnessed this hundreds of times in the short period I have lived; even in my own relationships. When a woman talks and tells their male partner he is in trouble he is usually in less trouble then if she glares at him and says nothing.

Silent treatment can go on for days, sometimes weeks. I know I am not the only one that has seen this occur in relationships. Women are good at the silent treatment; there is no doubt about that! This blog is one that is a curious one for me also. In a Sarah Jessica Parker type routine (Sex in the City) I have a few questions for myself:

Is a man more threatened at a poker table by a woman who seemingly stares straight through him as she gives him the silent treatment? Or by a woman who talks to or at at him? Also; when a man gets the silent treatment from a woman in a big hand is he likely to fall into the “I don’t know what to do” scenario like when faced with it in a relationship as suggested above? Or have no confusion at all?

One could say that the “silent treatment” man to man is exactly the same, but it isn’t. Human nature makes it completely different. When male friends are arguing, generally 2 things happen from what I have seen. They have it out then and there and get on with life (in poker - talk it all through in their mind or verbally and move along to the next hand) or they throw punches and never combat again unless it is to seek revenge in life (in poker - Make a big bet to see who is the weaker of the two). Let’s rule this type of dealing out with a man facing a woman at a poker table.

A man is going to try to talk it through in their mind but let’s face it, women are hard to read. There are not many men I have met that have said they would rather play a women then a man in a match of poker and the reason isn’t because women are weak (Although of course some are). A question - Would you try and talk your way out of a situation with a partner verbally if you got home at 10am when you are talking to a brick wall? I think not; to get yourself out of trouble you really need to analyse the situation and face it later on. Maybe deal with the silent treatment in the next hand day; against her in poker when you have more of a clue.

Secondly when you are being glared at and ignored are you going to be game enough to throw a punch? Make a big bet at a woman? In life most men wouldn’t throw a punch and if they did they would find their ass in jail. Could they find themselves in mighty big trouble if they threw a big punch bet at a silent woman at a poker table – you betcha!

My advice to women; don’t speak to a man at a poker table during a big hand; he is more likely to think he is in big trouble. I think my personal analysis shows that a man is definitely more intimidated by a woman who doesn’t talk to him. He would rather try and justify the situation verbally then deal with cold and ignorant staring eyes and a closed mouth. I think my first question is answered. Men would rather have a women speak back, its less intimidating.

My second question I think I have also answered. I think that a male is more likely to step into an “I don’t know what to do” situation if a woman doesn’t talk from the moment she is up against him in a hand. To throw a punch could be the end of him, to fold the hand a big mistake also as silent treatment can be merely a bluff to make him feel uncomfortable and do so.

My advice to a man would be to watch a women very carefully from the minute they arrive at their table, if she doesn’t talk there may be some other tiny little tell you see when she is in another hand when the silent treatment is given by her to another man. This of course makes all the difference when it’s your turn to solve the riddle – deadly and dangerous or pure bluff?

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Poker Masterminds – Mastermind 1 – Barry Shulman

Poker Masterminds – Mastermind 1 – Barry Shulman

I recently started looking into what makes a winning poker player. You would know this if you have been following my blogging and on air broadcasts. If you haven’t followed be sure to look at the blog post from last month “Winning Poker Players”. This research along with a quick mail message to a friend prompted me to write throughout the next twelve months about Poker Industry and Poker Player Masterminds.

I decided to start with a man that more than impresses the industry; although he is very humble about his successes. This man is one I have met, talked with and worked with on a very small level; this is no other then Barry Shulman. I have recently had the chance to look into the poker life and successes of Barry Shulman. After careful research I decided to place him in this Mastermind category which should never be done in my opinion without serious consideration. Mastermind is not a title I would hand out too often! Barry Shulman is a mastermind of a player and also one in the poker industry. Here is the definition of Mastermind:

Genius: Someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality; Someone who creates new things; Plan and Direct.

Let me show you how Mr Shulman fits this title.

I have notated Barry’s success both on and off the felt and he is not only what makes a winning poker player (as previously blogged) but also industry leader in hard cover publications with Cardplayer and Subscription Poker Sites such as Spadeclub. He has exceptional intellectual ability in the field of poker and its related components, original in what he does, is someone who creates new things and plans and directs them. I guess that’s why he is the CEO of the world’s biggest poker magazine!

I personally always saw Barry as a brilliant live poker player. Looking back at just the last few months this should be obvious to everyone after him winning the WSOPE (World Series of Poker Europe) and coming third the PCA Paradise Island. It is noted that Barry has had $4,325,695.00 in live tournament cashes. Now that’s one hell of a poker player and certainly not a one hit wonder! I am also under the assumption that all his wins are not recorded as Barry Shulman has been playing poker since college in the 1960’s.

It was only yesterday that I discovered that Barry had beaten 1098 competitors in an online tournament on poker stars just the day before; taking with him in excess of USD$93,000.00. Wins like these we don’t often hear of. It made me realise that Barry’s poker game was ACE both on and offline. One can only imagine how many more games he has won online that few know about. This ladies and gentlemen is a winning poker player, a poker player mastermind!

Barry’s knowledge and ability in the game of poker goes far beyond playing on the felt though. I myself am a poker journalist and I can tell you it isn’t an easy job, it is time consuming and tiring work. Being the CEO of the world’s biggest hard cover publication Cardplayer as well as its online sibling cardplayer.com has got to have abilities beyond belief. That’s no easy task to say the least.

In addition Barry has a sound investment in Spadeclub, the new way to play! Spadeclub is a subscription site and is changing the way people online game. Barry is also a well renowned poker book author.

Barry Shulman if you ever read this blog post; may you class yourself as the first of the inductees into my little collection of Masterminds of the poker industry both on and off the felt.

Poker Mastermind Number 1 – Barry Shulman!

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We Have The Right to Poker Freedom!

We Have The Right to Poker Freedom!

As I write this blog I find an emotion inside me that I don’t often have; ANGER! With all of the freedom of speech, freedom of lifestyle and freedom of choice available in developed countries I still find hypocrites. These are global government hypocrites that blurt the word FREEDOM as often as some people blurt out the words I LOVE YOU. Who are these people? These people give us the right to FREEDOM yet pull the wool over our eyes and also take it away! How dare they take the freedom to online game away from us; EVER!

Poker is well known as not just a game but a lifestyle. This “Lifestyle” is a lifestyle that most people who will read this blog post live in one way or another. It hurts no-one, it is a source of income and it keeps people entertained where they may otherwise be bored out of their minds to the point of even committing crimes.

I stopped and thought about a magician I once saw perform at Darling Harbor in Sydney. The guy pulled off some amazing illusions and alike other buskers had a hat in front of him for donations. At the end of his performance he said, “Don’t walk away but support me; support my lifestyle, you see if I was not doing this as a way of income and entertainment right now I would probably be robbing your home!”. I put $10 is in his little hat and thought to myself “I was just conned”. But was I?

It is likely he would rob my home; he looked like a robber anyway and also admitted to it. Imagine if no-one donated to this man! Imagine his lifestyle. No money, no self entertainment, his lifestyle pointless, fruitless and well lifeless. Taking away the right to play online poker, online casino games and other associated “gambling” takes the same from those who have this life. The Poker Players Alliance fights for us daily to legalize online gaming. How did it even get to this considering the historical fights for FREEDOM?!

As with every activity online gaming costs money, you can be a champion, you can be a loser but we know you WILL be entertained! STOP; STOP right now and imagine the next year without it!

There have been talks to block poker sites in Australia (It is in the governments hit list; basically compared to PORN!), the USA has already been hit with bans; it is the same in many European countries. Already here in Australia I cannot play on Carbon Poker, Unibet and many more!

To the Australian government hypocrites that promised myself and my family FREEDOM if my grandfather went to war, to the government of the USA who has soldiers dying daily protecting the USA’s FREEDOM, to the European countries governments that have FREEDOM slowly but surely awakening, STOP, all of you STOP and think of the definition of the word FREEDOM. Think of who has died to give it and the human suffering that has occurred. Think of not just yourself but others, because FREEDOM is not FREEDOM unless we are totally FREE to live the lifestyle we choose and this Sirs and Madams includes a lifestyle of online gaming!

Even if you don’t play poker or online game; remember:

Your lifestyle, hobby or enjoyment COULD be next! SO watch it! ;)

AMEN Poker Players Alliance!

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Pain, Pills, Poker and Fighting for Life! Are You At Risk?

Pain, Pills, Poker and Fighting for Life! Are You At Risk?

We all whinge and whine about bad beats, suck outs and donkeys at some stage. The words ALL IN, with your tournament life on the line are frightening words! Being knocked out after those words really sucks! Tell me though; would you say those words ALL IN if your life depended on it? Not your tournament life your life existing on this planet.

Let me tell you about those suck outs whinges and whines I have had to deal with beyond poker. Let me tell you about my ALL-IN call. Let me tell how amongst everything you all see me do what I battle. I don’t write this for sympathy or for attention. I don’t write this to big note myself either. A friend told me BLOG IT! Blog what you do and what you are going through; you could save the lives of fellow players, it will also inspire people who don’t want to fight. Well; here I am blogging a personal struggle for my own existence. I am battling my final table on the felt of life!

Here is what I have done in the poker industry in the last 2 years. These are things you hopefully know of: Columnist Australian Poker Weekly, Columnist Woman Poker Player Magazine, Pokerpodradio Co-Host, WTF Poker Show Host, Poker Coach, Manager Raidbet, Manager Australia New Zealand Cybertech, Book Co-Author, Director PR Cybertech, Played Poker and Administered Various Poker Forums. I also have 4 kids and a house to care for. I am busy to say the least.

At times I have battled to lift my head off a pillow to do these jobs, not through laziness but illness. I have had personal issues that no one has a clue about. Normally it isn’t a good thing to spread personal business but for the sake of the countless poker players that may be in a similar position this time I am.

During the course of doing all the above I have spent countless hours back and forth to the doctor. I have a condition (endometriosis) and my doctor’s treatment of this condition has all but left me fighting for my life. I had 4 operations; more surgery was pointless according to the specialists. Surgery hasn’t worked.

The doctor continued treating my symptoms, agonising pain. Pain in my tummy, my back, my legs, my groin, the pain was so bad; so excruciating I was prescribed 120 panadiene forte at a time, 8 each day. I was relieved at having these meds on hand. The pills didn’t completely kill the pain but did take the edge off it. I remember having dinner with Barry Shulman and Wife Allyn (Card Player Magazine and Spadeclub) in Sydney and going into sudden agony. The pills were not going to work that night. Thank goodness they are understanding people because I truly started acting odd as it onset, all I could think was OH NO! Now? This happened many times to me over 2 years and this precious moment was one of them.

I changed doctors just recently and thank god I did! I had to have a nasty lump cut out and of course had blood tests and what not taken. I was crying so hard the night before my trip to the doctors to get my results. Always a bad thing when the nurse rings up and says “The doctor would like to see you ASAP, and no he won’t wait til your next appointment, he would like to start treatment tomorrow, your tests have come back bad.”. I expected I had malignant cancer of course, not a benign tumour after these words. I knew I had dreadful news to deal with.

“Your tumour isn’t going to kill you” explained the doctor, “But your liver is going into failure. How much alcohol do you drink?” I was honest of course, a few bourbons every few nights and a ton of them at parties which are few and far between with my busy poker and home schedules. He then asked about the medications the other doctor had placed me on and also the length of my treatment. I told him, pain pills prescribed by the doctor. For the record they are Tylenol (I think) in the USA and Panadiene Forte in Australia. He declares: “YOUR PAIN PILLS HAVE CAUSED THIS! THEY ARE KILLING YOU!”

Any wonder I was sick! My other doctor was killing me. I took those pills to function, to walk tourney floors, play long poker sessions, blog like I am now, do interviews write articles, mother kids, mow the damn lawn! They worked somewhat and were better than nothing it seemed. They were better than no poker!

Listen everyone; I have a long road to a full recovery. I am not taking pain meds and am in agony 24/7. I am having more surgery on my stomach and implants put in my body, I have changed my eating habits and can’t drink alcohol all in a battle to save myself and all this change in a matter of days. I must rejuvenate the liver! Thank fully it is one organ in the body that can fix itself. It takes, time effort and work though.

POKERPLAYERS – If you have a headache; a backache; a tummy ache; any pain at all – avoid taking pills(Yes I have seen quite a few of you reach for the headache pills at tables!). Find out why and have it fixed if you can and go for a second and third opinion. Choose the right ALL IN. Don’t go all in on the felt as you use a bandaid treatment for your pain. Go all in off the felt working out what’s wrong because if the pain isn’t going to kill you the medications will.

You can’t play poker when you’re dead; simple!

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The Ancestral Hunting Method Used for Today's Poker Society

The Ancestral Hunting Method Used for Today's Poker Society

Our ancestors from centuries ago had no choice but to hunt for live prey to survive. Their daily and weekly hunts if not successful had consequences; their families would starve or be forced to eat basic fruits and nuts. The choices made by our ancestor hunters were very important in determining their success rate. These choices apply to our online poker and live poker games. For these hunters, times and places carefully determined; was the general key to success and a plentiful meal.

As a poker player completely reliant on poker as a source of food for our families (or self) we should look carefully at exactly what our hunting ancestors did. We should see these hunting ancestors as role models for our choices and determinations in poker prior to playing even a freeroll tournament.

These hunting role models take everything in consideration before their hunt.

1. Dress (camouflage)

2. Time (When the most easily caught prey is around)

3. Location (Where their prey are located)

4. Weapons (What they have at their disposal to catch their prey)

5. Energy (Are they energised enough to hunt)

The list could be much longer but the above points are for now sufficient.

In comparison to poker lets line these up again and I will show you my preparation.

1. I dress comfortably; wear a cap and usually sunnies with intimidating poker brand clothing. Or camouflage any poker knowledge by wearing a hot and attractive outfit somewhat like the red dress I am wearing in the pic beside this sentence.

2. When playing online I hit the tables when people in other countries will be tired and drunk. Friday and Saturday night USA and Europe time is good for me. When playing live, I try to have a good rest and hit the tables when I know most others are tired and again have been drinking.

3. I look for online poker rooms where there are plenty of fish and no sharks. You will not see me playing high stakes on fulltilt poker as I don’t have that much money for starters but also as I will be looking down the poker food chain for some nippers. Small rooms are good for me.

4. I go in with all guns blazing. I use everything I have been taught from trapping through to the mathematics that I know. I use all of my poker strategy!.

5. I make sure I am energised, alert, and have had a nice nutritious meal.

Before going off to play your next game of Poker think of our highly skilled ancestors, the hunters. Be prepared; alike our ancestors were for optimal success rate in catching your chips on the felt for your weekly meals.

Ensure you are at the right place at the right time, have had plenty of sleep and a nutritious meal and that you have all guns loaded. If you are playing live, dress for success.

The fact the we are alive on this earth today is perfect evidence that the hunters of yesteryears didn't starve to death and that they provided plentiful amounts of food for their families. For if their methods had failed, human life would not have sustained. What worked for them, works for us, take the knowledge they left behind and use it on your next poker hunt. Go for the successful kill or eat peanuts; it really is as simple as that!

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The Great Poker Debate! Online Poker or Live Poker, What's Best?

The Great Poker Debate! Online Poker or Live Poker, What's Best?

When we look at the words poker and rooms combined we are psychologically going to think one way or another and at times both ways. What do I mean by this? Really my meaning is simple.
Did you think of online poker rooms?

Did you think of poker rooms in your local area or of a casino abroad?

Did you think of both?

When I thought of writing this blog article and typed the words “poker rooms” I personally thought about online poker rooms. I paused and thought about poker as a whole and thought “I have forgotten about the brick and mortar rooms today; my bad!”. This made me add the word “debate” to my title and well; here I am now throwing a debate at you!

One would believe that the immediate thought of online poker rooms makes me an online poker player. This is the case, I rarely play in a live poker room; time and lifestyle till now hasn’t permitted me to play live too often. You may have stumbled across this article as a casual internet user and may play in live poker rooms; maybe you play in both. The questions are what is the best for us to make profit; live or online? And is there a difference? Let me look at a few of the differences and the way you generate profit from each of the poker playing types.

Structure and Convenience:
Obviously there is a huge difference when it comes to structural surrounds. With an online poker room you can play in any building or location that you like. I have even had discussion with people who have continued to play in an online poker room while they were on the toilet!!!! A Poker room made of brick and mortar is at a distant location and you must go there, stay there and then go home. Result of the debate on which type poker room is more convenient would indeed be online poker rooms and I guess that’s why I play online more – the poker room structure and convenience!

Cost Saving Poker Play:
Online convenience can be cost saving too! No need to transit is a saving; especially if the transiting is going to be 300 miles! There is no need for accommodation, flights, fuel for your car and you can eat and drink from your own refrigerator. There may be some small fees if you need to deposit or withdraw and the currency conversion also comes into place. This is nothing compared to the prior mentioned transit tho. The result on cost saving poker play: online wins again!

Poker Game Security:
There is no hiding the fact that there has been a ton of collusions, scandals and hustling on online poker rooms. These have been documented, investigated and dealt with. Online gaming software developers have embedded high tech security systems into their software to detect a lot of this nonsense. It still happens though with hundreds of thousands of players online it is always going to be hard to stop all cheats. Live poker games are seen to be the ants when it comes to avoiding security issues; in my opinion though a lot of things are overlooked by people. Hustling still exists, so does colluding and chip dumping. There is team tagging and all sorts of cheating. People in large tourneys chip dump live; they also work together to pot build in cash games. It is apparent though that scandals and card stacking in a players favour are all but impossible. One thing that is always overlooked though when playing live is personal risk. I would rather have 10k online and log off my PC then carry it out of a casino. I would also rather piss an online player off by sending them broke then one in a live scenario to be beaten in a car park and robbed or have my car vandalised. I know this doesn’t happen often: but it does! My friend Doogs had his car destroyed! Another friend strangled someone one day at the table. This is a real toss up BUT based on the pros and cons of each that I have quickly added up – online wins again! Go add them up for yourself and feel free to add more via comment.

Socialisation and Fun:
Online poker play can be a ton of fun, especially if it is risk free poker play with a bunch of friends from all over the globe. I played years ago with a bunch of friends on Party Poker – every night! We became close, enjoyed the time together and have mostly all met in person now. Online poker can be very social and fun. There is nothing like meeting people face to face though, no doubt about that. Live poker play is the winner here by a mile! One could think of annoying drunkards in either of the play choices and there is no avoiding them – again, live poker play wins this little part of the debate.

Profit Making:
Barry Shulman has won more than 2.6 million dollars playing live poker in two tournaments. 1.3mil in October and then another 1.3mil in January (give or take some $$). There is no doubt when it comes to big cashing that live poker plays wins. The weekly majors online just don’t cut it. You can’t win that much money in a few months without having 10 high stakes cash tables open at once and having a brilliant run in tournaments. Obviously I am not a big gun in the poker world, I don’t play stakes that high, but analysis tells me that this is indeed the case. On a weekly basis you can win more playing online though, you can play on multiple rooms and multiple tables if you want. Also the play never stops when tournaments are involved (also cash – but you can play cash games nonstop live also). In the long run I believe an online player at an elite level is going to win more money as they can play more. But a live player can win just as much with a good run over years with less time and effort spent doing it– I hope this makes sense. I would prefer to spend less time and effort to win big bucks so I choose live poker play here; but it is very close and some would oppose me and choose online.

Reading and Tells:
An online player can be marked, noted and branded. At the touch of a button you can see what type of player they are and how they have previously played. All of their stats are available on tournament and also at times cash play. You can instantly see their strength and weaknesses and also pick up on betting patterns and hand ranges at the table as you play with them. Live poker play you have the ability to read a person’s face, body movements and well; tells. If they are a gun player you are going to know how good they are and have a good indication of how they play; specifically if you have racked up against them before. Regardless of these physical indicators there is more data available at your disposal on an online poker player if you want to get technical and use it. Some people are not interested in this though and are happier to read a person face to face; then and there! They are better at reading a person’s live tells too! Better at reading live tells then using statistical databases on a PC. Mathematically online poker wins this debate; but to some players the maths doesn’t count. Realistically though one is better off having notations and statistics and pattern tells.

And the winner after debate ....

Well there really isn’t one. This blog post is informative and hopefully has pointed out some things you may have not thought of. The debate will forever continue. Back to the first lot of paragraphs! You are either an online poker player, live poker player or both and nothing anyone writes is going to change that fact. The debate of which form of poker playing is better will continue for centuries without a doubt. There really is no answer. For now I will continue playing cost effective, profit making online poker as time permits

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Poker Blog of the Month!

Poker Blog of the Month!

It is probably news to a lot of people reading this blog that Poker Down Under and Every Where Else was just named pokerweblog of the month. Out of the thousands and thousands of poker blogs out there this is indeed an achievement. You can view the achievement by visiting www.pokerweblogs.com and scrolling down the right hand side.

Usually I stay focused on the subject of poker in my blog but I think that this time I will make an exception. With poker comes reading poker blogs, poker books and reading poker strategy and it seems that these factors of a poker enthusiasts game combined is what has made this blog that you are reading one of only twelve of the year selected as the poker blog of the month.

What makes a Winning Poker Blog? Really I didn’t know until now. I simply blogged! I honestly didn’t take an ounce of notice. I wrote articles on suggested subjects, things that I thought were important and at times as directed. I had discussions with my readers, replied to comments and thought up the next subject. There is more to a winning poker blog then this though. All of the little tasks one cannot see in the back add to this achievement.

A blog must be neat, clean cut and appealing to a variety of audiences. A blog has labels and links and many other things that people overlook. A blog in summary; takes a lot of work to make it successful. It is primarily the writing and information in the blog that makes you read it, but you need to remember how you got here à to be able to read it!

I have my blog on a number of sites; you may have arrived here through any one of these. Networked Blogs on Facebook? Pokerwebblogs? BlogCatalogue? Womanpokerplayermag? Maybe you searched my name or a topic? My point is a winning poker blog goes beyond just writing. How can anything be “winning” if it is never seen? People have to have a reason and a path to return and to let others know about it too.

I am unlikely to be selected as blog of the month again; ever! After all there are only 12 each year. If you were to look at the amount of poker blogs that are available and how brilliant they are you would understand what I mean. In the next 5 years; globally, only 60 will be chosen. Mine has made its mark and alike my blog others will follow. Have a good look at my blog, have a VERY good look. Also have a look at the variety of things you can do in the backend of your blog and DO THEM! You could be next!

My last blog post indicated I know what it takes to be a “winning poker player” alike Joe Hachem and for those that hadn’t picked up the other person I had mentioned at the bottom of the blog Amanda De Cesare. I hope you took this advice, Joe’s code has gotten him where he is and Amanda is doing a brilliant job following it. As for blogging, it seems I am the queen this month so again; take the valuable advice I have written in this blog post; now and in the future. I am rarely wrong regardless of what critics may say.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed in any way to make this fine blog! Especially to the guys who taught me other blogging aspects that I now share with you. Thanks mostly though to the people who have taught me the finer aspects of poker and writing after all – that’s the main reason a poker blog is out there; to share knowledge and valuable information.

For now I am off to do some more writing. This time; with a BIG SMILE on my face and the knowledge I too can one day be like Marsha Waggoner - time to step into some big live poker tourneys I think!

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