[craftyandsly]

[jojobinks]:"what you don't know how to do if you're a newbie is learn to understand situations."

Well, for starters, let me tell you a little about myself. My name is Tom, and I am from Vermont. I was a master chess player, during my youth, and I attained that position after years of personal study (while other students were partying). My last, successful tournament was the Burlington Open, which I won back in 1985. Over the last several months, I have picked up the occasional, chess game on-line (my record is over 300 wins and less than 5 losses and only three draws). Not bad for someone who hasn't been playing competitively for 20 years). I also taught myself to play bridge, pinochle, and whatever other mind games which provides me with the deepest of challenges.

Aggressive? You bet. I lettered in two sports, played college hockey, held down three jobs to help my Mother pay the monthly bills, and attained a 3.61 GPA. Even through college. I own a very successful, multi-million dollar business employing some 43 people throughout New England and New York. And I just returned from Las Vegas because I wish to expand my business to the West Coast.

I am in my late forties, and I have been married to my college sweetheart for the last 28 years. Together, we have been blessed with four children (tragically, our third child died during delivery), two stray dogs, and two stray cats. <g>

I was introduced to Hold'em Poker by someone who professed to be a successful, professional poker player. He was introduced to me when he applied through a job interview. <g> He took me down to some casino (in Connecticut) and told me not to open with anything other than pocket 8s. Since I only lost $75 (after playing all night), he told me I should read up on the game and to come back next week. I bought two books written by David Sklansky, and I studied them, hard .. and studied them again ... and again ... and again. However, I didn't play poker for more than two years, until I found the on-line venue through PokerStars.net.

I went back to that casino (about a month ago) to guage my study efforts, and I found that I could easily hold my own. While I was up in chips for most of the time, I decided to then test my physical and mental endurance. I played poker, straight, for 2 1/2 days without any sleep or food. I drank only a bottle of water, each hour. The result? I lost only $400 playing the $2-$4 table. Not bad when one considers that I lost all my money during the last two hours of my play time. I was up ... the rest of the time. But, I my earnings were stagnant after the 2nd day.

Using the best advice from the books written by Sklansky, I won a couple of satellite tourneys (for play money), and came in 26th out of more than 4,000 entrants on a Saturday morning tourney, recently.

For example, today, I won one another tourney, came in second (two other times), and amassed another 212,000 chips with which to play. But, I gotta tell you, I really am a mere rookie itching to learn more and more about this fascinating game.

I recently found (on-line) the Omaha game, entered a small tourney, and got my clock cleaned. That just made me wish to study that game even more. I went to a book store, bought a book and studied very hard. I just *had* to know what I did wrong ... some day I will be good at Omaha, too. That game is fascinating, as well.

In the last 2-3 months, at the suggestion of the PokerStars staff (excellent, btw), I have read another dozen books on Hold'em, and find that I have little patience for a fixed, Hold'em game. It is the No-Limit game with which I excel (if you call using play money ... uhm ... excelling) <g>

Anyway, my thirst for knowledge is unending, and it is to *that* desire with which I post, here. I am not being crafty or sly. I just thought that the name would be a good moniker people might remember, some day, when my poker winnings are more consistent as a measure of success.

[jojobinks]:"for instance, let's say you're a new hold 'em player, sitting to Ivey's right. Ivey, UTG, raises 3xBB . you look down and see KJ and min raise. you just goofed. but not b/c you didn't fear him. you goofed b/c you're inviting a pro into a pot with you after he raised from utg, representing strength. you didn't understand the situation."

Well, you did not propose the proper situation, Jojo. If I was to Ivey's immediate right, and he is UTG, I would have to be the BIG BLIND, correct? What about all the other players who either bet or folded after Ivey's 3xBB raise? According to all the books, I have read, the K and J is not a good enough hand with which to play in the BIG BLIND *if* the guy UTG raises three times the Big Blind.

Additionally, if IVEY has a Group 1 or 2 hand, then it is *IVEY* which is making the mistake (according to Dan Harrington's theory) by not raising at leat 4-5 times the BB when holding a Group 1 or 2 hand UTG. But, that's a topic for another thread. <g>

Frankly, depending on the style I was playing, at the time, I would have probably folded. BUT NOT BECAUSE HE WAS MR. IVEY ...! See?

As for me, I salivate at the thought of playing heads up against any poker professional. Any and all of them, someday. If that is abnormal, rookie behavior, then so be it. I am who I am ...

[jojo]:"back to the original argument: winning players win b/c they try hard, sure. they also win b/c either they 1)study hard or 2) play 40 hours a week for the last 10 years or 3)are geniuses. or, of course, some combination of the three."

I agree with all three of your, above, definitionas of a good, professional poker player. But, I am just as gifted with my own abilities. It's just that I am presently a rookie with a dream ... and am investing every waking hour, that I can, in my continual efforts to study whatever poker topic is available to improve my level of play. Since I am currently living in Vermont, my only poker practice is with PokerStars .. on-line.

Sorry. But that is the best I can do with what is available to me.

[Jojo]:"trying hard by itself isn't going to get you anywhere. sorry. i tried really hard to get into the NBA. unfortunately i'm 5'11" with two wrecked knees and no talent. kinda sucks."

Well, I am in my late forties with a bum left knee from playing hockey, capped teeth (again, from playing hockey), graying hair, and a burning desire with and unending thirst for continued knowledge.

I'll get there .... someday.

Count on it.

Name's_Tom - Barre, Vermont - Craftyandsly