Memories-How I learnt poker?A little Bio

[Fishy]

In a few days I will be flying in for the World Championship of Poker, I'm reflecting on all the things I went through thinking back to the first game I ever played.

My first game of poker was in Riverboat Casino Glasgow UK, it was a pot limit tourny when I just turned 18, at that time I already knew many gambling maths from my interest in blackjack.
I thought I should at least get to know the basic strategy before I play, and found something similar in Lou Krieger's book, a chart, I memorised that before my first ever game.
I played slow but very good I nearly reached the final table. On my 4th game I reached the final table.

Later, I worked out the 1st round optimal strategy for limit poker using sims, put into efficient database and memorised the whole thing! At least I have a reference of what hands I should be playing in every different situation assuming random opponents, but I do deviate when I get more info.

Still 18 years old, I tested my limited knowledge of poker in Las Vegas while on a card counting team trip in the summer vacation. It was my 1st taste of limit poker, I realised that it was very similar to blackjack, very mathematical.

When I came back, I played NL and PL and changed my mind, it was different, the maths weren't as important now. I studied the players, I learnt to win with almost any cards, in limit that wouldn't be possible.

Online up to the 2/4 level I use the strategy I memorised, play in a robot mode handling 5 tables simultaneously and still win. I always maintain to play for fun.

At the higher games and tournaments I play the way I play in UK casinos, watching the players, adjusting, countering, and sensing. The cards didn't matter, I played depending on how they are feeling at that moment. This I do better offline and so online I still stick to limit games, except tournaments.

If you ask me what game takes the most skill?? If you are a mathematics left brain guy, you would say limit poker, but if you are the intuitive, artistic right brain type, then it is No Limit.

If you ask me if I ever wanted to be a pro player?? No, my motto had always been:
Study hard, Work hard, and Play for Fun.

[maplepig]

I used to play blackjack. That's the reason I went to casinos. I no longer play, because it's a silly game compared to poker, more because I have to run around from the pit bosses, but if it's not for blackjack, i may never play poker.

[lefty rosen]

You sound like your typical winning holdem winner, I guy who has a degree in math or stats, I wish I could count a six deck shoot because that's where the money is..........

[Fishy]

"You sound like your typical winning holdem winner,"

Thanks but I'm not too good compare to many of my friends, especially Onlinechamp!

"I guy who has a degree in math or stats,"

Hmmm, you don't really need to be awesome at maths or stats to count cards, it's simple like 1+1 Honest! But the edge is very small, and the fluctuation huge, the best way to go about it, is to have a big team to get a big bank and enough hours to even the fluctuations. Then you have the TRUST problem.

"I wish I could count a six deck shoot because that's where the money is.........."

Counting 6 decks is not much more difficult. Simple counting is not enough to win much now in most places. We use more advance techniques, but as said before, I am not a pro.