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In 2003, the world of poker was forever changed when Chris
Moneymaker, a man who learned and practiced the game online, became the World
Series of Poker Champion. The next two years, Greg Raymer and Joseph Hashem,
both of whom became proficient from playing online, won the titles. In the years
since, thousands upon thousands of new players have graduated to a world-class
level of play by developing their talents through Internet poker.
Everyone knows that poker has seen explosive growth in recent
years. Not everyone realizes, however, the quantum jump that has occurred in the
average player’s level of skill. Ten years ago, there were a few dozen top
players who could be considered the best of the best. Today, there are literally
tens of thousands of young players at that same level of ability. These new
faces know the intricacies of the game as well as old pros did a generation ago,
and they utilize a tight-aggressive style of play every bit as effectively as
world champions did in years gone by. How did this happen? The answer: online
poker.
The availability of online poker has changed the landscape of
the game forever. Millions of dedicated players take to the Internet every day
for fun and profit. Of these millions, some learn the game well enough to gain
notoriety. Without question, the future champions of poker will rise from the
ranks of today’s online players.
You could be one of them. With sufficient drive and
dedication, there is no reason you could not become an exceptional player. If
you are new to the
game of poker (or specifically online poker) and you have
your sights set on one day being among those players you see on television, know
that such a result is within the realm of possibility. Online poker has the
potential to give you that.
But it won’t be easy. And you must approach the game in ways
that support your efforts. Here are five guidelines to assist you in your quest
for greatness:
1) Fall in Love. You must feel an intense and immediate love
of poker, not for the money you can make, not for the fame you can attain, but
for the wonderful game of poker itself. I am talking about a love affair: a love
for every facet of the game, for its incredible beauty, so beautiful you cannot
help but worship its magnificence with every breath you take. You feel gratitude
that the game of poker exists, that generations of players have lived and died
to perfect this pure treasure, that it is here now and you have the privilege of
sitting at a table in the 21st century and partaking in this miracle of
competition. You love all the world because poker is part of it. That is how you
must feel about the
game of poker. Appreciate it. Treasure it. Love it. All top
players have this one thing in common: they profess an unbounded love for the
game of poker itself. So should you.
2) Learn the Game. Do not cut corners; study everything you
can get your hands on. Read books by Doyle Brunson, Dan Harrington, Mike Caro,
David Sklansky, Phil Gordon and other top pros. Watch televised games and study
the probabilities of various situations. Keep learning. And then learn some
more. Learn as much as you possibly can about every aspect of the game.
3) Devote many hours. I mean lots and lots of hours playing
poker online. In the old days, a seasoned pro would need to play for thirty
years, traveling the countryside seeking quality games. Gaining useful
experience was a slow arduous process. After decades of commitment, the
old-timer might then have the experience necessary to develop the proper sense
of the game that is required to become a world-class player. Today, a person can
acquire the same degree of experience by playing online for a single year! What
used to take thirty years, now can be accomplished in one. Due to its faster
pace and more concentrated experience, online poker is capable of transforming a
novice into an expert in a relatively short time. That is the miracle that
online poker is capable of producing... and has produced. Again, do not cut
corners; nothing substitutes for many long hours of online play. You must devote
literally thousands and thousands of hours to pick up the subconscious nuances
of play. With enough hours spent, you can achieve the kind of internal sense of
the game you need to compete favorably with top pros.
4) Don’t cheat. Yes, it is possible to cheat at online poker.
Many people are doing it all the time. There are ways to create an unfair
advantage for yourself in online games and make big money. But don’t. If you
want to succeed on the big poker stage, I urge you not to embark upon a path of
cheating. I’ve seen it time and time again: players who cheat get good at
cheating, but that’s all they ever get good at. Cheating causes you to focus on
the mechanics of cheating and not on improving your game. In fact, you
eventually conclude that you never need to improve your skill, since you can
simply cheat your way to riches. Cheating is morally wrong, and it is always
reprehensible to highly-skilled players. Most importantly, cheating robs you of
your self-esteem and confidence, two qualities you will need in abundance to
succeed in professional poker. And keep in mind that when you are seated at your
table in the World Series of Poker, you will not be able to cheat.
5) Go for it! After at least one full year of online poker
experience (hopefully more than two thousand hours), you may be ready to
graduate to top-quality poker competition. You’ll never know how you compare
with the big boys unless you take a shot at it. Summon the courage to jump in
with both feet and start swimming.
If you have what it takes, and you’ve prepared yourself
adequately, you just might have a future ahead of you as a famous professional
poker player. And with a little luck, you may even become the next world
champion.
Timmor L. White is the founder and president of Online
Poker Systems and the OPS Group. With a background in
Internet technology, he is active in the study and
reporting of online-poker playing strategies. If you
wish to explore a specific way to cheat when playing
online, click here:
Online Poker Cheat.
NEXT ARTICLE >> Online Poker Cheating: Why Collusion Doesn’t Work
Newcomers to online poker often get the seemingly
brilliant idea to have a friend sit at the same table
and then collude with him to win big money. The truth is
that this little scheme does not work. Here’s why.
Anatomy of a Poker Cheater
Cheat at poker and get rich! The prospect sounds
attractive, the temptation nearly irresistible. But
before you start down that path, let me tell you about
someone I know who cheated and made bundles doing it.
Maybe his story will dissuade you from any plans you may
have to cheat.
Do You Have What It Takes to Cheat at Poker?
Cheating sounds so cool! I mean, wouldn't it be awesome
to cheat at poker and rake in gobs of cash without
anyone being the wiser? Well, not so fast. Cheating is
not for everyone. Is it for you? Let's find out.
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