The switch from online poker to live poker

OK, so I decided to switch from online poker to live poker. After playing poker in Sint Maarten I started to play the higher limits, making real good cash online. On a certain moment I tilted again playing shorthanded $10/$5 No Limit Hold'em at Bodog Poker. This time I lost my entire bankroll, and freaked out about it.

My final play, having the nut flush of clubs, I lost versus a river full house for a pot of about $3K.

That was the last time I played online poker! Period! The reason for this is not really online poker. It's more to do with the type of personality I have. I can play a decent game of advanced poker IMO, but I simply can't stop.

Since I love the game of poker too much to quit, I will move from online poker to real live multi table tournaments in casino's, and the regular SNG sessions among friends. This will save me from loosing my friggin' bankroll every time after building it up.

The past weeks have been great. Poker For Free has grown significantly, and I am actually spending a lot of time with my girlfriend and son, which is great!

6 Months Later

Well, well, it's been an awful long time ago since I posted my first blog... I expect no one to believe in it any longer, and I definitely don't blame ya! But heck, here's another article after 6 months. I hope you enjoy reading it, and make sure to check back in January 2008. ;)

My poker career has it's ups and downs, and currently I am just trying to break even. I ain't doing really bad if I may say so, but of course I rather would have more zero's in my bank account if you know what I mean.

The best thing I learned so far is to avoid getting on TILT! After loosing my full bankroll several times I decided to pull a stop at it. PERIOD. There were moments I didn't want to play poker at all, but I over came and learned from my mistakes. Nowadays I know when it's time to quit, thus that's what I do. Actually, my relationship with my girlfriend has improved a lot since my poker sessions last less long.

Of course, poker is still my main thing besides basketball, but there are periods that I don't play at all, simply because I decide to do something else. This make my moments of poker also more valuable. When I play..... I PLAY! I pick my tables, SNG's, or Tourney's with care. I do what I need to do: table selection, bankroll management, and all the stuff that helps to become a profitable poker player. For the time being I also forget about becoming a pro soon, it takes time... (or a whole damn lot of luck). Nah, for now I am just glad to break even, and to manage playing Poker For Free!

My poker site is getting to the next level, so that needs a lot of time as well. It's not unusual for me to work another 4 hours after I get back home from... work... :) This is what I like, it's my nature to work my ass off. I have a lot of dreams, and I like some of them to become reality. Let me tell you one thing bro: I want a small cruiser (yacht), and I will get it!!!

Last month I went visiting my bro who's hanging out on Saint Martin, the Dutch Caribbean island. My mom came along, so we had our personal baby sitter. You know what that means right, PARTY TIME!!! Anyway, I have written a nice article about my poker adventures at the Saint Martin Atlantis Casino. You might want to check it out.

Alright fella's... this is it. See y'all in half a year! ;)

Giorgio

PS: I am currently putting together a new poker site, this time targeted on the more experienced poker players. Just click the link to check it out, hopefully we have launched by the time you read this.

Poker For Free Review

Hi,

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Giorgio, and I am intending to become a professional poker player some day.

I have become interested in poker about three quarters of a year ago thanks to Theo, my brother in law. He came over to visit our house and installed an online poker client on my computer. The minute he left I started playing, and I got totally hooked! I never played poker before, so I started playing without any poker knowledge. I didn't even know the poker hand rankings.

Of course it took me a while before I got the hang of it, but eventually I learned the game and improved my skills. I don't know why, but I sincerely believe that I have what it takes to become a professional poker player. It's a never ending road, and basically I have been willing to give up several times... but these days I am glad I didn't and I feel strong and keep winning.

I have been reading a lot of blogs, websites, and of course books. I can recommend "Harrington on Hold'em" to everyone that is seriously willing to become a better poker player. Great book! Great author!

Down the road I also started a website called Poker For Free with the intention to give information to its' visitors how and where to get free poker cash. This is how I started out, so why wouldn't I share it with the rest of the world.

Poker For Free is a website about the beautiful game of poker (of course, duh). Besides poker room reviews, poker bonus codes, and the usual stuff, it offers valuable information for beginning poker players, as well the more experienced ones.

The website has it's own Poker Club, where members can get passwords to the Poker For Free freerolls, and freebies when applicable. Of course it doesn't come without a newsletter, but I promise you that it has great content. Since I am a Dutch citizen and speak/write the Dutch language fluently, I also made a Dutch version of Poker For Free. Actually, there's a Dutch blog where I frequently post interesting articles about my developing poker career. This is a must read if you're in the same position, and I am positive that you will recognize something about yourself in my stories.

Let me conclude this review, since you might better pay a visit to the site itself than read my boring blog. ;) Poker For Free is a never ending project, I wake up with new idea's in my mind every morning. Becoming part of it is free, so why not give it a try.

I'll be back! Peace,

Giorgio