If your left eye causes you to sin, gouge it out! If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your limbs then to lose your whole body. To lose your being , your spirit. So says the bible. Certain principles and lessons in the bible are best learnt when put into your own context, into your own reality. Your life is based on your perception and your perception is your reality. The only way someone else’s reality becomes yours is when he cast his own reality into yours and changes your perception. That can be casting of a vision in your life. It can be a sales person selling you a product. He made his reality your perception. That’s not the point I was trying to make, and I digress.
I have come to a point in life when I realise that there are too many extra baggage that I have been trying to carry for far too long. Many friendships that have not make positive influences in my life. Perceptions cast into my life that moulded my reality. Pastor Pierre spoke of 2 things in my life that I need to change and it was very true. Circle of friends and bad habit.
I never took it too seriously but I realise that both these things have been affecting me in ways unimaginable.
Just last week, I was serving in Camporama for the royal rangers (Uniform group for Christian youth and kids) and I totally felt out of place. God was speaking to me, I used to feel in place in the company of Christians and believers, but now I just feel out of place. I used to serve in the youth group as a youth leader, I play the drums, guitar and worship lead for the services in church, I teach in Sunday school. I serve in cell group and what do I do now?
I sleep late on Sunday mornings and skip church, don’t even start talking about serving in ministry.
Where is my life heading towards? How do I get there? It doesn’t matter how I get there if I cannot answer where I want to end. My prophecy in my life has not come to past. If I cannot settle my heart in my life I will always be mediocre in whatever I do. I am willing to cut off my arm and gouge out that eye. I just asked that the Holy sprit will be my crutches and cane for me to find my way again.
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Thursday, 29 May 2008
What God has for you is bigger than you can ever imagine
It is easy to fall into the trap of believing in what legalistic Christians called Prosperity Gospel. There are Christians who strongly believed that money is the root of all things evil. The bible take is… love of money is the root of all evil not money itself.
There is no doubt in my mind that God is a generous God. He is the giver of all good things. He blessed His children with many good gifts and He will not stop doing that till it overflows. While there is nothing wrong with wanting to be blessed by God’s gift. There are 2 aspects that we have to be wary of.
Firstly, loving the gifts instead of the giver. Jesus was clear what was the most important thing being a child of God. To love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your strength and not have any other God’s before Him. We run into trouble when we start to put money as the no.1 priority in our lives. I am purposely citing money because many tend to equate blessings and prosperity from God in the monetary sense. Which comes to my next point.
Blessings from God does not simply equate financial blessings. I used to think so. I thought switching back into the financial industry was God’s way of telling me that its time to fill your barn with overflowing gold and multi currencies. I though when God showed me that 2008 will be a year of redemption for me meant making up for lost time that I wasted not putting my potential to full capacity in my career. While its is partly true but nevertheless it is not the sum of all its parts.
I cannot even imagine myself saying this now. I totally dig what I am doing right now. For fear of many of friends stoning me after reading this, I just want to say this out loud. It is possible to love what you are doing! At least I am feeling it right now. I am typing this blog entry in a crowded bus on my way home. Its quarter past 10 and I had just finished a 15 hour work day, I am tired but happy? Wow… unbelievable. This coming from me whose aspiration is to be a professional poker player and win the WSOP in 2010.
I will not elaborate on how God has placed me in my current placement as I have already elaborated in my previous blog entry. I seriously thought it was just for the financial blessings. The things I have learnt and was reminded of in the past 1 month has justified my move from the media industry.
I believe next week will be a great week. I will be helping out in camporama as a helper. Currently I am trying to find an avenue for me to serve and music seems too obvious. So I am praying and asking God to show me more areas of possibilities. This will be great start.
Let’s put things into perspective. God is good, he blesses. Christ has died once and for all for our sins. God cannot impute sin on us if we are under the blood of Jesus. For those sin preacher out there, woe to you if you condemn sinners! The church doors are open for sinners, don’t make the sinners feel unworthy of Jesus. Jesus came for the sinners and not the righteous. Don’t go preaching about sins in the lives of people, go preach about Christ and his finished work and His saving grace. That is what matters most.
Right believing will lead to right living! If you know God, you have experience His love in your live. Expect Great things from God. He will show you things beyond your imagination. He will richly bless your life more than you can ever imagine. Financial blessings is just a by product of His blessings in your life. You will have to think out of the box when it comes to God, cuz that’s where you will find His blessings, overflowing out of it!
There is no doubt in my mind that God is a generous God. He is the giver of all good things. He blessed His children with many good gifts and He will not stop doing that till it overflows. While there is nothing wrong with wanting to be blessed by God’s gift. There are 2 aspects that we have to be wary of.
Firstly, loving the gifts instead of the giver. Jesus was clear what was the most important thing being a child of God. To love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your strength and not have any other God’s before Him. We run into trouble when we start to put money as the no.1 priority in our lives. I am purposely citing money because many tend to equate blessings and prosperity from God in the monetary sense. Which comes to my next point.
Blessings from God does not simply equate financial blessings. I used to think so. I thought switching back into the financial industry was God’s way of telling me that its time to fill your barn with overflowing gold and multi currencies. I though when God showed me that 2008 will be a year of redemption for me meant making up for lost time that I wasted not putting my potential to full capacity in my career. While its is partly true but nevertheless it is not the sum of all its parts.
I cannot even imagine myself saying this now. I totally dig what I am doing right now. For fear of many of friends stoning me after reading this, I just want to say this out loud. It is possible to love what you are doing! At least I am feeling it right now. I am typing this blog entry in a crowded bus on my way home. Its quarter past 10 and I had just finished a 15 hour work day, I am tired but happy? Wow… unbelievable. This coming from me whose aspiration is to be a professional poker player and win the WSOP in 2010.
I will not elaborate on how God has placed me in my current placement as I have already elaborated in my previous blog entry. I seriously thought it was just for the financial blessings. The things I have learnt and was reminded of in the past 1 month has justified my move from the media industry.
I believe next week will be a great week. I will be helping out in camporama as a helper. Currently I am trying to find an avenue for me to serve and music seems too obvious. So I am praying and asking God to show me more areas of possibilities. This will be great start.
Let’s put things into perspective. God is good, he blesses. Christ has died once and for all for our sins. God cannot impute sin on us if we are under the blood of Jesus. For those sin preacher out there, woe to you if you condemn sinners! The church doors are open for sinners, don’t make the sinners feel unworthy of Jesus. Jesus came for the sinners and not the righteous. Don’t go preaching about sins in the lives of people, go preach about Christ and his finished work and His saving grace. That is what matters most.
Right believing will lead to right living! If you know God, you have experience His love in your live. Expect Great things from God. He will show you things beyond your imagination. He will richly bless your life more than you can ever imagine. Financial blessings is just a by product of His blessings in your life. You will have to think out of the box when it comes to God, cuz that’s where you will find His blessings, overflowing out of it!
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
I took myself out of the game
Who would have thought a movie would be the one to make some sense of what is happening in my life. This particular scene in the movie made alot of sense to me, the movie was "What happens in Vegas." Movie one liners intriques me. Just mentioned a line in the movies and i probably can tell you which movie is it from.
The more popular one liners are like: "You got me at hello." "With great power comes great resposibility" (Think Kung Fu Hustle lol.) "Freedom!!!!" (One worder) "Run forest run" "Do i make u horny?" You get the idea.
The particular scene was when Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz started to realise that they were falling in love with each other. He realise that all his life, he has never took things seriously enough, "I took myself out of the game." he confessed. "Guess when you don't place your bet in life, you wouldn't lose anything." This was a simple truth yet it stuck with me.
I realise that was me, and i always wondered why i never took life seriously enough. I never put myself on the line, to win or to lose. Playing poker made me realise this as well. You must be able to bet to win. Be it preflop, on the flop, on the turn or the river. Sometimes just by betting, you will win even with the worst hand!
My whole life, i simply took myself out of the game. I never lose nor will i ever win. Do i want to live my life this way? Hell no!
"I took myself out of the game." "If i don't place the bet i will never lose" to which Cameron Diaz replied:"I will bet on you."
Though i never did place a bet on myself, Jesus did. He believed in me even when i failed, even when i sinned, even when i fell. In the same way, though i never wanted to lose... my mother believed in me, even when i was wrong, even when i was stubborn, even when i was rebellious.
Why did God take me out of my comfort zone in advertising, I love the industry, i love the people, i love magazines... it gets clearer by the day. We have one God given life and many God given talents. We can choose to sit on the sideline of our own life and let others be the quarterback to lead our team?
I also realise that i am not the only one, many around me seems to be this way as well. Somewhere along the line we stop taking chances, in work, in relationships, in life generally. By the time we realised this, 1 year has passed, 3 years, 10 years have passed us by. Yet we just let the years slipped by.
I am beginning to want to live my life, but this time i am not doing it alone. His strength is made perfect in my weaknesses.
The more popular one liners are like: "You got me at hello." "With great power comes great resposibility" (Think Kung Fu Hustle lol.) "Freedom!!!!" (One worder) "Run forest run" "Do i make u horny?" You get the idea.
The particular scene was when Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz started to realise that they were falling in love with each other. He realise that all his life, he has never took things seriously enough, "I took myself out of the game." he confessed. "Guess when you don't place your bet in life, you wouldn't lose anything." This was a simple truth yet it stuck with me.
I realise that was me, and i always wondered why i never took life seriously enough. I never put myself on the line, to win or to lose. Playing poker made me realise this as well. You must be able to bet to win. Be it preflop, on the flop, on the turn or the river. Sometimes just by betting, you will win even with the worst hand!
My whole life, i simply took myself out of the game. I never lose nor will i ever win. Do i want to live my life this way? Hell no!
"I took myself out of the game." "If i don't place the bet i will never lose" to which Cameron Diaz replied:"I will bet on you."
Though i never did place a bet on myself, Jesus did. He believed in me even when i failed, even when i sinned, even when i fell. In the same way, though i never wanted to lose... my mother believed in me, even when i was wrong, even when i was stubborn, even when i was rebellious.
Why did God take me out of my comfort zone in advertising, I love the industry, i love the people, i love magazines... it gets clearer by the day. We have one God given life and many God given talents. We can choose to sit on the sideline of our own life and let others be the quarterback to lead our team?
I also realise that i am not the only one, many around me seems to be this way as well. Somewhere along the line we stop taking chances, in work, in relationships, in life generally. By the time we realised this, 1 year has passed, 3 years, 10 years have passed us by. Yet we just let the years slipped by.
I am beginning to want to live my life, but this time i am not doing it alone. His strength is made perfect in my weaknesses.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
He makes all things wonderful, in His time
It is apt that i am writing this blog entry now. Tomorrow marks a new beginning for me. It took me a while to make this switch back into the financial sector but once i prayed and decided and on it, i know there is no turning back. If i haven't left SPHM and taken the job offer at L&N, i am sure i would've even think about rejoining the financial industry. It has been more than 4 years since i left. Now i feel like i am starting all over again.
Some may say it takes a lot of courage to make this decision at my age. Honestly, i am amaze at myself as well. After making this decision, i actually started to doubt myself, my own abilities, how i might be digging a hole for myself.
Last sunday, during service i felt the Holy spirit speaking to me in my heart. Athough i haven't been the "best" of christian but somehow i still feel the presence of the HS very strongly. Darlene who was leading worship was truly incredible, you can just feel her annointing in worship so strongly.
Immediately after the worship, i wrote this in my notebook... "Salvation is not about what u did or what you can do, its about what Jesus did and what He is going to do in your life." I was reminded that my life is not about my abilities, my shortcomings, my strength or my talents. It is about who God is in my life, and i can rest assure in my salvation in Him because of His love and sacrifice on the cross for me 2000 years ago. Its a simple yet powerful truth. Many people knows this but never believe it fully. I have friends whom i invited to church but refuse to come to church because they think they are not ready for God or they are not worthy for church. The very reason why Jesus died on the cross for them is the very excuse they use to refuse Him.
Nobody is ever ready for God or worthy of church, that is why Jesus came down from heaven to die for our sins... duhhh?!?! To me in this stage of my life i am beginning to see things more in perspective. Less of self more of Him. It doesn't matter who i am, what's more important is who He is.
Some may say it takes a lot of courage to make this decision at my age. Honestly, i am amaze at myself as well. After making this decision, i actually started to doubt myself, my own abilities, how i might be digging a hole for myself.
Last sunday, during service i felt the Holy spirit speaking to me in my heart. Athough i haven't been the "best" of christian but somehow i still feel the presence of the HS very strongly. Darlene who was leading worship was truly incredible, you can just feel her annointing in worship so strongly.
Immediately after the worship, i wrote this in my notebook... "Salvation is not about what u did or what you can do, its about what Jesus did and what He is going to do in your life." I was reminded that my life is not about my abilities, my shortcomings, my strength or my talents. It is about who God is in my life, and i can rest assure in my salvation in Him because of His love and sacrifice on the cross for me 2000 years ago. Its a simple yet powerful truth. Many people knows this but never believe it fully. I have friends whom i invited to church but refuse to come to church because they think they are not ready for God or they are not worthy for church. The very reason why Jesus died on the cross for them is the very excuse they use to refuse Him.
Nobody is ever ready for God or worthy of church, that is why Jesus came down from heaven to die for our sins... duhhh?!?! To me in this stage of my life i am beginning to see things more in perspective. Less of self more of Him. It doesn't matter who i am, what's more important is who He is.
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Daniel Negreanu's blog entry
A blog entry from one of my favourite poker player. Playing poker is similar to investing in the stock market or even starting a business. I look at my hole cards and decide how much to invest. I need to know the business climate and economic outlook before i invest (what players are u playing against and your position, early middle or late position)
Without God I'm Useless
16 Jan 2007
I'm a mess. In every sense of the word my mind is not in a good place right now. I started 07' on a high, fresh, and looking to dominate the poker world with a steady diet of working out and playing my best in the tournaments.Bahamas went great. I stuck to my regimen of poker and exercise, totally focused on doing my best at the tables. Then I came to Australia, looking forward to the Aussie Millions and I put in a pitiful performance in everything that I did. I was groggy at all times, abandoned my workouts, and played some of the worst poker I could play.How did this all happen? I was so focused on being a lion all year long, and within the first month I was already an absolute joke.
Without God I'm Useless
16 Jan 2007
I'm a mess. In every sense of the word my mind is not in a good place right now. I started 07' on a high, fresh, and looking to dominate the poker world with a steady diet of working out and playing my best in the tournaments.Bahamas went great. I stuck to my regimen of poker and exercise, totally focused on doing my best at the tables. Then I came to Australia, looking forward to the Aussie Millions and I put in a pitiful performance in everything that I did. I was groggy at all times, abandoned my workouts, and played some of the worst poker I could play.How did this all happen? I was so focused on being a lion all year long, and within the first month I was already an absolute joke.
Sure, I could have won the hands I played for all my chips, but even if I did, it wouldn't have been a good thing since my decisions were just wrong.So how does God play into this? God plays into it in a big way, at least for me anyway. With all of the resolutions I'd set for myself in 07', not one of them mentioned having a deeper relationship with God in my life. I mentioned video games, working out, and all sorts of things, but there wasn't one mention of what is truly important to me and my well being.Too focused on "me" and less focused on the fact that without God, I am nothing.
Without a close, personal relationship with God, happiness would be impossible.I'll be honest with you- this month I've been on an emotional roller coaster. At one point I was super excited about working out on a regular basis, but since being in Australia, one of the most beautiful places in the world, I've been pretty depressed.Not only because of my poor decisions, but also because I'm here without my wife. I miss her, I really do.
Before this trip we'd really gotten so much closer and I became so comfortable with her around. I don't think I'll ever be away from her for this long again. In fact, I'm going home. I'm going home tomorrow. Unfortunately, Lori won't be there for the couple days I'm home before Tunica, but I just need to recharge my batteries nonetheless.
Tonight I went out with "the guys." It was a lot of fun and the conversation was very interesting.
We ended up talking about God for much of the evening, and despite the fact that several of my friends were non-believers, the conversation was so refreshing since they never mocked me for my beliefs, and we had an open, religious dialogue without it ever turning nasty. It was awesome. Perry Friedman, a guy who I've always respected but never really had a chance to know personally, blew me away.
His views of God weren't entirely in line with mine, but he treated me with the utmost respect despite the fact that we disagreed on a few things. I'm so thankful for his open mindedness and his willingness to talk to me about such a touchy subject.Anyway, about that touchy subject. This blog isn't intended to be a religious blog.
This blog isn't intended to "convert" anybody into becoming a believer. This blog, is an opportunity for me to share with you all what is going on with my life. On that note, I have to say that I've been lonely, and it's not just a case of missing my home, my wife, and my little dog Mushu. I feel like in many ways that my personal relationship with God has faded and it kills me to admit that. This affects my poker mind, but frankly, I could care less about any of that. I'm more concerned with the person I've become recently, and I don't like that guy one bit. I'm often irritated, jealous, venomous, spiteful, arrogant, mean, insecure, and all around unhappy.
Trying to fill those gaps with things like "working out" just don't last. It's a great step, don't get me wrong, but without a close relationship with God in my life, I don't LIVE. I die slowly, I hate, I complain, I'm sick... I hurt. Most of you, despite the fact that you may feel like you "know me," really don't know what it's like to live my life. I'm NOT complaining, my life is great and I have all kinds of opportunities, but sometimes, too much of a good thing can be harmful. Vanity is the deadliest sin in so many ways, but especially because it sneaks up on you without you even realizing it.
It's the sin I'm most conscious of, most afraid of, but it's still a constant battle despite knowing that it's there.I hate to think that this blog is coming off like a, "poor me" blog. I've always tried to let people in, and it's always made me feel better. At the same time, there is a price to pay for always putting on a smiley face, even when you don't feel like smiling at all. The people here in Australian are so nice, they've treated me exceptionally well... but I want nothing to do with it right now. I feel safer tucked away in my room, sweating the hockey games, and the tennis.
Anyway, it's getting pretty late here in Melbourne and I have a flight to catch. I'm seriously not even sure if I'm going to press send on this blog, because a lot of it is pretty revealing, and some may even find it preachy despite the fact that I've tried to be as "unpreachy" as possible.God is important to me. My life is better when I make God the center of it. When I don't, regardless of any tournament success or accolades, I just can't be happy unless I feel like I'm at a good place with God.In closing, I don't plan on turning this blog into a religious soap box, but this is MY blog and this is what I think about. I try my best to play it safe, not jamming God down people's throats, but at the same time, I'm not about to hide the fact that I believe.Here's to an awesome 2007, hoping that we all get our resolutions and priorities in order.
Friday, 4 April 2008
Perpetually tired
Recently, i found myself needing alot of rest. I seem tired the whole day and just can't seem to perk myself up and function properly. Of course the first thing i should really do is to sleep early.
The fact is i can't... 2 am is the earliest i can try to sleep. Other than that i need to be on the internet doing something. Most probably on Facebook playing Texas holdem. I decided to give up on that as well. It is really quite meaningless chasing after that next ranking. Can you imagine the number of hours that is poured into daily when i can actually do something else with the time.
We need a FBTHA, Face book texas holdem annoymous group for support to quit this madness. The best thing about this is the fact that i am not the only one. Everytime i log on, i will see the familliar group of ppl on different table. Be it a point game or tournament. The satisfaction you get in winning the tournament is incredible! You know who u are...
We have also offcially move 1 rung up the ladder of poker... we are going to start playing live games! This way we can truly mold ourselves to be better poker players. I don't know about the others but i do have an objective in mind to all these hours invested in poker. I have only shared this with a few people but coming 2011, i will want to participate in the WSOP 2011. If possible i want to participate in the main event. Be it for the pride of Singapore or for the experience i think it is worth the 10k buy in. I have not truly come across a professional singaporean player yet. I will love to be a poker player who puts Singapore on the Poker map if i can.
Imagine, me playing on the final table of the WSOP main event. Daniel Negreneu sitting on my left, doyle brunson across me with his son Todd beside him as well. Daniel push all in, Toby maguire folded to me and i call Daniel's all in with pocket AA vs Daniels pocket QQ. The flop came 267 rainbow, the turn came a Q and Daniel jumps for joy and went delirious until the dealer turns over an A on the river and i send Daniel home packing. wowwww.... the ups and downs of poker are not for the weak.
The whole point of this post? I need sleep and i should stop playing poker non stop for hours at night... maybe only 2 hours.
The fact is i can't... 2 am is the earliest i can try to sleep. Other than that i need to be on the internet doing something. Most probably on Facebook playing Texas holdem. I decided to give up on that as well. It is really quite meaningless chasing after that next ranking. Can you imagine the number of hours that is poured into daily when i can actually do something else with the time.
We need a FBTHA, Face book texas holdem annoymous group for support to quit this madness. The best thing about this is the fact that i am not the only one. Everytime i log on, i will see the familliar group of ppl on different table. Be it a point game or tournament. The satisfaction you get in winning the tournament is incredible! You know who u are...
We have also offcially move 1 rung up the ladder of poker... we are going to start playing live games! This way we can truly mold ourselves to be better poker players. I don't know about the others but i do have an objective in mind to all these hours invested in poker. I have only shared this with a few people but coming 2011, i will want to participate in the WSOP 2011. If possible i want to participate in the main event. Be it for the pride of Singapore or for the experience i think it is worth the 10k buy in. I have not truly come across a professional singaporean player yet. I will love to be a poker player who puts Singapore on the Poker map if i can.
Imagine, me playing on the final table of the WSOP main event. Daniel Negreneu sitting on my left, doyle brunson across me with his son Todd beside him as well. Daniel push all in, Toby maguire folded to me and i call Daniel's all in with pocket AA vs Daniels pocket QQ. The flop came 267 rainbow, the turn came a Q and Daniel jumps for joy and went delirious until the dealer turns over an A on the river and i send Daniel home packing. wowwww.... the ups and downs of poker are not for the weak.
The whole point of this post? I need sleep and i should stop playing poker non stop for hours at night... maybe only 2 hours.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Why we love Poker and poker Lesson 1
I started playing Poker after watching a few movies with a little poker in it. Texas holdem to be specific and not the typical showhand pokers you see in Stephen Chow's movies.
One of the movie was James Bond with Daniel Craig as 007 and the other... i can't really remember. There are many lessons you can draw from playing poker, i think everyone should play this game if not at least draw lessons from it. I am no Poker Pro but just want to share my experience after playing online poker for about a year now.
The poker game has evolved over the years and attracted many interest all around the world especially with the huge interest in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) after Chris Moneymaker an amateur won the WSOP in 2003. Everyone called it the Moneymaker effect. Chris a former accountant who earns $40k a year won 2.5 million in cold hard cash in the WSOP. It was every grown up poor man's wet dream... to put it crudely. Moneymaker delve into poker after watching Rounders, starring Matt Damon. If anyone of you is interested in Poker, you should watch it, it should at least stir some interest to play.
After the moneymaker effect, the participation in WSOP skyrocketed. Prize money for the main event in 2006 was an obscene amount of more than 12 million dollars! Jamie Gold won it that year. It was the highest ever prize money in the history of WSOP. Without further bantering, here is lesson 1.
No 1 Lesson: Read your opponents
The ability to read and understand your opponent is very important in poker. To be able to read your opponents allows you to know what hole cards they are holding. Daniel Negreanu is one of the few i seen who is able to read his opponents card so well that it sometimes it's as if he has x ray vision.
There are a few ways to do to read your opponents. One way is to look for tells. Certain action that your opponent do when he is bluffing or has a good hand i.e talk alot or start looking away from the table.
Another way is betting pattern, some players like to raise pre flop when they are bluffing and slow play when they have big hands. The way they raise, check-raise, on the turn, on the river etc.
Sometimes its just experience that allows you to read your opponent. I am sure legends like Doyle Brunson don't even have to actively think about what to do anymore. It is all automated in his mind.
Application in life:
Interaction with friends, family and even strangers or aquaintance are part and parcel of life. The ability to understand and "read" your friends intention without them telling you straight in the face is an asset. The ability to size up someone you meet for the very first time is invaluable. From their body language, the way they speak, the questions they ask. It is sometimes enough to tell you more than what can be miscommunicated through words.
This ability will make you more than a million bucks if you are in sales or in business. The ability to to size up a prospect, and learning to speak his/her language in the first 5 minutes of interaction will help tremendously in closing the deal.
The way the prospect's eye drift towards when thinking can tell you if he is an audio or visual person. The speed of his speech can tell you if he is deliberate in his thoughts or doesn't care much for details. His sitting posture can tell you if he is wasting your time or interested.
This invaluable skill can be horned with experience with your daily dealing with people and playing Poker! So start playing poker right now. There are hundreds of free site on the internet offering free poker. The easiest way is to play on facebook. That way you can play and learn the game and lose zero money. Poker in its purest form is cash games. Only this way will you learn the game properly and seriously. Even Tournaments are not its purest form. We will talk about tournament plays in another entry. I will only say one last thing:
"Let's Shuffle up and Deal!!!"
One of the movie was James Bond with Daniel Craig as 007 and the other... i can't really remember. There are many lessons you can draw from playing poker, i think everyone should play this game if not at least draw lessons from it. I am no Poker Pro but just want to share my experience after playing online poker for about a year now.
The poker game has evolved over the years and attracted many interest all around the world especially with the huge interest in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) after Chris Moneymaker an amateur won the WSOP in 2003. Everyone called it the Moneymaker effect. Chris a former accountant who earns $40k a year won 2.5 million in cold hard cash in the WSOP. It was every grown up poor man's wet dream... to put it crudely. Moneymaker delve into poker after watching Rounders, starring Matt Damon. If anyone of you is interested in Poker, you should watch it, it should at least stir some interest to play.
After the moneymaker effect, the participation in WSOP skyrocketed. Prize money for the main event in 2006 was an obscene amount of more than 12 million dollars! Jamie Gold won it that year. It was the highest ever prize money in the history of WSOP. Without further bantering, here is lesson 1.
No 1 Lesson: Read your opponents
The ability to read and understand your opponent is very important in poker. To be able to read your opponents allows you to know what hole cards they are holding. Daniel Negreanu is one of the few i seen who is able to read his opponents card so well that it sometimes it's as if he has x ray vision.
There are a few ways to do to read your opponents. One way is to look for tells. Certain action that your opponent do when he is bluffing or has a good hand i.e talk alot or start looking away from the table.
Another way is betting pattern, some players like to raise pre flop when they are bluffing and slow play when they have big hands. The way they raise, check-raise, on the turn, on the river etc.
Sometimes its just experience that allows you to read your opponent. I am sure legends like Doyle Brunson don't even have to actively think about what to do anymore. It is all automated in his mind.
Application in life:
Interaction with friends, family and even strangers or aquaintance are part and parcel of life. The ability to understand and "read" your friends intention without them telling you straight in the face is an asset. The ability to size up someone you meet for the very first time is invaluable. From their body language, the way they speak, the questions they ask. It is sometimes enough to tell you more than what can be miscommunicated through words.
This ability will make you more than a million bucks if you are in sales or in business. The ability to to size up a prospect, and learning to speak his/her language in the first 5 minutes of interaction will help tremendously in closing the deal.
The way the prospect's eye drift towards when thinking can tell you if he is an audio or visual person. The speed of his speech can tell you if he is deliberate in his thoughts or doesn't care much for details. His sitting posture can tell you if he is wasting your time or interested.
This invaluable skill can be horned with experience with your daily dealing with people and playing Poker! So start playing poker right now. There are hundreds of free site on the internet offering free poker. The easiest way is to play on facebook. That way you can play and learn the game and lose zero money. Poker in its purest form is cash games. Only this way will you learn the game properly and seriously. Even Tournaments are not its purest form. We will talk about tournament plays in another entry. I will only say one last thing:
"Let's Shuffle up and Deal!!!"
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