BILLJACKSON.ORG

Firstly, I take absolutely no responsibility for my actions. Empirically it is not my fault I enjoy the activity so much. There’s the thrill, the excitement, yet holding it all in to keep my composure. The build-up, the anticipation, and the thrill of occasionally faking it. Most think that it can come naturally. But, in reality, one must be exposed to it; one must be taught the basics, then spend time molding your efforts and gaining satisfaction in the experimentation. The more you play, the better you get. Then there is understanding the person or persons you are engaged in the activity with. Knowing what they are looking for and how it will affect them; and knowing what their reactions will be if it is given to them. It is truly a mind game.

I blame Charles Hanagriff.  It was he who introduced me to Texas Holdem’ and gave me great tips to help save me some money. It has now become a hobby that actually made me money in my first full year of playing. You see, Charles is an experienced player that does some very smart things and given them to me as tips.  Charles was kind enough to pass them along free of charge. He knew I was going to be a studen of the game and really try to understand its complexities and nuances. So, that quest I am on, and will likely spend the rest of my days trying to master.

Some of you will frown on me for “gambling.” While it may be “gambling,” it has become a wonderful hobby that I am enjoying immensely. Mom likes scrap booking. Ed and Jim love golf. Each hobby has an associated cost. My cost was $127 in 2005. At the end of 2005 I have $494 in my account. Deduct $127 from that $494 and you see my hobby his made me $367 in a mere 20 hours of no-limit holdem’ tourney play. That is it. I made $18.35 an hour at the poker table in 2005. How much did you make on those scrap books, Mom? So you ask, only 20 hours? That is 20 hours of real money play. I spent countless hours playing with fake money online refining learned skills and seeing more and more hands, betting, over betting, under betting, creating online tells, leading online tells, learning how to read online tells. I will continue to play for “play” money this year. I have a goal if understanding and calculating pot odds, implied odds, and the rest of the math that are useful tools in the decision making process. Also, learning how to take bad beats without showing emotion. Learning how to win hands without showing emotion, too. I have this lab online, that I can test my theories out on and it not cost me anything. It is an education.

I love watching pros play on TV too. Sure the action is great to watch once. I have my trusty Tivo going to town, though. I’ll watch an episode 8 – 10 times just to get into the finer details of the game that some jus don’t see. Betting hands, position, and bluffing with hands in certain positions. Little details that give me some insight that I can take into the “lab” and experiment with. So where is all of this going? Well, I have set a goal for myself to get as educated as I can in 2006, then seek out a professional to tell me if I have it or if I don’t. If I do, then I will examine options like taking advance lessons from that pro so that I can become a truly great player. To get there I am going to have to play in a brick and mortar casino, or riverboat casino as the case may be. Home games are fun, I love playing them. It is time for me to start taking some small chances based on educated guesses. I am going to have to get exposed to different people to see more playing styles, reactions, tells, and see more hands. What a year it is going to be…