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Just Call Me Coach With the hype surrounding big-name tournaments in the media today, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the grassroots of poker, the foundation on which the hype and fame grows, is the everyday player. The vast majority of poker players, even winning players, never become televised tournament professionals. Some have realized, however, that you do not need to be on TV to enjoy the game and the benefits it can bestow on oneself.
I got my start in poker by playing in home games, as so many players do, and from there my interest in the game grew. I played hold’em in casinos near to where I grew up, and in 2003 I started playing online. I enjoyed the experience enough that I stuck with it and adapted my play to the intricacies of the online game, rather than simply stick to live games.
During my playing career I’ve come to realize that my best game is limit Texas Hold’em. I flourished in mid-stakes cash games, and I have always enjoyed the income that being a poker player can provide.
I did not stick to limit cash games, however; I also play no-limit tournaments and cash games. Today’s poker scene demands that players learn no-limit to ensure they can always find a game. Besides which, many of the principles that make you a good limit player can help you with the fast-paced and aggressive style required to win at no-limit. And as Steve Zolotow argues in Super System 2, the more games you know the better a player you will be, so I’ve tried to diversify my scope to understanding the principles behind poker in general. This has allowed me to instruct others about a variety of poker games and variants, and made me a better player for it.
So now, we come to my role at HP. Aside from this first column, this part of HP is not about me, it is about you, the HollywoodPoker player. I am here to answer questions from our players about poker strategy, how to manage the game with life and to provide tips for improving one’s game. From time to time, I may give reviews of poker literature. I have always enjoyed helping people, and I enjoy lively discussions of poker strategy, and so my position here as part of HP’s team of dedicated support personnel.
I promise I will always try to find an answer for all relevant questions sent by HP players, even if it means a little outside research – I love learning about the game as much as I love teaching others about it.
So if you have any questions about poker and especially about strategy or ways to improve your game that you would like to have answered, please send them to coach (at) hollywoodpoker.com. Each week, the player who asks the best question of those featured will receive a free ticket to the Michael Woods Celebrity Invitational.
Good luck at the tables!
 
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