What led you to a career as a professional gambler? How did you start?
I wanted to be a professional gambler because of the freedom if affords me. Also, poker is a great challenge, and it gives me a great deal of satisfaction to succeed as a professional.
What your thoughts are on bankroll management? Do you use stop-loss methods?
Bankroll management is very important! You should never play in any game that is too high for your bankroll. If you are not comfortable at the limit you are playing, then it will be difficult to play your best.
I rarely use stop loss limits, but am more concerned with how well I am playing. If I am losing, but am playing well, and the game is good, then, I keep playing. I try to be objective about my play. If I have lost a considerable amount, and don't feel that I am still on top of my game, then I may quit. Conversely, when I am winning and the game is good, I won't quit.
What type of mental preparations do you go through before a big ring game or tournament?
Before a major tournament I try to reflect on the way I have been playing recently. I then may make some general strategies. It is very importantly to be mentally prepared for a major tournament.
Recently during a pot limit game of 7 card stud I was dealt wired up 4's too start. I decided to play them quietly and got improved past rather quickly. I've also been outdrawn before with wired up kings.
Is it best to start hitting the pot big early with any wired up trips or to a point did I play these correctly?
Small rolled up trips should be played strong early, maybe on 3rd street, but surely on 4th or 5th. They can easily be beat, so you don't want to trap too long or you may get broke. If you play them early, players may think you only have a big pair in the hole, and then if they make two pair early, you could bust them. Also, you get the pot built early, so if you fill up, you can win a big pot. I'd probably raise on 3rd street to represent a big pair in the hole. If you raise on 3rd, opponents won't think you are rolled up.
I've been playing poker for about 9 months and I believe that my skills have dramatically improved after many hours of practice on Internet tables and many articles/books later. I started playing low limit poker at casinos and would like to know when I would be ready for higher limits. How should I measure my skills? Also, I find that with the lowest limits, there are a lot of calling stations and people who just play bad. At what limits would these players be weeded out?
When you play in bigger games, the competition will obviously be tougher. You should not progress up until you are winning regularly at the limit you are now playing. Then you can gradually increase the size of the games you play. But be careful, because as you noticed, the very low limit games have many weak players. It may be more difficult to win in the bigger games. You won't get so many free draws, and you won't get paid off on borderline hands as often.
Usually, the biggest game is the toughest game, but this is not an absolute rule. I remember a few years ago, the Horsehoe had 10-20 limit Hold'em games that were much harder to beat than the 20-40. The 10-20 game had many struggling players who were trying to make a living, while the 20-40 had many people splashing chips around.
The main criteria should be that you can win consistently. Only then should you step up to next level.
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