The journey begins....

November 5, 2003 | 06:10PM  | maudie dot b - gmail d c | |

Last April I became fascinated, along with many others, with the Travel Channel's World Poker Tour broadcast. Having played numerous home games over the years (trading the same $5 around the group...), I was intrigued by the sports-like production of the tournaments. I hadn't played much hold-em previously - let alone no-limit - and so I was at sea with the jargon and had no clue as to strategy. Being the curious cat I am, I googled for poker reading material and was lead to my first poker publication purchase (nice alliteration, wouldn't you say?) Super System by Doyle Brunson.

That was quite a purchase! I read the section on no-limit first, then hopped to the limit section, breezed through stud & draw and glanced at the rest. I tuned into the WPT each week and it wasn't long before I had a hankerin' to play some pokah. Well, my group hadn't got together in a long time, so I steeled myself and explored the world of online poker. Ultimately I chose Party Poker, frankly, because of the adverts on the WPT- I set up an account (which is free) and trolled the play chip tables to learn how to play the game.

I stayed with the play chips for quite a while - I just didn't have the nerve to put real money in the pot. It was fun to play on Party - the first time I won a hand I was cheered and applauded by the little computer poker pixies!

In the meantime, I purchased some more books - Lee Jones' Winning Low-Limit Hold'Em; Ken Warren's Winner's Guide to Texas Hold'Em Poker (which I highly recommend). I was fully bitten by the bug - I couldn't get enough. Naturally, I had to finally bite the bullet and gamble.

I deposited $50 bucks on Party and began to play the lowest limit possible. After a few sessions, I had added another $30 to my bankroll with winning hands. Wow - that felt great. Top-o-the-world. I had visions of the final table at the World Series of Poker at Binion's Horseshoe in Vegas, all eyes on me, the commentators awed by my skill and nerves of steel...

I'll pause and let you develop that mental picture...if you're a poker player, I know you've been there - you know what I'm talking about - and you, no doubt, know what comes next......stay tuned!