Shopping and Poker Blog: Views Of A Woman Poker Player

So many women have become interested in the normally male-centered sport of poker that women’s poker merchandise has become a growing trend among shops that produce poker products and apparel. This isn’t surprising, given that recent studies and polls of the online gambling world have found that women players make up almost half of all of the registered online gamers, and about 30% identify themselves as dedicated poker players.

Some experts have suggested that this surge in interest from women is due to the fact that they can play a few hands of poker without ever leaving the house or taking too much time out of their already hectic days. Online poker can be the perfect outlet for women who can engage in this internet community without having to worry about neglecting their children or husbands. And although men’s poker nights are well established, “girls’ night out” poker games aren’t as common, leaving women poker players to seek other communities in which to test their skills.

While some of the women’s poker merchandise is geared more at making the women seem cutesy – with slogans like “Stacked”, spelled out in front of a large bundle of chips – others actually tout the proficiency that many women have shown in the world of online poker. There are even some special poker chips that cater to women who like to play in local women’s poker clubs. This recent growth of merchandise geared specifically at women players means that people have begun to realize how much of the market these players comprise. After all, poker merchants wouldn’t produce these items unless there was a large enough target audience that they were sure they’d make a return on their investment.

If the number of women players continues to increase, this merchandise will become even more common, until it’s eventually carried in large clothing chains. Consequently, as more items become available that are aimed at women’s poker, more women will become aware of the game. It’s a cycle that could lead to many women getting actively involved in the sport – both online and on the casino floor. This is good news for many women who have longed for a competitive atmosphere in which they could compete with many of the male players. In poker, success doesn’t come from speed or agility, but rather with intelligence, intuition, luck, and the ability to bluff. In other words, it’s anyone’s game – regardless of their gender.

So, if the promotion of women’s poker as a sport continues and the numbers of women who are logging on each day to play in women’s poker clubs and leagues keeps rising, you can be sure that there will be a correlating rise in the marketing of merchandise and gear to this demographic. While some of the women who buy this merchandise may not actively participate in the sport of poker, all of them are helping to make people more aware of those women that do, which can only help the growing community of women players.

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There are many different magazines, television programs, and even books out there on poker, but few of them focus specifically on female poker players. However, Woman Poker Player Magazine is one of the few publications or shows aimed specifically at female card sharks. The magazine includes interviews, poker news, tips, and more – all geared towards ladies who enjoy the sport of poker. In fact, Woman Poker Player is the only magazine specifically for women poker players on the market today.

Why publish a magazine for women poker players? According to the research done by editor-in-chief Barbara Enright, thirty-five percent of all poker players are women, and women are the fastest growing demographic in poker playing today. And when you factor in that there are over 75 million poker players in the United States – this comes out to a pretty large number of female players.

Ms. Enright is no stranger to poker, of course, but she does much more than just write about the subject. She has the distinction of being the only woman in the World Series of Poker to ever finish at the final table. Further boosting her poker credentials, she also holds three World Series of Poker championship titles – so it’s safe to say that she’s an expert on the field. In addition to providing her own insight, Ms. Enright has also gathered advice and articles from many of the top women poker players and authors on the circuit.

While it’s still a fairly new publication, Woman Poker Player offers a lot to its readers. Its editorials includes strategies, tips from the pros – women and men, so readers get the best of both worlds – and much more. The magazine often includes interviews and profiles with popular players, giving its readers insight into how these women have made it to the top in a game dominated by men. It’s a great place for potential female poker champions to get started in the sport.

Woman Poker Player Magazine also includes a few sections no men’s poker magazine would touch that the staff feels are important for women poker players. These range from things like how to form your own women’s poker circle and what foods to serve while playing to the latest in poker playing fashion, and even some health and wellness tips. It might sound like an odd combination of topics, but they blend together quite well and provide information that men may never think about or overlook.

Woman Poker Player Magazine comes out six times a year, and each issue is packed with tips, facts, photos, and more. You can check out some of its content at www.womanpokerplayer.com and purchase a subscription if you like the look of it. Their website also features some extras and tips not in the magazine, such as a list of the top ten female poker players in the world and forums where you can discuss poker with other women. As a female poker player, you won’t find any other publication with so much bang for the buck.

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It was kind of a shock to the system when so many people started to become interested in the world of poker as a professional sport. Television shows and magazines dedicated to the game sprung up everywhere, and before anyone knew it, they were even hosting celebrity poker tournaments. However, one trend that came out of this growing excitement was the rise of women poker players – few people expected that women would take such an interest in a game that’s traditionally considered such a male-orientated sport.

Surveys and research conducted both with online gamers and with the poker playing community at large shows that there’s a larger number of women’s poker players than anyone ever expected, and that the field is continuing to grow at a surprising rate. Once, women players only comprised about ten percent of all online poker players, but recent surveys and studies have shown that this number has increased to close to thirty percent. In fact, men who are playing in online poker rooms may never even realize that there’s a women playing against them – and this slight edge usually works out in the women’s favor.

When the idea of online gaming was first introduced, most people believed it would be predominately centered on men who could play a quick pick-up game here and there without having to worry about getting out of the house. However, it appears that the tables have turned – predictions are that women actually make up close to fifty percent of the online gaming community, including participants who enjoy a variety of casino-style games, not just poker. More and more women are turning to online gaming as an easy way to relieve the stress brought on by running a household and a career at the same time.

One of the largest draws for women interested in the game – especially those playing online – is that many housewives who might not have the extra time necessary to join a real life poker tournament can now do so in the comfort of their home. Many of these women are also finding that they can supplement their income with a little extra money from poker, which is a big draw for budget-minded women. In addition, many female poker players also find that they prefer the anonymity offered online, as only about fifteen percent of the women who were polled said that they preferred playing in a casino-hosted poker game.

It’s hard to know for sure what has drawn so many women into the world of online poker, but if all of the speculators are right, it’s easy to see that this is a trend that doesn’t have any intention of dying down. As long as online gaming is still available and women poker players are able to relax while playing a few hands of poker, there’s little doubt that the rising popularity of poker among women players will continue to grow and grow. In fact – although it’s hard to believe – we may see a time when the number of women players online outnumbers the men in the sport!

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For some reason, there are people in the world who believe that their entire physical realm revolves around fashion. It’s possible that they also think that fashion is the basis for their spiritual realm as well, but that’s an entirely different matter… One of the most important things to remember about fashion is that it’s not meant to be the center of anyone’s world, but rather a tool for expressing your individuality and uniqueness. It’s not possible for fashion to be a mode of self-expression if you instead choose to worship it as an idol.

You can see this trend in Hollywood, where so many celebrities rely so heavily on fashion consultants to choose their wardrobe that they’ve begun to look a lot alike. There’s hardly any way to distinguish the individuality that lies behind the beautiful faces and cocktail dresses. However, the reason for this cult of fashion seems to rise from the fact that anytime a celeb tries to break out of the mold and do something that expresses themselves, they’re heartily attacked for doing something bold or different in the press and on the Internet.

Granted, there are times when some people push the envelope too far and those dresses and celebrities will live in infamy for those decisions. Perhaps you remember Jennifer Lopez’s barely-there green dress? Or Rose McGowan’s take on fringe? The interesting thing though, is the fact that you tend to remember them because they chose to do something different – something outside of the box of normalcy. You have to wonder if you would have remembered them at all had they stayed within the strict confines of the fashion trends of the moment. The answer is probably no.

So, when you’re dealing with fashion, don’t try to approach it as the be-all, end-all final word on the life itself. Fashion is supposed to be fun! Remember that you’re a person with something unique and different to offer to the world of fashion. Maybe there’s a certain funky necklace or bracelet that you like to wear, maybe there’s a certain way you do your hair, or maybe you like colors and pattern combinations that no one else would even think to put together. This is what makes you stand out from all those around you who strictly follow what the movers and shakers of fashion declare is allowable.

One of the best ways to overcome this desire to follow the herd into fashion oblivion is to take an outfit and imagine what you would do to change it. Maybe you’d cut off the sleeves or sew on a piece of fringe or beading. Or maybe you’d embellish it with different colored paint or patches. Whatever you do, be unique – put your own special fingerprint on the clothing and accessories that you wear. Just remember, if everyone, everywhere bought the clothes in the store and wore them off the hanger, the world would be a very drab place indeed!

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Ask any poker player what they’re favorite poker tournament is, and inevitably it comes down to one they cashed in! One of the easiest types of tournaments to cash in would have to be single table Sit n Gos.
The payout structure is such that you have to spend very little time playing in the tournament, and usually only have to finish in the top two for a six handed game, and top three for a full ring game to cash. These are very popular and often you will see Sit and Go tournaments fill up in minutes, or even seconds at some online poker rooms. Once you are in the money, your play will change dramatically. It is important to be aware of the chip stacks of the other players at the table because this will often be a major influence in both how they and you play.
If you notice a player seemingly just happy to be in the money and shoving every hand, you have to tighten up a bit, and vice versa. One strategy that seems to work well is to play aggressive against the largest remaining stack, because generally they are just going to protect that big stack and try and cruise to a heads up battle. Get after that stack, let him try and cruise to heads up, while you take advantage of your opponents play and chip up. If you can get heads up with a decent size chip lead, you will be in good shape.
Again, it is extremely important to be aware of how the other players at your table are playing. If and when you get to a heads up situation, your play will change to another gear. Suring heads up, you should try and detect betting patterns by your opponent, pressuring them when they seem weak. Test the waters a bit, if they are willing to fold to small raises, then you know they are playing tight.
Heads up is where you should be applying all the information you have acquired throughout the tournament and focusing it in on that one player. Heads up is not a great place to make stone cold bluffs, and it is recommend to not get a large amount of your chips into the pot unless you are sure you are pretty far ahead. The best poker knowledge you can obtain is done so through playing. Put your self in situations to win and in the long run you will come out ahead. Sit n Go’s can be a very simple way to boost your bankroll if played properly.

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A continuation bet is exactly what the name suggest; a bet of the same or greater amount than a bet made before the flop. On most occasions a continuation bet serves as a bluff when you raised preflop with a strong hand but failed to connect on the flop or you are unsure whether or not your hand is in the lead. This is a concept that many new poker players fail to understand and yet it is a crucial component of the game, something that a more knowledgeable poker player will pick up on and exploit to nip away at your chip stack.

Let’s look at an example;

Blinds: 100/200

Player 1 You (SB)
Player 2 (BB)
Player 3
Player 4
Player 5
Player 6 (Dealer)

Players 3,4,5 fold, the dealer calls. You’re holding 9? 9? an strong hand worthy of a raise. You make it 600 to go, the BB calls and the dealer calls.

Three to the flop which comes: 10? K? 4?

You’re holding middle pair and you are first to act. What are you going to do? Let’s run through your possible options:

Check: The worst possible decision. A check is the same as saying “I don’t have a K or a 10”.

Minimum Bet: Better than a check, but given that two players before you called a raise of 3 times the big blind it’s unlikely they are going to fold when the pot odds dictate they should call.

Strong Continuation Bet: The best course of action. You bet out 1200 which represents ¾ of the pot. A bet of this magnitude will only keep players holding A-K, A-Q, A-J, A-10. The continuation bet effectively announces to the two players that you hit the flop and you’re ready to raise on the turn and the river. Both players fold and you take down the pot.

A continuation bet also serves as a probing bet, it will give you a better idea of where your hand is and whether you are still in the lead. If a player calls your continuation bet, be ready to fold on the turn if you don’t hit your draw or improve your hand. Remember that if an opponent calls your continuation bet you must be prepared to fold. You should never consider yourself pot committed after a continuation bet.

You must use the continuation bet sparingly. If you constantly raise the pot after every flop the more observant players at the table will begin to take notice and will not give you credit for having the hand you are trying to represent.

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What better way to search through hundreds or even thousands of prom dresses than right from the comforts of home? Shopping for prom dresses online enables you to look at and compare an incredible number of different styles, types, and prices – all without ever leaving the house. After all, you don’t want to get sore feet before it’s time to start dancing the night away!

Do Your Homework

Sure, I know you hate the “H” word, but when it comes to shopping for your prom dress, be sure to learn as much as you can before making a decision on one dress or website over another. The most important thing to check before you even look at all the dresses available is each company’s return policy and what type of guarantees they offer. You certainly don’t want to be stuck with a dress that doesn’t fit or doesn’t look quite right on you and be unable to get your money back – so find out this important info before doing business.

The next thing to check is the site’s shipping policies, including the overall shipping and handling costs, the fee for returning a dress if needed, and also the expected timeframe for delivery. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until the very last minute to place an order – doing so is just asking for trouble.

Size Matters

Never take your size for granted when it comes to prom – or any type of formal dresses for that matter – as they may vary widely from one designer or style to the next. Don’t go by your measurements or regular size, but rather the measurements listed on the website. Get out the measuring tape and measure yourself to make sure you’re ordering the right size.

Be Picky

When shopping for prom dresses online, you can definitely be choosy – there’s certainly no shortage of sites clamoring for your business. For this reason, try to bargain and comparison shop between sites in order to get the best dress for your money. Besides the countless sites devoted just to prom dresses, there are an equally large number of bridesmaid’s dress sites, formal and semi-formal gowns sites, all of which would be suitable for an elegant event like the prom or an evening wedding.

Shop (Locally) Online

Yes, it is possible to find the perfect prom dress of your dreams and then locate the very same one at a local shop or boutique – with the only difference being the price. You’ll typically get a better deal online than in the stores, unless it’s during the off-season, of course. Different makers and designers use letters and numbers to identify the various dresses and are usually prominently labeled on the tag, or in this case, somewhere in the beginning of the dress’ online description.

When you do spot the dress of your dreams, write down the style number and make some phone calls to find out if you’re getting the best price. Some sites even have accompanying stores where you can place your order online after plenty of browsing through the different gowns on the site, and then pick it up at the store when it’s ready. When you’ve done your homework before shopping online, you can be sure you’re getting the best deal on your prom dress.

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Tom Dwan is on an absolute tear in 2008. “durrrr” on Full Tilt is the biggest winner so far this year, with an estimated profit of around $2.13 million. This includes his earnings playing high stakes PLO as well as Hold Em, and is not inclusive of his mixed game earnings.  

Since November of last year, Dwan is up around $2.8 million online, and has also cashed in some prestigious live events as well. Dwan finished fourth in the 2007 World Poker Finals for $324k, 2^nd in the $3k PLO championship at the Aussie Millions for 90k, and second at the Borgata Winter Open for $226k this year. He also finished 9th in the $25,000 buy-in World Poker Tour Championship for close to $200k 

Dwan is an extremely fearless player that has the respect of almost every single poker pro you will talk to. Tom has no problem playing anyone, from Phil Ivey, to Patrik Antonius, to the other big time online pros like Hac Dang and Di Dang.  

Dwan is also dominating the scene on Pokerstars, and while no year to date information is available, Dwan was witnessed being up around $250K in a session recently.  

Dwan’s winnings on Full Tilt break down as such. He is currently averaging over $20K a day in profits, which is around $35 per hand that her is playing, win or lose, in 2008. He is on pace to make over $8 million dollars this year, which is not bad for a college drop out! Dwan will continue to make a splash both online and live, and continue to earn the fear and respect of his opponents at the tables!  
 

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In poker, the bluff is a huge move. Some people love to do it, and some people hate getting bluffed, and will almost refuse to, which leads to a player melting down all together. But are there situations where you do not want to bluff or semi-bluff and just check or call? Contrary to the new school hyper aggressive approach, yes, there are. At the low stakes tables, if you are drawing to a straight and can take a free card, go ahead and take it once in a while. I know it seems crazy, but this is low limit specific, where hands are not often going to be folded. When someone is playing there top two pair on the flop, they probably are wanting to check raise you, so they check, you fire a semi bluff bet with second pair, and they come over the top big….now what? You just wasted money betting just to bet. Some helpful poker advice would be instead of betting, getting called, or raised, or the worst case winning a tiny pot, try checking and seeing if you can make your hand.

This is when you are going to get paid off. If you hit your draw on the turn and your opponent at the table was going to check raise you, you are now going to get paid off big time. You will get paid much more in this situation than you would have by taking down a small pot by semi-bluffing. This works extremely well after you have established an image of possibly semi bluffing your way to win some small pots, then when you take your free card and hit, the opponent will assume you are again bluffing, and bingo, ship it. Semi bluffing is great when the pot is big, you have a huge draw and enough of a stack to make a big bet to induce a fold.

If you semi-bluff with a pot sized bet or more, and it gets popped to 3x, what are you going to do? You will probably have to fold. If you have a big draw that hits you will win, but you have to make a call based on what may happen, and will need the odds to do so. If you check in the same situation, you save your money on the flop, and more or less anything that comes on the turn, is going to induce your opponent to bet into you and take down the pot. When you hit your draw after checking, the pot is now in your control and you may get a little creative to extract the most out of the hand. If a player wants to check raise you on the flop, but you don’t allow them to, they will almost always bet out at you on the turn. These people are also not going to lay down there hand, which means you are going to get paid off. Checking the flop allows you a few more opportunities to get creative in a hand, and in the long run, when used in certain situations is a very profitable play. This does not take the place of a bluff; it is just another tool to add to your poker arsenal.

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