HIVE OF DREAMS - “Queen-Beez Journey” Part -4

I made a decision, this is my journey and my goal, that nothing would stand in my way. I would hold my head high, no matter what. As my game grew so did the negatives, especially after I had my first win. It was as if nobody wanted me to achieve. I decided to make a promise to myself that I would make it my goal to not only improve my poker game but also to put a smile on every ones faces and help them feel great and enjoy the poker environment in a positive way.


I started turning up early, making sure everyone was happy before the game commenced, helping new players, running to the bar, grabbing players numbers and keeping them updated each week on up and coming poker tournaments and anything exciting or sad involving our new poker family. I encouraged players into conversations on the break that they never normally joined in. I enjoyed stepping back and seeing the laughter and fun everyone was having. It was not just about the poker to me now, it became about the players too. APL advertised poker as fun, free and entertaining. That is what it finally started to turn into for me. I began to thrive both socially as well as in my poker game.

It is amazing what you can achieve by putting in your maximum whole hearted effort.

HIVE OF DREAMS - “Queen-Beez Journey” Part -3

A fortnight ago I talked about how I got introduced to the exiting world of poker and how I have never looked back since then. Gradually looking forward to my weekly poker game with Australian Poker League (APL) became routine. Even though I was enjoying this new found sport, I was battling one major part of the game, when I was chipped up.

It was like I felt I didn’t deserve them or hey Cindy you are not good enough for free poker and within minutes of having a deep stack I would be out with a sense of relief. It was as if I could not handle the pressure.

This was only one of many battles that I endured during my 2 years of free poker.... From taking 7 months to win my first game to being verbally abused, asked to step outside with me replying "I am a girl you know", chair being thrown, dealing with highly intoxicated players, intimidation, players calling with anything cause its a free roll, being slandered by another player involving a shirt and much more. This journey is not the place for the woes of my poker tournaments but it is all about sharing how i have been able to achieve my destiny.

My passion for poker was strong. Everything that I was confronted with made me more determined to strive above the negative and into the positives of why I was there. To play Texas hold em and be the best at enjoying the ultimate win....

My journey from here on will take you through the ups and downs of how and why I am where I am today. Maybe one of you will feel the same strength and determination as I did and also pursue your own destiny.

Stay tuned for part .4. a buzzing idea.

Isn’t She Beautiful!

Most poker players eventually end up with a nick name, whether they like it or not. I was blessed by a nick name falling straight from the poker gods. Ace Queen was a hand I fell in love with (isn’t she beautiful was regularly heard while I was playing my poker game.) Players would be dumbfounded: “again Cindy survives!”.Word started to spread around poker tournaments and the poker world here and QUEEN-BEE was born.

As many fellow poker players know, poem writing my poker experiences is special to me. Here is one of my favorites for you to enjoy. My hand, and QUEEN-BEE once again packing her sting! Resulting in not only saving my seat on final table, but removing a player from the poker game.

Many hours minutes later,
Final table nothings greater,
Looking down see the chance,
Whisper silently shall we dance,
Knowing she would set me free,
Winning final table is destiny,
Full of class and crisp with grace,
Most certainly Queen-Beez’ face,
Pushing her with all my might,
Finally facing shear delight,
We’ve hit the flop but don’t despair,
The turn has come we’ve hit two pair,

Not a sound to be heard,
I wonder!
Is a full house preferred?

Now all-in with confidence assured,
Queen-Beez’ destiny is my reward,
Shows the straight with a smile on his face,
Leaving Queen-Bee a huge chase,
The river flows full of emotion,
Time to reveal Queen-Bee devotion,
Heart beating eyes so bright,
Down she comes with shear delight,

Oh I love my Queen-Bee,
We always shine for you to see.

I do need to confess on rare occasions QUEEN-BEE is a naughty BEE losing me greatly. I still love her on these occasions as she is family.

ANALYSE THIS AND THAT! - “Do I have the Nutz?”

You have been playing poker for hours and have just heard those sweet words to your ears “FINAL TABLE”. This is now where you are in the money and the possibility of taking down the poker game.

By this point your game has been like a yo-yo, your chips floating from low to medium, emotions bad good and ugly. Heading to final table carrying your poker strategy and iron emotion branded face you realise your play now needs to be of experience and domination in all forms to take down this game.

Every position from now on eliminated in this texas hold em poker game is one step closer for you to more money and the ultimate championship prize of first place. The aim is to constantly know where your chip stack compares to your opponents, while not entering into pots that you do not need to be in, allowing opponents to knock each other out of the poker game.

Risking your tournament without the NUTZ is the fastest way to the rail from here on in. This is where all your poker strategy and experience kick in without allowing your emotions to play the game. Analysing this and that while having the NUTZ is a sure way to last man standing.

Enjoy your final tables and SHIP IT!

TODAY’S SPECIAL - “Blind Roast”

I am forever hearing and wondering myself why Big and Small blind end up being dealt often to the worst playing hands yet suck out and win quite regularly when a hand is not raised enough to get them out pre flop. Does not matter whether its internet poker or in a poker tournament you will find the Big and Small blind specials. So very frustrating to see for example Big Blind smashing limped aces hoping for a raise with 9,4 checking and flopping two pair. How nervous do you become when you do a small raise pre-flop, and loose when Big Blind calls you? How sick are you feeling when you are holding pockets ten’s and the flop is under your hand with Big Blind making a bet? Your poker strategy kicks in and you know for sure you have been smashed again by that Big Blind special. Small blind too can be a killer at times especially if there has been no raise. Big and Small blind do often roast players on big hands.

I’m sure many of you have been Blind Roasted as I have in your poker life, feel free to leave your comments here.

Roller Coasting Emotions - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly of Poker

Poker is an emotionally charged game!

When disappointment enters the hand players become The Bad and The Ugly. Verbally slaying words start to emerge from their mouths due to the shock of losing. Players that become so confident in their hand even after analysing the opponent’s outs, are not prepared for loss. All of a sudden down comes that slim chance leaving the confident Texas hold em poker player shattered low stack even out of the game often.
A smart experienced poker player has learnt to shrug this off and play the new hand free of any emotion. While majority of players will carry the suck out emotion into a new hand during an internet poker game or live play, most often out of the game a short time later still carrying the emotion of the hand he should have won. The player who just sucked out will be verbally sweet (The Good) as he tightens up his play while getting over emotion and realisation he was nearly eliminated from the poker game.

Have you ever been The Good, The Bad or even The Ugly?

I would love to hear your comment!

The Diversity of poker brings The Good, The Bad and The Ugly out in players.

FUN WHILE LEARNING - Free Poker Experience

Freeroll poker is starting to pop up all over the world. No need to sit in front of the TV anymore trying to learn from the big players in the televised events. Head down to your local venue or download the online poker software and start learning this adrenaline pumped action sport. Free roll leagues offer social outlets and a place new players can learn together. Online poker offers not only free games to play while learning; many sites even have tutorials to follow improving your game in the comfort of your own home.

The gaming software is becoming easier to follow with sites upgrading regularly. Imagine sitting in the comfort of your own home having fun while learning also meeting other players from all over the world. There is one important thing to consider when registering online and that is your user name for once you have it, it becomes yours forever. Having the option to learn at a free venue and free online is giving the poker game the opportunity to continue on into the future. For without new players our fabulous sport would surely diminish.

Starting out in poker brings many questions. Please feel free to ask them here!

Let’s have fun while learning!