Who is your favorite pro poker player and why? I like..

OK- Many of you are not going to want to hear this.. but I have two favorites.

The two poker pros that I like.

Eric Seidel - Because I've been watching him play now for many years and he's like a Machine. He does this STACK building like no other.. - all while keeping a low profile. HE always nice at the tables.. I've never seen the guy go off or snap at another player.. That's just cool! His cashes speak volumes of his abilities as a pro poker player.

On the other side of the poker spectrum.. I like and respect..

Phil Hellmuth - I know - I know.. Tom.. Are you CRAZY? Well.. No. I understand his game (I get his mind) He is a great player and just like in football.. "It ain't bragging if you can bring it..." Many people want to take away the MIND games of poker - but THIS is a KEY part of TOP level poker - Many players not only enjoy (myself included) this important part of poker. They simply - OUTCLASS the field.. in many cases.

Phil can talk smack - cuz - he has the READS on your play (he knows what he is doing kids) and he has the track record of a CHAMPION. He's got to be in the TOP "3" of all time best players - If people are honest.

Love Phill Hellmuth or Hate Phill Hellmuth - Show the man some respect.

WE HAVE A FREE ROLL OVER AT XFILESPOKER.COM COMING UP SOON! DECEMBER 28, 2008 - Hit the banners HERE on this site for FULL TILT - and Join the forum over at xfilespoker.com - USE the bonus code "SANTA" too! Then contact us at wsoptom@gmail.com after you are all signed up!

One of the greats from my garage game "BillyO"

He's on SPADECLUB for only a few days now.. and look at him !

We PICK UP THE POKER ACTION with the FINAL TABLE... He's playing quality poker like Eric Seidel - WOW! BillyO is on the RAIL! (I'm with him on SKYPE at this point and we are talking MOVES to make) All the moves worked out! Even a KEY hand with him holding POCKET 4's READ ON! (Billy plays small POCKET PAIRS looser than me..)
I'm just glad it worked out for him!



















In this NEXT hand - Player MAKES a BLUFF MOVE and BILLY is ALL OVER it (saw it coming he says) He was on the RAIL in no time. (10/8 off??? - Cmon people, try to make your moves with better options.. Make em suited at least)


















Billy does a good job of using his big stack poker - He keeps the others UNDER pressure hand after hand.. He never let up..

If they limped - he raised.. If they raised - HE re-raised.. THIS PLAYER HERE - Just let BIGO take it down at the flop... (Know your players! Play the player!)



















I have no idea why the cards don't show here.. I can't remember the hand - but the other player made the PUSH - Bill with the MONSTER stack - called and TOOK IT DOWN..

You can see the "GG" remarks in the CHAT - but for some reason cards were not showing when I clicked the SCREEN SHOT.

I think BillyO had AJUNK.. but I'm not sure.

CONGRATS! TO my friend BILLYO, xfilespoker.com member and TAJ "Oh My Garage" player from years back! Billy! You come a loong way baby!

Good for you!

My new subscription to CARD PLAYER

If you are like me - you are really into poker... For me however, I made the choice long ago to learn the game at the tables. (trial by fire) LIVE POKER. I spent over 20 years doing so clocking too many hours to figure - I did so in Vegas, Atlantic City, etc.. not to mention some pretty major back room games all over Pennsylvaina...

I'm at a point in my poker life where I feel I know a good number of major moves that many new players do not know - but somehow, I still lack a "few" of the last major tricks that the super pros know.. Ivey, Gus, Sammy,Annie, Jesus and my favorites Eric Seidel, Phil H and Barry Greenstein.. Ted Forest, just to name a few...

(Tips that in my mind the pros ain't looking to share
in any book all that soon) lol It seems some TIPS in poker...you got to figure out on your own. I'm looking for those sorta tips.

So - After all these years and with that said - I decided to give reading a poker magazine a try... CARD PLAYER. It turns out, much of what I'm seeing/reading adds to my feeling that I do in fact have this game figured out for the most part.. but sadly, it gives me new questions to ponder. Sure. With a game like POKER - Style of play will come into effect... I guess I knew this would happen deep down.. Poker to me is like war. One General might take his men up river.. .One might go in a complete other direction of attack.

With poker..I've learned to play many styles.. NO ONE STYLE WORKS for me. I'm open to a move up RIVER or to the woods in poker, depending on the game I'm in and the players I'm playing. I do not chase to the river however..

So today I have this thought that maybe I'll take the BEST ARTICLE from CARD PLAYER - "in my mind anyways" and break it down, ask more questions or tell you if my take on the subject is NOT the same as the writer for the MAGAZINE.. Whooo Hoooooo! (calm down)

I'm not looking to do anything with this than learn and kick new idea's around. I'm not wanting to argue or pick a fight.. If I agree I agree - if not - I'll say so and share why and leave it at that...

SO - This week and in the coming months - look out for my take on things with the stanbackworld.blogspot.com Card Player article of the month blog. I'll also give my take on something dear to my heart - PHOTOGRAPHY. I rate the quality and lighting - etc... THIS IS ONE SUBJECT I KNOW... I've been doing pro photography work for over 23 years..

So - come on back now... ya'hear.. I might even get on this new once a month Card Player REVIEW thing tonight.. WHO KNOWS?

Hope you are hitting major flops this week! Any questions! Just ask.