See Ya George

George W. Bush was one of the more controversial presidents in American history, and even international history as his actions had far reaching consequences. Opinions of him range from complete and utter hatred as the cause of 9/11 and an unnecessary war in Iraq all the way to a near reverence for him bordering on worship as the second coming of Christ. What he did and didn’t do exactly may never be really known by any other than those who were actually there when he was doing them, but one thing that is for sure is that he oversaw some of the most impactful events in recent history. Whether he was the right president for the times is still up for debate.

The first and most debated event that George W. Bush oversaw was the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The level of controversy over this event and his role in it is unbelievable. Some people believe he was simply negligent of the warning signs and as a result let the tragedy happen when it didn’t need to. Others believe that he didn’t have any warning, but handled it poorly after it happened. Some believe that he couldn’t have stopped it and handled it as well as could be expected. There is even a small group of people who believe he and the government purposefully caused 9/11. His exact role is hard to pin down, but it is fairly widely accepted that what followed was not handled as well as it could have been.

The war in Iraq is another event that George W. Bush will always be associated with. This was one of the most controversial wars in history with people believing all kinds of different things about it. Opinions range from the war being an illegal war that was just meant to secure oil money for the president and his friends to it being an absolutely necessary step in combating global terrorism. About the only thing that can be said for certain is that the reason given for going to war, the presence of weapons of mass destruction, turned out to be false. Whether or not that information was falsified purposefully or if the president and his advisors had good reason to believe the intelligence may never be known.

The third really major thing that happened during George W. Bush’s presidency was the financial crisis which ended up affecting almost the entire world. There are, again, many controversial opinions about his role in the crisis. Some people believe that George Bush was not responsible at all and that the crisis was the result of years of poor policy. Others feel that the crisis and massive debt was a result of him selfishly taking advantage of the country to build his own personal wealth.

As with any other controversy in history, it is hard to say exactly what is true and what isn’t. One of the sure things is that a lot of bad things happened on his watch, but whether it was his fault or his bad luck may never be known.

Playing poker as a means of earning money is probably not something very new. People have been doing that for years. However, there’s a big difference between playing poker to just earn some money, and playing poker full-time. Playing poker full-time means that you make poker your career.

Playing poker full-time requires a lot of talent in regards to the game. And if you think you have the necessary skills that are required to win the game, well, you certainly should think seriously about going ahead with it!

The mental attitude

However, there are quite a lot of other things that you should consider when you think of making fulltiltpoker your means to earn regularly. Of all the aspects that are there, your mindset is one of the most important. You need to ask yourself if poker is actually what you play to make your living.

It has been found out that to make poker clue your means of earning, one has got to have the correct mental attitude and personality. Although it may not be necessary that you have these qualities in-built, some training and development sessions can be of significant help in these situations. Will power, however, is something that you will have to develop within yourself.

What does it demand?

You probably may have seen a lot of people who have made poker their way of earning, and it is largely possible that you may also have been inspired by them. However, if you only want to duplicate their flashy lifestyles and nonchalant attitude, think again.

Though it is very true that these people do earn smartly and also in millions, do you really think that this was how they all started? And the answer is, no. All of them had to start somewhere where you presently are, and they gradually made their way up.

The necessary skills

· As has already been pointed out earlier, one of the most essential skills that you need to develop is to understand the game and also the different strategies that can make you win the game. You may not be an expert in the game, but there are various training programs on the internet as well as in your local market that can help you hone your skills and become an expert poker player.

A very important point that should be noted here is that one should never just duplicate the strategies that he sees from other players. Understand the basic idea behind the game, and also how the strategy affects the game. Exposure to the game is the key factor here. The more you play, the more you get into the game.

· Self-discipline is another aspect that must be taken into account seriously. Fix a time for you to play, and stick to it always. It is also wise to refrain from consuming alcohol when playing poker, since these can lead you to sometimes bet on cards that are actually not so good.

· Lastly, money management is also an important factor. You need to play skillfully, and also manage your wealth accordingly. Letting others know that you earn millions by playing poker will only make you a target, and not in a good way.

There is no doubt that George W. Bush felt a lot of pressure as the president of the United States. But, there is a limit to how many mistakes the public will let pass without harsh criticism. Unfortunately George W. Bush is possibly the worst speaker of this century, which can be forgiven, but often his quotes are truly humiliating. Here is a list of quotes from HoldemHarry that George W. Bush should be embarrassed of.

“I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn’t here.” Sadly this was said at the President’s Economic Forum in Waco, Texas, August 2002, seems like a place a president should be paying attention. Wonder where exact George W. Bush thought he was that day, truly a quote to be embarrassed of.

“You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.” and “Is our children learning?” are two quotes that actually raise concern. Obviously our schools need more assistance if the president of the United States cannot form a couple proper sentences, which were ironically about education.

“The same folks that are bombing innocent people in Iraq were the ones who attacked us in America on September the 11th.” George W. Bush announced this in Washington D.C. July 2007. Shocking to hear the president admit an attack on his own country, George corrected this statement immediately and as he should have been was embarrassed.

“Do you have blacks too?” America should be partially embarrassed for this since it was said to the Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso in 2001. Not only is this question unbelievably racist it is also incredibly ignorant. George W. Bush should not only be embarrassed by this question, but also ashamed he ever asked it all.

“They misunderestimated me” it was in Bentonville Arkansas that George W. Bush said this. Who knew that the president had the authority to make up words on the spot? Not only is misunderestimated not a word, but it is a double negative. Therefore George Bush should be double embarrassed for this quotation.

“I just want you to know that when we are talking about war, we’re really talking about peace” said in Washington D.C. June 2002. Really, what kind of backwards logic is that? Apparently foreign disputes and people dying is part of peace. George W. Bush should be embarrassed by this quote as well.

George W. Bush was unfortunate enough to suffer from a stutter when speaking in public which was the start of his ridicule, but by the end of his presidency he had said enough humiliating quotes to shame himself as a horrible public speaker. Most often these quotes were corrected, though some were not, and even the most offensive ones were never addressed by him in public. Reading the quotes above should open up eyes to the type of man George W. Bush really is, an individual who often makes mistakes. Always bear in mind that just because George Bush has embarrassing quotes does not make him the worst president or a bad person.

Let’s preview another one of the participants who made it through to the final table of the 2009 World Series of Poker main event, James Akenhead. Another younger fellow, Akenhead hails from London, where unlike some of his peers appearing at the final table, plans to spend the next few months avoiding poker and tournaments to try to get some relaxation before the pressure mounts again.

And when Akenhead returns to the United States in November, he’ll need some luck on his side. Currently in last (or ninth) place, he has $6.8M in chips, the short stack at the table. The table average is about $22M for the final table, so James is considerably below that average with seemingly a mountain to climb to get onto the top players’ radar as a threat to get between them and their crown. You might think the same of Phil Ivey just by his $11M and change chip count, but I assure you there’s a world of difference that goes with the name association. Ivey might be in the middle-bottom of the chip count stack, too (and he is well below the average), but he doesn’t have his reputation for no reason.

Anyway, Akenhead is optimistic about his chances to download full tilt poker. He was short stack when he was in 10th place and overcame that to make the final table in the first place, so he’s taking solace from the fact that he can climb up over one person at a time. If he can take one step and get up to eight, and perhaps double his chip count in the process, then who knows what can happen next.

Akenhead is another relative newcomer to the game, as is becoming more and more common with the Internet opening up the poker and gambling world to all corners of the Earth. He’s been a self-declared professional (“playing as a job” as he puts it) for only three years, and even more surprisingly has been playing poker at any level for just five. There’s definitely validity to the statement made my all the top players when they say they don’t see a pro ever winning the main even again, because the sheer number of amateurs and new professionals they face each year is in the thousands.

Akenhead is well-suited for this particular game, though, as he doesn’t dabble in cash games much, sticking mostly to tournament play on Party Poker. That experience has helping him get this far. And last year, he came in second place in one of the world series of poker tournaments. That, he says, only grew his appetite to come back for the kill once again in 2009.

An unassuming baby face, Akenhead rambles in interviews in a timid, approachable tone. He seems to be a likable guy, but it’s a great mask when he’s trying to guy you at the table. I doubt he’ll take any of the other eight by surprise in November, but he’s definitely an underdog worth rooting for.

A poker player should select a game whose stakes are comfortable in relation to one’s poker bankroll. Often, new “full-time” poker players make the mistake of either playing over their head, or selecting a game in which the stakes are familiar or comfortable to them. While being comfortable is important in overall game selection, one must first size up the stakes in relation to bankroll size.

When choosing a level of poker to play on www.PokerStar.com, it goes without saying that the stakes should mean something to you. In fact, if the stakes are meaningless, it is truly a waste of time to play poker on what is thought of as a serious level. A $.05-.10 fixed limit game may be small in stakes, but that does not mean the game cannot be taken seriously. However, if a player lacks the ability to look at even a tiny game such as that in a serious manner, he should wait until his bankroll is sufficient to fund action in a level that is better able to be given serious thought.

A full-time poker player should have a minimum of 500 big bets behind him in his poker bankroll. This 500-bet minimum is in relation to money solely earmarked for poker play, and should be separate from the money utilized to pay short-term bills. Several months worth of bill paying money should be maintained in a separate account in ideal circumstances. If this is not the case, then a player should have a second means of income, which is capable of single-handedly paying the bills monthly.

When finding a level of game suited to your bankroll, have a plan if your bankroll is doubled. If you start out with $1000 on PokerStar, earmarked to play $1-2 Fixed Limit Holdem, plan to make the leap to the $2-4 game for a few sessions. Should you remain comfortable and successful at the $2-4 mark, consider remaining at this level. Give yourself a promotion. If uncomfortable at this level, it is acceptable to take profits from your bankroll, moving half the amount to either an emergency fund, or to pad your long-term savings account and move back to the $1-2 FL stakes.

Additionally, one can plan to move down in stakes if the bankroll takes a beating. If playing $1-2 FL online, and you encounter the negative end of variance, slide down to $.50-1 stakes – where you will again be with appropriate bankroll. You can graduate back to the $1-2 level when you double up.

By playing appropriately sized games, you stand a far better chance of successfully managing your bankroll, which will in turn extend your shelf life as a full-time poker player.

Earning a big stack in a cash game is quite rewarding. In addition to looking forward to the big payday of a strong session on the cash tables, having the big stack at the table can be fun. The opportunity to instill fear in opposing players is a great feeling when playing poker. Knowing everyone at the poker table is gunning for a piece of your stack is also exciting, as you know you are the man for the moment at least at the poker table. While playing with a big stack, there are some tactics one can employ to utilize the big stack effectively while minimizing one’s risk of imploding.

Focus on the Short Stacks

It is natural to open up the playbook when sporting a big stack. It is quite normal to begin bullying and testing the table. The most effective way of bullying is to pick on the small guy or the short stacks. The short stack players are quite limited in their options, as they are often faced with a decision to move all-in or fold. Because these players are restricted in such a manner, it is wise to bully them, forcing them to submit with inferior holdings or decide to play ball without the best of it. When we do run into a monster hand, the cost of defeat by the short stack’s hands is not terribly costly. Additionally, getting caught bullying the short stack with a garbage hand is cheap advertising for later use.

Avoid other Big Stacks

Another trick in playing with a big stack is avoiding tangling with fellow big stacked players while holding a marginal hand. Remember the golden rule of playing big pots with big hands while leaving small pots for small hands goes a long way in playing against fellow big stacked poker players. The big stacked players at Ultimate Bet Poker will notice you bullying the other players, but may not notice you are purposely avoiding them. When they are out to get you, they may be tricked into believing you are bullying them as well when you finally blow over the top of them with a monster. When well timed, you may own their stack as well, thus further reinforcing the stronghold your chip count already possesses over the poker table.

When playing poker with a big stack, it is important to maintain a dominant presence over the table. Bullying the short stacked players while selecting your spots carefully against fellow deep stacked players is key to maximizing the reward while minimizing the risk when rocking the deep stack.