Free Poker!

Is there such a thing? Maybe if you are playing with friends in your home. But then again you have to provide some refreshments; you have to entertain your guests.

So I went to Fanatics last night to hit a Badger Poker tournament (see sidebar for links). It had been a long while since I attended Badger, though my name appeared to be recognized by all. I was surprised to find they are no longer providing a last man standing option in which people pay for extra chips and are eligible to win the collection… if they win it all. Chopping, splitting the collection among two or more remaining players, was also an option if all agreed.

But no more with Badger Poker as they desire to promote the free poker aspect of their business. The top three winners now get a bar tab as a prize. But is it really free? As someone who does not go out to enjoy the bar scene unless I am playing poker I have to question that, at least from the perspective of getting in a good game.

Yes, for those who go out to enjoy the night life spending a fist full of money, for which one will receive extra chips, is expected. Respectively they get a goodly stack beyond what someone who literally plays for free would get. You can still tip the tournament director for even more chips, which many are happy to do because the size of your stack does matter. Not to mention that they simply want to support the cause and know that something has to be in it for the directors so all involved can enjoy tournament poker.

I am capable of providing a small tip and to support the establishment by buying a soda, but this still leaves me severely small stacked in comparison to others. Badger also has an aggressive blind structure, not to mention extremely aggressive betting. Which means, for those truly or practically playing for free, if you don’t win a big hand, or several hands, in the first hour you’re going to have a short night.

Still it is an atmosphere, a style of play, I need to confront and master. So as I am now climbing back into economic viability, I still intend to hit Badger Poker on a regular basis. I had been sticking strictly with Tavern Tourney games when finances allowed, but now will start expanding my experiences. Ideally I would like to enjoy one of each (Badger and Tavern) every week. I still have to go to a few Pit Bull Poker tournaments so I can make a detailed comparison of the three tournament options on this blog. But that will have to happen sometime over the Winter. Pit Bull Poker promotes the free poker beyond all others though I believe you still get extra chips for purchases.

So why would I play tournament poker with tight finances? One reason is, as I record all my poker investments, I am break even or better money wise. …Maybe poker is free if you’re good like me. Now without a cash win option at Badger that may suffer a bit. The only opportunity to win back ones investment is now at Badger’s larger tournaments one usually must qualify for in points. Another reason I play, even when I can only afford a small stack, is that  I take everything I decide to invest myself in very seriously, and look to become the best at it. And that wont happen by doing nothing, and that’s what this blog is about.

Still I am not ready to be hitting tournaments twice a week on a regular basis. I am looking for several options for secondary and tertiary income. As Mark Belling has his football picking contest going on he promotes ASAwins.com . This service provides sport betting advice, their best picks available for purchase. So I looked into how one could take advantage of their advice to make some money (they wouldn’t be in business if their advice was bad) but could not find anyway to place sports bets that was clearly legal, so I have dropped that option.

Getting back into the stock market is another option that I feel more confident about after my past experiences. Then there is the nickel and dime returns I have made off of the Internet, through advertising or providing some small service. What I have called in the past Christmas gift money.

Playing poker on the Internet is loosing its allure as you don’t know and can’t see who you are playing, though I still do it to keep myself sharp. As we become financial stronger I am thinking of joining a site that provides training in the ways of poker.