Kirill Gerasimov - Russia's Top Poker Player

At a young age of 35, Kirill Gerasimov has reached a level of popularity that many aspiring poker players have dreamed of. This young poker player was born in Moscow and used to be an insurance salesman. Whether or not that day job had any bearings on his poker skills, it is clear that Gerasimov is one of the more well known members of the poker world.
Gerasimov's success as a poker player is nothing short of phenomenal. In his own country, poker is not the popular game it is in the US. However, he became interested in poker and is now probably the only "real" professional poker player in all of Russia. Perhaps the most instrumental thing to have influenced his interest and success in poker was when he read Super/System by Doyle Brunson. I am sure that this poker Hall of Famer would be glad to know how he influenced another to become one of the most famous young poker players of today.
After reading this classic poker book, the young poker enthusiast's skill just shone. Whether it was because of the book or he was simply talented, Gerasimov showed that he had what it takes to be a successful poker player. He claims that his greatest strength as a poker player lies in his ability to read people. Indeed, this is one of the best talents that any poker player can possess. As one poker great once said, poker is a game of people played using cards. If you have the ability to read people and how they will behave, then you have a definite advantage over the other players sitting around the table.
However, Gerasimov continues to say that though he has this edge, it means nothing when he plays online. True enough, the dynamics of the game changes totally when you play online. Though there are still ways in which you can read players, the interaction is just so different that one simply cannot apply the same principles online as those one uses when playing face to face poker. Gerasimov acknowledges this and in fact praises online poker as it has helped improve his other skills. For those who prefer to play only one form of the game and not the other, you might want to ponder on Gerasimov's statement that online poker has helped him develop his game to produce a more robust all around game.
Gerasimov started playing in poker tournaments all over Europe in 2001. It wasn't till 2003 when he made his first final table at the World Series of Poker. In the following years, 2004 and 2005, he made final tables and won money as well. However, he has yet to win a WSOP bracelet. He has also made final tables and money finished in the World Poker Tour and European Poker Tour though he does not have titles in either. Being at the young age he is at present, it would not be far from reality for him to earn a bracelet or a title in the near future.

Poker Advice - You Are What You Think

We are always on the lookout for some great poker advice and with September being self-improvement month I thought it best to focus, as always, on the mental aspects of poker. The psychology of poker is an important tool to try and learn and grasp when trying to improve your poker skills. You can focus your attention on your opponents, but I believe the best piece of poker advice, or life advice for that matter, is to focus on yourself.
Poker Advice 101: You are what you think
As Thomas the Tank Engine regularly reminds himself, "I think I can"
Simply put you can achieve whatever you believe, in other words the power of your mind can have an enormous effect on your success. If you truly believe you are able, if your imagination can dream it, then it is possible for you to achieve it.
You are the only one that can control your own thoughts. You have the choice to think positively or negatively. If you think you will fail, chances are you will fail, however, if you think you will succeed your subconscious will find ways to enable you to succeed. You can become what you think.
Mind over matter.
How does that relate to poker I hear you ask?
An example might be, let's say you have an opponent in a regular game that you feel has a little more experience than you, they have had more success than you and often dominate you at the table. The power of your mind can work in different ways. Often players will develop a complex against these opponents. Believing defeat is inevitable as their opponent is better than them. Your subconscious will find a way to lose for you; after all you are suggesting to your mind you are not good enough.
Confidence starts in belief, success starts in the mind.
In this situation you need to train your mind to focus on the positive, believe in yourself, think about what you want to become. You are what you think, that is simple poker advice. If you ask your subconscious to make you a stronger player, your mind will search for ways to do this. Your mind will look for ways to learn, to heighten your skills, to become a better poker player and you may even begin to learn more about this opponent. Your mind will become more aware of you and your opponents.
A simple way to focus on what you want is through positive affirmation. In other words have a statement that defines what you want and read to it yourself, out loud, daily; once in the morning and once at night. Constantly remind yourself what it is you think and what it is you want to become.
For example you statement may read: I am the best poker player I can be.
This is a very basic example; you may want to include a tournament you may want to win. Be specific. Such as on the 1st December 20. I will be the best poker player I can be and have just won the... tournament, I am very proud of what I have achieved. However, be realistic. If you've just started playing and you want to make a statement that you will win the WSOP in 6 weeks, it may be a bit out of your reach. Not impossible, simply not easy.
Furthermore, you might find having a statement like I will win the lottery defeats the purpose of the power of positive affirmation and the point of training your mind. Include things in your statement that involve other things in your life too, like your job, money, relationships and health. It is simple poker advice, you are what you think. And we do have the power to encourage our mind to think about what we want, therefore we can become whatever we want. The power is in our hands.

Are Mistakes Fatal in Poker?

This question is best answered by the individuals interpretation of what a mistake is. No human being can go through life and not make mistakes especially at the poker tables, no matter the enormity. BUT, it is how you react to the mistakes made that differentiates us.
I love making mistakes! I learn from my mistakes and I believe become a better person and hopefully a better poker player.
Poker is not just about one hand, or one game or one tournament. Poker is a learning process that will continue as long as the game evolves, which in my mind, is forever. In order to improve poker skills you must adapt to be able to turn your mistakes into positive learning experiences. As one of my favourite Einstein quotes suggests:
"The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
If you continue to make the same mistakes at the poker tables, it basically means you are not learning, you are not evolving. How can you expect to improve as a poker player and learn the game if you cannot learn from your own mistakes?
You will see people tend to beat them selves up for making mistakes. Try to avoid doing this. Learn to embrace your mistakes, especially at the poker tables, and treat them as a positive step towards you becoming a better poker player.
There is much to be learned in the game of poker, as there is in life. I believe quite often life imitates poker. Therefore, if you find the true methods to becoming a better poker player, you can also become a better person. Poker Power focuses on mindset and personal development, two key elements to becoming a better poker player.
Life is what you make of it and so is poker. Why be negative. Love life and love poker.
As the song goes, don't worry, be happy.
Til your next mistake,

Texas Hold Em Poker Tips - 4 Ways To Win More Pots And Cash

Do you get frustrated that you aren't winning as much as you would like playing poker? Well these Texas Hold Em Poker tips will reveal how to win more.
Acquiring new Texas Hold Em Poker tips to learn is a very good way of becoming a great poker player. The very fact you are reading this means you are probably better than most players out there. Please continue to research and learn about poker because this is the best way to win a lot of money playing Texas Hold Em.
Texas Hold Em Poker Tips #1 Way To Win More
The best way to win more pots and cash is to learn more so you are a better poker player than most others. You are doing this right now but I urge you to never stop and always get your hands on anything you can that will teach you more.
You can learn poker very easily. There are many ways to do this. Books, courses, tips and tricks will all help. But the best way I think to learn how to become a good player very quickly is to discuss different hands with other poker players and learn from them and what they would do.
Texas Hold Em Poker Tips #2 Way To Win More
The second best way to win more is to practice more to become a better poker player. Nothing, other than reading/learning will get you better at poker. And once you are better you will win more naturally.
Texas Hold Em Poker Tips #3 Way To Win More
A great way to win more money is to go into poker tournaments. Freerolls are free tournaments and you can also find very low cost tournaments. If you win you will win quite a large amount of money and you didn't have to risk much. Plus you get a lot of experience quickly and cheaply (see practice).
Texas Hold Em Poker Tips #4 Way To Win More
Another interesting way to win more is to drop down to a lower stakes table. It's commonly known that the lower the cost of the game the worse the types of players there. Go down to a cheap cash game and steal money from newbies.
Now you know my favourite ways of winning pots quickly and easily and getting cash positive very fast. I'm sure you are realizing how important learning is to becoming a good poker player and you are aware that right now the most important thing you can do is find more information on how to play Holdem better.

You Can Learn How to Play Roulette for Fun

Roulette, probably the easiest gambling game to play, involves choosing a number on a big roulette wheel and hoping the ball will land on that number when the wheel stops. Generally, either the dealer or a random number generator spins the ball, which has to go around the wheel three times, in the direction opposite to the wheel, before falling into one of the numbered holes, or sections, on the wheel. To place a bet, the player puts a certain amount of money on one number.
American Roulette
American roulette involves a wheel, which turns on a spindle, contained in a wooden cylinder at one end of the table. The wheel contains thirty-eight sections, numbered zero, double zero and one to thirty-six. Numbers are either red or black, but zeros are green. Each table uses its own set of colored chips with a specific design that associates that set with its table.
Roulette tables employ two separate betting areas-an inside area with individual numbers on display and an outside betting area which contains odd/even boxes and black/red columns with numbers collected into different groups.
A minimum and maximum bet applies to each table. Players may not combine outside and inside bets to reach the table's minimum. If the minimum bet is $10, for instance, players must bet $10 on the outside as well as the inside.
Some bets you can make on a roulette wheel are:
Straight up-a bet on one single number, paying 35-to-1 odds

Split bet-a wager on two numbers instead of one, paying 17-to-1 odds

Basket bet-a five-number bet on zero, which is the double zero and the numbers 1, 2, and 3, paying 6-to-1 odds

Dealers operating a roulette wheel are supposed to keep the wheel in constant motion. The dealer designates a winning number with a marker. Players may not bet until the dealer takes the previous marker away from the winning number.
Players may continue placing bets even after the dealer spins the ball. When the ball begins slowing down, the dealer will pass his hand over the roulette table and tell everyone he will take no more bets.
French Roulette
Predominantly played in European casinos, French roulette preceded the American version and uses the same basic principles. In French roulette, however, the table is twice as big as in American roulette, play goes on a bit more slowly and the betting layout consists of numbers laid out in random order, with only one zero used in game play and thirty-seven slots numbered zero and one to thirty-six.

A Roulette Method That Earned 500 GBP a Today

Below I will describe one of the three roulette methods that has earned me 500 today, and yesterday and the day before and so on for the past three months. I am finally happy to share this Roulette Method with you.
Just follow these simple steps so that you can easily be earning on the Roulette table online:
1. Open up your roulette table with a starting bank of AT LEAST 100. The more money you can get into your account the better. I am currently playing with 500 in my account. I make 500 a day, so I am pretty much playing with pure profit now.
2. Now, without placing a better, spin the roulette wheel continuously until you get a run of either 4 blacks or 4 reds.
3. Now that you have found this run of either blacks or reds, you have got your bet. If for example, you have a run of 4 blacks, you will have to place a bet on red.
4. If you are using a  starting bank, then start with a bet of 5% which in this case is.
5. If a red comes up you win. If it loses, you lose 5 so you double your stake in the normal martingale fashion and replace your bet.
6. Now keep repeating until you have won a set amount for the day then stop.
Why does this work so well? Well generally, you have a 50% chance of either a red or black coming up. By waiting for a row of 4 to occur, you reduce this to 99.94% for the other colour to occur. This means that the likelihood of you winning is far higher and you lower that risk of the normal Martingale system.
Does this work? Well yes! That is why I am making around 500 on an average day. I never go over it because I do not like to get too greedy and yes, I do have a day off once in a while. But on an average week, I will make 3000. It is perfect for my life and now it will be for yours!
Of course, there are a couple of other systems I use to make more money, but they are elite and I do not feel I should share those one for free.

The Roulette Wheel of Business!

Have you ever played the roulette wheel, put your money on a number and then stress and worrying that you will loose all your money? Do you just rush into doing business, like with your home business or brick and mortar business, throwing advertising dollars out there and then worrying and stressing and wondering if it will work? Playing the roulette wheel and playing in your business to win are very similar. If you figure out exactly how much money you want to spend, work out all the numbers, what the odds are, then all that worry is over as far as spending money goes. Then you can just relax and let the wheel do what it does best, bring you the results you want.
There are thousands of people that have failed at thousands of business. One of the reasons is they just jump in with both feet before checking it out thoroughly. They take risks before they get their facts together. They get this pie in the sky feeling when they hear how much money they can make and go for it. Just like betting on the roulette wheel, they see someone else hitting it big, think they can do it, and before they know it there goes all their money.
With the roulette wheel you need to see just how many people have won, how much money they have played in order to win big like they have. With a business, like your home business or brick and mortar business, you need to check out your competition. Find out what works best in the advertising world today. Is it offline, newspapers, classifieds, bulletin boards, knocking on doors or cold calling. Is it online, using social media, article marketing, video marketing, blogging, press releases or pay per click advertising.
It is OK to be spontaneous when it comes to taking a short trip or doing something that is just fun, or out of the ordinary. But when it comes to spending money on your business, take some time on searching out the right place to put your money. Figure out what your return on investment will be, work out all the numbers. Do not treat your business like you would a roulette wheel. The worry and stress will be to much and you will wind up being one of the thousands of businesses that fail.
You need to become aware of your present moment, stop, look and listen. You need to stop and think about what your doing, or about to do. Being aware of what is happening right now and responding to what is happening right now will stop a lot of future stress. Pay close attention to where your advertising money is going in your home business or brick and mortar business, just like you should pay close attention when you watch what color and number come up on the roulette wheel.