​John the Baptist was one of the most passionate people who ever lived. He was loyal to God and honored God and gave glory to God.  Now as you read on in this article, you might find it odd that I will be analogizing John The Baptist to poker, or rather to astute poker players, but bear with me and you may learn a few things you did not know.
 
Passion is one word which exemplifies John the Baptists relationship with God.  His passion was so great he went into the desert alone and lived there in solitude, to get closer to God.  This was before he started his ministry.
 
He was bold, a radical.  John the Baptist was not afraid to express his views loudly and publicly.  To many, including the Pharisees, he was an eccentric with magnetism.
 
John C. Maxwell explains in The Maxwell Leadership Bible:
 
His passion for God made him this way and people were drawn to Him to be baptized—"preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."—Luke 3:3. 
 
What gives a person passion?  With John it was God.  It is worth noting that to be a winning poker player one has to have enough passion for the game to play well and to keep playing and learning the game. 
 
John needed passion to fulfill his God-given calling"  Every pioneer needs passion.  Pioneers cannot be satisfied with mere maintenance, for they have nothing yet to maintain.  They create from nothing.—The Maxwell Leadership Bible.
 
John was a pioneer in teaching the multitudes "about repentance for the remission of sins."
 
What gives you your passion for the game?  Could you be a pioneer of the game?  Could you be an ambassador to the card rooms you play at?
 
To be a great No-Limit Hold'em player you have to have the passion for the game and the passion to be a great player—a solid, winning player.  Follow these seven lessons from John the Baptist and you might  get everything you've dreamed about.
 

1.  The Results of Solitude
John went into the wilderness alone and focused his energy on God in solitude.  We all need solitude from time-to-time. To study and to retain information, we need solitude for concentration.  As a committed poker player, you will need solitude to study and reflect on your past experiences at the table. Go somewhere quiet. Be alone. Read books on winning poker strategy.  Reflect on past performance. Study the notes you have on other players. One hour a day of solitary study could make a huge positive difference in your game.
 
2.  The Power of Diligence
John was a hard worker.  He baptized in the Jordan and preached the importance of repentance.  His message quickly spread. To be a great poker player you will have to work hard. To be great you will have to be obsessed.  You might even be an object of ridicule, but obsession is good if it benefits you, your family and others.  And when it benefits God, it's very good for everybody.  How does your obsession with poker benefit God?  Well, if you are a winning player, you can tithe 10% of your winnings.  You can also play your game without being an angle shooter, a cheat, a foul mouth, or vulgar player. You can be polite, sober, courteous, and respectful of your fellow players.  You can be helpful and not argumentative.  You could donate time and money to worthy causes that God would be proud of.  And you can thank God that you have the power to be diligent, if not physically, then spiritually.
 
3.  Consumed With Your Mission
John was consumed with his mission.  He knew he was called to pave the way for Jesus.  He knew the Messiah by sight before he even saw Him. He knew He must become less important the Jesus more important.
 
John said: 
 
"as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
 
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." 
 
A strong poker player must be consumed with his mission.  There is no way around it. If your mission is to be a great (winning) No-Limit Hold'em player you will have to be fully engaged.  Again, you must be obsessed on learning the game and everything about it.  Once you become obsessed with your mission, success is all but imminent.
 
4.  Magnetic Personality for Justice
John attracted people to listen to his words, to become baptized.  Because he had a powerful personality he attracted many people and he also detracted others who did not want to repent or found him too unusual or radical. He told people to be just.  His passion for God instilled in him a cause for justice.
 
So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"
          He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
          Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
          And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you."
          Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?"
          So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."--Luke 3:10-14
 
All very good poker players have magnetic personalities. This does not mean all are boisterous, loud or extroverts. A winning player with quiet confidence can also be a magnetic personality.  Other players, even losing players respect, good players. They might not show it or say it, but players recognize a just player, a player with integrity, who is void of arrogance and humble in winning—a player who plays a solid, intelligent game with verve.
 
5.  Black or White, Right or Wrong
John saw thing as being black or white.  It is right or wrong.  Many strong personality types see life this way as well.  In poker there are correct decisions and incorrect decisions—right or wrong.  Much of the math and probability in poker tells us this truth.  There can be no debate about this because the numbers speak for themselves.  Good poker players will see situations in black or white, right or wrong.  There is only one way to play a hand that gets the most money added to your stack after the hand is complete.  This means, did your opponent do what you wanted him to do? 
 
6.  Action Oriented
John was a man of action.  He did not wait for Jesus' coming before he started his mission; he prepared the way. All winning poker players became winners by taking action. They put in lots of hours of study, lots of time in live ring games and a lot of time thinking about the game, specific hands played and the people they played with. 
 
Men of action are required in every field.  In poker, men of action rise to the top; they take advantage of new opportunities in new areas and in new games. There is no substitute for taking action. Action creates results.  Offensive tactics put you in charge of positive outcomes that benefit your games more often.  Be the aggressor—be action oriented.
 
7.  Enthusiasm 
John was enthusiastic for the coming of the Lord.  He did things that others thought were strange and many thought he was a prophet. Could he be Isaiah or the Messiah himself people thought?  John was enthusiastic about his calling, about preparing the way, and the repentance of sin among the people and among Herod the tetrarch:
 
"Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod and done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.—Luke 3:19-20
 
John ended up in prison and die there, beheaded by Herod.
 With some luck, you won't lose your head over any hand, however, if you want to be a winner, rate yourself on a scale of one to ten, ten being highest, about how you truly feel about poker, and No-Limit Hold'em.  Are you enthusiastic about the game?  Are you prepared to play your best game when you take a seat?  Are you excited (not in a compulsive way) when you get to the game?  Build your enthusiasm with John the Baptist. Don't give up, or give in when adversity hits.  Stand by your convictions and play a smart game with confidence.  And by the way, say your prayers.  God's listening, always. 

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Learning More About Poker
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
 
Why did you stop learning?  Your real education begins after school is out. How many poker books do you own?  Are you setting aside time each day to study your game and new ways of earning more at poker?  You should be.
 
Successful poker players are always learning; they have a thirst for knowledge—knowledge to become better in their personal lives, in their business lives and in their poker lives.  The true achiever never stops learning.  He or she invests in books, CDs, DVDs, takes courses—continually improving the mind that God gave them. There are countless innovations in every industry each year, new and more productive ways to do things.  This is also true in poker.  Are you up-to-date on the new technologies or new poker books on your favorite game?  A lot has changed in the last twenty years and a lot will change in the years ahead. Poker, strangely as it may sound, is constantly evolving.  For players based in the United States, internet poker may be a viable source again in the next five years; but in the meantime, live cash games in casinos are growing rapidly all over the United States. Wynn  Boston Harbor, in Boston, Massachusetts is planned to open June 2019 with 90 poker tables.  And earlier this year, the MGM National Harbor, in Maryland, with 39 tables opened. The casino is only a ten miles from Washington D.C.
 
With the advent of the internet, learning what you want and what is new in poker is a fingertip away on your keyboard. All the knowledge in the world can be yours if you put in the time. Gaining knowledge and then applying it with great verve, you’ll grow and succeed much faster than players from past generations.  The only day you should stop learning is the day the coffin is nailed shut. 
 
Who do you know who needs to improve their Poker game?  Know anybody who dreams of making GOOD money playng No-Limit Texas Hold'em?   Steer them to www.MitchFreeland.com and his breakthrough book, "The Small Stakes Poker Hustle." Also, get your FREE book,  "Mini Goals Huge Results."

When Should I Update My Goals?© 2017 M. Mitch Freeland
As you progress through life, your goals will change. The things you want and the value they carry may become more or less important to you. Your goals will change when your business, family, religious, and health ideas change.
 
Your goals will change when:
 

• You achieve them.
• Your needs change.
• What you desire changes.
• Your personal ideas about your life in general change.

 
Updating your goals is a task you should do regularly as your situation changes. Nothing about your goals is completely concrete. Change them when you feel your wants are not the same as before. Change them when you no longer believe it is in your best interest to pursue them.
 
 
Not all of your goals will be reached in the time frame you have set; so, remember this poem, You Mustn’t Quit:
 
You Mustn’t Quit
 
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest!  If you must—but never quit.
 
Life is queer, with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won if he’d stuck it out;
Stick to your task, though the pace seems slow-
You may succeed with one more blow.
 
Success is failure turned inside out-
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt-
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit-
It’s when things seem worst that YOU MUSTN’T QUIT.
—Anonymous
 
To learn more about setting and achieving your mini and major goals in life get  your FREE copy of Mini Goals Huge Results at www.MitchFreeland.com
 

High Achieving Poker Players Have a Long-Term Prospective
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
 
To be successful at poker you must plan for the long-term.  To make money playing poker you have to view your poker playing at a business. Moreover, having a long-term prospective on your poker playing business is necessary to insure steady upward growth.
 
Planning for the long-term is not easy, but to reach high achievement status in poker and to achieve success throughout your life, you must plan and nurture your poker business.  Nothing worthwhile comes quickly. Take care of your business everyday and your business will take care of you in the years to come. Meaningful accomplishment takes time, persistence, and uncompromised diligence. It is not easy. But if you like poker and you feel it is the right business for you, then feel confident that you will make it.  If you do not like the idea of poker being a business —get out of the grind and  play for fun.
 
Growing your poker business with a long-term prospective takes a great deal of self-discipline. Sadly, self-discipline is a quality that not everyone can attain. After some successful winning months your self-discipline will increase as your motivation increases. Your self-discipline will also improve when you decide to become serious about the game. 
 
You must follow-through with your long-term goals, and focus on the long-term to build a lasting and successful poker career.
 
We all know that anything could happen in the short-term regarding our win rate variance.  This is why we set goals for the long-term. Your long-term goals could be one to five years.  Your long-term goals could also be established by the number of hours you play.  For instance, if you have a goal to make $70,000 a year playing live cash games, you will have to play about 2,000 hours a year. You may have a 5 year goal to make $350,000 or $35 an hour playing $1-$3 No-Limit.  You will need to play 38.5 hours per week, or almost 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.  Do you have discipline to do this? 
 
Staying on course is the hard part. You will have many losing sessions that may drain your confidence.  To combat this, you should constantly be  evaluating your play, especially when you have lost more than three sessions consecutively. You will also have extraordinary winning sessions; and you may even win more than one bad beat jackpot if the casinos you play at offer them.  One jackpot could place you well over your five year money goal.
 
Many good days become good weeks. Good weeks become good months. And many good months  turn into good years.  A good life is made up with good daily habits.  Today matters.  So, start today to write your goals. Begin with your big, life goals, then with your smaller, daily goals.   Keep playing and set your eyes on the lone-term.
 
Who do you know who needs to improve their Poker game?  Know anybody who dreams of making GOOD money playng No-Limit Texas Hold'em?   Steer them to www.MitchFreeland.com and his breakthrough book, "The Small Stakes Poker Hustle." Also, get your FREE book,  "Mini Goals Huge Results."
 
 

How to Set and Achieve Great Family Related Goals
© 2017 M. Mitch Freeland
 
Sadly, less than 5% of parents write out family goals. Your family goals will shape your life. Deciding what you want in your family life has an overwhelming impact on your other goals relating to your career, health and fitness and financial plans.  How important is your relationship with your family?  Is it important that your family is financially secure if you should be hurt or die?  Do you need or would you like a new car?  Do you want to spend more time with your children?  What will bring more joy and happiness to the ones you love?  Below, write down ten family related goals that would bring your family closer together and bring more joy and happiness into the lives of the ones you care about.  Again, think clearly about what you want and what you believe is best for your family.  Try first my making your goals as affirmations.
 
Family Related Goals:  Examples written as affirmations for making family mini-goals:


1.  I am spending more time with my children
Mini-Goal:  I am spending fifteen minutes more each day, before bedtime, reading to my little boy.


2.  I am the spiritual leader in my family
Mini-Goal:  I read one page of the Bible every night to my children and wife. Afterwards, we discuss what was read for thirty minutes.

3.  I am enjoying driving a new Subaru Outback for family camping trips to Lake Ichyguppy
Mini-Goal:  One weekend each month I take the family camping, to the beach or on a nature hike.

4.  I am financially prudent with my investments so that my wife and children are provided for upon my untimely death.
Mini-Goal: I invest $100 extra a month into an emergency fund. Or, invest $35 a month in life insurance.

5.  I am sending my children to the best school in town
Mini-Goal: I invest $100 a month now so that my children will be able to attend the best school in town in ten years or when they turn ten years old. (This mini goal is wrapped around a long-range goal)

6.  I am preparing to invest in my children’s education
Mini-Goal: I save $5 a day for a special college fund so that my child, in fifteen years will be able to attend UCLA

7.  I am training and educating my family about physical fitness for a lifetime of excellent health
Mini-Goal:  I run one mile every morning with my son.
Or, for breakfast, I eat walnuts, yogurt and a banana with my son.

8.  I am a patient, understanding, forgiving mother and wife.
Mini-Goal: I sit quietly and listen to my daughter.

9.  I instill discipline and diligent work ethic for all of my family
Mini-Goal: I tutor my child in history for twenty minutes on Monday and Thursday at seven o’clock.

10.  I am teaching my children to be self reliant of mans help, but reliant on God’s help
Mini-Goal:  I counsel my children with a passage from the Bible every night at nine o’clock. 

Now, what are your Family Related Goals and Mini Goals?  Make your top ten list now.
 
To learn more about setting and achieving your mini and major goals in life get your FREE (160 page book) of Mini Goals Huge Results at www.MitchFreeland.com

How to Beat Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em Players
Who Segregate Chips
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
 
Some players will segregate their buy-in from winnings. You will see this commonly in the small stacks games.  For instance, when a novice player buys-in for two hundred and after playing for two or three hours finally getting lucky and winning a healthy pot putting him ahead in the session, he will now separate his winning from his profit.  Sometimes he will place his buy-in in a chip rack in front of him (some casinos allow players to play from a chip rack), and keep his winnings on the felt.  He may also stack his winnings on top of his buy-in in a way indicating that the chips are winnings.  Whenever you see this activity it is a good time to bluff and bet over the about of his winnings. 

For example:  if your opponent is finally up $43 with a total effective stack of $243 ($200 his original buy-in) and you have a hand that is a good semi-bluff hand (straight, flush or weak pair) bet over $43 if you want your opponent to fold.  This is especially true if your opponent has been playing for a while and has been playing conservatively. If he has separated his buy-in from his current profit, he will be most unwillingly going to risk being in the red again for a hand that may not be strong enough to stand a raise. If your opponent has been playing for several hours and has finally gotten ahead and has segregated his buy-in, it is now time to bet or put in a raise that will put a portion of his buy-in chips at risk. This is a good bluffing opportunity.  It is even better  as a semi-bluff.
 
Remember, if it has taken your opponent all night to get winner, he will be reluctant to dip into his buy-in on a mediocre hand or draw.
 
Players who segregate chips is a reliable tell, so pay attention to players organizing their chips.  To learn more about winning and uncovered tells in poker, get your copy of  Poker Tells and Body Language:  How to Substantially Improve Your Income by Studying Your Opponents Mannerisms and Eccentricities, now available at www.MitchFreeland.com.
 
Who do you know who needs to improve their Poker game?  Know anybody who dreams of making GOOD money playng No-Limit Texas Hold'em?   Steer them to www.MitchFreeland.com and his breakthrough book, "The Small Stakes Poker Hustle." Also, get your FREE book,  "Mini Goals Huge Results."

High Achieving Poker Players Have a Long-term Prospective
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
 
To be successful at poker you must plan for the long-term.  To make money playing poker you have to view your poker playing at a business. Moreover, having a long-term prospective on your poker playing business is necessary to insure steady upward growth.
 
Planning for the long-term is not easy, but to reach high achievement status in poker and to achieve success throughout your life, you must plan and nurture your poker business.  Nothing worthwhile comes quickly. Take care of your business everyday and your business will take care of you in the years to come. Meaningful accomplishment takes time, persistence, and uncompromised diligence. It is not easy. But if you like poker and you feel it is the right business for you, then feel confident that you will make it.  If you do not like the idea of poker being a business —get out.
 
Growing your poker business with a long-term prospective takes a great deal of self-discipline. Sadly, self-discipline is a quality that not everyone can attain. After some successful winning months your self-discipline will increase as your motivation increases. Your self-discipline will also improve when you decide to become serious about the game. 
 
You must follow-through with your long-term goals, and focus on the long-term to build a lasting and successful poker career.
 
We all know that anything could happen in the short-term regarding our win rate variance.  This is why we set goals for the long-term. Your long-term goals could be one to five years.  Your long-term goals could also be established by the number of hours you play.  For instance, if you have a goal to make $70,000 a year playing live cash games, you will have to play about 2,000 hours a year. You may have a 5 year goal to make $350,000 or $35 an hour playing $1-$3 No-Limit.  You will need to play 38.5 hours per week, or almost 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.  Do you have discipline to do this? 
 
Staying on course is the hard part. You will have many losing sessions that may drain confidence.  You should constantly evaluating your play, especially when you have lost more than three sessions consecutively. You will also have extraordinary winning sessions; and you may even win more than one bad beat jackpot if the casinos you play at offer them.  One jackpot could place you well over your five year goal.
 
Keep playing and set your eyes on the lone-term.
 
Who do you know who needs to improve their Poker game?  Know anybody who dreams of making GOOD money playng No-Limit Texas Hold'em?   Steer them to www.MitchFreeland.com and his breakthrough book, "The Small Stakes Poker Hustle." Also, get your FREE book,  "Mini Goals Huge Results."

How to Play Against a Habitual Straddler in Small Stakes
No-Limit Hold'em?
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
 
Straddlers  need action and lots of it. In many situations they are playing in a game that they wish was bigger.  Most habitual straddlers are sick players—many could be compulsive gamblers. Many straddlers play too many hands and raise a high frequency of hands indiscriminately. They won't chase down pots until they get beat a couple of times and begin steaming. They will bet middle pair on the flop as well as drawing hands: flushes and straights.
 
Many if not all, habitual straddlers are known to be drunk or drinking at the table.  They are loose and sometimes maniacal players.  In most cases,  if you raise they will put on the brakes.  The best strategy is call their bets and raise on the river if you still believe you have the best hand, otherwise call. If the river is checked to you, bet for value.
 
Raise with any playable hand against a habitual straddler  preflop.  Stealing from straddlers is also a regular play you should be making.  Make the raise four times the straddle amount and add in any other players who entered before you.  For instance, in a $1-$2 game the straddler put out $4.  If there are two callers before you enter ($8 more in the pot), you should raise to $24 or a little more to punish them.
 
Who do you know who needs to improve their Poker game?  Know anybody who dreams of making GOOD money playng No-Limit Texas Hold'em?   Steer them to www.MitchFreeland.com and his breakthrough book, "The Small Stakes Poker Hustle." Also, get your FREE book,  "Mini Goals Huge Results."

Should you Raise with Small Suited Connectors in Early Position in Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em?
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
 
You can win a monster pot by playing small suited connectors in early position.  But, a smart player should play straight up poker in small stakes most of the time.  There is no need to get tricky or play non premium hands out of position.  Most of your competition in the small stakes live ring games ($1-$2), are weak and recreational players, therefore any edge you have, even a small edge, will be magnified in profits.  However, it is never I good idea to play a completely ridged and predictable game. Therefore,  occasionally, you will need to mix up your play to keep your more observant opponents off balance. 
 
Small suited connectors are typically not good hands to raise with in early position when your are the first to enter the pot, but when you have been playing a tight, disciplined game, it makes a great play when you raise and get a few callers.  Your opponents are likely to put you on high cards or high pairs, and when the flop comes low, you could be sitting on a nicely disguised hand of two pair, straight or straight draw.
 
Here is a hand I played a while back.  The game was $1-$2.  I bought in for the max ($100). After about an hour of play my stack was $144.  I was in first position and brought it in for $8. I had 5♠ 4♠.  I had four callers.  After the rake, the pot was $36. The flop came J♣ 5♥ 4♦. I couldn't ask for much better than that.  It was unlikely that any of my four opponents would put me on two small pair.  The big blind checked.  I bet $20, and got two callers and then the button moved all-in for $90.  The big blind mucked.  What were his possible holdings?  A straight draw seemed to be the more probable hand with an all-in raise.  But, could he also have two pair?  A set of 5s or 4s was possible but not very probable since I had a 5 and 4.  Could he have top pair with a good kicker. This was also very likely.  Anyway, I still believed I had the best hand.  With two players behind me still to act, I did not what to raise them  out, so I called.  It didn't matter because the other two folded immediately.  An 8♠ came on the turn then a 7♠ on the river. My opponent didn't turn his cards over quickly, so I knew he did not have a straight.  I turned my hand over and took the pot.  He showed a jack then mucked his hand.
 
From time-to-time, and especially when you are aware that your opponents are more observant and you are not getting any callers when you raise with your premium hands, it is a good time to mix up your play and raise with small suited connectors in early position.  Now when you do get action and then make a nice hand, your hand will be completely camouflaged.   When, on the other hand,  high cards come and you bet the flop, your opponents are more likely to put you on high cards since you raised in early position.

 
Who do you know who needs to improve their Poker game?  Know anybody who dreams of making GOOD money playng No-Limit Texas Hold'em?   Steer them to www.MitchFreeland.com and his breakthrough book, "The Small Stakes Poker Hustle." Also, get your FREE book,  "Mini Goals Huge Results."

When Do You Call a Preflop Raiser When you Have a Small Pocket Pair In No-Limit Hold'em?
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
 
I like to follow a simple rule of thumb when flat calling a preflop raiser with a small pocket pair, 22-77. 
 
Calling or reraising depends on your opponent's style and how much you know about the player.  But let us say that you are not very familiar with your opponent's playing habits.  When there is a raise preflop and when you look down at your hand and see a small pair what do you do?  First of all, we know that a small pair can be either a very slight favorite (1%-3%) against two over cards, or a big underdog against an over pair.  But you could also be a large favorite if your opponent has a smaller pocket pair than yours.  Nonetheless,  I do not like the idea or risking money in situations that are usually not in my favor or a race. I need to know that I am getting good odds for my money.  So what do I do?  I will call a preflop raise when my opponent has at least 20 times his raise in his stacks.  The implied odds have to be right for me to call.  Since I am looking to flop a set with my small pair, I need to know that there is a chance that if my perfect card comes on the flop, I will have an opportunity to get all of my opponents chips.  Since I will flop a set about 11.8% of the time when I hold a pocket pair, I need to get greater implied odds from my opponent. 
 
Here is an example from a small stakes $1-$2 No-Limit game:
 
I have $200 in front of me.  I am in middle position.  A player on my right is the first in with a raise to $5.  He has a $60 stack.  His stack is only 12 times the $5 raise.  If I hit the flop with my perfect card for a set, and I am lucky enough to get all of my opponents $40 stack, my call is basically a breakeven, since my odds of flopping a set is nearly 12% of the time. 
 
Now, let's say my opponent has $120 stack. He raises to $5.  Now if I get my set on the flop I have a chance to get $120 from him.  This is 24 times his raise.  If  my opponent has a high pocket pair or two broardway cards and makes top pair, there is a good chance I will get his stack, provided I have at least a stack of $120.  My implied odds are strong.
 
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How to Play Small Pairs in Early Position Sit 'n Go  and Satellite Poker Tournaments
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
 
A Sit 'n Go is a one table tournament with nine or ten players where the prize money is paid out to the top three finishers.  A Satellite is a one table tournament where the prize is paid out to the last remaining player who ends up with all the chips.  Now in practical terms, deals are often cut where a second or third chip leader can negotiate greater prize money with the chip leader to end the battle.  This is usually done in live play sit 'n go and satellites, rarely in online tournaments.
 
In the earlier part of a single table tournament when the blinds are small and you are in earlier position and nobody has entered the pot, it  is correct to muck your small pairs.  Pairs such as 22-77 should be folded.  This might appear to be very tight play, but remember you are waiting for half the field to bust out.  Not only are you in poor position, you  have a limited number of chips and it is not worth risking them at this time.   When the blinds move up and half the field has been eliminated you can enter the pot with a raise.  When the blinds are now high and there are five players remaining, it is now time to play more aggressively.  
 
M. Mitch Freeland's Learning Academy.   M. Mitch Freeland:  Author of 65+ books, Publisher, Speaker, Coach.  Authoritative information products on Real Estate Investing, Stock Investing, Poker, Casino Gaming, online bookselling, prolific writing and publishing. 
​www.MitchFreeland.com   Email:  [email protected].

THE 7 LESSONS FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST FOR
POKER PLAYERS
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
 
John the Baptist was one of the most passionate people who ever lived. He was loyal to God and honored God and gave glory to God.  Now as you read on in this article, you might find it odd that I will be analogizing John The Baptist to poker, or rather to astute poker players, but bear with me and you may learn a few things you did not know.
 
Passion is one word which exemplifies John the Baptists relationship with God.  His passion was so great he went into the desert alone and lived there in solitude, to get closer to God.  This was before he started his ministry.
 
He was bold, a radical.  John the Baptist was not afraid to express his views loudly and publicly.  To many, including the Pharisees, he was an eccentric with magnetism.
 
John C. Maxwell explains in The Maxwell Leadership Bible:
 
His passion for God made him this way and people were drawn to Him to be baptized—"preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."—Luke 3:3. 
 
What gives a person passion?  With John it was God.  It is worth noting that to be a winning poker player one has to have enough passion for the game to play well and to keep playing and learning the game. 
 
John needed passion to fulfill his God-given calling"  Every pioneer needs passion.  Pioneers cannot be satisfied with mere maintenance, for they have nothing yet to maintain.  They create from nothing.—The Maxwell Leadership Bible.
 
John was a pioneer in teaching the multitudes "about repentance for the remission of sins."
 
What gives you your passion for the game?  Could you be a pioneer of the game?  Could you be an ambassador to the card rooms you play at?
 
To be a great No-Limit Hold'em player you have to have the passion for the game and the passion to be a great player—a solid, winning player.  Follow these seven lessons from John the Baptist and you might  get everything you've dreamed about.
 

1.  The Results of Solitude
John went into the wilderness alone and focused his energy on God in solitude.  We all need solitude from time-to-time. To study and to retain information, we need solitude for concentration.  As a committed poker player, you will need solitude to study and reflect on your past experiences at the table. Go somewhere quiet. Be alone. Read books on winning poker strategy.  Reflect on past performance. Study the notes you have on other players. One hour a day of solitary study could make a huge positive difference in your game.
 
2.  The Power of Diligence
John was a hard worker.  He baptized in the Jordan and preached the importance of repentance.  His message quickly spread. To be a great poker player you will have to work hard. To be great you will have to be obsessed.  You might even be an object of ridicule, but obsession is good if it benefits you, your family and others.  And when it benefits God, it's very good for everybody.  How does your obsession with poker benefit God?  Well, if you are a winning player, you can tithe 10% of your winnings.  You can also play your game without being an angle shooter, a cheat, a foul mouth, or vulgar player. You can be polite, sober, courteous, and respectful of your fellow players.  You can be helpful and not argumentative.  You could donate time and money to worthy causes that God would be proud of.  And you can thank God that you have the power to be diligent, if not physically, then spiritually.
 
3.  Consumed With Your Mission
John was consumed with his mission.  He knew he was called to pave the way for Jesus.  He knew the Messiah by sight before he even saw Him. He knew He must become less important the Jesus more important.
 
John said: 
 
"as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
 
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
 
A strong poker player must be consumed with his mission.  There is no way around it. If your mission is to be a great (winning) No-Limit Hold'em player you will have to be fully engaged.  Again, you must be obsessed on learning the game and everything about it.  Once you become obsessed with your mission, success is all but imminent.
 
4.  Magnetic Personality for Justice
John attracted people to listen to his words, to become baptized.  Because he had a powerful personality he attracted many people and he also detracted others who did not want to repent or found him too unusual or radical. He told people to be just.  His passion for God instilled in him a cause for justice.
 
So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"
          He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
          Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
          And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you."
          Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?"
          So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."--Luke 3:10-14
 
All very good poker players have magnetic personalities. This does not mean all are boisterous, loud or extroverts. A winning player with quiet confidence can also be a magnetic personality.  Other players, even losing players respect, good players. They might not show it or say it, but players recognize a just player, a player with integrity, who is void of arrogance and humble in winning—a player who plays a solid, intelligent game with verve.
 
5.  Black or White, Right or Wrong
John saw thing as being black or white.  It is right or wrong.  Many strong personality types see life this way as well.  In poker there are correct decisions and incorrect decisions—right or wrong.  Much of the math and probability in poker tells us this truth.  There can be no debate about this because the numbers speak for themselves.  Good poker players will see situations in black or white, right or wrong.  There is only one way to play a hand that gets the most money added to your stack after the hand is complete.  This means, did your opponent do what you wanted him to do? 
 
6.  Action Oriented
John was a man of action.  He did not wait for Jesus' coming before he started his mission; he prepared the way. All winning poker players became winners by taking action. They put in lots of hours of study, lots of time in live ring games and a lot of time thinking about the game, specific hands played and the people they played with. 
 
Men of action are required in every field.  In poker, men of action rise to the top; they take advantage of new opportunities in new areas and in new games. There is no substitute for taking action. Action creates results.  Offensive tactics put you in charge of positive outcomes that benefit your games more often.  Be the aggressor—be action oriented.
 
7.  Enthusiasm
John was enthusiastic for the coming of the Lord.  He did things that others thought were strange and many thought he was a prophet. Could he be Isaiah or the Messiah himself people thought?  John was enthusiastic about his calling, about preparing the way, and the repentance of sin among the people and among Herod the tetrarch:
 
"Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod and done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.—Luke 3:19-20
 
John ended up in prison and die there, beheaded by Herod.
 With some luck, you won't lose your head over any hand, however, if you want to be a winner, rate yourself on a scale of one to ten, ten being highest, about how you truly feel about poker, and No-Limit Hold'em.  Are you enthusiastic about the game?  Are you prepared to play your best game when you take a seat?  Are you excited (not in a compulsive way) when you get to the game?  Build your enthusiasm with John the Baptist. Don't give up, or give in when adversity hits.  Stand by your convictions and play a smart game with confidence.  And by the way, say your prayers.  God's listening, always. 

M. Mitch Freeland's Learning Academy.   M. Mitch Freeland:  Author of 65+ books, Publisher, Speaker, Coach.  Authoritative information products on Real Estate Investing, Stock Investing, Poker, Casino Gaming, online bookselling, prolific writing and publishing. 
​www.MitchFreeland.com   Email:  [email protected].

Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em:  Focus On the Big Picture
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
 
Sometimes we become complacent because we tend to lose sight of the big picture.  The big picture, the reason we do the things we do.  The games we are in and the major goal we want to achieve is the big picture.  By focusing on the big picture, you are concentrating on the end result and the end result could be anything that is important to you—it might be the benefits gained from completing a difficult project or securing your family with the financial resources to not worry about money for the remainder to your life.
 
When you are playing cards not all hands will go smoothly. Unexpected problems rear their ugly heads.  Frustrating situations will occur with players and the turn of a card, situations you now have little control over.  When this happens, you have to think about the big picture. So, what do you do to keep the trim tabs level?  Try to visualize:

• Visualize it in your mind—the completed hand or session.  
• Visualize yourself playing a perfect game, free of mistakes and uncertainties.
• Visualize winning big hands and scooping mountains of chips.
• Visualize yourself at the cashiers cage with five, six or seven racks of chips.  
• Visualize the money you will make over the next twelve months by playing intelligent, fearless poker

 
I recommend all poker player to set goals and timelines to complete them.  To help with this process there is a book I put together that I suggest you get if you have trouble with setting and achieving goals on time.  If you have trouble focusing on your plans, this  book will also help you.  Get a copy of   Mini Goals Huge Results.  The book is FREE on my website (www.MitchFreeland.com)  Focus on the big picture and not only will your complacency change, but your productivity will also improve at the table.  

Is Aggression in No-Limit Hold'em Overly Simplified?
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
 
Aggression is important to winning poker and the idea of playing tight but aggressive has been stressed by pros for years. 
 
In no-limit, yes, it is overly simplified.  In limit, aggression is the best. In most situations in limit play you raise or fold. I will rarely call a hand in limit unless I plan to set up for a raise on another street.  In no-limit it is different. Here is an example:  Last night I played A♦ 4♦ on the button in a multi-way pot. Six others in an unraised pot.  I raised hoping for a big flop. Four players called. The flop was 4♣ 4♠ Q♦.  There was a bet from the cutoff.  I called and the big blind called. The turn card 9♠.  The blind checked.  The cutoff bet.  I called.  The blind folded.  The 7♣ fell on the river.  The cutoff now checked with only $20 left in his stack.  I bet $20.  He called. I won.  He hit his queen on the flop.  Now in a limit game I would have probably raised on the flop or the turn. But in no-limit you have to figure out how you are going to get your opponent to put in all of his chips when you have a strong hand.  Sometimes you have to let up, slow down, and let your opponent be the aggressor. This is so true with maniacs who will continue betting any hand, but once you show strength, they stop. So the idea here is not to show strength. Let them keep beating until all their chips are in the pot.  This is especially true if your opponent is short stacked.  You won't be getting much, so you might as well get it all.  Once you start to raise, your loose player will put the brakes on--he will stop betting.
 
There seems to be more loose players now than there were twenty years ago.  So when everybody is loose, you tighten-up.  Trapping becomes extremely profitable against players who play mediocre hands for big bets. When you've got a big hand, sit back and plan how you are going to get your opponent to get all of his money in the pot. 
 
Against a passive player you can run over them by betting and controlling the pot.  But, against a loose player, playing with one speed, it's time to slow down.
 
Learn more about winning poker strategies in The Small Stakes Poker Hustle. Available now at  MitchFreeland.com.

The Good of Surrender & Obedience as Prescribed by The Bible
© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland

 
As a bookseller for many years I devoted a lot of time to acquiring the right books to build a proper inventory necessary for selling and making a worthwhile income. You could say I was a book hunter.   In the course of hunting, I would come across an array of religious books.  To my delight,  many of the book were Christian related books and Bibles. Books explaining in simpler terms the Good Book, dissecting the Bible, and its meanings. I purchased many of these books because they have value, intrinsic and spiritual value, to me and others.  Some of these books I sold and some I kept, and many of the books I planned to sell, I read before listing them for sale. The good ones, the very good ones, I kept for myself for further study.
 
I have now, a special table where these books go before they are shelved with the rest of the for sale lot. These books deal with Christianity, my faith. 
 
I want to talk today about love, surrender and obedience to God.  Do you know that you are loved?  Can you define love?  There is no greater love than the love God has for you. This is called Agapi love—a true unselfish love of putting others first. It is the greatest of loves—it is God’s love.
 
No matter what you might think, you were created by God. He is your father and He knows everything about you, everything. He created the earth and the heavens, the animals and every living and all nonliving things around you. He is a good God.  And the day will come when you spend eternity with him. But before your spirit leaves your earthly body you must strive with all your heart, with every fiber of your being to become God-like.  God wants you to realize his laws, surrender to him, have faith in Him, open your heart and follow Him by following his word.  By following the word of God you are obedient and God wants you to be obedient. 
           
The Bible tells us many things about how to live our lives. But the two things, the two words, beyond the stories, parables, and tragedies, the Bible, the word of God, tells us of surrender and obedience. To surrender your heart to Him, is to trust in the light, trust that the Lord our God, the Trinity, the Lord, Jesus, the holy ghost or spirit is the light, the truth, and the light will guide you through your dark journey on earth. For the world is fallen, this we know. 
 
The other word is obedience. By following God’s laws you are obedient. God cherishes your obedience. By being obedient, you glorify God by doing what He wants you to do. And with surrender and obedience your world will transform into a kind of world God meant for you.  Your world may not be an easy one, for the Bible says this—God does not promise an easy life.  He does, however promise that your life after life will be with him in heaven.  This is your reward for being obedient and following his word while you are on earth.  By being obedient to God’s word, you show Him your gratitude. By not being obedient, you show your contempt. 
 
The Bible is our foothold, our compass to guide us to a life of proper living and then everlasting life.  Not only does the “Good Book” answer all of our questions pertaining to our lives, living or existence, or our purpose on earth, it also lets us know what is in store for us after we leave our earthly body.  And the one and only purpose for your life is to follow God’s plan by abiding in his word, to strive for the impossible, to be without sin, to become as the son, to become like Jesus.  For Christ was obedient and sinless, this the Bible says. Jesus surrendered his body and soul to God, his Father, his creator, your creator.
 
When we follow God’s word, we are not making sacrifices, far from it; we are developing a pure lifestyle—a lifestyle filled with honesty—a lifestyle filled with understanding, patience and love.  To become God-like we must exhibit the qualities of God—the qualities of the son, the qualities of Christ. Developing your character is the most important aspect of becoming in favor with God. 
 
A great transformation will take hold of you once you make the effort, the commitment, to become God-like.  Remember, becoming God-like is not the same at becoming a God. You will never be a God. There is only one God.  But becoming God-like should be the aim of all humans.  We all have the power in us to surrender ourselves and to be obedient to God. We all have the ability, the strength, and fortitude to manage our lives according to God’s laws.  We all have the ability to follow the Ten Commandants.  We have the ability to pray, to ask for forgiveness, to be kind, to help the less fortunate.  We have the ability to be grateful.  We have the ability to be good, to not follow evil ways.  No matter how tempted we are to fall, we have the ability to straighten ourselves out from crooked paths.  Temptations are all around us and God is all around us too. It is easier to fight temptation when you know the truth, the reward for being obedient and that God is on your side.  No, it won’t be easy; but it certainly is worth it.
 
Remember this:  “God is all powerful.” The devil is powerful too, but not “all” powerful like God. So, if you really set your mind to change, you can and you will.  The spirit in you is stronger than all of Satan’s powers.  And once you set your mind and heart on God, with focus and determination, with commitment, once you surrender yourself to Him, once you decide to become an obedient servant of God, the evil in your life will diminish. Of course, there all always temptations, but you’ll be able to fight them off a lot easier with the help of God in your life. He is always on your side, you see.   All you have to do is acknowledge Him—ask and he will deliver what is right for you. You may never know what is right for you, but He does--He knows--He knows everything about you and He loves you.
​

No-Limit Hold'em: Playing Against Tricky Tight Aggressive Players
​© 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland
​
You won't get too many of this type player in the $1-$2, but occasionally, a player will become tricky against you when you have been beating him pot after pot.  When you move up to the $1-$3 or $2-$3 game you may have a better chance of spotting your tricky aggressive opponent. 
 
A TTAP is considered a player who is on top of his game and has a good feel of when to turn up the heat or down shift into a lower gear.  They are aggressive one hand and passive on the next. 
 
A TTAP likes to make plays to manipulate opponents into making mistakes by calling, raising or folding. Most TTAPs are situational players; they may play Tight Aggressive Straight Laced most of the session and then against certain opponents who they feel can be easily tricked or trapped, will begin the deception. It may occur a few times during a session or it can be a permanent situation if the circumstances warrant the play.
 
When you move up to higher no-limit games ($2-$5, $5-$10 and $10-$20), you will encounter better players and stronger opposition.  Because your opponents tend to be better players as you move up, they will also be trickier, and so will you.  Remember, that no-limit is a trapping game. When you have the nuts or an extremely strong hand, you will make the  big money by fooling your opponents to move-in on you. There is no better feeling to have the nuts and have your opponent move all-in on you on the turn or river.  All you need is one big trap a session and you will soon realize the power of setting traps against big stacks.
 
Against a TTAP you want to bet for value.  The biggest mistake a player can make is folding a big pot by not calling a small or medium sized bet.  If a tricky player makes a mistake and bets a blocking bet on the river, call all reasonable hands.  Always keep in mind, a tricky player may like to make donk bets on the flop and blocking bets on the turn and river to confuse you.  Learn to read the board carefully. And ask yourself what is he capable of betting?
 
To learn more about winning at small stacks No-Limit Hold'em cash games get a copy of The Small Stakes Poker Hustle available at www.MitchFreeland.com.

No-Limit Hold'em:  The Importance of Choosing
the Correct Seat © 2017 by M. Mitch Freeland

Most small stakes players do not understand the importance of their seating position.  The seat you take, however, is important and can help make you more and/or prevent you from losing less money.  Here are a few things you want to consider regarding seating:
 
♠  The money goes clockwise.
 
♠  You do not want to sit on the right of a maniac or habitual raiser. 
 
♠  You want the loose players on your right.
 
♠  You want the large stacks on your right.
 
♠  You want maniacs on your right
 
♠  You do not want to sit next to players who constantly straddle your blinds.  This means straddles from first position from your small and big blinds.  
 
Playing a Mississippi straddle is different.  If you do not know what a Mississippi straddle is, it is straddling on the button, where now the small blind has to act first.  Some casinos have changed the rule where the player under the gun (seat left of the big blind) acts first. This is the case at The Venetian poker room in Las Vegas.  Next door at Harrah's the small blind is first to act when the button puts of a straddle on. If you want to punish the blinds, when put on a Mississippi on the button regularly.  You are in good position and you are making it tough on blind hands who already have dead money in the pot.  I will go over Mississippi straddle later in the book.
 
Unless you are sitting in perfect position with large stacks on your right with loose, maniacal players, consider moving to an open seat when it becomes available on your left.  Presume that the new player will be loose and bad—you want him in front of you.
 
To learn more about making money playing poker get a copy of The Small Stakes Poker Hustle or How to Make $250,000 Over the Next 5 Years Playing Small Stakes Poker, available on this website (MitchFreeland.com).