Dreams

This is the time of year when most tournament poker players start to have big dreams. These dreams involve winning the "big one" at the World Series of Poker. Last year the winner received $1.5 million. This year the winner will probably receive $2 million. However, what is the main reward, the money or the coveted bracelet and the title of "World Champion of Poker"? For me, winning the championship and that bracelet is the main reward. The money is secondary.

That may sound strange to those who do not understand the mystique of the World Series of Poker. You first must understand the love of competition and winning. When you ask a Super Bowl winner what is more important, the Super Bowl ring or the money he received for winning the Super Bowl, the answer will most likely be the ring. When you ask a Wimbledon tennis champion what is more important, winning the championship or receiving the prize money, the answer again will most likely be winning the championship.

However, you do not win any world championship without first having dreams. Recently I saw Sarah Hughes win the gold medal in figure skating at the Winter Olympics. They showed an old film of her when she was 8 years old. She said at that time that she was going to win the gold medal at the Olympics. She had a dream, and she made it come true. In order to make a dream come true, you must act on your dream. A dream alone will not bring the desired results.

You must set goals that lead to your dream, winning the World Series of Poker. You cannot just set these goals in your mind; you must write them down. That is the key, the actual act of writing down your goals. These goals should be a step-by-step plan that leads up to your main goal. List your goals in ascending order from the smallest up to the big one, and make written note of accomplishing them when you do so. For example, your ultimate goal (dream) could be stated, "Win the 2004 World Series of Poker."

If you already know how to play limit hold'em tournaments, you have taken one step toward this goal. However, you must become proficient playing in no-limit hold'em tournaments. To start, Tom McEvoy's books are excellent, and they can be obtained through Card Player. Books alone, however, will not bring you the desired results. You must gain practical experience by playing in no-limit hold'em tournaments.

Begin by setting a goal of playing in numerous small no-limit hold'em tournaments. Then, set a goal of finishing in the money. Then, set a goal of winning these small tournaments. I am talking about tournaments with buy-ins of just $20-$60. You should not risk a lot of money while you are learning how to play in these tournaments. Once you start winning in these tournaments, you can set your goals higher by playing in larger tournaments, and then finishing in the money in these tournaments. You eventually must set a goal of obtaining the $10,000 to enter the big one at the World Series of Poker. This could be accomplished by winning a tournament in your geographical area, or by winning a supersatellite at Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas. A supersatellite costs $220 to enter. There are usually 100-200 players in a typical supersatellite. The number of $10,000 seats given away depends on the number of players entered in the supersatellite. If you win one of these seats, you are in the big event. You must play in the event once you win your first seat. That is, you cannot sell your seat. You also can win a $10,000 seat by winning a single-table satellite for a $1,000-plus buy-in.

Once you win your first seat in the big event at the World Series of Poker, you cannot imagine the excitement. I won a seat in the big one through a supersatellite several years ago. Just winning that seat made me feel like I was on top of the world – what an adrenaline rush! Sitting in my seat that first day of the tournament was quite an adrenaline rush, as well. That was the year the movie Rounders came out. Matt Damon and Ed Norton were playing in the World Series of Poker, and the media attention was unbelievable. I finished 75th out of 350 players, and I would not trade that experience for anything.

If you dream, good things will happen to you. Write down your goals and act upon them one at a time. Good luck in reaching your ultimate goal and realizing your ultimate dream.