Phil Ivey wasn't always the Phil Ivey, the Tiger Woods of Poker, the "No-Home Jerome". He was once a beginner, a student of the game, somebody who made his way to the top and proved his worth by playing the game that he loves. With his 8th bracelet in site, Ivey is leaping ahead of his hold 'em counterparts and effectively building his poker legacy with each subsequent achievement. What separates Ivey from his opponents? He didn't sharpen his poker abilities until he was old enough to get a job, where he'd play hold' em amongst his co-workers at a New Brunswick, New Jersey telemarketing firm. Ivey put in the dedication and the necessary commitment it took to rise above his opponents. There's a common misconception that Ivey's abnormally freakish eyes are his greatest asset because they intimidate his opponents; however, it is without a doubt his heart. Known as "the Tiger Woods of poker" by his colleagues, Ivey has proven his worth year after year and has a chance to cap off his legacy by winning the 10,000 dollar World Series of Poker Main Event, which will be aired in November. I cannot and will not pretend to have anywhere near the amount of credibility Phil Ivey has; I cannot offer suggestions or tips to reach his level, because that is simply absurd. I'm just another ordinary poker loving college student who has about 5 years of solid hold' em experience to talk about. I consider myself to be pretty damn talented, and what I can do is offer suggestions and tips that I use to maximize my hold' em abilities when I play at charity tournaments, local events, simply with the guys, or even online (hello fulltilt). More specifically, I can offer unorthodox and unique strategies and tips that will leave even your most canny opponents guessing. Ideally, if I can achieve a network of players discussing their strategies, playing styles, and even their stories, I believe that will lead to all of us becoming better at the game we love. I cannot reiterate this enough, however; I will not pretend to be some sort of an expert at Texas Hold' em. I will merely convey suggestions, tips, and advice that I have gathered from my experiences playing. I hope to ultimately learn as much from you as you might hope to learn from me.
For more about Ivey's career, visit his website here.
sources: wikipedia, philivey.com,
