In Poker, hands, tournaments or careers can have ups and downs...just like in life. Today I am going to summarise my life as a poker player, one card at a time, just like in poker

Pre flop: Poker became part of my life soon after leaving home, with mates, a glass of whisky and a fine cigar, just like in the films... We enjoyed the game, always had a good night and what's more, I used to win! We started playing these games more and more often, we looked for new players and new places to play in the area we lived in. After a year, I had stocked up a nice little amount of cash. 12,000 Euros. But I didn't plan on stopping there!

Flop: By this stage, online poker was the big thing but nothing went to plan! The first months were tough, and I had to adapt and find games where I could win more regularly, read poker books and magazines, go on forums and chat with other players etc. Through hard work, I started achieving better results and after a year of playing online, I started making a profit, but nothing to write home about. But I didn't plan on stopping there!

Turn: Through learning how to win and with my discussions becoming more focused on details, I started winning more and more (One 5 deal out of 31,000 players in the FTOPS minis, as well as several victories with over 3,000 players, making me one of the top 200 players in the first 6 months of 2011 on FT) My 1st live tournaments proved to be a good start, of course I took on my own style of playing that I had adopted long before while playing with friends ( and I admit that my LAG game caused me a bit of bother in some average buy-in games) but the results were slowly getting there with some nice final table results and a return trip to Vegas for the World Series where I added a TF in a tournament taking place in a sister casino with almost 400 players. Once again, I didn't plan on stopping there!

River: The time had come to hit the pro tour ( EPT, WPT, BPS..)! I have to face those who I consider to be my idols, I had seen them at tables hundreds of times on video. However, my game is on song and I know their gameplay and habits, I have to create myself an image as well as a reputation. Many players who share this passion are envious and I am very grateful for the chance that my sponsor is giving me to prove my worth.. I know I still have everything to prove but what better reward could I offer them than a title, or at least reaching a final table in a major tournament? One thing is sure, I don't plan on stopping here!  

vandeborne
JeanmarieVandeb