I started playing inside of a casino in January 2006. I had played online mostly to this point and primarily tournaments. The WSOP Circuit was in Tunica, MS and I wanted to try my hand at live tournaments. There were 3 stud events in this set and I decided that I was a decent enough player to make a run. I arrived in Tunica and played in some satellites with a decent level of success. Two of my buy-in were paid for and I had made about $1000 in cash. Then reality hit in the form of my first live tournament.

My first event was a $500 buy-in 7 Card Stud event and Chris Grigorian was at my table as well as Al Barbieri. I lasted about 2 and half hours. The experience was great, and I knew I had some things to learn. The next day was a Pot Limit Holdem event in which I played with Mickey “Mouse” Mills. Mickey is an older gentleman with over a million in tournament earnings, numerous wins, and a couple WSOP final tables under his belt. I don’t know if it was Mickey’s good nature or something about my play, but Mickey started sharing a few Holdem tips. I was happy to listen as I really did not know how to play the game. My game improved immediately. I wound up winning about another 1500 in satellite chips based on some knowledge gained from him. Later that weekend, Mickey introduced me to a friend of his. This friend was someone that he considered a mentor and he claimed was personally responsible for giving him knowledge that helped him make a WSOP final table. This gentleman was also a poker author. His name was Bill Boston. At the time, I didn’t think much of this. I thought to myself, “Well that’s cool. I met a poker author.” However, I really wasn’t super impressed or anything as we didn’t get to talk much.

The next day was the $500 buy-in 7 Card Stud 8 or Better event. I arrived early, as I tend to do for most poker events I play, and to my left sat down Mr. Boston. This was kind of nice because this gave me someone at the table I could talk to. Bill and I exchanged some idle chit chat and the event began. I played several hands, and wasn’t doing so well. Personally, I thought I was just getting unlucky and not catching cards. Around the end of the first level, Bill leans over to me and says “Later on let’s get together and talk about Stud High Low Split.” The first thought in my head was “I must suck.” I did. I busted out just after the first break.

Five hours later, I ran across Bill in the poker room. He had just busted out of the event. He started out with rolled up Aces and caught Aces Full by Fifth Street. Unfortunately, someone else started out rolled up with Kings and caught Quads on 7^th and Bill was knocked out on a horrific bad beat. Bill looks at me and says “James, do you have anywhere you need to be? If not, let talk a little about Stud 8 or better.”

Actually, I did have somewhere to be. I had a dinner date planned with this gorgeous brunette I had met down there. At the same time, I had an opportunity to gain a lot of knowledge from someone who had been around the block a few times. I look at Bill and say “Let’s go over to table 14.” For the next two hours, Bill sat there and gave me a crash course on how to play Stud 8 or Better. He answered any questions I had and basically gave me a strategy that he recommended I work on. He then did something I didn’t expect. He took out a card and pen and gave me his email address to contact him at. “James, I want you to go home and use the strategy I just gave you and then tell me in 2 weeks to a month about how it’s working for you.” I didn’t quite know what to say other than thank you.

I went home and did what Bill told me. I played exactly the way he taught me, even if I didn’t agree with the strategy, and to be honest, I didn’t like some of it as it seemed even tighter than I even normally play. It took 3 games to see a difference in my play and that difference was dramatic. I went from being a player that would be lucky to cash in a sit n go once every 6 tries to someone that would be lucky NOT to cash in a sit n go 1 in 6 tries. Granted, I was playing at the free money levels. My live money games were about 50% cashes, which was about where Bill expected me to be.

The very next thing I did was buy Bill’s book on Omaha 8 or better and start working on my game. He also offered me a lot of instruction as well. I decided to take my turn at some event out in LA and see if I could do any better than my trip to Tunica. My trip to LA did not turn out much better than Tunica money wise, however, I made it deep in several events and barely missed cashing in both the Omaha 8 and Stud 8 events I played in. The difference in my play was night and day.

I continued to work on my game, and the next tournament set I went to, I ended up cashing in 3 events, including a Stud 8 event. Of course, the first person I told was Bill, who was ecstatic to hear about my accomplishments. Since then, Bill has been a good friend and mentor to me in Poker and in life in general. He has seen me go through ups and downs and has always given me very sound advice. I have not always taken his advice, but I listen, and he makes me think.

If you know someone that is particularly good at poker and they are willing to teach you or help you with your game, then take advantage of the resource. It does not have to be a pro or former professional player. I was lucky in that regards. No matter how much you learn, you can always learn more in Poker. In addition, mentors can help you through the rough times with solid advice or at least a shoulder to lean on. If you do not have a poker mentor, I personally recommend you get one. I can tell you from experience, I would not be the player I am currently without a mentor.