This is a personal experience. I am French and after my degree I decided to travel to Australia and New Zealand. When I was other there, in New Zealand, I used to play poker every week. One of my flatmates was almost addict to game and wanted me to play poker with him so I said why not. I used to go every Wednesday in a Pub with some kiwi people, not the most respectful people ever but it was ok and some of them though they could be professional but honestly I don’t think so. I have also played in UK and the game is completely different and people are more aggressive, and also more professional.
Anyway, after 4 weeks, I was already in the finale table of the pub tournament and I couldn’t believe it. My strategic: not playing too hard and wait that someone will raise on it. Be patient and push the bad players to give me their money. It is not so hard and I like annoying people with these kinds of sentences “come one, you can do it and I will beat you anyway” these kinds of sentences used to annoy everyone especially when you are kiwi and you play against a French lady. I finished second at the finale and the week after that I finished first.
And they told me they were professionals, come on.
Anyway through that I could have a seat for the regional finale of New Zealand. It was 400 players and I. I arrived at 10 and we started to play at 10.30. It was just amazing for me because I was a beginner and in New Zealand. Anyway, I think my best technical was to fold quite often and push the other players to play all in. I know what you are thinking but I don’t care. It worked; of course sometimes I was playing, but always carefully. Some players don’t care to lose so I like playing against them. After 3hours, I think, you have a break of 15 minutes. I was most of the times, what I am doing here. But I was quite happy to be there. I used to be lucky as well. I received a lot of pockets, ACES- KINGS- QUEENS… and I was winning all the times with them.
Anyway, at the end, some guys from the pub I used to play with, met me and congratulated me. I was why and I realised that I was in the last 25 players so it means that I was qualified for the national final of New Zealand. I finished 14 other there with 2 pairs and my adversary got a straight on the last card. She was also the chip leader and she won the tournament. It took me 8 hours to finish 14th but I was so excited. The bad thing was the national finale was in November and I have to leave New Zealand in September.
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