Matt Milton – World Poker Tour magazine winner

Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you to TIPS for a fantastic run event and making me feel very welcome.

I’ve never bought the World Poker Tour magazine but on this occasion I saw a promotion on the TIPS fan page on Facebook. It said check out the competition page and win a free seat. I went down to my local WH Smith store and purchased a magazine. I flicked straight to the specific page and immediately sent an email to the WPT editor with my answer. A few weeks later I got an e-mail saying I’d won, couldn’t believe my luck. Thanks WPT magazine.

I learnt so much at the seminar and especially how to play the button which I was keen to take notes on. I was so unsure what to do when I was on the button but now I know exactly what to do. I have also learnt how to maximise your big pairs and how to get away from small sets/trips. Since the seminar I have finished 15th and 19th out of 500+ and cashing in both events.

Had a really great day and can’t wait for the next TIPS seminar!

Lucy Shaw – World Poker Tour magazine winner 

I won a place at the Nottingham TIPS through the World Poker Tour(WPT) magazine. I entered the day before the closing deadline and got a place so it was quite a surprise. My beloved football team were playing on the same day for which I have a season ticket but of course poker won.

I have played poker for almost 4 years now which I love! I don’t take it to serious, in fact I only play in small games and down at my local pub called the Talbot Inn.
The venue Dusk Till Dawn was very impressive and I was even more impressed upon my arrival where I was met by organiser Scott Marsh and the TIPS pros.

Scott handed me my ID tag and from that point I felt very special and looking forward to the day.
Paul Zimbler, Paul Jackson, Mark Gooding and James Browning were all great at explaining the TIPS topics on the large screen in the VIP suite. Some people who are really into poker have a way of making me switch off by the time they've said, "I was playing this hand the other night . . ." zzzzzz, but these guys knew what they were talking about and made me want to listen.

They spoke through high profile hands from televised events which included some of their own successes and losses and talked through the thoughts behind the bets and actions; it was interesting to compare what I, as a true fish, thought I would have done in comparison to them.

It's hard to say how much I learnt because there were so much to take in, but it certainly taught me patience is a virtue, have faith in your hands, look out for certain bluff signals and don't be afraid to fold the best hand.
Not the most important part but free soft drinks and an excellent lunch just added to the enjoyment of the whole day.

Thanks guys for such an enjoyable day.

Anne Loughlin – Online qualifier from Bwin Poker 

I was really excited when I won the TIPS seat in a freeroll on Bwin Poker and couldn't wait to attend. Having played for four years I was a fairly good but inconsistent player and really hoped that a seminar run by top pros could take me to the next level!
 
The seminar was great fun, very well run and all the pros were very approachable as well as very knowledgeable (that goes without saying)
 
It is hard to sum up exactly what I learnt on the day as there was so much information put forward and it definitely didn't sink in straightaway with me!
 
A week later however I have noticed some improvements in my live/online play, mainly that I am thinking more, always a good thing!!
 
I am finding it easier to put opponents on a range of hands based on their actions making it easier to know where I am in the hand, I have even named the exact hand on quite a few occasions (to myself of course)
Another thing I have noticed is that my river play is improving, I am getting more value bets in but at same time not betting if I think I can only get called by a worse hand, that might seem pretty basic but it has really helped my game, (and also can induce more bluffs which I am getting better at sniffing out, when 'something just doesn’t add up'! )

I also gained a little more knowledge of pot odds and pot control (the pros gave us some very easy tricks to calculate these quickly)
 
All in all an excellent day and I can’t wait to attend my next one, hoping to win it of course but if I don’t it will still be well worth the money!

Sam Swinfield – Online qualifier from Bwin Poker

I first started playing poker two years ago and only a few months into playing , I was very fortunate to win a ‘race trophy’ game on Bwin Poker to Valencia and filmed on Sky Sports. This was the first time I had recognised the fantastic incentives in playing poker on a well known poker site.
 
I managed to duck and dive in a field short of 200 players and build a healthy chip stack along the way. The final table was full of poker enthusiasts like me who were all trying to win those guaranteed seats.
 
The TIPS seminar took place at the glamorous Dusk Till Dawn poker club and was a very informative day. I loved the fact I could listen to the poker pros and hear their unique stories from final tables. An interesting topic covered was ‘Hand Analysis’ which I definitely enjoyed. It helped me to understand more about percentages and pot odds which I have been able to use whilst playing other games .It was interesting playing the Sit and Go’s on the day as we were able to try and use some of the info given to us . It must have worked a bit as I was able to make it to the final table with a pretty decent chip stack. I was the second player to be knocked out but my reward was a seat to the next TIPS seminar in London.

I would like to thank Scott Marsh for the great hospitality, the pro’s for my wealth of new learnt knowledge and everyone else for making it such a enjoyable day .
 
I would highly recommend a TIPS seminar to anyone who has an interest in poker as it’s a great experience and maybe one day it’ll help me progress to the next level.

Lydia Podhoradecki - Online qualifier from Betfred Poker

I first learnt to play poker 2 years ago, I think my boyfriend taught me to get me off his back about him wanting to play.  I fell in love with the game straight away and started taking every opportunity to play.  I remember being terrified the first time I played in a Casino, thinking that I was only a beginner and shouldn't be there.

I was fortunate enough to win my ticket to TIPS via an online Satellite.  As soon as I had won I checked out the website and thought it looked like an excellent opportunity to take my game to the next level.

The day itself was great, I'd never been to Dusk Till Dawn and I was made to feel very welcome by Scott Marsh and the rest of the team.  The seminar started off with a discussion group, it was a little surreal to watch footage of Paul Jackson heads up against Phil Ivey at the Monte Carlos Millions and to discuss the hand with Paul himself.

The SnGs were a great opportunity to put your new skills into practice and analysing play with the pros in the process was really useful.  As well as greater knowledge attending the seminar has given me a lot more confidence in my game and I've already been trying out some of the tips given to us by the pros. 

To summaries, it was a really informative day and had I paid for the ticket would have been worth every penny.  I was surprised at how approachable everyone was, regardless of their level of experience.  I would recommend TIPS to any poker lover.

Paul Marsh

I have been playing poker for just over 2 years now and regard myself as an average enthusiastic poker player. I attended the seminar with an open mind and was looking forward to meeting the pro’s in a real life environment. I took all the information I learnt and put it into practice which obviously helped me as I came 3rd in the MTT at the end of the seminar.

My prize was a LIVE seat into the Twenty Twenty festival at Dusk Till Dawn. I asked TIPS if I could play the following day whilst everything was fresh in my mind, they said yes go for it. As I regard myself as an average player I thought I would be out of my depth in that tournament but I managed to cash and come 14th out of a field of 167 winning £200.

I know that without the coaching I received from the pro’s I could not have achieved this. Stealing “free money” in limped pots and pinching blinds on the button was just two aspects of the day that I put to my good use.
No matter what your standard of poker is, listening to these pro’s will always enhance your game.

Thanks for taking me to the next level!

Carla "OhMy" Goddard

Even though I've been playing poker for about 4 years now I realise that you can never stop learning about the game. I recently went along to a TIPS course in Birmingham which was run by Paul Zimbler and Paul Jackson.

During the afternoon a number of hands were discussed and why the players had made the calls/bets that they had. As situations were analysed I was forced to change the way I that I think about behaviour within a hand.

One of the most exciting, and interesting, aspects of poker for me is the psychological side and interacting with a diverse spectrum of players and styles. Prior to the course I often went with my gut instinct when I was in a hand, but with the information that I took away, I feel I have gained an edge and added a new dimension to my game. Subsequently I have won more hands, made better reads and ultimately made more money. I could get quite used to hearing the words 'Wow, great call!'.

My only concern now is that the more people that hear about, and attend, the course - the tougher the competition gets!

Paul Pitchford

I first heard about The International Poker School (TIPS) when my friend Scott Marsh started to work with Paul Zimbler on the TIPS project. I knew Paul well from previous poker ventures and was aware of his skill level and was intrigued to find out what was going to be taught at his seminars.

The first seminar I attended was in London. The day was obviously hosted by Paul Zimbler, himself, and the fellow pros consisted of Paul Jackson, John Tabatabai and James Browning. The atmosphere was very relaxed although you could sense that everyone was eager to get on and “learn from the pros” to pinch a phrase from a popular poker site.

Immediately I was impressed by Paul Zimbler’s presence at the front of the class. He is very clear and concise and covers everything carefully. He systematically goes through hands on the screen and talks about things you wouldn’t even think that players think about.

This is exactly what I wanted from the seminars. As an amateur poker player who has won tournaments live and online, I want to take my game onto the next level and hearing Paul and the other pros talk about the hands in such extreme detail, it gave me a really good insight as to what is necessary for me to improve as a solid poker player.

What I also thought was excellent about the TIPS seminar is that they give you the chance to practice what you’ve learnt by hosting one or two STT’s on the day. This is good because you’re instantly exercising what you’ve been taught rather than letting it drift to the back of your mind. Added prizes in the STTs also mean that they’re competitive!

All in all, TIPS seminars are unbelievable value for money. You are tapping into the professional player’s knowledge and experiences that between them would take years for you to gain yourself. I would certainly recommend their seminars to my friends and will definitely be attending more seminars in the future.

 James Hughes

I saw a competition advertised in The Nuts Poker League Newsletter. I had a quick look at the website to see what TIPS was all about and thought that it was worth entering the competition to try and win a place on one of the seminars.
 
It provided me with an opportunity I was unlikely to get anywhere else, anytime soon - the opportunity to quiz professional poker players about the game - the opportunity to quiz people who are far better and achieved far more playing the game than I have (and probably ever will!)

Thanks also to Scott for his persistence in trying to contact me and his help with the registration process! I'd never have made it to the seminar without it!
 
I gained useful tips on a number of topics. For example on betting patterns - not just spotting when someone is bluffing but also situations when I shouldn't be bluffing, and on useful ways to get people to put more money into the pot when they are out of position. Another example would be the discussion on table talk/physical tells - how to spot if someone is weak or strong.

It was useful to be able to put some of the theory into practice by playing the STT and MTT too.
All in all, it was a fun and informative day! 

 Matt Milton

I found TIPS on the internet and recognized Paul Zimbler off the TV. He thought it would be a great way to move my game forward and analyse the mistakes I'm making at key times.

Tips gives you an opportunity to experience something most players would never experience. It allows you to learn and pick professionals' brains in a fantastic arena. John Tabatabai was so helpful and he explained to me all about raising techniques.

I gained useful tips on a number of topics on the day. For example on betting patterns - how much to raise and how to extract the maximum pot value, how to not get married to a hand if you haven’t hit the flop. Also it provides you with expert tuition in all aspects of live and online play. Paul Jackson explained the MTT brilliantly!

TIPS is a must for all levels of poker players from pub poker to semi pro, it’s a day to remember!
Big thanks to Paul and his team for making me feel comfortable throughout the whole day.

TIPS IS THE WAY FORWARD!

 Samy Larsen - Denmark

Thanks so much to all at TIPS for such a great day. I played a tournament the following day and saw how the   information I learnt at TIPS had really improved my game. I came 14th out of 1950 players.

So when you know the dates of the next course please fill me in and I’ll fly over to be there. I would love to  learn some more :)

Hope to see you guys soon again

Nick Shakalli

Absolutely brilliant. Loved it. Thanks for introducing a new dimension to my game. Count me in for the next one.

 Robert Spencer G5 Poker

Paul's presentation was first rate - very professional and to the point. James' also was excellent - pertinent and focused. I liked what Nik was talking about - remembering the basics. I liked the STTs and MTTs and thought the prizes were great.

Paul’s instincts are spot on. He knows what the market needs, and is providing it. TIPS is going to be a huge success and I’m looking forward to going on one of the longer two day courses once he gets them up and running.

Thomas Svenson (San Pedro, Spain)

"I first met Paul when I visited his poker club, Fifth Street Marbella, and had a good chat with him. He gave the impression of a serious professional. Unfortunately I had no time going back to the club before it closed down. A year later I met him again as he was going to write for the same magazine as I was. I fully enjoyed reading his articles, especially his diaries from the tournaments he travelled around to play.

They were written so it almost felt I was the one playing them. We have also discussed poker a lot of times, and every time it has been very interesting discussions. Paul always takes time to talk and does not have a “big ego” about me not even being close to his level. He is a real gentleman in that aspect. I have also played a few smaller tournaments with him, and once was the dealer when he took on the owner of the magazine in a heads-up duel.

At all these times I have picked up a lot of very useful information and tips about how to improve my game better. It has also given me an invaluable insight into how a top notch poker player thinks and acts at the tables. Paul is a very good poker player and I look forward to be able to tap more information from him to improve my own game. I look forward to the day when I have tapped enough to outplay him…"

T Ratta (London)

"I started playing Poker only this year (2006), I was fascinated by how the game works and the sheer momentum that seemed to be gathering behind it as more and more of my friends became involved with the game.

I had the good fortune of meeting the Marbella Kid whilst on holiday and joined him at a poker club where he taught Monday night Poker. There he taught me the basics of how to play, the order of hands, poker etiquette and the betting strategies involved with regards to position.

It was daunting at first due to my unfamiliarity of poker terms and the banter that went along with recalling hands and positions. After a few lessons and some strict monitoring from The Marbella Kid, I found that my learning increased exponentially.

I have been playing 6 months, properly, and in that time I have won 50% of the online “sit and go” Tourneys that I have entered; cashed in 75% of the tourneys and I’ve come 3rd at the Victoria Casino Monday night Tournament 3 weeks on the trot.

My next goal is to play a major tournament and progress further in game play and winnings.
What a great game!"

 Steve Godfrey

"I wanted to sincerely thank you for all you’re coaching over the last few months. Not only was it incredibly enjoyable, but the results have amazed me. I am now playing online 3 or 4 times per week. As you know when I came to you, I was losing my bank roll every week.

During the last 6 weeks I have accumulated nearly 3,000 dollars from my initial 300 dollar starting position. I have taken your advice, setting limits and time frames and playing smaller cash games using the various techniques – its awesome.

I was playing in a cash game at my local sports club, I am sure that I used to be a ‘fish’ in their eyes, one of the guys who I have known for two or three years, spoke with me after. He was joking with me that I must have been taking lessons or something as I had taken more or less all the money off the table. LOL