Testimonials
- "Hi Rebecca:
My husband Alvin asked me to respond to your e-mail. He wanted me to be sure to thank you and the team (TJ, Nicky, Jules, and Crispin) for all your help and support during the class. He believes he acquired a lot of valuable information and tools to improve his game and is very happy he made the decision to take the class. In fact, the reason he is not responding himself is because he is at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City today where he placed 1st in their weekly $120 buy-in No Limit Hold 'em $15,000 guaranteed tournament. He played with a field of 330 players and won $9,570 for his efforts! Yay! So thank you, thank you, thank you! Please be sure to pass this good news along to the team."
-- Ada Delgado - "Hi Rebecca,
All I can say is .....WOW!
What a great experience! The class, instructors, and staff were all AWESOME!
The very next day I played in the $500 no-limit hold-em tournament at Foxwoods, and I have to say that all of the things I learned in Boot camp WORKED!
I finished in 61st place out of 526 players, (sad to say, just out of the money, but that's not the point...) therefore in about the top 11% and I was EXTREMELY pleased with my performance! I followed the advice:
1. Not limping into pots.
2. Only playing premium hands.
3. Raising 4x the Big Blind when I had them.
4. Re-raising 3x the raiser when I had them.
5. Changing gears as the tournament went on
6. Playing my short stack to the maximum.
7. Shutting my mouth at the table!
About 8 times I raised substantially (4x) and won the pots with no contest. About 7 times I re-raised 3x and won the pots with no contest. One time I was re-raised and let it go. Only limped in twice when I was Big Blind and there were no raises. Beyond those two times, I only saw 4 flops, and won three of them when I was all in. The 4th time, I was short and all in with 5-5 giving it my best shot and I just got out drawn by J-J.
I cannot express the astonishment that I felt when almost every time (14/15 times) I raised or re-raised and won the pots! I don't think I made any mistakes and only didn't finish in the money by a draw out, how can I complain when I went all in short stacked with the best hand?
I also saw many, many mistakes that the other players were making, mostly limping into pots and worse, calling raises after limping in, only to have to fold on the flop. Jules' comment about not even having to see flops really hit home for me and worked so well!
PLEASE pass on my comments and thanks on to T.J, Nick, Jules and Crispin; I would think they'd like to hear how their great advice and instruction helped me so much! The WPT Boot Camp has given me invaluable advice and instruction and I would recommend this to anyone!"
-- Gaetano (Tom) Cannata - "Dear Jan, Linda, Nick and T.J.
First of all, let me say you all are the greatest! I was ready to give up on tournament poker. But after attending the WPT Boot Camp in Dallas, I decided to give it one more try. I entered the Biloxi’s Beau Rivage Ladies No-limit tournament. I reviewed all of my notes from Boot Camp the night before. Be patient, move my chips, be a bettor and not a caller, and give myself permission to move all in (with fold equity) without the best hand were the instructors quotes that I kept in the forefront of my tournament plan. Wow, attending the WPT Boot Camp paid off! I took second place out of 144 entrants and brought home $5,900.
What a difference WPT Boot Camp has made in my tournament play! I couldn’t believe that I had absorbed the information that four professional poker players had given me and I was playing like a pro! Thanks to the WPT Instructor s for renewing my love for tournament poker again!"
-- Gyla Whitlow - "My brother (Dale Townsend) and I attended the boot camp in Dallas a few weeks ago. The results have been very good.
There has been a big tournament going on at The Winstar World Casino which is the closest casino to us. They have been having satellites into the main event. I had already won a ticket for me to play, but decided to play in another mega satellite to get even more experience after attending the boot camp. To win a ticket to the main event, you had to place in the top 20% in the mega satellites. There were 270 players in the first satellite and 480 in the second one and I finished 23rd in both. Since I had two tickets, my brother bought one from me and came back in to play in the tournament.
The main event was this week. Unfortunately I was knocked out on my first day, but my brother made it through to day two. We went back on Saturday and then he made it to the final 20 players. The final 20 played on Sunday 8/30. He finished in 17th place and took home $24,000 cash.
He said the the WPT Boot Camp helped him tremendously."
-- Steve Townsend - "Hi Ron,
Hope is going well with boot camp. If you ever want another testimonial you certainly can use me. I attended your Chicago 2 day camp. Before coming to camp I was primarily a cash game player for over 10 years. I had not played on line for over 2 years as I never won any money on line. I played maybe 1 tournament a month live for the past 2 years however I definitely was not money ahead on tournaments. Basically before camp I was a break even cash game player that loved to play the game and I was not a very good tournament player.
The day after boot camp I put $200 in an account on Poker Stars. I have strictly played sit n gos and within 60 days I have paid for boot camp with just this account and have money to spare. I have played 4 live tournaments and cashed in 3 of them (50 person tournaments at a local casino).
No I have certainly not won a big tournament as some of your boot camp attendees have however there is no doubt I am a much better poker player. There is no doubt the strategies in your camp work. No doubt. I look forward to taking advance class to learn even more.
Thanks once again!
Scott Wright"
-- Scott Wright - "Dear Linda, Jan, Jules, Ron, and Crispin,
I really appreciate the professionalism and patience you all showed during the tournament boot camp at the MGM in Las Vegas last weekend. I was the newbie that asked a lot of newbie questions and got serious straight answers and explanations that I could understand and put into practice. I was excited that I was able to take what was taught on Saturday and apply it during the student tournament Saturday night well enough to make it to the final table, although I went out 7th.
I really thought Sunday would be a letdown, how could it compare to Saturday? However, I think I learned even more on Sunday because now I had a foundation to apply this new information to and it started to all make sense. I had mentioned to Crispin that I had never played a tournament before and had only played a little on line poker. The whole story is that I had never even played a home game and have only played on line 38 times, winning 1.
After we wrapped up on Sunday I grabbed dinner and then entered the $80 buy in Sunday night NL tournament at the MGM as did a few other recent boot camp grads. I am pleased to tell you that 6 boot campers made the final table, 4 of us cashed and in the 2nd tournament I have ever played in I went heads up with the big stack down 5 to 1 in chips, battled back to near even money and agreed to chop $2200 (50/50) for my first tournament cash.
When we negotiated the chop I had just taken down the pot and was still trailing my opponent by close to 20,000 chips. He asked for more than 50% and I declined, explained that I had position on him, the blinds had just went up to 10,000 & 20,000 and I had been playing well. I told him I thought at this juncture that I held the advantage but I would agree to 50/50 split. He said he would agree if he could see my hole cards, I tossed him my hole cards face down and shook his hand. What were they? I have no idea; I have learned that I don’t always have to see the cards to make good poker decisions.
Thanks again, absolutely invaluable experience!"
-- Mike Harriman - "I wanted to tell you that in the 25+ years I have been teaching, lecturing, facilitating, and participating in both small and large scale venues in the business world, I have come across, or staged, few that were as well run as your Jan 24-25 WPT Boot Camp. The instructors were top notch, the information was informative and comprehensive, and the labs and events throughout were invaluable.
Additionally, the Golden Nugget staff appeared to be extremely accommodating for you guys, and the food/logistics were great. I took my new-found knowledge of Tournament play and eked out a 4th place the next day in a tourney @ Binions---not first place, but the techniques I had learned helped me move past a lot of people.
Well done all the way around. All my thanks to you, your staff, TJ, Tom, Jules & Crispin, Linda, Jan, and the other instructors for a wonderful poker weekend celebrating my 50th BD!
Cheers,
Curt (class of '09)"
-- Curt Crosby - "Linda, Jan, Nick and Jules.
You'll all be happy to know that I just won Binions 11pm poker tournment. That's a first place finish in the 3rd tournment I've played since compleating your course.
I now have an exclusive "I won a Texas Hold Em Tournament at Binions" Shirt which aparently you can't buy.
Thanks so much for all your help. I will certinly look forward to taking advantage of more of your labs if the opportunity comes up.
All the best and thanks again."
-- Jonathon McLean - "Good evening! I said I would report on my play at the Red River Mega Satellite $440 buy-in. There were right at 500 players. You had to get into the top 96 players to advance to the $3 million Red River Shoot Out. I made it to the top 96. The next goal was to get to the final table to place in the money. I got to the top 21. Everyone was getting tired after 8 hrs of poker. The casino offered to chop the pot and we would all get $1,190. WE all took the deal!
I want to say how much Boot Camp helped in me getting to the top 21. I first played to get to the top 96. I then switched gears and played to win. I played pretty much by the book. The instruction was great and playing about 50 online games last week really paid dividends. Someday I hope to get to the Alumni Boot Camp.
Thanks to T.J; Jan; Linda and Nick."
-- Dick Caplinger - "Wow.
That was honestly my feeling after I drove away from Foxwoods Sunday after completing the World Poker Tour Boot Camp. For two days, I had been immersed in poker theory and strategy, hoping that I would pick up something that would take my game to the next level. I took in a lot more than just something. I couldn't believe that after all the poker reading and analysis I had done, it only took someone to sit at a table with me and explain a strategy to finally understand what it meant."
-- Andrew Feldman - ESPN.com - "Hey Ron:
I had to let you know that you have another satisfied customer!
Although last night I played and lost about $20, I knew I didn't follow the rules learned at the boot camp nearly as close as I could have. So tonight I followed everything exact (99%) and came in 1st in this sit n go. After losing many thousands in the past year, I am taking it slow and will continue to implement each match with a strategy and purpose to win enough to come to another WPT Boot Camp soon!
It was a pleasure to meet you, your lovely staff, and the four excellent teachers."
-- Ray Clark - "Dear Ron, Jules, Crispin, Clonie and Nick (please forward to the last two once again),
It's now a couple of weeks post-boot-camp and I wanted to briefly share my recent tournament result at the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens. It was the 4th tourney entered since boot camp, 3 out of 4 finishing at least in the final 3rd, at Commerce, Hollywood Park and the Bike.
Yesterday there were 210 entries into the $40 no re-buy noon tournament. I finished 4th, having knocked out some major chip leaders along the way. I attribute my success to my gained arsenal, throwing out J-9s and Q-10s along the way, even laying down kings when dominated, all of which I would've hung on to pre-boot-camp. My read on opponents is getting stronger as well. I have gained respect as a strong player and opponents think twice before entering a pot with me, which helps when I want to scoop up those enormous blinds and antes later in the game.
Thanks again!"
-- Randi Simenhoff AKA Looking for Aces - "Hope is going well with boot camp. If you ever want another testimonial you certainly can use me. I attended your Chicago 2 day camp. Before coming to camp I was primarily a cash game player for over 10 years. I had not played on line for over 2 years as I never won any money on line. I played maybe 1 tournament a month live for the past 2 years however I definately was not money ahead on tournaments. Basically before camp I was a break even cash game player that loved to play the game and I was not a very good tournament player.
The day after boot camp I put $200 in an account on Poker Stars. I have strictly played sit n gos and within 60 days I have paid for boot camp with just this account and have money to spare. I have played 4 live tournaments and cashed in 3 of them (50 person tournaments at a local casino).
No I have certainly not won a big tournament as some of your boot camp attendees have however there is no doubt I am a much better poker player. There is no doubt the strategies in your camp work. No doubt. I look forward to taking advance class to learn even more. Thanks once again!"
-- Scott Wright - "I signed up to spend my summer stay-cation at boot camp, poker boot camp that is, here in Las Vegas at the Golden Nugget. “Poker is war disguised as a game,” forewarns the flyer for World Poker Tour (WPT) Boot Camps. These are elite training seminars offering prep for online competition and live tournaments where staggering pots of money await. Neophytes like me enroll to enhance leisure gambling skills. Champion wannabes come to hone strategy, ready an arsenal of odds, and ponder expectations–the mathematical kind. The fantasy that keeps us focused is the record of past graduates who consistently win on the green felt battlefield.
Our drill instructor, Mike Sexton, leads a congenial team of experts, Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, Rick Fuller and Nick “Numbers” Brancato. A winning player and trophy bracelet owner, Sexton is familiar to TV sports and travel channel viewers world wide as the canniest announcer in the industry.
Boot Camp begins at a relaxed breakfast enlivened by Sexton’s charming tales, with I a rapt audience. But I soon move from tales to “tells.” Poker players do not merely socialize, they “read” people, and toast-crunching future rivals are all around me.
Poker stars become famous in tournaments. At cash games, casino tables where anyone can sit or go at any time, professionals make a living. This Boot Camp is a cash camp. Our first lecture addressed the differences. In tournaments, with both ability and luck, a few contenders win the prize pool. The field, who fund the winners’ loot, manages escalating antes and blind bets which force marginal plays until challengers achieve the definitive short stack, zero chips, and are out. On the other hand, your whole life is a cash game with a buy back. Success depends on patiently folding secondary cards and courageously betting premium cards, while calculating the difference between your chance at triumph and pot odds, to attain a positive expectation. Math to English translation: Chips incoming! To illustrate the impact of cash versus tournament structure, assume a hand with 66% favorable probability (average lose one hand and win two). You can exit a winner in cash games. But, one hefty tournament loss makes you a bystander on the rail.
Boot Camp is a course for professionals and beginners, but the material could be overwhelming for those unfamiliar with the fundamentals. At $2,000 per course, it is best to know the basics before starting class. For two days I immersed myself in stack management, street strategy, tilt-free attitude, probability and other mental calisthenics. We did not play at poker. Bank management was covered, along with when to increase limits and pay yourself. Not soon enough for me. Some recruits, pre-adapted to the calculating mindset, already saw the world in terms of “X” to “Y” against. Warning to simple fun seekers: These warriors have a lethal advantage and the expertise to extract a sizable entertainment tax from your cache.
I had to learn poker speak to communicate. In Texas Hold’em every hole card combination (first two cards) has a nickname; every level of experience an animal label; and any jargon can become a menacing verb in the mouths of frustrated opponents. So if I start with pocket rockets (Ace, Ace) and finish a felted fish (new player with nothing but felt where my chips once sat), now I can commiserate with others who understand bad beat gasping. You suffer a bad beat when your high hand loses to a higher hand, as in life.
Playing random hands with Sexton analyzing each step created my memorable moments. I also played 20 prearranged hands in a software program which compared students’ decisions with instructors’ choices. Although I wanted to match the experts, in live play there is no such tactical comfort zone. Players must vary strategy or become “readable.” Although it is said poker is the hardest way not to work for a living, they did not sweat the optimism out of me.
It is astounding that anyone can watch the World Series of Poker at the Rio up close and personal. For free! The prize pool is the sporting life’s largest dollar happening on the planet. More money changes hands in the cash games surrounding the WSOP. With that inspiration, we campers are set lose on Las Vegas, primed to win back our tuition. And take prisoners!"
-- Marilyn Brasfield - "I attended your camp in Sept at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas and I wanted to let you know how things have been going. since the camp I have pretty much stuck to single table sit n go's on Full Tilt and have been cashing consistently about 70% of the time. If there was one thing I learn from the camp was how to get chips with out cards. Before the camp I could play patient but if cards never came I was pretty much done, now I can increase my stack without cards. With Jules's talk on opponents hand strength I am often able to call my opponents hand before they show it. I have not open limped or min raised since I left camp. The best though was a Christmas present I received last night. I entered the Full Tilt 15K tournament last night and almost eleven hours later a WPT Boot camp alum came out on top! Yep I took down the whole thing and the 5K top prize that went along with it. Anyway I owe alot of it to the instructors from the WPT Boot Camp."
-- Scott Goldman - "April 27, 2009
To: WPT Boot Camp
Attn: Ron, Nick, Clonie, Crispin and Jules
I attended your Tournament Boot Camp in March and Just wanted to say thanks so much for your help. Yesterday I was in my first large Tournament which " I WON" First place.
I truly believe that the win was due entirely to what I learned from Boot Camp. Thanks so much to all of you and I'm happy to say that I've now signed up for your July Cash Camp.
Thanks again
Diane White"
-- Diane White - "Ron
Since my latest boot camp I have won $10,000.00 In the last 2 weeks the dots must be connecting. Thank everyone at the camp for me.
Thank You
Larry"
-- Larry Baxter - "I haven't found a game in New york City yet, and I still haven't downloaded FullTilt Poker on the computer (as each of you suggested to me). I guess it still scares me. I have played only twice since our bootcamp. But I came in "in the money" both times!
First, over Thanksgiving at a Dog Track in Florida, with the largest by far (and slowest) tournament I have yet played - there were 169 people and I came in 11th! I was the last woman standing. They paid up to 17 people and I really was only looking to get to 17 - mistake. But anyway, at 11, I went all in with a middle pair against a short stack guy who with his MO, would be playing with anything, and he came in with a J 2. And a J came on the river. It happens. I was exhausted by that point - 7.5 hours to get to number 11! Tristan was right when he said " don't bother to try to come in in the money, the tournaments only pay worthwhile if you come in 1st or 2nd''. You guys were right about so many things! I tried to remember and pay attention to as much as I could of what you guys taught. I used your betting strategies and "made them have to make decisions" and it worked great! They struggled and weren't happy, but threw away hands against me many times! I could see it in action. They even said "good bet - I really wanted to play but you forced me to throw it away with that bet"! Jules, I went "all in" alot and wasn't afraid! I remembered one of your quotes that said something like " better to go out trying to win it than to be passively blinded out". It was a terrific 7.5 hour lesson! I was aware of so many things that I was learning! It was long. At the end, I was actually happy to be done! The guy who paid me out in cash was much more excited than I was! Smile.
Last weekend, I played a home game (in NJ) with 10 guys. Many of them play together every Saturday night, and this particular time, 3 young internet players also showed up together- one a professional (he was actually as sweet as sugar). When I saw his reaction to something and asked him what I had done wrong that turned him off the hand, he told me! And since I go in wanting to learn from each hand or each mistake, I am learning each time I play! And it is fun! And I won! I came in 1st! The professional came in 2nd. He was the big chip stack guy, I was 2nd, and after the small stack was out, I starting picking up chips from him each hand, till I was the chip leader and with an 'all in' from him - I won! Yeah! He was disappointed, but still very nice.
I am soft and sweet and with a big bet, the men don't quite know what to do with me- so far. I have played with aggressive players and guys that play almost every hand. I have had to think. But, in these first 2 tournaments at least, when I decide on a strategy against them, it has worked. I still don't deal with pot odds (even after a great lesson from Nick), but I am not ready for that level yet. When I feel more mastery in the things I have learned from your lectures and have already started to incorporate them and am comfortable with that, then I will try to tackle pot odds - so much to think about! A few steps at a time!
So, thanks so much for all your wisdom and knowledge and being such great teachers! The weekend experience at Bootcamp was wonderful and I am still savoring it each time I play and remind myself of all the things you each told me to think of. Especially after the tournament, when I think through so many lessons I learned, I see how much everything you told me was true! (Only you didn't tell me how nasty some men - especially in Florida can be when they see a girl winning hands off them)!
So, I made $180 at the Dog Track tournament, and $280 at the house game! Two for two! I won't expect that all the time, but it feels good! Smile.
Thanks so much! I wanted to share my experiences with you and hope you feel proud!
I hope you are all doing well. And I look forward to seeing you or running into you again in the future, somewhere along the Poker line! That would be nice. Smile.
Thanks again for a wonderful experience."
-- Mara Zuckerman - "Before the bootcamp I had been playing poker off and on for about 5 months. Since there are no casinos close to me, I've had to play online. In those 5 months I've won about $600. In the first week since the bootcamp I've won over $5000. Needless to say the bootcamp has already paid for itself. My enthusiam and confidence for the game have greatly increased. My increased enthusiasm is not just from the money. I now feel I have a much better understanding of the intricacies of the game. I now read any poker book I can get my hands on. Anybody that enjoys poker owes it to themselves to attend the bootcamp. They will come out with a greater enjoyment for the game and winning more money doesn't hurt either. Had a great time. Thanks again."
-- Tony Traylor - Sarasota, FL - "I just came back from LV and played a tourney at Caesars and a few cash games at the MGM and Sahara. I followed what you taught us in class by raising and being the aggressor. It worked like a charm! I left LV with over $2000 in my pocket. The class just paid for itself. I think the WPT Boot Camp registration fee as my intial investment to my poker career was a wise decision. I'm very sure I'll be reaping the more returns in the future. Thanks a lot!"
-- Ray R. - Corona, CA - "This program is excellent for covering a range of topics. The pros are very available to students and give out their secrets openly. The chance to sit at a table with the pros and play hands is worth the price"
-- Sharon Walker - Conroe, TX - "This was the best money I have ever spent to better my poker career!! It exceeded anything I could of hoped for going into the weekend. The instructors were great and open. They went above and beyond taking time out of there breaks and lunch to continue to talk to the boneheads like myself who had problems with certain concepts that came up during the weekend. My advice to anyone out there who is not a winning poker player. Put your ego aside and come to a cash camp you will learn a ton about your game and why you do not win. The camp is not watered down. I have been playing for 4 years and still found the second day challenging. I came away from the weekend encouraged, empowered, and humbled. I lived a dream!! I sat table’s with pro’s who are doing what I would love to do some day, who treated everyone as if we were all friends and the best part LEARNED how to play Winning Poker!! I’m forever in your dept. Thanks Tom K"
-- Thomas Kaufman - "Dear WPT and its instructors,
I wanted to thank Clonie Gowen, Jules Leyser, Crispin Leyser and the rest of the staff for my son's weekend at your poker camp. My son Keith Ryan passed away Oct 4th due to complications from his Muscular Dystrophy.
His true passion was playing poker and he wanted to become a world class player. He felt he was on his way after the camp. It was his dream to go to your camp and I am so happy that he was able to do so before he passed. He told me after the camp that it was the best weekend of his life. Thank you again for helping to make the last days of Keith "Joey" Ryan's life some of his best.
God Bless all of you."
-- Tim Ryan - "After my tournament boot camp in San Jose this weekend despite never doing well in online tournaments in my little over 1 1/2 years of serious poker I played on Poker Stars in a $33 tournament on Sunday night and had cashed although small coming in 75th out of 648 people and then winning a $33 Poker stars Tournament on Monday night for a $7700 win which easily paid for camp.
Thank your for the new found thought process and skills and I hope this success continues in upcoming live and online tournaments. It was a great camp on many levels!"
-- Nelson Chew - "I just returned from the boot camp at Foxwoods. I wanted to tell you what a pleasure it was. The group of instructors were great! Their enthusiasm was contagious and while I would like to think I could meet them all some day on the final table.... well....maybe I have a shot at it now.
Thanks again,
Donna"
-- Donna Robbins - "Ron,
Thanks so much for running an effective camp in the Dominican Republic.
Some of the teachings by Bernard Lee, Nick Binger and Lee Childs (to name a few) really helped me tighten up my game. Just a few days after the Boot Camp I was able to finish 2nd in a $1,080 buy in WSOP Circuit Event in Atlantic City and take home about $45,000. Oddly enough, Lee Childs was also at the final table in the same event and we remembered each other from the previous week. Sadly I was unable to take home the ring that goes with winning the event, but the Christmas shopping money is now ample.
Regards,
Tobin"
-- Tobin Dreher - "My game has definitely improved! Finally a school where I learned something important! The best way to become a top player!"
-- Pete Sullivan - Rockford, IL - "Just a note to let you know, I attended the WPT boot camp this last weekend.
On Monday I won the Satellite game into the 2PM Main tournament at the Bellagio.
I went on to win the Tournament and received a beautiful trophy and $8,900.
Thank your instructors for me. They were great.
I also won the next two days satellites to the afternoon events.
I did everything right (almost) but got knocked out by bad beats, not bad plays."
-- Walter Moorhead - "Since taking the tournament camp in Atlantic City I've played 25 single table sit and go\'s of different entry fees. I have finished in the money 19 times and won 5 times. This is a major improvement. Bottom line, if you are going to play poker, the camp is a MUST. I hope to take the cash camp early next year. EXCELLENT CAMP and well worth the money. Going to Foxwoods in 2 weeks to play the women tournament. THANKS TJ, Nick and Rick."
-- DIANE D'ORAZIO - "I played for two hours last night in the $200 buy-in, $3-$5 blinds no limit game before I left for the airport. I was ahead $250 without ever having shown a hand IN A CALIFORNIA CASH GAME! My streak was broken when I had to expose my big blind hand of Q4o in a three way limped pot that got checked to the river - bottom pair was the monster. Several people were discussing that I was stacking chips without showing my cards.
So, you've already improved my "bet sizing" and "table presence"
Dramatically. The course was very enjoyable, and much "meatier" than I had really expected.
I can't wait to get into a tournament so I can send you an announcement of my "winning results"."
-- Paul M. - Silver Spring, MD - "Still thinking about the great time I had at the Foxwoods Tournament Boot Camp this past weekend. All of the instructors (T.J., Nick, Bernie and Rick)were fantastic as well as WPT staff member, Rebecca. The camp instructors went over fundamentals I knew but tend to forget about, as well as strategy I can\'t wait to implement at my next home game. I am off to Turning Stone to play in one of the Heartland Poker Tour Events...hope to share great news on my return. There may not be any friends at the poker table but I met many wonderful new friends at the camp! Thanks for an experience I won\'t soon forget!"
-- Cathy Schenone - "This was the best money I have ever spent to better my poker career!! It exceeded anything I could of hoped for going into the weekend. The instructors were great and open. They went above and beyond taking time out of there breaks and lunch to continue to talk to the boneheads like myself who had problems with certain concepts that came up during the weekend. My advice to anyone out there who is not a winning poker player. Put your ego aside and come to a cash camp you will learn a ton about your game and why you do not win. The camp is not watered down. I have been playing for 4 years and still found the second day challenging. I came away from the weekend encouraged, empowered, and humbled. I lived a dream!! I sat table’s with pro’s who are doing what I would love to do some day, who treated everyone as if we were all friends and the best part LEARNED how to play Winning Poker!! I’m forever in your dept. Thanks"
-- Tom K - "Just returned home and wanted to send a quick note to thank everyone involved with the boot camp this past week. I honestly had one of the best experiences of my life. The pros were outstanding and look forward to seeing them again at the invitational. Please let your staff know what an awesome job they did. All the best to everyone in the holiday season!
Sincerely,
Mike Welsh"
-- Mike Welsh - "Just thought I would tell you that I finished the Tournament Boot camp today and it was great. I went straight from there to the poker room to get in the only Sunday evening tournament around and ended up chopping the pot!! I have already made back my investment in the Boot Camp and it is not even the end of day two.
There is no doubt that I would not have done so good had it not been for the WPT Boot camp. The particular players in this tournament are the type that I have had issues with in the past."
-- Duran Holycross - "Ron
I know you are always interested in following up on your boot camp graduates.
I recently placed 8th in the $1000 event at the Venetian Deep Stack and two days ago I won the $5000 event #10 at the WPT Five Diamond Bellagio.
You really helped get back on track."
-- Tim Bullard - "I wanted to personally thank each of you for a wonderful experience at Boot Camp this last weekend.
Not only were you knowledgeable and witty but directed in the focus of getting the information across in a clear and concise manner.
I have already told my wife that I cannot wait to put into action things I learned. Ah, that work thing will get in the way for awhile."
-- Stan Kirst - "Thought I would drop a line and let you know of my progress in the game since the camp back in Sep 08.
I've been fortunate to find a friend that loves the game as much as I do and takes getting better serious. I haven't yet shared too many of he boot camp clues with him. He is a natural and we enjoy the cross talk and study.
My stats on tournament play:
Total tourneys: 43
Percentage placing: 66%
Won: 3
Placed in money: 8
Total play offs: 11
Making Payoff: 26% or tourneys played
These stats include some (very limited) numbers of play prior to the course (I really should separate and compare the before and after Boot Camp).
One lesson learned: About 26 years ago I attended an intense speech therapy course. There they taught the principle of having one life preserver you could reach for and hold on to that would ground you during times of high stress/challenge. They used a physiologic feedback technique to reinforce the technique -- tighten fist and deep controlled breathing. Similarly during times of high pressure hold'em play, I try to ground myself by asking myself the question, What would Clonie do? Not only hearing the theory in the course, but especially watching her play on line and truly putting those theories into practice made a deep impression with me."
-- Regards, Forrest (A.K.A. Chad) - "Hey guys,
I know you must hear this alot, but I wanted to say thanks for your unbelievable knowledge you shared with me at the WPT Boot Camp in Tulsa. It has been about two months now and I'm up nearly 4 grand since that time!
You've opened up a whole new way of thinking for me, and it works time after time.
I want to go every night to ride the rush, but it seems like my good decisions are making the rush continue. In the last 12 sessions, I've only had two losing sessions. A tribute to you guys.
Again, thanks. You've given me hope to actually be a decent poker player."
-- Gregg Bigham Sallisaw, OK - "Well, I have to say that the Boot Camp has changed everything in my little poker world! I played in my first big tourney ever the other day. It was a $10 buy in and had 27,537 entrants! They started payouts at 4500, and I made it to 2149! So, I cashed (just a little cash! lol) in my first big tourney thanks to the things I learned at the camp.
I have also stepped my game up from $1 sng 1 table tourneys to $20 sng 1 table tourneys. I have played 9 of them so far and have cashed in 5 of them. I finished number 1 three times, number 2 once and number 3 once! I can say that the WPT Boot Camp really helped me take my game to a new level! I am excited now as I look forward to more and more play."
-- Paul Allen - "Dear Ron,
Boot camp this past weekend was absolutely awesome. I learned so much in such a relatively short time. I felt like a sponge. Sure, I belong to the WPDG but sort of by default. My husband was brought to the group via Barry Tennenbaum. He plays daily and I am a nurse! I love the game, have since I was a child but have not had a lot of Hold'em play/experience. We have become good friends of Jan and Linda. Love Jim and Randi as well so I felt really comfortable and at home but nobody could have prepared me for the amount of information that was there to be had. What a great service you developed for fun and profit I realize but you had such a great combination of presenters.
Thank you so much."
-- Sara-Ann Lipson - "Hello Ron,
Just a quick note to let you know how much I enjoyed the whole Boot Camp experience. I can hardly wait to put my newly learned techniques into practice. I am playing in a Ladies Tournament next weekend and in an All Star Poker Challenge with Scotty Nguyen on October 18/19. Wish me a little luck, lots of patience and the ability to make correct decisions!!! I hope to see you at the Cash Game Boot Camp next March.
Could you please forward email addresses for the instructors so I can send them a "thank you" note?
Petra"
-- Petra Calabro - "No great results like the people you highlighted but I attended your tournament boot camp @ Foxwoods this year, just came back from 3-day Vegas trip where I played in 3 small tournaments @ Venetian and Wynn. I cashed in 2 out of the 3. One was first place. I definitely owe my success and more importantly, my enjoyment of the experience, to your course. Thanks, Rick"
-- Eric Rothenberg - "Hi Clonie, Jules, and Crispin, Marsha, and Brian,
Just a brief note to tell you once again how much I enjoyed, and learned, during the Tournament Play Boot Camp at the MGM last weekend.
FYI-3 of us (Rod, Forest, and myself) played in a tournament at Planet Hollywood on Sun. Although Rod and I did not make it to the final table, I believe Forest took 1st place!
Later in the week I did end up at the Final Table at the Monte Carlo but did not cash. I played in a small tournament again there today (finishing just hours before my plane left for home) and I cashed in at 2nd place. I was the chip leader at the final table but my heads up opponent got lucky and won...but I was not disappointed because I played correctly!
My performance has certainly improved as a result of the class."
-- Gary Waters - "All the instructors were great and personable. Enjoyed the small classes. Entire experience was great and flowed very well."
-- Shawn Riley - Wichita, KS - "Again, Many Thanks for an excellent class!! I certainly wish I could 'just look' at my hand and figure out the odds - accurately - that quickly!!
Actually, I'd be glad to know the process(es) for figuring odds of a given hand on hitting the open-ended straight and/or flush!! I have the charts, but you're going by the 'outs' instead. Very nice!!
Also: Thanks for contacting Mr Rubens who almost immediately called me and we had an excellent 15 minutes talking about my discount (I'm already receiving it!) and the possibility of my being on his 'Standby Dealers Team'..!! Being even a small part of such an outstanding group as yours would be the highlight of my 'career'..!!
Whichever way the wind blows, my best to you all and to your continuing successes in both your teaching and playing careers!!
Very Sincerely yours,
J. Vernon Ruth "Dr Ruth""
-- J. Vernon Ruth "Dr Ruth" - "Another decent cash this week at the Empire State Hold 'em championships. 6th out of 498 entires for almost $6k."
-- Kevin G. – Olyphant, PA - "A terrific learning experience for the poker enthusiast at all levels. The course covered both the basics for the new player and advanced stuff for the card sharks. Reading books is helpful but you can’t ask a book a question. All instructors answered all questions during and after class offering valuable insights on how to play winning poker. Section on online poker was Great!!
All instructors were genuinely friendly and interested in helping to improve our game. Also, food and venue were excellent. The Boot Camp is highly recommended!"
-- Donald Lee – Ambler, PA - "Loved it – 110%!! You guys went First Class all the way! Excellent info about the internet poker & tactics on tournament poker that isn’t available anywhere else but the WPT Boot Camps. I would like to do this again!!"
-- Bryan Toder – Eagleville, PA - "I'm a happy alum of the Vegas camp last May, up over $20k for '07."
-- Jerry J. - Colorado Springs - "I flew cross country to see Mike Sexton and it was worth it. Flight = $500, Hotel Room in NYC = $900, Boot Camp = $1500, Learning 2 Days with Mike Sexton = “Priceless” I’ll see you at the Final Table. – Thank You"
-- Michael Crowe - Newport Beach, CA - "I just finished boot camp in Chicago it was the best learning experience I have had. The advice and skills that were taught have changed my game and thinking immeasurably! TJ and Jules were two people I could listen to forever. It was worth every dime!"
-- Christine Peters - "Just wanted to let you know the boot camps are definitely starting to pay off for me.
I played a $150 satellite last Thursday and won a seat into the Executive Poker our's
main event Friday, $2500. I was the only woman to enter and am proud to tell you I
placed 3rd - $18,160. I competed with many of the pros, including another boot camp graduate, Lee Childs, who won the event. I wanted so much for Lee and I to compete against one another, as what a story that would be, "two boot camp graduates heads-up in a major tournament". In addition, I placed 11th at Borgata's ladies event last month."
-- Kelly P. – Alexandria, VA - "Thanks for another great Camp. Just wanted to let you know about the results I've had so far. Camp ended Sunday, this is Tuesday (well, technically Wednesday now) and I've played 4 different sessions of 5/10 NL online. So far I am up approximately $8200. My biggest session was a win of $5260. Can't wait to put myself to the test live."
-- Mona T. – Henderson, NV - "This morning, I entered a $70 buy in no limit tournament at Tourningstone Casino. Out of 152 entries, I came in first place and took home $3,233 of net prize money. Even though I attended the CA$H edition of WPT Boot Camp, many of the principles were transferable. I continue to read over my notes from the camp."
-- Matt K. – Pittsford, NY - "Hi Ron......I arrive in Vegas on the 13th plan to start playing in the tournaments on the 15th. Let's hope I do as well as I did in Reno at the WPT Challange last March where I made 4 final tables and won 2 first places.....one worth $76,000.00. My WPT Boot camp last year really paid off this year, didn't it? Aloha from Maui......"
-- Richard S. - Lahaina, HI - "With 337 players to starrt day 4,, I took his short stack of chips of 93 k and buiyback to 240k only to lose 2 0f 3 hands with ak,, and 66 to go home in 234th place of the main event and bag 45,422.00 for his effort, good start for this wpt alumni grad
Jeff Allen Henderson, NV"
-- Jeff A. Henderson, NV - "I wanted to let you know that I had a great time last weekend at the WPT Boot Camp at the Borgata in Atlantic City. Vanessa, Tom, Crispin and Nick were excellent. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who want to learn the correct way to play NL Texas Holdem’ tournaments. It was great. Take care"
-- Sarah R. – Fredericksburg,VA - "I must tell you what happened this weekend. Our local Casino had two large buy in tournaments with a good blind and time structure. On Saturday Sue played very well and got to the final table. We wish to thank you both and all of the staff of the WPT for giving us the push in the right direction. Sue played a well as any player I have seen in
Mike & Sue Skinner – McCleary, WA"
-- Mike & Sue S. – McCleary, WA - "It was just fantastic! It was well organized, and Mike Sexton was simply fantastic. He is truly the ambassador of poker, and he was just the perfect emcee for the event. His stories were great, and the points he made were excellent. Specifically, the point he made about "killer instinct" and the story about Stu Ungar (how he talked about going for his opponents throats at the table) hit home, and I will carry that with me when I play poker from now on."
-- Alan Rosenbaum – Las Vegas, NV - "Thanks, looking forward to it. Just at Foxwoods last night. Got into a $150 sat for a $1100 sat seat into the $10,000 classic. Somet players in the 40 or so field criticized my play right up til I busted them out. Was one of the last three to get the seat. I just laughed to my self as their play was so transparent and "impression" of me just proved I was many levels ahead of them. The Boot camps really do help. Thanks"
-- Howard L. – Norton, MA - "I am plus $16,250 for the month of May at the 10/20 NL game @ commerce. Thanks, everyone"
-- Buz K. – Los Angeles, CA - "Just wanted to send you a quick email to tell you how great the Champions Bootcamp was. It is truly incredible when a poker fan can sit and talk and play with true legends of poker. It's something I'll remember for a lifetime. I also wanted to share my little post-camp success story. I stayed down at the Borgata till Saturday so I ended up playing in the 12:00 tournament, with no success, and the 6:00 $500 buy-in, there were 2 other fellow bootcampers in as well. I am happy to report that I made the final 3 , and ended up chopping 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize 3 ways for an even split of $5700. My first live cash tournament win!
Thought I would share, and will spread the good word. Be well, Anne"
-- Anne F. - "I liked having a pro critique me."
-- Steve Miller - Hollywood, FL - "I've had winning sessions each time I've played since I finished that camp and it looks like that will continue. My tournament progress improved a lot after the original camp I took a year ago, so you have a believer in the camp concept."
-- Michael H. - Aliso Viejo, CA - "I learned so much from Mile. That during Lunch I went and played a buy in at $135.and won $540. Incredible instruction. I look forward to taking another WPT Boot Camp in the near future."
-- Paul Zelden - Chicago, IL - "Sunday evening, I left Atlantic City and returned to A.C on Monday to test what I had just learned at Boot Camp.
At 7:00p, I returned to play in a $100 NL Holdem tournament using the "new" Boot Camp info and ended up at the final table with another "camper". At 12:30am with 7 of us left and everyone having fairly equal stacks, we decided to chop the pot and each got $1900. Although the double rainbow was a good sign, it was material presented at the Boot Camp that taught me how to play better."
-- Chris K. - Chapel Hill, NC - "Just a note to let you know that I enjoyed the Cash Camp very much this weekend in Los Angeles. I played at night in the Bicycle Casino at the $300-500 buy-in no limit table to correct these problems following the class sessions, and over Saturday and Sunday nights I won $1,400.00. For real. I was just more patient waiting for good hands to play, was real aggressive with them when it appeared they were good and got paid off. So, the instruction surely paid off for me this weekend with immediate results.
The WPT instructors were just great, and Jan Fisher's comments at the lab table really made a lot of sense about always raising instead of limping if you were the first one to enter the pot. I was quite pleased with the whole weekend and compliment you, Nick, Mark, Jules, Crispin, Linda and Jan for a really great learning experience. Hope to see you again soon."
-- Frank D. - Lafayette, LA - "Attending WPT Bootcamp has raised my skill level and given me more confidence in my game. I still have a lot to learn but bootcamp made a difference in my game as evidenced by the three(3) SNG’s I played on Full Tilt Sunday night in my hotel room after the conclusion of bootcamp. I didn’t play flawless poker, but my game was solid. Here are my results. I will send you my hand play from the games so you believe me. I am not making this stuff up.
1st game – It was a $50 SNG and I placed 2nd. Paid $135.
2nd game – It was another $50 SNG and I placed 1st this time. Paid $225.
At this point I decided to move up in stakes.
3rd game – This one was a $200 SNG and yes I placed 2nd for a nice pay-out for a cool $540.
I forgot to mention that I netted $3300 playing 5/10 NL cash games at Borgata."
-- Mark J. – Richardson, TX - "Thanks for the great class, I still play my feelings but not a much as before.
Since the class, my winnings are increasing and my appearances on the final tables
have increased. The first tourney 10 members of the class entered in the $165 buy in
tourney and 2 of us made it to the final table. I was the only one that came into money
4th place, since then I have made it twice to final tables as today 2nd place in Poker Stars
25K rebuy (see below). The last 2 Sunday million tourney placed 802 (money) and last Sunday 321 (money again). I won the entries to the Million tourneys by qualifying in a double shoot out and the other a normal tourney. On other Web sites that I play, I played qualifier for different buy ins such as $100, $50 and $20 tourneys, and in 5 tries won the 3 above. The strategy works if applied. I would recommend this to other tourney players
Once again thanks to Vanessa (think of you when I make my forbidden moves)
Jules & Crispin for the tips and tricks and TJ for his insight on my AA strategy."
-- Allen Z. - Switzerland - "I played in a No-Limit Holdem Tournment at Full Tilt Poker.com. The buy in was $75.00 and there were 474 people. I finished 1st and won $8,250.00. Once at the final table everyone started getting real tight and began playing the ladders hoping to move up. I started playing very aggressive and began attacking and won it fairly easily. Once again the things I learned in the 2-day boot camp and the 3-day champion’s event has really helped me out a great deal"
-- John T. - San Fransisco, CA - "I really enjoyed my two days at boot camp. The materials in conjunction with the mock tournaments and lab made for a great learning environment."
-- Michael Peterson - Shakopee, MN - "Amazing experience. Mikes Stories are priceless."
-- Jarrett Magazine - Miami, FL - "Just thought I'd let you know the boot camp's already paid dividends. I played my ACT 1 at Foxwoods a few weeks back and advanced to ACT II which I'll play in October when I'm back in New England. I'm cleaning up in cash games here, I hosted one, .25/.50 blinds and made $170, just made $160 last Sunday. In Tunica 3 weeks ago I made $760 playing 4/8 and 7.50/15 limit, and at Foxwoods made about $270 playing 4/8 (suckout runner/runner capital of the world though).
Just wanted to drop a line and let you know of my progress, I think the WPTBC helped my game a lot as far as thinking deeper about the game and making better decisions, as a purely financial investment it's already paid off."
-- Matt Griffin - Fayetteville, GA - "I took your camp in Reno at the Grand Sierra in March. I wanted to let you know how I have done in touraments since the school. The Grand Sierra had there Pot of Gold event in May. I played a super satellite that cost $260 and won that event that got me a seat into the $1000 main event. The main event had 105 people and I won the whole event. I took home almost $17,000 and a $7,700 seat to the WPT event in March in Reno. I just wanted to thank you and all of the instructors at the camp for everything I learned and used to win my event. I have told a lot of people about the camp and hope they attend. The camp has changed my game so much and made me a much better player."
-- Christian B. - Reno, NV - "If you are serious about tournament poker then this course is a very worthwhile investment."
-- Jason Spry - Buford, GA - "Overall I found the Boot Camp very enjoyable and I picked up many tips and ways to improve my game."
-- Mitch Kitay - Boyton Beach, FL - "Excellent program. Great use of labs, lecture, video clips and power point. Inter-mixing of these elements was absolutely critical to making this a worthwhile, interesting and fun experience."
-- Rick S. - "Excellent experience. Excellent structure, 2 days is perfect."
-- Bruce Simberg - Boca Raton, FL - "Had a great time. Can’t wait to be able to apply all the I have learned at the tables. I am sure my game will be improved considerable."
-- Lorie Bodfield – Columbus, OH - "I was truly a pleasure to attend this first WPT Boot Camp. I can’t wait to attend another seminar.
Thanks for the Opportunity"
-- Agostino Buttinelli - Washington, DC - "You all did an amazing job. I'm a little daunted by how much there is to learn - but I feel I have a "tool box!""
-- Michelle Ugolini - Fullerton, CA - "Great class!!! The video clips during the slide presentation were great! It was an absolute treat to have Mike lead the Boot Camp! His stories, experience and teachings make even the amateur player feel comfortable and motivated to achieve higher results."
-- Bonnie Ross - Fort Lauderdale, FL - "This was worth every penny. I am definitely a better player and a better student of the game. This weekend has made me want to learn and master every aspect of the game. Definitely boosted my confidence level."
-- Anthony Guzman - Jacksonville, NC - "I had a great time and learned a lot."
-- Craig Eisenstark - Royal Palm Beach, FL - "Worth the money. I had a great time. Ron was very helpful. The Brochure is great Website is attractive, easy and helpful. Great use of chips as instructional and entertainment tool."
-- Tony Schleifstien - Las Vegas, NV - "It was fun meeting new people who have the same interest in poker. I learned a lot. And had a wonderful time."
-- Julie Pasqualino - Orange, CA - "I had a great time. Mike was very charismatic and a nice guy who took time to go around and say hello."
-- Sigbjorn Vaagene - Brattholmen Norway - "This was a quality experience. Those who have an interest in tournament poker should take advantage of this program."
-- Dave Kopelman - Davie, FL - "It was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to spend some time with Mike."
-- Norbert Goutesman - Boston, MA - "I had a great time. Mike Sexton was excellent. I can’t wait to use what I have learned. His enthusiasm shows."
-- Gary Leiberman - "Mike is a great instructor. He has great stories. I loved the advanced talk about betting, odds, etc. The final table at the Mirage was Awesome!"
-- Sean Gibson- San Diego, CA - "Mike is entertaining and keeps our attention. Great stories. Great with audience. Loved the video Cutaways please add more. Great Curriculum."
-- Linda Johnson- Las Vegas, NV - "Great concept. I had a great time. Years of experience made this a valuable learning experience."
-- Bob Birdsong - Fort Lauderdale, FL - "The depth of knowledge was very impressive. I came out of this Boot Camp with so much information."
-- Jesse Singer - Miami, FL - "I’m looking forward to using the skills I have learned. It was an excellent learning experience. Very Classy!!"
-- Jack Hardie - Port Townsend, WA - "Mike Sexton was awesome. Down to earth. Great stories. Alex was very enthusiastic and friendly. The whole experience was awesome."
-- X B Reed III- Marina delray, CA - "I had a great time. Alex and Mike were great. I came away with so much information. I had a blast. I would love to take another class."
-- Anthony Vitelli - Tamarac, FL - "All the staff were very friendly and helpful. I really enjoyed the experience and believe that my game will be much improved. All the other students were also very nice and friendly. The comments made by the instructors both brought up new ideas and confirmed game strategies of my own experience."
-- Wilson Carnes- Oak Ridge, TN - "Mike sexton was outstanding!! I appreciated the photo op and the time for questions during break. All the instructors were great! They gave all their time. Chris was very helpful. Staff is very sensitive to helpful hint. Goody bag was great! Labs were fantastic! Staff in tournament with occasional hints at table was very good."
-- Tom Mc Donnell- Yuma, AZ - "It’s like having Einstein teaching you Algebra. What a surreal experience. Excellent expression drawn from experiences that integrate for 95%of the students needs. We want to learn from someone we know, knows how to win. Great stories and antidotes. Mike Sexton Really put a unique practical perspective on strategies. Really loved the other students. Learned so much from them during labs, lectures and breaks.
Instructors like Jan and Linda were great. Crispin very helpful. This was extremely helpful for me. I loved this!!"
-- Bryce Johnson - Avon, CO - "Excellent Weekend! I learned more the expected."
-- Joe Desio - Cranston, RI - "Clonie was awesome. Very knowledgeable and approachable"
-- Jill Reisfeld – Mount Verson, NY - "Great energy and enthusiasm. The material was great. The on-line module was awesome."
-- Greg Turnquist – Groton, MA - "Great job having multiple instructors showing different styles. Really like the internet poker portion. I have no doubt that my poker skills have improved tremendously."
-- Martin Ramus - St. Mary's, Ontario - "Very easy style. It was great getting insight from a female player. Rick has excellent analysis skills and a wonderful teacher
I am more aware when I make mistakes. My ability to correct them more quickly is my best improvement. Excellent job all around. Staff, Food, Materials, Goddie bag were highest quality."
-- Kate Urmeneta - Mount Vernon, NY - "I think actually playing with the instructors watching was the most helpful."
-- Judson Swinimer – Taunton, MA - "This was awesome!!! I think it really improved my game."
-- Paul Grogan - Rancho Cucamonga, CA - "Very well done, the labs and lectures were very helpful and I fully expect this course to improve my game"
-- Doung Peycke – Seattle, WA - "I wanted to tell you that WPT Boot Camp has paid off. I won my first tourney tonight on Ultimate Bet. The prize was over $800. It sure felt good. The tips and plays I learned at the seminar really came into play. Less limping and more betting.
It was great. Thank you Clonie and Alex."
-- Sally Primo – Pontiac, MI - "Really like the mix of video clips and labs, playing a hand then watching how it played in real life."
-- Matt Griffin – Fayetteville, GA - "We would like to thank you for a great boot camp.. We really had a great time and it was very educational.. And both Clonie and Rick are great tutors and pokerplayers, no doubt about that.. So keep up the good work. I (thomas) have been doing quite fine at the SNG tables since I came back..I feel stronger and more confident now. My best result in a multi-tournament was when I finished 7th yesterday... It was a 25 dollar tournament with 387 players"
-- Thomas Kaspersen – Fredericia, Denmark - "I liked it very much. I fell my game will improve 100% now! Everybody was very nice and helpful."
-- Vickie Stephenson - Grovecity, OH - "Very instructive and Informative. Had a great time and feel I learned A lot."
-- Luis Buitrago - Union City, NJ - "Hello, Just wanted to drop a note to say thank you. This bootcamp was the best $1500 I have ever spent. So much info takes a while to process and apply, I took the class in May at Foxwoods. My game has improved considerably. Used to finish just outside the money mostly, now I finish in the money mostly. This class gave me the confidence I was lacking to get there. I have been to the casino twice since the class, playing at a no limit table $200 minimum by in no max. Started at each with $300 first trip left table with $900, Second trip left with $1650. Not too bad for a rookie only playing serious for about 9 months. At home I play online have yet to lose a sit & go since the class. Have placed in the money about 90% of the time on big trnys. This class has already paid for its self. Thanks again. See you at the final table."
-- Lorie Bodfield - Bodfield, OH - "Instructors all work hard and make sure that you understand. Very impressed with the friendly staff."
-- Dana Henson – Lakeland, FL - "I left for Las Vegas on business immediately after the WPT bootcamp at Foxwoods. I entered a low buy-in NLH tournament at the Aladdin ($60) with one re-buy. 106 players were listed, and 9 were paid. I finished 6th, winning $212.
By playing A-B-C poker against TV-trained maniacs, I managed to survive, despite my errors. For example, in the first 30 minutes of the tournament,I was dealt Q-Q on the button. I raised 3-times the big blind, and the big blind, a maniac, called. We were the only two players seeing the flop. The flop was gapped rags, so I went all-in to shut him down. He called my all-in and flopped a miracle straight on the river with his Ace. He was holding A-J offsuit as a starting hand, and filled an inside straight. Who calls an all-in raise with A-J offsuit, I wondered, as I rebought in disgust. Justice came later when Mr. A-J offsuit was outdrawn by another maniac, and eliminated. I played tight, used the WPT methods, and finished in the money.
I really appreciate the advice Clonie and Rick gave me for live tournament play.
Thank you to the WPT staff,"
-- Ken Kern - West Hartford, CT - "I had a fantastic time. The Lab where we got to see the results on TV was the most fun."
-- Patrick Lukasavage – Madison, NJ - "The first two tournaments I entered after the boot camp, I got a first and second place for more than twice what the boot camp cost."
-- Ray Allen - Red Lodge, MT - "Just a note to let you know I thoroughly enjoyed your WPT Boot Camp this past weekend. I thought Clonie and Alex were excellent instructors and did a great job customizing the agenda for the diverse group you had. I would love to attend an advanced edition if you decide to do one in the future."
-- John Perrotta, Fort Lauderdale, FL - "The Boot Camp has taught me the value of honestly evaluating my play. What I used to think was good play I now realize was just dumb."
-- Stephanie Greene – Edgewater, NJ - "This is Joe Byrnes writing. My wife Roxann and I attended the first camp at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. We had a great time and learned alot.
I played in my first tournament since the boot camp last night and came in second place. I have only made it to the final table of this particular tourney one time and that was a very shortlived experience. Last night I was the chip leader for most of the time at the final table and many of the other players were complimenting me on my play. Even a guy that beat me on a hand told me he liked the way I played the hand and had him trembling with a very good hand.
Without getting in to a play-by-play of the night I will you that the boot camp was entirely instrumental in my game last night. I saw the table and players from an vastly different perspective. Understanding my position, the other players at the table, pot odds, raising smartly, and picking up plenty of tells. At times it felt like I was hovering over the table, in command and in view of everyting that was going on. I've never felt like that at the poker table.
You may not recall, but I approached you during the boot camp and said that I was able to identify myself as being afraid of the pot and calling big bets. Well last night I shook off my former sissy self and stood my ground and took down one of the biggest bullies there, in fact a guy who rejoicingly took me out of the last tournament I played with that group.
Even though I came in second I felt really good about the way I played the last couple showdown hands, the most fatal blow being me calling the other guy's all-in move with pocket 9s. He had King, Queen and got the Queen on the river. Weakened, he took me out on the final hand with pocket Kings to my Jack, Ten.
This first real time at the final table covered 2/3 of the cost of the camp.
Pretty dag gum good return on investment.
Alex, thanks also. Hope all is well with you guys. I'll keep you posted."
-- Joe Bryns - Plantation, FL - "After coming home I reviewed the training materials from WPT Boot Camp and went to sleep. When I woke up this morning, I could not wait any longer to determine if my poker playing skills had improved. I entered a $20 buy-in single table tournament at PartyPoker.com I have been playing at PartyPoker.com for awhile, but have not finished “in the money” during any tournament for quite some time.
My goal was to focus on three key points from the many I had learned throughout WPT Boot Camp; (1) Slow down the pace of my play and rely more on my instincts, (2) Make proper-sized bets in relation to the situation, and (3) Make smarter lay-downs.
I knew the WPT Boot Camp training was working when in the very first pot. I was dealt [Qh, Ad] and raised the big blind from $15 to $60 as per my training. I had three callers and the flop came [4h, 6c, Kc]. While I knew I basically had no hand at this point, I remembered Mike Sexton teaching us that the first person to lead-out and bet at a pot will typically win it. So I made a pot-sized bet of $255 and the other three players folded. I had just stolen my first pot using WPT Boot Camp skills, and it felt GREAT!!! However, it got even better . . .
A few hands later I was dealt [4h, 4s]. Being out of position, I was getting ready to fold the hand when my instincts told me to stay in. I called the BB, and then two subsequent pre-flop raises ($30 and $150) to enter the pot with the two raisers. Needless to say, I thought I might have misplayed the hand at this point by calling the $150 raise. The flop came [4d, 5s, Jd] and was relieved to see that I had flopped a set. Although I now had to worry about the possible flush and straight draws on the table. The first player raised “All-In” with $200 and the second player and I called him. At the turn, [4c] showed up and I had my quad fours! Had my instincts not told me to stay in the pot I would have been kicking myself. Chalk up another pot to WPT Boot Camp training!
During the rest of the tournament I made several smart laydowns (hands that I probably would have tried to play prior to my WPT Boot Camp training) which preserved my stack for the premium hands that I choose to play later. In each case, I was relieved to see that I had made the proper call.
By incorporating discipline and strategy into my betting patterns based on the lessons from WPT Boot Camp, I was able to steal a few pots I should not have, and extract extra chips out of several more pots that I won outright. Ultimately, I won the tournament and the 1st place prize money, but even more rewarding was the fact that I enjoyed playing in this poker tournament more than any others in my past.
The bottom line is that WPT Boot Camp instructors Mike Sexton and Alex Outhred taught me how to dramatically improve my poker game in only two days. This instruction is already paying off – not only did I win my first tournament less than 24 hours after completing the WPT Boot Camp course, but I now enjoy playing poker more than ever before!"
-- Christopher Todd - Miami Beach, FL - "Mike Sexton was an outstanding speaker who captured myself and the audience during his presentation. I was truly amazed at how much I was able to learn and get out of the boot camp. In my opinion no matter what level of experience you have at poker playing you are able to learn many skills from this event. “The Insider” was a great speaker and the WPT Boot Camp staff was awesome. I would do this again and recommend it all my poker friends.
Thanks for the experience"
-- Anthony Vitelli - Weston, FL - "I wanted to let you guys know what I thought about the whole boot camp experience. I think that it is an invaluable tool for any potential poker player. Being a beginning poker player I can confidently say that what I learned in the boot camp over the weekend has put me far ahead of the “learning curve” for players just starting out. I cannot stress the fact that knowing the fundamentals makes all the difference. Having that knowledge gives you the ability to make the proper decisions at the proper time. One of the most important things I learned was Position; how to play from a given position and how not to play. I also learned another very valuable lesson; there is a difference between playing cards and being a card player.
Last night I played in a multi-table tournament that had a total of 186 players and I placed 15th, which is “in the money”. It was pretty intense, six and a half hours long, and all I kept hearing in my head was Alex Outhred and Clonie Gowan saying “Position, Position, Position”. By applying what they taught in the boot camp I was able to beat out 171 out of 186 players, which is pretty respectable. Since attending the boot camp this past weekend ( a whole 2 days ago ) I have played in 3 tournaments; 2 sit-and-go’s & 1 multi-table and have placed “in the money” in all three. So in only 2 days I have won almost the entire amount that I paid for the boot camp.
So in answer to anyone who may ask, “Is it worth the money?” I will say absolutely YES. For me this is not an opinion, it is a fact. I used the techniques and the knowledge that I gained in the boot camp and I got results. I feel that not only will I make the money back that I initially spent, but if I factor in the amount of money I could have potentially lost by not knowing what I do now, this was a very smart investment.
I am grateful that I had the opportunity to learn from actual professional poker players with real playing experience. I started the boot camp just playing cards, and I left on my way to becoming a card player. I strongly recommend this boot camp to anyone who wants to be a card player."
-- Peter J. LoPrimo – Hollywood, FL - "Alex........Thanks again for the great Boot Camp last weekend. I learned a lot from you and Clonie. As you know, I have been pretty successful playing on the internet. But because of you, I have brought my game to a new level. I have to share with you the first two tournaments that I played online since the Boot Camp. I won both of them. The first being a satellite of around 50 people. As the winner I received a $500 + $35 entry into the Full Tilt Tournament, held June 19th, where they will be giving away a minimum of 30 seats to the WSOP main event. One of those seats WILL be mine. The other event was a $30,000 guaranteed Tournament with over 800 players. My first place win in the $30K tournament paid over $6,000. I have to thank you and Clonie for some of the key changes that I made to my game. It made a big difference in my approach and overall strategy in NL tournaments. By coming in with raises as opposed to limping makes such a difference, as well as modifying my starting hand selection. These changes allowed me to consistently build my stack and play more aggressively when warranted. Also, the surprising thing to me which paid off big was understanding the "Live Cards" concept. It makes sense! As we discussed, I am very serious about improving my game. You did that! Thank you! I would also like to thank you for taking the time out after the Boot Camp ended to talk to me about my game and giving me some great tips to improve. I won't take up any more of your time, but I knew you would happy to hear some positive feedback on the good work you're doing. Just don't ask for a percentage....ha...ha. Thanks again........"
-- Glenn Becker - Boca Raton, FL - "I just wanted to thank all the people who were there to make my weekend a very enjoyable experience. I learned so much when it comes to playing in tournaments and on-line. I was a no-limit cash player before I attend with little experience playing in tournaments. Since then I have played in 40 on-line sit n go's at Party Poker. I have won 5, got second 4, and 3rd three times. Not bad for a live cash game player. So thanks again for all knowledge given to me and making poker even more fun for me. Will you guys ever consider stating up a advanced bootcamp with more strategies and advanced plays? Just a thought. I would go!"
-- Mark Forbess - Boston, MA - "Just wanted to thank the WPT Bootcamp Staff for the great time I had at the Foxwood's Bootcamp. I''m currently playing poker tournaments online with placements in the top 3 in sit and go action. Clonie thanks for everything!"
-- Wendy Garner - Hamden, CT - "Everyone was generous and helpful. Absolutely delightful experience"
-- Debbie Perkins - Santa Monica, CA - "The instructors for this program are an incredible resource of poker information. There isn't anything they don't seem willing to share with the students and they were all great instructors."
-- Leslie Morgan - Henderson, NV - "Great skill obviously. Insight to the game and his stories is amazing. The time spent with a pro is invaluable."
-- David Gay - Las Vegas, NV - "Crispin was very helpful and knowledgeable about poker and would always show good examples and explain it very well."
-- James Peirce Jr - Dobbin, TX - "All instructors were very approachable and labs were instructive."
-- Robert Sorensan - Culver City, CA - "Outstanding, hearing real world reinforcement of what is talked about during the class was very valuable."
-- Thomas Moskitis - Clifton, VA - "It was wonderful to hear different points of view from the instructors in similar situations. It illustrates the importance of having your own strategy and playing style while incorporating different styles."
-- Jessica Levandowski - Jeannette, PA - "I considered myself a better than average player before this camp. After the camp, I realize that I was not playing a strong game. I have the confidence to play in any game for any level."
-- Darren Collett - Seymour, IN - "Ron
Just a quick note, since getting home from boot camp my game has vastly improved! I have won 2 online tournaments a $5 with 411 people and tonight a $10 Knockout with 734 people. The confidence I am playing with astounds me. I am getting into the money more consistently then in the past. Can't wait to play more live games. You have a great program with fantastic people!!!"
-- Jeff Rutter - "Hey Ron just thought I would write and update you on my recent poker experiences after the Tournament camp at Foxwoods. I have entered 4 tourneys since camp all multitable nl holdem. I made the final table on 3 and the 4th i got knocked out because my full house was beat by a higher boat... No getting out of that one. Anyways Thursday night I entered a 100 dollar bounty 80 players and I took down a first place finish for 1680.00. That alone payed for camp. Not to mention the 350 dollars in bounty's too. :) extend my thanks to tj nick crispin and Jules... They were great! Look toward to seeing them at a cash camp soon."
-- Brandon Stowe