/ Sam Torrance / 30 September 2007 /

Betfair's golfer/poker player gives us some new insights into his developing career as a poker player - though he assures us he still has some way to go - PATIENCE SAM!!

I am playing at the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open at the moment. I just shot a very cold and wet 71 and am lying about 5th or 6th with two rounds to go.

I played a bit of $2.5/$5 no limit Hold'em last night and it didn't go well. I had a couple of bad beats and played poorly. I need to be more patient - I am a bit of an action junkie really. I lost quite a bit to Sh4rky and a bit more to Okatcha.

I have found that playing two table at a time helps because I don't play nearly as many hands. But when it is not going well I tend to play even worse. Poker is strange like that. When I am winning I can play really good poker and win even more but when I am losing I tend to keep losing. I should really just stop! But I never feel like I hate poker.

You know when you can tell after a while that you just aren't getting the run of the cards? Often I will just stop and then come back in an hour.

I have closed all my other accounts and don't do any gambling or sports betting any more. I am concentrating solely on poker. I have been losing a bit recently but I do find it such a fascinating and fun game to play.

And I am getting better at it. I am making a lot less stupid moves than I used to.

Last weekend I was down $900 and managed to get up to $5,200 and thought I was the bee's knees!! I thought I could never lose - as you do - and lost a load.

It does mean I know I can do it though - I really need to be more patient!

In golf I have always gone for the pin and been aggressive - have had more top tens than any other player ever in European golf. So being aggressive works in golf. But I am more controlled in golf and I know when to lay up or when not to go for the pin.

In poker I have to learn when to make the aggressive all in and when to play it safe - but I am obviously a lot better golfer than I am a poker player!

I am a better tournament player than I am a cash game player but I don't have as much time. In tournaments I have won quite a few grand.

That Annette 15 is quite a player - I mean she got lucky a few times but you need to have some luck to win these tournaments. I watched her on the final table over the internet. She is so aggressive. Such a young girl as well. Unfortunately I fell asleep before the end but how great for an 18 year-old to win a World Series event - amazing. It only enhances the sport- it means people will realise that anyone can do it.

Poker is possibly the only sport where women can compete on equal footing with the men. I can't think of any others. Maybe Annette is the Tiger Woods of poker. Who knows?

Wish me luck at the tables!

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