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Friday's Connector of the Day – Victoria Coren
Cashing in on the global expansion of poker is millionaire British journalist Victoria Coren.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/12/02/coren.art.jpg caption="Million dollar poker queen Victoria Coren."]
In her new book "For Richer For Poorer" Coren describes her life-long love affair with the game...
Which finally paid off in 2006 when she won a million dollars – tax free – on the London leg of the European Poker Tour, a four-day long gambling marathon.
Victoria is the daughter of celebrated humorist Alan Coren, who died in 2007, and sister of Giles Coren, food critic and tv presenter.
Blessed with the family writing gene, she started penning columns aged 14 for a London newspaper, and had her first book published when she was 16.
But poker always held a fascination for her.
From her teenage years when she yearned to join her older brother’s gang of mates around the kitchen table dealing cards.
Till now when she writes about poker, commentates poker tournaments, and spends every spare minute in her favourite casino or gambling online.
Female players are still in the minority, and the book describes how there is little room at the poker table for husband and children. For now, anyway.
Sophisticated, talented and skilful, or lucky and loaded?
Million-dollar poker player, Victoria Coren is our Connector of the Day – send your questions for her here, and we’ll put the best of them to her on Friday’s show.
On Twitter
How can she do this? what if she ends up badly off? Sure she has the writting gift, but she is on thin ice. Its like instead of just her free time in the gambling world her whole life is.
in your opinion, for a medium player what is the best way to learn about strategy and game plan.. do you have any books or material?
poker over marriage how ridiculous , nothing can beat a woman blessed with children and a husband she loves . that s real life and real luck , money can't buy this .
The lure of quick money is irrestible. Well, to some, at least. And, if the money is a pile, then many would succumb, forgetting their own talent, morality and family.
Good for her.It may be luck but Kudos anyway.Just let the girl do her thing.
I have trouble understanding how a gifted writer would want to spend so much time playing poker. Perhaps Mme Coren could help me make the connection in today's connection of the Friday.
So, she is talented...agreed. She would make a million more and end up in most likely in rehab. In my opinion, the drug runners are more intelligent than any of us. They exactly know how to milk every dollar ( hard earned or gambled).
What has your experience been like playing a very male dominated game? Do you ever get heckled by male players? Is being a woman ever an advantage?
What a great woman!!! She deserves only the best. Gifted and Lucky. I I hope she teaches others about her Poker skills.
A man would not receive scorn for playing poker. Kudos to Victoria for openly enjoying her hobby: Remember to invest the winnings wisely!
to SJ
Mate.. any books or material.. is complete BS... you cant learn poker strategy from a book.. sure there are things you can learn.. like statistical analysis, and how strong a hand is..etc...
But every player develops his OWN strategy.. his own way of raising, check/raising, folding... there are NO rules to follow on when to fold, when to raise... Because the circumstances change everytime...
For a medium player... I personally suggest you play small cash games.. with friends... atleast once a week.. and DONT play with the same people everytime... because after 1 game.. you know how they play.. The key is to be able to adapt to other people styles.. whether it be an aggressive player, or safe player.. Study how they play.. and try to catch them in their game.. whether it be bluffing, or steal the blinds from them if you know they have a bad hand.
Every good poker player is unique... Watch WPT on television, and see how they play.. you will never see the same strategy in two players.
Good luck, and happy gambling!
Poker is gambling, but it's also a skill. Anyone who knows the game will tell you the same thing.
The fact that the same players keep winning says it all. If it was pure luck that just wouldn't happen.
Are you the same Victoria Coren who produced a porn film in amsterdam?
Why did you decide to do that?
Poker isn't just about luck - both probability and statistics (and maybe a good memory) are needed to play. I would consider slot machines or anything machine-based to be based on luck, though...
To yael... your comment does not apply to everyone. You have put women back in the 1950's by saying it!
What was your feeling when you published your first book?
What do you think about “Online Poker”?
I admit I don't know the first thing about gambling but as a former athlete, you have to practice to get better. Gambling can become an addiction, so how does one 'practice' in order to be better at poker without it turning into an addiction?
HELLO COREN,
that's a good news a women becoming the million dollar poker queen as coren , and so coren you would participe in every charity actions in the world many person's are waiting the wise queen like you coren that's one ,and not forgetten your family ..your childs..that's only ,only ,only excellent things existing in your private life ,for me nice ,exciting news to now this ..the women queen in this section..
Have you for one moment felt that your gambling habit can have a negative influence on young persons and if so do you have plans to quit gambling in the nearest future ?
Do you ever have any moral convictions concerning poker?
Am impressed at your successful foray into diverse fields of interest and your success at them all. I dont think your poker skills will impact adversely on youths rather i see it as a platform to inspire people to greater achievement even in "unconventional" pursuits. More grease...