To be backed or not!!

[JoeStrummer]

No matter what peoples credentails are/were or whatever, would you really see backing a player a sound financial prospect? And what would the criteria be for you to take the plunge?

I mean I have won many online STT and MTT, the biggest "named" the 02:00am $4000 on crypto sites. Why not back me? whats the differance? (i dont want backing by the way)

My thinking is that the players asking for backing are not up to it and are entering the desperation stakes. And if a player was good enough to be back would be giving away a very small slice slice of the cake.

[Ironside]

all players long to be sponsors/backed it removes the pressure around your shoulders when playing and allows you to play a better more aggressive game

personally i would never back anyone but thats cause i need my bankroll to back myself

but is a sponsor out there wanted to back me i would have to give it carefull consideration

BTW most sponsored player ASK there sponsors to sponsor them and most of the top names can afford to
put themselves into events but why should they when sponsors are will to pay there way in

[The Truth]

I would certainly take a share (and have done) in a player in an event. The criteria I use is personal but obviously return on investment is key. On a couple of occassions I have had backing. This is clearly because I am by my own admission a very crap player.

[Colchester Kev]

I can understand why people who play their poker only on the internet or their local casino are questioning the requests for backing/sponsorship ...But if you play the circuit.. ie. the EPT events and even the festivals and ranking events up and down the country, The expenses incurred (aside from the entry fees) are quite horrificallly high... Hotels, travel, food etc .. without financial assistance, only very few players can maintain the "Tour" for very long.  if you dont believe the expenses are that high, try working it out by picking a few major festivals in THIS country and make enquiries as to how much you would need to spend on hotels for the length of your stay, travel arrangements to and from the venue ... food/drink etc etc ... i think you would be shocked ... then multiply it by at least 10 events and you will see why people ask.

[jammer]

taking shares when you play is sound financial strategy, as you spread you're risk.

However if you are looking for profit by backing a player when you are not playing yourself, then you don't understand the amount of good fortune, rubs of the green and following winds required in the game. Consistently backing a good player over several years is of course something different.

[Robert HM]

I certainly would back a player in the right circumstances, if I had the cash to do so. Lots of criteria would come into play and most of all, obviously, the potential return on my investment.

[divaflava]

I think the problem is that too many guys in their early 20s make too much money too easily online and have trouble understanding why good players simply can't fund themselves by cleaning out those who are out of their depth online in the same way they do.

I also think, this way of playing breeds contempt for your opponents and over-confidence in your own abilities but it seems to be profitable for many.

My own opinion, for the tuppence it's worth, is that I don't believe this forum (or any forum) is the right place for what is essentially a borderline spam sales pitch... are you telling me you can't email people who you think might help you out direct?

I am not interested in reading that kind of post, be it from a 'name' or someone who once got on the telly selling 2-for-one Daz.

Mind you - 666 bad beats? devil ate your bank roll? Swallow your pride, play at lower levels and re-build your roll is surely the best answer.

However, if such posts are considered acceptable then those lining up to having a giggle at someone else's expense reveal more about their own character/maturity than highlighting any 'shortcomings' of the person making the pitch. Hmm, locking threads before everyone's had a chance to have their say just leads to off-thread postings, methinks.

Anyway to answer the question, the only circumstances where I would back somebody is as a favour for someone I knew well or to have an interest in a tournament where I was stuck with being a spectator.

[Gamblor21]

I think the problem is that too many guys in their early 20s make too much money too easily online and have trouble understanding why good players simply can't fund themselves by cleaning out those who are out of their depth online in the same way they do.

I also think, this way of playing breeds contempt for your opponents and over-confidence in your own abilities but it seems to be profitable for many.

My own opinion, for the tuppence it's worth, is that I don't believe this forum (or any forum) is the right place for what is essentially a borderline spam sales pitch... are you telling me you can't email people who you think might help you out direct?

I am not interested in reading that kind of post, be it from a 'name' or someone who once got on the telly selling 2-for-one Daz.

Mind you - 666 bad beats? devil ate your bank roll? Swallow your pride, play at lower levels and re-build your roll is surely the best answer.

However, if such posts are considered acceptable then those lining up to having a giggle at someone else's expense reveal more about their own character/maturity than highlighting any 'shortcomings' of the person making the pitch. Hmm, locking threads before everyone's had a chance to have their say just leads to off-thread postings, methinks.

Anyway to answer the question, the only circumstances where I would back somebody is as a favour for someone I knew well or to have an interest in a tournament where I was stuck with being a spectator.

Very nice post Divaflava, i think you've hit the nail on the head when you say "is this the place for such a post?" I no simon trumper/EL Blonde have posted about offering shares... yet in a slightly different situation to this!

I think discussing this is ok, as long as it is conducted in the right manner not just needless jibes aired on the forum...

[jammer]

I think the problem is that too many guys in their early 20s make too much money too easily online and have trouble understanding why good players simply can't fund themselves by cleaning out those who are out of their depth online in the same way they do.

I also think, this way of playing breeds contempt for your opponents and over-confidence in your own abilities but it seems to be profitable for many.

My own opinion, for the tuppence it's worth, is that I don't believe this forum (or any forum) is the right place for what is essentially a borderline spam sales pitch... are you telling me you can't email people who you think might help you out direct?

I am not interested in reading that kind of post, be it from a 'name' or someone who once got on the telly selling 2-for-one Daz.

Mind you - 666 bad beats? devil ate your bank roll? Swallow your pride, play at lower levels and re-build your roll is surely the best answer.

However, if such posts are considered acceptable then those lining up to having a giggle at someone else's expense reveal more about their own character/maturity than highlighting any 'shortcomings' of the person making the pitch. Hmm, locking threads before everyone's had a chance to have their say just leads to off-thread postings, methinks.

Anyway to answer the question, the only circumstances where I would back somebody is as a favour for someone I knew well or to have an interest in a tournament where I was stuck with being a spectator.

Very nice post Divaflava, i think you've hit the nail on the head when you say "is this the place for such a post?" I no simon trumper/EL Blonde have posted about offering shares... yet in a slightly different situation to this!

I think discussing this is ok, as long as it is conducted in the right manner not just needless jibes aired on the forum...

agreed. anything that isn't insulting has every right to be posted, so long as it does turn into spam. Also the moderators have started off fantastically. If a thread is degenerating into flaming, simply lock it and let the participants continue via personal message if they so desire.

Blonde stands out on the web as a place where decorum and respect is paramount, and long may it last!

[ariston]

Mels post may not have been the too well thought out I agree but I don't think she deserved so much general pisstaking out of her. She is obviously in a bad patch and doesn't need kicking. I am in the same boat at the minute and am literally penniless. I am not to proud to admit that I have done my money this year seeking out the "big one" at the worlds biggest events. I could've stuck to low limit stuff on the internet and made a steady income but I took a shot at it and came up a little short. I am now struggling to get back in the game having the taste for the big events (£20 rebuys just dont get the juices flowing now).

 The backing debate: I have been backed on several occasions with varying success. Some events I have made money for my backers some they have lost money. I have however only been backed by friends who play with me and rate my game. They back me when I have gone through bad patches and when my bankroll is low. I would do the same for them at the blink of an eye if the roles were reversed. I know some of the top players in the world are backed in various events (and not sponsorship), one of my best friends backed one of the top tournament pros in europe for the bellagio festival and some world series events. His investment was a risk and was successful at bellagio to an extent and unsuccessful at the series ( but for a bad beat at the last 3 tables at the bellagio his investment would have returned a huge ammount- that is poker though). Backing is common in tourney poker because of the huge ammounts needed to play on the circuit (I would estimate playing just the european circuit would cost in excess of 150k this year alone) , it is usually done however between friends or people who have long standing arrangements. I will be backed for a few events in the next 2 months and hope to return a great ammount for my backers- does that mean I am a poor player because I have gone broke? I can name some of the top names in world poker who have been broke (and I mean flat broke) in the last 2 years and have only got back bacause people have had the confidence in their game to back them.

 Where has everybodies good nature gone on this forum lately?

[Mark S.]

With more & more 'expensive' tournaments on the circuit I agree that players, used to the high life because of a win that happened 'months' ago find it very difficult to play in the £20 rebuy tournaments again as they feel as though it demeens then somehow.

Sponsorship from on-line card rooms helps these players out big time and I believe this to be to the detriment of the individuals ability to see life as it really is.

Poker, when all said and done, is a game filled with luck. You can be the best, so-called, player in the world but it don't mean poo when the raggy looking six of clubs comes on the end to bust your trip Aces.

In my opinion there are too many ego players that, just because they won 10 large 6 months ago, seem to think that tapping people up for a % of their entry fee into tournaments is a god given right.

If you can't afford to play in tournaments, nomatter WHAT price, then stay out of the way...if only for your own sanity!

[ariston]

With more & more 'expensive' tournaments on the circuit I agree that players, used to the high life because of a win that happened 'months' ago find it very difficult to play in the £20 rebuy tournaments again as they feel as though it demeens then somehow.
Ariston-Not demeen I just don't believe a tournament where you start with 10 bbs and a 30 minute clock is poker.

Sponsorship from on-line card rooms helps these players out big time and I believe this to be to the detriment of the individuals ability to see life as it really is.
Ariston-Sponsorship from online card rooms is a godsend for a lot of players, I wouldn't know as I have never been sponsored. I am paid by an online room in a writing capacity and they occasionaly ask me to play a tournament for a % (more like being backed than sponsorship IMO).

Poker, when all said and done, is a game filled with luck. You can be the best, so-called, player in the world but it don't mean poo when the raggy looking six of clubs comes on the end to bust your trip Aces.
Ariston-I class poker as a game of skill, there is obviously luck involved but it goes both ways.

In my opinion there are too many ego players that, just because they won 10 large 6 months ago, seem to think that tapping people up for a % of their entry fee into tournaments is a god given right.
Ariston-No god given right, players who have friends/collegues help each other out.

If you can't afford to play in tournaments, nomatter WHAT price, then stay out of the way...if only for your own sanity!
Ariston-Poker is a game which when its got you its got you. If you can get back into the game with the help of a friend then so be it. If you are lucky enough to have a good relationship with an online site then make sure you give them value for money. If all else fails and you find you have no friends willing to back you then I suggest you write a book 

[Mark S.]

Ariston,

I think your signiture says it all... 'better lucky than good'.

[TightEnd]

Mark, your statement above can be taken in one of two ways.......

 Mark and anyone else


I'm watching, I'm sad, I have to be up this time of the morning....please don't let it degenerate into slanging matches

ta

[Mark S.]

Mr Tightend,

Please don't reply to my posts in the manner you are doing.

Absolutely no inference of offence should be taken to ANYTHING I write here.

This is becoming a police state!