This is my first article here at PokerSavvy and I would like to touch on the subject of women playing poker. Being a woman who loves to play poker, this is a topic near and dear to my heart.

I have several theories of advantages and disadvantages of being a woman sitting at a live poker table or playing online. I won't bore you with all of them, ha ha ha. But I will give you a few and would love to hear your responses.

One advantage that we, as women, have is how when present ourselves. Let's say, if you act like a stereo-typical "dumb blonde" at a poker table, chances are, for a little while you are going to be able to fool all of the men at that table into thinking you have NO idea about poker and proceed to run over the game. Trust me on this one, this is one of my favorite tactics. However, it quickly turns to a disadvantage because the men at the table will call you down with ANYTHING, so be careful on the hands you choose to play. But by the time they figure out that you really know how to play, you will have already taken all of their chips. Thus, putting them on tilt and still taking away their chips.

One very big disadvantage for us as women in tournaments, whether it be in a live tournament or online, is the man's ego. Because there are still a lot of men out there who feel women shouldn't play poker, there is still the ugly male ego that gets in the way. As a woman in a tournament with such men, it is impossible for you to steal blinds and make bluffs. These men are going to call you down NO MATTER WHAT, why? Well, their ego won't allow them to be beat by a woman. Now, this also can turn into an advantage very quickly. Let's say you are holding a monster, if you show weakness they will pounce and if you show strength they will pounce....again because the male ego does not allow them to be beat by a woman.

Now, of course, many, many more women are making their way to the poker tables, whether it be online or in the card rooms. However, the way we are treated isn't necessarily changing. Ladies, be honest...how many times have you been playing, make the exact same play as a man and you are suddenly the one the table is attacking? I would think that all of the female players would agree with me, as a woman in poker you most have thick skin in order to survive.

On the other hand, there are many gentlemen at the tables too, and unfortunately those are the ones who pay the price for the jerks. They are the ones apologizing for some other jerks behavior, or they are coming to our defense when it gets out of control. To those gentlemen out there, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. For those out there who don't believe women can play poker, I have pity on you and can't wait to have you at my table.

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