3. Farm System

The good player controls both the major-league and minor-league games. He directs advantageous transitions of players from one game to another. That system allows him to make the best use of his resources (poker players). He promotes players to higher-stake games when they appear ready to move up. Conditions that indicate when a player is ready for higher-stake games are—

• an increase in financial resources
• a winning streak that provides capital and courage
• development of experience and confidence
• a personal situation or problem that makes the player want to play in higher-stake games.

An obvious sign that a player is ready to drop back to a lower-stake game occurs when he quits playing poker. In approaching him about a smaller game, the good player must be tactful to avoid injuring his pride. The proper approach depends on his reason for quitting. Reasons that a player quits a high-stake game include—

• going broke
• discouragement from a losing streak
• loss of too much money
• hurt feelings or pride
• personality conflicts
• personal problems
• time conflict
• health reasons.

If the reason for his quitting is identified and if the approach is proper, that player will usually welcome the opportunity to continue playing in a lower-stake game (or even to return to the higher-stake game).

The following chart summarizes John Finn’s system of poker games for one year and his earnings from each game (for the final year for which his records were made available).

John Finn guarantees himself a substantial income by applying the Advanced Concepts of Poker. By continuing to work his system of games and allowing for escalating inflation, he will earn over $1,000,000 from poker in the next five to ten years … or much more if inflation occurs.