My Story
By Mark Napolitano

I've been playing poker for 25 years now, and not a day goes by when poker is not on my mind. I still get the same buzz today as I did all those years ago.

My poker career started out like most careers do, I guess... When I was 15 years old, I made sandwiches for the players at a home game in England, where I grew up (I will be 40 this year). While most of my buddies were at school, I was learning how to play poker. I soon realized that the guys dealing the cards were making much more money than me, so one morning after the game had finished I asked one of the dealers if he would teach me to deal. I was a very quick learner and soon I was promoted to standby dealer at the game. Once I had the necessary skill needed to control a poker game, I set about finding more games to keep me busy.

At the time (around 1976), there was a very good game quite close to home, and I managed to get myself a job there three nights a week. I was making more money than my three brothers and father put together. The problem was that although I was making big money, I was losing it all in other games. This was my first lesson in "EASY COME, EASY GO."

After 2 years, I realized that I would never really learn how to play poker as long as my income was so easy to get. Against my family's advice, I quit dealing and decided to concentrate on learning how to play the game. I've been learning ever since.

I've played poker at the highest level and enjoy playing against the best players in the world. This is the best way I know to improve my game, along with reading as much as I can about poker.

Like most poker players, my dream is to one day become the World Champion of Poker at Binions Horseshoe in Las Vegas. I have attended the WSOP on many occasions, and finished 50th in 1998. I must say I am now totally hooked on the event. It is a wonderful experience, and there are no guarantees as to who will go home with a million dollars. You never know, your name could be on the money this year.

Take Care and Be Lucky,

Mark Napolitano
President