Wednesday, December 24, 2008 - Sydney
As a VIP host on daily basis you have the opportunity to be in contact with some of the best online poker players in the entire net. Every now and then some have enough time to speak about poker, all the hoops and loops about it, and make you feel as if you’ve been soaked on poker techniques and lingo to the point in which you feel that digesting so much information is close to impossible. I am a poker player and enjoy the game tremendously and to be able to have such an experience is just amazing and unlike no other.
One day I had the chance to speak to a very nice lady via phone line. I was amazed to find out she is an outstanding poker player and found it as an inspiration. I just couldn’t let go the chance to ask her about her experience in the poker world as a woman, not only online but in the real live games. I ought to admit it is quite intimidating for someone as myself to walk into a casino, head for my place in the poker table and come to realize the only girl in the tournament is me, after I said this her words resembled those of The Duchess – “Poker is one of the few sports where a woman can compete on a totally equal footing with a man”. Not long after our conversation was over.
All through the night I felt intrigued, thrilled and excited. I wanted to get out of the office right away and head back to the poker table, take my seat and pay more attention to my opponents for a moment set aside all the odds and just see all the psychology involved in every aspect of poker, look in more detail to those little things most of us poker amateurs pass by.
As days went by the same question was asked to any VIP who would lend me a small portion of their precious time. I analyzed their answers and tried to understand why gender for some people plays a potential role, in the game technique of a poker player, and even sometimes in the outcome of the game. The opinion of everyone varied, one player told me –“When I have to face a woman on a live game I feel intimidated, as if I am being dissected and every blink, twitch and drop of sweat are studied and analyzed” meanwhile another stated –“I feel nothing, I think women shouldn’t feel intimidated to play against us men. In a poker table we’re all the same and that makes no difference”.
After exposing myself to all sorts of opinions I decided to do some online research and read about whom I like to call The Queens of Poker. Find out about their rankings, earnings and personal experiences before and after every event they played in. I came across names like Barbara Enright (who is the first women in the Poker Hall of Fame), Jennifer Tilly, Cyndy Violette, Jennifer Harman, Tiffany Michelle, Nani Dollison and my personal favorite Annie Duke. It was so reassuring and encouraging to find out that most of them got very nervous and shaky before a game and how they managed to get a hold of their nerves on the poker table and overcome several of the best players all around the world and even reaching the top and proudly be called some of the best poker players which have ever been around.
Enjoying a sense of encouragement after reading for hours and listening to many opinions for days I reached the conclusion that it makes a difference only if you want it to. It comes down to your personal opinion of yourself, your game and how confident you are. To all those girls and boys out there who want to give a shot at poker, I’d say do it! It is exciting and an opportunity not to only meet amazing people but to learn more about one another as human beings and how things in our minds work.
Tags: Rai$e Loyalty Club, Rai$e VIP Team, VIP
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Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - Luciana
I would like to kick off by saluting all of you shoppers out there! Even though I’m quite sure that I must have shared some words with a couple of you regarding your order inquiries, let me introduce myself. My name is Luciana and I’m one of the agents in charge of the Ultimate Point Store. I have been working at the Store Department for some time now and I must say it has been quite an experience!
First, it was a little bit crazy: I had to learn all the chores and procedures in a fast, and most importantly, efficient manner. There was no time to stop and think about it, nooo way: it was basically learning while doing since there are always lots of e-mails that need to be responded and customers anxious on receiving their newly acquired possessions. Well, what can I say? I just started absorbing all the information that I could like a sponge, and it was just a matter of time before I found myself being able to help all of you guys on resolving any issues you might have regarding your orders; and let me tell you one thing… there is absolutely nothing as gratifying as receiving an email from a customer stating that he has received his package and that he is happy and enjoying it. That makes it all worthwhile.
Sometimes, I must admit, it has been hard since, as customer service agents, we will always strive to do the best we can to try to help you all; however, we sometimes find ourselves with our hands tied… and that’s the worst feeling ever! Nonetheless, there’s nothing to worry about, you can rest assured that there will always be someone here fighting in all possible ways in order to ensure that your package reaches its destination…sooner or sooner, because, yeap, there’s no later accepted here!
I have also learned a lot more about the Poker culture and the importance and value that all of you, our loyal customers, give to our exclusive branded merchandise. I have learned how wearing an Ultimate Bet T-shirt not only says to the world “I play with them”, but it is also a sign of belonging to a big family. Not only that, but wearing this merchandise will confirm you in front of everybody else -in any part of the world- as a person that not only believes in us as a company, but most importantly believes in himself, and in the way that Poker can get to be everything you want and more if you find yourself in a place like the one we have to offer, which is simply the best.
Tags: Rai$e Loyalty Club, Rai$e VIP Team, VIP
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Wednesday, December 3, 2008 - Vincent
“I remember as it was yesterday the first time I played poker with some of my friends, when we were at the Mall they often spoke on how they loved this game and that they started making tournaments at Arlenne’s house every Sunday, so I was like “Whatever. Let’s chill for a while at her house. How much do you have to pay in order to play? Ok.. Is cool..”.
When they started explaining to me the basics of the game I had absolutely no idea of what was going on exactly, since they were not really good at explaining it, so I just browsed the web with my PSP before the tournament started and used “Poker Rules” as my search tags. By my fortune I found the Ultimate Bet’s web site, I am not sure if it was destiny or coincidence, but the thing is that I find their tutorials really easy to understand and even found some tips from their pro players. After one hour of study before the game I learned what a bluff was, when to use it, when players show weakness, check – raise, etc. At that exact moment I understood that this game was even more complex and difficult than it looks like. I imagined it was just like calling with the best hand and win, but the fact is that I wouldn’t have ever imagined that this game was going to give a complete 900 grades turn around on my life.
As the game progressed I was eliminating players one by one, caught some bluffers, others just lost because they tried to chase a flush or “open” straights (these ones are really famous in here.. Don’t know why).. The thing is that I made my way to the final 2, with the one who was supposed to be the “Champion” of the house and the one that never losses on Sundays, so everyone was like really intrigued and excited since the rookie made its way to the final. I remember how everyone started making bets and arguing on who the game was going to end.. Unfortunately, not on my favor.. So that kinda awaken something inside of me, changed the vibe of the environment and I was completely determined to win that game.. YEAH!
As the game started to end on a horrible non-favorable way for me, I realized and noticed very good plays on his part, he often check-raised, or waited for me to catch something and then based on what he measured I probably got, he re-raised and sometimes forced me to go all in; however, I was very patience and based on his previous play I started playing the same way as his, of course, with a little less of aggressiveness on my part in order to get more chips. Since he knew I was a rookie then he never realized or even crossed his mind the thought that I might have started bluffing on him. Actually, I did it too many times on that game because I knew that on his world I was very tight player.
Before the game ended, I was holding the 82% of the total chips and the blinds were huge, so he started doing desperate moves in order to steal the blinds, which worked for him at the beginning but then I started raising a lot pre-flop and based on my position he just folded and folded, hand after hand, so when he was really short stacked by the time he went all in, I was holding J-9 off suit and the amount to call was only like 20 times the big blind, which was like a really low amount based on the total amount of chips I had at that moment.. When I called “He turned pocket Aces”, one of them was the “Ace of Spades”, so he just started singing “the song” of this card (-I am sure you know the song-) and telling everyone that it was his favorite card, so after all the noises and waves of arrogance, everyone just hold their breath tight, closed their mouths and said to him “LOOK!”. The flop came J-J-9.. He was like no way, this is unreal and after all the complaints then the turn dropped an Ace of hearts, which gave him the highest full house at the moment.
I was really pissed off when that card hit the table that I just walked away and then I was like “Wait! We still got the river, right?” and when the river came gathering rocks and thunders it hit the table with a beautiful and flawless Jack of Spades! From that moment this became my first favorite and higher hand ever attained, of course, for that moment and since it was my first game. It felt so good that I am even unable to describe it with words right now.. I was so completed and a lot of emotions were running at the same time that I did not bother at all about the money I just won. My only thoughts were that I wanted to do this every day and that someday I will master it somehow, Texas Hold’em became the best poker game ever created!
Poker did changed my life and for good! I have met many cool people during the last few years because of this. I even met my co-workers before even becoming an agent on Ultimate Bet by simply playing a Poker Tournament on a random place. Right now that I am a VIP Host I am very glad that I can be near the best VIP Players and have really cool conversations about poker and get tips from them, it is totally amazing and I would love to be one day just as cool and successful in poker as them.
I have learned so much from each one of you, I realized all about hand rankings, checking, betting (which is full of strategic “gambits”, designed to make money with good hands and save money with weaker ones), calling, folding, raising, bluffing and many more high level knowledge.
I wouldn’t have ever tough that being on the VIP Department was going to give me all these satisfactions, fun and even improve my game to upper levels. All this allowed me to understand Poker in a way I would have never imagined it would be. Poker is ART, MATH, MUSIC, RHYTHM, PRECISION and a total LIVE STYLE.
By the way, to all the VIP Players that shared their time and provided me with many useful hints and cool strategies.. Thank you very much! You guys are awesome and this is why your are the best players at our site.. And guess what? It’s working.. I have been visiting for the last months the best casinos in Costa Rica in order to play poker and use everything I learned from you guys and it worked for me as magic. I am having so much fun playing poker right now that I see it as my favorite and best hobby.
I hope you all continue enjoying Poker as much as we do and if you need anything feel free to contact us any time and will strive to do everything possible in order to ensure that you have a great time with us!”
Tags: Poker Poker Poker, Rai$e VIP Team, VIP
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Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - Mia
Well guys, CEREUS is finally here. You guys have probably been expecting it for a while as we have been telling you “it will be here soon”. Soon was the most used word when we were asked about CEREUS; on the chat, over the phone, via email… But it is finally here and we are totally excited!
We know you guys will love it, and we already know we will too. Many times in the past there have been moments where we wished that it was easier for us to get you guys the info you are looking for and to provide the proper service you deserve. Well, believe it or not, even though we are well-informed VIP Hosts, we have had to struggle in the past as our tools used to be a bit stiff. But no more shall we suffer with the hand history retrieval or calculating the daily balance from the transaction records! We have freed ourselves and can know give you even a better-faster service than what we have in the past.
I don’t know if it’s ‘cause Christmas is just around the corner or because this launch was so expected but the day UB went down for the upgrade I felt like counting down for New Year’s! We know that we have big challenges coming but we are stronger bigger and better so we are sure we’ll make it and you’ll be happy to have “stuck” around with us! Now we are getting ready for Thanksgiving and we have many things to be thankful for! So take a bow for all your loyalty and patience; but when you look up just remember we are CEREUS!
Tags: Cereus, poker software, VIP
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - Josh
As I first walked into UltimateBet’s premises, I honestly had no clue about poker. I barely knew what cards were: the only ones I had seen were Gambit’s. I guess I was pretty young and naïve… Now that I think about it, I wasn’t even aware of the exciting world I was entering to.
Today, it seems like an eternity has gone by since that very first day of arduous training. I can barely even recognize the guy I was then: for as soon as I placed a foot in UB’s premises, I found a new world that had nothing to do with mine.
I must confess I first thought the poker business was not for me. I was so proved wrong. It became so simple to embrace poker culture! Definitely, the world of cards is full of opportunities and UB doubtlessly understands this. We have a vision and that’s what keeps us aiming higher.
Do you remember when there was no RAI$E? If you are new to our site, you’d probably have a hard time imagining UB without it. Well, believe it or not, there was a time when it was just a project, a small idea in the back of our heads. Now it’s a dream come true and it’s the conviction that waters the seeds of our upcoming projects. We’ve made it once; that means we’ll make it twice, thrice and so on… It only keeps getting better.
As part of the first generation of VIP Hosts, I’ve seen so much improvement, so much commitment and ideals in this building. It’s just awesome to work with people who actually get things done. Our work blooms because we care for what we do and that –believe me- it’s what makes a difference: we eat UB, we breathe UB and we love UB. That’s why we’re deeply committed to our players and we strive to create a warm bond with our players that could be described as a friendship. That’s actually our goal: to have you, VIP players, calling us “buddies” and talking to us as you would speak to your friends. That’s why we’re here for: to make your experience more pleasant.
We’ve come such a long way down and we’ve only just begun. Now, in addition to all the contact options we have at your availability, we have also created this space where we can interact at freedom. Us -VIP Hosts- and you -VIP Players- have a virtual VIP lounge where we can comment about all things going on over here.
Now, I raise this question, who would imagine there were once no Legends and Icons? Who would think we’ve built this from scratch? We’ve achieved so much and this only excites our imagination to think about what’s to come.
Tags: VIP
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