COACHES

Natalie Ratchford - aka "fishyfish12" and "Turkey_Brain"

One night in 2007, as I was studying for my last finals for my neuroscience degree from Columbia University, my new boyfriend decided to take a break and play some online poker. I didn't even know he played poker, and as a starving college student trying to graduate early because my financial aid had run out, I was freaking out a bit watching hundreds of dollars sliding across the virtual poker tables on his computer screen. He started teaching me the game so I would understand, and as a naturally competitive person, I was immediately drawn to the game. A few months later, after my (now) husband, Paul Ratchford (aka "Vulcans"), and I had graduated and entered the finance field, I wanted my own online poker account. But, still being poor, I was too afraid to deposit real money! Paul promised that he would guarantee my $50 if I lost it, so I deposited $50 on Full Tilt Poker. I played $.05/10 NL on weekends and some evenings after work, just for fun, for about 8 months, and had built my account up over $2,000.

At the end of the year, Paul was forced to leave his banking job in New York City and move back home to Vancouver, where he decided to become a full time poker pro. Without too much persuasion, he soon convinced me to quit my equity trading job, move to Vancouver, and play poker full time. Training beside him and finally playing full time, I quickly moved up stakes until I was multi-tabling $2/4-$5/10 and winning at 3.6 BB/100 hands after 412,000 hands at Full Tilt. After about a year, I moved on to European websites where I have been playing with great success ever since.

I consider my strongest game to be 6-max NL, though I have also had great success at both live and online full ring games and tournaments. At the WSOP in 2010 and 2011, I placed 26th and 37th in the Ladies' No Limit event. I prefer 6-max because I can play a wider range of hands more aggressively than at a full-ring game, which in turn requires more creative play. For me, it's more mentally stimulating and helps me stay motivated to keep working, learning, and evolving as a player, which is essential to remaining a winner year after year in the ever-changing poker world. That initial deposit of $50 I made to FTP has solely provided for me for the last three years, and given me more savings and investments than most of my peers. It has also given me the freedom to work side-by-side with my husband, travel the world, and pursue my other interests in a way that is just not possible working in corporate America.

Whether you are looking to turn pro, make some extra spending money, or increase your win rate, you've made a great decision just being here at DragTheBar.com. Remember that the rewards of poker are not free and easy for anyone. We all started low, put in the time and effort, and worked our way up. Watch the videos, take notes, study hard, stay disciplined, and I promise the results will come. I look forward to helping you make money!

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