My humble start in live-cash poker...

A magical accident, with little background in math, chess, or gaming, poker beckoned to me later in life. Alongside a serious writing career, I soon became a devoted poker student, cutting my teeth on New York's rough-and-tumble underground cash scene. It's there I first fell in love with the game as a shared social enterprise.

Over time, three world-class coaches have shaped my game. They include three-time bracelet-winner Matt Matros; best-selling author and poker brainiac Ed Miller; and the legendary master of mindfulness, Tommy Angelo. I moved to Vegas in 2020 to launch my professional journey as a cash grinder in many of the city's hardest poker rooms. My mental-game training continues to be a significant edge.

I continue to study daily and have logged over 11,000 hours watching high-stakes poker streams. Reach out anytime on Bluesky @pokerforgirls.bsky.social, or here. I love to talk the game.

Two essays about my poker life capture the early years and the present. "Poker For Girls" was published on Salon.com. An essay about the start of my Vegas chapter was published by Newsweek. One of the few women globally to write a poker book, I authored The Total Poker Manual for the publisher Weldon Owen—a one-of-a-kind illustrated text covering five variations and sponsored by CardPlayer Magazine. I edited bestselling-author Ed Miller's 9th book The Course, an innovative guide for serious cash players.  

Through social media, I do all I can to bring more women into the cash side of the game, and help them get comfortable on the felt. I've blogged extensively for the online journal PokerNews, and for the training site Red Chip Poker.

Several mindset articles for Rec.Poker include "The Curiosity Leak," "Honor Thy Villains," and "Painless Fishing. Finally, seasoned players say the mental game is poker's final edge. Explore the mindset training I do for both recreational and serious players here. 

My story is unusual. I have been honored to share it with many great poker minds. Podcasts include: the Lafaya Way Podcast, Mod.Life with Jennifer Abernethy; ShinnyPoker: Poker and Gaming; Thinking Poker; PokerNews; Postflop Poker; Just Hands Poker; RecPoker; Red Chip Poker; House of Cards Radio; Jeremy Jones; Poker Action Line with Dave Lemmon; Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast with Robbie Strazinski; and Chasing Poker Greatness.