Backers, stakers, playing the \”horse\”.  Making the deal and playing with for an \”investor\”.  Not the same as borrowing, you lose you don\’t lose your money.  You win, the owner of the \”piece of your action\” wins.

I have heard many players wish they had someone to finacially back their play.  I have mixed feelings on it all. 

It is a normal, everday occurence in the poker culture.  Many fine players just simply don\’t have the means.  Many great players run into the inevitable slumps, get caught in a scam or just plain have a bad run.  Some players just can\’t manage their money and end up working for a investor that recognizes a sweet deal when they see one.  The poker world looks after their own.

On the upside, part of the pressure of \”scared money\” can be removed.  But the pressure to produce is still there, perhaps componded.

Stakes played foolishly can quickly cost a player their support.  Deals made with the devil can also have serious consequence.

Often times a player scores the big win and trys to negate on their deal.  Its easy to promise a large percentage before your holding bricks of cash.  I heard of one deal at last years WSOP where the player had a 50/50 for a $1500 entry and went on to win a bracelet and almost 700,000.  Great ROI on that one for the staker, I would say!

But that leads to another topic, why we play and what we are playing for.  For some its the Glory, others the Cash.

This topic came to mind tonight when I ran across a few sites that bring players and backers together.  I had heard of them, never seen them till now.  They appear well run, very strict and one bad deal and a player is black listed, checkout fast.

For the curious, checkout  www.thedonkeyfarm.com or http://chipme.up.pokernews.com/?1=en  

At www.pokernews.com  you can find at Chipmeup that many players playing at WSOP have stakes (percentages) being sold.  Stakes to play are also available.

I don\’t know how it all works.  I have been \”horsed\” in the past and have both produced and fell short.  I still have mixed feelings and turn it down far quicker than accept.  I hate uneccesary pressure.  Thats what I love about \”Recreational\” poker.

Course I ain\’t driving a porche either.