Poker Tournaments - Winning Techniques

Consider this article on hold em. The techniques will make you a better player.

2008-11-10T11:06:00.001-08:00

Please note this blog is meant to provide information on hold em in its legal and non-gambling applications.

Todays Poker Article

Tournament Poker and Cash Game Poker: A Two-headed Monster - Part 2

by Gary Gates

�Should I fold and wait for a better spot to put all my chips at risk? With only 50 players left to the money, do I have enough chips to survive the blinds and antes? How long until the blinds go up? Which players at my table are susceptible to getting eaten up by the blinds? Which players can I steal blinds from?�

When we left part I, we began to consider the additional factors a tournament poker player must consider within his or her decision-making process. These �special� circumstances often call for special action. A player might make one play in a cash game that he would never even consider in a tournament, and vice versa.

The unique decision-making processes required of these two very different brands of poker are necessitated by the manner in which profit is earned in each type. Cash games reward players instantly, as every pot pushed your way comes in the form of legal tender that you can walk away with at any time. In other words, a player can sit down at a cash game, double up on the first hand, put his chips back in the rack and proceed to the cashier with his newfound wealth. Though I do not recommend this method, as it won�t earn you many friends at the table, no one is going to stop you. (Who needs friends at the poker table anyway, right?)

Tournaments, however, reward only the top few participants who are able to outlast the masses. Described by many as marathons that call for hours of intense boredom, speckled with a few moments of sheer terror, poker tournaments require a great amount of time and patience. In a tournament that pays the top ten players, 100th place pays exactly as much as eleventh: nothing. Therefore, major decisions within the game are heavily influenced by the size of players� chip stacks, the number of players remaining, and the size of your own stack relative to the blinds. Before you take tenth, you have to guarantee yourself eleventh, and that fact is what makes survival a tournament player�s number one priority.

Cash games, because of their static blinds and the option to buy more chips at any time, tend to suit more conservative poker players. The never-increasing blinds allow them to sit back and wait for big hands with which they hope to win massive pots. Tournament play forces aggression to some extent, as the blinds and antes are constantly on the rise. The track records of Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar and Johnny Chan are prime examples of the kind of success that can come from aggressive tournament play.

Which brand of poker should you play? First consider the style of poker that comes most naturally to you. Do you tend to play passive or aggressive? Are you the kind of player that can recognize the multitude of situations that will be presented to you throughout a poker tournament and adapt your play accordingly, or do you feel more comfortable playing the player rather than the cards and situation? Be sure to try your hand at both and know the differences between the two before you decide which is right for you.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=tournament-poker-cash-game-poker-part-2.html

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2008 WSOP Main Event: The 'November Nine' Return

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:17:00 -0800
One hundred and seventeen days of waiting are almost over. Beginning at roughly 10:20 a.m. Las Vegas time on Sunday morning, the nine finalists in the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event will return to play in the Penn and Teller...

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2008 WSOP 'November Nine' Focus: Scott Montgomery

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:02:00 -0800
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Tired of playing poker and not coming out a winner? Here are some techniques to make you better.

2008-11-08T02:52:00.001-08:00

Todays Texas Hold Em Article

Texas Holdem Lesson - Five Tips!

1. Big Bets mean big hands, don't call them!

Do not call large bets without a very strong hand yourself. Unless you are against truly wild players (or extremely tough players), big bets will most of the time mean big hands! You have to have a bigger hand to beat a big hand.

So, unless you have a very strong hand (or a monster draw with good odds) you need to strongly lean towards folding a hand like top pair plus good kicker on scary boards like straight or flush draws, or even most semi-coordinated boards once all 5 cards are out. Especially on the river, don't call down big bets with medium strength hands!

A big bet is considered "big" by comparing it's size in relation to the current pot size. 2/3rds to 3/4th the size of the pot are generally considered large bets.

2. Bluff "less" Especially when playing poker online!

I say less but that depends on how often you bluff now. The real tip is to make yourself have a compelling reason to make a bluff. Yes, pulling off a successful bluff is an awesome feeling... winning a big pot on a bluff is fun, but overdoing it is one of the fastest way to donk off your bankroll. Slow it down unless you're playing with a bunch of rocks (tight guys who will fold unless they have a monster hand).

Good bluffs need to be set up, well timed and 'fit' into the holdem game. Just making some random bet during some point in the hand because you want to win the pot is a loosing play. Make sure you have a reason to bluff (you sense serious weakness, or have dead on reads). Don't bluff away your money, especially online! It is easy to 'call and see' online since you are not sitting there face to face and have to 'face the music' of making a donkey call.

Plus, many good players will check top pair good kicker on the river if you have called them down with a drawing hand that has obviously missed. (ie, 4 to the flush on the turn, and a blank on the river). They check to give you the chance to bluff your busted draw and pick you off with a hand like top pair or even 2nd pair, when you would have simply folded to their river value bet.

Good bluffs depend on opponents who are paying attention and have the capability of laying down a strong but vulnerable hand. Make sure you have seen something in a player that shows you that they are paying attention and can lay a hand down. Most online players call.

So - don't bluff so much, your bankroll will thank you! (mostly considering $$ games here, tourneys are more situational even than $$ games imo)

3. In general bet larger amounts.

Bet more when you are betting for value, they'll call you. Bet more when you have a strong but vulnerable hand so you end the hand there and take down the pot now. Bet more so you make they draws pay way to much to properly draw for their outs. When you bluff, bet the amount to 'get the job done', which is normally a larger amount (unless your opponent things large amounts mean bluff and smaller value bets mean monsters....

When in doubt, bet a little bit more. If there are flush draws or straight draws on the board, trying to value bet a hand like Ac Ad on a board of Js 10ds 8h with 1/4 or 1/3 pot sized bets on the flop or turn is way to small. This is a highly coordinated board, with straigt draws, flush draws, straight flush draws etc... you name it. Your hand is probably good, but you need to find out right now. You need to stick in a bet around the 3/4th's to pot sized bet to find out where you are at. You could already be behind. Strong re-raises should be respected, as well as smooth calls depending on the turn and the action.

Bet bigger and take it down or give the drawing hand very bad pot odds for calling! 3/4ths pot size to full pot size bets get it done!

4. Frequent continuation bets are fine if you are the initial aggressor pre-flop.

If you've raised pre-flop and gotten 1 or 2 callers it is fine to often make continuation bets on the flop. Continuation bets can be made when the action is checked to you on a non-threatening board.

A continuation bet is a bet that should be between 1/2 the pot up to the size of the pot, made on the flop after raising pre-flop (not calling a raise). If you make a lot of continuation bets, you also need to bet exactly the same when you make a hand.

To be a successful continuation bettor you must also bet the same when you hit your hand. Please notice I said 'frequent' and not 'constant.' Finding exactly where and when to make these takes practice, but if conditions are not bad, start firing away.

5. Don't go broke in an unraised pot - play cautiously when you and others limp on in!

In unraised pots players can literally have any two cards and if you do not have a seriously strong hand (nut or near nut), don't play a large pot. Two pair no good - fold it to serious aggression or resistance. Don't go broke by flopping two pair in an unraised pot!

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/texas-holdem-common-sense-tips.htm

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2008 WSOP 'November Nine' Focus: Scott Montgomery

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:02:00 -0800
Scott Montgomery, the 26-year-old Perth, Ontario native, may not have been a household name before his WSOP Main Event appearance, but this isn't his first time at center stage. Montgomery had a memorable TV final-table appearance...

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Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:55:00 -0800
The island nation of Antigua & Barbuda, for years a nexus for companies offering online-gambling services, has been approved as a member of the United Kingdom's 'whitelist' of approved jurisdictions. The addition of Antigua...

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Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:47:00 -0800
PokerStars has now announced plans for the latest addition to the Stars-sponsored Latin American Poker Tour, the upcoming stop at Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Mexico event, scheduled for December 5-7, 2008, is one of three...

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2008-11-04T05:56:00.001-08:00

The information in this blog is in no way meant to promote gambling. It provides information on poker to be used in its legal and non-gambling applications.

This Texas Hold Em Article Will Make You A Better Player

Quick Tips for Beginning Holdem Players

Tips for Playing Your Starting Poker Hands:
There are a lot of starting hand guides available, this isn't one of them. These tips are quick helpers to get the foundation of a solid poker game underneath you. These are the concepts behind starting hands and ideas you should be thinking about while playing no limit holdem.

1. Small Pocket Pairs.
Play small pocket pairs against many opponents and try and see the flop as cheaply as possible. You typically want to play small pocket pairs against many other opponents. Especially in a cash game or in the early stages of a tournament. Criteria for playing small pocket pairs is that you can get in cheaply, simply by calling the blinds (limping) and hoping to see a flop.

With small pockets you're looking to hit a 3rd of your kind on the flop. This is called "flopping a set." If you flop your set you are almost certain to have the best hand right then, unless it is just a really unlucky flop for you. If you flop a set, bet or raise and work to get as many chips in the pot as you can.

Small pockets pairs are hands like pocket two's up through pocket 8's or 9's. The reason you want to play this hand against many opponents is because when you hit your hand, you hope that someone else has hit a hand as well and will pay you off. The more opponents still active in the hand, the more likely that one of them has hit a hand and will pay off some of your bets.

So, if you are dealt a small pocket pair it is usually a good idea to simply limp in and hope to hit your 3 of a kind on the flop. If you miss, which you will most of the time, then it is fine to check and fold to any bet. It is almost always a bad idea to call any substantial bet on the flop hoping to hit your set on the turn, just fold and save your money.

Small Pocket Pair Quick Tip: You will flop a set roughly once out of every 7.5 times you get a pocket pair. click here for a poker odds chart.

2. Suited Connectors
Suited connectors are hands that play well against many opponents, but poorly against 1 or 2 others. Suited connectors are a bit more difficult to play than small pocket pairs... with small pockets you know pretty much exactly where you stand after the flop. You either hit your set or you didn't. Suited connectors typically do not make a monster hand on the flop, but they will often flop monster draws (draws means that you need 1 more card to complete your hand, typically with a straight or flush).

Suited connectors are hands that are of the same suit, and next to one another, such as 7c 8c, 10d, 9d, or my favorite, Js Ts.

These hands play well in multi-way confrontations, against many opponents. When these hands hit, you typically have a very strong hand, strong enough to beat most everyone else. With suited connectors you are hoping to flop a strong draw, such as an open-ended straight flush draw, a flush draw or a straight draw.

Pre-flop, these hands are weak hands, and even if you hit the top pair these are still a fairly weak and vunerable hand. Suited connectors have a lot of potential to turn into very strong hands. See flops cheaply and late in position with these cards, especially if there are already a lot of players calling the blind to see the flop. Look to flop strong draws or two pair to continue against any heavy action before you.

Look to flop straights, flushes and draws to both. Do not overvalue flopping top pair with small or medium sized suited connectors. Two pair is normally good, but that means that someone else very well may have a straight draw while you have two pair with suited connectors.

Suited Connector Quick Tip: One of the best hands to hold against pocket aces is suited connector, such as 7h8h.

3. Two Big Face Cards
Do not slow play your big face cards. If you are going to play these cards, you need to come in for a raise pre-flop. Big face cards start out very strong, pre-flop, and that means that normally you should make the others pay to stick around for the flop.

Pre-flop these hands are probably some of the strongest at the table, out ranking most of the other hands out there. For this reason, these hands you want to play against as FEW players as possible. To make sure you are playing against few players, you should RAISE pre-flop when it is your turn to act instead of just calling the blind.

A hand like AQ is a strong hand, but it doesn't play well against 3+ players on average. Ideally you will be playing this hand against 1 other opponent, and you ban bet the flop virtually regardless of what comes down.

Avoid calling raises with hands like KJ, QJ, AT, even AJ and KQo. You are often times dominated by everyones 'favorite' hand, big slick (AK). There is no shame in folding KJ pre-flop.

Big Face Card Quick Tip:

Raise pre-flop to limit the field to just one other player whenever possible.

For more poker tips, be sure and check out our listing of poker strategy articles and the absolute best way to improve your play is by finding an online poker room that has SERIOUS 'play money' poker (if you don't want to deposit)..

The best way to practice these no limit holdem tips is to download free online poker software. I recommend PokerStars or Bodog Poker for new players. You can play with free chips and practice these strategies. I do recommend that you also play for extremely small stakes to get a real feel for poker. Free money poker is played differently as poker is for anything of value, even if the value is very small.

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/no-limit-holdem-tips.htm

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Matthew Hilger is generally recognized as one of the best authors on the subject of internet poker. He and some of the most knowledgeable players and writers in the poker industry have joined to contribute columns on every aspect of poker. Contributors range from Tournament Pros like the Hendon Mob� to Internet Poker Pros from the Internet Texas Holdem community. Beyond Texas Holdem Strategy, this section covers Omaha, Backgammon, Sit 'n Go tournaments, multitable tournaments, cash games, poker psychology, mind sets and general revelry.

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Ready to improve your hold em game? Lets get started then.

2008-11-02T18:16:00.001-08:00

Please note this blog is meant to provide information on hold em in its legal and non-gambling applications.

Todays Poker Article

Tournament Poker and Cash Game Poker: A Two-headed Monster - Part 2

by Gary Gates

�Should I fold and wait for a better spot to put all my chips at risk? With only 50 players left to the money, do I have enough chips to survive the blinds and antes? How long until the blinds go up? Which players at my table are susceptible to getting eaten up by the blinds? Which players can I steal blinds from?�

When we left part I, we began to consider the additional factors a tournament poker player must consider within his or her decision-making process. These �special� circumstances often call for special action. A player might make one play in a cash game that he would never even consider in a tournament, and vice versa.

The unique decision-making processes required of these two very different brands of poker are necessitated by the manner in which profit is earned in each type. Cash games reward players instantly, as every pot pushed your way comes in the form of legal tender that you can walk away with at any time. In other words, a player can sit down at a cash game, double up on the first hand, put his chips back in the rack and proceed to the cashier with his newfound wealth. Though I do not recommend this method, as it won�t earn you many friends at the table, no one is going to stop you. (Who needs friends at the poker table anyway, right?)

Tournaments, however, reward only the top few participants who are able to outlast the masses. Described by many as marathons that call for hours of intense boredom, speckled with a few moments of sheer terror, poker tournaments require a great amount of time and patience. In a tournament that pays the top ten players, 100th place pays exactly as much as eleventh: nothing. Therefore, major decisions within the game are heavily influenced by the size of players� chip stacks, the number of players remaining, and the size of your own stack relative to the blinds. Before you take tenth, you have to guarantee yourself eleventh, and that fact is what makes survival a tournament player�s number one priority.

Cash games, because of their static blinds and the option to buy more chips at any time, tend to suit more conservative poker players. The never-increasing blinds allow them to sit back and wait for big hands with which they hope to win massive pots. Tournament play forces aggression to some extent, as the blinds and antes are constantly on the rise. The track records of Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar and Johnny Chan are prime examples of the kind of success that can come from aggressive tournament play.

Which brand of poker should you play? First consider the style of poker that comes most naturally to you. Do you tend to play passive or aggressive? Are you the kind of player that can recognize the multitude of situations that will be presented to you throughout a poker tournament and adapt your play accordingly, or do you feel more comfortable playing the player rather than the cards and situation? Be sure to try your hand at both and know the differences between the two before you decide which is right for you.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=tournament-poker-cash-game-poker-part-2.html

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Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:49:00 -0800
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No matter what your level of play, these Texas Hold Em strategies will make you better.

2008-09-09T08:36:00.001-07:00

We do not promote gambling of any type. This blog information is to be used when playing Texas Hold Em in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Texas Hold Em Article For Your Reading Enjoyment

The Idiot Approach

MYSTIC - Playing online poker can differ greatly from playing poker on the pro circuit. While on the pro circuit you can get to know the opponents you encounter quite well, and can study and adapt to their personal methods of play.

In online poker, however, the players you encounter will often differ greatly from day to day as new players enter the game. Many of
these players will lack skill at the game of poker, backing up bad hands with good money, while still others will be lurking at tables waiting to take advantage of these weaker players. You can take advantage of this
phenomenon by taking the idiot approach.

The idiot approach can give you great results when you're playing against the weak player or the player who wants to prey upon the weak. It involves putting good money behind bad hands when starting play, then suddenly switching gears to play a much more conservative game - more conservative, perhaps, than even your normal style of play. Basically you want the good players to think that you are a weak player, and the weak players to gain confidence after they win a few beefy pots.

This gambit will lose you money in the short run, but the potential for strong gains in the long run will be increased. If you can throw in a bit of money on a weak hand and play it until the hand is over, then unless you've accidentally bluffed your way to a win, your opponents will see your pocket cards and will notice that you are playing money on weak hands.

This could potentially persuade stronger opponents to start putting chips behind weaker hands, thinking that they've got pretty good
bets against your hands considering that you are playing weak poker. Meanwhile, the weaker opponents will start playing bigger money, thinking that they are on a lucky streak or sitting at a good table due to taking some early wins. At this point, however, you will have tightened your game and will only be playing your better hands.

This strategy is weak if you're playing against excellent opponents who notice right away that you have switched gears, or against opponents who play based on their hands and not based on the actions of the other players at their table. It's also a bad idea to gamble away too much money up front using this tactic - don't throw away so much money that getting those initial losses back becomes an insurmountable chore.

But against a table full of random players, a few badly placed bets here and there in the early hands can win you some good money on later deals.

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/the-idiot-approach.htm

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Running Aces Hosts Celebrity Poker Tournament

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:44:00 -0700
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2008-09-07T06:04:00.001-07:00

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A Poker Article to Instantly Improve Your Game

BOOK REVIEW: JOHNNY HUGHES' "TEXAS POKER WISDOM"

by Gary Wise

When I got into this gig a few years ago, it wasn�t for my love of the interactions of cards. For me, it was the players of the games we love who fascinated me, a result of a childhood spent in the company of game players providing shelter for other game players. My dad was the constant host to game night.

Of all the games and cultures that accompany them, none is richer than that of poker. For 150 years this game has been played, but the people and their constant maneuvering were as much a part of the color as the results. It was the stories of cowboys and mobsters, riverboat gamblers and railroad tycoons that kept my eyes wide, and every nugget of that Americana was a morsel to be nourished.

You do enough reading and the stories overlap. You start stumbling upon different renditions of the same stories, or worse yet, poorly-written versions, and you start to realize you�ve been there, done that and that the original story-tellers -- the guys who were there-- are a fading breed whose oral history is soon to be completely devoured by some form of pop culture-broken telephone that will forever tarnish the truth.

Fortunately, we�re not there yet. I can say this with conviction because I�ve just finished reading �Texas Poker Wisdom� a new novel by Johnny Hughes, a man who�s fought the poker wars and lived to tell about it. For anyone out there who yearns for the ways of old and �more importantly�the ways of the truth, it�s a book that should be read, as much for entertainment as for education.

�Wisdom� starts out slowly, much like the game it focuses on. It forces you to endure patiently as you get the background on its protagonists Matt and Dylan O�Malley. Matt, a character based on the author, is the old school grinder, a poker player who�s survived the tough times. The beneficiary of a new, unfamiliar monthly stipend, he finds himself living in a secure environment he�s unaccustomed to. It�s comfortable, but for a man of action, it leaves the distinct feeling of restlessness in everything he does. He needs a new adventure.

Dylan, meanwhile, is the young hotshot internet type you�d find behind half the monitors in the world nowadays. He�s young, cocky and confident, thanks in large part to a fast, easily-earned success that�s left him thinking the world is his oyster, evidenced by the quarter-million dollar bankroll he�s built up in next to no time at all.

The story starts when the two protagonists meet for the first time in almost two decades. Dylan acts with the indifference of his generation, while Matt behaves according to the caution of his own. Slowly, bridges are built, using poker as the brick and mortar on which they connect. To tell you much more would be to ruin the story.

There are lessons to be learned here. They are lessons in the game�s shady history, with the author drawing on his own experience as a soldier in Boss Bill Boyd�s army of poker scams and shenanigans. They are lessons of the peril of a damsel in distress; lessons in the pitfalls of �the life� and how to avoid them; how to turn every dollar into two and how to avoid turning every two into zero.

There�s good writing here too. Hughes draws upon the colorful colloquialisms of the title regions and colors them more with witty one-liners from his own repertoire. Simple sentences like �What stays in Vegas is a sucker�s money� left my jaw hanging in admiration over how much could be communicated through what�s an obvious line in hindsight.

Texas Poker Wisdom isn�t without its flaws. Hughes needs a better editor (the word �quiet� was spelled Q-U-I-T-E three times that I saw) and the narrative has a distinctive ADD feel in the early goings, but slogging through the mud is worth the wait. Poker is often described as hours of boredom interspersed with moments of sheer terror, and the deeper you get into the book, the less you get of the former and more you get of the latter.

You don�t need to be a poker player to appreciate Texas Poker Wisdom�s lessons in life, but it helps if you want to get the maximum enjoyment out of every tension filled hand. Call this a hearty recommendation to read this book, and to stick with it when you think about putting it down.

Gary Wise

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=book-texas-poker-wisdom.html

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Online Poker can be tricky. This article will help remove some of the guesswork.

2008-09-05T20:02:00.001-07:00

Please note this blog is meant to provide information on Texas Hold Em in its legal and non-gambling applications.

Todays Online Poker Article

Tournament Poker and Cash Game Poker: A Two-headed Monster - Part 2

by Gary Gates

�Should I fold and wait for a better spot to put all my chips at risk? With only 50 players left to the money, do I have enough chips to survive the blinds and antes? How long until the blinds go up? Which players at my table are susceptible to getting eaten up by the blinds? Which players can I steal blinds from?�

When we left part I, we began to consider the additional factors a tournament poker player must consider within his or her decision-making process. These �special� circumstances often call for special action. A player might make one play in a cash game that he would never even consider in a tournament, and vice versa.

The unique decision-making processes required of these two very different brands of poker are necessitated by the manner in which profit is earned in each type. Cash games reward players instantly, as every pot pushed your way comes in the form of legal tender that you can walk away with at any time. In other words, a player can sit down at a cash game, double up on the first hand, put his chips back in the rack and proceed to the cashier with his newfound wealth. Though I do not recommend this method, as it won�t earn you many friends at the table, no one is going to stop you. (Who needs friends at the poker table anyway, right?)

Tournaments, however, reward only the top few participants who are able to outlast the masses. Described by many as marathons that call for hours of intense boredom, speckled with a few moments of sheer terror, poker tournaments require a great amount of time and patience. In a tournament that pays the top ten players, 100th place pays exactly as much as eleventh: nothing. Therefore, major decisions within the game are heavily influenced by the size of players� chip stacks, the number of players remaining, and the size of your own stack relative to the blinds. Before you take tenth, you have to guarantee yourself eleventh, and that fact is what makes survival a tournament player�s number one priority.

Cash games, because of their static blinds and the option to buy more chips at any time, tend to suit more conservative poker players. The never-increasing blinds allow them to sit back and wait for big hands with which they hope to win massive pots. Tournament play forces aggression to some extent, as the blinds and antes are constantly on the rise. The track records of Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar and Johnny Chan are prime examples of the kind of success that can come from aggressive tournament play.

Which brand of poker should you play? First consider the style of poker that comes most naturally to you. Do you tend to play passive or aggressive? Are you the kind of player that can recognize the multitude of situations that will be presented to you throughout a poker tournament and adapt your play accordingly, or do you feel more comfortable playing the player rather than the cards and situation? Be sure to try your hand at both and know the differences between the two before you decide which is right for you.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=tournament-poker-cash-game-poker-part-2.html

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Do not be intimidated by playing online poker. These strategies will make you a better player.

2008-09-03T15:28:00.001-07:00

The information in this blog is in no way meant to promote gambling. It provides information on online poker to be used in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Featured Texas Hold Em Article

4 Levels of Poker Play- Take Your Self Assessment

Here are Four Levels Of Poker Play

Level 1: This player plays too many hands pre-flop (any two suited any Ace any king, etc.). They don�t raise much pre-flop and when they do it�s usually not the right amount. They go to the river with any piece of the pot (low pair, inside straight draw, Ace high). They pay no attention to position, betting patterns, previous hands, etc. They will never fold a pocket pair, even if there are 3 overs on the board. They bluff too much and go all-in too much.

Level 2: This player has figured out a few things, like tight pre-flop play keeps you in the game longer. This player has tightened up pre-flop, but has over compensated by becoming two passive. They no longer play Kx or any two suited, but they still can�t fold hands like KJ or AT or Axs or suited connectors. They can�t get away from top pair. They have a little understanding of odds and outs, but don�t apply it to their game. They don�t raise enough pre-flop. They don�t bluff enough. They�re easy to fold with a big bet. They rarely, if ever, re-raise or check raise. Basically this is tight, predictable poker.

Level 3: This is where the player starts to really understand the complexities of the game. They realize that you have to have a better hand to call a raise than you do to open raise. They have a decent understanding of the odds and can apply them (I have 12 outs, there�s 1,000 in the pot I can call around a 300 bet without making a mistake). They play their position and they bet aggressively pre-flop. They�ll put in a continuation bet on the flop to see where they�re at even if they haven�t hit the hand. They�ll bluff and steal blinds effectively. They are starting to pay attention to betting patterns during a hand and are able to put players on a range of hands. They can categorize players as tight, aggressive, loose, passive, etc.

Level 4: This player can read other players based on past betting patterns and has a mental note of the hands different players have shown down. They use �moves� like check raises, re-raises, slow plays, etc. effectively and often. They truly play the player and will bet aggressively regardless of their cards if they have a read on a player. They have the math down and can calculate odds and probabilities immediately. They win a lot of hands without having to go to showdown.

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/4-levels-of-poker-play.htm

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Here are some great poker tips to bring immediate improvement to your game.

2008-09-01T01:53:00.001-07:00

This blog is for information and education only. It is meant to improve your poker game in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Poker Article For Your Reading Enjoyment

Tournament Poker and Cash Game Poker: A Two-headed Monster - Part 1

by Gary Gates

Tournament poker and cash games are like checkers and chess; they�re played on the same board, but the structure and strategies of each game are quite different. So different, in fact, that most players who excel at one type of poker typically struggle to find success at the other. Certainly, there are players who have mastered both brands of poker, but the majority of players consider themselves either tournament players or cash game players.

More than anything else, the structure of each type of poker distinguishes it from its counterpart. Cash games afford players the opportunity to buy more chips anytime they go bust or wish to add additional ammunition to their arsenal. Poker tournaments on the other hand, with the exception of rebuy tournaments which allow players a small window of time during the beginning of the tournament to buy new chips, do not. When you�re out of chips, you�re done.

The safety net of always being able to buy more chips in a cash game, provided you have deep enough pockets, affords players a greater amount of flexibility and creativity within the game. Consider two scenarios:

The first, a no-limit cash game with $1 and $2 blinds. You bought in for $200, and have $1800 in reserve tucked away in your back pocket. You�re dealt the A-10 of diamonds and call a $12 raise made by a relatively loose player who you�ve seen make raises with weaker hands than you�re currently holding. The flop comes A-6-2, with two diamonds. He makes a pot sized-bet exhibiting strength, but you don�t give him credit for an ace. You call. The turn is an offsuit jack and your opponent moves all in, putting you to a decision for all of your chips.

The second scenario finds you in a $200 buy-in tournament with no rebuys, and you�ve outlasted 400 of the 500 players who started. The top 50 finishers get paid and you are dealt the same A-10 of diamonds. The hand plays out the same way it did in the first scenario, and again, you�re facing a decision for all of your chips.

Based on a strong feeling that your pair of aces is ahead and that another diamond on the river will give you the absolute best hand no matter what your opponent is holding, you are relatively certain that you currently have the best hand, but here�s where things get tricky. When contemplating whether to call or fold, though the hands are identical, each scenario requires an entirely separate thought process. A cash game player, assuming he or she is operating under a sufficient bankroll, might have an easier time making this call because a wrong decision can be mollified by dipping into the bankroll for rebuy money.

Tough decisions in tournament poker, however, carry even tougher consequences, as one mistake could spell the end of a tournament. Therefore, a tournament player must consider a multitude of questions, many of which are non-factors in cash games, before making a final decision. We�ll elaborate on this idea in part II.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=tournament-poker-cash-game-poker-part-1.html

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Looking for the best Texas Hold Em tips? You have come to the right place.

2008-08-30T11:23:00.001-07:00

This blog is for information and education only. It is meant to improve your Texas Hold Em game in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Hold Em Article to Instantly Improve Your Game

Value Betting and Protection Betting in No Limit Texas Holdem

There is a balance to betting that must be reached in order to receive maximum value for your hands. This balance is the struggle between Value and Protection Betting.

On the Value side, you want to extract the maximum amount of money from your opponent. And on the Protection side, you want to prevent losing the amount of money you have invested in a pot.

I have seen on many occasions inexperienced players over and under bet their hands accordingly. Following are two examples I personally played that illustrate improperly applied Value and Protection Betting.

The first hand example is from the 2005 WSOP.
I was in middle position and looked down at JJ. I raised three times the big blind and was called only by the big blind yielding a pot of 6.5 big bets. The call of the big blind could have simply been defensive, but an otherwise chatty opponent was suddenly quiet. I assumed a range of hands he could hold to be big paint, big slick or a middle pair.

The flop delivered K93 rainbow. My opponent bet the minimum bringing the pot to 7.5 big bets. At this point I was convinced he had a king and his Value bet would force me to call.

The turn card was another K. My opponent quickly checked raising the ire of suspicion. So I promptly checked behind him as I was willing to show this hand down for nothing.

The river delivered an 8. My opponent declared assertively that he was �all-in�. Now, I originally placed my opponent on a king. With two kings on the board, the likelihood of him holding a K was small. However, I was not willing to risk my entire tournament on a pair of Js when my gut instinct told me he had a K. I decided to try getting him to expose his cards by declaring that I was folding the winner and showing him my Jacks as they were mucked. He triumphantly flipped his hand over showing pocket kings for quad-kings.

How does this apply to value betting?
Proper use of value betting in light of what your opponent may be holding would have given this opponent more chips with his monster hand. Obviously I was willing to call the one bet on the flop. At minimum I would have called one bet on the turn and one on the river. He left at least two bets on the table by improper betting.

Where does the balance come into play? I believe my opponent had an opportunity to make more than the two bets he left on the table. The flop minimum bet was crazy. No cards should be folded when the pot is offering 7.5 to 1 odds. With my opponent flopping a set of Ks and an uncoordinated board, a flop bet of two or three bets would have been about the maximum an opponent could call with an underpair.

The turn check is not a bad play in trying to induce a bluff. But in order for this attempt at weakness to work, he would have had to represent strength on the flop. His flop bet did not do this. Now in the scenario where I called a flop bet of two or three big bets, at minimum I should be willing to risk two or three more bets as the pot would again be offering remarkable odds to stick around. Finally, the all-in bet on the river gave no consideration to my hand or chip stacks. What hand would possibly call the all-in? A full-house or set of kings only. This was a missed opportunity to extract more chips from an opponent. His hand was so strong that a small bet is the best he could have hoped to recover. In the alternate flop/turn scenario presented, a river bet of three to five bets would have likely been paid off.

The second hand reflects on Protection Betting.
This hand was played in Las Vegas in a cash game.

Four limpers to seat 7 who makes a minimum raise.

I was in seat 9 with 68 spades and cold called the two bets. The small blind, big blind and previous limpers all called as well yielding a pot of 16 big bets.

The flop delivered 3c5h7c.

All checked to seat 7 who minimum bet again and all players involved called bringing the pot to 24 big bets. The turn card was the Q of diamonds.

Again, all checked to seat 7 who bet two big bets. I called, along with the big blind bringing the pot to 30 big bets.

The river was the 9 of diamonds. Big blind checked and seat 7 went all-in. I called and the big blind folded. Seat 7 turned over red Aces and lost a huge pot to my rivered straight.

How does this apply to Protection Betting?
With hands that are vulnerable (such as one pair in the above example), it is absolutely important to protect the money that is invested in the pot BEFORE it is too late to do so.

Where is the balance? This guy had aces, and this is obviously a monster hand pre-flop, but the hand progressively gets worse on the flop, turn and river unless helped by the board. Aces are only one pair.

The minimum raise pre-flop was a huge mistake given all of the limpers. Aces in an 8-way pot are destined to be cracked. There was no Protection Bet pre-flop providing security for the aces. Mistake.

Instead of the minimum raise, a pre-flop raise of about 4 to 6 big bets would have thinned the field significantly putting the aces in far better position from the flop on. Now assuming the filed was thinned and it was three-way action after 4 to 6 bet pre-flop raise, a respectable continuation bet on the flop is required. You cannot lay proper odds for the flush or straight draws to continue with the hand without making a negative EV play. *a negative EV play is one that will lose money over the long haul.

In order to protect against the flush, your bet would need to lay insufficient odds for the opponent to continue. This means it has to be big enough to force them to fold or make an improper call based on the odds. Some opponents will call regardless of the bet, but you must make an attempt at betting that forces people out of the hand. A solid � to pot size bet would lay odds such that an opponent is making a mistake in calling.

The point is that seat 7 in the above scenario failed to bet in a manner that would push anyone out of the hand until it was too late. With a coordinated board such as the one in this example, aces are useless and serious consideration should be given to sending them to the muck.

You may be able to think of many examples yourself where you made too large of a bet on the river with the nuts that didn�t get a call; or you may remember not betting enough with a hand that was vulnerable.

There is a definite balance between Value Betting and Protection Betting that is often overlooked. Oftentimes players will find that they have all throttle but no gears to shift.

The art in Value Betting keeps customers paying off your premium hands by turning down the throttle to a point palatable to your opponents. Oftentimes players find themselves complaining about the suck-out artists who cracked their (fill in the big pair here).

The art in Protection Betting keeps these thieves from stealing the smaller pots from under you. For all players, the threshold required for both Value and Protection changes. While subtle in difference, strong focus on this balance can yield huge dividends to your bankroll.

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/value-betting-and-protection-betting-in-no-limit-texas-holdem.htm

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Matthew Hilger is generally recognized as one of the best authors on the subject of internet poker. He and some of the most knowledgeable players and writers in the poker industry have joined to contribute columns on every aspect of poker. Contributors range from Tournament Pros like the Hendon Mob� to Internet Poker Pros from the Internet Texas Holdem community. Beyond Texas Holdem Strategy, this section covers Omaha, Backgammon, Sit 'n Go tournaments, multitable tournaments, cash games, poker psychology, mind sets and general revelry.

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2008-08-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

A Hold Em Article to Instantly Improve Your Game

BOOK REVIEW - BROKE: A POKER NOVEL

By Gary Wise

Getting a look inside the mind of a professional poker player should prove a valuable resource to any aspirant. Author Brandon Adams is such a player; a high stakes online pro who�s managed to make final tables in both the WPT and WSOP Circuit. Broke, while not technically about him, is a novella drawn from his experience.

I say novella because the length of the book is 96 large print, small-sized pages. This is a one-day read, and as such probably isn�t worth the $10 asking price for the paper version. For half that though, one can retrieve the text online. For that price, Broke is a worthwhile investment as both educational and entertaining text.

Adams left me wanting more. His first person protagonist makes the same rounds as its author, traveling to major events at major casinos, winning or losing huge amounts in seconds online, experiencing the ups and downs that are part of the pro poker territory�even losing $3,200 on a phone call-induced misclick. We�ve all made that mistake at one point, but Adams� narrative allows us to feel the adrenal implosion of making it at the highest stakes. There�s more, but I don�t want to ruin the surprises.

For a first attempt, �Broke�s author shows a lot of promise. He writes from what he knows and weaves a precautionary tale in the process that paints no pictures about his profession. Parents, if your kids are playing poker professionally, get them to read this; the $5 will probably save them a lot more money down the road. If nothing else, it will show them where they�re going.

I�d go on, but this review would then be longer than the book. Brandon, make it longer next time. I wanted more.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=book-broke-poker-novel.html

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Anyone from beginner to expert poker players can benefit from these online poker strategies.

2008-08-26T16:46:00.001-07:00

Please note this blog is meant to provide information on online poker in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Online Poker Article to Instantly Improve Your Game

Online Poker can be profitable, but be sure to choose the right table!

1. PLAYERS & POT SIZES...

As a general rule, 6-8 players with a fairly large average pot size.

With most online poker sites you can see the average pot size and how many players are seeing the flop. Large pots are better as this generally means more loose players, playing no limit I'm looking to win big hands when I've got the nuts, not to grind down opponents by blind stealing and small pot stealing. I avoid most really tight games, rocks are boring and unprofitable typically. No limit is about getting paid off when you hit your monster, not stealing blinds all day.

A good table for me is one that is loose, but that is also not overly aggressive. I'm looking for a lot of players limping or calling small raises pre-flop.

2. The average number of players seeing the flop...

If you can see the average # of players seeing the flop, this is a hugely vital stat to use. Lower limits you can easily find something around 35-40%, which is pretty darn loose. Find this stat and then get one with a higher than average pot.

Sites like Bodog and Sportsbook.com will show you how many players are seeing the flop on average. I look for games with high averages seeing the flop, anything over 40% is usually good and very easy to find online.

The majority of times this makes for a good table as a tight aggressive player will play between 20% and 35% of any given hands on average, and in my opinion 35% is loooooose.

3. Watch the Button go around the table at least once - and pay attention!

Now that you've found a table with numbers that look pretty good its time to actually take a quick overhead view of the table and see what happens. Open up the table but do not sit down, or if you want you can sit down but not take your cards yet. If you are playing at Poker Stars, here is a screen shot of the table.

Take an open seat and pay attention! Watch the button go all the way around the table and take an initial assement of the table. Here are the things to look for:

A. Players limping and then calling a late position raise with weak holdings (hands like KQo, KJo, KTo, and other dominated hands like QJ (this is a good sign)

B. Look around the table at the current stack sizes - normally avoid tables where more than 3 players have 3 to 4 times the maximum buy in amount. These players can easily push me out of pots or have me committed early. They also might be solid players. (bad sign)

C. Take notice of the cards people are showing down. Look for weak holdings outside of the blinds offsuit small one gappers, Ace rag unsuited, and the plethora of other bad cards people play with. (more junk the better)

D. Take notice of who raises and who calls raises - are premium hands raised huge or limped with and are other players calling raises with weak holdings (good)

E. Any Maniacs at the table? - is there a crazy bettor or people who seem to be out to hit miracle cards by calling big bets? (good depending on seat) If you can get position on them (acting afterwards) you can get paid off when you hit a monster against them. The only problem is that you almost have to hit your hand to beat this player so you need to also feel confident that they will also pay you off when you do.

F. Who are the two worst players at the table? (can't tell? BAD) Pick out two players that are playing weak and have made mistakes. See who is playing really loose, who is playing really tight.

G. Look for players making small raises (1-2x the BB) with premium hands or even slow playing. (good, probably inexperienced players)

4. YOU MUST HAVE A GOOD SEAT RELATIVE TO THE REST OF THE TABLE...

A. This means sitting directly to the left of the Maniacs and the other Big Stacks so you always act after them. If you have a big hand you have the option to disguise it by letting them bet it for you. If you have a weak hand you can let it go fairly easily.

B. Give up position to short stacks/tight players - no problem letting the act after you if they are only going to play strong hands or not get involved often.

If you find the right combination of table factors and good relative seat then snag it! Since you've been watching the action already you can post as soon as you sit down if you want. This helps portray a loose image. If the big blind is 4 seats or less away from me I'll wait and post as soon as I sit down, although I sometimes post right away to make people think I'm loose.

5. IF THE TABLE TURNS COLD, GET UP AND MOVE...

Nothing is worse than staying at a bad table. Many times you'll find yourself sitting at a table with a bunch of tight and aggressive players. Unless you are wanting to work on your game, get up and move and go make money. Don't think that you've got something to prove.

6. TAKE NOTES...

I logged on to Party Poker yesterday to play a tourney with some friends and there were over 70,000 players playing right then. You'll probably never see a player again but if you find anyone who is horrible, take a note and especially when you find the good players, make a note. It could save you your stack later.

I recommend reading through Full Tilt Poker Download Guide for a step by step tutorial on setting a your online poker account. This is a great resource for new players.

Thanks and we'll see you at the tables!

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/no-limit-holdem-table-selection-tips.htm

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Matthew Hilger is generally recognized as one of the best authors on the subject of internet poker. He and some of the most knowledgeable players and writers in the poker industry have joined to contribute columns on every aspect of poker. Contributors range from Tournament Pros like the Hendon Mob� to Internet Poker Pros from the Internet Texas Holdem community. Beyond Texas Holdem Strategy, this section covers Omaha, Backgammon, Sit 'n Go tournaments, multitable tournaments, cash games, poker psychology, mind sets and general revelry.

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Here are some hold em tips to improve your game!

2008-08-24T14:37:00.001-07:00

The information in this blog is in no way meant to promote gambling. It provides information on hold em to be used in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Great Texas Hold Em Article

Keeping Things in Their Proper Perspective

Recently I went to Las Vegas to play in my first WSOP Circuit Events. My family took the trip with me, so I had to spend some quality time with them and I wasn�t able to play any satellites.

Already at four and three my twin girls think they own Vegas. Every where we go, people are always asking us if they are quads, because they are only 14 months apart and all have a similar look.

They pose for pictures several times a day with not only the poker players I run into, but with tourists from all over the world who are in Las Vegas on vacation. The girls put their arms on each others shoulder and give out a big "Cheese" for everyone and anyone with a camera. They truly are adorable and are the lights of my life.

They are the reason behind my article today. They are the reason I am proud to be a father of seven. They are the reason I get up every morning and have the motivation and desire to succeed in my daily activities. Whether it�s at my job, or if I am going to the Golf course or if I am hitting the felt today. I have been blessed by the birth of these girls and they have made me a better person because of them coming into my life.

I was playing very smart and I was really focused in my first ever Circuit Event. Although it was a second chance event with a buy in of two hundred dollars, I was thrilled to be playing at Caesars in a tournament that had several professional players and a WPT champion participating.

The tournament started with about 200 players. Within the first hour 90 of those players had busted out and I was actually up to 6400 chips after starting with only 1500. I made a couple of good reads on some of the players at my table and when ever I had a showdown with a player I was always ahead and ended up winning the hand. I used those showdowns to make a couple of bluffs and by the time we were down to 50 players I had close to 28k in chips.

It was an above average stack. During the break, I walked around looking at the other tables to see some of the other stacks. I have always done this at tournaments for some unknown reason.

Right after the break I was in seat 7 and had won about 1400 from the player in seat 5. I had pocket 10's and he had pocket 9's as we both checked the jack on the river.

The very next hand I am the big blind and I look down at KK. Seat 5 on the button raises to 3600 when the blinds were at 1200. I decided to see where I was at as seat 6 folded. I tossed in a third of my stack 7200 chips.

Seat 5 just called my raise and the flop of J-4-8 rainbow hit the table. Seat 5 immediately went all in. Well I knew he didn�t have jacks because he would of checked raised me. I put him on AJ or pocket 10's. I called his all in and he turned over Queens. I felt good, but nervous. Then seat 6 told me he folded Q-10 of diamonds and I felt a sense of relief come over me until the river hit a queen and left me with 2 chips.

I was very upset with the poker gods. I had played so well and I know its poker but I have been hit so hard on the river lately it made me almost sick to my stomach.

I went back to the hotel and was telling my wife what had happened to vent some. I called a couple of friends to talk with them about it, but as you all know poker players do not want to hear bad beat stories. But I needed to get it off my chest. Maybe because this was Caesars and my first Circuit event, I don�t know, but I was truly bothered by that river card more so then ever.

Well as we arrived home late Friday night I sat down to unwind and watched the evening news. There was a breaking news story out of Mission Viejo California on the 5 freeway. A family of 5 had just been rear ended by a semi truck and all perished in the accident. A mother, father a 6 or 7 year old boy and a set of 3-year-old twin girls.

I just leaned back in my chair and called my girls over. I put them all on my lap and gave them big hugs and kisses. I had a huge lump in my throat and it was partly due to my sadness for the family who died, but it was also for the guilt I felt about complaining that my Kings got beat on the river.

Where in the world was my Perspective on life. They were right here sitting on my lap! Never again will I feel like I did after losing. I have so much to be thankful for and I let a game make me forget about what is really important in life.

We take so many things for granted day in and day out. I cannot imagine how life would be if a tragedy such as this was to happen in my life. I have lost both of my parents, a godmother who raised a foster brother and me. Several Aunts, Uncles and the only Grandparent I ever knew.

I have been to way too many funerals for my friends and peers and I am sure with the line of work I am in I will unfortunately have to attend more in the future.

I have been given the authority by the State of California to serve and protect. I thought I could save the world when I took my job like my heroes of my childhood did every Saturday morning when I watched them on television.

Being able to put on a uniform and at a split seconds decision have the authority to take someone�s life is a huge responsibility. Only the good Lord has the ability too be able to do that.

PERSPECTIVE, so my Kings got busted on the river. I will never let the game of poker or any other game get in the way what is really important in life.

I have been to so many tragic scenes in my twenty years of being a Deputy, however this hit home and it has changed me as a person as well as a poker player.

Take care and please be safe.

Scott Diamond AKA The Deputy

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=Keeping-Things-in-Their-Proper-Perspective.html

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Matthew Hilger is generally recognized as one of the best authors on the subject of internet poker. He and some of the most knowledgeable players and writers in the poker industry have joined to contribute columns on every aspect of poker. Contributors range from Tournament Pros like the Hendon Mob� to Internet Poker Pros from the Internet Texas Holdem community. Beyond Texas Holdem Strategy, this section covers Omaha, Backgammon, Sit 'n Go tournaments, multitable tournaments, cash games, poker psychology, mind sets and general revelry.

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Poker can be tricky. This article will help remove some of the guesswork.

2008-08-22T13:29:00.001-07:00

This blog is for information and education only. It is meant to improve your Texas Hold Em game in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Featured Poker Article

Tournament Poker and Cash Game Poker: A Two-headed Monster - Part 2

by Gary Gates

�Should I fold and wait for a better spot to put all my chips at risk? With only 50 players left to the money, do I have enough chips to survive the blinds and antes? How long until the blinds go up? Which players at my table are susceptible to getting eaten up by the blinds? Which players can I steal blinds from?�

When we left part I, we began to consider the additional factors a tournament poker player must consider within his or her decision-making process. These �special� circumstances often call for special action. A player might make one play in a cash game that he would never even consider in a tournament, and vice versa.

The unique decision-making processes required of these two very different brands of poker are necessitated by the manner in which profit is earned in each type. Cash games reward players instantly, as every pot pushed your way comes in the form of legal tender that you can walk away with at any time. In other words, a player can sit down at a cash game, double up on the first hand, put his chips back in the rack and proceed to the cashier with his newfound wealth. Though I do not recommend this method, as it won�t earn you many friends at the table, no one is going to stop you. (Who needs friends at the poker table anyway, right?)

Tournaments, however, reward only the top few participants who are able to outlast the masses. Described by many as marathons that call for hours of intense boredom, speckled with a few moments of sheer terror, poker tournaments require a great amount of time and patience. In a tournament that pays the top ten players, 100th place pays exactly as much as eleventh: nothing. Therefore, major decisions within the game are heavily influenced by the size of players� chip stacks, the number of players remaining, and the size of your own stack relative to the blinds. Before you take tenth, you have to guarantee yourself eleventh, and that fact is what makes survival a tournament player�s number one priority.

Cash games, because of their static blinds and the option to buy more chips at any time, tend to suit more conservative poker players. The never-increasing blinds allow them to sit back and wait for big hands with which they hope to win massive pots. Tournament play forces aggression to some extent, as the blinds and antes are constantly on the rise. The track records of Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar and Johnny Chan are prime examples of the kind of success that can come from aggressive tournament play.

Which brand of poker should you play? First consider the style of poker that comes most naturally to you. Do you tend to play passive or aggressive? Are you the kind of player that can recognize the multitude of situations that will be presented to you throughout a poker tournament and adapt your play accordingly, or do you feel more comfortable playing the player rather than the cards and situation? Be sure to try your hand at both and know the differences between the two before you decide which is right for you.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=tournament-poker-cash-game-poker-part-2.html

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2008-08-20T14:37:00.001-07:00

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A Featured Hold Em Article

Communication Devices at the Table

By: Jameson Singer

You�re sitting at the desk in your bedroom playing a multi-table tournament on the computer. Hidden behind the virtual tournament table, a browser is showing your e-mail. Instant messenger is signed on with at least three different conversations taking place. These tend to consist of poker talk with a friend, a casual conversation with a relative, and in most cases you�re also trying to hit on that girl you met a couple nights back. The stereo is playing your favorite type of music or a beat that fits your mood(Heavy Metal for tilt and perhaps Enya if you have a big stack). A cell phone sits in your left hand as you await the arrival of a text message.

ESPN is cemented on the television, although during the 5-minute tournament breaks every hour, the �input� button on the remote is clicked, and you commence playing a video game(probably Halo, Madden, or Guitar Hero) that was on pause.

In any language and in any country, this has been typical for the online poker player since the game introduced itself to the computer screen. During this advanced technological age, however, these multi-tasking while multi-tabling ways have crossed the river, turn, and flop and landed in the live game.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)- Distractibility to heightened distraction by irrelevant sights and sounds or carelessness and inability to carry simple tasks to completion.(Dictionary.com) Even on the internet, the early stages of a multi-table tournament can be excessively boring. In a live tournament where the play is twice as slow, the boredom tends to get twice as large. Walking by the poker tables at the Rio during this year�s WSOP, the attempts to counter ADHD are extremely palpable.

From books and magazines to video IPods and cell phones that do everything except help you use the bathroom, it�s all here. At first glance it almost reads like an ad for your local electronic store. In this day and age, however, these products are viewed as common items at the poker table. Players take varying approaches in order to stay occupied in between hands. For two-time bracelet winner Eric Froelich, texting is the way to go.

�I basically spend every tournament, all tournament, texting the entire time�if I try to focus too much on one thing, whether it was school work or now poker, my mind will start to drift.� Froelich says. The ideal thought of texting at the table is that its� poker related, but for many players that just isn�t the case. Often times the topic of poker is the last thing discussed. �Absolutely never about poker, except if I�m down to no chips and I�ll let my roommates know that I�m calling soon.� Froelich adamantly explains. This approach, however, changes for him later on in tournaments.

�I use an IPod from time to time when it gets real late�especially because everybody I hang out with lives on the east coast. When you play until 2 a.m. here, its already 5 a.m. there and everybody�s asleep.�

With many online players making the transition to the live game, it�s no surprise these devices are becoming more evident at the WSOP. Everybody who plays online is used to having access to various media outlets while playing and it�s something they�ve grown comfortable with. Chris �MarvinGarden� Birchby, a professional online player who has made the transition, is used to multi-tasking while playing.

� I�m either streaming music or I�ve got a television in my poker room that I�ll have on sometimes. I�ll even be playing on my laptop while I�m helping my wife cook�so this is a lot more concentration than I�m used to.� Birchby describes the online playing environment.

For a couple years now, use of the cell phone along with listening to music have been a common theme. As the technology continues to move forward, more aspects of entertainment have also been able to reach the poker rooms. Professional poker player Brett Jungblut, also known as �Gank� online, goes farther than just listening to music while in a tournament.

�I do have a video IPod that I use to watch some Aqua Teen Hunger Force.� Jungblut grins. The range of devices doesn�t stop at Frylock, Meatwad, and Master Shake(ATHF characters). Phil Laak has introduced video games to poker. During several WSOP tournaments in 2007, Laak has been seen playing Grand Theft Auto on his PlayStation Portable. In another case, a player was watching a past WSOP event on his IPod and one of the players was presently sitting at his table. With more and more players bringing different devices to the table, the question as to whether or not it takes away from the purity of the game has come into discussion.

One of the main aspects of live play that differs from online play is the ability to see the person you�re at the table with and interact with him or her. Listening to music, using the cell phone, and watching videos during tournaments can interfere with this interaction. Although Birchby says it�s harder to concentrate without the media outlets he�s used to, he still enjoys not having anything at the table because he�s able to talk to other players.

�I�ve made some great contacts and met a lot of nice people�right now, I enjoy that aspect of it.� Birchby attests.

Engaging a player at the table during play has always been an intricate part of live poker. Some players feel that without it, it can take away from the wholesomeness of the game. In some instances, a player with headphones on can be confused as to what an opponent says during a hand. If a player announces �Raise� but just throws the amount of the original bet in(which occasionally happens), controversy about the hand can ensue. More important than this, however, is the threat of cheating through these cell phones and other devices.

Two friends decide to play in the same online multi-table tournament. During the early stages of the tournament, each of them plays their own game and has little communication with the other. As the tournament progresses, both have been able to build decent stacks. The tournament pays 45 spots. Fortunately for the two friends, the number of tables is reduced to 6 and they find themselves at the same table. Let the cheating begin.

Not only are the friends telling each other their hole cards every hand, but they�ve been able to dump chips to each other when one of them is getting short-stacked. �Ok. Just raise me the minimum and I�ll push all-in. You can just fold and I�ll be able to cash in this tournament.� The friend with fewer chips explains the plan to his friend. The two of them continually communicate and sometimes dump chips until the money is finally reached. This causes somebody who�s playing the tournament straight up to miss out on a tournament cash.

This scenario is something that has the potential to translate to the live arena. Perhaps not in the sense of two friends sitting at the same table together, but a friend on the rail relaying information to a player is a distinct possibility. Although the WSOP has seen no incidents on record, tournament directors have unanimously agreed that they must prevent anything from happening.
Rules 82 and 83 of the 2007 WSOP clearly address this issue. Rule 82 regards the use of cell phones during play. �Any player on the cell phone or texting a message when the dealer delivers the first card from the deck will have a dead hand.� Although texting at the table is allowed between hands, talking on a cell phone must be done away from the table. Rule 83 states that once players enter the money of a tournament, no electronic devices are to be used. WSOP Media Director Nolan Dalla discusses the restrictions.

�We don�t want to have to make it so draconian that players can�t enjoy music or can�t enjoy the tournament, however, when you reach the money, the decisions are more important so therefore, we put more restrictions in place.� Dalla explains.

The main goal of the WSOP is to safeguard the game, but not go overboard. Technology has forced poker to evolve and the WSOP understands this. It�s most important task, however, is protecting the honor of the game.
�While I think that most people are certainly honest, you never know what element might be out there.� Dalla continues. �Especially with so much money at stake, who knows what kind of technology could exist that would compromise the integrity of this game.�

Professional players and amateurs alike have split feelings about these rules. Some feel communication between players at the table is an aspect of poker that needs to stay and be included during play. Others feel that the rules are over the top and if somebody wants to listen to music while in the money, they should be allowed to do so. For the time being, the poker world doesn�t seem to be drifting to one side or the other.

Whether you�re for or against multi-tasking while multi-tabling, technology will continue to affect poker. Players will continue to keep themselves occupied no matter what method that may be. So for now, play your own game(this could mean Grand Theft Auto or poker) and try to adapt to this new generation of cards.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=Online-Poker-Pro-Magazine.html

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2008-08-18T13:20:00.001-07:00

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A Featured Poker Article

Tournament Poker and Cash Game Poker: A Two-headed Monster - Part 2

by Gary Gates

�Should I fold and wait for a better spot to put all my chips at risk? With only 50 players left to the money, do I have enough chips to survive the blinds and antes? How long until the blinds go up? Which players at my table are susceptible to getting eaten up by the blinds? Which players can I steal blinds from?�

When we left part I, we began to consider the additional factors a tournament poker player must consider within his or her decision-making process. These �special� circumstances often call for special action. A player might make one play in a cash game that he would never even consider in a tournament, and vice versa.

The unique decision-making processes required of these two very different brands of poker are necessitated by the manner in which profit is earned in each type. Cash games reward players instantly, as every pot pushed your way comes in the form of legal tender that you can walk away with at any time. In other words, a player can sit down at a cash game, double up on the first hand, put his chips back in the rack and proceed to the cashier with his newfound wealth. Though I do not recommend this method, as it won�t earn you many friends at the table, no one is going to stop you. (Who needs friends at the poker table anyway, right?)

Tournaments, however, reward only the top few participants who are able to outlast the masses. Described by many as marathons that call for hours of intense boredom, speckled with a few moments of sheer terror, poker tournaments require a great amount of time and patience. In a tournament that pays the top ten players, 100th place pays exactly as much as eleventh: nothing. Therefore, major decisions within the game are heavily influenced by the size of players� chip stacks, the number of players remaining, and the size of your own stack relative to the blinds. Before you take tenth, you have to guarantee yourself eleventh, and that fact is what makes survival a tournament player�s number one priority.

Cash games, because of their static blinds and the option to buy more chips at any time, tend to suit more conservative poker players. The never-increasing blinds allow them to sit back and wait for big hands with which they hope to win massive pots. Tournament play forces aggression to some extent, as the blinds and antes are constantly on the rise. The track records of Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar and Johnny Chan are prime examples of the kind of success that can come from aggressive tournament play.

Which brand of poker should you play? First consider the style of poker that comes most naturally to you. Do you tend to play passive or aggressive? Are you the kind of player that can recognize the multitude of situations that will be presented to you throughout a poker tournament and adapt your play accordingly, or do you feel more comfortable playing the player rather than the cards and situation? Be sure to try your hand at both and know the differences between the two before you decide which is right for you.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=tournament-poker-cash-game-poker-part-2.html

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FTOPS IX Main Event: 'dubbeemin' Seals Victory

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:02:00 -0700
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Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:27:00 -0700
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2008-08-16T11:15:00.001-07:00

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Todays Hold Em Article

4 Levels of Poker Play- Take Your Self Assessment

Here are Four Levels Of Poker Play

Level 1: This player plays too many hands pre-flop (any two suited any Ace any king, etc.). They don�t raise much pre-flop and when they do it�s usually not the right amount. They go to the river with any piece of the pot (low pair, inside straight draw, Ace high). They pay no attention to position, betting patterns, previous hands, etc. They will never fold a pocket pair, even if there are 3 overs on the board. They bluff too much and go all-in too much.

Level 2: This player has figured out a few things, like tight pre-flop play keeps you in the game longer. This player has tightened up pre-flop, but has over compensated by becoming two passive. They no longer play Kx or any two suited, but they still can�t fold hands like KJ or AT or Axs or suited connectors. They can�t get away from top pair. They have a little understanding of odds and outs, but don�t apply it to their game. They don�t raise enough pre-flop. They don�t bluff enough. They�re easy to fold with a big bet. They rarely, if ever, re-raise or check raise. Basically this is tight, predictable poker.

Level 3: This is where the player starts to really understand the complexities of the game. They realize that you have to have a better hand to call a raise than you do to open raise. They have a decent understanding of the odds and can apply them (I have 12 outs, there�s 1,000 in the pot I can call around a 300 bet without making a mistake). They play their position and they bet aggressively pre-flop. They�ll put in a continuation bet on the flop to see where they�re at even if they haven�t hit the hand. They�ll bluff and steal blinds effectively. They are starting to pay attention to betting patterns during a hand and are able to put players on a range of hands. They can categorize players as tight, aggressive, loose, passive, etc.

Level 4: This player can read other players based on past betting patterns and has a mental note of the hands different players have shown down. They use �moves� like check raises, re-raises, slow plays, etc. effectively and often. They truly play the player and will bet aggressively regardless of their cards if they have a read on a player. They have the math down and can calculate odds and probabilities immediately. They win a lot of hands without having to go to showdown.

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/4-levels-of-poker-play.htm

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Sexton's Corner, Vol. 57, Johnny Chan, Legend of Legends: Part 2, Turning Pro

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2008-08-14T07:10:00.001-07:00

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A Great Hold Em Article

Online Poker can be profitable, but be sure to choose the right table!

1. PLAYERS & POT SIZES...

As a general rule, 6-8 players with a fairly large average pot size.

With most online poker sites you can see the average pot size and how many players are seeing the flop. Large pots are better as this generally means more loose players, playing no limit I'm looking to win big hands when I've got the nuts, not to grind down opponents by blind stealing and small pot stealing. I avoid most really tight games, rocks are boring and unprofitable typically. No limit is about getting paid off when you hit your monster, not stealing blinds all day.

A good table for me is one that is loose, but that is also not overly aggressive. I'm looking for a lot of players limping or calling small raises pre-flop.

2. The average number of players seeing the flop...

If you can see the average # of players seeing the flop, this is a hugely vital stat to use. Lower limits you can easily find something around 35-40%, which is pretty darn loose. Find this stat and then get one with a higher than average pot.

Sites like Bodog and Sportsbook.com will show you how many players are seeing the flop on average. I look for games with high averages seeing the flop, anything over 40% is usually good and very easy to find online.

The majority of times this makes for a good table as a tight aggressive player will play between 20% and 35% of any given hands on average, and in my opinion 35% is loooooose.

3. Watch the Button go around the table at least once - and pay attention!

Now that you've found a table with numbers that look pretty good its time to actually take a quick overhead view of the table and see what happens. Open up the table but do not sit down, or if you want you can sit down but not take your cards yet. If you are playing at Poker Stars, here is a screen shot of the table.

Take an open seat and pay attention! Watch the button go all the way around the table and take an initial assement of the table. Here are the things to look for:

A. Players limping and then calling a late position raise with weak holdings (hands like KQo, KJo, KTo, and other dominated hands like QJ (this is a good sign)

B. Look around the table at the current stack sizes - normally avoid tables where more than 3 players have 3 to 4 times the maximum buy in amount. These players can easily push me out of pots or have me committed early. They also might be solid players. (bad sign)

C. Take notice of the cards people are showing down. Look for weak holdings outside of the blinds offsuit small one gappers, Ace rag unsuited, and the plethora of other bad cards people play with. (more junk the better)

D. Take notice of who raises and who calls raises - are premium hands raised huge or limped with and are other players calling raises with weak holdings (good)

E. Any Maniacs at the table? - is there a crazy bettor or people who seem to be out to hit miracle cards by calling big bets? (good depending on seat) If you can get position on them (acting afterwards) you can get paid off when you hit a monster against them. The only problem is that you almost have to hit your hand to beat this player so you need to also feel confident that they will also pay you off when you do.

F. Who are the two worst players at the table? (can't tell? BAD) Pick out two players that are playing weak and have made mistakes. See who is playing really loose, who is playing really tight.

G. Look for players making small raises (1-2x the BB) with premium hands or even slow playing. (good, probably inexperienced players)

4. YOU MUST HAVE A GOOD SEAT RELATIVE TO THE REST OF THE TABLE...

A. This means sitting directly to the left of the Maniacs and the other Big Stacks so you always act after them. If you have a big hand you have the option to disguise it by letting them bet it for you. If you have a weak hand you can let it go fairly easily.

B. Give up position to short stacks/tight players - no problem letting the act after you if they are only going to play strong hands or not get involved often.

If you find the right combination of table factors and good relative seat then snag it! Since you've been watching the action already you can post as soon as you sit down if you want. This helps portray a loose image. If the big blind is 4 seats or less away from me I'll wait and post as soon as I sit down, although I sometimes post right away to make people think I'm loose.

5. IF THE TABLE TURNS COLD, GET UP AND MOVE...

Nothing is worse than staying at a bad table. Many times you'll find yourself sitting at a table with a bunch of tight and aggressive players. Unless you are wanting to work on your game, get up and move and go make money. Don't think that you've got something to prove.

6. TAKE NOTES...

I logged on to Party Poker yesterday to play a tourney with some friends and there were over 70,000 players playing right then. You'll probably never see a player again but if you find anyone who is horrible, take a note and especially when you find the good players, make a note. It could save you your stack later.

I recommend reading through Full Tilt Poker Download Guide for a step by step tutorial on setting a your online poker account. This is a great resource for new players.

Thanks and we'll see you at the tables!

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/no-limit-holdem-table-selection-tips.htm

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Here are some useful strategies to assist you in becomming a better poker player.

2008-08-11T18:19:00.001-07:00

The information in this blog is in no way meant to promote gambling. It provides information on poker to be used in its legal and non-gambling applications.

Another Great Online Poker Article

To go or not to go all in ? that is the question

By Johnny Kampis

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So goes a Chinese proverb that is also an apt description of the beginning of a poker tournament.

Consider starting with 1,500 chips in a tournament with 100 people. In order to win the tournament, you must have 150,000 chips in the end. When you think about it like that it seems almost an unfathomable task, an attempt to climb Mt. Everest. But somebody?s got to do it.

I?ve found over time that I tend to do better at live tournaments than those I play online. At first, I thought it was maybe because I was good at reading people, which is impossible to do online, but then I realized it was something else. When you play online, it?s always easy to see what the average chip count is among the players remaining in the tournament and it can be easy to panic if you are far below the average. I tend to start pushing all in with hands I shouldn?t play or in situations in which I should probably fold.

But when you?re playing live, there is no screen to tell you where you stand against the rest of the field. You can do some calculations in your head to figure out about where you stand, but there?s no number constantly in front of you telling you that.

Just as patience is key in a regular ring game of poker, it?s also key when you have a below average stack in a tournament. Consider that the average stack in a tournament you are playing is 10,000. You have 5,000 and the blinds are 200 and 400. You are well below average, but you aren?t a short stack yet. You don?t have to push all in when you raise. It gives you time to wait on a quality hand before making a move, and if you can double up once you are back to average.

I played a tournament at Binion?s in Las Vegas this summer in which I was a below average stack nearly the entire event, but I stayed patient and was able to get good hands on which to double up on. Finally, when I got to the final table I caught hand after hand and ended up winning the tournament. Had I hurriedly pushed all in earlier in the affair with a less than premium hand and lost I wouldn?t have given myself a chance to catch the hands I was dealt later.

It?s better to pass up a so-so opportunity now in order to get a much better opportunity later. Otherwise, you?ll never get to climb Mt. Everest.

Latest Online Poker News:

Matthew Hilger is generally recognized as one of the best authors on the subject of internet poker. He and some of the most knowledgeable players and writers in the poker industry have joined to contribute columns on every aspect of poker. Contributors range from Tournament Pros like the Hendon Mob� to Internet Poker Pros from the Internet Texas Holdem community. Beyond Texas Holdem Strategy, this section covers Omaha, Backgammon, Sit 'n Go tournaments, multitable tournaments, cash games, poker psychology, mind sets and general revelry.

Visit the Texas Holdem Poker Strategy Section

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We have compiled the very best poker strategies in this great article.

2008-08-09T14:35:00.001-07:00

A Featured Hold Em Article

To go or not to go all in ? that is the question

By Johnny Kampis

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So goes a Chinese proverb that is also an apt description of the beginning of a poker tournament.

Consider starting with 1,500 chips in a tournament with 100 people. In order to win the tournament, you must have 150,000 chips in the end. When you think about it like that it seems almost an unfathomable task, an attempt to climb Mt. Everest. But somebody?s got to do it.

I?ve found over time that I tend to do better at live tournaments than those I play online. At first, I thought it was maybe because I was good at reading people, which is impossible to do online, but then I realized it was something else. When you play online, it?s always easy to see what the average chip count is among the players remaining in the tournament and it can be easy to panic if you are far below the average. I tend to start pushing all in with hands I shouldn?t play or in situations in which I should probably fold.

But when you?re playing live, there is no screen to tell you where you stand against the rest of the field. You can do some calculations in your head to figure out about where you stand, but there?s no number constantly in front of you telling you that.

Just as patience is key in a regular ring game of poker, it?s also key when you have a below average stack in a tournament. Consider that the average stack in a tournament you are playing is 10,000. You have 5,000 and the blinds are 200 and 400. You are well below average, but you aren?t a short stack yet. You don?t have to push all in when you raise. It gives you time to wait on a quality hand before making a move, and if you can double up once you are back to average.

I played a tournament at Binion?s in Las Vegas this summer in which I was a below average stack nearly the entire event, but I stayed patient and was able to get good hands on which to double up on. Finally, when I got to the final table I caught hand after hand and ended up winning the tournament. Had I hurriedly pushed all in earlier in the affair with a less than premium hand and lost I wouldn?t have given myself a chance to catch the hands I was dealt later.

It?s better to pass up a so-so opportunity now in order to get a much better opportunity later. Otherwise, you?ll never get to climb Mt. Everest.

Latest Hold Em News:

888 Holdings' 2nd Quarter Grows Despite Stagnant Poker Earnings

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:51:00 -0700
888 Holdings, online gaming company and home to Pacific Poker, posted a healthy second quarter financial report this week. Net gaming revenue (NGR) came in at $67 million, up 33% from the same period last year and up 4% from last quarter...

Lakes Entertainment Files Ohio Casino Petition

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:36:00 -0700
Lakes Entertainment, the casino and property development corporation that is also the majority stockholder of World Poker Tour Enterprises, Inc., announced yesterday that it had filed a petition for a referendum to build a single casino...

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Hold Em can be intimidating. Here are some strategies to improve your overall game.

2008-08-07T09:19:00.001-07:00

A Featured Hold Em Article

Keeping Things in Their Proper Perspective

Recently I went to Las Vegas to play in my first WSOP Circuit Events. My family took the trip with me, so I had to spend some quality time with them and I wasn�t able to play any satellites.

Already at four and three my twin girls think they own Vegas. Every where we go, people are always asking us if they are quads, because they are only 14 months apart and all have a similar look.

They pose for pictures several times a day with not only the poker players I run into, but with tourists from all over the world who are in Las Vegas on vacation. The girls put their arms on each others shoulder and give out a big "Cheese" for everyone and anyone with a camera. They truly are adorable and are the lights of my life.

They are the reason behind my article today. They are the reason I am proud to be a father of seven. They are the reason I get up every morning and have the motivation and desire to succeed in my daily activities. Whether it�s at my job, or if I am going to the Golf course or if I am hitting the felt today. I have been blessed by the birth of these girls and they have made me a better person because of them coming into my life.

I was playing very smart and I was really focused in my first ever Circuit Event. Although it was a second chance event with a buy in of two hundred dollars, I was thrilled to be playing at Caesars in a tournament that had several professional players and a WPT champion participating.

The tournament started with about 200 players. Within the first hour 90 of those players had busted out and I was actually up to 6400 chips after starting with only 1500. I made a couple of good reads on some of the players at my table and when ever I had a showdown with a player I was always ahead and ended up winning the hand. I used those showdowns to make a couple of bluffs and by the time we were down to 50 players I had close to 28k in chips.

It was an above average stack. During the break, I walked around looking at the other tables to see some of the other stacks. I have always done this at tournaments for some unknown reason.

Right after the break I was in seat 7 and had won about 1400 from the player in seat 5. I had pocket 10's and he had pocket 9's as we both checked the jack on the river.

The very next hand I am the big blind and I look down at KK. Seat 5 on the button raises to 3600 when the blinds were at 1200. I decided to see where I was at as seat 6 folded. I tossed in a third of my stack 7200 chips.

Seat 5 just called my raise and the flop of J-4-8 rainbow hit the table. Seat 5 immediately went all in. Well I knew he didn�t have jacks because he would of checked raised me. I put him on AJ or pocket 10's. I called his all in and he turned over Queens. I felt good, but nervous. Then seat 6 told me he folded Q-10 of diamonds and I felt a sense of relief come over me until the river hit a queen and left me with 2 chips.

I was very upset with the poker gods. I had played so well and I know its poker but I have been hit so hard on the river lately it made me almost sick to my stomach.

I went back to the hotel and was telling my wife what had happened to vent some. I called a couple of friends to talk with them about it, but as you all know poker players do not want to hear bad beat stories. But I needed to get it off my chest. Maybe because this was Caesars and my first Circuit event, I don�t know, but I was truly bothered by that river card more so then ever.

Well as we arrived home late Friday night I sat down to unwind and watched the evening news. There was a breaking news story out of Mission Viejo California on the 5 freeway. A family of 5 had just been rear ended by a semi truck and all perished in the accident. A mother, father a 6 or 7 year old boy and a set of 3-year-old twin girls.

I just leaned back in my chair and called my girls over. I put them all on my lap and gave them big hugs and kisses. I had a huge lump in my throat and it was partly due to my sadness for the family who died, but it was also for the guilt I felt about complaining that my Kings got beat on the river.

Where in the world was my Perspective on life. They were right here sitting on my lap! Never again will I feel like I did after losing. I have so much to be thankful for and I let a game make me forget about what is really important in life.

We take so many things for granted day in and day out. I cannot imagine how life would be if a tragedy such as this was to happen in my life. I have lost both of my parents, a godmother who raised a foster brother and me. Several Aunts, Uncles and the only Grandparent I ever knew.

I have been to way too many funerals for my friends and peers and I am sure with the line of work I am in I will unfortunately have to attend more in the future.

I have been given the authority by the State of California to serve and protect. I thought I could save the world when I took my job like my heroes of my childhood did every Saturday morning when I watched them on television.

Being able to put on a uniform and at a split seconds decision have the authority to take someone�s life is a huge responsibility. Only the good Lord has the ability too be able to do that.

PERSPECTIVE, so my Kings got busted on the river. I will never let the game of poker or any other game get in the way what is really important in life.

I have been to so many tragic scenes in my twenty years of being a Deputy, however this hit home and it has changed me as a person as well as a poker player.

Take care and please be safe.

Scott Diamond AKA The Deputy

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=Keeping-Things-in-Their-Proper-Perspective.html

Latest Hold Em News:

FREE : 'Harrington on Cash Games: I & II' NEW!
by: Dan Harrington & Bill Robertie

Get Harrington's must read books on no-limit texas holdem cash games & other free poker stuff with our Free Gift Offer....

GET YOUR FREE COPY! | BUY NOW

Matthew Hilger is generally recognized as one of the best authors on the subject of internet poker. He and some of the most knowledgeable players and writers in the poker industry have joined to contribute columns on every aspect of poker. Contributors range from Tournament Pros like the Hendon Mob� to Internet Poker Pros from the Internet Texas Holdem community. Beyond Texas Holdem Strategy, this section covers Omaha, Backgammon, Sit 'n Go tournaments, multitable tournaments, cash games, poker psychology, mind sets and general revelry.

Visit the Texas Holdem Poker Strategy Section

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Mens Style
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This online poker article has tips and strategies to bring immediate improvement to your game.

2008-08-05T10:28:00.001-07:00

Please note this blog is meant to provide information on online poker in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Featured Hold Em Article

2008 World Series of Poker

By Scott 'The Deputy' Diamond

Poker players from all over are anxiously waiting for this year's World Series of Poker to begin. They have been honing their skills all year by playing in the various tournaments that are plentiful throughout the country and the world.

Some of us, including me, have had some very good coaching by some of the best in the business. (see photo)

I am very fortunate to have one of the first female inductee's into the Women's Hall of Fame, along with another women who has over 20 years of experience in the Poker Community and is a Instructor at the best Poker seminar available, give me advice and polish my game.

Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher are cornerstones in the Poker World.They not only teach at the WPT Boot Camp, they are constantly on the road volunteering their time at numerous Charitable Events.

With the economy here in the United States in a supposed recession,it will be interseting to see how many travel to Las Vegas and enter into one of the 55 events the WSOP is offering this year.

Several of the local casino's are counting on the huge numbers of visitor's by holding their own tournaments. the Venetian had a very successful tournament last year during the WSOP and will be offering the Deep Stack tournament again this year.

Caesar's has decided to have a Tournament Series as well as the Golden Nugget and of course, Binion's.

These tournaments have been designed for the average Poker player with smaller bank roll's and added play with more chips and longer levels.

The Rio will also be offering $330.00 NL tournaments nightly to compete with the other casino's.

If your dream is to play in a WSOP event, there will also be a variety of satellites held at the Rio for you to obtain your dream. These are an excellent way to gain entry into any WSOP event and if history repeats itself, there will be very long lines for satellites.

I would not be suprised if you are sitting at a table satellite with one or two professional player's this year. In the past, professionals felt there was not enough "equity", in playing satellites. However, the fields are very soft in the majority of the satellites during the WSOP and many are going to try and take advantage of the throng's of amateurs who are in town, trying to become the next Chris Moneymaker or Jerry Yang.

If you have never been to a WSOP you should plan on going. It is an electricfying experience and the atmosphere is just incredible. There is still plenty of time to make your reservations and to read a few books or attend a Boot Camp before this year's WSOP.

If you are one of those who will be in Las Vegas for this year's events and you see Linda or Jan,make sure you acknowledge them not only for their accomplishments in the Poker Community,but what they have given to thousands of player's and fan's,Their HEARTS

Scott Diamond AKA The Deputy

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=2008-World-Series-of-Poker.html

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Consider this article on poker. The techniques will make you a better player.

2008-08-03T04:36:00.001-07:00

A Featured Poker Article

BOOK REVIEW: JOHNNY HUGHES' "TEXAS POKER WISDOM"

by Gary Wise

When I got into this gig a few years ago, it wasn�t for my love of the interactions of cards. For me, it was the players of the games we love who fascinated me, a result of a childhood spent in the company of game players providing shelter for other game players. My dad was the constant host to game night.

Of all the games and cultures that accompany them, none is richer than that of poker. For 150 years this game has been played, but the people and their constant maneuvering were as much a part of the color as the results. It was the stories of cowboys and mobsters, riverboat gamblers and railroad tycoons that kept my eyes wide, and every nugget of that Americana was a morsel to be nourished.

You do enough reading and the stories overlap. You start stumbling upon different renditions of the same stories, or worse yet, poorly-written versions, and you start to realize you�ve been there, done that and that the original story-tellers -- the guys who were there-- are a fading breed whose oral history is soon to be completely devoured by some form of pop culture-broken telephone that will forever tarnish the truth.

Fortunately, we�re not there yet. I can say this with conviction because I�ve just finished reading �Texas Poker Wisdom� a new novel by Johnny Hughes, a man who�s fought the poker wars and lived to tell about it. For anyone out there who yearns for the ways of old and �more importantly�the ways of the truth, it�s a book that should be read, as much for entertainment as for education.

�Wisdom� starts out slowly, much like the game it focuses on. It forces you to endure patiently as you get the background on its protagonists Matt and Dylan O�Malley. Matt, a character based on the author, is the old school grinder, a poker player who�s survived the tough times. The beneficiary of a new, unfamiliar monthly stipend, he finds himself living in a secure environment he�s unaccustomed to. It�s comfortable, but for a man of action, it leaves the distinct feeling of restlessness in everything he does. He needs a new adventure.

Dylan, meanwhile, is the young hotshot internet type you�d find behind half the monitors in the world nowadays. He�s young, cocky and confident, thanks in large part to a fast, easily-earned success that�s left him thinking the world is his oyster, evidenced by the quarter-million dollar bankroll he�s built up in next to no time at all.

The story starts when the two protagonists meet for the first time in almost two decades. Dylan acts with the indifference of his generation, while Matt behaves according to the caution of his own. Slowly, bridges are built, using poker as the brick and mortar on which they connect. To tell you much more would be to ruin the story.

There are lessons to be learned here. They are lessons in the game�s shady history, with the author drawing on his own experience as a soldier in Boss Bill Boyd�s army of poker scams and shenanigans. They are lessons of the peril of a damsel in distress; lessons in the pitfalls of �the life� and how to avoid them; how to turn every dollar into two and how to avoid turning every two into zero.

There�s good writing here too. Hughes draws upon the colorful colloquialisms of the title regions and colors them more with witty one-liners from his own repertoire. Simple sentences like �What stays in Vegas is a sucker�s money� left my jaw hanging in admiration over how much could be communicated through what�s an obvious line in hindsight.

Texas Poker Wisdom isn�t without its flaws. Hughes needs a better editor (the word �quiet� was spelled Q-U-I-T-E three times that I saw) and the narrative has a distinctive ADD feel in the early goings, but slogging through the mud is worth the wait. Poker is often described as hours of boredom interspersed with moments of sheer terror, and the deeper you get into the book, the less you get of the former and more you get of the latter.

You don�t need to be a poker player to appreciate Texas Poker Wisdom�s lessons in life, but it helps if you want to get the maximum enjoyment out of every tension filled hand. Call this a hearty recommendation to read this book, and to stick with it when you think about putting it down.

Gary Wise

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=book-texas-poker-wisdom.html

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Banks Are Holding Up MGM's CityCenter Project Funding

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:40:00 -0700
Almost a year ago, Dubai World entered into an agreement to become a part owner in MGM's megacasino project, CityCenter. The $5.1 billion deal was hailed by Wall Street...

Inside The Poker Tour, Volume 95 - Here Come the Women

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FREE : 'Harrington on Cash Games: I & II' NEW!
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Enough beating around the bush- time to start winning at online poker.

2008-07-22T10:33:00.001-07:00

A Great Online Poker Article

The Idiot Approach

MYSTIC - Playing online poker can differ greatly from playing poker on the pro circuit. While on the pro circuit you can get to know the opponents you encounter quite well, and can study and adapt to their personal methods of play.

In online poker, however, the players you encounter will often differ greatly from day to day as new players enter the game. Many of
these players will lack skill at the game of poker, backing up bad hands with good money, while still others will be lurking at tables waiting to take advantage of these weaker players. You can take advantage of this
phenomenon by taking the idiot approach.

The idiot approach can give you great results when you're playing against the weak player or the player who wants to prey upon the weak. It involves putting good money behind bad hands when starting play, then suddenly switching gears to play a much more conservative game - more conservative, perhaps, than even your normal style of play. Basically you want the good players to think that you are a weak player, and the weak players to gain confidence after they win a few beefy pots.

This gambit will lose you money in the short run, but the potential for strong gains in the long run will be increased. If you can throw in a bit of money on a weak hand and play it until the hand is over, then unless you've accidentally bluffed your way to a win, your opponents will see your pocket cards and will notice that you are playing money on weak hands.

This could potentially persuade stronger opponents to start putting chips behind weaker hands, thinking that they've got pretty good
bets against your hands considering that you are playing weak poker. Meanwhile, the weaker opponents will start playing bigger money, thinking that they are on a lucky streak or sitting at a good table due to taking some early wins. At this point, however, you will have tightened your game and will only be playing your better hands.

This strategy is weak if you're playing against excellent opponents who notice right away that you have switched gears, or against opponents who play based on their hands and not based on the actions of the other players at their table. It's also a bad idea to gamble away too much money up front using this tactic - don't throw away so much money that getting those initial losses back becomes an insurmountable chore.

But against a table full of random players, a few badly placed bets here and there in the early hands can win you some good money on later deals.

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/the-idiot-approach.htm

Latest Online Poker News:

Moody's Downgrades Bond Ratings of Casino Operators

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Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:54:00 -0700
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Off Again, On Again for West Virginia Poker Tourney

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:23:00 -0700
The saga of a West Virginia tournament offering a trip to the 2009 World Series of Poker to its winner again illustrates the confusing and often conflicting nature of state and federal gambling laws. When all was done, the tournament...

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Tired of playing hold em and not coming out a winner? Here are some techniques to make you better.

2008-07-20T19:17:00.001-07:00

This blog is for information and education only. It is meant to improve your hold em game in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Great Texas Hold Em Article

Online Poker can be profitable, but be sure to choose the right table!

1. PLAYERS & POT SIZES...

As a general rule, 6-8 players with a fairly large average pot size.

With most online poker sites you can see the average pot size and how many players are seeing the flop. Large pots are better as this generally means more loose players, playing no limit I'm looking to win big hands when I've got the nuts, not to grind down opponents by blind stealing and small pot stealing. I avoid most really tight games, rocks are boring and unprofitable typically. No limit is about getting paid off when you hit your monster, not stealing blinds all day.

A good table for me is one that is loose, but that is also not overly aggressive. I'm looking for a lot of players limping or calling small raises pre-flop.

2. The average number of players seeing the flop...

If you can see the average # of players seeing the flop, this is a hugely vital stat to use. Lower limits you can easily find something around 35-40%, which is pretty darn loose. Find this stat and then get one with a higher than average pot.

Sites like Bodog and Sportsbook.com will show you how many players are seeing the flop on average. I look for games with high averages seeing the flop, anything over 40% is usually good and very easy to find online.

The majority of times this makes for a good table as a tight aggressive player will play between 20% and 35% of any given hands on average, and in my opinion 35% is loooooose.

3. Watch the Button go around the table at least once - and pay attention!

Now that you've found a table with numbers that look pretty good its time to actually take a quick overhead view of the table and see what happens. Open up the table but do not sit down, or if you want you can sit down but not take your cards yet. If you are playing at Poker Stars, here is a screen shot of the table.

Take an open seat and pay attention! Watch the button go all the way around the table and take an initial assement of the table. Here are the things to look for:

A. Players limping and then calling a late position raise with weak holdings (hands like KQo, KJo, KTo, and other dominated hands like QJ (this is a good sign)

B. Look around the table at the current stack sizes - normally avoid tables where more than 3 players have 3 to 4 times the maximum buy in amount. These players can easily push me out of pots or have me committed early. They also might be solid players. (bad sign)

C. Take notice of the cards people are showing down. Look for weak holdings outside of the blinds offsuit small one gappers, Ace rag unsuited, and the plethora of other bad cards people play with. (more junk the better)

D. Take notice of who raises and who calls raises - are premium hands raised huge or limped with and are other players calling raises with weak holdings (good)

E. Any Maniacs at the table? - is there a crazy bettor or people who seem to be out to hit miracle cards by calling big bets? (good depending on seat) If you can get position on them (acting afterwards) you can get paid off when you hit a monster against them. The only problem is that you almost have to hit your hand to beat this player so you need to also feel confident that they will also pay you off when you do.

F. Who are the two worst players at the table? (can't tell? BAD) Pick out two players that are playing weak and have made mistakes. See who is playing really loose, who is playing really tight.

G. Look for players making small raises (1-2x the BB) with premium hands or even slow playing. (good, probably inexperienced players)

4. YOU MUST HAVE A GOOD SEAT RELATIVE TO THE REST OF THE TABLE...

A. This means sitting directly to the left of the Maniacs and the other Big Stacks so you always act after them. If you have a big hand you have the option to disguise it by letting them bet it for you. If you have a weak hand you can let it go fairly easily.

B. Give up position to short stacks/tight players - no problem letting the act after you if they are only going to play strong hands or not get involved often.

If you find the right combination of table factors and good relative seat then snag it! Since you've been watching the action already you can post as soon as you sit down if you want. This helps portray a loose image. If the big blind is 4 seats or less away from me I'll wait and post as soon as I sit down, although I sometimes post right away to make people think I'm loose.

5. IF THE TABLE TURNS COLD, GET UP AND MOVE...

Nothing is worse than staying at a bad table. Many times you'll find yourself sitting at a table with a bunch of tight and aggressive players. Unless you are wanting to work on your game, get up and move and go make money. Don't think that you've got something to prove.

6. TAKE NOTES...

I logged on to Party Poker yesterday to play a tourney with some friends and there were over 70,000 players playing right then. You'll probably never see a player again but if you find anyone who is horrible, take a note and especially when you find the good players, make a note. It could save you your stack later.

I recommend reading through Full Tilt Poker Download Guide for a step by step tutorial on setting a your online poker account. This is a great resource for new players.

Thanks and we'll see you at the tables!

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/no-limit-holdem-table-selection-tips.htm

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This great article contains great Texas Hold Em tips as well as news items.

2008-07-16T03:46:00.001-07:00

This blog is for entertainment purposes only. It is meant to provide information relating to the game of Texas Hold Em in its legal and non-gambling applications.

Todays Texas Hold Em Article

5 Tips To Use When Playing Low-Limit Poker

1. Find a way to make yourself really pay attention:

A strategy I used recently at a $1/$2 limit game was to convince myself that the bets were really $100/$200 and force myself to try and make optimal plays.

Notice i didn't say play it like everyone else was really playing like they would at $100/$200, but just pretend that each bet was worth that amount to me. IE, I'm playing very close attention to everything I can to try and make the absolute best decisions possible.

I remembered that the other players weren't thinking like that but just pretended they weren't very good (or that they weren't paying much attention).

It worked well and i nearly doubled my buyin. Another key factor was the table conditions (had a total sucker at the table and one other overly aggressive/stubborn guy when he got involved (couldn't lay it down).

2. Manage your Low Limit Table Bankroll

In a 1/2 limit game you can sit down with $50 although I like to sit with $100 (table reputation) and set my must leave level at the moment my roll gets to $50 or below.

If I lose down to $75 I make myself take an honest evalutation of the table and unless i've just gotten exceptionally unlucky. Find a new table or switch up to a small Sit-N-Go I play the $5 or $10 SNG's. Also take advantage of the free roll tournaments. Nearly all the sites offer them.

3. Use Sit-N-Go's to get your No-Limit Fix.
If you are itching to play no limit poker, and who isn't... play in sit-n-go's instead of the lower stakes NL cash tables. Sit N Go's are there to get that no limit enjoyment and your loss is limited to whatever the buyin was. Poker Stars has plenty of $1 buyin sit-n-go's that you can play in all day long. If you really have to play a low limit limit cash game, check out how to win at low stakes no limit cash game I get to play no-limit and can normally cash in around 6-7 of these for every 10 I play.

In low stakes sit-n-go's, people play so stupid early - they play way too loose and they love top pair and really love two pair. You can just fold all but premiums for the first two levels and just slightly loosen up in position at levels 3 and 4 (while being selectively aggressive) and then steal in position from the next few levels and you're in the money - often.

4. Maintain Discipline - find a new table if there are not there are not obvious fish handing out their cash.
The next day I played a bit more 1/2 limit and lost down to $75 (even after winning my first couple of hands) I got up and left as there were 2 solid players there and no real fish. Low limit takes discipline. I thought I could grind out a profit, but why bother... there are plenty of tables to choose from that will be much easier.

5. Short Handed - more action.
If the action seems to slow for you at the 10 person tables then sit at 6 handed... its got a lot of action.. and even at the .25/50c tables you can cut your teeth and grow your roll. You'll need to loosen up some, but just continue to play disciplined, aggressive poker.

To practice your low limit strategies, play online poker.

Thanks and we'll see you at the tables!

KAP

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/5-tips-to-use-when-playing-low-limit-poker.htm

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Dr. Pauly at the WSOP: Online Pros at the WSOP -- Five Young Guns

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Tired of playing Texas Hold Em and not coming out a winner? Here are some techniques to make you better.

2008-07-14T05:57:00.001-07:00

The information in this blog is in no way meant to promote gambling. It provides information on Texas Hold Em to be used in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Texas Hold Em Article For Your Reading Enjoyment

5 Tips To Use When Playing Low-Limit Poker

1. Find a way to make yourself really pay attention:

A strategy I used recently at a $1/$2 limit game was to convince myself that the bets were really $100/$200 and force myself to try and make optimal plays.

Notice i didn't say play it like everyone else was really playing like they would at $100/$200, but just pretend that each bet was worth that amount to me. IE, I'm playing very close attention to everything I can to try and make the absolute best decisions possible.

I remembered that the other players weren't thinking like that but just pretended they weren't very good (or that they weren't paying much attention).

It worked well and i nearly doubled my buyin. Another key factor was the table conditions (had a total sucker at the table and one other overly aggressive/stubborn guy when he got involved (couldn't lay it down).

2. Manage your Low Limit Table Bankroll

In a 1/2 limit game you can sit down with $50 although I like to sit with $100 (table reputation) and set my must leave level at the moment my roll gets to $50 or below.

If I lose down to $75 I make myself take an honest evalutation of the table and unless i've just gotten exceptionally unlucky. Find a new table or switch up to a small Sit-N-Go I play the $5 or $10 SNG's. Also take advantage of the free roll tournaments. Nearly all the sites offer them.

3. Use Sit-N-Go's to get your No-Limit Fix.
If you are itching to play no limit poker, and who isn't... play in sit-n-go's instead of the lower stakes NL cash tables. Sit N Go's are there to get that no limit enjoyment and your loss is limited to whatever the buyin was. Poker Stars has plenty of $1 buyin sit-n-go's that you can play in all day long. If you really have to play a low limit limit cash game, check out how to win at low stakes no limit cash game I get to play no-limit and can normally cash in around 6-7 of these for every 10 I play.

In low stakes sit-n-go's, people play so stupid early - they play way too loose and they love top pair and really love two pair. You can just fold all but premiums for the first two levels and just slightly loosen up in position at levels 3 and 4 (while being selectively aggressive) and then steal in position from the next few levels and you're in the money - often.

4. Maintain Discipline - find a new table if there are not there are not obvious fish handing out their cash.
The next day I played a bit more 1/2 limit and lost down to $75 (even after winning my first couple of hands) I got up and left as there were 2 solid players there and no real fish. Low limit takes discipline. I thought I could grind out a profit, but why bother... there are plenty of tables to choose from that will be much easier.

5. Short Handed - more action.
If the action seems to slow for you at the 10 person tables then sit at 6 handed... its got a lot of action.. and even at the .25/50c tables you can cut your teeth and grow your roll. You'll need to loosen up some, but just continue to play disciplined, aggressive poker.

To practice your low limit strategies, play online poker.

Thanks and we'll see you at the tables!

KAP

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/5-tips-to-use-when-playing-low-limit-poker.htm

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PokerNews' Tiffany 'Hot Chips' Michelle Eyes WSOP History

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:47:00 -0700
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Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:26:00 -0700
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Poker can be intimidating. Here are some strategies to improve your overall game.

2008-07-12T21:25:00.001-07:00

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Todays Poker Article

Tournament Poker and Cash Game Poker: A Two-headed Monster - Part 2

by Gary Gates

�Should I fold and wait for a better spot to put all my chips at risk? With only 50 players left to the money, do I have enough chips to survive the blinds and antes? How long until the blinds go up? Which players at my table are susceptible to getting eaten up by the blinds? Which players can I steal blinds from?�

When we left part I, we began to consider the additional factors a tournament poker player must consider within his or her decision-making process. These �special� circumstances often call for special action. A player might make one play in a cash game that he would never even consider in a tournament, and vice versa.

The unique decision-making processes required of these two very different brands of poker are necessitated by the manner in which profit is earned in each type. Cash games reward players instantly, as every pot pushed your way comes in the form of legal tender that you can walk away with at any time. In other words, a player can sit down at a cash game, double up on the first hand, put his chips back in the rack and proceed to the cashier with his newfound wealth. Though I do not recommend this method, as it won�t earn you many friends at the table, no one is going to stop you. (Who needs friends at the poker table anyway, right?)

Tournaments, however, reward only the top few participants who are able to outlast the masses. Described by many as marathons that call for hours of intense boredom, speckled with a few moments of sheer terror, poker tournaments require a great amount of time and patience. In a tournament that pays the top ten players, 100th place pays exactly as much as eleventh: nothing. Therefore, major decisions within the game are heavily influenced by the size of players� chip stacks, the number of players remaining, and the size of your own stack relative to the blinds. Before you take tenth, you have to guarantee yourself eleventh, and that fact is what makes survival a tournament player�s number one priority.

Cash games, because of their static blinds and the option to buy more chips at any time, tend to suit more conservative poker players. The never-increasing blinds allow them to sit back and wait for big hands with which they hope to win massive pots. Tournament play forces aggression to some extent, as the blinds and antes are constantly on the rise. The track records of Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar and Johnny Chan are prime examples of the kind of success that can come from aggressive tournament play.

Which brand of poker should you play? First consider the style of poker that comes most naturally to you. Do you tend to play passive or aggressive? Are you the kind of player that can recognize the multitude of situations that will be presented to you throughout a poker tournament and adapt your play accordingly, or do you feel more comfortable playing the player rather than the cards and situation? Be sure to try your hand at both and know the differences between the two before you decide which is right for you.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=tournament-poker-cash-game-poker-part-2.html

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We have compiled the very best poker strategies in this great article.

2008-07-10T01:41:00.001-07:00

Please note this blog is meant to provide information on poker in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Great Hold Em Article

Table Image - Part 1

by Gary Gates

As a serious player, student or casual poker enthusiast, I�d be willing to bet you�ve come across some variation of the saying �play the man, not the cards.� Its meaning has been interpreted hundreds of ways by various poker authors, pros, and even movie directors; perhaps most famously immortalized by Matt Damon�s character in Rounders, who insists he can �play it blind� when pitted against less formidable opponents. �The cards themselves hardly matter,� he tells the judge.

Though it might work in the movies, I don�t advise that you play too many hands blind. On the contrary, you should play every hand, even the ones you�re not in, with wide open eyes. Though �play the man, not the cards� typically pertains to physical tells, or visible mannerisms that can tip off a player�s hand, I would argue that in order to best �play the man� you have to observe how he plays his cards, which in turn means the cards matter a whole lot.

From the minute you sit down at a poker table, your attitude, your outfit, your betting habits, the frequency with which you call, raise or fold and the quality of the hands you expose all combine to create a snapshot of your playing style in the eyes of the other nine people at the table trying to separate you from your money. Your opponents� perception of your playing style, also known as your �table image,� often determines how an observant player chooses to play against you and you against them. So what if we could control how other players perceive us at the poker table and use it to our advantage?

Fortunately, we can! Being aware of your table image and knowing how to take advantage of it is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal. Before you decide to be creative and make a play based on image alone, it is important to consider which of your opponents is capable of recognizing and applying the concept of table image. Assuming that everyone at the table has been watching and keeping track of your every move can be a costly mistake. You�ll often find more opponents than not who will be too preoccupied with a game on TV or a conversation with their neighbor to notice that you haven�t played a hand in an hour, so be sure that the target you attempt to exploit has been watching.

Most poker texts categorize playing styles into four major groups: tight, passive, loose and aggressive. The terms �tight� and �loose� are typically used to describe the range of hands a player is likely to play. A tight player folds most hands before the flop and only plays the upper echelon of starting hands, such as pocket aces, kings, queens, AK, etc. A loose player will get involved with a much wider variety of starting hands, including small pairs and small suited connectors. �Passive� and �aggressive� are terms used to characterize players� betting habits. A passive player does a lot of checking and calling, while an aggressive player makes a lot of bets and raises.

Part II will discuss ways to exploit table image, both projected and perceived.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=table-image-part-1.html

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With these online poker tips, you can not help but improve your game.

2008-07-08T11:22:00.001-07:00

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A Hold Em Article For Your Reading Enjoyment

Table Image - Part 2

by Gary Gates

There are two main ways to use table image to your advantage at the poker table; either by making decisions based on another players� perception of you, or making decisions based on your perception of your opponent. The latter is most commonly exploited by getting a clear idea of your opponents� style of play and then playing the opposite way.

For example, if you sit down at a table and find that the majority of your adversaries see a lot of flops and are constantly betting and raising, playing the role of a tight and somewhat passive player would prove profitable. As your opponents busy themselves with trying to outbet each other, you are patiently waiting for the most opportune moment to strike and fire back with a check raise on the river that takes them by surprise. You should also be aware that the more perceptive players may have already picked up on your tactics and will be hesitant to give you action when you do enter a pot. Therefore it might be a good idea to try and see a couple of cheap flops with marginal hands in order to disguise your strategy. Just don�t get too attached if you do end up catching a small piece of the flop.

You can also use table image to attack opponents individually. If you�ve pegged someone a tight passive player and find yourself heads-up against them, you may be able to steal the pot with an extra bet or raise if you sense the slightest bit of weakness. Be wary, however, if you do make this play and your opponent surprises you with a call or comes over the top of your raise � now he means business.

Being able to recognize your own table image is essential to making it work to your favor. Try to keep track of the number of flops you see, the frequency with which you raise, the kinds of hands your opponents have seen you expose and everything in between. You should also listen for clues directly from your opponents as to how they view your play. If you�re playing tight, you�ll often hear someone say �I�ll have to remember to get out of your way when you play a hand.� If you�ve been raising and being the aggressor, someone might say �imagine that, another raise.� All of these comments are clues that can help give you a better concept of your own table image.

Let�s assume you�re playing a loose aggressive style and your opponents have clearly picked up on it. Ideally, now you should change gears and wait for a premium hand while your opponents still have you pegged as a maniac. When you�re finally dealt a pair of aces or kings, play them exactly the same way you played to earn your reputation, by betting and raising, and you�re bound to get some extra action on the hand. Conversely, if you�ve been playing a tight game and haven�t seen many flops, use your conservative image to make a couple of bluffs. Opponents are much more likely to respect a bet from someone who�s played fewer pots than everyone else.

Remember, the minute you sit down at that table they�ll be watching you. Watch right back. Know your opponents, know your own table image, disguise your strategy and �play the man� accordingly.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=table-image-part-2.html

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Dr. Pauly at the 2008 WSOP: Celebrities at the World Series of Poker

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2008-07-06T19:09:00.001-07:00

A Poker Article to Instantly Improve Your Game

BOOK REVIEW - BROKE: A POKER NOVEL

By Gary Wise

Getting a look inside the mind of a professional poker player should prove a valuable resource to any aspirant. Author Brandon Adams is such a player; a high stakes online pro who�s managed to make final tables in both the WPT and WSOP Circuit. Broke, while not technically about him, is a novella drawn from his experience.

I say novella because the length of the book is 96 large print, small-sized pages. This is a one-day read, and as such probably isn�t worth the $10 asking price for the paper version. For half that though, one can retrieve the text online. For that price, Broke is a worthwhile investment as both educational and entertaining text.

Adams left me wanting more. His first person protagonist makes the same rounds as its author, traveling to major events at major casinos, winning or losing huge amounts in seconds online, experiencing the ups and downs that are part of the pro poker territory�even losing $3,200 on a phone call-induced misclick. We�ve all made that mistake at one point, but Adams� narrative allows us to feel the adrenal implosion of making it at the highest stakes. There�s more, but I don�t want to ruin the surprises.

For a first attempt, �Broke�s author shows a lot of promise. He writes from what he knows and weaves a precautionary tale in the process that paints no pictures about his profession. Parents, if your kids are playing poker professionally, get them to read this; the $5 will probably save them a lot more money down the road. If nothing else, it will show them where they�re going.

I�d go on, but this review would then be longer than the book. Brandon, make it longer next time. I wanted more.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=book-broke-poker-novel.html

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2008-07-04T07:07:00.001-07:00

This blog is for information and education only. It is meant to improve your hold em game in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Featured Online Poker Article

ADVANTAGES OF TIGHT vs. LOOSE GAMES

The makeup of a no-limit hold�em game can vary greatly from table to table depending on the lineup of players in each setting. Oftentimes, only the addition of one reckless player can cause the entire game to change from a relatively tight and conservative match to one in which all the players begin to loosen up and the chips start flying in an attempt to win the money of the reckless player. Here are some characteristics of tight and loose games:

Tight

A raise often takes the blinds, or a continuation bet after the flop takes the pot if the pre-flop bet is called.
Players aren�t willing to put much money into the pot with even relatively strong hands such as A-Q or 10-10.
Big pots rarely develop due to the lack of contestants, and bluffs are usually effective because the pots aren�t worth fighting over.
Loose

Raises are usually called, as are significant re-raises.
Players are willing to put a lot of money into the pot with mediocre hands such as K-J or 5-5.
Big pots are commonplace, as are big bluffs, which are generally less successful than bluffs in loose games but are worth much more when they do work.
So what are the advantages of each type of game? First and foremost, you�d much rather be playing in a loose game because you can play very selectively and be more likely to get paid off on your big hands. But to be successful in a loose no-limit hold�em game, you must have a lot of heart because there are going to be some tricky situations when you are facing a big bet. If you can learn to figure out who�s bluffing and who�s not and have the courage to act on your convictions, you will do very well in loose games. And on the flip side, you�ll have to figure out when to pull your own well-timed bluff to rake in some pots yourself.

On the other hand, tight games also have their advantages. In these games, an aggressive player can steal a lot of small pots. This strategy is most effective in games with decent blinds. If you�re playing $1-$2 there�s not much in the pot to steal, but if it�s a tight $2-$5 or $5-$10 game, then there�s more worth going after. Make your standard raise of 2.5 to 3 times the big blind and you�ll take a lot of pots. Those not won pre-flop can usually be obtained on the flop with a standard continuation bet of half to two-third the pot size.

Players in tight games also tend to play more straightforward. You�ll face far fewer check-raise bluffs than you would in loose games. When someone pushes back with a check raise or re-raise in a tight game, it�s best to let your mediocre hands go.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=advantage-of-tight-vs-loose-games.html

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Matthew Hilger is generally recognized as one of the best authors on the subject of internet poker. He and some of the most knowledgeable players and writers in the poker industry have joined to contribute columns on every aspect of poker. Contributors range from Tournament Pros like the Hendon Mob� to Internet Poker Pros from the Internet Texas Holdem community. Beyond Texas Holdem Strategy, this section covers Omaha, Backgammon, Sit 'n Go tournaments, multitable tournaments, cash games, poker psychology, mind sets and general revelry.

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Are you ready to be a better Texas Hold Em player? If you answered yes read on.

2008-07-02T01:37:00.001-07:00

The information in this blog is in no way meant to promote gambling. It provides information on Texas Hold Em to be used in its legal and non-gambling applications.

Another Great Texas Hold Em Article

To go or not to go all in ? that is the question

By Johnny Kampis

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So goes a Chinese proverb that is also an apt description of the beginning of a poker tournament.

Consider starting with 1,500 chips in a tournament with 100 people. In order to win the tournament, you must have 150,000 chips in the end. When you think about it like that it seems almost an unfathomable task, an attempt to climb Mt. Everest. But somebody?s got to do it.

I?ve found over time that I tend to do better at live tournaments than those I play online. At first, I thought it was maybe because I was good at reading people, which is impossible to do online, but then I realized it was something else. When you play online, it?s always easy to see what the average chip count is among the players remaining in the tournament and it can be easy to panic if you are far below the average. I tend to start pushing all in with hands I shouldn?t play or in situations in which I should probably fold.

But when you?re playing live, there is no screen to tell you where you stand against the rest of the field. You can do some calculations in your head to figure out about where you stand, but there?s no number constantly in front of you telling you that.

Just as patience is key in a regular ring game of poker, it?s also key when you have a below average stack in a tournament. Consider that the average stack in a tournament you are playing is 10,000. You have 5,000 and the blinds are 200 and 400. You are well below average, but you aren?t a short stack yet. You don?t have to push all in when you raise. It gives you time to wait on a quality hand before making a move, and if you can double up once you are back to average.

I played a tournament at Binion?s in Las Vegas this summer in which I was a below average stack nearly the entire event, but I stayed patient and was able to get good hands on which to double up on. Finally, when I got to the final table I caught hand after hand and ended up winning the tournament. Had I hurriedly pushed all in earlier in the affair with a less than premium hand and lost I wouldn?t have given myself a chance to catch the hands I was dealt later.

It?s better to pass up a so-so opportunity now in order to get a much better opportunity later. Otherwise, you?ll never get to climb Mt. Everest.

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Here are some useful strategies to assist you in becomming a better online poker player.

2008-06-30T07:36:00.001-07:00

Please note this blog is meant to provide information on online poker in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Featured Poker Article

Table Image - Part 2

by Gary Gates

There are two main ways to use table image to your advantage at the poker table; either by making decisions based on another players� perception of you, or making decisions based on your perception of your opponent. The latter is most commonly exploited by getting a clear idea of your opponents� style of play and then playing the opposite way.

For example, if you sit down at a table and find that the majority of your adversaries see a lot of flops and are constantly betting and raising, playing the role of a tight and somewhat passive player would prove profitable. As your opponents busy themselves with trying to outbet each other, you are patiently waiting for the most opportune moment to strike and fire back with a check raise on the river that takes them by surprise. You should also be aware that the more perceptive players may have already picked up on your tactics and will be hesitant to give you action when you do enter a pot. Therefore it might be a good idea to try and see a couple of cheap flops with marginal hands in order to disguise your strategy. Just don�t get too attached if you do end up catching a small piece of the flop.

You can also use table image to attack opponents individually. If you�ve pegged someone a tight passive player and find yourself heads-up against them, you may be able to steal the pot with an extra bet or raise if you sense the slightest bit of weakness. Be wary, however, if you do make this play and your opponent surprises you with a call or comes over the top of your raise � now he means business.

Being able to recognize your own table image is essential to making it work to your favor. Try to keep track of the number of flops you see, the frequency with which you raise, the kinds of hands your opponents have seen you expose and everything in between. You should also listen for clues directly from your opponents as to how they view your play. If you�re playing tight, you�ll often hear someone say �I�ll have to remember to get out of your way when you play a hand.� If you�ve been raising and being the aggressor, someone might say �imagine that, another raise.� All of these comments are clues that can help give you a better concept of your own table image.

Let�s assume you�re playing a loose aggressive style and your opponents have clearly picked up on it. Ideally, now you should change gears and wait for a premium hand while your opponents still have you pegged as a maniac. When you�re finally dealt a pair of aces or kings, play them exactly the same way you played to earn your reputation, by betting and raising, and you�re bound to get some extra action on the hand. Conversely, if you�ve been playing a tight game and haven�t seen many flops, use your conservative image to make a couple of bluffs. Opponents are much more likely to respect a bet from someone who�s played fewer pots than everyone else.

Remember, the minute you sit down at that table they�ll be watching you. Watch right back. Know your opponents, know your own table image, disguise your strategy and �play the man� accordingly.

Source: http://www.wisehandpoker.com/articles/index.php?article=table-image-part-2.html

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Matthew Hilger is generally recognized as one of the best authors on the subject of internet poker. He and some of the most knowledgeable players and writers in the poker industry have joined to contribute columns on every aspect of poker. Contributors range from Tournament Pros like the Hendon Mob� to Internet Poker Pros from the Internet Texas Holdem community. Beyond Texas Holdem Strategy, this section covers Omaha, Backgammon, Sit 'n Go tournaments, multitable tournaments, cash games, poker psychology, mind sets and general revelry.

Visit the Texas Holdem Poker Strategy Section

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This article will aid you in your quest to become better at poker.

2008-06-28T00:53:00.001-07:00

This blog is for entertainment purposes only. It is meant to provide information relating to the game of poker in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Great Online Poker Article

5 Tips To Use When Playing Low-Limit Poker

1. Find a way to make yourself really pay attention:

A strategy I used recently at a $1/$2 limit game was to convince myself that the bets were really $100/$200 and force myself to try and make optimal plays.

Notice i didn't say play it like everyone else was really playing like they would at $100/$200, but just pretend that each bet was worth that amount to me. IE, I'm playing very close attention to everything I can to try and make the absolute best decisions possible.

I remembered that the other players weren't thinking like that but just pretended they weren't very good (or that they weren't paying much attention).

It worked well and i nearly doubled my buyin. Another key factor was the table conditions (had a total sucker at the table and one other overly aggressive/stubborn guy when he got involved (couldn't lay it down).

2. Manage your Low Limit Table Bankroll

In a 1/2 limit game you can sit down with $50 although I like to sit with $100 (table reputation) and set my must leave level at the moment my roll gets to $50 or below.

If I lose down to $75 I make myself take an honest evalutation of the table and unless i've just gotten exceptionally unlucky. Find a new table or switch up to a small Sit-N-Go I play the $5 or $10 SNG's. Also take advantage of the free roll tournaments. Nearly all the sites offer them.

3. Use Sit-N-Go's to get your No-Limit Fix.
If you are itching to play no limit poker, and who isn't... play in sit-n-go's instead of the lower stakes NL cash tables. Sit N Go's are there to get that no limit enjoyment and your loss is limited to whatever the buyin was. Poker Stars has plenty of $1 buyin sit-n-go's that you can play in all day long. If you really have to play a low limit limit cash game, check out how to win at low stakes no limit cash game I get to play no-limit and can normally cash in around 6-7 of these for every 10 I play.

In low stakes sit-n-go's, people play so stupid early - they play way too loose and they love top pair and really love two pair. You can just fold all but premiums for the first two levels and just slightly loosen up in position at levels 3 and 4 (while being selectively aggressive) and then steal in position from the next few levels and you're in the money - often.

4. Maintain Discipline - find a new table if there are not there are not obvious fish handing out their cash.
The next day I played a bit more 1/2 limit and lost down to $75 (even after winning my first couple of hands) I got up and left as there were 2 solid players there and no real fish. Low limit takes discipline. I thought I could grind out a profit, but why bother... there are plenty of tables to choose from that will be much easier.

5. Short Handed - more action.
If the action seems to slow for you at the 10 person tables then sit at 6 handed... its got a lot of action.. and even at the .25/50c tables you can cut your teeth and grow your roll. You'll need to loosen up some, but just continue to play disciplined, aggressive poker.

To practice your low limit strategies, play online poker.

Thanks and we'll see you at the tables!

KAP

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/5-tips-to-use-when-playing-low-limit-poker.htm

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2008-06-26T08:35:00.001-07:00

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Todays Online Poker Article

Value Betting and Protection Betting in No Limit Texas Holdem

There is a balance to betting that must be reached in order to receive maximum value for your hands. This balance is the struggle between Value and Protection Betting.

On the Value side, you want to extract the maximum amount of money from your opponent. And on the Protection side, you want to prevent losing the amount of money you have invested in a pot.

I have seen on many occasions inexperienced players over and under bet their hands accordingly. Following are two examples I personally played that illustrate improperly applied Value and Protection Betting.

The first hand example is from the 2005 WSOP.
I was in middle position and looked down at JJ. I raised three times the big blind and was called only by the big blind yielding a pot of 6.5 big bets. The call of the big blind could have simply been defensive, but an otherwise chatty opponent was suddenly quiet. I assumed a range of hands he could hold to be big paint, big slick or a middle pair.

The flop delivered K93 rainbow. My opponent bet the minimum bringing the pot to 7.5 big bets. At this point I was convinced he had a king and his Value bet would force me to call.

The turn card was another K. My opponent quickly checked raising the ire of suspicion. So I promptly checked behind him as I was willing to show this hand down for nothing.

The river delivered an 8. My opponent declared assertively that he was �all-in�. Now, I originally placed my opponent on a king. With two kings on the board, the likelihood of him holding a K was small. However, I was not willing to risk my entire tournament on a pair of Js when my gut instinct told me he had a K. I decided to try getting him to expose his cards by declaring that I was folding the winner and showing him my Jacks as they were mucked. He triumphantly flipped his hand over showing pocket kings for quad-kings.

How does this apply to value betting?
Proper use of value betting in light of what your opponent may be holding would have given this opponent more chips with his monster hand. Obviously I was willing to call the one bet on the flop. At minimum I would have called one bet on the turn and one on the river. He left at least two bets on the table by improper betting.

Where does the balance come into play? I believe my opponent had an opportunity to make more than the two bets he left on the table. The flop minimum bet was crazy. No cards should be folded when the pot is offering 7.5 to 1 odds. With my opponent flopping a set of Ks and an uncoordinated board, a flop bet of two or three bets would have been about the maximum an opponent could call with an underpair.

The turn check is not a bad play in trying to induce a bluff. But in order for this attempt at weakness to work, he would have had to represent strength on the flop. His flop bet did not do this. Now in the scenario where I called a flop bet of two or three big bets, at minimum I should be willing to risk two or three more bets as the pot would again be offering remarkable odds to stick around. Finally, the all-in bet on the river gave no consideration to my hand or chip stacks. What hand would possibly call the all-in? A full-house or set of kings only. This was a missed opportunity to extract more chips from an opponent. His hand was so strong that a small bet is the best he could have hoped to recover. In the alternate flop/turn scenario presented, a river bet of three to five bets would have likely been paid off.

The second hand reflects on Protection Betting.
This hand was played in Las Vegas in a cash game.

Four limpers to seat 7 who makes a minimum raise.

I was in seat 9 with 68 spades and cold called the two bets. The small blind, big blind and previous limpers all called as well yielding a pot of 16 big bets.

The flop delivered 3c5h7c.

All checked to seat 7 who minimum bet again and all players involved called bringing the pot to 24 big bets. The turn card was the Q of diamonds.

Again, all checked to seat 7 who bet two big bets. I called, along with the big blind bringing the pot to 30 big bets.

The river was the 9 of diamonds. Big blind checked and seat 7 went all-in. I called and the big blind folded. Seat 7 turned over red Aces and lost a huge pot to my rivered straight.

How does this apply to Protection Betting?
With hands that are vulnerable (such as one pair in the above example), it is absolutely important to protect the money that is invested in the pot BEFORE it is too late to do so.

Where is the balance? This guy had aces, and this is obviously a monster hand pre-flop, but the hand progressively gets worse on the flop, turn and river unless helped by the board. Aces are only one pair.

The minimum raise pre-flop was a huge mistake given all of the limpers. Aces in an 8-way pot are destined to be cracked. There was no Protection Bet pre-flop providing security for the aces. Mistake.

Instead of the minimum raise, a pre-flop raise of about 4 to 6 big bets would have thinned the field significantly putting the aces in far better position from the flop on. Now assuming the filed was thinned and it was three-way action after 4 to 6 bet pre-flop raise, a respectable continuation bet on the flop is required. You cannot lay proper odds for the flush or straight draws to continue with the hand without making a negative EV play. *a negative EV play is one that will lose money over the long haul.

In order to protect against the flush, your bet would need to lay insufficient odds for the opponent to continue. This means it has to be big enough to force them to fold or make an improper call based on the odds. Some opponents will call regardless of the bet, but you must make an attempt at betting that forces people out of the hand. A solid � to pot size bet would lay odds such that an opponent is making a mistake in calling.

The point is that seat 7 in the above scenario failed to bet in a manner that would push anyone out of the hand until it was too late. With a coordinated board such as the one in this example, aces are useless and serious consideration should be given to sending them to the muck.

You may be able to think of many examples yourself where you made too large of a bet on the river with the nuts that didn�t get a call; or you may remember not betting enough with a hand that was vulnerable.

There is a definite balance between Value Betting and Protection Betting that is often overlooked. Oftentimes players will find that they have all throttle but no gears to shift.

The art in Value Betting keeps customers paying off your premium hands by turning down the throttle to a point palatable to your opponents. Oftentimes players find themselves complaining about the suck-out artists who cracked their (fill in the big pair here).

The art in Protection Betting keeps these thieves from stealing the smaller pots from under you. For all players, the threshold required for both Value and Protection changes. While subtle in difference, strong focus on this balance can yield huge dividends to your bankroll.

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/value-betting-and-protection-betting-in-no-limit-texas-holdem.htm

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With these Texas Hold Em tips, you can not help but improve your game.

2008-06-24T00:12:00.001-07:00

This blog is for information and education only. It is meant to improve your Texas Hold Em game in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Texas Hold Em Article to Instantly Improve Your Game

AK - The Misplayed Monster

Ace King � How To Play The Misplayed Monster

Tell me if this sounds familiar; �I can�t win with AK�, �I had big slick, I can�t believe you beat me with that!�, etc., etc. etc.

AK is a very strong hand, however it can and does get beginners in trouble. If I were to hazard a guess, I�d say that AK is the most misplayed hand in No-Limit Poker.

The Strength of AK
AK is a monster hand. According to Poker Room�s Expected Value (EV) calculator AK suited is the 5th strongest hand (behind AA, KK, QQ & JJ), and AK off-suit is the 7th strongest (behind TT).

There is absolutely no doubt that AK is a positive EV hand. That�s pretty much in line with what all the Poker books teach as well.

The strength of this hand is that when it hits, more often than not, you�re going to have the best hand. Of course there will be the suck outs even when it does hit, but that�s the nature of the game. Most of the time when you pair you�re Ace or King, you�ll go on to win the hand. The other thing that makes this hand strong is that when it doesn�t hit, it�s easy to get away from, or should be. I�ll touch on this more in a minute.

The Weakness of AK
AK is very pretty to look at, but it is still a drawing hand. If you don�t hit an Ace or King, you�ve just got Ace high. Unfortunately many new (and not so new) players get sucked in by its beauty and just can�t seem to let it go, even when it doesn�t hit. How many times have you seen a player call to the river and turn over and AK that didn�t hit?

Another weakness is that you�re mostly playing for top pair top kicker (TPTK). You can only make one straight and most of the time your flush draw won�t hit. Because of this, it�s not a hand that plays well against multiple players.

Pre-Flop
We�ve established the obvious, that AK is a big hand. We�ve also established that it�s lack of draws make it weaker against multiple players (but still strong enough to play). So this tells us that we need to raise with AK.

Until the game is heads up at the final table, see very few situations where limping with AK is justified. I understand the whole �mix up your game� theory, but save it for another hand. AK NEEDS to be raised or re-raised pre-flop.

With AK you will miss the flop 66% of the time (against 3 limpers), but on those hands where you hit, you want to be isolated as much as possible and you want the pot as big as possible. Let�s do the math.

I�m assuming equal bets to keep the math simple. If you limp with AK vs. three limpers you will win 4 Bets 33% of the time (ignoring post-flop). It costs you one bet each time, for a net 1 bet per 3 hands or 0.33 bets per hand.

By raising, 33% of the time you win 8 bets, costing you 2 bets each for a net of +2 bets per 3 hands or 0.66sb per hand. So, by not raising in this situation your EV per hand goes down by 0.33 bets.

This is obviously very simplistic and it doesn�t take into account the additional EV you get by folding your opponents, but it still illustrates the point. This is not a hand to limp with.

How to Play AK When It Hits
This is the easy part. BET IT! How much you bet is dependent on the texture of the flop of course. If there are draws that can hurt you, bet more. If there aren�t any obvious draws, bet what you need to and maximize your winnings. Easy, right?

How to Play AK When it Misses
I spent some time on pre-flop play, but frankly most of the problems players have with AK are not related to pre-flop play. They have a problem because when they miss the flop, they play it like they have a real hand instead of just Ace high. This is where players get into trouble.

So how should you play your AK if it misses? Well, it depends. (That�s the answer for most poker questions, isn�t it?) It depends on your position, number and type of opponents, and the exact texture of the flop, among other things. This is a fairly complex topic and there are no exact approaches, but there are some general rules that will save you some chips.

Please commit this to memory: Just because you raised pre-flop does not mean you are obligated to bet the flop.

A continuation bet (a flop bet following a pre-flop raise) is very powerful and should be used, but the situation has to be right. One thing to keep in mind is that you do not want to bet into a large field from early position.

With several players to act after you, generally the best approach is to check and either fold to a big bet or call a small bet if you have the odds to draw to your over cards and the texture of the flop is favorable. Mostly you�ll want to fold.

There are situations where you�ll want to bet. You want to bet your unimproved AK on the flop if any 2 of these conditions exist (#1 being the most important)

.1. You are up against 2 or less opponents (that are not calling stations!).

2. You are in late position and it is checked to you

3. The board is rainbow and uncoordinated

4. You have additional draws to go with your over cards

I�m sure there are other times when it would be smart to bet, but these are the general rules I follow (try to follow).

Don't get married to over cards. If they don�t hit on the flop, chances are, even if you hit, you�re going to be second best. Trying to push through several opponents with only over cards is a good way to lose a lot of chips. Remember, AK is profitable, in part, because it is easy to fold.

-jtd

Source: http://www.kickasspoker.com/poker-strategy/articles/AK-the-misplayed-monster-how-to-play-big-slick.htm

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Are you ready to be a better Texas Hold Em player? If you answered yes read on.

2008-06-19T21:03:00.001-07:00

We do not promote gambling of any type. This blog information is to be used when playing Texas Hold Em in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Featured Texas Hold Em Article

Manage Your Bankroll

Here is a good article on just how much you should be investing. It is great advice for those just getting started playing poker, as well as those who have been winning for a while.

Bankroll
How much money should I invest?This is an important question, with two simple answers.If you are a beginner or just looking to have fun, don't invest any more than is 'fun' to lose. Hence, if you're comfortable blowing a hundred bucks, put in $100 and see if you can win with it. This is what I did. My original roll was only $100, but I built it up into my current, much more powerful bankroll.Bankroll considerations are different for a seasoned player who has proven himself a winner. These types of players are looking to consistently make money at a given limit. If you are one of these players, you should be able to bank 200 big bets at the limit you play. Hence, if you play $2-$4, you should have an $800 roll ($4 * 200). For $5-$10, your target roll should be $2,000. These numbers prevent you from blowing your entire bankroll because of one bad run.Some say that 200 big bets is too few for shorthand, but I believe that you need to be reasonable about potential losses. You don't want to invest more than 200 big bets unless you've proven that you're successful at that limit.Also, it is a very good idea to keep a daily diary of your sessions. This will help you determine if you are a winning or a losing player and how often you win. It will also prove helpful come tax time if you live in a country with income tax on gambling winnings (in the UK, there is no tax on gambling winnings). If you plan on playing poker regularly, consider using a service such as Check Your Bets.

Source: http://www.pokertips.org/strategy/bankroll.php

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Dr. Pauly at the 2008 WSOP: The Battle for Europe

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:33:00 -0700
After covering poker tournaments all over the world, I noticed that Scandinavian players as a whole were among the toughest and most aggressive players in the world. They seem to fit the mold of the perfect poker player...

Stars Set to Turn Out for 'Ante Up For Africa' Fundraiser

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:24:00 -0700
Several big-name poker pros and celebrities have decided to ante up for a worthy cause. The second annual Ante Up For Africa poker tournament, co-founded by actor Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke, will be played at the 2008 World...

2008 WSOP Event #33 $5,000 Stud Hi/Low Day 2: Final Table Reached in Marathon Session

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:05:00 -0700
In what may be the longest day of the 2008 World Series of Poker, the final table of Event #33, $5,000 Stud Hi/Low World Championship was set when Sebastian Ruthenberg eliminated Howard Lederer in ninth place. The final elimination...

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This great article contains great online poker tips as well as news items.

2008-06-18T11:22:00.001-07:00

The information in this blog is in no way meant to promote gambling. It provides information on online poker to be used in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Poker Article to Instantly Improve Your Game

Intermediate Player Mistakes

I love this article from pokertips.org. It highlights a ton of intermediate poker player mistakes I have often found myself making through the years. Do not become a victim of these simple mistakes- realize them and overcome them!

Common Intermediate Mistakes
POKER STRATEGY
Mistake #1: Not considering opponents' hands

Poker is a game of relative strength. It does not matter how strong your hand is; it matters how strong your hand is relation to other people's holdings. Many players just concentrate on the strength of their own hand and do not factor in what other people might be holding. Breaking this thought process is of paramount importance to becoming a winning poker player. Think about your opponents' playing styles and consider what hands your opponents might be holding.

Mistake #2: Playing too many multi-table tournaments

Multi-table tournaments tend to have a greater luck factor than traditional ring games. Often, there will be over 300 players competing in a tournament that lasts around 6 hours. While there is certainly skill involved, the luck factor is enormous. Large portions of the prize pool are often dependent on a few coinflip hands.

While tournaments are certainly enjoyable, it is difficult to consistently win money. It is also harder to learn the skills necessary to succeed at poker. Since people who play in tournaments play very few hands postflop, it takes them longer to learn a lot of the finer aspects of the game.

Ring games are available for very low stakes. The players at these games are generally not that good, so it is possible to work on your skills without risking a lot of money. It is certainly fine to play tournaments as well, but I would advise against solely concentrating on tournaments for most people.

Mistake #3: Not tracking statistics

A lot of good players play a lot of poker but do not take the time to keep track of their wins and losses. Not only is this potentially necessary if you live in a country that taxes gambling winnings, it is very important for analyzing your game.

Good players generally do not perform universally well across all games and locations. People generally do much better at certain games, limits, and poker rooms. Keeping track of statistics can help you focus on games that have a higher expected value for you. You can keep track of your poker statistics for free at Check Your Bets.

Many good players end up losing a lot of money or going broke because they keep on playing in games they cannot beat. While nothing can stop some people from bankroll destruction, accurate statistics can sometimes help people smell the coffee and improve their game selection.

Mistake #4: Playing too predictably

This is more of a problem for no-limit players than limit players. Even at lower stakes, you are bound to be at the same table as a couple of decent players. These players will pick up on betting patterns if you always bet the same way. Mix up your style a bit at times to throw people off. If you play online poker and often play too predictably, switch tables often so you are frequently up against fresh opponents.

Mistake #5: Playing too many different types of games

There's an old saying: "jack of all trades, master of none." This is an accurate description for many intermediate players who constantly switch between No-Limit Hold'em ring games, Limit Hold'em ring games, tournaments, Omaha Hi-Lo, etc.

Intermediate players should begin to focus on excelling at one game before they start frequently playing many different types of games. While it is a good idea to give different games a try, this should mainly be done just to figure out what sort of game one tends to perform the best at. Once you have identified your best or favorite game, concentrate on improving at that one poker game.

Mistake #6: Moving up limits to escape bad beats

This is one of the most common mistakes in poker. People get fed up with the bad beats entailed with playing lower limits, so they play higher limits, thinking it will somehow help them win.

Lower-stakes poker involves a lot of variance because people will play just about everything. However, with this variance comes higher expected value because your opponents make a lot of mistakes. Provided you can take advantage of their mistakes through skilled play, the common bad play at lower limits is to your advantage. For more tips about how to handle loose games, check out some of the other strategy articles on this site such as Dynamic Hand Value.

If you are losing because of bad luck, then that should even itself out with time. No person is "luckier" than another person in the long run; it all evens out.

If you are unable to defeat the lower-stakes players over time, then it is highly doubtful you will beat the higher-stakes players. You make money at poker because other people make mistakes. If players are making less mistakes, then you will make less money. You want people calling your raises with Q 5; it's as simple as that. Sure, they may win sometimes, but you come out much more ahead against people calling you with Q 5 than with K K. It may make you upset that they will win sometimes, but that's poker.

Mistake #7: Making bad folds postflop in limit hold'em

A lot of intermediate players play well preflop. However, their postflop play is horrid, especially in low-limit hold'em games. This often is not because they call down too much; rather, it is because they fold too much! Many players over-correct themselves and constantly fold postflop unless they have a very strong draw or a very strong hand. They think they are playing smart tight-aggressive play. In reality, they neglect to remember the odds they are getting.

For example, suppose you hold K 8 in the big blind. Someone raises in middle position, 4 players call, and you call. The flop is K 10 2. The small blind bets out.

Some players would fold here, which is a horrible mistake. While your kicker is not the greatest, you are getting great odds for your money. Not only do you have top pair, yu might end up hitting trips or a two-pair. Sure, there is a good chance someone else will win the pot, but there is so much money in the pot that you should go ahead and call at least one bet.

Source: http://www.pokertips.org/strategy/intermediate-mistakes.php

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Matthew Hilger is generally recognized as one of the best authors on the subject of internet poker. He and some of the most knowledgeable players and writers in the poker industry have joined to contribute columns on every aspect of poker. Contributors range from Tournament Pros like the Hendon Mob� to Internet Poker Pros from the Internet Texas Holdem community. Beyond Texas Holdem Strategy, this section covers Omaha, Backgammon, Sit 'n Go tournaments, multitable tournaments, cash games, poker psychology, mind sets and general revelry.

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2008 WSOP Event #29 $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em: John Phan Claims First Bracelet

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:30:00 -0700
The 'Year of the Pro' continued at the 2008 World Series of Poker as John Phan became the latest pro player to claim his first bracelet. Phan joined the company of Erick Lindgren and David Singer, all highly successful tournament pros...

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No matter what your level of play, these online poker strategies will make you better.

2008-06-16T22:01:00.001-07:00

We do not promote gambling of any type. This blog information is to be used when playing online poker in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Featured Poker Article

Manage Your Bankroll

Here is a good article on just how much you should be investing. It is great advice for those just getting started playing poker, as well as those who have been winning for a while.

Bankroll
How much money should I invest?This is an important question, with two simple answers.If you are a beginner or just looking to have fun, don't invest any more than is 'fun' to lose. Hence, if you're comfortable blowing a hundred bucks, put in $100 and see if you can win with it. This is what I did. My original roll was only $100, but I built it up into my current, much more powerful bankroll.Bankroll considerations are different for a seasoned player who has proven himself a winner. These types of players are looking to consistently make money at a given limit. If you are one of these players, you should be able to bank 200 big bets at the limit you play. Hence, if you play $2-$4, you should have an $800 roll ($4 * 200). For $5-$10, your target roll should be $2,000. These numbers prevent you from blowing your entire bankroll because of one bad run.Some say that 200 big bets is too few for shorthand, but I believe that you need to be reasonable about potential losses. You don't want to invest more than 200 big bets unless you've proven that you're successful at that limit.Also, it is a very good idea to keep a daily diary of your sessions. This will help you determine if you are a winning or a losing player and how often you win. It will also prove helpful come tax time if you live in a country with income tax on gambling winnings (in the UK, there is no tax on gambling winnings). If you plan on playing poker regularly, consider using a service such as Check Your Bets.

Source: http://www.pokertips.org/strategy/bankroll.php

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2008 WSOP Event #27, $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em, Day 2: Lunkin and Terrell Lead

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:48:00 -0700
Russian pro Vitaly Lunkin and American Kenneth Terrell lead the pack going into the finals, but they still have a long way to go if they want to capture their first WSOP bracelet. When cards are in the air on Monday, they'll be facing...

Event #30, $10,000 Limit Hold'em World Championship Day 1: JC Tran, Terrence Chan Lead Pack

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:05:00 -0700
With a buy-in twice as large as last year's $5,000 entry, the $10,000 Limit Hold'em World Championship drew only 218 players, fewer than last year's 257 entries. Thanks to the bigger buy-in, however, the prize pool is actually...

2008 WSOP Event #28 $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha w/ Rebuys, Day 2: Galfond Pulls Ahead

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:30:00 -0700
Event #28's Day Two would be a long affair, lasting until almost 5:00 am. But the last exciting half hour of play more than rewarded loyal spectators. Daniel Negreanu had the lead on the remaining field with what was to be minutes...

2008 WSOP Event #29, $3,000 No Limit Hold'em Day 1: 81 Remain, Bubble Looms

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:25:00 -0700
716 players took to the felt at the Amazon Ballroom for Event #29 of the 2008 World Series of Poker, $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em. The field, while slightly smaller than 2007's field of 826, held plenty of high-powered poker stars...

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Do not be intimidated by playing poker. These strategies will make you a better player.

2008-06-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

This blog is for entertainment purposes only. It is meant to provide information relating to the game of poker in its legal and non-gambling applications.

A Online Poker Article to Instantly Improve Your Game

Manage Your Bankroll

Here is a good article on just how much you should be investing. It is great advice for those just getting started playing poker, as well as those who have been winning for a while.

Bankroll
How much money should I invest?This is an important question, with two simple answers.If you are a beginner or just looking to have fun, don't invest any more than is 'fun' to lose. Hence, if you're comfortable blowing a hundred bucks, put in $100 and see if you can win with it. This is what I did. My original roll was only $100, but I built it up into my current, much more powerful bankroll.Bankroll considerations are different for a seasoned player who has proven himself a winner. These types of players are looking to consistently make money at a given limit. If you are one of these players, you should be able to bank 200 big bets at the limit you play. Hence, if you play $2-$4, you should have an $800 roll ($4 * 200). For $5-$10, your target roll should be $2,000. These numbers prevent you from blowing your entire bankroll because of one bad run.Some say that 200 big bets is too few for shorthand, but I believe that you need to be reasonable about potential losses. You don't want to invest more than 200 big bets unless you've proven that you're successful at that limit.Also, it is a very good idea to keep a daily diary of your sessions. This will help you determine if you are a winning or a losing player and how often you win. It will also prove helpful come tax time if you live in a country with income tax on gambling winnings (in the UK, there is no tax on gambling winnings). If you plan on playing poker regularly, consider using a service such as Check Your Bets.

Source: http://www.pokertips.org/strategy/bankroll.php

Latest Online Poker News:

Visit the Texas Holdem Poker Strategy Section

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2008 WSOP Event 21 $5,000 NLHE Final: Seiver Prevails for First Bracelet

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:40:00 -0700
Scott Seiver had two money finishes at the 2008 WSOP prior to the start of the $5,000 NLHE event, just missing the final table in the $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em event with his 13th-place finish. But with a late surge on Day 2...

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This article will aid you in your quest to become better at online poker.

2008-06-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

This blog is for information and education only. It is meant to improve your online poker game in its legal and non-gambling applications.

Todays Poker Article

Important Strategies

Here is another whopper of an article from pokertips.org. Great information for every caliber player.

Introduction to No-Limit Texas Hold'em

No-Limit Hold'em is game of general strategy, basic tactical skills useful in all forms of poker, and a game of intense psychology.

Let's first go over general strategy. There are two things you should quickly figure out when you enter a no-limit game:

1. What types of players are my opponents?

2. How many hands go to a showdown?

Types of opponents

Generally, people speak of four types of players: tight-passive, tight-aggressive, loose-passive, loose-aggressive. The first modifier (tight or loose) characterizes the number of hands the person plays while the second (passive or aggressive) describes the player's betting style. I think that for no-limit hold'em, loose-aggressive should be divided into two parts: maniacs and solid players. Let's go over each of these types of players.

Tight-passive: These people do fine in a fixed-limit game, but they won't win much money in a no-limit game. This is because they do not get full value out of their winning hands. When playing against these players:

1. Bluff at the flop a lot. Put in a raise preflop, and try to take down the pot at the flop.

2. Fold when they represent a hand. If they bet a little, they're probably on a draw or have a weak hand. In this case, you should still stick with your hand if you hold something decent. If they bet a lot, they probably possess a solid hand.

3. Take advantage of your control. Don't go wild with your bluffs, though. You should still fold preflop when you have nothing. If you make a flop bluff, think twice before making another bluff on the turn. Also, you can still win a fair amount of money off of these types of players whene you hold a good hand.

Essentially, you can quickly tame these players into calling stations or folding stations. If one of these players is making a lot of money against you while being a calling or folding station, you are doing something seriously wrong. These players are common, and you will certainly play against quite a few.

Loose-passive: These players have to hope that people continually bluff into them, because they frequently call with the second-best hand. Calling with the second-best hand is a recipe for disaster at no-limit games. You won't often see loose-passives playing no-limit hold'em, because they lose money too quickly playing the game. If you are fortunate enough to have a loose-passive player at your table, just win money off of him by making mid-sized bets when you hold a good hand.

Maniac loose-aggressive: These guys will buy a fair share of pots. However, they will often get themselves trapped, and they will lose their stacks in one or two hands. What separates these players from good loose-aggressives is that they lack discipline. They love the action of no-limit so much that they get themselves trapped too easily. These types of players are rare.

Strong loose-aggressive: These guys seem like they are horrible maniacs, but in reality, they are a very dangerous form of player. They will certainly lose a lot of money in pots, but they also will buy a lot of pots and win huge ones. The way these players win is mainly by getting a good read on the opponent, and then making a well-timed bet.

One trick I use to beat these guys is to take them down in one big pot. Since they will play a lot of hands, especially shorthanded, they'll often play hands that lend themselves to being the second-best hand. Once I catch them in this situation, I just have to make sure I don't let them go too easily. Another tip is to make sure you are playing in a game where the money is not too meaningful to you. You should not let these players scare you financially when they make a large bet or raise. You need to be able to play back at (reraise) these guys or call them down.

These players only do well when people have large stacks. If you or the loose-aggressive player has a small stack, you are at an advantage because their ability to bluff is limited.

Tight-aggressive: This is my style and the strategy that I'll teach. The tight-aggressive's main problems are that he may get bluffed out too easily and that he may be too easily read.

Showdown Percentage

This is a critical concept in no-limit hold'em. Since no-limit lends itself to bluffing, one can make a lot of money simply by stealing pots if your opponents are very tight. However, this strategy obviously fails if everyone shows you down at the river!

Generally, before I play in a game, I pay attention to the number of hands going to showdowns. This is really easy to do on the internet because you don't even need to watch the game. You just leave the window open, go eat a snack, go to the bathroom, whatever. Come back twenty minutes later and see what sort of game you are about to dive into. All you have to do is scroll through the chat box and see how many hands went to showdowns and how big the pots tend to get.

All things being equal, more showdowns are better. While it is impossible to bluff if everyone calls you down, you stand to make a lot more money if people call you with tenuous holdings. The best way to make money at no-limit games is to simply sell your hand when you have it. If people call down a lot, you will be able to extract a lot of money from pot-sized or larger bets when you hit a premium holding (such as a flush or set).

Types of Hands to Play

The types of hands you play in no-limit differ than those in fixed-limit. This is because of implied odds. Hands like KQ go down in value because they cannot withstand much pressure. Even if you hit a King with this type of hand, you still may be losing to a set, two pair, AK, or eventually to a draw. Thus, with big cards, you generally want to take down the pot at the flop. The exception to this is if you think you have someone outkicked (like with AK vs. KJ with a K on the board), or if you hit the flop hard (like KK3 when you hold AK). In these cases, you generally want to extract money from your opponent bit by bit.

The types of hands that go up in value or ones that you can bet with confidence: pocket pairs and suited connectors (strong draws in general). Pocket pairs do well because they are sneaky and can often withhold pressure. With pocket pairs, you can bet hard if you have a set or an overpair, which are hands that people generally don't expect. Suited connectors go up in value for several reasons. First, if the flop comes weird, you generally will be paid off.

Please realize that your stack size greatly affects the types of hands you should play. Big, unpaired cards like AK or KQ do better with smaller stacks, while suited connectors are more effective with larger stacks.

How to Bet

Many novice no-limit players simply don't know how much to bet. Here's the concept in a nutshell. You want extract as much money as you can from opponents who have made hands but are losing to you. You want to give people with draws bad odds. At the same time, you don't want to trap yourself.

Bluffing

This relates back to the showdown percentage. More showdowns means bluffing is less effective. If you are in a game with a lot of showdowns (typical of lower stakes), cut down on bluffing and punish them when you have a strong hand.

Source: http://www.pokertips.org/strategy/nl-primer.php (abbreviated)

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Matthew Hilger is generally recognized as one of the best authors on the subject of internet poker. He and some of the most knowledgeable players and writers in the poker industry have joined to contribute columns on every aspect of poker. Contributors range from Tournament Pros like the Hendon Mob� to Internet Poker Pros from the Internet Texas Holdem community. Beyond Texas Holdem Strategy, this section covers Omaha, Backgammon, Sit 'n Go tournaments, multitable tournaments, cash games, poker psychology, mind sets and general revelry.

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Are you ready to improve your hold em game? Its time to get started...

2008-06-10T00:06:00.000-07:00

Please note this blog is meant to provide information on hold em in its legal and non-gambling applications.

Todays Hold Em Article

Manage Your Bankroll

Here is a good article on just how much you should be investing. It is great advice for those just getting started playing poker, as well as those who have been winning for a while.

Bankroll
How much money should I invest?This is an important question, with two simple answers.If you are a beginner or just looking to have fun, don't invest any more than is 'fun' to lose. Hence, if you're comfortable blowing a hundred bucks, put in $100 and see if you can win with it. This is what I did. My original roll was only $100, but I built it up into my current, much more powerful bankroll.Bankroll considerations are different for a seasoned player who has proven himself a winner. These types of players are looking to consistently make money at a given limit. If you are one of these players, you should be able to bank 200 big bets at the limit you play. Hence, if you play $2-$4, you should have an $800 roll ($4 * 200). For $5-$10, your target roll should be $2,000. These numbers prevent you from blowing your entire bankroll because of one bad run.Some say that 200 big bets is too few for shorthand, but I believe that you need to be reasonable about potential losses. You don't want to invest more than 200 big bets unless you've proven that you're successful at that limit.Also, it is a very good idea to keep a daily diary of your sessions. This will help you determine if you are a winning or a losing player and how often you win. It will also prove helpful come tax time if you live in a country with income tax on gambling winnings (in the UK, there is no tax on gambling winnings). If you plan on playing poker regularly, consider using a service such as Check Your Bets.

Source: http://www.pokertips.org/strategy/bankroll.php

Latest Hold Em News:

2008 WSOP Event #15 $1,000 Ladies NLHE Day 1: Mitchell Leads Pack

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:30:00 -0700
The Ladies Event field of 1,190 players powered through the money bubble on Day 1, leaving only 61 players in contention for the bracelet and its accompanying $244,702 first-place money. While the frenetic pace of this event...

2008 WSOP Event #12 $1,500 Limit Hold'em: Jimmy Shultz Takes It

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700
Day 3 of Event #12, $1,500 Limit Hold'em started off with 18 players on two tables. The field had plenty of flair, with Vinny Vinh starting the day as the chip leader, and Erick Lindgren, fresh off his bracelet win in Event #4. European...

Sexton's Corner, Vol. 48: 1994 WSOP Champ Russ Hamilton's 'Divine Intervention'

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:10:00 -0700
Several years ago I visited Russ Hamilton with a group of friends at a beach house in San Diego, where he was recovering from his stomach surgery. Russ said, 'Tommy, I'm going to tell you a story I've only told to a handful...

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This article will aid you in your quest to become better at online poker.

2008-06-09T21:04:00.000-07:00

This blog is for entertainment purposes only. It is meant to provide information relating to the game of online poker in its legal and non-gambling applications.

This Poker Article Will Make You A Better Player

Keep It Simple

When you start to play poker, you will more than likely be playing low-limit games. Beating these games does not require you to become a masterful poker player, it primarily entails that you are able to outplay poor opponents. Beating good players at high limits can be incredibly difficult, entailing many complex moves. However, winning at low limits is pretty straightforward.What do I mean? Basically, other players won't be paying attention to you. They only care about their own cards; they don't care about you or your cards. They will play their hand as they always play their hand, regardless of whether or not you are in the pot. You are basically a ghost to them... but hopefully you will be a ghost that's slowly taking their money! If you want to beat these types of players, you simply need to a play a straightforward game that will win in the long run. For example, play tight, don't do any fancy bluffs, bet aggressively when you probably have the best hand, and utilize pot odds for your drawing decisions.When it comes to deception with these players, slowplaying can work. These players are easily fooled into thinking they have the best hand when they hit a pair on the turn, so giving them a free card when you hold the stone nuts can be to your advantage. However, bluffing is simply an exercise in futility. These guys want to see if they have the best hand. They'll pay to see your cards just so they can see them sometimes! Don't expect to scare any fish at lower limits with an extra $2 bet.Master the art of choosing starting hands, employing pot odds, and aggressively betting your winning hands. However, psychological strategies are generally useless. Your opponents are not thinking too deeply, and attempting any fancy plays will only hurt you.

Source: http://www.pokertips.org/strategy/keep-it-simple.php

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2008 WSOP Event #12 $1,500 Limit Hold'em: Jimmy Shultz Takes It

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700
Day 3 of Event #12, $1,500 Limit Hold'em started off with 18 players on two tables. The field had plenty of flair, with Vinny Vinh starting the day as the chip leader, and Erick Lindgren, fresh off his bracelet win in Event #4. European...

Sexton's Corner, Vol. 48: 1994 WSOP Champ Russ Hamilton's 'Divine Intervention'

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:10:00 -0700
Several years ago I visited Russ Hamilton with a group of friends at a beach house in San Diego, where he was recovering from his stomach surgery. Russ said, 'Tommy, I'm going to tell you a story I've only told to a handful...

World Series of Poker Daily Summary for June 7th, 2008

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:09:00 -0700
Saturday at the WSOP was business -- or rather, busy -- as usual. Another six-pack of events saw action in the Amazon Room – two events found their champions, a final table was set and another event neared the same stage, while...

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