I did it again. I over-played my hand and it cost me. All because I was sitting on round after round of mediocre and bad cards. Here's the situation:
After better than 30 min of post/fold in a live event, I get K9os in the BB. UTG limps, the button calls, and I check. Flops brings K63 rainbow. I'm first to act with top pair, but a lousy kicker. I decide to bet 2/3 pot in hopes of taking it down right there. Both players just smooth call.
The turn brings a blank and I bet out about 1/2 pot, reasoning that these players have something like mid pkt pair or A6, A3. After all, there was no raise pre-flop and no raise of my bet on the flop. Again, both players just call.
The river brings an A. I check, UTG bets about 1/4 pot, the button calls. I think for a minute, but can't resist making the call with 2nd pair. I'm getting good odds on my money, and the way the hand has played out it's hard to put either opponent on an A. If either had had a hand like A6 or A3 and made 2 pair on the river, they'd be betting more than just 1/4 pot.
Well, UTG rolls over AK for 2 pair, A's and K's. (!)
The button shows A-rag for a pair of A's. (?)
Leaving aside the donkey that called every bet to the river with nothing but a naked A (no pair, no draws), I made my biggest mistake in continuing to bet on the turn after making a big bet on the flop and being called by 2 players. I should've given at least one of them credit for a hand. Not necessarily AK, but a hand like pkt 6's or 3's would have been reasonable in this situation, given the way the hand played out.
I ended up losing nearly 1/2 of my stack on this one hand. I managed to make a comeback later and finished 12th, but I never really recovered from the earlier loss. Those extra chips would've made a huge difference in the amount I could have won in the later hands, possibly allowing me to make the final table.
Don't let yourself get pressured into over-playing any hand because of frustration with perceived inactivity. While it's true that my play of this hand would have won me the pot if neither of these players held premium cards, their calls should have been a BIG red flag.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Heads Up!!!
Every year the National Heads-Up Poker Championship is one of TV's highest rated poker shows, and in the past has been reserved for the poker elite on an invitation-only basis.
This year, PokerStars has your invitation!
If you think you have what it takes, you could get the chance to face off against the worlds greatest players, including PokerStars Pros Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein, Joe Hachem, Vanessa Rousso, and Greg Raymer.
PokerStars is holding twice-daily freerolls beginning January 22nd to February 22nd:
Round 1A tournaments are held at 7pm Eastern time.
Round 1B tournaments are held at 10pm Eastern time.
These aren't your usual freerolls. You can't go crashing through, bust out, and re-enter the next day. You are allowed a maximum of 2 shots. That's all.
Every new and existing PokerStars player will be allowed to enter one Round 1A and one Round 1B qualifier.
Win your way through the qualifying stages, and this is what you'll receive:
* $20,000 buy-in to the exclusive National Heads-Up Championship
* 4 nights accomodation in Las Vegas (Feb 28th -- March 2nd)
* $1000 cash for travel expenses
These freerolls are open to US players only, so give it a shot. If you have what it takes, you could be playing heads-up for $1.5M!
WILL YOU BE THE NEXT CHAMPION?
This year, PokerStars has your invitation!
If you think you have what it takes, you could get the chance to face off against the worlds greatest players, including PokerStars Pros Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein, Joe Hachem, Vanessa Rousso, and Greg Raymer.
PokerStars is holding twice-daily freerolls beginning January 22nd to February 22nd:
Round 1A tournaments are held at 7pm Eastern time.
Round 1B tournaments are held at 10pm Eastern time.
These aren't your usual freerolls. You can't go crashing through, bust out, and re-enter the next day. You are allowed a maximum of 2 shots. That's all.
Every new and existing PokerStars player will be allowed to enter one Round 1A and one Round 1B qualifier.
Win your way through the qualifying stages, and this is what you'll receive:
* $20,000 buy-in to the exclusive National Heads-Up Championship
* 4 nights accomodation in Las Vegas (Feb 28th -- March 2nd)
* $1000 cash for travel expenses
These freerolls are open to US players only, so give it a shot. If you have what it takes, you could be playing heads-up for $1.5M!
WILL YOU BE THE NEXT CHAMPION?
Answer from WPT about ClubWPT
This is the answer I got back from Customer Support at the WPT:
Hello Lawrence,
Thank you for contacting us.
There is no conflict for US players at ClubWPT. This service was set up specifically with US players in mind.
We don't accept cash deposits.
We are set up to operate under sweepstakes laws. There are a few states where we're not allowed, but rest assured Vermont is a perfectly acceptable state for using this service.
While I don't have specific information about WPT event prizes such as you mentioned, I can tell you that we are currently exploring the possibility and it is likely.
We look forward to seeing you at the Club tables soon.
Best of luck to you!Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,Michael
Please visit our online Customer Support center for answers to any questions and concerns.
Hello Lawrence,
Thank you for contacting us.
There is no conflict for US players at ClubWPT. This service was set up specifically with US players in mind.
We don't accept cash deposits.
We are set up to operate under sweepstakes laws. There are a few states where we're not allowed, but rest assured Vermont is a perfectly acceptable state for using this service.
While I don't have specific information about WPT event prizes such as you mentioned, I can tell you that we are currently exploring the possibility and it is likely.
We look forward to seeing you at the Club tables soon.
Best of luck to you!Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,Michael
Please visit our online Customer Support center for answers to any questions and concerns.
A New Release from the WPT
The World Poker Tour has recently opened a new feature called ClubWPT. It is a free poker site that is point-based.
It basically works the same as some of the other free play sites. You are given a "bankroll" of points with which to "buy-in" to games and tournaments where you can win cash, prizes, and additional points to afford you entry into bigger events.
It is subscription-based, and the membership is $19.95/mo. You are not paying for poker. The membership gets you access to special features of the club, such as: a subscription to Allin magazine, a guide on the best deals to be found in Las Vegas, a "coupon book" worth (potentially) hundreds of dollars in discounts, and more.
The cash prizes offered range from $10 all the way to $5000 and more and the merchandise prizes are just as impressive. You can view a list here.
All it takes is going to the WPT site and registering your account. The club offers a free 2 week trial, but does require a credit card number to prevent multiple accounts. You can cancel at any time within the trial and be charged nothing. However, if you're like me you'd rather not take too many chances with your personal information. I checked into the rules and found (as I expected) the section concerning alternative means of entry.
You can get a free membership (a month at a time) by submitting a 3"x5" card. I've included a reprint of the section of the rules below. Free memberships do not include any of the above bonuses. I'm gonna give it a shot. I've sent them an email asking if they are planning to offer "free" satellites to WPT Events anytime in the future. I'll post their reply when it comes in. Here's the section of the rules for free entry:
You Do Not Need to Join the Club to participate in tournaments. Alternative means of tournament entry. OFFLINE, NO-PURCHASE-NECESSARY, METHOD OF ENTRY:
As an alternate means of entry into Club Tournaments, a player must:
Register at ClubWPT.com as a free player and download and install the software; and For each period that you want to participate in Club Tournaments, send a 3 inch x 5 inch card on which the player has legibly handwritten their ClubWPT Username, First and Last Name, Complete Mailing Address (e.g. Street, City, State, ZIP code), Email Address, and Date of Birth. The card must be placed in a envelope, and mailed to: PO Box 30488 Las Vegas Nevada 89173.
No photocopies, reproductions or facsimiles of the 3 inch x 5 inch card are allowed.
The usage of a service to provide the production of the 3 inch x 5 inch card will not be allowed.
For each individual registration, the Player will be given a 30-day period of Membership to Club Tournaments. The period will begin on the Monday following the day the mail-in entry is processed.
Approved mail-in entries will receive Tournament Points in accordance with Section 1.4 above or will have access to any tournament points they have accumulated in the past if greater than 500 Tournament Points. Tournament Points accumulated during previous periods will remain with the players account.
ClubWPT.com will post a listing of all upcoming tournaments in the game lobby. The game lobby is viewed by accessing the game software and clicking on the tournament game links.
ClubWPT.com shall not be responsible for late, lost, illegible, incomplete, stolen, misdirected, mutilated or postage-due mail. ClubWPT.com will advise you of your eligibility dates by email.
The odds of winning any prize will be the same by mail in entry as by online membership in the Club.
The odds of qualifying through a qualifying tournament will be the same by mail in entry as by online membership in the Club, and all participants entering through this means will be accorded equal opportunities to participate and win in events held at ClubWPT.com, and will depend on the number of entrants.
It basically works the same as some of the other free play sites. You are given a "bankroll" of points with which to "buy-in" to games and tournaments where you can win cash, prizes, and additional points to afford you entry into bigger events.
It is subscription-based, and the membership is $19.95/mo. You are not paying for poker. The membership gets you access to special features of the club, such as: a subscription to Allin magazine, a guide on the best deals to be found in Las Vegas, a "coupon book" worth (potentially) hundreds of dollars in discounts, and more.
The cash prizes offered range from $10 all the way to $5000 and more and the merchandise prizes are just as impressive. You can view a list here.
All it takes is going to the WPT site and registering your account. The club offers a free 2 week trial, but does require a credit card number to prevent multiple accounts. You can cancel at any time within the trial and be charged nothing. However, if you're like me you'd rather not take too many chances with your personal information. I checked into the rules and found (as I expected) the section concerning alternative means of entry.
You can get a free membership (a month at a time) by submitting a 3"x5" card. I've included a reprint of the section of the rules below. Free memberships do not include any of the above bonuses. I'm gonna give it a shot. I've sent them an email asking if they are planning to offer "free" satellites to WPT Events anytime in the future. I'll post their reply when it comes in. Here's the section of the rules for free entry:
You Do Not Need to Join the Club to participate in tournaments. Alternative means of tournament entry. OFFLINE, NO-PURCHASE-NECESSARY, METHOD OF ENTRY:
As an alternate means of entry into Club Tournaments, a player must:
Register at ClubWPT.com as a free player and download and install the software; and For each period that you want to participate in Club Tournaments, send a 3 inch x 5 inch card on which the player has legibly handwritten their ClubWPT Username, First and Last Name, Complete Mailing Address (e.g. Street, City, State, ZIP code), Email Address, and Date of Birth. The card must be placed in a envelope, and mailed to: PO Box 30488 Las Vegas Nevada 89173.
No photocopies, reproductions or facsimiles of the 3 inch x 5 inch card are allowed.
The usage of a service to provide the production of the 3 inch x 5 inch card will not be allowed.
For each individual registration, the Player will be given a 30-day period of Membership to Club Tournaments. The period will begin on the Monday following the day the mail-in entry is processed.
Approved mail-in entries will receive Tournament Points in accordance with Section 1.4 above or will have access to any tournament points they have accumulated in the past if greater than 500 Tournament Points. Tournament Points accumulated during previous periods will remain with the players account.
ClubWPT.com will post a listing of all upcoming tournaments in the game lobby. The game lobby is viewed by accessing the game software and clicking on the tournament game links.
ClubWPT.com shall not be responsible for late, lost, illegible, incomplete, stolen, misdirected, mutilated or postage-due mail. ClubWPT.com will advise you of your eligibility dates by email.
The odds of winning any prize will be the same by mail in entry as by online membership in the Club.
The odds of qualifying through a qualifying tournament will be the same by mail in entry as by online membership in the Club, and all participants entering through this means will be accorded equal opportunities to participate and win in events held at ClubWPT.com, and will depend on the number of entrants.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Can anything be done?
No poker today. I'm gonna be watching my New England Patriots as they go to 18-0 en route to the Superbowl. My pick is GB vs NE in Arizona.
What I want to bring up is the extreme lack of manners, even basic decency, seen from some of the players online. Case in point: I am a member of a couple forums that have freeroll and low buy-in tournaments sponsored on a few online poker sites. Playing in one just the other day, I get A-10 on the button. I call and the BB makes a standard raise. It's folded back to me. Now, A-10 isn't the kind of hand you would normally call with, but I was getting better than 3:1 on my money to call and I had position.
I hit my 10 on the flop and I "walk the dog" to the river and double up against the pkt 9's in the BB. Of course, he has to start right in with what a "Donkey" I was for calling the raise with A-10 (see above for explanation). I decide to have fun with this kid and we start trading shots. Nothing out of the ordinary. His taunts start to descend into the realm of a 5th grade shouting match on the playground and a lady player (correctly, I think) comments that's time to let it go. Bad beats happen.
That's when this punk goes WAAAY out of line and tells this woman to "get on your knees where you belong".???????? WTF is this sht? I guarantee, if this had been live, there would've been a line waiting to kick this guy's ass. As it was, he was safe behind the keyboard. He not only refused to apologize for his remarks, he (after first trying to justify his crudity) repeated them and added to them. All because a female player dared to ask for some semblance of courtesy at the table.
Of course, both the female player and myself (and others) contacted the administrators of the poker forum we belong to about getting this kid censured. We were both told that, since the conduct took place outside the forum (on another poker website) there was nothing they could do. (!?!) It happened during a forum sponsored event. The forum was for members only, so it wasn't like this was some outsider causing trouble. We both made the case that the forum needed to address this issue, and I made the case that this player be removed from the forum membership and banned. We were told that the matter would have to be addressed by the support staff at the poker site itself.
I don't get it. Can't the players who run this forum (all very good, skilled players and decent people) see what this is going to do to the reputation of their site? Their membership has exploded during the course of this past year, going from less than 10,000 to well over 40,000. Although most of these additions are not very active beyond the minimum to qualify for invitations for the daily sponsored freerolls. It is my belief that they'd be better served by coming down harder on those who are misbehaving and by limiting access to their freerolls to those members showing true interest in the well-being of the site and it's other members. In that way, the reputation of the site as a "family" of true poker players/enthusiasts who are known for their respect of the game and other players, as well as being a community that produces skilled players would grow and be a source of pride to both the members and founders.
As it is, we are losing our best and brightest. Those who could (and, indeed, want to) teach what they know are leaving because they don't want to deal with all the bs, and beginners looking for a place to learn and grow are greatly disillusioned when they run into these kinds of situations.
I want to make clear that I'm not singling out this one forum I belong to. I see it across the board. On almost every site, if you are in the freeroll satellites, or the lower cost buy-in tournaments, you are going to find a large percentage of players who feel the need to compensate for the success of another player over them by being personally offensive. Making racial, sexual, and ethnic comments that have absolutely no place at the poker table, much less in civil conversation.
Please, if you recognize yourself in this post (even if you would never admit it), THINK about what you are saying and doing at the table. RESPECT the other players in the game. It's ok to pick back and forth, and needling is a part of the psychology of the game (to an extent), but you and I both know that you would never act the same way, or say the same things, if you were live in a casino and had to answer for your conduct.
What I want to bring up is the extreme lack of manners, even basic decency, seen from some of the players online. Case in point: I am a member of a couple forums that have freeroll and low buy-in tournaments sponsored on a few online poker sites. Playing in one just the other day, I get A-10 on the button. I call and the BB makes a standard raise. It's folded back to me. Now, A-10 isn't the kind of hand you would normally call with, but I was getting better than 3:1 on my money to call and I had position.
I hit my 10 on the flop and I "walk the dog" to the river and double up against the pkt 9's in the BB. Of course, he has to start right in with what a "Donkey" I was for calling the raise with A-10 (see above for explanation). I decide to have fun with this kid and we start trading shots. Nothing out of the ordinary. His taunts start to descend into the realm of a 5th grade shouting match on the playground and a lady player (correctly, I think) comments that's time to let it go. Bad beats happen.
That's when this punk goes WAAAY out of line and tells this woman to "get on your knees where you belong".???????? WTF is this sht? I guarantee, if this had been live, there would've been a line waiting to kick this guy's ass. As it was, he was safe behind the keyboard. He not only refused to apologize for his remarks, he (after first trying to justify his crudity) repeated them and added to them. All because a female player dared to ask for some semblance of courtesy at the table.
Of course, both the female player and myself (and others) contacted the administrators of the poker forum we belong to about getting this kid censured. We were both told that, since the conduct took place outside the forum (on another poker website) there was nothing they could do. (!?!) It happened during a forum sponsored event. The forum was for members only, so it wasn't like this was some outsider causing trouble. We both made the case that the forum needed to address this issue, and I made the case that this player be removed from the forum membership and banned. We were told that the matter would have to be addressed by the support staff at the poker site itself.
I don't get it. Can't the players who run this forum (all very good, skilled players and decent people) see what this is going to do to the reputation of their site? Their membership has exploded during the course of this past year, going from less than 10,000 to well over 40,000. Although most of these additions are not very active beyond the minimum to qualify for invitations for the daily sponsored freerolls. It is my belief that they'd be better served by coming down harder on those who are misbehaving and by limiting access to their freerolls to those members showing true interest in the well-being of the site and it's other members. In that way, the reputation of the site as a "family" of true poker players/enthusiasts who are known for their respect of the game and other players, as well as being a community that produces skilled players would grow and be a source of pride to both the members and founders.
As it is, we are losing our best and brightest. Those who could (and, indeed, want to) teach what they know are leaving because they don't want to deal with all the bs, and beginners looking for a place to learn and grow are greatly disillusioned when they run into these kinds of situations.
I want to make clear that I'm not singling out this one forum I belong to. I see it across the board. On almost every site, if you are in the freeroll satellites, or the lower cost buy-in tournaments, you are going to find a large percentage of players who feel the need to compensate for the success of another player over them by being personally offensive. Making racial, sexual, and ethnic comments that have absolutely no place at the poker table, much less in civil conversation.
Please, if you recognize yourself in this post (even if you would never admit it), THINK about what you are saying and doing at the table. RESPECT the other players in the game. It's ok to pick back and forth, and needling is a part of the psychology of the game (to an extent), but you and I both know that you would never act the same way, or say the same things, if you were live in a casino and had to answer for your conduct.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Worst bubble ever?
No advice for anyone today. Just a short vent. I played in the Absolute Swag freeroll on AbsolutePoker last night. Top 5 got prizes. A nice collection of gear for 1st, T's, hats, and the like for 2nd-5th. After over 4 hours of play I went out in 6th/2647. Ordinarily, I'd be pleased with the finish. In this case, playing so long and hard for zero result kinda bites.
NEW RESOURCE
I've joined a new blog community made up exclusively of poker bloggers. Some of whom are poker professionals. Check it out. Pokerweblogs.com
Don't forget to check out the articles in this blog and to leave your comments so I can research and post articles on topics that are of interest to you.
NEW RESOURCE
I've joined a new blog community made up exclusively of poker bloggers. Some of whom are poker professionals. Check it out. Pokerweblogs.com
Don't forget to check out the articles in this blog and to leave your comments so I can research and post articles on topics that are of interest to you.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Poker Strategies: Playing Position I & II
Every professional endeavor has it own mantra. In business there's K.I.S.S. In real estate, it's location, location, location. In poker, it's position, position, position.
Position impacts each and every decision you make as a poker player.
Winning poker is about much more than what your cards are. Even what your opponents cards might be. Winning poker is all about situations and position.
We've all been told that the value of starting hands goes way up as you get short handed. This is a function of odds and percentages. The fewer hands contesting the pot, the better the odds that your hand will/may be good. For example: pocket 7's are much stronger 4-handed than they would be with a full table. What many beginning poker players don't fully appreciate is the fact that position plays much the same role.
Starting hand values will vary quite a bit well before you get the chance to be short handed at the final table. This is where position comes in. Hands become more valuable (playable) later in position. We'll take the earlier example of pocket 7's. In very early position (UTG), pocket 7's may be a hand you would want to stay away from. If you open the pot for a raise, as is standard, what do you do if you get re-raised by a later acting player? He's putting you in a tough spot because he has the advantage of having position over you.
He's able to use the information he gets by seeing your action to help him make his decision. It is a huge advantage. In this situation, you'd probably have to fold. There are 2 main reasons: 1) Unless he's a total maniac, he's not going to raise your bet unless he holds premium cards, either a strong Ace (AK,AQ) or a good pocket pair, and 2) even if you are a slight favorite pre-flop it's extremely likely that one or more overcards are going to come out on the flop, making it very tough for you to bet, and he'll still have position over you.
Now, let's take our measley pair of 7's and move over to the button. If we get a few limpers in the pot before us, we can usually assume that no one has a good Ace. A pot-sized raise could very well win us the pot right here. If we get called, we can be fairly certain we are slight favorites in a coin flip situation.
The later we have to act, and the fewer players in the hand, the more power our hand assumes (remember the example of playing short-handed). Being in position gives our hand more potential and gives us more options, being out of position seriously limits both.
Part II
Playing position applies to every form of poker, whether it's No-Limit/Limit, Holdem, Omaha, Stud, or Razz. Once you understand the strengths of the various starting hands you need to factor in the strength/weakness of your positon at the table. Hands that are almost an automatic raise/re-raise in late position, may be only worth a call in mid position, if they are playable at all, and mandatory folds early.
In general, if you are opening the pot (first to act) you will need to have a stronger hand the earlier your position in relation to the button. If you are later in position, but still first to act, you can lower your starting hand requirements and increase your aggression. Take our example of pocket 7's from Part I. You may want to consider folding if first to act in early position due to the unknown potential of the hands still to act. If action is folded around to you and you are in late position or on the button, a raise is definitely in order. There are fewer people who could compete with you for the pot, making it more likely that you will have the best hand going in if you are called. Same hand, different position.
Conversely, you can also use your opponent's position at the table to your advantage. His actions in different positions can help you determine what hands he could be holding. This will, in turn, aid you in making your decision later.
If he is raising in early position, you need to give him credit for a decent hand and judge your hand's strength accordingly. Similarly, if he is calling or re-raising your bet/raise, you need to give him credit for having a hand. Players usually require a stronger hand to call or re-raise somebody else's action. You don't want to start calling with trash hands or re-raising with ATC (any two cards) just because you have position. Having someone already in the pot changes the dynamics of the game and adds another variable for you to consider.
Practice and experience will make taking position into account easier as you go along. After all, position is only one of the many variables you will need to take into consideration while you are at the table.
Position impacts each and every decision you make as a poker player.
Winning poker is about much more than what your cards are. Even what your opponents cards might be. Winning poker is all about situations and position.
We've all been told that the value of starting hands goes way up as you get short handed. This is a function of odds and percentages. The fewer hands contesting the pot, the better the odds that your hand will/may be good. For example: pocket 7's are much stronger 4-handed than they would be with a full table. What many beginning poker players don't fully appreciate is the fact that position plays much the same role.
Starting hand values will vary quite a bit well before you get the chance to be short handed at the final table. This is where position comes in. Hands become more valuable (playable) later in position. We'll take the earlier example of pocket 7's. In very early position (UTG), pocket 7's may be a hand you would want to stay away from. If you open the pot for a raise, as is standard, what do you do if you get re-raised by a later acting player? He's putting you in a tough spot because he has the advantage of having position over you.
He's able to use the information he gets by seeing your action to help him make his decision. It is a huge advantage. In this situation, you'd probably have to fold. There are 2 main reasons: 1) Unless he's a total maniac, he's not going to raise your bet unless he holds premium cards, either a strong Ace (AK,AQ) or a good pocket pair, and 2) even if you are a slight favorite pre-flop it's extremely likely that one or more overcards are going to come out on the flop, making it very tough for you to bet, and he'll still have position over you.
Now, let's take our measley pair of 7's and move over to the button. If we get a few limpers in the pot before us, we can usually assume that no one has a good Ace. A pot-sized raise could very well win us the pot right here. If we get called, we can be fairly certain we are slight favorites in a coin flip situation.
The later we have to act, and the fewer players in the hand, the more power our hand assumes (remember the example of playing short-handed). Being in position gives our hand more potential and gives us more options, being out of position seriously limits both.
Part II
Playing position applies to every form of poker, whether it's No-Limit/Limit, Holdem, Omaha, Stud, or Razz. Once you understand the strengths of the various starting hands you need to factor in the strength/weakness of your positon at the table. Hands that are almost an automatic raise/re-raise in late position, may be only worth a call in mid position, if they are playable at all, and mandatory folds early.
In general, if you are opening the pot (first to act) you will need to have a stronger hand the earlier your position in relation to the button. If you are later in position, but still first to act, you can lower your starting hand requirements and increase your aggression. Take our example of pocket 7's from Part I. You may want to consider folding if first to act in early position due to the unknown potential of the hands still to act. If action is folded around to you and you are in late position or on the button, a raise is definitely in order. There are fewer people who could compete with you for the pot, making it more likely that you will have the best hand going in if you are called. Same hand, different position.
Conversely, you can also use your opponent's position at the table to your advantage. His actions in different positions can help you determine what hands he could be holding. This will, in turn, aid you in making your decision later.
If he is raising in early position, you need to give him credit for a decent hand and judge your hand's strength accordingly. Similarly, if he is calling or re-raising your bet/raise, you need to give him credit for having a hand. Players usually require a stronger hand to call or re-raise somebody else's action. You don't want to start calling with trash hands or re-raising with ATC (any two cards) just because you have position. Having someone already in the pot changes the dynamics of the game and adds another variable for you to consider.
Practice and experience will make taking position into account easier as you go along. After all, position is only one of the many variables you will need to take into consideration while you are at the table.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Texas Holdem Strategy: Know When to Say "When"
This is an article I wrote a few days ago for submission to a few online magazines. I thought I'd include it here to get your feedback (please, be kind).
The difference between walking away a winner and going broke chasing your losses is knowing when to walk away. Many poker players, even skilled, experienced players have dealt with this problem. It takes discipline to get up and leave the table. Some signs that it may be time to "take the money and run" (I just love the classics) include:
1. The players at the table have changed and you are not winning as consistently as you were.
There is a saying that there is at least one sucker at every poker table. If you look around and can't identify who they are, it's you. If you've driven all of the fish away from your table and you aren't winning as often or as much, don't be afraid to get up and try your luck at another table. If you're being out-played, you're being out-played. You want to be the shark (or barracuda, at least), not the fish.
2. You've lost your focus.
Believe it or not, playing poker can be an exhausting endeavor. While physically sedentary, it's very emotionally and mentally draining to constantly try to remain aware of shifting player dynamics during hours of play. It wears at you. There are literally dozens of studies that show concentration, focus, and decision making ability all suffer with prolonged periods of stress and exhaustion. We need to acknowledge it when, for whatever reason, we just aren't at our best.
4. There's little or no money to be made.
Winning poker is only possible when there is a good mix of aggressive and conservative players at the table. Sometimes you will find yourself in a situation when it seems everyone at the table, including you, is a "rock". When that happens, the pots are likely to be smaller, with less action. Rocks as a rule are tight-aggressive. They're not going to play too many speculative hands, and they're certainly not going to give you action without a strong hand. A table full of maniacs is just as bad, in a different way. If everyone is being super-aggressive, poker soon takes on the semblance of a lottery. There's much more opportunity to lose than to win.
5. You have made a reasonable profit on the session.
You need to keep track of your stack in relation to the other players' and also in relation to the total chips at the table. At a certain point the ratio of risk:reward gets turned against you. It may seem counter-intuitive, but being a massive chip leader is a difficult circumstance to master. The reason is that your perception of risk can get skewed and distorted by the size of your stack. If you've been playing well and have built up your stack to 3,4 or even 5 times your starting stack, you will be a huge force at the table. Even if other players have re-bought, you are likely to have at least a 2:1 chip advantage over the average stack at your table. If you become "drunk with power" you could start pushing with hands you should fold. For the same reason, watch your stack's ratio to the total chips at the table. If you have over half the chips in play you really can't advance your cause too much. At that point you are potentially risking your large stack to win a portion of a much smaller one.
6. You are card dead.
In the movie "The Color of Money", Paul Newman's character tells Tom Cruise, "Listen kid, the balls roll funny for everyone". Poker is very similar, with the exception that billiard players have much more control over their situations. Poker pros can win without the best hand, some of the time, but no one can win without catching at least a few hands. No matter how long you've been playing poker, no matter how skilled your play may be, you are going to find that there will be times when it's just "not your night". If the cards just aren't breaking your way, you need to get your ego out of the way and cut your losses and run. This is a situation where discipline really becomes important. You can be the most skilled player at the table, but if you don't get the cards, it's time to go.
The difference between walking away a winner and going broke chasing your losses is knowing when to walk away. Many poker players, even skilled, experienced players have dealt with this problem. It takes discipline to get up and leave the table. Some signs that it may be time to "take the money and run" (I just love the classics) include:
1. The players at the table have changed and you are not winning as consistently as you were.
There is a saying that there is at least one sucker at every poker table. If you look around and can't identify who they are, it's you. If you've driven all of the fish away from your table and you aren't winning as often or as much, don't be afraid to get up and try your luck at another table. If you're being out-played, you're being out-played. You want to be the shark (or barracuda, at least), not the fish.
2. You've lost your focus.
Believe it or not, playing poker can be an exhausting endeavor. While physically sedentary, it's very emotionally and mentally draining to constantly try to remain aware of shifting player dynamics during hours of play. It wears at you. There are literally dozens of studies that show concentration, focus, and decision making ability all suffer with prolonged periods of stress and exhaustion. We need to acknowledge it when, for whatever reason, we just aren't at our best.
4. There's little or no money to be made.
Winning poker is only possible when there is a good mix of aggressive and conservative players at the table. Sometimes you will find yourself in a situation when it seems everyone at the table, including you, is a "rock". When that happens, the pots are likely to be smaller, with less action. Rocks as a rule are tight-aggressive. They're not going to play too many speculative hands, and they're certainly not going to give you action without a strong hand. A table full of maniacs is just as bad, in a different way. If everyone is being super-aggressive, poker soon takes on the semblance of a lottery. There's much more opportunity to lose than to win.
5. You have made a reasonable profit on the session.
You need to keep track of your stack in relation to the other players' and also in relation to the total chips at the table. At a certain point the ratio of risk:reward gets turned against you. It may seem counter-intuitive, but being a massive chip leader is a difficult circumstance to master. The reason is that your perception of risk can get skewed and distorted by the size of your stack. If you've been playing well and have built up your stack to 3,4 or even 5 times your starting stack, you will be a huge force at the table. Even if other players have re-bought, you are likely to have at least a 2:1 chip advantage over the average stack at your table. If you become "drunk with power" you could start pushing with hands you should fold. For the same reason, watch your stack's ratio to the total chips at the table. If you have over half the chips in play you really can't advance your cause too much. At that point you are potentially risking your large stack to win a portion of a much smaller one.
6. You are card dead.
In the movie "The Color of Money", Paul Newman's character tells Tom Cruise, "Listen kid, the balls roll funny for everyone". Poker is very similar, with the exception that billiard players have much more control over their situations. Poker pros can win without the best hand, some of the time, but no one can win without catching at least a few hands. No matter how long you've been playing poker, no matter how skilled your play may be, you are going to find that there will be times when it's just "not your night". If the cards just aren't breaking your way, you need to get your ego out of the way and cut your losses and run. This is a situation where discipline really becomes important. You can be the most skilled player at the table, but if you don't get the cards, it's time to go.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Playing Poker Online. Is it Worth Your Time?
You've read some books, subscribed to a couple of online E-zines, participated in forum discussions, even joined a few sites and played in the freeroll tournaments. You've studied the game, you've practiced your moves, and you're ready to hit the "big time". The Real Money Games. But, are you really?
Once you make the decision to take the plunge and start playing for actual money you need to decide if it's worth your time. This isn't as flippant a question as it may at first seem. You need to take an honest look at your bankroll and your poker skills. Both are likely to be rather low if you're just starting out.
So, the first question to ask is, "Can I afford to play at these stakes?" If the cost to buy into a tournament is more than 15% of your bankroll, it's easy. NO. If the cost for a seat in a ring game is more than 20% of your bankroll (cash games usually require min 100 BB's), NO. Money management is crucial to both online and live play. I know of no faster way to go broke than to over-play your bankroll.
Next question is, re-buy or freezeout? A freezeout simply means that you pay a one-time fee to enter and get a fixed amount of chips. When your stack is gone, so are you. In a re-buy, you can "go broke" and buy your way back in. There are usually some kind of limits on the re-buys. ie: Only allowed to rebuy below a certain stack level, limited number of re-buys allowed per player, re-buys only allowed before first break, etc.
If you're playing a freezeout, the 15% rule applies. If your bankroll is $100, the biggest game you should get into is a $15 buy. If you're playing a re-buy, you need to decide how many "buys" you will allow yourself. Keep in mind that re-buy tournaments also have an "add-on" at the end of the first round. The total of all buy-in and add-ons should not exceed 15% of your bankroll. If you don't want to spend any more than the initial buy-in, stay away from re-buy tournaments.
Why? Because you will be putting yourself at a distinct disadvantage to the others in the field.
If you only take a single buy-in and the rest of the field averages 3 buy-ins, you've started out giving everyone else a 3 to 1 chip advantage. Playing winning poker is tough enough, do you really want to give them that extra advantage?
Finally, is it worth your time? Is the prize you hope to win big enough, in relation to the cost of playing and the time it will take to play out the event, worth it? For example: some of the lower buy-in tournaments ($5-$15 buy) online could have hundreds, even thousands of players. Check out the prize ladder. Most tournaments pay out to the top 20%. However, spreading the money out that far means that the bottom tiers cover a large percentage of the pay-out field. This means that any real money to be won will be had much later in the tournament. Usually in the final 2 or 3 tables.
You need to decide whether you have the skills to compete at these stakes, and the free time available to reach the money. It's a waste of time and money to start a tournament you don't have time enough to finish.
Managing your bankroll and your time effectively is critical to your eventual success.
If you really want to dominate online poker, you need to play to win.
Once you make the decision to take the plunge and start playing for actual money you need to decide if it's worth your time. This isn't as flippant a question as it may at first seem. You need to take an honest look at your bankroll and your poker skills. Both are likely to be rather low if you're just starting out.
So, the first question to ask is, "Can I afford to play at these stakes?" If the cost to buy into a tournament is more than 15% of your bankroll, it's easy. NO. If the cost for a seat in a ring game is more than 20% of your bankroll (cash games usually require min 100 BB's), NO. Money management is crucial to both online and live play. I know of no faster way to go broke than to over-play your bankroll.
Next question is, re-buy or freezeout? A freezeout simply means that you pay a one-time fee to enter and get a fixed amount of chips. When your stack is gone, so are you. In a re-buy, you can "go broke" and buy your way back in. There are usually some kind of limits on the re-buys. ie: Only allowed to rebuy below a certain stack level, limited number of re-buys allowed per player, re-buys only allowed before first break, etc.
If you're playing a freezeout, the 15% rule applies. If your bankroll is $100, the biggest game you should get into is a $15 buy. If you're playing a re-buy, you need to decide how many "buys" you will allow yourself. Keep in mind that re-buy tournaments also have an "add-on" at the end of the first round. The total of all buy-in and add-ons should not exceed 15% of your bankroll. If you don't want to spend any more than the initial buy-in, stay away from re-buy tournaments.
Why? Because you will be putting yourself at a distinct disadvantage to the others in the field.
If you only take a single buy-in and the rest of the field averages 3 buy-ins, you've started out giving everyone else a 3 to 1 chip advantage. Playing winning poker is tough enough, do you really want to give them that extra advantage?
Finally, is it worth your time? Is the prize you hope to win big enough, in relation to the cost of playing and the time it will take to play out the event, worth it? For example: some of the lower buy-in tournaments ($5-$15 buy) online could have hundreds, even thousands of players. Check out the prize ladder. Most tournaments pay out to the top 20%. However, spreading the money out that far means that the bottom tiers cover a large percentage of the pay-out field. This means that any real money to be won will be had much later in the tournament. Usually in the final 2 or 3 tables.
You need to decide whether you have the skills to compete at these stakes, and the free time available to reach the money. It's a waste of time and money to start a tournament you don't have time enough to finish.
Managing your bankroll and your time effectively is critical to your eventual success.
If you really want to dominate online poker, you need to play to win.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Lower Your Online Gambling Risks
Online gambling has many risks.
Aside from the risks of the game is the possibility of scams and frauds. The internet reaches far and wide and it is no wonder that some have found ways to cheat us out of the money that we’ve worked hard for.
Therefore, you should know if the online casino you’re entering is legitimate. Modern technology can make this a difficult task. Scammers need only to copy the layouts of legitimate casinos and adopt them as their own, including memberships and certifications. Logos and banners are very easy to copy (ever hear of photoshop?) so be wary of relying on these.
The best way to make sure that you don’t get scammed is to only go to online casinos approved by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. If you get invited to a site you are not familiar with, look up their certifications and make sure that these are legitimate. You can do this by doing a check of the authority certifying the site, checking with the Kahnawake commission, or even "Googleing"(tm) the site name to find reviews. You can also do a quick search of online gaming organizations' memberships. Scammers don't usually take the time to become members of these organizations because they are usually up and running for only short periods of time before they shut down one site and move on to the next.
Once you have found a legitimate site, you still have the risks inherent in the game itself. There are two ways to deal with these risks. The first way is to learn by doing. It's an excellent way to learn, but it's also the most expensive. It can be so expensive that you give up before you really get started. A better way is to read books by various experts and pros to learn basic strategy and theory. There are also forums you can join to meet with and learn from other players. Whatever your gaming interest, there's a forum for you.
Gambling should be primarily recreational entertainment. Taking the time to learn the game and taking care to patronize only legitimate sites will go a long way towards eliminating scams and frauds and making your gaming experience more enjoyable.
Aside from the risks of the game is the possibility of scams and frauds. The internet reaches far and wide and it is no wonder that some have found ways to cheat us out of the money that we’ve worked hard for.
Therefore, you should know if the online casino you’re entering is legitimate. Modern technology can make this a difficult task. Scammers need only to copy the layouts of legitimate casinos and adopt them as their own, including memberships and certifications. Logos and banners are very easy to copy (ever hear of photoshop?) so be wary of relying on these.
The best way to make sure that you don’t get scammed is to only go to online casinos approved by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. If you get invited to a site you are not familiar with, look up their certifications and make sure that these are legitimate. You can do this by doing a check of the authority certifying the site, checking with the Kahnawake commission, or even "Googleing"(tm) the site name to find reviews. You can also do a quick search of online gaming organizations' memberships. Scammers don't usually take the time to become members of these organizations because they are usually up and running for only short periods of time before they shut down one site and move on to the next.
Once you have found a legitimate site, you still have the risks inherent in the game itself. There are two ways to deal with these risks. The first way is to learn by doing. It's an excellent way to learn, but it's also the most expensive. It can be so expensive that you give up before you really get started. A better way is to read books by various experts and pros to learn basic strategy and theory. There are also forums you can join to meet with and learn from other players. Whatever your gaming interest, there's a forum for you.
Gambling should be primarily recreational entertainment. Taking the time to learn the game and taking care to patronize only legitimate sites will go a long way towards eliminating scams and frauds and making your gaming experience more enjoyable.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Poker Strategies: Playing with Style
It seems everyone has an opinion on how you should play. However, there are very few hard and fast rules when it comes to playing Texas HoldEm and most of those are more suggestions based on the odds of a certain combination of cards coming up.
My advice for beginning players is to ignore what you see on "TV Poker". Those shows are meant for entertainment, not instruction. The hands you see are not representative. The shows have been edited and the hands chosen for dramatic value.
I've found that it is usually best to adopt a playing style that best fits your basic/innate personality. While Gus Hanson's style of play makes for exciting television, not everyone has the flair (or talent) to pull that off.
As an example, if you are by nature cautious, you should begin with a more conservative style of play (ie., tight/aggressive). While it is always good to mix up your play, forcing yourself to play too aggressive will only serve to make you excessively nervous. Perhaps even to the point that you are unable to concentrate on your opponents due to anxiety over the size of your stack and the size of the pot.
Alternatively, if you are naturally aggressive and out-going, then you should adopt a more aggressive, wide open style of play (ie., loose/aggressive) for exactly the opposite reasons. If you are an aggressive type, forcing yourself to slow down and play too tight might make you nervous because you are "missing the action". This in turn could cause you to make an improper raise or all-in against the wrong player in the wrong situation.
There is no "right" way to play. One style of play works for one player and another style works better for another regardless of the cards that are dealt.
A "rock" and a "maniac" can be at the same table and be equally successfull.
Whichever style you choose, remember that at some point you will have to "change gears" in order to not become too predictable. That is the one hard and fast rule I have found in poker. If your play becomes predictable, your opponents won't have to worry about how to read you.
Win more, more often! Click Here!
Poker professional Kim Birch, the "Danish Dragon" shares some of the strategies that regularly make him a yearly 6-figure income. Click Here! for more details.
My advice for beginning players is to ignore what you see on "TV Poker". Those shows are meant for entertainment, not instruction. The hands you see are not representative. The shows have been edited and the hands chosen for dramatic value.
I've found that it is usually best to adopt a playing style that best fits your basic/innate personality. While Gus Hanson's style of play makes for exciting television, not everyone has the flair (or talent) to pull that off.
As an example, if you are by nature cautious, you should begin with a more conservative style of play (ie., tight/aggressive). While it is always good to mix up your play, forcing yourself to play too aggressive will only serve to make you excessively nervous. Perhaps even to the point that you are unable to concentrate on your opponents due to anxiety over the size of your stack and the size of the pot.
Alternatively, if you are naturally aggressive and out-going, then you should adopt a more aggressive, wide open style of play (ie., loose/aggressive) for exactly the opposite reasons. If you are an aggressive type, forcing yourself to slow down and play too tight might make you nervous because you are "missing the action". This in turn could cause you to make an improper raise or all-in against the wrong player in the wrong situation.
There is no "right" way to play. One style of play works for one player and another style works better for another regardless of the cards that are dealt.
A "rock" and a "maniac" can be at the same table and be equally successfull.
Whichever style you choose, remember that at some point you will have to "change gears" in order to not become too predictable. That is the one hard and fast rule I have found in poker. If your play becomes predictable, your opponents won't have to worry about how to read you.
Win more, more often! Click Here!
Poker professional Kim Birch, the "Danish Dragon" shares some of the strategies that regularly make him a yearly 6-figure income. Click Here! for more details.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
