tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77440355207405755942024-02-20T03:07:42.644-08:00Texas Holdem Tip GuideHelpful Ramblings on Texas Holdemjudesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-78945627230247671922010-03-26T09:37:00.001-07:002010-03-26T09:37:39.670-07:00Getting The Best Poker Bonuses<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Arthur Walters</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Any poker web site worth its salt offers [substantial|persuasive|significant|sizable] bonuses to entice casual players to sign up and invest their money with them. The most [popular|commonplace|prevalent|widespread] are those who offer to match the amount of your initial deposit subject to certain criteria being met - normally that you play so many raked hands within a certain period of time to [accumulate|assemble|collect|compile] points before the cash is released.<br /> <br /> The obvious advantage to these schemes is the [perception|concept|view|thought] that it is "free money". For good players it is an added bonus and allows you to ultimately get into the higher stake games without [introducing|adding|infusing|injecting] too much of your own cash. For regular players still to make it into the higher [echelons|order|ranks|tier] of the poker world, it is an opportunity to extend your bankroll and gain valuable [experience|expertise|knowledge|wisdom]. And best of all, you can sign up to every site offering bonuses such as these, as there are rarely any exclusion clauses from preventing you from doing so.<br /> <br /> One problem occurs when there is a fairly high amount of money [required|called for|needed|wanted] to invest in order to get on a site and try it out. Whereas you may be able to try the "play games" initially, what [happens|comes to pass|occurs|transpires] when you play for real, decide you do not like the site for any reason (ie insufficient players to provide a decent pot) and wish to pull out? You just have to walk away from the partial bonus you have [accrued|collected|built|accumulated] and get onto another site which offers you a better chance of winning some decent pots. Then, you are starting all over [again|once more|afresh|from scratch].<br /> <br /> It is better to shop around and find a site that you are most [comfortable|relaxed|familiar|at ease] with. Compare the lobbies of the live games in different sites to see figures such as "hands per hour" and the average pot sizes before [deciding|choosing|determining|ascertaining] which is the site for you. There are other useful resources such as poker forums which will give you an indication of what you can expect, and this is invaluable [advice|information|guidance|counsel] for somebody just starting to get into the game for real.<br /> <br /> It was mentioned earlier about the perception of free money, and this may lead to [recklessness|casualness|imprudence|thoughtlessness] when using it to stake games. Considering the bonus as somebody else's money might make you believe that it is not [important|relevant|disastrous|earthshaking] if you lose it. It is far better to consider it as an award for achieving a certain goal (as you would if you had won it at a table) and treat it as your own from day one. That way you will be more [cautious|calculating|prudent|thoughtful] when playing, play a tighter game and eventually come away all the richer.<br /> <br /> Here ends the lesson - go forth and play poker! - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>For more reviews and red hot poker tips visit <a target='_blank' href="http://www.onlypokersites.com/poker-horsing-about">Poker Room Reviews</a>. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-53896123463473676482010-03-24T02:16:00.001-07:002010-03-24T02:16:18.140-07:00What Does Full Tilt Poker Rakeback Indicate And How Do You Obtain It?<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Kimba Podolsky</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>A lot of people have been asking this question lately: "What Is Full Tilt Rakeback All About?" It's been making quite a stir on blogs and forums. The guys who are talking about it act like everybody knows what they're talking about, but they don't This brief article is only meant to fill in the picture a little bit. For more info, go to Rakebackftw.com.<br /> <br /> Let's start with "rakeback." No, let's start with "rake." In poker, a rake is what the casino charges for playing the game of poker. What they rake in from poker games is a percentage of the pot. Since the casino is not involved in the playing of a poker game, this is the only way they can profit from it, unlike in roulette and other games where the odds are stacked in their favor. Rakebackftw.com goes into all of this in more detail, so check out what they have to say.<br /> <br /> So now that we all understand what a rake is, it will be easy to understand what a "rakeback" is. Whether you're playing in a casino in Las Vegas or in an online casino, the casino is going to rake a percentage. A rakeback is a percentage of that percentage that the players can "rake back" from the casino. The percentages vary, depending on where you're playing. You'll have to check into that for yourself.<br /> <br /> For now, the only thing you need to know is that when it all adds up, you can make quite a bit from accumulated rakebacks. The casinos offer you this as an incentive for you to play at their site again. Be sure you take advantage of it!<br /> <br /> Now we're ready to go on to the Full Tilt part of the equation. If you don't know about the Full Tilt Poker website, you're missing out. It's one of the best online poker parlors there is and it's been around for a long, long time. It's the place where the pros go to play. Don't let that put you off, though. If you're not a pro, you don't have to play with them, but you can learn from them!<br /> <br /> A lot of people who signed on to Full Tilt Poker did so before they discovered Rakebackftv.com, so they didn't know about or take advantage of the fact that they could get rakebacks at Full Tilt. Nobody was doing a dirty on them - it just wasn't part of the deal when you joined up. Consequently, some old timers at FT have been missing out on a good thing.<br /> <br /> That can be remedied, though. Just go to Rakebackftv.com, sign up with them and they'll be sure to get you set up with a Full Tilt Rakeback. If you're already with FT, they'll help you get your existing account fixed up for you. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>Benefiting from <a target='_blank' href="http://www.rakebackftw.com/eng/rakeback-deals/rakeback-offers/room_details/room-FullTilt">Full Tilt Poker rakeback</a> is as easy as one two three merely register at the <a target='_blank' href="http://www.rakebackftw.com">top rakeback site</a> </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-71703348879170048742010-03-20T09:27:00.000-07:002010-03-20T10:56:20.592-07:00Poker Card Systems, Why They Do Not Work<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Brendan Wilson</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Being registered with many poker sites has its benefits and its disadvantages. With a huge option of games to play, different bonuses and competitions, I could be online 24/7 and always find a game to play, major tournament to qualify for (Ha! Ha!) and try to higher my standard. The downside is that I get a stack of junk email.<br /> <br /> Some of these communications ask me to part with $20 upwards to invest in commit to a book that will revolutionize the way I play on the tables and pledging me riches beyond my wildest dreams. Headlines such as "Invest in the Whacky System" inform me that, for a small outlay, I will get the innermost secrets of professional poker players. In reality, these are all training courses which are broadly free online and bear most of the knowledge that one gets from simply playing - "When a man with money meets a man with experience, the man with experience leaves with money and the man with money leaves with experience." Anon.<br /> <br /> Nonetheless, after a little investigation, I though I would try one out. One of these companies (who I will not grace by advertising their name) declares that you bet a "reasonable" amount when holding pocket pairs TT or higher, AJ, AQ or AK, and when holding suited connectors (5d 6d for instance). The "reasonable" amount was a bit unclear and this hardly represented advanced hand selection. But I carried on, deciding that I would bet the pot rather than go all in every hand and see how it went. Three SnGs later, this is what took place<br /> <br /> Game 1 started with AA in mid-position. Was this a omen that I had chosen the right direction for my future poker play? I bet the pot. The flop came down, I was raised and bet the pot, which was re-raised and 4 us ended up all in. An A on the turn and I collected. Thank you system. Would I have got such a catch if I had gone all in at the beginning? Hmm? So, I carried on only betting on cards that fell into my criteria and folding everything else. The hands in which I was not playing provided a useful time to examine my opponents and the way they played. Who was aggressive. Who was passive. How table position affected the way that some people played and not others. I felt that I should be doing this more religiously, so in one respect it was time well utilized.<br /> <br /> After 30 minutes, just three players remained. Some of my bets had won, some caused the table to fold and I just gathered the blinds. Then I hit AA again and lost to two pairs. The next hand I was out when, following the system, I ended up all in on 3s 4s. Third place and an education - not bad, although I would have got at least third place, I felt, with the cards I had been dealt.<br /> <br /> Game 2 was all over in two hands. 3d 4d, followed by 6d 7d<br /> <br /> In game 3, I did not obtain the cards to play a hand for the first 20 minutes, by which time four players had already departed and I was sitting 3 of 5. More time to learn about my opposition. I got AK, was raised to all in and picked up with two pairs. Several hands later, I am sitting 3 of 3 after my raises brought folds from my opponents and two had knocked themselves out. My stats at this point were; played 5 of 32, won 1 hand at showdown and 4 without.<br /> <br /> The chip leader took out the third player, and we were heads up. I kept on playing to the system and he completely "sussed" what I was doing (if, in fact, he didn't know already). There would have been an eventual situation where I would have ended second as he was folding to any raise I made and I was folding any cards that did not adhere to the system. The blinds would have wiped me out ultimately. So, I abandoned the system, played my day-after-day game and won.<br /> <br /> My conclusion is that systems don't work solely. You have to incorporate them into your regular strategies. Combining a system with luck will enable you to pick up a few runner up rewards but, is that what you really want? - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>For more articles and information on Poker and Poker Rooms visit our website <a target='_blank' href="http://www.onlypokersites.com/texas-hold-em">Omaha Hi</a>. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-7717143675269904732010-03-01T11:02:00.001-08:002010-03-01T11:02:07.922-08:00Improve Your Poker by Reading Opponent's Hands<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Billy Kernow</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>An essential skill of any poker player, whether you're playing online or offline, tournaments or ring games, is the ability to put your opponents on a range of hands. Your capacity to do this well in your game, will in large part establish your extended success in poker. However, qualifying your opponent's hand is one of the more complicated aspects of the game to master. These are a few tips to help you progress to being a good hand reader.<br /> <br /> The most important factor is paying close attention to the game, even when you're not involved in a hand. Betting patterns and certain body language tells tend to be repeated over and over by many players, and learning to recognise these can give you a huge advantage. If an opponent plays out of his normal pattern, then you should stop and ask yourself why. Typically this means his hand is uncommon too, usualy indicating a moderately good, or rather weak hand which requires a decision.<br /> <br /> Noticing your opponent's positional play will allow you to assemble solid assumptions about the strength of his hand. If he plays a lot of hands, his positional play won't mean much, but if he is by and large tight, solid hands from early position are rather customary, while opening up the range in later position.<br /> <br /> Look at your opponent, not your cards when the deal comes. Glaring at the board is often the result of his hand improving. Looking away, or a quick check often means a potential draw or total miss. However, if he raised preflop and aces or face cards land on the flop, be careful of a trap.<br /> <br /> It's important to consider the impact of the pot or betting action is going to have on his stack, or tournament hopes. If he is normally a tight player and is prepared to endanger more on the hand, then you can rationally presume he is strong. If he seems determined to keep the pot small, then the pot is very likely yours to take. Loose players are harder to translate in this case, and it's more vital for you to have a really strong hand than to even bother trying to read what their hole cards are.<br /> <br /> Scrutinize how the betting and aggression changes AFTER the flop. Keep an eye on conviction that turns hesitation, or reverse. Practice guessing your opponent's hand before they turn it over. Again, you don't have to be in the hand, but you do have to observe the flop and follow the betting activity. Repeating this frequently will allow your evaluation of hole cards to become rather exact. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>Learn how to play poker, improve your strategies, and find the best deals and <a target='_blank' href="http://www.best-poker-sites.net">top poker sites</a> online at Best-Poker-Sites.net Find exclusive <a target='_blank' href="http://www.bonus-code-poker.net/poker-bonus-codes/party-poker-bonus-code/">PartyPoker Bonus code</a>, reviews and referral codes to all the top poker sites at Bonus-Code-Poker.com </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-63646709715375879322010-02-24T12:47:00.000-08:002010-02-24T12:58:45.332-08:00Precisely Why Cereus Rakeback With Absolute Poker Is A Total Method For Earning Big Money<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Mitch Johannsson</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Did you ever consider how gaming houses make their profit from on line poker? Rakebackftw.com can show you how, as well as informing players of how to earn cash other than what's thrown into the pot. The prize is for the winner of the online game, less a rake or fee for the gaming host. Absolute Poker Rakeback is an earned percentage of the rake paid by the player, returned as motivation for them to stay at the table.<br /> <br /> This works as members make a cash return from the fees paid for every hand to the poker rooms, so money is made regardless of skill or luck of the draw. The cash back incentive is from the contributions made during play from the affiliate. Web based casinos have lots of rivals for gaining associates.<br /> <br /> A rake of up to ten percent of the pot will come with all poker games. When a professional event is happening, players may undoubtedly pay a rake for a buy in. This will occur when the initial wager is lost, but a player may desire to carry on in that particular round. Whatever the buy in amount is, a five percent rake will go to the house.<br /> <br /> Poker players are just people that love the game and have engineered an expertise in the areas of bluffing, keeping their hand an undetectable secret, or knowing when to fold them and when they have a winning hand. There can be a table with up to ten players contributing to the rake. The most skilled card player in the online game wins the pot. Rakebackftw.com has numerous poker strategies on hand to learn from.<br /> <br /> In general, web based casinos will follow a system where a perimeter is exploited for the rake, so only a small percent of the pot is taken. An inducement of a greater percentage is afforded to the affiliate players to keep their interest in the game. Remember, earnings are made from sitting in on the online game, not just from winning the hand.<br /> <br /> Online poker bonuses and banking fees charged for credit cards to deposit and withdraw into an online wallet, are taken from the player's rakeback if they are affiliated with the casino. Each player contributes towards the house's rake and the house might select to pay its members their rake at the end of each month. That's, after deductions are all accounted for.<br /> <br /> Various forms of rakeback deals are on offer. Sit n Go Rakeback is popular method for players to trial. The fastest game is with Heads up Rakeback, so a lot more earnings are likely as more games are played. Rakebackftw.com has info on how Absolute Poker rakeback can make players money while in a game. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'><a target='_blank' href="http://www.rakebackftw.com/eng/rakeback-deals/rakeback-offers/room_details/room-Absolute">Absolute Poker rakeback</a> is obtainable on the Cereus network. The author's poker portal Rakebackftw.com is committed to giving you the very best information and facts concerning <a target='_blank' href="http://www.rakebackftw.com">online poker rakeback</a> to the internet poker community. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-72775558680307571292010-02-22T14:52:00.000-08:002010-02-22T15:12:22.283-08:00A Full Newbies Report For Internet Texas Holdem Rake Back<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Johnny Daniellson</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>If you are a normal online texas holdem player, you will wish to stay up to date about the most recent trends and practices in the market. One of the biggest things in online poker today is the rakeback. Being informed is particularly relevant to serious and regular players simply because it offers them an additional means of making cash, for instance with the Reefer poker rakeback . This article will assist you understand the rakeback and how it works.<br /> <br /> The rake is really a small percentage of money from every hand in a pot that the poker room takes as a commission. This seemingly small quantity really adds up to a great deal when you think about the number of hands, rooms and players online at all times. The rake back is really a portion of this total that the room gives back to the player in the form of a refund. Essentially, this permits you to pay the room a lower commission each time you play a hand.<br /> <br /> Normal online players tend to opt to sites like Reefer that provide a rakeback deal. This permits them to back up their poker income. The typical player who indulges only once in a while might not bother about the rake, but, those who invest a large amount of time in online poker are likely to be affected or at least take notice of having to pay the site each time they play. A rakeback deal through a site like Rakebackftw.com is therefore the wise way to play.<br /> <br /> It does not matter what your preference is in the poker room, you are able to select to play with a limit or without and still earn rakeback. Not all sites offer rakebacks and not all that do are trustworthy. It's best to opt for a dependable website like Rakebackftw.com where you could be sure of regular rakeback payments into your account.<br /> <br /> The quantity of the rake back will depend on the amount you play and also the bet limits you set. Normally players get offered 25% to 50% as a rakeback deal. This means for every dollar paid to the poker room via the rake, you get back 25 to 50 cents. In the long term this adds up to a huge savings.<br /> <br /> There are professional players who make hundreds just in poker rakeback dollars. This is a strategy that poker rooms employ to keep regular players, by allowing them to play each hand at a reduced rate. It can also be utilized to appeal to new players. Casinos use the same principle when they provide complementary food or rooms to important poker players who they wish to retain as clients.<br /> <br /> If you are thinking of seriously getting involved in the on line poker world, rakeback is definitely the method to go. Playing with a site like Reefer Poker lets you earn and save while you play. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>Johnny Daniellson is an author for <a target='_blank' href="http://www.rakebackftw.com">Rakebackftw.com</a>, one of the prominent rake back sites. Go to their page on <a target='_blank' href="http://www.rakebackftw.com/eng/rakeback-deals/rakeback-offers/room_details/room-reefer-poker">Reefer Poker rakeback</a> to see how you can benefit from rakeback. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-19452749439861823262010-02-20T12:32:00.001-08:002010-02-20T12:32:41.384-08:00Learn About Of The Titan Poker Bonus Tutorial - What You Could Know About<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Damond W. Austin</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Omaha Hi, Texas Holdem, 5 and 7 Card Stud are just some of the beloved poker games enjoyed by millions of people. These games can even be played online today, with the advancement of the internet. People from all over the world are able to interact with one another on a regular basis and play poker from the comfort of their own homes. The Titan Poker Bonus Tutorial is provided by an online poker gaming phenomenon that provides games and tournament to players worldwide.<br /> <br /> Titan Poker is an online poker room that thousands of players flock to on a daily basis. These aren't just players in one country either, this online phenomenon is worldwide. It is easily the most well known place to play online poker. There are tables available all day long and the tournaments offer prizes so large that many high-rolling poker players are drawn towards this online service. There are a variety of poker games offered by Titan and getting started is easy with the tutorial they provide.<br /> <br /> Playing poker is the best way to get better at the game. No matter how many books a person reads on the subject, it takes interaction with other players to fully understand all that is entailed in the game itself. For Texas Holdem, a round can begin with as many as ten players per table. The dealer is the group is marked with a D by his position online. This task of being the dealer is delegated in a counterclockwise fashion. The next two people to the dealer's left are in charge of placing the blinds.<br /> <br /> In a typical round of Texas Holdem, there can be as many as ten players at a table. The person who is the dealer of the group has a D in front of their online position. The game is started when the two people to the left of the dealer post blinds. The dealer position will rotate counterclockwise throughout the game. Blinds ensure that there is money in the pot for the winner of each game. The person to the left of one dealer posts the small blind and the person next in line posts the big blind.<br /> <br /> The pocket cards are given to them face down and the play continues to the left of these players. The next person can fold, call, or raise, with the amount of the raise being already set by the lower table stake. For instance, in a 5/10 dollar game, the first raise would be 5 dollars. After the raise, The Flop is dealt, which are three community cards.<br /> <br /> The maximum amount of the raise is set in accordance to the amount of each lower table stake, for example, it would be 5 dollars in a 5/10 dollar game. There are three cards dealt face up and these community cards are called The Flop.<br /> <br /> So, in a 5/10 dollar game, the stakes would jump to 10 dollars during this round. The fourth round is played like the third, but this is actually the final round in the game of Texas Holdem. During this round, known as The Showdown, players can fold their cards or show them.<br /> <br /> The final fourth round is played the same as the third round and the end is called The Showdown. During this portion of the game, players have the choice of folding or showing their hand of cards. Winning entails having the highest ranking five cards. If two players tie for this position, the winning pot is split. At the end of the game, the online player can start a new game or quit. Upon reading the Titan Poker Bonus Tutorial, players may choose to join Titan Poker and will have a bonus code to enter. This code provides them with added incentives to join the online gaming room of their choice. Don't forget about 150% up to $600 Bonus + $25 FREE BONUS + $20,000 Freeroll entry on first deposit. USe Titan Poker bonus code : TP600 - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>Get more information on how you can take advantage of the <a target='_blank' href="http://www.titan-poker-bonus-code.com/titan-poker-bonus/">Titan Poker Bonus</a> and begin building a winning pot today! When you play <a target='_blank' href="http://www.titan-poker-bonus-code.com/titan-poker-tournaments/">Titan Poker Tournaments</a> you will be able to play an exciting game at any time. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-35393493761443438672010-02-19T05:44:00.001-08:002010-02-19T05:44:19.074-08:00Tips On How To Make The Most Money From Taking Part In On-line Poker With A Rake-Back Deal<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Michael Drovier</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>The buzz within the poker forums, blogs and within the chatrooms lately has been about something called Full Tilt Rakeback. The way they talk about it, you'd think everybody knew all about it except for you. Don't worry, you're not alone. It is possible to read all about it as Rakebackftw.com, but this is what it's all about in a nutshell.<br /> <br /> It'll most likely be much better if we begin at the end, with the word, "rakeback." In order to comprehend that, you will have to recognize what the "rake" is, first. We've all heard the words, "they're raking it in" and realize they're referring to money. Well, a rake is the percentage from the pot that the casino charges for a poker game. That's the way they can profit from a game they're not playing. You'll be able to find out about the rake in detail at Rakebackftw.com, but that's enough for now.<br /> <br /> That's all there is to the word, "rake." It's the casino's percentage. "Rakeback" becomes pretty clear as soon as you understand that. A rakeback deal is money that is raked back to the online poker players. That money is a percentage of the cut that the casino took before. The percentages vary from place to place, so you'll just have to look into that yourself.<br /> <br /> What's important here is the fact that you can generate rakeback money, whether you win, lose or draw. It can really add up, too! Whatever you do, reap the benefits of this "loyalty reward" casinos offer for your continued business.<br /> <br /> Now that we've got rake and rakeback cleared up, we're ready to tackle "Full Tilt." That's truly quick. The Full Tilt Poker internet poker room is most likely the number one poker palace on the internet. That's where the real pros play. If you're not a professional poker player, don't worry. You won't have to go up against them. In fact, you'll be able to learn from them while you're there!<br /> <br /> A great deal of players who signed on to Full Tilt Poker did so before they discovered Rakebackftw.com, so they didn't know about or take advantage from the fact they could get rakebacks at Full Tilt. Nobody was doing a dirty on them - it just wasn't an element of the deal when they joined up. Consequently, some old timers at FT have been missing out on a excellent thing.<br /> <br /> If you are registered with Full Tilt, but don't have the rakeback facility turned on, don't panic. You can go to Rakebackftw.com and get it fixed. If you're not yet with Full Tilt, go there through Rakeback and they'll get you set up. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>Michael Drovier is a respected writer in the field of <a target='_blank' href="http://www.rakebackftw.com">rakeback</a>. He is a frequent consultant to Rakebackftw.com who are amongst the principal providers of <a target='_blank' href="http://www.rakebackftw.com/eng/rakeback-deals/rakeback-offers/room_details/room-FullTilt">Full Tilt rakeback</a> </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-7536188761441033342010-02-18T07:01:00.000-08:002010-02-18T07:02:00.056-08:00Poker Position - How To Play From Early Position<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Bill Kernow</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>When you choose to play more repeatedly from early position in no limit holdem, it can present more obstacles to your opponents in distinguishing the nature of player you really are. However, it is frequently more pricey to do so, because of the intrinsic risks with having the maximum amount of players to act after you.<br /> <br /> Let's assume you are NOT raising with a quality hand from early position in order trick your opponents. Some players do this with straight cards, small pairs and suited aces or kings. That adds considerable variety from early position and is absolutely going to increase your hand choice in the eyes of your opponents, but you must also be agreeable to play just as many precarious pots, because the more you play, the more you will be played back at.<br /> <br /> That means your opponents will be reraising you with quality hands, or even their own bluffs and justifiably so. In addition, at a full table you have eight or nine opponents to act following you, and that's as many as 18 other cards that can blend for something better than yours. More often than not that will be the case and you will be creating many multi-player pots if they permit you to stay in. So why do poker players raise from early position then?<br /> <br /> There is a reason skilled players do this, at least now and then, and its not just to mix up their play - that's a given. The real purpose is to hit a flop in such an innocent way, that other poker players will make pricey mistakes against you because they utterly misjudged your hand and over-dedicated chips or money to the hand. Usually it's a huge pot.<br /> <br /> You see, even though the majority of early position hands will cost you money, the scheme is to keep all those losing hands in small pots, not big ones. The professionals comprehend that in any given session their winnings often come from just a a tiny number of of the hands played. But when you do hit, those few wins can be so significant they make up for all the other hands and more.<br /> <br /> If you are going to play hands from early position use your reading and pot control skills until that one perfect hand comes up and you pick up a massive pot. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>Watch and study the <a target='_blank' href="http://www.best-poker-sites.net/youtube-poker-videos/">online poker video</a> clips, plus check out our exclusive freerolls, articles, videos, tips and advice at Best-Poker-Sites.net. Find the best deals on poker tables including <a target='_blank' href="http://www.poker-tables-for-sale.net/octagon-poker-table.html">octagon poker tables</a> and folding tables at Poker-Tables-For-Sale.net </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-59407092249803078222010-02-16T03:57:00.000-08:002010-02-16T04:00:48.460-08:00How To Win At Poker<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Matt Hayes</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Of all the card games, Texas Holdem is the most difficult, as it requires a lot of study and discipline.<br /> <br /> There are many contributing factors to the difficulty of texas holdem:<br /> <br /> * It is a game of imperfect information, unlike chess where you can see your opponent's game.<br /> <br /> * Your opponents can represent a hand they don't have by betting into the pot.<br /> <br /> * It is a probability based game, and a basic understanding of percentages is required.<br /> <br /> * Some players have coaches giving them a distinct advantage relative to amateur players.<br /> <br /> * The book Supersystem by Doyle Brunson turned many amateurs into winning poker pros.<br /> <br /> So what options are available for new players to make money with holdem ?<br /> <br /> A good place to start is the collection of tips from this article, provided below:<br /> <br /> * Focus on premium starting hands before the flop.<br /> <br /> * You should be last to act when you get into the pot.<br /> <br /> * You should restrain yourself from playing on a bad day, preocuppied by personal or professional affairs.<br /> <br /> * Keep relative hand strength in mind before committing too many chips to the pot.<br /> <br /> Taking all this knowledge to the poker table is only an internet connection away.<br /> <br /> We encourage you to enhance your skills further by visiting toponlinepokersites.org<br /> <br /> For the new player, a superb idea would be to enroll in an online poker training school such as RealPokerTraining or LeggoPoker.<br /> <br /> Some pros like Annette_15 and Lilholdem954 have online blogs that contain a wealth of information for the new poker player; it is highly recommended that they take advantage of them.<br /> <br /> Just because we want the best for you, we decided to share two previously kept secret tips:<br /> <br /> * Use Datamining software to gather and study hands played by your opponents.<br /> <br /> * Play LAG, which stands for Loose Aggressive (as opposed to TAG, tight aggressive).<br /> <br /> With all these tips we are confident that you will be well armed at the poker table !<br /> <br /> Good luck ! - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>To take your game one step further, we recommend http://toponlinepokersites.org, a new website reviewing the <a target='_blank' href="http://toponlinepokersites.org"> popular poker sites </a>. Read this page from TOPS on the <a target='_blank' href='http://toponlinepokersites.org/safest-poker-sites/'> safe poker rooms</a> </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-48633608033326677912010-02-09T05:32:00.001-08:002010-02-09T05:32:45.510-08:00Toponlinepokersites.org Is A Fantastic New Poker Website<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Matt Hayes</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Toponlinepokersites.org, commonly referred to as TOPS, is a new quality resource for poker enthusiasts.<br /> <br /> The idea for TOPS was conceived in the mind of a successful poker player, decided to turn amateurs into winning pros.<br /> <br /> In light of the large quantity of websites providing advice to new players, he decided to provide a concise summary.<br /> <br /> With 5 years of online poker playing under his belt, he felt he had the expertise to provide real value to amateurs.<br /> <br /> To this end, he bought a nice design and create an internet site which he decided to call www.toponlinepokersites.org.<br /> <br /> The site looks great from an on-page and design perspective, but doesn't stop there, as it also showcases this content:<br /> <br /> * A groundbreaking archive of the most profitable poker sites to date.<br /> <br /> * A collection of rules for all the two and four card Holdem game types.<br /> <br /> * Pre-flop and Post-flop betting strategies to increase a player's winrate.<br /> <br /> * In-depth poker room reviews with a focus on finding the weakest playing fields so you make the most money.<br /> <br /> * Poker Website compatibility information, because not all sites run on MACs for example.<br /> <br /> * An explanation of how to best deposit real funds to poker player accounts.<br /> <br /> * A listing of bonus codes giving players a 100% deposit bonus.<br /> <br /> In the future, TOPS will be much more than a collection of top online poker site related information.<br /> <br /> In the following weeks we will supplement the existing content with pro bios interspersed with humor.<br /> <br /> We will strive to make TOPS an incredibly great resource for poker enthusiasts in the United States.<br /> <br /> Hopefully you will soon be be browsing our internet poker website at www.toponlinepokersites.org !<br /> <br /> As they say in the poker world, good luck at the tables, and we hope you will become a successful poker player. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>Finding the easiest poker sites for 2010 can be a challenge in itself. Toponlinepokersites.org (TOPS) was created for this purpose. Read the TOPS <a target='_blank' href='http://toponlinepokersites.wikidot.com/'> Wiki Page</a> </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-67865663437577598112010-01-28T08:14:00.000-08:002010-01-28T08:27:14.210-08:00Play Poker With Fish, And Handle The Bad Beats<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Billy Kernow</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>So you might be new yourself at poker, but you don't view yourself to be an sorry player. Maybe you aren't special but you're heading towards good and the biggest problem you face is losing to awful players who simply do not comprehend the game. <br /> <br /> Of course they are likely new players too, but you should have the advantage because you read all the good poker authors, paid for membership training, watched a few videos and managed your bankroll sensibly well. The problem is that your bankroll is at best, unimpressive. You might in fact analyze your poker bankroll and become disappointed at its lack of development. <br /> <br /> You might as well try and get used players like this because that's what online poker is all about. These types of players normally lose their money because they do not realize the games' fundamentals, even though they might be up for the moment.It's rather improbable that you're going to figure out why they are playing to win and are, and in fact since they probably don't know either, this isn't worth your time. You simply need to trap players like this with choice hands and more than a reasonable prospect of a lucrative outcome. Now there's a few ways you want to be doing that so as to preserve your stack at the same time. <br /> <br /> Pot size management. It's critical to not let the size of the pot run away from you until you know you have the strongest hand, or even the nuts. Weak players will play any two cards so you won't be able to estimate what they will have, which leaves the burden on you to make sure you are ahead before your chips goes in. That's when you make the suckers pay, otherwise don't get involved in big pots with players who can beat you holding 83 offsuit.<br /> <br /> Mucking your cards pre-flop. This is even more important if you're out of position to the antagonist, but even with medium strength hands you're still going to be arbitrarily guessing what he has. That can be a problem playing post flop with an freakish player.<br /> <br /> Be patient grashopper. As terrible as they play, you may not get the cards to take him down - at least this time. Be certain though, that player is like thousands of others waiting to give you their money. If not him, patience will grant you with another sorry player that will accommodate. <br /> <br /> Table position. You don't want to get caught in front of these players with "potential" hands. Your blinds will get burned away and cause you to make irriational plays because of a dwindling, discouraging game. See low-priced flops against slow maniacal players.<br /> <br /> Don't bluff them a story. They cannot read the "poker story" you are trying to communicate. The board may have numerous overcards to their pocket 6's and they will still call you. Save yourself some grief and coin, do NOT bluff poker suckers.<br /> <br /> Rope a donkey by the tail. Once you do get a lousy player in the good situation, then you need to do your best to trap him for all his money. He may want to bluff you, but he may also call a lot off too. You need to know what kind of fool he is by profiling. <br /> <br /> Nobody likes to lose pots to awful poker players and every lost pot has heartache associated with it. Just remember you are a stronger player, and you know how to get chips from them in the right time and right hand. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>Visit <a target='_blank' href='http://www.bonus-code-poker.net'>Bonus Code Poker</a> for the biggest exclusive bonus codes online. If you want to improve your game check out the articles, videos and reviews at <a target='_blank' href='http://www.best-poker-sites.net'>www.best-poker-sites.net</a> </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-45602401151110609232010-01-24T13:47:00.000-08:002010-01-24T14:11:42.860-08:00Minimizing Risk By Managing Poker Pot Sizes<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Bill Kernow</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Every move you make during a hand has an implication on the size of the pot. It's critical you keep this in mind because a majority of the confrontations that you are involved in should be small pots compared to your stack size. The point is to avoid getting involved in large pots, unless you are certain you are strongest in the hand.<br /> <br /> So you need to take a close look at your actions during a hand and be able to comprehend what the result of checking, calling or raising might be. Even though you might have the best hand when you make a bet, that doesn't necessarily mean you're going to have the winner on the river. In order to manage pot size, you also need to understand the real strength of your hand based on what community cards are out there, and also the profile of your opponent.<br /> <br /> Reckon also if you are going to make a raise or re-raise, that the style of opponent you are playing actually has the experience to fold - when they really should be laying it down. I've seen many players in online tournaments look at a fair strength draw on the flop, and resolve to just let it ride. Of course, that's going to be a large pot and even though you're ahead, you will oftentimes get drawn out and find yourself losing a big hand, or even worse. You really want to avoid this, particularly in the early tournament levels when there is no reason to become short stacked save for a huge suck out, when the blinds are so low.<br /> <br /> Pot size also affects your reads, and how accurately you can put your opponent on a hand. if a pot is large and your opponent is calling you can be reasonably sure they are holding something of value (or maybe they are just a calling station!) Larger pots will be tempting for many players, but the added risks involved mean extra possibilities for bluffing with a less than ideal hand. <br /> <br /> Now that leads to the most significant advantage of controlling the size of the pot, which is that you get to see all five cards on the board before you really decide what to do in terms of your hand strength and your opponent's propensity to make an error. Potential draws or paired boards exhibit themselves to dangerous spots but could either turn into big hand for you or help you slow down and save you some tournament chips.<br /> <br /> Managing the pot size needs emotional discipline, effective profiling, and an experienced understanding of community card texture. Conversely, it is one of the most common misplays your adversaries will be making, and presents an lucrative opportunity for you to double up. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>Get up to $600 deposit bonuses to the <a target='_blank' href='http://www.best-poker-sites.net'>best poker site</a>, and learn about the best deals and promotions, articles, strategies and more at <a target='_blank' href='http://www.best-poker-sites.net'>http://www.best-poker-sites.net</a>. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-71622689122431862172010-01-23T13:33:00.000-08:002010-01-23T17:13:34.728-08:00Rush Poker - Strategies For Full Tilt's New Poker Format<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Billy Kernow</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>There's a new and exciting type of online poker called Rush Poker. This new high speed game is a lot of fun, and is attracting loads of gamblers and recreational players to the exclusive Rush Poker games at Full Tilt.<br /> <br /> Rush poker can be Holdem or Omaha, and Stud will be coming soon. The game is played exactly as normal, on 6 or 9 seat tables, but with one huge difference. As soon as a player is no longer in contention to win a pot, they are instantly reseated and dealt a new hand at a new table. This means you can fold preflop, and rather than wait five minutes for the hand to play out, you get right back into the action straight away. This difference means that players don't get bored, and can play 3oo or more hand per hour!<br /> <br /> Of course every variation to the game of poker requires its own strategy, and rush poker is no different. First of all, you'll need to make your pre-flop decisions based more on the cards and the action, rather than any reads on the players since you'll have only been sitting at the table for a few seconds. Since players will be folding most rags, you can assume that usually players have two high cards, or a pocket pair, and sometimes suited connectors or Ax.<br /> <br /> Since players know that a new hand is only seconds away they are more likely to fold marginal or drawing hands, so aggressive raising and reraising pre and post flop and be very effective. Raising pre-flop also prevents the big blind from seeing the flop for free.<br /> <br /> Rush poker has been called the "greatest innovation since the introduction of Internet poker". That might be over the top, but its certainly a fun and interesting new format which is getting a lot of attention, drawing in loads of loose players, and is a definite opportunity to make a nice profit. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>For a video on <a target='_blank' href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWpYzWClgvA'>Rush Poker strategy</a>, then visit <a target='_blank' href='http://www.best-poker-sites.net'>http://www.best-poker-sites.net</a> for poker strategies, articles, videos and bonus codes. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-60112973769615563482010-01-20T16:37:00.001-08:002010-01-20T16:37:58.082-08:00Playing Free Poker Cash Games<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Dennis Levine</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Other things to consider when selecting a site are; what amount is the free poker cash, variants of games you like to play, the amount you receive for opening an account, if the site gets alot of traffic and how many players play there frequently.<br /> <br /> Start with the site's bankroll. Never sign up without obtaining the free online poker bonus they grant new accounts. The free bankroll is an amount of money that's placed in your account when you sign up. The poker bonus will be put straight into your account. Take notice of the playing requirements involved. You will be required to have to play a number of hands to receive the bonus. It's free poker money and this bankroll is only the beginning of your free poker cash games!<br /> <br /> It's time to have some fun. Create a good "Screen Name." This is how you first establish yourself at free poker cash games online. At first blush, this may seem easy to do. But remember, you'll have to live with that nickname while playing in that free poker money site. Also you have to live with player's reactions to seeing that nickname every time you sit down at a table. Consider how the nickname might affect your competitor's play against you. No one actually will know who you are at the free poker cash games, but they might play some games based on your nickname!<br /> <br /> Take this for an example, if you're considering a soft name like Hi Im Bob or Mommy Dearest, you may experience more aggressive play from other players. Pick a tougher name like NoMercy (Isabelle Mercier), TexasTerminator or the Quiet Lion (Richard Brodie). Humor is a good tactic, too, like BadAtThis (April Zwick-Friedman), Mr Wiggles or Dan Druff (Todd Witteles).<br /> <br /> So after you've picked a good poker name, it's on to the free poker cash games! Pick one you like - Texas Hold'em, Seven Card or Five Card Stud or Razz, Five Card Poker or or one of their variants. Devote a good deal of time with the game, get the feel of it, discover the players ticks and tells (poker sites have online note systems to record these). You need to reach a high comfort level with the game and own it like it's yours. Remember you've got your free poker money to to reach this goal. That's the beauty when you play free poker games online. You can learn while you play without risking your own money.<br /> <br /> You can do that when you take advantage of the features you can use while playing the free poker cash games. You can actually analyze the hands you've played in the past on the website! When you analyze your hand away from the thrill of the game, you're likely to take notice of some flaws that can be improved. Get better when you play free online poker online using free poker money.<br /> <br /> Online poker forums are also a great way to study more about the intricacies and strategies of free poker cash games. The best thing about them is that they're two way communications. You'll engage in conversations and discuss solutions to aspects of the game that you may be having problems with. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>Dennis Levine publishes many articles on how to establish oneself with <a target='_blank' href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/24274059/Free-Poker-Money">free poker money</a> when playing <a target='_blank' href="http://freepokercash.weebly.com">free poker cash</a> games for beginners on the web. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-29647096987714694032009-12-29T07:22:00.000-08:002009-12-29T07:27:33.199-08:00Learn Poker With The Texas Holdem<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Adam S. Kingston</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Gambling is no more an intimidating pastime for some not used to the idea of placing bets and winning. Suppose you want to get started in the world of gambling, the first thing to try - and it is worth trying - is poker. When you sign up for an account in the best online casinos, you get the chance to see and enjoy different variations of online games. Any beginning player would know that they can start off with the easy and simple games as they learn strategies and perfect their techniques.<br /> <br /> One good thing about most casino sites is their free downloads which allow you to be able to go through mastering your skills before you can go any farther. As you earn more skills and learn more techniques and develop the right attitude, you can slowly move up and participate in more thrilling games with the experienced and seasoned poker pros who display more skillful strategies during meets.<br /> <br /> <b>Practice to hone your skills</b><br /> <br /> Visit different casinos over the internet and find out the best site that offer poker for both the well-experienced and the new gambler. Be patient while you learn new tricks each time and you can actually get amazing tips from books and from the internet, which you can use during your learning sessions. As you play more you develop more skills and you obviously improve with each session and take note of the fact there is no real ideal strategy in casino games.<br /> <br /> Poker is largely based on luck to which any player is bound to and anybody is simply going to be surprised in ways they could never have fathomed. As earlier implied there is no perfect strategy because even the thing seasoned pros learned over the years could fail during unfamiliar instances. This is the true whim of luck, keeping the game up and exciting, otherwise predictability may cause the game to lose its vital aspect.<br /> <br /> Starting off with the basics like Texas holdem poker can be a great way to kick start poker as it is simple and the strategies are easy to pick up, and then leave it to your luck to do the rest. It will take some time before you learn to place the right bets as well as control them and read the hands of others. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'><b>Discover how you can stop losing and finally begin winning at the casinos...</b> <u>Revealed</u>: The mathematically tested <a target='_blank' href="http://www.EasyCasinoProfits.com">roulette system</a> to dramatically increase your odds when playing at online casinos. To learn the techniques for yourself, watch this free video now: Click here <a target='_blank' href="http://www.EasyCasinoProfits.com/indexarticles.html">http://www.EasyCasinoProfits.com</a> </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-15246602692257618352009-12-14T23:17:00.000-08:002009-12-16T02:40:38.301-08:00Texas Hold'em: Advanced Betting Techniques - Part 3 of 3<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Daniel L. Cox</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Winning poker comes down to being able to squeeze a profit out of tough situations. The object is not to win every hand played, but to win every hand you play. The best way to do this is to out bet your opponents. Every bet made should have a purpose. Either it is made to induce a weaker hand to fold, or it is made to maximize the winnings on the hand.<br /> <br /> There are many opportunities to outplay your opponents, and you have to know which opponents you can outplay. It is difficult to finesse weak players. The slow play often backfires because one of the loose limpers will hit a hand. The bluff does not work, since these players call with any two cards. The following sections demonstrate many of the advanced aspects of the game and how best to play them.<br /> <br /> <b>Selective Aggression</b><br /> <br /> Showing selective aggression by taking the lead in betting can win many pots. This is true from early position or after other players check to you in middle or late position. A strong raise under the gun from a tight player usually represents a strong hand, as does a re-raise from late position. One can use these bets to increase the pot size with a strong hand or to take down the pot with a semi-bluff when holding a big drawing hand.<br /> <br /> <b>Fallacy of Pot Commitment</b><br /> <br /> Many poker advocates espouse that at a certain point in a betting round the amount of chips you have already put in the pot requires that all of your remaining chips should follow. Sometimes, even if the pot or implied odds warrant an All In bet, it is not the right move. If you put your opponent on a hand that you feel you cannot beat, fold- no matter how many chips you have invested-so you may live on to fight another day (or at least another hand).<br /> <br /> <B>Learning to Let Go</B><br /> <br /> Never become so married to a hand that you cannot lay it down. You have to pay attention to the community cards as they fall. You have to watch the betting patterns of the players and see how they correspond to previous hands. Most players use a slow play at one time or another. Due to this, a premium starting hand can fall to a better one. They also fall to limpers or big blinds that hit miracle flops or mediocre hands that improve tremendously on the flop.<br /> <br /> The majority of the money you lose does not come from folding pre-flop hands that hit big. Instead, it comes from keeping the second-best hand and paying off the best hand at the river. Getting married to a hand that was initially strong is a critical error when playing Hold'em. There is an old adage in 7-Card Stud that says you should fold as soon as your hand is not the best on the table. In Hold'em, unlike 7-Stud, you cannot see what cards the other players have, so it is not possible to fold as soon as you are beat. You can try to avoid having the second-best hand by folding hands that may lose pre-flop. If someone in early position puts in a strong raise, fold that Qs-Jh or low pair. You can reasonably assume the raiser is holding Ace-King, Ace-Queen, King-Ten or now has a high pair.<br /> <br /> You should throw your hand away the minute you know you cannot win. To continue to call or raise because your hand was very strong early is highly unprofitable. Constantly watch the board and modify your decision to hold or fold as each new card appears and as each player reacts to the board with their actions or inactions. If you cannot learn to let go-even those pocket Aces-you can lose a large number of chips over the course of a gaming session or during a tournament.<br /> <br /> When you are not sure where you stand with your hand, it is alright to fold. Even if your opponent is known as a blind stealer or often bluffs, keeping a weak hand is never the right move. Continuing on when you are not sure you have the best hand is often costly, in both chips and emotions. Of course, if you are planning to bluff, keep the hand and attack if you sense weakness.<br /> <br /> <b>Putting on the Brakes</b><br /> <br /> One thing that is important to winning poker is recognizing when to put on the brakes. No-limit poker is all about aggression, but not knowing when to exercise caution is costly. The betting strategies above are when, at each street, you feel you have the dominant hand. Trying to gauge the strength of another player's hand with a check or a call is the correct play when you are no longer confident of having top hand. The check is also an inexpensive move when changing gears or altering your table image.<br /> <br /> <B>Do Not Get Greedy</b><br /> <br /> If you have strong hand, keep watching the board for flush and straight draws and, if noted, put on the brakes. A pocket pair of Eights or Kc-Qc loses value with Ks-8s-Qh-10c-6s on the board. Flopping a set or two pair is hard to lay down, so just limiting your desire to raise and re-raise or go All In can save many chips if your opponent hits.<br /> <br /> <B>Being a Table Bully</B><br /> <br /> There is a difference between getting greedy and over-betting your hand and purposely controlling the action when you have a larger stack. This is most common in tournament play, where players develop large-stacks of chips, but is also prevalent in no-limit ring games. Any time your stack is larger than the other players at the table, you can become a table bully. The purpose is to use your chip stack to force other players out of a hand with the threat of their losing it all. This is an effective way to steal blinds and force medium to good hands to fold without challenging your hand. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>Daniel L. Cox is the editor of <a target='_blank' href="http://www.pokerinsider.org">Poker Insider Magazine</a>, an ezine dedicated to poker. He is also the award-winning author of "Winning Blue-Collar Hold'em: How to Play Low-limit Ring Games and Small Buy-in Tournaments" and three upcoming books on poker. He can be found on Twitter at <a target='_blank' href="http://twitter.com/pokerinsidermag">PokerInsiderMag</a>, where he gives you a daily poker quote or pokerism. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-38304230031025242752009-11-20T14:34:00.000-08:002009-11-20T15:14:09.437-08:00Advanced Betting Tips for Texas Hold'em Poker<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Daniel L. Cox</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>The ability to squeeze a profit out of marginal situations is what winning poker comes down to . The object is not to win every hand played, but to win every hand you play. The best way to do this is to out bet your opponents. Every bet made should have a purpose: Either it is made to induce a weaker hand to fold, or it is made to maximize the winnings on the hand.<br /> <br /> Since there are many opportunities to outplay your opponents, you have to know which opponents you can outplay. It is difficult to finesse weak players. The slow play often backfires because one of the loose limpers will hit a hand. The bluff does not work, since these players call with any two cards. The following sections demonstrate many of the advanced aspects of the game and how best to play them.<br /> <br /> <b>Representing Your Hand</b><br /> <br /> A strong bet can represent a strong hand, especially true when betting after the flop. If an Ace or King shows on the flop, you can represent an Ace or King in your hand by betting. Often, it is what you represent that is more important than what you actually have, especially if you have put your opponent on a medium or weak hand.<br /> <br /> <b>Shuffle Up and Steal</b><br /> <br /> The most common place to steal the blinds is from the button. If no players have made a raise in front of you, and only the blinds are remaining in the game, a raise often accomplishes the steal. Statistically the blinds should fold unless they have a strong hand. Do not simply limp in, because the blinds will then normally check to see a half-price or free hand. It is a good place to pick up extra chips, but it is not going make you rich. It is often a way to end the hand quickly and have a new hand dealt with more players and more money available.<br /> <br /> One thing to remember here is that some players -- known in poker terms as defenders -- are maniacal in their defense of their blinds. These players protect their blinds in situations that do not make statistical sense, solely to keep someone from stealing their blinds. Save your blind steals for other players who do not defend them as strongly, unless you have an extremely strong hand. With this strong hand, taking on the defender is often the correct move. A strong bet may entice the defender to free up a large quantity of chips. Though trying to take advantage of a maniacal defender is not always successful, it can be highly profitable in the end.<br /> <br /> <b>Stealing the Pot</b><br /> <br /> Stealing the pot is easiest if you are the last player to act and the action was checked to you. At this point, a bet will reduce the number of remaining players or allow you to collect the pot without opposition. Do not use this ploy exclusively, as better players catch on quickly and begin check raising against your (most likely) poor hand. It is good to use this ploy to steal the pot when you have an excellent drawing hand, such as a nut flush draw. Players more often tend to "check to the raiser." If you draw to your hand, you now have a larger pot to win. If you do not hit, you can always check, hoping the final card makes your hand.<br /> <br /> <b>Check-Raise</b><br /> <br /> A check-raise is declining to bet when you first have the opportunity, with the intention of letting another bet arise. You can then re-raise. Your intention is to lure them into a false sense of security, allowing your raise to increase the pot. After they commit to a first bet, they are more likely to call a second bet. If your re-raise is strong enough, they may decide to fold.<br /> <br /> <b>Check-Call</b><br /> <br /> The check-call is often useful when you have a mediocre hand and you are unsure of its strength against the other hands. It is also very effective early in a session to set up opponents for a winning check-raise later. When playing a moderate hand, especially in limit games, it is not a bad move to check first, and then call an opponent's raise, rather than raising on your own. After a few times, this pattern establishes a passive table image of a calling station. Opponents become confident betting into you and you can later make them pay when you aggressively play a solid hand.<br /> <br /> The check-call, as well as the check-raise, is a great weapon with an extremely loose player to your left, allowing them to do all of your raising, thus masking the true strength of your hand. Unfortunately, the check-call can be dangerous for a mediocre hand when up against an opponent with premium cards. Another drawback is that, if no one else raises, the other players receive a free card.<br /> <br /> <b>Value Bet</b><br /> <br /> When you are positive you have the best hand, a value bet may be your best move. This bet is one that is small enough to entice a call on the river. It is easy to add that final bet in a limit game. It is only a single bet and does not cost much, and the second best hand nearly always calls. For many players in a no-limit game it can be much harder to call. You want to make the bet small enough to call, but large enough to punish your opponent for making it. Do not give your opponent a free showdown at the river. You do not want your opponents to think you actually want them to make a call.<br /> <br /> By making it appear you did not want a call, you might get an opponent to pay off your bet on the river. Most players only bet on the river if they have a strong hand, or, less frequently, as a bluff attempt. If you do not get the call, that is fine. Do not show your winning cards, collect the pot and leave your opponent wondering if it was really a bluff.<br /> <br /> <b>The Continuation Bet</b><br /> <br /> A continuation bet is one where you start out betting strong pre-flop and keep pressing the bet all the way to the river. This is most effective with premium hands that improve on the flop, but you can also use it successfully if the flop did not improve your hand. By showing strength when you have a premium hand, other players assume you are doing so when you are on a draw or making a bluff.<br /> <br /> <b>The Squeeze Play</b><br /> <br /> The squeeze play is a tactic best made in a no-limit game. When a player re-raises after a raise, it makes the players between the raisers afraid of being squeezed "Between a Rock and a Hard Place." This is also known as "Stealing with Equity." Do a squeeze play when you have a good hand and you suspect another player is on a draw. For example, you have top pair with the best kicker. Making a large raise or re-raise could force others off their hands, since the odds are against them making the straight or flush draw. Your aim is to change their pot odds to make it inadvisable for them to call.<br /> <br /> <b>Raising Under the Gun</b><br /> <br /> In a limit game, this is when the person under the gun (or the first player to bet) raises rather than checks the bet, forcing the other players to call two bets at once. In a no-limit game, it is a large over bet or an All In bet. Your intention is to limit the number of players left in the hand. This move amounts to a reverse steal, since normally only a player with an exceptionally strong hand would raise so far out of position. Players who are notorious bluffers often do this. The effect almost certainly causes players to fold, but the ones remaining are equally as aggressive or have a premium starting hand. Often, players raise under the gun as a means of betting to gain information. It is best to use this tactic when only a few players are left in the hand. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'><b>About the author:</b> Daniel L. Cox is the editor of <a target='_blank' href="http://www.pokerinsider.org">Poker Insider Magazine</a>, an e-zine dedicated to poker. He is also the award-winning author of "Winning Blue-Collar Hold'em: How to Play Low-limit Ring Games and Small Buy-in Tournaments" and three upcoming books on poker. He can be found on Facebook and Twitter as <a target='_blank' href="http://twitter.com/pokerinsidermag">PokerInsiderMag</a>, where he gives you a daily poker quote or pokerism. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-15689755765183860432009-11-13T05:12:00.000-08:002009-11-13T20:59:07.933-08:00Texas Hold'em Poker: Chip, Card and Betting Tells - Part 4 of 4<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Daniel L. Cox</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'><b>Chip Tells</b><br /> <br /> An obvious tell (subconscious action) can be the amount of force a player uses in placing their chips in the pot. If the player spikes their chips (slamming down a stack past the bet line), they are more likely to have a weak hand.<br /> <br /> Also, be aware that fumbling of the chips may betray inexperience at a brick and mortar casino, and belie the fact that the player has considerable experience online. This is very apparent with some players on televised poker tournaments that draw their players from online qualifiers, such as Fox Sports Net tournaments sponsored by major online poker sites.<br /> <br /> When a player moves their chips closer to themselves after making a call or raise, they often have a strong hand. By placing them close, they can be subconsciously keeping their chips within easy reach to rake them back when they win. A player who uses a lot of force in tossing in the chips toward the pot, or flings them away, often has a marginal hand. This tossing away of the chips is often because they feel they have already lost the hand and the chips as well.<br /> <br /> Players with several denominations of chips in front of them can often give away their hand by which chips they use when betting. If they are unsure they have the best hand, they place their smaller denomination chips in the pot, subconsciously giving away their small chips and keeping their big chips for themselves. If they bet with the high denomination chips, they are not expecting to lose them. A player making a move for their chips out of turn is normally indicating that the most recent community card is an improvement.<br /> <br /> Insight may be gained by observing how players maintain their chip stacks. Neat, organized chip stacks are often the earmark of a tight-aggressive player. Loose-aggressive players often have sloppy, irregular chip stacks. How a player cuts out the chips can also give insight into the strength of the hand. Cutting out chips is when a player separates the chips from the stack before placing them in the pot to see how many chips will remain after the bet. It is similar to the way a cowboy would cut out a calf from the herd for branding.<br /> <br /> This is the key place to look for chip tells. A player who is unsure of the amount of chips needed for a call, or who is having trouble counting out the correct number of chips, is often unsure of the strength of his/her hand. A player counting and recounting chips may also be unsure of his/her hand's strength. Unfortunately, playing with chip stacks are where most players go Hollywood (Acting at the table, normally with a reverse tell.), so realize that the player may be using a reverse tell to fool you and the other players.<br /> <br /> <b>Card Tells</b><br /> <br /> When a player looks at their hole cards can be a tell on their experience level. Instead of watching the other players look at their cards, many inexperienced players look at their own cards as soon as they receive them By not waiting until it is their turn to play they miss viewing possible tells other players may exhibit.<br /> <br /> It is important to watch how other players still in a hand react when the dealer places the community cards on the table. Their eyes may look to their chips, a look of pleasure may pass fleetingly over their face, or a look of disgust may show they did not hit the card they needed.<br /> <br /> Watch for the player who rechecks their hole cards if the flop falls with several cards of the same suit. They may remember the rank of the cards, but be unsure of the suits, and be checking to see if they are on a flush draw. The same tell is possible if the flop cards are connected, since they are verifying their straight draw. Be wary of any strong bets after these tells.<br /> <br /> <b>Betting Tells</b><br /> <br /> The speed with which a player bets is often indicative of the hand they have. A fast call or raise normally signifies strength, while taking too much time can be a sign of indecision. Observe the player's actions for a while to determine the normal speed they play their hands before you can recognize this tell. Also, be prepared for the false tell, as this is an excellent place for an opponent to think long and act weak while holding a premium starting hand.<br /> <br /> By noticing a player who always raises with large pocket pairs, you can avoid a confrontation when you hold a marginal hand. If you notice a player with a tendency to continue to bet after a pre-flop raise, then you can safely check to them when you have a big hand, knowing you can get a raise from them.<br /> <br /> It is important to follow the betting patterns of your opponents through each street. Follow all hands to the river to see what they have bet and how strong their hand actually was. This information becomes invaluable the longer you play with a particular opponent, as you will be able to correlate their betting with their hole cards. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>About the author: Daniel L. Cox is the editor of <a target='_blank' href="http://www.pokerinsider.org">Poker Insider Magazine</a>, an e-zine dedicated to poker. He is also the award-winning author of "Winning Blue-Collar Hold'em: How to Play Low-limit Ring Games and Small Buy-in Tournaments" and four upcoming books on poker. He can be found on Twitter at <a target='_blank' href="http://twitter.com/pokerinsidermag">PokerInsiderMag</a>, where he gives you a daily poker quote. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-51516154779488215362009-11-10T01:49:00.000-08:002009-11-10T01:59:26.414-08:00Advanced Betting Techniques in Texas Hold'em Poker: The Slow Play - Part 1 of 3<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Daniel L. Cox</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Winning poker comes down to being able to squeeze a profit out of marginal situations. The object is not to win every hand played, but to win every hand you play. The best way to do this is to out bet your opponents. Every bet made should have a purpose. Either it is made to induce a weaker hand to fold, or it is made to maximize the winnings on the hand.<br /> <br /> Since there are many opportunities to outplay your opponents, you have to know which opponents you can outplay. It is difficult to finesse weak players, and the slow play often backfires because one of the loose limpers will hit a hand. The bluff does not work because these players call with any two cards. The following sections demonstrate many of the advanced aspects of the game and how best to play them.<br /> <br /> <b>The Art of the Slow-play</b><br /> <br /> The slow-play is when you intentionally under-bet in order to disguise the strength of your hand and attempt to trap an opponent with a weaker hand. Unlike the bluff, the slow-play is effective against both strong and weak opponents. Bad opponents simply bet their hand. They are going to pay you off if they have something or they are simply on a draw,<br /> <br /> When there is a flush or straight draw on the board, you should not slow-play. You should only slow-play when your opponent has a poker hand that is not likely to improve enough to beat yours. Suppose the flop is AD-7H-KC and you hold 7D-7C, and you put your opponent on an Ace or King. It is usually more profitable to bet the hand aggressively on the turn. This way you can get at least one extra large bet by letting your opponent make the initial raise for you.<br /> <br /> The flop is the main round to use the slow-play. On subsequent betting rounds, your opponents give you action for one of two reasons: Either they improved their hand on the next street and their hand is now worth betting, or they think their mediocre hand is good because you did not show strength the previous round.<br /> <br /> If you slow-play the turn, you are sacrificing an opportunity to make money on the turn. The only reason to slow-play here is if your read on your opponents is that they will fold with any bet you make. If this is the case, then it may be worth checking to see if you can get a bet from them on the river, since winning a pot with one round of betting in it is better than winning one with no money in the pot.<br /> <br /> Some players want to slow-play a monster hand on the turn so they can make the big raise on the river. This is another example of trying to be too complex in betting. Because of their desire to raise on the river, they slow-play the turn and forgo an opportunity to make good money from several opponents. On the river, these plays usually end up isolating a single remaining opponent, who may or may not call a raise.<br /> <br /> You should concentrate on building the pot at every opportunity when you have the premium hand. Do not attempt fancy slow-plays. They can cost you money from missed betting opportunities or from your opponent hitting a hand on the turn or river.<br /> <br /> <b>When Not to Slow-Play</b><br /> <br /> Do not over play the hand if you should hit quads or a full house. Players playing mediocre cards from a good position frequently do not bet the turn or river. Instead, they check or call. If you slow-play the turn, this type of opponent does not start throwing in raises and re-raises on the river. Therefore, just keep betting the turn, despite the improvement. They rarely put you on quads, so try to get some action on the turn. Do not stop playing your style of play and slow-play when you have a great hand. That becomes an easy tell to spot and makes your play predictable.<br /> <br /> Remember that the act of betting does not automatically give your hand away. This is especially true if you have been constantly changing gears and mixing up your table image throughout the gaming session. Also, never overlook the fact that another player with an inferior hand may slow-play the flop with the intent to open up on the turn. Letting them do so allows you to hide the strength of your hand when they do raise or re-raise. As with the bluff, the slow play is not as useful in limit poker as it is in no-limit. With only a small bet, most players that are going to stay in the hand will do so for at least one additional bet.<br /> <br /> <b>Representing Your Hand</b><br /> <br /> A strong bet can represent a strong hand. This is especially true when betting after the flop. If an Ace or King shows on the flop, you can represent an Ace or King in your hand -- when you don't have one -- by betting. Often, it is what you represent that is more important than what you actually have, especially if you have put your opponent on a medium or weak hand. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'><b>About the author:</b> Daniel L. Cox is the editor of <a target='_blank' href="http://www.pokerinsider.org">Poker Insider Magazine</a>, an e-zine dedicated to Texas Hold'em poker. He is also the award-winning author of "Winning Blue-Collar Hold'em: How to Play Low-limit Ring Games and Small Buy-in Tournaments" and three upcoming books on poker. He can be found on Twitter at <a target='_blank' href="http://twitter.com/pokerinsidermag">PokerInsiderMag</a>, where he gives you a daily pokerism. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-64100560703339530012009-11-08T05:05:00.000-08:002009-11-08T05:50:57.996-08:00Face and Body Tells in Texas Hold'em Poker - Part 3 of 4<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Daniel L. Cox</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'><i>"I see you. Your eyes. Your hands. Your chips. Everything. So I don't need to see your cards." - Poker Pro Howard Lederer on a Commercial for Poker Site FullTilt.NET</i><br /> <br /> The fight or flight response is human nature when one faces a confrontational situation. Since poker is often a confrontational endeavor, knowing the key tells (subconscious actions) may provide insight into a player's hand. Symptoms of the anxiety response include pupil dilation, increased heart rate, shaking hands, abnormal inhalation, muscle flexing, dry throat and voice modulation are all .<br /> <br /> One reason to try to get a player to talk while in a hand is to notice a slight change in the voice. A dry mouth or higher voice might betray a monster hand. Looking at the eyes pinpointing is actually difficult, but seeing the chest expand or the vein on the side of the forehead throb might be clues.<br /> <br /> Playing in a tournament at a few years ago, an older gentleman placed a significant raise. With a shaking hand, he placed a large percentage of his chips in the pot in front of him. Another player at the table saw the shake and said, "You must really have a big hand." The older man stared him down and said, "No. Parkinson's."<br /> <br /> If a player's hands are shaking as they place their bet, it is often a sign of a monster hand. Just be sure you have paid attention to their hands earlier, for they may simply have palsy and their hands always shake.<br /> <br /> Players are more likely to make eye contact with you if they are weak and more likely to avoid eye contact if they are strong. If you find yourself in a marginal situation, look at your opponent. If they are staring right at you, you should be more inclined to call. If they are looking away, you should be more inclined to fold.<br /> <br /> <i>"Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces, and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes." - Kenny Rogers, The Gambler</i><br /> <br /> Do not look at cards as the dealer lays them on the felt. Instead, look at the players still in the hand and try to gauge their reactions to the cards. Many players instinctively look down at their chips if the flop helps them, calculating the amount and preparing to bet. You should be less likely to bluff or play marginal hands after spotting this tell.<br /> <br /> One classic tell is a player who glances away from the flop when they have hit a monster hand. If this trait becomes consistent, then you can comfortably fold your pocket Jacks when the player glances away from the Ace, King or Queen on the flop.<br /> <br /> How a player positions his/her body can often show a lot more than they realize. When the flop hits the board and helps a player, they often move forward, showing more interest in the hand. A slump of the shoulders often occurs when a hand does not improve. Sitting up straighter and showing more interest in a hand can denote strength. A bluffer often leans into the table in an intimidating, confrontational manner. In a similar vein, players who look at their hole cards before their turn, then start talking on the cell phone or showing disinterest, normally have a weak hand and are just waiting to fold.<br /> <br /> Body language can show how a person is feeling in general, not just on a particular hand. Someone having a bad day at home or the office can bring that to the card room and play poorly because of it. A tense player may play more conservatively or may be more prone to go on tilt. A happy player (or one who has overindulged) may become looser and play more hands or bet larger amounts than normal. It is not only the body language of players still in the hand that can provide tells on opponents' cards.<br /> <br /> Watching the actions and talk of players who have already folded can be just as important. A pained expression or comment following a dealt card could provide an insight into the cards already folded. The use of sunglasses has become a prevalent and controversial feature, from local home games and poker rooms to the televised final tables. Many players feel the use of black or mirrored shades give them an edge by not allowing players to read their eyes. If you feel the player sitting across the table from you can remember what the size of your pupils were from four to eight feet across the felt prior to and after that big flop, then grab a pair of shades and cover up.<br /> <br /> While playing in a satellite tournament for the 2009 Wynn Classic, I had the seat to the left of a Frenchman wearing opaque sunglasses. Thinking that his sunglasses protected him from giving away tells, he never realized that his eyebrows arched with a good hand and his forehead creased when the cards on the board did not improve his hand.<br /> <br /> You need more than sunglasses to conceal the strength of your hand if your eyes are giving away significant facial tells. Phil "Unabomber" Laak takes this trend to the extreme when he cocoons himself inside his hooded sweatshirt. The use of these hoodies is often frowned upon and actually banned in some casinos and card rooms.<br /> <br /> Sometimes the glasses are more for a shock effect, from 2005 WSOP Main Event Champion Greg Raymer's hypnotic orange eyes to the holographic bulging eyes this author uses. The use of this type of lens is more to disrupt an opponent's concentration than to cover up a facial tell. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>About the author: Daniel L. Cox is the editor of <a target='_blank' href="http://www.pokerinsider.org">Poker Insider Magazine</a>, an e-zine dedicated to poker. He is also the award-winning author of "Winning Blue-Collar Hold'em: How to Play Low-limit Ring Games and Small Buy-in Tournaments" and three upcoming books on poker. He can be found on Twitter at <a target='_blank' href="http://twitter.com/pokerinsidermag">PokerInsiderMag</a>, where he gives fans adaily poker quote or pokerism. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-50747752854851818482009-11-06T05:39:00.000-08:002009-11-06T19:23:18.538-08:00Poker Tells in Texas Hold'em Poker - Part 1 of 4<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Daniel L. Cox</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'><i>"Poker, like a lot of things in life, is all about strategy. Sometimes it pays to act weak when you are in a position of strength." - Poker Professional Daniel Negreanu in a Commercial for Poker Site FullTilt.NET</i><br /> <br /> Tells are subconscious actions by a player that may give an observant person an insight into that player's hand. Mastering the psychology of poker is crucial to winning poker, and reading tells is one of the skills you need. When you first sit at a table, or, even better, as you are watching a table to decide if it is where you want to play, pay attention to the players. This gives you time to notice tells, since it is easier to observe player actions when you are not in a hand. This is one of the reasons that, when you first sit at a table, you choose a seat where you will be waiting for the blind to come to you, rather than paying to start playing immediately.<br /> <br /> Both your opponents' and your own tells are extremely important in Hold'em poker. For more than two decades, Mike "The Mad Genius of Poker" Caro and many others have made a living espousing the importance of players' tells. His most commonly quoted tell is "Weak is strong and strong is weak." In simple terms, if opponents, through their words or deeds, act as if they have a strong hand, they very often have a weak hand and vice versa. Since it is such a well known tell, many people try to reverse it, so beware of this tell when it is out of character for the opponent. Phil "The Poker Brat" Hellmuth, winner of eleven WSOP bracelets, says that figuring out just two tells a tournament can make the difference between cashing out and busting out.<br /> <br /> Try to spot any obvious tells that may give you an advantage later. You need to know what many of the common tells represent and then attempt to see them in the players around the table. Be sure that you yourself are not providing tells to your opponents. You can either stifle obvious tells, or, more effectively, do the opposite. The best defense is to mix it up and, from time to time, "make strong mean strong." Though tells can be important information and a needed weapon in our poker arsenal, it is equally important to realize that tells are only one small part of the entire story and should never be taken in isolation or as an absolute truth.<br /> <br /> Not providing betting tells to your opponents is just as important as observing your opponents' . You do this in one of two ways. One, keep your bets the same size whether you are holding King-King or 5-7 offsuit: Take the same amount of time to bet the monster hand as you do when you fold. Two, constantly change the size of your bet. By making the bets different sizes for the same cards, you portray a confusing pattern to opponents. By being inconsistent, you do not allow your opponents to get a read on your style. Remember that the less information you provide your opponents through your own betting patterns, the better. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>About the author: Daniel L. Cox is the editor of <a target='_blank' href="http://www.pokerinsider.org">Poker Insider Magazine</a>, an e-zine dedicated to poker. He is also the award-winning author of "Winning Blue-Collar Hold'em: How to Play Low-limit Ring Games and Small Buy-in Tournaments" and four upcoming books on poker. He can be found on Twitter at <a target='_blank' href="http://twitter.com/pokerinsidermag">PokerInsiderMag</a>and Facebook, where he gives you a daily poker quote or pokerism. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-76108058963918304522009-11-04T11:34:00.000-08:002009-11-05T10:14:57.651-08:00How to Play When It's Heads-Up in Texas Hold'em Poker<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Daniel L. Cox</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>The game of Hold'em changes once you get to heads-up play. You can make a few big mistakes in limit Hold'em and, it sometimes works in your favor if you appear to be a loose player, but a series of small mistakes can end the game early. Constant small misreads of your opponent are far more likely to end your tournament than an incorrect size bet.<br /> <br /> When playing heads-up, the most important factor is to understand is your opponent's style. You should have a good read on your opponent's ability, image and level of play since you have been playing against them for at least the time together on the final table. If they are more skilled than you are, you can negate their advantage by forcing big pots to end the game as quickly as possible. If you are the superior player, take your time by playing smaller pots: Your skill level should win out in the end.<br /> <br /> Heads-up essentially comes down to a psychological war of aggression. You should raise aggressively with any hand you play and, more often than not, follow it to the river if you have any part of the board, trying to get in every extra bet possible when you believe you are in front.<br /> <br /> You must know how to adjust your game in order to win the tournament outright. There is no one else to hide behind when it is down to just two players, since you are paying blinds every hand. If you wait for great starting hands, your stack is going to end up blinded away. It often comes down to AC (any card, not Atlantic City) poker. The chances are that you will see the flop with nearly any hand. The end stages of some tournaments will see the blinds equaling the size of the chip stacks. The exceptions to seeing the flop are a sizable raise from your opponent or an extremely poor starting hand. It sometimes comes down to going all-in blind on every hand and hoping your cards win. This style of play twice made Doyle Brunson a WSOP Main Event winner with 10-2 off suit.<br /> <br /> Position is the other defining element to heads-up play and is just as important as the break in pool. Position plays a lesser role in Limit Hold'em, but is stilll important. The person on the button traditionally posts the small blind and, therefore, acts first. This player has both the opportunity to take the lead in a pot pre-flop and to put pressure on the big blind post-flop.<br /> <br /> To control the game heads-up you want to do the majority of your attacking when you are on the button, and the majority of your defensive poker when you are off it. The comparative size of the blinds to your chip stack plays an important part in your decisions. With huge blinds, you stand a greater chance of risking your entire chip stack in either position. Remember, the button's main advantage is that there are three rounds of betting after the flop, giving you the opportunity to fire chips at your opponent three times, essentially putting most of their stack on the line, even in a limit game.<br /> <br /> Though this strategy is the first step to success in heads-up play, a lot depends on your opponent. If you follow the formula of constantly attacking from the button and defending off it, you should quickly find out how your opponent's game contrasts with yours. If you find them using the same strategy, the chances are that you will end up in a long battle of attrition. In this case, with neither of you giving in, the blinds eventually become so huge that winning or losing the tournament comes down to a few big pots. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>About the author: Daniel L. Cox is the editor of <a target='_blank' href="http://www.pokerinsider.org">Poker Insider Magazine</a>, an e-zine dedicated to poker. He is also the author of "Winning Blue-Collar Hold'em: How to Play Low-limit Ring Games and Small Buy-in Tournaments" and four upcoming books on poker. He can be found on Twitter at <a target='_blank' href="http://twitter.com/pokerinsidermag">PokerInsiderMag</a>, where he gives you a daily poker quote or pokerism. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-35256836105666391102009-11-04T08:49:00.000-08:002009-11-05T07:45:36.168-08:00Playing Texas Hold'Em Online - What Should You Expect?<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Leslie Bogaerts</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Nowadays it's possible to play texas hold'em online, which means you can play whenever you want, wherever you want. Before the technologie to makes this possible existed, you needed to get a group of friends together, which wasn't always the most easiest thing to do, especially not if your schedules weren't really matching, and play a home game of texas hold'em. And if you really wanted to go out and play poker in Las Vegas or even Atlantic City, you had to plan a trip and take a break from work.<br /> <br /> Before you can play texas hold'em online, you will need to sign up to a site, which is free and download a game room from the site. In most cases this download is free also to play texas hold'em from casino or gambling websites. The game room will be used to access the card room of the site, where you will find different tables and where you can play with your friends and complete strangers. In some cases you will be using real money and playing for real money, on other sites, like pokerstars.net you can play for free.<br /> <br /> The biggest priviledge of playing texas hold 'em online is that you can play whenever you want: at any time of day or night. If someone would like to play after a hard day of work, he can just go home and be sure that he doesn't have to commute to get to a place where he can play. He just has to turn on his computer and connect to the internet. What could be easier than that?<br /> <br /> Because texas hold'em can be played online at home, it's more accessible to the public. A broader group of people have started playing, even people who would never stepfoot in a casino or game room. This means that casino sites are a lucrative business and thousands of sites are available for you to choose from if you want to play texas hold'em online.<br /> <br /> And don't forget: play safe, don't loose to much money. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>One of the easiest poker games is <a target='_blank' href="http://www.texasholdem-online.org">texas hold'em online</a>. To help you start, we provide you with a tutorial that you can use in your advantage when playing <a target='_blank' href="http://www.texasholdem-online.org">texas hold'em online</a>. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744035520740575594.post-78783166001235152412009-11-02T22:48:00.000-08:002009-11-05T18:00:00.119-08:00Texas Hold'em Poker: Conversational and False Tells - Part 2 of 4<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Daniel L. Cox</div><br /><div class='uawarticle'>Tells are subconscious actions by a player that may give an observant person an insight into that player's hand. This article is the second of a four-part series on Poker Tells.<br /> <br /> <b>Conversational Tells</b><br /> <br /> <i>The easiest way to tell if a poker player is lying is to see if his lips are moving. - Pokerism</i><br /> <br /> Pay attention to what your opponents are saying. Be careful of players who say, "I am only in this hand because I want to go home," because what they actually want is to stay right where they are, stacking your chips in front of them. Most players that say, "I feel like gambling" do not like to gamble at all, since they often feel they have the winning hand.<br /> <br /> When an opponent complains, "You beat me every time we go heads up," be afraid, be very afraid. This is a common verbal tell to bring you into the hand when your opponent has the superior cards. Do not listen to an opponent who says "save your money," because they do not mean it. If they wanted you to save your money, they would not have made the bet. This is another variation of Mike Caro's "Strong is weak, weak is strong" philosophy. Be wary though, because a few crafty players say it just to create an opposite image.<br /> <br /> Another easily noticeable tell is when a talkative player suddenly goes silent, for it often means they have a strong hand. Mike "The Mouth" Matasow is often guilty of this flaw in his game.<br /> <br /> These are all examples of observing your opponents constantly and only using tells in context. After determining an opponents' playing patterns, do not try to pull off a bluff against an obviously strong hand. If you spot the types of tells that show strength, it is prudent to fold marginal hands.<br /> <br /> <b>False Tells</b><br /> <br /> Faking obvious tells to get what you want is often possible. Doing the reverse of any of the described tells tends to throw off an observant opponent. Changing gears does not just have to do with your table image, but is important in your own body language and actions at the table. There is a Latin phrase "consu consulto," which means "accidentally on purpose." This explains false tells perfectly.<br /> <br /> When you have a strong hand, do not be afraid to appear to agonize over the call or raise, taking your time or showing an indecisive attitude. A well-placed sigh can give the impression you are staying in with a weak hand. Your opponent may think you are weak and bet accordingly.<br /> <br /> Hesitating slightly before making a check when you have a weak hand is another example of gaining an advantage by using false tells. This may induce the other players to check as well, giving your weak hand a free chance to improve.<br /> <br /> If you have decided to make a bluff, do so quickly. Players are more likely to fold a marginal hand to a quick, decisive bet than a protracted one. The ability to distinguish and take advantage of another player's tells is a very powerful tool. While their proper use should take your game to the next level, you should view tells as a supplement to the solid fundamental game. Use the information you learn from tells to make tough or marginal decisions easier and your game more profitable.<br /> <br /> <b>Give Information to Get Information</b><br /> <br /> Overt tells are not the only way to gain information at the table. Any time anyone shows cards, it is beneficial. If there is a large raise in front and you are last to act, instead of simply mucking, flash a weak hand that you have just folded. You are not giving anything to your opponents, yet if they reciprocate by showing their cards, you have gained information for use in later hands.<br /> <br /> While mucking, it is not normally a sound philosophy to show your hand. Occasionally showing winning hands or bluffs can often help portray an image, especially a false one. When trying to portray a loose image, showing a bluff early - even if unsuccessful - may assist in forming a loose image. The next time you have a monster hand, bet it the same way as the bluff, and the other players may see it as another bluff attempt, allowing you to collect extra bets. The same is true when showing a monster hand early, even if everyone folds. If you have successfully built a tight image, this can set up the other players to fold to a bluff or semi-bluff later.<br /> <br /> It is important to gather information from other players to use against them later. It is equally as important to give information to others that you can then use against them later. - 31897</div><div class='uawresource'><div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><div class='uawlinks'>About the author: Daniel L. Cox is the editor of <a target='_blank' href="http://www.pokerinsider.org">Poker Insider Magazine</a>, an e-zine dedicated to poker. He is also the award-winning author of "Winning Blue-Collar Hold'em: How to Play Low-limit Ring Games and Small Buy-in Tournaments" and four upcoming books on poker. He can be found on Twitter at <a target='_blank' href="http://twitter.com/pokerinsidermag">PokerInsiderMag</a>, where he gives you a daily poker quote or pokerism. </div><br /> </div>judesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284808995371995496noreply@blogger.com0