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Improve and Fold strategy Stud Poker

Date: Sun, Jan 27, 2008 Internet Live

Seven-card stud is a complicated game, significantly more so than hold'em. Successful stud and hold'em players both must attend to the betting actions of their opponents to figure out their likely holdings. Stud and hold'em players both must have a good understanding of how their starting hands are likely to develop into profitable or unprofitable final hands. Both must be able to calculate 'outs' and understand pot odds and implied odds. But in stud alone, the good player must also keep track of his opponent's exposed cards. Knowledge of these exposed cards, both the ones in play and the ones that have been folded, allows the good stud player extra insight into the chances that his hand will improve. Knowing, for example, that three hearts have been folded during the play of a stud hand may convince the good stud player that drawing for that flush doesn't make sense.

These exposed cards are extra pieces of information available to stud players. But, counterintuitively, this extra information may hinder stud players from properly evaluating their hands.

In hold'em, players' hands develop simultaneously and identically as the board progresses from the flop to the turn and the river. All players share the same board. All watch it as it is turned. Accordingly, all but the least experienced and worst hold'em players are aware that a third card of one suit on the river, for example, may mean a flush for an opponent. Players with two pair are correspondingly careful about betting when that happens. Players on the turn drawing for a straight, when there are three suited cards on the board, are similarly cautious –- aware that they may be drawing dead.

But in stud, players are sometimes so absorbed in their own hands, and how they are developing, that they may not be paying attention to how their hand is stacking up against the hands that their opponents are likely to hold.

This is especially true of the beginning and intermediate player who has learned which starting hands to play and which to discard. He waits for one of few powerful starting hands, gets one, and then if the hand improves as hoped, he continues to play until the river, bound to ride the horse he jumped on at the beginning of the ride. What he's failed to recognize is that absolute improvement is not nearly as important as relative improvement.

Here's an example from a recent home game I was in. The lineup was pretty soft –- primarily recreational players who liked to call. One player was more serious, though not necessarily more skilled. He understood the importance of folding poor starting hands, but didn't appreciate the importance of looking around and evaluating his hand relative to the rest of the hands that were out.

He started with a three-flush on third street. He called, as did four other players. On fourth street he hit a fourth suited card. Two of his opponents paired their door cards. The higher of the two pairs made a double bet. The other player raised. The player with the four-flush called.

This was a terrible call. True, he had a four-flush and, with his flush cards all live, had about a 50% chance of making his flush. But he was against at least one and maybe two sets of trips right off the bat on fourth street. They also have about a 50% chance of making a full house. He should have folded his flush draw.

Here's another example. A player with a split pair of jacks raised the bring-in. Two players with overcards called. The first held a king, the second a queen. On fourth street the player with the split jacks caught a blank. The player with the king caught an ace. The next player caught a six:

(J 4) J 2
(x x) K A
(x x) Q 6

The second and third player checked and the first player, with his pair of jacks, bet. The next two players called.

On fifth street the player with the jacks caught another deuce; the second player caught a blank and the third player caught a jack. None were suited.

(J 4) J 2 2
(x x) K A 4
(x x) Q 6 J

The first player, now with two pair, bet. The second player raised. The third player re-raised. The first player called, as did the second player.

The first player made a terrible call. Unless each of his opponents is a maniac, logic and observation require a fold here.

True, the first player improved. Improving is good in a vacuum. But the betting action and exposed cards of his opponents demonstrates that he is very, very far behind. The second player must have either kings or aces up or trips. The third player almost surely has trip queens or trip sixes. In any case, jacks up, with one dead jack, is a huge underdog and very unlikely to improve to a winning hand. He should fold to the double bet rather than continue to draw for one of three cards that will give him a full house (and quite possibly a losing full house even if he makes it).

The problem for stud players is that they, like all poker players, begin their poker lessons by learning hand values. This is how poker is taught. We're all taught that a full house is a strong hand and a pair is a weak hand. In hold'em, since all hands are derived from a common board, players immediately recognize that all hands are relative. A flush is a good hand –- but only if the board can't make a full house. Trips are a good hand, but only if the board can't make a straight or a flush.

But in stud, players are inundated with data –- up to eight exposed cards on third street and then more on each successive street, plus their own hands. It's easy for them to put blinders on and just think about their own hand and its chances of improvement – neglecting their opponents' hands and their opponents' chances of improvement as well.

The good stud player pays attention to all of the data and weighs his hand's chances of improvement relative to the likely improvement of his opponents' hands. Sometimes, though his hand may improve –- but when weighed against the likely superior improvement of his opponent's hand, the best move is still to fold.

Source: pokernews.com

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Improve and Fold strategy Stud Poker

Date: Sun, Jan 27, 2008 Internet Live

Seven-card stud is a complicated game, significantly more so than hold'em. Successful stud and hold'em players both must attend to the betting actions of their opponents to figure out their likely holdings. Stud and hold'em players both must have a good understanding of how their starting hands are likely to develop into profitable or unprofitable final hands. Both must be able to calculate 'outs' and understand pot odds and implied odds. But in stud alone, the good player must also keep track of his opponent's exposed cards. Knowledge of these exposed cards, both the ones in play and the ones that have been folded, allows the good stud player extra insight into the chances that his hand will improve. Knowing, for example, that three hearts have been folded during the play of a stud hand may convince the good stud player that drawing for that flush doesn't make sense.

These exposed cards are extra pieces of information available to stud players. But, counterintuitively, this extra information may hinder stud players from properly evaluating their hands.

In hold'em, players' hands develop simultaneously and identically as the board progresses from the flop to the turn and the river. All players share the same board. All watch it as it is turned. Accordingly, all but the least experienced and worst hold'em players are aware that a third card of one suit on the river, for example, may mean a flush for an opponent. Players with two pair are correspondingly careful about betting when that happens. Players on the turn drawing for a straight, when there are three suited cards on the board, are similarly cautious –- aware that they may be drawing dead.

But in stud, players are sometimes so absorbed in their own hands, and how they are developing, that they may not be paying attention to how their hand is stacking up against the hands that their opponents are likely to hold.

This is especially true of the beginning and intermediate player who has learned which starting hands to play and which to discard. He waits for one of few powerful starting hands, gets one, and then if the hand improves as hoped, he continues to play until the river, bound to ride the horse he jumped on at the beginning of the ride. What he's failed to recognize is that absolute improvement is not nearly as important as relative improvement.

Here's an example from a recent home game I was in. The lineup was pretty soft –- primarily recreational players who liked to call. One player was more serious, though not necessarily more skilled. He understood the importance of folding poor starting hands, but didn't appreciate the importance of looking around and evaluating his hand relative to the rest of the hands that were out.

He started with a three-flush on third street. He called, as did four other players. On fourth street he hit a fourth suited card. Two of his opponents paired their door cards. The higher of the two pairs made a double bet. The other player raised. The player with the four-flush called.

This was a terrible call. True, he had a four-flush and, with his flush cards all live, had about a 50% chance of making his flush. But he was against at least one and maybe two sets of trips right off the bat on fourth street. They also have about a 50% chance of making a full house. He should have folded his flush draw.

Here's another example. A player with a split pair of jacks raised the bring-in. Two players with overcards called. The first held a king, the second a queen. On fourth street the player with the split jacks caught a blank. The player with the king caught an ace. The next player caught a six:

(J 4) J 2
(x x) K A
(x x) Q 6

The second and third player checked and the first player, with his pair of jacks, bet. The next two players called.

On fifth street the player with the jacks caught another deuce; the second player caught a blank and the third player caught a jack. None were suited.

(J 4) J 2 2
(x x) K A 4
(x x) Q 6 J

The first player, now with two pair, bet. The second player raised. The third player re-raised. The first player called, as did the second player.

The first player made a terrible call. Unless each of his opponents is a maniac, logic and observation require a fold here.

True, the first player improved. Improving is good in a vacuum. But the betting action and exposed cards of his opponents demonstrates that he is very, very far behind. The second player must have either kings or aces up or trips. The third player almost surely has trip queens or trip sixes. In any case, jacks up, with one dead jack, is a huge underdog and very unlikely to improve to a winning hand. He should fold to the double bet rather than continue to draw for one of three cards that will give him a full house (and quite possibly a losing full house even if he makes it).

The problem for stud players is that they, like all poker players, begin their poker lessons by learning hand values. This is how poker is taught. We're all taught that a full house is a strong hand and a pair is a weak hand. In hold'em, since all hands are derived from a common board, players immediately recognize that all hands are relative. A flush is a good hand –- but only if the board can't make a full house. Trips are a good hand, but only if the board can't make a straight or a flush.

But in stud, players are inundated with data –- up to eight exposed cards on third street and then more on each successive street, plus their own hands. It's easy for them to put blinders on and just think about their own hand and its chances of improvement – neglecting their opponents' hands and their opponents' chances of improvement as well.

The good stud player pays attention to all of the data and weighs his hand's chances of improvement relative to the likely improvement of his opponents' hands. Sometimes, though his hand may improve –- but when weighed against the likely superior improvement of his opponent's hand, the best move is still to fold.

Source: pokernews.com

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Improve and Fold strategy Stud Poker

Date: Sun, Jan 27, 2008 Internet Live

Seven-card stud is a complicated game, significantly more so than hold'em. Successful stud and hold'em players both must attend to the betting actions of their opponents to figure out their likely holdings. Stud and hold'em players both must have a good understanding of how their starting hands are likely to develop into profitable or unprofitable final hands. Both must be able to calculate 'outs' and understand pot odds and implied odds. But in stud alone, the good player must also keep track of his opponent's exposed cards. Knowledge of these exposed cards, both the ones in play and the ones that have been folded, allows the good stud player extra insight into the chances that his hand will improve. Knowing, for example, that three hearts have been folded during the play of a stud hand may convince the good stud player that drawing for that flush doesn't make sense.

These exposed cards are extra pieces of information available to stud players. But, counterintuitively, this extra information may hinder stud players from properly evaluating their hands.

In hold'em, players' hands develop simultaneously and identically as the board progresses from the flop to the turn and the river. All players share the same board. All watch it as it is turned. Accordingly, all but the least experienced and worst hold'em players are aware that a third card of one suit on the river, for example, may mean a flush for an opponent. Players with two pair are correspondingly careful about betting when that happens. Players on the turn drawing for a straight, when there are three suited cards on the board, are similarly cautious –- aware that they may be drawing dead.

But in stud, players are sometimes so absorbed in their own hands, and how they are developing, that they may not be paying attention to how their hand is stacking up against the hands that their opponents are likely to hold.

This is especially true of the beginning and intermediate player who has learned which starting hands to play and which to discard. He waits for one of few powerful starting hands, gets one, and then if the hand improves as hoped, he continues to play until the river, bound to ride the horse he jumped on at the beginning of the ride. What he's failed to recognize is that absolute improvement is not nearly as important as relative improvement.

Here's an example from a recent home game I was in. The lineup was pretty soft –- primarily recreational players who liked to call. One player was more serious, though not necessarily more skilled. He understood the importance of folding poor starting hands, but didn't appreciate the importance of looking around and evaluating his hand relative to the rest of the hands that were out.

He started with a three-flush on third street. He called, as did four other players. On fourth street he hit a fourth suited card. Two of his opponents paired their door cards. The higher of the two pairs made a double bet. The other player raised. The player with the four-flush called.

This was a terrible call. True, he had a four-flush and, with his flush cards all live, had about a 50% chance of making his flush. But he was against at least one and maybe two sets of trips right off the bat on fourth street. They also have about a 50% chance of making a full house. He should have folded his flush draw.

Here's another example. A player with a split pair of jacks raised the bring-in. Two players with overcards called. The first held a king, the second a queen. On fourth street the player with the split jacks caught a blank. The player with the king caught an ace. The next player caught a six:

(J 4) J 2
(x x) K A
(x x) Q 6

The second and third player checked and the first player, with his pair of jacks, bet. The next two players called.

On fifth street the player with the jacks caught another deuce; the second player caught a blank and the third player caught a jack. None were suited.

(J 4) J 2 2
(x x) K A 4
(x x) Q 6 J

The first player, now with two pair, bet. The second player raised. The third player re-raised. The first player called, as did the second player.

The first player made a terrible call. Unless each of his opponents is a maniac, logic and observation require a fold here.

True, the first player improved. Improving is good in a vacuum. But the betting action and exposed cards of his opponents demonstrates that he is very, very far behind. The second player must have either kings or aces up or trips. The third player almost surely has trip queens or trip sixes. In any case, jacks up, with one dead jack, is a huge underdog and very unlikely to improve to a winning hand. He should fold to the double bet rather than continue to draw for one of three cards that will give him a full house (and quite possibly a losing full house even if he makes it).

The problem for stud players is that they, like all poker players, begin their poker lessons by learning hand values. This is how poker is taught. We're all taught that a full house is a strong hand and a pair is a weak hand. In hold'em, since all hands are derived from a common board, players immediately recognize that all hands are relative. A flush is a good hand –- but only if the board can't make a full house. Trips are a good hand, but only if the board can't make a straight or a flush.

But in stud, players are inundated with data –- up to eight exposed cards on third street and then more on each successive street, plus their own hands. It's easy for them to put blinders on and just think about their own hand and its chances of improvement – neglecting their opponents' hands and their opponents' chances of improvement as well.

The good stud player pays attention to all of the data and weighs his hand's chances of improvement relative to the likely improvement of his opponents' hands. Sometimes, though his hand may improve –- but when weighed against the likely superior improvement of his opponent's hand, the best move is still to fold.

Source: pokernews.com

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Women's Poker Hall of Fame

Date: Thu, Jan 17, 2008 Internet Live

The Women's Poker Hall of Fame is a dream that founder Lupe Soto has had for many many years. It only seems logical to any person who knows this driven supporter of women's poker, to realize that she would be the one to start such an institution.

Soto began both the first online women's poker forum, pokerchix.com, and the leading ladies poker tour, the LIPSTour. Soto also brought the first $1,000 buy-in to a women's-only event, outside of the WSOP, over five years ago. The fruition of a dream that will become the Women's Poker Hall of Fame this February is the most rewarding and thrilling project to ever come true for this entrepreneur. Lupe says, "This is an institution that will recognize the many outstanding women who have accomplished so much and have reached the pinnacle of their poker careers. We've only begun to scratch the surface in the many venues available today in which to find these women in the poker industry. This organization will exemplify those women and their respective poker industry achievements and titles."

When Lupe first started creating the WPHoF, she knew the most important elements would be the devotion and passion that the committee would bring to the project. In doing so, she drew on some of the most prominent women in poker and invited the to sit on the committee for its first three years. The committee includes Soto, Allyn Jaffrey Shulman, Karina Jett, Suzanne Carter and Maureen Feduniak, and they eagerly set out to choose the first year's four inductees. Subsequent years will see two women elected each year. The qualifying criteria for the WPHoF were determined by the committee to include:

1. Must have been active as a player or industry leader at some time during a period beginning at least 15 years prior to election.

2. Must have contributed to the world of poker in some significant way, either by wins/cashes in major tournaments or by making significant contributions to the poker industry.

3. Must be a proponent of women's poker. Though not required to play in women-only events, she must support their existence.

The first four ladies to be inducted into the Women's Poker Hall of Fame will be:

● Linda Johnson, the 'First Lady of Poker';
● Marsha Waggoner, accomplished poker pro;
● Barbara Enright, poker pro and winner of three WSOP bracelets;
● Susie Isaacs, two-time WSOP winner and author of many poker books.

These ladies will be honored at a ceremony on February 2, 2008 at Binion's in downtown Las Vegas. Mike Sexton is slated to be Master of Ceremonies with Jan Fisher as a special guest speaker for the inaugural luncheon, with an open tournament for a buy-in of $500 at 2 p.m. The members of the WPHoF are invited back on the third to play in a freeroll where a $1,000 prize pool is guaranteed and many gifts provided by sponsors will surely please the players. Among the prizes to be given away will be a pass to a WPT Boot Camp.

Membership to the WPHoF is open to both women and men and costs $75 for one year. 20% of the membership fee is donated to the Halls' favored charity, Breast Cancer Angels Foundation; the organization is supported by its members, donations and sponsors. To become a member or a sponsor of this tremendous effort to build on women's poker, please visit their website at www.womenspokerhalloffame.com.

In the following weeks I will be profiling these honored ladies who are to be inducted in the first ceremony of the Women's Poker Hall of Fame.

Source: pokernew.com

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Professional Poker Career

Date: Wed, Jan 16, 2008 Internet Live

The opportunity to launch a career in professional poker has never been greater than now, thanks to the emergence and explosive growth of online casino gambling. That being said, the opportunity is counter balanced by the fact that millions of other poker playing gamblers have the very same idea, which is to “go pro” with a professional poker career.

Professional poker has exploded right in line with online casino gambling and, in fact, multitudes of professional poker players align themselves with various online casino poker rooms ranging from roles as consultants, owners, to simply allowing their names and images to be used as a front to lure in business.

But to actually BECOME a professional poker player, experience and dedication are of paramount importance. With millions of online casino poker junkies playing every waking moment of their existence with the hope of being good enough to make a living at it, the dedication required to succeed at online casino poker has never been greater. But dedication is not enough.

The successful professional poker player absorbs card knowledge like a sponge, and every hand is like a text book example that is studied and mentally devoured. The best poker players, the ones that end up making a living at online casino poker, are so completely focused that they improve after playing every hand because of their ability to shut out all negativity and distractions.

Online casino poker offers the best chance to make for a professional poker career because you can get your start at free or low limit tables to gain experience without going broke in the process.

(c) Tom Wilkinson, source: professional-poker.com

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Top Poker Players Without Any Cash

Date: Tue, Jan 15, 2008 Internet Live

Joe Saumarez-Smith is chief executive officer of Sports Gaming, a U.K. management consulting firm to the gaming industry. He also owns European online bingo companies and odds comparison Web sites. The opinions expressed are his own.

The last time I was in Las Vegas, I stood outside the card room at the Bellagio casino, waiting for a friend to arrive. Along with a few other tourists I watched a poker game just to pass the time.

After a few minutes, one of the biggest names in the game, someone whose name you would recognize if you watched even a small amount of televised poker, came and greeted me like a long-lost friend.

This was somewhat odd. I had been introduced to him once, a couple of years earlier. He asked if he could borrow $200 because he was running short. This is someone who runs through tens of millions of dollars a year at the tables and for whom $200 is pretty much a rounding error. I politely declined and he went off to do a bit more "nipping,'' as borrowing from fellow players is commonly termed.

The other people standing around were astounded. Could this player really have been asking for as little as $200? Surely it was some kind of a joke. To spare the player's blushes I assured them it was all done in jest but it set me pondering about how little the general public understands the poker economy.

When watching "High Stakes Poker'' or the World Series of Poker on television it's easy to assume that all these people with mountains of chips in front of them are millionaires and living the American poker dream. The sad reality is that a reasonable number of them are broke or, even worse, deep in debt to their fellow players, banks and loan sharks.

Financial Backers

It is something poker players do not like to advertise. There are two good reasons for this. The first is that people are less likely to lend you money if they already know you are in hock.

The second is that the less money you have, the less likely you are to play a confident game. If people know their opponents are playing with their last dollars, they will be able to exert far more pressure on them at the tables.

Des Wilson, the author of two books on poker, says players privately admit that they have bad runs. "If you're sitting having a drink with them, most of them will acknowledge that at some point they have gone broke and had to borrow money. But a hell of a lot is not seen by anyone apart from the top players.''

Many of the top players have financial backers or sell off a share in their action each tournament, Wilson says. "Then there are players who will offer insurance deals to other players, so they won't lose all their cash if they finish out of the money.''

It is common for the household names of poker to find outside backers, if only to reduce the volatility caused by playing for tens of thousands of dollars a hand. When a bad run for a couple of months can cost a couple of million dollars, it is best to be playing partly with someone else's cash.

Sponsorships

The other most common form of funding is sponsorship by the major online poker companies. They pay entry fees to the major tournaments, flights and hotel accommodation. Without this backing, several of the big players would have annual losses in excess of $200,000 each.

Nolan Dalla, media director of the World Series of Poker, and a former semiprofessional poker player and sports gambler, says nobody should be surprised if the top players lose everything. "It is almost inevitable that if you play poker for many years, then variance will catch up with you,'' Dalla says.

"The scale of players being backed to play is now much bigger than it ever used to be,'' Dalla said. "But you also have to think that poker economy is only so big, and it does not have enough money in it to sustain the number of players who aspire to be professionals.''

Poor Discipline

Don't feel too sorry for the big-name players. Wilson says most are highly skilled but lack discipline. "What they tend to be bad at is either money management or other forms of gambling, so they lose all the money they have won at poker at the craps table or betting on sports.''

Of course not every top player is broke. Players such as Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson and Howard Lederer earn seven-figure totals each year from playing poker. The very best will always be able to make a living from the game.

But the ones who tend to shout the loudest about how well they are doing tend, in my experience, to be the ones who disappear from the poker circuit after a couple of years when their funds run dry.

(c) Joe Saumarez-Smith

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Online Versus Real Casino

Date: Mon, Jan 14, 2008 Internet Live

It has often been questioned which one of is better, if online poker or the brick and mortar poker arena? While this is not my decision to make I am going to review some pros and cons of both, so that you the poker player can decide which is right for you.

The most obvious difference is the locale or setting of the two poker arenas. One must travel to a casino or poker room often far distances often out of state or region. Online casinos are anywhere you need them to be have access to the internet and pc and you are ready to download a poker site and play. Another difference that is a negative about brick and mortar casinos is the sign up. In online play you merely search for the game and limits you want to play and can usually get in quickly with no wait due to such a variety of games and so many players at any given time. In a brick and mortar casino you may have to wait for long periods of time for the table you want to get in on has a position open for you.

Playing poker itself also has a huge difference in playing online or standard casinos. The most obvious being real live people on a physical table rather than avatars of other players in a computer generated poker site. In a live casino situation you can use physical tells and physical habits to help or hurt you. Online the main tells you can gather are betting patterns and a few posted comments or notes you’ve saved on a player.

Cashing out is also a major difference between online and traditional casino play. In a brick and mortar casino at the end of your session you go to the cashier cage and cash your chips in for physical cash. Whereas in an online poker room you utilize an account on that site and most sites have certain minimums at which you can cash out.

These are a few ways in which brick and mortar casinos differ from playing online. I hope this article has helped you in deciding which arena best fits you’re playing goals and style. Either way play your own game and good luck on the felt whether real or computer generated.

(c) Paul Morse

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How Yellow Light Helps to Win in Poker

Date: Sat, Jan 12, 2008 Internet Live

I was teaching my daughter how to drive — but she's learning in the city, Boston to be exact. People tend to pick up bad habits of driving in this city, and my daughter is no exception. We were approaching a green light and it turned yellow. So, naturally, growing up in Boston, she did what every driver learns to do here. She speeded up! Now you and I know that this is incorrect driving behavior. But she didn't. I had to explain that a yellow light meant to start slowing down because a red light was about to follow. And a red light meant stop.

Yes, in driving, yellow lights mean slow down and red lights mean stop. But drivers, especially new drivers, only see the green. And once they are going it's very difficult for them to stop. Maybe that's why the accident rate in Boston is so high. They fall in love with their accelerators, failing to brake at yellow lights – and even failing to stop at red ones!

What does this have to do with poker? I've noticed some very similar habits at the stud tables where I play. Players, who might otherwise play a pretty good game, have a hard time slowing down and stopping when the light changes. Though they don't use their poker accelerator often, if they use it at the beginning of the hand they have a very tough time switching to the brake when the situation calls for it.

Here's an example. Matt, a fairly good, though perhaps overly tight player in a $20/40 game, (conventionally structured with a $3 ante and a $5 bring-in) gets dealt a split pair of jacks with a king kicker. He sees around the table a bunch of low and middling cards and a queen a few seats to his left. Rudy, a solid, relatively straightforward player, holds the queen.

Matt plays few hands – generally staying out of any hands if he doesn't have at least a premium pair or a high three-flush that is very live – and that expects a lot of competition. With his pair of jacks he completes the bet to $20. This is the conventional play for a premium pair. The next couple of players fold. The action comes to the queen who re-raises. Everyone else folds and the action returns to the jack. The remaining kings and jacks are live; he knows that the queen may well have reraised to get the hand heads up even without a pair of queens. He figures him for maybe a wired pair with a queen kicker or maybe even a queen with an ace in the hole.

Matt calls the raise from the queen. He figures that he might be a small dog, if Rudy has the queens he's representing. Or, if Rudy is bluffing, with maybe a queen and a couple of high cards or a queen and a wired pair, then Rudy knows he's a pretty big favorite.

The next card for Matt is a suited five. The next card for Rudy is an unsuited six. Rudy, with the exposed queen, is high. He bets. Matt calls. So far so good.

On fifth street Rudy pairs his fourth-street card, the six. Matt gets an Ace. The queen with the new pair of sixes checks. The jacks bet and the pair of sixes re-raises, executing a check-raise. Matt calls.

The hand plays out with Rudy betting sixth and then the river and Matt calling both. Rudy shows down queens up and Matt, who improved on the river to a second pair, shows jacks up. Rudy wins.

Matt played his hand wrong. His errors are those routinely made by some players. Let's look at them closely.

Raising pre-flop is fine – even with a higher door card out. If one only raised with a premium pair that was higher than anyone else's door card in a $20/40 game, the antes and bring-in would eventually destroy your stack. You have to raise with lower premium pairs in the hope of knocking out the singleton premium cards that remain after you.

But when your effort is met by return fire – by a re-raise – that should give you great pause – especially when it comes from a straightforward player. It's true that many good players will raise with the higher premium card even if they don't have a pair. And it was correct, in my opinion, for Matt to call this raise with a higher kicker than that door card – a king versus that queen. Similarly, when neither hand improved on fourth street, I think it was correct for Matt to call Rudy's bet – since Matt still possessed an overcard and Rudy didn't show any additional threat.

But on fifth street, when Rudy checked, Matt should surely not have taken the bait. He should have checked behind Rudy – getting and giving a free card. I'd suggest that it was the product of thoughtless aggression – a foot stuck on the accelerator.

This is a mistake, and one that I've seen some players make routinely. They begin as the aggressor, they face return fire, but they refuse to back down – acting as if they have no brakes, only an accelerator. This can be catastrophic. In this case, Matt decides that he should represent a strong hand to try to get the queen to fold. He thinks of his bet as a semi-bluff – a pair of jacks with an ace kicker that could improve to a high two pair and may also win by getting his opponent to fold.

But what he's doing is speeding up at the intersection with a yellow light. He should be slowing down. Assuming that either of his initial reads of Rudy's hands is correct, Rudy is now either a big favorite (about 7:3), with queens up against Matt's jacks with an ace kicker, or a small favorite (about 3:2) with two low pair against Matt's jacks and a high kicker.

Rudy's action, the check-raise, after Matt's fifth street bet, should have been a red light. If Matt thought that his bet made sense – by denying his opponent a free card if he was drawing, or punishing him if he only had a small pair – then when Rudy raised, Matt should have seen it as the powerful sign of strength that it was. Matt should have folded.

This isn't to say that some players aren't tricky enough to try a check-raise bluff or semi-bluff. But the good player can't assume that the fifth-street betting action of his straightforward, solid opponent is a bluff. At most he should have recognized the paired board as a yellow light and checked. And when he did bet, and was check-raised, he should have seen it as a red light and gotten away from his hand.

P.S. No one can stop you now. Wanna try?

Source

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Few Words About Poker Psychology

Date: Fri, Jan 11, 2008 Internet Live

The game of poker is warfare of an unusual type. You battle it out with chips and cards instead of physical strength or armaments, disseminating sometimes conflicting information to make the best decisions possible.

But some players come to the felt with a major part of their arsenal muted: they lack the psychological backing to allow them to attack poker properly.

While many people talk about the mathematics, strategy, knowledge of opponents and heart that it takes to play poker competently, most ignore the need for psychological abilities - along with all of those components - to play to the maximum of your abilities.

One of those psychological factors I've found improves your game is what I call "The Complete Circle."

The Complete Circle has three components: support from family, support from knowledgeable poker friends and non-poker interests. If you have only one or two parts of this circle, you're not reaching the full potential of a segment of the psychology of the game.

The first part, support from family, is perhaps the most critical part. For some in the poker world, they face derision, ridicule and sometimes out and out dislike from family members regarding their pursuits in the world of poker.

It can be parents, a spouse or any significant other who, if they don't agree with what you are doing, can cause you to have apprehensions at the tables.

For example, in many families, gambling is looked at as the bottom of the barrel when it comes to society and that has an effect on a player's game. Many players admit they lied to their parents about their poker pursuits at first becuase of this.

It wasn't until they rectified the situation and received the blessing of their parents that they were able to fully extend their skills at the tables.

When it comes to spouses and significant others, that can be even trickier than the parental part. A partner, through repeated argument and disagreement about the money and time involved in the game, can induce a player to not be at their best.

You've probably seen this in action at the felt. A player moves from the table to take a cell phone call. Their significant other badgers them about when they'll be home or a bill that could be paid with the chips sitting on the table. They come back and are on significant tilt, perhaps to the point of losing those said chips.

It is critical to poker success to have your significant other firmly behind you in your chosen hobby or occupation. Why do you think most poker players have significant others that are involved in some way, either recreationally or professionally, with the game?

It is not only a situation of "birds of a feather" but it is also has basis in a firm understanding and support from said other.

The second part of The Complete Circle, support from knowledgeable poker friends, is good for the growth of your game. Instead of ruminating about particular issues such as bad beats, the play of particular hands or alternative strategies in the recesses of your own mind, having several poker playing compatriots to bounce these questions off of can expand not only your knowledge of the game but also give fresh insight not bound by your own preconceptions.

These friends can come from a multitude of areas. With the multitude of poker forums available, poker players can build a network of people that evolve into friendships.

For the most part, fellow players in a live game can be helpful and those relationships can build into long lasting bonds of camaraderie. Finally, a supportive spouse or family member can fill this and the first segment of The Complete Circle as well.

The final part of The Complete Circle, non-poker interests, is something everyone needs with their chosen hobbies or professions. Do you truly believe that a radio DJ, after playing music for several hours in the day, goes home and does the same? Do you think a mechanic, after grinding over vehicles for a living, goes home and works on his car?

The ability to step away from what is a focal point of your life, whether a hobby or profession, is important to a fulfilling life.

While it is important to have a passion for the game of poker, it is also important to have outside interests that can release your mind from that pursuit. The change of pace is critical to recharging the batteries and perhaps even refeeding that passion that is important to success.

Having anything be a 24/7 pursuit not only eventually leads to burnout but it also stunts the ability to make adjustments to your mindset and skills to become better.

By having The Complete Circle filled, you will have made substantial strides toward success at the tables. It will clear your mind, allow you to focus on the tasks at hand and relieve outside pressures that can distract you from your pursuit at the tables.

It is a segment of the psychology of poker that you can change to improve your game immediately.

(c) Earl Burton

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How To Play Poker If You Are Blind?

Date: Tue, Dec 25, 2007 Internet Live

In an intriguing tale of disability and discrimination gone amok, a blind man by the name of Jason Holbrook has been refused a seat at the World Series of poker table. Holbrook has been offered a refund for the entry fee and his seat will be offered to someone else, but he will not be able to play at the World Series of poker in Las Vegas. Holbrook lost his ability to see in an automobile accident at the age of 20. At this time he was already an avid poker player and being blind gave him no reason to stop playing. Being such a dedicated player Jason Holbrook has found ways to get around the disability while playing poker. Utilizing a handler that whispers the cards that he has in his hands into his ear and keep him abreast of all the plays that have been made that he may have missed, Holbrook maintains that he can effectively play poker with the best players in the world without any difficulties due to his disability.

Considering that Holbrook had to win the Golden West Casino in Bakersfield's tournament for the right to enter into the World Series of poker, it seemed odd that he would be denied a position at the World Series of poker table. The gaming officials apparently agreed and have reversed their decision to disbar Holbrook from playing at the World Series of poker in Las Vegas, under extreme pressure from the media and other sources, as the story showed up in a number of newspapers and news programs on television. The major question seemed to be how the World Series of poker could specifically refuse a player for their disability when many could not legally refuse a customer for that same disability. The World Series of poker can also accommodate paralyzed players, rendering the question of a blind player somewhat moot in the grand scheme of things.

There is still some question among players about how fair and proper it is to allow a second person at the table to conspire with Holbrook on the usage of his cards and how to play them. Theoretically the handler is only there to inform Holbrook of the cards that he holds in his hands, but can perform a variety of other functions serving as a strategic element or some type of added advantage that other players do not have. After all there is only one player serving for one hand at each table and no more. Having two players serve for one hand seems to be an added advantage for the user.
(c) Efrain Valerio

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Online Poker Rooms Have Problems With UK

Date: Thu, Dec 20, 2007 Internet Live

In what seems to be the latest turn off for poker players in the UK, the UK Gambling Commission warned the Online Poker Rooms about offering seats in poker tournaments as prizes. The UK Gambling Commission has raised its voice and told poker operators in the UK that offering seats in poker tournaments taking place outside the ‘white-listed’ jurisdiction” (UK, European Economic Area, Common Wealth and Gibraltar) can be considering a felony because they are promoting “foreign gambling”. In the Commission's view, the offering of such a prize amounts to advertising of non-UK gambling, as defined by section 327 of the Gambling Act 2005. Unless the overseas tournament is based in the European Economic Area, Gibraltar, or in white-listed jurisdictions, the advert is likely to amount to the advertising of "foreign gambling", which constitutes an offense under section 331 of the Gambling Act 2005

A statement on the Commissions website says: “It has come to the Commission's attention that a number of operators are offering places at overseas poker tournaments as prizes in UK based competitions. For example, a poker tournament played either at a UK Casino or online may offer the winner the chance to play in a cash prize tournament held outside the UK. Operators should take steps to ensure that any advertising which they are responsible for complies with the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005.”

Dozens of online poker and gaming companies such as 888.com, MansionPoker.com, Party Poker, Ladbrokers and other casinos and online rooms based within the Commission’s jurisdiction, will have to start thinking new ways to advertise and attract players since they have featured prizes that include seats for the World Series of Poker main event and Aussie Millions, otherwise they can face a monetary fine or 51 weeks in jail, or even both.

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Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic New Champ from Ukraine

Date: Wed, Dec 19, 2007 Internet Live

Ukrainian player, Eugene Katchalov took the first place at the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic. Katchalov had a terrific night that ended up with a $2.48 million prize. He was responsible for the elimination of four of the five poker players who dispute the final table at this WPT event. Katchalov also received a $25k seat to the 2008 WPT World Championship as part of the prize for the first place.

The Ukrainian needed just fifty three hands to complete his job. Katchalov is a young poker player, born in Kiev, Ukraine currently living in Brooklyn, New York. His biggest previous live cash was $118k at the Bellagio Cup III, plus apparently he took down a Sunday major tournament a few months ago.

Famous player David "Devilfish" Ulliott came in 3rd place, after losing a hand with Katchalov. The other victims were Ken Rosen, Ted Kearly and Jordan Rich. The $15,000 buy-in tournament began with 626 players, making it the richest poker tournament in history excluding the WPT Championships and WSOP Main Events. This was the greatest poker performance ever in Katchalov’s career as he starts to stand up as one of the great players in 2008, accumulating $2,524,786 in winnings only this year.
Source

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EU Online Companies vs U.S.A

Date: Wed, Dec 19, 2007 Internet Live

European gambling and online poker companies may withdrawal the U.S market voluntarily if the European body accepts a deal that opens other markets to foreign companies as compensation. It seems that the European delegation sent to negotiate with the U.S drop their pants, blowing European online gaming companies when they accepted a U.S. offer that will open other market as compensation for shutting the U.S. gambling market. A speaker and representative of the online gaming and poker groups in Europe said the announcement was a disappointment. European companies expected more than a slap of their faces after they have lost billions when they had to step out of the U.S market due the government’s restrictions. Companies such as Party Poker, MansionPoker.com, Pacific Poker and more had consistent reductions in their profits after the firms were pushed out of the U.S market to avoid any legal situations.

The main attorney representing Antigua before the WTO, declared that he still hoping for a ruling on that issue before the WTO closes down next week for holidays. "Nobody in Antigua really wanted our claim to be overshadowed by the EU," he said. About a year ago, the U.S Congress set up a series of restrictions on Internet gambling, making illegal for banks and credit card companies to make related to online gambling, gaming or poker activities. In May, Washington said commitments it made as part of a 1994 WTO deal excluded online gambling, starting a chain reaction among countries which economies were affected and that started to look for compensations.

"A bilateral agreement was signed in Geneva, which provides EU service suppliers with new trade opportunities in the U.S. postal and courier, research and development, storage and warehouse sectors," the European Commission declared in a statement. "The U.S. also made concessions in the testing and analysis services sector," the commission said, adding that it would still try to dissuade the United States from discriminating against foreign operators. The United States is also looking to persuade India, Costa Rica and Macao to take similar deals, but those countries have the option over the next 45 days to ask for World Trade Organization arbitration.

"We continue to believe that it is better to regulate than to prohibit, because the reality shows that the prohibition only drives out the transparent, listed operators," said an European representative related to one of the largest online gaming companies in the old continent.

(c) Dave Zamzack

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Five card draw strategy

Date: Mon, Dec 17, 2007 Internet Live

After two raises only raise with the best of hands. In pot limit poker, if two raises have already been placed, at least one player will be "all-in" (when a player is out of chips) by this stage. Take into account that the other player will usually not fold after so many raises, so you'd better make sure you have a hand that is good enough by any standard. If you place another raise the other player may even re-raise and make the stakes even larger.

In pot limit or no limit, be careful not to raise a hand you will later draw to. In five card draw poker, Make sure you do not need to replace any cards before going for a raise in a pot limit and no limit game. This is less relevant for limit games where the raises are equal and set.

Against tight players you need to implement an aggressive five card draw poker strategy, with lots of high raises, as well as a confident, somewhat bragging look, and of course preferably without drawing any cards. For loose players you should only play with strong hands and let go of your attempts to bluff.

Tight five card draw poker strategy describes the behavior of a player who only plays with strong hands and folds on others. Loose draw poker strategy describes a player who might go on and play with strong as well as with weak hands, and not be afraid to match high raises and bets. If you are up against a good draw poker player, know that he/she may change his/her five card draw poker strategy, switching from loose to tight and vice versa.

Remember that there are no free rides in pot limit. If you have a hand that is pretty good, but not a sure win, do not leave your opponent a chance to hesitate, and either place a large raise or fold. Do not however place a small raise, because then the other player will have nothing to lose by continuing to play, and you'll make the draw poker odds work against you.

(c) Chris Barnhardt

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