Thursday, February 26, 2009

Playing Two or More Tables at Once - Erick Lindgren

Most players eventually realize that it's fun and fairly easy to play at multiple online tables at one time. Early in my career, I played as many as eight games at once on a daily basis. Here are some tips and instructions for playing multiple games:

1. Increase the resolution on your monitor. You can do this by right clicking on the desktop, then clicking on Properties, then clicking on Settings. You can then grab the arrow in the Screen Resolution area and move it to a smaller resolution.

If possible, use the 1,600 x 1,200 setting to get up to four games on one screen without overlap. In order to maximize your screen area, make sure your video card and monitor support higher resolution settings.

2. Once you get into playing more than one game, the best way for you to keep up with the action is to look for hands you can fold automatically. Use advance actions. That will help you pay more attention to the game you have a real hand in.

3. Play the same game at every table. It will help you avoid mistakes in reading and playing your hand, and you'll find it easier to get into a good rhythm.

4. Most importantly: Track who has raised the pot. Make sure you make a mental note of this since it is the key to how you will play your hand later. It sounds simple, but it is easy to get in a pot and not recall who raised when you're playing more than one game.

5. Make sure you take some breaks. When I used to play eight games, I was an animal. I would run to the bathroom and every screen would be beeping at me. Take a few breaks. The games will still be there when you get back.

Playing multiple games is a lot of fun and I hope to see you at the table. Or tables.

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High Stakes Poker Season 5 Airing March 1st On GSN - Plus Sneak Preview

The Much Anticipated High Stakes Poker Season 5 will air on March 1st, 9pm/8c on GSN. Season 5 will have a minimum buy-in of $200,000 which is the largest for an entire run of a television series.


Returning players are some of the world’s best, including Doyle Brunson, Eli Elezra, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari. They will be challenged by well known, but new to HIGH STAKES POKER players: Tom Dwan, Joe Hachem, Howard Lederer, Alan Meltzer, Peter Eastgate, Dario Minieri, David Peat, Ilari Sahamies and Sam Simon. Former New York gossip columnist turned author and television personality A.J. Benza will host with popular poker analyst Gabe Kaplan. Henry Orenstein of HSPR, L.L.C. and Mori Eskandani of Poker Productions serve as executive producers. The fifth season of HIGH STAKES POKER is filmed at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Host: A.J. Benza
AJ Benza returns for his fifth season as the host of television’s only cash game no limit Texas hold ‘em poker series, HIGH STAKES POKER. Benza, a New York native, has made several appearances on the big screen including: “Rocky Balboa,” “Ransom,” “Conspiracy Theory,” “The Deli,” “Not Even the Trees,” “Chump Change” and “P.S. Your Cat Is Dead.” The multi-talented Benza recently published his memoir, “Fame, Ain’t It A Bitch,” a highly-charged account of his rise to power and fall from grace as New York City’s most controversial columnist of the 1990’s. Benza is also a regular contributor to Playboy and has been published in many magazines including George, Cosmopolitan and Manhattan File. Benza first started in the industry as a sportswriter for Newsday in 1984. From there, he moved on to the New York Daily News and soon became the city’s most celebrated and feared gossip columnist, writing and editing both the daily “Hot Copy” and “Downtown” columns.

Host: Gabe Kaplan
Kaplan returns for his fifth season as HIGH STAKES POKER’s analyst. Kaplan’s poker knowledge and ability to explain the nuances of the game have made him a viewer favorite. Kaplan is no stranger to high stakes games and tournaments. He has made the final table in six World Series of Poker events, won the Super Bowl of Poker twice and finished third in the WPT 2004 Mirage Poker Showdown. Best known for his starring role as the teacher and reformed “Sweathog” on the hit television series “Welcome Back Kotter,” Kaplan has also appeared in theater productions, originating the role of “Groucho, A Life In Review,” and starred in the national touring company of the Broadway comedy, “Doubles.” Kaplan is an active stock market participant whose Wall Street investment strategies have been written about in several leading financial magazines. In addition to being on HIGH STAKES POKER, Kaplan performs as a stand-up comedian, speaking at corporate and civic events.

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Phil Ivey Wins $1.1 Million In One Day, $900k From Durrrr

On Tuesday evening, Phil Ivey battled it out with some of the top pros on Full Tilt and won huge pots from Ziigmund, LarsLuzak and most notably, Durrrr.


At the end of the day, Phil was up $1.1 Million and had $1 Million at the table against Durrrr whom he won $900k from in the "Ivey Thunderdome" (Phil Ivey's Headsup Pot Limit Holdem $500/$1000 Room). Only 3 other players have ever reached $1 Million at the table; Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond, Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies and Tom "durrrr" Dwan.

The largest pot of the day was a $336,590 pot Ivey won against Durrrr in PLO. On the flop, Ivey had Aces, Durrrr had bottom 2 pair(10s and 8s) and open ended straight draw. On the turn, the board paired, giving Ivey a better 2 pair, a river was a blank and Ivey takes down the pot.

The Second Biggest Pot was a $328,790 between Ivey and Durrr; Ivey winning it. Ivey had a open ended straight draw on flop against Durrrr's pocket 10s. Ivey hits his straight on the turn and wins the pot.

In the last headsup hand between Ivey and Durrrr they played a $173,419 pot. They both went all in preflop, Ivey showing Aces with spades, Durrrr being double suited. Ivy hits a flush on the flop and Durrr is drawing dead. You can see a screenshot of the hand below.


A match between Ivey and Dwan for the Durrrr Challenge should be an entertaining one. Hopefully, Dwan doesn't lose too much money before playing with Ivey. Dwan has mentioned if he loses big twice in the first two Durrrr Challenges then he'll decline action from further opponents.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Poker006 Launches RakeBack Site - rakeback.poker006.com

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Action Poker 35%
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Absolute Poker 30%
Interpoker 30%
Poker Heaven 30%
Cake Poker 33%
Fat Bet Poker 50%
Poker Nordica 30%
Red Star Poker 33%
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Durrrr Challenge - Dwan and Antonius Session #5

Session 5 started Monday 3:11 PM EST between Dwan and Antonius(Session 4 was only 4 hands, they had to cancel for some reason). Patrik started the day being up $56K but in 15 minutes, Durrrr won over $125K ($104K of it in one hand) to retake the lead in the match. Just before 4pm, they had this conversation;
durrrr: theres 2 500/1ks running
durrrr: u want to play here or there?
durrrr: 3 500/1k now
durrrr: id rather play there if u dont care
durrrr: but since ur stuck ill play here if u want
durrrr: ur call
Patrik Antonius: can u send me some $$$?
durrrr: 300 otw
Patrik Antonius: sounds good
durrrr: lets play here 15more minutes then 500/1k ok?
durrrr: that ok w/ u?
Patrik Antonius: k

Then Durrrr joined 2 other tables at 500/1k while still playing 4 headsup with Patrik! Dwan has mentioned if there is action at higher limits than he'll play there and put the Durrrr Challenge on hold. The only reason Dwan made the challenge was because there wasn't enough action at the high limits.

They quit after 3 hours 10 minutes with durrrr up $207K for the session, and up $150K overall for the match. Patrik lost 2 big pots in the last hour of play, a 167k and a 165k. In the 167k pot, Durrrr had a flush draw and Antonius flopped a set. Durrr got lucky and hit. The other big pot, Patrik tried to bluff on flop, turn and river. Unfortunately for him, Durrrr hit his straight on the turn.
durrrr: gg ima go lift
durrrr: ill try to wakeup @ a dece time tomorrow if yer awake, no promises tho
Current standings:
-durrrr's results: +$149,977.50
-Patrik Antonius's results: $-150,806.00

-Hands 3,952 of 50K
-Total Bet $22,062,217.00
-Total Sessions 5
-Time Played 12hours 37mins
-Hands/hour ~300

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Theo Jorgensen Defeats Gus Hansen in Boxing Match

Theo Jorgensen Defeats Gus Hansen via decision. Everyone labeling the fight "boring", "worst fight ever". I didn't think it was that bad, better than I thought it would be but would've been better with a knockout. Gus entered the the arena in a wheelchair with the song "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?".



Mid way through the fight, Gus Hansen gets knocked down to the canvas but looks like just a slip. Judges score in favour of Theo Jorgensen and he wins $35,000 prop bet from Gus.

Gus Hansen Vs. Theo Jorgensen rematch?

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Update on Durrr's Challenge -Tom "Durrr" Dwan Vs.Patrik Antonius


Saturday - Session 2 and 3
Durrrr and Patrik played two sessions on Saturday.

First session - Durrrr up $171K total after a total of 1633 hands played.

Second session - Patrik wins $227K, pulling into the lead with $56K - 2921 hands played.

Cliff Notes by spadebidder from 2 + 2 Forums;

* durrrr and Patrik played two sessions on Saturday. After a short 30 minute session beginning at 1:54PM EST durrrr hit his highest lead so far in the challenge, up $171K after a total of 1633 challenge hands played.

* durrrr takes a lunch break and then plays some $500/$1000 HA with several other players. durrrr has told Patrik a couple times that when he can get action at the bigger tables then challenge play will just have to wait.

* Challenge play resumes at 4:50 PM. They stop for a 20 minute break to watch the Gus Hansen boxing match on gushansentv.com. This is Hansen's new poker TV web site, which is worth checking out. The boxing match was streamed live as a stunt to promote the new site. Right now Gus is replaying and narrating some of his recent high stakes play on Full Tilt, which is very cool.

* They play until 9PM, ending with a total of 2921 hands played and Patrik now up $56K. So Patrick won $227K in this four hour session, taking the lead again. This is the first time a session has ended with Patrick in the lead.

* They agree to meet again Sunday around noon.
Quote:
Patrik Antonius: im done
durrrr: nice win, gg
durrrr: wanna try to play tomorrow?
Patrik Antonius: ty gg
Patrik Antonius: i'll sleep maybe 12 hours now
durrrr: im goin out tonight
Patrik Antonius: y i wanna play everyday when theres nothing else going on
durrrr: so probly wont wanna play until like idk noonish tomorrow
durrrr: 15hrs or w/e id guess
Patrik Antonius: cu tomorrow
durrrr: but if i drink too much
durrrr: then no game
durrrr: lol
Patrik Antonius: lol
durrrr: we'll c, cya

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How To Win At Tournament Poker, Part 2 - Chris Ferguson

Last week I talked about not adjusting for tournament play, answered three specific tournament questions, and stressed that there is little difference between tournament strategy and ring game strategy. This week, I would like to expand on that by answering a fourth question, and address the two situations where it's right to deviate from simply playing your best game.

The fourth question: Surely the different payout structure between ring games and tournaments means something, doesn't it?

Yes, tournaments differ from live action in that you are rewarded for how long you last, rather than for how many chips you accumulate.

In ring game poker, the chips you save by folding are just as valuable as the chips you win by playing. In tournament play, the chips you save are actually more valuable.

Consider a typical $1,000 buy-in tournament with 100 players, where first place is worth $40,000 out of a total prize pool of $100,000.

At the beginning of the tournament everyone has 1,000 in chips with a value of $1,000. The eventual winner will have 100,000 in chips and, in live action, would be entitled to a prize of $100,000. In a tournament, that same $100,000 is worth only $40,000, meaning that, at the end, each 1,000 in chips is only worth $400. As your stack grows, the value of each additional chip decreases, which means you want to be slightly more averse to taking unnecessary risks in tournaments than you might be in live action. (And if you are at all averse to taking risks in live action, you're probably playing over your bankroll.) Don't overcompensate for tournament play. Most people would be better off making no changes at all, rather than the changes that they do make.

Having said all this, there are two cases where adjusting will help:

1. When you are just out of the money.

If you are short stacked, you need to be very careful when committing your chips, especially with a call.

If you have a large stack, look for opportunities to push the short and medium stacks around - especially the medium stacks. These players will be a lot less likely to want a confrontation with you, and it should be open season on their blinds and antes.

If you have a medium or small stack, you need to be a bit more careful. Remember, though, that the other players - even the larger stacks - don't want to tangle with you. They just want to steal from you without a fight. Be prepared to push them around a little, and even to push back occasionally when they try to bully you. This often turns into a game of Chicken between the bigger stacks to determine which large stack will let the other steal most of the blinds.

2. At the final table.

Very little adjustment is necessary until you are one player away from the final table. Here, again, you should tighten up slightly because this is the next point where the payout structure handsomely rewards outlasting other players.

Look for opportunities to push around the other players, and the smaller stacks in particular. This is good advice throughout the final table.

What about heads up?

There are no more tournament adjustments necessary. You are essentially playing a winner take all freeze-out for the difference between first and second place.

Remember: Tournament adjustments should be subtle. It is rare that your play would be dramatically different in a tournament. When in doubt, just play your best game. And if you never adjust from that, you've got a great shot of winning, no matter what game you're playing.

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How To Win At Tournament Poker, Part 1 - Chris Ferguson

People often ask very specific questions about how to be a winning tournament player:

* How many chips am I supposed to have after the first two levels?
* Should I play a lot of hands early while the blinds are small, then tighten up later as the blinds increase?
* I seem to always finish on the bubble. Should I tighten up more as I get close to the money, or try to accumulate more chips early on?

Surprisingly, all three questions have the same answer:

Stop trying to force things to happen. Just concentrate on playing solid poker, and let the chips fall where they may.

In fact, that's the best answer for almost any specific tournament question. Here is a more useful question:

How much of a difference is there between ring game strategy and tournament strategy?

The answer: Not as much as you think.

Before you worry about adjusting for tournaments, concentrate on adjusting for the other players. The most important skill in poker is the ability to react to a wide range of opponents playing a wide range of styles. Players who can do this will thrive in both ring games and tournaments alike.

Many of the most costly tournament mistakes are the result of players over-adjusting for tournament play. Let's look at these questions again:

How many chips am I supposed to have after the first two levels?

The short answer is: As many as you can get.

Play your cards. Play your opponents. Do not try to force action simply because you think you "need" to have a certain number of chips to have a chance of winning. You should be thinking about accumulating more chips, while trying to conserve the chips you already have. The more chips you have, the better your chances of winning. The fewer chips you have, the worse your chances.

Forget about reaching some magical number. There is no amount below which you have no shot, nor is there any amount above which you can be guaranteed a victory. A chip and a chair is enough to win, and enough to beat you. Getting fixated on a specific number is a good way to ensure failure. Next question:

Should I play a lot of hands early while the blinds are small, and then tighten up later as the blinds increase?

Your play shouldn't change much as the tournament progresses. Gear your play to take maximum advantage of your opponents, irrespective of how far along the tournament is. Most players are too loose in the early stages of a tournament. Rather than become one of these players, adjust for their play instead:

* Attempt to steal the blinds less often
* Call more raises
* Re-raise more frequently

Likewise, when opponents typically tighten up later on, you should steal more often and be less inclined to get involved in opened pots. Again, this should be a reaction to the way your opponents are playing, not an action based on any particular stage of the tournament.

Last question: I seem to always finish on the bubble. Should I tighten up more as I get close to the money to avoid this, or try to accumulate more chips early on?

Usually the people asking this question are already tightening up too soon before reaching the money. In other words, they are over-adjusting to tournament play. Not only is it incorrect to tighten up considerably before you are two or three players from the money, doing so is the surest way to finish on or near the bubble. Just play your best, most aggressive game, and try not to let your stack dwindle to a point where you can't protect your hand with a pre-flop all-in raise. If you do, your opponents will be getting the right pot odds to call, even with weak hands. Look for opportunities to make a move before you let this happen, even if it means raising with less than desirable holdings.

Next week, I will address the two situations where adjusting your game will help.

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Mike Matusow Speaks Out Against Alleged Super User Russ Hamilton - "100% Guilty"

Hardcore Poker Show talked to Mike Matusow about Russ Hamilton and the cheating that was going on at UltimateBet and Absolute Poker. Mike states Russ is "100% Guilty" and has evidence to prove it. You can listen to Mike Matusow in the video below;


Earlier evidence;

-Russ Hamilton was one of the previous owners of UB before Tokwiro Enterprises purchased it.
-The superuser account names nvtease/NoPaddles/sleepless were traced to an address in Nevada – the home address of Russell Hamilton.

Possible Russ Hamilton's Defense; A friend either purposefully or inadvertently set him up.

I'd like to hear what evidence Mike has. Unfortunately Mike cannot discuss details due to upcoming court case.

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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Verdict: Guilty - For 5 Poker Players In South Carolina Poker Trial

Judge J. Lawrence Duffy in South Carolina Poker Trial makes his ruling;

"Texas hold’em is a game of skill. There was no doubt in his mind" Duffy said, but he found the Five men guilty of playing in a 'House of Gaming' based on 1802 Gambling Law.


The Defendants will likely appeal the verdict. Their main arguement being; a game that has more skill than luck should not be considered gambling.

The Defence Attorney thoughts;

"The judge’s rationale for finding them guilty was a little puzzling, because he acknowledged that the legislature did not define 'house of gaming' and that there was no definition for that," said Phillips. "If the legislature did not define it and the court does not know what it means, how then could you expect my clients to know [what it meant]?"

Poker Player's Alliance Thoughts;

“We are humbled by Judge Duffy’s thoughtful decision and applaud the effort put forth by the legal team defending these poker players,” said John Pappas, the executive director of the PPA. “It’s becoming quite clear the legal community agrees that this great American pastime is a game of predominant skill, not luck, and should not be considered gambling under the law.”

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Specialize At Your Peril - Howard Lederer

The recent poker explosion on TV and the Internet has created a flood of new players who are serious about developing their game. Sadly for them, television is sending a skewed message. No-Limit Hold 'em is the game of choice when the game is shown on TV, and it's easy to think there is only one game out there. While no one would argue that No-Limit makes for the most exciting television, there are many dangers associated with playing only one game.

First, you run the risk of getting bored, and boredom will lead to a stunting of your poker development. Enthusiasm is a critical ingredient for a successful poker career. When I spend time around the best poker players in the world, the one thing that they all share is a genuine love and passion for the game.

Next, you might be missing your true poker calling. As it happens, my best game isn't No-Limit Hold 'em - it's Limit Hold 'em. Had I not tried playing limit, I would never have found the game I am best at.

There are reasons why all the biggest casinos in the world feature multiple games. Stop by the big game at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and you're liable to see No-Limit and Limit, with games ranging from Seven-Card Stud to Deuce-to-Seven Draw. The best players in the world simply love to play poker. To deny themselves the pleasure of playing some of the best forms of the game would be unthinkable. They also know that if they play just one game, the specialists in a particular game (who are not nearly as good overall poker players) would be able to sit at their game and win. If you want to climb to the top of the poker world, you better become a great poker generalist. If you insist on limiting yourself to one game, you'll never make it.

Even if your ultimate goal is to become an accomplished No-Limit Hold 'em player, I encourage you to at least play a lot of Limit Hold 'em. Too many No-Limit specialists get by with almost no post-flop skills. To get good at limit Hold 'em, you will be forced get more comfortable playing after the flop. Getting free cards on fourth street and making close value bets on fifth street are just two of the skills you'll be working on. And those skills are transferable. Developing these skills in limit Hold 'em will allow you to play your hands with all your options available. And your No-Limit results will improve dramatically.

Playing the other games will develop skills that will simply make you a better poker player. Skills that have subtle value in No-Limit Hold 'em are very important in the other games. Acquiring these skills will have profound effects on your No-Limit game, even though you might not even be aware of their importance now.

Playing Seven-Card Stud will definitely teach you the value of free cards. It is a fundamental skill necessary to succeed at the game. In Pot-Limit Omaha you will learn the power of position and the power of the semi-bluff. Seven-Card Stud 8/Better is a game where you need to learn how to narrow the field at the right time. The number of players in a pot can make a hand go from a fold to a raise. Razz? Well, if nothing else, it will teach you how important patience can be when things aren't going well.

The world of poker has a lot more to offer than No-Limit Hold 'em. And if you start to explore that world, I am confident you will enjoy the game more. Getting good at each game will take time, so start out small and read what you can. Have fun; a new world awaits.

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Scotty Nguyen Wins $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Event

Scotty Wins the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Event. He also won the $50,000 WSOP H.O.R.S.E. Event back in June. Scotty fought through a field of 96 players with total prize pool of $921,600. Rheem and Nguyen found themselves headsup after Rheem knocked out Jeff Madsen and Chris Tsiprailidis in 3rd and 4th place. Before headsup could get underway, Scotty and Rheem agreed to chop up the remaining prize money and declare Nguyen the champion.



Here are the results of the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Event;
Note: These are the official prize payouts and do not reflect the final deal between Nguyen and Rheem.

1. Scotty Nguyen - $339,743
2. David “Chino” Rheem - $181,227
3. Jeff Madsen - $122,573
4. Chris Tsiprailidis - $86,630
5. Matt Graham - $66,355
6. Bob Golick - $52,531
7. Amnon Filippi - $40,551
8. John Monnette - $29,941
9. Kenny Tran - $10,000


Here is an interview with Scotty after he won the $50,000 WSOP H.O.R.S.E. Event back in June. My favourite part is the song at 1:23.

Scotty Nguyen Addresses His Table Image at the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. on RawVegas.tv

"Scotty Nguyen was at the launch party for the Real Deal at the Venetian and talked to RawVegas’ Dave Farra about his table image during the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. during the WSOP 2008. He won the event with a little liquid courage and it seems like he might still be drunk from that fateful night."

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Gus Hansen’s Weigh-In at EPT Copenhagen - Gus and Theo Weigh In For The Big Fight This Week.

Gus vs. Theo fight is approaching (Feb. 21st). They had their official weigh-ins today, Gus Hansen weighing in at 80.5 kilos (177 pounds) and Theo weighing in at 86 Kilos (189.5 pounds). Pokerstars.tv filmed the weigh ins and Hansen and Theo answering questions at the press conference. You can watch the video below;


EPT Copenhagen S5: Gus Hansen's Weigh In on PokerStars.tv

Bookmakers have decided Theo Jørgensen is the favourite over Gus Hansen with odds of 60-40. Theo has been training for the last year whereas Gus has only been training the last 6-7 weeks. Also, Gus just recently had knee surgery and was seen limping around poker tournaments.

The idea for the fight started when Gus Hansen and good friend Theo Jorgensen were playing their regular game of Squash. Gus continued to win and after every point Gus would do "shadow boxing". Theo didn't like that and challenged Gus to a boxing match. Gus accepted and decided it was a good way to promote his new website gushansentv.com. You can watch the live stream video of the boxing match free at 21:00 GMT+1, (3PM EST Time) on Saturday, 21/02/09 on Gus' new site.

If you are in Denmark, you can watch it live. Entry will cost 249 Dkr ~ $43, tickets still available I believe.

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Common Mistakes - Phil Gordon

Everyone makes mistakes. The thing is, a good player will learn from them while a bad player will make the same mistake over and over again. And poker players that can exploit these mistakes will win.

Here are some of the most common mistakes that bad players make and my usual methods for exploiting them:

A player doesn't bluff enough. When these players bet or raise, I usually give them credit for a good hand. When they check, I will usually bet to try and take the pot.

A player overvalues top pair. The "average" winning hand in Hold 'em is two pair. Yet many players are willing to take tremendous risks with top pair. When I have a hand that can beat a player who overvalues his top pair, I will over-bet the pot and put them into a position to make a big mistake. I go out of my way to play small pocket pairs against these players because I know that if I flop a set, I'm likely to get paid off in a huge way.

A player under-bets the pot. It is incredibly important, especially in No Limit Hold 'em, to make bets large enough to punish opponents for their draws. When a player under-bets the pot and I have a draw, I take advantage of their mistake by just calling the small bet. When I think I have him beat, I'll make a raise.

A player calls too much. I will very rarely bluff against a "calling station." I will, however, make value bets throughout the hand.

A player tightens up under pressure. Most bad players "squeeze" too much in the middle stages of a tournament, or when they're on the bubble. They tighten up and wait for a huge hand. Against these players, I will play a lot looser, looking to steal a larger share of the blinds and antes.

A player telegraphs the strength of his hand with "tells." I am always observing these players, whether I am in the hand or not.

Playing perfect poker may be nearly impossible for most players but, by recognizing your own tendencies - and those of your opponents - you're much more likely to limit your mistakes and capitalize on the weaknesses of others at the table.

This lesson is from Phil Gordon's Little Green Book of No Limit Hold'em Simon Spotlight Entertainment, Sept 2005.

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Wrap - Glossary of Poker Terms

Wrap - In Omaha hold 'em, an open ended straight draw comprising two board cards and three or four cards from a player's hand. A player holding 345A with the board 67K has a "wrap", as any 3, 4, or 5, or 8 will make a straight. A hand of 4589 would also be a wrap draw, but would often be referred to as a "big wrap" because it has twenty outs rather than thirteen, and is not at the idiot end.

Tom "Durrr" Dwan and Patrik Antonius Finally Start Durrr's Million Dollar Challenge


Dwan and Antonius have started the 50,000 hand challenge with side bet of Dwan paying the challenger $1.5 million if they win and if the challenger wins, they pay Dwan $500k.

durrrr's results graph

They started the challenge Wednesday morning and played for nearly 5 hours (292 minutes). They played 4 tables of Omaha PL $200/$400, a total of 1541 hands played and durrr up 134K at the end.

The biggest hand they played was a $148k pot. Durrr flopped a set of 10s where Antonius flopped a wrap, open ended straight draw with a gut shot. Antonius missed his straight draws and Durrr won the $148k pot.

Full Tilt created 8 PLO tables just for this challenge. Why 8 tables you ask? So when one of their stakes gets too high they can move to the next table to drop back to 100BB each ($40K). We've heard 275BB and 250BB as being the amount they want to stay under.

Here is what Patrik Antonius had to say right before the match

Playing four heads-up tables will be tough, especially at pot-limit Omaha. PLO is a game of good calls, good value bets and good bluffs; you have a lot of tough decisions on the turn and river, that's for sure, so I will need plenty of focus. Thankfully I have played so many hands of PLO that I am able to respond to situations a bit quicker and I tend to take the same amount of time for every decision, so I do not give off any timing tells. Every now and then you get a hand where you have to use the time bank but Tom usually takes quite a bit of time to act, too, so we will play at the same pace." Patrik continued, "I've done quite well against durrrr playing two or three simultaneous tables, so I am pretty confident, although that fourth table does make a difference and how I adapt to that is the key. He has much more experience at playing four or more heads-up tables at the highest stakes; his brain seems to be programmed much better for that kind of thing.

Current standings:
-durrrr's results: +$134,911
-Patrik Antonius's results: -$135,209

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Poker After Dark: Nets vs. Vets cash game - Eagerly Awaited Game Sure To Attract Viewers From All Age Groups

The first of seven weeks of cash games that will air on the 5th season of NBC’s Poker After Dark takes place this week as three of poker’s most successful online cash game players battle against three of poker’s more seasoned veterans of live cash games. Putting up a minimum of $100,000 and a maximum of $250,000 to begin play are Taylor “Green Plastic” Caby, Cole “CTS” South, and David “Raptor” Benefield, all instructors at the poker training site CardRunners.com, as well as long-time cash game players and fan favorites Doyle Brunson, Gabe Kaplan, and Eli Elezra.


Anticipation for this week’s game has been building for some time among members of the Internet community. Caby, South, and Benefield have gained considerable recognition in the poker world for their success playing in cash games online, creating quite a fan base as a result. While Benefield has had some television time as he has played in more tournaments, this will be the first television appearance ever for both Caby and South, so it will be interesting to see how they all fare under the lights and with cameras scrutinizing their every move.

Brunson, Kaplan, and Elezra, of course, are used to all of the hoopla involved in playing on television, as they have done so many times in the past. All three participated in the cash game that took place during Week 37 of Poker After Dark, one in which Brunson continued his streak of never losing in a cash game played on television. Whether he can keep his record intact against this group should be only one of the reasons for fans to tune in this week and watch.

Brief profiles of all six players follow. The match will begin airing on NBC late night Monday at 2:05 a.m., February 16, and will continue for five consecutive nights in the same time slot. A special program called the “Director’s Cut” will air late night Saturday, February 21, at 1:00 a.m., right after Saturday Night Live. This show will feature Leeann Tweeden with a behind-the-scenes look at the week with highlights and insightful player interviews. Viewers can also watch the match at www.nbcsports/msnbc.com/poker.

The game will start with blinds at $200/$400, but look for antes to be added and the stakes to be raised with the mutual consent of the players. Straddles will be prevalent, and the deuce/seven prop bet will also be introduced very early into the action. The table is cordial and friendly, and despite the large sums of money at stake, everyone clearly appears to be having a good time, making for an enjoyable as well as educational viewing experience.

Caby, Taylor: (Seat 1)
· Also known as “Green Plastic,” a name he took from the band Radiohead’s semi-official fan website, GreenPlastic.com
· A 25 year-old native of Chicago, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in finance is the founding member and a lead instructor for CardRunners.com
· After losing an initial $50 online deposit as a college freshman, he turned his next $35 deposit into six figures
· Rarely plays live tournaments, preferring instead to play in online NLHE cash games
· Once was invited to New York City by one of his online opponents who was impressed with his intelligence to serve as his apprentice for a prominent hedge fund

South, Cole: (Seat 2)
· Also known as “CTS” online and a 21 year-old native of Williamsburg, VA
· Is a member and lead instructor at CardRunners.com, and whose first instructional video was viewed 14,000 times on its first day of availability, a single day record
· Began playing poker online in 2005 and is recognized for his hyper-loose aggressive style of play, both in NLHE and Pot-Limit Omaha
· Frequent player in the highest stakes cash games online, competing regularly against the likes of Gus Hansen, Phil Ivey, and David Benyamine
· Purchased a $200,000 Bentley coupe with his online poker winnings, a small fraction of what he has amassed in ring game winnings

Kaplan, Gabe: (Seat 3)
· Long time actor and comedian best remembered for his role in the 1970’s hit television sitcom Welcome Back Kotter
· Proficient in many games, and has played poker for more than 30 years
· Career tournament winnings in excess of $1.34 million
· In 1980, challenged 1978 World Champion Bobby Baldwin and 1979 World Champion Hal Fowler to $200,000 heads-up freezeouts, and defeated them both
· Oft-seen analyst on several poker television programs and highly regarded for his knowledge of the game and the humor he infuses into his commentary

Benefield, David: (Seat 4)
· Also known as “Raptor” online, and a 22 year-old native of Fort Worth, TX
· Became an instructor for CardRunners.com in April 2008, and now makes videos targeted at improving play in mid- and high-stakes NLHE cash games
· Lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $202,000
· Went deep in the 2008 WSOP Championship, finishing 77th, and was the chip leader at one point during Day 5
· Began playing poker online in 2004, and is known for an unorthodox playing style which has resulted in him winning a substantial amount of money

Brunson, Doyle: (Seat 5)
· At the age of 75, perhaps the greatest player of all time, and is the author of several books, including Super System and Super System II
· Back-to-back World Series of Poker Champion in 1976 and 1977
· Lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $5.55 million, and ranks 34th on the all-time money list
· Owner of 10 WSOP bracelets, tied for 2nd with Johnny Chan
· Had the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic renamed the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic in his honor in 2007

Elezra, Eli: (Seat 6)
· A native of Israel, he served in the Israeli army in a commando unit similar to the Green Berets in the United States
· Won his first World Series bracelet in 2007 in 7-card stud hi/lo, and also owns one WPT title
· Lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $1.89 million
· Highly successful Las Vegas businessman and entrepreneur who owns several retail establishments on the Las Vegas Strip
· Frequent player in the “Big Game” at Bellagio, but considers poker just a hobby

By Dennis Oehring

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Table Of Content

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Mike Sexton Testifies as Expert Witness at South Carolina Poker Trial

Mike Sexton testified for 5 Poker players who were arrested in 2006 for "playing a game of chance". There were nearly 20 men arrested but 5 of them, Bob Chimento, Scott Richards, Michael Williamson, Jeremy Brestel, and John Taylor Willis decided not to pay $250 fine and decided to take it to court.

Mike Sexton Testifies as Expert Witness at South Carolina Poker Trial
Sexton was paid $5000 by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) for his testimonial but Sexton said "I'm doing it more for the love of the game than the fee."

The Final verdict is not yet determined. The judge's ruling is expected later today. Sexton said the judge found poker is indeed a game of skill but what was not determined was whether the these guys were operating a house of gaming or not.

PokerListings spoke with Sexton right after his court appearance to discuss his testimony;

PokerListings: Tell us about your testimony in the case.

Sexton: I was there to testify on whether or not poker was predominantly a game of skill or a game of chance. I think the testimony went well on our side because before the judge has even ruled on the case - he's going to write a ruling and have it out next Thursday - he was adamant and convinced that poker - No-Limit Hold'em specifically - was predominantly a game of skill rather than a game of chance.

PokerListings: So the judge was receptive to the testimony?

Sexton: He stated in court that there is no question about that. Now, in his mind there's still a question as to whether these guys were operating a house of gaming or not, and that's what he's going to rule on next week.

But as to the part of poker being predominantly a game of skill, there was no question in his mind. The ultimate ruling for us is if these guys get acquitted and he makes that the primary factor in his decision.

PokerListings: What was the prosecutor's position on this issue?

Sexton: The prosecutors were trying to put on a case that these guys were running a house of gaming. That nobody knew each other; that they were running a game for profit, etc. Our defense attorneys argued against that and we'll see how the court rules on that issue.

PokerListings: The judge might rule against the defendants regardless of the "skill issue" because the language of the statute only refers to any game of cards, correct?

Sexton: That's the way the pros is trying to get the judge to rule, that it says in the statute, any gambling on any game of cards consists of a house of gaming. We read the statute that if chance is the predominant factor, then it's gambling; if it's skill, then it's not.

PokerListings: Were you cross-examined by the prosecution? What were you asked?

Sexton: He asked certain questions about skill and chance in poker as well as a number of other questions. I thought it went really well. He asked, if players were of equal skill, what would be the determining factor then, which was actually a good question.

My answer was, I don't believe you're ever going to find two poker players who are of equal skill. Some do some things better than the other guy and they may be very close, but you're never going to find two players who are exactly equal in skill.

PokerListings: And even if the skill level is closely matched, in any one hand, one player may make a mistake.

Sexton: Correct. Even the best players make mistakes. Poker comes down to a very simple fact. You make enough correct decisions you'll be a winning player; if you make too many poor decisions you'll be a losing player. It's really just that simple.

PokerListings: Did the judge ask you any questions or just the attorneys?

Sexton: No, the judge did not ask any questions. He listened intently. And we had some nice video from the World Poker Tour that we put up there to show examples how cards don't matter. How the skill elements of poker, which [are] betting, calling and folding, show the actions the players are in total control of.

And when we demonstrated the fact that the cards didn't matter, that guys are winning pots with 9-5 when they're up against ace-king, we got our point across that skill is a deciding factor, the predominant factor when it comes to poker. It's not about the cards, it's about the skill elements and how the skill elements are applied.

PokerListings: What examples from the WPT did you show in court?

Sexton: There were a number of hands, some from Seasons 4, 5 and 6. There were a couple episodes involving Daniel Negreanu.

One where he slow-played aces and another where he made a great call in the pot where the guy bluffed with an 8-7 when the board was Q-Q-T-6 and Daniel had ace-king and called him for over a million dollars. Several hands like that demonstrating the skill aspects of poker.

PokerListings: In the Kentucky domain name case, the judge stated that poker was a game of chance because "the best hand at showdown won." What do you think of that claim?

Sexton: That certainly showed his lack of knowledge. As we explained in court today, over 70% of the hands don't go to showdown. The vast majority of hands never get to the river. In truth, if you were just playing showdown poker, where there was no betting, where everybody got two cards and there were five cards in the middle, [...] that's not how poker is played.

The skill elements, which are betting, calling, and folding, take precedence and determine 100% of the pot size and the vast majority of the pot outcomes as to who's going to win the pot - as to who applied those skill elements best in the hand.

That's the case we were trying to prove and obviously the judge quickly ruled that without question skill predominates in poker.

PokerListings: Did the prosecutor introduce any opposite testimony, that poker was a game of luck?

Sexton: I was hoping they [would]. They didn't even try to refute any of our expert testimony as far as poker being a game of skill. I give them credit for that.

PokerListings: How did you become involved in this case?

Sexton: I became involved because the Poker Players Alliance, an organization that fights for the rights of poker players and has over a million members nationwide and over 8,000 members in South Carolina.

They contacted me and asked me if I would be an expert witness and testify to the fact that skill was the predominant factor in poker. As a poker guy, I have a passion for the game and a passion for people who play in home games across the country and don't feel they should be arrested or criminalized for having a common interest with their friends in the game of poker.

I was honored to be here and was glad I could do it.

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Thursday, February 12, 2009

Don't Play a Big Pot Unless You Have a Big Hand - John Juanda

I'm at Foxwoods playing the $2,000 No Limit Hold 'em event. We all started with $3,000 and now I've got $15,000. At my table is Richard Tatalovitch, a player whom I've competed against many times.

I raise pre-flop from middle position with K-J offsuit and Richard calls from the big blind. The flop comes 9-6-4 with two diamonds on the board.

Richard hesitates for a moment before checking, and I put in a pot-sized bet. Richard thinks for a while and calls. All of a sudden, I don't like my hand -- so much.

Imagine my relief when a non-diamond J hits the turn. Now I have top pair and a pretty good kicker. Then Richard comes out betting. Uh-oh.

Now, let me back up a moment and mention that when someone hesitates before checking, it's usually a huge tell. But Richard is the king of delayed action, so I ignored his tell and bet the flop anyway. And his bet on the turn just screams, "Raise me! I dare you!"

I go into the tank and my thoughts go something like this:

1. He flopped a set. That explains the smooth call on the flop - he's trying to trap me into staying, hoping I'll bet the turn, too.

2. No. If he had a set, he'd have checked the turn and waited for me to hang myself right then and there, or let me catch something on the river. He can't have a set.

3. The jack helped him. I don't have the jack of diamonds. Maybe he does, and he called the flop with a jack-high flush draw. If so, I like my kicker and my hand.

4. He's betting on the come with a flush or straight draw and is hoping to buy the pot right there.

I run through these possibilities and reach no conclusion.

Normally, I would just call here. We both have a lot of chips, and I don't want to put them all in with nothing but top pair. Then, I have the misfortune to remember a hand from a month earlier at Bellagio:

Richard had been running bad and was complaining about a string of horrific beats. I saw him check and call with top boat because he was afraid of quads! A guy that afraid of monsters under the bed isn't going to check-call top set on the flop with a flush draw out there.

"All in!" I declared.

Oops. This is now a Big Pot. And rest assured, top pair doesn't even resemble a Big Hand.

In the four years I've been playing with him, I've never seen him call so fast. I am drawing dead to his perfectly-played 9-9.

Sometimes, we all forget that big cards don't always equal a big hand and that the smart move can be to play conservatively instead of going for the quick kill. As for Richard - he had the good sense to be in a Big Pot with a Big Hand, and the patience to make it pay off.

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Vanessa Rousso's Photo in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

Vanessa Rousso has taken a photoshoot with Sports Illustrated in January. At first, she was suppose to be the featured swimsuit model but SI decided that poker was not the direction they wanted to go in.

Vanessa Rousso's Photo in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
So, Pokerstars had to pay for Rousso to be in the sponsored section of the magazine. Nevertheless, she looks great.

Vanessa Rousso talks about the photoshoot;



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Poker After Dark: Brilliant Minds (New Episodes) - Extraordinary Match Features Six of The Game’s Top Mathematical Mindsets

This week on NBC’s Poker After Dark viewers will witness six successful professional players highly regarded in the world of poker for their analytical thinking and mathematical prowess in a match which is being called “Brilliant Minds.” The match brings together two familiar faces in Chris Ferguson and Andy Bloch, and four newcomers in Brandon Adams, Bill Chen, Jimmy Warren, and David Sklansky. Each will put up $20,000 and compete for the $120,000 winner-take-all first prize.


Ferguson and Bloch tangled in the finals of the 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, with Ferguson taking home the title. Chris, who earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UCLA, is 1-6 on PAD with a victory in Match 7. Andy, who is now being referred to by many as the best player in the world without a World Series bracelet, holds two electrical engineering degrees from M.I.T. and a law degree from Harvard. He is 0-3 on PAD, coming close in Match 25 before losing a heads-up battle with Gabe Kaplan.

Adams and Chen both lead double lives, splitting their time between playing poker and their chosen professions. Brandon holds Master’s Degrees in Finance and Real Estate, and teaches Applied Game Theory at Harvard. Bill was the winner of two World Series of Poker bracelets in 2006, one of only two players that year to do so. He holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from UC Berkeley, and his day job is developing mathematical models for an investment firm on the markets his company trades in. Both are also published authors.

Sklansky has won three World Series of Poker bracelets, but is probably best known for the many books he has written about gambling theory and poker. Though he does not hold an advanced degree, he is known as “The Mathematician” for his extensive knowledge of math and how it applies to the game. Warren may be the least known among this group, but he is well-known at the Las Vegas high-stakes cash game tables, where he has been making his living for many years. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Brown University and worked as a research physicist before becoming a professional poker player.

Brief profiles of all six players follow. The match will begin airing on NBC late night Monday at 2:05 a.m., February 9, and will continue for five consecutive nights in the same time slot. A special program called the “Director’s Cut” will air late night Saturday, February 14, at 1:00 a.m., right after Saturday Night Live. This show will feature Leeann Tweeden with a behind-the-scenes look at the week with highlights and insightful player interviews. Viewers can also watch the match at www.nbcsports/msnbc.com/poker.

The conversation in this match is very different from what has been heard during previous PAD matches, and those who are interested in mathematical aspects of the game will be fascinated by it. This week’s players possess a level of intelligence that most people would envy, and as such this is a very unique matchup and one that viewers are sure to enjoy.

Adams, Brandon: (Seat 1)
· Born in New Orleans in 1978, and now resides in Cambridge, MA
· Semi-professional cash game player, playing NLHE as high as $200/$400, and appeared on the 4th season of GSN’s High Stakes Poker
· Career tournament winnings in excess of $510,000
· A college graduate at the age of 19, holds Master’s degrees in Finance and Real Estate, and now teaches Applied Game Theory at Harvard
· Has written 2 books, one entitled Broke: A Poker Novel

Ferguson, Chris: (Seat 2)
· Nicknamed “Jesus” and one of poker’s most recognizable players
· World Series of Poker Champion in 2000 and owner of five WSOP bracelets
· Career tournament winnings in excess of $7.42 million, and ranks 18th on the all-time money list
· Runner-up in both the 2005 and 2006 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, and the winner in 2008, bringing his record in this event to an unprecedented 16-3
· Earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UCLA in 1999, and is a former ballroom and swing dance instructor

Bloch, Andy: (Seat 3)
· Holds two electrical engineering degrees from MIT and a law degree from Harvard
· Finished 2nd to the late Chip Reese at the 2006 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event, and was runner-up to Chris Ferguson in the 2008 NHPC
· Lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $4.07 million
· Former member of the MIT blackjack team, the subject of a book entitled Bringing Down the House
· Began wearing his unique hat full time to play poker about 2 years ago, but wore it prior from time to time as part of an Irish rock star costume

Chen, Bill: (Seat 4)
· Discovered he had a gift for mathematics at an early age, as he was a Rubik’s Cube champion in junior high school and was studying calculus in the 7th grade
· Owns two WSOP bracelets, both in 2006, and was one of only two players that year to win more than one
· Lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $981,000
· Earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics from UC Berkeley in 1999, and works for an investment firm that makes mathematical models on many of the markets his company trades in
· Along with Jerrod Ankenman, co-authored the book The Mathematics of Poker published in 2006

Warren, Jimmy: (Seat 5)
· Long-time successful professional cash game player, with emphasis on all forms of limit poker
· A Dartmouth College graduate, he earned a Ph.D. in Physics from Brown University and worked as a research physicist before moving to Las Vegas with girlfriend Jeannie in 1986
· Has derived 100% of his income from playing in cash games since then
· Profiled in Card Player magazine as one of the top ten 7-card stud players in the world
· One of the first pioneers to apply a scientific approach using mathematical and computer skills to winning professional poker

Sklansky, David: (Seat 6)
· Born in New Jersey to the father of a Colombia University math professor, which may help explain his keen interest in math and how he applies it to the game of poker
· Winner of three WSOP bracelets
· Lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $1.25 million
· Is associated with the 2+2 Publishing empire, owned by Mason Malmuth
· Has authored or co-authored 13 books on gambling theory and poker, with The Theory of Poker, published in 1987, perhaps his most respected work

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Ask And Ye Shall Receive Part II - Erick Lindgren

Last week I offered an example of a hand where asking the right question - "Why'd you bet so much?" - netted me a sizeable pot.

This week, I'll show how a very different question at the same tournament proved equally effective.

Case Two:

Today, I start my table as the chip leader with more than double the average stack. This is a tougher table, with Annie Duke, Bill Gazes, Casey Kastle, and Lee Salem.

An older gentleman at the table is raising and reraising a lot of pots, and generally, playing wildly. Like the Cowboy from a day earlier, he is definitely today's mark. He's got Casey, who's stuck on his right, especially frustrated. The three times Casey brings it in for a raise, the old man reraises, and Casey throws his hand away. This hand, Casey limps in for $1,200. Annie, Lee, and another player all call.

I'm pretty sure I have the best hand with A-T, and raise it $5K. I expect to win the pot right there, and am rather unhappy when Casey quickly says "All in" for a total bet of $25K. It's folded back to me, and I am now faced with a decision for half my chips.

Here, Casey is representing that he limped in with A-A hoping for a raise behind him so he could reraise all-in. This is a typical slow play in our game. But his play here doesn't make sense. Wouldn't Casey have been more than happy to raise with his A-A, knowing the older gentleman would reraise him? I look at Casey hoping to get a read, but he is frozen like a kid playing statue.

I need more information, so I try to get Casey to acknowledge that I'm still in the hand, or at the very least, that he's still alive. I ask if he limped with aces and I still get no reaction. I then say, "Can you beat queen high?" He finally looks up, smirks, and says, "Yeah, I can beat queen high."

Now, some people in poker like to lie about their hands. Here, it felt like Casey was happy to be able to tell the truth in response to what is, admittedly, a pretty silly question. After all, if I can't beat queen high, why am I even thinking of calling?

Now I feel certain that Casey is holding K-T, K-J, or K-Q suited. I have him. "I'm not buying it," I say as I push in my chips. "Good call," he says and turns over K-T of diamonds. I proudly showed my A-T and it holds up, winning me the $50K pot.

Sometimes a simple question can return a very profitable answer. Remember though, information flows two ways at the tables, so be sure that you're getting more information than you're giving.

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Ask And Ye Shall Receive Part 1 - Erick Lindgren

All Talk and No Action,
A Two-Part Lesson from Erick Lindgren


You can learn a lot by listening. You can learn almost as much by talking, if you ask the right questions.

The following occurred at a tournament at Bellagio in 2004.

I draw a very good first table and recognize only two faces. They are solid pros, neither of whom is very aggressive. I know I can take control of the table and quickly look around to find the best targets. I notice an older gentleman in a cowboy hat who's involved in too many pots and decide he's my mark. My plan is to bluff him at first opportunity and do anything I can to get under his skin. I want him to view me as a young hot-shot, with the hopes that he'll bully me later when I have the goods.

I chop away at some small pots and my $20K starting stack is now $43K when Cowboy and I finally get to lock horns. I've been raising a lot of hands and splashing my chips around a bit. In this case, the blinds are $200-$400, and I bring it in for $1,200 with pocket jacks. I get three callers, including Cowboy, in the big blind. The flop comes 7h 4c 4h and the small blind checks. It's Cowboy's turn, and he pushes all in. He looks proud, firing his $37K into a $5K pot.

I'm completely befuddled. What's going on? I can't make any sense of it. There's a player to act behind me, but he's only got $3K - he isn't going to matter at all in this hand. My best bet here is to get Cowboy to talk. "Why'd you bet so much?" I ask. He tells me to call and find out.

I make a list of his possible hands: A-x hearts for the nut flush draw. Pocket eights, maybe. Or a random berzerko bet with a pair of sevens. After a minute or two of deliberation, I call. He flips up T-7c for one pair! He fails to improve and I now have $80K, and am ready to roll.

It's important to know who your weaker players are. Concentrate on playing against them and finding ways to get them to make a big mistake. You can't count on the pros to make those mistakes. In this particular case, I knew he was getting tired, and through a few verbal jabs, I was able to make myself his target.

Next week, a similar question with a very different answer yields an equally large profit.

Ask And Ye Shall Receive Part II

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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

VC Poker - King Of Poker Picture Gallery (Hot Poker Babes:)

Here are some pictures from a VC Poker Tournament. It is an old tournament but the girls are so hot I just had to post. It was a Maxim Party..I think Clonie did some shots for Maixim.



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Former FBI Agent Joe Navarro Analyses The Russ Hamilton Video

Joe Navarro, an expert in non-verbal communication, takes a look at The Russ Hamilton Interview Video.

New Domain, Changed To Poker006.com!

Ya, so I finally got my own domain; Poker006.com. I've been looking in Domain auctions with no luck and every domain I thought of was already taken. Than I asked my friend and he said poker006 and we were surprised it wasn't taken. The number 006 is from "Agent 006"(picture on the right) from the James Bond Movie. But he is a villain and I think he dies so not that great for a theme lol.

I found another 006 Agent played by Clive Owen. He's a "good guy" and looks pretty cool.

Picture above is actually taken from the movie Croupier (1998). Later, Clive played Agent 006 in the movie Pink Panther (2006)..Check out this movie title below, Agent 006 Blond lol.


By the way, I set up a newsletter with Feedburner so you get an email with latest News and Bonuses; Poker006 Newsletter

Monday, February 9, 2009

Should I Stay Or Should I Go - Jennifer Harman

Being a winning player isn't only about playing good cards - it's also about making good decisions. And there is one important decision you face every time you sit down in a cash game: Should I quit, or should I keep playing?

When should you keep playing?

I see so many players playing short hours when they're winning, and long hours when they're losing. It should be the other way around.

When you are winning in the game, at least a few of the other players must be losing. And when your opponents are losing, they often aren't playing their best. But you are.

When you're winning, other players fear you; you have a good table image. And when you have a good table image, you can get away with things that you can't seem to when you're losing. For one thing, you can bluff more. Usually a losing player is scared to get involved with a winning player, so it's easier for you to pick up pots. You can represent more hands than you actually have because your opponents believe you're hitting every flop.

The only time to quit when you're winning is when you are tired, or when you start playing badly.

When should you call it a day?

Many players can't seem to quit when they are losing. You have to remember that there will always be another poker game -- if not tomorrow, then the day after, or the week after. I like to think of poker as one continuous game going on for my whole career. So, if I'm losing more than 30 big bets in the game, I usually quit.

There are a couple of reasons I do this: For one, if I lose a ton of money in one day, I don't feel so hot the next day. That means if I go in to play the next day, I might not be able to play my best game. I might actually have to take a few days off to get my head straight. Another reason is that when I'm losing more than 30 bets, I might not be playing that well. I might think I'm playing my "A" game, but in reality, I'm probably not. You can't be as objective about your play when you're losing. After all, we are not robots; we're just human beings.

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Dwan and Antonius Are Set To Play Today - "Dwan's Million Dollar Challenge"

Dwan and Antonius were talking on Full Tilt yesterday and they decided to start Dwan's Million Dollar Challenge on Monday (Today). They have decided on 4 tables headsup of $200/$400 Pot Limit Omaha.


A lot of people thought the challenge may not happen after Dwan's downswing of $3.25 million dollar in January.

Here is the conversation they had;

durrrr: hey, when r we starting?
durrrr: u on good intnet yet?
Patrik Antonius: my connection is good now
durrrr: o nice
durrrr: k i’ll call ya tomorrow @ some pt
durrrr: o didnt see big hand other tbl sry
Patrik Antonius: we can start soon
Patrik Antonius: we can start today if other games will dry out
Patrik Antonius: if u feel like it
durrrr: nah im tired, ill call ya tomorrow n we can start then
Patrik Antonius: ok
durrrr: wt stakes r we playing?
Patrik Antonius: 200 400 plo
durrrr: kk


And here are the rules of the challenge if you missed them;

1) 4 tables at stakes $200/$400 minimum (NL or PLO)
2) can change tables anytime if stacks are >250bb
3) have to reload when stacks are <75bb
4) Money won in the challenge is kept obviously + extra money (if Dwan wins $750k in poker, he gets that PLUS opponents $500k- if Dwan loses $750k in poker, oppnent gets that plus his $1.5M, so $2.25M total).
5) same stakes the whole time
6) not open to Phil Galfond

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Sunday, February 8, 2009

"Phil Ivey bets $1 Million on Super Bowl" - So did Phil Win or Lose?

Phil Ivey has a radio show called "Tuesdays With Ivey". Last Tuesday Ivey talked to Barry Greenstein about his bets on the Super Bowl. You can listen in below;



In the first half, Ivey bet on the Cardinals with +3.5 odds. Cardinals were down 10-7 with minutes to go in the half when they were just a couple yards from a touch down. Instead of getting a touchdown or field goal, they turn the ball over to Pittsburgh for 100-yard touchdown return.

Video of the touch down return;



So, Ivey loses 800k on that play instead of being up 800k. But Ivey mentions he had some other bets which he won and he apparently is up $800K after all is said and done.

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