When to move up in the table limits in Holdem
24 February, 2009 Autor: pokernews
Poker - All news, Poker Strategy
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New players to Holdem should start at a limit that is well within their stake money and only move up in limits when they are consistently winning at the starting level. As a player moves up in the table limits the opponents will become tougher to beat. The higher the limit of play usually means more playing experience. New players should take this into consideration when deciding to play at a higher limit. The one valid reason that a player should make the move is they have been winning at the lower limit. Another factor is the fact that the player may have the resources to play at just about any limit. But make no mistake about it; each limit will raise the playing skill of the players that a player has to play against.
In tournaments it does not matter, as the only consideration is the entry stake and tournament fee. In a cash game the higher limits can be somewhat intimidating to a new player if they start out on a losing streak. This may well happen as the skill level will be better and this could make a big difference to an inexperienced player. [Read][more][...]
The Fighter Gus Hansen New London Tournaments Mish Mash News
Gus Hansen the poker pro, who never saw a starting hand he could not try to play, was the loser in an exhibition fight. He staged a three round event with his friend Theo Jorgensen who is also a poker pro. The panel of boxing judges awarded the fight to Theo on points. Both fighters wore boxing headgear to protect their poker brains. The fight was held in Copenhagen, Denmark and was worth $35,000 to the winner Jorgensen.
All in all this has little to do with poker except these two friends had fun at the expense of some fans who paid $40 dollars to watch the fight. The next fan proposed fight without headgear should be between some other bad boys of poker. Some fans would like to see some of these players get their clock rung.
On a more serious and lucrative front, the London Poker Circuit, LPC, has announced that a series of three poker tournaments will be held between March 16th and November 11th, 2009. These events will be held at three very fine London hotels in Mayfair, Convent Garden and Kensington. [Read][more][...]
WTO and Repeal of the AIGEA Will Bring Pressure to Rid This Prohibition
24 February, 2009 Autor: pokernews
Poker - All news, Poker and Law
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Europe is considering bringing a claim under the WTO against the USA for hurting their online casinos. The AIGEA passage forced many online casinos to prohibit US players from playing on their sites. Europe has long threatened to do something about this economic threat to their online casinos. There is strong sentiment that now is the time to bring such a filing. This attack was already carried out earlier by some of the Caribbean Islands with online csinos and won by them against the USA.
The Congressman Barney Frank has already stated he will bring a bill to the floor to repeal the AIGEA and the mood with the new Congress and the need for money may make this happen. The online casino industry has already stated that it is willing to pay billions in taxes to get American players back online.
This poorly designed law that was added in the middle of the night in 2006 is an absolute joke. Some hidden agendas were really behind the banking law and had nothing to do with protecting the youth of America as stated. The protection was found to be racing interest, gaming and gaming on Indian land. The proof is in the sizeable campaign contributions that were reported by the leaders who got the bill passed in the middle of the night. [Read][more][...]
Why Omaha HiLo is a good players game
24 February, 2009 Autor: pokernews
Poker - All news, Poker Strategy
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Experienced players in Omaha HiLo have a big edge against new players to the game. Winning hands are far different than what you see in Holdem for example.
A pair of Aces can easily win a Holdem pot. In Omaha this hand has a far lower chance of winning the pot. There is a very simple reason for this in Omaha. Each player starts the hand holding four cards instead of the two you see in Holdem. Three of a kind is a decent hand unless there are three suited cards in the Flop or one pair. If this is the case, then it is likely that another player may have a flush or a full house.
Every winning hand in Holdem needs to be better as a rule in Omaha as each player has nine cards to make a hand. In Holdem there are only seven cards for each player. If the game is no-limit, you can protect your hand by a large bet, but many players that play Omaha are very willing to gamble on a draw. Good Holdem players have to reset their way of playing when they are playing Omaha HiLo. [Read][more][...]
Third Way to Poker Tournaments and The Satellite game
24 February, 2009 Autor: pokernews
Poker - All news, Poker Tournaments
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There have been two ways to get into poker tournaments up to now. A player could pay the full price and enter the tournament of their choice. The other way was to win a seat in a satellite tournament that you paid an entry fee of say $100 and won first prize in a tournament which was an entry fee of $10,000. This has been the only way a player could get into a tournament up until now.
The third way is to pay the high bid for a seat in the auction that is being held at www.WebMoneyAuction.com. A player can get a seat in some very desirable tournaments according to the release for the auctions that start on Feb 28. If this works out for the website and the players who win the auctions this could be a way for some non-moneyed players to buy their way into a tournament. The promoters of this idea say that they expect some of these auctions to go for as little as 5% of the tournament entry fee. If this comes down this way, the winners of these auctions could have one extremely good parlay if they end up winning the tournament in question. The promoters are also going to auction off poker chips for some online poker rooms and other valuable entries to lower poker games. [Read][more][...]
Pot odds or Implied odds
24 February, 2009 Autor: pokernews
Poker - All news, Poker Strategy
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Solid poker players use pot odds or implied odds to decide if a pot is worth making a call on a bet or a reraise. If you have four cards to a flush for example after the flop, you have two more cards to make the flush. This is about one out of three making the flush. If you have to call a wager of say $50 and the pot is now at $300, then this is a six to one proposition. This call should be made based on pot odds. You have a reasonable shot at making your hand and the pot is plenty big enough to warrant the risk.
The implied odds are a little more difficult to calculate exactly. Implied odds are what the pot could total after the last bet versus what you will have to wager to be live after the last card is dealt. Obviously this situation is speculative, but an experience player will know that the bets will be bigger after the turn and the river card is dealt. You can expect full wagers in a limit game and who knows in a no-limit game. [Read][more][...]
What the courts are saying and the Steve Martin story
20 February, 2009 Autor: pokernews
Poker - All news, Poker and Law
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The courts in very recent cases are coming down on the side of poker is a skill game and the player's skill will make a difference over time. Consistent poker winners are very skillful and do not just depend on luck to win. These players want to take as much of the gamble out of a played hand as possible. By doing this they let the poor player depend on luck to win and they have the edge in the game. Like casinos know, having the edge over time will make you a winner. The more skilled the player, will lead to more winning sessions.
The comedian Steve Martin tells a great poker story. When he was still playing online he decided to quit playing one night and experienced an Ambien event. He took the sleeping pill and continued to play. When he awoke in the morning, he checked his poker account. He discovered that he had $1500 dollars in his account. He remembered only having $500 in his account when he took the pill. [Read][more][...]
Early position betting in Holdem
20 February, 2009 Autor: pokernews
Poker - All news, Poker and Law
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The betting that a player makes in the early position at a Holdem cash game is different from a late position bet. A good hand may be played softly in hopes that there is a chance to raise before the flop. A weak pair should be played softly in case there is a later raise. Small pairs can be a big winner if the flop gives you a set. If you are playing a rush, then you may consider reraising. Early position is always a dangerous position as there is a possible raise from later positions. Consider this when deciding to play a hand from the early position at the table.
When the flop gives you a monster hand, be aggressive in your betting, but remember you can still be beat by a good draw. With a mortal lock then there is no fear and slow playing is in order from the early position. Your hope is a later positioned player will raise your bet or try to bluff you out of your hand. This is a great way to make a better profit from a winning hand. [Read][more][...]
No limit Omaha HiLo gives bang for the buck
19 February, 2009 Autor: pokernews
Poker - All news, Poker Strategy
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For those players who are familiar with Omaha HiLo, this limit played at a low level of entry seems to give a good player more bang for the buck. The reason is that you can protect a hand and at the same time take advantage of your superior play in the game. There are suggested rules such as only wager on good starting hands that at least have an ace in them. Do not go crazy with raises when you start with an ace deuce. Two bad things can happen. The low does not materialize or another player ties you and you get quartered. If the hand looks like it may win both high and low, bet with vigor and in this level of no limit you can afford to lose, as the entry stake was small.
Be careful about three of a kind, as this hand is not as strong as it looks, since all it takes is a flush or a straight to beat it. When a board is flushing or has a pair, it is very likely there will be a flush or a full house in the show down. Keep track of calling stations in the game or players who seem to play a lot of weak hands. These are good players to wager against as they may even call or raise. [Read][more][...]
Mish Mash of current poker news bits
19 February, 2009 Autor: pokernews
Poker - All news, Poker and Law, WSOP
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William Hill Poker has joined in the pushing of the London Pub Poker Tourneys. This big name online casino and poker name will help to make this London group of Tournaments a bigger event, as it will catch more news cycles. The fact that William Hill lends its prestige to this local tournament is good news for the small entry fee poker player.
There is a move afoot to make the WSOPE as important as the WSOP. The argument is that the same players play and it is very difficult to win. As a traditionalist in life, this seems a little like the Masters golf tournament being compared to any other golf tournament. Every good golfer that has ever lived wanted to win this tournament. Every good poker player wants to do the same and win the WSOP. The standing and the prestige are just not the same. Sometime in the future, when the WSOPE has acquired some history, it may be spoken of in the same sentence. It is a little early for this rise in standing, even though it is a great poker event. [Read][more][...]
