Texas hold em poker games have recently become one of the hottest activities on and off the Internet. Live poker tournaments can be found in practically every major city and casino worldwide.
This new wave of entertainment has even become known as the newest sport. A sport where anyone, regardless of age, physical prowess, or experience can have an opportunity to compete with professionals side by side in a competition that produces many millionaires each year.
Merely playing in a Texas hold em poker game, does not necessarily mean you can win it, just like with any sport or competition, you must acquire and posses a special skill set to find yourself getting further and winning. The key to winning Texas hold em poker games is experience.
That experience can come from actual play or from practicing in online poker tournaments in the multitude of available pokersites. In addition to playing Texas hold em poker games, one must continually try and improve their game by using the knowledge of each game and apply it to future competitions.
Texas hold em poker games are primarily what is known as situational. That is to say, each situation you are involved in has a unique set of circumstances, which may or may not be repeated the next time you play. The reason is the deal of the cards and the variety of people playing in each poker tournament will change each time you play.
For example, when you are dealt pocket Aces in a Texas hold em poker game, you can not just assume the correct move is to raise or go all in. It largely depends on two things. One is the position in which you are sitting and the other is the style of players at your table.
If your table has several aggressive players that like to raise every hand and you are sitting before them (in early position), it may be a good idea to just limp in (do not raise). The hope is that one of your more aggressive opponents will raise giving you the opportunity to make more money in the pot.
If your table is tight and rarely anyone raises, and you are in late position (or last to act pre-flop), you may want to raise after several players have come in to the pot. This may get them to fold and allow you to just take the pot down now.
Texas hold em poker games are easier to win if you can obtain enough information on your opponents, and use the knowledge of different situations to play against these opponents. First, learn the different styles of how to play position, when to bluff, when to fold (different situations) and then put that knowledge to work and gain the experience you need.
A simple plan of attack that you formulate beforehand will give you the confidence and knowledge to win more Texas hold em poker games in the future.
Get more poker tips and poker strategy by getting your FREE copy of How to Succeed as a Professional Online Poker Player.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Cash Out Curse Is it Real In Online Texas Holdem?
Lately, a lot of people have begun to question the honesty of several online pokersites, due in part to recent scandals involving players on particular sites. Many have gone so far as to claim that online poker is rigged and that a winning player is penalized for making withdrawals. This is known in the poker community as the ‘cash out curse’
Typically, a player that has won a large sum of money or has consistently played well and won several big cashes, goes to withdraw a portion of their winnings. Suddenly they are attacked by a seemingly inevitable curse that causes them to constantly lose game after game, forcing them to reload their account with more money.
Many claim that the poker sites, to keep people from cashing out their winnings, perpetrate this cash out curse. No matter how hard one would try to convince someone that this is just a fable, the losing player can not be convinced, as they continue to complain that online poker is rigged and that when they cash out they go on a losing streak because the poker site wants them to keep their money online.
Although the notion of a ‘cash out curse’ may seem ridiculous, it is entirely possible that a pokersite can (and often does) control the cards of a particular player. This is accomplished by the fact that everything in an online poker site is regulated by computer-generated codes and programs under the direct control of the owners of the site.
Read more at EzineArticles The Texas Hold em Cash Out Curse. . .
Typically, a player that has won a large sum of money or has consistently played well and won several big cashes, goes to withdraw a portion of their winnings. Suddenly they are attacked by a seemingly inevitable curse that causes them to constantly lose game after game, forcing them to reload their account with more money.
Many claim that the poker sites, to keep people from cashing out their winnings, perpetrate this cash out curse. No matter how hard one would try to convince someone that this is just a fable, the losing player can not be convinced, as they continue to complain that online poker is rigged and that when they cash out they go on a losing streak because the poker site wants them to keep their money online.
Although the notion of a ‘cash out curse’ may seem ridiculous, it is entirely possible that a pokersite can (and often does) control the cards of a particular player. This is accomplished by the fact that everything in an online poker site is regulated by computer-generated codes and programs under the direct control of the owners of the site.
Read more at EzineArticles The Texas Hold em Cash Out Curse. . .
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Daniel Negreanu Blasts Shortstackers
While sitting at a $100-$200 cash game on Pokerstars, Poker Pro Daniel Negreanu (KidPoker) went slightly on tilt and began blasting the shortstacks at the table. The max buyin was $20,000 with a minimum buy in of $4,000. Daniel had come to the table with $20,000 and shortly built it up to nearly $38,000 when his pocket Aces got cracked by pocket Kings.
Daniel was in early position and raised to $1200 while middle position player re-raised to $3600, Daniel was holding $38,000 while his opponent had just under $20,000. Daniel's response to the reraise was to move all-in. His opponent called and showed KK vs. KidPoker’s AA. The flop hit the K and rivered a full house for Daniel’s opponent.
Left with about $9,000 in chips, Daniel made another move when a shortstack pushed all in with a little less than $4000, Daniel made the call and showed JJ vs. shortstacks Ace rag. Daniel won the hand and a few hands later he held A9 of hearts and again tangled with another shortstack having less than $4000.
Daniel managed to river a flush against the shortstack, increasing his chipstack to almost $19,000. Again Daniel found himself involved in another hand against a shortstack at the table holding JJ; he flopped a set and took the shorty’s chips.
The frustration of having to call an all-in so many times against so many shortstacks at this cash table seemed to wear on Negreanu as he began to berate the shortstacks. Daniel said “I don’t know why I sit down at a table where they allow a minimum buy-in like that” and later he said, “This is just bad for the game”.
Another player remarked that Daniel should not blast the shortstacks that are feeding him chips. To which Daniel responded, I will never sit at a table like this again. A point was made by another player that Daniel could easily move to a table that has a 50BB minimum buy in.
At one point the heated debate brought in a moderator, who apparently saw nothing wrong with Daniel’s tirade. Apparently, a player at the table called in a moderator, the moderator stated he did not see a problem and quickly left.
Although Daniel Negreanu is considered the ambassador of poker and he is always willing to take a few minutes time to sign autographs or shake hands, I think he should not complain so much at the players who just wanted a shot at sitting at a table with him and playing poker.
Hey, Daniel, we all go on tilt, it happens and I agree the shortstacks do sometimes cause undue frustration. However, I think you should not complain, since it is just as easy for you to get up and move to another table. A table that does not allow someone to buy in for a mere $4,000.
Daniel was in early position and raised to $1200 while middle position player re-raised to $3600, Daniel was holding $38,000 while his opponent had just under $20,000. Daniel's response to the reraise was to move all-in. His opponent called and showed KK vs. KidPoker’s AA. The flop hit the K and rivered a full house for Daniel’s opponent.
Left with about $9,000 in chips, Daniel made another move when a shortstack pushed all in with a little less than $4000, Daniel made the call and showed JJ vs. shortstacks Ace rag. Daniel won the hand and a few hands later he held A9 of hearts and again tangled with another shortstack having less than $4000.
Daniel managed to river a flush against the shortstack, increasing his chipstack to almost $19,000. Again Daniel found himself involved in another hand against a shortstack at the table holding JJ; he flopped a set and took the shorty’s chips.
The frustration of having to call an all-in so many times against so many shortstacks at this cash table seemed to wear on Negreanu as he began to berate the shortstacks. Daniel said “I don’t know why I sit down at a table where they allow a minimum buy-in like that” and later he said, “This is just bad for the game”.
Another player remarked that Daniel should not blast the shortstacks that are feeding him chips. To which Daniel responded, I will never sit at a table like this again. A point was made by another player that Daniel could easily move to a table that has a 50BB minimum buy in.
At one point the heated debate brought in a moderator, who apparently saw nothing wrong with Daniel’s tirade. Apparently, a player at the table called in a moderator, the moderator stated he did not see a problem and quickly left.
Although Daniel Negreanu is considered the ambassador of poker and he is always willing to take a few minutes time to sign autographs or shake hands, I think he should not complain so much at the players who just wanted a shot at sitting at a table with him and playing poker.
Hey, Daniel, we all go on tilt, it happens and I agree the shortstacks do sometimes cause undue frustration. However, I think you should not complain, since it is just as easy for you to get up and move to another table. A table that does not allow someone to buy in for a mere $4,000.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Free eBook How To Succeed As A Professional Online Poker Player
Released today, get a free copy of my eBook How to succeed as a professional Online Poker Player.
In the book, I explain strategies, bankroll management and basic knowledge on playing online. As many of you regular poker players already know, playing online poker is much different than playing live in a real casino.
I show in the book some of the best poker strategy for online play and give insight into some of the online poker differences. The book will definitely help you improve your game, understand some of the basic mathematics involved as well as help with your bankroll management.
Did I mention: It's FREE!
Get your free copy by clicking Professional Online Poker
And Please tweet this to all your poker friends, Thanks, I appreciate it!
In the book, I explain strategies, bankroll management and basic knowledge on playing online. As many of you regular poker players already know, playing online poker is much different than playing live in a real casino.
I show in the book some of the best poker strategy for online play and give insight into some of the online poker differences. The book will definitely help you improve your game, understand some of the basic mathematics involved as well as help with your bankroll management.
Did I mention: It's FREE!
Get your free copy by clicking Professional Online Poker
And Please tweet this to all your poker friends, Thanks, I appreciate it!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Full Tilt Crash! Fulltiltpoker crashes
Today at 3:15pm EST Fulltilt crashed and has been down for more than 30 nminutes now.
I was playing in a $10+1 tourney and had a substantial chip lead 4th with 320 people left)
Just my luck!
I wonder if this has anything to do with the lawsuit filed this morning by Lary Kennedy and Greg Omotoy, who claim owners of Fulltilt poker Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey and Mike Matusow, (among others) refused to pay out more than $80,000 in their accounts after Fulltilt accused them of using Robots (poker bots) to win. The pair said they are skilled as well as fortunate in their massive wins.
The pair claim Fulltilt is the one using poker bots and intend to provide proof at the upcoming lawsuit.
As a side note, it has always been my contention that online poker sites use bots, algorithms and subroutines to skew the real statistics. Kennedy and Omotoy also allege that the bots used by Fulltilt are designed to make the game a game of chance and luck and purposely ignore the statistical odds of the game.
Is it possibly true what they are saying? hmmm! are online poker sites using software to keep your winning hands from winning online poker?
If you have received constant bad beats and horrible suckouts, that may well explain the problem.
Nevertheless, one has to wonder, why did Fulltilt just suddenly decide to investigate kennedy and omotoy's withdrawal?
Is it because they KNOW nobody should be able to severly beat their software like they did?
again... hmmm!
Methinks every online poker player should invest in a way to beat the software and then maybe they would remove the unfair algorithms they use!
read more at Online Poker Code
I was playing in a $10+1 tourney and had a substantial chip lead 4th with 320 people left)
Just my luck!
I wonder if this has anything to do with the lawsuit filed this morning by Lary Kennedy and Greg Omotoy, who claim owners of Fulltilt poker Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey and Mike Matusow, (among others) refused to pay out more than $80,000 in their accounts after Fulltilt accused them of using Robots (poker bots) to win. The pair said they are skilled as well as fortunate in their massive wins.
The pair claim Fulltilt is the one using poker bots and intend to provide proof at the upcoming lawsuit.
As a side note, it has always been my contention that online poker sites use bots, algorithms and subroutines to skew the real statistics. Kennedy and Omotoy also allege that the bots used by Fulltilt are designed to make the game a game of chance and luck and purposely ignore the statistical odds of the game.
Is it possibly true what they are saying? hmmm! are online poker sites using software to keep your winning hands from winning online poker?
If you have received constant bad beats and horrible suckouts, that may well explain the problem.
Nevertheless, one has to wonder, why did Fulltilt just suddenly decide to investigate kennedy and omotoy's withdrawal?
Is it because they KNOW nobody should be able to severly beat their software like they did?
again... hmmm!
Methinks every online poker player should invest in a way to beat the software and then maybe they would remove the unfair algorithms they use!
read more at Online Poker Code
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Can People Win at Online Poker? Luck vs. Skill
Poker is often argued as nothing more than a game of luck. Many skeptics will claim that lucky or bad players always win while skilled players with the best hands, and seasoned professionals making a move, lose all too often. However, the reality is that luck has very little to do with the playing and winning at online poker.
The single factor motivating the winning hands in an online poker game is the computer-generated programs used to determine the deal of the cards. Often, people will adhere to the theory that it is the luck of the draw, or that the pokersites reward bad players. Neither of these arguments is true.
The real truth is in your ability to see how the computer-generated software determines the winner in any hand. Poker sites for years have sought a solution to make the game appear fair and completely random just like a live game. This attempt to simulate a live game has resulted in certain algorithms being written into the poker sites code, so that the online poker game appears fair.
However, in adding algorithms and subroutines that skew the actual odds and results, the online poker sites have created a massive problem when one and two outers seemingly win all too often. The constant bad beats of online poker are the hot topic of many poker forums and debates all over the Internet.
So, what is the truth? Moreover, what is the solution? The truth is that online poker sites have purposely added in unnecessary code just so their poker games appear as random as possible. Those codes in effect ignore the true statistical odds and predetermine winning hands without regard to the real game. In reality it often becomes a crapshoot because strong hands tend to lose more often than in a live game.
The solution to this problem is simply to understand the algorithms and then use those patterns against the program to ensure you win more often. Skeptics will say that a lot of the play online is the result of bad players (amateurs and action junkies just looking to get lucky). Yet, those same skeptics refuse to address the concrete fact that pokersites openly admit to using certain algorithms to level the field and make the game appear fair.
If you truly want to win at online poker, you first must understand that the online poker sites are not a real live game. Furthermore, because of their software, you are not up against other players as much as you are against a computer. In order to beat a computer game, you must know and understand the code it is using to beat you.
Paul Westin is a professional poker player and former software engineer. Interested in the code used by online poker sites? If you ever wondered why you get constant bad beats and can not win, you should read more about the online poker code crack
The single factor motivating the winning hands in an online poker game is the computer-generated programs used to determine the deal of the cards. Often, people will adhere to the theory that it is the luck of the draw, or that the pokersites reward bad players. Neither of these arguments is true.
The real truth is in your ability to see how the computer-generated software determines the winner in any hand. Poker sites for years have sought a solution to make the game appear fair and completely random just like a live game. This attempt to simulate a live game has resulted in certain algorithms being written into the poker sites code, so that the online poker game appears fair.
However, in adding algorithms and subroutines that skew the actual odds and results, the online poker sites have created a massive problem when one and two outers seemingly win all too often. The constant bad beats of online poker are the hot topic of many poker forums and debates all over the Internet.
So, what is the truth? Moreover, what is the solution? The truth is that online poker sites have purposely added in unnecessary code just so their poker games appear as random as possible. Those codes in effect ignore the true statistical odds and predetermine winning hands without regard to the real game. In reality it often becomes a crapshoot because strong hands tend to lose more often than in a live game.
The solution to this problem is simply to understand the algorithms and then use those patterns against the program to ensure you win more often. Skeptics will say that a lot of the play online is the result of bad players (amateurs and action junkies just looking to get lucky). Yet, those same skeptics refuse to address the concrete fact that pokersites openly admit to using certain algorithms to level the field and make the game appear fair.
If you truly want to win at online poker, you first must understand that the online poker sites are not a real live game. Furthermore, because of their software, you are not up against other players as much as you are against a computer. In order to beat a computer game, you must know and understand the code it is using to beat you.
Paul Westin is a professional poker player and former software engineer. Interested in the code used by online poker sites? If you ever wondered why you get constant bad beats and can not win, you should read more about the online poker code crack
Saturday, September 12, 2009
RNG Full Tilt Poker Flaws
Is there something amiss in the software used to run FullTilt, or is it just our imagination? This post will examine the inherent RNG Full Tilt poker flaws and how it adversely affects players.
The RNG, as most any online poker player knows is the Random Number Generator that "shuffles" the cards in an online poker room. The RNG is by most accounts the fairest way to shuffle a deck to make the game appear fair and random. However, there are several inherent flaws which inevitably have many poker players screaming "This site is rigged"
There are several arguments as to why bad beats and suck outs occur on Full Tilt, and most of these are explained away in a non-technical 'that's poker' explanation. However, it stands to reason that there actually should be a more plausible reasoning behind the enormous amount of bad beats and suckouts.
That reasoning, as discussed by Paul Westin (a professional poker player and software engineer), is that there really are flaws in the programs used by Full Tilt as well as Pokerstars and almost all other online poker sites.
The flaws are a result of an attempt by the programmers to create a secure and unpredictable deal of the cards using the RNG. In 2001 several skilled software programmers were able to break the pattern of a popular RNG used on a well-known poker site, resulting in massive wins by the hackers.
This prompted the Online poker sites to find a more secure manner in which to deal and shuffle cards. At first, the seed used in the RNG was changed to a non-static variable (such as a white noise generator, sound wave technology, etc). This helped make it nearly impossible to find the seed, since the variable would constantly change in a widely non-specific pattern.
The next measure was to add in algorithms and subroutines to prevent any one player to win pot after pot. This was a safeguard in case the RNG was possibly compromised, and further accomplished by an algorithm which would force specific hands to win, while others would lose. (you know AA vs. 5 8os and the 5 8 gets there!)
The result is less than desirable, since the actual deal of the cards no longer mimic real life statistics. In fact, in a study of 250,000 hand histories, it was determined that a straight or flush occurred 12% more often than it would in live play. While a full house occurred nearly 25% more often than it statistically would in live play.
After careful examination of Paul Westin's complete study on the RNG full tilt poker flaws, I am without a doubt convinced that his answers are way more plausible than the standard answers given in most rigged poker debates.
It should be noted that Westin does not claim the sites are rigged to their own advantage, rather they are rigged to prevent cheating, collusion and players dominating a table. The algorithms used are in place to prevent what the poker site feels would otherwise be an unfair advantage.
However, the fact that they add in algorithms and subroutines in an attempt to prevent cheats, has opened up the door for a person to actually win more if they are familiar with the patterns created by the algorithms and if that player knows what to 'look for' while playing.
My opinion is that Westin is on target, his explanation definitely gives a player the advantage and he even shows how to suckout and how to know when you are going to lose a big hand.
You can read more at the Online Poker Code Crack site and further articles located at ezinearticles.
Good Luck as always!
The RNG, as most any online poker player knows is the Random Number Generator that "shuffles" the cards in an online poker room. The RNG is by most accounts the fairest way to shuffle a deck to make the game appear fair and random. However, there are several inherent flaws which inevitably have many poker players screaming "This site is rigged"
There are several arguments as to why bad beats and suck outs occur on Full Tilt, and most of these are explained away in a non-technical 'that's poker' explanation. However, it stands to reason that there actually should be a more plausible reasoning behind the enormous amount of bad beats and suckouts.
That reasoning, as discussed by Paul Westin (a professional poker player and software engineer), is that there really are flaws in the programs used by Full Tilt as well as Pokerstars and almost all other online poker sites.
The flaws are a result of an attempt by the programmers to create a secure and unpredictable deal of the cards using the RNG. In 2001 several skilled software programmers were able to break the pattern of a popular RNG used on a well-known poker site, resulting in massive wins by the hackers.
This prompted the Online poker sites to find a more secure manner in which to deal and shuffle cards. At first, the seed used in the RNG was changed to a non-static variable (such as a white noise generator, sound wave technology, etc). This helped make it nearly impossible to find the seed, since the variable would constantly change in a widely non-specific pattern.
The next measure was to add in algorithms and subroutines to prevent any one player to win pot after pot. This was a safeguard in case the RNG was possibly compromised, and further accomplished by an algorithm which would force specific hands to win, while others would lose. (you know AA vs. 5 8os and the 5 8 gets there!)
The result is less than desirable, since the actual deal of the cards no longer mimic real life statistics. In fact, in a study of 250,000 hand histories, it was determined that a straight or flush occurred 12% more often than it would in live play. While a full house occurred nearly 25% more often than it statistically would in live play.
After careful examination of Paul Westin's complete study on the RNG full tilt poker flaws, I am without a doubt convinced that his answers are way more plausible than the standard answers given in most rigged poker debates.
It should be noted that Westin does not claim the sites are rigged to their own advantage, rather they are rigged to prevent cheating, collusion and players dominating a table. The algorithms used are in place to prevent what the poker site feels would otherwise be an unfair advantage.
However, the fact that they add in algorithms and subroutines in an attempt to prevent cheats, has opened up the door for a person to actually win more if they are familiar with the patterns created by the algorithms and if that player knows what to 'look for' while playing.
My opinion is that Westin is on target, his explanation definitely gives a player the advantage and he even shows how to suckout and how to know when you are going to lose a big hand.
You can read more at the Online Poker Code Crack site and further articles located at ezinearticles.
Good Luck as always!
Are Online Poker Sites Fair Or Rigged?
The online poker sites would have you believe that their software is fair for all players. In fact many of the online poker sites are required to submit their software for rigorous testing to prove it is a fair game for all players. However, is the software really fair? On the other hand, is there something going on in the background that many people never realize?
Many victims of bad beats will scream "this site is rigged" while others will counter that the suck outs and bad beats are all a part of poker and it happens even in live games. While that is true, it still begs the question as to whether there is more to the online poker game than meets the eye.
In a recent study conducted by a popular poker forum, the question, "Are Online Poker Sites Rigged?" was posed and the results were nearly split with 42% saying yes and 58% saying no. However, opinions by players really have no bearing on the truth as to whether there is something amiss in the software.
Attention to the fact that there are flaws in the software used to produce 'random' cards has always been the focal point of the argument. The fact that a computer program is determining the outcome using a RNG (Random Number Generator), does not imply the game is fair or random.
A RNG is merely a program that will "shuffle" the 52-card deck and appear to deal that deck in what may seem to be a random manner. However, because the RNG has limitations on capacity and ability to be truly random, additional software algorithms and processes are added into the online poker software to further insinuate a fair game.
It is these additional programs and algorithms that is the true culprit in creating an environment where bad beats and suck outs will occur more frequently. A popular poker site once claimed that the reason one may see so many bad beats online is that more hands are dealt. This limp explanation is neither credible nor even close to reality.
A typical live tourney will see an average of 38 hands dealt per hour, while an online tourney will have 52 hands dealt per hour. That in itself, is not a significant difference to warrant the overwhelming amount of bad beats that occur. The fact is, you could sit through thousands of live hands and not see the amount of remarkable bad beats that will occur online.
There is, of course, an explanation for this anomaly, and that explanation lies in the flaws of the computer generated program that determines the outcome of hands in online poker. In reality, the poker sites are rigged, since they do not use a true random determination, rather a programmed determination and additional subroutines and algorithms to effect the final outcome.
The 'rigged mentality' is usually geared toward bad beats and suck outs; however, the poker sites are rigged toward the winning hands (not toward bad beats) through the use of special algorithms used to determine the outcome. Furthermore, anyone who knows how the software works could easily manipulate it to their own advantage, thereby winning in more tournaments and cashing more often.
So, the next time you play online poker, do it with the knowledge that the cards being dealt are not truly random, and that there is a software program that actually is the determining factor if you win the hand or not.
Paul Westin is a professional poker player on several online poker sites and a former software engineer for a gaming company. His latest research reveals the inner workings of the online poker sites and how the software programs used on the poker sites affect the outcomes of your play. Visit the Online Poker Code Crack for more information on beating the rigged poker sites.
A related article on Poker cheating software is found here on EzineArticles
Many victims of bad beats will scream "this site is rigged" while others will counter that the suck outs and bad beats are all a part of poker and it happens even in live games. While that is true, it still begs the question as to whether there is more to the online poker game than meets the eye.
In a recent study conducted by a popular poker forum, the question, "Are Online Poker Sites Rigged?" was posed and the results were nearly split with 42% saying yes and 58% saying no. However, opinions by players really have no bearing on the truth as to whether there is something amiss in the software.
Attention to the fact that there are flaws in the software used to produce 'random' cards has always been the focal point of the argument. The fact that a computer program is determining the outcome using a RNG (Random Number Generator), does not imply the game is fair or random.
A RNG is merely a program that will "shuffle" the 52-card deck and appear to deal that deck in what may seem to be a random manner. However, because the RNG has limitations on capacity and ability to be truly random, additional software algorithms and processes are added into the online poker software to further insinuate a fair game.
It is these additional programs and algorithms that is the true culprit in creating an environment where bad beats and suck outs will occur more frequently. A popular poker site once claimed that the reason one may see so many bad beats online is that more hands are dealt. This limp explanation is neither credible nor even close to reality.
A typical live tourney will see an average of 38 hands dealt per hour, while an online tourney will have 52 hands dealt per hour. That in itself, is not a significant difference to warrant the overwhelming amount of bad beats that occur. The fact is, you could sit through thousands of live hands and not see the amount of remarkable bad beats that will occur online.
There is, of course, an explanation for this anomaly, and that explanation lies in the flaws of the computer generated program that determines the outcome of hands in online poker. In reality, the poker sites are rigged, since they do not use a true random determination, rather a programmed determination and additional subroutines and algorithms to effect the final outcome.
The 'rigged mentality' is usually geared toward bad beats and suck outs; however, the poker sites are rigged toward the winning hands (not toward bad beats) through the use of special algorithms used to determine the outcome. Furthermore, anyone who knows how the software works could easily manipulate it to their own advantage, thereby winning in more tournaments and cashing more often.
So, the next time you play online poker, do it with the knowledge that the cards being dealt are not truly random, and that there is a software program that actually is the determining factor if you win the hand or not.
Paul Westin is a professional poker player on several online poker sites and a former software engineer for a gaming company. His latest research reveals the inner workings of the online poker sites and how the software programs used on the poker sites affect the outcomes of your play. Visit the Online Poker Code Crack for more information on beating the rigged poker sites.
A related article on Poker cheating software is found here on EzineArticles
Monday, August 24, 2009
Online Poker Rigged? Secret Revealed!
Paul Westin, a professional poker player and former software engineer has recently released what some say will turn the online poker sites head over heels in an amazing revelation of the inner workings of the software!
For many, the phrase, 'this site is rigged' or 'they are cheating' has often been the battle cry of dominant hands getting taken down by inferior hands in online poker. Well, Westin is revealing all in his behind the scenes (or program should I say) look at the online poker rooms and how the software works.
I had the opportunity to review Paul Westin's Online Poker Code Crack, and can tell you that I was impressed to say the least. Not only does he take an in-depth look at how the software works, Westin also gives you the code to manipulate the software to your advantage!
Intrigued by his claims of being able to consistently win in online poker, I decided to try it myself. The results were far better than I had expected as I finished 4th in a deep tournament on Fulltilt (my best finish in 6 months!).
Surprisingly, Westin walks you through the program and reveals the flaws inherent in the software which allow you to manipulate the software and get deeper in any tourney. I was at the very least amazed at the results and at the simplicity with which Paul has laid out everything.
Take a look at it yourself and see the real truth behind the software in online poker. I think you will agree with me that all those moaners who said "it's rigged" were right! The online poker software is rigged, rigged for you to win, if you know how!
See results, testimonials and the whole story here; the Online Poker Code Crack
For many, the phrase, 'this site is rigged' or 'they are cheating' has often been the battle cry of dominant hands getting taken down by inferior hands in online poker. Well, Westin is revealing all in his behind the scenes (or program should I say) look at the online poker rooms and how the software works.
I had the opportunity to review Paul Westin's Online Poker Code Crack, and can tell you that I was impressed to say the least. Not only does he take an in-depth look at how the software works, Westin also gives you the code to manipulate the software to your advantage!
Intrigued by his claims of being able to consistently win in online poker, I decided to try it myself. The results were far better than I had expected as I finished 4th in a deep tournament on Fulltilt (my best finish in 6 months!).
Surprisingly, Westin walks you through the program and reveals the flaws inherent in the software which allow you to manipulate the software and get deeper in any tourney. I was at the very least amazed at the results and at the simplicity with which Paul has laid out everything.
Take a look at it yourself and see the real truth behind the software in online poker. I think you will agree with me that all those moaners who said "it's rigged" were right! The online poker software is rigged, rigged for you to win, if you know how!
See results, testimonials and the whole story here; the Online Poker Code Crack
Friday, August 14, 2009
Online Poker The Random Number Generator
As many people are aware, online poker rooms (as well as any online gambling site) uses what is called a random number generator to produce what would appear to be a random outcome in each hand.
This article will explain the Random Number Generator (also called Pseudo-Random Number Generator, PRNG or RNG). The purpose of this article is to familiarize players with the 'inner workings' of the software used in the Online Poker rooms and the way cards are produced in a deal.
The use of a RNG is nothing new, as it actually dates back hundreds of years before the computer was even conceived. Mathematicians as early as the 1700's used a random number process to try and determine outcomes of specific problems.
The advent of the computer presented a challenge for scientists and programmers wanting to produce a seemingly random action from the computer, and therefore an assembly code language function was implemented called RAND also known as randomize and RND. This function would be attached to a program and assigned a variable to select a random number.
However, the program required a 'seed' number to begin its process of selecting what would appear to be a random number, otherwise it would produce the same series of numbers each time the program ran. Therefore, early programmers used the timer function on the CPU in order to produce a different series of seemingly random numbers each time the program ran.
This was somewhat acceptable and appeared to produce a different random result each time. However, after several thousand runs of the program, it became easier to 'predict' what series of numbers would come out. This gave a challenge to programmers to find a way to actually produce what would seem to be a truly random result, one that could not be predicted or repeated in any short course of time.
Ultimately, a mathematical method was derived that gave the RNG's a better way to produce a more realistic way of generating random numbers. In addition, experiments using white noise generators to produce the seed were also successful. Both of these among other secondary methods to produce a seemingly random result are used today in all major Online Poker rooms.
Now for the DEAL!
How does that affect the deal of cards, you may ask. Well, actually, the modern RNG programs are more beneficial then the software used several years ago. The sophistication of the randomness is better for the player, because the predictability of a card is much harder, and the RNG is designed to curtail cheating. However, it is not the best method and has many failures.
The Major Fail
A standard 52 card deck has a total number of possible combinations of 80,658,175,170,943,878,571,660,636,856,404,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
Thats a BIG number, in fact, there is no name for a number that large except to say it is 8 times 10 to the 67th power.
What this means is that if you lay out all 52 cards in order, that is one possible combination of the deck, you shuffle the cards and lay them out again, they obviously are in a different order, and that would be a second combination, repeat this process and each time you would get a different sequence or combination of cards laid out on the table. It would require a minimum 8 times 10 to the 67th power 'deals' to repeat the exact same sequence of cards.
In essence, a deck of cards is ideally suited to an RNG because of the endless variety of combinations of a deck. However, there is no possible way any computer in existence has the ability to store every combination (it would require at the bare minimum a 256 bit processor and a whole lot of speed!) and since most servers use only a 32 or 64 bit architecture they are only able to process a small fraction of all possible combinations.
Two Pigeons; One Hole
This is known as the Pigeonhole Principle, wherein the theorem states that there does not exist an injective function on finite sets whose co-domain is smaller than its domain. In other words, you can not put two objects into a container that is physically only able to hold one object.
So what happens to the billions of possible deck combinations? Simple, they are never used, processed or even appear in the online poker RNG. They do not exist as far as the program is concerned.
In reality, out of the 8x10^67 possible combinations only about 4 billion deck combinations are used in a 32bit architecture. This greatly reduces the number of possible hands you can make, and also is a basic explanation as to why there are so many bad beats and made hands in online poker.
For this reason, you will notice more straights, more flushes and more often full houses appear at showdown. The program, by reducing all the possible combinations down to less than 1/20^58, now forces a lot of action and produces a lot of big hands, because it strips away all the outer-dimensional deck combinations. (How often do you see high card, one pair or two pair win?)
In conclusion, the RNG used in online poker is never able to truly produce a random deck or outcome, simply because the program does not use all possible combinations of decks. There are other reasons the deck may be stacked against you and we will explore those in upcoming articles.
I hope this article is helpful to you in understanding how the RNG produces a 'random' deck of cards and invite you to subscribe or bookmark this blog to learn more about online poker.
This post is intended to give a brief oversight of some of the inner workings of the online poker RNG, in the next post, I will explore how the RNG can actually be manipulated to your advantage.
This article will explain the Random Number Generator (also called Pseudo-Random Number Generator, PRNG or RNG). The purpose of this article is to familiarize players with the 'inner workings' of the software used in the Online Poker rooms and the way cards are produced in a deal.
The use of a RNG is nothing new, as it actually dates back hundreds of years before the computer was even conceived. Mathematicians as early as the 1700's used a random number process to try and determine outcomes of specific problems.
The advent of the computer presented a challenge for scientists and programmers wanting to produce a seemingly random action from the computer, and therefore an assembly code language function was implemented called RAND also known as randomize and RND. This function would be attached to a program and assigned a variable to select a random number.
However, the program required a 'seed' number to begin its process of selecting what would appear to be a random number, otherwise it would produce the same series of numbers each time the program ran. Therefore, early programmers used the timer function on the CPU in order to produce a different series of seemingly random numbers each time the program ran.
This was somewhat acceptable and appeared to produce a different random result each time. However, after several thousand runs of the program, it became easier to 'predict' what series of numbers would come out. This gave a challenge to programmers to find a way to actually produce what would seem to be a truly random result, one that could not be predicted or repeated in any short course of time.
Ultimately, a mathematical method was derived that gave the RNG's a better way to produce a more realistic way of generating random numbers. In addition, experiments using white noise generators to produce the seed were also successful. Both of these among other secondary methods to produce a seemingly random result are used today in all major Online Poker rooms.
Now for the DEAL!
How does that affect the deal of cards, you may ask. Well, actually, the modern RNG programs are more beneficial then the software used several years ago. The sophistication of the randomness is better for the player, because the predictability of a card is much harder, and the RNG is designed to curtail cheating. However, it is not the best method and has many failures.
The Major Fail
A standard 52 card deck has a total number of possible combinations of 80,658,175,170,943,878,571,660,636,856,404,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
Thats a BIG number, in fact, there is no name for a number that large except to say it is 8 times 10 to the 67th power.
What this means is that if you lay out all 52 cards in order, that is one possible combination of the deck, you shuffle the cards and lay them out again, they obviously are in a different order, and that would be a second combination, repeat this process and each time you would get a different sequence or combination of cards laid out on the table. It would require a minimum 8 times 10 to the 67th power 'deals' to repeat the exact same sequence of cards.
In essence, a deck of cards is ideally suited to an RNG because of the endless variety of combinations of a deck. However, there is no possible way any computer in existence has the ability to store every combination (it would require at the bare minimum a 256 bit processor and a whole lot of speed!) and since most servers use only a 32 or 64 bit architecture they are only able to process a small fraction of all possible combinations.
Two Pigeons; One Hole
This is known as the Pigeonhole Principle, wherein the theorem states that there does not exist an injective function on finite sets whose co-domain is smaller than its domain. In other words, you can not put two objects into a container that is physically only able to hold one object.
So what happens to the billions of possible deck combinations? Simple, they are never used, processed or even appear in the online poker RNG. They do not exist as far as the program is concerned.
In reality, out of the 8x10^67 possible combinations only about 4 billion deck combinations are used in a 32bit architecture. This greatly reduces the number of possible hands you can make, and also is a basic explanation as to why there are so many bad beats and made hands in online poker.
For this reason, you will notice more straights, more flushes and more often full houses appear at showdown. The program, by reducing all the possible combinations down to less than 1/20^58, now forces a lot of action and produces a lot of big hands, because it strips away all the outer-dimensional deck combinations. (How often do you see high card, one pair or two pair win?)
In conclusion, the RNG used in online poker is never able to truly produce a random deck or outcome, simply because the program does not use all possible combinations of decks. There are other reasons the deck may be stacked against you and we will explore those in upcoming articles.
I hope this article is helpful to you in understanding how the RNG produces a 'random' deck of cards and invite you to subscribe or bookmark this blog to learn more about online poker.
This post is intended to give a brief oversight of some of the inner workings of the online poker RNG, in the next post, I will explore how the RNG can actually be manipulated to your advantage.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Texas Holdem Card Game Poker Strategies
Live the excitement you see on TV! You can be a part of the World Series of Poker, The World Poker Tour, or High Stakes Poker. These shows and more feature professional Texas holdem poker players as well as an abundance of beginners. Yet, can any beginner learn to play poker and cash in big?
Unlike many sports that require professionals with certain physical attributes, a novice can play poker with the pro's and succeed. One such amateur poker player, Chris Moneymaker accomplished it in 2003, cashing in at $2,500,000. Chris began his trek to the Main Event of the World Series of Poker after taking first place through online poker site Poker Stars. Successfully beating out hundreds of opponents, Chris went to Las Vegas and settled into playing the majors at the WSOP, surviving a massive field of 838 other poker players and successfully conquering one of the most celebrated pros, Sammy Farha for the championship victory.
Even if you have never had the chance to play poker, you can do the same. The skills required are minimal, however, the possibilities are unlimited. A quick study of the game and lots of practice in Texas Holdem can give you the chance to play poker against the pro's and an opportunity to possibly cash in the big one! Practice makes perfect, practice to play poker daily in the online freerolls offered by every online poker site.
Study the game, Practice and read Mitch's Book 101 winning moves in tournament poker: You too can Play like a champ and win like a pro
Unlike many sports that require professionals with certain physical attributes, a novice can play poker with the pro's and succeed. One such amateur poker player, Chris Moneymaker accomplished it in 2003, cashing in at $2,500,000. Chris began his trek to the Main Event of the World Series of Poker after taking first place through online poker site Poker Stars. Successfully beating out hundreds of opponents, Chris went to Las Vegas and settled into playing the majors at the WSOP, surviving a massive field of 838 other poker players and successfully conquering one of the most celebrated pros, Sammy Farha for the championship victory.
Even if you have never had the chance to play poker, you can do the same. The skills required are minimal, however, the possibilities are unlimited. A quick study of the game and lots of practice in Texas Holdem can give you the chance to play poker against the pro's and an opportunity to possibly cash in the big one! Practice makes perfect, practice to play poker daily in the online freerolls offered by every online poker site.
Study the game, Practice and read Mitch's Book 101 winning moves in tournament poker: You too can Play like a champ and win like a pro
Play Online Poker – Free Online Games to Win Money
In our world of free offers, often there is very little value in what is being offered for free. This has made many people skeptical when the word free is used in any advertisement or article.
However, there truly is a free way to make money online and you can have fun doing it. One of the best ways to make money online is to play online poker free games. The online poker casinos call these free games ‘freerolls’.
As a kid, you may have enjoyed playing video games or online games, spending hours trying to attain a higher score or be the master of your favorite online game. However, the reward for most of these online games is a psychological win. Now there is a way you can still play online video games and make real hard cash doing it.
The Online poker industry is one of the fastest growing and easiest ways to cash in on doing what you like anyway, playing online games for free. You may have heard of several poker players that won huge tournaments online for thousands of dollars, like Chris Moneymaker (who won the World Series of Poker main event for a cool $2.5 million) He got his start at pokerstars.com, an online poker site.
Another icon in the free online games field is professional poker player Chris Ferguson, who in 2006 was challenged to make $10,000 just by playing free online poker. The challenge was to start with $0 in his account and build it to $10,000. He not only succeeded in doing this, but he surpassed his mark, and donated all the proceeds to charity.
Now it is your turn! Can you make money from just playing in free online poker games? YES! Take the challenge. Here is how to get started:
I have found that pokerstars.com offers the best in free online poker games, and actually offers the easiest chance to win. Start by signing up (use the link to the right to be eligible for a $50 cash bonus).
There is no cost to sign up and you are not required to make any deposit to Poker Stars.
Once you have signed up, then go to the Tourney Tab and click freerolls. About every 40 minutes Pokerstars offers a freeroll tournament to get into the weekly. The top 48 to 90 players in the freeroll get a ticket to the weekly round 2 where you can play to win real cash. The cash prize pool is $2000, with first place usually getting over $250. The payout is usually down to 800 people with last place getting under $1.
Winning a dollar may not sound like much, however you can take that $1 and play in a low stake tournament to begin building your bankroll. Poker Stars.com offers tournaments starting as low as 10 cents.
So, what are you waiting for? Go sign up using the convenient link to the right and get in a freeroll. It is FREE and you can have fun playing online games free with a chance to make money. It is better than playing online games or video games just for bragging rights.
Good Luck!
However, there truly is a free way to make money online and you can have fun doing it. One of the best ways to make money online is to play online poker free games. The online poker casinos call these free games ‘freerolls’.
As a kid, you may have enjoyed playing video games or online games, spending hours trying to attain a higher score or be the master of your favorite online game. However, the reward for most of these online games is a psychological win. Now there is a way you can still play online video games and make real hard cash doing it.
The Online poker industry is one of the fastest growing and easiest ways to cash in on doing what you like anyway, playing online games for free. You may have heard of several poker players that won huge tournaments online for thousands of dollars, like Chris Moneymaker (who won the World Series of Poker main event for a cool $2.5 million) He got his start at pokerstars.com, an online poker site.
Another icon in the free online games field is professional poker player Chris Ferguson, who in 2006 was challenged to make $10,000 just by playing free online poker. The challenge was to start with $0 in his account and build it to $10,000. He not only succeeded in doing this, but he surpassed his mark, and donated all the proceeds to charity.
Now it is your turn! Can you make money from just playing in free online poker games? YES! Take the challenge. Here is how to get started:
I have found that pokerstars.com offers the best in free online poker games, and actually offers the easiest chance to win. Start by signing up (use the link to the right to be eligible for a $50 cash bonus).
There is no cost to sign up and you are not required to make any deposit to Poker Stars.
Once you have signed up, then go to the Tourney Tab and click freerolls. About every 40 minutes Pokerstars offers a freeroll tournament to get into the weekly. The top 48 to 90 players in the freeroll get a ticket to the weekly round 2 where you can play to win real cash. The cash prize pool is $2000, with first place usually getting over $250. The payout is usually down to 800 people with last place getting under $1.
Winning a dollar may not sound like much, however you can take that $1 and play in a low stake tournament to begin building your bankroll. Poker Stars.com offers tournaments starting as low as 10 cents.
So, what are you waiting for? Go sign up using the convenient link to the right and get in a freeroll. It is FREE and you can have fun playing online games free with a chance to make money. It is better than playing online games or video games just for bragging rights.
Good Luck!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
How to Win at Poker - Free Poker Games
Free poker games are a gimmick that the online casinos use to reel in the players, and you can take advantage of this opportunity to make some real cash. I first started playing online poker in a virtual pokerroom in 2006, at this time; I was introduced to the freeroll concept.
The free poker games ran about 4 times a day and allowed a maximum of 2500 players, which filled very fast. I managed to get into a few of these and soon realized that many people did not take this serious. There were players going all-in on the first hand with absolutely junk cards. I asked the question, why is everybody going all-in? To which several people replied, hey it’s a freeroll!
This mentality soon irritated me and I decided to watch a few of these freerolls instead of playing in them. Over the course of several months, I noticed a trend and started to do a little math. What I discovered was that more than half the field was gone in the first hour. I also noticed that if you folded every hand and just sat, you would make the first hour with a little more than half your original stack.
Now of course, it is tough to make it deep with about 25% of the chip average, however, I wanted to see how a ‘survival’ mode would play out in the free poker games. So I continued to play and watch the ‘freeroll mentality’ to learn more about how I could take advantage of the free poker games. At the start I decided unless I had a top ten hand, I would not play, and even then if I would be put all in preflop, I would fold (yes, even aces!)
My strategy was working well, as over the next month I was getting to the first break in the free poker games with as much as 2 or 3 times the starting stack. Soon I learned that the best way to get deep in the free poker games is to stay as tight as possible in the first hour and part of the second hour. Do not make any unnecessary moves or call for draws unless the price was largely in my favor (like 10:1 or better).
This strategy not only strengthened my play at the online pokerrooms, but also in my live tournament plays. The strategy was to save all your plays and moves for later when the field is smaller, and poker players generally tighten up when they get close to the money. This strategy soon paid off on the free poker games; I took first place three times in one month and cashed eight times in total.
As for my live play, this same thought process spilled over into my live game and I cashed for more than $25,000 in one year. Free poker games are good to build your bankroll at the online casinos; however, you have to dispose of the ‘freeroll mentality’ and play it like it is a real tournament. Take the free poker game seriously and the game will pay you off, seriously!
Oh and check out my $25,000 in wins at live casino poker tournaments, you can do it too!!
The free poker games ran about 4 times a day and allowed a maximum of 2500 players, which filled very fast. I managed to get into a few of these and soon realized that many people did not take this serious. There were players going all-in on the first hand with absolutely junk cards. I asked the question, why is everybody going all-in? To which several people replied, hey it’s a freeroll!
This mentality soon irritated me and I decided to watch a few of these freerolls instead of playing in them. Over the course of several months, I noticed a trend and started to do a little math. What I discovered was that more than half the field was gone in the first hour. I also noticed that if you folded every hand and just sat, you would make the first hour with a little more than half your original stack.
Now of course, it is tough to make it deep with about 25% of the chip average, however, I wanted to see how a ‘survival’ mode would play out in the free poker games. So I continued to play and watch the ‘freeroll mentality’ to learn more about how I could take advantage of the free poker games. At the start I decided unless I had a top ten hand, I would not play, and even then if I would be put all in preflop, I would fold (yes, even aces!)
My strategy was working well, as over the next month I was getting to the first break in the free poker games with as much as 2 or 3 times the starting stack. Soon I learned that the best way to get deep in the free poker games is to stay as tight as possible in the first hour and part of the second hour. Do not make any unnecessary moves or call for draws unless the price was largely in my favor (like 10:1 or better).
This strategy not only strengthened my play at the online pokerrooms, but also in my live tournament plays. The strategy was to save all your plays and moves for later when the field is smaller, and poker players generally tighten up when they get close to the money. This strategy soon paid off on the free poker games; I took first place three times in one month and cashed eight times in total.
As for my live play, this same thought process spilled over into my live game and I cashed for more than $25,000 in one year. Free poker games are good to build your bankroll at the online casinos; however, you have to dispose of the ‘freeroll mentality’ and play it like it is a real tournament. Take the free poker game seriously and the game will pay you off, seriously!
Oh and check out my $25,000 in wins at live casino poker tournaments, you can do it too!!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Free Poker Tips to Overcome Common Poker Diseases
Many poker players suffer from several common poker ‘diseases’ because of playing the game. Typically, any poker player can easily contract these diseases. Yet, overcoming them may take time and a little dose of reality ‘medicine’.
Three of the most common ailments a poker player suffers from are:
Call-itis
Blind Paranoia
Chip Anxiety
Let us approach each one of these poker diseases and examine simple cures for overcoming the problem and improving your game with these free poker tips.
Call-itis-
This disease is typically an affliction that attacks many new poker players to the game; it is caused by the undying need to see a flop, the turn, and the river. Amateur poker players will call everything even if you know you have little or no chance to win. Curiosity killed the cat, and call-itis will kill your chip-stack. People affected by call-itis are known in the poker world as calling stations.
First and foremost to overcome call-itis is to understand that any two cards do NOT have a chance to win in a 9 handed game. In fact, straight odds give you less than a 10% chance to win with any non-paired hand. It is best to wait it out until you have a decent starting hand, and let that mediocre poker hand go when you miss.
Many people who call just to see the next card are living on hope and usually do not win often, sure you may pull an occasional pot, however in the long run, calling stations usually never see the final table, or get the big cash in poker tournaments.
Blind Paranoia
This unfortunate affliction is the detriment of many poker players who do not understand math very well. However, it is the delight of mathematical players, since they know the shortstacks feel compelled to push with any ace or face card, because the blinds are getting high.
For example, Let us say you are in a poker tournament with 50 people and the starting stack is $2000, that means there is $100,000 in play. Most ‘experts’ will tell you when you have less than 10 times the blinds you need to make a move. This is a false notion that ends up getting a lot of people knocked out because of Blind paranoia.
In reality, the time to panic is not when you have less than 10 times the blind, rather when you have less than half the average stack. Here is why; if there are 20 people left, the average stack is now $5000, and lets say you have $4000, you are 20% below the average and statistically 40% of players have equal or less than you. That means there are about 12 people with more chips than you and 7 people with equal or less than you. You actually have a good chance to make the final table, because of the other 7 short players who will push with mediocre hands. Pay attention to the average chipstack and ignore the blinds, and you will see that you will make it deeper every time
Chip Anxiety
This goes pretty much in line with blind paranoia, however, chip anxiety is the anxious desire to make a move early in a poker tournament because you think someone is going to get more chips than you and you need to hurry up and get chips. It is a vicious circle, when in reality, your chips stack is largely insignificant until after the first hour or so of the tournament. It is not necessary to try and get all the chips in the first 10 or 15 minutes of a poker tournament, since the tourney will not be won in ten hands. The tourney will last several hours in most cases, and like any competition, you need to pace yourself to win the prize.
The best free poker advice is to follow these tips and modify your game to make it deep. Let other players make the mistakes and bust each other out, while you slowly build to the top. Just remember these three free poker tips, and you will surely get deeper and cash more often.
For more great tips and to see how I won more than $30,000 last year in live poker tournaments visit my winning at poker page
Three of the most common ailments a poker player suffers from are:
Call-itis
Blind Paranoia
Chip Anxiety
Let us approach each one of these poker diseases and examine simple cures for overcoming the problem and improving your game with these free poker tips.
Call-itis-
This disease is typically an affliction that attacks many new poker players to the game; it is caused by the undying need to see a flop, the turn, and the river. Amateur poker players will call everything even if you know you have little or no chance to win. Curiosity killed the cat, and call-itis will kill your chip-stack. People affected by call-itis are known in the poker world as calling stations.
First and foremost to overcome call-itis is to understand that any two cards do NOT have a chance to win in a 9 handed game. In fact, straight odds give you less than a 10% chance to win with any non-paired hand. It is best to wait it out until you have a decent starting hand, and let that mediocre poker hand go when you miss.
Many people who call just to see the next card are living on hope and usually do not win often, sure you may pull an occasional pot, however in the long run, calling stations usually never see the final table, or get the big cash in poker tournaments.
Blind Paranoia
This unfortunate affliction is the detriment of many poker players who do not understand math very well. However, it is the delight of mathematical players, since they know the shortstacks feel compelled to push with any ace or face card, because the blinds are getting high.
For example, Let us say you are in a poker tournament with 50 people and the starting stack is $2000, that means there is $100,000 in play. Most ‘experts’ will tell you when you have less than 10 times the blinds you need to make a move. This is a false notion that ends up getting a lot of people knocked out because of Blind paranoia.
In reality, the time to panic is not when you have less than 10 times the blind, rather when you have less than half the average stack. Here is why; if there are 20 people left, the average stack is now $5000, and lets say you have $4000, you are 20% below the average and statistically 40% of players have equal or less than you. That means there are about 12 people with more chips than you and 7 people with equal or less than you. You actually have a good chance to make the final table, because of the other 7 short players who will push with mediocre hands. Pay attention to the average chipstack and ignore the blinds, and you will see that you will make it deeper every time
Chip Anxiety
This goes pretty much in line with blind paranoia, however, chip anxiety is the anxious desire to make a move early in a poker tournament because you think someone is going to get more chips than you and you need to hurry up and get chips. It is a vicious circle, when in reality, your chips stack is largely insignificant until after the first hour or so of the tournament. It is not necessary to try and get all the chips in the first 10 or 15 minutes of a poker tournament, since the tourney will not be won in ten hands. The tourney will last several hours in most cases, and like any competition, you need to pace yourself to win the prize.
The best free poker advice is to follow these tips and modify your game to make it deep. Let other players make the mistakes and bust each other out, while you slowly build to the top. Just remember these three free poker tips, and you will surely get deeper and cash more often.
For more great tips and to see how I won more than $30,000 last year in live poker tournaments visit my winning at poker page
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Online Poker Cheaters Caught In The Act!
Recent scandals from other online poker sites may have caused many people to limit their play or stop playing, however, Pokerstars.com has renewed my faith in the game and made me confident that they are keeping an eye on my money!
I have played online poker for a few years now, and on a few of the mor popular online poker sites. On occasion, as with any online poker player, I would get a notion that there may be some collusion or cheating at the table. Since there was never any proof, or anything I could do about it, I would usually just leave the table and go elsewhere.
Imagine my surprise this morning when I opened my email and received the following from Pokerstars.com:
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Tuesday, XXXXXXXX, 2009 12:29 PM
Subject: Account Credit
> Hello,
>
> PokerStars has become aware of two players who were working together in our Sit & Go tournaments to the detriment of other players. You were involved in at least one tournament with these players and as a result you may have been adversely affected.
>
> The players' accounts were closed and their funds frozen pending a thorough investigation, which is now complete. Fortunately the problem was identified quickly and they had only played in a few tournaments before the accounts were closed.
>
> In a case such as this it is our policy to confiscate the colluders' winnings or balances and to distribute them to the players affected by their actions in as fair a way as possible. To confirm your credit, log onto your PokerStars account, go to the 'Cashier' screen and click the 'History' button. Your share will be shown "Credit Purchase", followed by the amount of the credit.
>
> I regret that we will be unable to answer questions as to how your specific credit amount was calculated. Likewise, we are not at liberty to identify the specific games or players in question. Suffice to say that they have been barred from the site and you will not encounter them again.
>
> The integrity of the games at PokerStars is of paramount importance to us and we will not abide cheating or collusion in our games. We work hard to police our games and prevent such instances. In the rare cases where collusion has actually occurred, we make sure that any players affected are compensated appropriately.
>
> Thank you for your continued play here on PokerStars. Please do not hesitate to let us know any time we can be of help.
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
> MarkW
> PokerStars Collusion Investigation Team
You read it right, Pokerstars caught two players who were involved in cheating and colluding on several Sit ‘n Go tourneys I was involved in. You will notice that Pokerstars gave me money back, and I must note, it is MORE money than I know I had played in that period!
As I understand it, Pokerstars will seize the accounts of the offending cheaters, and then split their money up between all the affected persons involved. From the amount I received, I would have to say that these guys were making quite a bit of money at their little scam!
The good news, of course, is that Pokerstars.com is diligent in catching poker cheaters at their tables, and is upfront and honest enough to inform players that they have caught the online scammers and returned a fair amount of money to honest players affected by this.
Any doubts that Pokerstars.com is not keeping an eye out for cheaters is now resolved, and I will continue to hold this site as one of the best and safest online poker sites to play on.
I have played online poker for a few years now, and on a few of the mor popular online poker sites. On occasion, as with any online poker player, I would get a notion that there may be some collusion or cheating at the table. Since there was never any proof, or anything I could do about it, I would usually just leave the table and go elsewhere.
Imagine my surprise this morning when I opened my email and received the following from Pokerstars.com:
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Tuesday, XXXXXXXX, 2009 12:29 PM
Subject: Account Credit
> Hello,
>
> PokerStars has become aware of two players who were working together in our Sit & Go tournaments to the detriment of other players. You were involved in at least one tournament with these players and as a result you may have been adversely affected.
>
> The players' accounts were closed and their funds frozen pending a thorough investigation, which is now complete. Fortunately the problem was identified quickly and they had only played in a few tournaments before the accounts were closed.
>
> In a case such as this it is our policy to confiscate the colluders' winnings or balances and to distribute them to the players affected by their actions in as fair a way as possible. To confirm your credit, log onto your PokerStars account, go to the 'Cashier' screen and click the 'History' button. Your share will be shown "Credit Purchase", followed by the amount of the credit.
>
> I regret that we will be unable to answer questions as to how your specific credit amount was calculated. Likewise, we are not at liberty to identify the specific games or players in question. Suffice to say that they have been barred from the site and you will not encounter them again.
>
> The integrity of the games at PokerStars is of paramount importance to us and we will not abide cheating or collusion in our games. We work hard to police our games and prevent such instances. In the rare cases where collusion has actually occurred, we make sure that any players affected are compensated appropriately.
>
> Thank you for your continued play here on PokerStars. Please do not hesitate to let us know any time we can be of help.
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
> MarkW
> PokerStars Collusion Investigation Team
You read it right, Pokerstars caught two players who were involved in cheating and colluding on several Sit ‘n Go tourneys I was involved in. You will notice that Pokerstars gave me money back, and I must note, it is MORE money than I know I had played in that period!
As I understand it, Pokerstars will seize the accounts of the offending cheaters, and then split their money up between all the affected persons involved. From the amount I received, I would have to say that these guys were making quite a bit of money at their little scam!
The good news, of course, is that Pokerstars.com is diligent in catching poker cheaters at their tables, and is upfront and honest enough to inform players that they have caught the online scammers and returned a fair amount of money to honest players affected by this.
Any doubts that Pokerstars.com is not keeping an eye out for cheaters is now resolved, and I will continue to hold this site as one of the best and safest online poker sites to play on.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Play Poker Texas Holdem Card Game
You have seen it on television in a multitude of formats such as the World Series of Poker, The World Poker Tour, and High Stakes Poker. All of these shows feature professional Texas holdem poker players as well as a large field of amateurs. However, is it possible for any one to play poker and win huge cash prizes like on TV?
The simple answer to that question is yes you can play poker, just like the pros! An amateur poker player, Chris Moneymaker did it in 2003, winning more than $2.5 million dollars. Chris found his way to the Main Event of the World Series of Poker through online poker site Poker Stars. After winning his seat on Poker Stars, Chris went to Las Vegas and played in the Main Event, beating out a field of 838 other poker players and finally beating a seasoned pro, Sammy Farha for the first place win.
Even If you have never had the opportunity to play poker, you can do the same. The skills required are minimal, and the opportunity is limitless. A quick study of the game and lots of practice in Texas Holdem can give you the chance to play poker with the pro’s and an opportunity to possibly cash in the big one! Practice makes perfect, practice to play poker daily in the online freerolls offered by many poker sites.
If you are just learning to play poker, or if you have had some experience, a great place to start is to enter the freerolls offered by many online poker sites such as Poker Stars. These freerolls cost nothing to enter, and offer cash prizes to help you build a bankroll.
If you play poker in the freerolls, the best advice is to play a very tight game. That means that you do not want to just play any hand and hope you win, the strategy of winning is in making the right moves at the right times. There are an enormous amount of helpful sites online that teach winning strategies, just click on any of the links you see for winning, strategies, and tips to play poker.
Take the opportunity to sign up to any online poker room (I recommend Poker Stars com as the most trusted), play in the daily freerolls and work your way up to improving your game and learning to play poker like the champions. There is no requirement to deposit money at any site. Play poker online and you have the opportunity to win real cash. Remember if you need tips, strategies or help just click on any of the links provided.
Good Luck!
The simple answer to that question is yes you can play poker, just like the pros! An amateur poker player, Chris Moneymaker did it in 2003, winning more than $2.5 million dollars. Chris found his way to the Main Event of the World Series of Poker through online poker site Poker Stars. After winning his seat on Poker Stars, Chris went to Las Vegas and played in the Main Event, beating out a field of 838 other poker players and finally beating a seasoned pro, Sammy Farha for the first place win.
Even If you have never had the opportunity to play poker, you can do the same. The skills required are minimal, and the opportunity is limitless. A quick study of the game and lots of practice in Texas Holdem can give you the chance to play poker with the pro’s and an opportunity to possibly cash in the big one! Practice makes perfect, practice to play poker daily in the online freerolls offered by many poker sites.
If you are just learning to play poker, or if you have had some experience, a great place to start is to enter the freerolls offered by many online poker sites such as Poker Stars. These freerolls cost nothing to enter, and offer cash prizes to help you build a bankroll.
If you play poker in the freerolls, the best advice is to play a very tight game. That means that you do not want to just play any hand and hope you win, the strategy of winning is in making the right moves at the right times. There are an enormous amount of helpful sites online that teach winning strategies, just click on any of the links you see for winning, strategies, and tips to play poker.
Take the opportunity to sign up to any online poker room (I recommend Poker Stars com as the most trusted), play in the daily freerolls and work your way up to improving your game and learning to play poker like the champions. There is no requirement to deposit money at any site. Play poker online and you have the opportunity to win real cash. Remember if you need tips, strategies or help just click on any of the links provided.
Good Luck!
Play Online Poker – Free Online Games to Win Money
In our world of free offers, often there is very little value in what is being offered for free. This has made many people skeptical when the word free is used in any advertisement or article.
However, there truly is a free way to make money online and you can have fun doing it. One of the best ways to make money online is to play online poker free games. The online poker casinos call these free games ‘freerolls’.
As a kid, you may have enjoyed playing video games or online games, spending hours trying to attain a higher score or be the master of your favorite online game. However, the reward for most of these online games is a psychological win. Now there is a way you can still play online video games and make real hard cash doing it.
The Online poker industry is one of the fastest growing and easiest ways to cash in on doing what you like anyway, playing online games for free. You may have heard of several poker players that won huge tournaments online for thousands of dollars, like Chris Moneymaker (who won the World Series of Poker main event for a cool $1 million +) He got his start at pokerstars.com, an online poker site.
Another icon in the free online games field is professional poker player Chris Ferguson, who in 2006 was challenged to make $10,000 just by playing free online poker. The challenge was to start with $0 in his account and build it to $10,000. He not only succeeded in doing this, but he surpassed his mark, and donated all the proceeds to charity.
Now your turn! Can you make money from just playing in free online poker games? YES! Take the challenge. Here is how to get started:
I have found that pokerstars.com offers the best in free online poker games, and actually offers the easiest chance to win. Start by signing up (use the link to the right to be eligible for a $50 cash bonus).
There is no cost to sign up and you are not required to make any deposit to Poker Stars.
Once you have signed up, then go to the Tourney Tab and click freerolls. About every 40 minutes Pokerstars offers a freeroll tournament to get into the weekly. The top 48 to 90 players in the freeroll get a ticket to the weekly round 2 where you can play to win real cash. The cash prize pool is $2000, with first place usually getting over $250. The payout is usually down to 800 people with last place getting under $1.
Winning a dollar may not sound like much, however you can take that $1 and play in a low stake tournament to begin building your bankroll. Poker Stars.com offers tournaments starting as low as 10 cents.
So, what are you waiting for? Go sign up using the convenient link to the right and get in a freeroll. It is FREE and you can have fun playing online games free with a chance to make money. It is better than playing online games or video games just for bragging rights.
Good Luck!
However, there truly is a free way to make money online and you can have fun doing it. One of the best ways to make money online is to play online poker free games. The online poker casinos call these free games ‘freerolls’.
As a kid, you may have enjoyed playing video games or online games, spending hours trying to attain a higher score or be the master of your favorite online game. However, the reward for most of these online games is a psychological win. Now there is a way you can still play online video games and make real hard cash doing it.
The Online poker industry is one of the fastest growing and easiest ways to cash in on doing what you like anyway, playing online games for free. You may have heard of several poker players that won huge tournaments online for thousands of dollars, like Chris Moneymaker (who won the World Series of Poker main event for a cool $1 million +) He got his start at pokerstars.com, an online poker site.
Another icon in the free online games field is professional poker player Chris Ferguson, who in 2006 was challenged to make $10,000 just by playing free online poker. The challenge was to start with $0 in his account and build it to $10,000. He not only succeeded in doing this, but he surpassed his mark, and donated all the proceeds to charity.
Now your turn! Can you make money from just playing in free online poker games? YES! Take the challenge. Here is how to get started:
I have found that pokerstars.com offers the best in free online poker games, and actually offers the easiest chance to win. Start by signing up (use the link to the right to be eligible for a $50 cash bonus).
There is no cost to sign up and you are not required to make any deposit to Poker Stars.
Once you have signed up, then go to the Tourney Tab and click freerolls. About every 40 minutes Pokerstars offers a freeroll tournament to get into the weekly. The top 48 to 90 players in the freeroll get a ticket to the weekly round 2 where you can play to win real cash. The cash prize pool is $2000, with first place usually getting over $250. The payout is usually down to 800 people with last place getting under $1.
Winning a dollar may not sound like much, however you can take that $1 and play in a low stake tournament to begin building your bankroll. Poker Stars.com offers tournaments starting as low as 10 cents.
So, what are you waiting for? Go sign up using the convenient link to the right and get in a freeroll. It is FREE and you can have fun playing online games free with a chance to make money. It is better than playing online games or video games just for bragging rights.
Good Luck!
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Phenomena of 'My Favorite Hand'
Yesterday, I played the Wheeling Island Casino $40 Sunday tournament. A nice tournament with a relatively small field of 51, however well worth the investment for the $550 first place.
In the home stretch we were down to 2 tables of 6 each, with the pay out to the top 10. I was sitting just under the average with about $6500 in chips. The blinds are 400/800 with a 100 ante. The player to my right has played quite aggressive most of the tournament raising at every opportunity. In this particular hand he went all in with $3200, I looked down at AJ off suit. I was the button, so I sized up the BB and SB, the SB had about $4000 while the BB had less than $2000 behind him.
I was quite sure the SB would fold, while the BB would most likely call since he had about 1/3 of his chips in already. I thought for a moment and assessed the damage if I called and lost, after all, since I was sure the BB would call I did not want to be up against 2 hands with my AJ. I decided to fold thinking it is possible he picked up a monster hand this time. The SB folds and the BB, (to my surprise) folds.
As the raiser mucked, he stated, "Had my favorite hand" I noticed as his cards went into the muck what appeared to be a black '6'. I thought to myself, "What? His favorite hand includes a 6?"
(Needless to say, my patience in waiting was well-rewarded when he later pushed all in with his K J off suit against my AA, he lost and busted out before the money.)
I can not imagine any hand that includes a '6' as a good starting hand unless it is pocket 6's. Nevertheless, I am always amazed at how people latch onto their (or other's) favorite hand. Willing to take great risks based on the belief that a favorite hand holds some magical power.
This phenomena is usually associated with the fact that the player has won a huge pot or achieved a fantastic suck out based on that hand at some time in the past. However, is playing your favorite hand a wise choice?
Everyone is familiar with the 'Doyle Brunson' favorite hand of 10 2. After all, he won two major tournaments holding these cards. Since then, the poker world has latched onto Doyle's 10 2 as though it were the 'nuts'! Keep in mind Doyle played his 10 2 while heads up. He had no reason to fold his 10 2 since his opponents took no steps to push him out of the hand.
I witnessed another instance of a favorite hand, when I was in a large tournament, 1st place was $2500.00, and buy in was $65. The field was down to 5 people, I was in the big blind with 9 4 off suit. Under the gun limped while the rest of the table folded. The flop came down 7 9 3, I had barely enough to make one more round and figured I will make a stand here since I have top pair, and my opponent likely has only over cards. My all in was about half his chips; so I felt confident he would likely fold.
I pushed all in, he called, and that impending doom feeling you always get when you are 'on the ropes' hit me. However, I was totally shocked when he showed 8 3 off suit! Although I was ahead, the turn was not kind as an 8 came down and a jack on the river. I was busted out by 8 3. I remarked to the guy what a terrible call it was, shook his hand, and graciously left the table. From that day on, every time I saw him or the 8 3 I referred to the hand as the ‘Bracken’ (his first name).
Anytime we would play tournaments or cash games and the 8 3 was on the flop, or I held it, I would make a remark about ‘The Bracken’ hand. Several months later, Bracken approached me and confessed that the ‘Bracken’ (8 3) had cost him literally hundreds of dollars. He was actually playing this hand as his favorite hand, and it was costing him tons of money!
Consider one very important concept before attaching yourself (and your money) to a ‘favorite hand’. Is this hand really making me money? After all, we play poker to win, not because of some lucky hand that is going to get us there every time. Before playing your favorite hand again, add up all the money that you made playing it. Now subtract all the money you lost with it. You may soon find out, that favorite hand is not your bankroll’s favorite.
For more great tips and strategies on No Limit Texas Hold ‘em, read 101 Winning Moves.
Incidentally, my favorite hand is ‘The Winning Hand’ Good Luck at the Tables!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Tired of River Beats in No Limit Texas Hold’em Poker?
The most frustrating part of a poker players life is getting called down by some idiot that is on a draw, only to make his hand on the river.
Is there truly a way to prevent this? The short answer is NO!
However, there is a way to minimize your losses and potentially stop bleeding chips to calling stations and donkeys that can not lay down a draw.
Project your image and know your opponent’s image:
First, recognize who is at your table: identify your calling stations, aggressive players, and donkeys.
Next project your identity at the table, if you are playing aggressive, you are more likely to be called down.
If you are playing tight, there is a less chance of being called down, and if you are a calling station, you will quickly get taken advantage of by superior players.
Your image at the table is as important as the images of your opponents, so make sure you project a good table image. Projecting a tight image will allow you to make a timely bluff or steal without the risk of someone calling.
Keep the pot size manageable:
This is very crucial! Keep the pot size relatively low enough until you are sure you have the absolutely best hand. Here is why: generally speaking, people are GREEDY, they will chase a rainbow for the pot of gold more often if they believe there is a HUGE reward. Let us say you are in a $1 - $2 cash game, and it is a limped pot with 4 other players. You hold AJ of hearts in middle position, you limp as well. Flop is A of clubs, J of spades, and 3 of hearts. There is $10 in the pot, SB (small blind) checks, BB (big blind) checks, UTG (under-the-gun) checks, and your turn with one person after you to act, LP (late position). What do you do?
A.) Bet the pot, $10, the pot is now $20
B.) Check to see what late position does.
C.) Bet ½ the pot, the pot is now $15.
D.) Overbet the pot ($20) to keep anyone from drawing, the pot is now $30
If you have identified all your opponents, you will make the correct decision. Currently only 3 hands can beat you (pocket J’s pocket Aces and pocket 3’s)
Let us say SB and BB are fairly tight players, UTG is a calling station, and LP is aggressive.
Do you know what your opponents are holding? You can be certain that UTG and LP are not holding any of the hands that can beat you, because of their style, they would have raised pre-flop. What about SB and BB? Would they have limped in with pocket pairs? (most likely given their tight style they could have)
Know the FUTURE hands that can beat you:
Now consider the implied hands that can beat you by the turn: 10 Q (any K for a straight), 10 K (any Q for a straight), J 3 (any 3 for a full house), A 3 (any 3 for a full house), X 3 (10 hands, any 3 for trips) , any remaining pocket pairs (10 pocket pairs can make a full house), for a total of 27 hands that can beat you on the turn.
Knowing that 27 hands can beat you on the turn how much are you willing to risk with a calling station and an aggressive player in the hand?
If you picked A or D, you have made the pot quite attractive to anyone holding the 27 hands that could beat you. If you picked C, those 27 hands will still call you, but you have minimized your risk. If you pick B, you are currently only risking $2 to this pot. The ideal way to make money in poker is to minimize your risk with maximum returns, just like any business investment.
Take a look at the investment and return on your investment (ROI)
Choosing A, you have invested $12 to win $6 (minus the rake of $2)- potential ROI 50%
Choosing B, you have invested $2 to win $7 (minus the rake of $1) – potential ROI 350%
Choosing C, You have invested $7 to win $7 (minus the rake of $1) – potential ROI 100%
Choosing D, you have invested $22 to win $6 (minus the rake of $2) –potential ROI 28%
Clearly, you can see that B and C are the wisest investments. However, you may say, well I do not make much money that way. You are correct, but Poker is not always about making money, it is also about NOT LOSING! If you believe you should win every time you are ahead, you need to STOP playing poker and take up a more suitable hobby like fishing or bowling, those sports also have competitive tournaments where you could try and win big cash.
Winning in No Limit Texas Hold’em is based largely on making the correct decision at the right time. Too often people with strong starting hands feel they should win all the time. In reality, there is no hand that is a 100% preflop winner. Use these three tips: table image, pot manageability, and hand possibility to avoid bleeding chips. Again, you are never going to avoid all river beats, however, you can control the amount of your losses. For more great tips read this post on poker strategies.
Keep up to date on my poker posts and follow me on
Is there truly a way to prevent this? The short answer is NO!
However, there is a way to minimize your losses and potentially stop bleeding chips to calling stations and donkeys that can not lay down a draw.
Project your image and know your opponent’s image:
First, recognize who is at your table: identify your calling stations, aggressive players, and donkeys.
Next project your identity at the table, if you are playing aggressive, you are more likely to be called down.
If you are playing tight, there is a less chance of being called down, and if you are a calling station, you will quickly get taken advantage of by superior players.
Your image at the table is as important as the images of your opponents, so make sure you project a good table image. Projecting a tight image will allow you to make a timely bluff or steal without the risk of someone calling.
Keep the pot size manageable:
This is very crucial! Keep the pot size relatively low enough until you are sure you have the absolutely best hand. Here is why: generally speaking, people are GREEDY, they will chase a rainbow for the pot of gold more often if they believe there is a HUGE reward. Let us say you are in a $1 - $2 cash game, and it is a limped pot with 4 other players. You hold AJ of hearts in middle position, you limp as well. Flop is A of clubs, J of spades, and 3 of hearts. There is $10 in the pot, SB (small blind) checks, BB (big blind) checks, UTG (under-the-gun) checks, and your turn with one person after you to act, LP (late position). What do you do?
A.) Bet the pot, $10, the pot is now $20
B.) Check to see what late position does.
C.) Bet ½ the pot, the pot is now $15.
D.) Overbet the pot ($20) to keep anyone from drawing, the pot is now $30
If you have identified all your opponents, you will make the correct decision. Currently only 3 hands can beat you (pocket J’s pocket Aces and pocket 3’s)
Let us say SB and BB are fairly tight players, UTG is a calling station, and LP is aggressive.
Do you know what your opponents are holding? You can be certain that UTG and LP are not holding any of the hands that can beat you, because of their style, they would have raised pre-flop. What about SB and BB? Would they have limped in with pocket pairs? (most likely given their tight style they could have)
Know the FUTURE hands that can beat you:
Now consider the implied hands that can beat you by the turn: 10 Q (any K for a straight), 10 K (any Q for a straight), J 3 (any 3 for a full house), A 3 (any 3 for a full house), X 3 (10 hands, any 3 for trips) , any remaining pocket pairs (10 pocket pairs can make a full house), for a total of 27 hands that can beat you on the turn.
Knowing that 27 hands can beat you on the turn how much are you willing to risk with a calling station and an aggressive player in the hand?
If you picked A or D, you have made the pot quite attractive to anyone holding the 27 hands that could beat you. If you picked C, those 27 hands will still call you, but you have minimized your risk. If you pick B, you are currently only risking $2 to this pot. The ideal way to make money in poker is to minimize your risk with maximum returns, just like any business investment.
Take a look at the investment and return on your investment (ROI)
Choosing A, you have invested $12 to win $6 (minus the rake of $2)- potential ROI 50%
Choosing B, you have invested $2 to win $7 (minus the rake of $1) – potential ROI 350%
Choosing C, You have invested $7 to win $7 (minus the rake of $1) – potential ROI 100%
Choosing D, you have invested $22 to win $6 (minus the rake of $2) –potential ROI 28%
Clearly, you can see that B and C are the wisest investments. However, you may say, well I do not make much money that way. You are correct, but Poker is not always about making money, it is also about NOT LOSING! If you believe you should win every time you are ahead, you need to STOP playing poker and take up a more suitable hobby like fishing or bowling, those sports also have competitive tournaments where you could try and win big cash.
Winning in No Limit Texas Hold’em is based largely on making the correct decision at the right time. Too often people with strong starting hands feel they should win all the time. In reality, there is no hand that is a 100% preflop winner. Use these three tips: table image, pot manageability, and hand possibility to avoid bleeding chips. Again, you are never going to avoid all river beats, however, you can control the amount of your losses. For more great tips read this post on poker strategies.
Keep up to date on my poker posts and follow me on
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