Online Poker Regulation Not on The Horizon?
November 23, 2010
Is online poker regulation in the cards in the US? That’s not the view of many analysts, who believe that despite significant progress on the part of the online poker grassroots political movement, online poker regulation simply isn’t going to take place in 2010.
There’s no shortage of popular support for online poker, but it’s simply a matter of a lack of legislative movement. The process of introducing a law in the US is a cumbersome one, and the political will to pass anything having to do with online gambling makes everything more complicated still.
While poker remains popular and accepted by mainstream America, there’s still the issue of online gambling that surrounds the conversation concerning online poker. It’s difficult to talk about one without talking about that other, and that gives opponents of regulation significant ammo to work with in the popular and legislative debates surrounding online poker.
All of those factors mean one thing: it’s not going to be tomorrow. Regulation in the US is going to continue to face an uphill battle, and that’s the way that it is. The truth is online poker regulation is a complicated issue that’s going to take some time to sort out, both in the public and legislative arenas.
Visual Traits of Player Types
November 17, 2010
The rock. The rock is going to be dressed for a marathon session at the card table; generally reserved, plain clothes, with little to call attention to himself. The rock is not at the game to seek fame, just to sit back and wait for a few hours for a monster. They may bring a book or a headset with them to the game, something to keep them bust while they wait for a big hand. When in a hand, look for them to suddenly turn their attention to the hand in question; clicking the music player off, setting the book down, or coming out of their mini coma are all sure signs that the rock has came back to Earth and has an interest in the hand. You can get the rock to talk, but he generally won’t be apt to discuss much more than idle topics, and probably not for a long period of time; he doesn’t want to lose focus.
The super aggressive guy. Look for flash. Chains, jewelry, designer clothes, shades, gaudy hats, anything that screams, “LOOK AT ME” on his person is usually a sure sign that the person in question wants action and wants a lot of it. He’ll be the life of the party at the table, drinking, ordering cocktails for the table, making jokes, getting infuriated, and basically doing anything in his power to make players pay attention to him. When playing, he will tend to make his bets, raises, and folds exaggeratedly, with sweeping hand motions or loud verbal declarations. If you can hear the player as you’re walking into the poker room, chances are you’re looking at an aggro player.
The Internet pro. Logos are a dead giveaway; any hats, shirts, hoodies, or other sire related paraphernalia are sure signs of online players. The guy with a Party Poker hat or shirt is probably playing online poker at PartyPoker.com. The amount of live play they have can sometimes be determined by the way they handle chips; if they have trouble shuffling chips or seem to struggle remembering chip values, they’re probably not very versed in live play. Online players also like to bet curious amounts; instead of $10, $11, instead of t700, t725, and so on. The younger a player is, the more likely it is that they’re primarily a online player, as well. They generally are quiet, and won’t really engage the table much more than a friendly reply to any question asked to them.
The amateur. Will play their chips from a rack. Will cut out their profit they’ve earned at the table and set it to a separate stack to track how much they’ve won. Will look like a general tourist, most of the time; fanny packs, gambling guides, and other booklets may be in hand when they come to the table. Expect them to be very chatty, and very honest about their skill levels; they aren’t afraid to admit that it is their first attempt at playing poker. Will handle their chips awkwardly and make very curious bets; either betting less than the blinds or making obscene overbets.
Team Tournaments: A Brief Overview
November 12, 2010
The Poker Room Tournaments have finally arrived. In this latest and the most awaited innovation and the breakthrough in the internet poker business for years, the Poker Rooms have announced the arrival of the Team Tournaments. To read more about these and similar tournament formats, visit www.pokersites.com for complete reviews. You can now join your preferred team of 10 years, or even create new poker friends.
The Poker Room teams comprise of minimum 5 players and maximum 10 players, and they compete in the Team Leagues or in the Team Eliminators for cash prizes as well. They are generally created by a Team Manager who can invite the payers into their team or even accept players in who want to be a part of their team.
The basic role of a team manager is to assign players for playing in matches and for signing the teams up for various activities. Each individual poker player will be responsible for his own buy-in matches he is participating in.
The game of poker has different interesting levels of the games, and the Team Eliminator Competitions are just a part of this wonderful game that draws in thousands and thousands of players from all parts of the world.
In these Team Eliminator Competitions, the teams battle against each other in the heads-up match. A player will be nominated for representing a particular team in each of the rounds involved and they will play against an opponent from the other teams involved in the game.
The winning player’s team will march on to the higher level of the game while the losing team will have to leave the game from the moment they have lost their hand. Following this method, more than half of the teams will be eliminated at the end of each round, and that will finally leave you with two of the strongest contending teams in the game of Poker.
Tactics Used to Handle Expert Poker Players
November 9, 2010
When you are laying a poker hand and your opponent is an expert, there’s no way you can take a risk. If not an expert, you must definitely have some idea about your moves so that you can at least give the opponent a tough fight.
In order to excel in the game of poker, you will need:
Confidence
The key to success in poker is confidence- not over confidence. Most of the pro poker players are what they are today because of the fact that they know how to play an aggressive game. Sometimes, doing the same is necessary.
Short Stacking Tips
Short-stacking is the best idea for people who are actually worried about being run over by their opponents in the no-limit games. It is basically the act of buying into this game for smaller amounts. The giant players are ever hungry for money, and if you give them that, they may forget their target. That would make it easier for you.
PokerStars Ante Tournaments: Altering Your Typical MTT Strategy
November 8, 2010
1. Pay attention! Big ante tournaments on Poker Stars (read a review of Stars and other top sites on onlinepoker.net) have an incredibly unique structure; the ante starts from hand 1, and is a fifth of the size of the big blind. However, the blinds start off at half of what the normally do, and for the most part, your M will be comparative to what it would be at the same level in a normal tournament; 150/300/(60) in a big ante tournament is the same level as 200/400/(50) in a regular. Because of this increased ante, your stack is constantly shrinking from the get go. These tournaments require you to pay a lot more attention to stack degradation via the increasing antes than normal. Watch your M at all times, and try to keep a note on every ante jump. Forgetting to do so may lull you into thinking you have plenty of time to make a move with your 3k stack, which at the 100/200 level, you normally would. With the added 40 chip ante, however, your original M 10 stack has shrunk down to less than half of its normal value. Be sure to account for this when looking at stack sizes!
2. Opening amounts. With bigger antes, your opens need to be a bit stiffer than your regular tournaments. In this way, ante tournaments are a lot like live tournaments – when you play in a casino, you bet more to discourage calls. Visit www.uscasinosonline.com to find online tournaments that play as loose as live tournaments. The amount of extra money in the middle due to antes will entice players to call a lot more liberally from the blinds, so I recommend opening something in the neighborhood of 3-4.5 times the big blind preflop. It may seem a bit excessive, but remember; you’re risking more because there’s more to gain if you win it immediately. Many players don’t adjust their opening amounts when playing these tournaments; if some opens to $500 at the 100/200/($40) level, and you’re in the big blind, you’re being offered tremendous odds to take a flop; it costs $300 to see a flop with a pot of $1,460, almost 5:1! It’s hard to fold anything other than the bottom 20% of hands with odds like that. This is why our opens need to be stiffer; $600-$800 is much better at discouraging stragglers from the blinds.
3. Hand requirements/other strategy. Because of the bigger antes, stealing becomes more valuable in these type of tournaments than normal ante structures. You want to be looking spots where players have shown a low tendency to defend their blinds, even with stronger odds to call than normal, and abuse them for not being aware. Take full advantage of the button and cutoff, but remember; earlier positions have to risk a higher amount of chips preflop, thanks to the bigger antes, so a tighter preflop strategy from early position and a looser one from the button and cutoff will serve you quite well in these style tournaments. Remember, these strategies are in comparison to a normal styled tournament, so keep that in mind when you try your first one out.
Strategy for Rebuy Tournaments: Reviewing Fundamentals
November 5, 2010
Always, ALWAYS rebuy. Too often, you still see players in rebuy tournaments that never rebuy or add-on, simply choosing to float with their single buy-in and hope to compete with the “mad men” that frantically shove and rebuy 10 or more times. That’s a huge mistake – you shouldn’t be killing time watching the WSOP or reading poker news during this period, as it’s where you have the best chance to chip up as a big favorite. If you’re going to play a rebuy tournament, you’re putting yourself at a major disadvantage by not taking the maximum buy-ins allowed. It’s like playing a tournament with half a stack compared to your opponents. Unless you enjoy playing with a short stack, you’ll find that the minimum buy-in is an amateur move. Instead, you should be willing to invest no less than 5 buy-ins for your tournament; the initial buy-in and rebuy, a second double buy-in, and an add-on.
I generally up the amount to 7 or 9, depending; when you run bad in a tournament, you may bust a lot; if you have the opportunity to continue playing, unless you’re playing exceptionally bad, it’s incorrect to pass on it. I think it’s the best poker sites where players don’t rebuy, at least from your perspective, as those are likely to be really poor players. Also, people wonder if you should take the add-on when you’ve accumulated a big stack; no matter my stack, I am always taking the add-on; there’s no just good reason not to take another buy-in, especially when the amount of chips you gain is greater than your buy-in. (usually, the initial buy gets you 1.5k, and the add-on nets you 2k.)
What to expect before the add-on period. A rebuy tournament is going to have a lot more wild play than your typical tournament. Players will be liberally open shoving 150 BB’s into the pot with 44 and A10s, looking for a quick double up or triple up before even attempting to play real poker. Just simply open shoving AA and KK if your table is especially wild may actually be the best play with those hands, especially in the first level and in the last 2-3 minutes of the rebuy stage. You will see a flurry of shoves right at the end of the period; if you’ve built up a stack, this is a perfect chance to really sweep up the desperation shoves and build a mammoth stack. Assuming a 3k stack with a double buy, your goal for the first hour should be around 15-20k, which sounds like a mega stack, but in reality, will only be about 1.5-2 times the average stack.
What to expect after the add-on period. People will be very deep for the relative blinds once the add-on period ends, and you’ll find players to be a bit tighter than you’d expect at normal tournament at the same blind levels. People want to gamble when they can rebuy; the add-on is the big signal to them that the next bust out is the last. It reaffirms to them that they need to play good from this point, meaning their resolve will improve and they will generally tighten up. If you were able to accumulate the big stack from the rebuy period, you should be able to control your table with relative ease. With a tight table, think of the tournament as a semi deep-stacked tourney from this point on, and adjust accordingly.
Betting on the WSOP Main Event – A Sucker’s Game?
November 4, 2010
You’ll see a lot of odds popping up at online sports books, especially those that are offering poker in addition to sports betting, for the World Series of Poker. While these bets may seem fun and interesting, they’re generally sucker bets.
The first issue you have is that the volatility involved in the final table of the World Series of Poker makes it very hard to develop any sort of edge when you’re betting. Betting with an edge is all about knowing something that other people do not, but you simply don’t have that sort of information available, and the possible permutations of outcomes given nine players and relatively shallow stacks makes it very difficult for you to find something that other’s have not.
The second issue is that many of the bets you’ll see offered are just novelty bets, insomuch that they’re designed for fans of the game that want a little rooting interest in watching the finals, and not really for serious bettors. The result is that the rooms are not really competitive with their lines, so there’s lots of padding in the lines for the book that make it tough for you to turn a profit.
So, in short, watch the WSOP, but save your big bets for the events you can find an edge in.
Class Up Your Home Game With Premium Poker Decks
November 2, 2010
Curious about the top decks? Here are our favorite brands of playing cards for home games.
1. KEM. These are 100% plastic cards, made out of cellulose acetate, that allows the cards to bend and scuff without damage, and are even machine washable, to allow you to take off the random spilled beer or skin residue after hours upon hours of play. Kem currently boasts over two dozen design templates for their cards, including multiple size and print variations. They are quite a bit more expensive than your typical pack of playing cards; a 2 deck box of Kem cards will generally run you $30 plus shipping, but the lengthy amount of wear and tear that the cards can take before needing to be replaced can outperform the same amount of regular playing cards for the same amount of money ($30=roughly 8-10 decks of standard single purchase Bicycle decks). That’s barely a fraction of what you could earn clearing a bwin bonus, so pull the money offline and splurge on your home game today. For more information, check out www.kem.com.
2. Copaq. These are also 100% plastic cards, also washable and bendable, but don’t quite have the same durability that the KEM brand has. This may be due to the cost reduction; a two pack only runs about $16 plus shipping, and you can order single decks from them as well, for $10. Copaq cards have been prominently features in poker events such as the WSOP and the WPT, and are currently being used in the Heartland Poker Tour. They’ve had some advertising time as well, running adverts in ESPN’s WSOP coverage last year. For more information, check out www.copaqusa.com.
3. Casino “Retired” Decks. If you’re wondering what style of cards these are, ask your local casino for used decks (don’t try this with an online casino like the pkr casino – chances are support won’t be returning your emails). Many times, after a casino has used a deck for a certain amount of hours, it is “retired” by either drilling a hole through the center of the deck, or rounding the corners of the deck off, to ensure that used decks cannot be reintroduced into the game. These decks are generally still in fair to good condition when removed from the game, however, and casinos will generally make them available to players for purchase. It can have a neat effect on your home game to play with game used cards from the Horseshoe or the Luxor, so when you’re in those casinos, ask your floorperson what their policy is on used decks, and consider purchasing one.
4. Bicycle. Of course, sometimes, we don’t have the time to run out to a casino or order a fancy deck online; a game springs up, and people need cards now. For those emergency situations, Bicycle playing cards are almost always available at your local supermarket, pharmacy, or gas station, and are a quality product for the price; usually between $2-$4 for a deck of rider back style cards. You can even find specialized cards, like clear back, eco-friendly, and propeek style cards if you want a change of pace. Other brands of playing cards you find at stores are generally very cheaply made; some will struggle to riffle when you break the deck in, because of the material they’re made with. When you’re in a pinch, stick with Bicycle. For more information, check out www.bicyclecards.com.
Recognizing Spots to Bluff: A Primer
October 30, 2010
1. Stealing the blinds. The most elementary bluff in your arsenal is the blind steal. This form of bluff relies on your positional advantage and the willingness of your opponents to give up their blinds and antes. Tight players that are apt to only play good hands or better from their blinds are good spots to bluff preflop, stealing pots with garbage and position as your only allies. You’re more likely to find these sorts of players at lesser-known rooms such as True, Cake Poker and PKR Poker – search for some PKR Bonus Codes to make sure you get the best deal when signing up, and check out this site if you have any questions about the PKR bonus requirements you’ll have to meet in order to completely release the full bonus amount.
2. When your opponent relinquishes control. If your straightforward opponent has been betting into you throughout the hand; preflop, on the flop, and the turn, then suddenly checks the river, he is usually waving a white flag your way. This may be a spot to try a bluff on your opponent, especially if he bets the flop then checks the turn; this is usually an indication of a failed continuation bet, and is hi way of saying, “Alright, I believe you hit that flop, you can take it down now.” Anytime a straightforward player checks to you and gives up control of the pot, consider a bluff if you have a hand with no hope of improvement.
3. When you suspect your opponent is bullying. You may come across a player that decides to take it upon himself to make your life a living hell; finding every opportunity he can to bet, bet, bet into you at all times. Without making some sort of stand against the constant assault, you can expect to be whittled down to nothing before you find a hand to take up against him. This is where bluffing comes into play; it allows you take pots off of your bully when you suspect he’s simply leaning on you, while at the same time discouraging him from making future aggressive plays against you. The best way to handle the bluff is to make it in a relatively small pot; reraising an open, or check raising a possible continuation bet, and showing the bluff. Bullies don’t like to be shown they were out bullied, and the next time you check raise him; perhaps on the turn of a much bigger pot, he may decide to take a stand with a lower than average hand.
4. Against a perceptive opponent in a small pot when you know you’ll be called. I know, you’re thinking, “Wait, why would I purposely bluff a pot against a thinking player? I’m throwing money away here!” The trick is, making that weak bluff into a perceptive player allow you to manipulate how you play against him on future rivers, by reminding the opponent that you have the ability to make weakish bluffs. You can start designing your value bets to look like bluffs to the perceptive player, who will think, “I’ve seen him do this before, so it could very well be a bluff; I may have to call with my marginal holding.” Using this type of bluff on wild or straightforward players is generally a waste; they won’t remember the bluff any later than a few hands, and will simply play the hand like they did before, giving little credit to the bluff.
Developing Betting Strategies for Online Poker Games
October 28, 2010
Millions and millions of people across the world are now taking to online poker games as their major source of entertainment. Even expert analysts agree that the number of people who have joined the online poker games has doubled over the past few years and the situation is likely to increase over time.
Have you started playing online poker? If so, you must be interested in learning about the ways in which you can hone your poker playing skills. Yes, it’s important to make sure you get the right internet poker bonus code, but the real work comes after you’ve signed up and deposited. One of the crucial aspects of playing poker games is to learn how betting is done properly. If you are a novice or you are playing poker for the very first time, you will have to master the game and the betting strategies at first.
Although online poker is not rocket science, it does involve many inventive strategies that you must learn in order to get hold of the game. Being confident, changing the betting techniques and studying the betting techniques will help you win the game, and will earn you more money than even the best poker bonuses can add to your bankroll.
Changing up the betting strategies is very important when you are playing online poker. When you are placing your bets during an online poker game, you must watch each bet carefully and make the necessary changes as and when required. In other words, you might want to bluff or stagger the total amount of money you will be placing on your table as the game moves forward.
Successful poker players on the internet will always keep their opponents in confusion and will compel them to keep guessing as to what could be their bets and what the bets would mean. Here, players can apply a strategy to confuse the opponents even further in changing up their bets as the game progresses further and moves ahead.
Understanding these strategies and paying the game tactfully can actually help you in winning the game very easily. However, it is just that you will have to understand the tricks and also be careful enough not to give out any hints about how you are changing up the bets.