Blackjack 101

For this example we will assume you are playing a multi-deck game and the cards are being dealt from a shoe. Each player is dealt two cards face up. The dealer receives one card face up and one card face down known as the hole card. After the cards are dealt the dealer will ask each player in turn to make their decision. The player to the left of the marked cards dealer acts first. This position is known as first base. The position of the last person to act is called third base. You will make your decision about how to play your hand based on the dealer's up card and the two cards that you were dealt. A rule of thumb for the beginner is to assume the dealer has a ten in the hole. (This is not always the case but it makes it easier to base your decision on this premise.) You will use hand signal to make your decisions known. This keeps the game moving and it also helps insure there are no verbal misunderstandings while letting the eye in the sky keep track of the play. Remember that in a game dealt from a shoe you are not allowed to touch the cards.

Blackjack
If you or the dealer is dealt an Ace and a ten-value card you have 21 known as a blackjack. This is a natural. If you get the blackjack you will be paid 3 to 2 for your bet providing the dealer does not get one at the same time. If you and the dealer have blackjack it is a push. If only the dealer has blackjack all players will lose.

Hitting
To take a hit means that you want to draw another card. To signal the dealer for a hit you will tap the table in front of you or make a beckoning motion with your hand. If you wish another card after the first you would motion in the same manner.

Standing
Once you are satisfied with either your fist two cards or after hitting, you signal the dealer that you wish to stand. This is done by waving your hand over the top of your cards.

Doubling Down.
When you double down you are allowed to double your bet after receiving your fist two cards. You then receive one card only on your hand. Most casinos will allow you to double down on any two cards (DOA). Some casinos limit your doubling to hands that total ten or eleven. DOA is a favorable rule to the player. To signal that you are doubling down you will place an additional bet next to your original bet. Most casinos will let you double down for less than marked card tricks your original bet providing it meets the table minimum. This is foolish. You only double in favorable situations and it is to your advantage to double for the maximum.

Splitting
If you are dealt a pair (two cards of the same rank) you can split these into two separate hands. You must make an additional bet equal to your starting bet. You signal the dealer that you are splitting by placing your second bet next to your first bet in the betting circle. Do not put this bet on top of the original bet. Do not separate the cards. The dealer will do this for you. You will no play each hand one at a time. The dealer will give you a second card to go with the first split card. You will then decide to hit or stand. After you play out this hand and stand you will move on to the next split card and the process will be repeated. Some casinos will allow you to double down on your first two cards after splitting. You would play this as you would if you were doubling down on your first two cards. This rule is favorable to the player.

Insurance
If the dealer's up card is an ace the dealer will offer insurance. You are not really insuring a hand. This is a side bet you make wagering half your original bet that the dealer has a ten in the hole. If you make the bet and he has the ten you are paid 2 to 1. You would then lose your original bet but win the insurance bet, which works out to being a push of your original bet. If you have a blackjack and the dealer has an ace you will be asked if you would like even money for your blackjack instead of 3 to 2. If do not take the even money you will have a push if the dealer has a blackjack. Both the insurance and the even money bet are sucker bets. The dealers will NOT have a ten more times than they will have one.

Surrender
Some casinos will allow you to surrender your hand and give up half your bet on your first two cards after the dealer checks for a blackjack. This is known as late surrender. This option is not offered in many casinos. It is to the player's advantage when played correctly. Unfortunately when it is offered many players surrender more hands than they should thus giving up the advantage gained by this option.

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Ryan Riess Beats Jay Farber, Wins 2013 WSOP Main Event

Ryan Riess Beats Jay Farber, Wins 2013 WSOP Main Event

Level

40

Blinds

600000/1200000

Ante

200000

Average Stack

190,560,000

Players Left

1

Tables Left

1

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10 More Essential Hold'em Moves: The Cold Four-Bet

There’s no simple fix for becoming a winning poker player but there are a handful of simple, easy-to-execute poker moves that can make a world of difference to your bottom line.

By fine-tuning these tactics you’ll have more tools to put to work at the poker table. You’ll be able to better understand your opponents and how to manipulate them, and that will translate directly to money in your pocket.

We already wrote the book on the 10 Essential Texas Hold’em Moves and now we’re back to bring you 10 more.

Today we're showing you the cold four-bet, one of the strongest preflop lines you can take in Texas Hold'em.

Used either as a bluff marked cards or for value, cold four-betting will make your opponents sit up and take notice, and then usually fold.

But since it's a four-bet it's not going to be cheap so we're here to show you the ins and outs of cold four-betting profitably.

The What: Cold four-betting refers to four-betting without having already put money into the pot. For example: The player under-the-gun raises, the cut-off three-bets and you cold four-bet from the button.

The Why: Because you're coming into the pot cold, with no money invested, a cold four-bet indicates very strong cards and will usually fold out anything but the most premium starting hands.

The Where: Cold four-betting is only done before the flop and just like the vast majority of poker moves it works best when you're in position. And since you need a raise and a re-raise in front of you, you'll find yourself cold four-betting from late position and the blinds most often.

The When: Cold four-betting works in cash games and tournaments but since you're putting in a fourth bet it doesn't work when you're shortstacked.

Cold Four-Betting the Right Way

If you're playing low-stakes cash games and tournaments chances are you're not seeing a lot of three-bets, let alone four bets.

And when you do see someone putting in a re-re-raise before the flop it's with pocket aces or kings. That means when you cold four-bet it's going to get the table's attention.

Cold four-betting is such a strong line preflop it makes for a very effective bluffing tool. But on the flip side, when you cold four-bet with pocket aces you're only going to get action from the very best hands.

And since you'll have to commit 20 big blinds or more to the raise, cold four-betting willy-nilly can be a huge leak.

In this article we're going to break down the mechanics of the cold four-bet, show you how to use it as a bluff and for value, and then give you a quick lesson on balancing your cold four-bet range.

Cold Four-Betting as a Bluff

In order to cold four-bet bluff profitably you need to find spots marked poker where it's likely the raiser and re-raiser in front of you are playing a wide range of hands and are likely to fold to another raise.

The two biggest factors in determining this are how loose/aggressive those players are and the positions from which they are raising and re-raising.

You should always be aware of how many hands your opponents are playing, and whether they're raising and re-raising more often than calling.

Look for players who are open-raising and three-betting a lot and go after them.

Similarly, most players will raise and re-raise with a wider range of hands when they're in late position.

There's a big difference between a raise and a re-raise from early position, compared to a raise from the cut-off and a re-raise from the button.

When you're cold four-bet bluffing always try to do it against players raising and re-raising from late position.

Also consider cold four-bet bluffing when you have an ace in your hand since it's less likely for your opponent to have aces or A-K.

Cold Four-Betting for Value

When cold four-betting for value look for the opposite conditions compared to when you're bluffing.

Since you're raising with what you believe is the best hand you want to do it against players who will call with worse.

Loose/passive calling stations are the best players to target since they'll rarely fold and will pay you off when they catch a piece of the flop.

While just flat-calling a three-bet when you've got a big hand like pocket aces or kings can be appealing, for beginners it's far better to raise and play a bigger pot against just one opponent.

You're always going to need a big hand to be cold four-betting for value but just like when you're bluffing, things change depending on what position your opponents are raising from.

At most tables you shouldn't be cold four-betting pocket jacks for value against a raise and a re-raise from early position, but it could be the right move against two loose, late-position raisers.

Balancing Your Cold Four-Bet Range

When you see an amateur cold four-bet it's safe to assume he has an absolute monster. That's because he only ever does it with pocket aces or kings.

That is to say his cold four-bet range is not balanced.

By mixing in bluffs you'll make yourself less predictable, and you'll get paid off more often when you do it with pocket aces.

Look for the loose, late-position raisers we described above and get creative with a few cold four-bet bluffs.

Most of the time you'll win the pot then and there, but when you do get five-bet shoved on and show 6♦ 7♦ you'll make your opponent think twice about folding when you do it with aces.

Cold Four-Betting in Action

Cold four-betting as a bluff is a high-risk maneuver and as you'll see in the clip below, even if you pick the perfect spot it can still blow up in your face.

In this hand from the WSOP Simon Muenz executes a great cold four-bet shove with 6♥ 7♥. It was a move that should have worked but somehow Veldhuis figures it out and makes the right call.

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The Last Word on Quitting

I've got to write this column. I know I shouldn't. Just a couple of weeks back I jumped all over poker writers who go on and on, giving advice about quitting.

How to quit, when to quit, what rules to use for quitting; ruminating over whether it's best to set proportion of bankroll limits or raw dollar limits; whether one should appeal to physical criteria ("I'm sooooo tired"), or emotional factors ("I'm tilting, tilting, tilt..."), or perhaps psychological thresholds ("My mind is a sieve with very large holes"). Whatever.

I hate this freakin' topic. But I gotta write about it, because everybody has it wrong. I need to begin by covering some boring trick cards stuff. Then, I'll tell you why all the honestly proffered advice isn't much good.

First, there's nothing special about quitting. By definition, we quit when the last hand is over. Every time we start we stop.

There are a lot of things that bring this about. Some of them are pretty obvious, like we've gone broke.

Tommy Angelo, in Elements of Poker, noted that when he was young (and stupid) he had a pretty simple rule. He would quit when he ran out of money and no one would lend him any. The modern version, of course, is: "Broke and maxed out the ATM."

Second, a lot of people are quite comfortable having no rule for quitting, other than their informed estimate of their edge in the current game. I've no quibbles with this. If you're a winning player with an edge in the game, then you shouldn't quit.

Even if they're smacking you around good right now, you should visit the ATM or hit up a buddy for another buy-in to keep in action, especially if you're doing this for a living.

But this isn't how most of us live our poker lives. We're not professionals and we don't need to do this.

Try this little thought experiment: You're a bank teller who likes to garden. It's Saturday, the sun is shining and gardening is good, very good. So you garden - all day long.

You're tired; you keep at it. You're getting calluses on your knees, thorns in your thumbs. It's great; you can almost feel the tomatoes starting their skyward climb, hear the bulbs thanking you. Keep at it.

Now it starts to rain. It gets cold and miserable. Forget the garden. It'll be there tomorrow. Go inside; have a cup of hot chocolate.

But if you're not a bank teller, but rather a professional gardener ... See the problem?

Third, think for a second about the mother of all poker clichés: "The game is all about decisions."Usually, the decisions are those concerning calling, folding and raising marked cards.

But there are others: when to play, where to play, when to move to another seat, another table, another game, another room.

Let's add one: when to quit.

Winning players fold more judiciously, call more carefully and raise more appropriately. They have better game-selection skills, change seats, tables and rooms judiciously, read hands more accurately. In general, they outplay their opponents.

They also out-quit them. Although, as Angelo succinctly put it: "Walking away is easy. The hard part is standing up."

Okay, that's the stuff you already knew, right? Now let's get to the deep question: What the hell is it that pegs us to our seats? Why is it so bloody tough to stand up, so hard to quit?

It shouldn't be, right? Like we said, we quit all the time; every session ends with a quit. We ought to be expert quitters. But we're not. At least most of us aren't, or else this idiotic topic wouldn't get chewed to death and written about ad nauseum.

Well, here's the answer; you may not like it. Too bad.

The thing that's pegging you to your chair is dopamine.

Dopamine? Yeah, dopamine. It's a neurotransmitter in your brain that is associated with rewards like food, sex, drugs and money ... and, importantly, the anticipation of such rewards.

When you're tired, bloody near broke, when you're tilting like a three-legged pinball machine and really, really should be going home you stop, look around, think, "Well, one more hand (or orbit, dealer change, hour, ...); then I'll get my sorry butt out of here."

That's the dopaminergic pathways in your brain talking. You've been conditioned. The setting is associated with the anticipation of reward and when you think staying thoughts, dopamine flows.

Now suppose you do manage to stand up, actually walk out. How do you feel?

Me, I always feel good. No more pull to play; no more nagging voice, "Come on baby, one more hand, just wanna play my button ..."

No more dopamine. The setting has changed. All the cues that had you had become conditioned to, that were fostering the secreting of neurotransmitters, aren't there. They're back in the cardroom, at the table, where you aren't anymore.

Angelo got close to the truth here. When you stand up, you begin the process of removing yourself from the setting that evokes the desire to play. Just by getting on your feet you've changed the context.

If it helps, appreciate that you, the devoted poker junkie, are not alone. Quitting isn't easy for a sculptor chipping away at a block of marble. It's a struggle for a lawyer who feels that she's finally getting some insight into the horrifically complex case she's working on ... or a gardener with a penchant for roses.

You can lay out all the gimmicks, gambits, rules, heuristics and principles. You can counsel people to set loss limits, win thresholds, win/loss windows, bankroll proportions. You can set time limits, vow never to play when you're tired, running a fever, feeling anxious.

But it won't do much good when your brain starts tugging at you, when the sound of riffled chips activates the nucleus accumbens (a brain area with a fondness for dopamine).

So, what's to be done about it? Nothing. I have no advice. And that's the name of that tune. Now, I hereby quit writing about quitting.

Author Bio:

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$250k in Freerolls, $200 Bonus for Full Tilt Relaunch

The new Full Tilt Poker will relaunch with a bang next month with $250,000 in freerolls and several more player perks as part of its "Deal Me In" promotion.

Announced today, the promotion is heavily incentivized to keeping players onsite and playing instead of cashing in their bankrolls when they marked cards become available Nov. 6.

Included in the player-friendly Deal Me In promo are:

• $250k in Daily Freerolls from Nov. 6-11
• $200+ Cash Bonus for real-money players plus Rush Poker ring-game ticket
• Around-the-Clock Happy Hour with Double Player Points
• FTP Store Sale
• FTOPS Satellite Frenzy with $300k in added entries

$10k Freerolls, Largest Bonus Ever

The first week of relaunch from Nov. 6-11 will feature daily freerolls with a total juice cards of $250k in prize money handed out.

The freerolls will cap off on November 11 with 10 separate freerolls with $10k prize pools for each.

Also on the table is the "biggest ever cash bonus" ever handed out by Full Tilt.

Existing real-money players will receive a cash bonus worth "at least $200," according to the release, and will also get a free Rush Poker ring-game ticket.

New Full Tilt players will be eligible for a first-time deposit bonus and the special cash bonus once they've begun real-money play.

Double Points for Relaunch Week, FTOPS Frenzy

Also available around the clock from Nov. 6-11 will be the famous Full Tilt Happy Hour with double the amount of player points earned on real-money play.

Discounted ring-game tickets and tournament tickets will be offered as part of a massive FTP Store sale. To follow up launch week, an FTOPS Satellite Frenzy later in the month will add $300k in bonus entries to FTOPS XXI satellites.

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Plastik Fantastik: David Plastik Seals Day 1D

David Plastik has partied with the Rolling Stones; but all he wants now is a winning year at the WSOP.

Plastik sat down with PokerListings.com on a break from Day 1D of the Main Event to talk about his highs and lows; and how earlier he was so sure he busted out that he actually left the room.

So how's your first day going?

Terrible. I've been up and down - I thought I was out of the tournament. I took a really bad beat with two kings. I got a sense the woman had outflopped me - she raised me big - and I got too stubborn marked cards. I moved all-in on a ten I'd flopped.

A lot of people wouldn't have folded anyway; and I lost. She flopped a set of tens; and I was down to around $3,000. I got all-in with two eights - with $3,000 in front of me - I was looking at A-T. The flop comes a ten, the turn comes a ten, so I left.

I took my jacket - I didn't even look at the board - I didn't notice I had a flush draw. I was at the door; and I was kind of looking back at the table, just out of curiosity. A reporter was at the table, taking notes, and he was looking at me - staring at me.

I thought, "What's going on?" I thought maybe I rivered an eight - I made a flush. They called me back to the table; and the dealer didn't want to push me the pot, because I'd walked away. We had to call the floor man.

I doubled up from there; and I've been back and forth between $12,000 and $4,000 and now I've got about $8,000 - but I don't think I'm playing my best game. I'm making a lot of lay-downs that are just... maybe I'm giving them too much credit.

It's getting late - are you tired?

It's not about being tired - I've just been mentally stressed out, through the whole month juice cards. I'm having a rough month - it's not the best World Series of Poker I've ever had - and it's stressful for a poker player. You want to make money.

This is the pinnacle of poker - you want to do well - and you don't want to be one of the losers. Unfortunately, right now I am; and it's a little tough. So maybe I'm second-guessing and doing those kinds of things.

I wish I'd gone with my first instinct - I'd probably still have a lot of chips; because I knew she had a set and I was stubborn. I had to see it. She was playing back at me; but that's how it is. We'll see - hopefully it turns around.

Do you have a plan for the rest of the night?

I'm pretty short, so I've basically got to play what I've got; and hopefully it will amount to something.

Is it time to go big or go home; or are you all right coming in a little low for Day 2B?

If I come back, that would probably be fine. I'm not going to hang around - I'm going to do the best I can to chip up. I'm not going to just sit there and try to blind down and survive. No, if I can make it to Day 2B with some chips - and I know I played for them - then I'm fine.

What do you think about the World Series schedule this year?

It's just not the same anymore. I liked it back years ago when it was a lot easier. You can't get a read on these players, because you have no idea who they are. I know one person from my table now. At my starting table I knew a lot of people; but I just don't know what these people are on.

I don't know how they play; and I've made mistakes because I can't figure these guys out. It's tough - the game's gotten too hard. We'll see.

* * * * * * * * * * *

What we saw after the interview was Plastik chipping up - and moving to tables where he knew a few more players - to end the day with around $25,000 in chips. David Plastik is one of the most genuine players in poker; and PokerListings.com will be watching his every move at the 2007 WSOP.

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The Turn: Pot Odds for Fourth Street

Players who rely on memorized Hold'em odds and outs, rather than knowing where the numbers come from, limit themselves to playing a game exclusively based on "on the flop" odds.

Although these are arguably the most important odds (as the flop is commonly seen as the most important street in Hold'em), playing profitable poker means making the correct decisions on all streets. A brilliant call on the flop is completely negated by misplaying the turn.

For these players who have merely memorized the flop numbers, they common system they use for the turn is simply cutting the flop numbers in half. Although this will give you an idea of where to start from, it's not exactly a perfect solution.

Pot Odds

Pot odds can be a little bit tricky. Almost everyone knows that a flopped flush draw is about 2-1 to hit, meaning they need better than 2-1 odds to play the hand.

I commonly see players making the mistake of using the same equation for the turn. Let's run a hypothetical scenario:

You're in a $2/$5 game on the button with $500 in your stack, holding A♦ K♦. Middle position makes a standard raise of $25. You call infrared contact lenses after it's folded to you; the blinds muck their hands, leading you heads-up to the flop.

Pot: $57

The flop comes 2♦ T♦ 4♣ - you've flopped the nut-flush draw. For some reason, poker players seem to ignore odd dead money when calculating the pot size, meaning your opponent ignores the blinds, and views the pot as $50. They bet $50.

Pot: $107

You need to call $50 - you're getting just barely over 2-1 on your money. On straight pot odds you're pretty much breaking even here, but if you hit on the turn you feel you can make a few more bets, plus you might be good if you can hit an ace. You call.

Pot: $157

Turn: [2♦ T♦ 4♣] [8♥]

The pot is now starting to get large. You have $425 in your stack, making the pot over one-third of your stack. This is turning into a sizable pot for the table, with two streets of betting left to go.

Your opponent thinks you might be on the draw, or you have a set and are trapping. In case you're on the draw, they don't want to let you draw for free: they bet $100.

Pot: $257

Now from your experience playing with this player, you now know that they have AA or KK. But since you don't know which one, you can only count on hitting your flush for the win. You have to call $100 to see a river. What should you do?

Most beginner marked cards players here make an instant call. The bet is less than the pot, and the pot is going to be nice and large for them if you hit their nut draw.

You're getting 2.57-1 on your money, even better odds than you got on the flop, and it was an easy call on the flop. Seems like it should be an easy call on the turn as well.

In reality, you're 20% to win the pot here (assuming you're up against AA). You're a 4-1 dog, getting 2.5-1 on your money.

Your pot odds here are horrific. Your opponent would have had to bet around $50 for you to make a profitable call here.

An Interesting Brain Fart

The concept of drawing odds on the flop used to mess with my brain when I was a beginner. I used to wonder "How can it be correct to call with +2-1 odds on the flop when you know they will bet the turn again?"

When you think about it, in reality you're only seeing one card, not two, before you encounter another bet.

Your odds for hitting the flush on the turn specifically are about 20%. I figured it made more sense to need 4-1 odds to make a call even on a flop.

My beginner brainwaves are actually logically sound - in reality you are only seeing one card. The reason you can safely call getting better than 2-1 odds on the flop has to do with a whole bunch of factors beyond simple pot odds.

You have to consider implied odds, setups and live-pair draws. Most importantly, you have to consider how often the flop bet is a bluff, semi-bluff or c-bet.

In the majority of these situations, you are going to see a river without a bet on the turn, allowing you to draw two cards for your call. On top of that, you'll actually be ahead of many of these bluffs.

The concept behind this reasoning is this: You do not know what will happen on later streets, you must make the correct choice for the current action with the information you have.

It is simply not possible to play profitable poker on assumptions and hopes.

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SNG ABCs: The Resteal

Everyone knows a successful sit-and-go player has to steal blinds. As the blinds go up, players know they need to make moves to survive.

Though most players know how essential stealing is, few actually take it a step further and resteal with any sort of regularity.

The concept is simple. If players are stealing, they are raising with less-than-stellar holdings.

These players will often fold to a reraise, forfeiting their original raise. This wins you not only the raise but also the blinds.

Restealing at opportune moments can sometimes make the difference between being blinded out of the money and going on to win the proverbial bracelet.

The Ideal Opponent

Though restealing seems like a simple concept, it's actually fairly complex.

It requires the perfect mix of the right timing, the right opponent, the right table image and the right hand.

The ideal opponent for a resteal is an aggressive blind-stealer.

Ideally, you'd rather resteal against a good player than a bad one.

Good players frequently steal from late position but do not want to risk their chips in marginal situations.

Bad players, however, still know how to steal but don't have that same risk aversion.

A bad player will be more likely marked poker to raise a hand like Q♥ J♠, then call off 10 BBs more because he feels he is "pot-committed."

Agood player will not do this. A good player will realize he's been caught, muck his hand and move on.

It Should Be Obvious Who the Winners Are

Watch the table flow.

It should be fairly obvious who the winning players are. If they are often raising from the button and cut-off, you can likely infer that these players are decent sit-and-go players.

If you play sit-and-gos a lot you should take notes on players who go deep frequently.

Keeping track of the regs is just as important as keeping track of the fish.

There are plenty of regulars who grasp the concept of stealing but fail to realize that they are often getting re-stolen from.

Watch Your Table Image

Table image is a crucial factor in all facets of poker.

It's especially important in sit-and-gos.

If you've been raising regularly, a few times an orbit, and restealing against late-position raisers, players are bound to catch on.

They are going to view you as a maniac and they are going to want to bust you.

If you don't change speeds, it's inevitable that eventually some player is going to look you up.

Be cognizant of how you are perceived at the table - some players love standing up to the table bully and others are more than happy to wait and hope another player takes him on.

Try and identify which player is which, then avoid the former and punish the latter.

That way you can maximize how often your opponents fold and minimize the chances they will call.

Seldom a Good Idea to Re-Shove Any Two

The nature of the resteal is that you're doing it with a less-than-awesome hand.

If you were reraising with AA, it wouldn't be a steal, would it? No; it would be for value.

So the idea is you do marked cards it with an average hand. You know your opponent is raising light and you are banking on him folding. Your hand value isn't as important.

That being said, it's seldom a good idea to just re-shove any two.

There is always a chance you'll be called so when you do re-shove you want to have some type of hand to fall back on.

For example T♥ 9♥ does a lot better versus K♦ K♣ than 3♠ 8♥ does.

You're relying on fold equity, but you need to have some hand value as a backup plan.

A Li'l Somethin' on Fold Equity

Since you're relying on fold equity, it doesn't make much sense restealing without fold equity, does it?

No it doesn't. But people attempt to do it all the time.

If you're reraising without fold equity, it better be for value.

The resteal is an attempt to steal the pot. If your opponent is pot-committed, he's not going to fold.

So add up your reraise, his raise and the blinds, and if his call is laying him 2-1 or better, do not resteal. Fold and wait for a better spot.

Fold equity is the single determining factor in choosing whether to steal or resteal.

If you have a good reason to believe that the original raiser is going to fold, you can absolutely shove very light on him.

It's a move that, when added to your repertoire, will start winning you pots you had no business being in in the first place.

It's a move that feels great when you pull it off and makes you feel like an idiot those times you do get called.

However, if you follow my instructions and look for good spots against known stealers, you'll find yourself getting more folds than calls.

Posted by: Fiona at 02:21 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Crash Course in Zoom Poker Strategy

Chances are you’ve seen the Zoom Poker beta in the PokerStars lobby.

Below is a guide to getting started in Zoom Poker including some background information and basic strategy tips.

Follow these guidelines and you’ll be putting in Isildur1-style volume in no time!

What is Zoom Poker?

PokerStars’ Zoom Poker is a high-action online poker variant similar to the old Rush Poker on Full Tilt Poker.

The basic premise is simple: fold your hand and immediately get a new one at a new table with new players. If you hit the fast-fold button, you can even fold before the action is on juice cards you and get reseated even quicker.

It’s essentially poker for adrenaline junkies as the action never stops.

If you’ve ever 8-tabled online poker or played multi-tasking video games like Starcraft there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy the speed of Zoom Poker.

Right now Zoom Poker is offered in No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha and Five-Card Draw and at up to four tables per player.

What’s Good About Zoom Poker (Hint: Volume)

Zoom Poker is a godsend for any ADD-riddled poker player who simply needs more action.

It’s also very good for generating massive amounts of frequent player points and for players trying to reach SuperNova status. For those who don’t know, PokerStars has a very lucrative VIP program with prizes, cashback and more.

You can triple or even quadruple the amount of hands you can play in an hour quite easily with Zoom Poker. That means that even if you’re breaking even you might be earning cash in the form of some serious FPPs.

Downside of course is you’re paying more in rake, but if you're a solid player you should be making it up in FPPs.

Is it Real Poker?

This remains a contentious issue as Zoom Poker is lacking one major aspect of regular poker – the chance to develop a read on a player.

Because you’re always moving to another table you’ll constantly be playing marked cards lenses against opponents you know nothing about. It gives the game a much more robotic feel.

It also means that math plays heavier into the game as well as the ability to develop quick reads on virtually unknown opponents.

Zoom Poker also discourages seasoned grinders from hunting inexperienced players because they are constantly being moved.

Differences from Rush Poker

Although very similar there are a few differences that separate Zoom Poker from FTP’s Rush Poker. Amongst them:

• No Rakeback. One of the best features of Full Tilt’s Rush Poker was the ability to earn rakeback. There is no rakeback on PokerStars. Fortunately you can earn FPPs, which are almost as good.
• Only Cash Games. PokerStars has yet to release tournament Zoom Poker.
• Sit Out Options. You can actually choose to sit out the next hand or the next big blind. In Rush Poker you could only sit out the next hand.
• Smooth Software. Although it’s still in beta, Zoom Poker seems to run a bit smoother than Rush Poker. It’s clear the PokerStars developers spent a lot of time on it.

Some Strategy Tips for Zoom Poker

• Tight tends to be right in Zoom Poker. No one can tell how tight you’re playing so it’s possible to fold every hand unti you get aces and stack someone who has AK.
• Speaking of AK, be careful with it. It’s far weaker in Zoom Poker than in a normal game.
• You can watch the end of a hand by holding the CNTRL key when you click the fold button (That’s the command button on Macs).
• There are several different Zoom table animations. Some feel faster than others. You can find these by clicking ‘Options’ > ‘Table Display Options’ > ‘Zoom Animation’. We like ‘Flip’ a lot but default ‘Fade’ still seems fastest
• Play fewer tables with Zoom Poker (It’s freaking fast!)
• Be mindful of your blinds as you’ll pay more of them
• The big blind is the only player who doesn’t have the option of fast folding. Expect a wider-range of starting hands.
• Each Zoom Poker "game” can have hundreds of players. You can open multiple tables in the same game.
• Be prepared for massive swings as you’ll being playing a massive number of hands
• You’ll see a fair amount of min-bets from late position as people attempt to steal a pot off the players who have already fast folded.
• Quite often you’ll run into deep stacks with 100+ big blinds behind. Check this article on NLHE Deep Stack strategy.

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Your Bankroll Part 1: How Big Is Big Enough?

In this first installment of a two-part article, I hope to give you a little more insight into how to choose the size of your roll.

The advice out there on bankroll size is sparse, and doesn't delve deep enough to be of concrete help to the average player.

To come to a conclusion on how large your bankroll needs to be, you first need to answer a few questions about the game, and how you intend to play it.

What Is Poker to You?

The first question you have to answer is the most important: What is poker to you? Is it a game, a hobby, an obsession or a profession?

How Do You Play Poker?

If you answered marked card tricks anything other than "obsession" or "profession", then this question is moot to you.

Are you TAG, LAG or something else entirely? Do you like to gamble, or do you wait for the nuts? Are you willing to push your stack on the come with a semi-bluff, or are you only playing made hands?

Are you only playing live, or are you playing online? If you're playing online, are you multi-tabling?

What Is Your Quality of Life?

This question is only applicable to players who are choosing to play poker professionally.

Do you live at home, pay rent, mortgage? Do you own a car, a boat? How many loans do you have? Do you like to eat KD or filet mignon? What is your minimum monthly needed income to sustain your current standard of living? Are you happy with your current standard, or do you want to make an improvement?

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The Truth About Playing "Rushes"

We've all been there. We win a few hands in a row and, predictably, start telling jokes, high-fiving and gleefully stacking chips while broadcasting our genius to all within earshot.

It is almost irresistible. We're on a "rush." It's a real high. We feel invulnerable. We believe it was our skill that led to this tsunami of chips in front of us.

Eventually reality will tiptoe back in, but who cares? Of course, there isn't anything wrong with this. Winning a whole lot of chips is great fun and if we can't enjoy these moments, what's the point?

But, on many an occasion the guy who just went on that rush will then do something very interesting.

He'll look down at his cards on the next hand, call an early-position raise from a tight marked cards player and say, almost sheepishly, "Hey man, gotta play my rush" and proceed to make what he knows is a strategically poor play.

Is this sensible? Is it smart to play a rush - in the sense that, in the long run, doing so provides additional profits? Or is it stupid - in the equivalent sense that it costs you money in the long run? In short, are rushes "real?"

The answers are tricky. I can think of at least three fairly obvious reasons why someone might want to play a rush, not of all of them convincing.

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"Good" Players vs. Winning Players in Poker

Most people assume a good poker player is a winning poker player and vice versa.

I don't think this is right, but differentiating between them is a bit tricky - maybe more than you think.

A "winning" player is one who, over enough time and a sufficient number of hands for the data to be statistically reliable, takes more money off the table than he puts on it.

"Good" is trickier. You can be a good player without being a winning player. I know, that feels a little weird. It isn't.

How to Be Good

A couple of weeks back I did a little pop psychology riff on Zen. We mused on the affective elements of the game, looking for ways to maintain emotional equilibrium no matter what was happening.

In essence, we were looking at ways to become a "good" player. If this also made you into a "winning" player, that would be cool, but it's not necessary and certainly not guaranteed.

Indeed, figuring out what makes a "good" player isn't straightforward. For starters, good poker players have fun, and they'd better - because they're almost certainly going to lose.

Very few come out ahead over the long haul, due to differing skill levels and/or the house rake, the "vig."

Many (most?) players don't quite grasp the role the vig plays in low-stakes games where the vast majority of players are found.

In a $2/$4 limit game, the typical maximum rake is from a reasonable $3 to a crushing $5, and I've seen $6!

Add the dealer's tip and the bad beat jackpot takeout that players have a preternatural (and unfortunate) affection for, and up to 2BBs get sliced out of each sizable pot.

This rake is essentially impossible to overcome.

So, while it'd be nice to be a winning trick cards player, the truth is that most of you won't be. So don't sweat it.

Poker is Recreation

Poker is, at heart, a form of recreation. Recreation costs money. Movies cost, tickets to a hockey game cost, a dinner out costs.

We are all perfectly content to "lose" money in our preferred forms of recreation and "good" poker players view the game in just this way.

Good players also think about the game, how they're playing, how others are playing. They read, talk with friends and contribute to the dozens of Internet chat rooms and discussion groups.

If you're not already active in one of these groups, join in. You'll find an astonishing array of smart, engaging people - and, of course, the occasional flame-thrower.

Just ignore them. Good players treat poker like a hobby, where you keep learning and look to improve.

Good players also work to diminish variance. There's a natural fluctuation to the game, and everyone is going to have ups and downs, but the game is far easier to enjoy when the swings are modulated.

Lowering variance also makes it easier to play your best game more of the time. Few things derail the average player more than a huge hit to their bankroll.

The Most Complex Game Played?

One aspect of the game that gets lost in a lot of these discussions is that poker is likely the most complex competitive game routinely played.

It is more complex, has more interwoven strategic levels and is tougher to master than any of the other supposedly intricate games like bridge and chess.

You chess mavens out there can scream all you want, but if you understand both games at anything close to a deep level, you know what I'm talking about.

Can You Win Without Being Good?

OK; now you see how you can be a "good" player without being a "winning" player. Can you be a "winning" player but not be a "good" player?

Absolutely. There won't be many of this breed, but they are out there. My guess - since I've got no data here I'm running on my own fumes - is that there are at least three kinds of winning players who are not particularly good players.

First, there are the highly aggressive players with little regard for money, ones who view the game as a deadly competition, or a parade ground for their egos.

These guys (and they are almost always men) can be long-term winners from a strictly cash point of view but not be good players in anything like the descriptions above.

Their visits to tiltville will undercut their game. The stress that comes with approaching each session with such a highly tuned competitiveness will eventually take its toll.

And, most critically, the high variability that a playing style like this carries with it will mean that this type of marked cards player will often not be playing his A-game.

Most of these "action junkies" won't be winning players 10 years down the road unless they make serious adjustments.

Then there are the unmovable rocks, the tightest of the tight. Their style will ultimately yield a positive EV so, by definition, they are "winning" players.

But they will not be "good" players. They are often skinflints who play every day looking to grind out a couple of bucks for lunch, the car payment, rent.

They're not having fun, and don't enjoy themselves - when they play poker, they are essentially going to work.

They have no A-game, because they are so protective of their bankrolls that they stay at B level. That's OK for them, but I wouldn't want to spend my life this way.

Lastly, There's Me

Lastly, there are folks like me. I'm a long-term positive EV guy. I know this because I keep records and am brutally honest with myself.

But I don't think I am a good player. In fact, I am a better poker writer than a poker player.

I have too many brain farts, moments where I flatline and do something mind-bendingly stupid.

When these mental lacunae happen they undo hours and hours of "good" play. Worse, I get really, really ticked at myself and end up howling at the moon like a wolf who's lost his kill.

In these moments I do not have fun and so, by my definition, I am not a "good" player.

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Vegas for Low-Limit Professionals Part 3

In part three of three in my guide to Vegas, I'll cover all the things you can spend your roll on when you're not playing the game.

Vegas offers some of the world's best entertainment. It would be a shame to make a trip to the city without enjoying some of the world-class entertainment it has to offer. The only problem with all this grandeur is the sizable dent it puts into your roll. A night out in Vegas can quickly become very expensive.

The Shows

Every casino in town has its own show or shows. The casinos will sign big names such as Jerry Seinfeld, Elton John, Prince, Celine Dion and Tina Turner for weekly appearances. On top of the concerts and comedy, you'll have Cirque du Soleil, cabaret and magic shows to choose from.

You could see a different high-quality show every day of the week. At around $100 a ticket, it can get expensive to see everything you'd like. These shows truly are one of a kind, and I recommend you get yourself into a seat for at least one of them.

The Shopping

I'm not a shopper. I avoid malls like the plague and have a hard time spending more than 10 minutes inside a store. That said trick cards, the shopping in Vegas is amazing. The forum shops at Caesars give you a chance to try on shirts that cost more than my first car. Armani, Donna Karen, Gucci... even a non-shopper like me can appreciate high-quality goods.

The Great Outdoors

Believe it or not, there is actually an outdoors to Vegas as well. Most of you will spend 98% of all your time indoors in the city, but there's a lot to do out in the surrounding Mojave Desert.

Golf: It's no secret that lots of poker players are also big fans of golf. Vegas offers courses a short cab ride from the strip. It might seem odd to have a lush green course in the middle of a desert, but they do it and do it well.

The other advantage to playing golf in Vegas is you can always find someone willing to play you for your roll. If you're the next Ty Webb, it could be a good place to pick up a few bucks.

Tours: The Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam make up the majority of the tours you'll find around town. If you've never been, both are worth a look. No better way to see them than in a glass-bottom helicopter.

One thing to keep in mind: It's ridiculously hot all the damn time. You might think to yourself "Wow, I had no problem getting a 1 p.m. tee time in the middle of July!" Unless you're used to 115-degree heat and direct sun, I'd try to keep my skin indoors around this time.

When you're driving down the strip in your air-conditioned cab, you'll have the pleasure of seeing a look akin to "I think my intestines are starting to boil" on the faces of people walking from one casino to the one next door (if you've never been to Vegas, you'll learn that "next door" or "Just one block away" translates into an epic hike).

Once they get to the halfway point you can spot a look of terror, now that they realize they're committed to the task at hand. I try to avoid the outdoors in the state of Nevada between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Nightclubs

Vegas is in the running for having some of the world's greatest nightclubs. I don't think it's possible to beat L.A., but that doesn't stop them from trying. Between clubs such as Rain, PURE, Tryst, LAX, Tao and Jet you'll be sure to find your fill of drinks, dancing, celebrities and good tunes.

The free drinks theme of the Vegas casino is not continued in the clubs. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I highly recommend you search various Web pages, or ask around, to find out how to get on VIP lists for these clubs. There are multiple levels of VIP, and even being a VIP might still land you a four-hour wait in line.

The only way to be a true playa marked cards is to grease your way in. After greasing the bouncer for a bill, and paying cover, you're now in the club for $130. If you want to be a someone in the club, you're going to need a table. Where else will you bring someone to sit and chill out with you?

To get a table, you have to buy a bottle. A bottle of your favorite booze (Grey Goose, Crown Royal, etc.) will cost from $400-$600. Wait in line, and have a great time for $30 plus your drinks, or be the (wo)man and fork over half a G - your choice.

Gentleman's (and Ladies'!) Clubs

Don't be fooled by the name: women are welcomed and encouraged to partake in the dark seedy world of the gentleman's clubs. As is the way in Sin City, they do everything they can to "class the joint up." The peelers in this town are largely very attractive "normal" women, working in a moderately attractive and "nice" establishment.

You can usually get a free cab to the peelers, as the club will pay the cab for bringing people to its doors. This might seem like a good idea, but it means you will be charged full cover because you arrived in a cab. If you show up on your own steam, you can usually haggle for a reduced fee, if they charge you at all.

Out of all the clubs in the town, my personal favorite is the world-famous Spearmint Rhino. Not only do they have more girls working at any given time than you can keep track of, but you can have a table or seat without having to pay a VIP premium, and the girls all come and sit on your lap to "chat."

You can sit down, have a few drinks, watch some professional dancing and leave, having spent very little. Or you could rock the private dances, and leave having spent a whole heck of a lot - your choice.

If you do decide to pony up for the VIP room at the Rhino, you might find yourself partying with a well-known poker professional. His Mercedes SLR McLaren has been known to be parked out front.

If scantily clad women aren't your thing, how about scantily clad men? The most obvious choice here would be the world-famous Chippendales. Male strippers, and a lounge featuring an all-male serving team "tastefully dressed"... or undressed.

Some ladie friends of mine just returned from Vegas and can't stop rhapsodizing about "The Thunder From Down Under" at the Excalibur. Apparently the show is worth a look or two. They opted for three trips to visit the dancing Aussies.

Do I Feel Lucky? Well Do Ya Punk?

The Gun Store. It's not a short cab ride, but it's well worth it. It still seems odd to me that any adult can hand over their ID to have a guy with arms larger than my thighs hand them back a carbine assault rifle, a magazine and a box of ammo without a single moment of hesitation.

The walls behind the counter are covered in firearms of every variety. From a .45 Dirty Harry Magnum, to a Bonny and Clyde Tommy gun, they have what you want to shoot. If you're from countries with strict gun control, such as Australia, this place will really be a trip for you.

The snub-nosed .45 magnum kicks like a mule. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Flights and Fights

If you're in North America, the continental United States especially, you can find yourself dirt cheap airfare to Vegas. It's not hard to find a flight for $99. Plan ahead a little bit and you can find your way to the action, no problem.

Before you book your flight, you might want to check to see if there are any good fights going down. Many of the biggest boxing matches are held in Vegas, along with a large number of UFC events. Some of the high-profile fights are next-to-impossible to get tickets to, but you never know.

I recommend everyone go to Vegas at least once in their life, whether they gamble or not. It's a city unlike anything you've experienced. If you're a poker player, you have no excuses. Print out this article, book your flight and go have the time of your life.

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Turning Your Hand into a Bluff

The other day I was playing in a $1/$2 game at the local casino when this hand came up.

The UTG player raises to $15. UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls; it's folded to the cut-off who calls, as does the button.

The small blind folds and the big blind calls. The flop comes K♠ K♣ 9♥. Everyone checks to the button, who bets $55. It is folded to UTG+2, who shoves all-in.

Everyone folds and he proudly turns over pocket aces. Successfully trapped the field, right?

Wrong. What he did was he turned his pocket aces into a bluff. No worse hand will ever call the check-raise and no better hand is ever going to fold. So effectively his AA is just as good as say five-high.

When you make a bet, you want to do it for a reason.

What reason would our hapless hero have to shove all-in? It wouldn't be a value bet, because he's not very likely to get called by any worse hands.

So that makes it a bluff, meaning he wants to make a better hand fold. Unfortunately for him, there are no better hands, except for triple kings or a full house. None of these is ever going to fold marked poker.

Hence, he turns his hand with decent showdown value into a bluff since the only way he can win is by having his opponent fold.

This is a counterintuitive way to play poker. If you're letting David Sklansky's fundamental theory of poker guide you at the felt, you should be playing your hand the exact same way you would if you knew your opponent's hole cards.

When you think about that in light of the pocket aces hand, would you:

a) Blow everyone out of the hand that didn't contain a king?

or

b) Check-shove into someone who you knew had a king or a full house?

No; of course you wouldn't. So don't go doing the same thing now just because you don't know your opponent's cards.

Effectively it boils down to the same outcome. You're still going to only win marked cards the pot by having everyone fold, and those times you are called you're going to be waaaay behind in a big pot.

To ensure you're not turning your hand into a bluff, you need to be fully cognizant of what it is you're trying to achieve. This isn't always as obvious as check-shoving AA on a KKx board.

Let's look at another example.

You're playing $1/$2 NL, effective stacks $200. Game is tight-aggressive, six-max online. You have A♦ K♦.

You raise to $9 from under the gun. It's folded to the small blind, who calls. (The small blind plays a fairly standard TAG game. He's a winner in the game and you have never seen him do anything too spazzy.)

The big blind folds. The flop comes A♥ 6♦ 7♣. Your opponent checks and you bet $15; your opponent flat-calls. The turn is T♦.

Your opponent now bets $45.

Should you raise? I would argue no. If you raise, what are you hoping to accomplish?

Would it be a raise for value? A tight, solid player is very rarely going to be calling with a worse hand in this spot. Thus if you were to raise it would be to make a better hand fold.

However, there are very few better hands outs there. 6-7 is one, as well as 8-9, and A-T and 66, 77, TT. Of these, not one is going to fold to your turn raise. Meaning if you raise the turn, your hand becomes a bluff.

Whether you call or not is up to you and is situation-dependent. However, here raising is counterproductive.

When you're playing No-Limit Hold'em, you must realize turning a hand with good showdown value into a complete bluff is a grievous error that must be avoided at all costs.

Luckily for you, it is easy to avoid.

If you ask yourself, "Am I raising for value or to get a better hand to fold?" before you act, you'll usually be able to avoid these troublesome situations altogether!

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PokerListings to Debut €150k Battle of Malta Tourney

PokerListings.com is proud to announce the launch of the first-ever "Battle of Malta” live tournament to be held at the Portomaso Casino in St. Julian’s, Malta, from Nov. 22-25, 2012.

With €150,000 in guaranteed prize money and just a €550 buy-in, PokerListings’ debut event on the live tournament scene is already set to be one of the most high-value, player-friendly destination tournaments on the market.

"After almost a decade of providing live poker tournament coverage,” PokerListings CEO Martin Carlesund said, "we have a good idea what pokermarked cards players look for in a live event and this one hits those elements.

"With the perfect setting, easy and cheap flights, a stacked lineup of celebrities and poker pros plus built-in media exposure, this is an easy win for mid-stakes players across Europe and especially for the booming poker market in Italy."

Packages are now available to poker site operators for just €1,400. Each includes:

• €500+€50 buy-in to the Main Event
• Four nights’ stay in a deluxe suite at the Five-Star Hilton Malta
• Daily breakfast and dinner buffet
• VIP opening cocktail party at Malta’s renowned Club Twenty Two

Expect a high-profile celebrity host, dozens of giveaways and daily side events, making it a guaranteed win for operators looking to further their brand and poker players looking for a big return on a low-range bankroll.

"I’ve toured the world covering marked card tricks poker tournaments,” says Matthew Showell, Editor-in-Chief of PokerListings.com, "and this event combines the best of the best for the low- to mid-stakes tournament player.”

"The climate’s perfect, beers are cheap, the hospitality will be first-rate and, without a doubt, the side games are the softest you’ll find anywhere. If I wasn’t covering it, I’d be playing it for sure.”

On top of offering packages via online qualifiers or their VIP stores, operators will also have access to exclusive branding opportunities onsite including on the final-table felt and on the high-traffic PokerListings.com tournament coverage section.

Five packages are already available via freeroll and five $10 Battle of Malta tournaments at Titan Poker. For more info and to be eligible to play, check here..

For more information about the Battle of Malta, check out the full Operators information kit or Players information kit.

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Most Inspiring Player Naoya Kihara: Use Your Own Style and Enjoy the Game

The question has buzzed around the poker community for a few years now:

How do we bring more recreational players into poker and how do we keep them playing?

For an industry that thrives on new blood much of the focus over the last few years has shifted to the hardcore, full-time grinder.

At PokerListings, our mission has always been a little different. We've always strived to bring and keep new juice cards players to the game, and that's the essence of our first-ever Spirit of Poker Awards.

To celebrate successful players iin poker who also go out of their way to encourage and inspire new players to pick up the game we all love.

We gave out three awards this year - each of which will be presented live at the PokerListings Battle of Malta - but our marquee award is definitely the Most Inspiring Player award.

With big names like Daniel Negreanu, Max Lykov and Marvin Rettenmaier among the nominees Japan's Naoya Kihara might have been considered a longshot to win.

But those who have met him know just how much time, effort and positivity he brings to the game and it certainly wasn't surprising to us to see his name rise to the top.

We're thrilled to call Kihara our 2013 Most Inspiring Player and got his thoughts on the award, his success and how we can keep bringing the game of poker to the world.

PokerListings: You were matched up with some impressive names in the Most Inspiring Player category. How does it feel to win over such a tough field?

Naoya Kihara: I'm very surprised and thrilled to win the award. Now I really feel like the poker community has an interest in the Japanese market. I need to continue sharing how much fun poker is!

PL: Is there anyone in particular you’ve found inspiring in your poker career?

NK: Four years ago when I went to Las Vegas for the first time I played with one Chinese guy. He played 50% of hands and made really good bluffs and value bets. Beforethat,all the good players I played with were tight-aggressive but that was my first time to see a really good loose-aggressive pro.

And last year at ACOP I played with Joseph Cheong in a tournament. At that time, I understood we shouldn't worry too much about giving off implied odds but now I think about odds more correctly.

PL: What piece of advice would you give players (young and old) getting into the game now?

To new players: Play a lot of hands. You should play different kinds of poker also. Two years ago I started playing PLO mainly, which made my NLHE better.

Last year I started 8-game, and I learned how important it is to get thin value from limit games.

To older players: Let's enjoy poker more. You don't need to fit the young players' style too much.

If you've played a 3x open style you don't need to switch to small-ball style, just use your own style and enjoy poker. I think it's the best way.

PL: What does the poker community need to do to keep bringing new players into the game?

NK: We need to show how fun and exciting a game poker is. When people talk about poker, always a lot of the story is about big money.

When new people hear about poker and big money, it can feel daunting and dangerous. But if we play tournaments we can play poker even without big money. We can enjoy this game even with the new player.

PL: What’s one thing we should definitely stop doing?

NK: Beginners sometimes make bad calls and sometimes catch a few outs. After a bad beat some players try to show how bad that call was. These players don't know what a bad thing they're doing.

Poker is just a game and if we keep to the rules, everything is allowed. The beginner made a bad odds call, but he made no "bad action.” People need to stop yelling at our opponents' playing marked cards.

PL: The legal situation for poker in Japan is a bit complex – how hard is it to maintain a professional poker career without much understanding of the game there?

NK: It is really hard to acquire professional skill in Japan with such a small community and live cash games being illegal. If we want to play cash games in Macau or Las Vegas, we need to win much more to pay for hotel and airfare for example.

But after you learn the skills to be a poker pro it isnot as hard to maintain it! Now I have enough skill to win more and pay for hotels and airfare.

Three really good things about being a Japanese poker pro:

• Japanese people don't need visas to travel to a lot of countries.
• Japan is a really safe country, so we don't need to worry about getting robbed.
• Because it is safe we have really a lot of 24-hour shops.

PL: How important/supportive has the Japanese poker community been to your success and can you tell us a bit about it?

NK: The biggest Japanese poker forum 'hyahhoo' is really supportive for me. I got the most votes for this award but I guess many of them are from the 'hyahhoo' forum.

We have a hand review forum there and I always give advice to them but sometimes we have a good discussion that can change my poker game for the better.

PL: What things have you seen both in Japan and on the professional circuit that most inspire new players to pick up the game?

NK: There is Shogi, Igo and Mahjong in Japan and all are popular in Japan. But the rules are so complicated and difficult.

To teach the rules of them it’s more difficult than to teach a beginner all of 8-game. Poker rules are simple and easy. But, of course, to be a good player is really difficult.

And, everybody in every country, people love money! There is a big dream to get a lot of money after our skills go up. I proved this to Japan last year and Moneymaker proved in 2003.

PL: Any thoughts on playing the Battle of Malta? Have you been here before? Any expectations for the tournament?

NK: It is the first time to come here. We are coming to Malta not only for poker but as a honeymoon too. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of beautiful sights. Especially we want to see the beautiful sea.

PL: Any special words for your fans/family?

NK: Poker is a really exciting game. Let's enjoy this great game together!

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Dan "Jungleman" Cates Drops Stakes for Battle of Malta

Dan "Jungleman" Cates has played in the highest cash games online, earning close to $10 million over the course of his career, so it was surprising when he agreed to come down and play marked cards the PokerListings Battle of Malta.

Event host Kara Scott was just as curious as us so she spoke with Cates to find out what drew him to this particular Mediterranean island.

Keep an eye on our Battle of Malta page for continuing updates as we play down to the first ever Battle of Malta champion.

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Photo Blog: WSOP 2013 Main Event Days 4 and 5

It's Day 5 at the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event and PokerListings.com is making it easier than ever to get a look at the action through the magic of photography.

Sure, the written word is a beautiful thing but in this fast-paced rat-race world marked cards who's got the time?

That's why we're using pictures to give you a glimpse of what it's really like at the WSOP Main Event with our latest WSOP Photo Blog.

Check out the pics and make sure to click through to see the innovative gigapixel panoramas we're taking at the World Series.

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How Bitcoin is Making a Few Average Poker Players Rich

Online poker has long been the bane of existence for tax-hungry, powerful politicians around the world.

Even in nations that are labeled as "free,” you better believe that performing the unthinkable act of playing Hold’em in the privacy of your home can make you a hardened criminal worthy of a SWAT team visit.

Though, as all players know, it’s not the game the lawmakers are after; it’s the money.

This is why Bitcoin are a thorn in the side of every politico marked cards from California to Caracas. The cryptocurrency is digitally signed for and exists over a massive decentralized network of computers.

It’s not Fed-controlled; it’s not accounted for by the EU. It was created out of thin air, in a sense, and belongs to the people – not the powers that be.

And when Bitcoin and poker join forces, it truly changes the game.

How Bitcoin is Revolutionizing the Online Game

Poker players, in a lot of ways, speak their own language. But they’ve never had their own currency.

Until now, anyway. Bitcoin speaks its own language, too, and it’s indecipherable.

Using terms like giga-hashers, Bitcoin mining, cryptography, DPS, SHA 256, and other technical jargon that even some computer science majors at MIT can’t understand, Bitcoin have made it nearly impossible for currency to be traced, tracked or taxed.

Think of Bitcoin like a hack-around -- not like a basic currency which involves banking. It operates in the P2P atmosphere, like the latest Nicolas Cage straight-to-video release. But it doesn’t take a mind able to comprehend Bitcoin to understand how it's changing the game of poker.

Instead of having to deal with banks and creditors to make deposits you simply deal in Bitcoin – unregulated, unmarred 1s and 0s created through mining.

A Bitcoin poker site, like SealsWithClubs, works by paying in placeholders rather than actual money. There was a standing policy (subject to change) that 1,000 SWC chips was equal to 1 Bitcoin, and you could find someone hanging around the lobby or the forum to help you cash out.

Again: P2P, not banks and governments and regulations.

Bitcoin isn’t a poker-specific currency, of course, but it has changed the online game dramatically and other poker sites are popping up using SWC’s formula.

An Explosion of Riches

Since Bitcoin aren’t a recognized currency, and since most people who know infrared inkabout their value kind of have the "shoot, shovel and shut-up” mentality regarding their worth, not many people come forward with tales of riches.

However, there are many examples – some of which you can even see unfold in front of your face in real-time.

For instance, SWC used to host freerolls every hour back when a whole Bitcoin was only worth a couple of bucks. Players joining the site for $0, and joining tournaments for $0, could earn around 10-50 SWC chips for a final-table finish.

Getting some chips for free many players would then venture to the sit-n-go tables where they would accumulate more chips. Once you reached 1,000 chips, you had a Bitcoin.

Since Bitcoin weren’t valued highly, many players just held on to their chips, stockpiled them, and then had coins transferred into their digi-wallets.

A few months ago, when Bitcoin started to skyrocket in price, some people woke up to great news. Those Bitcoin they paid nothing for and earned through average-level poker now gave them thousands upon thousands of dollars.

While some people only had one or two, others had stockpiled hundreds of Bitcoin, and many players on these poker sites are still stockpiling them, using poker to earn them rather than buying expensive algorithm-breaking Bitcoin mining hardware.

Hardware is still the way to create them. Mining is more popular than ever. But with poker sites using Bitcoin as currency now we’re seeing a lot of average people with poker skills becoming legitimately rich.

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When Not to Continuation Bet

In this day and age, you'd be hard-pressed to find a poker player who doesn't know what a continuation bet is.

The upsides of the c-bet are obvious: you take advantage of the initiative you gained by raising before the flop and carry it over to the flop with another bet.

Often, you'll win the pot without a fight - making the continuation bet a great tool in a poker marked cards player's arsenal.

Where you start running into problems, though, is when you start automatically c-betting every single time you raise before the flop.

Yes, continuation betting is profitable. But not when you do it every single time. There needs to be a middle ground or else you become predictable and, ultimately, exploitable.

So when should you not continuation bet?

Against Multiple Callers

If you raise before the flop and are then called by multiple opponents, your continuation bet will rarely, if ever, work. The more players in the pot, the greater the chance you'll be called in one or more spot(s).

A continuation bet, by definition, is a mini-bluff using the fold equity you've gained by being the pre-flop raiser.

With more players in the pot, your fold equity diminishes and you will be called more often. When there is a high likelihood of you being called, you're better off betting made hands than making bluffs.

Against Calling Stations

For the reasons discussed above, when you find yourself up against calling stations you should frequently be c-betting less. As the old adage goes, you can't bluff a calling station.

Now, that isn't to say you should give it up completely. You need to take your particular opponent into consideration before deciding your optimal play.

If your calling-station opponent is the type to peel the flop very lightly, but then frequently fold to a turn bet, then absolutely, keep continuation betting the flop.

Just be ready to fire another barrel on the turn! These are some of the most profitable players to play against.

Calling stations love to call, so let them. But bet a higher mix of your good hands and keep your bluffs and continuation bets to a minimum.

On a Highly Draw-y Board

Some flops are better than others for continuation bets. If your opponents hit the flop, they're more likely to call. So think about your opponents' range - if the bulk of it nails the flop, you're best off forgoing the continuation bet.

If the board is super draw-y, something like 7♥ 8♥ 5♦, you should almost always be less likely to fire a c-bet with nothing. That's because draw-y boards almost always give your opponent something to like.

If you regularly c-bet this type of board, you're regularly flushing money down the drain.

Remember Your Perceived Range, Too

Try and get into your opponent's shoes. Think about what he thinks you have. If it appears the flop is unlikely to have helped you, you should be less inclined to continuation bet.

An example: you raise from MP and get called by a player on the button. The flop comes 3♥ 3♦ 2♠. Your bet isn't going to be given respect because the vast majority of the time you will have missed marked cards this flop completely.

Continuation bets work most often when flops come that look like they would help a pre-flop raiser.

When You Are Out of Position

As always in poker, if you are out of position, things become more difficult.

If you make a habit out of continuation betting and then giving up when called, your opponents will take notice. They will start calling your raises in position, calling your flop bet and just taking the pot away from you on the turn.

If your pre-flop raise is called in position by a tricky opponent, you should generally c-bet less often. It is already tricky to play a pot out of position, and against a tough player it only becomes even more difficult.

When you are in position things become easier because you can more accurately gauge your opponent's hand strength. This means you can continuation bet more often, because you can more confidently fire second barrels when your opponent checks to you on the turn.

When you're out of position you are left guessing, and often end up being forced to check-fold when your continuation bet fails on the flop.

The Recurring Theme

Obviously there is a recurring theme here. The determining factor in whether or not you should fire a continuation bet or not is fold equity.

Simply put, the greater your fold equity is, the greater the likelihood that your opponent will fold, the more you should c-bet.

Once you lose that fold equity, continuation betting ceases being profitable. So stop trying to win every single pot that you've raised before the flop. It's never going to happen.

Take a minute; analyze the board texture, your opponent and his range, and your perceived range.

If all signs point to c-bet, then c-bet.

Posted by: Fiona at 07:59 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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