What the hell - I'm feeling lucky!

Phil Hellmuth vs Tom Dwan - PLG

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I think this is a really good laydown by Phil. He swollows his pride and folds like a man, gotto give him credit for it!

Playing Poker for Charity

If you’re into the cult phenomena known as Texas Hold‘em, chances are you’ve already played in a charity tournament. Local newspapers are loaded with advertisements for weekend tournaments to raise money for charities. And there are many advantages to participating in these events.

The biggest advantage is helping a worthy charity raise money and the possibility of winning a large payout yourself. Inexperienced players can get in on the action to learn the game in a relatively friendly atmosphere. The buy-in for charity tournaments range from $25 to $50. These events will often offer door prizes, 50/50 drawings, and raffles. For a little extra, you can also buy-in to the bad beat or high hand jackpots. In addition, side games are set up for players who have been knocked out of the main tournament with yet another chance to win money. Being the first player knocked out also has its advantages. This is generally in the form of a consolation prize.

If you sign-up on the mailing list, you’ll receive notices of future tournaments and events. Other players are also good resources to find more tournaments. They provide feedback on the location, dates, times, organization, payouts, and other pertinent information for the event. You will see many of the same faces every weekend at charity tournaments. These regulars set the tone of the game, which is usually fun and laid back.

The charity will usually take a 30-40% rake of the buy-in, the remainder is used for payout. Depending on the number of entrants, thousands of dollars can be raised in a single night. Some charities will also take a rake from the side tables to increase the funds raised.

Of course, there are also disadvantages to the players at these types of tournaments. The payout amounts and number of places paid are generally low. But perhaps the biggest problem is that the majority of charity tournaments are poorly organized. At times, the players have more knowledge of the game than the persons in charge. Resolving conflicts can be a challenge. Typed rules can be found at some games, but these are usually general and will not cover issues such as misdeals, dead button versus moving button or verbal discrepancies with chip stacks.

As a rule, dedicated dealers are not used, so the players pass the deal. This allows more opportunity for misdeals. Long, rectangular folding tables provide yet another obstacle to overcome when dealing. This type of playing surface also makes it difficult for players to protect their hands due to the cramped set-up.

Cheap cards that are usually donated will get bent and marked easily. The light-weight plastic chips have a tendency to scatter easily. Trying to remember the denomination of the chips is sometimes a chore because of the inconsistency or lack of attention to detail. Blinds are not always raised in a timely manner or tables balanced properly. Also, time limits may be imposed to end the game with a chip count deciding the winner. The caliber of your opponents may also be an obstacle to overcome.

Overall, the advantages to charity tournaments outweigh the disadvantages. If you’re passionate about Texas Hold ‘Em, buy in to a local charity tournament. You’ll raise money for a worthwhile cause doing something you love – it’s a win-win situation.

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I have attended several of these charity tournaments and I feel it's a great way to enjoy yourself and also do a good deed for a good cause. Sure, it can be a little bit messy but over all I've had a great experience and no one basically plays for the money so you see some really fun stuff at the tables. Great entertainment and very nice atmosphere!


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Resources:

www.hollywoodpoker.com/../playing-for-charity.html

He called a raise with a queen ten hunny! - Phil Hellmuth

The Stop and Go Play

The Stop and Go is best applied in late stages of a tournament when hands such as AK and medium pockets cannot be folded preflop. However, the blind structure makes you almost pot committed at this stage.



Say for instance you are dealt 77 out of position. You raise it up 3x the blind which represent one third of your stack and you have no more than 2 callers. The flop comes Q95 rainbow. You missed the flop. The maths on the other hand tells you that the villain probably missed it as well. One does only pair up at the flop 1 out of 5 times.

It's time to act.

The Stop and Go play is to be the aggressor before anyone else are to act. If you push you then leave the decision up to the villain. Mr. Brunson states that the key of winning NLHE is to be the guy that puts the other opponent up to make a decision for all his chips. If you merely wait for AA or KK to be dealt to you, you will lose in the long run.

So straight up, here's what could happen. When your opponent hits his hand, say top pair or a better PP, he will most likely call and you will bust out. Tuff luck!

More likely though is that your opponent is the one sitting as underdog with AK or less. He might even be sitting as overdog with 88 but will still be forced to drop the hand. It's better to be the first to act as the one with strength as this manuever gives you the best chance to win with a mediocre hand.

Also note, if an ace were to come upon the flop you should not fire the trigger. Check it down and let go if you sense strength.

The Stop and Go is a great way to win chips when needed during the later rounds of a tournament. It's an alternative to an all in shove that many players make at this stage. The play does not work every time but it sure will increase your odds of taking a hand down over the all in shove preflop.

Good luck at the tables!

Poker Bankroll Management

There are a lot of players that would do good in applying some plain and simple bankroll management techniques. For starters never buy into a cash game or Sit'n'Go with more than 5 percent of your bankroll. Don't buy into a multi-table tournament for more than 2 percent of your bankroll. If it at any point occurs that you are sitting down with more than 10 percent of your bankroll, you must leave the table once the blinds reach you!



If you manage to keep these guide lines it reassures that you are able to stay alive as long as possible. You will play in games that you can afford. You will never play in games that are above your head because when you're losing, you'll have no choice but to drop down to a smaller game. You are able to sharpen up your game at the lower limits until your bankroll allows you to move up and take another shot. Whilst following these rules you also prevent being completely decimated by a bad run of cards.

If you lose you need to go down in limits in order to not risk losing a massive amount of your bankroll, or even your whole bankroll. If this would occur you will need to fight a even greater fight on your way back. Keep this in mind as motivation. Keep the discipline and you will be successful.

Good luck at the tables!

Don't have a big mouth at the poker table

Ok, this is an old one but it is hilarious! I really don't like Tony G and his attitude at the tables in general. Made me laugh so bad when I first watched this one. Hope you enjoy!

Bio Chris Ferguson

Chris started playing poker in his childhood days. Losing his last 35c playing in a poker game when he was in 4th grade made him commit himself to never go bust ever again. He has shown himself to be true in this aspect.



In 1994 Chris made the decision to really apply himself and his knowledge of game theory to poker, concentrating only on tournament play. He started off playing in the small tournaments in and around LA. Not wanting to play over his bankroll, he didn't enter the WSOP till 1995.

In late 2006 Chris wanted to try out an experiment. With only a blank balanced Full Tilt Poker account Chris set a goal to build up a bankroll of $10'000. He was only eligible to play Freerolls at the beginning. He did make it, it took him but a year to complete his task. In September 2007 Chris Ferguson had a balance of $10'000 in his account. Before he started this project he had stated that upon reaching $10k he would donate the money to Save the Children Foundation, which he also did.

Screen name(s):
Chris Ferguson - Full Tilt Poker

Career Highlights:

• 2000 WSOP $10,000 Main Event winner - $1,500,000
• 2000 WSOP $2,500 7 Card Stud winner - $151,000
• 2001 WSOP $1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo winner - $164,735
• 2001 California State Championship Pot Limit Holdem winner - $22,570
• 2002 WSOP $1,500 Pot Limit Holdem - 2nd - $98,700
• 2003 WSOP $2,000 Omaha Hi/Lo winner - $123,680
• 2003 WSOP $2,000 Limit Holdem/7 Stud winner - $66,220
• 2003 WSOP $3,000 Pot Limit Holdem - 2nd - $115,560
• 2004 Winnin' O' the Green winner - $144,000
• 2004 WSOP $5,000 No Limit 2-7 Lowball - 2nd - $170,315
• 2004 WSOP $10,000 Main Event - 26th - $120,000
• 2005 National Heads Up Championship - 2nd - $250,000
• 2005 Harrahs Rincon WSOP Circuit Event - winner - $655,220
• 2005 WPT Five Star World Poker Classic - 8th - $132,095
• 2005 WSOP $2,000 Pot Limit Omaha - 2nd - $210,460
• 2005 Harrahs Las Vegas WSOP Circuit Event winner - $362,088
• 2006 National Heads Up Championship - 2nd - $250,000
• 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions - 7th - $50,000

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Resources:
http://www.poker.com/poker-pros/chris-jesus-ferguson-poker-pro.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Ferguson

Bio Daniel Negreanu

Daniel was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. By the age of 15 he started learning the essentials of poker. He decided to drop out of high school to fulfil his dream of becoming a poker pro. He started off as a rounder playing at the local casinos and also looking for illegal games in Toronto. At the age of 22 Daniel decided to hit Vegas. However, it got the better of him and he had to go back to Toronto.

In 1997 when Daniel won two events at the World Poker Finals earning himself $133,600 as well as being named the tournament's best all-around player. He backed up his efforts in the 1998 WSOP by winning $169,460 at the $2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em event and becoming the youngest WSOP bracelet winner in history — a record he held until 2004.

Over the next few years, he became one of the most successful poker tournament players in history, winning two WPT events, another two WSOP bracelets, and appearing at 11 final tables.

Upon opening, the WYNN Las Vegas resort recruited him as their "Poker Ambassador" to play for any stake in their poker room. The arrangement lasted until October 2005 when he opted out because it was restricting his ability to play for high stakes outside the Wynn.

Daniel is known for his ability to "read" other players, gathering information about his opponent's hand by studying their betting patterns and physical expressions.

Daniel was named "Favourite Poker Player" at the Card Player, Player of the Year Awards Gala in February 2006.

"At the highest levels everyone has a decent understanding of the math. Feel, or psychological warfare is what it's all about. I honestly don't think that a pure math guy has much of a chance in those games because they aren't psychologically prepared for the game."
-Daniel Negreanu

Daniel Negreanu is one of my personal favourite poker players. His reading abilities and down-to-earth attitude hand in hand with his attitude towards the game in general and other people makes him such a great player and entertainer.

Screen name(s):
KidPoker - PokerStars
doublesuited - Full Tilt Poker

Career Highlights:

• 1997: Best All Around Player, World Poker Finals.
• 1998: WSOP Pot Limit Hold'em at age 23.
  
• 1999: United States Poker Champion.
• 1997-1999: 12 major tournament wins.
• 2000: Live action in Las Vegas at the Bellagio.
• 2001: 11th in the main event at the WSOP.
• 2001: Legends of Poker 7-card stud, 1s
• 2002: Best All around Player at the L.A.P.C.
• 2002: Legends of Poker 2002 Event # 5 7- Card Stud, 1st
• 2002: Legends of Poker 2002 Event # Omaha Hi/Lo, 1st
• 2002: Legends of Poker 2002 Event # Omaha Hi/Lo split, 2nd
• 2002: Legends of Poker 2002 Event # No Limit Holdem, 1st
• 2002: Hall of Fame Poker Classic, Limit Holdem, 1st
• 2002: Four Queens Poker Classic, Limit Holdem, 2nd
• 2002: World Series of Poker, Limit Hold 'em Shootout, 6th
• 2004: Orleans Open, No-Limit Hold'em Championship, 6th
• 2004: Championship Poker at the Plaza, No-Limit Hold'em, 1st
• 2004: Party Poker Million III, LHE CS Final Day, 2nd
• 2004: Caribbean Adventure, No-Limit Hold'em, 3rd
• 2003: World Series of Poker, S.H.O.E, 1st

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Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Negreanu

http://www.poker.com/poker-pros/daniel-kidpoker-negreanu-poker-pro.htm

Betsafe acquires Propaganda Poker

-This transaction will bring more benefits through much wider offers, better customer support and EU license gaming.

Propaganda Poker will be an external partner to Betsafe, our new partner, following a structural deal concluded on October 5. The ownership of Propaganda Poker’s customer base will be transferred to Betsafe, which means there will be plenty of benefits for the customers.

All players in the Propaganda Poker customer base will of course be more than welcome to follow in the move, but the final decision will rest with them. There will be lots of benefits for the players who do make the transition, especially for most players in the EU area who will be able to claim their winnings tax-free since Betsafe is registered on Malta and deal with tax issues there.

Betsafe has many more customers than Propaganda Poker and offer more services such as casino and sports betting apart from poker. The combined forces of the two companies will mean that players have better access to more promotions, bigger tournaments and a faster and wider array of payment solutions.

Betsafe has approximately 250,000 registered players and is a part of the Ongame network, which is the second largest online poker network while Propaganda Poker is part of the Ipoker network.

“We will now have the possibility to offer our players a bigger and wider assortment of offers with Betsafe. Betsafe is also a serious and logical partner for us as they are well equipped when it comes to payment solutions and they can provide support in several languages. Propaganda Poker’s role in the new setup will be as an external cooperation partner who will deliver strong marketing for Betsafe and scout affiliates all over the world,” said Raymond Hope, CEO of Propaganda Poker.

“The cooperation will benefit all parties and markets as Propaganda Poker is specialized in poker while we at Betsafe have a bit wider focus. Propaganda is historically biggest in Russia, the Baltics, followed by Germany and France. This complements us nicely since we are big in Scandinavia but also in Latvia where we are growing,” said Henrik Persson Ekdahl.

For more information: support@propagandapoker.com

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Resource:
05-Oct-2009
http://www.propagandapoker.com/

Strip poker

2+2 Online Poker Forum

The Two Plus Two Poker Forums provide thought provoking discussions on poker and gaming topics. With one of the strongest poker and gaming communities, members can expect to find up to date news, poker instruction, gossip, and even book reviews.

We are proud to say our poker forum has over 175,000 members and more than 20,000,000 posts including the poker archives, making us the leading resource for online poker strategy. Our poker forums cover all aspects of gaming and other topics of interest to the poker community.

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Resources:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/

Tilt is bad

At the start of my career the biggest problem for me was my temper. As you probably already know with a temper; tilting will most likely come as a bonus.

You can, with pretty simple means, counteract this evil phenomenon. One short but effective advice would be to do something else as soon as you feel that your game is affected in a negative way. However I want to point out that it might be - pretty simple means - but you have to be consistent and it might take some time to erase those bad habits.

You can read more on this topic below.

http://www.flopturnriver.com/Avoiding-Tilt.html

http://www.tightpoker.com/articles/stay_off_tilt.html

http://www.pokerjesusonline.com/tilt.htm

Choose your poker opponents

The importance of choosing your poker tables wisely is crucial when you playing to win in the long run. You need to be able to spot the fish. Some easy targets to look for when choosing tables would be high percentage of players seeing the flop and also high avarage pot.

Good luck at the tables!

Have a goal in mind when playing poker

One big mistake that I did when I first started playing poker was not to have a goal in mind. I can see now that if I would have placed a cake in the horizon I would have had far greater success in the early stages of my poker career.

The chapter Building Your Bankroll in the book High Stakes Poker: The Sky is the limit by Doug Youngs covers the whole idea. The goal of this is to get your focus on the main part of poker - the long run is what counts.

A great way to is to take 10% of all your winnings and place it on a seperate bank account. You can see those 10% as an insurance fund wich you will only use in case of emergency. You will then notice how your bankroll will grow even though you have bad sessions for days, weeks or even months!

Introduction - Always improve your Poker Game

I'm a big fan of Online Gaming. I've been a poker player for about 8 years now. Not that long fore some, a very long time for others. However, during these years I've found that the most useful tool for me has been reading. Reading makes you think. Thinking improves your abilities and skills at the poker tables. Therefore, never stop reading!

Willy.