Poker for Donkeys

The Auto-Check Online

2009-05-05T23:38:00.003-04:00

When playing poker online tells are harder to come by than in a live game. While you cannot pick up any physical tells online there are still some tells to look for. One of those tells is the auto-check.

When playing online the player is given the option to check or fold automatically before it's their turn to act. If you see a person check instantly when it's their turn to act it's extremely likely they do not like their hand.

You can also use this to your advantage when you have a strong hand by using the auto-check to give off a false tell. If your hand is strong and you use the auto-check your opponent might bet out with a weak holding because they think you don't have anything.

While most players don't use the auto-check feature, it's important to know what it means because it can help you pick up a few pots here and there.

Defending Your Blind

2008-07-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

Everyone has had the experience where they are in the big blind, and someone just keeps raising their blind. Many times you will run into a person who raises mercilessly from late position. You need to make a stand against these types of players or they will continue to take your chips until you don't have any left!

If you notice the player from the button or the cut off raising more than usual when you're in the big blind, something is up. They most likely don't have a hand every time. They need to be raised back! Even if you have a marginal hand I would suggest popping the raiser back. If you re-raise there's a good chance you take down the pot right there, or you'll see the flop, or there's a small chance they raise you back.

Even if you lose the hand, and your opponent sees you re-raised with a mediocre holding they will think twice about raising your blind. Sometimes it's a good idea to take a stand and lose a hand if it will save you money in the long run, because your opponent knows you are willing to raise or call with anything.

Six Player Online Sit and Go's

2008-07-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Playing shorthanded is completely different from playing a full table game. When playing six handed games online, lowering starting hand requirements is a must. You should be playing 30-35% of the hands in a six handed game, and even more once players are eliminated.

The key to doing well in six person sit and go's is position position position! If you're on the button and no one has raised you're going to want to raise at least 50% of the time. I suggest raising with any two cards as long as they're both at least an eight. In the cut off (spot before the button) when no one has entered the pot I would suggest raising if both cards are at least a nine.

The biggest mistake many people make playing shorthanded is not changing their starting hand requirements. You need to punish them for this! Be more aggressive, play from position, and you'll be on your way to better results.

World Poker Tour Moves to Fox Sports Net

2008-07-18T17:44:00.002-04:00

It was just announced that Fox Sports Net has agreed to broadcast season 7 of the World Poker Tour. The WPT had been the highest rated show on GSN, but GSN's new CEO decided to move in another direction.

Tips for New Online Players

2008-07-10T17:44:00.001-04:00

Gus Hansen gives six tips for players trying out online poker.

Every Hand Revealed Review

2008-07-03T20:48:00.004-04:00

Every Hand Revealed by Gus Hansen chronicles his victory in the 2007 Aussie Millions, in which he won $1.2 million. The book is not a how to book, but in it Hansen analyzes hands he played from the tournament.

What separates this book from many other poker books is Hansen is analyzing hands that actually happened. Before each day of the tournament Hansen discusses his strategies, and thoughts on how the tournament is going. Then he goes over the hands played, and gives a description of what took place. Hansen was able to do this because he recorded his thoughts and hand results into a tape recorder after each hand.

It's extremely interesting to get inside his mind, and know what he's thinking. Gus Hansen is one of the most successful tournament players of all-time and reading this book makes you understand why. For anyone interested in aggressive play, and winning with garbage hands this is for you. Hansen isn't afraid to play any two cards, and in the book he explains how he is able to get away with playing the style he does.

Every Hand Revealed is an instant classic that will surely become must read material for any serious player. I would highly recommend the book for any advanced player, or anyone who is looking to loosen up their game a little bit.

Negreanu: Lord of the Bracelets Trilogy Plus One

2008-06-15T12:57:00.002-04:00

Daniel Negreanu on winning another bracelet and his new book.

Poker World Weighs in on WSOP Final Table Controversy

2008-05-27T16:05:00.002-04:00

The WSOP starts May 30. There is some controversy because ESPN and the WSOP announced the final table of the Main Event would take place four months after the tournament started in an attempt to increase ratings. The poker world weighs in.

Phil Hellmuth Video Blog

2007-08-18T16:32:00.000-04:00

Phil talks about blackjack, Chinese poker, and golf in his latest video blog.

Short Stack Comeback

2007-08-07T11:36:00.000-04:00

Phil Hellmuth, Howard Lederer, Mike Matusow, Chris Ferguson, and Clone Gowen discuss playing a short stack.

Limit versus No-Limit Poker

2007-08-06T19:44:00.000-04:00

The pros discuss the differences between playing limit and no-limit.

High Stakes Golf

2007-07-25T00:52:00.000-04:00

There isn't much going on in poker right after the World Series so here's some high stakes golf action featuring poker pros Erick Lindgren, Daniel Neagreanu, Gavin Smith, and Shawn Sheikan.

Advanced Strategies with Gus Hansen Parts 7 & 8

2007-07-20T16:49:00.000-04:00

In the final two parts of Gus Hansen's advanced strategies he discusses trapping, playing aggressive, gaining information, changing gears, and the decisions you need to make at the table.

Part 7

Part 8

Advanced Strategies with Gus Hansen Parts 5 & 6

2007-07-19T00:28:00.000-04:00

Gus Hansen talks about taking small stabs at the pot, scary flops, playing the turn and river, check-raising, and over-calling.

Part 5

Part 6

Jerry Yang Wins the Main Event

2007-07-18T13:17:00.000-04:00

Jerry Yang entered the final table of the Main Event with the second least amount of chips. He ended up with all of them. He was definitely the aggressor at the final table knocking out 7 of the other players.

Yang won the tournament in a dramatic last hand against Tuan Lam. Tuan Lam went all-in with AQ suited and Yang made the call with pocket 8's. Lam hit a queen on the flop and began to celebrate. Then Yang went runner runner to hit an inside draw as he won on the river. Yang, 39, who has only been playing poker for two years takes home $8.25 million for the victory, the coveted World Series of Poker bracelet and the title of 2007 world champion. He is donating 10% of his winnings to charity.

Here are the final table finishes.

1st - Jerry Yang - $8,250,000
2nd - Tuan Lam - $4,840,981
3rd - Raymond Rahme - $3,048,025
4th - Alex Kravchenko - $1,852,721
5th - Jon Kalmar - $1,255,069
6th - Hevad Khan - $956,243
7th - Lee Childs - $705,229
8th - Lee Watkinson - $585,699
9th - Philip Hilm - $525,934

Advanced Strategies with Gus Hansen Parts 3 & 4

2007-07-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Gus Hansen talks about preflop strategy, bluffing, limping, stealing the blinds, being pot committed, and playing the flop.

Part 3

Part 4

Main Event Final Table Set

2007-07-16T17:34:00.000-04:00

The Final Table for the Main Event at the 2007 World Series of Poker has been set. When you look at the list of players you won't see many familiar names. The most notable player left in the field is Lee Watkinson. Here are the remaining players.

Philip Hilm - 22.07 million
Tuan Lam - 21.315 million
Jon Kalmar - 20.32 million
Raymond Rahme - 16.32 million
Lee Childs - 13.24 million
Lee Watkinson - 9.925 million
Hevad 'Rain' Khan - 9.205 million
Jerry Yang - 8.45 million
Alex Kravchenko - 6.57 million

Former world champion Scott Nguyen busted out in 11th place. At one point Nguyen had around 15 million chips but lost most of it in a huge hand with Philip Hilm, who is now the chip leader.

The final table begins at 2 P.M. Central, 3 P.M. Eastern time on Tuesday. You can watch it live on ESPN Pay-Per-View for $19.95. PokerNews.com will also have live updates and chip counts for the event.

Ace on the River Review

2007-07-15T19:39:00.001-04:00

Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein is an advanced guide to poker. Ace on the River is not your typical poker book which in my opinion is part of the reason why it's so good.

In the book Greenstein covers all aspects of poker, not just strategy. The book starts out with his poker career and how he began playing. Then he jumps into the poker world. Greenstein discusses the poker society and how to behave in it. Reading this book gives you an idea of what it's like to be a professional poker player and everything that is involved with it. He goes over money management, protecting yourself, how poker relates to your social life, and many other things that go along with being a professional poker player.

Some of the chapters I found most interesting were the ones on the attitude of a poker player and the traits a winning poker player has. In the chapter on the attitude of a poker player Greenstein gives you a personality test which includes 12 questions to see if you have the attitude of a winning player. The questions are about how you react to certain situations and the way they relate to poker.

Towards the end of the book is where strategy is touched on. Greenstein goes over a series of hands he's played in his career and gives the reader a chance to think out the situation and see what they would do from his position. This is where you get to be inside his head and see how a pro thinks out a situation. What's interesting is that these are real hands. You get to see his line of thinking versus unknown players he hasn't seen before and against professionals he's seen on numerous occasions.

Ace on the River makes a fine addition to any poker players library. While the book is more about the poker world than poker strategy I highly recommend it to any advanced or intermediate player, or anyone who just wants a glimpse of what the poker world is all about. The strategy section is short but what's included is very good. If you're looking for a poker book that describes what the life of a professional poker is like and what it takes to play professionally this is the book for you.

Ace on the River is available for purchase in the Poker for Donkeys Online Store.

Advanced Strategies with Gus Hansen Parts 1 & 2

2007-07-14T06:03:00.000-04:00

Gus Hansen goes over position, starting hands, and playing the blinds.

State of Mind

2007-07-12T17:46:00.001-04:00

To succeed in poker one of the most important things is to have a good state of mind. If you aren't in a good state of mind you aren't going to play well most likely.

When you're playing poker make sure you actually want to play. Don't ever force yourself to play when your head isn't there 100% because you won't be on the top of your game. This will cause you to make mistakes and rash decisions. Make sure poker is the only thing you're thinking about and that the game doesn't need to end in a certain amount of time so you can go elsewhere. When there's somewhere else a player could be they start to make poor decisions.

Poker requires a lot of concentration and to be successful you need to be alert and in a good state of mind. Don't play when you're feeling tired. When players get tired at the poker table they tend to force things and make plays they normally wouldn't. Arrive to the game with a clear state of mind and I guarantee you'll be more successful.

Main Event Winner to Receive $8.25 Million

2007-07-09T20:49:00.000-04:00

This year the winner of the Main Event will receive $8.25 million based on the 6,358 players who entered. This is down from last year where Jamie Gold took home $12 million for 1st place in a field of over 8,000. With many poker sites no longer accepting american players due to the unlawful internet gambling act there are fewer players qualifying for the Main Event online.

Hellmuth Crashes Car

2007-07-09T20:41:00.000-04:00

Phil Hellmuth crashed his race car at a promotion for the Rio. He was supposed to drive the car to the Main Event for a grand entrance. Instead Hellmuth ended up taking a limo with 11 escorts.

Negreanu Reality

2007-07-06T18:24:00.000-04:00

Daniel Negreanu is mad. The WSOP '07 main event is about to heat up and he is steaming. Check out this video to find out why.

Brunson Reaches Final Table, Looks for #11

2007-07-03T17:51:00.000-04:00

Doyle Brunson has reached the final table of the $10,000 Buy-In Pot Limit Omaha event. The event started with 314 players. The winner will receive $768,889 and a coveted World Series of Poker bracelet. Brunson enters the final table as one of the shortstacks and will have his work cut out for him. He is looking to tie Phil Hellmuth for most bracelets won with 11. Make sure to check out PokerNews.com for live coverage.

Preflop Matchups Part 2: The Quiz

2007-07-02T21:39:00.000-04:00

Phil Gordon goes over some more preflop matchups.

Preflop Matchups

2007-06-30T21:13:00.001-04:00

Phil Gordon talks about preflop matchups.

Hellmuth Reality

2007-06-25T17:11:00.000-04:00

Phil Hellmuth talks about his hectic schedule after not winning the 12th bracelet. Also gives tips on throwing frisbies at Norman Chad's and ends up hitting "the nuts".

Changing Gears

2007-06-21T05:55:00.000-04:00

When playing poker you should never have a predetermined strategy for the game. When you get to the game figure out the style of play at your table and do the opposite. If your table is playing tight, get more aggressive and start playing more hands. When your table is loose, tighten up and just play strong hands.

Your table won't always have the same style of play though. There are many factors that can determine the style of play. How high the blinds are in relation to the players stacks and how close to the money you are can change the style of play. You need to pay attention to what the others players at the table are doing in these situations and then adjust your style. An example of one of these situations is when you approach the bubble. I discussed a strategy for this situation when I talked about bubble play. Being able to switch gears is crucial to success in poker.

Hellmuth Reality

2007-06-20T16:41:00.000-04:00

Phil Hellmuth ties the record for final tables played at the World Series of Poker (39), but is still frustrated by the results of yesterday's $3000 NLHE event.

Betting With Medium Strength Hands

2007-06-20T05:25:00.000-04:00

Phil Gordon talks about why betting medium strength hands on the river is a bad idea.

Hellmuth Reaches Another Final Table

2007-06-19T16:39:00.000-04:00

Phil Hellmuth has reached another final table at the WSOP. This time in the $3,000 buy-in, No Limit Hold'em event. This is his 60th career cash at the World Series. There were 827 entries in the event. Hellmuth is one of the shortstacks entering the final table though. Make sure to check out PokerNews.com for live coverage.

Negreanu Update at the WSOP

2007-06-17T14:27:00.000-04:00

Mike The Mouth is half naked in a pose a la George Castanza. What is going on? Daniel Negreanu updates us on his play at the WSOP.

Avoid Domination

2007-06-16T17:54:00.000-04:00

Phil Gordon talks about avoiding hands that will leave you dominated.

Negreanu Reality

2007-06-14T15:57:00.000-04:00

Negreanu vents about his loss at the WSOP $1500 NLH Shootout. He finished 3rd in the event.

Battling the Hyper Aggressive Player

2007-06-13T15:49:00.000-04:00

You all know the type. The player who is in every pot and is constantly betting whether he has anything or not. Playing against a hyper aggressive player can be frustrating.

What you need to do is be patient. Let your opponent make the mistake. Sit back and wait for a good hand. Then when you enter a pot punish your opponent. When you hit a flop let your opponent do the betting for you. Since your opponent is hyper aggressive and bets every flop anyways trap him. Check and let him bet, then you can re-raise or simply call and hope he fires out another bet on the turn. If he bets again on the turn re-raise.

If you're the one who bets first your opponent might just fold. You want to give your opponent a chance to bluff so you can extract more chips. Slowplaying your big hands will help you win more chips versus the hyper aggressive player.

Negreanu Signs with PokerStars.net

2007-06-12T16:54:00.000-04:00

Daniel Negreanu has just signed with PokerStars.net. It was also announced that his poker site, Full Contact Poker will cease operations and all accounts will be transferred to PokerStars.net. Daniel talked about the move in his latest video blog.

Hellmuth Captures 11th Bracelet

2007-06-12T15:24:00.000-04:00

Phil Hellmuth has made history. After winning Event 15, a $1,500 No Limit event, Hellmuth now stands alone with 11 bracelets surpassing Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan. Hellmuth received $637,254 for first place outlasting a field of 2,628. Brunson and Chan were on hand to present Hellmuth with his 11th bracelet.

Hellmuth Looks to Make History at 1.5k Event

2007-06-11T15:35:00.001-04:00

Phil Hellmuth has reached the final table of Event 15, which is a $1,500 Buy-In No Limit Event. This event had a huge field of 2,628 players. Hellmuth has never won an event with a field this big. He will look to make history by becoming the first player ever to capture an 11th WSOP bracelet.

The rest of the final table consists of Rick Fuller, Scott Clements, David Simon, Morgan Machina, Ut Nguyen, Andy Philachack, Fabrice Soulier, and Taylor Douglas. The Final table begins today. Check out PokerNews.com for live coverage.

Cunningham Wins Fifth Bracelet

2007-06-11T15:20:00.001-04:00

Last night in the 5k Pot Limit Hold'em event Allen Cunningham captured his 5th World Series of Poker bracelet. Cunningham defeated 397 other players to claim the first place prize of $487,287. The final table consisted of a number of pros including Gavin Griffin, Humberto Brenes, Jeffrey Lisandro, and the defending champion of this event, Jason Lester. Cunningham is now one of only five players to win a WSOP bracelet in three straight years.

PokerNews.com, which by the way has coverage for all the WSOP events, interviewed him after the big win.

The Squeeze Play

2007-06-11T05:43:00.000-04:00

Phil Gordon explains the Squeeze Play, or as he calls it, the "Chip Sandwich." Dan Harrington performed this move famously in the Main Event of the 2003 World Series of Poker.

Negreanu at the WSOP

2007-06-09T13:34:00.000-04:00

Daniel talks about his status at the WSOP and his side bets. He also talks about his weird dreams about the Apprentice.

Take Notes on Your Opponents

2007-06-09T02:48:00.000-04:00

A good way to improve your game is to take notes on your opponents. Write down the hands they raise with, the hands the call with, the hands they re-raise with. All this information is very valuable. What kind of player are they? Are they loose? Aggressive? Are they capable of bluffing? Are they capable of folding a good hand? Remembering all this information will help you form a strategy of play against your opponents.

It's also a good idea to keep track of tells in a notebook. If you pick up a tell on one person there's a good chance someone else out there does the same thing. Write down these tells because you never know when you'll find someone who also has the tell. Then look over the tells before you play so you don't forget to look out for them. Looking over the tells you've discovered before a game will make you more alert.

Hellmuth Reality

2007-06-08T15:03:00.000-04:00

Phil Hellmuth finds himself in a great position one minute, and then not so much the next. Good example of how fortunes change and exchange hands at the World Series of Poker.

Negreanu Reality - Day Seven of the WSOP '07

2007-06-07T22:22:00.000-04:00

Daniel Negreanu talks about day seven of the World Series of Poker.

"Harrington on Hold'em" Review

2007-06-07T00:04:00.000-04:00

"Harrington on Hold'em" was originally released back in 2004. Just recently I decided to finally give it a read because I had heard such great things about it. I'm glad I did because it was a fun read.

Harrington covers everything about the early stages of a poker tournament in this book. He goes over position, starting hands, pot odds, reading the table, betting before and after the flop, and how to bet on the turn and river. He really goes into great depth on all these subjects.

He does a hand analysis for all these subjects. Most of the book consists of the hand analysis. Harrington lays out the situation for you, asks the reader how they would play it and then explains what you should do in the situation. He really does a great job and the hand analysis is very realistic. Harrington goes over countless situations and he really makes you think about why you make certain plays in different types of situations.

"Harrington on Hold'em" is a very good book on tournament poker. This is a very good book for the intermediate player looking to up their game to the next level. If you're a beginner I might check out something else to start you off but if you have a little experience and understand the game and terms get this book. For the advanced player you probably won't learn a ton from this book but you'll pick up a few things here and there and the hand analysis makes it worth purchasing.

The Value of Suited Cards

2007-06-06T11:01:00.000-04:00

"But they were suited!" I hear people say this phrase all the time. I just laugh and am happy they don't know what they're doing so I can easily take their chips. In the following video Phil Gordon explains why suited cards aren't as good as you might think.

Phil Hellmuth's New Video Blog

2007-06-05T14:34:00.000-04:00

Phil Hellmuth has started a new video blog that he will be doing throughout the World Series. Here he talks about how his WSOP is going so far.

Phil Hellmuth's Online Poker Tips

2007-06-05T14:12:00.000-04:00

Phil Hellmuth on online poker strategy. This video isn't cheesy at all.

Steve Billirakis Becomes Youngest Bracelet Winner Ever

2007-06-04T02:23:00.000-04:00

The first bracelet event of the 2007 World Series of Poker has concluded and the winner of the 5k Mixed Hold'em is Steve Billirakis. Billirakis becomes the youngest bracelet winner ever breaking the record Jeff Madsen set at last years World Series. Billirakis took home the bracelet at 21 years and 10 days of age. This is the fourth straight year the record has been broken and it's going to be pretty hard for someone to break it again.

PokerNews.com caught up with him after the win.

Continuation Bets

2007-06-04T00:07:00.000-04:00

A continuation bet is when you raise preflop but the flop doesn't do anything to improve your hand so you bet again on the flop. You need to be careful when you make continuation bets. Just don't make some random continuation bet without knowing why you're making it.

When making a continuation bet you want to make sure the flop is good for making the bet. Pay attention to the suits. If the flop comes all different suits that's good for making a continuation bet. If the flop comes low or middle cards that's also a good flop for a continuation bet. An example would be a flop that comes 9-7-2. Firing out a continuation bet here is a good idea. A flop that comes A-Q-10 is not a spot to make a continuation bet.

An important thing to take into consideration when making your continuation bet is how many others players are in the hand. Generally you don't want to make a continuation bet against more than 1 or 2 players. The more people in the hand, the less chance your bet will be effective.

Calculating Odds

2007-06-03T00:40:00.000-04:00

Phil Gordon goes over calculating odds.

Card Controversy at the WSOP

2007-06-02T12:21:00.000-04:00

New cards are being used at this years WSOP and the players are not big fans of them. Apparently they are extremely hard to read and many players have been complaining, including Mike Matusow. Pokernews.com interviewed Daniel Negreanu and got his opinion on the new cards.

The Gap Concept

2007-06-02T00:18:00.000-04:00

The "Gap Concept" was introduced by David Sklanksy. In the video below, Phil Gordon explains what the "Gap Concept" is.

The WSOP Begins Today

2007-06-01T00:43:00.000-04:00

The 2007 World Series of Poker is here. The 38th World Series of Poker begins today with a $5,000 buy-in mixed hold'em (limit/no limit) event. There is also a dealers event. This year there are 55 events with coveted bracelets going to the winner of each.

At last years World Series, Phil Hellmuth won his 10th bracelet. Hellmuth, Johnny Chan, and Doyle Brunson all have 10 each and will try to be the first player to claim an 11th bracelet. If I had to take a guess which player will get their 11th first I'd go with Hellmuth. Brunson and Chan have not played as many events as Hellmuth this year and Hellmuth seems to be near the top of his game. Hellmuth made 4 final tables last year and I expect him to see some more this year.

The big surprise at the 2006 WSOP was 21 year old, Jeff Madsen. Madsen won 2 bracelets and made 4 final tables. Will he come close to repeating last years success? We'll find out soon and perhaps another 21 year old will make the same sort of impact at this years WSOP?

Jamie Gold will look to defend his Main Event title. Gold has not cashed in any major tournaments since winning last years Main Event. This years WSOP will have a huge impact on how people view Jamie Gold as a poker player. Will he prove the doubters wrong or will people be calling him the second coming of Robert Varkonyi?

All of these questions will be answered soon. The World Series of Poker is finally here.

Daniel Negreanu's Advanced Poker Tips Part 3

2007-05-31T00:17:00.001-04:00

The final part of the video shows how "smallball" is used in play.

Daniel Negreanu's Advanced Poker Tips Part 2

2007-05-30T01:25:00.001-04:00

Daniel talks about pot odds, avoiding traps, setting traps, calling with nothing, and defending blinds.

Daniel Negreanu's Advanced Poker Tips Part 1

2007-05-29T07:05:00.001-04:00

Daniel Negreanu explains the "smallball" poker strategy.

Playing Mid to Low Pocket Pairs

2007-05-28T01:14:00.000-04:00

Many players have trouble playing mid to low pocket pairs and aren't quite sure how to play them. When deciding how to play them you always have to look at your position at the table, and how many players are at the table. Pocket sevens through nines I would consider to be middle pairs while sixes and below are small pairs.

At a full table in early position I would consider raising with nines and eights while probably just calling with sevens. In middle position I'd most likely raise with all of them. If another player raised I would simply call. In late position I would definitely raise if there were no previous raises. If there was a raise before it was my turn to act in late position I would call. When there's a raise and a re-raise preflop folding would most likely be the best play.

The low pocket pairs are a little trickier. With sixes or below at a full table I would fold most of the time from early position with fours and under while limping in with fives and sixes. From middle position I would just limp, and from late position I would mix up limping and raising. If I'm in late position with 2 or less players in the hand I'd probably raise. When someone raises before the it's your turn you should fold most of the time unless you can play for a cheap price and maybe only 1 or 2 others are in the hand.

Intimidation at the Table

2007-05-26T01:34:00.000-04:00

Many times when an opponent is bluffing they will try to intimidate to force you to fold your hand. There are some pretty common techniques they use to do this.

One of these techniques is the stare. Your opponent will stare you down to make you think he's confident. The person bluffing knows liars usually won't look someone in the eye so in poker they do the opposite. They will stare you down to make you believe they're telling the truth when they're actually bluffing. This is a very common tell I see in nearly every game I play.

Another form of intimidation is when a player raises their eyebrows. This usually coincides with the stare. They will continually raise their eyebrows while looking at you to intimidate. If a player stares you down and starts raising their eyebrows they are most likely bluffing. They are trying to make you believe they're confident and strong but they're weak.

Also how a player puts their chips into the pot can be seen as a way of intimidation. When a player slams their chips into the pot they are trying to intimidate and show strength. They are just trying to bully you though as they are actually weak in this situation.

"Read 'Em And Reap" Review

2007-05-24T01:15:00.000-04:00

"Read 'Em And Reap," written by Joe Navarro, a former FBI agent who specializes in non-verbal tells is the best poker book out there on tells. I breezed through this book in 2 days. There is so much valuable information in this book. I have read Mike Caro's book of tells as well and I have to say "Read 'Em And Reap" trounces it. It has the newest information and will definitely give you an edge over your opponents where ever you play. Not only does the book teach you tells to look out for but it teaches you how to conceal your own tells.

The book paid for itself the first time I went to the casino after reading it. If you play in live tournaments or cash games this is a must read! If not, the information in this book should help you dominate your home games. Any serious player should read this book. It's an essential read.

Food and Drink at the Table

2007-05-23T01:23:00.000-04:00

When you see someone chewing gum or food at the table pay attention! The way they chew could provide you with some useful information in determining the strength of their hand.

Pay attention to how fast someone is chewing their gum. If they start to chew really fast it's most likely because they're excited and have a good hand. If your opponent suddenly stops chewing it could be because their hand just got worse after seeing a card that scares them.

Also pay attention to someone who is drinking at the table. When they have a big hand and get excited they tend to take more sips than usual to settle their nerves.

Playing Under the Gun

2007-05-22T00:22:00.000-04:00

To be "under the gun" in poker means to be the player in first position or first to act. When you're playing from under the gun you should raise or fold almost every single time. The only time I might ever limp in under the gun is with aces or kings but that is only if my table is very loose. I would simply limp hoping someone else would raise so I could re-raise. Most of the time I will still raise under the gun with aces or kings.

When you're under the gun your hand selection should change. The entire table still has to act after you so you aren't going to want to be making raises with a hand like KJ or A10. You should fold those hands under the gun. I would even fold KQ most of the time under the gun at a full table. The chances these hands are the best at a full table are slim. Stick to playing premium hands under the gun.

Playing only premium hands under the gun will gain you more respect when you raise from that position. Then if you happen to be running cold at the table you could try and mix it up by raising with a marginal hand once in a while under the gun because your opponents will put you on a stronger hand than you really have. I would only try to do this against strong players though because they pay attention to position while a weak players do not.

Pros Talk "Lucky You"

2007-05-21T13:34:00.000-04:00

I have yet to go see "Lucky You" but here's a video with some pro's giving their views on the film.

Pocket Jacks

2007-05-20T00:40:00.000-04:00

Pocket Jacks.... the hand that looks nice but everyone hates to play it. Jacks are just one of those hands where you always find yourself getting in trouble.

With Jacks I would recommend getting extra aggressive preflop. Try raising 4 or 5 times the big blind instead of 3. Raising to a larger amount will put more pressure on your opponents to fold a hand like KQ which they would normally call for 3 times the big blind.

When you raise with Jacks and get called your opponents most likely have face cards higher than jacks. If the flop comes anything above a jack there's a very good chance you're beat so I wouldn't try to bluff too often in this situation. Be extra aggressive preflop to avoid the flop. This doesn't mean you should treat your jacks like aces though. If there's a preflop raise and then a re-raise before it's your turn to act don't be afraid to fold the hand.

Players to Watch out for at the WSOP

2007-05-18T00:07:00.000-04:00

The World Series of Poker is only a few weeks away and there are a few players I will be keeping my eye out for once it begins.

Paul Wasicka - Last years runner up from the Main Event has been on absolute tear ever since. Wasicka has earned over $1 million dollars since then and some notable finishes include a 12th place finish in the Aussie Millions, a WPT Final Table, and winning the National Heads Up Championship. Don't be surprised to see him at some final tables this year.

Jeff Madsen - Madsen was last years WSOP Player of the Year. He made 4 final tables at last years World Series and won 2 bracelets. Since he's had some mixed results but he did have an impressive showing at the Bay 101 Shooting Star finishing in 8th place, which was good for $100,000. This year when Madsen returns to the WSOP he will no longer be an unknown so it will interesting to see how he reacts now that he's one of the hunted.

Phil Hellmuth - When you talk about the World Series you have to mention Phil Hellmuth. Hellmuth had a very strong showing at last year's World Series capturing his record tieing 10th bracelet and making 4 final tables altogether. Hellmuth was extra motivated last year and expect the same this year as he can pass Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan for sole possession of the bracelet lead.

JC Tran - No one in the game has had a better 2007 so far than JC Tran. Tran made 3 WPT Final Tables, won one, and also took down a preliminary event at the WPT Championship. Tran earned WPT Player of the Year honors for his success. Tran also has made 5 other final tables since last years WSOP and won 2 of them. He is one of the best players in the world to have never won a WSOP bracelet and this could be the year that changes.

Jamie Gold - Last years Main Event winner will try to prove at this years WSOP he's no fluke. Gold has not had any real notable finishes in tournaments since the Main Event but he also didn't play many tournaments. This year we will find out if Jamie Gold is for real. Apparently he's been practicing games besides Texas Hold'em online so we will see if he has any success in non-hold'em events.

Taking a Break

2007-05-17T00:12:00.000-04:00

While going through a dry spell it's a very good idea to take a break from poker for a while. Take a week off to recharge the batteries. I'd suggest not even thinking about poker for about 3 days and just clear your head.

Then the next few days study poker. Read articles, and just soak up all the information you can. Even reviewing stuff you already know is very helpful. If you have poker books re-read them. After a few days of studying you will feel good about your game and be ready to play. Doing this usually helps me a lot if I'm going through a cold run of cards.

David Willams' Crib

2007-05-16T00:31:00.000-04:00

A look at the home of professional poker player, David Williams.

Talk About Poker With a Friend

2007-05-15T00:21:00.000-04:00

A simple tip that could help you improve your game is to talk about poker with a friend. Talking about your play is a good way to learn from your mistakes. Find a friend you trust and discuss your play with them. Be willing to exchange information with this friend. If you give your friend some useful tips or information they will most likely be willing to do the same with you. This is an easy and effective way to improve your game.

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

2007-05-14T00:41:00.000-04:00

The pros discuss getting out of your comfort zone to improve your game.

Reading Players

2007-05-12T14:26:00.000-04:00

The pros discuss reading players.

The Butterfly

2007-05-11T00:19:00.000-04:00

The Butterfly, also known as the Four Coin Roll Down is one of the toughest chip tricks to do. This one takes a lot of practice to get down.

"How much was the bet?"

2007-05-10T00:48:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been at the poker table and while it was someone's turn to act they asked, "how much was the bet?" This happens all the time, but what does it mean? From my experience's if the player has been paying attention throughout the hand you can be pretty sure their hand is strong.

The Knuckle Roll

2007-05-09T00:34:00.000-04:00

The Knuckle Roll is my favorite chip trick. Like any chip trick it takes practice. You'll get it after a couple of days or perhaps sooner depending on how much time you spend practicing. Here's a video showing how the knuckle roll is done.

Knowing When to Quit

2007-05-08T00:51:00.000-04:00

Realizing when to quit is one of the toughest things to do for a poker player. Just yesterday I was playing online at Full Tilt and had a pretty bad experience. I was playing in the $24+$2 19k guarantee. I had an average stack and the shortstack at the table moved all-in, I called. He had fives and I had sevens. My opponent hit a set on the flop. Then I became shortstacked, moved all-in preflop with AQs and was called by someone with A7d. My opponent hit his flush and I was eliminated. Yeah, that totally sucked, especially since we were close to the bubble.

After the tournament I decided to play a $.25-.50 cash game to try and make up for my loss. I picked up aces and raised preflop, everybody folded except for one person who moved all-in for his last $15. I called. He had AK with one spade. The flop came three spades, and he hit his flush on the turn when another spade came. I was left speechless after taking yet another horrible beat. This was probably the correct time for me to quit. I kept on going though.

Soon I picked up pocket kings. Someone in early position raised, I re-raised, and received one call. The flop came 10-9-6. I bet and was called. The turn came a 3. I made another bet and was called once again. The river was a 7. My opponent hit his straight. I bet, he re-raised and I smooth called. I lost a bunch of money on that hand. It was a pretty sick beat but I probably should have never been playing. In poker when your luck is bad it's just flat out bad. If you keep taking bad beats stop. Don't try to play your way out of it because you'll most likely dig yourself into a deeper hole.

Here are the pros thoughts on knowing when to quit.

Bubble Play

2007-05-07T12:54:00.000-04:00

When you start approaching the bubble in a tournament you need to become more aggressive. Being close to the money most people tend to play more conservative and wait for others to get knocked out. Marginal hands people usually play they start to fold in these situations. This is where you need to become aggressive and take advantage of everyone else playing tight. This is the easiest time to steal blinds.

I would recommend using this same strategy in online tournaments as well except for single table sit and go's. In the single table sit and go's just making the money is an accomplishment so it might be worth sitting back and tightening up around the bubble.

Phil Hellmuth on Shortstack Play

2007-05-06T00:44:00.000-04:00

The following video is an interview with Phil Hellmuth from cardplayer.com discussing short stack strategy in tournament play.

Anti Gravity

2007-05-04T12:02:00.000-04:00

Anti Gravity, also known as the Muscle Pass is one of the coolest looking chip tricks there is. It is a very hard trick to do and you will beat your palm up in the process of learning it but once you get it down it will be well worth it. Here is how it is done

Don't Look at Your Cards Until it's Your Turn to Act

2007-05-03T14:12:00.000-04:00

So many times I see people look at their cards right when they get them. Then if they don't like their cards they will pick them up slightly or hold them as they are ready muck. Do not do this! You are giving everyone else at the table information. If I'm in late position and I see someone holding their cards ready to muck I might raise even if I don't like my hand much because I know my opponent doesn't like theirs either.

Which leads me to players with card protectors. I played with a guy who every time he had a good hand put his card protector down on his cards before it was his turn to act and when his hand was weak he left his card protector sitting on the table. This information was very useful to me as I knew then if he planned to enter the pot.

The Chip Twirl

2007-05-02T09:08:00.000-04:00

The first chip trick I learned besides how to shuffle chips was the chip twirl. My friends always made fun of my ability to shuffle a deck since I didn't do it in the prettiest fashion. I then wanted to learn something they couldn't do. That was the chip twirl. Here is a video of Antonio Esfandiari explaining how the chip twirl is done.

Final Table Strategy

2007-05-01T11:48:00.000-04:00

The pros on final table strategy

Strategic Slowplaying

2007-04-30T11:28:00.000-04:00

Many amateurs love to slowplay with top pair. The pros explain why this might not be the best idea. Here are the pros thoughts on slowplaying.

The Art of the Trap

2007-04-29T12:54:00.000-04:00

The pros discuss the art of trapping your opponent.

Carlos Mortensen Wins WPT Championship

2007-04-28T12:21:00.000-04:00

Last night Carlos Mortensen became the first player ever to win both the Main event of the WSOP and the WPT Championship when he bested a field of 639 players to take home the $25,000 buy-in WPT title. He received a WPT record, $3,970,415 for his win.

Some notable finishes were...

Scott Fischman - 8th
Phil Hellmuth - 18th
Paul Wasicka - 24th

Table Image

2007-04-27T12:23:00.000-04:00

In poker your image at the table is extremely important. Here is what some pros think about table image.

Hilarious Article by Daniel Negreanu

2007-04-26T10:01:00.000-04:00

I recently stumbled across this hilarious article written by Daniel Negreanu. He writes about the experiences of dodging bullets and being a famous poker icon. Very funny.

Link

The Essence of Bluffing

2007-04-25T12:11:00.000-04:00

The pros teach the essence of bluffing

Heads Up Strategy

2007-04-24T11:22:00.000-04:00

Many people when they reach heads up have no idea what to do because of their limited experience playing it. In heads up you need to get more aggressive. Watch the video below to get an idea for how the pros play heads up.

Playing With a Big Stack

2007-04-23T10:15:00.000-04:00

Do you always find yourself having trouble maintaining a big chip stack when you get it? This is a common problem many players have. Here's a video that will give you some tips on how to play big stack poker.

Full Tilt Commericial You Won't See on TV

2007-04-22T21:17:00.000-04:00

Here is a commercial from Full Tilt you won't see on TV that displays Phil Ivey's poker face. It's pretty funny. You'll understand why they won't allow it on TV.

Concealing Your Hand

2007-04-22T11:18:00.000-04:00

One of the most important things you need to know about poker is how to conceal your hand. To do this I would recommend doing everything the same. Pay attention to your body movements. This includes your entire body from head to toe. Make sure when you bet, whether you are strong or weak, to do it in the same manner every time.

Poker is a game of information, the less information you give away to your opponents the more successful you will be. A good example of a player who does does everything the same way is Chris Ferguson. Here is a clip that shows how he does this.

Slowplaying Aces or Kings Preflop

2007-04-21T01:17:00.000-04:00

A lot of people new to poker tend to slowplay aces or kings. Slowplaying them usually is not a recommended play.

Most of the time I will raise preflop with aces or kings but there is a time you might want to just limp in. If you are playing at a full table with a lot of action it could be beneficial to limp from early position. This is because if someone else raises you can re-raise and extract maximum value for your hand.

ESPN Announces WSOP TV Schedule

2007-04-21T00:09:00.000-04:00

ESPN has announced which WSOP events they'll be showing this year. Here they are...

• Event 1: $5,000 mixed hold 'em
• Event 3: $1,500 no-limit hold 'em
• Event 4: $1,500 pot-limit hold 'em or Event 7: $5,000 pot-limit Omaha
• Event 8: $1,000 no-limit hold 'em with rebuys
• Event 13: $5,000 pot-limit hold 'em
• Event 28: $3,000 no-limit hold 'em
• Event 30: $2,500 no-limit hold 'em six-handed
• Event 31: $5,000 heads-up or Event 33: $1,500 pot-limit Omaha with rebuys
• Event 39: $50,000 HORSE
• Event 50: $10,000 pot-limit Omaha
• Event 55: $10,000 no-limit hold 'em main event

The biggest change this year is they are now going to show the HORSE event from the start and not just the final table. This is great news considering the HORSE event consists of mostly pros so you can expect to see some pretty good poker being played by the best in the world. Last year's winner of the HORSE event was Chip Reese.

Verifying a Tell

2007-04-20T18:03:00.000-04:00

You're at the poker table and you think you've picked up a sign of strength or weakness from your opponent but you aren't quite sure if it's correct. What do you do? When looking for tells the best thing to do is try to find multiple tells on your opponent during the hand. If your opponent does something that makes you think they're weak look to try and find something else they're doing or did that would display weakness. The more information you gather the better you can determine if your opponent is weak or strong.

Doing this will also help you from avoiding a player who is giving off false tells. Usually a player giving off false tells will just focus on one particular tell, and not display multiple signs of strength or weakness.

Poker Movies

2007-04-19T22:14:00.000-04:00

It has been nearly 10 years since "Rounders" was released and just now some other poker movies are coming out. It's about time. The first one coming out is "Lucky You" which will be in theaters May 4. After watching the trailer I don't expect it to be as good as "Rounders" but hopefully it will be respectable. The next movie coming out is "Deal". My expectations for this one aren't high either but it looks decent from watching the trailer. What I do like about both movies is that there are real professional players in each of them. "Lucky You" centers around the World Series while "Deal" centers around the World Poker Tour. The other movie coming out but not soon is "The Madison Kid", which is the Phil Hellmuth story. Hayden Christensen got the role as Hellmuth. My hopes are not too high for this one. Here's the trailer for "Lucky You".

Playing Position Poker

2007-04-19T19:52:00.000-04:00

Something I've noticed at the poker tables is many people play a hand just because they think it’s good and pay no attention to their position at the table. For example, you pick up a hand like KJ, QJ, K10, etc. and you think to yourself, this is pretty good. Well, if there is a raise and 3 or 4 other people have already limped in before the action is up to you you’re probably beat and should fold the hand. Many people still make the mistake though and play the hand. I really don't understand how they think they have a good shot at winning the pot when they do that. Don’t be afraid to fold these hands.

Your position at the table is just as important as the cards you get. When you're in late position you're in a power spot. Take advantage of that. Raise more from late position and play more hands from late position. At a full table you shouldn't be raising or even calling from early position with hands like Q10, K9, ace rag. Even hands like A10, and KJ should be folded under the gun (first position). Those hands are very beatable, especially when you play them in early position. Play more hands from late position and less from early position and you will enjoy more success.

Welcome to Poker for Donkeys

2007-04-19T19:46:00.000-04:00

I'm going to write a lot about poker here, strategy, what's going on in poker, my experiences and other things poker related