The Auto-Check Online

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

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

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

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

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

Every Hand Revealed Review

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

Poker World Weighs in on WSOP Final Table Controversy

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

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

Short Stack Comeback

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

Limit versus No-Limit Poker

High Stakes Golf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State of Mind

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.