If you're lucky enough to flop the best possible hand, or close to it, then you need to figure out how to win the maximum amount of chips.
Among the most important factors are knowing your opponent and planning how best to milk him on the rest of the streets. But sometimes, even the trickiest players can get too cute or forget the obvious.
At the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond Classic at Las Vegas' Bellagio in 2008, with blinds at $100-$200 plus a $25 ante, aggressive pro Kevin Saul raised preflop to $600 from middle position with pocket 9s.
He got a call from the player on the button, a respected opponent with whom Saul had a history, and the two of them took a flop of 9-6-6. Saul hit a full house. Now he had to get paid off.
"I wanted action," Saul said. "I had the nuts just about. I mean, if he's got quads, then I'll go home.
"We had a hand earlier on a rag board where I checked and he checked behind. I checked here, just hoping he'd think I was playing somewhat passively."
His opponent bet $1,400. Saul check-raised $1,400 more. His opponent called.
The turn came the 10 of clubs. Saul bet $3,400.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
PPA Online Poker Petition Passes 300,000 Signature Mark
For the past few weeks poker players and fans of the game have been able to show our support for the legalization of poker in the United States by signing an online poker petition created by the Poker Players Alliance. As of July 14th the online poker petition passed the 300,000 signature mark and only a few days are left for more signatures before the petition will be presented to President Barack Obama.
The Poker Players Alliance will be submitting the poker petition to the President during National Poker Week. The week begins on July 19th and continues until July 25th and it will be on the 22nd that the President will receive the petition.
The Poker Players Alliance will be submitting the poker petition to the President during National Poker Week. The week begins on July 19th and continues until July 25th and it will be on the 22nd that the President will receive the petition.
PPA Online Poker Petition Passes 300,000 Signature Mark
For the past few weeks poker players and fans of the game have been able to show our support for the legalization of poker in the United States by signing an online poker petition created by the Poker Players Alliance. As of July 14th the online poker petition passed the 300,000 signature mark and only a few days are left for more signatures before the petition will be presented to President Barack Obama.
The Poker Players Alliance will be submitting the poker petition to the President during National Poker Week. The week begins on July 19th and continues until July 25th and it will be on the 22nd that the President will receive the petition.
The Poker Players Alliance will be submitting the poker petition to the President during National Poker Week. The week begins on July 19th and continues until July 25th and it will be on the 22nd that the President will receive the petition.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
World Series of Online Poker Betting to have new main event champion this year
Just two gold bracelet winners remained in a field of 29 players after six hours of play on Tuesday, each having won tournaments at the series other than its US$10,000 buy in no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event.
Last year's champion, Peter Eastgate, was eliminated late Monday in 78th place, winning $68,979. He and 2005 champion Joe Hachem were the last remaining former champions in the tournament. Hachem busted in 103rd place.
Esfandiari was down to 3.53 million chips after two hours, and fell below three million chips after six hours.
He said play began to slow from a breakneck pace seen the last few days that have resulted in many eliminations on dicey gambles.
The World Series of poker main event will have a new title winner this year.
Ivey started the day third in chips with 6.3 million and continued his surge, heading to the dinner break after six hours of play with 12.2 million chips, second in the tournament.
Three other past winners at the series began play on Tuesday but did not last. Prahlad Friedman was eliminated in 64th place to win $90,344, while 2007 World Series of Poker Player of the Year Tom Schneider busted in 52nd, winning $138,568.
Blair Rodman busted out in 34th place, winning $253,941.
Last year's champion, Peter Eastgate, was eliminated late Monday in 78th place, winning $68,979. He and 2005 champion Joe Hachem were the last remaining former champions in the tournament. Hachem busted in 103rd place.
Esfandiari was down to 3.53 million chips after two hours, and fell below three million chips after six hours.
He said play began to slow from a breakneck pace seen the last few days that have resulted in many eliminations on dicey gambles.
The World Series of poker main event will have a new title winner this year.
Ivey started the day third in chips with 6.3 million and continued his surge, heading to the dinner break after six hours of play with 12.2 million chips, second in the tournament.
Three other past winners at the series began play on Tuesday but did not last. Prahlad Friedman was eliminated in 64th place to win $90,344, while 2007 World Series of Poker Player of the Year Tom Schneider busted in 52nd, winning $138,568.
Blair Rodman busted out in 34th place, winning $253,941.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Former Poker Champion Laments Tournament
Joe Hachem, the 2005 World Series of Poker champion, said he had lost respect for a new brand of aggressive players who seemed to want to gamble all their chips on every hand in the main event.
Hachem said after two hours of poker on Monday that the pace had not slowed at the no-limit Texas Hold ’em tournament in Las Vegas because many players were willing to risk their tournament with mediocre hands. Play started with 185 players, and 38 were eliminated in two hours, despite starting with many chips relative to minimum bets. Hachem said the overaggressive style was disrespectful to the tournament.
Hachem said after two hours of poker on Monday that the pace had not slowed at the no-limit Texas Hold ’em tournament in Las Vegas because many players were willing to risk their tournament with mediocre hands. Play started with 185 players, and 38 were eliminated in two hours, despite starting with many chips relative to minimum bets. Hachem said the overaggressive style was disrespectful to the tournament.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Poker player Doesn't Accept Hand Dealt by USGA
Dusty Schmidt just wants to compete as an amateur golfer. The USGA maintains that the player gave up his amateur status when he threw down a $1 million challenge to anyone who could beat him at 72 holes of golf and at poker.
Now it's up to a judge to decide.
Schmidt has filed a complaint seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow him to keep his amateur status with the USGA and play in a series of events in the Pacific Northwest. A hearing in the matter is scheduled for Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland.
While Schmidt portrays himself as an innocent victim who simply wants to compete in the sport he loves, the USGA claims in court documents that he is a self-promoter who flouted the rules for amateur status with his golf-and-poker challenge.
"At the end of the day, I'm trying to get my amateur status back. I am trying to fight for my right NOT to make money playing golf, basically," he said. "I just want to play golf, and I believe I should be allowed to play golf."
Schmidt was a promising young golfer in Southern California who turned pro after a year at UC Irvine. His career ended, stunningly, when he had a heart attack at age 23.
Now it's up to a judge to decide.
Schmidt has filed a complaint seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow him to keep his amateur status with the USGA and play in a series of events in the Pacific Northwest. A hearing in the matter is scheduled for Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland.
While Schmidt portrays himself as an innocent victim who simply wants to compete in the sport he loves, the USGA claims in court documents that he is a self-promoter who flouted the rules for amateur status with his golf-and-poker challenge.
"At the end of the day, I'm trying to get my amateur status back. I am trying to fight for my right NOT to make money playing golf, basically," he said. "I just want to play golf, and I believe I should be allowed to play golf."
Schmidt was a promising young golfer in Southern California who turned pro after a year at UC Irvine. His career ended, stunningly, when he had a heart attack at age 23.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)