Friday, September 30. 2005
Tunica Horseshoe Autumn Classic Poker Tournament
During October, the Horseshoe in Tunica will be holding the Autumn Classic Poker Tournament. It will run for six days, from October 6 to October 11, 2005.
In addition to the normal tournaments in the event, there will also be a World Series of Poker Circuit event free roll for the top two finishers in each event. Each event will last two days except for the re-buy tournament (which is never my favorite, I hate re-buys).
Schedule
October 5th, Wednesday — Satellites begin
October 6th, Thursday — No Limit Hold 'Em, $300 + $40
October 7th, Friday — Limit Hold 'Em, $300 + $40
October 8th, Saturday — No Limit Hold 'Em, $1000 + $60
October 9th, Sunday — No Limit Hold 'Em, $500 + $50
October 10th, Monday — No Limit Hold 'Em with re-buys, $200 + $30
Of course, single table satellites will be running constantly from October 5th to October 10th.
There will also be $120 Mega Satellites for the $1000 + $60 event at 5PM every day from October 5th to October 7th. There are also other various mega and super satellites that I won't bother to type up unless I get a request for more information.
Reservations: 800-363-7666; Group Reservation Code: S10HPT
More Info, either use ChipNew's contact page or call Carole or Laura at 800-303-7463 ext. 5760
In addition to the normal tournaments in the event, there will also be a World Series of Poker Circuit event free roll for the top two finishers in each event. Each event will last two days except for the re-buy tournament (which is never my favorite, I hate re-buys).
Schedule
October 5th, Wednesday — Satellites begin
October 6th, Thursday — No Limit Hold 'Em, $300 + $40
October 7th, Friday — Limit Hold 'Em, $300 + $40
October 8th, Saturday — No Limit Hold 'Em, $1000 + $60
October 9th, Sunday — No Limit Hold 'Em, $500 + $50
October 10th, Monday — No Limit Hold 'Em with re-buys, $200 + $30
Of course, single table satellites will be running constantly from October 5th to October 10th.
There will also be $120 Mega Satellites for the $1000 + $60 event at 5PM every day from October 5th to October 7th. There are also other various mega and super satellites that I won't bother to type up unless I get a request for more information.
Reservations: 800-363-7666; Group Reservation Code: S10HPT
More Info, either use ChipNew's contact page or call Carole or Laura at 800-303-7463 ext. 5760
Wednesday, September 28. 2005
Layne Flack Bio and More on Courtney Friel
I'm posting a fairly interesting bio of one of my favorite professional poker players, Layne Flack. Or if you don't want to read about Layne, you can always read more on the new World Poker Tour's leading lady, Courtney Friel.
Layne Flack’s reputation precedes him. The World Poker Tour describes Layne as “poker’s party boy” and “a dynamo in action.” The Travel Channel says he “plays an ultra-aggressive brand of poker.” Phil Hellmuth describes Layne as a “no-limit poker genius.”Don't all the best stories start off that way?
One only need observe Layne for a moment to instantly witness an effervescent, chatty, intelligent, and refreshingly honest young man. Nearly everyone is aware of Layne’s nickname, “Back-to-Back Flack,” for his amazing feat of winning two coveted World Series of Poker bracelets back-to-back in no-limit hold’em events in 2002. He won the tournament’s first two no-limit hold’em events that year, topping fields of 449 and 528 players. The guy is relentless.
“In 1993, I met a girl and we moved to Reno..."
Monday, September 26. 2005
It's Time to Make it Clean! Tournament backers must be revealed
Martin de Knijff, winner of the World Poker Tour 2004 championship, has written an essay on CardPlayer about tournament backing, collusion, and soft-playing. He voices his opinion on the need for players to be explicit and clear about what person or organization might be backing their tournament play. Full article.
Collusion and soft-playing occurs. Some incidents are minor and may be subconscious, but some occur with undisputed malice. I see no problem in people putting other players in tournaments. After all, the bankroll needed to play all of the high-profile $10,000 tournaments is so high that anyone could go broke due to the standard deviation.
A sound approach is to get a sponsor or backer if you have that opportunity. For this to work, though, the business has to be fully transparent. All pride has to be set aside for the health of the game. This is not a matter of secrecy, but a matter of morals and hygiene.
At registration for every tournament, should you have to reveal your sponsor/backer and the deal. “No f------ way,” you might say. “It will never become a reality!” But remember, that is what we said about smoking, too. You can never get away from the fact that some players are good friends with each other outside of poker. As long as they don’t have any economic interest in one another at the tables, this is something with which we have to live.
Getting exposure on national TV broadcasts is paramount for any Internet site today. Players receive almost ridiculous amounts of money for wearing a logo at a final table. Of course, speculation of hidden agendas is inevitable. Rumors of a player getting there “at any price” (including collusion) will not benefit the industry. If we at some point want sponsorships from major companies in poker, I think you understand how important this is.
Thursday, September 22. 2005
New FullTilt Tips From the Pros and the Shana Hiatt Replacement
Wanna catch a sneak peak at the new World Poker Tour lady lead-in spokesperson? We'll see in the coming months how well she measures up to Shana.
Today I am featuring a FullTilt Poker Tips From the Pros by Steve Brecher. This is the first time that Steve has contributed to the FullTilt tips encyclopedia, so I was excited to read what he has to say. His article is particularly interesting because it addresses a large-scale concern that many new poker players have about playing online: How Bad are the Beats? He doesn't explain explain how often or how bad the beats are, but Steve does explain that some bad beats weren't as bad statistically as you may think.
Today I am featuring a FullTilt Poker Tips From the Pros by Steve Brecher. This is the first time that Steve has contributed to the FullTilt tips encyclopedia, so I was excited to read what he has to say. His article is particularly interesting because it addresses a large-scale concern that many new poker players have about playing online: How Bad are the Beats? He doesn't explain explain how often or how bad the beats are, but Steve does explain that some bad beats weren't as bad statistically as you may think.
First, let's consider what most would view as a typical "bad beat" -- a lower pocket pair winning against a higher pocket pair in hold 'em, such as KK beating AA. When those hands share one suit, the chance of the worse hand winning is about 18%. The chance of the lower pair winning twice -- that is, the next two times that such hands happen to go against each other -- is about 3%. If in one session of play, a lower pocket pair beat a higher pocket pair twice, that might seem a little, well, weird to some players.And an example:
Let's take a look at my call on the turn. I held Ad Td; my opponent held Kd Kc. The board was Qd 9d 7h Jc. With my opponent's actual holding, I had 16 outs to win the pot on the river, making me a 1.75 to 1 underdog. Of course, it could have been worse for me against other holdings, but even the worst case for me would have been to be up against K-T (a made straight), and then I would have been only a 3 to 1 underdog.As always, we encourage you to read the full article.
After my bet and the opponent's all in-raise, I was getting pot odds of 3.7 to 1 to call, so the call is clearly correct. But it seemed to my opponent -- and to at least one observer -- that I made a bad call, and that my winning with a 36% chance to do so when I called was a bad beat for my opponent.
The moral of this story: While "bad beats" (low-probability events) do occur, sometimes a closer examination of a poker hand can change first impressions and allow you to continue to play with a cooler, clearer head.
Wednesday, September 21. 2005
World Poker Tour owner plays hand in court
The parent company of the "World Poker Tour" has sued its outlet, the Travel Channel, for allegedly interfering with plans to develop a new poker series on ESPN.
According to the suit, WPT had the right to develop other poker-related programming, provided it gave the Travel Channel the first opportunity to license the show and the last right to refusal.
WPT said it proposed such a show, "Professional Poker Tour," in July 2004 but that negotiations with the defendants were not successful in the 60-day exclusive window.
WPT said it then shopped the show to other networks, including ESPN, which proposed to license the show September 12. That triggered a 15-day "last refusal" period for the defendants, who allegedly sent threatening letters to WPT and ESPN.
According to the suit, WPT had the right to develop other poker-related programming, provided it gave the Travel Channel the first opportunity to license the show and the last right to refusal.
WPT said it proposed such a show, "Professional Poker Tour," in July 2004 but that negotiations with the defendants were not successful in the 60-day exclusive window.
WPT said it then shopped the show to other networks, including ESPN, which proposed to license the show September 12. That triggered a 15-day "last refusal" period for the defendants, who allegedly sent threatening letters to WPT and ESPN.
Monday, September 19. 2005
Third Street in Seven Stud
It is my opinion that we don't post nearly enough stud poker strategy and tips on ChipNews.org. Thankfully, this week's first FullTilt Poker's Tips from the Pros is about how to play smart on third street in seven card stud poker. Poker pro Perry Friedmen has used this article to pass on a little bit of his stud poker knowledge to our readers and other FullTilt players. I admit that it is very basic information, however, so few of the newer poker players have tried anything besides Texas Hold 'Em. But Stud is a fantastic game, and one worth exploring. If you only know how to play one game, you could be missing out on a lot of action when the normal tables are so full but there's a seat open at the stud table. So do yourself a favor learn stud, be willing to go where the money is, and you may find out that you not only enjoy but are really great at the game.
Here's the full article in which Friedmen explains how different stud betting is from other forms of poker. And of our readers, here is a snippet of more helpful hints:
Here's the full article in which Friedmen explains how different stud betting is from other forms of poker. And of our readers, here is a snippet of more helpful hints:
You should almost never bring in for a completion in Stud Hi, except in very rare tournament situations. There are a number of reasons for this, including the need to conceal the strength of your hand and the desire to keep your options open later in the round.
If you make it a habit only to bring in for a completion when you have a good hand, an astute player will pick up on this and will steal from you every time you don't complete the bring-in. Conversely, if you always complete the bet, you are throwing away money when you are forced in, which is usually when you have a bad hand since you already have the lowest up card.
Furthermore, bringing in for a completion limits your betting options. If you bring in for the minimum and someone else completes the bet, you can raise back for a full bet, whereas your opponent can only complete for a partial bet. You can also decide to slow play your hand if someone completes. Completing the bet exposes you to being raised back a full bet. By always bringing in for the minimum, you do not give away the strength of your hand and leave your options open on third street.
When playing in a live ring game, I will seldom even look at my down cards when I am the bring-in. Whether or not you look at your cards first is a matter of personal preference, but by not looking, you can't give a tell. However, one of the important aspects of stud is being aware of what cards have already been dealt out to your opponents. If you decide not to look at your hole cards, you should still peruse the table and take inventory of what cards are already out.
Thursday, September 15. 2005
Seven rules of poker etiquette
These unofficial rules apply to both traditional cardrooms and online sites.
Don’t run to the wicket
As your principal taught you in grade school: walk, don’t run! It is considered very bad etiquette for everyone to stampede to the cashier’s cage when the live one goes broke. At least let the fellow leave the cardroom first with some semblance of dignity. In winter, the guy might be going out to warm up his car, so designate a lookout to see if he has indeed left the building.
Online, a similar concept occurs when a fish goes busted. All at once players can’t hit the “auto-post” button to the off position fast enough. This sudden quitting is probably not as big a deal online, as there are multitudes of players in cyberspace. However, it still makes you look like a “nit”, to borrow Daniel Negreanu’s term.
Don’t heckle the dealers
Don’t give lessons at the table
One of the best investments I ever made was buying “Fast Teddy” breakfast after an all night session broke up. I was a cocky kid at the time, but Teddy had been around for years. He left me to ponder this pearl, “You want these guys to smarten up so they take your money?”
No ribbing
English only at the table
This may seem as if it has ethnically biased overtones, but there are a couple of good reasons for enforcing this rule. If you sit down at an online table and two players are talking Danish to each other, there is a chance that you will be the “meat in the sandwich,” so to speak.
Be a courteous loser
Be a gracious winner
Don’t run to the wicket
As your principal taught you in grade school: walk, don’t run! It is considered very bad etiquette for everyone to stampede to the cashier’s cage when the live one goes broke. At least let the fellow leave the cardroom first with some semblance of dignity. In winter, the guy might be going out to warm up his car, so designate a lookout to see if he has indeed left the building.
Online, a similar concept occurs when a fish goes busted. All at once players can’t hit the “auto-post” button to the off position fast enough. This sudden quitting is probably not as big a deal online, as there are multitudes of players in cyberspace. However, it still makes you look like a “nit”, to borrow Daniel Negreanu’s term.
Don’t heckle the dealers
Don’t give lessons at the table
One of the best investments I ever made was buying “Fast Teddy” breakfast after an all night session broke up. I was a cocky kid at the time, but Teddy had been around for years. He left me to ponder this pearl, “You want these guys to smarten up so they take your money?”
No ribbing
English only at the table
This may seem as if it has ethnically biased overtones, but there are a couple of good reasons for enforcing this rule. If you sit down at an online table and two players are talking Danish to each other, there is a chance that you will be the “meat in the sandwich,” so to speak.
Be a courteous loser
Be a gracious winner
Wednesday, September 14. 2005
Who is Better Wired for Success at Poker - an Introvert or an Extrovert?
I'm sticking to the theme I set on Monday when I posted an article about whether success in poker is a factor of intelligence or of skill or both. Today, I've found an article that poses a similar question only in terms of personality traits. Are introverts or extroverts more suited to being successful at the poker table? Full article from CardPlayer Magazine.
But let’s get back to the question at hand. There is, of course, no such thing as an absolute introvert or extrovert. If there were, the former would never be able to find his car, and the latter wouldn’t remember the name on his drivers license. The inclination to focus one’s attention inwardly or outwardly is a matter of extent; everyone does both, but the introvert’s awareness is directed primarily inward, while the extrovert is busier watching the world. Since success in poker, as in most things, can be achieved through different approaches, it follows that both psychological types bring respective strengths and weaknesses to their games.
Since the rational introvert tends to be quite self-aware, he possesses a great capacity to manage his own game. He is capable of developing techniques that aid him in avoiding emotional or psychological traps, and is also capable of summoning an ironclad self-discipline. On the downside, his self-possession can make it difficult at times to fathom that other people might think quite differently than he does, which in turn can lead to a fixation on what his opponents “should” be thinking instead of what they are thinking. The good news is that he has a redraw, for the same self-awareness that can lead him into this trouble helps him recognize his own shortcomings, which affords him the opportunity to adjust.
The extrovert, on the plus side, has no entourage of inner railbirds distracting him during the heat of battle. Since his attention is focused predominantly on what is happening around him, he tends to perceive situations with fewer preconceived biases. Thus, he brings a free-flowing creativity to the game that is spontaneous and natural; it doesn’t have to be manufactured. And although he might not manage himself quite as effectively as the introvert, he makes up for it by managing his opponents. The extrovert also tends to have an open, outgoing personality that makes his opponents feel at ease, which enables him to observe and study them without them feeling like they’re being observed and studied. On the downside, while many extroverts are disciplined enough not to tilt, I don’t believe they pick up the signs of semitilt as quickly as their more introverted counterparts. Tilt, after all, has degrees. We can be fully in command or tilting full-throttle, but most of the time we’re somewhere in between. Since self-control exists in a continuum, we sometimes lose control of it in tiny, incremental steps, and the loss can be virtually imperceptible.
Monday, September 12. 2005
Is Poker Skill Just Intelligence?
I've often wondered what abilities and skills make the difference between an amazing poker player and the average player. More key to these ponderings is how deeply intelligence is tied to the natural predilection for acquiring those poker senses and skills. For those of you who are like me and are curious as to what makes a brain predisposed to winning at poker, you'll be very interested in this full article by Daniel Kimberg who writes for CardPlayer Magazine.
Assuming that poker isn’t any different from other cognitive skills, it almost certainly draws on both general intelligence and on one or more specific aptitudes. Even for someone with high general intelligence, playing poker well may be a struggle if some of the more poker-specific aptitudes are lacking. So, we can already say with some confidence that poker is more than just (general) intelligence; it almost certainly depends on other kinds of intelligence, as well.
Another good place to look is suggested by a distinction first made by Raymond Cattell in 1936, between fluid and crystallized intelligence. Fluid intelligence, loosely speaking, is a kind of mental agility that tends to peak at around the age of 40 and decline thereafter. Crystallized intelligence is more akin to acquired abilities or knowledge. In poker terms, fluid intelligence is the ability to make the right decision by thinking it through at the table, while crystallized intelligence is the ability to make the right decision because you’ve seen similar situations many times and know the correct decision.
Some people are not natural poker players, but through hard work develop a foundation of knowledge to compensate for the lack of natural ability. It’s easy to imagine compensating even for personality factors that aren’t well-suited to poker. Even though you might be naturally risk-averse, if you know through years of study and experience that reraising in a certain situation with a draw is the right move, you may have little trouble circumventing your natural inclination to save your money for surer bets. Alas, while crystallized intelligence may sound like an aptitude due to its catchy name, it’s really more a measure of realized potential than aptitude. So, we’ll leave it off the list and just bear in mind that even if all of your other aptitudes fall short, you can still benefit from knowledge and experience.
Friday, September 9. 2005
Harrah's Cancels WSOP Circuit Event Scheduled for Biloxi Grand
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. said today it has canceled the World Series of Poker Circuit tournament scheduled to begin September 29 at Grand Casino Biloxi.
"Our focus at this time is on ensuring the safety of our employees and their families and helping them and the communities in which we operate recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina," said Ginny Shanks, senior vice president of brand management for Harrah's Entertainment. "I'm certain our customers understand and share those concerns."
Grand Casino Biloxi was severely damaged during the storm, and many of its employees lost homes and belongings.
The Biloxi tournament was scheduled for September 29-October 12. Harrah's does not plan another Circuit event at that time.
The Circuit schedule will resume October 19 at Caesars Indiana.
"Our focus at this time is on ensuring the safety of our employees and their families and helping them and the communities in which we operate recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina," said Ginny Shanks, senior vice president of brand management for Harrah's Entertainment. "I'm certain our customers understand and share those concerns."
Grand Casino Biloxi was severely damaged during the storm, and many of its employees lost homes and belongings.
The Biloxi tournament was scheduled for September 29-October 12. Harrah's does not plan another Circuit event at that time.
The Circuit schedule will resume October 19 at Caesars Indiana.
Wednesday, September 7. 2005
Review of New Stu Ungar Biography
Nolan Dalla and Peter Alson's authorized biography of a man whose name, when mentioned in gambling circles, evokes a stream of anecdotes about his gutsiness and his out-of-control lifestyle plays out in two ways. One is a straightforward account of Ungar's remarkable career, which saw him rise from New York's Lower East Side to become one of the best professional card players.
Mixed into that story line, however, is the cautionary tale that is Ungar's life - and his lonely death at 45 in a motel room. Ungar loved the "action," betting on anything and everything, resulting in jaw-dropping wins and losses. He was also a severe drug addict, a man whose considerable career earnings - he won the lucrative World Series of Poker a record three times - often went up his nose or were gambled away.
Dalla (a professional handicapper and media director for the World Series of Poker) and Alson (author of the memoir Confessions of an Ivy League Bookie) do an admirable job of not attempting to minimize Ungar's many faults. Besides being a drug addict and a gambling fiend, he was a philanderer, a sometimes absentee father and socially awkward. The real trick Dalla and Alson pull off is showing just how magnetic Ungar was despite all of that.
Mixed into that story line, however, is the cautionary tale that is Ungar's life - and his lonely death at 45 in a motel room. Ungar loved the "action," betting on anything and everything, resulting in jaw-dropping wins and losses. He was also a severe drug addict, a man whose considerable career earnings - he won the lucrative World Series of Poker a record three times - often went up his nose or were gambled away.
Dalla (a professional handicapper and media director for the World Series of Poker) and Alson (author of the memoir Confessions of an Ivy League Bookie) do an admirable job of not attempting to minimize Ungar's many faults. Besides being a drug addict and a gambling fiend, he was a philanderer, a sometimes absentee father and socially awkward. The real trick Dalla and Alson pull off is showing just how magnetic Ungar was despite all of that.
Tuesday, September 6. 2005
Spoiler - WPT Ladies Night III
Jennifer Tilly has won her second major poker tournament, and confidence in her playing ability.
Tilly's victory at the World Poker Tour Ladies Night III at the Bicycle Casino last week makes her the first woman to win both that title and the World Series' Ladies World Poker Championship, which she won in June.
Tilly's victory at the World Poker Tour Ladies Night III at the Bicycle Casino last week makes her the first woman to win both that title and the World Series' Ladies World Poker Championship, which she won in June.
Friday, September 2. 2005
FullTilt Poker Pros on Poker Books
One of the cheapest ways to improve your game is to buy a poker book and study it. I say cheaper, because it doesn't actually cost any betting money; it's just a matter of how much you spend on the book itself. For players who are just starting off, the rewards can be great for such a small, risk-less investment. Ever wanted to know what books the professional poker players would recommend (besides their own!)?
In this week's edition of FullTilt Poker's "Lessons From the Pros," the FullTilt team discusses which poker books they found most helpful in terms of theory, examples, and practical application. And if you think you don't need the help of a poker how-to manual, you might find some vindication.
In this week's edition of FullTilt Poker's "Lessons From the Pros," the FullTilt team discusses which poker books they found most helpful in terms of theory, examples, and practical application. And if you think you don't need the help of a poker how-to manual, you might find some vindication.
While our pros all have poker books that they like, not all of them believe that reading about poker theory is essential to improving their play. In fact, a few of our pros expressed sentiments along these lines:Full article here.
We’re not big fans of poker books. Once you get the basics down, is there something you can read that will drastically change your outlook on poker? Probably not. If there were a secret formula that would guarantee you'd always win, or one certain technique to win the most money, wouldn't everyone be playing that way already? The best teacher is experience. Choose a playing style and game mentality that fits your style, then get out there and actively think about the game. See what works for you and what doesn't. No book will be as effective as your own thought process.
Steve Brecher agrees with “Jesus” about Sklansky's Theory of Poker for its idea of the semi-bluff and its analysis of the concept of odds in poker. Sklansky's Hold 'em for the Advanced Player and the rest of the Advanced Player series are also solid reads.
Brecher also likes Doyle Brunson's chapter on No-Limit Hold 'em in his Super System for its emphasis on the importance of implied odds (although that's Sklansky's phrase, not Brunson's).
Being friendly with Phil Gordon, Perry Friedman has gotten to read an advance copy of Phil’s Little Green Book (due out in October), which he thinks provides the best example of how to teach people to think about the game. He adds that both of Dan Harrington's books are filled with incredible advice for tournament play.
Mississippi's Casino Industry
Katrina has completely decimated the Mississippi Gulf Coast, flooded New Orleans, and wreaked infrastructure havok over three hundred miles inland. We've spent this week recovering from Katrina (I was stranded very near the coast for several days during and after), but it's going to take years for the Coast to rebuild. No one is sure that we'll even be able to attract the casinos to the coast again, and potentially takes with it billions of tax revenue for the state, the schools, and the communities, as well as thousands of jobs and tourist dollars.
There are certainly more pressing issues now than thinking about the casinos. However, to stay on topic with poker, I mention the effects that Katrina's has had on poker and gambling in this region.
There are certainly more pressing issues now than thinking about the casinos. However, to stay on topic with poker, I mention the effects that Katrina's has had on poker and gambling in this region.


