I'm going to expand some more on my previous insert. What I'm going to focus on here is WHO you want at the table in relation to your position, as well as a hand chart which will give you a good indication of what to play from what position. This is specifically for Hold'em so further study will be needed for other poker variations. WHO do you want at your table and, most importantly, WHERE do you want them sitting in relation to you. Let's say that you've got a maniac/loose/wild player at the table. The terms "maniac/wild/loose" means that this player will enter pots with any kind of hand. What you want to do is have the the aforementioned human ATM sitting to your right. Why? Because you can make a fortune off them. The advantage is that you get to act after this player so if they do limp or have a history of betting at the pot with any hand, you want to be able to re-raise them and maximize the profit you can make from them. So if you get the opportunity, watch the table, see who the maniacs are and try and get a seat where they sit to your right. Now we get the other side of the coin: the rocks. The term "rock" basically indicates that the player is tight, solid and will only enter pots when they have a very good starting hand - the rest of the time they'll be folding. These are the guys you want to your left. Why? Because unless they have got a premium hand, they will often fold so it's very easy to steal blinds from these guys and bet into them with bluffs. If you notice that you have a very tight player who you have been stealing blinds from all through the game, be very weary of when they do call (or raise) because it's likely that they'll have a good hand. That at least gives you information so that you don't risk any further chips if you suspect they have a better hand than you. The other interesting thing about this is isolation. If you're in late position or on the button and the maniac before you has bet/raised and you call or re-raise, the tight player to your left will likely fold along with others and the maniac to your right may call your bet. What this does is that it then pushes everyone else out of the hand and if you've got good cards, the probability of you winning against the maniac is much greater. Hopefully you'll remember my game selection column previously. Remember the flop percentages? These give an indication of the types of players at your table - the higher the flop percentage, the more maniacs, the lower the flop percentage, the more rocks. And you'll want to try and get a seat where you have the advantage :) Hand Charts - What hands to play from what position Here's a rough little guide of what hands are playable in various positions. You'll notice that there are less hands to play when in early position and playable hands start increasing the later you're positioned. Rough Starting Hand by Position Guide Eary Position Middle Position Late Position AA JJ 77 KK Q10 (s) 66 QQ 1010 55 AK (s) AJ 44 AQ (s) 99 33 AK A10 22 AQ 88 A8 (s) A9 A7 (s) AJ (s) A6 (s) KQ A5 (s) A10 (s) A4 (s) KJ A3 (s) A9 (s) A2 (s) K10 K10 (s) KQ (s) K9 (s) QJ Q9 (s) KJ (s) Q8 (s) Q10 J9 (s) QJ (s) 109 (s) 98 (s) K9 Q9 J10 * (s) denotes that the cards are suited i.e. A6 (s) means that it's the Ace and Six - with both cards being the same suit e.g. spades. Disclaimer: Please note that this is a very rough guide to the hands by position and is, from my personal experience, what I've had success with in the past. There are far more scientific, statistical & extensive hand chart resources available that can give greater insight on these starting hands so if you're wanting to look into it a bit more, I'd recommend that you obtain books by noted poker authors. This is merely my interpretation and is hopefully going to help you or at least put you on the right track to recognizing what hands you can or should be playing from various positions. Oh and another thing (I'll quit whining soon I promise :)), as with most things in life, the guide above is not a recipe for success - it can only be done in conjunction with the information you have gathered from your opponents and making the best decision, after all, that's what poker is about: using the information you've gained to make the correct decision (even if you don't win the hand - in the long run you'll be smiling). That's it from me folks. Until next time, I wish you good cards, good poker and that your opponents are plagued by 7 2 offsuit.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
The importance of position
What I'm going to focus on here is WHO you want at the table in relation to your position, as well as a hand chart which will give you a good indication of what to play from what position. This is specifically for Hold'em so further study will be needed for other poker variations. WHO do you want at your table and, most importantly, WHERE do you want them sitting in relation to you. Let's say that you've got a maniac/loose/wild player at the table. The terms "maniac/wild/loose" means that this player will enter pots with any kind of hand. What you want to do is have the the aforementioned human ATM sitting to your right. Why? Because you can make a fortune off them. The advantage is that you get to act after this player so if they do limp or have a history of betting at the pot with any hand, you want to be able to re-raise them and maximize the profit you can make from them. So if you get the opportunity, watch the table, see who the maniacs are and try and get a seat where they sit to your right. Now we get the other side of the coin: the rocks. The term "rock" basically indicates that the player is tight, solid and will only enter pots when they have a very good starting hand - the rest of the time they'll be folding. These are the guys you want to your left. Why? Because unless they have got a premium hand, they will often fold so it's very easy to steal blinds from these guys and bet into them with bluffs. If you notice that you have a very tight player who you have been stealing blinds from all through the game, be very weary of when they do call (or raise) because it's likely that they'll have a good hand. That at least gives you information so that you don't risk any further chips if you suspect they have a better hand than you. The other interesting thing about this is isolation. If you're in late position or on the button and the maniac before you has bet/raised and you call or re-raise, the tight player to your left will likely fold along with others and the maniac to your right may call your bet. What this does is that it then pushes everyone else out of the hand and if you've got good cards, the probability of you winning against the maniac is much greater. Hopefully you'll remember my game selection column previously. Remember the flop percentages? These give an indication of the types of players at your table - the higher the flop percentage, the more maniacs, the lower the flop percentage, the more rocks. And you'll want to try and get a seat where you have the advantage :) Hand Charts - What hands to play from what position Here's a rough little guide of what hands are playable in various positions. You'll notice that there are less hands to play when in early position and playable hands start increasing the later you're positioned. Rough Starting Hand by Position Guide Eary Position Middle Position Late Position AA JJ 77 KK Q10 (s) 66 QQ 1010 55 AK (s) AJ 44 AQ (s) 99 33 AK A10 22 AQ 88 A8 (s) A9 A7 (s) AJ (s) A6 (s) KQ A5 (s) A10 (s) A4 (s) KJ A3 (s) A9 (s) A2 (s) K10 K10 (s) KQ (s) K9 (s) QJ Q9 (s) KJ (s) Q8 (s) Q10 J9 (s) QJ (s) 109 (s) 98 (s) K9 Q9 J10 * (s) denotes that the cards are suited i.e. A6 (s) means that it's the Ace and Six - with both cards being the same suit e.g. spades. Disclaimer: Please note that this is a very rough guide to the hands by position and is, from my personal experience, what I've had success with in the past. There are far more scientific, statistical & extensive hand chart resources available that can give greater insight on these starting hands so if you're wanting to look into it a bit more, I'd recommend that you obtain books by noted poker authors. This is merely my interpretation and is hopefully going to help you or at least put you on the right track to recognizing what hands you can or should be playing from various positions. Oh and another thing (I'll quit whining soon I promise :)), as with most things in life, the guide above is not a recipe for success - it can only be done in conjunction with the information you have gathered from your opponents and making the best decision, after all, that's what poker is about: using the information you've gained to make the correct decision (even if you don't win the hand - in the long run you'll be smiling).
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Have Your Say In The Largest Online Gambling Player Survey
Have your say! eCOGRA has launched its much anticipated Global Online Gambler Survey. Millions of poker and casino players worldwide will now have the opportunity to have their say, in what has been widely reported as the largest research initiative ever undertaken into the behavior and attitudes of online gamblers. Covering areas such as poker, casino, player protection, responsible gambling and luck, the survey will be promoted to players via an unprecedented show of support from leading software providers, operators and portals, as well as through eCOGRA's own contact database. The results are expected to create a better understanding of players' needs and concerns and to hear directly from players as to what makes rewarding and safe online gambling experience. Click here to complete the survey.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
River Belle player drives off with $50,000 OCC Chopper
Winner of “Ticket to Ride” Promotion Drives Away with a Custom Orange County Chopper Valued at $50,000 Gibraltar, August 29, 2006 – Check your rearview mirror and stay out of the fast lane because if you see Marc C. barreling down the highway he just might be riding his new River Belle branded Orange County Chopper. Belle Rock Entertainment, owner of four online casinos and two online poker rooms, flew seven prize package winners from around the globe to New York for a chance to press their luck one last time. On August 25th at the Orange County Chopper (OCC) workshop in Montgomery, New York, the “Ticket to Ride” promotion came to an end with a key turning ceremony that saw Marc rev the engine of his new custom chopper. Upon their arrival at the OCC workshop, the finalists were each directed to choose a single key in random order. After four other winners tried their keys and failed to start the ignition, Marc gave his a turn, and let the purr of the chopper be the proclamation that he was its new owner. After the ceremony, the winners were able to meet with the Teutuls and take a tour of the workshop made famous in the Discovery channel show American Chopper. Even though Marc left with the bike, everyone left with a story and a great experience. Before the hand-off, Marc and the other prize winners were all treated to the full Belle Rock VIP experience in New York City. Arriving in New York on a first class flight, the seven winners and their guests found luxury accommodations, a gift bag full of prizes, and a weekend taste of Champaign wishes and caviar dreams, including dinner reservations at one of the City’s best restaurants and tickets to the proclaimed Broadway hit “The Producers.” “This was simply sensational, really a wonderful experience from start to finish,” said Marc who won his place in the “Ticket to Ride” promotion at the Lucky Nugget Online Casino. “I’m not a big spender or a free roller, so I never thought I would be able to win a promotion like this. Meeting with the Teutuls and getting on that bike for the first time, I had to pinch myself.” Six of the seven prize package winners came from the various Belle Rock casinos and poker rooms with one each coming from:
- River Belle Online Casino (www.riverbelle.com)
- River Belle Online Poker (www.riverbellepoker.com)
- The Gaming Club Online Casino (www.gamingclub.com)
- The Gaming Club Online Poker Room (www.gamingclubpoker.com)
- the Lucky Nugget Online Casino (www.luckynugget.com)
- and the Jackpot City Online Casino (www.jackpotcity.com).