Poker

I like the challenge of poker, but like many of us out there I don't have much spare time to play it. This means I inevitably end up having an hour, sometimes 2 hours max in which to get some poker in. It's like golf, before the kids came along I was on the course as much as I liked, but now it's impossible.

This means I have to play the sit and go's like Robodance, (tried many vendors, settled with bet24 myself). Due to the time constraints I've mainly been playing the turbo games with blinds raising every 3 minutes, and I can get 2 or 3 of these done in a short time rather than 1 straight game of 10 minute raises. I'm finding now that in a 10 man game I can almost guarantee to get into the last 5 playing very tight, and the game really starts for me from that point. The odds are good, 10 people pay into a pot that only 3 or 4 are likely to win, and the more I've played the turbo games the better I seem to be doing.

Even in these turbo games, I found the pot management tip useful. People tend to be easily lured into putting everything in, even with dire hands. One thing that really does my head in is that I'm finding that when I am knocked out of a game, it's nearly always when I have the best blind cards. I think you tend to forget when the odds go in your favour!

So where is the progression? I'm comfortable that I will win more than I lose in sit and go's now, (turbo games), but don't have the time to play a live game or online torunaments. How can someone with limited time improve their game?

 

Mmmmmmmm - time, kids, work, and keeping the missus happy ........ the 'curse' of modern man.

Online - on your chosen site, check out in the SNG area if they have 30/50/90 seater comps ..... highlight a few over a couple of evenings, and see just how long they take to come to a conclusion.

If they are within your 'available hours', they might be the solution (as, in essence, they are just mini - MTTs) ...... and you should always play an SNG alongside (it stops mistakes - mainly through boredom - in your 'Main Event').

Live - if you can find the time to play once a fortnight/month/quarter even (at the suggested venues) this will certainly - eventually - help your game in the long run (most even host afternoon tournies).

It's hard with a young family .... it's even harder to get the missus (or any woman, in fact) 'enthralled' about a card game!

 

pwaed stweet - 24 runners £10 rebuys.

1st place - pya £285 - cost - £10 entry fee.

Sometimes the cards just fall so right for ya - head to head ( done and dusted in 4 hands)

1) - Me sb (1k) - call
BB - raises £2k
i go all in ( a,5 unsuited)
he folds

2) -Me BB 2k (62k)
Sb raises to £6k (out of 78k)
i go all in
sb calls
i show pocket 7's
he shows a, q suited
flop nothing, turn nothing, river nothing - he has 12k left.

3) - next hand i fold 10, 4 unsuited. he wins my 1k sb

4) - He is sb - goes all in
I call
he shows A, j unsuited
i show pocket 3's
flop q, 3, 2, turn ( cant remember), river 2 - adios and good night.

 

So in 4 hands your opponent raised, raised, collected and raised all in. I read earlier about being more aggressive in head to head and if that's the norm then why do some h2h last for hours?

 

I've been in 2 very long h2hs which I went on to lose.
The most recent h2h I did play aggressively and guess what!? Yep £110 and on my way home with a smile on my face!

But as PYA said, you do have to have the luck of the community cards. The other chaps AQ etc were nothing on their own.

 

admin - it was i who played agrressivley - the opponent was chip leader and i wanted to get my stack higher than his, , early doors for an all in assault.

the first hand he was fishing on my call, so i went all in knowing he would fold, but was also happy if he called with an ace in my hand and i like a,5's. He hates players going al in and calls it anti poker and tooters and tutters like a whinging scummer from pikesville, he also gets angry quickly whih affects his mindset..

on the 2nd hand - his raise to 6k, i put him on unpaired and high cards - with my agressive attitude ( i think i learned from OMR to be aggressive at this stage) I wanted him all in - if he doesn't hit i go on and probably win - I do not know if it was the right way to play poker, but it is the way I play -
pocket pair at h2h to me is a very playable hand thus worthy of the all in.

the last hand - what can he do, he has to go all in - i play pockets so I call.

Head to heads at pwaed stweet do not last very long in the main.

I once played so lame and limpy in a head to head ( my first time) and lost all focus of how i play and of the other player and was wiped out very easily, folding, calling and folding - it has never happened since. Die fighting.

But the head to heads are a great learning episode in their own right. I played the player as much as the cards - he has weaknesses which I wanted to expose.

Maybe in a bigger tournie with bigger prize, I would review my tactics. Poxy £284 1st prize, £178 2nd prize - hey ho - i aint playing for three hours more to win an extra £100. Get home quick - tomorrows another day using their dosh.

 

Heads Up play - (not 'head to head' PYA ..... that's what shirtlifters do after a Pride March) is an art in itself.

Many players rarely experience the 'dizzy heights' of the Final Table, let alone scrap for the serious dosh that - because Tournament payouts are so 'topheavy' - comes with the top two positions.

As our Furry Friend has already intimated above, passivity is the deadliest enemy of the inexperienced player ..... if you show weakness an old hand at the game will be all over you like a rash.

Now one of the oddities - which often gets confused in pub/snookerhall crap poker - of Heads Up is that the button is always the SB, so first to act ..... always use the advantage of being the first to bet.

Cards, at this stage, are fairly immaterial ..... it's all about perception, chipstacks (and how you use them), and the blinds.

If, for example, the two protagonists have 150k each and the blinds are only 3/6k there is obviously a lot of play - even with pre-flop takedowns, a lot of flops will be seen - (and expect a long battle).

However, if the players have the same 150k with blinds 10/20k play goes out the window - pre-flop action will take down most pots, and flops are rare.

I've seen countless poor rookies look down at their hand - bemoaning their 'bad luck at getting J 2 off suit - after I've put in a substantial raise, which they can't call due to my large bet/their 'awful cards' ..... little do they know that I've raised with 4 6 off!

You can usually identify - in live poker - a player that is a 'newbie' to the experience in the first few hands.

They fold at the hint of a raise, make the mistake of flat calling ....... then immediately muck their cards to any bet on the flop.

One of their biggest mistakes is their not re-evaluating the cards at this stage ...... and often waste time - and more importantly chips - waiting for premium cards.

Now what they don't appreciate is that any Ace/Face Card (even with a s h i t e kicker) becomes a major hand, and a pocket pair (even lowly 5s and 6s) is an Exocet.

This is 'card heaven' to the veterans and should be fully exploited ...... you must re-raise their BB x 2.5 every time (and when they finally find a hand they're 'happy with' - you fold to a re-raise, or see a flop then fold if you don't hit with your filth).

These 'choosy players' will usually only make a stand every sixth or seventh hand, so you've nicked the pot 85% of the time ..... and usually - too late - they realise that their once proud pile of chips has dwindled alarmingly.

This is when you move in for the kill - if you manage to get a 3 to 1 advantage ...... bully like hell, and force a conclusion.

Eventually they will have no option but to make a move, and you are now in a position to call any all in/put them all in, at will - even with marginal cards - because you 'can' (the size of your lead allows you to 'gamble', knowing that if you lose the pot the best your opponent can do is get back to parity).

The basic rules of Heads Up are;

a) Aggression.
b) Don't be alarmed if your good cards miss the flop ...... often so has the other guy's ..... bet out, don't check.
c) Bet sizes - make it expensive, but don't overcommit.
d) If you do hit any part of the flop .... you're probably ahead.
e) Trap check with any pocket pair.
f) Watch your opponent's actions intently - many mugs start reaching for their chips whilst you're 'counting out' a raise (if you've got phuqq all, smile then muck).
g) Do the reverse if you've got a hand that you really want to see a flop with, cheaply ..... if they start counting out a raise, grab yours and theatrically start 'assessing' them whilst glaring intently at what they're doing (it's amazing how many will eventually notice - bottle it - and flat call/put in a callable raise ....... obviously if it doesn't have the desired effect - smile, then fold).
h) Very occasionally show your cards (ie Pockets Kings/Aces/Queens) to cement the fact that you're a rock, and nearly always have the goods ..... it helps to sow the seeds of doubt, always a good psychological weapon.
i) When you really get the hang of it - re-raise his raise (with phuqq all) ..... usually shortly after h) above (this can really play havoc with them mentally, if you get it through).
j) Avoid conversing with anyone if you're a 'newbie' ...... you'd be amazed how much info you could be giving away, for free (I recently had one guy tell me, "I haven't got much experience H/U" ...... he was dooooooooooooooomed!)
k) Keep your nerve - don't immediately think you must be behind to a re-raise, especially on the turn/river. Take your time - replay the betting patterns throughout the hand in your head, and if you think you're 'good' ..... pop 'em (a lot of good players will 'float' you as you build them a nice pot ..... then try to nick it, representing a hand they haven't got!)

m) Walk off into a late summer dawn counting the spondoolies!

 

Well with a little bit of experience and a little advice taken on pot management and very aggressive heads up I mananged a little win tonight on a $5 tournament, (30 people).



Tournament took about 90 minutes to complete. I've recently discovered that when you go up in stakes it doesn't mean the players get better .

Played another turbo tournament alongside and finished 8th out of 30, just out of the money.

 

What format is that? Where do you play?

 

Bet24. Sit and Go, $5, 30 entrants.

 

Nice one, Admin....

Better than 5th & 4th for my two SnG outings on PokerStars this weekend....

I need to get more aggresive...

 

Right, it seems as though the tutorials are starting to sink in, and dividends are being reaped.

Online Poker.

Form - would you bet on a horse/football team without assessing it's previous results?

Of course you wouldn't, you'd be mad to ......

When/if you get to a Final Table in online poker wouldn't it be 'handy' to know if your any eight oppos can play the game to your detriment?

But, how the hell can you tell if someone - hiding behind some weird username from a country/continent on the other side of the globe - is a threat to your chances of winning ....... "You can't", you say.

"You can", says Boggie!

Now, the 'average' online player is very similar to the 'average' Betting Shop punter ...... other people make a good living from their naive activities!

The Bookies have the edge on the Turf, and the better poker players have the edge with the 'virtual' cards.

Strangely, most of the 'internet generation' are blissfully unaware/too stupid to realise that the info is out there, at the very end of their fingertips.

A very useful tool - when/if you get to a Final Table - to get an 'online read' of your opponents capabilities is a handy little site called Poker Pro Labs ............. and it's FREE;

http://www.pokerprolabs.com/

Go to the second tab - Top Shark - type in the username/site and a veritable wealth of information will appear on the usernames that are between you and the money.

For example;

This is the type of guy you'd give respect to/being wary of making a 'move' on ....... (these are actually two of my many accounts - no 'bigging up' intended - for demonstration purposes only)

http://www.pokerprolabs.com/luther101/ipoker.aspx

http://www.pokerprolabs.com/luther999/ipoker.aspx

The track record speaks for itself ...... a good long term set of results - but more importantly, a very healthy profit graph.

Whereas, if you had say these guys at theTable .........

http://www.pokerprolabs.com/RuPokerWin/ipoker.aspx

http://www.pokerprolabs.com/baba45/ipoker.aspx

I think you'd be happy to lock horns with them, as they're obviously pretty s h i t e novices.

I've been on online Final Tables where - out of the nine protagonists - as few as three of us are even in the green.

Thus, you obviously give a lot more 'respect' your fellow 'Green Graphers' than the 'Donks in the Red' ...... nothings guaranteed - but information is power!

Real Poker

Enuff of that computer bilge, on to the real thing!

A Courage Pub Poker Championship at HQ over the weekend - uuuuuuuuuurrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhh, think the poker snobs ... 'opportunities', thinks the shrewd player.

No, no, no ...... you wouldn't catch me within a million miles of a Pub Poker Compy thing - but when 140+ Wildebeeste stray onto the Poker Serengeti Plain, then predators won't be far behind.

Saturdays is usually the 'avoid' day at HQ; a small fee - self deal - entry comp with a tiny field of 'one a week' novice poker players, with an embarassingly low prizepool ..... no value.

But, when you've got a rake of pub players - who are invariably 'experts' at the game - that have all been knocked out of their dopey 'Championship', what are they likely to do, whilst waiting for their mates that are still involved?

Yup, they enter the Saturday night Forty Five pounder ..... 'cos they 'know the game' inside out!

It's a weird little comp - 35 sovs goes in to the prizepool, and a tenner for each player you knock out ..... usually 'attracting' horrible fields of twenty, if you're very lucky.

However, when the Pub Slobs are in town the field will invariably double - so a combination of novices, and a load of muppets who've been drinking solidly all afternoon, brings a tear of joy to the Poker Thief.

On arrival I perused the field and - out of the 39 entrants - there were three other 'good' locals sharpening their claws ('knowing nods and smiles' exchanged) for the forthcoming feast.

I won't bore you with the pre-lims but the Final Table comprised of two of the three 'goodies', myself, and six wannabes - only the top five places to be paid ..... play began, and the carnage commenced.

Andy, a very pleasant and capable regular from Tiddly Winkland, and myself whittled away the flotsam, and we were down to the last three.

We were both healthily 'chipped up' with only a small stacked usurper - gulping down gallons of lager - between us and the very acceptable top two cash prizes.

A wink and a nod - deal struck - and it was the two big stacks in a pincer movement on the beleagured pisshead ..... who was accompanied by this enormously bulging female chav.

This insult to womanhood (where do these hippos get leggings to fit their abused lifeforms?) quickishly cottoned on, and screeched, "Yous two is ganging up on my Markee" (ironic, as her top needed to be of Marquee-esk proportions to cope with her bulk).

When I explained that it would be financially imprudent for the two big stacks to clash - leaving her "Markee" to pick up an undeserved 2nd prize of 290 pizza vouchers - before getting rid of the small stack, I was called, "A right phuqqin cheat" ...... such a classy blob!

It took over 20 minutes to get rid of Cruella's darlin lickle Markee ..... and to Mrs Blobby's infuriation I announced, "Time for a chop Andy - it works out at £405 a piece?"

"Of course ..... job done", was the reply.

I made a point in walking back past the haridan theatrically counting out the £475 (£70 in bounties) and commented that her fellah had done ever so well ....... she magnamimously replied with a mumble about a 'cough' - I smiled .... she fumed!

Another pleasant evening at HQ!

 

Just finished reading 'Every Hand Revealed' by Gus Hansen, and while it was a thoroughly entertaining book with some good insights, I can honestly say the man is a complete loony!

 

Wierd night last night....

Mrs Robodance was doing some prep work for today, so she suggested I keep her company and play some poker online...

I was happy to oblige!

Started off with a $10 9-handed single table SnG, got sucked in to 2 big hands playing some lazy, speculative stuff when I should have jumped off both and boom, I'm out first in 9th after 15 mins...

:forehead:

Decided for the sheer hell of it (and to nurse some injured pride) to play a $1 SnG instead and just be really aggressive and 'lead out' on bets, see flops, generally 'get involved' Gus Hansen stylee. Anyway, 25 mins later I've knocked out 3 guys at showdown myself, got multiple people off pots with strong lead out bets, have a massive chip lead 5-handed and we're 5-handed...

I get A9d in the hole and the flop comes s d d, so I'm looking at the nut flush draw. So I value bet the flop and turn and one other guy comes along for the ride with calls. River comes Kd, so I've made the nut flush Ace-high so I go all in hoping to knock yet another guy out... Ouch. He turns over a full house K's & 10's and I'm seriously dented...

Made a couple good plays after that but eventually went out on the bubble...

Will I ever get this game??!!!

:rant:

:'(

 

Similar here, sometimes I seem to start a tournament/SNG with a couldn't care less attitude and get stamped on, then that seems to sort me out for the next game. Does your mood at the time of the game cause you to play aggressive when you normally wouldn't? What's the best way to approach a new game?

 

I guess my play is still quite 'one dimensional' and I haven't really added bluffing or deviating from tight/aggressive to my arsenal... I bluff occasionally when it just 'feels right' and the post flop betting has given me a hint and in fairness it does normally come off...

However, that $1 SnG I played last night does kinda prove that betting and 'leading out' is the best strategy. You either get your opponent off the hand or buy some information about their holding if they re-raise... Checking only seems to be an option if your trapping based on my limited experience... Unless you are holding nothing at all... Trouble is, if you value bet a drawing hand and you're just up against an aggressive table, they'll always come over the top and you'll be bleeding away your stack faster than sticking to playing just premium hands...

Ah, I give up....



It seems to vary so much game to game tho... I love the game of Poker, but man, it's frustrating sometimes... I'll probably clean up on Thursday now just to prove what an up & down game it can be....

???

OMR, Paddy... HELP!

 

A good clue for SNGs is not to 'get involved' in the first 10/15 hands .... I often will go and make a cup of tea, and ignore the first 5/10 minutes of the comp!

It's 'amazing' how often 'action hands' are produced by the software's (totally 'random') Number Generator - on all sites - early doors!

How many times do you see premium hands clash, resulting in a player's prompt departure ........ unfashionably early?

RNGs ..... my arse!

Call me a(n online) cynic ...... ("You're an Online Cynic") - but once you've registered to an SNG, the Site has had it's 'juice' (your reg fee), and surely they want it over and done with as quickly as possible ...... so that you register for the next one (providing them with more 'juice'?).

Ho hum ........ live poker is the way forward.

 

Thursday night in a $5 SnG the very first 2 cards I was dealt were KK. Another popped up on the flop but even then I was looking at anything that could derail me, IE a flush. No worries and managed to convince someone to go all in! Next hand AK, won another nice pot with another K showing. Those 2 hands got me through to the final table.

When I first began online poker with Party Poker I couldn't stop winning, I thought I had a gift or something, every card went my way. Suddenly I couldn't stop losing, exactly the opposite. I'm convinced their cards were certainly not random but dealt to draw in the new player. Now on Bet24 it's the first place that the cards feel right. Perhaps it's a little modicum of experience as well.

 

PM me if you fancy a game on PokerStars, Admin...

 

I'll have to take a look over there, perhaps get used to the software first. When I jumped ship from Sky it took some time to get used to the new layout of bet24. Definately worth a game though. Who else here plays and where, perhaps a tournament in the future?

 

Occasionally play on PKR. Have also used Partypoker in the past... but freeplays only on those.
Apart from that I play redtooth pub poker at the local WMC. Have played for a while- started off at a pub with a regualr group and I was one of the best. Now where we play, a lot of more experienced players have joined and I'm struggling more now.

 

PKR mostly, but I'll join somewhere if its free and there's a tourny going! That'd be a good idea!

 

It's no different live.

I find my pre play mood to be very important as i sit at the table. I sort of have a routine pre start - one pint of guinness and then watch a bit of the sport on the tv. What i find interesting is if soemone or something annoys me in between starting and the pre start - it affects how i start and bet, more so in the cheap £10 buy ins.

 

Mmmmmmmm ....... a particularly weird week which had me pondering on the 'benefits' to the live game of the Internetbozo Freaks.

Wednesday; and it's the £50 F/O (when masses of 'players' descend upon HQ because of the 'value' of getting a 10k chipstack).

Numbers were down to a 'mere' sixty (due to Ingerluuun being on the Telly), and gazing round I could see many newbies rabidly caressing their 'huge' pile of starting chips, in a pseudo-sexual way.

Red Alert - my tactics were quickly formulated, and 'tight aggressive' was the chosen mode for this tourny.

I sat quietly through almost the first three levels (observing carefully those that I hadn't encountered before) - only playing, and taking down, two hands with premium cards, then I was in the BB in the last hand before the break (blinds 100/200.

Four limp in - 1k in the pot (incl my BB) - I look down and have KK ...... I judge a raise of 675 should narrow the field down (I'm looking to get one caller max), and an 'unknown' rams it all-in (13 phuqqin thousand chips .... earlydoors?) .... all fold round to me.

Now, I've spent the last hour and a half observing the fellahs play. I wasn't 100% sure his novicey play wasn't a smokescreen - as he seemed fairly comfortable in himself - or if he was blissfully unaware his 'confidence' was down to his ignorance of the game.

Well, after dwelling up (I would have seriously considered laying the KK down against certain good players at HQ), I came to the conclusion that the 'story being spun' made little sense .... if he had AA, why scare me/my chips away?

So, putting the lad on a lower pair/big Ace that call was announced ..... correct - a race against AQ ..... duly won ..... I doubled up.

The fellah then followed me to the Smoking Area, and proceeded in trying to 'justify' his play ("I was just trying to get you off it/it works for me all the time on Pokerstars) .... I smiled and said, "unlucky" (I really couldn't be bothered to point out his errors ...... let him learn - if he is capable - from his own mistakes).

Anyway, the 'tight/agressive' policy was retained - and down to the last twelve - I had a massive chip lead ..... a fifth of the chips in play.

Now - unlike many players - I don't believe in bullying with 'no hand' (except when in position) at this stage (doubling up low stacks is just plain stupid), and prefer to let the nervous nothing stacks clash, and 'pick off at will' with premium hands, until the Final Table has been reached!

The Poker Gods unravelled the strategy ..... I lost seven out of my next eight coups with premium hands (I was miles ahead pre-flop in all but one) .... and I finished with a 9th place 'booby prize' (after being the 'odds on favourite').

Bowing out - after re-raising an Internetbozokid - all in with QQ ....... Spotty Freak goes red, announces, "Ah, I didn't expect that ..... call" ..... and his A 7 off suit raise (out of position) is duly rewarded with the case Ace on the river.

Ho hum, that's life!

But the grating thing was, I don't think this kid ever entertained laying his hand down to the re-raise ..... he decided that the only thing to do when 'caught out' was to shut his eyes and gamble!

 

Friday; and it's the £75 F/O - 6.5k in chips - at HQ, and it's 'proper poker night'!

Gazing round I could see strength in depth amongst the 46 participants.

A difficult, no really difficult, field with many who've played the WSOP/EPT/GUKPT tournies/circuits, and weak players outnumbered 4 to 1 by the creme.

Tactics (for the intial levels) ....... 'super tight aggressive' ........ these boys ain't silly.

Steady progress was made - sniping from the lair, taking pots down, as and where possible - when at 200/400 all fold round to my SB with a rather good player (but very 'creative') in the BB.

I don't even look, call the 200 ..... BB (looks) raises to 1400 ...... time to look ..... Wow, pocket 10s ..... "how to trap", I think (the opponent is renowned for raising with any s h i t when there's easy money up for grabs) ....... I re-raise to 4900 (knowing this guy is more than capable of a 'three bet' with crap to nick a pot) ...... Crash, all in he goes ...... a wee dwell, and call (the plan has worked) .......... oh phuqq! he shows JJ ....... "nice hand/play sir - I thought I had you", as I stood up and shoved the ipod/fags in my pockets, and prepared for defeat .........

Well of course I didn't hit a 10 on the flop .......... I hit two lovely 10s on the board ........ insincere apologies to the defeated, and onwards and upwards!

Blinds 400/800 - 18 left - a raise to 1800 .... I look down in the SB at JJ.
The oppo has a similar size stack to me ...... I reckon he's on AK AQ .... do I want a race? ...... at this stage ...... mmmmm dunno ...... but does he? ...... all in ....... oppo ponders, dwells, ponders (confirmation that he ain't got the Big Pairs) ..... Internetbozokid calls ...... AK of hearts ...... flop 3 low, one heart ...... heart, heart ...... "I got that right then", announces Spotty Freak, to howls of derisive laughter from the rest of the table (SF bemused ...... he doesn't appreciate that most better players would probably fold in that situation, outside CyberWorld) ..... and I'm left with 475 chips ..... less than one BB!

Never say die ..... and I didn't chuck them in 'willy nilly' and walk away, as most do ..... down to 375 (25 antes had eaten into my impressive stack) ..... and managed to quadruple up with A 10 (with much laughter around the table, as I warn them, "I'm dangerous now!").

Well the smiles started to fade fast ....... 4800 ....... 7300 ...... 11900 ........ 18000 ....... 32k ........ Final Table ....... eventually going out in 5th for £310 ...... in with QQ outdrawn by runner runner Straight!

Saturday; and it's a first visit to a London Poker Circuit event at an hotel in Kensington.

Gazed round, small field, full of Internetbozokids with no dress sense, bad breath, and even more worrying unfathomable Yorkshire accents, whose staple diet appeared to range from Maccie Dees to KFC.

Oh dear, I knew I was in trouble ....... lost my first 5k in next to no time ...... re-raised the initial raiser with pocket Ks ....... he goes all in ...... call ...... he shows a massive 10 8 off suit (and lo and behold informs me, "I was just trying to get you off the pot" .... deja vu) ...... flop 10 8 2 ..... no help after ...... I rebuy ....... later same fruit raises .... I'm all in with pocket 9s ....... "I suppose I've gotta call" ..... show q 7 off ...... instant service for the Q ..... I surrender and phuqq off.

Yet again, I don't think this kid ever entertained laying his hand down to the re-raise ..... he decided that the only thing to do when 'caught out' was to shut his eyes and gamble!

 

Sunday; and I ended up playing two tournies at HQ.

Two?

I often join the early £5 rebuy - for a laugh - whilst I wait for the £100 F/O later in the afternoon (it's a good place to relax/get your 'bad play' out of your system early that you don't need in the forthcoming big 'un/a very sociable couple of hours with other regulars than can't afford the bigger comps) .... and I usually 'add' £15/20 to their prizepool before doing one when the other starts later.

Strangely, after my 1st rebuy, I kept on getting dealt hands that held up and I was on 15k at the break ..... the start of the £100 F/O being only 40 minutes away.

Even stranger, the cards just kept coming, and I was chipleader with two tables left ..... and the £100 F/O was about to start.

Stranger than stranger, the cards kept coming, and coming, and I was a massive chipleader on the Final Table ...... and the £100 F/O was ending Level 1.

Five getting paid on the FT, and it was going very slowly .... two eventually go ..... and I agree to 6th and 7th getting paid (skimming a bit off 1st and 2nd Prizemoney ...... Sony fair) ..... hoping this will 'speed it the phuqq up'!

Nope it didn't ...... and time was of the essence as Level 2 was fast fading in the Wunner (a quick shuffle up to the Cashdesk, entry paid with minutes to go .... and I was 'in').

Surely this won't go on too much longer, and I won't get blinded away too much in that, I thought.

How wrong I was ....... the Fiver Wonder dragged on, and on, ........ and the blinds in the Wunner were going up, and up!

Eventually - after a bit of crash/bang/wallop poker - I got it down to three ...... suggested a 'chop' to the two remaining ladies (aaaaaaaaah ....... you blokes are soooooooooo bad!) ...... and we all took £225 each ...... and I sprinted across to see what chips I had left!

Not too bad 6300 from an initial 8k ..... let play commence!

Nicked a couple of pots and held steady at 6.5k, praying for a decent hand as many were well 'chipped up' by now on the table.

After a raise - out of position - by an Internetbozokid type, I glance down to find QQ ....... straight over the top of his 1.6k bet ...... all in 6.1k ....... Freak insta calls ...... showing A phuqqin 5 of Hearts (Do I not like Hearts) ..... and duly gets rewarded by runner runner flush.

"Very unlucky", commiserate several players at the table ........ "But I got the nut flush", announces Freak (then looks totally bemused when several of his fellow players laugh in his face).

Yet once again, I don't think this kid ever entertained laying his hand down to the re-raise ..... he decided that the only thing to do when 'caught out' was to shut his eyes and gamble!

I just smiled and walked away.

Now I've discussed this many times with some very good players on the circuit - and most find it pretty painful too.

With the advent of Internet Poker, and the Tournament highlights on TV, a lot of the 'newer' players can't put a hand down, even when they're miles behind ...... they can't often grasp that it's the hands you throw away - as much as the hands you play - that get you to a Final Table.

Ah well ........

Now for all you people 'scared' to play live;

Here's a 'newish' local venue some might want to try;

http://www.5thstreetcardclub.co.uk/

It's above the snookerhall on the right as you go up B/Wood High St

I'm probably going to play the "£30 WITH 1 REBUY OR ADD ON" tourney tonight ..... because I can't be arsed to drive too far.

I'll report back if it's 'suitable' for those of a nervous poker disposition ..........

 

Well, no late night for me at Fifth Street in B/Wood;

A nice little Poker Club .... friendly locals, good staff.

Only a small field of 16, on two tables .... the standard was only average ..... made the 'Final Table' .... and went out in 6th, having not seen a pair - nor a decent hand - all night.

All round, an enjoyable evening with a nice crowd.

http://www.5thstreetcardclub.co.uk/

I would recommend the gaffe as an ideal 'starter' venue for internet only bods .... dealer dealt ...... little pressure ..... small fields ..... no late nights should you get in the money.

 

Nice little thread this. I'm thinking of making my first deposit somewhere soon enough after a good year or so of playing with friends, and very frequently for play money or freerolls online.

Any tips for me boggy? How much and where?

 

You live in Dublin ...... sod putting money online ..... get yourself down to The Sporting Emporium (just off Grafton Street .... Queen Annes place?) ..... and play PROPER poker, young man.

You've got some of the best players/venues in phuqqin Europe on your doorstep ..... and you wanna play online?

Get real ..... literally!

 

Right, ok. Then I'll need to sharpen up on some tournament etiquette, as seen as I've never played one before, surely theres bits and bobs I'll need to know!?

 

Don't go all in on A5h when your opponent has QQ .

Same here, it would put me off a bit. Can you simply pop along to the local place and watch? Is that allowed or does it simply annoy the regulars?

 

I doubt any poker club would object - take along photo ID - join - and simply tell them you're new and would like to watch, to get the hang of it.

One thing, don't sit directly behind a player - some get 'uber suspicious' that you're telepathically communicating their hands to a mate on the table .... dopey sods - and you should be fine.

As I've said before, tell all and sundry you're new to live poker .... and you'll invariably be given a lot of slack, and help.

The Dos/ the don'ts;

If you're confused, or unsure, always ask the dealer - don't feel 'obliged' to do anything through ignorance - he'll always help you.

Always wait until it's your turn - to call, to bet, to fold ... it's not rocket science, the action goes clockwise from the Big Blind around the table - if you religiously act 'in turn' your fellow players will appreciate it.

If you do bet, or raise, announce the amount before your chips cross the line (there can be no confusion then).

Do not 'string bet' ..... a string bet is when a player (with no verbal declaration) drops a series of chips over the (betting) line that cascade (with gaps between each chip) ..... this is always when you are raising .... firmly place the chips in one solid 'tower' over the line in one motion ....... otherwise your attempt to raise will be deemed only a 'call' to the previous highest bet (and also alerting the other players that you were attempting to raise - phuqqed it up - and have allowed them to see a 'cheap flop/card').

Pay attention to what's gone on before it's your turn to act (I've seen players - especially with ipods - announce "raise" without realising a previous player has already raised ..... you will be expected to put a minimum of twice the previous bet ..... very expensive if you were on a steal ..... even more expensive if he's already gone all in).

That's about it ...... just join and have a watch, then play a few very cheap tournies to start getting the hang of it.

Poker Clubs want you as much as you want them!

PS ....... AVOID THE CASH TABLES!

 

Sound one.

 

shall have to see if theres anywhere in guildford or nearby as im moving down there on saturday for uni but have always fancied playing some proper poker though ill no doubt be awful...gotta start somewhere

 

Many Unis have their own Poker Clubs/Societies;

http://uk.pokernews.com/news/poker-tournaments/2009/08/student-poker-freshers-guide-1324.htm

If not get off down to the local Rileys (you'll learn the basics/mechanics of the game, cheaply).

I presume you're off to Surrey ..... well do try to use the internettythingy called Google then you might be able to find this;

http://ussu.co.uk/poker

and I won't have to find it for you!