PLAYING OUT OF POSITION

Still much the same for me not a great month at about break even - only my rake is profit.

For this update I have pinched an article from Gus Hansen on Full Tilt and its a play I like to use also.

Have a read then have a think how many pots you have let go to a bet that you might have picked up if you bet the non picture flop out.


Every Hold 'em strategy guide talks about the importance of positional advantage. The standard thinking is that the player who acts last has more information than his opponents, so he'll have a better sense of where he stands in a hand and can, therefore, make better decisions. There's no doubt that this is true, but it's important to understand that the power that comes with position is often granted to the late-position player by the early-position player.
To see what I mean, consider a pretty typical No-Limit hold 'em hand. Say that I'm in the big blind with 7s-8s - a nice, flop-worthy hand. The player on the button raises to three times the big blind and I decide to call. Many players would check the flop under almost any circumstances. But, by checking, you give control to the late-position player. He can bet whether or not he has a hand, putting you in a tough spot if you don't get a piece of the flop.
In a hand like this, I believe it's best to look at the flop and ask, "Is it likely that these cards helped my opponent?" Once I have an answer to that question, I can decide how to proceed.


If the flop is Ah-Kd-9c, I'd probably just check and fold to a bet, as my opponent was likely raising with big cards and caught a piece of the flop. However, if the flop is 9c-5h-2d, I'd probably be more skeptical. I know that in Hold 'em, two unpaired hole cards will fail to make a pair on the flop about 66 percent of the time, and this seems to be a flop that the pre-flop raiser might have missed.
If I suspect my opponent didn't connect, I'm going to take the initiative and bet out about half the size of the pot. Betting here with my gutshot draw offers several advantages. First, I might take the pot down right here, and I'm always happy when a semi-bluff forces a fold. But even if I get a call from my opponent, I've forced him to react. That gives me a chance to pick up a read. If my opponent seems uneasy, I might continue with my semi-bluff on the turn and try again to pick up the pot. Or, if I feel my opponent is strong, I can check and fold to any bet on the turn if I fail to make my hand.
Stabbing at pots when out of position can be very lucrative. In tournaments, I'll open-raise out of position fairly frequently because I think there's a lot of power in being the first one to fire at the pot on the flop. I pick up a lot of small pots that way.
As you work on your Hold 'em game, remember that you don't have to give the advantage in the hand to the player in late position. Look for opportunities to bet out and seize the initiative

TIME FOR A BREAK

Think I need a week or so off poker.

Started playing bad at fixed limit and have gone from 1400 up for month to level in 4 days :(

Not helped by all the bad beats coming back like this donkey below just now which has told me a break is definitely needed.


HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to suddes12 [As Ah]
roeboy100: folds
Christos5: folds
suddes12: raises to $12
Pink09: raises to $55
Caballa45: folds
suddes12: raises to $386.75 and is all-in
Pink09: is all-in $58.25
Returned uncalled bets $273.50 to suddes12
----- FLOP ----- [Kd Td 7s]
----- TURN ----- [Kd Td 7s][Qh]
----- RIVER ----- [Kd Td 7s Qh][5d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
suddes12: shows [As Ah] (A Pair of Aces, King high)
Pink09: shows [Ad 8d] (A Flush, Ace high)
Pink09 collects $228.50 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot $231.50 Main pot $228.50 Rake $3
Board [Kd Td 7s Qh 5d]
Seat 1: Caballa45 (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: roeboy100 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Christos5 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: suddes12 showed [As Ah] and lost
Seat 6: Pink09 (small blind) showed [Ad 8d] and won ($228.

refrained from typing fooking knobhead and just put nh

AFTER THE BAD BEATS COMES THE GOOD BEATS !!

I think after twisting on my blog about recent badbeats that I take you through a couple of hands I was mega lucky at last night.

I bought into $2.5 $5 NL on betfair for $200 - NL cash is by no means my best game and one I am working on to improve.

Anyway soon in the game I have half my stack in with A Q and a Q 10 8 board - next comes an ace for 2 pair I get reraised all in and call - it doesn't show the hands on betfair but the other guy says he has J 9 for a straight but river comes Q and I have a full house and win a 500$ pot where I could easily have been gone.

Shortly later I get 200$ in pre flop with AA v KQ ( all in ) and this holds up for another big win.

Next lucky hand sees me win a 450$ pot with A J on a J 10 2 board and then get reraised all in from a smaller stack on a turn of 9 - I called here which I think is a bad call despite me winning the pot. He had 9 10 ( 2 pair ) but easily could have had a made straight and I would have been drawing dead ( cant win pot no matter what cards come out ) - anyway river rescued me again bringing an ace and my 2nd big piece of luck on the night.

Shortly later I won a $500 pot with trip queens and then left the table for bed with $1400 and $1200 profit for 90 mins work.

ANALYSE YOUR GAME

The important thing is to look back on the session - I won 1200$ i must be great etc. Not at all - I won 2 big pots when behind and 1 of them I should have folded so despite the winnings I don't think I played well and have shown I struggle to put down top pair top kicker. I don't buy in for much so this is not a big issue for me early in the game and I'm happy to be all in with it - but I need to play better if I have established a decent stack. On the other side of the coin - I played great tournament poker over the he weekend and only just broke level due to the beats I posted.

Good luck at the tables.

CPC DREAM GONE

Got close there were 6 seats up for grabs and I was 9th with 10 left when the below hand happened.

I was pretty certain the big stack was pushing with any 2 cards to pick up blinds and I knew I had to make a stand - picked a good position to do it when I was 60 40.

Horrible flop I feared the worst and it arrived :( - had I won that I would have been sitting in 6th with a big hope of winning a seat. Disappointed but thats poker.


------HAND 5------
Game #3957325734: Hold'em NL (150/300) - 2006/11/12 - 15:37:57 (ET)
Table "RTR DiamondsFreeroll 3811690 - 2" Seat 5 is the button.
Seat 1: suddes12 (1775 in chips)
Seat 2: petta (5060 in chips)
Seat 4: rexhunt (2165 in chips)
Seat 5: equity (2180 in chips)
Seat 6: brkbthppy (6154 in chips)
brkbthppy: posts small blind 150
suddes12: posts big blind 300
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to suddes12 [Jh Ks]
petta: folds
rexhunt: folds
equity: folds
brkbthppy: raises to 6154 and is all-in
suddes12: is all-in 1475
Returned uncalled bets 4,379 to brkbthppy
----- FLOP ----- [5d Th 7h]
----- TURN ----- [5d Th 7h][5s]
----- RIVER ----- [5d Th 7h 5s][9s]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
brkbthppy: shows [6s 8s] (A Straight, Ten high)
suddes12: shows [Jh Ks] (A Pair of Fives, King high)
brkbthppy collects 3550 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 3550 Main pot 3550 Rake 0
Board [5d Th 7h 5s 9s]
Seat 1: suddes12 (big blind) showed [Jh Ks] and lost
Seat 2: petta folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: rexhunt folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: equity (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: brkbthppy (small blind) showed [6s 8s] and won (3550) with A Straight, Ten high

RUNNING A HOME GAME

Ok you and your mates are into poker and decide to have a home game what is important to make it a success.

1) Blind structure agreed before tournie starts. Either link blind increases to number of hands or to the clock.

2) Equipment - ensure you have chips a button a table that fits all + beer and snacks !!

3) Remind players - especially that dont play often of etiquette - it is common for one of them to go oh no if say KK6 flops saying i had a king and folded - obviously this gives valuable info away but they may not know they are doing wrong.

4) Keep it freindly - dont play for stakes you cant afford and make sure the crack is good - its only a game so treat it that way.

5) Enjoy it - these should be good ( hopefully cheap ) nights with your mates so ensure no petty arguments about the way people play hands.

I have a pre xmas event each year where the buy in is lowish £25 but the prestige is high. Everyone wants to win this and this year I have it on Dec 2 I will write an update on the event.

Made a small profit over the weekend and have the CPC event tonight which I will write an update on.

BEACHY HEAD .....................

and to top it off 8 off the cash in 230 man 3k$ added multi

All in AA v A 10 on board QJ4 river K what a ******** night.

Notes on last 10 games


QQ lost to AK
AT lost to K Q
A Q lost to J 9
44 lost to AQ riv
QQ lost to 22
AA lost to 99
made pathetic call
AA lost to KK £200 pot
won couple races - WON
AA lost to A 10

I will try and make that last tiwst post of the night - mad as hell but thats poker

AFTER BEAT AFTER BEAT ....................

Followed by a cash game - what a great ********* night


HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to suddes12 [Ac As]
firefunk: folds
suddes12: raises to £4
Celtic016: raises to £6
PAYmyLIFE: folds
TheInc: calls £5
LiveWire: folds
suddes12: raises to £18
Celtic016: raises to £30
TheInc: folds
suddes12: raises to £65
Celtic016: calls £35
----- FLOP ----- [Ts Kc Qs]
suddes12: bets £29.39 and is all-in
Celtic016: calls £29.39
----- TURN ----- [Ts Kc Qs][Td]
----- RIVER ----- [Ts Kc Qs Td][Jc]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
suddes12: shows [Ac As] (A Straight, Ace high)
Celtic016: shows [Kh Ks] (A Full House, Kings full of Tens)
Celtic016 collects £193.78 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot £196.78 Main pot £193.78 Rake £3
Board [Ts Kc Qs Td Jc]
Seat 1: TheInc (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: LiveWire (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: firefunk folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: suddes12 showed [Ac As] and lost
Seat 5: Celtic016 showed [Kh Ks] and won (£193.78) with A Full House, Kings full of Tens
Seat 6: PAYmyLIFE (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

BAD BEAT AFTER BAD BEAT

No lesson tonight just sharing frustrations

Played 3 single tables

A Q lost to J 9
QQ lost to 2 2
then lost a race with 44 v A Q with Q on river.

Then entered the 100$ multi doing quite well had gone from starting stack of 2000 to 3600 with hardly any resistance then the below.


----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to suddes12 [Ah Ac]
Dan_Druff: folds
Alethrico: folds
Paolo1903: folds
Nutten88: folds
Karl25125: calls 50
suddes12: raises to 200
Stev24118: folds
Gunman001: folds
___BAY___: calls 175
boesdal: raises to 1662.50 and is all-in
Karl25125: folds
suddes12: calls 1462.50
___BAY___: folds
----- FLOP ----- [9c Td 3h]
----- TURN ----- [9c Td 3h][Ks]
----- RIVER ----- [9c Td 3h Ks][4c]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
boesdal: shows [9s 9h] (Three of a kind, Nines, King high)
suddes12: shows [Ah Ac] (A Pair of Aces, King high)
boesdal collects 3575 from Main pot

Definately not my night - hopefully using up bad luck so I get lots of good luck in the CPC qualifyer on Sunday.

AAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH !!!

PLAYING MULTI TABLE SATELLITES

I received the following mail from raketherake today and I have a big game on Sunday.

Congratulations!!!

You have qualified for the Diamonds Freeroll tournament for the Caribbean Poker Classic Seats.

The tournament will be held on Sunday 12th November at 19:30 GMT (14:30 EST)

There will be one $6,000 CPC package for every 5 players who take part in the tournament.

This is a great promotion from raketherake and a game I am really looking forward to. However the later stages in this game will be very different to your usual final table and below I explain why. Note this format is often used to get a buy in to a larger event. EG say a tourney is £100 to enter they may play some satellites where the entry is £2 if 300 players turn up then 3 people will win seats to the main event.

MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MULTI TABLE SATELLITES AND TOURNIESU>

1) The major difference is that all the prizes are the same unlike a normal tournamant where the higher position you finish then the more money you win. For example lets consider a 50 player tourny in a normal game then say the top 5 are paid then this could be 50% 1st 25% 2nd 15% 3rd 7.5% 4th 2.5% 5th hence far better finish 1st than 5th. However in the tournamant i am invited to above if 50 players take part then they will be 10 prizes all 10 will win the $6000 package prize regardless of 10th or 1st.

2) Finishing on the bubble ( the last player not to make the prizes eg 6th in the cash tournie above or 11th in the satellite ) is much more painful in the satellite as you have finished inches from a huge prize rather than say 2.5% of prizemoney which in the grand scheme of things aint going to make much difference.

CHANGE IN STRATEGY WHEN PLAYING SATELLITES

The below are major changes I make.

1) When you are close to the prize then avoid putting all your chips ar risk. If I am dealt a pair of aces in a cash tournie then I definately call no matter what if someone go's all in. In a satellite I may fold a pair of aces. This may sound strange but why risk the prize.

Example where i fold a pair of aces.

11 left and 10 get prizes chips position is player A has 50000 chips I have 30000 chips and each of the 9 other players have 2000 chips. If player A is all in and I have a pair of aces then I fold in this position even though I know I am favourite to win the hand as I know that I am so far ahead of the other players and one of them will go out soon. However if anybody else other than Player A gos all in then I obviously call as I have a chance to eliminate them and hence win the prize.

2) If it is down to the position where there are only a few over the number of prizes left then this is an ideal opportunity to be 1st in the pot with a raise to steal the blinds as everybody will just be waiting for a few more to go out and wont want to get into contested pots - use this to your advantage.

3) If your 10th of 11 and there are only 10 prizes dont automatically fold every hand. I have seen this mistake made commonly - they are waiting for the lowest stack to go out but they fail to take account that the smallest stack may double up and then they find themselves in last place in big trouble.

Overall I play these 2 types of tournamants the same until it gets to near the prizes. When it gets near the prizes I apply the above principles.

I hope this helps and fingers crossed for me for Sunday - I will update you how I do.

Tonight Im going to play the 4k$ added tourny and that will be my only game.

Good luck.

EARLY DAYS IN A MULTI

One of the questions I have received is how should one play early in a multi (from jackal).

My advice is that the way you should play should take account of 2 things.

1) Mindset

2) The blind structure and how long each level lasts and by how much it gos up by.

MINDSET

To win a multi you need to be in the right mindset. However winning a race (2 people all in) can soon put you in the right mindset. I am quite often prepared to risk my tournamant life early in a multi if there are a lot of players and the entry fee is small. If the entry fee is large then I dont want to risk them all in a 50 50 .

As an example if someone put me all in on the flop and I had 2 overcards and a flush draw I know the stats I win this hand v say top pair are almost 50% so in a huge multi that may last 4 hours i probably call here to try and accumulate chips as i know i play well with a lot of chips.

However if above is in a multi with say 100 players and slow blind structure i probably fold and wait for a better position.

BLIND STRUCTURE

If the blinds go up fast and at high levels eg 25 to 50 to 100 to 200 etc then i like to play fast and get involved early - if the blinds raise slow say every 15 minutes and 15 30 50 100 etc then you have plenty time and can sit back and wait for a hand.

One of the biggest mistakes I see in a mtt is when some one raises from the button (one off the blinds) to try and steal the blinds at the very early levels- quite simply when blinds are 8 15 or 15 30 there is absolutely no point.

MANAGE THE POT SIZE

The only other tip i can give for early in a multi is try and manage the pot size. EG if you are on a draw try and keep it small - if you have top hand then try and get rid of the other players but reevaluate this after each card is dealt. See my article on how i put someone all in when i had the made straight versus trips for an example of this - look back at the hand if i was on a draw i could easily have kept that pot small.

PS no good in the 50k last night my 55 was beat by ace jack that hit an ace on the river - however i was never in a good position. However was rakeback day today and I have played loads last month so got 700 rakeback - as usual link on right of blog if you are playing without rakeback you are missing out on free cash.

CHOICE OF MULTI TOURNY GAME

I played 2 multis yesterday and made the cash in them both - one a 100+ game and one a 250 runner event with 10K added on the new betfair software which I did not find as bad as many have made out. However I didnt finish in the higher placings so a lot of effort for a little return.

HOW TO CHOOSE WHICH MULTI TO ENTER ?

My advice is not just to jump into the next one that is available and to look for some value.

Value can usually be found in 2 different ways.

1) GTD tournaments where the prize is guarentedd no matter how many turn up.

For example if a multi is 2000 gtd and a 20 entry then if there are less than 100 people entered you are getting something for free.

EG Say only 60 people enter then thats 1200 so the software company has to add an extra 800 (in effect as if 40 people have been knocked out without even playing).

Look out for these.

2) My preferred one is when tournies have money added to the prize fund.

Every 2 weeks in interpoker they have a 25k added and a 50k added for very small entry fees of 22$ and 33$ - the only entry requirement is that you have played enough poker to accomodate the points that are required to enter ( points are per raked hand).

If you playing somewhere else and not getting these type of promotions then sign up to interpoker via the raketherake link on the right of my blog - please ref my number if you do.

But these are huge value events - take tonights 50k added as an example where entry fee is 33$.

I estimate 600 players will enter and 600* 33 = 20k. Now they are adding 50k so total purse is 70k - this means your 33$ entry is effectively worth over 100 $ hence massive value.

So 2 things :-

1) if you not currently getting these tourneys then sign up via my link to raketherake and start playing in these huge value games. You don't have to be a big player its just linked to poker points.

2) next time you log on for a game don't just enter the next available multi.

I will be playing the 50k added later and will update you on how I do. Huge prizes available for little cash so fingers crossed.

PS i wont be backing Newcastle any more !!!

MULTTABLE POKER TOURNIE

suddes12: raises to 1480 and is all-in
Jim2354: calls 1220 and is all-in
----- TURN ----- [2d 6s 4c][Kd]
----- RIVER ----- [2d 6s 4c Kd][7d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
suddes12: shows [5d 3c] (A Straight, Seven high)
Jim2354: shows [4d 4h] (Three of a kind, Fours, King high)
suddes12 collects 3160 from Main pot

MULT TABLE POKER TOURNIES

I just made a final table finish in a £20 100 player multi but unfortunately made only 8th and £60.

There are many many ways of played multi tournies none of them right or wrong but one thing I like to do is try and double up early on.

The below hand is from the multi above.

This was one of the 1st hands in game


------HAND 5------
Game #3869955864: Hold'em NL (10/20) - 2006/11/04 - 07:00:04 (ET)
Table "Special £1500 GTD 3784066 - 5" Seat 1 is the button.
Seat 1: Klokset83 (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: Dav020722 (1500 in chips)
Seat 3: suddes12 (1500 in chips)
Seat 5: Tiverton5 (1500 in chips)
Seat 6: Jim2354 (1500 in chips)
Seat 7: ThierryH (1500 in chips)
Seat 8: Bisonian7 (1500 in chips)
Seat 9: Snowcone (1500 in chips)
Seat 10: Larry0002 (1500 in chips)
Dav020722: posts small blind 10
suddes12: posts big blind 20
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to suddes12 [5d 3c]

dream flop as im in hand on bb


----- FLOP ----- [2d 6s 4c]

I have made a straight and flop is 3 diff suits so no flush draws on - now how do i get maximum value from the hand.

I decide with so many players in the hand to check the best hand (nuts)

This is the action before it comes to me


Dav020722: checks
suddes12: checks
Jim2354: checks
ThierryH: checks
Snowcone: checks
Larry0002: bets 20
Dav020722: calls 20
suddes12: calls 20
Jim2354: raises to 40
ThierryH: folds
Snowcone: folds
Larry0002: calls 20
Dav020722: calls 20

Note the minimum raise from Jim after all the callers I suspect he has a very big hand maybe trips so - I decide I can reraise as hes going nowhere


suddes12: raises to 150
Jim2354: raises to 260

he reraises straight back - now im pretty sure he has trips - next question can he fold trips - im pretty sure not - should i get all the chips in here ??

well related to the stats section yesterday the odds at this stage are

My made straight is 65% against trips so im happy at this stage if i can get all the chips.

Note I do this as im am pretty certain he has trips hence will call when the odds were in my favour.

This is how hand played out and my staight held up and put me in very good position early in the game.

Note not everyone would play it this way and you need to have variety but the important lesson is to always try and put your opponant on a hand.

Anyway off to the match - come on the mags !!

Good luck at tables
Soap

POKER BOOKS

OK as well as reading this blog where else can an up and coming poker player learn the game !!

Ive read quite a lot of poker books - the ones I list below are the ones I found the most useful for experienced players.

Super System - Doyle Brunson and co and Super System 2 which is the updated version
Harrington on Hold Em - 2 volumes on tournament poker (my personal favourite)
Tournament Poker by David Skylansky

For any total beginners then the below books are useful.

Phil Hellmuths Texas Hold em
Late night poker

For non strategy but good reads around the topic of poker then I recommend highly :-

Amarillo Slim in a world full of fat people

and of course some blog spots that I enjoy :-

1) This one !! http://pokerplaythesoapway.blogspot.com/
2) Kinghawkos - a player from betfair poker http://kinghawko.blogspot.com/
3) Daniel Negreanu (pro) http://www.cardplayer.com/blog/entry/142

Quick update on tonight only played late hoping to catch a few drunks but didn't seem to be any about - I just won a 100 6 pak to break even on the night as was well down at one stage.

Also I cant resist my home team Newcastle to beat Sheff Utd at 5-6 tomorrow night - this would have been priced at about 4-11 if had been first game of season.

Good luck at tables - more soon

STATS AND POKER TOOLS

Ok in the below hand these were the stats preflop.



What is important is that you start to learn the stats both pre flop and on the flop as these are the two most important decisions you have to make.

There are various ways you can learn the stats such as :-

1) watching poker on tv where graphics indicate win % chance.
2) poker books that have some good tables in the back
3) My preferred method is online simulation of hands where you can simulate scenarios.

I have included a link to a tool I use on the right on the blog.

also here it is http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_odds/texas_holdem

Examples of stats you should know pre flop :-

Underpair v Ace high card
Ace King v Ace x ( where x is not a king or ace )
2 over cards eg A J v 2 under cards say 9 10

By learning these it can help you make decisions when someone is all in if you have odds to call etc.

Use the tool to learn these stats it will make your decision making much easier.

Also for example you have A 7 dimonds flop comes K diamonds Q diamonds 3 clubs you see your opponant has A K hearts and he gos all in - should you call - simulate it and find out.

I quite often use this tool after a hand to see if i made an error etc.

Remember though stats are only 1 part of the game - bottle heart stupidity (like me tonight in 100$) are all factors also.

a losing day today - tomorrow is another day - good luck

FRUSTRATING part 2

Sorry in below I was v a str8 not trip jacks as he had JJ preflop and small stack had 99 preflop. I still came 3rd of 3 with my 2 pair with aces and kings.

FRUSTRATING

Played for 2. 5hrs - finished 38th of 200 and odd - outside the cash by 8 and beating myself up.

Really really frustrated with myself as was in a decent position then called a raise with A Q flop came K 7 2 initial raiser bet - for some reason I told myself he had 10 10 or J J and raised ( with nothing - all in to try and pick up a big pot and put me right in it ) - he had AK and i feel like a bozo !!!! - Trying to analyse my mistake and as well as the raise with nothing I should either have reraised preflop or folded. Bad error from me :(.

Anyway this was a hand from earlier in the game.


-HAND 5------
Game #3854705214: Hold'em NL (100/200) - 2006/11/02 - 16:28:54 (ET)
Table "AWF $4000 Added 3778133 - 1" Seat 7 is the button.
Seat 1: Ethanhunt (7237.50 in chips)
Seat 2: Tazboy (2517.50 in chips)
Seat 3: filbertst (3370 in chips)
Seat 4: Chloe (4960 in chips)
Seat 5: Pau050240 (2660 in chips)
Seat 6: Edbiggins (2080 in chips)
Seat 7: suddes12 (5300 in chips)
Seat 8: Acegolf (2472.50 in chips)
Seat 9: MM29 (840 in chips)
Seat 10: Theworm81 (3980 in chips)
Acegolf: posts small blind 100
MM29: posts big blind 200
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to suddes12 [Ks Ah]
Theworm81: folds
Ethanhunt: folds
Tazboy: raises to 600

so we have a standard 3 * BB raise before me. My decision is raise or flat call. What is important here when deciding is to look at the chip stacks of others - I decide I have everyone covered behind me ( left to act ) and that I can put big pressure onto the initial raiser to hopefully fold. Worst case Im hoping to be against Queens or worse although small chance of aces or kings.

I reraise all in and this is how the hand turns out - note even though i raise all in I am never putting my full stack at risk as i have the others covered.


suddes12: raises to 5300 and is all-in
Acegolf: folds
MM29: is all-in 640
Tazboy: is all-in 1917.50
Returned uncalled bets 2,782.50 to suddes12


----- FLOP ----- [Ts Qh As] - Im feeling v good at this point - but dont wantthe king to make me 2 pair


----- TURN ----- [Ts Qh As][Kc] - 2 pair for me put staright for JJ - I know need an a or k


----- RIVER ----- [Ts Qh As Kc][9h] making trip jacks v trip 9s with me last with 2 pair !!!!!

The interesting part here is that in making a decision as to what to do on a hand always consider stack sizes of people who have already acted in the pot and people who are behind you waiting to act.

PS and also dont make stupid moves like the one I made to go out - hopefully i learn from that error.

Ps preflop AK v JJ v 99 in the hand above - whos favourite to win hand do you know ? - if not then the next blog post will be of interest to you when we will look atthe importance of knowing the mathematical statistics.

KEEPING RECORDS

Well it seems the poker gods have rewarded me for starting this blog and trying to help up and coming players. !!

I had my best night for a long time yesterday as you can see from my records below.


SKIN TYPE STAKE RESULT RETURN
IP 6PAK 66 1st 270
IP 6PAK(T) 109 1st 450
IP 6PAK(T) 55 4th -
IP 6PAK(T) 109 3rd -
IP 6PAK 66 4th -
IP FL 10/20 WON 990

The 6paks above are 6 seater tournamants where 1st gets 75% and 2nd 25%.

6PAK(T) is a turbo where the blind levels move up quicker and this is the fastest form of poker on the net although far from the purest.

My big win came from fixed limit which is where the amount you can bet is fixed - eg you cannot raise more than a fixed amount.

Anyway - less of the winning or losing the important thing about the above is keeping records - something I have been very poor at doing for years but which my poker playing mates encouraged me to start doing.

WHY KEEP RECORDS ?

1) To ensure you are in control of bankroll especially if depositing and withdrawing on a credit card.

2) If like me you like to play various different types of poker such as single table tounamants, multi tables ones, fixed limit and no limit. By keeping records this should let you know which of the games is your strongest and your weakest which you can act on accordingly.

3) So you know if you make or lose money at poker. Many people play for fun and lose money and that is fine but if you are serious about the game then you should know where you stand.

4) As you read in my earlier posts I started at £5 tournies and won at them levels then moved to the next level etc - by tracking tournaments it clearly shows which levels you play and which levels you win at. My advice is if you continue to win at a level say £5 stt then try moving to the next level eg £10 stt but if you lose then drop back down.

Anyway I hope that makes it clear why you should keep records and I hope I can follow my own advice.

Tonight I am going to play the 4000$ added multi tournamant on interpoker which cost 100$ to enter and they kindly add 4000$ to the prize money - its just started and they are 224 entrants and you need to make the 1st 30 to make the money !

Good luck at the tables if your playing.

SHARKSCOPE AN EXAMPLE

Above is an example of my betfair log in to show you usefulness of sharkscope

Watchout for the sharks ( they take your money ) but make sure you play the fishes ( they give you money ) !!!

If your at a stt and say it seats 10 and 8 are registered have a quick look to see if table has sharks or fishes on before registering.

MY STORY + USEFUL WEB SITES

Ok - Just learned how to blog !! hence Im going to record my online poker story.

Background is I started online playing fixed limit and £5 single table tournaments (stt's) - I soon won a seat to the wsop which was my 1st ever live event - I went out on day 1 but last 12 hrs.

A couple of years on I have made my way up through the limits and more recently have been playing 50 or 100 stt's.

Until July this year I was 12k$ in front until i dispute with betfair over rakeback - I had not been getting this and it made me sick how much i had been mising out on. I since moved to interpoker and have lost 5k$ with beat after beat

RAKEBACK
If anyone plays poker and doesnt know about rakeback then google it and find out more - basically you should be able to get back about 30% of the rake you pay each month. I go via raketherake.com whos customer service is 1st class. If your a decent size player then drop me an email and I can get you a deal where earn a referral bonus that would not impact what you earn.

SHARKSCOPE
Also there is a website called sharkscope.com that shows for each player there statistics of how good or bad they do at stt tournaments. I think im in a unique position of having a shark on betfair ( user name suddes ) and a fish on my current interpoker log on. You can subscribe to this service or get 6 free searches per day.

All the big players will know the above but I hope I can help out some smaller / newer players so they get to know about these things.

Anyway I hope to update the blog with stories and tips ongoing.

As a final note I noticed a player on betfair forum today called smartmoney who has made 100K$ from playing 1 2 $ NL poker. This shows it is possible and this isone of the most awesome achievements I have read about in poker.