Vella's Blog

Aces-cracked-for-180000

2009-04-09T08:44:25Z

The famous last hand for barry greenstein!!

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Poker-in-the-eyes-of-the-monster

2009-03-30T14:42:02Z

Poker...What is poker? Well, some might argue that poker is a game based on luck, if you've got it you're a sure winner. Well I say otherwise, poker is a game based on numerous skills; simple math, knowlege of your opponents, knowlege of the game. One important factor in poker is the Psychology of poker. Eventhough I said that poker isn't about luck, it still plays apart of the game. What cards you're dealt and what community cards come out is all luck, but what you with the cards isn't. All these skills can be mastered over a period of time. So I guess the more experience one has at the game the better he is as a poker player. A good poker player will learn when he's winning and he'll know when he's beat and when he just has to get out of the way. All you've got to keep in mind is: Poker is a game that takes minutes to learn but a lifetime to master!

Poker theory
Is poker gambling or not?

I say that it is gambling to some people, not to me though. Gambling is when you bet money on something and the outcome only depends on chance (luck). For players who only play their cards and bet on luck and the chance of drawing out on others, poker is gambling.
When you're playing poker correctly, you're only puuting your money in when you have the right odds.
Poker math

Pot odds

Pot odds refers to the relationship between the pot size and the bet. For example: if you have to call a bet of $2 in a pot of $10 you are getting pot odds of 5 to 1. It is important that you are aware of the pot size.
I find that when you use simple math and add it to your poker game it makes a great match. Here's a simple way to calculate the percentage of hitting your hand on the turn and river.
You calculate your outs, multiply it by 2 and then multiply it by the number of cards that are left to come out. Let's say you have a flush draw on the flop. You have 9 outs x 2 x The number of cards that are left two come out. Therefor 9 x 2 x 2 = 36% of hitting the flush on the turn and the river.

Poker Psychology

As regards to poker psychology I feel that it is one, if not the most, important aspect in poker. The ability to mix up your play is very important. The more you mix up your play the more difficult for your opponents to put you on a hand. For example: if you raise a certain amount with aces, and after a couple of hands you decide to bluff with 7-2 , try raising the same amount.

When mixing it up it is important that you play the player. When playing the player it is best that you study your opponents before actually playing against them. If you enter a room and you know nothing about your opponents, stand back and sit out for a while and study the moves they make and apply them later on in the game.

It is also important that you go into the game with a plan. You should know how you're going to play. I find it best to be relaxed when playing poker. If you are stressed it's best if you calm down before playing. I find it best to sit down alone in a room(on your bed would be great) and think of your game plan. It really helps calming you down.

Table image

Table image is basically, making your opponent think you play different. If you want to apply a tight table image all you have to do is fold a lot of hands and then when you bluff a hand most players will believe you have a monster.

Juicing the table

It is always good and fun at the same time to get the other players gambling and tilting. The more they gamble the easier it is for you to take their money away. A good way to get the players to gamble are the prop bets. The simple red/black prop bet is a good starter. It’s simple if the flop comes out all red you pay him, if it’s black he pays you. Another great prop bet is the 7-2 prop. If anyone wins a pot with 7-2 all the players pay him an amount that would have been agreed by all the players. It’s great for the game as people start bluffing with 7-2 and you don’t know if they have aces or 7-2. It works quite well on the amateurs. You can also start straddling. It helps build up a pot pre flop. A great way to get players tilting is to bluff them out of a huge pot and then showing your hand to the rest of the table and start laughing.

I hope you enjoyed reading! Hope to see you at the tables!

Monster!

Chili-Pokers-Sit-Go-Challenge-2

2008-09-20T13:57:03Z

Hey everybody, as you probably know i am trying o complete Chili Poker's Sit & Go challenge. My aim is to complete 40+ $1 Sit & Go's in the month of September and cash in most of them to have a good ROI.

ROI:Return on Investment. This quick calculation gives you the exact data on your return for $1 in play. For example, with a ROI of 17% it means that when you stake $1 you win $1.17.

So far i have cashed in about 10/14 Sit & Go's. I have also improved my Sit & Go game. I have learnt that patience is the name of the game! And that establishing a tight table image can pay off in the future!

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Chili-Pokers-Sit-Go-Challenge

2008-09-19T10:33:48Z

I will be starting a new challenge. I will be playing $1 Sit & Go's. My aim is to do more than 40 sit & Go's In the month of September. I Will be posting each of my results for you to view.

During this challenge i am hoping to improve my Sit & Go Level and become a better poker player! So wish me luck Cause i'm off to start!

#1 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 2nd: $3

#2 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 1st: $5

#3 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 3rd:$2

#4 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 8th: $0

#5 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 1st: $5

#6 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 2nd: $3

#7 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 8th: $0

#8 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 10th: $0

#9 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 8th: $0

#10 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 5th: $0

#11 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 6th: $0

#12 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 1st: $5

#13 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 2nd: $3

#14 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 9th: $0

#15 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 5th: $0

#16 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 6th: $0

#17 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 1st: $5

#18 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 5th: $0

#19 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 1st: $5

#20 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 10th: $0

#21 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 10th: $0

#22 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 7th: $0

#23 Sit & Go: 10 players: Finished 1st: $5

The-other-danger-in-slow-playing

2008-09-19T06:43:16Z

You've probably heard the standard reason to avoid slow playing: It's dangerous, because when you slow play, you give an opponent a chance to make a bigger hand at a minimal cost. This is absolutely true. But there's another reason to play your big hands fast, and this one isn't talked about as frequently. A slow play can give an opponent a chance to get away from a hand more cheaply than he would have had you played it fast from the start. Consider the following example.

You're in late position in a No-Limit Hold 'em ring game. A player raises in early position. You look at your cards, see pocket 8s, and decide to call. The flop is absolutely perfect: Qh 8h 2d. You've hit your set and, with the Queen out there, chances are your opponent has something – maybe A-Q, maybe pocket Kings or Aces. He bets the flop.

Many players will just call in this spot, hoping to get their opponent to bet on the turn. But a raise is usually the better play. If you just call, you risk seeing a heart on the turn. I don't think you need to be especially worried about the flush beating your set. You might get your set beat by a flush draw even if you raise. However, you do need to be concerned about the effect the third heart will have on your opponent. He very well might suspect that you were on the flush draw and he'd no longer be willing to commit a lot of money to the hand, even if he has Aces.

In fact, any King, Jack, 10, 9 or a card that pairs the board is likely to give your opponent pause. If he bets on the turn and you raise, you're signaling that the turn card helped you. In effect, you're saying that you liked the flop enough to call and the turn improved your hand in some way. You're announcing that you can beat one pair.

So the flop very well may be the only time when your opponent is willing to make a stand with a single pair. If he bets the flop of Qh 8h 2d and you raise, he's likely to think that you're semi-bluffing -- raising on a flush draw. At that point, he might feel compelled to protect his hand with large re-raise or perhaps an all in. When this happens, you'll take down a monster pot.

It's OK when a flop raise doesn't get you the result you want. You might scare off someone holding pocket Jacks or Ace-King, but you wouldn't make a lot of money off these hands anyway. And, if you're up against Ah-Jh, you may lose a big pot to a flush. But that's OK, because you'll have gotten your money in with the best hand.

Of course, there are some occasions where slow playing is the best choice. If you flop quads or something like Queens full, you'll want to give an opponent a chance to make some kind of hand on the turn or river. But frequently, the best option is to play fast on the flop. It may be your only chance to win a big pot with a big hand.