Poker News

A PAIR IN THE HOLE, whether it's 2-2 or A-A, presents a fantastic opportunity if you're lucky enough to flop three of a kind — otherwise known as a set.
Flop three of a kind and it would be rare that someone else in the pot will have you beat. Quite often, though, your opponents will catch their straights or flushes on the draw and crush your trips.

While flopping a set is very fortunate, you must protect your hand, while at the same time getting maximum value for it. This presents a dilemma: How do you bet the hand?

Here are a few key pointers that will help you decide whether it's better to bet aggressively, or to sit back and let your opponents bet for you.

Flop texture

This is probably the most important variable when deciding how to play a set. For example, if you're dealt K-K and the flop comes Kc-7d-2s, check the flop and give your opponents a chance to catch up a little bit.

Since you hold pocket cowboys, the flop gives you the obvious lead. The hands you can trap are A-A, or the smaller sets of sevens or deuces. Best of all, if your opponents have any of those hands, you'll likely get all of their chips.

But what if there's a textured flop like Qh-10s-8h, and you have 10-10? This is what's known as an action flop. There's a three-card straight on board as well as a flush draw. The only hands that can beat you at this point are J-9 or Q-Q, but keep in mind, there are several hands that could draw out on you.

A player holding K-J, for example, could beat you if he catches an ace or a nine to fill his straight. Someone else holding Ah-Jh, could win with a heart, nine, or a king.

A set, in this situation, should not be slowplayed because your opponents will probably call if they have any piece of the board. Play the hand aggressively and take the pot down now.

Type of opponents

If you're playing against an opponent that habitually bluffs when others don't bet, don't take that play away from him when you hit your set.

Let's say you have those pocket kings again, and the board comes Kh-7s-2c. Play coy and check to him. You can even check to him on every street and let him bluff all the way.

If you bet the flop, the bluffer will probably fold since it's highly unlikely that he has much of a hand. However, if you check, he might see that as an opportunity to bluff the hand through.

Conversely, if you're up against a player who will not bet with a drawing hand, there's no sense looking to trap him. Bet your trips and hope that he found a hand good enough to call you with.

Position

Your seat at the table is a big factor in determining how to play a flopped set.

Let's say you called a small raise in a five-way pot with pocket threes. Then the flop comes Ks-10d-3h.

You're the first player to act. What should you do? Check.

It's quite likely that one of the other four players in the hand will bet such a flop.

If no one bets, that's not so bad either. If the turn is an ace, for example, you'll be able to trap a player holding A-K for even more chips.

Now, if you're in last position, everything changes. You'll be able to see what everyone does first; there's no downside to the flop being checked around. If everyone does check to you, bet! With any luck, someone will think you're trying to steal the pot, and they'll raise you.

More chips for you.
By Daniel Negreanu

LAS VEGAS, /PRNewswire/ -- A new family film set in the world of poker, scheduled to begin shooting in Los Angeles and Las Vegas this spring, will have a real "full house" of talent behind it. Film will be Executive Produced by Garry Marshall and Hector Elizondo. Randy Feldman and Brad Neufeld will produce from their script in association with poker impresarios Mark and Lisa Tenner. Scott Marshall, who recently helmed "Keepin Up With The Steins," is set to direct.

The movie tells the story of a talented 15-year-old who qualifies for a $10-million dollar poker tournament at a major Las Vegas Hotel. The 15-year-old convinces his mother to play in his place and, through a series of extraordinary circumstances, the young man is allowed to play at the final table against many of the superstars of poker. In addition to exec producing, Elizondo is set to co-star as the casino manager with a heart. The producers are in the process of casting the leading lady role.

While this may seem rather silly to some, there is actually merit to the question, "Where is the best place to sit at a poker table?"

No, I'm not talking about closest to the bathroom or to the fridge. I'm talking about where the best place is for you to sit at the poker table in relation to certain types of players.

If you've played poker at all, you know that people approach the game in different ways - some by the seat of their pants, others very carefully. You have experienced players and novices, aggressive types and conservative competitors. Eventually you’ll meet them all at the poker table, and knowing which seat offers you the best chance for winning, against whoever you might face, can only improve your game.

There is a general rule when picking your seat that you should always abide by. You want the most difficult players on your right. With that understood, here’s where you should try to be for each type of player.

1)Conservative or tight players. These rocks are no real threat to you, so, abiding by the general rule, you shouldn’t really care all that much where they sit. Ideally, though, you'd want these players to your left so that you can pick on their blinds. If they happen to play with you when you've entered the pot, you can be sure they have a strong hand. Act accordingly. That wouldn't always be true with the next group of players.

2)Aggressive players. These are the players that you need to worry about. An aggressive player on your left means you’re somewhat handcuffed. You have to play a little more conservatively now because having that monster behind you means you don't know what he'll do until after you've acted.

You’ll always prefer the aggressive players on your right so that you can keep an eye on them and then spank them when they get out of line! Basically, you'll be able to use your position to exploit the aggressive player.

If you have a seating choice, when facing both an aggressive and a conservative player, sit right between them with the tighter player on your left.

Things get a bit trickier when you’re figuring out where to sit when playing either a novice or an experienced player, since you'll want both of them on your right to some degree.

3)Novice players. If you are playing with a rookie, chances are he's going to make a lot of mistakes, and you want to be in there when he does. So by sitting on his left you'll have the opportunity to see whether or not he enters the pot. Since you'll have position on him you can manipulate the novice much easier and force him into even more mistakes.

According to the general rule, you’ll want players you worry about on your right, but in this case you aren't worried about the novice since you can control or exploit him better if you sit on his left.

4)Experienced players. Well this obviously depends on how good the experienced players are, but generally these competitors surprise you less often than a novice player. They will most likely play fundamentally sound, which, while more predictable, doesn't necessarily make it easier for you. You’ll want a tough, aggressive experienced player sitting on your right.

But against a more conservative experienced player, you'd prefer him on your left rather than the easily exploitable novice.

You're not always going to be able to pick your seat - especially in a tournament - so it's important to know how to play against novice and aggressive opponents when they are seated to your left.

When the novice is on your left, all that really means is you'll have less opportunities to exploit him, but you don't need to make any major strategy adjustments.

With the aggressive player on your left, however, you need to make significant strategy adjustments. You really need to respect the fact that position is power, and since this competitor has it, you must concede your relative weakness a little bit and play accordingly.

From time to time, look to set traps for the aggressive player by slow playing strong hands. This should help keep him from breathing down your neck on a regular basis. Other than that, just tighten up a little bit and wait for a better situation to arise - like maybe, switching seats!
By Daniel Negreanu

September 27, 2006 (London, UK) - Bluff Europe, the European edition of America’s Number 1 poker magazine has launched the first community website for poker players, Tilt Space.

Available through Bluffeurope.com, Bluff’s 500,000 global readers will be able to gain access to Tilt Space from September 26th. This will be the first time the combined forces of media, technology and poker have come together for the benefit of real poker players worldwide. Tilt Space is set to be the ultimate online poker user community.

Users will be able to create their own profile, which they can use to blog about their latest exploits at the poker table, post their results for the world to see, link to friends and create groups and participate in chat rooms and forums. They can also post their favourite audio and video to share with the poker community.

Michael Caselli, Editor of Bluff Europe says, “We are beyond excited about this new feature added to the BluffEurope.com site. Poker enthusiasts have long filled online forums with text chatter; now they can fill their own site with all the information they want to share, including video.”

Sam Farha is no stranger to acting.

As a professional high-stakes poker player, he's always pretending that he has a full house when he's really holding a big handful of nothing.

Farha is a star, whether he's playing poker on TV in Las Vegas, selling authentic Sam Farha merchandise at www.samfarha.com or signing autographs outside a movie theater in Houston, his hometown.

With his open collar, expensive tailored suits, thick gold necklace and rings, sunglasses at night and unlit cigarette dangling from his lip, he's recognizably "a pro whose cultivated look of disreputability is an artistic achievement," according to Time magazine.

He's a character. He looks like a poker player. Pity the chump amateur who scrounges $10,000 to enter the World Series of Poker and finds Farha at his table.

"I like playing amateurs; they're easy. I feel like I can talk them into doing whatever I want. I tell them, 'If you lose to me, at least you have a story to tell your friends.' Then they do what I want, either fold or play the hand."

Now Farha is taking on the big screen. He's got a part in the upcoming movie Lucky You, starring Drew Barrymore, Robert Duvall, Eric Bana, Debra Messing and Robert Downey Jr. It's set for release in November.

"Doing the movie was really a lot of fun. Actually, I felt like I was watching a movie instead of acting in one," Farha said.

"In one scene I'm playing poker, naturally, and Robert Duvall is sitting next to me at the table. It was really an exciting experience to work with him. ... The thing that surprised me, and the one thing I didn't like so much, was all the time it took.

"One scene can take 10 hours, a whole day."

Born in Lebanon, Farha moved to the United States in 1977 to attend the University of Kansas. He majored in business administration and minored in hustling games of Pac-Man, pinball and anything else where he could find a sucker.

"I like games. I've always been good at them. It's the way my mind works. I love to play Monopoly and games like that, too. I was a great pinball player, the best. I like shooting pool. I was great at that, too.

"Poker is like all other games. You have to develop a strategy. Anybody can play poker when you have pocket aces. It takes something extra to play when you have a four and deuce. In poker, you take more risks than other games, and there's more to lose," he said.

After graduation, Farha moved to Houston, where his brother got him a job managing a gift shop in the old Westwood Mall.

"It was my first job, and I developed a strategy of running the store. I learned business in college, but college doesn't teach you experience. I had fun working in the store, but I was doing better at poker. So I left the store and became a professional poker player about 17 years ago," he said.

He's never had a real job since.

While his unreal job is primarily in Las Vegas and other cities with legalized gambling, Farha continues to live in Houston.

"It's nice here. I like gambling and it's what I do, but living in Las Vegas is not really healthy. Las Vegas is a beautiful city, but gambling can get too much.

"Houston is a control for me. I live here, I do things with my girlfriend, I work out. Houston has all the things I enjoy about a city," he said.

Farha said it's a safe bet that he'll continue to live here.
By KEN HOFFMAN

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to reports that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) is attempting to add Internet gambling prohibition legislation to the Department of Defense (DoD) Authorization bill ("US lawmakers seek online gambling bill compromise," Reuters, Sept. 21), Michael Bolcerek, president of the Poker Players Alliance, a grass roots organization of more than 110,000 members, released the following statement:

"We are strongly opposed to the Internet gambling legislation being included in the DoD Authorization bill. The prohibition bill is tremendously bad public policy, and the way in which some members of the Senate have decided to move it through reeks of political gamesmanship. The issue of Internet gambling has not been given a hearing in the Senate, it has not been debated, in fact, there isn't even a bill introduced. This effort to attach this very controversial and non-germane issue to vital DoD authorization legislation is a disservice to the American public and the men and women in our Armed Forces.

"Prohibitions don't work and the American people know this. That is why a vast majority oppose a ban on online poker. The game of poker is mainstream and enjoyed by millions of Americans. It is 2006 not 1920, the Internet is a part of our daily lives. Let's practice good government that actually protects the family and establish strict regulations and safeguards for on- line poker."

The Poker Players Alliance http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org is a nonprofit organization advocating on behalf of American poker players.

Dear Mark,

For years I have always played a low pair before the flop, but on one of the television poker shows they said that wasn’t always smart, yet they didn’t give a detailed reason why. What are your thoughts of playing a low pair, such as 2’s or 3’s? Perry H.

Probably one of the most important aspects of Texas Hold 'em is the value of your starting two-card hand before the flop. How you play those first two cards, Perry, is parallel to and predictive of your probability of winning.

When you get a pair of deuces as a starting hand, position (playing order) becomes extremely important. The later you act, the more information you will then have about your opponent’s cards, from seeing how they were played. The earlier you are to play, the more selective you should be, even if they are a pair. The announcer was correct in that a pair of 2’s or 3’s is usually worth playing before the flop in late position only, never in the early position.

Although far too many players play a twosome in any position, here’s how I would normally play a starting hand match. Seven’s and higher in any position; 5’s and 6’s in mid or late position, and 2’s through 4’s in late position only.

Dear Mark,

With today’s modern slot machines, does pulling the lever at different speeds have any effeDeal Me InColumn.ems ct on the overall odds of the machine? Sherry F.

Your typical slot machine’s action, (like the kind you’re playing in Reno or in any other gaming jurisdiction for that matter) is determined by the draw of random numbers, which are mapped to particular stops on the reels at that split-second when the player initiates play, either by yanking the handle or by pressing the play button.

Because today’s modern slot machines are computerized, the odds are whatever they are programmed to be and the lever is there for historical and entertainment purposes only -- or as a temporary support in the event of catastrophe.

Dear Mark,

In baccarat, how much of an edge am I gaining if I’m only paying 4% commission on a bank bet versus the standard 5%? Tommy M.

A 4% commission on the bank bet in baccarat lowers the house edge on that wager to 0.6%, which is significantly lower than the house edge of 1.06% on the banker bet with a 5% commission.

By the way, Tommy, you didn’t mention where you are finding a 4% commission on the bank bet, but I’m sure readers currently betting on one of the best wagers in the house, even at 5%, would love to know.

Dear Mark,

Which pays back more, video keno or a live game? Nancy T.

Although video keno typically offers a better return, based on their paytables, than does live keno, it’s also played at a much faster pace. This means, Nancy, that the low roller parked in the keno lounge, will lose far less money per hour at live keno than the same intrepid would seated in front of a keno machine, where monetary servitude to the house will end up being much, much more painful.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: "Players can learn how to win if they sincerely want to, if they set their minds to it, if they can find the desire to stand up and challenge the casino, breaking away from the passive crowd of losers." --John Gollehon
By Mark Pilarski

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 20, 2006 -- Six players entered the Borgata Event Center last night, one left a champion. The marquee event of the 2006 Borgata Poker Open lived up to its hype and supplied spectators with some of the most intriguing and exciting poker play on the World Poker Tour to date.

North Carolina's Mark Newhouse captured the title and first-place prize of $1,519,020, beating Chris McCormack in head's-up action. McCormack took home $802,985 for his second place finish. Newhouse (age 21) and McCormack (age 22) were the youngest players at the final table. Newhouse is the second youngest player to ever win a WPT Championship. The two dominated from the early moments at the final table, and the action only continued to heat up throughout the night.

Newhouse, who won his seat to the final table by winning a $1,000 satellite, spoke of how McCormack forced him to adjust his strategy. "On Monday (the final 27) I used my monster chip stack to push the players around and knock them out; I came to the final table with the same strategy. Chris played so well and matched my aggressive play, so I adjusted. I started to lose some confidence as he took the chip lead in head's-up action, but I played my game and won the championship."

McCormack entered the tournament focused on winning, and was noticeably disappointed with his second place finish. McCormack said, "I have come close in past WPT tournaments, but this was the first televised final table and I expected to win. I rebuilt my chip stack during the early rounds at the final table and put myself in the position to win, but this was Mark's night. It is still great to take home over $800,000 and I will definitely be back at Borgata and other WPT events."

Mark Newhouse was smiling as he walked away from the WPT set as champion. "I am ready to take my friends and family to celebrate. I am not sure where we will go tonight, I have really enjoyed all the restaurants at Borgata. I loved Bobby Flay Steak, SEABLUE, and Old Homestead. Borgata is amazing!"

WPT announcer and star player in his own right, Mike Sexton, praised Borgata and explained that the property has the key ingredients to make the perfect mix of atmosphere and great game play that has become the calling card of Borgata.

"Borgata is the perfect fit for the WPT because it's a very classy and elegant casino property, it's the finest property in Atlantic City, and the WPT truly has the greatest venues in the game and it is only fitting that our east coast stop, here in Atlantic City is Borgata." After the production wrapped, Sexton took the crew and many of the players to celebrate at B Bar.

The 2006 Borgata Poker Open broke attendance records and rewarded more money than previous Borgata Poker Open events. The WPT main event, featuring a prize pool of over $5 million, was the biggest tournament in Atlantic City's history.

The World Poker Tour action will return to Borgata in January 2007. The second annual Borgata Winter Open kicks off on Wednesday, January 17 and ends Tuesday, January 30 with the final table. ($9,700 + $300 WPT Event Friday, January 26 - Wednesday, January 30). In the meantime, Borgata's brand new, 85-table poker room, the largest in Atlantic City, will host $50,000 guaranteed daily tournaments each Friday at noon this October ($250 + $30 No Limit Hold 'Em).

Poker has grown immensely popular over the past few years and there have been a number of web sites about the game with tips, hints, forums, tournament schedules, and more, but PokerGoddess.com was one of the first poker web sites targeted directly toward the women poker player.

(PRWE September 20, 2006 -- PokerGoddess.com is the number one resource guide for any woman who is interested in the game. It features a brand new full forum, where members can discuss various topics about poker strategies, upcoming poker tournaments, or anything else in the general chat section. Poker Goddess also features dozens of in depth articles to help you improve your game and win more hands, and a complete rules and glossary section for any beginners to familiarize themselves with the rules and terms of the many styles of poker.

Poker Goddess also has biographies of some of the most famous woman poker players of all time and a freeroll schedule with a self updating up to the minute list of the latest poker tournaments from around the Internet that you can participate in.

"There are a lot of poker web sites," says the founder, "but we wanted to create one of the best and up to date web sites on the Internet for the growing number of female poker players to learn and discuss poker."

You can visit Poker Goddess and improve your game at http://www.pokergoddess.com/

Poker books go into great detail discussing the various strategies necessary to get to the final table of a tournament. However, not as much has been written about final table playing strategy.

Here are some tips to help you make it from the final table to the winner's circle.

# Take what the table gives. This is a simple concept but one that can't be overlooked. In fact, this philosophy applies not only to poker, but also to sports such as football and basketball.

Sometimes, late in NFL games, the team protecting a lead will often go into a prevent defense, trying to defend against the long pass.

Trying to throw a bomb against that type of coverage isn't a very good idea. Instead, the opponent takes what the defense gives, and throws shorter passes while continuing to move the chains.

In the NBA, Kobe Bryant has the ability to blow right by players who guard him too closely. But, if someone lays off of him, he'll just pull up and shoot a jump shot.

Pretend for a second you're the Laker's star, and the defense is playing tight and guarding the rim. Well, they're giving you an open look at a 15-foot jumper! Would you try to drive the lane or take the easy shot?

I hope you said the easy shot.

At the final table of a poker tournament, you must base your choices on how your opponents are playing -- in other words, what they're giving you. If the table is playing passively, and everyone is waiting for others to get knocked out, that's your cue to drive the lane and play aggressively.

Conversely, if there are overly aggressive, wild players at your table, then the best course of action is to sit back and wait for them to pick each other off.

You cannot win a tournament when there are still nine players at the table. So, your goal in the early stages of final table play is to set yourself up for the short-handed battle to come.

# Adjust. One of the most difficult challenges novices face at a final table is making the necessary adjustments for short-handed play.

During most tournaments, play is nine-handed all the way down to the final table. As you get down to six, five, or four players, though, the correct playing strategy will change dramatically.

It's true that a player may succeed by waiting for premium starting cards on his way to the final table. However, if he continues playing that way short-handed, the blinds and antes will surely eat away at his stack.

Hands such as A-7 offsuit, cards you wouldn't play in a nine-handed game, become raisers when play becomes short-handed. To stay afloat, you need to win one set of blinds per round. If you're playing four-handed, that means you need to pick up a pot one out of every four hands. If you fold A-7, you may not get a better chance.

# Play the players and your stack. The cards become less important at the final table than they were in the early stages of a tournament. At the final table, shift your focus to determine who you can steal pots from and who you can trap. You've got to play the players.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to play the players when you don't have many chips. If you're on the short stack, you'll be forced to sit back and wait for a good opportunity to either double up or to steal the blinds.

It's a much rosier picture if you're one of the bigger stacks at the final table. Now you have virtual free reign to attack and pressure your opponents. There's no need to be reckless; the other players will be forced to respect your stack size since any hand they play could be their last.

So let's review. Let the game come to you in the early stages. Make the necessary adjustments once play becomes short-handed. Finally, always be aware of your stack size in relation to the others.

If you focus on those three key elements, you'll often find yourself playing heads-up for the title.
By Daniel Negreanu

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ -- (MARKET WIRE) -- September 18, 2006 -- The third day of action at the Borgata Poker Open, part of the World Poker Tour, saw another round of intense battles as players tried to make moves and secure their position in the final six spots. Sixty-eight players began counting their chips at 11 a.m., but it wasn't long before players began to drop like flies.

The drama of the event was heightened throughout the day by the looming fact that only fifty-four out of the sixty-eight players would place for a cash prize. Unfortunately for those fourteen players, their three-day efforts became all for nothing as they watched their dreams of a World Poker Tour title slip away.

With a $1.5 million first-place prize awaiting the winner, players adjusted their game performance and did their best to capitalize on the opportunities to advance. Several players lost big hands on questionable calls, which only intensified the competition as players focused on playing both their opponents and the cards they were dealt.

As players were eliminated, the game became more of a chess match than a wild all-in blowout. The poker faces of some of the best players in the game eventually cracked as the competition wore on and several prominent pros made exits that clearly left them unsatisfied.

The crowd cheered as the final twenty-seven players of the WPT main event were announced. Taking in the final chip lead was amateur Athanasios Diakos with $1.5 million in chips. Other notable leaders included poker author David Skiansky, Academy Award nominated actress Jennifer Tilly, and Shawn Chaconas.

Shawn Chaconas of New York City, NY, best known for his prowess as a top cash game player, is sitting pretty in fifth place. Chaconas commented, "Borgata is my 'home-base' and I love playing here. The structure of this tournament is the best in the country for serious poker players."

After the tournament wrapped for the night, many of the professional players migrated to B BAR to celebrate or possibly to reflect on their early exit. Poker legend Gavin Smith held court at the B BAR with other notable pros such as David Singer, "Iron Mike" Hofeld, and actress Shannon Elizabeth.

The final table begins Tuesday, September 19th at 5 p.m. and will air on the Travel Channel in the coming months.

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 17, 2006 -- Day two of the World Poker Tour (WPT) main event at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa produced intense action. Some players saw their chip stacks rise into the stratosphere while others faired far worse, crashing and burning out of the tournament.

The Borgata Poker Open's biggest event did not disappoint the crowds of fans who left Borgata hungry for more championship poker. The returning field of 248 wasted little time in trimming their numbers. A series of early big name eliminations included David Williams and Antonio Esfandiari. Many of the game's biggest poker names fell victim to challengers who showed no fear of the better-known players or their cards.

Surviving players of the first day were thrilled to be alive as they fought for the money. The top nine finishers all take home over $100,000. Nevertheless, you can be sure that all players will be gunning for first place and won't be satisfied with anything less than the WPT title. This year's first-place finisher will leap into the millionaires' club when the victory gives him or her, the biggest cash prize in Borgata history -- almost $1.5 million.

Barry Greenstein, David "the Dragon" Pham, Kathy Liebert, Shawn Chaconas, Chad Brown, and Jennifer Tilly are just a few of the stars left in the field. Day two action moved at light speed as the chip counts shifted between players throughout the day. The remaining players, hailing from all around the world, continued to match wits and tactics hoping to win this battle of poker endurance.

Jennifer Tilly, a World Series of Poker bracelet winner, a World Poker Tour champion, and an Academy Award nominated actress, was one of the chip leaders at the end of day two. Tilly said, "I feel good about my play and my chips." She went on the say, "Everything is top of the line at Borgata. The staff really takes care of the players and the new poker room is amazing. But the Borgata beds are the greatest, that's why I own one." Tilly and poker legend Phil Laak also enjoyed great meals at Borgata while spending quality time with friends. "When we first arrived at Borgata, a big group of the poker players went to Old Homestead and had a really good time and the food was great."

Tournament veteran Barry Greenstein also took notice that Borgata is more than just a place to play poker. "For the most part I don't separate one casino from the other. I have to admit, when I walked into Borgata and the new poker room, I could see the attention to detail. They really did a great job making this an upscale place to stay and play and I appreciate the care they took. Borgata sticks out."

Day three will be another all-out battle as the players go after the $1.5 million first place prize and the WPT title. Expect every player to bring their "A" game and be prepared for high drama as the players go for it all.

Poker books go into great detail discussing the various strategies necessary to get to the final table of a tournament. However, not as much has been written about final table playing strategy.

Here are some tips to help you make it from the final table to the winner's circle:

Take what the table gives: This is a simple concept but one that can't be overlooked. In fact, this philosophy applies not only to poker, but also to sports like football and basketball.

Sometimes, late in NFL games, the team protecting a lead will often go into a prevent defense, trying to defend against the long pass. Trying to throw a bomb against that type of coverage isn't a very good idea. Instead, the opponent takes what the defense gives and throws shorter passes while continuing to move the chains.

In the NBA, Kobe Bryant has the ability to blow right by players who guard him too closely. But, if someone lays off of him, he'll just pull up and shoot a jump shot.

Pretend for a second you're the Lakers star, and the defense is playing tight and guarding the rim. Well, they're giving you an open look at a 15-foot jumper!

Would you try to drive the lane or take the easy shot?

I hope you said the easy shot.

At the final table of a poker tournament, you, too, must base your choices on how your opponents are playing — in other words, what they're giving you. If the table is playing passively, and everyone is waiting for others to get knocked out, that's your cue to drive the lane and play aggressively.

Conversely, if there are overly aggressive, wild players at your table, then the best course of action is to sit back and wait for them to pick each other off.

You cannot win a tournament when there are still nine players at the table. So, your goal in the early stages of final table play is to set yourself up for the short-handed battle to come.

Adjust: One of the most difficult challenges novices face at a final table is making the necessary adjustments for short-handed play.

During most tournaments, play is nine-handed all the way down to the final table. As you get down to six, five or four players, though, the correct playing strategy will change dramatically.

A player may succeed by waiting for premium starting cards on his way to the final table. However, if he continues playing that way short-handed, the blinds and antes will surely eat away at his stack.

Hands like A-7 offsuit, cards you wouldn't play in a nine-handed game, become raisers when play becomes short-handed. To stay afloat you need to win one set of blinds per round. If you're playing four-handed, that means you need to pick up a pot one out of every four hands. If you fold A-7, you may not get a better chance for a while.

Play the players and your stack: The cards become less important at the final table than they were in the early stages of a tournament. At the final table, shift your focus to determine who you can steal pots from and who you can trap. You've got to play the players.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to play the players when you don't have many chips. If you're on the short stack, you'll be forced to sit back and wait for a good opportunity to either double up or to steal the blinds.
By DANIEL NEGREANU

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Absolute Poker, the fourth largest online poker Web-site in the world, announced today that David Wood from Purdue University was the winner of the spring "Win Your Tuition" tournament after the dramatic conclusion and final game on August 9 at New York club CroBar. Justin Rausch, a student from Penn State, was the runner-up and received one semester's free tuition. The other four students taking part at the final table were from Bradley University in Mount Prospect, IL, Southeast Missouri State University in Saint Louis, MO, Georgia College and State University in Marietta, GA, and the University of Delaware in Lansdale, PA. Absolute Poker flew the six finalists out to New York City and treated them to three days in the Big Apple. The company just launched the autumn "Win Your Tuition" tournament, giving students the chance to win a full year's tuition and other great prizes. Students can learn more by visiting Win Your Tuition .

"What a great conclusion to the Spring tournament -- congratulations to David for playing a superb game and winning the final game and beating out the other five finalists," said Patrick McCanna, marketing manager for Absolute Poker. "We had a great time bringing these students to New York and showing them the town and everyone went home with great prizes such as iPods and laptops. We can't wait to see what happens in the fall tournament as we offer even bigger and better prizes."

The students' friends and families were on hand to cheer the competitors on adding to the excitement of the event. In addition to competing in the final table event, which was filmed for future broadcast, Absolute Poker treated the six university students to tours of the city and to a sophisticated dinner out on the town, making their all-expense paid trip to New York City a trip to remember.

Absolute Poker has developed a great relationship with university campuses around the world. In addition to the "Win Your Tuition" tournaments it holds twice a year, it also has an internship program for students to gain valuable work experience at the company's headquarters in Costa Rica. Absolute Poker also has an on-campus fund-raising program for school sports teams and clubs.

New York Native Wins Ladies Only Tournament at Borgata Poker Open

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ -- (MARKET WIRE) -- September 12, 2006 -- Another day down, another champion rises to the challenge at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City. Event six of the 2006 Borgata Poker Open came to a conclusion late last night on the second day of the Ladies Only Tournament. Jessica Desantis of Garden City, NY captured the first place title, winning her first Borgata championship, a Rolex watch and a prize purse of $27,000.

Desantis, who started playing poker three years ago, considers Borgata her "home turf." She has been developing a name for herself locally and last night proved to be a premier poker player. After taking photos with her new Rolex watch and prize money she said, "The competition was good, especially at the final table but it was nothing like playing with the 'big boys' downstairs in the Borgata poker room. My experience playing with top amateurs and pros prepared me to win the Ladies event."

Desantis' game was in top form as she outplayed Baltimore, MD's Amy Atkins for the title. Atkins was a valiant warrior strategically battling back and forth with Desantis. Third place finisher, Janet Burak was the chip leader after the first day of competition and fought hard before succumbing to the seasoned Desantis and Atkins.

Atkins, whose beaming smile was glued to her face at the tournament, was obviously pleased with finishing second. "I would have liked to win but Jessica played well and deserved to take the championship. I love playing at Borgata. It feels like home here and it is great to finish second in my first big tournament at the Borgata Poker Open."

Desantis was enjoying her time in the spotlight after the event but was anxious to get to her room to prepare for a night out at Borgata's new nightclub, mur.mur. "I have never been to mur.mur so I am excited to go tonight -- it seems like the perfect time to go celebrate; drinks on me!"

The action is heating up and the intensity is reaching a new high as countless pros arrive at Borgata to compete in the upcoming high stakes events at the 2006 Borgata Poker Open. On Thursday, September 14 the public is invited to attend the World Poker Tour Kickoff Party at MIXX nightclub hosted by poker pros Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari.

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 11, 2006 -- Event five of the 2006 Borgata Poker Open concluded late Sunday night with New Yorker Jeremy Shor coming from behind to defeat an accomplished field and capture the championship. The final table included one Shannon Shorr, ranked second best poker player in the world by Card Player magazine.

Jeremy Shor and James English of South Florida began their head's up duel at 9:00 p.m. and battled late into the night. The duel combined the strategy of a chess match with the intensity that only comes from high stakes poker. English, the second place finisher in the $2,500 event at the 2005 Borgata Poker Open, seemed to have the advantage much of the night before going "card dead." Shor seized the opportunity and gained control eventually ousting English to capture the championship Rolex and $188,000 in first place prize money.

After the tournament ended, a drained but ecstatic Shor was very blunt in describing his victory: "I got lucky. I knew I was playing against better players so I had to take more risks and get lucky; it worked."

English, who watched his significant chip lead evaporate over the last hour of competition, was in shock after the event. After the shock wore off, English admitted he was happy to be taking home $98,000 in prize money -- finishing in second place, for the second consecutive year. A regular on the WPT circuit, English commented after the event, "Borgata is my favorite hotel and casino on the Tour. The tournaments feature the best structure, the best staff, the best hotel rooms; it has everything I want as a poker player."

Another notable player at the final table was eighth place finisher Kirk Acevedo, who took home $19,000 in prize money. Acevedo is a regular on both the big and small screens having starred in HBO's "Oz" and appeared as a guest star on "Law and Order." Acevedo can currently be seen in "Invincible" starring Mark Walberg.

The U.S. Senate is Seeking to Ban Online Poker

Your urgent action is needed! On September 12th the Poker Players Alliance with the support of leading poker blogs and forums are organizing a “Phone March” on Capitol Hill. From 9:00 AM Eastern Time, until 5:30 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, September 12th, we are asking all PPA members and anyone interested in defending poker to call this toll free number, 800-289-1136 and be patched through to one of your two U.S. Senators in Washington D.C. When you call the 800 number you will hear a recording from fellow PPA member Greg “Fossilman” Raymer and then you will be prompted to enter your five digit zip code so you can be directed, free of charge, to your Senator’s office.

Note: The 800 number will only be active between 9:00 AM EST and 5:30 PM EST on Tuesday September 12.

Key points you should make:

* I am voter in your state.
* I strongly oppose any legislation that would prohibit online poker, and urge the Senator to vote against such legislation.
* Poker is a skill game enjoyed by 70 Million Americans.
* The Senator should seek to regulate online poker much like the government regulates other forms of gaming, like lotteries.
* Prohibitions don’t work. Any legislation that tries to ban online poker will only drive those players underground.
* Again, I urge the Senator to oppose any attempts to prohibit me from playing the great American game of poker on the Internet.

The threat to poker is real. Please forward this information to everyone you know who cares about poker and an American’s freedom to use the Internet. We need everyone possible to make their voice heard on September 12th!

Sincerely,

Michael Bolcerek
President
Poker Players Alliance

The popularity of playing poker on the Internet, in spite of the fact the $2-billion-a-year industry exists in legal limbo, is a phenomenon that may fuel the appeal of a new computerized poker table that meets all the requirements of federal statutes and state gaming regulations.

The innovation is PokerPro, which eliminates the need for a live dealer and real cards and chips. Developed and marketed by PokerTek Inc. of Charlotte, N.C., it won the Platinum Award (first place) for the Most Innovative Technology Product for 2005 presented by Casino Journal at the Gaming Technology Summit held last May in Las Vegas.

Earlier this year the company signed a three-year contract with Carnival to provide the electronic poker tables for its cruise ships. Last June, Hollywood Park Casino, one of the three largest card clubs in California, agreed to install six PokerPro tables for a 90-day trial period.

PokerPro's growth has just begun. Just recently, Seminole Hard Rock in Florida brought two of the tables into its spacious live 50-table room.

Additionally, two Oklahoma casinos, including Buffalo Run Casino in Miami and Osage National Million Dollar Elm Casino in Tulsa, each introduced two of the high-tech tables to their card room venues.

The virtues of the table even attracted the attention of Aristocrat Technologies Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers and developers of electronic gaming devices, which led to the company obtaining the exclusive rights to offer the PokerPro system to gaming venues across the globe with the exception of the United States and Canada.

I contacted Brad Johnson, Aristocrat's vice-president of marketing for the Americas, to get an idea of the potential impact of computerized table gaming on the industry. He hinted that poker may be only the beginning.

"I think what you'll eventually see in the future is the ability to have players play against one another on electronic games, creating a whole new realm of gaming. This type of product will start to move gaming in a little bit different direction and open up a lot more possibilities in the future."

The table is regulation size, but specially engineered to accommodate a large video display terminal in the center for the board cards and smaller screens at each player position. The individual screens, which display the individual's hole cards and chip stacks, are engineered so they can be seen only by the player sitting in front of them and not from the sides.

There are some imaginative video features associated with the game that simulate traditional play. For example, when you are ready to look at your cards, you place your hands over the bottom right portion of the screen and the cards are revealed by "squeezing" out just as you can do with real cards.

An electronic "shuffler," certified by Gaming Laboratories International as a mathematically random process, is used in the game. Just as in the real thing, a card is "burned" prior to each round of betting. PokerPro shuffles, deals, splits pots and generates side pots instantly.

Players love it because PokerPro eliminates dealer errors and the need for tipping. Casinos love it because it reduces overhead and increases revenue by dealing 50 to 60 percent more hands per hour than a manual table.

At the present time the only game offered on PokerPro is the world's most popular, Texas Hold'em, but according to company CEO Lou White, Omaha will soon be available as well as more games as the market dictates.

Arguing that Poker Pro takes the human element out of live poker is hypocritical in light of the game's popularity on the Internet. If anything, Poker Pro makes the virtual world come alive.
BY JOHN G. BROKOPP

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 8, 2006 -- The competition was fierce at Thursday's final table of the Borgata Poker Open's $750 No-Limit even at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. The action moved fast with the chip lead constantly changing hands as the players battled for their share of the $387,000 prize pool. By 11:00 p.m. the final table was down to two with Fritz Stoner of Lancaster, PA edging out one of last year's bracelet winners, Billy Hill, to capture the $112,447 first-place prize and the champion's Rolex watch.

Stoner was elated after his victory and already looking forward to the start of the $1,000 buy-in event on Friday. He commented, "I play the majority of my poker at Borgata and can't believe I won my first big tournament at the Borgata Poker Open. Why would anyone play anywhere else?"

Other notables at the final table included John Renzi of Philadelphia who made three final tables during the Borgata Summer Open (July 2006). Renzi was content with his third place finish and $31,020 in prize money. As Renzi walked away from the final table he said, "I've now made four different final tables between the last two major tournaments at Borgata, and I am going to be back at a fifth final table soon."

Matthew Stout, a 21-year-old Atlantic City native, was the fourth place finisher taking home $27,142. Stout was a fan favorite and continues to build his reputation as a premiere tournament poker player. Of course, Stout was disappointed that he did not win the event but at the same time he was pleased finishing fourth from a field that began with more than 500 elite poker players. After receiving his prize money Stout said, "I am ready to celebrate with my friends at Gypsy Bar, and I look forward to the start of Friday's $1,000 buy-in event. The competition is going to be intense."

The action is only going to heat up as more and more pros arrive for the higher buy-in events. With a host of celebrities, professionals and future Cinderella stories in the making, the 2006 Borgata Poker Open promises to produce some of the most heated battles of the year.

For tournament updates, exclusive video interviews with top competitors, and 'behind-the-scenes' footage of the event, visit the official 2006 Borgata Poker Open blog at www.theborgata.com.

Players can still register for the remaining Borgata Poker Open events. Seats can be reserved online at www.theborgata.com. Online registration closes 48 hours before each event after which time on-site registration is still available.

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 7, 2006 -- The action was fast and furious yesterday during the second day of the 2006 Borgata Poker Open. The day began at 11 a.m. with more than 500 players arriving to compete in the $750 buy-in event. Wednesday also featured Day 2 of the $500 buy-in No Limit event. The field that started with more than 1,000 players was down to 27 players, and those weary poker warriors arrived eager to capture the first place prize and their piece of poker immortality.

Spectators and players alike were surprised to learn the Day 1 event was dominated by amateurs. Sixth place finisher Scott Clemmensen, who has spent most of his life in the spotlight as a professional hockey player for the New Jersey Devils, enjoyed his role as an unknown poker rookie. Clemmensen commented, "I am thrilled to take home the $28,000 sixth place prize money, but it is the spirited competition and camaraderie among the poker players at Borgata that means the most to me."

Another amateur, Alberto Orellana, stole the spotlight yesterday and dominated the $500 buy-in No Limit event, capturing the first place prize pool of $115,335 and a Rolex watch from Bernie Robbins Fine Jewelry. An elated, but spent Orellana commented after the event: "This was my first time playing at Borgata and my first big tournament win. It was an amazing experience to be a part of and win the Borgata Open. This is my first visit to Borgata, but it won't be my last!"

Orellana and second place finisher Mohamed Elkerdawy battled back and forth during the duration of the two-day event featuring nearly perfect play from both players. Elkerdawy, a seasoned poker player who considers the new, 85-table poker room at Borgata to be "home court," was satisfied with the outcome taking home $72,310. Poker veteran Elkerdawy commented, "It was exciting to be in the hunt for first place, but I am also proud of young Alberto taking the first place prize and establishing himself as one of most promising young poker players."

For tournament updates, exclusive video interviews with top competitors, and 'behind-the-scenes' footage of the event, visit the official 2006 Borgata Poker Open blog at www.theborgata.com.

Players can still register for the remaining Borgata Poker Open events. Seats can be reserved online at www.theborgata.com. Online registration closes 48 hours before each event after which time on-site registration is still available.

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ -- (MARKET WIRE) -- September 05, 2006 -- The Borgata Poker Open, Atlantic City's largest poker tournament, began today in grand style with a full house of more than 1,100 eager players. Creating an electric atmosphere, professionals and amateurs alike arrived today at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa to vie for their piece of poker history.

The buzz that was ignited this summer with the opening of Borgata's 85-table poker room -- the largest in Atlantic City -- erupted today. The excitement spread as the players learned of the timeless prize for all Main Event winners -- a Rolex watch from Bernie Robbins Fine Jewelry to accompany their cash prizes. "With the incredible structure and top-notch service, I didn't think this tournament could get any better, but the inclusion of a Rolex for the winner makes these events a must-play," said tournament participant, Matthew Stout of Ewing, NJ.

With the cards hitting the tables today, the action continues to intensify as the buy-ins escalate and more players take their shot at hundreds of thousands of dollars and poker stardom. "Borgata is humbled by the overwhelming response from our players," stated Stan Strickland, director of poker operations at Borgata. "The Borgata Poker Open continues to demonstrate our commitment to our players and to the game."

The 2006 Borgata Poker Open blog features a daily video segment with interviews from top professional players, as well as notable amateurs from this year's tournament. The blog will allow poker fans to keep up with tournament updates and get a 'behind-the-scenes' view of the exciting poker lifestyle during the tournament at Borgata. "Our relationship with City Atlantic enables us to provide up-to-the-minute status of all events," stated Ray Stefanelli, director of poker marketing at Borgata. The blog can be viewed at www.borgata.com.

Players can still register for the remaining Borgata Poker Open events. Seats can be reserved online at www.borgata.com. Online registration closes 48 hours before each event after which time on-site registration is still available.

About Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa

Borgata is a joint venture of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) and MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM). Located at Renaissance Pointe in Atlantic City, it features 2,000 guest rooms and suites, 161,000 square feet of gaming, 200 gaming tables, 4,100 slot machines, 14 destination restaurants, 11 retail boutiques, a 54,000 square foot spa, 70,000 square feet of event space, and parking for 7,100 cars.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Lawyers for World Series of Poker winner Jamie Gold and a Los Angeles-based TV development executive agreed to a court injunction freezing $6 million, half of the top prize, in a dispute about a deal to split the winnings.

U.S. district court judge Roger L. Hunt was expected to sign the order soon, said Richard Schonfeld, the lawyer for plaintiff Bruce Crispin Leyser.

"Everybody agreed the preliminary injunction would be issued," Schonfeld said Tuesday.

The injunction would prevent the money from leaving the poker tournament's host, the Rio hotel-casino, until the case concluded. Gold's lawyers would have until September 15 to challenge the injunction, he said.

Leyser alleges that Gold, a former Hollywood talent agent, agreed in July to split his winnings in exchange for Leyser helping him find celebrities to play in the main event while wearing the "Bodog" label of an offshore Internet gambling site.

Bodog paid the $10,000 entry fee for Gold, who beat 8,772 players to win the world's largest poker tournament, and the $12 million top prize.

Leyser alleges he fulfilled his end of the deal — getting Scooby Doo star Matthew Lillard and Punk'd comedian Dax Shepard to wear the brand — but claimed Gold has refused to hand over $6 million.

Gold's lawyers declined to comment.

Bodog has said it included Gold on its celebrity roster of players because of his help putting the team together, his relationship with mentor Johnny Chan and his tournament experience, but said the company was not aware "of any side deal he may have made."

Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino was the marquee personality at the John Congemi Aces and Aces Celebrity Golf Classic and poker tournament over the weekend at Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, in support of local Niagara-area charities in Ontario.

Golf is Marino's game -- he's a scratch player. But that didn't prevent him from making some noise during the three-hour No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em poker event.

Marino chatted briefly about his golf round (highlighted by three birdies en route to a 3-over-par 75), and gave his early favorites for the Super Bowl (Cincinnati in the AFC, Carolina in the NFC).

When the cards finally came, the NFL's all-time passing leader was all business.

''Watch me not know what I'm doing and still kick your [butts],'' he joked.

Marino backed up that statement on the first hand of the tournament, busting a player by landing a full house, kings over aces. His shell-shocked victim -- who lost despite having a full house of his own -- could only lumber away from the table while Marino offered a little wave and a ``See you later!''

The recent Bicycle Club $10,000 buy-in Championship event in Los Angeles on the World Poker Tour (WPT) began at 2 p.m. I, of course, arrived at 4:30 pm. Whereas most of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments that I played in this year featured absolutely no one that I knew at my starting table, in this cozy event — there were still 450 players — I had great players Erik Seidel and David Chiu at my starting table. Because of the relatively low number of entrants in this tournament — compared to 2,000 in most WSOP events — the field seemed like it was filled with top professionals.

I was off to a fast start when I raised it up with J-J, my lone opponent had 7-7, and the flop came down J-9-7. In poker parlance, I had flopped set-over-set. Of course, my opponent lost all of his remaining $13,000 in chips to me in this hand, and my chip stack crossed the $30,000 mark — we started out with $20,000 in chips. It wasn’t like I played the hand great or did anything special, in fact there was not a lot of skill in this scenario, but I’ll take a lucky hand like this one anytime! This hand called to mind the fact that the last tournament hand that I had played in Los Angeles — in February at another WPT event — I went broke when I had the other side of the set-over-set scenario.

After having one of the best seven weeks of poker of my life at the recent WSOP, I felt like I might win this WPT tournament. First place was over $1.5 million, and it would be my first WPT victory, if I could pull it off. Nearing the end of day one, I found myself in total control of the table, with over $45,000 in chips when the following hand came up vs. Seidel. It must be said that Seidel is one of the best Hold ’em players in the world, and has been since he finished second to Johnny Chan in the 1988 WSOP (which was a memorable scene in the movie “Rounders”). Seidel had already hurt me one big pot, when his 5-3 beat my 10-10 with a 6-4-2 flop.

With the blinds at $200-$400, Seidel raised it up in late position to $1,400 to go with Qc-Jc. I was in the big blind with 5-3, and thought that it would be pretty poetic to beat Seidel out of a big pot with the very same hand he had crushed me with earlier. So I called the raise. Another reason I called was the fact that I felt like Seidel was relatively weak, which he was with Q-J. Still, if I felt weakness, then I should have reraised before the flop and forced him to fold that Q-J. After a flop of Jd-3d-2s, I checked, Seidel bet $1,600, and I called.

After the queen of hearts hit the board, I checked, Seidel bet $4,500, and I called. This was a mistake. I should have studied Seidel, and figured out how strong he was — with his top two pair — and then folded my hand. Instead, I called way too quickly. The last card was the 5c, making me two pair, and I checked quickly. If Seidel was bluffing, or if he had A-Q, I didn't want to show strength by letting him know that the 5c was a great card for me. Sometimes we study awhile when we hit our card. Now Seidel bet out his last $13,000, and I decided that I had to call. After all, I could beat any over pair like Q-Q, K-K or A-A, or K-Q or A-Q. I called, and Seidel showed me top two pair vs. my lower two pair.

Ouch! Not only did I lose a big pot, but I lost it in a hand that I never should have played in the first place. Was I unlucky that I hit the five on the end to trap me into calling Seidel’s last $13,000 bet? Yes, but I should have never called the initial $1,000 raise in the first place.

I mean: “Poetic to beat Seidel right back with the 5-3?” What the heck does that have to do with real-world poker? Not to mention that I should have folded the hand on fourth street for the $4,500 bet.

So I cannot complain about this hand and being unlucky as I did it to myself. That wound was self-inflicted!

In the movie “Rounders,” there is a scene featuring:

A) Erik Seidel
Johnny Chan
C) Seidel and Chan
D) Phil Hellmuth

Answer: C
By Phil Hellmuth

I recently read an article written by a young English poker professional by the name of David Pomroy. It was a very interesting piece and somewhat of a rebuttal to other poker writers who assert that in No Limit Texas Hold'em, the standard pre-flop raise should be precisely three times the big blind.

Pomroy believes that, in poker, always doing anything the same is generally a bad idea. He argues that by making the standard raise of three times the blind in all situations, you simply become too predictable.

Though I agree with that asser tion, I do have a problem with Pomroy's reasons for raising different amounts before the flop.

Specifically, Pomroy suggests that you should make a larger raise from early position with hands like 8-8 in order to knock out the rest of the field. He also advocates larger raises from the dealer button since position is paramount in No Limit Hold'em.

With trash hands, he theorizes that you should make smaller raises, thus risking less when your bluff attempts fail.

My problem with this strategy is that any observant poker player will decipher a predictable pattern in play based on the amounts raised. Pomroy's approach gives away too much information about his hand based on his bet size.

After all, he has already shared his preference to make larger raises from early position with middle pairs. Well, when he makes that play, you'll have a solid read on his hand. You'll also know that his smaller raises are more likely to signal a bluff attempt.

Unless Pomroy mixes up his play and veers from that strategy, he will, in fact, become more predictable; precisely the style of play he is trying to avoid.

As I said, I agree that adhering to a pre-flop strategy of raising three times the blind in all situations isn't the best approach. However, my reasons for changing the bet size depend on a completely different set of factors that have nothing to do with the strength of my hand, and everything to do with my opponent's tendencies.

For example, let's say I'm on the button and the players in the blinds are extremely conservative. If everyone folds to me and I'm looking to steal the blinds, I can take advantage of my opponents' tendencies to fold too many marginal hands for a very small raise. With the blinds at 100-200, there's a good chance that I could steal a very tight player's blind for the bare minimum, risking only 400 to win 300.

On the other hand, if I were at tempting a bluff raise against very loose players who would defend their blinds vigorously, a raise of three times the blind may not be sufficient. In this situation, I may have to raise as much as five times the blind to force my opponent to fold.

Another consideration is your opponent's skill level after the flop.

If the player in the big blind is known to play poorly after the flop, you can tempt him to defend his blind so that you can exploit his weakness after the flop. Against a terrible player, a smaller raise, say, 2 1/2 times the big blind, makes the most sense.

Now, when you're up against a very tough player, one who makes excellent decisions after the flop, you want to discourage his ten dency to call with a wide variety of hands. In this situation, try to de fine his hand with a much larger raise. That should narrow his possible holdings and help you avoid a disastrous confrontation.

So, while I agree with David Pomroy that you shouldn't raise the same amount before the flop in every situation, I completely disagree with his reasoning.

Mix up your pre-flop play with larger raises against tough and loose players, and smaller raises against weak and tight players. You may give away information re garding your perception of your op ponents, but you won't reveal the strength of your own hand.
By Daniel Negreanu

NEW YORK, NY, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ - Newport Beach, California resident, Joe Pelton was a long shot at last night's World Poker Tour (WPT) Legends of Poker main event final table. A relative unknown on the poker scene, Pelton was up against poker professionals Scotty Nguyen, Hoyt Corkins and veteran Randy Holland. Now that Pelton is $1.5 million richer it seems his reputation will precede him.

"Going into the final table I felt my chances were as good as the other players," said Pelton. "I realized I was playing with pros and hoped that Randy and Scotty would be knocked out early. I never felt in danger of losing when I went all in, I was confident in my cards and was able to keep my bluffing to a minimum."

The final hand saw Pelton up against Frankie O'Dell. Pelton raised $400,000, O'Dell re-raised ALL-IN, Pelton called. O'Dell showed 6h 6d, Pelton showed Ac 7c, the board revealed Ad, Jh, 3d, 2c, Qs. Pelton won the WPT Legends of Poker main event with a pair of Aces. He raked in $1,577,170 and a $25,000 seat at the WPT Championship.

Pelton began playing poker at Harvey Mudd College with his buddies about three years ago. Now a business analyst, he feels that his analytical skills help him in every aspect of life, including his poker game. This is Pelton's biggest win so far. His second largest take was at the 2005 WSOP where he won $11,000.

After winning, Pelton was overwhelmed with emotion in what he described as "a dream come true." Pelton says he has watched these big games on TV before but to win is surreal. No big celebration has been planned but Pelton plans to buy a house with the money at some point. For now, Pelton is going away this weekend with his girlfriend to let the win sink in.

Although Pelton admits that this is life-changing money, he claims he'll keep his day job and won't play any more poker then he usually does. "Poker is a fun way to pass time, but I will not consider a career in playing," added Pelton. But watch out for him - he's competing at the WPT Championships and the WSOP next year!