Poker News

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The World Series of Poker®, the planet's most prestigious poker tournament, is extending its international reach this year by launching the World Series of Poker Europe, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. announced today.

The inaugural WSOP Europe is scheduled to debut in London September 6-16, 2007. The new tournament will be held at three casinos operated by London Clubs International - Fifty, Leicester Square and the Sportsman.

"This is the first time bracelet events will be awarded outside of Las Vegas," said Jeffrey Pollack, World Series of Poker Commissioner. "The World Series of Poker Europe will have a unique identity, style and flair, but will remain true to the 38-year tradition and heritage of the WSOP.

"This new tournament has been designed with European players in mind, but registrants from every country are welcome," said Pollack. "We hope it becomes an annual tradition for poker enthusiasts and a home for WSOP fans after the action concludes in Las Vegas each summer."

"We are honored to host this unique extension of the world's richest and oldest poker tournament," said Bill Timmins, chief executive officer of London Clubs International. "As the exclusive offline satellite host, LCI will enable players to compete in our poker rooms in London, Manchester, Nottingham, Southend and Brighton for a seat in every WSOP Europe event."

The inaugural WSOP Europe begins September 6 with a three-day, GBP 2,500 (approximately $4,900 U.S.) HORSE event at LCI's newest casino in Leicester Square, opening in April 2007.

The Leicester Square casino will also be the host casino for a two-day, GBP 5,000 (approximately $9,800 U.S.) Pot-Limit Omaha tournament starting September 8.

On September 10, the WSOP Europe Main Event - a six-day, GBP 10,000 (approximately $19,600 U.S.) No-Limit Texas Hold'Em Championship - will begin at LCI's Leicester Square, The Sportsman and Fifty. The playing field will be consolidated beginning September 13 at Leicester Square.

Additional information, including structures, payout percentages and satellite dates and times for the tournaments, can be found on www.worldseriesofpoker.com beginning May 1, 2007.

Harrah's reserves the right to cancel, change or modify the tournament or any tournament event.

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment through its operating subsidiaries. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, nearly 70 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages casinos on four continents. The company's properties operate primarily under the Harrah's, Caesars and Horseshoe brand names; Harrah's also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.

More information about Harrah's is available at its Web site -- www.harrahs.com.

The key to becoming a winning poker player is to learn the fundamentals that will make your game consistently strong. Once you do that, and become a winning player in smaller games, you'll need to add some deception to your game in order to compete at higher levels.

A straightforward ABC strategy works against average players. However, against more perceptive opponents, you'll need deception to keep them from easily getting a read on your play.

OK, let's look at a few methods.

• Slowplaying aces

You can slowplay aces several ways, making this an effective ploy from time to time. One method is to limp in by just calling the opening bet rather than raising. Limping in usually signifies a weaker hand like small suited connectors or small pairs.

By limping in with aces you might entice another player to raise before the flop. He may figure you for a weaker hand. At that point, you can reraise before the flop, or you can continue slowplaying the hand until the flop hits.

But what if there's been a pre-flop raise?

Well, another tricky way to play pocket aces is by only calling an opponent's pre-flop raise.

Since opponents are likely to believe that you'd reraise with aces, smooth calling helps to disguise the power of your hand. Even if they catch onto the fact that you occasionally make these plays, it will help to keep them off your back; they won't know if you have 8s-9s or A-A, since you're willing to play both hands the same way.

• Raise with suited connectors from early position

When a good player raises from early position, it's correct to assume that he has a strong hand. Knowing that, you should fold hands like K-J or K-Q after an early position raise.

However, when you're that early position player, you can't play it too ABC. You won't get maximum value for your better hands because opponents will know that you only play strong cards from early position. Raising with hands like 6s-7s or 8h-9h will be completely unexpected.

You might even get lucky and hit a straight or trips on the flop and end up winning a huge pot.

The good news is that even if you get caught raising with one of these early position hands, it should help you get more action later on when you do raise with strong cards. Your opponents will always be wondering if it's A-K that you have, or 4h-5h.

• Show an occasional bluff

Be careful about giving away free information about your hands, but if your opponents catch onto the fact that you're playing tight, it might be a good idea to show them a well-timed bluff.

Revealing your bluff will keep them guessing and should allow you to go back to playing your normal, straightforward style.

In fact, you don't have to stop there. Anytime you make an uncharacteristic play — a move that you don't plan on making for the rest of the session — show your hand. It's something that you can exploit later.

Always keep this in mind: Mixing up your play is an inexact science. It's hard to know when it's the right time to throw in deceptive plays, but as you gain more experience, it'll be easier to spot the best situations to try them.

Having said that, be careful not to overdo it. Deceptive play is most effective when seldom employed.
By Daniel Negreanu

Chad Brown has been honoured with the Title of Bluff Magazine’s Player of the Year 2006. Brown, a professional poker player who has been playing poker since boyhood, considers this one of his greatest achievements. In an upcoming interview with Bluff Magazine, Brown commented on his title:

“This is an enormous accomplishment to be very proud of. To put this in context, if I was acting, it would be like I won an Oscar at the Academy Awards.”

But Brown is no stranger to winning. His tournament history is, after all, what gained him this title. But Brown draws a distinction between being player of the year and being the winner of a major tournament. “It’s not like winning a tournament. Anyone can get lucky one day and win a tournament. But all the best players in the world play all the big main events and the Player of the Year award is defined by (your achievements) in all the major tournaments.”

Bluff’s proprietary ranking system awards points to players who finish in the money in North American poker tournaments with at least a $5,000 buy-in, where there are at least 100 competitors. Brown scored a total of 470.44 points throughout 2006, beating runner-up JohnnyBax by almost 30 points.

“Our Player of The Year is our highest player honor.” said publisher Eric Morris, “It is one of the few honors in the poker world which considers all major poker achievements throughout the year, transcending the boundaries of poker associations and tournament series.”

Chad Brown’s interview will appear in the April edition of Bluff Magazine, on Newsstands across North America, Europe and Australia.

RIVER GROVE, Illinois – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Deaf people from Illinois and surrounding states are expected to compete in the area's first Deaf Texas Hold'em poker tournament Sunday, February 25 at Hanging Gardens Banquets, 8301 W. Belmont Ave., River Grove.

The winner and second place finisher each will win a separate seat to World Series of Poker events at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, as well as travel expenses. Entry fee is $65 per person, with only players 18 years of age and older eligible to participate. The Deaf Texas Hold'em poker tournament will run from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Players will communicate their bets by American Sign Language (ASL) and other methods of communication, said Ed Glennon, Jr., chairperson of the event, sponsored by the West Suburban Association of the Deaf (WSAD).

"Our organization encourages deaf and hard of hearing individuals to communicate and interact in activities the same as hearing people," said Glennon, adding that the poker tournament is a great example along with other programs and activities offered by WSAD.

"Many deaf and hard of hearing persons play in major tournaments in Las Vegas, some in the fund raising tournaments we've sponsored the last four years at Chicago area banquet facilities."

The logistics of the deaf tournament itself are being coordinated by WSAD and Rockford Charitable Games Association, Inc. (RCGA), party planner and consulting organization. The company is bringing poker tables and equipment to the banquet facility.

"The tournament speaks to the stunning popularity and growth of the game of Texas Hold'em," said Jim Kasputis, president of RCGA, whose company assists Illinois charities such as WSAD run their own tournaments and raise money to help fund programs they sponsor. Each charity poker fund raiser attracts 300-500 players, said Kasputis.

RCGA has helped Illinois charities raise millions of dollars hosting charity poker fund raisers.

One of the not-for-profit organization's stated objectives is to "promote athletic, civic, educational, moral, and social measures among the deaf and hard of hearing members regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and to encourage members to participate in healthful sports, social, recreational, and political activities."

There's a myth among No Limit Texas Hold'em players that goes like this: If you raise before the flop, then you must continue to bet on the flop.

Yes, in Limit Hold'em you should bet the flop a high percentage of the time if you raised before the flop, regardless of what comes. In No Limit, however, you should be a little more cautious with your continuation bet.

For example, let's say you're in a No Limit tournament, with blinds at 50-100. Holding Ac-Ks, you make it 250 to go. The player on the button calls, as does the player in the small blind.

The flop comes Qh-10s-9d.

The player in the small blind checks. What would you do?

Well, if you believe the myth, you'd probably bet about 600. However, that's not the move I'd make.

While you have a nice starting hand, and might even catch a jack for the nuts straight, you have to consider what type of hands your two opponents could have. Commonly played hands they might call your raise with include K-J, 10-J, A-Q, 9-9, K-Q, A-10, and 6-6.

Most of those hands, with the exception of the sixes, are substantial favorites over yours. If both of your opponents have small pairs, which they probably don't, then your continuation bet might work. It's also unlikely that both of your opponents completely missed this coordinated board.

Keep this in mind: Saving bets at the poker table is just as good as earning bets.

Money you don't lose is money that stays in your stack. Making an automatic bet after the flop, in a situation where it's highly likely that one, or both, of your opponents will call, is a play that will lose you money in the long-run.

In our example, if you check the flop you give yourself a free chance to catch up -- provided that the button doesn't bet. By betting, you not only cost yourself money, but also open up the possibility that the small blind could check-raise.

If you've studied your opponents for a while, you'll pick up patterns in their play. At the very least, you'll know what type of hands they play before the flop. That information will help you decide when it looks safe to make continuation bets.

Let's look at another hand.

You raise pre-flop with Qh-Jh, and the player seated next to you calls. The flop is 2s-2s-3c.

What you've learned about your opponent is that he wouldn't call your raise with small cards like those, so you feel safe about him not catching any of that flop. You also know that he usually re-raises before the flop when he has a pocket pair.

Well, he didn't re-raise, so chances are that he has a hand like A-Q. If you make a continuation bet in this situation your success rate on the bluff should be fairly high.

The real lesson in this column is that money saved is money earned. In Limit Hold'em, betting the flop only costs you one unit, but in No Limit, several failed continuation bets will add up to a significant amount of money.

Plugging that hole in your game will help you avoid sloughing off chips unnecessarily.
BY DANIEL NEGREANU

COMPTON, California – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Crystal Casino & Hotel is proud to announce the conclusion of the highly successful first ever Poker Netcast Heads Up Challenge, as the winner was crowned on Thursday, February 8th and filming wrapped for the television production.

Sixty-four of the most successful poker players in the world descended upon the event center at Crystal Casino for this much-anticipated event, and $640,000 prize pool, including pros Mike "The Grinder" Mizrachi, Ted Forrest, Daniel Negeanu, and others. After three days of intense poker action, Bill Edler was crowned the champion and awarded the $215,000 first prize, trophy, and gift package. Edler defeated world-renowned pro Barry Greenstein in a heads-up format that drew poker fans and fellow poker pros, like Erick Lindgren and Gavin Smith, to the audience for the exciting final day.

All of the action was broadcast over the Internet on LiveattheBike.com and PokerNetcast.com, live webcasts produced and owned by Joker Gaming, LLC. Poker Netcast is the latest innovation from the creative minds at Joker Gaming and specializes in live cash games from around the globe streamed live on the Internet.

Crystal Casino President Mark Kelegian stated that, "We were pleased to host such a high profile event at Crystal and excited by the overwhelming response from the pros to the new look and feel of our casino. We believe the new gaming experience we have created at Crystal is on par with our other Southern California gaming properties and will quickly reclaim its position as a favorite place for all poker players."

Crystal Casino & Hotel was honored to host the Poker Netcast Heads Up Challenge amidst ongoing renovations to one of the premier gaming destinations in Southern California. Following a recent purchase of the legendary property led by the Kelegian family, who also manage the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles, and the Oceans 11 Casino in San Diego county, they have undertaken a massive remodeling of the entire facility. Thus far, they have completed the first phase of remodeling, including their new poker room and California game floor, and the 11,000 square foot event center where the tournament was held. Within the coming weeks, remodeling will start on the exterior of the building and the 225 hotel rooms and suites. New signage along the freeway and entrance will be introduced as well.

Poker players and gaming enthusiasts alike know that Crystal Casino & Hotel prides itself on superior customer service, and the complete renovation show its commitment to its guests. With valet and VIP parking services, as well as ample self-parking, 24-hour restaurant, bar, massage center, and gift shop visitors feel welcome at all times. With the largest hotel property on the California gaming scene, Crystal Casino always offers special room rates for Crystal Club members.

The Crystal Casino & Hotel is located at 123 E. Artesia Boulevard, Compton, CA 90220, just off the 91 freeway and only minutes from the LAX and downtown Los Angeles areas.

Ideally you want to play in games where you're clearly the best player at the table. In No Limit Hold'em tournaments, however, you don't have the luxury of choosing where you'll be playing.

Unless you truly believe that you're the absolute best poker player on the planet (you're not), here are some adjustments to make when playing against superior opponents:

• Make larger pre-flop raises. As a rule, I'm a big advocate of making small raises before the flop rather than oversized ones. That being said, when you're facing tough players, you should be seeing fewer flops and be willing to risk a few more chips in order to steal the blinds. This is especially true when facing a tough player in the big blind.
Tough players are notorious blind defenders who play well after the flop. So avoid marginal situations against them by making slightly larger pre-flop raises in an attempt to get them to fold.

• Avoid marginal situations. If a tough player raises from early position, don't call him with marginal hands like K-J or Q-10. Those hands aren't very good in any situation, but they're especially vulnerable against a great player who isn't going to make many mistakes after the flop.
• Target weaker players. Look to play more hands against the less-skilled players at your table.
If that means stretching your starting hand requirements against them, then that's what you need to do. In fact, you'd be much better off playing a hand like 5c-3c against a weaker player than you would be playing a hand like A-10 against a top player.

Against the weak player, you'll be able to outplay him after the flop by bluffing or getting him to pay you off when you have him crushed. That's not the case when you're up against a player who might be better than you. Here, you run the risk of being outplayed.

• Don't get too cute. One of the biggest mistakes players make when they're outclassed is that they add too much trickery to their game in the hope of outplaying a better opponent. Give it up. Your focus should be on playing fundamentally sound poker. If you do, it will be difficult for a better player to exploit you. When you get too creative in an attempt to fool him, he'll usually see right through the play and turn the tables on you.
• Play cautiously. Don't play big tournament pots against the best player at your table unless you have a monster hand.
Sure, you eventually must beat every player in order to win, but it's a better policy to worry about them later rather than sooner. You can even hope that the best player takes a bad beat from one of the weaker opponents. Those are chips you can more easily pick up.

Even if you have a very strong hand on the river — one that you're fairly sure has your opponent beat — take the safe route and call him rather than raise.

There is less value in raising a great player on the river because it could cost you all of your chips if he does have you beat. Besides, when you do have the better hand, a great player won't call your raise anyway.

Here's the bottom line: Don't play scared poker, but when you spot a strong opponent, choose your battles wisely.
By DANIEL NEGREANU

Ideally you want to play in games where you're clearly the best player at the table. In No Limit Hold'em tournaments, however, you don't have the luxury of choosing which table you'll be playing at.

Unless you truly believe that you're the absolute best poker player on the planet (you're not), here are some adjustments to make when playing against superior opponents.

Make larger pre-flop raises

As a rule, I'm a big advocate of making small raises before the flop rather than oversized ones. That being said, when you're facing tough players, you should be seeing fewer flops and be willing to risk a few more chips in order to steal the blinds. This is especially true when facing a tough player in the big blind.

Tough players are notorious blind defenders who play well after the flop. So, avoid marginal situations against them by making slightly larger pre-flop raises in an attempt to get them to fold.

For example, if your standard raise is about three times the big blind, increase it to four times when a strong player is in the big blind. With a hand like 8-8 or A-Q, you'd be better off picking up the blinds with no resistance rather than playing a flop against this tough opponent.

Avoid marginal situations

If a tough player raises from early position, don't call him with marginal hands like K-J or Q-10. Those hands aren't very good in any situation, but they're especially vulnerable against a great player who isn't going to make many mistakes after the flop.

Target weaker players

Look to play more hands against the less-skilled players at your table.

If that means stretching your starting hand requirements against them, then that's what you need to do. In fact, you'd be much better off playing a hand like 5c-3c against a weaker player than you would be by playing a hand like A-10 against a top player.

Against the weak player, you'll be able to outplay him after the flop by bluffing or by getting him to pay you off when you have him crushed. That's not the case when you're up against a player that might be better than you. Here, you run the all-too-likely risk of being outplayed yourself.

Don't get too cute

One of the biggest mistakes players make when they're outclassed is that they add too much trickery to their game in the hope of outplaying a better opponent.

Give it up.

Your focus should be on playing fundamentally sound poker. If you do, it will be difficult for a better player to exploit you. When you get too creative in an attempt to fool him, he'll usually see right through the play and turn the tables on you.

Play cautiously

Don't play big tournament pots against the best player at your table unless you have a monster hand.

Sure, you eventually must beat all of the players in order to get the first place trophy, but it's a better policy to worry about them later rather than sooner. You can even hope that the best player takes a bad beat from one of the weaker opponents. Those are chips you can more easily pick up.

Even if you have a very strong hand on the river -- one that you're fairly sure has your opponent beat -- take the safe route and call him rather than raise.

There is less value in raising a great player on the river because it could cost you all of your chips if he does have you beat. Besides, when you do have the better hand, a great player won't call your raise anyway.

Here's the bottom line: Don't play scared poker, but when you spot a strong opponent, choose your battles wisely.
BY DANIEL NEGREANU

LAS VEGAS (AP) - World Series of Poker main event winner Jamie Gold has agreed to settle a dispute over half of the tournament's US$12 million grand prize, The Associated Press has learned.

In a joint, signed statement released Tuesday to the AP, Gold and Los Angeles-based TV producer Bruce Crispin Leyser agreed the matter should be resolved "without litigation."

"Jamie always intended on sharing his winnings with Crispin," the statement says. "Jamie and Crispin are happy to report they have fully settled this matter. They are pleased to be closing this chapter and look forward to continued success."

Gold, a former Hollywood agent before he turned poker pro, defeated 8,772 players to win the World Series of Poker tournament last summer in Las Vegas.

The two did not make clear how much money Leyser would receive. Gold already withdrew $6 million, half of his take from winning the world's largest poker tournament. The rest was frozen by court order after Leyser sued in August, claiming they had agreed to split the winnings.

Leyser said Gold agreed to the split 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.

Leyser even kept what he said was a voicemail Gold left on his phone on the final day of the tournament in which Gold promised to pay Leyser "your half."

At a December court hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Roger L. Hunt rejected a motion by Gold's lawyers to lift an injunction set in September on the $6 million still at the tournament host, the Rio casino-hotel, and ordered the frozen funds be moved into an interest-bearing account.

Hunt also indicated Leyser likely would win his claim to the $6 million.
By Ryan Nakashima

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Consumers have a chance to win "Sweet Seats" to the World Series of Poker Main Event, thanks to an agreement between Harrah's License Company, LLC, an affiliate of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., and The Hershey Company. Harrah's sweetened the deal by naming Hershey's products the Official Chocolate of the 2007 World Series of Poker.

"The No. 1 name in chocolate is now teamed with the No. 1 brand in poker," said Jeffrey Pollack, commissioner of the World Series of Poker. "We are proud that Hershey has joined our growing family of sponsors."

Hershey will launch a unique consumer promotion awarding two "Sweet Seats" to the World Series of Poker Main Event along with secondary prizes including trips to Las Vegas. The promotion is scheduled to hit in-store displays April through June of 2007 throughout the United States. More than 20,000 display units of Hershey's standard bar chocolate products will feature the World Series of Poker logo and "Sweet Seats" sweepstakes.

Hershey will have the right to use the World Series of Poker name, logo, image and design in promotions of Hershey's products in television, radio, print, Internet and other advertising, as well as on sales-collateral and on-pack materials, premiums and other promotions.

About Hershey Foods Corporation

Hershey Foods Corporation (NYSE: HSY - News) is a leading snack food company and the largest North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products. With revenues of over $4 billion and more than 13,000 employees worldwide, Hershey Foods markets such well-known brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Kit Kat, Almond Joy, Mounds, York, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, and Ice Breakers as well as innovative new products such as Swoops and Hershey's S'mores. In addition to its traditional confectionery products, Hershey Foods offers a range of products specifically developed to address the nutritional interests of today's health-conscious consumer. These products include sugar-free Hershey's, Reese's and York candies, as well as Hershey's SmartZone bars for people seeking balanced nutrition. It also markets Hershey's cocoa, Hershey's syrup and other branded baking ingredients, toppings and beverages. Visit us at www.hersheynewsroom.com.

Poker books and television commentators constantly preach to players about the importance of aggressive play.

However, playing cautiously is often equally important.

It's critical that you're able to figure out both styles of play. Let's look at various scenarios and decide where aggressive play is best used.

Playing a big stack against another big stack

If you find yourself with a big stack of chips playing against another chip leader, common sense should tell you to proceed cautiously. In this situation, protecting your stack is more important than playing aggressively.

Playing an opponent who can put a huge dent in your stack is fraught with danger; your big stack can suddenly become the short stack.

Playing from the dealer button

This is a position of power. It's also a good time to be aggressive. As a rule, you can get away with playing more hands in the later positions than you can in earlier positions. You have more information at your disposal to make good decisions because your opponents always have to act first.

In fact, when you're in position, the quality of your hand is often meaningless since you'll be playing the players rather than the cards.

A good way to practice is to play the button without even looking at your cards. Instead, focus on your opponents and try to figure out if they're strong or weak. If you sense weakness, make a bet and they'll likely fold.

Of course, if you think someone has a strong hand, forget the practice. Now would be a good time to take a look at your cards.

Playing top pair after the flop

This is the one situation where many players go wrong. They play too aggressively when they flop top pair or have an overpair to the board. Top pair is often a strong hand in small pots, but if the pot gets large and opponents are playing aggressively -- slow down! You should certainly bet on the flop, but be cautious if you get any resistance.

Playing monster draws after the flop

Monster draws include a pair and flush draw, a straight and flush draw, a straight flush draw, and flush or straight draws with overcards. These are usually powerful hands. Even when you're forced into playing a big pot, your odds of winning are still very good. For that reason, you can afford to be aggressive with monster draws after the flop.

Aggressive play gives you two ways to win the pot: Your bet gets everyone to fold, or you end up improving your hand and winning the pot anyway.

Near the money payouts

In a tournament with 300 players, usually the top 27 will finish in the prize money. Because of this, when there are about 30 competitors left, play becomes extremely cautious as many are hoping to hang on for a money finish.

It's at this precise moment that you should seize the opportunity to steal as many chips as possible.

Play aggressively against those players trying to squeak into the money. Yes, this does increase the possibility that you'll knock yourself out of the money, but in the long run it pays off. You give yourself a chance to hit one of the top three spots, and that's where the lion's share of the money is in tournament poker.
By Daniel Negreanu

The Invitation-Only Celebrity Tournament Will Take Place at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles March 3-5

WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WPTE - News) today announced that it has partnered for the first time with The Creative Coalition (TCC) for the fifth anniversary of the most glamorous stop on the poker circuit--the World Poker Tour ® (WPT) Celebrity Invitational.

The red carpet, invitation-only event welcomes Hollywood's hottest celebrities and poker's best who battle it out in a three-day Texas Hold 'Em tournament for charity, cash and bragging rights. The last celebrity standing in the tournament receives a $10,000 donation to their favorite charity, while the winner of the tournament receives $100,000 and a $25,000 seat in the WPT World Championship in April, 2007 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Additionally, the WPT will donate $10,000 to TCC.

TCC is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance, primarily the First Amendment, public education and arts advocacy. Headquartered in New York City, The Creative Coalition also has offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco.

"This strategic partnership with The Creative Coalition is truly an ideal step to elevate this event in our fifth anniversary season," said Steve Lipscomb, founder and CEO of WPTE. "We look forward to working with and watching the TCC in action--in addition to being renowned for their amazing events, they are such a well-respected organization rich in entertainment history and education. We are excited to see the best Celebrity Invitational yet."

Suited connectors such as 5h-6h or 9s-10s can be fun to play, especially when you hit a big flop and make a straight or a flush. While these hands certainly have a lot of potential, you'll need to be careful that you don't bleed your stack to death by playing them in the wrong situations.

So when is the right time?

It's best to play these hands from late position rather than early position.

Every hold 'em poker book beats you over the head with constant reminders that position is power. Well, let me beat you with that reminder one more time.

Here are some strategies for playing suited connectors from both in and out of position.

Let's say you call a small pre-flop raise in position with 6h-7h. The flop comes Jh-9s-4h. It's just you and the raiser, and he checks. In this case, with position, you have two viable options: check and take the free card, or bet in the hopes of winning the pot on a semibluff.
You'll often want to check, just in case your opponent is trying to trap you on the flop. If you do bet, your opponent may come over the top with a big raise, forcing you to fold your drawing hand.
How about if your opponent bets the flop?

Once again, you have options. You can fold if the bet is too big, you can call and hope to catch your flush, or you can raise as a semibluff.
The situation is reversed when you're out of position and your opponent acts last. Now your options are much more limited.

Remember this rule: To make money with hands such as 6h-7h, you need to be able to control the pot size. You don't want to invest too much money before the flop, or too much after, when you have a drawing hand.
When you're out of position, you're in exactly that spot and have less control of the pot size.

If you check on the flop, your opponent will bet if he has a strong hand. If you call on the flop, you've essentially handed over control to him. That's not a terrible idea, mind you, as you should always respect your opponent's power of position.

Still, checking and calling won't put you in a great situation. It will be difficult for you to win this pot with a bluff later in the hand; you're basically banking on making the flush. What if, on the flop, you check-raise instead?

That'll work when your opponent is bluffing, but it will cost you a lot more money when he's holding the goods. It's a risky move that often works, but the cost is very high when it doesn't.
Suppose you bet the flop as a semibluff?

That only makes the pot bigger. If your opponent likes the flop, he'll just raise an amount so big that you'll be forced to fold your draw without ever getting to see the next card.

OK, let's review.

In position, you have the luxury of being able to see more free cards, keep the pot small, and maintain control of the hand. That's extremely valuable leverage. Out of position, there's a lot more guesswork to do, and it's best to simply play it safe.

Clearly, it's easier to play suited connectors, or any hand for that matter, from late position. Occasionally, though, play your suited connectors from early position so that you don't become too predictable.

When you do venture in, play cautiously, and always remember that position is king and must be respected at all times.
By Daniel Negreanu.