We've all been there. We win a few hands in a row and,
predictably, start telling jokes, high-fiving and gleefully stacking
chips while broadcasting our genius to all within earshot.
It is almost irresistible. We're on a
"rush." It's a real high. We feel invulnerable. We believe it was our
skill that led to this tsunami of chips in front of us.
Eventually reality will tiptoe back in, but who cares? Of course,
there isn't anything wrong with this. Winning a whole lot of chips is
great fun and if we can't enjoy these moments, what's the point?
But, on many an occasion the guy marked cards who just went on that rush will then do something very interesting.
He'll look down at his cards on the next hand, call an early-position
raise from a tight player and say, almost sheepishly, "Hey man, gotta
play my rush" and proceed to make what he knows is a strategically poor
play.
Is this sensible? Is it smart to play a rush - in the sense that, in
the long run, doing so provides additional profits? Or is it stupid - in
the equivalent sense that it costs you money in the long run? In short,
are rushes "real?"
The answers are tricky. I can think of at least three fairly obvious
reasons why someone might want to play a rush, not of all of them convincing.
2014年3月15日星期六
2014年3月12日星期三
Event 37, $1,000 No-limit Hold'em w/re-buys - Live Updates
07/06/2005 (9 years ago)
Jon Heneghan is the winner!
The flop had come J♦ K♠ 4♦ when Paul Deng bet all-in and Joe Henegan called. Paul turned over 10♦ 5♦ for a flush draw and Joe held J♣ 10♣. The turn came 8♣ and the river came 7♣, awarding $324,303 to Paul Deng and $611,015 and WSOP gold to Jon Heneghan.
07/06/2005 (9 years ago)
Paul Deng has taken over the chip lead
Paul Deng 1,300,000
Joe Henegan 1,200,000
Joe Henegan 1,200,000
07/06/2005 (9 years ago)
We are now heads-up
Robert Aran has been eliminated in third marked cards place by Joe Henegan's A♣ 8♦.
Paul Deng 680k
Joe Henegan 1,900,000
Paul Deng 680k
Joe Henegan 1,900,000
07/06/2005 (9 years ago)
Down to 3
Gary has been eliminated in fourth place by Paul Deng. The money went in before the flop and Gary turned over K♠ J♦, Paul turned over Q♠ Q♥. The board came 6♥ A♠ 2♥ 7♣ 8♥. Gary Doe wins $164,500.
07/06/2005 (9 years ago)
Joe Henegan is big chip leader
Chip counts are:
Paul Deng 300k
Joe Henegan 1,300,000
Gary Doe 300k
Robin Aran 375k
Paul Deng 300k
Joe Henegan 1,300,000
Gary Doe 300k
Robin Aran 375k
07/06/2005 (9 years ago)
Alex Balandin has been eliminated
For his fifth place infrared contactlenses Alex Balandin recieves $141,000.
07/06/2005 (9 years ago)
Pictures of the last 6 players are up
07/06/2005 (9 years ago)
Freddy Deeb is out in sixth place
Freddy bet all-in and Alex Balandin called. Freddy turned over K♥ 8♣ and Alex held A♣ 4♣. The board came 6♣ K♣ 3♣ 8♠ 10♠.
07/06/2005 (9 years ago)
Chip count
Paul Deng 360k
Joe Henegan 800k
Alex Balandin 320k
Gary Doe 210k
Freddy Deeb 140k
Robin Aran 560k
Joe Henegan 800k
Alex Balandin 320k
Gary Doe 210k
Freddy Deeb 140k
Robin Aran 560k
Barry Greenstein has been eliminated
Barry bet all-in before the flop and Joe Henegan called. Barry held A♠ J♣ and Joe held Q♥ 10♥. The board came 6♠ 5♦ 2♥ 10♦ Q♣. Barry Greenstein wins $94,000.
2014年3月6日星期四
Don't Let Your Mistakes Compound
Poker is a game of decisions.
It doesn't matter if you're multi-tabling online or playing a single table live, you'll be put to the test often and every decision is important.
You areplaying poker
- by definition, you win money by making better decisions than your
opponents. The fewer bad decisions you make, the more success you will
have.
Mistakes are inevitable however. Nobody plays perfect poker, and even the best in the world make mistakes.
If nobody made mistakes, nobody would ever win in the long run. Everyone would justtrade money back and forth playing perfect poker marked cards while slowly losing money to the rake. That's not my idea of fun. Mistakes are what fuel the poker economy.
So if even the best players in the world make mistakes, what makes them different from you or me?
Great players never let their mistakes compound. They take each decision independently and make the very best choice of action they possibly can, whereas when a new player makes a mistake, they often fall off the rails and allow their blunders to multiply.
Here's an example:
$1/$2 No-Limit Hold'em; effective stacks are $200. Villain raises to $12 from the button. You mis-click and accidentally call with 4♥ 7♥ from the big blind. The board comes 5♥ 6♥ A♠. Villain bets $20.
Allowing the mistake to compound? You just call or fold because you mis-clicked pre-flop.
The flop now changes the hand completely and you have an open-ended straight flush draw. Though you made a mistake pre-flop, the bigger mistake would be to fold the flop and/or play the flop passively. Your best move now would be to raise with your OESFD.
Another example:
$1/$2 No-Limit Hold'em; effective stacks $200. It's folded to you on the button. You raise to $7 with T♠ 9♠. The big blind marked cards contactlenses, who is one of the tighter players at the table, reraises to $20.
You believe he would only do this with big pocket pairs and A-K, and decide you can stack him if you hit a straight and call (perhaps flawed thinking in itself).
The board comes T♣ 3♥ 4♠ and he bets $30. You now have top pair, and since you elected to call pre-flop you talk yourself into calling the flop.
The turn drops the 7♠ and he bets $65. Now you feel you have too much invested to fold, so you call the turn. The river comes off 2♦ and he bets his last $85. You feel you are pot-committed and make the call.
This is an awful hand, and a classic example of mistakes building on one another.
You did one thing right - you raised pre-flop. After that, the hand is a full-on debacle. You let your problems compound and you didn't once think things through in order to make the best possible decision.
The three-bet from a tight player clearly shows strength. Don't bother trying to outflop him; chances are if you make a big hand this tightwad isn't going to pay you off anyway.
Then the flop comes and you make top pair. After he bets, there is nothing that you can beat, but you choose to call again. You then make yourself feel pot-committed and end up stacking off with one pair.
This is not good decisionmaking . This is getting yourself emotionally tied up in a hand and opting for the wrong course of action - more than once.
Instead of one misplayed street, you have a completely misplayed hand. On top of that, you may go on tilt and ruin an entire session, or worse.
Good poker players don't let things like this happen. So what's their secret?
As Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond said in his 2+2 well post, "Every time the action is on you it is your opportunity to make the best possible decision."
It doesn't matter if you are in the middle of a downswing, or you just got sucked out on, or you mis-click raised to see the flop. When the action is on you, the only thing that matters is that you decide on the optimum play.
Doing so is going to require thought. Meaning if you're still obsessing about that hand where you just donked off a stack, you're not going to have a clear enough head to make the right decision. You're better off picking up than you are to keep playing in this state.
You need to be able to get past the last hand, and you need to be able to focus on the situation you're now faced with.
So make that your goal. As soon as you stop letting your mistakes pile up and start taking each decision as it comes, you'll be on the way to becoming a better player.
It doesn't matter if you're multi-tabling online or playing a single table live, you'll be put to the test often and every decision is important.
You are
Mistakes are inevitable however. Nobody plays perfect poker, and even the best in the world make mistakes.
If nobody made mistakes, nobody would ever win in the long run. Everyone would just
So if even the best players in the world make mistakes, what makes them different from you or me?
Great players never let their mistakes compound. They take each decision independently and make the very best choice of action they possibly can, whereas when a new player makes a mistake, they often fall off the rails and allow their blunders to multiply.
Great players like Johnny Lodden never let a misclick mistake multiply.
$1/$2 No-Limit Hold'em; effective stacks are $200. Villain raises to $12 from the button. You mis-click and accidentally call with 4♥ 7♥ from the big blind. The board comes 5♥ 6♥ A♠. Villain bets $20.
Allowing the mistake to compound? You just call or fold because you mis-clicked pre-flop.
The flop now changes the hand completely and you have an open-ended straight flush draw. Though you made a mistake pre-flop, the bigger mistake would be to fold the flop and/or play the flop passively. Your best move now would be to raise with your OESFD.
Another example:
$1/$2 No-Limit Hold'em; effective stacks $200. It's folded to you on the button. You raise to $7 with T♠ 9♠. The big blind marked cards contactlenses, who is one of the tighter players at the table, reraises to $20.
You believe he would only do this with big pocket pairs and A-K, and decide you can stack him if you hit a straight and call (perhaps flawed thinking in itself).
Don't let a mistake pre-flop turn into a bigger one later.
The turn drops the 7♠ and he bets $65. Now you feel you have too much invested to fold, so you call the turn. The river comes off 2♦ and he bets his last $85. You feel you are pot-committed and make the call.
This is an awful hand, and a classic example of mistakes building on one another.
You did one thing right - you raised pre-flop. After that, the hand is a full-on debacle. You let your problems compound and you didn't once think things through in order to make the best possible decision.
The three-bet from a tight player clearly shows strength. Don't bother trying to outflop him; chances are if you make a big hand this tightwad isn't going to pay you off anyway.
Then the flop comes and you make top pair. After he bets, there is nothing that you can beat, but you choose to call again. You then make yourself feel pot-committed and end up stacking off with one pair.
This is not good decision
Instead of one misplayed street, you have a completely misplayed hand. On top of that, you may go on tilt and ruin an entire session, or worse.
Good poker players don't let things like this happen. So what's their secret?
Listen to Phil Galfond.
It doesn't matter if you are in the middle of a downswing, or you just got sucked out on, or you mis-click raised to see the flop. When the action is on you, the only thing that matters is that you decide on the optimum play.
Doing so is going to require thought. Meaning if you're still obsessing about that hand where you just donked off a stack, you're not going to have a clear enough head to make the right decision. You're better off picking up than you are to keep playing in this state.
You need to be able to get past the last hand, and you need to be able to focus on the situation you're now faced with.
So make that your goal. As soon as you stop letting your mistakes pile up and start taking each decision as it comes, you'll be on the way to becoming a better player.
2014年3月2日星期日
Mental Edge and the WSOP Final Table
As all poker fans know by now, the final table of the 2008 WSOP Main Event is going to be played in less than two weeks.
Harrah's radical decision to move it to November has been assaulted by many, praised by a few and viewed with a mixture of confusion and curiosity by the rest.
But, no matter. The day dawns, and it's time for me to think out loud about the psychological factors introduced by the four-month hiatus.
What follows are my speculations. I don't know any of the folks who've made the final table, and have no special insight into how each will handle the situation. But there are reasons for suspecting that this temporal lacuna will benefit some more than others.
Recovery from Fatigue
It took seven days and nearly 66 hours ofplay to get down to the final table. The break gives everyone the chance to recover.
Those who benefit the most will be those who were the most tired - most likely Dennis Phillips, 'cause geezers get tired faster than 20-somethings (trust me on this one).
What would have been a disadvantage has been removed. Phillips also gets a boost because he's older, more mature and, as he's put it, "I'm just having a blast." And, of course, he will be sitting behind a freakin' mountain of chips.
Gratification, Now or Later
Some react badly to being forced to wait for anticipated goodies - an effect that has been softened somewhat by everyone receiving ninth-place money (a shade over $900k) immediately after the final table participants were decided this summer.
Delaying the distribution of the remaining pool may impact some negatively and others not so much. Those whostart to twitch when they have to sit at a dinner table waiting for everyone to be served may not have liked the time gap.
Those with a Zen-like calm about things will not be bothered. Keep in mind that whoever gets knocked out first will add exactly zero to his bankroll - and who wants to come back after four months, play marked cards one hand and get nothing but a bunch of handshakes and a TV moment?
Just contemplating this is depressing. The big stacks should be primed to take advantage.
Sharpening Your Game
I'm assuming all final-table participants took the time to analyze the play of their opponents, tease out patterns and tendencies they hadn't picked up on before and, importantly, worked on finding new ways to mix up their own games to neutralize such efforts on the part of their opponents.
Several of the finalists have played in other tournaments, gaining experience and honing their skills.
If anyone got an edge on the field here, it was Ivan Demidov. Demidov has been busy, most recently in the WSOP Europe Main Event where, amazingly, he finished third.
This accomplishment certainly cements his reputation; the final table in London was heavy with talent, including Daniel Negreanu, Scott Fischman and John Juanda (who won). The "book" has Demidov as the one to beat.
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" or "Out of sight, out of mind"?
These two clichés are among my favorites as each seems so real when uttered, yet they are mutually contradictory. Which one will we see here? Will our nine survivors care as much about the final table as they would have without the delay?
You may think this sounds silly. How could they not? Nine million coconuts is a seriouspayday .
However, the latter cliché actually has the data behind it. As the weeks and months have dragged on, they all have lived their lives, bought clothes and cars, traveled, played in other venues, gone out to dinner, formed and reformed relationships
The significance of the final table may have psychologically diminished. For some, it may begin to look less special, more like a date marked on the calendar. Will they be able to "crank it back up?"
Probably,
but some will get sharper, others not. If there's an advantage here I
suspect it goes to the young and hungry, with Chino Rheem looking good
here with two WSOP final tables to his credit.
Momentum
In virtually any game, stopping play juice cards is unhelpful when things are going your way and a blessed relief if you're getting thumped. Those on a roll tend to be alert, focused and show little fatigue, while their opponents are down, distracted and exhausted.
This is why coaches call time-outs, and one reason why the second half of a game is often different from the first.
But momentum in poker is a different kind of beast. Because the luck factor is so large, momentum fluctuates more and for different reasons.
Cards are mere slips of plastic and paint. They don't "know" that they gave the same player three huge flops in a row.
The impact of momentum here, as opposed to a game like football, is largely mental, and it can shift without anyone doing anything. In football someone has to do something (interception, great run-back); in poker all it takes is the random turn of a card.
While all the players know, consciously, that each hand is independent of every other hand, the player who got hit in the head with the deck during the playdown to the final table isn't going to like this break.
The
one who was mucking hand after hand and hanging on for dear life is
breathing a sigh of relief - even though both know their feelings are
based on a statistical illusion.
The lull will smooth out the momentum factor, which will benefit players who'd been card-dead. I'd give Kelly Kim an edge here, but his chip stack is sooo low ...
Prognostication?
I could find a reason for picking any of the nine (well, if Kim takes it down, color me surprised). But, to tell the truth, the one who wins will be the one who gets lucky.
I know, I know; I'm not supposed to say that. But history is on my side. Rerun the tapes of Varkonyi, Moneymaker, Gold and Yang. What do you see?
Final Analysis
I think that a break was a good idea. But four months? Sheesh, the Super Bowl does fine with an extra week.
Harrah's radical decision to move it to November has been assaulted by many, praised by a few and viewed with a mixture of confusion and curiosity by the rest.
But, no matter. The day dawns, and it's time for me to think out loud about the psychological factors introduced by the four-month hiatus.
What follows are my speculations. I don't know any of the folks who've made the final table, and have no special insight into how each will handle the situation. But there are reasons for suspecting that this temporal lacuna will benefit some more than others.
Recovery from Fatigue
It took seven days and nearly 66 hours of
Breather helps the geezer.
What would have been a disadvantage has been removed. Phillips also gets a boost because he's older, more mature and, as he's put it, "I'm just having a blast." And, of course, he will be sitting behind a freakin' mountain of chips.
Gratification, Now or Later
Some react badly to being forced to wait for anticipated goodies - an effect that has been softened somewhat by everyone receiving ninth-place money (a shade over $900k) immediately after the final table participants were decided this summer.
Delaying the distribution of the remaining pool may impact some negatively and others not so much. Those who
Those with a Zen-like calm about things will not be bothered. Keep in mind that whoever gets knocked out first will add exactly zero to his bankroll - and who wants to come back after four months, play marked cards one hand and get nothing but a bunch of handshakes and a TV moment?
Just contemplating this is depressing. The big stacks should be primed to take advantage.
Sharpening Your Game
I'm assuming all final-table participants took the time to analyze the play of their opponents, tease out patterns and tendencies they hadn't picked up on before and, importantly, worked on finding new ways to mix up their own games to neutralize such efforts on the part of their opponents.
Demidov: He's a certified beast.
If anyone got an edge on the field here, it was Ivan Demidov. Demidov has been busy, most recently in the WSOP Europe Main Event where, amazingly, he finished third.
This accomplishment certainly cements his reputation; the final table in London was heavy with talent, including Daniel Negreanu, Scott Fischman and John Juanda (who won). The "book" has Demidov as the one to beat.
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" or "Out of sight, out of mind"?
These two clichés are among my favorites as each seems so real when uttered, yet they are mutually contradictory. Which one will we see here? Will our nine survivors care as much about the final table as they would have without the delay?
You may think this sounds silly. How could they not? Nine million coconuts is a serious
However, the latter cliché actually has the data behind it. As the weeks and months have dragged on, they all have lived their lives, bought clothes and cars, traveled, played in other venues, gone out to dinner, formed and reformed relationships
The significance of the final table may have psychologically diminished. For some, it may begin to look less special, more like a date marked on the calendar. Will they be able to "crank it back up?"
Advantage goes to Chino when it comes to WSOP final-table experience.
Momentum
In virtually any game, stopping play juice cards is unhelpful when things are going your way and a blessed relief if you're getting thumped. Those on a roll tend to be alert, focused and show little fatigue, while their opponents are down, distracted and exhausted.
This is why coaches call time-outs, and one reason why the second half of a game is often different from the first.
But momentum in poker is a different kind of beast. Because the luck factor is so large, momentum fluctuates more and for different reasons.
Cards are mere slips of plastic and paint. They don't "know" that they gave the same player three huge flops in a row.
The impact of momentum here, as opposed to a game like football, is largely mental, and it can shift without anyone doing anything. In football someone has to do something (interception, great run-back); in poker all it takes is the random turn of a card.
While all the players know, consciously, that each hand is independent of every other hand, the player who got hit in the head with the deck during the playdown to the final table isn't going to like this break.
But his chip stack is sooo low ...
The lull will smooth out the momentum factor, which will benefit players who'd been card-dead. I'd give Kelly Kim an edge here, but his chip stack is sooo low ...
Prognostication?
I could find a reason for picking any of the nine (well, if Kim takes it down, color me surprised). But, to tell the truth, the one who wins will be the one who gets lucky.
I know, I know; I'm not supposed to say that. But history is on my side. Rerun the tapes of Varkonyi, Moneymaker, Gold and Yang. What do you see?
Final Analysis
I think that a break was a good idea. But four months? Sheesh, the Super Bowl does fine with an extra week.
2014年2月23日星期日
Howard Lederer Doesn't Know, Can't Remember and Never Saw That Email
In case you missed it over the weekend, this gem of a montage has been kicking around providing some serious marked cards laughs to those who sat through any or all parts of the Lederer Files.
Put together by UK web developer Fraser Hart, it's just better seen than explained.
Put together by UK web developer Fraser Hart, it's just better seen than explained.
2014年2月10日星期一
A Guide to 3-Betting – Part 2
Table of contents for A Guide to 3-Betting
The marginal hands, meanwhile, are three-bet for speculation, with the three-bet achieving a number of things. Firstly, a player that three-bets a hand like T♣9♣ represents a hand like A♠A♥, and either forces his opponents to fold pre-flop, or sets up a bluff on the flop if a Ace or King hits. Secondly, he’s also building the pot should he hit the flop hard with his suited connectors, meaning his opponents will be unlikely to see the straight, and also be committed to large bets and calls post-flop marked poker. Thirdly, he can easily fold to a four-bet (a re-re-raise) pre-flop as the stacks are so deep.In low stakes tournaments, however, many less-experienced players will limit their three-bets predominantly to very strong starting hands.
Because stacks are deep, position is all-important. That means anyone three-betting out of position is most likely to have a strong hand that they’re betting for value.
You must also consider the size of your (or your opponent’s) three-bet. A standard three-bet size is anything between 2.5 to three times the initial raise. So if the blinds are 10c/20c, the initial bet is 60c, the raise is $1.80, then the three-bet would be between $4.50 and $5.40.
Less-experienced marked card tricks players will usually make their three-bets smaller the stronger the hand they have, purely because they want to get called when they have Aces or Kings. Conversely, the bigger their three-bet, the weaker their hand will be, in the hopes that it will induce a fold, but still have some value if called.
You should be aware of this tactic, and use it yourself sparingly. You only have to get caught playing this way twice for your opponents to get a very quick read on you, so make sure you mix your bet sizes up when three-betting.
- Fighting the Three-Bet
Flat calling is another option, and has two obvious benefits. Firstly you can flat call for deception when holding Aces or Kings, and also you avoid giving your opponent the option of folding hands like A-Q or J-J when you’re a big favorite.
2014年1月23日星期四
CASINO IN MACAU CITY
This casino game "Gambling in Macau" has been legal since the 1850's when the Portuguese government legalized the activity in the colony. Since then, Macau has become known worldwide as the "Monte Carlo of the Orient", and gambling has become a significant part of the city's economy. Until Western-style casino gameswere introduced in the 20th century, only Chinese games were played marked cards, the most popular being fantan. Now, with all the casinos built in the territory including a few number of new ones opening up soon, Macau is also known as the Asian Las Vegas.
Gambling in Macau plays an important role in the economy of the city. Many Hong Kong and mainland tourists like gambling there. Few local people in Macau visit casinos, though. Generally, gambling in Macau can be divided into three different categories: casino games (eg: VIP High Roller Casino, Roulette Casino), horse racing and greyhound racing. There is also sports betting and infrared contactlenses a number of lotteries. At the present time, Macau does not license online gaming operations.
Macau has twenty-eight casinos, of which the biggest is the The Venetian Macau. They all operate under a government franchise and under a common set of rules.
Many forms of casino gambling are legal there, such as blackjack, baccarat, roulette, boule, Sic bo, Fan-Tan, keno and slot machines. The most popular game by far is baccarat with VIP high-roller baccarat generating more than 70% of total gaming revenue in 2004. Poker was introduced only in August 2007, in an electronic table format at Galaxy Starworld casino.
Gambling has been legal in Macau for a long time beginning in 1851 where there was a licensing system for gambling houses until 1863. Beginning in 1934, casinos' ownership and operation was centralized where through private negotiations, some franchises monopolized the operation right of all casinos.
2014年1月21日星期二
Can You Beat Online Casinos?
Casinos stay in business because in the long run they always win. This is the golden rule of gambling and is due to what is known as the House Edge.
Put simply, the House Edge is the percentage of bets taken by the casino that it expects to keep. So, for example, in a game like Blackjack, which has a house edge of around 0.6%, the casino expects that for every £1,000,000 it takes in bets it will keep £6000. That may not seem much, but that percentage is always working in the casino's favour - and the longer you play marked cards, the more they win.
Even with short terms fluctuations where individual players will be ahead, overall the casino's profits will be roughly at the level of the house edge. Different games have different edges, but one thing is for certain - none of them are in the player's favour!
Except for the games at one casino.
Betfair casino's Zero Lounge offers four games (Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and Video Poker) with NO house edge. In other words, they expect to win nothing from those games overall.
It sounds strange, but it's completely true. The Betfair website states that the expected return to player (ie the payout rate) is 100% to 2 decimal places, when the games are played with optimal strategy.
A 100% payout rate means that the odds of winning or losing are the same as betting on the toss of a coin - you can expect to lose and win nothing over the long term, but in the short term you can get ahead.
In fact, since it launched the Zero Lounge, Betfair has made a loss in many of the countries where the games are played. In Greece, for example, they lost almost £30,000 and calculated a payout rate of 100.02%!
So how can Betfair allow this to happen, when every other casino is looking for more and more ways to increase the advantage in their favour?
A look at the Betfair statement gives us a clue as to how the Zero Lounge works. Betfair are generous, but they're not stupid! Optimal player strategy is what you need to take advantage of the 100% payout. How many players play with an optimal strategy? Not many, and Betfair know this marked poker. Most players will go to the Zero Lounge, looking to get one over on the casino, but without a proper understanding of the games. In those cases, the player's strategy will result in the house edge being tipped back in the casino's favour - only a little, but enough to make the difference.
But that phrase 'optimal player strategy' intrigued me. I realised that these strategies must be practical, not purely theoretical, so that playing completely within the rules of the games, you could get the house edge down to 0.
I then studied each of the games in detail. Although Betfair make things slightly difficult by, for example, placing tight limits on the maximum and minimum bets in Roulette, or rounding up the commission (vigorish) in Baccarat, I found that I could nullify the casino's advantage.
One great feature of the Betfair site is that you can play all the Zero Lounge games for free - perfect for when you're trying to perfect a strategy to beat them!
In summary, then, I've devised an optimal player strategy for each of the Zero Lounge games. Some are very simple, others a little more complex, but all of them give you that unique opportunity to beat the casino at its own game!
They're worth taking the time to study but don't forget you can play for free until you feel confident in my strategies and want to take the plunge and play for real.
And to make that decision a little easier, Betfair will give all new customers £5 free as a way to test them out before you commit. You don't have to make a deposit, just sign up and they'll give you the £5 straight away.
Free money and a casino where you can win. All in all, sounds like the perfect casino!
So come to Fortune Palace, study our strategies, practice them for free at Betfair, then sign up and get your free fiver.
Why not? For once, you've really got nothing to lose!
Put simply, the House Edge is the percentage of bets taken by the casino that it expects to keep. So, for example, in a game like Blackjack, which has a house edge of around 0.6%, the casino expects that for every £1,000,000 it takes in bets it will keep £6000. That may not seem much, but that percentage is always working in the casino's favour - and the longer you play marked cards, the more they win.
Even with short terms fluctuations where individual players will be ahead, overall the casino's profits will be roughly at the level of the house edge. Different games have different edges, but one thing is for certain - none of them are in the player's favour!
Except for the games at one casino.
Betfair casino's Zero Lounge offers four games (Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and Video Poker) with NO house edge. In other words, they expect to win nothing from those games overall.
It sounds strange, but it's completely true. The Betfair website states that the expected return to player (ie the payout rate) is 100% to 2 decimal places, when the games are played with optimal strategy.
A 100% payout rate means that the odds of winning or losing are the same as betting on the toss of a coin - you can expect to lose and win nothing over the long term, but in the short term you can get ahead.
In fact, since it launched the Zero Lounge, Betfair has made a loss in many of the countries where the games are played. In Greece, for example, they lost almost £30,000 and calculated a payout rate of 100.02%!
So how can Betfair allow this to happen, when every other casino is looking for more and more ways to increase the advantage in their favour?
A look at the Betfair statement gives us a clue as to how the Zero Lounge works. Betfair are generous, but they're not stupid! Optimal player strategy is what you need to take advantage of the 100% payout. How many players play with an optimal strategy? Not many, and Betfair know this marked poker. Most players will go to the Zero Lounge, looking to get one over on the casino, but without a proper understanding of the games. In those cases, the player's strategy will result in the house edge being tipped back in the casino's favour - only a little, but enough to make the difference.
But that phrase 'optimal player strategy' intrigued me. I realised that these strategies must be practical, not purely theoretical, so that playing completely within the rules of the games, you could get the house edge down to 0.
I then studied each of the games in detail. Although Betfair make things slightly difficult by, for example, placing tight limits on the maximum and minimum bets in Roulette, or rounding up the commission (vigorish) in Baccarat, I found that I could nullify the casino's advantage.
One great feature of the Betfair site is that you can play all the Zero Lounge games for free - perfect for when you're trying to perfect a strategy to beat them!
In summary, then, I've devised an optimal player strategy for each of the Zero Lounge games. Some are very simple, others a little more complex, but all of them give you that unique opportunity to beat the casino at its own game!
They're worth taking the time to study but don't forget you can play for free until you feel confident in my strategies and want to take the plunge and play for real.
And to make that decision a little easier, Betfair will give all new customers £5 free as a way to test them out before you commit. You don't have to make a deposit, just sign up and they'll give you the £5 straight away.
Free money and a casino where you can win. All in all, sounds like the perfect casino!
So come to Fortune Palace, study our strategies, practice them for free at Betfair, then sign up and get your free fiver.
Why not? For once, you've really got nothing to lose!
2014年1月15日星期三
Use Professional Tax Recovery Agencies To Get Casino Refund On The Tax Levied On Your Casino Gambling Winnings
If you are a non-US citizen engaging in casino gambling or some other form of gambling in the USA, you are entitled to casino
refund on the tax levied on your winnings. Casinos and other gambling
houses are required by law to withhold 30 percent of the winnings of
gamblers as tax. While it is very frustrating for the gamblers to see
their hard earned money being held back, there is a way out of it. IRS
mandates that foreign nationals are entitled to get a refund on the tax
levied on their gambling winnings. Casino gambling
is one of the most popular risk based entertainment sports in the USA marked cards.
Millions of players wager billions of dollars to win big in casinos and
other gambling activities. Out of these millions who play, many are
non-US citizens. When they win in a casino or in some other form of
gambling, they are required to pay 30 percent of their winnings as tax.
The gambling house issues a winning slip and Form 1042-S to the
individuals that they are supposed to file with the IRS. The IRS thus
deduces that the tax has already been paid and the individual cannot be
double taxed.
The IRS also understands that foreign nationals need to pay tax in their individual countries and hence, it offers a way out in the form of casino refund. Any non-US citizen canapply
for a refund on the tax paid within three years of winning. It has to
be borne in mind infrared contactlenses though that at the time of winning, the individual
should have been a non-US citizen. Once the individual submits the
casino winning slip and Form 1042-S with the IRS, his or her refund is
processed. If the individual has an ITIN number, then the process takes
about eight weeks. The time goes up to anywhere between 12 to 18 weeks
if the individual does not have an ITIN number.
Individuals have time for casino gambling but they really don't have the time nor the patience to deal with the IRS in the matter of casino refund on the tax paid. The best option for an individual is to outsource this process to professional tax recovery agencies. These agencies have the wherewithal to deal with the government and get the tax refund. They cover all the aspects when it comes to casino refund. They collect the documents from the individuals, fill up the necessary paperwork and then submit all of it with the IRS. If needed, they also do the follow up to ensure that the entire process is completed in a smooth manner.
If you have won a handsome amount in the form of casino gambling but are grumbling because a sizeable amount has been held back as tax, then don't worry. You have plenty of resources for getting the casino refund on the tax amount withheld. Get in touch with one of the many companies that specialize in getting tax refunds on casino winnings and see the money come into your account without any headache.
The IRS also understands that foreign nationals need to pay tax in their individual countries and hence, it offers a way out in the form of casino refund. Any non-US citizen can
Individuals have time for casino gambling but they really don't have the time nor the patience to deal with the IRS in the matter of casino refund on the tax paid. The best option for an individual is to outsource this process to professional tax recovery agencies. These agencies have the wherewithal to deal with the government and get the tax refund. They cover all the aspects when it comes to casino refund. They collect the documents from the individuals, fill up the necessary paperwork and then submit all of it with the IRS. If needed, they also do the follow up to ensure that the entire process is completed in a smooth manner.
If you have won a handsome amount in the form of casino gambling but are grumbling because a sizeable amount has been held back as tax, then don't worry. You have plenty of resources for getting the casino refund on the tax amount withheld. Get in touch with one of the many companies that specialize in getting tax refunds on casino winnings and see the money come into your account without any headache.
Do You Have an Online Gambling Addiction?
Sadly, the
answer to this question is almost always ‘no’ because gamblers rarely
admit to being able to stop gambling. So many gamblers are deeply addicted to online gambling and
completely powerless to stop yet insist they are not addicted, claiming
to have a healthy hobby which they enjoy and which they are able to
control.
This is not the case and many online gamblers are deep in debt
and unable to concentrate on work, family commitments or anything of
importance outside the online casinos they frequent on a daily basis.
Online gambling addictions are characterized by certain traits: A gambling addict will be unable to stay away from the online casino. Losing is not as important as playing infrared ink. A gambling addict will often lose money that was reserved for other things.
Taking the first step toward recovering from an online gambling addiction is obviously to admit there is a problem in the first place and this is quite difficult for any addict.
The second step is to install an effective web filter to block online gambling sites from your home computer. You might argue that an addict will get access to a gambling casino from another computer and that is certainly true, but at least you will be able to limit the amount of time an addict spends on online gambling sites and thus limit the amount of money lost marked cards.
Additionally, the installation of an internet blocking software will help to discourage other members of the family, including children, from experimenting with gambling in online casinos.
An Internet gambler displays all of the sad and painful characteristics of a conventional gambler with the addition of being able to access his addiction at all hours of the day and night without being absent from his (or her) home. The addiction becomes evident all too soon when family finances begin to plummet. Some gamblers even resort to stealing from other members of the family to sponsor their activities in online casinos, pawning jewelery and frittering away money earmarked for the rent or the mortgage.
Online gambling addictions are characterized by certain traits: A gambling addict will be unable to stay away from the online casino. Losing is not as important as playing infrared ink. A gambling addict will often lose money that was reserved for other things.
Taking the first step toward recovering from an online gambling addiction is obviously to admit there is a problem in the first place and this is quite difficult for any addict.
The second step is to install an effective web filter to block online gambling sites from your home computer. You might argue that an addict will get access to a gambling casino from another computer and that is certainly true, but at least you will be able to limit the amount of time an addict spends on online gambling sites and thus limit the amount of money lost marked cards.
An Internet gambler displays all of the sad and painful characteristics of a conventional gambler with the addition of being able to access his addiction at all hours of the day and night without being absent from his (or her) home. The addiction becomes evident all too soon when family finances begin to plummet. Some gamblers even resort to stealing from other members of the family to sponsor their activities in online casinos, pawning jewelery and frittering away money earmarked for the rent or the mortgage.
2014年1月3日星期五
Free Magic Tricks - The Four Aces Trick
Here is more Magic from Scotland to add to your growing collection!
Finding the four aces from in a deck of cards is one of the great classic tricks of Magic. Here is an easy version which will enhance your reputation as a Magician.
How The Trick Appears To The Audience
The Magician hands a pack of cards to a member of the audience and asks them to shuffle the deck thoroughly.
He then asks them to cut the deck several times.
The magician takes the pack and puts it in his pocket.
He says he is going to try to find four special cards.
He reaches into his pocket, and after a bit of searching, removes one card and places it face-down on the table or someone's hand.marked cards
He does not allow anyone to see the card .
The Magician keeps on doing this until he has removed four cards.
He asks the audience if they believe in Magic.
Regardless of the their answer, he turns the four cards face up, one by one.
Each card is an ace!
How The Trick Is Done
Like all good tricks, the secret is simple. However, it is also very bold, so you must carry it off with confidence.
When you are ready to do the trick, hand someone the pack of cards and ask them to shuffle and cut the deck as much as they want to.
Do not mention anything about the aces.
Then take the pack and place it in your pocket in front of the four aces. The pack is next to your body and the four aces are on top of the pack infrared contactlenses.
Say you are going to perform a very difficult trick and your are going to try and find some special cards in the deck .
The audience will be left wondering what you intend to do and it all adds to the suspense.
Reach into your pocket and after a bit of pretend searching, remove the top card of the pack and place it face down on the table.
Repeat the same procedure with the other three aces.
You are now ready for the big finale.
Tell the audience that one of the most difficult tricks in the world is finding the four aces in a pack of cards.
Turn the cards over one by one and watch the expressions on all their faces!
They will be absolutely amazed and shocked.
If you perform this trick well, you will get the reputation of being a great Magician.
How to Find Magic Trick Equipment and Which Ones To Get
A magician can
only perform magic tricks by bringing along some equipment. These come
in all shapes and sizes so you can build a routine using deck of cards,
balloons, small creatures and anything else that will likely entertain
the audience. But before you do that, you have to know where you can buy
it. Some of the items can be purchased in the grocery. A few examples
of these include a box of matches, glasses,
money, paper, cutlery and sugar cubes. But if you are really serious,
you have to get these from the magic shop. Inside, you can get ideas of
new tricks you can try so there is always something different to offer
each time you have a performance marked cards . You can also check online
for such props because they could be much cheaper through the web. You
can also try to make some after all some tricks like being able to
levitate in the air is done by sawing a small piece of plywood and then
standing on it for a few seconds. You just have to be careful so no one
will notice that you are using something to help you perform this trick.
Another example is creating your own magician's table. Since you will
be the one using this, you will be able to customize it so there can be
hidden compartments to make things appear and disappear. What the
magician wears is also part of the act. If you don't know how to sew,
bring this over to a tailor who can sew a pocket. Most magicians use
cards in their acts. If you will be using play cards, there are two main
types namely the Bridge size and the Poker size that are not that
different in terms of size. But there are also double faced infrared ink, double
backed and marked cards. When you buy them, you will notice that there
are two main colors namely red and blue. You might even be able to find
some in other colors or get the retailer to make a customized version.
If you are performing in front of kids, naturally you will need some
animals which you can get from the pet store.
The two most common are white rabbits or white doves because can easily
be trained for a performance. They also do not bite, cry or scream
which make them ideal for a show. The use of cups and balls are also
popular because these are available in different shapes, colors, sizes
and material. You just have to see which one are you most comfortable
with using. The best are perhaps sponge balls because they are easy on
the hands and can easily be hidden. For magicians who want to cover
something as they are performing a trick, use silk and not an ordinary
100% cotton handkerchief because they are much bigger and available in
different colors. You can't perform a magic trick without a few tools to
help you along. So, go shopping
or make your own. Just remember that you make it happen and not what you
use. Be sure to practice your tricks until you get it perfectly so
there won't be any problems when you finally perform before a large audience.
2013年12月24日星期二
Phil Hellmuth WSOPE Entrance FAIL
Phil Hellmuth made another one of his Roman-themed entrances today at the World Series of Poker Europe main event but things didn't exactly go as planned.
PokerListings was front and center outside the Casino at the Empire waiting for Hellmuth to show up cheat poker, but mostly just to check out the girls he had for the show.
After a bit of a wait Hellmuth showed up in the full Centurion gear with the guards and everything. I guess the plan was to roll up, join the group of girls and then walk into the casino. This is when the problems started.
Hellmuth and the girls got to the front door and the bouncers stepped in their way and asked for ID! As you can see by the photos the girls didn't exactly have a convenient place to keep their marked cards lenses wallets and obviously had no ID.
Bear in mind that ESPN has cameras rolling and about 20 media people are taping and shooting photos. You think the coordinators for this stunt might have cleared it with the casino beforehand? Apparently not.
So the girls aren't allowed in and Hellmuth is just stunned. The ESPN people are less than enthused and the bouncers aren't budging on letting the girls in without ID. A lot of standing around and hand gesturing followed and we pretty much gave up on the whole thing.
Before long someone gets the bright idea to just go and get the IDs from wherever they were and eventually the entrance went on as planned.
PokerListings was front and center outside the Casino at the Empire waiting for Hellmuth to show up cheat poker, but mostly just to check out the girls he had for the show.
After a bit of a wait Hellmuth showed up in the full Centurion gear with the guards and everything. I guess the plan was to roll up, join the group of girls and then walk into the casino. This is when the problems started.
Hellmuth and the girls got to the front door and the bouncers stepped in their way and asked for ID! As you can see by the
Bear in mind that ESPN has cameras rolling and about 20 media people are taping and shooting photos. You think the coordinators for this stunt might have cleared it with the casino beforehand? Apparently not.
So the girls aren't allowed in and Hellmuth is just stunned. The ESPN people are less than enthused and the bouncers aren't budging on letting the girls in without ID. A lot of standing around and hand gesturing followed and we pretty much gave up on the whole thing.
Before long someone gets the bright idea to just go and get the IDs from wherever they were and eventually the entrance went on as planned.
9 Essential Health Tips for the Online Poker Grinder
Before we get started , let's be honest for a second. Poker players, as a whole, are not the most physically fit group of people.
Our brains are processing information on a regular basis but our bodies get little more than theoccasional chair wiggle or lethargic stretch.
Articles like these need to be realistic. The point isn't to turn grinders into Olympic athletes; the aim is to offer practical advice that can keep the mind sharp and the body healthy.
Whether you play live or online, poker guarantees one thing; you spend plenty of time sitting in a chair. In order to be profitable in the long run it's crucial to revitalize the body and mind with exercise and healthy food.
Eating well and exercising have a real effect on your ability to make good decisions, the same decisions that translate into wins and losses at the poker table marked cards.
Make sure to have complete meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner with scheduled light snacks in the times between to refuel your batteries. Have one small snack 2.5 hours before lunch and another light snack 2 hours before dinner.
Include an assortment of vegetables and fruits in your menu. Fiber in your breakfast meal with juice will give you the kickstart you need. Avoid carb-heavy meals at night.
If you're like most people, however, you're going to be looking for something to snack and sip on while you're on the grind.
These five items are not only ideal fuels for your brain, they're also tasty and easy to add to your snack menu.
Purple berries, in general, are known to contain high levels of antioxidants and vitamins.
Acai berries, which are a unique fruit from South America, also possess essential Omega-3 Fatty Acids and protein.
Blueberries are one of the healthiest things to eat in the world. They contain more antioxidants than any other fruit and are linked to improved vision, coordination and cognitive function.
Brain benefits for the poker player: Improved vision and coordination will cut down on costly multi-tabling mistakes.
It has also been shown recently that caffeine is actually good for the brain - in moderation of course.
The ideal form of coffee, when speaking in terms of mental health and benefits, is pure Espresso. Drink without milk and sugar for best brain results infrared ink.
Brain benfits for the poker player: Rocket fuel for the brain. Stay alert and on point with a steady stream of caffeine.
It is grown in the shade and very rich in nutrients and chlorophyll.
Its high concentrations of amino acid L-Theanine which have relaxing and calming effects.
It has roughly 10 times the quantitative benefit of regular tea including greater amounts of antioxidants, catechins, vitamins such as C and A, even Fluoride and L-Theanine.
Brain benefits for the poker player: Take the edge off a bad beat with the calming effects of this revered tea.
chocolate you're not going to get the good stuff they have to offer by eating an average chocolate bar.
You need to get the bean naturally. You can find it either in high
percentage (over 75%) dark chocolate or 100% organic non-alkalized cacao
powder.
Cacao is rich in brain-enhancing goodies like antioxidants, flavanoids, catechins and theobromine.
It's inked to improved cognitive function, bliss and mood enhancement.
Brain benefits for the poker player: Eating chocolate releases brain chemicals that will help you stay positive and optimistic, two very important traits at the poker table.
An amazing source of Essential Fatty Acids (like Omega-3), low in
saturated fats, among the lowest contaminant (mercury) levels of all
seafood.
It's linked to improved brain function, mood, synaptic connections, and even reduces your risk of stroke, Dementia and Alzheimers.
Brain benefits for the poker player: Wild salmon will keep your brain firing on all cylinders, giving you the faculties you need to outsmart your opponents at the table.
Our brains are processing information on a regular basis but our bodies get little more than the
Articles like these need to be realistic. The point isn't to turn grinders into Olympic athletes; the aim is to offer practical advice that can keep the mind sharp and the body healthy.
Whether you play live or online, poker guarantees one thing; you spend plenty of time sitting in a chair. In order to be profitable in the long run it's crucial to revitalize the body and mind with exercise and healthy food.
Eating well and exercising have a real effect on your ability to make good decisions, the same decisions that translate into wins and losses at the poker table marked cards.
Best Brain Foods for the Poker Player
A healthy diet is something you should be interested in for more reasons than just winning at poker.Make sure to have complete meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner with scheduled light snacks in the times between to refuel your batteries. Have one small snack 2.5 hours before lunch and another light snack 2 hours before dinner.
Include an assortment of vegetables and fruits in your menu. Fiber in your breakfast meal with juice will give you the kickstart you need. Avoid carb-heavy meals at night.
If you're like most people, however, you're going to be looking for something to snack and sip on while you're on the grind.
These five items are not only ideal fuels for your brain, they're also tasty and easy to add to your snack menu.
1. Acai berries and Blueberries
Acai berries, which are a unique fruit from South America, also possess essential Omega-3 Fatty Acids and protein.
Blueberries are one of the healthiest things to eat in the world. They contain more antioxidants than any other fruit and are linked to improved vision, coordination and cognitive function.
Brain benefits for the poker player: Improved vision and coordination will cut down on costly multi-tabling mistakes.
2. Coffee beans
Coffee's gotten a bit of a bad rap when it comes to health but the truth of the matter is that coffee is a great source of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
The ideal form of coffee, when speaking in terms of mental health and benefits, is pure Espresso. Drink without milk and sugar for best brain results infrared ink.
Brain benfits for the poker player: Rocket fuel for the brain. Stay alert and on point with a steady stream of caffeine.
3. Matcha - aka Gyokuru green tea powder
This is some of the rarest, purest, and most revered tea there is. What's unique about having Matcha tea is that you actually consume the whole thing. It's like a drink and a meal, and it's great for you.
Its high concentrations of amino acid L-Theanine which have relaxing and calming effects.
It has roughly 10 times the quantitative benefit of regular tea including greater amounts of antioxidants, catechins, vitamins such as C and A, even Fluoride and L-Theanine.
Brain benefits for the poker player: Take the edge off a bad beat with the calming effects of this revered tea.
4. Cacao Beans
Even though cacao beans are a big part of
Cacao is rich in brain-enhancing goodies like antioxidants, flavanoids, catechins and theobromine.
It's inked to improved cognitive function, bliss and mood enhancement.
Brain benefits for the poker player: Eating chocolate releases brain chemicals that will help you stay positive and optimistic, two very important traits at the poker table.
5. Wild Salmon
It's linked to improved brain function, mood, synaptic connections, and even reduces your risk of stroke, Dementia and Alzheimers.
Brain benefits for the poker player: Wild salmon will keep your brain firing on all cylinders, giving you the faculties you need to outsmart your opponents at the table.
2013年11月17日星期日
Best UK Players of 2008
The chips have been cashed and the winnings counted. InsidePoker can now reveal the top five UK poker players of 2008
FINAL TABLES 2
HIGHLIGHT: GUKPT LUTON WIN
The newcomer from Nottingham has impressed in his first full year of live play, with a GUKPT win and a final table at the World Series.
Sam Trickett may not have had the most prolific year in terms of cashes but what he’s lacked in quantity he’s certainly made up marked cards for in quality. In what was his very first World Series, the Nottingham hotshot almost scooped his first bracelet. In an extremely tough $ 5,000 no-limit hold’em event, featuring over 800 entries and a host of big name pros, Trickett managed fourth place, walking away with a satisfying payday of over $ 245k. If that had been his one and only big finish, it still would have been a good year, but Trickett wasn’t done.
On his return to the UK, he sat down in the main event at the GUKPT Luton and set about smashing the 375-runner field to pieces. With 12 players left, Trickett was chip leader and after his WSOP experience, he was never going to give up his position easily. He went into heads-up with a slender lead and showed his mastery of the small pot game to become the youngest ever GUKPT main event winner.
4th = 350 points
7 AUGUST GUKPT LUTON £1,000 MAIN EVENT, 376 ENTRIES
1st = 120 points
TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS 350 + 120 = 470 points
FINAL TABLE MULTIPLIER 1.5
470 x 1.5 = 705 points
FINAL TABLES 4
HIGHLIGHT WSOP FINAL TABLE
A solid $ 710k in tournament winnings is enough to tell you that it’s been a great year for the Hitsquad member, but delve a little deeper and it’s clear that Akenhead was a whisker away from having an incredible year.
Up until May everything was pretty quiet; James Akenhead had won a small PLO side event at GUKPT Manchester but had yet to do anything that was going to send shockwaves through the rankings. But a third-place finish at the main event at the following GUKPT in Newcastle got things rolling and from that point on, Akenhead was rampant.
At the WSOP, he made the final table in a $ 1,500 no-limit event out of a huge field, almost 4,000 runners strong. Anything seemed possible as he powered his way to heads-up. He seemed destined for the coveted bracelet, before a cruel bad beat got in the way and he had to make do with second. The former train driver-turned-pro quickly collected his thoughts and a few days later came second again in one of the Bellagio $ 1k weekly tournaments, winning $ 24,330.
As the rankings year was about to end, Akenhead managed to bag his fourth final table at the GUKPT grand final. The young Hitsquad member finishes 2008 in an extremely credible fourth place.
3 JUNE 2008, WSOP $ 1,500 NO LIMIT HOLD’EM, 3929 ENTRIES 2nd = 240 points
6 JUNE 2008, $ 1K BELLAGIO WEEKLY, 132 ENTRIES 2nd = 30 points
22 NOVEMBER, £1K GUKPT NO LIMIT HOLD’EM, 118 ENTRIES 7th = 24 points
TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS 48+240+30+24 = 342 points
FINAL TABLE MULTIPLIER 2.5
342 x 2.5 = 855 points
FINAL TABLES 5
HIGHLIGHT EURO FINALS OF POKER
Joe Grech has proved himself to be one of the most consistent performers on the circuit and since the start of the 2008 rankings he’s rarely been out of the top five. We talked to the grizzled veteran about his third-spot finish.
The key to Joe Grech’s success this year is two-fold: he recorded a substantial win at the very start and couldn’t stop himself making final table after final table.
The big win came in the Euro Finals of Poker in Paris’ Aviation Club where Grech took home almost $ 200k – the second biggest score of his career and a result that gave him an early lead in the rankings. He is keen to point out, however, that the victory was as much down to luck as it was good play. ‘I played well but in the final table itself I was the lowest stack. The first 50/50 I had, I won with pocket Kings. I went from 80k to close to 200k. Then I had four 50/50s and won every single one of them. I don’t pretend to be the best but I’m good enough to compete.’
Riding on a wave of confidence, Grech proceeded to rip through the field at GUKPT Brighton, eventually finishing in fifth and adding another $ 30k to his bankroll. Three more major final tables followed, giving Grech an impressive final table tally of five. So what’s his secret? ‘I try to mix it up with marginal hands such as 7?-9? and 10?-Q? and see a lot more flops early on,’ he says. ‘If you get lucky you can build up your chips – which you need – so that in the later stages, when the game tightens up, you’ve got enough to take a big hit and still carry on.’
But despite his talent for going deep and consistently making the money, Grech admits that the last 12 months have been disappointing for him. ‘I was in Vegas 42 days and played poker lenses 69 tournaments. I got $ 75k in one tournament to recover everything, so I came back with a profit. But if I’d worked for six weeks at £5 an hour, I would have come back better off! This year I haven’t been able to get over that final hurdle.’
‘I’m not interested in playing cash for a living – I earn a living through the business. I have a guesthouse in London which gives me enough to pay for my bills, my car and house. I’m interested in winning £100k or £200k. If I win £25k, that’s not going to change my life.’ Blockbusting wins are the priority for Grech in 2009, which is why he’s going for the more selective approach rather than the blanket-bombing that he’s indulged in this year. ‘I’m going to concentrate on the GUKPTs and I’ll play in the Irish Open. I’ll try and qualify for the EPTs. I’ve got what it takes to get a big win.’
1st = 168 points
20 JANUARY 2008 – £1,000 GUKPT BRIGHTON, 280 ENTRIES
5th = 48 points
16 MARCH 2008 – £1,000 MAIN EVENT, EMPIRE POKER FESTIVAL, 60 ENTRIES
6th = 20 points
2 JULY 2008 – $ 2,000 BELLAGIO CUP IV, 267 ENTRIES
5th = 48 points
3 AUGUST 2008 – £1K MAIN EVENT, EMPIRE POKER FESTIVAL, 67 ENTRIES
2nd = 40 points
TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS
168 + 48 + 20 + 48 +40 = 324 points
MULTIPLIER FOR FIVE TABLES 3
324 x 3 = 972 points
5
SAM TRICKETT
TOTAL POINTS 705FINAL TABLES 2
HIGHLIGHT: GUKPT LUTON WIN
The newcomer from Nottingham has impressed in his first full year of live play, with a GUKPT win and a final table at the World Series.
Sam Trickett may not have had the most prolific year in terms of cashes but what he’s lacked in quantity he’s certainly made up marked cards for in quality. In what was his very first World Series, the Nottingham hotshot almost scooped his first bracelet. In an extremely tough $ 5,000 no-limit hold’em event, featuring over 800 entries and a host of big name pros, Trickett managed fourth place, walking away with a satisfying payday of over $ 245k. If that had been his one and only big finish, it still would have been a good year, but Trickett wasn’t done.
On his return to the UK, he sat down in the main event at the GUKPT Luton and set about smashing the 375-runner field to pieces. With 12 players left, Trickett was chip leader and after his WSOP experience, he was never going to give up his position easily. He went into heads-up with a slender lead and showed his mastery of the small pot game to become the youngest ever GUKPT main event winner.
HOW WE WORKED OUT SAM TRICKETT’S POINTS
26 JUNE WSOP $ 5K NO LIMIT HOLD’EM, 805 ENTRIES4th = 350 points
7 AUGUST GUKPT LUTON £1,000 MAIN EVENT, 376 ENTRIES
1st = 120 points
TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS 350 + 120 = 470 points
FINAL TABLE MULTIPLIER 1.5
470 x 1.5 = 705 points
4
JAMES AKENHEAD
TOTAL POINTS 855FINAL TABLES 4
HIGHLIGHT WSOP FINAL TABLE
A solid $ 710k in tournament winnings is enough to tell you that it’s been a great year for the Hitsquad member, but delve a little deeper and it’s clear that Akenhead was a whisker away from having an incredible year.
Up until May everything was pretty quiet; James Akenhead had won a small PLO side event at GUKPT Manchester but had yet to do anything that was going to send shockwaves through the rankings. But a third-place finish at the main event at the following GUKPT in Newcastle got things rolling and from that point on, Akenhead was rampant.
At the WSOP, he made the final table in a $ 1,500 no-limit event out of a huge field, almost 4,000 runners strong. Anything seemed possible as he powered his way to heads-up. He seemed destined for the coveted bracelet, before a cruel bad beat got in the way and he had to make do with second. The former train driver-turned-pro quickly collected his thoughts and a few days later came second again in one of the Bellagio $ 1k weekly tournaments, winning $ 24,330.
As the rankings year was about to end, Akenhead managed to bag his fourth final table at the GUKPT grand final. The young Hitsquad member finishes 2008 in an extremely credible fourth place.
HOW WE WORKED OUT JAMES AKENHEAD’S POINTS
15 MAY 2008 – £1K GUKPT NEWCASTLE, 189 ENTRIES 3rd = 48 points3 JUNE 2008, WSOP $ 1,500 NO LIMIT HOLD’EM, 3929 ENTRIES 2nd = 240 points
6 JUNE 2008, $ 1K BELLAGIO WEEKLY, 132 ENTRIES 2nd = 30 points
22 NOVEMBER, £1K GUKPT NO LIMIT HOLD’EM, 118 ENTRIES 7th = 24 points
TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS 48+240+30+24 = 342 points
FINAL TABLE MULTIPLIER 2.5
342 x 2.5 = 855 points
3
JOE GRECH
TOTAL POINTS 972FINAL TABLES 5
HIGHLIGHT EURO FINALS OF POKER
Joe Grech has proved himself to be one of the most consistent performers on the circuit and since the start of the 2008 rankings he’s rarely been out of the top five. We talked to the grizzled veteran about his third-spot finish.
The key to Joe Grech’s success this year is two-fold: he recorded a substantial win at the very start and couldn’t stop himself making final table after final table.
The big win came in the Euro Finals of Poker in Paris’ Aviation Club where Grech took home almost $ 200k – the second biggest score of his career and a result that gave him an early lead in the rankings. He is keen to point out, however, that the victory was as much down to luck as it was good play. ‘I played well but in the final table itself I was the lowest stack. The first 50/50 I had, I won with pocket Kings. I went from 80k to close to 200k. Then I had four 50/50s and won every single one of them. I don’t pretend to be the best but I’m good enough to compete.’
Riding on a wave of confidence, Grech proceeded to rip through the field at GUKPT Brighton, eventually finishing in fifth and adding another $ 30k to his bankroll. Three more major final tables followed, giving Grech an impressive final table tally of five. So what’s his secret? ‘I try to mix it up with marginal hands such as 7?-9? and 10?-Q? and see a lot more flops early on,’ he says. ‘If you get lucky you can build up your chips – which you need – so that in the later stages, when the game tightens up, you’ve got enough to take a big hit and still carry on.’
But despite his talent for going deep and consistently making the money, Grech admits that the last 12 months have been disappointing for him. ‘I was in Vegas 42 days and played poker lenses 69 tournaments. I got $ 75k in one tournament to recover everything, so I came back with a profit. But if I’d worked for six weeks at £5 an hour, I would have come back better off! This year I haven’t been able to get over that final hurdle.’
BIG PLANS
Though 2008 may not have worked out as well financially as he would have hoped, Grech remains in a sunny mood. Since hitting the circuit in 2003, he has been able to play safe in the knowledge that he is not reliant on poker for his income. That’s why you don’t often find him in cash games.‘I’m not interested in playing cash for a living – I earn a living through the business. I have a guesthouse in London which gives me enough to pay for my bills, my car and house. I’m interested in winning £100k or £200k. If I win £25k, that’s not going to change my life.’ Blockbusting wins are the priority for Grech in 2009, which is why he’s going for the more selective approach rather than the blanket-bombing that he’s indulged in this year. ‘I’m going to concentrate on the GUKPTs and I’ll play in the Irish Open. I’ll try and qualify for the EPTs. I’ve got what it takes to get a big win.’
HOW WE WORKED OUT JOE GRECH’S POINTS
7 DECEMBER 2007 – €5,000 DIAMOND CHAMPIONSHIP EURO FINALS OF POKER 2007, 89 RUNNERS1st = 168 points
20 JANUARY 2008 – £1,000 GUKPT BRIGHTON, 280 ENTRIES
5th = 48 points
16 MARCH 2008 – £1,000 MAIN EVENT, EMPIRE POKER FESTIVAL, 60 ENTRIES
6th = 20 points
2 JULY 2008 – $ 2,000 BELLAGIO CUP IV, 267 ENTRIES
5th = 48 points
3 AUGUST 2008 – £1K MAIN EVENT, EMPIRE POKER FESTIVAL, 67 ENTRIES
2nd = 40 points
TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS
168 + 48 + 20 + 48 +40 = 324 points
MULTIPLIER FOR FIVE TABLES 3
324 x 3 = 972 points
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