A major mistake that I see players make is "going after" another player after a bad beat or if that player made a remark that the other player didn't like. Folks, this is a mistake that can only HARM your bankroll, not help it. I found myself in this exact situation not long ago after a player called me down to the river only to hit his gutshot straight draw against my top two pair (AK). I lost a considerable sum in the exchange and began to focus on this "bad" player in an effort to show him just how bad his play was. I wanted to prove that I could outplay him and at least win my money back. An interesting development then took place...
You see I was mult-tabling at the time with four 1/2 NL tables on Full Tilt Poker and before I knew it I was tangling with another player at a different table. With the board paired and three hearts showing, he called my all in reraise on the river with only one pair. Folks, I hope I don't need to tell you that if your opponent reraises you all in on the river and the board has paired AND there are three of the same suit showing, you'd better fold if you're only holding one pair! I had the big hand with the nut full house and took down a $231.00 pot (breaking him in the process). After a few minutes, he reloaded and the circus was back in town! This guy proceeded to lose over $600.00 over the course of three re-buys and about 1.5 hours. I was the benficiary of almost half taking him for just north of $275.00 in short order.
Who did I forget during this exchange? The original "bad player" who I thought was sooo bad and would certainly lose more money to me. What happened after the original bad beat I mentioned at the start of this article? He tightened up BIG TIME and by the end of my session when I left the table he was down exactly $14.00 from his rebuy of $200.00. Meanwhile on the other table we had a live one who dropped $800.00. Here's the moral to the story, had it not been for the big pot he lost to me I may have not noticed his multiple re-buys, I may have remained focused on the "bad player" who was going to lose so much money to me and the other players ( I was convinced of this!).
The moral to this story is that you may be looking at the wrong player for the wrong reasons to make your session a profitable. You have to be aware of what each player is doing at a table and make the right reads over the long term vs. the short term to be a profitable player and truly build your poker bankroll.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Propping for Profit
If you ask many poker players what a prop player is, you're going to get a few different answers. Many people will look disgusted and call them "shills," say props are a bad thing. Some will look confused and say they think they're people who the poker room pays to play. You'll find plenty of people who don't know what it means to be a prop player.
Proposition players, or "props," are players hired by the casino or poker room to help keep their games full. They play with their own money (a "shill" is a player who's on the casino's dime) and keep all their profits, and have to deal with their losses, too. Prop players aren't all "professionals" in the game trying to beat the other customers. They are everyday players who are willing to follow some seating rules to earn money while they play. Their skill level can range from terrible to excellent, from beginner to seasoned player. You don't have to every worry when you're playing with a prop that the house is giving them any sort of extra edge or favors them at all. In fact, props sometimes could be said to lose a slight edge because they often do not pick which game they sit in and when they leave.
In Brick and Mortar (B&M) casinos, props are typically paid an hourly wage of $6-7 per hour. They are given a schedule like a regular employee and are expected to show up for their shift ready to play. You'll find them in smaller rooms and ones that need a little extra boost to keep their games alive. In Las Vegas, many of the off-strip and "local" casinos employ props. Finding job openings for props in a B&M casino is as easy as finding any job listing with a B&M casino. Simply visit casino websites or inquire in person in a poker room you know uses props and if they have openings, you can apply/
Online props are paid in the form of rakeback. The rates range anywhere from 60% all the way to 165%, but most often online props get about 100% rakeback. There are also a few sites out there who will pay props on a per-hand basis, but they are becoming less frequent. There are frequently special incentives, bonuses, and freerolls to reward props through the various sites they work for. Because online play allows for multi-tabling, online props have the chance to make very good money. A top prop playing 4 tables of $5/10 Limit Hold 'em can earn upwards of $50 an hour.
To obtain a job as an online prop, visit a site like Prop Team and fill out an application. It's simple, fast, and there are plenty of openings. A caveat for the potential prop: many sites who employ props do so only for certain stakes or games. You will be able to find a prop position at any stakes in any game, it's just a matter of on which site. The sites will not release their identity to props until they have signed up with the prop agency. They provide a summary to their potential employees of their pay rates and which games they need props in. You select which rooms you're interested in, and then let the prop agency know, and you get signed up from there.
Online props also have the advantage of being able to play whenever they what. Very few rooms limit the hours of the day that props can play. Most sites no longer have weekly hand requirements for their props, so if you need to take a week off and don't play a single hand, that's find. Conversely, if you want to play 10,000 hands in a week, that's fine, too! Propping online allows for much more flexibility than B&M propping. However, being a prop player is not for everyone. Many players experience burn out or have trouble beating the game consistently. Props are often pulled away from good games to start new tables, and some who are winning players at full handed games are not winning players short handed. With all this said, propping is a great way for some players to earn a phenomenal living. If you're willing to follow some simple seating rules (props usually cannot take the last seat in a game or play heads up with another prop for an extended period of time, etc.) and want to earn incredible rakeback, Propping could be the perfect job for you!
Proposition players, or "props," are players hired by the casino or poker room to help keep their games full. They play with their own money (a "shill" is a player who's on the casino's dime) and keep all their profits, and have to deal with their losses, too. Prop players aren't all "professionals" in the game trying to beat the other customers. They are everyday players who are willing to follow some seating rules to earn money while they play. Their skill level can range from terrible to excellent, from beginner to seasoned player. You don't have to every worry when you're playing with a prop that the house is giving them any sort of extra edge or favors them at all. In fact, props sometimes could be said to lose a slight edge because they often do not pick which game they sit in and when they leave.
In Brick and Mortar (B&M) casinos, props are typically paid an hourly wage of $6-7 per hour. They are given a schedule like a regular employee and are expected to show up for their shift ready to play. You'll find them in smaller rooms and ones that need a little extra boost to keep their games alive. In Las Vegas, many of the off-strip and "local" casinos employ props. Finding job openings for props in a B&M casino is as easy as finding any job listing with a B&M casino. Simply visit casino websites or inquire in person in a poker room you know uses props and if they have openings, you can apply/
Online props are paid in the form of rakeback. The rates range anywhere from 60% all the way to 165%, but most often online props get about 100% rakeback. There are also a few sites out there who will pay props on a per-hand basis, but they are becoming less frequent. There are frequently special incentives, bonuses, and freerolls to reward props through the various sites they work for. Because online play allows for multi-tabling, online props have the chance to make very good money. A top prop playing 4 tables of $5/10 Limit Hold 'em can earn upwards of $50 an hour.
To obtain a job as an online prop, visit a site like Prop Team and fill out an application. It's simple, fast, and there are plenty of openings. A caveat for the potential prop: many sites who employ props do so only for certain stakes or games. You will be able to find a prop position at any stakes in any game, it's just a matter of on which site. The sites will not release their identity to props until they have signed up with the prop agency. They provide a summary to their potential employees of their pay rates and which games they need props in. You select which rooms you're interested in, and then let the prop agency know, and you get signed up from there.
Online props also have the advantage of being able to play whenever they what. Very few rooms limit the hours of the day that props can play. Most sites no longer have weekly hand requirements for their props, so if you need to take a week off and don't play a single hand, that's find. Conversely, if you want to play 10,000 hands in a week, that's fine, too! Propping online allows for much more flexibility than B&M propping. However, being a prop player is not for everyone. Many players experience burn out or have trouble beating the game consistently. Props are often pulled away from good games to start new tables, and some who are winning players at full handed games are not winning players short handed. With all this said, propping is a great way for some players to earn a phenomenal living. If you're willing to follow some simple seating rules (props usually cannot take the last seat in a game or play heads up with another prop for an extended period of time, etc.) and want to earn incredible rakeback, Propping could be the perfect job for you!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Play in a Poker League to improve your game.
Often times, organized competition brings the best out competitive individuals. People enjoy testing their wits and skills against others over a set period of time and within a structured system. For years people have been playing in pool leagues, tennis leagues, bowling leagues and a whole host of different organized league competitions. Now that online poker has became popular, the past few years have lead to the emergence of poker leagues.
Poker leagues have became very popular, partly because first of all poker is popular and secondly that anyone can win any particular tournament at any given time (need we mention Moneymaker?), but winning a season long league points race in an organized and structured poker league is a much truer test of your relative poker skills. Combine that with poker players being very competitive and you get the foundation for poker leagues popularity.
Online poker has made joining a poker league easy. There are all sorts of poker leagues out there, ranging from the free roll poker leagues up to the buy-in real money online poker leagues, similar to the Poker League I’m currently playing in hosted at Mansion Poker.
There are many reasons I believe that playing in an organized poker league can greatly improve your poker play. First you have a pre-set schedule of table time that you are commitment to playing. Table time is important for anyone wanting to improve their game. If you know that every Wednesday 9PM you need to be sitting at your computer and ready to play in the league game then you will be sure and do so.
Just ensuring table time is only the start, league table time is typically more valuable as a learning experience than an average session at the tables.
League games will typically play more like a high dollar buy in event, even if the buy in modest. This is especially true if you make it deep into the tourney. League players are playing for more than the monetary value of the prize pool for the individual tournament. They are looking at what winning this tournament means to their overall standings and the ever present points race, and of course for pride and bragging rights.
League players are often times playing as much for pride and bragging rights as they are for the monetary prize pools. This leads to good poker.
Here is a direct quote from one of our league members:
“Nothing helps one's poker game more than going up against good competition (and Bill, too ), for lower stakes, when the competition is actually taking the game seriously (as opposed to the donk-fests these things often become.) It's like an Emory education at GA Perimeter College prices. Clark Howard would love it.”
~Der Fleisch
Playing with quality competition over a series of tournaments also gives you the opportunity to work on reading players and learning different player styles.
Simply put, if you plan to compete in the league you are forced to learn how to play against these different styles of players. If a league member is constantly raising your blinds, tournament after tournament, you are going to have to learn how to combat this. Once you figure out what to do to stop him from blind stealing, you can do the same the next time it happens to you at the poker table in a normal tournament. You are forced to adapt, and you have time to figure out what the best counter-move is for a player who is always stealing.
Keep in mind that not all poker leagues are created equal and make sure you find one that is right for you. What makes up a good poker league? That’s mostly personal choice, but here are a handful of things you should investigate before joining a league.
The first thing I like to do when finding a poker league is to do some league research and find out what leagues are available. One of the first things to look for is finding one that meets your bankroll requirements. If you are a high roller then you want to play in a league that keeps your interest, with substantial buy-ins, but if you are a beginner or if you are just working on your game then look for a freeroll league or a modest buy in. Leagues run from free up to expensive, just do some research to see what works for you.
If you’re like most of us, just find a league somewhere in the middle with a modest buy in that keeps it interesting enough for you to commit to play.
Next look for a league that uses a quality league structure and scoring system, not one that is arbitrary in length or that is unbalanced on how it calculates points. Look for a league that uses a competitive / fair league scoring system and that is updated regularly. Also make sure the timing schedule works out where you are able to play in the league.
After you decide that you like the league structure and buy in amount of a particular league, see if they have an active community. If so, join it and ask questions about the league. If the community looks like one you would like to become a part of, then join away. Most leagues have a forum, browse it and see what you think.
Finally, take a look and see what kind of league prizes and rewards are offered for the players. If they offer some kick ass prizes, all the better!
So, if you are looking to play in high quality poker competition and to seriously improve your game, consider joining a poker league and seeing why they are quickly becoming some of the most popular forms of organized competition taking place today.
Poker leagues have became very popular, partly because first of all poker is popular and secondly that anyone can win any particular tournament at any given time (need we mention Moneymaker?), but winning a season long league points race in an organized and structured poker league is a much truer test of your relative poker skills. Combine that with poker players being very competitive and you get the foundation for poker leagues popularity.
Online poker has made joining a poker league easy. There are all sorts of poker leagues out there, ranging from the free roll poker leagues up to the buy-in real money online poker leagues, similar to the Poker League I’m currently playing in hosted at Mansion Poker.
There are many reasons I believe that playing in an organized poker league can greatly improve your poker play. First you have a pre-set schedule of table time that you are commitment to playing. Table time is important for anyone wanting to improve their game. If you know that every Wednesday 9PM you need to be sitting at your computer and ready to play in the league game then you will be sure and do so.
Just ensuring table time is only the start, league table time is typically more valuable as a learning experience than an average session at the tables.
League games will typically play more like a high dollar buy in event, even if the buy in modest. This is especially true if you make it deep into the tourney. League players are playing for more than the monetary value of the prize pool for the individual tournament. They are looking at what winning this tournament means to their overall standings and the ever present points race, and of course for pride and bragging rights.
League players are often times playing as much for pride and bragging rights as they are for the monetary prize pools. This leads to good poker.
Here is a direct quote from one of our league members:
“Nothing helps one's poker game more than going up against good competition (and Bill, too ), for lower stakes, when the competition is actually taking the game seriously (as opposed to the donk-fests these things often become.) It's like an Emory education at GA Perimeter College prices. Clark Howard would love it.”
~Der Fleisch
Playing with quality competition over a series of tournaments also gives you the opportunity to work on reading players and learning different player styles.
Simply put, if you plan to compete in the league you are forced to learn how to play against these different styles of players. If a league member is constantly raising your blinds, tournament after tournament, you are going to have to learn how to combat this. Once you figure out what to do to stop him from blind stealing, you can do the same the next time it happens to you at the poker table in a normal tournament. You are forced to adapt, and you have time to figure out what the best counter-move is for a player who is always stealing.
Keep in mind that not all poker leagues are created equal and make sure you find one that is right for you. What makes up a good poker league? That’s mostly personal choice, but here are a handful of things you should investigate before joining a league.
The first thing I like to do when finding a poker league is to do some league research and find out what leagues are available. One of the first things to look for is finding one that meets your bankroll requirements. If you are a high roller then you want to play in a league that keeps your interest, with substantial buy-ins, but if you are a beginner or if you are just working on your game then look for a freeroll league or a modest buy in. Leagues run from free up to expensive, just do some research to see what works for you.
If you’re like most of us, just find a league somewhere in the middle with a modest buy in that keeps it interesting enough for you to commit to play.
Next look for a league that uses a quality league structure and scoring system, not one that is arbitrary in length or that is unbalanced on how it calculates points. Look for a league that uses a competitive / fair league scoring system and that is updated regularly. Also make sure the timing schedule works out where you are able to play in the league.
After you decide that you like the league structure and buy in amount of a particular league, see if they have an active community. If so, join it and ask questions about the league. If the community looks like one you would like to become a part of, then join away. Most leagues have a forum, browse it and see what you think.
Finally, take a look and see what kind of league prizes and rewards are offered for the players. If they offer some kick ass prizes, all the better!
So, if you are looking to play in high quality poker competition and to seriously improve your game, consider joining a poker league and seeing why they are quickly becoming some of the most popular forms of organized competition taking place today.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Poker.com blogger tour game 1 results
Well...
I came in 32nd and made a few points, not sure how our other members did.
Here are the top 10 :
I expect ill try to play a bit more aggressive in the next game, as I laid down some mid range hands early on when I had position to take control.
See everyone next game!
- H
I came in 32nd and made a few points, not sure how our other members did.
Here are the top 10 :
| 1 | ReplicantPoker | $125.00 |
| 2 | Michael1965 | $100.00 |
| 3 | Irongirl | $75.00 |
| 4 | BobbyOlsen | $55.00 |
| 5 | JCL514 | $45.00 |
| 6 | natsdad | $30.00 |
| 7 | Quackpot | $25.00 |
| 8 | Hacksaw2000 | $20.00 |
| 9 | astinaguy | $15.00 |
| 10 | brodoughno | $10.00 |
I expect ill try to play a bit more aggressive in the next game, as I laid down some mid range hands early on when I had position to take control.
See everyone next game!
- H
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