Poker Tools

What to Expect if a USA Online Poker Bill Passes

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:00:00 +0000

Many players, both in the United States and around the globe, were pleased after the House Financial Services Committee voted in favor of sending HR 2267 to the House floor for a full vote. However, it turns out that many people don’t really understand what the passage of legalized and regulated online poker will mean for them: Hopefully this article will clear up some of the mess.More Competition Amongst the Poker SitesIf the online poker market opens up in the US it’s almost guaranteed that the Yankees and Red Sox… I mean Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars reign of total supremacy will come to an end. It’s no mystery why two of the online poker sites who accept US players have 50% of the total online traffic!But more competition is good for the customer, so poker players will likely find better deposit bonuses and better promotions as the online poker rooms compete amongst each other for your dollars. Expect traffic levels to even out across the board for all US regulated poker sites.Possibility of Higher Rakes to Offset Taxes and FeesUnfortunately, legalized and regulated online poker means the online poker rooms will be losing revenue; first there will be a hefty licensing fee, and then there will be taxes to be paid. Not to mention the costs that will be imposed by regulators for audits and such, as well as fines for violations.With all of these added expenses it’s quite possible that the poker rooms will pass some of it on to the players, in the form of a rake increase, or perhaps a fee on withdrawals. Although a hefty rake increase for French players saw an online poker sit-in on the offending sites.More Bad PlayersFortunately, bringing back the capability of instantaneous deposits and payouts from credit cards and bank accounts, as well as payment processors like PayPal and Neteller, will bring the casual poker player back into the mix. Right now you have to plan to play online poker, but with a legalized game players will be able to join a site and fund their account on a whim; not to mention they’ll be able to withdraw their winnings immediately! This is what casual poker players want, instant gratification.This is why the majority of US online poker players at the moment are typically less willing to gamble than our European and Asian counterparts: It’s just a lot harder to fund our accounts, and we have to wait 7-10 days to receive our cash-outs!

The Five Oldest Poker Players Who Still Win

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Poker has turned into a game where the younger players have learned to dominate the veterans. While experience used to prevail, online poker has allowed players to learn a ton about the game in relatively short time periods. New poker players are emerging daily, and the older players are slowly weeded out of the game.This doesn’t mean that all of the older players have lost their touch, though. Players like Doyle Brunson and Scotty Nguyen still leave a mark whenever they sit down at the tables. Keep in mind that Doyle is the exception in poker, and that most of the older players are not really “old” – just relatively.#1 – Doyle BrunsonDoyle Brunson wins this award, and it is not even close. No one can match Brunson’s prowess in poker, be it in cash games or tournaments. He might be one of the oldest players in any poker room, but he is also one of the best. There are few players who would willingly challenge Doyle Brunson to any type of poker battle, whether it is Omaha, Stud, or Hold’em. He has played the game for many, many, years, and he has always managed to stick around at the highest levels. In a game that is constantly changing, it is quite impressive that Brunson has been able to stay at the top for this long.#2 – Chris FergusonChris Ferguson is much younger than Doyle Brunson, but he is like a grandfather to the new generation of poker players. Years ago, Ferguson would have been just another player in the crowd, but today he faces a much younger field of opponents. He has played with old poker legends and new superstars like Tom Dwan, as well as everything in between. Ferguson isn’t a one trick pony, either, as he can play many types of games in various formats. Finding a cash game player that crushes tournaments is tough enough, but Ferguson has been doing it for many years.#3 – Scotty NguyenScotty Nguyen is the face of poker for many of the game’s enthusiasts. Whether you are enthralled by his drunken antics or his actual poker skills, there is no denying that Nguyen is still one of the biggest names in poker.He is not known for his appearances in cash games, but his tournament resume is very impressive. Year after year, Nguyen continues to prove that the younger crowd doesn’t necessarily translate into a tougher crowd. Love him or hate him, Scotty Nguyen can run with anyone, young or old.#4 – Jennifer HarmanJennifer Harman is one of the youngest players on this list, but she earned a spot representing both the old guard and female poker players.Harman was one of the names that poker fans first grew to know and love. She is a renowned cash game player, regularly participating in some of the biggest games in the world, but she has had her fair share of tournament success as well. Harman has been around poker longer than many people have even been playing the game, and she has been able to win with remarkable consistency. 2010 found Harman atop many World Series leader boards, and her legacy will carry her for many years to come.#5 – Dan HarringtonDan Harrington has managed to remain famous while maintaining a low profile. You won’t hear about him at the center of any disputes, and you aren’t going to find him begging for money on the rail, instead you will find that he has silently been crushing the online games. Aside from his online success, Harrington remains a force in the live arena.He is well-known for his poker books, a series named “Harrington on Hold’em.” To help bring his books into the 21st century, Harrington has been working hard on a new addition to the series, beating online 6-Max No Limit Texas Hold’em cash games. There was an open market for this type of publication, and it is a near certainty that this new book will become extremely popular. Harrington’s ability to win in any type of game only adds further credibility to his poker resume.#6 – Phil Ivey and Daniel NegreanuHuh? Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu? Why they’re not old at all!This is probably what ran through your mind as you skimmed the top five, and you are partially correct. Amongst the general population, Ivey and Negreanu are far from old, but they are representative of how times have changed in poker. Negreanu, fondly known as Kid Poker, is now one of the seniors in poker. His results have sputtered off, but his skill set is undeniable. Phil Ivey is just the best poker player in the world. He can, and does, dominate any cash game in the world. Aside from this, he is consistent in his tournament play. These two players are far from old, but they have been able to offset the age difference that the poker world has seen develop over the past few years.

Are Cash Games Tougher than Tournaments?

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

In poker, the debate over the toughest form of the game has been around for ages. On one hand you have cash game players stating that tournaments are easy, while tournament players maintain that they have the true skills. There is some validity to both sides of the argument, but one side is much more correct than the other. Without getting too far into this, cash games are, without a doubt, much tougher than tournaments. There are many reasons why ring games are more difficult than tournaments, and these will be discussed below.As a brief summary, the luck factor goes a long way towards determining which form of poker takes more skill. As the luck factor is diminished, the skill element takes on a higher degree of importance. In tournament poker, particularly in the short run, luck is the biggest factor involved. This is the reason why some very sub-par players manage to maintain a winning record in sustained tournament play. By the same token, next to no poor cash game player is ever able to consistently win. In the end, the better players end up with most of the money. Of course, there are deeper factors in play, all of which will be dissected.Luck’s Role in PokerIn tournament poker, your life is always on the line. Unless you are playing a rebuy tournament or something similar, as soon as you are knocked out of a tournament, you are forced to exit the table. This just isn’t the case in cash games. When you bust out at a ring game table, you are left with the option of rebuying back into the game. This will allow you to maintain your seat and potentially earn back the money that you lost. In theory, a cash game session could go on virtually forever. When you are in a tournament, however, your existence is always one hand away from destruction.Shouldn’t the better players generally outlast the weaker players in a tournament, even if your life is always on the line? In a perfect world this might be the case, but it is not how it works in practice. If the inferior player manages to squeeze out a handful of lucky wins, their stack is inevitably going to balloon, much more so than the skilled player who is eeking out a blind steal every couple of hands. In tournament poker, you need to get some good cards in order to win. If you take some bad risks and they fail, you are done. If you take some bad risks in a cash game, you can always get right back at it. In a tournament environment, players are always walking a very thin rope, and this rope is very prone to seeing deadly falls.Cooler type situations and general poor luck are the biggest advocates of lesser skilled players in tournament poker. If you watch the Main Event runs of some of the biggest winners in recent years, you will often notice that the players were either getting tremendous hands, getting very lucky, or both. It is very rare for a major tournament player to actually weave their way through the field solely on skillful play. In fact, even some of the talented Main Event winners have stated that much of their win needs to be credited to their tremendous luck.Think about it, one unfortunate flop, turn, or river card for Hachem, Moneymaker, Yang and others would have spelled the end of their tournament. Instead, they went on to become worldwide poker stars. This would never happen in cash games. If Phil Ivey had one hot session in his entire life where he won some big money, he wouldn’t be the star that he is. His reputation was built up after continuous winning sessions in many different games. The same can be said for noted cash game players like Patrik Antonius and Tom Dwan. Cash game players win because of their remarkable consistency and superior skill sets, not a handful of lucky breaks.The Long RunIf a player is able to play a massive amount of tournaments, as in 10,000 or more, they should be able to fairly accurately determine what their true win rate is. An enormous sample is required in tournament play because of the extreme variance. You can win two out of ten tournaments (though unlikely), but you could also go 20 events without a single min-cash. This is the nature of tournament poker. Even with huge sample sizes, though, the luckier players will walk away with greater profits than those with equal skills.Good at BothThere are plenty of poker players who can hold their own in both primary forms of the game. For the most part, though, players are known for one game or the other. For example, Phil Hellmuth is known as a major donkament (sorry, tournament) winner, but he is also widely recognized as a major loser in cash games. If nothing else, this is a testament to his true poker skills. Move onto another Phil, however, and it is clear that some players are able to thrive in tournament and cash game poker. Phil Ivey has done it for years and with incredible consistency. Sure, the positive side of variance has probably hit him more than a few times, but his skills and talent are undeniable. Ivey proves that a truly great player can dominate in both areas of the game.

PokerStars.net Big Game Features Another Tough Amateur

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:00:00 +0000

This week’s episodes of The PokerStars.net Big Game once again featured a murderer’s row lineup of professional poker players, and the lone “Loose Cannon” online qualifier – who is staked $100,000 and allowed to keep any profits he or she makes. However, the term “Loose Cannon” seems to be a bit of a misnomer up to this point in the show’s history.After 4 weeks of the show we have witnessed two really solid players –Will Davis and Nadya Magnus- and two very amateurish players –Ernest Wiggins and Troy Howard- and after the first two episodes of Week 5 I would have to say that we will be adding another mark in the solid column. Aaron Jensen has proven to be no slouch at the poker tables, and has even out aggro’d the pros thus far!Playing against a lineup that includes Scott Seiver, Tony G, Daniel Negreanu, Vanessa Rousso, and Todd Brunson, Jensen is the first pro we’ve seen that is making “moves” against the best players in poker, and his demeanor and personality at the table just exude confidence thus far.In earlier episodes we saw Ernest Wiggins and Troy Howard implement what can only be called a Weak/Tight strategy, and Will Davis and Nadya Magnus employ a tight/aggressive approach, all with varying success –Magnus and Wiggins made their hands and ended up +$63,600 and +$50,400 respectively, Davis was outdrawn in a crucial pot, and Howard was chopped off little by little—but none of the “Loose Cannons” up to this point have been willing to float flops or check-raise scare cards like we’ve seen Jensen do.Heading into the third episode of the show the table makeup has changed drastically since Tony G has left the game, having been replaced by Lex Veldhuis, who brings the count up to three players willing to mix-it-up with lesser holdings and make unorthodox plays – Neagreanu and Seiver being the other two. We’ll see if having Veldhuis on his left forces Jensen to slow down his aggression, which according to the Big Game’s stats is at 5 (meaning he is 5 times more likely to bet or raise than to check or call).Jensen’s strategy could lead to a very big win on his part, since I don’t see him slowing down if he starts to win –which I think plagued both Nadya Magnus and the other “Loose Cannon” who posted a profit Ernest Wiggins, both of whom I think maxed out their winning potential given the show’s format. Jensen on the other hand is playing to win, and win big! Which he may just do since he still has about 60% of the 150 hands left to play.Visit PokerStars.com to have a chance to qualify as the next “Loose Cannon” in the Big Game!

Has Online Poker Gotten Harder? An In-Depth Analysis

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0000

It seems unanimous amongst most poker players that online poker has, in fact, gotten tougher over the past few years. There are more sharks filling the waters these days, and the fish supply is relatively low (unless you play at a super fishy poker site). When you combine these two factors, you are going to find that there is, as a whole, less money to be made in online poker nowadays.A counter to this argument will provide some “food for thought,” though. What if players are just not looking in the right places for profitability? After all, there are plenty of games beyond the traditional Texas Hold’em variety. For most online poker players, Texas Hold’em is the only viable option, but it certainly isn’t the only actual option. When considering some of the best poker players in the world, it is apparent that most of the top professionals are skilled in many different games. It wasn’t all that long ago that Stud games were the most popular form of poker.Texas Hold’em is actually a relatively new game, having only been around for about 50 years. The name makes it sound like it has been around since the days of the Old West, but this just isn’t the case. Poker games like Omaha and Razz were far superior to Texas Hold’em for quite awhile, and it is possible that the momentum is once again swinging towards these more classic forms of poker. Believe it or not, Texas Hold’em is in a fight with other forms of poker.Is Texas Hold’em More Difficult?In short, the answer is yes. Online poker has only been existence for a little over a decade, so it is tough to judge the skill levels of players across the board. When online poker first came into play over 10 years ago, the general play was inevitably quite ABC and by the book. After the Moneymaker effect in 2003, the games became much more lively. As the general public hopped on the poker bandwagon, a flood of easy money fell right into the pockets of solid poker players everywhere. Eventually, though, and for a variety of reasons, the games got tougher. Today, good players are often found at stakes much lower than they were at just six years ago, and there has to be a reason for it.Why is it Tougher?As mentioned previously, there are a handful of reasons why Texas Hold’em in particular has gotten tougher. First off, the implementation of the UIGEA in 2006 (or, rather, the introduction), scared off a large portion of the online poker playing population. Virtually overnight a lot of the easy money was simply taken off the table. In addition, newer streams of easy money were never given the chance to form. In short, 2006 was the beginning of the end for the super easy online Hold’em games. Now, did this mean that there was no longer a significant amount of money to be made playing poker? Absolutely not, it simply meant that players were now going to have to face a little bit of competition if they hoped to earn their piece of the pie.The kill off of weak players was a primary contributor to the increased difficulty of the games, but it was far from the only reason. Training sites, poker forums, the ability to mass multi table, poker software, and so on and so forth were all able to aid players in their efforts at the table. It is tough for many players to have a valid complaint about this, however, as much of any current player’s success can largely be attributed to these tools. The difficulty of online poker is very real, but it is also something where a “give and take” approach needs to be appreciated.If you want to get better at poker, there is nothing wrong with using the tools and weapons available to you, but don’t complain when someone else does the exact same thing. If anyone has a legitimate complaint in regards to the difficulty of the games, it is the old school players who use little to no tools and were once raking in the money as a result of other’s inability to play the game properly. There is a segment of players who are able to remain profitable without the help of poker tools, but this pool of players is relatively small.Are Other Poker Games More Difficult?We have established that Texas Hold’em has gotten more difficult over the past few years, and this is the general consensus, but what about the other popular forms of poker? This is an area of the game that is seldom discussed. Texas Hold’em is, and has been, in the limelight. The media, commentators, and even players themselves are seldom interested in who is beating the big Razz games. It is like looking at the NFL, and then trying to analyze the Arena Football League.The NFL is wildly popular and virtually every North American resident has their own bit of insight into the league. But when you talk about the Arena Football League, many become disinterested. This is just how it works with Texas Hold’em versus Stud, Omaha, and other similar games. The general lack of interest in non-mainstream forms of poker makes it a challenge to accurately determine the progression of skill levels, but it is safe to say that these games are not much tougher. Omaha is most closely related to Texas Hold’em, and it has the second largest following.It would be a fair assessment to say that the Omaha games are marginally more challenging than they were a few years ago. But, on the other hand, there is also a larger number of “fish” in these games. As a whole, Omaha has gotten tougher, but only by a slight margin. Many have speculated that Omaha is the next big thing, and that it is the place to be if you want to make a killing in poker right now. Let’s face it, Hold’em is very competitive these days, but Omaha really isn’t. The same can be said about other games, including draw games and their variants. Poker has gotten tougher as a whole, but only when you identify “poker” as Texas Hold’em alone.Why Aren’t They Tougher?To some, the reasons why non-mainstream forms of poker have remained beatable are obvious. Since virtually everyone is devoting all of their energy to improving their Texas Hold’em (and sometimes Omaha) skills, there is all kinds of money to be made in games where there is little proper competition. There are a lot of players who want to play Stud, but how many great Stud players are out there? Beyond this, how many great Stud players know how to turn on a computer. In other words, the competition has not improved in these games like it has in Texas Hold’em.If Stud and various draw games were to gain more national exposure, it is likely that they would get tougher, but these types of games don’t generally broadcast well, particularly to uninformed viewers. It is unlikely that, for the foreseeable future, games beyond Texas Hold’em and Omaha are going to become exceedingly difficult. This doesn’t mean that the day where they are tough to beat will never come, however. Remember, at one point in time a lot of players thought they would be overnight millionaires because of just how easy the online Texas Hold’em games were. Things can, and do, change very quickly, particularly on the virtual felt.What Can You Do?If you want to remain profitable in an increasingly competitive online poker space, there are a few things you can do:Find the fish. Although sites like PokerStars and Full Tilt have gotten much tougher over the past few years, there are still several easy-to-beat poker sites like Sportsbook.com and Bodog Poker. Also, make sure you properly analyze the tables in the lobby to find the easiest to beat players. The easiest way to make more money is to play against players who lose more money.Improve your game. Read poker strategy articles, sign up at poker training sites, and read more poker books. Join a poker forum like TwoPlusTwo.com so you can get your poker strategy questions answered properly.Learn new games. As you learned in this article, less popular games are easier to beat. If you can become even an average Stud or Draw player, you can win a lot of money online.

The Five Biggest Winners at the 2010 WSOP

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Tournament poker is a funny thing. One year you can be on top of the world and the next you could be broke. If you don’t run hot, there is little you can do. It’s impossible to force the action, so players need to more or less let it come to them. This can be a frustrating task when you are min-cashing or not even cashing in event after event.For the following poker pros, however, the 2010 WSOP was a major success from every viewpoint. The notable exception to this list is, of course, Michael Mizrachi. He would have been the obvious number one, but isn’t a place in the November Nine a big enough award? Mizrachi went from broke to swimming in cash over the course of this summer’s World Series of Poker. So, yes, he is the clear winner of this list, but these other five players are the epitome of consistency.Tom Dwan is one of the biggest winners when looking at overall earnings in actual play, but the fact is that he narrowly missed winning several million more. His name is the most deceiving on this list because, unless he pulls off a miracle at the World Series of Poker Europe, he will have lost what amounted to millions of dollars in potential prop bets.Dwan bet a number of high profile players that he would be able to secure a bracelet in this year’s World Series of Poker. Though he was not successful in this mission, he did manage to come very close when he finished 2nd in a NLHE event. It spoke volumes for Dwan’s credibility in various forms of NLHE. This was one of the biggest sub-plots to the 2010 WSOP, and Dwan did all he could to keep things exciting.#1 John Juanda +$548,296John Juanda is one of the youngest old school poker pros. He has been a big name in the poker world since Moneymaker won the Main Event in 2003. Juanda regularly competes in a variety of nosebleed stake cash games, but he is more than an exceptional tournament player as well. With innumerable deep WSOP runs to his name, Juanda is always a heavy favorite to walk out of a WSOP year in the black.2010 was no different than prior years, as Juanda was able to profit over half a million dollars. Despite making a number of final tables this year, Juanda was unable to claim another bracelet. He did, however, reassure poker fans worldwide that he can still compete with, and beat, the best. Juanda is definitely a cash game specialist, but he is also one of the best tournament players alive. This year and years prior, Juanda has let his results speak for themselves.#2 Allen Kessler +$294,733Allen Kessler is hardly a household name, even amongst the poker community. On the Two Plus Two forums, however, Kessler is all the rage. “Chainsaw” posts on the forums just about as much as anyone else, and he prefers to stay in the News, Views, and Gossip area. He is known for his numerous complaints regarding tournament structure and his undying ability to start up every gossip thread imaginable. It seemed like he went from slightly disliked to a major superstar overnight.This is what will happen when you finish second in a WSOP event. Kessler, for the second time, came very close to earning his first WSOP bracelet. While he did not come home with the win, he did continue what resulted in his most successful WSOP ever. Kessler’s hot streak didn’t end there, though. He would later go on to earn over $100,000 in a slots tournament. Yes, you heard that right, a slots tournament. One thing is for sure, Kessler is far from a one tournament trick pony.#3 Gavin Smith +$198,162Gavin Smith, the man from Canada, posted some very solid results at the 2010 WSOP. Smith is one of the more popular players in the game, but he isn’t exactly known for his ground breaking strategy. Always the very straightforward player, perseverance paid off for Smith in 2010. Smith is often seen in a drunken stupor when he is on TV, so this year was a very nice change of pace. If he really wants to, there is little reason that Smith couldn’t continue these earnings on a consistent basis. No one ever really doubted Smith’s ability to play well in tournaments, so this year’s success didn’t come as a major surprise to all that many people.#4 Tom Dwan +$181,649Tom Dwan may have lost a fortune in prop bets (see intro), but he was able to prove that he can navigate more than the high stakes poker games on Full Tilt. Dwan played in so many events that he was sometimes registered for two active tournaments at the same time. The reason for this play was obvious, he wanted to ensure that he had the best chance possible of winning a WSOP bracelet.Dwan even played a number of events where he admittedly had little to no clue what he was doing. If he got a little lucky it wouldn’t have been an impossibility for him to win a Stud tournament or something along those lines, so it was more than worth the risk. The fact that Dwan had mounting buy-in fees but was still able to remain very profitable is a victory in and of itself, even if his bankroll took a hit.#5 Phil Ivey +$116,819Phi Ivey is commonly regarded as the best poker player in the world. He can play virtually any type of poker and he can play it better than just about anyone else. Ivey put his talents on display again in 2010 when he won his 8th WSOP bracelet in a H.O.R.S.E. event. Few events require players to have more dynamic skill sets than mixed game tournaments. Though Ivey won close to $330,000 for his first place effort, he still profited “only” $116,819 for the entire series. If nothing else, Ivey showed that you can’t win them all, even if you are the best in the world.It is one thing to luckbox a single event, but it is major skill when you find a way to be profitable almost every single year. There are certainly many years where some of the players on this list will lose a boatload of money, but it is obvious that they win a whole lot more than they lose. This is the mark of a truly great poker player. Of course, take out five coin flips, and this list might very well be completely different. Nevertheless, the following players deserve a lot of credit for their performances in this years series.

Is 2010 the Year of the Quitter? – Three Players Who Gave it Up

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:00:00 +0000

It is no secret that poker is a game that can and will grind just about anyone down. There are few areas in life where you can do everything right and still fall short. It doesn’t take many frustrating poker sessions for some players to call it quits. For others, it is a matter of realizing that there is life at the end of the tunnel. Poker can be a ton of fun when you are winning, and it even gives you a sort of high, but few things can be more frustrating than losing in poker.When some players get to this point, they challenge themselves to push through and make the best of it. For other players, though, this is when it’s time to call it quits. Calling it quits is not as lazy as it might sound. In poker, quitting the game might be an infinitely better choice than pushing through the tough times. It can be hard to explain this to someone who hasn’t really experienced the ups and downs that come with the game, but it is a harsh reality.For these three poker players, poker is a mere thing of the past. When they say they are quitting the game, however, it should not be interpreted quite so literally. For most people, quitting means never doing something again. But as the saying goes, you don’t quit poker, poker quits you. This is the point where these players are now. McDonald and Benefield have hardly wrapped up their careers completely, but Eastgate appears set on a graceful departure from the game that made him a celebrity and a millionaire.One of the most curious things about this lot of players is their age. None of them have been around the game for more than a few years, and yet they have already decided that it is not their true calling. This is something that takes a lot of people 20 years to realize, whether it be in regards to poker or another career path.Another interesting note about these players is that only Benefield has proven an ability to beat high stakes cash games with consistency. If you can effectively beat cash games, there will always be money flowing in. With multi-table tournaments, as was the case with Eastgate and McDonald, you will be stuck without hitting the right hands. Nonetheless, credit needs to be given to these players for stepping forward and admitting that poker isn’t for them, and that they really want to move on with their lives.Mike McDonaldMike McDonald is perhaps the least-known player on this list. He won an EPT event in 2008 for over 1 million dollars, but has kept a relatively low profile. He is best known as Timex on the Two Plus Two forums, and can often be found chiming in on any random thread. His exit from poker was not exactly quiet or subtle, in fact, it was quite the opposite After making a blog post about how he wanted to move onto new things, the poker community quickly labeled McDonald as an emo kid who was just on a downswing.This doesn’t appear to be the actual case, however, as he has maintained that he will in fact be dropping the game. He admits that he will be playing a handful of events, but also notes that these were planned prior to his decision to quit poker. McDonald is still very young, and although he says he is done, there is always a shot that he is back on the poker scene within a short amount of time.Peter EastgateWe know that Peter Eastgate was serious about his departure from poker because even his sponsor, PokerStars, made an official release on their website. Although PokerStars touted Eastgate’s plans as a minor break, it has become apparent that Eastgate simply wants out of the poker world. It can be quite a daunting task to live up to expectations when you become the youngest Main Event winner in World Series of Poker history.Even if this feat has since been topped by Joe Cada, Eastgate remains one of the younger well-known players in the game. He is striving to live a more laid back life and wants to abandon the high-stress lifestyle that poker brings, but who can blame him? Sometimes fame and fortune make life a lot more difficult than could have possibly been anticipated.David BenefieldDavid Benefield, commonly referred to as Raptor, is a popular high stakes poker player. He is perhaps best known by his association to Tom Dwan (durrrr) and the Ship It Holla Ballas. If you don’t remember that crew of poker players, you probably arrived on the poker scene just a few years too late. With that said, Benefield and his crew were the absolute kings of online poker when the high stakes action was in its prime.You will still find the likes of Tom Dwan in the nosebleed games, but most of the other Ship It Holla Ballas have faded off into relative obscurity. Benefield opted to go back to school, as he thought it would be a challenge and that he would enjoy the overall change of pace. There is little doubt that he has a well-padded bankroll from his poker days, so Benefield’s future looks about as bright as any other former high stakes poker pro. That is, of course, unless you enjoy devastating hundred thousand dollar swings on a daily basis. Obviously that’s not what Benefield is into, though.

Progress Made at Yesterday’s Online Poker Hearing in Congress

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Yesterday was the first definitive win for online poker since Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced HR 2267 on May 6, 2009. After a few delays and pointless hearings, progress was finally made, and the bill may be going to mark-up and then a vote in the near future.Perhaps the most notable speaker at yesterday’s hearing was UB Poker’s Annie Duke who was representing the Poker Players Alliance. Duke put opponents of a legal and regulated online poker environment on the defensive throughout the hearing, and along with Lynn Malorba of the Mohegan Tribe was able to refute (not “refudiate” as Sarah Palin might say) all of the main arguments against online poker.First was the confrontation between Annie Duke and Representative Spencer Bacchus (R-AL) who is one of online poker’s biggest opponents. Bacchus confronted Duke on her affiliation with Ultimate Bet, which was embroiled in the biggest online poker scandal in history. To her credit Duke responded by saying the incident shows precisely why regulation and oversight are needed in the industry, and then defended UB Poker’s handling of the situation, and why further action could not be taken against the perpetrator Russ Hamilton:The site self-regulated and refunded all the money to its customers. I would prefer to have something like HR 2267 so that the government could oversee that regulation … The one individual who perpetrated the crime and breached the software has not been prosecuted because unfortunately there is no jurisdiction to do so.Next it was Lynn Malorba’s turn to disprove another popular falsehood about legalized online poker, this time from Congressman Joe Baca (D-CA). Baca claimed that Native American tribes would be forced to give up their sovereignty if they paid the federal government a 2% tax on online poker –assuming of course Indian tribes get into the online poker market.Apparently Baca was unaware that Malorba, who represents the Mohegan Tribe and is in line to become the tribe’s Chief, might have a little expert knowledge on Indian Tribes, Gaming, and taxes! Malorba explained that Indian tribes already pay plenty in taxes on their gaming revenue, and that she would welcome a 2% tax, since they currently pay 25% tax on their slots revenue!The final argument as always was the children: THE CHILDREN, will someone please think about the children!!! When the opponents of online poker played their trump card –the corruptible innocence of children- Duke and others were there to point out that other countries with legalized online gambling have implemented safeguards that are better than ID checks at land-based casinos. And Congressman Frank even got involved (in his straightforward way) saying:You can protect children, but this is not a protection of children. This is a ban on all activity…The poor children here are being used here by the people who don’t like gambling,And as I always say; you need money –a checking account/credit card-to gamble online, so where are these underage kids getting it? It’s obviously parents facilitating the activity, and this cannot be curtailed without a regulated online poker industry.

The Five Biggest Swings in Online Poker History

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Online poker has seen some of the craziest swings in the history of the game. Before tracking of online poker became the standard, swings were nothing more than rumors, with documented variance being rare. In time, however, virtually every hand of poker was documented and permanently recorded. Many players and spectators often wondered what types of bankroll swings that high stakes pros endured, but now everyone is able to see it first hand.There are some players who are on permanent poker roller coasters, like Illari Sahamies, better known as Ziigmund, while there are other players who came and went in a flash, like Isildur1. The huge swings have grasped poker fan boys around the world, and the stakes just keep getting higher and higher.#1 – Isildur1Isildur1 was the man of mystery in online poker for the latter stages of 2009 and the beginning of 2010. Besides having a playing style that was impossible to defeat, Isildur1 was also an unknown in the poker world, literally. No one even knew his name, and speculation swirled as onlookers made their best guesses as to the true identity of Isildur1. It was later determined that Isildur1 was in fact Viktor Blom, a player from Sweden.Why is Isildur1 #1?Isildur1 is known for his crazy, sometimes reckless, playing style. He would run over opponents one day, and donate his entire roll the next. Isildur1 is one of the only high stakes poker players who would play 8 or more tables at a time. This was unheard of in the world of nosebleed heads up poker. He crushed the No Limit Hold’em games, but lost everything he had in Omaha. When all was said and done, Isildur1 went on a massive 7 million dollar downswing, with a chunk of it coming in just one day to Brian Hastings. He has returned to the tables sporadically, but it is unlikely that Isildur1 will ever recover the magic touch he had in 2009.#2 – DurrrrDurrrr, also known as Tom Dwan, may not have the biggest overall swings, but he is certainly online poker’s king of swing. With ups and downs in the millions, Dwan has consistently proven that he is never down and out. At one point in time, doubters were claiming that Durrrr was broke, and that he would never again fill a seat at the virtual felt. This proved to be far from the truth, however, and Durrrr returned better than ever. He plays televised cash games, online cash games, and is one of the best players in the world, but he has endured more than his fair share of variance.Why is durrrr #2?Durrrr made sure to start off the online poker tracking with a bang, promptly dropping over 1 million dollars as soon as his games were fully tracked. This was nothing, however, compared to the 6 million plus that he would eventually lose in 2009 and into 2010. While seemingly at his breaking point, Dwan fought back to recover nearly all of his 6 million dollars in losses. All good things must come to an end, though, as Dwan again lost almost 4 million dollars. He stands poised to make yet another comeback, all in an attempt to regain some consistency in his play. Consistency isn’t likely, however, as his playing style allows for extremely volatile shifts with each session he plays.#3 – ZiigmundZiigmund is nuts, this is 100% verified. He is nuts when he plays poker, and he is nuts when he is out partying. From the railbird#8217;s point of view, Ziigmund is as entertaining as it gets. His real name is Illari Sahamies, and he is no stranger to high stakes poker. Having made numerous TV appearances, Ziigmund is known as one of Patrik Anotnius’s best friends, and the two often collide at the tables. Never one to single out an opponent, Ziigmund also enjoys berating Gus Hansen amongst other name pros. His abrasive manner has gained him a cult following in the online poker world.Why is Ziigmund #3?Ziigmund’s lifetime earnings are like one big Richter Scale. It is almost as if an earthquake erupts whenever Ziigmund starts to play online poker. He can’t seem to find a groove no matter how hard he tries, despite being one of the elite players in the world. Ziigmund’s Omaha play is one of the reasons that his earnings are so wildly inconsistent. He has noted that he doesn’t ever try to delve into the strategy of the game, but maybe a more practical approach to poker would help to calm his multi-million dollar wild swings. But, then again, what fun would that be?#4 – Gus HansenGus Hansen has had one of the longest-standing reputations in poker for being wild, aggressive, and unpredictable. This unique playing style has earned him one the most distinct earnings patterns in the game. If Hansen’s online earnings (and losses) were outlined in a graph, they would resemble a perfect “U.” Up, down, and then back up again. Gus has worked hard to cancel out a prolonged downswing, and has put himself squarely into the black. Perhaps he has decided that his crazy play was too much for even him to handle. Or, maybe, his opponents still don’t know how to combat his aggressive style.Why is Gus Hansen #4?Gus Hansen’s poker career has been one of many peaks and valleys, there is no doubt about it, but they are very long peaks and valleys. When Gus loses, he really loses. Where some players might lose for a few days, Hansen has managed to compile month long losing streaks with relative ease. Of course, this is nothing to brag about. On the flip side, however, Hansen has also strung together quite a few winning weeks. In the end, Hansen has to put up with a lot of variance, but he makes money regardless. Few players would be able to withstand the never ending downswings that Hansen does, but that is why he is able to earn millions in the toughest games online.#5 – Patrik AntoniusAside from battling with the legendary Isildur1, Patrik Antonius has also played a long match with Tom Dwan. The first player to step up to the “Durrrr Challenge”, he has kept the competition close. Durrrr challenged any player to beat him in 50,000 hands of head up play, and Antonius quickly accepted. Despite jumping out to a significant lead early on, Dwan has since lost ground and things are much closer to even. In the midst of all of this, Patrik played in the largest hand in online poker history, winning a 1.37 million dollar pot against Isildur1.Why is Patrik Antonius #5?Patrik has had some quiet months, but his play has created some dramatic swings. Losing millions in a matter of days and weeks, Antonius also figured out a way to earn millions on the same time period. His wins are gone as soon as they roll in, but his bankroll is always replenished, one way or another. Antonius is a feared player in all of the biggest online games, be it Hold’em, Omaha, or a Mixed Game. One of the world’s greatest cash game players, Antonius knows how to handle some of the most extreme swings in the game’s history.

The Best Online Poker Players Who Suck at Live Poker

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Online poker is given much of the credit for the poker boom, but there are plenty of online players who can’t translate their success to the live arena. This could be for many reasons, be it bad luck or otherwise. Most of the players who struggle live are unknown outside of the online poker communities, so their struggles are never widely publicized. Beyond this, tournament play is most widely presented on TV, where many online stars stick to cash games. This list is subject to change, but for now, these guys just can’t get a grip on the real life felt.#1 – Shaun DeebShaun Deeb is one of the most popular names in online poker, particularly in the MTT community. While he dominates online, he is far from a live poker champ. He did win one live major tournament in Kyiv, but the event had a grand total of three entrants, so it hardly counts for anything.Deeb’s other live successes have been far and few between. Not only has Deeb struggled to make a name for himself off the Internet, but he has also been the subject of controversy in a dispute with Daniel Negreanu. Deeb contested Negreanu’s wording when he made a raise in a live poker tournament, and the conflict was prominently displayed on TV and talked about online. Deeb might change things around in the future, or maybe his luckbox is broken in the casino.UPDATE – Shaun recently played in the 2010 WSOP Ladies-Only event (as a result of a losing prop bet), but failed to make the money (like usual). For those of you who are wondering how he could play in a Ladies-Only event: due to anti-discriminatory laws, the WSOP can#8217;t legally exclude men from playing.#2 – Lex VeldhuisLex Veldhuis is the “lol” mention on this list. Somehow Veldhuis has managed to become a PokerStars Team Pro, play on High Stakes Poker, and get never-ending mentions on poker forums around the world. The question is, why? Veldhuis has never really done anything, online or offline (other than date Evelyn Ng).His cash game history is abysmal, and he has proven that he has no clue what he is doing against tough opponents. Veldhuis is one of the luckiest poker players if only because he has made a name for himself without ever doing anything. His live tournament results might not be impressive, but his ability to deceive the public deserves an award in itself.#3 – Isildur1Isilsur1, also known as Viktor Blom, might not have many live tournament results, but the ones he does have are laughable. His World Series of Poker Europe implosion has been posted and reposted on every poker forum on the Internet (video below):His aggressive style of play is perfect for some of the high stakes poker games that he plays on the Internet, but it is terrible for live (or even online) tournaments. Isildur1 is on this list for the quality of misstep that he provided in his primary televised appearance, but there is no reason why he can’t go on to have a successful live poker career.#4 – Chris MoneymakerHuh? Chris Moneymaker? He may come as a surprise on this list, but think about it, how did Moneymaker earn his Main Event seat in 2003? Through a satellite on PokerStars.com. (Moneymaker won a $39 18-man satellite, which put him into a direct qualifier to the Main Event, which he also won).He then proceeded to luckbox his way to a World Series of Poker Main Event victory, an accomplishment that would spur the online poker boom. Most players think of Moneymaker as a live player, but the reality is that he too was an online poker convert.#5 – Phil Galfond/Tom DwanPhil Galfond and Tom Dwan are two of the biggest names in all of online poker. They do not belong on this list, especially after their performances in 2010, but these two players stand to represent proof that online players can indeed play well live. Both in tournaments and cash games, Galfond and Dwan have proven that they know what they are doing in live events. Contrary to what Phil Hellmuth might believe (and hope), online players generally perform quite well in live environments.