Texas Holdem Dictionary of Terms: F

Face Card- A jack, Queen or King card of any suit.

Fade- Fade or fade outs is a poker term to describe when a player has to avoid many outs in order to win a poker hand.

Family Pot- A family pot is one in which many or all of the players are involved in the hand of poker therefore contributing to the pot.

Fast- Playing fast is poker slang for playing a particular hand of poker very aggressively, quite the opposite of slow play.

FFS- Is the acronym used around poker tables to avoid abusive language standing for “FOR F**** SAKE. Words that we have all mutter after a bad beat at the poker table.

Fill Up- A slang term used to describe when a player holding two pair before a card hits the poker table giving the player a full house.

Fish- Fish is the term giving to new or inexperienced players.

Float- Floating is when a poker player calls a bet with no hand in an attempt to bluff his way to winning the hand.

Floorman- Floorman is a card room employee responsible for managing the tables and enforcing the game rules.

Flop- The flop is the first three community cards to be laid down on the table.

Flop a Set- To flop a set is to make 3 of kind when the first three community cards are laid down.

Flush- A flush is a hand made up of 5 cards, all of the same suit. A great hand.

Fold Equity- Fold equity comes into to play when there is a short stack in a game. It is based on the probability that an opponent will fold if a player moves all in.

Forced Bet- Forced bets are the blinds and antes that players must contribute in order to continue playing the game.

Four of a Kind- A golden hand referring to when a player has hold all four cards of the same value. Eg 4,4,4,4.

Four to a Straight- Four to a flush refers to when a player has four connected cards requiring one more card to make a straight.

FPP- Referring to frequent player points which are awarded to players on Pokerstars for amount of time played or rake deposited.

Free Card- A free card is one that gets seen by all those players in the hand after everyone has checked and no betting has occurred.

Freeroll- Freeroll refers to a poker tournament that is free to enter requiring no stake.

Full Barn- Slang for the hand Full House.

Full House- A full house is one of the best hands in poker made up of one pair and a three of a kind.

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Posted in: Cards,Hobbies,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker Dictionary,Poker Glossary,Poker Terms,Texas Holdem

Poker, Knowing your Opponents and How to Beat Them!

Most players fall into one of four categories or styles of play and then try their best to disguise this to the best of their abilities. Once you know what to look for you will very quickly be able to place your opponents into one of these groups and begin to work out a strategy how best to beat them.

The 4 categories are:

1)    Tight-Passive
A tight-passive player is one that typically won’t raise or call unless they are confident they have a particularly strong hand. They are seen as weak players who can be pushed off most hands since they are risk averse. If you suddenly notice them bravely placing a bet or moving “all in” then chances are they have a great opening hand or have flopped a monster. In most cases you would be wise to stand aside and let them claim the occasional pot unless you are sure you have them clearly beat. This style of player is normally one of the easiest to spot and read so you can adapt your play and beat

2)    Loose-Passive
Loose-passive players are known as “calling stations” as they will call most hands and will very seldom fold once they have seen the flop if they have any sort of cards. Most amateurs known as “fish” will fall into this category as they have yet to learn the art of patience and are just happy to be in the game. They will often call and check with medium pairs and high cards in the hope of a lucky turn or river card, and annoyingly sometimes they do get lucky. In most instances it will prove difficult to bluff these players off a hand with a raise as they will just call the bet hoping for divine intervention.

Be prepared to raise with a decent hand but be careful of the bet size as too large will only scare off  your opponent. The use of continuation bets will enable you to build the pot throughout the hand as you look to take as many chips as you can.

3)    Tight-Aggressive
Tight-aggressive players tend to play very few hands, only the best will do. Beware should they have one they will bet aggressively and try and take a large proportion of your chip stack. This type of player will seldom bluff and chooses their hands carefully before playing. Instead of limping in they will play the percentages, betting and raising to stop competitors from seeing free cards and making a hand. If they make a good hand they will use large and aggressive bets on the turn and river to build up significant pots. This style of play is relatively easy to spot, so to avoid getting typed by your competitors you will need to mix up your play and throw in some bluffs as well as a few different opening hands.

4)    Loose-Aggressive
Many of the most famous poker players are classified as loose aggressive, always prepared to move “all in” the true high-rollers of the Texas Holdem poker world. Known as the  maniacs of the poker table these players will call and raise with little more than a 7,2 but they could just as well have a hand to really hurt you separating you from a large amount of your chips. This is what makes them the hardest style of player to read so you may well be biting your nails if you decide to go head to head. This style of play can be very effective but not without its weaknesses. I urge caution, look for tells and watch for a players betting patterns with other players before you decide to cast your hook and reel them in.  

The great players of this world are able to move between the four different categories or disguise themselves in such a way making others players believe they are playing one way when in fact they are playing another. Thus setting the trap.

Identifying Playing Styles and Building Leverage.

Learning to read and play against the different types of player takes time but is most commonly determined by observing your opponents and their actions. The two critical observations that you need to make are:

1)    How many hands a player typically plays

2)    The players betting patterns

A person who plays relatively few hands is said to be tight and risk averse this means they only tend to play premium hands in an attempt to win the pot. Loose players on the other hand will forever pay to see the flop in the hope of making a hand on the turn or river. Clearly the frequency of hands played between the two styles of play is very different allowing you to identify the different players.

Secondly players betting patterns are either known as passive, a person who often checks and calls when compared to those players who tend to bet and raise, the aggressive players of the poker world. Between the two observations you can make some fairly strong assumptions about your competitors and estimate the types of hand that they are likely to play. This should allow you to make more informed decisions about the hands before you decide to play and hopefully increase your chances of winning.

There is no winning formula to poker, just right and wrong decisions. The more information you have hopefully enables you to make a few less wrong decisions and a few more right ones.

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Posted in: Cards,Casino,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker Lessons,Texas Holdem

Full Tilt Poker Signals a Tactical Withdraw from the US.

Full Tilt Poker last night dismissed the employees for its US operation, at this point it is not clear how many people have been affected. What it does signal is that Full Tilt Poker and a great many of the other Poker Sites are now going to have to dig in and prepare for a much longer war with the US government over the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, 2006 which prohibits these companies from accepting US citizens onto their sites.

Many would argue that this is blatant protectionism by the US government as many of the companies affected are located in Europe and other countries outside of the US this is merely an attempt to grab a little tax dollar. Some companies are still continuing to trading within the US, however when you look a little closer many of them would seem to operate from within the safety of American cities and conveniently adhere to US tax laws. The European Union has some of the strictest code of ethics and business practices and the online poker industry has been assessed to the highest of standards, I wonder if the US is worried about its citizen’s ability to make decisions on playing poker or more conscious of the millions of dollars these companies are making outside of its borders. If poker has become such a concern to the politicians, then surely Las Vegas, Nevada and its many casinos should worry if they are next on the hit list, although somehow I feel they will just be fine. Surely this is a story that has a long way to run with world trade organisations from Europe and around the world set to appeal America’s unfair trade practices. God bless America!

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Posted in: America,Business,Card Rooms,Europe,Law,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker rooms,Texas Holdem

Featured Player: Tow Dwan, the Baby Faced Assassin.

 

Born in 1986, Tom started his poker career at the age of 17 with the $50 given to him by his father for his birthday. Learning his trade at the $6 sit and go tournament tables Dwan progressed quickly to playing his preferred game high stakes heads up no-limit holdem poker.

According to HighStakesDB.com, a site responsible for tracking high stakes online poker action Tom earned $312,000 in 2007 before going on a rich vein of form banking winnings of $5,500,000 in 2008.

Nicknamed “Durrr”, Tom’s online poker career gives perhaps no better example of the highs and lows of no-limit heads up poker. Since 2009, Durrr has recoded some of the largest online wins reported earning $1,600,000 in as little as a couple of hours. In contrast he was on the wrong end of the largest winning run in history of online poker losing $5,000,000 to a Swedish player by the name of Isildur1. By the end of 2010 the ups and downs worked out in Toms favour allowing leaving him with a further $3,300,000.

While Durrr has numerous cash finishes in various tournaments from around the world he has yet to win one, he does however hold the current world record for the largest pot won in a live recorded game, a mere $1,100,000.

Tom is a Full Tilt Poker pro and while he is now a regular on the live poker circuit, his first passion online poker remains the place where he spends most of his time and earns the majority of his bounty.

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Posted in: Cards,Hobbies,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker Professionals,Texas Holdem,Tom Dwan

Poker Lessons from the Professor, Howard Lederer, Part TWO.

Now that you have been practicing all that you have learnt in PART ONE it is time to watch the final 6 videos of the series to complete your lessons by ‘the poker professor,’ Howard Lederer.  Watch these informative videos to see how the professionals think and the moves they make to win a hand! As you will see it is not always about the cards that you are dealt and the best hand does not always win the pot, so learn from a real poker pro and improve your game.

Video SIX:

Hand selection, opponents tells and pot control.

Video SEVEN:

Poker tells and value betting.

Video EIGHT:

Examples of some great poker plays and how you can apply the skills you have learnt.

Video NINE:

Small pot play and when to go all in!

Video TEN:

Example of some poker plays to add to your armoury when playing the game.

Video ELEVEN:

The mental approach to poker and building your style of play.

 

Spend the time to watch and learn from 'the Poker Professor', improve your game and hopefully your chip stack. Let everyone know how your game is going, tell the world if you have won or lost. Here is your chance to join a poker community.

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Posted in: Cards,Casino,Free Poker,Howard Lederer,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker Lessons,Texas Holdem

Featured Player: Howard Lederer, the Poker Professor.

 

Part of a poker dynasty Howard Lederer is brother to the poker professional Annie Duke. Far from standing in the shadow of Annie, Howard has won 2 World Series of Poker bracelets and 2 World Poker Tour titles since turning professional back in 1994. Lederer is known as ‘the Poker Professor’ because of his controlled mathematical and analytical approach to playing the game, a proven method that has delivered success and substantial career earnings

Howard Lederer is also one of the founding members of Tiltware Inc the company responsible for the creation of the card room Full Tilt Poker one of the fastest growing poker sites on the web today. Lederer has taken to broadcasting and co-hosts Poker Superstars and Learn from the Pros for Fox Broadcasting as well as making instructional videos for those wishing to take up the game. To add to the dynasty Howards younger sister Katy wrote a book about the family entitled ‘Poker Face: A Girlhood among Gamblers.’

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Posted in: 888 Poker,Cards,Howard Lederer,Online Gambling,Texas Holdem

The Great Poker Challenge!

The laws of physics state that something cannot be created from nothing. Well in poker the laws of physics are there to be broken. The challenge is to take a poker account with no deposit and like a plant see how far with nurture and care you can grow it. Skill and knowledge of the game are your food and water, so can you grow as a player while growing your chip stack?

Intelligent play, a read on the game and a little luck along the way could allow you to start your poker career online for the initial investment of NOTHING. Most of the large recognised online poker rooms now offer free to enter tournaments where players can join to learn the game with a chance of winning real money! What’s more 888 Poker now offers new members $8 when they first sign up plus the usual introductory bonuses, a great offer to join real money games straight away. So if you have played a little poker or perhaps see the stars on play on TV then now is your chance to have a go for free!

Log on and leave messages to tell me of your biggest pot win or loss. This is your chance to get some recognition showing new players what can be done. Join this blog and the 'Great Poker Challenge' to find out who has flopped at the first hurdle or taken their first tournament win. Join BlueiPoker and receive hints and tips from other players while catching up on news from the world of poker and which poker rooms you should be playing at!

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Posted in: 888 Poker,Cards,Free Poker,Gambling,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker,Poker Strategies,Texas Holdem

The fundamental theorem of poker by David Sklansky.

The fundamental theorem of poker, introduced by David Sklansky, states that: every time you play your hand the way you would if you could see your opponent's cards, you gain, and every time your opponent plays their cards differently from the way they would play them if they could see your cards, you gain.This theorem is the foundation for many poker strategy topics. An example would be, bluffing or slow-playing are examples of using deception to induce your opponents to play differently than they would if they could see your cards. As expected there are some exceptions to the fundamental theorem in certain multi-way pot situations described in Morton's theorem.

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Posted in: Cards,Online Gambling,Poker,Poker Books,Poker Strategies,Texas Holdem

Top 10 Books to Improve your Game of Poker.

Poker has fast become the biggest card game to be played online. Daily thousands of players join a card room of their choice were simple staggering amounts of money exchange hands as fortunes are made and lost with the turn of a card. No longer is poker the reserve of the few huddled around green felt tables in smoke filled casinos. Millions of players now play online and have completely revolutionised the game with winners becoming celebrities as the game is televised around the world. So you may have seen the game on TV or perhaps even played a little and begun to understand the complexities of the game. Here is a list of the 10 best books to be written on Texas Holdem poker designed to help improve your game and make you a better player.

Poker is a very easy game to play but one that is incredibly difficult to play well. It has been describe by some as a game of chance, if that be the case how come the same few player keep consistently making the final tables and winning? Each one of these books will provide you with valuable insight in to the game from leading professionals providing you with tips, hints and strategies to make you a more effective poker player. Understand pot odds and the concept of risk versus reward to help you make more informed decisions before you play a hand of poker and risk your hard earned chip stack. So if you’re serious about playing the game here is a review of your homework to help you decide which book you should start with first. If you think other books should have been added to the list then please feel free to comment and enter the debate.

Title: Ace on the River.                                                                                   

Author: Barry Greenstein.

Ace on the River was written by one of the original pros Barry Greenstein. Whether you are still learning the rules of the game or already established around the green felt of the poker table this book has something to offer everyone. Well written this book provides an insight into the world of poker highlighting the highs and the pitfalls bring some perspective to the game. Find strategies and tips that are logical and well explained and will help improve your game no matter what your level.

 Title: The Theory of Poker.

 Author: David Sklunsky

While written some time ago this book remains one of the most important reads to anyone interested in playing the game of poker. Poker is an easy game to play but one that very few can say they have mastered. Reading this book will give you a better understanding of the game and how to play it more effectively. Understand common situations and learn strategies to improve your game, this book is a must for all poker players and cannot fail to improve your game.

Title: Super System I

Author: Doyle Brunson

Originally posted in the 1970's this book still remains one of the essential reads for any poker player wanting to learn and improve their game. Providing excellent insight into how hands should be played this book is regarded by many as one of the best books to serve the poker industry. Regardless of ability this book will educate and improve you helping you become a better poker player give you new strategies and plays to take on the very best.

Title: Super System II

Author: Doyle Brunson.

While this book could be called an update of the first edition it includes some very important extras that make it an important read. Super System II acknowledges the development of the game and features chapters on online poker play, tournaments and the variation of Omaha poker. Readers will be given advice on styles of play and strategies that will help players cope with the fast paced nature of the online game, all useful developing your game.

Title: Harrington on Holdem

Author: Dan Harrington

Dan Harrington is widely acknowledge to be one of the most accomplished Texas Holdem poker players having consistently achieved numerous final tables and tournament wins in some of the largest tournaments to be hosted around the world. His book goes into detail explaining the methods and strategies need to get through the different stages of a tournament, from surviving the early rounds to playing poker when hands and games need to be closed out. A book definitely worth reading!

Title: Playing Poker Like the Pros.

Author: Phil Hellmuth

With 11 World Series of Poker bracelet wins Phil Hellmuth has earned the right to offer his opinion on how the game should be played. ‘Playing Poker like the Pros’ attempts to break down the language of the game and code of conduct around the poker table so anyone can join a game and feel like they belong there. From mastering the basics this book will help you to develop strategies and plays that really will allow you to compete with the pros, the rest is down to you.

Title: Poker: The Real Deal.

Author: Phil Gordon

A well written overview of the game of poker this book attempts to explain the terminology, etiquette and general rules of the game for anyone sitting down at a poker table. Diagrams help to describe basic poker plays with quotes from recent films keeping the book light hearted and an easy read. This does not mean that is lacks in detail and technical information for the card hounds out there. Reading 'The Real Deal' is a must if you are serious about playing the game of poker and wanting to improve and play against the high rollers.

Title: Texas Holdem: Odd and Probabilities.

Author: Matthew Hilger

How often does a starting pair of Kings win a hand of poker? What are the odds that your opponent has a better hand than you? What is the risk versus reward of a particular hand? Good poker players consider all these options when playing a hand. Odds and probabilities are key to effective poker, helping to making the right decisions at the right time and then hoping for a little luck along the way. Matthew Hilger shows you don't have to have a degree in maths to apply these rules and become a better poker player.

Title: Internet Texas Holdem

Author: Matthew Hilger

With the surge in popularity of internet poker this book has quickly become the reference guide for many wanting to improve their online presence and in turn increase their chip stack. Practical and well set out this book begins with starting hands and covers situations and strategies to improve your game and avoid the bad plays that can ruin your game. An excellent reference guide this book is not a onetime read but one you should find yourself constantly referring to as you sit at your virtual poker table.  

Title: Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time

Author: Eric ‘Rizen’ Lynch

A collaboration of work between three recognized pros in the world of poker this book goes to great length explaining actual tournament hands played by the authors and their thoughts and strategies employed to make the right moves. This book provides an insight into the mind-set of a player as he faces the hands he is dealt and the moves put down by his opponents giving glimpse of plays and tactics that have gone on to make these players the successful poker champions that they are. 

All of these books are written by someone qualified to offer an opinion on the game of poker, and are a mere selection from the vast number produced each year. As the game of poker continues to grow unabated many book titles will be added but few will offer the knowledge and resources of these select few. So if you are determined to become a better poker player then look no further than the library of knowledge above.

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker,Poker Books,Poker Strategies,Texas Holdem

INFO: List of Winning Hands.

If your wanting to learn to play the game of poker, or just want a quick reference then here is a graphic for the order of winning hands in poker. Use it as a guide to help you play. After all most players know that sometimes your have to call and sometimes you have to fold. It is the great players that know when to do it!

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker,Poker Rules

SIRE REVIEW: Titan Poker.

History:
Titan Poker is the premier international brand of the iPoker Network.  To keep this international feel Titan Poker offers its software in 11 Languages allowing people to log on from around the world. Receiving rave reviews Titan Poker has established itself amongst stiff competition and is now regularly represented during the World Series and on most televised games.

Site & Game Play:
Titan Poker is standing out amongst the competition, great design has made Titan software look great and easy to use. Fast and secure Titan Poker offers some one of the best poker experiences currently to be found online. Good bonuses encourage new players to deposit and a wide range of games make sure that they keep on coming back. Titan has good site traffic so finding a game will never be difficult. Finally Titan Poker provides excellent satellite tournaments giving people the chance to win seats at live events and in the major tournaments, further reasons to sign up and play with Titan.

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Poker,Texas Holdem,Titan Poker

SITE REVIEW: William Hill Poker.

History:
William Hill has been around since 1934, when gambling in the UK was banned. It has been bought and sold numerous times and now finds itself floating on the London stock exchange. One of the oldest cardrooms in the UK William Hill caters predominantly for UK and European poker players whilst also providing a wide range of gambling options from sports betting to casino.

Site & Game Play:
Falling in line with most online poker rooms William Hill Poker provides players with good online software allowing for fast and easy play that provides an enjoyable experience. The site shows good levels of traffic even after all US players have been prevented from playing along. Games are regular and play is best described as loose with so many new players coming from the sports betting side of the William Hill operation. There are some of the best bonuses for online poker players new to the website, this should add extra reason as to why players will enjoy playing at William Hill.

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Poker,Texas Holdem,William Hill Poker

SIRE REVIEW: Absolute Poker.

History:

Absolute Poker is a relative newcomer to the world of online poker. Created from the merger of several companies Absolute Poker launched in 2008 into this highly competitive market as part of the Cereus Poker Network.  The Cereus Poker Network is privately owned by Blanca Games once one of the largest online card rooms prior to software security issues that were exploited by an employee. Since then the brand and company software have undergone a complete overhaul to produce the site that thousands of people now use today.


Site & Game Play:
Major investment has seen the development of the Absolute Poker brand to produce an excellent website that is easy to operate and use. Simple intuitive controls allow for fast and clear gameplay making it easy to follow and play in the hundreds of games available. While the site is not as large as some, good traffic remains constant so players will not struggle to find a poker game no matter what their budget or ability. A good feature for beginners are some great entry level tournaments to practice your game before you launch your poker career to help you learn the game and avoid early bankruptcy, a definite reccomentation.

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Posted in: Absolute Poker,Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Poker,Texas Holdem

SIRE REVIEW: 888 Poker.

 

History:

Developed by two brothers 888 Poker was one of the first online poker sites to play with real money. It operates with a gaming licence from Gibraltar, Europe and is part of a larger group Cassava Enterprises. After been hit hard by the 'Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement act,' 2006 set out by the US government 888 Poker has recently been redesigned and given a great new face lift and has seen a welcome increase in new members.

Site & Game Play:

A new design and new software means that 888 looks fresh and is easy to use. Definitely one of the best sites to play with and use. Excellent security and strong ethics mean new players can join with confidence and start their poker career with 888 Poker. Many people use 888 casino and will find their way to a poker room, as a result 888 has a far higher proportion of new players to sharks and experts when compared to other sites. The site does not have the traffic of many large poker sites but you can still expect several thousand players online at any one time with a good range of games to choose from.

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Posted in: 888 Poker,Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker,Texas Holdem

SITE REVIEW: Pokerstars.

History:

Pokerstars is now officially the world's largest poker room with up to 300,000 players logged on at any one time all hoping to claim the next pot. The first cards of the companies inaugural hand were dealt in September 2001 and people could play for real money from December of the same year.  It has then gone on to hold the record for the largest single online tournament with 150,000 competitors set in 2009. Privately owned with the majority share holding held by the Scheinberg family of Israel, Pokerstars sponsors many of the main events associated with the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and has a large advertising presence which can not be missed both online and on television.

Site & Game Play:

Pokerstars through large amounts of investment now provides one of best gaming experiences for the online poker player. Simple controls and instructions allow a person to sign up and join a game securely with the download of a small piece of software and a few clicks of the mouse. Thousands of online players mean you have excellent choice in the number and type of games available to play. Tournaments buy-ins start from as little as $0.25 and cash games have blinds of just a few cents however if you have deeper pockets there are many games that see hands won and lost for thousands of dollars in the space of a few minutes! Game play is fast and sometime furious with many games featuring the turbo function so blinds come around quickly. This is a great site for both the new and established poker player as it has something to offer everyone. If you are new to the site make sure you take advantage of the sign up bonuses! 

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Poker,Pokerstars,Texas Holdem