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Sit & Go Madness returns this weekend. Win your share of $75,000 in additional cash and prizes playing your regular single-table Sit & Gos.

Play FTOPS satellites for your chance to win part of the record $18 million prize pool. Get in on the action for less in the first-ever MiniFTOPS, with entry fees of 1/10th the regular FTOPS events.

Turn $1 into your share of $10,000 in the new $10K Daily Dollar and $10K Daily Dollar Rebuy tournaments.

Medium stack decisions are tricky but learning how to play a medium stack is vital to tournament success. In this week's tip, Allen Cunningham focuses on playing a medium stack from early position.

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182

Playing a Medium Stack in Early Position

Allen Cunningham

March 23rd, 2009

For obvious reasons, we’d all rather have a medium stack than a short stack. But there is one advantage to being short-stacked: your decisions are easy. With a medium stack, almost every decision you make is complicated and almost every move is awkward.

A medium stack is defined as when you have about 30-40 big blinds, and learning how to play it is absolutely vital to tournament success. In most tournaments, you’ll have a stack that size from about the time half of the field has been eliminated all the way to the final table.

This means you’ll potentially spend up to half of your tournament in a position where every pot you play is pivotal and every decision is tricky. You have far too many chips just to open-shove, like you would with a smaller stack, and if you open for a standard raise, that’s already close to 10 percent of your stack that you’re putting at risk. So you can’t play too loose.

That said, you have to keep things in perspective: if you play too tight, you’ll quickly find yourself a short stack because of the rising antes and blinds. This can get even more complicated if you’re at a table with a lot of aggressive players; the temptation will be to play extra tight so you don’t waste chips raising and then folding. Always keep in mind that there will be times when you’ll have to take risks because the blinds and antes you can win by open-raising will help keep you afloat.

Focusing purely on the challenge of playing a medium stack in early position, my advice is that you should mostly be playing hands that you’re willing to play for your entire stack: if you’ve got pocket Tens or higher or even A-K, you want to try to get it all in. While you can expand this range to include pocket 8s and 9s, A-Q, A-Js or K-Qs, these are hands that you might want to get away from if you’re re-raised by a solid player.

Let’s say blinds are 250/500, I have 15,000 in my stack, and I’m dealt pocket Jacks. If I make a standard raise to 1,500, and a player in late position re-raises to 4,500, I’m just going to go ahead and shove all of my money in and hope for the best. I really can’t afford to be throwing those hands away with that sized stack.

If the situation is identical but I get smooth-called and the flop doesn’t scare me – something like 9-7-4 rainbow – I’m going to bet the flop and continue betting, raising or check-raising until I’m all in no matter what my opponent does. Without a scare card on board, you really can’t get away from the hand. You also don’t want to give free cards when the pot is already sizeable and any Ace or King could freeze you.

An exception to following through like that comes if I’m up against an aggressive player. Say I have pocket Jacks and make a standard pre-flop raise, an opponent in late position calls, and the flop comes Q-7-4 rainbow. Odds are that my Jacks are still the best hand, so I have to take my chances and proceed as if they are. But since my opponent is aggressive, I’ll check to him, and if he bets, I’ll check-raise him all-in. I’m giving him a chance to bluff, then protecting my hand with a big all-in bet if he does bluff. That will often work better than throwing out a continuation bet, which could make him fold any hand worse than mine. It’s also reasonable to make this play with A-A, A-Q or as a bluff with A-K.

Playing a medium stack in later positions is a different proposition. You’ll often have to deal with a raise from an early-position player, and if you don’t, the hand range you can open with is considerably wider.

But in early position, a tight-aggressive approach is definitely your best bet. Be careful about which hands you play, but once you decide to play a hand, be prepared to push with it.

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Join us for Friday Night Fights on March 20th at 21:00 ET, when Gus Hansen squares off with Andy Bloch. You can play in Knockout and Sweat tournaments while railing the Main Event.

Sit & Go Madness is back. Between Friday March 27th and 29th, you can win over $75,000 in additional cash and prizes by playing in regular Sit & Go tournaments.

Information about opponents can be picked up by an observant player before even sitting down at a table. In this week's tip, Taylor Caby outlines how these pre-game tells can increase your chances of playing a winning session.

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181

Pre-Game Online Tells

Taylor Caby

March 19th, 2008

When most poker players think about tells, they visualize physical actions that occur at the table. For example, the way an opponent’s hands start shaking whenever he has the nuts or the way he handles his chips in certain situations. Online players don’t have this sort of information to work with, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t tells in online play. There’s actually a great deal of information that an observant player can pick up on, and much of it can be discovered before you even sit down at a table. I call these important first impressions “pre-game tells.”

One of the most important pre-game tells is the size of your opponent’s buy-in. Whenever I sit down at a table, the first thing I look at is how much my opponents have bought in for in relation to the maximum amount allowed at that table. Most advanced players tend to buy in for as close to the table maximum as possible. They prefer to have as many chips on the table as they can, which gives them plenty of ammunition for bullying their opponents, bluffing, and semi-bluffing.

Weaker and inexperienced players are more inclined to buy in for a much smaller amount, often closer to the table minimum. By buying in short, weaker players are hoping to protect themselves from suffering a huge loss. What they don’t realize is that the more experienced players at the table are going to pick up on this sign of weakness. When I’m selecting a table, these are the types of players I’m looking to sit next to because they generally play scared. Be careful, though, because there are players who buy in for less than the table maximum that are actually winning players.

When you’re playing on Full Tilt Poker, you can also gauge how experienced your opponents are by simply looking around the table and observing if any of the players possess an Iron Man chip. This chip is awarded to players who play a certain amount of hands each day, in effect rewarding them for being grinders. Because these players play so often, they have spent many hours working on their games and they tend to be some of the better players on the site. If you are able to earn an Iron Man chip yourself, you may consider removing the icon so you don’t advertise that you are a serious player.

Another way to find more information about the players sitting at your table is to use Full Tilt Poker’s “Find a Player” feature. Simply click on the “Requests” tab in the lobby, select “Find a Player” and then type in your opponents’ screen names. By doing this, you can find out how many tables each of your opponents is sitting at, which can be an extremely telling bit of information. If one of your opponents is multi-tabling, playing at four or more tables at once, he will generally be a solid player, and quite often you will find that players who play this many tables at once are professionals.

When you add all this information together, it can tell you a great deal about a certain player’s level of experience. If the player you’re interested in bought in for the maximum amount, is sporting an Iron Man chip next to his avatar and is playing at eight tables at once, all signs point towards him being a very solid player, which is something you should keep in mind when you are playing a pot against this player. If most of the table fits this description, you might even consider selecting a different table to play at. On the other hand, if a player bought in for half of the maximum buy-in, doesn’t have an Iron Man Chip, and is only playing at one table, chances are he’s an inexperienced player and you’ll probably want to play as many pots with him as you can.

Because all of this information can be gleaned before you even play a single hand, you would be wise to use it when deciding which table you want to play at. Doing this will greatly increase your chances of having a winning session.

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Limit VS NL Hold Em

Limit vs. No Limit Texas Hold'em

Until the start of the current poker boom that dates back to 2003, you couldn’t find a No Limit Texas Hold’em cash game if you tried. Limit Hold’em ruled. But that all changed once No Limit tournaments started to air on television.

Back before the boom started, poker professionals played Limit games to pay the bills. And Hold’em wasn’t the only game they played. Stud, Omaha, Stud Hi-Lo, and Omaha Hi-Lo were also played – all of them Limit games.

Like these pro players, you can become a better overall player by investing the time and effort to learn both disciplines of the game. Playing Limit Hold’em will certainly improve your No Limit game. There are subtleties to the Limit game that will enhance your technique at the No Limit tables. Mastering these uniquely aggressive Limit tactics will enable you to steal more pots when you sit down to play No Limit Hold’em.

So, if you’re trying to make a living playing Hold’em, which is the better game to play, Limit or No Limit? Here are some factors to consider.

Go Fishing

Inexperienced players generally flock toward the No Limit tables because it’s clearly the most popular form of the game. Having said that, where the fish go, so go the sharks! As a result, you’ll often find that Limit games are even softer because the pros are concentrating on the No Limit games, baiting their hooks and reeling in their catch.

Playing the Percentages

Your winning percentage by session will likely be higher in No Limit games than in Limit games. Winning 65% of your sessions in Limit Hold’em is excellent. In No Limit, however, it’s not uncommon to log winning sessions 80% of the time.

That’s due to the natural differences between the two games. Less control can be exerted in Limit games because it’s more difficult to force players out of pots with structured betting. In No Limit, though, hands can be protected from being outdrawn by making large bets that force opponents to fold weak draws.

Bankroll Protection

Despite the fact that you’ll likely win a higher percentage of sessions in No Limit Hold’em, choosing to play Limit Hold’em is a safer decision to protect your bankroll. You won’t win as often, but you also won’t risk losing everything you have on any single hand.

Your results in Limit Hold’em will be more consistent over time, and that’s especially important if you plan to grind it out at the tables for 40 hours every week. No Limit Hold’em is simply a much more volatile game.

Level of Aggression

Contrary to popular belief, Limit Hold’em is the more aggressive form of the game. It’s characterized by constant raising and re-raising before the flop. On the other hand, No Limit Hold’em is played more carefully since any hand could cost you your entire stack.

If, for example, you flop top pair in Limit Hold’em, it’s usually correct to raise and re-raise on the flop. No Limit Hold’em should be played more cautiously. You need to be concerned about over pairs and flopped sets.

Pace of Play

Limit Hold’em is the game for you if you bore easily and crave fast action. Conversely, in No Limit, the game will often slow to a halt when someone is faced with a big decision. That’s uncommon in Limit games because all-in bets are rare.

Whatever game suits you best, learn to play both Limit and No Limit Texas Hold’em. Your overall game will definitely improve.

© 2009 Card Shark Media. All rights reserved.

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How to find the right game

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Play for your own pot of gold in the special Triple Points Happy Hours on St. Patrick's Day. Instead of double points, you'll earn triple Full Tilt Points during normal Happy Hours on March 17th.

When your losses and wins have the same meaning to you, Ben Roberts believes that you have the chance to become a great player as opposed to just a good one. In this week's tip, Ben discusses the importance of finding the right game for you... and playing it in the right frame of mind.

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180

Finding the Right Game and the Right Mindset

Ben Roberts

March, 2009

For me, poker is a game that is meant to be played joyfully, and the path to playing the game joyfully begins with finding the game that’s right for you and entering it in the right frame of mind.

If you’re going to be an emotional prisoner when it comes to your wins and losses, you won’t play at your best. You need to play with patience, joy and a certain amount of indifference towards winning and losing. You need to be cool, calm, collected and happy. It’s not about your skill level – that’s something you can improve on continuously. It’s about how you feel, as this affects the moves you make more than your skill or playing style.

Once you’ve attained the right mindset, you can proceed to finding the right game. I believe in watching a game for a while before you enter it. This gives you an advantage over your opponents because you can pick up on their tendencies. If you observe the way they play, you can adjust accordingly before they’ve had a chance to adjust to you.

This ties in directly to the concept of playing with joy, because experiencing different games and different opponents is what I think makes the game of poker so wonderful. Every time I wake up in my hotel room, ready to start a new day at the World Series of Poker, I’m excited. I know it is going to be different from the game I had yesterday—and different from every game I’ve ever had, really.

Another beautiful element of the game that I really appreciate is the way it provides me with fresh stimulation. Many people are under the mistaken impression that once you get used to playing the game, it becomes monotonous. This kind of attitude comes from people who are not true poker players. True poker players appreciate the diversity, the changes and the differences from day to day.

Ultimately, finding the right game comes down to finding the highest stakes at which you will be consistently successful. If you’re a beginning player who’s becoming a winning player, you’ll want to step outside your comfort zone and move up in stakes since that’s the only way to increase your earnings. It’s fairly self-explanatory that the higher the games you play, the more you will win; but that’s only if the players you are up against are worse than you. Remember, there’s not much point in being the 9th best player in the world if you only play against the top eight.

Once you’ve found your game, just remember that whenever you’re feeling good, you should go with the flow and play on, and whenever you’re not, you should stop. Either way, you must keep an even temper. When things go right for you, it’s great. When things don’t go right for you, as long as you did your best and you made your best decisions, you can still feel happy about your game. Take your losses gracefully. When you can take your losses well – when your losses and wins have the same meaning to you – then you have the chance to become a great player as opposed to just a good one. Poker is supposed to be a journey of joy, and anything that is a departure from that, is off your path.

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Pokerstars Upcoming Events 03-13-09

For any serious poker player, the European Poker Tour represents one of the most important tournament series on the poker calendar. EPT Season 5 has travelled to some of Europe’s finest cities, awarding millions of dollars in winnings along the way. Yet, as with all good things in life, it must unfortunately come to an end. That end to EPT Season 5 is now in sight, as the Grand Final at EPT Monte Carlo, beginning on April 27, is on the horizon - but what an end it will be!

Last year’s EPT Grand Final saw the poker elite gather in Monte Carlo, all hoping to claim victory and millions of Euros in prize money. A record 842 players produced an €8.4 million prize pool to make it the richest poker tournament in Europe. This year, the schedule is expanding as we introduce a number of new side events in addition to the Main Event.

The ‘European High Roller Championship’, ‘European Pot Limit Omaha Championship’ and daily Battleship tournaments will all debut this year. Add to this the introduction of a 2 day EPT Monte Carlo Poker Camp, and the new schedule will make EPT Monte Carlo a true festival of poker.

EPT Monte Carlo will get underway on April 27, and we’re giving you the chance to be a part of the action. Satellites are now under way for an $18,800 package which awards entry into the EPT Grand Final! The main event package will comprise your tournament buy-in, luxury accommodation, and $1,000 towards expenses. Qualifiers are running now starting from $2.22 or 111 FPP, and you can find them under the Events > EPT tab in the PokerStars.com lobby. For more information, visit the EPT Monte Carlo events page.

In addition, we will also be offering satellites to win an exclusive package for the ‘European Pot Limit Omaha Championship’. Satellites to win an $8,570 package are running now located under the Events > EPT tab in your PokerStars.com lobby.

This year you will also be able to buy-in directly to side events online through your PokerStars.com account, up until 3 hours before the event begins. Starting on April 20, you will be able to buy-in to your chosen side event by locating it under the Events > EPT tab in your PokerStars.com lobby. Onsite registration for all side events will not open until two hours before each event begins.

EPT SAN REMO
Before the Grand Final, there is still time for the EPT to make its highly anticipated return to Italy for EPT San Remo. At the debut events last season, 701 players anted up to compete for a share of the €3.1 million prize pool. The eventual champion was PokerStars qualifier Jason Mercier, who took home €869,000. The action is set to return to Casino San Remo from April 18-23, and you could be there by qualifying through our satellites, which are running NOW. Cash and FPP qualifiers are available from $2.22 or 111 FPP, and you can find them under the Events > EPT tab in your PokerStars.com lobby.

See you at the tables!

Regards,



Daniel Negreanu
World Champion
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Bet Sizing is proportional to skill level

Bet Sizing is Proportional to Skill Level

In No Limit Hold’em, much like video games and karate lessons, you need to master one level before you can move on to the next. In karate, as your skill level increases, your instructor presents you with the next belt. But in poker, only you can decide when it’s time to graduate to the next level. That’s a tricky proposition for some players because it’s difficult to assess your own progress.

In poker, you’ve got to start at the bottom level and work your way up. This advice applies to the limits that you play and the sizing of the bets that you make.

All beginners should start out with a No Limit betting strategy based on making large-sized bets. Then, as skills increase, bet sizing should decrease. Here’s why.

When you make small raises before the flop, other players will simply be more likely to call those bets. That means you’ll end up facing difficult decisions after the flop. More post-flop decisions mean more variables to consider with more money at stake. Advanced players excel in these situations; beginners suffer the consequences.

Fortunately, there is a betting system that can help shift the advantage back to the novice player. By making excessively large pre-flop bets, novices can force better players to lay down their marginal hands.

But the question still remains: What’s the correct amount to bet? Well, bet sizing should be proportional to your skill level.

A rank beginner playing at skill Level 1 needs to make very large raises -- five times the big blind. With blinds at 50/100, a novice who decides to play should bet 500. This size bet will protect you against a looser and tougher opponent whose goal is to outplay you after the flop. If you do make it to the flop, keep betting large with a pot-sized bet.

As you improve to skill Level 2, slightly reduce your pre-flop bet size. With blinds at 50/100, bet out 450 pre-flop, and 90% of the pot size after the flop.

The trend continues as you improve to the third skill level. Now, lower your pre-flop bet to 400, and bet out 80% of the pot after the flop.

When you reach Level 4, try betting 3 ½ times the big blind, and then follow it up with a post-flop bet equal to 75% of the pot.

Congratulations if you’ve made it to Level 5! You’re now an experienced and accomplished player. Your bets and raises should adhere to the industry standards: three times the big blind pre-flop and 65% of the pot after the flop.

Note: Too many beginners make the mistake of starting at this level’s betting scheme. If you’re a beginner, start with Level 1 betting!

Okay, once you feel that you’ve mastered the game – you’d be wrong, by the way, poker is a game that can never be mastered – it’s time for an aggressive style of betting. At Level 6, bet 2 ½ times the big blind, and follow up with a bet of 50-60% of the pot after the flop. At this advanced level, you’ll need to rely on a set of multi-dimensional poker skills which includes the ability to read people.

Quite frankly, the Level 6 betting scheme is inappropriate for most players. There will be far too many tough post-flop decisions and the risk of making costly errors in post-flop play increases significantly.

Without a doubt, the toughest part about selecting the proper bet size is that you must be your own harshest critic. Swallow your pride and be completely objective about your own poker skill level. Only then can you implement an effective betting strategy.

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