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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Make your way to The World Series of Poker* with our Series 2009 Qualifiers. You can win seats to any Series event including the $10,000 Main Event, the biggest live tournament in the world.

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.

© 2009 Card Shark Media. All rights reserved.

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"The Rocking Squint"

Funny as hell

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If you have a big starting hand on the button - and you get raised - a player's initial reaction is usually to focus on how to play back at the raiser. In this week's tip, Full Tilt Poker pro Dario Alioto suggests that you need to give equal consideration to those still to play their hand - the blinds.

179

Playing Big Hands on the Button

Dario 'Ryu' Alioto

February 26th, 2009

No matter what poker variant you’re playing, it’s vital to constantly think about the players left to act behind you and what their tendencies are. Too often, when facing a raise, poker players think only about how to play back at the raiser to their right, without thinking about the opponents still holding cards on their left.

Let’s say you’re on the button in Pot-Limit Omaha with a powerful hand and facing a raise. There are several important factors that you need to consider here. In addition to the tendencies and range of possible holdings of the player that raised the pot, you should take into account the tendencies of the players in the blinds. You may not have any information about their holdings, but if you have information about what type of players they are, it will impact your decision.

If you’re on the button with a strong Omaha hand, like a double-suited Broadway hand – A-K-Q-J, A-K-Q-10, etc. – or pocket Aces or pocket Kings. Many aggressive players will look down at cards like that and re-raise the pot immediately without a second thought. That’s fine, to a certain extent. If the open raiser is a little bit loose, you know that most of the time when you are re-raising him that your hand is better than his, you’re going to be in position and you want to play a big pot against him.

However, factoring in the players in the blinds, you can sometimes get greater value by flat-calling. If one of the players in the blinds is loose, if he plays too many hands or if he protects his blinds routinely with marginal holdings, a flat-call may lure him into the pot in a situation where you have a big advantage over him. If he’s the type who plays small pairs or hands that are badly connected, the flop will often hit him but put him in bad shape relative to you. You might out-flop him set-over-set, he might make a sucker straight to your nut straight, a flush lower than your flush or any draw that is not going for the nuts and is actually drawing dead. If the players in the blinds, particularly the big blind, will defend with hands that are easily dominated and have trouble getting away from them if they hit the flop, you need to think seriously about just flat-calling pre-flop to invite them in.

And if the players in the blinds are not just loose, but loose-aggressive, then you should definitely flat-call, especially with hands like pocket Aces or pocket Kings with an Ace. That can pay off huge if you expect one of the blinds to do your re-raising for you. If one of the blinds is the type to try a squeeze play, he’ll re-raise, and then you can put in an enormous raise since there will already have been two raises. If everyone is playing with stacks of about 100 big blinds at this point, you’re going to be able to put in a significant percentage of your chips with a huge hand. If they choose to call and see a flop in a massive pot with a weaker hand, that’s fine. If they choose to muck, then you just won a significant pile of chips without even seeing a flop.

On the other hand, if the players in the blinds are tight enough to fold some big hands, then it does make sense to try to shut them out of the pot by re-raising on the button. If you know that they’re tight and would only call two raises with a monster starting hand, then your re-raise gets you valuable information heading to the flop if they do happen to call or re-raise.

It’s easy to get caught up in thinking that you’re up against one opponent, the initial raiser, even though you’re actually still up against three opponents. Don’t forget about the players in the blinds. Their tendencies should always be considered when you’re deciding how to get the most value from your big starting hand on the button.

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Bad Beat Bonanza!!

Bad Beat Bonanza & 10% Instant Deposit Bonus!

Ladies and Gentelman! Its Here! Its Happened! After months of waiting with baited breath and speculation the Bad Beat Jackpot has finally gone off! Now im sure many of you are aware of this already as it happened last friday on the 13th of all days. However what you may not be aware of is the following...

• The Bad Beat Jackpot is already back over $260,000
• The Carribean Stud Jackpot is just under $100,000
• The New VIP Program comes in less than a fortnight
• You can still easily qualify for the $2,500 Bad Beat freerolls!

To qualify for these special Bad Beat Freerolls simply earn 2,500 comp points in the specified timeframe, and simply hit the register button in the tournament lobby.

The best part is while you're earning free entry into the Bad Beat freerolls, you'll also be earning comp points that will count towards entry into CarbonPoker's $1,000, $2,000, $10,000 and $50,000 freerolls. That means every point you earn will simultaneously be earning you entry into multiple freerolls.

There are two remaining freerolls taking place on

• Saturday 21 Feb @ 17:30
• Saturday 28 Feb @ 17:30

To get you cashed up and playing in the freerolls, heres a special 10% INSTANT deposit bonus!

• code: BBJ10NOW

Min Dep. $10 Can only be used once Expires any other coupon Ends 23rd Feb 12am Server time 100cp per $1 to withdraw

Pokerstars - SCOOP

SCOOP All Stakes - $30M guaranteed!

Get ready - because we’re giving ALL PokerStars players the chance to win big, with millions of dollars in cash prizes on the line. This is the Spring Championship of Online Poker - All Stakes, and it’s going to be massive. Here’s the deal: 22 events, two a day running from April 2-12, with a total guaranteed prize pool of $30,000,000. And if you think it’s only the high-rolling players that win the life-changing money in events like these, think again. Because this time round we’re laying down the challenge to all our players, no matter what stakes you play at. This is the biggest online poker tournament series anywhere online so far in 2009, and satellites are running now, including cash, FPP and Steps Sit & Go qualifiers available in a range of different buy-ins.

Each event will include three tournaments - one for low-stakes players, one for those who play medium-stakes, and finally one for those that play in our high-stakes games. The huge prize pool guarantees in each tournament mean that even low-stakes players have the chance to win big.

There will also be two High-Roller events, and the series ends with the Main Event on Sunday, April 12 - including a $1,000,000 guarantee for the lowest stake level tournament, and a $5,000,000 guarantee for the high-stakes tournament! See the schedule below for full event information.

We’ll be releasing more details on SCOOP - All Stakes as the clock ticks down to Event 1, so keep checking back to find out more.

To register for a SCOOP - All Stakes satellite, open the PokerStars lobby, click ‘Events’ and ‘SCOOP’.

Event Schedule

All tournament start times are listed in ET.

Event	Game	Date	Time	Stake	Buy-In	Guarantee
1	NL Hold'em with Rebuys [6-max]	02-Apr	14:30	Low	$5.50	$50,000
				Med	$55.00	$200,000
				High	$530.00	$500,000
2	PL Omaha Hi/Lo	02-Apr	16:30	Low	$11.00	$25,000
				Med	$109.00	$50,000
				High	$1,050.00	$200,000
3	PL 5-Card Draw	03-Apr	14:30	Low	$11.00	$25,000
				Med	$109.00	$100,000
				High	$1,050.00	$200,000
4	NL Hold'em [2X Chance, turbo]	03-Apr	16:30	Low	$16.50	$100,000
				Med	$162.00	$300,000
				High	$1,575.00	$1,000,000
5	NL Hold'em Shootout [10-max]	04-Apr	14:30	Low	$16.50	$100,000
				Med	$162.00	$150,000
				High	$1,575.00	$150,000
6	PL Omaha [1R1A, 6-max]	04-Apr	16:30	Low	$22.00	$50,000
				Med	$215.00	$200,000
				High	$2,100.00	$400,000
7*	H.O.R.S.E.	05-Apr	14:30	Low	$109.00	$250,000
				Med	$1,050.00	$500,000
				High	$10,300.00	$750,000
8	NL Hold'em [2-day]	05-Apr	16:30	Low	$33.00	$250,000
				Med	$320.00	$1,500,000
				High	$3,150.00	$3,000,000
9	FL Triple Draw 2-7	06-Apr	14:30	Low	$22.00	$25,000
				Med	$215.00	$100,000
				High	$2,100.00	$200,000
10	NL Hold'em Heads Up Match Play	06-Apr	16:30	Low	$16.50	$50,000
				Med	$162.00	$300,000
				High	$1,575.00	$500,000
11	Mixed Hold'em [6-max]	07-Apr	14:30	Low	$33.00	$50,000
				Med	$320.00	$300,000
				High	$3,150.00	$800,000
12	7-Card Stud Hi/Lo	07-Apr	16:30	Low	$22.00	$25,000
				Med	$215.00	$50,000
				High	$2,100.00	$150,000
13	FL Razz	08-Apr	14:30	Low	$22.00	$25,000
				Med	$215.00	$100,000
				High	$2,100.00	$150,000
14	NL Hold'em [6-max]	08-Apr	16:30	Low	$55.00	$250,000
				Med	$530.00	$500,000
				High	$5,200.00	$1,250,000
15	8-Game	09-Apr	14:30	Low	$44.00	$25,000
				Med	$425.00	$150,000
				High	$4,175.00	$250,000
16	7-Card Stud	09-Apr	16:30	Low	$33.00	$25,000
				Med	$320.00	$100,000
				High	$3,150.00	$150,000
17	NL Hold'em [1R1A]	10-Apr	14:30	Low	$22.00	$150,000
				Med	$215.00	$500,000
				High	$2,100.00	$1,000,000
18	FL Omaha Hi/Lo	10-Apr	16:30	Low	$55.00	$50,000
				Med	$530.00	$150,000
				High	$5,200.00	$400,000
19	PL Omaha	11-Apr	14:30	Low	$55.00	$50,000
				Med	$530.00	$300,000
				High	$5,200.00	$1,000,000
20	FL Hold'em [6-max]	11-Apr	16:30	Low	$55.00	$25,000
				Med	$530.00	$200,000
				High	$5,200.00	$400,000
21*	NL Hold'em Heads Up Match Play	12-Apr	14:30	Low	$270.00	$100,000
				Med	$2,600.00	$300,000
				High	$25,500.00	$800,000
22	NL Hold'em Main Event [2-day]	12-Apr	16:30	Low	$109.00	$1,000,000
				Med	$1,050.00	$3,000,000
				High	$10,300.00	$5,000,000

* High Roller event

Please note: The schedule listed above is here for informational purposes only and is in no way binding on PokerStars. The official scheduled time, date, game, buy-in, and guaranteed prize pool for each event is posted in the PokerStars client under the ‘Events’/’SCOOP’ tab. Management reserves the right to modify or remove any or all events and related information, without notice, prior to the start of any event and assumes no liability towards any player in connection with any such modification or removal.

If you have any questions about SCOOP, contact support@pokerstars.com.

Poker Tip Clip

Jaime Gold Signs With New Poker Room

2006 Main Event winner Jamie Gold has signed on to represent Aced.com.

Former World Series Of Poker Main Event champ Jamie Gold announced on Friday that he has signed a multi-year endorsement contract with online poker room Aced.com. The former producer and Hollywood talent agent, who won the 2006 WSOP Main Event, has not been sponsored in the online world since his break with Bodog shortly after taking down the biggest prize in tournament poker history.

According to his agent, Sean Fredericks, Gold had turned down “a slew” of endorsement requests since running over the largest field in WSOP history. “We’ve been careful and patient in waiting for the right one,” said Fredericks.

In this case, patience meant waiting for the right room to come into the market. Aced.com, a part of the growing Merge Network, has only been running live games since last September, and now they have themselves a world champion promoting them to the world.

“We are extremely excited to have Jamie on board, not only because of his obvious value as an ambassador for us within the poker world, but for the unparalleled enthusiasm, insight, and creativity he brings to the ongoing development of our brand,” said Brandon Berndt, Aced.com poker room manager. “He could have chosen so many other sites, but we share his values and vision. He is worth every penny - or billion pennies.”

At least it sounds like everyone’s getting along so far.

The press release announcing Gold’s deal contained plenty of breathless quotes from his attorney and agent, but details on the amount of money involved were scant. There are rumors that Aced.com’s sponsorship of Gold is valued somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 million. What has been confirmed is that the deal includes buy-ins for tournaments in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

However large the deal may or may not be, Gold seems to be ready to take on all comers. He issued a challenge for all the naysayers who think he luckboxed his way to the most prestigious title in tournament poker to take him on at any stakes. “Here’s their chance to find out (if my run was luck),” said Gold. “I’m issuing an open invitation to anyone - come play with me.”

POKERSTARS IS HUGE!!!

PokerStars is having a 25 Billion Bash, and everyone is invited to join the celebration! Just over 18 months after our 10 Billionth Hand was dealt, we are now on the verge of dealing our landmark 25 Billionth Hand, and we’re not going to let such an occasion go unmarked. We’re going to be celebrating in the only way we know how - by having a bash, full of promotions that will give away some huge prizes!

‘The 25 Billion Bash’ Promotions

	25% Reload bonus up to $250
	Cash prizes for milestone hands
	The 25 Billionth Mega Milestone
	Sunday Warm Up & Sunday Million guarantees increased

25% Reload Bonus up to $250
We want to thank all of our players for helping us reach this amazing milestone by offering our biggest ever site-wide reload bonus - a 25% deposit bonus up to $250!* To qualify for this bonus, make a qualifying deposit between 12:00 ET on February 11 and 23:59 ET on February 18, using the bonus code 25bash. To clear the bonus, you must earn the required number of Base FPPs (VPPs) which can be found in your PokerStars lobby under the 'Cashier' area. Once in the cashier window, simply click the button labeled "Check My Bonus Status." For more information on earning Base FPP and this incredible bonus offer, visit our 25% bonus page.

Cash prizes for milestone hands
As we approach the 25 Billionth Hand, you’re going to want to be playing at our cash ring game tables to try to win our milestone hand prizes. Starting from hand 24,850,000,000, we’re going to be giving away cash prizes for every millionth hand dealt until we hit number 25 Billion, a total of 150 milestone hands**. The winner of each milestone hand will receive a cash prize on top of the pot they have already won, while the rest of the table will also be awarded a cash prize for just being dealt in to the hand. The following prizes will be awarded depending on the table stakes as displayed in the PokerStars lobby:

Limit	Winner	The Rest
Micro	$300	$125
Low	$750	$250
Medium	$1,250	$500
High	$2,500	$1,000

We've got even better news for you if you’re a VIP Club member. If you're SilverStar VIP or above at the time you are dealt into any of the milestone hands, whatever cash prize you win will be multiplied according to your current VIP status. So the higher your VIP level, the more you'll win! See the table below for multiplier details:

VIP Tier	Milestone Hands Bonus
SilverStar	15% Bonus
GoldStar	30% Bonus
PlatinumStar	60% Bonus
Supernova	120% Bonus
Supernova Elite	200% Bonus

For example, you can turn a $1,250 prize into $1,625, just for being a GoldStar VIP.

The 25 Billionth Mega Milestone Hand
With the focus of the 25 Billion Bash being on the 25 Billionth Hand we deal, it is only right that we award the biggest prizes of all to the players who participate in this historic hand. The winner of the 25 Billionth Hand will be awarded a staggering $100,000 cash prize, as well as ALL of the following; an EPT Monte Carlo package, a PokerStars Caribbean Adventure package, a World Series main event package and a WCOOP Main Event ticket. All in all, the winner of the 25 Billionth Hand dealt on PokerStars will claim a prize worth more than $150,000!

While the winner of the hand will receive the main prize, we’re also going to be awarding cash prizes to the rest of the players who are dealt into the Mega Milestone Hand. $100,000 in cash will be shared equally by all players who are dealt into the 25 Billionth Hand! (Players must be dealt into a milestone hand to be eligible for prizes. Players sitting out during a milestone hand are not eligible.) This means that in total the 25 Billionth Hand will be worth a combined $250,000 in cash and prizes! (Please note: Prizes awarded to those dealt into the 25 Billionth Hand are not subject to VIP Multipliers as per the regular milestone hands outlined above.)

Sunday Warm Up & Sunday Million guarantees ramped up
We recognize that only a few lucky players will have shot at taking the main prize from the 25 Billion Bash, but there are still plenty of other ways you can benefit. On February 15, the Sunday Majors will have their guaranteed prize pools significantly increased. The Sunday Warm-Up at 12:45 ET will have its guarantee boosted to $1.25 million. This will be followed up by the Sunday Million at 16:30 ET, where players will battle for a guaranteed prize pool worth $2.5 million. Both tournaments can be found under the Tourney > Special tab in your PokerStars lobby and have a direct buy-in of $215. You can also win your way into these events for as little as a few dollars, in our regular satellites all week long.

Good luck, and see you at the tables!

Regards,
The PokerStars Team

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Take part in the final FTOPS XI events this week, including the $2 million Two-Day Event starting on Saturday, February 14th and the $2.5 Million Main Event on Sunday, February 15th.

Play in the Bay 101 Shooting Star Championship in San Jose, California by winning a $12K prize package in WPT Qualifiers.

Stack size plays a significant role in how you play hands post-flop. In this week's tip, Jon Turner demonstrates how you can use your stack size and "the sneaky check" to your advantage in the correct situation.

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178

The Sneaky Check

Jon 'Pearljammed' Turner

February 2009

At every stage of a Multi-Table Tournament, your stack size relative to the blinds should be crucial to how you approach different hands and situations. You may start a tournament with anywhere from 50 to 500 big blinds, but by the final table, the average stack is often between 25 and 40 big blinds. When deep-stacked, you can afford to make a lot of speculative raises, see a lot of flops, and make plays at pots without risking going broke. However, when you have about 20 big blinds or less, you should be looking primarily for favorable situations to get your money in pre-flop, oftentimes shoving all-in over the top of a raiser you suspect to be stealing.

Stack size also plays a large role in how you play hands post-flop. Unless you are extremely confident that you can get your opponent off of his hand, you should be careful not to invest too much of your stack in a pot post-flop if you do not intend to go all the way with the hand. Most players are well aware of this concept, but sometimes your stack size can create a perfect opportunity to use this concept against them.

Take a look at the following hand from the book I co-wrote, Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand At A Time: Volume 1, where I can safely assume that my opponent will perceive me as weak if I pretend to give up on the hand and check on the turn. My stack size is such on the turn that most opponents would expect me to move all in if I like my hand but check if I do not. If I were to bet again or move all in, my opponent would likely give up on anything less than top pair with a good kicker, as I would clearly be committed to the pot. By checking, I allow my opponent to make a mistake. If he checks behind, I can move all in on the river, as I have approximately one pot-sized bet left anyway.

Seat 1: Small Blind (14,120)
Seat 2: Big Blind (18,910)
Seat 3: Under-The-Gun (4,300)
Seat 4: UTG+1 (16,205)
Seat 5: UTG+2 (7,842)
Seat 6: Middle Position (12,360)
Seat 7: Jon Turner (6,562)
Seat 8: Cutoff (3,775)
Seat 9: Button (12,853)

Setup: I am well below average, but not short-stacked, in a $100 rebuy tournament a few levels after the rebuy period has ended. The blinds are 150/300 with a 25 ante.

Pre-Flop: As-Kc (Pot: 675): The action is folded to me, and I raise my standard 2½ times the big blind to 750. Seat 9 on the button and Seat 2 in the big blind both make the call.

Flop: Ah-8d-5s (Pot 2,625): I flop top pair, top kicker on a very safe board. Seat 2 checks, and the action is on me. I should bet approximately one-third to one-half of the pot, my standard continuation bet. Because my opponents expect me to make this bet now with any two cards, it will not give away the strength of my hand. I bet 1,150 into the 2,625 pot. Seat 9 calls, and Seat 2 folds.

Turn: 6d (Pot: 4,925): I am very confident that I have the best hand. If my opponent has me beaten, my stack size and the pot size dictate that I am willing to go broke. The only concern now is how to get my opponent’s money in the pot on the next two streets.

If I were certain that my opponent was as strong as A-Q or A-J, I would bet out now and easily get his money in. However, I cannot give him credit for a hand that strong. In position, he merely called my bet on the flop. He might have perceived this bet as weak since I would probably make a continuation bet with any two cards. Thus he might have called with anything from a weak Ace to an unimproved pocket pair. He might have even floated with air, hoping to take the pot away on the turn if I show weakness with a check.

If I bet the turn, my opponent will in all likelihood give up on his unimproved pocket pairs or weaker hands, as my bet clearly commits me to the pot. However, if I check the turn, he will likely try to take the pot away no matter what he holds. If he has an Ace, I will get his money in either way.

I check, and my opponent moves all in. This is precisely what I wanted him to do. I make the call, and my opponent shows 9d-9h. The 2d hits the river, and I win the pot with Aces and a King kicker.

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Late Stage Tournament Play

Late Stage Tournament Play

It’s in the late stages of a tournament when the men are separated from the boys. Players who consistently win on the poker circuit do so by taking full advantage of the opportunities available to them at this time.

One particularly important tactic they use to reach the final table is focusing on opponents who tighten up their play.

Playing tight late in a tournament turns out to be a fairly common mistake even among skilled players. Yes, adjustments need to be made in terms of hand selection in later rounds. But too often players take it to the extreme and fold hands they should be playing.

While a hand like 6h-7h is well suited for early rounds when blinds are low and chipstacks are still high, don’t automatically abandon this type of hand late in the game just because the blinds and the cost of playing are more substantial.

For example, if the players in the blinds are tight and you’re in late position with no other players entering the pot, it would be a mistake to fold a hand like Jh-9h. Recognize the fact that many players tend to tighten up late in a tournament. As that happens, your success rate at stealing blinds will increase. This is simply not the time to reduce the number of hands you attempt to steal blinds with.

On the contrary, this situation frequently presents a raising opportunity specifically designed to exploit tight players.

If you do elect to raise, the small ball approach will be most effective against tight opponents. These players will often neglect to focus on the amount of your raise. Instead, they’ll zero in on the fact that they just don’t have a strong hand themselves.

Let’s look at another example.

With blinds at 400-800 and a 100 ante, most players will fold a hand like 9-7 offsuit regardless if you make it 2,000, 2,200, or 2,400 to go. With that in mind, you can safely reduce your risk by choosing to raise the lower amount.

For the most part, if you continue to use the same game strategy late in tournaments as you would early on, the adjustments your opponents make will actually render the small ball approach even more effective. Why? Because winning blinds and antes becomes increasingly more valuable as a tournament progresses.

That’s not only because the value of blinds and antes continue to escalate. It’s also because stack sizes in relation to the blinds decrease.

The blinds in a typical big buy-in event may start out at 25-50 with a 10,000 stack. By the second level, however, blinds would increase to 50-100 whereas the average stack would be much less than 20,000 -- probably closer to 12,000.

The deeper you get into the tournament, the more extreme this imbalance becomes. So, when the blinds get to 500-1,000, the average stack will likely be around 50,000. On a percentage basis, that’s a significant increase when compared to early stage conditions.

Here’s the bottom line: Paranoia is likely to set in among tight players late in a tournament when blinds escalate to a point where they represent a large percentage of their stack. These players will tend to sit on their hands while more aggressive players rob them blind by relentlessly attacking the blinds with a barrage of small raises.

Tight players simply get gun shy late in a tournament. Don’t make that mistake. Instead, be the player who takes advantage of opponents who play not to lose. Playing to win is the name of the game.

© 2009 Card Shark Media. All rights reserved.

How to win at a final table

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FTOPS XI is up and running - choose a tournament from the FTOPS XI Schedule of 25 events and win your share of over $15 million in guaranteed prize money.

The biggest tournament day of the week just got bigger, as the Double Deuce now has a guaranteed prize pool of $200K every Sunday.

2008 was John Phan's breakthrough year. He won two WSOP bracelets, one WPT title, over $5 million and two "Player of the Year" awards. In this week's Tip, John shares the two changes he believes made the difference between getting to a final table - and finishing in 1st place.

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177
Learning to Win at Final Tables
John Phan
February 4th, 2009

Anyone who’s ever come close to winning a poker tournament – only to fall short – can tell you how much it hurts. It’s disappointing. It’s painful. In 2006, I finished 2nd in a $1,000 No-Limit Hold ’em event at the World Series of Poker, and then in 2007, I was the runner-up in a $2,500 Hold ’em event at the WSOP. So I came into 2008 particularly determined to win my first bracelet – not just to reach a final table, but to finish in 1st place.

Well, I achieved my goal – and then some. I won the $3K No-Limit Hold ’em tournament at the World Series of Poker, then one week later I won another bracelet in $2,500 Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw. And to top it all off, I won my first WPT title in August at the Legends of Poker at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles.

Now that I’ve gotten over the hump and won some major tournaments, I’m going to share two important tips that made all the difference for me.

1. Make the tough laydowns when your tournament life is at stake.

It’s a situation I’ve been in many times: a short stack raises, I re-raise enough to put the short stack all in, and then a big stack behind me raises enough to put me all in. I’m in a tough spot because I’m fairly certain my hand is better than the short stack’s hand, but I also have a strong feeling that the big stack has me in bad shape. There are a lot of chips in the pot, and I’m tempted to call, knowing that I need to suck out to win. Many times in the past, I made that call and went home in 7th or 8th place.

What I’ve learned is that the right play, if you believe you’re beat, is to lay it down and live to play another hand. Even if the pot odds narrowly favor a call, you’re better off letting the hand go. Obviously, if the pot odds heavily favor a call, if you’ve committed, say, 80 percent of your chips, then that’s another story.

But that brings up an important strategic point: When you re-raise that short stack, consider raising a smaller amount that doesn’t completely commit you to the hand and makes it easier to fold if the big stack comes over the top. I’ve learned the hard way that you want to leave yourself room to fold your hand if there are other players left to act behind you. Some players, especially amateurs, put in half their stack, and then just can’t lay down hands. They fall in love with the hand no matter what they have, and that’s a recipe for losing all of your chips.

2. Never give up, no matter how short stacked you are.

In the Triple Draw event that I won, I was desperately short stacked at the final table. I had about enough chips for two big blinds, there was multi-way action and I was getting a ridiculous amount of value to play and try to make the best hand, so I called off my last chips. I won the hand, then I went on a rush, tripling up a couple of times, and I never looked back.

The point of the story is that you should never give up, even when you’re on a short stack. You can be too patient, obviously, but you usually have room to show some patience. I see a lot of players who become short stacks and they stop playing smart and stop trying to win. This is especially the case if they have a big stack, lose a lot of chips and become a short stack. They get depressed, lose focus, and start playing really badly. Another player moves in, and they call him with A-2 or A-5, or even K-J – basically any hand with a high card.

I’ve even seen some people lose a big pot, have a couple of chips left, and just walk away from the table! Imagine if I had done that in the Triple Draw event – I would have been walking away from a World Series of Poker bracelet.

My victory provides the best possible proof that you should never give up. Your luck might turn around at any moment – I’ve seen many people go from short stack to chip leader. If you want to win at the final table, you have to keep on believing that that person can be you.

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Carbon Poker Review

FULL REVIEW - Carbon Poker (8.59)

Carbon Poker is a relatively new player on the online poker market, but it's quite clear it is determined to succeed, offering massive promotions, quick withdrawals and great software.

Residing on the increasingly popular Merge Gaming network also allows them to accommodate U.S. players – a great advantage, and something helping them grow quickly.

The games at Carbon Poker are on the looser side, with many inexperienced players taking their first shot at online poker. The loosest tables tend to be the low and micro stakes, but the more unusual games can also prove to be very profitable.

Carbon Poker offers very good game diversity, with some of the lesser known games mixed in with all variations of the more common Texas Hold'em and Omaha. Games offered are Texas Hold'em, Seven-Card Stud Hi and Hi-Lo, Omaha Hi and Hi-Lo, Razz, Five-Card Stud, Five-Card Draw, Triple Draw and Badugi.

Currently, Texas Hold'em and Omaha are the dominant games offered in tournament format, with only a few tournaments running in Badugi and Draw Poker. All games are available as heads-up, full and shorthanded tables.

Carbon Poker also offers plenty of multi-table tournaments and sit-and-gos, and are very good at spicing up play with lots of special tournament offers and giveaways. The traffic volume is in the lower segment of the industry, but the popularity of both Carbon Poker and the Merge Gaming network is rising fast and the amount of active players is increasing daily.

Real-money player statistics as of February 2009 show 500 ring-game players at peak hours and 2,000 tournament players at peak hours.

Never Pay Full Price Again?

Coupon Web Sites: Never Pay Full Price Again?

by Melissa Korn
Tuesday, February 3, 2009

provided by

These days, it seems there’s no sense buying something unless you can get at a steep discount. That goes for big-ticket items like houses and cars, down to such smaller purchases as vacation packages, electronics and clothes.

More from WSJ.com: • Mobile Banking Finds New Users • Travel, Debt and SATs • The Urge to Splurge: Don't Worry, It'll Pass

According to research group comScore Inc., 27 million Americans visited coupon sites in October, up 33% from a year earlier. And from last January to September, the number of coupon-related Web searches doubled. So it’s clear more of us are hunting for deals.

Scores of Web sites aggregate coupons and promotional codes that help people shop online without ever having to pay full price. Some, like Coupons.com, are geared toward grocery and drug store staples. (Today, that site is featuring $1 off Velveeta cheese and $2 off Perdue Frozen Fully Cooked Chicken on its home page.)

But others, like CouponCabin.com and RetailMeNot.com, offer a wider array of discounts for popular retailers, usable in-store and online. CouponCabin claims to have more than 100,000 discounts from more than 20,000 merchants.

More from Yahoo! Finance: • As Prices Rise, Some See $2 Gas • Celebrity Charity Auctions • More Travelers Redeeming Miles for Merchandise Visit the Family & Home Center

While some sites require subscriptions to get at the good stuff, most offer coupons for free. The sites make money by selling ad space or offering “featured discount” status to stores for a set fee.

Here’s how it works: I happen to be in the market for a new comforter, as mine was mauled by a pair of scissors (an arts and crafts project gone bad). At CouponCabin.com, I found a discount code for $15 off any order over $75 at Macy’s, which is having its own sale. I click the coupon link, which takes me to Macy’s site, find the item I want, enter the code upon checkout, and, voila — a new comforter for Melissa. CouponCabin.com even shows a screen shot of where to enter the promotional code on a store’s Web site.

Most coupon sites allow you to sort discounts by retailer, so if my comforter didn’t qualify for the minimum dollar amount of one Macy’s coupon, I could always check to see if it made the cut for another.

Coupon sites vary in breadth of offerings, but also in practicality. Users should scour these sites after picking out a specific item on a store’s Web site or when they want a certain item (say, a just-released DVD) but don’t care where they buy it. But if you’re tempted to buy things just because they’re on sale, steer clear, as these sites can turn your computers into a money pit.

RetailMeNot.com, for example, has shopping tips for certain stores, as well as a separate forum for shoppers to trade details on one-day sales and new markdowns. Sensible for people who have been eyeing those fabulous but otherwise too-expensive jeans. Not so much for people who just like to browse.

One nifty thing RetailMeNot.com does have is a downloadable browser application that alerts you to promotions and coupons when you are on a retailer’s Web site. If you don’t mind the extra software, it may be a good way to ensure savings even if you forget to consult a coupon site pre-checkout. RetailMeNot.com also provides success rates for coupon codes so you know whether that hot 30% off code at J.Crew is likely to work when it comes time to check out.

Of course, coupon sites aren’t always all they’re cracked up to be in terms of actual bargains. Some ask contributors to send in those alphanumeric codes they get after making purchases, the ones that promise a percentage off the person’s next purchase above and beyond other promotions. But they also include nothing-special “savings.” Right now, AnyCoupons.com (along with a half-dozen other sites) lists free shipping on purchases totaling $150 or more at Banana Republic. But the store’s own Web site advertises that one, and has done so for at least a few weeks. Because so many stores are discounting deeply and offering incentives, make sure to check out the sidebars on retailers’ own sites for discount codes.

Readers, what are your favorite coupon Web sites? Why? Do you find them helpful for online or in-store shopping, or both?

King Hates Twilight

Stephen King On 'Twilight' Author: 'Stephenie Meyer Can't Write Worth A Darn'

By Access Hollywood1 hour, 4 minutes ago

• • celebs:
  • J.K. Rowling
  • Robert Pattinson
  • Taylor Lautner

Stephen King and Stephenie Meyer
Getty ImagesAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Stephen King's opinion may drive a stake through the heart of "Twilight" author, Stephenie Meyer.

In an interview with USA Weekend, the bestselling author compared Meyer with J.K. Rowling , the author of the Harry Potter series.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Robert Pattinson- Hollywood's Hottest Vampire!

According to Stephen, "Both Rowling and Meyer, they're speaking directly to young people... The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn. She's not very good."

Meeooww!

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Vampin' It Up With 'Twilight' Scenes & Stars

While Stephen may not be a fan of Stephenie's writing, he understands the appeal of the series.

"People are attracted by the stories, by the pace and in the case of Stephenie Meyer, it's very clear that she's writing to a whole generation of girls and opening up kind of a safe joining of love and sex in those books. It's exciting and it's thrilling and it's not particularly threatening because it's not overtly sexual."

He further explains, "A lot of the physical side of it is conveyed in things like the vampire will touch her forearm or run a hand over skin, and she just flushes all hot and cold. And for girls, that's a shorthand for all the feelings that they're not ready to deal with yet."

Online Poker -- Interview With Steve 'gboro780' Gross

BY: JULIO RODRIGUEZ | Julio.Rodriguez@CardPlayer.com

Gross Talks About Finishing Second In the Online Player of the Year Race

Steve "gboro780" Gross is the consummate online tournament grinder. His success is directly associated with the time and volume he puts into playing, and ultimately winning. Until recently, he had yet to add a six-figure score to his résumé, so when it is pointed out that he has over $2 million in online winnings, you may begin to realize just how consistent of a player he is.

Gross found poker the "old fashion" way, by depositing and redepositing $50 at a time on PartyPoker. After he discovered multi-table tournaments, the deposits stopped and the withdrawals began. In no time, Gross had worked his way up to the top of the online multi-table tournament world.

Gross talked to Card Player to discuss his year and his upcoming plans for the future.


Julio Rodriguez: You just finished runner-up in Card Player’s Online Player of the Year race. Are you a little disappointed?

Steve Gross: Not really, to be honest. The kid who took first was Alex Kamberis, who was my roommate this summer. He’s a great player and very deserving of the award. If I had to lose to anybody, I’m glad it was him. Not to mention that his huge score in the WCOOP main event made it almost impossible to catch him.

JR: You were on his heels in November, but nobody was in striking distance during the last few weeks. Is online poker that streaky where you could be in contention one day and out of it the next?

SG: It seems that way. The last month or so I went a little cold, but the months leading up to that I was doing very well. It’s just how the game goes sometimes.

JR: Kamberis said you were one of the most consistent players he’d ever seen. I noticed that most of your wins have come in the smaller rebuys and guarantees and you don’t have that big Sunday win on your résumé yet.

SG: I’d love to have the success that some of these guys have when they take down a huge Sunday tournament every week, but I’ve always been more consistent with the smaller tournaments on a day-to-day basis. I’ve been close a few times, so we’ll see if I can finally nail down that big win. [Shortly after this interview took place, Gross finished second in the Full Tilt $1 million-guaranteed tournament.]

JR: Can you talk about the volume you put in this year?

SG: I put in a lot of time this past year, but it’s something I’ve done a lot of thinking about recently. I don’t think I want to put in quite the same volume that I have in the past. It would be nice to go outside once in a while and do something outside of poker. The daily grind can certainly affect your life negatively, even if you are winning. Then again, I can’t let my time fall off too much, because that could affect my game. This year I’m definitely going to look for a more healthy balance between the two.

JR: Do you consider yourself to be as good as your ranking implies?

SG: Yeah, I would have to say that I do. A couple of years ago, I looked up to a lot players and took some time to study their games, but now I can honestly say that I’m as good or better than a lot top players. Of course, there are always going to be players who are better than you and pushing you to improve yourself.

JR: What are your goals for the upcoming year? Are you going to play more live tournaments?

SG: I really want to win something live this year. I was sticking to the East Coast, primarily, but since then I’ve opened up to traveling more often and will be making a few more appearances this year on the tour.

JR: What would you do if poker was no longer an option?

SG: I’m not sure if I would play poker forever in the first place, but I guess it’s always going to take up some part of my life. My family is involved with the restaurant business, and that was something I had looked into before poker. Maybe I’ll get more involved with that in the coming years.

Game Industry Still Hiring

Game industry still hiring, notable job postings listed

by Jason Dobson { Feb 2nd 2009 at 8:00AM }

It's easy to get bummed out reading about industry layoffs day in and day out. Trust us, writing about them isn't any day at the beach either. Still, there is hope for industry hopefuls scouring want ads openings, and Gamasutra blog GameSetWatch has compiled a list of what it's deemed the most "notable" openings recently posted to its sister site's job board.

Among them, Other Ocean Interactive, the studio responsible for the Xbox Live port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, is seeking a new producer to join its team, while Warner Bros. is hoping to cull an engineering director from the ranks of the unemployed. Namco is looking for multiple folks willing to tinker with mobile games, and LEGO Universe dev NetDevil is interested in hiring someone to head up programming on its space combat MMO, Jumpgate Evolution. Even Midway wants in on the hiring action, though we'd advise anyone interested in signing up there also get fitted for a life vest.

Tags: classifieds, employment, jobs, layoff, layoffs