The POKER thread

[Ayahuasca]

Did a search for one but couldn't find it. But you know how pants the search function is.

Let's discuss poker.

I am a novice. Internet only Texas hold 'em at Full Tilt. I have gone from 'play money' turning 1,000 into 6,000 over a couple of weeks and now am hoarding a bankroll of ten real dollars which goes down to 6 dollars and back up to 11. Bet limit / low stakes only. I am wary of no-limits because sometimes I make daft calls (and I know when I am doing so) when I get bored of folding so many hands.

So, anyone here play properly?

[benjj]

I like a game now and then, only against real people though, not on the computer.

[dmitsi]

There are many ways to be cheated playing online. Smaller money games are less of a worry, but big games have seen cheating by professional players, and the sites themselves.
Only pokerstars opens up their security to external source, the company who check their security cracked a dealing algorithm on planet poker.
It is enjoyable, but the one rule to learn is don't stay in a game when you're losing. Don't chase losses, learn card percentages and know when not to play your hands. There are a lot of players colluding and a lot of multi account players.
Best way to enjoy it is small blinds and when confident, small prize tournaments.

Edited by dmitsi on Wednesday 3rd April 22:02

[Lobster43]

I play quite a lot, both on line and live, much preferring the live play.

On line Play money will help you with the basics of the game, but it is very different from playing with real money. With play money, there is nothing to lose, so many will just keep calling and hoping for some luck (although this does happen with real money as well).

While you are learning, stick to the limit games, that way you are playing your hand against your opponents.

As you get better, you may want to move to No Limit games. This has a lot more psychology involved, and you will be playing the person as well as your hand, if that makes sense.

Read lots of books on Poker Strategy. It is a great game, and always something to learn.

Quite willing to offer advice on any specific questions, but there is a lot involved.

[Ayahuasca]

benjj said:

I like a game now and then, only against real people though, not on the computer.

One advantage of computer, as I see it, is that I can fold hand after hand and nobody notices or cares, if I were playing like that with a few mates it would seem boring. On the computer when I finally play a hand nobody notices that I am the guy who always folds, so I can scoop up a pot with my killer hand. Real people would probably notice and be scared off. Maybe. What do I know?

[dmitsi]

Second rule to learn is to never tell people your game play/style

I enjoy playing online, but nothing beats a real game. Folding all night against friends is not bad as long as you're winning. When it gets down to three or heads up the folding dies down as you need to play hands to win, plus at that stage the percentages are in your favour and you can take more chances.

[Mobsta]

Ayahuasca said:

Did a search for one but couldn't find it. But you know how pants the search function is.

Let's discuss poker.

I wouldnt worry about reposts.

The repost police are like vegetarians.
We carnivores sometimes assume they know something we dont.
We respect them ever so slightly, but secretly want to shove a butternut squash up their dark end.

What puts me off joining threads or even visiting PH, are the 5000 page threads. Who wants to join a conversation at the tail end? Who wants to read the whole thing from the beginning.

A new thread on poker would be good. I got to know a poker pro last year, chap makes a tiny percentage but wins six figures yearly, so do his students. Its a very geeky game at the top end, technical so possible to learn. And you can get blow jobs under the table without anyone noticing if you position your girl right and maintain a poker face.

[spud989]

I play quite a lot of low limit Zoom cash games on Stars and also their low stakes tournies. Once finished fourth in a $33 Betfair tournament of 3,000 ish players (year and a half ago). Recently I've not done anything to shout about and have lost a fair bit (sad face). Managed to get to 2,900th out of 68,000 in the recent MicroMillions Main Event. Was up to about 100th at one point, but a couple of flips later and I was virtually out.

This Sunday's Sunday Storm anniversary tourny ($11 buy-in, $1m prize pool) will be a good one and will probably see 100k+ players (ofc). Prepare for it to last a while, though, if you do well. To get to 2,900th I was playing from 7pm ish until 2am.

Hardly play live, but wish I did.

[z4chris99]

I play online and live, mostly live

used to play at gutshot and then the international but all closed

now just casino play

a mate won a few hundred K last month in Barbados

Edited by z4chris99 on Wednesday 3rd April 22:49

[Pothole]

dmitsi said:

Only pokerstars opens up their security to external source, the company who check their security cracked a dealing algorithm on planet poker.

Edited by dmitsi on Wednesday 3rd April 22:02

What exactly do you mean by this?

[Ayahuasca]

Starting this thread has put the lurgy on me, my stash is down to 2.20

[Studio117]

Don't bother playing online anymore. The only problem I have when playing live is drinking too much. I get bored and end up making stupid bets when I've got a st hand. My friends have cottoned on now. As its only 20 quid buy in I'm not too fussed.

Eta

It's more about catching up with mates and doing something different of an evening, rather than just winning money.

Edited by Studio117 on Thursday 4th April 19:43

[Vieste]

20 odd pages back last time i looked.

[mattdaniels]

I've played a couple of live games but mostly play online at Sky Poker, usually the £11 sit-and-go tables as opposed to cash games. Occasionally the £33 tables if I've had a good run.

Playing online is definitely different to playing live. It's nice when you manage to bluff people online, it's also nice to just be able to sit back and fold hand after hand without your mates tutting at you.

Pub chucking out time is usually a furtile hunting ground to make a few quid.

[Studio117]

The problem with the free games is that the largest chip holder controls the game an often goes all in.

When playing live and for decent money this tactic is far less used and the game is more enjoyable.

[dmitsi]

Pothole said:

What exactly do you mean by this?

Briefly, the algorithm that was used to shuffle the cards was flawed (limited by computing constraints on variables). Citigal broke it very quickly, and essentially all you needed was five known cards and the order they were dealt in (your two cards and the three on the flop), and you would know the enitre packs shuffled order.

They exposed it and rightly so, and of course the algorithm has changed. However as far as I know only Pokerstars open themselves up to scrutiny, and a lot of the major sites do now allow their algortihms to be studied. I would never have trusted Full Tilt, but since their huge scandal and administration, they've been bought out and are now run by Pokerstars, so would happily use them. Pokerstars are widely known to be the most secure site (as secure as any business can be), and allow their algorithm (very strong) to be known and if anyone has the computing power to hack it at a speed which will let them influence a game, then they probably don't need the money they'd make by cheating at poker.

There are too many variables to make security weak. The server hosts, players installing 'middle men' to watch players hands, collusion and multi account players. Most poker sites don't spend the money needed to ensure this is stopped as it eats into their profits. Pokerstars (using Citigal) do and that is why they're acknowledged as the most secure online poker out there, There have always been cheats at poker, and now they can be more advanced if the situation allows.

[MrAdaam]

Recently took up the game online (again!) so have been cutting my teeth into the world once more. Enjoying it so far and playing well but allowing myself to make silly mistakes which really hurt. Sometimes it's just unlucky, though! Overall I'm breaking just below even, but have been in profit plenty of times to know that it is a game which is almost predictable in the way that you'll eventually be dealt good and bad hands and it depends on how you play the situation.

I'm on PokerStars for now. Looking to improve my game so I can get some SNG's done and eventually play live in London.

Any tips from some of the more experienced guys?

[chilistrucker]

Def try and find a local live game, it's very different
I found 1 at our local snooker club and got ripped to shreds, they had no trouble spotting the novice
Good experience apart from a couple of keen all in players, all the time, approx 30 entered, I came 11th.
Then I tried our local casino 1 Saturday night, 14th out of 120, which I was chuffed about

[Pothole]

dmitsi said:

. However as far as I know only Pokerstars open themselves up to scrutiny, and a lot of the major sites do now allow their algortihms to be studied.

Call me thick, but that doesn't make sense to me

[MrAdaam]

chilistrucker said:

Def try and find a local live game, it's very different
I found 1 at our local snooker club and got ripped to shreds, they had no trouble spotting the novice
Good experience apart from a couple of keen all in players, all the time, approx 30 entered, I came 11th.
Then I tried our local casino 1 Saturday night, 14th out of 120, which I was chuffed about

Believe me, I really want to! Tempted to go down to one of the casino's around Leicester Sq and see how they play. I'm wanting to get a reasonable amount of experience under my belt before the EPT comes around and enter into one of the smaller satellite tournaments that will be held around the larger one.

I've no doubt the live games are a completely different beast though and I've a feeling they'll be much more fun!