World Series of Poker Prop Bets

By: Gerald Hanks | 5/16/2012 11:09 AM

For those players fortunate enough (either by winning a satellite tournament or buying in directly) to play at a World Series of Poker event, you may see some strange occurrences, both at the table and away from it. In Las Vegas, if anything strange is expected to happen, someone will place a bet on it. 

Why Women Are Good For Poker

By: Gerald Hanks | 5/11/2012 4:00 PM

According to the CIA World Factbook, females outnumber males in nearly every developed country on the planet, including the USA, the UK, and Germany. Since women outnumber men in the workforce, the voting booths and the educational systerm, why do men still make up more than 80% of all pro poker players? Even most home games are "boys' night out," filled with beer, junk food and locker-room talk.

Amarillo Slim: 1928-2012

By: Gerald Hanks | 5/2/2012 3:50 PM

In the years before online poker, TV tournaments and million-dollar endorsement contracts, the last place you would go looking for a dynamic personality was a poker room. These dour, old, overweight men would often go hours without speaking. They certainly weren’t sought out as guests on the biggest talk shows and media outlets. However, Thomas Austin Preston, Jr., of Johnson, Arkansas, would transform the public’s perception of poker as the character of his own creation: Amarillo Slim.

Poker Tournaments: In the money or in it to win it?

By: Gerald Hanks | 4/26/2012 2:45 PM

Black Friday: Online Poker One Year Later

By: Gerald Hanks | 4/20/2012 3:18 PM

A year has passed since the infamous "Black Friday" that shut down some of the largest online poker sites in the world. Let's check out the current state of the online poker community and decide if it will ever be the same again.

"Hit Me"- UFC Fighters tackle the poker tables

By: Gerald Hanks | 4/10/2012 4:46 PM

While both the UFC and MMA are gaining popularity, a different set of skills is required from those who prefer to battle it out on the felt tables of the poker rooms. Lets look at some MMA stars who will have you thinking twice before you say "Hit me".

The Gap Concept in Poker

By: Gerald Hanks | 4/11/2012 11:47 AM

Have you ever known a player who became too attached to his “lucky hand”? Have you been guilty of this yourself?  Players who play their favorite hand in the face of multiple calls, raises and re-raises aren’t playing poker, they‘re playing the lottery: they hope to connect with the flop and take down all the “dead money”.

Ancient Poker Wisdom: Zen and the Mental Game of Poker

By: Gerald Hanks | 4/4/2012 9:26 AM

What does a philosophy that started thousands of years ago in India have to do with the loud, raucous world of twenty-first-century poker? What does a system that teaches peace, meditation and contemplation have to do with a game that teaches aggression, strategy and machismo?

Sklansky's Fundamental Theorem of Poker

By: Gerald Hanks | 3/25/2012 10:38 AM

Poker writer David Sklansky has authored many of the most important works on poker theory, such as Tournament Poker for Advanced Players, Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players, and Small Stakes Hold'em. One of the works that defined his career as a poker expert is his Theory of Poker. Although most current players apply his theories to their no-limit hold'em strategies, Sklansky's thoughts can also be applied to other poker games

Ancient Poker Wisdom: Bruce Lee and the “Martial Art” of Poker

By: Gerald Hanks | 3/15/2012 4:08 PM

Can the words of a martial arts master help our poker games? Let's look at some of the teachings and stylings of Bruce Lee and discuss how we can apply them at the card table.

Ancient Poker Wisdom: No-Limit Tournaments and Sun Tzu

By: Gerald Hanks | 2/28/2012 8:07 AM

“Cards are war, in disguise of a sport.” – Charles Lamb (1775-1834)

Beat the Donkeys

By: Gerald Hanks | 2/1/2012 8:28 AM

In a previous piece, we examined the four major poker personalities: loose-passive, loose-aggressive, tight-passive and tight-aggressive. Many inexperienced players (“donkeys”) start out as one of these personalities before finding their own style of play. Each personality has its obvious tendencies, which means each type has its glaring weaknesses. In this piece, we will examine some of those tendencies and how to turn their actions into your profit.

Hand Odds and Pot Odds: Poker Math Part II

By: Gerald Hanks | 1/5/2012 2:09 PM

In the first part of this series, we looked at the odds of being dealt particular hands pre-flop, the chances of catching a part of a flop with a particular hand, and the probability of filling that draw on the turn or river. In this part, we introduce the concept of “pot odds”. Comparing the odds of filling a draw with the pot odds can be a highly influential factor in the decision to call a bet when holding a draw.

By the Numbers: Poker Math Part I

By: Gerald Hanks | 12/24/2011 8:45 AM

As we’ve said before numerous times in this space, poker is less of a card game and more of a ‘people' game.  The ability to read an opponent’s tendencies is invaluable at the table.  But what if you can’t get a read on someone? What if their play is so erratic and unpredictable that you can’t pin them down to any particular style?

To Bluff or Not To Bluff?

By: Gerald Hanks | 12/15/2011 9:40 AM

One of the more satisfying times in a poker player’s career is when he pulls off a tremendous bluff with no hand and forces his opponent to fold. Bluffs are why poker is less about cards and more about people. Expert bluffers have a keen sense of their opponents’ tendencies and use that information against them at every opportunity. They also recognize the best times to pull off a daring bluff and rake in the chips.

5 Poker Beginner’s Mistakes

By: Gerald Hanks | 12/12/2011 9:44 AM

You’ve watched the big tournaments on TV. You’ve seen the lucky draws, big bluffs and major cash prizes. You may have even read a few books or clicked through some websites outlining some basic strategy advice. You think you’re ready to play an online tournament or take on all comers at your local cardroom.

The 4 Poker Personalities

By: Gerald Hanks | 12/7/2011 2:29 PM

From the quiet, analytical persona of Chris “Jesus” Ferguson to the bombast and braggadocio of Phil “Poker Brat” Hellmuth, the range of personalities found in poker players runs the gamut. Old and young, male and female, experienced veterans and brash rookies make for a plethora of personalities within the game.  However, in terms of actual playing style, four personality types dominate the landscape.

Variance in Poker Part II: The Mental Game

By: Gerald Hanks | 11/30/2011 9:37 AM

In Part I, we looked at the statistical concept of variance and how it applies to poker cash games and tournaments. In this part, we’ll look at the mental part of the game and how it applies to bankroll management, emotional stability and playing styles. We’ll also look at how variance plays in that crucial factor in poker success: luck.

Variance in Poker Part I: The Math of the Game

By: Gerald Hanks | 11/23/2011 3:01 PM

Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, the 2000 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion, once described no-limit Texas Hold’em as “all luck and all skill”.  While each card arises from the luck of the draw, the ways that a player deals with each turn of the cards comes from practice, skill and experience. 

Live Poker vs. Online Poker

By: Gerald Hanks | 11/15/2011 3:46 PM

The expansion of online poker sites and the start of TV broadcasts of live tournaments contributed to the "poker boom" of the early 2000s. However, players moving from online poker to live games may need to adjust to the change.

Online Poker Cheating

By: Gerald Hanks | 11/5/2011 9:48 AM

“This poker software is rigged!”

If I had a nickel for every time any player has typed that sentiment into a chat window, I could afford to buy Full Tilt (not that I would). Too many players put the blame on outside forces, be it “rigged” software or crooked opponents, for their bad play.

World Series of Poker November Nine Handicapping

By: Gerald Hanks | 10/22/2011 2:34 PM

In one of the most eventful years in poker history, players from seven countries will fill the final nine seats at the World Series of Poker Main Event. Many Las Vegas casinos (as well as online sports books) have posted odds on the November Nine

Free Pub Poker

By: Gerald Hanks | 10/12/2011 9:24 AM

As the calendar counts down to the November Nine at the World Series of Poker Main Event, players and fans alike have been caught up with watching the action on the ESPN broadcasts and imagining themselves competing at the tables in Las Vegas.  Unfortunately, due to economic constraints, many players can’t make the trip to Sin City. So how can players enjoy live action without the plane ticket and the high buy-in?  

Online poker Data Mining strategies

By: Gerald Hanks | 10/7/2011 3:04 PM

Imagine if you could walk into a casino poker room, look at each opponent at the table, and know their exact situational tendencies. If you knew what they would do, when they would do it and how often they would do it, you would have a tremendous advantage.

Using Dan Harrington’s "M" Ratio for Hold'em style poker

By: Gerald Hanks | 9/28/2011 1:12 PM

Most of the world's top poker players owe a thing or two to Dan Harrington and his published guide for gaining the edge in Hold'em style play. Let's begin to break down Dan's strategy and discover how you can implement it into your online poker game.

Poker guide and strategies for sit-and-go tournaments

By: Gerald Hanks | 9/19/2011 2:07 PM

For those online poker players who either don't have the time or lack the patience to play through multi-table events, the option to play sit-and-go tournaments is a blessing. What attack should you take in these tournaments?

UFC 135: Hughes vs. Koscheck, Assuncao vs Yagin, Mizugaki vs. Escovedo

By: Gerald Hanks | 9/12/2011 10:07 AM

The injury bug has once again bitten the UFC, and we are now looking as some new matchups. The biggest change involves Matt Hughes, who was souposed to face Diego Sanchez, but now finds himself pitted against Josh Koscheck.

Knock Out the Prick: Poker Strategies in a Bounty Tournament

By: Gerald Hanks | 9/17/2011 5:00 PM

One of the more entertaining variations on the typical no-limit Texas Hold’em tournament is the “bounty” event. How should you change your style of attack in this situation to help increase your winnings? Most importantly, when facing an opponent like "The Prick", do you attack or sit back and wait for the lovable forum mascot to make an error?

Strikeforce Challengers 19: Zwicker vs. Larkin

By: Gerald Hanks | 9/1/2011 1:22 PM

Strikeforce has used its Challengers series to bring up-and-coming fighters to the attention of fight fans. The 23 September card features one rising star with a legendary name, as well as several other fighters looking for the next step up the contenders’ ladder.

5 Ways to keep your poker cool and avoid a tilt

By: Gerald Hanks | 8/31/2011 11:48 AM

Timing, aggression and strategy are all important tools in any pro poker player’s arsenal. However, the most important skill a player can learn is emotional control.  Bad beats are an unavoidable part of the game. The more a player can maintain his emotional equilibrium, the more successful that player will be in the long run.

Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Semi-Finals

By: Gerald Hanks | 8/24/2011 11:46 AM

Strikeforce will bring the semi-finals of its Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament to Cincinnati, Ohio, on 10 September. Unfortunately, what should have been a celebration of some of the best big men in the sport has been cast in doubt and controversy.

UFC Fight Night 25: Battle on the Bayou betting guide

By: Gerald Hanks | 8/24/2011 10:30 AM

After nearly a decade, the UFC returns to Cajun Country with “UFC Fight Night 25” in New Orleans.

Full Tilt and the current state of Online Poker

By: Gerald Hanks | 8/22/2011 8:59 AM

Despite the best efforts of some federal prosecutors in New York and Washington, the world of online poker did not come to a complete standstill after 15 April, or "Black Friday" as many called it. What is the current state of online poker?

UFC 134: Where to find the best betting value

By: Gerald Hanks | 8/22/2011 7:39 AM

With the UFC heading to Brazil, the fight card is stacked with the country's top fighters and sure to pleas the home crowd. Will the local favorites be kind to MMA bettors as well, or will the road dogs be the one to defy the odds?

Poker guide to 50 player maximum tournament with 7 minute blind levels

By: Gerald Hanks | 8/13/2011 12:36 PM

For players who enjoy quick action, rather than long, drawn-out multi-table tournaments, “50 Max” events can be both fun and profitable. With a limited number of players and fast-rising blinds, one out of five players is guaranteed a seat at the final table. But how can you make sure that you are one of those lucky ten that make the money and the final table?

Poker guide to bankroll and cash game table selection

By: Gerald Hanks | 8/4/2011 10:11 AM

The most important decision a poker player can make in a no-limit Texas Hold'em cash game does not occur during the game itself; it comes before the player even takes a seat. Table selection is the most vital ingredient to success at cash games.