nedjelja, 26. prosinca 2010.
srijeda, 16. lipnja 2010.
Poker Legends
They are a role model and living (or dead) legends. They make millions of dollars and win countless games and tournaments but above all – they are the greatest poker players the world has known.
In the poker movie "Rounders", Matt Damon has a line that says:"Why do you think the same six guys end up at the final table at the world series of poker every year? Are they the luckiest guys in Las Vegas? No, it's because they've got skills."
Nothing can be truer. It takes incredible skill, talent, coolness and guts and these legends have it all in abundance. They show up, tournament after tournament, game after game, and show the rest of the poker pros what separates them and makes them even better.
Out of the countless poker professionals and champions, this handful of players stand out as the absolute pinnacle of the poker world – they are poker legends.
Stu Ungar
Stu "The Kid" Ungar was born in New York in 1953 and was only 10 years old when he won a local gin tournament. By 1974, he was considered to be one of the best players in New York. He eventually had to leave New York and travel to Las Vegas due to gambling debts at the local race tracks and because his reputation as a Gin player made it impossible for him to find anyone who would play against him.
In Vegas, Ungar won so many gin tournaments that several casinos requested that he wouldn't play in them because players were not willing to enter the tournament if they knew Ungar was playing. He is famous for saying: "Some day, I suppose it's possible for someone to be a better no limit holdem player than me. I doubt it, but it could happen. But, I swear to you, I don't see how anyone could ever play gin better than me."
He played in the 1980 World Series of Poker and won the main event, defeating poker legend Doyle Brunson, and became the youngest WSOP champion ever (but he would later be surpassed by Phil Hellmuth in 1989). He also won the 1981 WSOP.
After his early success Ungar wasted all of his winnings on drugs, sports betting and horse racing. He went from broke to a millionaire four times.
In 1997, after years of battling drug addiction, Ungar was deeply in debt. He managed to get the $10,000 to enter the WSOP main event from a friend. Ungar clearly had suffered physical damage from addiction, most notably to his nasal membranes. However, he showed that his mental abilities were still intact and won his third WSOP win.
In November 1998, Ungar was found dead in his room at the Oasis Motel in Las Vegas. He is still regarded by many poker pros as the greatest pure talent ever to play the game; in his life, he is estimated to have won over $30 million playing poker. He is the only player to have won 3 WSOP main event tournaments.
Doyle Brunson
Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson was born in 1933 in Longhorn, Texas. After A knee injury that ended Brunson's dream of becoming a professional athlete, he started playing poker. Brunson started off by traveling around Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, in order to play in bigger and bigger games.
He was the first player to earn $1 million in poker tournaments. Brunson also won ten World Series of Poker bracelets so far throughout his 40-years career, tied with Johnny Chan and Phil Hellmuth. He is also one of only four players to have won consecutive main events at the WSOP, in 1976 and 1977.Amazingly, he won both years with the exact same poker hand, a full house of tens full of deuces. The hand is now called a Doyle Brunson.
In 1978, Brunson published Super/System, one of the most respected and comprehensive books on poker. Brunson gave poker players a chance to get insight into the secrets of professional players. This is considered to have damaged many professional players' ability to beat regular players.
Brunson later authored other books, such as Poker Wisdom of a Champion and Super/System 2.
He continues to play in the biggest poker games in the world, playing $4000/$8000 minimum bets and also at the World Series of Poker. Brunson currently holds 10 WSOP gold bracelets – a tie with poker legends Phil Helmuth and Johnny Chan.
As of 2006, his total live tournament winnings exceeded $4,900,000.
Phil Helmuth
Phil Helmuth was born in 1964 in Madison, Wisconsin. Fast forward just 25 years into the future and the young Phil defeats two-time defending champion, Johnny Chan, in the World Series of Poker main event. He became the youngest World Champion of Poker ever.
Hellmuth attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for three years before dropping out to play poker professionally. Ever since then he is known as the "poker brat", referring to his ego and attitude towards other players at the table.
Nonetheless, he is highly appreciated in the poker community and he is considered the world's best living Texas Hold'em player. Helmuth is a busy poker player: he currently holds ten WSOP bracelets; he is the season three champion of Late Night Poker and has also won the inaugural National Heads-Up Poker Championship.
He also appeared in the first season of the GSN series High Stakes Poker and in the spring of 2006, Hellmuth replaced poker pro Phil Gordon as commentator on Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown.
The controversial Helmuth is perceived in the poker community as unable to loss graciously. He has many fans but also many who have a negative opinion about him
Among his many famous quotes are: "If luck weren't involved I guess I'd win every one,"; "I've revolutionized the way to play Texas Hold'em."
Helmuth has multiple endorsement deals, books, and merchandise, making him perhaps the best-known face in poker.
As of 2006, his total live tournament winnings exceed $8,325,000. If Helmuth continues to play and win as he does, becoming the greatest poker player in history will be just a matter of time.
Johnny Chan
Johnny Chan was born in China in 1962 and later moved with his family to Arizona and finally to Texas, where his family owned restaurants.
Chan entered the gambling world at the young age of 16, when hen went on a junket to Las Vegas. A few years later he dropped out of college in order to move to Vegas and become a professional poker player.
As a pro, Chan was very successful, winning game after game, which he had credited to the fact that at the time, most players did not have experience playing against an Asian poker player and therefore could not "read him".
Chan was a poker star in the late 1980's, winning two consecutive championship events of the World Series of Poker in 1987 and 1988, a feat that has not been repeated since, and probably never will be, due to the ever growing fields. He failed to achieve a third consecutive win (which would have been an amazing achievement) when he was defeated in the 1989 by a very young and unknown poker player by the name of Phil Helmuth.
Chan is the author of Play Poker Like Johnny Chan, an instructional book on several different types of poker games. He also published Million Dollar Hold'em: Winning Big in Limit Cash Games, which focuses on limit Texas Hold'em strategy.
In 2005, Chan won his tenth World Series of Poker title and he is now tied with Doyle Brunson and Phil Hellmuth for the record of 10 World Series of Poker gold bracelets. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002.
Hope you liked it!
nedjelja, 13. lipnja 2010.
Approximating game theoretic optimal strategies for full-scale poker (d. billings)
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
subota, 12. lipnja 2010.
Top 10 Poker Tips to Make You a Better Player & Improve Your Poker Game
Want to become a better player, fast? Follow these 10 tips to boost your poker performance & profits.
While geared to beginner players, there's poker tips that even seasoned pros should remind themselves of once in a while.
1. Don't Play Every Hand / Do Fold More
Probably the number one mistake beginning poker players make is that they play far too many hands. When you're just starting out playing poker, you want to play poker, and that means staying in hands that aren't very good just to be part of the action. But playing more doesn't mean winning more, it usually means losing more. If you find you're staying in half or more the hands you're dealt, you need to upgrade your starting hand requirements.
2. Don't Play Drunk
Countless nights have I sat across a table from someone & watched them get plastered silly and throw away their entire stack of chips. I've been that person too - and there are nights where you're just playing with friends for low stakes and it's more about the fun than the poker - but if you're in a casino, watch the alcohol. The truth is, while you may be more relaxed after 2 drinks, it may lead to you playing looser and less sharply, even if one's not 'drunk.'
Related: Vote: Should Poker Players be Allowed to Drink at Tournaments?
3. Don't Bluff Just For Bluffing's Sake
A lot of beginner's understand that bluffing is a part of poker, but not exactly how. There's is NO rule that one must bluff a certain amount or at all during a poker game, but many players don't feel like they've won unless they've tried a poker bluff. Bluffs only work in certain situations & against certain people, and if you know a player always calls to the showdown, it is literally impossible to bluff that player. It's better never to bluff than to bluff "just to bluff."
4. Don't Stay in a Hand Just Because You're Already In It
Another common mistake beginners make is to think that "Well, I've already put that much in the pot, I have to stay in now." Nope. You can't win a pot just by throwing money at it. There may be cases when pot odds warrant a call, but if you're sure you're beaten, and there's no way your hand can improve to be the best hand, you should fold right away. The money you've already put in the pot isn't yours anymore, and you can't get it back just by playing a hand all the way to the end.
5. Don't Call at the End of a Hand to "Keep Someone Honest"
This one follows the last tip. I see a lot of players look at another player's final bet, look at the hand, & say "I know you've got me, but I have to keep you honest," as they throw in a final call. It may be worth it to see if a player really has the hand if you're not sure & you're gaining information that will help you later on, but if you really feel a player has the hand he's representing & you're beat, why give him another pile of your money? Those bets will add up over an evening.
6. Don't Play When Mad, Sad, or in a Generally Bad Mood
When you play poker, you shouldn't do it to escape from being depressed or having a really bad day. You start out on tilt -- playing emotionally, not rationally -- and you won't play your best. Likewise, if during a poker game, you lose a big hand or get sucked out on and feel yourself going on tilt, stand up & take a break until you feel calm later on. Fellow players will sense your mood & take advantage of it.
7. Do Pay Attention to the Cards on the Table
When you first start playing, it's enough just to remember how to play and pay attention to your own hand. But once you've got that down, it's incredibly important to look at what's going on at the table. In Texas Hold'em, figure out what the best possible hand would be to fit the flop. Make sure you notice flush & straight possibilities. In 7-card stud, pay attention to what's showing & what people have folded when you consider calling opponents.
8. Do Pay Attention to the Other Players
As you play, one of the single best things you can do is observe your opponents, even when you're not in a hand. If you know if one player always raises in a certain position, & another has a poker tell when he bluffs, & a 3rd folds to every re-raise, you can use that information to help you decide how to play against them. Once you know that player 3 always folds to a re-raise on a river, that's when you can bluff & steal a pot.
9. Don't Play at too High Limits
There are many reasons people move up to a higher limit game than they usually play. Good reasons like they've been winning consistently at a lower lever & are ready to move up, & bad reasons like the line is shorter for higher limits or you want to impress someone. Don't play at stakes that make you think about the actual money in terms of day-to-day life or with money you can't lose. Even if you had one super-good night at $2/4, resist the urge to play $5/10. The next tip explains more why.
10. Do Pick the Right Game for Your Skill Level & Bankroll
One of the reasons you shouldn't jump into a $5/10 game after winning a huge bunch of money at $2/4 is because as the stakes rise, so does the average skill level of the players sitting there. You want to be one of the best at the table, not the fish who sits down with sharks. If you're making stacks of money at a lower level game, why move? You're winning stacks of money. The swings up & down at higher limits are much bigger, and one big night's win won't last long at a high-stakes game.
While geared to beginner players, there's poker tips that even seasoned pros should remind themselves of once in a while.
1. Don't Play Every Hand / Do Fold More
Probably the number one mistake beginning poker players make is that they play far too many hands. When you're just starting out playing poker, you want to play poker, and that means staying in hands that aren't very good just to be part of the action. But playing more doesn't mean winning more, it usually means losing more. If you find you're staying in half or more the hands you're dealt, you need to upgrade your starting hand requirements.
2. Don't Play Drunk
Countless nights have I sat across a table from someone & watched them get plastered silly and throw away their entire stack of chips. I've been that person too - and there are nights where you're just playing with friends for low stakes and it's more about the fun than the poker - but if you're in a casino, watch the alcohol. The truth is, while you may be more relaxed after 2 drinks, it may lead to you playing looser and less sharply, even if one's not 'drunk.'
Related: Vote: Should Poker Players be Allowed to Drink at Tournaments?
3. Don't Bluff Just For Bluffing's Sake
A lot of beginner's understand that bluffing is a part of poker, but not exactly how. There's is NO rule that one must bluff a certain amount or at all during a poker game, but many players don't feel like they've won unless they've tried a poker bluff. Bluffs only work in certain situations & against certain people, and if you know a player always calls to the showdown, it is literally impossible to bluff that player. It's better never to bluff than to bluff "just to bluff."
4. Don't Stay in a Hand Just Because You're Already In It
Another common mistake beginners make is to think that "Well, I've already put that much in the pot, I have to stay in now." Nope. You can't win a pot just by throwing money at it. There may be cases when pot odds warrant a call, but if you're sure you're beaten, and there's no way your hand can improve to be the best hand, you should fold right away. The money you've already put in the pot isn't yours anymore, and you can't get it back just by playing a hand all the way to the end.
5. Don't Call at the End of a Hand to "Keep Someone Honest"
This one follows the last tip. I see a lot of players look at another player's final bet, look at the hand, & say "I know you've got me, but I have to keep you honest," as they throw in a final call. It may be worth it to see if a player really has the hand if you're not sure & you're gaining information that will help you later on, but if you really feel a player has the hand he's representing & you're beat, why give him another pile of your money? Those bets will add up over an evening.
6. Don't Play When Mad, Sad, or in a Generally Bad Mood
When you play poker, you shouldn't do it to escape from being depressed or having a really bad day. You start out on tilt -- playing emotionally, not rationally -- and you won't play your best. Likewise, if during a poker game, you lose a big hand or get sucked out on and feel yourself going on tilt, stand up & take a break until you feel calm later on. Fellow players will sense your mood & take advantage of it.
7. Do Pay Attention to the Cards on the Table
When you first start playing, it's enough just to remember how to play and pay attention to your own hand. But once you've got that down, it's incredibly important to look at what's going on at the table. In Texas Hold'em, figure out what the best possible hand would be to fit the flop. Make sure you notice flush & straight possibilities. In 7-card stud, pay attention to what's showing & what people have folded when you consider calling opponents.
8. Do Pay Attention to the Other Players
As you play, one of the single best things you can do is observe your opponents, even when you're not in a hand. If you know if one player always raises in a certain position, & another has a poker tell when he bluffs, & a 3rd folds to every re-raise, you can use that information to help you decide how to play against them. Once you know that player 3 always folds to a re-raise on a river, that's when you can bluff & steal a pot.
9. Don't Play at too High Limits
There are many reasons people move up to a higher limit game than they usually play. Good reasons like they've been winning consistently at a lower lever & are ready to move up, & bad reasons like the line is shorter for higher limits or you want to impress someone. Don't play at stakes that make you think about the actual money in terms of day-to-day life or with money you can't lose. Even if you had one super-good night at $2/4, resist the urge to play $5/10. The next tip explains more why.
10. Do Pick the Right Game for Your Skill Level & Bankroll
One of the reasons you shouldn't jump into a $5/10 game after winning a huge bunch of money at $2/4 is because as the stakes rise, so does the average skill level of the players sitting there. You want to be one of the best at the table, not the fish who sits down with sharks. If you're making stacks of money at a lower level game, why move? You're winning stacks of money. The swings up & down at higher limits are much bigger, and one big night's win won't last long at a high-stakes game.
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