Monthly Archives: January 2020

Poker is an interesting game and people from all levels love playing poker games. However, not everyone reaches the heights of some of the greats of the game. However, that doesnt really matter. Everyone has their charm and tricks. However, Poker players give hints. It doesnt matter how big the player is, there are always hints. One needs to be observant and watchful to get these indications.

Here are some of the most common and effective hints that one can get from the poker players. So, when you seat in a local tournament, be very particular not to give away anything and be very observant to read your opponents.

Legs give the early indications. If someone is joyous, they would shake slowly. That gives the early indications. Generally, they wait for their turn to get their dues. Well, dont be overjoyed and be calm. It gives an even better indication when you are nervous. People shake their legs, even more, when they are out of their comfort zone. Some people even hit the table with their shaking legs. Well, dont be one of them and keep calm. Let the cards do the talking and not the legs.

Eyes are expressive and they tell a story. Do you know why poker players wear shades? Well, they dont want to reveal anything. If you overlooking a few cards, that simply gives the hint or coming back at certain cards also give enough idea. So, dont express anything and wear shades.

Do not talk at the table when you are playing. Over talking at the table would be disastrous when the cards are given away. Be quiet and play the game instead of talking too much. When you speak, you fail to notice the senses of the cards.

Never fiddle with your chips. This gives away more information than someone would have imagined. If you continue to fiddle with your chips while betting, it totally provides a glimpse that you are nervous. If someone looks at the chips and the cards, again and again, that gives the under-confidence of the player.

The mouth can express a lot of things. Moving lips, moving jaws or something similar is very common while playing poker. Well, we all know about the Poker Face and that is what exactly we are talking about. Never make the poker face and give hints to the opponents.

Have you ever seen a player looking back as if they are searching for someone? Well, that clearly indicates that the player is bored. This becomes even more dangerous when there is no waiter nearby and your glass is full. It is best to look at your cards without looking here and there.

If an experienced player is engaging with others then be very sure that he or she wants people to know how you are defeated. This is an obvious sign to understand where the game is going.

Make sure that you learn from this and dont do anything as such on the table. However, if your opponent has not read about this, then you have got your advantage.

Source: https://calvinayre.com/2020/01/15/poker/the-first-seven-poker-tells-you-ever-gave-away/

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Seven Things that You Should Not Do on Poker Table - Tunf.com News

January 14, 2020Martin Harris

We live in a "social media" world these days where people from all walks of life have found numerous, inventive ways to make entertaining and/or edifying "content" out of their everyday lives. It's not surprising, then, for this phenomenon to have become part of the poker world as well, with online poker in particular having become a favorite context for some players to find audiences (and even make a little extra dough, too).

Streaming your online poker games over Twitch has become easier than ever to do, and as a result many online poker players have tried doing just that with varying degrees of success. Most discover it's a lot harder than it looks, with no one becoming the next Jason Somerville or Lex Veldhuis overnight.

Recently PokerNews spoke with Fintan Hand a.k.a. "EasyWithAces" who like Veldhuis is a member of Team PokerStars Online and likewise has become one of the more successful online poker playing Twitch streamers.

In the video below, Hand delivers five tips for becoming a successful Twitch streamer. As you might imagine all five involve putting in some genuine effort.

Interestingly, all five of Hand's tips correspond in a way to recommendations you often hear successful online poker players making to those who are trying to improve their games.

Hand says to be consistent with your streams and generally try to follow a regular schedule and not get too carried away putting in "crazy long hours" with shows. Online poker players similarly should be wary of playing irregular or overly long sessions.

He recommends streamers be part of the community and get involved with others' streams. This is probably less of a concern for the online poker player, although it is always worthwhile to be a positive, constructive member of any community in which you plan to spend a lot of time.

When Hand recommends you be yourself on streams and not try to play a "character" or be someone else, that sounds a lot like discovering the playing style that best suits you and gives you the best chance of being successful.

Hand notes how streamers should invest in equipment that ensures the show is of decent quality, noting how it doesn't cost that much to make sure your webcam, sound, and lighting are all up to speed. Again, this recalls how serious online poker players should consider investing a little in laptops, desks, chairs, and so on in order to make their set-up comfortable.

Finally, Hand notes that it's always nice to run well since winning at the tables often translates into attracting more viewers. After all, "everyone wants to see the deep run."

Just like in poker, there's a bit of luck involved in becoming a successful Twitch streamer. But there's a lot you can do to increase your likelihood of success, too.

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Five Tips to Become a Successful Online Poker Twitch Streamer - PokerNews.com

Most books on poker strategy are written after a great feat, while some come merely as an afterthought of the writers prowess in the poker space. Such books are crafted to capture the attention of those who are ready to read and learn a few things from people who have been there and done that.

A 2004 book by Matt Matros, dubbed The Making of a Poker Player is not what you would expect as it was written when Matt was in the process of becoming a poker player, and not after he had achieved success.

As he stated during a recent interview, he wrote the book way before he was even considered a proper poker player. He adds that he started as a writer before becoming a poker player because he was looking for a project to work on.

However, this changed when he, out of nowhere, finished third at a $25000 entry World Poker Tour championship at Las Vegas Bellagio.He added that his original plan was to launch the book, at a time when he was virtually unknown. In the time between when he began selling and when it was scheduled for publication, he decides to make try out at the WPT Championship in Bellagio. Thereafter, the expectations turned out quite differently, so he was forced to add the final chapter.

He walked away with close to $706903 but had only paid $100 as the entry fee. On a spring break from his graduate writing program at this time, he played the $100 satellite right from his home and ended up winning $2500, which consisted of a super satellite plus a plane ticket to Las Vegas.

Matt stated that he had nothing to his name, so he was not able to put $25000 down and he was not known enough to attract backers at the event. His plan was to get to Vegas, take part in the Satellite. He was not sure he would get into the main tournament. The next thing was to fly back home to his writing program.

Nevertheless, this did not happen. Rather, he managed to win a lot of money, which changed his life and book, completely.Strangely, in his view, he was writing a book that would teach people how to start on poker, while ordinarily, people would expect a book on how to become an expert, which is not what the book was meant to do. He hoped he would be able to fit the turn of events in his book.As for the money, it was a lot more than what he was used to. For a young man, which is what he was at the time, the money amounted to a value he could not quite compute, despite being well versed with numbers.

He stated that his winning completely blew his mind and affect his thought process at that time. Although he did well in the game and won big, the entire experience was quite surreal. For a few days afterward, he was in limbo.

While he did well for himself, it is important to point out that had he won the entire event, he would have walked away with $2.7 million, a huge payment score compared to the value he took home after his podium finish.

Having come in third, he looks back on this experience with a measure of pride. His life changed, but he took the change in stride. 15 years later today, he credits being clam through the entire experience to his age, which helped him stay calm and in control of what he ended up doing with the money.

He admits that he never did anything that would be considered silly; he bought an apartment and set aside a sum for his bankroll. Everything else came in after that. He states that he is glad that the experience comes in at the age of 27, and not 21, otherwise that would have been a disaster.

The book depicts him as incredibly endowed in mathematics in the UK and the Americans certainly feel he is a math geek. Although he loved writing, mathematics was his greatest love.

The book ended up being a huge success, which pleased both himself and the publisher. He went on to write a second one, titled The Game Plan, which was published 15 years later.

Source: https://calvinayre.com/2020/01/16/poker/poker-in-print-the-making-of-a-poker-player-matt-matros-2004/

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Poker in Focus: The Making of a Poker Master According to Matt Matros - Tunf.com News

January 18, 2020Will Shillibier

Rob Campbell makes his way across the Crown Casino poker room where the 2020 Aussie Millions is being held to where PokerNews is waiting for him.

"You know there's no Player of the Year points on offer here right?" we ask the 2019 World Series of Poker Player of the Year.

"No POY points? What are you talking about, that's why I'm here!" replied Campbell.

Its the type of response you expect from the former stand-up comedian and something that many people mention when talking about the Australian.

Hes very funny once you understand his humor, former WSOP Main Event winner Joe Hachem told us. Hachem is one of only two Legend members of the Australian Poker Hall of Fame, the other being Jeff Lisandro, and says that he and Campbell first met around 12 years ago in 2008.

Hes always been a nice guy from day one, said Hachem. But he came from the online poker world, so he was very uncomfortable when he first started playing live. He was just this weird-looking robotic acting guy who told us he was a stand-up comedian on the side.

"We called him Robbie Robot"

We called him 'Robbie Robot'. Hed sit there keeping still the whole time because he didnt want to give off any tells, so Robots stuck with him all this time.

Robot or not, Campbell is back in his native Australia for the Aussie Millions, a festival that until his double-bracelet winning summer was the site of his only career victory.

In fact, his victory in the 2013 A$5,000 8-Game was his most recent cash at the Aussie Millions (Was it?" said Campbell. "I'm hopeless") but his relationship with the Crown goes back even further than that.

Im 99.9% confident we taught him to play, said Aussie Millions Tournament Director Joel Williams when we asked him about Campbell. I remember teaching him the difference between a spade and a straight!

According to Williams, Crown used to run a A$2/4 Limit Holdem table called Beginners Luck. This was pre-Hachem as Williams put it before the poker room was renovated and expanded following the Australians historic victory in 2005.

Beginners Luck was a table reserved exclusively for new players, each receiving a card that would be stamped every time they played. After the player had filled their card with stamps, they wouldnt be allowed to come back and play at that table.

This game would run with all the locals and regulars on the rail wanting to get in and play with the new people. Im 99.9% confident he came through that game.

"If he argued a point or spoke up and said something, it was rare that he was ever wrong."

Campbell then moved on to the A$4/8 Limit Holdem Table, Williams remembers, and it quickly became obvious that Campbell was an out and out student of the game.

He reviewed his play afterwards, said Williams. He came in every time slightly more experienced than when he left, and he was one of those players even at an early age that if he argued a point or spoke up and said something, it was rare that he was ever wrong.

It was clear he had a poker head and was a little bit special.

Thats a sentiment echoed by 2019 Aussie Millions H.O.R.S.E. champion Daniel Mayoh who, despite only knowing Campbell for 18 months, says he made a positive first impression.

I was playing heads-up 25/50 mixed game cash with him one day, and he was just letting me pick whatever game I wanted to play. That was my first time talking to him. Id seen his name in the WSOP results over the last few years.

He came across as really friendly and was happy to share his knowledge, and over the last year weve played more and more, especially in some of the cash games around Melbourne.

The two are common foes across the felt in both cash games and tournaments, including one encounter Mayoh says may have been the catalyst for Campbells summer of success.

According to Mayoh, in the week before the 2019 World Series of Poker, both he and Campbell made it to heads-up in a mixed game tournament in Melbourne.

It was heads-up and I had a lead, Mayoh recalls. I suggested that it was time to do a deal because the first prize was triple what second would get, but he said no. I need the practice is what he said to me.

So we played it out, and it was a good 45 minutes worth of heads-up play, but eventually I came out on top. I like to think Rob got the practice from me that put him in good stead when he went off to Las Vegas.

Campbell is back in Australia playing at the Aussie Millions after an extended stint on the west coast of America, but his tournament appearances have been limited to just the H.O.R.S.E. so far.

As much as I love the Aussie Millions, sometimes when I'm here I play cash games. I know that's blasphemous, I'm not a tournament player."

"Not really a tournament player" comes as quite a shock to us, but as the festival progresses its clear to see why.

Situated on the second tier of the Crown Casino poker room, Table 46 doesnt quite have the same ring as Bobbys Room at the Bellagio or even Table 1 at the Aria but make no mistake this is the table everyone wants to rail.

Literally, on occasion, as a rope is drawn up just feet away from the tables edge allowing anyone to wander in and catch a glimpse of some of Melbournes biggest mixed game cash game in action.

A couple of days ago, with this table occupied by the record-breaking A$25,000 Challenge field, there was a crowd of anxious-looking Mixed Game regulars waiting for the Big Game to get underway.

Its these big games, Williams says, that helped Campbell hone his craft when he was emerging onto the scene.

He put himself in these big situations as quickly as possible to learn as much as possible, said Williams. He always was courageous and/or risky if you like. Back then he was pretty out of his depth, but he would have seen it as paying for their knowledge, which in hindsight was the right move.

Players like Jeff Lisandro, you know, the best that were ever available. He put himself in that sort of world.

Now, Campbell was joined by Lisandro and a whole host of mixed game players such as Billy The Croc Argyros and Jan Suchanek in waiting for what they consider their table to become available.

He runs that game, Suchanek told us. Hes the king of running that game. Hes probably the best player and everyone lets him run it. Thats the dynamic of the game.

Suchanek has his personal feelings about his business partners position in the poker world, especially framed around last years POY contest, and he makes them known.

"The rules of the game werent in his favour and he binked it anyway"

Its a shame because the whole POY thing became more about Deeb and Daniel losing and not him winning. Its a shame that hes not more popular than he is. Hes a very unique character.

The rules of the game werent in his favour and he binked it anyway. Hes gonna keep focusing on poker. Thats what I love about him.

Hachem agrees that it is Campbells focus, especially during the months in Vegas during the World Series of Poker, that propelled him to win Player of the Year.

The POY is not set up for limit players which is what he is so that just shows the effort that he put in to get there. Anyone who knows Rob or has spoken to him knows that when hes at the WSOP he clocks on the minute he lands and doesnt clock off until the minute he finishes.

"This year it all came together for him"

Most of us go out there and play some tournaments, but we also play some golf, go out and party, have some dinners, that sort of thing. He deserves everything he gets as a result because he put in the hours and the time and the effort to get there. It wasnt like a sheer coincidence. If you look at his record the past few years, hes been doing pretty well in all those events. But this year it all came together for him.

Campbell says he understands the new role his POY success will bring him going forward. Knowing hell be his countryman in adorning the walls of the Rio Hotel & Casino when his Player of the Year banner is hung up later this year, does Campbell feel a sense of responsibility with regard to Hachem's effect on the poker community, especially in Australia?

Personally, I do feel a little bit of responsibility, but I know Joe and he takes it quite seriously. He understands that hes a permanent face of the game whether he likes it or not. I think thats a good thing. He should be like that.

When he sits down next to me, hes just Joe. But people always want to speak to him and hes instrumental in the Australian poker scene. He carries himself well and hes how youd hope a WSOP Main Event winner would be.

Hachem believes there are many different types of poker ambassadors, with both he and Campbell completely different versions.

Hes still an ambassador though, said Hachem. And hell be a great ambassador. He cares about the game. He works hard and hell go out of his way to educate and share with people around him.

Mayoh agrees, saying his newfound fame will only serve to help the Melbourne mixed game scene and beyond.

He comes across as one of the elders of the Melbourne mixed game scene and always been quite friendly with the other players and supporting them. Thats important with mixed game players because when people play, theyre often learning and its important they dont feel discouraged or made to feel stupid if theyre still learning the game. Robs great at that.

He has a great personality, continued Hachem. Its not a vibrant out there kind of personality, but its a personality that is warm and honest and very sincere to the game of poker. We may be different personalities but that doesnt mean he cant step up to fill those type of shoes as well.

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Why do fellow Aussie pro's like @JosephHachem refer to @WSOP POY @SonicJaxx2019 as 'Robbie Robot'?

Im 99.9% confident we taught him to play." Aussie Millions TD @JoelGWilliams tells about @WSOP POY @SonicJaxx2019's early poker days.

Read how @WSOP POY @SonicJaxx19 worked his way up from 'Beginners Luck' to running the game.

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From 'Beginners Luck' to Running the Game; WSOP POY Rob Campbell is Back Where it All Began - PokerNews.com

A successful poker player told how losing over three stone has helped him stay at the top of his game.

Last year, John Bousfield came third in the 2019 National Poker League run by Grosvenor Casinos.

The 43-year-old was also voted Teesside's top player by the poker playing community.

Today, he is the picture of health and enjoys a healthy diet and regular exercise.

But rewind three years and John was suffering with dangerously high blood pressure and breathlessness due to being overweight.

"The weight just seemed to come on gradually and I hadn't really thought about it," he said.

"I had bought a really expensive jacket - something I wouldn't usually buy - and when I went to try it on about 18 months later for my dad's 70th birthday, it didn't fit."

John, who runs Smithfield Timber in Middlesbrough and lives in the Whitehouse Farm area of Stockton, travels around the world with his poker hobby.

As the game involves spending long period of sitting down, John was often left feeling "sluggish", choosing quick, easy and unhealthy food options.

"I was eating fast food and take aways - just grabbing food on the go," he said.

"In the house I wasn't bad, it was during the day I'd nip into Greggs as I was passing."

It was following a health scare in 2017 that John's wife Rebecca, who is a Slimming World consultant, insisted he take action.

"At that time I had really high blood pressure," explained John.

"I was taken into hospital with sky high blood pressure of 240/120 which was off the scale.

"I had to up my medication to three tablets a day and it was still high at 140/100.

"I was struggling with my energy levels and getting out of breath. The doctor thought I might have angina and Rebecca said, 'Come on, you need to do something about it.'"

When John signed up to Slimming World in April 2017 he weighed 16st 8lb.

After losing two stone he took up regular exercise and even signed up to the Great North Run.

In September 2018, John completed the half-marathon in three hours. The following year secured a time of under two hours.

Within just 11 months John had reached his target weight of 13st and has maintained the healthy weight ever since.

John said he found it easy to follow the healthy eating plan.

"It's just getting out of bad habits and thinking differently about how you cook things," he said.

"The food I fresher and tastes just as nice. I still eat cooked breakfasts for example I just cook it in a different way.

"I still have chips but they are cooked in the oven rather than fried."

John's blood pressure has now stabilised to 130/90. And he believes his change of lifestyle thanks to Slimming World has improved, not just his health and energy levels, but also his game.

"I've been played for a few years now but I've played more since getting fit and I can think clearer," he said.

"It definitely has helped the mind as well as the body.

"Losing the weight as the plan encourages you to stick to a healthier lifestyle.

"So you look at all aspects of what you do and your habits and then that helps you in other aspects of your life - for me fitness and poker.

"And this brings more confidence in achieving things."

He still follows the plan and attends the group sessions and enjoys cooking meals for Rebecca and their five children such as fajitas, spaghetti bolognese and steak.

And his success has even inspired other poker players from around the world to sign up to the Slimming World plan.

John's wife Rebecca runs Slimming World sessions at St Patricks Church Hall in Fairfield every Tuesday at 9.30am, 11.30am, 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

For more information call her on 07710 830165.

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Poker star John gave up the chips and lost weight - after high blood pressure health scare - Gazette Live

Supplied

James Gargan took out the top prize of $2000 after winning the inaugural Freezeout Texas Hold'em tournament held in New Plymouth on Saturday.

Keen interest from poker players means a new tournament is likely to become a regular fixture on New Plymouth's social calendar.

On Saturday, theFreezeoutTexas Hold'emtournament was a sell-out, with 32 people signing up to compete for a prize pool totalling $5000.

Organiser Damian Gould said there had been a "fantastic" response to the first tournamentand there was already a waitinglist for the next one, which is planned for Marchand then monthly thereafter.

"It went off without a hitch."

LIAM COURTENAY/STUFF

The Freezeout Texas Hold'em tournament is set to become a regular event after selling out on Saturday. Hwera's Karen Angell, fourth from the left, was the only female competitor.

READ MORE:*High stakes poker tournament to be held in Taranaki*South Island men take home massive poker wins in two countries*Player turns $35 into $1.1 million at Auckland casino on one poker game

James Gargan, from Omata, was crowned winner of the inaugural competiton, taking home the $2000 prize.

JasonWathallclaimed second spotnetting $1350, while the only female competitor out of the 32 entrants, Karen Angell, placed third and tookhome $850.

LIAM COURTENAY/STUFF

Mark Lahood, of New Plymouth, didn't given anything away as he played his hand.

Each of the32 players paid the$175 buy-in for the tournament, which was held at theNew Plymouth Club.

Gould came up with the tournament idea as he andsome friends had beenlooking for somewhere to play since returningto New Plymouth after a stint living inAustralia.

ANDY JACKSON/STUFF

Poker tournament organiser Damian Gould says Saturday's competition went off without a hitch. (File photo)

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Plenty of interest in new poker tournament - Stuff.co.nz