Top Poker News and Strategy Stories

by George “The Engineer” Epstein

Here’s an interesting query I received from reader Jack Durr who picks up his copy of PPN at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY where he enjoys playing 1-2 NLHE $50Min-$200Max:

 “Could you tell me how many players would have to limp in before the blinds for it to be a +EV to complete the small blind with any two cards?

 The game is small stakes – $200 max NLHE; lots of limping preflop.” It’s an intriguing question—one I have never seen/heard addressed. Basically, the question deals with starting-hand selection. With Jack’s permission, here’s my answer:

by Shari Geller

How many times have you known the right thing to do at the table, yet you stubbornly did the opposite. You see this on TV all the time. The player who tells their opponent, “I know you have me beat” just before tossing in their chips. Some literally kiss their chips goodbye as they make what they know to be a bad call (I’m looking at you, Daniel Negreanu). Why do they do that, and how can you avoid making that same mistake? Often what is going on is a player is letting their ego get in the way of making the right decision. By announcing that you know you’re beat, and still committing chips to the pot, you are effectively trying to have it both ways. If you lose, you look like a genius because you read your opponent correctly. If you win, you get their chips and can thank your brilliant “instincts” that won out over logic.

 Another way we can sabotage ourselves is to let emotions take over for our heads. Be cautious about allowing feelings (ranging from anger to jealousy to embarrassment to entitlement) derail our logical thinking. In any given hand, you should always act as if nothing but making the correct decision mattered. If, instead, you are focused on settling a score, or proving something, or being rewarded, you will set yourself up for failure.

by Haley Hintze

 PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATOR INTRODUCES ONLINE GAMBLING MEASURE

 Pennsylvania State Representative Tina Davis has introduced a bill authorizing internet gaming, including poker, for the state’s residents. The bill, HB 1235, was immediately referred to the state’s Gaming Oversight Committee for evaluation. Eastern Pennsylvania, where Davis’s district is located, is an area of increased casino competition facing pressure from both New Jersey and Delaware, nearby states that have already approved forms of i-gaming. Davis’s measure would set an age limit of 21 and require the physical presence of both the players and prospective licensees, with license approval possible only for those entities already in possession of the state’s slot-machine licenses.

 OBAMA AMBASSADORIAL CANDIDATE WITHDRAWS FROM CONSIDERATION AFTER CONNECTION TO BUSTED NYC POKER GAMES PUBLICIZED

by David “THE MAVEN” Chicotsky

There are many things we must strive for if we want to do well on a consistent basis at the poker table. Very high up on that list is the ability to stay unpredictable. One way we’re able to do this is by changing up the size of our raises and re-raises. When we’re dealing with small numbers like 2 or 3 blinds - an increase or decrease of a blind or two is a substantial difference. It’s always key to focus on the things we can control in a poker tournament, and one of those things is our sizing.

 In general, it’s very common to see players raise to 3x during a tournament. So when we open raise for a min raise (2x) or a large open of let’s say 3.5x - it will draw more attention than a standard raise. When we’re at the poker table we have to do our due diligence with all the other players. Knowing what their standard open-raise amount is one of the many things we must categorize and use against our opponents. The closer we pay attention to our opponents, the more information we gather, and the more precise we can be with our decision-making.