A thread to talk about poker

[Tomahawk]

I miss Paigow. The riverboat in ptown doesn't have it unless they're calling it something else for the MA fargtards.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Ok poker degens...give me a book to buy to learn the game. I know the very basics of hold 'em but I want to learn so I can become proficient enough to sit in a live game when I go to Vegas

[Munson]

The way I really learned was just playing. I watched a ton on TV when it got big back in 2003, and then I just started playing. It takes a few games to learn the ropes but

Super System is a long long long long boring read, but it literally goes over EVERYTHING. So you can always skip around the book and read about certain things you want to learn. I would recommend getting the updated one (I think it's just called Super System 2) because it has contributions from many different pros and covers a lot of different styles of play. I never got through etiher of them but I remember it going over very basic stuff, tells you when it's okay to play stuff like suited connectors, when you should fold em, what hands to raise with, etc

I know the basic way to do odds after the flop...count how ever many outs you have, ie 9 cards of the suit left to hit a flush, and multiply it by 4 and that's the % you have to hit...after the turn, take the number of outs and multiply it by 2, that's your % to hit your card on the river...it's not exact but it gives you a rough idea, you'll only be off by a couple % points.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I have been fooling around on free sites and reading the 2+2 forums but its overwhelming right now...being the linear OCD jerk that I am I need to start from the beginning and follow the line from start to finish on how to play.

Thats how I learned craps - bought a book and hammered it

[phattymatty]

Ok poker degens...give me a book to buy to learn the game. I know the very basics of hold 'em but I want to learn so I can become proficient enough to sit in a live game when I go to Vegas

If you're serious, PM me your address and I'll send you a few. Trying to skim down my bookshelves anyway.

Not that I ever got very far in any of them. I would say just practice man...yeah the basic percentages are important to know but after that it's just all personal style. As long as you know what could possibly beat you, it's all balls.

I win more than I lose, I even played in the WSOP a few years ago but I rarely play anymore. I'll do the tournament or occasional cash game with friends, but casino poker is the biggest bunch of miserable fargs on the planet. It's pretty much the exact opposite of the craps table. Although winning a big pot is a huge rush. Especially on a bluff.

I guess I gave you no advice at all. Get a home game going with friends, shtein even the free games they do at bars, and if you still like it, go take some suckers at the casino. I'm just too impatient to grind out poker in Vegas when there's so much fun stuff and fun people to be around.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Ok I will send you my addy once I get back to Houston (still up in PA). Thanks man

I signed up for PokerStars tonight obviously they only allow play money but being a total noob that's cool. I fooled around a bit and it moves way too fast for me to really learn. Like I said I know the basics but I need to be fully armed with knowledge before I piss money away.

I have read a lot on 2+2 about grinders in Vegas and I agree - I am not looking to do that unless I am there for a week or more. But I will drive over to Louisiana or play the local casinos here in PA once I learn.

That 2+2 forum is great...I have read some stories over there about degenerates that are amazing. One dude did some 40 day medical drug trial for 8k because he went broke.

Coincidentally while fooling around on PS a bit ago there was a documentary about high stakes live poker games in NYC

[Munson]

I"m sure the Vegas grinders do some serious long hours at tables...but yeah when I play in AC, I'll sit down at the $1-$2 table at 3 or 4 PM and won't go back up to the hotel room until like 4-5-6AM (assuming I didn't get beat for my money), with maybe an hour dinner break in there somewhere. Cash games are definitely for the patient people willing to sit down and grind it out.

You never make big money at those tables but if you love poker and love the low risk of it, it can be a good time. Most I ever walked out with was about $950, sat down at the table with $300 and had it up to like $1100 at one point (and it was still early in the night, like 10 oclock or so) and then spent the next 6-7 hours dipping up and down between 900 and 1200 before finally cashing out at $950


Tourny play will definitely be a little more exciting and you won't be sitting at the table as long (in most cases)

[hbionic]

Cash games and Tournament play require two different strategies.

Cash games, he with the biggest pile of cash gets to push people around.

Tournament play, depending on what level it is, the closer to the last table it gets, the more conservative people get with their chips. The more conservative the table, the more aggressive you should play. The more aggressive the table, the more conservative you should play. But in a tourney, blinds are relatively small at the beginning, so you should try stealing pots early. Remember, image is everything at the table. It goes a long way.

I have only half-way read the Texas Hold'em No Limit part of Super System. Remember, Brunson comes from the perspective of cash games. There is another set of books, "Harrington on Hold'em" that give you an idea of how to play. I read more of that book, but only half way.

Like Munson and Phatty said, it is all comes with experience and balls. If you have a general idea of what can beat you like Phatty said, and you have a general idea of the likelihood you are to hit your set like Munson said, you are way ahead of a lot of players in your same level.

Word of advice. When it comes to Texas Hold'em it is ALL ABOUT position. If you're on the button, you are the last one to act after the flop, so remember how you can manipulate it and how others can manipulate that as well. The later you are in position, the better.

Also, don't fall in love with your cards, its hard to get away from KK, AA, and AK. Also, do not act quickly. Take a second, breathe, and think about everything that is going on. It may not be as simple a call, raise, or fold as you think.

Good luck.

Maybe one day we can get a  Hold'em tournament going while we smoke cigars and get handjobs and back massages from asian hookers...or delivery boys.

[Munson]

Pot odds are very easy to calculate as well but I'm not sure how I'm supposed to use them. I think your odds to hit your card are supposed to be as good or better than the pot odds, otherwise it's supposedly "not worth your while"

[hbionic]

It's kind of supposed to be like a scientific, "What the hell".

You have a zesty hand, you're out of position, maybe one of your cards hit the board, and your odds of getting the set you neet is I don't know 10% or 1 to 10 ratio but the pot has 4000 and it is only $500 for you to call, getting pot odds of 8 to 1, then you're supposed to mentally have a threesome with those ratios and make a decision. Or something.

Maybe I should read the 'odds' section of those books.

[reese125]

Greg " Fossil man"  Raymer got popped at a NC hotel by a prostitution sting operation

[Sgt PSN]

I don't think this thread is about that kind of poker.

[Chameleon]

If anyone is looking for a sweat I will be playing the 100+9 100k on Revolution in about 20 mins. User name $WhiteMagic$. FYI, do not sign up on Lock they are going bankrupt. I no longer play thru Lock. I was lucky enough to get a user name on intertops before they blockaded sign ups from the US. GL me.

[Chameleon]

It's hard to imagine a worse first hour. I played 13/9/72. Big hand happened when I 3-b sb with JJ in level 2. Raiser calls, caller folds. I see bet almost 100% of my 3-bet range out of position. Flop comes KQ3 rainbow. I see bet a little under half pot. Villain calls. Turn J putting two hearts on the board. Stack to pot right now is a little over 3-1. I donk half pot again. Villain shoves. I call Villain turns over A10. I don't make a boat on the river. It happens. 

I am still optimistic about this tournament for whatever reason. I have a heart beat.

[ice grillin you]

you are the anti munson...and i love it

he would have won a couple million in his first half hour


good luck