Pokermaster - The best online poker rooms! - Editorial

Titan Poker Counts Down to Billionth Hand

pokermaster — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:08:23 -0400

The largest site on the ipoker network has a great reason to celebrate. Titan Poker is about to reach an astronomical one billion hands played on the site, and it is already celebrating with cash prizes. That’s right, last week Titan hit its hand ID 950,000,000. The 950 millionth hand marked the beginning of celebrations that include cash prizes of $350,000, and will end with the anticipated billionth hand.

World Poker Tour Season 6 Finale – Part II

pokermaster — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:30:40 -0400

The 6th season of the WPT came to an end with a Hollywood-like twist that will not be forgotten any time soon. The final table of season six displayed all the characteristics of a well scripted movie; an active hero fighting to regain control over his surroundings, his relentless efforts to overcome hardships on the way to a happy end, and finally - the twist and surprise ending. This should come to us as no surprise, seeing how the WPT was originally started by television producer Steven Lipscomb, whose goal was to capture poker action in a televised environment. With a final table like this one, that goal was definitely accomplished.

Poker: Luck or Skill?

pokermaster — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:12:16 -0400

Michael A. DeDonno, a doctoral student from Case Western Reserve University, recently set out to answer the hottest poker question of recent years: Is poker a game of chance or skill?

World Poker Tour Season 6 Championship – Part I

pokermaster — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:32:37 -0400

The 6th season of the World Poker Tour (WPT) has finally reached its climax with the 2008 championship tournament. The championship started on the 19th and will end on the 26th of April, so we are right in the middle of the action. The world’s best known poker professionals gathered at the Bellagio in Las Vegas for 7 days of intense poker play, and pokermaster.org has been following them closely. Here is an update straight from the tournament tables.

Strategy Spotlight: Bluffing

pokermaster — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:49:48 -0400

Bluffing is as essential to a poker player as barking is to a dog. OK, even if you disagree with that analogy, you have to agree that bluffing is a big part of any poker game. This article will take a look at bluffing in light of David Sklansky’s Fundamental Theorem of Poker, which was discussed in the previous article. First, a quick reminder to the Fundamental Theorem of Poker: "Every time you play a hand differently from the way you would have played it if you could see all your opponents' cards, they gain; and every time you play your hand the same way you would have played it if you could see all their cards, they lose. Conversely, every time opponents play their hands differently from the way they would have if they could see all your cards, you gain; and every time they play their hands the same way they would have played if they could see all your cards, you lose".

Strategy Spotlight: Fundamental Theorem of Poker

pokermaster — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:05:23 -0400

David Sklansky (born 1947) is among the world's most famous gamblers. He is also a best-selling author that has influenced an entire generation of poker players with his many books on the subject. By introducing and explaining advanced strategic concepts to the general public, some believe Sklansky revolutionized the game forever, leveling out the playing field and setting free the secrets of poker.

‘The Grand’ – The First Poker Mocumentary

pokermaster — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:27:25 -0400

Rock and roll has This is Spinal Tap; Horror films have The Blair Witch Project; even dog shows got Best in Show. Some people feel a movie like this was way overdue, but it’s here now – poker finally has its very own mocumentary.

Hold'em Hand Odds Shortcut

pokermaster — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:40:22 -0400

Let’s start with the bad news: Calculating the odds to each Hold’em scenario is not the most trivial of tasks. Unfortunately, it involves some (simple) arithmetic. But if you’ve decided to play, you might as well give it your best shot. Without knowing your odds, you’re basically betting in the dark. You don’t know what chances you stand to win a hand, nor do you know what the payout is in case you win. This is where poker odds come in, and help you become a smarter player.

2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship

pokermaster — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:53:14 -0400

Of all the different poker variations out there, Texas Hold’em is by far the most televised. The reasons for Texas Holdem’s sudden popularity are many, but one aspect of the game that helps capture the thrill on TV is the community cards. With the help of ‘hole- cams’ revealing each player’s hole cards, the entire action can be unfolded before the viewers. Though there are other community poker games available, Hold’em has the simplest rules and is the easiest to follow. If you add the ‘Heads-Up’ aspect to the game, Texas Hold’em becomes a true TV treat.

Poker Fashion

pokermaster — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:52:24 -0400

Poker is not about the cards you were dealt. It’s about what you do with the cards you’re holding. The psychological aspect of the game is so great, that players are expected to bring every element of their personality to the poker table - anything to help them gain an advantage over their opponents. Some players resort to chatting or humor in an attempt to better read their opponents, others try to appear intimidating through silence. Some act the part of the pro, while others assume the image of a new-comer. Whether you like it or not, when you’re seated at a poker table your opponents are judging you non-stop.

Freerolls vs. Real Money Poker Tournaments

pokermaster — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:26:02 -0400

For the beginning poker player, the biggest advantage of playing the freerolls is the fact that they are free. After all, why should you risk your money when you’re at a clear disadvantage? Even if you’ve read all the poker strategy books you could get your hands on, your knowledge is still strictly theoretical, and you don’t really stand a chance against the average opponent. But that advantage turns into a disadvantage once your poker skills have improved. Now you’re spending your valuable time playing freerolls, fighting for hours to make ridiculously low amounts of money, when you should be better utilizing your skills, and perhaps building a real bankroll for yourself.

2008 Aussie Millions Recap

pokermaster — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:00:18 -0400

Many records were broken at the 2008 Crown Australian Poker Championship, and at least one new player was introduced into the top circles of tournament poker players. The annual tournament, commonly referred to as the Aussie Millions, takes place at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia. It is the Southern Hemisphere's richest and most prestigious poker tournament. This year, the total prize pool for all events exceeded AUD$10 Million.

Harrah’s Entertainment - The 2008 WSOP Schedule

pokermaster — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:35:59 -0400

Though we are still a while away from the 2008 World Series of Poker opening event, Harrah’s Entertainment has announced the full schedule for the 39th WSOP. For the first time ever, the event will begin and end with $1,000 buy-in world championship tournaments. It will also feature no less than eight $1,000 buy-in championships.

2007 WSOP HORSE. Tournament Recap – Part II

pokermaster — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:55:54 -0400

The end of the 2007 World Series of Poker H.O.R.S.E tournament was drawing near. Only three players were left at the final table of the prestigious $50,000 buy-in event. At this stage the chip leader was, according to his own description, the French ‘passionate amateur’ Bruno Fitoussi. Following close behind was the experienced Freddy Deeb. This would be Deeb’s 13th appearance at a WSOP final table, though he had not won a bracelet since 1996. John Hanson, another amateur who was just happy to have made it so far, was in third place.

Poker on the Lake in Guatemala

pokermaster — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:49:38 -0400

Lago de Atitlan, Guatemala has been a leading tourist destination for decades. Hailed as one of the most spectacular locations in Central America, this lake is in fact a collapsed volcanic cone filled with clear blue waters. Apart from its natural beauty and relaxed lakeside towns, the area offers its many visitors all the expected tourist attractions – kayak rentals, hiking, horseback riding, volcano climbing and the likes. But a closer look at the nightlife scene surrounding the lake reveals a new Guatemalan pastime that isn’t covered in your tourist guidebook – poker tournaments.

The Essentials of Poker Odds

pokermaster — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 05:09:29 -0400

Knowing how to calculate your hand odds and your pot odds is an essential requirement for successful poker play. As is the case with any acquired skill - practice makes perfect. The more you play, calculating your odds becomes easier, faster and more accurate. For beginners, however, trying to solve mathematical equations in the middle of a fast-paced poker game can become frustrating. Many loose their patience, and that lack of patience results in bad calls and money lost.

The Absolute Poker Cheating Scandal - Part 2

pokermaster — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:51:03 -0400

The biggest breakthrough in the story comes after a seemingly routine $1,000 buy-in tournament played at Absolute Poker on September 12. Marco Johnson, a well-known online tournament player which goes by the screen name CrazyMarco, reaches the final stages of the tournament, only to loose a head-to-head battle with cheat account Potripper. CrazyMarco smells something rotten, and asks for the hand history of the final table.

The Absolute Poker Cheating Scandal – Part I

pokermaster — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 06:25:56 -0400

If you had the ability to sit at a poker table and see your opponents’ hole cards at all times, how would you use your superpowers? For an Absolute Poker user named ‘Potripper’ this was not a hypothetical question, but rather a reality. It turns out that Potripper used his ‘gift’ not only immorally, but also quite stupidly. The Absolute Poker scandal is primarily a story about the blinding power of greed, but it is also a great example of why internet forums and blogs are considered to be the watchdogs of this new medium.

Boris Becker: The Future of Pro Poker?

pokermaster — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:33:35 -0400

Ok, he’s probably not exactly the future of pro poker, but that hasn’t stopped Pokerstars from making Boris Becker their new poster boy. Professional poker and celebrity culture have been inextricably linked in the US for a number of years, so it was likely only a matter of time before the trend swept through Europe.

Poker Aggression

pokermaster — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:09:17 -0400

Who can argue that poker, by nature, isn’t an aggressive game in which a certain amount of guts is useful, if not essential? Risks are taken, often under the guise of a bluff, and many of the best players in the world use blatantly confrontational tactics, such as taunting and staring-down opponents in an effort to intimidate.