Just got an update from PokerStars informing that they are down for US players, but are fully functioning outside of the US. In the event that you are NOT in the US you can join PokerStars here.
They said they will be offering some special player offers this week-I guess to compensate for this weekend’s shutdown. Doesn’t help those in the US, however…
April 17, 2011. Update from PokerStars April 17, 2011
April 16, 2011-Unleashed not allowing real money US players April 16, 2011
Guess the crackdown on the big dogs is making the little dogs nervous too! I was able to download the Unleashed Poker software but when I put in my address as US, a message came up telling me real money accounts from this country were not allowed.
April 16, 2011-Unleashed and Betboo appear to still be up April 16, 2011
The main pages of Full Tilt, UB, and PokerStars all have a statement that they have been seized by the FBI/Department of Justice. Unleashed Poker is still up for US and non-US players and Betboo, which doesn’t allow US players, is still functional.
OMG-I can’t believe the government has shut down online poker!!! April 15, 2011
Wow. What else is there to say? Unleashed appears to still be available, but all the big dogs are shut down in the US! A tragic day for poker players. Hope this gets resolved favorably SOON.
‘Hot spots’ part of D.C. officials’ plan to allow Internet-based gambling in city April 14, 2011
Just read in the Washington Post (April 14, 2011 edition) that DC is planning on legalizing online gambling in the city and setting up online gambling “hotspots” in hotels, bars, clubs, etc. The hot spots would be up by September 1, according to the article. Apparently the city is trying to generate some revenue by setting up its own online poker site to compete with the off-short ones that no doubt many DC residents and tourists currently are already playing. What do you think of the idea? Will DC Poker be able to compete with Full Tilt, Poker Stars, etc? Will the plan be shot down by Congress? Will it set the precedent for finally removing the barriers toward fully legalizing online poker in the US (meaning the UIGEA laws impacting financial institutions’ involvement in online gaming transactions?)
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Online Poker Tips 4 Beginners #5-Timing is Everything April 13, 2011
One big difference I’ve found between playing live poker in a brick and mortar establishment versus playing online is that timing is much more important online. In live tournaments (at least the smaller daily ones you find at regular Atlantic City and Vegas casinos–not talking WSOP or anything major like that), it’s hard to know what’s going on at other tables and sometimes they don’t even keep the board that tells the time remaining, number of players remaining, etc. up to date. But, in online tournaments, you can always easily find out how many players remain, how much time before the next break, how many places pay out, etc. Use this to your advantage! Early on in the tournament, when bets are small, it may be to your advantage to try to keep things moving quickly so that you get more hands in, more changes to build your stack up for little investment. However, as the tournament moves on, it’s important to pay attention to how many players remain. Many times, the difference in my placing in a tournament or not has come down to my playing the clock. In other words, say 100 places pay, there are 110 players left and you are in 105th place right now. You should be constantly checking the tournament page to see how much money those near you (those from 110 to say about 95) have. If you are all right around the same amount, then you need to do what they probably are not doing, which is timing your play to slow things at your table down. (Clearly this doesn’t work if only one table pays out; but it can make a significant difference in larger tournaments were more than the top table wins) Slow things at your table down by waiting to act, even if you know you are going to call or fold or whatever, let your allotted time tick down some before playing. If you do this, you will often find that other players at other tables will get out and you will have made the money. Sometimes you luck up and get at a table where several people understand that this is a good strategy and you can slow play at your table quite significantly. The more hands that are played at other tables that are moving more quickly the more likely it is that players with low chip stacks will make desperation moves and lose or be all-in on a blind and lose.
Another reason it makes sense to pay attention to what’s going on at other tables when you are nearing the money is that sometimes it doesn’t make sense to play a good starting hand if it jeopardizes your changes to make the money. For instance, let’s say there are now 102 players and 100 pay. Let’s say you’re in 90th place and you get pocket Kings. Ordinarily this would be a great starting hand and you might bet big. However, if you are paying attention and you know that only 2 players still have to get out and they are very low in chips, depending on my seat position and who else is in the hand, it’s very possible that I would fold the Kings. Let’s say the person playing after me has a huge chip stack while I’m at this point at 90th place very likely to be in the money. I very well might fold the Kings rather than take a chance of the big stack behind me putting me all in and me potentially losing a hand when there’s a great likelihood that player 101 and 102 are going to be out really soon and I’ll be in the money. Of course, it’s a bit more complicated than this sometimes. For instance, in a dollar tournament where 90th place may pay $2.00 I may be more likely to take a chance and go for it. However, if I’m in a $100 tourney and 90th pays $200, I’d go the conservative route and try to guarantee my $200 placing.
So, the bottom line is you have to be very aware of all circumstances, including timing your game and your ranking relative to the number of places paying.
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April 10, Full Tilt Multi-entry Rush On Demand Tournament (Loss) April 13, 2011
So if you read this blog even semi-regularly, you know that I love Full Tilt. One of the biggest reasons I love it so much is that they are constantly innovating. Sunday night I tried one of their more recent innovations, the multi-entry tournament, where you can buy-in up to four times to the same tournament. I did a $1.00 on demand, rush multi-entry (NL hold-em). Word of advice: don’t try to do the maximum four times all at one time in a rush poker tournament! EVER. Man, that was crazy. Rush poker is so fast-paced to begin with, but doing it at four tables at one time was way more than I could handle. I like playing two, sometimes even three tournaments at a time, but I’ve never done that with rush poker, just regular games. It moved so fast I couldn’t keep up. Four dollars blown-oh well. Having said that, I do very much like the multi-entry format-I just wouldn’t do it with rush again. At least not all at one time. You can buy one entry at a time and then if you get out and they are still in the buy-in period you can buy in your next entry, etc. So I might would try that way, but noooo I rushed head in doing all four tables at once. Again, warning: don’t try this at home!
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April 12-Placed in No Limit Hold ‘Em Daily Dollar Tournament April 12, 2011
Played in Full Tilt’s Daily Dollar Tournament. 12,119 players entered; 1,620 placed paid. Places 1351-1620 only paid $1.82, but still, it’s exciting to make it to the money in such a huge field. And, first is paying over $1800 so quite a good profit if you’re the lucky/skillful person who wins first! Places 1081-1350 paid a whopping $2.06. I came in 1308 so that’s what I won. But hey I doubled my money LOL
In short, the Daily Dollar is a fun, inexpensive way to get your poker fix and potentially win a nice amount. You can play the Daily Dollar at Full Tilt. Sign up using referral code BIGBONUS11 and get 100% match of your first deposit. Also, you’ll also be eligible for a Full Tilt $100K First Deposit Freeroll that takes place at 15:30 ET on the first Sunday of the month.
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April 5, Know When to Walk Away April 5, 2011
So tonight was one of those can’t win no matter what nights. I played in a $5 razz tournament. Approx. 40 players, I came in 32nd. I very rarely do that poorly, usually even if I don’t place I come reasonably close to placing, but I just could not get decent starting cards. Then, the few times that I got decent starting cards the rest of the cards were bricks and so I’d lose. So, then I decided to try a little cash stud high-low to try to redeem myself. NOT. Had decent hands but every single time, somebody else had a superior hand. I started with $20. When my two pair Aces and 10s lost to trip Kings that the guy hit on the river, I decided to call it a night, leaving with $8 of the $20 I started with. My natural inclination when I lose like this is to keep playing to try to break the losing streak. I hate going on on a loss! But, I am trying to take my own advice (see Tips for Beginning Players category). Sometimes, it’s just not meant to be, so you gotta cut your losses and try again another day rather than continuing to throw good money after bad when the poker gods are clearly pissed with you this particular day! So, good night-I’ll see what I can do to appease the poker gods and try again another day.
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April 3, Stud High-Low win April 3, 2011
Just won first in a $5 stud high-low sit and go ($20 bucks for first). It was one of those beautiful, but rare, games where you just consistently get good starting hands AND the cards you need to complete the hand and win. I was in either first or second for the entire game and pretty much coasted through. Like I said, rare-especiallly for me recenty, but oh so beautiful when it flows like that. Going to bed now-no need to tempt fate by playing again tonight!
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