To Show or Not to Show that is the Question!

Do you show your cards when you've folded your pocket aces to show what a good lay down you are making? What about when you've forced everyone out of the had to show off your daring bluff? For me the answer to this question is a simple no. Poker is a game of decision making and providing your opponents with more information than you have to is a bad idea. However, there are exceptions to almost every tactic in poker just make sure you do it for a specific reason. For example you have nothing and bluff an opponent out of a big pot. You've been watching him and are pretty sure that you can put him on tilt buy showing off your bluff. Just make sure when you make the decision to show your cards you have a good reason and that is not based in emotion. Never do anything soley to gain approval or respect of your opponents. That only comes in time from being a consitent winner.

A Key to Your Success in Poker

To be a financially successful poker player you need a sufficient bank-roll to get you through bad times, patience and a modicum of skill. Just enough skill to give you a slight edge. The casino's edge in any game is usually a fraction of a percent but it's enough to generate billions a year in profits. Think about that the next time you walk through the Bellagio or any other multi-billion dollar casino/resort. You can't control the cards so where does this edge come from? For the most part the incompetence of your opponents. I just finished play a $10/$20 Limit game where I bought in with $1000 in chips and left with almost two grand. How? Did I get lucky or am I just so incredibly good that I can't loose. It was a crazy loose game with lots of calling stations. It was a ten player table and in nearly every hand at least 8 players saw the flop. On a table like this all you have to do to come out ahead is lie in wait until your cards come. At one point I was down about a 100 from folding hand after unplayable hand. Finally I flopped a 8 high straight. Two people raised and reraised all the way to the river and the second best hand was a pair of sixes! That one pot added put at over $1,400. More astute players would have folded long ago with an obvious straight on the board. If you are one of those crazy loose players....I LOVE you! Adverstisemnt: “Discover the Strategies an Underground Poker Pro Uses to Earn Over $1200.00 Per NightEffortlessly at Online Poker Sit-N-Go (SNG) Tournaments."

Ultimate Bet Raises Deposit Bonus

One of the best developments for serious online poker players is the competitiveness of the card rooms. A great example of this is the signup bonus of 100% has been raised to an unbelievable $650 at UltimateBet.com. How cool is that?

What Level Should You Play At?

You've just made a real money deposit into your online poker account. Great! What level should you play at? It depends on skill level and experience of course, but if you are asking this question you are either relatively new to online poker or just starting to take it seriously. The first two questions are what do you hope to accomplish with your bank-roll and can you afford to lose it all. "To win money, you idiot!Why else would I playing poker?" You might be saying to yourself in answer to the first question. That might be part of the answer but ask yourself if your playing primarily to: Have fun kill time Learn and improve your skills Earn a little extra spending money Make a living As you can see what you do with your stake would be completely different if you are playing for fun than if you were trying to make a living and paying your rent depended on the outcome of the games you are playing. Once you know your outcome you can answer the second question. If you are playing for fun or learning, you better be able to afford to lose your bank-roll. If you can't you shouldn't be playing. If you can afford to lose it and replenish it then pick what ever game you can afford to by into that interests you. If you are serious then you need to think about your bank your like a farmer thinks about his seeds. You must make certain you always have a reserve of seeds (chips) to plant for the next season (playing session) or you will starve (go broke). In Limit Texas Hold'em I suggest you have at least 200 times the big blind in your bank-roll and that you sit down with about 40 times the big blind. For example if you have just deposited $500 then you should be playing at the $1/$2 limit tables and sit down with $80. If you lack experience and are still learning the basics I suggest dropping a level. If you are more skilled you might be able to get away with taking it up a notch. If you have a bad run of cards don't hesitate to drop down to the appropriate level. It's far better to play at lower limits than to go broke. No Limit and Pot limit Texas Hold'em are almost completely different animals and are a subject for a future article. For now lets just say that you should be at least 5 times more conservative when choosing what level to play at. Until Next Time....MG

Introducing Titan Poker

Online poker just keeps getting better and better as a expample of this I would like to introduce you to Titan Poker. Here are some of Titan Pokers unique features. Full screen option Titan Poker's unique full screen mode will maximize your playing experience by exploiting your entire computer screen – every poker site should offer this feature! Titan Poker Points Points are Titan Poker's unique player reward program – players earn Points as they play in ring tables and in tournaments. Bonuses are released as players earn Points. Players can also buy-in to special tournaments for Points, and they can exchange Points for cash during promotional periods. Real-time game history Titan Poker allows you to review your recent game history in-real time from within the poker game - your past moves from the recent history, hands, bets, losses, etc are displayed in clear and easy to understand graphical format for quick and simple analysis. Your complete game history can be sent to you upon request from our customer support team. I'm really excited about all this site has to offer and I urge you to check it out by downloading it here and remember to use the bonus code "moderncash" when signing up.

Pacific UK Poker Open Qualifier

Pacific Poker is offering a $7,500 prize package 2006 UK Poker Open Every Sunday. Package includes Buy-in and travel expenses. Click here for more info on the Pacific Poker.com UK Poker Open or register under the 'UK' tab in the Lobby for your chance to win!

Your workspace

The dream of playing poker online for a living from anywhere in the world. Ah just imagine watching hotties go by as sit on the beach sipping a tropical cocktail while raking in yet another monster pot. For some the dream is sleeping until 5 pm, sitting down in front of your computer in their underwear and making money while watching their favorite sitcom. The reality is your work environment is important whether you're a lawyer, a stock broker, a clerk at fast food dive or a topless dancer. If you aspire to make playing poker online your full time job then you absolutely pay attention to your working conditions. Comfort is your first priority. You may be sitting there for several hours. Tournaments can take 10-12 hours or more. The longer your playing session the more important ergonomics become. I don't suggest sitting on your sofa or at the kitchen table. I do suggest a sturdy clutter free desk that is comfortable for you to use your mouse and keyboard at for extended periods of time. A comfortable office chair that is adjustable for height and recline (I like the ones with the ventilated mesh backs). Your monitor should be directly in front of you and the center of the screen should at or just below eye level when you are sitting properly. Once you are comfortable distraction becomes your number one enemy. Sorry to say but sitting on the beach or watching TV is going to seriously hurt you bottom line. I've put my computer in a room with no TV or and facing away from windows. Let your family and friends know that when you are playing poker you are at work and should only be disturbed in emergencies. If you can turn your phone off. Some people like to listen to music while they play and there is nothing wrong with it as long as it doesn't adversely affect your play. When I first started playing online I had Poker play lists and listened to music but I eventually found that I played better in silence. You may want to experiment to see what works for you. It's not uncommon to loose track of time as you play several hours can go by so I suggest you take a break every couple of hours. Make sure you eat balanced protein rich snacks and drink plenty of non alcoholic fluids. Just make sure you don't drink so much you force yourself to choose between having an accident and staying in when you finally get that monster hand. If you are ever in that situation I think you'll know what to do..... Until next time...MG Play Online Poker

Free Poker Training Update

Earlier this year I announced that I would be offering free poker lessons. A lot of thought has gone into this and how to best accomplish my goals of helping a select group become skilled Texas Hold'em players and improve the poker community. First, I'm taking on two apprentices who have the desire and aptitude for poker but not the experience or skill yet. The Modern Grinder reader will be able to follow their progress. They've been selected and will be introduced shortly. The top participants will receive sponsorship to various tournaments and become paid contributors to this website. So stay tuned. Second, I'm going to offer a e-course on professional online Texas Hold'em. It will be absolutely free to participate (not counting bank-roll) but you will have to meet certain criteria. Participants will also be expected to share their experience. How many slots will be open hasn't been decided yet. There will be as few as 20 and probably no more than 100 worldwide. The e-course will culminate in a tournament with a cash prizes. Third, at the conclusion of the e-course the new Modern Grinder forum will open. Providing a place for pros to support and learn from each other. Access to the forum will be limited after the initial open enrollment period, then access will be by invitation only. Forth, the Hold'em Career e-book will be publish and on sale by mid March. Email me at interest@moderngrinder.com if you want to participate, have any questions or suggestions. Until next time... MG