The Modern Grinder

Online Gambling Regulations Continue to be Debated

2009-12-03T13:23:00.000-08:00

The Treasury Department delayed the implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act last week. Due to a letter from some lawmakers requesting the delay. Additionally, lawmakers will begin discussing Congressman Barney Frank's proposed legislation that would overturn the Act.

Frank said that the delay will help "undo this ill-advised law." The Act was passed by Congress back in 2006 hidden as part of a "Safe Ports" bill. The UIGA makes it "a crime for financial institutions to process transactions that are used to place bets online." The delay will last until June 2010.

Poker Resources
Featured Poker Rooms:

Learn to Play Poker Profitably the right way:

Sit N Go Pro
Outstanding Poker

Moderng Grinder Moves on to Step 2

2009-12-02T14:30:00.000-08:00

In a previous post I told you about the Absolute Poker Steps tournaments in which you can earn and $17,500 tournament package for as little as a 10 cent entry! Well I decided to show you how it's done! So today I played my first Steps tournament and won an an entry into Step Two. Stay posted for my progress or even better give Steps a try yourself at Absolute Poker

Bluffing: Phil Ivey vs Paul Jackson

2009-11-20T09:35:00.002-08:00

Bluffing is an important part of poker and very few truly know how to do bluff correctly. Poker players usually fall into one of two categories when it comes to bluffing. The first type just plays the cards and very rarely bluffs. The second type thinks bluffing is a magic bullet and bluffs WAY too much. Neither of these strategies work long term you have learn to play your opponents as much as the cards. Your bank roll won't last forever if you are waiting to flop the nuts nor will it last if you piss it away with mindless bluffs.

This video is good example of pro level bluffing.

Poker Resources
Featured Poker Rooms:

Learn to Play Poker Profitably the right way:

Sit N Go Pro
Outstanding Poker

Turn Ten Cents into a $10,000 Poker Tournament Entry

2009-11-15T07:35:00.006-08:00

Dream of playing in a big buy-in live tournament? Try Steps at Absolute poker where you can for as little as a dime earn your way into winning a $15,000+ prize package that includes entry into a major wsop or wpt event.

What is an Absolute Poker STEP tournament?

Here's how AB describes it:

"A STEP tournament is a type of Sit-n-Go that allows you to win your seat in major land-based events for a significantly low buy-in. Absolute Poker offers 10 STEP tournaments, with the final STEP featuring the big prize. Players advance from one STEP to the next by finishing first in a STEP. Players who don't finish first or second but still rank high enough will be invited to replay the STEP.
How does it work?

Each STEP tournament series consists of 10 STEPS, or 10 individual Sit-n-Go tournaments. The buy-in for the first STEP is $0.10. As the STEPS advance, the buy-ins increase.

How do I move through each STEP?

First two winners of STEP 1 advances to STEP 2 without having to buy in. The first two winners of STEP 2 advances to STEP 3, and so on. This goes on until STEP 10 where the winner secures the final land-based tournament package.
What's this about trying again?

If you don't finish first in a STEP, it's not necessarily game over. STEP tournaments give players the opportunity to replay a STEP, depending on how they finish in a tournament. That means as long as you can finish high enough, you can still hang on to fight another day and conquer your way to the next STEP.
Can I enter a STEP tournament at any STEP?

Yes. However, you'll have to buy directly in with cash. The only way to secure your spot in a STEP tournament for free is by advancing from a previous STEP."

Sound good to me. In fact the Modern Grinder is going to climb the STEPS! Stay tuned for my progress in advancing in the Absolute Poker Steps Tournament. Why not play along you should go to Absolute Poker right now and try beat me up the steps. As a special bonus to MG subscribers (you have subscribed using the form in the upper right of this page, right?) I'm going to include a special sit n go strategy report to help you win more in sit and goes and climb the steps.

Click here to check out Absolute Poker

Getting Back Into The Game After A Bad Run

2009-11-04T21:14:00.003-08:00

Every poker player experiences a bad run in their career; play poker long enough and you will experience several. Any poker player that tells you otherwise either is lying to you or just hasn't been playing the game long enough. What separates the pros from the wannabes is the will continue knowing that with time the cards will heat up and your skills will only improve.

Sometimes it's not the natural ebb and flow of luck. Sometimes you are dealt some decent hands and still can't win. Sometimes you are beating yourself. Sometimes life interferes with poker. Sometimes powering through and forcing yourself to endure loss after loss isn't the answer. Sometimes you just need to take a break. This is what I experienced over the last few months and why the Modern Grinder has been awal.

When you are overwhelmed in life you become your own worst enemy at the poker table and you will not win no matter what you try. The only solution is to take a break and take care of what needs to be tended to. Come back clear headed and secure in knowing that life outside of the poker room is well managed.

That's what I did and I'm back at the poker tables tearing it up having won 3 out 4 of my first sit and go tournaments (placing third third in the one I didn't win). Don't to be afraid to take a break from poker when you need to. In the long run it will make you a more well rounded, happier and much more dangerous to your opponents.

Poker Resources
Featured Poker Rooms:

Learn to Play Poker Profitably the right way:

Sit N Go Pro
Outstanding Poker

2009-07-02T18:43:00.002-07:00

"People would be surprised to know how much I learned about prayer from playing poker" – Mary Austin

My Poker System is Hard Work

2009-05-28T15:50:00.001-07:00

I’m often how I make money playing poker and if there is a "poker system" that I use to profit every time I play at the tables. My answer which inevitably disappoints is that "my system is hard work and decication." This is because they are looking for an easy way to make money not the hard work takes work to win at online poker.

If you find a poker system that promises you to win money at online poker without trying, they are either over-promising or flat out lying to you. It’s been said that “Poker is a hard way to make easy money.” No matter what you do in life, getting people to part with their money requires effort. You either have to trade your time in at work for money, sell something valuable or work hard to become better than your opponents at the poker tables. There are no shortcuts.

The effort required to learn poker is a different type of effort than what it takes to dig ditches or sit in a cubicle all day. You are learning to make a living playing a game after all. The freedom and sense of self determination that is shared by professional poker players and entrepreneurs alike more than makes up for the long hours and frustration that it takes to either build a business or a professional poker career. There will be times of drudgery when you will feel like giving up; but the satisfaction of building something out of nothing can’t be measured against anything in the nine to five straight world.

Think about how hard professional athletes work. They work as hard as anyone else in the world but do you think they hate that work? No way! It's freedom! Putting in that hard work is rewarding when you are the direct beneficiary of that hard work. That's what makes playing poker for money so rewarding. Yes, it can be hard work and yes, there will be ups and downs along the way but it's all done in the name of making your own way in the world.

Poker Resources

Featured Poker Rooms:

Learn to Play Poker Profitably the right way:

Sit N Go Pro
Outstanding Poker

2009-05-27T11:00:00.001-07:00

Over the next few weeks the Modern Grinder Staff will be reviewing and updating all of our 180+ articles. We are doing this for two reasons. First, as always the Modern Grinder strives to provide the absolute best poker content on the web and we want to make sure that every article is up to our standards. Second, we will are preparing for a future update that will make it even easier to find what you are looking for. What this means to those of you that have subscribed is that as articles get republished you may receive duplicate articles. This is temporary and will only happen as we do the updates so feel free to ignore them. But then again it never hurts to revisit useful information. As always we wish you the best of luck at the tables.

Poker Stars Review (Update)

2009-04-07T11:34:00.003-07:00

PokerStars has long been one of the Modern Grinder's favorite poker sites and continues to improve with new features and a solid track record of reliability and excellent customer service. If you are a tournament poker player who aspires to one day win a WSOP bracelet then Poker Stars is the place to play as the have the most and the best deep-stack tournaments with structures that closely mimic that of major big buy in poker events. In fact if you are a tournament player a PokerStars account offers the best return of investment in both the quality of practice and in potential profits.

If it's been awhile since you've played on PokerStars then you'll be pleasantly surprised by clean intuitive interface. It's very easy to find the exact game you are looking for in the lobby.

The game interface is much more attractive the old client and again it's intuitive and easy to use.

More reasons to play at PokerStars?

They are the world's largest poker site
They accept players from all over the world
Free to download and play
Award winning 24/7 support
Fully licensed and regulated
Some of the best software and game selection
Secure deposits, fast cashouts

For a more in depth review Click here to check our our oiginal Review, or go to PokerStars now and sign up free accout or Deposit $50, get $50 free! If you join now.

Controling Pot Size in Deep Stack Poker Tournaments

2009-03-25T20:22:00.001-07:00

An important strategy to surviving and thriving in deep stack tournaments is learning how to control the size of the pots you play. In other words play big pots when you have big hands and small pots when you don’t.

When you and your opponents have a lot in chips in proportion to the blinds in a tournament pay close attention to your opponents’ playing style and the texture of the flop before you enter the pot. Before you commit any chips to the pot, you want to identify the types of players who are likely to be in the hand with you. If you’re at a loose table where your opponents are playing a wide range of hands, you’re going to want to play smaller pots unless you’re sure that you’re way ahead or, preferably, holding the nuts.

Play tight against lose players and lose against tight players.

The other factor to consider when betting is the texture of the flop. Is the board suited or paired? Are there potential straight draws you need to consider? Even if you’re confident your hand is ahead after the flop, take a couple of seconds to study the board before you act. Think about what hands could possibly beat yours and then try to determine if any of your opponents could be holding cards that would give them reason to call your bet.

Don’t become too attached to a hand than can be easily dominated or is likely to be a dog in the long run.

Remember keep an eye on your opponents and the flops the next time you play. Time and experience will help you develop a feel for different situations and what whether you hold, fold check or raise will become second nature to you. Try your best to control the size of the pot and you’ll have more control over your tournament life.

Poker Resources
Featured Poker Rooms:

Learn to Play Poker Profitably the right way:

Sit N Go Pro
Outstanding Poker

Poker Quotes

2009-03-20T22:03:00.001-07:00

"I must complain the cards are ill shuffled till I have a good hand." ~Jonathan Swift

Which Poker Room has the Fastest Cashouts?

2008-12-13T21:54:00.008-08:00

It's been a rough couple of years for US poker players, first Neteller pulls out of the US market and then ePassporte pulls out leaving us with fewer and fewer deposit options and the worry of not being able to withdraw our money again once we've made our deposits. The safety of your poker funds can be assured by dealing only with large, reputable and well established poker rooms (Such as those featured on this blog).

While your money is safe; gone forever are the days of instant access to your poker funds. Expect cashouts to take days not hours like they used to. And as always never deposit more than you can afford to be without and plan ahead.

Over the last few months I've been keeping track of the time it takes me to recieve my cash after requesting a payout from various poker rooms. Results have varied widely from remarkably fast to agonizingly slow.

Here is the short list of safe, secure poker rooms in the order of how quickly they get your cash into your hands.

PokerStars and UltimateBet tied for first place with checks arriving in my mailbox in about 5-7 days after approval.
Full Tilt Poker was 2nd with checks arriving in about ten days.
Absolute Poker took a respectable 10-14 days.
The absolute worst was Doyles Room once one of my favorite places to play was by far the slowest with a typical delivery time of 30 days or more! Doyles Room is still a great place to play and your money is safe with them just be patient when you need to cash out.

Other Poker Resources

Learn to Play Poker Profitably the right way:

Sit N Go Pro
Outstanding Poker

Poker Quotes

2008-12-13T20:48:00.005-08:00

The poker player learns that sometimes both science and common sense are wrong; that the bumblebee can fly; that, perhaps, one should never trust an expert; that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of by those with an academic bent. ~David Mamet

Keys to Poker Success: Game Flow and Concentration Part 1

2008-09-17T18:02:00.013-07:00

It may seem obvious but one of the great challenges in becoming a long term winner in poker is maintaining your concentration. You must keep your head in the game from hand to hand, hour after hour and day after day. If you lack concentration you start making more and more mistakes at the poker table and losing more than you should.

It's true that if you have a solid understanding of the game that most decisions are very easy to make and can be made even if you are distracted. The problem with lack of focus is that you miss out on all the little gems of information from other players. Missing these tells cost you opportunities to either save a few chips or win a few chips. Either of which can have a profound effect on your bottom line over the long term.

For example, a player is prone to bluffing on the flop and has a tendency to fold when reraised. You would only know this if you were into the flow of the game and paying attention. If you just played the cards you'd end up folding a lot to this aggressive player and lose a lot of chips instead of stealing a few pots from him and coming out ahead.

Or say that a player that has been tight all night suddenly raises 3 times the big blind. If hadn't been paying attention and didn't realize this was a tight player you might not realize the danger you'd be in by calling with anything but a very strong hand.

Saving or gaining a chip here and there may not seem like much but over the long haul it can mean the difference between being a winning poker player and going broke.

Maintaining concentration and staying in the flow of the game is critical to your long term success but is much easier said than done when boredom sets in. In part 2 of this this article I will discuss some techniques to help you maintain focus and keep your edge. Be sure to subscribe using the form in the upper right so that you don't miss out.

Poker Resources
Featured Poker Rooms:

Learn to Play Poker Profitably the right way:

Sit N Go Pro
Outstanding Poker

Poker School Video, Become a Profitable Poker Player

2008-08-28T07:25:00.004-07:00

This morning I found a video that I just had to tell show you. Check it out if you are serious about playing professional online poker for a living.

Are you a poker player who's interested in learning the skills needed to becoming a winning poker player but not sure exactly where to start? Perhaps you don't have the time to even skim through hundreds of books and manuals that claim to reveal the insider secrets to playing poker?

You may have been trying to make a go of making a living online by playing poker and hit a few barriers along the way. The truth is that making a living from the comfort of your home by playing online poker is very difficult. DON'T get me wrong. Books and manuals telling you how to play poker are still essential learning tools but UNLESS you want to jumpstart and explode your Online Poker playing career in the fastest time possible, you're going to need more than that.

You have an opportunity to take charge and start making money today from the comfort of your own home. A savvy internet group of pro online poker players who usually lay low have opened up a poker training school filled with poker strategy to help you become a profitable poker player.

Click here to learn to play poker professionally

By watching a professional poker player take you through their thought process as they go through each street and each hand, you will get the knowledge it takes to become a successful poker player.

When I discussed the new site with Tim he was so excited about how much he is looking forward to help people become profitable poker players.

Very rarely do opportunities like this come along and there will be nothing left out.

Remember you don’t have to play poker for a living. If you just want to make extra money on the side this is fine! That’s the beauty of the internet and Online Poker. You can play as little or as much as you want!

Get over to Outstanding Poker School NOW.

Regards MG.

New Poker Training Center

2008-08-17T10:15:00.003-07:00

I have just found out about a new Poker Training School that's taking the poker market by storm! Tim, Errol and the rest of the team are the real deal.. They recently launched the "Outstanding Poker Training" Site.

Click Here To Check It Out...

Heck, you can even watch them put their strategies to work.

They have recorded their success on Video and now you can take a peek at every hand and understand why they pay the way they do. The only way to successfully learn how to make money off of playing poker online is by actually sitting down and watching videos of online professional poker players. Imagine if you can watch and listen to online poker pros while seeing their hole cards.

Act now and as a special Launch Bonus you will Get a FREE Full Length Training Video from an Outstanding Poker Pro.

Click the link below to see their stats...pretty impressive I'd say.

Check Out These Stats...

You owe it to yourself to take a look... Again, here's that link. Start making money today!

All the best, MG

Profiting from mistakes in poker.

2008-08-16T19:42:00.008-07:00

I'm sure you've heard that "poker is a game that takes minutes to learn but a lifetime to master." The rules are relatively simple and easily explained and most people become proficient at the basics fairly quickly. With basic strategy almost anyone can become a break even player fairly quickly.

Understanding the nuances of the game and being able to recognize opportunities to exploit your opponents weaknesses takes experience. Ten thousand hands would be a good start. It is this experience that gives you a the sense that your opponent will lay down a winning hand if you come over the top with a big reraise or tells you that your pocket aces just aren't good enough and to fold. The problem is that if you aren't careful experience can fool you.

Because there is an element of chance in all forms of poker much of the outcome of a decision is out of your hands. Some percentage of the time you will make the right decision and lose the hand. Suffer a bad beat in other words. Bad beats aren't necessarily a bad thing, because if you can keep from going on tilt, it means your opponent was putting his money in when he was an underdog. If your opponent do this consistently then over time they will make you very rich!

Sometimes you make a bad decision and benefit from it. In other words you make a play that over time is statistically a loser but win the hand anyway. Mistakes are part of being human and will happen no matter how good you become. Occasionally you will get lucky and not pay for your mistakes. The problem is when you either don't recognize the error or chose the believe that it was your superior skill instead of dumb luck that allowed you to win the hand. If you make a routine of this type of hubris you will develop habits and leaks in your game that will cause you to go broke no matter how developed your other skills are.

Remember to evaluate your decisions independent of the outcome. Going when your pocket aces trip up on the flop is rarely a bad decision. Calling an all in bet from a strong player with your middle pair is almost always a bad idea even if you catch a runner, runner straight and win the hand.

Getting lucky from time time is one of the greatest pleasures in poker, just don't make getting luck a key part of your strategy.

Poker Resources
Featured Poker Rooms:

Learn to Play Poker Profitably the right way:

Sit N Go Pro
Outstanding Poker

Continuation Bets In No Limit Texas Hold'em

2008-08-13T10:19:00.001-07:00

When you raise pre-flop in a game of No-Limit Hold 'em and are called, you're faced with a decision when the flop hits the board. Should you put out a continuation bet on the flop or should you check and hope to see the turn for free? There are a variety of factors that will effect any decision in a hand of poker, but if I was the one who raised pre-flop, I'll put out a continuation bet on the flop most of the time.

Preflop, I normally raise to three times the big blind, then on the flop, I'll put out a bet of the same amount. When I bet these relatively small sums, I don't put a whole lot at risk. If I get check-raised on a flop that I missed, I can fold without having lost a whole lot of chips. Most of the time, however, my opponents will have missed the flop, so my small bet will win me the pot right there.

While I prefer to put out continuation bets on most flops, there are some situations where checking is the right play. For example, say I raised with K-J and was called by the big blind. The flop of A-T-5 gives me a gutshot straight draw. I know my opponent in the hand likes to check-raise on top pair. When he checks to me on the flop, I'm happy to check behind and have the free draw to the nuts. If my opponent hit something like two-pair, I could double up if the Queen comes on the turn.

I also tend to check the flop in hands where I'm either very far ahead or very behind. Say I raise pre-flop in late position with pocket Kings. The flop comes A-J-3. Here, my pair of Kings is either very far ahead (if he missed completely or has something like pocket 5s) or is very far behind (if he hit an Ace). In a spot like this, I don't want to get check-raised and I don't want to just give up, so I'll often check the flop and then call a bet on the turn. I can then try to get a read on my opponent if he bets the river. The worst thing I can do in this sort of situation is to put out a big bet on the flop and then call an all-in check-raise.

As with every aspect of poker, it's vital that your continuation bets don't become predictable. If you check every time you miss and bet every time you make top pair or better, then you're opponents will know exactly how to play against you. They'll be able to bet any pair with total confidence. So occasionally, you'll want to check when you hit top pair on the flop. Your hand will be disguised and you'll stand to win a big pot if you hit trips on the turn. Showing that you can sometimes check a good hand will keep your opponents off balance.

It's a good idea to put out frequent continuation bets, but also be sure to look for spots where a check may be to your advantage. If you've got a draw or hold a hand that will be difficult to play for a raise, a flop check may be your best play. Also be sure to mix up your play - being unpredictable is vital to playing winning poker.

Poker Resources
Featured Poker Rooms:
Absolute Poker
Full Tilt Poker
UltimateBet
Learn to Play Poker Profitably the right way:

Sit N Go Pro

Outstanding Poker

$50 to $50k The Best Way to Build Your Poker Bankroll

2008-06-20T12:31:00.006-07:00

How big of a bankroll do I need to quit my job and play poker for a living? And what is the best way to build a large poker bankroll when staring out with very little Cash?

(Note: Read to the end of this message to learn how to get a free copy of $50 to $50k bankroll building secrets)

First, your bankroll is the amount of money you've set aside to play poker with and is used for NO other purpose. You will cash out profits but you need to have a sufficient bank roll to keep income coming in. To keep from going broke in poker you need a bankroll large enough to get you through the inevitable losing streaks that all poker players face. Losing streaks happen to all poker players, even the best of us, so don’t be discouraged by them. Instead be prepared by having a bank roll large enough to get you through. For me that means having a bankroll 50 times the size of big blind for the level I'm playing in ring games or 100 times the buy-in for tournaments. For example; a $10,000 bank roll would allow me to play in a $25/$50 No Limit Holder ring game or a $100 buy in tournament. If my bankroll drops significantly below that amount I will drop down a level so I am never risking more than 1% of my bankroll at any given time. Other factors that determine the minimum size of your bankroll are thing like how aggressive you are at the poker table, if you play limit or no limit, your experience and skill level etc. If you have a regular full time job you don't need as large of a buffer as you would if poker was your sole source of income.

Ten thousand dollars sound like a lot of money to set aside to play poker with. It is and it isn’t the pros you see playing poker on TV have million dollar bankrolls. But like me many of them got started with very little. Personally I started with $50 and built that into a bankroll that allows me to earn a full time income playing poker online. It took a lot of time and I made a lot of mistakes but I eventually discovered that the best games for bank roll building when you have less that a $1,000 to play with is “Sit and Go” tournaments. If I were forced to start over and rebuild my bankroll from scratch I would start by playing single table "Sit n Go's" until I built my bankroll up to at least $1000 and only then would I branch out into multi-table tournaments and ring games.

There are many, many advantages to playing sit and go’s over ring games and large multi-table tournaments especially when starting with a small bankroll. However there are key differences in strategy that you MUST know to profit from them. It is these strategies that have allowed me to cash in on 4 out 5 sit and goes I play in. Unfortunately I don’t have the space here to go into detail about how to do this. Even I did and although I consider myself to be pretty good at both profiting from poker online and teaching others how to do it my friend Johnny ‘JR’ Rothman author of SIT-N-GO PRO is far better than I and is a true sit n go master. In fact when my students ask me how to profit from sit and go’s I direct them to his material. There is no equal.

If you are serious about building a huge bankroll do yourself a favor and check out SIT-N-GO PRO right now.

As always remember the point of playing poker for a living is to make a profit and have fun doing it. Until next time…MG

P.S. For a limited time and exclusively for Modern Grinder subscribers who sign up for one of our featured poker rooms through the links below and purchase SIT-N-GO PRO I am offering a free copy of my $50-50k bankroll building secrets (a $99 value). Remember this offer is only for subscribers who both purchase SIT-N-GO PRO AND sign up for one of our featured poker rooms through links on this page. Subscribe to The Modern Grinder using the form in the upper right of this page to receive details on how to qualify and claim your free eBook.

Poker Resources
Featured Poker Rooms:

Learn to Play Poker Profitably the right way:

Sit N Go Pro
Outstanding Poker

Poker Quotes

2008-05-14T08:27:00.001-07:00

I believe in poker the way I believe in the American Dream. Poker is good for you. It enriches the soul, sharpens the intellect, heals the spirit, and - when played well, nourishes the wallet. ~Lou Krieger

Deal the Movie

2008-04-25T19:21:00.003-07:00

Set against the world of high stakes poker, DEAL follows the story of Alex Stillman (Bret Harrison), a cocky, hotshot, card-playing senior at Yale University. Alex dreams of becoming a professional Texas Hold’em poker player but does not yet have the skill to master the table. Fortunately for him, a chance encounter introduces Alex to retired poker legend, Tommy Vinson (Burt Reynolds). Tommy was at the top of his game twenty years ago but gave it all up in order to save his family. Upon meeting Alex, Tommy realizes he can regain his own self- confidence, pride and a poker championship title by turning Alex into his protégé. The two pair up and master every tournament they enter. The winning streak and friendship between the two is eventually thwarted by the interference of a Las Vegas call girl, Michelle (Shannon Elizabeth). The pair eventually part ways and separately prepare for the World Poker Tour. Only one will take home the championship title.

Featured Poker Rooms:

ePassporte stops processing online gambling transactions

2008-04-17T16:38:00.004-07:00

American Online poker players were dealt another blow this weekend when ePassporte stopped processing transactions with online poker and gambling sites.

ePassporte did not respond to the Modern Grinder's request for comment. But but online reports indicate that ePassporte was under pressure from the Department of Justice to cut ties with online poker sites.

"We have been advised that the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York is conducting a widespread investigation of internet gambling, including poker," a letter sent to pit bull poker said. "All though (sic) we do not believe we have done anything illegal, we do not wish to be associated with anything that might be considered illegal by the United States government."

PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker have stopped offering ePassporte as payment options on its sites. And according to the twoplustwo forums, ePassporte is allowing players to withdraw money from their accounts. (ed: If you have a balance at ePassporte it is recommended that you withdraw those funds as soon as possible)

ePassporte originally rose to prominence when NETeller, Citadel and Click2Pay exited the North American market last year following the arrests of NETeller co-founders Stepehn Lawrence and John LeFebvre. Lawrence and LeFebvre eventually plead guilty to conspiracy charges.

With ePassporte no longer processing online gambling transactions, American players have very few deposit and withdrawal options. Instant eChecks and prepaid credit cards are currently the only safe and relatively convenient deposit options.

Instant eChecks and prepaid credit cards can't be used for withdrawals. And that's the biggest problem facing American players right now. Without ePassporte, the only way for most players to get their cash now is by check.

Although ePassporte is no longer processing transactions for American players ALL of the Modern Grinder Featured poker rooms have proven to be stable and very responsive to their customer's needs. Your money is safe with them keeping in mind that withdrawals will take a couple of extra days.

Featured Poker Rooms:

PVoW: Poker Stars do Impressions

2008-03-22T11:28:00.006-07:00

A humorous video where the stars of the poker world do impressions of one another.

Featured Poker Rooms:

Poker Quotes

2008-03-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

Whether he likes it or not, a man’s character is stripped at the poker table; if the other players read him better than he does, he has only himself to blame. Unless he is both able and prepared to see himself as others do, flaws and all, he will be a loser in cards, as in life. ~Anthony Holden

Play Poker for Fun And Profit...Can You Do Both?

2008-03-12T14:28:00.001-07:00

For most people poker starts as purely a recreational activity. Whether you played in a casino card room, at a the kitchen table or online you probably started playing out of curiosity and only continued to play because you enjoyed the game for the games sake. A funny thing happens once you realize that you pretty good (real or imagined talent) and walk away with some extra spending cash. You start to take the game more seriously and you results become more consistent and you start to pocket more cash each time you play.

Some people start thinking about quitting there day job to become a professional poker player. What once was just a fun past time has now become serious business, literally, You start reading the books, keeping records and spend hours analyzing your results. “If a pushed harder after the flop he probably would have folded and never made that flush on the river, no he was clearly desperate and chasing I would just lost more money he would called anything, but what if I...” If you've ever laid awake in the we hours thinking thoughts like these then you know what I mean.

Eventually your time at the tables becomes as much of a drudgery as your day job. You might even start looking for excuses to play poker. It's not fun anymore. Many people find that when they stop having fun at the tables they also don't win as much or even start losing money. When that happens it becomes even less fun. But if you aren't having fun why play the game at all? “To make money” is a common answer to those questions but there are other ways to make money online and off.

Remember the idea was to make money doing something you enjoy and that poker is a game. Sure you have to take it seriously to make money playing poker but if you aren't having fun you just won't be able to play to your potential and you won't make much money anyway.

It's unrealistic to expect that every moment playing poker will be fun. You will suffer bad beats. Have to put up with obnoxious and annoying players. Sometimes a a bad run can last weeks or months. But if you keep things in perspective and get back in touch with what you once loved about the game in the first place.

In the coming weeks I will be writing posts on how to bring the fun back into playing poker so I suggest you subscribe so that you don't miss out.

P.S. Subscribers will be able to opt-in to a free email poker course on how to play poker online for fun and profit.

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