Here is something that you probably already know, but you haven't acted on:
The simple secret to winning at online poker is to play where the players are the weakest!
Fact #1: The Top Tier Poker Sites Attract the Toughest Players.
My guess is that you play at Full Tilt and/or Poker Stars because you are lured by the constant action, variety of games, and big prize pools. Guess what? So are the best poker players in the world!
I believe you should play at one or both of these sites and take a shot at a big payday. That is fun.
But do you really need to spend all those hours trying to beat the best?
Fact #2: A Second Tier Poker Site Increases Your Chance to Win. Try Bodog!
I know that Bodog doesn't see itself as second tier. But it is when it comes to the number of players and the size of the prize pool. Less action, smaller prizes and few top players at Bodog.
You won't run into Cunnigham, Ivey, or Negreanu at Bodog. But you will run into Donk, Fish and Tuccus.
I play at Bodog and it's the only site where I have won thousands of dollars. It's sad to say, but it's true, I haven't been able to win consistently on the top two poker sites.
Think of Bodog as a friendlier place to play not because you won't experience bad beats (heck Bodog can stand up to Poker Stars and Full Tilt any day of the week on freaking bad beats), but because the games are softer. That's a good thing for you...and me.
Fact #3: My Secret to Winning at Online Poker is Bodog.
The simple secret to winning at online poker is to play against the weaker players at Bodog. Therefore, I recommend that you:
1. Sign up at Poker Stars and/or Full Tilt (click banners on left for new player deposit bonus). Play the satellites to win a seat at a bigger game, and give yourself a chance for a big score.
2. Sign up at Bodog (click banner on left for new player deposit bonus). Go for those decent sized, easier cash wins.
You know in your heart and mind that this is all true. Don't let your ego stand in the way of playing at this site (as it does mine.)
Try Bodog. You lost against the best. Now win against the rest.
Good luck!
Oh yeah, if you play against me on Bodog and I raise, please fold:-)
You can join any or all three of these online poker sites and get the deposit bonuses by clicking on the banner on the left column. All three accept US players.
Full Disclosure: I just signed up as an affiliate for all three poker sites. I have played and won money at various times on all three sites over the years. However, the only online poker site where I won and cashed out for thousands of dollars is Bodog.
Showing posts with label Bodog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bodog. Show all posts
Friday, July 10, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
A Poker Stars Double Shoot-Out
The countdown continues...
Poker Stars Double Shoot-out
I decided to try something new today. It was a low buy-in event on PS where you needed to win two shoot-outs to get a seat for Sunday's $750,000 event. Poker Stars has so many satellites, I decided that I needed to work on these kind of games.
Shoot-out Number 1
This first shoot-out only had 7 players. I played fairly tight until I needed to make some steals to chip up along with the blind increases. My goal was to get in a heads-up situation since I feel confident that I will win in these situations.
The first thing I try to do at any table is to identify player types. Most players simply play their cards. Their calls mean calling hands, and their raises mean premium cards. The tougher players are those who are more aggressive and tricky. I try to stay away from these players unless I have a big hand.
If I have a weakness in my game it is when a game gets down to three players. I tend to be too loose and aggressive. I have learned to let the cards and the situation dictate my play more.
In this shoot out I didn't have to worry about playing three handed since my opponent took out two players in one hand--leaving it heads-up. As a result, I was looking at being behind in chips 6-1 as we got heads-up.
My opponent was not a good heads-up player as he played way too tight. I used his betting pattern to my advantage and I was able to turn it around completely. I now had a huge lead.
Two times I got him all-in where I "dominated" his hand. The hands were A-Q versus A-4 and K-Q versus K-5. Both times he won! Ughh...
Finally, though, I won the match and moved on to the second shoot-out.
Shoot Out Number 2
This was 9-handed and there was only one tricky and aggressive player I was concerned about three seats to my left. As players got knocked off one by one, I was playing tight and making pre-flop raises as needed based on position and/or the cards.
Fortunately, the player to my right knocked out the aggressive opponent that concerned me. The guy to my right slow played pocket Aces all the way to the river--and almost folded his winning hand. When it got three handed, he also took out the other opponent.
Once again it was heads-up. And once again, my opponent was playing was too passive. Yes, he had a big chip lead but he folded too often.
I slowly chipped away at his stack. Now, he only had a slight chip lead. I think that heads-up when you take away an opponent's big lead, it weighs on him emotionally. It is depressing to see what appears to be an easy win, slip away.
I was feeling good about winning now, and the following hand came up:
On the button, I was dealt Ah-4d. I raised and my opponent called. The blinds were big and it was now an all-in or nothing move on the flop. The flop was a great one for me, 2h-5h-8h. I had a nut flush draw, a straight draw, and I thought pairing my Ace was also good. That gave me 15 outs, which would make me a favorite.
I pushed and my opponent paused for a long time. Oh no, I thought, this is the same pause he did when he had pocket Aces. Finally he called. He turned over two black Jacks...which did not hurt my outs.
The turn and river missed my hand---and oh well, I didn't win the seat.
I went over to Bodog and decided to enter a 200 player no limit MTT event. It got down to heads-up and I made a mistake. I pushed all-in pre-flop against an opponent I would beat heads-up if I was patient. I pushed with A-10 and he called with K-J. He hit his K and I was out. At least it was an $800 win.
Funny, but I may not have played the Bodog event if I didn't lose the seat on Poker Stars.
Poker Stars Double Shoot-out
I decided to try something new today. It was a low buy-in event on PS where you needed to win two shoot-outs to get a seat for Sunday's $750,000 event. Poker Stars has so many satellites, I decided that I needed to work on these kind of games.
Shoot-out Number 1
This first shoot-out only had 7 players. I played fairly tight until I needed to make some steals to chip up along with the blind increases. My goal was to get in a heads-up situation since I feel confident that I will win in these situations.
The first thing I try to do at any table is to identify player types. Most players simply play their cards. Their calls mean calling hands, and their raises mean premium cards. The tougher players are those who are more aggressive and tricky. I try to stay away from these players unless I have a big hand.
If I have a weakness in my game it is when a game gets down to three players. I tend to be too loose and aggressive. I have learned to let the cards and the situation dictate my play more.
In this shoot out I didn't have to worry about playing three handed since my opponent took out two players in one hand--leaving it heads-up. As a result, I was looking at being behind in chips 6-1 as we got heads-up.
My opponent was not a good heads-up player as he played way too tight. I used his betting pattern to my advantage and I was able to turn it around completely. I now had a huge lead.
Two times I got him all-in where I "dominated" his hand. The hands were A-Q versus A-4 and K-Q versus K-5. Both times he won! Ughh...
Finally, though, I won the match and moved on to the second shoot-out.
Shoot Out Number 2
This was 9-handed and there was only one tricky and aggressive player I was concerned about three seats to my left. As players got knocked off one by one, I was playing tight and making pre-flop raises as needed based on position and/or the cards.
Fortunately, the player to my right knocked out the aggressive opponent that concerned me. The guy to my right slow played pocket Aces all the way to the river--and almost folded his winning hand. When it got three handed, he also took out the other opponent.
Once again it was heads-up. And once again, my opponent was playing was too passive. Yes, he had a big chip lead but he folded too often.
I slowly chipped away at his stack. Now, he only had a slight chip lead. I think that heads-up when you take away an opponent's big lead, it weighs on him emotionally. It is depressing to see what appears to be an easy win, slip away.
I was feeling good about winning now, and the following hand came up:
On the button, I was dealt Ah-4d. I raised and my opponent called. The blinds were big and it was now an all-in or nothing move on the flop. The flop was a great one for me, 2h-5h-8h. I had a nut flush draw, a straight draw, and I thought pairing my Ace was also good. That gave me 15 outs, which would make me a favorite.
I pushed and my opponent paused for a long time. Oh no, I thought, this is the same pause he did when he had pocket Aces. Finally he called. He turned over two black Jacks...which did not hurt my outs.
The turn and river missed my hand---and oh well, I didn't win the seat.
I went over to Bodog and decided to enter a 200 player no limit MTT event. It got down to heads-up and I made a mistake. I pushed all-in pre-flop against an opponent I would beat heads-up if I was patient. I pushed with A-10 and he called with K-J. He hit his K and I was out. At least it was an $800 win.
Funny, but I may not have played the Bodog event if I didn't lose the seat on Poker Stars.
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