Masala's Poker Journal

My Blog Update Few and Far Between!

2007-10-03T16:01:00.000+13:00

G'Day Mates
I must apologize for my utter slackness in keeping up with my most important Poker Blog. I have been really busy with personal matters but that is really just a Lame Ass excuse! My Poker website based in New Zealand has been plugging along nicely and I am now in a position to continually update this journal on a regular basis.
PokerMatesNZ owns a Poker Skin on the Pokerdream network and we have been running nightly buy in bounty games with great success and maintaining a high level standard of poker play! We play these games every night at 9pm NZ Time (GMT+12) You can find the PokerMates Poker Skin at http://www.pokerdream.com/pokermatesnz this is where you can download our skin to join us in these games!
We also have a new Online Radio Station http://www.pmnzradio.com where we provide a Live Broadcast of each of our games! We sure have one Hell of a Time because masala is an absolute ass! LMAO
I enjoy announcing these games so much I seem to forget that I am actually playing in the game (Hence, I have not been in the money for some time now) BOOO HOOO!
Our PMNZ RADIO station has great music and we are mainly entertainers and not real Damn radio broadcasters! We fly by the seat of our pants and have pops and whisles but we sure do have a lotta fun. You can catch myself and my partner ssgArmy announcing these games as well as some of the PokerMatesNZ members who have the guts to make a fool of themselves right along with me!
In closing, I would just like to say That I intend to update this Blog heaps more regularly to keep you up to date with The Craziest Poker Brat on the Net "Masala @ PMNZ"
Cheers Mates
From the guy who don't like No one! Really LMAO!
Masala

Play The Game, The Cards or the Person???

2007-08-02T21:15:00.001+12:00

Het Mates

Ok here I go again and yes I am pissed off as usual! Any poker player can win at any given time, a LAME ASS poker player just plays because they have no damn sense, a brain the size of a small dog terd! And they have no Bloody life and no friends.............LMAO! So, the question is do you Play the Game, the Cards or the Person???

Lets look at playing the Person First: Online I couldn't give a damn about the Person but I can tell in the first 2 hands they play if they are Lame Ass idiots or a force to be reckoned with! Mostly they are dim witted non poker skilled Bloddy Yabos without a clue on how to play the game! And yes they do win because poker sites Like the rake! Thieving Bastards!!................LMAO again.............wait I think I even pissed myself with that one!*********
Ok, Dry pants now...........I'm Good!........Anyway I wish these idiots would start playing Bingo instead and leave the Poker Playing to Folks who wanna play a skilled high level game. I don't care if its a play money game I only wanna play the game and play it properly. I hate Piss and Poker Poker!

Second, lets look at playing the Cards. In my book a person who plays the cards can be a good 50% more skilled than the Pin Headed Loser we mentioned above! The Card Player at least makes some good decisions most of the time except for when they get a good chip lead, then they mostly Tend to revert into Lame Ass piss and poke Poker Play! Don't ask me why, I think all those chips just excite them beyond all rationality and they just lose the plot. Kinda Like a guy I know and I wont say EDS name out Loud!.....ROTFLMAO!
JUST KIDDING ED!

Last lets talk about playing the GAME OF POKER! What i really mean to say is when you get together with some Damn Good Poker Players the game takes on a whole new dimension. Take for instance.....If I were at a table with ED, DM, NZ, CASH, NOVI, WEST, ASTINA -To name a few prominent PMNZ members and players of their caliber you can be sure we will have a great game! These players know how to play the game. They know position, odds, chip management, bluffing, trapping and when to fold! When you play with players of their caliber you remember why you love the game of poker!

Play Tight and pick your fights then go for the throat!
Cheers Mates.........Now I'm a bit calmer!
Masala

Calling All New Zealand (Aotearoa) Online Poker Players!

2007-07-30T22:31:00.000+12:00

G'Day Mates

Masala here from PokerMatesNZ "The Real Money Players Home" in New Zealand (Aotearoa). I am the owner/operator of the PMNZ website here in New Zealand. We have the best online poker players as members! This is proven time and time again because our members know how to play poker.

If You are a Kiwi Online Poker Player and you think you have what it takes to prove it, I am inviting you to join PMNZ and TEAMNZ (Our Online Poker Team), to participate in the next round of our Leaderboard Points Tour and our Buy in League Tour! (beginning in the next 2 weeks with 3 tune up games scheduled for Aug6,9&11th @ Carbon Poker) Membership is 100% Free and actually anyone who would be able to participate in these Tournament games within the NZ Timezone (GMT+12hrs) are all invited! I know that you will not find better players anywhere in our timezone to compete with and test your poker skills! Do You Have what it takes to win?

I personally play in a few of the latest NZ Live Pub Poker Leagues run throughout New Zealand at the moment! So I know there are Thousands of you out there that love this game! The game that you are playing in those Pub Leagues are nothing compared to Real Poker Players! You are just playing hit and miss poker with a bunch of players who are just having fun! Play Serious Poker or Don't bother playing is my motto!

Hope to See you with us Mates
Masala
http://www.pokermatesnz.com

Once Again Pissed off as Usual

2007-07-29T20:32:00.000+12:00

Yes, here it is as Usual......Masala is always pissed off. You may ask OK what is it this Time mate? Well I'll tell you. You will always have Lame Ass cheating poker players no matter where you play! PokerMatesNZ had a small Freeroll at Carbon Poker today and we had 1 Cheating Lame Ass. His online poker name is Getman & Getman25
Both of these names were registered for our freeroll. If You ever see this guy at your website and or forum do everyone a favor and delete them and ban them from your forum. All forum owners that i know will be banning this person and the word is out on their Lame Cheating actions all for the whole amount of trying to win $10!
What a Friggin Loser! Also Carbon Poker has been notified and they will never be allowed to participate in any of our games because now their IP address will be tracked and as soon as I get a hold of it you better plan on buying yourself a new PC mate cause yours is gonna fry right in front of your eyes! I am a devious unforgiving ass with no sympathy for CHEATERS!
On a better note I would like to say thanks for everyone else turning up to play a game of poker and I am sorry for the hassle with this asshole! But when you have a stupid freeroll all the Yabos come out of the woodwork to win a $1............what a damn Joke! Have some balls and put your money where your skill is, oh yeah I forgot YOU SUCK!
Masala

Do I actually ever Talk about Poker?

2007-07-25T22:38:00.000+12:00

Well Mates it seems like I never actually even talk about Poker anymore, I just talk about how pissed off I get at the Lame Poker Players, Lame Poker Sites and the whole Lame Lameness of the entire Lame everything....LOL!
Damn my Vocabulary is growing!..........So Today I'd like to tell you about yet another BLODDY LAME ASS POKER SITE NETWORK!- ("POKERDREAM")

I Like many other Pokerdream network skin owners took the chance of having my own poker site skin on this Lame Ass network. I mean how can you expect anyone to play poker at a site when there are a whole 70 players at any given time? but in saying that those numbers have actually doubled from almost a year ago! WooHoo!
So, I am givin the promises and constant support on how my new poker site graphics and room will be completed and up and running in 6-8 weeks, now that was over 4 months ago! Geez what a Time waster that has been! As far as I am concerned they can shove their site straight up their suez canal and I hope it gets blocked in the process!

I will move my leagues and players to a more reputable site that actually has players at the tables. Now I am sure I am gonna get major flak from other PD site owners but I could really give a rats ass about any of it anymore. Once I get pissed off there aint no turning back! damn who needs any of them?

Now at least I remember why PokerMatesNZ decided to only cater to the Top Market Trusted and secure Poker Sites on the net today. Its because they deliver and members actually like playing at the top sites!
PokerMatesNZ will be running all of its Private Poker games mainly at our Premier sposored site Carbon Poker
they have been the most helpful site to date and I enjoy working with them! So keep an eye out for PMNZ playing at Carbon Poker!

In Closing I would just like to say a big PISS OFF TO POKERDREAM!
Masala

News From Masala

2007-07-22T20:26:00.000+12:00

G/Day Mates

As I continue along this Journey as a poker website/forum owner I am always amazed at the way other poker websites/forums continue to function! They have all become stagnant and saturated with all the same lame freeroll hunters! Which is not all a bad thing if I wanted to waste the rest of my life chasing information and setting up games for people who are just takers and will only ever show up for a game as long as its free!! I Hate Lame Ass takers and I dont really care about what the hell tha anyone thinks about me or my website!
I do however care greatly about my Loyal members who always play the games we set up. Lately PMNZ hasn't set up any games at all but that is all about to change. I will be providing Freerolls and Buyin games once again for my members only so dont come to my forum looking for a free hand out. Just stay where you are wasting the time of all the money hungry website and forum owners who are using you for their own monetary benefit!
PokerMatesNZ members just wanna play poker and play it well! Masala just wants to show his Loyal members that he cares for them personally and wants them to become the best poker players they can be!
Hate me, love me, despise me or just ignore me because its all perfectly fine with me! I do hope that anyone just starting out takes a big look at their life first and make sure you know what you are getting into before you start because it will chew a hole in your ASS as far as your time is Concerned!
Another thing is I just love to be a pain in the Ass and go against the tide!
Masala @ PMNZ

Masala & PokerMatesNZ -New Website New Direction

2007-05-13T01:35:00.000+12:00

G'Day Mates
Over the past two years my website PokerMatesNZ has operated like all other Online Poker Websites/Forums.
Almost every single one of them are nothing but a freeroll mecca for lame ass poker players who want everything for nothing! There are virtually thousands of poker forums out there that cater to all these Yabos and I have to admit that for the past two years my forum was no different.
PokerMatesNZ has just recently made a 180 degree turn and we Refuse to offer any sort of Freeroll games! Our website has gone completely against the tide and we will only cater to the Serious or soon to be Serious Real Money Poker Players Only! I mean if you are not prepared to put your money behind your poker skill then PokerMatesNZ is probably not the place for you. Just stay where you are and waste all those other websites/forums time. Please Do Not even think of becoming a member with us unless you are interested in gaining only the finest and biggest Real Money Games information on the net today.
We only post Buyin games with guaranteed money payouts. You can buy in for as little as 6 cents with a $10 guaranteed prize pool payout to even bigger games with 1 million dollar guaranteed prize pool payouts. We only wish to associate ourselves with and promote the Top 8 Poker Sites! Bodog, Absolute Poker, Carbon Poker, Bugsys Club, Full Tilt, Hollywood Poker & Ultimate Bet! you will not find any of the other mediocre poker sites on our website!
If you consider yourself to be a Serious Poker player or you wish to become one then I believe PokerMatesNZ could be the home you have been looking for. We are not interested on the size of our forums member base all we are interested in is playing Poker with a purpose and playing it well and winning money, playing online poker. Quality members who who wish to mingle amongst the best and soar above the rest are welcome at PokerMatesNZ.
Play Poker with a Purpose and Play to win or play something else!
Cheers Mates..........................Masala, Betty, Armyssg

Table Talk by Gavin Smith (Full Tilt)

2007-05-05T16:13:00.000+12:00

I talk a lot at the table. I like meeting people, and poker tournaments give me the opportunity to chat with a lot of nice folks. The conversations I have between hands are not just pleasant - they can also be informative. What a player shares about himself will often determine how I'll play against him down the line.

For example, say I'm playing in a $10,000 tournament. I ask the young person to my left how he bought into the tournament and he tells me that he won a $30 satellite. Based on that piece of information, I can make some assumptions. He's probably not especially experienced. Most active players don't bother with low buy-in tournaments. He likely doesn't have a huge bankroll, so he'd probably be perfectly happy to cash in the event; he doesn't need to win to feel he had a successful tournament.

Against this player, I'm probably going to run some bluffs when I think he's only got a moderate hand. I'm also going to be willing to make some pretty big lay-downs against this guy. I seriously doubt he's going to put in a lot chips without a very strong hand.

Now imagine that I ask a man at my table how he got into the tournament and he tells me he bought in directly. I ask him what he does for a living, and he says he's a bookmaker in Dallas.

I've got to assume that this guy's willing to gamble. He's probably not afraid of a big bluff or a big call. Against him, I'm going to have to call more liberally and avoid making any of my own big bluffs. I may even check some reasonably big hands to avoid getting raised off my hand.

These are just two examples of what you can learn by drawing your opponents out and listening carefully to what they have to say. Every piece of information you gain at the table is something you can use to your advantage.

Gavin Smith

Chris Ferguson from Zero- $10,000

2007-04-28T14:52:00.000+12:00

I'm almost a year into an experiment on Full Tilt Poker. I'm attempting to turn $0 into a $10,000 bankroll. With no money to start with, I had no choice but to start out playing Freerolls. Starting out, I'd often manage to win a dollar or two, but I'd quickly get busted and have to start over again. It took some time but, after awhile, I was eventually able to graduate to games that required an actual buy-in.

Even today, people don't believe it's really me when I sit down at Full Tilt's small stakes games. They ask what I'm doing down here, and often tell me stories about how they turned $5 into $500 or $100 into $1,000. Usually, these stories end with the person telling me that they went broke. There's no surprise there. These folks tried to quickly build a bankroll by gambling. They'd play in a game that was beyond their bankroll and, if they happened to win, they'd move up to a higher limit and risk it all one more time. Inevitably, they'd lose a few big hands and go broke.

For me, this experiment isn't about the money. It's about showing how, with proper bankroll management, you can start from nothing and move up to the point where you're playing in some pretty big games. I know it's possible because I did it once before, turning $1 into $20,000.

To ensure that I keep my bankroll intact, I've adopted some key rules:

* I'll never buy into a cash game or a Sit & Go with more than 5 percent of my total bankroll (there is an exception for the lowest limits: I'm allowed to buy into any game with a buy-in of $2.50 or less).
* I won't buy into a multi-table tournament for more than 2 percent of my total bankroll and I'm allowed to buy into any multi-table tournament that costs $1.
* If at any time during a No-Limit or Pot-Limit cash-game session the money on the table represents more than 10 percent of my total bankroll, I must leave the game when the blinds reach me.

I think a lot of players would do well to apply these rules. One great benefit from this approach to bankroll management is that it ensures you'll be playing in games you can afford. You'll never play for very long in a game that's over your head because, when you're losing, you'll have no choice but to drop down to a smaller game. You can continue to sharpen your game at that lower limit until your bankroll allows you to move up and take another shot. These rules also prevent you from being completely decimated by a bad run of cards.

Dropping down and playing lower limits is difficult for a lot of players. They view it as a failure and their egos get in the way. Many want to remain at the level they'd been playing and win back their losses. But this can lead to some pretty severe tilt - and that can go through a bankroll in a hurry. I know that dropping down was difficult for me in my run from $1 to $20,000. When I first played in the $25/$50 game, I lost. Sticking to my rules, I dropped down to the $10/$25 game. I had a losing streak there and had to go down to $5/$10. That was tough. After playing $25/$50, a $5/$10 game was boring to me.

But I had the discipline to stick to my rules, and that motivated me to play better at the lower levels. I really didn't want to lose any more because I knew the consequences: I'd have to play even lower and work even harder to get back to where I'd been, which could take as long as a month. If you ever find yourself bored or frustrated playing at the lower limits, you're obviously not playing well. Take a break from the game. Often, stepping away can give you a fresh perspective and heightened motivation to play well when you return.

There are a couple of more tips I'd like to share regarding bankroll management. First, you should never play in a game that is beyond your bankroll simply because the game seems to be soft that day. It's never soft enough to risk money that puts your bankroll in jeopardy. The other point is that you should avoid playing in games that are at the top of your bankroll limits, when a lower game offers more opportunity for profit.

I'm confident that by sticking to these sound bankroll management rules, I'll make it to my $10,000 goal. These rules are sure to help you as well, as you pursue your own poker ambitions. So, if you want to start your own quest - or play against me while I'm continuing with mine - come open a free account at Full Tilt Poker and look for me online. But hurry, because I'm hoping I won't be in the lower limits for too much longer.

Chris Ferguson

$$ POKER GREED $$

2007-04-12T12:50:00.000+12:00

Well, I bet you can say that I am somewhat absolutely F'n pissed off! and I will tell you a great poker story about a certain Asshole that has Greed and stupidity written all over them. Its an age old story of Human Nature and GREED, pure and simple!
I owned a poker skin with a certain network and then switched to become partners with another skin owner on the same network! I would eventually run my forums Private Play Money Poker Tour games thru this skin while giving away my own money to all of my playing members. As my player member base grew on this network because of the direct efforts of myself, my forum partner Betty and my playing members. We grew from about 20 players to over 100 players in the span of 3 months. This whole time the actual skin owner was too F'n busy to be bothered with the whole thing! And was really doing nothing himself.
I decided to go back to my own skin and take only our own playing members whom by the way we had worked hard at recruiting. This has caused an absolute nightmare because all of a sudden this Idiot decides, we cant do that because you are his members!
Well I'm here to tell you. ***********PISS OFF GMAN.********
You are nothing but a Greedy ass lame Mf'n idiot! Don't ever come around my neighborhood of mess with my players because every single one of us will be leaving your Lame ASS Poker Skin and Site.
I do want to apologize to the actual Network Server and the support Team whose hands are tied, and I will just take my players to our new server since there is no Friggin way I or my players will stay there.
We will move on to better things because we don't have time to piss around with any of it. There are plenty of other poker sites out there !

OOPS- Did I say That out loud!!!!!
Masala

The New PokerMatesNZ Poker Room

2007-04-09T18:31:00.000+12:00

G'Day Mates
My website PokermatesNZ.com has now acquired Our very own Poker Skin called "PokerMatesNZ Poker Room" We have gone out on our own with our site soon to become a fully branded site on the PokerDream network.
We run a Play Money Points Tour for the members of our website who belong to the poker skin. You can win REAL Money at these games in the form of Real Money Bounties and the winner of each game receives Real money as well! We play these games 3 times a week with a new Points Tour round starting this Wednesday, April 11th at (9pm) New Zealand Time. We would also like to have a USA timezone Points Tour if we had interested players/members in this timezone.
All the information about these points tours can be found in our Forum at our website www.pokermatesnz.com
Why not come and join us and win Real money for absolutely no risk to your wallet.
Cheers......................Masala

New Zealand Live Poker Pub Leagues

2007-03-25T17:44:00.000+12:00

Lately I have been playing weekly at some of the Live Poker Pub leagues that have been running through out New Zealand. I have placed fairly highly in some of these games but it is a real struggle playing poker with a lot of players who really don't have a clue what they are doing. Its not really poker but it is fun and they are a great bunch of people. A few of my website members have been participating in these games but the main drawback with the whole tournament setup is: They offer re buys for buying drinks, which means if you drink you can get extra chips for purchasing drinks.
I don't drink so getting extra chips for me is not really an issue. I know that is how the pub actually makes money but I would rather find a Pub league that has a buy in tournament and when your out you are out of the tournament. Now That's Poker!
I have heard that there is a poker league in New Zealand that runs a tournament like this so I am on my way to check it out! I like playing in the live games and I have found that for the most part people really don't know how to play poker properly. Most of the time the players will play with any 2 cards. You cant really bully players because they will play with Crap cards and beat you anyway!
When you make it to the final 2 tables the play will actually start to settle down to some real poker play and normally this is always the same players so you do get to know the way certain players play. Its all a great deal of fun but I am really itching to play with some top notch players in a winner take all tourny!
So if anyone hears about where the game is Please let me know?
Cheers mates..............................Masala

Running a Poker Website/Forum

2007-03-18T17:14:00.000+12:00

G'day Mates
Today I would like to say a little bit about running a poker website/forum. First, I would like to let you all know a little bit of history about why ever even started the whole thing!

I used to just play poker online and I belonged to a few poker leagues from USA and Canada. Living in New Zealand, it became very apparent that I would never be able to be very points competitive in these leagues because of the Timezone difference. These Poker Leagues that I belonged to played games 7 days a week but because of the Timezone differences it meant that I could only play with these leagues on the weekends because during the week I would be at work while they were playing. I would do very well playing on the weekends with these guys and I would pull ahead on points only to lose all the advantage while they all played 5 more days during the week while I could not participate. They were great poker leagues with excellent players and just very nice people in general but I became very discouraged upon not being able to be points competitive.
I joined a Forum belonging to Gman and became very involved in his forum because he provided the most Poker Info that I had ever even known was available. We became good friends and I asked him how do I go about starting up a forum? he explained to me how to do it so I just jumped in and started.
Now I did not have a clue at all about what the hell I was even doing and it took me at least 3 months to kind of understand how to do webmaster stuff! I mean I only ever even started the whole thing to be able to have a Poker League of my own where I could play poker with players in my own Timezone! That's all I ever really wanted!
All I wanted was a bit of help and to be pointed in the right direction, but man this whole thing just chews up my personal time. I have some great friends and great poker members and some of them have been with me from the very beginning and have continued to stay with me even when we had less than 50 members. And I would like to just say thanks to my LOYAL MEMBERS who are always there!
I have wanted to Quit the whole damn thing so many times and just go back to playing poker! But, its my loyal members and associates that keep me going. I just don't want to let anyone down and I try my hardest to provide all the info that I can glean from anywhere!
Some other webmasters just know what to do to make a great forum and to get new members but guys like me just have to Fight and learn everything on the fly and make mistakes while all the other guys just keep getting bigger and bigger memberships. I make my money playing poker and I just give it away to my loyal members and all I want in return is for them to enjoy themselves and tell everyone they know about us.
So there is my story and I will just go back to struggling my way thru this whole damn thing!
Cheers...........................Masala

Stealing Dealer Button

2007-03-10T11:46:00.000+13:00

The dealer position (known as the "button") is the best
position at the poker table.

The reason is because when you're on the button, you get to
act LAST after the flop... giving you the chance to see what
your opponents do first.

This lets you get a "read" on your opponents at the table...
and decide who has a strong hand, who has a weak hand, who's
bluffing, and so on.

OK, so that's common knowledge.

What's also common knowledge is the fact that LATE
POSITIONING is preferred over EARLY POSITIONING... because
once again, you get to see what your opponents do first
before it's your turn to bet, raise, call, or fold.

Of course, being on the button is BETTER than just plain
late positioning... because the button GUARANTEES that you
will be LAST TO ACT post-flop.

OK, now here's what is NOT common knowledge...

Once you understand positioning and its enormous
implications, you can begin "improving" your positioning and
setting yourself up for more pots each game.

The technique is called STEALING THE BUTTON.

It's simple... it's practical... and right when you're done
reading this newsletter you can immediately start using it.

Stealing the button is LEVERAGING your late positioning when
you're NOT on the button... but getting all the same
benefits as if you WERE on the button.

Remember, the dealer position is SO POWERFUL because it
means you're LAST to act post-flop.

Being SECOND TO LAST to act isn't nearly as good, especially
considering there's usually only three or four players to a
flop at an 8-man table.

So what you do is make a reasonable pre-flop RAISE when
you're in late positioning... and therefore force the player
on the button to fold.

Having done this, you'll be last to act after the flop...
the same as if you actually were on the button. (Hence the
name, "stealing the button").

OK, let's look at an example so you can see what I'm talking
about:

Let's say you're sitting two seats to the RIGHT of the
button at a 10-man table. The game is $1-2 no limit Holdem.

Two players limp-in... and you look down at your cards:

J-9 of clubs.

I call hands like these "semi-connectors"-- they're not
quite connected... but almost.

The great thing about semi-connectors is that they're a
"hidden hand". When they HIT (straight, flush, two pair...)
your opponents NEVER see it coming.

You decide to play your Jack-9 suited. Now remember, there
are two players BEHIND you that will act post-flop if they
both call the blinds.

So it's YOUR JOB to make sure they DON'T limp-in.

The solution is to crank up the pressure...

You make it $15 to play. Nothing crazy (after all, you don't
exactly have a monster). You simply want to force the two
players to your left to FOLD... which will happen most of
the time.

Of course, they won't always fold... because sometimes
they'll pick up a big hand. But odds arethey'll fold.

The RESULT, of course, is now YOU have the button.

Well, not the button exactly... but all the advantages that
it brings.

Sure enough, the two players to your left fold, and Josh--
who's in the big blind-- is the only caller.

The flop comes out:

10h-8d-Ks

No flush possibilities for you here, but BINGO, you've just
flopped an open-ended straight draw.

This is the type of flop you hoped for.

Now it's on Josh to act first. And this is where your
positioning is so important. Not only do you get to see what
Josh does first... but you also have the CONTROL in this
situation.

Since you made the pre-flop raise, Josh will likely check
the flop to you... giving you the opportunity to play
aggressively and take down this pot.

No matter what happens after this, you've set yourself up to
win this pot. Sometimes Josh will pick up a real hand and
come out firing... but usually not.

Sure enough in our example, Josh checks.

You throw out a $30 semi-bluff. This is a bet you should
make even WITHOUT the open-ender... because you made the
pre-flop raise.

Josh mucks it, and you rake the chips... leaving the table
wondering what you had.

That's how you "steal" the button. It's a simple, surefire
way to gain control at the table by improving your
positioning.

There are five main steps you need to know...

1. You need a playable hand.

If you're going to bluff, make it a "semi-bluff" by raising
with a hand that can hit... something like semi-connectors.

I personally don't like raising with 7-2 offsuit or crap
like that. It seems to me like an "ego raise" more than a
logical play.

Remember, the key is to gain that extra bit of control and
power by acting LAST after the flop.

2. Force out the player on the button (and possibly the
player to his right).

The whole point to stealing the button is to ACTUALLY STEAL
THE BUTTON. If you make a wussy raise that doesn't scare
anyone, you've failed.

If you're one seat to the right of the button, you want to
raise enough to force the player on the button out. If
you're TWO seats to the right, then you've got to force out
both players to your left.

One of the "secrets" to this process is to ALWAYS pay
attention to the pre-flop betting patterns of your opponents
on the left.

If you're sitting on the right of "Tight Tim" who only sees
flops when he's got pocket pairs, then you can steal the
button quite often.

On the other hand, if you're on the right of a LOOSE player,
you won't be able to steal the button nearly as much.

So pay attention.

3. After the flop, your opponents will usually check to you.

Notice if someone bets into you, beware. That's a red flag.
Usually players will check into you since you raised
pre-flop.

When players check into you that gives you the power to
either BET and try to steal the pot right there... OR... get
a free turn card by also checking.

While I normally recommend a bet, you can check to mix it up
once in awhile or in the case that you're getting
short-stacked.

4. Don't get pot-committed.

Remember, stealing the button is a simple technique that
improves your position and sets you up to have a BETTER
CHANCE at winning the hand.

Don't get stupid. Don't get stubborn and bet any amount in
hopes of bluffing out someone with a real hand.

Like I said, you need a playable hand to steal the button in
the first place.

Don't become pot-committed... Never bet so much that it's
PAINFUL to fold your cards after the flop.

5. Sometimes you don't need to raise to steal the button.

Often the blinds will be high enough where you figure simply
CALLING the big blind will get you the button (this is
especially true when you're to the right of a tight player).

Also, someone in front of you might raise the pot enough
that all you have to do is CALL THE RAISE and you'll get the
button.

OK, so that's the process...

Here are the two types of situations where you DO want to
steal the button...

DO STEAL THE BUTTON WHEN:

1. You sense weakness and want to steal the pot on a bluff
or hidden hand.

2. You have a good hand that you want to play post-flop.

On the other hand...

DO NOT STEAL THE BUTTON WHEN:

1. You have a poor hand and you sense someone else has a
strong hand.

2. You think someone to your left will call a raise no
matter what (that defeats the purpose).

The MOST IMPORTANT lesson you can get from all this is to
realize that winning poker depends on ALL THE LITTLE THINGS.

Stealing the button is just a little technique for setting
yourself up for better positioning... it's not a "game
changing" strategy that will double your poker profits or
anything.

But when you combine it with ALL THE OTHER LITTLE THINGS--
like establishing the right table image, throwing out feeler
bets, representing the flop at the right times, buying free
cards, picking up betting patterns, spotting tells, and
more-- then you will become a DYNAMIC and POWERFUL poker
player...

AND THEN your poker profits will double.

PMNZ Trophy Rematch (Sat Feb,23rd)

2007-02-22T13:07:00.000+13:00

G'Day Mates
My Forum and our Private poker team "TEAMNZ" will be playing another Rematch Team Poker Tournament this weekend against the only team who has ever managed to actually beat us once! That team is the team of LittleSlickPoker (owner: JMachelor). They have one great team and if you missed the last rematch game between us, I believe you missed one of the best Team poker matches I personally have ever witnessed!
You can be assured that their team will be out for blood and I do know that they have been performing some team play practice. PokerMatesNZ & TEAMNZ need to retain the Trophy in order to be the outright overall Team Challenge Champions, then we can move on to the other Challenges that we have waiting in the wings for us.
This is going to be another great Team Play Fight, so dont miss it!
GO TEAMNZ ! Bring it home For the KIWI PRIDE Mates!!
Cheers........Masala @ PMNZ

Trophy Challenge detais are:

Place: PokerMustang ( www.pokermustang.com)
Tourny Name: PMNZvsLSP
Tab Location: Tournaments Real Money
Date & Time : Saturday, FEB-23rd @ (10pm EST) which equals
Sunday, FEB-24th @ (4pm NZ Time)

Is Internet Poker RIGGED?

2007-02-17T21:58:00.000+13:00

I have been asked if Internet Poker is Rigged?, time and time again! What is your Opinion? I believe that I am a fairly intelligent person and I play poker online at least 5-6 hrs per day. I have played at just about every online poker site there is currently on the net. There are only a few sites that I personally play at on a regular basis. I try out every poker site personally before I offer any of my members an opportunity to download them. I am a REAL MONEY player who wins about 70% of the time! So, I actually make a profit by playing poker online. Do I think its rigged? HMMMMMMM.....................Hell yes, I believe that most of the damn sites are rigged! I also believe that ever since any form of gambling was ever invented you will have CHEATS! The key to beating the Cheats is to be observant! and trap them at their own game. I know that many of you would say that there is no way that online poker is rigged and what is the purpose of it anyway? GREED is the reason! GREED, GREED, GREED. But hey, I love this game and rigged or not you will find me at the tables! LOL..................There are bad beats and then there is flat out rigged play. When a poker software stalls and the one and only card that can beat your hand pops out on the river to take your money, well Im sure you know what I mean!
But, I will be playing rigged or not, Form your own opinion and Keep playing or QUIT!
Cheers..............Masala

TEAM PLAY (Poker Tips)

2007-02-15T22:08:00.000+13:00

Most players find it very awkward to switch from individual to team play.
Here are some hints:
At the start, you want to just gather chips as in any other tourny. But, against your team-mates, you often "take it easy". Against a team-mate you just check it down.
The important team-work really starts later. By then, if you are a chip leader, it is up to you to protect your short-stacked team members. The #1 key to success is keeping your fellow team-mates alive. It is the difference between winning and losing!
1. "Dump" chips to them. For instance, if you are small blind and they are big blind, and the table has folded. Most team members just fold their small blind. (thinking that is the best thing to do, for their short-stacked team-mate, give them the amount of their small blind by folding)
But it is even better to call, then fold. That way that short-stacked team member really gets to benefit, because you just gave him the amount of the full blind. This should be a standard procedure, so the short-stacked big blind should EXPECT you to call and then fold.
2. If a team member goes all in and the entire table folds, then you must fold too. Do it!
For instance, in a recent team game, a team-mate raised all in with KK, the entire table folded, except his fellow team-mate as the big blind.
All this player had to do was fold (for the team). They had tons of chips and NO REASON TO CALL! But, they did call, and with Q 8 off!! Q on flop and 8 on turn and 8 the river! Knocked out their own team-mate with his KK! So sad! Our team lost that game!
Be careful playing on PD. Often we are playing more than one game at a time, and we hit "check call any" and end up calling our poor team-mate by accident! Or, we aren't paying enough attention to who just went all in and we call!
This just happened to me recently.
My team member raised all-in with J 2 off, and expected me to fold, but with QK suited, and playing 2 games at once, I did not take the time to think it through, to realize that this was my team-mate! I clicked on call! Dumb Me!!! I took him out of the game!
3. If you do have the "nuts" and you have a short stacked team-mate as the small blind. Raise them. That is their signal to fold and save their chips. If you just call, and then they "complete" that small blind, they are wasting their chips. Because then they are going to have to fold later. Why let them waste those chips! So use this "signal" to let your team-mate know to fold.
4. This is another team move. If it is your big blind and entire table folds except a short stacked team-mate, and they just "call", FOLD! Even though they did not raise, if you have a lot of chips, just fold to them preflop. They need those chips. And this is also standard procedure. Do not make them see that flop, just fold.
5. If a team mate is short stacked and raises all-in and IS CALLED by a bunch of the other team's players and you have really good cards and lots of chips, CALL THEM! Better that you take their chips and knock them out, rather than letting those from the other team get those chips, and knock them out.
6. Most time, we win or lose in "spurts". If someone has previously "dumped" a lot of chips to you earlier, and now everything you play "turns to gold", and the other team-mates are short, do not forget to "dump" chips back to them! A lot of team players forget to dump back!
This is a key thing!! In a recent game only a few of us played "team poker" while our "team-mates" played for themselves. "Individual poker" does not work in "team" games.
Previously, I had "dumped" too many of my chips to the team members that were playing their usual individual poker game. They never "dumped" back to me or to anyone else. So we lost.
Unless you are committed to the team and the team's win, (not your win), it is not worth your time or effort to try to "team play". It takes a ton of patience and practice to always put your team players first. And unless the team works well together your team will lose.
Hope this helps everyone and that I explained it all OK.
By JMachelor @ LSP

A viewers Comments(Ring Games)

2007-02-12T22:27:00.000+13:00

Ring Game action has really jumped at Cakepoker here are some tips to improve your game at a ring table.
The key to table selection is having a good seat at a great table. Beware, there is such a thing as a bad seat at a great table.
Look at games with 6-8 players and a large pot size. I do this so I'm less likely to join a game that's already been filled, I get a choice of a couple seats at the table and games that are a little short handed punish the fast 'n loose players less harshly.
Before I join a game, I look at stacks and limpers (hard to squeeze blood from a stone.) If there are too many stacks under $12, it's not worth my time. In the first 2 hands I watch I want to see more than 2 limpers outside of the blinds or a fair raise with 2 callers. I want to play against players that take the adage "any hand can win" too far. I also look for betting that's a little wild. Generally, I only look at a hand or two before claiming a seat (I don't want to have my target fill up or loose the best seat!)
When taking a seat, ideally I want position on tall to moderate stacks and loose/aggressive players. I want to give position a short stack or a very tight player. No point in having position on someone that won't be playing many hands or doesn't have the chips to pay me off. Also having position on a somewhat manic player allows me to hide behind their bets and waste less money folding weak positions to them after betting/limping.
Generally, I post a newbie blind unless I'm 2 or fewer hands away from my big blind. I get right into the action, but am quick to leave if I don't like what I see. The first time around the table I'm looking at who's calling raises, who's weak, etc. I'll get a little more aggressive with pre-flop raises to feel out the table (well worth the $1.5 IMHO to raise a hand I might otherwise limp in with to get this information.)
Signs I'm at a the right table: * Multiple players limping in * Position on a loose and aggressive player * Players calling raises after trying to limp with weak hands * Players showing weak hands outside of the blinds (Ace-little off suit, unsuited connectors, etc.) * Outrageous raises on top quality hands (so I know when to fold.) * Players limping or only raising to $1 with top quality hands
It's probably time to find another table when: * 1 or fewer players limp a couple times in a series of 8-10 hands. Getting down to just the blinds is a very bad sign. * Maniac with position on me by 1 or 2 seats. Dealing with his (reprises can be trying and the check + call counter to that is a pain. Also, I'm less likely to be the last to act when I'm in late position, but don't have the button. * I can't pick out the weak players at the table * Many of the weak players go all-in on a single hand suicide pact, then several leave. * Multiple strong/tight players. Particularly filling seats left by weak players. * No one is calling my pre-flop raises with weak hands. If I can regularly take the blinds with a $2 pre-flop raise, I'm probably at the wrong table. * I have position on the short stacks.
By Bucnright @ FRT

Masala Wins a seat to $1000 AP Challenge

2007-02-06T23:02:00.000+13:00

Today i thought i would share some of my personal poker playing victories over the last two weeks. I am sharing these triumphs to prove that if you follow/pay attention to the advice that I have been giving you regarding playing Sit-n-gos, you will greatly increase you winning margins!
Over the last 2 weeks I have been playing at Paradise poker in their $3 - 10 man SNG tournys. I have played in 14 games and I have placed in the money in all 14 of them- Yeah!!! Now i am gonna say that the winning odds that I have achieved over these two weeks is rather unbelievable but what it is , is, what it is!!!
Normally I would expect to have at least a 60% winning ratio but my current winning average is 70% so, the 100% winning ratio I have had has been a very profitable 2 weeks! Please remember that this is SNG poker play in which I play a very straight forward and tight game, meaning I only play a hand that I am gonna win or I don't play.
In one of these games we were down to the last four players and I was low stack. As one of the players went all in and got called he asks me "Have you even played a hand yet?" I said, NOPE!
So, he goes all in and loses and bingo I'm in the money without ever even playing one damn poker hand!.......LOL I went on to place 2nd in that game and double my money!
Now, yesterday I played in the Absolute Poker Freerolls with around 1020 players. I am not really a freeroll player but i was bored so I played. I pretty much played minimal hands but the ones I did play I won. These tournaments only pay out to the last 18 players splitting a pot of $50. With the top 5 finishers gaining an entry To the $1000 AP Challenge tournament on that following Sunday. Anyway, I placed 2nd and won a seat to this Sundays game and $8 for placing 2nd.
All in all it has been a very good 2 weeks of poker for me! Play Tight and aggressive when you have the hand and you should start to win more often!
Cheers Mates............................Masala

Letter of Praise for TEAMNZ @PokerMatesNZ

2007-02-01T22:00:00.000+13:00

G'day MatesEvery member must read this magnificent post praising TEAMNZ for a Great game. I must say That I for one was extremely humbled by this post from JMachelor. He has posted this in his forum. All i am gonna say is I am so proud of TEAMNZ even today i just can not believe how brilliantly all of you played! WOW JOHNNY what a post!!! Thanks mate .......................Masala
Post by Jmachelor at the LittleSlickPoker Forum
PokerMatesNz win the world championship trophy.
They came to the game as a team and we got spanked. I watched last night until the last LittleSlickPoker's member was put out. Last man standing for LittleSlickPoker was Mr30. He played a solid game. Congrats on you efforts. Great showing. Now i would like for a minute or two to explain what i saw. I watch within the first five minutes a group of players come together and play as a team. I watch players muck when their team members called. I watch 3 members call against their team members. All having good starting hands. I watch them check it out until one bet. They then just simply tossed their hands away. Playing as a solid group (TEAM). They practiced at playing as a team and never went over the top of a fellow member. The had a system and it worked. To be honest with you. I knew within 3 minutes pokermatesnz would win the re-match. the match reminded me of a good Rocky match. They only problem i seen was that we was out boxed. They come in as a team and took us out. One players at the time. Before the first 20 minutes was up. We had 4 players out and team NZ had all Ten members still left. They worked chips and was chip dumping when they could to smaller stacks in their group. No this isn't illegal. That was brilliant and well orchestrated. I'm a sitter and know these moves and plays. They used the timer to tell their members how strong of a hand they had. It was really a work of art. If you didn't watch the play. They gotcha. This was by far the best team work I've seen in years. Other then the two in house games pumping the newbies. We flat out got out boxed and played! Congrats to pokermatesNz Now i hear you already was it fair. Hell yes it was fair. Within minutes of the championship match. I got on the IM with masala and told him fantastic job. I could see my trophy leaving LittleSlickPoker. Not because we couldn't win it, but because we were not ready for such a committed team. Masala Giggled and said they have been practising. They have been working hard at TEAM play. I informed him that i haven't seen one bad move on his players. They were working in unison. They come to take the Trophy and we got caught with our pants down. If you would have just watch the game you would have seen a work of art! It was beautiful to watch. Not to watch as my players were tossed out one by one. Breaking down chip totals and maneuvering chips. Using the timer to acknowledge their hands and strength I can teach you this. But this is what some do in home games. Yes some would say that these acts are wrong. In a game yes i would pitch a fit. But you have got to relize the word "TEAM" means all ten are one. They achieved this with winning efforts. I could go on for ever about their play and the way they handled our team. I want the better TEAM won. Hands down. Now members lets pull or paints back up and work on the TEAM work for our members. I did ask for a re-match with Masala within the first 10 minutes of the tournament. No offence but i could see the dominate play. Not saying we have bad players by no means. Just absolutely no team work. That's what beat us. Plus no names but when 3 members put each other all in and then the one that manage to call from the other team called after 3 players went Allin wasn't good! Well with this being said. I think we all understand the out come of the game. I would like to say thanks to all those whom played on behalf of our family last night. Good job I'm lost for words right now. Kinda hard to think we got out played. But we did and I'm going to have retribution. Guaranteed. I will bring the trophy back. Mark my words. Jmachelor_________________I'm jmachelor and i say "Break a Chip!"

The PokerMatesNZ "FORUM TROPHY CHALLENGE"

2007-01-28T23:18:00.000+13:00

G'Day Mates

As an aside today, I thought I would tell everyone about my poker forums Poker team "TEAMNZ" and our major accomplishment today. I run a poker website in New Zealand and we have a Private Poker Team which challenges any forum anywhere in the world to try and take our Beloved Poker Trophy from us by playing in a 10 vs 10 man poker game. Whichever Fourm team the overall winning player belongs to, gets to take our Trophy to their forum for display!

3 weeks ago our team TEAMNZ, lost the Trophy for the first time ever, to LittleSlickPoker (Owner- JMachelor). Today was the rematch game and we came home victorious!! WOOHOO!

It was one of the greatest Team games you will ever have witnessed and I for one am extremely proud of my team as I am sure JMachelor is also.

The rules for this Trophy challenge can be found in this link Here:

http://www.pokermatesnz.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=29

www.pokermatesnz.com

And I have also provided a short blurb of Congratulations for the game here along with an image of our Trophy!!!

Congratulations to ASTINAGUY99 for bringing home our treasured "PokerMatesNZ TEAMNZ TROPHY" TEAMNZ Members who participated in this Trophy Forum Challenge were: astinaguy99, newzealand, showboat4, Bullywuss, bows, ssgarmy, seghill, iwiknz, bettym6263 & MyMasala. The Team from LittleSlickPoker put up a great fight but TEAMNZ played like a True Poker Team!!! While the Trophy is being engraved, come on in and find out how your forum can be the next Challengers.Well done mates, Masala is proud of all of you!!!

Cheers Mates.......................Masala

Pushing The Advantage

2007-01-25T21:31:00.000+13:00

You have all seen them: a player sitting at a table with 10 times as many chips as anyone else. The maximum a player can bring to the table is 5,000 dollars but this player has 50,000 dollars at the table, and they are swatting all players that sit down like flies.
Able to call any bet with ease they can afford to take more chances, and can play more searching bets to establish what the opponents have. They are also in a far better position to be selective about which hands to enter as the fear of having blinds bleed their stack is far less.
The psychological advantage is also huge when in this situation – players first check what you are doing before they make any decisions – as soon as the chip leader raises, the majority of their opponents fold because they are scared of a showdown that sees them all in and the chip leader easily match their bet.
Getting yourself in this situation is not easy, but when you do find yourself as the chip leader at a table, you should attempt to remain at the table as long as you can carry on pushing the advantage. Once you have five times the amount of chips as everyone else at the table, the climb up to 10 times as many chips will then be a lot quicker. As long as you stay at the table you will have the advantage and be able to dominate the play.

Cheers Mates.............................Masala

Why most people lose at Online Poker(Part3)

2007-01-23T23:29:00.000+13:00

Reason #3: Not Playing At The Right Online Casinos
The third crucial mistake is thinking that every online casino is the same.
Let me say this as clearly as possible:
ALL CASINOS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.
And here's why:
A big reason is because the PLAYERS are different from casino to casino... since the WAY each poker room attracts its players is different.
The ADVERTISING is different.
Some online casinos give huge bonuses... others do mass advertising targeted at "beginners"... others try to be "exclusive" for high-quality players.
And so on...
Get it?
Do you see how this could have a DRAMATIC IMPACT on how the GAMES will be different?
At one casino you may be playing against a bunch of fresh "newbies". But the same game type and same stakes at a DIFFERENT casino might be full of EXPERIENCED players.
This means you might consistently LOSE at $10 Sit and Go's at one card room... but WIN all the time at another.
Crazy, huh?
I've seen it happen all the time.
You may be LOSING at online poker right now... and the problem may not be your SKILLS.
It may be that you're simply playing in the WRONG PLACES!
So how do you know what the RIGHT places are exactly?
Just Stay Tuned Mates................Masala

Why most people lose at Online Poker(Part 2)

2007-01-21T20:44:00.000+13:00

Reason #2: Choosing The Wrong Stakes
This is fairly straightforward. Most players UNDERSTAND that they shouldn't play a game that's too "high stakes" for them...
But what most players FAIL TO DO is adjust their "poker approach" ACCORDING to the stakes.
To put this in perspective, let's use baseball as an example.
Your strategy in a game with a bunch of 14-year olds would certainly be a lot different than if you were playing against the WHITE SOX, am I right?
Obviously you'd have to adjust your HITTING, since you'd be facing a more skilled pitcher. And you'd have to adjust your DEFENSE... since the hitters would be better.
And so on.
But these are just ADJUSTMENTS.
Now let me ask you: Would you have to change your FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGY to go from 14-year olds to the "pros"?
The answer is YES.
Because CORE PARTS of the game would be affected.
Not as many "runs" would be scored... the field would be much bigger... there would be nine innings instead of seven... and so on.
OK, so now let's relate this back to poker:
In low-stakes games, you can get away with certain things that you CANNOT get away with in high-stakes games...
You may be able to time all your bluffs when you're on the button in a low-stakes game, because not everyone is aware of your positioning.
You might be able to consistently buy pots when the flop comes rags, because no one has the guts to make a stand against you.
These are ADJUSTMENTS.
Your FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGY will be different too.
At some stakes, you'll be able to "play around" more with special traps, feeler bets, and bluffs.
At other stakes, there will be NO ROOM for these tactics since every pot will be CRUCIAL. (The blinds structure is also a big determinant in this.)
OK, so the point is things ARE NOT the same for each level of stakes.
There are clear and distinct differences between low-stakes, middle-stakes, and high-stakes... and therefore CLEAR STRATEGIC DIFFERENCES FOR WINNING.
Cheers.........Masala

Why most people lose at Online poker

2007-01-20T21:15:00.000+13:00

There are THREE CRUCIAL REASONS why most players LOSE money at online poker.
I've listed them below... keep reading to see if they sound familiar for YOUR situation.
Reason #1: Not Picking The Right Game Type
OK, so here's my big "aha" for online poker.
It was this "aha" that INSTANTLY transformed my winnings from "decent" to "tremendous"...
Are you ready?
Here we go:
One of the biggest SECRETS to winning online is to play the RIGHT GAME TYPE for YOUR UNIQUE STYLE.
Not only that... but you need to ADAPT your strategy for EACH GAME TYPE you enter.
Let me explain...
When I say "game type", I'm referring to the many variations of ring games and tournaments. That includes shorthanded games, "turbo" versions, heads-up matches, and more.
The KEY is that your strategy should NOT be the same for each game.
For example, the "tight-aggressive squared" method works great for 10-player Sit and Go's... but you certainly wouldn't want to use it in a four person ring game!
Or as another example: You wouldn't approach a multi-table tournament the same way you'd approach a heads-up match...
Every tactic and technique around starting hands, positioning, and betting is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
Period.
In some game types, BLUFFING is very effective. In other types you'll hardly EVER want to bluff. The same goes with slow-playing, check-raising, and so on.
So the question becomes...
How do you know the RIGHT strategy for any given game type?
I'll share my answer with you in a moment, but first let's take a look at the SECOND REASON why most players lose online................Cheers...............Masala

SitnGos(Wind Up)

2007-01-16T19:19:00.000+13:00

After I was done I started thinking about what had just happened. I realized that by PLAYING in a Sit and Go you can often do MORE DAMAGE THAN GOOD when there are lots of players at the table.
And of course, I became 100% convinced that the "magic equation" for success is:
PATIENCE + AGGRESSION
Your goal for these games should be to place in the money as much as possible. Period. So why risk chips on silly hands early on?
They're just not worth it...
The other thing about this strategy is that it's a HUGE time-saver. Because it doesn't require hardly any work until there are 4-5 players left. It makes it MUCH easier to play multiple tables at once... or do other things while the Sit and Go plays in the background.
OK, so here's your "Tight-Aggressive Squared" Sit and Go strategy:
1. Be patient, be patient, be patient!
Only play the hands I showed you earlier. Only bet before the flop with Aces, Kings, Big Slick, and Queens.
2. When you catch a monster, go all-in. Don't do this if you think someone has you beat (i.e. there's an obvious straight or flush draw on the board).
I'm talking about only playing hands when you know you have the best odds of winning.
3. When the field gets down to four or five players (depending on how high the blinds are and how many all-in showdowns you've won), shift gears completely and STOP using this "Tight-Aggressive Squared" strategy.
That, my friend, is the "secret" to Sit and Go's.
It's obvious... but not-so-obvious.
But it is DEFINITELY simple.
And you can start implementing it IMMEDIATELY...

SnG(Still Continued)

2007-01-13T23:25:00.000+13:00

Everyone tightens up when there are four or five players in
a hand because they want to make the money... and they want
to be VERY CAREFUL to make it into the top three.
That is when you steal some blinds and add to your chip
stack.
Then, after that point you'll be in third place and will be
in the money.
I have a ton of strategies for getting you into FIRST place
too (after you get down to three players), but I'll have to
save those for a different newsletter.
You know, when I first came up with this strategy of
"Tight-Aggressive Squared" I wasn't COMPLETELY convinced it
was the best way to win at Sit and Go's.
At the time, I had been trying a lot of things. The idea of
just being EXTREMELY PATIENT and then going all-in with
monster hands seemed a little TOO SIMPLE.
Right?
Then one night, I was at a 10-man Sit and Go. I went all-in
with a big hand early and doubled up. It was the only hand I
got really involved with.
Then... with 9 players still at the table... my Internet
shut off. I didn't know what happened. All I know is that
the Internet just plain STOPPED WORKING.
I normally would have called someone... but it was past two
in the morning.
I messed with it for like fifteen minutes and then just gave
up. Oh well... it's just one Sit and Go.
Anyway... I started working on something else on my computer
for awhile until all of the sudden the Internet came BACK
on.
I logged into my poker room to see what had happened with
the game. Immediately the screen POPPED-UP and the action
was to me...
I was still in the game, it wasn't over yet!
Not only that...
But there were only three players left!
I was in third, but still had some remaining chips to play
around with.
I immediately went all-in and everyone folded. Then I did it
again and everyone folded. And a few hands later I did it
AGAIN.
I picked up three enormous sets of blinds and was right back
in the game. The reason everyone was folding was because I
hadn't played a hand in 25 minutes. They were probably
wondering what the hell was going on!
Anyway, as it turned out, I actually WON 1ST for this Sit
and Go. First place baby... and my Internet only worked for
about 1/5 of the game!

Sit-n-Gos (Strategy)

2007-01-11T22:40:00.000+13:00

So why would Sit and Go's be so much different than other poker play?
Like I said before, the reason is because Sit and Go's are heavily dominated by loose-aggressive players... and THIS is how you beat those guys.
Why exactly does this strategy work?
It works because you're only playing monsters.
Now... if the players at Sit and Go's were SMART, they'd OBSERVE that you're only playing monster hands... and they'd FOLD as soon as you went all-in.
I mean... it only makes logical sense, right?
Indeed, this is how it works in live games. But not online. Because for online poker there's another important factor working to your advantage...
NO ONE'S PAYING ATTENTION!
The truth is, many players are either drunk, hungover, stupid, or playing multiple tables at once. Or all of the above!
They're not paying attention to your betting patterns. They're just playing the CARDS, not the PLAYERS.
I call my strategy for patiently waiting for monster hands and then going all-in:
"Tight-Aggressive Squared"
The reason is because my strategy is like the playing style tight-aggressive... but on STEROIDS.
Why go all-in so much?
It's like I said... you WILL get action. Maybe not every single time, but enough times to make it well worth your while.
For Sit and Go's, all you need to do is double-up ONCE before the field gets to 4 or 5 players.
THEN you can start playing aggressively. What will happen is that the 4 or 5 players LEFT IN THE GAME will usually be the smarter ones. And some of them WILL notice by now that you're playing tight.
SO THEN what you do is steal blinds. It's easy.

SitnGos (continued)

2007-01-10T12:47:00.000+13:00

OK, so what I'm about to tell you might take some of the "fun" out of Sit and Go's. But it will increase your profits dramatically...
Here's what your Sit and Go "experience" should look like when the field is from 8 or 10 players down to 4 or 5 players.
If your hole cards are...
A-A, K-K - Go all in pre-flop if you're in early position. If in late position and there was a raise, go all-in. If people were just trying to limp in, make a raise... and then bet very aggressively after the flop.
Q-Q, A-K - If you're in an early position, bet big (but not all-in). If you're in a late position, use your read on the other players to determine whether or not you think you have the best hand. If so, bet huge or go all-in.
All other pocket pairs - Limp-in. If you spike trips, go all-in. If not, fold.
Suited connectors - Limp-in if the blinds are reasonably low. Fold suited connectors under 7-6.
Ace-X suited - Limp-in if possible. Only bet if you hit the flush.
All other hands - Fold.
What you've just seen will be completely different than most "starting hand strategies" out there.
And that chart is NOT for all types of no limit Texas Holdem. We're ONLY talking about games that match these three criteria:
1. Online poker Sit and Go tournaments2. Low stakes (under $50 entry)3. While there are more than 4 or 5 players at the table (in an 8-man or 10-man Sit and Go)
DO NOT use that starting hand advice for any other poker games... because that's NOT how you should play your starting hands in general.

SitnGos

2007-01-04T13:44:00.000+13:00

Has this ever happened to you?
Have you ever been up against a player who seemed to be playing VERY aggressively and you just couldn't figure out if they were bluffing or holding great cards?
And then when you got FED UP with it and DID make a call, he had you beat?
My guess is that it HAS happened to you... just as it's happened for me.
The key thing to know is that THERE ARE certain steps you can take to defend this. (I even wrote an entire chapter about this topic in my eBook.)
But fortunately in Sit and Go's, this isn't really much of a problem. Because you're usually not up against just one or two manics. You're up against an ENTIRE TABLE of them.
That means you shouldn't be CALLING anyone's bets.
Instead, YOU should push the action when you have a monster hand... and ONLY when you have a monster hand. And that, of course, requires...
PATIENCE!
It's actually much easier this way. Because with a table full of manics, you can rely on getting action with all your great hands.
(I should point out here that I'm generally referring to Sit and Go's where the entry fee is less than $50. When the stakes are higher the quality of play is usually more intelligent. Usually.)
Cheers..................Masala

Lets Continue(SitnGos

2007-01-02T22:42:00.000+13:00

OK, now let me ask you:
What does "tight-aggressive" really MEAN?
Here's the answer:
It means that you play TIGHT in terms of hand selection, but AGGRESSIVE when you enter a pot.
Be careful... "tight" and "aggressive" are not opposites. "Tight" and "loose" are opposites.
And so are "aggressive" and "passive".
TIGHT refers to hand selection. AGGRESSIVE refers to betting.
OK... so this is how playing styles relate to Sit and Go's...
The NATURE of Sit and Go's makes them OVERRUN by LOOSE-AGGRESSIVE style players.
The reasons are simple:
1. You can play a Sit and Go virtually anytime, anywhere, and with anyone.
This means there's very low risk in LOSING, since you can easily just move on to the next game. It's not like in "offline" poker when once you get knocked out you're DONE.
2. The money seems less "real".
Let's be honest... We all know the feeling of making a deposit into an online poker account and thinking to ourselves how it doesn't quite feel like REAL MONEY. Am I right?
3. There's no "embarrassment".
Online poker is virtually 100% anonymous. If you make a stupid move, you're not worried about what the other players THINK of you. Who cares?
After all, the other "players" are really just silly little avatars on an animated screen.
OK, so those are three (there are many more) of the reasons why Sit and Go's (and pretty much all of online poker) are dominated by the playing style LOOSE-AGGRESSIVE.
Loose-aggressive is also known as the "manic" playing style. And what's the FASTEST way to beat a manic?
Yep, you guessed it...
PATIENCE.
The reason is because MANICS are constantly playing too many hands (loose) and doing so aggressively.What happens is that it's difficult to get a READ on them because you never know whether they're bluffing or not... unless you call their bets... which you can't do because you don't have that great a hand.
Cya Tomorrow.......................Masala

Sit n Go Pointers

2006-12-30T22:55:00.000+13:00

G'Day Mates
It's so simple...And so obvious...Yet no one seems to get it! What's this easy-to-use secret for beating Sit and Go tournaments online? The answer is this: ..............PATIENCE! I know... I know... you were expecting something more, um... "secretive". But the truth is, winning at Sit and Go's is pretty damn easy. And that's why every time I turn on the computer these days I feel like a kid in a candy store... ready to clean out the amateurs at the poker room of my choosing.
What I want to discuss here is why PATIENCE is so critical for Sit and Go success. First, let's get back to some basics. There are four types of poker playing styles:
1. Tight-Passive
2. Tight-Aggressive
3. Loose-Passive
4. Loose-Aggressive Your style should be tight-aggressive.
Don't confuse "styles" with "preferences". If you want to be a good card player, you DON'T get to DECIDE to be tight-aggressive. You MUST be tight-aggressive in order to be really good.
Of course there are DEGREES of each playing style, and that's what accounts for the differences between one pro and another... the DIFFERENT DEGREES of tight-aggressive.

OK Back to Poker

2006-12-29T06:30:00.000+13:00

G'Day Mates

The hustle and bustle of Christmas day is over now, and I hope everyone had a great Family time! So, Now its back to poker playing.
Over the last 2 days I have played in 4 SNG Tournys and have placed in the money at 3 of them- so thats 75% win ratio! Not too Bad aye! mates? As I have said before and I will say it over and over, the only way to play SNG Tournys is to play tight and choose your starting hand wisely until all the other "Loose & Impatient" players kill each other!
When I am impatient (and I really shouldnt even be playing in the Game) I will always lose! Sometimes I am really too busy to be playing and not really paying much attention to the game and I dont even follow my own SNG Tactics! I will lose just like everyone else! Because I have NO BUSINESS playing the Game unless I play to win.
We have talked a little about starting hands and I will continue to give you my Opinion on starting hands for SNG Tournys! I now have the time to update this Blog daily (so things should get back to normal) I only play a few selected starting hands until I am in the money! Which normally doesnt take too long because like I said before, Players that play SNG tournys are IMPATIENT LOOSE PLAYERS that you should be taking advantage of and taking their money! Wheter its a 10 cent SNG or a $20 SNG you should be having a win percentage of at least 60%

Cheers Mates........Lets get back to POKER for 2007
Masala

Some tips to improve your winning rate:

2006-12-18T00:05:00.000+13:00

G'Day Mates
Here are some (plagerized Tips) for you.........LOL-But great info none-the-less

1-Fast play high pairs and very strong hands before the flop. This puts more money in the early pot and encourages weak and garbage hands to fold that could get a lucky flop and beat you.Don't draw to the low end or both ends of a straight. If a 9 8 7 flops, you want to be playing the J 10 and not the 6 5 or the 10 6. (The low part is commonly called the "ignorant" end of the straight.)
2-Unconnected Medium and Low Cards are Usually Unplayable. This includes suited cards that can't flop a straight. Both ends of a straight such as 9 5 fall into this very weak category.
3-Play starting low pairs cautiously. 66 down to 22. Usually not from an early seat and from the late positions, only when the price is right. If you don't flop a set or quads you should usually fold.
4-Play aggressively when you have a two way draw after the flop. If you can make a straight AND a flush or trips etc., usually bet/raise your hand.
5-Bet an Ace or two high overcards after a garbage flop (a three suit "rainbow" with unconnected medium and low cards). Usually fold if someone raises.
6-Watch out for uniform flops, like 8 7 6, they can easily turn into straights that can overtake your high pair or other good hand.
7-Check the raisers chips. Players that are close to all-in often rush the betting just to get all their chips in a sink-or-swim last hand.
8-Beware of Suited Flops that can make a completed flush. In this case, you should usually hold the nut in that suit, or have trips or two pair that can fill up.
9-Get caught bluffing once in a while. It is a way to vary your play and not be too predictable. You win pots that you don't deserve when your bluff works. You lose a few chips when it doesn't work but it will get you calls from weaker hands down the line when you have a strong hand and need the action.
10-Study your opponents, especially when you are not playing hands and can pay careful attention. Do they find more hands to play than they fold? Do they bluff? Can they be bluffed? Do they have any "tells" (give away mannerisms) that disclose information about their hands etc.

Masala

A change of Subject

2006-12-15T21:21:00.000+13:00

G'Day Mates
Well, Christmas time is almost upon us and I would like to extend the most merriest of Christmas to everyone and have a safe and Happy New Year!
This year for me has been full of up and down moods. Not because of playing poker! I enjoy playing poker so much that I could play poker for 10 hours a day if I had the time! Setting up and running an online poker Website is so damn time consuming that I sometimes feel why do I even bother with it? If it wasnt for my Dear poker mate "Betty" and my partners Bucnright and Donfromtexas I would have just given up and gone back to just playing Poker!
I would like to personally say Thank you to Betty because without her help I would not still be here! To Buc and Don, I would like to thank you for your help and your time and I look forward to being a benefit to you in the near future!
Betty you have been behind me when Im just pissed off and when everything is fine, and I would like to say from my heart that I hope all your Wishes and Dreams for this Christmas come to pass, for such a great online friend, no other person has every had. I wanna let the whole online world to know you are the best mate!
So, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Everyone!

Cheers..................Masala

Starting Hands

2006-12-12T22:02:00.000+13:00

Hey Mates

Back to Starting with (A,A). Ok here is a scenario. BB is $50-You draw bullets(spades and clubs) and your first to act under the gun! You decide to slow play the hand? there are 6 other callers: flop comes out (2d, 5d, 4d) Oh Crap! now what? your still first to act, what the hell do you do now? you had better make a damn good bet, like maybe 4-5 times the BB. and see who calls! say you have only 2 callers? Ok now there are only 3 of you left. The turn is 4c and your still first to act. Now what? (see what I mean?) your just surviving and hoping, when you should have been in full command of the hand! (you have $250 into a hand that you could very well lose) When you shoulda thrown that $250 out there from the get go! Then I bet you would have only had the 2 callers in the first place. When you get a monster anticipate what may happen and dont let it happen. Make players pay to see them Cards, you have a winner if you can keep the number of players down to a 1 on 1 situation. (Dont Slow Play Bullets) You will get Burned!

Cheers Mates
Cya tomorrow
Masala

Sitngos(Continued) "Starting Hands"

2006-11-25T23:45:00.000+13:00

Hey Mates
Now that I am kind caught up with my new website www.pokermatesnz.com, I'd loke to talk about starting hands.
Lets start with the monster hand (A,A) Bulletts / Rockets. My advice about this hand is to almost never SLOW PLAY this hand! Why would you slow play a monster hand like this? Yeah, sure it works on TV but they dont show you the 40% of the time that this hand loses! I will only slow play this hand when I am in the final 3 players of my sitngo!
Your intention with this hand is all in, thats not to say that I would go all in off the bat but I sure would throw out a good 10 times the Big Blind as a starting raise. I want to narrow down the field to only 1 or 2 callers. If everyone folds? So what! I still won! I have seen bullets lose to a pocket pair of 2's many many times. I mean you have the highest starting hand in the book and your gonna try and play cute! Go ahead but I won't! I am in the game to win not to be cute!
When I am playing with players that I know, I will sometimes slow play this hand depending on my position and my chip stack. I trap players quite often but I do not need a monster like this hand in order to trap players. My main objective is to make it to the money first then I play the game!
So, in my book (A,A) is an all in hand while trying to get someone to call me, Do not lose with this hand! and do not be afraid to throw it out the window if you decide to slow play it and get caught. while this hand is a monster it still loses 40% of the time- So just remember that mates.
Tomorrow we will talk more on this! Cheers mates........................Masala

A few tips on Sitngos (continued)

2006-11-23T16:41:00.000+13:00

Hey Mates,
Continuing from my last post, I actually placed 2nd! When I left off we were down the final 3 players, So I have now made the money! WOOOO HOOOO! So now I actually start playing the game. When I am in the money I turn into an actual Poker Beast, Kick it up a gear and take advantage of every good hand you receive and play position, position, position!
When there are only 3 players left and one of the players folds, creating a Heads up situation, always raise the pot (2-3 times) the big blind! this is assuming of course that you actually are choosing to play the hand! If in doubt at all? (FOLD) Never let your opponent see a flop for free, always raise the pot unless you are trying to trap your opponent!(in my book that is the only time you should simply call the bet) You have to force the decision to play the hand onto your opponent, Be extremely aggressive or don't play!
Like I said in the previous post there is not that much of a payout difference between 2nd and 3rd place. But a big difference in payout for Winning! Always try to create a heads up situation in any poker hand you play because then your odds are 50/50!
OK mates, I'm not really finished on this subject and I would like to get more into the strategy of playing individual hands, and as soon as I finish my new website page I will be able to add to this Blog Daily! So until next time mates, Don't forget to show them NUTS!
Masala

A few tips on Sitngos

2006-11-17T23:03:00.000+13:00

G'day mates

As I stated in my last entry, I am intending to make this a daily entry! I have been very busy writing a new website, which by the way this page and all of my mates Blogs will be able to be accessed from.
"Now for my first few tips on playing Sitngos". First let me lay a little foundation! If you are playing a 10 or 9 man (game). You must remember that only the top 3 places get PAID! So your object is to make it to the final 3 or else it was all a useless exercise! I will almost never play the first hand unless I have a monster hand like- BULLETS(AA) or BIG SLICK(AK) I play extremely tight and wait for all the other impatient players to kill each other!....LOL
You may be laughing at that but if you are paying attention to your game you will see that in no time you will be down to 5 players and you may not have even played 1 hand yet? This is good because you have just increased your odds at winning/placing in the money! I only play a monster hand or (A-5 suited) or maybe even a high pair. But I will normally just call until Im down to 3 players and then I will go for the throat, my object is to win because there is not much difference in payout between 2nd/3rd.
I am playing a game right now at Doyles and I have given up 3 blinds and have only lost $180 with only 6 players left and I am holding 4th place and I havent even played a hand yet?I just played a hand only because I was on the Big Blind and I got to call for free, I had 4/5 and only 1 other player so I bet 3times the big blind in a total bluff which works when you havent played at all in 15 hands. The other guy Folds............LOL
Tomorrow I will continue this because now I am in the money and have to get to playing in this game. .....................Catch Ya tomorrow mates.......................Masala

Masala Plays @ DOYLES ROOM

2006-11-14T13:10:00.000+13:00

G'Day Mates

Masala can always be found playing at "Doyles Room"!!!
Just about every night I am usually playing at the (10 cent SitnGo tables). I play these very small buyin Sitngo Tournys as practice while I am usually working on my website (www.pokermatesnz.com) or answering post's on my forum(http://pokermatesnz.suddenlaunch3.com).
You May laugh at why I play such small money buyins? First of all let me tell you that I am mainly a CASH player, but I normally only play at the low money tables. I am not much of a freeroll player because I would rather make $10 in ten minutes then spend half my day playing against 6000 players to win a $1.... LOL
I have played at almost every poker room you can think of and I have Found Doyles Room to be the most Honest, Fair and realistic poker play/ and I have never ever had any problem whatsoever depositing or withdrawing my winnings!
Doyles room will have me as a player for LIFE.
I am normally playing there around (9-12pm NZ Time). I dont play the speed sitngos, but I tend to play the 6 or 9 man NL Holdem sitngo games.
If I could give you One word of advise when playing sitngo's it would be "PATIENCE" ( Pick your hand's and pick your Battles or dont play).
Tomorrow I will elaborate on My Startegy for playing SitnGos!!!!
And Remember, when you play Poker? Dont forget to show them Your NUTS!!!!!

Cheers Mates
Masala

Masala wins (Leaderboard Points tour) Make-up Points "STUD" Game

2006-11-13T00:26:00.000+13:00

G'day Mates
Tonight was the last make-up points day for this week, in our PokerMatesNZ Forum Leaderboard Points Tour. I believe ther were only 7 of us there tonight! We played "Stud" for the first time so I'm not really sure if thats what scared all the players from attending the game tonight?
Even though the game of Stud is really not my poker forte I managed to win the game! The main thing I can say about playing Stud poker is to choose your starting hands wisely and if in doubt just fold! I am normally a tight player anyway and I win a fair bit of the time as long as I am not being distracted by other things going on around me.
I am the current Leaderboard Points Leader with 2 weeks left to play in this 8 weeks round of play! Anyone can come and play for absolutely free and I also offer a $1 bounty at each of our games if you should happen to eliminate me from the tourny? We play every Tues, Wed, Sat & Sun (NZ Time- GMT +12 hrs) at 9pm!
On our own Branded Poker Room- Poker Mustang (www.pokermustang.com)

Cheers Mates
Masala