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
Monday, April 9, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
New Zealand Live Poker Pub Leagues
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
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
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Running a Poker Website/Forum
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
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
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Stealing Dealer Button
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.
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.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
PMNZ Trophy Rematch (Sat Feb,23rd)
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)
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)
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Is Internet Poker RIGGED?
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
But, I will be playing rigged or not, Form your own opinion and Keep playing or QUIT!
Cheers..............Masala
Thursday, February 15, 2007
TEAM PLAY (Poker Tips)
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
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
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