If you are a multi-table tournament player on PokerStars, there is now an easy way to see how much you have won over the past year. 

           

The Poker DB has tracked all winners in MTT’s since October 11, 2004 to the present (within one week) and has the stats available for viewing to anyone who takes advantage of the free registration. 

        

It is important to note a few things though. The Poker DB has no affiliation with PokerStars whatsoever. Also, only MTT’s are tracked. Results from Sit & Go’s, private tournaments, and other special events are not included. You can read their FAQ for further information.

The sage seeks not to have a store
of things or knowledge, for he knows,
the less of these he has, the more he has,
and that the more he gives,
the greater his abundance.

            -81, The Tao Te Ching

The best players in professional sports constantly train. Between games, before games, and even during the off season, you will find them taking batting practice and practicing free throws. They used to say that Michael Jordan, at the height of his superstardom, practiced more than any other player on his team. I'd say that's a pretty hearty endorsement of the theory, wouldn't you?

I play poker for fun, and I have no intention of ever becoming a professional player, but let's be honest here: it's a hell of a lot more fun to win than it is to lose, even at the small stakes I play. So I take it as seriously as one can take a hobby, and I train between sessions by reviewing a few essential poker books, and talking about my game with a couple of people I trust and respect.

The books I regularly read are: Harrington on Hold'Em (volumes one and two), Tournament Poker for Advanced Players by Sklansky and Malmuth, and Winning Low Limit Hold'Em by Lee Jones. There are others, and I'm sure different players will find different texts which are more suited to their particular game, but those are the ones which work for me. (I've recently added Small Stakes Hold'Em to my library. I'll let you know if it becomes a regular read or not.) The trick is to find a book (or even a DVD) that speaks to you, that helps your game, and then read it over and over again. It's remarkable how many times I've read Lee's book, yet I still find something new in there, some flaw in my game that I was unaware of, each time I pick it back up. In fact, I discovered and plugged a serious leak just this weekend (no, I'm not telling you what it was, so don't ask.)

I am lucky to know a few poker authors and talented players who will help me honestly assess my game, but I won't out them here . . . instead, I'll out one of the most helpful bloggers on the Internets: Mr. HDouble.

Thanks to Matt W. for this question: 

           

What is the best poker simulation training software out there? I have seen Poker Academy and the Wilson software but they can be pricey. Does anyone know of a good free alternative or recommend one that won't break the bank?

           

I think it is best that this question goes out to everyone who has ever used poker simulators. Everyone seems to have a different opinion on products they have tried, so it would be interesting to hear a variety of responses from actual users. 

                 

Dr. Pauly put up an interesting post on his site regarding some of the newer poker lingo that‘s out there. It’s more of a poker blogger glossary for readers to enjoy.  

Dr. Pauly discusses the origins of several poker terms. They include the Hammer, the Hilton Sisters, Dial-a-shots, and being kicked in the junk. He gives you a little history behind each term including who created it. It’s pretty funny.

I’ve already posted about the Hilton Sisters in the past but my favorite term is the Hammer. This term was created by a poker blogger named Grubby.

John Vorhaus is a multi-talented individual who includes poker strategist, commentator, poker columnist, author, and poker player among his many professions. 

             

Living in Monrovia, California with his wife Maxx Duffy, John is the author of many books on poker strategy including the “Killer” series:

• Killer Poker: Strategy and Tactics For Winning Poker Play
• Killer Poker Online: Crushing the Internet Game
• The Killer Poker Hold’em Handbook: A Workbook For Winners  

Howard Lederer is often called "The Professor" of poker, not just for his encyclopedic knowledge of the game, but also for his willingness to share that knowledge with anyone who is willing to listen.

His website, Howard Lederer dot Com contains a wealth of information, from commentary on other pros, to the underlying philosophy of the game.

And it's and understanding of the philosophy of the game that's made all the difference for me as a player. I've found that all the starting hand charts in the world are useless without an understanding of the underlying philosophy of the game. know that I shouldn't play KQo from the SB in a re-raised pot . . . but why? I know that it's a good idea to get all the money in pre-flop with AKs on or near the bubble in a SNG . . . but why? I know that, late in a tournament when I have to make a move it's better to jam with A3o from UTG than it is to call with A5s from LP . . . but why? And how do I stay focused for hours at a time, when there is a possible life-changing money at the end of the final table?

In the article I've linked today, Howard goes right into the why of tournament poker, from a Zen perspective, which includes advice that's quite useful away from the tables, too.

These are just a few simple rules to follow when you are playing either live or online. Creating a pleasant atmosphere will enhance your game and experience at the tables. 

Don’t give lessons at the table. In poker, money is made by outplaying weaker opponents. This is a battle, and you aren’t helping anyone, including yourself, by pointing out their mistakes. Yes, it is frustrating when they suck out on your good hands, but know that in the long run most of them are dead money. Let it be their responsibility to read some poker books or take some lessons if you feel their game isn't on the same level as yours. Even if your comment is meant to intimidate them, it just may be what inspires them to improve their game.   

The object of Pai Gow Poker is to beat the dealer. All players and the dealer receive seven cards, which they will use to construct two separate hands – one with two cards and one with five. These hands are ranked using standard poker rankings. 

  

The two-card hand is called the Low Hand or the Front Hand. The highest ranked two-card hand is AA.  Since only two cards are used, straights and flush hands are not possible to get. The five-card hand must always be equal to or higher in rank than the two-card hand. 

      

There is nothing like watching (or playing in) a tournament, seeing the action move steadily along, then out of nowhere slows down to a crawl as the final few players start negotiating about a chop. 

 

For the uninitiated, a chop is a deal made between final table players, where they decide upon a money split before the tournament is over. Chops are usually considered when one person has a massive chip lead, or when play has gone on for a long period of time without much change in position. The standard method of chopping is to divide the remaining prize pool up based on the chip count the players have at the time, though most arrangements can and will be considered.  

"The Hilton Sisters" is hip lingo and a nickname for the Texas Hold'em hand of Q-Q. In the past, pocket Queens were referred to as the Ladies and even the less politically correct term, Siegfried and Roy. Since my brother Dr. Pauly often overuses the term "Hilton Sisters" on his poker blog and in his articles, everyone generally assumed that he invented the nickname. He's very quick to correct everyone. "I never invented the poker nickname the Hilton Sisters," he said. "I heard it on a World Poker Tour broadcast. Vince Van Patten was the first person I knew who used the phrase. I liked it for obvious reasons and used it a lot." After some research, it appears that WPT announcer Vince Van Patten originated the phrase. But if you ask my brother what his favorite hand is, he'd say, "The Hilton Sisters."

In honor of the weekend, I'm going to end the day on a lighter note.  Think you know your poker lingo?  Or are you lost when Phil Gordon starts discussing feeler bets, and back doors are discussed on the WPT?  This should help give you an idea what they are talking about. 

Poker From A-Z

Action Spot - The table area where the betting is occurring.
Back Door - A hand made back door is one made using both of the last two cards, as in Texas Hold’Em.
Case Card - The last available card of a particular value or suit.
Dead Man's Hand - Usually aces and eights, two pair. Sometimes aces and eights, full house ... or jacks and eights, two pair.

Whether you play online or live, a bankroll is simply defined as an amount of money that you use exclusively for playing poker with. The money initially comes from another source, (your bank account, credit card, or through winning a free tournament), but your goal is to increase the bankroll through successful play rather than redepositing. 

To determine how much to start with, you must know how much you are willing to risk. After all, not everyone is successful at playing poker. Find an amount that you are comfortable with losing, and will not affect any aspect of your life if it is gone for good. The biggest mistake is thinking that you can always add more if you lose the starting amount. Though true, the goal is to increase your roll without ever having to add additional funds. Poker is a skill game, though luck does come into play often. Over the long run, smart, slow play should increase your bankroll gradually. 

If you are playing Limit poker, the betting is structured and capped. If you are playing No Limit poker, you can bet any amount you want so long as it meets the minimum betting requirement. There is no max on what you can bet in No Limit. You can bet all your chips at any time you want. This is called going "All in." In the end, the best five card combination wins the hand and takes down the pot. A player may even use all of the community cards and none of their hole cards to form the best poker hand. This is known as "playing the board."

That's all for now folks so give Hold'em a try the next chance you get. It's a fun game to play and I really enjoy it. Don't forget to check out the below link for a list of poker hand rankings. See you at the tables!

In Texas Hold'em, betting moves clockwise and always starts with the player to the left of the dealer. There are two forced bets in Hold'em called the "blinds." These two forced bets are required to start the action. The player immediately to the left of the dealer is the small blind with the next person being the Big Blind. The amount of the blinds are set and they are relative to the stakes that you're playing. If you are playing limit poker and you want to stay in the hand, the first round of betting requires a minimum bet equal to the big blind. The betting round after the flop also requires a minimum bet equal to the big blind.

The last two rounds of betting both require minimum bets that are twice the big blind. Players may bet, check, raise, or fold in any turn depending on the action during the hand. The person with the dealer button in front of them is the last player to act in every betting round but the first. In the first round, the big blind is last to act. Here's a breakdown of the action. Remember, using any combination of hole cards and community cards, the best possible five card poker hand wins the pot. See below.

There are several types of poker games out there but Texas Hold'em is the most popular in the world right now. Most people have seen it played on TV but might not understand the rules. Here's how it's played. Each player at the table is first dealt two cards face down. These cards are also called your hole cards. A round of betting occurs as players decide for the first time if they want to play their hole cards or fold. Then five community cards follow with 3 more betting rounds. The next betting round is after the flop (the first 3 cards dealt simultaneously face up). Then there's betting rounds on the turn (1 card face up) and again on the river (1 card face up). The turn card is also known as 4th street. The river card is also known as 5th street. After you bet on the fifth card, it's time to show your hole cards. In Hold'em, any combination of hole cards and community cards can be used to make your best five card hand.

Parts 2 and 3 of this post will follow shortly. In the meantime, go ahead and check out the below link. It has a list of poker hand rankings.