Learn From The PROS

What To Do After A Big Win

You would not think that winning a poker tournament or having a series of substantial wins at the cash game tables could have a negative effect on your game and psyche but often winning big can be worse for a poker player than losing, but only if they handle the big win in the incorrect manner. Between February 27 and March 13 the sixth annual Betfair GSOP $3.3 million guaranteed series takes place and a number of players will be lucky enough to win one of the 15 events on offer, some with guaranteed prizepools of $500,000! Winning such an...

Playing Poker In Europe

When the United States passed the UIGEA, limiting the ability of Americans to play online poker, some feared that the poker boom would go bust. However, fortunately for video poker online, tons of European players poured in to pick up the slack. While poker has been around in Europe for many years, its growth over the last five years or so has been unprecedented. Poker in Europe has been so successful, in fact, that the current World Champion of Poker, Peter Eastgate, is a European. From Denmark, to be exact. Playing Poker in Europe: Moscow One of the places in...

Want To Win A Shoot Out? DON’T Play Poker!

I’ve been playing some multi-stage Texas Hold’em shoot-out poker tournaments lately. More importantly, I’ve been winning many of them! It occurred to me that the reason I was doing so well at these tournaments was that I was employing different strategies and altering my game play accordingly to adjust to the new playing environment. I also have a strange warm-up regimen that ignores online poker altogether! Read on… For those of you who don’t know, a “Shoot-out” tournament is a table of usually 6 or 10 players who play until there is one winner. As players lose out, the number...

Omaha Poker is a Challenging Game

If you’re used to playing Texas Hold’em and have tried playing Omaha or Omaha High Low, you’ve found that you’ve had to adjust your thinking. Although Omaha is sometimes called Omaha Hold’em due to the fact that as in Texas Hold’em you are given hole cards and share five community cards, the games are really quite different. What makes Omaha Poker a game that can be challenging for those stuck in the Texas Hold’em mode of thinking is the fact that instead of two hole cards, you are given four. However, of the four hole cards you are dealt, you...

Interview With Poker Calculator Creator & CEO (& How To Get Your Free Poker Calculator!)

23 x 12 = 276.  How did I know the answer to that?  I just popped it into my handy calculator and –POOF- out came the answer.  Now imagine being able to so the same thing but for your pocket cards in your next Texas Hold’em game? I recently got a hold of an amazing little physical poker calculator that I just love.  It’s shaped like an actual mini calculator and sort of modeled after one.  It has a really cool interface with custom keys that you punch in to calculate your pre-flop winning odds based on your dealt cards...

Review: You Only KNOW Poker When You Can QUOTE It! Fun Poker Quotes Book

You learn the game.  You play the game.  You play the game online.  You watch it on television.  You may even read instructional books or pro player biographies.  But have you ever imagined being able to quote poker?  Or rather dish out famous poker quotations and quips? I admit I never really considered anyone would compile an encyclopaedia of poker quotations.  That is, until I received Colin M. Jarman’s “The Quotable Poker Player” in the mail.  Essentially, The Quotable Poker Player (TQPP) is a thorough compilation of over 1500 poker quotes or attributed remarks taken from pro players, celebrities, films,...

Review: The Poker Pen IS Mightier Than The Sword!

I usually get a lot of digital products like poker bots, poker calculators, etc. that intrepid gaming programmers want me to test out and review.  But occasionally, someone mails me a physical poker-related product to review. A few days ago, I received just such an item that really excited me.  It’s not a poker-related product that I’ve ever seen before.  It’s a “poker pen” from PokerPens.com.  And let me tell you, this isn’t your pocket ball point pen!  (For starters, it’s a “rollerball” pen) The Background PokerPens was inspired by a group of avid poker players who were looking for...

Poker News! Zynga’s PokerBuddy, Full Tilt in France, & More

Poker News! Zynga’s PokerBuddy, Full Tilt in France, & More

It’s been a while since I’ve done a News post at SmokePoker.com.  So I thought I’d catch up with a few tidbits that have come my way that affect your online poker play world. Here’s what’s new! ZYNGA (Facebook) Poker The good folks over at EV-plus have spend the last 2 years developing what I think will be an awesome new application category.  It’s sort of a “smart” odds calculator that you can tailor to your playing style and can learn and adapt from the hands played.  It’s called PokerBuddy Pro and it just launched hot off the assembly line....

SPECIAL DEAL: Free Poker Secrets Cheats E-Book Download! No strings Attached!

I had the good fortune of falling upon a source for this free e-book entitled Online Texas Holedem Secrets Cheats Revealed.  In the pantheon of online poker e-books, there are really just a few worth mentioning.  This is one of them.  It’s a great read with a lot of interesting insights, tips, and strategies specifically dealing with the online poker world. And it’s FREE.  No email opt-in.  No token charges.  No strings.  Just plain, simple, free. The whole point of SmokePoker.com is to provide value to our visitors and newsletter members.  We sincerely hope that we are achieving this goal. ...

WSOP Update:  From The Euro Partners Team

WSOP Update: From The Euro Partners Team

I got this in my inbox.  I thought I would share with you all.  Titan Poker is looking good after their facelift.  I like to see amateurs from the online poker playing world doing well in the WSOP and this is no exception… _____________ Day 5 of WSOP Main Event and Titan Poker Delegation Still Going Strong This 41st annual WSOP has delivered plenty of action so far, with an all-time attendance high of 63,706 entrants, as well as a total prize pool in excess of $100 million for the sixth consecutive year. As we head into Day 5 of...

SPECIAL DEAL:  Slotland Announces Brand New Game + Promos

SPECIAL DEAL: Slotland Announces Brand New Game + Promos

I don’t often promote non-poker related deals.  But I’ve always found Slotland lucky for me.  I think their simple interface and lots of video slot machine options is part of the reason.  I’ve also always had good luck here compared to other video slots sites (yes, it’s possible to win money on video slots… sometimes substantial money!  I have to say I’ve done well at Slotland.)   But the BEST thing about Slotland are their regular promotions. If you’re a video slots fan, this is a great site to visit.  Slotland always has exciting promotions every month.  But it’s especially cool...

What’s the Best Deal on a Poker Chip Set?

What’s the Best Deal on a Poker Chip Set?

So you’re looking for a good poker chip set but are a bit overwhelmed with all the options out there?  For starters, you’re likely looking to have a decent set for your home game and not likely looking at starting a casino or anything.  That’s a good thing.  Poker chips can vary from pennies per chip to many many dollars per chip.  And of course if you are chip collector (and there are thousands of them in the US alone!) then you can try to break the record of $100,000 for an old $100 Sahara vintage chip. A bit steep? ...

Playing Online Poker… To Make Money!

Playing Online Poker… To Make Money!

When I started playing poker online, I never really gave much thought to making serious money through it.  I enjoyed the fact that I could play the game I love any time of day, any day of the week and always find active players to play against.  It sure beat playing poker on my old monochrome Game Boy (back in the day)! The internet was a game-changer so to speak.  Despite the many websites designed to grab your attention with moneymaking schemes, there are those who seem solid enough. Websites who provide the basic “buy and sell” principle have flourished....

Do you know the WORST Starting Hands in Online Poker?

I see so many articles and sources showing off the best starting hands in poker (Texas Hold’Em). There isn’t a poker place you can go to online or offline that will showcase the pocket cards that you can safely play.  And I’ll admit it.  I’ve certainly contributed my fair share of articles regarding this area of poker playing strategy. However, there’s not nearly as many articles that show you exactly what the poorest hands are and why they are a no-go despite the temptation to play.   There is another article on SmokePoker.com that discusses this topic, but I thought it...

Forget No-Limit Hold’Em!  Learn The Secret to Dominating “Limit” Poker

Forget No-Limit Hold’Em! Learn The Secret to Dominating “Limit” Poker

There are many differences between limit and no-limit poker.  Many no-limit players have difficulty gearing down for limit play, and limit players lack the courage and feel needed for no-limit games..  Many of the high-powered strategies that are available to the aggressive no-limit player can’t be used to great advantage in limit.  Specifically bluffing and getting small pots are much more difficult when the game limits you to a maximum bet. However, one thing remains constant between the two games.  That is the need for an aggressive style.  The nature of limit hold ‘em makes it necessary to keep a...

Review: Plenty O’Fish in the Mansion Poker Sea!

If you’re looking to make some serious money playing online poker, there is no doubt you’ll want to check out Mansion Poker.   Why Mansion Poker? Mansion Poker probably one of the most popular and fastest growing online poker sites that is part of the iPoker network.  It started out as a title sponsor for the live poker show on Fox Sports network.  Mansion currently does not accept US players, but it boasts one of the busiest and most active online tournaments in Europe (during busy hours).  There are literally tons of no-limit ring games at low and mid level tables. ...

Do You Play Online Poker In The Evening?  If So, Read This!

Do You Play Online Poker In The Evening? If So, Read This!

Tick-tock-tick-tock… Do you ever think about WHEN you play online poker? What if I told you there’s a lot more money to be made (or lost) simply because of the time of day you play online poker?   There’s definitely evidence to support this – and the pros know it!   The time of day you play online poker could very well determine whether you are tremendously successful or go horribly broke! Often overlooked by novice players and even many amateur/pro players, making a conscious decision on the optimal best time of day to play poker is actually a lot positive than...

Review: Is MagicHoldem Poker Odds Calculator really magic?

When online poker first became popular, I played… and lost… and play again… and lost again.  I admit I wasn’t very good.   I mean, sure, I knew how to play as far as the basics go but I just never seemed to have any luck so I stuck to the free tables – until I got better and better at it.  Then I got the poker bot (which you can download today by signing up to our FREE newsletter).   So you win money with the bot playing your hands, but some days you actually want to play some rounds...

SPECIAL DEAL:  Do the Easter Hop! April Bonus at Slotland/Win-A-Day!

SPECIAL DEAL: Do the Easter Hop! April Bonus at Slotland/Win-A-Day!

The Easter Bunny has dropped some lovely goodies courtesy of Slotland/Win A Day!  If you want a break from the poker tables, now is the best time to get some good deals on the virtual slot machines at Slotland and Win A Day. Come play at Win A Day Casino, where there are truly winners every day with their Winners Every Day Draw!  Every single day a lucky player will be drawn to win up to $100! That means they will be giving away up to $3,000 in April alone just for players who deposit and play!  Slotland has a...

You Got To Know When To Hold ’em, Know When To Fold ’em…

You Got To Know When To Hold ’em, Know When To Fold ’em…

Ah… the timeless country sounds of singer Kenny Rogers.  He was right.  You do have to know when to hold your hand and definitely when to fold it.  I’m dedicating this post to the art of the fold. Yup, it’s one of those things that good poker players do routinely.  And the best poker players do ALL the time.   Do you ever wonder when you watch poker on television, nearly every hand is always so exciting and has action right to the river with wicked hands? Well, if you didn’t know already, you can certainly guess now that editing...