There are no two words about it, poker is a complex game with many layers to peel back and master. It’s an easy game to play, but it can take many years to master. So-called poker ‘cheat sheets’ are typically designed for poker newbies, making the game as accessible and inviting as possible to the […]

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Dealer’s Choice poker tournaments are increasingly in vogue. Ever since the Dealer’s Choice was included as a bracelet event at the 2014 World Series of Poker (WSOP), its tournament entrants have been a who’s-who of highly skilled poker professionals. If you’re bored of playing No Limit Hold’em or Hold’em altogether, Dealer’s Choice could be a […]

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The bubble is one of the most fascinating dynamics in tournament poker. It creates a thrill and intensity that’s almost unrivalled in the game. No one wants to be the so-called ‘bubble boy’ or ‘bubble girl’. In layman’s terms, the bubble is the moment in a poker tournament where one more player must be knocked […]

The post The Bubble: What is it and how do you survive it in poker tournaments? appeared first on Poker.org.

The beauty of playing poker is that the outcome of a poker game isn’t dictated solely by chance. Although probability does play a part, the fascination of poker surrounds the importance of psychology and strategy, which cements it as a skill-based card game. On the psychology side, consistency is key at the poker tables. A […]

The post The importance of your poker face appeared first on Poker.org.

The sums of money thrown around in high-stakes poker games these days are eye-watering. In February, Patrik Antonius and Eric Persson played an almost $2m pot on the No Gamble, No Future show. At the end of May, Tom Dwan won a $3.1m pot, the biggest in televised poker history. Meanwhile, it seems like everyone […]

The post Matt Hunt: “Nobody playing high stakes poker has as much money as you think”  appeared first on Poker.org.

Alex Fitzgerald turned poker pro straight out of high school driven by his immense love for the game and the freedom a poker lifestyle could offer from a humdrum Monday-to-Friday grind.  “I love poker more than you’ll ever know,” confessed Fitzgerald. “I love that I study, teach, and write about it daily. I put out […]

The post Alex Fitzgerald explains strategies to capture a WSOP bracelet…online appeared first on Poker.org.

Another new WSOP event made its debut yesterday. The first-ever Badugi tournament kicked off at the World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. There were questions about the level of interest in a tournament dedicated solely to the variant. Those questions were laid to rest yesterday. Apparently, all you need is a […]

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The “Gladiators of Poker” event is in full swing at the World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. With a $3 million guarantee and a $300 buy-in, many players are traversing the world to take part in this one. A total of 3,940 entrants took their shot at Day 1a. With four […]

The post Pro tips to navigate massive tournament fields like a Gladiator appeared first on Poker.org.

There’s a bit of a renaissance underway with the research and development of tools aimed at reducing the risks of gambling-related harm. Increased regulatory scrutiny and heightened public awareness has exposed some shortcomings in the existing framework, and researchers and engineers are working hard to plug the gaps. Safer gambling involves not just mitigating the […]

The post What does the future of safer gambling look like? appeared first on Poker.org.

It’s that time of year again. For the past few months, anyone with even the slightest interest in tournament poker has been planning their trips to Vegas and picking out the events they want to play, either at the WSOP itself, or at one of a number of other venues around the Strip. Despite all […]

The post Matt Hunt: “This is the unspoken reality of the WSOP” appeared first on Poker.org.

There’s a lot of talk these days about what the road to ‘becoming a poker pro’ looks like now, in comparison to days gone by. Where once it used to be possible to run up a $50 deposit playing micro-stakes and eventually end up playing in Bobby’s Room, the rags-to-riches stories seem to be few […]

The post Matt Hunt: “The path to poker success isn’t blocked off – it just looks different” appeared first on Poker.org.

Globalization and digitalization have simplified the world in a lot of practical ways, but moving money around remains a tricky proposition at times. It’s one of the few things that has arguably gotten more complicated, in fact, especially when it comes to regulated industries like gambling. The growing level of access to global vendors and […]

The post Take control of your bankroll with MuchBetter’s lightning-fast and secure e-wallet appeared first on Poker.org.

There are dozens, perhaps hundreds of poker websites and mobile apps available across the globe offering all sorts of wonderful games for players of every shape and size and background. You’re spoiled for choice, with variants running in most formats at all hours of the day and night. In online poker, there’s always a game […]

The post How can you tell if an online poker site is safe and trustworthy? appeared first on Poker.org.

This is the first in a new series on finances and variance in poker from pro player and Solve For Why instructor, Matt Hunt. If you’ve been active on poker Twitter over the past month or so, you’ve probably borne witness to a seemingly endless series of heads-up challenges being issued between various pros and […]

The post Matt Hunt: “Selling action in high-stakes games is not a cop-out” appeared first on Poker.org.

There are going to be days that you lose money as a poker player, it’s inevitable. No one wins forever, except maybe Seidel, so learning how to deal with losing sessions is an important part of the mental strength necessary to longtime survival. Recently, PokerOrg posted a video that touches on those losing session feelings. […]

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In the Twitter-fueled, ego-charged, modern poker world of “heads-up-for-rolls” challenges, selling action might not be the sexiest topic on the table. It should have a place, though. There shouldn’t be any stigma around selling action. In fact, it can be a lot of fun and a great way to protect the bankroll. Selling action, or […]

The post Intro to poker staking with Faraz Jaka and Cedrric Trevino appeared first on Poker.org.

So I’m playing at the Lodge, in Round Rock (Austin-adjacent), Texas. It’s their $1/3 NLH game, about which I need to say something. In many poker rooms, $1/3 is the smallest game, and is the destination for the newest and weakest players. The Lodge is unique in that they maintain both $1/2 and $1/3 no-limit […]

The post A respectful poker player appeared first on Poker.org.

Mental health is the aspect of well being that poker players tend to focus on. And it makes sense, given the starring role that your brain plays in your success at the table. The openness and resolve with which the poker community deals with mental health issues is, at times, downright admirable. But it’s easy […]

The post Healthy living, healthy bankroll – how to kickstart big change on and off the poker table appeared first on Poker.org.

Poker is a complicated game, a never-ending series of calculations based on the cards you’re dealt, your position at the table, and the actions of your opponents. Being a game of information, your chances of being a winning poker player get bigger as your understanding of the math and the mechanics grow. The ceiling of […]

The post Tilt – the true cost of letting your emotions rule you at the poker table appeared first on Poker.org.

Poker tournaments come with a huge amount of variance so when you make a big final table you want to make the most of it.  Does that mean turning your back on deals and going for the win if you think you have an edge? Or does it mean accepting that variance is high and that […]

The post “When I was younger I would never chop” – Faraz Jaka on making deals and looking weak appeared first on Poker.org.

Whether you’re just getting started as a poker player or you have a decent number of games under your belt, you might be aware that there are different types of poker that you can play online and in person.   The most prevalent poker game online and in live poker rooms is Texas Hold’em, making it […]

The post Poker games to play today appeared first on Poker.org.

Plenty of gamblers have developed or implemented a system of play that they think will help them restack the odds in their favor. The reality is that there is no scientific method that can change the math at the tables, no lucky number that you can bank on for a big win when you need […]

The post Why betting systems don’t work: debunking popular myths appeared first on Poker.org.

Live poker, it can be weird at times. I have a busy life, so I don’t get to play poker as much as I might like. Which means that I don’t necessarily know all the players at the table when I sit down. I’m usually playing the biggest game in the local card club, so […]

The post Flipping for thousands of dollars appeared first on Poker.org.

If you plan to sit down at a poker game online or in person, you must be aware of the table stakes. The good news is that the limits set at each table are easy to understand, but you should grasp the difference between cash games and poker tournaments.  So, without further ado, let’s look […]

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This is the first in a regular series of columns from Maris Catania, Safer Gambling Senior Consultant at SG:certified. When people talk about the harm that gambling can cause, they’re most often talking about the direct personal and financial impacts.  Time, however, is a key element that’s often overlooked. Like money, time is a finite […]

The post Why poker players should watch the clock – the forgotten element of safer gambling appeared first on Poker.org.

It’s been a while since I’ve stayed in a casino hotel in Las Vegas. In fact, we’re probably going back to the early noughts, as the casino hosts’ memories of my days as a blackjack high-roller decayed, and the comp offers stopped showing up in the mail. Somehow their recollection of my high-rolling outlasted their […]

The post Poker road review: In praise of the non-casino hotel appeared first on Poker.org.

She placed 17th in the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2008, making it further than any woman in the field. She ran deep in the television show Amazing Race with friend and fellow poker professional Maria Ho. Tiffany Michelle has so many accolades to her name that listing them here would fill this […]

The post ‘I had to surrender to the poker gods’ – Tiffany Michelle and the importance of bankroll management appeared first on Poker.org.

The purpose of good bankroll management is that you get to play the games you’re best suited to, without the risk of losing everything you have.  If you find yourself crushing the low stakes and have a bankroll higher than the recommended minimum for a bigger game, you might want to consider moving up. Conversely, […]

The post Maximising your poker profits: Moving up in stakes and taking shots  appeared first on Poker.org.

You can’t play poker if you don’t have any money. And while you may find long-winded strategy advice boring, contradictory, and not worth the hassle, remember this: you can’t even play bad poker if you don’t have any money. You simply can’t afford to discount bankroll management advice, whatever your poker ambitions. Happily, much of […]

The post Mastering poker bankroll management for cash games and tournaments appeared first on Poker.org.

You already know your bankroll is important. After all, no bankroll, no poker, right? But it’s fair to say that successful bankroll management is an absolutely critical skill to master if you want to enjoy long-term success in the game. The more serious you are as a poker player, the more serious you should be […]

The post The art of successful poker bankroll management – 7 steps for long-term success appeared first on Poker.org.

It’s easier to gamble than ever before, with online casinos and sportsbooks enabling action from your own home. However, there is also an ever-increasing amount of help available to gamblers, too. Operators are finally starting to take their own responsibilities seriously, and there are independent resources available to you wherever you are.  Previous articles in […]

The post Where to find help if you think you have an issue with gambling appeared first on Poker.org.

Conversations around responsible gambling largely focus on underage and excessive casino play,especially slots and table games. There’s plenty to be written about bingo and the lotterytoo, and most of the existing literature focuses on these types of games of pure chance. But poker players aren’t immune to gambling problems. In fact, the element of skill […]

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We all have a set of patterns and routines that we fall into, whether or not we even realize it, and research on the various types of habits could fill several large libraries. For some, it’s getting that first cup of coffee into the bloodstream in the morning. Some people habitually exercise or scroll TikTok […]

The post Breaking the cycle – how to spot if gambling is becoming an issue appeared first on Poker.org.

Poker is a game of incomplete information. You don’t know what your opponents’ cards are, you have no idea what cards the dealer will surface on the flop, turn and river, and you can’t be sure how the other players will react to the ever-changing nuances of a poker hand. But like in blackjack, another […]

The post What is position in poker? appeared first on Poker.org.

We’re not anti-gambling at PokerOrg – far from it. We champion controlled, responsible, well-regulated gambling. Done right, gambling can be a great source of entertainment for responsible adults. The majority of poker players who gamble do so responsibly, but there is a vulnerable minority for whom the behavior can easily become an issue. This content […]

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Poker has long been one of the most popular card games, and its growth online has been unrelenting since the early noughties. However, if you’re new to the game, it makes sense to play free online poker risking any money at an online poker table. In this guide, we explain some of the benefits of […]

The post Free online poker: benefits, reputable sites and more appeared first on Poker.org.

Poker strategy books have changed. Gone are the grand, sweeping efforts that took on major parts of how poker should be played in one fell swoop. From Doyle Brunson’s Super/System decades ago, there’s been a shift over the years from that omnibus approach to writing strat books for niche markets. GTO Poker Simplified: Lessons from […]

The post Review: ‘GTO Poker Simplified’, by Dara O’Kearney and Barry Carter appeared first on Poker.org.

Editor’s note: Just before Runner Runner began, I asked Lee Jones to put some thought into how he might go about being the Runner. His first reaction was very thinly-veiled disappointment that he was not about to disappear into the American ether as the Runner. His second reaction was the glee of a man suddenly […]

The post Runner Runner pro tips…from U.N.C.L.E.? appeared first on Poker.org.

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light  – Dylan Thomas My friend (and editor-in-chief of this website), Brad Willis, and I were talking about me being a poker player. Brad and I have shared over 15 […]

The post Do Not Go Gentle appeared first on Poker.org.

One thing almost all poker players think about is: “How can I move up to the next higher stake?” The $1/3 players want to play $2/5. The $100 buy-in tournament fan thinks about the $500 tournament. Not surprisingly, the poker literature and media are full of suggestions about how to do it. But a couple […]

The post Moving on up – when to slide into bigger games appeared first on Poker.org.

I’ve been playing poker longer than you have. Statistically speaking, anyway. There’s a decent chance I’ve been playing poker longer than you’ve been alive. So when I made a play last week that I’m not sure I’d ever made before, I thought it was worth one of these little articles.  It was my local $3/5 […]

The post Jumping the fence appeared first on Poker.org.

The available selection of H.O.R.S.E strategy books has increased by one with the recent release of Getting Started with HORSE Poker – Mixing It Up: Volume 1, by Chris ‘Fox’ Wallace, with Michael Mizrachi and Robert Mizrachi. The 270-page effort has been released by Wallace’s Chained Hearts entity and brings to life a concept not […]

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I love getting maximum value for my strong hands. I don’t make strong hands very often – to be fair, neither do you – so when I make one, I want to extract every shekel possible from my opponent. In fact, I wrote an entire article about doing just that. Unfortunately, though, there are times […]

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Typically when I chat with my friend (and legendary poker player and author) Tommy Angelo, it’s not about poker. For example: Me: “I just found out that Jimmy Page played on Joe Cocker’s cover of ‘Little Help From My Friends!’” Tommy: “Wait, what? I didn’t know that, but now that I’m listening, yes, I hear […]

The post Happiness accounting appeared first on Poker.org.

I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: I love poker vloggers. They’ve brought the buzz of live poker right into our laptops and phones. There’s no doubt that they’ve encouraged hundreds (thousands?) of people to make their first foray into the joy of live poker. If you’re a poker vlogger, the next beer […]

The post Save deception for bluffs appeared first on Poker.org.

We were just getting the $3/5 game started. The floor lady was taking the chip racks off the table after selling starting stacks to everybody. One of the best dealers in the house had slid into the box. Nobody was stuck; everything was possible, like Christmas morning. I took the #6 seat for reasons I […]

The post At the table with Happy appeared first on Poker.org.

I don’t remember the first time I heard the expression, “fist-pump call,” probably because it seemed so natural. I’m sure it arose from 2+2 and similar hand discussions. The Original Poster (or “OP” as they were called) describes a scenario where they’re facing a big bet, often on the river. The response “fist-pump call” meant […]

The post The fist-pump fold appeared first on Poker.org.

Boy, was I wrong. This is not new, but maybe you can learn from my mistake. This hand came to me via Ben Adler, of whom you’ve read in these pages. He was sitting in a $5/10 NLHE game in Las Vegas, and got involved in the following pot: With effective stacks of $1500, Ben […]

The post To shove a draw? appeared first on Poker.org.

The poker world has a rich vocabulary, which is glorious for people “inside” the game, but maddening for laypersons listening to us: “So I binked my gutter on the river, checked, she bet half pot, I clicked it back, she ripped it, and obviously I snapped her off.” Wait, what? Anyway, thanks in large part […]

The post Catching punts appeared first on Poker.org.

I don’t know what the #9 seat’s problem is, but I do feel bad for him. It can’t be any fun to take your frustrations with the world out on your chip stack in a poker game. But by Jack Strauss’s beard, that’s what he was doing in our $3/5 NLHE game. He was coming […]

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