History of Poker

I heard a rumor that somebody at the WSOP borrowed $4,000 and won $850,000 in A No Limit Game? This supposedly happened last week. Does anybody know anything about this story?

Answer 1:

I don’t know if that’s a growth of something that did happen ten or so days ago wherein a person did buy in to a NL game for a few k and cash out 250.

Answer 2:

It was a player from Texas named Hecter. I heard he started in the big pot limit Omaha game with $8k lost most of that, borrowed $5k from a friend and another $5k from same friend (who I was playing with and told me directly). Hecter came and paid back the $10k and said that he had cashed out a big winner (I heard just under $200k). He then jumped into a very big NL HL game and, when I came own the next day to play in the 12 noon tournament he had about million dollars more or less depending on who you listen to. The following day I noticed a half HE, half Omaha game with a big blind structure and many strong players (including Johnny Chan) and hecter was in there ramming and jamming. I left my game at about 8 that evening and went by his table to see how much of his money had gone bye. It looked to me that he had about $75 more of their money.

Answer 3:

This is that’s been going around the floor. Last week Hector, a Texas restaurant owner, was stuck $150,000 in a game. He was down to his last $4,000 when he went on a rush and won $800,000. Whether that’s a net or gross $800,000 I don’t know.

Can someone tell me what they mean by outs in a poker game?????

Answer 1:

Ways in which your hand can be improved to become the best hand in the pot (catching the specific cards you need to win, best hand folds from the game). And, quit yelling.

Answer 2:

“OUTS” or more commonly “outs” are ways you can win. For example, if you have a four flush with one card to come, the remaining cards of your suit which have not been exposed are the number of outs you have. In common parlance, this is how a conversation would go. You caught a 2 to make your Aces over 2s become 2s full on the River. Your opponent, who led on Fifth Street with an Ace flush, berated you by saying, “You play that cheese!” You respond with, “Well, I had four outs to beat you
so I figured I’d pay you off on Sixth Street and fold on the River if I didn’t fill up.” He responds with, “You’re an even bigger moron than I thought. You didn’t have four outs. Three of your cards had already been folded. You caught the case deuce. You didn’t have four outs you had one!!!” You respond with something clever like, “Oh, I guess I got lucky.”

Answer 3:

An out is a card that will improve your hand. If you are on a draw it is a card that makes your hand, if you hold a pocket pair your outs are the two remaining cards of that rank. Also, if all-in in a hand which you are currently losing, an out is a card that will outdraw your opponent. Example: You are all-in with JhTh vs. opponents QcQs. The board is 5h7h2c. You have nine outs in the shape of the nine remaining hearts.

Looking around for ways to spend my time in what I am sure is a bustling, sophisticated metropolis of nearly 500 people, I learned that there is a casino near there. I don’t know whether they have any poker tables, but I am hopeful. I play in a semi-regular game with friends, mostly 7CS with occasional HE or Omaha. I usually do well in those games, ($2 limit, I have averaged about $5 ahead per hour) but I am sure that casino poker is a much different game. What should I do to prepare for an expedition to a real casino? I have about a month. The only book on the topic I have read is “Thursday Night Poker” by Peter O. Steiner (I think, I don’t have a copy here to make sure I correctly remember the author.) What other book or books would be most useful to me? Is there any way I can practice? (Good computer programs, &c.?)

Answer 1:

I liked Skalansky’s Theory of Poker. It is differently for the more advanced player and would be a good book to read before going to any casino. General Advice – Play limits you can afford. Watch the game for awhile before you play and look for games you can beat before you sit. You can find the book t http://www.twoplustwo.com

Answer 2:

It depends on how much time you have before your trip (how many hours you will devote to studying). If few, I recommend the pamphlet-sized book ‘Fundamentals of Poker’ by Malmuth. There is just too much to learn (especially from a comprehensive poker book) to try and become knowledgeable enough to know what you are doing in the casino before you try. This book is short, sweet, and includes the main basics you will need. So does Yardley’s book “Education of a Poker Player”.

Answer 3:
You’re right to think that the casino game is different and “Thursday Night Poker” was written with the home game in mind. For a quick, easy read and fundamentally sound casino low limit 7CS game, I’d read George Percy’s “The Waiting Game”. It’s a little dated (read a little tight), but very good for the most part. It’s a good start, and like I said, quick, easy and sound.

I just started playing HE recently. A couple days ago I was playing 1-4-8 at Mandalay Bay and had a hand that involved pocket kings. Basically what happened was (please excuse the lack of knowledge regarding poker terms) in the pre-flop I had pocket kings. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd players after the blind mucked their cards. It got to the 4th player he raised 4, 5th player folded, I re-raised, the dealer and both blinds folded. 4th player called. The flop came up, 3, 7, J off-suits. 4th player raised the max, I re-raised, he called. Turn was a 2 o. He raised, I re-raised. The river came up, Qo. He raised, I re-raised, he called. He had two pairs J’s and Q’s. Needless to say, my pocket kings lost. Did I play that hand correctly, what would you guys have done differently?

Answer 1:
Just so you know, his original bets on the turn and river are called “bets” (not “raises”) because he was the first to bet on that round. You can’t raise unless someone has bet first in that betting round. As for your play:
Preflop: Good
Flop: Good
Turn: Good
River: Mistake. Once you raise on the flop and turn, there’s no way he will bet into you again unless he has AT LEAST two pair. Just call here.
Answer 2:

I, too, started playing HE recently and had a similar experience with pocket Kings yesterday in fact. I’m in next to last position, dealer to my left. I’m dealt the kings, two players before me call the bet ($2) and I raise. Button drops, blinds call, player immediately after the blinds calls and everybody else folds. Me and 3 other players and I’m in last position. Flop: 2d, Qc, 8h, no threatening draws, no over cards: (I’m already stacking the chips.) All check to me; I bet; they call. Turn: 3s. Everybody checks to me, I bet; they call.
Still in decent shape. Board looks harmless enough, (click, click, click I’m counting chips.) I’m River: 4d. Ouch! Small blind bets; other two fold; I call. He turns over 4,5 off-suit. \
Answer 3:
I guess you mean a 6d on the river. Anyways, you will see people calling the pre-flop in low limits. I, although I am a beginner, would never play the flop with 4, 5 off suit. They keep playing like that, especially against pocket kings, and I am sure they
will not last long at the table.

I’m working a meeting this week on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Need some info on Omaha HiLo games. How early do the Omaha HiLo games get started during the week at the Biloxi and Gulfport Grands. What are the usual limits? Any description of game styles will be helpful. (Wild n Crazy to loose/passive?)

Answer 1:

Sorry can’t help much. Both Grands have 1-4-8-8 or 4-8 games going when I am there but that is usually on the weekends. Usually one game with half kill. 1-800-WIN2WIN and ask for poker room.

Answer 2:

I can only speak for the Biloxi Grand, however, the O/8 game has been going everytime I went there (4-5 times on both weekends and weekdays).  Also, I have been there in the middle of the afternoon so I think you have a pretty good chance of finding this game going.  As for the game itself, I have played in it a couple of times and would term it (based on my limited experience) basically loose/passive.  I have not encountered many maniacs. However, there are some rocks and you better be careful calling without the nuts (especially on the low side).

Answer 3:

You should be able to find a game at either Grand most any time. Gulfport plays mostly 1-4-8-8 and Biloxi play 4-8 with a 1/2 kill (an insane amount for the kill is $40).  Gulfport sometime spreads a 10-20 and Biloxi always has at least one 10-20 on Friday and Sat and some days during the week. IMHO the 1-4-8-8 game in Gulfport is weaker than the Biloxi game even though there are two or three decent plays in the Gulfport game.  The game is almost always loose-passive with the usual suck-outs.  The 4-8 game in Biloxi can range from moderate to down right tough.  Also many times the week-end 10-20 can be easier than the 4-8.