JesAnne's blog

Smelly Hold'em

I have a whole new theory for winning at Texas Hold’em. I started considering the theory last night during an APL game. Frankly, it’s the most brilliant game strategy I’ve ever encountered.

I had been playing for quite a while. It seemed like the tables were consolidating faster and faster. I was SO excited. There was a bigger pot than usual, and people were dropping like flies. My stack was getting larger and while I was growing more confident, I was also becoming more conscious. I knew I was doing well, and I wanted to maintain that state of play to last longer and win!

There were two tables left. Anybody who made it to the final table would walk away with something. (Last place would get their “rent-a-chair” fee back.) Anyway, within moments myself and the last player at my table got moved to the “final table”. We had made it. I was going to at LEAST break even, and I was happy with that!

Adjusting to the Pre-Flop All-In

Recently I’ve discussed (several times) my frustration with pre-flop all-in’s. While it is completely annoying, I’ve got to admit, it has definitely made me a more defensive and decisive player.

I don’t typically play the cards that other players would play. I never have. I’ve found that this works to my advantage in peculiar ways. Anybody will hold onto an Ace – that’s a given. But how many people would keep a Jack/6? Not many.

While this does mean that some of my out’s can be folded, it also means less chances of a split pot if I win. This has happened more times than not for me!

Zynga Frustrates With New Leveling System in Hold'em

Recently, internet gaming companies, Zynga, changed their level format for Texas Hold’em, and let’s just say all the new “fish” are livid.

Zynga, a social gaming company, is most known for providing entertainment to social networking sites, like Facebook, by producing games like Mafia Wars, Texas Hold’em and the currently rated “most used” application on Facebook: FarmVille.** As all of their games have skyrocketed in popularity, Zynga has constantly sought out the encouragement and recommendations of their users on ways to improve the games. (“Add tractors so we can plow faster.”) However, the new leveling system on Texas Hold’em has many scratching their heads.

The American Dream

As a woman, I was destined to be a multi-tasker. I can’t have enough activities in my life. There’s always more to do, more to help, more to learn. Recently, a shoulder injury has greatly impacted my life. Since February, I’ve been extremely limited in what I can, and cannot, do. As a result, I’ve dove into areas that I never thought I would have previously. I’m trying things I never thought I’d try, and doing things I’d never thought I’d do. However, this need for “more” has pushed back some of the things I love most: especially poker.

Feeling completely shut in at home, I started volunteering. Finding that wasn’t good enough, I’ve decided to add school – BIG mistake! I do homework EVERY day – which is pretty odd for somebody who has never done homework before. And, on nights when I would normally go to a local poker house, or to an APL game, I’m stuck at home graphing equations and determining what the independent and dependent variables are in various experiments.

Poker Laws Confuse Me

I will be the first person to admit that I’m not exactly a “legally minded” person. I’m not saying I break the law a lot – I barely even speed. No, what I’m saying is that I don’t exactly pay attention to new laws, understand most laws, or am able to argue why some laws are completely ridiculous or not.

One particular law that I don’t understand is in regards to Texas Hold’em. Many cities, counties, and states have varying degrees of laws in regards to poker and gambling. Many, of which, say that it’s “not allowed”. Or it is allowed if: 1) you don’t pay into it and 2) you don’t receive anything in return.

Hosting Poker Tournaments A Great Way To Make Cash

Recently, I was working on an article and I found out that one of the quickest ways to make money – efficiently – was to hold a gambling tournament. The only thing that was faster and more lucrative then that was to start your own religion!

There are definitely laws and regulations to follow when you set about doing something like this. The first, of course, is to be sure you’re following federal, state, and local ordinances and laws. If there is a “no gambling” law in your area, don’t fret, you can usually get around it. Many Amateur Poker Leagues have you “rent a chair” for the cost of competing in the tournament. This is probably the easiest way to get around having to charge a buy-in fee.

Poker 101

After many years of avoiding it as much as possible, I am finally going back to college. I avoided it like the plague for the longest time, simply because while I love to learn, I hate being told what to learn. If I could go to school and study whatever I wanted, I’d be set. Then again, the minute I “have” to learn something, I usually lose interest in it. I’m a rebel like that.

So my schedule opened up, especially with my ongoing issues with surgery, and I decided to avoid boredom as much as possible and head back to school. How’s it going so far? I feel like I’m going to school to learn more about poker!

Hold'em Variation May Be Crazy - But Very Popular

In the Hold’em world there is a game variation called Crazy Pineapple that people either love or hate. While it has yet to be offered regularly at APL games, or casinos, it’s been growing in popularity over the years and has a very strong, cult like, following. Crazy Pineapple definitely throws some interesting twists to the game, and many seem to feel that once you’ve mastered CP, you’ve mastered all versions of Hold’em.

Right off the bat, the game starts out differently than Hold’em. Instead of receiving two cards into each player’s pocket, everybody is dealt three. This immediately opens up the opportunity for three different playing possibilities: Cards 1 & 2; 2 & 3, or 1 & 3. Just like in Hold’em, once everybody receives their pocket, a round of betting ensues.

More Pre-Flop All-In Frustration

Recently, I wrote about my frustration with Pre-Flop All-Ins. This sparked quite the heated debate between one of my friends and I. As a result, I figured I’d dive into the topic yet again; this time, offering a little clarification.

First of all, I’m not saying that I have never gone all-in before the Flop: I have. My frustration comes when people play online, and automatically, without reason, and go all-in on every hand. Not once, not twice, but EVERY hand. A bulk of the time, they’re just picking up the blinds, but it gets incredibly frustrating.

I realize the strategy behind this is for people to add some pretty hefty padding to their bank. And I’ve got to admit, it works. But there’s got to be a limit, or a cut off, at some point. I was watching an online tournament the other day when 9 hands in a row a man went all-in before the Flop without being challenged. Again, he just picked up the blinds, but at this point in the tournament, he racked up several hundred in chips.

Quick Lesson in Poker Etiquette

As I mentioned in my last blog, I’m in the process of recovering from surgery. As a result, I’ve been limited to online tournaments and games only. While this hasn’t been horrible, I do miss the communication at the felt.

However, there seriously seems to be a lack of online etiquette as of late. Trash talk and poor sportsmanship seem to be taking over. As a result, here are a few short, easy tips for playing online or in person.

1) Don’t comment on the hand. If three spades come down on the Flop, don’t comment about how there is a possibility for a Flush. Somebody else may have had the two spades in pocket, not noticed, and folded. Now, you’ve pointed it out to them – decreasing YOUR odds. Lots of newbies play poker – take advantage of their lack of wisdom!