More on the Bar Poker League

Written by Nigel

For those of you who got really interested in the Bar Poker League, I just found out that they have recently expanded their operations in Florida!  This is certainly good news for people who live in the area.  One of the best things about BPL tournaments is that there is no buy in or entry fee.  More so, you do not need to be a poker pro to play.  It is just like hanging out with friends for a night of poker.  Of course, if you want to take your game to a higher level, you would certainly find some people to play with as well.

There is also no restriction when it comes to how often you play.  You just need to visit their site to get more accurate information regarding the game nights at specific venues.  In order to get the most out of your experience, it would be a good idea to sign up with BPL in their web site.  This would mean that each time you play, you would get points.  The allocation of points is as follows:

5 points – awarded to each player in each tournament simply for playing.
100 points – awarded to 1st place in each tournament.
75 points – awarded to 2nd place in each tournament.
60 points – awarded to 3rd place in each tournament.
50 points – awarded to 4th place in each tournament.
40 points – awarded to 5th place in each tournament.
30 points – awarded to 6th place in each tournament.
20 points – awarded to 7th place in each tournament.
10 points – awarded to 8th place in each tournament.

These points are used to determine the top 200 players in each District who will qualify for the District Final Events and eventually the State/Regional Final Events.

Bar Poker League

Written by Nigel

Ever heard of the Bar Poker League? I am sure that if you have not, you are probably jumping off your chair in excitement right now, especially if you have been looking for a good group to play poker regularly with offline. To be honest, I didn’t really know much about this group until quite recently.

It does sound very intriguing and promising, doesn’t it? The Bar Poker League hosts Texas Hold ‘Em Tournaments in various bars and nightclubs. Who will not find that interesting? The thing is, their activities are mainly focused in the state of Minnesota. So if you are from out of state or worse, from another country, then you are plain out of luck.

For those who live within the area, what is in it for you? Here’s what they have to say: “Join the Bar Poker League and play seven nights a week. League members compete for $200 in nightly tournament prizes and qualify for district finals and casino-hosted state and regional championships through our poker point system. Members can win trips to Las Vegas, Tour Pro Poker Camp packages…”

Not bad. Although I am sure that there are other tournaments in many parts of the world, many poker players out there are wishing that they would have a similar set up in their area. I am going to try and look up more information on this league and share it with you if I find something.

Tips to Win Online (Part 3)

Written by Nigel

So you have detected those tiny tell tale signs that give you necessary information to win against your online opponent.  Here are some more tips that can give you that much appreciated edge.

Play small tournaments in the beginning.  I know, it sounds like the easy way out.  You are not a wimp.  But this really makes sense, you know.  If you are a beginner, test the waters first.  Gain confidence as you win the smaller tournaments and then move your way up.  It is always better to start out small anyway.  Think about it, small things turn up to be big sooner or later.

Don’t get too caught up in too many tournaments.  One advantage of online poker is that you can play multiple games at a single given time.  Of course, the downside to this is that you cannot give all your attention to one game.  You are diverted by many.  So when playing tournaments, if possible play one at a time.  Schedule them as well so that you have time between tournaments.

Don’t make poker your escape.  What do I mean?  Say you and your partner had a fight.  You go online to forget about it.  It might sound like a plan but it does not sound like a good plan to me.  When you play poker you need your focus.  If you have a problem you’d probably lose that focus.  If I were you, I’d play poker because I want to and I can give all my attention to the game, not because I am running away from something.

Biggest Mistakes Tournament Newbies Make

Written by Nigel

Alright, we all make mistakes. We are but human after all. Yet if you are aware of certain mistakes that you just might commit, wouldn’t it be better for you? That way, you can take measures to avoid making those mistakes. These statements could actually apply both in real life and at the poker table. Read on to know which mistakes to avoid when you are a beginner.

Not Understanding When Someone Else is Pot-Committed
So what does this mean? Andrew Glazer says it best: “If you have a hand with which your raise commits you to the pot, you might as well go ahead and move all in with it. If you’re winning, you’ll win more, and if you’re losing, there’s a bigger chance that your opponent will fold.”

Underbetting the Pot
This is pretty simple, if you are trying to win the pot even though your hand isn’t that good (or in other words you have a bad hand) then do it with a bang. Don’t bet cheap – others will just call your bet to find out what you had. That way they will gain information on you. Make it expensive enough so that they won’t gain anything.

Calling with Draws
I have to admit, I did this a lot when I first started playing. Hoping that the next card would complete my hand was just irresistible. However, statistically speaking, the chances of completing, say, a flush draw is very nil. You don’t bet big on such situations. More often than not, you will just lose this way.

Organizing Your Own Home Game (Part 1)

Written by Nigel

Poker home games have risen in popularity over the past year or so.  Thanks to the great exposure on TV and online, more and more people are becoming interested in this card game.  There is always the default option of playing in online casinos, of course.  You can play anytime you wish, with anyone around the world.  You do not even have to spend any money on their free games – you just need an Internet connection. It’s that easy, really.

However, there is just no substitute for a “real” game with “real” people around the table.  That is why many poker players prefer to play at least one home game a week though they still play online more often.  So how do you get a home game going?  Here are some simple things you can follow to have a great poker night at your place.

First, take a survey of interested players.  Get in touch with your friends and invite about 6 to 9 of those who show interest.  Make sure that you clearly state what poker variation you will be playing.  Right now, you’ll probably have more takers for Texas Hold ‘Em Poker.

Once you have a set group of people, you can come up with your own tournament handbook.  This covers the rules of the poker variation (which you don’t really make up – just get it online) as well as the house rules (which you have a certain degree of control over – you can also get tips online).  You can send the players copies beforehand and have a copy for the night as well.

(to be continued)