One of the cool things about Full Tilt FTOPS events is the challenges that go along with them. With the Mini FTOPS that is taking place right now, there are sets of Challenges that qualify you for free rolls. In this case it is only $1k free rolls, but still free money to add to your poker bank roll is always a good thing.

    It is pretty simple to sign up, you just go to 'My Promotions' under the cashier and it will take you to a web page where you can click a box to sign up for Mini FTOPS Challenges. Once you are signed up, FT automatically keeps track so there is nothing for you to do. You qualify for the free rolls by winning satellites into Mini FTOPS events, doubling up in events, making it to level 10 in events, etc. The more events you meet the 'challenges' in, the more free rolls you are automatically signed up for.

    The free rolls take place over 2 days after the Mini FTOPS is over and whether you play them or not, you will be entered and you can win a piece of the $1k prize pool for each one you are in. If you are going to play in some of the Mini FTOPS events anyway, make sure you are signed up for the Challenges so that you can get in on some free money! Good luck and see you at the tables.

   For those of you that love the low buy in MTT's with large payouts, the Mini FTOPS on Full Tilt is back. Today marks the beginning of events with over $6 million in total guaranteed prize money. Today's 1st event is only a $20+$2 buy in NL Hold'em with a $350k purse. Big money for such a low buy in.

   Of course, there will be many more events taking place over the next few days with Omaha, Razz, HORSE and Stud games and there are satellites going all the time if you would rather win your way in than buy your way in. These are the biggest bang for your buck that you will find on the internet Full Tilt is also giving you the ability to deposit for as little as $10, so if you have a couple of $5-spots burning a hole in your pocket, now is the time!

   As you know if you follow my blog on a regular basis, I am a strong supporter of the PPA because it is the only organization that is active in fighting for the right of internet poker players. Not only is it the only one, it has been growing by leaps and bounds and had been extremely effective in the last couple of years as we press towards ultimately legalizing internet poker. The co-chair of the PPA is former US Senator Alfonse D'Amato himself an avid poker player, and probably one of the strongest names in government circles to come out in support of online poker. In any case, this is a reprint of the latest newsletter from the PPA to help raise awareness of this orgainzation and to encourage you to join up if you have not already.

"By all accounts, 2009 saw amazing progress for the rights of Internet poker players in the US.  The delay of the UIGEA, the introductions of three bills in the US House of Representatives, as well as a bill in the US Senate, all supporting your right to play in a safe, free market here in the US.  Now is the time for a push to victory in 2010, but we desperately need your help. 

   In addition to playing FT I spent quite a bit of time on Ultimate Bet poker. I like FT for the wide range of MTT's, but I have found that traffic is growing on Ultimate Bet and there are more and more profitable NL Hold'em tournaments. While there are not yet a ton of tournaments other than NL Holdem, I do like the cash games on UB, in particuliar, PLO 8.

   Some of the smaller limit PLO 8 games tend to be very profitable on UB due to the large number of players who have no idea how to play the game. You will find many players who will ship you chips every time they are dealt A-2 and have nothing but that low draw. This is a sure sign of amatuer PLO 8 players and you can really capitalize on this at the cash games. I always seem to make good money at these tables, they fill up fast and the players rotate in and out pretty quickly.

  I have noticed 28k-30k players on UB lately and that is up about 10%-15% so maybe if the numbers keep growing, we will see some PLO tournaments. Until then, try the cash games at UB, especially PLO 8.

    For those of you who have asked about my one on one coaching sessions, I will have a couple of slots opening up over the next week or so. As of 2010 I have cut the number of students down dramatically, preferring to focus on playing poker more than coaching, but I am still doing some sessions and if you are one of the players who has contacted me, now would be the time to get in on coaching.

     I have a number of different methods set up to analyze your poker game, so shoot me an email at chris@internetpokercoach.com and lets talk about what would work the best for you. Much like a pro golfer needs a swing coach, poker players, be in amatuer or pro, can benefit from having some one coach them through their game at times. It is always beneficial to have an un-biased party looking at your game.

     So, let me know if you have any questions and until then, good luck at the tables.