Internet Poker Coach Blog

WCOOP Starts Soon on PokerStars

2010-09-01T14:26:42Z

September 5th is the start of 62 WCOOP events on PStars. With massive prize purses, these are definetly the highest paying online tournaments found anywhere. If you are a tournament player, you want to get in on these events.

Starting with 2 different $215 NL Holdem events on the 5th with a $1.25 Million guarantee in one and a $2 Million purse in the other, you will want to set this Sunday aside as a day to dedicate to poker. Of course, satellites are still running all the time so that you can win your way in rather than buy in directly for the full amount, but either way, PStars is where it's at this Labor Day weekend.

Tips on Poker Strategy

2010-08-26T22:33:12Z

Sometimes I wonder why poker players come to me for coaching. I wonder why they read my book. I wonder why they ask me about poker strategy.

Well, it all becomes clear when I get an email from Full Tilt like I did the other day. In case you haven't noticed, Full Tilt sends out "Tips from the Pros" video clips that supposedly have some nuggets of wisdom that will help improve your poker game.

Here is Howard Lederer's latest tip: "Its a good idea to bet. Here is a classic example: bet with A-Qs from the Button"

NO SHIT??????

If you don't know to raise from position with a good hand, then take up knitting, because poker is not the game for you! Who exactly is this little tip addressed to?

Great tip Howard! With all the money Full Tilt rakes in, the best you can come up with is that players should bet with A-Qs from position? WOW!!!!

No wonder people come to me for coaching on how to actually make money. Keep up the good work Howard. I know I will have no shortage of real poker players coming to me for advice as long as Full Tilt continues to shit out turds like that.

Get real.

PPA Wins Passage of Historic Poker Legislation

2010-08-23T14:52:27Z

If you are an online poker player and are not already a member of the PPA, then you should be! Here is why:

"July 28, 2010 was a historic day for all poker players around the county when the House Financial Service Committee passed H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulations, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act by an overwhelming and bipartisan 41-22 vote. Passage of this bill was only possible with the support of dedicated poker enthusiasts like you who took the time to contact your U.S. Representative and make your voice heard. As a result, Congress demonstrated that they listened to your concerns and agreed that sensible regulation of Internet gaming is preferable federal policy over failed prohibitions such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

The next step for H.R. 2267 is a vote on companion legislation, H.R. 2268, in the House Ways and Means Committee. Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank has made it clear that both H.R. 2267 and 2268 must be brought before the entire House of Representatives together. So be on the lookout for emails from PPA on when that vote will take place and how you can help. "

WCOOP On PokerStars Stars September 1st

2010-08-18T13:36:44Z

The World Championship of Online Poker is starting on PokerStars Sept 1. This is the highest paying set of tournaments in the online poker realm with over $50 Million in guaranteed prize money. Spanning 62 events including the high-roller events, this promotion will conclude with the $5,000 2 day Main Event that will have a $10 Million prize purse! Yes, $10,000,000.00 purse for 1 tournament!

Of course, you can satellite into events for as little as $1 and those satellites are running constantly up and during the WCOOP, so find the events you would like to play in and try to win your way in if you don't want to pay the entry fee. There are many NL events, lots of PLO and also Razz, HORSE and 8-game to choose from. The 1st high roller event is a $10k buy in with a $2 Million guarantee on Sept 2nd.

This and Full Tilt's FTOPS series are the largest paying series of tournaments online and 2 that I never miss. If you are a tournament player, you want to play in as many of these as possible. Start planning your schedule while WCOOP is still a couple weeks away and get in on some life changing money!

FTOPS XVII on Full Tilt Poker Has Begun $19 Million in Prize Money

2010-08-05T12:49:30Z

August 4th marks the beginning of another FTOPS promotion on Full Tilt. There are 34 events this time with over $19 million in prize purses guaranteed. These are some of the richest tournaments to be found anywhere in online poker and if you are a tournament player, you want to get in on these for sure.

There will be a wide variety of events, as usual, and of course, there will even be Rush Poker tournaments this time. The 2 day Event will bring over $2 Million in prize money and the Main Event that takes place on the final day will guarantee over $3 Million. I never miss these tournaments on Full Tilt, they are excellent chances to make a big score. There are also always satellites going on if you do not want to just buy in, so you can win your way in on the cheap.

Either way, don't miss out playing in the FTOPS tournaments. See you there and good luck at the tables.

Poker Coach Updates

2010-07-27T14:18:33Z

For those of you who follow my blog, you have probably noticed that I have been away recently and not posting much new poker info lately. I have been extremely tied up with various coaching projects and spent last week in Las Vegas doing intensive one-on-one in person sessions with a very serious and very good play I know from the Chicago area. We had a good time and got a lot accomplished but I think BOTH of our brains were a bit fried after spending most of 4 days together doing nothing but poker!

In any case, I am still available on a limited basis for coaching but I will be cutting down the amount of coaching I do over the next coupld of months due to other committments. I just don't seem to have enough time in the day; I am involved with opening live card rooms at a chain of casinos in the Billings area and I need some time to concentrate on playing poker myself as well!

If you are interested in some sessions, feel free to let me know and I will work players in on a first come first serve basis-chris@internetpokercoach.com

As always, good luck at the tables!

Sunday Million and a Half on PokerStars

2010-07-11T14:47:57Z

I am often asked by players, what the best 'deal' is as far as online tournaments go. Well, the biggest one is certainly PokerStars Sunday Million which has gotten so big it is not the Sunday 1 1/2 Million! For $215 you will get into a NL Hold'em tournament that will pay at least nearly $250k to the winner, most times more than that.

Of course, you can satellite in if you want to take the time for all kinds of lesser amounts or even FPP's but really for $215 you can't find better leverage on your money. This is the largest weekly prize pool on the net and one where you can really clean up with you go deep into it. It is pretty easy to find in the PS lobby, just use 'tournament' and 'regular' tab and you will find it, or simply type 'sunday million' into the filter. If you play online poker on Sundays like I do, this is one you don't want to miss.

NL Holdem Knockout Tournaments

2010-07-10T14:22:15Z

I have talked about the proftibability of the 90-player Knockout tournaments on Full Tilt in this blog many times. In addition to the 90-player SnG types, they also run throughout the day, larger tournaments with anywhere from a $3.30 buy in to the Sunday brawl which is $240+$16. Probably in response to the popularity of these tournaments on FT, PokerStars has now instituted a bunch of their own.

If you are looking for the SnG's it is very easy to use the SnG 'tab' and then type 'knockout' into the filter. This will show you KO tournaments from 9-player to 90-player and all the way up to $265+ buy ins. There is something for every buy in level in these KO's and in addition, Stars is offering larger tournaments at various times that you will find just by scrolling through the tournament tab.

If you like tournament play and SnG play, KO's are some of the best investment of your money that you can make. The nice thing about them is that because you can earn the KO bonus, you can limit your variance on your spend if you happen to have a bad beat and not make the money in the tournament overall. Plus winning it or placing in it will generally mean you have at least a few KO's to go with that, making it even more profitable.

It is good to see PokerStars add a full field of these types of tournaments, so if you play strictly on PS, get on and give the Knockouts a try.

Fund Raiser Update

2010-07-02T01:35:18Z

If you haven't already donated to the Poker Money Bomb, we need only $5K more to make our goal.

This is a critical time for all poker players. In just a few weeks, we expect to have a VOTE on H.R. 2267, the most important piece of federal legislation dealing with online poker today. These funds go towards PPA's grassroots and advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., as we fight to protect your rights to play poker at the time and place of your choosing.

It’s simple -- go to www.PokerMoneyBomb.com and make your donation of $5, $10 or $20 – any amount helps! Please take 30 seconds and make your donation now.

Proud to play,
Poker Players Alliance

PPA Fundraising Drive

2010-07-01T12:47:08Z

The following is a reprint from a PPA email explaining their current fund raiser. As everyone knows who follows my blog, I am a member and strong supporter of the PPA and I believe all of us that play internet poker should support the only group looking out for the rights of online poker players:

"
Today is the day to show your support for poker. We are kicking off our one day PPA fundraising drive - or Money Bomb - to raise funds to help support PPA's grassroots and advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., as we fight to protect your rights to play poker at the time and place of your choosing.

Visit www.PokerMoneyBomb.com to make your donation NOW.

This is a critical time for all poker players. In just a few weeks, we expect to have a VOTE on H.R. 2267, the most important piece of federal legislation dealing with online poker today.

Please join with thousands of other dedicated and concerned poker players to help the PPA reach our goal of raising $25,000 today, July 1st! Your donation at www.PokerMoneyBomb.com will help keep the PPA in the fight to protect all poker players’ rights to play poker and help protect consumers.

It's simple -- go to www.PokerMoneyBomb.com and make your donation of $5, $10 or $20 – any amount helps! Remember, today, July 1st, is THE day to show a united front in supporting poker. So please take 30 seconds and make your donation now."