Sammy Farha and Eli Elizara have a hot rivalry running on high stakes poker. Unfortunately for Sammy, Eli usually gets the better of it and this hand was no exception. Sammy started with a respectable KQ suited but ran into Eli’s pocket Aces. That’s usually good for some fireworks, but things got spectacular on the flop.
The flop came out AAJ giving Sammy a one sided straight draw to go along with possibly two overs on a pair of Jacks. Eli led out with a bet which was risky but also would give you little to no …read more

Pocket aces are the ultimate starting two cards in any poker tournament because they start off as no worse than a 4-1 favorite against any other hand.  When you are dealt AA, you’ve got one of two options: raise or call.  (Only in very extreme, extreme circumstances is it prudent to fold aces preflop.)
Typically you want to raise 3x with pocket aces, but depending on the players at your table, you may want to smooth call, raise more, or raise only 2x the pot.
A smooth call comes into play when you have a very aggressive table and someone is very …read more

Whew – I’m glad I could connect to the Internet.  Have to get you your daily poker blog even if it takes using the unsecured connection at the outside of an apartment.
Today’s video features poker journeyman Ralph Perry limping in with pocket aces and getting himself in the worst possible situation – a table full of callers.  He ends up throwing the best hand in poker away after a bet and subsequent reraise.  Although it’s concievable he ran up against K8 or a set, I don’t see anything wrong with testing the raiser to see if he didn’t just have …read more

Watch the video first:

This is where poker gets frustrating. Someone with horrible cards that a dog wouldn’t even play flops a full house then hits quads on the turn to beat a very respectable AK. AK was only a 63-37 preflop, but watching this kind of video definitely makes you feel for the loser of the hand (In this case Akinhead).
I myself was the victim of a stinging bad beat on Poker Stars. With Pocket Aces I raised 3.5 times the big blind and received two callers. A king hit the board on the …read more

Before I get to play at BoneRacks House O’ Poker, I’d like to bring your attention to an interesting comment made on a poker rule post.  Check out the comment on official poker rules and see if you agree with me.
I lost again at BoneRacks, but I am happy to say that I played much, much better.  Its like I went back to a year and half ago.  I got great cards while playing including pocket aces twice, pocket queens, pocket kings, and pocket 10s twice.  Not too bad for one night of poker.
I know you’re probably thinking you have …read more

The first time I made a big laydown and was wrong.  The second time I made a big call and was wrong.  I had four people limp in the hand and I was the big blind.  I looked down at pocket 5s and raised 4x the pot.  The second or third person in the hand reraised me a significant amount (I can’t remember how much) and everyone else folded.  I didn’t put him on a monster because he had just limped in in early position.  I was thinking he thought I was trying to steal the blinds (which I kind …read more

I have about two weeks worth of blogs from the game last night.  I even took some pictures to give you some visuals of the 4 1/2 hour marathon.  Usually the game only lasts 3 hours give or take but this one was a much longer affair.  I finished fourth and the game ended about 30 minutes after I was knocked out.  We started at 10 players.  I played well overall, but misplayed a few major hands and I believe it cost me the tournament.  Some players may have been card dead but I was catching monsters all over and …read more

I’m always surprised to hear what people call their favorite hands. A lot of people say, “I like whatever wins the pot.” Ok, good. A lot of other people say, “My favorite hand is aces.” Thanks. Aces are okay, though they actually aren’t my favorite hand because they usually end up getting tangled with and I’d rather play something I can fold if there’s a raise and I miss.
My personal favorite hand for a while has been Q-10. For some reason I win a lot with this hand. I make a good amount of straights with it, I almost always …read more