April 2010 Archives
Open Thread: Things To Do While Waiting
HUSNG Super Turbo Strategy
Full Tilt has added Super Turbo HU SNGs to their game lineup. Here, I discuss strategies and reading material for Super Turbo HUSNGs, where the stacks start at only 500 chips.
Evading the UIGEA - Playing on European Sites
The Art of a Heads Up SNG
Sorry for not blogging in awhile. I've been grinding 10hr days, which is not what I should be doing but since I've been running extremely well I feel like putting in volume while I'm playing my best is the right thing to do.
For those of you who don't know, I specialize in HU SNGs, and for the last two years I have been making a living grinding these things, and I feel like I have a good understanding of the game. So today I would like to talk about some of things I've learned about these 1500 chip duels.
Statistical Theory for Poker

Everybody's been exposed to statistics at some point or another. The study of statistics is two-fold. First, there's applied statistics, which we use in applications like my Variance & Bankroll Calculators, that let us know if what we're experiencing is out of the norm. Second, there's statistical theory, which can help us avoid making general errors in judgment.
Three major theoretical concepts stand out, the Law of Large Numbers, the Central Limit Theorem, and Sampling Bias.
Introducing the Kelly Criterion Bankroll Calculator
While poker theory is a relatively new field, modern economic theory
has been around for decades. The question "How do I maximize my
long-term profits in risky ventures?" has been answered with finality. You can use this calculator to find out just how much you should buy in for in a heads-up game.
Why choose a Kelly strategy? For starters, it completely negates the
concept of risk-of-ruin. The Kelly involves fluidly moving up and down
between limits, as dictated by your bankroll. If you go on a tear, you
will move up in limits. If you run bad, you are able to drop down.
Massachusetts OK's Casinos
Gambling advocates won a major victory in the Massachusetts House of Representatives yesterday. Reporters call yesterday's legislation the largest expansion of gambling in the state since 1971, the year the Lottery was implemented.
The vote was 120-to-37, a landslide victory for gambling advocates. Legislators say the slumping economy persuaded them that casinos and slot machines represent an opportunity to create jobs and capture about $1 billion of revenue a year.
Introducing the Variance Calculator
Ever wonder just how bad you're running? The Variance Calculator, in the Tools tab, will tell you how unlikely it is for you to run this bad.
The calculator assumes a few things. First, that you don't tilt. Second, that you don't move up and down in stakes.
Calculating Your Confidence Interval
How many games does it take to conclude that you're a winning player? Is your ROI reliable? Knowing your confidence interval is the first step to determining if you're a profitable player.
Tiger Woods

After scoring a couple of beautiful birdies earlier on, Tiger finds himself in serious trouble at the last hole, coming home.
Starting Hand Chart? Psh, naw!
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Tony writes, "I saw your article on live poker on your site and it was spot on. Could you give me a recommendation on what hands to play, raise first in and limp and what positions.to play them I know it mostly depends on the table dynamic but was just looking for a basic starting hand chart when I first sit down or not getting any reads on my opponents early in play."
If this question was about heads up, my starting hand chart would be
something like this: "In position, raise everything. Out of position,
fold everything, unless it's strong enough to three-bet."
Why we grind?

I put together a little list as to why we grind.
HOLA
Hey all and welcome to my new blog. I'll try to post a bunch
but we'll see how it goes... if you know me you'll know that I'm built for
sloppy, not for speed. Since this is my
first poker blog I would like to thank Sam for bringing me on board
RiskOriented.
Welcome to the Blogroll, Tommy
Hope you blog often!
Tommy's blog entries can be found here or by selecting his name under the Blogroll.
Saje busts SAGE
Everything I know about Game Theory as it relates to Poker
Coming soon, I hope.
New Layout at RiskOriented.com
Hope everyone enjoys the new layout. If you'd like to see anything changed, drop me a comment.