POKEROLOGY
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CONTENTS
Introduction History How To Play Hold ‘Em Know Your Opponent Psycology Interviews Players Darwinism Conclusion
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Most people will tell you to quit when you're ahead. Or they'll tell you not to even start or that "the house always wins." I'm going to tell you otherwise. In this publication, I will explore Texas Hold'em Poker from all angles and describe all the techniques, rules, initiatives and tell tale signs of the game. About 80% of all poker players will never succeed because of some very simple steps which I will outline later on. But, to progress and remain stable in this game you need to have dedication, patience and initiative. Poker is a game that is not simply restricted to the cards you hold. It is intensely psychological to the point where the cards you hold bear a lesser importance than the relation of yourself to the other players.
EM
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INTRODUCTION
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WEEP In this book, I will provide the reader with my own personal knowledge of the game and the tactics I employ. You will also find some correspondence with poker players who play in competition and conversation with low level players on pokerstars.
READ
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YOU’RE LET’S GO FISHIN’
KID
JUST MEAT Poker is now considered to be a sport. It is not a sport in any physical sense but it requires a lot of mental and psychological endurance. Luck plays a role in the game but it is small in the light of other factors which have a much greater influence on the game. Pokerology would be a better term to reflect all of the inner workings of poker. By this, I mean the frame of thought, the table image, the history of all of the other players and their styles and many other factors.
To be successful in this game, you have to understand yourself before evaluating other people. Understand that you are a human too and have weaknesses. You have to be practical and pragmatic to be able to win in the long run. In the short run you can have good streaks and bad streaks. There will be times where you receive weak hands, one after the next. There will be others where your luck is completely diminished. Finally, there will be times when your flying high and thats when you go fishin' and take some massive bites out of the other stacks.
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HISTORY
Poker was developed in the early 19th Century and has since become a very popular card game. The entire spectrum of emotion can be experienced through poker and the unpredictability of results makes it dangerous and exciting. The distasteful image attached to poker resonates from the saloon's in American before the 20th Century. Many fathers and husbands would flock to the saloon to drink copious amounts and lose their entire earnings in card games. Consequently, many families went without food and clothing and poverty was rife. Drink and Poker were blamed for these social ills rather than the irresponsible men who indulged in themselves so extravagantly. In the old towns of Deadwood, Dodge City, Tombstone and Virginia City, gamblers played with their guns to their sides and a bottle to nurse the wounds. Poker began in New Orleans where French travellers played a popular game called Poque which involved bluffing and betting. New Orleans grew to become the birthplace of poker where fortunes were won and lost.
In 1822, a man named John Davis opened the first casino in America. A 24 hour club where blackjack, poker, roulette and other games were played. Cheating was a big problem in the early years of poker. Some companies specialised in selling decks for cheating. Many of the professional players at this time were in fact cheating. However, they looked at themselves as entrepreneurs and had high opinion of themselves. To attract other players, they would have to wear expensive clothing and have good shooting abilities.
They were viewed as contributing nothing to society and gambling itself was targeted as the culprit for all social ills existing in America. By the end of the 19th Century, gambling had flooded all of America in all aspects of society. Gambling was made illegal to allow government to take advantage by raising money for their communities. By 1931, Nevada has relaxed it's gambling laws and six casinos were built by 1939. Since then, gambling has only grown and flourished making Las Vegas the gambling haven it is today.
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LAS VEGAS
The first casino to be built was the Pair -o- Dice Club in 1931. By 1942, organised crime figures such as Bugsy Siegel from New York held a great interest in the lucrative nature of the gambling industry. Nevada became the gambling hotspot because of relaxed gambling laws. Crime families such as the Gambino's who held close ties with industry and political figures began to move to Nevada. Las Vegas was considered the "Open City." The Sahara, the Sands, the New Frontier and the Showboat are just some of many casinos which were erected by the mafia.
In the 21st Century, Las Vegas has attracted tourists for reasons other than gambling. Celebrities and Stars flock to Las Vegas in support of the casinos and reel fans into the hotels and gaming lounges. The Las Vegas Strip, approximately 4.2 miles is a popular destination for tourists with dramatic architecture which pulls on many different cultures across the globe.
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HOW TO PLAY HOLD ‘EM
In this chapter, we will be concentrating solely on texas hold em no limit. Texas hold em is a version of poker where you are given two hole cards instead of five. This is a far more intense and concentrated style of poker because the possible hands that one might have is greatly restricted. Additionally, players are far more conservative and have to play with caution against all scenarios.
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RULES AND TIPS
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Before the communal cards are laid out, there is one round of betting. Betting will commence from the big blind and will go clockwise around the table. The two players sitting to the left of the dealer button will have to pay the blinds before any betting can begin. There is a small blind and a big blind. The price of the blinds depends on the stakes of the game. For example, lets say that the stakes are £1/£2. This means the minimum price to proceed to the first set of communal cards will be £2. The small blind will be £1 and will be paid by the first player to the left of the button. The big blind (£2) will be the second player to the left. After this, all other players will either fold, pay the big blind (£2) or raise the blinds.
HOLE
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Every player at the table will receive two cards. These are labelled the "hole cards." You keep these cards throughout the hand and will use them in conjunction with the communal cards to create a hand made up of 5 cards. Therefore, the hole cards are very influential in the strength of your hand over other players.
17 HAND ROYALTY
Royal Flush
Straight Flush
Four Of A Kind
Fullhouse
Flush
Straight
Three Of A Kind
Two Pair
One Pair
Suited Cards
Hand Value
High Card
AKQJT 23456 9999 KK999 2-A 6789T AAA QQJJ
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A
19 Once, every engaging player has called the previous bet, the flop will be turned. The flop is the first set of communal cards. There are 3 cards placed in the middle of the table after the dealer has burnt one card. Burning a card means taking the first card off of the deck before placing 3 down. Immediately there is 5 cards for everyone (the hole cards and the flop). The flop will be indicative as to what hand you might attain
After the flop is dealt, there is another round of betting. Then the fourth card is dealt - this is called the turn. Another round of betting commences before the final card which is called the river. To conclude, there is a final round of betting and any players left must present their hands to determine the winner. However, betting will often intimidate players off of the table and will mean that someone can win without showing his or her hand
FLOP
FLOP
TURN
RIVER
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TYPES
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Poker can be played in different formats. Firstly, there are cash games. A game where every cent you bet is real money and you are liable to make and lose money faster than other games. A sit 'n' go allows you to buy in for however much and play against 5 or 8 other players. Everybody is given the same amount of chips and the aim of the game is to be the last player standing. These games become a lot more tactical because whoever has the most chips, has the power to intimidate other players and gain more power at the table thereby strengthening his/her position as top dog.
Tourneys are entered by more experienced players. In tournaments, there might be 100 players with 10 people at each tables. To win, you must progress through the initial rounds and get through each table. A points tally might exist for different tournaments and the rules may vary.
Succeeding in these different games depends on your style of play which will be discussed later on in the book. However, sit 'n' go's are the best way to learn to play and get a feel for pokerology. Depending on the speed of the blinds, you will receive a multitude of hands and be able to critically assess each one. Doing this over and over, you will gain an understanding of the odds and each different type of play. Sit 'n' go's will also teach you how to play with different numbers of people at the table.
For instance heads up (1 on 1) is dramatically different to playing with 5 other people. There is a lot more bluffing and the psychological pressure on your opponent has to be stronger if you want to win. The tells that you will gather on each other are a lot clearer when there is less folding.
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KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
WEAK FAIR ANGRY DEMANDING ANXIOUS CONFIDENT RECKLESS QUIET BRAVADO RELIABLE GREEDY POLITE MODEST
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A REACTIONARY TIGHT PARANOID T R PP E R The Mouse plays conservatively and is very careful with his money. He doesn't usually bet unless he is holding a good hand. The mice are easy to read and estimate in their style of playing. They can be pushed off the table even when you might not have a hand and they are holding top pair. For example, if 10 4 A was to flop, you can pretend to be holding the ace and bet them off the table. If they were to continue, and the 3rd spade dropped on the turn, you can pretend to have a flush. If after another round of betting, the mouse carries on, you can expect that he actually has the nuts. Mice fold a lot of hands, so be careful if they even pay the blinds. Alarm bells should be ringing when the mouse bets because the mouse won't play unless he has good cards.
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INTIMIDATING IGONRANT CARELESS RAMPAGE The Elephant is a player who will play every hand regardless and will battle his way to the river so that he can see all of the cards. It is important not to be shaken by an elephant. If he is betting and you are chasing a straight, flush, 2 pair, any hand within your reach, chase it. He is in all likelihood not holding anything and will fold at the river if you bet high enough. However, it is difficult to tell whether the elephant is holding a hand or not if he bets with anything. When it is 1 on 1, its very easy to rinse the elephant but on a table of 6 or 9, it can be quite difficult.
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FIERCE SKILLFUL EXPERIENCED INTELLIGENT The lion is another player to be given careful attention. The lion is an experienced and well skilled poker playing. He has good knowledge of the odds and plays strictly to his own rules and regulations. The lion is simply a good poker player and is capable of making the best move in every scenario. The only way to beat the lion is to play within your own limits and try to play in favour of your odds. The lion has a good understanding of all positions and the image of every player. He can estimate everyone's move, so you must take caution when trying to bluff or push him off the table.
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UNPREDICTABLE SPONTANEOUS CHAMELEON The jackal is the most spontaneous player at the table. The jackal has the ability to alternate between the elephant and the mouse. He will bet high on weak hands and will bet high on big hands but he will jump between charging through each handing and folding continuously. He will check and triple bet when he feels. This sort of player needs to be given a lot of attention. It is essential to watch how he plays each hand and see what cards he holds if he turns over. Remember how he has played these hands and bear them in mind when you are heads up against him. Think how he has played you as an individual and consider your current table image, whats your position, how big is your stack and how have you played your own hands so far.
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MOUSE
LION
JACKAL
ELEPHANT
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PSYCHOLOGY
When you are sitting at a table playing other people in real life; the game becomes more dynamic. Semiotics is the communication of a message, theme or idea through an unentirely related context. Semiotics are commonly acknowledged as symbols and signs that allow us to send messages and relate to each other. The most obvious form of semiotics is speech as words correlate to the objects and meanings which we have attached them to. Semiotics works by the signified and signifier. The signified is the material thing we experience or sense to indicate the meaning. The signifier is the
meaning which we attach to the object of communication and the emotion or idea it stimulates. For example, a shop window with an open sign presents a message to say that the shop is open. When we see the open sign, we associate that with the knowledge that the shop is open for business. Body language can tell us many things about people. Certain expressions or actions can correlate directly to the emotions of the individual or what he/she might be thinking. In poker, it is important to pick up on these signs from other players as they are indicators to what hand your opponent might be holding. A common term "Poker Face" relates to the ability of hiding your body language and restraining all impulses of body language. The actions that our bodies do are performed subconsciously.
You can shear a sheep many times. But you can only skin it once.
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Darting Eyes
Hand On Mouth
Blinking
Dishonesty Eye Brow Raise
Rubbing Of The Hands
Pursing Of The Lips
Aggressive/Expectant Open Palms The Duration That They Look At Their Hand
Submissive Hands behind back
Overly Confident
Sitting oddly in a chair
Rubbing Of The Hands
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DOUBLE BLUFF
With knowledge of all of these "tells"; the professional players will try to use them to their advantage and mislead an opponent into misreading him. The double bluff is a way of deliberately giving off tells or signs to give indications to the opponent as to what sort of hand you might be playing whilst holding something completely different. This can be used to rinse another player when you have a good hand or to tell them you have the nuts whilst your hand is actually very weak. The effectiveness of the double bluff will depend entirely on how much of an actor the player is. How well can he control his expressions and body language to send the opponents mind in a different direction?
STRENGTH MEANS
WEAKNESS
41 Poker is very dynamic because of the numerous variants within the game. Its rarely possible to have an absolute guarantee over the reliability of your hand. However, it is possible to control the situations you put yourself into and to only play in favour of the odds. By doing this, you will come out on top. Relate this to how casinos earn their money. Their business is a game of luck but the house always wins because the odds are favourable towards them. It is exactly the same in poker because it is only you against someone else and you can choose what hands you play.
I will describe some of the ways I have been playing online poker over the last year to backup this statement. Firstly, its important to do a lot of folding and only play premium hands depending on position, stack size and how many other players there are and what their tendencies might be. Before the flop, if you aren’t in position (aren’t paying blinds) it is important to do a 3bet raise in order to capitalise on table image. By raising before the flop, you eliminate any weak hands that might get a piece of the flop and draw in the blinds who are more inclined to call you and be intimidated off the table later on.
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When the flop comes down, you have to evaluate what draws and "outs" you have. The "outs" are the different cards that could drop on the turn or river to strengthen your hand. Therefore, if you are going to call a bet or continue through the hand, you have to have a lot of outs in order to stay safe. Some draws that you might have are flush or straight draws. A two pair or top pair can be carried depending on the size of the bet and what image the other player might hold. However, you should almost always be calling with top pair.
Bluffing isn't recommended on online poker but if a player has checked his entire hand and is short stack, I will usually put out half pot size bet to take the pot. With an ace high card you could equally check it to the river.
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Poker has been given a bad name for players with addictive personalities. These players will chase the sensation of winning and do not treat the game as an actual source of income but use it as a pastime or recreational activity. They abuse the game and indulge in it the game excessively. Players who do not use bankroll management are prone to losing large amounts of money. Bankroll management is playing within your means and playing at buyin's which amount to at most 10% of your entire amount to play with.
Tilting occurs when a player becomes angry or upset over bad beats, consistently bad cards and bluffs or massive swings. These things can have a detrimental effect on a players confidence and determination. Patience is an important factor in poker, if not the most important thing. Whilst titling, a player might be more exposed to making bad decisions or massive errors. Other players will exploit this state of mind and will try to push you around whilst you are tilting. This is where emotions will run high and it is down to the player's strength of mind to either come out or falter.
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INTERVIEWS
James Nonhebel
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Sam Hopton
UWE Poker Society
Gala Casino
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49 An Interview with James Nonhebel
How long have you been gambling
Since I was 15
How do you rank poker among other games
I definitely think its like - one of the better games to play because it involves your own skill to some degree (against other gambling games). If your good at poker it will show.
Do you attach any moral stigma to gambling
NO
Whats the biggest win you've had
On horse racing, I once won 1153 quid. in poker, I won a 10 man tournament with 5 pound buy in so I left with 35 quid.
How would you recommend someone to start out
I'd say play on Facebook poker, a free, no money involved online game.
What about rigged games online
With me, I've tried 3 different poker sites, my favourite one is pokerstars, I havn't noticed any card generator.
What risks stand out to you
Being addicted, I can see how it becomes addictive. "Eustress" the perfect combination of fear and enjoyment - sorta like doing a roller coaster. Who is your favourite professional to learn from
Negreanu
51 An Interview with Sam Hopton
What age did you begin playing poker
My dad taught me how to play from a young age. I didn’t take it up properly till I was 16 though
Do you see yourself playing professionally in the future
100%. There is no doubt in my mind about that question. Afterall poker takes a day to learn and a lifetime to master
How has poker developed since the "Moneymaker Effect"
Well. Once Monkeymaker in my eyes has achieved doing something that most people didn't think was possible. An amateur winning the WSOP blew up the poker world. Showing players that It is possible. It goes to show that no matter who your playing against It's still poker. Moneymaker knew that.
Where do you stand on the online ban in America, do you think it is parallel to players making an online income
Ofcourse I think it's wrong. You can't help the rules of some states. But taking online poker from people making an Income is wrong
What are some of the most useful qualities that make someone good at poker
This is a very hard question, but I like it! Anyone can learn the Basics of the game In a day. But there is so much more to poker then most people seem to think. Everyone has different play styles but it's the people that use there Positioning to their advantage, Making the correct bet at the correct time whether it's a Value bet, Pot bet or an Overbet. It's easy to see who makes full use of the little things In poker when you sit down, One of the main things in my own opinion Is Image. I could go on forever but has alot more to it than anyone would think from a game that is apparently based on "luck"
Whats the scene like for the UK? Is there good opportunity for upcoming players in England
Fantastic, They are increasingly becoming better and better. I've just got back from the UKSPC and I had a fantastic time. Poker is becoming a rapidly growing sport. 554 players entered the tournament this weekend and that was the most they've ever had! It's hard to say whos going to become a professional if Im honest. Don't get me wrong, I know alot of people in the Society that have the potential, But realistically you need money to make money
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What Poker Players Say
Don’t raise my blinds I had Jack 7 suited! KA-POW Why did you call on the flop? It's turned real Sneaky I'm gonna get there Missed the Flush on the river So sick My luck
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PLAYERS
Daniel Negreanu Chris Moneymaker
Vanessa Rousso JC Tran
Scotty Nguyen
PROFESSIONAL
57 The world series of poker main event is perhaps the biggest dream of every poker player. At a 2000 dollar buy in, the tournament attracts all big poker stars like Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey and Phil Helmuth. The winner receives the famous WSOP bracelet and a cash prize. In the upper levels of poker, there are bracelet winners and non bracelet winners. Once you have won this tournament, your name becomes notorious with the greatest poker players in history.
Chris Moneymaker, an amateur who gained a seat at WSOP through a satellite tournament went on to win the 2003 WSOP. He beat professionals from all corners of the world and took the bracelet and cash prize home. After this, there was a huge boom in the poker industry which was famously named the "Moneymaker Effect."
59 Daniel Negreanu, born in Toronto dropped out of high school in his final year to pursue a career in poker. Moving back home, he amounted a bankroll of $10,000. He then spent half a year in Las Vegas in an attempt to break in. Sadly, his bankroll ran out and he had to move back home to rebuild his funds once more.
Following this, he tried again at a career in poker and succeeded by winning WSOP in 1998. Being the youngest ever person to win a bracelet he earned the nickname "poker kid." Daniel has six bracelets to his name and has held the title of "Player Of The Year" twice.
61 Vanessa Rousso is a French American poker player. She has earned money from poker since 2005 after graduating with a degree in Economics in 2003. She ranks among the top five women in poker history in terms of alltime money winnings. In addition, she has become one of the game's foremost sex symbols. Top in her class at every stage of life, Vanessa has proven that she is a pragmatist who should not be taken lightly at the table. She is very analytical and always plays favourable odds.
63 Tran was born in Vietnam, and is the youngest of eight children of Vietnamese parents. When he was two years old, his family moved to the United States where later he would receive a degree in Business Management Information Systems from California State University at Sacramento. Tran built his bankroll playing the $9/$18 game at Capitol Casino in Sacramento, CA. J.C. has since noted that it has become too much of an action game to eke out a positive gain. As of 2010, his total live tournament winnings amount to $7,996,635. His 28 cashes as the WSOP account for $1,694,280 of those winnings.
65 Scotty Nguyen was born in Nha Trang, Vietnam, and came to the United States at the age of fourteen. He was expelled from school for spending too much time in underground poker games. Nguyen attended dealer school at the age of 21 and was employed at Harrah’s poker room. There he made about $150 a night and lost most of it playing $3–$6 stud. He described himself as a "fish" but wanted to gamble regardless. His luck changed in 1985 when he was invited to Lake Tahoe to deal in a no-limit Hold’em tournament. He dealt all day and played cash games all night with the meager bankroll he brought with him. He built his bankroll to $7,000 and felt he was invincible. He returned to Las Vegas and gambled his bankroll up to $1,000,000.
His name spread around Vegas and before he knew it he was playing poker with Johnny Chan, Puggy Pearson, and David Grey. He purchased a Chevrolet Camaro for $17,000, a Corvette for $21,000 and a condominium for $60,000 all in cash. He lived in Caesars Palace and was winning $50,000 to $900,000 a night. After a bad losing streak, he ended up going broke. Nguyen was spared a room and $5,000 in cash. Scotty is known for being emotional at the table. He is very joyful and repeatedly calls everyone "baby."
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DARWINISM
Charles Darwin never played poker, but his principles fit our game. He argued that life is always competitive, and that the competition gets continuously tougher. Because conditions change, only the organisms which adapt well can survive, and the survivors become stronger competitors for food, mates, and everything else. The same sort of evolution has occurred and will continue to occur in poker, but it happens much faster. Darwinian evolution occurred slowly over millions of years, while our game changes very rapidly The losers go broke, get discouraged or
quit playing for other reasons. Some new players come along to replace them, and the rapid expansion of poker has multiplied the influx of new and vulnerable players. However – because it’s easier than ever to learn how to play – many of them quickly shift from clueless, to not bad, to competent, and a few become excellent. Because the weakest players leave, and the survivors improve, the competition will continuously intensify, and only players who adapt well can survive. As Darwin noted, it is ‘survival of the fittest.
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POLITICS
Political encounters have often been described as a game of poker. But what similarities are there in politics and poker? The power of the your cards would correlate to your strength as a nation - your military power, your resources and what moves you have against your opponent. Political rhetoric is parallel to your betting. when you bet in poker you are sending a message or sign about what you have. politicians will do speeches to make a stance and move against someone. However, their intention about whether to carry out their rhetoric is based entirely on what hand they are holding and if they have the capability to make threats etc. This is linked to bluffing - making threats that show power in words but no strength in action.
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CONCLUSION
In this publication we have explored a brief history of poker, the game itself, the people who play it, some of the psychological factors and how the concept of poker penetrates into society itself. Having read this publication, you should have a greater understanding of no limit hold em' and why it has become such a popular game. Throughout the project, I have designed patterns influenced by classical card deck designs. Additionally, the composition and grid structure is inextricably parallel to the layout and structure of card designs.
With the assistance of infographics, the reader should understand how the game is played, the ranks of different hands and some psychological and strategical elements within the game. In the final section - Darwinism, I have provided a different angle to the subject by looking at how poker reflects onto life and society.