Thursday, March 19, 2009 - smokin_aces
Last week we announced that Debo34 would be answering this weeks ‘Ask a Pro’ question.
The question that Debo chose to answer (by default 
is the most non poker related question we’ve had so far. It has to do with getting a little ‘tipsy’ while playing poker, and whether or not this is something that should be done. Debo34 gives some great wisdom. Every poker player that enjoys the odd dose of spirits has been faced with the question. To drink or not to drink. Sure it can loosen you up, but that is not always good!
Check out Debo’s response in the thread here. http://blog.ultimatebet.com/2009/03/pro-debo34-2/#comments
Check back tomorrow (Friday) afternoon to see who is answering next weeks question. You can take your shot at getting direct poker insights from an Ultimate Bet pro.
GL
Aces
Tags: Ask A Pro, Debo34
Comments (1)
Thursday, March 12, 2009 - smokin_aces
Gary ‘Debo34′ Debernardi is one of our online pros here at Ultimate Bet. You can see him in tournaments of all shapes and sizes and his poker knowledge is vast.
This week you can ask Debo34 a question in the comments section of this blog and one lucky reader will get their question answered by Debo34 next Thursday.
Check out his Bio at Ultimatebet.com.
All you need to do is ask Debo34 a question in the comments section of this blog post.
So fire away and learn from an Ultimate Bet pro!
Tags: Ask A Pro, Debo34, online poker pros, Poker Strategy
Comments (7)
Thursday, February 12, 2009 - smokin_aces
In last week’s ‘Ask a Pro’, we announced Annie Duke would be answering this week’s question.
Blog reader ‘Ulimate Poker’ asked this great question.
“I would like to know what factors you considered when redesigning the tournament schedule at UltimateBet?”
Here is what Annie Duke had to say.
“That is an easy question to answer because the main and most overriding factor in designing the tournament schedule is the players’ wishes. I truly believe that you cannot be successful in this business if you do not give the players what they want.
When I initially started reworking the tournament schedule I reached out to both the online pros associated with UB such as Debo and P0ker H0 and the Pocket Fives community to really get a bead on what the online poker community wants in a tournament schedule (balancing that with the size of UB and what tournaments it can realistically support).
One really successful example of this is the addition last summer of the $25+2.50 tournament at 9:20 pm eastern every night. That was a tournament that was completely requested by the players. The players practically petitioned for it! We started off at a $7500 guarantee and it has grown ever since now doing over $10K per night.
Another great example is the $1K weekly event. We started that off on Thursday nights with a $100K guarantee but had trouble making that guarantee each week. A bunch of the high limit players spoke to me and told me they would much rather have the event on Wednesday. Stupid me, I thought the $80K on Wednesday would interfere with the $1K but the high limit players told me they like to play more than one tournament at once and that they also like taking Thursday and Fridays off! So I listened to them, moved the event to Wednesday and now BOTH tournaments are doing better. The $1K did a record over $200K last week and the $80K broke $100K for the very first time.
Listening to the players is definitely a win-win. The players are happier and the site is happier too!”
Join us next week when we welcome back Scott Ian to Ask a Pro. Scott Ian, guitarist of Anthrax and talented Ultimate Bet pro has answered here before. So look forward to getting a one on one dialogue with the Poker’s Rock and Roll heavyweight, Scott Ian.
To ask Scott Ian a question, enter your question directly into the comments section of this blog.
ASK SCOTT IAN A QUESTION NOW!
GL
Aces
Tags: Annie Duke, Ask A Pro, Poker Strategy, Scott Ian, tournament structure
Comments (4)
Thursday, February 5, 2009 - smokin_aces
This week’s ‘Ask A Pro’ is with Tracy “FATCATS” Scala. Most of you are familiar with his track record here at Ultimate Bet. Now one lucky UB Blog reader has been selected by Tracy for a one on one Q & A session.
Our blog reader dp_burnsy asked this of Tracy “FATCATS” Scala.
“Hey Tracy,
I’ve been a huge fan of yours since Season One of the Best Damn Poker Show. Actually, I’ve seen you in many big events but you manage to avoid the spotlight for the most part. Nice work, i get the sense you play solely for the love of the game.
Anyway, my question is in two parts and the first is this. When you first sit down to a table, do you have any sort of checklist that you go through to assess the field? Also, when you’re deciding whether to get into a hand, do you have a checklist in terms of what things help you decide to play the hand or not?
Basically I’m trying to become a more disciplined player, and i’ve heard that this approach can help.
Thanks!
DP”
Here’s Tracy’s answer.
“Thank you for your question-it is a good one. I do not have a specific check list when I first sit down at a table to play but I definitely make assessments about my opponents often based on very limited information. I immediately start to label each player with broad titles such as amateur or pro, loose or tight, weak or aggressive and so on. Sometimes the way they play a single hand, something they say or even the way they are dressed is enough to make my initial judgment. I stick with my decisions until their play proves me wrong.
When deciding which hands to play in tournament poker, all good players assess numerous variables. For me, position is the most important factor. I would much rather play any two random cards on the button than A7 under the gun! Another important consideration of mine is whether or not any of my opponents have already shown strength in the hand. For example, I will almost always raise with KJ in the cutoff but seldom call with it.
Being a disciplined poker player is important but I would caution you against trying to apply a checklist to every situation. I feel that poker is a game with so many variables that is impossible to be played the same every time. I think the players that are able to look at each situation as a unique challenge and make intelligent, well thought out decisions every time are the ones that succeed in poker.
I hope this was helpful. Thank you for your question.
Tracy Scala”
Next week the ‘Ask A Pro’ blog is coming full circle. Annie Duke was the first Ultimate Bet Poker Pro featured for ‘Ask A Pro’ and now she’s back to answer one lucky question. To ask your question to Annie Duke, simply enter it into the comments section of this blog post by Sunday Feb 8 at 8 PM EST.
Then check back next Thursday to see if your question was chosen by Annie Duke!
Ask Annie Duke a question now!
Tags: Annie Duke, Ask A Pro, Poker Strategy, poker tournament strategy, Tracy "Fatcats" Scala
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Thursday, February 5, 2009 - UB Marketing
The turnout for the last Ultimate Bet Blog Tournament was so great that we had to increase the registration limit the day of the event to keep up with the overwhelming demand. You guys like your freerolls! We’re happy to announce that due to popular demand, we’ve decided to make these tournaments a more regular event. From this month on you can mark it in your calendar that the Ultimate Bet Blog Tournament will run on the last Wednesday of each month. That means the next one is coming up on Wednesday February 25th 2009.
What do you have to do to gain entry to this event? It’s simple, as a loyal UB Blog reader you’re about to gain all the insight you need. Simply enter the code UBBLOGaew0r7q4pwn and you’re IN! Why are we giving you so much advanced notice? Because we want you to be as mentally prepared as possible to maximize your rewards and your FUN! That’s why we encourage you to check out the wealth of poker strategy related information available to you here on this blog. The Ultimate Bet pros regularly blog here and most of the time it’s about POKER STRATEGY! For example, each week we run a regular blog post called ‘Ask a Pro’. You can ask your questions directly to some of the biggest, baddest names in Poker. We’ve had Annie Duke, HollywoodDave, Scott Ian, Shawn Rice, Phil Hellmuth, Adam ‘Roothlus’ Levy, and later today, Tracy ‘FATCATS’ Scala. So during your tournament preparation, check out these insightful posts and learn a thing or two…..OR TEN! As well, each week you’ve got the chance to ‘Ask a Pro’ the question of your choice.
So get ready for the next Ultimate Bet Blog Tournament and check back here for updates. We haven’t finalized the payout structure yet, but rest assured, it will be good. Good luck at the tables!
Tags: Adam "Roothlus" Levy, Annie Duke, Ask A Pro, blog tournament, Hollywood Dave, online poker tournaments, Phil Hellmuth, poker tournament, poker tournament tips, Scott Ian, ShawnRice, Tracy "Fatcats" Scala
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Friday, January 30, 2009 - smokin_aces
Next week we’ll be treated to an answer by Ultimate Bet Pro Tracy “FATCATS” Scala. I’m sure you’re all quite familiar with Tracy’s proven track record of poker success. He has many top finishes in both online poker and in various WSOP and WPT tournaments. As well, he finished in first place during the first season of the Best Damn Poker Show. Tracy Scala is a calculating player with stacks of experience.
Don’t miss your oppourtunity to get your question answered by Tracy Scala. Post your question in the comments section of this blog post by this Sunday at 8pm EST. Then check back next Thursday to see if Tracy chose your question.
Ask Tracy Scala a question now!
GL
Aces
Tags: Ask A Pro, Best Damn Poker Show, Poker Strategy, Tracy "Fatcats" Scala, WPT, WSOP
Comments (3)
Thursday, January 29, 2009 - smokin_aces
Last week we announced that Adam “Roothlus” Levy was going to answer the Pro Question this week. We received one question so potentially enlightening, Adam just HAD to choose it.
The question was posed by paulodiablo and is as follows.
“Hey Roothlus, I’ve got a couple of questions for you. You’re pretty well known in the online community for your success at tournament play. What’s a good ROI and in-the-money statistic for a decent winning tournament player online… or what should a player be aspiring for statistically? Also when you were crafting your game, how did you go about assessing your own gaps and weaknesses, and put together a plan to remedy them?”
And here is Adam ‘Roothlus’ Levy’s response.
“Hey paulodiablo,
Thanks for the question. I’ll do my best to answer it. While I can give you a ballpark figure, there really is no correct answer as to when an ROI(return on investment) starts becoming a ‘good’ ROI. I’d say that if you have more than a 40% ROI over a decent sample size that’s a good ROI. In the past games were a little bit softer so I would’ve said 50% 2 years ago but nowadays with more people having an understanding of the game, things have gotten a little tougher. A good ITM (in-the-money) would be 15% although theoretically you could have a 40% ITM rate and still have a negative ROI. So what I’m getting at is, your ROI is your bottom line and is all that should matter. Yes, looking at your ITM and other stats are fun to look at but nothing is more truthful on how much you make than your ROI.
When I was coming up through the ranks circa 2005 I would constantly watch the top players at the time and see what they did that I didn’t. I’d also talk to many players about the game. One thing you can do to point out some of your leaks is review hand histories and see if there was anything you could’ve done differently. Sometimes I would ask players their opinions of me just to get some outside perspective. In order to improve as a poker player you must be humble enough to admit that you need to improve. Sounds kind of obvious but ego can get in the way of things sometimes. Hope this answered your questions and good luck at the tables.
–Adam Levy a.k.a Roothlus”
A big thanks goes out to both paulodiablo and Adam Levy for being a part of this week’s Ask A Pro.
Be sure to check back tomorrow, and every Friday afternoon to find out who next weeks ‘Ask A Pro’ guest will be.
GL
Aces
Tags: Adam "Roothlus" Levy, Ask A Pro, paulodiablo, Poker Strategy
Comments (2)
Friday, January 23, 2009 - smokin_aces
Greeting to all the poker players out there. The ‘Ask A Pro’ blog is now fully operational again and we’re looking forward to continuing our series. The ‘Ask a Pro’ blog had a great response from our readers so now that we’ve let our pros have a much deserved breather, we’re back and ready for your amazing questions.
In case you’re checking this out for the first time, ‘Ask A Pro’ is your chance to speak directly with a different Ultimate Bet pro each week. Each Friday afternoon we’ll announce which pro will answer one lucky question. All you have to do to enter is write your question in the comments section of the Friday post by no later than 8pm EST each Sunday. Each week one lucky reader will have their question selected by the pro. The ‘Ask a Pro’ answer will be posted each Thursday afternoon.
This week, we’re excited to announce Adam Levy as the ‘Ask A Pro’ host. Adam is no stranger to the game and is well poised to bring you his specific blend of tride, tested and true poker insights.
Ask Adam Levy a question now!!
GL
Aces
Tags: Ask A Pro, Poker Strategy, reader response
Comments (2)
Thursday, December 25, 2008 - smokin_aces
As a special holiday treat, this week Phil has chosen a question to answer.
Racer submitted a very well thought out, in depth question that Phil answered in two parts.
Racer
“Hi Phil! I have a question about pot odds, fold equity, and big stack play.
For example: say you have above avg. stack, final few tables with the blinds 2,4k., and fairly tight table.
You are in position to make a raise from the button,no callers behind you, with the SB and BB slightly less than you. Say your holding something like A,10,or less, or maybe K,Q, or even small PP. Because this situation looks like a ’steal’, do you ever have the mindset of ’sizing’ your raise in regards to the blinds stack, in case of a re-shove from your opponent so your getting around 2:1 on your money?”
Phil Hellmuth
“Absolutely, if i have a real hand like A-10 or K-Q on the button, then a lot of times I will make a big raise, like to 16 or even 20K to show that I have something, and that I’m committed to play for a reraise. Then again, i may decide that A-10 on the button is good enough for me, and open for 12k with the intent of calling a shove. I use the second tactic when I feel a player is super aggressive and pretty loose with his move ins.”
Racer
“On the flip side, in a similar situation (except possibly a few seats away from the button)do you have the mindset leaving yourself some fold equity in case of a re-shove?
Im sure sure table dynamics and reads on opponents plays a huge part of this, but i just find my big stack play could use some improving, so maybe some helpful hints and some insight from the worlds greatest player could help!”
Phil Hellmuth
“Well, generally speaking, if I’m playing tight, then they know i have something when i pop it up. Assuming a reraise, then at that point I do trust my reads, and that is the part that I cannot teach, the part that you need to improve through practice, practice, practice. I have made calls with K-Q (no too often), thinking that they have 9-9 or 10-10, and when I’m right—most of the the time—I look pretty good. i have also folded A-Q, and looked pretty good when they show A-K. Reads are what separates the greatest players from the great players. If you are weak on reading ability, then you can still use a reasoned, well though out, and primarily mathematical approach. In general, when they reraise you, assuming that you’re playing tight, then they have a strong hand. Especially in deep stack poker, and especially late in the tournament.
Let me take a moment to wish everyone out there Happy Holidays! May we all be blessed and have great 2009’s!”
Tags: Ask A Pro, big stack play, Fold Equity, happy holidays, Phil Hellmuth, Pot Odds, Pro Answers, table dynamics
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Friday, December 19, 2008 - smokin_aces
Our Ultimate Bet Pros are your ideal resource for more than just poker strategy improvements. Since they spend the majority of their time in pursuit of the Ultimate poker experience, they’re your best source for ALL things poker. Whether it’s Annie Duke giving pointers for borderline hands in a poker tournament, HollywoodDave lending bankroll management insights, Scott Ian giving his well learned advice for fast tracking poker skill advancement, Shawn Rice sharing wisdom on shifting gears in a tournament, you can find it all here. And if you don’t, YOU CAN ASK YOUR OWN QUESTION!
We at Ultimate Bet enjoy a good celebration once in a while, especially when it’s to mark a momentous occasion. To add even more excitement to this Holiday Season, none other than living legend himself, Phil Hellmuth will be the ‘Ask A Pro’ host next week. Coincidentally it happens to fall on December 25th! Those of you planning to enjoy the festivities will have one more special gift waiting under the digital tree.
Phil Hellmuth obviously needs no introduction. Since our good friend paulodiablo has gone sun seeking for the next 3 weeks, we need more participation from the shy ones! We know you’re out there, and like any poker enthusiast, we know you’ve got questions. To get your shot at speaking directly to Phil Hellmuth, enter your question in the comments section of this blog post by Sunday December 21st at 8 pm EST. Then check back on Dec 25th to find out if Phil chose your question.
Ask Phil Hellmuth a question now!
GL
Aces
Tags: Annie Duke, Ask A Pro, Hollywood Dave, Phil Hellmuth, Scott Ian, ShawnRice
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