Thursday, January 1, 2009 - Pete
The December days of deals went very well. Players received some amazing prizes every single day in December. Flat screen plasma TV’s to double loyalty points.
The big hit for December was the rakerace. This was the largest rakerace in the history of online poker and it was a hit. We will have given out over $220,000 in cash.
It truly paid to be a player on Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet this month.
I can’t wait to say Happy New Year as we have so many amazing promotions and technology enhancements coming out in 2009.
Keep your eye out for more amazing promos coming up in January. Especially, UBOC (Ultimate Bet Online Challenge) which starts Janaury 9th.
Tags: Corporate, day of deals, Executive, happy holidays, new year, poker promotions, rakerace, software updates, technology enhancements, UBOC, ultimate bet online challenge
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Sunday, December 28, 2008 - P0ker H0
Around the Holidays each year, Phil comes back to his hometown of Madison, WI. His family still lives here so he frequently visits. After all the Holiday stuff is done, He rounds up all the old guys and we get a game going. Most of the time we hold it at a good friend of Phil’s, Jon Green’s house, but due to the fact one of the players in this years game owns 2 of the nicest strip clubs in Wisconsin, we are going to move it there instead:) I mean if playing with Phil isnt enough, we get to have strippers massaging and bartending for us.
The game is 5-5 pot limit holdem and what a game it is. The players range from 27 to 70, and great to inexperienced. Im not kidding when I say you could write a movie about everysingle person in this game. Some would be more interesting than others, but Ebert and Ropert would give at least 2 thumbs up for anyone. From “Jimmy Pizza” to “Jimmy Duece”. From “Bald Headed Gary” to Concrete Larry”. From “Ladies and Gentlemen Mr. Jon Green” to “Ladies and Gentlemen the Great P0ker H0″, the list goes on and on. Wayne “Tilly” Tyler, Tim Belstner, Paul Clements are a few others to name. These people have been playing in this home game since Phil won his first bracelet. The youngest player that plays in our game is Mike “Wisco” Murray. He has really come along way since I have met him, and im proud to say he definitely deserves to play in this game.
Every year there is a hand that is unforgettable, and im sure this year will be no different. To prove to you im not lying, read this hand from last year.
In this game it is typical to straddle and in this hand it was straddled 3 times. Phil is first to act and bumps it up large. it fold around to the button. We will refer to the Button player as “SpaMan”. SpaMan reraises and Phil calls. Its only these 2 in the hand and the pot has around 900 in it before the flop comes out. 962 FLOP. BAMMMMMM!!! Spaman flips over his hand. he has J9. but wait? you are asking why he flipped over his hand on the flop? Well in this game it is common for people to try and outplay phil just to say they did it. Anyway, Phil bets the pot knowing this guy has top pair. Spaman thinks and calls. now there is 3kish in the pot and now the board is 962K. Phil checks, and spaman bets out 2600. Phil reraises 4kish, and this is where the fun begins. Spaman really thinks he has the best hand and is talking trash to phil the whole time telling him hes gonna beat him in a hand with his cards exposed. Well, Spaman calls the turn bet. WOW. Now there is 10k plus in the pot. the river comes an absolute blank. I believe it was 962K3. Phil leads out for 8kish and Spaman folds? Phil shows a complete bluff and the place goes nuts.
So many things are crazy about this hand. If Spaman thought he was good on the turn, why not think hes good on the river. Whats amazing on phils end is he knows this guy has 2nd pair and bad kicker, and because he check raised the turn, he could have a king. Phil basically found a way to represent the only card that Spaman would be afraid of. But than you can go back to if he thought he was good on turn, why not river. Its a crazy hand, and was a 17kish pot on a complete bluff if a 5-5 pl holdem game. Just crazy. Phil was just hoping Spaman couldnt possibly think he was bluffing if he could see his cards, and Spaman was thinking this is what phil was thinking. Called him down on every street, and folded the river? It made no sense, but was one of the craziest hands ive seen.
I will try to find a better hand this year, but it will be tough:)
Happy Holidays Everyone
P0ker H0
Tags: Hand of the Year, happy holidays, P0ker H0, Phil Hellmuth, Play Poker, Poker Strategy
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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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Thursday, December 25, 2008 - COO
I just wanted to wish all of you a happy holiday season.
I personally have a lot to be happy about and I hope all of you do as well.
May your EV always be positive!
Tags: happy holidays
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