Way to go Phil Gordon!

Changing gears in Poker means implementing a diverse speed from the present situation. You can opt to be a reckless player or resort to an aggressive manner of playing by being conservative about the number of hands being played by you.

One of the most pertinent question is that why do poker players change gears? Poker players indulge in this act as it facilitates the action of duping the opponents thereby gauging their playing styles. By doing this player can play bluffs and semi-bluffs to change the mood of the game. Players are successful in surprising, shocking and fooling their opponents most of the times by following this method. The other players would not be able to stereotype you and the game could become very unpredictable as well.

The game of poker is very vibrant as the stakes keep altering, the pots are small and big, the blinds vary and so do the players. The act of changing gears adds to the vitality of the game. Players should know in which situations they should change gears.

Constancy on the poker table

After you have spent significant time on a table, judged the opponents, the average pot size, the stakes and so on you should fracture the recurring pattern by changing gears. This would alter the views of the opponents about you and it may also help you to win chips and you may become a significant player on the poker table.

Diverse phases of the game

Originally the game of poker was played conservatively and the opponents were incessantly trying to read each other. Once they are familiar to the opponents and the time consumed in the game this action is adopted to attract attention as well as money by most poker players. When you are sure of winning the pot you must augment your speed which would result in punishing the opponent’s brutally by raising stakes.

Winning or losing amount changes

While playing if you are on a winning or a losing streak and you want to break away from the dull and conventional manner of playing poker changing gears helps immensely. If you have conservative image you should do the opposite and vice-versa.

Put an end to bluffs

This is the best way to enhance your representation on the poker table. If you need an image makeover changing gears is the finest way of doing it. Become a taut and traditional player and slow down on your semi-bluffs and bluffs.

Malou has a lot more poker tips for you – check out her Poker Tips site for loads of great help!

I know we’re not used to seeing Phil Ivey being really tormented after a bustout – but this one will sting for a LONG LONG time for sure…

The establishments usually have some particular rules specific to the place but certain commonly accepted behaviors and codes of conduct allow the administration to regulate the atmosphere in the casinos and ensure an agreeable ambiance for everyone. While the establishment does not take responsibility for the behavior of the players, these rules and regulations allow them to maintain a strict check on people and the breaking of any of these rules entitles the management to bar the person from using the services of the facility.

One of the primary rules states that there ca be no conspiring between any two or more of the players or any other form of trickery that will constitute as cheating. The game has to be played fair and square and each individual is to play only for himself.

The players are expected to be at their best behavior. And aggressive gesture, both verbal and physical, towards another player or towards any of the employees working at the establishment is prohibited. Also, the use of any obscene language be it in the form of innuendoes, abusive language, profanity or insults is completely prohibited. The managements aim to maintain a pleasing atmosphere and vulgar language is not to be tolerated.

The game rooms are provided with security and guards and electronic surveillance to protect the interests of the administration and also to ensure the security of the patrons. The players themselves are prohibited from carrying any firearms or any other kind of weapon. In exceptional cases, the management has to be contacted and permission has to be sought before bringing in a weapon of any kind into the game rooms.

Illegal substances of all kinds and forms are banned from the game rooms. This rule is to be upheld at all times and an infringement can not only cause the player to be banned from further patronage of the establishment but in most cases also leads to the lodging of a formal police complaint. There are some establishments that allow for tobacco use and do not entirely prohibit smoking. In such places, however, there are some stringent rules that dictate the norms for tobacco use. The first rule at all such places is that the people sitting directly next to the dealer, that is, on either side of the dealer, are prohibited from smoking. For obvious reasons of preventing any distraction, the seats immediately on the side of the dealer’s are declared to be non-smoking seats. While cigarettes are allowed, the next rule prohibits the smoking of pipes or cigars in the game rooms. The final rule at establishments that allow smoking states that only the patrons themselves may smoke but onlookers and visitors can not. Pivo Poker has some great ideas on new smoking rules at poker tables – I’ve spoken to him personally and look forward to reading up on his ideas on his poker weblog.

That’s one sick heads-up poker hand if you ask me…

Then again – the call was good seeing the hole cards afterwards, and Doyle got lucky…

Full Tilt Poker Game #11731506251: $11 + $0.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (88007027), Table 1 – 15/30 – No Limit Hold’em – 12:07:37 ET – 2009/04/17
Seat 1: Scotty Adams (1,560)
Seat 2: omgsosick (1,440)
omgsosick posts the small blind of 15
Scotty Adams posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to omgsosick [Kd Kh]
omgsosick raises to 90
Scotty Adams calls 60
*** FLOP *** [3s 8d Ts]
Scotty Adams bets 120
omgsosick calls 120
*** TURN *** [3s 8d Ts] [5h]
Scotty Adams checks
omgsosick bets 375
Scotty Adams raises to 750
omgsosick raises to 1,230, and is all in
Scotty Adams calls 480
omgsosick shows [Kd Kh]
Scotty Adams shows [5s Ac]
*** RIVER *** [3s 8d Ts 5h] [8s]
omgsosick shows two pair, Kings and Eights
Scotty Adams shows two pair, Eights and Fives
omgsosick wins the pot (2,880) with two pair, Kings and Eights
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,880 | Rake 0
Board: [3s 8d Ts 5h 8s]
Seat 1: Scotty Adams (big blind) showed [5s Ac] and lost with two pair, Eights and Fives
Seat 2: omgsosick (small blind) showed [Kd Kh] and won (2,880) with two pair, Kings and Eights

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