OT - Any poker enthusiasts?

DinnerIsComing

Just thought I'd see who my fellow card players are.

I rarely get to play home games these days since I work weekends. My nearest Casino or Dog Track is a bit of a drive so to be honest. I really miss online poker.

I'm a fan of nearly all variations of poker (I just really love to play cards!) with Texas Hold 'Em being my favorite, followed by Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo and 7 Card Stud.

Non poker favorites are Spades, Hearts, Gin and Yuker.

I deposited $15 one spring to my favorite online site and played 5c/10c games and grinded it out to just under $800 by the following Christmas.

I wasn't living off it but it was nice to withdraw a check off of playing change games (called Micro limits online).

Any other poker enthusiasts? Did/do you play live or online? What variation?

If this topic is deemed inappropriate due to content (gambling), please delete and I apologize.

Some of my favorite summer months were spent at the card table on the porch, grill chugging along to the side surrounded by good friends, good spirits and good food.  

bigalsworth

I am no poker player but a friend of mine got me on pokerstars.  I have been playing holdem on the free play just to get used to the game and will probably buy into a game or tournament in the future just to see if I have any chops to make it in a pay game.

My family are big card players, lots of cribbage, Kaiser, and the odd game of bridge.

DinnerIsComing

I'm jealous you have that option! They banned online poker in the US and I've been crying over it ever since. PokerStars was my site too and I still have money on there. I refuse to withdraw it, for if they make it legal again, I want to be ready ASAP to jump into the action!

cazzy

I used to play underground games 5-6 nights a week.  Now, only play in Vegas or any casino w/ healthy tables.  Play more cash games and less tournaments.

I could never get into online but have been through few hundred bucks to scratch an itch. 

jabam

I play all the time, have 3 Indian casinos within an hour of me. Go to Vegas at least twice a year and play in tournaments. I love tournaments but make more money in cash games, get to play more now that the kids are grown. 

bigalsworth

I didn't know they banned online poker in the US.  That seems crazy

DinnerIsComing

@bigalsworth Yes, banned in the US for about four years now. It was always "illegal" federally but some states permitted it. I don't know the full story, but big wigs from the poker sites were lining the pockets of big wigs of the US banking industry to "look away" at deposit transactions.

The FBI seized the domain names of the major sites until the back taxes were paid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Scheinberg

Full Tilt was caught in a huge ponzi scheme embezzling the funds of their players. It was at this point that PokerStars purchased FullTilt from the US government under the stipulation of paying Full Tilts back taxes.

PokerStars paid it as well as it's own tax evasion tab under the conditions that when online poker is legal again, they are welcome to join the US market.

bigalsworth

Huh, guy learns something new every day

bigalsworth

I'm just leaning poker, I really have no idea what kind of strategies there are and I can't ball park odds either.  Maybe I never will but I am enjoying playing online at the moment

DinnerIsComing

For Hold 'Em, it's easy to get a general idea of the odds to hit your hand once you have the formula figured out.

Count the number of "outs" you have, outs being cards that will win the hand for you.

If you're looking at the flop, and have both cards to come (turn and river) then take your number of outs, multiply it by 2, and that's a rough % of the chances to make your hand.

So.

You have Ah Qh (Ace of hearts and Queen of hearts).

the flop is 10h 5s 2h

You have 4 to a flush, with two cards to come.

We've seen 4 hearts, leaving 9 left in the deck.

Times it by two, and you have a roughly 18% chance of making your flush by the river with two cards to come.

If you're only willing to pay to see the turn card, or you're on the turn and only the river left, then the number of outs is roughly the % chance of making your hand.

9 outs, one card to go, Roughly 9% to make your hand.

This doesn't take into account your opponents holdings, merely the odds of you making your hand.

If that came out as gibberish, I apologize! I hope I explained it easily.

bigalsworth

It makes sense, I get it and I think that will help thanks

Jeremiah

I used to play home games in college. Got pretty good at it. One night I ended up at this really crappy trailer house out in the swamp. It was sketchy but I was on a roll. About half way through the night and with well over a thousand dollars in play one guy says "ok let's make this fun" goes out to his car and comes back with a gallon ziplock bag full of cocaine. I laid my cards down and said "y'all have a good night". The next day I just knew I'd hear how they got busted. But they didn't. My luck though, had I stayed, we'd all have went to jail. Lol 

tarheelmatt

Used to play regularly. Had a few poker houses near me that played everyday. Would play tournaments first then cash games. I like Texas Holdem the best. 

bigalsworth

Well I found out today that cash games are not like play money games.  Didnt put a lot of money in so it was a cheap lesson at least.  I'm going to have to learn to fold a few hands I think.

ksmyrl

I used to play in a weekly game with some close friends. Cheap, 20 buy in and 20 rebuy.  Till I figured I was paying 40 bucks to drink my own liquor with guys who would hang out w me anyway. On the other hand. I love some Pai Gow poker in the casinos.