Cash game poker is what many poker stars began on. These games, which can occur in online poker rooms or at casinos, allow people to place bets on single hands, or multiple hands of poker. The players can come or leave as they desire, and this provides a much more, informal and relaxed atmosphere.

Tournament poker is quite different. Most tournaments require a fee to enter which, for some tournaments, can be quite hefty. Tournaments usually try to pit same skill level players against each other, to see if they can keep up with their competition. Also, tournaments do not allow players to switch tables or leave without being disqualified. However, most tournament poker games end with the winners making a large amount of money, and the other players making less, or no money at all.

Cash and tournament poker are two totally separate ideas. Whether you want to play a quick game of poker at your local casino, or go to a poker tournament and win a large amount of money, you need to know how to play a good game. Make sure you know what you are getting into before starting to play poker in a tournament or in a plain cash game. Sven’s Tight Poker Tips is a great source for poker knowledge!

Photo credit: Free Poker Photos.

Overlays for Added Value

One of the ways to gain a big edge is to look for a big overlay in tournaments. This adds value to the tournament and improves your odds. An overlay occurs when a given tournament has a guarantee. This is quite common in online tournaments as a way of drumming up interest in the tournament. If the tournament is well publicized, the site will probably make its guarantee easily which doesn’t add any value to you. However, if a less well-known or publicized tournament has a big guarantee, they may not make their goal number, which means more value for you.

How Overlays Give Added Value

Let’s say a tournament is $50 to enter. If 101 players enter there is $5050 in the prize pool. Assuming you all have an equal chance to win, you are all getting fair odds. You are 100-to 1-to win and the tournament pays out at 100-to-1 (this is not entirely accurate as the tournament collects an entry fee, plus unless the tournament is winner take all, you will not get the entire $5050 for winning, but the point is that the tournament is a relatively fair value proposition). Let’s say, however, that the tournament has a $10,000 guarantee. Now the tournament is paying out at 200-to-1 even though you have a 100-to-1 chance to win, adding significant value.

Taking Advantage of Overlays for Added Value

Of course, most players think that in a 100 player tournament, they have a better than 100-to-1 chance to win. Some are correct in this assumption and some are not. Either way, if you play in a tournament with an overlay, your chances of winning, whatever they were before the tournament began, have now improved. If you can find tournaments of this nature, you should always take advantage of them.

Here’s the screenshots:

Here’s her side of the story. What a donk.

I know theory says to play aggressive when people tighten up close to the money, but I only agree when you’re up against smaller stacks in a specific hand. No need to risk anything as a short stack — someone else will!

She looks lovely as ever.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Until yesterday. I don’t mind a bad beat. Honestly, I don’t. I realize how good it feels to be on the other end, so I embrace the fact that every once in a while, you’re the one giving the joy. BUT NOT 3 IN TWO MINUTES IN 3 FREAKING TOURNAMENTS ALRIGHT!

T1: 10$ 180players S&G NLH. Pick up AQs, raise 3BB get called by two people. Flop comes two spades, all unders. I bet 2/3 pot, one fold, one call. Turn makes my nut flush. I bet 1/2 pot, BB shoves, i call — he has made his second pair on the turn. River makes his boat. GRRR.

T2: 24$ Pot Limit Omaha. I’m in second chip position when I pick up AAKJ, two diamonds (AJ). The flop comes Ace and two diamonds. I mean that’s the ultimate flop right there. Turn Q, river Q, woozaaa aces over queens. Opponent takes two queens out of the hole. ASSWHIPE was the only one in 65 people left who had me covered. GO FIGURE.

T3: 10$ KO NLH — 600 players. I pick up KK in the VERY FIRST HAND. I raise, I get re-raised, I re-reraise — he shoves — I call. He shows AA. I don’t suck out.

I mean

4-handed, I’m on the button with about 30% of the chips at the table. Chip leader has about half, one guy is painfully shortstacked, and had been for quite some time… He was shortstacked moving into the final table, and was just enjoying people get eliminated…

I’m deal KJ of spades on the button, and I raise 4BB. SB folds, BB re-raises the minimum — I call.

Flop comes: QT4, no spades. BB bets the pot, I call.

Turn: J

He checks, I bet 3/4 pot — he shoves. Would he really shove with AK? it would be consistent, but why would he? I ponder, and make the call (I had ‘m covered) — he turns over QJ. River: 9, making my straight.

Ha! SUCKOUT!!!!

Titan Poker runs a lot of nice promotions, including the obvious new player sign up. Some of these include sit-and-go jackpot tournaments, where players win an additional prize if they win a three amount of SnGs consecutively. Although you should be aware the rake on these games are excessive in comparison to normal SnGs. Satellites are available to several major live events, and the site also offers quite a few lucrative tournaments on their own. Titan also has a great referral bonus of $75.

Games offered include Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Omaha Hi, Five-Card Stud Hi and Seven-Card Stud. All the usual limits are well represented and with a great player volume you won’t be waiting long for a game. In general, the competition is slightly easier here than at most sites. There are plenty of players for SnG and tournaments are heavily subscribed.

Titan Poker and the iPoker network have been successful in quickly building a strong connection with players, using considered backing from the world’s second largest casino software provider, Playtech. The software is clear and easy to use and great for tiled multi-tabling. You can also access statistics and hand histories right at the table and view instant replays of your latest hands.

NB Titan is not US Friendly