See Ya George

Let’s preview another one of the participants who made it through to the final table of the 2009 World Series of Poker main event, James Akenhead. Another younger fellow, Akenhead hails from London, where unlike some of his peers appearing at the final table, plans to spend the next few months avoiding poker and tournaments to try to get some relaxation before the pressure mounts again.

And when Akenhead returns to the United States in November, he’ll need some luck on his side. Currently in last (or ninth) place, he has $6.8M in chips, the short stack at the table. The table average is about $22M for the final table, so James is considerably below that average with seemingly a mountain to climb to get onto the top players’ radar as a threat to get between them and their crown. You might think the same of Phil Ivey just by his $11M and change chip count, but I assure you there’s a world of difference that goes with the name association. Ivey might be in the middle-bottom of the chip count stack, too (and he is well below the average), but he doesn’t have his reputation for no reason.

Anyway, Akenhead is optimistic about his chances to download full tilt poker. He was short stack when he was in 10th place and overcame that to make the final table in the first place, so he’s taking solace from the fact that he can climb up over one person at a time. If he can take one step and get up to eight, and perhaps double his chip count in the process, then who knows what can happen next.

Akenhead is another relative newcomer to the game, as is becoming more and more common with the Internet opening up the poker and gambling world to all corners of the Earth. He’s been a self-declared professional (”playing as a job” as he puts it) for only three years, and even more surprisingly has been playing poker at any level for just five. There’s definitely validity to the statement made my all the top players when they say they don’t see a pro ever winning the main even again, because the sheer number of amateurs and new professionals they face each year is in the thousands.

Akenhead is well-suited for this particular game, though, as he doesn’t dabble in cash games much, sticking mostly to tournament play on Party Poker. That experience has helping him get this far. And last year, he came in second place in one of the world series of poker tournaments. That, he says, only grew his appetite to come back for the kill once again in 2009.

An unassuming baby face, Akenhead rambles in interviews in a timid, approachable tone. He seems to be a likable guy, but it’s a great mask when he’s trying to guy you at the table. I doubt he’ll take any of the other eight by surprise in November, but he’s definitely an underdog worth rooting for.

A poker player should select a game whose stakes are comfortable in relation to one’s poker bankroll. Often, new “full-time” poker players make the mistake of either playing over their head, or selecting a game in which the stakes are familiar or comfortable to them. While being comfortable is important in overall game selection, one must first size up the stakes in relation to bankroll size.

When choosing a level of poker to play on www.PokerStar.com, it goes without saying that the stakes should mean something to you. In fact, if the stakes are meaningless, it is truly a waste of time to play poker on what is thought of as a serious level. A $.05-.10 fixed limit game may be small in stakes, but that does not mean the game cannot be taken seriously. However, if a player lacks the ability to look at even a tiny game such as that in a serious manner, he should wait until his bankroll is sufficient to fund action in a level that is better able to be given serious thought.

A full-time poker player should have a minimum of 500 big bets behind him in his poker bankroll. This 500-bet minimum is in relation to money solely earmarked for poker play, and should be separate from the money utilized to pay short-term bills. Several months worth of bill paying money should be maintained in a separate account in ideal circumstances. If this is not the case, then a player should have a second means of income, which is capable of single-handedly paying the bills monthly.

When finding a level of game suited to your bankroll, have a plan if your bankroll is doubled. If you start out with $1000 on PokerStar, earmarked to play $1-2 Fixed Limit Holdem, plan to make the leap to the $2-4 game for a few sessions. Should you remain comfortable and successful at the $2-4 mark, consider remaining at this level. Give yourself a promotion. If uncomfortable at this level, it is acceptable to take profits from your bankroll, moving half the amount to either an emergency fund, or to pad your long-term savings account and move back to the $1-2 FL stakes.

Additionally, one can plan to move down in stakes if the bankroll takes a beating. If playing $1-2 FL online, and you encounter the negative end of variance, slide down to $.50-1 stakes – where you will again be with appropriate bankroll. You can graduate back to the $1-2 level when you double up.

By playing appropriately sized games, you stand a far better chance of successfully managing your bankroll, which will in turn extend your shelf life as a full-time poker player.

Earning a big stack in a cash game is quite rewarding. In addition to looking forward to the big payday of a strong session on the cash tables, having the big stack at the table can be fun. The opportunity to instill fear in opposing players is a great feeling when playing poker. Knowing everyone at the poker table is gunning for a piece of your stack is also exciting, as you know you are the man for the moment at least at the poker table. While playing with a big stack, there are some tactics one can employ to utilize the big stack effectively while minimizing one’s risk of imploding.

Focus on the Short Stacks

It is natural to open up the playbook when sporting a big stack. It is quite normal to begin bullying and testing the table. The most effective way of bullying is to pick on the small guy or the short stacks. The short stack players are quite limited in their options, as they are often faced with a decision to move all-in or fold. Because these players are restricted in such a manner, it is wise to bully them, forcing them to submit with inferior holdings or decide to play ball without the best of it. When we do run into a monster hand, the cost of defeat by the short stack’s hands is not terribly costly. Additionally, getting caught bullying the short stack with a garbage hand is cheap advertising for later use.

Avoid other Big Stacks

Another trick in playing with a big stack is avoiding tangling with fellow big stacked players while holding a marginal hand. Remember the golden rule of playing big pots with big hands while leaving small pots for small hands goes a long way in playing against fellow big stacked poker players. The big stacked players at Ultimate Bet Poker will notice you bullying the other players, but may not notice you are purposely avoiding them. When they are out to get you, they may be tricked into believing you are bullying them as well when you finally blow over the top of them with a monster. When well timed, you may own their stack as well, thus further reinforcing the stronghold your chip count already possesses over the poker table.

When playing poker with a big stack, it is important to maintain a dominant presence over the table. Bullying the short stacked players while selecting your spots carefully against fellow deep stacked players is key to maximizing the reward while minimizing the risk when rocking the deep stack.

Before joining a new poker room, most poker players will look for the best deposit bonus available or the top poker bonus they can find at a room they do not yet have an account with. If you have ever done this, you will know that it can take some time to find the best poker bonus. However, some poker players will usually know in advance which room they wish to join – then just look for any old deposit bonus.

These poker players forget to do a search for rakeback. Surprisingly, poker rakeback is still not that well known among online poker players. Most top players that put in hours of poker a day playing know about the benefits of and receive rakeback. The average Joe, on the other hand plays poker a few hours a week has no idea what rakeback is or how it works.

What is Rakeback?

Rakeback is simply getting back some of the rake that you pay to the poker room. Rake is paid in every hand at a cash table that sees a flop, or every poker tournament you play, usually amounting to 10% of the buy-in. So if you play a $10 tournament, $1 is usually added to the entry fee that does not go to the prize pool. However, if you have a rakeback deal, for example, 40% rakeback, you will get 40c back from the $1 that you paid in rake.

Which is Better – Rakeback or Bonus?

Some people can make the mistake, see a big deposit bonus, and think that the deposit bonus is better for them because they do not actually play much poker so the rakeback would not make much difference. That logic is flawed. If you do not play much poker, it is even less likely that the deposit bonus will make a difference. This is because it is unlikely that you will gain enough points to clear you deposit bonus and actually get any money, as deposit bonuses drop dead after an amount of time. Rakeback however does not typically have such requirements. You can receive full tilt poker rakeback if you rake $10 or $10000 a month in most poker rooms. Additionally, rakeback is constant. Rakeback is there as long as you play at that site, with no drop-dead dates. Even with deposit bonuses, once you clear it – it is gone.

While most people seek out a juicy looking deposit bonus, they are far better off seeking a great rakeback deal. Rakeback is consistent, has little requirements tied to it, and will not go away.