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The long run winning poker player often hates to find himself in spots where the odds are out of his control. Because one of the great things about poker is that you can to a great extent direct your fate, it can feel like driving with your eyes closed when you have less options than you’d like. In certain spots, though, a player who goes by odds will be forced to gamble with hands that are the favorite (in fact, this happens almost any time there is a big handyour opponent always has outs). Deciding when to ride and when to wait for a better spot is a big part of a poker player’s arsenal.

One instance where it can be positive be frustrating to get involved is in spots where you know you have the best hand at the casino, but that it is vulnerable with many cards to come. For instance, seeing several players move all in against you preflop can be rough even when you have aces. The problem here is that you are surely ahead, but that there are so many ways to get drawn out, your fate eludes you to some extent.

Sometimes, if there are proper benefits (such as you will get paid more if you survive another hand) it can be worthwhile to lay even the better hand down, but more often, because we are here to win, you have to go with your good spots and hope they hold up in the end.

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While some poker hands make it obvious what you should do with them, other hands can be a bit more deceiving. Low splitters like 3-8, and low unsuited connectors like 4-5 won’t do you much good, while you know that pocket Aces and Kings at the casino are pre-flop gold. Things start to get complicated when you get hands that look good but usually end up screwing you over in the end. online poker hands like pocket Jacks and Ace-9 can be tough to lay down, but they usually cost you more chips than they’ll win you. Pocket Jacks are tricky because you get excited when you see pocket faces, but unless you flop a set with them, any Ace, King or Queen on the board pretty much negates any excitement that you had for your hand. Pocket Jacks get a lot less exciting when they’re looking like middle pair, and there are 12 cards in the deck that will trump your Jacks. Ace-9 is scary because an Ace in your hand is so exciting that it can make a 9 look like a decent kicker. The problem is that even if you pair that Ace, 16 cards (4 each of Kings, Queens, Jacks and 10’s) will bust your kicker.

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Massage parlors in Malaysia have a reputation for…well let’s just say that massages aren’t the only thing they’re offering these days.

But it’s not the bordello appeal of these establishments that is drawing in new customers, it’s online poker!?

According to a recent government mandate, several massage parlors in the region are being threatened to have their licenses revoked if they’re found trafficking in sex or gambling. The real humor here is that the government has recognized the problem as rampant enough to include gambling alongside the traditionally shady prostitution that comes with so many massage parlors.

It seems that recently the parlors have been operating as cyber cafes allowing patrons internet access to access online wagering and poker sites.

What’s even more surprising is that a large majority of the patrons are visiting just for the gambling, making the allure to risk money more appealing than sexual favors.

The city of Kuantan, one of Malaysia’s largest cities, has spoken publicly about the issue. Datuk Azizan Ahmad said has spoken on the issue as it concerns Kuantan. “If they conduct activities other than those listed in their licenses, such as gambling and prostitution, we should cancel their licenses.”

And he warns that the business will not be fined or warned. Instead he insists on a zero tolerance policy which will effect an immediate suspension of business operations.

All I can say is “GG Malaysia,” you’re contribution to the gambling and poker craze will be forever memorialized in whorehouses everywhere.

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Besides Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan might be the most recognized and well celebrated of any texas holdem player of all time. Immortalized as the master in his brief cameo apperance in Rounders where Matt Damon brags about bluffing him out of a pot, Johnny Chan has also acquired a host of poker honors that would make most any green.

Johnny Chan is the last player to have won back to back World Series of Poker main event titles, which is a feat most agree will never be replicated. In addition to these two titles, Johnny is tied with Doyle and second only to Phil Hellmuth in the all time WSOP Bracelets list, with 10 total.

For his style, there’s pretty much no dickering about: Johnny Chan plays perfect poker. The only time he can be beat is when his opponent gets lucky on him: for the most part he puts his money in when he is good and does not put it in when he is bad, which is the essential and sometimes elusive goal for most any player. It is often as if Chan knows exactly what his opponents holds at all time as he can shift from making folds than no one else would to making bets that seem impossible. If there is a poker player to want to emulate in success and style alone, Chan is the one.

Though his wardrobe: you might not want to emulate that.

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