As I write extensively about online poker and run my own poker website I hear from many people who make it their mission to spread their message that every poker site is rigged and that poker is a sin and gamblers are all flawed addicts. This may be true in some cases, but I must make a defence at why I believe this is not the case. Poker is a great way to get entertained both outside in a social setting and at home online for a relatively cheap price and on the whole I believe players engage in poker with control and awareness of potential dangers.

T.J. Cloutier has found himself back in the headlines recently regarding the pawning of a WSOP bracelet which was then subsequently sold on by the pawnbroker. It highlighted that Cloutier is alleged to play a lot Craps for long sessions and other casino games. With over $9 million in tournament prizes over his career this being used by anti-poker campaigners as an example that appearances can be deceptive over many apparently successful poker players being gamblers and secretly harbouring great losses through wagering in various forms.

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When Tom “Durrrr” Dwan offered a three to one challenge for $500,000 to any player that dared face him in a four table 50,000 hand PLO and Texas Hold’em poker online match, the world could not believe the audacity of this young poker professional. Indeed even I questioned whether he was simply an adrenalin junkie destined to go broke and his challenge was more about fulfilling a gambling need rather than driving home an actual advantage in this setting.

Unfortunately for fans of the challenge it has taken nearly a year to reach this point where currently 31,912 of the 50,000 hands have taken place. Earlier in the challenge it seemed that Durrrr was going to be made to pay handsomely for his bravery as Antonius took a large lead apparently adapting to the four tabling that Durrrr professes to be the best in the world at and looked to be in full control. Recent sessions after a long break, where Durrrr was battered by Isildur1 and the high stakes action was at an all-time high, they finally found time to play some more sessions of this intriguing challenge that had found itself somewhat on the backburner of high stakes poker interest.

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Unfortunately either a tiltdonkey16 timing error or mal255 show time arranging error meant talkshoe went wrong. Gary and Mal recorded the show this week which runs for 58 minute. We discuss Rush Poker, the Durrrr challenge, Garys plans for the next month and various other off topic things. It’s a good show and we look forward to getting Gareth back into the mix next week. Click the player to enjoy the show via the stream.

Click here to visit our podcast host page where you can download or listen to any of our previous shows.

Slow playing a hand in poker is to deliberately appear weak and check so you induce more calls or raises from your opponent when you hold a strong hand. Betting looks strong and often an opponent will fold out of position when faced with action. There are many instances in Texas Hold’em where betting is correct. Too many weaker players check when they are strong and bet when they are weak. You will have heard the saying “weak is strong, strong is weak” in poker in regards to fish poker strategy. Slow playing should only be used when the time is right.

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Well so much for managing to update this blog regularly. With that said, this month has been pretty hectic for me. I spent eight days in Oklahoma helping my dad prepare for an upcoming child custody hearing and then another four days away from my pc with different commitments that only come around once or twice, weddings, funerals etc. All in all however the time that I did spend at the virtual felt went extremely well. I managed to win at 4.4 ptbb/100 over 70k hands, which is certainly a win rate that I would be overjoyed with if I could maintain it over the course of the year.

Link to results for the month: http://i46.tinypic.com/2itftiq.jpg

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By Carl “The Dean” Sampson

I have to apologise for not posting lately as often as what I have promised. But the good news……starting 1st Feb is that this will be a daily blog except for the 14th Feb when I am taking the missus somewhere special for Valentines Day.

Things have been really hectic lately and I have finally got someone lined up to play The Jackal properly from next month. We have agreed that he keeps all winnings and rakeback and simply pays me a kick back if and when he reaches $5k.

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Buoyed by the recent upturn in cash game activity and commentary I decided to return to the poker tables and play some Texas Hold em poker. Most of my time is taken up writing about poker so it is important that I hit the tables for a session as often as possible to remain sharp and up to date with the current trends.

Recently I have started using Poker Tracker 3 to make hand analysis easier and have found it to be quite enjoyable! You are able to pat yourself on the back for good plays and groan in agony at the crazy call you made against a player you knew to be tight. This kind of review is essential and I was surprised at what I learnt from just twenty minutes of going through a five hundred hand session. Despite writing many articles about the benefits of such hand history review sessions believe me you have to do it to appreciate it.

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Unfortunately Gary is not too well this week but the show went ahead nevertheless. We have a good general chat about poker with mal255 and tiltdonkey16 chairing proceedings. Click the player to listen to it.

You can click here to visit the download page to download this or previous shows. Don’t forget next weeks show is on MONDAY 1st February at 8.30pm GMT/2.30pm EST rather than Tuesday due to my own diary becoming full.

1691 fellow poker bloggers turned out for the first of the World Bloggers Championships of Online Poker at Pokerstars. I represented our site as mal255.

I started badly but managed to ride the short stack below average right through the tournament before getting a stack towards the bubble. After a pleasing performance I cashed for a $16.50 SCOOP seat in 48th position. Very nice.

Also I kept Gary entertained with some bad plays early on, before he vanished in twelve table cash game action.

More to follow on our radio show Tuesday 2.30pm EST and 8.30pm GMT. See you there hopefully.