...Your Poker Bankroll...

    Most of the information and advice you will hear or find about managing a bankroll is not always what you really NEED to hear to provide you with a concrete foundation for managing your bankroll.

    In order to gain the best information about your bankroll you really need to offer up some key information to whom you are asking in order to provide a realized perception of your intentions with and for that bankroll.

                    ...So, let's just start with the game itself...

    What is poker to you?   Is it just a game that you will play with neighborhood friends three to four times a year!?!  Or is it an entertainment hobby, like bowling, that you will invest some money and time into each week that can be managed from the entertainment fund of the household inome each week/month!?! Or have you, over the years, allowed this hobby or your competitive nature to compel you to enter into a higher stakes more competitive game that requires you to have extra bullets if you want to remain competitive at the table without considering the restraints of the weekly/monthly income. If you are at this point, you are "obsessed" with the passion of the competitiveness of the game and you now need a "managable bankroll" to play with so you don't have to jeopardize your expected,  necessary "liferoll". Or is poker something you are considering doing for a living as a profession!?!

    If poker is just an entertainment outlet with friends and family, the neighborhood quarterly block meetings and you would and can just play for pennies or non-monetary plastic chips, it is obvious that you don't need a bankroll! But if you play a few times a month and up to one time a week you are going to need to establish the beginnings of a bankroll that may be large enough to help you through some of the bad nights and keep you from dipping into the allotted expense from the household income. I used bowling as an example earlier, but the only corillation was that it was a regularly scheduled event each week. Bowling has weekly dues that you expect to incur and are prepared to pay and is usually budgeted. With poker, if you want to compete you need to have an established fund that you can resort to that will not infringe upon that household income and create unexpected expenses! So you should save from your winnings to create a scenario that would allow you to buy-in to the game at least two to five times within any given session. That means, if your typical buy-in is $50, with $1/$2 blinds you should bring $100-$250 with you each time. But only bring what you are willing and comfortable losing! Just because you started with $100 six weeks ago and you now have twelve hundred dollars in your bankroll, don't bring it all with you. If you are fortunate to see a return on your investment early, you should bank that money for future sessions that are going to see you going home losing your initial and supplementary buy-ins for any given night. Then, even after a losing session you are still availaable to play the next week without going into the household income. 

    Now, if your are at the point where the weekly game with friends is alright, you continue to see a reasonable amount of a return on your investment and you now feel like you are ready to move up to a more competitive game keep in mind that the stakes are now higher, the buy-ins are now higher and your buy-ins available to play will also need to increase. At this point you will need to have at least eight to ten buy-ins if you want to go two deep in the buy-ins. That means if the average or minimal buy-in is now $100 you will now need a bankroll of $800-$1,000. BIG difference huh!?! Even if the you are still in a $1/$2 blind game? Yep! There is now more money on the table. The blinds are more likely to be raised more which creates a larger pre-flop investment that leads to a larger investment each round of betting to see the hand to the river. And, if you are now playing in a new game with unfamiliar players it is going to be more competitive and more expensive to get to a showdown. Yes, this also means that if you bring your winning ways to the new game your return on your investment will also go up. True, continue to play confidently but expect that when you do lose, you will lose more and at a more rapid rate to your stack and bankroll as well!

    Just remember, the more aggressive you are, and the more aggressive the game and it's players are the larger the bankroll you will need! If you are willing to risk four buy-ins at a higher stake game you should be prepared to now invest $400 instead of $200. In any case, at this level for every buy-in your going to add per session your bankroll needs an additional five buy-ins added to it in order to maintain it. So, if you are willing to go four buy-ins deep, your bakroll should have at least twenty buy-ins now! Here is a better, visual perception at what you should be looking at in relation to your buy-ins and how deep your bankrool should be in relation to the value and number of buy-ins within a given session.

BIs	BIs in Dollars for a $200 Max Buy Game
2	$400................................BR=$2,000
5	$1,000.............................BR=$5,000
8	$1,600.............................BR=$8,000
10	$2,000.............................BR=$10,000
15	$3,000.............................BR=$15,000
20	$4,000.............................BR=$20,000
25	$5,000.............................BR=$25,000
50	$10,000...........................BR=$50,000

       Basically what it is telling you is: If you want to play in a $200 max buy-in game and you are willing to invest 2 buy-ins ($400.00) to maintain the integrity of your bankroll you need to have at least a $2,000 bankroll to insure that you can afford a losing session, or three, and get back in the game without having to extract from your liferoll the next time you get to play!

      So take this for what it's worth. Keep in mind that if you want to keep your hobby or obsession out of the household income for expenses, aka liferoll, don't get yourself in an overwhelming position at the table during any given session. Consider the guidlines you must establish to properly manage your bankroll and allow yourself the understanding and acceptance that sometimes it's better to just walk away from a losing session in order to allow the integrity of your bankroll to be maintain and get you back in the game... the next time!............. stay tuned for more to come IF you think you are ready to make that next step, did I say step, I meant monumental triple jump!

chapelout for now!... GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome.

some data source provided from pokerlistings.com  

  

FAQs...answered

    Over the years I have been asked quite a few questions about myself personally and about my poker adventures. So, I figured what better forum to respond than here!
   When and where did you get started playing poker?   Well, I first learned the various games of poker back in junior high, now known as middle school. When it was too cold or too wet to be outside with the neighborhood kids we would meet up at a friends house and play cards in his basement. I was one of the youngest of the group but was one who could catch on to the rules, objectives and insights of the games pretty quickly.
    What was your favorite game, then and now? Back then it was a game called "acey-duecey" "high-low" or "in-between". You turn two cards face up beside each other leaving an empty space in between in order to turn a third card up between them. When the first two cards are revealed you wager a bet that the next card revealed would be in-between the first two cards. If it falls in-between you win the amount you wagered (up to the amount in the pot). If it falls outside the two cards you lose and the wager goes into the pot. BUT if you match one of the two cards, you pay double your wager. And five-card draw.
    Now though, I am a No-Limit Holdem tournament competitor! But I also enjoy Pot Limit Omaha to put into the mix in cash games. At some of the cash game circles we will play 2+1... Two rounds of NLH and one round of PLO. I prefer NLH in tournament formats though.
    Are you a serious competitor or play just for fun?  In the 70's and 80's,( I am a product of the 60's), I played for the fun of it and for limited and minimal stakes. But in 1991 I was able to start playing in several home games with guys from our bowling leagues. I managed several bowling centers and bowled 3/4 nights a week, thus giving me the opportunity to play cards 3/4 nights a week. And it gave me the opportunity to host games as well. These games were dealers choice games and were  competitive but again were at limited and minimal stakes.
    It wasn't until 1999 that I was introduced to Texas Holdem and a tournament format of poker. That night the host offered an option to play at a tournament table playing Texas Holdem or join the usual dealers choice cash games. Out of curiosity I played the tournament that night, and every night there on. Due to the tournament format and the new betting structure with the NLH game I became extremely competitive!
    Are you an online competitor?   I started playing online in 2001. But it wasn't until 2004 that I got really involved in the online community. I have played quite a bit on FullTilt, PokerStars, UB, and BoDog... but mainly on FullTilt and PokerStars. I played regularly online from 2004-2008, mainly in private forums on FullTilt with a group of poker bloggers from all over the country in the Battle of the Bloggers. Since then I have not played that much, especially now since "Black Friday" here in the US. The only site I play now is the clubWPT site in tournaments for seats at WPT Events.
    Do you prefer live or internet games?    Most definitely live games! I am a live tournament competitor! I love to be at the table, across and beside the competition. I love the interaction, the table talk, the stories and the opportunity to meet new people. It's just an all around better experience in my opinion.
    Do you have any notable finishes or cashes?   On-line I competed with a group in a private forum called "Battle of the Bloggers". I really enjoyed this group. When I joined in 2006 there was about thirty-five players involved. In 2008 there was over a hundred. But it was a great bunch of players from all over the country. And it was extremely competitive because of the payouts and the qualifying for the year end tournament that provided WSOP seats as payouts! Over the years I played I made many final tables, cashed quite a few times, had one victory and several second place finishes. But my biggest wins online came in the open forum. In 2007 I took down the FullTilt $100 U.S. Online Poker Championship. There were qualifier rounds throughout the month and just over 1,400 players in the final competition. Then I was able to take down two freerolls, one on FullTilt and one on PokerStars, each with over 11k players.
    In live events I have done quite well over the years. Outside of home games played 2/3 and sometimes 4/5 nights a week. I have had the opportunity to play in numerous charity events as well. My first ever live organized event was in 2001 and I finished 4th out of 884 participants. That tournament is what actually got me into the competitive mode and passion for the tournament formats of competition. I have cashed and won several underground tournaments. From 2001-2008 I only played in home games tournaments and local charity events. But from 2008- the present I have traveled quite a bit to compete in larger events. This past year I even went to Montreal, Canada to play in a FullTilt sponsored charity event for The Miriam Foundation to benefit families with children who have autism. Charity events are my favorite events!
    Do you have any favorite players?   I have many players of interest that I follow and for different reasons. The late Chip Reese... no explanation needed!  Allen Cunningham... because of his patience and attitude! Dan Harrington... because of his consistentcy  Gus Hansen... because of his eratic yet calculated aggression! Daniel Negreanu... because of his personality, openness to the fan base and his ability to enlighten the game with his insight of people and the game itself, and of course his  incredible reading ability. and Barry Greenstien for all his charitable works!  There are more... Antonio Esfandiari, Michael Mizrachi and on and on. One that I must mention is Jeff Burnett, a Canadian poker player who I met while competing to be Victory Pokers next poker pro. I did not win the competition ( finished 3rd), but gained a great friend and have since joined forces with Jeff ,aka theAceTenBomber, as a member of his poker team! But my favorite person within the poker community is Dan Fleyshman ( post published about him earlier on my blog)
    Do you have a favorite hand(s)?   My favorite hands are the ones that I can win with a bluffing strategy. I love to go into a hand not even knowing my hole cards and commit to bluffing out a winner to take down the pot. As far as favorite hole cards... 7/8 suited and 10/J suited.
    My favorite hand ever played was when I had AA on the button with a raise, re-raise and all-in before my action. I was 4th overall in chips but 2nd at my table. I could afford the call to see the flop so I called. Seven of the nine players see the flop. I hit an A on the flop and last to act just call down the bets to the river. Five players remain elegible to bet after the flop action. When the river comes I hit the last A for quads. I am sitting first person to the left of the dealer and when she asked for a winner we all revealed our cards. There was KK that had a full house (KKKAA), two players with two pair, two players with a straight to the ace, a muck and my quads. The dealer announced Kings full of Aces wins. She began to push the stack to the guy two seats to my left who was the chipleader at the table (and overall) before the hand began. I politely tapped her on the shoulder and looked down at my cards. There are two tables remaining from 12 that started the tournament at the time and about 60 people crowded around the tables watching. As she followed my eyes to my cards she quickly stood up, held her hands out to ask for "quite please!" This got the attention of the floor manager as well. She looked back at me and said, "why didn't you say anything, you haven't said a word all day!?!" I quitely responded, "I prefer to let my cards do the talking!"  She then announced, I stand corrected, Quad Aces wins the pot, and we now have a new chipleader!" She turned, smiled, sat down and returned to her duties. Later that day with only four people remaining, i am still the chipleader after about four and a half hours of play, I have AA again and flop an A on a AQ? flop. Turn is a blank so I go all-in. Up against the player 2nd in chips. She hesitates and then mulls around for about 3 minutes. I wanted to go ahead and show her my cards but it would eliminate my hand. She finally and reluctantly called. Another Q hit the river giving me Aces Full, BUT giving her... Quad Queens. I was out the very next hand going all-in in the dark and finished fourth (out of 884).
    Where did Chapel and theGETSOMEguy come from?  "Chapel" actually comes from the online community of players. My screen name was always  in relation to my passion for the UNC Tarheels! in ChapelHill, NC. While online playing and chatting the other players would refer to me as Chapel. The name "theGETSOMEguy" came during several qualifying rounds and the final day of a live charity event. There was an older gentleman and his friends who were watching the tables from the rail. From time to time if I wanted a player heads up in the pot I would say to him/her, "c'mon in... get some!" Well as the day progressed I overheard this gentleman saying... that's the get some guy, and pointed at me. As I moved from table to table throughout the day I would hear in the background... get some! get some! During one of the breaks a group of people approached me to wish me good luck and the gentleman emerged from the group and said, "that's the Get Some Guy!, go get'em Get Some!" From that point on I was theGETSOMEguy.
    What about PBS and GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome.?   PBS is something I came up with to help me at the tables. It's one of the mottos I write on a sticky note and post in my car for the ride to a game, tourney or event. Got the PBS from TV when there was only three or four channnels to watch, and most of the time it was information or educational shows. But PBS for me stands for, PlaySmart.BePatient.StayFocused... As far as the GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome, that is something I use to remind me of my commitment to my family. Being away and competing takes alot of time away from the ones I love the most and to remember those who are less fortunate in their lives and to help out whenever it's possible. So I encourage myself to GetSome...PBS and finish in the money, GIVEBACK... tithe and donate to charity or to those in need, and GetHome... well that's pretty self explained!
    Who is the man behind the blog?    I am just an ordinary man with an extreme passion to be successful at what I love to do... compete! Whether it's sports, sales, finding, collecting or the obvious... playing poker! I am a product of the sixties (1966). Blessed to have been born into such a wonderful family. I was born into a christian family, but I am a Christian by choice! The oldest of four children (3 boys and a girl). I am married to my beautiful wife, Melissa. Married for 15 years now, but together for almost 19 years. We have two beautiful children, both girls and... a grandson! My dad went to ChapelHill so I grew up a Tarheel fan...atic! Lived throughout the western part of North Carolina growing up, but have lived in a small college town, Clemson S.C.,  for the past twenty-one years. It is awesome, halfway from Atlanta and Charlotte, surrounded by lakes and mountains, and the college community and environment is awesome... especially with all the ACC/SEC/NCAA sporting events that come to town! Attended Southern Wesleyan University from '91-'95. Worked as a Behavior and Educational Therapist for twelve years, in Retail Management with Wal-Mart and CVS Pharmacy for seven years and have been playing poker pretty much full-time since 2008. I thank God every day for the experiences I have had throughout my lifetime, for the family he gave me and the family I created and... for the opportunity to do what I love... compete in poker tournaments!! 
   

"Who Cares What You Folded"

    Outside of splashing the pot and giving the dealer a hard time.... having to sit through a post-hand commentary of what someone folded, and how he (or she) could have hit runner runner with J,7 off-suit to take down a pot. Or, even if it's just a quick comment after a raised flop and bet at a 3,9,6 board entices people to share that they folded 3,9 or 3,6 or A,3 or A,6. But what's even worse is if you play with someone who immediately darts for the muck cards to recover and reveal their folded cards that paired the board on the flop, or had given them an open ender to shoot at. Normally when I hear a comment such as, "man... I folded 3,9!"  I just say, " as you should have", but most of the time I just keep my mouth shut. 

    Another irritating occurence, especially if it is continuous throughout the game, is the "If" factor!... "If I had called the turn to see the river", "If I had raised pre-flop", "If, If, If". If is the biggest word in the dictionary, may not be the longest, but definitely the biggest! And the worst being..."If the dealer had not given you that J on the river, (my pair of three's would have won the pot I was calling each bet with four over cards already on the board).  Or, "C'mon dealer, you're killing me on the river every hand!" Leave the dealer out of it! The cards are shuffled and dealt randomly (if their not, you are in the wrong game!), the dealer has NO control over what you see on the board.

    I don't appreciate at all though, if I am in the hand or not, when those who have folded react in obvious disgust (to the flop,turn or river), make any kind of suggestive motion, noise or exclamation, or even just turn to the player(s) to the side of them and commence to converse about the hand in play. Especially if it's the turn or river, that pretty much narrows down and gives away discrete information to those involved in the hand!

    I am not saying that I don't like or object to table talk about previous hands played. I actually enjoy hearing about a collective perception of how others played their hands and what information they are willing to divulge as to how they made their decisions. But if you are not in the hand and want to express your disgust about what could've, should've, would've happened... keep it to yourself. You want to talk about the hand, call me... be in the hand! "Who Cares What You FOLDED!"

......chapel.out..............GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome  

Texas Gamblers Reunion...nka...the WSOP

    continued from earlier post....

     In my earlier post "The Texas Gamblers Reunion" was introduced and was "eliminated" just as quickly. In 1969 Johnny Moss outlasts the other competitors to capture the only Texas Gamblers Reunion title. Benny Binion jumps on the opportunity to host the event and gives it a new name, the World Series of Poker. In 1970 Johnny Moss once again prevails as champion, but this time it was a unanimous vote from the other competitors. And in 1971 at the 2nd Annual WSOP, Johnny Moss takes down the title again with a win at the very first "freeze-out" tournament format event.

    That brings us to 1972, and the 3rd Annual WSOP. In 1972 the format remained as a freeze-out tournament with a $5k entry. But, in 1972 the tournament  field was "open" and the field almost doubled to thirteen players. Along with the original seven invitees, there were other notable names: TreeTop Straus, Aubrey Day, Corky McCorqoudale, Jimmy Cassella, Sid Wyman,  and Long Diddie.

    With the new venue, new format and now the new players involved Benny Binion was excited to get the tournament started. At the time it was just another gathering of the best poker players around who came together to battle it out, just like any other night for these players. But things would change dramatically after the 1972 event. In the crowd in attendance as an interested on-looker was Ted Thackery Jr., a beat writer from The Los Angeles Times. At the time Ted was assigned to another story developing in the area but was interested in what was going on in the new Poker Room at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel. Thackery may have been the catalyst for the new format that was instituted the year before. It has been noted that he had discussed with Amarillo Slim and Benny Binion that the general public would not be excited or even interested in sitting around watching a bunch of guys with funny names just push a bunch of chips around for several days. "You got to have a winner, a real winner," Thackrey said. "You need to find some way to make it a contest. If you want to get the press involved and turn the World Series into a real sporting event, you need to give it some structure, create some drama, and make it like a real tournament." Binion took that advice and instituted the freeze-out tournament, opened up the registration to allow more players, and the winner of the 3rd Annual WSOP provided plenty of drama for the event for the upcoming decade! That winner was Amarillo Slim. It came down to Slim and... yep, Johnny Moss. With that victory Slim provided what we know as the "Moneymaker Effect", but before MoneyMaker even knew what a deck of cards was!

    Amarillo Slim Preston would spend the rest of the 1970's as the Ambassador of Poker and the WSOP. He was a guest on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson eleven times. Featured in the press more times than able to count, portrayed and even filled roles in major motion pictures and even wrote a best-selling book....  all in the name of poker. This would NOT have happened had Johnny Moss won his third straight WSOP. Slim was more outgoing, outspoked, more colorful and crowd pleasing... not taking anything away from Moss and his poker playing, he just didn't have the personality to sell poker like Slim did. Slim provided enough attention and hype about the WSOP that CBS Sports filmed the WSOP and was televised for the first time in 1973............ to be continued.

chapel out.........GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome. 

   

The Texas Gamblers Reunion

     In 1969 the part owner of the Holiday Casino, Tom Moore, and a poker enthusiasts with a vision for the future of poker, Vic Vickery, came together with an idea of an annual event for the top poker players in the world. Vic was the one with the idea and Tom was the one who had the property to allow it to happen.

     Back then there were only a handful of  poker players that could be categorized as professionals. Vic happened to have an inside track on those players and was able to communicate and generate the interest from the players to participate in the envisioned event. As the interest grew the men realized they needed to do something to set apart their event from others. As a result, they gave the event a name, "The Texas Gamblers Reunion", and enticed the players with a declaration to crown a "Grand Champion" of poker from the results of the event. The meetings were set, the date was scheduled and the invitations went out. Unlike today, the participants were on an invitation only basis. Whether or not an RSVP was given, everyone that was invited was in attendance. The cast of players included: "Amarillo Slim" Preston,  "Puggy" Pearson, Johnny Moss, Chill Wills, Benny Binion, "Jimmy the Greek" Snyder, Rudy"Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, and the ever popular Doyle  "Texas Dolly" Brunson.

    The event was not publisized, did not have any media involvement and the results were only known to those who were "in the know" within the poker community at the time. One, if not the main reason there was no press involved was because of the high stakes of cash involved between the players. Not because of the money though, but because of the interest the IRS may have had in the money invoved! Unlike todays scheduled events, "The Texas Gamblers Reunion" was a marathon of multiple high stakes games that ran for several days until the competition withdrew and left one man standing to be hailed as the TGR Champion. In 1969, Johnny Moss prevailed as the overall Champion of the Texas Gamblers Reunion. In fact, Moss would become the only TGR Champion.
     Even though the event was hailed as a success from the players, there were no more events scheduled beyond the inaggural event. This was not announced to the players at the time though. As time grew near for the second annual TGR and no invitations were recieved, Benny Binion, owner of the Horseshoe Casino decided he would assume the opportunity to invite the players to his casino. At that time though, the Horseshoe Casino did not even have a poker room. That was soon revised and established to accomodate the players invited. Once again players were invited to come out and compete in sevral high stakes games for several days. There were seven players invited, and there were seven players in attendance. This time though, the champion would be considered the World Series of Poker Champion, and unlike the last man standing format from the TGR, there was a vote from all the players who had participated. All the players were asked to provide, on a secret ballot, who they considered the second best player of the field. Second best!?! Yep, second best. When they were asked who was the best, everyone voted for themselves. The result of the voting... Johnny Moss takes down the 1970 WSOP Championship and was provided a Silver Cup from the organizors of the event.
    As with the TGR, Benny Binion knew that there was a lot of work to be done if this competition was going to survive to be an annual event as he wanted and had hoped. These concerns were addressed and in 1971 the WSOP format was changed from its inagguaral format as a marathon of poker games to a direct buy-in into a "freeze-out" tournament. A freeze-out means that the players will buy-in for a set amount of money, if you are knocked out you are eliminated from the competition... no re-buys or add-ons.
    For the second annual WSOP the event was scheduled as a $5,000 Texas Holdem Freeze-Out Tournament. Once again, the same seven players were invited, and the same seven players returned. And, once again, Johnny Moss prevailed as champion. This time though, he was not voted or elected "best all-around player", he actually captured the title, World Champion, by winning the first ever World Series Of Poker tournament event. Oh yea, let's not forget the $35k payday! 

to be continued... chapel out, for now!... .GetSome.GIVEBACK.Getome.
   
    
   

The AceTenBomber

                    

Now that I have completed the 2011 WSOP November Nine preview of all  the players we will see at the final table, I want to introduce you to some of my favorite poker players. The list will include some players you WILL recognize, players you SHOULD recognize and some that you will SOON recognize. Some are tournament players, some cash players, some pros and some aspiring to gain that achievment.

   Tonight I want to introduce you to a good friend,  Jeff Burnett, I met while competing against him in an online video contest in hopes to qualify to compete live for the chance to be sponsored, for one year, by an online poker site, Victory Poker, as their new poker pro. Jeff and I spent the first eight to ten months communicating via Facebook, e-mails, texts and phone calls. Throughout this time I was impressed with his intense excitement, positive attitude and more than anything his love for.... his family! Yep, bet you thought I was gonna say poker huh!?! Well, the guy does have a passion for his poker. He has a dream, has set his goals, and commits himself to becoming the best poker player he can be.... AND he wants to have as much fun with it as humanly possible!

 From what I understand Jeff grew up in Toronto, Canada. He is now living in Orillia, Canada with his wife of fifteen years, Cindy, and his children, Skylar and Jordan. He started playing poker in 2005. Apparently he enjoyed the game! He is now one of the most recognizeable players from Orillia to Montreal. Jeff plays in local casinos and other tournament venues. He has also run a non- profit league for several years. One of Jeff's passions in poker, as well as mine, is playing in charity events. I recently had the opportunity to meet Jeff personally when I made the trip to Montreal to play in The Montreal Open, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byhB2rE84mo&feature=related ,  a charity tournament to benefit the Miriam Foundation, http://www.miriamfoundation.org/content/foundation.html . Jeff is also a Canadian Poker Tour member. Some of his notable accomplishments in poker are: he won the Rama Open in 2008, and finished second in 2010. He captured the voting title in the Victory Poker contest ( I finished third). He has also participated and qualified for the final day of the Montreal Open each year he has played. He made his first TV appeareance on SportsNet in 2008 when he finished 28th out of 1600 players. In 2011 he made the final day, was seated at the feature TV table along side of FullTilt pros Gavin Smith, Greg Mueller, Huck Seed, Mark Karam,  AND seated right beside him.... his wife Cindy! Even though FullTilt sponsored the tournament and there were several big name pros on hand, Andy Bloch, Eric Cajelais, Gavin Smith, Greg FBT Mueller, Huck Seed..... you couldn't help but notice that TheBomber owned the show. When he was there it was electric. Until Cindy arrived that is! This year, Cindy emerged from the Bomber hype and hooplah to, for at least a moment, take the spotlight. But with the energy, excitement and table head-game antics that Jeff has at the tables he was able to reel it back in.

Jeff was also a prominent figure at the grand opening of the BEST Poker Club in Canada... The PlayGround Poker Club! http://www.playgroundpoker.ca/ .  Oh yea, Did I mention he has been featured in three top poker magazines!

    Jeff also has started a Poker Team called the BombSquad. Has his own website business to promote the AceTenBomber brand and his Team, http://www.acetenbomber.com/ , and recently aquired a new sponsor from RMS, http://www.rmsexperience.com/ .
    Even after all this, all the plans and goals in poker, all the wins, cashes and the hopes and dreams. The one thing that sets him apart for me is knowing that if you asked him what the most notable accomplisment in his life would be.... I'm pretty confident that he would tell you, Family...  meeting and marrying his wife Cindy and the wonderful creation of their two children! Then again it might very well be meeting and becoming best friends with Mike MacDonald. Seeing that Mike is given credit for assuring the Bomber graduated and was eventually able to figure out the basic fundamentals of math and poker.... Na, it would be family!
                                                                          

chapel out, for now!......................GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome.



      

Catch Me.... If You Can!

     In an earlier post, I gave some general information out about Table Position. Tonight I will do the same with another key element in the game of poker, "bluffing". There is no doubt in my mind that if you are not bluffing in the game of poker, there is NO WAY you will become a successful player.

     Whether you are betting in hopes of representing a card that you do not have that hits the board, or whether you have orchestrated a bluffing strategy and will see it to the end no matter what, bluffing has to be one of the bullets that you must fire from time to time. In some games, depending on the format and the players involved it may be more often. Bluffing, stealing and squeezing are all related actions, the same... but different! And whether or not you can pull it off may actually depend on.... your position. If you are going to incorporate playing your position it is imperative that you learn, establish and also incorporate bluffing into you game.

   Bluffing is NOT something you want to do, just because. There should be a reason or a strategy that leads you to believe that you can take the pot down with a bluff. Mainly, taking advantage of your position! 

 

Position - The Weapon of Choice for Bluffing

     Example: You are on the button in a 1/2 game. There are three players on the flop, including yourself. The flop comes [ A 9 2 ]. You have 7,8 suited. The first player checks, then the second player checks as well. Being last to act, you decide that since your opponents checked before you, you might be able to scoop up the pot. You bet $3 and happily see that all your opponents fold and you take down the pot.

    This is a classic example of using your position to take down a pot. Because you were able to see your opponents act before you, this gave you enough information so that you decided to bluff and win this pot. So, if the action is checked to you, depending on how many players are in the pot and how loose the game is, you will often win the hand outright then and there.

  Can Math Solve the Bluffing Equation?

    Let's use an example where you are playing in a $3/6 limit hold'em game with four callers on the flop: small and big blind, one limper and yourself. That makes it a $24 pot. The blinds and limper check to you. Should you try and steal this pot? Let's do the math.

If you bet out, it involves risking a small bet of  maybe $6 to try and bluff the pot. If you win, you will be up $18. This means the pot is laying you  4:1 odds.  Because the pot is giving 4:1 odds, this means that you must win this pot 1 out of 5 times in order to break even with your bet - or 20% of the time.

To figure out whether or not it will be profitable to bluff in your position, you combine this little bit of math against your own poker skills and intuition to ask yourself this: If I bluff now, will I win this pot more than 20% of the time? If the answer is yes, then you want to bet at this pot! If the answer is no, then it'll be a losing long-term proposition for you. This is why careful observation of your opponents play is crucial. Knowing when a play is profitable and when it isn't, is how you make money with bluffs.

 

The Semi-Failed Bluff - To Continue or Not?

    So, lets say 1 out of 5 times you do take the pot down right then, meaning that it's a break even play. Let's say that on the times that you don't win immediately, your opponents simply call and you're looking at a turn card. Say that everyone still in the hand checks to you - should you bet again? Well, it certainly depends now doesn't it!

The hardest part about bluffing is knowing when to really dial up the aggression and when to slam your foot on the brakes. Trying to push over an opponent with a monster hand or standing down to an opponent with a weak hand are the two worst mistakes to make while bluffing, because they'll cost you the most money. This is why you want to try and analyze exactly what your opponents may be holding that they're still in the hand with against you.

Look at what is on the board and try to figure out what hand your opponents would call you with. Are they loose enough to call that inside straight draw or call with bottom pair? Are they predictable players that only call top pair? But most important, are they weak enough to call the flop and fold the turn? The mistake that most aggressive players make is they don't try to understand their opponents; they just want to bully them. Your decision to continue should be a smart one: keep bullying if you have a good chance, but otherwise, give up.

 

The Actual Failed Bluff

    Ok. There was only one opponent left on the river. You were sure they were going to fold, so you bet it out. They called with bottom pair and you have King high. You're sick to your stomach and embarrassed to boot. The first thing that goes through your head at this moment is: how on Earth did they call that?

Reality check: Don't do the stupid thing and try to convince yourself that your opponent made a mistake. While your opponent might have made a bad call, it was a worse move for you to try to bluff out a calling station! It's a rule of thumb that you can't push out a calling station, because they simply don't know any better.

                                                                        Practice Makes Perfect!

    While this article isn't an entire primer on all the different angles on bluffing, the best lesson you can have on how to properly bluff is to simply go out and try it yourself. Everyone has to learn the hard way eventually, no matter how much you read on strategies. The key is to learn from your mistakes on how aggressive you can be and then tone it down to match the style of the table. Most important though, is to actually try and bluff. Being nervous or scared is a very natural thing and getting over that emotional block is an important part of controlling your nerves and mindset to make good plays. Keep at it and you'll be doing well in no time!

                                                                                                       

chapel out!............... .GetSome.GETBACK.GetHome

additional information provided gathered from tightpker.com

NNP 9

***Sam Holdem***

Not only is Sam Holden a member of the 2011 WSOP November Nine... he is the November Nine. Sam endured three long days of being very patient with his "short-stack", and was able to hang on just long enough to qualify for an extended break and the muchly saught after invitation to return in November. As for being the short stack, he stated in a recent interview with ESPN.com ... "I was actually feeling quite relaxed being on the short-stack because I am confident in my short-stack play, having a lot of  experience playing a lot of on-line multi-table tournaments." 

The twenty-two year old from Canterbury, UK is now the only hope for the UK to add a bracelet winner to the final totals. Holden doesn't have a lot of live tournament experience, he played in several events in England and Ireland in 2010 to prepare for the 2011 WSOP. His best finish was 14th in a UKIPT Edinburgh Event for about $10k. His internet play though, has been extremely successful with cashes toataling over $285k! As you hear about many of the internet players these days, Holden started playing online while in college. The difference with Holden though, unlike many of the other students who have pursued poker... Holden actually graduated ...with a degree in forensic science.   

chapel out............. GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome.

NNP 8

***Anton Makievsky*** On day seven of the 2011 WSOP Main Event,  this twenty-one year old Ukranian captured the chip lead with, at the time was, the largest pot of the event. Makievsky, who may be unknown to most, can easily be recognized by the aqua and yellow lettered  jacket he has worn throughout the tournament. After winning the hand against Christopher Moore, everyone in the room wanted to know who Anton Makievsky was, that's for sure. That one hand propelled him into the chip lead by an overwhelming $21million chips. The hand started with a raise from Makievsky and a call from Moore. Flop comes K J J and the fireworks begin. Makievsky puts out a continuation bet of $400k, only to get raised by Moore to $1.1million. Makievsky re-raises to $2.8million. Moore looks up and announces "all-in", SNAP-CALL from Makievsky. When the cards are revealed Moore realizes that he is dominated. Makievsky shows K J, which gives him a full-house. Moore shows A J, Trips No Good. Moore needs an A and an A only to survive the hand. Turn and river come 6,4. Moore now has $1.7million left and Anto Makievsky is the most saught after name on every search engine on the net! 

    If Makievsky, who IS a member of the 2011 November Nine, but no longer the chip leader, is able to pull off another massive pot early at the conclusion of the final table, he would be in good shape to make a run for the 5th Ukranian to earn a bracelet for this series AND become the youngest player to ever win the WSOP Main Event. Makievsky currently sits in eighth place in chips and returns with a $13.8million chip stack.

chapel out........ GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome.

 

NNP 7

   "Whatever happens, happens!"

  That's the attitude  ***Pius Heinz***  says he will bring to the table when the November Nine return to battle for the 2011 Main Event Bracelet and.... the $8.7million  for the ultimate Championship in poker!

  Heinz, a twenty-two year old from Cologne Germany, will be the first German to be represented as a member of the November Nine. Heinz got his start and early success in poker on the virtual felt. His most notable online accomplishments came in July of 2010 when he captured the FTP Sunday Mulligan for $61,000 and won the PokerStars $150,000 Guarantee and taking down $29,000. As of late though, Heinz has posted two impressive live tournament accomplishments to add to his resume. First, he final tabled a $1500 No Limit Holdem event early on in this years series, eventually finishing seventh and collecting $83,286... and now... well, Heinz is now back home with $782,000 on break from the Main Event. Heinz will return to the table with $16.4million in his chip stack and be in seventh place in chips.

    Heinz told ESPN.com that even if he should ultimately win the Main Event, the money won’t change him much as a person.

"Honestly, I'm not that big a spender," Heinz said. "I always look after my money, that's how I've always been. I might get a nice place to live, and buy my parents something. My sister and brother, too. They have a couple of wishes I can help with."

chapel out............GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome.

NNP 6

 

Today the November Nine Preview will feature the oldest player remaining at the table. *Bahdi"Bob"Bounahra*

Badih is originally from Lebanon, is a part-time resident of Ft. Lauderdale Fla.,and currently resides and calls Belize City home. Badih is forty-nine years old, has three children and does business as a wholesaler running a grocery business. He also runs a private  poker room in the Princess Casino in Belize City, Belize.
    Badih has eight listed cashes from live tournament events going back to 2008. His largest cash was for a first place finish for $30,054.00 in a $1,020 LAPT Second Chance Tournament. His only recorded WSOP cash, outside of the one he will recieve in November, is for fifty-first place in a $2,000 No-Limit Holdem event during the 2008 WSOP for $7,500. By making the final table, Badih is now gauranteed to make at least $782,000 which he and all the November Niners have already taken home with them.

    Due to his extreme patience throughout the conclusion of day seven and eight of the tournament and the opportunity to double-up with a brilliant act of disguising his pocket kings against John Hewitt to entice a much anticipated and quickly called all-in bet, we will have the opportunity to spend some additional time with this mild mannered, low keyed poker enthusiast in November.

chapel out ....................GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome.

                                                                                                                             

   

 

...Position...

    Table position in poker, specifically Texas Hold'em, is a crucial part of a players game.  Whether you have been playing poker for twenty minutes or twenty years, if you do not understand, know how to recognize, and be able to incorporate the advantages of position into your game... it is going to be difficult for you to be successful.

    Specifically speaking, your table position is where you are in relation to the dealer button. There are generally three areas of table position: early, middle and late.

    Being in an early position means that once the cards are dealt and the action of betting begins you will be one of the first few players to act. More often than not, especially pre flop, being in an early position tends to be a disadvantage. After the flop the first player left of the dealer, or the person "under the gun" assumes the early position and the action moves around. The disadvantage comes from having to be one of the first to act during each betting cycle during this particular hand, which means everyone else can just sit back and respond to your action. You don't have the option to know what the third or fourth guy over is going to do from that position.

    Being in a middle position really isn't much better, having minmal advantages and quite a few drawbacks. You now have the opportunity to gain some info on the early position players, but you may still have 3-5 players behind you still to act. This position is also one that ends up getting trapped into a pot due to the earlier chip commitments, or even and unfortunate to have to lay down an invested hand due to a properly played "squeeze".

    The late position players actually have reference names, the next to last player to act is the cut-off  and the last to act is the button. Being in these positions allows the player to become more creative with their game, and opens up the opportunities for raises, re-raises, bluffs and steals. Most aggressive players are very active in these positions and will take advantage of the position and situation regardless to what cards they may have in their hand.

    Now that you are aware of these table positions, how are you going to incorporate them into your game!?!  The first thing you need to do, and always remember... you should always be constantly aware of your position on the table, and not just your own! If you pay attention to the other players and attribute their actions to their position you might just catch them in a few situations that will be extremely beneficial to you, whether it be monetarily or just information for future purposes in play. 

   

  chapel out!.............GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome

  

   

Poker Etiquette Part II

Like any other sport or game, poker does have its own set of rules regarding proper behavior. The rules of poker etiquette may or may not be written down in "the book". You know "the book", you hear about it all the time! "Well, 'the book' says this and 'the book' says otherwise."  Like most rules on proper behavior, etiquette, when it comes to the game of poker, is more concerned with player safety, fairness of the game, and keeping a friendly atmosphere throughout the entire game. But poker etiquette is more than just behaving properly when you're playing the game. There are certain technical things that are deemed as unacceptable behavior in poker. I have already mentioned one in an earlier post (thus the part II)... splasing the pot! Today I will mention a few more, starting with:

Don't Blame The Dealer !  Don't throw your cards or chips at the dealer, and if you believe in karma... don't forget to tip your dealer! Dealers, and I happen to be one of them at least one night a week now, are there to do a job. A job that most players do not want to be bothered with while playing. For those of you who insist on complaining about the bad cards you're getting and the bad beats you are going through during any given session and can only attribute it to being  the dealers fault... maybe you should just take a break and re-join the table at a later time, or a later date!

Don't Play Out Of Turn!  Whether you are folding, betting or raising... please do so only when it is your turn to act. You are giving out information to other players that they do not rightfully deserve at that time, and can influence or even change the decision of other players still to act in the hand... especially if it causes a chain reaction of out of turn play from the other players.

Show One Show ALL!  If you are in a hand and are able to "take it down" before the "showdown" and decide to show your cards to the player to the left or right of you, it is only fair to the rest of the table that you show them as well. It is not fair to the other players that you are providing information on your play to a select few.

Please Pay Attention!  The dealer and the other players at the table are not "re-play commentators" The game should have some sense of "flow" and that is difficult when there are players who allow their phone calls, text messages, FB and Twitter posting to interfere with that flow. If all that stuff is soooo important, take a break away from the players who actually want to play. 

to be continued.......... chapel out!   GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome 

NNP 5

If you have been following the 2011 WSOP the next player to be previewed should need no introduction at all. For those of you who have not, here is ***Ben Lamb***

Ben is 26 years old and is from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is now living in.... Las Vegas though. He has been on a tear throughout the series this year. Where to begin:

   * He won the $10k PLO Championship

   * Went Heads-Up in the $3k PLO Championsip

   * Final-tabled th $50k Players Championship (8th)

   * Finished 12th in the $10k No Limit Holdem 6-Handed 

   * And is a member of the November Nine from the 

      $10k Main Event

   * Do I need to mention he leads the points for the 

      Player of the Year!?! 

   You might recall seeing Lamb before in the 2009 Main Event. He made it down to the final two tables before busting out in 14th. He has been competing as a professional since 2004. Lamb currently has 1 WSOP bracelet, 4 career WSOP final table appearances (three in PLO events and one in an 8-game mix format) and has had at least three in the money finishes in the last three WSOP he has attended for a total of twelve. In 2006 he captured the tatle at the United States Poker Championsip and a Spring Championship of Online Poker (both in NLH events).

             chapel out............ .GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome.

NNP 4

 

   Todays November Nine preview will feature

***Phil Collins*** 

   Let's go ahead and get the answer to the obvious question out of the way... No, he is NOT related in any way to the drummer from Genesis! His mom was just a fan and decided to name her son after him, even his middle name (Phil David Collins). Collins, aka Phil "USCphildo" Collins, doesn't seem to be having a problem making a name for himself in the poker community. He broke into the poker world as an internet player, with winnings accumulating over $3million early in his career. He has also done quite well in live tournaments with sixteen live cashes, ten from the WSOP circuit, but this years cash has already exceeded his career live cash totals. It has yet to be seen by how much this total will be exceeded by though!

    Another answer to a frequent question is about the "USC" in his online screen name. If you guessed the University of Southern California you are...wrong! It stands for the University of South Carolina. Collins met his wife and  graduated from USC in 2006 before moving out to Las Vegas to pursue poker full-time. He is originally from Aiken, SC. Outside of his accomplisments online and in live tournaments, as well as his calm demeanor at the tables what sets him apart from the other players is the following he had from all of his friends, family and fans from the rail. If you watched any of the final coverage on tv you will remember the outburst from the rowd of a famous Phil Collins song "In the Air Tonight" every time he won a hand. Apparently there was something in the air those nights and I'm sure he hopes it will linger on and follow him when he returns in November.

2011 WSOP Re-Cap and Niner Preview

    The 2011 WSOP had 58 scheduled events hosted at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. Eighty-Five nations and 105 countries were represented by the 75,672 total entries.This breaks the previous total entry record that was established with 72,966 from the 2010 series.  The top five countries represented were:

  1. United States-4,604  2. Canada-486  3. United Kingdom-288 4. France-213 5. Germany-156. 

Thus far, with only the main event champion to be decided, 10 countries have been represented as bracelet winners from the 2011 series. These countries are:

USA- 37, Canada- 4, France- 4, UK- 3, Russia- 3, Ukraine- 2, Brazil- 1, Greece- 1, Pakistan- 1, and Sweden- 1. 

    The total prizepool generated for the series, also a new record, came to $191,999,010.00. Forty-six of the fifty-eight tournaments generated a prize pool of over $1million. Even though the $10k Main Event fell 454 entries short of the 2010 total it was still the 3rd largest field ever, and  the 1st place payout has not gone below $8million since the 2005 event that paid the winner $7.5million (Joe Hachem). This year the Champion will graciously accept $8,711,956.00. Not a bad payday for 11 days of work, and that includes an almost 4month vacation after only 8 days or 72 hours of work!

    The 2011 WSOP Main Event  is now down to the final nine players. The November Nine will return to the Rio All Suite Hotel on  November 5th-7th, 2011 to compete for poker’s biggest title and over $8.7 million in prize money.

     The WSOP November Nine originate from seven different countries and they truly represent the world’s very best in live tournament poker.

Name	Number of chips	WSOP Bracelets	WSOP Cashes*	WSOP Earnings*
Martin Staszko	40,175,000	0	4	$22,875
Eoghan O'Dea	33,925,000	0	5	$37,516
Matt Giannetti	24,750,000	0	8	$205,451
Phil Collins	23,875,000	0	8	$48,769
Ben Lamb	20,875,000	1	12	$2,157,249
Badih Bounahra	19,700,000	0	1	$7,582
Pius Heinz	16,425,000	0	1	$83,286
Anton Makiievskyi	13,825,000	0	0	0
Sam Holden	12,375,000	0	0	0

    I will try to get back in and post a preview for Phil Collins soon.       

chapel out......... .GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome.

NNP 3

***Matt Giannetti***  is a 26 year old who grew up in Clifton Park, NY. Spent time in Austin Texas and attended  the University of Texas where he studied computer engineering. Matt is, was,well... has been a professional online poker player known as "hazards21", and  is an establisheded and successful high stakes cash game player as well. Matt began his live tournament career in 2006 and came into this years WSOP tournament schedule with 14 previous live tournament cashes, ten of which came from WSOP events. You would think that Matt had to feel pretty confident about his opportunity to grind out another successful tournament cash, but this summer has been a struggle. Little did he know that eight days later, from the beginning of the 2011 WSOP Main Event, he would be sitting in 3rd position at the final table as a  member of the 2011 November Nine and a strong contender with a $24.75 million chip stack. And I'm sure the friends that have some stake in his main event appearance this year are quite pleased with the position he is (they are) now in!

      

  chapel out.......... .GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome.

NNP Part 2

   OK, I 've got a few minutes left here and will try to get another quick NNP in the books, or on the pages or on the screen... whatever!?! Next on the list, as mentioned will be:

***Eoghan O'Dea*** pronounced "Owen O'Day"

will rejoin the final table with $33.9 million in chips and in second place. This 26 year old Irishman followed in his dad's footsteps by pursuing and realizing the achievement of making the final table at the WSOP Main Event. Eoghans father, Donnacha, reached the final table in 1983 and again in 1991. This is not the first successful tournament for Eoghan though. He finished 2nd at the 2008 Ladbrokes Poker Million for $260,000 and a 2nd place finish at the 2009 WPT Marrakech Main Event for just over $388,000. He has also had five WSOP cashes ( three this year) putting his career live tournament earnings well over $700k. Eoghan is also an accomplished on-line player (intruder123) with a win in the iPoker Euoropean Championship and a 2nd place finish in the Poker Millions. Not a bad resume for a tenty-six year old, but there is still room for improvement and additions..."You dream to win the WSOP Main Event," he says in a recent interview.  "It's the best in poker and that would be pretty amazing for me to win it. Achieving that dream is a pretty big factor... apart from the money!"..... to be continued, next up, Matt Giannetti.

chapel out.......... .GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome.

     

The "November Nine".... circa 2011

    Just a few weeks back 6,865 people decided to come off the hip for $10k... plus travel and lodging expenses... to compete in the largest live tournament event on the planet, the WSOP Main Event! Each of these players having their own attitude, game plan, personality and establshed goals to bring to the table(s). For some it might be... just get me through day one without my nerves causing me to puke on someone! For others it might be... just get me in the money. And for others it might be... please, please please don't show me on tv, my wife thinks I'm at a motivational conference for work! But I can pretty much stake my oldest sons college fund on the notion that ALL of the players want to be announced as a November Niner. (Don't worry, I have 2 daughters!)

    Throughout eight loooong days of grinding it out on the felt  6,856 of these players recieved invitations that were unwelcoming for the most part. These invitations were to request their attendance "on the rail". For some I'm sure it was devastating, especially if it was provided to them before the announcement of "the bubble boy(/girl). For those who made it into the money it may have been just as diffcult, but less painful. And for those who made it further, maybe into day seven or eight it had to be heartbreaking. Knowing you had made it that far and gotten soooo close, only to be rivered by a 4 flush board to cancel out your flopped straight that would send you to the rail to observe the November Nine announcement instead becoming a participant.

    As you now know the November Nine has been established and they are now "on break" for the next four months. These nine men are now home with a healthy chunk of change already added to their bankroll (9th place money was paid out to all the niners at the conclusion of forming the final table). If you watched any of the coverage of the Main Event you have had the opportunity to get to know some of the niners already. You've seen their faces, heard their voices, gotten a tidbit of information from the announcers and may have even googled them to find out more. I'm sure there will be plenty of interviews and information provided from and about each of these players, but for now,and the next few days, I will introduce you to the November Nine circa2011. I will begin with:

***Martin Staszko***  will rejoin the table in November as the chip leader with $40.1 million in chips. Martin is the first player fro the Czech Republic to make the final table at the Main Event and is the second oldest player at 35 years. He has been an online player for several years. Before coming to Vegas for the 2011 WSOP he had only played in four major live events, these being on the EPT circuit. (European Poker Tour). His play at these tournaments provided him with just over $83k. Once he arrived in Vegas though, he wasted no time trying to accumulate as much felt experience in the WSOP by playing in fifteen events on the 2011 WSOP schedule leading up to the Main Event. Apparently that new found experience has paid off quite well for Martin. With his play thus far in the 2011 WSOP he has already surpassed his lifetime total of events played and cash won. Will he be the next  Main Event Champion!?! 

    Next, maybe tomorrow, we will take a look at the young Irishman "Owen"....Eoghan O'Dea that is.

           ........ .GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome. .....chapel out 

Poker Etiquette... Does It Really Matter!?!

    Etiquette in Poker is similar to sportsmanship in other venues. Some may even be established as "unwritten rules" that are accepted and for the most part adhered to by all parties involved. Poker etiquette is no different, unless you are new to the tables and you are picking up habits, so-called strategies and outright unacceptable behavior from what some might call poker wannabes. Once you have establisehed yourself as a poker player, not necessarrily a gambler but a.... poker player.... you too will hopefully feel the same way as most poker players do about poker etiquette.

    For me, the most irritating thing to see and have to deal with is.... splashing the pot! "Splashing the pot" is a term used to refer to the action of a player who intentionally, unnecessarily and sloppily thrusting their chips onto the table into the middle of the pot disrupting other players table space and most commonly the established pot on the table.  And my question is... !?!Why!?!   This action generally forces the dealer to have to gather up the chips, re-stack and count them in order to ensure the bet, call or raise is correct. All this does is slow the pace of the game down! Especially if there is an established pot on the table from previous bet collections and the splash disrupts the pot. Splashing the pot can usually be stopped rather quickly if you are playing in an organized event that provides a floor manager. Of course, that means you now have to wait on the floor manager to make it over to your table. Usually before it even gets to that point, if the splasher is provided a warning from the dealer it can be eliminated even quicker... but if you are in a home game or in a tournament that doesn't provide a floor manager it will be up to the players or host to encourage the splasher that this action is unnecessary and unacceptable.

    Unless I am missing out on something here I don't see any advantage or strategic purpose of the splash. Unless of course you just want to irritate the other players and dealer. Note to splasher... splashing does not create or provide others at the table that you are some big shot at the table or in the poker community. If anything it is going to reveal your inexperience and immaturity on the felt. So please, please, please.... the next time you want to be recognized or gain some attention at your table, try check raising an aggressive player with a chipstack that can double you up and let the pace of the game flow, please!   

....................GetSome.GIVEBACK.GetHome..................... chapel out!