Here's a very interesting read/video that 60 Minutes did this past weekend on the online cheating scandal with Absolute and Ultimate Poker. It reveals how the players actually caught the cheaters themselves and how there's really nothing they can do about it and how the cheaters themselves aren't being punished fairly. Check it out.
http://news.cnet.com/60-minutes-report-how-online-gamblers-unmasked-cheaters/
I, unlike Sludge, am not somebody who floats on a flop every chance I get. But there are times when floating can become very profitable.
Online, $0.50/$1 NL cash game
I had $159.35, ACESUP had $76.25, and Dimoss had $151.85 before this hand.
ACESUP limps in as does KRUCK. I'm on the button and I have:
I call.
Dimoss checks his big blind and we head to the flop 4-handed. The flop is:
Not a great flop for me. All I have is a 4-outer, a gut-shot straight draw. Dimoss leads out in the BB for $3. ACESUP calls $3. Kruck folds and it's on me.
Now, there are many different situations where this is an easy fold. But in no-limit, it can be very profitable to peel off a card that will allow you to take somebody's entire stack. There are already 2 people in, and given I have the button, I can't be re-raised if I call. Plus...look at this board. With no flush draw on the flop and 2 people already in, it's very likely one if not both have at least a King...and even possibly a set. In fact....I want them to have a big hand! If I hit my 6...and either of them has a King, I will win a big pot, and if either of them have a set...I will most likely take their entire stack. The fact that there's not a flush draw on the board is huge. 1) Like I said earlier, it's very likely they have a King or 2-pair or a set and 2) It's easier for me to go after my straight because I don't have any fear of the flush hitting. I also have position in case I feel they're weak on the turn or the river and I can possibly steal the pot.
So I call...hoping to hit that magical card. The turn is:
Bingo! Jackpot! Booyah! Hooray! Yippee! How do you like me now!
On the turn, the poker Gods love me. I've hit my miracle 6 and now I'm ready to get some action.
Dimoss checks. ACESUP bets $6. I raise to $20. Dimoss folds. ACESUP calls $20.
Now I know I'm in good shape. The board is still a rainbow and I'm pretty sure ACESUP has a King or 2 pair. If he had a set, I think he would've re-raised all-in here given it's very difficult to put me on 8-9, hitting my gut-shot straight draw.
The river is:
The river is a 10 and gives me the stone-cold nuts. Surprisingly, ACESUP leads out with a $25 bet. He had $53 total, so I re-raised him all-in. He called and showed:
Now obviously this guy's a donk and completely overplayed K-J. This is why though the floating play can be so profitable. Like I said earlier, it's very difficult for him to put me on 8-9 on the turn, calling the flop with my 4-outer. And to be honest, a good portion of the time, I'm just donating $3 when I call that flop. But when you hit that miracle card, that profit alone can make up for all the times I donate $3.
You have to be careful though when making this play. To do it, you have to make sure your opponents have big enough stacks to make the play worthwhile. In this case, ACESUP had $76 and Dimoss had $151 and were in the hand when I made the call on the flop. If they both had $30, I would've never stayed on the flop. Plus, the fact that there were 2 opponents instead of 1 made it more likely that at least 1 person had a hand I could take their whole stack with if I hit my miracle card. Also...my position in the hand was key as well as I knew I could call my $3 without being re-raised. If I had players to act behind me, I would be more hesitant to make this call. Floating can be a very profitable play...just make sure you look at all the variables first.
The Fan Poker Lounge reacted to last night's WSOP final table and the overall decision to hold it 4 months later in this special edition podcast. Cory Cove, Brandon Mileski, and Phil Mackey dished out their opinions on anything and everything related to last night's broadcast. Enjoy!
Fan Poker Lounge Podcast 11/12/08--WSOP Edition!
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