Qualify in This WSOP Satellite Tournament - 200 Seats Guaranteed

Join previous champions who either won their seat at pokerstars or later became endorsed by the worlds largest online poker room.

• $370 direct buy in
• June 14th, 16:30 (that’s this Sunday)
• 200 WSOP Seats Guaranteed
• Satellites to this qualifier start as low as $2 - we like the $33 qualifiers
• Play In This WSOP Qualifier at PokerStars

This WSOP Satellite tournament guarantees 200 players will win a seat to the 2009 WSOP in one satellite tournament. It’s the biggest and largest World Series of Poker qualifier online, and it is at the largest poker site in the world, PokerStars.com

Where to Find this WSOP Qualifier Event

To play in this tournament, first you need to have a current version of the PokerStars Software, if you do not yet have that you can download Pokerstars here and create your account. It’s free to get signed up and by using PokerStars.com marketing code “kickasspoker” when you sign up, you will be eligible to get a 100% deposit bonus up to $50 on your first deposit as well as play in upcoming WSOP Qualifier freerolls (more details below).

• Click Events >
• WSOP >
• ALL >
• Tourney ID = 180000200 (double check tourney ID obv, the satellites name is “WSOP: $370 M.E. Qualifier 200 pkgs guaranteed)
• Double click and buy in directly for $370 or qualify via satellite

What You Win In The WSOP Qualifier

Top 200 at least are guaranteed a $12,000 WSOP Prize Package via PokerStars.com

• 1 Entry into the 2009 WSOP
• $1k Travel Funds
• Eight Nights Hotel Stay at Palms (across the street from the Rio) and guarantee of more nights if you are still in
• Pimped Out PokerStars.com Players Bag with lots of schwag
• ShuttleBus service (sweet, the shuttle, thanks pokerstars!)
• Poker Stars Party Invite
• Of course, check all these for yourself as they are subject to change - PokerStars WSOP Details

Free WSOP Qualifiers or Satellite Tournaments?

Yes, if you sign up at PokerStars now they are having 14 freerolls each day where you can qualify to win a seat in one of the major WSOP satellites.

These freerolls happen every day leading up to the big event so if you are looking for a great way to qualify for the World Series of Poker 2009 then look no further. The huge event coming up this Sunday may be your best chance ever to win a seat to this years World Series so what are you waiting for?

We’ll see you at the tables!

Play Now At PokerStars - $50 Bonus + Freerolls

Additional WSOP Satellites

Most all of the major online poker sites are offering satellites to the series this year. We really like the qualifications paths offered by the Bodog Poker WSOP Satellites 2009.

Sitting in a late position and carrying pocket aces into the flop is a great opportunity to not only steal blinds, but also to draw others into the pot. Big pairs make the pre-flop action easy to toy with. However, playing small pairs pre-flop isn’t nearly as simple, even if you have position on everyone else.

Today, we’ll explain how to ride your small pocket pairs into the flop and how to know when it’s better to fold. Your chip stack, position, and raise strategy all play key roles in leading the table and having a chance to flop your set. For the sake of simplicity, we’re going to consider deuces through sixes “small.”

Small Pairs With A Small Chip Stack

Let’s suppose you’re in an early position coming off $2-$4 blinds. You have a small chip stack compared to everyone else, so you don’t have a lot of room to chase flops. You’re dealt pocket fives.

In this scenario, there’s no reason to fold (yet) and calling is a bad idea. If you call, you’ll lose control and have to play catch-up to the action coming back around to you. A good tactic is to throw out a standard raise (i.e. $12). By doing so, you’re sending a message that you holding pocket cards worth a few chips.

If everyone folds off your raise, you’ll walk with the blinds. That’s not bad. An even better situation is when a few players call. That gives you a chance to make a set off the flop. If someone reraises, you’re better off folding. Leaking a few chips is better than busting on a wing and a prayer.

If you’re in a late position with small pairs, you have an advantage. But, that doesn’t mean you’re invincible, even if the action is folding to you. The blinds could be holding stronger pocket cards. If you overbet the flop, you could be asking for trouble.

Small Pairs With A Large Chip Stack

More chips equals more flexibility. You can often use your stack to slowly siphon chips from the smaller stacks by bullying them pre-flop. However, your early position play with small pairs should be the same as if your stack was small. A standard raise off the big blind will push a few players out and give you a chance to see the flop.

If you’re playing in the middle position, watch the action coming toward you, especially when it’s coming from smaller stacks. A large raise from a small stack is a red flag. If you chase it, you’ll get sucked into the flop. If the small stack raiser flops his or her set, you’ll be staring down the barrel of an all-in scenario. That could get expensive given your small pair.

Being in late position with a large chip stack gives you a huge natural advantage. If other players are limping in, push out with a raise at 4 or 5 times the BB. That sets the tone going into the flop. Regardless of what the flop brings, you can fire your second bullet using your position strength and stack as leverage. If you’re lucky, you’ll flop a nice set.

If the action is raising and reraising coming toward you pre-flop, it’s probably better to fold your small pair. Let the others fight it out.

That’s a good primer for playing small pocket pairs pre-flop. The key to profiting from them is to realize how your chip stack, position, and raise strategy can influence the action. Often, that’s all it takes to steal the blinds or scoop the pot.

To put the strategy we’ve described into practice, visit Bodog Poker. They’re one of our top-rated poker rooms and boast steady, brisk traffic across their tables. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to read our extensive Bodog Poker review as well as a round-up of Bodog bonus promotions.

Also, we’d like to invite you to join our KickAssPoker League in time for the coming season.

Stealing blinds is one of the core fundamentals of playing texas holdem. In loose games with a full table, the blinds won’t matter much. It’s far easier to make money by playing tight and waiting for a strong hand before going after the pot into the flop. But, if you’re in a shorthanded game and your opponents are playing tight, knowing how to steal blinds is valuable. It’s a great way to go after chips uncontested and add to your stack while waiting for your monster hand.

The challenge is that it requires finesse to do it right. Let’s get started.

Know Thy Opponent

Your success in stealing blinds has a lot to do with the type of players you’re up against. For example, calling stations are usually a bad bet. They just want to stay in the game and are always willing to risk a few chips to call your bluff. Even if you’re in a late position, steal attempts often end badly.

** By the way, we recently covered texas holdem position strategy. Be sure to go back and read that post if you missed it.

On the other hand, an opponent who’s playing weak-tight is a fantastic candidate. They’ve probably read a few poker books and know something about texas holdem starting hands. They’ll be less inclined to risk their chips on anything but a high pair. That means you can slip through and take the blinds easily.

Bottom line: know your opponents and how they’re playing.

Cultivate Your Image

If other players see you as a loose cannon, it’s going to be a lot tougher for you to steal blinds. The same is true if they consider you to be a perpetual bluffer. It’s like the boy who cried wolf; at some point, your opponents are going to start calling your steal attempts. Your raises will begin to lose credibility.

Now, let’s suppose you’ve been able to build an image as a tight aggressive player. When you raise, your opponents will think you’re holding a good starting hand. They’re less likely to call your bluff. That credibility clears the path for you to steal the blinds.

Cash Game Versus Tournament Blind Stealing

Stealing blinds is usually less important in cash games than tournments; it’s especially true if you’re playing no-limit holdem. In no-limit ring games, the blinds are usually small and seldom worth the effort. It’s easier to play tight and go after the pot with strong hands. Of course, if you’re in a late position and everyone is folding to you, the blinds may be sitting ducks. If that’s the case, it’s silly to say no to free chips.

Tournaments are different. The blinds rise as the tournament advances. Stealing them in the early stage may not be important, but going after them later can add significantly to your chip stack.

Here’s what you should take away from today’s post: you won’t get rich from stealing blinds in texas holdem. But, depending upon the type of game you’re playing and the type of players you’re up against, you can preserve - and even build - your chip stack.

And that can make the difference between going bust and surviving.

If you’d like to sharpen your blind stealing skills, visit PokerStars and use bonus code “stars50“. They have a lot of table traffic with plenty of fish at the lower stakes. Plus, when you’re ready to put your skills to the test, you’ll find top-notch players at the higher stakes. And if you haven’t watched our free Poker Stars Strategy Video, make sure you do that, too.

This year, Bodog.com seems poised to be on of the best opportunities for many of the recreational poker players to qualify. In 2008, KickAssPoker.com league member WSOPJoe won his seat in the World Series of poker at Bodog, so lets keep the tradition alive.

Here are the different Bodog WSOP Qualifiers.

• Bodog Poker WSOP Qualifier Schedule

Benefits of Qualifying through Bodog

• Smaller Qualifying Fields
• Small to Large Qualifier paths
• Sit-N-Go’s to Last Chance Events
• 100% Bonus up to $500 with Bodog Bonus

*WSOP and World Series of Poker and related trademarks are property of Harrahs and related brands, and they get their panties in a wad if you don’t clarify that on every page where you mention them, so this is to do that so they don’t bitch and moan about it more.

There are two advantages to playing in freeroll tournaments. First, there’s no entry fee. Second, it’s a great opportunity to cut your teeth and develop your poker chops without springing any cash. Having said that, you still need to know what you’re doing. After all, your time is worth something and there’s prize money up for grabs.

Back in March, we covered a basic strategy for SNG tournaments. Our advice was to play tight into the Bubble so you don’t bust out before getting into a money position. With freerolls, it’s a little different.

Here’s an easy 3-step plan for making the most from freeroll tournaments. You’ll learn how to start with $0 and build your bankroll on the backs of the fish. Let’s get started.

Step 1: Loosen Up In The Beginning

Again, with SNGs and other tournaments, you should play tight going into the Bubble. But, with freerolls, you don’t have any of your own money on the line. Your most valuable asset is your time. The problem is that a big freeroll can suck hours from your day and not deliver much of a payout. So, loosen up a little and claim your chips early.

For example, in a multi-table tournament, you might play tight early and hit the flop only when you’re holding a high pair, Ace/King suited, or something similar. In the early stage of a freeroll, go in with weaker hands to work off the flop. It’s a little riskier, but again, you’re not putting your own money on the line. You want to make a quick strike to build your stack or move on to another freeroll.

By the way, there’s no shortage of them. For example, if you visit Full Tilt Poker, you’ll notice they organize over 500 freeroll tournaments every month.

You can see a visual presentation of how to use the Full Tilt Poker referral code here.

We know this early-stage strategy is contrary to what a lot of folks recommend. In fact, we often play tight ourselves. But, keep in mind that freerolls are a different beast and a contrarian approach can work beautifully.

Step 2: Choose Your Target Stacks

90 minutes into the freeroll, half the players have busted out and the blinds are much higher. Welcome to the middle stage. Look at your chip stack. If you loosened up your play during the first 90 minutes, you should either have a better than average stack or have busted out yourself.

At this point, tighten down the hatches and go after the smaller stacks struggling to hang on. Avoid taking on the bigger stacks. The good players will be raising more than calling; taking them on with weaker hands will get expensive. But, definitely put pressure on the smaller guys. They’ll be going after the blinds and will fold with the slightest pressure.

If the small stacks bet big from an early position, there’s a good chance they’re holding something solid. So, let them have it.

Step 3: Floor It

Toward the end of the freeroll, your window of opportunity starts closing quickly. Now’s the time to be aggressive. The smaller stacks will be tightening their play and hoping for a miracle flop. They’re not the ones you need to worry about. Keep the pressure up to make them fight for the blinds or die trying. Your true targets are the bigger stacks because chip strength is a huge factor during the late stage.

Tighten up your play because aside from completing a Hail Mary, going in with draw hands will decimate your stack. Remember, the players who are still at the table aren’t stupid. They won’t be easy to trap. If you’re holding a big hand past the flop and get into a heads up contest with a bigger stack, raise. Don’t call. Raise.

There you have it, a 3-step plan for making freerolls pay off. The key thing to remember is that you didn’t put any of your own money at stake. You can afford to play aggressive.

To get your feet wet in freerolls, visit FullTilt and try the strategy we’ve described above. Then, visit the Kick Ass Poker forums and let us know how you did.

Every professional poker player learns how to manage their bankroll. If they don’t, they’ll go broke. A lot of poker neophytes think bankroll management involves looking at their stack of chips and thinking to themselves, “that should be enough.”

It’s not. But, it’s a great way to go bust.

Today, we’re going to explain the basics of poker bankroll management. We’ll describe how to manage your stack in cash games (both limit and no limit) and SNG tournaments. As you’ll see, drawing a line in the sand and sticking to it no matter where it leads is a critical piece of the process. For a full treatment on the subject, read our article on bankroll management.

Before we get started, take a peek at this picture to see what’s possible…

Cash Game Bankroll Management

The size of your bankroll should determine the stakes you’re playing. Obviously, if you have $50 in your account, you don’t want to jump onto a $5/$10 table. You’re not playing online roulette. That said, you need to establish your metrics and stick to them.

A good rule of thumb for limit cash games is to have at least 300 times the big blind. For example, if your bankroll is $100, you can comfortably get into a $.10/$.20 game. On the other hand, a $.25/$.50 table would stretch your chip stack too thin. For those stakes, you should have a minimum of $150 (or, 300 x $.50).

No-limit games require a larger bankroll because blood can flow quickly. It’s not uncommon to see players lose their entire stack in one hand (and look confused after it happens). So, your bankroll needs to be bigger in order to handle the crashes. For NL games, plan to have at least 20 times the maximum buy-in. Assuming the buy-in is equal to 100 big blinds, playing a $.05/$.10 game would require $200.

Those stakes may sound small, but remember, no-limit games can get messy fast.

SNG Tournament Bankroll Management

A lot of beginning poker players jump into sit-and-go tournaments thinking they’re less volatile than cash games. They’re not. SNGs actually have more variance than NL games. That means your bankroll should be even larger.

Experienced players often suggest having a minimum of 25 times the max buy-in. Personally, we’d suggest bumping it to 40, especially if you’re just starting out. For example, if you’re getting into a $5 + $0.50 SNG, you should have $200. That will give you a good buffer to withstand a couple of blowouts on your way past the bubble.

Moving Down Or Going Broke

So far, we’ve focused on how to choose your stakes based on the size of your bankroll. But, what if your stack suffers a brutal beating? You need to be open to moving down to lower stakes until you can rebuild. We know it doesn’t feel right, but if you stay at your current stake level, you’ll go broke in a hurry.

For limit games, move down once your bankroll hits 200 times the big blind. For no-limit games, 15 times the max buy-in should be your signal.

One last note about choosing your stakes: your playing style matters. If you’re a tight player who rarely goes into the flop, you can probably get away with a smaller bankroll. After all, a tighter play means smaller swings and less variance. Of course, if you’re a gunslinger raising every bet, you’ll want a bigger buffer. You should probably review our poker tips, too.

That’s bankroll management in a nutshell. To get some experience, visit Poker Stars and claim your 100% match up to $50. It’s one of the easiest bonuses to clear. Plus, starting with $100 ($50 deposit plus your $50 bonus) is a great way to learn how to manage your bankroll on the cheap.

You can read a full explanation regarding how to redeem your PokerStars bonus code (stars50) and clear your bonus.

Winning at poker isn’t just about going in with a kick ass hand. It’s about bankroll management, strategy, and probabilities. When you hear about somebody consistently pulling down pots and coming out on top over the the long haul, it’s a good bet they know how to calculate pot odds. Today, we’re going to give you a quick primer.

What follows is not meant to be a comprehensive course. We don’t have enough room here. If you’d like to see an in-depth treatment, read this article on pot odds. You can also read an overview of poker odds. In the meantime, here are the basics…

Common Terms Used

You’ll hear a couple of common phrases thrown around when folks talk about poker odds and probabilities. So, let’s clear up the confusion by defining them.

Outs - The number of available cards that can improve your hand.

Pot Odds - A value that represents the size of the current pot versus your call.

A lot of good poker players will also mention implied odds, bet odds, and other terms. But, we’re keeping things simple today.

A Little Pot Odds Math

For those of you who flunked math in school, now’s the time to learn. Unless you plan to always go into the turn on a wing and a prayer, you’re going to need to perform a little math in your head. This is what the pros do. Here’s an example of how pot odds work (and again, we’re keeping it simple):

Let’s suppose your hole cards are ace queen suited. The flop is showing a jack, nine, and four. You’ve got a drawing hand. It’s not necessarily strong, but if the turn or river bring a king or ten, you’ll make your straight.

First, let’s determine your outs. There are 4 kings and 4 tens out there. So, you have 8 outs. Double that number and add one. That gives you 17. That means there is roughly a 17% chance of pulling an out.

Now, let’s calculate your pot odds. Suppose there’s $20 in the pot and the bet coming at you is $4. Add them together to get $24. Then, divide the call by that amount. In other words, divide $4 by $24. Your pot odds would be 16.67%.

As a general rule of thumb, if your chance of pulling an out is higher than your pot odds, call. If not, fold. In the example above, 17% is obviously higher than 16.67%, so you should call.

You might be thinking to yourself, “I’m not gonna do that each time the bet’s coming at me. That’s too much work!” First, if you don’t do it, you’ll be at the mercy of the players who do. Second, after you get used to calculating pot odds, it’ll come naturally to you.

To get some practice, visit BodogLife.com and open an account. It’s a great learning environment because the traffic is consistent and the skill level at a lot of the tables is pretty low. You can also read our Bodog Poker review.

Once you learn how to figure out your pot odds, you’ll have a distinct edge over other players who refuse to do the math.

One of the reasons we cover Full Tilt Poker often on this blog is because they keep pumping out new features, competitions, and tools for their members. Their recent launch of the Full Tilt Poker Academy is a perfect example. Once you join FullTiltPoker.com, enrolling into their Academy is absolutely free.

But, don’t let the price (or lack of one) fool you. The Academy is jam-packed with lessons, videos, and live sessions from the biggest names in poker.

Here’s an overview of what you can expect…

Poker Strategy Lessons With The Full Tilt Pro’s

FullTilt Poker has a huge roster of pro’s including high-profile stars like Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Phil Gordon, and Chris Ferguson. They come together in the Full Tilt Poker Academy to explain their expert strategies and techniques. They’ll break down their hands in multimedia videos so you’ll understand the reasons behind their play. Would you like to learn how Lederer, Ferguson, and others pro’s climbed their way to the top of mountain? These video strategy lessons will show you.

Visit Full Tilt Poker to enroll (for free!) into their Academy.

Pro Sessions: Putting Theory Into Practice

The Academy’s pro sessions take the strategy lessons to the next logical level. In the lessons, you’ll learn specific techniques as explained by the best minds in poker. In the pro sessions, you’ll watch as those techniques are applied during hands.

You can see Paul Wasicka gradually increase the pressure in a $2/$4 heads-up NL hold’em game. Or, watch Allen Cunningham battle his way through a $1/$2 NL 6-handed game. Amanda Baker will take you through a 9-handed $1/$2 NL cash game.

Full Tilt Academy Challenges: Testing Your New Poker Skills

You’ve learned opponent-crushing poker techniques in the strategy lessons. You’ve watched them played out step-by-step in the pro sessions.

Think you’ve got what it takes? It’s time to prove it.

The Full Tilt Poker Challenges are specifically designed to put your new skills to the test. They’re not limited to testing whether you know how to play suited connectors in the pre-flop or how to bluff. These challenges go much further.

You’ll have a chance to test your bankroll management skills (this is more important than most players think). You can also show off how well you know how to leverage your position, master the bubble, and go deep into the SNG’s.

The Full Tilt Poker Academy is the latest offering in a string of tools and promotions. Again, enrolling is free after you join FullTiltPoker.com.

If you’re not already a member (what are you waiting for?), visit Full Tilt Poker and register your account. The Academy awaits.

We’d be willing to bet over 80% of the folks playing at the biggest poker rooms don’t realize how important their table position is.

If you play at PokerStars, FullTiltPoker, or SportsBook, you’ll often see flop percentages hovering over 50%. A lot of those high percentages are due to fish who get pulled into the flop because savvy players are exploiting their position. If you’re not sure what position is and why it should influence your holdem strategy, don’t worry. We’re going to cover that today.

Let’s get you up to speed so the next time you log into your poker account, you’ll have your guard up. Before we start, take a second to get acquainted with the following table:

Early Position Strategy

Position is based on where you’re sitting in relation to the button. If you’re in the early position, you’re at a disadvantage. Every person to your left has more information than you. They’re reacting to what you and others before them do.

Don’t go in with a marginal hand. If you have a high pocket pair (Aces, for example), you’re safe. But, don’t push with a weak suited connector hoping to flop your set. Remember, in a full game, there are at least 7 players after you. If you get squeezed, you’ll just hemorrhage chips.

Middle Position Strategy

Being in the middle position is better than being in the early position. But, not that much better. You don’t have to play as tightly going into the flop as you would when your Under The Gun (Carol’s position from the above table). That said, there are still several players acting after you. If they’re aggressive and know how to use their late position, they can easily pull you into the flop and take your chips.

Things aren’t clear cut when you’re in the middle position. Watch the other players. Be wary of the aggressive ones in late positions. But, if you notice a few players limping into the pot before you, call on a low pair or suited connectors. If they fold to you, raise. Your odds just increased.

Late Position Strategy

This is where you can make money. Not only are you positioned to know more than nearly every player at the table, but you can steal blinds much easier. Stealing blinds is practically impossible when you’re Under The Gun. It’s tough even when you’re playing the middle position. When you’re late, you’re acting on what everyone else does.

If every player before you simply calls the blind, raise. Even if you’re not holding anything. If the table isn’t overly-aggressive, you’ll weed out several players when they fold. Plus, those who don’t fold will be under your thumb for future betting rounds.

Exploiting your position and the positions of your opponents can take a lot of players by surprise. Like we mentioned, most of the players at PokerStars, FullTiltPoker, and SportsBook don’t seem to appreciate the power of position.

If you want to practice your position strategy at Texas Holdem, visit PokerStars. They draw a lot of new players, so the hunting grounds are full of easy game. Plus, remember that PokerStars has one of the easiest to clear bonuses around (100% match up to $50).

Visit PokerStars and start using your position against the fish.

Full Tilt Poker has just launched a new Take 2 promotion. If you’re a long-time member of FullTiltPoker.com, you should already be familiar with how the Take 2 promo works. Don’t worry if you’re not; we’ll explain it below.

If you’re not a member yet, visit FullTilt Poker and use bonus code “kickasspoker” to lock in your 100% match (up to $600).

Let’s pop the hood and take a look at how Take 2 works…

How The Full Tilt Take 2 Promo Works

It officially started April 3rd (last Friday) and continues through 11:59 p.m. EST on on Sunday, April 12th.

If you play 2 tables at the same time, Full Tilt will double the number of Full Tilt Points (FTP’s) you earn at those tables. For example, let’s suppose you’re playing at 2 hold’em tables for an hour. You earn 30 FTP’s at the first table and 45 FTP’s at the second table. Normally, you’d earn 75 points. During the Take 2 promo, Full Tilt will give you another 75 points.

You can spend your FTP’s in the Full Tilt Store (Mini Cooper S for 6 million points anyone?) or use them to gain entry into special Sit & Go’s and multi-table tournaments.

Here’s another perk…

If you participate in the promotion for 5 days, you’ll get a free $5 cash bonus. There’s no clear rate; once the $5 bonus is in your account, it’s yours. Because the promotion only lasts through April 12th, you’ll need to get started today or tomorrow to play the full 5 days.

How To Enroll In Full Tilt’s Take 2

This is important. You have to enroll into the promotion or you won’t get the points you deserve for playing during the promo period.

It’s simple to do. Just log into your account and go to the Cashier. Hit the big “My Promotions” button and click the Take 2 icon. You’ll need to click another link which confirms that you actually want to participate.

From that point on, your extra points are automatically deposited into your Full Tilt account within 6 hours of earning them. Your free $5 cash bonus (for playing 5 days during the promo) will be deposited after April 12th.

Visit FullTiltPoker.com to get started.

By the way, for you Happy Hour fans out there (Full Tilt Poker Happy Hour, that is), the Take 2 promotion doesn’t affect it. So, suppose you’re playing 2 tables at the same time between now and April 12th, and you’re doing it during FullTilt’s Happy Hour. You’ll earn your Happy Hour points (double) and your Take 2 points (double) on the same tables. In effect, you’re earning 4 times the points!

Visit Full Tilt Poker.com today and grab a piece of the action. Use bonus code “kickasspoker” to get your 100% match (up to $600). Then, enroll into the Take 2 promo and start earning your double (or quadruple during the Happy Hour) points.

Plus, if you start today, you can still get the free $5 cash bonus.