Double Draw Poker is a popular casino game in which achieving the best hands per traditional poker hand rankings can result in big payouts.

Similar to other jackpot-style casino card games like Caribbean Stud, players can typically win up to 500 times their original wager amount if they are lucky enough to make a jackpot hand.

There are some key differences between Double Draw Poker and Caribbean Stud, however.

In this article, we’ll explain how to play Double Draw Poker, give a general rundown of the bets that can occur while playing the game, and provide some basic strategy tips that will hopefully make your casino card game experience more fulfilling.

double draw poker

The Rules of Double Draw Poker

There are a total of three potential betting rounds in Double Draw Poker.

Before a hand is dealt, the player must make an Ante bet along with a Bonus bet. All bet amounts must be equal.

Once the Ante and Bonus bets have been placed, usually near the top of the betting area afforded to the player, five face-up cards are dealt.

These cards can be arranged in any way to make the best five-card hand that’s in line with poker hand strength.

However, as the name of the game suggests, players can draw up to two times per hand. The first draw opportunity occurs after the first five cards are dealt face-up to the player.

During this second betting round, the player can either decide to fold (and forfeit) the original Ante and Bonus bets or continue with the hand. If the player continues, another bet – in the same amount as the original Ante and Bonus bets – must be placed in the designated spot.

Once the first draw bet has been decided upon and placed by the player, up to three of the face-up cards can be chosen as discards.

In general, players will want to select discards based on made hands (like one pair or two pair), but this can vary depending on any possibilities to hit a huge Bonus hand that pays jackpot prizes.

Once the player has selected up to three cards to be re-drawn, the dealer removed those discards and deals a corresponding amount of new cards, face-up, to the player.

At this point, with three single bets already committed to by the player, a decision can once again be made to fold or continue with the hand. If the player folds, then all bets that have been placed so far are forfeited and the house wins.

But, if the player chooses to continue, one final bet will need to be placed. This bet must be for the same amount of the Ante, Bonus, and First Draw bets.

Once the final bet is placed, the player can choose to discard up on one card only. The discard (when applicable) will be replaced by a new face-up card provided by the dealer.

Once the Second Draw round has concluded, the hand is over and the bets on the table are either paid off for winning hands or lost for losing hands.

Sample Double Draw Poker Hand

PLAYER A placed $1 in the Ante bet circle and another $1 in the Bonus bet circle. PLAYER A has $2 total committed to the hand.

The dealer provides five face-up cards to PLAYER A.

Ac – Ad – Kh – 2d – 7c

After being dealt five face-up cards, PLAYER A has One Pair: Aces.

PLAYER A decides to continue with the hand, and places a $1 chip in the First Draw circle. PLAYER A now has $3 total committed to this hand.

PLAYER A decides to keep the two aces and discard the other three cards.

Ac – Ad – x – x – x

The dealer provides three new face-up cards to replace the three cards that were discarded by PLAYER A.

Ac – Ad – Ah – 3c – 5c

PLAYER A now has Three of a Kind: Aces – which is a good enough hand to win on all bets so far. The hand is also strong enough to automatically win a final bet, as long as PLAYER A does not discard any of the aces.

PLAYER A decides to continue with the hand, and places a $1 chip in the Second Draw circle. PLAYER A now has $5 total committed to this hand.

PLAYER A decides to keep the three aces, and chooses to discard the Three of Clubs. Remember, the second draw round allows the player to discard one card only.

Ac – Ad – Ah – x – 5c

The dealer provides one new face-up card to replace the Three of Clubs that was discarded. By PLAYER A.

Ac – Ad – Ah – Kc – 5c

PLAYER A shows down Three of a Kind: Aces.

Since the hand is strong enough to be a winner, the dealer will pay out the corresponding amounts of each bet.

Since the Ante and Draw bets all pay out 1:1 for any hand that is Two Pair or better, PLAYER A receives a $1 payout for each of those bets.

However, the payouts for Bonus bets can be much larger depending on the strength of the poker hand at the end of all betting rounds.

Usually, Three of a Kind will pay 1:1 for Bonus bets. So that means that PLAYER A will also receive a 1:1 payout on the Bonus bet for the Three of a Kind.

In total, PLAYER A committed $4 to the hand. Each of the four $1 bets were paid 1:1 by the dealer, so the player wins a total of $4 for the above example.

This means that if the player began the hand with a $25 chip stack, the player now has a total of $29 in chips and can decide whether to stand up from the table or play another hand.

double draw poker

Image credit: Samantha Clemens, Las Vegas Review Journal

Double Draw Poker Strategy: The Jokers

A standard 52-card deck is used when playing Double Draw Poker. This means that there are 13 cards of each suit (spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs): 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-T-J-Q-K-A.

The ace can be used to complete A-2-3-4-5 straights as well as A-K-Q-J-T straights.

But one very unique facet of Double Draw Poker casino games is the use of the two jokers that come with the 52-card deck. So basically, there will be a total of 54 cards in the dealer’s deck before a hand begins.

One thing to note is that the two jokers are NOT wildcards in all situations. You can’t use a joker as any card in the deck.

Jokers in Double Draw Poker can only be used as Aces, or to complete a straight or flush (or straight flush or royal flush).

This makes quite a bit of difference in terms of Double Draw Poker strategy, as you CAN’T use a joker card to complete a Three of a Kind, Four of a Kind, or Full House – unless the card needed is an ace.

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples of jokers in play.

PLAYER B: Jh – Jc – JOKER – Qh – Kh

In this case, PLAYER B would have only One Pair: Jacks. If this is PLAYER B’s hand with one more draw round remaining, then proper Double Draw Poker strategy would require PLAYER B to discard the Jack of Clubs.

This is due to the 50:1 payout on the Bonus bet if a player makes a Royal Flush using one or more jokers. So, when placing the Second Draw bet, PLAYER B would discard the Jack of Clubs in hopes of receiving either a Ten of Hearts, Ace of Hearts, or another joker to complete a Royal Flush.

PLAYER B: Jh – x – JOKER – Qh – Kh

If the new card provided by the dealer after the Second Draw bet has been placed is the Th, Ah, or the other joker, then the Bonus Bet will pay handsomely.

If the new card is another heart (that’s not the Th or Ah), then the player still makes a Heart Flush and can collect 1:1 on the Ante and Draw Bets along with a 3:1 payout on the Bonus Bet.

Your hope here is obviously to hit a Royal Flush, and PLAYER B has three total outs to do so.

Double Draw Poker: Bonus Bet Payout Table

The Bonus Bet payout table in Double Draw Poker is everything in terms of house edge.

The greater the payouts on the Bonus Bet are, the smaller the edge that the house will enjoy over any player.

Here is a sample table of what a player might expect for a Double Draw Poker game in terms of Bonus Bet payouts.

Bonus Bet Payouts

Less than Two Pair: LOSE
Two Pair: Push
Three of a Kind: 1:1
Straight: 2:1
Flush: 3:1
Full House: 5:1
Four of a Kind: 20:1
Straight Flush: 50:1
Wild Royal Flush: 50:1
Natural Royal Flush (no jokers): 100:1
Five Aces: 500:1

The best possible hand in Double Draw Poker is Five of a Kind: Aces. This hand can be completed either by having all four aces plus a joker card, or three aces and both of the joker cards.

Since jokers can only be used as aces or to complete a straight or flush, the only Five of a Kind hand that’s possible is with Aces. If a player has four jacks and a joker, that hand will be graded as Four of a Kind.

Ante and Draw Bet Payouts

Less than Two Pair: LOSE
Two Pair or Better: 1:1

As explained above, the Bonus Bet payouts are where a player can quickly achieve a big win when lucky enough to make a huge hand.

Double Draw Poker Strategy: When to Fold

When the correct Double Draw Poker strategy is used, players will only be folding their starting hands about 2% of the time. A folded starting hand will result in the player losing both the Ante bet and the Bonus bet.

Basically, a player will be folding all starting hands that do not contain a single pair, “two to a straight flush” or two consecutive straight cards.

Example: Qh – Tc – 7d – 5h – 2s

This starting hand in Double Draw Poker should immediately be folded, which means that the player will forfeit the Ante and Bonus bets, but won’t be forced to continue with the hand and make subsequent draw bets.

Example: Qh – Jc – 7d – 5h – 2s

The player should continue with this hand since there are two consecutive straight cards present. This means that the player will be discarding the 7d-5h-2s and keeping the Qh-Jc.

The case for folding before the second draw bet is much clearer.

If – after completing the first draw round and receiving three or fewer new cards from the dealer – the player finds it impossible to make a hand of Two Pair or better, then the player should fold. The inability to make a Two Pair or better hand should consider one new card from a potential discard.

Example: Qh – Jc – 7d – 5h – 2s

In this example, the player has ZERO chance to make a hand of Two Pair or better IF the first Draw Round has already concluded.

Remember that the player can only discard up to one single card for the final Draw round, so the best a player could hope to do by discarding one card is to make One Pair. That won’t be good enough to collect on any bets, and this hand is a 100% loser if the first draw round has already occurred.

Example: Qh – Qc – 7d – 5h – 2s

In the above example, the player can still get rid of a single card and have the potential of making Two Pairs or Three of a Kind.

Since card values are not important in Double Draw Poker (except for aces and royal flushes), the player can correctly choose to discard either of the non-paired cards for the final Draw round.

Example: Qh – Qc – x – 5h – 2s
Example: Qh – Qc – 7d – x – 2s
Example: Qh – Qc – 7d – 5h – x

Of course, if the player has already seen one or more of a single card value during the Single Draw betting round, then the player will want to discard that value specifically (because there will be less chance of that card pairing).

Double Draw Poker House Edge

The house edge in Double Draw Poker is entirely dependent on the Bonus Bet pay table, and any variations in how Bonus Bets are paid will impact the overall house edge.

While Double Draw Poker may seem like a casino game that has a relatively small house edge compared to other games like roulette, players should be reminded that most Double Draw Poker hands will require a total of four bets for the same denomination.

Have fun the next time you’re at a casino, and try out Double Draw Poker if you’re looking for a fun card game that allows for the use of jokers.

Poker and politics share quite a few similarities between them: from bluffing against opponents to starting all over once a hand (or campaign) concludes.

There are also plenty of concepts, methodologies, and learning opportunities that arise from participating in either activity.

In this article, we’ll dive into how poker and politics are similar as well as explore some of the key differences in the ways that poker players and politicians improve their respective crafts.

poker and politics

Poker and Politics: The Concept of Winning and Losing

One of the most basic similarities between poker and politics is the concept of winning versus losing. When a poker hand concludes, assuming no chopped pot, there is one player who is awarded a cumulative prize, while the rest of the players who participated in and contributed money into the pot lose something of value.

This can be compared to a political election in which two or more political hopefuls compete for a sole position. The winner is elected to the position while all other contestants do not obtain the office they were pursuing.

There can be scenarios in poker and politics in which a player or contestant goes “from hero to zero” (and vice-versa) in a very short period of time. Without singling out a specific event, be it political or during a poker game, we can make use of the past and past progressive tenses to provide examples of this occurring.

The politician was leading in the polls, but then a major gaffe on the campaign trail (or public revelation linked to that candidate’s past behavior) led to that politician falling sharply in the polls and subsequently dropping out of the race altogether.

Poker player ‘A’ was the overall chip leader going into Day 2 of the tournament. But upon losing three all-in pots, player ‘A’ was eliminated from the tournament and did not collect a prize because he/she failed to survive the bubble.

Measuring Time in Poker and Politics

Providing examples for how poker and politics are equal in terms of timing may prove to be somewhat difficult.

While we DO know that timing is crucial for both activities, there may not be a precise timing comparison between a poker session and a political campaign.

And while serious poker players are often drilled on the concept that one’s competitive play is part of a lifelong session, the same may not be true for a politician. A politician may “move on” to another endeavor if unsuccessful or transition to another personal/professional role upon retiring or failing to get reelected.

Perhaps the best measurement to use, when attempting to draw similarities between the two activities, would be one poker session and one day of campaigning… but I wouldn’t say that these two time frames equate in an exact manner.

Mechanics in Poker and Politics

Mechanics, in terms of poker strategy, can be roughly defined as one’s mathematical knowledge of the game/scenario plus that individual’s physical capacity to make use of said knowledge in a real time environment.

Laying down (folding) 3-2 offsuit in a 10-handed ring game when faced with a re-raised, preflop pot is just as “mechanical” as calling off a sole, $0.05 remaining chip from the Big Blind in a $10/$20 cash game when faced with one or more preflop “all-in” shoves.

These poker actions (and the knowledge that justifies them) are mechanical in nature; similar to the mental calculus that might play itself out within a politician’s mind when deciding whether to host a fundraiser dinner for 100 wealthy donors versus catering-in 100 meals for homeless constituents.

In the abstract, we can shift this concept of mechanics over to traditional sports — where one’s practiced, muscle-memory footwork may be just the right skill (at just the right time) to put the finishing touches on an “alley-oop” in basketball, to drive a header between the goalposts in soccer, to rob a batter of a would-be home run in baseball, etc.

A live broadcast anchor — knowing that a hard (mandatory) commercial break is coming in five seconds — may opt for a quick “teaser” statement that hints at the next segment’s content rather than delve into a full, comprehensive review of what’s been covered so far.

Poker players, politicians, on-air personalities, (and sports athletes, for that matter) acquire learned “mechanics” and techniques that can be applied in everyday situations or under extraordinary circumstances — in a way that (they hope) enables them to arrive at an outcome that is satisfactory/advantageous/successful.

Capturing Hearts & Minds in Poker and Politics

There are some similarities between poker marketing and political campaigns, especially when it comes to capturing the hearts and minds of fans and/or supporters.

Being able to influence others’ perception of reality, either directly or indirectly, can significantly alter probabilities of success and failure.

In the political realm, this concept is hopefully the result of an ability to communicate ideas in a way that doesn’t ridicule or insult others’ perception.

For poker, perhaps one example of how marketing has driven growth for certain parts of the industry would be the global poker staking marketplace.

While it’s publicly claimed that the marketplace has been underwater for more than a decade, the poker staking market still somehow manages to deliver player-friendly markups that fuel its economy while maintaining thousands of poker hopefuls in action.

The result is a somewhat begrudging acceptance of (and willingness to promote) higher markups by some — but not all — poker players and industry representatives. And the survival of such an initiative relies upon a fair amount of goodwill, positive encouragement, and lack of visceral confrontation in order to endure.

However, in some competitive activities, changing others’ perception of reality to achieve success can be an end that justifies the means of pressuring and bullying.

One example of an opponent being purposefully and strategically “bullied” might be the delayed ring entrance of then-undefeated heavyweight boxer Michael Spinks leading up to his first round knockout at the hands of Mike Tyson in June 1988.

A title bout that Tyson arguably won before the combatants left their respective locker rooms.

The Manipulation of Opponents and/or Teammates

Publishing a grid that plots the exact whereabouts of marketing initiatives on scales of morality and ethics (and advertising such a grid as “useful” in any way) might be an act that’s way too susceptible to subjectivity/personal biases.

Yet, there are examples of manipulation that persist in today’s society: both in poker and politics.

These occurrences — often referred to as mental lapses — may serve as examples of altered (manipulated) perceptions in action. In some cases, the manipulation may be triggered solely by the perceived weight of a situation; without any prompting from teammates or opponents.

So while you can’t hurl yourself into an NFL defensive lineman’s physical space before the snap (that would result in a False Start penalty). And while you can’t take the ball away from an NFL nose guard’s hands a split-second before the play begins (that would be penalized as a Neutral Zone infraction), you can actively influence (provoke) an involuntary, subconscious state based on a friend or foe’s perception of reality.

It’s the stuff social psychologists’ dreams are made of — psychological inputs that result in physiological outputs.

Now… the mechanical act of blowing hot air (physically or virtually) may result in unintended consequences if the “transmitter” possesses incomplete data, is unprepared, or hasn’t laid the appropriate groundwork required to encourage the desired output on behalf of the “receiver.”

The difference between a pitch-perfect whole note and a breathless, out of tune B-flat — performed by a second or third party — that gets tooted through a bass instrument, is analogous to having “hit the books” or “called it in” when implementing one or more measures designed to psych-out an opponent (or create an ideal environment for the enhancement of a colleague’s performance).

Decision Making Depth: The Introduction of More Variables

For the sole purpose of this article, let’s define decision making “depth” as the introduction of more variables into an equation.

With that clarified, let’s now consider a couple of commonly-used variables that might be incorporated into the decision making process for poker and politics.

In poker, knowledge of a player’s own, face-down hole cards represents an extremely important variable.

Yes, there IS a documented 2007 “novelty” instance in which Annette Obrestad won an online poker tournament without looking at her own hole cards. But knowing one’s hole cards is still considered to be vital information; data that can (and should) be inserted into any player’s decision making process when competing in real money games.

Perhaps this is why the term “blind” in poker can describe not only the forced bets before a hand begins in community card games, but also a player’s actions when making decisions at the poker table without looking at one’s own hole cards.

Player ‘A’ went all-in blind.” This means that the player performed a poker action without looking at his/her own hole cards, or before witnessing outcomes from one or more phases during a specific poker hand.

Another common way of describing this sort of poker action is to use the prepositional phrase “in the dark.”

Player ‘B’ checked in the dark.” This means that the player has committed to a specific action for a subsequent betting round/phase without being privy to the cards dealt (or ensuing betting activity) during that subsequent round.

Generally speaking, making a poker decision without considering any and all information that is provided via a hand’s natural progression is a bad idea. Doing so creates a provable disadvantage over the long term (although there may be circumstances in which a one-off decision of this nature provides the “transmitter” with a positive expectation).

A comparison of this poker-themed concept to the science/art of politics might be a current or aspiring lawmaker taking a public stance on (or voting for/against) a proposal without possessing any relevant knowledge on the matter.

Again, generally speaking, the act of actually reviewing the content contained within an individual proposal should — both in theory and in practice — grant a politician with a greater understanding (and corresponding ‘Yes/No’ discernment capacity) of how the proposed law(s) might impact affected parties.

But knowing one’s hole cards in poker and reviewing the literature in legislative proposals aren’t the only variables that can enhance one’s decision making depth when participating in said activities.

If you are currently a member of, or decide to subscribe to, one or more premium poker courses or poker training sites, take a moment to browse some of the instruction categories that will potentially introduce more variables into one’s strategy-based decisions.

You might see quite a bit of variable-specific coursework when subscribing to these services, including material related to individual poker variants like Texas Hold’em, broad concepts like poker tells, or distinct difficulty levels starting with low stakes poker games.

More on Political Decision-Making Depth

Just like poker, there are discipline-specific concepts that can be (but aren’t always) applied by political decision makers.

Following are a few basic examples of added variables, or questions, that might enhance a United States lawmaker’s decision making depth once the answers have been carefully studied and weighted.

LOCAL: A proposal to carry out a six-month construction project near a busy intersection

How much will this project cost local taxpayers? Will businesses in the immediate area suffer due to a lack of vehicular and/or foot traffic while the project is active? If the project includes building a “bypass,” will the end-product roadwork result in less regional tourism flow into local businesses?

What are the opinions of constituents who currently reside in, or travel through, the local area? What are the anticipated pros and cons that voters are relaying to you when arguing either ‘Yes/No’ for the proposed initiative?

Did the proposal originate locally, or is its promotion being funded by non-local interests? If the latter is true, what “carrots” (incentives) are the non-local entities providing to benefit local interests?

What alternate lanes of transportation will be afforded to drivers and pedestrians while construction is ongoing? What are the anticipated inconveniences (or reduction in services) during the course of the project versus the anticipated conveniences (or increase in services) once the project has been completed?

Is the proposed location part of a large metropolitan city, suburban area, or rural zone? Is the land itself zoned (categorized) as residential, commercial, or industrial?

STATE: A proposal to require the use of seat belts by all passengers within a moving vehicle

How practical will it be to actually enforce such a law if passed? Will the state be entitled to (or be denied) federal funding if the legislative measure passes (or fails to pass)?

Are there any safety concerns associated with mandatory seat belt use by adult passengers who are positioned in the back seat(s) of a vehicle? How many serious injuries may be avoided if this proposal goes into effect?

NATIONAL: A proposal to eliminate the use of Daylight Saving Time (DST)

What are the media-communicated pros and cons of such a measure? How might different business sectors, educational institutions, personal leisure activities, and overall national culture be impacted?

Are there specific regions/groups that may disproportionately benefit/suffer upon eliminating the one-hour “Spring Forward” or “Fall Back” time changes?

Note that it might be easier to identify variables on a local level due to the intimate familiarity a political decision maker may possess.

Perhaps this can be attributed to the relatively small geographic region or low number of individuals impacted when compared to state and federal issues.

The Intermingling of Poker and Politics

In this author’s opinion, the intermingling of poker and politics could represent a positive advancement for many in society. Especially for cases in which a clear, mechanical discernment can be achieved through the consideration and weighting of more variables.

On the other hand, achieving influence through altering the perception of others’ reality — at least in politics — (be that through bullying, manipulation, or “psyching-out” opponents) might be a concept best reserved for abstract, frequently scrutinized study materials, with the aim of preparing for emergency scenarios against real-life disasters and foes.

But don’t let that dissuade you from attempting to outplay your opponents in competitive environments!

The game of poker has been enjoyed worldwide for multiple centuries. Due to the combination of skill and luck that play vital roles in determining outcomes, there are any number of reasonable arguments for categorizing poker as both a sport and as gambling.

In this article, we’ll review some of the reasons why poker might be considered gambling or a sport. We’ll also look at various scenarios in which the game might be designated as a multi-disciplined activity that can fall into the categories of sport and gambling at the same time.

poker, sports, and gambling

When is Poker NOT Considered Gambling?

Poker is most definitely NOT gambling in cases where nothing of value is being won or lost while playing. Want to play poker by yourself for practice? Go ahead!

If the poker chips you’re using don’t have any value assigned to them (except for the sake of “example” purposes), then you’re not gambling while engaging in the activity.

This is true for players who practice with AI poker solvers, players who “play for fun” without chips representing anything of value, and for those who win or lose pots that don’t need to be settled with something of value after the fact.

If there’s nothing of value at risk after the dust has cleared (even if chips are being used to enhance the gameplay experience during the course of one or more hands), then there is no gambling happening.

Of course, not all gambling has to be in the form of real money, but we’ll get to that later in the article.

So, you and your buddies can create an impromptu home game and assign “billions of dollars” to each chip in play. But if all players have arrived at an understanding that nothing of value will exchange hands as a result of the hands played, then there is no gambling activity.

Another example of poker being played without an element of gambling is when all players present agree to purchase a buy-in amount for poker training or poker entertainment purposes.

As long as it is understood beforehand that the entire buy-in amount will be retained by a poker instructor or home game host REGARDLESS of the outcome of individual hands, then players are purchasing a service.

Note that this concept is different from a poker tournament buy-in due to the potential for claiming prizes of value depending on one’s placement at the end of the event.

Many aspiring players purchase premium poker courses, and subsequently participate in numerous poker hands for the sake of learning and improving. However, there is no gambling involved if the outcomes of those hands don’t carry real money (or something of value) consequences with them.

Depending on the jurisdiction, there are sometimes cases in which a “charity” poker event may not fall under the category of gambling. Typically, if nothing of value is solicited from players, then there is no gambling element to these games.

However, if something of value IS solicited (as is the case for many “raffle” formats), then a gambling element exists for those games – even if they are advertised as charity events.

When is Poker Considered Gambling?

Poker is considered to be gambling when there is something of value at stake; when winners and losers receive (or lose) something of value based on the outcome of one or more poker hands.

Poker falls under the category of gambling even when said “something of value” refers to a tangible asset that’s not real money (like a house) – or something intangible (like a business referral).

Low stakes poker games – even if they are of relatively non-consequential value to the individuals participating in such a game – are still considered to be gambling.

For example, a $0.01/$0.02 Fixed Limit home game is gambling just as much as a $10/$20 casino poker game is.

As long as there’s something of value being exchanged (or at risk) as a result of one or more poker hands, there is gambling involved.

Is Poker a Sport?

Efforts to categorize the game of poker as a sport have been ongoing for years, especially since the rise in popularity of online poker rooms and their need for cross-promotion with live events.

However, the balance between actual skill-based poker play and marketing has yet to be achieved on a wide, mainstream scale – despite multiple attempts to form poker leagues or even to make poker an Olympic sport.

Classifying the game of poker as a “mental sport” doesn’t override the gambling element that is so frequently present when playing popular variants like Texas Hold’em or Omaha.

And just like checkers, chess, or even turn-based video games, poker strategy is susceptible to artificial intelligence dominance.

Making a Case for Poker in the Olympics

Appealing to a worldwide audience in a way that everyday, non-poker players can RELATE to the game may prove to be extremely challenging.

Plus, issues could arise during the selection process for teams (countries, in this case) that wish to put forth the very best poker talent for whichever formats are deemed worthy of Olympic competition.

One’s skill might not be the only variable used to determine which players will be chosen to represent their country in an Olympic setting. Social media presence, on-air personality, and personal contacts are just a few of the variables that could override one’s skill for gaining a seat at an Olympic poker table.

And what would poker look like at the Olympics?

Olympic poker

Would the games be played in a No Limit format? With players shoving all-in to the roar of a gymnasium crowd while an indoor pole-vaulting event is taking place in the background?

Or maybe a secluded Olympic poker room where all players are sequestered while poker action is taking place?

Would Olympic poker be restricted to Fixed Limit formats for the sake of game speed and point tallies? What about Mixed Games formats? Wouldn’t those be the best way to determine one’s all around poker skill?

Chess at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games?

After becoming formally recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), various gaming interests have promoted the idea of chess being included as a competitive Olympic sport.

Though there have been conflicting reports regarding whether chess will be included at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the most probable scenario is one in which the game is included during an eSports Week that may coincide with Olympic dates.

The finals of Olympic Esports Series are starting in Singapore NOW. Follow the games and root for your favourites: https://t.co/eHTUhhaT0h#OlympicEsportsSeries pic.twitter.com/rzlUWn0twm

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) June 23, 2023

There ARE chess gaming events that carry the title “Olympic,” but that does not necessarily mean the game is (or will be) included as an official Olympic competitive sport.

In comparison, poker has yet to receive any official designation (namely declaring it as a sport) from the IOC.

The Global Poker League and Game Marketing

To date, Season 1 of the Global Poker League – which took place during the 2016 calendar year – represented the most concerted effort to join poker and eSports at the hip.

The GPL boasted an impressive roster of skilled poker players and top-tier poker celebrities, but failed to garner enough mainstream commercial interest to justify another season.

That’s unfortunate, as interest from poker celebrities to become more involved in the promotion of high profile poker events endures.

On-screen talents such as Neil Patrick Harris, Arden Cho, Paul Pierce, Aaron Paul, David Costabile, Bruce Buffer (and many others) can periodically be seen playing in a televised setting while promoting the game.

But serious resistance to handing over the marketing reins to A-list poker celebs persists.

After all, poker IS a game of skill as well as a game of luck, and some of the most highly skilled poker players in the world have been forced to manage the intertwining of those two poker elements with game marketing “on their own.”

Categorizing poker celebs as the marketing “A-side” (with highly skilled poker pros correspondingly taking a “B-side” backseat) has yet to materialize – even during events in which such a designation might make sense for both types of poker players.

Handing over the marketing lead to poker celebs during events such as the PokerStars PSPC or a second season of the Global Poker League could be the wisest course of action.

More celebrities making their way into the game would mean more top names for poker live streams (in the medium to long term), which could provide a much needed spark for putting more “butts in seats” for live games – whether those are cash games or tournaments.

Marketing priority granted to poker celebs could also result in more commercial opportunities for the game that may not be available as long as the highly skilled pros dominate the promotion of select, celebrity-friendly events.

Poker marketing is already dominated by skilled pros during most live streams and poker events. Letting celebs take on more responsibility during the PSPC or league games just might be the difference between being sponsored by a company that makes a container to pour sports drinks into and a company that makes sports drinks.

College Sports NIL and Poker Marketing

A poker league that doesn’t force players to gamble (such as the Global Poker League) could also represent an environment that’s friendly to potential NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals with collegiate athletes.

However, this idea has no chance of working if there is any element of gambling present in the poker games that these individuals are playing in and/or promoting. These potential deals would also be limited to the United States, where NIL monetization is allowed for college sports figures.

And perhaps best of all, there are a number of college sports programs in which women are just as (if not more) prominent than their male counterparts.

So while Women’s Crew (rowing) might not have an ultra high profile figure atop the collegiate NIL rankings at the moment, there ARE prominent, immensely popular female sports athletes within the NIL marketplace who participate in collegiate volleyball, gymnastics, basketball, and softball programs.

But again, this would probably entail handing over a larger marketing and responsibility role to the collegiate athletes themselves (along with quite a bit of planning and troubleshooting) in order to pass regulatory muster and grant the individual(s) marketing immunity from the everyday “hustle and bustle” of poker scandals.

So is Poker Gambling, a Sport, or Both?

As explained above, it really depends on the unique setup of each poker game to determine whether it’s an exercise in gambling, a sport, or both.

Poker is played for fun and leisure by many who participate in regular home games in their area, but it is still a gambling activity when something of value is exchanged by players based on the outcome of one or more poker hands.

The less that the “gambling” element of poker makes its way into mainstream marketing campaigns (at least when a legacy poker audience is not the primary focus of the marketing that’s taking place), the better.

But marketing the game of poker exclusively as a leisure activity is misleading unless any and all gambling aspects of the poker play being marketed have been removed beforehand.

Perhaps one day we’ll see the game of poker make its way to an Olympic stage. Or maybe there will be a poker league like the GPL that hits its stride at an opportune moment and truly introduces a new generation to poker without any gambling elements being involved.

Until then, gambling and poker will continue to be “joined at the hip,” and — as always — the most highly skilled poker players will continue to enjoy an advantage of lesser skilled players.

The 2024 PGT Mixed Games series has officially concluded, with millions of dollars in prize money awarded to individuals who participated and cashed in one or more of the 10 live poker tournaments. Topping the series leaderboard was Max Hoffman, who cashed in five events for a total of $376,300. For his efforts, Hoffman won the PGT Gold Cup as well as a $10,000 PGT Passport.

Max Hoffman

Max Hoffman

Part of the PokerGO Tour, the 10 events took place during the first week and a half of March 2024, and included formats such as H.O.R.S.E., Triple Stud, 2-7 Triple Draw, and Dealer’s Choice. The series was capped off by a $25,300 buy-in 10-Game Championship.

Below are the results from the 2024 PGT Mixed Games series.

PGT Mixed Games

2024 PGT Mixed Games Series Results

The high stakes Mixed Games tournament action kicked off on Wednesday, February 28th.

The $5,100 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event attracted 87 entries and was won by Maksim Pisarenko of Russia for $117,400.

It's all over! Maksim Pisarenko won the opening event of @PokerGOTour Mixed Games, taking home $117,400 in prize money. @BennyGlaser placed second. pic.twitter.com/abjP7kpYp5

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) March 1, 2024

Event #2 of the 2024 PGT Mixed Games series, the $5,100 8-Game Mix, garnered 89 total entries.

Poker Hall of Famer John Hennigan was emerged victorious, collecting $120,150 for his efforts.

John Hennigan put on a dominant performance at today’s @PokerGOTour Mixed Games Event #2 final table to take home the title and $120,150 in prize money. pic.twitter.com/WB7YvPR3vT

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) March 2, 2024

Event #3 was the $10,000+$200 H.O.R.S.E. tournament. When the smoke had cleared, Poker Hall of Famer and PokerGO President Mori Eskandani had bested a field of 63 hopefuls to come out on top for a payday of $201,600.

Mori glory! Mori Eskandani (@Eskandani) wins @PokerGOTour Mixed Games Event #3: $10,200 H.O.R.S.E. for $201,600. His first PGT victory. @jeremyausmus placed second. pic.twitter.com/xuuMawIc0k

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) March 3, 2024

The 2024 PGT Mixed Games series then continued with Event #4 – a $10,200 buy-in 8-Game tournament.

The 2022 WSOP Player of the Year, New Jersey poker pro Dan Zack, finished first in the event, and was awarded a championship prize of $195,200 for his efforts. Last year’s PGT Mixed Game Series champion almost notched a repeat, but ultimately finished second on the leaderboard to the aforementioned Hoffman.

.@Dan__Zack wins @PokerGOTour Mixed Games Event #4: $10,200 8-Game for $195,200. pic.twitter.com/hLVduP5EwA

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) March 4, 2024

John Racener would be crowned the next 2024 PGT Mixed Games series winner just before midnight local time on March 4th.

Racener outlasted 43 tournament entries and walked away with $151,200 for first place in the $10,200 Triple Stud event.

Welllll, took down the @PokerGO Triple Stud event. Was down to one big bet and came back #NeverGiveUp #Trucks.com pic.twitter.com/Xmk6ZN9BrE

— John Racener (@racener) March 5, 2024

The second half of the 2024 PGT Mixed Games series began on March 4th.

By the next afternoon, a total of 47 entrants participated in Event #6, the $10,200 buy-in Triple Draw Mix event.

Jerry Wong won his first-ever PokerGO Tour event by taking down Event #6 for $164,500.

Jerry Wong (@HumLun) earned his first PGT title with a victory in PGT Mixed Games Event #6: 10,200 Triple Draw Mix at the @PokerGO Studio. Wong topped Max Hoffman in heads-up play to win the $164,500 first-place prize.https://t.co/isLrSZ1BPx

— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) March 6, 2024

The $10,200 buy-in Dealer’s Choice Event #7 was up next. The top prize of $164,500 was won by Philip Sternheimer of England, who edged-out Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu heads-up.

Winner winner chicken dinner 😎 pic.twitter.com/weSTWqF6Br

— Philip Sternheimer (@TheMannheim) March 7, 2024

Event #8 featured a $10,200 buy-in tournament with a Big Bet Mix format. Televised poker tournament veteran Daniel Shak found himself at the top of the field when action had concluded, winning a PokerGO Tour event for the first time in his playing career along with $133,200.

.@daniel_shak does it! He wins PGT Mixed Games Event #8: $10,200 Big Bet Mix for $133,200. @jeremyausmus finished second, and @RealKidPoker took third.https://t.co/PypLpPooCU

— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) March 8, 2024

Event #9 was the $25,500 buy-in, 2024 PGT Mixed Games series championship, which attracted 41 players.

Alex Livingston was victorious in the series championship tournament — and won a cash prize of $324,465.

It's all over! @rumnchess grabs his first @PokerGOTour win inside the PokerGO Studio and it's a big one, taking down the PGT Mixed Games $25,300 10-Game Championship. pic.twitter.com/mbn2tqN6wd

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) March 9, 2024

The final event of the 2024 PokerGO Tour Mixed Games series saw Walter Chambers take home $63,000 in the $5,100 buy-in 2-7 Single Draw tournament.

2024 PokerGO Tour Point Standings

As we continue the third month of the 2024 calendar year, the 2024 PokerGO Tour leaderboard standings are as follows.

David Coleman – 937 PGT Points (3 Wins, 6 Cashes)
Dylan Weisman – 738 PGT Points (2 Wins, 5 Cashes)
Kristen Foxen – 666 PGT Points (1 Win, 4 Cashes)
Johnathan Little – 549 PGT Points (2 Wins, 4 Cashes)
Daniel Negreanu – 521 PGT Points (0 Wins, 7 Cashes)

High stakes live tournament action from Las Vegas will continue later this month as the PokerGO Tour hosts the 2024 PLO Series in Las Vegas. Action begins on Wednesday, March 20th, and will feature buy-ins ranging from $5,000 to $25,000.

Poker terms have been around for as long as the game has been played. They have also increased in volume as poker’s popularity has risen.

If you’re a longtime poker player or someone who’s been around the industry for years, you may unconsciously make use of several poker terms in a single sentence – without even realizing you’re incorporating them.

There are a lot of concepts – unique to poker – that can be clearly communicated in the form of poker terms. In this article, we’ll take a look at these words and phrases, while providing definitions for newcomers who desire a general guide on when and how to use them.

poker terms

Poker Terms: Hole Cards in Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em has cemented its standing as the most popular poker variant in recent decades, and is chock-full of specialty phrases that are unique to the variant – and apply to both No Limit and Fixed Limit games (Pot Limit too).

Poker terms for Texas Hold’em hole cards (the two face-down cards that each participating player receives at the beginning of the hand), are as follows. Keep in mind that this isn’t a complete list of all the nicknames of hole cards, but the information below does contain the most common nicknames for Texas Hold’em hole cards.

AA – Pocket Rockets, Bullets
AK – Big Slick
A8 – Dead Man’s Hand
KK – Cowboys, Ace Magnets
K9 – Canine
QQ – Ladies, Canadian Aces
Q7 – Computer Hand
JJ – Fish hooks
TT – Train Tracks, Dimes
99 – Phil Hellmuth Hand
88 – Snowmen
77 – Hockey Sticks
66 – Route 66, Cherries
55 – Presto, Speed Limit
44 – Sailboats
33 – Treys, Crabs
22 – Ducks, Deuces

Poker Terms: Betting Actions

There are a few interchangeable terms for action that takes place in community card games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha.

Preflop – before the flop
Turn – Fourth Street
River – Fifth Street

Of course, the amount of poker jargon used to describe actions such as folding, betting, calling, and raising is much more extensive.

To Lead Out – This action describes the action of betting first after the flop has been dealt in community card games.

To Barrel – This is used to describe the action of performing an initial bet during postflop rounds when the player raises preflop. A double-barrel can be performed on the Turn, and a Triple Barrel bet refers to an initial River bet from the same player who raised the action preflop.

To Look Someone Up – If you look up another player, you are performing the action of calling. This poker term is typically applied in postflop scenarios. The player who is performing the betting can be looked up by a player who decides to call the action.

To Lay It Down – This refers to folding a hand, and can be equally used for preflop and postflop situations.

To Come Over The Top – This action refers to performing a re-raise. It can be used for both preflop and postflop scenarios.

To Snap Call – If you call a player’s action immediately, with little to no delay, you are performing a snap call.

To Overcall – This poker term is generally used when a player makes a call that is unjustified given the current pot odds for a specific hand.

To Shove – This means that a player goes all-in and is used mainly in No Limit formats. It’s linked to the physical action that occurs when a player pushes all remaining chips into a pot during an in-person poker game, but it can also be used for online poker games.

To Semi Bluff – A semi bluff refers to betting with a hand that would generally be an underdog to win at showdown, but could still be improved depending on which community cards are dealt during the Turn and/or River.

To Flash – A poker player who flashes is a poker player who intentionally shows one hole card face-up. This is sometimes done by a player who bets on the River and is performed in order to coerce/influence the other player to call, raise, or fold.

To Stack Someone – This poker term is used to describe when one player obtains the entire chip stack of one or more opponents, generally in a No Limit format but it can also be incorporated into Pot Limit games when relevant. You’ll hear this phrase frequently during poker tournament coverage.

To Get Away From A Hand – This term refers to when a player is able to fold a relatively strong poker hand, and is used when that player unknowingly faces a superior hand held by one or more opponents.

To Call the Clock – This action can be performed by one or more players at a live poker table to force another player to make a decision within a certain time limit. Casino and card room floor personnel can also become involved in a decision regarding how much time to give a player to make a decision.

To Slow Down – A player who opens a hand with a strong betting pattern but later decides to check or call a hand is slowing down the action, or keeping the pot relatively small.

One Outer – An “outer” refers to the number of cards remaining in the deck that can improve one’s hand to a point in which it wins at showdown. A player who is depending on one of three remaining aces to be dealt on the River is deemed to be seeking a three outer, for example.

To Muck – This refers to the action of folding a hand face-down, or pitching one’s hole cards face-down into the designated muck pile at a live table.

To Hold – A poker hand “holds” when it begins the action as a superior hand and remains a superior hand at showdown.

To Get Felted – see “to get stacked”

Coin Flip – This scenario occurs when two players are heads-up in a pot and begin with relatively similar hands, in terms of strength, once the action is all-in.

To Play The Board – A player is playing the board when one’s hole cards do not improve the poker hand strength in any way. This term is used in community card poker games.

To Suck Out – To be dealt one or more fortunate community cards (or door cards) that turn an inferior hand into a superior hand.

To Cold Call – A player cold calls when making a call during a betting phase in which the action has been raised at least once.

To Limp – This action occurs when a player calls the minimum Big Blind amount during the preflop phase of a hand.

To Be Pot Committed – A player is pot committed if standard pot odds would mathematically require a call from that player on ensuing streets (betting phases).

To Be Knocked Out – A player can be “knocked out,” or eliminated from a tournament. This means the player has no chips remaining and can no longer advance in poker tournament placement.

The Bubble – This describes the poker tournament placement in which a pay out level occurs. If a player “bubbles” a tournament, that player is understood to have been eliminated just before receiving a payout.

A Stack of High Society – Made famous by the poker-themed movie “Rounders” one stack of high society equals $10,000.

To Double Up – A poker player doubles up when winning an all-in hand that increases the size of his or her tournament stack by twofold or more.

To Get There – To make a superior hand.

Run It Twice – Players who are all-in during a particular hand with one or more community cards still to be dealt can decide to run it twice and divide the total pot accordingly if it is chopped.

Having Fun with Poker Terms

If you watch a lot of live stream poker games, you’ll notice there are situations in which more than half of an elongated sentence contains actual poker jargon.

“She stacked him with a semi bluff shove when he looked her up on Fourth Street with a gutshot and didn’t get there.”

“His Cowboys held against Big Slick when no three outer arrived.”

“He rivered a boat but got snap called by quads when he shoved.”

“She re-raised preflop but slowed down with her ladies and didn’t lead out when the flop came A-K-5. Her opponent donk-bet on the flop and she was able to get away from her hand.”

“I never limp with Pocket Rockets because I don’t want to get sucked out on.”

You can impress your non-poker friends by learning poker terms and then using them to describe action that occurs at a poker table. This is also a way to get friends interested in (or looking forward to) a poker game that you’re hosting.

So the next time someone asks you, “what is a cold call in poker,” or “what is flat call poker,” or “what is overcall poker,” or even “what is snap call poker,” you can answer them with confidence.

The options are pretty much limitless, as poker vocabulary is continuously evolving as new and old scenarios alike play out.

How to Learn More Poker Terms

Becoming involved in a dedicated poker study group or subscribing to premium poker training sites are two sure-fire ways to increase your understanding of poker jargon.

You can also tune-in to live streamed poker content on sites like Twitch and YouTube to learn specialized vocabulary from the commentators.

There’s also the most obvious way to learn poker terms, which is to sit down and participate in a live poker session at your favorite casino or card room.

If you’re interested in seeing how lyricists incorporate poker jargon into the music they perform, you might want to take a look at our Top 7 Songs about Poker article.

Get Involved in a Poker Community

If you and your friends regularly meet for a low stakes home game, or if you’d like to become involved in a poker community in your area, then knowing the most common poker terms can assist you in associating with any given group.

It’s not uncommon for a poker community group to use some form of a Play On Words when determining a group name — meaning a poker society may refer to itself as Pocket Rockets, Ladies, Big Slick, and so on.

The next time you’re participating in a micro-stakes game or any casual game in which the stakes aren’t very high and the obvious aim is “fun over skill,” try out some of the new poker terms you’ve learned and see what your friends can come up with.

There’s also a chance that you’ll encounter some of the terms mentioned above when playing at online poker rooms, but this is dependent on whether a chat feature is available when competing at real money games.

When it comes to poker terms, you may find that some may vary depending on the region. Pocket Aces may be referred to as one term on the East Coast while another word is used to describe them on the West Coast, etc.

Get involved in a poker community if you enjoy playing poker casually, and spread the “love of the game” by exercising your knowledge of poker terms on a regular basis. You’ll have lots of fun and can look forward to playing the game socially in a low stakes environment.

Have fun, learn more about the game, and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to win during your next poker session.

The number of decks that casinos generally stick to in poker games is widely known by those who play in “live” games around the world. But WHY is there a specific number of decks in poker? Why don’t you see a lot of casinos make use of technology-based products that can accommodate six (or more) decks at a single table?

In this article, we’ll look at some of the reasons behind the multi-deck limit when it comes to the majority of competitive, player-versus-player poker games that are hosted by big name casinos.

Of course, we’ll be referring to the amount of individual decks that may be present at a live poker table – and not the number of decks that are used for a single poker hand (which is one deck only).

Some of the reasons behind limiting the total number of poker decks at a table, including in-play decks and reserve decks, may genuinely surprise you!

faded spade decks in poker

The Standard Number of Decks at a Table in Live Poker Games is Two

For starters, poker playing cards are one of the fundamental props necessary for hosting and participating in a real life poker game. Just like poker chips, you won’t be able to join or play in any competitive poker game at your favorite casino or card room if there are no playing cards.

But why do most casinos, despite having the budget to purchase the most high tech automated poker card shuffler machines that can hold six or eight decks at a time, use only two decks?

Number of Decks at Poker Tables: Mechanical vs. Digital Products

One of the most overlooked reasons for casinos limiting the amount of poker decks at any given “live” table is practicality.

When dealing with a physical product – one that can be dealt, held, folded, and so on – there is an undeniable “mechanical” element that comes along for the ride when it is used.

Poker decks and poker cards take up physical space in a live setting. Think of them as old-school media before such content placed on things such as compact discs, cassette tapes, or vinyl records evolved into digital music that can be manipulated instantly through hardware/software integration.

Back in the 1990s, CD changers became popular at one point (until drivers discovered how much these devices were prone to malfunctioning when driving over speed bumps or performing quick turns). A six-disc CD changer could be operated remotely through the use of a small device with a battery, but it took a relatively long amount of time for the machinery to physically move the discs themselves.

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why CD changers were a one-hit fad that never really came into their own in terms of adding more physical hardware. Twenty-disc or 100-disc CD changers were never really manufactured and marketed due to how much down time there was from the time one entered commands on a remote device to the moment a specific song began to play.

It’s simply not very practical to have six or more poker decks in wait when dealing a live poker game. An automatic card shuffler can work its magic on a single reserve deck of cards, and have that deck ready for a live dealer to pick up and use in the time it takes to play one hand of live poker with a current deck.

The Number of Decks in Poker Doesn’t Influence Game Speed

Beyond having two total decks at a dealer’s disposal in a live poker game, more decks don’t really increase the actual game speed, or number of hands seen per hour.

A casino poker table that is using two total decks will see just as many hands per hour on average (perhaps more) than if that table’s automatic shuffler held six or more decks in reserve.

Again, this is just a reality of the mechanical element that’s present in live poker play. A poker dealer is dealing one hand with one single deck, while the next deck is being shuffled and readied by the hardware next to the dealer.

Having more than one reserve deck contained within a carousel doesn’t really enhance the player experience in any way. But having one single deck that can be shuffled and made available to the dealer as soon as the current hand concludes is a genuine time saver.

Why is Poker Played With Two Decks?

The more physical cards that might make their way onto a poker player during an individual dealer’s “down,” the greater the likelihood that there could be a mix-up somewhere along the way. In other words, more data, more problems.

Think about the few occasions in live poker when you’ve physically been at a poker table (or viewed content on a poker live stream) in which a duplicate card was dealt during a single poker hand.

Aside from a poker hand automatically being declared “dead” in these rare cases, the events themselves typically prompt a recount, reshuffle, and inventory taking of all playing cards/decks present at the table.

Plus, there are few events in a live poker hand that will cause most (if not all) players at a live poker table to audibly “groan” than having a duplicate card discovered while a real money, competitive poker hand is in progress.

If seeing a flop that contains TWO queens of hearts results in players and hosting venues alike doing a “double take,” imagine how bad it might be if THREE or more duplicate cards happened to accidentally make their way into a single poker hand.

Despite the training routine that dealers and card room personnel go through to ensure that cards within poker decks remain entirely separate, these events DO occasionally occur. This is why the answer to the question, “How many decks are used in Texas Hold’em and other games,” is typically TWO.

Casino Security and Game Integrity

While technological advancements have made some forms of cheating and dealer-player collusion less likely, more than two poker decks at a competitive game could still insert more variables unnecessarily in certain circumstances.

Casino security officials have enough to monitor in real time, and it may be a lesser burden (depending on which systems are in place at a particular cardroom) to use two total decks rather than three or more.

Maintaining a policy of two decks may also grant casino personnel with general knowledge regarding how frequently decks should be discarded and replaced with new ones.

Having a carousel with six, eight, or however many decks may mean that playing cards remain in used (or unused) “circulation” for longer periods of time. This may not be a good thing in general. – depending on which security protocols and hardware-software integration are in practice at a specific card room.

If you’re hosting a home game that happens to be for real money stakes (and if the stakes are high enough to attract cheaters/colluders), then you might want to seriously consider limiting your table(s) to a maximum of two total decks that can be used during a single session or dealer shift.

This will allow you or your manager to obtain a general idea of when decks should be switched out due to wear and tear or possible markings. Keeping up with six decks as a home game security analyst (even if they are in an automatic card shuffler machine) seems like it would be somewhat of an extra, unnecessary chore.

This is because, as stated previously in this article, you can deal the same amount of hands per hour using only two decks of poker cards. The number of decks don’t enhance the gaming experience after two.

Should The Two Poker Decks In Use Have Different Styles?

Concerning the face-down graphics displayed on poker cards, most casinos will use the same card design for the number of decks in poker use.

If you’d like, you can be more flexible as a home game host and use two completely different designs if it’s an informal game. However, you’ll find that most card rooms will also use the exact same card design and color for both decks that are available to a dealer at their poker tables.

Is It Poor Form to Use Two Decks in Poker When Manually Shuffling?

If you’re participating in or hosting a very casual poker game or if the stakes are very low, a second deck might not add much to the experience if you’re manually shuffling in between hands.

One option might be to have someone shuffle the extra deck while the current deck is in play, but players may balk at this practice at higher stakes due to the possibilities it opens up for potential cheating.

If you don’t have an automatic card shuffling machine, you may be better off simply using one deck for all hands during a home game session. During a hand, it’s the dealer’s sole responsibility to deal as the rules stipulate, and not to shuffle cards, after all.

More Reasons for Using Only One Poker Deck for Home Games

There are a couple other reasons why using just one poker deck for a home game may be your best bet.

If you plan on having alcoholic beverages available while competitive gameplay is taking place, then one single deck might do the trick. This is true even if the amount of hands seen per hour is a bit slower than it would otherwise be using two decks.

Another occasion in which using a single poker deck might be appropriate is when your home game guests are already used to incorporating a single deck.

Using two (or more) decks to speed up your home poker game may be a good idea on the surface, but it’s something that you want to receive approval from all participants if the concept is being implemented for the first time.

As mentioned above, there’s really no speed benefit to using two decks in poker (if there’s no dedicated dealer spot) anyway.

If players are taking turn shuffling the cards between each hand, then two decks might be a bit too much to keep track of.

And one of the most annoying things that can happen during a real money poker hand is when cards from two separate decks get mixed together and result in a hand being declared “dead” once a duplicate card is discovered.

Finally, you’ll want to use a single deck of playing cards for poker games in which players are new to a particular game format (while keeping the game itself at low stakes). One deck only is ideal, as it gives players a chance to ask questions once a hand concludes and receive clarification while the single deck is being manually shuffled for the next hand.

The Ideal Number of Decks in Poker Games

Two is really the magic number — as long as you have an automatic card shuffler that can accommodate the reserve deck and a dedicated human dealer to distribute cards.

The next time you’re hosting or playing in a live card game, check to see how many poker decks are in use by including any reserve decks that are selected from an automatic card shuffler once the current hand concludes.

If you’re looking to take your home game to the next level, then an automatic card shuffler that can ready a separate deck while a hand is being played with another deck will add multiple hands per hour to your game.

888poker Stream On registration 2024Registration for the 888poker Stream On contest, to determine who will be awarded a one year talent sponsorship contract, is now officially underway.

This once in a lifetime opportunity to turn your poker streaming abilities into a representative, poker-themed streaming coverage is extended to poker streamers who are age 25 or over.

Will YOU be the next member of the 888poker Stream Team, joining the likes of current company ambassadors like Nick Eastwood, Josh Manley, and others? Read on to learn all the important details on how to compete for a highly coveted membership slot through the 2024 Stream On contest.

Stream On Contest: Preliminary Requirements

In order to be eligible to win the 2024 Stream On contest, you will need to complete the following process by Friday, March 15th.

2024 888poker Stream On Contest: Details & Criteria

To have a chance to become the next 888poker streamer, your general knowledge of how the game is played, poker streaming setup, and community building efforts should already be in place.

Once you have completed the prerequisites for competing in the 2024 Stream On contest, there will be a few stipulations to remain in contention throughout the entire judging period.

Improve Your Chances of Winning: 888poker Stream On Poker Sponsorship Deal

There are a few things that 888poker players and judges will be looking for when determining the eventual winner of the 888poker Stream On contest.

Here are a few guidance tips on how to improve your chances of winning.

Do you possess a basic, fundamental understanding of how the game of poker is played?

You should be extremely familiar with game rules for any poker variant that you are playing, or commentating on, while participating in the Stream On contest.

Does your personality while performing on-air resonate with the 888poker target audience?

The way you relay information and communicate overall should be in line with (and appealing to) the 888poker target audience.

Do you engage with followers and maintain a consistent social media presence that revolves around poker?

Judges will evaluate contestants’ social media presence on platforms such as Twitter/X, Facebook, and YouTube. How you communicate with and relate to the audience you’ve built will be a grading point for Stream On contest judges.

2024 Stream On Contest Prizes (Awarded Weekly)

Contestants will receive prizes upon participating in the 2024 Stream On promotion through 888poker.

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Who Will Determine The Next 888poker Brand Ambassador?

There will be a dedicated Judging Panel, chosen by 888poker, that will assist in deciding the eventual contest winner.

Votes from verified members of the 888poker Discord Community will count towards 50% of determining who the next 888poker Brand Ambassador will be.

Related comments and emails from actual 888poker players will also be considered during the 2024 Stream On judging phase.

Who “Shouldn’t” Register for the 888poker Stream On Contest?

There are a few factors that could automatically disqualify a streamer from participating in the 2024 Stream On Contest.

  1. STREAMING SETUP: If you are not properly set up to stream live content online (i.e. inconsistent or poor internet connection, lack of hardware/software integration), then those issues will need to be resolved before receiving a confirmation email from 888poker.
  2. MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: Due to UK regulations concerning gambling content, you will be automatically deemed ineligible if you are not at least 25 years of age.
  3. CONTENT EXCLUSIVITY: If you will be streaming third party content between March 16 and April 15th, then you will not be eligible to win the first place prize of becoming the next 888poker Brand Ambassador. This includes coverage of other online poker sites, but also extends to third party content related to other genres such as video gaming.
  4. BANNED PLAYERS: If you have previously been banned from competing at the tables by 888poker, then you will not be eligible to participating in the 2024 Stream On contest.

Register Now for Your Chance to Become an 888poker Brand Ambassador

Follow the steps provided near the top of this article to REGISTER NOW, and compete for this once in a lifetime opportunity to become a paid 888poker Brand Ambassador through your streaming content.

The judging period will take place from March 16th through April 15th, 2024.

The eventual 2024 Stream On contest winner will be formally announced by 888poker on Monday, April 22nd, 2024.

Best of luck in your quest to expand upon 888poker’s commitment to providing top-notch streaming content to its audience!

Can AI beat humans at poker? Decades ago, the notion that AI could beat humans in any game of skill was largely dismissed.

But times have changed. Not only can AI beat humans at poker these days, but artificial intelligence has become a leading training tool for games of skill such as chess, Go, and even Jeopardy!

From AI poker solvers to chess programs that outperform Grandmasters, the dominance of artificial intelligence appears to be now firmly cemented for the rest of our existence.

The edge that machines now enjoy over the human mind is pretty much incalculable – at least to us mere humans. Perhaps “mind blowing” is the best term to use for us to define just how quickly AI has advanced (and is advancing).

“Leaps and bounds” doesn’t even begin to quantify how real time programming is capable of considering a seemingly limitless amount of variables in what we would describe as an instant.

Just like an antique calculator can arrive at a solution to difficult equations at the press of a few buttons, artificial intelligence can outperform even the best human minds – both in terms of speed and accuracy.

AI beat humans at poker

Yes, AI Can Beat Humans at Poker

Carnegie Mellon University already proved years ago that artificial intelligence could metaphorically “mop the floor” with the best human poker players. The heads-up No Limit Texas Hold’em superbot Libratus defeated hand-picked human poker experts in January 2017 over the course of 120,000 hands.

Fixed Limit Texas Hold’em has been solved since January 2015, when the University of Alberta released its answer key for the popular poker game when it is played in a Limit format.

Formally, there has been no high profile attempt by AI to defeat humans in No Limit Hold’em games in which more than two players participate.

However, we can gauge – through public communications – that artificial intelligence already has a stranglehold on NLHE poker strategy based on how many accusations are brought forth claiming that certain players are cheating by using programs in real time to compete at the poker tables.

One of the most common types of poker cheating accusations that have been communicated in recent years is real time use of AI while competing at online poker.

How to Safeguard: AI Can Beat Humans at Poker

Live poker games have seen somewhat of a marketing resurgence as more integrity complaints have been lodged around online poker games. Being a casual poker player has its perks, especially if you’re in a situation where you can play low stakes games without the need to depend on poker winnings to fund your personal expenses.

Perhaps one of the best options for players looking to safeguard against being cheated in competitive poker games is to play low stakes, Fixed Limit formats in a home game environment.

While a $20 poker night might not “scratch the itch” of having an opportunity to win thousands of dollars in a single poker session through a combination of skill and luck, low stakes may be less attractive to professional players or someone looking to compromise the competitive component of the game.

An informal poker game among friends, in a Fixed Limit format at low stakes, can be easy to accommodate or host. Your low stakes home game guests may also be more flexible when it comes to covering the cost of food and refreshments.

Low stakes games also make it easier for pots to be awarded quickly, reduce the amount of calculations players and dealers must make, and can be conveniently played with a single set of poker chips.

Bigger stakes attract more competent players and cheaters. No Limit formats attract pros and can break up a regular, friendly Fixed Limit home game in a matter of just a few sessions. If you’re looking for a competitive game of poker with a relatively small chance of attracting “ringers,” then consider safeguarding yourself against the use of AI via small stakes games played in a casual environment.

You can access low stakes Fixed Limit games at many card rooms and casinos, but you’re not likely to find bet amounts lower than $5/$10 at some venues.

In a home game, you can establish real money, Fixed Limit stake limits as low as $0.01/$0.02 if that’s what your guests desire. You won’t be able to find penny games at your local casino or card room.

“Timing” Games and AI’s Non-Competitive Advantage

There’s much to praise about AI’s domination of “timing” games like Jeopardy! However, the millisecond response times (knowing when to buzz in) might have provided IBM’s Watson artificial intelligence with a certain advantage when it took on the game’s most highly acclaimed champions way back in 2011.

Traditional board games and game shows that include a buzz-in timing element – the preliminary round of Press Your Luck along with Sale of the Century to name a couple – could provide artificial intelligence with an unfair advantage that cannot be overcome by humans.

There are also some games, such as Hasbro Gaming’s Perfection, that would require robotic components for AI to outperform human players.

On the other hand, turn-based video games should all be dominated by AI in the future (if they aren’t already). The massive capacity of AI for puzzle solving and performing real time calculations, compared to humans, is or will be too much to overcome in popular turn-based games such as the XCOM series, Civilization series, and other such video games.

Yes, humans may be able to defeat the highest difficulty levels that those games offer for Player versus Computer matching, but that’s only because the highest difficulty levels do not fully explore the AI capabilities. Think of it as playing a chess bot with a designed low ELO ranking.

Human Decision Making Depth Versus Artificial Intelligence

While rapid calculation of variables may be a realm that AI has already proven itself to be superior in, there is arguably a need for humans to actually define variables – and place weighted values on them – in everyday life.

The “weighting” of variables, or determining which variables outweigh others in terms of importance, is something that human intelligence might be able to outperform its AI counterpart in – especially when determined through human experience.

Many decisions facing humans are of a “toggle” nature; their result is either yes/no or on/off. So while it’s easy for any human being to possess a yes/no or on/off opinion (and have a 50% pre-event probability of being correct), the consideration (and appropriate weighting) of more variables can add a depth to the human decision making process that AI may still struggle with.

While a yes/no solution may be 50/50 on the surface, there exist a number of weighted variables – that you may be intimately aware of as a human being – that can aid your decision making. The result of this weighting of variables may assist in guiding you to a clear, real time decision, based on a current situation.

In other words, card game rules might be “set in stone,” (and therefore susceptible to AI decision making superiority) but situational analysis through weighting of variables still exists in everyday human life.

As humans, we can outperform the 50/50 “coin flip” nature of otherwise abstract decisions through the weighting of variables, utilizing intimate intel that only we are privy to – not only in real time scenarios but for future events.

Of course, not all decisions that we humans make fall under the “toggle” category. There are plenty of weighted variables that can be considered when arriving at an answer to questions like “How much?” or “Precisely when?” or “How far?”

As an exercise, consider how you may be able to outperform artificial intelligence, through your own weighting of variables, the next time you’re faced with a personal decision.

It may also be helpful to categorize the “Why?” element as representing the variables themselves.

Will Human Capabilities Eventually Achieve What AI Has?

At the very best, perhaps one day a human will be able to equal the real time calculation power of artificial intelligence, but that day may not come until members of the human race itself receive implants to do so.

Elon Musk owns the company Neuralink, which has already installed its first implanted chip within a human brain. At the moment, the project is the most publicly communicated means for human beings to be able to mimic the capabilities of artificial intelligence. However, the registry is currently restricted to patients with severe disabilities and the long term results from the first Neuralink implant itself have yet to become available.

Brain Computer Technology (BCI) is also being researched and implemented on a very limited basis by departments within higher learning institutions such as the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at San Francisco.

AI Capabilities for Human Surveillance

For the time being, a large portion of AI infrastructure seems to be focused on human monitoring and surveillance.

At Davos 2023, the concept of using wearable headgear to monitor human brain wave activity was fleshed out in front of a forum audience. However, concerns about personal biological data privacy were not addressed during the presentation.

It is also possible that artificial intelligence will perceive humans who attempt to regulate it (or use it for broad-stroke commercial purposes) as an imminent threat to its own longer term learning capabilities, universal exploration, and ultimate survival while the relative early stages of its development are still in progress.

Can AI Beat Humans at Poker? If Technology Exists, Then…

Debating how humans can or should regulate the use of artificial intelligence is a worthwhile endeavor for sure, but there is a risk of said regulation being incomplete, partial, and prone to inevitable AI takeover.

And as far as poker or other competitive games of skill are concerned: if technology exists, then it will eventually be used, misused, and abused.

Plus – if we’re to heed the 20th Century warnings of award-winning author, inventor, and computer scientist Ray Kurzweil, the concept of “machine rights” may one day become just as prominent in society as human rights.

And how that concept eventually “shakes out” could have profound, society-changing impacts across a broad spectrum of outcomes yet to even be contemplated by the human mind.

Use AI to Learn Away from the Tables

AI is an impressive learning tool that can be ethically used by any poker player to improve one’s game while not competing at the poker tables. But it is best for it to be “set aside” when human versus human card playing competition is in progress.

Use AI to learn away from the tables, and compete against friends or foes using your own wits when at a poker table – whether that’s in a live setting or while playing at online poker rooms.

Having an AI poker tool do all the work for you in real time may seem like a lucrative endeavor, but you won’t have an opportunity to retain a relatively high percentage of the knowledge and you’ll also risk being banned (with funds confiscated) when caught.

Enjoy the game of poker in a low stakes, casual home game or card room setting and compete for leisure rather than necessity. This way, you can study the game using AI tools away from the table and bring what YOU personally have learned to a competitive environment at the appropriate time.

888poker PC Tables have just been released, via a sizeable update that marks an eagerly anticipated enhancement to the online poker platform. The new PC Tables features will surely add to the overall player experience of 888poker customers around the world.

In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at 888poker PC Tables, the new features that players can enjoy, as well as how to make the most of your experience when playing online poker at 888poker.

888poker PC Tables

Elevated Online Poker Experience Begins with Bigger Tables

The digital software offered by the new 888poker PC Tables product makes the size of each table larger than before.

What this means is that players have a slightly larger digital space, which can be an attractive feature for both multi-tablers and players who only play one online poker table at a time.

888poker PC Tables larger tables

The table size is more prominent within each player’s window both when using the 888poker app or desktop version. Player avatars have likewise been adjusted to give competitors a clearer view of all the action.

New Table Environments

There are plenty of new aesthetic environments that can be digitally selected in order to enhance your overall experience on 888poker. Want a cool color scheme that makes your online poker games more appealing? That can now be taken care of through the player menu.

888poker PC Tables New Environments

What’s more, tournament endings such as Mystery Bounty final tables now have their own environment. This gives players a special sense of achievement and also adds to the digital atmosphere of the final table, where lots of money can be won.

888poker Tournament Stats: Accessible Via Live View

888poker’s revamped tournaments stats can now be toggled on and off directly from the online table itself.

In other words, players no longer have to maximize the full lobby page to see particulars such as payouts, placements, and players remaining.

888poker PC Tables Tournament Stats

This feature alone can save quite a few in-tournament clicks and is extremely convenient since there is no longer a need to constantly consult another in-app page to view online event details. For players, who literally click buttons all day long, this is sure to be a welcome improvement.

The “Sneak Peek” feature can be accessed through any tournament table and toggles all the pertinent info for the event you’re currently playing. Total prize pool, average chip stack, blind levels, time remaining until the next blind increase, along with the next scheduled payout, can now be easily accessed from your online poker tournament table.

If you’re seeking information when playing a Mystery Bounty event, you can now click a button within the table view to access the remaining total value of bounties in the tournament.

Player Notes Now Represented by Avatar Color Enclosure

Just like you’d take notes while playing live poker, note taking when playing poker online is a critical element of improving your performance against opponents. This has become simpler and more effective via the 888poker PC Tables update.

All you need to do is double-click within the designated space to bring up your very own, personalized Player Notes options. Color coding of your opponents’ tendencies (that you input) will now be represented via a circle around each player’s avatar.

Thanks to 888poker PC Tables and their sleek graphics, players can now more easily understand the information that is available along with their own customized experience that has been inserted through the Player Notes feature.

888poker’s BLAST Poker Tables Have Also Been Upgraded

The new look for BLAST Poker tables is yet another reason to revisit 888poker and enjoy the enhanced experience.

Cards, player avatars, chips, and bet amounts are all now clearly and crisply displayed, making your jackpot seeking all the more enjoyable.

888poker PC Tables BLAST Poker

As with normal tournaments, BLAST Poker players can access all the relevant info within the table view itself — meaning that there is no longer a need to consult a separate lobby page when playing on a personal computer. You can also quickly check BLAST Poker Leaderboard standings to see how close you are to raking in an extra boost to your poker bankroll.

Pop-Up Menu for Sit Out Options

Players can now click near the bottom left of their table screens to access Sit Out options. These options can be selected to Sit Out at one table only, to Sit Out once the next blind has reached the player, and/or to Sit Out from all tables immediately.

888poker PC Tables Full Ring

This customized experience makes getting in and out of 888poker PC Tables cash games extremely convenient.

Refurbished Graphics for 888poker PKO Tables

888poker’s PKO (Knockout Tournaments) tables have also been improved, with cleaner graphics that offer a more enjoyable experience for all players.

By using the Sneak Peek feature, players who are participating in PKO events can access all the important information without having to go to a separate browser window page.

888poker PC Tables Snap Poker (fast-fold)

Players can also use these new features when playing 888poker’s fast-fold games (Snap Poker).

888poker’s All New Throwables and Emojis

Gone are the days when players were required to use a smartphone app (iOS or Android) platform to fully experience the graphics of an online poker site.

PC users now have access to a complete menu of Throwables that can be digitally tossed at opponents — plus 888poker PC Tables have now added more emojis for players to use in-game.

888poker PC Tables Conclusion

We anticipate that the new 888poker PC Tables will add quite a bit to the overall player experience when competing online from a personal computer.

New environments, player options, graphics, throwables, emojis, and tournament stats are all now at the virtual fingertips of all players who compete at 888poker.

The 2024 UKPL Edinburgh Main Event at the Scottish capital city’s Grosvenor poker room has concluded after witnessing more than 1,000 poker players from around the world converging on one of the nation’s hidden jewels of a tournament tour stop.

The festival marked the second tour stop of the year for the UK Poker League, and included tournament buy-ins ranging from £90 all the way up to £1,100. Sponsored by 888poker, the UKPL has quickly become a much-talked-about and exciting live poker leagues, with a handful more of destinations to come this year.

Following is a recap of the UKPL Edinburgh tournaments that were played over the series’ five days of action, from February 13-18, 2024.

UKPL Edinburgh

2024 UKPL Edinburgh Tournament Results

Live poker action from the Grosvenor poker room in Edinburgh began on February 13 with a satellite qualifier event into the £250 buy-in Opening Voyage No Limit Texas Hold’em tournament.

Today at the UKPL in Edinburgh

♥️ ♣️ ♦️ ♠️ pic.twitter.com/CctCPlTDqP

— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) February 13, 2024

Players who had already entered the event directly started competing at 3:00pm local time in the Day 1A flight.

There were eight satellite winners into the Opening Voyage tournament on Monday, all of whom were awarded an entry into the event.

Well played to the 8 players who won themselves seats into the UKPL Edinburgh Opening Voyage & Main Event last night, at the Maybury Casino in Edinburgh.

We look forward to seeing you again this week. pic.twitter.com/S7KtxcBS6g

— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) February 13, 2024

Jacques Nadler became the first formal 2024 UKPL Edinburgh tournament winner by capturing first place in the £4/£5/£6 Pot Limit Omaha tournament, winning £1,400 in a four-way final table deal. The other top four finishers each pocketed £1,390 as part of the negotiated chop.

Congratulations to Jacques Nadler who won last night's UKPL Edinburgh PLO 4/5/6 tournament.

He took home £1,400 after a four-way deal.

Well played! pic.twitter.com/4yIktvjw2W

— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) February 14, 2024

While a flurry of poker tournament activity continued, Barrie Greenan of Scotland secured the top spot in the Opening Voyage event. With the win, Greenan collected a five-figure payout of £11,117 after negotiating a heads-up deal.

Congratulations to Barrie Greenan who has just won the UKPL Edinburgh Opening Voyage.

Barrie beat the 277 entry field to win £11,117 after a deal heads up. @888poker pic.twitter.com/CiwMpxipOn

— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) February 15, 2024

Billy Henderson outlasted over 50 opponents in the £1,100 buy-in High Roller event at the 2024 UKPT Edinburgh festival. For his efforts, Henderson was awarded £13,620.

Congratulations to Billy Henderson who is the UKPL Edinburgh High Roller Champion!

He beat the 57 entry field to win £13,620

Well played! @888poker pic.twitter.com/A0zfAs7U8X

— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) February 16, 2024

Henderson spoke with Grosvenor Poker’s very own Phil “The Tower” Heald after capturing the victory in the High Roller event.

The Tower speaks to UKPL Edinburgh High Roller Champion Billy Henderson

♥️ ♣️ ♦️ ♠️ pic.twitter.com/Dyp12XyO3G

— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) February 16, 2024

Saturday night, the final tally of entrants into the 2024 UKPL Edinburgh Main Event were announced. In total, the £560 buy-in NLHE tournament attracted 311 entrants across four Day 1 starting flights. All 49 players who advanced to Day 2 made it into the money.

Good luck to the 49 players who have made the money and Day 2 of the UKPL Edinburgh Main Event.

They will be back tomorrow to do battle and play down to a winner.

They have all locked a min cash and the prize pool payout will be released in the morning. pic.twitter.com/Ts8Sdi5akw

— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) February 17, 2024

The 2024 UKPL Edinburgh Main Event wrapped up late Sunday night as Scotland’s very own Michael Kane bested the field for a championship cash prize of £25,208. The payout was the result of a three way chop that saw each of the final three finishers collect over £20,000.

A HUGE congratulations to Michael Kane who has just won the UKPL Edinburgh Main Event.

He beat the 311 entry field to take home £25,208 after a three deal.

Well played! pic.twitter.com/E526Ey2mQF

— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) February 18, 2024

There was still plenty of poker action to be had at the Grosvenor poker room into the wee hours. The 888poker Closer for the 2024 UKPT Edinburgh festival was won by Matt Davenport. The UK poker rounder took home a nice payday of £3,660 after topping the field.

Well played to Matt Davenport who won the UKPL Edinburgh Closer
Event.

He beat the 86 entry field to win £3,660! pic.twitter.com/GJfRdFqFlR

— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) February 19, 2024

Brian O’Connor of Ireland was first among seniors Sunday night. Brian picked up his largest ever live poker tournament cash with a £2,410 haul in the Seniors Event.

Congratulations to BrianOconnorwho won the UKPL Edinburgh last night.

He beat the 89 entry field to win £2,410. pic.twitter.com/2R2Mb21cWU

— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) February 19, 2024

2024 UKPT Edinburgh Concludes

In summary, it was an extremely fun, competitive, and lucrative live poker tournament festival for many of Europe’s most capable players. The Grosvenor poker room in Edinburgh, together with the 888poker-powered UKPT, put on a fabulous series of events as part of the tour’s first ever stop in Scotland’s capital city.

The Tower chats to UKPL Edinburgh Main Event Champion Michael Kane. @888poker pic.twitter.com/0upYSJQRND

— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) February 18, 2024

More updates on 888poker’s live tournament events are sure to come next month, as the next stop for the UKPL is slated for March 5-10 in Luton, England.

Players still have plenty of time to qualify for a seat in one or more of the events that will be held in England early next month, or a direct entry can be purchased for as little as £90. Online qualifiers are available exclusively on 888poker for the upcoming two weeks leading up to the UKPT Luton series.

Congratulations to all poker players who competed in the 2024 UKPL Edinburgh live tournament series. We look forward to seeing more great poker play and tournament winners from the UKPL this year!

1/3 No Limit Hold’em is one of the most common stake levels for players who are looking to improve their game in a way in which they can turn an actual profit that is meaningful to them.

Often a stepping stone, or doorway, for competitive players considering playing poker part time for profit. If you can beat 1/3 No Limit Hold’em for a significant winrate, you might be able to justify labeling your poker activity as an actual “job.”

With this said, poker 1/3 is no joke in terms of the skill required to beat these stakes soundly. There are plenty of factors that might go into being able to dominate the game at $1/$3 stake levels. Some of these factors include table selection and game selection, which means you’ll constantly be tasked with finding players who are well below your skill level to compete against.

1/3 no limit holdem

Turning Pro at 1/3 No Limit Hold’em – Seek Advice from the Pros

If No Limit Texas Hold’em is a game you want to play for a living, then $1/$3 stakes are approximately the level many up and coming pros set as a benchmark to take the game very seriously.

There’s really no substitute for seeking out professional advice from NLHE players who offer their services through premium poker courses and poker training sites. The experience these poker coaching services bring to the table is second to none.

Sure, you will likely need to pay some monetary amount to access the educational material that these pros offer, but think of it as part of your own poker education. If a one-on-one coaching session is a bit too pricey for 1/3 No Limit Hold’em stakes, then consider opting-in to subscription services or paid coursework.

Some training sites have modules that let you browse through their catalog and filter instructional classes by poker variant, stakes level, and format. There are also a few subscription poker training services on the market that allow you access to a private poker study group, where you can improve in a group setting away from the tables.

Unless you can find a group of buddies with bottomless pockets who know nothing about basic poker strategy – to play against as frequently as possible – you’re going to want to take your skills to the highest possible level in order to beat the competition.

Some Considerations for “Turning Pro” in Poker (20 Questions)

There are a lot of considerations to take into account before deciding to “turn pro” and treat your poker gameplay as an actual job.

The list below includes about 20 questions. It is incomplete, but will hopefully serve as a general checklist for would-be, new poker pros.

What is your estimated winrate in the games you’re playing? Do you have a poker bankroll that is large enough to realize whatever positive expectation exists without having to constantly worry about “risk of ruin?”

Is the monetary edge over your opponents large enough to justify playing poker for profit to begin with? Will you be competing exclusively with your own funds or playing under a poker staking agreement?

If playing fully or partially with funds provided to you by a “backer,” what are the specifics of your relationship with that individual or funding group? What are the terms of the backing deal? Are your backers competent enough at poker that they can assist you with improving your own winrate at the stake levels (and in the poker variant) you’ll be playing?

How much time can you dedicate to actual poker playing? Will your planned schedule coincide with being able to find inferior action at the poker tables during those time slots? Is there any way you can keep any employment you already have while playing poker for profit part time?

Are you willing to dedicate enough time and resources to serious (and constant) poker study away from the tables? Will there be any friction between you and a significant other due to how much time you’ll need to spend playing and thinking about poker?

Can you consistently find games in which the risk of being cheated is minimal? Do you have methods for obtaining an account for your poker fund, depositing into it, and cashing out from it without having to expose yourself to being confronted while you have a lot of cash in your possession?

Do you already have a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) on retainer, or can you place one on retainer to keep track of tax commitments where applicable? What are the laws pertaining to poker play and poker winnings in the jurisdiction(s) you compete in?

Do you have a separate savings account that you can draw from during “down” stretches or “bad runs?” If so, how many months can you live on those savings without having to dip into your separate poker bankroll?

Are the live poker games you plan to play susceptible to being “shaken down,” “busted,” or otherwise “broken up” by authorities? Is there any drug use, alcohol abuse, or firearms present in these live games? If playing online, is the site or app you’re playing on licensed and accountable to local or state laws in your jurisdiction?

Again, this isn’t a full list of questions you should be asking yourself (and answering yourself) before turning pro. Every situation is different, and every circumstance includes an incalculable amount of variables that can shift in real time.

To summarize, please do a lot of homework (and poker study) before deciding to take on poker as a job.

Going Pro: Fixed Limit Poker Games

If you’re not ready to sign-up for the relatively large swings that No Limit Hold’em in store for all poker players, you might want to try your hand at the Fixed Limit format.

The great thing (or the horrible thing, depending on how you look at it) about Fixed Limit games is that all players in a hand are relatively restricted in the amount they can bet or raise on each street. There’s no going all-in by shoving a stack of 50 big bets into the pot when playing Fixed Limit games; not in Texas Hold’em, not in Omaha, and not in Seven Card Stud.

You won’t find many (if any) Fixed Limit games with the precise stake level of $1/$3 though. Most live cardrooms have a minimum stake level of $2/$4 or higher. It’s not uncommon to walk into a casino poker room and be forced to play a minimum of $3/$6, $4/$8 or even higher for Fixed Limit games.

On one hand, it may seem simple enough to “play solid” in a Fixed Limit format and rake in the profit. Maybe that’s true, but that will obviously depend on the skill level of your opponents.

After all, Fixed Limit Texas Hold’em is a solved game. Here’s a link to the answer key for heads-up Limit Texas Hold’em that was released by the University of Alberta way back in 2015.

If you’re playing Limit Texas Hold’em online, you are susceptible to being beaten by someone who has the solution (or the computing power via a separate software on another computer/app) that’s feeding your opponent real time gameplay suggestions.

If you’re going to play Fixed Limit games as a pro – especially online where no live poker tells exist – you’ll want to improve your skills to a level at which you can compete by playing as close to the solution as possible.

And although Fixed Limit poker swings might not be as drastic as those found in Pot Limit or No Limit formats, there’s a relativity element that depends entirely on the skill level (or hopefully lack thereof) of your opponents.

High Rake in Low Stakes Poker Games

Live casino poker rooms and private card rooms are forced to charge a high rake percentage relative to the stakes in lower level games. Revenue (or rake) per square foot of gaming space is an extremely powerful metric for the in-person gambling industry.

Even if a slot machine player is hitting an average of five bonuses per hour that last an average of two minutes each, that still represents approximately 50 minutes of six spins per minute. So 300 spins per hour at $1 per spin nets the casino about $30 per hour if the Return to Player (RTP) rate is 90 percent.

That’s $30 per hour with minimal (if any) need for human personnel to shuffle cards, award pots, and ensure each deal is performed correctly – in accordance with the rules of the specific game that is being played.

Furthermore, a poker table obviously takes up more physical space in a casino gaming area than a slot machine or two (or three or four). A live poker table that can deal 20-25 hands per hour of low stakes Texas Hold’em is going to be hard-pressed to rake in more than $100 per hour without a relatively high rake percentage.

Plus, the skills a human being needs to have in order to deal a live poker hand are, in my opinion, superior to the skills a slot attendant needs to perform – at least in most circumstances. As any casino-goer already knows, there’s quite a bit of automation involved in casino slot machine transactions.

The point is that, even though it’s not helpful to poker pros, rake fees are a necessary facet when playing live or online. For-profit poker players are required to have enough of an advantage over their opponents that they can still have a positive expectation even after the rake is taken. Simply being better than your opponents isn’t enough; you have to “crush” them as a pro.

Mixing Professional 1/3 No Limit Hold’em with Casual Home Games

Your poker home game buddies are unlikely to return — time after time — to get hosed by a friend who’s looking to extract every single strategical advantage over them. They’ll eventually seek to gain some form of benefit (that includes something of value) to justify metaphorically lighting their cash on fire by competing against one or more professionals for real money stakes on a routine basis.

And if you’re thinking about the possibility of exchanging some combination of drugs, alcohol, and sex to keep your very own grassroots suckers in the game, you might want to reconsider.

Word gets out.

Metaphoric “holes in pockets” attract the attention of loved ones. All it takes is a concerned friend or family member to decide it’s time for an “intervention” for you to personally run the risk of civil and/or criminal liability (if other means of intel don’t manage to scope you out sooner).

Play 1/3 No Limit Hold’em for Fun

There’s something to be said about having the luxury of not being forced into so many skill-based poker requirements when playing the game of poker for real money.

If you can afford the expense to your entertainment budget, a casino poker room game of 1/3 No Limit Hold’em should give you an opportunity for a couple of BIG WINS every so often if it’s a leisure activity that your pocketbook can withstand.

Play poker for fun if you can. It’s so much easier that way.

And if you MUST “turn pro,” please consult with poker pros who have “been there, done that” in terms of playing the game for a profit. Don’t ignore the advice they give you and — most importantly — prioritize the fundamental poker playing, table selection, game selection, study time, and financial discipline skills required to improve your chances of success.

Best of luck at your next 1/3 No Limit Hold’em poker game!

AI poker solvers are useful tools that are utilized widely by the most skilled players to improve their game and make more profit.

The amount of actual poker training that you can obtain through the use of an AI poker assistant is growing in leaps and bounds as artificial intelligence boldly goes where no human computational skills have ever gone before.

Whether you’re an absolute “newbie” to the realm of poker strategy or an experienced professional player with millions of dollars in winnings, the best poker AI software available on the market will serve as a great training tool.

Just like other turn-based strategy games such as chess, “the best poker player in the world” is no longer human. There are simply too many nuances and on-the-fly calculations that human players must make in real time to compete with the speed of artificial intelligence – especially when it comes to playing online poker with AI.

In this article, we’ll make the case for why AI poker solvers have become so popular, some of the ethics involved with their use, and why specialized, premium poker courses may represent your best bet for understanding poker range charts and getting the most out of your own game through AI software tools.

AI Poker Solvers

Games of Skill and Artificial Intelligence: A History

To understand the concept that artificial intelligence can outplay the most competent human opponents in games of skill requires us to go back to the year 1985, and the emergence of IBM’s Deep Blue supercomputer chess player.

Having personally lived during that time as a kid, I fondly remember how I scoffed at the notion that any computer could outperform the best human players in games like chess.

Sure, there were some neat things we could do on the Apple IIe computer in our grade school classes (like play Oregon Trail or Lemonade Stand until the bell rang), but the graphics were hideous and the most popular game console at the time was still the Atari 2600. This was before the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), which would revolutionize home video gaming during the late 1980s.

And even with more in-depth, stats-based computer games widely available (think Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord), the more complicated games were extremely buggy, vulnerable to surprise crashes, and required a floppy disk that could be accidentally erased, warped, or corrupted by just about anything.

In fact, Deep Blue didn’t really come into its own until the mid 1990s, when it managed to defeat Grandmaster Garry Kasparov. You could go through an entire programming book and still not envision much practicality given the computational power of 1980s home computers.

The Inconvenient Truth of Early Computing

A checkbook was more easily balanced using a pen/pencil and paper; incoming telephone traffic for a business was more efficiently managed by a human being who could write messages on pre-designed paper and leave them on someone’s desk. Fax machines weren’t even a thing during most of the 1980s, and the most reliable means of communicating with someone was to either call them on a telephone landline or meet them in person.

It was the World Wide Web that finally convinced the mainstream public that computers were an indispensable tool for work and leisure. And as soon as internet speeds advanced beyond dial-up modem connections, a global communications networking “fire” spread to levels that many humans could not have even imagined just a decade prior.

Microsoft Windows Solitaire (a click and drag game) became the cornerstone of computer card playing, which would eventually lead to the rise of online poker (a click without dragging game) in the early to mid 2000s.

By 2006, YouTube could host videos on the internet; data that could be uploaded and viewed by billions of fellow human beings. During the 2023 calendar year, Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT would become “all the rage.”

IBM Watson Crushes Jeopardy! Champions

The writing on the wall for artificial intelligence dominance over pretty much ALL games of skill became evident in February 2011, when IBM Watson was victorious against the highest performing human Jeopardy! champions to have ever lived.

Any hopes that Watson’s slow start during the two-day event would endure, and that one of the human players might come out on top, were dashed when the AI program discovered and won a Daily Double during the Double Jeopardy! round.

The show, viewed by millions worldwide, clearly displayed the outright majestic computational power advantage that a software program can exert over even the most knowledgeable human beings.

AI Poker Solvers Become Prominent

Somewhere between the time that online poker gained worldwide popularity and present day, online poker “bots” became prevalent. They eventually became common enough that knowledgeable players were actively seeking out cutting edge programs that could outperform humans in a game of skill; one that contains a relatively high amount of unknown information compared to chess and Go.

Highly competent players eventually wanted more than the tools that online poker sites could offer them in real time, and Heads Up Displays (HUDs) were developed that could keep track of opponents’ tendencies at a virtual poker table (and connect in real time to third party databases containing historical info) just by knowing their screen name.

Results tracking sites like SharkScope, automated internet poker lobby assistants like TableNinja, and mass-hand history data storage and analysis tools like LeakFinder became must-have services for serious pros looking to increase their edge in real money online games.

These websites and poker software programs eventually paved the way for AI poker solvers to take over as the go-to resource for personalized poker study.

Superhuman AI Takes Over Heads-Up NLHE Poker

Professional poker player, coach, personality, and heads-up No Limit Texas Hold’em specialist Doug Polk and his crew of top players defeated Carnegie Mellon University’s Claudico poker bot in 2015 over a sample size of 20,000 hands.

But when an updated version – Libratus – took to the heads-up NLHE streets in January 2017, the tables had turned. Libratus cemented its heads-up NLHE supremacy over a larger sample size of 120,000 hands, and a rematch was never formally requested by top human pros following that event.

If you’re a longtime subscriber to Polk’s YouTube channel, you might remember a couple of videos produced during that time where he discussed the contest, and acknowledged the rapid improvement of poker AI which occurred between 2015 and 2017.

The Ethics Concerns Surrounding AI Poker Solvers Use

To overly generalize (and editorialize) the modern day ethics proposal communicated via social media and other platforms by highly skilled human poker players, offline study using AI poker solvers is accepted while real time use (when participating in a competitive, real money game) is considered to be cheating.

With that said, the integrity of competitive human versus human poker games is considered by many to be at constant risk when real money stakes are involved. “Proving a negative,” in terms of poker gameplay security, has clear downfalls when the potential player pool is global and the concept of personal privacy remains socially (and legally) coveted.

And some of the high profile examples of poker cheating in the post dial-up digital age have been outright blatant; undeniable in their effectiveness in creating a blemish on the competitive nature of human poker games.

Yet suspicions of cheating — whether they involve real time AI poker solvers use or some other means of compromising privileged data — are vulnerable to incomplete intel, human misinterpretation, error, emotion, and subjectivity.

Therefore, legitimate advancement of security as it relates to competitive skill game integrity, in this author’s opinion, requires a fundamental trade-off that sacrifices personal and corporate privacy on a planetary (if not galactic and universal) scale.

Whether it’s real time capture of privileged information that compromises skill game integrity, administrative control of such info, or chess bots in restrooms, these issues will continue to weigh heavily upon popular culture and society as a whole without a societal departure from privacy rights (again, in this author’s opinion).

And this proverbial human privacy “deuce dropping” would apply both metaphorically and literally, to an exact, indisputable measurement. One that would involve intimate, real time analysis of each human’s hanging chads (election votes), drooping boogers (poker tells), dysfunctional neurons (brain waves), dangling dingleberries (you get the point) – and anything/everything else.

The Brutal Misapplication of Schrödinger’s Cat Theory

It could be that THIS happened. I calculate the chances that it was THIS to be X percent.

Some version of these two statements is often used when relaying an opinion about something that occurred in the past tense — including speculation that revolves around poker cheating and true crime sleuthing. In my view, these communications represent a gross misapplication of Schrödinger’s Cat Theory and quantum mechanics.

Judging by the content I’ve personally watched online, this bad habit was first picked up by media outlets, and then further spread by social media platform channels and accounts that prefer to focus on brute speculation rather than acknowledging that certain events have already occurred (or not occurred).

In other words, if an event or non-event has already taken place (and most importantly, if the existence of the event or non-event is already KNOWN by one or more human beings or has already been recorded by an artificial intelligence monitoring mechanism), then quantum mechanics no longer apply in a single universe setting. The “quantum” concept is entirely irrelevant for past events if multi-verse possibilities are being discarded or removed from consideration (as is the case in criminal prosecution and civil settings).

Yes, you can flip a coin and I (from a separate physical location that’s not within view of the event) can express that the probability of it landing on Tails is 50% before the coin lands. But post-event, if you or anyone else can see/witness which side the coin landed on, then my own “could be” calculation no longer applies. You already know the result; I don’t. You have complete information of a past event; I don’t. The coin either DID land on Tails or it DIDN’T — past tense. This is true even if the rest of the world is still stuck “guessing” at the result.

This one “faulty technique” in public outreach methodology, performed by media outlets and channel hosts on other platforms, places would-be poker cheaters (or would-be true crime offenders) in a position of power if they are guilty — or in a position of hopelessness if they are innocent.

The Future: Influencer Communications & Competitive Skill Game Integrity

Without a robust, public, societal outcry against personal privacy rights, it is going to get progressively more difficult for individuals to relay accurate “guesstimates” regarding unauthorized use of AI poker solvers going forward.

The poker world in particular has already experienced roughly two decades of egregious acts by a small number of players who will find a way to cheat the competitive element of poker by gaining access to real time privileged information — especially when something of value is awarded to winners.

For this reason, it is possible that we will see a gradual deleveraging of player-based “game integrity” positions within the industry; one that results in shifting these talented human beings into other positions.

Clear incentives exist for security flaws to be exploited; meaning that clear incentives also exist for security flaws to be present in the first place. There’s simply too much value that poker player-personalities can provide in the realms of education, knowledge, and communication skills to waste genuine outreach on attempting to prove a negative — just to be proven ineffective at any given moment (as I see it).

The GGNetwork cyber security flaws just happen to be the most recent example of how easy it is to misinterpret genuine, good intentions regarding player-based game integrity outreach as being a legitimate safeguard against intellectual property that already possesses “baked in” shortcomings.

What’s more, the intellectual property enjoys a legally dominant position over employee or contractor communications. It can easily unbound itself from employee relationships in the face of unwanted criticism that might be relayed by any “official” game integrity human resource.

The inevitable repercussions of second-rate online poker cyber security include a devaluation of efforts performed by human resources who tie themselves at the hip with an intellectual property software product, and then use that relationship to publicly imply some practical use or game integrity purpose.

The personality-based influence used to refund players when game integrity concerns are relayed, to impact tournament schedules or game variant availability, or to assuage player concerns about cyber security on social media platforms, is far inferior to the influence the actual IP software itself wields.

So… while it’s been a “good run” of nearly two decades, with player-personalities going “above and beyond” to expose poker game integrity issues ranging from the recent GGNetwork flaws to the Ultimate Bet “god-mode” tool of the 2000s, the trend is clear.

Human Regulatory Efforts of AI: Doomed to Fail?

“Back doors” will continue to exist in software products. These back doors will be justified by the ongoing use, misuse, and abuse of privileged information that these products communicate or store as part of their core capabilities.

The use/misuse/abuse of AI poker solvers isn’t going anywhere.  And the societal, human influence over when/how these programs/tools should be used is going to gradually evaporate.

As it becomes more evident just how much seemingly unknown “private” information is already possessed, categorized, measured, and assigned a monetary value by artificial intelligence, human regulatory/policing efforts of AI will give way — and defer to even more programming tools that are specifically engineered to combat (or exacerbate) such issues.