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Poker Stakes Explained

 

Poker Betting Explained. Bet on Poker, your way. Poker on the Betfair Exchange lets you set the odds yourself on over 1 Poker events. Bet on top markets like: High-Stakes Grudge Match.Choose from over 1 Poker competitions, and place a Poker bet, either for an outcome (to Back) or against it (to Lay). Staking in Poker for Dummies The term poker staking means that a poker investor (“the backer”) puts up money on behalf of a poker player (“the horse”) in exchange for a cut of the profits.

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For one reason or another you might decide that you want to be backed to play poker and are looking for ways on how to find a poker stake to accomplish that goal. Some players do it because they have no money, but a ton of drive to study the game and get better. Others do it so they can move up faster, receive free coaching and/or because they don’t feel comfortable playing on their own dime.

Whatever the reason, you should have no problem finding someone willing to stake you, provided that you’re not a known scammer. Even players that have little history and positive results can find someone willing to invest in them, provided that they can show that they have references and are willing to work hard. I’ll show you exactly how below.

Stakes

Note: Most of the advice here applies to being backed to playing online, just because that’s all I know. That said, many guys that play live are backed on forums such as Part Time Poker. So if you want to find backers for live tournament (or even cash) action, that might be your “in.”

Find Coaching or Online Poker Sites That Offer Stakes

If you take a look around the internet, you’ll find that there are still some sites that offer coaching / staking arrangements. The two that I found (that I would trust) still available include:

  • PPI PokerCLOSED! This is my #1 option if you’re looking to either get staked or to find yourself a stable of horses to stake yourself for long-term profit. This site actually offers 35% INSTANT RAKEBACK and you get access to one of the more sophisticated poker staking platforms out there in the industry.
  • SNG Mentors – These guys coached my first coach back when he was new. He used to coach for them too, but due to Black Friday and other arrangements he’s not there anymore. But there are still some solid coaches available.
  • Team Moshman – This program is led by Collin Moshman, the guy who wrote Sit n Go Strategy, Heads Up No Limit & The Math of Holdem.

Keep in mind that if you want to go with one of these programs, you should already have a small (winning) sample size and can prove that you can put in volume. Volume is very important for these guys, especially if you’re barely profitable as it’s the only way to make up for the time they spend coaching you (which will come with the staking deals).

How to Find a Poker Stake in Forums

The easiest way to find a staking opportunity is to visit a forum such as Part Time Poker or 2+2. There are several options within these forums for finding stakes:

Poker
  • Coaching – Many players that offer coaching also provide staking. Be sure to read their thread first to make sure they do before applying – not all coaches are able to, or are interested in staking players.
  • Setup a BAP – A BAP is also known as “buy a piece.” With BAPs, what you do is setup a proposal for other investors. You include what games you want to play, how many you expect to play, how long it should take you, the bankroll you’re looking for and the cuts you’re offering. Interested investors will then buy pieces of your action.
  • Make a Deal – Make a Deals, or MADs, are staking opportunities setup by investors looking for horses. What they (usually) do is offer so many bankrolls for specific games and cuts. This is a great opportunities for you to cut your teeth and build reputation in the forums which will help you get bigger and better staking opportunities in the future.

Be sure to read all the fine print, rules, guidelines, etc, etc, because these forums are pretty strict on the rules they have in place. You also don’t want to give off a bad first impression because you couldn’t follow simple guidelines. Think of this almost like a job interview.

Finding Stakes Simply By Word of Mouth

Another way to find staking opportunities is by word of mouth. That’s how I got my staking deal. I was friends with someone who was giving me some free coaching here and there who was being coached/staked by an even better player.

I sent the coach/staker some of my hand histories and we took it from there. I quickly had a $300 bankroll for the $3/18-mans, and a month or so later I was at the $6s and then a couple months later the $16s.

One word of caution – try to do some due diligence before agreeing to a stake with someone. You want to be sure they’re good people. Getting involved with bad people while owing them money isn’t +EV.

Types of Staking Deals

Usually staking deals will fall under one of two categories:

  • Short term (individual) stakes such as BAPs and MADs.
  • Long term stakes with stables / coaches.

I’ve already explained buy a pieces and make a deals above. So let me give you some insights on what to expect and look for when considering a long term deal.

First and foremost, you will be expected to play anywhere from 5-20k+ games. Depending on your monthly volume, that can take you 6-12 months, possibly as long as 2 years.

When coming to an agreement, be sure that you request that cuts can be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and that if there is coaching involved, how much you should get and how often. I can tell you from first hand experience that you don’t want to expect coaching and then hardly ever get it, especially since your cut is reflected for some of the coach’s time.

Be sure to get everything in writing, too, and that all parties involved sign the agreement. Oh, and don’t forget to add a buy-out clause. A buy-out clause is an agreement that lets you out of your deal for a price – usually an amount per game by the number of games you have left to play. For example, say you average $1 per game. Your buy-out clause might be $.50 per game. So if you have $1,000 games left, you can buy yourself out of the agreement for $500.

Last thing – ask as many questions as needed. Don’t jump into a long-term staking deal unless you’re fully aware and prepared.

How to Improve Your Chances of Being Staked

You might face challenges in finding someone to back you. So here are some things you can do to improve your chances. Keep in mind that not all tips will apply to all kinds of staking arrangements or situations.

  • Build a positive reputation in the forum you’re trying to get staked in.
  • Provide a list of references.
  • Wait until you have a sample size of 500 or 1,000 games with a positive ROI.
  • Offer to take a smaller cut.
  • Find a coach if the staking agreement you want doesn’t offer it. Be sure to let the investors know.
  • Don’t lie about who you are, your abilities, how much volume you can put in or anything like that.

All-in-all, treat applying for a stake very much like you would a bank loan (or as I said above, a job) – it’s essentially the same thing. If you do that, you’ll increase your chances of getting your first stake, and from there finding stakes will only get easier.

Wising up when you enter a poker game means knowing your stuff. That includes everything from knowing the rules of poker games, knowing the forms of poker you prefer to play, and knowing, for example, how to side bet.

In poker, terms are half the battle. From there, you need to orient yourself with the game. Identify the best poker tournament blind structure for you, determine your odds of getting a full house or learn your way around using a Spin & Go poker strategy.

Your options are endless. Below we help you start with the basics, providing you with information and strategy about the most popular forms of poker: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, 2-7 Triple Draw and Chinese Poker.

These starters will get you going. Soon enough, you won’t have to wonder, “What is poker limping?” because PokerNews will have covered all your bases for you.

Whether you’re playing poker games online or at home, there are some typical strategies you can employ. If you’re playing a home poker game – and you want to continue to do so – one of the most important things you should do is make sure you get invited back! Being a friend in these home game poker scenarios can make you a welcome participant (and maybe a consistent home poker player).

Poker stakes explained game

All Poker Games Offline Explained

Texas HoldemMost popular poker game in the world among casual and pro players

How to Start Playing Texas Hold'em:

  • Easy to get started because of simple rules and instant fun.
  • The most professional tournaments are Texas Hold'em.
  • To improve your skills, you should read strategy articles.
  • Get the Poker History Overview.
No. 1 Game in the World
OmahaIt is a poker game of action, but it can also be a game of big swings

How to Start Playing Omaha:

  • To get started, you need to learn Texas Hold’em rules.
  • Easy game to bluff.
  • Play two of the most commonly spread variations, Omaha High and Omaha 8-or-better.

Poker Stakes Explained Game

Seven-Card StudSeven-card stud was one of the most popular poker variations prior to Texas Hold'em popularity

How to Start Playing Seven Card Stud:

  • The game can be played with two to eight players.
  • Seven-card stud does not involve a flop.
  • In seven-card stud, it is very important to pay close attention to the cards of your opponents.
2-7 Triple DrawThis variation is for more advanced poker players

How to Start playing 2-7 Triple Draw:

  • Hand rankings are the inverse of those in a regular game.
  • The worst hand you can hold in this game is a Royal Flush.
  • Each player is dealt five cards and there is a round of betting.
Chinese PokerOpen-face Chinese poker is a new and exciting form of poker.

How to Start playing Chinese Poker:

  • Open-face Chinese poker is a turn-based card game.
  • There are no bets placed during the rounds of play.
  • Special rule 'Fantasyland' is treated as a bonus round of OFC.
New Game

Five Tips to Beat Small-Stakes Online Poker Tournaments

Online, five tips you can employ to beat small-stakes online poker tournaments include being prepared for a long session, being prepared for some crazy swings, keeping it simple by value-betting your hands to the max, listening to the betting (and preparing to lay down some big hands) and forgetting about playing a “balanced style” (don’t worry about revealing your patterns).

Start with Texas Hold’em and then begin trying your hand at other games. Learning other poker games can improve your poker knowledge and kick-start your profit. Obviously, we’ve already recommended the highlighted games here: Hold’em, Omaha and Seven-Card Stud. You can add a couple others to the list – razz, Omaha hi-lo and seven-card stud hi-lo – and finish the mixed game acronym: H.O.R.S.E.

Mixed Games Tips

These are the most basic mixed games and can be played online or in person. Omaha hi-lo gives you four cards instead of two, to increase your hand combinations. So think fast about your hands and what your opponents could have. The hi-lo style forces you to think about when a low qualifying board is available and all the possibilities for two-way options. Omaha is the gateway for those who want to take a simple step away from hold’em.

If you’re looking for something with a little bit of math involvement, try your luck at razz, a form of stud poker. Probability is essential here and this poker form can help you improve your simple math (with seven cards in a hand, two down and one up).

Poker Stakes Explained Diagram

Seven-card stud, the next in the lineup, involves simple math with an extra kick because straights and suits are added into the mix. Both razz and seven-card stud can help with your hand-reading ability and memory.

The seven-card stud hi-lo is for the masters of the seven-card stud with the added difficulty of high-low because you have to figure out which players have low eligible boards and which don’t. In either Omaha or seven-card stud high-low, you’re looking for two-way hands that can help you scoop pots.

Live Poker Rules and Procedures

If you do decide that you want to try your luck in a casino, you still have a chance to win your first poker game with some help from the dealers. Generally, dealers are happy to help with rules and procedures of the game (just not with playing your hand).

Just be sure to keep your cards on the table where the dealer can see them, cover your cards so your opponents can’t see them, stay quiet when the current hand is being played (even though people violate this rule all the time), say “raise” before you throw in your oversized chip, wait your turn and place your large denomination chips at the front.

Poker Stake Crossword

Beyond that, most rooms will give you a quick free lesson so you can get the rundown/mechanics of the game. Dealers will correct you if you violate a rule, but don’t take it too seriously! This is a game and should be fun, but we all have to play by the rules. Don’t worry about justifying your play; just make sure you tip the dealer if you win a pot.

High Stakes Poker

Best case, by working your way through these poker variations in any setting (online, live or from your home), you can become the expert and refer your friend to the resources that helped you win some of the best tournaments around the world. Just make sure to throw us a nod, comment or tweet when you brag about your winnings!

Poker Stakes Explained Chart

Websites to play free poker games