The $2 million guaranteed XL Spring Series kicked off at 888poker on May 21 with the festival’s trio of opening events. Those tournaments came with buy-ins of $55, $109, and $530, with guarantees tipping the scales at $35,000, $120,000, and $40,000, respectively.

The $120,000 guaranteed Mystery Bounty Opening event attracted 1,061 entrants, which resulted in a sizeable $13,900 overlay. Thirteen 888poker players took home at least $1,000 worth of mystery bounties, but nobody took home more than Sweden’s “Dynamon.”

The Swede busted in 23rd place and collected $306 for their efforts. However, they pulled out $13,360 from the golden mystery bounty envelopes for a total haul worth $13,666; only the champion secured a larger payout.

That champion was “Iroquois” of Montenegro. They captured the $9,288 top prize, which was boosted by a juicy bounty haul worth $5,857, meaning they took home $15,145. Iroquois now has plenty of ammunition for the rest of the XL Spring Series.

$120,000 XL Spring #02 – Mystery Bounty Opening Final Table Results

888poker Guarantees $2 Million for the XL Spring Series; Starts May 21

High Roller Champion Cleans Out the Mystery Bounties

Germany’s “riclam02” ran super-hot in the $530 buy-in Mystery Bounty HR Opening event. Not only did riclam02 outlast all of their 75 opponents but they also captured most of the mystery bounties in play.

First place came with a $6,000 payday, but the champion won an additional $10,880 from the mystery bounty prize pool, which included the $4,000 top bounty amount and both of the $2,000 bounties!

Sometimes, the stars align, and it is your day. riclam02 certainly took full advantage of variance being on their side, and it one to watch for the rest of the XL Spring Series.

$40,000 XL Spring #03 – Mystery Bounty HR Opening Final Table Results

Incredible: Second $10K Mystery Bounty for the Same Player in a Month at 888poker

British Grinders Dominate the $35,000 Gtd Mini Opening Event

Some 779 players bought into the Mini Opening Event for $55 and created a guarantee-busting $38,950 prize pool. It was players from the United Kingdom that shone the brightest in the tournament, with four of them navigating their way to the nine-handed final table.

“WalnutPix” bowed out in eighth for $649, leaving a trio of Union Jacks in the hunt for the title. Those three British stars ultimately finished in the top three finishing positions, taking home the bulk of the prize money.

“splors2” finished in third for $2,135 before “Geebotics” defeated “zecheese” heads-up to reel in a $4,249 score and resign the runner-up to a $3,271 consolation prize.

$35,000 XL Spring #01 – Mystery Bounty Mini Opening Final Table Results

$200,000 Gtd and $500,000 Gtd Main On the Horizon

There are two other XL Spring Series events that have guaranteed prize pools worth six-figure amounts. Event #19 is a $160 buy-in 8-Max Mystery Bounty affair that has a cool $200,000 guaranteed to be won. The first of this event’s Day 1s start on May 24 and runs through to May 29.

The XL Spring Series Main Event commands a $250 buy-in unless you win your seat via one of the many satellites. For your $250 investment, you get a shot at a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool, which includes a top mystery bounty of a cool $50,000! Day 1s run May 31 through June 5.

Remaining 888poker XL Spring Schedule

The first of two starting flights in the World Poker Tour (WPT) $5,250 buy-in Gardens Poker Championship in southern California wrapped up on Sunday evening after ten levels of play with just 54 players remaining. Leading the star-studded field that includes multiple WPT champions is Los Angeles native Girish Reknar with a stack of 459,500.

Day 1a drew 162 players as WPT made its return to Gardens Casino, one of the biggest poker rooms in the country. Those who advanced to Day 2 included WPT champions Adam Weinraub, Joshua Pollock, Anthony Zinno, Matthew Wantman and Frank Stepuchin, who took down the 2019 $10,000 WPT Gardens Poker Championship for $548,825.

Others who bagged in Day 1a include southern California pro Gal Yifrach, seven-time WPT final tablist David “The Dragon” Pham and high-stakes investor Dan Shak.

Check Out the WPT Hub on PokerNews!

Big Personalities at Gardens

It was an exciting morning inside the Gardens Casino as a handful of big personalities made their way to the tournament area and quickly made their presence known.

Stepuchin, who PokerNews spoke with earlier in the day, received a personal introduction from Gardens Casino Tournament Manager Cavin Quintanilla over the tournament area speakers, while Buckner wasted no time shouting at a player on the other side of the table.

“You play poker so bad!” Buckner yelled in one of the early levels.

Buckner was after his first WPT title after two runner-up finishes in 2022, first in the WPT Choctaw Main Event and then in the Five Diamond World Poker Classic. Unfortunately for “Cuz,” he was eliminated in the final level of the day when he check-raised all-in with queen-nine on a nine-high flop, only to be called by the ace-nine of Jim Collopy, according to WPT live updates.

A different WPT star who knows a thing or two about close calls, six-time final tablist Ray Qartomy, was another character in the Gardens Casino on Sunday. He and Stepuchin, who both made the 2019 WPT Gardens Poker Championship final table, once again shared a table for the early part of the day. At one point, Qartomy chased “Frank the Tank” around the table as the two played an impromptu game of casino football.

Qartomy, who is after his first WPT title despite a lengthy resume, as highlighted in this WPT feature, was eliminated when his four-five was dominated by the ace-five of his opponent.

Others who fell on Day 1a include WPT ambassador Brad Owen, southern California high-stakes regular Bill Klein and WPT Rolling Thunder final tablist Albert Tapia.

The 54 players who survived Day 1a will return for Day 2 on May 23. Before that, Day 1b will take place on May 22 and will follow a similar structure of the first starting flight with ten 60-minute levels and a 90-minute dinner break after Level 6.

PokerNews is here in southern California and will continue bringing you stories from the WPT Gardens Poker Championship.

_{*Images courtesy of WPT.}

With a legendary career that spanned more than five decades, Doyle Brunson picked up plenty of wisdom and life experience that he often shared with his nearly 400,000 followers on Twitter.

Brunson, who passed away this past Sunday at age 89, also had razor-sharp wit and a keen sense of humor that often came out whenever @TexDolly typed up a tweet.

From his hilarious back-and-forths with longtime friend Lex Veldhuis to his recollection of run-ins with notorious mobster Anthony “Tony the Ant” Spilotro, here is a look back at some of the late poker legend’s greatest Twitter moments.

The “Godfather of Poker,” Doyle Brunson has Passed Away at 89

A Final Message From The Poker Godfather

Many players were touched in the week following Brunson’s death when his Twitter account left the poker world one last message. And, in typical Brunson fashion, that message included a needle to Mike Matusow.

“I’ll save you all a seat in Dolly’s game in Heaven,” the final message from Brunson reads.

A Look at Doyle Brunson Through the Lens – PokerNews’ Best Photos of Texas Dolly

Doyle Versus The Mob

Brunson frequently tweeted about his run-ins with Anthony “Tony the Ant” Spilotro in the 1970s and 80s, a feared Las Vegas mobster who served as the inspiration for Joe Pesci’s character Nicky Santoro in Casino.

“The SOB that tried to kill me,” Brunson tweeted in February 2022 with a photo of Spilotro.

Brunson noted that Spilotro, who was murdered in 1986, “was certainly an ‘enemy’ of mine because I refused to go his way of cheating poker players.”

“I told him I didn’t have to cheat to win,” Brunson tweeted in May 2020. “That seemed to infuriate him but I believe he respected me. He had numerous opportunities to stiff me but never did.”

In his 2009 autobiography Godfather of Poker, Brunson told stories from his early career as a Texas road gambler where games would occasionally end with gunfire. Brunson also shared many of these stories on Twitter.

Poker Players From All Eras Pay Tribute After Doyle Brunson’s Passing

Personal Security

Ever wonder how Brunson stayed safe during the road gambling days while carrying around tens of thousands of dollars? He gave the answer in January 2019.

Good Times With Poker Legends

It wasn’t all robbery and gunfire in the early days. Here are some light-hearted stories Brunson has tweeted about involving fellow poker legends Stu Ungar, Chip Reese and Brian “Sailor” Roberts.

Brunson later that the tweet was a “tongue in cheek” remark and that he had actually “traded in my 10 year old Escalade.”

Doyle Brunson’s Best Televised High Stakes Poker Hands

$1 For An Autograph

After Brunson’s death, James McManus wrote that Brunson was “one of the greatest players ever but without an arrogant cell in his body.”

Brunson confirmed his humility years earlier when he shared a story of a Polish fan who sent him three pictures to sign and a $1 bill.

“I found out what my autograph is worth today,” he joked.

In announcing his retirement from poker in 2018, Brunson tweeted about “probably the last (tournament) I’ll ever play,” the $10,000 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship that he ended up finishing sixth in for $43,963. Making the deep run sweeter, his son, Todd Brunson, finished tenth for $18,955.

Though Brunson did end up returning to the WSOP in 2021, the tweet serves as a somber signoff from the most important and iconic player in poker history.

In March 2019, retired real estate developer Frank Stepuchin etched his name in World Poker Tour history when he took down the $10,000 WPT Gardens Poker Championship for $548,825 after battling through a powerhouse final table that included four-time WPT final tablists Shannon Shorr and Steve Sung and WPT champion Ray Qartomy.

Four years later, and now a household name in poker, “Frank the Tank” is looking for a second WPT title as he sits in Day 1a of the $5,250 buy-in WPT Gardens Poker Championship at southern California’s Gardens Casino.

Stepuchin, who PokerNews described in 2019 as the “life of the party,” has hardly changed since his televised victory. He still keeps a (quite convincing) plastic chicken wing in front of him and is still the loudest player at the table (though that may change if Steven “Cuz” Buckner moves over).

He may be the loudest player at the table, but Stepuchin, who has also made Hawaiian shirts, headbands and official-sized footballs a part of his tournament attire, is also the most approachable.

“I’m kind of friends with everybody,” he told PokerNews. “If someone’s not an asshole, I’m friends with them.”

PokerNews caught up with Stepuchin during a break on Day 1a to talk about his 2019 victory and his hopes of making another deep WPT run.

Check Out the WPT Hub on PokerNews!

The Longest Rail

Stepuchin remembers winning his first WPT title like it was yesterday. He entered the final table with a dominant chip lead, which was more than enough to get his rail excited inside the HyperX Esports Arena at the Luxor in Las Vegas.

“I had 40 friends (on the rail), because it was a two-month delay (before the final table), the first time they did that,” Stepuchin recalled. “I had literally 40 friends, the biggest rail, partying up a storm in the Luxor. I had a party suite for them for two days. So I had the biggest rail and I was drinking beer.”

“I’ve read one beginner poker book ever. I don’t study anything.”

Stepuchin noted that he was “friends with everybody” at the six-handed final table, including sixth-place finisher Jonathan Abdellatif of Belgium, who Stepuchin “got to sit with … for a couple hours talking before we played.”

“But everybody else I was (already) friends with,” he said.

That included runner-up Shorr, a veteran poker pro who Stepuchin confessed had “exponentially more experience and knowledge” than himself.

“I admit it; it’s the truth,” said Stepuchin. “I’ve read one beginner poker book ever. I don’t study anything. I’ve been saying I’m going to go get coaching (with Alex) Foxen or Kristen (Foxen) or with Chance (Kornuth), because obviously there’s tons of knowledge I could absorb and learn. But I kind of just play by the seat of my pants.”

“And fortunately, I won the very last hand, because if I didn’t win the very last hand, Shannon and I would have been like even in chips. Before that very last hand I had a big lead the whole way, but then he won several hands in a row. It could have flipped instantly. I’m glad I didn’t … get even with him and then have to really start trying to battle. Because he’s a super-opponent, of course.”

Still the Life of the Party

Though not yet at another final table with hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line, Stepuchin has already gotten the party started at Gardens Casino.

“He’s in the room,” Gardens Casino Tournament Manager Cavin Quintanilla announced as Stepuchin, a Gardens Casino regular who spent 14 years living in the adjacent Manhattan Beach, made his Day 1a entrance. “He’s a shy guy; he’s got a chicken wing in hand.”

Just a few hours later and Stepuchin was geared up. He tossed his football across the table as Buckner ran to score a touchdown. He darted around the room as he was playfully chased and grabbed by Qartomy, one of his buddies from the final table in 2019.

Though he has far more friends than enemies in the poker community, Stepuchin acknowledged that his antics aren’t for everyone.

“There’s kind of some, I don’t know, cliquiness is kind of as strong word, but some groups … of pros (who) don’t like these other guys. And I think I’m friends with maybe more (players) than anybody.”

There’s far more to “Frank the Tank” than his antics let on. He wasn’t thinking about beer and chicken wings as the final card landed in 2019 that made him a WPT champion, but rather about how it would have made his late mother feel.

“When they held me up on stage when we were done, I was thinking about my mom and how happy she’d be,” he said with watery eyes. “I always start to tear (up) as soon as I talk about my mom.”

_{*Images courtesy of WPT.}

The trophies awarded to World Poker Tour (WPT) champions this year will be unique. That’s because they are designed by American artist Daniel Arsham in a creative effort to make WPT Season XXI a special one.

“In the history of WPT, this may well be the most creative partnership we have ever taken on,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said in a press release. “Daniel is an incredible artist that melds well with the contemporary lifestyle that poker fosters. We are honored to award a true work of art to all 2023 WPT Champions.”

In addition to having their names engraved on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup, this year’s champions will take home a unique Arsham sculpture trophy. Eliot Hudon received the debut Arsham design when he took down the 2022 WPT World Championship for $4.1 million.

Read About The Record-Breaking 2022 World Championship!

Arsham is a New York City-based contemporary artist known for his sculptures but who works in a variety of mediums, including drawing, film and architecture. According to WPT, his work can be found in galleries in Paris, Hong Kong, South Korea, Brazil and the Netherlands.

As part of the partnership, Arsham has also designed a chip set and chip case design, as well as the feature table stage for WPT events.

Also as part of the partnership, WPT will host a charity event at a contemporary art gallery in New York later this year, with the proceeds going to Arsham’s alma mater, The Copper Onion.

“It is exciting to explore and apply my artistic sensibility to the World Poker Tour universe,” Arsham said in the press release. “I studied at Cooper Union, and it formed a foundation for my art education. I’ve actively looked for ways to further Cooper’s mission of providing free education for everyone in the arts. I also relish the prospect of giving back to The Cooper Union through this project with WPT.”

The unique sculpture trophies await the eventual winners of the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Main Event and the WPT Choctaw Main Event, which have reached final tables that will play out later this month.

Bin Weng chip leads both final tables as he looks to continue his incredible 2023 heater and potentially add two Arsham originals to his trophy cabinet.

There’s also the upcoming WPT Bell Gardens Poker Championship, which gets underway on May 21 and will wrap up on May 25.

_{*Image courtesy of WPT.}

Have you heard the story about the young poker player who has won seven, yes seven, tournaments at Wynn Las Vegas since March 25? That includes four victories already in May, and while none have resulted in life-changing money, the victories have netted him over $54,000 in prize money.

As if that wasn’t all impressive enough, Becker also final tabled several other tournaments throughout town including at the Venetian and Resorts World.

Dating back to 2016, Becker has $829,429 in prize money, which is doubly impressive when you consider the biggest score of his career thus far has been a modest $36,080 for finishing fourth in the 2022 Venetian DeepStack $1,100 NLH.

PokerNews recently caught up with Becker to learn a bit more about the man who has been tearing it up at the Wynn.

Jeremy Becker’s Wynn Wins

Becker’s run at the Wynn has even caught the attention of Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu:

Check out the Wynn Poker Room review here on PokerNews!

Cutting His Chops in Florida

Becker was raised alongside his younger sister in the suburbs of New York City by his parents. He then attended the University of Tampa, where he graduated back in 2018.

“The only job that I ever had was a caddy at a golf course in high school,” the 27-year-old Becker said. “My sophomore year of college I started going to the casino which was 10 minutes away from my school and instantly was addicted. I was always into gambling with my friends, and not being 21 yet, I could only play poker at the casino where you only have to be 18.”

Ever since he graduated college, Becker has been making his living by playing poker. He’s had several five-figure scores down in Florida, including $33,615 for winning the 2023 Lucky Hearts Poker Open Event #8: $400 No-Limit Hold’em and taking down the 2021 Super Stack Poker Series Tampa Event #3: $600 NLH Deeper Stack for $27,200.

Head West Young Man

Earlier this year, Becker opted to leave Florida behind and head out to the bright lights of Las Vegas.

“My lease was up in Tampa the last week of February,” he explained. “A couple of weeks prior rather than renewing I basically just thought, ‘Why am I still here?’ There’s much more opportunity for tournament players in Vegas and I have always loved it when I’ve been out there. So, I talked with my friend, Jake Ferro, and basically, just said if I go out there do you wanna come with? And neither of us could think of a good reason not to make the move.”

Not surprisingly, the Wynn is Becker’s favorite place to play poker in Las Vegas.

“Hands down the Wynn. Everything about the place is A+,” he said. “The dealers, the supervisors, comfortability, everything. They really cater to you and want you to have the overall best experience.”

While his quick-succession victories at the Wynn have brought him some notoriety, they’re not actually his proudest poker accomplishment.

“I would say the $400 that I won in Hollywood in January,” he said when asked. “I had really been studying the game more, and for the first time in my career, was questioning my life decision of being a professional poker player. I felt like I was making great decisions and just getting screwed over and over in these tournaments. That win really changed my confidence level.”

For Becker, the six wins have been nice, but the grind continues as he had his sights set on achieving bigger things in the poker world.

“I want to be able to roll out of bed and head to the PokerGO studio and just fire all of these one day $10k’s and $25k’s with no hesitation,” he explained. “That has always been a goal of mine. As for this summer, obviously, I’d love to win a bracelet just like everybody else. That really solidifies you in history. I’m super confident going into the series this year and believe I will have just as good of a shot as anybody right now. I’m hungrier than ever.”

For more on Becker, follow him on Twitter at @Jbex2417. You can also listen to him on a recent episode of the Barstool Poker: Cracking Aces Podcast.

Executive Editor U.S.

Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

April 25, 2023

To: Mr. Phil Sorrells, Tarrant County District Attorney From: Gerald L Foreman Re: Real Justice

Dear Sir,

I left a message on 4/20/2023 on an anonymous voicemail that the person who answered the phone at your office said was the “person I needed to talk to”. Of course, I received no return call in the tradition of not caring and just plain old meanness from your office. Today is my birthday. I was only age 80 when your office robbed me and allowed your law enforcement harm to further damage me.

At the direction of your predecessor, The Watauga Social Club, a poker establishment in Watauga, TX was raided by law enforcement officials from Tarrant County at the behest of the Tarrant County’s office. This was the final day of a poker tournament with about 350 players to begin with over a period of a few days. The 350 narrowed down to 54 who qualified for the final day. Each of us who qualified was guaranteed a return of $1500 for making it to the final day. My seat at my assigned table had my back to the entrance of the establishment. Less than a half hour into this final day, we heard the words: “Hands over your heads now.” It was a raid by law enforcement. At first, I thought we were being robbed by criminals, but it turned out to be worse. Indeed, we were going to be robbed, sadly by our own government, a government funded by citizen tax dollars.

About me: I have neuropathy in my feet and legs. I am under the care of a cardiologist. I have balance problems and often walk with a cane. I need to eat at certain times, and I am a vegetarian — and I become hypoglycemic if I don’t eat when my body tells me to. My food bag was on a side table about 3 feet away from where I was sitting, and I requested the law enforcement official lurking over my table if I may move to get my lunch bag or if he would hand make the lunch bag. He told me I must wait. It was time for certain medicine and supplements for me to ingest and I explained my need as to my health issues and he replied again that I would have to wait. Lest I forget, I also take an evening medication to avoid getting up 5-6 times a night to urinate and I was denied for over 2 hours the opportunity to use the men’s room. I was shaking from hunger, needed to urinate to the point I was in pain, and I told him that if I couldn’t go to the toilet, I was going to “piss my pants.” His reply was: Okay, but somebody else is in there and you can go when they finish. So, it seems that others could use the toilet when needed, but not me. When the men’s room became available, he accompanied me to it. It has only one door to get in and out of and it is windowless. Nevertheless, he stood behind me and watched while I urinated. I still can’t figure that one out. On the way back to the poker table, I grabbed my lunch and wolfed it down. Eventually, my name was called, and I was directed to a table where a law enforcement officer questioned me. The questions he asked me were if I had played there previously and if I saw anything illegal going on. I replied that I never saw anything illegal, and he looked at me with a cynical and doubtful look as if he knew I was lying. He gave me that sardonic grin that spoke volumes. I guess he wanted to be sure that insult was added to my injury.

I paid $485 (as I recollect) to play in that tournament and I was denied the $1500 guarantee I had coming to me from tournament proceeds and a chance to win a lot more. I had to research for many hours my potential defense for the jury trial I was going to demand. I had to pay $20 for parking and lose a whole day to sit in a courtroom for 3 hours where I was offered a deferred sentence if I allowed Tarrant County to rob me of another $100 for court costs. Tarrant County caused me, and many others, much anguish over this issue, and the cherry on top of the poisonous sundae your office served is the letter I received from the court stating that my case was dismissed in THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. I see no justice in denying me the opportunity to embarrass the Tarrant County DA’s office in front of a jury of 6 of my peers. So, you not only stole my time and my money, but you also stole my dignity once again. I was fortunate that in my analysis of the case brought against me and the other players led me to the conclusion that I did not need a lawyer to represent me. This case was so stupid and so malicious that I could be the fool who represents himself. Some of the other players paid their hard-earned dollars to have lawyers represent them. They are out even more money. What is most offensive is that you ran a warrant search on all the players and your law enforcement officials came up empty. We were just nice people, not criminals, and just playing poker recreationally. One of the players at my table was a Captain in the Air Force, a fighter pilot. Here was a young man who has flown combat missions in defense of our country being harassed by corrupt officials sanctioned by your office seeking to make a money grab. I surmise this young man, a military officer, had to cop a plea, pay the court costs (a further insult) to protect himself from military retribution and ruination of his military career. THIS IS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE.

This establishment, the Watauga Social Club, like other clubs I have played at in Dallas County provided a safe environment in which folks such as me could enjoy their game, poker. You damaged the owner of this business irreparably. He ran a business enterprise precisely as others who operate freely in other locations in Texas. This was easy to see it for what it was: A MONEY GRAB by Tarrant County. Plus, your office acted as if a trial had been accomplished as your enforcement arm stole not only the money, but also all the furnishings in the establishment. In other words, punishment without a trial. Some justice!!! What’s next, spying on golfers who make side bets and taking their golf clubs? Perhaps you’ll go after Super Bowl bettors. The power of authority was violated by your office. It’s so plain to see. On top of punishing the owner of the business who ALLEGEDLY did something illegal, you elected to punish all of us with citations. Next thing you know, when speeding tickets are issued to drivers in Tarrant County, the passengers will receive citations too.

I request, no I demand reimbursement to make me financially whole and an apology from your office. If not, I want my trial. My phone call to the anonymous voicemail at your office has not as I said been returned and failure to contact me to resolve the issue I have brought forth in this communique will result in my taking appropriate action. It is your choice to do the right thing or face the embarrassment of me picketing in front of your building with news outlets recording the event for local print and TV media. Perhaps it may even make national news. I guess you have a choice here to do the right thing or not, to right the wrong committed by your predecessor. You wouldn’t want to be ignored and neither do I. I sincerely hope you do not take this as an extortion attempt. It isn’t in any way. It’s simply a citizen’s attempt for justice for himself and for the other victims of wrongful action on the part of the Tarrant County DA at the time of this wrongful, malicious, and hurtful event. I also hope that you don’t, as your predecessor did, use your authority to harass or damage me or others further. I am hopeful that common decency rather than retribution will prevail for me and all who have been damaged by the Tarrant County DA’s office.

Folding is a fundamental aspect of poker strategy that involves forfeiting your hand. While it may seem counterintuitive to discard your cards, making correct folds is crucial for long-term success in the game. And the folks at WPT Global have shared some tips on folding strategies.

Correct folds save you from losing additional chips on losing hands, preserving your bankroll and minimizing losses. Folding also allows you to have as good a stack as possible for when you have stronger hands which can help maximize your potential for profitable situations.

By making astute folding decisions, you avoid unnecessary risks, reduce the impact of variance, and maintain a disciplined approach to the game. Ultimately, the ability to make timely and accurate folds separates skilled players from those who consistently make costly mistakes.

Know Which Hands to Fold Preflop

In poker, folding ranges refer to the range of hands that a player is likely to fold in a given situation. It is an essential concept for both analyzing opponents’ tendencies and making strategic decisions regarding your own hand.

When considering folding ranges, several factors come into play, such as:

• Starting Hand Strength: The inherent value of your starting hand is a crucial factor in determining your folding range. Simply put, you want to fold your weaker hands and play with stronger hands instead.
• Position: Your position at the table influences your folding range. Players in early position, who act first, need to be more selective of their starting hands as there are plenty of players still to act. Conversely, players in late position, who act last, can widen their opening ranges due to having more information.
• Action and Betting Patterns: The actions of other players, such as bets, raises, and re-raises, provide valuable information about their hand strength. If there is strong betting action indicating a high likelihood of strong hands, you may need to make tighter folds. If you have a pretty hand such as K♠Q♠, for example, you may need to fold preflop if three-bets and four-bets have taken place before your turn to act.

PokerNews Invites You to Some Awesome WPT Global Freerolls

The Danger of Playing Bad Starting Hands

Playing bad starting hands in poker can lead to several dangers and negative outcomes. Firstly, weak starting hands have a lower probability of improving and winning the pot, putting you at a significant disadvantage right from the start. This increases the likelihood of losing money in the long run.

Secondly, playing bad starting hands can get you trapped in unfavorable situations. Weak hands often require luck or perfect conditions to win, which may not materialize. This can lead to costly bluffs, calling bets with minimal chance of winning or being forced to fold to aggressive opponents.

Additionally, playing bad starting hands can impact your table image and credibility. Consistently entering pots with weak hands signals to other players that you lack discipline or understanding of poker strategy. This can lead to opponents exploiting your tendencies and targeting you for larger bets or strategic moves.

When Can You Play Bad Hands in Poker?

You can widen your opening range in poker when certain favorable conditions are present, such as being in late position, having a large chip stack relative to the blinds, observing passive opponents, or detecting a general tendency for players to fold too often. These factors indicate a higher likelihood of success and provide an opportunity to play a wider range of starting hands profitably.

Don’t Miss the Incredible Value in WPT Global’s New Sunday Majors

Join WPT Global Today

The launch of WPT Global means that poker players around the world now have the chance to win their way to WPT events, win prizes and enjoy exciting games such as Poker Flips. As one of the world’s largest cash game poker networks, WPT Global is available in over 50 countries and territories worldwide.

WPT Global offers a large deposit match bonus: 100% on deposits up to $1,200 (using any payment method). New players depositing a minimum of $20 automatically receive this match bonus which is unlocked in $5 increments (credited straight to the cashier) for every $20 of rake contribution.

Both tournaments and cash games count towards bonus unlocking; new players have 90 days from the date of first deposit to unlock and claim their full bonus amount.

With the second round of the Stanely Cup settled, the Toronto Maple Leafs—and their partner PokerStars Ontario—are due congratulations for an excellent run in the tournament.

The Maple Leafs were eliminated in the round of eight by a small margin in their game with the Florida Panthers. It was an unfortunate end to the team’s run but still represented a ten-year best. It is also the first time the team made the second round of the Stanley Cup since 2004.

The PokerStars Ontario team was along for the ride, working with the Maple Leafs to bring an exciting range of “activations” to the fans.

Click here to download the PokerStars Ontario client and join the action

Giving PokerStars Ontario fans what they want

These activations included things like All-In Tournaments—a special poker tourney format tailored to the partnership. Aso giveaways of Maple Leafs jerseys and tickets to the Maple Leafs’ playoff matches.

Plus, PokerStars Ontario got involved in the huge tailgating party that takes part at all the Leafs’ home games. The Scotiabank Arena has an official viewing party and tailgate area set aside for this purpose in Maple Leaf Square.

From here fans can watch a billboard-sized screen showing the match to circa 1,800 people with whom fans can drink, mingle, and soak in the vibes.

Read about previous PokerStars Ontario experiences here

All-in with the Maple Leafs

During the playoffs, fans could also take part in live one-hand sit’n’gos at the PokerStars Ontario tent in Maple Square. These freeroll tourneys (called “All-In Shootouts”) saw four players to a table playing one hand of poker with four all-ins.

The winner got a chance to win a seat at the Maple Leafs’ next home game. Winners also got to spin a prize wheel in the hopes of winning the daily jackpot.

“The All-In Shootouts were equal parts excitement and tension,” said McAdam Willets. “They were the perfect combination for mixing poker with playoff hockey!”

PokerStars Ontario also hosted All-In Shootouts on its poker client with playoff tickets and cash prizes available as possible prizes.

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Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. 888Poker Ontario operates pursuant to an agreement with iGaming Ontario.

For more information, visit the Ontario Players Homepage