Tworags.com poker guide for serious poker players who play Texas Holdem and Other Poker Games http://www.tworags.com Tworags.com - poker guide for serious poker players who play Texas Holdem and Other Poker Games en-us Tue, 18 Nov 08 17:30:48 -0500 Bond18: Online poker > live poker Tworags.com Bond18:   Online poker > live poker

I’ve written many times before that I think online poker is superior to live. After spending the last six months experiencing a high volume of both, I feel like I’ve finally accumulated enough information in order to present a thorough list on why online poker is greater than live poker. Let’s break it down issue by issue...

Read Bond18's complete post here...Online poker > live poker

And in case you missed it, Bond18 reflects on another birthday...I'm getting too old for this shit.
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Sun, 19 Oct 2025 04:30:09 -0400
Bond18: Live poker > online poker Tworags.com Bond18:   Live poker > Online poker

IJust to prove it’s all about how you spin things let’s take a look at the reasons why live poker is vastly superior to online:

1. Social interaction:

a. Live poker: Has real flesh and blood people. You can look at them, hear them, smell them, and touch them; though purposely and blatantly attempting the last two may lead to many awkward situations. You’ll meet people from all walks of life at the table and can make friendships that’ll last a life time, but most of all you’ll witness some truly hilarious interactions.

b. Online poker: Where all your friends and peers are the same little flashing box on whatever instant messaging system you prefer and the closest thing you have to interaction at work is a 30 second conversation with the delivery man from the Indian place...

Read Bond18's complete post here...Live poker > Online poker

And in case you missed it, Bond18 reflects on another birthday...I'm getting too old for this shit.
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Mon, 03 Nov 2025 03:22:41 -0500
Adanthar, obv Tworags.com Adanthar:  Live Q&A about the AP scandal

First, the very short term: I'll most likely have another article on P5's either this weekend or on Monday. It'll be about Obama and poker - I'll have to post an exact topic and maybe repost the article after I write it, but if you've been reading the blog or my posts on 2+2, you already know most of what I think on the subject. Suffice to say I am optimistic about the chances of a UIGEA repeal under Obama and feel that the game would be better off with him in office. (I also did make a CR video - it should be up sometime next week.)...

Read Adanthar's full post here...Live Q & A about the AP scandal
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Mon, 03 Nov 2025 03:27:06 -0500
SirWatts - Festa del Lago Tworags.com Sir Watts:  Festa al Lago Update

Hey I've been lazy and haven't written anything in a little while so here's what I've been up to this week. After I busted Niagara I drove home immediately and started looking for a flight to Vegas. There was a very cheap Westjet flight at 9pm that night and I had a credit for Westjet that I had to use soon anyways so I booked that right away, threw a bunch of extra clothes in my bag, and was off to the airport. I got in around 11pm PST and checked into the Bellagio. They were nice enough to comp my room for this trip as the returning champion so that was pretty badass...

Read Sir Watts's full post here...Festa al Lago Update
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Mon, 03 Nov 2025 03:22:51 -0500
SirWatts wins WPT Bellagio Cup IV! Tworags.com SirWatts: Bellagio Cup IV Champion!

Last night, long-time TwoRags contributor, Mike 'SirWatts" Watson took down the WPT's Bellagio Cup IV for a nifty $1.673 million!  It could not have happened to a nicer, more deserving guy,  Congrats, SirWatts!



* That's Tony Dunst (aka Bond18) with his arm around Mike's shoulder and a huge "I had a 5% piece of the Bellagio IV Champion" grin.  We're sure Bond is thrilled for Watts, but he's also that he was smart enough to make a 5% swap prior to the tournament! Congrats to both of you guys!
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Sun, 31 Aug 2025 03:43:11 -0400
Bond18 Anthology Tworags.com Bond18 - Things it took me a while to learn.
Sick of entering tournaments, grinding away and getting nowhere?  We know the feeling.  Fortunately, Bond18 has some insights for you in his definitive series on tournament play.  Do yourself a favor.  Take a break and read the posts.  You might just start making the money!

Part 1:  Stack Sizes
Part 2:  Position
Part 3:  What're you trying to accomplish
Part 4:  Bankroll Management
Part 5:  3-betting/4-betting
Part 6:  Strategy and Mentality Lies
Part 7:  Metagame and Concentration
Part 8:  Bet Sizing
Part 9:  Tournament Hand Reading
Part 10:  Poker, Variance and Life
Part 11:  Time and Tilt Management

Part 12:  LP Opening Ranges


Oh, and check back for updates.  He's not through with your game yet!

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Wed, 05 Dec 2025 00:19:27 -0500
Bond18 Anthology Tworags.com Bond18 - Things it took me a while to learn.

Sick of entering tournaments, grinding away and getting nowhere?  We know the feeling.  Fortunately, Bond18 has some insights for you in his definitive series on tournament play.  Do yourself a favor.  Take a break and read the posts.  You might just start making the money!

Part 1:  Stack Sizes
Part 2:  Position
Part 3: What're you trying to accomplish
Part 4:  Bankroll Management
Part 5:  3-betting/4-betting
Part 6:  Strategy and Mentality Lies
Part 7:  Metagame and Concentration
Part 8:  Bet Sizing
Part 9:  Tournament Hand Reading
Part 10:  Poker, Variance and Life
Part 11:  Time and Tilt Management
Part 12:  LP Opening Ranges
Part 13:  Ranges
Part 14:  Playing a Chip lead/Big Stack
Part 15:  Small/Mid and High Differences
Part 16:  The flaw in level 2 thinking
Part 17:  Staking deals
Part 18:  Self Improvement
Part 99:  What Would Phil Hellmuth Do?

Oh, and check back for updates.  He's not through with your game yet!

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Fri, 15 Aug 2025 22:50:23 -0400
More LATB video Tworags.com TwoRagsStaff:  PokerNetcast (aka LATB) videos

We are happy to report that we have more LATB videos for your viewing pleasure from our friends over at PokerNetcast (formerly, Live at the Bike).

Live at the Bike: AK vs. QQ -- Tough Decisions
Live at the Bike: Get the ##%$# off the phone!
Live at the Bike: AK vs. QQ -- Tough Decisions

Previous Videos

Sit n go:  nath v Vivek "Air Guitar" hand
SIt n go:  Jose Canseco bluffs Adanthar the Nitty
LATB:  Corporation Mike v Barry Greenstein

Give us some feedback!
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Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:48:47 -0400
Commerce Casino - Holiday Bonus Tworags.com The Commerce:   Holiday Bonus

The Commerce Casino's Holiday Bonus series starts this week and runs Nov 7th through the 23rd.  It's a nice two week complement of low buy-in tournaments ($190-$545) with a $1580 championship event!  Face it, that job hunt's going nowhere and there's nothing going on at the beach in November.  Why not head over to the Commerce and pull cash from some guy scared to death of the bubble?


If you win an event, for God's sake, register and tell us about it!]]>
Mon, 03 Nov 2025 03:37:25 -0500
Bicycle Casino - Ho Ho Hold'em Tworags.com Bicycle Casino:  Ho Ho Hold'em

The Bicycle Casino's  Ho Ho Hold'em tournament series starts Nov 20th and features a full buffet to satisfy your appetite for tournament poker.  You name it--NL, limit, re-buys, deep stack--the Ho Ho Hold'em series offers it, and like football and good bourbon, the Triple H is a holiday season standard.  The Ho Ho Hold'em runs through Thanksgiving and beyond, so make plans to duck the relatives head on down to the Bike!

What, you've never been to the Bike?  Edmond's been there, photo'd that...LA Card rooms:  Bicycle Casino and The Bicycle Casino:  Mo's Deepstack.  It's what he does.


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Mon, 03 Nov 2025 03:35:28 -0500
Club One Casino - Fall Classic Tworags.com Club One Casino:  Fall Classic

On November 22-23, Club One Casino will host its Fall Classic, a $300+$45 buy-in, two-day deep-stack.  Our own EdmondDantes is so confident this dance will draw a good crowd, he's guaranteeing a $75,000 prize pool.



What?  You've never been to Club One Casino?  If it's good enough for Bond18, Adanthar and shaundeeb, it's worth checking out!
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Mon, 03 Nov 2025 03:27:21 -0500
January 13 Tworags.com

More updates from the Aussie Millions, PCA, the Bike, life...

 

A_Junglen surveys the room damage and betting lines before the Main Event...Good Times in Australia. *NEW*


shaundeeb checks in from the Aussie Millions.

 

Bond18 posts a Book Review:  Kill Everyone, by Lee Nelson, Tysen Streib and Kim Lee.

 

Adanthar is sick as a 3:1 dog...Feeling like death. *NEW*

 


SirWatts gets in some drunk kickball...Day 1A I guess? but busts out early in the Aussie ME...Sigh...*NEW*

 

BadgerPro is still Busto at the PCA at the Atlantis.


Doylestown snapped his tournament skid...Thank you, shaundeeb. *NEW*


nath
doesn't have a Wikipedia page...a humbling moment. *NEW*

 

xxrod17xx is waiting on the Showboat...From the Dealer's Box:  Bored.

 

WTF?  ckingusc Finally won SOMETHING. *NEW*


ianisakson posts his First Blog - Upcoming PCA.


As does rendall11...First Post.


Landlord79 posts his year-to-date carnage...2008, My Year in Review.


The former BJJIII (now Mr_Taterhead) chronicles his grindage... My Forays in MultiTabling $25NL.


EdmondDantes sucks up to the Bike...The Bicycle Casino:  Mo's Deepstack.

 

Finally, RaoulDukeJr whiffed The Return of Led Zeppelin


Read and comment on these blogs or register to add your own today!  It's free!

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Mon, 14 Jan 2026 17:07:23 -0500
Dealer's Box - Update on Job Tworags.com From the Dealer's Box:  Update on Job and Poker

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, I know some of you enjoyed my road to getting a dealing job. Now that I have it I am working 5 days a week a full 8 hours at a minimum, a lot of the time I am working overtime. I barely have the time an energy to put in an hour or two playing some NL25 on Stars. So my goal for this blog is to catch up a little bit on whats been going on in my life and talk a little bit on where I would like to be in the next few months...

Read xxrodxx17's complete post here...Update on Job and Poker]]>
Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:29:13 -0400
Poker rooms Tworags.com xxrod17x took a break from his series on becoming a dealer and dug up some good videos of the Borgata, the Wynn and Treasure Island (Minnesota).  If you're thinking about visiting any of them, the vids are worth a look!  Click here to see videos.]]> Wed, 28 Nov 2025 01:09:39 -0500 Bring Your Home Game to the Commerce Casino Tworags.com Bring Your Home Game to the Commerce Casino

Our new sponsor, the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, will now host your home game. Watch the video below to learn more:

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Fri, 07 Mar 2025 20:20:49 -0500
St. Lucifer It's a blog entry Tworags.com St. Lucifer:   It's a blog entry

Que pasa fives...

Its been a shamefully long time(early June)since I’ve sat down and updated my blog. My blogging aspirations have been seemingly crushed by my utter lack of motivation to do anything other than play poker, sleep, and go out at night. How did I compel myself to create this entry? Well, I consider tomorrow to mark another chapter in my life in Madison, Wi and I wanted to be able to reflect on and document the last month or so. What better place to examine your life’s standing than in a blog that was to facilitate this type of analysis in the first place. Blah blah blah lets get to it…

Read St. Lucifer's full post here...It's a blog entry.
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Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:02:27 -0400
Hagbard_Celine - Checking in Tworags.com Hagbard_Celine:  Checking in

Been a while since my last post.

I've been putting in some good volume, but am consistently getting disappointed in big tournaments.

Since my last post I've final tabled the FTP 65K ($150+13) twice, but ended up 7th and 8th respectively. My 8th place finish last night did make for a profitable Sunday (Joy!), but was still really disappointing as I ended up busting 44

Read Hagbard_Celine's full post here...Checking in
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Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:03:17 -0400
EValuator Tworags.com EValuator™
Many times in a poker session you face a difficult decision regarding whether to call a bet or fold your hand. Whether or not you decide to call should be based on your belief of the expected value of that decision. Unfortunately, managing all the variables of that decision – the pot amount, the pot odds, your hand, your opponent’s range of hands, your win percentages against those range of hands, the probability of the various holdings, etc., etc. – is often overwhelming.

 

Our exclusive EValuator™ helps you to determine the expected value (EV) of the call decision based on your estimate of your opponent’s possible range of hands.  Click here to start using the EValuator now.

 

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Fri, 13 Apr 2025 17:04:31 -0400
Machiavelli Benefits Tworags.com "Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better."
- Machiavelli, 15th century Italian author

 

Don’t press.  The cards will come.

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Tue, 15 Jan 2026 11:58:18 -0500
The Final Hand from the 2002 World Series Tworags.com The Final Hand from the 2002 World Series
of Poker Championship Event

Robert Varkonyi
held:

Julian Gardner
held:

The Board came:



At the final table with $20,000/40,000 blinds, Robert Varkonyi was sitting with Qd, 10s, while Julian Gardner had Jc, 8c.  Varkonyi raised to $90,000 and Gardner called. The flop of Qc, 4c, 4s gave Varkonyi an overpair, while Gardner was on a flush a draw. Gardner checked and Varkonyi bet $50,000. Gardner decided to semi-bluff with his flush draw and moved all-in. Varkonyi called.  The turn and river of Td, Tc helped Gardner to make a flush...but it also gave Varkonyi a full house and the win.

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Thu, 12 Apr 2025 15:39:13 -0400
brad2002tj - Beau Rivage Tworags.com brad2002tj:   Deja Vu at the Beau Rivage

It was my girlfriend and my third anniversary so we spent last weekend at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, MS. We flew into New Orleans and drove a rental car (~1.5 hour drive) to Biloxi.  Checking in was a bit of a mess.  At the front desk the clerk said they don't have any ocean view rooms (even though we booked one) and verified we want a non-smoking room.



We make the trek up to the room and walk into what is clearly a smoking room. We go back down to the front desk and the manager gets us into a non-smoking room, and guess what now there is an ocean view available. So they set us up again and we go up to a really nice non-smoking ocean view room on the 15th floor. As I am going through the check-in documents I notice they have someone else's name on it. Back to the front desk for them to straighten it out, which only takes a few minutes.

Read brad2002tj's full post here...Deja Vu at the Beau Rivage.]]>
Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:18:07 -0400