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The check-call is most often viewed as something a player with a weak hand does when they want to “look up” another opponent because they’re not sure what he or she is holding. In other words the move just screams, “I don’t want you to raise me if I bet so I’m going to check-call you down to the river”. It’s also a popular move for players that on a big draw such as a straight or flush.

Because many experienced opponents will recognize the check-call and put you on a draw, you can use this to your advantage. Let’s assume that you’ve raised pre-flop and get one caller. It doesn’t matter what you’re holding here because you’re setting up a bluff on the turn or river depending on the texture of the flop. The flop brings all low cards but two hearts and you check to your opponent. If he’s holding a hand like pocket 9’s or over cards he may well bet here and if he does you’re calling. The turn is the 5 of hearts putting three hearts on the board with no straight possibilities. You check again only this time after your opponent bets you’re not check-calling, you’re check-raising!

This move now screams to your opponent, “I was chasing the flush with my check-call and I just hit it with that third heart”. Even if he’s holding pockets Kings at this point he may be tempted to fold them as they’re thoroughly dominated here. You should be cautioned that many weaker opponents will call down all day long with a big hand like that, so reads are important at this point. Of course, not all bluffs work perfectly so if he comes back over the top you likely want to fold now. However, when used properly this move can pay big dividends so pick your spot and bluff away!

Online poker giant Party Poker has been blessed with some nice traffic increases over the month of September. Party Gaming, the poker sites parent company recently has changed to a more aggressive promotional strategy and implemented some amazing new poker software in an attempt to revitalize the brand in the wake of 2006’s UGIEA. Party Poker had been riding on the same boring and dull software for years when finally in late September they unveiled a completely re-designed poker software client with many new features. The new software also boasted a very clean and streamlined look compared to their old software.

At this point its hard to tell if the traffic surge has been a specific result of the newly designed software or if its because of Party Poker’s ramped up four million dollar promotions budget. Party has launched a rash of better promotions in September with higher deposit bonuses, cash giveaways and some huge payout tournaments. Party Poker treated new players with a $500 deposit bonus for the first time in September.

Party Poker’s traffic began with a three percent increase during the month of September but has since increased a stunning twenty one percent to this point in the month of October. Party Poker’s twenty four hour average traffic is at about 5,200. Party Poker’s new software boasts cleaner looks, better lobby function, better multi tabling options and a new quick seat feature.

Party’s new four million dollar promotions budget has slated nearly two million dollars just in free cash drawings, a sure fire way to infuse their player base with cold hard cash. Party Poker at one time was the largest online poker site in the world. Although the last few years have been tough for them, they seem to have a renewed spirit with solid promotions and finally some industry leading software.

There’s quite the uproar among Canadian college officials over the recent endorsement of an online poker tournament that promises to pay the winners college tuition. At the Cape Breton University in the Nova Scotia province of Canada the Student Union President Matt Stewart has given permission to an online poker site to post advertisement on campus promoting the tournament. He has even taken the step of sending out an announcement for the event via the Student Union’s Facebook account.

While the concept of free tuition is not new to online poker, the open advertising on campus is. This isn’t sitting well with education officials as seeral other Halifax University officials have stated that they will not support advertising or the promotion of this event at their schools.

In his defense, Matt Stewart had this to say to his detractors: “There are so many other resources out there to get people gambling, I don’t think a free tournament is going to do it,” he said, pointing out that every time students walk into a store, they see lottery tickets for sale. Indeed, it’s rare these days to find any college aged person who hasn’t at least tried to play for free on an online poker site.

As of this report there’s been no response from the Breton University officials on any effort to block the advertising campaign. We will follow this story and report on any updates as they become available.

An independent organization has its sights set on bringing some standards to the world of tournament poker. With poker growing by leaps and bounds on an international level, there is a need now more than ever to bring some consistency and standards to the rules of the game at the tournament level. Marcel Luske, a touring tournament professional is head of The Federation Internationale de Poker Association (FIDPA), The Federation is seeking to establish standard rules and procedures for tournament poker.

Luske started the International Poker Federation in 2002 to help build awareness about poker in Europe and around the world. In 2007 he partnered with fellow professional Michelle Lau to form the FIDPA. Since their creation, the FIDPA has been lobbying to bring consistency and standards to poker. The FIDPA has created a set of rules called The IP rules which are basically a set of rules taken from the Tournament Directors Association as well as rules based on input from leading poker authorities around the world. The Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas has recently adopted the IP rules and is endorsed by the FIDPA. As the Federation has gained in popularity, many land based casinos are seeking their endorsement to help the effort in bringing consistency and standards to poker.

The FIDPA has recently announced that it will be endorsing the World Poker Congress. The Congress serves as a bridge between land based casinos and online based casino and poker room operators, the Congress meets annually in October to discuss issues and strategize. Organizations like the FIDPA are helping to make online poker a more accepted and legitimate entity. By standardizing rules and regulations across the world, the FIDPA is ensuring that poker play around the world will be conducted fairly and with consistency, two very important factors in the move to legalize online gaming in some countries.

You’ve just sat at a down a new table at Full Tilt Poker and are immediately dealt 8d 9d. The flop comes 7h Td 2d and it’s checked to you. You bet the pot on your big draw (open ended with the flush draw) and get two callers. The turn and river bring you no help so it’s time to fold after the player to your right bets half the pot, just begging for a call. Not so fast! Paying off this bet and showing your hand could be a fair price to pay to “buy” a poor table image.

You could even add to the image by typing something in the chat window like “man, I thought I had it there”. If this sounds absolutely insane it’s because play like that would certainly qualify as moronic. However, only you know that your play was 100% intentional. By doing this you’ve set yourself up to perhaps earn quite a return on your investment. The remaining players think they’ve found a mark to make money from and will likely make poor bets at you now, hoping for another loose call. Of course, you’re only going to call with a real hand now and can quickly recoup your small initial loss over the course of a few showdowns.

If your bankroll can take the small hit, try this once or twice. You may be very surprised at the results!

Online gaming giant Cryptologic will be expanding into the Eastern European/Asian market through its newly penned deal with Kurastica, a gaming company with extensive coverage in the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Commonwealth of Independent States consists of many of the former Soviet run countries such as Ukraine, Armenia and Uzbekistan, Russia is a member as well. The new agreement will put Cryptologic’s award winning casino and gaming software into millions of waiting customers hands by 2009.

Cryptologic’s casino and gaming software is packed with over two hundred different casino games ranging from common table games to uniquely themed video slots. Kurastica, the company Cryptologic is partnering with, has been in the Russian market for some time now and has extensive experience in the market. Kurastica has a management team wrought with experience ranging from former casino and club professionals and designers from the online gaming industry. The qualities of each company make for a natural partnership in terms of the Russian market. Kurastica’s vast experience in the CIS and Cryptologic’s award winning software will make for an excellent partnership.

Cryptologic is excited to be expanding into the CIS for a number of reasons. The area currently has a fast growing internet economy and there is a deeply rooted gaming culture that Cryptologic looks to tap into. With Kurastica at the helm, that’s very likely to happen.

The deal between Cryptologic and Kurastica will make Cryptologic’s downloadable software available to customers in the CIS through a number of different channels. The multi million dollar deal is slated to last several years and should go live in the first quarter of 2009. Cryptologic is one of the larger online gaming software producers in the world. They are traded on the London Stock exchange, The Toronto Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

Matt Brady is quite the tournament player. He has won just shy of a million dollars in his time as a touring tournament pro, yet there is one thing he hadn’t accomplished. Brady had never taken home the big prize. That’s right; Brady had never taken first place. That all changed Saturday night when Matt Brady to home the cake at the coveted and prestigious Arubu Poker Classic. The Ultimate Bet Aruba Poker Classic is a large live tournament that is put on annually by Ultimate Bet Poker. The tournament has the unique distinction of being played outside on the beautiful beaches of Aruba. Believe it or not, Saturday’s final table action was actually put on hold by a rain delay!

Brady, considered by many to be a hot up and coming younger player, has had a rash of success over the past two years. He entered the final table at the Classic second in the chip count but would go through a gauntlet of ups and downs before finally taking the prize from second place finisher Johan Storakers. Storakers took home just under five hundred thousand dollars for his efforts while Brady more than doubled his lifetime earnings by taking home a smooth one million dollars.

In the final hand Brady held the T7 of hearts while Storakers held a stronger AJ off suit. When the flop came JTT there was bound to be trouble. Brady made a small bet of $270,000 that Storakers quickly raised to an all in bet. Brady made no hesitation in calling with his strong trip tens. Storakers had every reason to think he was in the best position with his top two pair top kicker but ultimately made the wrong decision. The turn brought a seven for Brady improving him to a full house while the Jack Storakers needed never showed up.

Further evidence that poker is a true global phenomenon, the Sky City Casino in New Zealand is hosing the Sky City Festival of Poker. The weeklong poker festival is expected to be the largest poker tournament ever hosted in the town of Auckland. Now in full swing, there are multiple satellite events taking place giving players a shot to play in the Main Event. With a $1 million dollar prize pool the event has lured many big names such as Chris Moneymaker and Joe Hachem to play in the event.

Executive Manager from Sky City, Ejaaz Dean said: “Tournament Poker is one of the world’s fastest growing sports and has huge television appeal and viewership. SKYCITY is proud to bring players of this calibre to our shores. I’m sure Kiwi poker fans will be excited at the prospect of not only matching skills against them in a game, but also learning what has made them amongst the world’s best.”

Even though a million dollars may seem drab compared to many large tournaments today, the opportunity to play poker in such a beautiful land certainly made the decision easier for these pros to make the long journey to New Zealand. The Main Event will begin on October 9th and will wrap four days later.

What do you normally do over the course of a day? Twenty four hours pass and most normal folks have risen from bed, showered, fed themselves a few times, worked an 8 hour day, went home, slept for another 6 hours, repeat. John Juanda isn’t your typical Nine to Fiver and over a grueling 22 hour final table at this years World Series of Poker Europe, he took down the a first place prize of £868,800.

It’s worth repeating. Twenty-two hours. One of the longest final tables in the history of tournament poker and John Juanda comes out on top. It was a tough fought victory and underscores the amount of mental acuity required now to take down a big event. For the final agonizing hours of the tournament John was facing two very tough Russian opponents. November Nine player Ivan Demidov went out in third place after a solid battle, which saw the chips move back and forth countless times between players. Finally, after another seven hours of heads up play, Juanda was able to dispatch Stanislav Alekhin when both got all their chips in pre-flop.

With Juanda holding Ks 6s and Alekhin holding Ac 9s, the flop essentially ended the hand when it came 6d 6h 2d giving Juanda trips. No help came on the turn or the river and Juanda has yet another WSOP bracelet to add to his collection.

A prim and proper type might say it’s actually quite “rude” to check-raise an opponent in a friendly poker game. However, when you’re playing online at a site like Full Tilt Poker and there’s a final table in sight or real money is on the table, all bets are off! All kidding aside the check-raise is a powerful weapon in your arsenal when used properly. In the right situation, this move can prove very beneficial.

Take the following scenario:

You’re dealt pocket Jacks in middle position and make a raise to 6X the big blind. You find a caller from the button and the blinds fold. The flop comes Q 5 3 and the action is on you. As you try to replay the hand so far and put your opponent on a range of hands consider using the check raise here as a way to gain information. Let’s assume that your opponent is holding a big pre-flop hand like A K and completely missed this flop. By checking to him you’re signaling one of two things –

1. That you missed the flop or
2. That your under pair feels vulnerable now because of the Queen on the board.

By checking to him, you’re giving him an opportunity to continuation bet here. Most players with A K will do just that. When the action comes back to you and you execute a check-raise you can now gain the missing information you seek. He’s now put to a decision and based on his actions, you can play the rest of the hand accordingly. A call from him signals perhaps more strength than you had thought, or perhaps he has caught the Queen. A reraise from him is a dire sign that you’re behind in the hand and at this point, you should let the Jacks hit the muck with relative ease. Of course, anything is possible in poker but hopefully this high level overview gives you an idea on how to effectively use this tool in your poker game.