ITH 2006 Internet Player of the Year Rankings

At the conclusion of the calendar year, InternetTexasHoldem.com will recognize the first ever Internet Player of the Year. Using a unique, objective scoring system, ITH has tracked the premier multi-table No-Limit Holdem tournaments on the web since Jan. 1, 2006.

By year's end, the true king of online poker will be crowned by ITH. Below, find the Top 25 IPOY standings as of Monday, Sept. 18.

Click here for more Player of the Year info like updated rankings, ranks by poker room, registration info., upcoming tournaments, player info., interviews, and online poker coverage! 

Ed. Note: if you don't know Bull, you should get to know him. Bull is Nuts about Bonuses. Bull has been tracking bonuses as they happen along with the other Bonus Chasers on the Forum . Now Bull is going to be bringing all this great bonus info. directly to you, every week. Due to the demand we've had for this, the Nuts are working on a realtime Bonus alert and more, so stay tuned to Bull's Bonuses!

PKR is a new poker room offering two different signup bonuses. For smaller bankrolls there is a $25 bonus on any deposit of at least $20. Enter code "PKR 02" when depositing. The bonus will clear once you have earned 3,000 PKR Points. For larger bankrolls you can get 50% to $250 on your first deposit. Enter code "PKR01" when making your deposit. The bonus clears at 125 PKR Points per bonus dollar. Both bonuses carry a 90 day expiration. PKR Points are earned at the rate of 100 points for each $1 of rake contribution by the player. Players also receive 100 PKR Points for each dollar of tournament fees paid. This offer ends September 30. PKR is currently not accepting U.S. players.

SIGN UP FOR PKR

Poker Stars is offering a reload bonus of 20% to $120 until midnight on the 19th of September. This bonus clears at seven times FPP (Frequent Players Points) per bonus dollar. In a new twist for Poker Stars, there is a six-month expiration on this bonus. (Previously, Poker Stars reloads have not had an expiration.) No bonus code required.  Poker Stars is also offering a First Deposit Bonus of 100% to $50. Use bonus code "FirstSep2006" when depositing. This bonus requires 10 times FPP to clear, and there is a six-month expiration for this bonus as well. New players have until the end of 2006 to sign up, and if done so through Internettexasholdem.com, new Poker Stars members can choose from three free gifts.

SIGN UP FOR POKER STARS

APN Upgrades Cash Tables   The Action Poker Network recently upgraded their software to include 6-max cash tables. Given the proportional contributed rake method of bonus clearing used by this network, this is a big benefit to short-hand players. Most rooms charge short-hand players more for their bonus than full ring players, but Action Poker Network's method provides the same action for both full ring and short-hand players. You pay the same amount of rake for your bonus no matter how many players are at your table. Tiger Gaming is a room on this network with a great bonus opportunity. First depositers can get a 100% first deposit bonus with no maximum. The bonus clears as 12 Player Option Points (POP) per bonus dollar. This equates to receiving 86.6% of your rake returned as bonus. POP are not earned for tournament fees. The bonus clears in a lump sum, and players have 45 days to clear their pending bonus. So don't over-deposit or you could end up with nothing! Poker Room Terms and Conditions can change without notice, so ALWAYS read the terms and conditions at a site before you register or deposit. Happy chasing! For more sensational online bonus information visit the Poker Bonus Chasing Forum

VISIT ACTION POKER NETWORK

Party Poker Signups & Deposits - $25 free with a min $50 deposit. Party Poker Bonus Code ITH25FREE - 20% match Signup Bonus up to $100. Party Poker Bonus Code ITH20TO100 - 3 FREE GIFTS including: Poker Tracker, a 500 Pc Chip Set, or Poker DVD Sets - Entry into an exclusive ITH quarterly $5,000 freeroll, (only new signups sorry). - A Free Party Poker Hat

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Poker Room Signups & Deposits - 50% Match up to $250 initial Deposit Bonus! Poker Room Bonus Code A2161 - 3 FREE GIFTS including: Poker Tracker, a 500 Pc Chip Set, or Poker DVD Sets

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Poker Stars Signups & Deposits - 3 FREE GIFTS including: Poker Tracker, a 500 Pc Chip Set, or Poker DVD Sets -Entry into an exclusive ITH quarterly $2,000 Freeroll, (for new signups).

POKER STARS BONUS - CLICK HERE

Empire Poker Signups & Deposits - $25 with a $50 deposit - 20% Match up to $100 - 3 FREE Poker Books or a 500 Pc Chip Set

EMPIRE POKER BONUS - CLICK HERE

Didn't see the Poker Room you're looking for? Click here for a full list of Poker Rooms

Let's Get Personal: Poker and Your Spouse

PUBLISHED: Sept. 19, 2006

It's no secret that there are many poker players whose spouses (or significant others) do not agree with the amount of time or money spent on their "little hobby". How do you, as an avid poker player, handle the spouse (or significant other) who just doesn't understand the love and passion you have for the game of poker?

Read more and join the discussion 

A Version of the Delayed Bluff

PUBLISHED: Sept. 19, 2006

There are certain hold'em situations against unknown opponents in which you can make the same play with a high level of success. One of my favorite plays is a version of a delayed bluff. A delayed bluff is typically defined as calling a bet with the intention of bluffing on a later street. You also can delay a bluff by checking a scary flop with the intention of stealing the pot on the turn.

The following situation occurs occasionally and is a great time to try a check and delayed bluff. You raise before the flop and get one caller from the blinds. A high pair comes on the flop, such as A-A-X, K-K-X, or Q-Q-X, and your opponent checks. If you check behind him, the first thought that often comes into his mind is that you are slow-playing your hand. Generally, your opponents will check the turn and you'll frequently win the pot by betting.

This type of play has the inherent risk that the free card will improve your opponent's hand. This is more of a problem in limit hold'em than no-limit, since you can still get your opponent to fold in no-limit. You also would win the pot sometimes by simply betting the flop. But let's look at scenarios for both limit and no-limit in which a check and delayed bluff can work to your advantage.

In shorthanded limit hold'em, I am usually the most aggressive player at the table. I raise more than my fair share of hands and frequently bet out on the flop. My opponents tend to learn pretty quickly that I have rather loose starting-hand requirements and start calling me down with lots of hands. When a flop comes with a big pair, my check creates a lot of confusion. They are so accustomed to seeing me bet the flop that a check seems so out of character. They seem to believe almost instantly that I have hit a big flop. They won't call with ace or king high and will fold even small pocket pairs, as they are determined not to give me extra chips. In fact, you can almost hear their minds, "I'm not going to let this guy sucker me in," as their cards hit the muck. I realize that lots of times they are folding because they don't have much of anything, either, but you'd be surprised at how often they fold compared to normal. The play seems to have a very high success rate.

The check and delayed bluff is also very powerful in no-limit hold'em. As long as your opponent hasn't flopped trips or a full house, he has to be concerned that you have flopped a monster. It is very difficult for your opponent to call a turn bet, since he knows that a river bet could put him all in. This same logic applies on the flop, but opponents are more aggressive and tricky on the flop. If they are holding something like a medium pocket pair, they might call or check-raise on the flop. As soon as they do, you are put on the defensive, as you must be concerned that they hold trips. When you check the flop, many opponents are afraid to bet out on the turn since they sometimes convince themselves that you are slow-playing a monster. This play is also less risky in terms of giving a free card, since you can still bet them off the pot if they improve their hand.

Of course, the delayed bluff is both situation and opponent-specific. The play doesn't work quite as well in full-ring limit games. You aren't necessarily raising more often than your opponents, so they aren't as accustomed to seeing you bet out on the flop all the time. They might read a check on the flop as weakness and bet out on the turn, trying to steal the pot themselves. I also have stronger hands when raising before the flop, so I am less likely to want to risk giving a free card. For these reasons, I am more selective when trying this play in full-ring limit games and tend to bet out on the flop more.

You also must be aware of your particular opponent. If your opponent knows you well, you must mix up your play. In fact, by the simple act of writing this column, I would need to mix up my play if I believe that my opponent is a frequent reader of Card Player!

Bluffing is what makes poker such a great and fun game. There is nothing better than raising with 75 suited before the flop, checking the flop, and then watching your opponent fold happily as he is thinking about what a great laydown he just made!

To discuss the delayed bluff, or to ask questions about the delayed bluff for the author, please visit the ITH forums.

Multi-tabling Omaha: The Essentials

PUBLISHED: Sept. 19, 2006

I don't know about you, but I am a multi-tasker. Nowadays I have two 19" flat screens set up side-by-side (sweeeeeeet) and want to go four screens soon! My babies are loaded with poker tables, forex quotes, opened chess games, my emails and a browser on the side. Let's focus on the poker aspect. Multi-tabling poker cannot only be fun, but can also add significantly to your bottom line. It can provide additional fun, challenges, and help y ou to work off bonuses much faster. In this article, we look at some essential things you should do or be aware of if you decide to multi-table Omaha 8.

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Internet Player of the Year Spotlight: Randers

PUBLISHED: Sept. 19, 2006

Though he had racked up some 250K in online multi-table tournament prize winnings in 2006, Internet Player of the Year (IPOY) hopeful Randers had yet to claim victory in a premier online MTT this year prior to September 13. But that all changed last Wednesday, when Randers won the Party Poker Super Wednesday and $18,150 in prize winnings. Needless to say, the accomplished player was ecstatic to notch such a huge win.

"I do feel a great sense of accomplishment," Randers said last Thursday, one day after his benchmark win on Party. "I haven't won a tournament outside of a satellite in quite a while, so winning this one outright really did feel good. Plus, it was my first win on Party! Even sweeter, obviously."

The win last week pushed Randers over the 270K mark in cumulative online MTT winnings this year! Astoundingly, he has cashed in only 11 events to accumulate his vast winnings in 2006. On average, Randers is raking in over 24K per online MTT cash! His crowning achievement of 2006 came in the Paradise Poker Masters IV, when he finished second in Event 9 for over 185K in prize winnings. Another notable score occurred in Poker Stars $1 Mill. Guaranteed, when Randers placed fourth for nearly 46K!

To go along with his stellar internet game, Randers also enjoyed quite a World Series of Poker earlier this summer. He cashed in four events and took home 24.5K in winnings. So how well does Randers think his online game translates to the live arena?

"I'm not sure if they actually do [translate]," he said. "There are a lot of intricacies in the live setting that I overlooked [at the WSOP]. For example, actual table image by appearance, voice inflection, movement, etc...and I'm not sure if I have poker skill in the first place (winks)."

Read more of this article and view Randers' Bio

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PUBLISHED: Sept. 19, 2006

So there I was last Thursday, preparing to play yet another Pacific Poker Sit-and-Go while watching West Virginia thoroughly dismantle Maryland on ESPN's Thursday Night College Football. About two years ago I deposited $50 into a Neteller account and have been playing low-stakes Sit-and-Gos on Pacific ever since. For whatever reason (fear of draining my online account, laziness or overall apathy), I had yet to play a multi-table tournament on the internet despite having played in such tournaments in a live setting on a few occasions. I'd hardly consider myself a poker professional, but I wouldn't characterize myself as a novice either. I mean, I made the final table of Event No. 1 last month at the Internet Texas Holdem Convention in Las Vegas. C'mon baby!

Somewhere between West Virginia's final touchdown in its 45-24 thrashing of the Terrapins and one my favorite 12-ounce cocktails, a sudden feeling of spontaneity swept over me. A quick peek at my Pacific Poker bankroll showed $43, and after perusing the tournament schedule I noticed registration was open for a $20 MTT to begin approximately 30 minutes from that time...

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The $5 Million guaranteed Ongame Network Poker Classic , hosted by Ongame Network and played over 25 separate affiliate sites, is now underway. This poker classic is truly one of a kind, combining online play with live play to determine the complete Hold'em champion. The online portion of the No-Limit Hold'em tournament is slated to conclude Nov. 4, when the overall field will be whittled down to 45 total players. The final 45 players will then reconvene to duke it out in a live setting in beautiful Barcelona, Spain from Dec. 2-3.

While in Barcelona, players will enjoy five-star accommodations while staying at the luxurious Hotel Majestic (pictured above left). Which player possesses the total package of poker skill regardless of venue? Find out who will lay claim to being the complete Texas Hold'em champion in just three short months.

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Last month, ITHer J Mega set an online standard never before visited by any member within the ITH.com family. After outlasting some 5,900 players in a premier online multi-table tournament, J Mega was a part of a five-way chop in the Poker Stars Sunday $1 Million, and took home 74K in prize winnings.

Congrats, J Mega, for your marvelous accomplishment. And thanks for the thrills you provided the ITH family last month!