The World Series of Poker is among the most famous poker tournaments in the world. It’s not the only name in the game; with spinoffs like the World Series of Art Poker putting a twist on this classic competition. Launching in semi-secret, this game has been growing in fame by the year, with some big names vying for a place at the table.

The Origins of the WSOAP

Since its launch in 1970, The World Series of Poker has inspired many. The World Series of Art Poker wears its inspiration on its sleeves, working from the experience of the aptly named Chris Moneymaker. Starting as an accountant, Moneymaker watched the poker explosion of the early 2000s alongside artists Matt Johnson and Jonas Wood. Together, these men gathered to try the game out for themselves, quickly discovering what made poker so popular.

With California’s gaming scene they never found themselves wanting for players, as their connections would drive the group to discover like-minded individuals. Gallerists like Robert Berman, Angus Chamberlain, and Marc Richards would contribute their fascination and insight until the group had grown large enough to start their own games.

Following a successful showing, Wood reinvested his earning into renting a studio in which poker games could be hosted. Unofficially referred to as “the art game”, this competition would continue to add new names, finding its way into the world of music and acting. It turns out there’s a lot of crossover in these realms, so expansion was inevitable. When the world-famous Richard Prince became evolved, the floodgates opened, and everybody who was anybody wanted in.

Big Names, Big Prizes

Among the first celebrity players to jump into the game was Jack Black, well known for his work in both the acting and musical spheres. Despite a potential nominative advantage in the landscape of blackjack, Black was a huge fan, bringing band-mate Kyle Gass in on the tournament. Over time, more famous names like Ellen DeGeneres, Bruno Mars, and Leonardo DiCaprio would join the ranks, as the competition became too big to hide.

Of course, the limited and high-profile nature of the WSOAP meant that not everyone could find an invite. Those not privy to the invite might instead choose to raise their skills in online casinos for real money. These casinos like Ruby Fortune and Poker Stars similarly enjoy international reputations, only with ever-so-slightly lower barriers to entry. Offering bonuses like deposit matches, players on these sites can build experience on mobile or desktop, regardless of their intention to eventually join the WSOAP. Then, avoiding the $500 buy-in from the celebrity game is nice too.

As for the future of the WSOAP, that’s a question the team behind it must be wondering. Now that the cat’s out of the bag, they have to consider the potential financial reward of publicising the game against its success. This tournament appealed to figures like Richard Prince because it was secretive, so we have to believe there’ll be a push among some players to keep it this way. Only time will tell, and in the meantime, we probably won’t be expecting an invite.

Poker is one of the most popular casino games of all times and has been around long before official licensed casinos were created. Initially created in the 1800’s, it is believed that today’s modern day poker derives from an old game called Poque, which was brought to New Orleans by French traders and sailors.

The game revolves around a group of players trying to build the best hand, according to the rank it is worth in the game. The game works in a clockwise motion where each player takes a bet based on what they think their hand is worth compared to other players. Each player must either match or call the previous bet. If this does not happen, the player must fold, losing the amount bet so far and ceasing any further involvement in the fame.

Poker online is highly popular today and is almost a different kettle of fish entirely. Online poker happens at a much quicker pace and as a result, can be a lot more exciting. In addition, players who play online poker can play in multiple poker rooms at any one time, increasing their chances of winning. However, caution must be exercised as this can be challenging for even the most experienced of poker players to do.

Below, we’ll take a look at some of the top poker strategies you need to memorise in order to improve your chances at winning more games.

Bluffing

Bluffing is a key skill that is mainly used in the physical poker space, although you can still apply the same principles as you would in live poker. In online games, bluffing is harder to pick up on and there is also a lot more of it going on as you can’t physically see your opponent. Without being able to pick up on physical queues, it becomes much easier for players to bluff – a lot.

The best way to manage this is by making notes on the hand of your opponents so that you’re more easily able to track their moves and smell a rat.

Additionally, if your bluff comes off then be open to showing your hand at showdown. Not only does this give you credibility at the table, it sets the scene for what kind of hand you’re happy to bluff with. Now that players expect a certain strategy from you, you can either play to this, or make a move that no one will expect.

Folding

(Man’s hands at a poker table)

As the saying goes “You got to know when to hold’em and when to fold’em’. While it’s an underrated move, fold poker can be an essential part of any strategic poker players strategy. While many players focus on the confrontational approaches including bluffing, raising and firing bets – and this is usually a good strategy that allows you to win the pot, a well-rounded player is also ready to cut their losses in order to improve their overall win rate.

Some aspects you should consider when making the decision whether or not to fold include –

• Your position
• Your opponent’s position
• Starting stack sizes
• The size of the open
• Tendencies of your opponents
• The skill-set of the opponent you’re up against

Value Betting

Value betting works in the same way with physical and online poker. The idea is to try to get called by worse hands as these players think they have an edge on you. You should only go for a value bet when you think your opponent will have a worse hand 50% of the time or more though in order for it to be profitable. In this sense, you need to be patient and wait it out.

Some of the top considerations for when placing a value bet include stacking ratio (you want the stack to pot ratio to be smaller), your opponents tendencies and the likelihood that they’re going to bluff and the opponent’s hand range.

Understanding risk vs. reward

Poker is a high stakes game and the more skilled you get at it, the higher the stakes will be in the games you play. As such, in order to stay on top and not become a victim to the game, you need to be able to understand the worth of the risk in relation to the reward.

Good poker players are excellent risk assessors and understand how to make the right decision in a tough situation. As you become more skilled, it’s also important to make the decision whether the pot in the game you are playing is too small to be worth the game too.

Overall, having a strategy is vital when it comes to being successful at poker. Poker is one of the most highly strategic games in the casino, in which there are many skilled and highly experienced poker players in the world. By being armed with the above tips and strategies, you are much more likely to succeed.