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I got a
letter from a reader recently in which he asked how to
read some of the blurbs about tournament poker. I
realized that to the novice, many cardrooms seem to post
their game information in a shorthand secret code of
some sort. Actually, it really is English, and it is
fairly easy to crack the code. Here's the note I
received:
Hi, Jan,
I
was visiting a cardroom in the South recently and wanted
to enter a daily tournament. Here is the listing in its
schedule of events: "Thur noon O/H/L/8 $30BI ($20+$10),
RB $15, AO $25, 20 min levels." What does this mean? Is
this a poker tournament? I was too embarrassed to ask
because everyone else seemed to understand it, and I
felt sort of stupid. So, I left. Can you help me, so
that next time I will know when I get there?
Thanks,
Mack, a Newbie
Well, Mack, I certainly can understand your frustration.
If I weren't well-versed in the terminology, I might not
know what this meant, either. Let me tell you first,
though, that you should never leave without asking. The
cardroom has personnel there to assist you and answer
your questions. With the recent explosion of poker, many
first-time players don't know the jargon and are asking
more questions than ever. I have found that this is
making cardrooms more sensitive to players' needs. They
are gaining experience in dealing with novices like they
never have before. Just remember that no question you
might have is too silly to ask.
OK,
let's get back to your query. Thur noon is pretty
self-explanatory, a 12 noon Thursday event. Proceeding,
we see O/H/L/8 $30 BI ($20+$10). This is a little
stickier. While this is an odd way for a cardroom to
advertise an event, it is pretty clear what it means to
one with experience, and with guidance, it will make
sense to the novice. The event is Omaha high-low split,
eight-or-better. Normally, this would be written Omaha/8
or Omaha H/L in shorthand form. In fact, the latter form
is how you will find the game referred to in the Card
Player Tournament Trail, but either is generally
acceptable. The eight-or-better means that in order to
qualify for the low end of the pot, your hand must be an
8 low or better. Next, $30 BI means the event will cost
you $30 to enter (it's the buy-in), and the $20+$10
means that $20 will go to the prize pool and $10 is the
fee that will go to the cardroom.
Next, you see RB $15 and AO $25. This means that this is
a rebuy tournament and that you can add to your stack if
you meet the specified parameters of the event.
Generally, your stack has to be below a certain amount
in order for you to be able to rebuy. So, for $15, you
can rebuy chips. Then, for $25, you can add on to your
stack at the end of a specified time period. Generally,
the end of the rebuy period is when you can make
an add-on. You would have to check the exact rules for
the event. Cardrooms have so many different rules and
regulations that you should feel comfortable in asking
questions. Finally, 20 min levels means that the limits
will go up every 20 minutes. This is important to know,
and you should ask if it is not posted. There are few
things worse than thinking you are playing X-minute
levels, and planning your strategy accordingly, and then
finding out that you are really playing Y-minute levels.
Maybe you played too fast, too tight, too aggressively,
or however, depending upon the time factor you thought
was in effect.
Some
other abbreviations with which you ought to become
familiar are as follows: NLH is simply no-limit holdem.
Texas holdem and holdem are the same thing. LHE is limit
holdem, and PLH is pot-limit holdem. PLO is pot-limit
Omaha (high only), and stud/8 is seven-card stud
high-low split, eight-or-better. It is all very easy
once you get the hang of it, but it surely seems like
hieroglyphics the first time you see these
abbreviations.
There are as many ways to print an ad as there are
events to advertise. Ask questions, and do not feel
silly doing so. Find out if the tourney takes
alternates, or if there is a cap on the number of
entrants. Ask about the payout schedule (number of
places paid and dollar amounts). Check on the order of
table breaking. Speaking of breaks, find out when a
break is scheduled. Knowing all of these things will
make your entire tournament experience more comfortable,
fun, and rewarding. If you really are too shy to ask
questions in person, call the cardroom on the phone
ahead of time. Another important question to ask is
whether or not the card room follows the TDA (Tournament
Directors Association) rules. You can get a copy of
these rules by going to www.pokertda.com. Read and study
them, as that will help you to become familiar with the
rules of many of the cardrooms. In the meantime, don't
be afraid to ask questions when it comes to the
shorthand of poker. Class dismissed.
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