Thu, 08/25/2011 – 06:14 – PokerPages Staff

The World Series of Poker Main Event took center stage for the second week as ESPN continued its coverage of the elite tournament with two new episodes on Tuesday evening.

The action picked up where it had left off on Day 3 with Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu still at the feature table alongside Sami Kelopuro, Max Heinzelmann and six other players hoping to advance to a fourth session at the Rio in Las Vegas.

Negreanu ended Mike Zulker’s run after waking up in the big blind with pocket rockets. Zulker, holding pocket nines, called down a 17,000 pre-flop re-raise, 19,800 turned bet and 36,100 shove from ‘Kid Poker’ before mucking his pair as he headed for the exit door.

Another player who departed was former PokerStars European Poker Tour winner Patrik Antonius. Antonius got the last of his 48,100 chips into the middle with A-9 but the Finn failed to outdraw Christian Kudmore’s pocket sixes.

The second episode featured a classic Phil Hellmuth rant. The ‘Poker Brat’ was dismayed when Chee Kian Chan took down a pot after initially calling down an under the gun raise with A-4os. The 2-A-10-10-6 board locked up a sizable pot for Chan as Hellmuth uttered several expletives and took a brief break from the action.

Amanda Musumeci made one of the most impressive reads featured after picking off a bluff from Kevin Saul. Saul, holding a busted straight draw, had fired bets of 27,800 and 47,700 but Musumeci refused to be forced off her modest pair as she called and snared the 170,800 pot.

Take a look at the PokerPages Tournament Database for all of the results from the 2011 World Series of Poker.

Mon, 08/22/2011 – 06:34 – PokerPages Staff

If you’re a beginner poker player then it is well worth being aware of the best Hold’ em poker hands. The following poker information will lay out the top ten you can start with.

Ace-Ace

Known as American Airlines, bullets and pocket rockets, this is by far the best hand you can have. In betting it will win more than any other.

King-King

For Texas Hold’em bets this is the second best hand and is nicknamed ‘cowboys’.

Queen-Queen

Another strong hand, this is alternatively coined ‘ladies’. It can only be beaten by the two hands above.

Ace-King

Although this is the best of the drawing hands, you really want to end up with a pair of aces or kings with the flop.

Jack-Jack

This hand wins bets about a fifth of the time. However, you should be cautious if the flop reveals an ace, king or queen.

Ace-Queen

As the second best drawing hand this will also win bets about a fifth of the time.

Ace-Jack

With this drawing hand suited it is the better option however it’s still possible to win with unsuited.

King-Jack

This is a good hand in later betting but, if you face a big raise, it’s better to fold. Chances of winning drop if unsuited compared to suited.

Ace-Ten

It’s possible to make a straight (if you’re very lucky). Don’t play too strong, however, as you may end up being out-kicked.

Learn more about Texas Hold’em at PokerSchoolOnline. On try the game free out at PokerStars.net.