Articles

SMstaking Blog contest review’22

Although poker blogs are not new, this is not the first year we have encouraged such a player initiative, for a number of very important reasons. What those reasons are and how we are promoting it can be found below, but for now, here’s a quick look at the 2022 blogs. During the year, we had the opportunity to follow the poker routines of as many as 6 players. Some shared their goals, others their achievements, and there were some who came up with the idea of filming the details of their daily lives to give the readers (in this case the viewers) a better feel for the life of a professional poker player. Not only did the topics and formats vary, but also the length and frequency of the texts. Therefore, in the year 2022, everyone with an interest in poker could choose the blog that suited them best. And now, one year on, it’s time to choose the SM Blogger of the Year, with three contenders: 1. Aurimas’ (#Pulsas) blog “aurimo-road-to-500s“. Although for the first half of the year the readers could only follow the players’ monthly schedules and their short reviews, over time the blog took on its own “face”. It has become a place that combines the freedom of poker (traveling around the world) with the crushing results of Spin & Go (monthly reviews). In case you missed it, we highly recommend you read it. 2. Titas’ (#Ganchas) vlog “ganchas-vlog-pokeris-ir-panasiai“. He started his vlog with the words “I don’t get much pleasure out of writing…”, which led to the vlog format! A favorite of the viewers, “Pokeris ir Panašiai” simply allowed everyone to take a break and follow the personal life of a poker player with a smile on his face, with no shortage of sarcasm or humor. All the videos can be found on Ganchas’ youtube channel. 3. Artūras’ (#boosaz) blog “boosaz-pokeris-ir-ne-tik“. Down-to-earth and familiar to many. It’s about combining poker with other activities (family), sharing both the ups and downs of moving through stakes, and finally reviews and solutions. A player who likes to set goals and try to achieve them. And at the end of the year, he completely switched to FULL TIME poker! Wondering how it went? Check out his channel. These are 3 Spin & Go poker players who, although writing on the same topic, have managed to find completely different genres and avenues to attract the attention of you, the readers. While we are delighted with all those who blogged in 2022, there is only one winner, and after your vote, the winner of the SM Blogger of the Year (in this case vlogger) is Titas!!! Congratulations on your victory, which comes with a prize of the next 6 months. SM will return 20% of its share of the player’s CO! For everyone else who blogged, the school returned 10% of their share of the player’s CO for the active months. Announcement of SMstaking Blog Contest’23! There are many famous and accomplished poker players around the world who are happy to share their experiences, tips and personal experiences. However, it is important to us that everyone who plays the Spin & Go format can find a place where they can discover other people’s experiences, game reviews, tips and goal achievements. Because it’s motivating, it makes you realize that it’s not “just me” who has to deal with this kind of situation, and it enriches the daily life of a poker player. So if you feel the same way, if you have the desire to share and let others follow your poker journey, join in. It will be a great opportunity to get to know yourself, discover your own blog style and format, and ultimately inspire others. And as you’ve already read, we reward the biggest inspirers. Terms and prizes The blog is open to anything that relates to life in poker. The only two requirements are that you review your monthly results each month and that you do so in English. Got something to share? Now is the perfect time to do it, as every participant will be able to improve their DEAL! For each active month (counting from the first update), the school will return 10% of each player’s CO! And at the end of the year we will again choose the best blogger!! 1st place: for the next 6 months, the school returns 20% of its share of the c/o made by the player 2nd place: the school returns 20% of its share of the player’s c/o for the next 4 months (if 6-10 players participate) 3rd place: the school returns 20% of its share of the player’s c/o over the next 2 months (if 11+) Good luck to everyone!

SMstaking Blog contest review’22 Read More »

Interview with a student – E. Degtiariov’s holiday brings a win of $168 000

A week ago, the news broke that a Lithuanian had made it to the final table of the $3,300 buy-in Main Event at Merit Poker Cyprus! Ernestas Degtiariovas poker holidays and interview with a student E. Degtiariov And he’s a man we know very well – Ernestas Degtiariovas! A student of SpinuMokykla with  great success in 100s Spin&Go tournaments. After a 6-hour battle at the final table, Ernestas managed to make it to 3rd place on a Merit poker tournament and win $168,000! So, as soon as we found a moment, we called directly to Cyprus, Merit, and had a quick chat with Ernestas. Let’s start at the beginning, can you tell us how poker came about into your life? I would say that the most significant beginning was when I was 18 and I started going to a sport poker club “Two Kings” with a group of friends. Nothing special, just a lot of enthusiasm, wide eyes and dreams of becoming a professional poker player one day. A few years later, I started to learn how to play poker online in the Spin & Go format. As I was also studying at the time, I was earning a few hundred dollars from self-studying for about 3 years. But that all changed after I finished university and I went from 7s to the 100s in half a year. And here I am indebted to the founder of SM, whom I remember spamming daily. I was very passionate about improving my game, and Erikas taught and shared his knowledge. I have been on this journey with SpinuMokykla ever since. Even though you are a Spin & Go player, how did you end up in MTTs? To be honest, I just went on holiday for 14 days and spent some of that time at the poker tables. And as it turned out, I had to trade my vacation for a job… but I’m not really complaining. 😀 All in all, Merit in Cyprus is like Las Vegas in America, so there’s no shortage of poker here. I’ve been playing in smaller poker tournaments almost every day, and I’ve noticed that I’m doing pretty well. So from the start of the Main Event I knew I could do well. Can you tell us about the journey to the final table? Disciplined and with little sleep. Each day’s session lasted about 10 hours, after which I went home to study my own and my opponents’ game. Little sleep, increasing tension and stress. And I remind you that my usual playing format is also different. Although the Spin & Go format gave me an advantage in the post-flop game, I had to work on the pre-flop game separately. And I’m very glad that I was not alone in my journey of studying the game. To tell you the truth, I had a lot of support from friends and colleagues. And as soon as the tournament day was over, I would rush to discuss the cards with P. Jucys, S. Babincev and D. Rozhko (former SM student). In fact, much of the journey to the final table was due to the extra work on the return after the sessions, even though the situations were quite favourable. In fact, on the journey to the final table, between cards and strategy, my girlfriend Laura played a huge role. Her constant attention and care for me allowed me to focus on the quality of the game. How does it feel to sit at the final table? To be honest, I was most worried about the fact that the table was being filmed. It was my first experience of having your game watched by others. Therefore, money was only a second priority for me when I was playing, the most important thing was to play my cards well so that I wouldn’t be judged too harshly afterwards. 😀 Again, the added pressure of having well-known faces in the poker world at the table. In a word, I was sitting half “wet”. But I’m happy with my game, I really did my best, even the first place winner (to my surprise) rated me as the strongest opponent during the interview. I was the clear favourite in the tournament, but my opponent was lucky. What was your first hour after the victory like? Finally the tension eased and I was able to eat a normal meal. 😀 On a more serious note, when the emotions subsided, I felt disappointed that I didn’t come first after all. But there was a big group of Lithuanians nearby who were very supportive from the beginning, so there was not much time for bad thoughts, we were on our way to celebrate the victory!What was your first hour after the victory like? Is this your biggest poker achievement? No, it’s not my biggest win, I had bigger wins in Spin & Go last year. Do you have any advice you would like to share with other poker players? I know it sounds corny, but I’ll give advice that has helped me individually. First of all, you have to have a lot of desire to become a successful poker player, and secondly, discipline. Be prepared to take on a lot of work, only with that will come success. Join us today

Interview with a student – E. Degtiariov’s holiday brings a win of $168 000 Read More »

Spin & Go – why is it worth choosing this format?

Spin & Go is a fast-paced poker format that is becoming increasingly popular every year. The main reasons why people choose this format and why it’s worth joining SM Staking right now are as follows: Suitable for beginners The game format and prize structure are adapted for players of all levels and varying experience. This allows you to start playing at low stakes, learn and improve without feeling too much pressure. The School offers you a personal coach, private lessons, and constant consultations to maximize your potential. Spin & Go tournaments take place online This means that you can play from the most convenient location and at your preferred time. Whether you have another job, have free time that you can’t give up, enjoy traveling, or simply dislike getting up early in the morning, you can plan your available time however you want. We will help you plan and determine the most suitable intensity so that you don’t get overwhelmed. This will ensure your improving results. Fast-paced format Do you enjoy making quick decisions and dislike lengthy processes? This poker format won’t let you get bored because each game lasts about 10 minutes. This allows you to accumulate experience quickly and learn from different situations. Extended gameplay gives you the freedom to plan your daily activities more flexibly as you won’t be obligated to long sessions. A chance to win a large sum of money Typically, Spin & Go tournaments have lower buy-ins than traditional poker tournaments, but the prize pool can be much larger, especially in rare high-multiplier tournaments. This means that you always have the opportunity to win a significant amount of money in a short time without investing large sums. While waiting for a lucky breakthrough, being a student of the School will give you the opportunity to participate in the SM Pool and reduce the financial variance of your games.taip sumažinti savo žaidimų patiriamą finansinę variaciją. Join us today. Give it a try

Spin & Go – why is it worth choosing this format? Read More »

How to become a better “Spin & Go” low stakes player?

Start from the basics It sounds simple, but in any field, if you want to become a winner, it’s important to start from the basics and improve step by step. Poker is no exception, as a solid game consists of a reliable pre-flop play and knowledge and experience in post-flop play. However, one of the most enjoyable aspects of playing at low stakes is that players make countless mistakes before seeing the flop. You can take advantage of this by having a strong pre-flop foundation. Dedicate enough time and energy to learn correct hand ranges, as it is the path to a profitable post-flop game. Solid bankroll management Since “Spin & Go” is one of the riskiest game types and variance can be unforgiving, bankroll management skills are crucial. Our recommendation for less experienced players is to use a conservative approach and climb limits gradually. If you plan to start from the $1 limit, begin with a bankroll of 300 buy-ins (300$). If you want to challenge yourself at the 2-5$ limits, adjust your bankroll accordingly between 600-1000$. Having a solid pre-flop plan and discipline in bankroll management will help reduce variance and allow you to move up in limits without stress. The importance of psychology Strategy and bankroll management go hand in hand with psychological challenges. When facing a negative swing, many lower limit players simply leave their bankrolls at the tables. Take some time to read a chapter from your favorite psychology book or watch a video dedicated to improving psychological skills. Experiment and strengthen your mindset with monthly challenges such as cold showers, meditation, or planks. It’s important to remember that poker is a marathon, not a sprint. And in that marathon, there will be various ups and downs. Celebrate your victories, learn from your losses, and don’t be afraid of making mistakes, as it’s part of the process. Perhaps you haven’t yet achieved your poker dreams, but you are driven by constant improvement, want to surround yourself with like-minded individuals, or simply turn your hobby into an additional source of income. Contact us at www.smstaking.com or join the “SM Staking” Discord channel at https://discord.com/invite/Yj59CJtARf. Join us today.

How to become a better “Spin & Go” low stakes player? Read More »

Why should you join SM Staking in 2022?

We, the SM Staking community, will share the important aspects of why you should be part of a poker school. That’s right, we’ve broken those aspects down and expanded on them in separate categories. So, let’s briefly talk about each of them. The Community Poker is like a lone wolf trying to conquer the population and get into the top 1%. Lots of lonely hours in front of the screen, lots of obscure spots, psychological tension, thoughts of “am I the only one doing this badly?”, downswings, etc. No one will say that it is impossible to overcome all of this alone, but to quote an eloquent African proverb – “if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together” – there is indeed room for thought. Continuous improvement Have you ever found yourself succumbing to tilt, impulsively depositing funds after a rough session? Do you understand the different forms tilt can take? Do you have a structured poker warm-up routine, and can you effectively manage your bankroll with both safety and aggression? While you may have knowledge of these concepts, putting them into practice and improving can be challenging. That’s where SM comes in to offer assistance! Poker strategy When you join SM Staking 🃏, you’ll not only receive funding (more on that later), but you’ll also gain access to a dedicated personal coach 🎓 to guide you through your poker journey. Imagine having someone a few steps ahead, tailoring advice to your experience, strategy knowledge, and starting limit. Whether you’re mastering range tables or honing post-flop strategy, our extensive video library 📹 has hundreds of lessons ready to make you go ‘aha’! 🤩 The Psychology of Poker But bear in mind that strategy goes hand in hand with psychology. Obviously, the psychology of sport and business is quite similar; adult learning patterns have not changed for hundreds of years. So in our group psychology classes we will discuss the necessary habits and mindsets not only at the poker tables, but also in your personal life! What’s more, we’ll solve any problems together and share our inner victories. Funding Last, but one of the most important benefits of SM Staking. Firstly, we will fund your buy-in for the stakes you play. An EV deal will help you avoid variance and earn a steady income. Secondly, we will help you to purchase the necessary software and share access to the PureGTO training programme, which will allow you to develop your game at the highest level. Are you still unable to achieve your poker dreams but are passionate about continuous improvement, want to surround yourself with like-minded people, or simply turn your hobby into a source of extra income? Contact us at www.smstaking.com or on the general SM Staking discord channel https://discord.gg/UTz5nMNpjT. Until next time! ? Join us today

Why should you join SM Staking in 2022? Read More »

The rules of Poker

Do you want to learn the basic rules of poker? Poker is an incredibly popular game that is easy to learn but difficult to master. Don’t worry – we will divide this strategic card game into a simple, step-by-step guide. There are many variations of poker, but the most popular one is Texas Hold’em. While each variant has its own poker rules, the fundamentals of the game are always the same. All you need to do is master the rules of poker – then you can start developing your winning strategy! We will provide you with all the important poker rules and strategic tricks that will help you go from a poker novice to a poker pro. Poker Rules and Poker Combinations Regardless of the type of poker you play, the poker combinations will always be the same. To familiarize yourself with the different combinations, practice and memorize them so that you can easily recognize them – rules. Betting in Poker Place mandatory bets (initial bets). In a poker game, bets are made at the beginning of the game in one of two ways. In a Texas Hold’em game, the player next to the dealer usually makes a small blind bet, which is equal to half the regular minimum bet, and the player to their left makes a big blind bet, which is not less than the minimum bet. Another option is that each player can “raise” the minimum initial bet, i.e., contribute the minimum initial bet to the pot. Cards Look at the 2 cards dealt by the dealer, which are your hand. The dealer will “burn” the first card from the deck, meaning they will discard it from the game. Then each player will be dealt 2 cards. Check your cards and see what you have in your hand. In poker, the dealer burns a card in each dealing round. This makes it harder for players to predict which card will be revealed and makes the game more exciting. The dealer always deals the cards clockwise, starting from the left. Tip: Players should not show their cards to anyone, even if another player has folded. It’s best to keep your cards secret. Betting If you want, place a bet, choose to call or raise the bet after each round of dealing. Each time the dealer deals new cards, you will make a bet, and the first bet is made based only on the 2 cards in your hand. Bets are made in a round-robin fashion – when it’s your turn to bet, you have several options. At this point, you can: Make an initial bet if no one else has done so yet. Say “check” to avoid betting. Say “call” to match a bet that someone else has already made. Say “raise” and contribute more money to the pot. If you “raise,” other players will go around and decide whether to “call” your new bet or fold. Say “fold” if someone else has made a bet and you don’t want to match their bet. If you fold, give your cards to the dealer face down so that you don’t give any advantage to other players! The Flop After the first round of betting, the dealer will “burn” the top card from the deck. Then they will place 3 cards on the table, which are called the “flop.” These are community cards that every player can use to form their hand. Compare these cards to the ones in your hand, then make a bet, cancel a bet, or fold. In total, the dealer reveals 5 cards. You will have a total of 7 cards that you can use to form the best 5-card combination: the 2 personal cards in your hand and the 5 community cards on the table. While luck can come into play later in the game, after the flop, take some time to analyze the table – do you have a good position to finish the game with a strong combination? Depending on the rules you’re playing by, you may also draw additional cards to replace the ones in your hand. This is usually done during a betting round or immediately after it. The Turn After the second round of betting, check the “turn” card. The dealer will “burn” the top card, then place 1 card next to the open card. This is called the “turn” card or the “fourth street” card. Check all the cards on the table and the ones in your hand to determine whether you want to make a bet, call a bet, or raise a bet. In your game, it may also be allowed to exchange cards at this point, but that is not common in professional games. When looking at the cards, consider possible hands that other players may have. For example, if all 4 community cards on the table are spades, any player with spades in their hand will have a flush, which means they have 5 cards of the same suit from the same deck. Similarly, if the table shows 5, 6, 7, and 8 cards, anyone with a 4 or 9 will have a straight combination. If you don’t have a good hand but the community cards make it easy to win, you can fold your cards because it’s likely that another player has a winning hand. The End In the final “showdown,” reveal each player’s cards in a clockwise order. After each remaining player evaluates, folds, or bets in the last round, every player still in the game reveals their cards face up. Then everyone looks at the revealed cards to determine who has the highest-value poker combination that can win the entire pot.

The rules of Poker Read More »

Poker hands – from strongest to weakest

If you want to know what beats what in poker, read on to learn about the poker hand rankings from strongest to weakest: 1. Royal Flush The Royal Flush is the highest-ranking hand in poker. It consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit, from 10 to Ace. 2. Straight Flush Any five consecutive cards of the same suit that are not a Royal Flush form a Straight Flush. 3. Four of a Kind Four of a Kind, also known as quads, consists of four cards of the same rank and one additional card of another rank, for example, 9♣ 9♠ 9♦ 9♥ J♥ (“quad nines”). This poker hand ranks below a Straight Flush and above a Full House. 4. Full House A Full House is a combination of three cards of the same rank in one suit (three of a kind) and a pair of cards of the same rank in another suit. When multiple players have a full house, the winning hand is determined by the higher or highest three of a kind. 5. Flush A Flush consists of any five cards of the same suit in no particular order. When two players have a flush, the hand with the highest-ranking card wins. 6. Straight A Straight is formed by five consecutive cards of different suits. The Ace can be high (above a King) or low (below a 2), but it cannot wrap around in the same hand. 7. Three of a Kind Three of a Kind is a poker hand that contains three cards of the same rank and two cards of different ranks. The remaining two highest cards complete the hand. 8. Two Pairs Two Pair consists of two sets of two cards of the same rank and one additional card. The highest-ranking fifth card determines the winning hand. 9. One Pair One Pair is formed by two cards of the same rank and three cards of different ranks. The remaining three highest cards make up the hand. 10. High Card High Card is the lowest-ranking hand of all. It is determined by the highest single card in the hand. Poker Hand Rankings: Hi, Lo, and Hi-Lo Games It’s important to note that not all poker games determine the best hand based on the highest-ranked combination in the poker hand rankings. In most types of poker games, the best hand is determined in one of three ways: Hi or High-Hand Poker The simplest use of rankings is in Hi games, where the best hand is determined by the highest-ranked hand on the table as shown in the above table. Lo, Low Hand, or Lowball Poker In Lowball poker, the hand rankings are reversed so that the lowest-ranking hand becomes the best possible hand. The variations of Low Hand poker can differ based on whether the Ace is considered high or low and whether straights and flushes are counted. Hi-Lo or High-Low Split Poker The third method of hand ranking is used in high-low split games, where the pot is divided between the player with the highest-ranking hand and the player with the lowest-ranking hand. Join us today!

Poker hands – from strongest to weakest Read More »

Exploring the World of Online Poker

Do you plan to play poker online because your friend plays and makes money? Do you want to earn money by playing games online? Are you aware that there are millions of people currently playing poker online? Do you know what the main reasons are for the increasing popularity of poker? If these questions intrigue you, then you’re in the right place. This article will serve as a useful guide to help you understand online poker in detail. Do you know what it takes to play online poker? People with devices that have a good internet connection can play poker online anywhere. Online poker is essentially the same as live poker, which is fundamentally a card game. So, if you have a good device to run the game – a laptop, desktop computer, tablet, etc. – you can start playing. On the other hand, it is also important to have a fast internet connection for smooth gameplay. Online Poker Trends These days, more and more people are getting involved in playing poker. Before the internet era, people enjoyed playing poker by going to casinos, ordering drinks, and enjoying the casino atmosphere. However, the dynamics are changing day by day, and it’s all possible due to the emergence of new technologies. As a result, the digital realm is now on the rise. There are numerous online poker sites where players can try their hand at poker. Moreover, these sites offer many additional benefits to their players, which are highly attractive. Consequently, many people around the world are transitioning to playing poker online. Advantages of Online Poker No Need to Travel For people who don’t have much time to go and play poker, it’s the best choice. Moreover, it’s also beneficial for other poker players. Now you can play poker simply by sitting at home, eliminating the need to travel. Playing poker online can save you a lot of money compared to going to a casino to play poker. In the past, when there were no online casinos, people had to travel, waste time, spend money, and make efforts just to be able to play their favorite game. Now all that time can be used to easily play online poker. Since the emergence of online poker, poker is available to all players 24/7. You can choose any of the online sites and start playing poker whenever and wherever you want. Wide Selection of Online Poker Many online sites offer their players a wide selection of online poker games. On the other hand, when people played live poker, it was not possible to have such variety. The main reason is that online poker sites do not have space issues. However, in many traditional casinos, it was a problem they couldn’t introduce other poker games. Additionally, they also faced a shortage of staff, but online sites don’t have that issue. Moreover, the game selection is an important advantage that affects the overall outcome of the game. It also affects the win or loss in the game of players. You Can Play Poker at Lower Stakes Online The best advantage that people enjoy while playing poker online is the ability to play at lower stakes. Do you want to know the real reason behind this advantage? It’s because there are no additional expenses that the site has to incur like a casino. Moreover, online poker sites don’t have to pay dealer salaries or rent. Hence, online sites do not incur any losses if they offer games or tournaments with lower stakes. Additionally, many players enjoy playing online poker for free. Playing at lower stakes in a real money game is very beneficial, isn’t it? Playing live your losses can be significant if you lose the game, as you may lose your money. Conclusion This article discussed the benefits of online poker and the main reasons for the increasing popularity of online poker. Join us today

Exploring the World of Online Poker Read More »

Everything you need to improve in poker

Do you find it difficult to consistently make enough profit at the poker tables? Are your results best described as “somewhere around the break even line”? If the answer is YES, then poker coaching is what you need. First of all, don’t worry because you’re not alone. This describes the results of most poker players. However, often just a few small adjustments to your poker strategy can turn your game from average to profitable. What’s the point of poker training? It’s the most effective way to improve your skills as a poker player. Simply put, the best way to improve your skills as a poker player is through learning. When playing a game with small edges, it is crucial to carefully consider numerous complex decisions you face and learn how to effectively evaluate them all. Don’t get me wrong: experience is also highly important. However, it’s impossible to consider all the nuances and subtleties of poker while playing – when you have to act under time pressure. Types of poker training With the abundance of resources available online, it has never been easier for beginner poker players to learn how to play poker or for experienced players to improve their game. Here is a list of various ways you can learn – each of them has its advantages, so choosing what suits you best is a great way to start learning. Poker Training Videos One of the most popular ways to learn poker is by watching instructional poker videos. For those of you who struggle to concentrate for extended periods of time, they can be helpful as they are often short and engaging to watch. Try to watch poker training videos recorded by experienced and well-known players to ensure that the material is accurate and of high quality. Poker Articles and Books Another popular way to improve your poker game is to read relevant poker training articles. Such sources can be a great resource, providing you with prepared notes that you can refer back to later. Possible options include: When it comes to books, pay attention to the publication date and be cautious about selecting material that is too outdated. Poker strategy evolves quickly, so you want to make sure you’re not falling behind it. While there are excellent poker books out there, be aware that strategies advocated in older books may become outdated. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t good poker books. For example, Matt Janda’s “Applications of No-Limit Hold’em” is a masterpiece. Poker Forums If you have a strategy-related question or want to get another opinion, posting in a poker forum can get you an answer. Additionally, by answering other people’s questions within the community, you can test and prove your own knowledge. Small Study Groups Participating in study groups is one of the best, if not the best, ways to become a better poker player. Having a circle of friends allows you to share ideas and discuss past mistakes. The mental challenge that comes from interacting with someone of similar or slightly higher skill level is an amazing growth factor. Such groups usually form through forums and continue communication via Skype or Discord. Discussing strategy with friends who play poker can make learning even more enjoyable. It can be a fun way to learn. Just make sure to be honest with each other, as it is a crucial part of constructive poker discussions. Poker Streams on Twitch and YouTube Watching streams can be both entertaining and informative as a poker training tool. If you go on Twitch and search for “poker,” you will always find streamers playing poker and commenting on their actions. Some streams are more educational than others, and in general, it seems that Twitch poker streams mostly focus on tournament play. Finding the best poker training streams will require you to experiment with various options. Join us today!

Everything you need to improve in poker Read More »

Šis video skirtas mokyklos mokiniams, ir norint jį matyti reikia tapti mokyklos mokiniu.