In this week's newsletter we discuss Gold Cards and how to use them.

Gold Chips are generated by frequent player points, but Gold Cards are generated by cash play. Our Random Number Generator (RNG) will release one Gold Card from our Vault each time it reaches a certain amount of rake (as such, Gold Cards will fall more frequently in higher limit games). If the Gold Card released matches one of your hole cards, you will receive a Gold Card even if you have folded out of the hand.

There are so many things you can do with Gold Cards, but make sure you choose wisely as some choices will remove the card from your collection. If you are going for the USD52,000 Gold Card Jackpot then you will not be using the cards until you have collected all 52 Gold Cards. The DC500 automatically changes your cards into miles if you have generated cards you will already be a part of this promotion and the cards are not removed from your collection, click the DC500 tab in the lobby for all the latest information.

There is the Gold Card Daily Lottery where you can redeem your Gold Cards for cash or a tournament entry. Watch out as you need to make sure you are getting the most value out of each card, use the Gold Card Vault to see the value of each card.

The best way to use your Gold Cards is up to you? It might be worth holding on to them while you research the best value, use the Sports Interaction website as it contains all the relevant information on Gold Cards. I suggest you hold on to them, the value of the cards might increase over time! That’s a gamble you need to decide on!

Remember if you miss a News Letter we save then on the website – click here for the News Archives.

Playing suited connectors on the button

These are a nice hand to play if you hit your cards. Having position gives you the ability to gather the maximum of information from your opponents. The following sample hand has been taken out of the new Harrington on Cash books and shows you what you potentially can be up against in this very situation.

You have Ts, 9s on the button click here to see if your hand pays out or you go home.

The WSOP USD12,000 final runs every Sunday at 5pm ET. For USD200+15 you can buy-in directly, but there are a few other ways to win a seat into the Sunday tournament.

1. Daily USD7+0.70 R&A Satellites
2. Daily 7 Gold Chips R&A Satellites

Every Sunday we also have a USD40+4 WSOP SEMI-FINAL that starts at 2:30 pm ET. One player for every USD215 in the prize pool advances to same day Sunday Final at 5pm.

Check the tournament lobby for the full schedule.

Check out our range of sports betting markets for this year's World Series of Poker!

Situation: Medium stakes online game. Players A and C seem loose-aggressive. Player D is tight. Your hand is Ts, 9s.

Action to you: Player A raises to $20. Player B folds. Player C and D call. Players E and F fold. The pot is now $69.

Do you fold, call, or raise?

Answer: Medium suited connectors on the button are a nice hand to play in a multi-way pot, even if you have to call a raise. You have position throughout the hand and a better than normal chance of being paid if you can hit your hand. Calling a raise is more expensive than coming in after some limpers, but the extra action indicates your implied odds in the hand are better than normal.

Action: You call $20. The small blind folds and the big blind calls $14. The pot is now $103, and there are four other players in the pot with you.

Flop: Qs, 8s, 7c

Action: The big blind checks. Player A bets $60. Player C folds. Player D calls $60. The pot is now $223.

What do you do?

You have an immense draw, with 15 outs: the last nine spades, plus three more jacks and three more sixes. If you raise, you will have some reasonable but hard to quantify fold equity, and if you are called you’ll be an actual favourite against some hands and only a slight underdog to others.

For instance, here’s how you would stand in a heads-up confrontation against some possible hands.

As, Ah – you’re a 52-to-48 favourite.
Qc, Qd – you’re a 42-to-58 underdog.
As, Ks – you’re a 38-to-62 underdog.

Two callers would spoil the odds considerably, although you can’t assume that would be the case from the betting so far. Against a combination of As, Ah and Qc, Qd, you’d be a 38% to win, with the other 62% divided 54-to-8 in favour of the set of queens. You should push all-in with a great semi-bluff ensuring that you’ll see the last two cards.

Action: You push all-in for $600. The big blind folds. Player A calls $540. Player D folds. The turn and river are Jc and 2d. Player A turns over the Ac, Ad, and your straight wins the pot.

Source: Robertie, B. and Harrington D. (2008) Harrington on Cash Games Vol. 1, Nevada, Two Plus Two Publishing LLC.

Congratulations to 'Frank M' for winning last week's chips. Play poker in the next 24 hours and stand a chance to win a free entry to any Gold Chip Lover (10 chips) Sit 'n Go. All players that play cash games will be entered into a draw and the winner will receive the free entry. Shuffle up and deal!