The goal of the Upswing Engage Facebook group is simple: provide a place for our members and staff to have constructive discussions about poker and the content in The Lab so we can all improve, together.

That goal can sometimes become less clear on days where off-topic posts run rampant, especially as new members join every day.

I want us to keep our eyes set on that goal. In order to do that, I ask that you read and follow this guide.

How to Post in the Group

Every post must start with one of the following “tags” that categorizes the post:

  • [HAND] - Questions about a specific hand history or live hand (see example).
  • [QUESTION] or [Q] - General questions, theory questions, or questions about the Lab content (see example). You can tag [THEORY] instead if you want to be more specific.
  • [NEWS] - Discussion of news events that are relevant to Upswing members and/or will lead to constructive conversations.
  • [BRAG] - For sharing your notable accomplishments (please don’t brag post small samples!).
  • [OFF TOPIC] or [OT] - For posts that are worth sharing, but don’t fit into any of the above categories.

Note: [BRAG] and [OT] posts should be done very sparingly. Think to yourself before posting “would 2800 poker playing strangers care to see this in their personal Facebook feed?” If the answer is no, you probably shouldn’t post it.

If you see a post without any tags, please politely let the poster know about the rule so they can edit their post. This rules document can be found anytime in the sidebar of the group.

Do’s and Don’ts of the Upswing Facebook Group

1. Posting new threads:

  • Don't - Post complaints or bad beats of any kind.
  • Don’t - Post promotions or advertisements of any kind.* 
  • Do - Post constructive questions or hand histories you would like to discuss.

Note: Off-topic posts (news, jokes/memes, etc) are acceptable, but we ask that you remain selective with posts like these. If you’re posting more than 1 off-topic post per week, that’s too often.

*Some exceptions will be made. Message Mike Brady for approval.

2. Support inquiries:

  • Don’t - Post a site support related question in the group (such as billing, account info, or technical issues).
  • Do - Contact [email protected] with your issue, or message UpswingPoker on Facebook or Twitter.

3. Sharing your results:

  • Don’t - Post “brag graphs” with small sample sizes.
  • Do - Share your proudest poker moments and accomplishments (including graphs with large samples) so we can show our support as a group.

4. Answering questions:

  • Don’t - Comment with unnecessarily negative, abrasive or troll-y answers.
  • Do - Comment with constructive and/or good-natured answers.

5. Tagging members:

  • Don’t - Tag UpswingPoker coaches in your posts. This clutters their FB and may actually reduce the likelihood they answer you.
  • Do - Tag other members in posts and comments to encourage discussion and get your thread “off the ground” (which actually makes it more likely to be seen).

6. Sharing your findings and strategy:

  • Don’t - Post news stories, videos or other media unless it has to do with poker strategy or poker events relevant to Upswing members.
  • Do - Post interesting poker strategy related discoveries that you want to share with your fellow members.

7. Absorbing information:

  • Don’t - Treat every comment/post as fact. Discussion is encouraged in this group, but it's important to carefully consider everything you read before adding it to your game. Upswing only endorses the answers of the 4 Lab coaches.
  • Do - Try to objectively analyze every comment/post you read. Ask follow up questions if something doesn’t make sense to you.

If you see a post that breaks one of these rules, feel free to tell them so (politely) and direct them to this page with the link www.bit.ly/UPgrouprules

You may also report the post so we can find it quicker (we will usually either delete it or close the comments).

The group is included with your purchase of The Lab, but please remember that it is a privilege. We will not hesitate to remove members who disregard these rules.

Tips to Get Your Question Answered

Facebook uses an algorithm to decide which posts to show you. In order to maximize your post’s visibility and chance of being answered, follow these tips:

  1. Avoid links when possible. Posts with any link have lower visibility than posts without.
  2. When posting hands, use screenshots or copy/paste the text. This will cause your post to reach more people than if you linked out to a replayer.
  3. Keep your questions brief and direct. Don’t include more than a few lines of your own analysis with a hand history UNLESS your specific question requires it. The more a member has to read, the less likely they are to answer. (Plus, you can just bring up your own analysis in the comments.)
  4. Don’t post back-to-back. Give your post some time to spark a discussion before trying to start a new one.

Get Upswing Table Mods for PokerStars and America’s Card Room

We've partnered with www.ModManiac.com to bring you guys some exclusive Upswing table and card mods for PokerStars and the Winning Poker Network (includes ACR). See this post for details.

Feel free to share this post with other members and contact me on Facebook with any questions or concerns.

Thanks for your cooperation everyone.

-Mike