Online Poker

As we move further and further into the age of technology, the Internet continues to evolve and create more entertainment options almost on a daily basis. So it comes as no surprise that some of your favorite casino games can now be found in online casino domains. And perhaps one of the more popular games found in online casinos is Poker.

There are numerous online chat and game rooms devoted to casino style Poker. Oftentimes, the style of play varies from site to site. Some of the more popular types of online Poker are: Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, 5 Card Stud and 7 Card Stud, to name a few. Due to the fact that there are so many different online casinos featuring Poker rooms, there can be a plethora of different types of games to choose from.

There are several differences between the traditional form of Poker playing and participating in an online Poker game in a virtual casino. The first big difference is that there is a lack of the physical interaction that is so vital to a great Poker game. Body language is a big part of the game of Poker and is a missing component of online casinos.

However, in contrast, players have a better chance of success in an online casino, particularly with online Poker games, as they are able to maintain more than one hand at a time. Many times, savvy players will participate at several different tables within the online casino to increase their chances for winning. Players are also often allowed to enter into the game with more reasonable bets and are often able to catch tips and explanation with the casino’s website features. This can come in handy when establishing which type of game the player would like to enter.

Online casinos offer many different casino games. Just be sure to read all of the rules and regulations of each game before participating and as with any online venture, be sure that you are on a secured site, particularly when exchanging monetary information. After reviewing the online casino rules, it’s time to have some gambling fun!

More Poker Superstitions

Gambling and superstition go hand in hand! Poker players – along with gamblers in general – often have specific rituals they follow before or during play which they believe will bring good luck. Sometimes it involves wearing a particular article of clothing or jewelry or it might require carrying a specific item. And it often involves the environment in which they gamble. There are a number of superstitions that have been around for many years and others that have popped up more recently in places like luxury hotels on the Las Vegas Strip where resorts will go to great lengths to honor the sensitivities of their poker playing guests. An example of the foregoing is a multi-million dollar renovation undertaken by the MGM Grand in 1998. While the hotel management states the face lift was done for purposes of beautification of the five year old resort, it was also admitted that part of the decision to remodel the hotel’s entrance was based upon folklore and beliefs of their Asian guests – many of whom play Texas Hold’em Poker. Prior to the renovation, players entered the casino by walking through the mouth of a lion. It was very quickly discovered that this important segment of their gamblers believed that walking through a lion’s mouth was considered unlucky – which resulted in the renovation of the entrance to the MGM Grand. A casino manager who must remain nameless reports that one of his regular poker players keeps chocolate in his pocket while at the gaming tables. This man throws a piece of candy on the floor before he places a bet in the belief that the devil will be distracted by the candy and leave him alone to have good luck. He reports that another of his regulars hits himself in the head three times when he is losing on the theory that he is “shaking things up”. Yet another is said to bring voodoo dolls dressed like the dealers into the casino so that he can control the cards dealt to him. Some other superstitions held by poker players include the following: • When you play poker, wear an article of dirty clothing to keep away evil. • Blow (or spit) on your cards for good luck – preferably when no one is looking. • If you are playing on a wooden table, be sure to choose a seat that lets you lay your cards with the grain instead of against it. • Don’t cross your legs while playing or you will “cross out your luck”. • Never gamble in a room with a dog in it. • Wait until all the cards have been dealt before you pick up yours and be sure to pick them up with your right hand. • If you are dealt the four of clubs, discard it immediately unless it is absolutely necessary to your hand. Some poker players believe if this card is dealt to you in the first hand, you should throw down your cards and leave the game because it signifies you will have nothing but bad luck. • Do not allow any other poker player to place their foot on the rung of your chair. If you want to bring another player bad luck, place your foot on their chair. Two factors of good luck agreed upon by most poker players include the color red and being well dressed when you gamble.

Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is an American card-playing derivative of the centuries-old game of Chinese Dominoes. In the early nineteenth century, Chinese laborers introduced the game while working in California. The game’s popularity with Chinese gamblers eventually attracted the attention of entrepreneurial gamers who substituted the traditional tiles with cards and modeled the game into a new form of poker. Introduced into the poker rooms of California in 1986, the game’s immediate acceptance and popularity with Asian poker players drew the attention of Nevada’s casino operators who quickly absorbed the game into their own poker rooms. The popularity of the game has continued into the 21st century. Pai Gow tables accommodate up to six players and a dealer. Differentiating from traditional poker, all players play against the dealer and not against each other. In a counterclockwise rotation, each player is dealt seven face down cards by the dealer. Forty-nine cards are dealt, including the dealer’s seven cards. Each player and the dealer must form two poker hands: a high hand of five cards and a low hand of two cards. The hands are based on traditional poker rankings and as such, a two card hand of two aces would be the highest possible hand of two cards. A five aces hand would be the highest five card hand. How do you get five aces in a standard fifty-two card deck? You are actually playing with a fifty-three card deck since one joker is allowed into the game. The joker is considered a wild card and can be used as another ace or to complete a straight or flush. The highest two hands win each game and only a single player having the two highest hands simultaneously can win. A dice throw from a cup containing three dice determines who will be dealt the first hand. After the hands are dealt, players must form the two poker hands, keeping in mind that the five-card hand must always rank higher than the two-card hand. When all players have set their hands, the dealer will make comparisons with his or her hand rank for payouts. If a player has one hand higher in rank than the dealer’s but a lower second hand, this is considered a tie. If the dealer beats both hands, the player loses. In the case of both player’s hands and both dealer’s hands being identical, the dealer wins. In casino play, ofttimes allowances are made for a player to become the dealer. In this case, the player must have the funds for any payoffs due winning players. Of course, the player acting as dealer can corner some large pots if he can beat most of the players. Some casinos rule that players cannot deal or bank two consecutive hands, and some poker rooms will offer to co-bank 50/50 with any player that elects to take the bank. In all cases, the dealer will ask players in turn if they wish to be the banker. In Pai Gow Poker, you are dealt “static” cards which means you have no opportunity to change cards to possibly improve your hand. However, as in traditional five-card draw, there are strategies to make the best of what you have been dealt. An example is keeping the flushes or straights in the five-card hand and the two cards remaining as the second high hand. If you are lucky enough to draw four aces and a joker, you can keep three aces in the five-card hand and strengthen your two-card hand with the other ace and joker. Two pair? Keep the higher pair in the five-card hand and the other two matching cards will make up the second hand.

Online Poker Tips

Internet poker room is a good place to test your basic skills and define the best live poker game playing strategy for yourself. At the Internet poker room table you would have to play against possibly more skilled opponents. The first and the main live poker game tip on our list is: do your homework, study the basic rules of poker game, memorize all possible poker hands, visit Internet poker forums, read books on poker, chat with other poker card players. Then try a few FREE versions of an Internet poker room game at our sister site: 3-hand, 5-hand, Caribbean Stud, Texas Holdem Poker, Video Poker. They all are fun to play! Take full advantage of live poker game deposit bonuses at the Internet poker room you choose. Almost all Internet poker rooms offer deposit bonuses for new poker players, usually from $30 to $50. Place a limit on the money you are going to gamble with before you start playing live poker game. When playing a poker game, analyze the playing habits and poker playing strategies used by your opponents at the Internet poker room table. As a beginner do not play too many poker hands, you will be sure to loose. Play only the higher value starting hands. With chosen low poker limits you can play live poker game for several hours for less than the cost of a movie ticket. So even if you lose a little, think of the expence as a small payment for a nicely spent evening. Play poker at your present mastery level. If you are just a beginner poker card player, do not rush into Internet poker room tournaments, your time will come after months of improving your skill in numerous live poker games. Learn how to fold a poker hand and when. Fold if you have nothing in your hand, do not be afraid to fold poker hands as many times as necessary. Master the art of choosing starting poker hands, employing pot odds, and aggressively betting your winning hands. We do not claim that these free online poker tips will help you win money, this article is for information purpose only.