An exciting feature unique to online poker is the ability to play at multiple tables at the same time. Certain card rooms have restrictions on the number of simultaneous tables you can have running, however many have recently enabled players to join up to four poker games at once!
As the variety of poker software continually improves we are seeing custom options also developing to assist in the fun and viability of multi-table play. Reknown for their innovative poker sofware, Ultimate Bet has had a 'mini-view' feature that has been popular for quite some time. For those lucky enough to have minimum screen resolution of 1600 x 1200 , Poker Champs has view options that can fit up to 6 tables running fully visible on your desktop. Most players for now will content themselves with moving around different poker tables as well as a lobby accross their desktop into patterns that seem the most appropriate depending on the seating at their tables.
With the prospect of earning more rake from the same players, the poker rooms have been very keen to promote their multi-table capabilities. The debate on whether each of us should actually play more than one table at once usually depends on our poker skill, playing styles and goals.
Recreational players seem to be mostly divided into two camps. Some players love the action, and enjoy playing tons of hands. The pure number of cards being dealt and almost constant action is the only way these players will really pay attention to the game and come out winners, otherwise they are easily bored and distracted by elements outside the game, often proving very costly. others that enjoy a more friendly and relaxed slow-pace game with side chatting. Any players that are easily confused or frusturated at making a strategy or possible a clicking mistake should be forwarned about the pitfalls of playing too many tables.
More serious players also have varying ideas on the subject that usually fall into main two view points. Some pros, intent on maximizing their winnings, will argue that a profitable player would earn at least a percentage of their hourly profit rate at each additional table they play at. Even if the profits per table are somewhat reduced, the total wins should be greater, justifying multi-table action. There are other excellent players that will insist certain playing styles, particularly those that heavily rely on reading other players, need the focus of only playing one table at a time, otherwise losses will likely occur on all fronts as their style is put to a disadvantage.
The practice of playing in tournaments and side games simultaneously has increased, adopted mostly by tournament enthusiasts looking to earn the same card room player rewards as the rest of the cash game players. This trend is only expected to grow as the past year showed many poker software upgrades enabling multi-table options at card rooms that were previously lacking the ability.
Posts tonen met het label poker. Alle posts tonen
Posts tonen met het label poker. Alle posts tonen
vrijdag 9 november 2012
donderdag 11 oktober 2012
Multi-Table Online Poker Play
An exciting feature unique to online poker is the ability to play at multiple tables at the same time. Certain card rooms have restrictions on the number of simultaneous tables you can have running, however many have recently enabled players to join up to four poker games at once!
As the variety of poker software continually improves we are seeing custom options also developing to assist in the fun and viability of multi-table play. Reknown for their innovative poker sofware, Ultimate Bet has had a 'mini-view' feature that has been popular for quite some time. For those lucky enough to have minimum screen resolution of 1600 x 1200 , Poker Champs has view options that can fit up to 6 tables running fully visible on your desktop. Most players for now will content themselves with moving around different poker tables as well as a lobby accross their desktop into patterns that seem the most appropriate depending on the seating at their tables.
With the prospect of earning more rake from the same players, the poker rooms have been very keen to promote their multi-table capabilities. The debate on whether each of us should actually play more than one table at once usually depends on our poker skill, playing styles and goals.
Recreational players seem to be mostly divided into two camps. Some players love the action, and enjoy playing tons of hands. The pure number of cards being dealt and almost constant action is the only way these players will really pay attention to the game and come out winners, otherwise they are easily bored and distracted by elements outside the game, often proving very costly. others that enjoy a more friendly and relaxed slow-pace game with side chatting. Any players that are easily confused or frusturated at making a strategy or possible a clicking mistake should be forwarned about the pitfalls of playing too many tables.
More serious players also have varying ideas on the subject that usually fall into main two view points. Some pros, intent on maximizing their winnings, will argue that a profitable player would earn at least a percentage of their hourly profit rate at each additional table they play at. Even if the profits per table are somewhat reduced, the total wins should be greater, justifying multi-table action. There are other excellent players that will insist certain playing styles, particularly those that heavily rely on reading other players, need the focus of only playing one table at a time, otherwise losses will likely occur on all fronts as their style is put to a disadvantage.
The practice of playing in tournaments and side games simultaneously has increased, adopted mostly by tournament enthusiasts looking to earn the same card room player rewards as the rest of the cash game players. This trend is only expected to grow as the past year showed many poker software upgrades enabling multi-table options at card rooms that were previously lacking the ability.
As the variety of poker software continually improves we are seeing custom options also developing to assist in the fun and viability of multi-table play. Reknown for their innovative poker sofware, Ultimate Bet has had a 'mini-view' feature that has been popular for quite some time. For those lucky enough to have minimum screen resolution of 1600 x 1200 , Poker Champs has view options that can fit up to 6 tables running fully visible on your desktop. Most players for now will content themselves with moving around different poker tables as well as a lobby accross their desktop into patterns that seem the most appropriate depending on the seating at their tables.
With the prospect of earning more rake from the same players, the poker rooms have been very keen to promote their multi-table capabilities. The debate on whether each of us should actually play more than one table at once usually depends on our poker skill, playing styles and goals.
Recreational players seem to be mostly divided into two camps. Some players love the action, and enjoy playing tons of hands. The pure number of cards being dealt and almost constant action is the only way these players will really pay attention to the game and come out winners, otherwise they are easily bored and distracted by elements outside the game, often proving very costly. others that enjoy a more friendly and relaxed slow-pace game with side chatting. Any players that are easily confused or frusturated at making a strategy or possible a clicking mistake should be forwarned about the pitfalls of playing too many tables.
More serious players also have varying ideas on the subject that usually fall into main two view points. Some pros, intent on maximizing their winnings, will argue that a profitable player would earn at least a percentage of their hourly profit rate at each additional table they play at. Even if the profits per table are somewhat reduced, the total wins should be greater, justifying multi-table action. There are other excellent players that will insist certain playing styles, particularly those that heavily rely on reading other players, need the focus of only playing one table at a time, otherwise losses will likely occur on all fronts as their style is put to a disadvantage.
The practice of playing in tournaments and side games simultaneously has increased, adopted mostly by tournament enthusiasts looking to earn the same card room player rewards as the rest of the cash game players. This trend is only expected to grow as the past year showed many poker software upgrades enabling multi-table options at card rooms that were previously lacking the ability.
donderdag 13 september 2012
Interesting Facts About Poker
Every gambling enthusiast loves a good game of Poker. Conversely, every trivia player loves a good does of trivia. So, for the gambler a set of poker rules, a deck of cards, some poker chips and an place to ante-up will suffice, but what about all of those trivia lovers out there? Guess what, there a ton of fun and interesting facts about poker that trivia enthusiasts are sure to love. Let’s take a look at some of these amazing poker facts below.
Did you know that nearly 50 million Americans partake in the game of poker every year? Poker is an incredibly popular game, even more so with its increasing availability on the Internet. Further, poker has grown in leaps in bounds: no longer is it just a Thursday night gathering for avid Poker players, it is also a big time gambling business. Such a fact is proven when statistics indicate that some 70 million standard decks of playing cards are sold every single year!
Another amazing poker fact that you can use to astonish your friends is the fact that President Richard Nixon used a large sum of money that he won in a poker game to fund his first campaign for Congress! That’s right, after winning a cool six grand playing poker with his Navy buddies; Nixon won his way into office with his big poker winnings.
Is Richard Nixon the only famous person to be noted to play poker? Of course not! In fact, Groucho Marx earned his name from his poker playing tendencies. Groucho Marx used to wear a grouch bag around his neck all the time. Do you know what was in that grouch bag? You guessed it—his poker money!
Alternatively, we can take a look at John Mantagu, the Earl of Sandwich. Mantagu venerated the game of poker, so much so that he would often engage in hours of gaming and would actually refuse to leave the tables to eat. His solution? He would have someone serve him bread and meat. So, not only do we have the Earl of Sandwich to thank for our noontime meals, we also owe the fascinating game of poker a tribute for the sandwich.
Finally, the origins of poker remain highly debated. Conversely, what there seems to be absolutely no debate about is that poker is here to stay. Poker, possessing both a fascinating history and recreational appeal will continue to be played both online and in brick-and-mortar casinos everywhere!
Did you know that nearly 50 million Americans partake in the game of poker every year? Poker is an incredibly popular game, even more so with its increasing availability on the Internet. Further, poker has grown in leaps in bounds: no longer is it just a Thursday night gathering for avid Poker players, it is also a big time gambling business. Such a fact is proven when statistics indicate that some 70 million standard decks of playing cards are sold every single year!
Another amazing poker fact that you can use to astonish your friends is the fact that President Richard Nixon used a large sum of money that he won in a poker game to fund his first campaign for Congress! That’s right, after winning a cool six grand playing poker with his Navy buddies; Nixon won his way into office with his big poker winnings.
Is Richard Nixon the only famous person to be noted to play poker? Of course not! In fact, Groucho Marx earned his name from his poker playing tendencies. Groucho Marx used to wear a grouch bag around his neck all the time. Do you know what was in that grouch bag? You guessed it—his poker money!
Alternatively, we can take a look at John Mantagu, the Earl of Sandwich. Mantagu venerated the game of poker, so much so that he would often engage in hours of gaming and would actually refuse to leave the tables to eat. His solution? He would have someone serve him bread and meat. So, not only do we have the Earl of Sandwich to thank for our noontime meals, we also owe the fascinating game of poker a tribute for the sandwich.
Finally, the origins of poker remain highly debated. Conversely, what there seems to be absolutely no debate about is that poker is here to stay. Poker, possessing both a fascinating history and recreational appeal will continue to be played both online and in brick-and-mortar casinos everywhere!
maandag 18 juni 2012
A Quick and Easy Texas Holdem Poker Lesson for Beginners
The great thing about Texas Holdem Poker is that it is easy to learn. Even a beginner can quickly develop into a winning player. By following a sound strategy and playing the best starting hands a Texas Holdem Poker newbie can dramatically shorten the learning curve. So what are the best hands that a beginner should play?
The best hands for a beginner to play are Ace-Ace, King-King, Queen-Queen, Jack-Jack, Ace-King suited (example – Ace of clubs & King of clubs).
I strongly recommend that you only play these starting hands as a beginner. In other words, if you are dealt a hand other than one of the above then fold!
Folding is one of the most difficult decisions for a Texas Holdem Poker beginner to do. The mindset of most Texas Holdem Poker beginners is to hang around and see the flop in the hopes of hitting it just right and improving a hand.
While a beginner will hit the flop and improve their hand occasionally, more often than not they will miss it. The Texas Holdem Poker beginner player that plays poor starting hands will end up throwing more money away than they will win.
When you are dealt one of the best starting hands I recommend raising the pot which will serve two purposes. First, it will force players with weak hands to fold instead of allowing them to stay in the game and see the flop for free.
Secondly, by seeing who raises and calls you get to see who feels that they have a good hand and who may be trying to hang in for the flop.
When the flop is dealt you should look carefully to see if you have improved your hand. Even if you have not improved your hand, because you started out with one of the better hands you may still have the best hand. This is especially true if your starting hand was a pair of aces or kings.
If your opponents raise back this can be a strong signal that they may have a powerful hand. Ask yourself, “What could my opponent have?” “Could they have improved their hand?”
Ask yourself these questions after each round of cards are dealt and try to “read” your opponents hand.
If you have a high pair a raise after the flop can help you assess whether your opponents feel if they have a strong hand or not.
If you think you are beaten there is no shame in folding at this point.
When the turn card has been revealed, if you think that you may still have the best hand I would raise the pot so that I could obtain information about my opponents’ hands.
I would follow this same strategy on the river card.
To summarize this basic Texas Holdem Poker beginner strategy:
- stick to playing the best starting hands
- fold the bad hands
- use the power of the raise to knock out weak players and to assess the strength of your opponents hands
By following this Texas Holdem Poker beginner strategy you will start out winning more hands than you lose. You will start out winning more money than you will lose.
The best hands for a beginner to play are Ace-Ace, King-King, Queen-Queen, Jack-Jack, Ace-King suited (example – Ace of clubs & King of clubs).
I strongly recommend that you only play these starting hands as a beginner. In other words, if you are dealt a hand other than one of the above then fold!
Folding is one of the most difficult decisions for a Texas Holdem Poker beginner to do. The mindset of most Texas Holdem Poker beginners is to hang around and see the flop in the hopes of hitting it just right and improving a hand.
While a beginner will hit the flop and improve their hand occasionally, more often than not they will miss it. The Texas Holdem Poker beginner player that plays poor starting hands will end up throwing more money away than they will win.
When you are dealt one of the best starting hands I recommend raising the pot which will serve two purposes. First, it will force players with weak hands to fold instead of allowing them to stay in the game and see the flop for free.
Secondly, by seeing who raises and calls you get to see who feels that they have a good hand and who may be trying to hang in for the flop.
When the flop is dealt you should look carefully to see if you have improved your hand. Even if you have not improved your hand, because you started out with one of the better hands you may still have the best hand. This is especially true if your starting hand was a pair of aces or kings.
If your opponents raise back this can be a strong signal that they may have a powerful hand. Ask yourself, “What could my opponent have?” “Could they have improved their hand?”
Ask yourself these questions after each round of cards are dealt and try to “read” your opponents hand.
If you have a high pair a raise after the flop can help you assess whether your opponents feel if they have a strong hand or not.
If you think you are beaten there is no shame in folding at this point.
When the turn card has been revealed, if you think that you may still have the best hand I would raise the pot so that I could obtain information about my opponents’ hands.
I would follow this same strategy on the river card.
To summarize this basic Texas Holdem Poker beginner strategy:
- stick to playing the best starting hands
- fold the bad hands
- use the power of the raise to knock out weak players and to assess the strength of your opponents hands
By following this Texas Holdem Poker beginner strategy you will start out winning more hands than you lose. You will start out winning more money than you will lose.
maandag 14 mei 2012
Caribbean Stud Poker: How to Play
Caribbean Stud Poker is gradually gaining in popularity as compared to its stud twin: Texas Holdem mainly because it is an easier game to learn and you can play it face to face and still enjoy.
Originating in the Caribbean and based loosely on five card stud poker rules, this game offers a fan alternative to traditional table games with an opportunity to place a side bet and hit a big jackpot too. Some of these jackpots are progressive and you can win millions of dollars if you break those machines or tables..
What is Caribbean Stud?
It is not a traditional poker game in the sense that you play against the other players and the best player wins the pot. Caribbean stud belongs to the family of games including Pai Gow poker, Let it Ride and Three Card poker for example, where your opponent is the dealer and your goal is to form a better poker hand than the dealers hand. However, basic knowledge of traditional poker hand ranking is required.
The Rules of Playing Caribbean Stud:
1) The game begins with the players placing an ante bet at the same amount as the table minimum on the ante circle on the table.
2) At the same time, you should decide whether to place an additional side bet for the progressive jackpot.
3) Then, the dealer deals each player five face down cards plus four face down cards and one up to himself.
4) After looking at your cards, you should decide whether to fold or to call. If you decide to call, you should place an additional bet double the amount of your former ante bet.
5) After all the players have made their decisions, the dealer shows his hand. In order to qualify in a Caribbean stud poker game, the dealer must have an ace and a king or better. If he does not qualify, you will be paid back your ante bet but the call bet is a push.
6) If the dealers hand qualifies, he compares hands against each of the players individually. If his hand is better than yours is, you lose both your ante and your call bets.
7) If your hand is better than the dealers hand, you would be paid even money for your ante while for your call you would be paid according to a paytable. The paytable can vary from one casino to another. Generally, US casinos pay out 50:1 on a straight flush; 20:1 on four of a kind; 7:1 on full house; 5:1 on a flush; 4:1 on a straight; 3:1 on three of a kind; 2:1 on two pairs and even money on one pair or less.
In case your hand and the dealers hand are even, both ante and raise will push.
One of the reasons that Caribbean stud poker is so popular is the option of placing a one dollar side bet and winning a large progressive jackpot prize. In order to qualify for the bonus payout you should have a flush or better. For a flush, you would be paid a 50 dollars bonus and in order to win the jackpot that usually resets from 10,000 dollars, you must have a royal flush. However, your chances to hit a royal flush are estimated as about 650,000 to 1, therefore I would recommend skipping it.
Originating in the Caribbean and based loosely on five card stud poker rules, this game offers a fan alternative to traditional table games with an opportunity to place a side bet and hit a big jackpot too. Some of these jackpots are progressive and you can win millions of dollars if you break those machines or tables..
What is Caribbean Stud?
It is not a traditional poker game in the sense that you play against the other players and the best player wins the pot. Caribbean stud belongs to the family of games including Pai Gow poker, Let it Ride and Three Card poker for example, where your opponent is the dealer and your goal is to form a better poker hand than the dealers hand. However, basic knowledge of traditional poker hand ranking is required.
The Rules of Playing Caribbean Stud:
1) The game begins with the players placing an ante bet at the same amount as the table minimum on the ante circle on the table.
2) At the same time, you should decide whether to place an additional side bet for the progressive jackpot.
3) Then, the dealer deals each player five face down cards plus four face down cards and one up to himself.
4) After looking at your cards, you should decide whether to fold or to call. If you decide to call, you should place an additional bet double the amount of your former ante bet.
5) After all the players have made their decisions, the dealer shows his hand. In order to qualify in a Caribbean stud poker game, the dealer must have an ace and a king or better. If he does not qualify, you will be paid back your ante bet but the call bet is a push.
6) If the dealers hand qualifies, he compares hands against each of the players individually. If his hand is better than yours is, you lose both your ante and your call bets.
7) If your hand is better than the dealers hand, you would be paid even money for your ante while for your call you would be paid according to a paytable. The paytable can vary from one casino to another. Generally, US casinos pay out 50:1 on a straight flush; 20:1 on four of a kind; 7:1 on full house; 5:1 on a flush; 4:1 on a straight; 3:1 on three of a kind; 2:1 on two pairs and even money on one pair or less.
In case your hand and the dealers hand are even, both ante and raise will push.
One of the reasons that Caribbean stud poker is so popular is the option of placing a one dollar side bet and winning a large progressive jackpot prize. In order to qualify for the bonus payout you should have a flush or better. For a flush, you would be paid a 50 dollars bonus and in order to win the jackpot that usually resets from 10,000 dollars, you must have a royal flush. However, your chances to hit a royal flush are estimated as about 650,000 to 1, therefore I would recommend skipping it.
zaterdag 14 april 2012
Poker And Asia
Across the world, we see an explosion of the game of poker.
Australian Joe Hachem's big 2005 WSOP win inevitably triggered increased interest in the game Down Under, and lifted the attention of people in the Asia Pacific towards poker. Those in the poker industry in established countries see the vast opportunity for bringing poker competitions to Asia.
Already Asia has, in the 6 months prior to the writing of this article, seen at least 3 new tournaments sprouting around the Asian continent. The most famous of these was the Asian Poker Tour held in Singapore.
The APT is a prelude to Singapore's 2 new integrated resorts, of which casinos formed the highlight component. The integrated resorts are major commercial and residential property developments introduced by the Singapore Government's as its latest initiative to drive the Singapore economy and to grow Singapore into a major tourist destination for the region.
But Singapore is not the only destination in Asia with a draw for the poker player's dollar.
Macau has, less than a decade after the liberalisation of its casino restrictions, recently surpassed the dominant Las Vegas as the highest revenue generating gambling destination in the world. Perhaps there are benefits to introducing casinos and poker to the Asian region still enjoying rapid economic growth and populated by some two thirds of the world's population.
Singapore and Macau in the Asia Pacific are sure to provide many more opportunities to play poker in this region.
All the signs are that poker can be bigger here than it could ever be in Europe and North America.
Indeed, with the recent passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in the US, several major companies have adopted the policy of completely restricting US citizens from playing in the US. The result is that these companies are actively promoting their poker games to Europe, Australia, and soon, you will find, Asia as well. There are no borders in the internet and any individual sitting in Manchester, Melbourne or Macau can play poker online.
Asia will have its challenges in the development of this industry. Many countries are of conservative values or are still staunch in religions or beliefs and hence that may look poorly upon poker. Of course, the starting perception of poker is as part of gambling and betting and gaming.
However, these are no different from issues once faced by poker players in other continents. Indeed, the perception of poker worldwide is changing. There is argument that poker should be seen more as a sport due to the dominance of skill over the element of chance involved in poker. An increasing number of people do not turn professional to play roulette or other casino games - they turn professional to play poker because there are opportunities to influence the course of game with skill.
In any event, as we see from the many tournaments and casinos sprouting around Asia, those that do not get into the industry (with the right regulations and balance) lose out.
Poker is coming to Asia, and Asia welcomes poker.
Australian Joe Hachem's big 2005 WSOP win inevitably triggered increased interest in the game Down Under, and lifted the attention of people in the Asia Pacific towards poker. Those in the poker industry in established countries see the vast opportunity for bringing poker competitions to Asia.
Already Asia has, in the 6 months prior to the writing of this article, seen at least 3 new tournaments sprouting around the Asian continent. The most famous of these was the Asian Poker Tour held in Singapore.
The APT is a prelude to Singapore's 2 new integrated resorts, of which casinos formed the highlight component. The integrated resorts are major commercial and residential property developments introduced by the Singapore Government's as its latest initiative to drive the Singapore economy and to grow Singapore into a major tourist destination for the region.
But Singapore is not the only destination in Asia with a draw for the poker player's dollar.
Macau has, less than a decade after the liberalisation of its casino restrictions, recently surpassed the dominant Las Vegas as the highest revenue generating gambling destination in the world. Perhaps there are benefits to introducing casinos and poker to the Asian region still enjoying rapid economic growth and populated by some two thirds of the world's population.
Singapore and Macau in the Asia Pacific are sure to provide many more opportunities to play poker in this region.
All the signs are that poker can be bigger here than it could ever be in Europe and North America.
Indeed, with the recent passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in the US, several major companies have adopted the policy of completely restricting US citizens from playing in the US. The result is that these companies are actively promoting their poker games to Europe, Australia, and soon, you will find, Asia as well. There are no borders in the internet and any individual sitting in Manchester, Melbourne or Macau can play poker online.
Asia will have its challenges in the development of this industry. Many countries are of conservative values or are still staunch in religions or beliefs and hence that may look poorly upon poker. Of course, the starting perception of poker is as part of gambling and betting and gaming.
However, these are no different from issues once faced by poker players in other continents. Indeed, the perception of poker worldwide is changing. There is argument that poker should be seen more as a sport due to the dominance of skill over the element of chance involved in poker. An increasing number of people do not turn professional to play roulette or other casino games - they turn professional to play poker because there are opportunities to influence the course of game with skill.
In any event, as we see from the many tournaments and casinos sprouting around Asia, those that do not get into the industry (with the right regulations and balance) lose out.
Poker is coming to Asia, and Asia welcomes poker.
maandag 19 maart 2012
Online poker tips for free
This article is all about online poker. I have been enjoying playing poker on the internet for a couple of years now and in this article, I give free tips on how to become a successful online poker player.
For me playing poker is not just about attempting to win money, it is also fun. I love the fact that you can interact with other players from different countries. You have to be quite careful however as some of them attempt to wind you up. This is a well known tactic which some online players use, to entice you into betting to try to knock them out of the game. My advice in this situation is to ignore these people and to not even reply to their comments.
The turnaround of hands is a lot quicker than when you play in a casino or with your friends and it is wise to pick and choose carefully which hands you play and which hands you fold. I have played on some days when I think that I will never be dealt a decent hand. It is very tempting to try to make something happen by betting on a hand which in reality I know I should throw away. This is a risky strategy and you need to be patient as your time will come.
The people who are making the money in online poker rooms are the ones who have this patience. A lot of people can easily get bored and can soon see their money or chips dwindle away.
In the periods of gloom where you are not being dealt the good cards, keep yourself amused by watching the television, listening to the radio or by chatting to the other players. Again the law of averages states, the luck has to change eventually.
On some tables there are over aggressive players who will bet on anything and also raise to stupid levels. These players may win a lot of chips in a short period of time, however in the long run will always lose. You have to stick to your game plan and not get frustrated by these type of players. See it as an easy way to make money as eventually they will come unstuck, hopefully to you.
Poker can become quite addictive, therefore only bet what you can afford to lose. Play the game as a hobby and enjoy it, you are more likely to win with this attitude. I know people who attempt to win a certain amount of money per night and then go chasing this figure if they start to struggle. This in my opinion is not a good idea. I accept that I will win on some nights and lose on others. With the right approach and as the last two years have shown me, I should win in the long term.
Good luck with your online poker experience, I hope to chat to you someday on the tables.
For me playing poker is not just about attempting to win money, it is also fun. I love the fact that you can interact with other players from different countries. You have to be quite careful however as some of them attempt to wind you up. This is a well known tactic which some online players use, to entice you into betting to try to knock them out of the game. My advice in this situation is to ignore these people and to not even reply to their comments.
The turnaround of hands is a lot quicker than when you play in a casino or with your friends and it is wise to pick and choose carefully which hands you play and which hands you fold. I have played on some days when I think that I will never be dealt a decent hand. It is very tempting to try to make something happen by betting on a hand which in reality I know I should throw away. This is a risky strategy and you need to be patient as your time will come.
The people who are making the money in online poker rooms are the ones who have this patience. A lot of people can easily get bored and can soon see their money or chips dwindle away.
In the periods of gloom where you are not being dealt the good cards, keep yourself amused by watching the television, listening to the radio or by chatting to the other players. Again the law of averages states, the luck has to change eventually.
On some tables there are over aggressive players who will bet on anything and also raise to stupid levels. These players may win a lot of chips in a short period of time, however in the long run will always lose. You have to stick to your game plan and not get frustrated by these type of players. See it as an easy way to make money as eventually they will come unstuck, hopefully to you.
Poker can become quite addictive, therefore only bet what you can afford to lose. Play the game as a hobby and enjoy it, you are more likely to win with this attitude. I know people who attempt to win a certain amount of money per night and then go chasing this figure if they start to struggle. This in my opinion is not a good idea. I accept that I will win on some nights and lose on others. With the right approach and as the last two years have shown me, I should win in the long term.
Good luck with your online poker experience, I hope to chat to you someday on the tables.
zaterdag 4 februari 2012
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!
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!
donderdag 10 november 2011
Party Poker Review
Party Poker is one of the world's largest online poker rooms with over 70,000 players. They cover almost 60% of the online poker market. Now what this means to you as a poker player is that with the large number of players and rooms you will never have to wait for a game, the player quality is relatively poor compared to rooms like Ultimate Bet and Poker Stars. As mentioned earlier start playing with play money and once you get hold of the game you may jump to the real money game. They have around 18,500 - 19,200 ring game players and 26,700 - 28,000 tournaments players live during peak hours.
Party Poker has some great signup bonus offers, $25 extra, 20% extra up to $100 and free entry to the partypoker.com million qualifying tournaments ($34 value) with your first deposit. The requirements to clear the bonus is pretty simple, you have to play 5 times the raked hands of the bonus amount i.e. if the bonus value is $25 you need to play 125 raked hands. The time period to finish the raked hands is 30 days. Party Poker offers standard game variety like Texas holdem, omaha hi and hi/lo and 7 card stud hi and hi/lo but does not offer 5 card draw poker and 1-on-1 tournaments. Limit Texas holdem game is the major traffic puller at party poker. Remember these are only real money player statistics.
They also have beginners live game tables reserved for new real money players only. New real money players can play on these tables for 45 days after they have set up a real money account. Where to go? Just log in to your account, go to the main lobby, click on the real money heading and then select beginners. Then choose a table and start playing. Following games and stakes are offered for beginners.
1. Game: Texas Hold'em
2. Limits: $.5/$1, $1/$2, $2/$4 and $3/$6
They also have good round the clock customer service, including both text and voice based. Party Poker also has a fairly good retention program and they recently started the Player's club and we expect them to come up with more programs soon. Good luck and play safe. :-)
maandag 24 oktober 2011
Online Poker Bonus Deals
Poker deal provides lots of information on poker bonus, poker tips and poker news. It also gives information on the Titan Poker which is a very well-known European Poker Room in that of the I-Poker network. The Poker articles given in the site also gives information on the game which you would not get it otherwise through books, newspaper and journals.
The tournament promotions made by the site is also remarkable. In fact the online poker rooms provided in this site also are completely licensed and you can earn as much as you can till the time you get tired of winning. The important tips that are provided in here not only help you to master the game of Poker and the Poker bonus in this site is worth opting for.
There are master tips as well as there are tips for the beginners as well who are keen on taking up the game of Poker as a profession. If you are staying in United States then you also do not have to worry as there are poker rooms available for the United States players as well. The Poker reviews available in the sites are also very helpful and will aid you in managing your blinds effectively in Poker.
The site Poker Deal also stresses on the online Poker Customer Service where you will also find the awards received by the Numero Uno online Poker room Titan Poker. The site is also regarded as the best online Poker playing site and it also serves as a great opportunity for the new players to strike a game with some big professional Poker players including the biggies like Barry Greenstein, Daniel Negreanu, Joe Hachem and Chris Moneymaker.
There is nothing like playing in such a professional room like Poker Deal and the experience would be worth cherishing for lifetime. So just give your luck the best shot and be the king of your destiny with Poker Deal.
maandag 5 september 2011
Why Online Poker is a Lot of Fun
Playing poker is fun and many individuals really enjoy gambling, however frequently it is difficult for the gambler to engage in his favored activity simply because many states do not have casinos or gambling is illegal altogether. This means individuals must play poker behind the scenes so to speak in their homes with friends or else take a trip to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or another city where gambling is legal. However, online poker has changed all of that and now that any individual with an Internet connection and a desire to play poker can at any time of day or night, online poker websites are seeing a tremendous amount of growth and competition. The following points explain why online poker has so many benefits and why it is becoming so popular.
Online Poker Benefit #1 Home Sweet Home
When you play poker online you can do so from the comfort of your home. That means if you want to play in your favorite chair or while relaxing in bed you can do so. Or, if you have wireless internet you can play wherever you want. This is a huge benefit because you don’t have to leave your home or worry about playing in a crowded casino, getting dressed up, and having to deal with a lot of people. Plus, gambling is illegal in many states, so those who live in states where there are no casinos really have no other option other than gambling from their home computer.
Online Poker Benefit #2 Long Lines
If you have ever visited a casino before you understand that lines can frequently be long and there are not always seats at the gambling table. As a result, you must wait or play a game you are not overly interested in simply because it is the only one available. This is not the case with online gambling because you simply enter the online casino and then are placed at a table, immediately! Avoid long lines and wasting time at a real casino and choose to play online.
Online Poker Benefit #3 Access
The majority of states do not have gambling casinos, so those interested in gambling in a casino must either travel long distances to play the game they enjoy or else hop online and play at any time. Obviously, the second option is not only more feasible and affordable, it is more logical as well. So, with online gambling websites individuals have access to the games they love from the comfort of their computer.
Online Poker Benefit #4 Online, All the Time!
Poker gambling websites are open 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, something casinos can’t compete with. So, no matter if you want to play a couple hands of cards each night before you go to bed, or want to play all night every night, you can simply log into your favorite online casino and enjoy playing your favorite game on your schedule.
Online Poker Benefit #5 Discounts and Matches
Would you ever expect to walk into a casino and the casino match the amount of money you brought to gamble with? This is a dream of most players, but a dream come true for online gamblers. Most online gambling websites offer a variety of benefits, discounts, and deposit matches to individuals signing up with their site. Of course, you must do the research and find out what is best, but you will have more money to gamble with when you gamble online.
Online Poker Benefit #6 Multiple Tables
Have you ever been in a casino and wished you could play more than one table at once? Well, with online gambling this is a reality. You have a higher percentage chance of winning when you play two hands, which means more money, so give it a try. You will probably like it!
Online Poker Benefit # 7 More Games
Almost always, online poker websites have more games than a typical casino has as well. As a result, when you go online to play poker you will have so many different types of games to choose from you will likely be surprised. Play the ones you are familiar with, test out the ones you are not, and figure out what your favorite gamble really is!
Online Poker Benefit #8 No Dealers
There are no dealers in online gambling websites. Because of this, you won’t have to worry about dealer mistakes occurring not to mention tipping them. When there is no dealer the game goes faster, smoother, and better for you.
Online Poker Benefit #9 No Pressure
When you are playing poker in a real casino there are a lot of pressures, especially from the rest of the people around the table. When you play online, you don’t have to worry if you don’t know what is going on, if you want to talk, or if someone is looking at you, because you are in the comfort of your own home!
Online Poker Benefit #10 No Traveling
A fabulous benefit of gambling online is that there is no traveling involved. You don’t have to fill your tank up with gas, buy expensive drinks, or spend time traveling to and from the casino. With online gambling you choose where you gamble from, which makes you more in control.
There are many other benefits to gambling online as well and these are just a few of them. However, if you like to gamble and it is illegal in your state or you simply don’t feel like dealing with a casino in person then try gambling online. You will like it, it is guaranteed.
maandag 22 augustus 2011
Online Texas Holdem Poker
There are many reasons why people are turning to online Texas holdem as a way to enjoy their favorite game. Prior to playing Internet Texas hold em, you had to go to a casino, a bar, or a friend’s house to play Texas holdem. These are not always options to players though.
Many players will turn to a Texas holdem poker game online because there is not a casino nearby. Even if there is a casino nearby, a Texas holdem player may not want to go there because of the typically high level of competition and large buy in requirements.
Going to a bar to practice your Texas holdem strategy is a decent option, but if your goal is to improve your game this may not be the best place to do so. At these games few people tend to take it seriously because they are generally not playing for real money.
If you go to a friend’s house to play Texas holdem you can have an enjoyable time. The main problem with playing Texas holdem at a friend’s house is that you do not face a variable level of competition. When you play against your friends, you pick up on their playing styles and do not gain skills to improve your game.
Playing Texas holdem online is a better option for many people. When you play Texas holdem online you get to face a variety of players and see how to play Texas holdem against varying strategies. You also can play for real money for a minimal buy in amount. If you choose to, you can even play free online Texas hold em poker.
The biggest reason that people turn to online Texas holdem is out of the pure convenience of it. Playing online means that you can play at any time that is convenient for you and you can play from the comfort of your own home. Many players prefer playing online because there is no waiting, no distractions, and it is available twenty-four hours a day.
You can visit your favorite online Texas holdem websites and start playing today. You can play free Texas holdem online or you can play for real money and have an enjoyable and convenient game.
vrijdag 8 juli 2011
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.
dinsdag 3 mei 2011
Different Types of Poker Players
Defining Poker Players
Being able to read poker players is a talent that takes time to recognize, but the more experience you have playing poker, the more you will pick up on the character styles of players. Basically, there are three main types of players:
1. The Aggressive Player
2. The Conservative Player
3. The Juvenile Player
The following is what you can expect when coming across each type of these players:
The Aggressive Player
Aggressive players will do everything in their power to manipulate and put pressure on you to try and get you to do what they want. They usually will choose to raise or fold, which will affect other players by pressuring them to call or muck.
Great aggressive players show a lot of confidence, and can be unnerving opponents when the stakes are high. If you give them the chance, they will control your every move and will take all of your money.
The only way to outsmart the aggressive player is to not let them intimidate you, and learn how to play their game. Know your cards, know the other players and give the aggressor a taste of their own medicine.
The Conservative Player
The conservative player is a player who only takes necessary risks, and will not foolishly bet if the cards aren't right. The conservative player is one who knows the rules inside and out, and has an excellent memory and analyzing skill. If he or she has the hand with the best odds, they will sneak up without the other players suspecting them to take the pot.
When playing against a conservative player, you will find that they will fold more often than take a risk, so be wary of the quiet opponent who stays within the hand carefully checking and calling in the first few rounds, only to raise the stakes in the later rounds.
The conservative player is a very tactical opponent, and like the aggressive player should never be underestimated.
The Juvenile Player
The juvenile player is probably the easiest player to recognize, as their poker style is incredibly immature, abrasive, cocky, overacting, careless and foolish. The juvenile player will seldom win any of the bigger pots, takes stupid risks and is usually the first to lose all of their money.
Just by the above description it should come as no surprise that these players are disliked and not respected by other players. They are easy to take advantage of, so use them as a way to gain a high chip advantage early in the game. The quicker these players are out of the game, the more money you will have to play with.
To learn more about online poker strategies - please visit: http://www.pokerscrubs.com
zondag 20 maart 2011
Hot Tips to Bluffing at Poker and Texas Holdem
Learn the most important tricks to bluffing. Learn when to bluff, when not to bluff and even when to bluff that you are bluffing.
Bluffing in Poker and particularly in Texas Holdem is a very useful tool, but if it is not used properly it can be a very dangerous tool to try and use. If used right bluffing can give you the appearance of having a good hand when you have nothing and scare the other players into folding their hands, but if it is not done right then all that happens is that you lose some money.
1) Check to see that the group of players playing for the pot is small. The biggest reason why you should do this is that it is easier to fool a small group than a large one. Another viable problem is that if the players are many, some might simply be dumb and not fully understand the true extent of your bluff. Whatever the case you have to take into consideration that a large group is tougher to bluff. Do not argue. It is simply so.
2) Do not bluff if your hand is weaker than a pair and to be on the safe side, better to have at least two pairs even if these are weak. Note that a player or two will remain in the game even if they have no hand whatsoever. They hope to learn how others play so that they will be able to beat them in later rounds. Such players can be caused to fold if you bluff well. Other than that, always take into consideration that some player will always remaining thinking you are bluffing. So, at least have a good enough hand to beat them.
2) Do not bluff with nothing. Bluffing should be used to make a weak hand look better but not to try to make nothing look like something. Bluffing should only be done if you hold at least one pair. Some players will not back down from your bluff especially in the beginning of the game. They are trying to feel you out and see how you react in different situations. To fool them you are going to have to become a good actor.
d) If you win a round of betting and the other Texas holdem players see that you did it with a big hand, then for the next few rounds you are at a big advantage. The memory of your high-value Texas Holdem sequence will linger in your opponents' minds and this will help you tremendously if you bluff. Each other player will think twice before challenging your hand.
e) Since you are playing Texas Holdem, pay attention to the cards that the dealers places face-up on the poker table. If you find that the cards down make up a weak pair, then start bluffing. Others will think you have the card to make up a triple, and will back off in fright.
6) Pay attention to how the other players at your table but and what their hands are at the end. Poker players who only bet when they have strong hands are the easiest to beat. All you have to do is wait till they are not betting and you know they have a weak hand so if you push them they will fold for fear of losing any more money on a bad hand.
Closure:
Bluffing is not very different than lying on a test or to friends. If you are a good liar, you will be able to bluff with a lot more confidence than others. But you need to reduce the amount you lie because whereas in life people tend to believe you, in Texas Hold'em, players tend not to believe you.
dinsdag 8 februari 2011
Bad Beat Poker – It Happens
If you ever see an angry poker player carrying on and throwing a fit about a hand, you can generally assume this player has taken a bad beat. “Bad beat” is a poker term referring to having a strong dominating hand lose to a much weaker hand held by another player.
If you’ve read my previous uplifting article about bad beat jackpots, you might be excited about the possibility of experiencing a large bad beat in a brick-and-mortar casino, but most players hope they can defy the laws of the universe and never have to experience bad beat poker.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing online poker or brick-and-mortar poker, players are constantly getting frustrated and complaining about bad beats. If I had a dollar for every bad beat story I’ve heard in my life, I wouldn’t be sitting here playing a $20 online multi-table tournament; I’d be vacationing at the beach.
Generally it’s the better and more experienced players who are amazed at losing to large underdog hands. Newer players often don’t realize the odds of a bad beat poker hand like pushing all in with AdJc and miraculously beating AsKs by spiking a Jack on the river.
Experienced and educated poker players need to take a step back and realize that bad beats will always happen when playing poker. Most decent poker players always talk about how amazed they are when they experience a bad beat, and they try to claim that it always happens to them. One thing that experienced players don’t realize is that if they are constantly playing with weaker opponents and experiencing bad beats, it’s because they always have the dominating hand.
You hardly ever see an advanced poker player lay down a bad beat on a much weaker player, especially in a no-limit game. The reasoning behind this is because as the better player, he generally has the better hand going into an all-in situation, so it seems like weaker players never experience bad beats. Players have to learn to take pride in generally making the correct play with the better hand and simply brush it off when they finally experience a horrifying bad beat.
Another common topic arises when talking about bad beats: how bad beats seem to happen far more often while playing online poker than when playing in a casino. For years players have spread myths and rumors that online poker is rigged. These players accuse the online card rooms of creating large action hands for the players involved in a game to drive up the size of the pot, which spikes up the casino rake. These myths and rumors are exactly that: all fake. All online poker rooms experience rigorous pattern testing and verification to provide completely random hands for all games at all times.
The truth of the matter is, when playing online poker, you see far more hands than when you are playing in an actual casino. Playing brick-and-mortar poker, you might be dealt around 30 hands an hour, depending on the game, the dealer, and the other players at the table. However, while playing online poker, you are probably seeing 50+ hands an hour. You might be experiencing double the number of hands as compared to casino poker, which might make it seem like bad beats are dealt more often, when actually their occurrence is generally about the same. If you are playing two tables at once in an online poker room, you are easily seeing 40-50 more hands per hour than if you were playing one table in a brick-and-mortar casino.
One last fact about online poker and bad beats is that the majority of players are more hesitant about calling large all-in situations when playing in actual casinos with actual money chips in front of them. Often online players, especially newer players, don’t have a problem pressing the “Call” button on their monitor, even in situations where they shouldn’t be calling. After all, it only takes one click of a mouse. If the same player were forced to push out $85 in chips in a $1/$2 brick-and-mortar casino no-limit game, he might think twice about his hand strength before throwing his money away.
So, all in all, no player can truly avoid receiving or giving bad beats in poker. Taking a hard bad beat sticks out in your head much longer than laying a bad beat down on another player. To keep your game sharp, you must learn to simply blow off bad beats, remain focused, don’t get frustrated, and understand that other players making bad calls is exactly what you really want. These are the players who keep you in the money and make you a winning poker player.
As I finish this article, I am dropped from my multi-table tournament, 6 spots before the money, when my pre-flop all-in with AK gets called by KQ, and my opponent turns a Queen. It happens, that’s poker, next tournament please.
Internet Poker Betting and Casino at http://www.WagerWeb.com/Sporstbook
zondag 14 november 2010
Internet Poker Strategy
When it comes to playing internet poker a good and intelligent player will base his play on the information that is available to him. It is important that they should have all the information relating to the basics of the game along with what betting limits are in place and just when they need to fold their cards. Certainly having a good internet poker strategy in place is extremely important to any player whether a novice or professional before they start playing.
When it comes to playing online today there are a number of different sites which now provide a facility for those playing to record the history of each game that they take part in. By having this facility available to them a player is able analyze their moves from a game they took part in previously and then using this they will be able to hopefully avoid making the same mistakes in the future. It is important that when working out any kind of strategy when taking part in a game of poker a player know how to calculate the pot odds in order that they can determine whether they are likely to win or not. Plus it will help them to find out which are the best kinds of hands to play in order to ensure that they win on a constant basis.
It is important that the strategies a person uses when playing should help them to decide when they should raise, when they should be betting and when they should fold as they need to be able to analyze very quickly how the game is going. It is important that they learn how to use tactics on how to bluff even if they hand they have is only moderate. Using this kind of strategy within a game will help to confuse those that they are playing against and may cause them to reveal their cards earlier than they wanted to.
It is important that one internet poker strategy that all players must keep in their mind at all times is not to play above their budget. Those that play within their budget limits will often find that they have increased their chances of winning as often they discover that their losses and their wins will generally cancel each other out through out the course of the days play. Therefore by developing your own strategy when playing internet poker will in turn help to increase your chances of winning in the future.
woensdag 22 september 2010
2004 World Series Of Poker
The sport of poker has taken off in recent years, becoming one of the most popular games being played at parties, gatherings and more. No longer just part of the casino, poker is more popular than ever, and nowhere was this more evident than at the 2004 World Series of Poker. There were a record number of entries in the 2004 World Series of Poker, with what was estimated at around 2,576 players.
The advent of online betting has fueled some of the popularity surrounding poker and the celebrity poker shows making rounds on primetime television are also part of the phenomenon. Many of the people who participated in the 2004 World Series of Poker qualified for the tournament online, after learning how to play in online poker rooms. The number of players who participated in the 2004 World Series of Poker had more than tripled in comparison to the 2003 WSOP, which hosted only 839 players.
Space was somewhat of an issue at the 2004 World Series of Poker, as there was only enough room and material to accommodate 1,200 players at the outset. However, they ended up stretching the 2004 World Series of Poker over two weekend days with half the players playing in the first part of the day, and half playing in the latter part. This added to the excitement and made it feel more than ever like an event instead of just a game.
After whittling down some of the players over the weekend, the 2004 World Series of Poker extended into the following Monday. About half of those players ended up being cut that day. However, the competition was fierce and fans of poker watched with bated breath to see what the next move would be.
The 2004 World Series of Poker also saw higher stakes than ever being wagered on the games. This had to do with the number of people who were able to pay the $10,000 entry fee. In fact, the 2004 World Series of Poker winner, Greg Raymer, won $5 million, which is a World Series of Poker record.
In addition to being broadcast on ESPN into homes worldwide, the 2004 World Series of Poker tournament saw many amateurs enter the professional poker realm. The popularity of the sport has never been higher and each year as the time for the World Series of Poker rolls around again, players (both professional and amateur) gear up for more high stakes and big fun.
maandag 23 augustus 2010
40’s Night And A Friendly Game Of Poker
In my early post-college years a few select friends, Sam and Pete, shared the same interests that I did – older women and poker. We started going out on Thursday nights to a certain bar that would usually have women in their 40’s recently divorced or single for other reasons. We called it 40’s night. We would usually hit the bar around 8 pm, after the gym and after a few beers. Some nights were dead; others were a bit more exciting. On this one particular night we ran into three other women, Dawn, Melissa and Kelly. Melissa was sporting a t-shirt that said “Double D” scrawled on with a sharpie marker. First instincts were, I guess she must want someone to ask. Thinking it had to do with her anatomy we headed over to strike up a conversation. Turns out the Double D, meant Delightfully Divorced, not what we were thinking.
Melissa and a few pals were out celebrating her recent divorce which happened to be finalized that day. After exchanging pleasantries and drinking until closing with them, they asked where we were headed too. My on again – off again girlfriend was at our house (I was with Sam and Pete for moral support) and Sam was living with his Aunt so those two places were out of the picture. Pete’s girlfriend was out of town visiting her parents and was not due back until the next morning, so we headed there.
After bringing out the good stuff to drink and the poker case and chips, the suggestion of a friendly game of strip poker came up. All agreed it was just for fun. Well after several hours of drinking and poker, we found ourselves down to our boxers and Melissa’s interesting Double D shirt draped over a chair. The girls were actually playing, while the rest of us did a lot of staring. At about 3:00 in the morning there was a jiggling at the front door, then a gasp, then a scream. Pete’s girlfriend had gotten in early and wanted to surprise him the next day. She was hoping to climb into bed and have him wake up to her smiling face.
Instead she was treated to several half naked women along with her almost naked boyfriend. After that night, my on again – off again girlfriend got a call and became my never again girlfriend. And Pete, well, Pete ended up having to go to the emergency room to get some reconstructive work done on his little Pete.
vrijdag 23 april 2010
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.
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