Poker Articles

How to get a psychological edge over your poker opponents

2006-11-15T12:27:00.000-08:00

Mess with Their Heads
How to get a psychological edge over your poker opponents...

Poker is a game where the psychological edge can be a deciding factor. When you arrive at a table for a poker game with people that you don't know, a big bluff can be a good way to start when you're digging in for the long haul. If you're up against someone in the showdown and they're struggling to make up their mind and you succeed into bluffing the into a fold, let everyone at the table know it was a bluff when the game's over. This will mess with their heads and have them second guessing every time you go after the pot.

Equally, if you happen to be the victim of an outrageous bluff, don't let the loss get to you emotionally. Professional poker players call that going on tilt or steaming. There's nothing other players like to see more than a player going on tilt. They'll gather like jackals at feeding time. Once you lose focus and your mind is snared by a previous mistake your game can become seriously unglued. If you can't find the discipline to let it go, take some time out until you can or you'll pay with your stack.

Poker Tip of the Day: Table Selection
Why picking the right poker table can pay big time!

If you've decided to snatch a quick hour of online Texas Hold 'em during your lunch break, and you want to make it pay, table selection will be the key.
Take a swift look around the lobby area and check out at least three or four of the available tables. You can quickly work out which is the tightest of the tables by looking at the number of players per table, the average pot size, the number of hands being played per hour at any given table and the percentage of players from each group seeing the flop. You're looking for the most passive tables so that you can attack with aggressive play.

If it happens to have the most hands played per hour as well. you'll have more than the average number of pots to attack in the time you have available.
Make it pay while the boss is down the pub!

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Poker Variations: Omaha and Seven Card Stud

2006-11-15T12:19:00.000-08:00

Poker Variations: Omaha and Seven Card Stud

Take a break from Online Texas Hold'em and play some other online poker games...

POKER VARIATIONS
Many of you new players will be getting familiar with Texas Hold’em by now and may be becoming curious about some of the other variations of poker available to you on dailystarpoker.com. Certainly the best alternative to Hold’em is Omaha Poker so here’s a brief rundown of the basic difference between the two games.

OMAHA POKER BASICS
All players are dealt four hole cards face down instead of the two hole cards you would normally receive in Texas Hold’em. The five community cards are dealt in exactly the same way as Hold’em. Three cards are dealt at the flop, followed by the fourth at the “turn” and the fifth at the “river”. Players have to form their best available hand by using three of the community cards with any two of their four hole cards. There is no choice here. You MUST use two hole cards in the formation your hand.

OMAHA POKER WARNING
Because of the nature of Omaha you will find you will tend to land much more powerful hands than you are used to at Hold’em. Keep in mind that this is obviously happening to your opposing players as well. You haven’t been personally singled out by Lady Luck to suddenly get pocket rockets twice as often as normal.

CHOICE OF PROFESSIONALS
Omaha is often the game of personal choice for professional poker players and when you get into it you’ll see why. Take one of the free Omaha tutorials at dailystarpoker.com before you launch yourself into this compelling game.

SEVEN CARD STUD
All players are dealt two cards face down and one face up. The face up card is known as the “door” card. If you have the lowest value door card beaming up at everyone at the table it’s you who has to start the betting. Every player is permitted one bet and three raises in each round of betting. Three further cards are dealt face up and these are known as “fourth”, “fifth” and “sixth” street. A round of betting is initiated in between each street by the player showing the highest value card. The seventh and last card (the “river”) is dealt face down. When the betting is completed and the last card is revealed, the player who has formed the best five card hand wins as in Hold’em and Omaha.

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The 5 Steps From Poker Beginner to Pro Poker Winner

2006-11-10T03:11:00.000-08:00

The 5 Steps From Poker Beginner to Pro Poker Winner
The progression from online poker "play money" to "wa-hay" money!

THE FIRST GAME
Whilst it is impossible to take a person who has just played their first “play money” game of Texas Hold’em and turn them into a professional in a few weeks, I maintain it isn’t difficult to suggest a progession of logical events which will assist the inevitably slow and sometimes painful experience of learning how to swim with sharks.

THE BASICS
First: The first thing to gain from “play money” poker is a basic understanding of the mechanics of the game. It won’t teach you much about the psychology of poker because that changes immediately actual cash becomes involved.

THE SELECTION
Second: Select the kind of cash game you get involved with very carefully. Find a game that suits your bankroll. You can’t play well if you are financially intimidated. Remember a skilful player playing another skilful player is much less likely to make money than a reasonably good player taking on a bad player. Selection applies on lots of levels. Always try to select opposition you think you can beat even though your ego wants you to compete with the best you’re able. You get better at poker by winning more often than you lose. It keeps your confidence up.

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THE EMOTIONS
Third: All action decisions you make in any game of poker must be arrived at based on the kind of opponents you are facing and the type of game you have chosen. NEVER make decisions based on your frame of mind. You’d be amazed at how many players use poker as a way of expressing their emotions. Costly mistake.

THE POSITION
Fourth: Become fully aware that the higher up the stakes scale you climb as your game improves, the more critical your position at the table becomes. Whilst it makes very little difference when only small stakes are involved “position” becomes the equivalent of holding a hilltop with your enemy below you in big stake battles.

THE REWARDS
Fifth: Realise that when you are as cool and experienced a player as you ever dreamt you could become you will tend to want to play for large sums of money. Those kinds of tables are populated by people who are as cool and as experienced as they ever dreamt they might become. So you’re back to square one but playing for fortunes. At that point the expression “Good Luck” may be appropriate for the first time in your poker development.

The biggest casino hotels in Las Vegas

2006-11-10T03:05:00.000-08:00

"Sin City's" casinos for all budgets let you gamble Las Vegas-style!

WYNN BIG!
Steve Wynn is something of an icon in Las Vegas having created a brace of the biggest casino hotels in the world more or less single handed. His latest venture, the truly massive 2,700 room WYNN resort, is an interesting port of call for the thousands of poker fans descending on Sin City at this time of year to watch the final weeks of the World Series. Not everyone can be lucky enough to join the 8,800 fortunate buy-ins for WSOP itself but that’s no reason not to enjoy some exciting cash games while you’re in town and attempt to pay for the flights and hospitality bills. I mention the Wynn because as a relatively new addition to the neon skyline it has been able to design its poker rooms with some real consideration to players’ needs. For example the cardroom’s perfect posture seats would have Chandler and Joey from “Friends” bouncing their butts with joy at the pure scientific comfort sculptured into them. The main cardroom itself is extremely elegant by Vegas standards and if you happen to be a guest you have the facility to play online in your room while staying in touch with your position on the waiting list downstairs, courtesy of an exclusive in-house TV network beamed into your suite. Every poker player hates waiting for a live game and this facility gives you the chance to tune up ready for the action when it comes.

Click Here For The Las Vegas Poker Guide

SILK & LEATHER & SOUP
In the natural spirit of competition which pervades the Strip, the Venetian Casino offers poker players full dress butlers who will actually bring you burgers or soup to the table. A risky business given that the place is decorated throughout in silk and glove leather. But Vegas is of course all about risk.

BARGAIN BASEMENT BETTING
If you’re on a budget, fear not, the Mandalay Bay offers bargain basement tournaments and $2-$4 no limit Hold’em games with $200 buy-ins available daily. It’s the perfect place for novice players to experience live games for the first time and everything is about getting bang for your buck.

CARD COUNTERS & CHEATS
It’s hard to know if the old tales from the 70’s of card counters and cheats being heard screaming late at night in a special side room at Binions are true. What is true is that both those art forms have decreased considerably in Vegas these days. Certainly such methods would have been more of a lasting deterent than A.S.B.O.S.The upshot is in ninety per cent of the poker rooms you’ll get a fair game by “live” standards, if not by the very high standards you’ve come to expect from the software at your online poker sites.

Source: The Biggest Casino Hotels in Las Vegas

Turning Poker's Turn Card To Your Advantage

2006-11-10T02:59:00.000-08:00

How to play the turn card so that you dominate your poker game...

For the benefit of absolute beginners, the “turn” card is the fourth community card to be dealt face-up on the table following the three cards also dealt face-up as the “flop”. Let’s assume you are holding your two concealed hole cards and have had the benefit of studying the three card flop. You will now be in a position to pretty much assess your chances of forming a strong hand just as the turn card is due to be dealt. It’s this fact which makes the turn card so very important. Your actions following the flop fall into a few simple categories. Either you...

Read more: Turning Poker's Turn Card To Your Advantage

Poker Mind Control: Poker and the Emotional Brain

2006-06-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

Poker Mind Control: Poker and the Emotional Brain

How poker players' brains give off clues to their thoughts and how you can exploit those mind tells and limit your own poker tells through poker mind control.

MIND CONTROL
In live social games of poker your brain may not be the slave to your wishes that you believe it to be. Unfortunately the brain is formed of two very different parts. Put simply, the thinking brain and the emotional brain. You may have 90% control of your thinking brain but the likelihood that you understand, let alone control, your emotional brain is probably nudging zero. What does this mean in practical poker playing terms? It’s bad news for anyone who isn’t aware of the facts. How does the emotional brain betray you during a game? Okay. When the emotional brain sees something that disturbs it, it automatically reacts to attempt to pacify the situation. When an opposing player starts talking while making a bet you can be 99% sure he or she is attempting a bluff. If a player leans forward prior to the play reaching them you’ll know they’re emotional brain has already signalled them to act. It means they like what they’re holding, especially if their arms move onto the felt in a confident leaning gesture. Watch for all of this. Check it out. It’ll make you smile until you realise you’re doing it yourself on some level. Maybe you glance sideways when making a bluff or if you raise your eyebrows when the flop comes down you just told anyone who knows what they’re looking for that YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE!

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SO WHAT DO I DO?
The answer lies as it often does in technology. Play your poker online and none of the above “tells” can be communicated. You will still be giving off clues to skilled players but they will be far fewer and harder to spot. When playing in live social games just be aware of the emotional brain and its affect on your opposition. Chances are you’ll be the only one at the table who knows it’s functioning and be able to take advantage.

POKER TIP OF THE DAY
Know why you are betting. A lot of new players decide they like the hole cards they’ve been dealt and place a bet. Immediately someone challenges them with a raise they’re like a hare in the headlights, unsure as to how confident they really are in the cards they’re holding. A good rule when starting out is to be sure you want to bet and have an idea of how you will react to any of the likely responses you might face following that bet. If you’ve got a high pair then raise pre-flop with the certain strategy that if the flop doesn’t give you three of a kind you’ll probably fold unless the flop itself looks fairly unhelpful to all parties. In that case you may decide to proceed if the opposition doesn’t start pumping the pot. Have a definite thought process in place and only deviate from it if the flop indicates your high pair could carry the day. Obviously low cards unsuited and unconnected in the flop would indicate you should at least proceed to the turn.

Source: http://www.onlinepokercolumn.com/Poker-Mind-Control-Poker-Emotional-Brain.html

Death of the Poker Mechanic

2006-06-13T06:06:00.000-07:00

Death of the Poker Mechanic
The demise of the card sharp

THE POKER MECHANIC R.I.P
One of the massive benefits online play has brought to the amazing game of poker is its 99% protection from serious cheating. The big sites simply can’t afford to do it. The audits and the huge value of their “good will” make it a ridiculous consideration. Financially they have everything to lose and peanuts to gain when they’re all making millions. No motive. No desire.A random online deal from regularly inspected software is the safest way any human being is ever going to receive a fair hand of cards during a poker game. The implications of this for older and more traditional “bricks and mortar” players carry an element of nostalgia and a sense of loss. One of the great talents in cardmanship belonged to the so-called “poker mechanic”. These days the true card-magician is a dying breed who can only reliably be found in high rolling private cash games. If, like me, you sometimes find yourselves in this kind of an environment, out of a sense of adventure or because you’ve fried the PC with three days and nights of solid online Hold’em, you might catch a glimpse of this wonderful species.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR!
The best way to track the beast is to watch “the deal”. Take a quick look on the web to search out a photo of the classic “mechanic’s grip”. The back of the hand rests on the felt. The pack lies gently on the palm of the hand surrounded by all of the mechanic’s fluid fingers. Watch carefully because all poker mechanics will perform at least two or three tricks at once and you may be quick enough to catch one of them. They will at first attempt a peek at the cards they’re looking for by using a riffle shuffle with the cards angled ever so slightly towards them. This is done very quickly and with a swift downward glance usually while they’re talking as an extra distraction. If the dealer then suggests the game they’d like to play, this will be the second clue that they’ve seen something which might suit that particular suggested game. Card dexterity itself is a clue that you may be looking at a poker mechanic. Anyone who can manipulate cards at speed will at least have learned how to slip a card from the bottom of the pack under the top card being dealt in such a swift and fluid movement it is almost impossible to spot and extremely difficult to prove. Watch for any one of the above give-aways and politely excuse yourself from the table if the offender outweighs you. Or ask if everyone can please cut the cards in order to assist your paranoia. That gesture alone will be enough to have the mechanic postpone his gymnastics until the following night at a different, less sober gathering. Do however take the time to marvel at his dying art before pulling the trigger.

Source: http://www.onlinepokercolumn.com/Death-of-the-Poker-Mechanic.html

Poker odds are odd that way

2006-06-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

Poker odds are odd that way

POKER ODDS AND SODS
Sometimes analysing a hand from a major tournament after the event can teach us quite a lot about poker odds and how they are only one factor in poker’s Pandora’s box. Let’s take a look at a real life hand from the recent Ultimate Poker Challenge Championship between eventual winner Jeff Schulman and Kristy Gazes who started with the best hole cards. Kristy was holding King-Jack of diamonds against Jeff’s Queen-ten of clubs. At this pre-flop stage Kristy’s King-Jack same-suited was 60% likely to win the pot and Jeff’s same-suited Queen-ten only in with a 40% chance. The flop produced King of clubs-Jack of hearts and four of clubs. This still left Kristy the favourite with a 52% chance of winning against Jeff’s 48%. The turn and the river produced a five and nine of spades, giving under-dog Jeff victory with his nine-ten-Jack-Queen-King straight against Kristy’s respectable but defeated Kings over Jacks. The odds, rather like the Law of the land, can on occasions, be an ass! Odds are just one of the many elements a player uses in the decision making process. What this example demonstrates is that they shouldn’t be relied on in isolation.

POKER TUTORIAL Q & A

Problem A: Imagine you’re on the button with a pair of Jacks. The pot gets raised three times the big blind directly in front of you. With just ten times the big blind in chip value you are short-stacked.

Should you:
1) Call the raise?
2) Double the raise?
3) Muck your cards?
4) Grit your teeth and go all-in?

Problem B: You’re in a major tournament. A handful of players remain. You’re the chip leader. You’re holding Ace and Jack of spades. You raise six times the big blind. The big blind himself goes all-in with ten times the big blind. Do you call ten times the big blind to attempt to win twenty two times its value or do you fold? What’s the percentage play?

POKER TUTORIAL ANSWERS

Answer to A: You go all-in! You’re facing a raise and you’re short-stacked. By going all-in your re-raise should be powerful enough to drive out less than stellar hands. Likely outcome: Heads up with the first raiser. It’s a value bet.

Answer to B: As the chip leader you’re well placed to flush out opposing players in late tournament play. You call! It’s likely your Ace-Jack same-suited will hold up well unless A-Q, A-K or A-A are out there. The odds are with you at ten times the big blind. Value again.

Source: http://www.onlinepokercolumn.com/Poker-Odds-Are-Odd-That-Way.html

Dangerous Dave, The Short Stack Advantage, and Deciding What Makes a Good Hand

2006-05-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

Dangerous Dave, The Short Stack Advantage,
and Deciding What Makes a Good Hand

...Playing the poker game to the limit!

SLIP OUT OF SHORTS
There are some mathematical models which show that poker players who play with a short stack have a slight advantage over higher rollers. There’s an edge when you have fewer chips than are needed to call all bets because you can’t be bullied out of a hand when you’re all-in. Clever short-stackers protect their bankrolls by taking long-shot draws and other street-wise strategies. The best of them can make an art-form out of lean and mean. There used to be a legendary short-stacker called Dangerous Dave who went up against Amarillo Slim on many occasions and caused the great man considerable irritation with his vice-like caution. They used to say that if Dave actually ever offered a raise pre-flop the opposition would part like the Red Sea did for Moses and fold to a man. Apparently, “Dangerous” only ever raised pre-flop if he had pocket aces, hence the wry nickname. Personally I take the simplistic view you should enter every game with the biggest mountain of chips you can afford. Texas Hold’em was invented for and by cowboys and should be played with big guns and large calibre bullets and in a spirit of death by lethal aggression and that’s only on Sundays to show respect. Weekdays, you should be really mean.

GET INTO DRAWS!
New players generally understand that they should bet on a good starting hand. The problem for inexperienced players is deciding what makes a good hand. It’s not always obvious, which is why you need to understand how to “get into draws”! The best hand is the hand most likely to win the game by the river. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the strongest hole cards are the best hand. It’s also the case that the player with the best constructed hand on the flop doesn’t have to be the player who is going to win at the river.I’ll illustrate this with an example:Let’s say your opponent has Ace of spades and ten of hearts and you have Queen-Jack of clubs. The flop is ten of clubs-nine of clubs and three of spades. You are a two to one favourite to win this game with your Queen-Jack of clubs. If the chance that you will win is higher than the percentage of bets you are paying to the pot, you should usually choose the scam that will get the most bets into the pot. Let’s look at another example to make this point even clearer: The flop is Ace-Jack of spades and six of hearts. Your hole cards are King and nine of spades. You have a great potential draw ( two to one against) for a premium flush at the river. On the flop four of your opponents have called and the action falls to you. With this big a draw potential you have to at least call and probably raise. Here’s why: You’re investing just twenty per cent of the bets going into the pot with a thirty three percent chance of winning by the river. It’s value betting at its most obvious.

Poker articles

2006-05-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

Here are 3 more poker articles, you'll want to check out to add to your knowledge of the poker game:

The Poker Grand Slam Of Tournaments
Four massive poker tournaments now form the poker equivalent of the tennis grand slam. With millions and millions of dollars of prize money on offer, and plenty of freeroll and satellites offering cheap ways to qualify, there's no reason why YOU shouldn't play your way to POKER heaven!

Tilt Poker Pinball, Poker Strategy Questions, and Mid-limit Hold'em
News of the WPT's poker pinball deal will surely put the poker world on tilt. Meanwhile check out your poker strategy with the latest poker tutorial Q&A session. Plus we look at Middle-Limit Texas Hold'em.

Poker's Guerilla Marketing Strategy: Bumvertising
You have got to check out this audacious new guerilla marketing strategy that is driving traffic to online poker sites while helping out the homeless at the same time. Plus we present a bunch of poker terms that you probably haven't heard of and that you should learn before they creep up and bite you on the ass!

How To Play In The World Series of Poker For Free

2006-05-14T06:34:00.000-07:00

How To Play In The World Series of Poker For Free

...And why your chances of winning make the WSOP such an attractive gambling prosposition

Discover The Secrets of Winning Poker Tournaments! Click Here!

BE IN IT TO WIN IT!
The biggest event in world poker will soon be upon us and there’s no reason at all why you shouldn’t be competing. Last year’s winner of the World Series of Poker, Joe Hachem, walked away with $7,500,000 never having played poker professionally in his life. This year’s event is expected to produce at least $8,000,000 for the winner and total prize money in excess of $100,000,000.

HOW TO GET IN FOR FREE!
Just for the privilege of entering the WSOP the buy-in is $10,000 and you’re going to need another $2,500 to install yourself in Vegas for the duration. Don’t be put off. Help is at hand. A lot of sites are offering satellite contests where you can win the buy-in and your fares etc.

THE WSOP
The World Series itself starts July 28th and the first twelve days of knockout events will be held at the Rio Casino when eight thousand lucky entrants from around the world will pit their wits and good fortune against one another for a place at the final table. The final of the WSOP is to be held at its traditional home, “Binion’s Horseshoe” on the 10th August 2006.

HOW IT WORKS
During each of the first four days of the contest two thousand players play down to eight hundred survivors. After the first four days the sixteen hundred survivors from days one and two play down to seven hundred and the sixteen hundred players from days three and four play down to seven hundred. 3rd August is a day off but on the 4th the remaining fourteen hundred survivors play down to six hundred. On the 5th the six hundred play down to three hundred and so on down to the 9th August when twenty seven players fight, bluff and re-raise their way down to nine. The final table on the 10th will consist of those nine, who by then, will already be guaranteed to become very rich individuals regardless of what order they actually finish. Most will be millionaires and the top dog will be looking for ways to spend $8,000,000 of real live dollar bills piled high in a stainless steel wheelbarrow fenced by shotgun wielding casino security.

FREQUENTLY ASKED WSOP QUESTIONS
Q: Is it true that Joe Hachem didn’t have to pay any tax on his $7,500,000 win at the WSOP last year?
A: Absolutely true. Joe was NOT a professional poker player at the time of the win. He was a registered chiropractor in his home country of Australia who had only been playing poker in an amateur capacity for a few years. The tax authorities were not permitted to tax him. He has since become a professional and intends to move to America and add to his fortune.

Q: Compared to the National Lottery what are my realistic chances of winning into the millions of dollars if I enter the WSOP?
A: Figure it out logically. Around 8,000 players will enter the event. Your odds are therefore (allowing for different skill levels as well as lady luck) let’s say somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 to 1 of the big win. Your odds of winning a fortune by reaching the top table are around just 900 to 1. Your odds of winning the Lottery are MILLIONS to 1! In a “heads up” with the Lottery - Poker wins hands down!

“In less than one week,

you'll be playing heads-up

and taking 1st or 2nd place.

I GUARANTEE IT!”

Click Here For Details

Secret Strategies For Playing Short Handed Poker Games

2006-05-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

Secret Strategies For Playing Short Handed Poker Games

Plus, the poker terms, Limping, Inside Straight, and Overcards are explained...

GET SHORTY!
I don’t know if it’s a throw-back to social poker at home in my student days but I like short-handed games. Not many of us play socially with more than five or six pals around the table so there’s a nostalgic over-hang when it comes to playing online. I’ll often seek out a short-handed game, largely because you get more hands and time’s money. The big kick for me is that eight times out of ten you’ll find yourself playing heads up by the time the flop arrives and this means the poker becomes less about the cards and more about the mental make-up of the two duellists. Don’t get me wrong, power cards are cream on the cake in five or six player games and you certainly would tend to fold middle of the range connector cards which you might be tempted to hold in a full ring game.The downside to the short game is you are in the blinds one game out of three so you have to be an aggressive gambler to cope with that inescapable drain on your chip stack.

POKER TIP OF THE DAY
In short-handed games when you’re not in the blinds always try to punish players who attempt to play for a single bet and don’t let the blinds play on the cheap. Raise or fold. Force the action if there’s a raise in front of you and re-raise to try and bully your way into a heads up. Either that or fold if the cards just wouldn’t take the strain. If you limp in short-handed games you’re likely going to get mown down. When you’re in the blinds and maybe under siege you can afford to just call if you have a reasonable hand and re-raise if you have a mid to high pair. You can definitely afford to bluff more often in short-handed games as you can’t really wait for the good cards to arrive. You have to force the issue all the time. The short game is certainly more nerve racking than a full table but for thrill-seekers it pays you back many times over with the adrenalin rush.

FREQUENTLY ASKED POKER QUESTIONS
Q: As a newcomer to online poker could you define the following terms for me. 1) Limping 2) Inside Straight 3) Overcards?
A: Limping defines a player who “calls” (matches the bet by the previous player) the big blind (largest of the two compulsory bets) in the pre-flop betting.
An inside straight describes a set of cards which has a gap that needs another card to fill it before a straight is complete. An example would be a player holding 7-8 as hole cards and the flop delivers 10-Jack-2. The player concerned requires an “inside” 9 to arrive on the turn or the river to make his straight.
Overcard or overcards describe a pair of hole cards which are of a higher value than the community cards on the board.

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The Surge in Poker Satellite Tournaments

2006-05-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

The Surge in Poker Satellite Tournaments

And how YOU can profit from these extraordinary poker events!

SATELLITES GO INTO ORBIT!
The Messiahs of poker satellite tournaments, Greg Raymer and Chris Moneymaker, have laid down the blueprint for the ordinary Joe to make it all the way through from “Nomoneysville” Cantaffordabuy-in Street to Box No.WSOP, Megamillion Avenue, Nevada. The online poker community is awash with satellite tournaments offering ordinary poker players the chance to win an entry to a premier event with prizes in the millions of dollars. For those newcomers among you, satellite eliminators are used by the big poker sites to attract first time players. Obviously, $10,000 buy-ins to huge Vegas events are not something the average online player can afford. The key to their amazing success is the fact that every few weeks poker news sites are full of bulletins reporting the latest fairy tale story of a multi-million dollar winner who came all the way through to stardom by simply winning his or her major tourney entry at a satellite.

ANT & DEC-HIGH PAIR!
The news a few weeks back that Ant and Dec’s next million pound TV venture will be a poker themed show is bound to raise the game’s profile to even greater heights. As a result, those newbies who are tempted to hit the net in search of Texas Hold’em will find satellites are sure to be first thing to grab their attention. What does this mean? It means MORE of everything! More competition to win seats to huge events balanced by more money to purchase more buy-ins for more prizes. One major advantage inexperienced players gain from this swarm of new blood into the online satellite environment is that it dilutes the professionals who are increasingly disillusioned about having to battle their way through hundreds of raw recruits and are drifting away from these bargain buy-in events for that reason.

“In less than one week,

you'll be playing heads-up

and taking 1st or 2nd place.

I GUARANTEE IT!”

Click Here For Details

Pocket Rockets Against Small Pairs Post Flop

2006-05-08T08:05:00.000-07:00

Pocket Rockets Against Small Pairs Post Flop

Should you pit your strong hole cards

against low pairs that come up in the Flop??

PAIR ON THE BOARD!
Peter Ware is a regular on dailystarpoker.com and his latest question raises an interesting and common problem: What to do if you’re holding strong hole cards like pocket Aces or Kings or Ace-King when a small pair (say 4’s through to 8’s) shows up on the flop? Obviously, pocket rockets or Ace-King are usually to “die for” as openers but when you see that pair of fours on the board you have to take a deep breath. If you’re in a full ring game, the chances of three-of-a-kind being out there are great. If a majority of players stay in the game post flop my advice is to fold every time you see this pattern. Sure, you might pair your Ace at the turn or the river giving you Aces and fours but even two pair won’t save you from trips. The risk-reward is all wrong. Dump ‘em!

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FREQUENTLY ASKED POKER QUESTIONS
Q: As an accountancy student I’ve never gambled before but poker appeals to me as a fun mental exercise. Is there a betting formula for those of us who put caution ahead of the pursuit of life changing losses or wins?
A: Sane gamblers ask these kind of questions. As a trainee accountant you’ll “get this”. Best rule of thumb is protect your profit by cashing out fifty per cent of your winnings whenever your bankroll doubles. Also, only play for recreational amounts of money until you can demonstrate to yourself with ink on paper notes that you are winning more times than you are losing while playing online.

Q: I’ve just moved up to No Limit Hold’em. Any special tips to help?
A: If you’re the first player to enter a pot before the flop NEVER just call. Go for it with a bet or muck your cards. If your hand is good enough to call it’s good enough to raise. Also, ALWAYS raise by three times the big blind. This will keep the opposition confused and it prevents both the blinds seeing more cards for free. These tips come from Chris “Jesus” Ferguson so you can take them as poker gospel or with a pinch of salt. Either way, good luck. Having the confidence to move up to No Limit is a vote of confidence in yourself.

Q: Is it just movie magazine gossip that Vinnie Jones plays poker with Brad Pitt?
A: No! They became good pals after the filming of “Snatch”. Apparently, Brad, Guy Ritchie, Jason Statham and Vinnie have squared off several times across the green felt on visits to Hollywood. Wouldn’t like to be the pretty faced movie star who had a Full House to Vinnie’s three-of-a-kind with a big pot at stake.

3 Poker Columns You Won't Want To Miss!

2006-05-04T04:30:00.000-07:00

Make sure you check out these 3 poker columns:

Blind Poker Players and Sun Blinded Poker Players
Why the old poker pros think blinded poker players in sunglasses are fools. Plus, the amazing opportunity that online qualifiers present to new online poker player, and how blind poker players can now play online poker too.

Freeroll Tournaments, $500k from 888.com, and Badugi Fever
Newbies poker players CAN hit the big wins by playing online poker freeroll tournaments just like Ian Fraser who won $500,000 from 888.com. Plus, have you got badugi fever yet -- check out the new online badugi games. And what the heck is a "donald campbell", a "rainbow" and a "rush" in the poker jargon lexicon?

Jennifer Harman and the New Army of Female Poker Players
Leading the new army of female poker players, Jennifer Harman is one gutsy lady. Read her story and learn why she is known as the best female poker player on the planet.

Keep upping your poker game and rise to the next level!

Pocket Rockets Against Small Pairs Post Flop

2006-05-04T04:22:00.000-07:00

Pocket Rockets Against Small Pairs Post Flop

Should you pit your strong hole cards against low pairs that come up in the Flop??

PAIR ON THE BOARD!
Peter Ware is a regular on dailystarpoker.com and his latest question raises an interesting and common problem: What to do if you’re holding strong hole cards like pocket Aces or Kings or Ace-King when a small pair (say 4’s through to 8’s) shows up on the flop? Obviously, pocket rockets or Ace-King are usually to “die for” as openers but when you see that pair of fours on the board you have to take a deep breath. If you’re in a full ring game, the chances of three-of-a-kind being out there are great. If a majority of players stay in the game post flop my advice is to fold every time you see this pattern. Sure, you might pair your Ace at the turn or the river giving you Aces and fours but even two pair won’t save you from trips. The risk-reward is all wrong. Dump ‘em!

FREQUENTLY ASKED POKER QUESTIONS

Q: As an accountancy student I’ve never gambled before but poker appeals to me as a fun mental exercise. Is there a betting formula for those of us who put caution ahead of the pursuit of life changing losses or wins?
A: Sane gamblers ask these kind of questions. As a trainee accountant you’ll “get this”. Best rule of thumb is protect your profit by cashing out fifty per cent of your winnings whenever your bankroll doubles. Also, only play for recreational amounts of money until you can demonstrate to yourself with ink on paper notes that you are winning more times than you are losing while playing online.

Q: I’ve just moved up to No Limit Hold’em. Any special tips to help?
A: If you’re the first player to enter a pot before the flop NEVER just call. Go for it with a bet or muck your cards. If your hand is good enough to call it’s good enough to raise. Also, ALWAYS raise by three times the big blind. This will keep the opposition confused and it prevents both the blinds seeing more cards for free. These tips come from Chris “Jesus” Ferguson so you can take them as poker gospel or with a pinch of salt. Either way, good luck. Having the confidence to move up to No Limit is a vote of confidence in yourself.

Q: Is it just movie magazine gossip that Vinnie Jones plays poker with Brad Pitt?
A: No! They became good pals after the filming of “Snatch”. Apparently, Brad, Guy Ritchie, Jason Statham and Vinnie have squared off several times across the green felt on visits to Hollywood. Wouldn’t like to be the pretty faced movie star who had a Full House to Vinnie’s three-of-a-kind with a big pot at stake.

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Going Heads Up, Playing Small Pairs or Big Pairs, and Suited Connectors

2006-05-04T04:17:00.000-07:00

Going Heads Up, Playing Small Pairs or Big Pairs, and Suited Connectors

Refine your poker game and play like a pro...

GOING HEADS UP
Choosing to play “heads up” poker instead of a normal ring game is really to do with how well you feel your normal game has matured. Nothing puts you on the spot more than a “heads up” confrontation. There’s nowhere to hide and if there are gaps in your game this is going to shine a laser beam onto them and cook your wallet.The plus side is you will be playing an awful lot more hands and you learn a huge amount about your game very quickly. The appeal of “heads up”, if you are ready, is you can win a heap of money very quickly against the right opposition. Selecting and being prepared to wait for that opposition is key to success. You need to be ready for what the poker community calls the “whales” to cruise into view. Your decision making process will be severely tested as you’ll be reacting every few seconds. It’s a bit like Kung Fu. If you have the moves you’re going to get the chance to apply them in quick succession. Don’t delude yourself though. The other guy or gal is likely in the same frame of mind as you so you can get bloodied. Personally, what I like most about “heads up” play is that it’s real poker and it points up in mean fashion any skill shortfalls and helps you correct them. I’d say this is the most skill orientated form of poker and a real adrenalin rush.

SMALL PAIRS
Small pairs are usually defined as 2-2 through to 7-7 and they are tricky to play. If you are a new upstart they are worth limping in with pre-flop. Experience shows that if the flop doesn’t deal you three of a kind, dump’em! A good post-flop mantra is “No Set! No Bet!”

BIG PAIRS
Obviously, these are everyone’s favourites. If you land pocket aces, they are well worth pumping up with a big pre-flop bet but the same “small pair” discipline should kick in post-flop if the set doesn’t materialise, unless you sense weakness all round. If the board is a mess and not scarey I’d take the pocket rockets to the turn.

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PLAYING CONNECTORS
High connectors are obviously worth playing when you’re looking for that power straight but sometimes you can dip your toe in the water with low connectors like 8-9. Go with them if you can do so on the cheap but if the flop doesn’t deliver another two cards to your run, muck your cards. Obviously a flop with a 5-6 in it or better still a Jack-Queen might tempt you to the turn and the river. Don’t let same-suited connector hole cards tempt you to be anymore aggressive than just plain connected. The running flush syndrome has some fairly unrealistic odds attached to it.

Source: http://www.onlinepokercolumn.com

Should you bet large on a bluff?

2006-05-04T04:12:00.000-07:00

Should you bet large on a bluff?

Plus, different types of poker games and why you should get a poker mentor...

BETTER BLUFFING!
A lot of new poker players think the bigger they bet on the bluff the more likely it is to come off. In fact, in most cases, the opposite is true. I’m a believer in the David Sklansky theory that big bets go best with big hands. So why is it a good idea not to power-bet on a bluff? Well, players with a reasonable amount of experience expect players to try and milk a premium hand by not betting in a scarey fashion once they’ve landed their pocket rockets or Ace-king. With solid hole cards their mission is to draw as many people into building the pot as possible, not to frighten them away with a huge bludgeoning bet. It’s about getting value into the pot to reward the hand they believe they’re building. So, in my mind, it stands to reason the occasional bluff is going to work better if you keep your betting under control and in fact behave as if you are attempting to milk a genuine premium hand for all it’s worth. The only time I’m tempted to go large is at the river with a nut hand when I want people to think I’m trying to buy the pot with a bluff. Confused? That’s the way I’d want you to be at a poker table. The simple logic here is that your bluffing, even if it goes wrong, isn’t going to cost you too much and your premium hands are going to earn value.

NOT SO F.A.Q.

Q: How many types of poker are there beyond Seven Card Stud, Omaha high and low and Texas Hold’em? I’m a student who has begun playing online with some of my mates and we’ve decide to do a paper on all types of poker.
A: I can get you started with some of the more obscure versions and you’ll be able to track down the better known variations yourselves.Triple Draw Lowball, Draw Poker, Razz, Crazy Pineapple (don’t ask), Kansas City Lowball (Great fun. Check it out.) Follow the Queen, Baseball and our own new game at dailystarpoker.com: Badugi! If you type any one of these games into the web you’ll be able to track down the rules. If you can’t, you’re not going to make your grades. Good luck.

FIND A FRIEND
Sometimes the best advice is too obvious for people to think of it. All subjects taught in school have text books which fully describe everything you need to know about a subject. However, none of us would expect our children to do very well without the guidance of a real life teacher guiding pupils through those books. The same goes for poker. Read everything when you start out but then hook up with an experienced player and have them run you through the concepts and strategies. Everything starts to make much more sense when you do this. Poker boot camps are an excellent hands on method.

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Online Poker Room Conspiracy Theories

2006-05-04T04:08:00.000-07:00

Plus, young poker prodigies storming to poker glory!

CONSPIRACY THEORIES
There’s frequently a heated debate in the poker chat rooms about some online poker sites being “rigged” to hit players who cash out the majority of their winnings on a regular basis. The story goes that most of these players claim to do very well on initially signing up to a site but the moment they start drawing out their gains “suddenly” their luck changes and they go on a losing streak. The conspiracy buffs say this is the site’s revenge. Not only would this be illegal and easily spotted by auditors of the big established sites, it would also be insane business judgement. The established sites are in it for the long haul and they have huge cash reserves and levels of profitability which they are not about to risk for small time vendettas. Their only interest is customer satisfaction and loyalty and of course taking their share of the rake for running hundreds of games per hour.

IT’S ALL IN THE MATHS
Perhaps more convincing to doubters are the several mathematical studies that have been done on the so-called “cash-out-curse”. These show that it IS true that players who regularly cash out major slices of their bankroll do tend to bust out more after doing so. There are two self evident reasons for this being so. The first is they tend to be under funded for the ups and downs that inevitably occur. Secondly, they tend to be “loose” players who often find themselves having winning streaks balanced out by short-stacked losing runs. The mathematical studies show “normal fluctuations” are the logical explanation for the apparent “Curse of Cashing Out!” Take a long term look at your own fluctuations of fortune over say a six month period and see what it tells you.

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YOUNG GUNS
Poker prodigies? Maybe. The fact is two eighteen year olds (student Michael Higgins and rising star “Ozzy” Sheikh) both qualified for the final table in the World Poker Tour event staged on the Bahamas. This made them the youngest ever players to pull off such a remarkable feat, defeating dozens of the world’s wiliest on their way to glory.

BLAZE O’ GLORY!
Michael hit the last six with $794,000 in chips and “Ozzy” with $231,000. Their mutual achievement was made possible by the legal environment on the Bahamas which sets its gambling age limit at eighteen against the twenty one year old barrier placed on gamblers in the nearby United States. Apparently you can die for your country in America at eighteen but you’re not allowed to play poker. As the Americans themselves would probably say, “Go figure!”

Source: Online Poker Room Conspiracy Theories

The Most Dangerous Poker Players To Play Against

2006-03-22T03:08:00.000-08:00

And why you should "watch out" for Vikings, AND get to bed on time!

As you become more experienced as a poker player, you’ll reach a few quite surprising conclusions. One of the most illogical is that a complete amateur poker player is one of the most dangerous opponents you can come up against. Why? Because...

Read this article here:

The Most Dangerous Poker Players To Play Against

An Example Of Poker's Risk-Reward Ratio In Play

2006-03-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

What would YOU have done with these poker cards...

POKER VARIATIONS ON A THEME

Jonathan Bull is an avid online poker player, Daily Star reader, and a friend of this column. He tinkles a mean jazz piano in his spare moments and tends to play Texas Hold’em with the same level of experimentation as he applies to his music.He tells of landing an 8-7 of spades last weekend and raising pre-flop to see 8 of clubs, Ace of hearts, and 10 of spades show up centre table. So this situation presents him with a lot of variations. He’s looking at an extremely optimistic but possible 6-7-8-9-10 running spade flush. Or just a plain straight and all this with the security of knowing he’s already paired his 8 in the hole. The New Orleans card player in his soul tells him it’s time to make “money music” but, if he doesn’t make either of the straights, his pair of 8’s may not be big enough to carry the day if he wades in big time. What would you do in these circumstances? (Think about it for a minute or two and come to your conclusion before you read on).

BULL SEES RED

OK. Long story short. Jonathan lives up to his name and goes Bull-ish, betting heavily into a one-on-one showdown with the turn and the river producing small reds (2 of diamonds and 4 of hearts). With such small cards on the last two streets Jonathan figures his 8’s may make it. Unfortunately, Mr Slik1 opposite him is holding the other ace. Finally, a Bull is milked.

HOLD’EM OR FOLD’EM

Those of you who honestly would’ve folded the 8’s at the sight of the ace on the board get my vote. It’s very tempting to go for it when you a see a potential straight out there with the protection of a pair from the outset, especially when the straight just might turn out to be same-suited. The Ace is the killer and skews the risk-reward ratio against pursuing the straight. Team points to the folders. Lesson learned to the holders.

BREAKING NEWS

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas is one of the oldest established names in gaming. After sixteen years without a single poker room they are splashing out $12,000,000 to build a customised 6,000 square foot space large enough to hold major tournaments. Caesars are at last following in the footsteps of the Las Vegas Hilton, the Mirage and the Golden Nugget who have all recently re-opened their poker rooms. Poker continues its inexorable popularity climb.

Source: http://www.onlinepokercolumn.com/An-Example-Of-Pokers-Risk-Reward-Ratio-In-Play.html

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Omaha Poker Explained Nice and Simple

2006-03-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

New article on the basics of Omaha Poker -- so simple even a complete dummy should know how to play Omaha Poker after this!

Read it here: http://www.onlinepokercolumn.com/Omaha-Poker-Explained-Nice-and-Simple.html

Online Poker: Chasing a Low Straight

2006-02-27T02:12:00.000-08:00

When you should and when you shouldn't go for it

Chasing a low straight can be a compelling but dangerous proposition. Let’s say your hole cards are king-two and the flop has lured you in with a three-four-five unsuited. This is dangerous because you will be quite naturally tempted to go looking for the six at the turn or even down to the river. This would be less of a risk in a short-handed game but if a lot of players are still in the frame and you hit your six at the turn it only requires ... Read on here.

888 Reasons to Have Your Own Poker Business

2006-02-27T01:57:00.000-08:00

Internet Gambling Giant Goes MLM Offering Unique Opportunity To Small Home Based Business Seekers

888.com, the publicly traded parent company behind Casino-on-net.com and PacificPoker.com, are now offering opportunity seekers the chance to share in the incredible profits being generated by the online poker and internet gaming boom.

With their new Multi-Level Marketing arm, www.888.biz/PokerBiz/ , entrepreneurs can actively build their own online poker and casino business and participate in the incredible profits return that the multi-billion dollar poker industry is seeing.

Following a soft launch in November 2004, this business opportunity is ripe for would-be poker millionaires to get in on the ground floor. According to MLM industry sources, www.888.biz/PokerBiz/ is shaping up to be the outstanding MLM business success of the decade.

Poker manners, brutal plays and aggressive poker action

2006-02-27T01:50:00.000-08:00

When etiquette can be a poker strategy as well as a courtesy...

MANNERS MAKETH MONEY!

The legendary Amarillo “Slim” Preston once said, “The first thing a gambler has to do is to make friends with himself!”

If things went wrong Amarillo believed you wouldn’t last long at the poker table if you always beat up on yourself or anyone else for that matter.

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Phil Tufnel Fronts Daily Star Poker Competition

2006-02-24T05:05:00.000-08:00

Popular ex-cricket star and tv celebrity, Phil Tufnel, is fronting the UK Daily Star's hot poker competition in association with 888.com. With prize holidays to top gambling resorts around the world and money to gamble you will definitely want to check out the details here at:

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/888/

Secrets of Texas Hold'em History

2006-01-05T06:25:00.000-08:00

HISTORY OF HOLD’EM

Texas Hold’em is without question the casino game of choice online and it’s now the world’s most popular form of poker. A lot of you younger players are probably unaware of its history which reads like a Hollywood script.

Discover it's secrets by reading this article: http://www.all-the-aces.com/Secrets-Texas-Holdem-History.html

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How To Make A "KILLING" Playing Online Poker!

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How to calculate whether or not you have a premium starting hand

2005-12-27T08:49:00.000-08:00

One of the keys to success at Texas Hold’em is knowing how to calculate whether or not you have a premium starting hand. Here is a simple numerical system you can use to figure out the real value of your hole cards. Add together the value of your two hole cards using the following points table.

Read article here: How to calculate whether or not you have a premium starting hand

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Poker's Highest Stakes Game Ever

2005-12-24T03:20:00.000-08:00

Fox Sports Network have announced the world's highest stakes sit-and-go poker game in history. The buy-in will be $10,000,000! You could get in for FREE. How? Find out more here: http://www.all-the-aces.com/Pokers-Highest-Stakes-Game-Ever.html

Manchester United Casino Scuppered

2005-12-24T03:16:00.000-08:00

CASINO CLUB
It looks like Manchester United's big casino idea has been scuppered. But the team should benefit. Why? Read article here: http://www.all-the-aces.com/Manchester-United-Casino-Scuppered.html

First Steps in Online Poker

2005-12-23T02:33:00.000-08:00

Poker Rules
In case you've never played poker before, you might like to take a look at our Poker Hands page, also peep in our Poker Tips section. To dive deeper into the rules of the various poker game check out these pages: Texas Holdem poker, Omaha High/Low Poker, 5-7 Card Stud poker. This short poker rules guide is built for online online poker players: Once the ten places are taken, the online poker game will begin and you will be given a seat.

The play begins after the dealer button (marked 'D') with two online poker players making blind bets, the small blind and the big blind. Two cards are dealt to each online poker player. The online poker player immediately after the big blind is first to act.

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When it is your turn you have the choice to call, raise or fold. If you are the small blind you have already placed half of the amount needed in your blind bet to see any more cards, if you are the big blind you have already placed the amount needed to see the flop unless a online poker player raises before it is your turn. If there is a raise you have the choice to re-raise, call or fold.

The Flop: Three community cards are dealt face up. Every online poker player at the table who didn't fold before the flop can now use these cards to help their poker hand, there is another round of betting at this stage. If nobody bets you can simply check and see the next card without placing any more money into the pot. A bet must be called or raised if you wish to see the next card, otherwise you must fold.

The Turn: A fourth community card is dealt face up. Again, every online poker player still in the hand can check, bet, call, raise or fold depending on the actions of others.

The River: A fifth and final community card is dealt face up. Here we see the last betting action. If a bet is made by one online poker player and called by another, both online poker players must turn over their cards and the winner is decided.

If at any stage a bet is made but not called, the person betting takes the whole pot, this person has the choice to show his cards or simply pass them back to the dealer (known as mucking) Once the winner is decided, a new hand starts, the dealer button is moved one place clockwise. The blinds will increase usually after a set period of time. After the final person is eliminated, the prize money is shared out and the online poker game is complete.

more about the online poker game and the poker John Greek - pro player - sweden. Nick shones - Live Editor.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Shons

Dirty Poker Tricks, Techniques, and Tips

2005-12-23T02:30:00.000-08:00

In the game of poker, some players make up for lack of skill with dirty poker tricks intended to break the concentration of other players during critical parts of the game. The pressure is on when you are face to face with other players to perform well, or lose your hard earned money and walk away from the table with nothing. When you add in the tricks used by many of these uncouth players, the pressure can often be hard to bear.

By learning about these tricks now, hopefully you will be better equipped to handle them when confronted with them around the poker table. There are many legal ways to help your odds of winning, playing the correct cards, learning pot odds, and betting are all very important skills. Unfortunately, many players choose not to master these skills, instead focusing on mind manipulation of other players to win their games.

We will discuss three of these so called mind tricks that are often used in poker games. They all take quite a bit of time to perfect, but once perfected can be extremely effective. Players who are able to perfect all of these techniques can be very formidable at the poker tables, without really having a lot of skill at the actual game itself.

The pause is one of the riskiest tactics to use, but when used at the right time can bring down even the most seasoned players. Players who use this are the ones who seem to take a really long time to make any decisions. Most players use this too often or at the wrong time and it becomes obvious what they are doing. If you just sit there staring at your cards or other players, it will be a definite cue that you are just blowing time. Most players get by with this trick by counting their chips, checking hole cards, etc. It is important to appear confused, asking the dealer questions will help with this illusion. It will make you appear to be thinking, instead of just blowing time to throw other players off their games. This trick is designed to keep everyone guessing as to what you are doing. You want them to spend their energy trying to figure out what cards you are holding, etc.

Another of these tricks used quite frequently is called the stare. It is commonly known that when something captures a person’s interest, or excites them, their pupils dilate. So many players will stare at other players to look for this effect, thus enabling them to know if they are bluffing or what sort of cards they have in their hand. Many experienced players will wear shades when they play to prevent this from being used on them. The only bad side of this trick for the user is that it would be very hard to use this on more than one player at once. For this trick to work to its full potential, it has to be used from the moment the cards are dealt until the player either folds or the game ends. If this technique doesn’t afford you any other help, at the very least it will make the other player very uncomfortable, which will affect their decisions and how effectively they play the game.

Many players are masters at distraction. The point of this is to make other players uncomfortable, which in turn will effect their concentration and performance. You try to distract them during key points in the game, when the need for concentration is at its highest. This sometimes is done by asking questions or making noises at crucial times to take a players mind off what they are doing or planning to do. Some players will ask what time it is, burp, laugh, cough, or just chatting in general. Talking to other players will often be the best source of distraction, because even if it is directed at another player, most people will still listen to what is being said. This is the least obvious way to perform this trick as it is human nature to listen to conversations that go on around us. If the other players seem to get angry at this trick, it means it is working. The angrier they become, the more off their game will be, therefore increasing your odds at winning that much more. Masters at this skill are often able to make a whole table of players lose their concentration and impact their games.

All of these are very effective but dirty tricks. The hard part is learning when to use them and on what players. If you use them and it becomes obvious, most of the effect will be lost. Players will warn other players of your tactics and they will be prepared for you. For some players, mastering these tricks of mind control has helped them to win several games they otherwise would not have won based on skill alone.

Check out our bios on the top poker players including Men "The Master" Nguyen and Phil Hellmuth today. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Finney

University POKER Challenge

2005-12-23T02:27:00.000-08:00

Getting The Third Degree In POKER!

University Challenge poker? Yep, university students are getting the third degree in poker. Poker is now the hottest inter-University competition with top universities going head-to-head in poker tournaments.

Read article here: http://www.all-the-aces.com/University-Poker-Challenge.html

Online Poker: Do you stream or download?

2005-12-23T02:24:00.000-08:00

When it comes to online poker: do you stream or download your online poker site? Here's what we've found... Read more: http://www.all-the-aces.com/Online-Poker-Do-You-Stream-or-Download.html

Country Music Television's HOT new POKER show!

2005-12-18T10:46:00.000-08:00

MAN VERSUS VEGAS
True story. Guy loses $3,000,000 in the late nineties playing poker in Vegas. His name is Daren Leverenz. He joins the tail end of the dot com boom before the bubble bursts and makes a $1,000,000. He decides fate has offered him a war chest to win back the $2,000,000 he’s still out of pocket. He comes up with a reality TV show where he gives thousands of dollars to people in the street on camera. The only catch is they have to use it to play poker on Daren’s behalf. If the street punters win, Daren shares the profit with them. They never have to risk their own money. A self described adrenaline addict, thirty five year old Leverenz appears to have hit TV goldust with his programme “Man V Vegas” which goes out coast to coast on cable and is already a Stateside success.

Read on: http://www.all-the-aces.com/Man-vs-Vegas.html

Casino Raids Add To Appeal Of Online Casinos

2005-12-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

Why violent raids on bricks and mortar casinos make online casinos even more appealing...
CASINO RAIDS
There are some unconventional ways to take money from casinos. For example the Triad raid on the Hyatt Casino in Macau with AK-47’s netting just under $4,000,000 was one of many in the 1990’s. The perps escaped by speedboat only to have the Chinese navy catch up with the ring leaders. With characteristic overstatement, the Chinese authorities took back the stolen dollars and also the lives of those involved.

Read rest of article at: Casino Raids

Discover How to Rob the Casinos -- Legally!

Fathoming the Flop: Poker Strategy Advice

2005-12-09T03:32:00.000-08:00

FATHOMING THE FLOP
Obviously if you decide your hole cards are worth playing you will be studying the flop as it comes down with a view to how you might develop your hand. There is however a secondary issue at this point which a new player needs to keep very much in mind. Look at the flop for its potential to others at your table as well as your self.

For example, if the flop produces a pair of aces and an unsuited king you’ll know that if one of your opponents has pocket rockets there’s the possibility you’re up against a “four of a kind”.

This kind of intel needs to factor into your thinking as you head down into the turn card. Once the turn card is dealt face up it will be more obvious what hands can (and definitely cannot) be out there to threaten your position. Let’s assume that after the turn has been dealt we have four cards on the board which are all of different suits. Well, right away this tells you a flush is going to be impossible, even at the river.

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Let’s assume someone has two spades as their hole cards. It follows by simple deduction that if there’s a third spade available on the board, even if the river produces another spade, the maximum number of cards available for a “spade flush” will be four.

This is good news for anyone nursing two pair. Again, by studying the board at this stage it will be apparent to you if a straight is possible. Clearly if there are two cards of the same value on the board by this stage the threat of a possible straight being out there is vastly reduced.

If you’re still in the game at the river you will swiftly be able to see how many other potential hands have now been eliminated, assisting you in evaluating your desire to pursue the pot or not. If the river produces a low pair on the board and you are holding a high pair, you may want to consider a raise as the emergence of another same value card on the board will have made the potential for any straight highly unlikely and we have already observed a flush isn’t possible. There will of course remain the threat of a Full House.

Also see: Poker's Golden Rules of The Flop and Trustworthy Poker Sites and the Fabulous Flop

Source: Fathoming The Flop

Are TV Poker Shows Teaching New Players To Play Poker Badly?

2005-12-09T03:28:00.000-08:00

TV SHOWCASE
Is televised poker presenting new players with entirely the wrong mind-set for eventual financial success at their chosen game? Directors of TV poker shows obviously want the more dramatic hands to be the ones they screen. This tends to give a false impression of what works in day to day poker. You will always see mega bluffs that snare the pot or well orchestrated traps which come off big time but rarely do you see the bread and butter hand where a good player simple bets on the strong cards he has acquired and takes the pot seven times out of ten. Caution, discipline and patience don't make for riveting television programmes, but they make for fat wallets.

Read on at: Is TV poker teaching new players bad tricks?

David Sklansky the Einstein of Poker

2005-12-09T03:23:00.000-08:00

SKLANSKY
We quoted David Sklansky in a recent poker column which provoked a lot of questions from new players, chief among them being, who is he? Sklansky is generally considered to be to poker what Albert Einstein was to physics. Fairly significant! Those of you who are beginning to take your poker very seriously will be interested in reading his Theory Of Poker book, although it isn't quite as accessible as our own Daily Star ALL THE ACES book! The latter is meant to guide you and prepare you for successful poker. The former is a brain dance through the mathematics of odds, implied odds and what Sklansky calls the 'Fundamental Theorem Of Poker'. Our money's on the one that costs just £3.99 but we're barbarians!

From: David Sklansky, the Einstein of Poker

What Makes A Good Poker Player?

2005-12-09T03:18:00.000-08:00

And more importantly, are YOU one?

What makes a good poker player? That's the essential question anyone who becomes interested in the game should be asking. To be a good poker player, a general knowledge of percentages is a great help. For example, professional poker players will know that if they're holding a pocket pair, they have approximately a one chance in eight of landing a set (three of a kind) at the flop. Similarly, they'll be aware they have one chance in three of completing a flush draw at the flop. Good players are also alert to the importance of "outs". Outs are simply the number of cards you need to improve your hand. Just count your outs, multiply them by two, then add one, and that'll give you the rough percentage shot you have for landing your hand. Knowledge of outs carries little value unless you can turn it into sensible, calculated betting. The purpose of understanding outs is so that you can figure out your all important pot odds.

HERE'S HOW YOU CALCULATE POT ODDS
Let's say your outs calculations offer you a twenty percent chance of landing your hand. What do you do with this info? Easy. Once you've worked out your chance of hitting your hand, you divide the size of the pot at the river (the current state of the pot plus the amount you think will likely be added through future bets) by the amount you have wagered. If your chances are twenty percent of hitting, and the bet to you is $50 and you reckon the pot at the river will be more than $250, you call! If not, you fold. These basic math skills are the bullets in your gun if you want to become a serious poker assassin.

Source: What makes a good poker player

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Playing Heads Up Poker

2005-12-02T06:21:00.000-08:00

HEADS UP!

Going heads up is a very important part of your poker arsenal. One-on-one defines you as a player. The important thing is to remember that the cards themselves have a lot less meaning than they do at any other stage of a table game. You’re no longer concerned about how other players are going to behave behind you.

SHAKE THINGS UP!

Your focus is making sure the single player in front of you is picking up the things about you that will upset his game the most. If you’ve already shown him you’re a tight player in the previous hands, shake him up with a bluff. Even if it doesn’t work, he’ll be unsure of what you’re going to do next. You, in turn, will have noted how your final opponent has behaved on his way to the heads up. Now hit him with everything he doesn’t like. The cards you are holding will matter less than your ability to unsettle your opponent. If you have great cards, so much the better.

Source: Playing Heads Up Poker

Passive Tilt and the Importance of Focus in Poker

2005-12-02T06:18:00.000-08:00

Don't play poker when your confidence is low and your mind is scattered...

If you have taken the decision to move up to a higher stake game than you would normally play, watch for what we call “passive tilt”. This can seriously erode your winnings. How do you spot if it’s happening? Simple. If you lose the confidence to aggressively pursue a good hand. If you in any way feel intimidated by the raises that come into play at the new higher level you have chosen, you should call a halt before any damage is done. It’s easy to slip back to a comfort zone at a lower stakes level and re-group. The worse thing that can happen to any poker player is a loss of confidence. A higher limit game can often trigger it.

Source: Passive Tilt and the Importance of Focus in Poker

Poker Psychology: Be A Happy Poker Player If You Want To Win

2005-12-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

How a grin can help you win...

BE HAPPY!

If you work in the media long enough, especially newspapers, someone’s going to come along and suggest you see a shrink because the stress of twenty four hour deadlines is enough to make you “check” on your lifestyle and occasionally “fold”. No admissions are being made here but a psychiatrist friend of ours has studied successful poker players and has come up with the notion that happy players do much better in the long run. Tired, miserable folk who’ve had a lousy day really should not be playing poker according Madam Nut-Mender. So, if you happen to be one of those naturally happy-go-lucky types, maybe you should think about spending less time helping old ladies across the road and more time online trying to win enough money to really do some good in the community. Okay, that’s our early spirit of Christmas bit out of the way. Now down to business.

Read more here

Poker: Which Cards Should I Play?

2005-11-18T04:24:00.000-08:00

After you have got your two cards, you need to decide whether you have a chance to get anything with them or not. Whether it’s useful to put more money into this game or not.

Firstly, there are certain cards you should always play (if they are suited): AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK, AQ, AJ, KQ, KJ

Why these cards?

These cards have the highest possibility to beat others – to get high pairs, full houses, flush or four of a kind possibilities. Of course, you do need to think about how much money you need to put into the game as well. For example, AA is the best pair you could have at all. But even with that pair there’s a chance to lose. So if you have AA, no flop has been dealt yet and someone calls ALL-In, then you need to think first whether you are ready for the risk or not. Yes, you do have a great chance to win this game, but these chances are never 100% sure. What if the other guy is bluffing and he has 10 and 3….but then from the flop he gets two more threes…or 10 and 3. There’s not a big chance for that to happen, but it’s possible and you do need to keep that in mind.

Secondly, there are all the smaller pairs like 22, 33, etc. With these cards you should call only when you’re one of the latest callers or somewhere in the middle. Never call with these cards if you’re the first one to call.

Thirdly, all kinds of suited cards (with a picture on it) like Q5, K6, etc.
And if the cards are suited then also hands like 98s, 97s, 96s,87s, 86s, 85s,76s, 75s,65s, 64s,54s, 53s,43s can be played with, but play these cards only when you’re in the end of the ring, one of the latest callers.

When talking about unsuited cards, then simply put – don’t play with anything smaller than pictures. QJ is okay, Q8 isn’t.

Some other poker pro’s can definitely disagree with me here just a bit, but these are the basics. This is a bit simplified look into it, but it should give you the general idea of what to play with and what not to play with.

Tom Corrier has been playing poker himself for some time now and even if he can't be considered a total pro, there are definitely some useful hints that you can take advantage of. You can read more from him at Gamblingdudes.com - Profits from online gambling

Video Poker Like a Pro

2005-11-18T04:23:00.000-08:00

Video Poker is quite a popular game amongst gamblers. This well-liked game combines elements of both slots and poker and gives the player a definite opportunity to win. This is so because unlike roulette or slots that are dependant almost purely on ‘luck’, Video Poker is an effective blend of both luck and strategy. Hence, if you learn to use the best strategy and are blessed with luck along with it, there is nothing to stop you from doing very well.

The results are always governed by a random number generator which moves through about 1000 random numbers, in a second. When the player asks the machine to deal, the Random Number Generator gives a number to the machine, which pertains to a card combination for display and the replacement cards. The odds that you will get a particular hand, is decided from the start of the game. For example, the odds of your receiving a royal flush without drawing are 1 for every 649,740 hands.

As one is allowed to discard in a game of video poker, a definite pattern or strategy on the basis of which a player can do so can be followed. The important thing is to discard in a way that maximizes your chances of a win.

The optimal strategy varies with the rules of the type of video poker being played. It may also vary with different play tables.

Learn to read a payout schedule so as to know the difference between short, partial play and full-pay versions. A 9/6 video poker will have the royal flush after every 40,000 hands played – this equals approximately 80 - 100 hours of game time. This would seem to discourage betters from placing their bets in anticipation of a major payout, but the reality is that betters should always bet the maximum coins being allowed as this will minimize the house advantage.

Joker’s Wild Strategies: For full pay, the pay schedule will be 7/5 machines, 7 coins for a full house and 5 coins for a flush. There are two versions of the game, in one the money is returned on a pair of Kings or more whereas in the other at least two pairs must be present before a payout. Obviously, the first game is better for more frequent winnings than the full pay version, however, if the payouts are varied, it may be that the two pairs version actually offers more in total payouts.

Whatever the version you are playing, here are a few simple game play rules:

1. If you do not have a joker, keep 3 cards to a royal over a pair of kings of aces, as the payout in the former case will be more.

2. If three consecutive cards lead to a straight flush discard other cards for the higher payback.

3. Never feel hesitant to hold the joker alone. You will not be able to connect with a straight, flush, straight flush or a high pair. But the Joker can give you four new cards and a chance to win.

Deuces Wild Strategies:

1. In the Full-pay Deuces Wild versions there will be 9/5’s with 9 coins for a straight flush and 5 coins for a 4-of-a-kind.

2. Never hesitate in throwing away your 5 cards. You may get additional cards that are deuces and keeping an Ace of a Kings will not help you if the next hand ends up being four, fives or sevens.

3. With Jacks or better, players should throw away full hands only 3% of the time as compared to Deuces Wild players who throw away about 20% of the time – that is every fifth hand.

4. Do not keep two pairs; make a selection between the two.

5. Inside straights must be kept only if they show the best possible return from the initial five cards and one should never discard a pair to hope for the straight.

6. In Deuces Wild, the number of deuces dealt in the initial hand determines the strategy. It is important to note that only once in every 5000 hands, will there be four deuces. Due to its rarity, this hand is a secondary jackpot that will get you winnings.

Rich McHagans is a video poker expert

Free Poker Tournaments--Making Extra Money While Having Fun

2005-11-18T04:21:00.000-08:00

There are many different ways, or schemes to make money over the internet. One way that I found to be extremely enjoyable is the free signup poker tournaments that dish out fat cash prizes to the top challengers.

Yes my dear readers, you can earn money while having fun playing poker, there is no investment, just your time.

Usually all you have to do is just follow the instructions contained in the poker tournament listing. Some will ask you to e-mail them with some required personal information and e-mail, they will e-mail you back an entrance code for the specific tournament you have inquired about, some will just tell you where to go to get that code. Fairly easy to do.

These online poker tournaments are called free sign in and are listed on different online poker sites. Some are run by the poker rooms themselves, and some are ran by other sponsors, usually you have to register in order to receive the free password to enter the tournament.

In these free roll tournaments players’ numbers are usually limited and they vary in sizes of players and cash prizes. I have seen some free roll tournaments that have prizes in the thousands of dollars, and all it takes is five minutes of your precious time to sign up. And believe me, its worth it. The fact that you get to play against others (real people) sure makes that old adrenaline pump go into over gear as you get to bet for free, yet win real money. For some of us experienced poker players it can be a great income extension for them extra dollars.

You can find these tournaments listings in most poker rooms around the net and in most affiliated casino review sites, some of which sponsor tournaments themselves. All you have to do is just look in your favorite search engine under online poker tournaments and a huge selection for you to choos from will come up.

US based Marketing expert on B2C business, now is the developer at http://www.generapharm.com and http://www.online-casinos-usa.com.

Web Cam Poker

2005-11-12T03:58:00.000-08:00

How web cam poker could be 'the next big thing' in online poker!

Online poker needs a new innovation and web cam poker could be it. Imagine being able to play online poker against opponents you can see, being able to read their tells and interact with them as real human beings.

Read full article at: Web Cam Poker

Women Poker Players

2005-11-06T02:00:00.000-08:00

How More And More Women Are Playing Poker... And Winning!

Look out, lads! The women are coming in droves to the poker table! It used to be the case that if women played cards at all they went to whist drives.

In very upmarket homes a rubber of bridge might have been the social order at the dinner party. Not now, chaps. Channel Five newsreader Fiona Foster has taken upi poker along with her husband. Tom Cruise's former wife, Mimi Rogers, is a dedicated poker player, as is TV personality Claudia Winkleman. Perhaps the most interesting recruit of all is TV Soccer AM's brainy blonde Helen Chamberlain. Helen is fast becoming a poker standard bearer for the new army of female online poker players.

"I recently turfed tournament favourite Ram Vaswani out of the SKY Poker Million competition," chirps a confident Miss Chamberlain.

And how did you manage that little miracle, Helen? Share your tips with Daily Star readers right this minute:

"It was a bullying tactic. It's one thing being a bully but when I'm being bullied, I fold unless I think I've got a hand. That's how I beat Ron Vaswani. He went all-in and we already had the flop and there was nothing. I had a pair and he obviously went all-in to try and scare me off. When the flop came in, it was a 9 high-flop."

Nice pair, Helen!

Even more gobsmacking is the meteoric rise to the top levels of the game of the now legendary Annie "The Duchess" Duke. Annie rose to fame as Ben Affleck's private coach but has long been a seriously respected poker heavyweight, held in high regard by the likes of Johnny "Orient Express" Chan and Howard "The Professor" Lederer (who happens to be Annie's brother). Annie has beaten both Chan and her brother, along with World Series of Poker double champs Doyle Brunson and Greg Raymer. Last Septemper she won a cool $2,000,000 in the World Poker Tournament of Champions in which she unseated a handful of the most potent poker players on Earth. She even concussed Phil Helmuth into second place.

Any of you ladies out there who are taking up poker and thinking it'll be too difficult to rise to the top and raise a family, think again. Annie is a mother of four and has earned over $6,000,000 in prize money. If there is ever to be a female World Series of Poker champ, it'll probably be the Duchess. In less than a decade, Annie Duke has reached ten finals. In the year 2000, she sat a final table whilst nine months pregnant.

Watch out, guys. The women poker players are coming to get you!

Saturday July 9th 2005 - Poker Column - Women Poker Players

Further Resources:
Top 10 women poker players to fear
Women's Poker Pages
Women's Poker Club: A private social club for women poker players with sponsored women only tournaments, peer mentoring, and poker forum

Bluff Detection: How to spot a poker bluffer

2005-11-06T01:56:00.000-08:00

Bluffing is a very powerful weapon. The great professional players use it all the time. How can you counter it? You need several pieces of intel to give you better than a fifty-fifty chance of guessing if a player is bluffing you in a live, social game or online.

Read rest of article: Bluff Detection: How to spot a bluffer

Types of Texas Holdem Poker Games

2005-11-01T02:51:00.000-08:00

New article for poker newbies, detailing the three Types of Texas Hold'em poker games that you can play at most online poker sites. If you are just starting out, or are curious about online poker but haven't got a clue where to start or how it works, be sure to check it out.

Poker Terminology - learn the poker lingo and poker jargon you need

2005-10-31T05:16:00.000-08:00

Experienced players of Texas Hold’em and other styles of poker will know what follows but it’s handy to have a page you can tear out with all the poker terminology or poker lingo you’re likely to encounter online or off. For beginners it’s an essential piece of kit, so print it out and stick it to your PC, or bookmark this page for handy reference.

Read poker article here: Poker Terminology

Texas Hold Em Strategy For Picking The Best Poker Table To Play At

2005-10-31T05:13:00.000-08:00

How To Make Sure You Enter A Good Game

Let's look at a good strategy for some online Texas hold 'em. First things first. How do you make sure you enter a good game? Spend some time watching who's playing and how. Look for a mid-sized game as it gives you more choice of who you can sit alongside.

Watch everyone play. Decide if they are superior to you. Note who's aggressive, who's playing tight, who semi-bluffed or bluffed, who's weak and who check-raised. Steer clear of games with plenty of early pre flop or post flop raises. Definitely keep away from games where an experienced player is mopping up no-hopers. When you think you've sussed a table that's about at your level, try to sit to the right of a tight player and if possible to the left of a loose player.

It's worth waiting for this situation if you can smoke it out. Think: right/tight, left/loose. The reason for this classic choice is that with the loose guy on your right, you're always pondering the hand after the call is made. Furthermore, it'll be easier to steal blinds from the tight player of your left. Try this today online and see how it pans out.

Finally, always remember the words of Doyle Brunson, "Poker is more art than science, and that's what makes it difficult to master. Knowing what to do (the science) is about ten per cent of the game. Knowing how to do it (the art) is the other ninety per cent. You not only have to know when to bet, when to raise, and when to fold, you have to be able to do all of those things with finesse."

Now none of us are Doyle Brunson and thankfully you're unlikely to come up against him online, but today's tips would certainly meet with his approval.

GETTING TIMED OUT
A lot of new online players ask about timing out. The timer system is needed in online poker because the action dependes on multiple remote players clicking the on-screen prompts within a reasonable time. Otherwise the game would grind to a halt. Most sites allow fifteen to twenty seconds once the action buttons display. Usually an interface shows the countdown to the player required to take action. If the player fails to react within the twenty seconds, he or she is timed out and their hand is automatically folded. This doesn't happen a lot but it's in everyones' interest for the sake of the game's enjoyment that things proceed at a viable pace.

Source: Texas Hold'em Strategy

Jack Straus, Legend of Poker

2005-10-30T03:11:00.000-08:00

The vociferous poker player Jack "Tree Top" Straus fondly remembered...

Jack Straus was a great champion of poker back in 1982 and like most of the immortals in the game he’ll be remembered best for his vocal outbursts.

“If God had wanted us to hang onto money he’d have made it with handles!” was perhaps one of his most notorious.

In many a tussle with the great opponents of his day Jack described his best characteristic as...

Read Jack Straus article here to find out!

How to stay off tilt when playing poker

2005-10-30T03:06:00.000-08:00

How to avoid getting "emotional" and betting recklessly...

Online poker players know about (and fear) going on tilt, that sudden state of reckless betting, so let's examine the danger.

The best possible way to avoid tilt when playing online poker is to stay aware of signs that indicate that you are starting to slide. Usually by the time you realize you're on tilt, it's too late, and you've lost most of your stack. Some of these signs are obvious and some are more subtle. If you fail to recognize these signs, you will never be able to get out of those losing streaks. You're Tired. Avoiding fatigue is the best physical way to stay off tilt. Any indication that you are tired is a sign that it's just a matter of time before you make a mistake. Decision making is impaired when players are tired. If you are constantly yawning, have heavy and tired eyes, and have fallen asleep for a few moments at the computer, then it's time for you to end your session immediately. Set a time for you to end your nightly session and stick to that. If you are experiencing sleepiness before that deadline, have enough sense to walk away.

Catch That Wave.
If you are experiencing a wave of frustration from catching cold cards, experiencing brutal bad beats, or missing your big draws more so than normal, that's another early warning sign that you are headed on tilt and you may even be there already. You have to calm yourself down or walk away because frustrated players tend to press more. They'll play more hands out of position and chase draws when they do not have the correct odds to call.

It only takes a few moments to waver from your game plan. You can play perfect poker for several hours then misplay one hand, which can set you on tilt for the remainder of the session. To avoid that trap, stay focused. You also need to figure out holes in your game, identify those mistakes and plug the leaks. The fewer mistakes you make, the better the chances that you will avoid tilt.

Stifle It.
Don't allow other players to get you on tilt with their taunting comments in the chat. In the real world, there is more of a professional decorum among the players in a poker room or casino. Online, you have the advantage of hiding behind a computer screen. That anonymity allows people to get away with poor behavior which wouldn't be tolerated in real life. There are players who will let loose a heavy flow of racial insults, curse words, and harassing statements. The best way to handle those players is to ignore them. Better yet, most online sites have a function that allows you to turn off the other players' chat. Utilize that function and ignore the chat.

Pay attention to the status of your normal life.
Usually when bad things are happening to you, that negativity spills over to your play on the tables. The best way to sidestep tilt is to avoid playing cards when you are having a terrible day. Sometimes the thought of poker for medicinal purposes sounds soothing. However, the serious player sits down at the table to win, not to escape from his problems. If you run away from your problems, they will eventually track you down, even at the poker table.

Sometimes you can go on tilt for a few hands during a session. Good players will be aware when something sets them off their optimal game and they quickly get back on track.

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Sometimes you can play by the book, get great cards, and still find yourself on the losing end of pot after pot. That's the formula for the most common occurrence of tilt. You begin to question how you've been playing, when there have been no flaws in your game. Simply put, other players are making mistakes and getting lucky. There's nothing you can do about that except move on and keep on playing a solid game.

The worst part about going on tilt is allowing your darker emotions to get involved. That stems from frustration combined with a struggling session. After an inferior player sucks you out on the river, your first instinct may be to "get him back." Your agenda has shifted from playing your natural game towards carrying out a personal vendetta against another player. Remember that in the long run, the best players are rewarded for solid play. Instead of trying to get that money back instantly, focus on the bigger picture. That money will eventually come back to you.

Accept the outcome of every hand and then forget about it and move onto the next hand.
The beauty of online poker is that you play quite a few more hands than you do in a casino. That gives you more opportunities to forget about bad beats. Also accept that there is a decent amount of luck involved with poker and sometimes you come out on the bad end of that luck.

The best way to avoid tilt when playing online is to turn off the computer. It's not like you are in Las Vegas and have to board a plane to fly home. You do not have to drive home to leave your local card game at your buddy's house, because you are already home. Log off and save yourself from seriously damaging your bankroll.

For More Great Poker Articles Visit Our Main Site @ The27offsuit.com

Online Poker Tells and How To Spot Them!

2005-10-28T02:11:00.000-07:00

How To Read Poker Tells Online ...and Offline!

"Tells" are a part of poker tradition. A tell is a behavioural giveaway that an opponent may signal if dealt a good hand. You look for that subconscious gesture. A widening of the eyes? Why do you think the champs wear sunglasses? They're cutting down the odds of a tell.

Okay. So what use are online poker tells where there are no facial expressions? The answer is the nature of the tell needs to be looked for in terms of online behaviour. For example: if an opponent bets quickly it's likely a signal of a weak hand. Think about it. If you land a good hand, the first thing you do is think about your strategey for playing it. That takes time? You don't need time to figure out a four of hearts and a ten of spades is not likely to send a shiver down Johnny Chan's spine. You get the idea? Make a mental note of the time each player takes to make their decisions. These can be valuable tells.

Obviously your own behaviour at the table is already giving off a tell to other experienced players. What's the defence against this intrusion on your game? A good tip is to try to take more or less the same amount of time to reach every decision. This sheds the light of confusion and players who are focused on this element of your game will become irritated which is another landmine in your armoury.

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Here are a few other observations worth making for online poker tells.

The online check box enables you to "fold", "call any" or "raise any". If an opponent is swift to check the "raise any", this is a likely giveaway of a good hand. A player who hits "check" is probably betraying a weak hand and similarly an opponent who hits "call any" is more likely looking for cards to complete a hand with potential and is not getting ready to fold yet awhile.
We'll return to online poker tells in a future column but as a parting shot here are a couple of poker tells that'll help you identify a beginner. If you yourself are a beginner, these closing tips will be even more valuable.

A beginner's mind set is often to pretend weakness with a good hand and bet on a weak hand. Look for the tell tale signs as a game progresses.

Here's something else newbies do. If a beginner receives a high card and checks and then bets when he receives the three of hearts, you can figure that he's paired the high card previously. It's unlikely he's raising on a pair of threes. It's more likely a smoke screen tempting you in if you say have a pair of sevens.

From: http://www.all-the-aces.com/Online_Poker_Tells.html

Learning Omaha poker

2005-10-28T02:03:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven’t played Omaha yet, here’s a useful walk-through. The game has basically grown out of Texas Hold’em and the rules are therefore more or less the same. There are two main differences that you need to be aware of to learn Omaha. Read about them here: Learning Omaha Poker

Poker Betting Strategy

2005-10-27T03:45:00.000-07:00

How much you are allowed to bet on each hand depends on the type of poker game you are playing: no limit or limit.

You need to have your poker betting strategy in place.

Pot limit hold 'em games tend to draw tight play from wily older players who have a pretty good grasp of their craft. With a pot limit game, you can find yourself with Kings under the gun wanting to raise a little more but not allowed to do so.

In a pot limit game, you can only raise the amount to call plus the value of the pot. This means that you can nly bet three and a half big blinds at this point, enabling your opponents to call as they follow on in the hope of success, leaving you vulnerable to the outcome of the flop. These situations suit pro players more than enthusiastic beginners.

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The rush with no limit is the deception and bluffing... and busting other players. It's all drama. THe poker TV channels have caused a huge new interest in no limit games where the adrenalin can really get pumping as players and eccentrics bluff for the pot or make the big bet. Here are some tips on how to stay alive in the shark pond.

Don't let the towering piles of chips intimidate you. It's only the structure that changes in no limit. Your focus now is the ratios if the amounts you bet. No limit often boils down to "What do I do when faced with a bet large enough to make my legs numb? Is it a gigantic bluff or a honey trap luring me into a killer hand that wipes me out?"

A lot of conservative poker players answer this question by always electing to play limit.

Here are the key factors of your poker betting strategy to remember in a no limit game.

Protect your good hands.
Seize opportunities to bust people.
Raise five times the big blind on a strong hand. The more players who call before you, the more you should raise. This enables you to limit the table to only a few callers. You want to give drawing hands an unattractive price to call.
Don't make your bet so large that you end up with no action on a strong hand.

Source: poker betting strategy

Online Poker Table Selection

2005-10-27T03:41:00.000-07:00

How to choose the best online poker table to maximise your chances of success

A smart thing to do before choosing a poker table to play at online, is to check out the lobby area. Look for the names of players you recognise from previous games and see if they have recently started playing in higher stakes games. If they are, it’s significant. It’s likely to mean one of two things: Either they’ve had a...

Continue reading article at: Online Poker Table Selection

The Top Strip Poker Sites

2005-10-26T00:28:00.000-07:00

Discover the best strip poker sites on the web! Play virtual poker against sexy models who strip as you win.

See article: The Top Strip Poker Sites

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>>>> Awesome online Texas Hold'em Poker Seminar Videos - Check it out! <<<<
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Texas Holdem Basics

2005-10-26T00:23:00.000-07:00

The basics of online Texas Hold'em for those just beginning their online poker playing adventure!
For the benefit of everyone whose online poker career is commencing today, here are the basics of the Internet´s most popular card game: Texas Hold´em.
(Ed: Here's an article on texas holdem history.)

IN THE BEGINNING
Before any cards are dealt the first two players on the dealer´s left must post “blind bets” to ensure that action is encouraged from other players at the table. These bets are known as the small and large “blinds”. In a $10-$20 game of Hold´em the small blind will be $5 and the big blind $10. Two cards are then dealt face down to each player. These are known as hole cards.

Article continues here >>>: Texas Hold'em Basics

First time online poker players

2005-10-25T02:51:00.000-07:00

What you need to know when playing poker online for the first time...

FIRST TIMERS
To those of you just deciding to start playing poker online we’re going to run through some of the essential points.

Is money you deposit with a large branded site safe? Yes it is. The reason the online industry has expanded so fast is that it has gained the trust of the general public and it’s now in nobody’s interest for that goodwill to be lost. Online gaming requires safe, secure payment systems enabling players to place bets and receive their winnings in an easy manner.

ENTER THE E-WALLET
NETeller has been going for over six years now, along with a few similar companies, such as Click2Pay, ePassporte and Firepay. All of these services allow online gamers to have what is effectively an “e-wallet” with which to conduct their internet finances. These are all easy, proven, honest, swift systems and it means you can now play poker online without any concern about identity fraud and credit theft.

WHAT PC DO I NEED?
Poker and casino software these days will run on the most basic of computers. Windows is still dominant as the software of choice but even Apple PC’s are supported by the big casino and poker sites now.

CAN I PLAY FOR FREE?
Yes you can. Open a “free play” account with the poker or casino site of your choice and they’ll give you a generous supply of chips so that you can come to grips with your game of choice. Dailystarpoker.com offers “freeplay” poker and casino activities.

IS THE SOFTWARE EASY TO USE?
Yes it is. Go to your site of choice (dailystarpoker.com is typical of the big branded sites) and download the poker room “client”. This is the easy to load software which will connect you to the servers. To install, all you have to do is double click on the icon and the software will self-install. Once installed you’ll be connected to the poker room which will offer you a clear registration window.

After a few simple registration questions you’ll enter the lobby area where you can select the game you’re interested in. If you want to take instruction on any particular game you’ll find the tutorials are very simple to follow with lots of visuals. If you want to play for real money right away go to the “cashier” in the lobby and establish where and how you want your winnings paid. Again the process is very straightforward and you only have to do it once. Have fun!

See it at source (there's a funny picture of first time poker players):
First time online poker players

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Poker Scalping

2005-10-24T03:47:00.000-07:00

A poker strategy of preying on new and vulnerable poker players in order to win consistent hourly wages from playing poker.

I'm not sure if Poker Scalping is a recognised term for what I'm about to explain, but for me it sums up a strategy used by a lot of professional gamblers.

That strategy in a nutshell is that of preying on new and vulnerable poker players in order to win consistent hourly wages from playing poker.

Every day thousands of bad poker plays go online at the nets largest poker site and play badly and lose their money. That money is won not just by good poker players but also by poker players who play systematically. That is they play tight they know their odds and they play business like.

These professional players are winning and winning big with some making regular six figure salaries year in and year out.

There is an unlimited supply of bad players to win from and more are added daily. All you have to do is to have a strategy and some tools.

Now maybe "preying on new players" is strong language, but what you have to keep in mind is that these players will lose to somebody and that while they are losing they are getting an education. And to be honest if you dive in to a financial transaction without any real knowledge of what you're doing, other than what you have seen on TV then you have to expect to pay for your education.

There are an unlimited number of players and more come online everyday and the added bonus is that nobody cares if you are winning. No casino heavy looking over your shoulder, no bookmaker cutting your bets. The casino takes a rake from everything you win and all they care about is that you play, they want you playing at their tables.

So how do you get some of this action. Well you need to make sure that you aren't one of the TV poker suckers. You need an education.

Your first step to earning regular poker income is to join a poker room and spend a little time familiarising yourself with the set up, get familiar with the software, watch some games and play some free games.

Your next step is to formulate a simple set of rules that you will play by. You can do this by buying the best poker strategy books over at Amazon. Or you can do it the way we did. And that's by learning from the professionals that already win regularly.

There are a number of guides available online that will teach you how to play to win and if you visit our resource page at www.betting-school.com/pokscalp.html we will tell you which ones are worth their weight in gold.

If you get started today there is absolutely no reason why you couldn't be making an extra thousand or two next month and before you know it you will be a six figure winner.

Remember you don't need to be lucky when you have a plan. For resources that will ensure your success with this strategy visit http://www.betting-school.com/pokscalp.html

About The Author

Darren Power is the webmaster at www.betting-school.com a site dedicated to winning bets on all sports.

Texas Hold'em Poker Beginners: How to get Play Money

2005-10-24T03:36:00.000-07:00

A beginner's guide to playing Texas Hold'em with play money and becoming familliar with the various types of Texas Hold'em games. Plus, "ring"games explained.

Read poker article here: Texas Holdem Poker Beginner: How to get play money

Online Poker Tells

2005-10-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

Online Poker Tells
How To Read Poker Tells Online ...and Offline!

"Tells" are a part of poker tradition. A tell is a behavioural giveaway that an opponent may signal if dealt a good hand. You look for that subconscious gesture. A widening of the eyes? Why do you think the champs wear sunglasses? They're cutting down the odds of a tell.

Okay. So what use is a poker tell online where there are no facial expressions? The answer is the nature of the tell needs to be looked for in terms of online behaviour. For example: if an opponent bets quickly it's likely a signal of a weak hand. Think about it. If you land a good hand, the first thing you do is think about your strategey for playing it. That takes time? You don't need time to figure out a four of hearts and a ten of spades is not likely to send a shiver down Johnny Chan's spine. You get the idea? Make a mental note of the time each player takes to make their decisions. These can be valuable tells.

Obviously your own behaviour at the table is already giving off a tell to other experienced players. What's the defence against this intrusion on your game? A good tip is to try to take more or less the same amount of time to reach every decision. This sheds the light of confusion and players who are focused on this element of your game will become irritated which is another landmine in your armoury.

Here are a few other observations worth making for online poker tells. The online check box enables you to "fold", "call any" or "raise any". If an opponent is swift to check the "raise any", this is a likely giveaway of a good hand. A player who hits "check" is probably betraying a weak hand and similarly an opponent who hits "call any" is more likely looking for cards to complete a hand with potential and is not getting ready to fold yet awhile.

We'll return to online poker tells in a future column but as a parting shot here are a couple of poker tells that'll help you identify a beginner. If you yourself are a beginner, these closing tips will be even more valuable.

A beginner's mind set is often to pretend weakness with a good hand and bet on a weak hand. Look for the tell tale signs as a game progresses.

Here's something else newbies do. If a beginner receives a high card and checks and then bets when he receives the three of hearts, you can figure that he's paired the high card previously. It's unlikely he's raising on a pair of threes. It's more likely a smoke screen tempting you in if you say have a pair of sevens.

POKER JOKER
Jim: "We were playing poker at midnight using tarot cards."
Bert: "How'd it work out?"
Jim: "I got a full house and four people died!"

Source: All The Aces: Online Poker Tells

Hot supermodel teaches you how to play poker

2005-10-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

We reveal where to find the secret source of poker knowledge dispensed by a red-hot poker babe...

So you've heard all about this poker craze and you want to learn to play poker online. You could read all the many free poker articles, poker tips or a poker column to get clued up, but if you don't like reading wouldn't you prefer to have a red-hot supermodel coach you through the basics?

Scientists have shown we pay much more attention to what we are being told if we are aroused. And we pay more attention to attractive people than to unattractive people. So if you want to learn to play poker, who better than a famous supermodel (and a crack poker player to boot!) to teach you?

These high quality poker videos stream right onto your PC, one after the other. They are really high quality and the poker instruction is concise, useful and to the point.

Continue poker article here (tasty pic too!): Hot supermodel teaches you how to play poker

Snooker World Champion Stephen Hendry playing poker at the Bellagio

2005-10-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

This free poker article relates how Stephen Hendry, 7-time Snooker World Champion, is turning his hand to poker and how he got on playing poker at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Go read it: Stephen Hendry plays poker at the Bellagio

Poker radio, and the Supreme Court of Poker

2005-10-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

This poker article talks about the latest poker radio station to hit the airwaves playing pokerrelated interviews and talk shows 24/7. It also looks at the shannigans of The Supreme Court of Justice - happy to enforce a ban on poker in certain parts of the USA, while holding regular high stakes games of poker between its members and staff.

See: Poker radio and the Supreme Court of Justice

The best poker radio shows

2005-10-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Discover the world's best (and, let's face it, only) poker radio shows. That's right now you can listen to your own internet radio shows 24/7 as you play online poker! Don't worry if you can't catch them live though, as most archive their shows so that you can download them at your convenience. This poker article lists them all.

See : Poker Radio Shows