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[February 18, 2010]

Racing Is for the Weak

Filed under: Enjoyment, Great Gambling Stuff, Hall Of Games — @ 10:34 am

It seems like the big highlight in online poker television broadcasts is disproportionately based around the coinflip, or the race. Especially late in big tournaments, the pushing of stacks with pairs against overcards happens more and more, and the cameras tend to go toward this action.

These kinds of spots, though, are much less skill based than they are luck. If you are putting your money in too often when the odds are 50/50, eventually you are going to get caught.

The rule is that an online poker player with less skill and experience stands to do better against a pro by pushing for races more often, as when they are faced with skill elements, they will lose. Pushing too hard in these kinds of spots, preflop and on the flop, then seems a tactic of the newbie or the less seasoned. If you are neither one of these, you should be focusing more on your postflop and late stage tactics than focusing on trying to get all your money in on a prospect.

We don’t want races. We want good bets. We want to get our money in with the best of it and hold up. If all you are doing is pushing and hoping to get lucky, you might as well be at the craps table. Remember this when you’re playing poker online.

[February 8, 2010]

Reverse Sexism on the Felt

Filed under: Enjoyment, Great Gambling Stuff, Hall Of Games — @ 11:24 am

For years women complained about equal rights and equal opportunity. But one man in an Atlantic City online poker tournament turned the whole idea of gender discrimination upside down, at least in the online poker world. Abraham Korotki was the lone wolf that had the whole pack of women in an uproar when he won a poker tournament held at the Borgata Hotel and Casino. Korotki won against a field of 260 players, all but him of the female persuasion. See, at first no one really cared that Korotki entered the tournament reserved for women. But as the field narrowed, and the lone male eventually won the tournament, the reactions quickly changed. Everyone was trying to figure out why Korotki entered the women’s tournament when there were so many others to choose from. One disgruntled onlooker said, “It makes no sense…that this guy would enter a ladies event. I guess he felt that it would be easier to beat women, so he gave it a shot.” But Korotki had another reason in mind. According to him, he merely entered because he hadn’t been playing a lot of poker. He “just wanted to tune up his game” he said, before he played in the main event. “I didn’t do it for the money,” Korotki said, “I needed some practice time.” Of course not every woman was upset with Korotki. Some more grounded players seemed to think that it was only fair that Korotki be able to enter. Player Fran Hinkle said, “We’ve been trying to gain equal ground with men for years, if we want to be allowed to play in events with them, then there should be no reason that they should be forbidden to enter a ladies’ event.” For all intents and purposes, I tend to agree with the latter stance. It’s one that promotes equality and sportsmanship across the board. When we talk about equality among men and women that equality should be universal. What Korotki was knock down the invisible wall that ostracized men since we all know that there would be a tremendous uproar if someone tried to host a men’s only poker tournament.

[January 18, 2010]

Bet when Check

Filed under: Enjoyment, Great Gambling Stuff, Hall Of Games — @ 11:35 pm

If it’s your turn to act and no one has bet, act as if you’ve got the best hand. Unless you’re paying against an especially crafty player, you’re playing against a bunch of opponents that aren’t very confident in their cards. If you’re playing tight-aggressive online poker, you’re probably rocking the best hand anyway.

Generally a player who checks hasn’t made his hand yet, but isn’t ready to fold his hand just yet. He’s either waiting to see if any of his poker opponents has a hand that they like or he’s trying to see if the next card will be the one that he needs for a win.

Since you’re in the hand, you’ve probably got at least an overcard, but if things go your way, it won’t matter. If everyone checks to you, respond to their weakness with strength and most of the time the table will fold to you.

Watch out for deceptive players. Better online poker players will make a hand and slow play it, feigning weakness and allowing their opponents to fatten the pot and bet with confidence, only to turn over the winning hand at the showdown. When you consider raising to a table of checkers, look at your opponents and make sure that you aren’t being trapped before you make your move.

[January 5, 2010]

When to Abandon Texas Holdem

Filed under: Enjoyment, Great Gambling Stuff, Hall Of Games — @ 10:25 am

There comes a time in every online poker player’s life when they need to abandon Texas Holdem. The point is different for every player, but there is always a moment when they realize that Texas Holdem does not offer everything they need. It is a natural transition really, people these days learn to player poker online by watching televised Texas Holdem shows, but then find out that the reality does not match the television. When they realize that the game is not everything that they thought it would be, they often find themselves ready to jump ship to a new poker variant.

How do you know when it is time to abandon Texas Holdem? You should ask yourself if you still feel challenged and interested in the game. If you are starting to feel bored when you play, or if it is starting to feel like work, you may need to start looking at other games. It is probably time to start looking at the less popular, and more challenging, poker variations that are available on the casino floor these days. It is always worthwhile to see what the remaining options are left. Remember, you can always come back to Texas Holdem if you find that it truly is the only place for you.

[November 5, 2009]

Yell and Scream at Your Computer Screen

Filed under: Enjoyment, Great Gambling Stuff, Hall Of Games — @ 2:43 pm

We have all had those moments playing poker when the standard poker face will not do. There are times when you just need to let your emotions out to keep yourself from getting too caught up in the poker game. These are the times when you should yell and scream at your computer screen. No one will be able to hear you, so let it out.

Many people do not realize that the process of interacting with an online casinopoker game in this way can actually help them in the long run. It will definitely help you from going on tilt if you don’t have to bottle up your emotions. You can get into serious problems if you internalize your issues at the table. Take advantage of the privacy of your home to let the computer know exactly how you feel about your hand. You’ll probably end up playing a much more controlled card game because you will not be trying to use the cards to act out your emotions.

This is one poker tip that is only applicable to the online poker world. Don’t try doing this in a brick and mortar casino or you will find yourself being escorted off the premises by security. Keep while displays of poker emotion at home.

[July 16, 2009]

Blogging about Poker

Filed under: Enjoyment, Great Gambling Stuff, Hall Of Games — @ 4:15 pm

It seems these days everyone is an expert. The topics vary from poker to anything else, as does the level of actual knowledge, but everyone is allowed to broadcast their opinion on everything to the world at large. I am talking, of course, about blogging. That great internet David that has toppled the traditional Goliaths of the printed word. People don’t read books anymore, they read bogs. And everyone seems to have one. A very popular topic for the would be bloggers out there is to write about online poker. Some of them know the game through and through, while others would have difficulty navigating their way around a poker deck. The actual level of experience of these bloggers is not the issue. What is important is their ability to string words together to be entertaining. With the surfeit of poker blogs out there, a new player could feel a bit lost. Do you trust the authority of strangers on the internet, or rely on more classic information sources? My advice to you is to read the blogs, but read critically. You need to remember that there is no guarantee that the poker pro on the other end is who he says he is. Just take it with a grain of salt.

[January 9, 2009]

Bermuda Progressive

Filed under: Enjoyment, Great Gambling Stuff, Hall Of Games — @ 11:08 am

Innovation Group, a consulting firm hired by the Bermuda government, has been contracted for $300,000 USD to conduct a feasibility study into the impact legalizing gambling, perhaps online poker, would have on the Bermuda economy. Some see this as the stake to drive through heart of the vampire that has taken the form of waning tourism revenue for the country.

The study will include not only the expenses and revenue that could be generated from brick and mortar casinos and poker, but also will look at the the social and economic impact of a national lottery. Several hoteliers have taken a conservative stance on the issue. One, who was contacted by the Royal Gazette, said that “some say this will be the…[way] to save tourism. I’m not so sure it is. You have to do this…[study] to find out if it’s worth while.”

While the economic feasibility is an issue the Bermuda government itself will have to decide on the merits and facts returned from the study, an adoption of less stringent gaming laws would put Bermuda in the forefront of the progressivist gambling movement. That’s not to mention that it would also serve as an example to the rest of the world, especially those tourist nations who have yet to even look into allowing their citizens the choice to gamble.

Taking preemptive steps, the Government has already loosened some legislation which allows cruise ships to open late-night casinos while in port. The rational behind this move was strictly an economic one. It was done to promote competition against rival cruise lines not under Bermuda control which similarly allow such activities such as poker. Again, I reiterate that such a move on Bermuda’s part should serve as a beacon to the rest of the world, especially in these economic times. As gamblers at large, such a policy would only strengthen our ranks in the global community.

[October 2, 2008]

Really great Porches to be won at Dutch Windeprijsvraag.nl this week

Filed under: Enjoyment, Hall Of Games, Shopping Mall — @ 4:10 pm

Internet sweepstakes are also legally indifferent from the contest websites in Bellingham Washington. Sweepstakes are mostly much more sluttish and much more faster to enter than online contests. Funny online contests are toughened much more differently than the players who win who are not chosen by hazard but by an good piece of easy skill. Its marvelous to win prizes worth 355 euro and that simple. 6 hours ago also a Europe based online company begun with a funny online contest and is also legally indifferently. That’s why there are super surfboards to win at online game contest and easy sweepstakes this year. Online promotions advertised as fun websites, til now, can need an entry fee or proof of bribe.

Translated in Ducth is says: Leeft u in Maasdriel of Borger-Odoorn en wilt u veel prijzen winnen’ Met Windeprijsvraag winnen is nog nooit zo gemakkelijk geweest. Leuke prijzen winnen met abonnementen van windeprijsvraag.nl‘ Over het algemeen meer dan 477 prijzen per maand. Van Nederweert tot Rhenen, winnen met Win de Prijsvraag is altijd mogelijk. Een meneer van 34 heeft vandaag nog een plasma TV weten te winnen.

Cyber sweepstakes and online actions are banned from demanding a purchase to enter. Entering online sweepstakes by mail is worsening in well known popularity at this moment. Anyone can win terrific SUVs now every 19 weeks even if you live in Moreno Valley California or in El Centro California, isn’t that absolutely fantastic. Many more online game contests are choosing to enter online easy sweepstakes.

[September 23, 2008]

Practice Odds and Outs Online

Filed under: Enjoyment, Great Gambling Stuff, Hall Of Games — @ 10:22 am

Long-term profitability in Texas Holdem depends on a player’s ability to calculate outs and odds. This can be hard to do for beginners at live online casino tables because you’re under intense pressure to keep the game moving, and there can a lot of distractions - like music, TVs, table talk, etc. - to cloud one’s thinking. And some people simply are not good at math.

Online poker presents an ideal opportunity to practice outs and odds calculation. You can even keep a calculator or printed “Outs and Odds” chart handy to figure them out quickly. Playing online eliminates the distractions of your table mates being in your face, so you can quickly come up with the percentages to see if a bet is worth calling.

By using online poker as a setting to practice outs and odds, you’ll get more familiar with general configurations, e.g. the possibilities of drawing to two pair, a set, a straight, flush, full house, or quads. After a while, you won’t need to calculate every situation since by practicing outs and odds figures online in a comfortable space, it will become automatic to do at live casino tables.

Because it’s hard to get any “tells” (individual quirks and body language that can reveal an opponent’s thinking at the table), playing poker online is a great opportunity to build and exercise your knowledge about pot odds.


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