When Playing Poker, Set Limits

May 1, 2009

You must decide just what your poker playing limit is.

The term of playing limit has nothing to do with the term of bankroll. Your playing limit is simply the amount of money you would feel comfortable playing. No one can be indifferent when playing his own money and therefore they cannot remain calm when it comes to losing them. Therefore, don't use all your saving or paycheck to play online poker. This is not good for two reasons:

1. If you lose, you will have a bad memory of the game that left you with no money at all, when it is in fact your fault for not being responsible and for not thinking through your actions.

2. You will lose! Think about this one for a while. You will most certainly lose because your game will be affected by the constant frustration that arises from your worries for your money.

So, avoid these situations by playing an amount you wouldn't care about. Just think of it as if it was an expense to buy a game, and now you are playing that game you paid for. This way the worries can be ignored and your playing style can really become what it needs to.

If you have a normal profession or one more basis of profits, then the above strategy should suit your case. But when you plan to play poker for an income, then stuff gets difficult. A professional poker player has no source but his bankroll. The bankroll has at all times to remain intact so it can generate income.

When you play poker your income will fluctuate. If you are a wealthy person and don't care about money because you already have too many, then fluctuation don't mean a thing. But if poker is your only source of income, then keep the bankroll intact only as long as you don't need it. When you have to pay the bills, you will remove that amount from your bankroll. It is a bad thing and it means you didn't know your limits. Your initial bankroll will become smaller and smaller not because of poker, but because you wanted to rely on an amount of money you did not actually had to spend.

A professional poker player has learned his limits by now. He knows exactly how much he is playing, and he knows how much he should leave at the online casino and how much to put in a bank or invest in the stock market after a win. There is no need to increase a good playing limit that has been tested. Every time we go above it, we can redraw the exceeding money and leave this way the bankroll intact while making an income.

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Top 10 Online Poker Websites

April 30, 2009

When it comes to playing poker online you are probably amazed at how many online poker websites really exist and don't know which one is the best one for you to play regarding payout, bonuses, game selection, and the like. However, don't worry because I am going to provide you with some of the most popular online poker websites. Then, you can check them out and see which ones you like the best. Of course, there are new poker websites every day so staying on top of the new sites is always a good idea as well. Consider the top 10 current websites and some of their benefits.

#1 Poker Site- Party Poker

PartyPoker.com has been online since 2001 and is considered the world's largest poker room. It has more than 70,000 players online at any time so finding someone to play poker with certainly is not a problem. In addition, this website is licensed and regulated, so you should feel comfortable and trust this website. All transactions are secure and safe for you and your personal information. In addition, payouts are fast and there are many different games and limits you can choose from. Basically, you will be able to find a game that fits your budget and playing preferences. You don't need a credit card to play on this site and money is paid out in a variety of different methods from moneybookers.com to e-checks, wire transfers, and many more options.

#2 Poker Site-Pacific Poker

Pacificpoker.com and 888.com are the same poker room website. This site is also regulated and licensed, which makes players feel more secure when they play on the site. Additionally, payouts are fast and it is safe to make a deposit and when you are ready to cash out that is easy as well. Pacificpoker.com offers live support 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, so if you ever have a problem there will be someone available to help you immediately. Getting started is easy and fast and all you have to do is download the software, follow the instructions, and before you know it you will be playing poker online!

#3 Poker Site-Ultimate Bet

Ultimatebet.com has been online since 2000 and has had many card hands dealt in the last five years. The design and software of Ultimatebet.com were designed in part by some of pokers hottest professionals, so not only do you play poker, but you play in a way that the professionals believe is most conducive to a great hand of cards. The website is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Also, safety measures are strong so you should feel confident regarding your personal information when playing on this website. There are a great variety of games and bonuses for when you refer a friend.

#4 Poker Site-Inter Poker

Security is one of the biggest concerns at interpoker.com, so your financial and personal information are kept as safe and secure as possible. The website boasts that it is stable financially and makes payouts secure and efficiently. Also, support is available 24/7 so getting in touch with customer support should be no problem at all. This site is proud of its efforts in protecting its players, so consider this site if you want to play poker online.

#5 Poker Site-PokerRoom

PokerRoom.com claims to have a safe and secure payout system that is super fast. In addition, there are lots of different games and limits to choose from, not to mention the variety of tournaments. You can play for free among friends, or else you can bet and win big bucks, depending on your style. Also, no download is required so you can start playing fast!

#6 Poker Site-Gaming Club Poker

The Gaming Club Poker offers a different type of online poker game than many of the other poker sites. With Gaming Club Poker you play against players in other card rooms on the Internet rather than with the dealer. In this case you never play against house players, but rather other real players in the network. Not only are the games state of the art, but the technology is improving each day as well.

#7 Poker Site-Bodog Poker

This website offers more than just poker, but sports betting and online casino gambling as well. Payouts are fast so you never have to wait too long for your winnings and transactions are as secure as possible. The website describes their customer service as "fantastic" so if you ever need help it should not be too hard to get. The software download is free and once on your computer you simply log in to play whenever you like!

#8 Poker Site-Poker Stars

Pokerstars.com is a registered and legal business and abides by all laws of the country where it is located. Processing of payments is fast and secure and you will enjoy the free download of their software. There are a variety of low and high limits, so no matter what your budget or gambling style you will have fun at Poker Stars. Additionally, there are tournaments and plenty of different games to choose from.

#9 Poker Site-Royal Vegas Poker

Royal Vegas Poker is part of the Kahnawake gaming Commission and prides itself on high security and fast payouts. In addition, this online poker website offers 24/7 support, which is important if you are gambling for money. When you download the software and signup you will receive free money and a deposit bonus.

#10 Poker Site-Titan Poker

With Titan Poker you can download the software while simply browsing their website. Additionally, the site is secure and safe for processing your information not to mention it is licensed and regulated. There are a lot of different games available at all limits and payouts are fast. Fortunately, a credit card is not required to play poker on this site either. Enjoy playing for money or just for fun on Titanpoker.com.

Check out one or all of these online poker websites and see which one is your favorite. However, keep in mind there are thousands of poker websites to choose from so always make sure you do a little research and know the site is legitimate and registered before you begin playing poker online.

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Online Poker - Gambling with the Future in Europe

April 25, 2009

As the fallout from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act starts to take shape, the poker gaming and gambling industry is now shaping itself for unprecedented change to regulations, stringent restrictions and further legal remonstrations.

The recent change to the US Act saw share prices across the globe slashed by up to 75%. The Gambling Market itself provided the biggest drop on the stock markets of 2006, more than any other product or market area.

It is clear that the year ahead is a very important one for online poker gaming.

European gaming operators are treading carefully as recently, some EU states have seen changes to what is being described as an unregulated industry. Countries such as Germany and Russia have been attacking both sportsbook networks and casino and poker infrastructures, and Italy saw the banning of two ISPs from gaming operators, while France arrested two senior executives from Bwin (formerly Bet and Win). Add this to the removal of gaming from the EU Services Directive and it is clear that the industry is treading on shaky ground.

The best case that Europe and the rest of the world (away from USA) could hope for is further clarity of legal guidelines. The UK is set to implement new gaming regulations in September 2007, following the release of the recent Gaming Commission Act and, it could lay the path by which other countries in Europe may follow. The hope is that this will then fuel growth in a largely untapped market.

Clarity is required in a market where rumours are rife and changes and deals are being made or broken on a weekly basis. Recently Ladbrokes had brokered a deal with the Italian government to operate land-based and online based betting and casinos, while Russia closed around 70% of its land-based casinos as the first stage of a prohibitive bill that will see gambling being taken out of the cities and pushed into four unspecified regions.

The lack of clarity is clear within approximately seven EU states, requested by the EU Commission to verify whether they have restrictions in place which contravene the EC treaty (which guarantees the freedom of movements of services).

A Legal Gaming Summit in London in 2007 will deliver case studies, roundtable discussions and debates from legal experts and major operators together with Parliament, in the hope of clarifying the very issues that poker operators must understand in order to operate in Europe.

One thing is for sure, Europe will be as big as the US in a couple of years as operators are swiftly moving into countries yet to have a decent online poker product. The Polish market, Ukrainian markets and others will soon have quality products that will fill a gap in online gaming in those regions. Sweden is currently seeing massive growth in numbers for its bingo and poker products and Spain is also (though slowly) converting to the need to implement online gaming regulations as its players are finding poker sites like JuegaPokerYa.com ever more popular.

The likes of William Hill and Ladbrokes (who are also said to be entering the Spanish market) may find it difficult to impose their brand on the Spanish locals, but across Europe in general, Poker is likely to continue growing at a rate which will tempt most large operators to take a gamble.

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Best Casino Movies

April 24, 2009

Las Vegas and its casinos have always been an inspiration for filmmakers looking to inject excitement and intrigue into their movies. One of the most famous movies with a Las Vegas backdrop is 1960's 'Ocean's Eleven', which sees the members of the original 'Rat Pack' – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis – planning to rob five of the top casinos in Vegas in just one night. Things go according to plan – at least until after the heists.

'Ocean's Eleven' was remade successfully in 2001 by Steven Soderburgh, who cast George Clooney in the leading role of Danny Ocean and Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Elliott Gould as gang members, amongst others. The 2001 version updated the storyline while still putting across the same glamorous image of Vegas as in the first movie.

Nicolas Cage visited Las Vegas in 1992 for his film 'Honeymoon in Vegas'. This comedy tells the story of Jack Singer (played by Cage) who decides to wed his long-time partner Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker) in Vegas. However, when they arrive, Betsy is spotted by a high-stakes gambler who decides he wants to spend a weekend with her. He engages Singer in poker games in an attempt to wrestle her from him. With Cage acting his best as the love-struck bridegroom, James Caan as the sinister gambler, and a number of parachuting Elvis impersonators, 'Honeymoon in Vegas' offers plenty of laughs.

Matt Damon is Mike McDermott, one of the world's best poker players in the 1998 film 'Rounders', who has given up the game in order to concentrate on finishing law school. When his old friend Worm (Edward Norton) is released from prison, he persuades McDermott to return to the game in order to pay off some bad debts he's accrued. McDermott consequently finds himself playing in a series of poker games where the stakes are forever increasing and the tension is forever building.

Finally, a list of casino movies is incomplete without a mention of the 1995 Martin Scorcese movie 'Casino', which is considered by many to be the definitive casino film. This tells the true story of Sam 'Ace' Rothstein, a mobster who moves to Las Vegas and becomes the operator of the Tangiers casino. Robert De Niro makes the lead role his own, as Rothstein copes with marriage to a drug addict (played by Sharon Stone) and friendship with Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), a fellow mobster slowly spiralling into a world of violence.

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Winning Video Poker Hands

April 19, 2009

Video Poker combines both the luck of the draw and the skill of the player. Luck comes into play when the video poker machine randomly deals out the player's cards. Skill on the part of the player is needed to know which cards to keep and which cards to discard. Although luck is a big factor in the game, the likelihood of winning increases based on the amount of skill the player possesses.

No matter what the skill level the player has, it's important to know what to keep and what to discard if you want to end up with a winning hand. It's essential to know the types of winning hands that are available in video poker if the player is playing to win.

The smart player knows the patterns to look for, which will make the difference between them winning big and losing it all. Here is a listing of the most common combination of video poker hands ranked from the highest possible to the lowest.

Sequential Royal Flush: This is a hand which occurs when the cards fall in exact order and suit, like 10 Spades, J Spades, Q Spades, K Spades, and A Spades. Remember this is video poker, and that the Sequential Royal Flush is different from the Royal Flush.

Royal Flush: This is when you get a same suit flush with the cards 10 Hearts, Q Hearts, J Hearts, A Hearts, and K Hearts in any order. As long as all the cards are there, the order is not an issue.

Straight Flush: The Straight Flush occurs when all five cards are in sequence, and all five cards are of the same suit 4 Spades, 5 Spades, 6 Spades, 7 Spades, and 8 Spades.

Four of a Kind: Four of a Kind is when there are four cards which all possess the same rank 5 Diamonds, 5 Spades, 5 Clubs, and 5 Hearts.

Full House: The Full House is three of a kind plus a pair. Suit does not come into play with a Full House. A good example of a Full house would be 5 Diamonds, 5 Clubs, 5 Hearts, 7 Clubs, and 7 Spades.

Flush: The Flush is when the player gets five cards with all having the same suit. Rank makes no difference with this hand. It's the suit that is featured in the Flush. For an example; 2 Hearts, 4 Hearts, 5 Hearts, 7 Hearts, 10 Hearts.

Straight: A player holds a Straight when all five cards held are in rank sequence. With the following hand, the player would have a Straight; 2 Hearts, 3 Clubs, 4 Spades, 5 Hearts, 6 Diamonds.

Three of a Kind: When a player is dealt three cards all of which have the same rank, they have Three of a Kind. The remaining two cards do not count as anything in the hand. The suit of the cards does not matter with this hand. An example of this hand is 4 Hearts, 4 Clubs, and 4 Spades.

Two Pair: Two Pair is when the player has two pairs of cards, each set of a different rank. An example of this hand is 3 Diamonds, 3 Clubs, 5 Hearts and 5 Spades.

One Pair: One Pair is two cards of the same rank, regardless of the suit. An example of this hand is 7 Diamonds and 7 Hearts.

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The Draw - Poker

April 18, 2009

"I dare draw as soon as another man." -Romeo and Juliet. Act II., Scene 4th.

There is a slangy saying that the game of poker is "all in the draw." While this is an exaggeration, it is not so very far from the truth. In the first place, it should be borne in mind that it is a duty each player owes to the game, his neighbors, and himself, to discard and draw quickly and decorously. It should be concluded as soon as possible after every one has come in or passed out. The practice of poring over the cards should be deprecated; it often prevents some other player from acting on an impulse suggested by the first view of his own hand, and by delaying further procedure annoys the other players in general.

As to the method of discarding, one should throw his discards to the center of the table, as nearly as possible in front of the next dealer. This discarding should be done quickly and unhesitatingly. The dealer must. announce his draw in an audible voice; the other players of course must ask for their cards so as to be heard by the dealer and other players as well. After cards have been drawn and before a bet is made, should a player ask the dealer how many cards any other player drew, the latest decision is that the dealer is bound to answer.

Two cards should not be drawn to a pair unless an ace or king can be retained with them, except for the purpose of a "bluff." If most of the other players are "in," the chances of drawing an ace or a king are not quite so good as those of drawing a small card, because the other players are more likely to be staying in on high than on low cards. The probabilities of such being the case are of course quite impossible to determine, but they are very slight and are more than' compensated by the chances of increasing the comparative value of the hand by making aces or kings "up" instead of two small pairs'. Thus, while it has been well said that the actual mathematical expectations of improving such a hand are greater by drawing, three cards, yet it cannot be denied that the practical value of the hand is much enhanced by a successful twos-card draw. The odd card should only be retained with a small pair - that is, on the merits of which the pot cannot, presumably, be won say a pair of nines or under.

For more information about draw poker and other exciting casino gambling games visit our site at http://www.top10online.com

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Online Poker Tip: 5 Worst Starting Hands for Texas Holdem Poker

April 16, 2009

We cover the 10 best starting hands, or pairs of pocket cards, to be holding in your game of Texas Holdem so it is only fitting t cover the 5 worst starting hands you could be holding. The general rule of thumb if you are holding any of these 5 losing combinations? Fold and walk away!

1) 2-7 (offsuit)

By Far the worst start you could have for your game. You have no chance at a straight draw or flush draw and chances are you would be beaten with a pair of 7s. There is the remote chance at a full house with this hand but it is clearly not taking the risk waiting for this to occur. FOLD!

2) 2-8 (offsuit)

Only slightly better than the 2-7 draw, this combination cried out for you to fold from the start. Why is it slightly better? A pair of 8s will beat the poor soul with a pair of 7s! The straight draw or flush is once again out of the question with this combination and the cards are screaming at you to fold!

3) 3-8 (offsuit)

Once again you are left without the chance of a straight draw or flush draw and left with hoping for a pair of 8s. At this point you may be hoping for the chance at a full house, don't do it! It is time to fold and wait on a better hand, like one of the 10 best outlined in another article.

4) 2-9 (offsuit)

A pair of 9s may beat out the 8s above but this is still a combination crying out to be folded.

5) 2-6 (offsuit)

You are left with a chance at the low straight draw and not much else with this combination. You are best served folding from the offset and waiting for a hand that will give you a fighting chance.

There are the five pairs of pocket cards that should have you folding as soon as you can. For those brave enough to continue on with your play after drawing any of these killer combinations, may luck be on your side! Being aware of the best and worst combinations will help strengthen your overall game and help make your stay at the table more successful. Long shots do come in on occasion but the disciplined player usually walks away from the table happy.

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WSOP Entries Push Grand Prize To $11 Million!

April 13, 2009

The main event, held at the Rio, lasts 13 days, most of which are 16-hour marathons in a convention room filled with 1,500 to 2,000 fellow competitors, all seated elbow to elbow. Sure, they’re only sitting there throwing cards around, but this isn’t a friendly game in your buddy’s basement. This is hours and hours of monotony, sitting in a thinly padded chair, playing hundreds of hands with very little action in a room that gets increasingly stuffy as the hours go by and fans ring the room crowding the players and gawking from behind velvet ropes.

Oh, and the grand prize is worth $11 million. The total number of entrants Monday hit about 8,725 — so many that organizers had to create four starting days of about 2,200 players each. It was the last day for alternates to buy in for $10,000 per seat.

While previous WSOPs have suggested that players like to throw back a few cocktails during this lengthy tournament, this year the beverage of choice is either water or Red Bull. The event is a marathon, not a sprint and most insiders suggest that age will play a factor in determining the ultimate winner.

As the prize money soars to epic proportions, players are appearing from all corners of the world, they have prepared themselves by going through some marathon card games that test their focus and durability. While poker is not a sport, the game is beginning to require a certain dedication to a healthy diet as the competition gets into the final days. The incredible media coverage and the mega-star actors and athletes that flock to these events can tax a player’s psyche.

Remember, this is a no-limit Hold’em where, unlike golf, if you have a bad opening round there is always Friday to get back in the running. One mistake and it is over!

Bob Acton

Online Sports Betting

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Poker Positioning Strategies

April 8, 2009

There's a board game that originated from the Philippines called Game of the Generals. Only two players can play the game and the winner is usually the one who has the better strategy when it comes to positioning key players of the game.

The flag is the most vulnerable and must therefore be protected at all costs. The spy is the highest ranking official in the game and can ironically be defeated by the lowest ranking officer, the private. It depends on where you position all your players in order for you to win the game.

It's almost exactly the same process when it comes to winning a game of poker.

Positioning is a very important aspect of poker and unfortunately, it's also an aspect that most new poker players tend to overlook. First time poker players tend to believe, you see, that everything depends on their cards alone. I assure you that it's not. In poker, everything matters and expert poker players are aware of this. That's why for them, positioning is quite an important factor because a good position in a game of poker, especially when it's something like the Texas Hold'Em version, can give you an advantage over your fellow players.

The Starting Positions

It's always difficult to be in one of the starting positions because you're ultimately forced to reveal your hand in the first few rounds without having any idea on what types of hands your opponents are holding. The key to surviving the next few rounds is gauging what type of opponents you're facing and see if it's possible to bluff your way through. It's also a good sign if you're facing a few opponents and you're holding large suited cards in your hands.

The Middle Position

This may not be the best position to have in poker but it's certainly a shade better than having an early position in the game. With the middle position, you have better chances of calculating the odds of winning and being able to get the cards you need. If you've been given a slot in the middle position, simply try your best to hang on and do stick with small suited cards.

The Last or Late Position

Alas, this is the best position that you can have when playing poker, especially when there are around ten players or so which is often the case in Texas Hold'Em Poker. If you're still not that good in playing poker, being in the last position will then give you the upper hand. As others before you will reveal their cards first, use this to your advantage and just calculate the odds as best as you can.

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Playing No Limit Multi Table Poker Tournaments

April 8, 2009

The multi table tournaments are very popular and they gain more and more fans because amongst no limit multi table tournaments we can count the WSOP and The World of Poker tour. People try to get into them and they must play multi table tournaments to do this. People avoid no limit because they are scared of what they can lose and you can see rarely no limit games outside a tournament.

At the beginning of a no limit tournament you must keep in mind that you are not playing your average no-limit ring game. Keep the bluffing in modest limits because as you will see, because of so many people, the chips each one has are smaller than the pot. And this means you can lose much more bluffing than you can actually win, so bluffing is usually out here. So, when still at the beginning, and when your stack is comparable to the stack others have, you should try and play by the rules, don’t push your luck and gamble as little as possible because gambling just doesn’t pay off here.

When arriving to the middle of the tournament, if you made it that far, you will need to change the strategy. Here you must focus on stealing the blinds and you will experience the side effects of the gap concept: it will take not so good hands to steal the blinds but you need much bigger hands to call that raise or any raise at all. In the middle rounds everyone will just try to survive, so act accordingly. Increase the chips you have one bi tat a time and have patience for them to grow. Unless, of course you already have a very big stack in which case you should be in control, raise a lot and attempt to get others out of the game.

As you approach the end of the tournament, the blinds will become very big and the stacks will do that also. So, if your stack is low you can wait in the pre-flop for the opportune moment and go all-in. When having a big stack, be aggressive and, again, try to control the game by any means.

Going all in should aim not for the best hand, but for at least a marginal one like a pocket pair or an ace with a good kicker. That should give you a nice slice and should keep you going for a little more.

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