Online Gambling

Betting Systems for Online Casino Gamblers
- by Sage Kalmus

In this article, we’ll explain 6 popular betting systems that you can experiment with in your online casino gaming experience. Truth be told, these timeless, tried and true betting systems originated in the world of offline betting, but they apply equally as well to online casino gambling, no matter what the game, no matter what the betting structure.

Before You Begin: For most of these systems, you will need to decide what your betting unit will be ahead of time (such as the minimum allowable bet at the game and online casino in question).

1-3-2-6 Betting System
This is what’s called a Positive Progression system, meaning that as you win, your bets increase. The foundation of this online casino betting system is the premise that a player can win any game a maximum of 4 times in a row before they’ll probably lose.

Here’s how the system works:

- Bet 1 unit each betting round until you win a round;
- After you win a round, bet 3 units on the next (second) round;
- If you win a second round in a row, bet 2 units on the next (third) round;
- If you win a third round in a row, bet 6 units on the next (fourth) round;
- Then, no matter what happens (win or lose) return to the beginning of the pattern, betting 1 unit per round until you win one, etc.

The risk-reward scenario with the 1-2-3-6 betting system is simple. You can win as much as 6 times your original bet after 4 rounds of play while only putting 2 units of your own at risk.

The worst case scenario with the 1-2-3-6 betting system is that you lose 6 consecutive times in the second round. No matter, though. You can make it all up by winning 4 times in a row.

The Martingale System
This is a Negative Progression system, meaning that as you lose, your bets increase.

The foundation of this online casino betting system is the premise that a player cannot possibly lose an infinite number of times without ever winning a single round. Therefore, what the Martingale system is designed to help you do is offset all of your accumulated losses with a single win.

Whether you consider it cynical, realistic, or both, this system works best in cases when the online casino game is paying out a 1 to 1 payout ratio on each bet. Here’s how it works:

- First, place whatever bet you’ve decided to start with;
- If you win, bet the same amount again, but if you lose, bet double the amount;
- If you lose again, you double your bet again.

The downside to the Martingale system is that you need a large bankroll to start out with as well as the resolve to keep increasing your bets as your losses compound. Not just anyone can pull this online casino betting system off.

In the rarest of cases, you may, after enough losses, reach the online casino’s betting maximum and then not be able to raise your bet further or offset your losses with one win.

The D’Alenbert System
This is another Negative Progression system. It’s also considered an Insurance System in that, as you win, the size of your bets increase. Here’s how it works:

- Each time you lose, you raise your bets by one unit;
- Each time you win, you lower your bets by one unit;

This system also requires a large enough online casino bankroll to pull it off.

By adding the insurance system to the negative progression system, you’re hedging your increasing losses by pulling some profits off the table each time you win.

The Labouchere Betting System (a.k.a. The Cancellation System)
This system, another Negative Progression, is somewhat more complicated than those listed so far. Depending on the odds in whatever online casino game you’re playing, you’ll come up with some sequence of numbers — of any length you wish — and not necessarily sequential.

Each number in your sequence is a multiple of your predetermined betting unit (7 therefore is 7 times your betting unit; 5 is 5x, etc.) Here’s how it works:

- Your first bet should be the sum of the first and last numbers in your sequence;
- If you win, cross out those two numbers you just added together (the two outermost in your sequence) and bet the sum of the next two;
- If you win again, cross out those two outermost numbers and repeat the process
- If you continue winning until you have no more numbers in the sequence to add together, you simply start from the beginning with the entire, original sequence.

However:
- If you lose, you add to the end of the sequence, the sum that you had just used, thus creating a new sequence;
- Crossing out no numbers at all (because you didn’t win yet), add the first number in the sequence to the new last number that number and use that new sum as your multiple;

The supposed benefit of this complicated betting method is that anytime you have to start over with the original sequence, you come out with a profit. The drawback is that you can accumulate enormous losses before you ever win (if you ever win).

Your success at the Labouchere system really depends on selecting the right sequence.

The Paroli System (a.k.a. The Anti-Martingale System)
This is another Positive Progression system. More than simply selecting a unit of betting, with the Paroli system you also need to determine two other criteria before you begin:

1. A cap: The uppermost amount at which you will stop increasing your wager and return to your starting unit;

2. A multiple: How much you’ll increase your bet every time you win (1 unit, 2 units, 3 units, etc.)

You should base these factors on the odds of the online casino game you happen to be playing. The appeal of the Paroli System is that you can play at the online casino for a while with a small bankroll. You cut your losses and let your profits ride.

The Parlay System
This is another Positive Progression system. Similar to the Paroli System, the effect of the Parlay system is to “pyramid” your profits, meaning that every time you win you wager both your winnings and the amount of your initial bet as your next bet.

The reward of the Parlay system can be huge. The risk is that you can lose it all in a single bad online casino beat.

About author

CasinoBrain.com is the premier resource for online casino reviews. Visit http://www.casinobrain.com for informative articles, game rules, and comprehensive reviews of over 150 online casinos.

3 Tips to Put Your Texas Holdem Poker Playing in Overdrive
- by James Bastowe

Let’s face it; the game of poker is very difficult to master. Online poker is even harder to master because of the sheer number of online poker players in the world. Inexperienced poker players often lose a lot of money to the more experienced pokier players. However, there are many simple tips that you can follow in order to shift your online poker game into overdrive. Following these tips should help you do better against more players.

1. Know when to ‘hold em’ or ‘fold em.’ This is one of the most essential elements of poker. There are many different situations in which it would be better to either stay in the hand, or to lay the hand down. It is important to know what to do when these situations arise. Most often, knowing when to hold them or fold them depends on your knowledge of the other player. It is important to watch the betting styles of other players. If a player constantly bluffs, then you might want to stay in against that player even if you do not have a strong hand. At the same time, it is important to know when you are beat. Even some of the best players don’t like to admit defeat and go on “tilt.” Knowing when to lay a hand down can help prevent large losses in both chips and confidence. The best advice for staying in the pot and putting hands down is to be confident, but never over confident, and always pay attention to the actions of the other players around you.

2. Bet smart. Poker players who are successful are often better at betting than players who simply know the game well. Poker is just as much about luck as it is about skill in betting. For example, raising pre-flop is never a bad idea when you have a good hand. However, raises should always be calculated. Raising too much can often cause no one to go into a hand with you. The idea of raises (either pre-flop or otherwise) are to eliminate some players and make remaining players think you have something. It is also important to know when to slow-play. Slow-playing is betting in small increments in order to draw players deeper into the hand. Slow-playing can backfire if you allow too many people to be in the hand. Remember, the more people in the hand with you, the better chance there is of someone having better cards than you do. Betting in order to steal a pot or make a player believe you have a better hand than them is a very important skill. Don’t get predictable in your betting, because then people will call you bluffs, and know when you have the best hand.

3. Finally, play online poker often. This may seem like an erroneous tip, but it is a fact. The best players are the ones who play daily. Even playing a short game at least once a day will help you improve. The old adage goes, “practice makes perfect.” This applies to the game of poker as well. The more hands you play, the more you will be able to fine-tune your game and eventually become an online poker wiz. If you want your poker game to truly be in “overdrive,” simply gain knowledge about your opponents through observation, bet smart, and play a lot of poker.

About author

James Bastowe writes about many different gambling topics but specializes in Texas Holdem.

How to Read an Online Poker Review: Part 1 of 2
- by Sage Kalmus

There are plenty of online poker review sites out there (including our review portal Poker-Ranking.com), each giving you their take on the numerous poker rooms circulating the internet. Below we’ll begin the process of breaking down for you our own online poker review template so you can learn what to look for when seeking out your next online poker room.

Software & Graphics
There are number of software programs most commonly used in online poker rooms all over the net, most notably: Microgaming, Cryptologic, RealTime Gaming, and PlayTech. Some online poker rooms, however, will use their own proprietary software.

Whichever software your online poker room uses, reading online poker reviews will give you a good idea what internet savvy poker players think of the various programs. Some factors to consider include:

- Speed and smoothness of game play
- Reliability of the software
- Usability of the interface
- Table view options (Bird’s Eye or 3D Player-Centered)
- Selection of automated features (auto-post blinds, preselect bid/fold buttons)

Under this heading in an online poker review you’ll also find information on how players are represented in the game (text, icons, flags, avatars), and the subjective quality of the graphics and sound.

Game Variation and Limits
Here you’ll find a listing of the games offered, such as: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 7-Card Stud, 5-Card Stud, Draw Poker, Hi/Lo variants, and occasionally even rarer, more odd games like Crazy Pineapple. Some sites will even have the smattering of Video Poker or non-poker casino games like Blackjack. These days, however, a great number of online poker sites have companion online casino sites.

You’ll also find listed under this heading in an online poker review the betting structures available at each game — Limit, Pot Limit, No Limit — and the range of stakes for each. If you see in an online poker review the term “Microlimits”, for example, that generally refers to games with blinds in the penny or nickel range. A $20/$40 game has small blinds and raises starting at and in increments of $20 and has big blinds and raises starting at and in increments of $40.

Lastly, in this section of an online poker review, you’ll learn whether the online poker site offers Ring Games or Tournaments (or both), and if they do offer tournaments, what kind?

Freeroll: No cost to enter but the prizes are real;

Freezeout (or Shootout): Winner takes all (or top 3 placers) by process of elimination; most poker tournaments are of this variety (even Freerolls and Sit-n-Go’s);

Sit-n-Go (or Sit and Go): Usually run 24/7; a Sit-n-Go is a freezeout, can be of any stakes, and starts each time the required number of players buy-in;

Re-Buy: A form of Freezeout whereby, when you get knocked out, you have the option of buying in a second time;

Satellite: A Freezeout where the prize is a seat in a larger poker tournament (usually a land-based poker tournament) with a much larger prize;

Bounty: A Freezeout with a bonus; certain players have “bounties” on their heads; whoever knocks any of those players out of the game collects that bounty, whether they win the whole game or not.

Traffic
This section of an online poker review is where you’ll learn how many players, on average, frequent the poker room. The online poker review will usually say how many players, during peak hours, participate in both the Ring Games and the Tournaments.

Traffic in an online poker room is a double-edged sword. Too much traffic means that you might have trouble finding a seat at a table, but you won’t have trouble finding action at your desired stakes and there’s likely to be a ton of fish to squeeze out of their bankrolls.

Too little traffic means that you may not find action at your desired stakes, but you’ll never have trouble finding a seat and you’ll probably play the same players more frequently. Getting to know your opponents’ habits is an excellent advantage.

Stay tuned next week for the conclusion of How to Read an Online Poker Review, detailing: competition, bonuses, rake, customer service, promotions, deposits and cashouts, and ease of use.

Poker-Ranking.com is the premier resource for online poker reviews. Visit http://www.poker-ranking.com for informative articles, poker rules, game strategy, and comprehensive reviews of over 60 online poker rooms.

How to Read an Online Poker Review: Part 2 of 2
- by Sage Kalmus

In part 1 of this 2 part series, we began to lay out for you exactly what online poker reviewers look for when evaluating an online poker room, using the poker review template from our own poker portal at Poker-Ranking.com.

In part 1, we explained in depth the following sections: Software and Graphics, Game Variation and Limits, and Traffic. In this concluding article, we will delve into what information is contained in the rest of the sections of a typical online poker review.

Competition
Here in an online poker review, you’ll find a gauge of the level of skill predominant at the various games (Texas Hold’em, etc.), types (Ring Games, etc.), betting structures (Limit, etc.), and stakes ($100/$200, etc.).

The term fish refers to players that aren’t very good. The call a lot of bad bets and can be intimidated easily. A good player can beat fish consistently with little difficulty.

The term shark refers to expert players that devour the fish. (For another appropriate animal reference, consider a fox in the henhouse.)

Bonuses
This part of an online poker review will tell you the signup bonus you’ll get (usually a percentage match against your first deposit), as well as any other bonuses available at the online poker room.

Some common bonuses are as follows:

Bad Beat Bonus: If you lose a hand holding higher than a certain amount (usually 4 Queens), you win the largest portion of a bonus that is shared amongst all the players that posted blinds in that round

Magic Hand Bonus: Every round (or hand) in an online poker room is given a number (which is how you can later refer back to earlier games); in a Magic Hand Bonus, the online poker room chooses a number (say, every one millionth hand) and gives every player who posted blinds in that hand a share of the bonus, the largest portion going to the winner of the hand

High Hand Bonus: Given to any player that gets the highest hand (above a minimum high hand, eg. 4 Kings) in a set period of time, without folding

Progressive bonuses (or Progressive Jackpots): These start at a certain amount (eg. $500) and each day that goes by without a winner claiming the bonus, a certain amount (eg. $50) is added, until someone wins the accumulated amount and the jackpot is then reset to its starting level.

Rake
Here is where the online poker review will tell you what the commission is that the online poker room takes for each hand. The average rake is 5% of the pot, up to but not exceeding $3. Many online poker rooms take smaller cuts from smaller pots or lower stakes games.

Some have a wonderful No Flop/No Drop policy, stating that if nobody stays in to see the flop, no rake is taken.

Customer Service
This section of the online poker review tells you the ways to reach customer support (toll-free phone, email, live chat), the hours (preferably 24/7), and most importantly, the quality, courteousness, and responsiveness.

Promotions
Similar to bonuses, but meriting their own section of the online poker review, promotions are special, time-sensitive events, generally with extraordinary prizes that include hefty jackpots, vacations, automobiles, and free seats in World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker events.

Deposits and Cashouts
You’ll find two things in this section of an online poker review: first, the payment methods accepted for deposits (purchases) and cashouts (withdrawals), such as PayPal, credit cards, NETeller, etc., and second, the promptness, reliability, and security with which they process these transactions.

Ease of Use
This section of an online poker review usually discusses the usability and intuitiveness (or lack thereof) of the interface. In addition, you’ll learn here about the layout of the lobby and the information given, including lobby stats like the following:

Hands per hour: Tells you how quickly the game moves and could be a gauge of the experience level of the players;

Average pot: Tells you how aggressive the players are and how much you can expect to win or lose each hand; and

Flop percentages: How many players at the table on average are staying in to see the flop; tells you how loose they’re playing.

With this handy, two-part guide to online poker reviews at your side, you should be sitting in at the perfect online poker table for you, any moment now!

About author

Poker-Ranking.com is the premier resource for online poker reviews. Visit http://www.poker-ranking.com for informative articles, poker rules, game strategy, and comprehensive reviews of over 60 online poker rooms.

Poker Pros are the New Endorsers of Brands
- by Seema Shah

It was not so long ago that most members of the public would shun the legitimacy of the poker player who treated a game of cards as a “profession”. It wasn’t like a real job or profession where you had to physically exert yourself in some way or another. Poker players just had to sit at a table all day, eat, drink and play cards. Sounds more like a holiday to me. But the stealth like success and mass appeal of the game, much like its strategies have propelled it to stellar proportions.

Today, we see those once shunned poker players as legitimate professionals who are celebrated in their own right; a status previously kept for sports personalities. However, the trimmings associated with this level of fame does become a prime feeding ground for opportunists hoping to attach themselves to these pros and bask in the fast paced Bondesque lifestyle the game now conjures up for itself. Of course the ‘Rags to Riches’ stories such as that of Chris MoneyMaker who went on to win the WSOP 2003 championship of $2.5 million from his humble $40 online poker entry fee has only helped increase poker’s allure.

But it has primarily been the internet that has vastly improved poker’s appeal by helping the game reach the masses. Many online gambling sites such as InterPoker.com show that they can provide secure and trusted environments from which amateur players can learn the skills of the game and participate in competitions with jackpots that would otherwise have been unattainable without going to Las Vegas.

These gaming sites have become the hub of online gambling and helped drastically change the image of the game from a lazy man’s living to a socially accepted and practiced pastime with over a $12billion turnover. In turn, the games hosted on these sites such as Texas Holdem, Omaha, Roulette and the like are being played on a constant basis thanks to the ease in which player can now access these games. In turn, the professional poker players have gained a wider acceptance and fame as more and more people begin to understand the intricacy of those games and want to pick up on those “secret” tips and strategies.

With this success come the spoils of royalties, sponsorships, TV deals for the echelons of professional poker and some very prominent gaming companies riding the mania. For example, InterPoker.com sponsors many a professional player, recently sending their key players to the WSOP 2006 and 32Red have just signed a two year sponsorship deal with Aston Villa football club. But of course it is not only the companies that are blitzing every marketing avenue, poker players too are reaping the perks associated with sponsorship, now becoming the key endorsers of mainstream brands such as a recent television campaign taken on by Pepsi showing poker pros playing against a can of soda. Like with all things once taboo in the media, it won’t be long before poker pros become the future kings / queens of cool and much like Kate Moss, the darling of most brands.

About author

Seema Shah has been writing articles since 2004. She currently writes primarily within the online gaming industry for InterPoker, part of InterCasino, one of the largest, and most respected online casino and online poker rooms offering Texas Holdem and Omaha

Hollywood’s fascination with Celebrity High Rollers
- by Seema Shah

The elusive world of poker has come a long way from its seedy roots of shady, Mafioso-type characters playing no limit holdem’s in dingy, underground gambling dens. Today, it is very much a part of everyday life, sexed up with a peppering of celebrity and television coverage. Thanks to the internet this old game has also managed to reinvent itself and appeal to a broader and younger generation with the likes of Ben Affleck, Toby Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio all helping to propel poker’s profile into the stratosphere. Quite literally, the face of poker has now been replaced by college kids in their dorm rooms or women in their pyjamas playing poker, all influenced by the glamorous image poker now has.

Today, it’s easier to list the celebrities who aren’t playing poker than the ones who are. Whether the stars are playing for charity or for added publicity, millions watch games such as Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown, now in its fifth season. While many question these stars’ poker-playing abilities, few doubt that these celebrity poker shows contribute to the poker craze as well as the uptake of poker online.

Not only is the music world cashing in on Poker but Hollywood has also come -a - knocking. Forget about private jets, vintage sports cars and dinky little pooches, if you’re an A-list movie star with money to burn there’s only one game in town: No Limit Texas Holdem. That’s right, poker has come to Hollywood and no Friday night is complete without a high-profile celebrity tournament taking place somewhere in Beverly Hills.

So far, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer have all hosted poker parties at their homes, but the game everyone wants to be in is the one organised by the actor James Woods on a weekly basis. Players have to ante up $5,000 to be included in Woods’s magic circle, but that hasn’t deterred Ben Affleck, among others, from beating a path to his door.

One of the reasons movie stars are so keen on poker is that the odds are stacked in their favour. Chris Weitz, the director of American Pie and About A Boy, recounted a Hollywood poker tournament he’d taken part in recently in which the winners of various heats got to compete at a top table for a prize of $50,000. However, when it came to the celebrities, the rules didn’t apply. “They got to sit at the big table, even if they failed to win their heat,” he said. Even playing with a stacked deck, some celebrities still manage to lose. Earlier this year, James Woods sailed to the Mexican Riviera to compete in a million-dollar tournament organised by the Travel Channel. But lady luck deserted him. “They took all my money,” he said, referring to the professional card-players he was up against. “I have nothing left.” It seems that lady luck has got a tight leash on celebrities and it’s apparent that Hollywood have become enamoured with Poker and in turn we have become infatuated with this sexed up image.

Even more celebrity poker? You bet. E! Hollywood Hold’Em let’s viewers enter celebrities’ homes as they and their friends, some famous and others not-so-famous, play hands of poker until someone wins the $10K pot. Intended to emulate the home games most amateur players are familiar with, this show enables viewers to see how the other half plays poker. When comparing E! Hollywood Hold’Em to the other celebrity poker shows, most poker enthusiasts agree that this show illustrates the worst in terms of actual poker-playing ability. When watching, one cannot help but think that these “poker players” have too much free time and too much Monopoly money to play with. Publicity stunts aside, tuning in to an episode of Hold’em Hollywood style does prove to be entertaining and as long as the celebrities are doing it, poker will continue to appeal to the masses.

About author

Seema Shah has been writing articles since 2004. She currently writes primarily within the online gaming industry for InterPoker, part of InterCasino, one of the largest, and most respected online casino and online poker rooms offering Texas Holdem and Omaha

Why Online Casinos Are the Best Place for Newbies to Play
- by Jim Gagne

Online casinos are very fun for all players, but they can be especially enjoyable for “newbies.” Newbies are generally inexperienced gamblers, and so they often suffer huge losses. Playing in online casinos can help prevent newbies from being taken advantage of, or losing big. Online casinos are also a great way to practice for real casinos.

Newbies generally have very little knowledge about many casino games. The lack of knowledge often results in tremendous gambling losses. Online casinos are a great place for newbies because many online casinos offer detailed descriptions of many different games. Some casino games may seem overly complicated, but many online casinos offer descriptions that are very easy to understand. Game instruction can sometimes start from the very basic elements and principals of the game, to the most advanced techniques for betting and winning. Additionally, other online casinos offer tips and strategies for being more successful in a game. Some sites can list common mistakes that unskilled players make. Finally, there are large communities in online casinos. Some even have chat rooms and message boards. Newbies can learn from other more experienced players, and discuss game strategies and betting.

Online casinos are also great for inexperienced players because players choose the level of skill for many games. In poker games, newbies can choose to go to lower stakes tables, which often have more inexperienced players. Also, players can sometimes go to games that are specifically for new gamblers. This is a great way to learn the basics of a game without having to endure huge monetary penalties for having a lack of knowledge about the game.

Real casinos are very fun, but for new players, they can be a bit overwhelming. For someone who is interested in eventually playing games in a real casino, playing in online casinos is a viable option. Reading the basics about many different games, and being able to play from your own home is a great advantage. The environment is not as high-pressure as in a regular casino, and therefore new players can focus more upon the task at hand. In terms of cards, playing online allows you to play more players from around the world. Many players have different strategies, and being exposed to as many different playing styles as possible allows newbies to be better prepared.

Finally, online casinos are a great solace for inexperienced players because of a friendly environment. Playing online games with other people is a great way for new players to make many friends. Some casinos can be very cold, but because of the sheer amount of online casino members, players can meet many different types of people.

Online casino gambling can be a very fun and potentially financially rewarding experience. Online casinos are a great place for newbies because many online casinos have pages with detailed explanations about every game, as well as basic strategy. In online casinos, new players can meet other players from around the world and discuss things like strategy. It’s always tough for a “newbie,” but online casinos make it easier and more fun to gamble.

About author

Jim Gagne writes about gambling topics, including online casinos.

Online casinos must offer more honest advice
- by Jon Hingston

Trust is one of mans key decision making criteria when meeting new people for the first time. I mean think about it. If you want to buy a house, select a new computer or even decide where to take your partner for dinner for that special occasion, what do you do? You ask someone for their advice. In the case of house you’ll ask lots of people from a range or agents or realtors to friends and family. And of course you are right to. It’s a big outlay. It also affects your life experience. If you select the wrong house you’ll be reminded every time you walk up to the front door.

What about those more personal experiences like dinner with your partner? Get the wrong advice and consequently pick the wrong type of restaurant for a birthday or anniversary and you’ll have just wasted your money. No romantic end to the evening for you.

Casino Genie, independent online casino aggregator, recently published a survey which had some quite surprising results. The bottom line is that online casinos are losing thousands of customers every day.

Jon Hingston, Customer Satisfaction Manager at Casino Genie, says, “Our survey of 2,500 online gamblers from over 100 online casinos shows that players want a more personal service. And one the key criteria of that personalized service is trust. Players want honesty and integrity. Sure this will cost the casinos more to manage but the upside will out weigh those costs. The survey figures show that players stay with a casino 5 times longer when customer service meets their expectation. So given this information what we now need to understand is how we can help casinos deliver this and fun experience too.”.

So why does trust matter so much. We talking about hardened gamblers who just want to win money right? No. Hingston tell us, “The bulk of players are new to gambling. And there is huge community of people who are put off by the complexity of the games, the language that we use is confusing and they feel out of their depth. If online casinos want to win advocates for life they need to be ‘your friend’. Behave like the friend at school who taught you the rules of baseball or English cricket without laughing at you. Then you can both enjoy the game more.”

Of the 2,500 online casino players that Casino Genie surveyed just over 1,400 had been playing less than 12 months. Only 24% were loyal to one casino. Over 62% played at four or more casinos.

Interestingly of those players who had been gambling for more than 12 months, there was still a huge amount of players playing at four casinos or more, 48%. Alarmingly for online casinos 78% of these cited poor customer service as a reason for their fickleness. Only 4% of players had found site which they were entirely loyal too. But here is the killer fact. Every one of those 100 people said that the reason they stuck with their casino was because of ’superb customer service’. Makes you think doesn’t it. Why isn’t my casino like that?

Not one of those 100 gamblers played at a ‘Top 20′ casino. The small casinos are acting smarter, reacting quicker and playing the boutique game to try and compete in this sector. And its starting to have an effect.

So let’s get back to the trust issue. Another figure that came out of the survey. 82% of people asked said they would try a new online casino if recommended by a friend. 68% of people said that they would try a new online casino if it was ‘highly recommended’ by other players.

So in summary, customer service and trust is what players want. The question is will the big casinos listen?

About Author

Jon Hingston is the Customer Satisfaction Manager for Casino Genie ( http://www.casinogenie.co.uk ), an independent online casino review site. Genie has reviewed over 600 online casinos. In addition, over 5,000 online gamblers have reviewed and ranked those casinos by 7 criteria to provide the world’s largest independent online casino review service.

The truth about online casinos
- by Jon Hingston

Online casinos are losing thousands of customers every day

The online casinos have one holy grail: To make the player experience as realistic, easy and enjoyable as possible. After all, the more the player enjoys the experience the more often they will play. The more often they play, the more chance of engendering some loyalty and - to be completely blunt - the more likelihood that the casino will make more money. “But the industry is failing to deliver this”, says Jon Hingston, of independent review site Casino Genie, “losing them thousands of customers everyday.”.

It has only been in the last 2 years, with the huge advance of gaming graphics and sound cards that players are starting to feeling differently about the gaming experience. However, online casino review site Casino Genie released some figures recently suggesting that online casinos are failing in too many areas of their player relations process which is negating the advances in graphics. So now once formerly loyal customers are disengaging and looking elsewhere for fun. And those that do engage are creating a portfolio of sites where they will play dependent on bonuses and size of the prize. Casino Genie asked 1000 online gamblers to review eight online casinos using 14 different ranked criteria. The results are startling.

Hingston says, “The choice of online casinos available to gamblers is seemingly immense. There are hundreds of new entrants with multiple sites and numerous new games. We thought that this might make the larger players more focused and up their game. In fact, what our survey revealed was that the larger players are starting to lose their way in a number of areas. The message is loud and clear from players about what they expect from their online casino. ‘Listen to my requirements. Always make me feel special. And entertain me or I will leave you forever as there are many other places I can spend my money.’

Customer service was, across the board, scored low for the larger players, with the exception of two UK online casinos. Simple things like human contact is ranked highly, with 78% of players rating it highest in the customer service problem handling section. Most online casinos find this too expensive to facilitate so don’t promote it.

More worryingly players felt that casinos did not offer enough advice on what types of games would suit them best; instead they felt casinos were only interested in driving losses, much in the same way credit card companies used to be accused of loaning debt to those who could not afford it. Now credit card companies have been reined in by regulations. Of those surveyed 84% want online casinos to be held more accountable and to be more transparent about statistical chances of each game.

Beginners were turned off by overly complicated terminology and overly complicated gaming rules. Free games areas written in a more each manner encouraged 51% of beginners to sign up within 3 visits to a site.

Player endorsements or reviews were seen by 63% of all beginners and intermediate players as a very positive component of a casino site. And increased ‘trust’ levels ’significantly’.

UK online casinos fared little better than their international casino cousins.

Whilst seen by 82% as less pushy, even the best UK online casinos ranked little more than 62% for over all player gaming experience, compared to 54% for international casinos.

So in summary, service is a key differentiator in what is becoming a fragmented marketplace. If the big boys like 888 and InterCasino focus on the customer rather than the product it will be game over for new entrants. But like many other sectors big equals bland experience and players will vote with their fingers and search for a better experience.

About author

Jon Hingston is the Customer Satisfaction Manager for Casino Genie ( http://www.casinogenie.co.uk ), an independent online casino review site. Genie has reviewed over 600 online casinos. In addition, over 5,000 online gamblers have reviewed and ranked those casinos by 7 criteria to provide the world’s largest independent online casino review service.

Online Poker - Texas Holdem for beginners
- by Morgan Collins in association with IPN Poker Network

Texas Hold’em has quickly become the standard poker game played.

If you are a beginner to poker, Texas Hold’em is the perfect game to learn to play. It is a simple game to learn and understand and it offers the perfect balance of luck and skill. Online poker practice tables offer the perfect way for new players to play and learn, and there are always experienced poker games support staff observing the tables ready to help with any questions about the game you may have. Most sites offer chat support and all you need to do is click live chat on the poker site at the table, and a member of the poker support staff will be called to assist you.

Texas Hold’em rules

The object of Hold’em is to create the best five-card hand using seven cards. A list of poker hand rankings can be found on the IPNPoker International Poker Network site. IPNPoker also has an interactive poker tutorial which is great for learning the poker games.

Once the game starts a dealer is assigned. At the end of each hand the dealer changes to the next player to the current dealers left. Knowing who is the dealer is important, as it indicates who posts the compulsory bets (known as blinds) before each hand, it also indicates who is first to act in each betting round.

In Texas Hold’em there are two compulsory bets that are made before the start of each hand. These are known as the small blind and the big blind. These are important as it means that there are chips to be won in every hand. The player to the immediate left of the dealer pays the small blind and the player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind.

In limit games the small blind is equal to half the size of the small bet, and the big blind is equal to the small bet. So at a $1/$2 table the small blind is 0.50c and the big blind is $1.

In limit games the size of the bet that a player can make in the first and second betting rounds is equal to the amount of the small bet of the table (for example in a $3/$6 limit game, the bet players can make in rounds 1 and 2 is $3). In the third and forth betting rounds, players can bet the value of the big bet (for example in a $3/$6 limit game, players can bet $6 in the third and forth rounds).

There is a maximum of one bet and three raises allowed in each betting round. (For example, in the first betting round of a $1/$2 limit table, a player will pay a maximum of $4 - a bet of $1 and three raises of $1). The exception to this rule is if there are only two players left in the pot, in which case there is no limit to the number of raises that can be made.

Hole cards and the first betting round

Once the blinds have been posted, two cards are dealt face down to each player at the table (known as “hole cards”). At this point the first betting round begins, players must make a decision on how to act based on the strength of their hole cards only.

The player to the left of the large blind is always the first to act in the first betting round. This player has the option of folding, calling, or raising the amount of the large blind. The play continues clockwise around the table until all players who started in the hand have called, checked or folded, and the amount put in the pot by each player still in the hand is equal.

The Flop and the second betting round

After the first betting round has finished, the dealer places 3 cards face up in the middle of the table - this is known as the flop. These 3 cards are shared by all the players towards make their final hands. Players now have 5 cards out of the 7 available and have a good idea how their hand is developing. At this point the second betting round begins.

In this and all subsequent betting rounds, the action starts with the first player still in the hand to the left of the dealer. This player can either check or bet (he can not raise as no bet has been made in the round, and he shouldn’t fold because it costs him nothing at that point to stay in the hand). As in the previous betting round, the play continues clockwise around the table until all players have called, checked or folded and the amount placed in the pot by each player still in the hand is equal.

The Turn and the third betting round

After the second betting round, the dealer places a fourth card face up on the table - this is called the turn card. Like the flop, this is a community card that may be used by all the players to make up part of their hand.

The players should now know the majority of their hand, as there is only one more card to come. The betting round here is the same as the third betting round, with the player to the left of the dealer acting first.

In limit games the size of the bet that a player can make in the third betting round and final betting round is equal the size of the big bet (for example in a $3/$6 limit game, the bet players can make in this round is $6).

The River and the final betting round

After the third betting round, the dealer places a final card face up on the table - this is called the river card. There is a final betting round, which is the same as the third betting round.

After this, each player makes the best possible 5 card poker hand out of the 7 available cards. Each player can use any combination of the 2 cards in their hands and the five cards on the table. The player with the highest ranked hand wins the pot. If two or more players have the same value hand, then the pot is split between them.

And the poker game goes on…

Once the hand has finished, and the pot has been awarded, the dealer button moves to the next player on his left. The cards are shuffled, the blinds are posted by the next two players, and the cards are dealt. The game continues as long as there are at least two players at the table.

About author

Morgan Collins lives and works in the South of Spain. Has been writing articles for gaming sites for some time and also provides seo services to a number of online gaming organisations.

League Two Betting Review - 9 April 2006
- by David Walker

Carlisle are overwhelming 1/7 favourites to win League Two outright after their 1-0 victory over second-placed Grimsby sent them six points clear. Former Leeds striker Michael Bridges struck the decisive goal for the even money Cumbrians four minutes after the break.

Northampton threw away a two-goal lead against Rochdale and missed the chance to go second. Josh Low after five minutes and Scott McGleish on 35 put the 8/15 Cobblers in control at the break. However, Rickie Lamberts pulled one back six minutes into the second half and levelled with a stoppage time penalty.

Leyton Orient are breathing down Northampton’s necks after a 2-0 victory over Boston United saw them level on points. An Adam Lockwood penalty on 51 and Paul Connor goal a minute before the end ensured victory for the 6/10 O’s who kept a sixth successive clean sheet.

Wycombe suffered their fourth consecutive defeat at the hands of Macclesfield. Paul Harsley netted a penalty six minutes before the break and Danny Whittaker struck on 53 for the 6/4 Silkmen. Substitute Russell Martin score a consolation four minutes from full time.

Play-off chasing Cheltenham were denied all three points by Stockport. Kayode Odejayi drew first blood for the Robins but County went ahead through a Mark Robinson penalty and Keith Briggs. Brian Wilson levelled for the hosts and a Grant McCann penalty two minutes from time looked set to secure a 7/10 home win. However, Liam Dickinson tied the game at 3-3 with an equaliser in injury time.

Peterborough sent Bury deeper into relegation trouble with an emphatic 3-1 win at Gigg Lane. Posh striker Danny Crow broke the deadlock on 45 and Adam Newton doubled the lead after 62 minutes. Tom Kennedy scored from the penalty spot four minutes later to give the Shakers hope but Crow struck again in stoppage time to seal a convincing 9/5 away win.

Darlington boosted their play-off hopes but left Torquay’s League status hanging by a thread with a 2-1 win at Plainmoor. The relegation-threatened Seagulls took the lead through Keith Hill on 37 but Akpo Sodge levelled for the Quakers on 66. Neil Wainwright netted a late winner for 9/5 Darlo a minute from time.

Rushden & Diamonds fightback continued with a 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers, levelling them on points with fellow strugglers Stockport. Drewe Broughton sealed another three points for the 4/1 outsiders with 11 minutes remaining.

Chester climbed away from the drop zone with their third successive win, this time at Oxford. Derek Asamoah netted his sixth goal in three games after 19 minutes to secure the 9/4 Blues victory.

About author

David Walker runs free bets and UK poker websites. A free email course: “Seven Days to Better Betting” is available at both of these websites.

League Two Betting Review - 9 April 2006
- by David Walker

Carlisle are overwhelming 1/7 favourites to win League Two outright after their 1-0 victory over second-placed Grimsby sent them six points clear. Former Leeds striker Michael Bridges struck the decisive goal for the even money Cumbrians four minutes after the break.

Northampton threw away a two-goal lead against Rochdale and missed the chance to go second. Josh Low after five minutes and Scott McGleish on 35 put the 8/15 Cobblers in control at the break. However, Rickie Lamberts pulled one back six minutes into the second half and levelled with a stoppage time penalty.

Leyton Orient are breathing down Northampton’s necks after a 2-0 victory over Boston United saw them level on points. An Adam Lockwood penalty on 51 and Paul Connor goal a minute before the end ensured victory for the 6/10 O’s who kept a sixth successive clean sheet.

Wycombe suffered their fourth consecutive defeat at the hands of Macclesfield. Paul Harsley netted a penalty six minutes before the break and Danny Whittaker struck on 53 for the 6/4 Silkmen. Substitute Russell Martin score a consolation four minutes from full time.

Play-off chasing Cheltenham were denied all three points by Stockport. Kayode Odejayi drew first blood for the Robins but County went ahead through a Mark Robinson penalty and Keith Briggs. Brian Wilson levelled for the hosts and a Grant McCann penalty two minutes from time looked set to secure a 7/10 home win. However, Liam Dickinson tied the game at 3-3 with an equaliser in injury time.

Peterborough sent Bury deeper into relegation trouble with an emphatic 3-1 win at Gigg Lane. Posh striker Danny Crow broke the deadlock on 45 and Adam Newton doubled the lead after 62 minutes. Tom Kennedy scored from the penalty spot four minutes later to give the Shakers hope but Crow struck again in stoppage time to seal a convincing 9/5 away win.

Darlington boosted their play-off hopes but left Torquay’s League status hanging by a thread with a 2-1 win at Plainmoor. The relegation-threatened Seagulls took the lead through Keith Hill on 37 but Akpo Sodge levelled for the Quakers on 66. Neil Wainwright netted a late winner for 9/5 Darlo a minute from time.

Rushden & Diamonds fightback continued with a 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers, levelling them on points with fellow strugglers Stockport. Drewe Broughton sealed another three points for the 4/1 outsiders with 11 minutes remaining.

Chester climbed away from the drop zone with their third successive win, this time at Oxford. Derek Asamoah netted his sixth goal in three games after 19 minutes to secure the 9/4 Blues victory.

About author

David Walker runs free bets and UK poker websites. A free email course: “Seven Days to Better Betting” is available at both of these websites.

League One Betting Review - 9 April 2006
- by David Walker

Southend came from a goal behind to stretch their lead at the top of League One to eight points with a 2-1 win over struggling Blackpool. Gareth Williams gave the Tangerines the lead after 32 minutes but Fredy Eastwood equalised on the hour. Luke Guttridge struck the winner for the 8/15 Shrimpers four minutes from the end.

Brentford remain second despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Bradford and have won just once in their last six. Michael Symes gave the Bantams the lead on 36 but Lloyd Owusu drew the Bees level two minutes before the break to set up a 13/5 draw.

Huddersfield wasted the chance to enter the automatic promotion places after slipping 2-0 at Gillingham. Gary Mulligan put the 13/8 Gills in front after four minutes and Matt Jarvis sealed victory in stoppage time.

Nottingham Forest continued their march toward a play-off place with a fortunate 1-0 win over Colchester. James Perch scored the decisive goal on 72 which saw even money Forest gain 20 points from the last 24 available to them.

Swansea lost further ground on the automatic promotion places after slumping to a 3-2 defeat at Port Vale. Sam Togwell gave the 13/8 Valliants the lead two minutes before the break but Adebayo Akinfenwa equalised on 47. Michael Cummins on 58 and Leon Constantine after 63 minutes secured a vital home win before Rory Fallon netted a consolation two minutes from full-time.

Basement club Milton Keyes Dons have a slim hope of survival after beating play-off hopefuls Oldham at Boundary Park. Luke Beckett gave the Latics an expected lead after 28 minutes but Izale McLeod struck twice in as many minutes on 40 and 41 to seal an unlikely 11/2 away win.

Two goals in five minutes sealed a precious victory for Rotherham against Tranmere to move them out of the relegation zone. Martin Butler on 73 and Paul Shaw on 78 was enough to earn a 7/5 win at Millmoor.

Two sides in grave danger - Swindon and Hartlepool drew 1-1 at the County Ground - a result both sides could have done without. Ritchie Humphreys gave the Monkey Hangers the lead after 31 minutes but Lee Peacock nine minutes after the break earned the Robins a share of the points at 9/4.

Bristol City cruised to a 3-0 victory at Walsall which sent the Saddlers into deeper relegation trouble. David Cotterill gave the Robins the lead a minute before the break before an Alex Russell penalty on 51 and Richard Keogh in stoppage time ensured a comfortable 8/5 victory.

About author

David Walker runs free bets and UK poker websites. A free email course: “Seven Days to Better Betting” is available at both of these websites.

Jekyll and Hyde: Women’s New Alter Ego in the World of Online Gambling
- by Seema Shah

“Women enjoy gambling!” A statement that has continued to surprise many people, but it’s a fact that gambling has become a pursuit many women these days enjoy free of guilt. As women become more financially and personally independent, they are rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Women see gambling more than just betting money on a game or dropping coins in a slot machine; it’s a holistic experience that embodies all the senses. Ask a man about a trip to the casino and he’ll tell you about the gambling and the money he won or loss. Ask a woman about a trip to the casino and she will tell you about the shows, the shopping, the atmosphere, the food and drink in the casino itself, and oh by the way, she lost or won some money.

Current observations reveal a growth in women taking up poker online, with studies showing that like their bricks and mortar sisters, women enjoy the “social” interaction of internet poker and the need for to escape the grind of daily life without spending a fortune for that experience!

Online gambling has allowed more women to become adventurous in the risks they take. The online arena facilitates their inner growl, letting women live each gambling moment as a lion rather than a lamb; the demure, prim and proper appearance of a lady no longer applies when gambling online. Women can therefore pretty much hold their own. Even when playing against men, they are not afraid of men excluding or patronising the so called “weaker sex”. Not only that but the convenience of having entertainment provided in the safe confines of their own home means that women with children no longer have to worry about hiring a nanny for the evening. They can play when it suits them night or day without ‘risking’ the need to stop their winning streak.

Today, the number of online casinos catering for women is staggering. With each site offering a wide variety of games and gambling opportunities, internet poker offers women the opportunity to play the games in a non-threatening environment without having to deal with overbearing male egos. The lack of females frequenting offline bookmakers and to an extent some men who are too nervous to visit those dens of vice are prime examples of how the internet has broken down this barrier. It’s refreshing to see that women who gamble online can now firmly take off the mask played in the real world, let their inhibitions go and be the deadly wild card once thought of as the underdog.

About author

Seema Shah has been writing articles since 2004, concentrating primarily within the Online Casino and Gaming Industry. She currently writes for InterPoker, part of InterCasino, one of the largest, most awarded and most respected online casino and online poker rooms offering Texas Holdem and Omaha

Championship Betting Review - 9 April 2006
- by David Walker

Reading closed in on Sunderland’s Championship points record of 105 by thrashing Cardiff 5-2 at Ninian Park. James Harper after 10 minutes and Dave Kitson on 39 gave the Royals a deserved half-time lead before an own goal by Glenn Loovens on 52 increased their advantage further. The Bluebirds hit back through Cameron Jerome on 67 and Paul Parry on 80 but Reading had two more of their own in Kevin Doyle on 87 and James Harper’s second in injury time to seal a confident 6/4 win.

Sheffield United grabbed a late winner against Hull to all but seal automatic promotion. Neil Shipperley after 36 minutes and Paul Ifill on 52 gave the 1/2 Blades the lead before Hull hit back through Stuart Elliott on 65 and Daryl Duffy five minutes later. Veteran defender David Unsworth smashed in the decisive goal at the death.

Watford could only manage a 1-1 draw with Luton, handing the advantage to Sheffield United. Marlon King struck his twentieth goal of the season to give the Hornets the lead after 36 minutes but Ahmet Brkovic equalised on 73 for a 12/5 draw.

Leeds are also unlikely to catch the Blades after a goalless draw with Plymouth. Without a win in six matches, shrewd punters will have snapped up the draw at generous 13/5 odds.

Preston moved up a place to fifth and are almost assured a play-off place after Norwich scored two own goals at Deepdale. Jason Shackell after 20 minutes and Gary Doherty on 38 did the hard work for 5/6 North End before half-time.

Despite losing 2-0 at Leicester on Friday night, Crystal Palace also look set for a play-off place. On-loan Andy Welsh broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time and Stephen Hughes on 87 sealed a 9/5 home win.

Wolves squandered a two goal lead against Coventry. Veteran Paul Ince broke the deadlock after two minutes while Colin Cameron added a second 20 minutes later. Stern John gave the Sky Blues hope after 25 minutes and Gary McSheffrey equalised on the hour for a 9/4 draw. Wolves are 10 points adrift in seventh place of both Crystal Palace and Preston.

Crewe dragged Sheffield Wednesday back into the relegation dogfight and are within a mathematical chance of survival themselves following a 2-0 win at Gresty Road. Gareth Taylor’s double strike on 31 and 45 completed step one of the great escape at 11/8.

Southampton effectively assured their survival in the division but sent opponents Brighton to the foot of the table with a 2-0 win at the Withdean Stadium. Ricardo Fuller netted first after 37 minutes and Richard Chaplow sealed a 7/4 away victory.

Derby also took a step closer to safety but pushed Millwall deeper into the relegation mire with a 1-0 win at Pride Park. Tommy Smith scored his sixth goal of the campaign to earn the Rams three points at 10/11.

About author

David Walker runs free bets and UK poker websites. A free email course: “Seven Days to Better Betting” is available at both of these websites.

Premiership Betting Review - 9 April 2006
- by David Walker

Manchester United look set to push Chelsea all the way for the Premiership title following a convincing 2-0 win over Arsenal. Wayne Rooney struck confidently after 53 minutes while Ji Sung Park’s first league goal on 77 earned three precious points at 11/10.

Chelsea brushed aside West Ham United 4-1 at Stamford Bridge despite falling a goal behind and being reduced to 10 men early on. Defender James Collins gave the 12/1 Hammers a dream start after nine minutes and Maniche saw a straight red for a lunging tackle on Lionel Scaloni shortly after.

But two goals in as many minutes from Didier Drogba on 28 and Hernan Crespo on 30 put Chelsea back in control. Further strikes from John Terry on 53 and William Gallas on 68 ensured the 3/10 on a home win was never in doubt.

Liverpool recorded a fifth straight win as Bolton Wanderers suffered a fourth consecutive defeat as they succumbed 1-0 at Anfield. Robbie Fowler celebrated his 31sy birthday by netting the decisive goal for the 8/15 Reds on the stroke of half-time.

Tottenham Hotspur maintained their credentials for a Champions League place next season with a 2-1 win against Manchester City. Paul Stalteri gave 8/13 Spurs the lead a minute before the break while Michael Carrick added a second on 49. Georgios Samaras hit back three minutes later but Martin Jol’s side eased to victory.

Birmingham City’s good run of form continued as they picked up a useful point at Wigan Athletic. Paul Jewell’s side, without a home win this year, took the lead through Andreas Johansson three minutes after the break but David Dunn earned a 13/5 draw on 76.

Portsmouth salvaged a point against Blackburn Rovers. Craig Bellamy gave Rovers the lead after 32 minutes but Lomano LuaLua levelled four minutes before the break. Bellamy put the visitors in front again on 62 but substitute Svetoslav Todorov earned Pompey a share of the points at odds of 9/4 with 12 minutes left.

West Bromwich Albion saw two precious points slip from their grasp as they drew 0-0 with rivals Aston Villa in the Midlands derby. The draw, available before kick-off at 23/10 before, mean Brian Robson’s side remain two points adrift of safety.

Sunderland’s crunch-game against Fulham was abandoned after 21 minutes because of bad weather conditions at the Stadium of Light. Referee Mike Riley abandoned proceeding after 21 minutes after heavy snow made the pitch unplayable. Brian McBride gave the 5/4 Cottagers the lead but the result will not stand.

About author

David Walker runs free bets and UK poker websites. A free email course: “Seven Days to Better Betting” is available at both of these websites.

32Red to Sponsor Premiership Football Team
- by Michael Hanna

The UK facing online casino and poker operator, 32Red Plc (”32Red” or “the Company”) has reached conditional agreement to be the new official club sponsor of Premiership football club Aston Villa. The two year sponsorship deal includes a logo on the home and away shirts and comes into effect for the 2006/2007 Premiership season.

Under the terms of the agreement, 32Red will pay a basic six figure sum per season, with Aston Villa receiving additional revenues under its marketing affiliate arrangement with the Company.

Ed Ware, CEO of 32Red Plc, commented:

“This partnership fits into our strategic marketing plans extremely well. Our presence at targeted sporting events including Premiership and Championship football matches and horse racing meetings has worked well for us to date. This deal will sit very well alongside those activities, as well as our existing online marketing programmes.

“Importantly, this sponsorship will also significantly enhance our brand recognition by bringing us television, national press and other media coverage in Britain and around the world. It is a measured but significant step forward for the 32Red brand. Aston Villa FC is one of the UK’s biggest clubs and we are very pleased to be associated with them.”

32Red Plc is based in Gibraltar and its shares are traded on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. Their online casino has been awarded the title ‘Best Online Casino‘ for the past three years by the industry’s number one independent watchdog.

Enquiries:
32Red Plc +350 49 396
Ed Ware, Chief Executive
Ed Andrewes, Development Director

College Hill Associates
Tom Baldock +44 207 457 2020

Notes to Editors
32Red online casino is an award-winning online casino and poker operator licensed, regulated and based in Gibraltar. For the past 3 years 32Red has been awarded ‘Best Casino’ by Watchdog and Player Advocate site Casinomeister.

The Company attracts players from around the world but has a predominately UK player base, with 83% of customers at 32Red and 32Red online poker registered as coming from the UK & Ireland.

On 23rd September 2005 the Company listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market.

Bluffing at Hold Em
- by Joe Poker

Bluffing is a great tool in poker. But, like any tool, you need to use it at the right time for the right job. There are several situations when bluffing is most effective, but in every case you should always know your players as well as possible before you try to bluff them: they may already know what you’re up to.

Some of the best times to bluff are when:

There are not many players in the pot. It’s easier to bluff a few people than a lot of them. But trying to “fool the few” is a common ploy, so your fellow players will probably know what you’re up to. Be persistent in your betting, though, and you might fool them.

You are playing against tight players. Players that fold easily to begin with are good bluffing targets, but if you start early (in the pre-flop or flop) and they don’t shy away, you might want to think twice about keeping it up. They’ve probably got a good hand.

Your pre-flop bet missed its mark. The other players don’t know you missed, though, so if you do it carefully and consider the board well, you can probably reel a few of them in.

The other players are a little scared of you. If you just won a hand through genuinely good play, and you play your next hand the same way, they’re likely to believe you have another strong one and fold.

Remember, though, that these are fairly common bluffs, and chances are good that the other players at the table know them and are using them, too. They won’t always work, so always make sure you know your players and what they will and won’t fold to. And don’t use these bluffs too often: it could backfire on you.

Just as important is knowing when not to bluff. When there are a lot of players at the table, when they expect you to bluff, when you’ve recently been caught bluffing, when you’ve been losing lots of hands…. These are bad times to try bluffing your opponents. Never bluff just for the sake of bluffing. Always make sure you have a reason and a chance of pulling it off.

Hollywood Poker Announces $5 Million Poker Tournament
- by Anton Fisher

$5 Million Guarantee, a Trip to Barcelona, and a Chance to Make Online Poker History

Hollywood Poker presents the Poker Classic, a tournament with an outstanding and unprecedented guaranteed prize pool of $5,000,000. The first place finisher will take at least $1,000,000 away from the final table! Be a Part of Online Poker History! This event is going to make poker history. It starts online on Saturday the 2nd of September and concludes with a live tournament offering the largest-ever guaranteed prize for such an event. Once there are 45 players remaining in the online tournament it will be put on hold and those players will be sent to the Casino de Barcelona in Barcelona Spain to conclude the tournament live on the weekend of September 30th. Players will continue with the same chip stacks they had when the online tournament paused.

Outstanding Added Tournament Value The overlay for this event will be massive and unrivalled because travel and hotel expenses are not coming from the prize pool. For the entry fee of $5000+200 (or equivalent) the top 45 players will receive both their tournament buy-in AND a $5000 (approximate value) travel package containing airfare, luxury hotel and accommodation for the weekend in Spain!

Nobody Loses! The best part is that all players qualifying for the live phase are guaranteed to be in the money, with all winnings being paid out to the players’ online accounts.

Beat the $5000+200 Buy-in Through Satellite Qualifiers Apart from the direct buy-in of $5000+200, players can qualify for entry through a number of scheduled tournaments and Sit & Go qualifiers (see below for qualifying structure).

*Please note that there is no direct buy-in to the live event. The only way for a player to participate in the live tournament is to be one of the top 45 players in the online final which players can only enter through direct buy-in of $5000+200 or through a Qualifier.

Qualifying Structure All Qualifying Tournaments for this event can be found under Tournaments in the game software by clicking the Scheduled or Sit & Go (real) tabs and then clicking on the Qualifiers sub section. Tournaments will be listed as ONPC Qualifier.

Scheduled qualifiers: Stage 1: $6+1, runs 12 times per day, pays 1 ticket to Stage 2 for every 9 entrants. One ticket guaranteed.

Stage 2: $50+4, runs 2 times every day, pays 1 ticket to Stage 3 for every 7 entrants. One ticket guaranteed.

Stage 3: $300+20, runs once weekly, pays 1 ticket to the online final for every 18 entrants. One ticket guaranteed.

Sit & Go qualifiers: Turbo sub qualifier: $1+0.10, one ticket to Stage 1.

Stage 1: $9+1, one ticket to Stage 2 and 2nd place gets ticket to Stage 1 + $7.

Stage 2: $68+5, one ticket to Stage 3 and 2nd place gets ticket to Stage 2 + $7.

Stage 3: $580+20, one ticket to the online final and 2nd place gets ticket to Stage 3 Multiple Sit & Goes for 20 and 30 handed will follow.

Preliminary Schedule in Barcelona Thursday September 28th - Arrival in Barcelona

Friday September 29th - Leisure day for players to enjoy the city of Barcelona and rehearsal of tournament walk-through. Opening night reception with cocktails and buffet.

Saturday September 30th - Tournament begins and is played out until we have a 9 handed final table. There will then be a dinner break in the evening for 90 minutes.

Sunday October 1st - Final table with a dinner break in the evening.

About author

If you would like to play in this once in a lifetime tournament Sign up here

How To Play Texas Hold Em
- by Anton Fisher

THE BUY-IN You must buy-in a minimum amount of chips when sitting down at your chosen table. The minimum limit is equal to ten times the lower bet limit of the game. For example on a $3/$6 table the minimum buy-in is $30, on a $10/$20 table the minimum buy-in is $100. THE GAME Texas Hold ‘Em uses a disc called a dealer button to indicate where the cards are to be dealt. Prior to the deal, the two players to the left of the button place live bets called the small and big blinds. It is called a blind because players must pay this amount before seeing their cards. It’s called live because it counts as part of any further bets in the first betting round.

The play begins with two cards dealt facedown to each player. Action starts with a betting round beginning with the player to the left of the blind bets and continuing clockwise around the table. Players may bet, check, raise or fold in turn. The big blind has the privilege of last action and may check or raise the bet.

Three community cards called “The Flop” are then dealt up in the center of the table and another betting round takes place beginning with the player to the left of the dealer button. Another card is dealt face up (called “The Turn”) followed by a round of betting.

The fifth and last card called “The River” is dealt face up and a final round of betting takes place. Players remaining in the hand will then show their cards and the winning poker hand will be awarded the pot. Any combination of pocket cards and community cards may be used to make the best five-card poker hand. SIT DOWN Up to 10 players plus a dealer are seated around a table. DEALER BUTTON In front of one of the players is a round disc or button. This disc determines the order of betting (posting the blinds) and moves to the left one player at a time, after each hand. POST BLINDS Before the cards are dealt at the beginning of each hand, the two players directly to the left of the dealer button must post “blinds”. To post a blind is to place a bet before getting cards. The player to the immediate left of the dealer button posts the “small blind,” equal to half of the minimum bet (Example: $5 for a $10 / $20 game). The player to the left of the small blind posts the “big blind,” equal to the amount of the minimum bet (Example: $10 for a $10 / $20 game). POCKET CARDS Once the blinds have been posted, the first round of cards is dealt. These consist of two cards face down to each player and are called the “pocket cards”. Each player can see his or her own pocket cards.

Then the first round of betting takes place, beginning with the player immediately to the left of the big blind and continuing in a clockwise direction around the table. BETTING Bet amounts are fixed by the table stakes. For example, in a $3 / $6 table, bets are $3 in the first two rounds and $6 in the last two. The bet amount can climb a maximum of 3 times in each round of betting. In other words, there can be one bet and three raises in each round. THE FLOP CARDS Next, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. These cards are called the “Flop”. All three cards are “community” cards and can be used by all the players at the table to make up their best possible hand.

After the flop is dealt, a second round of betting takes place, again beginning with the player immediately to the left of the dealer button. All subsequent rounds of betting begin with the player to left of the dealer button. THE TURN CARD Following the flop, a fourth “community” card is dealt face up in the middle of the table. This card is called the “Turn” card and can also be used by all players. It is followed by a third round of betting. THE RIVER CARD Finally, a fifth and final “community” card is dealt face up in the middle of the table. It is called the “River” card and is followed by a fourth and final round of betting. SHOWDOWN Once all betting is complete, players determine the best five-card hand that they can make. The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. Should multiple hands tie, the pot is split with any odd amount going to the player immediately to the left of the dealer. START AGAIN AAfter a hand is completed and the pot taken by the winner, the dealer button is moved one player to the left and the next hand begins. The Betting Rules:

Minimum eligible raise: Bet amounts are fixed by the table stakes. For example, in a 3/6 table, bets are $3 in the first two rounds and $6 in the last two. Maximum eligible raise: Bet amounts are fixed by the table stakes. For example, in a 3/6 table, bets are $3 in the first two rounds and $6 in the last two. The bet amount can climb a maximum of 3 times in each round of betting. In other words, there can be one bet and three raises in each round.

The bet button - You can click the bet button, which will display the minimum amount you can bet or raise The bet box - A text box that allows you to type in the exact amount you want to bet or raise. Once you have entered the amount to bet or raise, the bet button will reflect this amount. Then click the bet button and your bet will be placed. The slider bar - The slider bar is a device that you can use with your mouse to increase or decrease the amount of your bet or raise. Simply drag the bar on the slider to the amount of money you want to bet or raise. As you slide, the bet amount will be reflected on the bet button. When you find the amount you want to bet or raise, simply click the bet button and your bet will be made. The slider bar will start with the minimum raise and will move in increments equivalent to the minimum raise.

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