|
|
As you would expect from the Bonus King, Betfred is giving you some fantastic offers throughout the Cheltenham Festival! We’ve got the best odds, improved concessions and some great bonus offers! This year’s festival will also be the most exciting ever with the introduction of the 2009 Cheltenham Predictor!
If you fancy a VIP package to the Grand National that will make you the envy of all your friends, all you have to do is use your tipping expertise to predict the winners at the festival.
Need a little help? Then why not follow the advice of our team of experts: Peter Scudamore, Angus Loughran and our very own Fred Done.
Former eight times champion jockey Peter Scudamore has joined the Betfred team to give his expert analysis for each race during the four days of the Cheltenham Festival.
Find out what Scu fancies to topple red hot favourite Binocular in the Champion Hurdle, why he thinks Kauto Star can gain his revenge on Denman in the Gold Cup and what ‘dark horses’ are lined up for the big handicaps in Betfred’s free Interactive Cheltenham Guide.
It’s the meeting everyone looks forward to and there’s even more reason to savour the Cheltenham Festival if you place your bets with us.
We will be best odds guaranteed on all the races on each day. We will be running happy hours (make that two!) throughout the festival.
We have also enhanced our bonus structure for Lucky 15’s, Lucky 31’s and Lucky 63’s so why not aim for a massive payout with Betfred!
Cheltenham is just a week away! Woohoo!! My favourite time of year. Cheltenham and Paddy’s Day all in one month! A little piece of heaven!
What do we have planned for Cheltenham 2009? Well, wait till I tell you…
 Paddy Power Cheltenham
What do we have to offer to our customers?
- Naps competition €1k daily prize and €5k overall prize
- Bet & Watch on all races
- Dedicated Microsite
- Audio & Text Commentary
- Live updates from course via news feed and Festival Radio
- Daily Money-Back AND Extra-Place Specials
- Guaranteed Prices on all races
-   Non-Runner No Bet
- More markets than anyone else
You are playing poker at some time, you will inevitably have to get your feet wet, head to your local casino or card room. With this desire has a certain degree of anxiety or worry about the first time to the brick and mortar.
This is completely normal!
But do not worry! Nothing is really worried, because playing poker at the casino is the most interesting form of playing games.
Despite my assurances, but I believe you still have some reservations about the Council, and is likely to be a little bit worried, it should be there, how do you, what is your stake should play, etc.
The good news is that this section should explain the problem a lot of you playing at the casino. In reading the following tips will prepare you Live Games, allowing you to relax, and truly make you come to a casino in the first place - to win the money!
First of all, you’ll want to do upon arrival at the casino are talking about the Front Desk area poker rooms, and let them either assign you a table, or will you waiting to be seated. You have to decide what stakes to play. Usually the most casinos will have a low-risk restrictions Games ($ 4 - $ 8), low risk and no limit games ($ 1 - $ 2), may be some high-risk game.
When you specify a form, please person may be specified in the direction of the cage you get some chips. I recommend purchase of at least 20 big bets (160 U.S. dollars for the 4 - 8 dollars), if you want to play limit poker. If you want to play no limit, it is usually the biggest purchase requirements, or close to it is the best.
Now, you have chips, sit down - the fun is about to begin! Soon you will win your first-hand … what a rush. Nothing like the feeling of winning the big pot and stacking chips.
There is one thing to remember is at the casino dealer should always tip! This is common courtesy, like Tipping your server in a restaurant. Usually in the low-limit game dealers give me any chips 0.50 U.S. dollars, they give me to change the rake. If I did not receive any chip size, and then I usually will be prompted to dollars. This is completely up to you though, I would recommend that place from 0.50 U.S. dollars to 2.00 U.S. dollars more than is acceptable, although you may wish to suggest that if you win a big pot.
As you play more and more casinos, has the inevitable, you have a question, a hand manner, or you think are wrong. Always keep your cool in these circumstances, and pointed out that its the first time dealers. If you do not deal with it Here you are satisfied with the people known as the floor above - but always give dealers the opportunity to make things right. Dealers are people too much, no one likes when someone not in their heads. In other words, if the dealer did not do anything about your problem, of course, require floor manager.
These quick tips you should be ready for your first visit to the scene casino poker room.
But there is one thing!
Remember the most important rules, all go casino - fun!
Sit and Go Strategies for Poker Prophecy
- by Marty Smith
My previous articles on poker calculators have not included information on Poker Prophecy because in essence it is NOT an online poker odds calculator. However, it does something equally as valuable in that it displays your opponents overall win rate at the poker site you play. Whether you play at Party Poker, Poker Stars, Ultimate Bet, or a selection of others, Poker Prophecy keeps sit and go records for you whether you are at the table or not. Is it useful? Yes, it absolutely is. If you play sit and go tables even once in awhile, this is the one online poker program that can pay for itself in the same day. In an ideal world you would want to use your poker calculator alongside Poker Prophecy. Now, if you are wondering how knowing an opponent’s win rate will help you, keep reading.
In effect, you can your opponent’s win rate against them. Although you can change the levels of classifications on Poker Prophecy I prefer to use the provided win rate categorizations - as they seem to be right on. To win a sit and go tournament you will be in several hands along the way that are game critical intersects. In saying that, would you want your opponent to be someone that you’ve never played against, or a regular that you have played hundreds, or even thousands of times?
A win rate is determined by adding all the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes and dividing by games played. These rates create 3 player categories. Here are some strategies to use against all of them.
37% or higher - Professional: Anyone with this win rate knows how to play tight/aggressive and does so with incredible patience and discipline. They will not be bluffing early, and will almost always have the best hand when all in. However, their weakness lies in that very foundation, in that they are the easiest players at the table to bluff out of a pot. If you try this often, they will trap you, but if you selectively come over the top in a big way, these players will not call on hands like top or middle pair, mediocre draws, or flop boards that have a lot of chemistry. Stay away from them if they come in early position with a raise. Fold your AJ, KQ, 66, 33, and the like, unless you are short stacked, then over the top is your only play. At this level, players are proud of their win rate and absolutely hate to go out first, or early in a tournament. If you can threaten to cut into their bankroll, they will pause and fold to your aggressive re-raising.
20.01% to 36.9% - Average: These players are the most dangerous in that they may have tendencies of being solid and weak, many of them in poker learning stages that may well be improving. I find the reason why these online poker players are stuck in this zone is that they can’t let go of draws, even when pot odds justify an obvious fold. The course of action here is basically straight up, unless you have some other indication of their play. If you have them on an obvious draw, bet solid. If the river is a brick add one small bet to cap it off, and hope for a re-raise. In game play, they are the ones to watch most in order to help build an identity.
0% to 20% - Fish: Don’t bluff, don’t bluff, and for God sakes, don’t bluff. These are the players who are most often asked - “How did you call with that?” They are the lowest grade opponents for a reason, but can double up ON YOU if you don’t play straight up against them. However, that makes them the most susceptible to being trapped and/or slow played. And that’s what you want to do while avoid being drawn out on an ugly gut shot straight. If you want them out of the hand, all-in is your only play, but make sure you are way ahead. If not, calling/checking down, and folding to a huge river bet is safer. These players will see so many hands and raises that you are sure to get a better shot at them later - if they happen to survive. Poker Prophecy also has other statistics which you should read for every table you join because they have a huge impact on a players TRUE win rate.
How many games have they played? The more they have played (100+) the more that category is true to their fundamental playing style. If your opponent has a 62% win rate but has only played 13 games, you are essentially playing blind - the win rate is a non-factor, save for representing a streak.
What buy-in are they playing compared to what they usually play? Someone could be on a bad losing streak at the $50 buy in, and finds himself trying to bankroll at the $10 buy ins. They may tend to be more impatient and inclined to tilt. On the other hand, moving up a level or two usually means the player is going to be much tighter.
Conflicting styles. If you discover a pro-rated player in a lot of weak hands, and playing carelessly, you may be seated with the spouse/friend of the account holder. I often come across this and pay close attention to that player so that I can override the category myself.
About author
Martin Smith is webmaster of http://www.PokerCalculatorReport.com where all the online poker calculators are tested and reviewed, including Sit and Go Shark, Calculatem Pro, and Poker Spy. He is also editor of http://www.PokerBookReport.com You can contact Martin Smith at support@PokerCalculatorReport.com
The NFL Draft’s Impact on the Upcoming Fantasy Football Season
- by Michael Brody
Some of these rookies will come in and make an immediate impact in the league. Others will have a more subtle impact and work their way into the lineup. How much playing time these rookies receive will determine not only their value, but also the value of many other proven veterans who could be high fantasy draft picks. Some of these veterans may lose a lot of value due to rookies stealing precious playing time from them. This is especially troubling in keeper leagues.
Rookie Starters
This was one of the more impressive drafts in recent years. Several skilled players should step right into major roles with their NFL teams. Some of these guys will be well worth having on your fantasy team. If you’re in a keeper league, these guys could be very high picks.
Reggie Bush - The Texans might have passed on him, but you shouldn’t. Bush will have plenty of chances to score fantasy points for his owners as he is expected to split carries with Deuce McAllister, whose value drops significantly. Bush will be a big target out of the backfield for new Saints QB Drew Brees and at times he’ll line up as a wide receiver. Bush may also be able to get on the scoreboard returning punts and kickoffs.
Vernon Davis - The huge tight end will instantly become Alex Smith’s favorite target in San Francisco. While the 49ers’ offense is nothing to write home about, they should improve and they will play against some weaker defenses. Some say Davis may be the next Antonio Gates. That probably won’t happen right away, but he could be a top 5 tight end and have numbers similar to Baltimore’s Todd Heap.
Joseph Addai - The Colts moved quickly to replace Edgerrin James by drafting the LSU running back in the first round. Addai will step right into the league’s most potent offense and could be the feature back. Like James, he’s an excellent pass catcher and should have no problem beating out Dominic Rhodes for the majority of the playing time.
Waiting in the Wings
These guys may not start right away, but they will be valuable players for their new teams’ offenses.
Laurence Maroney & Chad Jackson - The Patriots’ top two picks may not be immediate starters, but it won’t be long until they force their way into the lineup. Rated by many as the top wide receiver in the draft, New England was able to grab Florida’s Chad Jackson in the second round. Jackson fills an immediate hole for the Pats after they lost David Givens in free agency. Even if he doesn’t start, New England loves to run 3-, 4- and 5-receiver sets, and you can bet Tom Brady will find the rookie. The Patriots’ No. 1 pick was RB Laurence Maroney. Maroney rushed for more than 1,000 yards three straight seasons at Minnesota. He won’t displace incumbent Corey Dillon as the starter right away, but Maroney will get his share of carries and could develop into a very productive NFL running back in no time. He is an excellent mid-round pick - higher in keeper leagues.
DeAngelo Williams - The undersized running back is the NCAA career leader in all-purpose yards. He will have to battle DeShaun Foster and Carolina’s 2005 top pick Eric Shelton for playing time. Williams will be part of the backfield rotation from the start. Foster and Shelton have both had trouble staying healthy, so Williams could be in line for even more playing time.
Santonio Holmes - The Steelers, like the Patriots, had an immediate need for a wide receiver and filled it with the impressive Ohio State speedster. He should fit in well with the Super Bowl champs and has a great tutor in Hines Ward. Look for Pittsburgh to ease him into the lineup and for Holmes to make his way into the starting lineup by mid-season.
LenDale White - The other USC running back fell to the middle of the second round after a hamstring injury and character questions have come up in recent weeks. On the field, White has been a powerful runner with a nose for the end zone. Tennessee already has two proven backs in Chris Brown and Travis Henry, but both have been susceptible to injuries. Look for White to start the season as the goal-line back and get a chance at the feature back role later in the season.
Best of the Rest
A few other players to keep an eye on this season include: Leonard Pope - The 6-foot-8 tight end will be a huge target for Curt Warner and should get plenty of Red Zone opportunities in the Cardinals’ new high-powered offense; Sinorice Moss - The Miami (Fla.) receiver should be an excellent complement to Plaxico Burress for the Giants. Moss will have to fight for catches in an offense that features Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, and Burress; Anthony Fasano - Bill Parcells hopes Fasano will turn into another Mark Bavaro for the Cowboys. Dallas already has Jason Witten, a solid tight end, but Parcells loves to play two tight ends, and Drew Bledsoe loves to work the middle of the field.
The Quarterbacks
The there’s the three high-profile quarterbacks: Vince Young, Matt Leinart, and Jay Cutler. I think they will all have productive careers, but just not this season. Young has a chance for playing time with Tennessee now that Steve McNair has left for Baltimore. Billy Volek is ready to step up, however, so Young should be carrying the clipboard this season. Leinart fell to the 10th pick, but he couldn’t have asked for a better situation. The Cardinals are loaded on offense with the best young wide receiver duo in the league - Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald - and a stud running back in the newly acquired James. Kurt Warner leads the Arizona attack and still has a good year or two left, but Warner has a history of injuries so Leinart’s time could come sooner rather than later. The Broncos drafted Cutler one pick after Leinart was selected. Cutler will back up Jake Plummer in Denver next year as he is groomed for the starting spot once Plummer wears out his welcome.
Keep track of the position battles over the summer and don’t be afraid to take a chance on a rookie that could be a difference maker.
About author
We’ve had a week to digest the NFL draft. While most observers were looking at which teams drafted the best and which teams dropped out, fantasy footballers were wondering which rookies they might like to have on their team.
Playing Poker at the Casino for the First Time
- by Chris Holdsworth
After you’ve been playing poker for a while, you will inevitably want to get your feet wet and head down to your local casino or card room. Along with this desire comes a certain level of anxiety or nervousness about going down to the brick and mortar for the first time.
This is perfectly normal!
But don’t worry! There really isn’t anything to fret about, as playing poker at the casino is one of the most fun forms of playing the game.
Despite my reassurances, however, I’m sure you still have some reservations about going, and are probably a bit worried about what to do when you get there, what stakes you should play, etc.
The good news is that this article should explain a lot of the questions you have about playing at the casino. After reading the following tips you will be ready for the live game, allowing you to relax and really do what you came to the casino for in the first place - to win money!
The first thing you’ll want to do upon arriving at the casino is to talk to the front desk area in the poker room and have them either assign you a table, or place you on a waiting list to be seated. You’ll have to decide what stakes you wish to play. Normally most casinos will have a low stakes limit game ($4-$8), a low stakes no limit game ($1-$2), and maybe some mid-high stakes games.
After you are assigned a table, the floor person will likely point you toward the cage to get some chips. I would recommend buying in for at least 20 big bets (so $160 for $4-$8) if you are going to play limit holdem. If you are going to play No Limit, then typically buying in for the maximum, or close to it is optimal.
Now that you have your chips, sit down - the fun is about to begin! Soon enough you will win your first hand… what a rush. There’s nothing like the feeling of winning a big pot and stacking up your chips.
One thing to remember in the casino though is to ALWAYS TIP THE DEALER! This is common courtesy just like tipping your server at a restaurant. Usually in low limit games I will give the dealer any $0.50 chips that they give me from making change for the rake. If I don’t get any chips that size, then I will generally tip a dollar. This is completely up to you though, and I would suggest anywhere from $0.50 to $2.00 is more than acceptable, although you may wish to tip more if you win a large pot.
As you play more and more at the casino, there is bound to be a time when you have a question about the way a hand was handled, or you feel that a mistake was made. Always keep your cool in these circumstances, and point it out to the dealer first. If they aren’t handling it to you satisfaction, call a floor person over - but ALWAYS give the dealer a chance to make things right. Dealers are people too, and no one likes it when someone goes over their heads. That said, if the dealer isn’t doing anything about your problem, certainly ask for a floor manager.
These quick tips should get you ready for your first trip to a live casino poker room.
But one more thing!
Remember the most important rule of all for going to the casino - Have Fun!
About author
Copyright 2006 - Chris Holdsworth, LearnToPlayTexasHoldem.net - All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as the resource box remains intact and there is a live link to this site. Visit the site for more information about playing live casino poker!
American Idol Betting Odds: when will you American Idol fans start listening?
- by Bob Acton
Everyone snickered a month ago when there were still 8 singers in contention for the coveted American Idol crown and at 18-1, I must have been the only person in the world that suggested you plunk down so hard earned cash on Elliot Yamin. Yesterday highly touted publications were predicting the demise of my main man.
I mean even one of my own employer’s followed up my so called perceived ridiculous statement, with a rebuttal from another writer. Hey, to each his own and it’s like I am bang on with every one of my predictions.
Let’s turn the clock back to April 14, 2006:
AT 18-1 ELLIOT YANIN WILL SHOCK THE WORLD!
Okay I admit I have hit rock bottom as I am about to write an article on American Idol, but on the flip side, you have to admit, this show has power! I have in this competition sat on my couch with my wife who loves the show and in this particular competition have seen the contestants twice. The first time I saw Elliot Yamin sing he was doing a Stevie Wonder tune called ‘If You Really Love Me” and I said then and there that the competition was over.
This guy blew the competition out of the water and even Simon had to admit the guy has the chops. This past week I watched the competition and it was the show with the “Queen “theme and this is not an easy group to imitate. I was stunned they did the voting and he was placed in the bottom three which meant there was a chance he would get eliminated. BS I cried out to my wife, but then it call hit me like a ton of bricks, the guy is short and ugly and the superficial callers, could not get past this issue.
I can’t be the only one to notice that Elliott Yamin has the worst teeth on American Idol. But could his dental dilemma be due to diabetes and not poor hygiene?
But Elliott’s teeth aren’t the only unusual feature on the 27 year-old contestant from Richmond, Virginia. His Abe Lincoln-style sideburns make him look like a cross between an Amish farmer and street gangster. And sometimes he even looks like a leprechaun cautiously coveting his pot of gold. But seriously, Elliott can use his weirdo/outsider/creepy look to his advantage. Think about it - if his confidence continues to grow (and it should if Simon keeps stroking Elliott’s ego), he could be the unlikely long-shot that is the next American Idol.
American Idol sells the sizzle that anyone can win this competition and what better way then to select a Diabetes sufferer from a poverty stricken family to be the next winner. Believe me folks American Idol will by the show Extreme Makeover and send Yamin there and he will come out looking by Brad Pitt.
I gave you the White Sox, I gave you Mickleson and now you have an 18-1 longshot!
Now I don’t want to come across as some pompous you know what, but this whole American Idol is no different them betting on pro sports. The Phoenix Suns were buried by the public after game 5 of their series against Lakers and everyone was talking about the great Kobe and Phil Jackson for coach of the year.
After game 7 it was all Steve Nash and his posse. The Suns then took apart the Clippers in game one and everyone was talking about all the unsung heroes on the Phoenix team. I warned you that the spread of Suns -4 ½ was too low, but the guys with all the money in Vegas, knew that betting is 90% public perception. The Clippers mauled the Suns last night!
American Idol attracts millions of viewers and wants to continue that trend. They sell the American Dream that anything is possible, plus they want controversy at the water cooler the next day!
Elliott Yamin is the Steve Nash of American Idol that suggests that it is alright to “Dare to Dream”!
Online Sports Betting
About author
Bob Acton is an experienced sports writer and handicapper, who has written for the sports industry for over 10 years. His years of writing for Sports Scene, sports consulting on 33 Made for Television and Major Motion Pictures and his work as an instructor at Pro Teach Baseball Academy, have made Bob a trusted and respected source in the sports world.
New England 300 New Hampshire International Speedway
- by Marcela Apple
Tony Stewart climbed the fence in front of the grandstand in what has become his trademark victory celebration. And a crowd of 100,000 at New Hampshire International Speedway roared its approval on last year’s race as he grabbed the checkered flag and pumped his fist in the air just as he did two weeks earlier after a victory at Daytona. Trust me, I’ll be glad to be panting like a dog when I get up there,” he said. “It’s something they like and I’ll keep doing it for them.” Stewart said he needs a personal trainer. “Yes, I’m still too old and too fat to be doing that stuff,” the 34-year-old driver said. “I’m probably going to fall and bust my butt before its over. I’m glad they let me go through the gate instead of climbing back down.” Stewart started 13th and wound up winning for the third time in four races, passing inside and outside in a dominant performance in the New England 300. New Hampshire International Speedway is one of the most unusual tracks on the Nextel Cup Series. How unusual? The track has been described as “Martinsville on steroids.”
The Bahre family are the owners of this track. Its roots in New England racing started in 1964 when Bob Bahre acquired a track in Oxford, Maine, which he and his son, Gary, operated until 1986.
The Bahres’ efforts to bring a major racing facility took off in 1989 when ground was broken for New Hampshire International Speedway on a site about 10 miles north of New Hampshire’s capital city, Concord.
The track opened its gates for the first time in June 1990 and played host to its first NASCAR touring series event, the Budweiser 300 for Busch Series. The Cup Series followed in July 1993, with Rusty Wallace getting the victory.
In July 2000, New Hampshire International Speedway became the first facility to draw more than 100,000 sports fans for a single-day event.
Jeff Burton is the career leader with four Cup victories at NHIS. Burton’s list of victories at New Hampshire International Speedway includes the Dura Lube 300 in 2000 in which Burton led every lap.
In 2004, New Hampshire International Speedway played host to the first race in the inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup. As it turned out, that race played a big role in how that battle for the championship played out. Get the latest NASCAR odds at WagerWeb.com
Texas Hold’em Poker - Playing Low Pocket Pairs
- by Online Poker Player’s Guide
When playing low pocket pairs (2’s,3’s,4’s,5’s6’s) in texas hold’em poker you have to know what your looking for, and how to proceed dependent on what you see on the flop. Too many people think you should just throw them away in most situations, but these types of starting hands can be the most profitable of all.
This is because low pocket pairs are not the typical ace through ten type of starting hand. Also when you make a set it won’t be obvious because the card needed to make your set won’t be a face card which would normally be part of a typical texas hold’em poker hand. You can use this to your advantage. By not making bets that give away your pocket cards hand strength you will be able extract the maximum amount of money. Keep in mind what cards are on the board, and what your opponents hole cards are likely to be given their actions. It may be that at some point in these types of hold’em poker hands you will have to make more forceful bets to force out chasers.
In addition to being hole cards that won’t have an obvious flop they also will have a very high potential hold’em poker hand strength. This is because if you make your set then all you need is for the board to pair. This will give you a full house which has a very high hold’em poker hand strength. Often times in this type of situation the board pair will give an opponent a set while making your full house. This is like money in the bank. While your opponent feels he has a dominant hold’em hand strength he in fact is drawing dead. It is still important not to make obvious and aggressive raises which may communicate your hand strength. Often times the best course of action is to just call till the river then make you move. If your opponent doesn’t get any kind of obvious cues before the river he will be more apt to go ahead and call your post river bet even if it is sizable.
It is important to know what to look for when your starting hand is a low pocket pair. It isn’t always the third card to make your set. For example if you have a pocket pair of 5’s and the flop is 3, 3, 4. In this situation more often than not your ahead in the hand strength. Most opponents would not have a 3 or 4 in a starting hand, and the fact that there are 2 3’s makes it more likely that the remaining 2 3’s are in the deck or folded. In this type of situation I would suggest making a value bet to see if your hand strength is on top. Two or three times the big blind usually would be sufficient. Also you don’t want to make the mistake of acting to minimally and letting players get a free look at the turn. With a flop like that any players holding an ace would like to see a 5 or 2 on the turn. If they then only need on card to make a 5 high straight they may stay in with a small bet. Also there is always the chance they will make their straight. In which case you would have made your set of 5’s but to no avail.
More often than not if you don’t make your set on the flop it is best to just fold your hand. Low pocket pairs though very profitable have to be played for what they are. If they don’t make a set on the flop they are most likely behind in hand strength and will finish the poker hand that way. The exception to this would be if you go all-in preflop against a drawing starting hand. You are slightly favored. Of course if your opponent does hit either card then the low pocket pair starting hand strength becomes a nearly assured lose. This is why it really is not a very good play to make very often. In desperate situations in poker tournaments as blinds are nipping at your heels you may have to make some desperate plays with low pocket pairs for starting hands, but otherwise you should really just try to see the flop with them.
With this said I still in most situations feel that a starting hand worth playing preflop is worth raising preflop. Even though your starting hand strength with a low pocket pair is most likely behind; a preflop raise can still chase out some opponents that could have potentially benefitted from the flop. By chasing some out you can maximize the chances your low pocket pair will be ahead in hand strength after the flop. Even if a queen or jack come out on the flop you may have chased out an opponent who had a queen and a rag that may have stayed in where it not for the preflop raise. You can make your feeler bet and see where you are in hand strength and see if you want to play the hand further or fold it.
About 3 out of 4 times that you play low pocket pair starting hands you should end up folding it post flop when you don’t make your set. The hold’em hand odds of getting a set are low enough that you won’t make your set very often. Don’t make the mistake of continuing to chase it. Every once in a while if the table conditions allow it perhaps, but most likely your just contributing your chips to someone else’s pot.
Now after reading this you may get the impression I am advocating playing low pocket pairs when ever you get them. Often times if there is a raise and especially if there is a reraise you should probably fold your starting hand preflop. This is because the probability of making your set is low and faced with an aggressive better you don’t want to pay a premium to see a flop that is more than likely not going to improver your starting hand strength.
Playing low pocket pairs in texas hold’em poker is not something to be afraid of. Rather you should look forward to them and play them accordingly. Capitalizing on the less obvious starting hands can greatly increase your level of play in texas hold’em poker, and will keep your opponents guessing which will help your play no matter your starting hand strength.
For a more in depth examination of hold’em strategies, statistics, tips and much more visit the link below.
http://www.onlinepokerplayersguide.com
A Quick Review of Pacific Poker
- by Jimmy Bastowe
There are many poker sites on the Internet. However, it is often hard for some to discern what the best online poker site for them would be. Pacific Poker is one online poker site that might be right for you. Depending on what you are looking for, this review should help you better understand the exact type of poker web site that will best fit your needs.
Graphics are essential to every poker room. In this respect Pacific Poker probably comes in at a “B+”. The colors and tables are clear, but the user icons leave nothing to the imagination. Aesthetically, the poker tables are on par with other poker rooms.
The playability of Pacific Poker is the subject of some debate. Some say that the software is occasionally frustrating to play. Some drawbacks are that users can only play one table at a time, and the actions of other players are not shown (so one can’t see the last hand and how much a player may have raised pre-flop). However many people enjoy Pacific Poker because they believe that the site has easy money and loose games. The software has also improved recently, with the site adding support for note taking on opponents and hand history statistics.
The lobby in Pacific Poker has shown great signs of improvement. There are now statistics available for flop percentages at specific tables. This can be a very useful stat when trying to determine which of the games are loose. There is also information available on the number of hands per hour and average pot size.
Player numbers for Pacific Poker are very good. The site has done well advertising itself, and so the number of players is always growing. The highest traffic is found in Texas Holdem games and tournaments. The tournaments are also very popular, which means that users do not have to wait at all for a tournament to start. Positions fill up very quickly, and the competition is very diverse. There are some very skilled players, and then more inexperienced players.
Many people are concerned with the rake at specific poker sites. Pacific Poker has a very reasonable rake at low limit tables. However, it can be the most taxing rate at high limit tables. The maximum rake is $5 on $50-$100 tables, which is higher than the average of the industry. Conversely, limits below $1/$2 have a maximum rake of $1 which is very reasonable.
There are many promotions and bonuses offered at Pacific Poker. There are also a variety of freeroll tournaments. Pacific Poker allows users to pay using a variety of options. In conclusion, Pacific Poker has many good and (like any poker room) a few bad elements. Overall, it is a good place to play online poker.
About author
Jimmy Bastowe recommends you visit http://www.whichpoker.com/pacific-poker-review.html for another review of Pacific Poker.
A great way to play online slots!
- by Brian James
Read the payout schedule: Before playing any of the video slot machines, make sure you read their pay schedules to find out the maximum number of coins to bet. That’s because some machines only pay out when you do this. Play the single pay line: Single pay line machines usually tend to have larger payouts than the multi pay line machines, even though the multi pay lines have higher odds. Double jackpots: Getting a double jackpot symbol can be very lucky. It can help double or even triple your payout, and they can replace any symbol. They’re usually red, white and blue sevens or even double and triple diamonds. Play the maximum bet: When you can, bet the maximum number of coins per spin. This helps when you’re playing some of the progressive machines, because in order to win the jackpot on these machines, you need to place a maximum bet. So if you match up all the right symbols, you’ll win more than if you bet a smaller amount. Other slot machine tips and advice: It’s always important to look at the value of the symbols on every slot machine. This is because they can be worth different amounts on different machines. Also remember to look at the payback percentages, the return you’ll get on your wager. Most gambling establishments have their machines set with a payback percentage of over 75 per cent. Stop while you’re ahead: And one finial tip for playing video slots: set a limit for yourself and to stop playing once you hit it. Just because you pump money into a machine doesn’t mean you’re going to win or that you’re even guaranteed to a large payout. So stop while you’re ahead. Often, the more times you try to win back your money, you’ll end up losing all of your earnings and you’ll spend more money. Remember, the longer you stay in a casino, the higher the odds you’ll be leaving broke! If you are a slots player, this is the time to look for the best online casino bonus so you can play longer and have a better chance of winning. Best Bonus Online Casino has great bonuses. Check them out!
I am the Promoter of one of the Largest Internet Online casino’s http://www.bestbonusonlinecasino.com http://www.allaboardcruisescorp.com
About author
http://www.bestbonusonlinecasino.com Best Bonus Online Casino
To Gamble or not to Gamble; That is the Question
- by Mike Rothman
We will never understand, and it’s just that simple. We will never understand what it’s like to be so competitive and have the adrenaline rush of 50,000 fans screaming your name while you are knocking in the winning run or scoring the winning basket. This is a rush sitting at home and watching television just can’t replace. So, what do athletes do? They gamble. They get involved with sports betting.
The debate is out whether it is ok for athletes to gamble after the recent comments made by John Daly and Charles Barkley. Daly recently came out and said he has lost between an estimated $50 million and $60 million in the last twelve years due to out-of-control gambling. Barkley followed up by saying Wednesday on ESPN that he has lost “probably $10 million” gambling, adding, “It is a problem for me.”
“Do I have a gambling problem? Yeah, I do have a gambling problem, but I don’t consider it a problem because I can afford to gamble. It’s just a stupid habit that I’ve got to get under control because it’s just not a good thing to be broke after all of these years,” Barkley said.
Embedded in this touchy subject are two issues of great importance. When athletes gamble, how much is too much and what is ok for them to gamble on?
I believe there is a fine line between recreational gambling and just utter craziness. In this situation, Daly is crazy, and Barkley is not. I truly believe it’s ok for a former athlete to call up their local sportsbook and place a small-to-medium wager on a ball club if that athlete feels like this bet will satisfy their need for an adrenaline fix. We, as fans, don’t know what it’s like to be in competition everyday on the greatest stage and then have it snapped away just like that. That transition can be brutal and can lead to depression–the reason most of our childhood heroes fall so far from grace. This is also why athletes stay in the game way too long after they should have retired years before they actually do. For Barkley, it is what it is–a habit that needs to be under control. Does he have to stop? Absolutely not.
On the flip side, we have John Daly. It’s one thing for an athlete to gamble a few million if they can afford it. Hey, it’s their money, and they can spend it how they please. We are not their parents or superiors, and let’s stop pretending we are. It’s another thing, however, to end up flat broke and put your family at risk. That is what a loss of $50 million will do. We all know gambling isn’t the only addiction Daly has gone through; he recently beat an addiction to alcohol. This connection leads us to believe Daly really has a problem, and Barkley does not.
Now, to the most important issue at hand. What sports are appropriate or inappropriate for athletes to gamble on? I have one steadfast rule on this. In no way shape or form should athletes now or ever gamble on their sport. Barkley has responded by saying he never bet on basketball, and I believe he is true to his word. However, if he ever did decide to take sports betting to that next level and gamble on the Kings vs. the Spurs on Friday night, for example, (Spurs -2), it would ruin his credibility as a player and, more importantly, as an analyst, and Barkley is a damn good analyst at that. This is what got Pete Rose banned from the game of baseball for life. We all know what an uphill battle that has been for Rose trying to regain his eligibility to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gambling on one’s own sport is a big no-no and will permanently ruin a career and reputation.
All in all, I don’t think it is a big deal when athletes gamble on sports or in casinos. I think we, the media, like to make a big case out of everything and blow everything out of proportion. I would much rather see Mr. Barkley put down a couple of thousand in a poker game than see an ESPN article covering his addiction to cocaine. I believe these athletes need a bridge between professional sports and retirement, and let’s give them this. Isn’t it every person’s right to sit back after a hard day at the office, grab a cold beer and watch the ball game that you just happen to have a little wager on? If you don’t think so, I’ll bet you a dollar it is.
World Cup Preview - Poland
- by David Walker
Outright Odds: 125/1 Group A Winners: 4/1
Following a disastrous 2002 World Cup campaign in which coach Jerzy Engel talked up his side’s prospects only for them to be beaten 2-0 by South Korea and hammered 4-0 by Portugal, Poland will be keen to recreate their former World Cup glories.
Under coach Pawel Janas, Poland made short work of their qualifying group, enjoying home and away victories against Austria, Azerbaijan, Northern Ireland and Wales. Two narrow 2-1 defeats to England prevented a clean sweep but eight wins out of 10 matches was more than enough to cement their place in the finals.
In qualifying they proved their ability to beat average teams convincingly and they will need to repeat this on the grand stage if they are to repeat their glorious campaigns of 1974 and 1982 in which they finished third. However, they also need to prove they have what it takes to beat the stronger sides as they did in 1974, when Argentina, Italy, Sweden and Yugoslavia were dispatched before beating Brazil to claim third place.
They certainly have the firepower to do so and Poland’s main strength lies in attack. During qualifying they cracked in 27 goals, notably the 8-0 thrashing of Azerbaijan and scored at least once in all 10 of their qualifying matches. More importantly, they scored 10 more than group winners England managed for all their multi-million pound’s worth of strikers and only three sides scored more goals than the Poles during the European qualifying campaign.
Elche striker Tomasz Frankowski, nicknamed “The Goals Hunter” and Celtic forward Maciej Zurawski fired in 14 goals between them during qualifying while Southampton’s Grzegorz Rasiak is also in contention.
Poland are also a side that is not short of experience. The expected starting line-up has an average age of over 30 while Jacek Krzynowek, Jamil Kosowski and Radolsaw Kaluzny have all played in the German Bundesliga. Four years ago the team struggled to cope with the climate in Korea and Japan but will have no such issues this time when making the short trip over the border into Germany.
Their only real weakness is at the back where they have developed a habit of conceding soft goals which will not go unpunished when they face a team in clinical mood.
Recommended Bet: Poland have received a favourable draw in which they should arguably beat both Ecuador and Costa Rica with the local “derby” fixture against Germany sandwiched in between. The dismal failure of four years ago means the Poles cannot be backed confidently to win Group A, although they are strong enough to qualify from it.
Poland to qualify from Group A @ 8/15 Poland to beat Costa Rica @ 4/5
About author
David Walker runs a popular free World Cup bets website. A free 45-page World Cup preview guide is available from the website and features a “free World Cup football shirt for every reader” offer.
World Cup 2006 Preview - Germany
- by David Walker
Outright Odds: 8/1 Group A Winners: 4/9
Former national favourite and Tottenham Hotspur diving enthusiast Jurgen Klinsmann takes control over the next generation of German players who are keen to end 16 years of hurt and win the World Cup for a fourth time on their own soil.
Klinsmann has thrown the traditional playing style manual out of the window. Gone is the patient, tight gameplay, his teams are sent out to play a “fast-paced, attacking and very aggressive” game which has significantly improved their goal tally. However, this strategy, along with a number of inexperienced defenders (none have played at a World Cup finals before) has seen a once resolute back line concede almost as many goals as the team score at the other end.
The current squad is void of any true superstar names, with only Michael Ballack offering real world class status. Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger hope to prove there is life after former heroes Lothar Matthaus, now-manager Jurgen Klinsmann and Andreas Moller.
While there are question marks over the defence, Schweinsteiger forms part of an outstanding midfield alongside Ballack and the more experienced Sebastien Diesler and Torsten Frings. These players will have to work hard to ensure their untested defence (bar veteran goalkeeper Oliver Kahn) does not get caught out and that a sufficient supply line meets their equally World Cup virginal strikeforce of Kevin Kuranyi and Podolski.
As always, host nations will have their critics about how ready they are to perform on the biggest stage of all after playing only friendly matches for over a year. Germany did participate in last year’s Confederations Cup which offered a decent level of competition. The Germans finished third but a 2-2 draw against Argentina and narrow 3-2 defeat against World Cup favourites Brazil suggests they are on the right track. Strikers Kuranyi and Podolski also rattled in five goals between them.
German sides appear to relish being criticised and seen as the “underdog”, yet are always there or thereabouts at the business end of the tournament. Indeed, they were dumped out of the 1998 tournament in the quarter-final stage by Croatia, their worst result at the World Cup since 1958, but reached the final four years later.
Klinsmann’s side has learned to accept their limitations but combat this by working for eachother as a team. Rudi Voller lead his much-criticised Germany team to the final of the 2002 World Cup so the message here is, never write off the Germans, especially on their home turf.
Recommended Bet: Expect Klismann’s side to come out all guns blazing during the tournament and with home advantage they should ease through the group stage. A much criticised German side reached final four years ago, so why not this time aswell?
Germany to win Group A @ 4/9 E/W Germany to win the World Cup @ 7/1
About author
David Walker runs a popular free World Cup bets website. A free 45-page World Cup preview guide is available from the website and features a “free World Cup football shirt for every reader” offer.
Baseball Betting: bet on Phillies & Dodgers to continue streak!
- by Bob Acton
The good thing about wagering on sports this time of year is that with a plethora of activity, you may fine a soft line here or there if you probe hard enough. Two teams who are beginning to get healthy and make some noise are the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Philadelphia Phillies seek to push their winning streak to 10 games for the first time in nearly 15 years when they wrap up a three-game series against resurgent Tom Glavine and the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday. With a 5-4 win in the middle game of the series on Tuesday, Philadelphia (18-14) has won nine in a row for the first time since a 13-game streak from July 30-Aug. 12, 1991. The streak also has allowed the Phillies to move within two games of the Mets, who sit atop the NL East and are trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak of 2006. The City of Brotherly Love is beginning to embrace the Phil’s as both the 76ers and Flyers have been banished from their respective sports and the players are brimming with confidence. Having won 9 in a row and facing a pitcher (Glavine), you would think the Phil’s would be rock solid favorites, but the morning line has the game a pick-em! The lefty’s last two outing have been superb however and there should be some Mets money to keep the odds attractive if you are a Cory Liddle fan. The right-hander will try to put together consecutive wins for the first time this season. Against Atlanta on Friday, he gave up three runs and five hits with a season-high three walks over six innings in a 6-3 victory that lifted the Phillies to .500 for the first time this year. He’s had success against his former team, going 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA in five outings, striking out 26 and walking just five. Glavine (4-2, 1.94) will make the start for New York looking for his 280th career win, but also looking to beat the Phillies for the first time in 10 starts. Since last defeating Philadelphia on Sept. 19, 2002, Glavine is 0-7 with a 5.82 ERA and opponents have hit .298 against him. He has dropped his last five starts versus them, allowing 24 runs and 35 hits in 29 innings. Overall, Glavine is 24-16 with a 3.77 ERA in his career against Philadelphia. At 40, Glavine is pitching recently like the two-time Cy Young Award winner he is. In wins April 29 over Atlanta and Thursday against Pittsburgh, the left-hander has given up just seven hits with 11 strikeouts and just three walks in 14 innings. Take the Phillies to extend their streak! In the other game you have two teams passing each other in the express elevator. The Dodgers are on their way to the penthouse, while Houston is freefalling to the outhouse. LA winner of 4 in a row is beginning to get production from their big name players Garciaparra, Drew and as always Jeff Kent. On the other hand you have Astro’s slugger Lance Berkman in a terrible funk hitless in five at-bats and is 4-for-20 with no RBIs on the road trip. Only 14 of his 36 RBIs have come on the road. Tonight momentum is in the Dodger’s favorite. Brett Tomko (3-1, 3.41 ERA) has been outstanding in his last three outings for Los Angeles, going 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in that stretch. He did not win his last outing despite allowing five hits over seven scoreless innings in a 3-0 loss to San Diego on Thursday. “I tweaked a couple of things in the bullpen this week, and it worked. I felt more comfortable with my off-speed stuff,” Tomko said. “It would have been a lot nicer if we would have come out with the win.” The veteran right-hander is 4-5 with a 4.90 ERA in 13 career starts against Houston. Impressive Houston rookie Taylor Buchholz (2-1, 2.16) will oppose Tomko in his fifth career start. Buchholz is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA since joining the rotation on April 17. The right-hander failed to record a decision his last time out after allowing three runs and six hits over seven innings in a 5-4 loss at Colorado last Friday. You have to grab LA at -110!
Online Sports Betting
About author
Bob Acton is an experienced sports writer and handicapper, who has written for the sports industry for over 10 years. His years of writing for Sports Scene, sports consulting on 33 Made for Television and Major Motion Pictures and his work as an instructor at Pro Teach Baseball Academy, have made Bob a trusted and respected source in the sports world.
Using a Poker Calculator to Win Sit and Go Tournaments
- by Marty Smith
You may know already that sit and go action is where a good, solid poker bankroll can be built. You get to choose your maximum risk, and play against a variety of talent giving you plenty of value for your buy-in, unfortunately, most poker calculators are not designed for sit and go poker. They calculate odds based on pot size, position, draws, and betting - but only for cash games. If you’re like me and play mostly sit and go poker, you have to make moves counter to your poker calculator recommendations to be in the money consistently. These situations will occur when you are short stacked, when you are playing against a maniac, when you are chip leader, when you are heads up, and when you are 3rd place of 3 left.
Hopefully you don’t end up short stacked too often (were you really playing correctly) and someone outdrew you on a bad call or two, but when you find yourself short, you MUST be strategizing to double up. The best way to double up is to get heads up with just one other player with a decent hand. Even if you are behind with KQos and get called with A9, you are in the right spot to double up, but not against more than one player. Your poker calculator will always say to fold KQos against a raise, but that’s when you go your own way and isolate the raiser. You are mostly trying to avoid being dominated here so I look at QJ, or pocket 8’s etc. and feel I am not a huge underdog and may even be slightly favored.
Sometimes you will be up against a maniac, or at least a very loose player and know you are probably ahead. Your strategy here is to re-raise, isolate and not let him draw out. That means over-betting the pot against maniacs. Again, your poker calculator is just not going to agree with this strategy here. Surviving against such players means you have to create certain aggressive opportunities or they will just simply take you down hand by hand.
Another important time to exercise your own judgment over your poker calculator is when you have a huge lead or big chip stack in comparison to your opponents. In such a scenario when you have someone out chipped like 5 or 6 to 1, it is imperative you make underdog calls that normally are a fold situation. With rising blinds, short stacks will be going in with a wide variety of hands so except for dominated Ace-X hole cards, you should be looking to get them all in. You won’t win them all, but if you win one of three situations you are still the table captain.
When I get down to heads up and 1st and 2nd place is on the line, I am quite aggressive with pre-flop raises with a wide variety of hands. I want to train my opponent into frustration. I will lay down to a re-raise but I want to set him up for an all-in where I am favored. In this, you must consistently raise, in particular from the button, holding MOST hole card combinations. If your odds calculator could scream at you, it would be doing so at this stage. Really, this is a time to turn it off, and play an aggressive mental game here. You have to go for the win here, and aim to be the favorite. Blinds are huge so take them when you can.
Ok, you’ve made it to the money but find yourself in 3rd place. Yes, it’s a profit, but turning this spot into win money is a crucial skill for making your overall profit rate of sit and gos really take off. In saying that, aggression is the key. I look for any cards with chemistry, Ace -X suited, two face cards, 97s, etc., any pp for example, and I am all-in forcing the others to make a tough decision. Your poker odds calculator simply won’t understand this strategy so just turn the thing off, otherwise you will be blinded out 19 of 20 times while following its recommendations. You see the difference between 2nd and 3rd is minimal, so don’t be concerned about that. What you want to be able to accomplish with this aggression is to get into 1st place at least one out of every three times you are in this scenario. That will ensure a profitable overall sit and go strategy for you while using your online poker odds calculator to get you into that position.
About author
Martin Smith is webmaster of http://www.PokerCalculatorReport.com where all the online poker calculators are tested and reviewed, including Sit and Go Shark, Calculatem Pro, and Poker Spy. He is also editor of http://www.PokerBookReport.com You can contact Martin Smith at support@PokerCalculatorReport.com
Bingo Becomes Fun Again
- by Jason Williams
There’s a sense of unparalleled excitement brewing in the 75-ball bingo game as the last remaining balls are drawn. Eyes dart between the current pattern shown on the screen and their collection of cards quickly brimming with blotched-out numbers. You can almost feel the players’ nervous anticipation swirling throughout the room as they eye their cards, hoping to be the first to shout out an emphatic ‘Bingo!’ once their ball appears.
But something is different about this particular bingo room. For starters, these players can’t see their fellow bingo companions. There are no tables or chairs, no bingo daubers, no game announcer, not even a physical bingo hall for the game to be played in!
Welcome to Bingo.com - the Internet’s largest online bingo hall. With over 1 million registered players, and thousands more joining the flock each week, Bingo.com proudly boasts one of the premier gaming communities on the web. What keeps the players coming back you ask? That’s easy - a truly first-class user experience.
Bingo.com prides itself on being host to the best customer service in the business. Their friendly webs are always available to chat and share some laughs, and their customer service department strives to make each game and player experience a truly enjoyable endeavor.
Whether you’re looking to lounge back with the free bingo games, or try your hand at the brand new cash games, Bingo.com is your destination for non-stop online bingo action. There are so many ways to get in on the excitement!
Put quite simply, your chances of hitting a big one at Bingo.com are better than anywhere else you’ll find. You never know who will get lucky next … It could be you!
About author
Jason is an avid bingo player and chat afficianado who loves playing at Bingo.com, and anywhere else that will have him!
It’s Not Your Grandma’s Game Anymore… Online Bingo Takes Off!
- by Tyler Pedrotti
The word “Bingo” instantly conjures up so many images in my mind. Stacks of bingo cards, fluorescent bingo daubers, and smoke filled rooms packed with rows of ladies hanging on the words of a monotone bingo caller. This concept of bingo has been reinforced to most people through the over 100 years of bingo enjoyed by millions around the world. However, as with many things we’ve come to know and love, the Internet is changing everything.
Online bingo is an increasingly popular form of the old fashion game of bingo. Players, who used to meet only in the bingo halls, are now also meeting online to enjoy the friendly game of bingo over the Internet. Hundreds of websites have appeared offering online bingo games to an estimated player base of over 100,000 online bingo players! And this is just the beginning.
Players are coming online in droves to get in on the fun. New players at first enjoy the free bingo games to get a feel. Then, once more comfortable, they try for real money in hopes of striking it rich. The big sites are already boasting single winners of over $20,000.00 and payouts over $1,000,000.00 per month. The numbers are staggering when you stop to think!
However, the amazing fact about online bingo is not the huge jackpots, it’s the bingo communities. Most players come online because they like hanging out in the chat rooms talking to their online bingo friends. It truly is a new world. With bingo friends online it’s possible to play games and talk about everything under the sun all around the game of bingo.
If you love bingo or know someone who does, it’s time to sit down in your own living room and try the newest version of this age old game! We all know how much fun it is to yell B-I-N-G-O!
About author
Tyler Pedrotti is a long-time online bingo player at Bingo.com and has developed an exceptional eye for spotting the best of the best in the vast abyss that is the Internet. Stay tuned for more articles about online slots and online poker.
The Wonderful World of Online Bingo
- by Erin Jane
And what a world it is. The Internet is fast becoming the place where Bingo players go to play a game or two. No more driving to the church bingo hall in a snowstorm, or in 40 below weather. No more catching a bus or taking a cab. Bingo players are turning to online bingo as a more comfortable way to play bingo, in their own home. This new trend of playing bingo online has subsequently popularized web chatting, or cyber chat, and has allowed online bingo players to meet new friends, some of whom become life-long friends and, in the odd case, even end up married.
So, how does one go about finding online bingo? Easy. The best search tool on the Internet today is Google - in fact, it’s becoming a part of our everyday language. With Google.com, you can plug a word or term into their search engine (or, “google” a word or term), and in seconds the Internet is swept for info, games, and literally anything you can imagine. Plugging the word “Bingo” into the Google.com search engine will find you free or cash online bingo in seconds flat. Once you have found Bingo.com, you can start playing all kinds of games - not just bingo, but online slots, online poker, and many other kinds of fun.
People are starting to catch on. Online Bingo is one of the most popular games out there, and the biggest online bingo halls have built homes for those interested in having fun and hanging out for a while. In some cases, you can find a whole community of bingo lovers, brought together by their passion for the game. Whether you love free games, or cash games, it’s certain you will find something to pique your interest.
Bingo.com is home to over a million players - very loyal members who keep coming back again and again to play free games and socialize with friends in the chat rooms. There’s always someone friendly to chat with, and there’s nothing better than winning a jackpot on the cash bingo games and having everyone in the cyber room congratulate you on your win, or winning a tournament in the slots or poker rooms. Even with free games, you can win all sorts of cash sweepstakes and other prizes. Online bingo is truly a chance to meet some of the nicest people on the Internet today.
About author
Long-time player, first-time writer, Erin has been playing at Bingo.com for several years and has developed a keen eye for the best bingo on the Internet! Stay tuned for more reviews of online poker and online slots.
Online Baseball Betting: the numbers don’t lie!
- by Bob Acton
The Arizona Diamondbacks are hot on the heels of the Colorado Rockies these days and several players are making major contributions. Defense has been a major player, as the Diamondbacks have turned a major league-leading 39 double plays and were tied with the Padres for the best fielding percentage (.989) in the National League.
Third baseman Chad Tracy has now homered in three straight games, hitting a solo shot (his sixth of the season) off Cubs starter Rich Hill in the third inning. The Diamondbacks record for hitting homers in consecutive games is four, which has been set six times, the last by Troy Glaus in 2005.
RHP Jose Valverde, whose eight saves were tied for third in the National League, had pitched in three consecutive games and manager Bob Melvin said in advance he had planned to give his closer the night off Thursday, regardless of the situation.
The Atlanta Braves are not putting the ball in play enough as in evidence by the 173 strikeouts their hitters have compiled. You know the hitters are struggling when pitcher John Thomson entered May with an ERA of 1.32 and did not have a single win to show for it.
The Cubs Carlos Zambrano was thought to be a CY Young candidate this year but he has been miserable and his record sits at 0-2. He has started 7 games and pitched 40 innings which is less then six per game. He does have 48 strikeouts during this span, but has walked an alarming 28 batters with a skyrocketing WHIP 1.60.
The Cubs have been swept by Arizona and San Diego on this nine-game road trip, and have lost seven in a row. Chicago has scored only 12 runs in its last 10 games.
The Mets visit Philadelphia and that means Billy Wagner will return to his former nest. After two seasons with the Phillies (17-14) in which he totaled 59 saves in 66 opportunities, Wagner bolted via free agency to the Mets (21-10), whose four-year, $43 million contract contained a no-trade clause throughout the life of the deal as opposed to Philadelphia’s three-year, $30 million offer, which had a no-trade clause for the first two seasons.
Wagner, who has converted seven saves in 10 opportunities, hopes to get an opportunity to close for staff ace Pedro Martinez (5-0, 2.72 ERA). Martinez, who has never pitched at Citizens Bank Park, is 7-4 with a 2.85 ERA lifetime against the Phillies, including a 2-1 record while pitching for the Mets.
The right-hander, though, saw his first attempt for a sixth win in 2006 go by the wayside Wednesday, when Wagner allowed two ninth-inning runs before the Mets rallied for a 4-3, 12-inning victory.
The Phillies are enjoying their longest winning streak since a 13-game run from July 30-Aug. 12, 1991, and have won eight of their last 10 at home to even their record at Citizens Bank Park to 10-10.
Sports Betting
About author
Bob Acton is an experienced sports writer and handicapper, who has written for the sports industry for over 10 years. His years of writing for Sports Scene, sports consulting on 33 Made for Television and Major Motion Pictures and his work as an instructor at Pro Teach Baseball Academy, have made Bob a trusted and respected source in the sports world.
|
|
