Online poker
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Recent articles:Why You Should Choose Omaha for Your Online Poker ActionWednesday, June 25. 2008
If you play online poker, you’ve probably been playing a lot of Texas hold’em. It’s the most popular game on the Internet, and most big tournaments are played in a no-limit Texas hold’em format. You should be aware that there are more online poker games than Texas hold’em, and if you’re looking for a new game, you may want to consider Omaha. There are many great reasons to consider playing Omaha online.
Reason to Play Online Omaha Poker 1: Omaha is Rising in Popularity Omaha is a game that has always positioned itself to be the next hold’em. After over five years of an unchecked hold’em boom, players may be gravitating to other games, and the game most similar to hold’em is Omaha. If you can get ahead of the curve and be an Omaha expert when the hold’em players start to roll in, you could make a tidy profit. Reason to Play Online Omaha Poker 2: Omaha Provides New Challenges Although Omaha looks similar to hold’em, there are crucial strategic differences in the games. If you don’t know them, you could get buried fast. If you do know them, you can start making money in Omaha right away, even if you aren’t the most skilled player at the table. Reason to Play Online Omaha Poker 3: Big Pots A lot of people who play online poker are looking for big pots to take a whack at winning. With each player holding four cards, nearly everyone has a shot at nearly every pot, meaning pots can grow fast. Furthermore, the most popular variations of Omaha, pot-limit Omaha and Omaha 8 or better hi/lo split, naturally lend themselves to gargantuan pots. If you’re looking for a challenging, heavy action game that rewards skill in your online poker, it just may be time to give Omaha a try. 
3D Poker Site ReviewFriday, May 23. 2008
To start off I really liked the fact that this 3D poker site gives a breakdown of the contents within the sites that they are reviewing. For example I took notice that the PKR Review had a 9.0 for customer support which really geared me toward this site. It shows a great deal of detail on each of these sites as well. Finding out that Absolute Poker held the biggest Bad Beat Jackpot in the world was very luring as an outside player. The poker traffic on these sites is also another nice feature that this site offers because now players can see which sites they will be able to play on right away without waiting for tables to open.
Once deciding on where I wanted to play, I proceeded to learn some of the strategies through their poker strategy tab which was easy to find and very helpful. They offered different levels of strategy as well from beginner all the way to advanced which helps all players of the game. The strategy ranges from Hold’em to Omaha Hi/Low which allows for people to play different games and still feel confident while playing. This site also offers an exclusive poker league for members, who can compete for great prizes and even free bankrolls to the top place finishers. This is a unique and positive characteristic I found with this site. Their News Letter is also very nice as it shows recipients updates with the site and other new features occurring at other poker sites. Their forum is a great place for members to chat about different events occurring in the poker world and it allows for them to chat about hands and how others would have approached the situation. Poker players are always faced with tough decisions and this is a great place talk about this. Overall 3D poker Life is everything a beginner needs to get started while at the same time offering advanced strategies and leagues for those who have been playing for awhile.
Portal Rates Internet Poker SitesTuesday, May 20. 2008
Today I came across a new Internet poker portal, CoinflipPoker.com, which had a few cool features that I really liked. When I showed up at the site I instantly was attracted to the clean design and simple layout. Although there is a lot of content on the template, it is not obstructive at all and it easily lets you find the poker content you’re looking for.
The first thing I did was to check out the Internet poker sites section, because I’ve been looking to find a newer poker site that I can play at. There are over 35 different poker sites reviewed, and each review is a full look at the site, including sections like the game traffic, their sign up bonus, and if they accept USA players. A few of the poker sites I really liked were BodogPoker and Cake Poker, and the Coinflip site had a review of each one. Plus, they offer special poker bonuses if you sign up through their links. Since they’re a big poker site, the poker rooms let them offer upgraded bonuses to their players. All of these bonuses can be found at the Internet Poker Bonus page. Another really cool section on the site was the Professional Poker Players section. In this part of the site the authors write full profiles on all of the major poker professionals, so you can find your favorite pro and see how he/she got into poker, and what major tournaments they’ve won recently. A few of the included pros were Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, and Phil Ivey. Also, if the player is sponsored at any poker rooms, the site gives you their username there so you can search them and play poker with them.
Moving From Online To Live PokerMonday, May 19. 2008
The difference between online poker and live poker is huge. The first time an online player gets into a live poker arena, odds are they will feel the difference. It's a lot easier playing poker in the comfort of your own home (you could be in your underwear if you wanted) than sitting down with a table of strangers. The differences are subtle, but important.
Beware of the TellLive poker relies on the tell a lot more than poker games online do. In online poker, it's possible to try to read how your opponent plays the game. Are they tight-conservative? Do they bluff when they reraise? Are they aggressive? You could still do this in live poker, but since you're now in the company of your opponents, you have to take into account the physical aspects. Does your opponent blink when they bluff? Never mind your opponent. What about yourself? Do you have a certain tell that is going to give you away? Do you scratch your arm when you don't have a confident hand? Whatever the tell is, try your best to eliminate it because there will be experienced live poker players who will pick up on it quickly and destroy you as a result. Dress the PartLive poker, unlike online poker, may require a little costume, but nothing too serious. Maybe some sunglasses, a little something to cover your eyes so you look like a stone cold mountain at the table. You would look like an idiot wearing sunglasses in an online poker tournament, but if you want, there's no one stopping you. Practice Makes PerfectWhen moving from online to live poker it's always a good idea to get as much practice as possible. Rome was not built in a day, just as surely as you are not going to be Phil Ivey or Daniel Negraneau after a few hours of live poker. Get the practice anywhere you can, whether at a local tournament down at the pub, or even a friendly neighborhood game with your buddies. Live poker is live poker, even if you're playing with a bunch of amateurs. The same goes for those who change game in the other direction. Just because you kill the game in your local card room doesn’t necessarily make you an online-poker wizard. Start by playing freerolls before you deposit big money. Make a simple google search for free poker no downloads or something like that. You will surely find a site where you can practice your online-poker skills for free. Handling the ChipsLive poker requires you to handle poker chips so don't act like an idiot with your stack. Be prepared to manage your chip stack like someone who knows what they are doing. Don't make a mess of yourself. This isn't online poker where the computer will do it for you. Get Ready To Slow Down
Online Poker in The UK – For Once We’re Not Following the Americans!Thursday, April 3. 2008
Despite recent legislation aimed at preventing online poker advertising and participation by US citizens (look up UIGEA), the popularity of the game continues to grow at exceptional pace in the UK. The rise in popularity of online poker has been brought on by a number of factors, but it is largely down to the improved accessibility of sites offering online betting services coupled with continuously increasing internet penetration rates here in the UK.
The increasing take up of online poker is also largely down to the freedom which playing at internet poker sites offers the end user. In the days before internet access was readily available; one would have to locate a casino housing a poker table, and then attend only during specific time slots set by the casino’s operator. Such inconveniences simply do not exist within the virtual gambling world. Today, poker players can join a game from any location supporting internet access, at any time - day or night, and compete with players of various skill levels located right across the globe! Many internet poker sites present users with opportunites to compete in a variety of game types – Some sites set players against each other in “high stakes” tournaments where the winnings are potentially huge - whereas others will allow players to play free poker online. Sites permitting players to compete with “virtual money” are also contributing to the escalating popularity of the game in the UK - because they allow less experienced and “newbie” poker players to gain experience in a no risk environment. The hope is that once they have played a few successful hands, they will feel comfortable enough to place real money on the outcome of future rounds – thus the ability to play free poker online is arguably contributing to its increased take-up, simply by offering a taster to UK punters. UK poker players have never had it so good when it comes to poker. There has never been more poker streamed on our television sets, and today’s UK gambling laws have now been relaxed; allowing money to be bet on poker in public houses – something which previously, was illegal. When the pub is closed, all your mates have gone home, and no poker is on the T.V; there is guaranteed to be an internet poker site out there to satisfy your needs! Find an internet poker site which will let you play free poker online; allowing you to hone your skills before you potentially empty out your bank account!
Pros vs. Amateurs at the 2008 WSOP – Who Will Win?Thursday, March 6. 2008
One of the reasons people watch the World Series of Poker is to see how their favorite pros perform. Others want to see if an unknown amateur can achieve instant poker fame. More than a few try to imagine being the unknown amateur. Here’s what you can expect from the pros and amateurs at the 2008 WSOP:
An Amateur Will Win the 2008 WSOP Main Event The odds are against the pros. Even if they are better players than the amateurs, of whom many will have qualified through poker sites, the sheer numbers suggest that it is statistically unlikely that a pro will clasp on the championship bracelet. Amateurs tend to clash early, building up big chip stacks that are tough to overcome. Even a pro making the final table will probably be facing a group of amateurs all looking to put a bad beat on a pro. The last time a known pro won the main event was seven years ago when Carlos Mortensen took home the 2001 title. Of his successors, Varkonyi, Moneymaker, Raymer, Hachem, Gold and Yang, only Raymer and Hachem have become part of the ranks of professionals. A Pro Will Win the $50,000 WSOP H.O.R.S.E. Championship The odds shift much more in the pros favor during the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship. The high buy-in means fewer amateurs in the competition. Furthermore, the games, including Texas Holdem, are played fixed limit, which means a bad player isn’t going to be able to bludgeon all the pros with an enormous chip stack earned through repeated all-ins. It’s also unlikely that an amateur is going to be skilled enough at every game to make it through to the end. Pros and Amateurs Will Share the Other Bracelets Expect amateurs to grab many Hold’em titles, while events like Deuce to Seven lowball and the professionals will probably take down pot limit Omaha.
Take the Rake BackWednesday, January 30. 2008
If no one had an edge in Internet poker, the only one who would ever win would be the casino. This is because no matter who drags the pot in any Internet poker hand, the online casino always wins. They always win by taking a percentage, called the rake, out of each pot. While most of the players can do nothing as the casino reaches in and grabs a piece of their winnings (or adds to their losses), you can. If you know how, you can take the rake back.
Taking the Rake Back How can you take the rake back? You can do this by taking advantage of a promotion offered by independent websites known as rakeback affiliates. These sites sign you up with a participating online poker site. As a reward for signing up through them, you automatically receive a percentage of your rake returned to you at regular intervals, usually once a month. The average rakeback a player receives is around 30 percent, but in some cases, players can receive even more. The more you play on that site, the more rake you get back. Why Do Sites Give Rakeback? Not all online poker sites are eligible for rakeback . There are many online poker sites out there, all interested in a piece of the Internet poker player pie. To drive new traffic to their site they are willing to give some money back. This is where rakeback comes in. These sites know that if you never play on their site, they will receive no money in rake. As a result, they are much happier to get a reduced amount of rake from you than no rake at all. Examples of popular poker sites allowing this are Cake Poker rakeback and Full Tilt Poker, both open to US players. Taking Advantage of Rakeback To get your rakeback, all you have to do is sign up for an Internet poker site by clicking the link on the rakeback site – Pacific rakeback, Paradise Poker rakeback or any other site. If you sign up any other way, you will not be able to receive rakeback. If you have already signed up with a site, because you were offered a sign-up bonus or a friend referred you to the site, for example, you may not sign up again and receive rakeback. Using a different account to sign up will not be permitted and you will be booted off the site and may be subject to other penalties if you are discovered. Rakeback is a great and simple way to increase your win rate if you are a winning player or cut your losses if you are not. There are a number of different online poker sites that are linked to rakeback programs so find your favorite and get started taking your rake back today.
No Deposit Poker Rooms and CasinosMonday, January 7. 2008
Online poker rooms and casinos are gaining worldwide popularity every year. They offer convenience and a great variety of game play at any time of the day. If you are looking to try out online gambling without any of the risk, a no deposit bonus is your best option.
No deposit poker rooms are a great way to try out some new sites before making a purchase. You get to play real money poker without having to risk your own money. These no deposit needed promotions are typically offered by new poker rooms to attract a player base. The no deposit poker bonus offered by these poker rooms is usually not very large, but that doesn't mean you can't win big! If you enjoy the poker room, these sites also offer a generous bonus on your initial deposit. No deposit casinos also offer free money for you to try out their site. Online casinos often have bigger bonuses than poker rooms so that players can truly have the experience of gambling. However, there is usually a limited time period for you to gamble the free money, after which you get to keep any winnings as your own money. Some no deposit casinos also offer free time promotions where you get to gamble as much as you can during a fixed time period, after which you keep any winnings. If you get lucky, you can really win some fast and easy money! The IPM site currently has $50 in free bonus money at 3 no deposit poker rooms and $1260 in free bonus money at 5 no deposit casinos. Defined tags for this entry: bonus, casino, no deposit, no deposit casinos, no deposit poker rooms, poker, poker bonus
The Lifelong Game of PokerSunday, January 6. 2008
Those who play poker often get caught up in the results of individual hands or how they performed in a particular session. It is very easy for a poker player to conclude from a single winning session that they are masters of the game. Deciding that you are doing something wrong because you have a bad session or a run of a few bad sessions is also a mistake. It will be helpful for you to think of poker as one lifelong session that you play for your entire life. Your individual “sessions” simply represent breaks that you take over the course of that lifelong session. How will this help you as a poker player? Corrects Results Oriented ThinkingYou may have made a certain play and because of the way the cards came out, you won a big pot. It is easy to conclude from this that you have made a correct play. However, this is not always the case where you play in online poker room. It may simply be a matter of luck that it worked out this time. If you keep in mind that you are playing one lifelong session, you are more likely simply to file this result for the next time the situation occurs and revise your judgment about the play based on repeated trials. Corrects Snap Judgments Based on Individual SessionsPoker games such as Texas Holdem is a game of long-term skill and short-term luck. As someone once said, “The short term can be a very long time.” Your luck may run such that even the best players would not have won with the cards you were dealt. However, the better players will lose less in these situations than weaker ones. Remembering that your results as a whole are what matters will stop you from using your last session as evidence for whether you are a winning or losing player and disregarding all the sessions that came before it. Make sure that you have some understanding of basic bankroll management if you want to become a long term winner. Makes it Easier to Get Up From the TableMany players have difficulty knowing when to quit. When they have a big stack they don’t want to stop even after their luck turns, and when they are down they don’t want to leave until they get even. If poker is one lifelong session, the only way to know whether you end up or down is your total when you die. Therefore, there is no leaving “even” or “ahead” during a particular session. You are where you are and you’ll continue at that spot when you resume playing.
Calling the Clock in Texas Hold’emFriday, December 21. 2007
Online Texas hold’em tournament players have a built-in clock spurring them to action. If you wait too long before acting, most poker sites will activate a time bank of a minute or two. Once that bank is expired, your hand is declared dead. In a live Texas hold’em poker tournament situation, there are no built-in timers at each seat, thus, the clock comes into play.
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