Choosing a New Online Poker Site

When it comes to playing Internet casino poker or other forms of online poker there seem to be new poker sites popping up all the time. When someone makes the move from live poker to play internet poker there are a few things to consider, and a number of rooms, even US poker sites, to choose from. From online poker blogs to actual poker rooms, there are so many places to choose from it can be quite confusing. So how does one make the choice among all the new poker sites?

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Define What You Want
When you set out to play internet poker, what exactly do you want? Fodder for your game reports, if you run one of the ubiquitous online poker blogs? A chance at making some extra money? The thrill of victory? Just to while away time while having some fun?

Depending on what your reasons are will depend if you head for some Internet casino poker or play in a straight forward online poker room. Of course there are other factors that can come into play; many US poker sites, for example, are free to play sites, so there are fewer opportunities for money making, but it is still possible.

Poker or Casino Poker
Internet casino poker is something different from online poker - although the terms can be used interchangeably and for the most part the real meaning of the phrases will depend on the interpretation of the person using them. Internet casino poker could mean online forms of casino poker games, as opposed to poker played in a casino.

A casino poker game would be something like pai gow or Casino hold’em, a game where you play against the house instead of other players. Many new poker sites are not of this variety - you find them mostly in online casinos (as opposed to online poker rooms) and online casinos will sometimes be rare - they are rarer in the US than US poker sites, for example- online poker blogs may offer some help in picking out the best among them.

When you set out to play internet poker and you have decided which kind of poker games you want to play, it is time to look at the new poker sites and see if they offer the game type you want. If not, you can safely get them off the list. If so, then you can look at other factors such as playability, payouts, etc. Reviews and word of mouth from online poker blogs can help with that.

The best thing to do when choosing a site to play internet poker, be they US poker sites or not, is to sign up and play. Most sites will offer a free to play version that is very close to the full pay version, so that is the route to go. If it checks out security wise and has the games you want, then your actual play experience will be the final factor.

Poker - Skill or Chance

I have always wondered if in poker - skill or chance matter. In December 2008, the eastern division of the Danish High Court ruled that poker is a game of chance. There have been similar rulings elsewhere wherein poker has been defined by law to be a game of pure luck, where the player has very little chance to influence the gaming. Even the scientific fraternity has also challenged the long-held notion that poker is a game of luck, where instruction and strategy are immaterial - by showing that the card game is based on pure skill

In 2008, Michael DeDonno, a doctoral student from Case Western Reserve University, had 41 college students play eight games, totaling 200 hands, of Texas Hold'em, a computerized simulation of 10-player Hold'em poker. Overall most of the students had little experience playing poker. Half of the students in the first group were given charts that ranked the two-card combinations from best to the worst and also learned that professional poker players typically play about 15 percent of the hands dealt them. The other group was given background on the history of poker with no strategies. The findings were that students given some strategies and basic online poker rules to make decisions did better than those without the strategies.

To statistically verify the results from the first study, DeDonno conducted a second study, but had students play 720 hands. Again the group was divided into those provided with strategies and those with just a history of playing poker. While all students improved their playing with practice over the large number of hands, the group given strategies continued to do better than those without the added information. With this he was able to prove that skill wins out in playing poker.

Personally speaking I question the very idea of poker being a game of luck alone. It may take a couple of hours to learn a game such as Texas Hold'em in theory. Hand rankings and game play is pretty much standard save a few variations on rules and regulations. However it takes a lifetime of playing to really master it.  

Poker - Skill or chance looks to be a continuing debate for me. The existence of professional players proves that chance is not the determining factor, skill and dedication is. In the game of cricket any and I really mean any idiot who can swing a bat has a chance of hitting the ball but only a few can use the bat as a professional can. Also one would not find countless poker strategy books or web pages devoted purely to poker strategies.

A poker game is not won merely by the strength of your hand. A poker player needs to consider a lot of indicators - tells, pot odds, probabilities . before deciding on a move. A brilliant player could even make a statistically incorrect play in-order to fool the opponents into thinking that he has a stronger hand.
So, Poker -Skill or Chance ? ....the debate goes on.

Winning at Texas Hold ‘em Poker

Texas Hold’em Poker is the world’s favorite poker game. Texas hold’em is considered to be the most popular type being played in the casinos today, whether online or in real casinos. Generally, Texas Hold ‘Em Poker starts with a batch of two players situated at the left of the “dealer button.” This dealer buttons refers to the round disc being passed on clockwise on each player. It signifies who will be dealer in the event that the deal was move forward from one player to another.

The betting starts on the first part of the game where the money is placed into the pot before dealing the cards. Normally, the first blind is the one that places half of the required minimum stake. The first blind refers to the player situated at the left of the dealer. The second blind, on the other hand, is the one responsible in placing the full minimum required bet.

Since the very object of the game is to win whatever is in the pot, it is best to know some texas hold’em strategies so as to get an edge over the other players. Here are a few strategies.

1. The table.

When a player is playing Texas hold ‘em poker, the best thing that he or she should consider is selecting the table. This is because players, regardless of their skills in playing the game, will be constrained to give their best shots if the table is too assertive, too rigid or too loose, or if it consists of players that are more skillful.

The bottom line: Even if the essence of winning the game is directly affected by the skills of the player, it is still best to play on a table that has few raisers but many callers.

The logic behind this concept is based on the fact that the more raisers there are in a table, the lesser the chances of winning the game.

2. When a player is in the early position, it is best to raise with K-K, A-K, and A-As, then, with A-Qs, Q-Q, J-J, A-K, T-T, have a call and then fold everything else.

3. For players who already have a remarkable hand starters, especially when he or she has a high pair, say JJ or even higher, it is best not to hesitate raising it before the flop. Indeed, playing Texas hold ‘em poker requires skills also. It is not all based on gambling. This just goes to show that games like this requires both luck and skill to win the pot.

Seven Card Stud Poker

Seven card stud poker is played on most online poker sites and is offered in most live casinos. The game is dealt as follows, two cards face down and one up to each player followed by a round of betting. Three more dealing rounds of an up card to each player followed by a round of betting after each dealt card. The final card is dealt face down to each player followed by a final round of betting. When the bets are called or folded to, the hands are exposed and the best poker hand wins the pot.

The starting hands that are considered worth continuing the play and calling the bets are as follows, three of a kind, a pair, three suited cards and three numerical running cards of any suit. The other players up card should also be considered when making this decision. Calling without a good starting hand is not wise as this makes it an uphill battle to end up with the winning hand. Good starting hands give that player a leg up on ending up with a better hand and winning the pot. Poker is a game of perceived edge both in fact and in the players mind. Without this edge, the player who calls bets may as well be playing straight show down poker where a bet is made at the beginning and no decisions are made during the play of the hand. That is pure gambling and not intelligent risk taking.

Whether to continue the play of the hand depends on what the other players are showing in their up cards and the size of the bet versus the size of the pot. The value of your hand if you hit the next cards dealt versus what you believe the other players may be betting on. If your prospective final hand is a likely winner, then you should consider calling the current bets.

Remember, bluffing is allowed and a strong showing hand may be a false front with nothing behind the bet. This is part of the game and should be used judiciously, but it should be an element of your play. Good players win pots all of the time with non-winning hands due to the way they bet the hand. Playing good starting hands will allow a player of betting better hands and not having to bluff. This is the real advantage of making it part of your play to be selective in the starting hands your will consider for play.

Clearing an online poker bonus

Visit any online poker sites and you will be introduced to a world of online poker bonuses with each site trying to outdo the other. Perhaps a quick look at our poker room reviews may help you to decide better on which site to choose to gain access to the best online first deposit bonus.

Once you have signed on you will surely be wondering how to clear that online poker bonus. How do you optimize the task of getting that extra money out of the bonus account and into your real money bankroll? Well here are a few basic steps that you could follow:
Learn the Conditions to clear the online bonus
In the early days of poker room bonuses, players could only clear the funds through cash game play while tournament players were out of luck. Currently, many sites do allow you to clear your bonus by playing poker in tournaments. These calculate bonus clearing the same way they calculate player points. Thus before you start trying to earn credit toward your bonus through playing tournaments, find out if the site allows this practice.
Raising the Stakes may not help always
Some players see bonus clearing as an opportunity to move up in limits. They figure even if they go on a losing streak that the bonus will make up for it. However, you can clear the bonus just as quickly by playing your current limit.
Check your bankroll
Check your bankroll and plan properly for every game that you take part in. You do not want to deplete your bankroll before you clear the bonus. If this happens, you will have to deposit more money so that you can release the bonus in the time allotted.
So once Bonus is in your account what do you do? Simple answer, be sensible with it. It is your own hard earned money and should be defended with the same care and skill which you apply to your regular bankroll.

Overcoming bad beats in Texas Hold'em

In order to win at Texas Hold'em or for that matter at any poker game, you need to have the right strategy. The kind that helps you win pots of money. Your poker strategy could be based on any aspect of the game ranging from specific in-game theory to the psychological aspects of play.

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A major setback to any poker players' game is a bad beat. The kind that drops you from the high of being all in on the flop with top set against two over cards, to the low of being outdrawn to a runner-runner flush. This is where your strategy comes in, where you have a game plan before playing your next hand.

Losing a lot of money in the game can be pretty frustrating. An aggressive player will determinedly chase after it for the rest of the session while attempting to pull off huge bluffs and losing more money in the bargain. Some beats are so bad, they drive you insane and you waste the rest of your chips on that ten-high flush draw.

Do not lose heart; there are ways in which you can avoid such an obvious leak of chips:
Take a break: Cool off. Poker is a mind game, and your mind needs some rest, sometimes. If you return to the game in a rational frame of mind, the probabilities of you playing at the top of your game and winning your money back are higher.

Think in terms of expectation: Think of the money you had expected to win on the hand that you lost with. As for instance, if you hold an AA against an AK pre-flop, there are 90% chances that you could win the hand. You could use an odds calculator to figure this out. You can now say that you won 90% of what was in the pot, the 10% chance of losing being an occasional situation that caught up with you this time. Okay, maybe you lost this particular hand but later on you will be winning more.

A poker lover will come across bad beats at some point of time in his play. It is what makes the player sharpen his skills at the game and not just depend on luck alone. What is important is that we overcome the bad beats by playing the right strategy.

Poker Celebrities: Edward Giddens

Edward Simon Hunter Giddins better known as Edward Giddens was born 20 July 1971 in Eastbourne, Sussex. Edward is a former English cricketer who played in four tests from 1999 to 2000. Giddins played for four counties during his career Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire, and.
Edward Giddins' career was full of controversy. In 1996 he was sacked by Sussex because of drug offences and was banned from cricket for 18 months. Almost seven years later he was fined £5000, plus £1000 costs, and was banned from cricket for a further five years after being found guilty of placing a £7000 bet on his own side (at the time) Surrey, to lose their County Championship game.
He has recently turned to poker to earn his living and has appeared on the poker chat show Heads Up with Richard Herring to discuss this career. Edward Giddens has cashed in 16 big tournaments and fantabulous poker pots  to date with total winnings of $81,676.00. He has only had one first place finish.
Edward Giddens Poker Tournament Career Wins include the following:

• SpringFest No Limit Hold'em - 9th $2,456 Apr 11, 2007
• Sussex Masters No Limit Hold'em - 1st $18,747 Apr 5, 2007
• Sussex Masters No Limit Hold'em - 5th $1,968 Apr 4, 2007
• Dom Classics 2007 No Limit Hold'em - 6th $3,404 Jan 25, 2007
• Summer Shaker Event #1 - Pot Limit Hold'em - 2nd $3,149 Aug 14, 2006
• The Summer FestivalNo Limit Hold'em -3rd $6,580 May 23, 2006
• Celeb Poker Dublin Classic No Limit Hold'em - 4th $4,587 May 13, 2006
• Sussex Masters Pot Limit Hold'em - 2nd $3,665 Apr 10, 2006
• Midlands Medley Pot Limit Hold'em - 2nd $7,686 Feb 26, 2006
• Midlands Medley No Limit Hold'em - 3rd $11,811 Feb 22, 2006
• Christmas Cracker Tournament No Limit Hold'em - 2nd $5,812 Dec 13, 2005
• European Poker Championships No Limit Hold'em - 12th $656 Aug 7, 2005
• January Sales Pot Limit Hold'em - 10th $375 Jan 28, 2005
• Christmas Cracker Tournament No Limit Hold'em - 5th $6,749 Dec 4, 2004
• Southampton Poker Festival Pot Limit Hold'em - 10th $469 Nov 1, 2004
• Harbour Lights Poker Tournament Pot Limit Hold'em - 5th $3,562 Oct 29, 2004

It is unknown as to whether Edward plays or wins a lot of ring/cash games but it is assumed he does pretty well in them considering his placings in the above poker tournaments.

Poker Celebrities: Doyle Brunson

Doyle Brunson also known as Texas Dolly was born on August 10, 1933. Doyle is one of the famous poker celebrities a renowned American professional poker player who has played professionally for more than 50 years. One of the legendary Texas Road gamblers, Doyle Brunson is the first two-time World Series of Poker main event champion to win consecutively. He is also a Poker Hall of Fame inductee, and the author of several highly influential books on poker including:

• Doyle Brunson's Super System: A Course in Power Poker, 1979
• Doyle Brunson's Super System II, 2004
• Poker Wisdom of a Champion, 2003 (formerly titled According to Doyle when published in 1984)
• Online Poker: Your Guide to Playing Online Poker Safely & Winning Money, 2005
• My 50 Most Memorable Hands, 2007
• According to Doyle, 2007

Doyle Brunson was the first poker player to earn 1 million dollars in poker tournaments and has won ten World Series of Poker bracelets throughout his career. He is tied with Johnny Chan for second all-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner,  one behind the poker brat; Phil Hellmuth's eleven total bracelets. Doyle Brunson is also one of only four players to have won the Main Event at the World Series of Poker multiple times, which he did in 1976 and 1977 back to back. He is also one of only two poker players (Bill Boyd the other) to have won bracelets at the WSOP in four consecutive years. Doyle Brunson was also the first of five players to win both the WSOP Main Event and a World Poker Tour title. In January 2006, Bluff Magazine voted Brunson the number 1 most influential force in the world of poker.

Doyle Brunson is also now famous for his online poker site Doyles Room. Doyle plays most weeks in the famous Doyles Room bounty tournament where knocking out him gains you extra cash. Knock out the other bounties and receive more.

As for Doyles winning total in the world of poker it is monstrous. Back when Doyle won the World Series of Poker back to back, payouts for winning the event were not as big as today. If the payouts for first place in the World Series were as big in 1976 and 1977 Doyle Brunson would definitely also hold the record for cashing in the main event.

Among other poker celebrities, Doyle Brunsons Tournament cashing s are beyond comprehension to some people. This year alone he has cashed 6 times. 50 pages would be needed to write a complete history of Doyles poker tournament cashing s. As quoted by the Hendon Mob "If ever a bio was unnecessary, Brunson would be the man". If we include the cash made from cash games; Doyle Brunson could well be the biggest ever poker winner, the god of poker as such.

Poker Celebrities : Anne Duke

Anne LaBarr Lederer-Duke better known as Annie Duke was born on September 13, 1965. Annie Duke is a professional poker player and also a book author. Annie won a bracelet in the 2004 World Series of Poker $2,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Event and was the winner of the 2004 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, where she earned the Winner-Take-All prize of $2,000,000. At the time, this victory was the most money paid in a single event to a female poker player. That record was broken by Annette Obrestad during the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event.
Annie holds the women's record for most "in the money" finishes at the WSOP. Duke has won more than three million dollars in tournament play. Nowadays she refuses to play in women's only tournaments . As of 2009 Annie Dukes total live tournament winnings exceeded $3,600,000. Her 37 cashes at the WSOP account for $1,136,846 of those winnings.
Annie Duke became the first poker player to appear on The Colbert Report. During the show, she talked about her book How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions at The World Series of Poker; and what it's like to be a woman in a male-dominated event. Annie Duke Takes on the World featuring Annie playing against amateur poker players was shown on Game Show Network (GSN) in 2006.
Other television appearances include Annie Dukes appearance as a member of the Mob (NBC) where she correctly answered every question and was the only celebrity who wasn't eliminated. She returned and was successful on another fe occasions before returning on February 9 2007 under "Last Man Standing" rules where the game continued until only one person remained. She survived to reach the final five of 100 contestants.
Annie Duke has appeared on NBC's Poker After Dark three times but has not won, Deal Or No Deal to support a contestant who, after taking a $341,000 deal from the bank with only two cases left, found her case number 13 had the $1,000,000.
Along with Phil Hellmuth Jr., Duke is a coach on Fox Sports Network's Best Damn Poker Show.
Lastly she appeared on the Donald Trump reality television show, Celebrity Apprentice. Throughout the season, each celebrity raised money for a charity of his or her choice. Duke raised more money for her charity (Refugees International) than any other contestant. Of the field of 16 competitors, Duke survived to compete in the finale against her primary rival throughout the show, Joan Rivers.
As for her poker game and cash play, it is assumed that Annie Duke is one hell of a money maker and probably the best female poker player the world has seen to date.