http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/ Poker hand games blog en-us Nucleus CMS v3.24 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://handspokerrule.com/blogs//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/ http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=20 PLAYERS: Two to eleven (ideally, seven to nine). CARDS: Each player has four pocket cards; there are five community cards.
BETTING: Ante plus four rounds with bets doubling at fourth street.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Pairs and suited cards in the widow. Low cards if you are playing Hi-low. WHAT WINS: Relatively high hands, straight or better. When playing Hi-low, your highest card should be no higher than an 8.Texas Hold ‘Em with a Twist
PLAYERS: Two to eleven (ideally, seven to nine). CARDS: Each player has four pocket cards; there are five community cards.
BETTING: Ante plus four rounds with bets doubling at fourth street.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Pairs and suited cards in the widow. Low cards if you are playing Hi-low. WHAT WINS: Relatively high hands, straight or better. When playing Hi-low, your highest card should be no higher than an 8.

Omaha is played like Texas Hold ‘em except each player is dealt four cards in the hole instead of two. The real trick is to remember you must use two cards and only two cards from your hand and three from the community hand.

The first round of betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer. As in Texas Hold ‘em, players cannot check in the first round. After the first round of betting, the dealer turns over the first three community cards—the flop—and there is another betting round. After the fourth community card is exposed, known as fourth street or the turn, the third betting round takes place. As in Hold ‘em, the bet now doubles. As in Hold ‘em, the opening bet must be at least twice the minimum bet.

Finally, the last common card—fifth street or the river—is flipped over, and there is one final bet. If you are new to Omaha, it may take some time to figure out what you have. Because you have four cards in your hand, you may have more than one good hand.

A fun twist to Omaha is to play it as a Hi-low game. In fact, most Omaha games are played as Hi-Low. There are some differences between regular Hi-Low and Omaha Hi-Low. If you are going for the low hand in Omaha, you cannot have a card higher than an eight. For instance, you could have 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 as your low, but not 2, 4, 6, 7, 9. As in other Hi-low games, there is the possibility of going for both the high and low hands. In Omaha you can try for both using the four cards in your hand. If your pocket cards were AS, 2H, King C, King H you have two very good low cards and two good high cards. Unlike regular Omaha, if the widow produces the cards you need, you can use your two low cards and the two high cards separately to form two potentially winning hands. (Remember, if you are trying to win both the low and the high, you must win both to claim any of the pot. Therefore, it is crucial that you make sure you have the best of both hands.) When playing Omaha it is not uncommon to have ties, especially low ties. In these cases, the winner of the high hand gets half, and the two tied low hands split the other half.
]]> Poker Manners http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=20 Sat, 30 Jun 2007 01:49:00 -0500 http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=19
• Anything below an 8 is considered strong for developing a low hand. As the game progresses, survey the table to see how many low cards are dead and assess your chances of improving your low hand.• Hi-low can be tricky since you have to alter your way of thinking about things. In a sense, you want to develop hands that have the potential to be both low and high. Thus, having an Ace is a big advantage since it can be used as both a high and a low card.

• Anything below an 8 is considered strong for developing a low hand. As the game progresses, survey the table to see how many low cards are dead and assess your chances of improving your low hand.

• An ideal hand in the opening round of Hi-low is a three-card straight with all the cards being 8 or lower. This allows a player to pursue a low straight with the luxury of falling back on a low hand and vice versa. Keep in mind this factor makes straights much more common in Hi-low than in regular stud. Likewise, having three low-suited cards is also an excellent hand to be dealt, since it also gives you the opportunity for a flush and a low hand. Being able to pursue two different hands also keeps players in longer and betting tends to be higher.

• In seven-card Hi-low, low pairs in the early rounds are also valuable because if you get more low cards, you can split the pair(s) and pursue the low hand. You also have the potential to build off the pairs for a high hand (two pairs, three of a kind, or a full house.)

• Conventional wisdom says that having a high pair other than Aces is a somewhat lackluster hand to be dealt in the opening round of seven-card Hi-low. With straights being more common in Hi-low, even if the pair improves to a three of a kind, there is a chance it will lose.

• If you are confident that you have won either the high or the low hand, you should start raising and betting aggressively in the later rounds. For instance, if you sense you are the only one going for a high hand, start raising. The players with the low hands will continue to call in the hopes of making their hands.

• Like regular seven-card stud, it is important in Hi- low to examine your opponents’ cards. Most of the time you can decipher whether or not someone is going for high or low, though surprises can occur. While surveying exposed cards, look at the highest card showing. Can you beat it as a low?

Sample Hand : SEVEN-CARD STUD HI-LOW
ROUND 1: Hole cards Up cards
• PLAYER 1: KS, 5C King H
• PLAYER 2: 6S, 3D 5S
• PLAYER 3: Queen D, 1OH Jack H
• PLAYER 4: AS, 6H 3S
• PLAYER 5: 8S, 9D 8H
• PLAYER 6: 2H, 9D Queen S
• PLAYER 7: 9H, 10C 5D


8+, .
Betting:
• PLAYER 1: Bets. Senses a good high hand with a pair of Kings.
• PLAYER 2: Calls. With 3, 5, 6 has a promising low hand.
• PLAYER 3: Calls. A solid beginning for a high hand with three connected high cards.
• PLAYER 4: Calls. A, 3, 6 is a good start to a low hand.
• PLAYER 5: Calls with a pair. Will fold quickly if hand does not improve with next card.
• PLAYER 6: Folds with little hope for either a low or high hand.
• PLAYER 7: Folds for same reason.


ROUND 2:
Hole cards Up cards
• PLAYER 1: King S, 5C King H, 10S
• PLAYER 2 : 6S, 3D 5S, 2S
• PLAYER 3 Queen D, 10H Jack H, Queen H
• PLAYER 4: AS, 6H 3S, 3C
• PLAYER 5: 8S, 9D 8H, Jack C

Betting:
• PLAYER 1: Checks. Still feels strong with King pair but wants to see what Player 2 and Player 3 do with two suited cards.
• PLAYER 2: Bets. He now can work for both the low hand and a flush with three spades.
• PLAYER 3: Calls. High hand now improved to a Queen pair and three-flush.
• PLAYER 4: Calls. Pair of 3s complicates things but still has a strong low hand.
• PLAYER 5: Folds.
• PLAYER 1: Calls.

ROUND 3:
Hole cards Up cards
• PLAYER 1: King S, 5C King H, 10S, 7C
• PLAYER 2: 6S, 3D 5S, 2S, Jack S
• PLAYER 3: Queen D, 1OH Jack H, Queen H, 9C
• PLAYER 4: AS, 6H 3S, 3C, 6D

Betting:
• PLAYER 4: Bets. Still working toward high (full house) and low hand.
• PLAYER 1: Folds. With little help and three spades in Player 2’s hand, he’s worried.
• PLAYER 2: Calls. Can still work for flush and low hand.
• PLAYER 3: Calls. Straight still good but worried about possible flush. in Player 2’s hand.

ROUND 4:
Hole cards Up cards
Betting:
• PLAYER 4: Checks. Wants to see how confident other players are.
• PLAYER 2: Bets. Has made a good low hand with 7 high and still has a shot at a flush.
• PLAYER3: Calls. Looking at the up cards, feels he still has a chance at the high hand with a pair of Queens and possible straight.
• PLAYER 4: Calls.

ROUND 5:
Hole cards Up cards
• PLAYER 2: 6S, 3D, 4D 5S, 2S, Jack S, 7H
• PLAYER 3: Queen D, 10H, Queen C Jack H, Queen H, 9C, AD
• PLAYER 4: AS, 6H, 8D 3S, 3C, 6D, 7S

Betting:
• PLAYER 4: Bets. Hopes 8 low will be enough.
• PLAYER 2: Raises. Looking to go for both high and low hands.
• PLAYER 3: : Bets. Feels three Queens will take the high hand.
• PLAYER 4: Calls.

DECLARE:
• PLAYER 2: Both.
• PLAYER 3: High.
• PLAYER 4: Low.

SHOWDOWN:
Player 2’s straight beats Player 3’s three Queens
Player 2’s 7 down beats Player 4’s 8 down.
]]> Poker Manners http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=19 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 01:46:00 -0500 http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=18 PLAYERS: 3 to 6 is ideal.
CARDS: Five cards, all down.
BETTING: Two rounds plus ante; betting tends to be relatively low.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Keep a close eye on how many cards each player draws from the deck.
WHAT WINS: Usually a high pair or better. The classic
PLAYERS: 3 to 6 is ideal.
CARDS: Five cards, all down.
BETTING: Two rounds plus ante; betting tends to be relatively low.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Keep a close eye on how many cards each player draws from the deck.
WHAT WINS: Usually a high pair or better.

Five-card draw, or draw poker, is one of the oldest partypoker games, and it is unique in that players have the opportunity to exchange their cards or draw” from the deck to try and improve their hands. So, if you don’t like what you see, you can always try your luck with some new cards. Unlike stud games, players only see the cards in their own hands. (But smart players will pay close attention to how many cards other players draw after the first round of betting, as well as their opponents’ betting patterns.)
Before opening the game, the dealer must decide how many cards each player can draw from the deck after the first round of betting. The standard limit is three. In some games, a player may draw four cards if he is holding an Ace, which must be shown to the table.

After everyone has put in his or her ante, the dealer deals five cards facedown to each player.

Betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer. He may bet, check, or fold. Betting continues clockwise around the table, and each player has the opportunity to call, raise, or fold. Some people play that it is necessary to have at least a pair of Jacks to open the betting in five-card partypoker draw. If the player closest to the dealer’s left does not have a pair of Jacks or better, the betting moves clockwise around the table until a player with a pair of Jacks or better can open the betting.

After the first round of betting, all remaining players (those who did not fold) can draw up to three new cards from the deck (sometimes four cards are allowed; see front of card). The player discards the cards he does not want and is then dealt new cards from the top of the deck. Of course, if a player does not want any cards, he can “stand pat” and keep the hand he is holding.

Once all the players have received their new cards, the second round of betting begins. As in the first round, the player closest to the dealer’s left opens, and the betting moves clockwise around the table. After all the bets have been placed, the players show their hands—the player with the best hand takes the pot. (For more on hands, see pages 10-12.)
]]> Poker Manners http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=18 Wed, 30 May 2007 01:46:00 -0500 http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=17 RULE ONE:
When you begin with a pair of tens through a pair of aces, try to eliminate players quickly.
RULE TWO:
With a drawing hand (three to a straight or flush) try to keep as many players in the pot as possible.
RULE THREE:
Generally, when you begin with three-of-a-kind, don’t raise until the fifth card.Final Formula
RULE ONE:
When you begin with a pair of tens through a pair of aces, try to eliminate players quickly.
RULE TWO:
With a drawing hand (three to a straight or flush) try to keep as many players in the pot as possible.
RULE THREE:
Generally, when you begin with three-of-a-kind, don’t raise until the fifth card.
RULE FOUR:
Seldom begin with a small pair unless your sidecard
Is larger than your opponents’ upcards.
RULE FIVE:
Play concealed pairs more liberally than split pairs.
RULE SIX:
Don’t play small three-flushes or three-straights.
RULE SEVEN:
keep track of the cards in other players’ hands.
RULE EIGHT:
After seven cards, call unless it seems hopeless.
RULE NINE:
Don’t pay for a fifth card unless you’re prepared to take a seventh card.
RULE TEN:
If three or more key cards are out, don’t play for a straight or flush.
RULE ELEVEN:
If you get called trying to make an early steal, throw your hand away on the next bet. Give it up.80
Some of these concepts came to me during the next several sessions of poker. Others took years to sink in. Anyway, during my sophomore year at U.S. U. I was breaking about even at poker and piling up some heavy scores at pool. Where those guys got so much money to shoot pooi with, I still don’t know. But by midway through the first semester I had accumulated over five grand. Then the group of guys I played poker with got their heads together and decided to take a trip to Vegas. It was to be a junket, rooms and transport ation paid by the Aladdin Hotel. As much as I wanted to see the big lights on the strip and the glitter of downtown, I had to decline. This was going to be a three-day vacation from classes, and I had promised my time to Debbie. (Yes, we were back together again.)
She sensed, though, that I was feeling pretty bad about missing my opportunity to visit Vegas.
So, in good humor, she said, “Go win yourself some money. Really, it’s okay. I want you to.”
And Ididn’i argue. With a Kleenex box containing my $5,000 cash tucked into my suitcase, I boarded a plane. Las Vegas! The sound of the name rushed silently through my head. I was almost dizzy with excitement. Already, at age nineteen, I thought of myself as a gambler. And here I was on an airplane that would soon land in a magic city devoted to my kind.

]]> Poker Manners http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=17 Tue, 15 May 2007 01:44:00 -0500 http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=16 Mistake One:
Trying to play a premium pair against a large field of opponents. Pairs of tens, jacks, queens, kings and aces on the first three cards should ideally be played against a small number of opponents, preferably head-up. For some reason, average players try to hide in the forest with these hands, letting as many players in the pot as possible and, consequently, often losing to straights and flushes.Common Mistakes
Mistake One:
Trying to play a premium pair against a large field of opponents. Pairs of tens, jacks, queens, kings and aces on the first three cards should ideally be played against a small number of opponents, preferably head-up. For some reason, average players try to hide in the forest with these hands, letting as many players in the pot as possible and, consequently, often losing to straights and flushes.
Mistake Two:
Playing come hands too aggressively. When you’re trying for a straight or flush, you want to get the largest odds possible for your money. That means keeping players in the pot.
Mistake Three:
Playing small pairs without taking the sidecard into consideration. Anytime you begin with a pair less than tens, you’re in a vulnerable position. Usually you need your third card to be bigger than the upcards of other active players.
Mistake Four:
Playing small three-flushes and three-straights.
These starting hands are almost always unplayable.Mistake Five:
Not watching for key cards in other hands. Anytime you play a straight or a flush, you should pay particular attention to see how many useful cards are present in the hands of your opponents. Pass when you see a lot of cards you need. Obviously the same sort of reasoning applies to situations where you begin with, say, a pair of fours. If you see another four out, you should almost never play.
Mistake Six:
Continuing with an early bluff once it seems hopeless. It’s okay, in fact desirable, to try to steal pots early in seven-stud, particularly if you think you can pick up an ante. But be ready to turn loose of the hand if things don’t work out.
Mistake Seven:
Treating concealed pairs and split pairs alike. The
unskilled seven-stud player doesn’t recognize that two eights in the hole with a seven showing is much, much more potent than an eight up with an eight and a seven in the hole. In the latter case, you have the hand your opponent will expect. In the first case, you have a powerful buried pair, and if you catch another eight, players will have no way to suspect you’ve made trips.
Mistake Nine:
Making routine laydowns on seventh street.
Although, as a rule, weak seven-stud players tend to play too many hands, they also fold too often after seven cards. By then the pot is frequently affording 15 to 1 or greater money odds, and a call is almost mandatory unless your hand is totally hopeless.

]]> General http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=16 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 01:41:00 -0500 http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=15
Today, it seems as if new video poker games appear daily. While that statement is probably a gross exaggeration, new versions of the game do crop up more frequently now, and each new variation vies for the players'' money with different enticements. Some of these don''t last much past the "trial" stage due to very low payback or playing difficulty; after a brief try, most players avoid them. Occasionally a machine might fade away due to very high payback (e.g., over 102%) because the pros eat it up and the casinos remove it from their floors. Others survive either because of unique character or because the payback is still near or over 100%, or both. If you encounter a new variation, how can you determine whether its payback is sufficient to warrant giving it a try?The Benefit or Cost of Variations

Today, it seems as if new video poker games appear daily. While that statement is probably a gross exaggeration, new versions of the game do crop up more frequently now, and each new variation vies for the players'' money with different enticements. Some of these don''t last much past the "trial" stage due to very low payback or playing difficulty; after a brief try, most players avoid them. Occasionally a machine might fade away due to very high payback (e.g., over 102%) because the pros eat it up and the casinos remove it from their floors. Others survive either because of unique character or because the payback is still near or over 100%, or both. If you encounter a new variation, how can you determine whether its payback is sufficient to warrant giving it a try?

My new analysis/trainer program, Optimum Video Poker, allows you to easily make changes in a game''s payoff table and quickly analyze the game to see how the changes affect the game''s payback.

The tables in "The Payoff Schedule" sections show the probability of each final hand (assuming perfect play). To estimate the cost or benefit of a variation, it is necessary only to multiply the change in the payoff by the probability of occurrence and add the product to the total Average Payback. But note that the product is often a negative number because the payback has been reduced. Some examples will help to clarify the procedure.

Let''s look first at the Jacks-or-Better payoff schedule. If the schedule is as shown in "The Payoff Schedule - Jacks-or-Better" except that the royal pays 4,700-for-5, what is the total payback? Well, that''s 94O-for-l, an increase of 140, which we multiply by the probability (.0000248), giving .00347, or about .35%. Adding this to the basic game''s 99.54% payback with perfect play yields 99.89% payback. As usual, we must deduct about .02% for human play.

Another variation might be to reduce the full house to 8 but in¬crease the flush to 7 (making it an 8/7 machine). If we subtract .01151 and add back .01102, we have a net reduction of .00049 or about .05%. This is a small loss, and we could probably recover most of that (or maybe even realize a net gain) with proper strategy modifications.

Another subtle change is to reduce the payoff on quads to 20 instead of 25-for-l. Multiplying the difference of five by the probability of .002363 reveals a very significant 1.18% reduction.

The Frontier on the Las Vegas Strip used to offer a bonus coupon when you cashed your paycheck. If you hit any four-of-a-kind on Jacks-or-Better with the coupon, the payoff was doubled, adding 5.91 % for over 105.4% total payback! Due to a $100 limit, a dollar machine didn''t give the full $125 double pay, but this still added 80% of 5.91 % for an expectation of about 102% in the short term! (Unfortunately, this promotion was abused by locals running people through with phony paychecks, so it was finally cancelled.)

As we have noted before, a bonus on a certain set of quads, such as four sevens, must take into account the frequency of that particular final hand. We have seen that four sevens (or four deuces through four nines) will occur about once in every 13.44 sets of quads, but even assuming one in 13 or one in 14 would not cause too big an error for a quick approximation. In Joker Wild (kings or better), four deuces through four queens will occur with about equal frequency, and in Deuces Wild any set of quads (other than four deuces which is a separate category) will have about the same frequency of occurrence.

Another example is Tens-or-Better with the same payback schedule as Jacks-or-Better except that it pays only 1-for-1 on two pair. Returning the wager on a pair of tens adds about one fourth of .2146 (the Average Payback for a pair of jacks or better), or .0536. However, paying only I-for-l on two pair costs half of its EV of .2586, or .1293, for a net loss of .0757 or about 7.57%. As you can see, the cost of only returning your bet for two pair is devastating.

Sequential Royals
Some games offer a big bonus payoff on a royal flush if the cards are in sequence, thus the nomenclature "sequential royals." The most common sequential payoff is 50,000 coins instead of the usual 4,000-coin payoff when the royal is in sequence in either direction. This is currently being paid on certain games at se casinos in the Las Vegas area. This change in the royal p translates into $12,500 instead of $1,000 on a five-coin machine for a 1O-J-Q-K-A or A-K-Q-J-1O royal flush.

With no strategy changes, this adds approximately 0.38% payback of most no wild-card games and a little less to wild games. However, this is in the extreme long term. Since only royal in 60 will be in sequence (although optimum strategy fictions can increase this a bit).

Some games pay the big bon a sequential only in one direction. With no strategy changes, one royal in 120 will be in the proper order. Talk about the

long-term - that''s one in over 4.5 million hands!

When playing any of these games, I prefer to consider only regular payback of the game, excluding the sequential royal. an attractive game in that light, then I have a free shot at the one.

Progressive Royals
Let''s examine progressive Jacks-or-Better and determine what royal flush jackpot must be in order to yield 100% payback. Most such games have a reduced payoff schedule so that a full h pays 8-for-l and a flush pays 5-for-1. (This, as noted early called an 8/5 machine.) From the .9952 payback of a full-pay game, we must subtract .0115 and .0110 for the reduced payoff on a full house and flush respectively. Also, since a royal pays the progressive jackpot instead of a fixed 4,000 c we''ll deduct its standard .0198 payback. This leaves an average payback of .9529 from all hands other than a jackpot, so the jack pot must yield 1- .9529 = .0471 for 100% total long-term payback.

The average payback of any type of hand is equal to its payoff multiplied by the probability of its occurrence. With unchanged strategy, the probability of a royal flush on anyone play is .0000248, so the formula:

Average Payback = Payoff x Probability
for the royal flush becomes:
.0471 = Jackpot x .0000248
and solving for the necessary Jackpot we get:
Jackpot = .0471 + .0000248 = 1900

This is not a dollar amount; it is a multiple of the bet. Since you must bet five coins to qualify for the jackpot, the progressive jackpot on an 8/5 quarter machine must be 1,900 x $1.25, or about $2,375 for 100% payback. On a dollar machine the jackpot must be 1,900 x $5.00 = $9,500. You have probably already noticed that it''s quite rare for a jackpot to make it to these levels.

Of course, we could be even more conservative and look for at least 102% payback. The jackpot must yield .020 more, so it must be .0671 + .0000248 = 2706 (at least $3,382 on an 8/5 quarter ma¬chine or nearly $13,530 on an 8/5 dollar machine). It''s extremely rare to find a machine where the jackpot has climbed this high, since a progressive jackpot that has reached twice its starting level usually attracts a flood of players until it is hit.

As the jackpot grows, the best play dictates drawing to the royal more frequently. Strategy adjustments for a progressive royal are beyond the scope of this book. If your interest lies in progressive jackpots, you should get a copy of Stanford Wong''s Professional Video Poker. Ironically, making those strategy adjustments will reduce the short-term payback even as it slightly increases total long-term payback.

But don''t despair; some casinos have full-pay (9/6) progressives. Such a 25¢ machine requires a jackpot of only $1,250 for 100% payback or $2,255 for 102% payback. It''s very rare for a jackpot to reach $2,000, so if you find one and there''s a seat available (and you have the necessary bankroll) sit down. It''s a good opportunity.

Rather than cluttering up this text with all the mathematics or leaving you with myriad calculations to perform, The necessary jackpots for 100%, 102% and 105% expected long-term payback on various games.

But remember, you don''t need a progressive jackpot for the payback to exceed 100%. For most people, Deuces Wild is the easiest game to play profitably, and many people consider it the most fun. Deuces Wild has the smallest jackpot requirement for 100% long-term payback.

For many, that would probably be a good decision. Once you are comfortable with Precision Play, you can refine it by learning the complete hand-rank chart but the additional gain is very small. Many people will lose more through errors and loss of speed than they gain through the more accurate strategy. Optimum Play'' Really Mean?”

Jacks-or-Better, however, does not cause such large bankroll fluctuations, and a game paying extra on a flush or full house, or triple on four sevens, may even provide a similar long-term payback. The moral is to weigh all considerations before selecting a machine. (For a better way to compare machines, see the sections on the Volatility Index and Attractiveness Index and the summary tells us that the bankroll necessary on a ten-coin 5¢ 7/5 machine is only slightly less than on a 25¢ 9/6 machine. But why isn''t it 60% less (the 50¢ bet is only 40% of the $1.25 bet on a five coin quarter machine)? This is due to the reduced payoffs on the flush and full house. Since these hands make up a large part of your short -term payback, reducing their payoffs by a total of three units causes larger bankroll fluctuations. You will seldom find such a machine with a jackpot big enough to make it worthwhile.
]]> Poker Manners http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=15 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 01:39:00 -0500 http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=9 Improve your online poker game

*Learn how to Improve your online poker and casino skills.
*Study the way to practice in the Internet poker newsgroup RGP
*Rule the game- determineif lnternet real-money games are for you
Sometimes you simply have to know that you're playing against, well, real people -not against computer creations. When the computer opponents of interactive software games have you talking to yourself and longing for human adversaries to gripe about, what can you do?
Just as you can find almost anything else on the Internet, you can find poker games. These cybergames have no physical location, but you can summon them up from your personal computer at any time.
Like genies in a bottle,they await your command - all it takes is a few clicks of your mouse!
Internet Play-Mune y Games If you're not ready for cash stakes, you can play in mock games for playmoney on the Internet. Your opponents may be anywhere in the world. They won't be in the same room with you, but they're real folks looking for a game. You'll have to make a few adjustments when you move into online playing. lnternet poker games take place in cyberspace, the universe of electronic connections that is at once everywhere and nowhere. At first it's a little disconcerting to hear a disembodied voice ask for your blind, or to have your cards yanked away by invisible hands instead of folding them yourself!

The lnternet game designers have done all they can to simulate the sights and sounds of a real poker game:
fl You see yourself represented in pictogram form, seated at a virtual table with other pictogram players, whose real counterparts may be anywhere in the world.

Computers, Casinos, and Cardrooms
1. Your player name or "handle" and the amount you have in play are listed
above or beneath your virtual representative.

2. Vibrantly colored cards, tables, chips, and player costumes mimic the
visual elements of real casino poker.

3. An invisible dealer announces bets and raises and declares winning
hands. (However, he doesn't accept tokes.)

4. You hear the sounds of cards being shuffled and dealt, and chips clacking
when the pot is pushed to the winner.

5. You "converse" with other players in the "chat window" by typing messages
back and forth on your keyboards.
I/ To check, bet, or raise, fou click on-screen choices with your mouse.
Help and hand history are easily summoned by clicking other options.
Want to leave the game or go to another? Click!

6. it isn't real poker, is it?
lnternet play-money poker isn't real poker, but it's not supposed to be. Real
poker is played for real money. Even so, you can practice many skills in these
cybergames. For instance, you can brush up on:
a. Evaluating hands
b. Reading hands
c. Folding, betting, calling, raising, and reraising
d.Categorizing opponents
e. Figuring pot odds
As in most free (or nearly free) things in life, there are some inherent limitations
when you play in online play-money poker games:
Ic You won't be able to watch for tells (the involuntary physical and emotional
slips that often give away a player's hand) unless you're psychic.
The opportunity to fire in a raise because you've seen fear in an oppe
nent's eyes is an experience you won't have in lnternet games.

7. You won't be able to practice tricky strategies. You'll probably have to
"show down" a real hand after all the cards are out -forget fancy
moves and bluffs. Players will usually call with anything when no money
is involved.
8. The games are generally slower than live games and much slower than
interactive software where you play against computer opponents. Many
people play in the games while doing other things, or they may have slow
computers or problems with their lnternet service providers (1SPs).

=============================================================]]> General http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=9 Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:27:00 -0500 http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=5
Poker Manners
MINDING YOUR P’S AND Q’S (AND YOUR ACES AND KINGS)
A key to enjoying poker (besides winning money) is playing in a game that moves along
and is not interrupted by disputes. Here are some tips to insure a smooth game:
• KNOW THE RULES
It is important to learn the rankings of the hands. By constantly referring to a
“cheat sheet,’ you slow down the game. More importantly, you are also essentially
telling everyone what’s in your hand. For instance, let’s say you are playing seven-
card stud, and it looks like someone might have a straight and that you may have a
flush. If you have to check to see if a flush beats a straight, you might as well
announce to your fellow players, “I have a flush; can you beat it?”
• STATE YOUR INTENTIONS
If you are folding, don’t just physically fold your cards—declare it. As you see,
call, or raise the bet, make sure that you tell the table what you are doing and the
amount you are adding to the pot.
• FOLDING
Whenever you fold, never, never show your cards. This gives away valuable information
to the remaining players and can seriously affect the course of the hand.
• YOU REMEMBER THIS ONE FROM KINDERGARTEN
Dont gloat and don’t be a sore loser.
• WAIT YOUR TURN
It’s bad poker etiquette to bet or fold before your turn. Making a move out of turn
affects the decisions of the players betting before you. Likewise, if you are holding
four Aces and bet out of turn you might be giving away your hand by appearing too
eager. In short, hold tight and be patient!
• DON’T CRITICIZE
It displays poor form to criticize or analyze a
player’s move for the benefit of the table.
• DON’T LOOK AT YOUR CARDS UNTIL
THEY ARE ALL DEALT TO YOU
Though there is nothing technically wrong with looking at your cards as they come, in
the poker world its considered uncouth.
• DO THE CARDS SPEAK OR DO THE PLAYERS?
Occasionally, in games with wild cards or games with community cards, a player might
misread his hand and actually have a better hand than he declares. For instance, in a
seven-card stud game, if deuces are wild and a player is dealt a J, J, 2, 10, 9, 8, 3,
he may look at his hand and say, “three Jacks,” when in tact, he has a straight (8, 9,
10, J, Q (the 2 acts as a wild card)). So players should decide beforehand if the
cards or the players speak.
“For a plaqer to become accepted in a game, knowing how to plag poker is not enough.
There are accepted forms of behavior at a poker game, some pertaining to the cards and
hand being dealt, other’s pertaining to general house etiquette. You don’t stand
behind a guj and sa!J, ‘Wow! Three Ace5!”
Hands Rank]]> Poker Manners http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=5 Thu, 22 Jun 2006 10:31:00 -0500 http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=12 ...Wev'e got the schedule on the all-new WSOP!!

wsop

Yes... The word's out - its ALMOST here...
THE WSOP 2006!
Wev'e got the schedule:
Date # Tournament Buy-in:
----------------------------------

June 25 Satellites/Live Action begins
June 26 1 Casino Employee no-limit Hold'em $500
June 27 2 No-limit Hold'em $1,500
June 28 3 Pot-limit Hold'em $1,500
June 29 4 Limit Hold'em $1,500
June 30 5 Short-handed (6/table) no-limit Hold'em $2,500
July 1 6 No-limit Hold'em $2,000
July 2 7 Limit Hold'em $3,000
July 3 8 Omaha High-Low Split $2,000
July 4 9 No-limit Hold'em $5,000
July 5 10 Seven Card Stud $1,500
July 6 11 Limit Hold'em $1,500
July 6 12 Omaha Hi-low Split $5,000
July 7 13 No-Limit Hold'em $2,500
July 8 14 No-Limit Hold'em w/re-buys $1,000
July 9 15 Ladies Event No-limit Hold'em, 1 day event $1,000
July 9 16 Pot-Limit Omaha $10,000
July 10 17 No-Limit Hold'em $1,000
July 11 18 Pot-Limit Hold'em $2,000
July 12 19 Seniors no-limit Hold'em, 1 day event $1,000
July 12 20 No-limit 2 to 7 Draw Lowball w/re-buys $5,000
July 13 21 No-limit Hold'em, Short-handed (6/table) $2,500
July 14 22 No-Limit Hold'em $2,000
July 15 23 Limit Hold'em $3,000
July 15 24 Omaha Hi-low Split $3,000
July 16 25 No-limit Hold'em Shootout $2,000
July 17 26 Pot-Limit Omaha $1,500
July 18 27 No-Limit Hold'em $1,500
July 19 28 Seven Card Stud $5,000
July 19 29 Pot-Limit Hold'em $2,500
July 20 30 No-limit Hold'em, Short-handed (6/table) $5,000
July 21 31 No-Limit Hold'em $2,000
July 22 32 Pot-Limit Hold'em $5,000
July 22 33 Seven Card Razz $1,500
July 23 34 No-limit Hold'em w/rebuys $1,000
July 24 35 Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split $1,000
July 24 36 Limit Hold'em Shootout $1,500
July 25 37 No-Limit Hold'em $1,500
July 26 Super Satellite Day (see below)
July 27 Media/Celebrity Event
July 27 Super Satellite Day (see below)


No-limit Texas Hold’em World Championship Event
July 28 38 No-limit Texas Hold’em World Championship Event $10,000
July 28 Day 1A 2000 play down to 800
July 29 Day 1B 2000 play down to 800
July 30 Day 1C 2000 play down to 800
July 31 Day 1D 2000 play down to 800
August 1 A + B 1600 to 700
August 2 C + D 1600 to 700
August 3 Day off for main event
August 3 39 No-limit Hold'em, 1 day event $1,000
August 4 ABCD Play 1400 down to 600
August 5 Play 600 down to 300
August 5 40 No-Limit Hold'em $1,500
August 6 Play 300 down to 150
August 6 41 No-Limit Hold'em $1,500
August 7 Play 150 down to 60
August 7 42 No-Limit Hold'em $1,500
August 8 Play 60 down to 27
August 8 43 No-Limit Hold'em $1,500
August 9 Play 27 down to 9
August 9 44 No-Limit Hold'em $1,500
August 10 Final Table

Super Satellite Schedule: $230 buy-in Super Satellites will take place daily at 3 p.m. $1060 buy-in Mega Super Satellites will take place nightly at 7 p.m

Super Satellite Days on July 26 and July 27: $230 buy-in Super Satellite will take place at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. $1060 buy-in Mega Super Satellite will take place at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Second Chance Tournament: $540 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em tournaments will take place daily at 5 p.m. $225 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em tournaments will take place nightly at 11 p.m.
The live action starts on June 25th with satellites. In total, 44 WSOP events will be held, and the winner of each one will receive a classic gold bracelet. The main event will start on July 28th, and end on August 10th with the crowning of the new World Champion of Poker. WSOP]]> General http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=12 Wed, 31 May 2006 04:29:58 -0500 http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=7 Poker has inspired countless books on strategy as well as more literaryIjournalistic
efforts. Here’s a small sampling of some notable titles:
• The Literary Side: Poets (and Others) At the Poker Table, by A. Alvarez
• The Biggest Game in Town, by A. Alvarez What do poker and Sylvia Plath have in
common? A. Alvarez. The English poet, critic, and one-time
friend of Sylvia Plath looks at high-stakes poker in Las Vegas. The Biggest Game in
Town is a cult classic.
• A Friendly Game of Poker: 52 Takes On the
Neighborhood Game, edited by Jake Austen
A collection of writings on poker with essays from
Nick Tosches, Ira Glass, Richard Meltzer, and others.
• Poker Nation: A High-Stakes, Low-Life Adventure Into the Heart of a Gambling
Country, by Andy Bellin A look at the world of professional poker with plenty of
helpful advice, including a section on odds.
• Super/System, by Doyle Brunson, et al.
When you’re ready for your post-graduate degree in poker... This comprehensive look at
the odds and probabilities of poker revolutionized the game when it was published in 1978.
• Caro’s Fundamental Secrets of Winning Poker, by Mike Caro
Caro is definitely a distinctive voice in poker. This book is excellent for beginners
and more advanced players. Lots of strategy and statistics to improve your game. Caro
has also written an excellent book on tells.
• Big Deal: A Year As a Professional Poker Player, by Anthony Holden
Holden takes a break from his life as a biographer and critic to pursue poker
professionally, culminating in a seat at the World Series of Poker.
• Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion’s World Series of Poker, by
James McManus McManus’s account of the murder trial of Ted Binion and his own run at
the World Series of Poker.
• Amarillo Slim In a World Full of Fat People: The Memoirs of the Greatest Gambler Who
Ever Lived, by Amarillo Slim Preston
The title alone is almost worth buying the book. However, you will also find
entertaining anecdotes and advice from a poker legend and winner of the World Series
of Poker.
• Scarne’s Guide to Modern Poker, by John Scarne Provides rules and some of the
essential poker playing tips.
• The Theory of Poker, by David Sklansky This work and others by Sklansky are
considered must-haves for the serious poker player. Sklansky breaks down and explains
a variety of strategies.
• Poker for Dummies, by Richard D. Harroch & Lou Krieger
The Basics.
Thursday Night Poker: How to Understand, Enjoy,
and Win, by Peter 0. Steiner better
An excellent guide for the intermediate player.
• The Education of a Poker Player,
by Herbert Yardley A classic. This is definitely old school, but very
helpful and fun to read.
Poker Hands]]> General http://handspokerrule.com/blogs/index.php?itemid=7 Mon, 22 May 2006 10:48:00 -0500