Texas Holdem Dictionary of Terms: B

Bankroll-A player’s bankroll is the amount of money they have to play the game of poker be it in a tournament or over their poker career.

BB- Big Blind, the player two places to the left of the dealer puts down a forced bet approximately twice the size of the small blind before the hand can begin and the cards are dealt.

Beer Hand- Being dealt 7,2 in  poker is widely acknowledge as the worst hand in poker, so time for a beer because you won’t be playing that hand.

Bluff- To give the impression of having a stronger hand than you do in the hope of winning a hand by causing your opponents to fold.

Boat- Also known as a full house, a hand consisting of three of a kind and a pair. Slang terminology.

Broadway-Broadway is a slang term for the nut straight in a game of poker. Consisting of 10, J, Q, K and A.

Brothers- Receiving a pair of Jacks as your starting hand.

Bubble- Being on the bubble means a player that is the last person to finish a tournament just outside of the money. Unlucky loser.

Bullets- A slang term for the opening hand of Ace, Ace, the best opening hand in poker.

Bully- A player who is aggressive around the poker table often using large raises to scare players off hands to claim the pot.

Bump- A slang term referring to a player wishing to raise the bet.

Burn Card- The burn card is the card discarded by the dealer before the flop, turn and river cards are dealt originally designed to stop cheating.

Busto- A more popular word used by the poker community to describe going broke. Loosing your chips, leaving a tournament. In other words game over!

Button- The button is a small disk to denote where the dealer is positioned on the table. This moves around the table in a clockwise motion as the hands are played.

Buy-In- The amount of money required to purchase your chips in order to enter a tournament .

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Posted in: Poker,Poker Dictionary,Poker Glossary,Poker Lessons,Poker Terms,Texas Holdem

Texas Holdem Dictionary of Terms: A

ABC Player- A player who follows a predictable and readable betting pattern, usually someone new to the game.

Ace High- The outcome of a hand where the best card shown is an Ace.

Aces Up- Showdown cards referring to the possession of two pair, one of which is Aces.

Action- Action is a rather vague term to describing the act of play passing from one player to the next as it moves around the table. Secondly, action refers to an exciting period of play when many chips are in play and players can win big or at least try to.

Add-On- Similar to a re-buy, add-on is a feature of tournament play when players are given the opportunity to purchase chips over and above the original stake.

Air- Air refers to a card dealt on the turn or river that does not help any player involved in the hand.

All Black- A term used to announce a spade or club flush.

All In- Is the call made by players who decide to move all their remaining chips into the pot in an attempt to win the hand. A player at this point cannot be forced off the hand, and can only be called. At that point the best hand wins.

All Red- A term used to announce a heart of diamond flush.

Ammunition- A slang term often used around the poker table when referring to chips.

Anna Kornikova- A name given to the A-K starting hand so called after the tennis star because it looks good but doesn’t win anything.

Ante- The ante features in only the later stages of tournament poker. It is a  forced contribution to the pot from every player around the table in addition to the blinds designed to grow the pot and encourage play rather than waiting for limited hands.

Avatar- An avatar is a graphic, picture or visual representation used to identify a player on online poker sites.

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Posted in: Cards,Poker,Poker Dictionary,Poker Glossary,Poker Terms,Texas Holdem

Poker tools, is it Cheating or just about Gaining an Advantage?

With the invention of the computer no one could forecast the role it would come to play in our lives to the point where now some would say that we cannot live without them! Simple tasks once carried out by the nimble minds and fingers of a human being are now performed by computers with ever increasing speed and computers now assist us in virtually every part of our daily lives.

 

Poker has not escaped the computer revolution, the most obvious being the creation of the online poker game now played by thousands of people each day. People can now sit in the comfort of their own home and join people from all over the world around a virtual poker table playing the game they love. Dollars, Pounds and Euros are digitized as players join sites like Pokerstars and Partypoker now offering amazing game play as advancements in software make poker easily accessible to the world’s population.

I ask the question, is advancement always a good thing?

Poker is a game played between friends, colleagues or just random people sat around a poker table. Well at least it used to be! Recent advancements in technology have seen the emergence of ‘poker tools’, a group of computer applications that provide the user with vast amounts of data and information about his own play and that of his fellow competitors around the poker table. The software is designed to give the user unlimited amounts of data to enable them to make more informed decisions before playing a hand. Perhaps best described as computer-aided poker.

While great poker players are able to calculate considerable amounts of statistics throughout a game judging preflop and pot odds while looking for reads and tells in the faces of their opponents, no matter how good they are these computer applications take data collection to  a new level! Software like ‘Holdem Indicator’ and ‘Poker Edge’ provide the user with information above and beyond the basic odds of a pot or their chances of winning.

One function amongst many is its ability to make observations about a competitor’s style of play, be it tight loose or just plain suicidal. Not stopping there some can now even assess a table before you join, providing information on the style of play and if there are any poker virgins that are more likely to be separated from their chip stacks. What’s more these computer packages allow all these statistics to be applied to multiple tables something the brain would struggle to do effectively. Surely this is not playing the game, just using a computer to make money?

I wonder if I were to take my seat at the World Series of Poker, pull out my computer and poker software just how long it would take until players and event organizers raised an eyebrow before kicking me out of the tournament for cheating? If it is not allowed in live play why should it be any different with online poker?  These packages are not about teaching or improving a player’s game, they are quite obviously designed to increase a person’s chances of winning.

Is that fair, gaining an advantage or is it just plain cheating?

Doesn’t the introduction of a computer into the game remove the human element from it? Poker is a game fundamentally based upon the decisions of players whether to call, fold or raise a hand in order to win a pot, one of the principles being that the best cards need not always win a hand or tournament. Anyone who has watched live poker will have seen some truly auspicious moves as a player holding nothing more than a high card forces a player with a far better hand to fold, bluffing their way to success. Surely that is soon to be a thing of the past if everybody is being told what to do by computers and their statistics. Could the game become less about ability and more about who has the better software? It is hard to say if this is cheating or just not playing the game of poker with a spirit of gamesmanship.

The problem is as poker continues to grow in popularity so do the prize funds and the hopes of some at winning big and retiring to a tropical island on the tournament winnings. While many accept that this will probably never happen. In others this breeds temptation, the temptation to gain an advantage, an edge that probably won’t but just might give them the chance of fame and winning millions in prize money. Poker tools have that potential to give players an advantage but does that stop poker being a game and make it a mathematical formula offering you a return on your initial investment. To me it just feels like someone trying to smuggle a cheat sheet in to a school examination hoping the teachers don’t catch them.

Many of these computer packages claim to have approval from the different cards rooms so if technology is so advanced then perhaps it is the responsibility of the card rooms to either limit their use to certain games or make  other players aware that they are playing against a cyborg terminator, part human part computer poker killing machine!

 

This is my view, I wonder what others think and invite your views. Is it just advancement or the equivalent of steroids to a 100M runner, an unfair advantage?         

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Posted in: Cards,Casino,Computer Software,Online Poker,PartyPoker,Poker,Poker Tools,Pokerstars,Technology,Texas Holdem

Poker, Live or in your Armchair?

This is not an article about which type of poker is best, that is for you to decide. Instead read about the differences between the two games and how they are played.

Without stating the obvious there are many differences between the two games one being played around the green felt of the poker table the other in virtual cyberspace. Poker was first played in the darkened rooms of casinos with a haze of cigarette smoke making it difficult to see your competitors at the far end of the table. The game suffered from an image problem it was often featured in many a gangster film with players required to smoke large cigars, look menacing and have a pistol within reach to shoot the cheat who held the aces up his sleeve.

Invention and Creation

Two things brought about the remarkable change to the game of poker. The first was the invention of the card camera and late night televised games. Overnight poker became a spectator’s sport and it attracted a surprisingly large and loyal following. Suddenly people could watch the pros and learn how they play the game. Cameras saw the cards as they were dealt and for the first time the secrets of the game appeared in front of the viewers as they watched.

The innovation of the card camera coincided with the world going online. The internet has without a doubt changed the world and poker has not escaped its reaches. Some clever programming and online poker was born, no longer did people have to drive to their local casino. This opened up the game to a whole new type of player, some of whom had never stepped inside the four walls of a casino. Players could now sit there in their shorts or a lot less and play until the small hours of the morning and thousands did.
These two factors combined and thousands of new players to poker joined online and continue to do so to this day making poker the most popular game online.

The development of online poker rooms has now changed the game of poker forever not just online but live play too. The game you see on the televised events bears no resemblance to the slow game of old, and this is in part due to influx of online players joining the events through online qualifiers. Live poker pros have admitted that they have had to adapt their game to take on this new breed of players. Many of the large and glamorous poker events can now claim to have online players as tournament champions such is the success of the online game. 

Millions of people now log on daily to play their game of choice and the game continues to grow from strength to strength. That is if you are not American and your government thinks you are not capable of making the decision to play poker responsibly like the rest of the world!

Two Games and Two Ways to Play

So just what are the differences between the two games of poker?

1)    Well first stating the obvious, trousers are a necessity for the live game of poker, no casino is going to let you sit at one of their tables in your pants. Not even a clean pair!  Whereas online you are free to wear whatever you like or not as the case maybe.

2)    Secondly with the boom of the game online a person can play poker 24 hours a day or until bed sores developed in places that are embarrassing to describe. Unless you live in and around Las Vegas poker still remains a mainly nocturnal activity.

3)    Now more importantly to the differing styles of play. The first and most obvious of these is that the number of hands played in an hour is hugely different. Online poker is so much quicker and most sites encourage even quicker games often highlighted with the word 'turbo.'  Decisions are made in the blink of an eye with thousands of dollars exchanging hands.

4)    The next major difference between the two games. In live games players look for a facial tick, a holding of the breath or that bead of sweat to tell if a person is bluffing or sat on the hand of his life. Online all you have is a person’s avatar to look at! So when a person flops a full house he can scream the house down, tell the neighbours and no one at the table will be any the wiser. Something an online player should remember when playing at a live event, it really isn't good to punch the air when you make that flush you probably ain't going to get paid out!

5)    Technology is great and where would we be without it however some would argue that it has infected the game of online poker too much. When sat at an online table how do you know if a player has a poker computer running advising them on their every move. Calculators to give them the probabilities of winning and losing, programmes to access the risk. You have to wonder are you playing a real person at all or is terminator sat on the other end of the Internet connection! Does this take some of the skill out of the game? Is it cheating? Should players have to declare if they are cybernetically enhanced?

6)    By contrast live poker has but one computer you can use, that bit of grey matter between your ears, the brain. Players have learnt the pot odds and probabilities and can calculate the risk versus reward or each hand. That comes with practice and skill, surely a far more pure form of the game! To help live players make their decisions there is the human element, the so call 'readers' of the game. Studying body language, facial movements, nervous ticks and acts of repetition some players believe they can read their competitors giving them an advantage in the fight to claim a pot or drop a losing hand. An inexact science, would you go 'all in' on a person scratching their nose?

So beware of the sharks be they online or sitting across from you at a live table. You never stop learning and arrogance is a dangerous emotion to have around a poker table. Even the best players who have the big chip stack can just as easily lose it!

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Poker,Poker,Texas Holdem

Featured Player: Liv Boeree Making Poker Look Glamorous.

Gone are the days when poker is the reserve of fat rich men smoking cigars while huddled around the green felt of a poker table. The invention of online poker and live TV games has seen poker mushroom to unrivaled levels of popularity with thousands of players logging online or visiting their local casino to play the game. Successful poker players are fast becoming celebrities and enjoying the jet set lifestyle of the rich and famous as they play in grand venues around the world for sums of money most people can only dream of.

As part of this new breed of poker player the British Queen of cards Liv Boeree, a bright and intelligent woman has gone from TV presenter to card shark in no time at all. Born in Kent, England Liv was first introduced to the game of poker through the reality TV show “Ultimatepoker.com Showdown” were she was coached by the poker pro’s Phil Hellmuth and Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott on the subtleties of the game. Learning fast Liv went on to present live coverage from the World Series of Poker as well as European Poker Tour while playing a few hands of poker along the way. Liv began to register her first playing successes back in 2007, racking up wins at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas and being crowned 2008 Ladbrokes European  Ladies Champion.  As her confidence has grown so has her stature within the game, and Liv has become a regular on the international poker circuit. In April 2010, Liv went on to become only the third women to claim a European Poker Tour title winning 1.25 million Euros at the San Remo event making her someone truly to be feared at the poker table.

Intelligent and well-spoken Liv is clearly a marketers dream and since her win in San Remo Pokerstars has quickly recognized her potential and made her a Pokerstars Pro to represent the Pokerstars team in live events and promote this huge poker behemoth.

So look out for one of the new faces of poker Liv Boeree you can’t fail to miss her face on all the endorsements and photo shoots of the poker tour, and if she is sat at your poker table beware of the pretty lady taking your chips!

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Posted in: Cards,Free Poker,Gambling,Gaming,Liv Boeree,Poker,Poker Players,Pokerstars,Texas Holdem

Featured Player: The Kid Poker Daniel Negreanu.

The face of Pokerstars,  Daniel Negreanu has won virtually every trophy there is in the world of poker. Once ranked as the highest earning professional in the game of poker Daniel has made an impressive career from life on the green felt tables of a poker room. Born in Toronto, Canada Negreanu shunned the conventional life of education and a 9 to 5 job for pool halls, sports betting and or course cards. By 22 he had built up his bankroll and headed for bright lights of Las Vegas and play at some of the biggest casinos in the world.

Daniel would be the first to admit there were a few stutters along the way, but can now call himself one of the elite having claimed four World Series of Poker bracelets and numerous wins in some of the most prestigious tournaments around the world.  No longer does he worry about his bankroll with career earnings in excess of $14,000,000 he is a legend in the poker world and will without doubt continue to feature at many finals tables and be the scourge of poker players around the world.

An admitted thrill seeker this accomplished cash and tournament poker player  can regularly found in the Bellagio casino playing for pots that would make most players wilt at the knees. Not forgetting is humble beginnings Daniel makes time for frequent appearances in charity events giving a little back for those less fortunate, maybe hoping that karma will keep his poker run rich in aces and wins.

If you want to learn from the best then Daniel writes his own blog passing on a little of the knowledge to new players taking up the game. Find his tips and hints at ‘Full Contact Poker’ you won’t find a better teacher.

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Posted in: Cards,Daniel Negreanu,Gambling,Online Poker,Poker,Pokerstars,Texas Holdem,WSOP

The Great Poker Challenge!

The laws of physics state that something cannot be created from nothing. Well in poker the laws of physics are there to be broken. The challenge is to take a poker account with no deposit and like a plant see how far with nurture and care you can grow it. Skill and knowledge of the game are your food and water, so can you grow as a player while growing your chip stack?

Intelligent play, a read on the game and a little luck along the way could allow you to start your poker career online for the initial investment of NOTHING. Most of the large recognised online poker rooms now offer free to enter tournaments where players can join to learn the game with a chance of winning real money! What’s more 888 Poker now offers new members $8 when they first sign up plus the usual introductory bonuses, a great offer to join real money games straight away. So if you have played a little poker or perhaps see the stars on play on TV then now is your chance to have a go for free!

Log on and leave messages to tell me of your biggest pot win or loss. This is your chance to get some recognition showing new players what can be done. Join this blog and the 'Great Poker Challenge' to find out who has flopped at the first hurdle or taken their first tournament win. Join BlueiPoker and receive hints and tips from other players while catching up on news from the world of poker and which poker rooms you should be playing at!

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Posted in: 888 Poker,Cards,Free Poker,Gambling,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker,Poker Strategies,Texas Holdem

The fundamental theorem of poker by David Sklansky.

The fundamental theorem of poker, introduced by David Sklansky, states that: every time you play your hand the way you would if you could see your opponent's cards, you gain, and every time your opponent plays their cards differently from the way they would play them if they could see your cards, you gain.This theorem is the foundation for many poker strategy topics. An example would be, bluffing or slow-playing are examples of using deception to induce your opponents to play differently than they would if they could see your cards. As expected there are some exceptions to the fundamental theorem in certain multi-way pot situations described in Morton's theorem.

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Posted in: Cards,Online Gambling,Poker,Poker Books,Poker Strategies,Texas Holdem

Call Fold or Raise: Poker Preflop Hand Position.

Position in a hand of poker is one of the most important concepts to understanding the game. Playing tight with a limited number of hands in early positions stops bad plays and the depletion of your chip stack. Playing from a weak position will only get worse as the betting rounds progress and you find yourself putting more chips into the pot that you are destined to lose. Playing from positions closer to the button allows you to see your opponent’s plays and gain insight before committing your chips to the game therefore increasing your chance of making the right play and claiming the pot.

There are many strategies and tactics that different poker players employ in an attempt to become the best and while it is true that there is no winning formula to becoming a great poker player, speak to any pro and they will agree that hand position is key. A player needs to understand that the strength of their cards varies depending on their position within a hand of poker, and while this is only one concept to consider when playing it remains a vital one.

Below is a basic grid and guide of preflop hands that provide tight play in early hand positions and more variety as a player gets closer to the button. This is a good starting guide for players wanting to learn the game who don’t wish to declare bankruptcy from ambitious play. Every player goes on to develop their own style of play and cards they like to play with, however these hands are proven to provide a relative balance of risk versus reward depending on how the game plays out.

The table shows the relatively few hands that should be played from an early position with additional hands being added as a player moves closer to the button. So consider your position when making your next move on the poker table because if you don’t I am pretty sure that someone else will be!

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Posted in: Cards,Free Poker,Gambling,Gaming,Hand Positions,Online Poker,Poker,Poker Strategies,Texas Holdem

Top 10 Books to Improve your Game of Poker.

Poker has fast become the biggest card game to be played online. Daily thousands of players join a card room of their choice were simple staggering amounts of money exchange hands as fortunes are made and lost with the turn of a card. No longer is poker the reserve of the few huddled around green felt tables in smoke filled casinos. Millions of players now play online and have completely revolutionised the game with winners becoming celebrities as the game is televised around the world. So you may have seen the game on TV or perhaps even played a little and begun to understand the complexities of the game. Here is a list of the 10 best books to be written on Texas Holdem poker designed to help improve your game and make you a better player.

Poker is a very easy game to play but one that is incredibly difficult to play well. It has been describe by some as a game of chance, if that be the case how come the same few player keep consistently making the final tables and winning? Each one of these books will provide you with valuable insight in to the game from leading professionals providing you with tips, hints and strategies to make you a more effective poker player. Understand pot odds and the concept of risk versus reward to help you make more informed decisions before you play a hand of poker and risk your hard earned chip stack. So if you’re serious about playing the game here is a review of your homework to help you decide which book you should start with first. If you think other books should have been added to the list then please feel free to comment and enter the debate.

Title: Ace on the River.                                                                                   

Author: Barry Greenstein.

Ace on the River was written by one of the original pros Barry Greenstein. Whether you are still learning the rules of the game or already established around the green felt of the poker table this book has something to offer everyone. Well written this book provides an insight into the world of poker highlighting the highs and the pitfalls bring some perspective to the game. Find strategies and tips that are logical and well explained and will help improve your game no matter what your level.

 Title: The Theory of Poker.

 Author: David Sklunsky

While written some time ago this book remains one of the most important reads to anyone interested in playing the game of poker. Poker is an easy game to play but one that very few can say they have mastered. Reading this book will give you a better understanding of the game and how to play it more effectively. Understand common situations and learn strategies to improve your game, this book is a must for all poker players and cannot fail to improve your game.

Title: Super System I

Author: Doyle Brunson

Originally posted in the 1970's this book still remains one of the essential reads for any poker player wanting to learn and improve their game. Providing excellent insight into how hands should be played this book is regarded by many as one of the best books to serve the poker industry. Regardless of ability this book will educate and improve you helping you become a better poker player give you new strategies and plays to take on the very best.

Title: Super System II

Author: Doyle Brunson.

While this book could be called an update of the first edition it includes some very important extras that make it an important read. Super System II acknowledges the development of the game and features chapters on online poker play, tournaments and the variation of Omaha poker. Readers will be given advice on styles of play and strategies that will help players cope with the fast paced nature of the online game, all useful developing your game.

Title: Harrington on Holdem

Author: Dan Harrington

Dan Harrington is widely acknowledge to be one of the most accomplished Texas Holdem poker players having consistently achieved numerous final tables and tournament wins in some of the largest tournaments to be hosted around the world. His book goes into detail explaining the methods and strategies need to get through the different stages of a tournament, from surviving the early rounds to playing poker when hands and games need to be closed out. A book definitely worth reading!

Title: Playing Poker Like the Pros.

Author: Phil Hellmuth

With 11 World Series of Poker bracelet wins Phil Hellmuth has earned the right to offer his opinion on how the game should be played. ‘Playing Poker like the Pros’ attempts to break down the language of the game and code of conduct around the poker table so anyone can join a game and feel like they belong there. From mastering the basics this book will help you to develop strategies and plays that really will allow you to compete with the pros, the rest is down to you.

Title: Poker: The Real Deal.

Author: Phil Gordon

A well written overview of the game of poker this book attempts to explain the terminology, etiquette and general rules of the game for anyone sitting down at a poker table. Diagrams help to describe basic poker plays with quotes from recent films keeping the book light hearted and an easy read. This does not mean that is lacks in detail and technical information for the card hounds out there. Reading 'The Real Deal' is a must if you are serious about playing the game of poker and wanting to improve and play against the high rollers.

Title: Texas Holdem: Odd and Probabilities.

Author: Matthew Hilger

How often does a starting pair of Kings win a hand of poker? What are the odds that your opponent has a better hand than you? What is the risk versus reward of a particular hand? Good poker players consider all these options when playing a hand. Odds and probabilities are key to effective poker, helping to making the right decisions at the right time and then hoping for a little luck along the way. Matthew Hilger shows you don't have to have a degree in maths to apply these rules and become a better poker player.

Title: Internet Texas Holdem

Author: Matthew Hilger

With the surge in popularity of internet poker this book has quickly become the reference guide for many wanting to improve their online presence and in turn increase their chip stack. Practical and well set out this book begins with starting hands and covers situations and strategies to improve your game and avoid the bad plays that can ruin your game. An excellent reference guide this book is not a onetime read but one you should find yourself constantly referring to as you sit at your virtual poker table.  

Title: Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time

Author: Eric ‘Rizen’ Lynch

A collaboration of work between three recognized pros in the world of poker this book goes to great length explaining actual tournament hands played by the authors and their thoughts and strategies employed to make the right moves. This book provides an insight into the mind-set of a player as he faces the hands he is dealt and the moves put down by his opponents giving glimpse of plays and tactics that have gone on to make these players the successful poker champions that they are. 

All of these books are written by someone qualified to offer an opinion on the game of poker, and are a mere selection from the vast number produced each year. As the game of poker continues to grow unabated many book titles will be added but few will offer the knowledge and resources of these select few. So if you are determined to become a better poker player then look no further than the library of knowledge above.

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker,Poker Books,Poker Strategies,Texas Holdem

INFO: List of Winning Hands.

If your wanting to learn to play the game of poker, or just want a quick reference then here is a graphic for the order of winning hands in poker. Use it as a guide to help you play. After all most players know that sometimes your have to call and sometimes you have to fold. It is the great players that know when to do it!

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker,Poker Rules

SIRE REVIEW: Titan Poker.

History:
Titan Poker is the premier international brand of the iPoker Network.  To keep this international feel Titan Poker offers its software in 11 Languages allowing people to log on from around the world. Receiving rave reviews Titan Poker has established itself amongst stiff competition and is now regularly represented during the World Series and on most televised games.

Site & Game Play:
Titan Poker is standing out amongst the competition, great design has made Titan software look great and easy to use. Fast and secure Titan Poker offers some one of the best poker experiences currently to be found online. Good bonuses encourage new players to deposit and a wide range of games make sure that they keep on coming back. Titan has good site traffic so finding a game will never be difficult. Finally Titan Poker provides excellent satellite tournaments giving people the chance to win seats at live events and in the major tournaments, further reasons to sign up and play with Titan.

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Poker,Texas Holdem,Titan Poker

SITE REVIEW: William Hill Poker.

History:
William Hill has been around since 1934, when gambling in the UK was banned. It has been bought and sold numerous times and now finds itself floating on the London stock exchange. One of the oldest cardrooms in the UK William Hill caters predominantly for UK and European poker players whilst also providing a wide range of gambling options from sports betting to casino.

Site & Game Play:
Falling in line with most online poker rooms William Hill Poker provides players with good online software allowing for fast and easy play that provides an enjoyable experience. The site shows good levels of traffic even after all US players have been prevented from playing along. Games are regular and play is best described as loose with so many new players coming from the sports betting side of the William Hill operation. There are some of the best bonuses for online poker players new to the website, this should add extra reason as to why players will enjoy playing at William Hill.

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Poker,Texas Holdem,William Hill Poker

SIRE REVIEW: Bodog Poker.

History:
One of the more unusual sites Bodog Poker has made a clear move to try and stand out from the crowd. Bold marketing and a definite move to try and attract the young and daring Bodog has made great strides to establish itself in the poker industry and gain market share. 2008 saw Bodog Poker change its business model and offer its brand to licensees across the globe. Several companies from Haydock Sports to Bodog Europe and Morris Mohawk Gaming Group operate licenses covering Asia, Europe and of course the US. These licenses run alongside its already very successful and established sportsbook business making Bodog one of the largest poker rooms online.

Site & Game Play:
The site provides good and intelligent software making game play fast, secure and reliable. Menu systems prove to be a little different but user friendly and players can find a wide variety of variations on the game of poker to suit all tastes. Traffic levels do fluctuate but players should always find plenty of games to join and play. Finally Bodog Poker provides some of the loosest poker play on the web. People often try their hand at the game after sports betting and their knowledge is not always the best, great news for the more avid poker player.

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Posted in: Bodog Poker,Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Poker,Poker,Texas Holdem

SIRE REVIEW: Absolute Poker.

History:

Absolute Poker is a relative newcomer to the world of online poker. Created from the merger of several companies Absolute Poker launched in 2008 into this highly competitive market as part of the Cereus Poker Network.  The Cereus Poker Network is privately owned by Blanca Games once one of the largest online card rooms prior to software security issues that were exploited by an employee. Since then the brand and company software have undergone a complete overhaul to produce the site that thousands of people now use today.


Site & Game Play:
Major investment has seen the development of the Absolute Poker brand to produce an excellent website that is easy to operate and use. Simple intuitive controls allow for fast and clear gameplay making it easy to follow and play in the hundreds of games available. While the site is not as large as some, good traffic remains constant so players will not struggle to find a poker game no matter what their budget or ability. A good feature for beginners are some great entry level tournaments to practice your game before you launch your poker career to help you learn the game and avoid early bankruptcy, a definite reccomentation.

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Posted in: Absolute Poker,Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Poker,Texas Holdem

SIRE REVIEW: Party Poker.

History:

One of the original fathers of online poker, Party Poker is the amalgamation of several poker brands to form one of the largest poker rooms on the net. Originally developed  in 1997 under the holding group iGlobalMedia various mergers saw the name Party Gaming form. Party Poker once held the title of largest poker room in the world with millions of users and busy tables, however the announcement by the US government of the  'Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act,' 2006 saw it's share price tumbled and the company beat a hasty withdrawal from the US market. Based in Gibraltar Party Poker was awarded the title of poker operator of the year, 2009 and while acknowledged as no longer the biggest it is seen as one of the best.

Site & Game Play:

With years of experience and development Party Poker now offers one of the most secure and easy to use website currently in the poker market. Simple instructions allow for an easy sign up and first deposit so a player can sit down and start playing poker. The graphics and software making playing fast and enjoyable with lots of extra features should you wish to use them to help you learn and improve. There is a good choice of games and with thousands of players you will never have to wait for a game. So join up now matter what you level or purse there will be a game for you.

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Poker,PartyPoker,Poker,Texas Holdem

SIRE REVIEW: 888 Poker.

 

History:

Developed by two brothers 888 Poker was one of the first online poker sites to play with real money. It operates with a gaming licence from Gibraltar, Europe and is part of a larger group Cassava Enterprises. After been hit hard by the 'Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement act,' 2006 set out by the US government 888 Poker has recently been redesigned and given a great new face lift and has seen a welcome increase in new members.

Site & Game Play:

A new design and new software means that 888 looks fresh and is easy to use. Definitely one of the best sites to play with and use. Excellent security and strong ethics mean new players can join with confidence and start their poker career with 888 Poker. Many people use 888 casino and will find their way to a poker room, as a result 888 has a far higher proportion of new players to sharks and experts when compared to other sites. The site does not have the traffic of many large poker sites but you can still expect several thousand players online at any one time with a good range of games to choose from.

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Posted in: 888 Poker,Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Online Poker,Poker,Texas Holdem

SITE REVIEW: Full Tilt Poker.

History:

One of the last companies to come to the table, Full Tilt Poker dealt it's first hand back in 2004.With an aggressive marketing strategy Full Tilt has grown rapidly and now assumes the title of second largest poker site currently on the net. Designed by poker pro's you will not fail to miss the many celebrity sponsors adorned in logos sat at the tables of the World Series of Poker (WSOP,) no other company has so many. Players join in there thousands to take on the pro's and learn a tip or two.

Site & Game Play:

Designed by actual poker players means that the software used by Full Tilt Poker is intuitive and very easy to use. Players of all ages and capabilities will have no problems sitting down to play in Full Tilt's virtual poker world. There is good site traffic and a wide variety of games allowing players to choose tables based on their ability and budget. The site is constantly being improved with sign up completed by a mere half a dozen clicks of the mouse. Bonuses are in line with the rest of the industry and new players should make the most of the new player bonus which provides the best returns. There is a wide standard of play from new players to the game all the way up to the pro's that play for thousands of dollars so join up and find your game.

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Posted in: Full Tilt Poker,Gambling,Gaming,Online Poker,Poker

SITE REVIEW: Pokerstars.

History:

Pokerstars is now officially the world's largest poker room with up to 300,000 players logged on at any one time all hoping to claim the next pot. The first cards of the companies inaugural hand were dealt in September 2001 and people could play for real money from December of the same year.  It has then gone on to hold the record for the largest single online tournament with 150,000 competitors set in 2009. Privately owned with the majority share holding held by the Scheinberg family of Israel, Pokerstars sponsors many of the main events associated with the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and has a large advertising presence which can not be missed both online and on television.

Site & Game Play:

Pokerstars through large amounts of investment now provides one of best gaming experiences for the online poker player. Simple controls and instructions allow a person to sign up and join a game securely with the download of a small piece of software and a few clicks of the mouse. Thousands of online players mean you have excellent choice in the number and type of games available to play. Tournaments buy-ins start from as little as $0.25 and cash games have blinds of just a few cents however if you have deeper pockets there are many games that see hands won and lost for thousands of dollars in the space of a few minutes! Game play is fast and sometime furious with many games featuring the turbo function so blinds come around quickly. This is a great site for both the new and established poker player as it has something to offer everyone. If you are new to the site make sure you take advantage of the sign up bonuses! 

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Posted in: Cards,Gambling,Gaming,Online Gambling,Poker,Pokerstars,Texas Holdem

Land of the Free? Not if the US Government has anything to say about it!

The US government would like to promote its idea of democracy to the world. Educate countries on free speech and the democratic process allowing for governments to be chosen by the people in the hope of representing the people. US foreign policy often revolves around the support of fledgling nations as they look to emerge from military dictatorships or versions of communism. Some would say that should that country have oil reserves then that support appears all the more quickly and with a greater US presence.

Through these difficult times when international banking has been shaken to its roots and economies of so many countries balance on the fence of recession or recovery, financial bailout or bankruptcy it has been preached that we should warn against protectionism and encourage free trade and work together globally to begin to recover from one of the biggest financial meltdowns ever. Unfortunately the last true superpower, the global behemoth America preaches what it doesn’t practice.

There are many things that exist on this planet that are deemed bad for us, cigarettes, alcohol and fast food to name but a few! All of which if consumed to excess can have a detrimental effect on our health yet for now all are legal and readily accessible. The word tangent may be foremost in your mind when I tell you that online poker if consumed, played to excess can have a detrimental effect on your mental health as well as quite possibly your bank balance.

Have you joined the dots yet?

OK let me explain the first three of cigarettes, alcohol and fast food while bad for you are still legal in the US although they now come with warning stickers and pictures educating people as to their harmful effects. The fourth, poker is banned! The US which has the Mecca of all gaming cities Las Vegas has decided to prevent its citizens from logging on, signing up and joining the rest of the world around a digital green felt table and playing cards.

Attempting to offer some understanding to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 it is true that people of an addictive nature and those who have fallen on desperate times need protection and support to prevent over use and the potential of dependency and or financial ruin. It could be said that people do need protecting from themselves and legislation should encourage gaming companies to act responsibly promoting the game of poker and online gaming by putting safe guards in place. Or is online gaming of which I include poker too wicked for the general population to make their own decision as to whether or not to play and how much to spend?

I ask you, other than access and therefore convenience what is so different for an American to log on and sit down at table with his chips or to drive down to their local casino and do the same?

To say that online gaming is unregulated is a little rich, the European Union is one of the strictest governing bodies in the world and gaming has come under its watchful eye on many occasions. Gaming is far more tightly regulated than in the US , yet  the citizens of the EU can sit down with a coffee log on to one of the many gaming sites and shout 'all in!' Sorry that’s a poker term for the uninitiated.

So why does the land of the free, the champion of free speech America prevent its subjects from online gaming. Should you read the gaming act, 2006 legal jargon terms like money laundering and fraud are common and there to prevent companies from accepting transactions from US citizens for fear of prosecution. As of April, 2011 the US Attorney for New York indicted three major gaming sites of PokerStars, FullTilt Poker and Absolute Poker closing down their dot com websites for breach of the gaming act, 2006. To hold such power does smack somewhat as global censorship as the sites were not reactivated until the companies agreed to release US held funds and  no longer accept payments from American accounts.

At the risk of losing millions per day in revenue these global companies agreed, the US government's terms which kind of held all the cards wouldn’t you say?

I like many others watch how the US Attorney's office will now proceed, will a prosecution arise? Will this multi-billion dollar industry be prevented from accessing the US market? The gaming companies have some pretty big allies should this show ever reach the inside of a US court room. The World Trade Organization (WTO), European Union and Antigua have ruled that the US are in breach of trade agreements and have filed for compensation for the second time! The first time the US agreed an undisclosed out of court settlement, an admission of wrong doing I wonder?

At the risk of this article becoming too long I leave you with a thought. Pokerstars and FullTilt Poker two of the largest gaming companies cited by the US government are registered companies outside of the US, the European Union to be exact. The European Union is one of America’s most respected and largest trading partners but does it pain the US over all that lost tax revenue? I wonder if the US were the market leader in providing online gaming solutions would they be so quick to shut down an industry that already exists within its borders just in a different form? Or would it work to regulate and develop this new business and the tax dollars it brings with it? Self interest I hear you say? Hypocrisy? It could be called many things, but perhaps we should consider the people and companies that it affects, this I leave to another article.

Please I invite you thoughts and ideas on this subject, it is not limited to poker players, or those believing in free speech or good business.

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Posted in: America,Cards,Free Speech,Gambling,Gaming,Online Poker,Poker,Pokerstars,Texas Holdem