He came into the final table between Poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton and the hottest player on the tour, Vivek Rajkumar. Then he dropped most of his stack to Rajkumar who hit with queens to trump Sternberg’s flopped set of sixes.
But he came back hard eliminating Rajkumar and beating Steven Kelly with 3 eights and winning big.See the result below.
Join ClubWpt for $20 a month you get to win merchandise as well as tournament entries and your downside risk is low!! very low you can’t lose and you get to learn the art of poker in tournaments and maybe become the next big winner.

Here are the final table results from the World Poker Tour Bay 101 Shooting Star Main Event:

1st: Alan Sternberg – $1,039,000
2nd: Steven Kelly – $595,300
3rd: Mike Matusow – $369,800
4th: Vivek Rajkumar – $295,800
5th: Casey McCarrel – $221,800
6th: Mike Sexton – $148,000

You ante when you put your bet on the game table’s Ante spot. Both you and the dealer are dealt three cards face down. Your next decision? Are these cards good enough for you to bet or should you fold? Fold and lose the ante. Bet and you place your bet that equals the ante in the game table’s Play spot. Win and you get the Ante and the Pair Plus payouts.

The dealer has to have a Queen or better to stay in the game. If not, you get payment on their ante only if it pays even money (1 to 1) – and as long as you didn’t fold.

Ante Payout

· A straight gets a 1 to 1 payout.
· A three of a kind gets a 4 to 1 payout.
· A straight flush gets a 5 to 1 payout.

Pair Plus Payout

· A pair gets a 1 to 1 payout.
· A flush gets a 4 to 1 payout.
· A straight gets a 6 to 1 payout.
· A three of a kind gets a 30 to 1 payout.
· A straight flush gets a 40 to 1 payout.

Remember these tips to help your strategy:

· If you have a Queen or better, bet the Pair Plus. If not, fold.
· A dealer will get a Queen about 66% of the time.
· The house has a 3.4% advantage.

About the Author: A. Awwad is the webmaster of Casinos Online

Article Source: ArticleDaddy.com

This revolutionary new poker format is designed to minimize your wait time between hands and keep you in the action at all times. Whether you’re playing a Rush Poker* ring game or a Rush Poker* Tournament, you’ll join a large player pool and face a different table of opponents every hand you play. When you fold your hand, you’ll be rushed to a new table for the next hand immediately.

A list of upcoming tournaments will appear in the game list below the browse area. Rush Poker* Tournaments are denoted with the black R symbol:

When you Quick Fold, you’ll be taken to the next table immediately – even if the action hasn’t reached you yet. Players at your previous table will not see that you’ve folded until it’s your turn to act. Please note that when you press the Quick Fold button, the action cannot be undone.

As with standard tournaments, posting of the blinds is completely random on the first hand of play. After that, the big blind and small blind are assigned to the players who have gone the longest without posting.

Once the final table of a Rush Poker* Tournament is reached, game play will switch from “Rush Mode” to “Standard Mode” and play will continue as it would in any standard tournament. Hands will be played one at a time until the tournament has ended.

Please note that while player observation is not available when a tournament is in “Rush Mode”, it is available when the final table is reached and the tournament is in “Standard Mode”.

Play Rush Poker

By: jamescovert

A well managed bankroll can make money at the casinos online

The relationship between your bankroll and your money making business plan is very important, in fact, such a relationship can not exist without the presence of both. If money making at the casino was a fire, then your bankroll is the chopped logs. Throwing these logs onto the fire, more heat, greater fire etc. This inevitable connection is paramount, when devising your cash creating efforts.

Our ultimate goal in gambling is the progression of value within the bankroll, the saying goes, i can make $100.00 with $50.00 and i can make $1000.00 with $500.00. This statement is very real and possible, numbers don’t matter in gambling, if you can do something at one scale, then you can do that same thing at a greater scale.

The bankroll makes this possible, because your games are controlled by the bankrolls supply. If you can learn to manage the bankrolls supply, then you can learn to use it for maximum purpose and the purpose of the bankroll is to make money, pure and simple.

Working to build a powerful money making bankroll whilst gambling online

It is not impossible to image one day running a bankroll in excess of thousands of dollars that can generate $50 – $100.00 in a few minutes of action, these are simply figures of possibility. However, in order to appreciate the complexity and power behind the bankroll, it’s important that you start from the very beginning and work your way up chain.

Why, well it’s because you gain solid and infinite respect for its purpose, you will bond a connection of immediate trust and will never deviate from the routine that will make you money. This can only be achieved with absolute commitment and something that takes a journey to acquire. Therefore, start at the very beginning and form a dedication from the word go.

How to begin working with a winning bankroll system online

My favourite number for a beginners bankroll is $50.00, its well rounded, inexpensive and well worth its weight in gambling gold. It is significant through division and allows for simple mathematics when forming profit markers.

So then start with $50.00, you now enter a casino game with ten percent of this amount, equal to $5.00 which forms the gambling component, then next level is five percent of this, so now having $0.25 for each bet within that gambling component.

Your first challenge, you’re in a game with your $5.00, the goal is to leave with just $6.25, this is a quarter profit.

May sound simple looking at this, however it takes time, patience and a significant portion of self control in order to accomplish. At this stage, don’t chase anything more than 25 percent profit of the betting component and before long, you’ll be in a game with a few hundred bucks and you won’t even flinch.

Why, because by the time your messing with the big money, your routine will be solid and your bankroll will be stable. Give it time and devote all you can to the close management of the bankroll, as this is driving force behind your money making efforts.

Article Courtesy of Gambling Articles Only
James covert runs covert casino which trains gamblers in modern strategics and offers free play casino to those willing to try.

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By: jamescovert

What we need to do to make a fifty percent profit return in an online casino

The task is to accumulate 30 dollars by using no more than 20 dollars to do it. This may sound like a magicians trick, but no black hat is needed here, no sign of a white rabbit in sight. The only thing we need, are the tools given to us by the casino, game, odds and leverage.

In addition, we have human interaction, possibly the most powerful resource available to us in online gambling, these are characteristics of which we have full control, with discipline being the front runner of our money making mission against the house.

Lets get down to the casino money making exercise

The first thing I do is choose a game, my preference is roulette, as fluctuation is fairly stable and stake returns can be highly rewarding. My betting method will be 50/50 standard color red and black stakes with a possible use of a single number hunt if required. As with roulette and other fluctuation games like slot machines for instance, we depend upon the swinging motion between winning and losing for bankroll accumulation and then hopefully getting off this swing at the right point.

Remember it is all about riding fluctuation when trying to succeed in online casino

Firstly I bet on red using ten percent of my $20.00 total, therefore $2.00 is placed on red. If it hits, then i’m already hitting good news, I now have $22.00 and am therefore 20 percent towards my goal. If it misses, I now have just $18.00. I now bet red again and when following a loss, I double the bet.

So with $18.00 left, I now bet $4.00 if it hit the red this time, i’m back with $22.00 and the loss has barely affected my stride, again putting me 20 percent towards my goal.

Now I double my next bet, having $22.00 I bet $4.00 on red, if it hits I have $26.00 and i’m nearly there, if it misses, I again double the bet, even by doubling three times, that is saying black will show up three times I can still afford to lose and then rake back to $26.00 on completion.

At the point of $26.00 I go for a $5.00 double or nothing, if I hit, then I have my $31.00 profit, in fact one dollar more than expected. If I miss I have $21.00 again, I then fight towards $26.00 as previous and then go for the $5.00 bet again.

As you can see, it seems like this routine is without complication, well, you’d be wrong in assuming this was bullet proof. Remember fluctuation is in occurrence and you will hit a point on the swing of which will be onset to down swinging, if at any point you hit four successive losses, you may never make the $30.00 and must therefore get out quickly.

This riding of fluctuation in order to make money takes time, practice and dedication. Now it may not seem a lot turning 20 dollars into 30 dollars, but when one day you hold a bankroll worth thousands of dollars, you might just want to remember it.

Good luck fellow players

Article Courtesy of Gambling Articles Only
James covert runs covert casino which trains gamblers in modern strategics and offers free play casino to those willing to try.

Beat online casinos
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“Know your strengths and weaknesses”

Author: J. Scott Miller

How many times has it been that you chased (Yes, you!) an “average” hand to the river and won? Then the “chatting” goes crazy from the person you just nuked on the
river. I have had everything chatted at me. I have heard everything, like my mom being a goat-herder, and how I had to have been raised by retarded-mutant Aliens to be so stupid enough to chase a horrible hand in the first place, and win.

The unfortunate thing is; they are right. Chasing, which is also known as “fishing,” is a bad way to play. In the end, you will lose more than win. I have already mentioned this type of play in previous articles. But every now and again you get tempted to do it anyway. But you have to know your “outs.” This is what separates the pros from the chumps. If you do not know what “outs” are, then stop playing right now. I am referring to the amount of cards that you have remaining in the deck to possibly win the hand.When I talk about strong players, those are not always the ones who constantly raise pre-flop, because they get caught “speeding” a lot with bad cards with a re-raise. A strong player, or a professional, is someone you would hope to never run across in an online game if your play is average at best.

This is why I say you have to know your strengths, as well as your weaknesses. A professional poker player will never admit to any type of weakness they may have. This is because they may have very few. But if you are an online poker player, know what you are good at. Know your best game, and learn it to the best of your abilities. Study the game. Learn the game. Know the game. But know your strengths and weaknesses!

Right now, as I write this article, I am playing poker online at Intertopspoker.com (Texas Hold ‘em 10 cent/20 cent no-limit) and will tell you this; I am a good Texas
Hold ‘em player, but with a few weaknesses. I love Omaha, and play it often, but admittedly will tell you I am average at best. I am still trying to find my “game” in
Omaha. I play with what has to be the world’s largest amount of “fish” players. I think the game was created for people who like to chase cards. For some reason or another, I get killed on the river more than anyone alive. Just this morning I had $50 in a 25 cent/50 cent Pot-limit game, and turned it into $10 in about an hour.

You can have good luck and lose on the river in this game. My biggest loss was having two kings (of my four cards) and flopped a king (making trips). I bet the limit, and got called to the river where this jackass caught a straight. I knew the straight was there, but it happens. I have been on both sides of that.

What should I have done? Folded up shop and cried to my mom, the goat herder? No, as pissed off as I was, I did leave for an hour. Took my remaining $10 and went to my strength. Texas Hold ‘em was the game, but what limit? With only $10, the only game was 10 cent/20 cent, no-limit, and guess what? Right now I am sitting with $64.24, with the help of several pocket aces I might add. Yes, it took some luck, and bad calls by my opponents, but my plan worked. I went to the game where I excel.

So stick with your strengths! Play aggressive, but know when to fold. Don’t be a fish! at Intertopspoker.com!

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

]]> http://smallstakespoker.us/2011/01/17/know-your-strengths-and-weaknesses/feed/ 0 http://smallstakespoker.us/2011/01/17/keeping-calm-while-losing-to-a-fish/ http://smallstakespoker.us/2011/01/17/keeping-calm-while-losing-to-a-fish/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:21:05 +0000 admin http://smallstakespoker.us/?p=339 Chronicles of an Online Poker Player – Part fifteen

“Keeping calm while losing to a fish”
Author: J. Scott Miller

Wherever you choose to play online poker, there are so many variables to keep in mind while playing. Winning and losing are part of the game. Determining what type of caliber player you are will make all the difference in the world. You have to be honest with yourself. Are to a good player? Are you a great player? Are you just taking up the game, and reading books and articles on how to become better? The one thing I haven’t written about yet is how to keep your emotions out of your game.

As I play at Intertopspoker.com, I will sometimes catch myself getting really upset at another player’s idiotic play. I can be playing at a 25/50 cent “pot limit” Omaha table and have a “nut flush,” after the flop. But if you read my previous article on Omaha Poker, nothing is a lock going to the river. I truly believe that Omaha was created solely for “chasers,” also known as “Fish,” which are players who “fish” for cards going to the river. With four cards in your hand, it is bound to happen a lot.

But even if you are playing Texas Hold ‘em, and you lose a hand on the river that you know was yours, and somewhere along the line the poker gods were not smiling on you, and you lose. You cannot go “Full Tilt,” as they say. I am sure there are many computers that have suffered the “ultimate sacrifice” when a hot-headed online player lost on the river to a “fish.” You have to know it just happens.

How many times have you watched the pros on TV go nutty after losing on the river? But when you are online, you can opt to use your “chat” and tell these “fish” about how their mother’s are one-legged hookers. But all that does is show the “great players” in the game you are emotional and going “tilt” is a way to lose a lot of money fast. You can actually go blind by hatred and play pissed off. Only bad things will happen. Trust me, you will raise with nothing and get called. When you lose on the river to a bad play, simply regroup, and if needed, get more money, and play on.

- I’ll see you at the tables at Intertopspoker.com!

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

“You’re not in Omaha anymore!”
Author: J. Scott Miller

Okay, have you ever watched the poker pros on TV and they play a version of poker called “H.O.R.S.E.?” It is basically 5 games you have to play, and play well, to survive. The games are; Hold ‘em, Omaha, Razz, Seven-Stud High, and Seven-Stud, high/low, Eight or better. Playing in a poker tournament is one thing, but in a HORSE tournament? Forget about it, unless you are a graduate of M.I.T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), where the greatest mathematicians are from.

I’m going to talk about the second game in HORSE, called Omaha. Omaha is an easy game to learn, but a complicated game to play. Like Texas Hold ‘em, you are dealt your down cards, and get to play from “community” cards dealt in the middle; also known as the “flop,” the “turn,” and “the river.” The exception here is; you get four down cards dealt to you, not the standard two in Hold ‘em poker. But the twist here in Omaha is that you can only use 2 of the 4 cards dealt to you. And of the five cards in the middle, you can use 3 of the 5, just like in Hold ‘em.

It is said that the best starting hand in Omaha is AAKQ (Double-suited). I also like to play high cards that are connected, like 10-J-Q-K, and hopefully two suited. Your odds are decent that you will catch something on the flop.

Now I can tell you by playing at Intertopspoker.com (Where I play), that Omaha is a game you can get easily frustrated with. Getting pockets aces is without question an average hand. If you are a “chaser,” (or in online poker terms; “A fish,”) then you will like this game. But like I said, you can have the world at your fingertips, and the river card will destroy what was once a beautiful hand. I am not saying AA is not a good starting hand by any means. What I am saying is be careful with them. If you get a big raise before the flop, you can call, but one of your aces might just be in your opponent’s hand.

It is common to see full houses and even quads in this game, so know your odds. This leads me to another thing. The odds that you will lose some money before getting a grasp on this game are likely. So play on a low stakes game before moving up with the “big boys & girls.”

Now; on to another version of this Omaha game. Omaha high/low Eight.

In this game, there is a high hand to be played, but also a low hand. Your goal, or wish, is to win both the high and the low hands. A common way to do this is to finish up with what is commonly known as a “wheel,” which is an ace through five straight.

In this game, the cards best to begin with can vary. But it is nice to have AA2K (2 cards suited). The low works like this; after the flop, the turn and the river, three of the five cards on the table must be eight (8) or lower. So
8-8-6-6-K is a high hand only. Getting dealt A-2-3-4 is a great way to get a “lock” on a low hand, but if 10-10-Q-K-6 comes, unless you get and ace high flush, you are toast. But once you get the lock on a low hand, you raise as much as possible in hopes there are more than 2 players remaining in the hand.

Again, this is a VERY tricky game. Many sharks out there waiting for your head to pop in to play, so go to “low stakes” to begin with until you think you have the game at hand. And when you think you have it mastered, call me, and we’ll play. Because this is a game that good players can dissolve your finances quickly.

– I wish you luck in Omaha, and I’ll see you at the tables at Intertopspoker.com!

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

“Trust who you play with; When to Fold Quad Fives”
Author: J. Scott Miller

This may be one of the most important articles I have written yet. It boils down to this; do you trust the site you play online poker with?

As I play another session of online poker at Intertopspoker.com, I cannot stop thinking about my unbelievable day I had several days ago. I feel like when I play, I am a good player. I know the odds to an extent when it comes to “catching” cards on the TURN and the RIVER. But this was the worst “Bad Beat” in the history of my playing cards, whether it was online or “live” play. I have played in casinos, online and even in $200 buy-in tournaments in a friend’s auto body shop on Saturday nights. Let me explain a few things first.

Catching cards can be an art form. I think sometimes it comes down to “feeling” it out, plus what types of bets are being laid out, and where you are in the order of betting. This can make all of the difference in the world. But sometimes it may just come down to “dumb luck.” You have to know when the time is right to chase. Rarely will I say it is a good idea, but just a short while ago (I am playing right now as I write this) I had 4-6 Clubs and flopped 5-7 Clubs. Okay, I was sitting on a flush draw and a straight draw. The odds are “decent” something good will happen to better my hand. But who knew the 7 of Clubs would come on the turn? Yes I won, and it was only $5.50 in a 25/50 cent no-limit game, but it was better than losing with FOUR OF A KIND (FIVES), which happened a few days ago.

Bad beats only happen to those of us who are going to hell, there is no doubt in my mind. I am sort of kidding, but this is what it feels like when it happens to you. I was playing in a 25/50 cent no-limit game when I drew a pair of fives. I made a moderate raise, and was called by one person. The flop came ace-five-ace, and there was my full-house! I bet $2 and was called by “Lucky.” I sort of knew he had an ace, and in fact, was hoping he had an ace and was chasing his money away. Then the turn comes and unbelievably it is the last 5! I am locked and loaded. I made another moderate bet of $4 and was called. I knew he had a full house, but my four of a kind was tops, no doubt about it. The river comes and it is an ace! I sat and stared at it in horror as I clicked “check” to “Lucky” sitting across from me. He bets $15 and I call to see that “Lucky the Genius” played ace-3 off-suit.

I went back to figure out the math, just to see what the odds were exactly. I even asked the VIP Services to help me with the math (Which they kindly did), and we both came to a little over 2% of being the odds of catching the sole remaining card in the deck to win a hand like that. I had a 98% chance of winning and an ace came on the river and I lost.

I could have those cards ten thousand times and not lose, even though the odds say otherwise. So then the thoughts arise of “cheating.” Right after the fourth ace came “Lucky” begins to taunt me by chatting; “I knew that ace was coming!” You see; just before the river card came an observer typed in a site to go to that claims you can gain an advantage over other online players.

How ironic (Or coincidental) was this timing? I e-mailed VIP Services at Intertops to ask about this “observer,” and they were kind enough to remove his chatting privileges.

If you haven’t seen it yet, you can Google the incident at Absolutpoker.com where a former employee broke the codes and was playing and able to see his opponent’s hands. He was playing with the “Big Boys,” and setting them up. He would lose a $1000 hand on purpose, playing sloppy. Then he would pounce when he knew he would win a big hand. He won tens of thousands of dollars by cheating.

So the title of this article leads you to believe what? I was cheated, or I don’t trust Intertops?

To the contrary; like I wrote a moment ago, I am playing right now as I write this article. They would have too much to lose by allowing something like this to happen. The encryption codes they use are incredibly complex, so who do I trust? Like their slogan reads; “Trust the first!” That is why they have been online since 1996.

- I’ll see you at the tables at Intertopspoker.com!

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

“Call, check or raise?”
Author: J. Scott Miller

As I sat there at the poker table in the Luxor in Las Vegas, the dealer repeated her question to me as I gazed into the abyss. “Sir? Call, check or raise?” I waited for a moment, and then I snapped out of my trance. I folded my cards and tried my best to focus. I mean, I had flown in earlier in the day and had now been up for 16 hours.

When we play poker online, we have the luxury “logging off,” and doing whatever else we choose to do in our lives. You could go back to bed if you want. I choose to work, and make money, so I can “play” poker online and continue “learning” the game.

I cannot tell you how many times I have had “sub-standard” cards, and have been on the Big Blind, and get raised at the last moment before the flop. Damn, I really want to see that flop, but now I have to pay more to see it. Or do I? For the sake of argument, I have J-5 of spades. The guy ahead of me raises the pot by one dollar. But I say to myself, “There could be a pair of fives under there! Or maybe there’s a set of spades?”

Now let’s screw our heads on correctly and look at this realistically, and more importantly, “logically.” Logic is pretty much what this game is all about, right? If you can’t reason within your own mind, and make sense out of what should be a correct decision, then you should be out mowing lawns for a living, not wasting money playing poker online.

If you are on the small or big blind, and someone raises you, and you call? That is like raising them in the first place. It is almost as if it is a reverse raise, if you look at it like that, which I choose to do. I have that fantastic J-5 of spades, and was raised. If I called the raise, then why didn’t I just make the raise in the first place if I liked the hand so much? Fold, fold, fold that mediocre hand at once!

Let’s talk about the raise for a moment. As I write this article, I am actually playing poker on Intertops.com right now! I actually do this a lot. Momentarily I will stop writing and play a hand. I am currently in a .10/.20 Euro room. Euros are worth about 25% more than the dollar right now, so there is a slight difference in wagering. I just played a hand where I was on the big blind and drew Q-5 of hearts. There were 4 players in the hand and the flop came K-K-4. The first 2 players checked, and then the player in front of me bet 1.20 euros. I waited a moment and then re-raised him. He folded quickly. You see, all I was doing was testing him. You can call it a bluff, but I prefer “test.” Had he re-raised me times 5, I would have folded. You have to figure that half of the time people are simply trying to “buy the pot.” A simple bet or raise with a pair on the flop will tell you right away where everyone is. In this case, it worked out for me. But who knows? Maybe next time that same person has a K-Q lurking underneath.

“Call, raise, or fold?” It’s sort of like playing golf. You’re at that point in a match where you either have to “lay up,” or “go for the green!” I’ve always said, “If you aren’t playing cards, and “raising hell,” you aren’t playing cards!

See you at the tables.

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

“Do you own that hand, or just renting it?”
Author: J. Scott Miller

Generally speaking, when you enter a hand, you are not always in complete control. You know that, don’t you? Even if you raise (pre-flop) and you are called, your future in the hand can solely depend on the flop. Being good or bad, luck can be a cruel thing. You can have ace-king suited, and someone calls your raise with a pair of 9’s, and the flop comes: A-9-4, you could be in a lot of trouble. Of course 9 times out of 10 most people (not seeing the pocket 9’s) would assume they are in complete control with the aces and a king kicker.

It is now whether you must decide, “Do I own this hand, or am I just renting it; to be sold on the river?” You could make a substantial bet and get called, and then be thinking, “Must be ace-queen they have.” It is more than likely then when the sheriff’s department will be knocking on your door and handing you a piece of paper that reads; “Eviction notice,” and you and your ace-king are kicked out of the house.

Now how you play the hand can determine where you stand. If you have “slow played it,” you may have to realize that you allowed a player in with a small pair and they caught “trips” on the flop. You have to keep these things in mind at all times! If you are playing “no limit,” be careful, even though you may think you are on top with the aces. If you are playing “limit,” then you might just call the bets and the raises, and see what happens in the end. I played a guy the other day heads up, he went “all-in” with ace-king. Well, I had ace-king suited and caught a flush on the river. Wow, was he pissed, because 4th street was a king. I guarantee he knew he won the hand.

Many times I have seen on TV a professional player on the Big Blind with an A-3 off-suit just call (and why not?). But the remaining opponent has K-K, and slow played the hand to pounce on his opponent after the flop. But there was the flop, no kings, and one ace, with 2 garbage cards. That K-K basically just moved into the place we call a house, better known as a hand. In this case, the K-K made a huge bet, and his opponent now has to wonder, “Did he begin the hand with an ace and a large kicker-card? Or was it just a smaller pair?” It all depends on the player, but this player with the ace folded, even though we all saw on the TV screen that he had the better hand, but in reality, that is why he is on TV playing professional poker and we are online playing for a few dollars here and there.

Would you have called the large bet, or gone all-in? Sometimes it really is how you feel in your gut. Instinct plays a key role in playing poker, and if you are right, it will pay dividends. If you are wrong, you will be headed back to the bank to get more money.

You have to play confidently, and in doing so, you must know you are moving into this “house” and keeping it. I have seen many times where the flop comes J-J-5. Someone makes a bet, and I will raise 3 times that bet. There is a slight pause, then a fold. You can smell a person trying to buy a pot a mile away.

See you at the tables.

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

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©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

“Is it possible to cheat playing online Poker?”
Author: J. Scott Miller

Wow; this is a question that many have asked. Especially after losing a hand where someone chased a hand to the river where they had less than a 3% chance of winning, and won the hand regardless. You wonder to yourself, “Wow, it was as if they knew their card would come, but how?” How on Earth could someone do such a thing? Is it rigged?

Apparently there was a case recently where someone was able to breach the security on an online site an actually “see” the opponent’s cards. This was quickly found out, and it was on a site that possessed a sub-standard security system. You know small time when you see it, and these people were a small time operation. You won’t see this happen anytime on the big gaming sites…..ever! There is too much to lose on their behalf. If that happened, and the word got out, would you play there? Remember in one of my recent articles, I noted that Intertops Poker had just served out their 2.5 billionth hand? They make millions upon millions doing what they do, so you will never see a breach of security on a site that large.

Now let’s get on with another form of a way to cheat at online poker. This is very important for you to know, because you have to know when and how to defend yourself against this type of fraudulent activity. There are people who will play online as “teams,” and they will go in as parties of 2 or 3 people into one room. They can stay in contact with one another by home phone, cell phone, computer, text messaging; you name it; there is a way to communicate with one another.

Imagine the advantage of having 3 people in one room versus everyone else? If they are skilled, and get good cards, they could potentially be very dangerous. But again, gambling websites are always looking for these low-life scumbags. If you get caught, and it is hard to catch these people, you will get ousted quickly. If caught, your name could also be put out to others sites to watch out for. Always be on the lookout for strange behavior while playing poker online.

If you ever suspect foul play, contact the online poker manager at once. Remember to write down the player’s names, and room your are in, along with the hand number that you played. These items will be critical when they investigate, and trust me, they will look into the matter. The online poker operator cannot afford to have something like this happen on their site. Again, it falls back to integrity and fair play. Once you have lost a player’s confidence and trust, they will move on down the line, since there are plenty of poker sites out there.

Have I ever thought someone was cheating on an online poker site I was playing on? One time I do remember well, but I only suspected it, and I couldn’t prove it. This one particular player was betting odd amounts, and I figured him to be tipping off his “team” by making these odd bets. Like betting $1.58 would mean he has J-J, and $2.41 could mean A-K, and so on.

Another way to cheat would be speaking a foreign language, which is not allowed on many sites. English is pretty much the only language allowed, unless otherwise specified. There are some rooms that state “German” is spoken in this room, so if you are not comfortable with this, move on to another room. Unless of course, you speak fluent German, then play away.

I hope this has been helpful, so stay on your toes. Remember, you want to enjoy your experience while playing poker, but you don’t want to get ripped off! It really doesn’t happen too often, but be aware just the same.

See you at the tables!

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

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This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
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Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

“Oh My God, what just happened? TILT!”
Author: J. Scott Miller

Ok, the other day I was on the Big Blind, and had K-4 of spades. Not the best hand in the world, but there were 5 players in the hand, and no one raised. The flop came a-k-4, none suited. I bet a decent amount, since I flopped 2 pair, and everyone folded except one jackass. I then bet on 4th street, since no other cards came that looked dangerous to me. I figured him for an ace-queen at best. Then he went all-in on the river, and I called. He had A-K the entire time, just sitting there calling my bets. Wow, was I pissed. He played it well, what can I say? But I was still pissed!

Now this is the time you don’t want to reload and go “tilt o’ whirl” on everyone. “Tilt,” if you don’t know this, is when someone loses a hand “THEY KNOW THEY SHOULD HAVE WON,” but didn’t. It may have come by way of a river card, or someone calling your A-A with 3-3, and catching a 3 on the flop. Then blowing you and your aces out of the water!

Losing a hand you are sure you should have won can ruin a player’s psyche. Yes, there is such a thing. Confidence, with good cards, are a volatile combination, mixed with a decent player’s abilities to boot. But when you have all three combined and lose a hand, you get this “thing” in your head. It’s sort of like pouring gas on an already raging fire. That is when amateur players can go “nutty” and begin raising like hell because they are mad they lost “that last great hand.” Well, once you begin doing such a thing, there are skilled players out there who are waiting for you to do this so they can pounce on you. They may only have an ace with a small kicker, but they can smell blood and an emotionally inept player chasing a ghost.

That ghost I am referring to was the previous hand. You have to be able to shake it off and continue on. Being “online” with other players gives you the opportunity to “sit out” a hand or two to gather your emotions (if you need to). Playing emotionally is not a good thing at all. Yes, you get mad when you lose that “prefect hand” to someone chasing a flush and catches it on the river. But you have to know that this same player, in the end, will lose playing like this.

Everyone loses a hand now and that they know they should have won. You can play it perfectly, bet it well, and yet still lose the hand. The thing that sucks is that there are more bad players online these days then good players. That is only a good thing if “YOU” are one of the skilled players that play online looking for these goats. But if you are an average player, maybe even still learning the game, watch out for the chasers, and be very careful of getting caught up in your emotions when losing a great hand.

So take your medicine. Take a “chill pill” after that loss, but don’t jump back in all out of control. Being in control of your emotions is a key factor to winning.

See you at the tables.

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

“Better hole cards; Pair of Deuces or A-K?”
Author: J. Scott Miller

Now right away you are going to say, “Give me the ace-king any day of the week!” Well, sometimes I might agree, but statistically speaking, any pair is better than ace-king. Now if it is ace-king suited, that is a different story. But in the end, any pair will have slightly better odds at winning a hand. I am not suggesting that ace-king doesn’t rule! I am merely saying that “statistically speaking,” you have begun your hand with a pair, and it is better than not having one in the first place, that is why pairs are better starting hands. Many will say I am crazy, but the truth is in the math.

How many cards in a deck? If you don’t know that, lawn darts is probably a better game suited for you. Of course it is 52 cards! If you take the 2 deuces (with 50 cards remaining), you will have 5 shots at catching one (or both) of the other 2 on the flop, 4th street and the river. Remember now, there are 13 sets of four cards. So in the case of the ace-king, you will have 6 shots at catching the 3 aces and the 3 kings. Wouldn’t that prove the odds are better for the ace-king? The answer is both yes, and no.

You can go online to several “poker calculators” and make your own hands up. If you are using a poker calculator with a smaller table of 5 or 6, the ace-king prevails as a better starting hand at about 33% over the deuces at 22% of winning the hand. But once you stretch out the table to the regulation of 10 players, the odds drop significantly, giving the pair the edge over the ace-king. Now having ace-king suited improves your odds of winning the hand because now a flush is in the mix. This doesn’t necessarily mean shoving all of your hard earned dollars to the middle now. Many times I’ve seen (and personally suffered) when going all-in with ace-king and losing to a smaller pair.

We also have to remember that not all the cards are being dealt. Several players will perhaps have one, or both of your cards. That can be a huge problem. Now if you are the one with the 2’s and someone in front of you makes a significant raise, you may think about folding. If it is a small raise, stick around and see what might happen. Now you may be going up against a much bigger issue….a high pair, like aces or kings. Then death is most likely the best way out. Just stick one of those deuces in your neck.

This leads me to another great quandary. How can you read another player’s bets by how they are betting? I see it all of the time where there’s a raise in pre-flop, and then a check after the flop by that same player. You may think this is a “trap.” “Trapping” a player is usually making them think they didn’t catch anything and they check, hoping the other players will bet, where he can pounce on them with a huge raise. But there are times when you can tell when someone has “only” ace-king. They flounder a little in their wagering. You can feel a little lack of confidence, especially when you don’t see an ace or a king on the table. They may even bet, thinking you will fold, but when you call, the next bet is smaller, or there is no bet at all. That is when you move in for the kill.

Remember, ace-king is still a great hand, but wouldn’t you rather have 2-2?

Well…?

“See you at the tables.”

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

Playing Limit or No-Limit?
Author: J. Scott Miller

Okay, so what will it be, limit poker, or no-limit poker? You better know the difference before you begin playing. By saying this, I mean by the types of players who play in these rooms. I will either choose 25/50 cent no-limit or $2/$4 limit.

I have said in the past that I will sometimes buy in for $20 in a 10/20 cent no-limit room. But doing so without having a bankroll to continue on, should you lose an all-in bet, says you’re only in it for the short term. That will say a lot about you and the way you play. I will constantly see people buy in for $5, go all-in, but no one will call. Then that same person goes all-in again, and no one calls. But it will happen. Someone will eventually call him and he will lose. “Bloop!” There is another $5 buy in from that player. He continues on until he has had enough and will disappear.

Please, don’t get this person confused with the “Bully” that I spoke about in my first article. This guy is simply in it for the short term, as am I when I buy in for only $20. Even though $20 would be the maximum I can buy in for, you should have money backed up in your account to “reload” just in case.

This brings up another issue. Good online players will keep notes as to how people play. Believe it or not, this happens. That is what separates me from the good players …uh, you know what I mean.

Players in smaller limit rooms will definitely have more chasers, also known as “fish.” “Fish” are people who chase the deck for cards on 4th street and the river. But “fish” can be found anywhere. So if you are playing in a lower limit game, be careful how you play. By saying “lower limit,” this could be as much as $2/$4 limit rooms. Be aggressive with the “fish” players so they will drop out of the hand. Even then it may not be enough and you will find you are on the wrong side of a river card flush. I hate people like me!

Now playing no-limit is for true “gamblers.” I don’t even mean card players in general, but simply a person who likes to gamble for the fun of it. This, of course, is really meant for the lower no-limit games. Once you buy in for $50, or even $200, you better make sure you are not in this “just for the fun of it.” There are plenty of players out there swimming through the internet poker rooms looking for the perfect catch. Don’t get reeled in by one of them.

Have you made your decision yet? You can read all of the different professional poker player’s books, there are plenty of them, (And I recommend it) but these are people who can tell you what cards you have by looking into your eyes. They can’t do this with online poker. If you feel like you may be overwhelmed, or under skilled as a player, stay low and learn by your mistakes. Once you have decided what you like most, stick with it. And like I said before, be aggressive. Stay on the gas peddle and go for broke.

Maybe that’s why I am broke?

“See you at the tables.”

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

“Where does all of the money go?”
Author: J. Scott Miller

I have been playing poker online for years. I have played in casinos as well, but still enjoy playing poker online. If you are like me (And I hope you’re not), have you ever wondered, in the end, where does all of the money go?

Yes, I know what you are thinking; “It goes to the great poker players.” Sometimes, maybe, but in the end, it pays off handsomely to be the owner/operator of an online sports book/casino/poker room. But it also pays off to know what you are doing while playing online poker! Learn the game before losing your money to the good players.

I have “cashed out” several times, and it really does feel good, doesn’t it? I hope your answer was “yes.” If your answer was, “I have never cashed out any money,” then keep reading my articles and you will learn how to win (mostly from the mistakes I have made in the past!). I can joke about it, but if you want to know where the money goes, and you have never cashed out, the online owners get what is called a “rake.”

A “rake” from the online poker room is usually 5% per completely played hand. I just logged off of Intertops (where I play) and saw that I played in their 2.5 billionth hand! Yes, that is 2,500,000,000 hands so far. If you want to do the math, and I choose not to, that is a lot of raked hands, equaling a lot of cash for the operator. But does all of the money go to the online operator? In the end, most of it does, but that depends on your skill level and your wallet size.

Remember the old saying; “The cream always rises to the top?” You should log onto a poker room sometime and peek into a room that is playing $200/$400 blinds, with no limit. You had better know what you’re doing in those rooms! These are the players who at times, when things get slow, will go down to the smaller stake rooms and make some money off of the “bottom feeders.” That is why you need to need to learn how to play. Make every cent count when making and calling your bets. Yes, a bluff every now and then is okay, but playing smart does not mean playing “safe.” Recognizing a superior player can be hard to do. Another old saying to refer to; “If you look around the table looking for the sucker, it is most likely you!” Yes, just call me the “Lolly Pop Kid.”

There are many books and online articles to read to either brush up on your skills, or begin learning the game all together. You can play in the “free” games offered in many sites, but really what is that for? It is a “chat site” for people looking for a conversation. Do you think you’ll be saying, “Oh boy, he just went all-in with his fake money, what should I do?” Who cares about the free poker rooms? Learn the game!

So if the cream does rise to the top, why can’t you go up there with it? Read a book, play the cheap rooms for a while, and when you are ready to take the leap, move up a level or two. That leads me to the next article I’ll be writing about, “No-Limit Poker versus Limit Poker.” There is a huge difference in how to play and what to be aware of while playing these games.

See you at the tables.

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

“How to lose with Pocket Aces”
Author: J. Scott Miller

When playing poker online, you have one distinct disadvantage (if you are a good player), and that is you cannot see your opponent’s faces. Knowing your odds of winning a hand helps a lot, but really in the end, it can boil down to plain old luck.

How good do you have to be to draw a pair of aces? Online poker now offers table sizes of 6 players, which is more popular these days. With a table size of 10, your odds of catching a pair of aces in the hole are about 220 to 1. That is an automatic win, right? Simply go “all-in” and it’s over. A good portion of the time going “all-in” only scares most of the players out of the hand and your 220 to 1 hand is shot to hell, and you’ve won a minimal amount of money. Of course someone can call you if they have good cards. Any high pair would prompt a call, and from there, as they say, “it’s all in the cards,” or the flop in this case. But still, your odds of winning are high.

Table position is key when drawing aces, and how you play them. If you can be lucky enough to draw them in the “Big or Small Blinds,” you would be the last player to make a call, or even a raise. That would be the time to raise, especially if several people have called the minimum ante. Depending on the amount you raise will determine how many people will stick around to see the flop. If a re-raise comes, that is the moment of truth and you shove your all of your chips to the center of the table.

If you are in the middle of the table, and few people are calling, you might want to make a subtle raise, or just call. If you raise a ton, there you are again with a couple of bucks and your fantasy hand has gone “bye-bye.”

Here is how I lose with pocket aces:

I am sitting there minding my own business, playing 25/50 cent blinds, when BAM! It happens, and I begin to wonder what to do! Pocket aces have fallen out of the sky and God likes me again. I am in the middle of the table and three people have called in front of me. So here is what I think I’ll do: “I pull a sneak attack on them!” I’ll slither up behind them like a cobra and take a bite. I will “lay low,” and just make the 50 cent call, letting in as many people in the hand as possible. And when the flop comes, I will drop the hammer on them, and it will all be over before they know what hit them.

Unfortunately, the “Lay low, and play it slow” is really a bad way to play the hand. What you are doing is allowing the players with average or sub-par hands play the hand at a minimal cost. And when the flop comes (This has happened to me) and it is 2h-2s-7d, and several people have checked in front of me, I will make my bet. Maybe I won’t pull the trigger, but I will bet $5. Then someone down the line goes “all-in” on me, and I think I have the hand all locked up. I call the all-in bet, and that person was on the big blind and had 2d and 7h. He flopped a full house! “Oh my God,” I say to myself. I just lost to statistically the worst hand in poker. Had I raised anything, he would have folded. Apparently God no longer likes me.

But… Oh well, See you at the tables!

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

“How to stop a table bully”
Author: J. Scott Miller

This week I decided by in for $20 and go into a 10 cent/20 cent “no-limit” game on Intertops. There are many online poker rooms, but Intertops has always been my online choice to lose my money….er, I mean, entertain myself.

Since playing poker is always a learning experience, and by that, I mean when you learn, you usually lose. However this week I did manage to learn a trick about The Table Bully. He (or she) is the one who constantly raises pre-flop (before any cards are turned over). This person raises practically every hand, and every time 90% of the players fold.

This monkey raised pre-flop again, and I had had enough! So I re-raised 4 times his raise, with only 7-10 off-suit. There is usually a timer (or clock) on these games (to speed up play) and sure enough he waited and waited, until time had expired and he folded. Now bear in mind, if he had re-raised me 4 times my raise, I would have been the one folding, but for me it worked out this time. The win was minimal, but the point was made.

You do have to be careful with the bully, mainly because you need to watch his play for a while, before re-raising him. Mind you, this is just a ploy to stop his antics. If he has $79 in front of him, and $20 being the maximum you can buy in for, this typically means he’s been either very lucky, or lucky and good. I don’t believe in too much skill when someone has AA and goes all-in and wins the pot. We do know that just because you have AA, does NOT mean you will automatically win the hand. I have proven that many times, and that I will speak about another time.

So good luck playing in your next game, and hopefully you can time your re-raise correctly and win the hand. We all saw it on national TV when Chris Moneymaker went all-in with absolutely nothing and won. I have nothing all of the time, and look at me now! Make the world a better place, and punch that bully in the face.

I’ll see you next time when I speak about “How to lose with AA.”

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

110% Sign up Bonus at Intertops New Online Poker Room

Webmasters and Bloggers:
This poker and/or gambling related article is copyrighted and may not be reposted, republished, copied or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to repost and/or republish this article on your website or blog free of charge, Please visit J.Scott Millers Homepage.

Failure to comply will result in a civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution.

©2009 – 2010 – All rights reserved – http://www.online-gambling-newz.com

Opponents Fold/Flop Percentage
If he folds alot of cards, beware, he is aware of the strength/weakness of his hand. If he stays in almost every pot , he might not be experienced.