Where Can US Players Play Online Poker?

US players banned from Poker sites

Poker is the favorite Casino card game of the United States. Ever since online Poker was started, there has been a huge rush to the online gaming sites, propelling online gaming to being a multibillion dollar industry. The government has received about a million requests to make online gambling legal in United States. However, the poker loving Americans were in for a rude shock last Friday, the 15th of April since US players were banned from playing on the biggest online Casino giants. The FBI has slapped charges worth $3 billion against the leading online gambling sites like UB.com, FulltiltPoker, PokerStarts and AbsolutePoker on reasons ranging from illegal gambling and money laundering to fraud. These sites have banned US players from playing on their sites for an indefinite duration.

What next for poker lovers in US?

Despite the fact that the most popular sites no longer taking US nationals, other sites do allow US players to play in their rooms. The only sites that are accepting US players are CakePoker, SportsBookPoker, PlayersOnly, CarbonPoker and Bodog. These sites offer a variety of gaming options. US players can look out for these features to keep up their love for the game alive and enjoy playing poker online. New rules regarding payment methods have been formulated and implemented on these sites.

Bodog poker

Bodog poker is reputed for its flexible money management strategy and efficient software, which is free for download. The site has recently doubled its initial deposit bonus amount and players can now get up to $1,100 bonus on the site.

Cake poker

Cake poker offers about $20 million dollars in monthly payouts to its players and a 110% initial bonus of up to $600. The site offers amazing free tournaments all the time. This 24x7 gaming site is licensed and open for Americans.

SportsBook Poker

This site offers a 100% bonus on initial deposits. The site holds tournaments and the tables run full 24 hours a day. The software is neat, clear and without unnecessary freezes. The site has very strong traffic all through the day.

Carbon poker

Carbon poker offers a 100% signup bonus of up to $600. The site has a variety of features like big jackpots, multiple windows, vector graphics, player tags, a number of promotional offers and games. The cash back offers of the site are very attractive.

Players only

This feature-filled online poker website offers a 100% welcome bonus of up to $600. The site also offers free $500 to play with on all deposits. The Hold'em game format is the most popular game not just on this site but among different sites as well.

Payment options on poker sites

The online gaming sites listed above that do allow US players to play in their room accept payment depositions only through prepaid cards, ultra perpaid cards, credit cards, debit cards, paytru, wu, moneygram and e-check. Availability of any of these payment options makes an American eligible to play on the online gambling sites.

Free Poker Games - Choosing a Poker Game

Poker and free Poker games can be lots of fun to play at Casinos or online, to relax after a hard day at work. The hardest thing about playing Poker online, is deciding which site to play at.

You have so many to choose from that you have to think very hard to pick which site is best for you. I'll be giving some free tips on how to pick the best site for you to play at and what to look for on poker sites so you get the best for your hard earned money.

Try to find out where your friends play so you have an idea what's good or not. See what kind of game you want to start playing with, real money or play money. Most sites have both real money tables and play money tables. Different sites offer very good promotions when you deposit money. Some sites offer from 10% to 100% of your deposit.

A new concept of online poker is playing free poker games, where the site doesn't allow you to deposit any money, but due to advertising, they actually pay out real cash! This is a brilliant 'can't lose' method of playing poker.

If you're new to playing poker, then try to play the site's play money tables and get a feel of the game. See how you do with play money before you sit down with the pros on real money tables.

Some sites let you re-buy after you lost your bankroll or some sites make you wait 24 hrs to get more free. Sites will often have freerolls to play and win play chips. Once you test your skills then you'll be ready to play real money tables.

Make sure you think very hard of what you going to be called on the site. Usually once you make your nick or account, you can't change it so make sure you really like it.

It's a good idea if you ask your friends if the account looks good before making it. People on the table will know it's you and once you start to win, more and more people will know who you are and maybe one day you'll be playing on television.

Once you play for a little while, you'll meet lots of people around the world playing the same card game you like. Maybe people will learn from you and you will learn from them. Good luck and have fun on your poker game or free poker games!

Online Poker Rooms

In the past few months, there has been a dramatic shift in online Poker rooms. Since the US regulation attempting to ban online Poker deposits, many players have moved their money to a few key sites. Party Poker used to be the number one online poker room in the world. Now most of the players have migrated over to Poker Stars and Full Tilt. Poker Stars is home to three of three WSOP main event champions. Chris Moneymaker, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, and Joseph Hachem all make Poker Stars their online poker site. Poker Stars has always been at the top of the online poker world in terms of software. The customer service at Poker Stars excellent and cash outs are always on time. Poker Stars is the best online room for big tournaments. The big Sunday tournament usually pays at least $100, 000 to first place winner.

Full Tilt poker is making a huge stride towards top place since the US legislation. Full Tilt is home to well known poker professionals such as Phil Ivey, Jennifer Harman, Gus Hansen, John Juanda, and Mike Matusow. On any given night you can catch at least one well known pro playing in high limit cash games. Full Tilt is Host to probably the biggest online cash game of 300/600NL. Patrik Antonius often waits at the $60, 000 buy-in table until a brave soul challenges him to heads-up poker. Phil Ivey has been known to destroy his opponents at these limits also. Every night is an exciting show of high stakes poker. Online poker is only getting better, are you the next super star?

Omaha Hi Poker

There are a many variations of the Poker game and Omaha is one of them. Not everyone likes the game, in fact Omaha hi Poker is one of those games you either love or hate.

The exact origins of the game are unknown, but the game was first introduced into a Casino sometime between 1946 and 1982 by a professional Poker player named Bill Boyd. Bill at the time was the director of the famous Golden Nugget Casino in Vegas.

Omaha Poker is split up into two variations, the first is the standard game known as Omaha Holdem or Omaha hi, as with Texas Holdem players only have to make one hand. The other version is Omaha hi/lo where players can make two hands, a high hand and a low hand.

If you can play Texas Holdem then playing Omaha hi poker should not be much of a problem. The Omaha hi game differs from Texas Holdem because the players are initially dealt out four cards instead of just two. The other rule is that players are required to use three of the community cards plus two of the cards they were dealt to create a hand.

If you want to learn how to play the game you should always play for fun until you grasp the basics but if you prefer to play poker for cash then don't bet more than you can afford to lose! Set aside a fixed amount per month and do not exceed. If you cannot afford to set aside money to gamble with - don't. The large majority of sites are happy to let you to practice playing different games for free.

How the Poker Odds Calculator Works

Many Poker players come to encounter the Poker odds calculator after they have been playing the game for quite a while. That is, of course, with an exception of the few players who get introduced to Poker online, and who may have a chance of encountering the poker odds calculator earlier on in their playing 'careers.' For the rest, the very idea of there being a poker odds calculator seems very odd at first. Yet it is not hard to empathize with that feeling, when you take into consideration their backgrounds, as far as poker playing goes.

Now a commonly asked question by people encountering information about the poker odds calculator for the first time is as to how exactly the calculator works. A good way of answering this question would be by exploring the purposes the said poker odds calculator serves. This would be done in the hope that a pattern will emerge that will guide the people who pose the question as to how the calculator works into gaining an understanding the same.

And as it turns out, one of the chief functions of the poker calculator - and as the name subtly suggests - is to help the user work out what their chances of winning any of the possible hands are. Through intelligent use of the poker odds calculator, then, poker stops being a trial and error game, and starts being a game that you can play with a certain degree of certainty. This way, the calculator serves as a confidence building tool of sorts.

Precisely, with the help of the poker calculator, you can be in a position to know when exactly to place a bet, and when to fold. This latter function is something the odds calculator does by enabling you, through its intelligent use, to determine whether what you have is a strong hand or a weak hand. Determining whether what you hold is a strong hand or a weak hand is, by the way, one of the challenging things that most poker rookies (and lots of experts as well) struggle with. And it is, thankfully, a struggle that the poker odds calculator can help you overcome.

The beauty of the best poker calculators is in the fact that they are able to give you 'streaming feedback,' so that you can know how things are going for you before the flop, right after the flop, and even after the river. This leaves no room for you to make what may be termed as 'dumb mistakes' - unless, of course, you choose to do so; at your own peril.

At a more technical level, the poker calculator is best seen as a number (and logic) crunching device. It is not, of course, a physical gadget developed and presented like the typical mathematical calculator that we are all familiar with. Rather, it is a computer program, which typically depends on the computing power of the computer where it is embedded, to work out the various probabilities in poker.

Authentic Felt Poker Tables

If you want a game that is both fun and engaging but you can do while sitting, then a fabulous card game is right for you. Almost everybody has played a card game at least at one point in their life. Card games are addictive especially when betting is factored in. In the world of gambling, card games remain to be the king. Many people have gambled on card games compare to other games. Out of the many card games that are out there, none can be compared to the fulfillment that one can get from a game of Poker. It is a very popular game around the world, and millions of Poker players have taken chances on this game to win coveted pots.

Poker is usually played in Casinos. However, anyone can bring in the Casino feel of playing Poker at home anytime with just the right supplies. To enhance your poker game night at home, you just need some materials. First, of course, is to get decent decks of cards that are long lasting and easy to handle, deal and shuffle. Next is to purchase nice-looking and hard to break poker chips that will last you a few good years. You also have the option to buy a poker table, complete with drinks and holders and covered with some kind of felt. Poker table is considered by many poker aficionados as a needed material in Hosting a great poker game at home. One of the most important aspects of a poker table is felt. It is important that you choose the right felt fabric in buying a new poker table or upholstering an existing poker table.

Felt poker table can come in different fabrics such as Suited Poker Cloth, Suited Speed Cloth, Faux Casino Suede Felt and Woven Wool Poker Cloth. A suited Speed Cloth is considered as the most popular fabric used in poker tables. This type of felt is often applied with waterproofing agent to make it resistant to spills and liquid stains. If for instance, a drink spilled on the table during a poker game, it will just bead up on this type of fabric so you will have less trouble in cleaning up. They come in different color such as green, blue, emerald, gun metal, red, gold and many others.

Another felt poker table type is Suited Poker Cloth, which is known for its durability. You can have that satisfying of cards sliding smoothly on this fabric as you deal them. The downside of this table felt is that it is not water resistant. The Woven Wool Poker Cloth is one of the cheapest fabrics available and cards also slide smoothly across this type of felt. The Faux Casino Suede Felt, on the other hand, is the closest thing to the authentic Casino felt.

Be a Proposition Poker Player and Get Paid to Play Poker

Getting paid to play Poker is every Poker player's dream, but did you know you can make it a reality? Did you know you can even get health insurance, a 401(k), and other job benefits, all for playing poker?

This fantasy job is called being a Propositional Poker player, often called a Prop Player or a Prop. Prop Players are paid by the Casino to join poker games, and paid a hourly wage.

Prop poker players play with their own money. They are not shills who play with the Casino's money, but rather are paid to play to keep games going and to keep games from breaking down. As such, a Prop's winnings (and losses) are his or her own.

Advantages of Being a Prop Player

Being a prop player has many advantages - most notably that you get paid to play poker. In the Seattle area, the going rate for Prop Player is somewhere in the fifteen to twenty dollar an hour range, comfortably above minimum wage.

Being a prop poker player can be a great job if you truly enjoy the challenges of a poker game. You can meet new people, play poker as much as you want, and get paid to play poker.

Beyond that, being a prop requires no heavy lifting, TPS reports, long meetings, or other irritating elements of most jobs. If you love poker, this is the job for you.

Disadvantages of Being a Prop Player

While being a prop poker player sounds like the perfect gig, it has led many a reckless or uncareful player to ruin. Being a prop player is different than playing a regular game in a Casino for several important reasons.

You cannot pick the games you play
Unlike when you go to the casino to play poker, you cannot choose the games you play in as a prop poker player. This might be the single biggest disadvantage of being a prop player -- game selection is the single biggest factor in your ability to win money in a poker game. Games against poor players with lots of money on the table -- the best games -- are generally taken by independent players. This leaves the prop with games against other skilled players, or players who aren't fun to play with. As a propositional poker player, you'll get stuck with the worst players in the casino. You'll also have to play strange games like Omaha Hi/Low, which you may not be particularly familiar with.

You'll have to spend your evenings and weekends playing poker
Doing something constantly can take the fun out of it. When you have to spend all of your Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights playing poker, you may dislike it after a while.

Fixed Costs of Being a Prop
When you're a prop player, you must pay the big blind and small blind antes to continue to sit at the table and participate in the game. This amounts to around thirty eight dollars an hour. With this cost pressure on you, you must play, and play aggressively.

How Old is Poker?

One of the oldest Casino games being played today is Poker and the many different types of Poker that are currently being played. Whether online or offline, it is still one of the most popular Casino games out there. It is so popular now that literally hundreds of poker rooms exist online and have become very prolific in the online gaming industry. However, if it is a real Poker game that you want to physically sit in on, then depending on where you are located in the UK, you can usually find numerous live venues doing a simple search on the internet.

One of the more well-known casinos for a Poker Tournament venue is Spielers Casino located in Western Esplanade, Westcliff, Southend. It is situated near the mouth of the Thames Estuary and is also referred to as the Westcliff Spielers Casino, as well as being one of the largest casinos in the UK, and features 7 poker tournaments. The main Poker game that is played here is Three-Card Poker.

The Mint Casino Southend (previously Spielers Casino and Waterfront Casino Club) is another establishment that features a Poker Tournament Essex venue. Three-card poker which is a relatively new twist on the game itself can be played here, in addition to Stud Poker and other versions. The casino is located in the Western Esplanade, Westcliff, Southend area.

The Mint Casino Southend was formerly Spielers Casino and Waterfront Casino Club and was refurbished in 2007. It reopened in October, 2007 under the new name and features the River Card Room (lower level) with its 140-seat capacity. The most common games of Poker played here are Casino Stud Poker, Progressive Stud Poker, and Three-Card Poker. Private card rooms are available.

Another one of the well-known Poker Tournament Essex venues is the Rendezvous Casino at the Kursaal located in the Eastern Esplanade, Southend on Sea, Essex. This casino opened in April of 2001 and has one of the more spacious gaming floors that you will find anywhere in the UK. Casino Stud Poker, Texas Hold'em, and Three-Card Poker are the main poker games played here. On a rather interesting side note, the Fahrenheit bar, located within the casino was the first bar anywhere in the UK to keep beer chilled using the Glycol system.

In addition to the standard casinos listed above, there are also numerous "fun casinos" which would also enable you to set up a Poker Tournament Essex venue. These types of casinos are based on a mobile or travelling format wherein a casino set-up is brought to your venue. No actually money is gambled though, hence the classification as a "fun casino." These do have their niche, however, and are an ideal entertainment venue, especially where charity or fund-raising events are concerned.

Cash is used up front to purchase poker chips and at the end of the evening, when everyone would normally cash in their remaining chips, the money is simply kept the group or organisation sponsoring the event and then deposited so a check can be written to the charitable organisation as a donation. The concept is extremely popular in the UK and several companies are listed online for hire. Some of the more well-known ones are Against All Odds, Funtime Fun Casinos, and High Class Fun Casino. So if you aren't into gambling away your hard-earned cash, yet have a charitable heart, then this would be a Poker Tournament Essex venue to investigate.

Online Poker Code Crack Review

The Online Poker Code Crack is an award winning in-depth look at the software that controls the online Poker rooms across the Internet. Written by former software engineer and avid professional Poker player, Paul Westin, the Online Poker Code Crack reveals exactly how to avoid bad beats, how to give bad beats, and how to get deeper in any online tournament.

Initially, I approached the subject of "cracking" the online-poker code with caution as many claims in years past told of how their software could reveal hole cards, predict flops, turns and rivers, and even some boldly claimed to be able to know the flop before the hand was dealt.

Nevertheless, I was invited to try the Online Poker Code crack, and did so with an open mind toward winning and believing the product could accomplish exactly what it claimed. Paul Westin first describes the inner workings of the poker software and explains in detail how several different algorithms and subroutines determine the outcome of the cards.

It is widely believed that the Random Number Generator is the main focal point in the poker software, however, Westin dismisses this fact and reveals the RNG as nothing more than a small part of the program in determining winning hands at the river. He further reveals the codes used by poker sites that make the determination and further shows how using these additional subroutines will allow anyone to get deeper, and cash bigger in online poker tournaments.

It is without a doubt, Westin has the knowledge and experience, both as a software engineer and poker player, to effectively reveal the inner workings of the poker software. I found his explanation of the RNG and his further teachings of the associated subroutines to be easily understood and exactly on point in helping anyone to win a tournament online.

After using the Online Poker Code Crack in a tournament I played on a popular poker site, I was actually amazed at how efficient and on-target Westin was. I found it even more surprising when I was easily able to cash in this tourney as a result of Westin's Poker Code Crack.

I give this 5 stars for ease of use, ease of implementation and relatively low cost! If you are playing online poker, it is in your best interest to investigate Paul Westin's Online Poker Code Crack for the sake of your bankroll and to help improve your winnings.

Online Poker - Is it Rigged?

This common question is asked almost every day at Poker forums around the internet. The short answer is no, online Poker is not rigged. It has been discussed time and time again but no matter how much proof is offered showing that online poker is not rigged, people still claim it is.

If you play at a small, unheard of poker site, sure, anything is possible. But at the major poker sites where most poker players play, it's been proven countless times that everything is on the up-and-up.

One of the most common complaints I see about online poker is where people will say things like "its crazy! These donkeys play crap and always hit some kind of lucky garbage on the river! It never happens to me offline!"

If you have any kind of background involving statistics or, hell, anything that requires hypotheses and proof, that is one of the most annoying kinds of complaints in the world. Random first hand accounts don't mean anything statistically.

First of all, people remember their bad beats much more vividly than they remember all the times their pocket kings won the pot just like they should have. Second of all, you play a lot more hands in online poker than you do in live poker, so you're going to see more statistically unlikely events. It's a numbers game.

Against any random hand, AA will in about 85% of the time. That's great but 85% is hardly a certainty. If you play enough hands every day, your AA is going to get cracked on a daily basis! It's completely normal and expected for favored hands to lose - it's statistically impossible to expect your strong hands to win every time.

Every major poker site is tested for pure randomness and fairness by independent auditing organizations. PokerStars is tested by two separate organizations: Cigital and BMM International. These two organizations are industry leaders in independent audits and have audited the likes of AOL Time Warner, Motorola, General Electrics, Visa and many more.

Other major poker sites are tested for fairness by Technical Systems Testing, another big name independent auditor of Casino software. You can even visit the web pages of these companies and view the results of their audits for yourself. Any site could put a "tested by TST" sticker on their website, but when you get the information from the auditor's website, you know it's legit.

On top of that, thousands of poker players use poker statistics tracking software to track their play and study every hand they've ever played. These players have databases containing millions of hand histories. If something wasn't adding up, it would stand out like a sore thumb.

And last, let's use a little logic here. The owners of the major online poker sites are raking in billions of dollars. The guy who started Party Poker is a multi-billionaire now. Do you think the owners would put such massively lucrative businesses at risk just to screw your AA over once in a while? It just wouldn't make any sense.

Online poker is most definitely not rigged and I've used it to makes lots of money myself. All it takes is a willingness to learn the right strategy and the ability to shrug off the occasional bad beat. If you can do that, you too can become a long term winner at online poker.

How to Win at Poker with These 5 Awesome Internet Poker Tips

How to win at Poker is not as difficult as it seems. I hope by now you have realized all the books written by the big name professional players are totally useless and way off base. They write these books with little or no concern for the advanced player. In order to beat the online Poker game, you need a sound strategy. I have used these five internet poker tips to continually beat the donks and totally annihilate the calling stations.

Table image - Whatever table image you have established make sure to use it. It's important you do not forget how your opponents have viewed your play. If you have been playing tight, in order to steal the blinds. Make sure you exploit the blinds and loose players at your table. If you have been playing loose, do not try and steal the blinds. Go after tight players with you big hands and make them pay you off.
Shift gears - You need to play the exact opposite your table is playing. It is so vital and it's how to win at poker. Feel the tempo or flow of the table and make sure you do the exact opposite of your opponents. Tight tables call for you to play loose in position and steal the blinds. Loose tables call for you to play tight and play only the best hands. Trying to play tight on a tight table is a huge was of opportunity and vice versa.
Deep tournament play - Deep tournament strategy is one the biggest internet poker tips you will ever receive. You have to and I repeat have to play for first place. Every decision you make should be based on the fact you are playing for first place. Never hesitate in your approach, I always am willing to fall on my sword when 15 handed. The tournament is one when you are playing short handed at the final two tables. The best players in the world understand this and routinely exploit tight players. The chips you stack up at this stage of the tournament are the same chips you will use to bully your opponents and win first place.
Hand selection - Stick to this internet poker tips and understand you hand selections is vital. You will not win many tournaments online playing tight poker. You need to mix up your hand selection and play your position well. The golden rule still is applied today as it was 50 years ago. Good hands in early position and loosen up as you go around the table. You can play all kinds of random hands in unraised pots in later position. It's usually wise to play the better hands in early position, but your image and type of table will dictate what you can play. I will play 75s under the gun with a raise if I know my table is playing tight.
Raise - Raise and raise some more, call only when trapping. The person who takes direct control of the hand pre-flop wins 80% of the time. Always take control. The players personality will dictate how you will play your hand. But, always bring it in for a raise. Trap players with calls in late position and please never re-raise a player who had not played a hand in 40 minutes. Look for the loose players and re-raise them.

You want to know how to win at poker, please use these internet poker tips to dominate your competition.

No Deposit Poker Bonus For US Players - How to Start

This article will show you how a no deposit Poker bonus for us players is possible.

Being a Poker player in the US is great, especially if you are living in Las Vegas but when it comes to online gambling this becomes problematic. A few years ago the US government decided to ban online Poker in the US so that most Poker rooms had to close their doors to Americans.

Fortunately there are still a few poker rooms that are accepting US players legally and which also offer a no deposit poker bonus for us players. Playing with real money and getting it free is great. Everybody likes free money but you are thinking what is the catch? The answer is that there is no catch. You simply sign up, get the money and play with it. And don't worry you don't have to pay it back. This is like a "free sample" you get from the poker room. It is a great way to test the poker room and see how online poker works.

If you are not impressed you can lose the money and leave the poker room or go all in on a weak hand and hope for the best. Actually there are many players who make a lot of money by playing poker this way generating a steady monthly income. It is not impossible to turn a $10 no deposit bonus into thousands of dollars.

As a result online poker is a lot of fun and it is also very safe. The reputable poker rooms are trustworthy so you don't have to be afraid when you make your first deposit. Online poker is legal in the US if you are playing on a poker room that accepts US players.

Full Tilt Poker Stats

Full Tilt Poker is a success story in the world of online Poker, it's figures and representatives speak for themselves and they're gaining speed in becoming the number one provider of online Poker games. Poker is now one of biggest activities in the world, it's on television, radio, in films, magazines.. it's not going away anytime soon.

Full Tilt Poker Stats:

Network size: 3rd biggest online poker network

Peak number of cash game players: 7,500

Average number of cash game players: 5,000

The variety of game types is second to none, you can play with people across the world at Omaha, Stud and Razz. With limits ranging from micro-stakes to very high stakes there's a seat waiting for everyone no matter how many dollars they have to play with.

There's also a high chance of running into a professional poker player on Full Tilt, they're endorsed by players such as Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, Mike Matusow, Jennifer Harman, Chris Ferguson.. the list is massive and they regularly sit and play at regular tables offering up advice and a friendly chat.

There's also the case of a deposit bonus, if you're looking for a hefty $600 bonus then you'll need a bonus code - it's your key to boosting your initial bankroll and succeeding in what is a very lucrative card game.

Full Tilt Poker has outstanding software, it's graphically advaned and extremely responsive. The lobby loads very quickly and table information is updated regularly. They also boast helpful support and a large range of cashout options. Money is transferred via your chosen method extremely fast.

Poker Business - Can You Make Money From Online Poker Sites?

Do you believe it is a realistic goal to have a Poker business? Apart from the love of playing the game of Poker, we all like to make money playing Poker too. How great would it be to give up your day job to become a professional Poker player?

Do you ask yourself if you could make money from online poker sites?

There is potential, but what differentiates success from mediocrity? When it comes to playing online poker it can be summed up in one word - Discipline. In order to remove the gambling aspect out of the game of poker we need to develop a sense of strict discipline within our playing parameters. Most of us know how to play the game and some are definitely better poker players than others. So how can we gain that edge?

My philosophy is, if you are going to try and generate an income or at least supplement your existing one, you need to plan and treat your game like a poker business. If you set boundaries you can achieve your goals, even when playing poker for money.

Now I'm not talking about setting poker strategies and different playing patterns, I'm talking more about how you invest your money into online gaming sites. There are certain ideas you can implement to maximise your profits.

Most players will deposit some money into a poker site such 888 Poker or Full Tilt Poker and play with their money in the hopes of growing a fortune. BUT at what point do you increase your betting amounts? At what point do you withdraw money from your account? Whose money are you playing with?

Yes, whose money are you playing with?

Let's say you have an account with $1100 in it. You want to break it up into 10 x $100 ($10 rake), 10 player turbo tournaments. If you belief you are good enough to average one win ($500), one second ($300) and one third ($200) out of 10 games you will end up down the $100 rake. This is with a result of not placing in the top 3, 7 out of 10 times (I think that is conservative if you're good enough)

Now, as I'm sure you're aware, different poker sites offer great bonuses to entice you to open an account, so why not take advantage of them.

So why not take that $1100 out of your original account and open two new accounts with $550 each. If you find the right online poker site they will give you a 100% free sign up bonus, increasing each account to $1100. You will then revert back to your $100 game plan, meaning you can now play in 20 x $100 ($10 rake) tournaments. If your results are averaged as above, you may get 2x1st ($1000), 2x2nd ($600) and 2x3rd ($400).

That is a profit of $900 or over 80% return on your initial investment. That's not even looking at your playing style, your strategies, and your betting frequencies. Obviously not everyone will get the same results, some may expect not to place in 80% of games, some may believe they're better and average a return on 50% of tournaments. You may also choose to play 10 x $200 tournaments, or cash games, or your pot maybe a lot smaller. I am not recommending you will be able to achieve these results as I have no idea of your standard, you need to work these sorts of statistics out yourself to decipher whether you can make a profitable return.  It is up to you to analyse your own individual playing statistics and results.

This is how you could plan your poker business, just like any other business plan.

You probably find yourself asking, how can you get away with it? Why would poker sites allow you to continue doing this?

This is where the secret lies. Gambling sites are fully aware that 95% of investors will opt not to withdraw any money as they will see such a benefit from winning that they will continue to try and make their account grow. Most will end up losing it and depositing more. How are we different - we have Discipline. We know that if we withdraw the $2000, we can reopen 2 new accounts with our initial $1100 and pocket the $900 profit.

Please also take the time to read each individual site's terms and conditions as some of the sign up bonuses have rules and guidelines you must follow before you can make withdrawals.

Another thing you must also consider is the possibility of a bad run. The above figures are based on a 30% chance of coming a place in the 20 tournaments, but let's say you only had 3x2nds out of these 20 games - you still finish with a profit of $100 after the rake. In comparison, if you used your existing account (without the sign up bonus) you would run at a loss of $200.

I know which I prefer. Money is good, greed is good, winning is great.

The key is to remember to PLAN and within that plan use great DISCIPLINE. Taking the gambling aspect out of poker will enhance your ability to build that float and actually benefit financially from the game you love. A poker business. However, you must do your homework first. You need to know how big your float will be. What standard you are and where you can compete. And most importantly you need to know your break even results and your results capabilities. There is no point suggesting you can win 4 out of 20 x $200 games if you are not a good enough player.

You must play within your means.

So the questions remain with you, can you design a plan that fits your parameters and do you have the discipline to stick within those parameters?

The Power is in your Plan, your destiny is in your discipline.

Pineapple Poker - Texas Holdem's Cousin

It's Texas Holdem, with a twist. At least that's the way you would see Pineapple Poker described on a drinks menu.

Pineapple Poker is a tasty version of Texas holdem in which players each receive three hole cards instead of two. This obviously increases the chances that a player could land a high quality starting hand. So, you can expect to see more players in each pot. The average winning hands are stronger in Pineapple than they are in Texas Holdem.

In Pineapple Poker, players do not keep all three of their hole cards during the entire hand. Instead, they discard one of their hole cards at a designated point in the hand.

After receiving their cards, players engage in a round of betting. Now comes a choice. Many players play the game using this point in the hand to decide which hole card to discard. Discarding your extra hole card before the flop is how to play the more basic version of the game of Pineapple.

But, since you are spicing things up by playing something other than Holdem in the first place, you can decide to play the more popular version of Pineapple Poker called Crazy Pineapple. In this version, which is dealt at several of the online poker rooms, players keep their extra hole card until after the flop is dealt.

Once the flop is dealt and the following betting round is completed, Crazy Pineapple players discard their extra hole card.

For both the basic and the crazy versions of Pineapple Poker, the rest of the hand is played exactly like Texas Holdem.

This derivative of Texas Holdem offers more action, with the familiar gameplay. Players can use any number of hole cards, including none, to make a hand. The betting rules are the same, and if you play Texas Holdem, you already know most of the strategy involved in Pineapple Poker.

But wait, there's more! Unlike Texas Holdem, there is a popular hi-lo (often called 8 or better) version of the game as well. In hi-lo games, players have a chance to win half of the pot by presenting the best qualifying low hand at the table.

What's a qualifying low hand? It's one with five cards with different ranks, all below eight (hence the name 8 or better). The lowest qualifying low hand wins half of the pot. So, players have nearly double the chances of winning.

Low hand ties are broken by reading the cards as one five digit number, with the highest digits first. Lowest number wins. For example, a hand of A,2,4,5,7 would be read as 75,421. A hand of A,3,4,5,6 would be read as 65,431, and would win in a tie-breaker.

Crazy Pineapple 8 or Better is not just some exotic homegame variety of poker, it is also dealt at several of the online poker rooms.

If you want to liven up your home games, consider adding a couple of hands of Crazy Pineapple to the mix. It's a break from the same ol' same ol', but since it's holdem-based players don't need to learn many new rules and strategies to enjoy it.

Is Online Poker Rigged? The Definitive Answer

The question, 'is online Poker rigged?' all too often crops up on Poker forums, blogs and discussions, especially when so many people experience almost unbelievable bad beats and suck outs. Obviously, there has to be an explanation to the record number of bad beats one will witness in online poker.

There certainly is an explanation for it, although some may say well, that's poker, or there are too many donkeys or they played bad, the truth of the matter is that it has nothing to do with the other players! The real secret behind the large number of bad beats and suck outs in online poker lies within the online poker software used to generate the cards.

In reality, the answer to 'is online poker rigged' is without a doubt, YES! However, it is not rigged in the manner you may think. It is rigged in the sense that fair play, statistical odds, and a true-to-life outcome is realistically stripped away from the program due to the algorithms used by the poker sites.

These algorithms will determine the outcome of winning hands and force certain players to win while other players lose even though they had the best hand preflop or on the turn. The algorithms and subroutines used by all major poker sites create the problems of overwhelming bad beats and suckouts in an attempt to make the game appear realistic, to induce action, and to give the impression the game is fair to all.

Of course, this may all sound confusing, however, it is the way the poker sites are rigged to produce winning hands and it is an indisputable fact. The secret to winning at an online poker site is knowing the algorithm and then using that to your advantage to give yourself an edge in the game.

The bottom line is simply that internet poker sites are a computer generated program. Moreover, that program can be manipulated by anyone who knows the code of the subroutines and algorithms. There is no live interaction in the shuffle, deal, or outcome of the cards, and therefore the question is online poker rigged, invariably has to be answered YES! 

Playing Online Poker - What Is 'VPIP'?

VPIP in online Poker games stands for 'Voluntarily Put Into Pot'. Expressed as a percentage, this term shows how many starting hands an individual player is willing to play from all positions at the table. This term started as a statistic in a widely used software tool known as 'Poker Tracker', and has now entered the main stream of strategy discussion - usually in the context of how loose or tight an individual opponent plays before the flop.

A Poker player with a high VPIP is one who likes to be involved in a lot of pots. Conversely someone with a lower score is often waiting for the very best starting hands before parting with any chips. The actual numbers will depend on the game played and whether the table is 6-handed or 10-handed. As a rule of thumb a score of >35% can be considered 'loose' and less than 18% can be considered 'tight'.

When using this term to assess opponents it is important to consider that the information gained is limited to the amount of hands played before the flop. The 'Voluntarily Put In Pot' score does not actually tell you anything about how an opponent plays their starting hands. Consider the following example of 2 players:

- #1 - Limps into a lot of pots and calls small raises regardless of position at the table.

- #2 - Folds when there are other players in the pot already except with strong hands but will always raise when the hand is folded around to him in any of the last 3 positions.

It is possible that both of these players have an identical VPIP score, yet the way they play hands is completely different. Here the important factor is how aggressively the hands were handled. There are 2 more important statistics which describe this characteristic, 'Pre Flop Aggression' and 'Aggression Factor'. Together with the VPIP score this information allows you to build a detailed picture of your opponents tendencies - and correctly adjusting to these is the key to winning while playing online poker.

Poker Bankroll: How Much do You Need to Start Playing With?

Any player must at first ask himself the question: "How much should I invest in this?" Any player that wants to start playing for real, because if you are just playing for fun you can have any bankroll, anything you can afford and if you win it's for the best, but if you lose, you don't have to worry about it. So, if you want to become a serious Poker player you'll have to take inconsideration many things. The first thinks you have to reflect upon are related to your gaming style, what games they like playing, where are they playing these games and their budget and reason for playing Poker.

Experts calculated some possible bankrolls and you might often find information that says a good bankroll to start with should be about 300 times higher that the value of one bet. So, if you want to play a $2-$4 game, then your bankroll must be something like $1,200, 300 times higher than the big bet. This can work, but it is too general. You must really look into your playing style. If you are a solid player, that thinks every hand and folds often when needed, then you probably don't need that much. If, on the other hand you are rather loose and play almost all the hands, then you will be involved in many pots and you might need more.

The type of games played is also an important factor. If you play draw Poker then you need less money than in triple draw. It's just some calculus and the solution is obvious. Also so me games have more betting rounds that other games and these games require an extended bankroll.

Also, when you play no limit holdem this limit is way too little. If the big blind of the game is $3, the bankroll of $900 is way too little for this type of game. Here you can find your self in the situation where you have to bet $50 at a time, and just dividing you can clearly see that if raised and re-raised the bet can be pretty high and you can end up loosing all the bankroll in just a few sessions. The key for an appropriate bankroll is to make it fit into the statistic. The more games we can play the more chances to increase our bankroll we have. So if you only have $1,200 to spend for this, then do not choose a no limit game. It is for the best if you consider your financial possibilities also, because you don't want to end up playing just to win, being afraid at all times that you are going too lose your bankroll and be broke. Playing scared will only make you lose, so don't do it.

Top 5 Best Poker Books

Poker is one of most popular past-times in many parts of the world, and to help participants learn the basic of the game (for beginners) or to help the participants 'up' their game (for those who are through with the basics), various Poker books have been written. And the outreach of these books has been quite successful, with many people who are getting into Poker nowadays confessing that they were introduced to Poker through books.

So popular are these poker books, in fact, that a number of sites entirely dedicated to reviewing them have been coming up in the recent past.

There seems to be concurrence among the reviewers in these sites devoted to reviewing poker books that the best book on poker written in modern times is probably 'Harrington on Hold 'Em' by Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie, which comes in two volumes, namely 'Harrington on Hold 'Em' Volume 1 and 2. Dan Harrington, the author of these books himself is a former WSOP main event champion and a widely recognized authority on poker, and he is assisted in authoring the books by Bill Robertie (who is a former backgammon champion).

Barry Greenstein's Ace on the River is another great book on poker, and there are some reviewers of poker books who actually place it above Harrington's on Hold 'Em. Of course, the critics of Barry Greenstein's Ace on the River point out that while it is an incontestably great poker book, its is only targeted at advanced players of the game, and a poker beginner (who is also the person most likely to be looking into poker books anyway) might have a difficult time trying to make sense of the information presented in it. Still, Barry Greenstein's Ace on the River is considered by many as the ultimate guide to professional poker.

Then there is Michael Konik's aptly named 'Telling Lies and Getting Paid' - which many people, especially pros, looking for deeper meaning in their poker find inspiring through its numerous poker stories, which also give the possibility of enhancing one's strategy, without getting too technical. While not a step by step instructional on poker, 'Telling Lies and Getting Paid' is a book anyone who knows what poker is all about will find thoroughly entertaining.

Anthony Holden's 'Bid Deal' is yet another book which warrants a place among the top five best poker books of all times. Originally published in 1990, 'Big Deal' is actually Anthony Holden's personal memoir on life as a professional poker player, Anthony himself having been one of the topmost poker players of the 1990s. Again, while 'Big Deal' is definitely not a step by step introduction to poker, it is a book which an experienced poker player can find deeper meaning (as well as entertainment) in, and also a book which a poker beginner can find the next direction to take their game to.

Besides these top 5 best poker books, other books on the subject that are also worth of special mention include Lou Krieger's 'Holdem Excellence,' Matthew Hilger's 'Internet Texas Holdem' (for online poker buffs) and Doyle Brunson's 'Super System 2.'

Free Poker Games

Free Poker games are targeted at those players who want to master a few tricks of the trade. Though free Poker games do not offer any extra benefit from the real Poker game, the game is an excellent way to improve and master the poker.

The advantage of free poker games is that the dealer never takes a break, and if seats are available, then you can participate in that game. With the increase in the number of poker players, the takers for free poker games have also increased considerably. Free poker games provide an advantage to novice poker players, helping them learn how to play better and how to read player betting patterns, etc.

Real poker games have certain restrictions, like they can't tell a new player quite a lot about the game. However, free poker games can be tried as a learning step towards playing the real poker game. The Internet has the largest free poker selection available.

Try Internet-based Casino gambling as a means to bet on the winners. "Hit or stand" is the most commonly used action in free poker. To hit or stand simply means whether or not to draw another card. Generally, doubling down is only available when a player is first dealt their free poker two cards.

Finally, every game is a matter of chance. In a free poker, the average hand becomes less important the more poker players there are. The poker player who knows the basic game rules and terms has a definite edge over his opponent poker player who is not confident.

How to Escape Constant Bad Beats in Poker Online

Constant bad beats in Poker are a problem for many players, especially in online Poker. Although many people will claim a bad-beat is just part of the game, the reality is that repeatedly losing to inferior hands is not a part of the real game. When one experiences a continued run of suck outs in online Poker, a closer examination of the program used in the online poker sites is necessary.

Many will theorize as to why constant bad beats in poker occur, however, there is one solid factor that will dispel many of these theories. That factor is that in real live play bad beats are not nearly as prevalent. Of course, it will happen on occasion, but to witness it happen so often begs the question as to whether there is something just not right in the software controlling the online poker sites.

A recent study concluded that constant bad beats in poker online is a direct result of the software used by the poker sites. The study further concluded that it is largely unintentional that badbeats occur so frequently, rather it is a flaw created by the software programmers in an attempt to make the game appear fair.

Using statistical algorithms to simulate fair play, the online poker sites inadvertently created an atmosphere wherein the worst hand will have an overwhelming advantage over the best hand. These algorithms actually have a reverse negative affect on the game, creating constant badbeats in poker online.

Nevertheless, there is a solution to overcoming constant bad beats in poker online, and that solution is to recognize the patterns by which these algorithms work. Once you are able to see the patterns and understand the way the software uses these algorithms, you can not only avoid the constant bad beats in poker, you may even have an opportunity to dish out a few of your own bad-beats to other players.

The bottom line is that online poker should be played as any other computer generated game, and players wishing to successfully win at online poker need to discover the true inner workings of the software used by poker sites. Once an understanding of these programs is realized you can become a better online poker player and win more often, because you will have the ability to escape the constant bad beats in poker online.

How Do You Keep a Poker Face?

Since we deal with good and bad cards in playing Poker, it is imperative that we show no emotions. It becomes an edge in winning if you are able to maintain composure along with your Poker face. Remaining expressionless likewise somehow boosts patience and concentration, thus allowing you to play the game right.

But how should one really keep a Poker face?

First, remember that having a poker face does not only require null facial expression but also proper body language. Preparing your entire body to create an expressionless look would give you a better poker face. Some may have difficulty maintaining this serious face and so they seek help from accessories like sunglasses. it aids those who are not good at handling eye contact.

Next, a calm composure is always needed. As I have mentioned, your body should also be aligned with the poker face you are showing. It will still show in your movements that you are nervous. Fidgeting is definitely a no-no.

Third, Keep in mind that simple actions like ticking the chips, biting your nails, tapping your fingers, or picking your nose are signs of nervousness. Know when to use proper eye contact. If you are bluffing and you avoid eye contact, your opponent will definitely know that you are bluffing. Look straight into their eyes when they look straight at yours.

Fourth, do not make your actions predictable. If possible, make your opponents feel uneasy. Confuse them and mess with their heads. Be aware and keep an eye on how your opponents act and react.

These are some things you should consider when playing poker. If you want to display a poker face like a pro, start practicing with your friends. Take advantage of rules that allow you to wear sunglasses or cap. Remember a scientific claim, our pupils dilate when excited. Study your face in the mirror, and study other people's faces. Practice makes perfect - or so the saying goes.

How to Become a Successful Poker Player

Discipline

If there was one word that summed up the good Poker players of the world, that word is discipline. Good card players have the discipline to wait for good hands and not play bad ones just because they are bored. Good Poker players have the discipline to know when to fold a hand. Good card players have enough discipline that they can overcome the emotional hurdles that every Poker player gets. Good Poker players also have the discipline to constantly work towards improvement.

Every one of the things discussed above is a factor of major importance in becoming a successful poker player. This is true for both online poker and its conventional offline counterpart. Therefore, if you want to become a successful poker player, you are going to need to hone your discipline to the point where it is easily your strongest quality. While this might not seem necessary to some, please understand that it is the single most important thing that you can do along the road to becoming a successful poker professional player.

Study

In addition to maintaining discipline in all of the things you do in online poker, becoming a successful poker player also involves study. You are never going to get better unless you go back and analyze what you have done. This is extremely easy to do in online poker because all of the websites provide you with hand histories that you can comb over to see what you did right, what you did wrong and what was somewhat in between. Studying is one of the most important things that successful poker players do. You will notice that most successful poker professional have excellent memories of past hands and this is primarily because they went back and studied those hands in detail.

Practice

Even the most studious card player will not become successful until they start applying what they learn through study. It is one thing to know that Q-10 is a terrible hand in early position, but it is quite another thing entirely to actually have the discipline to fold that hand when you haven't seen anything good in two rounds of the table. Likewise, it is one thing to know that you tend to chase flushes when the pot odds are against you, but it is quite another thing to actually fold that four flush on the flop to one bet instead of stubbornly pushing through. Application of your study in practice is the thing that will ultimately make you the successful card player you want to be.

Poker - How To Build A Bankroll

Building a bankroll playing Poker is one of the most important steps towards becoming a serious Poker player. Before you even decide to play Poker, put aside some money that you can afford to lose. I would recommend searching for online Poker bonuses and depositing a small amount. Look for online poker rooms that offer a deposit bonus simply for signing up. After you have your account name selected and money deposited, it's time to start playing poker. The natural tendency is to play the highest limits possible because you can win more. If you are serious about building a bankroll, you should start at the lowest limit possible. Play in some single table tournaments called Sit And Goes. In these one-table tournaments, you pay a small buy-in and get tournament chips. Usually, the top two or three players get a cash prize. By playing these small buy-in tournaments, you will learn a lot about poker at a very low cost.

Always play at a level where you can afford to lose the money. Slowly and surely you will get better at poker. As you get better, you will win more money and your bankroll will start to grow. Move up to the next poker limit when you are comfortable with the amount of money in play. If you find that the money is affecting your decisions, you are playing at too high of a limit. Move back to the lower limit where you are comfortable and continue to build your bankroll. Focus on your skill level rather than the size of your bankroll. Fight the urge to play at limits that are too large for your bankroll. Most players are playing at a limit that is too high for their bankroll. Usually, these players are the ones who eventually lose and start back at square one. Bankroll building requires patience, persistence, and an ambition to improve your skill.

Poker Strategy Answers - Playing Ace Jack

In our continuation of Poker strategy answers today I will be addressing how to play Ace Jack correctly. Now to do so we're going to have to reclassify Ace Jack from a strong hand to a drawing hand. Why, you ask? Let's find out.

When you raise with Ace Jack at a tight table, regardless of position, you are only doing one thing: allowing your opponents to mask the strength of their hand. If the table is tight the only people who will be calling you will be holding a pocket pair, ace queen, ace king, ace ten, or in the best case scenario ace something suited. In the majority of these cases you're behind by quite a bit, with the exception of the ace with a lower kicker.

Let's say for instance you raise pre-flop with Ace Jack and spike a Jack on the flop. An opponent whose hand strength has now been masked could easily be holding Queens, Kings, or Aces and is way ahead of you in the hand now. If you spike an Ace on the flop your opponent could out kick you with a Queen or a King. For these reasons we must reclassify Ace Jack to a drawing hand, in the same realm as Ace something suited and Ace Ten.

Now with drawing hands you are typically looking for two pair, trips, straights or flushes. Ace Jack suited is a much stronger drawing hand than Ace Jack, but regardless Ace Jack can still be a decent drawing hand. Now you won't be pushing as hard with a pair of jacks or a pair of aces but rather waiting for two pair or better.

If you understand how to read an opponent correctly, you may be able to save yourself some chips when your opponent out-kicks you. But if you opponent does indeed out kick you it will cost you part of your stack to find out. These types of bets are known as value bets and are executed to see where you currently stand in a hand. Typically value bets are about half the size of the pot or lower in an effort to see who will call, fold, or re-raise. In the case of a re-raise you know you're way behind. In the case of a call you have to look at how your opponent played previous hands on whether or not you should continue.

If you're up against an opponent who loves to trap or slow-play than betting on the turn is not advisable. If you're up against an opponent who loves to draw at hands than by all means you should bet the turn. As with any hand the way you should play it will be defined by the opponents currently in the hand with you.

Now if you're lucky enough to spike two pair or a straight you should also execute the value bet strategy. An opponent holding Ace King or Ace Queen will, in most cases, not put you on two pair and will either call along to the river or attempt to push you off of your hand. If they try to push you off your hand, come back over the top of them with a strong re-raise. This is the time when Ace Jack will really pay off for you, is heads up against someone who has paired their Ace with a great kicker but hasn't put you on two pair.

When it comes to pre-flop it's totally acceptable to fold Ace Jack to a raise. You're either dominated or drawing, and you don't want to be in either scenario with your chips in the pot. By playing Ace Jack as though you would a drawing hand, from middle to late position against smaller sized raises or with a smaller sized raise you increase the likelihood of picking up the pot.

Poker Super Star - Can You Become a Millionaire?

The 'super star' used to be an extremely rare breed of Poker player. However, with the advent of televised tournaments such as the World Series of Poker, there are now many more well known stars around.

Numerous how to guides and books have been written that claim to help you become a millionaire by learning how to play the game extremely well. Several of these books give you great tips on how to handle your cards and attitudes at the table.

Most famous players knew nothing at all about the game before they started to play it. Chris Ferguson, also known as Jesus, was one of these people. He took a mathematical approach to the game to give himself an upper hand.

Greg Raymer who won the 2004 World Series was a patent attorney before he came to fame by playing Poker. He earned enough through his winnings and sponsorships that he quit his job as a patent attorney. He is now playing in tournaments full time.

Several women have also managed to become especially good players. Jennifer Tilly won the 2005 World Series. Before she came to fame as a gambling champion she was an actress in movies such as Liar Liar, with Jim Carrey.

You do not have to have an extensive history as a cards player to become a poker super star. You just have to know how to play the game, and make sure that you play it well. A little luck doesn't hurt either, but if you become an expert and are better than others you will eventually gain the upper hand and win big.

Even though you might not become a millionaire just by becoming a famous player, you can invest your winnings on the stock market or in a business venture, thereby increasing your chances for long-term financial success.