Posts Tagged ‘poker’

The ill effects of gambling when you are addicted to it

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Gambling can be addictive and addiction can lead you to obsession which would turn out to be a big problem that can even affect your life by leading you to financial crisis hence keeping a limit of time and stakes would save you from all the negative effects of gambling. Excessive gambling can make you very irresponsible by inducing you to spend most of your time in casinos and online gambling sites thus providing you less time to spend on other aspects of your life. You would cut relationship with your family and hence effect both your financial and family lives to a large extend.

Poker - The example of Dan Harrington

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

One need look no further then Dan Harrington for a great example of how the business and poker world’s collide. In fact in his case the comparison of business stretches not only to poker, but cards and gaming in general. Dan Harrington has used his gaming skills for success in business and also his business skills for success in texas holdem poker. He has used his knowledge not only for success at the poker table. He has also experienced huge financial success teaching his principals through successful poker books.

He is a great example of how for some, the two areas are pretty much the same. He has applied his skills at poker chip accumulation to raise money which could then go into solid business ventures. The great part about this is that once your poker bankroll is used to grow a large successful business you can then reverse and use that money to be able to throw your chips around without fear.

So for any budding entrepreneurs out there who also have a hunger for a clay poker chip in their hand, look to Dan Harrington’s story for some fantastic inspiration.

Poker - The Preparation depends on the game

Sunday, April 19th, 2009

When it comes to poker play my personal belief in terms of how much preparation is required depends on the context of the next game that I know I’ll be playing. The biggest determining factor for me is whether I am playing in a texas holdem poker tournament or a poker cash game where you will find each poker chip set at a monetary value that will not change. Also, if I’ve done something like planned a big trip to Las Vegas chip values go up across the board and I am more likely to spend more time prepping.

I find a specific poker tournament is more likely to get me into preparation mode. The reason for this is it is more of a structured event. From my point of view a poker tournament is more like a set game similar to something like a football game. There is a predetermined beginning and end. There are predetermined blind structures where the cash value per each clay poker chip will change. So, therefore you have a general idea going into it a structure, which is always easier to prepare for.

I read a great article about poker the game of preparation which better explains poker preparation strategies.

In poker your eyes can say it all

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

Body language, facial expressions, or nervous habits of any kind are key factors in the game of Poker. Whether you realize it or not, these tiny details can make or break your hand. If you have become “readable” to any other player at your table, it can end up costing you not only the poker chip lead, but depending upon how much you give away, quite possibly the very shirt off your back.

It is of utmost importance to be aware of everything that you do. The way that your body reacts to a hand can be a dead giveaway to the other players involved. For example, when you have a bad hand, if every time someone raises you a chip you pause to long between moves, this can be a “tell” to the other players that you are bluffing. You must learn the art of deception to avoid being read by other players.

Eyes are usually the first to show reaction in any given situation. In order to avoid this altogether, professional players have begun utilizing mirrored sunglasses at poker tables all across the globe. This allows them to hide a tell that they may have otherwise given away. Giving them that extra second to think without being scrutinized and figured out. Managing your mannerisms, and being aware of your body language and what it might be saying is the key to owning this game.

How to use art of deception in poker

Friday, January 30th, 2009

Most of poker players agree that body language is an essential tool to win the game at the poker table. A player can win the game by thoroughly observing the body language of their opponents as well as hiding their own or expressing misleading body language to the opposing players. The through study of body language needs lots of observation, patience and time. Maintaining an expressionless face which is unreadable is called a “poker-face” in poker terminology is a great asset.

A player can learn more about the body language of opposing players at the poker table, if he carefully observes them. Since there are some certain patterns of body languages that most of poker players give away, it is easier for the player to easily grasp the things that are going on in the minds of their opponents during the game. Even if the player is new to the betting systems of the Texas Hold’em chips, he can make a good impression on others through the application of the art of deception. Besides, the amount of the poker chips which are being raised will also give an idea about the opponent’s strategies. However, it is not easy to successfully apply the body language tactics against the experienced players since they are adept at deception.

If a player is expert in manipulating the opponent players through body movements, the poker game is already half won.

Winning Preflop Strategy in Texas Holdem

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

The style of the players in the game should always help determine your strategy. For instance, suppose you have a wild player 3 seat to the left of the poker table. If your turn is before him throw away your weaker hands. Anything that isn’t a big pair means a weaker hand! He or she will probably raise and there may be a re-raise before it gets back to you. However if he acts before you then you can assess the situation and can probably call a single raise even with the draw hands (65s, 33 etc) assuming there are several callers. Always keep in mind your drawing averages and your pot odds, though — even pre-flop. And they had better be decent drawing hands.

The key is that the stronger the absolute value of your hand the more you want to get chips in the pot pre-flop. Where as, with the draw hands, you want to see the flop as cheaply as possible and do your betting on the flop if you hit. Sometimes a raise before the flop can keep people from raising after the flop, in essence buying you a free card. Free, except for the price of a poker chip, that is.

A few poker events for the ladies

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

Was checking out wants out there regarding poker events. I ran into this site that has all these events for ladies into poker.  There are quite a few poker events that are taking place just for ladies. I wasn’t aware that they get that much action. One of the events, Gulf Coast Poker Championship, has been on going for 11 years. Pretty awesome stuff.

Taking Advantage of Conservative Players in Poker

Friday, January 2nd, 2009

Seat position is important in the game of poker especially when you are sitting at the table with conservative players. If you understand where the conservative players are at the table relative to your position you can take advantage with more aggression. Conservative players at the poker tables are likely to only play when their hands are at least moderately strong.

The faster you realize the betting patterns of conservative players, the more easily you can semi-bluff or bluff your way to improving your stack of poker chips. For example, if you notice that there is a conservative player behind you betting aggressively, chances are he/she has good cards and you should only stay in the hand if you do as well.

On the flip side, if you have a conservative player only checking or passively calling smaller chip bets to catch cards then you have the green light to bet aggressively. If you do not notice these tendencies and simply play the cards as they are dealt to you without respect to your position, you are missing a great opportunity to make money.

One has a better chance of winning at poker if they keep up with poker strategies.

Beating the poker champs and the clowns

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

Whether you’re playing against some of the greatest poker players in the world or just another Average Joe, you can’t let anyone get in your head. Once you get the chip lead at the table, someone will constantly be trying to get in your head. You have to keep playing your game, because your game got you that chip lead, and your game can keep it too, no matter what anyone is saying to you. Keeping a cool head is one of the most important things you can do at the table, no matter how much money you’re playing for or who it’s against.

A lot of times you’ll run into the professionals and at first, they can be a little intimidating. You have the same chances as they do as long as you don’t let them break down your game. It’s the same with the hecklers of the game; you have to keep your cool. Frustration will set in on them, because they’re not pulling you out of your comfort zone, getting your chips, and if they can’t pull you out of your zone, you can beat them. Poker is a game of numbers and judgment and as long as you don’t break down, you have the same chance of winning as the next guy, let the cards decide.

Cheating in Poker – A Guide to Spotting a Cheat

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Players who cheat at the casino game of poker typically work in pairs or groups because it is difficult to cheat individually, short of getting a good look at other players’ cards. In order to determine whether you are playing at a table with cheaters, players should pay particular attention to the action followed by any two particular players. The betting patterns of the players (and their chip set) should draw special attention if there is a suspicion of cheating.

Some tell-tale signs of cheating at the poker tables typically involve betting designed to attract enough money initially into the pot, then pushing other players out of the action. For example in the game of Texas Hold’em, you might see two players betting lightly on the first one or two rounds of betting to encourage other players to spend their Texas Holdem chips.

On the later rounds of chip betting in the same hand, the two players colluding together will drive the betting up to a high amount which can force other players out of the game. This plan can obviously backfire if they are playing against someone with a superior