Posts Tagged ‘Online Poker’
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
A few times a month I get together with some friends to play poker. Last night, one of my buddies was totally off his game. Usually he kills the rest of us at poker, but last night he was playing worse than I’ve ever seen him play before. I asked him what was up and he told me he was out of practice. He and his wife are saving up for a nice vacation later this summer so he hasn’t been playing poker online.
My friend is a big online poker player, but he only plays for real money. He tries to get in at least an hour a night, but in order to avoid losing valuable vacation money he had taken a break from online poker and his game really suffered because of it. I asked him why he didn’t continue playing free games, just to brush up on his skills, and he said that oddly enough he hadn’t even considered that idea.
If I could only give online poker players one piece of advice it would be this: Don’t write off free online poker games! I understand that playing poker for real money is exciting, but sometimes if you are saving money like my friend, or just want to get in a little bit of free poker practice, a free game can be great.
The next time you are thinking about taking a day, or a week or a month off from your real money online poker games to save money, just switch to a free game. You’ll thank yourself for it when you get back to the real money gaming.
Tags: Free Online Poker, Free Poker, Online Poker, poker, practice
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Thursday, July 8th, 2010
When you play in real money poker tournaments online, of course your objective is to make money. However, if you stick to playing in the low-limit sit-and-go tournaments you won’t be able to maximize your profits efficiently. Read on for some tips about how to make money when you play in sit-and-go and other tournaments online.
For starters, think about the payoff versus your time. If the first prize in a 1-hour sit-and-go is $5 it’s probably not worth you time, unless your main objective is to work on your tournament skills. You probably wouldn’t do your day job for $5 an hour so think about how much money your time is worth before you sign up to play in a online poker tournament.
It is also important to choose a tournament where you will be competing against other people who play at your same level. If you play against more experience poker players in a tournament then your chances of winning and making any money are pretty slim. Start out with lower level tournaments and work your way up as you win in order to find the perfect level for you. Usually the more experienced players play in more expensive tournaments.
If you need to brush up on your poker skills before you start in with real money tournament play then practice with a free poker game online. Once you are ready for real money play, don’t forget to have fun. Because after all, the time and money isn’t worth it if you aren’t having a good time!
Tags: Free Poker, Online Poker, poker, Poker Tournaments, Sit-and-Go Tournaments
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Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
In the world of online poker there are a log of myths and rumors circulating. I thought I’d take the time to talk about and debunk a few of the most common myths about online poker. Following are some common misconceptions about online poker and explanations of why they aren’t true.
Online Poker Myth #1: All you have to do in order to win is read your opponents.
A lot of players think that they can win big at online poker by simply reading their opponents. These players think that it doesn’t matter what cards you have – if you can tell that your opponent is bluffing or that your opponent has a great hand then you can act accordingly. The truth of the matter is, your hand is the most important factor in your game. If you don’t have a good hand you should fold and if you have a strong hand you should play it accordingly.
Online Poker Myth #2: When you start playing, online poker sites will give you good cards so you’ll stick around.
This myth is just like the myth that casinos put loose slots near the entrances to attract new players. This is absolutely false. Poker sites use software that deals cards in a completely random fashion to ensure fair gaming.
Online Poker Myth #3: There are hacker players out there that can see everyone’s hole cards.
While there have been instances of high level online casino employees setting themselves up with “super user” poker accounts, this type of occurrence is incredibly rare. You shouldn’t worry that anyone can see your cards.
Tags: Casino, Myths, Online Poker, poker
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Thursday, June 10th, 2010
One of the greatest perks of playing online poker is that you can play from anywhere that you have a computer with an Internet connection. However, one thing that a lot of people don’t think about when playing online poker is the environment where they are playing. Creating a comfortable environment that will support your chances of concentrating and winning is extremely important.
You want to make sure that you are in an environment that is free of distractions. For instance, an Internet cafe or noisy coffee shop may not be the ultimate environment for poker gaming, as you will have a lot of people around you to distract you from what really matters – the poker game. The same goes for when you play at home. You shouldn’t play with the television on, or while your kids are running around the house. Especially when there’s money on the line it never pays to be distracted.
Your mental environment is just as important as your physical one, when it comes to poker. You want to make sure that you are feeling relaxed and stress free before you sit down to play online poker. If you have other things on your mind you won’t be able to concentrate and play to your full potential.
Sometimes it can be smart to play free poker for a while before you start playing with real money, to make sure that you are in a good environment, both physically and mentally.
Tags: Environment, Free Poker, Online Poker, poker
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Thursday, April 8th, 2010
Playing online poker for free and playing real money poker games can be totally different experiences. After all, when you have your own money on the line the entire dynamic of the game changes.
When I play free poker I am much more relaxed. After all, in free poker games I usually have a much larger bankroll and I’m not stressed about losing money so I’m willing to play much more aggressively. However, as soon as I start playing poker with my own money, my whole attitude changes. I am much less likely to call or raise than in a free game, where I could easily go all-in and not care at all if I lose. After all, when you play for free all you have to do is refresh the page and your bankroll will refresh as well!
The reason that I bring this up is that many poker players make the mistake of taking too many liberties when they play free online poker games for practice. After all, if you play super aggressively in a free game it won’t help you improve your real money game if you like to play tight when you are playing on your own bankroll. Therefore, if you really want to improve your skills then you should play every free game as if you were playing with your real money.
When you are ready to start playing real money games it is important to choose a poker game with limits that meet your personal bankroll to avoid big losses.
Tags: Free Poker, Online Poker, poker games, strategy
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Friday, March 12th, 2010
When it comes to playing poker online a lot of players just don’t seem to know how to behave. From making rude comments in chat to being inattentive during game play, it’s amazing how many online poker players don’t adhere to the rules of poker etiquette. If you are new to playing poker online then it is important to follow certain etiquette rules. By sticking to the following rules you can ensure the best possible online poker experience, whether you are playing free poker or playing for real money.
The first rule of poker etiquette concerns the chat box. Many players think that because their opponents can’t see them they can take extra liberties and be downright rude when chatting during a poker game. It is important to keep your language clean-no swearing! Additionally, don’t be rude or poke fun at the other players in the game and never comment on how another player should play a hand. In other words, treat the other players as you would want to be treated.
Pacing is also an important part of online poker etiquette. You should make all your moves in a timely fashion to keep the game moving. The longer it takes you to decide to bet, call, fold or raise the longer the other players will have to wait for the game to move forward. Make advance actions when you can and avoid slowing down the game.
If you adhere to these simple rules of poker etiquette then you can make the game more pleasant for yourself and your opponents.
Tags: chat, etiquette, Free Poker, Online Poker, poker
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Today in Florida a bill was filed that will potentially legalize online gambling within the state. The bill, named the Internet Poker Consumer Protection and Revenue Generation Act of 2010 (HB 1441), would ensure the protection of consumers while recognizing and regulating intrastate Internet poker sites.
The bill was filed by Florida’s democratic State Representative Joseph Abruzzo. Abruzzo expects the bill will generate over $200 million per year, as over 900,000 Floridians are estimated to gamble online. An additional source of tax revenue is vital in Florida, as the state is currently facing a deficit worth more than $3.2 billion. The bill also states that Florida would collect a fee of $500,000 from Internet poker operators in the state, as well as 20 percent of the sites’ monthly revenues. Online poker players must be at least 21 years old as well as present in the state of Florida while playing.
If HB 1441 is passed it will go into effect on July 1 of this year. Florida is not the only state that is considering passing pro-online poker legislation. The states of New Jersey, California and Iowa, as well as a number of other states, are also considering opening up to the idea of intrastate poker. Legalizing online poker is proving to be a great way to increase revenues during the country’s current economic troubles. I, for one, am interested to see how long it will be before online poker is legalized and regulated throughout the entire United States.
Tags: Florida, HB 1441, intrastate poker, legislation, Online Poker, poker
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Friday, February 26th, 2010
If you are new to the world of online poker then it can be a little intimidating. For starters, there are a huge number of online poker sites to choose from and it can be hard for a beginner to differentiate from the good and the bad. Aside from that, even the most experienced offline poker player can find it overwhelming getting used to playing poker on a computer screen, rather than at a table of friends with a real deck of cards.
Free poker is one of the best ways to ease yourself into the world of online poker. For starters, a free game of poker is a great way to figure out how the online poker interface works. You can play free instant games against the computer to get used to playing online before you even have to download software or commit to any one online poker site.
If you are new to poker in general, as well as to playing online, then a free game is a great way to learn the rules as well. You can try out several different poker variations to find out which games you like best and practice to improve your skills.
Once you have tested out the waters with a free game you will find that choosing an online poker room will be much less intimidating. You’ll know how poker software works and be ready to choose a site with an interface, as well as game selection, that suits your needs.
Tags: Free Poker, Online Poker, poker software, poker variations
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Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
It’s no surprise that House Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts supports online poker, with his very public work to overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) over the past couple of years. By the same token, other congressmen such as New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez have also publicly supporting online gambling. However, in recent months more and more political figures are coming out of the woodwork to support the licensing and regulation of online poker.
Nevada Senator Harry Reid, a democrat, first hinted at his possible support of regulating online gambling sites when he sent a letter asking for the delay of the UIGEA in 2006. Poker Players Alliance (PPA) executive director, John Pappas, says that while he isn’t one hundred percent sure that Reid has come around on the issue, he believes that “[Reid] recognizes that there’s some serious failures in the UIGEA.” The PPA finds the fact that Reid sent this letter very encouraging.
In fact, the PPA has been so encouraged by Senator Reid that they are supporting him in his campaign for reelection. However, Senator Reid has not yet come out and said that he would support licensing of online casinos in the United States, in part because he needs to watch out for the live casino industry, which thrives in Nevada, the home of Las Vegas.
Though Reid is not yet a sure thing, he is expected to become a supporter and other congressmen are expected to follow suit.
Tags: barney frank, harry reid, Online Poker, poker players alliance, ppa, robert menendez, uigea
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
One of the best ways that you can immerse yourself in the world of poker tournaments, especially when you are new to tournament style games, is by entering online poker freerolls. Freerolls are tournaments that you can enter for free, without paying an entry fee, but you can still win great prizes.
Freeroll tournaments are usually offered by online poker rooms as promotions in order to attract new players. In addition to welcome bonuses on first deposits, many online poker rooms give all new real money players the option to compete in a welcome freeroll tournament for cash and prizes. Poker rooms also offer special freerolls for VIPs, loyal players and other customers.
Why are freerolls so great? When you play in a freeroll you have the opportunity to get used to playing tournament style poker games without risking your own money. In non-freeroll tournaments you have to pay an entry fee and it can be scary paying money to play in a tournament if you have never competed in this way before. A freeroll is a great way to get used to tournament poker and who knows – you may even win!
If you decide you enjoy tournament style games after playing in a few freeroll tournaments you can start to enter real money poker tournaments. Start out with low limit tourneys and up your limits as you begin to win more and more. You can find freerolls at most online poker rooms.
Tags: Free Poker, freeroll, freerolls, Online Poker, poker, Poker Tournaments, tournament
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