Wholesome Harvest

It is a truism that today’s mainstream culture is extremely obsessed with celebrities. Gossip-mongers like the infamous Perez Hilton make their living from spreading and corroborating rumors about the (supposedly) famous and glamorous. Thus, it is not at all a surprise that poker tournaments are dominated by celebrities would make quite a big splash. However, exactly what kind of splash this would be is rather open to question. How do celebrity poker tournaments affect the image and popularity of poker in general?

It is quite possible that many of the people who have recently gotten in to poker did so partly because they saw one of their favorite celebrities playing it on TV. Can such players ever be taken seriously? Undoubtedly, at least some of them will decide not to stick with their new hobby, while others will take to it like a proverbial duck to water.

We may also as well bring up the issue of the “caliber” of the particular celebrities associated with televised poker tournaments. For example, a game featuring Brad Pitt (if only!) would be quite different from one featuring Wendy Pepper, the woman who became the designated villain of one of the seasons of Project Runway. Is poker a game for A-listers or for former, widely pilloried reality show contestants? The answer to this question can be reasonably argued to have implications for poker’s image in popular culture. Of course, it is quite possible for the same tournaments to include a wide range of celebrities. This may result in a confusing public image for poker, one with a rather ambiguous hipness factor.

We can also discuss the attitude to money displayed in matches dominated by Hollywood’s royalty, or at least its minor peerage. On the one hand, these people are amateur players. They do not make their living from FullTiltPoker.com. On the other hand, they probably have much more money to spend than most amateur players do, and can afford to risk and lose higher amounts more casually. Thus, an amateur watching a celebrity poker match may come to have a distorted view of the way money should be approached and used in poker. To the amateur, money is a scarce and volatile resource, while to the professional, it is a tool. To many celebrity players, it is neither, and people who become “students” of such players might not know the appropriate way to use their funds.

Many owners of poker sites are probably quite grateful for the free, indirect publicity offered by celebrity poker tournaments. The resulting glitz-fueled poker boom may be the temporary (and fading already, according to some sources), but it much better than no boom at all. However, for their own sakes, the people who gained from this boom should not get too used to their currently rosy situation. For example, owners of prosperous poker sites may start to lose their customers. Professional poker sharks such as Phil Ivey may find that that poker halls and tournaments suddenly contain fewer rookies to prey upon. In other words, the best attitude toward a trend is one of flexibility and non-attachment. Riding a trend can be a great move, but one should also be able to let go of said trend once it fades.

Potato chips, nachos, pizza, soda, beer, etc, etc, etc. These are the staples of any good poker game. Those who have played poker know the diet well. High in sodium, carbohydrates and fat these foods go with poker just as much as smoking does. Many pokers players show the results of these diets, if you have watched these games on television you may see that they are definite similarities in their physical appearance. Poker can now be watched on many stations and the health effects can be quite apparent. With all the money poker player can make you would think they would want to take care of their bodies a little better. Eating organic food can not only improve you appearance but give you a better sense of well being and most importantly increase your concentration, something that will always come in handy in poker.

Organic diets can do wonders for the human body, the environment and most importantly the mind. Organic foods tend to retain higher amounts of vitamins and minerals in them which lead to the wonderful health benefits they provide. These benefits can include many things. Lower blood pressure, an improved metabolism and increased concentration are just a few of the health benefits you will enjoy from eating organic foods. Increased concentration is the one that lends itself to success in poker. Concentration and focus is the name of the game in poker and eating an organic diet can be an important part of accomplishing this.

When playing poker online you need to be aware, conscious of every move that is made. You need to be able to remember what your opponents have done and what cards have been exposed. Eating organic food will help you develop the concentration necessary to accomplish these tasks and be a keen observer when playing in any game of poker. Counting the cards that have been burned and figuring out your odds of making your hand based on which cards are left in play all in your head is a tall order. It can be made even taller should you be eating a poor diet or drinking alcohol. Though it is an uncommon image the player with organic avocado spread on organic wheat toast may have the edge needed against one with a hand full of chips and a mug of his, or her, favorite ale. Whatever it takes you need to be aware of what is going on around you at all times in poker and organic foods can help you get there.

Poker is a game that takes a keen mind. You must be able to collect you cards, evaluate your hand, analyze your opponents’ faces and calculate the amount you should wager all in an instant. As the game goes on fatigue begins to set in and stamina becomes a desired asset. With an organic diet you will benefit from a mind that is not only sharp but sharp with a high level of endurance.

How to Play Five-Card Poker

Be taught how to play five-card draw poker. This policy guide will get you started in the game in addition to help you to become a winner. Going back to the early days of poker, in the time of riverboat gambling and Wild West gunslingers, five-card illustrate was the biggest pastime in town. This granddaddy of poker became hooked on its present appearance during the American Civil War. It remained the most popular poker game up until the near the beginning twentieth century when it was surpassed by stud poker. Though it is hardly played in casinos or tournaments nowadays, five-card draw remains a very popular alternative for playing at home. It is an outstanding game for new poker players since it is simpler than the other poker variants, while still having nearly identical strategies and concepts.

To start playing in recreation five-card draw, every player first pays a fee, called the gamble, which goes into a pot in the middle of the table. Then all and players are dealt five cards, one at a time, face down. Subsequently there is a round of betting, starting with the player to the dealer’s left. This player can place a bet, pass or fold his hand. Betting continues clockwise in the round the table. Dramatis personae can pass as long as no one previous to them has opened the betting. If a big name has positioned a bet, subsequently the other players must either call the bet or fold their hand. Or they can decide to raise the bet. Gambling continues approximately to the dealer. The gambling round is complete after all the players have either called any exceptional bets and raises or folded their hands. If all and sundry approved or folded without betting, then the hands are taken away, and a new hand is dealt.

After the first surrounding of betting is finished, any FullTiltPoker players left in the hand over can abandon any or all of their cards and draw substitution cards to try to get a better hand. The player to the dealer’s left throw-outs first, continuing clockwise round the table until all players left in the hand have had the chance to get rid of their superfluous cards. The banker then deals each player their substitute cards, face down, to start with on the left going clockwise around the table. At this point, all the players should have five cards in their hands again.

Next, there is another round of betting. The gambling method is the same as the first round. When there is only one poker player left at the end of the gambling round, that player wins the pot without having to show his or her cards. If more than one player remains at the end, then there is an argument. The players who shows the best hand wins the pot.

One has to wonder how www.BetFair.com Poker could be suffering from such stability issues with the World Series of Poker Europe, sponsored by BetFair, only a week away. Even BodogPoker, who’s suffered their own share of financial difficulties in recent months, has reportedly out-performed BetFair Poker.

BetFair Poker immediately took the opportunity to latch onto the inaugural WSOP Europe last year, expecting a potentially significant increase in membership at the online poker room. Apparently this has not been the case, as BetFair Poker continues to struggle in the vast online gambling market.

Among the top ranked online poker rooms in regards to active, real-money player traffic (as of September 15, 2008), BetFair Poker comes in at the 16th position, just ahead PKRPoker.com and two spots behind www.BodogPoker.com. In terms of online poker rooms that do not accept US players, the top three online poker networks are the iPoker Network, PartyPoker and the OnGame Network, with BetFair taking the 9th spot.

BodogPoker has made headlines since early summer, 2008, starting with the seizure of several bank accounts (as reported by Forbes.com), and followed up with the lay-off of 200 employees and numerous reports of bounced checks from affiliates. Even so, BodogPoker sits two positions above BetFair Poker.

PokerStar.net, the largest online poker room in the world (US players accepted) upstaged BetFair Poker last weekend at EPT Barcelona when BetFair’s contracted endorsement deal with Canadian pro Sorel Mizzi was overshadowed by his label “PokerStars.net Qualifier”, as listed by organizers of the EPT title event.

BetFair had another idea to increase its popularity – inviting record-breaking Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps to take a seat at the WSOP Satellites, on the house. Phelps, though appreciative of the offer, chose instead to endorse the legendary Doyle Brunson by teaming up with DoylesRoomPoker.

Even though its online poker room has struggled with campaigns for increased traffic, cherry red casino continues to hold the top position in the UK online betting exchange market, raking in more than £50 million per week. That kind of success should ensure BetFair’s impeccable financial security across all gambling markets.

After extensive research and noting reviews for these websites, a list has been gathered to present to you the top ten picks when it comes to some of the hottest places to play blackjack online today. This list covers anywhere from casinos to sports betting, number one on this list is a great site for sports betting.

Bodog offers great betting bonuses and twenty four hour customer service to their patrons. Bodog has been a good secure site for over thirteen years and is founded by Calvin Ayre. This site is said to be the best in the business at www.bodog.com. Bodog is also a great online casino site. The second pick is for best casino online goes to Club USA Casino. Club USA offers a $777 bonus with no minimum cash out with twenty four hour customer service any time and anywhere at www.clubworldcasinos.com.

The third pick is Poker Stars for the best poker game action. They have great sit and go games with around the clock tournaments. You can find this website at www.PokerStars.com. So if you love poker with a passion this is the site to be. Coming in at fourth place is www.absolutepoker.com with great VIP access and if you tire of having to download all other sites programs, this website offers the convenience of easy access play requiring absolutely no downloads.

When you want to just sit back and play blackjack, number five on our list here is party casino. They have daily specials and you can even play online slot machines as there, this site doesn’t just limit you to bingo alone. So check it out. If you love to bet but don’t like to sit there idol waiting for some action while betting on your favorite team check out Sports Chat coming in at number six on the list. Chat topics include predictions, handicapping analysis, poker talk and any other gambling related chatter.

In at number seven is a site that has everything casino, poker and sports, you name it. This site is called Player Only. This website is secure and also offer up to 10% unlimited sign on bonus. At number eight on the slot VIP Casino offers blackjack, craps and multi-line slot machines at all hours of the night. This site has unique betting opportunities indeed and it is professional and secure as well for its many members and potential members.

Second to last at number nine is Superbook offering free tournaments every week and free game flash games downloads and more. Superbook has great games like three card poker, pachinko and Casino Hold’em. Tenth and last one our list here is www.inetbet.com having free game downloads and inetbet wireless allowing you to place your bets anytime, anywhere. Www.inetbet.com has been around since 1999, being one of the oldest online gambling sites on the web today. After much research and comparisons these truly are some of the best gambling websites on the Internet today and do not be shy about trying any of these great sites out.

When was the last time you lost with Four of a Kind and received thousands of dollars for it?

With the Full Tilt Poker Progressive Bad Beat Jackpot, you can!

If you lose a hand with Four of a Kind 8s or better, you may qualify to win our Bad Beat Jackpot. Read below for details.

Progressive Bad Beat rules:

* To qualify for the Jackpot:

o The losing hand must contain Four-of-a Kind, 8’s or better.

o Four or more players must be dealt into the hand.

o The hand must be a raked hand and the Jackpot contribution is collected from the hand.

o The best hand of the winner and the loser must include both the hole cards, and the hand must go to a showdown.

* The Jackpot contribution is only collected once during a hand.

* The value of the Jackpot contribution is $0.50. Once the rake has reached $1.00, an additional $0.50 is taken for the Bad Beat Progressive.

* The Jackpot contribution is displayed as a separate rake chip stack, to the right of the normal rake chip stack, on the chip tray.

* Jackpot contributions are accumulated until the Jackpot is won.

* The current Bad Beat Jackpot value is displayed in the Lobby and on every Jackpot table.

* The Bad Beat Jackpot applies to specified tables only. Players must be seated at one of these tables and actively participate in the hand to qualify for any payouts.

* Players can qualify for the table share of the Jackpot if they were dealt into the hand but folded before the showdown.

* If the minimum number of players does not participate in the hand, the hand does not qualify for the progressive and the progressive rake is not taken.

* If there are more than two hands involved in a Bad Beat in a hand, then the two highest hands are considered for the Jackpot. The higher of the two hands is the winning hand and the other hand wins the Bad Beat.

* In the event that two qualifying Jackpot hands occur at the same time, the hand that is completed first is awarded the Bad Beat Jackpot.

* Players must play their hands independently. Players cannot tell opponents what to do or to reveal their hand to other players. Any contravention of this will result in the hand being disqualified for the Jackpot.

* The percentage payout of the Jackpot is as follows:

o 70% is distributed as winnings:

+ 50% to the losing hand, the Bad Beat

+ 25% to the winner of the hand

+ 25% evenly split between the other Players who actively participated in the hand

o 20% is used to seed the next Jackpot

o 10% is used for administration

As far as strategy goes, Pai Gow poker is all about balancing your strength between your five-card poker hand and your two-card poker hand. Go to heavy on either one, you run the risk of losing the other and winning nothing at all. Go to weak on both, well, you’re going to lose anyway. My point, though, is that while you think you might be breaking up a monster hand, in reality you’re doing yourself a favor by maximizing your odds of coming out a winner.

And let me say, strategy is everything in this game. You’re not bluffing anybody out, you’re not playing against the other players, you’re only decision is really how you arrange your cards. So don’t let a gut instinct take you for a ride. Your gut is wrong, that’s why it weighs 100 lbs. by itself.

So if you keep this in mind, much of what I’ll follow with will hopefully come across as common sense. Don’t dismiss it as such, though. Pay attention to the pokerstars strategy and remember these choices, they’ll likely help give you an advantage when it matters.

Starting at the bottom, if you find your Poker Stars seven-card hand void of even a single pair, put your highest single card in the five-card hand, and your next highest 2 cards in the two-card hand.

If you have a single pair, you’re going to want to put that in your five-card hand, without exception. Then your two highest single cards (non-paired cards) make up your two-card hand.

It can get a little tricky when you have two-pair on Cake Poker, but if you’re hesitant, you’ll want to split them up and put the higher pair in your five-card hand and the lower pair in your two-card hand. In certain, rare situations when you’re other cards contain two high singles, such as a king, queen or and ace, 10…those will end up being worth about just as much as a low pair, so your chances are better leaving the two high singles as your two-card hand and keeping the two-pair together as part of your five-card hand.

With three of a kind on absolutepoker download, there’s a breaking point where you’ll want to break up the hand, but different experts disagree on where it should be. However, it’s generally accepted that if you have three Aces or Kings, you break it up and put the pair in the five-card hand and the high single in the two-card hand. Ultimately, whether you want to do this with a queen, as well, is up to you. But anything lower you should keep the three of a kind together in the five-card hand, and the next highest two singles go in the two-card hard.

Those are the plays for the majority of the hands you’ll end up seeing.

A tell in poker is associated with the physical signs that one gives away during the game which tells about the strength or the weakness of the hand. Poker tells are a very important aspect of the game. However, in many situations these are considered to be less important in comparison to all the advanced strategies. It is very crucial to study your opponents well during the game in order to get an idea about the cards that they are holding and also about their playing style.

Even when you are not playing a hand you should still observe your FullTilt opponents and try to identify behavioral traits which can be then related to his/her playing style, emotions, actions and their cards. You could also try to guess their hand based on these tells before the final showdown. As you would become better you would be able to guess more accurately. When it comes to the online games, there are no physical opponents and so the only tells in online poker are the betting patterns.

Tells in Online Poker

· In a limit game a very quick raise at the flop would mean the opponent is holding a strong pair.

· If there are two straight cards or two flush cards on the board and the opponent calls quickly, it would mean a draw.

· A player who is taking too long to think and is debating calling would have a weaker hand.

· If a player thinks for sometime and then raises then it would not be a bluff.

· Any player who frequently raises preflop and then folds when someone bets on the flop is likely to be closer to tilt.

Tells in Live Poker

· If a player puts a hand over the mouth it could be a sign of having a strong hand.

· A player whose hands are shaking would be nervous and it would mean that either he/she is bluffing or has a monster hand.

· Anyone who reaches out for a drink would also be nervous.

· If a Full Tilt Poker player stares intently at you for long then it could be a sign of bluffing.

· If a player is very quick to act at the flop then chances are that he/she has a strong hand.

· If a player stares at his/her cards at the flop then it would be a sign that the hand is not strong and that the player is taking time to think about all the potential hands.

· If a player looks at the flop for a short second and then quickly looks away or looks at the chips then it is a sign of a strong hand since the decision to bet would be really easy.

· A player who is staring at another player would mean that he/she is nervous that he is going to be raised or called. If there is any other sign of anxiety then it would support this analysis.

As much as it might baffle you how someone could walk into a casino.com and actually sit down at a War table, it’s equally as perplexing to me that the casinos offer this game to begin with. But the answer is simple. If people will play and the house can make money, it’s a no-brainer. Speaking of no-brainers, here’s how the rules stack up in what likely will seem more or less exactly like what you’ve been used to playing since your grandfather taught you when you were five.

You place your bet at this casino game, and the dealer gives you one card and himself one card. Even money payout, if you have the higher card, you win. If you have the lower card, you lose. But, but what about a tie? A war, you say? Hold onto your hats, here’s where it gets interesting. Most casinos will give you a choice at this point. You can either surrender (huh?) and forfeit half your money, or you can…wait for it…go to war with the casino, which will require you to put up extra money.

Statistically speaking, never surrender your hand. It changes the dealer advantage from somewhere around 2% to closer to 5% in the long run. Besides, you’re not a communist, are you? Go to war, dammit!

Of course, you’re still in for a less-than-ideal proposition here than you would be at the blackjack table. Because if your war card (the dealer will discard three before giving you and himself another card) is equal to or greater than the dealer’s war card…all you win is your initial bet back. But if your card is worse, you lose your initial bet and the war bet.

Some casinos pay out a bonus if you tie the war card, too, but it’s a rare occurrence (finding a casino that offers it, that is).

If you’re waiting for strategy, you can move on. I got nothing for you other than if you’re going to actually play this game, finish it through each time and bet the war. Mathematically, you’ll be doing yourself a favor in the long run. What exactly is casino war good for? Well your odds of winning fall somewhere around 46, 47%…so while not the worst in the casino, they’re certainly no the best. Hell, you could probably do better running quarters into the video poker machines a few feet down from you, and you wouldn’t be “that guy” playing war in a casino, either. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.