ONLINE POKER

• How to Avoid Making the Worst Poker Mistakes

  “Most of the money you’ll win at poker comes not from the brilliance of your own play, but from the ineptitude of your opponents.”

  Can you spell mistakes? Lou Krieger (loukrieger.com), a life-long player that has written many books and columns on the subject, points out:
   
  “One of the mistakes made by beginning players lies in their quest for a strategy applicable in some formulaic fashion during a poker game.
   
  “In their search for rules, for a methodology, for a strategic model to apply in all situations, many new players ignore one of poker's core characteristics that’s missing in so many other gambling games: while strategic lines of reasoning seldom change, tactical methods are subject to situational adjustments.”
   
  Ah, as they say in newspaper circles, here are the nut graphs:
   
  “Beginning players – as well as more experienced players who, for one reason or another, begin to take the game seriously -- all too frequen...

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• Playing Texas Hold’em: Know When to Fold’em, Too

  There are tips galore online about how to play poker, especially Texas Hold’em, the cat’s meow nowadays.
   
  What caught my eye browsing the Internet were these two bits of advice:
   
  The two cards you hold are the only ones that set you apart from other players.
   
  All face-up cards are shared so focus on what they might mean to others as well as yourself, keeping alert for possible straights and flushes.
   
  I also learned that knowing when to fold’em is as important as knowing when to hold’em. I really like this strategy:
   
  “A lot of Texas Hold’em strategy is based on the cards in your hand. You must be willing to suffer through a series of poor hands without getting impatient. The good hands will come, eventually, and you’ll be in better position to take advantage of them if you don't waste your chips trying to get something out of nothing.
   
  “After seeing the flop, don’t be afraid to cut your losses. A com...

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• Three Little Words About Poker: Study, Practice, Know

  I culled casino websites and advice from the pros for helpful advice about playing poker online. Three little words are most important: study, practice, know.
   
  Study the game you figure on playing. Read everything you can from guides and books to tips and strategies. Better yet, consult a good poker player, maybe a relative or a friend. The more you absorb, the better you will do.
   
  The old joke -- How do you get to Carnegie Hall? -- holds true in poker: Practice, practice, practice. This means playing as often as you can. Play with your family or friends. Play for free on the numerous websites. Practice strategies. Just like in the many facets of life, practices gets you closer to perfect while you learn.
   
  Know you game, whether it’s draw, stud or Texas Hold’em. If you don’t know it thoroughly, you’ll be at a disadvantage. Cut down on your mistakes. Develop a winning strategy. Manage your money.
   
  Remember that online poker is...

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• Can You Turn the Dead Man’s Hand Into a Winner?

  Poker is probably the popular card game in the world.  Thanks to tournaments broadcast on television that attract interested observers and websites that lure online players, this card game has produced a variety of jargon embedded in every day language.
   
  Have you ever asked someone if they’re passing the buck or how things stack up? Have you called someone’s bluff? Had an ace up your sleeve? These are just a few of the poker expressions often repeated that remain with us.
   
  I’ve played poker for many years – at home in friendly penny ante games and on cruise ships at $5 tables. I’ve even tried my luck in Las Vegas while competing in a horse racing handicapping tournament. I did better at the casino table than in the racing contest.
   
  There’s an axiom I subscribe to: When you’re hot, like the old song, you’re hot. Take your chances while on a winning streak. For instance, I often draw to a full house or flush if I’m ahead and feel am on a...

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• Caribbean Stud Poker: Ins and Outs of the Game

  Caribbean stud poker was first played on Aruba near a pristine powder white beach not far from a high-class designer jewelry boutique.
   
  It was introduced in 1988 at Aruba’s Holiday Inn Hotel and Casino, now known as the SunSpree Resort and Excelsior Casino (www.excelsiorcasino.com), which has operated for 30 years.
   
  Las Vegas quickly took notice because the game is based on Five Card Stud, very popular in the United States that many players easily recognize.
   
  Now it can be played online at various websites.
   
  First, players ante up, receive their cards and get to view one of the dealer’s. They just play the hands dealt them. If players believe they can’t beat the dealer, they fold. If they think they have a better hand, they can increase their wager.
   
  If your hand beats the dealer’s, you receive even money for the ante wager while the call bet is paid according to a pay table that ranges from even money for a pair...

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