Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Are Odds Calculators Considered Cheating?

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

oddscalc_ss1It may sound surprising, but these programs are not considered cheating tools. In respect to the odds calculator software, using these devices is no different then relying on a calculator to add, subtract, multiply and divide for you on a math test. Although these strategy calculators do provide you with information on the best probabilities based on your hand and your other opponents’ (depending on the tool you use), they do not provide you with extra turns, cards, or the ability to see another player’s hand. In short, odds calculators randomly work out the probabilities of your cards, nothing more.

That being said, in regards to certain player profiling programs (with the exception of poker tracker, as its purpose is to track every opponent you have played as you’ve played them), there are increasing debates on whether or not some of these programs should be allowed in online poker rooms.

The reason is because some programs allow the tracker to study the other opponent through the use of a program that follows the player being tracked from table to table. These programs record the players playing style, and the tracker gains all of this information without ever having to play that particular player repeatedly in order to come to this conclusion on their own. Thus, some believe that the players who are being constantly tracked are given an unfair advantage when faced against the player who has tracked them, as the tracker already has a good idea when the other player will fold, call, raise or bluff. Currently player profiling software is not illegal, but there is no question that the use of such programs is sneaky, and takes the fun and excitement out of the joy of truly outwitting your fellow opponents and winning the pot.

Table-Hopping

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Table-hopping is the use of card counting to avoid playing when the odds are against the player. There are many advantages to this style of play.

  • Little or no money is lost playing negative counts.
  • The standard deviation is reduced by playing fewer hands.
  • A smaller bankroll is required.
  • A large bet spread is not needed.
  • No time is wasted playing out shoes that will never turn favourable.
  • Crowded conditions become an asset instead of a liability
  • There is no need to learn playing strategy variations for negative decks.

There are two complementary forms of table-hopping: Back-Counting and Table Departure. tablehopping

Back-counting is keeping the count at a table without having a hand in play. The player does not enter the game until the count indicates a slight edge for the player. Some counters are even more selective and wait for an advantage of a full 1% or more before joining the table.

Table departure is abandoning the table when the count is so low that the rest of the shoe is unlikely to be favourable to the player. The main variations on this theme are taking a break and returning when the cards are shuffled or finding a different table. The system does not differentiate between large and small player disadvantages, but as a rule, the count should be rising throughout the shoe. If a large number of cards have been seen and the count is still at or below the starting count it may be a good time to miss some hands. The idea is to leave the table when the player has a disadvantage greater than about 1.0%.

Making Good Decisions

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

craps-sevenThe human mind is the most complex creation of nature. There would be times when you think you are in complete control of yourself and it turns opposite. There are numerous psychological studies which have proven that the brain does not perceive the things as you want it to. It possesses its own individual skills and this could be reflected the most in all forms of gambling.

Your decisions would hold the power to make or break your game. In addition, you must also be able to play the game with a balance of playability and analysis. The power of imagination and suggestion is of utmost importance here.

Get a Good Start

All gambling games require a good start. Develop an algorithm which would support you in times of crisis or if you are going through a losing streak. You would require some creative strategies while playing higher levels of games against difficult opponents. Have checklists in the beginning, so as to get a better hand over the game. It would increase your chances of winning if you happen to have the right strategies in place, right from the beginning.

Look Out for Opportunities

There would be several opportunities in gambling, and therefore you must play the games with an attentive mindset. Most games, including poker are psychological in nature. Hence, be focussed and patient throughout the games. There are both losing and winning streaks in the games and the key is to remain calm. Do not get carried away by your emotions and place illogical bets, just because you won the last game. Also, observe the other players in the game. This would get you a better idea of where the game is headed. Such activities are highly important in order to save your bankroll during the game.

Jai Alai

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

jaialaiJai Alai happens to be a ball game which was originally introduced in Spain and is played within the three-walled court. A hard rubber ball is thrown with a ‘cesta’ and the hard rubber ball is caught. The bat is a curved, long wicker scoop attached to one of the arms.

The game is also referred to as the ‘pelota vasca’ in Spain; however it is recognized as Jai Alai in the other parts of the world. It is a game which was played on merrier occasions in Cuba and Spain. Open air houses and church domes were used for this game for hundreds of years. The ball was bounded on the walls which would then rebound. The repetitions kept going faster and the game is known for the fast pace attached to it. So far, it was known to be the fastest played game in the world. In order to add to the excitement of the game, there were bets placed in the game.

The ball weighs 125g and is covered by the skin of the parchment, it can then travel at a speed of 180 mph. on the other side, the ball is volleyed by players who wear a wicker glove which is 63 to 70 gm. The special glove was in reality invented by the French during the 19th century. Jai Alai is one of the favourite pastime games in Spain and Mexico; however the betting process has spread the game to countries like China, Egypt, Brazil, Philippines, Italy and Indonesia. It is exceedingly popular amongst the gamblers of United States and employed as a base for pari-mutuel games. Considering the popularity of the game, there have been various programs developed off lately, to know and bet on the game.

The Bonus System in Online Gambling Sites

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

bonusOnline gambling can be an overwhelming process for the starters. Therefore it is important to place your bets on the site which offers all the popular games, so as to keep you entertaining. These gambling sites accept players from all across the globe and loads of payment methods are accepted here. The player has to choose a convenient option, so as to receive the casino bonus money in time.

At the time of choosing the online gambling site, make sure that you do thorough research about the top online casinos. Reliability should be one of the main criteria while picking the online casino. A majority of these sites claim to offer huge bonuses and other features, henceforth, it is important to compare the casinos for the best offers. There are many review sites on the internet as well, which weigh the sites in accordance to their offers, the games being played and the player base. The internet is crowded with such resourced which also include e-books and video tutorials for the beginners.

Looking at the other side of the coin, with the emergence of online casinos, there is a lot of competition amongst them. Such competition benefits the players to a great extent. There are no-deposit bonuses being offered off lately, which would help the players to try the game, prior to losing their own funds. However, sometimes the players would be required to wager a certain number of times, before redeeming the bonuses. This ensures a win-win situation for the gamblers as well as the online casinos. As a beginner, it would be suggestive to execute the precautions and follow the instructions, so as to save yourself from the losses.

What Kind of Playing Cards to Buy?

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

lvcardsCard games are extremely popular and with the holiday season approaching soon; a lot of people go about buying extra decks of playing cards. In order to find the best option, you need to decide the style you want, as well as the budget.

KEM Playing Cards

These playing cards are made out of 100% plastic and they happen to be the best known in the business. They consist of cellulose acetate, which means that they could be stored for years, without having to replace them with other cards. They are washable in case if they get dirty during a game.

Copag Plastic Cards

These consist of a two-deck set, which are made out of PVC plastic and can be a good choice for the players. These are a littler pricier as compared to the other vinyl-coated cards. Conclusively, they hold a better rank when it comes to the playing cards and the players can store them for years to come.

Vegas Casino Playing Cards

These are the Bee Branded playing cards that are actually being used in the real casinos in Las Vegas. All the major casinos, from Caesar’s to Bellagio use these cards. The casinos usually round the corners of these cards, so as to restrict the players from slipping them back into the game. These cards would surely add some style to your table and would last longer than expected.

Official Poker Tour Playing Cards

If you plan to host a tournament at home, you can make it seem pretty authentic with a pair of these poker decks. Ensure to deal out the cards with the Poker Tour Logo on the back and you would get a feel of playing with the pros.

Novelty Playing Cards

If you’re looking for something less professional, try these cards. They would add fun to all your card games and also happen to be great gifts.

Table Limits – High Minimum Bets

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

table-limitWe have often noticed that the table limits are pretty high in the casinos and there is a scarcity of tables to accommodate the low-limit players. Given that there are more players as compared to the table spaces, the casinos often raise the limits and then fill a lot of seats. The reality is that it makes more sense to the casinos to have higher limit tables, even if all of them are not full.

The table limit is a minimum of $25 to $50 per hand. The ‘bean counters’ have agreed on the fact that a table with the higher limits would often make more money even if it is empty for hours. Although the casino edge is only about half a percent for the Blackjack players with basic strategy, the house makes a lot of profits at such tables. The hold of the casino could go up to 16-20% on some occasions. Above all, there are very few players who adhere to the basic strategy.

The management uses an advantage of 2.5% as a base in order to calculate the edge over the Blackjack player for rating purposes. These are adjusted in accordance to the skill level of the player. The speed of the game is also taken into consideration. This speed is calculated by the number of players at the table and is counted in hands per hour.

High table limits are not admired by players with a smaller bankroll and therefore look out for casinos that have at least one five-dollar table. Avoid crowded times and weekend nights and if you wish to play on the weekend, try hitting the tables early in the morning. Lastly, try playing video poker and the quarter machines, so as to save you from over-spending at the casinos.

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