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[March 12, 2010]

Small Blind Bets

Filed under: Gambling World, Life Of Games, The Funny Farm — @ 10:18 am

In Texas Hold ‘Em online poker, the two blind bets are put out to start up the action, with the small blind half the size of the big. When you’re in the blind, you’re forced to enter the pot before even seeing your hand. After the initial round of betting, the blinds must decide to remain in the pot or not. If no raises come out, it’s an easy call for the big blind.

However, the small blind still has to decide whether or not to add more chips to match the big blind or not. Sometimes it’s an easy decision to make especially when the blinds are still small. But there are other situations where the small blind has to make a tough choice. There are two critical factors to consider before making the small blind call or raise.

The small blind position presents an automatic disadvantage because this is the seat that must bet first on all subsequent betting rounds. The fact that you will be first to act makes it risky to raise anything from the small blind except for monster pairs, like Aces or Kings. When holding a good starter hand, like an Ace with a face, it’s still probably more prudent to call then raise pre-flop from the small blind.

The other thing to do is to observe the poker online player to your left at all times and note how this player handles their big blind. Do they always protect it no matter what kind of raise comes out? Does this player frequently pursue an aggressive strategy of raising the big blind?

Remember, from the small blind seat, take into account the casino player to your left, and your post-flop first-to-act position in all subsequent rounds.

[February 25, 2010]

Ace-Jack

Filed under: Gambling World, Life Of Games, The Funny Farm — @ 11:47 am

I was at a cash game table a while ago, when I made one of the most embarrassing mistakes of my poker life. I’d looked down at my hand and seen A-K of Spades, so I raised before the flop, and got a few callers. After the flop came out King-King-Ace, I check-raised my way to building up a huge pot for myself. The turn and river were a 6 and an 8, and when my online pokeropponent put me all in, I happily called. He turned over a King-8, and I was about to flip over my cards in triumph when I noticed something that turned my stomach-my opponent’s King was a Spade!

I froze for a second, and wondered what the heck had just happened-was there more than one deck? Did the shuffler screw up? When the situation had become sufficiently awkward, I turned over my cards to show my higher full house, and to my surprise, I found myself looking at an Ace of Spades and a Jack of Spades. Apparently I saw the Ace and a dude, and assumed the best.

When you get your cards, make sure you know what they are, because you just might end up making an ass of yourself when you play poker online somewhere.

[January 5, 2010]

Poker as a Loss Leader

Filed under: Gambling World, Life Of Games, The Funny Farm — @ 10:20 am

In casinos, there is often one game on the floor that is marked below value. The casinos take a loss on these games because they are used to draw players in. The idea is that once the players get into the casino they will be unable to resist the allure of the other games that are marked up for the casino to make a profit. This is an age old marketing concept that has always been used by the casinos.

The idea of the loss leader, however, has gone under a bit of modern revision. Instead of being the classic big impact games like keno with the huge jackpots, modern loss leaders are online poker games. It used to be that the casinos would strongly advertise the jackpots that they offered to attract the tourists. Now they have switched over to advertising their great poker online rates to draw in the players that have learned about poker by watching poker television or playing online. As a habitual poker player, you can benefit from this new economic approach by following the advertisements. Poker games that are heavily advertised are often marked below cost to draw players in. Use this strategy to your benefit by only playing the games that are marked to your benefit.

[December 17, 2009]

Skill vs. Luck Debate

Filed under: Gambling World, Life Of Games, The Funny Farm — @ 10:05 am

Poker has always been somewhat controversial, illegal in some places and openly played in other locations. The game is considered gambling by some because of the random nature of the cards that are dealt and the unpredictable influence of luck.

Is poker a game of skill or luck? The debate goes on, with online poker pundits and enthusiasts insisting that skill has more to do with wining than luck. But there are those who insist it is gambling and can lead to problems and even addiction.

The argument for poker being a game of skill seems to be overcoming the condemnations about gambling. Poker players have to bring a very specific set of skills to the table to win. First, there is basic math calculation that has to be done to assess probabilities and betting amounts. There is also a great deal of psychology involved since online poker is game where you play the player as much as you do the cards. You have to observe your opponents’ tendencies and patterns to play the best game possible.

A poker commentator at ESPN, the television station that broadcasts the World Series of Poker, offered the most obvious supporting reason for why poker is a game more of skill than luck:

“It is the same players who are successful. They consistently make it to the final table and this is a great argument for why poker is a game of skill.”

Luck of course does play a factor, especially in tournaments. For players who take the time to gain experience and continually try to improve through reading and listening to advice from experts can gain the skills required to make them consistent winners too. In the long term, skill overcomes the luck factor.

[December 3, 2009]

The Hammer, or 7-Two Offsuit Fetish

Filed under: Gambling World, Life Of Games, The Funny Farm — @ 12:20 pm

There’s a certain kind of streak in the gambler that foretells a proclivity for pain. Due to the volatile nature of chance, poker is often a sadist’s sport, in that you know if you play long enough, you are going to eventually get caught in a hard spot at least every now and then.

Out of this kind of mindstate, certain players have been known to take the worst hand in poker online, the 7-2, and turn it into a weapon with which they must win a pot. Winning a hand with the worst hand in poker can feel like you’ve really reached the peak of stealing, of taking what is not yours, which is one of the greatest feelings in the game for some.

As a result, the seven-deuce has earned the nickname ‘The Hammer,’ among those who would try to take it to the mattresses, rather than folding it away like most any other player would. The thrill of bluffing, and showing the Hammer to a table full of other players, is like a trophy on the shelf, one even more hard won, and representative of manly will, than maybe any other idea in the game.

Raise it up when you play poker online!

[November 16, 2009]

Minimize Mistakes

Filed under: Gambling World, Life Of Games, The Funny Farm — @ 11:03 am

Poker is a game of decisions. Each player has to decide which hands to play based on their cards, position, and opponents. Each hand is different and you must quickly assess the individual situation to make a decision.

It is inevitable that you will make some mistakes. In fact, there’s a saying about poker online that says, “Poker players profit from the mistakes of other as much from their own skill.” Keeping mistakes to a minimum is critical. Maximizing profits from your correct decisions is the key to your overall gain in the long run.

World renown investor Warren Buffet, when asked about his rule for successful investing, said, “I make plenty of mistakes - that’s part of the game. You just have to make sure the correct decisions overcome the mistakes.”

That principle is applicable to poker online too. You will make some wrong decisions. When the stakes are large, a wrong decision can devastate your bankroll. By sticking to the fundamentals of sound poker - using pot odds calculation and playing a selective aggressive game - you are more likely to minimize mistakes and losses.

You need to gain as much as you can from your winning hands to counterbalance the mistakes. It’s not how many hands you win that count, but how many chips you rake in with each win. Cut your losses by keeping mistakes small, and always seek to exploit every opportunity to build a bigger pot when you are holding the winning hand.

[October 15, 2009]

Chinese Lantern UFO Revealed

Filed under: Entertainment Web, The Funny Farm — @ 2:32 am

Chinese lantern sighted when Vocalist from Harborough Robin Maughan took an object on movie above Western ave park in the sky in Harborough Last week on mondayThe report appeared in last week’s Harborough Mail, inspiring by subscribers who had as well seen the unidentified flying object.but very much like viewings previously reported, it appears that a simple Chinese lantern is in all probability behind the mystery.Two people were seen by one Michael Williams on Farndon Road near his property freeing a lantern briefly before Mr Maughan shot his video at about 10pm.Barry Loakes, of Barnard Gardens, notified the publication to say he got a glimpse at the object through binoculars and thought it looked like a Chinese lantern.The lanterns measure about 3 foot high and get into the sky in a similar way to a large hot air balloon utilising a heat cell that occupies the balloon with heated air.Six lanterns set off during a birthday bash at a home in Lubenham Hill, Harborough, in February 2007 caused a UFO uproar This year earlier on it also occured when a Kettering Road resident released one.However, Trevor Jones saw the most recent UFO while he was dog-walking in the green and disagrees with the lantern theory.Mr Jones, of Morris Road, related the object to a jellyfish and remembers seeing a similar object a month earlier.Maddy Ward put up an alternative possibility, when she viewed the video and supposed it appeared like a large space station in the evening sky..

[October 3, 2009]

More Alternatives from an Array of Glasgow Hotels

Filed under: Hall Of Travel, Leisure + Recreation, The Funny Farm — @ 12:13 am

Hotels in Glasgow are approximate the city’s principal shopping districts. If you like a to eat you will notice a full range of eateries to fit all preferences and pockets close to them. You can also explore Glasgow’s night clubs, saloons and bars without experiencing to care about transportation systems. Whether searching for a budget or a posh hotel, you can book your Glasgow hotel bookings online.


Some hotels in Glasgow are within immediate distance to popular tourist attractions. Sandyford Hotel is one of these hotels. It extends lighter chargers compared to those who claim to be affordable hotels.


Being minutes away from Glasgow’s shopping district, Hilton Glasgow Hotel is centrally located. It is likewise within handy range of well-known Glasgow attractions such as the Glasgow Science Centre and Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.


Glasgow Airport is a little bit distant from the business centre of the city and so it is really noteworthy to think of holding a short term package in a hotel in Glasgow unitedly with long-term parking. This way, you can drive to the airport the night before, stay in a hotel and take a unstrained evening before travelling.


The airport is served by quite a number of exquisite hotels, some of them offer abbreviated lodging and long term parking packages. An overnight stop in one of the deluxe Glasgow hotels is already processed in a long term parking scheme. Doing so will hold you enough time to sleep and make preparations for your next day’s travel plan.


Lomond Airport Hotel in Paisley is a great example. If you require to stop adjacent to the airport, then this hotel would be a effective selection. However, if you prefer to stop in a more inexpensive hotel, then you take either Paisley Guest House or Dryesdale House.

[September 22, 2009]

Chinese Lanterns Frequent Hot Lists

Filed under: Entertainment Web, The Funny Farm — @ 8:55 am

Here Comes Summer! Time for scorching sausages, music and fun times with supporters. Throw a barbeque this summertime that will be the enviousness of your friends with these instrumental tips from the Team Wish Lantern Crew.. Read the following list for some clues and tips1. Aside from the usual food, beers and music a new and novel way to add to your barbeque is to use Chinese Lanterns. most people gets a real charge from setting these lanterns into the eve sky and their appearance in great let off in a group. We advise you light them just after the sun has lowered over the horizon for an extra otherworldly experience.2. Boom, Shake Shake Shake the Room! Or garden patio as the subject may be. Secure in your iPod loaded with your favourite play lists and let the Alesis Transactive wow your crew with a whopping 12 hours off battery power and healthy 20W amp.This device sounds impressive and can add that extra affect to your backyard shennanigans.3. Stop, dont get out of your seat.Setup an ice bucket and a Heineken minikeg and you’ll be ensured a regular provision of your beloved golden nectar without making to run to the Chilly bin or fridge. 4. Don’t just cook your steak this summer, Cast your claim on it! I stumbled across this great little tool that is totally customisable and allows you to sear your name into your steak so that cheeky cheapskate Uncle of yours doesn’t get his dirty little mitts on it. They’re available at GadgetVenue for a very fair price.

[September 15, 2009]

Sizing Your Bets: Leveraging

Filed under: Gambling World, Life Of Games, The Funny Farm — @ 9:48 am

As the game has changed, I’ve noticed a lot of poker players have bet sizes way off especially when it comes to 3 and 4 betting. I was reading a recent article on DeucesCracked.com and it came to me (through the help of the community) that one fundamental concept in poker is leveraging. Investment banking does this all the time. If you’re getting an 80/20 loan to buy a house, you’re leveraging the bank, you only risk 20% while the bank has to risk 80. So let’s apply this to online poker bet sizes, 4betting specifically. As you climb the ladder, you’ll find that usually you’ll not find very many calls to a 4bet. Instead if you 4bet and your opponent has a hand, you two are usually stacking off. So Let’s consider we’re playing 200NL for minute and look at how we leverage a four bet. You’re on the button with XX (doesn’t matter really) and you raise 6bb, 12 dollars. Your opponent comes over the top and 3bets you making it 42 to go, 15 more bbs. Now if you’re going to four bet, how do you get the best leverage? You could raise to 110, committing over half you stack, 50bbs+ and then your opponent has to decide whether or not to shove over the top or call. Or you could make it 66 to go, much smaller three bet. Now you’re risking just over a quarter of your stack size to get information on where or not your opponent wants to stack off with you. It’s simple. Instead of risking 50% of your stack to see how serious your opponent is, you only have to risk ~27%. And in the long run, this saves you money and makes you money. Because now your opponent has to make sure your not bluffing 1:4 times as opposed to 1:2 times. If you’re risking half your stack you have to be right half the time to make money. If you’re only risking a quarter, you only have to be right a quarter of the time to make money. Simple as ABC. And this, my friends is the leverage you gain when sizing your bets. Extracting the most information, with the smallest amount of risk.

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