Vincent’s Poker Blog

To a very large extent, poker is a game of logic. The professional players you see winning time and time again do so because they are able to keep things in perspective, even when the game gets fierce, even when the hand they are playing is particularly the nuts.

People are by and large drawn to poker because it is one of only several betting based games wherein winning is actually a possibility. With casino betting, whether you are at a bricks casino or playing online, the odds are generally stacked against you, no matter what you may think. Roulette, craps — there are no guarantees, even in Blackjack, unless you know how to count cards.

A lot of people never play poker because of the money — they play for fun, enjoyment, and entertainment. However, just as many players are in it for the money — and that is where things can get dangerous. You may not necessarily develop a gambling problem, but you don’t have to be addicted to lose a butt load of money.

Never, ever start playing because you think you can get rich quick. By the same token, take every loss with a grain of salt. When you start thing you have to win your losses back immediately, you’re in trouble.

The next time you are in a casino, you might consider playing a funky little card game called Pai Gow poker, an adaptation of the Chinese domino game Pai Gow. Unlike three card poker, the player must make and win on two hands instead of just one, and unlike blackjack, no one’s hand can bust. Pai Gow poker also has a small house edge when played with the standard rules of most casinos.

As in many other gambling games, Pai Gow poker pits the player against a banker, who is normally the housse-backed dealer, although the role also rotates among the players. A standard deck of 52 cards is used, with a single joker added; the joker is usually an ace but can be used to complete a straight or a flush. The order in which players receive their cards changes each round, based on a randomly generated number or a dice roll. Players make their wager and receive hands of seven cards, with the goal being to make the best two poker hands – a two-card hand and a five-card hand. The two-card hand can only be a pair or two high cards, while the five-card hand uses standard poker rankings. Remember, the five-card – or ‘behind’ hand – must be the higher of the two, so if you are dealt one pair and nothing else of value in your seven cards, the two-card – or ‘top’ – hand cannot contain the pair.

After the players have arranged their hands, the banker arranges his cards “the house way.” Then, each player’s hand is compared with the banker’s. If both of the player’s hands win, the wager pays even money, if only one is a winner, the bet is a push, and if both lose the wager is lost. Note that since the house has an edge on being the banker, it is in your best interest to be the banker yourself as much as possible.

The high number of pushes in Pai Gow poker results in a slower game where one will rarely see his or her bankroll be washed away in a quick series of bad hands. If you prefer fast-paced, ‘action’ gambling, like roulette and craps, this game might not be for you, but if Texas hold’em is your game of choice, or you prefer a little deliberation in your gambling, give Pai Gow poker a whirl the next time you want to play at the tables.

If you need strategic help, read Pai Gow Poker Strategy at Mollis’ Poker Site!

More of an example of poor poker table etiquette, actually. I was at the table yesterday playing the €10/€20 game – a limit pretty high for no-limit games in Central Europe. Anyway, the game was pretty decent, and there were a couple of €2500+ pots every hour. Good action.

At one point, a pot comes to a showdown, about €1200 in the pot. First player doesn’t show his pair of eights, but announces it. The other guy showed a king to make his pair of kings – and throws the other card in the center of the table. It’s turned face down. All of a sudden, player one turns over his eight, and declares the pot his: “he can’t muck half his hand, once he does that, the pot is mine!”.

The whole table was like: “you’re joking, right?”. But – he wasn’t. Casino manager came in – decided player one was right. Dude took the pot – the other guy lost about 500 in the hand.
I mean – wtf? Is that poker etiquette in most casinos? :s

Chances are when playing in a tournament you won’t be dealt many or any premium hands especially when you need them. The chance of being dealt a AA is 220:1, the same for any pocket pair, so for the top five or six starting hands you are looking at odds of 29:1 which are not exactly favorable.

Firstly watch your opponents. Learn to look for those players who will fold at the first sign you might be holding a better hand. If these players call your bluff you may have to give up the ghost.

Limit your bluffs to when there is not much other action. Use your position on the button or small blind to steal the blinds. If it is check/folded round to you this is an opportunity not to miss.

Use your stack to bluff with. Push around smaller stacks by making big raises. Don’t go in with a bluff too often as it will be a little like the boy who cried wolf. At the table your reputation is everything and you want a reputation for playing solid hands to be able to get away with bluffing.

Don’t always make a full bluff. When you bluff sometimes it is wise to have at least a mediocre hand to back you up. Especially if it can turn into a monster. Remember from time to time those two high cards will be enough to take the pot.

Choosing which limit to play is a vital part of managing your bankroll. A Bankroll is a poker player’s means for playing and if you misuse it by playing at the wrong limit you are likely to go bust fast.

Now if you are in fact independently wealthy, the limit you play at will be based upon skill rather than how much you can afford to lose. But even those with a bank balance larger than the GDP of Latvia should take a moment to consider the following.

Choosing the limit you initially play at will be based on your initial Bankroll. This amount is what you are prepared to lose and not your only daughters wedding fund. Based on that you choose a limit depending on the type of poker you will be playing.

When you make some money, and hopefully you will, you may wish to move up a level, but you don’t have to. If you are comfortable at the limit you are playing and you are winning, then stick with what works. If and when you move up keep an eye on whether you are winning. Set yourself an amount you are willing to lose and stick to it. Move back down it you lose to many sessions in a row at your new level.

If you are keeping records of your sessions, and you should be, you will soon be able to see at what limit you are most profitable. Playing within your means should mean that you never have to reload again.

After being dropped from the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 1997, Chinese Poker lost favour among players. Recently, however, it has found new converts to it’s old ways. Seen largely as a game of luck, Chinese Poker is not often found in Online poker rooms or in card rooms. But it is a game that the Pros love to play in their down time. Phil Ivey allegedly has been known to play it for $2,000 a point just to kill time on airplanes.

The rules of Chinese poker are straightforward. Each player is dealt 13 cards and has to arrange them into two hands of five cards and one of three that’s it, really. The game has huge variance because of the luck factor being substantial in this game,

Though Chinese poker is a game where you really are in the hands of the poker gods with the luck of the draw, there is a skill to setting the hands. There are often multiple decisions to be made. (Do I break up two pair to make a flush? Do I break up my second full house to give myself a pair in front?) Skilled, experienced players will have a better idea what to do in these situations and will also factor in their opponents’ tendencies, creating an edge (albeit a small one) for themselves. In fact anyone who has bothered to read any Chinese poker strategy guides will be at a distinct advantage. So before you decide to play with real money I would suggest practicing with a few buddies. Maybe on an aeroplane, but maybe not for $2000 a point.

It's vital to pick the right online casino for you before you start your gaming career. Read up in this article about what makes a good, and what makes a bad online casino.

Players new to Seven Card Stud are likely to make mistakes if they are still thinking like Hold’em Players. You can lose big if you adopt a laisser-faire attitude to stud. You need to put the work in to master this variation of poker. So I’ve put together a list of some of the sins of seven card stud.

Impatience
Don’t play too many hands. Be patient grasshopper you will soon have the right hand to play. Playing too man hands will leave you giving away cash to your competition. You will not get away with the any starting card can ideas you have from playing Hold’em.

Inattention
Please please please pay attention to what cards are out. Otherwise you could be drawing for a card that will never come. So also take notice of cards that have been folded for obvious reasons. The most attentive players are the most profitable players.

Over-cautiousness
If you have the best hand or what you think is the best hand, bet. Don’t let other players outdraw you on the river. It is an expensive mistake. Be decisive and control the pot. If you have an excellent draw with many outs, bet. Don’t be pushed on the defensive by weaker hands/draws.

Being a calling station
Why call with a good hand. If you are calling more often than you re betting you are probably a losing player. Also you will get a reputation for being a suck out. And nobody likes a suck out.

Stubbornness
Don’t get glued to a hand because it started off well. It will cost you dear. Try give up those Aces if you look to be losing. It is a hard but important lesson to learn.

Seven Card Stud is a popular game amongst home games of poker. The recent surge of Hold’em has put it in the shadows somewhat. So let’s put it back in the spotlight. Like Hold’em you are trying to make the best 5 card hand from seven cards, the highest hand wins and Ace plays both high and low for straights. Unlike Holdem there are no community cards and it has five betting rounds rather than four.

The rules are as follows:

Each player is dealt 3 cards, 2 faced down and one face up.

Then the player with the lowest face up card starts the betting. If two or more players have the same value card, it is determined by suit value. Suit values from lowest to highest are: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades. Players to the left then have the option of folding, calling or raising.

A further 3 cards are dealt face up. Each time there is a round of betting however this time it is the person dealt the highest card that starts the betting.

The last card is dealt face down. (So there are a total of three face down and four face up) The betting is started by the person with the highest value cards face up.

You must be very observant to play this variation of poker. Not only must you take note of players betting tendencies but you must also remember the up cards of the players who have folded.