Category: Gambling and Casinos

Over the past few years, and especially of late, the popularity of online poker has been rapidly increasing. Current statistics show that there are as many as 100,000 new people signing up to play online every month. As more and more players enter the picture, the competition gets tougher. No matter how good you think you are, you will at some point or another always run into someone that is better than you. To ensure that you stay at the top of your game, it is important that you are always looking for new techniques and information to help you improve your skill at the game. Even the most experienced players can usually always benefit from brushing up their skills, and most do, that is how they stay ahead of the game. Mistakes in poker can be very costly, and it is in your best interest as a player to avoid making them whenever possible. The more knowledge and skill you have, the less likely you will be to make costly errors in your game play.

The most obvious thing to learn is the rules of the game. It is important to be familiar with all of the rules and terminology before you ever really begin to play. If you start to play a game without knowing the terminology, you are going to be lost. Every beginner should start building their poker skill and knowledge with this step.

Next to knowing the rules and terminology of the game, you also need to learn about calculating odds and betting. Calculating odds will help you determine your chances of winning a particular game. Everyone needs to learn the ins and outs of betting successfully, unless they always want to leave the game empty handed.

There are many sources that can help you in your poker education. Many online poker gaming sites offer online poker schools. These schools are designed mostly for new players to learn the basics of each game, which is a good way to learn the rules and terminology.

It also would be helpful to research article databases for information as well. Many of these articles are written by poker players, and can offer valuable insight as to some of the mistakes they have made and how to avoid them. Articles can also provide you with helpful hints and tips that you can use to develop of beef up your playing strategy.

There are also many valuable books that have been written on the game of poker. Some of these books may be found online as e-books, and many of them may be found for free in your local library. The internet can be a huge source of information on the subject as well. You may also benefit from visiting online poker forums where you can chat with and ask questions of other players.

If you have friends or family that play the game, they can also be a good resource. They could play a few games with you and offer insight that could draw attention to your mistakes, maybe little things that you weren’t even aware of.

The more you learn about the game of poker, the bigger the advantage you will have over other players. All it really takes is commitment to learn, and a little bit of spare time. Who knows? You could turn yourself into a poker pro!

Remember, you are your best critic. You should always analyze your game and look for things that you can tweak to make you a more successful player.

Like so many vices and hobbies across the world, gambling is no different. Many people learn to control their urges to spend and gamble everything they have, but some do not and we are going to take a look at some of the symptoms and what to do about pathological gambling problems.

First of all we should look at some of the more typical symptoms of a gambling problem: The term problem gambling includes and can include a condition know as compulsive and or pathological gambling, which is a progressive addiction formed or characterized by an increased preoccupation with offline and online gambling. Also found under this terminology is the need to bet more frequently with more money, and the irritability when attempting to stop gambling at a certain time, as well as the chronic attempts to chase your losses plus a loss of self control as part of the gambling behavior in spite of serious negative consequences present and future.

A gambling problem is a serious situation in which the person with the problem usually does not see the problem and will continue down a path of destruction toward a total loss of everything in that persons name unless brought to their attention generally with an intervention.

Now this is not always the best way to approach a person with a chronic gambling problem or with a pathological gambling problem, searching for national centers on the internet will also show you more statistics and more places to check where to go and what to do in situations like these. Located around our country are many centers for the rehabilitation and early diagnosis for affected individuals.

It is best to check with a major institution if you think you know someone with a problem and do not hesitate, a gambling problem can not only hurt the person with the problem, but most likely many of the people that surround him/her and can have consequences for years to come if the problem is not corrected.

If you are anything like me then your palms are getting sweaty in anticipation of the College and Pro Football seasons. With less than a month to go it’s time to start building a little nest egg and betting that the Tigers’ games will go under could give you some much needed extra cash.

If you recall back in early May I wrote a little piece about the Tigers’ middle relievers, but just in case, I’ll refresh your memory.

Recently we touched on the success of their starting pitchers that now have a combined 22-11 record, but I think their middle relievers have been the key. The starters are averaging 6 innings a start and that means manager Leyland has not hesitated in placing a call to the bullpen. While closer Todd Jones does have 9 saves his ERA is an unflattering 4.35, but he has kept the ball in the yard by allowing zero homeruns.

Fernando Rodney, Jamie Walker and Bobby Seay are the unsung heroes of the Bengals with 33 innings of relief that has yielded only 17 hits, 7 runs, 11 base-on balls and a sparkling 32 strikeouts!

Yesterday, Detroit began the second half of the season and their starter Jeremy Bonderman was not his usual self and lasted only 5.2 innings. No problem for Detroit as Leyland went to the pen for Grilli, Rodney, Zumava and Jones. They allowed three measly hits the rest of the game and Detroit rolled to a 6-4 victory.

The relief corps have now pitched 214 innings and given up just 174 hits, 82 base-on balls and have recorded 161 strikeouts. As the season enters the long summer days the bats will go cold for the Tigers, but their great pitching will win them some tight low scoring affairs.

Tonight, two veteran lefties go at it and both were at the All-Star Game Tuesday. Kenny Rogers is 19-13 with a 3.74 ERA in 50 appearances against the Royals. He is 1-0 in two starts against the Royals this season giving up six runs over 12 1-3 innings. The southpaw has won his last five decisions against Kansas City since a loss April 28, 2004, spanning six starts.

The Royals (31-57) will hand the ball to Mark Redman (6-4, 5.27), who has won his last six decisions. The left-hander pitched eight strong innings in his last start July 6 against the Toronto Blue Jays allowing two runs and five hits in a 6-2 victory.

Play the under 9!

Bob Acton

Online Sports Betting

Many experienced live poker players rely on “tells”, an action by the opposing players that will help tip their hand. I am sure you have seen players wearing sunglasses at a live poker game, this isn’t due to the bright lights in the casino, it is avoid any chance of another player picking up on a widening of the eyes or any other habitual gesture that will give away a strong or weak hand.

There are a few virtual tells that can help tip the hand of those you are playing against. A beginners tells are always easiest to spot. They will bet with a weak hand and hold with a strong hand, taking note of their behavior early will help you take later hands. Once you have spotted a beginner at the table you can use their behavior to help build the pot on your strong hands, allowing them to try their strategy on your refined play style and maybe helping fish in a few players along with him. An ideal situation would see you at an online table surrounded by novice players all using the same tactics to help build the pot for you!

Speed of play is another factor to help you spot the tells of other players. Quick bets are often a sign of weakness while a delayed bet is a sign of strength, Typically the delayed bet tells you the player is calculating his strategy for his big hand. Always try to make a note of the hand a player hand when he quick bet and what cards he held when he made a series of slow bets.

Auto Plays are another ways to sports virtual tells. Online casinos make use of check boxes such as “fold”, “raise any” or “call any”. You can spot auto plays as the bet comes in seconds after the player before him. What should you be looking for? “Raise Any” bets denote a strong hand, “Check” denotes a weak hand while “Call Any” will usually denote a player waiting for the miracle hand. As with other strategies discussed here you should follow this behavior for a few hands and be aware of betting patterns of certain players. Novice players may be using the “Raise Any” checkbox to scare away other betters and trying to take small pots.

While tells are never an exact science, they will help give you an advantage at the online poker table, where every little advantage makes your game stronger.