Category: Gambling and Casinos

Traditional thinking always associates deck of cards with sin. Even if there is no official ban on gambling and deck of cards is considered to be a sin. This is the opinion not only of the strict moralists like religious personages. However, regardless the common opinion, deck of cards played an important role in culture and first of all in Education. Let’s look at the facts.

The deck of cards have been used for educational purposes virtually from the moment of their occurrence in Europe. The cards were used at the lessons of history and geography, logic and law, Latin and grammar, astronomy, mathematics and arts, heraldry and military tactics. These are classical examples of the so-called secondary target usage of cards carefully researched by specialists.

In 1507 Franciscan monk, bachelor of theology in Krakow, Thomas Murner published a book “Chartiludium logicae”, consisting of training cards used by the monk to teach Logic. Murner was so successful in Didactics, that he was even accused of witchcraft hardly avoid to be at stake. But his defence presented at the court the evidence of harmlessness of the methods applied by the Franciscan. They also proved that these methods were based on the well-known in the Middle Ages mnemonic techniques – memorizing with the help of the pictures and as the modern educators would call them “reference signals”.

Much earlier Murner applied the same principle to teaching the Code of Justinian. In 1502 he wrote to Geiler von Kaisersberg that his contribution to the teaching of the code was the most significant. In the other letter to the Strasbourg lawyer, Thomas Wolf, he says: “I confess, that for Kaisersberg constitution, as far as my weak abilities permit, I issued a card game as a commentary and in this way I have managed to facilitate memorizing the text of Code of Justinian using the visual images… In my intention to implant the love of reading I aspired to replace boring and stupid game by the fascinating and exciting one and I would be more than happy if I succeeded in substituting the bad with the good”.

Probably the methodology invented by Murner seemed very efficient to he European teachers if they willingly applied it to educate the monarchs, for example Louis XIV. It is known that the arch bishop of Paris Jardin de Perete, who was teaching the dauphin, used training cards; the engravings for them were done by the greatest engraver ever – Stefano della Bella. When Louis XIV was six years old he had four decks of cards: “kings of France”, “Famous Kingdoms”, “Geography” and “Metamorphoses”. The future The Sun King (in French Le Roi Soleil) in his early childhood learnt who was Karl the Great, the countries of the world and what fairy tales Lucius Apuleius and Publius Ovidius wrote. He learnt it and memorized it only due to the deck of cards.

If to consider thoroughly the educational function of the cards, we cannot do that without Japanese and Chinese cards back in XIth century. By that time there was formed a definite type of cards which is a predecessor of XVIII-XIX century cards. The image on the face side comprises two parts: on the top there is a “cherry picking” from some play; in the bottom there is a picture of the respective scene from the play. Toasts were also written on the cards: “give two glasses to the scholarly guest” or “let people sitting close to each other drink for one another’s health” or “treat the man with a just born son with the biggest glass of wine”.

If you new to No Limit Texas Hold’em poker and have watched the WSOP you are probably amazed at the brilliant play of some of the professionals. Most likely you find yourself saying, “Wow! How did he know to raise in that situation” or “How in the world did he know that he was bluffing?” Well, sometimes it is luck but more often than not it is skill and knowing their opponents tendencies. When you are staking out your next opponent you may want to keep in mind that most players fall into four distinct categories, loose passive, loose aggressive, tight passive and tight aggressive.

The term loose and tight describes a poker player’s frequency of played hands. A loose poker player will play many hands and mix their play up. They don’t necessarily wait on what would be thought of as a good starting hand. A tight player will play hands less frequently usually waiting on a good starting hand or at least to be in good position.

The term passive and aggressive describe a poker player’s betting tendencies. A passive poker player will normally check or call many times even if they have top pair or over cards. An aggressive player, on the other hand, has a tendency to bet or raise and put your ability to read them to the test.

Loose Passive

A loose passive player is generally new to No Limit Texas Hold’em. They will start with almost any hand not fully understanding which hands are strong and which hands are marginal. When the flop and turn are shown and they catch middle or bottom pair they will generally check or call giving the opponent an opportunity to catch cards. This type of opponent may scare easily with a large bet on the river.

Loose Aggressive

An experienced loose aggressive player is a very dangerous player and you always want them on your right. This type of poker player will play various types of hands and also bet very aggressively, as if he/she always has a great hand or is catching a great flop. Watch out for this type of player because it is extremely difficult to put them on a hand.

Tight Passive

A tight passive player is one of the most respected players at a poker table but that can be a good and bad thing. A tight passive player will only play a limited number of hands. They generally wait on good cards and will call or bet only when they have made their hand. Generally a poker table will recognize a tight passive player and when they represent a hand the table will respectfully fold their cards resulting in smaller pot sizes.

Tight Aggressive

A tight aggressive poker player will sit back and wait on a good hand or good position and then bet aggressively. It is thought that this style of play fits extremely well with No Limit Texas Hold’em. This type of player will frequently raise pre flop. If he/she is on a draw or thinks the hand is good, you better believe there will be a strong bet or raise following as well.

If you’re new to the game then you may not have a strategy down yet. Remember, there is no right answer to what type of style you choose or fall under but with practice you will probably be able spot what type or poker style suits you the best.

Gambling is a form of entertainment that involves the extensive use of money as betting instruments. While it can be entertaining as well as enjoyable, indulging excessively in the game can be dangerous, especially when the money involved is already one’s lifetime savings after years of hard work. This is especially true when the form of gambling that one indulges in is that of casino gambling. Needless to say, casino gambling has some good and bad effects on a person.

In some countries, especially in those areas where Islam is the prevailing religion, casino gambling is strictly prohibited. Religious authorities in these countries generally frown upon this game of chance basically because of the perceived social costs that it inevitably brings.

However, in a number of countries, especially those which are highly-industrialized, casino gambling is a legal business venture, although certain regulations or limits are often set. This is because the game is a double-edged sword. It gives you the opportunity to double or even triple your money. At the same time, however, when you grab that opportunity, you unwittingly also give the game the chance to take away some,if not all, of your money.

The stakes easily become higher in the case of casino gambling. In this form of expensive entertainment, there are usually only two ways to go – either you get to double your money or you lose all of it. This is not just small money, the amount involved usually run in the thousands. Casinos operate on the basic premise that it allows you to have a crack at their money, but at the same time they get to have a shot at yours as well. Who gets to go home as the winner at the end of the game depends on how you will play the game which will have to include the amount of money that you will be willing to place on the betting floor.

This is not to say that casino gambling should be banned altogether. The game as well as its concept has been with us for decades. Perhaps the game has gone on even for centuries. Another thing, as a form of entertainment, it still has its own share of beneficial effects; relaxation being the prime consideration. The key to successfully playing the game is simply to handle it with the proper attitude.

Gambling to be an effective means of entertainment should be approached as simply a game and nothing more. Of course, the aim is to win if possible. But at the same time, a player should not totally discount the possibility that one could also lose. And losing means giving away only the amount of money that you can afford to lose. This is essentially a good strategy, especially when it comes to the issue of casino gambling, where the betting stakes are higher, in which case a planned betting method is recommended. This will include discipline, which basically means having the ability to control yourself, especially when losses start piling up and the winnings that were accumulated in the early games start dwindling because of your casino gambling.

Everyone has seen her, and most of us, at one time or another, have been lured to her by her bright colors and flashing images. The flash of neon and the alluringly undulating “Win! Win! Win!” which pulses across her screen. It’s the video game which gives the player just a hint of the chance of winning cash instead of points. Of course this little tease is known as the video poker machine.

Of course if you have fallen for the tease of the video poker machine, you’ll know that she doesn’t give up the cash as easily as she portends she will. That’s part of her appeal to the player, to get her to finally give in to them and pay off. She is a paradox of beauty and frustration.

Just once wouldn’t you like to beat her at her own game? Do you yearn to make her finally pay off to you? Then read on friend, for I have some tips which will maximize your chances to make the little beauty keep her promises of a win.

As with any game of chance where money is involved, the first rule to live by is to limit how much you’re willing to lose. Make a promise to yourself that you’ll quit before you lose your shirt. Know before you begin where to draw the line if you start to suffer huge losses, and make certain you stick to your pledge to walk away.

As you would in regular poker, take your time and look over your cards each hand. You should take an ample amount of time to consider what strategy you wish to pursue with each new hand. Since there are no other people involved, your mechanized opponent will be patient with you. I have yet to see a video poker machine with a time limit, so don’t feel pressured into hasty decisions.

Always play maximum coins, for the payout will be based on amount of coins played. Playing fewer coins doesn’t guarantee playing longer. Always pick a machine which gives the best payout to coin ratio. If you want to play longer with less coin, then seek out a lower coin machine.

Practice at the many free video poker machines available to you at online casinos. Most online casinos offer free to play video poker machines. Use these to both hone your skills and build your confidence in playing video poker.

Playing video poker can be as much fun as playing regular poker. It presents you with unique opportunities and allows you to play at your own pace. If you follow the above tips, you’ll also increase your chances of walking away a winner.