Update #1: Luckbox Last Longer Challenge
I want to thank those of you who have already signed up for the play free bingo challenge with the $2000 added prize pool from PokerStars! The best news is that the vast majority of teams entered thus far are horribly flawed. Team Up For play casino poker bonus is ideally suited to run away with the casino gambling $1500 top prize. The rest of you are still eligible to win the $500 jeux casino gratuit consolation prize. Before I list the teams currently entered, I’ll remind you how to get your team in the challenge. Team entries can be left in the comments of Up For Poker on THIS POST, sent to cusephenom -@- yahoo DOT com, or done in person in Las Vegas between noon and 12:45pm during tournament registration. Without further ado, the teams as currently entered: Team Up For Poker: CJ, Otis, G-Rob Team Gambling Tales: Falstaff, Special K, Mrs. Falstaff Unnamed Team: Bayne, RecessRampage, smizmiatch Team Fluffy Unicorns: lj, chad, augie Team Waffles: Dr. Chako, Waffles, Jordan Team Canada: Fuel, Schaubs, Bam-Bam Team “I Kissed One of These Girls”: F-Train, CK, The Wife Team LA D-Bags: shane, Speaker, Troublecat Team D-Listers: lightning36, OhCaptain, pokerpeaker Team Wheelchair: Drizz, AlCantHang, StB Team Procedure: BadBlood, TheMark, Moutray Team Name Forthcoming: iggy, Obie VIP, the rooster Team Tao of Pot: Pauly, Derek, Change100 Another Unnamed Team: Astin and a couple of buddies Team-To-Be-Named-Later: Katitude, Maigrey, Maudie So far, those are the 15 teams entered for The Luckbox Last Longer Challenge. I’ll update this as we go. Also, when you talk about this on Twitter, Facebook and your own blog, don’t forget to give PokerStars some love. After all, we don’t want this to be the last time Stars throws a little money our way!

Game Review: Wii Sports Resort
My shoulder hurts. It’s probably the number one reason why I find william hill online to be one of the more realistic sports games I’ve ever played. The pain I feel in my shoulder is similar to the pain I experience after a round of frolf. Is that sad? Disc golf is just one of the two dozen plus games offered on Wii Sports Resort. There’s bowling, golf, ping pong, archery, canoeing, water skiing, and more. And most of the games offer multiple variations. The key to the game is the Wii Motion plus. It’s a piece of hardware that connects to the bottom of the traditional remote. It’s probably what the Wii was supposed to be when it was initially released, but the technology wasn’t there yet. Now, instead of just tracking motion up and down and left and right, the game can sense when you turn your wrist. This makes games like frolf and bowling and ping pong just about as realistic as they get. If you’ve got a Wii, I’d suggest you get this game. But if you do, be sure to the get the new version of the game that comes with the second Wii Motion Plus. For someone reason, the first release of the game included just one, which didn’t make much sense. You can order the new version on Amazon for about 70 bucks. It’s worth it. And my next Wii purchase? I’d expect it to be the New Super Mario Bros. I’ll let you know how that game plays as soon as I get my hands on it!

Every year a European city is picked to be the number one poker capital of the year. The most enthusiastic capital is picked by voters in Bluff magazine who have reportedly decided that Ireland is to beat England again it was seems to be a close race every year. It seems many people feel that because the sheer enthusiasm and excitement shown by the Irish every year for poker, Dublin must indeed be the winner again as there are so many great tournaments and organization setup and organized for the keen players of this sport. Especially in Dublin, a great load of tournaments and card clubs are setup continuously to ensure that players can keep enjoying their favourite game and compete healthily as a sport.

It has been reported that the editor of Bluff magazine stated that it had to be awarded to the Dubliners again as they are always overwhelmed with the enthusiasm of the game whenever they visit Ireland. They also stated that Dublin won because there is such an intense structure of friendly tournaments that the UK just simply could not match this year.

It seems however the London may be able to pip Dublin onto the top spot in 2010 as there is to be many reported up and coming tournaments including the World Series of Poker Europe and the EPT London. There is also reported to be a good number of poker and online poker festivals including the Paradise series of poker, the London poker circuit and the GUKPT grand final. With all this to look forward to London is hoping they can pull off a win next year with this exciting up coming time table.

The European title for poker capital of the year has more or less always been between England and Ireland. It seems the sheer enjoyment of poker has become a great sport that many people have become interested in. This just proves that although poker is primarily a game based around competing with other players and winning money, it has developed into something much more. Poker is now a serious sport that takes a lot of skill. It is also considered perhaps a lot more difficult to become a novice at this game unlike other physical sports because of the psychological aspect that many players need to learn in order to win.

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Poker’s frequently asked questions on Google
Remember that time you four-bet pre-flop with aces, flopped your set, and got your opponent to get it all in? Remember when he shoved his chips in and then asked, “Do you have the ace?” You probably thought, “What is this guy doing playing poker?” We sometimes think the same thing about the search referrals we get here on the Up For Poker Blog. Here are just a few recent questions that Google has thrown our way. Q. Who is the High Stakes Poker guy who looks like Jabba the Hutt? A. We here at Up For Poker are huge fans of both the Star Wars series and High Stakes Play Online Poker. So, when we saw this question come in, we wondered if we had missed a few episodes of HSP. After looking at the cast list from the past several seasons, we narrowed it down to two possibilities. The first is David Benyamine, for obvious reasons. The second is Doyle Brunson. Either way, that’s just mean, and we’d dare whoever asked the question to call either of the above players Jabba to his face. And either way, if you’re hoping to play poker and you don’t know Brunson or Benyamine, you’d best stick to watching Return of the Jedi and pleasuring yourself to your Princess Leia action figure. Q. Is an UTG limp raise always the nuts? Yes. We polled every poker player in three countries. The results were staggering. No player in our millions of respondents has ever limp re-raised under the gun with anything other than the nuts. Every player indicated it would be irresponsible to play a hand in such a way that it led others to believe he might have aces instead when he actually held kings, queens, or 9c-7c. We suggest that if you are ever limp re-raised by a player under the gun, fold your kings immediately. You are behind and will never catch up. Q. (From Sweden) How does WSOP poker works? A. This is a tricky question and one not taken lightly. It assumes that WSOP poker (translated World Series of Poker poker) actually works. We are not ready to make that assumption. If we did, we might answer that the World Series of Poker poker takes a decades old tradition of poker mastery and devalues it by creating dozens of events that award dozens of bracelets and charges millions of dollars in juice to play tournaments with dubious structures. Of course, we wouldn’t ever actually say that. We’re just saying, if we made an assumption, we might think about saying something like that. In the meantime, if you’re reading from Sweden, we like your women. How much for them? Q. Suppose that you have played F five times but you don’t yet know your wins and losses. Would you play the gamble a sixth time? A. You just blew our mind, sir. We love you as a reader. We’d love for you to stay. However, we think you’d be better suited reading the “Handbook of the economics of finance” by George M. Constantinides, Milton Harris, Ren M. Stulz. But to answer your question, we’ve played F several times. We’ve got a lot of experience in the world of F. We may not yet know our wins and losses, but you give us a sixth shot at F and we’ll take it every day of the week. Twice on Sunday, in fact. Would we gamble a sixth time? Silly question. Q. Are cops allowed to bust poker games? A. That all depends on where you live. If you live where we do, cops are allowed to bust poker games, take all the money, take all the cards, take all the chips, rummage through your house, make eyes at your girlfriend, and use your bathroom without flushing. You probably won’t ever be officially prosecuted, but you’ll sort of wish you had been. A real prosecution makes it feel less like a shakedown. Just sayin’. Q. Why is poker bad? A. Poker is not inherently bad. It’s naughty sometimes. Sometimes it’s downright dirty, nasty, naughty little poker. It’s not bad, though. Look at it this way: if poker was good all the time, you’d sit around wondering if you should’ve taken your shot at the game with the tattoos, nipple rings, and questionable grasp on hygiene. Trust us on this one.

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HPT Giveaway #35 – 2 decks of plastic playing cards!
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But of course, you already know that, being the wily and cunning poker player that you are.

However, there is much to say about online poker gaming and how it is strikingly identical and at the same time different from a real poker game. Below are some information about online poker that should serve as a guide for beginners:

First, online poker is played the same way as, for the lack of a better term, offline poker. The rules are pretty much the same, save some regulations imposed by individual poker site owners, which are not very often. Most of the time, the rules on Texas Holdem, Stud, or Draw poker are essentially the same online.

Second, since it is online, it transcends national boundaries and you can play against anyone who has an Internet connection anywhere in the world. Online poker also has the attributes of a normal chat room, were people can interact the way they do on most chat sites. While you can play against some of the worlds best poker players, the downside is that you are also exposed to playing with the worst. Don’t you just hate it when you see amateurs hitting in the flop?

Third, you can play for real money or just play money. Most poker sites have their own system of how players can play for real money. Some use credit cards, money orders, bank transfers and the like. If you are going to play for real money, just make sure you play in a credible poker site. Joining one can sometimes be complicated. So be sure to visit the FAQs section of the site and read their terms and conditions carefully. But if you don’t plan on playing for real money, then you can still enjoy online poker.

Fourth, one of the main differences of online and offline poker is that you cannot see your opponents in the game. You cannot see their “tells,” which means you cannot estimate if a player is bluffing or if he really has a good hand. You cannot see your opponent flinch at your bet, or at the flop. However, you can still observe their betting patterns, and that is where you unleash your poker skills.

Now that you have learned some of the basics of online poker, then you are good to go. The key to online poker is the same as it is in offline games: you should not overdo it. Take everything in moderation and be sure to choose the right poker site to trust your money with. Who knows, the next time you go all in online, you might just win the big pot.

To guarantee a win ensure that in your poker strategy all the cards are dealt and all the bets have been placed, the winner is the one with the highest hand unless all the other players have ‘folded’ in which case the last player in the game is the winner. This is true for most poker games excepting Hi-Lo and Lo games. In a Hi-Lo game the pot is split between the highest hand and the low, or in a Lo game the player with the lowest hand wins. Cards only need to be declared if a player has ‘called’ the final bet of another player (or players) and it is a matter of the highest hand, otherwise the cards need not be declared. This facet of the game in conjunction with the betting system allows for a great deal of deception or ‘bluffing’.

POT ODDS AND IMPLIED ODDS

In poker strategy pot odds are the mathematical probability you have of receiving the card or cards you need. As an example, if you have two same-suit cards in the hole for a game of Texas Hold ‘Em and the ‘flop’ gives another two of the same suit, then there are a possible nine ‘out’ cards which will let you make your flush, since there are thirteen cards of each suit in the deck. A quick way of calculating the approximate percentage of getting another card of the same suit is to double the number of ‘out’ cards and add one.

To understand Implied Odds and master the poker strategy, you need to be aware of the Pot Odds. The real difference between the two is that at certain stage of a game the pot odds might not be in your favour, but if there are more rounds of betting to come the projected odds are differ to the Pot Odds that currently exist. These projected or Implied Odds might swing the percentages your way. Another poker strategy is to make an educated guess as to who will stay in and what sort of betting might transpire and then to calculate the probable Pot Odds of the next round of betting is what Implied Odds are all about.

POKER STRATEGY – BLUFFING AND SLOW PLAYING

It is to the players advantage to mislead his opponents as to his own hand and, similarly, to force his opponents to give up information about their hands. Bluffing, the deliberate misleading as to one’s hand, may be part of a long-term strategy and nurtured over a long period of game play. It is primarily characterised by playing as if one had a better hand, thus attempting to induce players with better hands to ‘fold’. To be implemented successfully it needs to be used at the right time. The regular use of bluffing makes the bluffer vulnerable as opponents can use this predictability to their advantage.

‘Slow-playing’ is another form of poker strategy and involves deception differing from the ‘bluff’ in that it is characterised by playing stronger hands as though they were weak. A very effective poker strategy which works well in conjunction with well timed ‘bluffing’ and is invariably part of the good players long-term poker strategy.

POKER STRATEGY – AGGRESSIVE PLAY AND PASSIVE PLAY

Aggressive Play is the practice of betting and raising, especially at the beginning of the hand, to make players fold who might otherwise stay in for a ‘check’ round. The idea being that aggressive betting implies a good starting hand for whichever variation of poker is being played. The fewer players left in a hand, the greater the probability of your hand being the winning one, but Aggressive Play should be used cleverly with your poker strategy and not all the time. It is generally accepted that Passive Play, the art of betting enough to keep other players in the game and raise the pot, allows a more detailed approach to betting and forces opponents to make mistakes while you learn to understand their hands. Passive Play takes more focus, but if used properly in conjunction with calculated bluffing and Aggressive Play it will pay off in the long run and you poker strategy will be a waste.

POKER STRATEGY – TELLS

A legendary aspect of poker strategy which is characterised by being able to read an opponent’s idiosyncrasies in order to judge whether they are bluffing. Certain players may have things they do which give their poker strategy away. The longer you play an opponent the more likely you are to discover their quirk and this is a good poker strategy to consider. Some players have a physical ‘tick’ and some just play differently. These are valuable traits to discover and most poker players do their utmost to avoid giving themselves away in this manner. Some very astute players can use their own ‘tells’ against you if they know you can see them.

There are lists that you can use that will give you all of the information that you want when it comes to finding the best no deposit casino. You want to take a look at the casino that the offer is for first to make sure that it is a casino where you will want to play. Take a look at the games that they offer as well as how secure the casino appears to be. Security and the games offered are what most people are looking for when they decide to gamble online. You should be sure that the no deposit casino is one where you will feel safe when it comes to gambling as well as have fun at the same time.

In addition, you should also take a look at the amount of money you can get when you are looking at a no deposit casino. Different casinos offer different amounts of money when they are looking for players. Take a look at the one that will give you the most with regards to the free money you can get when you are finding a no deposit casino. You want to be sure that you get the best deal that is possible in this way.

You should also take a look at the rules that are tagged onto the no deposit casinos with regard to their bonuses. Most of the bonuses that are offered have stipulations to them. They either have a time period when you can use the bonus or they have an amount of games that you need to play or money you need to wager before you can collect your winnings. You should be well aware of any rules that apply to the no deposit casino before you open an account at the casino. This will make you feel better about using the no deposit casino and avoid any disappointment.

It is easy to find out as much as you can about the best no deposit casino by going to a site that will provide you with all of the information that you need regarding bonuses for online casinos. The more you understand about how the bonuses and no deposit casinos work, the better your choice will be when you choose the casino that is right for you. You can take a look at the list and also find out information such as bonuses that can be used to match any deposit that you decide to make in your account as well.

Earn more cash with Multi-tabling
A good poker strategy makes multi-tabling a breeze and will allow sufficient time to make decisions in any number of tournaments.^Playing at more than one table seems difficult but a well thought out poker strategy can make multi-tabling fun and rewarding.^Beth Malloy^^Multi-tabling Poker Strategy for Beginners^Multi-tabling in a nutshell

Mass poker playing to combat UIGEA
Online Poker players to protest against enforcement of UIGEA ^From June 1st the UIGEA is due to be enforced across America, as the date nears the online poker community are planning a protest to try and make their voices heard ^Mary Ashton^^Protest planned for June 1st to coincide with the enforcement date of the UIGEA^Online Community Protests

Poker Cheat Sheet # 1: Learn The Game First And You Will Know The Lingo

It’s not enough these days to say that you are going to play poker. There are so many variations now to this card game that it is quite simple to get lost in “poker speech.” So, for clarification purposes, poker is poker is poker … except when people say video poker (which is really a computer game / slot machine); and Red Dog Poker (which is more similar to the game of Blackjack than anything else.) All other variations like Five Card Draw, Omaha, Primero, Seven Card Stud, Texas Hold’em and Three-Card Brag have the same winning principle: you need 5 cards to lay out a (hopefully!) winning hand.

Poker Cheat Sheet # 2: Know When To Fold And When To Go With Gut Instinct

Some of the most “notorious” card players believe in 2 things: luck and their gut instincts. Although these seem innocuous enough, you as a beginner should remember that poker is a betting game; and luck may turn sour oh-so-quickly; and your gut instinct may just be a gas build-up over the taco you had for dinner. Conservative playing is one way of learning from other players’ triumphs and mistakes. After all, you cannot expect to win all the time, and you certainly do not want to lose all the time. Bet conservatively at the start of the game. If you find your cards less than desirable, fold immediately.

Poker Cheat Sheet # 3: Stop Trying To Figure Out If Your Opponent Is Bluffing!

If you think that your hand has a fighting chance, then you can slowly build up your bets. The other card players on the table are heaping too much money on the table, and you keep wondering whether or not he or she is bluffing. Instead of wasting your energy figuring out the truth behind those hideous poker faces, concentrate on this one fact: your opponent may not be bluffing at all! And stop bluffing yourself. This risky move (according to stats) has only 1% chance of ever winning.

Poker is all or nothing. If you think your hand will win, then keep it. If not, it would be better to fold while you are ahead.

Poker Cheat Sheet # 4: Know Which Hands To Keep

Indubitably, face cards are the greatest things to get, since there is all likelihood of putting out a winning hand when you have a set. However, one or two or three cards mean absolutely nothing in a game of poker. You need five… always five. So instead of focusing you attention to just the face cards, (which many beginners are prone to do,) think of the 5 cards – the hand, and how it will fare in the game. A straight flush can win over a full house. A straight can win over a three-of-a-kind. And never discount the power of a high-card hand; that may also be the only thing your opponent has against you.

With all the online poker rooms available, how do we choose one? With the hundreds of sites, which one do we go to? The main answer to this is to choose one that meets the player’s qualifications. Here, we will be going over the different online poker room qualities to the advantage or disadvantage of the player, whether a newbie or an expert player.

Most online poker rooms easily get a player’s attention with bright flashing lights and big bonuses. Although you may consider them, you must also look farther than the bright lights and big flashing $$$. Some poker players choose a simpler presentation but more stable software and support poker room. If having the right software enables you to play better and faster, then choosing that online poker room would be your best bet.

It is also important to know if you want the flashy atmosphere over the simple graphics yet comfortable playing environment. In some rooms, the flashier it is, the slower the loading. So if you want to focus on speed and does not want to pay much for the room’s hourly fees, it is always safer to choose the simpler one.

Another come-on for most poker rooms is the bonus that they offer. The bonus range is usually from 10-100% of the initial deposit the player gives. There are some poker rooms which offer huge bonuses like 100% but additional caution must be given because the high-bonus rooms usually have steep requirements which are hard to reach. For starter poker players, the low to medium bonus rooms are usually more advisable.

Another consideration in choosing online poker rooms is the amount of money you are willing to stake. Some poker players do not actually play with real money but even online poker games are more exciting using real money. Before playing, it is best to know how much you are willing to wager. If you want to win more, you usually tend to deposit more. But if you are after enjoying the actual game and not really for the amount, then money is not a major factor. With or without big money, playing poker is fun and stimulating.

Online poker room ratings are also a good way of evaluating and choosing them. Read and research and look for player’s forum where you can get the pros and cons of a particular room. In the end, the ultimate decisive factor is the player’s priorities. The money, the bonus, the ratings, the room atmosphere will just be secondary once you finally find r room that is suitable to your needs and preferences. Ultimately, the goal is to win, learn and to have fun!