How to Determine Your Betting Style

March 23rd, 2010  |  Published in Inrodution

Every poker player has a betting style. Some players bet modestly, rarely raising or calling, always putting the minimum ante in. These players seem to hold tightly to their purse strings and ride out the game. Other players bet wildly, frequently raising other players out of the game, rarely folding, and calling at every chance they get. Truth be told, there is no one right way to bet. While some betting strategies may pay better then others in the long run, it is better for a player to follow their own strategy. The problem is, a lot of players do not know their strategy. They simply place their bets as they see fit and hope for the best. If you are curious about your style, you should ask yourself a few questions.

Get to Know Your Betting Style

How quickly do you go through your bankroll? If you run through your entire bankroll shortly after sitting at the table you may be betting too aggressively. It is better to budget out your bankroll in to betting limits so you can stay at the table longer.

How often do you raise? If you raise on nearly every hand, you may be betting too aggressively. However, if you almost never raise then you may be betting too modestly. A good strategy is to raise on the hands you are sure of and fold on the hands you are not.

How often do you fold? If you fold more then half the time, chances are you are being too cautious with your bets. However, if you never fold then you are being too loose. It is better to fold on the hands you are wary of then risk the loss.

Do you get swept up in the moment? We have all gotten overly excited at the poker table form time to time, but if you find yourself frequently betting it all out of the sheer excitement you may be playing too loosely. If another player raises the pool higher then your bankroll can afford, you should know when to throw in the towel. Getting too competitive can cost you the poker game.

How fast do you place your bet? If you jump on a raise the second you turn rolls around, you are not being cautious enough. A good poker player knows to take the time to evaluate their hand before they place a bet or raise one.

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How to Play Five Card Draw

March 18th, 2010  |  Published in Gambling Games

Five card draw can be found in casinos, poker halls, and private games across the world. Five card draw is the classic poker game from which many other poker games have developed. Playing five card draw is simple, and something every poker player should know how to do.

How to Play Five Card Draw

1. Five Card Draw is made up of the dealer and up to six players. The dealer works from one set of cards and also acts as the banker.

2. Every player will place an Ante bet on the table if they wish to be in that round. The Ante bet may have a minimum and maximum amount decided by the dealer. The dealer will deal out five cards to each player and himself going in order from the player on his or her right around the table.

3.  The players will examine their cards for a high hand. The cards in Five Card Draw follow standard poker rules with a pair being the lowest hand a flush being the highest. Occasionally, the dealer may set a wild card for the game. The wild card is chosen by the dealer and can represent any card in the deck.

4. The players will place their second bet. Players will then discard any cards (up to four) that do help their high hand to the dealer and he or she will deal new cards to the player. How many cards the players are allowed to discard is up to the dealer in each game but can never be more then four.

5. In some Five Card Draw poker games, the dealer allows for more then one discard. In this scenario, players are allowed to discard a second time. Players must place a third bet before discarding again.

6. Once all hands have been dealt, the players must choose to fold or show their cards to the table. The player with the highest hand wins that round and collects all bets.

The rules of Five Card Poker are straightforward and easy to follow. Five Card Poker is the most common game found at private poker parties, but it can also be found at casino and played online. Mastering Five Card Poker is a must for anyone serious about becoming a poker player as Five Card Poker serves as the base for many other poker games.

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Top Three Texas Hold ‘Em Mistakes

February 11th, 2010  |  Published in Casino Tips

Texas Hold ‘Em is the most popular game at the casino lately. Almost every casino has a special Texas Hold ‘Em table set and many casinos host Hold ‘Em tournaments through out the year. One of the reasons Texas Hold ‘Em is so popular is the high level of strategy involved in the game. Hold ‘Em is not a game of chance and luck so much as it is a game of skill, and that draws experienced poker players in to the game. Unfortunately, this also means that mistakes in Texas Hold ‘Em can be extremely costly for players.

The Three Biggest Texas Hold ‘Em Mistakes

1. Playing too Many Hands: This one is especially true of newcomers to Texas Hold ‘Em. Playing too many hands, or every hand in some instances, is a costly mistake. It is much better to play the hands you are sure about, after all, playing any hand in Texas Hold ‘Em requires a bet to be placed, and loosing those bets add up over time. Learning when to fold and when to play is a skill that takes practice, but with time, any player can master the technique.

2. Playing Two High Suited Cards: The odds of being dealt to high suit cards are high, around 24%. However, the odds of turning though two cards in to a flush in Texas Hold ‘Em is much lower, around 6%. Many new players get excited when they see two high suit cards and immediately try to turn them in to a flush. However, it is better to play low cards where you odds are much higher.

3. Calling when it is Better to Fold: It is invaluable to learn when to fold in Texas Hold ‘Em. Once the round starts going, if your once high hand turns out to be less then expected you have to know when to fold. Often, players will try to ride out a less then perfect hand by calling. This is a costly mistake, especially when you are playing a table of ten or more players. The odds are far greater that one of those players can beat out your hand, then of your lower hand winning the round.

Texas Hold ‘Em is a challenging game and Hold ‘Em pros take years to reach their level of playing. However, by avoiding the three most common pitfalls you can greatly increase your odds of winning.

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