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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The Different Styles of Poker Players

March 10th, 2010  |  Published in Inrodution

No two poker players are created equal. Each player will have their own strategy, betting style, and set of codes that they live by at the poker table. However, there are certain recognizable types of poker styles. These styles play heavily in to your poker game. Can you spot the different poker styles at your table?

The Shark

A shark is a common term to describe a highly skilled poker player that can weed out the less-skilled players at the table and quietly eat away at their bank roll. Sharks tend to play a very conservative and aggressive game of poker. On average, a shark only plays 20% of the hands they are dealt. When they do play those hands, they play them very aggressively, raising bets and calling frequently.

The Passive Player

A passive player is completely non-aggressive in their playing style. They will play more hands then a shark, but are not likely to raise many hands. Instead, the passive player will bide their time, waiting for other players to take more aggressive action. Patience is a virtue in poker, and can win a passive player several hands. However, their lack of aggression can cost them the bigger winnings.

The Fish

A fish is a term used to describe an inexperienced poker player. The typically fish will play most, if not every hand. More often then not a fish is not sure when to raise and when to call so they will alternate between the two. This can be incredibly frustrating to more experienced players who are trying to gauge the fish’s patterns.

The Manic Player

A manic player is a loose cannon at the poker table. Manic players often act quickly and aggressively without using much strategy or consideration. They will bet high and raise often, regardless of the hand they are holding. There are a couple of advantages to playing a manic style. For one, the other players will doubt the manic players hand most of the time, meaning the player can sweep the table with a good hand. However, playing manically almost never pays out in the long run as the high cost of betting can quickly diminish the player’s bankroll

What style of poker player are you? Almost every player at the table has a style, some without even realizing it. A good poker player knows how to recognize these styles quickly and use them to their advantage by playing against their opponents weaknesses.

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Five Tips for Seven Card Stud

February 25th, 2010  |  Published in Inrodution

Seven Card Stud is an old poker game, and one of the more popular games to play both at-home and at the casino. In Seven Card Stud, a player is dealt a combination of face up and face down cards. The chance to see a portion of every player’s hand makes Seven Card Stud a highly exciting game of poker. It also makes it a highly challenging game of poker.

Five Tips for Seven Card Stud

1. Remember that the first four cards you are dealt are the most likely to win the hand. The first four face  up cards you are dealt will give you the best idea of how your hand is going to turn out. If the cards do not form a good high hand, fold early to avoid loosing a higher bet on a bad hand later on.

2. Pay attention to the board. The face-up cards dealing in Seven Card Stud can turn some people off of the game, however, you should look at those face-up cards as an opportunity. Study your own cards to gauge what kind of hand you are going to end up with during every draw. Always keep one eye on your opponent’s cards as well. If it looks like another’s players hand is likely to beat yours, consider folding.

3. Play slow when you have a good hand. If the first three cards your are dealt show all the signs of flush or other high hand, play the round as slowly as you can. Bet modestly, play conservatively. The idea is to keep as many players in the game as possible by remaining low-key, this will raise the pot as high- so that when you do win- you win big.

4. Consider folding if another player’s board cards beat your own. There are several rounds of betting in Seven Card Stud, and the pot can get pretty high. Always consider folding if you notice another player’s board cards beat your own. This will reduce your loss risk.

5. Pay attention to the other players. Always keep an eye on every player at the table, even when they are not playing in the round. Make a mental note when the fold, when they bluff, and how aggressively they are betting. The more you know about your opponents, the easier it will be to beat them.

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The Benefits of Poker Lessons and Where to Obtain Them for Free

February 10th, 2010  |  Published in Gambling Games

Many people interested in learning a new poker game will scour the internet and read several books on the game. This is a great strategy because it gives people a deep knowledge of the game that they would not have otherwise gotten. However, reading something and putting it in to practice are two different things. The best way to learn a new game is to try it out, but you do not have to spend your hard-earned money doing so. Several casinos offer free gaming lessons on most of the popular poker games.

What are Poker Lessons at a Casino Like?

When a poker player signs up for a poker lesson at a casino, they are sent to a private room with several poker tables and an instructor. The instructor will divide the players up in to tables and provide free poker chips that are used for play (and not worth any actual value.) The instructor will then give a brief overview of the game followed by several rounds of hands on instruction. Finally, players are given a chance to play on their own while the instructor critiques their skills.

What are the Benefits of Poker Lessons at a Casino?

Taking a poker lesson at a casino has one major benefit- you will be taught the game of your choice by a qualified instructor who is more then likely a dealer in that game. You are allowed to play free and the lessons are typically offered free by the casino. This gives you hands on playing time without risking your gambling bankroll. As an added bonus, several casinos give out coupons free play or other benefits to participants in their poker classes.

Overall, taking a poker gaming lesson at a casino is well worth the time spent. If the game is completely new to you then you will learn all of the basic rules and game practices. If you have played the game a few times before you can still benefit from the instructor’s knowledge as they often give out hints and tricks for the poker game. In addition, the poker lesson is a free service of the casino, so you can get in your playing time without actually spending any money. The possibility of a coupon for free playing time, bet increases, or even a free meal in the casinos buffet is also highly enticing.

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Poker after Dark Returns to NBC

February 9th, 2010  |  Published in Casino News

The popular poker television show, Poker after Dark, has returned for its sixth season on the network NBC. Fans of the show should expect to see old favorites and a whole new set of players, games, and hosts.

Poker after Dark

Sponsored by NBC and fulltiltpoker.net, Poker after Dark is a series of televised poker tournaments competed in by pros and amateurs alike. The show runs six nights a week, with a different poker game played each night. There is also one exclusive tournament each week by invitation only.

Leeann Tweeden hosts Poker after Dark, and Ali Nejad provides commentary which is more often then not a blend of unmatched poker knowledge and wit. In addition to the beautiful host and humorous commentator several other commentators will be appearing on the sixth season of Poker after Dark; Howard Lederer, Mark Gregorich, Kara Scott, Gabe Kaplan, and Joe Sebok.

What makes Poker after Dark one of the most popular televised poker tournaments is the table banter. NBC does an excellent job of researching some of the most entertaining personalities in poker to include in their tournaments, making the show a mix of great gaming and entertaining appeal.

Poker after Dark Returns for its Sixth Season

NBC finished filming the sixth season of Poker after Dark in Las Vegas during October of 2009. The show is set to air in 2010.

The sixth season includes a mix of cash games and the themed based poker games that Poker after Dark is famous for. The themed games include, “My Favorite Pro,” a game set on giving an amateur a chance to beat out a Poker after Dark winner. “Lonesome Shark,” a game only for the bachelors. “He Said, She Said,” a battle of the sexes which includes Karina Jett’s debut on the television show, and “Charity of the Mind,” with all winnings going to the player’s charity of choice.

The first poker tournament for the sixth season of Poker after Dark aired on January 4th, 2010. The match was only for commentators of the show to play against each other; Howard Lederer, Mark Gregorich, Kara Scott, Gabe Kaplan, Joe Sebok, and Ali Nejad.

The schedule for additional poker tournaments will be posted by NBC as the shows come closer to their air date. You can find the schedules for Poker after Dark in your local newspaper, under the television schedule, in TV Guide, and on NBC’s website.

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