Does Online Poker Play help or hinder your Live Play?

For most of the new generation of poker players, their first experience of poker is increasingly likely to have come from playing online rather than in a live game. They may eventually switch to playing in live-action games (or combining live with online play), but their initiation to the game will probably have come online, where they don’t have to worry about the etiquette of a live-action game or whether they are giving off tells to the other players. As and when these players do migrate to live play, it will inevitably take them a while to adapt to the different nature of this form of poker, and most of these players will initially struggle at the hands of regular live-action players. Many live-action players therefore see the online game as a potential source of future profits, not because they choose to play online themselves, but because it may bring a wave of relatively inexperienced players into their own games.

However, it is not just inexperienced players who often struggle to adapt from online to live play – many regular online players have complained that when they return to playing in a live cardroom their results are much worse. There are a number of reasons why this could be the case. For example, in a live game:
•    They become distracted by the social aspect of the game, chatting to other players rather than focusing carefully on the game.
•    They don’t pay enough attention to the tells that are offered by their opponents.
•    They don’t pay enough attention to the tells that they themselves are offering their opponents.
•    They don’t recognise that their opponents are paying much more attention to the game than an online player generally would.
•    They don’t keep track of the pot accurately (whereas online this information is provided for you). Consequently some of their live plays are mistakes relative to the pot odds they are receiving.
•    They become impatient due to the smaller number of hands that are dealt per hour in a live relative to an online game.
•    They have become accustomed to playing more hands than they should when they are online, perhaps due to the generally loose nature of micro-limit play. If those same hand selections are retained when they switch to a live-action game, it is likely that their results will suffer.
•    They don’t vary their play sufficiently (since in online play it is comparatively less important to vary your play).
•    They may play so rarely in a live game that their results are nothing more than a reflection of the inherent variance involved in playing poker.

If you plan to play in both live and online games it is important to do both regularly, since otherwise your skills in one or other area may decline due to lack of practice. As a general rule, micro-limit online players should be looking to play tighter in a live game than they would do online.

SpinPalace Casino

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Right from the first look at their website I had the feeling that I would really like Spin Palace Casino. Spin Palace Casino keep on getting better and better each and every time I come back to them. Having a good look and feel is absolutely vital for an online casino if it wants to do well in the highly competitive gaming market and Spin Palace Casino have one of the best online casino interfaces I have seen. Having big promotions and bonuses is not the be all and end all of an online casino and it is important to really look at what is being offered as some of them look a lot better than they really are. In the case of Spin Palace Casino I can confirm that the bonuses are superb as I will demonstrate later in this review.

Below are the main sections of casino games offered by Spin Palace Casino, I could list every single game they have but I fear I don’t have enough space on this page!

– Progressive Games: At Spin Palace Casino the majority of the progressive jackpots are slots games but there are a few others as well, all offering huge top payouts.

– Slots Games: Spin Palace Casino have a great choice of games for slots fans. Their slots games come in many different shapes and sizes, like classic slots, reel slots and video slots.

– Table Games: Table Games are probably what is most synonymous with a casino, it includes games like Sic Bo, Roulette and Craps. Spin Palace Casino have all these favourite games and many more.

– VideoPoker Games: I know some players who are absolutely hooked on VideoPoker and I can see the attraction, they offer a lot of excitement and you also have very good odds compared to many other casino games. Spin Palace Casino have many different types of VideoPoker for your gaming pleasure.

– Card Games: Spin Palace Casino have all of the most popular Casino card games including Tequila Poker, Red Dog, Baccarat, Casino Hold’em, Caribbean poker, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Casino War and Pontoon.

On the chance that this isn’t quite enough casino games for you Spin Palace Casino have a few extra sections, these are Unique games.

Spin Palace Casino online casino has some simply fantastic bonuses and promotions. To start you off at the online casino Spin Palace Casino offer you a very nice signup bonus, £1000. You can add this money to your stack to give yourself more leverage in terms of betting for most of the casino games but make sure you check which casino games qualify for the bonus as not all of them do! A lot of online casinos offer loyalty schemes to keep hold of its players and this is something you should take advantage of. The loyalty scheme at Spin Palace Casino is excellent and if you intend playing there then you should definitely sign up for it. When I was writing this review they were running a promotion which gave you an extra £1000 bonus if you hit a progressive jackpot, talk about getting the cherry on top! 🙂

All in all I can’t recommend Spin Palace Casino enough, I have always enjoyed playing at their online casino and I expect I will for many years to come.

Working the Poker Room Lobby

At the heart of every playing site is the lobby, which provides players with a menu of the games that are currently on offer. Here each game is listed with the table name, stakes, number of players seated in the game, number of players on the waiting list and average pot size’ (typically based on the last 20 hands). Several sites also offer additional information on the number of players per flop (or fourth street for seven-card stud) and the number of hands played per hour.

If a game in which you wish to participate is currently fully occupied, you will be directed to join a waiting list and then prompted to take a seat once one becomes available. You may choose to use time spent on the waiting list to scout the game, identifying which players are aggressive, which participate in nearly every hand, which may be on tilt etc. If there is more than one game going on at your preferred limit, then it is advisable to join each waiting list individually rather than opt for a ‘first available table’ option. You then retain the option to pick and choose a table when the time comes, rather than be forced to either take the first available seat or rejoin the waiting list at the back of the queue, should you decide that the table on offer is unsuitable.

Every player has their own views on what constitutes an attractive game for their style of play: some prefer loose games with many players involved in each hand; and others tight games in which they can steal pots with aggressive play. If the site at which you play provides information on the average number of players involved in each pot, then you may like to use it to help you choose the right game for your style. However, as we have stated, it is important to note that the averages provided are typically based on only the last 20 or so hands, depending on the site, and the departure or arrival of a single player can often have a marked effect on the characteristics of a game. Indeed, even a table comprising the same players can sometimes experience a marked shift in dynamics immediately after a big pot has been won and lost.

Many sites also use lobby space to provide a list of the players seated at each table. If you keep notes on your opponents, this information can be invaluable, enabling you to steer away from players whose games you respect and towards those whom you reckon to fare well against. Furthermore, you may be able to identify some players who are playing more than one table at once – at times these players can prove to be ideal opponents, since you may be able to run over them while they are concentrating on the other games they are playing. Multi-table players normally play in quite straightforward fashion, so you should respect their raises and at the same time look to exploit their vulnerability to a well-timed bluff.

Once you are playing, you should still check back to the lobby periodically to see what new opportunities are on offer. A new game may have started at a limit you prefer, another game may now be populated by players you like to compete against, or maybe the game you are playing in has gone completely flat and simply any other game would be a better bet!

The lobby is an important resource in the armoury of a winning player – work it!

Rubyfortune Casino

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RubyFortune Casino have been around a few years and in that time have firmly established themselves in the online casino business. Ruby Fortune Casino are one of the trend setters in the online casino industry and that is always a good sign for a casino which takes itself and its customers seriously. In terms of looks and usability Ruby Fortune Casino is in a league of it’s own, it has a very nice and clean interface to its online casino. Ruby Fortune Casino have always had a good selection of promotions and bonuses to tempt its players with and I will discuss this more later on in this review of Ruby Fortune Casino.

Ruby Fortune Casino have a superb selection of games split into the following main categories:

– Progressive Games: Nothing quite beats the thrill of chasing an enormous progressive jackpot. At Ruby Fortune Casino there are plenty of progressive jackpot games to choose from.

– Slots Games: A nice selection in this category from classic single line all the way to video 20 line games.

– Table Games: In this category you’ll find all the games which you normally associate with all online Casinos, Ruby Fortune Casino have Sic Bo, European Roulette, American Roulette and Craps to name but a few.

– VideoPoker Games: This section contains a very healthy choice, there’s about 15 different video poker games too choose from at Ruby Fortune Casino.

– Card Games: Ruby Fortune Casino have a really great selection of card games, and it is card games which most people associate with online casinos. Games like Blackjack, Baccarat, Casino Hold’em and many more.

On the chance that this isn’t quite enough casino games for you Ruby Fortune Casino have a few extra sections, these are Arcade Games.

Now we get to the best bit, promotions and bonuses and this is where Ruby Fortune Casino really excel. The majority of online casinos these days offer signup bonuses and Ruby Fortune Casino is no exception, they will give you up to £750. Ruby Fortune Casino have really raised the level with their loyalty scheme. It’s based on points which you can convert to money and other things plus you get entitled to special bonuses and promotions. It’s well worth signing up for. Ruby Fortune Casino are constantly introducing new and exciting promotions and bonuses so I suggest you check there pages frequently for the very latest offers.

All in all then I really rate Ruby Fortune Casino as a great place for online casino players to gamble, they have loads of fantastic casino games and excellent bonuses.

Take your Seats at the Poker Table

Once you have selected a table at which to play, it is important to consider where you should sit. Often you will have no choice in the matter – there will only be one seat available and you will either have to take that place or go to the back of the waiting list. However, on other occasions you will be presented with a choice of two or more seats. Which criteria should you consider when selecting a seat?

If you know nothing about any of your opponents, there is little on which to base your decision. In those circumstances, many players recommend sitting to the left of where the majority of chips are located. In flop games, chips tend to move in a clockwise direction and, other things being equal, it is worth taking up a position that seeks to exploit this trend.

Your initiaating decision becomes more involved if you know the playing styles of some of your opponents. In those circumstances, the conventional wisdom is to sit to the left of the more aggressive players, with more passive players to your left. That way you can see the action of the aggressive players before you commit to the pot, and do not have to be too concerned about being raised every time you make a bet or call. You can thus take advantage of your position relative to the aggressive players, whilst the passive players can be counted on not to take full advantage of their position over you. In addition, if there is an opponent who calls nearly every hand pre-flop (in unraised pots), you would ideally like them on your right. That way whenever you have a premium hand you can almost guarantee that they will be investing two bets before the flop, one for their initial call, and another when they call your raise.

However, if there is a hyper-aggressive player who bets and raises at nearly every opportunity at the table, then the situation becomes a little more complex. It may be that you actually want them to your left – the fact that they are so predictable reduces the importance of holding position over them, since you can tailor your play so that whenever they are in the hand they can help bet your hand for you. The problem with having such a player on your right is that whenever they bet or raise you always have to act without knowing the actions of the players behind you – even if you suspect that the ‘maniac’ doesn’t have much of a hand, there may be someone else behind you who does, and you could easily get trapped on a second-best holding. Card Player columnist and author Bob Ciaffone goes so far as to call the seat to the immediate left of such a bulldozer, the ‘death seat’ – the one place to be avoided in a hold’em game.

History of dice games

Dice, also known as craps, is a game based on the throws of two
dice. Players predict whether or not a winning or a losing score will be thrown. The complex betting layout makes dice appear more difficult than it actually is. The basic game is relatively easy to learn. Although the layout incorporates a wide choice of bets, in practice, only a few are worth playing.

Dice games are one of the oldest forms of gambling and were originally played with dice fashioned from the knucklebones of sheep. Gambling was very popular in Ancient Rome where various forms of dice game were played. Gradually these games spread across Europe. During the 18th and 19th centuries hazard was a popular game played by the aristocracy. Craps got its name when hazard was introduced to France. Crabs, a pair of ones, was the lowest score. The French misinterpreted the word ‘crabs’ as craps.
European settlers brought the game to America where it was simplified and became the modern game of craps.

The history of Caribbean Stud Poker

Caribbean stud poker was invented in the mid-1980s on the Caribbean island of Aruba. It began to be played on cruise ships and gradually spread to casinos around the world. It differs from other poker games as it is played against the casino which acts as banker. Instead of playing for a pot, the winning hands are paid out at fixed odds. There is also no bluffing involved. In order to win, you have only to beat the dealer’s hand. The other player’s hands do not affect the outcome of your bets.

 

The game
The object of the game is to win by having a five-card poker hand that ranks higher than the dealer’s. Each player makes an ante-bet and is dealt five cards face down. The dealer receives four cards face down and one card face up.

Players then look at their cards and have the option to play or fold. If a player folds, his ante-bet is lost. If a player decides to continue, he must then make a further bet of double his ante-bet.

The dealer’s hand is then revealed. He must have an ace and a king or higher in order to play his hand. If a player’s hand beats the dealer’s, the ante-bet is paid at evens. See the below Table for the odds for the second bet. If the dealer does not have at least an ace and a king then a player is paid even money on the ante-bet and the additional bet is void (not lost). If, however, the dealer’s hand beats the player’s, both bets are lost.

One pair or less           1/1 (even)

Two pair                      2/1

Three of a kind            3/1

Straight                       4/1

Flush                           5/1

Full House                    7/1

Four of a kind               20/1

Straight Flush               50/1

Royal Flush                  100/1

 

If the dealer and the player play the same poker hand, the remaining cards are taken into consideration. If all five cards are equal, the hand is void (the bet is not lost). Neither the ante-bet nor the additional bet is paid. The type of suit makes no difference to the hand.

The disadvantage of this game is that you are relying purely on luck. There is no skill involved. You do not have the opportunity to bluff. In poker games where you are playing for a pot, you are still able to win even with a poor hand but with Caribbean stud poker, if you have a poor hand, you stand little chance of winning.

The minimum odds in this game are evens. In a normal game of poker with, for example, seven players, you would have odds of at least 6/1 and quite often a great deal better. The odds paid for the additional bet are also poor compared to the chances of achieving them. Odds of 100/1 are paid for a royal flush, yet your chances of being dealt one are 649,739/1. The only advantage you have is that you know how much each game is going to cost you.

Caribbean stud poker should be played only for amusement purposes. If you want to win money, you are better advised to play games where you are contesting for a pot.

 

Caribbean stud strategy
Caribbean stud poker has a house advantage of 5.26 per cent. By playing the following strategy it is possible to cut the house advantage to about 2.6 per cent. You need to decide whether to play or fold your hand. You should fold if you don’t get a minimum hand of an ace and a king.

Players should raise when they hold any pair or an ace and a king. With some hands you need to match the dealer’s up card to reduce the possibility that the dealer has a pair.

Player’s hand        Dealer’s hand                  Action
Lower than A K                                      Fold
Any pair              Any up card                 Raise
AKQJx                Any up card                  Raise
AKQxx                Must match one card     Raise
AKJxx                 Must match one card     Raise
A K 10 xx            Must match one card     Raise

The $1 progressive jackpot bet is extremely difficult to win. It is not worthwhile playing until the level of the jackpot exceeds $263,000.
 

Sic Bo

Sic bo is based on an ancient Chinese gambling game and has been adapted for casino play as a banking game. The game is played with three dice. The winning numbers are those uppermost on the dice.

Players bet on the combination of numbers thrown. Bets can be made on individual numbers, pairs, triples (three of a kind) or combinations of any two or three of the dice. The house advantage varies between 2.78 and 33.33 per cent depending on which bets are made and where the game is played.

The delaer will anounce ‘place your bets’. Players place their bets on  the layout on the box marked with the desired outcome. For example, if you want to bet on big, you simply place your chip in the box maked big. The dealer will announce ‘no more bets’. The dice are shaken. The dealer announces the winning numbers and the winning bets are paid out.

 

Types of Bet
There are 50 bets that can be played. The bets can be divided into seven different types.
 
 
Individual number
This is a bet on one particular number being thrown on any of the three dice. The numbers 1 to 6 inclusive can be played. For example, a bet on number 4 will win if a 4 is thrown on any of the three dice. If more than one 4 is thrown, the bet is paid out at greater odds. The bet will lose if no 4 is thrown. The odds paid depend on how many dice the selected number appears on. If the number is thrown on one die, odds of evens 1/1 are paid. If the number is thrown on two dice odds of 2/1 are paid. If the number is thrown on all three dice odds of 3/1 are paid. The house advantage is 7.87%.
 
 
Double
A double is a bet on two particular numbers being thrown. For example, a bet on 3 and 5 will win if 3 is thrown on one dice and 5 on another. All combinations of numbers are marked on the betting layout. Odds paid are 5/1.The house advantage is 16.67%.
 
 
Totals
The winning numbers on all three dice are added to find the total. For example if 6, 4 and 2 are thrown the total will be 12. Bets made on number 12 would win and all other bets on the totals would lose. Any total from 4 to 17 can be played. The odds depend on how easy or difficult it is to throw a total. They start at 6/1 and go up to 60/1. The house advantage varies as dIfferent casinos pay different odds. Bets cannot be made on scores of 3 and 18 as these are triples. If a score of 3 or 18 is made all bets on the totals lose.

Total          Odds     House advantage    
4 or 17     60/1     29.1%    
5 or 16     18/1     47.2%         
6 or 15     14/1     30.56%    
7 or 14     12/1     9.72%                
8 or 13     8/1       12.5%                
9 or 12     6/1       18.98%                
10 or 11   6/1       12.5%                
   
 
Small or big
Small is a bet on a score of between 4 and 10. For example if the 3, 4 and 2 are thrown the total is 9, which would be a winning bet. Big is a bet on a score of between 11 and 17. For example, if 6, 5 and 3 are thrown the total is 14, which would be a winning number. Bets on small or big lose if a triple (three of a kind) is thrown. The house advantage is 2.78%.

 
 
Triple of a particular number
A triple is the same score on each dice. For example, three fives or three fours. A particular triple is a triple made with one particular number. For example, if a triple of three fours is played, the bet will lose if three fives are thrown. The odds paid on winning bets varies. At odds of 150/1, the house advantage is 30.09%. At odds of 180/1, the house advantage is 16.2%.
 
 
Any triple
Any triple is a bet on any three of a kind. For odds of 24/1, the house advantage is 30.56%. For odds of 30/1, the house advantage is 13.89%.
 
 
Any pair
Any pair is a bet that two of the dice will have the same score. For example, a throw of 3, 3, 5 would win. For odds of 8/1, the house advantage is 33.33%. For odds of 10/1, the house advantage is 18.52%.
 
 
Betting layout
The betting layout is divided into four rows. The bottom row is marked with the single-number bets. The next row is marked with the two-number bets. The following row has the bets on the total of the three dice. The top row has the big and small, triple and double bets. The payout odds for each bet are marked on the layout.
 
 
Strategy
There is no strategy to predict the winning numbers; players simply rely on luck. The best bet to make is the big or small bet as this has the lowest house advantage. The worst bet to make is any pair, that has the highest house advantage.
 

Three Card Poker / Progressive Poker

Three card poker is a banking game. The house advantage is less than 3.5 per cent. There is no strategy involved with three-card poker, the player simply decides how much to bet. Three-card poker consists of two games that are played either separately or together – three-card ante/play and pair plus. It is played with a standard pack of 52 cards. With the pair plus game the aim is to make a ranking poker hand that is paid out at fixed odds.

With the ante-bet the aim is to make a three-card poker hand that beats the dealer’s hand. The dealer needs to have at least a queen high to qualify .

The dealer and player are both dealt three cards. Pair plus bets are paid out according to the payout odds.

 

Ante and play
Players can also place an ante-bet against the dealer. After the cards are dealt, they can place a play bet equal to the initial ante-bet.

As only three cards are used, the rankings are not the same as traditional poker. A straight ranks higher than a flush. Aces rank both high and low. There is also no mini-royal flush.

 

Rankings of hands
1 Straight flush
2 Three of a kind
3 Straight
4 Flush
5 Pair
6 High card
 
 
Payout Odds:
Pair                   1/1
Flush                 4/1
Straight              6/1
Three of a kind   30/1
Straight Flush     40/1

Playing tips for Video Poker

Progressive games offer the best value because they give you the opportunity to win a larger jackpot than flat top games.

The overall return for a game is usually expressed as a percentage. With some games it is possible to get a return of over 100 per cent if they are played over a long term. Look for a game that has already accumulated a large jackpot. In order to win the jackpot around 45 hours of fast play is required. This requires a bankroll of several thousand coins. If a large jackpot has already accumulated it will be possible to win it in a shorter time.

Always play the maximum possible stake as a smaller bet pays out lower odds. The maximum possible bet it usually five coins. A jackpot with five coins inserted pays on average 4000 coins. With only one coin inserted it pays around 250.

Learn the playing strategy for video poker. This differs from traditional five-card draw because with video poker there is no bluffing involved. Strategies like keeping a kicker to a pair are not correct for video poker.

Master jacks or better before graduating to other games. Jacks or better is the simplest game to learn.

Make sure the strategy you use is the correct one for the game you are playing. Games with wildcards like deuces and joker wild are more complex and require a different strategy to jacks or better.

Play slowly and carefully while you are learning. Hands like straights are not always immediately obvious, as the cards will rarely be displayed in the correct ascending or descending order. Don’t forget that in a straight an ace can be used as a high or a low card.

 

Basic strategy for jacks or better
Here is a simple strategy for jacks or better that is suitable for beginners:

1 Hold any hand of a straight or over in the ranking.
2 If four cards to a royal flush are held draw one (including to a winning flush).
3 Four cards to a straight flush or a flush – draw one.
4 Three of a kind – draw two.
5 Two pair – draw one.
6 Pair – draw three.
7 Three card royal flush – draw two.
8 Four card straight – draw one.
9 Three card straight flush – draw two.
10 Two high cards J, Q, K, A – draw three.
11 Three high cards (jack and over) – hold two of the same suit. If different suits, hold the two lowest high cards.
12 Four card straight – draw one.
13 High card – draw four.
14 Nothing – draw five.

 

Deuces wild strategy
The strategy depends on how many deuces are held:

Four deuces – draw no cards.
Three deuces – if no royal flush or five of a kind – draw two.
Two deuces: with four of a kind or better do not draw; with four cards to a royal flush – draw one; other hands – hold the deuces and draw three.
No deuces: hold any royal flush, straight or flush.
Four cards to a royal straight, straight or flush – draw one.
Four of a kind – draw one.
Three of a kind – draw two.
One pair – draw three.
Three cards to a straight flush – draw two.
Same suited high cards 10, J, Q, K – hold two.
Nothing – draw five.

 

Kings or better joker wild strategy
The strategy depends on whether or not you hold a joker.

Joker held
Hold hands that are three of a kind or higher.
Hold four cards to a royal flush.
Hold any four-card straight flush and a four-card flush if it includes K or A or both.
Hold three cards to a royal flush.
Hold a paying pair of high cards (king, ace).
Hold any three cards to a straight flush.
Hold any four-card flush without king or ace.
Hold consecutive four-card straights.
If none of these, hold the joker.
 
No joker held
Hold all paying hands.
Hold a four-card royal flush.
Hold any four cards to a straight flush and any three cards to a royal flush.
Hold four cards to any flush.
Hold any pair of twos to queens.
Hold any three cards to a straight flush.
Hold any four-card consecutive straight.
Hold two cards to a royal flush if one of the cards is a ace or king.
Hold unsuited king and ace.
Hold king or ace alone.
Hold two suited royal flush cards lower than king or ace.
If none of these, draw five.