The exception to this rule is if you decide to play a sit and go which really should not take more then an hour or so to finish. When you are playing for cash however or taking part in a multi table tournament you need to make sure that you have put aside enough time to play so that you can fully concentrate.

Think of it this way: Say you would like to enter an online multi table poker tournament. These poker games can be a real test of endurance and can last as long as eight hours. This is of course fine if it is the type of game that you would like to play in but if the game starts at 9pm and you need to go to work at 6am it’s probably not a good idea.

The purpose of playing online poker is of course to win money so you want to be able to devote your total attention to playing. So if you think you are going to be playing for an extended period of time you need to make sure that you can play without being preoccupied with anything. Since multi table tournaments can be difficult to win you need to be able to devote all of your time and attention to playing the best game of poker you can.

This will be learned over time but you need to keep up the same level of game play all throughout the poker tournament. If you begin to play poorly and start to make poor decisions because of this you will end up finding yourself not only out of the tournament but out of your precious time and money as well.

The same principal applies when you are sitting down to a simple cash game of online poker. If you do not have the time to sit and devote your time to the game you are very likely to end up separated from your money.

If you are playing with time constraints weighing heavily on your mind then you are not going to be able to really settle in and get a feel for the table that you are playing at which will make it a difficult task to size up your competition properly. You will really find that you tend to play more loosely with your money when you are not able to properly focus your attention. While this tactic does have the potential to pay out nicely it can also lead you down the road to disaster.

So give yourself some time to sit down at your computer and fully enjoy playing a few rounds of poker. It will not only help you enjoy your gave more, it will really increase the chances of you walking away with a nice addition to your wallet.

Traditional casino games such as poker and blackjack are played all ovr the internet. Being able to play casino games on the World Wide Web has opened doors for people all over the world to try their hand at gaming without leaving the comfort of their own home.

The enormous popularity of playing casino has drastically changed the way that many choose to gamble. The number of people that have become poker players has dramatically increased since the dawn of being able to gamble online. Poker players can enjoy a great session of playing poker without being bothered by any delays. Playing at home also allows the online gambling fan to be totally comfortable which allows them to focus more on game play.

Those that love to gamble in online casinos not only get to experience the enjoyment of a fast paced exciting game they also get the benefit of saving money. Saving money while gambling, while it sounds kind of silly it is true. When you are playing at an online casino you don’t have to worrying about the temptation of going out to eat at an expensive restaurant or making a purchase at the gift shop. Online casinos also offer a considerably higher level of customer service then their brick and mortar counterparts as they do not have to deal with an over extended staff.

Playing at online casinos allows a player much more choice then their local gaming establishment. It also gives the player a sense of excitement as you can play at virtually any casino virtually anywhere. You can be sitting on your couch in Minnesota playing casino games at a casino located in England.

So when you are considering playing at an online casino consider the following. You will be offered an exceptionally attentive level of customer service as well as a wide variety of exciting casino games to choose from. Additionally you will find that the payouts offered by online gaming establishments are quite tempting compared to land based casinos. Finally internet based casinos can offer a level of promotions not found at traditional casinos. With all these exceptional benefits what’s not to like?

The very first thing that you should determine when looking into online casinos is are they licensed or not.
Next, what kind of sign up bonus is the casino going to offer you as a new player? Visit plenty of online casinos so you can make the most informed decision as to where the best deal is going to be found.

While a new player sign up bonus is very important while looking at online casinos you need to find out all the different ways that the online casino you choose pays out to winners and accepts deposits from players. Make sure that whichever online casino you choose to play at has a pay out/deposit policy that is going to work for you.

Be sure to find out what the gambling regulations are in your state before you play. Also make sure the online casino that you wish to play at accepts gamblers in your area.

Will the online casino’s games play without freezing up? Should a game freeze up or experience some other issue what kind of policy does the casino have in place to deal with it?

Does the online casino that you want to gamble at have a good reputation? If you have friends or family that enjoy online gambling get suggestions as to where they like to play.

Does the online casino that you wish to play at have a good track record in regards to support? You wouldn’t want to have some kind of issue while gaming and have to wait a considerable amount of time (or worse get no response at all) before someone got in touch with you to deal with you problem.

Keep these tips in mind while you are selecting the best online casino for you to play at. Taking the time to research and choose carefully will help to ensure that you have the best online gambling experience possible.

The supreme satisfaction that you can experience playing in a Bingo Hall really cannot be achieved by playing online. While it is a thrill to win no matter where you are playing bingo there really is something about winning when you are able to bask in your victory among those that you have defeated. While playing Bingo online is a very enjoyable experience for many it really does fall short for those that love playing amongst other bingo enthusiasts.

For those that love the game of Bingo and love to enjoy the company of others while having an evening out of the house playing in a Bingo Hall is most definitely the way to go. If you are a true fan of the game of bingo and head out to play it is highly unlikely that you are going to just play one game and then leave. You are going to want to play several games and make a whole evening out of it.

Now should you prefer to play Bingo online that doesn’t mean that you are out of luck when it comes to building friendships with others who enjoy the game. When playing online Bingo players will often notice that there are chat rooms available where players can talk while enjoying the game. So you can sort of have the best of both worlds by being able to maintain a comfortable level of privacy while playing while still enjoying the conversation of others that are Bingo fans.

While there are definitely two different trains of thought as to which is better: playing Bingo online or offline you will find that there are some distinct advantages of playing online. For instance many online Bingo rooms offer entertainment(such as other casino games) for their players while they await the start of another game. Online Bingo rooms also offer potential players bonuses that they would not have the chance to receive if they where playing in a brick and mortar Bingo Hall. These extras are offered because they have to complete with offline Bingo Halls so they need be able to draw in potential players.

While playing bingo offline doesn’t offer the additional entertainment and extras or the privacy that playing online does, it does allow you the chance to have an opportunity for a fun night out and a chance to earn some money too. You may not win as much money as you would trying your hand at playing bingo online but you are likely to not pay out as much money before you win.

Razz Poker is an exciting variation on the game of poker. Although Razz Poker has been around for some time, the game has enjoyed particular popularity in recent years. The beauty of Razz Poker is that it is the rags that wins the hand. Many people describe Razz Poker as playing a hi/lo game, without the hi.

Razz Poker is essentially seven card stud poker, only with the low hand being the one that wins the pot. Unlike hi/lo games, Straights and Flushes do not disrupt the low hand in Razz Poker. Because of this, the best possible hand in Razz Poker is A-2-3-4-5.

Razz Poker is typically played with two to eight players. It is generally played as a limit game, with a low bet and a high bet. The first two betting rounds use the low betting increment, and the last three betting rounds use the high betting limit. For example, in a 2-4 Razz Poker game, the first two betting rounds would be done in increments of $2, and the remaining betting rounds would be done in increments of $4.

The following guide will teach you the basics of how to play Razz Poker.

Razz Poker Ante

Before any cards are dealt, all players must contribute an ante to the pot. In Razz Poker, the ante is usually an amount that is roughly 1/5 of the low bet. Using the same example of a 2-4 Razz Poker game, the ante would be around $0.40.

Razz Poker Bring In

After all players have contributed their ante to the hand of Razz Poker, everyone is dealt their first three cards. This consists of two cards dealt face down, which only the player can see, and one card dealt face up, which everyone can see.

After this initial deal, the player with the highest card showing must “Bring In” the Razz Poker Hand. If two players have the same high card, such as two people with a King, then the person closest to the dealer’s left must bring in the hand.

The Bring In must be at least half of the low bet. Using our 2-4 Razz Poker example, the Razz Poker Bring In bet would be $1. Although the player may opt to raise this amount up to the $2 level. The first betting round has now began.

Each player then takes their turn participating in the hand, to which they can either fold, call or raise the bet before them. It should be noted that betting should always be done in the proper increment. Using our example, in increments of $2. There can also be no more than 3 raises per betting round, which would put the bet at $8 using our 2-4 Razz Poker example.

Razz Poker Fourth Street

After the initial betting round, another card is dealt to each player, face up, so that everyone at the table can see each other’s 3rd and 4th card, but with the first two card still being face down. At this time another round of betting begins, which will be the last round using the low betting limit.

At this point, the player with the lowest Razz Poker hand showing begins the betting, and may choose to check, bet or fold. The lowest possible hand at this stage would be Ace, 2. If more than one player has the same low hand showing, the one closest to the dealer’s left begins the betting.

Razz Poker Fifth and Sixth Streets

The next two rounds of Razz Poker, commonly referred to as fifth and sixth streets, also result with cards being dealt face up so that everyone at the table can see. The difference between these betting rounds and the one that occurred at fourth street, is that the minimum bet has now been increased to the high betting limit. Again, in our 2-4 Razz Poker example, this would be betting in increments of $4.

Razz Poker Seventh Street

On Seventh Street in Razz Poker, players are dealt a final card face down. Players still in the game at this point have 3 cards face down, which only they can see, and 4 cards face up, which everyone can see. A final round of betting now takes place, using the high betting limit.

Razz Poker Showdown

Any player still in the Razz Poker game after Seventh Street now has an opportunity to show their cards in hopes of taking the pot. The winning hand will be the best low hand, using any five of the seven cards available to the player. The last player to bet on Seventh Street is the first to show, with each player having an opportunity afterwards, going clockwise around the table. If another player has already displayed a better low hand, players may opt to “Muck” their hand, or discard without revealing what their down cards were.

Intercasino is one of the oldest casinos online; in fact, Intercasino is the oldest casino on the internet. Intercasino enjoys an impeccable reputation and has won countless awards. Customer Service, fair odds and fast payouts are a top priority at Intercasino, all of which helped make Intercasino the best casino online, as well as the oldest.

Intercasino was first licensed in 1996 by the Government of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Although a small number of internet sportsbooks existed before this time, Intercasino was the first site to offer casino games on the internet. Intercasino placed the first wager on the internet in November 1996, making it the first bet online, and making Intercasino the oldest online casino.

Intercasino uses software by Wagerlogic, more commonly known by the company’s original name, Cryptologic. Wagerlogic is the original online casino software company, and part of what was once referred to as the “big four” software providers, in a time when there were not as many options as what is available today.

The gaming experience provided by Intercasino is a rich, robust, state-of-the-art experience. With an extensive number of single player and multi-player casino games, it is easy to see why internet gamblers consistently vote Intercasino as the best online casino. The latest version of Intercasino added 29 new games to the casino software, and Intercasino is constantly developing new casino games.

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Intercasino has fast payouts. Intercasino has award winning software. Intercasino has the best customer service of any online casino. Intercasino has paid out more winnings than any other online casino, and Intercasino has been in business longer than any other internet casino. What other reason could you possibly need to give Intercasino a spin? How about getting a lifetime bonus that puts up to $100 in your account each and every month for the rest of your life? Intercasino truly has it all. Sign up for an account today by visiting intercasino.com.

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At almost 35 years of age, Ballys Casino Las Vegas is one of the older properties on the Las Vegas strip. Ballys Las Vegas Casino has witnessed both mega-jackpots and major tragedies in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ballys Casino Las Vegas is a unique casino that has been described as a casino that preserves the allure and elegance of old Las Vegas, while at the same time tapping into the rich amenities of modern Las Vegas.

The 43 acre property where Ballys Casino Las Vegas now stands was originally home to the Bonanza Hotel and Casino that was built in 1963. The location later became home to the MGM Grand Hotel Casino, which was the largest hotel in the world at the time of it’s construction in 1973. The MGM Grand eventually constructed a new location, and sold the old hotel to the Bally Entertainment Corporation, who reopened the property as Ballys Las Vegas.

Ballys Casino Las Vegas was off to a good start during the first few years after being purchased from the MGM Grand, but that came to a halt in 1987 when Ballys Casino Las Vegas suffered a tragic fire. The Ballys Casino fire resulted in the death of 87 workers and guests who were trapped in the upper floors of the building.

The Ballys Casino fire remains, to this day, the largest disaster in the history of Nevada in terms of the loss of life. The city’s safety codes for casino resorts were reformed as a result of the Ballys Casino fire. These codes are the strictest fire safety codes in the United States as a result of the 1987 casino fire at Ballys Casino Las Vegas.

The Ballys Casino Las Vegas of today has moved well beyond the troubles of the past. Ballys Casino Las Vegas boasts one of the most impressive casino gaming floors in Las Vegas. The casino at Ballys is 70,000 square feet of gaming excitement, including more than 75 betting tables. Ballys Casino Las Vegas also features the world’s first $1,000 slot machines.

Ballys Casino Las Vegas also features a miniature shopping mall inside the casino. One of the regular favorites of the 20 stores inside the mall is the Houdini Magic Shop. In addition to stocking a number of professional quality tricks, Houdini’s employs magicians that can perform any trick in the store on demand, and can even take you into a secret room where the tricks of the trade will be revealed.

Ballys Casino Las Vegas also has one of the best pool scenes in Las Vegas. The Ballys Casino pool features lush tropical gardens, private cabanas and a terrace café. There is also a number of illuminated tennis courts and a tennis pro shop in the pool complex.

Ballys Casino Las Vegas is a living piece of Las Vegas history, and one that should not be missed. For more information on visiting Ballys Casino Las Vegas, call them toll free at 888-742-9248 or locally at 702-967-4405.

The Bellagio Hotel Casino in Las Vegas prides itself on providing an atmosphere of luxury and elegance. With world class dining, affordable accommodations, breath taking floral gardens and the enchanting water ballet of the Bellagio Fountains, the Bellagio Hotel Casino is one of the top resorts for anyone visiting Las Vegas, Nevada.

The beautiful surroundings of the Bellagio helped put the Las Vegas Strip back on the map of the world’s top tourist destinations when it opened. Bellagio was the first casino resort to be opened after the “family destination” period of Las Vegas’ history, and ushered in an era of elegance, luxury and sophistication. The Bellagio did such a spectacular job that many of it’s attributes are carried over in newer resorts, such as The Wynn.

The theme of the Bellagio is meant to recreate a village in Tuscany. The Bellagio is often cited as having a Lake Como village feel, particularly with the miniature lake that consumed 8-acres of the property in front of the casino. Unlike other resorts in Las Vegas, the Bellagio did not go overboard with it’s theme, although it did carry over enough to give the hotel and casino a spectacular degree of elegance.

A number of factors combine to make the Bellagio one of the best resorts in Las Vegas. An abundance of shops, both fine and casual dining, and other attractions make the Bellagio a must-see destination in Las Vegas. Other attractions include the Water Ballet of the Bellagio Fountains, the Bellagio Floral Gardens and the most amazing pool in Las Vegas. Let’s review a few of the Bellagio’s key attractions.

Water Ballet At The Bellagio Fountains

The Water Ballet at the Bellagio Fountains is one of the best free attractions on the Las Vegas strip. Located in the center of the 8-acre lake that is situated between the Bellagio and the Las Vegas Strip, are the massive Bellagio fountains. These fountains can shoot water an amazing 240 feet into the air, as well as perform a number of fluid dance movements.

The fountains perform a choreographed display every 30 minutes during the day, and every 15 minutes from 8pm to midnight, 7 days a week. Each show is different, and combines a spectacular array of music, water and light to make one of the best free attractions that can be viewed from the sidewalk of the Las Vegas strip.

If staying at the Bellagio, make sure to request a “Lakeside Room” that faces the strip. If you are amazed at the Bellagio water show as seen from the ground level, imagine seeing it from several flights up. It can only be described as breathtaking, and a special television channel will pipe the music into your room in full stereo sound.

Bellagio Floral Gardens

As you enter the main lobby of the Bellagio, two things are immediately noticeable. First is the collection of 2,000 mouth blown glass flowers that make an artistic collage on the ceiling of the lobby. The second is the fragrant aroma of flowers wafting through the air. If you follow your nose through the corridor you’ll be led to one of the best places in Las Vegas – the Bellagio Floral Gardens.

Aside from a magically intoxicating smell of thousands of fresh flowers, one of the most amazing things about the Bellagio Floral Gardens is that no two visits to the gardens is ever the same. The flower arrangement is changed every few weeks to match the season, so a visit one month will be completely different from a visit the previous month.

One of the primary attractions of the Bellagio Floral Gardens was the grand marble staircase, which has been the scene of many weddings. The staircase has since been removed, but another unique attraction still remains -–a 100 year old fountain from Italy which is always filled with a bouquet of fresh flowers.

Bellagio Pool Gardens

The pool gardens at the Bellagio is one of the resort’s best kept secrets. If you are looking for a hotel casino with the best pool in Las Vegas, look no further, the pool at the Bellagio is hands down the best of the best.

The pool at the Bellagio is actually a combination of six different swimming pools. Two of the Bellagio’s pools are heated to offer year-round swimming in comfortable temperatures. Two others feature fountains, making them sort of like a miniature version of the main fountains in the front of the Bellagio.

Of course, what makes the Bellagio pool the best pool in Las Vegas is not the pool itself, it is the entire garden environment that the Bellagio has created. Going for a swim at the Bellagio will transport you to a place filled with trees, plants, singing birds, cool misting air and flowing water, making it easy to forget that you’re in the middle of the Nevada desert.

Of course, there are a number of other features that make the Bellagio one of the best resorts in Las Vegas. Chocolate waterfalls, Ansel Adams photographs and a large collection of priceless paintings from artists such as Picasso, to name just a few of the Bellagio’s unique elements. The accommodations are also one of the best values on the Las Vegas Strip, with rooms priced around $149.

For further information, or to book your room in Las Vegas, call the Bellagio at 702-693-7111 or toll free at 888-987-6667. You can also receive complete information online, including downloadable brochures, by visiting the Bellagio web site at bellagio.com

First off all, you should be a wining poker player. A stabile player that wins consistent over a long period. Or you could be a player with a big bankroll if you happen to be a little insecure in your game, and want to take a chance and see if you can develop your game while staying in Thailand.

The new laws in Thailand permits you staying for a maximum of five months before you have to depart again for three months. After that, you’re free to enter the country again.
That means that you can’t move to Thailand permanent and live of the poker if you don’t happen to fulfil certain requirements like for example having a work permit for a company in the country or being over 55 years old and retired and can show that you have money on your bank account.

To be able to stay the maximum time in Thailand you need to apply for double tourism visa at the Thai embassy. Check out their homepage for more info about the special rules and to get an application form for a visa.

Now a days, you can access the Internet everywhere in Thailand and the speed is enough for poker playing. In the afternoon / evening the connection is a bit slower but it’s sufficient. If you’re renting an apartment, make sure to check how much time it takes to install the Internet cord, some buildings haven’t got the quantity of cord that are needed to install Internet.

An important thing to keep in mind is that you can’t use for ex. Neteller in Thailand. Instead, you should try to use transfers directly to the bank account when you withdraw money. It can take a few days, so always have a small sum of money on you in case something unforeseen should happen.

Finally I would like to say that travel insurance is a must when you travel abroad under a longer period of time, home insurance covers only 45 days of vacation. With a good insurance you’ve protected against possible expenses like medical care, theft and eventual trial expenses and more.

Written by “GreenCurry” for 24hPoker.com

HORSE Poker is one of the most challenging variations of the game that can be played, earning it the nickname “The Hated Game” among professional players. Hated or not, HORSE is quickly making a big splash on the professional poker scene, in large part because it is a game that separates the true professionals from the amateurs.

HORSE Poker is actually a mixed game tournament that consists of five different forms of poker combined in a single game. The poker games that are combined to make HORSE Poker are:

(H) Holdem
(O) Omaha
(R) Razz
(S) Seven Card Stud
(E) Eight or Better (also known as Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo)

When playing HORSE Poker, the form of poker being played switches after a set increment. This is usually when the blinds increase after each timed round, but is sometimes changed each time the dealer button moves once around the table.

This unique combination makes HORSE Poker a particularly difficult form of poker to make, especially since most people are not on a professional level of play at one of more of these games. This makes it important to play strong during the rounds that feature a game you are good at playing, so that other rounds do not hurt you as much. For example, if you are great at Holdem and Omaha, you want to play strong during those rounds, not passive, so that your chip stack won’t be hurt as bad if you perform poorly during the Razz round.

Another important aspect of playing HORSE Poker is that it is absolutely imperative to pay close attention to when games are switched. If you aren’t careful, you could find yourself playing a different game than everyone else at the table, which will certainly come with disastrous results. This is especially true when the game switches from Seven Card Stud to the Hi/Lo version of the game.

HORSE Poker is a classic poker game, but one that had disappeared into obscurity in an age of televised Holdem Tournaments. HORSE Poker regained some of it’s popularity during the 2006 World Series of Poker. In 2006 the WSOP introduced a professional HORSE Poker event that carried a buy-in of $50,000.

The WSOP HORSE Tournament came as a result of complaints from the professional poker player community, who felt that the WSOP had been downgraded into an internet lottery for amateur players who won random seats at internet better sites. These players sometimes played based on blind luck, which was somewhat insulting to those who actually paid the $10,000 entry fee to be part of the tournament.

Due to complaints about professional vs. amateur players, the WSOP implemented the high stakes HORSE Poker Tournament, with incredible success. Because HORSE Poker can be a difficult game for even the top professional poker players to master, the event was one of the most interesting games the poker world has seen in a long time.

During that first WSOP HORSE Poker tournament, Chip Reese went on to beat out other high stakes poker players, including Phil Ivey and the legendary Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson, to be the first professional player to put HORSE Poker on the WSOP map.

In the end, HORSE Poker is a game that continues to gain momentum and popularity on a consistent basis. Must of the market has grown tired of playing strictly no limit Holdem, and the limit rounds of the HORSE Poker tournament, leading up to the familiar no limit Holdem final table, makes HORSE a version of poker that waters the mouth of modern poker players.

A good rule of thumb is, when we are unsure, to either raise or fold. Let us assume that we called a preflop raise from a tight player with JTs after a caller in-between. The flop comes T73 rainbow. The early position raiser bets out, the player between us folds. What should we do?

First of all, we need to realize that our holding is very marginal. Sure, we have top pair, but our kicker is bad and we are facing a tight player. It is not exactly a hand to write home about (unless we have our mom on MSN and want some good parental advice).

In this situation, our options are to raise or fold. There is nothing wrong in folding. A bit on the tight side, sure, but if we put the tight player on a good hand there is no reason to continue playing. We can, however, test the tight player by raising. If the opponent re-raises we just fold, if he calls we do not put another cent in the pot unless we improve to two pair or three of a kind. Playing like this has its advantages: we avoid to pay off our opponents’ good hands (for example, over pairs or sets), but we win most of the times he is continuation-betting with a hand like AK or 88.

The same is true for a hand like 87 on a flop like T76 - a very marginal holding indeed. Middle pair and a gutshot straight draw is not really a hand we like to get deeply involved with, but if we feel the opponent might be bluffing it is not wrong to test him with a raise. Folding is correct, but often, so is raising.

The common denominator for both hands is our action on the flop. Raise or fold. No calling! This allows us to avoid trouble later in the hand, on more expensive streets. If we face resistance, we are probably beat. If we are lucky, we draw out on the turn and get paid off, but otherwise we just toss our hand in the muck without losing too much money.

Should we just call the flop with a marginal hand, there is a risk of us trying to bluff should the opponent check the turn, or maybe it will be too alluring to call on the river just to see him turn over a better hand. It all boils down to avoiding trouble on later streets by acting on the flop. It both saves money and makes money, and is therefore a good play.

Written by Andris Kangeris for 24hPoker.com

Super Fun 21, usually referred to simply as Super 21, is an exciting variation on the game of Blackjack. In many ways, Super 21 is played exactly like Blackjack, making it an easy game for beginners to learn. The interesting pay-tables for Super 21 adds a nice twist to the game and provides an element of excitement that is not found in traditional Blackjack.

Just as with Blackjack, the object of Super 21 is to build a hand that has more points than the dealer’s hand, without going over 21 points. Aces count as either 1 or 11 points in Super 21, while face cards (Jack, Queen, King) count as 10 points each. All other cards count as the numerical value of the card (2-10).

Although the player can choose to make any move they wish, whether it makes sense or not, the Super 21 Dealer is subject to specific rules that govern how the dealer will play their hand. The typical rules for Super 21 are:

• Dealer must hit on “Soft” 17
• Blackjack Pays Even Money (1 to 1)
• Player may hit or double down after splitting aces and receiving a card
• Player may double down on any number of cards (e.g. double down on 4th card)
• Late surrender and surrendering after a double down (double down rescue) is allowed

Note that even though these rules are standard for Super 21, they may vary slightly from one location to the next. Be sure to consult the local house rules before you play.

People who are accustomed to playing Blackjack may be initially put off by only being paid 1 to 1 for a Blackjack hand in Super 21. The soon realize that the excitement adds up, however, by getting paid larger amounts for hands that do not count as anything extra in normal Blackjack. For example, in Super 21, a 2-card blackjack where both cards are the suit of diamonds pays 2 to 1, which is much better than the 3 to 2 odds the same hand would receive in regular blackjack.

There are a number of ways for the player to win in Super 21. Among them are:

• Any hand with more points than the dealer’s hand, without exceeding 21 points, pays 1 to 1
• Any hand of with 6 cards automatically wins, except after double down
• Any 5 card hand totaling 21 pays 2 to 1
• Any Blackjack pays 1 to 1
• Any Diamond Blackjack pays 2 to 1

These elements combine to make Super Fun 21 an exciting variation on the game of Blackjack, and one that has been widely welcomed by Blackjack players who are looking for something a little different.

So, when should we play suited connectors?

The answer is - almost always! When playing a full ring game, sometimes it is best just to call in early positions, but when first in from mid-to-late position, it is a raising hand. When playing shorthanded, we should always raise suited connectors first in. This is to balance our raising hand distribution; it gives good deception value and allows us to steal the pot on the flop, even if we miss it completely.

If someone has raised before us, in most cases it is correct to call the raise, especially if we have position on the raiser. A good rule of thumb is that it is correct to call up to 10% of our stack preflop, since it is about that often we will hit two pair or better. Preflop, our cards are not worth much. It is after the flop that things can become interesting.

Our goal is to flop two pair, three of a kind or a strong draw. Suited connectors are especially good for stacking over pairs, but they are playable in most situations. If we miss the flop, we simply fold, unless we have raised preflop. If we are the preflop aggressor and the pot is heads-up to the flop, we should continuation bet even if we miss in order to give us a chance to pick up the pot. If we have called preflop, we only continue playing if we flop at least a good draw.

The times we hit the flop hard our play depends entirely on the opponent, table image, table game play, stack size and position. To give a general advice for each situation that could arise would require an essay worthy of a Master’s degree, so the only recommendation I really can give is to play the same way you usually play your good hands. The standard play, therefore, should be to play aggressive when hitting the flop hard.

To summarize:

Preflop:
Raise first in. In early position in a full ring game it is not wrong to limp, however I do think that most high suited connectors (that is JT+) are raise-worthy, but it is a matter of taste. Shorthanded, always raise first in. If someone else has raised - call for up to 10% of effective stack size.

Flop:
If you flop well - play hardball! When having raised first in and only one player has called, you should always continuation bet to try to pick up the pot. Otherwise, just use your common sense and skill and watch the money roll in!

Written by Andris Kangeris for 24hPoker.com

Omaha is a natural choice for poker players who are tired of playing Texas Holdem and want to broaden their poker horizons. Omaha appears similar to Texas Holdem in appearance, since both versions of poker use five community cards that are shared by all players, and the flow of Omaha is also similar.

These aspects of Omaha combine to make it easy to transition to this version of the game, which many people come to view as a better form of poker. Omaha Poker can be played in either the normal version or in a Hi/Lo variety. The poker game can be played as limit poker, no limit poker or pot limit poker.

For those who have never played Omaha, or any other form of poker, the game is very easy to learn and can provide a lifetime of excitement and enjoyment.

Omaha Poker – Starting A Hand

Before the start of each hand, the Big Blind and Small Blind contribute to the pot. These blinds are forced bets that insure money is always involved with each hand. The seat immediately to the left of the dealer position is the Small Blind, and contributes an amount equal to half the minimum bet. To the left of the Small Blind is the Big Blind, which contributes an amount equal to the minimum bet. These positions rotate around the table after each hand.

After the blinds have been placed, all players are dealt four cards face down. The dealing starts with the Small Blind and goes in a clockwise motion around the poker table. The object of Omaha Poker will be to combine two of these cards with three of the community cards to form the best possible poker hand.

Omaha Poker – Betting

After everyone participating in the game of Omaha Poker are dealt their four cards, and initial round of betting takes place. During this, and all subsequent rounds of betting, poker players have the choice of checking, folding, betting, raising or re-raising, depending on the flow of the bets before them.

After the first round of betting is over, the first three community cards are turned over. This is known as the flop, and is followed by a second round of betting. A fourth community card is then turned over. This is known as the Turn, or Fourth Street, and is followed by a third round of betting.

The fifth community card is the turned over, and is referred to as the River, or sometimes Fifth Street, in Omaha Poker. At this point the Showdown occurs, which is the final round of betting in the hand. At this stage you combine any two of the cards in your hand, with any three community cards, to form the best Omaha Poker Hand. You must use two cards from your hand and three community cards – you are not allowed to use more or less of either in Omaha Poker.

Omaha Poker – Hand Rankings

The hand rankings in Omaha Poker are similar to many other versions of poker, including Texas Holdem. From lowest to highest, the hand rankings for Omaha Poker are:

• High Card
• Pair
• Two Pair
• Three of a Kind
• Straight
• Flush
• Full House
• Four of a Kind
• Straight Flush
• Royal Flush

If two or more players have the same high hand, the pot will be split between the players. A sixth card, or “Kicker” is not customarily used to determine the winner in Omaha Poker, although this may change depending on where you are playing the game.

Omaha Poker – Hi/Lo

There is also a version of Omaha Poker that is commonly referred to as Omaha Hi/Lo. This version of the game not only rewards players with the highest hand, such as in standard Omaha Poker, but also the player who has the lowest poker hand, with the lowest hand being complete garbage.

A low hand in Omaha is any five cards of 8 or under, which do not make a traditional hand. For example, 2 2 2 3 3 would not count as a low hand, because this is a full house. Aces do count towards low hands, since an Ace can be either high or low in poker. Again, a low hand in Omaha Hi/Lo Poker must consist of any two of the four cards in your hand, plus any three of the community cards.

In Omaha Hi/Lo, is there is not a high poker hand, then the low hand wins the entire pot. If there is both a high hand and a low hand, the pot is split between the highest and lowest. This helps to create a fun and exciting game, as well as some very large pots, since players with both good hands and (what would normally be) terrible hands will be raising the pot.

Do not miss this Thursday’s €25 000 Guaranteed Texas No Limit tournament! It is a freezeout tournament with a €200 buy-in. The first prize is estimated to be around €7000. Participants will get 5000 in starting chips and the periods are 15 minutes long. The large amount of starting chips will make this tournament more player friendly and there will be more post-flop play even in the later stages of the tournament. So, register to this tournament now and be ready to take your share of a nice prize pool without having to beat a large starting field. The tournament starts at 21:00 CET.

Since 1995, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas has offered a 20-something audience a hip and happening place to let go of their inhibitions. Catering to a younger, cooler audience, you aren’t likely to find many retirees or families making their Vegas vacation destination the Hard Rock Casino. What you will find are the young, the beautiful, the famous and the insanely rich, all enjoying the non-stop party atmosphere that the Hard Rock is famous for.

The Hard Rock Hotel Casino first opened it’s doors in Las Vegas in 1995. The casino was opened by Peter Morton, who co-founded the Hard Rock Café franchise that grew to become an international sensation. Although the Las Vegas Hard Rock shared many characteristics with other Hard Rock locations, such as displays of music memorabilia, it also stepped away from the standard theme in many ways.

The Hard Rock Casino Hotel in Las Vegas has been no stranger to the big screen. The Hard Rock was featured prominently in the 1992 film “Honey, I blew up the kid”, during which a giant baby played the larger than life Fender Stratocaster guitar that decorates the façade of the Hard Rock.

The Las Vegas Hard Rock’s Stratocaster also received big screen attention during the Nicholas Cage movie, “ConAir”. In ConAir, the aircraft transporting fugitives crashed through the guitar. The Hard Rock Casino Las Vegas has also been featured in the HBO series, “Entourage”.

Another famous feature of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is the hotel’s sand-bottom pool. It is actually a series of pools that are joined together by the Hard Rock’s “Lazy River”, which many people enjoy floating down in inner-tubes.

The Hard Rock pool is disappointing in some respects, as the swimming area is limited in size – most of the pool is less than knee deep and only useful for wading. In other ways, the pool at the Hard Rock is spectacular, with it’s floating craps table and swim-up blackjack tables. The pool area also features an elaborate beach stage that is often used for live bands and beach parties.

The spa at the Hard Rock Las Vegas is smaller in size than what can be found at the resorts on the strip, it is still a relaxing environment that is decorated in an ultra-hip fashion. The location of the Hard Rock is probably it’s most relaxing feature, however.

The Hard Rock Casino is located on Paradise Road, which runs parallel to the Las Vegas Strip. The provides guests at the Hard Rock with easy access to any casino in Las Vegas, but without the excessive traffic and headaches. The Hard Rock also provides a free shuttle service to strip casinos, meaning there is no need for a designated driver.

If you’re 20 something, dressed in black, and have an affinity to party til you drop, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is the Las Vegas destination built to fulfill your every need.

When playing online poker, there are often people buying in short. Let us assume that a player has 40 euro in front of him on a table with blinds of 1/2. One player limps, the shortstack raises pot to 9 and a player behind calls. We look down at a really nice starting hand - AAT9 single suited. What is our course of action?

The natural instinct is to start thinking about all the money coming our way, pulling the slider to the far right and raising pot. It is correct to get as much money in preflop, preferably the whole stack, with AAxx in Omaha, and this is a perfect situation to get it all-in against the shortstack with some dead money in the pot. Right?

No.

The best play is instead to mini-raise to 16 total. At first, it might sound bizarre and irrational, but it is an extremely effective weapon. What we are now hoping for is for the first player to call our mini-raise and for the shortstack to push, so we can re-raise it again and play it heads-up against the shortstack with lots of dead money in the pot, or, force the first caller to play for his entire stack holding the worst hand. Of course, the most favorable scenario is if the player that called the initial shortstack raise calls the all-in from the shortstack, which almost guarantees us to get our entire stack in the middle.

Mini-raising entices the players behind to call. If they do, and the shortstack pushes, we have gotten more dead money in the pot and gotten the same result as if we would have potted it - a heads-up pot against the shortstack, or, even better, forced another player with a big stack to put it all-in with the worse of it.

But what happens if the shortstack just cold-calls our mini-raise? Well, then we have a big pot to play for on the flop, which increases our chances of winning huge should we flop a good hand.

If we instead just pot it preflop after the shortstack has raised and the other player has called the raise, our raise till be to 58 (2+9+9+9+29), an big enough chunk of our opponents’ stacks for them not to call our raise and as a result, we get less dead money in the pot.

This is also something to think of when being on the other end of this situation. Let us assume we called preflop with a hand like 9887 and a shortstack raises pot. A player in-between calls and another player mini-raises. It is very tempting to call in this situation to try to win a big pot. Don’t. As explained above, the shortstack will likely push, and the mini-raiser will re-raise pot again, forcing us to fold or to make a mistake by calling for almost our entire stack as substantial underdogs.

Written by Andris Kangeris for 24hPoker.com