Five Tips for Betting in Poker

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

If you are playing a game of poker for money, your betting strategy is just as important as your playing strategy. The more you know about betting, the better your odds will be for walking away from the table with cash in your pocket. There are five basic rules to betting that will help you form your own strategy.

Five Tips for Better Betting

1. Do not bet more then you can afford. Poker tables can be exciting places, full of energy. It can be tempting to become a high roller, but if you are not one, you should not bet as if you are. Most of us go to the casino with a set bankroll that we can spend. Do not bet more then you can afford.

2. Spread out your bankroll. If you have a set bankroll, determine how much you can spend on each hand by gauging how long you would like to remain gambling. Try to spread your bankroll out as long as possible to keep you in the game. If you start out with smaller bets, you can increase to larger bets once you start winning and your bankroll gets higher.

3. Learn to gauge your opponent. Gauging your opponent can be a difficult skill to master, and it is never a perfect science. You may think your opponent is bluffing, but that does not necessarily mean they are. However, but studying up on bluffing techniques and other poker tells, you can at least estimate your opponents next move. This will help you bet smarter.

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4. Know when to raise. It is vital that you know when to raise and when to call in poker. Some players are tempted to raise on every hand, even if that hand does not seem to be that promising. Other players almost never raise for fear of loosing their bet. A better strategy is to do both. Raise when you feel confident in either your hand or the lack of a hand in your opponent. Do not raise when it is clear that the hand you are holding is likely going nowhere.

5. Know when to fold. It is also vital that you know when to fold. Players have a hard time determining when to fold. Some players never want to fold, while other players are tempted to fold on every hand. It is important to learn that some hands just cannot be won, and you should fold. However, it is also important to know when not to fold. If you panic and fold more times then not, you will not ever win any money.

Top Three Gambling and Casino Myths

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Lucky charms, special seats, lucky times of day- people believe many strange things will bring them fortune in the casino. Some beliefs have spread so far they have become myths and legends on the casino floor and some gamblers follow these principles like golden rules, but these myths will not increase your odds or your bankroll. Below are the top three casino myths not worth following.

1. Changing your seat will change your luck. You have seen it at a poker table, a poker player will be moving from seat to seat between rounds. Chances are the player is doing this because they were doing badly in the first seat of choice and many players believe that by moving to the next seat over they can get a new start with Lady Luck. The truth of the matter- you will change the cards your are dealt by moving your seat, but that does not mean those cards will be any better or worse then the ones you had before.

2. Hitting the slots at the busiest times will give you the best payouts. Slot machine enthusiasts have a system in place when it comes to playing their game, and many slot players believe that the casino pays better when there are more players on the floor. The truth is- slot machines work on a random number generator that is constantly spinning whether you are playing the machine or not. Therefore, in reality, it does not matter if there is one player on the floor or a thousand, the slot machines will pay out the same.

3. The more time that passes between a number, the more likely the wheel is going to land on that number. Many roulette players believe that if fifty turns have gone by without landing on “00,” then they should start betting on “00” because it is going to happen soon. The truth is- the way the ball lands is coincidence and luck, it doesn’t matter how many times the spins have gone the other way it wont hurt or increase the numbers odds.

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The best strategy at a casino is simply to play smartly at a game you enjoy. It does not matter what time you start playing, or what seat you are in, or even how often a number is called- if you are hedging your bets, balancing your bankroll, and playing a game you know and love, you have the best chance of walking out of a casino ahead.

Playing Poker and Knowing When to Quit

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Knowing when to walk away from a poker table can be the hardest thing to learn about the game. It is easy to say, “I will quit when I am ahead,” or “I will quit once I’m down,” but how ahead should you be? How far down to you need to go before you throw in the towel? Knowing when to quit is vital, it can save your bankroll and keep you from becoming frustrated with poker all together, but figuring out when you should quit is a personal decision and a difficult one to make.

How to Decide When to Quit Playing Poker

Quit When You Are Ahead

Most people will advise you to quit when you are ahead. It is a good strategy and one that will help you walk away a winner, but that does not mean you should get up from the poker table after your first win. If you plan to utilize the quit while you are ahead strategy then you should decide how ahead you are going to be when you decide to stop playing. Set a dollar range in mind and then quit when you get there.

Quit When You Are Behind

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Quitting when you start to loose is also a good strategy. However, knowing when to quit on a loss can be even harder then knowing when to quit on a win. You do not want to get up from the poker table when there is a good chance you could turn that loss around, but you also do not want to blow your whole bankroll on a loosing game. The easiest way to follow this strategy is to decide on how much of your bankroll you can comfortably loose. Once you hit that point, get up from the table.

Quit When You Get Emotional

You should never keep playing a poker game after you have become aggravated or upset. You will not play well. However, knowing the difference between a minor annoyance and a clue to stop playing can be difficult. Listen to your internal signs. If you feel your temperature rising, or you start to sweat and feel uncomfortable, then it is time to get up from the poker table. Also, when you stop having fun it is time to stop playing. If you are not having a good time there is no sense in continuing the game hoping it will get better. Go play a different game or wait for next time.

5 Tips for Playing Slot Machines

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Slot machines are one of the most popular games at the casinos. Slot machines are something anyone at any skill level can play. While there is very little learning curved involved in slots, applying a few techniques will help you up your winnings, extend your play time, and have more fun on your casino trip.

5 Tips for Playing Slot Machines

1. Use your reward card. Most casinos offer some type of reward card. These cards are used by the casino to track how much you are spending. The amount you spend, win, and time you spend playing are converted in to bonus prizes given out by the casino. These prizes can vary from comps at the casino’s buffet to free playing time at a slot machine. Some casinos even offer incentive bonuses for new joiners and extra prizes on one’s birthday. In short, it pays to use your reward card. Always pop the card in the slot machine before you start playing.

2. Play the maximum bet on a progressive slot machine. If you were to hit the jackpot on a progressive slot machine and you were not betting the maximum your payout would be much lower then what lured you to the slot in the first place. If you are going to play a progressive slot, it is important that you bet the maximum allowed. If you can not afford to bet the maximum, play a slot machine that doesn’t pay on progressive.

3. Divide your bankroll. Most people go in to a casino with a set amount they plan to spend. Before you start playing, give your bankroll a limit. For example, if you plan to spend $500 and want to play at least five slot machines, only spend $100 at each slot. This way your entire bank roll does not go to one slot machine. Also, if you are on a gambling vacation and plan to spend more then one day at the casino, divide your bank roll in to days. This will ensure you do not run out of playing money on the first day.

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4. Do not play your winnings. An easy trick to make sure you walk out of a casino with some cash in hand is to save your winnings. Any time you get ahead on a slot machine, cash out and keep your winnings separate. You can continue you to play on your bankroll up to your limits, and this way you still walk out with some cash.

5. Start out low and work up to maximum bets. While it does not pay to bet low on a progressive machine, betting lower on a standard slot will help you build up a bankroll and make your money last longer. People get excited when they walk in to a casino, and that excitement may cause them to blow their whole bank roll on large bets right at the start. Start off with a smaller amount until you build up a bankroll and your money will last longer.

Slot machines are a fun way to spend time at the casino. Larger casinos will have dozen machines with different styles and games. Using a little technique will help you up your winnings and have a better time at the slots.

The Basics of Bank Roll Management

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Most players who gamble online that money management is a crucial part of the game.  After all, once you run out of money, the game is over.  This article will give you a few tips managing your bankroll when playing certain types of casino games.

What’s Your Game?

If you are into positive expectation games such as online poker, there is a great chance that you will have a positive winning rate.  This essentially means that you will win a certain amount per hour over the long term.  In this case, your goal should be to have a bankroll that is large enough to cover swings of bad luck.  This way, you will not have to worry about replenishing your funds.  If you are playing a negative expectation online casino game, such as roulette, you may not have a positive winning rate.  This is because such games are designed so that their is substantial tendency to lose overtime.  Therefore, your goal in this game is to have a bankroll large enough where you can play until it is time to replenish your funds.

The Lowdown on Positive and Negative Expectation Games

Many players believe that the best way to manage your bankroll with online poker is to have at least 100 times the big blind available to you.  This means that in a $3/$6 limit game, you need $600 to prevent from going broke.  While this may seem like a sufficient amount to have on the table, because No Limit poker games have more variance, you should probably consider having even more to stay in the action.  Keep in mind that the larger your bankroll in relation to the limits, the less likely you will go broke as a winning player.  When playing this type of game, proper bankroll management is about anticipating the swings.  You need enough funds in your virtual pocket to survive when a cold streak hits.  Signing up with an online casino that offers good bonuses is a great way to boost your bankroll.  It also dramatically improves your chances of withstanding that inevitable cold streak.

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When playing negative expectation games, the best way to approach your bankroll is to calculate your losing rating by factoring in the house edge.  You can do this by determining how much you wager per hour and multiplying that by whatever edge that house has.  If you play a sound strategy, this will give you your losing rate.  With these type of games, you want to play within limits that allow your bankroll to sustain your losing rate until it is time to refresh your pockets.

Winners and Losers

Remember that positive expectation casino games can only be considered as such if you are a winning player.  If you are a player who loses a lot, then it would be best for you to treat all online games the same.  While you definitely want to win all you can, rest assured that there is no shame in being a losing player.  In fact, online gambling statistics show that nearly 90% of players are long-term losers.  The good thing is that by effectively managing your bankroll, you can stay in the game longer and greatly increase your chances of becoming a winner.


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