The Debate Continues – Poker is a Game of Skill not Chance

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Online poker enthusiasts continue to argue with Congress that the numerous forms of poker are a game of skill, not chance. When the UIGEA emerged, the entire poker community was somewhat taken by surprise. Online poker rooms and casino operators spoke out against this unjust law in a unified voice. They joined forces because of the right to gamble online from home.

Solutions for the Government

Representatives of the internet gaming industry filed cases against the UIGEA. Bills were continuously brought in and overturned. As the situation continued, the gambling industry provided suggestions for taxation and regulation of the online poker. Eventually these advocates conjured a point that does not apply to online casinos: poker is a game of skill not chance.

Poker is a Game of Skill not Chance

As a result of this idea, laws preventing online gambling did not apply to online poker since it is not a game of chance. These groups also pointed out that legislation needs to describe poker as a game of skill. Although they agree some amount of luck is involved in the game, skill is much stronger. The specific argument was that the element of luck dissolves in the long run and skill prevails.

No Claim for Online Casinos

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On the other hand, the online casino groups cannot make this claim considering the majority of games they feature are slots, roulette and craps which are 100 percent luck. Games such as blackjack, video poker and other forms of poker have skill. This is a major issue as the online casino industry does not want to divide itself from the poker community.

What will happen to Online Casinos if Poker is legalized?

Therefore, the question running through everyone’s mind is what will happen to the online casino industry if internet poker is declared legal and is removed from UIGEA? The momentum built up against the act will disappear. Also, the money raised to fight the administration would also be gone. This is because the number of supports of online poker is much greater than those that support online casinos.

Studies have proven the amount of skill involved in playing poker. When compared to other casino games, poker is superior in the necessity to have skill compared to games of chance commonly found at online casinos. Therefore, the UIGEA may review these findings and legalized online poker rooms which would leave the online casino faction in a great deal of mess.

A Look at Wan Doy Pairs Poker

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

There are exciting, new versions of games being introduced all the time. Various gaming conventions present innovative types of gambling to casino executives and staff so they can bring different games to their casino. If the game becomes popular, they add more tables. Given the almost limitless storage space found in online casinos, they have much more flexibility of introducing different types of games to their consumers.

Introducing Wan Doy Pairs Poker

One of these new games introduced by WagerWorks is Wan Doy Pairs Poker. This variant of the common poker game is played with a seven card poker hand. Another difference is the hand rankings are completely unlike the usual due to the seven card hand. Also, both ante and bonus bets are mandatory.

How to Play

First, the player inputs the ante and bonus bets into the pot. The player also has the option of playing a jackpot bet. The dealer distributes a seven-card hand which is automatically organized and the hand ranking is displayed on the screen. The player can either call or fold their current hand. If the player folds they lose the ante and bonus bets but the jackpot bet remains.

If they call, a call wager is placed into the betting pool and the player’s hand is compared to the dealers. The payout is awarded compared to the payout table for that particular casino. The jackpot bet is also compared to the payout table. The highest possible hand ranking in the game is four of a kind and three of a kind.

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Similar to Seven Card Stud

While this game is innovative with the various types of betting, it shares many similarities with popular poker variant, Seven Card Stud. The hand rankings, and the playing what you are dealt mentality matches with Seven Card Stud.

This game may not be different enough for Seven Card Stud or Seven Card Draw players to be attracted to the competition. While the betting structure is different, it may not be as popular as more unique game releases. However, for those that do not play seven card poker, this may be a good chance to improve your poker skills while learning an exciting, new game.

Since WagerWorks is a major gaming software developer, they may be able to promote this game enough to make it mainstream in several of their casinos. The game has unique aspects to it and is exciting enough to attract new players to the world of seven card poker.

Omaha High Poker Review

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Omaha is a form of Texas Hold’em due to the five community cards. However, the rules of the game are much different. Omaha can be played either with a no-limit, pot-limit or limit structure, similar to Texas Hold’em. There are two distinct versions of the game:

  • Omaha High
  • Omaha Hi/Lo

The rules of Omaha are fairly simple. All casinos supply a dealer that is not actually playing. You are playing against all other individuals at the table. As a result, the dealer button indicates the last person to bet. The button moves to the left following each hand. Blind bets are posted to create a starting pot.

The player to the left of the button posts the small blind or one half of the minimum bet. The player to the left of the small blind is the big blind and they ante a full minimum bet. The remaining players at the table do not post any ante’s until the blind rotates to them. Therefore, each player will have a chance to be the dealer, small and big blinds.

The game begins with the dealer distributing four cards to each player face down. The small blind always receives the first card and the dealer has the last. The first betting round begins with the player to the left of the big blind and rotates to the left. Each player can call, raise or fold. The big blind also has the option of checking since they already have a bet in the pot.

Next, three cards (known as the flop) are dealt face up in the middle of the table. These are community cards that all players can use to make their hand. Another betting round commences beginning with the player to the left of the button.

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The next round is known as the turn and an additional face up community card is placed in the center of the table. Once again, the first bettor is the left of the dealer button. The last round is the river in which the final of the five community cards is distributed.

To win, each player must use two of their four starting hand cards and three community cards to make the best five-card poker hand. In many instances, there is a tie in which the players split the pot. There is never a sixth card that acts as a tie-breaker.

The preceding rules are for Omaha High. This version derives from the requirement that the winner have the best or highest hand. Both variants of Omaha can be found in land-based and online casinos across the globe.

Should You Try a Betting System?

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

As gamblers we all want a quick way to up our odds and increase our winnings. No matter if it is the poker game, the black jack table, or the roulette wheel winning is the best part of any casino.

Winning is critical as thus many gamblers spend countless hours dissecting their play, reading books, watching videos, and learning from professionals all in hopes that they too can increase their offs of success. In fact, many people have devised systems promising bigger and more frequent wins then ever before. These betting systems as they are called, may either seem like a scam or a get rich quick scheme from where you are standing, but are they worth trying at all?

What is a Betting System

A betting system is where the player applies a pre-devised system to their betting. There are different types of betting systems for different games in the casino, but they all have the same basic purpose, win more money. For example, a betting system may have the player double their bet every time they loose and decrease their bet every time they win. There are theories behind betting systems, and in truth, some of them work some of the time. Many gamblers swear on their betting system.

The Upside of a Betting System

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A betting system can be an excellent tool for a beginning gambler who is not sure how to bet, or has not devised their own system for betting. With a pre-designed betting system, the stress of when to call and when to raise is removed for the beginner and they can focus on learning the game and improving their technique. In fact, many systems work best as an overall guide to assist players in determining their next move as they are involved in the learning process, rather than relied on solely for each and every bet and situation.

The Downside of a Betting System

No betting system is perfect. A player is not going to win all the time using a system, and some systems can actually hurt the player in the long run. Especially a player who is more experienced and perfectly capable of determining his own bets. To invest your entire bankroll in to a system before you have fully tested it, perfected it, and possibly even modified it to function within your own mentality, is a sure means to substantial losses.

Why You Should Keep Track of Your Poker Results

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Most poker players would tell you that they “break even” if you were to ask them how they fair in poker games overall. The reason for this is that most players do not know how well, or how poorly, they are doing. They do not keep a record showing the results of their game. However, ask a poker professional how they fair in their games and they can tell you exactly because they understand the importance of keeping track. If you do not have a record of your past games, you should start now.

Why You Should Keep Track of Your Poker Playing

Manage Your Bankroll

The most practical reason to keep track of your gambling is to have a firm grasp on your bankroll. If you are an avid poker player, you likely have money set aside for you to play your game and you should manage this money as firmly as you do your checking account. By keeping a record of your total wins and losses, you will know exactly how well you fair in poker games overall. Plus, having a record of your bankroll will make things a lot easier during tax time if you win a big jackpot.

Analyze Your Poker Game

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You often look for ways to improve your game, but how can you improve your skills efficiently if you do not know what needs improving? Take notes of every game as soon as you are done playing. Note any mistakes you made, hands you played extremely well, or thoughts on the other players. You can refer to these notes later when you are looking for a weak spot in your poker strategies. On the flip side, having a list of good moves you have made in the game works as a great motivational tool.

Gain Some Perspective

Poker players can have a very selective memory when it comes to their past poker games or tournaments. A mid range, or even poor game, can get over-inflated in our memories. While telling the tall tell of your poker wins around the break room is not going to hurt anyone, it does you no good to have a false sense of how well you are really playing. By keeping track of your games, you can keep avoid that selective memory all together and know exactly where you stand.

How to Start Your Own Poker Game

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Interested in starting your own poker game at home? Playing at home for fun or profit can be a great way to kick back, increase your skill, and develop techniques like bluffing and reading other players. Starting a game at home is not as difficult as you might think.

Step by Step Guide to Starting Your Own Poker Game

Step One- Check Your Laws: Before you go any further, make sure your state allows at-home gambling. Several states do not allow gambling for profit, and a few states may not allow gambling even for fun. Before you start a game, make sure you aren’t breaking any laws. It could result in hefty fines or even jail time.

Step Two- Find Your Spot: Find a spot in your house or nearby that is comfortable, well-lit, and free of distractions. You will need ample room to fit a table and chairs. It is also important that the area is free of distractions like children, televisions, or human traffic. If you intend to use this time to up your poker skill, you need to be able to focus.

Step Three- Buy Supplies: You will need a few quality supplies for your poker game. First, you need a sturdy table and chairs. This does not have to be an actual poker table, but that is an option if you prefer. You will also need one or two decks of high-quality cards. The cards are the most vital part of any poker game, so choose ones of high-quality that will last through several games.

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Step Four- Pick Your Players: For a good game of poker you will need at least two other players beside your self. However, it is ideal to have five or six players at your table. If you are looking to start a poker game for fun, choose players that are equal to your skill level. If you want to increase your technique, adding a player or two that is more advanced then you will help you get there.

Step Five- Pick a Date and Play: The most important step to starting a poker game is to get the ball rolling. Start your first weekly poker game as soon as you and the other player’s are able. You can always work out the kinks later on as the games progress.

Starting a poker game at home can be a great break from the weekly grind. That poker game can also help you increase your technique and skill, and if it’s allowed in your state, you may make some extra cash.


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