Poker bankroll management, building and strategy – online poker guide

Top 10 USA Casinos For Poker #6 – Caesars, Atlantic City

Saturday, March 31st, 2012 | Poker and Life, Poker Articles, Poker Top 10 Lists | No Comments

In this article series we plan to make a top 10 list of casinos for poker in the USA

Caesars Atlantic City opened in 1979 and has expanded to become one the most prestigious and exciting gambling spots on the East coast. This magnificent complex is bigger and better than many other casinos; it boasts 3,400 slot machines alone.

The casino and gaming area as Caesars Atlantic City covers over 145,000 square feet and everyone from poker players to slots enthusiasts will be able to find their favorite game here. Poker beginners might like to hone their skills at playpokerfree before visiting Caesars Atlantic City and entering into one of the many tournaments on offer.

Poker buffs will find a warm welcome at Caesars Atlantic City. There are 20 poker tables and all are smoke-free and serviced by waiting personnel. Those players who want to limit their spending in order to assess their skills will be able to take part in Texas hold’em no limit from $1-$2. There are plenty of high stakes games for the more adventurous players. The casino also hosts two daily Deepstack tournaments with an entrance fee of $100; the successful winners will then be invited to participate in the monthly $10,000 Freeroll championship. After a short time playing poker online, any player should feel confident enough to play live at Caesars Atlantic City. For a $5 entrance fee, some players might like to try their hand at the three card poker $1 million jackpot game.

Slot machine enthusiasts will discover that Caesars Atlantic City not only has a huge array of machines but also caters for video poker fans too. Stakes can start from as little as $0.01, right up to the $1,000 machines. The slot machine areas houses 130 machines, with $1 to $500 games. There is also a slots section devoted to Hangover Slot Machines, where a ‘wild time’ is promised.

Caesars Atlantic City is proud of the selection of table games that it can offer its clients. The 135 tables have games including baccarat, roulette, craps and Texas hold‘em poker. Caesar’s has also introduced a Palace East section where the oriental games of pai gow poker and pai gow tiles are on offer.

A stay or visit to Caesars Atlantic City is a truly stunning experience. Whether someone is just popping into the casino for a day, or taking advantage of the luxurious hotel, or perhaps one of the hotel’s Stay and Play packages, there is always something to do. From first class dinning areas to sumptuous buffets, those who enjoy their food will find that all tastes and appetites are catered for. Caesars Atlantic City is famous for its shows and has opened its Circus Maximus Theater to cater for 1,500 spectators. Tony Bennett, Van Morrison and Smokey Robinson have all performed at Caesars Atlantic City in the past, and the venue still continues to attract big international stars. A stay at Caesars Atlantic City should prove to be a fun and entertaining time for all.

Top 10 USA Casinos For Poker #7 – The Venetian, Las Vegas

Sunday, March 25th, 2012 | Poker and Life, Poker Articles, Poker Top 10 Lists | No Comments

In this article series we plan to make a top 10 list of casinos for poker in the USA

Picture the tall spire of the iconic St Mark’s Church and the buildings surrounding St Mark’s Square in Venice, and then try to imagine this historic skyline transplanted to Las Vegas. You will now have some idea of the splendor of the Venetian Resort.

This amazing building houses a hotel containing many luxurious suites, a 120,000 sq ft casino, meeting rooms, restaurants and a theater, all designed with an Italian theme. The casino is a gambler’s delight with slots that have given generous rewards of up to $30 million. The Venetian claims that its machines payout the highest wins in Vegas. From a mere 25 cents to $25, visitors can play video slots. Some Venetian visitors have their favorite high roller machines, and MegaJackpots, Megabucks and the Wheel of Fortune are all available at the casino.

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Poker players are in for a treat, as the casino boasts 39 tables. Games include Omaha and stud, as well as both no limit and limit Texas hold’em. Visitors to the Venetian do not have to be millionaires to take part in a game; some of the limits are as reasonable as between $4-
$8. There is a special area for those more confident players who wish to take part in a high stakes game with seven special tables. Novices who want to learn all about poker might like to visit the Poker Room and take part in the Venetian’s free poker school. The Poker Room also hosts private poker games for groups of friends.

There are 139 casino games on offer at The Venetian, including craps, roulette, and baccarat, as well as many other popular and well-known games. For those who take their gambling seriously, there is a 20-table high roller room.

Sports fans can indulge their passion in the specialist high tech Cantor Race and Sports Book, where visitors can follow their sports in an individual seating area complete with personal monitor, or they can watch the gigantic 100ftx30ft HD plasma screen that dominates the room. There are 100 individual seats in this area and extra VIP seats. One of the bonuses of this area is that gamblers don’t have to leave their seats to get a drink or snack; the area is fully serviced by waiting staff.

Four times a year The Venetian is host to its very own Deep Stack Extravaganza, which is a no limit hold‘em poker tournament. For those who wish to taken part in this exciting tournament, buy ins start from $225 all the way up to $5,000.

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The Venetian resort has plenty to occupy its guests in between gambling. Those that wish can take in a gondola ride along the replica Grand Canal. Alternatively, visitors who enjoy good food might wish to explore the resort’s 20 restaurants, or they might like to hire one of the many luxury suites and enjoy some superlative room service. There are always first-rate international cabaret acts to go and see, and renowned entertainers including Joan Rivers and Tim Allen frequently play The Venetian.

Why players struggle in no limit cash games – part 3

Sunday, December 4th, 2011 | Poker and Life, Poker Cash Games, Poker Strategy | No Comments

Everywhere you look these days then there are poker coaches, poker websites and poker books and magazines all discussing no limit hold’em. But yet even as a full time player and writer then I am still not blinded to the fact that this form of poker is probably the most difficult of the lot for novice players to succeed at. In the final part of this series then I want to discuss variance and how this affects your mind set. I often hear how tournament poker has the worst variance out of all of the major forms of poker. I am certainly not going to dispute this as it is a given.

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However what you also need to factor into the equation is that if you are playing a live event then even if you bust out horribly, you are never going straight back into another event in a negative frame of mind. This is not the case in online cash games where if you get AA busted by KK for 100bb then you just may be multi-tabling and facing several more key decisions within the next few seconds. In fact you may be buying back into the very same table that you have just lost 100bb on.

What makes matters even worse is that these beats can come thick and fast online and you can take several very big punches in a very short space of time even though the speed of online play means that you will get into the long term faster. This is not always seen or noticed by novice players in the heat of the moment and is why variance can often be the most formidable enemy that any poker player has to face during their lifetime as a player.

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In fact many a potential successful player has probably stopped playing the game simply because a really bad run very early in their poker life totally and utterly destroyed their confidence. Someone once said that poker was a “tough way to make an easy living” and these words are very prophetic. Poker can be an easy living if you can accept everything that comes with it or it can just be the hardest thing that you have ever tried to do in your life.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson plays poker at www.pokerstars.co.uk

Upcoming poker weekend

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 | Poker and Life, Poker Tournament | 2 Comments

I’m sitting here – bored as hell – playing the PokerStars daily 50k$ guaranteed tournament and suddenly realized that it’s been ages since I wrote a post on my blog. Since I’m not getting any playable cards what so ever, I thought I might as well fill in whoever reads this blog what I’ve been up to lately.

The main take home message is that I’m busy. About 2-3 months ago I enrolled in an MBA program to get one step closer to a big-money job as director of some insanely – GOD DAMN IT just busted out with AJ vs KQ, Jokerstars kicks me in the balls again -  rich company. In addition, I started up a new website project, which will hopefully be launched within the next couple of months; it’s going to be awesome!!!!

Anyway back to poker. This weekend my poker buddy Arturo will be visiting me in Copenhagen. We will be kicking ass on PokerStars. You have hereby been warne

Top 10 USA Casinos For Poker #9 – Bellagio, Las Vegas

Sunday, September 18th, 2011 | Poker and Life, Poker Articles, Poker Top 10 Lists | No Comments

In this article series we plan to make a top 10 list of casinos for poker in the USA

The Bellagio is an iconic venue which is known around the world. Having become a shining beacon of Las Vegas, Sin City’s top casino has been showcased in many a film, television show and other entertainment, bringing it to the forefront of the public eye. However, whilst the glitz and glamour of the venue may be ever present, it hasn’t stopped the fact that the Bellagio really is one of the worlds top gambling establishments.

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Part of a famed hotel complex, the Bellagio is located in the very heart of Las Vegas, offering easy access for all visitors to one of the most popular American cities. Built on the Vegas Strip, the Bellagio replaced the legendary Dunes hotel, opening in 1998 with a reported $88m grand ceremony. It has found international acclaim on the gamblers circuit and continues to be a top spot for notorious poker players including Jennifer Harmon, Barry Greenstein, Chip Reese, Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson.

One of the attractions of the Bellagio is that if caters to a wide number of visitors whether gamers want to drop just a few dollars or play with thousands. An impressive art gallery, the famous fountains and fine restaurants can be found at the Bellagio, enabling those enjoying the casinos services to spend many hours enjoying their favourite pastime whilst surrounded in glitz and beauty. Meanwhile, the casino includes a wealth of gambling opportunities including the usual slot machines, some of which are unique to the Bellagio, and table games such as baccarat, craps, roulette and poker. And it is poker that makes the Bellagio one of the worlds most sought after venues.

Whilst playing against the house can be fun, the Bellagio offers one of the best poker rooms in the world, with high rollers able to come and bet thousands amongst each other. Whilst gamers can make a few hundred grinding away at the table games, it is in the poker room where the real money is made, and for those entering this high stakes world, it’s worth getting some practice by using websites such as partypokerbonuscodes.com to play a few free games first.

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The poker room itself has the same chic appeal as the rest of the Bellagio complex, and it offers one of the only live poker spectator events in the industry with its ‘Big Game’ of $2,000 and $4,000 limits. However, aside from the main event there is plenty going on, and the casino has regular tournaments of Hold ‘em including $300/600, $75/150 and $4/8 limits allowing everyone to play no matter their budget. Las Vegas’s only $20/40 stud game is found here, and they also provide a range of no limit Hold ‘em games. Of course, such is the popularity of Bellagio that weekend waits for lower stakes tables can take hours, and staff can sometimes seem a little pompous. But, whether gamers want to be spectators, dabble a little or play for big bucks, the Bellagio remains one of the world’s top poker venues.

Why do you play poker?

Sunday, August 14th, 2011 | Poker and Life, Poker Tournament | 2 Comments

Despite being in a rotten tournament slump these days with no cashes in ages and underdogs constantly busting me out, I still somehow enjoy the game. Why else would I keep playing through frustration after frustration with a bank account that would be better off if I didn’t play at all? Maybe it’s simply a bad habit when I’m bored or maybe it’s more of a love/hate relationship…..fact is I keep playing. Why do you play poker?

Frustration at the tables this weekend

Sunday, August 7th, 2011 | Poker and Life, Poker Tournament | No Comments

Arghhhhh haven’t had any success what so ever this weekend. Lost 5-10 key hands in tourneys where I was ahead by 65% or better. Haven’t hit my draws while opponents have hit their draw all the time – when I hit top pair, they hit straight or flush; when I hit straight, they hit flush. Sometimes poker is such a joke….it’s been for ages since I’ve had a decent tourney cash. SIGH!!!!!

Top 10 USA Casinos for Poker #10: MGM Grand Las Vegas

Saturday, April 16th, 2011 | Poker and Life, Poker Articles, Poker Top 10 Lists | No Comments

In this article series we plan to make a top 10 list of casinos for poker in the USA

Located right in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, the MGM Grand is a majestic sight and the second largest hotel resort complex in the world. The current building opened in 1993, replacing the Marina Hotel which had stood since 1975. As a whole, the casino has gone through some interesting changes over the years. It initially featured a Wizard of Oz theme and a family-friendly amusement park on site before switching to its current Art Deco, Hollywood style.

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Attractions at the MGM Grand

The MGM Grand’s attractions include a famous lion habitat and its casino is the largest in Las Vegas, offering thousands of slot machines, a wide variety of table games including over 100 tables of Blackjack and an enormous Race and Sports Book.The poker room at the MGM Grand is a favorite both among locals as well as visitors from all around the world. It features 22 tables, the majority of which spread No Limit and Limit Holdem, and the area is spacious and comfortable. The staff is extremely courteous and can provide you with anything from a drink to a tableside massage.

Poker games at the MGM Grand

One of the best features of the MGM poker room is the variety of poker games it offers, including daily tournaments. Texas Holdem cash games are quite affordable, as you can always play games as low as $2-$4 Limit or $1-$2 No Limit. For higher-stakes players, the $500 buy-in No Limit cash game always has action and another interesting variety is /$4/$8 Limit with a kill pot, something rarely seen in a casino. Some beginners lament the fact that there is no bad beat jackpot offered, but this really means that the house takes a smaller percentage of rake from each pot, which really adds up in the long run.

The poker tournaments at the MGM Grand are also extremely popular. Every day of the week there is a $65 buy-in No Limit Holdem freezout at 11am, and Sunday through Thursday there is also an evening tournament starting at 7pm with an $85 buy-in.

The level of poker competition at the MGM Grand

The availability of low-stakes poker coupled with the fact that the MGM Grand is one of the most noticeable casinos on the Strip makes the level of play comparatively soft, and the games can get downright fishy at times. A large number of beginners use the MGM Grand to test out their budding poker skills, and the table atmosphere is typically quite friendly. For experienced poker players, there is great potential for large profits. You will still be challenged, however, if you manage your bankroll well, and move to some of the bigger games. The daily tournaments offer another type of poker test.

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Poker pros at the MGM Grand

You likely won’t encounter as many professionals at the MGM Grand as you might at some of the higher end Las Vegas casinos, but multitudes of poker players gladly make that trade-off for its comfortable environment, inclusive nature and pleasant atmosphere. The fact that the MGM Grand also offers incredible cuisine, world-class entertainment and the largest casino in Las Vegas will give anyone plenty to do in between poker sessions.

Sick of poker – but can’t stop playing

Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 | Poker and Life, Poker Articles | 4 Comments

When ever I bust out of tourneys these days my first thought is always: “what an utter waste of time” followed by “why do I keep playing every week?”. The next line of action is usually to close my account for a number of days. The following evening, I find myself missing something to do. Poker has become a way of killing off some hours between workouts, updating this blog and spending time with my girlfriend. It’s almost become a habit. I seriously need something else to do in the time slot between coming home from work and going to bed. I also need to stop playing poker, when I’m not motivated to put in the long haul. Does anyone else feel the same way at times?

Online Poker Cheating

Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 | Poker and Life, Poker Articles | No Comments

Submitted by Adam, this article belongs to the Poker and Life series.

Adam wrote the article below about online poker cheating. Have you experienced online poker cheating? If so we would love to hear from you in the comment section of this article.

Cheating in online poker is a very popular conspiracy topic for poker forums and communities.  The idea of “cheating” in online poker can create a lot of sub-topics, and it largely depends on what we define as cheating – and who’s doing the cheating in the first place.

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Poker Rooms Cheating
Poker rooms tend to get a lot of press from disgruntled poker players who receive continuous bad beats or get “sucked out” of massive pots by a set on the river.  However, it is extremely unlikely that any poker room particularly the public traded ones like PartyPoker incorporate cheating or rigging the deck into their operational strategy. The negative publicity and legal settlements against them would bankrupt the company and may even force the owners into jail.  Hence, the odds are 99% that a poker room doesn’t rig the deck or con their players out of their money.

Online Poker Players Cheating
If you’re going to get cheated in online poker, the chances are that it’s going to be from the other players sitting at your table.  There are two forms of online poker player cheating that can be used to exploit the system: active cheating and passive cheating.  Active cheating works by players working in teams or colluding against the others at the table.  They’ll continuously raise the other players out of the pot and basically steal every pot possible losing you big chunks of your poker bankroll.  Fortunately, this type of collusion can be caught out by the poker room’s automated software.  Passive cheating, where opponents communicate each other holdings to each other (on msn), is much harder to spot, and is your highest chance of being cheated against in online poke.  I have witnessed this form of collusion myself in the past, along with one of the player’s getting refunded by the poker room, so I can tell you that it does happen. None the less, it really doesn’t happen that often and there still ways to defend yourself from it with a tighter strategy.
In the recent past – specifically on the Cereus Network, security lapses enabled a group of players to cheat by seeing everyone’s opponent’s playing cards.  This caused a massive upset in the industry, but it was spotted and remedied literally hours afterwards however.  Things like this might happen on odd occasions, but 99% of poker sites employ 128bit encryption and RNG (random-number generators) to ensure hacking is impossible. This is similar to the type of security that modern online banking use.

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Poker Cheating with Poker Tools
The most common method for cheating in online poker –regardless of whether you consider it cheating or not – is to use live tracking software and a Poker HUD.  Together, these tools provide key information and reads about the opponent’s at your table.  You can use them to narrow down your opponent’s hand range and get a feel for his playing style.  The majority of these tools are accepted at major poker sites such as Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, however there are a number which are forbidden, specifically those live tracking tools which use a remote database of data as opposed to uploading your own hand history from your desktop.  To see which poker tools are forbidden, you can go to www.pokerstars.com/poker/room/prohibited.

Phishing Online Poker Account Details
The final method of cheating in online poker is through phishing.  Phishing involves using spoof emails and fraudulent websites to trick players into giving them personal information that can be used to hack into their account.  You can easily defend yourself against this type of cheating by being smart about who you divulge sensitive information to.

Tags: Poker and Life, Poker Articles