Vegas Poker Blog

When it comes to the thought of playing online poker many people pass up the opportunity.  They think that playing online cannot possibly be as fun as playing at the table.  And even though this can be true at times, there are many benefits that go along with playing online poker.
Listed below are just a few reasons why you may want to play online poker.
1. Online poker can be played seven days a week, 24 hours a day.  As long as you are a member of one of the bigger poker sites, you will always be able to find a game online.  This is a great alternative to having to either go to the casino, or gather up a group of friends to play.  With online poker, the game is yours whenever you want it.
2. You can play online poker without ever having to leave home.  This is a huge advantage if you do not live in close proximity to a casino.  In addition, you can also save a lot of time and money by playing online instead of traveling to a land based location.
3. There is a lot of money to be had by playing and winning at online poker.  This is one area that newcomers miss out on.  They are under the impression that online poker does not have big payouts.  But the fact of the matter is that depending on where you are playing, the payouts can be higher than they are at the tables.
4. You can play a variety of different games without ever having to leave your computer.  So no matter if you want to play Texas Hold ‘Em or video poker you will always be able to find something that suits your needs.
5.  There is a fun factor that is involved with online poker as well.  If you are a poker player you know just how exciting the game can be.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because you are playing online that you will no longer have fun.
6. Online poker brings out a different part of your game.  Remember, when you are playing online you will not have the ability to see other players and read their emotions.  By playing online you will have to use a different set of skills to be successful.  When you go back to playing the tables, these skills can help you there as well. 
There are many benefits that go along with playing online poker.  If you have never tried it before you may want to give it a whirl.  You have nothing to lose, and a whole lot to gain!

Online poker refers to poker games played over the Internet. Online poker games increased the number of poker players all over the world. Playing online poker game is much easier than playing the game in the traditional land casinos. Some online poker websites also offer poker freerolls, which allows player to play without any entry fees, to attract new players. Most of the online poker rooms are player-friendly than the conventional poker games and allow players to play poker at very low cost. The software used for the online poker game gives on-time information on which player’s turn is next. Online poker sites also offer tournaments known as satellites. The winners of these satellite tournaments can gain the entry to real life poker tournaments.

There is a considerable difference between conventional and online poker games. There are more physical considerations in the conventional poker games than online poker games. For example, in the conventional poker games, the players are not allowed to sit across from each other so as to avoid any chance of observing the fellow players body language and reactions. On the other hand, in online poker games, the players can focus more intensely on the betting patterns and reaction time instead of focusing more on the physical considerations. Another main difference of conventional and online poker games lies in the rate of play. In the conventional poker games, the average rate of play is low, some 30 hands per hour, as there is more time needed for card collection, shuffling, and dealing the cards after every hand. Such a delay is not there in online poker games as the dealing, shuffling, and counting chips is done by the computer itself. Hence the play is much faster in the online poker game. In online poker, the average hands per hour will be around 60 to 80. In the conventional poker game, the players can increase their earnings only by increasing their limit. But in online poker games, the players can increase their earnings also by playing more tables. Most of the online poker rooms allow players to play multiple tables at a time, which is almost impossible in the conventional poker games.

Nowadays there are several online poker schools which teach the game rules, strategies, and how to play poker. Due to the compatibility and easiness of learning and playing, online poker games are getting more popular than the conventional poker games.

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Whats more irritating, the guy that signed up for a tourney and then no showed or the one that sits there going zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz while the first guy gets timed out? I hate both but the zzzzz man does it no matter what. Some people get disconnected others are just slow at making a decision. But that constant zzzzzzzzzzz is a pain in the @#$. What good do all of those zzzzz do any way? Is it some kind of cyber alarm clock? Can the sleeper hear it? There are a lot of things about online poker that can grate your last good nerve but lets face it, the zzzz man is right up there at the top of the list. Most sites sit a person out once they are timed out and a lot of them drop unseated players after the first level, about a 7 minute average, anyway. Do we really need the internet sand man to alert us to anything? œHey you, Sand Man, listen up. We dont need your special effects. Play cards and leave the rest to Hollywood�. Am I being harsh? No, I cant say it any simpler than that. Its bad enough the game is being needlessly held up but the sideshow just throws gasoline on the fire. Let it go, play cards, take a bathroom break while the clock runs. All Im saying is zzzz man give us all a break and leave the keyboard alone. If you have to type something, how about telling us all about that royal flush you accidentally folded in the 100K that cost you your final table seat. Its more creative than zzzzzzzzzzz and who knows it could help you set up a bluff later on. Is it really such a big deal in a normal tournament to be stalled for a few minutes in the early rounds? At that point in a tournament we should be settling into our seats and getting a feel for the game. If you are in such a big hurry, why are you playing in a tournament. Unless it is a sit and go turbo, you are going to be there a while anyway.

Getting a good read on players in an on line poker room is hard enough but adding behavior like this makes it hard to concentrate. There are times when I wish there was no chat window option. The zzzzzzzzz and the constant advice given out on how to play your cards is one of the biggest draw backs to on line poker. While I know without doubt that these are sometimes used as ploys to unnerve other players, it is not always a strategy. Some people just think that being more of a jerk than someone else will help things and make for a better game. It is to you that believe that I say this: œ Poker is a game. It is meant to be enjoyed by everyone at the table. If you do not have time to wait on everyone at the table to play the way they wish to play, find another table. And lastly, please stop with the zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. It is not only childish but bad sportsmanship. Be respectful and polite to everyone at the table�.

$465K On Line Pot

It has been widely reported that last week a single hand of poker that had a pot of $465 thousand was played between tow players in a heads up game. Let that sink in while I get my coffee�������. Two players, one hand of texas Holdem, being played in an on line room, cash ring game and the pot was $465 THOUSAND. Now let me spike my coffee with some bourbon while you count the zeros������.

This pot is the largest ever recorded in on line poker. It was played on the Micro Gaming Poker Network between two players called Fast_Freddie and bad_ip. All of the exact details are sketchy because the game was a heads up on a ring game table but Fast_Freddie flopped trip aces for the incredible win. The table was a high roller $40 buy in and the heads up battle reportedly lasted between 8 and 12 hours. At one pointing the heads up battle Fast_Freddie was down to his last buy in of $40K but came back to take it all and the biggest on line pot ever.

Obviously many people speculate that Fast_Freddie is really Fast Freddie Deebs, one of the best Texas Holdem players in the world and certainly someone destined for the hall of fame. The other player, bad_ip is thought by some to be Johnny Lodden, a very good holdem player with less of a tournament reputation as todays popular stars but still thought to be a really good player. Neither of the IDs can be confirmed so we can expect a lot to come on speculation as to who the players really were.

I have, myself played in some games where the pots have gotten crazy but I just dont know about being in a heads up game on line with almost half a mil in the pot. To me thats a little bit much. I mean, first of all, do I really want to put that kind of money on one single poker site? Ok even if I won it there, wouldnt I cash out a good size of it already? It just gets me how much money is flying around the poker world these days. Chips and cash are tossed up like confetti at a ticker tape parade. Where is all this money coming from? Who has it? And most importantly, why are they not playing 7 Stud with me? I love this game, I truly do and for most of my life I have been a part of it but I never thought it would get to be like it is today. When two players can sit at the same table form across the world and play one single hand of Texas Holdem for a pot worth $465 thousand, it is a very strong testament to not only how far poker has come but how far on line poker has come. People complain all the time about how they think they are ripped off by sites but when money like that flows on the turn of 5 cards in the middle, on line poker has made it. It has proven it can be trusted and that it is here to stay. I have always said there is no such thing as luck only blind ambition and on line poker has proven that for me once again. Thank you poker for being what you are and thank you Fast_Freddie and bad_ip for proving it to us.

Sometimes, you just have to tear yourself away from the poker table and spend some time with the family. Kids, wives, and husbands are just like that!

It isnt always easy to make the transition from poker addiction and find activities that will easily take your mind off poker. Heres a suggestion �watch movies that involve poker! You can sort of sneak some of these into the ˜to be watched pile so there will be times when you can still be thinking about poker but not quite so obviously.

Poker has been a fairly consistent movie subject over the years not to mention television.

Alfred Hitchcock used poker quite a lot in his t.v. stories and then there was Maverick.

Remember that? Nothing but poker �well with a few gunfights thrown in for outdoor action. Even Cheers provided a few episodes about poker games.

Poker widow spouses and kids probably wont watch a documentary about the game, but heres sort of a top ten list of movies you can likely work into the mix.

Big Hand for A Little Lady (1966) - yup, its an oldie but its got Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards and more. Its a comedy about a woman having to learn poker quickly after her husband, who shouldnt be playing with the family savings to begin with, drops dead when he gets a good hand. In order to save the farm (literally), she has to learn quickly. Its funny with great acting!

California Split (1974) �� George Segal and Elliot Gould are two gamblers on the road, and end up in Reno for what looks like a World Series of Poker game. The film was made by Robert Altman so expect a really gritty look at casinos and the game in those days. Good atmosphere!

Cincinatti Kid (1965) ��Steve McQueen and a cast of well known faces! Who doesnt like McQueen especially when hes an up and coming player determined to become the top poker player in the land �but first hes got to oust a master who has held the title for years. Set in 1930s New Orleans, it full of poker and atmosphere!

Freeze Out (2005) �� There isnt a soul in this one youve ever heard of but dont let that put you off! Its a great story about a group of guys who play poker weekly. One of them isnt so good and gets tired of the ribbing. He trains, studies and then challenges them to a big Freeze Out game. The results are not only funny but poignant!

Havanna (1990) �� Robert Redford at his most good looking best in Cuban casinos. Enough said!

Casino Royale �� There are two versions of this gambling caper. One from the 60s and a recent remake. Either one will do as the story is always fun because its James Bond at a high stakes poker table. Loads of laughs and great music too.

House of Games (1987) This is a dark one, but what you can learn is great. Its all about a guy who runs poker games who gets his shrink to help him learn about tells and body language. Not many laughs but highly educational on the psychological aspect of poker!

The Music of Chance (1987) ��Another drama which is all about what happens when you get in over your head. Yikes!

Rounders (1998) Matt Damon �in simply a great great poker movie. The tagline says it all œTrust everyone �but always cut the cards�

Amarillo Slim (2007) �� yeah, this one isnt out yet and its just going into production, but its destined to be one of the great poker movies ever. Its being made by Milos Forman (Larry Flynt, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, etc) and will star Nicholas Cage as Amarillo Slim. You can start talking about it now because it will be huge!

So buy these or rent these and keep them around �time with the family can be fun!!!!!