It can really help your game if you know how often certain hands come up. Sure, anything can happen at the card table, but the following list will give you more of an advantage than if you didn’t know any of the hand probabilities. I have rounded the numbers so we don’t need to be mathematicians to understand the data.

A hand with nothing - once every 2 hands
One Pair - once every 2 hands
Two Pair - once every 21 hands
Three of a Kind - once every 47 hands
Straight - once every 256 hands
Flush - once every 526 hands
Full House - once every 694 hands
Four of a Kind - once every 4,167 hands
Straight Flush - once every 72,202 hands
Royal Flush - once every 649,351 hands

Looking at the data, we can easily see that our hands, and the dealer’s hands, will likely be one pair or nothing at all. If you hand has nothing at all, you are playing according to the highest card. If that card is not so high, it’s best to fold right away. Should your hand be at least one pair, you really have to play. The downside of the data is that the dealer is going to have a lot of non-qualifying hands, which means those nice hands will largely only get paid a flat ante fee.

Quick Caribbean Stud Tips

Tip One:

If you have at least two pairs, you must stay in. Just look at the data above. You have an excellent shot at beating the dealer. Personally, I stay in with one pair or better. It’s hard to fold that one pair when you know the dealer has a good chance of having nothing.

Tip Two:

Don’t play that progressive jackpot. I know it’s so alluring, but it will suck you dry in the end. When you finally hit something, you will have most likely put in many times the amount you won into the progressive already. Just don’t do it. If you only get a flush every 526 hands, you will be paying $526 to win $50 or $100. Not too smart.

I hope these Caribbean Stud Poker tips, and pieces of information help your game. If you are an online player, shop around. Not every game is the same. If you just can’t resist the progressive, you will be glad that you looked around for the best deal.

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.

In an effort to establish where they were based, I had to read a whole lot of fine print and then do a bit of googling to boot. And, outside of finally working out they are in Canada, I learned it pays to read all those disclaimers. So many times, I know we dont all bother to read the agreements, but from now on, I certainly will.

One of their rules, which I found somewhat worrisome, is on big cash outs. If you win a big game of, say, $20,000, you cant get at that money very easily. You can only withdraw up to $5000 per month. They do say this applies to all winnings over $20,000 in a month as well as a single game. They also add that in any dispute regarding wagers or winnings, their final word will be binding. Hmmm. And even though great privacy is advertised and promise on the downloads page that they dont release information to third parties, the small print also says they will always release information to third parties. And, a little bit further down, I read (and this really isnt any thing new) that they can change the rules any time they feel like it. But, hey �you dont need to have a credit card for this site. Feeling a little insecure? I was. There are a great many testimonials saying its the best website with the best customer service online, etc. so maybe Im reacting a wee bit much �so back to the site itself.

They graphics are really good, and it is as clean of a web design as Ive seen. Very crisp and easy to read without so many of the usual bells and whistles. Very refreshing! The background is all white and its a super easy to read. I couldnt get to a game table without setting up an account so never saw one, but Ill assume the clean quality bleeds over there as well. The preview looked great and very realistic too.

There arent any big poker names associated with the site, but they do promise you that Joanna Krupa, worlds leading swimsuit model, plays at the site.

Now, I wish I hadnt read the small print so thoroughly!

It starts with three cards to each player. The dealer flips a trump card afterwards. This is all guts style. Those players who declare œin� can draw as many cards as they want. When the play starts, each player must follow suit. Every trick is worth 1/3 of the pot, and every player who declares œin� and doesnt get at least a trick, must match the pot!

Basics:

Since the goal of this game is to collect tricks, it almost isnt a poker game although it relates strongly to guts and there are bets �so it can be classified as poker! The dealer decides on the ante amount, and that must be at least 15 cents. Theres a reason for this: because the pot must be divisible by three, so even nickel-ante table would have a 15-cent ante for this variation. The pot is divided into 3 equal piles So each player gets three cards and the dealer flips the trump You play by each player tossing out one of their cards at a time in sequence, and always trying to follow suit. Anyone unfamiliar with trump, it automatically takes the trick, unless a higher trump card is thrown on the same round. If youve played bridge, this is easy stuff. So if spades is trump, hearts were led, and everybody has a heart but you, you can throw down any spade and it gets you the trick. However, another player who might not have had hearts could play a higher spade than yours to take the trick.

Just like œguts�, players must call “in” or “out”. Do this is with the chip declare, where players lower one chip or coin under the table with both hands, raising only one hand over the table. Getting a little weird now, huh? Players who choose to go “in” have the chip in their hand; those who do not want to go “in” leave the chip in the hand that is not raised over the table. Once each player has one hand raised over the table, all players open that hand at the same time. This sort of puts the whole thing in to a party realm, doesnt it? Especially depending on how many drinks youve had and how good your coordination is holding up. Those that drop a chip are declaring “in”. These players are allowed a draw of as many cards as they want.

Play starts with the first player who called “in” to the left of the dealer leading. Everyone must follow suit if they can. Otherwise, you can throw down a trump card if you have one to try to take the trick. Once all players who went “in” have played their three cards, players take a third of the pot for each trick that they collected. Those players that went “in” and did not collect at least one trick of the three must match the pot. If two players went “in” and collected no tricks, then the pot doubles, but is still divided into three piles for the next round. The game is over when each player who went “in” collects at least one trick. Otherwise, somebody will be throwing money into the pot and the player to the left of the dealer re-deals the same game.

I made some friends try this the other night after wed popped a few. If nothing else, its great for laughs! I loved bridge before I loved poker so trumps are fun for me!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

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�.

It is rare to be seated at an on line table anymore, even the higher stake ring games, without someone else sitting there that thinks they can play your cards better than you can. They are constantly spitting out comments about the way someone played a hand. Things such as ” you bet 100 on that” ,”you raised with that #$%$”, and one of my favorites “you lucky *&%$, you dont know how to play”. The last one is my favorite because it is usually form the loser of a hand to the winner of a hand and he is telling them that they dont know how to play. I always want to say to that person that if they are such bad players and dont know how to play poker, how did they beat you?
It is very important in the game of poker to play your own cards. The only concern you could have as to the way someone else is playing their cards is to learn their style of play and any habits they have. There is no, let me repeat this for you NO need to voice your opinion about how someone else plays their hole cards. If you think it is a stupid move or you think they dont know how to play, fine, then they should be easy for you to clean out. Why would you want to discourage anyone form making what you believe is a stupid play? The object is for you to win. If you are going to say anything about it, then encourage them in a serious manner to keep up the stupidity.
If anyone has ever watched Gus Hansen play for more than 10 minutes, you would realize 2 things. First, he is one of the best players in the world at Texas Holdem. Second, he does not play by the little cheat cards that most people do. He plays by feel. If he likes his hole cards, he plays them. Take a lesson form Gus, play poker by feel not by guidelines set by someone else. It has been repeatedly proven that having cards like J spades and 8 hearts can win a hand. One more note on Gus for those that call him a fluke. Gus Hansen is one of only two pro poker players in the Poker Hall of Fame. The other is Doyle Brunson. Thats pretty good company no matter where you are.
Now, do not get me wrong, I am in no way saying play any and everything. I am saying if you are hitting flushes like crazy and you get dealt 10 and 5 hearts, why not call the blind. If it feels right, if it fits into the way the cards are flowing for you then play it. Folding Ace King pre flop is excepted if you dont feel right about it so why no play a lesser set of hole cards if you feel it will work.
It is not necessary to explain to anyone seated at your table why they should have folded a set of cards that you would not have played. You have 2 cards dealt to you, play those and not the ones across the table. Poker is a game and there is a certain amount of skill and a certain amount of “how the cards fall” involved in the outcome. Neither is more important than the other. It will take both to make your sitting a good one or a bad one. You can get dealt pocket Aces every hand but it certainly doesnt mean you are going to win every hand. Play your won cards and play them the best way you can. Leave everyone elses cards alone.

Now comes a grueling few weeks so I started wondering how people really prepare themselves to stay the course �if their cards and chips hold out. After the practice and the satellite rounds, what do you do when you finally get to Vegas and are hopefully going to be there for the next six weeks?

Well, hopefully, you landed yourself a pretty decent place to call home during that time. Las Vegas is nothing but hotels so rooms arent at a shortage, but ones where you can be comfortable for weeks is another issue entirely. The primo condos and apartments were snapped up forever ago, and most serious players say its very necessary to be able to get away from The Strip to relax and unwind.

With heat upwards of 105 degrees on many days, many players want to avoid walking any distance at all. So, some prefer hotels, not much getting into their car and a leisurely swim in a pool during off hours. Some play a little golf and others have all sorts of methods of keeping their heads geared and focused. Everything from reading quietly œHarrington on Holdem� seems to be something popular) to the myriads of poker game action going on all over town (the Red Rock is home to a lot of professionals who are no doubt going to be downstairs playing a lot). Some players are walking around watching games trying to work out which players can be pushed around and which ones cant.

While still others are in their rooms connected to their laptops playing online games, and writing daily or weekly blog pieces for sites.

One of the big mistakes, it is said, that online players make when coming to Vegas for WSOP, is not getting out and playing on at least one real table a day �just to prepare and get the feel of it all.

Because WSOP goes on for such a length of time, there are days and hours still left to become prepared and I suspect there are about 6000 different methods being used right now. If I were there, trying to work out how Id be handling it all is sort of a fun fantasy to think about!

Even though Amarillo Slim Preston has four SWOP bracelets, his name seems as synonimous with the tournament and the game as Johnny Moss or any other player. And, rather rightfully so because hes one of the more interesting characters weve had around.

Slim was a real rounder in every sense of the word. He hustled, he made wild propositions, and he networked. He was one of the first to really ˜use television not only promote himself but in a funny way to promote poker. He lived bigger than life wearing $1 gold pieces for buttons, sporting a big cowboy hat and staying skinny as a rail his whole life.

Being a close friend of Benny Binions helped Slim to get into a position to play in the WSOP and after his first win in 1972 ($80,000) he took to the airways. He appeared on talk shows and even in a mainstream movie, and became one of the most colorful people on the circuit from then on. He won his last bracelet in 1990 �so he wasnt all hype. What a combination!

Slim also made it a point to play poker with rather unexpected people �like Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, Larry Flynt and more. He was once kidnapped by Pablo Escabar, the Columbian drug king, who mistook him for a drug dealer. He was just in Columbia to open a casino. He opened a restaurant in South Africa and held his own tournaments in Australia. Likely, theres not been a world-class poker player who got around quite as much as Slim.

Slim doesnt play much poker anymore preferring to spend his time building golf courses and watching his champion cutting horses at work. He got into a bit of trouble with the law and lays a little lower anymore. But when he played there werent many as canny as Amarillo Slim, and there are few who loved the game more than him. He says he loved the camaraderie and the challenge, and most who ever played him or met him genuinely liked the guy.

Theres one Amarillo Slim quote I try never to forget. Hes left us plenty of them, but “Look around the table. If you don’t see a sucker, get up, because you’re the sucker.” is my personal favorite. What a guy!

Partypoker is huge and does up to $250 million per month. It has 17 million players, is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a Gibraltar listed gaming company. Theyre a subsidiary of partygaming.com.

Once youre past the download (theres a bit of a problem with firewalls that has to be worked out but their help desk was fast and friendly), the site is smooth as silk as and so much more user friendly than some of the other poker sites. If you are a beginner, there are plenty of tutorials which are a breeze and if you are a seasoned player, you can jump right in with ease.

Partypoker has long been #1 and once you on the site, you quickly see why. Your account is fast and easy to manage and with so many variations and tables, you can quickly get going on one or more tables.

I particularly love the table graphics because they are easier to read, and have an elegant feel to them. In other words, these guys know what theyre doing! In some ways, the site is like a poker mall �with everything from blogs to tutorials on the game itself to WSOP standings to online tournament announcements (the $1 million guaranteed wins on Sundays are intriguing!). Once you start on partypoker, they really try to make sure you dont go elsewhere.

One of the features I especially like is the ability to create private rooms. Ive been playing in a weekly game recently on pokerparty with friends I used to play with in real life. Were all spread to the winds these days, but we have a great time meeting up once a week now. We rotate the times around a little to accommodate some bizarre time zones some of us live in, but outside of missing out on some good community cooking for the old weekly games, this is as close to the real thing as it gets.

If youve never tried partypoker, give it a shot. We all get happy with our favorites sites but if this one isnt yours, go have a look. You wont be sorry at all!