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Gaming

Poker Hand Nicknames: Pocket Pairs

February 15, 2020

If you ever listen to professionals talking at a poker table, you may get lost...

Gaming

Online Poker Pro Says “COME on DOWN “

February 10, 2020

Well, It's a Sunday morning, it's cold outside and I've just joined AC and thought...

Gaming

Luck In Poker: A Different Perspective

February 5, 2020

It is understandable why the majority of poker players are so incredulous toward the luck...

Poker Hand Nicknames: Pocket Pairs

15 Feb 2020

If you ever listen to professionals talking at a poker table, you may get lost very quickly. You may hear...

Online Poker Pro Says “COME on DOWN “

10 Feb 2020

Luck In Poker: A Different Perspective

5 Feb 2020

How to Play Poker

1 Feb 2020

Poker Hand Nicknames: Pocket Pairs

Sonja | February 15, 2020March 11, 2020

If you ever listen to professionals talking at a poker table, you may get lost very quickly. You may hear someone say something about ducks, then another person talk about snowmen. Little do you know they are talking simple poker jargon. These, along with many others, are nicknames given to a combination of poker hands. These nicknames can be derived from the way the cards look, their symbol is cultures, or a historical event. In any case, here are some nicknames that you may hear about. Please note that the following list only pertains to pocket pairs. There are dozens of other nicknames given, but this article will only address pocket pairs.

Pocket 2’s – Nickname: Ducks. The nickname ducks were given to this pair because of the shape the number two makes. It resembles the way a duck looks when in the water. This nickname also could reflect the phrase ‘like a sitting duck’, as this hand is easy to get in trouble with other player’s hands have hit the flop.

Pocket 3’s – Nicknames: Crabs, Treys. Threes have two nicknames. First, crabs was given to it for its appearance. The number three looks like it has pinchers, like crabs do. It also has the nickname of treys because of the slight variation of the word threes.

Pocket 4’s – Nicknames: Magnum, Sailboats. The nickname sailboats were given to this pair because of their appearance (the fours look like sails). The nickname Magnum was also given to this pair in reflection of Dirty Harry’s gun, which was a .44 magnum pistol.

Pocket 5’s – Nicknames: Speed Limit, Presto. The nickname speed limit is simple to figure out – many highways have the speed limit of fifty-five miles per hour. The nickname presto came from a couple of miraculous wins with this hand, and years later, people still retain the magic in this hand my calling it ‘Presto’.

Pocket 6’s – Nicknames: Boots, Route 66. Again, these nicknames are simple to figure out. Route 66 is a nickname due to the cards making the number 66, and the nickname boots is for this hand as the numbers look like boots.

Pocket 7’s – Nicknames: Walking Sticks, Sunset Strip. The nickname walking sticks are used as the numbers resemble walking sticks. The title ‘Sunset Strip’ is a reflection of the television show.

Pocket 8’s – Nicknames: Snowmen, Piano Keys. The nickname snowmen are used as the number eight looks like the beginning of a snowman and the nickname piano keys are used as there are eighty-eight keys on a piano.

Pocket 9’s – Nicknames: Phil Hellmuth, Wayne Gretzky. These nicknames pay tribute to famous people – Wayne Gretzky wore the number 99 and Phil Hellmuth won the 1989 World Series of Poker with this hand.

Pocket 10’s – Nickname: Dimes. This hand is called dimes because the number ten is also referred to as a dime.

Pocket Jacks – Nickname: (Fish)hooks. Because of how they look, pocket jacks are referred to as hooks or fishhooks.

Pocket Queens – Nickname: Ladies. This hand is called ladies because this hand consists of holding two card with women on it.

Pocket Kings – Nicknames: King Kong, Cowboys. This hand is called King Kong because of the lettering (KK) and cowboys because the player is holding two cards with the strongest male photos.

Pocket Aces – Nicknames: Rockets, American Airlines, Bullets, Snake Eyes. Call them whatever you want, they are nice to have. Some nicknames are understandable (American Airlines because of the lettering), but others have been made up to signify the importance of this hand.

Online Poker Pro Says “COME on DOWN “

Sonja | February 10, 2020March 11, 2020

Well, It’s a Sunday morning, it’s cold outside and I’ve just joined AC and thought I would add a few insights I’ve learned from playing thousands and thousands of poker hands online over the past few years. I just read some of the more current articles written by some very knowledgeable players and for the most part I agree to what they are saying and I use some of the technique’s they talk about all the time. Never forget the basics. Once learned, it becomes the basis for your play and a place to go back to when things go wrong, and they will, more often than you would like. My game is sit-n-go tourniments and I earn my living from the new, weak and stupid players that inhabit the online casino’s on a daily basis. If you fall into one of these catagories then DO NOT READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE!! Go directly to your favorite online casino and spend, spend and spend some more, I want your money. But just in case you want to keep some of your money then here is a starting list to go by.

TIP Number one:

Read, read and then read some more about poker. A good place to start is Doyle Brunson’s ” Super System” , and you must understand that reading is good but applying is hard. I read about ten books before I was totally lost in opening hands to theory to odds and when you reach that point YOU MUST GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE CASINO, DEPOSIT A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND START PLAYING. I want your money but on the other hand just go out and spend, spend, spend and don’t become informed , I want your money. Being armed with a little knowledge is very profitable for me. But, let’s say your more inclined not to do that, so here’s the next step.

Tip Number Two:

Decide what kind of poker you want to play. If your going to play Holdem then decide on either ring games or tourniments. Don’t play both at the same time while learning, that’s a formula for disaster.

Tip Number Three:

Play only free games!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don’t deposit your money yet, although that’s what I would like you to do but instead pick out a couple of online rooms and register to play and start the learning process. Play at least two different rooms but I suggest at least three to five rooms. Why? Because the play will differ from one room to another.

Tip Number Four:

Opening Hands. Go to the poker forum and sign up and search for opening hands and there are many articles about the subject. Remember that opening hands for ring games are somewhat different from opening hands for tourniments.

Tip Number Five:

Now, FORGET WHAT YOU’VE READ start playing and use the opening hand list you obtained from the poker forum. Please note that when you sign up at an online casino make sure you ask for your hand histories. Poker Stars has a great HH program that sends your HH right to your computer. This is a very important when starting out. Play a few tourniments or spend the next ten hours sitting at a ring game then quit for that session. Open up your hand history in your computer and analyze your winning and loosing hands and find out why you lost or won. If you don’t know ask. Go to the poker forum and ask they have many great players and a lot of articles about all sorts of poker subjects.

Tip Number Six:

Now here is where it gets a little dicey. How many hands do you think you need to play before you are ready to play for money? I asked that question to several of my online poker friends and we all agree that 30 to 50 thousand hands is in the area you need to play. Because it takes time to see what you are doing wrong and read on the subject and then to apply your new knowledge to make it works for you. Now it get even a little more dicier. Remember, the regular free game players don’t care how they play. It’s only play money . I see these comments all the time. So it’s a loose type of game and you must learn how to use your new tools against these players without getting caught up in their style of play.

Now that you have gained some knowledge of the game and you want to play for money, start slow and low. You need at least 100 times the big blind to withstand the losses you will have. One interesting thing that I have found is that at most levels of money play the stupids are still there spending their money so try not to be one of them. Learn and apply. Only try new levels after you are winning more than loosing in your current level of play and remember that 90% of online players are loosers. Only 10% make money.

One last thing. The five community cards very seldom repeat in the next hand. If you have ace, ten, nine, five, three in the community cards in one hand they very seldom repeat individually in the next hand. So if your delt an ace rag as your hole cards in the next hand and you remember that an ace was in the previous community cards, chances are that the ace wont repeat. I have saved a lot of money following that rule. If you get ace king as your hole cards and you remember that an ace king were part of the last community cards, play with caution. 90% of the time the ace and/or king will not repeat. And finally, don’t try to play like the pros who give advise, you can’t! Use your knowledge and formulate your own style. It takes time and patience but the rewards are there.

Luck In Poker: A Different Perspective

Sonja | February 5, 2020March 11, 2020

It is understandable why the majority of poker players are so incredulous toward the luck component in poker. In all other sports we are conditioned to be declared the victor if we outplay our opponents. It is an anomaly when marked superiority does not result in victory.

There is no sport where you can find a person on the street that will beat the best in the world. If you played tennis with Rafael Nadal, you might not get one winner in three sets. Sit down with Phil Ivey on the poker table, however, and you will win hands. Poker players need to abandon the sense of entitlement that may come with advanced skills. That worked in other sports and games, but in poker you are at the mercy of luck.

Imagine if the principles that governed poker were applied to some different sports:

Basketball

A good basketball team trounces a below-average team 86-43. That is by any reasonable measure a show of utter superiority. You would think the other team would be hanging their heads, but it’s not over yet! Now they’re going to have a drawing. 129 tickets are thrown into a bucket, 86 of which belong to the winning team, and 43 belonging to the losing team.

Somebody reaching into the bucket and pulling out a ticket will now determine the winner. 43 tickets out 129 are not bad odds. This is the same scenario any player faces as a robust 2-1 favorite in a poker hand. It would be insane if the winning basketball team would have to expect to lose 1 out of these 3 games they won by a blowout. But as a poker player you have to accept this as part of the game.

Boxing

A world-class boxer dominates his less-skilled, inexperienced foe, clearly winning the fight. The judges all agree he won 10 out 12 rounds. The losing boxer prepares to leave the ring to ice his wounds, but wait! We’re going to have a little raffle first. 12 pieces of paper go into a hat, 10 belonging to the winner and two to the loser. The rightful victor will probably win, but how many of these situations can he expect to win consecutively?

A poker player holding pocket aces against an opponent with pocket fives is in even worse statistical shape than the aforementioned boxer. In a no-limit poker tournament, where you can lose all your chips in one hand, these situations will be plentiful. Yet you may continue to feel indignant when you lose. You outplayed you opponent. Maybe you skillfully devised an intricate trap that your opponent fell right into. That still does not entitle you to anything in this game. It only puts you in a better position to win.

Final Words

Poker is not chess. In chess, you outplay your opponent conclusively and you win. It’s simple. In poker, there are two filters which results are run through. First is the skill aspect. This will only determine who will have the statistical advantage before the results are run through the filter of luck. There are many times when poker players use skill to cripple their opposition, and maximize how much they win from a person when they have the best hand with no cards to come. The majority of big action, however, does not unfold in that manner. You may have gotten your money in with the best hand, but with cards to come, it can feel like it’s better to be lucky than good sometimes.

How to Play Poker

Sonja | February 1, 2020March 11, 2020

Poker is not just the guy’s game anymore. I remember when poker used to be just for guys. They would all get together at one person’s house and play poker all night, while drinking beers and smoking cigars. Now though more and more women are getting into poker. Women are starting have more and more girl’s night of playing poker. If you are not familiar with poker, then let’s go through a systematic guide of how to play poker. So that you might find a new hobby for girl’s night out. Many people have earned a huge amount of money by playing poker while others have lost many clothes while playing strip poker.

Poker is very simple really. It’s about knowing what you got and how to use it. We as women are very familiar with that motto everyday of our lives. Some women prefer to use that as their advantage while other’s decide to use it in other ways. Poker is mainly all about the cards you have. If you know what your cards mean, then you are already a step ahead of the game. You want to make sure you always know that your face cards are basically the highest. Your ace can be either your highest or your lowest depending on what game you are playing. Every card in between 2 and 9 are just what they say they are and account for just that number. However, sometimes your suit which on most regular cards are hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs is the leading hand in other games.

In first learning how to play you may find that the poker rules can be quite confusing. However, you will soon realize how easy it can be. Then who know’s, you could be the leading poker shark in your area. It’s all about the cards, I can’t stress that enough. The games within Poker. Draw poker or also called five-card draw. First give each player 5 cards, be sure that each player keeps their cards hidden. Players are allowed to replace cards, as many as they like. Stud poker, or seven card stud is much like draw poker only you can not replace any of your cards. Black Jack is another game. This one has been known as the easiest because you get one card and then try to make it to 21 without going over.

Below you will find a poker terms glossary explaining some words used in poker.

Poker terms glossary:

A-B-C, A-B-C-D- sequence of the lowest cards in a lowball game; uncreative or a predictable play

Ace-to-five, ace-to-six-methods of evaluating low hands

Act- to place a bet

Action- a player’s turn to place a bet

Ante- to place a bet, by using your poker chips

Bluff- is to place a bet that is legit

Boat- full house

Bone- chip

Both ways- both halves of a spilt pot

Bring in- to open a betting round

Burn-deal-a mid-deal

These are just a few terms you will find while playing poker. There are many more to learn.

How To Host A Poker Game Properly

Sonja | January 25, 2020March 11, 2020

Before you decide to host a poker game, you are going to need poker players, refreshments, and rules.

If you want a small, friendly game of cards then you may want to stick with a group of 5-10 friends that play well together. However, if you want a wild crazy night of gambling, you can host an ‘open house’.

An open house would require inviting as many people as possible, and allowing them to invite anyone they would like to bring. Please be forewarned that having an ‘open house’ can lead to some problems.

You may get reckless players, immature guests, and over-dramatic sore losers. You can maintain some control over the outcome of hosting an ‘open house’; but a smaller, friendly poker game is your safest option if you wish to avoid any risk.

An open house would also mean a more ‘tournament style’ game, so you need to arrange seating capacity. A poker game goes much smoother if there is no more than 10 people to a table. You will need to know how many people you have room for, and seats for, and set a limit to how many people you can host.

A very important rule should be an age restriction. Since poker games usually involve gambling, and drinking, you should not allow anybody under 21 to play. You can be flexible, if the situation is right, but you should draw a firm line at 18.

The next topic would be the refreshments. Obviously, you will want to have alcohol. However, with an ‘open house’ you will want to attach a BYOB to the open invitation, or you may end up with a bunch of moochers.

One very helpful poker tip: Don’t drink. Better yet, appear to be drinking more than you actually are. Have one beer, and nurse it. This is good because while your opponents are getting tipsy, they are usually playing recklessly. Keeping a clear head will give you an advantage, and increase your odds of winning.

Refreshments should not be limited to drinks. Food is important when you are hosting anything. From snacks (either chips or something more ‘home made’) to actual food (order a pizza, cook some meat, etc.) it will increase the comfort level and make the night more enjoyable.

Once you have the people and the refreshments, you are almost ready to play. But rules are very, very important when it comes to hosting a poker night. Typically, ‘poker night’ should rotate. You may host one night, and the next weekend it is hosted at another friends. Either way, when you are the host, you are responsible for laying down the guidelines.

This includes variable game options. Are there going to be re-buys, how long do ’rounds’ last (do blinds go up in 10 minutes or 15?) will there be a set dealer or will deal get passed with the blinds, etc. Everything about how the game will be played is up to you to decide.

After that, you should set your own rules relating to non-poker subjects. If this is a ‘boys only night’, or if there is a door charge on top of the buy ins (and what the buy in will be) should all be included with the information on your verbal invitation.

Even if you are not hosting an ‘open house’, you still want everyone invited to be clear of your expectations and respectful of your house.

After these three important steps, your poker night should be all fun and games!

Hollywood’s Love Affiar With Poker

Sonja | January 20, 2020March 11, 2020

With the 2012 World Series of Poker currently running, hardcore poker fans are glued to their TVs for two hours a week watching pros and amateurs trying win it big in the world’s biggest poker tournament. So, what’s a poker fan to do with the rest of the 166 hours in the week? Fear not, Hollywood has a long loving relationship with the game of poker. Here are five great poker-themed films that will entertain any poker playing fan.

Rounders

“Rounders” is widely considered to be one of the reasons for the big poker boom of the early 2000s. Not only did Chris Moneymaker cite the film as his inspiration for winning the World Series, countless other amateurs who try their luck in the biggest poker tournament around say “Rounders” started them on their journey.

The film follows Mike, a law student played by Matt Damon, who has promised his girlfriend he’s done with poker. All of that changes when his old buddy Worm, played by Edward Norton, shows up. Suddenly, Mike finds himself owing a Russian mobster, played by John Malkovich, a whole lot of money in a very short amount of time.

Of all the poker movies, “Rounders” is probably the truest to the game itself. You won’t see any royal flushes or people unable to match the pot so they have to forfeit.

Maverick

If “Rounders” is a true-to-life poker movie, “Maverick” is full-fledged escapism. Yes, there are royal flushes, and other insanely improbable things that happen, but this movie never tries to be serious so as audience members we’ll gladly overlook such shortcomings. Based on the 1950’s TV show, “Maverick” follows Bret Maverick, played by Mel Gibson, as he tries to scrounge up some cash so he can enter a winner-take-all poker tournament. It has everything a western-themed poker film needs: guns, booze, women, and a Mississippi riverboat.

Breaking Vegas: Prince of Poker

While technically not a “film” this History Channel documentary recounts the true tale of Jim McManus, a broke writer with four kids who made a play at the 2000 World Series of Poker. The documentary takes some liberties, and also has horrible reenactment scenes, but poker players will appreciate the McManus rags-to-riches story that so many players dream about.

The film follows McManus as he accepts a freelance writing gig covering the World Series of Poker. When McManus gets his advance money he decides to use it to enter a satellite for a spot in the World Series. While probably not the best financial decision in the world (I mean the guy has four kids to feed), McManus ends up getting his seat and going pretty deep in the Series.

Lucky You

“Lucky You” is a romantic comedy that centers on Huck Cheever (Eric Bana). Huck lives life in the shadow of his father LC Cheever (Robert Duvall), a professional poker player well-known in the circles, and also gets involved with a local girl played by Drew Barrymore. While certainly not the best poker movie, it’s really a romance played against the backdrop of the poker world, fans will enjoy the cameos by some of the best pro poker players out there.

Shade

“Shade” takes us deep into the world of hustlers, cheaters, and scoundrels as we follow a crew trying to take down the best card mechanic out there-The Dean. (Sylvester Stallone). Much like “Rounders,” the card hands are all within reason, and the cheating methods are believable. As an amateur magician myself, I can attest that the card cheating used in the film is legit. In fact, there was only one scene in the film that used a special effect involving the cards (and that was only done because the actor’s hands couldn’t perform the slight, not because it’s an impossible move). Like any good con game movie, the audience gets it in the end, too.

Free Adult Erotic Sexy Games For Couples: Strip Poker For Two

Sonja | January 15, 2020March 11, 2020

We all know about the game strip poker and how playing with friends could be really fun and daring. It could be played in a more intimate setting of two though and can be even more exciting than you could ever imagine.

Lets look at the rules first just to refresh your memory. The dealer deals five cards each the value of the cards from highest to lowest will include the following:

Royal flush, which signifies an ace, king, queen, jack and ten. The straight flush is five cards of the same suit in a running suite for example 9,8,7,6,5. A flush is five cards of any suit but in order. A full house is three of one number and two of another. A triple is three of a kind and two unconnected cards. Two pairs are two sets of cards that are the same and one unconnected card. A pair is only one pair that is the same and three unconnected card.

At the next deal you can throw in all your poor cards and substitute them for new cards. Then the betting begins. The last person to bet opens their cards first. The winner scoops the pot. The loser has to obey the winner’s instructions.

Of course the game is one of sexual forfeits and should start off lightly. First off remove some of the bits of clothing but not all of course since having to be naked only in some areas generally increase people’s discomfort. Then you graduate to touching the exposed parts and then you graduate to even more intimate touches and eventually you could have interrupted sessions of sex that would only increase the level of arousal. Of course a partner could bluff but this carries with it a penalty, which both partners must be ready to pay.

This game can become really intense and you might have to help your partner through it and stop to make your partner more comfortable in some cases. You need to make sure that the loving relationship comes first and that it dies not degenerate into an objectification session. Alternate sexual forfeits with other little tasks like asking your partner to lie on her back and eat food from her belly or ask her or him for a drink. Have the half naked person make a phone call to a friend. Just the thought of being half naked can increase the eroticism.

As you can see strip poker does not have to be a game for a group. It could be just as much fun for two and can bring both of you together with laughter and tasks that will make you smile for weeks after the vent had taken place. It will also make you feel a little naughty.

Bob the Bubble Boy and the World Series of Poker Main Event

Sonja | January 10, 2020March 11, 2020

He drank in the elixir of sights and sounds that made this city special. He was finally in Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker, something he’d dreamed about for years. His arrival marked the beginning for him. It was the beginning of the new Bob, not the loser of the past. However, fate doesn’t always abide by our plans but has its own twists and turns to make the trip interesting.

He was a quiet man with a slight almost frail build. He had a raging drive to participate in sports and the keen sense of competition that should have made him great but because of his stature and lack of confidence, he stayed on the sidelines through his high school years and never found his niche. That all changed when Chris Moneymaker made the news winning the World Series of Poker. The idea of a legitimate sport anyone could play with millions of dollars in prizes enthralled him.

You didn’t need to be agile, strong or swift to play. You needed to be smart and competitive. He knew he had these traits. He studied for months before he entered his first tournament and was pleased when he almost made it in the money. It was a true accomplishment for a first timer.

Bob loved poker and he loved tournaments. He’d registered for every live tournament in his area but never managed to make it in the money. Someone always knocked him out right before he qualified for a minimum prize. In fact, it happened so frequently, everyone started calling him Bob, the Bubble Boy. When it came down to one before the money, players would scan the room and if they saw Bob, would be comfortable knowing, their position in the money was secure.

Bob’s reputation followed him to every tournament and even Bob believed it. If it weren’t a bad beat on the river, he’d make that one fatal error every tournament that prevented him from making the money. He seemed destined never to win. That is, however, before he found the world of Internet poker.

He took the online name of “The Bubble Boy 68” and found the anonymity of online poker improved his game tremendously. He learned to play far more aggressively, something he’d lacked that always was part of his downfall. He savored every tournament and instead of living up to his name, began winning.

One day, he noticed a $3.30 satellite to the World Series of Poker Main Event. It was a long shot. You had to win two satellites to get to the final competition for the ticket. A win on the $3.30 tournament gave you a ticket to the $33.00 satellite and finally, if you won that one, the $330 competition to win your $10,000 ticket to Las Vegas. He knew the chances were slim but worth trying.

Bob didn’t win on his first attempt. He made it to the second satellite and then bombed. However, after several attempts, he found himself competing at the final table for his ticket and heads up against one of the most aggressive players online, “BITEMELOVER298.” When the last hand ended, his A6 beat the pocket 4’s of BITEMELOVER298 and he’d won his ticket.

He booked a room at the YipeeKiyaa Casino and Hotel. It was a western themed casino with a mechanical bull in the center of the gaming area and cowboy memorabilia everywhere. Bob wanted to be fresh for the tournament and his flight was a long one. He was preregistered and scheduled for the first flight of the series. Rather than burn all his energies seeing Vegas, he decided that he’d eat supper, walk from the Strip to the Rio to check how long it took and burn off supper. Then he’d hit the sack.

The Chuck Wagon Buffet had every type of dish you could imagine, but focused on foods associated with the old west. He helped himself to a serving of Campfire Beans, one of the specialties. There was corned beef and cabbage, something Bob hadn’t had in years and remembered fondly as a dish his Irish mother loved to serve. He took a small portion of steak and smothered it with sautÃ©ed mushrooms and onions. There were all types of cheese and he took one of each, some broccoli, cauliflower, and a little bit of sauerkraut with sausage. He topped it off with some soft serve ice cream. There were all types of beer if you wanted to order it. Bob chose Mexican beer he’d never heard of and a bottle of Millers as a chaser.

After supper, the walk to the Rio seemed far less appealing. Instead, he decided to go to bed and leave early enough in the morning to have breakfast there before the tournament. He had one more beer for the road to help him sleep, left instructions for the wake up call and dozed off.

Was it the jet lag or the beer that made him sleep so soundly? Bob awoke with a start to the sound of a phone. He answered and instead of a recorded message, it was the desk clerk he’d talked to the day before.

“I noticed you never answered the recorded wake-up call and I know how important this tournament is. So, thought I’d try it one more time myself. The tournament starts in less than an hour.”

Bob was suddenly awake with the realization that he’d overslept. The WSOP started in 45 minutes and he knew it would take at least 25 to get from his hotel to the Rio. He’d have to grab a cab and even then, rush. He showered quickly, put on the shirt with the online logo, and headed out the door.

Be A Caribbean Poker Stud With Caribbean Stud Poker

Sonja | January 5, 2020March 11, 2020

What do you think about upon hearing the word ¨poker?¨ Old sailors gathered in festive moods over a wooden table slapping chips down? A group of college students parading around with booze in their hand about to call a Flush? High stakes gamblers at the Mirage casino ready to pounce on the dealer when the opportunity strikes? Poker is by far the most popular card game of all-time. It extends to many levels – having its own ¨World Series¨ on ESPN television and even its own job title (professional poker players do exist – when did you hear the same thing for Blackjack players?) Poker exceeds boundaries when it comes to pure entertainment – players sit at the table for hours playing this enjoyable game. Top partners at law firms set up poker tables in their meeting rooms after a long hard day at work to relax. It is played by everyone and everywhere.

The casino style Caribbean Stud Poker is a variation of the popular five card poker game. As the name indicates, it originated from the Caribbean islands and spread soon after to different regions of the world. Using one standard deck of playing cards, the game is started with a wager by the player. The dealer (common to a myriad of card games) then distributes five cards face down to each individual player. When the dealer deals his own cards, he leaves four face down and leaves the last card up for everyone to see. Based on a players hand, they make the decision over whether to stay in the game or ¨fold¨ – leave the game. Suppose they had a pair (more on hand payouts later) in their hand already – here, folding wouldn´t be a good idea, as they have a chance to win the game. Folding the game automatically eliminates the initial wag er placed, so there is no harm done to the players money. If the player stays in the game, he must double up (or double the initial bet.)

In order to win some delicious payouts, it all depends on the dealers hand. If the dealer has the higher valued hand, the dealers wins your money. If the player has the higher valued hand, the amount of money they win depends on the hand they are dealt. Hand payouts usually operate as follows:

Royal Flush 100:1 (a $2 dollar bet will net you a $200 gain)

Straight Flush 50:1 (a $2 dollar bet will net you a $100 gain)

Four of a Kind 20:1 (a $2 dollar bet will net you a $40 gain)

Full House 7:1 (a $2 dollar bet will net you a $14 gain)

Flush 5:1 (a $2 dollar bet will net you a $10 gain)

Straight 4:1 (a $2 dollar bet will net you an $8 gain)

Three of a Kind 3:1 (a $2 dollar bet will net you a $6 gain)

Two Pair 2:1 (a $2 dollar bet will net you a $4 gain)

Pair 1:1 (a $2 dollar bet will net you a $2 gain)

Poker is flush with strategy opportunities. Professional poker players study behaviors and probabilities that certain cards and hands will appear based on the cards already dealt. It does really involve more than luck and winning can be hard to pull off. Poker players literally have the entire deck memorized so all moves must be exercised with caution.

A Fun First Time Win At Video Poker

Sonja | January 1, 2020March 11, 2020

I was sitting at my favorite video poker machine at Bay Mills Casino in Brimley, MI. It was one of a row of some ten machines that had various games on them. I was playing $.10 deuces wild which cost me $.50 a hand. With the payoff tables that were on the machine and at the relaxed speed with which I played, I’d probably lose about $5.00 an hour. With a big payoff on a good hand like 4 deuces or a royal flush, I’d win a few dollars. I played for fun and enjoyed a glass of wine while I played.

An older lady stood by my shoulder for a few moments and watched what I was doing. She held her purse in front of her with both hands like I would expect a Sunday School Teacher to do. The stool in front of the machine next to me was vacant. She sat down. In an unsure fashion she found her slot club card and inserted it into the machine.

I smiled at her. “Ever play video poker before?” I asked.

She shook her head.

“Probably the easiest game is Jacks or Better,” I told her, and pointed to the appropriate symbol.

She pressed the symbol and the game appeared on the screen. She had a $5 bill in her hand and put it in the bill slot. Noisily, the machine registered 100 credits.

“If you play the maximum amount – that’s 5 nickels,” I told her, “you get a bonus if you hit a really good hand. So, you should probably press the ‘max play’ button.”

She did and the machine dealt her a hand.

“Now,” I told her. “You just decide which cards you want to keep in your poker hand and press ‘draw’. It’ll discard your unwanted ones and give you some new ones.

She examined her cards and decided she wanted to hold a pair of sixes. The machine took away the three unwanted cards and gave her two tens, and a king. It also made a little noise as it gave her $.50 for the $.25 she’d played. She looked happy.

“That’s all there is to it,” I told her. “If you need help, just tell me.” I returned to my deuces wild game. Several hands later, I drew to two deuces and got the other two deuces. My machine began making a lot of noise as it rang up the 1,000 credits that I received.

She stopped playing and watched as the credits mounted on my machine. “How much is that?” she asked.

“$100.00,” I told her.

“My, that’s nice,” was her response.

We continued to play and I kept half an eye on her and her machine. She was staying around her 100 credits. It’d get up to 120 and then drop to 95. She’d get pleased when she was ahead and tense when she dropped behind.

The machine gave her an ace of spades, a jack of spades, a king of spades, and a couple cards of no consequence. I watched her as she pushed the hold buttons for the ace, jack, and king. Then she pressed draw. In the two empty spaces the queen of spades and the ten of spades popped up. Her machines started chattering away as it accumulated the 4,000 credits she’d won.

I stopped playing and watched. Finally her machine got quiet.

“That was a pretty good hand,” I said.

She was flushed and excited. “I’ve never seen a hand like that,” she said.

How much is it?” she asked.

I pointed at the part of the screen that showed 4,105 credits. “Push right there,” I said.

She did and the number of credits changed to $205.25. “Oh, my goodness,” she exclaimed. “I’ve never won anything like that. I have to show this to my husband.”

She pulled her club card out of the machine. She pressed the cashout button. A credit slip showing her winnings came out of the machine. She grabbed it and hurriedly left, looking for her husband.

I smiled at the player on the next machine down.

“That’s great fun when someone wins for the first time,” the other player said. I nodded in agreement and went on playing my $.10 deuces wild.