Poker Strategy - Types of Poker Players

Being poker faced is all about hiding your feelings and keeping an expressionless face. Poker is a game in which bets are raised, irrespective of whether one holds a great hand or a useless one. The trick is to make other players think you are planning just the opposite of what you are actually going to do. Based on the method of playing for a long period, poker players have been grouped into four different categories. Anyone who newly enters the field of playing poker, either in a casino or online, should know what these four types are. The four groups are Tight-Passive, Tight-Aggressive, Loose-Passive and Loose-Aggressive. They have nicknames also for these players. Only experience will enable you to identify to which category each of the players you face belongs. Some may look like easy targets. It should not be forgotten that poker is not just a game of chance but a mind game involving the power to read the others intentions, by his actions and in-actions alone and not by the expression on his face. It is also essential that to the extent possible you should collect information about the players with whom you happen to play normally. The information should be accurate. There are clever players who can change their style of play to fall into another category. They are able to do so by watching how the game is proceeding and how other players are betting. One who seldom starts a call is called tight and the one playing more starts is termed loose. From their style of betting, a player can identify as to whether he is tight or loose. A tight aggressive player will only play if they have received good cards. They will be aggressive and will raise the bet. They are sure of what they are doing and it is not advisable to play against such a player, as you end up losing money. The tight passive player is one who is always reluctant to play unless he holds a very strong hand. They will never take a risk, but their style of playing will not be forceful. Beware of such players also before raising your bets unless you are sure of the strength of your cards. A loose passive nicknamed 'calling station', because of their tendency to go on calling. This is how the amateur plays and it is easy to beat such a player. These players do not know when to hold. It is possible to scare them into withdrawing but it is good idea to enable them to keep on going so that your winnings can be more. The loose aggressive is a 'maniac' because of the tendency to play aggressively whatever hands they hold. They are dangerous to play against because you will never be able to guess what cards he is holding. Some great poker players have used this style to win tournaments. Patience is the key word to beat them. Poker playing for winning requires experience, patience, keen observation and timely action. A bit of aggression at times will be useful.

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Small Ball Poker Strategy

Small Ball Poker involves two inter-related adjustments in your poker strategy. Used alone each of these could easily lose you chips. However, combined successfully, the key concepts of a small-ball strategy can improve your success rate in both live and online poker games. This article shows you how to make the correct adjustments at the tables. Often credited to pro player Daniel Negreanu, the small ball style has actually been around the professional game for many years. The key elements are as follows: 1) Play lots of pots, especially from late position with speculative holdings. 2) Bet and raise small amounts, keeping the pot (reasonably) small. Key to this strategic adjustment is the fact that you are creating a 'loose' image for yourself at the table. Opponents will see you playing a wide number of pots, especially with a raise, and will be less likely to believe that you have a big hand on each occasion. By keeping the betting small you will be able to get away cheaply those times your opponents start to make big bets and raises. At the same time you will pick up enough medium sized pots to ensure you accumulate chips. The best aspect of all is that those times you hit a monster hand - for example trips on a 'safe looking' flop - your opponents are unlikely to give you credit for your raises. Nothing is more satisfying in poker than having an opponent come over the top of your bet with a giant re-raise at the wrong time. By the time the dust settles you will have all of their chips and they will be left wondering how someone who played so many starting hands can get so 'lucky'. Of course - you will know that luck had little to do with the result. That your small ball poker approach enabled you to get into the position where you were a huge favorite to win the hand when the big bets started coming in. To summarize, small ball poker strategy involves playing many starting hands for small bets and raises, especially from late position at the table. By raising you will win many pots, but can get away cheaply enough when the big bets start flying if you do not have a legitimate hand. The key advantage is that opponents will often 'not believe you' when you really do have a big hand, enabling you to win a significantly larger pots.

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The 3 Best Strategy Tips For Always Winning Holdem

You can improve your Texas Poker Strategy instantly with these top strategy tips on how to always win your game of Holdem. They always say that no matter how good something is, there is always room for improvement. The same rule applies for anyone playing Texas Holdem Poker too. No matter who you are; a rookie, an amateur or a pro, you can always strive for perfection by improving your game. One of the best ways of doing it is by researching all the possible strategies that you can use in poker. Here are the three best strategy tips to super-charge your Texas Poker Strategy to enable you to get a win every time you sit down at the table, which will seriously help out your hip pocket. Texas Poker Strategy Tip #1- Safety First You need to always be analyzing any dangers before you decide to tackle an opportunity. Sometimes, your opponents can lure you into their trap by using aggression or bullying you. Trying to teach them a lesson instantly would be falling right into their hands. The key here is to wait for the cards and the right situation before you strike. Once you have everything going in your favor you can take on anyone. Texas Poker Strategy Tip #2- Avoid Getting Too Greedy And Landing In The Soup Money is both the start and the finish of Texas Holdem Poker. So it goes without saying that it's the one thing that needs your attention the most. Managing your bankroll efficiently will ensure that you don't end up losing more than what you could imagine. Even worse would be pricing out yourself which means no recovery of what's lost. Even if you are winning it's important to spend in a smart way. Texas Poker Strategy Tip #3-Check Yourself, Be Reasonable Understand that every player wants to win and anyone who does is by the virtue of their efforts that they have put into this game. So, if you want to win you would also have to put in a lot of time, effort and money along with being patient as you cannot become the best player in the world in a day's time. I'm sure you are now realizing that it is important to dedicate yourself to learning the art and skill of successfully winning rounds of Texas Holdem Poker. Well, there is only one way to do that - go ahead and click to learn more.

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888 Genie: The Webcam Wonder Girl

Meet the 888 Genie & win prizes on PokerCam tables What is the 888 Genie? The beautiful 888 Genie (a real girl from 888poker) has been surprising players on PokerCam (webcam poker) tables, challenging them to mini-games and giving away thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. Mini-games so far have included all players doing a Mexican wave, striking a pose and more. One thing is for sure – you’ll never know when the 888 Genie will pop-up. So get playing on PokerCam tables & look out for the surprises. PokerCam, exclusively to 888poker, are games where players can play poker face-to-face online with webcams. Latest 888 Genie Events Events         What                                                    Win                            When LG 2012     Giveaway Get ready for lots of prizes     Cash & LG prizes      Dec 2011 – Feb 2012

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A Simple Path to a Winning Poker Strategy

If you want to improve your poker play and create a set of poker strategies that have you winning more pots, then there are a number of areas you need to review. In some cases your knowledge may be sufficient, and in others you may have it all wrong, so it's best to assess your skill in each area. While it isn't necessary to know anything about Poker history, you should know the rules of poker, and how the game is played today. This would include knowing the ranking of hands just to make sure you know what hand beats what other hand. It's a good time to also review the terms used in the game, so you don't feel like a fool at the table. Next you should become familiar with pot odds, how to calculate them, and how to use them to make decisions. Why is this important? All too often players play a small pair hoping to make it into trips, while staring at a board that could help another make a flush or straight, and they don't know the odds of making three of a kind are pretty low. Conversely, knowing the odds of your opponents making a hand from what you see on the board can encourage you, if you already have a strong hand. For example, there are only two cards (called outs) that can turn a pair into trips, but fifteen outs that can make an open-ended straight, flush, or straight flush. I have written about it in a previous article, and you should research this important area online. Now that you know about pot odds, turn your attention to learning what good starting cards are. Here are some basics rules of thumb: Strong Starting Hands: · A pair of high cards (Aces - Kings - Queens - Jacks - 10's) · An Ace and another high card Suited (A - 10 of Hearts) · Connected Face cards Suited (Q - J of Spades) · Ace and King Not Suited Medium Strength Hands: · Face + 10 Suited (Q -10 of Diamonds) · Medium Pairs (pair of 9's, 8's, or 7's) · Two High Cards Not Suited (A - Q, J, 10 or KQ down to J-10) · Ace and Medium Suited (A - 9 of Hearts) · Medium Suited Connectors, (10 - 9 of Spades (no gap), 7 - 5 of Hearts (1 gap)) Part of your strategy needs to include determining in which situations would you play medium strength hands or worse? This leads to the next area of play, your position. If you are early in the rotation, then playing medium strength hands is usually a mistake. If you get a raise, you will find yourself paying more to play and you will be chasing the whole way. If however you check and no one behind you bets, then you might play your hand or even raise and try to steal the blinds. So your strategy and choices of hands to play is modified by your position, and not set in concrete based solely on hand strength. Now you need to focus on betting strategy, which again depends on the strength of your hand, and position, and takes into account what your opponents are doing. In general if you have a good hand you would be aggressive to eliminate players with weaker drawing hands, unless your hand is a monster hand, in which case you should choose to slow play, and let someone else be the aggressor. If you play quality cards consistently, your opponents will figure that out, and as a result you may occasionally bluff and get away with it. A 'tight' player will be far more successful bluffing than a 'loose' one, and bluffing is not a strategy, it's a tactic to be used sparingly. A lot of attention is given to reading your opponent and discovering their 'tells'. Some of this is natural, as everyone has some intuition about whether someone is telling the truth. In general 'tells' are just mannerisms and habits that people unconsciously display in certain situations. Look for signs by observing the play of others especially when you are not in the hand. Do they play quickly in some situations and slowly in others; do they get real chatty or silent when they have a hand or bluff? If a player sees the flop frequently and folds infrequently, they are a loose player and likely to play poor cards. Wait until you have a good hand and then pounce. Lastly, make sure your strategy considers your chip stack, the number of players in the hand, and your tolerance for risk. This is where you need to change gears based on your situation. If you are risk averse then only play good hands, unless your position gives you an opportunity, but once you are in the hand you must be committed to it, or you will find others pushing you off your hand with their loose and aggressive play. If you spend some time educating yourself on these areas, you will be on your way to a winning poker strategy that will increase your enjoyment and bankroll. Remember that the more you practice and learn about the game the 'luckier' you will become.

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Bodog Bad Beat Poker Bonus

Nothing takes the sting out of a bad beat quite like winning cash for it! If you have a Full House with Aces full of Kings (or better) and you lose to Four of a Kind or better you win 100 X the big blind to a maximum of $1,000! How it Works: You can win a Bad Beat Bonus for having aces full of kings (AAAKK) or better beaten by four of a kind or better, depending on these rules: Only real money Texas Holdem cash games are eligible (not tournaments). Both pocket cards must be used by both the losing and winning hand. Three or more players must be dealt into the hand. Both the winning and losing hand must go to showdown. All hands must be played independently. If you reveal your hand or instruct others on how to act, you won't be eligible. You must submit your hand number within 48hrs of playing it. What you Win: The Bad Beat Bonus is only awarded to the player holding the losing hand. Winners get 100 X the big blind of the table at which the Bad Beat was dealt. The maximum bonus is $1,000, There is no rollover for this bonus.

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Double your Money 888 Poker

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Consistently Win and Double Your Money

It takes a different type of Texas Hold'em poker strategy to win at Double or Nothing tables on-line. The first time I saw a Double or Nothing game I thought I had found an easy way to beef up my account. After all, I was pretty good at standard sit-n-go games and doing very well in various tournaments. But the Double or Nothing is a different game. I went into the game playing like I usually do and found, very quickly, that my stacked was running away faster than a roadrunner with a coyote on its tail. Trying to bully your way through a Double or Nothing will usually end in disaster. The point of this kind of game is not to win the big stack and devastate your opponents, but to survive longer than five other players at the table. Don't know what a Double or Nothing game is? Let me explain. It's a single table ten seat Texas Hold'em game with a twist. Ignoring the casino rake, the buy in is, for example, $10. The game is over when the first five people are eliminated and get nothing. The other five double their buy in and walk away with $20 each. As far as the game goes, it's played like any other sit-n-go. It's very important to stay out of trouble and simply survive. There's no need put a lot of pressure on the other players the way you would in a standard game. In fact, I've won many games by simply hanging back and letting the other players beat each other up. Most people will go into a D or N and try to dominate the table the way they see the pros on TV do it. This couldn't be more wrong. I love it when these guys are at the same table I'm playing. Yes, they will probably walk away a winner, but they are taking a lot of chances in order to do it. I love to sit back and watch them risk their stack and take out the other players while I fly under the radar. Another thing you need to do is be aware of everyone's stack size. If you've been dealt good cards and the only ones playing in the hand have bigger stacks than you, get out. Remember, four other players will win the game and there's no point in putting your position at risk by playing against someone that can put you all in. Target the small stacks. By playing carefully you can be sure that at least two or three people will have smaller stacks than you and you can safely play against them without risking being pushed to the rail. Let's say the person two seats behind you is short stacked and is the big blind. You have nothing in the pot, except for a possible ante, but the big blind cuts deeply into the short stacks remaining chips. If no one before you has bet, then no matter what you're holding, you want to take the blind away from the short stack so bet enough to make him fold. If someone before you has already bet enough to scare the chips out of the short stack, then fold. Even if I can cover the bet and am holding some great cards, I'll get out of the hand and let the other guy do battle and possibly take the short stack out. If the short stack calls and wins the worst that can happen is he'll double up. If I was in the hand, too, he might triple up and lose his short stack status. You have to play Double or Nothing games much different than you would play a regular came of poker and this Texas Hold'em strategy won't work anywhere else, but it is great here. Resist the temptation to play a lot of hands and let everyone else beat each other to death.

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Winning Online Poker Strategy: The Value Bet

The value bet is an online poker strategy which, if used correctly, will lead to an increased profit from poker. The value bet is a calculated bet which is used when you have the best hand and want to get paid off. You must put yourself in the shoes of your opponent, and imagine how much he would be willing to call. A lot of amateur poker players will push all-in if they knew they had the best hand, but if your opponent folds his hand, you haven't gained the most out of the situation. Let's say you're in a hand with one other player, it's the final betting round (after the river) and you've got a full house and you think you're opponent has a flush (so you're going to win the hand). Now you're going to make a value bet, so you need to look at the situation from your opponent's viewpoint. He's holding a flush, however, he sees that the board has paired, meaning there is a possibility of a full house. If you were to go all in here, your opponent would be able to fold (still a hard decision for him to fold, but it's possible). What would you call if you were in his position? If you think that you would call a pot sized bet if you were him, make that bet. If he pays you off, you have just made a profit from him using this online poker tip! If he folds, the next time you use the value bet, decrease the amount - you're probably being too optimistic. This technique will work against the vast majority of poker players, but as your opponent's skill level increases you'll need to mix up your value bet. If you make the same value bet in every situation you're in, your opponent will click on to it and stop paying you off. Vary your bets by around 20% and your opponent will never be able to work out what you're doing. If you increase your value bet by 20% in some situations, and reduce it by 20% in others - you'll end up making the same increase in profit, while hiding your tactic. This poker tip can be used in conjunction with online poker bonuses, allowing you to have a double increase in poker profits. Find out which poker website suits you, with free online poker room reviews, and try out the value bet today. No deposit poker bonuses allow you to practise these online poker tips for free, while still being able to win real money.

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Online Poker Vs the Planet of the Apes

Surely at one time or another everyone has witnessed a group of bourgeois canines playing anthropomorphic poker on one or the other of Cassius Coolidge's series of paintings. But the man's whimsical imagination wasn't quite as far removed from reality as one might like to think. Perhaps you believe that chips and chimps do not go well together and that it sounds like something out of a Douglas Adams book, but if you ever played online against someone who had a great-ape photo for his icon, don't be so sure it was just the excellent players irritating sense of online humor - you just may have lost a few thousand or more to an actual primate. If you thought using a stick to crack a walnut or a skull was the best an ape could do, in this early twenty-first century, when the world is on the verge of a Technological Singularity (think what an "intelligence explosion" can do to PC and online games), you, man or woman, had better think again. Primate Programming Inc has established that great apes (sharing 97% of their DNA with us) make efficient IT specialists. Individuals are employed by PPI, undergo training and offer their services to PPI clients for peanuts. A later PPI discovery was that the same employees, for purposes of pastime or secondary sources of income, are capable of being taught to play online poker, evincing particular talent for no-limit Texas Hold'em. If you still think this is a joke, please search "primate programming inc" on google. . They favor no-limit poker, PPI informs us, because of their proclivity for playful (or half-playful) displays of aggression. In other words, the apes are naturally great at aggressive bluffing. In no-limit games, a player has the possibility to bet all they have at any time - this requires risky, aggressive play and the ability to bluff. The anonymity of online games helps. There is no way to identify a player as non-human and human players confess loosing thousands of dollars (to players later officially identified) when someone who played the early rounds with near to nothing and consistently displayed weak cards would suddenly "bet big", have everyone call, and then - probably chattering with glee and typing with his/her toes - reveal aces. The primate-players' initial employment as computer programmers is not coincidental. It seems, according to PPI, that they independently develop programs which aide them during games. The nature of these programs has not yet been revealed. One thing is sure: "DrDestructo" and "ThePikerMan" could have a full-time professional (online) poker career, if only they wanted to. Outside the laboratory/office, they may neglect their training and prefer the old game of hurtling themselves at the bars of zoo cages and then grin their monkey grin at the startled adults and children. Still, as long as they are paid and fed regular, with bonuses, and are allowed to mate, David Sklansky and Ed Miller may need to update their No-limit Hold'em books in the nearest future. For the past several years, Norm McAuliffe, a Yale biology Phd and the scientist heading the research team behind the discovery of programmer apes, has been investing money and effort into a Primate Poker Inc, "hiring" profitable ape-players to play for money in rotating shifts, 24 hours a day. He has been quoted as saying: "I'm completely committed to this business model. It is reasonable to say I am "all in"."

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Life is Like the Dice that, Falling, Still Show a Different Face

Life is like the dice that, falling, still show a different face. So life, though it remains the same, is always presenting different aspects.

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How to Read Body Language - Top 10 Tips

Interested in learning how to read body language? Would you like to be able to tell when people are lying and understand people's intentions? This article will provide you with the top 10 tips for reading body language. I feel Body Language is the most important language you can learn. It bypasses the verbal communication barriers and gives you an insight into what others might be thinking, or what actions they are likely to take. Remember that the art of being able to read body language is to be able to look at some one, pick up the signals, and at the same time not let on to that person you are doing this. If you do the person will become uncomfortable. Tip 1. - Eyes Dilated pupils - the person is interested in the topic. People say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. They can tell so much information about the person if you know what you are looking for. As in most situations, the same signal can be interpreted in a different way. It depends entirely on the circumstances at hand. The example above could also mean that the person is on drugs, or it could mean that they are focused. Tip 2. - Hands Open palm.- the person is relaxed and comfortable. The hands have many expressions and are a good place to start when learning how to read body language. Generally when some ones hands are open it means that their defenses are relaxed. Tip 3 - Mimicking When you are talking to someone, if they are mimicking your body position and action it means that they are comfortable in the situation and most likely interested by you and what you are saying. Tip 4 - Eyes If someone's eyes are gazing to the side it is a trait that they are feeling guilty. Likewise if they are gazing down this express's shame. Remember the eyes have so many meanings and it's easy to make the wrong evaluation. Practice makes perfect. Tip 5 - Arms The main two expressions with arms is that they are either closed (folded) or open. When folded the person is possibly angry or disapproving. When their arms are open the person is in an honest position and is accepting of the situation. Tip 6 - Rubbing of the Chin If someone is rubbing their chin it generally means that they are thinking. Tip 7 - Feet When you are in conversation with someone you can tell if they are comfortable and interested by what you are saying by their feet position. When standing opposite one another the other persons feet are facing in your direction. This means that they are comfortable and their head and eyes will also be focused on you. When standing opposite someone their feet are pointing away and their head and eyes are not focused on you. They will most likely be nodding and agreeing with a fake smile. This means that the person n question is not interested and might even feel uncomfortable in the situation. Tip 8 - Legs When stood up Legs are a good indicator of how confident someone is. If someone is standing with their legs shoulder width apart they are relaxed. If they are standing with a stance wider than that they are a confident and are in a grounded position to show they are in control. When stood up with legs crossed the person is probably shy. When sitting down if the legs are crossed it shows the person is in protective mode. This is very much used alongside crossed arm action. If the legs are open when the person is seated then they are in a relaxed position. The same as when standing. Tip 9 - Fingers Fingers can create many gestures and are great for reading body language. A pointing finger can either be someone pointing to a item or place, it can also indicate anger. If someone is curling their fingers tightly they are usually pleading for some thing. Drumming or tapping with the fingers indicates frustration. The faster the beating, the greater the frustration and tension inside the person. Tip 10 - Eyebrows The eyebrows have many uses. Listed below are some examples. When the eye brows are raised, normally the person is shocked or surprised. The greater the surprise the more raised they will be. When someone flicks their eye brow up and down quickly they are greeting someone else or are showing they have acknowledged them. I hope you have enjoyed learning how to read body language tips. Remember reading body language is not a skill that can be learned over night. The more you practice the easier it will become and the more subtle you will be able to do it.

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Build a Better Mousetrap Than Your Neighbour

Build a better mousetrap than your neighbour and Kraft Cheese will beat a path to your door

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Shower Yourself With Riches

Shower yourself with riches! On the last day of every month we will stage the $10,000 Monthly Bonanza tournament. The next tournament will run on January 31st, 2012 at 20:30 GMT. So what are you waiting for? End the month off in style, with a big WIN! You can buy-in directly for only 2,000 Points or you can win a $10,000 Monthly Bonanza token via the following qualifier tournaments: 10K Bonanza FR Sat - Open to all players. 10K Bonanza Points Sat - Buy-in for only 10 Points with re-buy and add-on 10K Bonanza Depositors Sat - Open to all depositors from the previous week. Players are permitted to play only one Freeroll every 24 hours. Guarantee your seat today and win yourself a nice big share of the $10,000 prize pool. The $10,000 Monthly Bonanza tournament and all qualifiers can be found in the software under Special Offers -> $10,000 Monthly. Terms and Conditions: 1. Players will be eligible for the “10K Bonanza Depositors Sat” each week if they made a deposit during the Monday to Sunday period prior to the tournament date. 2. Tournament tokens will be issued automatically after each satellite tournament and are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be converted to cash. 3. Tokens received by players for the “10K Bonanza Depositors Sat” tournament, in a certain month will not be valid for a different month. 4. Players can win only one seat to the “$10,000 Monthly Bonanza” tournament. 5. Players are allowed to play only one 10K Bonanza FR Sat freeroll per day. 6. Players from the same IP address, or from the same household, are not eligible to participate in this promotion. 7. A player found trying to enter with more than one account into a tournament will not be eligible for this promotion. 8. The use of offensive language at the tournaments will disqualify a player from participating in this promotion. 9. Any player found colluding during the course of a tournament will be disqualified and his account will be frozen. 10. Any player found to be "soft playing" in order to allow another player to win during the course of a tournament will have his account frozen. 11. Any withdrawals made on any winnings at the tournaments are subject to Titan Poker's standard withdrawal procedure and collusion check. 12. Titan Poker has the right to stop its promotions, or change their conditions at any time. 13. All decisions made by the Titan Poker management are final.

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How To Learn From Your Poker Mistakes

Recording lessons learned is why your poker journal is important. If you have a Eureka! moment while you are playing, you want to write it down and make sure you incorporate it into your game. For instance, if you limp into a multi-way pot, which is checked around post flop, do you bluff at the pot or not? Your experience may show that making a bluff at most pots with multiple limpers won't work. You'll be called 80% of the time. This is important to incorporate into your game. So you want to make a note to yourself in your journal. The key here is to reduce mistakes in your game, at your stakes where you play, and to increase your opportunities to win. The point is that you can't learn what you Don't Record. If you think you'll remember something just because it seems important now, you're wrong. You need to write it down. And you need to periodically review what you've written down to make sure you're using it. You need to look at your computer as a "work" station when you play poker. Make a place that puts you in a poker playing mindset. Have your starting hand charts nearby. Post important things to remember on your screen. On my screen I have, "PATIENCE" in black and "SLOW DOWN" in purple. Why? If I have one consistent issue it's that I know "too well" what I'm going to do next in all situations. So I'm constantly popping through hands and decisions like I get paid for making the fastest decision possible. That, of course, isn't true. I get paid for making the BEST decision possible. So, I remind myself of that. Constantly changing your environment with reminders, posts, key thoughts, etc. is very positive. Additionally you need some basic tools at your disposal. What are they? I have starting hand charts that I use for different situations. I have my poker journal. I have special sheets that I print up to record how hands or sessions went. I'll record notes during sessions. It all just depends on what is "bothering" me or what opportunities I think I see and want to document. This process is all a matter of focusing on what you're doing - which is PLAYING POKER FOR PROFITS. If you're trying to watch TV, have conversations, read email, make posts in forums, look up some celebrities digital skirt, or anything else then you're not focused. Everything you do to develop, maintain and reinforce focus is going to make you money long-term. While everything you do that distracts degrades and reduces focus turns you into a worse and worse long-term poker player. As you play remember to write down lessons learned. If you don't write them you won't remember them. Plus keep those lessons close at hand in charts, notes, your journal or sticky notes.

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Three Ways to Play Against Fish at the Poker Table

For those of you who haven't heard of the expression before, a "fish" in poker is someone who isn't deemed to be very good at the game. They're players who have never heard of things like pot odds, and even if they had they probably wouldn't worry about them. These kind of players can be a great source of income to the more experienced types of poker players (often referred to as 'sharks') as they often make some very basic errors and cough up a lot of chips in doing so. However, playing against fish isn't always as easy as it sounds. Once you start playing against them on a regular basis, you'll discover a very strange thing: the better you play, the less successful you'll be. We'll look into why this is over the course of the following strategy, but for the moment just bear in mind that if you're playing poker against a fish, then you have to keep it simple. So how do we keep it simple? Well, having been a successful player at some of the internet's fishiest poker sites, allow me to suggest the following strategies which have been crucial to me in terms of doubling my stack quickly. 1.) Firstly, have confidence in yourself. If you've been playing poker for a while, you're probably naturally aware of players who continue to limp into pots and then just call any raises. It smells of slow play, which usually means that you're being led into a trap by an opponent who is trying to get the most out of his monster hand. In normal poker games, you'd be advised to check and possibly fold if your opponent put in a big raise... but not when you're playing against fish. You see, simply calling every hand is a very typical way for a fish to play. New players are focused purely on the cards they're holding in their hand and can't help wondering what the next card will bring. They're seduced by the idea that the next card might give them a hand (even if it's a terrible hand), so they can't bring themselves to just throw their cards away. Therefore, they'll risk as fewer chips as necessary in order to view the next card... and the one after that... and the one after that. It's really not uncommon to find fish calling you all the way down to the river and then turning over nothing more than a low pair, if that. When you come across these sort of players, the correct way to play is to value bet your strong hands as much as possible. Even if you're holding a mediocre pair, I'd suggest betting strongly (as long as the flop doesn't look dangerous) on each street if necessary. Have confidence in your hand, and don't feel yourself being put off by players who are continually calling you. It's perfectly normal at this level of the game. 2.) We touched on the idea of playing your hands aggressively in the previous point, but it's so important that it deserves a heading of its own: if you have a decent hand, then bet out on it. Playing against fish requires you to be patient, so it may well be that you've folded a lot of hands before you get dealt something decent. When that happens, make sure that they pay off. Don't start limping into the pot in the hope that you'll encourage more people to throw chips into the middle of the table. Fish don't need a second invitation to see a flop, so if they're going to see some cards, make sure they pay for the priviledge. 3.) As I've mentioned above, make sure that you stay focused. It's very common for fish to call your bets all the way down to the river. Most of the time, they won't have anything of note and you'll be happily pulling their chips towards your side of the table. However, the law of averages says that if a player continues to go all the way down to the river, he is going to hit the card that he's looking for once in a while, and you're going to be hit for a bad beat. When this happens, you need to remain focused. Nobody likes suffering a bad beat, but it's imperative that you remind yourself that your opponent has just got lucky. Remember that this is actually the way you want him to be playing as you'll easily come out on top over a long period of play. To encourage him to keep playing in this manner, you may actually want to go the full hog and congratulate him on the way that he played the hand (with your tongue firmly in your cheek of course!) and tell him that you had no idea he was holding such a monster. It's understandable if you can't quite bring yourself to do this, in which case just keep quiet and smile. On no account should you start criticising him for what he's done. As soon as you start laughing at him, or berating him for his actions, you start to affect his game. Remember, you want him to keep playing in this way and intimidating him will usually cause him to play a lot tighter in the future which will things much harder for you to win your chips back. 4.) Finally, forget about bluffing! We spoke at the top of the page about keeping things simple... and nothing underlines this point more than bluffing. As much as I love the feeling of bluffing an opponent out of a huge pot, you just can't do this while you're playing against fish. The principal reason for this is because your opponents aren't going to be smart enough to realise what you're doing. Remember, they're primarily focusing on what they have in their hand and what the next card might be... they're not worried about what you're doing or the cards you may have. If you start trying to bluff a hand, then you're going to be called more often than not. When this happens, you start to chase the pot and end up putting more chips at risk than necessary as you start to try the pot. If you're thinking about trying to bluff a fish out of a pot, then think again. Remember, keep it simple. If you've got a good hand, then bet it strongly. If you haven't, then fold it.

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50% EXTRA POINTS ON ALL CASH TABLES! HAPPY HOUR

Extra Points on Cash Tables We are handing out extra Points on all of our cash tables during Titan Poker’s Winter Edition. Everyone loves a good Happy Hour. Especially when you can be earning 50% more Titan Poker Points playing at your favorite cash game tables. Happy Hours run every Friday to Sunday from 20:00 – 23:59 GMT. Use your extra Points in the Club Titan Store to buy special tournament tokens and great cash bonuses. Generate as many extra Points as you can and get yourself a nice, big fat holiday bonus! Terms and Conditions: 1. Happy Hours are valid only for cash table play. 2. Extra Points generated during Happy Hour will be issued on Mondays. 3. Happy Hour extra Points do not count towards clearing bonuses. 4. Happy Hour extra Points are not considered for VIP level monthly requirements. 5. Titan Poker may amend/cancel this promotion at any given time. 6. All decisions made by Titan Poker management are final.

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Guide to Successful Poker Playing For Beginners

When starting out playing poker, often players will have a hard time adjusting to the game and find themselves out of pocket on more than one occasion. However, if you follow the three simple tips presented here, you'll be on the road to success in no time. These three core poker skills are; mathematics, discipline, and psychology. Mastering these skills will mean you'll be able to read game situations and be able to capitalise on those moments that would have otherwise passed you by. The first skill that needs to be mastered is basic mathematics. A solid poker player will know the probabilities within the game, and of specific card matchups. Along with all other card games poker is based largely on statistics and probabilities. Knowing when to fold and call the bet becomes second nature when understanding the probability behind hitting the flush or river card. Poor poker players disregard this aspect of the game, and thus suffer the consequences. Don't be one of these players and make sure you understand the probabilities and thrive under it. The second skill you should be focusing on is discipline. Poker is a game of great patience and for that patience you need strong discipline. Don't play loose and take unnecessary gambles when the situation does not warrant it. A disciplined player understands when to play or when to fold their cards; they build an understanding of the game and only play when they have the advantage. Last but most definitely not least is psychology. Reading your opponents and predicting their next moves is arguably the most important of all skills. Understanding what opposing players have in their hands, what they think you have, and what they think you think they have. Accurately predicting these three can give you a massive advantage over the other players. This is even more important in no-limit games to limit games, as bluffing is more prevalent. Consider these three key poker skills and build upon them to really impress your friends at the next poker night. Start bossing games and building sizeable pot leads, which will in turn give you more experience to improve upon. Hopefully this article has provided you with the necessary information to further your game and most of all enjoy yourself!

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Four Simple Poker Chip Tricks

You know poker inside and out. You know all the best starting hands, you know all the sure fire tells, and you can play trash cards like they're the nuts. But the one thing you can't do is look cool at the poker table. Now we have all seen the dashing poker players on TV. They are full of confidence play little games with their chips as they wait. Rolling, shuffling and doing the butterfly are just a few of their little tricks. This gives them the cool look in the poker games. One thing about poker, it tends to attract people with big egos that, no matter what they say, want to look cool. And one of the most popular ways to look cool at the poker table is to show off how well you can handle your poker chips. Here's a list of four poker chip tricks that anyone can master with minimum effort. The Pullover This little trick is like the shuffle. First stack up 6-8 poker chips, then put your hand over it. Your pointer finger and thumb should be placed on one side of the stack and the rest of your fingers on the other. Take one of the stack and set aside, then flip the other1/2 on top of the stack with a smooth and easy move. Now this will impress your friends! The Finger Flip Here is another trick which is simple easy and impressive. You will actually just flick a poker chip over a pile of poker chips that you have. The best way to start is with a stack of three chips. So how do you do this? Take a small stack of 3 chips in your hand. Place your forefinger and thumb in the center of the chip, with the rest of your fingers at the side. Using these fingers glide the back 2 chips downwards using your thumb to support them and prevent them from falling. When they slip down make the front chip jump to the back with your forefinger. Remember that this little ploy takes some practice, so perfect it before you show it off to your friends. The beauty of these two poker chip tricks is that they're simple and repetitive so you can sit at the table and fiddle with your chips to your hearts content. When you get really good at this, we'll move on to lesson two: Irritating your friends for fun and profit.

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Win In Poker By Having A Strategy

In order to win at poker you must develop a strategy. Poker playing requires a lot of patience and to achieve a strategy you have to have experience. One of the best ways to gain experience is to play online poker tournaments. You can play for free or for cash. There are many levels of tournaments so you don't have to spend a lot of money to gain your experience. You can have an income for online poker called rake back. In order to protect your hands you must develop the ability not to give away whether you have a strong or weak hand. That old adage poker face comes into play here. In poker when people can read your facial expressions or the way you move your hands or cough when you have a good hand are called tells. You don't want anyone to be able to tell what kind of hand you have. One way to do this is to show no expression in your face while you are playing. Of course when people are you used to seeing no expression on your face you could use that to the advantage to bluff. You don't want to bluff too often or they will get onto your game After you are seated at the table and feel comfortable look around at the other players and watch them as they're playing to see if they have any tells. Watch them and observe if there any motions like tapping the table, being impatient which might show they have a good hand and they want to get it over with. After you have won a few hands and the other players see that you know how to play you could try a bluff. Now remember if you get caught in a bluff you could lose some money and the other players will know that you are capable of bluffing. Some players will try to engage you in conversation just to learn about how you play. Patience is a virtue. This is a good saying for a poker player. You don't want to play every hand, you want to keep good cards and fold on anything less than good. Sometimes this is really hard to do because you get bored. When you do have a good hand you want to keep the other players in the game. This is called pot building. If it looks like the other players are staying, up your bet. If you are dealt a pair of aces it's a good idea to raise the bet before the flop to ensure that the other players won't stay in with hands that they have to draw to. Practice makes perfect. Go online. Play the poker tournaments. Remember there are even tells online. Keep your mind open and watch how the other players bet. Do they just play good hands and fold all the time. Do they play every hand. Do they slow play a good hand. Everyone has their own strategy of playing poker and so can you.

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How to Win a Poker Game: The Body Language

By nature, poker is a hard game to predict. But there are certain methods that can give you the edge against the competition such as the ability to read body language. Here are ways on how players can increase their odds on winning a poker game. The Opponent's Psychological Behavior Most people who want to increase their chances of winning poker games will probably notice that most players participate in the trash talk during the game itself. This track talk is often aimed at diverting the opponents' concentration on the game and play mind games on them as well. A lot of poker players also tend to be angry or too arrogant when the game isn't going too well for them or when their chips are slowly getting drained. A good poker player is very sensitive to these behavioral signs. Reading these hints and using them to your advantage is a great way to be successful on poker games. Players who want to improve their odds of winning poker are advised to maintain a steady head and calm look, irrespective of all the distractions created by other players or the game. Make sure you stick with your game plan. Although it isn't easy to ignore distractions, pay close attention to the surroundings and stick with your plan, doing this shows sheer strength and psychological power. Keeping a steady head us a great way to increase your chances of winning the game. The Art of Bluffing Aside from understanding the behavioral clues passed by the competitors in a poker game, another good way to victorious at the end of every poker session is to regularly change game plans. This can be done by bluffing at strategic points of the game. You can mildly give yourself up with the goal of throwing the other players off and gaining an upper hand on them. The act makes it difficult for opponent to determine your game plan and read your body language. Players should closely examine their cards and know the odds against them. It is not always that people get the good cards in a poker game. For better decision making, it would be important to initially determine your odds of winning the game. If you have a good hand at poker, then feel free to make high and wise bets. Increase your Odds of Winning the Game It is crucial that players make their talk and body language as controlled and as deliberate as possible. Always mind the things that you say and how you say it. A lot of professional poker players wear sunglasses and sit upright as part of their game plan. They try to avoid external noises and listen to music while playing poker. Conceal your game plan, pay attention to the game, be attentive to your surroundings, and recognize the opponents' cards-these are perhaps some of the factors that will let you make wise and prudent decisions on a poker game.

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Online Poker Bonus-Promotion Selection - Your First Step to Profiting from This Game

How do you make the best out of a poker bonus? Do you know how to evaluate if a bonus promotion is really worth it? Believe me, many of them are not! Bonus are a great way to increase your return of investment. Let's say you deposit $100 for a 100% bonus. If you play an average poker and keep your first $100, after a while you will have doubled it, with little efforts. So it is a great opportunity. It all started six years ago. Poker was exploding in the internet, and the poker rooms were doing their best to get new players on board. That was the time of the small bonus, from 20% to 50% of the first deposit. Now you will find some rooms offering up to 200% bonus, but it's not that simple. In the beginning, a room would have an instant 20% bonus, for example. After your first deposit, the bonus was added up to 24 hours later in your account. Now, things are a lot tougher. These are the factors that you should consider while deciding for a bonus: 1. Maximum amount. OK, this room offers a 100% bonus, to a maximum of $50? $1000? Be careful about that. If you have the money to invest, and you usually play high limits, you should be looking for the rooms that offer a higher maximum bonus amount. 2. Bonus release - requirements. Most poker rooms have rules about when your bonus will be released. Usually, they state on their conditions on their website. This means that you need a certain number of raked hands, or points, to be able to receive the bonus. For example: a room release 5$ of your bonus every time you get 50 points. But how you get 50 points? That's what you should focus on. Usually you get points by playing real-money tables, every time some rake is collected from the table. You can also get points by playing tournament fees. This makes all the difference. If a room only give points in cash games, and you play only tournaments, forget about your bonus. If the other room give points only if the rake was higher than $0.25 and you play only micro-limits, again, it will be really hard to get your bonus. 3. Bonus release - full or partial. Some rooms give you your whole bonus after the conditions are met. Others give you in increments, usually of $5. If you play less than one hour per day, you should be going for the second type, because even if you don't get the full bonus, you can make some profit. However, if you play a lot, you could try the first type, as you will be able to receive it in full. 4. Bonus expiration. This upsets a lot of people. You will find that some rooms have a 30 day expiration for all bonus. This means that if you don't make the requirements in 30 days, you don't get any of the bonus. Usually, the expiration of bonus is 90 days, but you should check the poker room website for more information. Are you ready? Now grab your favorite poker bonus offer and profit from it!

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Why Do People Play Poker?

Do you like to ride roller coasters? Do you like competing and demonstrating your skills? Any contest of skill or luck can generate some level of excitement - the release of chemicals in the brain that prepares one for growth which enhances performance and mood. People play poker for a variety of reasons; like they have various reasons for any activity in which they choose to engage. Some of the reasons identified for playing poker include entertainment, personal challenge, socialization, and profit. People go to work every day for a variety of reasons; examples include, to make money, to interact with others, and to enjoy the application of skills. Social interaction promotes personal security, skill application enhances confidence, and money of course provides the opportunity for more choices. Poker is somewhat about acting - experimenting with alternate egos and personas that might be lead to enhanced success. For some, success means profit - improving one's financial status. An activity that involves socializing successfully is often comforting to people. Poker is fun and entertaining. Winning a poker hand can produce results such as a payoff for taking a risk, the confirmation of skills, and the acknowledgement that practice has benefits. It can produce an adrenaline rush due to the uncertainty factor, the prospects of acquisition, and actual acquisition. The uncertainty factor comes from the hormones release in situations that have unknown outcomes. Situations are fluid and outcomes are somewhat predictable but uncertain. To prepare for dealing with various outcomes, one's body has to prepare for uncertainty. To prepare to deal with the consequences of an outcome, one's body and mind have to be energized - stimulated by hormones. One has to be alert to cues that help plan the various possible actions related to strategy or at least to make decisions that are likely to lead to favorable outcomes. This not only applies to poker but to life skills. In 2007 Mike Eikenberry wrote, "First, the development or improvement of a number of traits and skills can make the amateur more successful in his or her personal and business lives. These include: • an enhanced ability to be patient and more selective, • improved observation and listening habits, • a better ability for honest self-evaluation, increased self-discipline, • an improved ability to bounce back from adversity without emotional turmoil, • an appreciation for considering all possibilities with the broadest of perspectives, • the ability to reason deductively under pressure, • an appreciation for money management, • better memorization skills, and • finely honed negotiation talents." The preparation for the challenge of understanding the dynamics of poker and learning how to maximize the potential for favorable outcomes demands formal or informal learning. One's abilities are tested and success gives one feedback on how their talents or efforts are paying off. They get feedback on how to alter behavior to enhance success or reduce risk. If you are not successful you might come to the conclusion you are ill-suited for the game - time to try something else. Most likely one will be energized to find ways to improve their chances of success. Actions might include, paying attention to outcomes and the actions of others, studying the game methodically, or just asking questions. Changes in behavior can enhance success - changes that come through the energies generated by the prospects of success. The pursuit of success improves mental acuity - the enhancement of attention, memory, and decision-making. One has to remain alert to avoid mistakes and prepare for the next challenge. Why do people play poker? It is exciting, having the potential of being fun and rewarding. It is one of the ways people engage in competition and achieve a sense of success. Chemicals in the brain prepare for the challenge to enhance the potential for success. Success enhances one's since of security - if you are successful, you feel a greater sense of security. If you are successful you have more reason to believe in yourself

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The Difference Between Online Poker Bonuses and Poker Rakeback

In online poker, a player has a choice between poker rakeback or poker bonuses. The catch is you can only choose one of these benefits. All poker players have their own preference on which is best for them. In this article we will go through the advantages of each and which is better for you. Types of bonuses in poker are: Initial Deposit Bonuses: Bonuses given when players make their first deposit. Normally rooms match the deposit given, so if you deposit $100 they will add $100 into your bonus account which will be released as you reach the right amount of accumulated points or raked hands. Promotions: These are promotions that poker rooms run at various times of the year which do not require a deposit. An example of this is monthly promotions that run on the network. They make a new promotion almost every month for any event or holiday that takes place in that given month. For example in December they are running a Christmas bonus in which prizes and money is given to players for when they reach certain amounts of comp points. What is poker rakeback? To receive rakeback, a player has to sign up via a rakeback provider or by contacting the individual poker room. The room will not be able to give you rakeback if you are already tracked to an affiliate who does not allow this option. Rakeback is a bonus given to players in which they receive a percentage of the rake they have generated. The money is paid into their account daily, weekly or monthly depending on the room. If you are receiving rakeback you will not be able to participate in promotions or be eligible for deposit bonuses. The percentage of rakeback you receive varies on the room once more. Some offer around 25% while others are giving players the entire rake they have generated back to them. For recreational players, it is advisable to choose the bonuses. This is because a recreational player will not generate enough rake to make the payments worthwhile. These players enjoy the fun factor more than the competition. They like to participate in the monthly promotions and bonuses offered on the site which is not available if you take the rakeback route. Rakeback is recommended however to players who play for a living or who play high stakes games. This is because it is clear you are playing to make a serious income and chasing bonuses is not going to interest you as much as picking up an extra sum each week. Also the amount of rakeback you will generate will be worthy of picking up and can even turn a losing month in to a winning month. There are web portals that have done the research for you and offer a list of rakeback sites. Some have negotiated exclusive rakeback deals for players. Shop around on these sites and see which sites offer the best rakeback. Also for US poker players find a site that offers a list of US poker sites that offer rakeback. Overall, if you do not play poker for a living or play stakes above $2/4, it is advisable to steer clear of rakeback and take the bonus route. If you do play limits over the ones mentioned above, take rakeback and pick up a guaranteed amount of money on a weekly or monthly basis.

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