Roulette is a popular table game of more luck than strategy that began in the French Riviera and Monte Carlo for the rich but can be played practically anywhere today. The table limits are lower and you can find many different types of the casino game.
The goal of roulette is to guess which numbered pocket the spinning ball will land on in the wheel. A roulette wheel is shaped like a bowl and around three feet in diameter. There are two common forms of the game: American Roulette and European Roulette. American Roulette has 38 pockets: 1-36, 0 and 00. European Roulette has 37 pockets: 1-36 and 0. Therefore, European Roulette has a lower house advantage at 2.7% rather than American Roulette’s 5.26%. Because of that, European Roulette isn’t found in many American land-based casinos, but it is widespread online. It’s another way online casinos are better than land-based casinos.
For the numbers 1-36, half are red and half are black. The 0 and 00 are green. You put your chips on the corresponding roulette layout and the dealer, or croupier, spins the wheel. Your bet must be down before the dealer calls out “no more bets.” The dealer also collects chips and distributes payouts after the spin. Each play has their own color of chips. Each table has minimum and maximum bets. The layout has 48 boxes for red, black or green bets known as inside bets. There is 11 boxes for outside bets like red/black, odd/even and high/low.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Trying out Blackjack
Blackjack is another card game that is based on strategy and a bit of the luck of the draw. You won’t find a faster table game at the casino, so it’s the hardest game to stay in control of your bankroll. You will go on good streaks and bad streaks. You just have to learn to stomach the losses and know when to quit.
In blackjack, your opponent is the dealer, as is the case with other players at the table. You want your cards to total as close as possible to 21 without going over. Cards 2 through 10 are worth face value. Face cards are worth 10. An Ace gives you a dangerous hand in a good way. An Ace is worth 1 or 11. Hands with an Ace are called soft hands, while those without one are called hard hands, because the value can’t change. In other words, if you go over 21 with an Ace as an 11, it can change to a 1 and you can keep going in the hand.
Blackjack is a game that can be exploited by card counters, so casinos will use up to six to eight decks. It’s the same for online casinos, which use a random number generator (RNG). However, you can still find better odds for blackjack online than in a land-based casino.
When you tie the dealer in blackjack, it’s called a push and you get your original wager back. A hand worth 21 usually pays out 3 to 2, aiding the house advantage. Most dealers are required to stand on a hard 17. For a soft hand with an Ace, always hit or double down when your other card is a 2 through a 6. Don’t split hands when you aren’t sure what to do. Basic blackjack strategy says to not split 5s or 10s, but rather split 8s to avoid a 16.
The house edge in blackjack is 5%, but basic blackjack strategy can reduce that to 0.5%, so read up. Be patient. Even the professionals only turn a 1-2% profit. Card counters make up less than 1% of all players and it isn’t a good long-term strategy.
In blackjack, your opponent is the dealer, as is the case with other players at the table. You want your cards to total as close as possible to 21 without going over. Cards 2 through 10 are worth face value. Face cards are worth 10. An Ace gives you a dangerous hand in a good way. An Ace is worth 1 or 11. Hands with an Ace are called soft hands, while those without one are called hard hands, because the value can’t change. In other words, if you go over 21 with an Ace as an 11, it can change to a 1 and you can keep going in the hand.
Blackjack is a game that can be exploited by card counters, so casinos will use up to six to eight decks. It’s the same for online casinos, which use a random number generator (RNG). However, you can still find better odds for blackjack online than in a land-based casino.
When you tie the dealer in blackjack, it’s called a push and you get your original wager back. A hand worth 21 usually pays out 3 to 2, aiding the house advantage. Most dealers are required to stand on a hard 17. For a soft hand with an Ace, always hit or double down when your other card is a 2 through a 6. Don’t split hands when you aren’t sure what to do. Basic blackjack strategy says to not split 5s or 10s, but rather split 8s to avoid a 16.
The house edge in blackjack is 5%, but basic blackjack strategy can reduce that to 0.5%, so read up. Be patient. Even the professionals only turn a 1-2% profit. Card counters make up less than 1% of all players and it isn’t a good long-term strategy.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Trying out Slots
Slots are the most basic of casino games. There’s a reason why they are so popular. It’s a simple game with big payouts. It’s just a matter of sticking around long enough for those payouts. There is no real strategy. You just need to choose the right type of slot, how much to bet and check the payouts before playing.
Most slots these days have five reels and multiple lines to play on, along with a bonus feature. These slots allow you to play the entire position of the reel instead of fixed lines like the classic 3-reel, 1-payline slots. Video slots are the most popular online, like the Real Series from RTG or the i-Slots from Rival Gaming. Just a 1-reel game has 243 ways to play. Many slots have scatter features, offering even more ways to win.
The only bet in slots without a house advantage is the double up bonus, which is available after a win. You are usually allowed up to five of these in a row. The best advice is to always play the maximum amount on slots so you can get the maximum jackpot. Find a cheaper slot if it’s too much. Some slots have a higher payout percentage than others. If you’re playing in a casino, check the fine print on the side of the machine. If you’re playing online, the online casino is required to advertise the payouts percentages. Progressive jackpots are linked together from multiple machines, sometimes even from affiliate online casinos. These can reach into the millions of dollars.
Most slots these days have five reels and multiple lines to play on, along with a bonus feature. These slots allow you to play the entire position of the reel instead of fixed lines like the classic 3-reel, 1-payline slots. Video slots are the most popular online, like the Real Series from RTG or the i-Slots from Rival Gaming. Just a 1-reel game has 243 ways to play. Many slots have scatter features, offering even more ways to win.
The only bet in slots without a house advantage is the double up bonus, which is available after a win. You are usually allowed up to five of these in a row. The best advice is to always play the maximum amount on slots so you can get the maximum jackpot. Find a cheaper slot if it’s too much. Some slots have a higher payout percentage than others. If you’re playing in a casino, check the fine print on the side of the machine. If you’re playing online, the online casino is required to advertise the payouts percentages. Progressive jackpots are linked together from multiple machines, sometimes even from affiliate online casinos. These can reach into the millions of dollars.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Trying out Bingo
Bingo is a game similar to keno, but has a few key differences. The goal of both is to match randomly drawn numbers to those on your card. In keno, you choose your numbers. In bingo, you play with the numbers on your card. There is no strategy to help you win like many table games. Bingo is simply a game of luck that won’t hurt your bankroll too much. The jackpots aren’t as big as keno, but the house advantage isn’t as high either.
Bingo will definitely take up some time. A few games can monopolize an hour or two, which is a good thing if you’re low on cash and want to get away from the gaming floor. The numbers are called out and you try to match them to your card. A board of recently called out numbers can help you catch up if you fall behind. The numbers must be matched in a pattern like a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line to win. Make sure you know which pattern is a winner before the game starts because there are special ones like four corners (of the card) or a butterfly pattern.
Bingo is widespread online with different varieties of the game and can still be found in some gaming halls of casinos. In land-based casinos though, most of them are electronic bingo stations on the gaming floor. It does all the work for you with a touch screen, unlike in the past when you used a dabber highlighter to mark your card.
Bingo has a field of 1-75 with 15 numbers for each column. “B” has 1-15, “I” has 16-30, “N” has 31-45, “G” has 46-60 and “O” has 61-75. Each card has 25 spaces, including a free space in the middle. Be the first the yell “Bingo!” once you have a pattern to win. After some practice, you will be able to play multiple cards at once.
Bingo will definitely take up some time. A few games can monopolize an hour or two, which is a good thing if you’re low on cash and want to get away from the gaming floor. The numbers are called out and you try to match them to your card. A board of recently called out numbers can help you catch up if you fall behind. The numbers must be matched in a pattern like a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line to win. Make sure you know which pattern is a winner before the game starts because there are special ones like four corners (of the card) or a butterfly pattern.
Bingo is widespread online with different varieties of the game and can still be found in some gaming halls of casinos. In land-based casinos though, most of them are electronic bingo stations on the gaming floor. It does all the work for you with a touch screen, unlike in the past when you used a dabber highlighter to mark your card.
Bingo has a field of 1-75 with 15 numbers for each column. “B” has 1-15, “I” has 16-30, “N” has 31-45, “G” has 46-60 and “O” has 61-75. Each card has 25 spaces, including a free space in the middle. Be the first the yell “Bingo!” once you have a pattern to win. After some practice, you will be able to play multiple cards at once.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Trying out Craps
Craps can be an intimidating game for new casino players but once you understand the different bets and basic rules, you will have no problem fitting in with others at this table game.
In craps, you are either the shooter or a bystander. The shooter rolls the dice. A 7 or 11 is an automatic win. A 2, 3 or 12 is called a “crap out,” where you lose automatically. If you roll any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10), you keep rolling until you hit that number again. The first number rolled is known as the “pass-line point.” Once you establish a pass-line point, you want to avoid rolling a 7. If you roll a 7, you lose and pass the dice to the next player. If you match the pass-line point before rolling a 7, you win.
If you are not the shooter, you bet that the shooter will match the pass-line point or won’t. It’s not considered appropriate to bet against a shooter on a hot streak. If you don’t want to roll, you can pass to the next player, even after a pass-line point has been established. The first roll is called the “come-out roll” where other players win even money if you roll a 7 or 11 and they bet with you.
Craps can have up to four staff people: the boxman, two dealers and the stickman. The boxman oversees the game and resolves problems. The dealers are at both ends of the table and take wagers. The stickman dishes out the dice and calls out betting options. A plastic disk called the “puck” keeps track of the roll with a black side labeled “off” for a come-out roll or white side labeled “on” for a point. If a point has been established, the puck is placed on the corresponding numbered box on the table.
Craps has a house edge of only 1.5%. The odds of any number coming up are 1 in 36. A 7 or 11 hitting has 22% odds and a crap out has 11% odds.
In craps, you are either the shooter or a bystander. The shooter rolls the dice. A 7 or 11 is an automatic win. A 2, 3 or 12 is called a “crap out,” where you lose automatically. If you roll any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10), you keep rolling until you hit that number again. The first number rolled is known as the “pass-line point.” Once you establish a pass-line point, you want to avoid rolling a 7. If you roll a 7, you lose and pass the dice to the next player. If you match the pass-line point before rolling a 7, you win.
If you are not the shooter, you bet that the shooter will match the pass-line point or won’t. It’s not considered appropriate to bet against a shooter on a hot streak. If you don’t want to roll, you can pass to the next player, even after a pass-line point has been established. The first roll is called the “come-out roll” where other players win even money if you roll a 7 or 11 and they bet with you.
Craps can have up to four staff people: the boxman, two dealers and the stickman. The boxman oversees the game and resolves problems. The dealers are at both ends of the table and take wagers. The stickman dishes out the dice and calls out betting options. A plastic disk called the “puck” keeps track of the roll with a black side labeled “off” for a come-out roll or white side labeled “on” for a point. If a point has been established, the puck is placed on the corresponding numbered box on the table.
Craps has a house edge of only 1.5%. The odds of any number coming up are 1 in 36. A 7 or 11 hitting has 22% odds and a crap out has 11% odds.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Trying out Keno
Keno is a lottery-style casino game similar to bingo. That isn’t to say that it is just like bingo. It will take up some time and won’t hurt your bankroll too much. There are some different variations of it at online casinos. But it has much better payouts than bingo.
The game started in China and you choose one or more numbers from a field of 1-80. You match randomly drawn numbers just like in bingo. Each game is called a race. The payout depends on how many numbers you match, how much you bet and if the bet was at a special rate. Keno is based entirely on chance so there is no real strategy.
You choose between one and 15 numbers for each game. Twenty of 80 possible numbers are drawn. Therefore, you only have to match 15 of the 20 drawn numbers to get the jackpot, which can be from thousands to millions of dollars. The average keno jackpot is $10,000. You mark your ticket by putting an “X” over your chosen numbers. When playing 15 numbers, six must be matched for a payout. Depending on how many numbers you bet, the house edge is 22%-50%, making it an unfavorable casino game.
Keno has two ways to play: a straight bet or a way bet. Straight bets allow you to pick individual numbers, up to a total of 15. Way bets group the numbers selected into sets, which gives you more ways to win. So, if you select six numbers, they can be separated into three groups of two numbers, giving you four ways to win (a straight bet, plus three groups). This way bet is like playing four different tickets. Circle your numbers to keep track.
The game started in China and you choose one or more numbers from a field of 1-80. You match randomly drawn numbers just like in bingo. Each game is called a race. The payout depends on how many numbers you match, how much you bet and if the bet was at a special rate. Keno is based entirely on chance so there is no real strategy.
You choose between one and 15 numbers for each game. Twenty of 80 possible numbers are drawn. Therefore, you only have to match 15 of the 20 drawn numbers to get the jackpot, which can be from thousands to millions of dollars. The average keno jackpot is $10,000. You mark your ticket by putting an “X” over your chosen numbers. When playing 15 numbers, six must be matched for a payout. Depending on how many numbers you bet, the house edge is 22%-50%, making it an unfavorable casino game.
Keno has two ways to play: a straight bet or a way bet. Straight bets allow you to pick individual numbers, up to a total of 15. Way bets group the numbers selected into sets, which gives you more ways to win. So, if you select six numbers, they can be separated into three groups of two numbers, giving you four ways to win (a straight bet, plus three groups). This way bet is like playing four different tickets. Circle your numbers to keep track.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Trying out Texas Hold'em Poker
There are a lot of varieties of poker but the most popular is Texas Hold’em Poker. It has grown with televised poker tournaments like the World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker. Online poker has grown the game as well, especially among young people.
Texas Hold’em uses the regular 52-card deck and no Jokers. You form a five-card poker hand from seven total card. Throw chips into a pot with each round of betting. Five community cards are dealt to the center of the table. Texas Hold’em itself has its own varieties like no-limit, limit, Omaha and antes. The most common type of the game is Hold’em using blinds.
The betting starts with the small blind and big blind. The small blind is the player directly left of the dealer. The player to the right of the small blind is the big blind. When the blinds are in, each player gets two hold cards. The player to the left of the big blind bets opens the wagering by calling the big blind, raising or folding. Other players can do the same until it comes back to the big blind, who gets the final say. Any amount of raises are allowed in No Limit Hold’em, but Limit Hold’em allows for only twice the amount of the big blind.
The first three community cards are known as the flop in Texas Hold’em. A round of betting follows and then the fourth community card is dealt known as the turn. After another round of betting, the fifth community card comes, known as the river. The last round of betting decides the hand. If only two players are left in the hand, it’s called going “heads-up.” Practice the five basic poker strategies to be successful at Texas Hold’em Poker.
Texas Hold’em uses the regular 52-card deck and no Jokers. You form a five-card poker hand from seven total card. Throw chips into a pot with each round of betting. Five community cards are dealt to the center of the table. Texas Hold’em itself has its own varieties like no-limit, limit, Omaha and antes. The most common type of the game is Hold’em using blinds.
The betting starts with the small blind and big blind. The small blind is the player directly left of the dealer. The player to the right of the small blind is the big blind. When the blinds are in, each player gets two hold cards. The player to the left of the big blind bets opens the wagering by calling the big blind, raising or folding. Other players can do the same until it comes back to the big blind, who gets the final say. Any amount of raises are allowed in No Limit Hold’em, but Limit Hold’em allows for only twice the amount of the big blind.
The first three community cards are known as the flop in Texas Hold’em. A round of betting follows and then the fourth community card is dealt known as the turn. After another round of betting, the fifth community card comes, known as the river. The last round of betting decides the hand. If only two players are left in the hand, it’s called going “heads-up.” Practice the five basic poker strategies to be successful at Texas Hold’em Poker.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Best Video Poker Games
Since the rules of video poker have been covered, you should learn all the different common types of the game. There is a lot of variety in video poker so it’s important to understand each one with the different rules and wild cards. If you know the standard poker hand rankings, that’s a good start. This how each of them differ beyond that.
Aces & Faces: most popular single-line video poker game. Four Aces or face cards is better than a Straight Flush when it comes to hand rankings. The smallest payout is a pair of Jacks.
Joker: uses a standard deck and one Joker for a total of 53 cards. The highest payouts include a Natural Royal Flush (no Joker), Five of Kind (including the Joker) and a Joker Royal Flush.
Double Joker: uses the same rules as Joker above but there are two Jokers used as wild cards.
Deuces Wild: each 2 is a wild card. Your odds of winning are greater, so the payouts begin at three of a kind instead of a pair.
Deuces & Joker: just like Deuces Wild but it includes a Joker. Each 2 and the Joker comprise five wild cards. Payouts start at three of a kind and the best payout is four deuces and a Joker. To note, four deuces is a better hand than a Wild Royal Flush with the Joker.
Jacks or Better: offers some of the best odds in video poker. You break even on a pair of face cards and move up from there. For multi-line games, bets can be from $0.05 to $100 per hand.
Tens or Better: same rules as Jacks or Better, but the payouts start at a pair of 10’s.
Progressives: the jackpot increases every hand like a slot machine. Players gamble on the same virtual machine and the pot starts over after every hit jackpot. These ones use 52 cards and several Jokers.
Aces & Faces: most popular single-line video poker game. Four Aces or face cards is better than a Straight Flush when it comes to hand rankings. The smallest payout is a pair of Jacks.
Joker: uses a standard deck and one Joker for a total of 53 cards. The highest payouts include a Natural Royal Flush (no Joker), Five of Kind (including the Joker) and a Joker Royal Flush.
Double Joker: uses the same rules as Joker above but there are two Jokers used as wild cards.
Deuces Wild: each 2 is a wild card. Your odds of winning are greater, so the payouts begin at three of a kind instead of a pair.
Deuces & Joker: just like Deuces Wild but it includes a Joker. Each 2 and the Joker comprise five wild cards. Payouts start at three of a kind and the best payout is four deuces and a Joker. To note, four deuces is a better hand than a Wild Royal Flush with the Joker.
Jacks or Better: offers some of the best odds in video poker. You break even on a pair of face cards and move up from there. For multi-line games, bets can be from $0.05 to $100 per hand.
Tens or Better: same rules as Jacks or Better, but the payouts start at a pair of 10’s.
Progressives: the jackpot increases every hand like a slot machine. Players gamble on the same virtual machine and the pot starts over after every hit jackpot. These ones use 52 cards and several Jokers.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Trying out Video Poker
Video poker is basically an electronic version of your standard Five Card Draw game. You play against the dealer the best hand varies with each type of video poker game because the rankings differ slightly.
Video poker is a strategy game with better odds than slots or roulette. You have time to make a decision because it’s just you and the dealer (machine). It’s not like other poker games where the action falls on you from other players. Each game ranks the hands differently so know what kind of game you are getting into and read strategy sheets if you need to. Learn the wild cards for each game before playing and always try it out online for free if possible before playing for real money at a casino.
There are some strategy tips that work on all types of video poker games. Try not to discard your entire hand but there are instances when this is needed like if you have no face or high card. Outside straight draws and better than inside straight draws. Let’s say you have an inside straight draw of 2, 3, 5, 6. There are only four cards that can win in this scenario. Now, let’s say you have an outside straight draw of 3, 4, 5, 6. There are eight cards that can win in this example.
Always hold a pair rather than a single high card. Even if the pair is low, your odds for bigger payouts like three of a kind are better than starting over with a new hand. The only instance when you should discard a paying hand is if there is a possible Royal Flush, which is the highest payout in video poker. Avoid bonus games where you guess the color or suit of a card based on luck. Video poker is a strategy game so you should try to keep it that way. If you want a game based on blind luck, play slots.
Video poker is a strategy game with better odds than slots or roulette. You have time to make a decision because it’s just you and the dealer (machine). It’s not like other poker games where the action falls on you from other players. Each game ranks the hands differently so know what kind of game you are getting into and read strategy sheets if you need to. Learn the wild cards for each game before playing and always try it out online for free if possible before playing for real money at a casino.
There are some strategy tips that work on all types of video poker games. Try not to discard your entire hand but there are instances when this is needed like if you have no face or high card. Outside straight draws and better than inside straight draws. Let’s say you have an inside straight draw of 2, 3, 5, 6. There are only four cards that can win in this scenario. Now, let’s say you have an outside straight draw of 3, 4, 5, 6. There are eight cards that can win in this example.
Always hold a pair rather than a single high card. Even if the pair is low, your odds for bigger payouts like three of a kind are better than starting over with a new hand. The only instance when you should discard a paying hand is if there is a possible Royal Flush, which is the highest payout in video poker. Avoid bonus games where you guess the color or suit of a card based on luck. Video poker is a strategy game so you should try to keep it that way. If you want a game based on blind luck, play slots.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Five Poker Strategies to Master
When playing community poker games like Five Card Draw, you need to master some of the most common strategies associated with the game. Most of them are easy but some require a little more practice than others. You need to be able to read your opponents to be successful at poker and these moves will help you gain an advantage.
Aggressive play – poker move where you put down an opening bet or raise an opponent’s wager. Do this with a strong hand and don’t overuse it because your opponents will take notice and use it against you. It’s kind of like the boy who cried wolf and you will be labeled as a loose player.
Bluff – common move where you deceive others by betting with a bad hand. Your goal is to get other players out of the hand by betting big. The less players in the hand, the smaller the chance of high cards left in the hand.
Check-raise – risky move that pays off big if used right. You have a strong hand but don’t bet (check, which is a pass to the next player) hoping that other players will make the opening bet to start off that round of wagers. The check-raise is similar to a bluff or slow play. When the action comes back to you, you raise and confuse your opponents.
Protection play: opposite of a check-raise. Do this with a strong but vulnerable hand like a pair of Jacks when a flush or straight is possible on the board. It’s a safe move that protects your hand. Use the strategy by betting high early to scare off your opponents.
Slow play: the opposite of bluffing. This is another poker strategy to protect your hand. Unlike a protection play where you scare off opponents, you are aiming to keep opponents in the hand and increase the pot by slow playing. Start with a small wager to keep players with average cards in the hand. Players on the fringe will stay in just to see the cards. This gets them pot committed and then they are yours. You want to be perceived as weak and then strike when their guard is down.
Aggressive play – poker move where you put down an opening bet or raise an opponent’s wager. Do this with a strong hand and don’t overuse it because your opponents will take notice and use it against you. It’s kind of like the boy who cried wolf and you will be labeled as a loose player.
Bluff – common move where you deceive others by betting with a bad hand. Your goal is to get other players out of the hand by betting big. The less players in the hand, the smaller the chance of high cards left in the hand.
Check-raise – risky move that pays off big if used right. You have a strong hand but don’t bet (check, which is a pass to the next player) hoping that other players will make the opening bet to start off that round of wagers. The check-raise is similar to a bluff or slow play. When the action comes back to you, you raise and confuse your opponents.
Protection play: opposite of a check-raise. Do this with a strong but vulnerable hand like a pair of Jacks when a flush or straight is possible on the board. It’s a safe move that protects your hand. Use the strategy by betting high early to scare off your opponents.
Slow play: the opposite of bluffing. This is another poker strategy to protect your hand. Unlike a protection play where you scare off opponents, you are aiming to keep opponents in the hand and increase the pot by slow playing. Start with a small wager to keep players with average cards in the hand. Players on the fringe will stay in just to see the cards. This gets them pot committed and then they are yours. You want to be perceived as weak and then strike when their guard is down.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Trying out Five Card Draw Poker
Before playing Pai Gow Poker or Let It Ride Poker, you should master Five Card Draw. It’s the most basic form of poker and what most other card games are derived from. It’s a community game, so you are playing against other players.
Five Card Draw Poker starts with an ante from each player. The ante is a small bet to play the hand. As you might expect, each player gets five cards. You use standard poker rankings to form a hand. Then, you bet. This weeds out those who don’t have any good cards. Next is the only round of discarding, where you can throw out any or all of your five cards. But if you’re throwing out all of your cards, you shouldn’t be in the hand. That is followed by a second round of bets. After everyone has called or folded, the cards are shown and the hand is decided.
Unlike some casino games, poker requires more strategy than luck. You need to know hand rankings and some odds before playing. The best players know the odds of each hand winning. Unless you play a lot, you won’t be able to do this, but with a little practice, you will know when to get out of a hand. Start by playing poker online for free. You will learn when and how to bet. Then, choose a table with low stakes and work your way up. An online casino is the easiest route for this because there is a variety of tables and it’s easy to join.
Five Card Draw Poker starts with an ante from each player. The ante is a small bet to play the hand. As you might expect, each player gets five cards. You use standard poker rankings to form a hand. Then, you bet. This weeds out those who don’t have any good cards. Next is the only round of discarding, where you can throw out any or all of your five cards. But if you’re throwing out all of your cards, you shouldn’t be in the hand. That is followed by a second round of bets. After everyone has called or folded, the cards are shown and the hand is decided.
Unlike some casino games, poker requires more strategy than luck. You need to know hand rankings and some odds before playing. The best players know the odds of each hand winning. Unless you play a lot, you won’t be able to do this, but with a little practice, you will know when to get out of a hand. Start by playing poker online for free. You will learn when and how to bet. Then, choose a table with low stakes and work your way up. An online casino is the easiest route for this because there is a variety of tables and it’s easy to join.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Trying out Pai Gow Poker
Like Let It Ride, Pai Gow is another widespread type of poker game. It can be found easily at online casinos and at land-based casinos because not everyone wants to play the standard card games like Five Card Draw and Texas Hold’em.
Pai Gow Poker began in China and is played only against the dealer, which is actually the banker in this casino game. The table has seven spots for players, a dealer and a banker. Each player bets and gets seven cards and form two hands to try to beat the banker. The role of the banker rotates every hand to each player, including the dealer. The dealer actually plays the hand just like a player when they aren’t the banker.
The hands each player forms is made up of five cards and two cards. The difficult part of Pai Gow Poker is the that the two-card hand must have a lower value than the five-card hand. If you have a top pair, it must be part of your five-card hand. You might think that this gives the dealer a clear advantage but Pai Gow actually has reasonable odds as a skill game and the house only takes about a 5% commission on winning bets. You must win both hands to win the round. The banker wins with equal hands. If one wins and one loses, you get your money back as a push. There can be more than one winning player each round. The winning players get paid by the dealer from the banker. The losing player bets go to the banker.
Pai Gow Poker began in China and is played only against the dealer, which is actually the banker in this casino game. The table has seven spots for players, a dealer and a banker. Each player bets and gets seven cards and form two hands to try to beat the banker. The role of the banker rotates every hand to each player, including the dealer. The dealer actually plays the hand just like a player when they aren’t the banker.
The hands each player forms is made up of five cards and two cards. The difficult part of Pai Gow Poker is the that the two-card hand must have a lower value than the five-card hand. If you have a top pair, it must be part of your five-card hand. You might think that this gives the dealer a clear advantage but Pai Gow actually has reasonable odds as a skill game and the house only takes about a 5% commission on winning bets. You must win both hands to win the round. The banker wins with equal hands. If one wins and one loses, you get your money back as a push. There can be more than one winning player each round. The winning players get paid by the dealer from the banker. The losing player bets go to the banker.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Trying out Baccarat
Baccarat is another casino card game that doesn’t get talked about that much. It originated in France and still draws some high stakes.
The objective of baccarat is a total value of 9 (or close to it as possible) in two or three cards dealt. 2 through 9 count as face value and aces count as 1. 10’s and face cards have a value of 0. If your value totals more than 9, 10 is subtracted. So, a 4 and a 7 has a value of 1 (11-10=1). In other words, you don’t want to go over 9.
You may not receive more than three cards in a baccarat hand. If the value of your first two cards is 6 or higher, you may not take a third card. When the first two cards total 8 or 9, it’s called a natural hand. When this happens, the dealer can not draw a third card, and vice versa. As many as 14 players can play at any time. The dealer shuffles and places the cards in the cardshoe and players take turns dealing. A full table has three dealers. The middle dealer is known as the caller, who announces the totals and oversees third-card draws. The two dealers on either table end calculate wins/losses and money owed to the banker.
Players have three options to bet. They can bet that their hand will win, bet that the banker’s hand will win, or bet that the two hands tie. The table has corresponding rows for each. Baccarat is a steal for players as far as casino games go with only a 1.4% house edge.
The objective of baccarat is a total value of 9 (or close to it as possible) in two or three cards dealt. 2 through 9 count as face value and aces count as 1. 10’s and face cards have a value of 0. If your value totals more than 9, 10 is subtracted. So, a 4 and a 7 has a value of 1 (11-10=1). In other words, you don’t want to go over 9.
You may not receive more than three cards in a baccarat hand. If the value of your first two cards is 6 or higher, you may not take a third card. When the first two cards total 8 or 9, it’s called a natural hand. When this happens, the dealer can not draw a third card, and vice versa. As many as 14 players can play at any time. The dealer shuffles and places the cards in the cardshoe and players take turns dealing. A full table has three dealers. The middle dealer is known as the caller, who announces the totals and oversees third-card draws. The two dealers on either table end calculate wins/losses and money owed to the banker.
Players have three options to bet. They can bet that their hand will win, bet that the banker’s hand will win, or bet that the two hands tie. The table has corresponding rows for each. Baccarat is a steal for players as far as casino games go with only a 1.4% house edge.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Trying out Let It Ride Poker
Let It Ride is a form of poker that you may not be accustomed to. Unlike the other poker varieties, you play against the dealer. The betting is also different but the game is still a popular game at brick and mortar casinos and online. I don’t know about you but I like my odds against one opponent than five opponents.
So, Let It Ride almost looks like a blackjack table. The rules are actually pretty easy. Five cards are dealt face down. Two go to the dealer and three go to each player. The player has three spots labeled 1, 2 and $. If you don’t like your three-card hand, you can remove two of your three bets. If you do like your hand, you keep playing, otherwise known as “letting it ride.”
The winning strategy involved with Let It Ride starts with looking at your three cards. You can withdraw bet 1 or let it ride. In any case, the dealer turns over their first card, which is also the fourth card in your hand. Now, you can withdraw bet 2 or continue to let it ride. Then, the dealer turns over their second and last card. Next, all players must turn over their cards since the dealer’s cards are face up. The value of the hands determine the winner based on standard poker hand rankings.
That’s all there is to it. It may seem like you have to bet a lot but the minimums are usually very low since you must place three bets. Let It Ride is a nice variation on the same old poker game.
So, Let It Ride almost looks like a blackjack table. The rules are actually pretty easy. Five cards are dealt face down. Two go to the dealer and three go to each player. The player has three spots labeled 1, 2 and $. If you don’t like your three-card hand, you can remove two of your three bets. If you do like your hand, you keep playing, otherwise known as “letting it ride.”
The winning strategy involved with Let It Ride starts with looking at your three cards. You can withdraw bet 1 or let it ride. In any case, the dealer turns over their first card, which is also the fourth card in your hand. Now, you can withdraw bet 2 or continue to let it ride. Then, the dealer turns over their second and last card. Next, all players must turn over their cards since the dealer’s cards are face up. The value of the hands determine the winner based on standard poker hand rankings.
That’s all there is to it. It may seem like you have to bet a lot but the minimums are usually very low since you must place three bets. Let It Ride is a nice variation on the same old poker game.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
What are Timed Welcome Bonuses?
When gambling at a casino online, you will run into a lot of different types of bonuses. The most common are match bonuses, which match a percentage of your deposit(s) when you sign up. A new and interesting type is the timed welcome bonus.
It’s pretty much exactly what you would think. A timed welcome bonus is a free bonus to draw in new players but has a deadline. Like a timed casino tournament, these bonuses are only eligible for a certain duration of time. Instead of wagering requirements where you must fist deposit to be eligible, some timed welcome bonuses can be played on free money.
Euro Palace Casino, for example, has a timed welcome bonus that allows gamblers to choose their favorite game and build up as many credits as they can in 24 hours. Your goal is 1,500 credits. Anything over that up to 100 credits, you keep. Anything under that, you don’t get anything but are still eligible for a $200 match bonus. So, you can earn up to $100 with no minimum deposit while testing out your favorite game. Seems like a win-win situation to me.
These bonuses can be played on a number of online casino games. Sometimes, you may be required to play on a certain game like slots, video poker, blackjack, etc. The point system isn’t always credits. In some cases, you get to pocket your winnings into your account as real money but the time limit is likely to be much shorter, such as an hour.
Timed welcome bonuses are more advantageous over simple match bonuses because you don’t have to make a minimum deposit and play through to a certain amount before being eligible for a withdrawal. This is how online gambling sites rope you in and keep you coming back. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of any bonus, even timed ones so you know exactly what you are getting into. Overall, timed welcome bonuses are a creative way online casinos are adding more entertainment to your gambling experience.
For more examples of bonuses currently being offered, visit onlinecasinosuite.com. Or, if want to find out about exclusive promotions and communicate with other gamblers, visit their gambling forum.
It’s pretty much exactly what you would think. A timed welcome bonus is a free bonus to draw in new players but has a deadline. Like a timed casino tournament, these bonuses are only eligible for a certain duration of time. Instead of wagering requirements where you must fist deposit to be eligible, some timed welcome bonuses can be played on free money.
Euro Palace Casino, for example, has a timed welcome bonus that allows gamblers to choose their favorite game and build up as many credits as they can in 24 hours. Your goal is 1,500 credits. Anything over that up to 100 credits, you keep. Anything under that, you don’t get anything but are still eligible for a $200 match bonus. So, you can earn up to $100 with no minimum deposit while testing out your favorite game. Seems like a win-win situation to me.
These bonuses can be played on a number of online casino games. Sometimes, you may be required to play on a certain game like slots, video poker, blackjack, etc. The point system isn’t always credits. In some cases, you get to pocket your winnings into your account as real money but the time limit is likely to be much shorter, such as an hour.
Timed welcome bonuses are more advantageous over simple match bonuses because you don’t have to make a minimum deposit and play through to a certain amount before being eligible for a withdrawal. This is how online gambling sites rope you in and keep you coming back. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of any bonus, even timed ones so you know exactly what you are getting into. Overall, timed welcome bonuses are a creative way online casinos are adding more entertainment to your gambling experience.
For more examples of bonuses currently being offered, visit onlinecasinosuite.com. Or, if want to find out about exclusive promotions and communicate with other gamblers, visit their gambling forum.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Gamble on the go with Mobile Casinos
An increasing popular part of online casinos are mobile platforms. Mobile casinos allow gamblers to player their favorite online casino anywhere on their wireless device.
Online casino games being transferred to mobile devices include slots, blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, video poker, etc. Devices like smartphones, iPhones, PDAs, wireless table PCs and more are being used for the specially designed online casino software. As technology changes, the graphics are getting better with mobile casinos. It’s a billion dollar industry that is growing each year as we become more reliant for information on our cell phones. Cool features are being added. When playing slots, you can flick the screen or shake your device to spin the reels. Many online and land-based casinos are developing a mobile branch and allow you to link up your accounts. The same kinds of online casino bonuses apply as well.
Make sure there is enough memory storage on your device before downloading a mobile casino. You can buy a memory chip or Micro SD card if needed. The drawback of mobile casinos is that you will probably have to update or download again occasionally when your device or the casino need to be updated. Not all mobile devices support mobile casinos. If your device does not, search your provider to see if they provide a game download service. It may result in a fee per download or month, but can be a cheap option. As always, follow all online gambling laws that apply to your location or jurisdiction.
Online casino games being transferred to mobile devices include slots, blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, video poker, etc. Devices like smartphones, iPhones, PDAs, wireless table PCs and more are being used for the specially designed online casino software. As technology changes, the graphics are getting better with mobile casinos. It’s a billion dollar industry that is growing each year as we become more reliant for information on our cell phones. Cool features are being added. When playing slots, you can flick the screen or shake your device to spin the reels. Many online and land-based casinos are developing a mobile branch and allow you to link up your accounts. The same kinds of online casino bonuses apply as well.
Make sure there is enough memory storage on your device before downloading a mobile casino. You can buy a memory chip or Micro SD card if needed. The drawback of mobile casinos is that you will probably have to update or download again occasionally when your device or the casino need to be updated. Not all mobile devices support mobile casinos. If your device does not, search your provider to see if they provide a game download service. It may result in a fee per download or month, but can be a cheap option. As always, follow all online gambling laws that apply to your location or jurisdiction.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Live Dealer Games Heighten the Experience
Many online casinos are using live dealer games to bring in customers these days. They use a real dealer from a real casino. An online gambler can see all the action of the live casino from a video feed that pops up in their game.
Land-based casinos with online affiliates are using these live dealer games the most. It makes sense for gamblers who can’t travel to the land-based casino but want the same kind of experience. Let’s be real. No matter how hard they try, online casinos don’t give you the full feel of a real casino. Live dealer games are one way that you really can bring the action home.
Best of all, you don’t have the distractions of a real casino with live dealer games online. You aren’t pressured or intimidated by other players hanging over you. You have all the space you want gambling from the comfort of your own home. Casinos have specific tables set off from the casino floor for the online live dealer games. You don’t have to deal with the noise of the rest of the casino. Other players will be betting online with you at the same game, but you won’t have to wait long to join a table. There will be a time limit to your bet though.
Nearly all table games like poker, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, etc. are available via live dealer games. Also, you don’t have to depend on the online casino’s RNG (random number generator). You have the same odds as the land-based casino because it is all based on the dealer. However, online casino odds and payouts are typically better than that of Las Vegas. Just saying.
Land-based casinos with online affiliates are using these live dealer games the most. It makes sense for gamblers who can’t travel to the land-based casino but want the same kind of experience. Let’s be real. No matter how hard they try, online casinos don’t give you the full feel of a real casino. Live dealer games are one way that you really can bring the action home.
Best of all, you don’t have the distractions of a real casino with live dealer games online. You aren’t pressured or intimidated by other players hanging over you. You have all the space you want gambling from the comfort of your own home. Casinos have specific tables set off from the casino floor for the online live dealer games. You don’t have to deal with the noise of the rest of the casino. Other players will be betting online with you at the same game, but you won’t have to wait long to join a table. There will be a time limit to your bet though.
Nearly all table games like poker, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, etc. are available via live dealer games. Also, you don’t have to depend on the online casino’s RNG (random number generator). You have the same odds as the land-based casino because it is all based on the dealer. However, online casino odds and payouts are typically better than that of Las Vegas. Just saying.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Differentiating Between Casino Bonuses
You probably won’t get any free drinks from playing at online casinos (unless your significant other enjoys bartending as a hobby), but there are some other nice incentives for playing. Once you join the online casino, there are tons of bonuses and promotions at your disposal. When you get past the wagering requirements and rules, it really is free money. Just be sure to read the terms and conditions before agreeing to accept a bonus.
These are the different types of bonuses available at online casinos:
Match Bonus – the most common type of bonus on your first deposit. A percentage of the deposit is matched by casino, which can be 25%, 50% or 100%, for example. Find a 100% match on your first deposit worth up to a certain amount. The amount fluctuates depending upon the current promotion. Also, look for a welcome bonus with an equal or lesser match, like 50%, on your next few deposits.
Cash Back Bonus - given following a loss and are becoming more common. Depending on the promotion, an online casino might offer a 20% cash back bonus each week. Thus, if you had an overall loss during the course of the week, you would get 20% of your losses back.
Cashable Bonus – applicable to certain games or amounts and you must meet the wagering requirements before cashing out the free bonus money, which is added to your winnings.
Sticky Bonus – the bonus is not allowed to be withdrawn, but any winnings from playing it is.
Comp Points – similar to the comps at land-based casinos. They can be exchanged for cash, prizes and trips. The ratio of money gamble to comp points varies. A dollar value may be accessed to comp points, such as $1 for every 100 points.
Loyalty Rewards – another reward program offered by most online casinos, similar to a players club at land-based casinos. Most loyalty reward comps return around $10 for each $10,000 played. Some offer other benefits and promotions like a birthday bonus.
These are the different types of bonuses available at online casinos:
Match Bonus – the most common type of bonus on your first deposit. A percentage of the deposit is matched by casino, which can be 25%, 50% or 100%, for example. Find a 100% match on your first deposit worth up to a certain amount. The amount fluctuates depending upon the current promotion. Also, look for a welcome bonus with an equal or lesser match, like 50%, on your next few deposits.
Cash Back Bonus - given following a loss and are becoming more common. Depending on the promotion, an online casino might offer a 20% cash back bonus each week. Thus, if you had an overall loss during the course of the week, you would get 20% of your losses back.
Cashable Bonus – applicable to certain games or amounts and you must meet the wagering requirements before cashing out the free bonus money, which is added to your winnings.
Sticky Bonus – the bonus is not allowed to be withdrawn, but any winnings from playing it is.
Comp Points – similar to the comps at land-based casinos. They can be exchanged for cash, prizes and trips. The ratio of money gamble to comp points varies. A dollar value may be accessed to comp points, such as $1 for every 100 points.
Loyalty Rewards – another reward program offered by most online casinos, similar to a players club at land-based casinos. Most loyalty reward comps return around $10 for each $10,000 played. Some offer other benefits and promotions like a birthday bonus.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)