http://www.passapassword.com/ Poker and Online Poker Rules and Reviews en-us Nucleus CMS v3.22 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.passapassword.com//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.passapassword.com/ http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=14 casino chapter. Some basic rules are not to play any machine that does not pay five_for.0ft’ for four—of-a-kind. And most important of all, even if you’ve got a shot at a natural royal, do not discard any Deuce!The following strategy is a little more complicated than the other two versions covered in this chapter. Some basic online poker rules are not to play any machine that does not pay five_for.0ft’ for four—of-a-kind. And most important of all, even if you’ve got a shot at a natural royal, do not discard any Deuce!

1 Stand wish any natural winning hand, except for a natural straight flush startin with Nine. Discard the Nine and go for the royal.
2 Draw one card to a straight flush.
3 Draw one card to a royal flask
4 Draw two cards to a royal flush.
5 With two-pairs, discard one — and draw three cards.
6 Draw one card to a flush.
7 Draw one cant to a straight.
8 Draw two cards to a straight flush.
9 Draw three cards tea Queen-Jack, Ten-Jack, or Jack-Ten sailed.
10 Draw two cards to a suited Six-Seven and a Deuce.
11 Draw one card to a three-card royal and one Deuce.
12 Thaw one card to a four-card straight with one Deuce.

PLAYING MAXIMUM COINS
Check out this excellent example here: Marie arrived at her favorite casino with a group of friends at about noon, but it hasn’t been her day. Marie is an avid video poker playing, and understands that abe should always play the maximum coins. Coin limit play is essential, she believes, because if she hits the royal flush. she wants to be eligible for the top award that winners who have the maximum coin in receive. After all, the pay tables on most modern machines are set to offer the coin- limit player a better payback percentage by setting a higher jackpot on the top hand for coin-limit play. Most machines start the hand automatically when five coins are inserted. Every machine has one button that orders maximum poker play. Marie believes that it is the only way to play.
But Marie’s bankroll has been depleted and she believes it’s time to drop down to less than coin limit to stretch her remaining bankroll. Marie has seen players who have been burned by hitting a royal flush or five-of-a-kind while playing less than coin limit. The disdain from the neighboring players was more difficult to bear than the momentary shortfall.
But before coming to the casino this time to play draw poker or texas holdem, Marie read up on coin limit play and was surprised to find that on her favorite 916 Jacks-or-better machines, she would he losing less per hand by playing one coin than by playing
By playing expert strategy, and even taking into account the 800-for-one payout for five-coin play and only a 250- for-one payoff for anything less, Marie can take solace in the fact that her single-coin play keeps her almost even with maximum play, even without the hitting the top jackpot
Marie wasn’t so surprised to find that novice players who don’t understand expert strategy are much better off playing less than five coins; Her friends who love the slots have occasionally wandered over into the video poker sections, but have always headed hack quickly. They don’t understand that it’s important to know the strategy of
Progressive jackpots would seem to demand coin-limit play, but we learned that a typical progressive 815 Jacks-or-better machine pays only 97.3 percent to experts when the jackpot is minimum at 800 for 1, or $1,000 on a five-quarter coin-limit machine. Single-coin play returns only 95.9 percent so the loss rate is very poor at all level& That’s why experts don’t play them until the jackpot is above $2,200 and then only at coin-limit. Marie will continue to play one coin at a time until it’s time to head home with her friends. She’ll protect her bankroll and will even have a chance to get even before leaving.

]]> Strategy and Rules http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=14 Wed, 24 Jan 2007 11:13:00 -0600 http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=13 But sharpen have found that the most consistently profitable way to cheat at Draw Poker is to work in a team with. a confederate or confederates. Example: Seated next to each other, one sharp stacks the pack, then offers it to his confederate for the cut; the confederate does cut, but either he uses a false cut or he cuts into a crimp put in the deck by the dealer-stacker.
Sharpen don’t have to sit next to each other. They can operate at any distance.
Let’s say you’re in a Poker game. You’re no cheat. A good- natured stranger sits down to play. Across from this stranger sits another player who looks like a pretty good guy and who spends his time chatting with you about the Series, maybe. You don’t suspect them; how could they be confederates? They never even glance at each other, much less speak to each other.
But, brother, as of right now they’ve got you boxed; they have already used time-honored, sure-fire methods of reaching an understanding and working together against you. That understanding is based on the gambler’s sign language, practically as old as cards and understood by card sharps all over the world. If there’s any international language, that is it.

Matter of fact, these signals are known to the sharps as the international signs.
Watch these poker players! When a man casually puts his open hand across his chest or flat on the table in front of him, that open palm is the first word in the crooks’ dictionary. Whether this man means it that way or not, he is giving a sign which is interpreted by sharps from New Orleans to Singapore as: “I’m a professional crook. Is everything at this table all right? Does anybody want to team with me?’
And now watch. There are two replies to this opening gambit. The real pro can signal:
With the open hand on chest or table: “Right. I’m a con too. We’re teammates, and I’ll see you later about the split. Let’s go!”
But with a clenched fist: “I’m a crook all right, but I happen to work alone. I’m too damn good for the likes of you gangsters. Keep your hands off and your trap shut!”
The first signal implies all the rest. Even the latter sign-off doesn’t preclude further signals throughout the play. Using their wordless language, sharpers who never saw each other before can table-talk throughout a game as eloquently as if they were allowed to use an intercom telephone across the board to each other.
Here are some common manual signals:
I need a king: dealt cards held well back in the palm of the hand with the index finger on the edge of the design. (To indicate an ace, the index finger on the edge of the card; the position of the finger, whether toward the top edge or the lower margin of the card, indicates specific rank of card held or card wanted.)
I need a 3: cards held by the lower tip (in some poker variations).
I have two of a kind: second-from-left card nervously pulled out of hand and jogged up and down.
I have a spade, a heart, etc.: jogging the first-at-left card in hand indicates a crucial club holding; the second, a diamond; the third, a heart; the fourth, a spade.
I have two pair: two fingers extended from the closed fisi on lap or table.
Raise now, poker partner!: This signal is given by putting down the clenched fist on the table and raising the thumb. (These signals, whether with card or thumb or finger, are for spill seconds only.)]]> General http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=13 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:12:00 -0600 http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=12 poker game rules, each player received five cards face down, did not show any of them until the showdown, and never had a chance to improve beyond the five cards originally dealt to him. This was “Straight” Poker.
Draw Poker was the first of a long line of innovations designed to create more betting action. Each online poker player could discard any number of his original cards and receive new cards to replace them.
Continued attempts to liven up the game by encouraging betting led to eventual adoption of a rule that in certain circumstances (as after a passed-out deal, or after some player held a big hand) the next pot should be a “jack,” meaning that the stakes would be jacked up by raising the limit and increasing the amount of the ante. This created bigger pots, and the rule was added that the betting could not even be begun on a hand weaker than a pair of jacks. The resultant game, Jackpots, became the principal form of Draw Poker played in the United States (though lately they play more texas holdem).
JACKPOTS
PLAYERS. Seven make the best game, eight make a full
table.
Tic ANTE. Before each deal, each player in the game antes one [white] chip of lowest value. In some games, dealer antes
for all players.
DEALING. Each player receives five cards, all face down.
OPENING Thn Pot. The first betting interval commences
when the deal is completed. Eldest hand has the first turn.
He may either:
(a) Open the pot by making a bet, if he has a pair of jacks or any higher-ranking poker hand; or
(b) Check meaning that he does not make a bet at the time but reserves the right to call or raise a bet later. A player may check whether or not he has as good a hand as a pair of jacks.
The Draw -When the bets in the first betting interval have been equalized, dealer picks up the undealt portion of the pack. Each player who is still in the pot, in rotation beginning nearest the dealer’s left, may discard one or more cards, face down, at the same time announcing the number of cards he has discarded. The dealer then takes an equivalent number of cards from the top of the pack and gives them to that player, to restore his hand to five cards.
Each player in his turn receives the full number of cards demanded before the next player discards and draws.
Dealer draws last, and must announce the number of cards he discards.
Standing Pat A player who does not wish to draw to his original five cards must so signify by announcing the fact or by knocking on the table when his turn to draw conies. Such a player stands pat
Splitting Openers. The player who opens the pot is permitted to discard one or more of the cards essential to the combination which permitted him to open, and need not announce that fact. lie is permitted to place his discard face down in the pot, so that it may be referred to later as evidence that he held proper openers.
Shuffling the Discards. If dealer has given the next-to-last card of the pack, and if the demands of the players in the draw are still not satisfied, he must shuffle together the bottom card and all cards previously-- discarded, have them cut by the poker player who will next receive a card in the draw, and proceed with the draw with the new pack so created. The discard of the opener and the discard of the player next to receive cards are not included if they have been kept separate and can be identified.
Reviewing the Draws. At any time during the draw, until the first legal bet has been made thereafter, any player may demand that each other player state the number of cards he drew, and the other players must so state, truthfully.]]> Strategy and Rules http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=12 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:11:00 -0600 http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=11 If you are the small blind (half a bet), in a situation in which everyone folds, it is advantageous to have arranged a friendly “split” agreement with the big blind on your left. Otherwise, you should raise frequently whenever you have enough to call (very roughly, two cards eight or higher) and follow through very aggressively. Whenever there are callers (not raisers), you usually should call the half-bet because only the big blind can raise after you, and you always get adequate odds if there is no raise. However, if there is a raise before the flop, you generally should concede your small blind rather than put up another one-and-a-half bets — unless you have a very good hand. Occasionally, you might judge that the situational percentages are sufficient to play (“fish in”) with suited, connecting rags.Although much has been written on this subject, here are some brief comments about defending your blind in an aggressive but slightly loose $ 10-20 hold’em game.
If you are the small blind (half a bet), in a situation in which everyone folds, it is advantageous to have arranged a friendly “split” agreement with the big blind on your left. Otherwise, you should raise frequently whenever you have enough to call (very roughly, two cards eight or higher) and follow through very aggressively. Whenever there are callers (not raisers), you usually should call the half-bet because only the big blind can raise after you, and you always get adequate odds if there is no raise. However, if there is a raise before the flop, you generally should concede your small blind rather than put up another one-and-a-half bets — unless you have a very good poker hand. Occasionally, you might judge that the situational percentages are sufficient to play (“fish in”) with suited, connecting rags.
If you are the big blind (in case that in your poker variation it exists) and everyone else folds against an early-position (or very conservative) raiser, a lot depends on what that particular player usually holds when he raises. The more likely he or she is to have a high pait the more likely you are to fold. Conversely, against an aggressive, last-position raiser who “averages out” to have an ace plus (that is, he would raise with as little as J-9), you are much more likely to put up one bet for the three and a half.

If it were a simple question of going all in or not, you obviously would call with any hand (most hands rate to win more than one-third of the time). The real-life problem is that when you are not all in, you probably will be confronted with one or more post-flop bets that will reduce your winning odds significantly (unless you are a master reader of tells). Also, because the raiser acts last, he has a significant advantage, unless you come out betting, which partially negates the raiser’s positional edge.

How often does the raiser have something (a high pair or better) after the flop? If he raised on two big cards, he hits a pair on the flop about one-third of the time. Add to that the times that he starts off with a high pair (stylistic — but usually well below 10 percent for late raises) or flops a big hand. The bottom line is that the before-the- flop raiser will have a tangible hand (high pair or better) less than half the time. When one-on-one, most aggressive before-the-flop raisers will bet the flop most of the time.
Meanwhile, what do you have? You also will flop a pair (or better) about one-third of the time. If you have a low pair, your opponent will have your low pair beat less than half the time, and will improve only about one-fourth of the remaining time (but you might improve also). Quite often, you are in sound calling position — especially against an overly aggressive player who insists on giving you more money.
If you do not have a pair (and are likely to be outhigh-carded) what are your odds of winning or losing by stealth? What happens if you bet out or even check-raise after the flop? If you simply bet the flop, your opponent will call or raise with the 40-odd percent of hands that have something. And, he often will call or raise when he has nothing (overcards). If you judge that your opponent will fold more than one out of five times, it is sound to bet out after the flop. You should plan in advance what to do if he raises, especially if you are planning to smoothly call with a draw and would like to increase your chances for a free last card.
There is something to be said for check-raising after the flop against a novice, or if you are into online poker mind games. Note that if you have the goods, you probably would wait until after the turn or river (double-size bets) to raise. If you plan to invest the two more units and give up if he does not fold, then you would have to expect him to fold about 40 percent of the time to justify that investment. You might plan to follow through (if he does not fold) and make two more double bets. If your opponent would fold more than one out of four times after the fourth card (the turn) and after the last card, then by using this ploy, you would lose less than by folding his bet after the flop. Obviously, this situation is highly dependent on your evaluation of your opponent.
Probably the most believable bluff is raising after the fourth card, then betting the last card. Although this ploy has fair chances of making your opponent fold, unfortunately, because of the tremendously large investment required compared to pot size, it requires a success rate greater than 50 percent to show a profit (if you never have the best hand). Thus, it is advisable to try this when you have some chance of drawing. Note that this is a ploy that you should try occasionally to protect your real hands.
Against one or more callers and a raise, you should tend to concede your blind, since each caller increasing your payoff odds also increases the chances of a reraise (and a cap). However, against an early raise and one or more callers (usually big cards), you should stretch to call with connected rags in last calling position. Your odds of winning often are better than those of the holder of the second-best, big-card hand.
]]> General http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=11 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 11:10:00 -0600 http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=10 SPECIAL
Hiens. Depending upon the locality in which the game is played, and the personal preferences of the players, certain special combinations of cards may be given values along with the standard poker hands enumerated on page 2. Some of these hands are:
Big Tiger, or Big Cat King high, eight low, no pair. Ranks above a straight, below a flush.
Little Tiger, or Little Cat Eight high, three low, no pair. Ranks above a straight, below a Big Tiger.
Big Dog Ace high, nine low, no pair. Ranks above a straight, below a Little Tiger.
Little Dog Seven high, deuce low, no pair. Ranks above a straight, below a Big Dog.
Skee4 or Pelter. Nine, five, deuce with one card between the nine and five in rank and one card between the five and deuce in rank, no pair. Ranks above a straight, below a flush. The skeet is seldom played when Tigers and Dogs are also played. When all five cards of a skeet are of the same suit, the hand is a Skeet Flush and ranks above a straight flush.
As between Tigers (Cats), Dogs and Skeets, ties are broken as in the case of any other poker hand containing no pair— by the highest card, then the next highest, and so on.
Skip Straight This is also called a Dutch Straight, or Kilter. It consists of a progression of cards each separated by one step in rank from the adjacent one—for example, Q, 10, 8, 6, 4 or K, J, 9, 7, 5. It ranks above three of a kind but below a straight. As between two skip straights, the one containing the highest-ranking card wins.
Round-the-Corner Straight. A sequence of cards, treating the thirteen cards as an unending sequence, so that 3-2-A.K- Q is a “straight.” Beats three of a kind, loses to a skip straight or straight. As between two round-the-corner straights, the one with the higher card at the top of the sequence wins: 5-4.3-2-A beats 4-3-2-A-K.
Blaza Any five face cards. Beats two pairs, loses to three of a kind; however, a blaze including three of a kind need not be called a blaze. As between two blazes, each composed of two pairs, ties are broken as between any two hands composed of two pairs.
Four flush. A four flush is any hand containing four cards of one suit. This is played principally in Stud poker rules, whereas the other special hands are played principally in Draw Poker; however, in many Jackpot games, a player is permitted to open on a four flush even though that hand is given no special value in the showdown. In Stud Poker, a four flush (when played) beats a pair but loses to two pairs. As between two four-flush hands, one containing a pair beats one containing no pair; if neither contains a pair, ties are broken as between any two hands containing no pair.
POPULAR Wu.n CARDs. The following are most frequent choices of cards to be designated as wild:
Deuces;
One-eyed cards, or “cards with profiles” (+J, ‘J and 0K);
Low hole card in each hand (in Seven-card Stud);
Any card selected in the hand and all other cards of the same rank in the same hand;
Any card selected by the players, but only the one card.
DOUBLE-ACE F1.usaEs. When it is not required (in accordance with the rules some players use) that a player designate a wild card as some card other than the ones he already holds, a flush may be headed by two or even three aces; thus, if deuces are wild, the holding 0 A + 2 07 05 04 would beat +A +K +9- +8 +5, because the holder of the former hand could cause the +2 to serve as an additional 0 A.
In games in which the low hand wins, and in which ace ranks as the low card, some permit a hand to be designated as “Double Ace Low,” and yet be deemed not to contain a pair.
ROYALTiES. Royalties, or premiums, or bonuses (in England, penalties) are sometimes paid by unanimous agreement of the players, made before the game begins. In such cases, any player holding four of a kind or a straight flush receives an extra payment from each other online poker player, regardless of the result of the pot.
LOW POKER, or LOWBALL
Straight Draw Poker is played, as described on pages 10-
11. There is no minimum requirement for betting, and in each turn a player must either bet (or at least call the previous bet) or drop. Straights and flushes do aot count. In the showdown, the lowest poker hand wins the pot, with the ace the lowest card in the pack. Since straights do not count, the lowest possible hand is 5-4-3-2-A, which is called a bicycle. Aces are low in every case; a pair of aces ranks lower than a pair of deuces.
Low Poker is frequently played in connection with a Jack- pots game. If a deal is passed out at Jackpots, the cards are not gathered up and reshuffled; instead, the betting takes up with eldest hand and the game becomes Lowball.
Variant. Occasionally Lowball is played with no difference from the standard rank of the hands, so that the lowest possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2 of two or more suits; straights and flushes count, and the ace ranks high. In the showdown the cards speak for themselves, and the combination 5-4-3-2-A is a straight; the holder is not permitted to call the ace the high card in his hand.

HIGH-LOW POKER
Any standard form of Poker may be played, but in the showdown the highest-ranking poker hand and the lowest ranking poker hand divide the pot equally. (The lowest-ranking poker hand, of course, is 7-5-4-3-2 of two or more suits). If there is a chip left over after the pot has been divided as evenly as possible, that chip goes to the high hand. If two or more players tie either way, they divide half the pot.
HIGH-LOW Stud. Regular five-card Stud Poker is played, but in the showdown the high and low hands divide the pot. Before taking his last card, any player has the option of turning up his hole card and taking his last card face down. If the dealer improperly exposes such a card, the player may not take it; and after all other players still in the pot have been served, the player receives the next card from the top of the pack. The penalty on the dealer is that, if he is still in the pot, his hand becomes foul.
HIGH-LOW SEVEN-CARD STUD. Seven-card Stud is played as described on page 15, but in the showdown each player may select any five of his cards to represent his high hand, and any five of his cards to represent his low hand. High and low split the pot, but the same player may win both ways.
DECLARATIONS. In many games, each player is required to declare, after the bets have been equalized in the last betting interval but before any face-down cards are exposed for the
showdown, whether he is going for high, for low, or for both. He is bound by his announcement, and if he declares for high, he may not compete for low; if he declares for low, he may not compete for high; and if he declares for both, he must at least tie for winning hand both ways or he cannot win either way, and even if there is only one other player in the showdown, that player takes the entire pot.
Others play that each player in the showdown must decide in advance whether he will go for high, for low, or for both, but need not make his decision public. Without permitting other players to see him, he must take into his hand a white chip if he is going for low; a red chip if he is going for high; a blue chip if he is going for both.

DEALER’S CHOICE
In the usual informal Poker game, the dealer may choose which form or variation of Poker will be played. Sometimes he is not limited to forms of poker, but may select such games as Fan Tan, Red Dog, or any other game suitable to the number of players at the table. Sometimes each dealer in turn plays a series of games, and this is known as “Garbage”
There is one special rule applicable to Dealer’s Choice:
When the game selected is Jackpots, or any other game in which the hand can be passed out, when a hand is passed out everyone antes again but the same dealer redeals.
The following are popular “Dealer’s Choice” games:
Srr IN THE OCEAN. Each player gets four cards, dealt one at a time face down. The dealer then places one card face up in the center of the table. This card is wild, and every other card of the same rank is wild. The card thus shown in the center of the table is considered to be the fifth card of every player in the game.
In most games of Spit in the Ocean, every player antes before the deal. There are several methods of betting:
Variant 1. There is only one betting interval, which occurs after the deal is completed. When the bets are equalized, there is a showdown.
Variant 2. As in Stud Poker (except that the cards are dealt face down) there is a betting interval after each round of one card is dealt to each player who has not dropped, and a final betting interval after the card is faced in the center.
Variant 3. After the face-up card is dealt, there is a betting interval; then each player who has not dropped may discard one or more of his face-down cards and draw enough cards, also face down, to restore his hand to four cards. The rul of Draw Poker apply. There is then a final betting interv before the showdown.
MEXICAN STUD or FLn’. Stud Poker is played, except follows: Each player receives his first two cards face dow and may turn up one of them, after which there is a bettii interval; each round thereafter is dealt face down, but aft the deal each player must turn one of his face-down cards u Thus there is only one hole card in each hand at any or time.
Each player should select the card to turn up before an other player has turned up his card, so that all cards ar turned up simultaneously; but if any player turns his car up before the other players have selected theirs, any otht player may change his selection before turning up his card.
CmcnAm Among the many names for this game are Lame Brains, Rickey de Laet, and, in one variant, Criss-Cross.
Five cards are dealt face down to each player, one at a time, and five more face-down cards are dealt to the center of the table. One of the cards in the center is turned face up, and there is a betting interval; then another, and so on, with a betting interval after each card, until all five are exposed In the showdown, each player selects five cards from amont the five cards of his hand plus the five exposed cards on the table. No card is wild unless the dealer so designates before dealing.
CRISS.CROSS. The center cards are laid out in the form of a cross, and the center card is turned up last. Each player must select one or the other bar of the cross, giving him only eight cards to select from. Otherwise the game is the same re Cincinnati. The dealer may, if he wishes, designate the center card and all other cards of the same rank to be wild cath This designation must be made before the deal begins.
SHOTGUN. Draw Poker is played, except that after each player has received three cards the deal is interrupted for a betting interval; then each player who has not dropped re ceives another face-down card, and there is another betting interval; then each player who has not dropped receives a fifth face-down card and there is another betting interval There is then a draw, followed by a final betting interval and showdown.
DOUBLE-BARRRLLED SHOTGUN. Shotgun, as described in the preceding paragraph, is played as a high-low game; and there are four additional betting intervals, because after the draw each player turns up one card of his hand at a time, with a betting interval following each. High and low hands split the pot.
Two POTS ‘ro WIN. Any form of Poker may be played, but the pot accumulates until any player has won the pot a second time, whereupon he takes the pot.
TWO-CARD POKER, or HURRICANE. Each player receives only two cards, dealt one at a time, face down. There is a betting interval, and the high hand in the showdown wins the pot. Usually all players ante before the deal. Straights and flushes do not count in the showdown; a pair of aces is the highest possible hand.
TRRXE-CARD POKER, or ThREE-CARD MONTE. One card is dealt face down for each player, with a betting interval; then one card face up to each player, with a betting interval; then another card face up to each player, which ends the deal. There is a final betting interval and a showdown. The highest possible hand is a straight flush (three cards in sequence in the same suit); then three of a kind, then a flush (all three cards of the same suit), then a straight (any three cards in sequence), then a pair, and then high card.
BASEBALL. Either five-card or seven-card Stud Poker is played, with the following special rules:
All nines are wild.
Any three in the hole is wild.
If a player is dealt a three face-up, he must either “buy the pot,” which means that he puts into the pot as many chips as are already there, in which case his exposed three and all other threes are wild; or he must drop out of the pot. If he does buy the pot, no other player need match that amount to Stay in.
A player who is dealt a four face-up is immediately dealt another face-up card in addition to the four.
However many cards a player may have at the end, he must select five of them to be his hand in the showdown.
Bu’rcrma Boy. The cards are dealt in rotation face up. When a duplicate of any card previously dealt appears, it is transferred to the player who received the card of that rank
previously. There is a betting interval, with this player bet ting first.
When bets are equalized, the deal resumes, the next car being dealt to the player who would have gotten the last car (or, if he has dropped, to the active player nearest his left). This process continues until any player has four of a kind at which point the game ends and that player takes the pot As many play, at this point the pot is divided between the high and low hands, the player with four of a kind being high even though another player has a straight flush in five cards. As among the other hands, each must select five cards if he has more than five. In a hand of fewer than five card a missing card ranks as the lowest card in the pack, so that 7-5-4-3 is lower than 7-5-4-3-2.
COLD HANDS. Each player puts up an agreed amount, after which the cards are dealt, face up, one at a time until each player has five. The highest poker hand showing takes the pot. Some play that one may discard from a cold hand and draw, as in Draw Poker.
FREEZEOUT. Any form of Poker may be played; usually, the game is either Straight Draw Poker or Stud Poker. Each player takes an original stake; it is not necessary for all players to start with the same amount. No player may add to his original stake nor drag down any part of it or of his winnings after play begins. ]]> Strategy and Rules http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=10 Wed, 3 Jan 2007 11:09:00 -0600 http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=9 ROOT CDNTRARIAN RULE:
THE PUBLIC RARELY HAS SUFFICIENT STAYING POWER— A HUGE MISTAKE.

The idea of grinding out a profit starts with a sufficient bankroll. That starting bankroll is a bettor’s foundation for success. But most amateur poker gamblers start off from day one with insufficient funds. They don’t realize it, but in most cases that poorly financed start is deadly. They are “walking dead” from the first moment they make their first wager.
It works that way on Wall Street, too. You shouldn’t be in the stock game unless you have staying power. You have no right to invest money you cannot afford to lose—money you need for paying the rent or your kid’s tuition. Stocks go up and stocks go down. It’s been this way since the beginning of time. If you can afford to wait out the down times, you can make more money in stocks than you ever could by betting sports.
That time advantage is the only advantage stock investing has over sports betting, and the reason is simple: Once you lose your sports bet, it’s over. That money is gone forever to the poker clack But with stocks, no matter how far they drop, if you can afford to hold the stock and wait, eventually you stand a good chance of regaining the loss. It might take a year, or two, or five, or ten, but eventually most stocks recover from even the worst declines. But to take advantage of this natural advantage, you must possess staying power—i.e., have enough money at your disposal to wait out the slumps. Once again, the same strategy as in sports betting. It’s all aboutthe Golden Rule: He with the gold (and the smarts, patience, and money-management skills) rules!
ROOT CONTRARIAN RULE:
THE PUBLIC BETS HELTEFSKELTER WITH ND GAME PLAN
DR MONEY-MANAGEMENT
SKILLS—A HUGE MISTAKE.
I’ve seen it again and again. A talented and disciplined professional gambler can “tread water” until a hot streak arrives, then bet big and make a fortune. Better yet, a really talented gambler can show a profit during a small losing streak.
But an amateur poker loser with no game plan and poor money-management skills can lose money on even a hot winning streak. With the exact same advice, two poker gamblers can produce totally different results. That’s the high-stakes value of good money-management skills.
The same theory applies to Wall Street. You can’t receive eight stock picks from your broker but decide to bet only three. That kind of helter- skelter decision making will destroy your bankroll most every time. It’s almost guaranteed (remember Murphy’s Law?) that the three stocks you happen to pick will be losers and the five you chose to ignore will turn out to be home runs.
The other investment decision that is guaranteed to wipe you out is to invest in all eight picks but to invest vastly different sums on each of the eight stock picks. It’s almost certain (Murphy’s Law again) that the ones you choose to invest the least in will go up; the two or three you invest the biggest dollars in will turn out to drop like lead balloons. My point is to treat every pick equally, or there’s no point in asking a professional for help in the first place. Either take the advice and invest in
]]> Strategy and Rules http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=9 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:07:00 -0600 http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=8 I dropped a crust of raisin toast over the side of the balcony that runs the length of my first-floor apartment. Several of the fat mallards that live in the duck pond around which are arrayed the buildings of the complex waded through the ivy for their late- afternoon treat. They seemed particularly pleased with the peanut butter remnants on the crust.
“Dollink,” asked my Aunt Linda, “why do losers play cards?”
I dropped a crust of raisin toast over the side of the balcony that runs the length of my first-floor apartment. Several of the fat mallards that live in the duck pond around which are arrayed the buildings of the complex waded through the ivy for their late- afternoon treat. They seemed particularly pleased with the peanut butter remnants on the crust.
“Be happy they do,” I offered, “or you never would be able to beat those games.”
She set two cups of espresso on a patio table, and leaned over to watch the foraging honkers. “That’s no answer, Tsatskeleh,” she complained. “I’m serious. Why they lose and where they get the money is what I wonder. It seems like some of them want to lose. And it seems like some of the ones who try the hardest to lose can afford it the least.” Aunt Linda disappeared inside, and reappeared momentarily, carrying a plate of her homemade chocolate drop cookies. She sat down next to the table and eyed me, expectantly.
I took the chair opposite, and squeezed the slice of lemon rind reflectively over the cup. “Hmm,” I began. “You’re correct in assuming that some poker clack players want to lose. However, there’s no one answer to your question of why. The reasons are sometimes complicated, and there may be as many reasons as there are players. Some players want to win, too, you know, but, surprisingly, they are a decided minority.”
“A group,” Aunt Linda interjected, “among which I do count myself.”
“Of course,” I laughed. “Although, I suspect that wasn’t always true. Right after Uncle Max died, “Zachor l’chayim,” she muttered.
“Right after that,” I continued, “is when you first took up pan in a big way. Oh, I know, you used to be a recreational poker player before that, a couple times a week. You’d win a little. maybe, lose a little, usually, but “I didn’t lose much,” she protested.
“Agreed,” I agreed. “I said that you kept it under control. However, then when Uncle Max passed on, you buried yourself in the pan game. Some people drown their sorrows in booze, or drugs, or relationships that are doomed from the start to fail. You took to the card room, and you got carried away, and lost pretty heavily.” “Because so good I didn’t know how to play,” she maintained stoutly, “and so I came to you, because I knew you were a good player.”
“And that, my dear,” I said, “was commendable, and I think a start of a type of therapy for you. However, nonetheless, I contend that you were losing heavily because that’s what you wanted. That’s one of the reasons for losing at video poker cards. You can’t say that your losses went from maybe $20
or $30 to several hundred a week just from not knowing proper play. You may not have been such a great player when Uncle Max was alive, but you didn’t suddenly become worse. No, it was despair. Understandable, of course, and guilt. You blamed yourself for his heart attack. You thought that if you could somehow have convinced him to stop smoking, it never would have happened. Or, if you could have gotten him to the hospital quickly enough, instead of calling 911, they could have saved him.
“And, of course,” I went on, “that’s not a rational guilt for you to have been carrying. They got to your apartment within 10 minutes, and the paramedics did all they could do for him. Nothing else could have been done. I don’t mean to bring up painful memories, but you’re still carrying ]]> Poker Experiences http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=8 Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:06:00 -0600 http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=7 Sure, we sometimes talk about “poker clack.” But that’s wrong. It’s one word: pokerclack — look it up in the dictionary. No, wait! Don’t look it up; I was just bluffing. But it should be in the dictionary, because it’s among the most profitable sounds in poker.

What is it? Instead of trying to define it, I’ll let you demonstrate it for me. Put your tongue against the roof of your mouth, just slightly touching your teeth. Now, apply a little suction. Good. Now, don’t do anything else until I tell you to.

OK. Pull your tongue down into a normal position. Did you hear it? That’s poker clack! Do it a couple more times. Try it loud. Try it soft. It’s the soft pokerclack, the one you can hardly hear, that’s most important. That sound will help build your bankroll.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

What does video poker pokerclack tell you? Prepare pokerclack now. That’s right, tongue against roof of mouth, touching teeth, slight suction — you’ve got it! Now, pretend that you’re listening to your friend.

She says, “I’m finally going on the vacation I’ve dreamed about all my life. We’ll spend a week in Italy, three days in France, and four days in England. I can’t believe we’re finally going to Europe!”


TRYING IT ONE MORE TIME

Release pokerclack now. Ah, that worked! Pokerclack is more of a sympathetic sound, a sad sound. Do you remember what I’ve told you about sad sounds?

Most poker opponents try to convey the opposite of the true strength of their hands. They’ll act confident when they’re weak or bluffing ; they’ll act sad when they’re strong.

We’ve now proven to ourselves that pokerclack is a sad and pitiful sound. Opponents make it only when they have strong poker hands. You’ll hear it about twice a night

— usually when an opponent sees a card that helps him and then makes a “reluctant” bet. Advice? When you hear pokerclack, don’t call. Save your money..

Imagine that you’re sharing your friend’s excitement; so release pokerclack now. That’s right, you yanked your tongue suddenly back to its normal resting place. Good. But did that sound right to you? Your friend was asking you to share her enthusiasm and you made pokerclack.

Hmmm. That might not have been the appropriate thing to do. Prepare pokerciack again. Now let’s suppose that, instead, your friend says, “Shep died today. We’ve had that dog for 14 years, and maybe it had fleas and couldn’t see good anymore, but it was a member of our family."

Release Pokerclack now... Didn't that sound more to the point?


Remember this when you bluff your enemies into success :) ]]> General http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=7 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 11:03:00 -0600 http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=2
Greg Pierson is the man! No, you haven’t heard of him yet, but mark my words, GP’s new company, loVation — an Internet security company — will have a billion dollar valuation by 2008. Considering how much respect I have for Greg and the fact that I’m lucky enough to be an investor in loVation, I vowed to him that he could get some private lessons from me anytime.A friend of Phil’s loses two hands, but things could have been worse

Greg Pierson is the man! No, you haven’t heard of him yet, but mark my words, GP’s new company, loVation — an Internet security company — will have a billion dollar valuation by 2008. Considering how much respect I have for Greg and the fact that I’m lucky enough to be an investor in loVation, I vowed to him that he could get some private lessons from me anytime.

Greg was playing in the $10-$20 blinds no-limit hold’em poker game at Bellagio when the following hand came up. He had run his $1,000 buy-in all the way up to about $4,200, and limped in with the 9+ 7+. When the fellow behind him also video poker limped, and the aggressive player behind both of them made it $100 to go, Greg called, as did the fellow (Player B) behind him. So far, so good, I told Greg. There’s nothing wrong with taking a flyer here or there for 2.5 percent of your chips.

When the flop came down 9-9-2, Greg and Player B checked, the original raiser bet $200, and Greg smooth- called. This was OK as well, I told him, as you probably should smooth-call and bring the third party into this growing pot, unless a 9 and deuce provided a possible flush draw, in which case you may want to raise immediately and put the raiser to the test, or get him to commit all of his chips with a flush draw. In any case, Player B also called the bet.

The turn card was a deuce, Greg and Player B checked again, and the original raiser bet $400. Greg smooth-called again with his nines full of deuces, as did Player B. Good play, I again told my friend. On the end, after a 3 hit the board, Greg bet out $1,000, and Player B raised $600 more all in. Greg called, and Player B showed down four deuces.

My expensive advice here was: Don’t make top full house when your opponent has four of a kind! Seriously, there was no way of saving any money in this situation. Greg summed it up well: “I’m just glad he didn’t have any more money in front of him!”
A second hand played out as follows. First of all, let me say this: Greg has decided that he wants to be a player, not just someone who sits there anteing off his chips. So, here we go.
Greg called $20 with the Q• J+, and the same aggressive player raised, making it $100 to go again. Greg called the raise quickly, and everyone else folded before the flop.
Greg summed it up well: “I’m
just glad he didn’t have any
more money in front of him!”

The flop came down 9-4-4, Greg checked, and his only opponent bet $100. Greg called the $100 bet with the intention of bluffing out his aggressive opponent on one of the two ensuing rounds of betting. The next card was a 10, and Greg checked again. His opponent now bet $600, whereupon Greg studied for a moment and then moved his opponent all in for his last $1,000.

After what seemed like an eternity to Greg (it always seems like a long time when we “sweat out” someone calling our big bluff), his opponent called with A-9. Now, Greg could still win with an 8, a jack, a queen, or a king. As fate would have it, the last card was a 3, and Greg lost the pot.
I told Greg, “GP, I like the way you played your poker hand here. You gave yourself two ways to win the pot: one by having your opponent fold and the other by hitting your hand. Give your opponent credit for making a good call here, but also understand that he is now set up to call you down. All you have to do is wait until you have a strong hand, play it the same way you just played your bluff, and you’ll get all of your money back and then some.”

Experimentation is a good thing in poker. If you always play your hands the same way, you’ll become predictable and easy to read. This lesson cost GP a few dollars, but after all, he could have won the pot! + Chat or play poker with Phil at UltimateBet. corn.
Tolearn more about him, or his books and DVDs, go to
PhilHellmuth.com; for Phil’s celiphone game, check out
HellmuthHoldem.corn.]]> Poker Experiences http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=2 Tue, 5 Dec 2006 05:57:35 -0600 http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=15 Video poker machine by analyzing the pay schedule, and I explain two variations of video poker play, known as 9/6 jacks or better and deuces wild. I also discuss aspects of video poker that aren’t usually covered in the how-to books, but are nonetheless important, things such as low-roller bankroll considerations, how to decide whether to play quarters or dollars, when to deviate from optimal strategy, and other practical considerations.I originally learned to play by reading the earliest video poker books and I continue to upgrade my strategies as new titles are published; these books are readily available and I recommend the best ones in the Appendix. I do cover the most important skill, choosing a
Video poker machine by analyzing the pay schedule, and I explain two variations of video poker play, known as 9/6 jacks or better and deuces wild. I also discuss aspects of video poker that aren’t usually covered in the how-to books, but are nonetheless important, things such as low-roller bankroll considerations, how to decide whether to play quarters or dollars, when to deviate from optimal strategy, and other practical considerations.

If you want to develop your skills further, you can delve into the fine points as deeply as you like and learn to play expert-level video poker by reading the same books we do and practicing on the new computer programs that are now available.
Pay Tables and Strategies.

Once upon a time there were just a few variations of video poker. It was easy to identify the best ones and to learn the proper playing strategies. Then the video poker universe exploded. Lenny, my original video poker guru, lists 55 different video poker variations in his latest strategy book, and the machine manufacturers are bringing out new ones all the time. I imagine there will soon be a hundred different kinds of video poker. So it’s a real challenge for the video poker student and/or player to stay current. Some of these schedules pay back well, others are terrible. Some have easy-to-learn strategies, some are a real bear.

So, all video poker machines are not created equal. How do you pick a good one? First you must learn to read the machines, just as you did the slots. The thing is, reading machines is much more important in video poker than it is with slots, because you can determine exactly how much every machine will pay you back for your play. That’s the essence of video poker. The casino’s edge (or better yet, the casino’s lack of an edge) isn’t a deep dark secret.

Every video poker machine displays a pay table. The pay table gives the payouts for the different hands. Since all payout schedules are based on a 52 card deck (or 53 or 54 cards if there are one or two jokers), any computer can easily calculate how many times you will get a royal flush, straight flush, four- of-a-kind, full house, and so forth. By feeding the payout schedule into a computer, the experts can determine the exact percentage that machine will return. Return rates usually vary from below 90% all the way up to well over 100%.

There are so many different kinds of video poker machines in a casino that it’s impossible to remember all the relevant details for every one. When I come across a new video poker variation, I can write down the pay table, consult the book to find the payback percentage, and know immediately whether it’s a playable game.
I don’t have to own, or even know how to use, a computer to check these figures. ]]> General http://www.passapassword.com/index.php?itemid=15 Fri, 3 Feb 2006 11:14:00 -0600