Bangkok Poker Player

Little Known Secrets of Phuket

bkkpkerplayer — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:51:19 +0000

Nestled on the balmy waters of the Andaman Sea on the Indian Ocean, Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, with roughly the size of Singapore. Located about 850 km south of Bangkok, Phuket is truly an exceptional tourist destination, blessed with lush tropical landscape, palm fringed powdery white sandy beaches, splendid coves and bays, dazzling island-dotted sea, and delightful turn of the century edifices.

The focal point of Phuket is undoubtedly its magnificent beaches, of which many are secluded and were till recently some of the best kept secrets of the island. Even some of them had no names in any of the world map.

Every beach found here has its own uniqueness and charm. Stretching more than 3000 meters, Patong Beach is perhaps the most popular among the Phuket beaches, providing a range of entertainment facilities amid natural settings. Likewise, Nai Harn Beach is an excellent vantage spot for enjoying breathtaking views of tropical sunsets.

Nearby is spectacular Rawai beach, whose surroundings are inhabited by sea gypsies, which is thought to have been the descendants of some of the earliest inhabitants in the island. Also, popular are Karon and Kata beaches, both of them with a fine mix of natural and man made attractions. Other worth mentioning beaches in the area are Kamala Beach, Nakalay Beach, Kalim Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Yanoi Beach, Nui Beach, and Ao Sehn beach.

With these scores of incredible beaches, Phuket is truly a haven for water sport activities such as sailing, sea canoeing, water skiing, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, para sailing, boating, swimming, fishing, and jet skiing.

However, the activities that can be enjoyed in Phuket are not just confined to water sports. For instance, for those who want to discover the traditionalism of the island, one of the best choices would be to head any of the centers offering classes in Thai kickboxing, otherwise known as Muay Thai, one of the ancient martial arts of the country used by warriors to safeguard the kingdom from Burmese as well as other powerful invaders.

Nowadays, people from across the globe come here to master this amazing art. This martial art is not only a great way to understand the traditional values of the region but also to enhance your strength, stamina, and endurance.

If you are a golf freak, then excellent 18-hole golf courses designed by world-famous architects are available, including Banyan Tree Club at Bangthao Beach, Phuket Country Club, Blue Canyon Country Club, and Loch Pam Golf Club, all of them enabling you to play golf while enjoying the scenic vistas of lush mountains and crystal Andaman. Also, interesting are activities such as elephant trekking and horse riding. In addition, Phuket boasts of a continuum of options for children in the form of centers conducting kids Yoga, nature parks, and establishments imparting classes to procure knowledge in some interesting crafts.

When comes to sightseeing, options available are truly endless. One of the most popular options for sightseeing in Phuket is its temples and shrines. Of which, most popular is probably the Wat Chalong, a Buddhist shrine that is much famed for its healing powers. The prime draw of the temple is its prayer hall, sanctified with three statues of most revered monks: Luang Por Chaem, Luang Por Gluam, and Luang Por Chuang. Dedicated to two heroines who defeated Burmese attackers during the Thalang Battle, Wat Phranangsang is another popular shrine in the region. Also, a great temple in the region is Wat Phra Thong, with a huge half buried image of the Lord Buddha. Besides, Buddhist temples, many Chinese shrines can also be seen here.

Take a tour to old Phuket town, believed to have been founded in the 1st century BC. The area is packed with an array of incredible cultural spots such as Heroine’s Monument – two statues of Kunying Jan and Thao Sri Suntorn, and several Sino-Portuguese colonial mansions. Also, visit the elegant museums in the region such as Phuket Sea Shell Museum and Thalang National Museum, each of which provides a deep insight into the historical past of the region. Other sightseeing options in Phuket are Khao Phra Thaeo National Park with unique flora and fauna, Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, with thousands of butterflies, Marine Biological Research Centre, an aquarium with unique fish species, and Promthep Cape.

Above all, the island has accommodation to cater to every type of visitor, from budget conscious travelers to the well-heeled. Equally fabulous is the scrumptious Thai cuisines available in the region. Further, the nightlife in Phuket is intoxicating with a plethora of nightclubs, restaurants, and go go bars, of which most popular are Phuket FantaSea and Simon Cabaret.

So, this time, choose the incomparable destination of Phuket as your vacation spot, and set in a thrilling journey to explore the little known secrets of the island!

Video poker guru

bkkpkerplayer — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:42:07 +0000

So I’m in the casino (as if I should be somewhere else) when the young fellah calls me up on the mobile to ask for words of wisdom on online video poker. I’m not exactly at my best, nursing a screwdriver. Time was, when I was a little hung over, I would just chug coffee, black and sweet as my lover’s kiss. But, now I’m a cranky baby boomer, the caffeine winds me up too much – don’t need that kind of a buzz no more, don’t find too many women offering free kisses neither, more’s the pity. So I turns to Jack here behind the bar. He now keeps a stock of real fresh oranges and mixes me a small jug of juice, a touch of vodka to keep it interesting and three of four of them Vitamin C tablets for effect.
Anyways, I’m not feeling enlightened, so don’t have the strength to tell the young fellah, “no”. Don’t play the video slots as much as I usta, but still carry my little strategy cards around with me. Looks kinda professional. Not like me at all, what with me being so frayed round the edges. But even I got a little mortified by the looks I got when I pulled out those pieces of paper, all scruffy and dog-eared. So I draws up another set and Jack here got it laminated for me – he’s real versatile when he’s a mind. It sits in my pocket, and if ever I see a machine with good-looking prospects, I can spend an hour or so getting better acquainted with it. No-one should ever pass up the chance when it comes knocking on your door.
Just one problem for me these days. Video poker strategy isn’t just about accuracy. Speed also is important. You gotta play fast enough to make your money per hour. I’m not fast enough no more. I need my thinking time and the reflexes have slowed. I can’t play enough hands per hour to make it really worth my while.
Some of you probably asking why play video poker at all. Well, it’s kinda second nature to me ’cause I live in one casino or another, so I pass the slots every time on my way to the tables. I create two-way traffic. Folks see me coming to the table, they feel the intimidation factor. Skill with the cards is one thing, but face-to-face is another thing. Guess the ones as knows me don’t want to make the wrong play and look more than a mite foolish so, as soon as they decently can, they’re on their way back to the video poker slots where they feel more comfortable on their ownsome. Fortunately there’s always more than a few newcomers and a few of the old hands as fancy their chances to keep me interested in the real thing.
But sticking with video poker, the most common machines simulate draw poker using one 52-card deck with a virtual shuffle after every hand. First off, you ante up – that’s coins in the slots or your credit balance taking a hit. Five random cards hit the virtual felt. You weigh up how many of the five you’re discarding, and random replacements are dealt from the remaining 47 cards. For those of you as likes hard numbers, there’s 2,598,960 possible hands as can be produced with a 52-card deck.
Now that is the kind of information that intimidates!
Playing video poker online, the virtual shuffle or random number generator (RNG) in the machine simulates the probabilities of drawing any one of the combinations of hands. The House edge comes from adjusting the pay tables in line with the probability set. And ’cause the House always does its sums right, that edge is clearly set and damned hard to beat.
Perhaps, you’ve been thinking that there’s no skill in this game. Well, you’re the one making the decision which cards to keep out of your first five. But that’s where we part company with the real world. In a regular poker game, you’re playing whoever’s sitting round that table. In video poker, all you’re trying to do is get one of the winning card combinations listed in the pay table. The game isn’t to beat anyone else’s hand.
That means there’s a proper mathematical playing strategy for video poker. For any five card deal, what you hold or discard can be calculated to give you the best outcome against the pay table for the machine you’re playing. Change the pay table and your proper playing strategy gotta change too. As the size of that old jackpot changes, your strategy’s changing right alongside.
So, that’s my jug empty and my hangover gone. Time for me to go earn my living. Catch ya ’round. Hey, look. This is me with my nice big smile coming right atcha.

Best free online card games – Part 1

bkkpkerplayer — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:36:35 +0000

One of my favorite past times is playing cards. In these days and times, it can be difficult to get people together to be able to play cards. The world has become fast paced. I have learned to use the Internet to be able to get my card “fix”.

I will compile a list of the web-sites I visit to play cards. Some of these games are against the computer, but the majority are against other players across the world. These sites usually allow you to chat with these other players too.

I have always had a gambler side to me. I love to play poker and blackjack. There are very many web-sites that have poker. On the sites that allow you to gamble, most have free-play also. I frequent some of those sites. Two of those sites that have free and pay play are Poker Stars.com and Bo dog.com. They have all the poker games from Texas hold-em to Omaha hi-lo. I also have another poker site I visit that has a twist. It is completely free and you can build your chips to buy a house. You can also play the stock market, have a bank account, and many other additives besides poker. That web-site is: http://pokerrpg.com/

If poker isn’t your cup of tea, I also have another site that has many card games, board games, puzzles, etc…I have played such games as hearts, solitaire, mah jong, and yahtzee. Of course you must register with a valid e-mail address, but the games are completely free. That web-site is: http://www.us.zylom.com/

At all of these sites you can play for money too. Please be very careful if you do. Take it from someone who knows, gambling doesn’t pay. Very few people come out ahead by gambling. If you feel you want to try that side of the card world, please visit this web-site first; it could help you a lot: http://www.pokerstrategy.com/#

Well, it’s Saturday night and no one is home. There is nothing to do. Just sign on to your Internet and play cards with the thousands of other people out there wanting to do the same. They are lonely too. Have a good chat, make some new friends, and play cards. Remember though, have fun but play in a responsible way.

I think I will run along now and go play some free poker with the fellas at this new web-site I just found; it is: PurePlay.com.

Poker Bluffs

bkkpkerplayer — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:37:50 +0000

One of the intricacies of poker that is often overlooked is that the best hand dealt does not win, but the best hand in the showdown wins. The objective of poker bluffs is to fool a person with a good hand into folding so that you can win with a moderate hand. However this does not mean that you engage in rampant bluffing. There is a time and place for everything and the same applies to poker bluffs. Poker strategy on bluffs says that you should not bluff in low limit games. The poker stakes are too low in such games to scare your opponents into folding and you will be wasting your bankroll by ending up with mediocre hands in showdowns. Do not bluff against weak players. They do not understand the finer points of poker and tend to enter every poker deal. Poker bluffs are most effective when there are few players left in the fray. If there are too many players someone or the other will call your bluff.

One thing you have to realize about poker bluffs is that you are not the only player who can engage in them. Other players are probably equally adept at poker bluffs. Hence it is important to be able to identify when a poker player is bluffing. There are certain unconditional responses a player makes while playing and it important to be able to read them. For example when a player has a strong hand he may adopt an aggressive posture, or start to sweat or look at his cards frequently. In poker parlance such unconscious acts are known as ‘tells’. If a player does not exhibit his trademark tell then he is not holding a good hand and if he is still in the betting then he is most likely bluffing.

Professional poker players are able to control their tells. However from the cards they display at the poker showdowns you can tell if they are habitual bluffers. Wait till you have a reasonably strong hand and then bait the bluffer. Do not raise bets aggressively but match the bluffer bet for bet. This way you can expect to win a large pot.

Book reviews: Thai Die, by Monica Ferris

bkkpkerplayer — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:02:07 +0000

Since the inception of Monica Ferris’ “Needlecraft Mystery Series” with the release of the first installment, “Crewel World,” heroine Betsy Devonshire has been able to crack even the toughest of all cases. Although Ferris undeniably found a successful writing formula early on in the series, as she continues to churn out entries, she has become increasingly experimental in an effort to breath new life into old characters and tired plotlines.

“Thai Die” is Ferris’ twelfth entry in the series, and fans will be delighted to learn that Betsy is back again! As the novel opens, Betsy and the Monday needlepoint group that has amassed over the years since she inherited the needlecraft store, Crewel World, from her murdered sister, are fawning over the souvenirs that Doris Valentine brought back from her recent vacation in exotic Thailand.

Thoughtful Doris has purchased a piece of Thai silk for each of her friends, but the group is far more interested in the unique stone Buddha statue that was given to Doris by an American living in Bangkok. As per his request, Doris is to deliver the statue to an antiques dealer in nearby St. Paul, Minnesota. But, before she makes her delivery, she decides to discard the old, dirty cloth that was wrapped around the statue.

Noticing a beautiful pattern on the cloth, Betsy decides to keep it instead. But, as the novel continues, she starts to wish she hadn’t! Not long after Doris delivers the statue, the antiques dealer is found murdered and her own apartment is trashed. It doesn’t take long for Betsy to realize that the cloth she salvaged is a piece of valuable Thai silk that is over two thousand years old.

While the plot of “Thai Die” may seem a bit outlandish, Ferris does a good job of creating and developing suspense throughout the book. In addition, fans will be delighted to be afforded the opportunity to solve yet another mystery alongside Betsy and the rest of Ferris’ familiar cast of characters. Furthermore, this entry certainly provides readers with an action-packed narrative that is much more fast-paced and intense than Ferris’ last entry in the series, “Knitting Bones.”

Overall, “Thai Die” provides readers with the same comfortably familiar formulaic writing that has served as the driving force behind much of Ferris’ success as a novelist. Without a doubt, the action and suspense of this entry’s plot will leave readers gripping the edges of their seats. If you can suspend reality for a couple of hours and if you can set aside the massive amounts of needleworking jargon and fabric-talk, you will certainly find “Thai Die” to be a quick, entertaining read.

The benefits of teaching English abroad

bkkpkerplayer — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:40:28 +0000

Deciding to break free from the daily grind and go on a teaching and traveling adventure for six months is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I combined backpacking with teaching English in Thailand, which gave me a chance to work and save money while getting to know the country and its people from the inside, as a worker and not simply a tourist.

In many Asian countries, to secure work as an English teacher requires only that you are a native English speaker. To increase your chances of getting a teaching job, there are plenty of TEFL courses to choose from, which also provide you with useful lesson ideas and invaluable advice. Some of these course can be completed through distance or on-line learning within months (visit www.TEFL.com).

My insight and absorption into Thai culture grew as I began work as an English teacher in a Bangkok school. I became friends with Thai teachers, and we socialized after work to eat, drink, laugh and talk for hours about the children we taught and our contrasting ways of life. They gave me many insider tips’ that tourists find out the hard way.

I was a bag of nerves on my first day yet teaching a class of nearly 40 excitable children aged three to thirteen turned out to be a life changing experience. I was swept away by their warmth, willingness to learn and instant respect for me as their teacher; each lesson I was greeted with big smiles and hugs and small hands reaching out to take mine.

On a salary of 28,000 Baht per month – which, at around 380, was higher than the national average wage – I had more than enough money to cover the low costs of living and to save any extra for travelling, which I did nearly every weekend.

Getting around Bangkok was made easy by the skytrain, a station of which I was lucky to stay right next to in subsidised accommodation near the school’s main office. Running through the heart of the city, the skytrain – when compared to other transport on the hazardous, congested roads – is a relatively cheap, quick, air-conditioned and more reliable alternative.

A city that never sleeps, Bangkok is a 24-hour feast for the senses. From the intoxicating aroma of Chinatown and the buzz of the Night Bazaar to Chao Praya River, where a hop on, hop off’ cruise takes you to temples including Wat Arun and the golden Reclining Buddha. There are moments I remember well – like hearing nothing but the sound of water gently lapping and the occasional croak of a frog while bamboo rafting down the River Kwai; taking a bumpy ride on an elephant or an even bumpier ride on the aptly named Death Railway in Kanchanburi.

Living and working in a foreign country was an authentic experience I will never forget. Now I have been badly bitten by the traveling (and indeed the TEFL teaching) bug, I plan to take off on another adventure as soon as I can. I became completely immersed in a different culture in a way that I wouldn’t have had I stayed only a few weeks. Teaching brought me closer to the people and gave me the chance to make a real and lasting contribution to the lives of children.

Online Poker Way for Entertainment

bkkpkerplayer — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:33:13 +0000

Today people are so busy that they need some free time for leisure and entertainment. The people of USA spend there free time by playing casino games. Poker is the most preferred and played game in the world. Poker games entertain and give feeling of relaxation.

There are so many land based casinos in the USA and all are legal. They have license for running casino in that particular area. In a casino you can find various other games including poker, other games such as slots, bingo, blackjack and craps.

If you visit a land based casino or play in online casino than you will notice that most of the people are playing poker and blackjack game only. Other games are not so much popular among people. You can get rules and other information about casino games from supportive staff present in online casino. In case of online casino there are all rules and guidelines present from where you can know about the game.

There are some pros and cons of both online and land base casinos. Before playing any game collect all information related to the poker game or any other casino game. Start investing money from very minimal amount. This will give you an opportunity to play casino game and will get practical knowledge about the game. After you are confident about the game and know rules and tricks for winning the game very well than only invest huge amounts.

Online poker games are available 24 hrs and most online casino provides customer support also. The reason behind the popularity of online poker is its 24 hr availability and you can play game from the comfort of your home.

For playing poker or any casino game one has to download software for playing the game. Never rely on all casino sites. Before playing a game online collect database of some reliable sites.

One more important thing is that collect all information about site’s policies, its location, payment methods and fees involved. Now a days online gambling has been banned by various countries and among all of them is USA.

Poker is a game of skill and can be played at online casinos. Online casinos have various games available and you can collect information about them from any online casino. There are some sites which provide free bonuses for first time players and for repeat customers. If you find any good online casino than don’t forget to bookmark it, as you can benefit from it in future. You will get extra points and bonuses.

Basics of online poker – Part 10

bkkpkerplayer — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:20:56 +0000

While doing some paid freelance article writing, I learned about the phenomenon of how many people play poker online. It amazed me really, but not only that, I had to try it. I knew all of the poker sites had play money sections. I felt I could get a feel for it without breaking the bank. Trust me, I am not a gambler. Even losing two dollars once a year on a horse race is enough to keep me away from betting.

But something about playing poker online got me in. So I signed up, downloaded and chalked up my play money balance. Of course knowing that I could just go to the bank and get some more meant I played in a somewhat carefree manner. But it certainly did feel great when I won. I could immediately see how someone could get hooked on playing at an online poker site. But I could also see how careful administrations and patience could see some nice sums build up.

Which brings a dilemma in itself. As with all legalized adult ‘fun’, used responsibly this cold be entertaining and profitable. But overuse would surely ruin lives. Where do we draw the line on society? On the up side, playing online poker is private, anonymous, and for the most part a non-judgmental environment. You can hoot and holler, laugh and do all the things you probably shouldn’t do if you play live. But you are time so fast and smart decisions must be made.

On the down side poker online is private, anonymous, and for the most part in a non-judgmental environment. This means there is no one there to warn you may have gone over the limit. No people to face and really it’s hard to get caught playing if your shouldn’t be. So again this comes back to whether you have an addictive personality. If you are prone to go overboard or have had gambling problems in the past, do not tempt yourself here.

If you are like me and make you $10.00 last forever on the 2c tables, then it is fun. For those who put time into it, have a reasonable size bankroll to get them started and participate in online poker tournaments, it can be profitable. Many are making their daily living from playing poker. but how do you make sure you can stick with playing online poker for fun, and not get caught up and overspend?

1. Set limits-daily spend, table spend and profit limits. Decide how much you are comfortable losing. This is a limit you never go over, especially at first. If you play the 1c/2c tables then decide how much you will take to that table, they do have a minimum and maximum limit on some. Decide

Poker Gender Part II : Women… From Mars!

bkkpkerplayer — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:47:39 +0000

Women seem to be more rationally driven when playing poker than most players of the opposite sex.

According to several sources, rational female poker players not only have to find ways of coping with the persistent sexism portrayed on the felt, but also to develop their unique poker strategy using their most obvious strengths. Some of the stereotypes that label reason-driven women are: the manipulative savvy, the classy-aggressive lady, and the bold aggressive go-getter.

The Manipulative Savvy. According to several sources, this category is where all deceiving appearances fall: the “innocent girl” look, the “bimbo” look and the “average brainless middle-aged housewife” look. Women who can easily be judged by how they carry themselves are actually playing poker before sitting at the table; they are already bluffing about how they will potentially play. They know that by playing a seemingly weak female role, they are provoking the type of reaction from other players that will help them win the game: most of their opponents will not feel threatened by them; instead, they will more than likely try to show off their skills with the kind of confidence that really backfires when they realize the deceiving female savvy is taking all their money.

The bimbo will really use her sexuality to distract and irritate; the innocent girl will attract protection from gentlemen and frustration from girl-haters, and the middle-aged housewife will use her apparent ignorance and random curiosity for poker to her advantage.

Savvy women who fool others with their appearance can really benefit from this first impression, since it is easy to figure out a pattern of responses from sexist males to build a killing strategy at the table.

The Classy-Aggressive Lady. This type of female poker player can knock you off your feet when you least expect it. Far from falling into deceiving looks, she has her unique look and class that makes others respect her, but when it comes down to getting everybody’s money, she is relentless.

However, when luck or skill are not at her side, she keeps her poise and reveals no emotion whatsoever; she even keeps talking pleasantly to her worst opponents, which sometimes makes them apologize for taking her money, to what she usually responds with “that’s OK, I understand.” This woman will never use profanity at the table, and her body language will always be calm and together, regardless of how good or bad her game is going.

The Bold Aggressive Go-Getter. This woman is more predictable in the way she conducts herself, and people can clearly see her strong to-the-point personality; she does not bother to make small talk or use her looks to her advantage: she is there strictly to play poker. No emotions or time for drama. She usually has a serious face and keeps to herself, and calmly tolerates sexism with an indifferent attitude, giving energy only to the game. Of course, when it is time to show what she’s made of, she enjoys her victories with a reserved smile.

The previous personality descriptions sound more rational than emotional, and it seems like women have learned to protect themselves from poker sexism with exactly the opposite of what is expected of them: getting rid of emotional responses at the table.

This has apparently spurred a highly emotional response from their male opponents, to the point of switching labels from the famous book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Player and author Steve Badger states that “women as a group play poker more successfully than men do because they lose less per capita than men. The mass of women players — most playing tightish, non-hormonal poker — do far better than the mass of men, a great many of whom let ego, machismo and testosterone affect their play dramatically.”

So, as fellow author and player Vince Burgio said, “Why can’t a man be more like a woman?”

Online Poker – Empire Poker: A Great Site To Learn Poker Or To Improve Your Skills At Poker – Find Out Why

bkkpkerplayer — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:16:20 +0000

Poker has become one of the most popular card games at tables around the world, and not only that, it has become the most popular game to be played Online. This curiosity has led to an increased interest in Online poker. People are playing Online poker for real money and play money and for low stakes and high stakes. But, for new players, the world of Internet poker can get very confusing. For these people, Empire Poker (http://www.PokerInfoSource.com/Go/Empire-Poker) is a good place to start.

Empire Poker is a well-known Online gaming center that is part of a larger network run by IGlobalmedias software. There are five to six other poker rooms that share the same player vase and use the same software as Empire Poker. There are around six to seven thousand players on Empire Poker during peak hours.

Some of the benefits of Empire Poker, include telephone and email support service, the availability of fixed poker games, and fast games. Also, you get an instant sign up bonus of $100 and a bonus match of 20%.

Some of the bad things about Empire Poker is the fact that there is some missing lobby information and also that the software is somewhat mediocre, although it has good functionality. The games are generally fast, but unfortunately some details are missing, including the percentage of players who see the flop.

If you’re looking for a variety of different games at Empire Poker, you’ll find them. Most people go to Empire Poker looking for Texas Hold’em games, however you can also find Seven-card Stud games, and other tournaments as well. The limits range from $25 no limit tables, to $0.5 to $1 limit games, to $100-$200 limit games, to $2,000 no limit tables. Also, there are occasionally some big free-roll tournaments at Empire Poker, with up to $10,000 in prize pools with zero restrictions.

And, when one is playing with his or her money, one generally wants it when and where they want it very fast. At Empire Poker deposits and withdrawls are very fast and there are many options for players to choose from when it comes to using money.

So, if you’re interested in learning more about Texas Hold’em or Online Poker, take a turn around Empire Poker’s Web site at http://www.PokerInfoSource.com/Go/Empire-Poker. You can learn how to play poker, the best strategies to use in different variations of poker, keep up to date on all the latest stats with the pros, and test new strategies of your own. It’s a great way to get started and a good way to stay sharp with any skills that you already have. And, if you’re not interested in risking any of your own money, take a turn on some of the site’s play money tables.