Land Based Poker and Events
June 19, 2010 by bkkpkerplayer
Filed under Poker Strategy
In this new age of online poker, many players forget or don’t know what its like to play in a live, land-based poker event. Many casinos offer poker play all day in cash games, and in bigger venues even live poker tournaments. Playing live poker is very different from online poker, and some players have found that they do better playing live poker. Even a beginner player should sit down at a live table at least once and most casinos have very low-limit tables to help you from going broke.
Unlike playing poker online, live land-based events give you an opportunity to read your opponents and make plays based on their tells. Tells are noticeable changes in your opponents (or yours) behavior that will give you clues about the cards in their hand. Learning how to spot your opponents’ tells will provide you with an immeasurable advantage during land-based poker events. When you’re reading your opponent, pay attention to the way he is playing or has been playing because many players will throw out false tells in an attempt to throw you off their scent.
Many casinos across the world play host to various poker tournaments throughout the year, and a seat in these tournaments is typically a small buy-in fee. Live poker tournaments are an ideal way for a new player to learn different techniques and styles of your favorite poker games. Live poker tournaments will give you a much better understanding of poker strategy and help your implement strategy better online.
Professional poker player Daniel Negreanu is world-famous for his keen ability to accurately read his opponents. Perhaps this is why Negreanu is one of the most successful tournament players in history. His method is simple and one any amateur should use as they learn more about the game of poker; watch the hands your opponents play and how they play those hands. This strategy is one best employed at land-based poker events since you get to see how your opponents play hands even when you’re not in a hand, which is perhaps the biggest advantage to land-based poker. Observing the table even when you’ve folded your hand can give you much more insight into your opponents because when you’re not in a hand you have more time to watch what they do and eventually you’ll even get to see the hand.
Playing a land-based poker event is a big step for a beginner player, but the potential for learning is so great that your strategy will only improve if you do. As long as you play low limits and know when to call it a day, land-based poker will not overwhelm you, it will only serve to help you improve as a player.
Holdem news how To Play Live Online Poker
September 13, 2009 by bkkpkerplayer
Filed under Online Gambling
Live online poker is the next best thing to playing in a smoke-filled room with your best buds. In fact, it may even be better, because you can always find an online game when your friends arent interested in playing in person.
When you play online live poker, youre playing against other humans who are playing at the same online casino as you at exactly the same time.
In other words, youre playing real poker except the guy sitting next to you isnt spilling beer on your chips. Other than that, the game if played the same.
Live online poker isnt any easier to play than face-to-face poker. The chances are that youll be up against at least a few experienced players who know the game better than you do.
Dont be fooled into thinking that no one can see your tells. They may not know when you are raising your eyebrows, or scratching your nose, or doing whatever you do when youve got a good hand, but there are other ways to determine how good or bad a players hand is even when youre playing live online poker. Here are some things to look out for:
Watch the speed of play. When a player takes a long time to bet online, you can be sure hes thinking about his hand.
Look for betting clues like checking and raising.
Look for signs of a player using the Check Boxes and Auto Play features. You can tell when these features have been enabled because their action will take place immediately after the last player makes his play. If you see that the player has checked the Any Raise box, for example, you can figure hes proud of his hand. If, on the other hand, the player is automatically checking, you can conclude that his hand is weak.
Watch how many hands a player folds versus playing. A player who folds frequently is usually a tight/aggressive player who knows when to invest and when to get out. A player who stays in, even with junk hands, is inexperienced. Focus on making his chips yours.
Watch how players interact with the chat box. Normally chatty players, who suddenly go silent, are probably looking at a good hand that requires their attention.
Follow these tips and youll have fun playing live online poker.
For more information on this and other poker related topics, visit our website at http://www.holdem-news.com

