Online Poker1

How to Read an Online Poker Review: Part 2 of 2

In part 1 of this 2 part series, we began to lay out for you exactly what online poker reviewers look for when evaluating an online poker room, using the poker review template from our own poker portal at Poker-Ranking.com.

In part 1, we explained in depth the following sections: Software and Graphics, Game Variation and Limits, and Traffic. In this concluding article, we will delve into what information is contained in the rest of the sections of a typical online poker review.

Competition
Here in an online poker review, youll find a gauge of the level of skill predominant at the various games (Texas Holdem, etc.), types (Ring Games, etc.), betting structures (Limit, etc.), and stakes (100200, etc.).

The term fish refers to players that arent very good. The call a lot of bad bets and can be intimidated easily. A good player can beat fish consistently with little difficulty.

The term shark refers to expert players that devour the fish. (For another appropriate animal reference, consider a fox in the henhouse.)

Bonuses
This part of an online poker review will tell you the signup bonus youll get (usually a percentage match against your first deposit), as well as any other bonuses available at the online poker room.

Some common bonuses are as follows:

Bad Beat Bonus: If you lose a hand holding higher than a certain amount (usually 4 Queens), you win the largest portion of a bonus that is shared amongst all the players that posted blinds in that round

Magic Hand Bonus: Every round (or hand) in an online poker room is given a number (which is how you can later refer back to earlier games); in a Magic Hand Bonus, the online poker room chooses a number (say, every one millionth hand) and gives every player who posted blinds in that hand a share of the bonus, the largest portion going to the winner of the hand

High Hand Bonus: Given to any player that gets the highest hand (above a minimum high hand, eg. 4 Kings) in a set period of time, without folding

Progressive bonuses (or Progressive Jackpots): These start at a certain amount (eg. 500) and each day that goes by without a winner claiming the bonus, a certain amount (eg. 50) is added, until someone wins the accumulated amount and the jackpot is then reset to its starting level.

Rake
Here is where the online poker review will tell you what the commission is that the online poker room takes for each hand. The average rake is 5% of the pot, up to but not exceeding 3. Many online poker rooms take smaller cuts from smaller pots or lower stakes games.

Some have a wonderful No FlopNo Drop policy, stating that if nobody stays in to see the flop, no rake is taken.

Customer Service
This section of the online poker review tells you the ways to reach customer support (toll-free phone, email, live chat), the hours (preferably 247), and most importantly, the quality, courteousness, and responsiveness.

Promotions
Similar to bonuses, but meriting their own section of the online poker review, promotions are special, time-sensitive events, generally with extraordinary prizes that include hefty jackpots, vacations, automobiles, and free seats in World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker events.

Deposits and Cashouts
Youll find two things in this section of an online poker review: first, the payment methods accepted for deposits (purchases) and cashouts (withdrawals), such as PayPal, credit cards, NETeller, etc., and second, the promptness, reliability, and security with which they process these transactions.

Ease of Use
This section of an online poker review usually discusses the usability and intuitiveness (or lack thereof) of the interface. In addition, youll learn here about the layout of the lobby and the information given, including lobby stats like the following:

Hands per hour: Tells you how quickly the game moves and could be a gauge of the experience level of the players;

Average pot: Tells you how aggressive the players are and how much you can expect to win or lose each hand; and

Flop percentages: How many players at the table on average are staying in to see the flop; tells you how loose theyre playing.

With this handy, two-part guide to online poker reviews at your side, you should be sitting in at the perfect online poker table for you, any moment now!

Youve played the software demo games. Youve watched tournaments on television. Youve even read books about it. Now the time has come to look for the best of online poker rooms.
Online poker rooms are the gambling industry embracing the technology age. Barriers of time, distance and race are shattered as more and more people play in online poker rooms. All is needed is the skills and funds to enter the website and begin playing against other people from different places.
When choosing which online poker rooms to visit, a random search through any web search engine should be your first step. You can narrow your results for poker rooms near your area by typing in the name of your city. Though not all poker rooms have a chapter for each city, there is definitely something for you in poker rooms.
The advantage of online poker rooms over the regular casino houses is that the users can play at their own convenience. The comfort and security of playing their favorite card game in pajamas and curlers is one of the selling points of online poker rooms. Like that famous ad by Poker party.com, if you dont have a good poker face then online poker rooms are perfect for you.
Another great thing about these online poker rooms is the ability to provide a freeroll tournament for beginners. Freeroll means that there is no entry fee to be in the game. If you are not yet confident with your skills, you can go to these online poker rooms and play for practice or fun.

Aside from these features, online poker rooms are the perfect places for shy people. And it is a great way to get your confidence up. The impersonal way that computers interact with us is something that poker rooms have recognized and used in their favor. Online poker rooms are very safe and you have the option to leave their membership if you dont think they give you quality service.
Online poker rooms try to accommodate everyone in their site, from beginners to high stake gamblers. Part of that commitment is to help players get promoted from one game level to the next. A major incentive that poker rooms give to their users is to hold tournaments to get you to play in the World Series of Poker. Called satellite tournaments, the winner gets to be sponsored by the online poker rooms as he goes to the championships for a shot of glory and big money.

Many players fear going to online poker rooms because of they think it is susceptible to fraud, viruses and hackers. In truth, poker rooms have strict security procedures. The investment you put in online poker rooms are safe plus these poker rooms provide you with an insurance policy to protect your assets.
There was an infamous case about online poker rooms and their use of bots (computer programs disguised as human players) as house employed card players. That site, ProPoker.com, was found to use bots to gain unfair advantage over other players. It has long been shut down and with it were the funds of the other players.

Of course, now the security is twice as tight and rigid. There are online poker rooms that monitor their players for trying to beat the game using fraud. There are times that the culprits are not the poker rooms but the players themselves.
If you are still not convinced that online poker rooms are a great way to learn and play poker, maybe you should check out their other features: sign-up bonus, promotion points, player utilities, frequent player schemes and free support. One of the more interesting features is the access to poker school. There are poker rooms that allow you to enroll in poker school for free once you sign-up with their service.
All the fears regarding online poker rooms is not as dangerous as the threat of real-life casino house. Whether you decide to play in a brick and mortar casino, there is no harm in taking advantage of the ease, convenience, and accessibility that poker rooms give. The time to discover what online poker can do for you is just one click away.

Following are ten online poker winning tips. While they do not guarantee that you will win every single poker game they serve as a kind of checklist you may rely on.

- Playing too many hands
Nearly all beginners play way too many starting hands, most top players typically play between 20-30% of their starting hands. It is a lot better to concentrate on higher value starting hands and help remove the luck element of the game.

- Know when to hold’em, and know when to fold’em
This is the biggest tip you will get, learn how to fold a hand, and do not be a fisherman, i.e. making a call, thinking you are going to get what you want. Many beginners keep betting regardless of the board or what their opponent’s actions are suggesting. Pros frequently say it is the hands you can lay down that are often the key to profitable play.

- Choose less skillful opponents
Sounds fairly obvious, but you should play at betting limits where you can beat the majority of players. Move down the limits if you are having difficulties winning cash. It is best to leave the ego at the door when playing poker.

- Keep an eye on your opponent’s habits
Especially, when you are not in the hand. The best time to try and read other players, is when you are not emotionally invested in a hand, you can make more prudent observations this way. Watch your opponents bet, how much they bet and in what position are they betting. Learning how your opponents play is one of the keys to success.

- Betting to gain knowledge
To bet should not mean you always have the best hand. Pro players use various betting techniques to try to gain information. For example, a defensive bet is one that you can use early on to avoid calling a bigger future bet. A re-raise may be used to probe the credibility of your opponent’s hand.

- Learn to put your opponents on a hand
Once you have mastered Tips 4 & 5, try and put your knowledge to work. Try being in your opponent’s shoes, and learn to put them on a hand. Ask questions like “Why did he re-raise me that amount?”, and “Why did he only call in the previous betting round?”.

- Learn how to bluff and semi-bluff
..at the right times against the right players, and at the right frequency. Bluffing is often a misunderstood concept, and many beginners dismay most pros use bluffs quite sparingly. A bluff can be very effective when used rarely, and where there is a seemingly low risk of being called by your opponent.

- Changing Gears
Unpredictability is a strength in poker. Most pros can figure out a really loose player by waiting for the nuts (top hand) and being patient. However, an even easier opponent is a tight player or “rock”, who plays only the Group 1 type hands. You need to change your game up, and let them see that you can run bluffs, and can play some lower value starting hands. These changes should be subtle and should not dramatically affect the flop rate we mentioned in Tip #1.

- Understand player position
..and how it is critical. Not only is it important to play strong hands, it is even more important in what position you play them. For example, the ideal position is the Button (the Dealer), as you are last to act, and have the advantage of watching all of the betting action before you need to make a decision. eg. If the action before you consists of a bet, a raise, and a re-raise, and you hold a pair of Tens, you might think that folding is the right decision.

- Read books and take notes
Players can always learn more if they want to be a better poker player. Keep notes on what works and does not work for you, and eventually you will come up with a style of play that works uniquely for you and improves your game.

Helpful Hints for Finding the Right Online Poker Room for You

Playing poker online is becoming increasingly popular as can be seen by the growing number of card rooms popping up all over the Internet. Not all online poker rooms are the same. They differ in the types of players, bonuses, and software that is used. In order to be a successful online poker player it is essential to find an online card room that is right for you.

As you gain more experience playing poker selecting the right room will become increasingly important. The first step will be determining what type of player you are. One of the most accurate ways to figure out which category of player you fit into is to analyze your hand histories using your poker tracker. You will be able to label your playing style and pick a room that will work for you.

Poker Tracker has classified players into some basic categories. A tight- aggressive player should pick a room that will allow them to improve their playing skills to shed that unflattering label. Try to pick a room where the players are mostly beginners, allowing you a chance to work on your strategy.

Generally individuals that usually play tight or weak should lean towards rooms that are a bit looser. A few rooms that fit this description are Party Poker, Pacific Poker, and Poker.com. These sites have tables full of loose passive calling stations.

If your existing playing style can be categorized as loose then you should pick a room that is a bit tighter. A tight room will provide more respect for your raises. Try to find tables full of tight-weak players. Some popular sites that you should consider are Absolute Poker and Full Tilt Poker.

There are other important points to consider when selecting an online poker room. First, you should avoid rooms that you do not understand. Try to select a site where you understand the layout and can navigate through the site easily. Try looking for a site that allows new members a free trial period to get familiar with fundamentals of the card room, including what buttons to click and how fast the action moves.

Also, check to make sure that the site you select has adequate customer service in case you run into any problems. Because you will be divulging personal and sensitive account information, make sure that the room you join offers reliable security protection for its members.

Also, avoid any rooms that are not licensed by a trusted gaming commission. If a room does not have a gaming license it may not be financially reliable or committed to fair ethics. Look for rooms that have been around for a long time and have established a positive reputation. A good indication of strong customer relations is the amount of traffic it attracts. Most poker sites will post their traffic information on their home page.

Seek out rooms where new members receive bonuses. Some sites will offer their members initial sign up bonuses, while others will give existing players a bonus when they reload their account. A typical bonus is ten to thirty percent of your deposit; however most sites have a cap to their bonuses.

You should also seek out an online poker site that has a range of game. If you have a limited selection you may get bored easily. Te site should also offer rooms for various skill levels. This way as you improve as a player you can choose the appropriate difficulty level.

Wherever you choose to play poker on the Internet you should concentrate on strengthening your weak spots. It is also important that you pick a room that you feel comfortable with and meets you personal needs.

Have you ever heard the name Full Tilt Poker? Well, if not yet then here are some facts about the Full Tilt Poker.

Actually, this is also the first time that I ever encounter the Full Tilt Poker and this is my first time to know some facts about this thing. Well for your knowledge, the Full Tilt Poker is actually an online abode for some of the most respected poker stars in the whole world. At the Full Tilt Poker, you can find rich information about poker including some tricks and tips of the poker game that is definitely sweeping the entire cosmos.

The Full Tilt Poker is really a great place for poker addicts since the Full Tilt Poker team offer a vast variety of poker games which involved the No Limit, Pot Limit, and Fixed Limit Holdem as well as classes of Omaha, Stud, and Razz. The Full Tilt Poker also has ring games, Sit and Go tournaments, and multi-table poker tournaments.

As far as I know, the Full Tilt Poker which is of course designed by the poker stars, try to incorporate all the great and cool highlights that make the playing of the poker more pleasurable and for giving the learning experience enjoyable. Aside from that, the Full Tilt Poker also brings a wealth of wisdom about the online poker arena. So it is no doubt that with the Full Tilt Poker you can be as knowledgeable as the pros.

For further information, the Full Tilt Poker being a respected online poker site holds a poker gaming license and abides by all the rules and regulations imposed therein. The Full Tilt Poker then has random number generator that meets all the needed information for getting the license to make sure that the players can experience in Full Tilt Poker an authentic and exciting gaming experience. Aside from that, the poker players need not to worry in Full Tilt Poker, since the Full Tilt Poker has a 128-bit encryption to ensure the excellent level of security for the players data. As such, the Full Tilt Poker keeps all the players information confidentially and privately. In fact, the Full Tilt Poker assured that they will neither share nor sell any information to any third party entities.

With such characteristics of the Full Tilt Poker, it is no doubt that the Full Tilt Poker is the most chosen and favorite sites of many poker enthusiasts. So if you want to know more about the Full Tilt Poker, then you try to visit their site at FullTiltPoker.com for much information about the Full Tilt Poker site.

A free online poker game is what the many people often look today. Some of them preferred those sites online that offered free online poker games than those actual jobs of playing poker. It is for the fact that playing a free online poker game gives certain advantages to the poker players. However, many of those advantages of playing a free online poker game have of course its counterparts, the disadvantages.

So what then are the pros and cons of the free online poker game?

Speaking about the pros of the free online poker games, it is interesting to know that there are several matters under this thing. So to mention, among the many pros of playing a free online poker game brings a certain mode of just staying in the house without driving to the casinos just to play the poker game. All you have to do is just to sit in front of your computer and then immediately browse to the available sites that offered free online poker games and you can start as early as you wish.

Another important thing about the pros of playing a free online poker game is that you are given the chance to just play poker in your underwear. This certain opportunity is great that you dont need to make some preparations for playing the poker game. With that, you have also the freedom to smoke as much as you want and you can breathe clean air at your will. Besides, one of the best advantages of playing free online poker game is that you dont need to tip the dealer and you can even shout and sing along to your headphones without bothering any poker player. And most of all, the free online poker game oftentimes submits itself to many free online poker game players who have never been into the casino for playing the poker game and therefore may not be that sophisticated in their game.

On the other hand, among the cons of the playing free online poker games the first noted one is the fact that in playing the free online poker game, you have the chance to play against some of your poker game opponents who possibly may submit and share details about their hands on a communication channel in which you are not familiar and without your knowledge. There is also a tendency in playing a free online poker game that your poker game opponents will also play their hands in a fly-by-night manner through a communication channel to which you are not also a part of without your knowledge.

And for much information, the act of playing a free online poker game may bring danger to playing the same free online poker game opponents over and over again without knowing the fact. There are also some times in playing a free online poker game that you are not given the chance to be aware that the above mentioned disadvantages of playing a free online poker game are occurring and will still occur, that even the free online poker game hosts or operators have no knowledge about it. So thats it!

Whatever the decision the player may make, it is just necessary to know that these important things are always there. So it is important for the poker players to engage in free online poker games with extra caution.

Most of the poker junkies today preferred looking for some free online poker games and rooms than playing in actual casinos or actual poker rooms. Well, maybe it is for the reason that they found some worthy matters of choosing the free online poker than the actual one. However, there are still several poker lovers today that are not aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the free online poker. So to give you some helpful details about the free online poker, I would like to deal generally on both advantages and disadvantages of the free online poker.

Playing the free online poker may be great but we cant deny that free online poker may also have disadvantages. So to mention first the advantages of playing the free online poker, it is important to note that playing free online poker in the first place doesnt need you to drive to a casino. You just need to sit in front of your computer and locate some of the free online poker games, and then you can start playing the offered free online poker.

Also, playing free online poker will give you the freedom to play the offered free online poker in your underwear, and you can even smoke at will or breathe clean air at will. Another important advantage of playing free online poker is that you dont need to tip the dealer and you can even sing along to your headphones without disturbing any free online poker player. And lastly, the free online poker always submits itself to many free online poker players who have never experience playing poker inside a casino and therefore may not be that social in their play.

However, the bad news for playing free online poker includes the fact that your free online poker opponents may easily submit and share details about their hands on a communication channel to which you are not part. Aside from that fact about playing the free online poker, your opponents may also play their hands in a fly-by-night manner by means of a communication channel in which you are not part. Also, in a free online poker, you may play the free online poker with the same person over and over. And of course by playing a free online poker, there is no way for you to be aware that the above mentioned disadvantages of playing the free online poker are still occurring, and even the free online poker operator may not acquire knowledge about it.

So whatever your decision is, whether you will play free online poker or you will drive to casino to play poker, then go on as wish. But please proceed with caution.

For those who have come across several little sites that provide some of the great poker games online, you probably are not satisfied with the number of players online. Why? It is for the fact that most of the poker players favored those online poker rooms that have enough players to offer you a game where you have different other poker players to play against. Thus the size of the poker network really counts.

With such fact, the Empire Poker is designed as one of the best online poker rooms across the internet offering thousands of online Empire poker players. In the Empire Poker, as many of the researches noted, there will always be plenty of poker tables with different Empire Poker players to choose from, day and night. Aside from that fact, in the Empire Poker, you will definitely find some of the great poker games like the Texas Holdem in which you can select a game with a particular betting limit applied. Besides, in the Empire Poker under the offered Texas Holdem game, you can find games where you can bet what is in the pot and games where a poker player can gamble all his chips at any time.

Furthermore, the Empire Poker also offered poker games like the Omaha High and the Omaha Hi/Lo, 7 Card Stud, and 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo. In such poker room, the player can also play for free tables that are available in the Empire Poker. And accordingly, the Empire Poker also offered some information about the tournaments and they grants the poker players to play their free poker a t their play money tables. Thus, in this online poker room you can either play with real money or play money.

At Empire Poker they provide some facts about the rules of the offered several games as a guide for those who are new Empire Poker players. With that, you can greatly browse at their menus for much important information about playing poker games at the Empire Poker. And being one of the widely visited online poker rooms, the Empire Poker make every effort to make sure that the poker players are playing at a fair and safe environment. Aside from that, the players dont to worry for their personal information since the Empire Poker will keep every players banking and personal information absolutely private.

To further enhance the interest of the readers, it is interesting to know that the Empire Poker customer care, as it is mentioned earlier, is there for you, poker lovers, day and night, 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week. The Empire Poker also ensures that there Customer care Department is always accessible by live online chat or e-mail, whichever the poker players prefer. In addition, a live floor person is often on hand at the poker tables in the activity of any feedback or concerns while playing the poker game.

Finally, the Empire Poker holds that their top most priority is the poker players satisfaction so they bring all of their companys strength for a safe, fun, and fair poker play. So if you want to play a poker game at this site, the Empire Poker is there for you around the clock, 7 days a week!

Dream Job – Earning Your Daily Bread from Online Poker

If you spend most of your work day daydreaming behind a desk of getting home to play a few rounds of online poker, how would you feel to know it is possible to cut out that boring day job interference and play poker full time, while paying your bills? It is possible; many people support themselves and their families by heading to off to a hard days work at the online poker table. Going from poker amateur to full time poker player who brings home the bacon through their card playing is not for everyone, though. Making a living from poker requires skill, commitment, and patience.

Before you consider making a living at online poker, be realistic with yourself about your abilities. How well do you really know the game? Can you play all varieties of poker? Can you play well enough to play multiple games at once? Many full time poker players are playing up to four hands at any given moment. Do you have the ability to know when to walk away from a hand? Poker professionals only play an average of 50% of the hands that they are dealt; do you have the self control to make responsible and calculated decisions about the financial risks involved in poker and not get caught up in the excitement/emotion of the moment and blow the bank?

If you think you have the knowledge and the self-control needed to play effectively, then it is time to be realistic with yourself about the realities of life as a full time online poker player. Most poker pros will tell you this is not a get rich quick scheme. Your commitment to poker will have to take up more of your time than a normal, 9 to 5 kind of job to make the kind of money needed to support yourself, and even with a lengthy time commitment, the rewards of playing poker for a living are more about personal satisfaction than personal wealth. The financial rewards of playing poker are also up and down. Sometimes, youll be riding high and cashing in left and right. Other times, you wont be able to catch a break. Youll need to be careful during the good times to put aside some money to see you through the bad. You should also be sure you are emotionally prepared to go to work every day and lose over and over and over again without giving up.

If youre ready to deal with all of this, then the only thing you need to get started is a bank roll and a computer. The size of your initial investment doesnt have to be huge, but remember that the more money you have to play with, the more money you can win. If you start out with a small bank roll, make sure to reinvest some of the winnings into your career until you have a comfortable balance to work with. When youre just getting started, playing lots of small stakes games, instead of a few high stakes one, is the best way to go to protect your investment and keep the cash flow manageable. When your career is more stable, you can wade into the higher stakes games.

One important thing to keep in mind when you start your online poker career: like any self-employment opportunity, playing poker for a living can become all-consuming. Make an effort to keep a balance in your life with plenty of time away from the poker table. Keeping that balance in your life will keep your stress in check and make your game better.

Are you of legal age to gamble already? Have some money to spare? And more importantly, do you find yourself excited or at the very least, curious, about playing online poker? If so, then youve come to the right place. A lot of people who are new to the online poker scene feel somewhat intimidated and helpless when it comes to playing online poker for the first time.

And at times, their nerves get the better of them. So instead of forging ahead and playing online poker, they back out and simply try to feel content with just watching Celebrity Poker on television or other professional poker tournaments. If youre new to the online poker scene and would like a crash course about it then wait no more because were about to give it to you in three..two..

ONE game is all it takes to get you hooked because poker is truly an amazing game. First, it challenges your brains. Dont believe people when they tell you that poker is an easy game to win. Its not!

But it isn’t as difficult as solving as Rubics cube. When you play poker, whether you do so online or live, youll realize that your brain is challenged to come up with different scenarios for the two cards youre holding with your hand. With those two cards, you should be able to do the following: determine whether it has a good chance of winning, determine your chances against the other players and determine whether its time to fold in the successive rounds.

Secondly, if youre worried about the game getting dull when youre waiting for other players to make a move by folding, calling or raising a bet, you need not worry. This is because online poker sites have foreseen this problem so they made sure they offer their members a lot of cool graphics and distractions if they need to while away the waiting time.

After gaining considerable experience in playing poker, you may be able to make a living out of online poker. I kid you not! Online poker is easier than playing live poker because it offers helpful statistics that will let you know which rooms have big pots and which ones are populated by inexperienced poker players whom you could take advantage of!

But like I said, to be able to reach this stage, you must first gain experience in playing online poker. Make sure, however, that you dont overdo it by bankrupting yourself in the process.