Best Real money poker – Where to play?
The world’s premier online poker rooms provide their players with top-tier bonuses, a range of world-class promotions and generous gaming selections. Among the ranking online poker rooms are the following options: RedKings Poker, Everest Poker, PartyPoker, Poker 770 and 888poker.
Online poker rooms have exploded onto the e- gaming scene. Poker players are able to immerse themselves in realistic poker entertainment at the click of a button from the comforts of home. Chief among the poker offerings are the following: real-money tournaments, ring games, free poker games (freerolls), generous bonuses and exciting poker promotions. The leading poker rooms online include 888poker, PartyPoker, Everest Poker, RedKings Poker and Poker 770. These poker rooms have established themselves as the most credible gaming authorities and each of them is licensed and regulated according to specific jurisdictions.
Premium Real-Money Poker Gaming and Big Poker Pots
The poker software powering these gaming platforms allows for the ultimate in Las Vegas-style gaming. 3D Poker, Teams Poker, PokerCams and customizable poker avatars are characteristics of gaming at the world’s leading UK poker authority – 888poker. And with the trust of over 5 million registered poker players, 888poker is leading the pack. For fans of PartyPoker, this poker room features generous jackpot payouts on games of Limit Holdem, No Limit Holdem, Omaha, Razz, Stud and Caribbean Stud Poker among others. Likewise, Everest Poker provides the very finest real-money poker games online. For poker aficionados seeking something decidedly different, Poker 770 provides a truly unique experience. Players will be able to immerse themselves in rollicking poker showdowns. Experience the joy of this German-language poker room where slick, suave and sophisticated entertainment peppers the platform.
Characteristics of Leading Online Poker Rooms
Leading poker rooms are all fully licensed and regulated according to strict legislation. The likes of the LGA of Malta, the Alderney Gaming Commissions, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) and Costa Rica regulatory authorities abound. Further there are multiple payments processing options available for deposits and withdrawals, one-wallet accounts, poker tutorials and generous bonuses and promotions.
Online Poker Legislations in 2012
There has been talk in the United States Congress of drafting a play online poker bill in 2012. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has spoken about the importance of having a national Internet Gaming Law. Joining the fight with him is Iowa Senator Jeff Danielson who says he is planning to draft and Internet Poker Bill in Iowa.
A Rare Glimpse into Harry Reid’s Stance on Internet Poker
As a former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission it would be expected that Harry Reid be at the center of the online Texas holdem Poker debate. This however, is not the case as Reid has had very little to say about online poker publicly. Recently though, Reid has made public comments about the Department of Justice’s opinion on the Wire Act. He states that this will give them an incentive to get something done in the world of Texas Hold’em online poker. The executive director of Poker Players Alliance, John Pappas, is optimistic about Reid’s comments. He says that it would be advantageous to players and businesses to have a federal play online poker law instead of only a selection of state’s allowing online Texas Holdem poker. Pappas also says he has met with top Democrats and Republicans in the Senate and provided information through the process. With Reid’s work on this legislation, a bill could be on the table at any time.
Iowa Plans to Move into the World of Play Online Poker
Senator Jeff Danielson has jumped on the opportunity of creating Texas Holdem online poker legislation for Iowa after the USDOJ’s decision on the Wire Act. Danielson says that this decision can stimulate intrastate online Texas Hold’em poker and also have a multi-state impact on play online poker laws. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) has illustrated some ways in which Iowa can create and regulate online Texasholdem poker. It has been estimated by the IRGC that play online poker legislation could produce $3 to $13 million in tax revenues annually. Another advantage of Texas Holdem online poker legislation is that small states would be able to collaborate in order to operate in a multi-state platform.
How did Zynga Poker become so popular?
Zynga Poker’s rise to mega-popularity took place in double-quick time. There are millions of players who enjoy Zynga’s Texasholdem Poker as well as its other online games. Zynga’s success has come from tapping into advertising and through social networking sites.
Social Networking Sites
Zynga burst onto the social networking scene in sites such as Facebook and Myspace, offering users a chance to play online poker including Texas Hold’em along with their many other games. There are 29 million people all over the world who play online poker with Zynga. Zynga has also taken advantage of the new social networking site Google+. Zynga Poker is the first game on Google+ and is the largest free to play online poker game.
One advantage of Zynga Poker is that players can use any table, play with friends, or meet new people from around the world to play online poker with. Another great aspect of Zynga Poker is the chance for players to choose from casual Texas Holdem tables to VIP and tournament tables. Zynga also allows players to personalize their seats, chat with other players, send and receive gifts, and to complete challenges. Zynga Poker is also a great game because it does not rush players but at the same time it keeps up a reasonable pace. To keep this game even more exciting, Zynga Poker offers Tournaments and Challenges to all of their players. One of the major complaints that players have with Zynga Poker is that the visual effects are not as impressive as the other games which Zynga offers to its players.
Zynga Advertising
Another growth in Zynga Poker’s popularity has come from its advertising. Zynga has started advertising its games on ESPN.com after Full Tilt Poker and Pokerstars were shut down. Zynga seems to be filling the advertising void which was left by Full Tilt Poker and Pokerstars. This has essentially pushed Zynga to update their Texas Hold’em online poker platform to draw former Full Tilt Poker and Pokerstars players to their site. This advertising also allows Zynga to increase the exposure of their product to potential Texas Holdem customers and to tap into the acquisition of new customers.
WSOP 2011 Schedule Released
The most important poker tournament of the world World Series of Poker will be held 42nd times in 2011. Copyright owner of the tournament Caesars Entertainment Corporation recently released the schedule of the WSOP and announced some important changes in the structure of the events.
The 42nd annual WSOP will start just after one day of the Memorial Day on 31st of May and run for 50 days until 19 of July. The tournament will be held as normally since 2005 Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Convention Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to the US laws anyone can participate over the age of 21 years.
The organizers also announced an important change in the tournament structure so called hard stop. The players will play a maximum of ten levels a day and if the ten levels reached they will stop playing apart from the fact that how many of them remaining, and the event will be continued on the next day.
Although detailed schedule will be released only in January, it is announced that the 42nd World Series of Poker Main Event will begin on 7th of July and finish on 19 July with remaining the nine poker players participating at the final table in November for the most precious WSOP bracelet.
Some Online Poker Suggestions
Your hand is your only strength.
Here is a general rule to upkeep this mantra. You should keep your vision set on the pot when you are in a late position. Even though you will be playing with an excellent hand you should always be aware of the ratio of pot: position. Play the big cards, but if you are in a later position than it’s a good idea to switch to the suited connectors. This especially holds weight if you have four or five players who see the flop with you.
Check in with the pot odds in order to excuse a call from you, more than this, a suited connector like a 4-5 pair can bring an interesting hand if you strike the right flop. Say you have been showing the other players a good card selection; it may now be wise to think of a raise. If so then your challengers will play you on by throwing big cards your way. This can be a huge payout if you hit two pairs or a sweet flop set to compliment your 4-5.
When you play a low card combo, there are several ways to take advantage of the game. Table situations such as low and mid size pocket duos like 3-3 through 10-10 are easily converted into winnings if you play your hand correctly.
Let’s say you are in a late position with at least four to five callers ahead of your turn. This is the time to unleash the potential of your pocket pairs. Another good opportunity to play the pairs is when you notice you are sitting with a group of non aggressive players.
You can recognize this style of play once you see there are a good amount of pre-flop raises. Here is a good time to consider using your pocket pair from late or middle position. However, you must remember that if you do not hold an overpair on the board, then join then don’t bet.
A bit more of a simple strategy to think of when playing online poker is to notice if you are sitting with good, fair or down right awful players. If your opponents are hitting good hangs with poor hands you might be lured into playing the same way: trashing cards to bring huge payouts. This however is the wrong way. Counter this strategy and sit until a good hand appears.
Sahamies and his Swinging Losses
Recently, a major loss of $1 million by Ilari Sahamies to Tom ‘durr’ Dwan brought the latest online competitions to new heights, especially as he faced DrugsOrMe this past Thursday on Full Tilt Poker.
Sahamies string of painful loses was compounded last week as he was taken for an enormous Big Blind Pot against DrugsOrMe. Narrowing in on these brutal defeats is a brief look at his losses.
It was an up and down slide for Sahamies at Full Tilt Poker as he settled into a sour session at a six max pot limit Omaha. Flagging his misfortune was a huge loss on a 768-big-blind pot in a face off against DrugsOrMe and Cadillac 1944.
Sahamies’ end raise went up to $1,400 from, following was DrugsOrMe who took the pot to a three-bet at $4,800. The final flop came in with 6 3 2 , 1944 went all in for the crisp $83,667. Next Sahamies called all in for $50,200, following was DrugsOrMe who called to place the two challengers on edge.
When the A came in to fall on the turn, DrugsOrMe was all sitting pretty on a set of aces that came to crush Sahamies’ chances. Once the 3 appeared on the river was secure with a full house. Taking home the $307,331 pot, DrugsOrMe succeeded not only in winning big but removing the unknown on his style and overall character.
Meanwhile, the USPC main event was being held by PokerStars, who have been running satellites to the 2010 United States Poker Championship (USPC) upcoming event on 11/19/10.
The lead finishers for the $5,250 buy-in on November 19th 2010 began as candidates with only light money, some only entering with several dollars. This of course was able to lend enthusiastic players with a more modest bankroll a real chance to win.
Slated for the Trump Taj Mahal resort in Atlantic City, the USPC is being billed as one of the most prestigious events to surface in sometime in the U.S. There are several promotions and other registration material available at the PokerStars lobby online.
Poker Downunder
How’s the poker down under in these days. Well this years ANZPT Melbourne, Australia action has led to a sward of Ozzy player all vying to put their country further on the poker map. With the latest boom in the U.K. why can’t Australia follow in the new trend as well.
The second year of PokerStars’ expedition deep into Australia and New Zealand has brought the sponsor into the limelight of each event they host. This year, the ANZPT hosted 310 main events
In its seventh stop of season 2, the PokerStars-sponsored Australia and New Zealand Poker Tour hosted 310 main event potential final table winners. The action went down at the Crown Poker Room in the lovely city of Melbourne. The most prized AU$2,700 buy-in organized the cash pool at $775,000 and left thirty-six players with cash in hand. One of the Ozzy stars was Kozlov, who managed to keep himself in with a weak stand of chips he would not come to raise the Australian flag and found himself in a series of grinds throughout his play.
Kozlov remained in with the nasty nine in the final table and set in to show what a 23 year old was worth from down under. His weak chip count didn’t deter from aggressive and rather lucky play; In a deciding moment Kozlov’s pocket queens showed as a mismatch for the pocket aces of James “Andy McLeod”, lucky for Kozlov a third queen touched down and Kozlov was able to keep hope alive.
The tourney was quite a spectacle as the young Austrlian was able to defeat his own hurdles as well as dodge offsetting flops and a steady stack of short chips. The major shortcomings throughout the 2010 ANZPT main event proved minor for the 23 year old.
Kozlov was able to claim the 2010 ANZPT Melbourne main event title by defeating a thick selection of poker starts and seasoned players. The young stud’s determination over his odds gave a good cheer for Australian poker and should be able to continue the push to expand poker throughout the country.
And the online Poker champion is…
The PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker set sail on September 5th and was marked by two massive events, both of which brought an unprecedented number of players and payouts. The WCOOP kicked off with Event 1 – $215 No Limit Hold’em 6-max tournament. The epic match set a $1.25 million prize pool, which was dramatically increased when 9,001 players ramped up the potential winnings to $1.8 million.
The most represented online poker site was PokerStars, who came in with 56 pro players. In the end, eleven of the PokerStars players cashed out. In the lead for the giant online poker room was Randy “nanonoko” Lew – 33rd, Noah “Exclusive” Boeken – 87th and Barry “barryg1? Greenstein coming – 110th.
Blowing everything out of proportion was AlexKP, who held an enormous advantage over the others (71.5 million to 18.5 million). He entered the tourney with “Tutanharmon1”, which made for some interesting poker jockeying. In the end, AlexKP declined to chop and instead said to his challenging opponent shrewdly, “If you get to 30 million we can talk.”
Tutanharmon1 eventually reached 30 million plus, and again he floated the idea of a chop, this time however AlexKP went for it and agreed for an uneven chop, which left $25,000 to be handed to the victor. In what seemed like a blink of an eye, AlexKP tore into his opponent’s chips, added the $25K and tallied his total earnings into a gigantic $257,000 prize. Meanwhile, Tutanharmon1 completed play with a respectable $198,274.48.
The second Event (2) saw “CrabMaki” hit the $10,300 No Limit Hold’em High Roller tournament with a vengeance. He crushed the 313-player field and stood as a major wrecking force throughout. A nut flush during the final hand secured the championship for CrabMaki against Ville Wahlbeck. The $605,655 top prize ended up on CrabMaki’s table side, thus concluding a stunning first day of at the 9th WCOOP. Out of the 313 active players, 21 of them were from PokerStars pros.
A Triple Threat – Jake Cody
Twenty two years old and narrowing in on a poker triple crowd defines the rising UK star, Jake Cody. Cody has recently been anointed as champion to the first ever WPT London Poker Classic Main Event, held this past week. Hailing from Rochdale, UK, the young Jedi reigned in his first WPT title with a cheque for GBP 273,783. As a result he is considered two thirds closer to locking in a triple crown – his win at EPT Deauville earlier this year kick started the triple crown threat.
In a strange twist of poker politics, Cody’s victory not only earned him respect and cash but also ended up saving Party Poker $1 million in a bonus promised to 21-year-old Swedish online qualifier Kristoffer Thorsson. The young Swede was slated to take home this massive bonus by finishing first in the tournament. Thorsson finished fourth, while fellow Swede Nichlas Mattsson ended the action as the runner-up.
Thorsson’s command over most of the players was completed at the final table when Cody pulled the trigger and demolished the competition. The large crowd of spectators watched with fervor from the Palm Beach Casino in Mayfair.
Cody said, “This is crazy – I am so happy to win my first WPT title… I was totally aware there was huge pressure on Kristoffer because of the extra $1 million bonus. I thought he did well and actually believe he was the best player at the table.”
Coby’s moniker as “The Grim Reaper” is proving to be an accurate description of how other poker players view him, especially now after this massive win in the first ever World Poker Tour London Poker Classic. This accomplishment is linked to Coby’s victory at the European Poker Tour Deauville last January.
Now all what is awaiting Coby is the World Series of Poker title and he will have accomplished a remarkable feat.
Why Phil Ivey deserves the Hall of Fame nod
Out of all of the potential players who may be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame for 2010 one player who overshadows the rest. Phil Ivey is without a doubt the best poker player of the day. His weight is felt heavily in each poker vertical, including Omaha and Stud. His across the board domination has earned him over $40,000,000. Ivey will either be placed in the hall of fame this year or next.
Phil Ivey, at 34, is listed in 2010 as first in the world among all-time money winners in tournament poker. He is revered by his opponents and poker enthusiasts and is known as the best all-around player in the world today. Ivey has appeared at eight World Poker Tour final tables, won eight World Series of Poker bracelets and one World Poker Tour title. He’s fearless, enjoys a wealthy lifestyle, and wins big at his favorite sport.
At the 2010 WSOP, Ivey won his eighth bracelet in H.O.R.S.E. which got him $329,840. He has been called ‘the Tiger Woods of Poker’. Ivey is the youngest player to win eight (Phil Hellmuth was 39). In addition, no other player has accumulated eight bracelets more quickly; it took Ivey only ten years from the time of his first bracelet to his eighth, (it took Johnny Moss 11 years).
Ivey is first on the all-time money list with over $14 million in tournament earnings. Ivey lives in Las Vegas and is a regular participant in the $4,000-$8,000 mixed cash game at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. In February 2006, he played heads-up Limit Texas Hold’em against Texas billionaire Andy Beal. With stakes at $25,000/$50,000, Ivey won over $16,000,000 over the course of three days. A group of poker professionals joined Ivey, called themselves “The Corporation”, pooled their money and took turns playing against Beal. Earlier in the month, Beal beat the Corporation out of $10,000,000. After losing to Ivey, Beal claimed that he was giving up poker. But he had said that before.
Ivey was taught poker by his grandfather at a young age in New Jersey where he grow up. He was hooked immediately. He is known for his intense and intimidating look when he plays poker. His eyes dart back and forth and he’s been called cold hearted. Ivey has a generous side and has started a charity and given money to a number of charitable causes. He is the one to watch.