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.

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.

Updates from Cardshark Brain and Tournament Parser

Cardshark Brain is poker software for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. This top-tier software features a hand strength tool, a poker odds calculator, a post-flop analysis tool as well as an expected value calculator for making bets and moves. The particular update for this software is in the poker odds calculator that will show the number of outs a player’s hand has. Another update comes from Tournament Parser, which is a tool that allows you to post Texas Holdem tournament summary information in forums that are in a readable format. The latest version includes a correction in the generating rail tool so that it does not break when the tournaments played counter gets above 32,000. Also included in this update is the “What’s New” section that allows users to check what the new release contains, the fixed issue with posting Merge tournament histories, the removal of “delete post from PTP”, and finally the added ability to re-size columns in the grid.

PokerTableStats Promotion and Release of Sit ‘n ‘Go Wizard 2

PokerTableStats is a software program which tracks and records player stats. It also stores Texasholdem data in the cloud so that it can be retrievable from any computer that can access an Internet connection. One of the most exciting updates includes the release of the second version of SitNGo Wizard. On January 16th of this year, an exclusive sneak peak of the new SNG 2 was released. The big updates for SNG 2 include improvement to its hand editor tool. These improvements include customizable Texas Holdem hand histories, moving the button and moving players feature which will allow users to improve their play online poker experience. Along with these updates, the Quiz Mode will be completely re-vamped and enhanced. All in all, this bodes well for online poker gaming and players are in for exciting times ahead.

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.

As far as poker players go, Greg ‘Fossilman’ Raymer is the celeb to watch out for. He’s a skilled poker professional and his pedigree speaks volumes about his Texas Holdem poker talents. He won the 2004 WSOP. His views on poker are pretty well-known. He’s idolized the online poker world over as a serious poker aficionado with a penchant for this game of skill. He hails from St. Louis and he’s been a vocal critic of the FBI and USDOJ’s crackdown of online poker rooms Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and Absolute Poker. For the Fossilman, it’s all about dollars and cents. According to the Fossilman, tacking the issue of morality onto poker’s back is in itself an immoral act. For Greg Raymer, poker is the quintessential game of skill and strategy. There’s simply no other explanation why the best poker players dominate the arena so consistently. But Greg ‘Fossilman’ Raymer has another ace up his sleeve…

Greg ‘Fossilman’ Raymer and the Delaware Park Classic Poker Contest

Kevin Castora, Delaware Park’s poker manager, announced that 2004 WSOP Champion Greg ‘Fossilman’ Raymer will host the prestigious Delaware Park Classic Contest (DPCC). As the foremost poker contest in the Northeast, the DPCC manages to attract scores of seasoned poker professionals and poker novices into the gaming fold. Players from across the United States are welcomed with open arms at the Delaware Park Classic Contest. The tournament takes place from March 14th through April the 2nd 2012. Satellites for the Greg ‘Fossilman’ Raymer Invitational contest take place on the 27th February 2012. These contest are going to add $3k to the 12h00 noon $30 Buy-in Event , $1.5k to the 16h00, $30 Buy-in Event as well as $1.5k to the 19h00, $30 Buy-in Event. The ‘Fossilman’ encourages legal-age fans to play online poker in safe and responsible manner.

Basics of the Game

The goal in Texas Holdem is to have the highest hand of a five card combination. This five card combination is obtained by using the two cards the player is dealt and any of the five cards in the center of the table. The winner with the highest hand wins the pot. To start the game the two players on the left side of the dealer post bets, called posting blinds. The first player to the left of the dealer posts a small bet called the Small Blind and the next player places a larger bet called the Big Blind.

After this, Betting Round 1 begins and all players are dealt two cards and bets are placed. Round 2, the Flop, begins in earnest with dealing 3 community cards in the center of the table. Next there is another betting round for all players. During Round 3, the Turn Card, the fourth community card is dealt followed by another round of betting. With the start of Round 4, the River Card, the final community card is dealt and again followed by the final betting round.

At this time if there are at least two players left in the game then the remaining players reveal their hands and the highest hand wins the chips placed in the pot during the betting rounds. It is important to note that this game is not only a game of luck but it is more importantly a game of strategy and skill. Contrary to how Hollywood portrays Texas Holdem Poker, most players fold before the game ends. This is because more often than not players do not have a great hand and it is not worth risking more cash for a poor hand.

No Limit Texasholdem Poker Strategies

There are several important points to focus on to become a good No Limit Texas Hold’em Poker player. A player should have patience and discipline to have strict hand selections and good table selections. Discipline is also important in the ability to wait for a good hand. Another important aspect of this game is to be able to read your opponents’ bluffs and to have the courage to bet and raise if you believe you have a good hand. If you feel uncomfortable playing in a group there are plenty of top-tier online poker sites you can play at.

Caesars Palace is home to arguably the finest casino and hotel entertainment in all of Las Vegas. With the WSOP Circuit gracing this world-class casino recently, fans of Texas Hold’em poker were chomping at the bit. The recent leg of the tour got underway on the 19th January 2012. A grand tally of twelve World Series of Poker Circuit gold ring contests took place.

Among the featured attractions at this scintillating poker tourney was the $1,600 WSOPC Main Event. It took place on the 27th January 2012. In 2011 the selfsame tournament drew some 496 players with a staggering prize pool of some $714,240. The winner of this toughly contested affair was Christopher Johnson of Las Vegas, Nevada. His paycheck was recorded as $153,559. Texas Holdem is clearly alive and well in Las Vegas and the WSOP Circuit Events are testimony to that fact.

Results of the WSOP Circuit Events

The recent winner of the WSOP Circuit Choctaw Main Event in Durant, Oklahoma was Abraham Araya. This poker aficionado bested 977 contenders to take the title and with it a nifty payday of $270,380. On his way to Texas Hold’em glory, he claimed the T.J.Cloutier Choctaw Poker Challenge in October 2011.

Play Online Poker and Enjoy Texasholdem

For a great many Texas Holdem players such poker accolades – the WSOP Circuit Events – are but a distant dream. That’s where online poker sites come into play. For seasoned veterans and novices alike, entry into prestigious poker tournaments such as the WSOP Circuit events is possible by way of online poker satellites. In order to play online poker, a certain degree of competency is required, but with strategic play and a little Lady Luck, positive results are entirely possible.

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 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.