How To Play Casino Games

Casino Games - Poker Strategy

2006-03-05T06:40:00.000-08:00

Poker Strategy

Here are a few grate poker strategies. If you want to win at a poker game I suggest you'll take a good look at these strategies, learn them well, so you could use these poker strategies when you play for cash (or when play poker for free). Don't forget, poker is not just a game of chance, even if you have a bad hand, you can still win if your opponent folds.

Aggression - The poker professional's weapon of choice

The weak of heart get steam rolled with extreme prejudice in heads-up poker. You have two ways of winning a pot - you show the best hand or your opponent folds. You know in the poker books where they talk about playing poker without even looking at their hands? That's the value of aggression right there. Imagine that you DON'T see your hands and NEITHER does your opponent. In this scenario, the mathematical implication is that you will win 50% of your showdowns long term. What does this mean then? You need to cause your opponent to fold more often then you do. There is thus only one viable poker strategy - bet and raise.

Hand Selection - Play with what you have

Since we CAN actually see our hand, the real value is putting money into the pot when you have the best of it and not putting money when you don't have the best of it. Too many people I'm playing with in limit heads up games aren't penalizing me enough by letting me see flops for free after posting the BB. Or they let me limp in from the SB without fail. Heads-up poker teaches you to always raise with those Aces, Kings, Face/kicker, mid-high suited connectors and pocket pairs because they'll reap long term value. It makes you accustomed to raising for value and playing out on a flop whether or not the cards hit or not.

Bluffing - Pushing your opponent out of pots

Most of the time in heads up poker, you and your opponent won't hit anything on the flop. This is where bluffing and aggression come in, because you ALWAYS want to take down the pot if you and your opponent have nothing. The flop is like the introductory sword fight, where you declare your intent to fight and your opponent stops to decide and walks away or challenges you back. A lot of feints and fakes on the flop. Then when the turn comes, that's where the real action is, because with good precision, you can make a lot happen with a check-raise bluff or a raise behind the action. If your opponent was merely feinting an attack on the flop, you'll have caught him with his pants down, regardless of what you have. Looking and observing for those small little patterns or timings from your opponent is the key to this tactic. And sometimes you simply toss one out to see what happens. In the event you get caught red-handed, then you switch to a no BS mode and draw your opponent in for the kill by using your own bluffer's image to your own advantage.

Trapping - Keeping your opponent off balance

When your foe thinks that you're not being honest, that's the time to trap him for his money. A check-raise / raise on the turn that gets called in addition to a river bet nets you 2BB just from that play and most likely another 1BB from the pre-flop and flop. You could thus fold on the flop on an unraised pot four times in a row if you could pull a trap every 7th time. So when you're up against another aggressive opponent as well, who simply likes to run you over with bets, simply sit back, let him do the betting and hammer him with check-raises and raises when you have a hand. You can afford to fold when you have nothing, since your traps will make up for it. And if you have Ace high or low pairs, you can still flat call to showdown if necessary to shove the proverbial stick into his spokes.

Reading - Spotting those tells and working them

Trying to figure out where your opponent is in a heads-up poker game is a little like trying to beat someone at a prolonged game of rock-paper-scissors. They only have three options and it's to you to guess what they're doing. If you're right more than 33.3% of the time, let's say 35% of the time, then you're mentally beating them long term. If you think rock-paper-scissors is luck, hah, think again. You all know Phil Gordon right? He's part of Team Tiltboys, rock-paper-scissors theory / world champs extraordinare. Poker and especially heads up poker is the same way. You make those reads and you're making money. Making the read is all about discerning patterns in their behavior that are statistical anomolies. That's why you pay attention - how often does he check-raise, does he have it when he does, will he bet low pair, will he bet draws. Usually you can't just figure this out with one action on your opponent's part, so you often have to raise on the flop or call and see the turn to figure out what's going on. Because with only one action, there's only 3 choices to choose from - bet, check, call. By adding in a raise or calling the flop, that increases the options from 3 to 9, bet-bet, bet-check, bet-call, check-bet, etc.. This tells you a whole lot more than just 'Oh I think he's bluffing because he bet on the flop with low cards showing!' vs 'Oh I think he's bluffing because he bet on the flop with lowcards and is now checking the turn'.

Value Betting - Extracting extra big bets

Value betting is simply getting in that turn raise and river bet so that your opponent doesn't see a showdown for cheap when you got a hand. Even when your hand is a little iffy, you toss that sucker out and at least gain some fold equity from it if he's tight. If your opponent is loose, you get some equity from the bet with Ace/X calling you down. Too many times in games, I see opponents check down on the river with a superior hand because they're scared I might have them beat. If they're going to have me beat 80% of the time, and I'm going to be calling the majority of the time (I am on the river, after all), it's a very worthwhile proposition. In heads up, there aren't a lot of draws that go on, so an opponent sticking with you to the river is probably calling with mid-pair or low pair and least often a monster. Getting that extra bet in is something that you shouldn't be afraid of doing.

Folding - Knowing when you're beat and getting out of there

Knowing when to get rid of a dominated hand is pretty big, especially if it can save you from a big bet or two. Often you won't realize it until you're down to the river or turn, but the willingness to drop a hand when you are sure your opponent isn't bluffing is just like extracting an extra big bet of your own. Lots of times in a full ring game, it's almost impossible to fold with some of the odds the pot is laying you, such as top pair / top kicker when the pot shows something like 20BB to a single raise on the river. You only have to win 5% of the time in order for this call to be correct. In heads-up, the pot is often more often 3-5BB or so, giving you a good reason to fold if you're certain that you're beat. Once the pot becomes larger, then it becomes harder to fold at critical points like the river, given that the pot is laying you very good odds at that point. The key is to fold early and when you're in trouble rather than late and committed over your head.

Pot Odds - Counting your outs correctly and integrating them

Pot odds is actually the least important in heads-up, because rarely will you call because you are 'getting odds'. If anything, if you have odds to call - BET! Play those flushies and straight draws aggressively, because whatever odds you are getting, aggression gives those odds a skyrocket value with folding equity tossed in. Even with a inside straight draw, it's not a bad idea to bet if checked to you or first to go, because you still have the possibility that your opponent might fold to you (likely in heads-up). If you miss your draw, you can keep attacking and hope he folds, or by miracle, you may even hit your draw and have a very well disguised hand that's perfect for trapping.

Conclusion - Heads Up Poker Strategy

Well, that's my quick and dirty tips to heads-up limit poker and effective strategy in the game. Playing this type of 1 vs 1 poker will definitely be a difficult and struggle at first, even for the seasoned texas hold'em player, but it's a skill that becomes very valuable for almost all players, as tournament poker players benefit substantially and limit players sometime have games that become quite short-handed.

Thats it for now, just a quick pointer on each strategy. I hope you will make the best of these poker strategies.

More about poker: how to play Poker

Casino Games - How To Play Poker

2006-03-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

Poker

There are many reasons people play poker online, one of the more common reasons used to be because they could not find a game locally and didn’t know anyone who played poker. Now the only reason to play online is because you choose to, not because you have to.

Poker has arrived again. It is everywhere. The UK, America and overseas from grandmothers to college students. Everyone plays poker and they play online because they love it.

Most people are finding it is much easier to learn the games you’re interested in learning by playing online also. There’s no pressure, it’s relaxing and exciting at the same time and best of all, you play in your pyjamas and nobody will notice!

Poker - Introduction

So you've seen Rounders, and the idea of taking Matt Damon for everything he's worth seems appealing to you. Or maybe you haven't seen the movie and still find that appealing. Whatever your motivation, you want to learn how to play poker, a time-tested card game that has the distinction of being one of the most ancient forms of gambling. Good for you. But before you strap on the green visor and throw down your life's savings, you re going to have to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em.

Poker, at its very essence, is a simple game. Its countless versions can be quite complex, however, which is why we're going to focus on 5-Card Draw (a.k.a. "regular" poker), the easiest one for beginners to learn. Later we'll tell you about some of the other variations of the game, but for now, it's gonna be 5-Card Draw, so you're just going to have to deal. Get it? "Deal?" Sorry.

Poker - Cards And Values

Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards (except for Ross Perot Poker, which is played with less than a full deck). The cards are ranked from high to low in the following order: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Aces are ALWAYS high. Aces are worth more than Kings which are worth more than Queens which are worth more than Jack, and so on. The cards are also separated into four suits. The suits are:

Clubs:
Spades:
Hearts:
Diamonds:

But you already knew that from playing Go Fish, right? The suits are all of equal value, meaning that no suit is more valuable than another. It's a very democratic game.

Each player is dealt five cards. The object of the game is to end up with the highest-valued hand. From best to worst, hands are ranked in the following order:

Royal Flush
Straight Flush
Four of a Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
Three of a Kind
Two Pair
One Pair
High Card

Poker - Cards And Values - Royal Flush

This is the most valuable hand in all of poker. A Royal Flush is composed of 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, all of the same suit. It's the toughest hand to get.

Examples:

HAND 1:	10	J	Q	K	A

HAND 2:	10	J	Q	K	A

Poker - Cards And Values - Straight Flush

A Straight Flush is comprised of five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit. It's not allowed to "wrap around," such as Q-K-A-2-3. This is also very rare. If you get two of these in a row, you are cheating. If there are two Straight Flushes at the table, then whichever hand's Straight Flush reaches the highest card value wins. So in the examples below, Hand 2 (which has a King) would beat Hand 1 (which only goes up to 8).

Examples:

HAND 1:	4	5	6	7	8

HAND 2:	9	10	J	Q	K

Poker - Cards And Values - Four of a Kind

Four cards of the same numerical rank and another random card. If there are two or more hands that qualify, the hand with the highest-ranking Four of a Kind wins. In the examples below, Hand 2 would beat Hand 1.

Examples:

HAND 1:	6	6	6	6	J

HAND 2:	Q	Q	Q	Q	3

Poker - Cards And Values - Full House

Of the five cards in your hand, three have the same numerical rank, and the two remaining card also have the same numerical rank. Ties are broken first by the Three of a Kind, then the Pair. So K-K-K-3-3 beats Q-Q-Q-A-A, which beats Q-Q-Q-7-7.

Examples:

HAND 1:	J	J	J	4	4

HAND 2:	5	5	5	A	A

Poker - Cards And Values - Flush

A Flush is comprised of five cards of the same suit, regardless of their numerical rank. In a tie, whoever has the highest ranking card wins. In the example below, Hand 1 (with a King) beats Hand 2 (with a Queen).

Examples:

HAND 1:	2	4	7	J	K

HAND 2:	5	6	7	8	Q

Poker - Cards And Values - Straight

Five cards in numerical order, regardless of their suits. Just like with the Straight Flush, a Straight cannot "wrap around." In a tie, whoever's Straight goes to a higher ranking card wins (so in the examples below, Hand 1 beats Hand 2).

Examples:

HAND 1:	7	8	9	10	J

HAND 2:	3	4	5	6	7

Poker - Cards And Values - Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same numerical rank, and two random cards that are not a pair.

Examples:

HAND 1:	10	10	10	3	Q

HAND 2:	2	2	2	8	9

Poker - Cards And Values - Two Pair

Two sets of pairs, and another random card.

Examples:

HAND 1:	7	7	J	J	5

HAND 2:	Q	Q	K	K	A

Poker - Cards And Values - One Pair

One pair and three random cards. If more than one person has a One Pair, then the person with the highest ranking pair wins.

Examples:

HAND 1:	8	8	5	K	3

HAND 2:	2	2	3	4	5

Poker - Cards And Values - High Card

If none of the players have anything of value, the player holding the highest-valued card wins, with the 2 as the lowest card, and the Ace as the highest. In the case of a tie, you move to the next highest card, and continue.

Examples:

HAND 1:	2	4	5	10	Q

HAND 2:	2	8	9	10	J

More about poker: Poker strategy

Arizona Home Loan

2006-03-01T11:57:00.000-08:00

Arizona Home Loan (Mortgage)

If you're thinking of moving to Arizona, have already relocated, or live there now and just want a different house, the real estate market is excellent. That's because you have so many different types of homes to choose from. There is a lot of new construction so if you want a sparkling, never lived in house, there are plenty of those. Within that group you'll find starter homes if you're single or newly married; larger houses if you already have a family or need some space to work at home; and there are elegant mansions and estates if your market niche is in the higher end group.

Maybe you prefer an established neighborhood and an older house appeals more to you. Arizona has those on the market as well. Some inhabitants who have lived there for a while are ready to move into something new. There are also condos for sale if you want something smaller and easier to care for...no big gardens or major construction projects. If you still visit seasonally, we'll find you a mobile home or investment property.

Arizona Mortgage Companies now offering new services. This is a real advantage as they are dedicated to help everyone get into a home of their own. Loan officers really care about you and will take the time to work for the mortgage that will meet your specific needs. They aren't just interested in taking your commission and forgetting about you. They want to be sure that you find the home that you love and can afford to make the payments.

The Arizona real estate community is ready, willing, and able to meet all of your needs right now. Whatever you're looking for in property, you'll find it here.

click for more about Arizona home loan

Casino Games - How To Play Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips (part 2)

2006-02-26T06:41:00.000-08:00

Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips: The River
If you have been playing properly you will not see the river card unless you have a strong hand that is a favorite to win or you have a draw to a winning hand. Once the river card is turned over, you know exactly what you have. If you were drawing to a hand, you know whether you were successful or not. Obviously if you do not make your hand you will fold.

As with the Turn you should bet your hand if you are first to act. If you bet and the other player folds then they more than likely would have just checked if you had checked in an attempt to check raise.

When you get to the river there are two mistakes that you can make. One is to call a losing bet, which will cost you the price of a bet. The other is to fold your hand, which will cost you all the money in the pot.

Obviously folding your hand will be a far more costly mistake then merely calling a bet. If there is a slight chance you may have the winning hand you should call. I’m not advocating calling with nothing but you should call if there is a chance to win.

Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips: Reading The Board
Your ability to read the board will help make you a winning player and it is not hard to learn. Since Texas Hold’em is played with community cards turned up for all to see, you can easily determine the best possible hand that can be made from the board cards and two unseen cards. It is extremely important that you learn determine how your hand stacks up against the other possible hands that your opponents may hold. Two situations should send up a red flag when you see them.

If there are three suited cards on the board someone can make a flush. If a player raises when the third suited card is turned over you should be wary of continuing. If there is a pair on the board a player can make four of a kind or a full house.

Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips: Pay Attention
When you are not involved in a hand you should still pay attention to the game. You can gain valuable information about your opponents simply by observing what hands they play. It’s easy to determine the players who plays and suited cards, or single aces by watching the hands they turn over at the end. That brings me to one final tip.

Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips: NEVER SHOW YOUR HAND
if you don’t have to. If you win the pot because everyone else folded you are under no obligation to show your cards. You don’t want to give away any information about yourself if you don’t have to And player who turn over their cards when they don’t have to are doing just that.

Texas Hold’em - Continuing Education
It is impossible to learn to play expert Hold’em by reading this short article. However I hope that a few of the tips will help you improve your game if you already play or get you started on the right track if you are just starting out. Learning to play winning Texas Hold’em requires reading and studying. If you read just one book about the game you will be ahead of about 80 percent of the other payers at the table. Spending the money for a good poker book is a lot cheaper than trying to get your education at the tables in a live game. Until next time, remember:
"Luck comes and goes...Knowledge stays forever."

part three: How To Play Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips

Casino Games - How To Play Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips

2006-02-26T06:34:00.000-08:00

Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips

Here are some tips that will help you in your Texas Hold em game.
Position, Patience and Power are the key to winning in Texas Hold’em. The most important decision you will make is choosing to play a starting hand. The biggest mistake a player makes is playing too many hands. Being aware of your Position in relationhip to the dealer is important in Texas Hold’em. You need a stronger hand to act from early position because you have more players acting after you who may raise or re-raise the pot. It is important that you are Patient and wait for Powerful starting hands to play from the correct position.

The player to the left of the big blind acts first before the flop. He along with the other two players to his left are in early position. The next three players are middle position and the ones after that are in late position.

The blinds act last before the flop and first after it. Here are some guidelines for stating hands that I recommend you play when you are starting out. They are fairly tight but will give you a good foundation to work with until you learn a little more about the game.

Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips: In Early position
Raise with A-A, K-K and A-Ks from any position. (s denotes suited cards) Call with A-K, A-Qs, K-Qs and Q-Q J-J, T-T and fold everything else.

Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips: In Middle position
Call with, 9-9, 8-8, A-Js, A-Ts, Q-Js, A-Q, K-Q

Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips: In Late position
Call with A-Xs, K-Ts, Q-Ts, J-Ts, A-J, A-T and small pairs. (note x denotes any card) It takes a stronger hand to call a raise than it does to make with one, If there is a raise before it is your turn to act you should fold. Why put in two bets with marginal hands?

Note:
Many players will play any two suited cards from any position and they will play an Ace with any small kicker. These hands are losers in the long run and you should avoid getting into the habit of playing them. They are traps that will cost you money.

Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips: The Blinds
Once you post your blind the money no longer belongs to you. Many players feel they must defend their blinds by calling all raises even with marginal hands. Don’t waste additional money on marginal hands. Also, don’t automatically call with the small blind if you have nothing. Saving a half bet will pay for your next small blind.

Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips: The Flop
Deciding whether to continue playing after seeing the flop will be your second biggest decision. It can also be one of the most costly decisions if you continue after the flop with an inferior hand. It is said that the flop defines your hand. That is because after the flop your hand will be 71 percent complete. Where does this figure come from? Assuming you play your hand out to the end, it will consist of seven cards. After the flop you have seen five cards or 5/7 of the final hand, which is equal to 71 percent. With this much of your hand completed you should have enough information to determine whether to continue. Poker Author Shane Smith coined the phrase “Fit or Fold. If the flop does not fit your hand by giving you top pair, or better or a straight or flush draw, then you should fold if there is a bet in front of you. If you played a small pair from late position and you do not flop a third one to make a set you should throw the pair away if there is a bet.

Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips: The Turn
If you think you have the best hand after seeing the Turn card and are first to act, then go ahead and bet. Many players will try to get fancy and attempt to check raise in this position. If the other players also check, you have lost a bet or two. In low limit games the straight forward approach is usually the best as there are plenty of players who will call you. Make them pay. Why give them a free card if you don’t have to.

If another player raises on the turn and you hold only one pair you are more than likely beaten and should fold.

If you get to the Turn and you hold only two unsuited overcards (two cards higher that any cards on the board) with no flush or straight draws, then you should fold if there is a bet in front of you. Too much money is lost by players who hope to catch a miracle card on the river. The best hand you can make with two unsuited overcards is a pair which will probably lose anyways.

part four: How To Play Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips (part 2)

part two: How To Play Texas Hold’em (part 2)

Casino Games - How To Play Texas Hold’em (part 2)

2006-02-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

Texas Hold’em - The Start
To start a new hand, two "Blind" bets are put up or "Posted." The player immediately to the left of the dealer puts up or "posts" the small blind which half the minimum bet one dollar. The player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind which is equal to the minimum bet which is two dollars for this game. The rest of the players do not put up any money to start the hand. Because the deal rotates around the table, each player will eventually act as the big blind, small blind and dealer.

Texas Hold’em - The Opening
Each player is dealt two cards face down with the player on the small blind receiving the first card and the player with the dealer button getting the last card. The first betting round begins with the player to the left of the big blind either putting in two dollars to "Call" the blind bet, or putting in four dollars to "raise" the big blind or folding his hand. The betting goes around the table in order until it reaches the player who posted the small blind. That player can call the bet by putting in one dollar since a dollar blind was already posted. The last person to act is the big blind. If no one has raised, the dealer will ask if they would like the option. This means the big blind has the option to raise or just "check." By checking the player does not put in any more money. A rookie mistake sometimes occurs here. Because the blind is a live bet live, the player with the big blind has already put his bet in. I have seen some players throw their cards in not realizing that they are already in the hand. Another rookie mistake is betting or folding your cards when it is not your turn. You must wait before you act.

Texas Hold’em - The Flop
After the first betting round is completed, three cards are dealt and turned face up in the middle of the table. This is known as the "Flop." These are community cards used by all the players. Another betting round begins with the first active player to the left of the dealer button. The bet for this round is again two dollars.

Texas Hold’em - The Turn
When the betting round after the flop is completed, the dealer turns a fourth card face up in the middle of the table. This is called the "Turn." The bet after the turn is now four dollars and begins again with the first active player to the left of the dealer.

Texas Hold’em - The River
Following the betting round for the turn, the dealer will turn a fifth and final card face up. This is called the "river," and the final betting round begins with four dollars being the minimum bet.

Texas Hold’em - The Showdown
To determine the winner, the players may use any combination of their two hole cards and the five cards on the "Board" (Table) to form the highest five-card hand. In some rare cases the best hand will be the five cards on board. Don’t count on this happening too often. In that case the active players will split the pot. A sixth card is never used to break a tie.

part one: How To Play Texas Hold’em

part three: How To Play Texas Hold’em - Winning Tips

Casino Games - How To Play Texas Hold’em

2006-02-26T06:26:00.000-08:00

Texas Hold’em - Introduction

So you're new to Texas Hold'Em poker? Not a problem. Texas Hold 'Em poker is by far the best game for a beginner to learn. Instead of other poker games like Omaha High or 7 card stud which entail a great many more possibilities for calculating odds and perhaps even trying to count cards, Hold'Em can be learned in a few minutes by anyone, and you can be playing fairly well with a few hours practice. In order to learn the game, however, you must play and you must play fairly often.

This year the Poker explosion rocked the world as televised tournaments made their way to TV and into the living rooms of millions of viewers. The coverage of the World Poker Tour on the Travel channel and ESPN’s broadcast of the World Series of Poker has sparked the interest of the “kitchen table” poker players as well as some people who have never played poker before. The game that has everyone buzzing is Texas Hold’em.

However before you race down to the casino and sign up for a high stakes tournament you need to learn the basics of the game and get some playing experience in low limit games. The matches you see on television are No Limit Texas Hold’em games. That means that at any time a player can bet all of his chips. This is a great format for tournaments but as a beginning player you will want to first learn to play Limit Texas Hold’em.

Limit games have structured betting rounds and you are limited to the amount of money you can bet during each round. More precisely you will want to play Low Limit Texas Hold’em as you learn the game. Some of the low limit games you will find in the cardroom are have a betting structure of $2/4, $3/6 $4/8. After you gain experience you can move up the higher limits or No Limit if you desire, but you must learn to walk before you can run. Let me explain the game and then give you some winning tips to get started.

Texas Hold’em - How to Play

Now, how do we play Texas Hold’em ? Texas Hold’em is a deceptively simple game to learn but a harder game to master. Each player is dealt two personal cards and then five community cards are turned up on the board. You make the best five card hand using any combination of the seven cards. For this example we will use a low limit structure of $2/4. There are four betting rounds and the first two have a limit of $2 and the last two rounds have a limit of $4. You must bet or raise only the amount of the limit for that round.

part two: How To Play Texas Hold’em (part 2)

Casino Games - How To Play Roulette - Inside & Outside bets, Playing Tips

2006-02-26T06:05:00.000-08:00

Roulette - Inside Bets
There are several inside bets that you can make. You can bet a number straight up or straddle the line between numbers to select a combination of numbers. The payouts are as follows.
Straight Up bet is a wager on a single number. It pays 35 to 1.
Split Bet is a wager on two numbers and it pays 17 to 1. You make this bet by placing your chip so it straddles the line between any two numbers.
Street bets or line bet and it pays 11 to 1. You make this bet by placing your chip on the vertical line separating the outside and inside betting areas. The chip straddles the first number in the row.
Corner bet or Quad bet pays 8 to 1. You make this bet by placing a chip so it is touching the four corners of the numbers you are betting.
Basket bet is a five number bet on zero – double zero and numbers-1-2-3 which pays 6 to 1. On the double zero wheel it has a house edge of 7.89 percent making it the worst bet in Roulette.
Double Street bet is a wager on six numbers and pays 5 to 1. You place your chip on the line separating the outside and inside area as you do for the street bet but let it also straddles the row above or below.

Roulette - Outside Bets
The outside bets are any of the bets made in the boxes surrounding the numbers.
Red Black Odd and Even are all even money bets. You place your chips in the boxes on the layout.
The Dozens bet are made on the 12 consecutive numbers. You place your wager in the boxes marked 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36. These bets pay 2 to 1. If the zero or double zero comes up you lose.
Column bets are also 12 number bets. Instead of 12 consecutive numbers they consist of the numbers in one of the three vertical columns and are made in the boxes at the bottom of the layout. These bets pay 2 to 1 as well. The Dealer
Dealers are required to keep the wheel moving at all times, even between spins. They spin the ball in the opposite in the opposite direction of the wheel. This causes the ball to jump and spin before landing on a number.

The dealer marks the winning number with a marker. You are not allowed to place your bet for the next spin until the dealer removes the marker from the previous winning number. Make sure you wait for them to pick it up before putting down your chips.

Roulette - Playing Tips
Roulette has a high house edge but if you play at a full table you will only get about 30 spins an hour which slows down the time your money is exposed to the house edge. It will also increase your comp time.

If the number you want to bet is covered is already covered with chips, don’t worry. It is permissible to stack you chips on top of the other chips. This is another reason why each player has their own color chips.

You are allowed to place bets after the dealer spins the ball. The dealer will tell you when to stop. As the ball slows down the dealer will wave their hand over the table and call out “No More Bets.”

Some people claim that they have a sure fire system for winning at Roulette. The truth is there is no system that will change the house edge. Don’t waste your money buying a Roulette system.

part one: How To Play Roulette

Casino Games - How To Play Roulette

2006-02-26T05:58:00.000-08:00

Roulette - Introduction

The object of Roulette is to pick the winning number that will appear on the Roulette wheel. You can also bet combinations of numbers or choose the color or whether it is odd or even. It is not as easy as it seems.

Roulette - The Wheel
There are two different roulette wheels. The European wheel has 37 slots numbered 0-36. The house edge is 2.63. The American wheel has 38 numbers because the added a double zero (00). The addition of the extra number increases the house edge to 5.26 percent.

Roulette - The Layout
The game of Roulette originated in France. The modern day layout we find in the casino dates back to 1842. Roulette layouts have two betting areas. The inside betting area contains the individual numbers on the layout. The outside betting area has boxes for the columns, red/black and odd/even and different groups of numbers.

The numbers on the inside are arranged in 12 rows of three numbers making forming three vertical columns. The 0 and 00 are at the top of the columns.

Roulette - Buying In
You must purchase special roulette chips when you sit down to play. To avoid disputes each player receives a different color chip. These chips are good for that table only and you must cash them in when you get done playing. You will them be given regular casino chips to take to the cage. You cannot cash in the roulette table chips at the cage.

Each roulette table has a minimum and maximum bet. You can’t combine your inside and outside bets to meet the table minimum. If the minimum bet is five dollars you have to bet $5 on the inside and $5 on the outside. You can’t bet $3 inside and $2 outside.

part two: How To Play Roulette - Inside & Outside bets, Playing Tips

Casino Games - How To Play Blackjack part 2

2006-02-21T12:34:00.000-08:00

Blackjack - Actual Play (example)

Important! For this example we will assume you are playing a multi-deck Black jack game and the cards are being dealt from a shoe. Each player is dealt two cards face up. The dealer receives one card face up and one card face down known as the "hole card". After the cards are dealt the dealer will ask each player in turn to make their decision. The player to the left of the dealer acts first. This position is known as "first base". The position of the last person to act is called "third base". You will make your decision about how to play your hand based on the dealer's up card and the two cards that you were dealt. A rule of thumb for the beginner is to assume the dealer has a ten in the hole. (This is not always the case but it makes it easier to base your decision on this premise.) You will use hand signals to make your decisions known. This keeps the game moving and it also helps insure there are no verbal misunderstandings while letting the eye in the sky keep track of the play. Remember that in a game dealt from a shoe you are not allowed to touch the cards.

Black jack - when "Blackjack" is called ?

If you or the dealer is dealt an Ace and a ten-value card you have 21 known as a blackjack (this is why the games is also known as "21"). This is a natural. If you get the blackjack you will be paid 3 to 2 for your bet providing the dealer does not get one at the same time. If you and the dealer have blackjack it is a push. If only the dealer has blackjack all players will lose.

Blackjack - what is "Hitting" ?

To take a hit means that you want to draw another card. To signal the dealer for a hit you will tap the table in front of you or make a beckoning motion with your hand. If you wish another card after the first you would motion in the same manner.

Blackjack - what is a "Standing" ?

Once you are satisfied with either your fist two cards or after hitting, you signal the dealer that you wish to stand. This is done by waving your hand over the top of your cards.

Blackjack - what is a "Doubling Down" ?

When you double down you are allowed to double your bet after receiving your first two cards. You then receive one card only on your hand. Most casinos will allow you to double down on any two cards (DOA). Some casinos limit your doubling to hands that total ten or eleven. DOA is a favorable rule to the player. To signal that you are doubling down you will place an additional bet next to your original bet. Most casinos will let you double down for less than your original bet providing it meets the table minimum. This is foolish. You only double in favorable situations and it is to your advantage to double for the maximum.

Blackjack - what is a "Splitting" ?

If you are dealt a pair (two cards of the same rank) you can split these into two separate hands. You must make an additional bet equal to your starting bet. You signal the dealer that you are splitting by placing your second bet next to your first bet in the betting circle. Do not put this bet on top of the original bet. Do not separate the cards. The dealer will do this for you. You will now play each hand one at a time. The dealer will give you a second card to go with the first split card. You will then decide to "hit" or "stand". After you play out this hand and stand you will move on to the next split card and the process will be repeated. Some casinos will allow you to double down on your first two cards after splitting. You would play this as you would if you were doubling down on your first two cards. This rule is favorable to the player

Blackjack - Play Options:

1 - Insurance

If the dealer's up card is an ace the dealer will offer insurance. You are not really insuring a hand. This is a side bet you make wagering half your original bet that the dealer has a ten in the hole. If you make the bet and he has the ten you are paid 2 to 1. You would then lose your original bet but win the insurance bet, which works out to being a push of your original bet. If you have a blackjack and the dealer has an ace you will be asked if you would like even money for your blackjack instead of 3 to 2. If you do not take the even money you will have a push if the dealer has a blackjack. Both the insurance and the even money bet are sucker bets. The dealers will NOT have a ten more times than they will have one.

2 - Surrender

Some casinos will allow you to surrender your hand and give up half your bet on your first two cards after the dealer checks for a blackjack. This is known as late surrender. This option is not offered in many casinos. It is to the player's advantage when played correctly. Unfortunately when it is offered many players surrender more hands than they should thus giving up the advantage gained by this option.

These are the decisions that you must make when playing blackjack. If you play your hand properly you can reduce the house edge to less than one percent. To do this you must learn basic strategy, which is a mathematically proven method to determine when to hit and stand. You can view a copy of the strategy chart by clicking the BJ Strategy Chart link in the sidebar.

Blackjack - A simple Strategy:

If your first cards total 12-16 you have a "Stiff" hand. (one than can be busted with a hit.)
If the dealer's up card is a 2 - 6, it is a "Stiff" hand for the dealer.
If you have 17 or better it is a Pat hand and you stand.
If the dealer shows a 7 -Ace, you consider it a pat hand.

If you have a stiff and the dealer has a stiff you STAND.
If you have a stiff and the dealer has a pat hand you HIT.

Of course, there is no guarantee this strategy will work, but this is the thumb rule.

Still, it's a very good game for gambling online.
Luck is allways welcome .....

Back to part one: how to play BlackJack

Casino Games - How To Play Blackjack

2006-02-21T08:51:00.000-08:00

Blackjack - introduction

Blackjack is also known as twenty-one. you can call it blackjack or twenty-one, it's still the same game with the same rules. The object of the game is best described in many online casinos's slogan: "Beat the Dealer!"

This article will explain how the game is played. I will talk about the basic strategy and proper play of hands in an upcoming article.

Blackjack is played with 1, 2, 4, 6 or even 8 decks of cards. In single and double deck games the dealer holds the cards and deals them out. In multi-deck games the cards are dealt out of a tray like box that is called a shoe. The casinos are starting to look at continuous shufflers that are a shoe that shuffle as well as hold the cards.

In hand held Blackjack games the cards are dealt face down and the player is allowed to pick up his cards. In a Blackjack shoe game the cards are dealt face up to the player and you are not allowed to touch your cards. The basic play for either Blackjack game is the same.

Blackjack - Objective

As mentioned in the introduction the objective of the game is to beat the dealer.
The rules are :
1- If your cards total higher than the dealer's cards without going over 21 you win. You are not trying to get close to 21.
2- If your hand or the dealer's hand goes over 21 you "Bust." If you "Bust" you automatically lose.
3- If the dealer busts and you do not, you win.
4- The player must act first.
5- If the player busts he loses regardless if the dealer busts or not.

Blackjack - Card Values

1- The suits of the cards have no affect on the game.
2- Cards 2 to 10 are counted at face value without regards to their suit.
3- All face cards have a value of ten.
4- An ace can count as either one or eleven.

A queen and a six would equal 16. An ace and a six would equal either 6 or 16. A hand that does not have an ace is referred to as a "Hard Hand" because it has only one value. A hand that contains an ace is referred to as a "Soft Hand" because the value can change. If you draw to a soft hand and the three cards total a number where counting an ace as eleven puts you over 21 then the hand becomes a hard hand. Example: You are dealt an ace and a two. You have 3 or 13. If you then draw a ten you now have a hard 13 because if you count the ace as 11 you would have 23, which would bust you.

Blackjack - Blackjack Table

Blackjack is dealt on a special table that is shaped as a semi-circle. There is a separate circle or square for each player. When you sit down you must buy chips from the dealer or bring them from another table.

The player puts his bet in the betting circle if front of his space. Only chips put in the betting circle count as your bet. After all bets are made the play begins.

part two : BlackJack rules, play and Strategy

How to play casino games

2006-02-20T13:40:00.000-08:00

This blog will teach you how to play casino games like:

Baccarat
Blackjack
Blackjack Switch
Casino War
Caribbean Poker
Pai Gow Poker
Red Dog Poker
Poker Three
Craps
Let Them Ride Poker
European Roulette
American Roulette
Sic Bo
French Roulette
Blackjack Surrender
Pontoon
Casino Hold 'Em

more to come .....

Arizona Home Loan

2006-02-20T01:57:00.000-08:00

Arizona Home Loan (Mortgage)

By Jeff Jackson

If you're thinking of moving to Arizona, have already relocated, or live there now and just want a different house, the real estate market is excellent. That's because you have so many different types of homes to choose from. There is a lot of new construction so if you want a sparkling, never lived in house, there are plenty of those. Within that group you'll find starter homes if you're single or newly married; larger houses if you already have a family or need some space to work at home; and there are elegant mansions and estates if your market niche is in the higher end group.

Maybe you prefer an established neighborhood and an older house appeals more to you. Arizona has those on the market as well. Some inhabitants who have lived there for a while are ready to move into something new. There are also condos for sale if you want something smaller and easier to care for...no big gardens or major construction projects. If you still visit seasonally, we'll find you a mobile home or investment property.

Arizona Mortgage Companies now offering new services. This is a real advantage as they are dedicated to help everyone get into a home of their own. Loan officers really care about you and will take the time to work for the mortgage that will meet your specific needs. They aren't just interested in taking your commission and forgetting about you. They want to be sure that you find the home that you love and can afford to make the payments.

The Arizona real estate community is ready, willing, and able to meet all of your needs right now. Whatever you're looking for in property, you'll find it here.

click for more about Arizona home loan

Learn Casino Gambling Games

2006-02-20T01:31:00.000-08:00

Casino Gambling Games - Fact One:

Many people who play casino games and gamble with alot of money don't have a clue what they are doing, they play casino games they don't even know, or they think they know.

I am simply amazed at the amount of people I see at the casino who are willing to plunk down their hard earned money on games that they haven’t a clue how to play. The same people who will comparison shop, clip coupons or drive across town to save a few cents on a gallon of gas, will sit at a blackjack table and bet $25 a hand without knowing basic strategy. I often wonder why they don't bother to learn the game before they play.

There once was a time when visitors to the casino had limited resources available to help them learn to play the games. I started my casino education back in the “Stone Age”. It was somewhere around 10 BC. That’s BC ...as in Before Computers. I don’t mean that computers weren’t invented, (I’m not THAT old) however the personal computer was barely affordable and all of the software programs were business related.

VCRs were also a luxury item (DVD’s were not invented) and movies were the main fare for those wishing to view at home. The self-help and educational tapes weren't being produced. That left a few books about gambling for those who wanted to learn how to play casino games.

When I first learned basic strategy for blackjack, I used hand-printed flashcards that I made. I would put the player's hand on one side and the rule for the hand on the other side. I would sit and practice for hours until I knew all the strategy rules by heart and could recite them instantly. It was very efficient, but also very boring. Things have changed drastically since those days.

Casino Gambling Games - How To Learn:

Over the last few years with the rapid growth of personal computers, more and more gambling software has been developed. The software ranges from fun games with no educational value, to some really powerful training programs. Games that require strategy and decision making on the part of the player can be practiced at home with the use of the software programs. These games include Blackjack, Video Poker and live poker. Even software for games such as craps, and roulette can be helpful in teaching you the mechanics of the game. Now learning to play a casino game can be as easy as sitting down in front of your computer in the comfort of your own home. Well, almost.

Actually you will need a little more than software to learn to play a casino game. I recommend what I call the Three-Step approach to learning a casino game at home. The three steps for learning to play casino games are: reading, watching and practicing.

Casino Gambling Games - What Is The Cost?:

Do you think learning how to play casino games is expensive ? try playing casino games when you are a casino games ignorant.

How expensive is it to visit the casino and constantly lose money because you don't know how to play the game correctly? All education comes with a price. Getting your education betting real money at a gaming table can be a lot more expensive that the price of a book and software program. Many good gambling books cost less than twenty dollars. Videotapes and DVDs can cost you another thirty dollars. The price of tutorial software varies depending on the casino game and the sophistication of the program. There are good programs that range from thirty to a hundred dollars. You start can start learning at home for around $100. You will save this much money by playing correctly during future visits to the casino.

Want to learn how to play casino games and even win?
There are three steps you will need to follow:

Casino Gambling Games - Step One - Reading:

Every player who sits down at a gaming table to play any casino game should have read at least one book on that particular game. A player who buys chips and starts to play a game without the knowledge of how the game is played is like a hunter who purchases a gun and heads out on Safari without any knowledge of the animal he is hunting. The results can be disastrous. There are many good books by reputable authors that can teach you the basics of the games. Many of the writers who contribute to this magazine have books that will give you accurate information and show you how to play the game correctly.

Spend some time reading the book. Gambling books are not novels that you zip through to get to the ending. When you are finished you will want practice the game on the computer and then go back and read the book again.

There will be situations that come up while playing that you will have questions about. Looking up the answers in the book will help you remember the answer the next time the situation arises.

Casino Gambling Games - Step Two - Watching:

Watching videotapes can help teach you the mechanics of the game. You will actually see how the game is dealt and the bets are made so you will be familiar with the procedures and protocols when you sit down at table. Videotapes can help reinforce what you have read and perhaps clear up any questions by visually showing you how the game is played. Although not as common as books, I have found videos for most of the casino games. Some of my favorite books are listed in the sidebar. A large selection of casino game videos can also be found in the free catalog from The Gamblers Book Shop in Las Vegas.

Casino Gambling Games - Step Three - Practicing:

With the availability of tutorial software you can now practice and play at home to sharpen your skills before you go to the casino. Learning to play casino games at home on the computer is fun as well as educational. You are getting the enjoyment of playing the game so it doesn't feel like you are actually "studying" to learn the game. Most human beings are a little sensitive to criticism. Let’s face it we don't like to be corrected and have our mistakes pointed out to us all the time. If you had someone watching over your shoulder while you played and pointed out every mistake you made you would either give up trying to learn or worse yet resort to some kind of physical violence directed at that person. A computer takes any human emotions out of the learning processes. There is no embarrassment when the computer beeps and alerts you to a mistake you just made. It’s impersonal and you take it all in stride and carry on. Playing and practicing at home will teach you the proper strategy and help build your confidence. Once you have your mistakes down to a minimum you will be ready to play in the casino.

Learning to play casino games at home is fun and profitable. While I can’t guarantee that you will be a winner, following this advice will improve your chances.

You can learn to play casino games properly at home before you risk our money in a live game. Learning to play casino games at home is fun and it will help you cut the house edge when you visit the casino.

Until next time, remember:
"Luck comes and goes...Knowledge Stays Forever!"

Don't be a casino games ignorant.