Category: Poker

There are millions of poker players in the world, many of them in New Zealand. There are six physical places to play poker in New Zealand, the Christchurch Casino, Skycity Auckland, Dunedin Casino, Skycity Hamilton, Skycity Queenstown, Skycity Wharf Casino. Unlike many places, notably California for example, there are no poker parlours where people can play the game, and New Zealand legislators are dead set against that eventuality ever happening. As it is, the government seems dead set against any expansion of physical casinos in Kiwi land, and it is likely to stay that way for the next 4 or five decades. Nevertheless, like in any other country, poker is extremely popular, and in particular, Christ Church Casino and SkyCity Auckland offer major poker tournaments that attract a ton of professional and amateur players. But as long as they don’t advertise in New Zealand, Kiwis have a wide choice of options to play poker pretty much worldwide through online casinos. And as long as you don’t make the majority of your living playing poker at online casinos, Kiwis do not even have to pay tax on their gambling winnings.

Online Poker vs Live Poker, is there a difference?

Yes, indeed. First, except for tournaments, most poker games in a New Zealand casino are limited to $1, $2, or $5 limit games. Yes, you can easily spend your stake of $75 to $500, but you won’t have to mortgage your house or sell your car to play in and enjoy a game. And while there are plenty of micro-stakes games at online casinos, it’s not difficult to find poker games with stakes of $1,000 or more per game. Another thing is the anonymity of the players. In Live poker, your opponents sit across from you, and while some poker players try to disguise their appearance, ultimately the disguise goes only so far, and it’s s a relatively easy thing to spot the sharks. In fact, many players will simply hang back a few feet away and watch the players determine how the level of play for the players. With an online game, you can’t really ascertain how good the players are. You never know, one or two players at even a low-stakes game may be pros or highly gifted amateurs who act like sharks. Sharks don’t always feed on big fish.

Sometimes they just pick on the small fish because they are easy to feed off of. And that’s one element of online poker you have to be really cognizant about, which is determining if those at your table are real amateurs or seasoned pros. Another major difference between playing live and playing online has to do with bluffing. In a live game, players look for common tells to read other players. Nervousness, frequent glancing around at the other players, over talkiness, sweating, body posture, raised eyebrows, twitchy fingers, big gulps and swallows, looking at their cards again and again as if they can’t believe what they have are all examples of poker tells. Yes, there are poker tells in online poker too, but they generally are player behavioural clues such as how quickly or how slowly players bet, or how quickly they bet. With live poker, all of those are in play, and more. Live poker is a very active game. Another big difference is in the pace of the game. It’s not uncommon for online players to bet in multiple poker games at once. With live poker, you are limited to playing one game, and the pace of the game is much, much slower. Another key is that the players may be constantly trying to improve their skills in online poker games. And as poker is a game of mathematics as much as luck, online players may have a second window open up on their computer with a poker trainer or simulator to calculate and teach them the odds.

With live poker, many players play as much for the social aspect of being with the guys, and really don’t care to spend a lot of time getting better. Plus, there are no computers, trainers or calculators at an online poker game. Online poker offers more variety. At an online casino, you are likely to find not only Texas Hold’em and Omaha Poker, but many more varieties. In addition, Online poker has multiple mini-stakes poker games, so you can lose less money than in playing live poker. Another advantage of playing online poker is the intimidation factor. It’s relatively easy to begin to play low-stakes poker online, and not have the “stink” of a beginner. It’s much more intimidating to walk into a physical casino, lay down a buy-in bet of say $100 and obviously act like you don’t know what you are doing because you don’t.

The learning curve is much gentler with online poker. Another reason for playing online is that it is much more convenient. You can even use your cell phone and play a game or two during your lunch hour. With a physical casino you have to drive to the casino, sometimes wait to play at a table, and perhaps adhere to a dress code as well. Finally, another big difference is the money thing. At a physical casino, when you win, you simply cash your chips in and walk away, perhaps buying yourself a lunch or dinner or a great bottle of wine with your winnings. When you gamble at an online casino, you usually have to wait a couple of days for a payoff to be credited to your account, and often have to pay fees as well to get the money into your actual account.

Which is best for you, online poker or physical poker?

There are many differences, and ultimately, it’s up to you what your goals are in poker. If you want a social experience, then live poker is best, and there’s also a possibility you can later win big money in a tournament. However, if you want to curl up in your PJ’s with a beer and pizza and try your luck, then obviously online poker is best for you.

Not many of you might be aware of the fact that poker has multiple variants. Although Texas Hold’em has been the most popular option in most casinos, the other variations have also now been made an integral part of the gambling scene. You have multiple options to choose from, and each of them has exciting features to offer. Basic strategies will surely take you to the peak of success. It is important that you understand the various game types so that you make a fortune from the available sessions.

With casino gambling now more prevalent over the internet, people prefer to stay at home to make a fortune. Playing casino games has become easier, but the players are yet to fully fathom the concepts and the social experience of the games. If you have only been playing online poker, you may want to learn the basic ideas of the variants available in many reputable online casinos and land-based casinos. Here is a list of the top poker variations beginners can play.

Texas Hold’em

When thinking of poker, the first name that pops up in the head of any gambler would be Texas Hold’em because it has become the most popular option both on the internet and in land-based casinos. This is the game most likely to be featured on several casinos with a wide selection of tables and stakes. No-Limit Texas Hold’em is the most televised and popularized poker variant. You can easily learn this game and improve at it, with the abundant sources of information helping you through the challenges. Strategic insights into the game will give you a clearer picture of the sessions to propel you to the next stage once you have learned the basics. The popularity of this variant makes Texas Hold’em available almost everywhere.

Omaha Hi

In Omaha Hi, the highest hand is awarded the entirety of the pot at showdown. But the game plays almost exactly like Texas Hold’em. The only difference is that the players are dealt 4-hole cards instead of two. Every player needs to make the best 5-card hand to win the session. The increased number of hole cards makes it easier for you to make a stronger hand. Make sure to look out for the variance that could hamper your game with the equities between hands running close together.

Omaha Hi-Lo

As the name goes, this is a variant similar to Omaha Hi, which has the pot dived in two between the highest-ranked and the lowest at showdown. Both high and low hands are made using different combinations, but you need to note that certain conditions may change the whole gameplay. Omaha Hi-Lo is not as popular as every other game on this list; so, learning it is also hard considering the lesser amount of information available on the internet and in books. The gameplay is similar to that of Omaha Hi and Texas Hold’em, but you cannot easily bluff to make a fortune here.

Casino games have become the most popular form of entertainment over the past few decades, and online gambling is now preferred to the land-based casino gambling options. People are now making a fortune from the convenient gambling features by turning the odds in their favor. Every casino game can be made profitable if you know how to use the strategies to your advantage. Those who are just starting out may want to reconsider the options so that they don’t end up losing money on the online casinos.

People who started off as an amateur and are now professionals have a clearer picture of every round to make the right move when required. However, unlike the other casino games, poker sessions could come with unforeseen challenges. Here are a few tips that can help beginners gain a better position in the game without losing control over their hands in the first round.

1. Learn the Rules and Rankings

You don’t need a further introduction to the game if you have already started learning it. But if you have not begun your initial course to understand the working of the game, keep in mind the fact that nothing else matters as much as this first stage. Try spending some time learning the poker hand rankings and the positions on the table. Ranging from Royal Flush to No Pair, the card rankings help you dive deeper into concepts that will give you clarity on the functions of the hands. Your position on the table also plays a crucial role in determining your next decisions and moves. So, you should learn how each position can put you at an advantage.

2. Start Playing with Low Stakes

Before you jump into any game, make sure you consider this poker tip that will prevent you from losing a lot of money. Since you are a beginner, it is always to stick to your humility in the casino. Do not go for the huge bets for your first game. Many others may ignore the options for a low stake, but you should try and spend no more than $100 on a session. This will help you realize if you are comfortable playing that particular variant and strategy. Your skills also start improving with time to aid you in the next stage of moving up the stakes. Low stakes will help you take a step further in understanding the game by providing you the perfect platform to experiment with the different betting options and techniques.

3. Play Aggressive and Tight

Beginners often make the mistake of playing too wide. Make sure you don’t open too many hands while playing the game. Always stick to a tight gambling style, but you should also be as aggressive as possible so that you have control over the progress of the dealings on the table. When you are confident and aggressive with your hand, the opponents will experience the pressure to raise when the time is not right.

Casino games have conquered the hearts of millions across the globe, and it was mainly through the sessions available on the tables and machines in land-based casinos. People are now able to access these games from the comfort of their homes without having to travel long distances. While this convenience is enjoyed by many, most of them fail to learn how to play the different games in groups. Although free games are offered on these platforms, the experience of gambling in real casinos is irreplaceable. The growing popularity of online casinos has, however, fettered more people to their couches.

Of all the games, poker and slots are the most popular in online casinos. If you are also foraying into any of these games, you may want to learn more about them. Slots are fairly easy to learn, taking you not more than an hour to get the hang of it. Poker, on the other hand, is a complex card game that requires great strategy and opportunities to make a fortune. Beginners would need this bigger picture of the game to understand the working of the sessions they sign up for.

Basic Rules

Poker is known by different names, and one of the most common variations you will come across is Texas Hold’em. In this game, once the initial bet called blind and the ante has been placed, every player will get two personal blind cards, which will remain unrevealed until the final showdown. Blinds can either be small or big based on the size of the forced bets, with the former usually being ½ the minimum opening bet and the latter equal to the minimum opening bet.

Community cards, also known as shared cards, are placed at the center of the table when the dealer distributes the cards. It is during the first round of betting (FLOP) that three community cards are turned over. The 4th and 5th cards in succession are the TURN and RIVER, which are exposed turn by turn in each round. At the time of the showdown, the players try to make the best possible five-card hand using the community and personal cards. The objective of the game is to win the coins by combining the best cards for a highly valuable hand.

Tips to Play Poker

When you have the right tips and strategies from experts, you can master the game. Beginners will surely find it hard, but they will learn the concepts in time. This skill-based game offers itself a tinge of luck to make the sessions more exciting. Here are a few tips that could help you play the game:

• Playing all hands will not ensure a win
• Plan your bets and strike hard when you have a good hand
• Bluffing can work if you know the art of it.
• Pull out from a hand when it is of the least value
• Try reading your opponents
• Do not play soccer when you are dejected

This game happens to be an amazing game that has actually changed the lives of millions of people out there. You can actually construe in any way you want to, but it is a game that is loved by so many people. It is also obvious that their lives are either better or worse, because of this game. I am not saying that it has changed everybody’s life for the better, but it has definitely influenced it. It can also be construed as one that destroyed the lives of a lot of people, because of the amount of money they have lost in the game. This game happens to be one that a lot of people dream about playing with their buddies in a beautiful casino. A lot of people have actually been dreaming about conquering this particular game, and some of them are actually good at it.

• It is one that actually challenges your nerves and your skill as well. This particular game has actually proven to be very daunting to a lot of new players, and it will definitely not go easy on you. Once you know all the rules and regulations, you can actually afford to sit at one of the tables, because you are investing real money into it.
• You will obviously start off by entering into a tournament that does not have a huge buy-in policy. If you are in Las Vegas, you can actually start off with a relatively low budget of five dollars or even $10. When you are sitting down at a poker table, you may actually see a lot of the funds flow very slowly, and some of it may even disappear from the game. Fortune can definitely change at any time. The best thing you can do is be completely informed as to what you are doing.
• If you are going to be entering into a tournament, it would mean that you are going to be occupied for a couple of hours, considering a relatively low fee of entrance. You can actually enter for a lot less, when compared to how much money you may actually win.
• If you do end up making money from this, you are going to be really happy, but I suggest you don’t get addicted to it. You will obviously be able to choose your favourite when you begin.
• Another important thing that you should keep in mind is when you are in the casinos; you need to always keep track of time. You also need to know what you are doing. If you do not, you are going to have a lot of trouble. Making sure that you know exactly what you are doing well actually confirm you a place in the Highroller table when the time comes.