Archive for August, 2008

How to Tell if Your Opponent is Bluffing

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Believe it or not, even in online poker, there are some telltale signs that a player is bluffing. In fact, there are many ways to spot a poker bluff. Among the most common signs are impatience and attempts to distract you. Pay close attention to players who exhibit these kinds of behaviors.

When on the lookout for a bluff, beware of players who are chatting about how their poor luck is, especially if you notice that they are raising pots at the same time. Also be wary of players who raises before the flop and then quickly raises again after the flop. When this occurs, don’t call unless you are reasonably sure you can win with what is already in your hand.

Another sign of a bluff is a player who is “sitting out” and then suddenly re-enters the game just as the cards are being dealt. If this player is also quick to call or raise, he or she may simply be in too much of hurry to seriously be playing a good hand. Playing quickly is a sure sign of a bluff in poker games. To win consistently with good hands, players must take the time to play strategically. Someone who always plays Texas holdem quickly is not taking the time necessary to play a good hand. On a similar note, very loose players who bet on every hand are also very likely to be bluffing much of the time. It isn’t possible to always have a good starting hand.

Also be careful of a player who has low stacks and bets an entire bankroll. This may be a player who is ready to give up and is playing with an “all or nothing” mentality to see if they can win the pot and stay in the game.

Another sign of bluffing to look for is a player who checks on the turn after betting on the flop. This may look like confidence, but how confident is this player in reality? Players who do this should be called. If you have a decent hand and feel confident, force this type of player to bet.

Always pay attention to what a player shows at the end of a hand. This is another way to pick out a bluff. If you notice a player raise before the flop and that player loses the hand, notice what he or she shows. If it is not much, it is probably a bluff, and the player is likely to try it again. Be aware of that player’s tendency to bluff foolishly.

As you can see, playing with impatience is, in fact, one of the biggest mistake a poker bluff will make. While a good bluff may be able to fake patience, an impatient player is a top suspect for being a bluff.



Maximize your Chances of Winning

Thursday, August 21st, 2008

There are many different types of online slots tournaments, but there are a few universal rules , there is a set price to ‘buy into’ the tournament, and this fee provides you with a set number of credits. These credits are then exchanged for games on particular slot machines. And the aim, of course, is to get the largest winnings possible. In most tournaments, you will be playing with only ‘tournament or play money’, which means in effect that all you stand to lose is your entry fee. Whether you are a high roller or not, you will have the same odds as every other player and have the potential to win a lot of cash. Some of the other online slots tournaments ask that you play with ‘real money’, and stakes are always dependent on the individual slots tournament. Common Types of Online Slots Tournaments Different slots tournaments work in different ways, but there are four common types: 1 - An entry fee of between $5 and $35 entitles you to play money chips for use in the tournament. 2 - There is a time limit on your playing period. 3 - The aim of the game is to have more play money than the others in the tournament and you are able to leave the game at any point. 4 - When the game ends, those in the top price bracket are the winners; and prize money is made up of the collected entry fees. Maximize your Chances of Winning Generally speaking, the rules for slots tournaments are universal; but different tournaments set different criteria for winning. In some cases, the winner will be the player with the highest total at the end of the game; in others, the winner will be the player who achieves the highest score in a bonus round. So, in order to maximize your chances of winning, always read the rules before beginning a game! Where you are given a set time limit for your play, it is often a good idea to keep your finger on the spin button. This ensures that you get in the maximum number of spins during the time period, and the wheel should only stop to allow for your wins. Slots Tournaments Online Playing online slots tournaments is a great way to potentially win serious cash for relatively little outlay, as playing online tends to be much cheaper than playing ‘for real’. One particularly good value example is The Sands. Here, the entry fee is only $25 and this entitles you to play for up to an hour. It is extremely common for online slots tournaments to allow great value for money and plentiful playing time. The very best of online slots tournaments, however, are for most people the Freerolls. These games ask no entry fee at all - but give the potential to win real cash!