Category: Casino

Articles relating to other online casino games like slots.

What is the Most Effective Video Poker Strategy to Adopt?

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Video Poker Strategy

It has been said that a player with the requisite skills can successfully overcome the odds to beat video poker machines. The rationale behind this is predicated on the fact that players are competing against machines, and not against other players.

Before one delves into the most effective video poker strategies, it’s worth evaluating the video poker games with the most player-friendly odds. The RTP (Return to Player) percentages indicate how much of every £1 wagered on a video poker game is theoretically returned to the player over the long-term.

The higher the RTP, the lower the house edge, and vice versa.

Our point of call when evaluating the most effective video poker strategies is based on selecting the games and strategies providing the lowest house edge.

  • Full-Pay Deuces Wild Optimal Strategy Video Poker – 100.76%
  • Full Pay Deuces Wild Simple Strategy – 100.71%
  • 10/7 Double Bonus Basic Strategy – 100.17%
  • 10/6 Double Double Bonus – 100.07%
  • 9/6 Jacks or Better Optimal Strategy – 99.54%
  • 9/6 Jacks or Better Intermediate Strategy – 99.52%
  • 9/6 Jacks or Better Simple Strategy – 99.46%

Video Poker Rules

Since the majority of video poker games are played with a single deck of cards (52 cards), there is a degree of standardization across the board. Players begin by making a bet and clicking the deal button. The RNG (Random Number Generator) is responsible for randomly dealing 5 cards to players. Players get to choose which cards to keep, and which cards to discard. Depending on the rules of the game in question, players are tasked with compiling the strongest-value hand, given the rules of play.

For the most part, the video poker games with the lowest house edge offer a house edge of around 1%, or an RTP of around 99%. Of course, the best way to boost your chances of winning with video poker is to pad your bankroll with additional firepower. You can play video poker casino with 100% up to £100 +200 spins for players in the UK at reputable operators, like Casino.com. By getting a head start with an online casino bonus, video poker players can position themselves for success with the right strategies and playing styles.

Determining RTPs and Playing Requirements for Video Poker Games

The optimal strategy for specific video poker variants depends upon the game in question. It is worth highlighting several games, their rules, and RTPs accordingly:

  • Bonus Poker – in these video poker games, higher bonuses are awarded for specific types of hands such as 4 of a kind. 4X Aces typically pay up to 100X the bet, while 4X 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s pay 60 X the bet.
  • Deuces Wild Video Poker – all of the 2s in Deuces Wild Video Poker are Wild cards. The payouts for Deuces Wild Video Poker games vary from one game to the next. The house edge is especially low in Deuces Wild Video Poker, particularly Loose Deuces Video Poker which has a 500X payout when you land 4X 2s. Though rare, these games can be found at land-based casinos across Las Vegas, and online too.
  • Joker Wild Video Poker – this exciting video poker variant features a 53rd card – the Joker. As its namesake suggests, the Joker is Wild. It substitutes for other cards in the deck to help form winning combinations. RTPs for Joker Wild Video Poker games range from 98% – 100% +. It is important to check the specific game RTP, to ensure the best possible payback percentage.
  • Jacks or Better Video Poker – this is the gold standard of video poker games. Players are tasked with compiling a 5-card video poker hand with Jacks or Better. Anything less than Jacks loses. The ultimate hand in Jacks or Better is a Royal Flush.

Video Poker Payouts

The common pay table for Jacks or Better Video Poker games comprises the following hand combinations and payouts:

Jacks or Better1
Two Pairs2
Three of a Kind3
Straight 4
Full House9
Four of a Kind25
Straight Flush50
Royal Flush800

The above pay table (Jacks or Better 9 /6) typically has a house edge of around 0.46%, when a player uses perfect strategy. For the most part, you can expect a house edge of around 1% in Jacks or Better video poker games.

Three Transferable Skills from Poker to Blackjack

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Poker to Blackjack

Poker and blackjack might seem like very different games. One relies heavily on psychology and intuition while the other is more a case of cold, hard logic. Then there’s the small matter of poker being a game played against other people while blackjack is just you against the dealer. But there are a number of crossovers between the two games. This means that the skills that a poker player picks up over time can be a great help in their quest to become an accomplished blackjack player as well.

Using your intuition and observation

As we’ve just mentioned, poker is a game of psychology and brinkmanship. But you can also pick up a great deal of information from a combination of intuition and observation. We’ve all heard stories of, or experienced first-hand, tells that have given away particular players’ hand. In blackjack, you may just be playing against the dealer, but they’re human too. You can pick up on minuscule signals from them too as you play. This is even the case when you’re playing online blackjack in a “live” casino. Because you’re playing in real-time against an actual dealer you can also closely watch their reactions and become accustomed to their style of play. Try it and you may be surprised by just how much you can deduce.

Doing the math

As any experienced poker player will know, a great deal of their time is spent rapidly calculating odds and probabilities and then measuring the size of their bets, according to the estimated card values around them. The fact that they’re working with incomplete information may make this a little more challenging but it’s possible, all the same. The simpler set-up of blackjack means that the math involved is a little simpler and exactly the same principles apply. By seeing which cards have been dealt, you’ll have a good idea about which ones remain in the pack and can start estimating the probabilities of being closer to the magical total of 21 than the dealer. To help you on your way there’s also something that poker doesn’t have – and that’s the basic strategy.

“Pokerdice” (CC BY 2.0) by Dicemanic

Keeping your focus

Poker marathons can be long and arduous experiences, as anyone who has spent hours around a table can testify. But this is like any kind of training. The longer that one spends doing something, the easier it becomes. So the time spent playing Texas Hold’em or any other poker variant, and enlivening things with the odd hero call , will prepare you for an extended stint playing blackjack too. It might not be quite as mentally draining as poker, but you’ll still need to keep your focus if you want on top of the game.

So there you have them. Three ways that poker can sharpen up your blackjack too. As to what skills you can take from blackjack to poker, well, that’s another story altogether.



Featured image: “blackjack” (CC BY 2.0) by Andreasgh

Your Guide to the Expansive Scene of Innovative Live Gaming

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Live Gaming

The online gambling space is enormous, continuing to grow with each passing day. Poker was one of the first booming successes of this iGaming industry, with everything from multi-million tournaments to poker training video courses being available via an internet connection.

Poker isn’t the only card game that’s been able to rise to prominence with the advent of online casino gaming. Flash versions of video poker, blackjack, baccarat. Other table games like roulette, became popular very quickly. Still, without the presence of human competition in the game, they grew a little stale. Developers needed to add the class and experience associated with these popular in-house casino games. They decided to create a way of utilizing live streaming technology, allowing for real-time play.

Now, live casino games are wildly popular at online casino platforms. They command their very own section separate from their video-format counterparts. Here’s your guide to getting into the innovative form of table gaming.

The live casino gaming experience

Whether you’re at a computer or on your mobile, playing a live casino game is as easy as playing any other online casino game. You tap the icon on the site, wait for it to load, and then, you’ll be watching a human croupier going through the motions of a live game. When the round ends, you’ll be able to place your bets via the UI that shows on your screen. Then you’ll be playing in real-time with the exact game being dealt via the live stream. You get the authentic casino table experience but from the comfort of your own home.

Enjoy the classics, as you would at a casino

Generally speaking, anyone who wants to enjoy a live casino game will do so because they want to experience the class and live action of a casino venue at their convenience. Most of the time, this inclines them to lean towards the proper casino classic table games. As you’d assume, the developers of these live casino games started the scene by offering the most recognizable names in this new innovative form.

Now, all live casino sites which offer a special welcome bonus, for which you can discover more on this site, are loaded with live forms of blackjack, roulette, Caribbean poker, and baccarat. However, to compete in this increasingly popular section, they had to get creative, leading to live casino gaming being much more than classic table games.

live gaming
Source: Pexels

Expanding into live game shows for the casino

Online casinos are always evolving and looking for new ways to entertain their players. Led by Evolution Gaming, creators of the live-streamed tables decided to create new sets for game show-like offerings. Featuring lottery-style drops, huge spinning wheels, and new variants on classic tables.

Despite first being patented in 1903 by a leftwing feminist, the capitalist game of Monopoly has stuck around as a mainstay in gaming. This made it perfect to base a new live casino game around. Monopoly Live is a fine example of innovation being pumped into an already ground-breaking product. Players being able to play along to the spin of a giant wheel and benefit from its additional in-theme stops.

Live casino gaming has transformed the way that we can play online games. Offering a heightened, authentic way to enjoy old favorites and flashy new creations in real-time.

Featured image source: Unsplash

The Basics of Roulette for Beginners

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

The Basics of Roulette

Of all the other casino games, roulette is probably the one that piques my interest the most. There is more options, availability and freedom of choice when it comes to wagering. This level of control is appealing to me and makes roulette more enticing than slots, video poker and blackjack. In this article, we will look at the basics of roulette so you know the rules and what to do if you turn up at a casino (online or in person).

The Equipment

Roulette is played with a small hard ball, a spinning wheel, and a table laid out, numbered 1 to 36 with black and red distributed evenly. There are 12 rows and 3 columns and outside bets giving options like “1 to 18”, “even” or “black”. All roulette tables also have the green zero and many have double zero too.

Obviously, with online roulette the equipment is digital and not tangible like in a casino but the appearance is the same. The only difference being that there is not a physical dealer. Having said that, you can play online live roulette too. Everything is the same as playing in casino except you are in the comfort of your own home.

How Roulette Works

Roulette is played by having a dealer spin the wheel, the players make their wagers by putting the value of chips where they hope the ball will fall. The ball is then dropped in the wheel, in the opposite direction to it being spun. The wheel has every part of the board on it, thus, where the ball finishes up will match up to something. If where the ball lands correspond to where you wagered, you win X amount, depending on the odds given.

The Betting

Whilst the idea behind roulette is very simple, understanding what bet to make and how much is trickier. As I said, you have the power to decide where you want to bet and how much and you have a lot of options available. The list below highlights the popular options and their respective odds:

Bet Description Odds
Single number Betting on individual numbers (including 0 or 00)35 to 1
Split Placing a chip across 2 numbers. 17 to 1
StreetAny 3 horizontal numbers e.g. 1,2,311 to 1
CornerPlacing a bet in corner covering 4 numbers8 to 1
ColumnBetting on it being on a specific column2 to 1
Red or BlackWith 36 numbers, ½ are red and ½ are blackEven money (1 to 1)
Even or OddWith 36 numbers, ½ are even and ½ are oddEven money (1 to 1)
1 to 18Betting on the number being between 1 and 18 (low)Even money (1 to 1)
19 to 36 Betting on the number being between 19 and 36 (high)Even money (1 to 1)

House Edge

Before you start playing roulette, you need to be aware that the pay-out odds are worse than the real odds. This should not be a surprise to you – it’s how they make their money. The edge lies on with the green zero. Notice it’s not even or odd, red or black. This apparently small edge can be demonstrated by the betting of an even number. Despite the even money odds, you are actually 48.7% to win. This may seem little but over the course of time and enough volume – the house has a decent edge. When you combine this with gamblers desire to bet on random things like favourite numbers and birthdays and you can see why the casino is winning.

The Roulette Wheel Has No Memory

You may notice that most roulette table display the previous numbers. You will often see someone writing them down or observing closely before making a bet. Don’t be fooled into thinking there is some hidden strategy or tips to pick up from the previous number falls.  You don’t need a maths degree to understand that the odds are independent, not dependant on previous spins. In other words, the roulette wheel has no memory.  If you flip a coin ten times and it comes up heads every time, is it any more likely to fall tails on the 11th? Of course not, and the same is true for the roulette wheel.

Conclusion on Roulette

Roulette is a very fun casino game to play. It’s one of the few casino games that requires some input by the bettor. Despite being a game of luck, there is opportunity to win money in the short term if you are fortunate. As long as you remember to gamble responsibly, with money you don’t mind losing and in good company, you can have a great time.

Featured Photo created by macrovector – www.freepik.com

Bitcoin Gambling is on the Rise, When Will You Try it?

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Bitcoin Gambling

When Bitcoin gained popularity and boomed in 2017, people could not believe what was going on. Most thought the bubble would burst within a year an it would fizzle out. The concept didn’t resonate with some, with this cryptocurrency confusing to them. Three years later and the doubters are being proven wrong with a share price at the time of writing this article of $10,249. The point I am making is that Bitcoin is not going anywhere and the gambling industry has and is adapting to its usage in a powerful way. The best bitcoin casino and poker sites are easily found now and proudly display their cryptocurrency badges on their site.  This article will briefly look at a few reasons why Bitcoin gambling is popular and what the future holds for it.

Bitcoin is Fast

There are many online casinos and poker sites offering Bitcoin as a payment method. It provides users with a fast way to get funds in their online accounts. Where it used to take days to get money out of a site, it is now much less. Some online casinos are able to process withdrawals very quickly, often less than an hour. This service is perfect for the impulsive and impatient gambler wanting to play online.

Gamblers Don’t Want Attention

Gamblers also like the idea of being anonymous. Bitcoin is perfect for these people. It provides a cloak that if removed will only reveal a bunch of numbers. No name, no address and no email tied. This appeals to many people, particularly those who like to keep their gambling affairs private. People have their own reasons for wanting anonymity, it’s not for me to judge, but suffice to say it’s a widely accepted benefit to bitcoin gambling.

Bitcoin is Secure

Despite the scepticism many hold about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in general, they are actually very secure. What can a hacker do if they access your information? They can’t take money from you. The only possible thread is if you lose your wallet – the same threat as in real life if you drop it in the street. In short, you are very safe to use the reputable cryptocurrencies.

2021 and Beyond

The modern world is adapting and evolving to digital. This is evident everywhere you go isn’t it? It may be pushed faster than anticipated due to Covid-19, and people spending more time in doors but that is the direction we are moving in. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have a lot of appeal in the gambling industry and will play a big part in the future of online gamble. I predict more gambling sites will begin to accept them as a trustworthy payment method. A quick google search will show you there is over ten million results for the phrase “bitcoin gambling”.  There are loads of casino sites and a good few poker sites that encourage cryptocurrency. Clearly there is a demand for it.

It seems it’s a question of when and not if, to when people will move over to this way of gambling. Once a couple of the major sites move to it, their competitors will have to as well. The question in a few years may be will it be the only currency used in online gambling? Time will tell…

If you enjoyed this article and a similar topic request, please contact us and as always, remember to gamble responsibly.

Featured photo created by wirestock – www.freepik.com

How to Play Blackjack Online

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Blackjack Online

Blackjack has been around hundreds of years. Long before the computers and the world wide web was around. With the dawn of internet, and its explosion in the 21st century, came opportunity to play casino games online, blackjack being one. This article will focus on the key things to know when playing blackjack online, including the rules and some basic tips to help you get started.

The Rules of Blackjack

Blackjack is played with a standard 52 card playing deck. It is often played with between 2 and 8 decks, shuffled together. At the start of each round, every player is dealt 2 cards (usually faceup) and the dealer is dealt two cards but only one exposed. The cards value is based on it’s number with paint cards worth 10 and aces being 1 or 11 depending on what is advantageous to the player. The sum of their cards combined make up the value of the hand.

Players are allowed to draw more cards “hit me” in an effort to improve their hand. If their value exceeds 21, they bust and cannot win. This is why blackjack is also called 21 in some places, thus 21 is the best online blackjack hand possible. After the players have done their betting, the dealer has his play. The dealer must draw cards until he hits 17 or higher. Therefore, if he hits 18, he is forced to stick. The object of the game is to have a higher hand than the dealers.

Starting Out Playing Blackjack Online

I highly recommend starting off slow and low when you play first play blackjack online. Whilst the rules of the game are fairly simple, you can burn through a lot of money if you are not careful AKA tilt in poker. There are some simply strategies that will help you game and increase your chances. Let’s look at a couple.

When to Double Down in Blackjack

Holding 10 or 11 – If you are holding a 10 or 11, you are in a favourable position as you cannot bust. Doubling down is the opportunity to double your wager, with one draw of a card. It’s a favourable edge for you against the dealer and must be taken to help your chances in the long run.

You have a hard 9 against a low dealer card – If you have a hand that totals 9 and doesn’t contain an ace, you are a favourite against the dealer if he is only holding a card 2 to 6. This is a great spot to double down.

Splitting in Blackjack

Most blackjack online games give you the chance to split your cards and form two new hands. This is only available if you get dealt a pair. When you split, you are placing a second bet on each hand, equal to your original bet. Splitting is not something you can learn in 2 minutes. However, I can say for certain, its best to split when you get aces or eights and never split with nines or tens. Why would you spit if you have 20 or 18? With eights, you are sitting on a troublesome 16, not so high you will win but not easy to bust. By splitting with eights, you can only improve your chances.

Conclusion

Blackjack is one of the most exciting and fun casino games around. There are dozens of variants around the world, each with their own little twist on this popular gambling game. It appeals to those in casinos and online. There’s also something very satisfying beating the dealer and the house. So, feel free to register an account online and give it a try. Please remember to always gamble responsibly.

Caribbean Poker Strategy and Introduction

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Caribbean Poker

This Caribbean poker strategy article should carry a beginner’s point of view. It should provide you with the facts to help you understand the most. Even though it`s not the most popular betting game in casino, virtual Caribbean poker is not new to the gambling scene. A lot of players first saw this gambling game on cruise vessels in the Caribbean islands. This is where it first evolved. The history of Caribbean poker started out in Aruba in 1988 and then was soon made part of holiday sails that arrived to the exotic isles and in order to offer the travellers more genuine feeling of the Caribbean life.

Caribbean Poker in USA

Soon, the game made it’s way to the United States of America, where it infiltrated many gambling halls, bringing in some of that holiday atmosphere. By now, the game was played at virtually every gaming room around the world.

Since it arrived to the United States of America, Caribbean poker has changed a little bit in order to attract more gamers. The main addition is the progressive top prize, which interests most. In case you don’t know what a progressive jackpot is, it initiates with a pre-set amount and then rises until someone gets it. Once they do, it resets to the starting point. The logic these sorts of jackpots are advantageous is because they provide the player the opportunity to gain more payment than a regular prize would.

Low Stakes

Because the stakes are pretty low in most games, Caribbean poker is played by all types of people and background. It’s played by the wealthy and the not so privileged. Virtual Caribbean poker does not require a heavy bankroll in order to participate, therefore nobody is left out, like baccarat.

You should read as much as possible to see what you might do in order to have an improved game of online Caribbean poker.

Caribbean Poker Odds

Numerous internet Caribbean poker gamers make the mistake of surrendering. They do this in case they hold a poor pair or trying to trick the dealer if their combination is low.

First of all, you will be dealt a pair 42% of the time. Therefore, you’ll succeed more often – as long as you make the call. The house has a 7 percent edge on you in case you quit and you opt to keep away from this by all means.

Furthermore, bluffing out a house will bring you absolutely no advantage whatsoever. Since nothing you do has an effect on the game, just yours. The thought behind a bluff is that the player thinks that the house won’t qualify and like this, the bettor would be allowed to win some payment of the ante bet. Although, the truth still holds that odds of the croupier are higher (56%) than him not continuing. So, when performing a call over a weak hand, the player is in fact wagering against their chances intentionally. This makes for a poor game of Vegas Caribbean poker. Additionally, a participant who bluffs out shall spend 25% more of his ante in the long run than if he surrendered.

Don’t Worry About the Other Players

Additional good strategy involves the various players at the Caribbean poker table. While betting, you are gambling versus the house, not the different bettors; that changes the gambling game significantly. Unlike other games like Texas Hold’em, this information is not necessary and you do need to worry about other players involved. It has no effect on whether your win or lose. Basically, there is one less thing for you to worry about.

Conclusion of Caribbean Poker Instructions:

Watch the game before you bet on it, so you could have an improved knowledge of it or, even better, bet on several gambling games on the web beforehand you play at the casinos.

Get familiar with all the rules and regulations on the specific Caribbean poker table you would like to wager at

It`s a time-consuming and social game which suggests big returns, however bears a big casino edge. Weigh up whether the benefits outweigh the cost to you before playing.

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How to Determine Trustworthy Gambling Websites in 2020?

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Gambling Sites 2020

If you are new to the world of online betting, looking at the list of the best or even reputable casinos feels overwhelming. Each review has different sites listed and you probably don’t know who to trust. In this article, we will show you how to find the best gambling sites for you and your needs. The mission of websites like WeGamble is to provide a different and unique perspective on the world of gambling that should ease the whole process.

The Most Important Ranking Factor of Online Casinos

As we previously mentioned, the lists of top casino sites might feel overwhelming. Although most of the reviews list the parameters they used to rank those sites, we don’t know the most important ones among them. Therefore, we can’t rank the sites on our own, and we have to trust the reviewer unconditionally. But, if we knew the strength of individual parameters, we would know how to rate the site on our own.

The most important ranking factor for online gambling sites is the trustworthiness of the site. The best welcome offer, the biggest collection of casino games, and amazing user experience are worthless if you registered on the site which is not legit.

How to check is the site legit? There are a few ways, and you should combine all of them. First, there are user reviews online. However, if you are suspicious of sponsored content you see online, you should be suspicious when reading user reviews. Many of them are sponsored by competition, or simply not true. Many gamblers are quick to register when they see a great offer, but they don’t read the Terms and Conditions of the site, wagering requirements, and other important info, and then they feel scammed. You should always read everything you can about the particular casino before making your final judgement.

Do The Research

You should also check if the casino is licensed and by which gambling authority. By doing small research there you will definitely find the answer fast, but we recommend reading customer reviews anyway. Although most of the popular casinos in 2020 are generally trustworthy, you can come across some things you don’t like, regarding payment methods, wagering requirements, waiting time after you make a withdrawal request, and similar things. Therefore, reading user reviews is good, but always take them with the grain of salt.

The Best Site Must Follow Your Preferences

After we learned how to recognise scamming websites, we need to find the best partner for our online gambling adventure. Like we stated at the beginning of this article, you can find numerous reviews. Reviews of casinos, casino games, and gambling providers, but in most of them, you will find different sites at the top. That should tell you two things: first, it is really hard to make a definite list of the best online casinos, and second, the lists are different because ranking criteria is different on each of those reviews.

The solution is – ask yourself what is the most important thing you expect to find at the chosen casino website. Is it free spins? A great welcome bonus? Lots of casino games to choose from? The beautiful design or user experience, and then search for the best online casinos in that particular category. You will find out that searching for the easiest wagering requirements or the best welcome bonus will give you more consistent results. After that, you can register an account at the desired online casino and get the best experience based on your preferences. Of course, we always recommend going further and not sticking with one casino. There is plenty of fish in the sea. By widening your preferences, you will certainly stumble upon more great online casinos. Some of which will give you the best possible experience.

Conclusion

We learned that finding the best gambling site in 2020 requires more work than it seems. Also, your favourite might not be the site which is topping the most of the best gambling site lists. You need to figure out your preferences and what is the most important thing for you. Once you know, you will easily choose the perfect gambling partner, based on those preferences. If you repeat that process for each casino you choose, you will never feel robbed or think that you registered at a scamming website.

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Online Poker vs Live Poker – The Main Differences

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

Online Poker vs Live Poker

The rules of poker do not change based on where you are, but there are many differences between online poker and live poker. If you are only used to one and considering playing the other, this article will inform you of the biggest differences and prepare you better. By staying informed, you will also learn whether it’s more profitable to play one or the other.  

More Multiway Pots Live

Online poker is generally tighter than poker at the casino. Online players are often multi-tabling and don’t have a problem with patience. Live poker at casinos has more players at the flop due to the impatience of players. In a live game, players have a desire to be involved and play pots. They don’t want to drive to the casino and sit folding for hours. This results in a looser game, often with 3 to 5 players at the flop.

The Difference in Stakes (Ability)

If you’re used to playing online at $1/$2 no limit Texas Hold’em, don’t sit at the same game in a casino and expect it to be the same calibre. There’s a rule many poker players apply called the ten to one rule. In short, whatever stakes you usually play and win at online, multiply it by 10 to get the same standard in a casino. Why is this? Casino’s don’t have penny stakes, so the lowest stakes games are the more beginner players.

Game Speed

One of the most obvious differences between online poker vs live poker is the pace which the game flows. Online poker is very quick, with the ability to play hundreds of hands an hour. It was made even faster when games like Snap poker were introduced. Live poker is much slower paced. Think about, the dealer has to shuffle and deal (online this is automated). Live poker players tend to take longer over their decisions too. Interestingly, online poker players who play super-fast with 10 tables come to a casino and take ages too!

Live Poker Tells

As great as online poker is, the inability to look at your opponent means you have to rely on everything else to read them. In live poker, your opponent is there in front of you. There is more information available, including poker tells. Without going into the specifics of different poker tells, suffice to say, there are many ways a poker player will unwittingly reveal their hand strength. This important part of live poker is largely absent from online poker. Instead, you must trust your instinct, watch for betting patterns and notice change any changes in speed of decision making to make a read. Check out our article on online poker tells for more detail.

Live Poker is More Social

We are naturally social and this is heightened when we play games together. Visit any poker room and you will hear the riffling of chips, men telling bad beat stories and even political debates. If you love the solace of online poker and prefer to keep yourself to yourself, perhaps live poker isn’t for you. When you sit at a cash game, you are engaged in a social activity. Your neighbours at the table will be doing the same, chatting and making friends. You could be forgiven you’re not playing for money but some people play poker just to play with the boys and get out of the house.

Bet Sizing

Live poker tends to involve bigger bets. Perhaps the concept of lower variance or small ball didn’t reach the casinos yet, but that is one thing you can expect. A typical live poker game will see raises of 5 big blinds or more. Online poker usually has opens of 2.2 to 3 big blinds. If you don’t think this is a big difference, think again. Consider your stack size when you buy in. If you are buying in for anything less than 100 big blinds, you better bring several bullets. Remember, pots are often multi-way too so it doesn’t take long for a pot to reach a significant size. Before you know it, you might be all in.

Poker Straddle

The poker straddle is an unforced bet that the person under the gun will post. It’s something that increases the pot and entices more action. I love the poker straddle and would love to see it introduced online. Why wouldn’t you want someone to put money in unnecessarily? This is something a lot of live players opt to do. Rules differ between casinos on the straddle so make sure you know what they are before playing in a game with the straddle. If you want to see more about the straddle. Check out our poker straddle article.

Weekend Games

Live poker booms at the weekend. People are off work and ready to game. Whilst this is true online. It is not to the same extent. Go online any day of the week and it will be busy. This is probably due to timing differences around the globe. This is not the same at the casino. People have jobs and better things to do than play poker on Monday night. What does this mean? It means weekends are the best times to play poker at the casino. You can take the egotistical businessmen to school if you are willing to stay late.

String Bet in Poker – How to Avoid it

Posted on by Narciso Baldo

String Bet

You’ve studied your opponent and calculated the bet you want to make in your head. You reach for your chips and put in a decent bet and hear the 2 most annoying words you can hear in a live poker game. “String bet” and the dealer makes you put the extra chips back making your bet look pitiful. Your opponent calls the meagre bet and you win a tiny pot instead of a potentially large one. A string bet is not just frustrating if you win or perhaps lose the pot, but also from a consequence perspective. Placing a string bet can affect you the hands after. This article will look at the meaning of a string bet and ways to avoid it happening to you in the future.

Beginner Texas Hold’em Question

What is a string bet?

A string bet is an illegal bet made at a live poker table. It is where the player has bet chips multiple times with the intention of making a single bet.

Main Types

Dropping ChipsThis is where a player will reach a stack of chips and drop them individually over the betting line. In this situation, the first chip that landed is the bet. Whilst you may think you’re cool dropping the chips in a dramatic fashion like in the movies, it’s illegal to do so in practically every casino.
Reaching BackThis is the most common way. It’s where you push your bet forward, over the invisible betting line. You then reach back for more chips to do this again.

Check out the video below for illustration

Why is a String Bet Illegal?

String betting is illegal because, theoretically, you could be feeding off your opponents’ reactions. By betting and then going to get more chips, it’s as if you are altering your bet and may use the reaction for information. Despite people wanting to devalue the importance of reading your opponent, it’s a part of the game you can’t ignore. By watching your opponent as you make a bet, you can elicit information from them. That being said, the truth is, most string bets are performed by new players unfamiliar with the rules of poker. There are experienced players though who may do this illegal bet on purpose. This is very unethical and something I advise against.

How to Avoid String Betting

The simplest and easiest way to avoid string betting is by announcing your bet verbally. By doing this, it’s irrelevant how you pick up your chips. Verbal declaration is binding so as long you are clear with your annunciation and are saying it loud enough, you will be fine. It’s important you stay consistent though, strong or weak, announce your raises and bets so that you are not easily exploited.

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