2008's Best Online Gambling Sites

With 2008 coming to an end, the gambling world was sitting on the edge of its seats to find out who would win the Online Gambling Insider Best of 2008 awards. But before we get to all the recent online gambling news its important to know a little about Online Gambling Insider and they have the ultimate say on who has the best online gambling.

Online Gambling Insiders is a portal that offers online gambling players $1,000 deposit guarantee which protects player deposits at all online gambling sites promoted by the portal. They also offer a online casino bonus guide and regularly review online gambling venues. As a result of their expertise, every year they dish out the best of the best when it comes to online gambling; here are the winners of the coveted Online Gambling Insider Awards for 2008.

• Best Overall Online Casino 2008 - VIP Slots Casino
• Best New Casino 2008 - Online Vegas Casino
• Best US Casino 2008 - Paradise 8 Casino
• Best UK Online Casino 2008 - Ladbrokes Casino
• Best Sportsbook 2008 - BetUS.com
• Best Overall Gambling Suite 2008 - Playersonly.com
• Best Online Casino Promotion 2008 - The Jackpot Factory Group
• Best Slots Casino 2008 - All Slots Casino
• Best Online Casino Bonus 2008 - English Harbour Casino
• Best Online Casino Games 2008 - Microgaming
• Best Customer Service 2008 - Club USA Casino
• Best Online Poker Room 2008 - Poker Stars

According to Online Gambling Insider Founder and Editor in Chief Ryan D:

“Despite some setbacks for the industry in the US, the industry is getting stronger with the entry of some new operators and the continued performance of well known brands...Choosing our Online Casino Award winners is a daunting task each year, but we take into account player feedback and our own interactions with each gambling site we promote over the course of the year to come up with our list of top performers."

Excuse us while we check out the winners for ourselves...especially The Best Online Poker Room; but while you wait visit www.pokerchest.com for an incredible selection of chips, tables, cards and other must-have poker accessories.

What are the worst bets in the casino?

Ever wonder if there was a way to walk into a casino and lose your money even more quickly than you usually do? Well, wonder no more because playing the following games is the quickest way to become separated from your hard-earned money. That’s right, it’s time to find out what exactly are the WORST bets you can make in a casino.

The following represent those games where the house advantage is either ridiculously high, or the risk/reward equation of making the bet will break any household calculator.

Five worst bets/games on the casino floor:

1. Keno. Have you ever played the lottery? Ever WON the lottery? We didn’t think so. Keno is like playing lottery 25 times in a row while you eat your Steak and Eggs special in the casino coffee shop.

2. Blackjack Insurance. If you want to spot the beginning blackjack player at the table, look for the one putting money up for Insurance. The side bet is supposed to protect the player from losing their shirt on the dealer’s 21, but with a house advantage of 8%, who’s really getting the best deal here?

3. The Wheel of Fortune. The big wheel looks enticing when you walk into a casino, but try to avoid the urge to play it. The house’s advantage can run as high as 24% depending upon your bet, making this one is a must-avoid.

4. “00” on a Roulette Wheel. Betting the green Double Zero on a roulette wheel may seem like a sexy bet, but it is actually the worst possible bet you can make on this classic casino game. The house advantage here skyrockets over 5% when you play the green.

5. Craps Prop Bets. The bets in the center of the craps table are known as “Prop Bets” or “Proposition Bets”. They include things like betting on “Any Seven” or that old standard YO-ELEVEN. Play the Pass and Come bets for better odds and your money will last a heck of a lot longer.

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Why Online Poker is way too dangerous to play right now

Currently the state of the online poker world could best be described as fragile. To be more specific, the climate is murky for online poker players from the United States(the rest of the world seems to have no problem with regulating the activity). Right now, you’d have to say that it has never been a worse time to play poker online.

Consider the following:

* You can’t use your credit card.
The passage of the Kyl Bill made it illegal for credit card companies to process ANY transactions involving online gaming.That means if you want to play, you will have to fund your account using wire transfers to unknown individuals (NEVER a good idea), or potentially sketchy money transfer firms.


* There are cheaters afoot.
As a recent story on 60 Minutes found, several online poker sites have been overrun by cheaters – advanced mathand hacking gurus who have stacked the deck against online players.

* The whole thing could come down at any moment. President Bush is on his way out of the Oval Office, but it has been rumored that one of the things he is trying to pass into law before he leaves is an outright ban on gaming online for Americans. If that happens, getting your money in your online accounts back into the U.S could be next to impossible.

So what’s an honest poker player to do? Obviously, he or she can travel to one of the many legal poker rooms throughout the country, or visit Atlantic City or Las Vegas. We recommend calling up your friends and re-igniting your home game. After all, before online poker, that was how you enjoyed your game, right? Online poker is an entertaining pursuit, but you lose the deliberate pace of play and the social interaction that make the game so great.

So steer clear of online poker until further notice – but keep you love of the greatest card game ever invented burning bright!

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5 Essential Craps Tips to Keep You in the Black

Thinking about hitting the craps table on your next gambling excursion?

Best to know the game and its many intricacies before you throw your money down.
The following are five essential tips designed to keep you from crapping out.

1. Don’t play the prop bets.
Shooting for big payouts on the proposition bets in the center of the table may seem like a fun way to win some quick money,
but “yo-eleven” and their ilk are actually some of the worst odds on the table.

2. Learn the odds.
It is absolutely crucial that you enter a craps game with a thorough understanding of the odds.
The basic version goes something like this: certain numbers are rolled more often than others
(an “8” is much more likely to come up than a “3”) and as such, the odds paid out for that roll are going to be lower.

3. Bet the Pass Line.
The “Pass Line” and “Don’t Pass Line” bets offer the lowest house advantage of any bets on the craps table.
Compare the 1.36% house advantage on the Pass Line to the 16.67% edge it enjoys on the “Any Seven” bet
and you can start to see why the proposition wagers are such a bad deal.

4. Three is the magic number.
Experts agree that having three bets going at once is the ideal situation for winning more money.
Bet once on the Pass Line and place two Come bets during the roll and will be able to minimize losses and enjoy the best chance of winning.

5. Practice.
One of the soundest strategies for winning at craps is to practice before you play.
There are plenty of free craps simulations online to help you get a better feel for
the game and its many potential outcomes before you start using your own bank roll.

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The four different types of poker chips

If you’re serious about your poker, you’ve got to have your own poker chips. Poker chips can be a significant investment, but making the right choice can provide you with years and years of durable play out of your set. There are four different types of poker chips, each with unique, defining features and a price point to meet every budget.

Clay Chips

Clay chips are not actually made of 100% clay. They are instead crafted from a complex combination of polymers that includes a specific amount of clay in each chip. Clay chips are the most expensive chips you can buy, but deliver that perfect weight and texture that just feels good in your hand.

Composite Metal Core Chips

Serious home players choose these chips because of their incredible durability and the ease in which a personal monogram or detail can be stamped on their center. Composite metal core chips are expensive, but they look amazing and deliver quality play for years whether you play every day or once a month.

Casino Chips

Sought after by chip collectors everywhere, casino chips are the real deal. For security purposes, only a handful of companies in the world make actual casino chips, and they must be licensed and bonded to prevent counterfeiting. If you want your own set of casino chips, well just go into a casino and lay your money down. They would be happy to sell them to you at face value!

Plastic Chips

If you’re on a tight budget, or the game itself means more to you than aesthetics, then head down to your local drugstore, look for the aisle with pipe tobacco and lighter fluid, and there you will find all the plastic goodness you can handle. Plastic chips do have their advantages, however, as they are waterproof and won’t cause you stress if they get lost in the couch.

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Tips for playing winning craps

Today, we continue our “man cannot live by poker alone” series with a look at some quick and easy strategies for playing winning craps. Many people are too intimidated by the craps table to walk up and play (“Where do I place my bets?”, “Why is everyone yelling at me? It’s not my fault I rolled a two!”) but following these leads will help you get in the flow of the game and decrease the odds that you’ll lose your shirt!

Tips for playing winning craps:

· Watch the other players at the table and find the person with the most chips. Make the same bets he does (although in smaller amounts) to get a feel for how a “pro” plays the game.

· To make the game last longer, stay away from the long-odds bets and stick with betting on “Pass/Don’t Pass” or “Come/Don’t Come”

· Don’t leave the table after you win. Craps is a game of streaks and while you need to bet responsibly, you must also be prepared to keep a winning streak going.

· Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most dealers (the ones who want to get tipped anyway) will provide friendly, patient advice for the new player.

· Try and limit your betting to a Pass Line bet and two Come bets. This is enough action for most folks and will keep you in the game longer by limiting losses when the shooter craps out.

· Stay away from crazy long odds bets such as “Yo-Eleven”. There are plenty of smarter investments to make around the table where the odds against you are not as great.

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And now, a word on playing winning blackjack

Believe or not, man (or woman) does not live by poker alone. Sometimes, a little game of 21 sounds just too good to pass up! And if you’re going to play blackjack, we believe you might as well do it right! With that in mind, we hope you’ll enjoy the following super-terrific, 21-tastic tips for playing better blackjack.

Basic tips for playing winning blackjack:

• Never split 10’s, Jacks, Queens or Kings. Stick with your probable winning hand (and avoid a beating from everyone else sitting at the table).

• Always hit a soft 17 if the dealer is showing a 10. And by soft 17, we mean an Ace and a 6. Things can only get better…probably.

• If the dealer is showing a 10, keep hitting until you reach 17. A pretty obvious tip, but you would be amazed how many people “just have a feeling” that a 15 is going to do the job.

• Never say yes to insurance. Much like renting a car, the insurance is just a waste of money. Only the most skilled card-counters can gain any benefit from the act.

• Always split 7’s and 8’s. When you are dealt a pair you are given the option of splitting them into two separate hands (with two separate bets). Doing this with 7’s and 8’s gives you a chance to turn one crappy hand into two good ones!

• Always tip your dealer after a winning hand. There’s no mathematical formula behind this one, just good karma! And after all, these guys really don’t make much money, and they have to put up with people like YOU all day long.

• If you feel uncomfortable, get up and leave. If you start to register heavy losses at a table, or are seated around people who are throwing off your game, get up, take a break, walk around, and find another table. A clear head will help you make better decisions…and it just feels right to start anew.

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What are the odds?

The moments before the river (the last flop card) is turned over can be tense as hell. And while there’s an air of the unexpected going around the table, good players know the odds of the hand they are trying to pull. Want to join the ranks of the mathematically proficient? Check out the list of odds below, and you’ll be able to make better decisions about whether you want to stick a hand out to the end.
Odds of pulling common hands on the river
• Odds of pulling a straight on an open-ended draw = 4.8 to 1
o Example: You’re holding a 5–6 and the cards on the table are A-7-8-J. These are the odds that you will pull a 4 or a 9.

• Odds of pulling an inside straight = 10.5 to 1
o Example: In this situation, you are holding a 7-8 and the cards on the table are 6-10-2-K. Therefore, the only card that will get you your straight is a 9.

• Odds of pulling a flush when you are four to the flush = 4.1 to 1
o Example: Simple one here. You’ve got two hearts in your hand and there are two more hearts on the table. These are the odds that your prayers will be answered and another heart will turn up on the river.

• Odds of pulling two pair or trips when you’ve got a pair in the hole = 8.2 to 1.
o Example: In this scenario you need two pair or trips to win. You’re holding J-J and the board shows K-A-2-8. These are the odds that you will pull a J, K, A, 2 or 8.

• Odds of pulling trips when you’ve got a pair in the hole = 22 to 1.
o Example: This is a tough pull. In this scenario you need trips to win. You’re holding J-J and the board shows K-A-2-8. These are the odds that you will pull that magical Jack and win the day!

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Winning Tips for Video Poker

Every now and again, we all need to try something different. And after hours, perhaps days in the poker room at a major casino, that something different just might be video poker. I know, it’s not real poker, but if you’ve got a couple of $20 dollar bills burning a hole in your pocket, there are worse ways to spend a couple of hours.

Here are some tips to keep you from getting fleeced by the five-button bandit.

Winning tips for video poker

· Take your time. There’s no time limit on a video poker machine, so take the time to study your hand closely. Make sure you’re drawing the cards you want to draw, and the holding the ones you want to keep!

· Always bet the maximum. The only way to get a great return when you hit a top hand is to put in all five coins at the start. This is not the time to penny pinch. Your money may go a little faster, but you’ll kick yourself if you hit that Royal Flush with only two quarters in play.

· The Jack is more important that the Ace. One of the most important, yet overlooked truisms of video poker is that you can make more good hands by holding on to the Jack than you can with the Ace.

· Practice makes perfect. A $10 handheld video poker game lets you perfect your skills with no risk factor. Pick one up at your local drugstore, and then whip that bad boy out on the plane trip to Vegas. It should help your game immeasurably!

· Get yourself a comp card. Most casinos will give you perks according to the number of hands you play at the video poker machine. Sure, it looks a little dorky, but if you’re going to plant your butt at the machine for several hours, shouldn’t be rewarded for it?

· Go for the Royal Flush. If you’re making a decision between drawing four random cards or drawing three to get the big-mama Royal Flush, always go for big hand. You’re not there to break even right?

· Never draw five cards if you have a Jack or higher in your hand. You always want to do everything possible to turn a bad hand into at least a break-even proposition.

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Great poker quotes – Volume I

With all the creative, literary, politically-astute minds that have enjoyed our great game throughout history, it’s no wonder that there’s so many great poker quotes out there.

Here are some of our favorites:

“It never hurts for potential opponents to think you’re more than a little stupid and can hardly count all the money in your hip pocket, much less hold on to it.” - Amarillo Slim

“When we play, we must realize, before anything else, that we are out to make money.” - David Slansky

“If, after the first twenty minutes, you don't know who the sucker at the table is, it's you.” – Unknown

“The commonest mistake in history is underestimating your opponent; it happens at the poker table all the time.” - David Shoup

“I must complain the cards are ill shuffled till I have a good hand.” - Jonathan Swift

“Poker's a day to learn and a lifetime to master.” - Robert Williamson III

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Five things that make the Hollywood Park Casino a place to visit before you die.

Ah, glorious Inglewood, California. A stone’s throw from Los Angles proper has never felt so far away. When in Inglewood, you absolutely must visit the epitome of class and style, The Hollywood Park Casino. It’s got poker, right smack dab in the middle of Southern California.

Need more reasons? Let me count the ways.

1. A poker room 5 minutes from LAX! Got a long layover? Have the cabbie shoot up the Imperial Highway and he’ll have you sitting down at a $3/$6 table in minutes. Just make sure he’s there to pick you up. Cab service around this neighborhood? Not so much.

2. Pink’s! There’s a real live Pink’s Hot Dogs inside the Hollywood Park Casino. Not a landmark like the one off of La Cienaga, but then again, the line is shorter.

3. The ponies! Hollywood Park is actually one of the pre-eminent horse racing venues in the country. In between hands, you can play via simulcast from your seat, or walk over and see the horses run live.

4. The delightful people! You can play poker with the patrons of Hollywood for hours and never have a problem. Just don’t make eye contact. On second thought, go ahead and stare, they’re going to be oblivious to you anyway…frankly, they’ve got their own problems.

5. The celebs! Yes, celebrities do play there. This author has seen Ben Affleck, Chris Moneymaker and Gary Coleman playing poker at Hollywood Park…all in the same month!

For more information about this Inglewood institution, visit www.hollywoodpark.com.

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Jamie Gold: Not your average WSOP winner

When Jamie Gold took home the biggest prize in World Series of Poker history, an estimated $12 million dollars in 2006, there were a few things that made him a little bit different than past winners. For one thing, he was a high-powered talent agent living in Malibu, California with a roster of A-List clients like James Gandolfini, Jimmy Fallon and Lucy Liu.

Also, Gold may or not have been the inspiration for the character Ari Gold on the hit HBO show Entourage.

That debate is on-going, but it is 100% clear that Gold played the main event at the WSOP like nobody who has ever won the tournament. He aggressively pressed hard on his opponents, challenging them to go all-in whenever he held the positional advantage. And while the style annoyed many seasoned pros, it did the job, allowing Gold to walk away with a HUGE prize that fueled by the online poker boom and the high number of entrants it generated.

And speaking of online poker, Gold also became involved in a dispute over his winning with his quasi-sponsor Bodog.com. Bodog claimed that Gold had agreed to provide sponsored talent for the WSOP to play under their name. When he himself won, they claimed their cut. The two parties would eventually settle out of court, but not before the Hollywood media had plenty of fun at Gold’s expense.

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World Series of Poker: Look how big you’ve gotten!

Given the popularity of the event today, it’s hard to believe that not long ago The World Series of Poker was an invitation-only event that barely took up one table. The multimedia experience that is now broadcast concurrently across the internet and high-def television was once hard for the participants to even find.

Consider some of these interesting facts from the first four decades of the WSOP’s existence:

Johnny Moss won $30,000 for taking the main event in 1971. In 2006, Jamie Gold brought home $12 million at that same event.

In 1970, there were 7 participants in the WSOP. In 2006, there were 8,773.

The first TV coverage of the WSOP came in 1973. Highlights, hosted by the late Jimmy-the-Greek were aired on CBS.

Phil “The Brat” Hellmuth has the most WSOP bracelets with 11.

In 2005, the World Series moved out of its humble original home at Binion’s Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas, and into the huge poker room at the RIO Resort and Casino, located several blocks off of the Las Vegas Strip.

2007’s winner, Jerry Yang, had only been playing the game of poker for two years prior to his victory in the main event.

Today, casinos around the world (both online and offline) offer tournaments where the winner is given a seat at one of the WSOP tables. In fact, several of the most recent winners of the tournament have entered as a result of these “satellite” tournaments.

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Incredible cheating scandal at Absolute Poker

While the charges of fraud and cheating that are swirling around the world of online poker this month will come as a shock to many, those who knew about the comings and goings at www.absolutepoker.com in 2007 probably won’t find it all that surprising.

In a little-reported story, captured exceptionally well in this article by Freakonomics author Steven D. Levitt, it seems that there was some serious cheating going on at the high-trafficked site.

The story went like this: last year, a group of observant individuals noticed some odd behavior coming out of one of their fellow players. In fact, he was making ridiculous bets that seemed to indicate he knew what everyone’s hole cards were. They asked for the player’s hand history, but instead got a data file filled with private information about other players – the kind of data the Absolute Poker would never release to the public.

Whether or not that information was sent accidentally, or by a concerned whistle-blower from within the company remains to be seen. But what quickly became clear from the data was that whoever had that information knew, in real-time, all the other players’ hole cards!

An even bigger shock came when the IP address where the information originated was traced back to one of the founders of Absolute Poker. It was a complete violation of the trust between house and player, but yet the site carried on, and only a select few knew of the incident.

So while many will continue to gamble millions at the offshore facilities, these recent stories should provide a measure of caution for anyone who puts their faith (and bankroll) in a “House” they can’t see.

Read the full story here

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Anatomy of a poker meltdown, starring Phil Hellmuth

So you’re talking to a buddy about poker professionals, and the words “poker hissy fit” aren’t out of your mouth for more than a split second when the person you’re speaking with interjects, “Phil Hellmuth, right?”

While there’s no doubt this guy has built his brand by being the self-proclaimed “Brat of Poker”, it doesn’t make his reactions to bad beats any less real…or hilarious.

Check out this video of Phil losing to Jim Pittman at the 2005 World Series of Poker. Pity poor Jim, who had the misfortune of calling Phil’s A-K with his lowly K-J. Now granted, this wasn’t the smartest play – he was a 3-1 underdog going into the flop – but let the guy have his moment for crying out loud.

The bad beat is funny enough, but the tirade that follows is pure comedy gold! (And if you ever forget that Hellmuth is one of the best players in the world, don’t worry, he’ll remind you.)

NOTE: Pay special attention to Mrs. Hellmuth. That woman MUST be up for sainthood.

Watch the video here

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What the heck is Omaha poker?

Many people hear the word Omaha and flee in fear. After all, what’s the deal with that crazy game that looks like Texas Hold ‘Em on steroids? The truth is, Omaha is played by millions of players, both at home and in the highest level tournaments.

Here’s a little primer course on this big-time poker variant that will help introduce you to the world Omaha:

· Omaha is like Hold ‘Em in that it is a community card-based game
· The game is dealt the same way as Hold’ Em with a 3 card flop, the turn and the river
· One of the major differences in Omaha comes in the hole cards, where each player is dealt 4 cards instead of 2.
· To complete your hand in Omaha, you must use 2 of your hole cards and 3 cards from the board. This is what makes Omaha unique – and will greatly effect your betting and play strategies.
· You can play Omaha in all the ways you play Texas Hold ‘Em, including limit, pot limit, and no limit and even high-low.

And when you’re ready to break out the Omaha rules in your next home game, visit http://www.pokerchest.com/ where you’ll find an incredible selection of chips, tables, cards and other must-have poker accessories!

Breaking News: GSN considering cancellation of two top poker shows.

The Game Show Network (GSN) is considering dropping two of its flagship poker shows, High Stakes Poker and World Poker Tour. While no official announcement has been made yet, the period for renewing shows has almost passed, and producers of both programs say they haven’t heard any word from GSN executives about their respective fates.

While HSP and WPT are the two highest-rated shows on the network (each drawing audiences of about 100,000) the move is likely indicative of the decline of Poker-related TV programming. It seems like only yesterday when you couldn’t change the channel without bumping into a celebrity tournament, heads-up competition or rebroadcast of a WSOP final table.

Whether or not these shows find a home on GSN or another network, the fact remains that we are returning to a time when poker lives in the hearts and game rooms of the home player. The poker boom introduced millions to our great game, and hopefully most of those folks will stick around and keep playing. But while the Internet provided a wonderful poker experience (and still does for those who live outside the U.S.) there is still no substitute for getting a group together, divvying up your own clay chips and hosting a poker night.

And if you need a TV fix, why not record your home game, and then pop in the DVD when you want to relive the memories!

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Poker Player Profile: Phil Ivey

Although jealousy may be a sin, it’s hard not to lust after Phil Ivey’s life. Young, good looking and with over $7 million dollars in tournament winnings under his belt, Phil seemingly has it all going for him.

When the poker explosion hit mainstream media, Ivey was there to pounce. His phenomenal card playing skills and killer instinct was enhanced by a handsome mug that soon got him dubbed “The Tiger Woods of Poker” by writers around the world. While it’s good to be the Tiger Woods of anything, we can imagine that Phil took it all in stride. That’s just how he rolls.

His aggressive playing style have netted him five WSOP bracelets to date, and at the ripe old age of 32, there’s no reason to believe he won’t be adding more jewelry to his collection in the years to come.

Fast Facts about Phil:

Fast Facts about Phil:

· Where you’ll see him when he’s not at the poker table: courtside at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, watching his beloved Lakers ball up another opponent.
· Where he fine-tuned his aggressive style: as a top-performing telemarketer
· Tournament accessory of choice: Apple iPod

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Great Poker Videogames

The next generation of videogame consoles and game-friendly PC’s has made it easier than ever to hone your poker skills in between money games. Intense computer AI and immersive game play have made these games a true revolution in poker gaming. Here’s a look at some of the best in the business!

World Series of Poker (Multiple Consoles)

The officially licensed videogame of the WSOP, this deep simulation features a variety of tournament events and lets you play online against friends or other poker lovers from around the world.

High Stakes Poker on the Vegas Strip (PS3)

This budget title lets you play five different games online or offline. The ability to use the PS3’s camera to upload your photo is cool, but the solid computer player AI is what will really keep you coming back for more here.

World Championship Poker (DS)

One of the best handheld poker videogames on the market, this little cartridge actually boasts 16 different poker varieties and full tutorials for all of them to help boost your skills. Most games for the DS run for the younger crowd, but if you can pry the thing away from your child for a few hours, pop this is and let the chips fly!

World Championship Poker 2: Featuring Howard Lederer (PSP)

The perfect game for Sony’s handheld game player, this title plays a solid game of Hold ‘Em and features some useful tutorials from poker pro Howard Lederer. If you’ve got a long flight ahead, and a PSP, it’s worth your time to pick it up!

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The Five Worst Things We Got From The Poker Boom

After golf peaked in the general American consciousness, poker was there to fill in the gap. But the rise in mainstream poker popularity was short-lived. Those who loved the game are still there, but now have to deal with some of the residual effects of that crazy time.

The five worst things we got from the poker boom:

1. Online players who thought they knew the game. While it is fun to take their money, guys who constantly chase cards and require a little plastic index card to remember “what beats what” are just plain no fun to play with. The online poker boom created an army of these folks and released them on the world.

2. Gambling addicts. In all seriousness, online poker was way too accessible for many individuals who had trouble controlling their gambling habits. With hands moving many times faster than live poker, this was the crack cocaine of poker.

3. Too much poker on TV. We all love the World Series of Poker. Heck, the WPT tournaments are nice, slick productions as well. But do we really celebrity tournaments, ladies-only events and hour after hour of televised heads up play? Thanks to the sudden rise of the sport, like it or not, that’s what we got.

4. The Kyl Bill. Arizona Senator Jon Kyl was the author of this bill that essentially put an end to internet poker as we know it the United States. The bill, which made it illegal for banks to allow their credit cards to be used for gaming transactions, was a good thing for compulsive gamblers (see above), but a downer for anyone who wanted to pick up and play without having to put on pants.

5. Celebrity players. Unless we’re talking about Jennifer Tilly (whose movie career was a little suspect before her poker career anyway), the celebs who came out and start playing poker during the boom period were lame at best. Ben Affleck, Tobey McGuire, Matt Damon, Jennifer Garner and others all looked like folks who had too much money and/or time on their hands, and were stealing seats from guys trying to make a legitimate living at the game.

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Variations on Draw Poker

From the pre-Hold ‘em archive comes these variations on the classic game of 5-card draw. Hey, it’s the first game you ever learned how to play…don’t you think it’s time for a facelift?

WARNING: The mere suggestion of some of these games may result in being shouted off of the table and sent out in the freezing cold for a beer run.

Baseball. Standard 5-card draw, where 3’s and 9’s are wild.

Night baseball. Same as Baseball, but 3’s, 7’s and 9’s are wild.

Double Draw. If you’re looking for bigger hands, give this one a spin by simply adding another draw and round of betting after the initial draw-bet sequence.

Triple Draw. Yeah, you guessed it: one more draw means super-colossal hands for all!

Lowball. It’s standard 5-card draw rules here, but the lowest hand wins the pot. (Lowest hands = 6-4-3-2-1, 6-5-4-3-1, etc.). For additional wackiness, throw in the double or triple draw rules into the Lowball game.

Jacks or Better. In this 5-card draw variation, you must have at least a pair of jacks in your hand to open. If nobody has the jacks or better, everyone tosses in their cards and the hand is re-dealt.

Jacks or Better, Trips to Win. Same as above, EXCEPT you will need to be holding at least a three-of-a-kind in order to bring home the money at the end of the hand. If nobody has trips at the end, those who did not fold are dealt into a new game (with the pot carrying over into the next hand).

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Poker player profile: Chris “Jesus” Ferguson

How can you NOT love Chris “Jesus” Ferguson? Awesome nickname? Check. Kick-ass table persona? Got it? Millions in the bank from tournament wins and smart endorsement deals? Yup-yup. If there was a Mount Rushmore for the greats of the modern game of professional poker, you’d have to clear a space for Jesus – wraparound shades and all.

A master bluffer, Chris Ferguson was practically born without a “tell”. Even without his trademark sunglasses and oversized hat, the guy is next to impossible to read. Just ask fellow poker legend T.J. Cloutier, who Chris defeated to win the main event championship at the 2001 World Series of Poker.

Ferguson used that high-profile WSOP victory as a springboard to world-wide fame and fortune. He’s racked up over $7,000,000 in earnings to date and was one of the co-creators of the wildly successful online poker site Full Tilt Poker.

All this from a geeky guy who received his PhD in Computer Science at UCLA after 13 years of staying buried in the books. Guess grad school does pay!

Unlike some of the other A-list poker players out there, we love Chris Ferguson because he seems so accessible – the type of fellow you could share a beer with, and be regaled with stories of amazing head-to-head matches.

Here’s to Chris and his one-of-a-kind poker style, and here’s to www.pokerchest.com, your online superstore for an incredible selection of chips, tables, cards and other must-have poker accessories.

Five great things to come out of the poker boom

Ah, memories. It was just a few short years ago, when you couldn’t step outside without running into two guys who had qualified for the WSOP. The internet was flush with players, poker movies were being green-lit in Hollywood, and it seemed like the sky was the limit. Then, the roof caved in. Online poker became a no-no in the U.S. and the TV ratings began to plummet. Poker, for better or worse returned to those who loved it in the first place.

But it wasn’t all bittersweet memories. Here are five awesome things that the poker boom left behind (and why we’re grateful it did!):

1. More fish in the sea.
After poker became a mainstream sensation, there were more guppies in the tank that at all the Pet Smart stores in the world combined. And experienced players came right in and took their money – especially online where the games were plentiful and there was always a credit card handy to replenish chip supply. Many of these fish still remain, in a never-ending, never-successful attempt to improve their game.

2. More poker on TV.
Although the number of shows has tapered off a bit, there’s still lots of great poker on TV to choose from. The poker fan no longer must wait until annual snippets from the 1999 WSOP appear magically on ESPN2 at 3:30 AM.

3. A rebirth of great poker writing.
The New Yorker, Esquire, The New York Times and countless great fiction and memoir writers all turned their attention to our grand game. And although the huddled masses are no longer around, the literature remains for our reading pleasure.

4. More tournaments.
Stop by any poker room these days and you’ll find a couple of quick sit and go options mixed in with the week’s big tournaments. The popularity of poker has proven to casinos that there’s money to be made in the rake from these added events than adding a couple of extra blackjack tables on any given night.

5. Nice poker rooms.
In the 12 – 18 months following the height of the poker boom, casinos in Las Vegas and around the world sank millions into refurbishing their poker rooms. What had once been the nastiest, most neglected spot in the joint, now looked like the high-stakes baccarat room in a James Bond movie. The rooms are still there…now with even more table openings!

Go where poker is ALWAYS in fashion. Visit www.pokerchest.com for an incredible selection of chips, tables, cards and other must-have poker accessories.

Coming later this week: The top 5 WORST things to come out of the poker boom.
Don’t you dare miss it!

Profiles of women in poker: Annie Duke

Women who graduate from Columbia University usually find themselves at the corner office of major law firms, or heading up successful medical practices in major cities throughout the country. If you’re Annie Duke however, you took your smarts and put them to work at the poker table. A ruthless, highly-intelligent player, Duke has moved removed the term “women” from the title “One of the best women poker players in the world”.

Duke’s humble beginning led to learning the game by necessity. When she and her husband first started their family, they were struggling to make ends meet in Montana, living check to check as both tried to jump start their respective careers. Always a good card player, Annie started playing in backroom games around town to earn a little money, honing her craft along the way. She made enough to get the family on its feet (and then some) and at age 42, she’s got a WSOP title and almost $1,500,000 in career earnings under her belt.

Annie Duke’s life has never been easy, but it certainly has been inspiring. When the poker boom hit, Annie turned her new found popularity into a best-selling autobiography, “Annie Duke: How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed and Won Millions at the World Series of Poker”, and even gained a fan in A-lister Ben Affleck, who became her star poker pupil during his own quest for a WSOP championship.

Annie Duke remains one of the most recognized faces in the world of professional poker.

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Five great reasons to watch reruns of the World Series of Poker

World Series of Poker Reruns (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic) Even if you know how the tournament will end, there’s still great joy in watching the WSOP of years past over and over again.

Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t be ashamed to load up the TIVO!
1. Great drama.

Every hand is like a mini-episode of The Sopranos. There’s drama, comedy, tension, the highest highs and the lowest lows.

2. It’s educational.

You can learn a lot by watching how each player handles their cards, lures in their opponents and then goes for the kill. Poker on TV is great because there so much you to see that can be to incorporated into your own game (with the NFL, not so much).

3. Interesting people.

The short bio vignettes offer an interesting look at the lives of professional gamblers. While we all think it’s the easy life, these video clips show us how much work goes into getting to the final table.

4. Transports you to the happiest place on Earth.

Maybe you couldn’t afford to get to Vegas this year, but watching the WSOP lets you live vicariously through those whose wives let them go.

5. It’s in HD baby!

Not every wants to see Phil Hellmuth’s three o’clock shadow in 1080p, but for everyone else, the high-def coverage of the last few WSOP tournaments have really brought it to life.

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Tired of pure Texas Hold ‘Em? Spice up your game with these variations!

Everybody loves Texas Hold ‘Em. And with good reason: there’s no purer, more action-packed version of poker in the world. But when you’re ready to mix things up a little bit, try one of these variations of the classic Hold ‘Em format:

Eight Ball Hold ‘em.
This game is played the same as standard 7-card Texas Hold ‘em except that all players receive 3 hole cards at the beginning of the game (instead of 2).
Pineapple. The same game as above, with the exception that before the hand begins, each player must discard one of their 3 hole cards. After that, the game plays the same as standard Hold ‘em.
Tahoe. Another variation on the Eight Ball game. In this version, players keep all 3 hole cards, but at the end of the game, can only use two of the three cards to make their hand (with the community cards).

Double Flop Hold ‘em.
In this wacky game, two sets of community cards are flopped throughout the course of the game. Players can use either of the sets of community cards (but not both) and do not reveal which one they are using until all bets are called at the end of the game.

Get your own game on and visit www.pokerchest.com for an incredible selection of chips, tables, cards and other must-have poker accessories!

5 Must-Read Poker Books

Few games are captured more effectively by the written word than poker. Whether it’s tall tales of high stakes games, the memoirs of colorful characters, or simply hand-by-hand strategies for winning, everyone loves a good poker-read.

Here are five of the books that should be in every poker lover’s collection:

1. Super/System I & Super/System II (Doyle Brunson). Mixing unforgettable stories of a life in poker with top strategies for winning, these giant volumes remain popular decades after they were released. Brunson is a master at simplifying complicated concepts and breaking down “trade secrets” so that everyone can use them in their own game.

2. The Biggest Game in Town (A. Alvarez). Before the World Series of Poker was a television event, this author took his own money and slightly above-average poker skills and put them up against the best in the world at the then little-known WSOP. Alvarez’s stories of the great players in attendance, the character that was Benny Binion, and his own blow-by-blow account of his play all make this book unforgettable.

3. Poker Essays (Mason Malmuth) This collection of short, easy-to-read essays cover every facet of the game: from mid-hand strategies to bankroll management. What makes it special is the way each story is delivered, using an anecdotal style that transports the reader to the smoky card room where the game in question likely went down.

4. One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey “The Kid” Ungar, The World’s Greatest Poker Player (Nolan Dalla) There will never be another poker player like Stu Ungar. A true mathematical genius, Ungar was a troubled prodigy who lost as many battles with addiction as he did win tournaments. This is the story of a once-in-a-lifetime talent, that is also a cautionary tale about the nature of addiction and self-destructive behavior.

5. Phil Gordon’s Little Black Book (Phil Gordon) Few books combine poker strategies with a hard look at what it takes to “live the life” of a professional card player better than the Little Black Book. Gordon helps the aspiring player prepare for the rigors of the game, not only in terms of probabilities, but psychologically as well. (Also see the author’s Little Green Book and Little Red Book for more invaluable tips from the felt.).

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Profiles of women in poker: Jennifer Tilly

The first time Jennifer Tilly sat down at a professional poker tournament, the event was likely met with odd stares and questions ranging from "What is SHE doing here?" or "Wasn't she in that movie where Jim Carrey couldn’t stop lying?" or "Did she get lost on her way to the Roulette table?" But several hours later there's a good chance the consensus opinion was, “Damn, that woman can play poker!”

Jennifer Tilly has starred in a variety of films – some of them cult favorites, others just out and out bad. And while her exotic beauty and sexy voice helped her achieve a moderate level of success in Hollywood, nobody could have foreseen that her greatest role would come in real life, as a top level Texas Hold ‘Em player on the professional circuit.

Since she joined the ranks of Chris “Jesus” Ferguson and Phil Hellmuth, Tilly has earned the right to be taken seriously as a card player. She’s earned almost a half million dollars playing around the world and has a World Series of Poker bracelet to show for her efforts.

With her outgoing personality and high-profile “day job” as an actress, Jennifer Tilly has helped raise awareness of the game of poker and inspired countless women to find their own place at the upper-levels of the game.

All we know is, whenever Jennifer’s playing, we’ve got plenty of good reasons to watch.

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Poker slang you need to know – Part I

Poker slang you need to know – Part I

Do you want to play poker like a pro? Then you better learn to talk like a pro! The terms below, along with stacks and stack of chips, are what separate the big time players from the busted bankroll crowd.

All-in – Putting all your chips into the pot in a no-limit game.

Bad Beat – Losing with a great hand to an even better one. (For example, your full house losing to your opponent’s four of a kind. “Ouch! Bad beat.”)

Big Fish – An unintelligent player who spends (and loses) his money freely. (Note: beware, it may be you!)

Big Slick – Being dealt ace-king in the hole. One of the post powerful opening hands in Texas Hold ‘Em.

Dead Man’s Hand – 2 pair: Ace’s and 8’s. So named because it was the hand Will Bill Hickok was holding when he was shot down.

The Flop – The first three community cards shown in a game of Hold ‘Em.

Fourth Street – The fourth community card shown in a game of Hold ‘Em

Loose player – The kind of poker player who takes a lot of chances. This is the guy who stays in until the end of the hand at the microscopic hope of catching his inside straight.

Pocket Rockets – Being dealt two aces in the hole. (Ah, sweet! Now don’t blow it…)

The River – The final community card revealed in a game of Hold ‘Em.

Tilt – A player who has lost the ability to make good decisions at the table, and is losing their money fast, is considered to be “tilting” or “on tilt”.

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Tips for how to be a better poker bluffer

Tips for how to be a better poker bluffer

It is a well-known poker axiom that the person with the best hand does not always win. The player who knows how to bluff effectively can bring home just as much money in a night, even if they’re never dealt a pair-in-the-hole, big slick or any other worthy opening hand.

Here are some basic rules for the up-and-coming bluffer. Practice these skills and bust them out the next time you hit the felt!

1. If there looks like there is a flush working on the table, bluff as if you have it. This is an easy one for you to get other players to buy into. Make a nice bet when the third of a suit is flopped.


2. Bet big against indecision. If another player is looking wishy-washy, and seems like he needs a reason to fold, why not give him one with a BIG bet?


3. Study your opposition. It only takes a few rounds to learn the general tendencies of your fellow players, and get a handle on how easy or difficult a target they will be for your bluffs.


4. Don’t bluff with “loose players” still in the hand. If you know one guy who stays in until the end in the hope of pulling his hand on the river, there’s no way he’s going to fall victim to your bluff. Play with the tight players instead.


5. Don’t bother bluffing in low-limit games. If the stakes are low, there’s less of a motivation to fold. Save your bluffing for the bigger money games where people genuinely have to make some tough decisions.


6. Only bluff smart players! It may seem counter-intuitive, but frankly, dumb players don’t even realize when they’re being bluffed. And don’t you know they going to be the ones to get lucky on the river and beat you anyway.


7. Bluff from one of the late positions on the table. This way, you can get a good handle on how other people feel about their hands before you jump in. Bluffing from an early position is too risky.

Now that you’ve got your bluffing strategy in order, invite everyone over for a game. Just don’t forget to visit www.pokerchest.com for an incredible selection of chips, tables, cards and other must-have poker accessories

Clay Poker Chips - Composite Poker Chips

Clay Poker Chips - Composite Poker Chips

Phil Hellmuth is the brat of poker

Phil Hellmuth is the brat of poker.

There are few individuals in the world of professional poker as entertaining as Phil Hellmuth. With his dramatic bad beat hissy-fits and unending trash-talk, the self-proclaimed “brat of poker” was instant sensation when televised tournaments began to rise in popularity. Behind the veneer however lies a true poker talent who has enjoyed a tremendous run of success since he dropped out of the University of Wisconsin to play professionally.

Hellmuth’s career highlights include:

• Won the main event at the World Series of Poker at 24 – the youngest player to do so.
  
• Is one of only three players to bring home three gold WSOP bracelets in one year.
  
• Remains the only player to achieve the incredible accomplishment of winning three straight WSOP tournaments over three consecutive days (he did it in 1993).

Over this period, Hellmuth has used his bravado and marketing know-how to turn himself into a fully-fledged poker brand, with a series of popular books, CDs, DVDs and more.

There’s likely no end in sight for Phil Hellmuth, who has already seen his career earnings top $7,000,000.

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Most common mistakes losing poker players make

Most common mistakes losing poker players make



It was once said, if look around the room at a card game and can’t spot the sucker…you’re it. To help you live a sucker-free life as a poker player, we offer you the following list of common mistakes that are sure to land you on the wrong end of a cash game.

Common poker mistakes

Don’t go in every hand. Great players pick their spots, and spend most of the game studying their opponents and learning their behaviors before moving in for the kill.

Don’t play passively. If you have a leading hand, don’t give away cards for free. Play from your strengths, not out of fear.

Don’t over-bluff. Simply put, the more you bluff, the less effective they are. People have memories, you know.

Don’t play in a game you can’t afford. If you’re worried about losing your shirt on a single hand, you won’t make good decisions. Find a cash game that meets your budget, and make sure your bankroll is an amount you can afford to lose!

Don’t forget to watch the other players. The greatest players in the world make their fortune by studying and dissecting their opponents. Keeping mental tabs on how those seated around you play their hands will reap big rewards in the end.

Don’t fight the math. The more you ignore the odds of drawing into a particular hand, the more likely you are to lose over time. Sure, you may get lucky and hit a flush here and there, but playing against the odds over time is like fighting Mother Nature…you’re doomed to fail.

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