All About Authors

All About Authors
One of the best of all card games is called "Authors." It can be played with special cards, marked with the pictures of great writers such as Shakespeare and Dickens; or it can be played with regular playing cards. A simpler form of the same game, to be played by younger children, is called "Fish" or "Go Fish." Here is how the game of Authors is played: There may be any number of players from three to six, but four or five players make the best game.

The cards are dealt out evenly, one at a time, as far as they will go; it does not matter if some players get more cards than others. Each player in turn, beginning with the player at the left of the dealer, may ask any other player for a particular card. He names the exact card, as by saying, "John, give me the six of clubs." He must already hold at least one card of the same rank (number), so in this case he must hold at least one of the other sixes. And he is not permitted to ask for a card he already holds; he may not ask for the six of clubs if he already has it.

If the player who is asked has the card asked for, he must hand it over. In this case, the player who asked gets another turn. If the player who is asked does not have the card, he says "No." That ends the turn of the player who asked, and the next player gets his turn. A player may keep on asking as long as he always gets the card he asked for. When a player has all four cards of a rank, such as the four sixes or the four queens, he shows them and keeps them on the table in front of him. This is called a "book." The player with the most books is the winner

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Poker Strategy and Bankroll Management for Multiple Table Play

Poker Strategy and Bankroll Management for Multiple Table Play
When you play several tables simultaneously you will experience greater swings in your bankroll than if you were playing only at one table. You play a lot more hands per hour, and some times you can either loose or win at all tables at the same time.
When you play multiple tables your edge of skill will decrease, by not giving you full attention to one table. However, there are three reasons why good players that are focused normally will benefit from playing at more tables at the same time. When you play a few tables your bankroll swings will increase, but by adding even more tables you actually decrease your bankroll swings. Secondly, playing at one table will test the patience of many players and you can lose your focus. Finally, your total win-rate will be higher per hour.
For semi-professional players, it is important to choose those blind limit where their win ratio is highest, without exceeding the limit their bankroll is suited for. As an example a player with a $500 bankroll shouldn't play higher than $0.50-$1 No-Limit Hold'em at four tables simultaneously. The bankroll should always be equal to 500 times the big bet.
Many players lack information on their successes at higher limits. Therefore you should play at least 200 hours at one limits before you know your skill at that limit. Another thing to remember is that the higher the stakes are the better the competition usually is.
Normally, players play better poker when they play at the same limit at all simultaneous tables (for instance, four $0.50-$1).

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Texas Hold 'Em Poker Strategies - Develop Yours Today!

Texas Hold 'Em Poker Strategies - Develop Yours Today!
How to Develop a Winning Poker Strategy:
If you have spent any time watching professional poker players play, then you may think bluffing and reading their opponents are the key ingredients of their Hold 'em Poker Strategies. Unfortunately, with editing and TV producers wanting to show the 'action' it may look like that. This is far from the truth, and if you could sit behind most pros and see what they do hand after hand you would find a strategy based on playing good starting cards, using situational betting strategies to build the pots they can win, while at the same time eliminating the weak drawing hands.
Therefore, play when your hand is strong and you can withstand the raises that will come, and unless you are in the right position, fold poor cards and save your bankroll. A strategy based on bluffing will lead to an early exit from the game, as bluffing only works if you have established that you play good cards, giving your bet credibility.
One thing to consider is the number of players in a hand. If the table is full, then it is likely that someone will have a good set of cards in the hole, and as there are fewer players then the odds of having a good hand decrease.
Another consideration is your risk tolerance level. Make sure you have a style of play that matches your play. If you want the really big pots, then you must be willing to take a lot of risk and therefore some big losses too. If you can't recover from those losses and get back in the game quickly, then the loss will make you timid later when you need to be aggressive.
Match your style to your bankroll. If you are low on chips then you will need to be conservative and play strong hands. Once in the hand you need to play it out, or the others will bully you and try to push you out of the pot. If you have the big stack then you get to be the bully.
Some other hints to consider:
• Don't play low pairs except in late positions, if seeing the Flop isn't too costly.
• Play strong hands and high pairs before the Flop to push out the weak drawing hands.
• If you are looking for a straight draw then play to the high end.
• Watch out for possible straights if the board has 3 connected cards, like 6-7-8.
• Play aggressively with two over-cards or an Ace if the Flop is junk.
• Be aware of the raisers chip stack. If it's big then they may be playing loose.
• Look out for suited Flops that can be turned into a flush, unless you have the 'nut' in that suit.
• If you have a two-way draw to make a hand, then be aggressive.
To develop a winning Hold 'Em poker strategy requires practice, and you must keep your emotions in check and stay on your plan. Play the strong cards, and manage your style of play based on position, your stack, and your opponents' style.

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SNG Strategy - 10 Early Game Tells

SNG Strategy - 10 Early Game Tells
1-table tournaments are hugely popular online, and involve some significant strategy adjustments when compared to a standard poker money game. With the later stages, and particularly the 'bubble' (when only 1 more player needs to bust before the paying places) so important, it is key that you predict how different players will react during this stage of the game.
Below is a list of 10 vital things to look out for during the early stages, when chips are plentiful and the pressure low - along with what these signs can tell you about a particular players late game and bubble strategy.
- Early Game: Take note of any hands which players call raises with, this is a huge clue as to the kind of hand they will show up with later on at the bubble.
- Check-Raises: Keep an eye out for check-raisers, some players use this almost always when out of position and others check and then fold. Exploiting a serial check-raiser is very easy, you get to take free cards in some situations and these players will often help you build a big pot too! Check-raisers are used to playing backwards, so expect more late game bluffs too.
- Unusual Bet Sizes Early / Mid Game: Note players who make 4x or bigger open raises, this is often the mark of an inexperienced online player or can be a hint that they have a hand they do not really want to see a flop with, such as a mid-pair. Inexperienced opponents tend to call 'light' at the bubble.
- Open Limpers: Again, inexperience often leads to too much limping into the pot. These players are unlikely to be following a tight-early / push late strategy and will make classic bubble errors. Watch for players who often raise then suddenly limp-in, this is often a big hand.
- Super-Tight Players: Make a note of those who play hardly any hands for the first few levels, they can easily be good players employing a 'Pushbot' type of strategy.
- Shows: When a player gets a walk in the big blind and shows his trash hand, bets and then shows a bluff or shows a strong hand after everyone folds the turn - you should definitely make a note. Again there is a high likelihood that this player is inexperienced, especially showing rags in the blind and revealing bluffs. Experienced grinders know that SNGs are too short for such nonsense and have seen enough of pokers variations that they do not need to show you their cards.
- Bluffing Dry Side Pots: Most players in SNGs will check a hand down when a player is all-in. Those who bet when there is no second pot to win (only the one that the all-in player can win) and then show a weak holding are usually inexperienced... provisionally assign them the 'Push too tight, call too light' bubble ranges.
- Bubble Calls, Hopefully this one is obvious, when you see a call at the bubble which looks 'light' immediately take a note that will help you put this player on a better range of hands next time around.
- Bubble Raise / Folds: When you see a player with 12 blinds or less raise 3x and then fold to a re-raise you can be pretty certain they do not understand the details of prize-pool equity (based on the fact that they do not really understand pot-odds!).
- Push-Bots: This term refers to players who are pushing all-in at almost every opportunity, often good players! You can assign these types a huge range, though you know you still can not call without a premium hand, right!

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How to Vary Your Playing Pace in Poker

How to Vary Your Playing Pace in Poker
Since playing styles are so crucial in poker, you really have to vary your playing pace and occasionally throw a wrench into your opponents' expectations of you by suddenly shifting your strategy.
Here are some ways to avoid being boxed in and categorized...
First of all, pay attention to where you bluff. Let's say you always, always bluff at the flop. The smarter players will catch on, and start calling you on the flop so that you are forced to reveal your strength on the turn. To avoid this, simply vary where in the pot you typically bluff, switching occasionally so they'll never know what hand you really have.
Second, vary your pre flop play. Playing things by the book can be disadvantageous to you. Once players realize that you look for the standard small pairs or suited connectors, you should also raise once in a while even if you've got a medium hand, especially if you are lucky enough to be in a late position.
Third, you've got to pay attention to how much you bet. Never, ever, ever bet based on how much your hand is really worth, but how much your opponent's hand is worth. New players or technically weak opponents will let you know what their hand is worth by betting its value. However, the masters of the game will bet how much they think you value your hand. Then, you can bluff them out, but only if your bluffing patterns are in themselves not predictable. If you bluff all the time, they'll call you. So it's really striking a healthy balance so they'll never be able to completely read your poker strategy.
Let's look at some examples. Say, you find yourself with a high full house. Bet hard, because your opponent will probably have a smaller full house. But what do you do with a more ambiguous hand, like if you have a flush and the board is paired? Then the best strategy is to bet about half to around two thirds of the pot, hoping that someone will call. If you bet very hard, you're likely to push someone who does have a strong hand, like a full house, to call.
Another trick is to lead your opponent-hook, line and sinker. Let's say someone is raising, and your gut feel is that he isn't just bluffing. Bet small, and watch him raise. Then re-raise him. This is a particularly powerful mood if you hit a weird straight and you are certain your opponent has a set or two pair.
This kind of game play requires a balance of skill, sensitivity to other people, and panache. You should know the rules, but be willing to break them. You should be able to think two steps ahead of your opponent, while being completely focused on what's going on at the table at any given instant. You should be able to pull it off with calm and composure, while remembering that at the end of the day, poker is just a game and you should have fun. Tall order? Well that's what makes the game great.

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Texas Hold Em Poker Strategy

Texas Hold Em Poker Strategy
Texas hold em is the easiest game to understand and play for any novice but it will require some experience to master it. For experience you should start playing online as these poker rooms require understanding and handling of tedious details like dealing, shuffling and who has the best hand etc. The more you play the better you become.
The most important strategy you can adopt is to learn statistical calculations. It is the key to winning. The chances of finishing a flush or a straight, getting an over-card, the percentage of time you will flop to match your pocket pair etc. are all calculations of probability. The calculations of outs and pot odds are necessary in this game. Calculating these requires division of small numbers so it is easy but necessary to learn.
For pre-flop strategies you must consider factors like number of players, how aggressive or passive they are and your risk appetite. The more the number of players the stronger the competition; in a large game the chance of some else having the perfect hand is more than you getting it. Change your strategy according to the other players; for example if you notice some body playing loosely and raising every hand preflop, you play tight, let him win the blinds and surprise him with a big hand preflop. Now another thing you must be very careful about is your bankroll! You must not play loosely with very little left.
In an ideal world people bet when they have strong hands and fold when they have weak ones. However people often try to cleverly deceive when the situation is just the opposite! This is OK when you are an experienced player but if you are a beginner you should stay away from this and save yourself from falling into a trap.
There are players who often cheat and you should know how to identify them which you will only learn with experience.

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Gambling on the Internet With Different Slot Games

There's something so beautifully simple with Slots that makes it such an enjoyable game for so many.
It's easy to miss out on so many of your favourite pastimes with our hectic lifestyles, especially if that bobby needs to be crammed into the usual 9 to 5 routine. You simply do too much in those 8 hours as it is, without finding time to have a little fun!
Simple Slots - Simple Solution
The fact is we '...always have time for new friends' to quote The Limousines, and this is certainly the case in human nature. When we don't always have time, we make time, and we seek out time saving methods that make sure our weeks include a little of everything we enjoy.
With this logic in mind, online casinos can make a great quick and easy way for you to spend a little time at the slot machines. The internet is able to deliver almost any content we want at our fingertips, and although every individual has unique needs from the net, the net always has something for everyone!
Many online casinos will have a range of slots games for to get involved with, many of them themed differently, although the simple standard rules apply to most games.
Because of the simplicity of the game itself, online casinos can develop themes of all sorts of natures, and be confident that you will instantly be able to not only play, but also win money!
The star quality of online casinos has to be the realistic feel they now have, with similar designs, lights and sounds as the slot machines in your old favourite bar.
Slotting In Some Time To Play
There's no reason why you can't enjoy an hour or two of slots every week in the comfort of your own home. Many players engage in games for much longer periods, but, slots tend to be for those who just fancy the occasional gambler.
o Make time to research a casino website before you start to use it. Confirm that the online casino is genuine, and sign up.
o Don't get too engrossed, remember, gambling isn't your life, it's a hobby, so don't stop living the life you had before, just indulge it with the occasional slots game as and when you want to play.
o If your slots game gets a little predictable, why not try a different game altogether, but something still as simple, such as Roulette? This particular game will feature as a classic on most online casino sites.

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