The Contester Blog

For those players interested in playing a one of the more prestigous tournaments out there, there are satellites for the 2010 Los Angeles poker classic coming up.

While the LAPC No Limit Hold’em Championship does not start until Feb. 26, many players will begin their journey to that event on Jan. 15 when single table Satellite play begins. Opening Satellite games feature $40 buy-ins with winners moving on to higher stages, topping out at $1,000 buy-ins, throughout January and February with LAPC Championship seats guaranteed. Supersatellites at Commerce Casino will run from Jan. 20 to Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. with $225 buy-ins and $200 rebuys. Seats at the Main Event and WPT Celebrity Invitational are guaranteed to the winner of each Supersatellite. Of course, poker players will also have a chance to jump in on the action Feb. 23, Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 with $1,050 buy-in No Limit Hold’em Megasatellite games that feed into the marquee event at Commerce Casino. More than 100 seats to the LAPC Championship were awarded last year through satellite play.

Similar 2010 Megasatellite programs will be conducted earlier in the LAPC schedule that feed into other high-interest events taking place during the poker online tournament’s nearly 40 days of action. The first such event takes place Feb. 12 with $230-buy-in Megasatellites for the following day’s $1,065 No Limit Hold’em with Rebuys that includes a $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. Then there is the $1,050-buy-in H.O.R.S.E. Megasatellites on Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 that support the Feb. 18 LAPC H.O.R.S.E Championship. This $10,000-buy-in event paid $341,000 in 2009 to winner Scotty Nguyen.

Two qualifying events are on the schedule this year that funnel into the LAPC Heads Up Championship on Feb. 23. The first such event will be held Feb. 21 and is a $1,300-buy-in Heads Up 8-Handed Qualifier. The second event is scheduled for Feb. 22 and is a $2,550-buy-in Heads Up 6-Handed Qualifier. The winner of each event earns entry into the $10,000 Heads Up Championship.

Wherever we look, we see more people scrutinizing poker rakeback and what it means for their web gambling. Just what is the lure of rakeback and the websites promoting it? Let’s cover what, exactly, they’re able to produce, i.e. perks that you can’t find at the classic websites still offering unimaginative signup benefits. Normal online card portals will generally give out rewards. Membership dividends are a particular extra money value paid to your balance when you enroll and deposit a given amount of money. With that said, on many sites, this is the only perk you’ll be given for playing. Some websites may also offer a dividend called the reload when you make a subsequent addition to your records. Again, you receive only a preset amount . This creates a finite maximum on all additional funds you can ever lay claim to. It’s wise for you to ensure the most worthwhile payment available, so be aware, when you use websites such as UB rakeback, you won’t be hindered by any restriction. As you may know, the house skims a given amount from each stake, however, at rakeback websites, a significant quota of that maintenance returns to the players on a monthly basis. You might receive roughly 30-40%, according to your time spent playing during the month.

Needless to say, you’ll soon identify greater freedom to bet. To garner the classic payouts, you must spend your cash. Otherwise, you won’t face that demand — and as a result you can deposit based on how much you’re planning to use. It’s also essential that you realize that over the course of a few months’ poker, reload and signup awards will more often than not run out astonishingly swiftly. Want still more? Since a place in famous tournaments can be at stake, to say nothing of contests, it’s no wonder so many players play on these websites.

This means that rakeback poker websites promise a chance to relax and play. They know they won’t have to stress over the cash they’re wagering on each deal as they’re bound to earn more back whenever they play!

We’re usually taught that three betting our stronger hands is the way to go when playing no limit hold ‘em poker. And while this is true for the majority of strong poker hands, especially when you’re out of position relative to the rest of the players at the table, sometimes a call will suffice.

Let’s say you’re in the small blind with pocket 10s. The table is full of decent two players limp in and the cut off raises it up to 5x the big blind. Now, you have the opportunity here in the small blind to raise, to fold, or to call. If you raise and get four bet, you’re not liking your tens much. But if you just call, you have a hand that has some serious playability post flop if the board comes out right. Of course you’re not folding here since there’s always the chance that you could flop a set and since the initial raise was from the cutoff 10s are probably ahead of his opening range in that position.

The reason for the simple call instead of the three bet is that the three bet is a move that should be reserved for stronger pairs or weaker hands that have strong drawing potential like a suited ace or, if in late position, suited connectors.

The benefits of this are pretty obvious. If you don’t like what you see on the flop or you get too much flop pressure, you can toss your hand with minimal money lost. And if you get it checked around to you, you can usually take down the pot with a smallish raise without having to go to showdown at all. Remember this when you play poker online.

Web based casinos have often had the reputation of currently being at the leading edge of web based entertainment, and the hottest invention in net casino entertainment is not any different. Gambling establishments are beginning to grant their patrons bonuses which don’t require you to put down your dollars. No Deposit Online Casinos do not require you to produce a deposit (and so the name) so that you can get hold of the bonus.

In most cases the casino calls for you, the gamer, to play through or wager the initial amount a certain amount of times before a person can qualify to exchange your income out of your guest account to your actual cash account.

Let’s suppose, for entertainments sake: suppose an internet casino provides you with a $10 no deposit bonus but requires you to play that amount of money 10 times over; this means that you need to make at the least $100 worth of wagers until you can transfer the total in to your real money account. Being a guideline the more the no deposit bonus the more the play through that will probably be required from the person; this may also extend to the sorts of games played.

To the everyday gambler and connoisseur a like no deposit on the web casinos offer players the ability to check the web casino and never having to fork over income. What this allows the players to accomplish is get a authentic feeling for the online casino and decide to carry on playing there, in addition to facilitate finding out the how to go about wagering at online casinos.

Most people know you cannot turn a profit each and every time you try on an online casino web site, irrespective of the specific game you enjoy. However, online casino games need more than just good fortune, it’s important to develop a strategy besides. Increasing your odds can be helped enormously simply by taking a look at a couple of tips. Remember to take some time to gain a good understanding of the rules of the game you have opted to play. Getting familiar with the standard rules and strategies of a game will completely change how frequently you win or lose. Trying to understand the basic rules and strategies of your favorite game is always valuable. The next step is to spend some time observing professional players in action. Study the rules of the game and apply each of them to find the weaknesses in every last game. By being aware of them you have a huge advantage during a game. When you realize the person dealing must always keep drawing to seventeen and stand at seventeen when playing blackjack, for example, it can help you make up your mind on whether to stick or draw another card by looking at what you and the dealer have.

Even if you’re playing the top online gambling games, players should always select the games with the greatest prospects of making money. The probability of winning at the legendary dice game craps is generally higher than any other internet games of chance. Yet, there are situations where this isn’t the case. Slots have the chances of winning adamantly weighted in favor of the house, even so they pay out much more often, making you more money over the long haul.

If you are betting on the leading online casino sites, you should start by going for lower stakes tables or games. By employing this tactic you will be able to actually take part in many more games and therefore acquire more valuable experience for your stake. Finally, remember that gambling lovers who play betting games with high stakes will play very differently from those who play at lower stakes tables. Therefore, even though you can’t win every time, it is simple to boost your odds by following a few common sense guidelines. In conclusion, you can still have fun and turn a profit if you simply make use of these hints.

Just picture a true Vegas casino — filled with shining lights, stimulating background noises and awash with chances to win serious money on devices such as slot machines. Feels exciting, yes? However you can have the rush of this without needing to leave your abode, just by playing slots via the Net. It’s so much better to play online slots and there’s even the chance of acquiring big money! No baby sitting arrangements, no huge trips and really no reason for you to suffer a crowded casino. You are your own master, able to come and go as you please and never have to be harassed about making your way back home. You could pick more suitable moments and play any time that’s best for you — holidays, weekends, whenever you have the time and have the desire to gamble — online slots are always available to offer you the opportunity to claim real cash prizes.

You could enjoy having the power to pick out your favorite games, without needing to go for the ones you don’t truly like. You don’t have to wait for your favored games, or waive your place just because someone else is awaiting a chance to play. Being bored doesn’t have to factor within your experience of Net casinos — you can change games as much as you would like to without being required to exhaust both your feet and your good mood. One easy click can move you straight to another exhilarating option and you’ll see that many casinos additionally offer the opportunity to participate in unique events with additional opportunities to win and good times for all!

The web casinos commonly ask you to commit a single cash deposit, which will be available to you for use within your choice of games. This will enable the internet gambling casinos to make substantial bonuses and price reductions available to you, to enable you to get as much as you can from your time playing the games for each bit of your money. Live the dream! Get paid to enjoy yourself, playing all of the games you love. Well, how good is that, would you say? You could be enjoying something much more thrilling than watching other guys playing or meekly ending your night with make-believe plastic poker chips. Transfer the actual fun of gaining the peak prize at Vegas directly into your own living room! With money economies, less complicated arrangements, greater freedom and even more fun, you may decide to call off that trip for good and keep away from genuine Vegas gambling casinos. This style of playing online slots for money is much more beneficial!

Do not have a true love for Valentine’s? Forget sitting home alone in your PJs. Assemble your other uncommitted friends (and their unattached acquaintances) and have a singles celebration for a nighttime of flirtatious fun. Do not know where to begin? Do not sweat, we’ve got you covered with hints to help you throw the complete un-Valentine’s Day fete –and possibly meet someone new. Make Valentine’s Day charming for everyone by giving a party with flirty activities and risque-themed nightstand stations. Think spin the bottle and chocolate fudge body paint to complete this sensual soiree and put invitees in the mode for amore, and maybe something a little bit more.

Follow these Valentines Day ideas to get your celebration started. Encourage your guests to blend and mingle by doing a round of “Singles Bingo.” Each person takes a game card with amusing facts about the other invitees (get the facts beforehand by interviewing invitees as they arrive), and he or she must go around the room to determine the someone who matches the description. The somebody who fits the description must mark the player’s board. The first player to cover their board with signatures succeeds! Loosen everyone up with pick-up line nametags. This is a surefire means to get people chatting, laughing, or rolling thngling with flirty games and tantalizing activities as they hop from one racy nightstand station to the next, in hopes of meeting “the one.” A drink to get the party started (and to give you liquid coeir eyes. Spell the words on self-adhesive nametags for invitees to put on when they get in. Use basic lines like, “What sign are you?” and corny ones too, “I’m ringing the cops, because you got fine written all over you.” Set out a few void tags for those who want to pen their own pick-up lines.

Reminiscing about all of your old memories with your lover is sweet, but receiving something new with them on February 14th will officially cement your spot as the best partner ever. Transform your house into a private oasis where you and your sweetheart can escape the outside world for a day. Prepare an indoor picnic and create a tent with blankets. Soak in a tub filled with rose petals and give your partner a comfortable massage. If you want to try something even more exuberant, rent a hot tub for the evening and have it put in in your living room.

Because I can’t play every game ever made (though I’m really working on it), I often ask friends to tell me about games they have played that I might otherwise have missed. While having coffee with my friend Elayna, she revealed to me her secret video-gaming pleasure.

“My favorite game is Fight Night,” she said, daintily nibbling a bite of her bagel.

“Fright Night?” I asked, wondering how I could have missed a game in the horror genre, one of my favorites.

“No, Fight Night. A boxing game for PS2. It’s fun, and it gets all of my stress out.”

The image of my very feminine friend punching the lights out of of a video game toon was quite amusing to me. “Tell me more.” I urged.

“Basically, I hit people. I beat them up. It’s really fun. It’s taking some time out for myself. Me time.” She giggled.

Elayna went on to tell me that each fighter has a signature hit and her personal favorite was the Above Ground Pound as she referred to it. This move was empowering. “It gets out all of my frustrations when I beat the crap out of someone.”

“The only thing I do not like is that once you get knocked down there are three fighters to contend with because your vision is blurry. You have to line them up and hit the center guy to get back up. That’s frustrating.”

So what were the rewards for winning?

Money. Each successful fight would win you some good, hard cash. With this cash you could buy such things as better boxer shorts, better boots, better tattoos and even better ring girls. I asked her if the upgraded items actually did anything, aesthetics aside.

“I don’t know, I think so,” she said, thoughtfully. “It just seems like they should.”

After my meeting with Elayna I did some cyber-investigating for more information on Fight Night. According to customer reviews on Amazon.com the fighters in Fight Night are real career boxers, not just ones made up by the developer. The boxers do have signature moves and the controls are easy to work. Most people found the game very realistic. “You can make your boxer stop on a dime after a punch,” said one reviewer, happy with the game. As far as boxing games went, this seemed a good choice if your goal is just to knock someone around for awhile after a long day.

On a side note, I learned that boxers, boots, tattoos and ring girls don’t do anything for your career, other than make you look good. But isn’t that all you really need in life anyway?

April Whidden is an avid gamer and a freelance writer living in Portland,OR. Her website is located at http://www.aprilwhidden.com. She also writes a video game blog at http://www.xanga.com/aprilstorme.