Reading Online Poker Reviews 2

In part 1, we laid it out for you on what online poker reviewers when evaluating an online poker room.

In part 1, we also had an in-depth discussion of software and graphics, game variation and limits, and traffic. This concluding article will explore the information contained in the rest of the sections of a typical online poker review.

Competition

In an online poker review, you will find the measurement of skill prevalent in the various poker games (Texas Hold’em, etc.), types (ring games), betting structures (limit poker) and stakes.

Fish pertains to a player who is not very good. They make frequent bad bets and can be intimidated easily. A good poker player can beat a fish constantly and with ease.

Now, a shark refers to skillful players that devour fish.

Bonuses

This section of an online poker review will discuss the type of signup bonus you’ll receive, which is usually a percentage of your first deposit, and any other bonuses offered at the online poker site.

A few common bonuses are as follows:

Bad Beat Bonus – If you lose a hand bearing a value higher than a certain amount (usually four Qs), you win the biggest chunk of a bonus that is shared between all the players that posted blinds in that particular round.

Magic Hand Bonus – Each round or hand in an online poker game is assigned a number. In this type of bonus, the online poker room selects a random number, say, every 500,000th hand, and gives each player who posted blinds on that particular hand a share of the bonus—the largest share going to the winning hand.

High Hand Bonus – This type of bonus is given to a poker player that gets the highest ranking hand above a minimum hand in a set period of time, without folding.

Progressive Bonuses or Jackpots – These bonuses start at a specific amount and increases each day without a winner claiming the bonus. The amount is reset to its starting level after a winner has claimed it.

Rake

This is the commission the online poker site takes for each hand played. The average rake is 5% of the pot, and it may be up to but not exceeding $3. There are online poker sites that take smaller cuts from smaller pots or low stakes games.

It should be noteworthy that some online poker sites have a marvelous “No Flop/No Drop” policy, which states that if a player doesn’t stay in to see the flop, no rake is taken.

Customer Service

This part of the online poker review indicates the information on how to reach the online poker site’s customer support (toll-free voice support, email, chat), including its operating hours (preferably 24/7), and most importantly, the quality of service, the politeness and quickness of response.

Promotions

Just like bonuses but being granted a section in an online poker review, promotions are extraordinary, time-dependent events that generally give out special prizes that include huge jackpots, trips, cars, and free tickets in World Poker Tour (WPT) and World Series of Poker (WSP) events.

Deposits and Cashouts

In an online poker review, you’ll find a couple of things in this section: first, the payment methods accepted in making deposits and Cashouts such as PayPal, credit cards, NETeller, etc. And second, the timeliness, dependability and security involved in the processing of the online poker site’s transactions.

Ease of Use

This section discusses the usability and the ability of the site’s software interface to easily work with its users. Moreover, you will find out how the lobby is structured and all the information essential in playing poker at the site including the following:

Hands per hour – This is an indicator of how quick the game moves and could be a measuring instrument of the experience level of the poker players.

Average pot – This shows how aggressive the players are betting and how much you can expect to win or lose each hand.

Flop percentages – Tells of the average number of players staying at the table to see the flop. This also tells of how loose they’re playing.

With this very useful, two-part guide to reading online poker reviews, you should be playing at the perfect online poker room for you right this very moment!

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Reading Online Poker Reviews 1

There is a huge number of poker review sites out there each having their take on the countless poker rooms operating on the Internet. In this article, we will begin the process of breaking down our own online poker review guide so you know what look for when trying to find an online poker room that suits you.

Software and Graphics

There are many commonly used software in online poker rooms all over the Internet. The more reputable ones include Cryptologic, Microgaming, PlayTech and RealTime Gaming. However, there are still some poker rooms that use their own proprietary software.

Whatever software an online poker room utilizes, reading only poker reviews will help you understand what experienced online poker players think about the variety of software used by different poker sites. Essential factors that should be taken into consideration include:

• Speed and smooth gameplay
• Software reliability
• Game interface (table views like bird’s eye view or 3D player-centered view)
• Selection of automated features (auto-posting of blinds, pre-selection of bid/call buttons)

Under this section, you will also find information regarding the representation of players in the game (avatars, icons) and the introspective quality of graphics and sound.

Game Variety and Limits

In this section, you will find the list of games offered by the site like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 7-Card Stud, 5-Card Stud, Hi-Lo variants, Draw Poker, and on rare occasions, games like Crazy Pineapple. There are sites that also feature video poker and other non-poker games such as Blackjack and Baccarat. These days, there are online poker sites that are integrated with online casino sites.

Also under this section are the betting structures available on each game: limit, no limit, pot limit, with the range of the stakes for each. If you come across the term “Microlimits,” this commonly refers to games with blinds that are in the penny or nickel range.

Finally, you will find out if the poker site offers ring games, poker tournaments or both in this section. And if they do, these are the kinds they would probably have:

Freeroll – This is a free to enter tournament with big prizes.

Freezeout or Shootout – This goes through a process of elimination with a winner takes all format (or top three finishers). Most tournaments are of this kind even Freerolls and Sit ‘n’ Gos.

Sit-n-Go or Sit and Go – This game usually runs 24/7, is also a freezeout, can be under any stakes, and commences every time the required number of players buy-in.

Re-buy – This is a form of freezeout wherein you have the option to buy-in again once knocked out.

Satellite – This is also a freezeout wherein the prize is a place in a bigger poker tournament that is usually held in land-based casinos and with a much bigger prize.

Bounty – This is a freezeout with a bonus. Certain players are given “bounties” on their heads, so to speak. Whoever knocks out those players in a game collects that bounty regardless if they win the game overall or not.

Traffic

This section pretty much tells you the average number of players that frequent the poker room. The online poker review will let you know how many players go in and participate in ring games or tournaments during peak hours.

Poker room traffic can be a double-edged sword—it can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. Too much traffic can mean it might be difficult to find a seat at a table, but you will have no trouble finding action at your desired stakes and it’s possible to milk loads of fish out of their bankrolls.

Too little traffic can mean the opposite—you may not find action at your desired stakes, but you can be assured of a seat and you’ll likely play against the same players more frequently. Looking at the bright side, knowing your opponents is a huge advantage.

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Tips to Follow When Sport Betting Online

Sports betting is a great enhancement to the lives of people watching sports. Not only do you get excited about your favorite team winning, you also have the chance of making profit. Sports betting even enhances satisfaction because of the introduction of sports betting online. With sports betting online, it is so much easier to do betting. One can just go to an online sportsbook and place their bets. Everything is done on the Internet and you do not have to leave the house to do your betting activities. Aside from this, sports betting online is enhanced by the Internet. You can research stats and information about different sports teams with just a few clicks of the mouse. Many sports fans and non-sports fan love sports betting online because it is practical and exciting. We want to help you enjoy sports betting so here are a few tips to follow to assure you of winning money while enjoying the games.

Betting Tip # 1: Always have a budgeted bankroll. Before you decide to wager on anything, it is important that you apply good money management to your sports betting activities. Sit down, get a piece of paper and pen plus a calculator and compute the amount of money you can put aside for sports betting. The same concept applies in budgeting your dinners at restaurants or the money you spend on clothes. The amount of money you should be willing to spend for sports betting online is an amount you can afford to lose. When you have a number, stick with that figure. Apply discipline to your bankroll management and it will make you more money rather than spill money.

Betting Tip # 2: Look around for the best sportsbook. It is important you checkout all the bookmakers and sportsbooks available. Most of the popular bookmakers have online versions so you will not have a hard time looking for them on the web. Sometimes, especially in sports like college basketball, these oddmakers will have different numbers. Choose the bookie with the best odds and numbers. Be careful with the numbers because it can go as low as just three points and that three points can make the difference between a win and a loss.

Betting Tip # 3: Avoid making sports bets when you’re drunk. Your judgment will be impaired and you will regret it in the end. You not only lose money, you also end up with a bad and expensive hangover.

Betting Tip # 4: Research, research and do more research. Know everything there is to know about the particular sport you are betting on. Research about the teams, the issues they face and detailed information such as injuries of key players.

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Sports Betting Is Fun!

Sports betting is fun if you do it right. Sports betting is profitable also if you do it right. Sports betting can enhance your love of sports, whatever that sport may be, and this is especially true if you find yourself winning the bets all the time. Sports betting allows you to have fun while making a profit if you do your betting correctly. So, the question that many of your readers are asking is how do I make sports betting fun? How do I make sports betting a source of a decent cash flow? Well, our answer can be found in the tips we have listed below. Follow these advice and basic concepts about sports betting and you will find yourself happy and richer!

First tip about sports betting is you have to know how to manage your money the right way. Being a responsible budget-maker goes a long way. First thing you have to do is sit down with a pen, paper and a calculator. Determine the amount of money you make and think of how much you can afford to spend. If you have a budget for luxuries such as eating out or spending on clothes then you can easily make room for sports betting. Just make sure that what you spend on sports betting is an amount you can afford to lose.

The second advice we have is you should always shop for the best numbers. You want to stretch your budget and invest it in a bet that not only wins, but gives you the biggest payout possible. So, this means you have to do your homework and research for information about the best sportsbooks in the industry. Usually, sportsbooks have different handicapping systems. Sometimes it could be as much as a three-point difference, but that number can spell the difference between winning and losing. So, shop for the best numbers and put your money where you know it has a good chance of returning.

The third advice we have for you may seem silly, but it is nonetheless good advice. Do not go drink, get drunk and then gamble! You will not be able to make good decisions with alcohol clouding your brain. That’s why Las Vegas casinos always supply you with drinks.

The next advice is something that you are already doing by reading this piece, and that is doing your homework. Know everything about the sport you are betting on like the ins and outs of the game. This way, you know you can make a good decision of making the right pick. With knowledge, you always add advantage to your gameplay. So, have fun and good luck!

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March Madness Betting: Picking and choosing

You can get overwhelmed with the choices March Madness betting odds may have in store for you. There are so many games to consider in March Madness betting and that means you should pick and choose your spots.

If you are wary, March Madness betting odds can easily get you carried away and confused. It can be quite hard as well to get totally up to date with every college basketball team so it means you must pick and choose your spots in March Madness odds and that applies to the conference tournaments, the NIT and the Big Dance.

In March Madness odds, always remember that you can really include the conference tournaments since they begin in advance of the NCAA tournament. There are so many games on the board you can really narrow things down to teams and conferences you are familiar with. It is a whole lot easier to focus once everything has been narrowed down.

This is another reason that picking and choosing your spot is very important with March Madness betting. Here, you may want to be an expert on something to help you out.

In March Madness odds you may want to put in mind that many other people are going to be betting at this time of the year. There will be a good mix of public money and a lot of professional money. For sports books, the NCAA tournament is one phenomenal and popular event. Keep in mind to always watch the track of line moves in March Madness odds but don’t let the moves intimidate you. It is very important to get the best numbers since if you cannot get the best numbers, it could cost you some wins so remember that.

As you consider March Madness betting , it is necessary to decide where you want to put your attention. You may have taken interest on the conference tournaments or maybe you really like the NIT. Or perhaps you are just like the massive population who love the NCAA tournament. Whatever it is that you will choosing, you must focus on your attention, pick and choose your spots to have more success against the March Madness betting line.

Keep all of these things in mind and you are very well ahead on your game. Also be aware that things here could be quite unpredictable and sometimes even if you have thought that you have chosen the right spot, things don’t go your way. Do not be disheartened by this event, you can always go ahead and try better next time.

If you haven’t tried betting at online sports books then perhaps now is the time to try it out. Unlike your regular office pools, wagering online is a whole lot better since you get a lot of bonuses to aid you on your wagers. You get sign-up bonuses and deposit bonuses so you can use it to increase your wagers and winnings!

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Predictions on March Madness betting

March Madness betting has been in the hearts of the many fanatics and professional gamblers out there. So why not join in on the passion and excitement of March Madness season that has been driving everyone mad?

The online sportsbooks are definitely taking in a ton of action as the fans and NCAA enthusiasts across the globe make their early March Madness betting predictions as to which 68 teams will battle it out for the title of the National Championship. The 2010-2011 college basketball betting online season was anything but predictable and boring since several of the marquee teams have struggled mightily this season. Let us reveal our pick who will win the whole tournament.

It seems that Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski thought that the Blue Devils should make the change with their offense from a grinding method to a more refined style of play. Their offense will be centered on freshmen recruit Kyrie Irving, 6’3” tall and 200 pounds. Irving will be the catalyst of Duke’s brand new offense.

For the first month and a half, the Blue Devils appeared to be the team of old utterly dominating opponents. Thus a lot of experts from around the league have post a question whether the March Madness tournament should take place since the Blue devils seemed destined to repeat. Unfortunately the unimaginable happened, Kyrie Irving fell with a broken toe and hasn’t been able to play since. Adding insult to injury, the Blue Devils were embarrassed by St. Johns at MSG and been quite a mediocre team ever since.

With Irving sitting on the bench with an injury and the Blue Devil’s faithfully reeling, it has allowed seniors Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler to come out as leaders on the team. Entering into the tournament, many experts from ESPN, CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated, all believe that Duke will be taking the rank of the number two seed. Speaking from history, two seeds haven’t really done great in the tournament, falling out in the elite-eight round. However, we believe that Kyrie Irving will be back by the beginning of the tournament, increasing Duke’s chances at a repeat as National Champions.

The March Madness betting season this time will definitely something people should watch, with all these drama and excitement, you will never know what’s next. Fans will definitely be cheering and screaming their lungs out for their favorite teams. As for the gamblers, they better be careful and be on the lookout for these types of incidents. Injuries in a team can make drastic effects with their gameplay.

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March Madness Betting: The Reasons Why This is a Great Month for People Who Love This American Sport

Who here does not agree that March Madness betting is one of the most exciting times of the year, especially for those who love betting on basketball? There is nothing more exciting than seeing the raw potential talent of college players and how they grace the court with their youth, endless energy, motivating drive, their mad baller skills and on-court intelligence. During March Madness, 68 teams compete to be the best college basketball team. March Madness betting phenomenon shows what it is like to be American, how they love the game and how they love making money from it.

In the time of March Madness, you will be able to witness a lot of what it is like to be in college in America. All over the country, you will see how Americans love sports. There is a whole group of adults and young people who are forming a support system just for this particular occasion. A college athlete will be training for months before the game. He will make his college basketball teammates his family. You see parents pushing their kids to do well during March Madness. It gives them great pride and joy. There are the coaches, the principals, the school secretaries and executives who form a very nurturing haven for these players. All of the people involved have but one goal and that is to come out on top. That, my friend, is also how it goes in American life. These are exactly the values that Americans try to encapsulate. It all involves hard work, discipline and the bonding of a town or state for their love of the sport.

It is said that during the March Madness, you will find a lot of action going on. Those people who are most excited about the game are people like you and me who love basketball. They can also be people who are into wagering and making a little cash by studying the books and being smart about their bets. If you love the sport of basketball, belong to a state with a great and flourishing NCAA team and you also happen to love betting then the March Madness betting season is for you. There is a huge number of people who bet during March Madness and it is not limited to adults. Even college students join in on the action of betting. There are also people who say that when it comes to March Madness, it is one of the biggest office pool betting events.

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March Madness Betting: Let Us Celebrate a True American Sport

You do not have to hail from America to be able to enjoy and take part in March Madness betting. You just have to love the game of basketball in order to have a fun time during the peak of March Madness. As you will see this month, March Madness is the time of so much basketball action and betting activity, especially on the aspect of people who love the sport. So, why is March Madness betting or even just the season very popular, especially to Americans?

First off, basketball is very much a beloved sport in North America. Basketball in the US is a way of life. It is something that you enjoy watching for the amazing display of basketball skills, all the action and the spirit that it represents, especially discipline and hard work. After all, to become a great basketball player you have to put in a lot of hard work. So in the time of March Madness betting, you will see this love of basketball very much on display.

Imagine what it feels like for the teams participating in March Madness. The coaches work hard to train their college student players. The students live for basketball and their teammates are family. It truly is a bonding experience. You will find different types of parents and how they support their kids who are in the game. There is probably nobody prouder than a father who has a son playing for his college basketball team. You also have the whole school and the state to support the system. Day in and day out, they train for months before the season so this is the month where they try really hard to beat the competition. That scene my friend is an accurate if not subjective description of what March Madness brings to American life.

The season is also celebrated not only by basketball fans, but people who like to make money off this tournament. Yes, there is money to be made during March Madness. The madness is really a great description to the frenzied activity that can be seen happening that also includes a lot of wagering. It has been reported that everyone, in all walks of life, participate in March Madness betting. There are students out there who bet money on their favorite high school team. It is even said that this betting activity is popular in offices where they pool their money to make a pot that goes to the winner. For those who love crunching numbers, March Madness betting is great because the action can lead to profitable results.

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March Madness Betting: An Enumerated History Guide to An Exciting Month

Who here does not love March Madness betting? It is an exciting time of the year for a bunch of people, especially those who are passionate about basketball and love watching the game. March Madness betting is also a great time for people who just love to bet. If you are one of the many people who like mixing the two together—betting and basketball—you can be sure that March Madness betting is one of the best times for you. You are here because you are curious about the history of the game. Let us give you a brief introduction about March Madness betting and who we should thank for this month.

# 1 Fact About the History of this Month: March Madness was first seen in action in the great state of Illinois.

# 2 Fact About the History of this Month: It was the games of the NCCA men’s high school basketball division which started the trend.

# 3 Fact About the History of this Month: In the beginning, it was just the Illinois High School Association who promoted the event of its high school teams.

# 4 Fact About the History of this Month: It was just then a small by invitation only affair in the year 1908 that transpired into an institution that spanned the state.

# 5 Fact About the History of this Month: After the 1908 state-wide explosion, the Illinois schools were then joined by 900 other schools to battle it out in the basketball courts.

# 6 Fact About the History of this Month: By the late 1930s, thousand schools were competing against each other and the event was a buzz that was hard not to be felt by the sports community then.

# 7 Fact About the History of this Month: There was a group of playoff teams that was dubbed by the insiders as the Sweet Sixteen.

# 8 Fact About the History of this Month: The Sweet Sixteen playoff teams often played to a packed crowd in the University of Illinois’ Huff Gymnasium. The tickets for this event were sold out most of the time.

# 9 Fact About the History of this Month: The game’s popularity exploded and this was in the years before the television.

# 10 Fact About the History of this Month: The game was so popular even to the average basketball fan.

# 11 Fact About the History of this Month: This also came before the time of professional basketball.

# 12 Fact About the History of this Month: March Madness was responsible for the widespread success of basketball.

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NBA Betting Tips You Should Follow

Do you want to finally win in your NBA betting investments this year? Well, a quality NBA betting tip can lead you to the right path and can transform you to a better, if not great, basketball handicapper. So, what we did is listed the top NBA betting tips which you can follow. We did our researched and asked experts so we can present you with a list of top NBA betting tips.

Of course, it is important to consider that reading up on winning NBA betting tips cannot guarantee you a total win with your next wager. Read our list and let it serve you as a guide to starting out your career as a professional NBA betting handicapper.

What we want to put out there for you to inculcate and understand is that NBA betting is like basketball itself – it takes discipline to win big. Just like NBA athletes, you have to be always working hard – practicing and learning new information and data on a daily basis. This is the only way you can make money in the long run when it comes to NBA betting. This discipline required in NBA betting can be attained by following some of the tips we have here on a daily basis.

Another thing we have to enlighten you about is do not rely on NBA betting to make all your money and by thinking so, quit your day job. NBA betting is fun and it can be easy if you are disciplined enough to you know how to budget your money. So, always have control and work hard. With these two factors, you can succeed and make a lot of money when it comes to NBA betting.

Enough about our lecture and let's go on with our NBA betting tips.

NBA Betting Tip # 1 : Have the courage to bet props.

There is a great amount of +EV to be found when you bet on props.

You should be aware that oddsmakers and sportsbooks devote a number of hours in setting the line for an NBA betting game. Therefore, they can only devote lesser hours in setting the total and even lesser hours when it comes to setting props. There are many online sportsbooks vying for your services and money so you can scout the Internet for good deals on prop bets on just about all kinds of NBA related games.

You may chance upon a few (Okay, we're being kind. Perhaps a lot) of bookmarkers who are clueless and would just copy from another sportsbook. This growing population of lazy bookmakers create a market for smart handicappers and they create a great opportunity to make a lot of money!

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Follow These NBA Betting Strategies to Win!

Do you want to change your luck this 2011 by actually winning in NBA betting this year? Well, you can certainly do that by following our basic NBA betting tips.

One rule about NBA betting is that you should always do your homework. Just like in any situation in real life, NBA betting also follows the “knowledge is power” concept. The more you know, the better judge you will become when it comes to choosing the winning picks in NBA betting. This includes not only which team to bet on, but how much money should be wagered and when the best time to do it will be.

Here are a few more NBA betting tips you should take to heart in order to win this year.

#1 NBA Betting Tips to Follow: Know when to root for the underdog.

This is not the most original, earth-shaking NBA betting tip out there but it is an important tip and a good source on how to make money. Always be on the lookout for the NBA underdog. These are small underdog teams that are not superstars in the league but have enough talent for short bursts of stellar performances to offset the whole order of NBA teams that are reigning supreme.

Betting on the underdog is a good advice even for sports such as the NFL. So, always be observant of the smaller teams and be able to obtain the right data on teams that can beat your favorite team through certain reasons such as injury on the favorite team or a new coach on the underdog team. Once you have analyzed that the payout is worth it, bet a lot on the small underdog. And if you win, you win big money.

Of course, you also have to be realistic in making your judgments as underdogs are called underdogs for a reason.

#2 NBA Betting Tips to Follow: When assessing if the underdog can win versus the NBA leading team add +3 points.

Adding three points to the underdog will give you a slight overview of the chances the underdog team can win. It goes without saying if the chances are great, do not be afraid to bet.

#3 NBA Betting Tips to Follow : Long road trips by an NBA team can affect its performance. It is best to keep this important factor in mind.

As we have mentioned in the beginning, knowledge is power and even seemingly random knowledge about your NBA team can mean losing or winning an NBA betting investment you have made. Long trips can take a toll on athletes and everyone knows that small things can mean a great deal when it comes to an NBA player's performance. So, if you find a good team performing badly after a road trip, you would know how to analyze your picks in your NBA bets. You can also observe the reverse of the situation. When you see a poor performing NBA team winning on home court over a good NBA team, then you can decide to vote on the underdog.

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