General poker Information

Introducing the Game of Poker

Poker is said to be the number one card game in the world. It has come a long way right from the river boats of Mississippi to the virtual world and although the game has evolved over the years, the basics of the traditional poker game played at kitchen tables in every household have changed very little. Like in case of any popular game, the origins of Poker are difficult to pinpoint. One school of thought links the game to the early Chinese game of domino cards. But most people believe the game originated from the Spanish game of “Primero” which in turn influenced the French game of “Poque”. Bluffing was an essential part of the 16th century Spanish game which is similar to that of Poker, hence Poker is said to have its roots in the Spanish game of Primero.

Basics of Poker and Hand Ranking.

Poker is traditionally played with a standard 52-card deck. The game can be played between two to seven players, the ideal number being six or seven. The play and the deal moves clockwise. The cards are ranked from high to low as follows: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2. Depending on the situation, the Ace can be the low card. For the purpose of comparing hands, all suits are valued equally.

In our article on basics of poker and hand ranking we’ve explained the basics of the game of poker, the objectives of the game and have explained poker hand rankings and also offered some common sense tips on poker.

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Choosing a poker site

In our article on choosing a poker site we’ve offered valuable tips on how to go about selecting the right online poker site for you. We’ve explained the technicalities of playing online and what you should be looking for when selecting an online poker site. So if you’re thinking of switching to an online poker venue, be sure to read our article on choosing a poker site.

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How does a Poker Bonus work?

The most common poker bonus you find is the welcome bonus or the sign up bonus where the poker room offers to match your first deposit amount up to a certain percentage. For example, Ultimate Bet’s current welcome bonus will match your first deposit by 111% up to $1,100. So, if your initial deposit at the site is, say, $100, they will credit an additional $111 taking the total in your account to $211. At first glance, this looks like a cool way to get those free dollars into your account, but then nothing in this world comes free. The poker room will always attach certain conditions that you need to fulfill to claim this so called ‘free’ bonus. Generally, you are required to play a certain number of poker hands for real money or generate a certain number of player points before you get the bonus. The number of hands or the points to be collected increases depending on the size of the bonus, so the bigger the bonus, the more hands you have to play.

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Poker signup, deposit and withdraw guide.

In our article on Poker signup, deposit and withdraw, we’ve explained the technical aspects of selecting, signing up, making your first cash deposit and have explained how to go about withdrawing your winnings.

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Is online poker safe?
In life and also online poker, everything is as safe or as dangerous as you want it to be. Playing ‘safe’ is to be careful i.e. look before you leap. We’ve answered the question “Is online poker safe?” by explaining to you the pitfalls involved and how to best avoid them. So if you’re planning to switch to an online poker venue, be sure to read our article on “Is online poker safe?”

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Cash games vs. tournament poker
Most of the popularity that the game of poker has earned is perhaps due to the media exposure that the game receives, especially television exposure during the World Series of Poker or the European Poker Tour. These are televised poker tournaments and you’d find many new poker players being influenced by the tournament style of play. It is a fact that the bulk of poker played everywhere involves playing cash games. Many new players start by learning to play tournament poker, and apart from a few who can grasp the game quickly, for the rest of them it is a pretty long learning process. There are many reasons why it is better to learn to play with cash games rather than beginning the learning process directly with tournaments.

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Online poker slang and poker terms
In this article we’ve explained all the technical terms, slang words used as well as detailed out the poker terms. If you are a newbie and want to be a part of the exciting world of online poker, this article would be of invaluable help and is a “must read” before you plunge into online poker.

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Can you play poker for a living?
Every time you win you’re going to ask this question. Passion apart, poker needs some cool, level headed thinking. In our article on can you play poker for a living, we’ve attempted to answer this question for you by explaining both the highs and lows of game and then letting you decide whether you want to take the plunge. Life if full of risks but does that mean we sit inside closed doors and not ventures out?

Whether it is life or Poker, in both cases a clear understanding of the risks is required. Once we know where the pitfalls are, avoiding them is easy enough.

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History of poker
This is an interesting article that takes you down the memory lane. It traces the origins of poker and delights you by charting out the history of the development of poker.

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