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Thursday 11 October 2012

An Introduction to on-line Poker


To sit down at a live poker game can be very daunting for the newly initiated player, not only does he have to concentrate on the game at hand, but there are also betting procedures and table etiquette to be mindful of. These factors, combined with the fact that the other players at the table are not exactly going to go out of their way to make you feel welcome or comfortable, and it is no wonder that most poker beginners today go online to get acquainted with the game. There are many more advantages that amateurs and experts agree are available by playing online poker.
Firstly, there are play-money games which are a good way to learn the rules and betting procedures of poker where no deposit is required.
Secondly, lower rake and no dealer tips - many poker room operators make money by charging a commission or rake, on each hand. With online poker rooms there are less overheads and they can therefore charge lower rakes than real life poker rooms. Dealer tips are also a non-factor with online poker as there are no dealers!
Thirdly, due to their lower overheads, online poker rooms can afford to offer enticing bonuses and, or freerolls - tournaments with no entry fees, but with prize money put up by the site - to new or frequent players.
Fourthly, more hands can be played per hour. Due to the faster pace of dealing, shuffling of cards and betting instantaneously, online poker games are played at a much faster rate, approximately twice as fast as a live game.
Fifthly, there is a wide range of different game types, stake sizes and they are available at any time. You are able to play regular games, tournaments, or heads-up (one on one) games for very low stakes and as high as no limit at all.
Sixth, and last of all, online software allows you to chart useful statistics such as how much you win (or lose) per hour, what percentage of hands you see the flop with, and what percentage of pots you win at the showdown. It also allows you to make notes on your opponents for future reference in other games.
Before you sign up for an online poker site it is advisable to do your research. Ensure that the site you are interested in is licensed, that it possess a solid reputation within the online gaming community, and that it offers reliable customer service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When you have found the site that offers all these things, you can download their software and try partaking in some play money games to get acquainted with the technology.
Finally, before you part with any hard earned cash and make a deposit, try striking up a chat with some of the site's players and ask them what they think of the site and whether or not they have received their pay-outs without incident. Over the years, countless versions of poker have evolved and many of them can be found within online poker gaming sites.
Pamela Mitchell is a regular contributor of online poker [http://www.bettingtoday.co.uk/casino-gambling-online/casino-games-video-poker] articles to popular sites such as [http://www.bettingtoday.co.uk/] where you can find useful advice on how to go about gambling safely and responsibly.


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