Multi-Tier Bonuses

Welcome bonuses are offered by an online casino to attract players to it. The traditional welcome bonuses were limited to the lower end of a few hundred dollars and applicable to the first deposit only. Once the player completed the wagering requirements on this bonus his engagement with the bonus was over and he was free to look at the offers from other online casinos.

Online casinos found a solution to this dilemma through multi-tier online casino bonuses. The multi-tier bonus is offered over a number of deposits. Some times these deposits can stretch on for months or even a year. The online casino is comfortable at offering the benefit over a longer period of time and simultaneously ensuring the player’s loyalty over that longer period. For the player the multi-tier bonus is beneficial because he does not have to make a very large initial deposit. Most online players are recreational players and cannot allocate huge amounts to online wagering. Even if they can they would hesitate to do so. Unless they have tried out the casino they would not like to make large financial commitments. With multi-tier bonuses the player spreads his investment over time.

Two of the online casinos that have very popular multi-tier welcome bonuses are Rushmore Casino and Online Vegas. Rushmore Casino offers a total welcome bonus of $888 that operates over two stages. The first stage offers a bonus of 100% of the deposit subject to a limit of $400. The second stage offers a bonus of 100% of the deposit subject to a limit of $488. This way the player need not make a deposit of $888 up front. He can start with $400 and if he finds that he is not enjoying the experience at the online casino he need not avail of the second installment. It is this aspect that makes the bonus very attractive.

Online Vegas has taken the principle of multi-tier bonuses to new levels by offering a watershed bonus of $5,000. This is offered over ten deposits. The first deposit offers a 100% bonus up to a limit of $500. The next two stages are really good. In the second stage the bonus is 125% of the deposit. A maximum deposit of $300 gives a bonus of $375. In the third stage the bonus is 150% of the deposit. A maximum deposit of $500 gives a bonus of $750. By now the player should be comfortable with the online casino and be willing to make the larger deposits needed for the next stages. The fourth to the ninth stage offer bonuses of 25% of the deposit subject to a limit of $250. The Online Vegas multi-tier welcome bonus ends with a bang. The tenth installment offers a bonus of 200% of the deposit. A maximum deposit of $1,000 yields a bonus of $2,000.

Trash Hands at Online Texas Hold'ems

I define a trash hand as a hand that has no pairs, no straight or flush draws, and
does not have two overcards. For example A♣ 7♣, 7♥ 4♥, or K♠ 8♦ with a Q♦ T♥ 5♠
flop. The only time when trash hands are playable is when you are against one or
two opponents and you believe a poker bluff can be successful. Sometimes ace high is
the best hand, which might even justify a bet.
Let’s look at some examples of when playing trash hands might be profitable.
Sometimes bluffing out of the blinds can be profitable with an all rag flop, or when
there is a rainbow flop with only one high card. For example, you are in the big blind
with an 864 flop against two early position callers. Betting out might win the pot. as
it is unlikely this flop helped your opponents.
Another example is with a Q53 flop and you are in early position with AT. You might
bet out into one or two opponents representing a pair of queens hoping that they
fold. When the flop is two-suited, two-connected, or has two high cards, be less
inclined to make these types of bluffs, as it is more likely that your opponents either
have a hand or have a draw. The exception to this is when you are acting last and
both of your opponents have checked. In this case, bluffing may be successful
since your opponents have indicated weakness and they might suspect that you
were the one helped by the flop.

Internet Tip
You will find yourself in small blind versus big blind situations a lot more on the Internet than you would in a live game since in a live game you often "chop." Bluffing with trash hands in these situations can often be profitable. If neither player raised preflop, you only have to win once every three hands for bluffing to break even; therefore, betting out the flop from either the small blind or big blind cart often be successful.
There are many different scenarios when bluffs might work, but be careful in playing
these trash hands. Remember, bluffing is risky when you don’t have many outs.
Also, bluffs against three or more opponents are rarely profitable with these types of
hands. Hopefully, these chapters on the flop have covered most of the common situations
you will find yourself in. Although it is impossible to cover every situation, you
should now have a good background to be able to evaluate any situation that might
arise. One thing to remember is that there are always a wide variety of strategies
available to you. Sometimes two strategies could have an equal expectation. For
example, sometimes calling has a break-even expectation, so this is the same as
folding. Remember to vary your play so that your observant opponents aren’t able
to read you like a book, and pay close attention to your opponents so that you can
begin to learn their betting patterns. The more you understand the betting strategies
of your opponents, the better decisions you can make when you play against them.
If you have the discipline to play good starting hands and you have a good
understanding of how to play the flop, you should be a profitable player. Now we
move to the turn and river where mistakes become more costly, but if you have
played well up to this point, you should be getting the best of it)