Become a Professional Poker Player

The journey from amateur to Professional Poker playing

Often I get asked – what makes a poker player a professional one? And my usual answer is – there isn’t any magic component of a list of rules to live by that will turn you into a professional poker player. Each person is unique and each of us usually has a different starting point. Some of us played since they were three years old, and some of us played for the first time in their twenties. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the first out of the two above will play better than the one will less years of experience; it just means that the path these two people will need to take on their journey of becoming a professional poker player is different.

Should I buy a ‘Learn how to play pro Poker’ book?

Well, this really depends on whether you are the type of person who usually manages to learn from books. If you are, than yes, defiantly buy a book. ‘Poker lessons and tips’ or ‘Poker for beginners’ books are an excellent way of improving your technique. There are many professional poker players who are willing to share their experience in order to earn extra cash from books selling. On the other hand, If you never had a good connection with books, don’t start with poker books. Enjoying the game will not turn you over night into an enthusiastic reader and will not give you the sadden ability to learn out of books.

Should I participate in poker forums?

Poker forums are a great way to get some answers for question or indecisions you may have for how to handle yourself in certain situations when you’re playing a poker game or a Texas Holdem tournament. The popular forums might even provide you with an almost instant answer to any question. Generally forums are a great example of the internet global community and how people enjoy helping one another if they can. Poker isn’t different in that way and you’ll always find someone that can and will answer your question.

Should I play in real money poker games?

Real money poker games are a great way to get you toughened up and turn your amateur gaming to a more professional one. When real money is involved you tend to be more careful with your decisions. Of course, you shouldn’t start playing with real money till you’ve played some free online poker games. There’s no point in jumping into the deep water till you’ve at least learn how to swim, or at least master the movements you need to do in order to prevent yourself from drowning. Free poker games are available in many forms. Two major ones are: free flash games, usually can be found in free games sites and the free games that are available in all major online poker rooms that offer real money poker games.

Should there be an online poker income tax?

Almost every source of income of every individual faces the word TAX. According to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, tax is a charge usually of money imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes.

The popularity of online poker has undeniably risen from where it took off. More people playing, betting, and winning. Some play poker for fun, while others treat poker as an alternative source of income aside from their usual 9-5 job.

Since people are earning from online poker, is it just right to impose tax on it too?

Other countries, like Canada, have imposed taxes on online poker. Maybe because they could see that it brings in more income to people, meaning for revenue or money for public use - and it's a good thing if it really would go for public use.

Other countries who ban online poker, or that it hasn't been legalized yet may not have seen this little advantage of the game. It could help one way or another. But that's speaking about the advantages of placing income on online poker on the side of the authorities or government.

The big question would be: would the people playing online poker like the thought of it? Maybe yes, if they do think about the welfare of most people and if they do think that it could help the community, state, or country in a way. But others may not like it. It's their alternative way of living, they earn extra money in playing the game to somehow help them earn extra money to get pass the day. With crisis looming over the corner, people would want to earn extra and earn big.

Would the people go for it? Would the people like the thought of it? Would the people love the effects of it? The things is... it's money matters, and it's complicated.

Iowa’s Online Poker situation a sudden turn

Long before, when legislators were eyeing to legalize online poker in United States, Iowa had the closest and most possible chance of having online poker not only legalized but also expanded in their state, they could have been the first state to have that “precious” legalization.

But what seemed to be a sure shot suddenly turned a little twist in the story. After two weeks of deliberation, the dreamy legalization of online poker in the state was erased and totally out of the picture. Iowan legislators cannot decide on what to do and how to do it. Plans on legalizing and expanding online poker in the state have been abandoned. This decision has been the result of long debates and arguments thrown by both sides of the case. Clearly, the opposition won.

While other states still have a pending case to solve regarding legalization of online poker as well, this case would most likely happen. The longer the debates, the more time would the opposition have to persuade the ones who agree to go to their side. The end part would be, if indeed they would be persuaded or if they’re will is strong enough to really pursue the legalization of online poker.

Online gambling arrests in China rampant

Looks like the Chinese government are taking serious measures regarding online gambling.

Around 210 are confirmed to have committed online gambling crimes while 918 others are in custody. These numbers grew rapidly in just a span of 13 days. The efforts of the Chinese government in enforcing strict measures on online gambling have been all out in full force. They have issued a warning on cracking down illegal online gambling within the country including anyone who is operating, advertising, or any ties with an online gambling site.

This kind of enforcement, not meaning to judge how China does it, may bring a negative impact to the face of online gambling to the world. People from other countries have been trying their best to legalize online gambling only to see such scenario from other part of the world. It might not happen to where they are but it can be an inspiration to those who oppose the legalization of online gambling.

Are your credit cards still safe?

There were a couple of posts on the web regarding the use of credit cards and other debit cards when making a deposit in online poker rooms. Most of them are warnings on when, where, how to use these cards in utmost safety that they wouldn’t fall in the hands of fraud… or even in the hands of the law.

Gambling online is an enough risk. You are already risking the money that your are betting whether you would gain something from it or you would lost it entirely. The risk of disclosing important personal information to a website that you don’t know who’s running is also a huge risk. You don’t know if confidential information are safe enough that it would not be used for scams and other fraudulent activities that some crooks could think of.

The danger of the use of credit cards is no news and is really one of the main concerns of online gaming and online gambling. These cards can easily be used and manipulated once it get in the wrong hands. Even though the information you give would be something that people could not do anything to go over your account, but people who are wise enough to know how to connect the dots would easily penetrate into that teeny-weeny security that lies between you and the bank.

Basically, your credit cards are safe if they are in the safe hands and if the confidential information is indeed kept confidential, then there is nothing or just less to worry about.

Online gambling on the line

What seemed to be a long protest to legalize online gambling still remains but a dream to many poker fans. They have had a share of momentum when more and more people, even officials, who stood by their side and helped them push the legalization of online gambling. Although lately, that has not beent he picture. The Feds are on the run.

Just recently, a man has been caught and pleaded guilty in front of the jury for hosting online gambling in US states to a company in Costa Rica. This probe also brought famous online gambling company, Doyle's Room, in danger. The government's federal probe against illegal online gambling have been heading strong and are really investigating further on the issue.

This scene doesn't only happen in United States. The same case goes to South Africa. The country's online gambling has been temporarily stopped and is now illegal on the place. There have been no proper laws and regulation of online gambling, thus they would need to further study and investigate the case.

With these scenarios going on in the online gambling industry, it is still too far and too impossible to say that online gambling would really be legalized.

A flashback on online gambling

The history of online gambling dates back in 1994, although systems and programs to make such has been there long before the internet has been introduced. It started with Carribean's Free Trade and Processing Act. Since then, people from different parts of the globe have the free reign to put up their own online casino. With the growing demand, software developers didn't lack the initiative to make and further update the needed software to operate and online casino.

In 1998, the world's festivity over the rise of online gambling was seemingly cut short. During that year, U.S. Senator Jon Kyl opposed online gambling with his Internet Gambling Prohibition Acts making it illegal for US companies and citizens to participate in any online gambling or online casinos. From then on, other countries have also made other laws with regards to the restriction of online gambling.

Today, online gambling has boomed into a wide and huge industry that a number of people - of different ages and gender. Its popularity rose tremendously that even in courts, poker players fight for its right to legalize it. It would be a long run but for these people, they would fight and do everything just to legalize an industry that they deem potential to the economic growth of the country.

Online Casinos: More than just grabbing the bucks

Online casinos. Often thought as a place where people gamble taking out all their money and try their luck to double it. People would think that online casinos are places of temptation and sin that could lead to further destruction. People judge it in just what they see outside not knowing that for these poker players, it is something more.

For casino players, they see online casinos as an avenue wherein they could break free from the stresses of work and other things that they are busy about. Yes, it could be for the money and all, but there are really just players who play for the sake of playing. Money might still be at risk but these players don’t really place all their bets in. They probably are the wisest players when it comes to financial risk involving online casinos.

Online Casinos: Helping an aging mind’s mental stimulation

“Studies have shown that 70 percent of elderly people in the US had participated in a gambling game of some sort in the last year.” –Ed Bradley

You got that right. Studies in the University of Pennsylvania and Penn State University showed that indeed, more and more elderly or aging people get themselves involved in various online games lately. This is because online games in online casinos (like blackjack and poker) help stimulate the mental ability of the elderly. These aging people are not only exercising their brains on how to operate the computer but they are doing more to that – they are strategizing and trying to gain focus as they play in online casinos.

These kinds of activities, as study shows, help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia – two diseases that comes in aging people. Highly-encouraged or not, online games in online casinos indeed help aging people to still keep their full mental function and slow down its deterioration.

FBI says cheating is easy in online poker

News has it that FBI finds online poker cheat-prone.

According to a top FBI official’s letter to US Rep. Spencer Bachus, online poker could easily be cheated and could be done in various methods. Written on the 13^th of November, Shawn Henry said that “online poker vendors could detect this activity and put in place safeguards to discourage cheating, although it is unclear what the incentive would be for the vendor.”

What Henry said might be correct. Quite a few times, keen observant have seen such glitches in online poker. But the thing is, he should have not generalized his conclusion as true to all online poker operators, online casinos and poker rooms. The fault of one can’t be the fault of everybody. If one has ruined reputation because of its vulnerability to online poker cheating, it should not speak and stain those online poker operators who have had a good performance.

This testimony could be used against online gambling legalization, but it is not a strong enough argument to put down a strong force of followers of online gambling. They would need more proof on this than just mere observation and letters with statements that online gambling is prone to cheating. They would need more than just the drive to stop or slow down the move to legalize online gambling.

Celebrate Christmas in Online Casinos

No, no, no. I don’t mean spend your holidays facing the computer and play online poker and the likes. I don’t think your family would like that thought (they might hunt me down if I’ll say so!). What I meant is just probably feeling the spirit of Christmas when you log in to your favorite online casinos.

If people are jumping up and down in decorating their homes, offices, vehicles, and even their gadgets, then why can’t online games software developers and online casino operators have the same Christmassy look and feel in gaming?

Probably by now, an online casino or two is designing their sites to make their constant gamers feel that it is Christmas. Poker tables, online slots, and other online games can be designed as such to give a little scent of Christmas in their scene.

It’s not much on sensationalizing Christmas. It’s more on giving people a tinge of the Christmas season so that win or lose, they would still leave the online casino happy and satisfied.

Online Poker Software that could aid in your playing

In a world where poker dominates, online gamers have seen tough and enjoyable competition in playing such game. Every player would want to place their A-game in every table they invade. But with constant advancement of technology, one could never help but to seek for virtual aid in their gaming. Thus, the creation of 3^rd party software.

In poker, these 3^rd party software helps a player a step further in winning a poker game. It isn’t necessarily cheating. It is just like calling a friend to help you with your cards out, only that it is virtual.

There are different kinds of 3^rd party software that players used in online poker. We’ll discuss each one briefly, give you a few ideas about it and hopefully give a valuable insight in helping you with your game.

CALCULATORS

Calculators are 3^rd party software that helps the player find odds and possible combinations of the cards he’s playing. The probability of these combinations plays around all the cards in the deck - cards both on the deck or those at the hands of the opponents.

Often, calculators are seen to be deceiving and known to be a software for cheating. But it isn’t really CHEATING. It’s simply showing what probably combinations could be used. The calculator cannot and does not reveal the cards of the opponents, so it’s simply like the player’s mind thinking of combinations only that the computer is doing it for him.

BOTS

There are also a few misconceptions of bots. Bots, in others’ understanding, bots makes instant money for a player in a certain pot. Although these bots really exist, but the real purpose of bots is to play for a player.

The bot is turned on, and does the playing for the player in case he is on a game and would badly need to do an errand – or have a visit in the toilet. It simply plays for the player.

TRACKERS

Poker trackers are probably the most helpful 3^rd party software - it may not be of the time being of poker playing, but its long-term contribution would make it very helpful.

Poker trackers track down the number of wins and losses, good and bad hands, betting patterns, and the likes. These factors would easily help players, especially the beginners, to track their gaming and further learn from their playing patterns helping them make a better move in their next games.

Third party software are okay, as long as the intentions on using them are clean. They aid, they help. They don’t mean to destruct, they don’t mean to cheat. And as far as online poker is concerned, there might still be a lot to do to make sure that these software are indeed safe. But as of the moment, if one player intends to use such in playing online poker, he should be careful and responsible in using it.

Online poker software to “stalk” players

Now, an online poker software adds fun to poker playing by allowing the players to “stalk” other poker players. Don’t take it that serious though. Give it a read and know why.

A software called Player Stalker is a poker buddy list that would allow players to create a list of poker buddies and could track if they would go online (just like how instant messenger works). A player can enter the screen name, and if the player is online the software would give information like the casino and table where that certain player is. This online poker software is helpful to track friends on where they are currently playing or having their poker sessions.

Security is of no worry with this online poker software. The player being tracked is notified instantly when a player tracks him around and if their account is accessed.

An additional feature for this innovative online poker software is that a person can simply add other players and keep track of their own account through alerts via SMS messages through their mobile phones, e-mail, and other widely-used instant messaging software.

For those who are interested to give Player Stalker a try, there is an available 7-day free trial. Once the trial expires, they could subscribe to Lite Level (at $20 per month), Standard Level (at $30 per month) and Full Package with an equivalent of 150 text messages per month. Any level of this online poker software would allow unlimited number of people to stalk.

Basically, it isn’t the scary tactic type of stalking we’re talking about here. It’s the safe tracking of friends that might lead and endless fun on casino tables making sure you make the most out of your online poker playing.

Problem Gambling: Signs and Cure

One most debatable fact in the fight to legalize online poker is the possibility of a player to get into problem gambling. Problem Gambling is an urge to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop.

Problem gambling is more feared to occur in the existence of gambling online since games like blackjack, baccarat, and poker are already made available and accessible with just a simple click.
If you, or a close family or friend, love playing online gambling games, then you should check if there are existing signs and symptoms that might lead to a serious problem gambling.

One sign is when you try to keep gambling a secret. You don’t tell anyone, not even your spouse. You secretly access through gambling sites and you make a secret bank account where you keep your bets and winnings. Another sign is once you start gambling, it is difficult to leave the poker room and your pc. You tend to gamble until the very last dollar you have, and when you lost some, you would still gamble to make up for lost bucks.

You can also detect problem gambling symptoms from family and close friends. One could probably be nearing problem gambling when he/she has been overly defensive when the topic of gambling comes out, and even though he/she wasn’t tagged would suddenly become defensive as if the comments lead to him/her. And since gambling involves money, your loved ones or close friends might be in deep trouble if they hide their finances from the people close to them, and would sometimes borrow some money.

All these signs can be prevented, and for those who are already indulged into the game of gambling can still be cured.

There are various support groups for those who experience problem gambling. One could be also sent to a therapist. Even simple gestures of cure (like separating and abstaining oneself to using and accessing the computer) can help a person recover from such disorder.

Cheats, Hacks, 3rd Party Software: Possible in Online Poker?

In every poker software, there is always a brilliant mind behind it all. From the interface to coding, each developer of an online poker software is working a step further to make their software better, hence satisfying their clients and customers.
But other “brilliant” minds are working contrary to these developers. Is hacking really possible for online poker software?

Hacking a poker software is hardly possible and remains a myth until now. There was one case of an online poker site being hacked but that was only because there was a flaw in a random number generation code. Since then, this problem has been addressed to and has been fixed. The encryption of the different poker software has been updated making it impossible for hacking.

It has also been said that there are certain sites that has cheats on it (for additional cash or to have a better hand) but it was never proven. Like hacking, cheats on online poker software is hardly possible. These software are made to have a strong protection against hacking and cheating to assure security in a player’s game play.

3rd party software, however are possible. There are certain poker bots and poker calculators that can aid a player’s game of poker but are barely harmful or can’t be called cheating. They help in strategizing and keeping records on the player’s game.However a hacker would like to invade a poker software, a good online poker software developer would always make sure that the poker software they develop is 100% hack and cheat proof.

The unending cycle of online poker strategies

A lot of resources about online poker playing have been distributed worldwide – whether online or in books. They can speak about poker tips and strategies that a player could use in his game. The more it would be helpful to a gamer if it came from poker experts and those who have been in the game for quite some time. Hence, beginners would know the ins and outs of poker playing and would learn how to play the game effectively in just a quick span of time. What these experts have learned for months and years of playing can now be learned in a matter of hours or days. That is most possible with online poker since a player can play hundreds (or even thousands) of tables in a day.

But as strategies are often being used and as game play progress, individuals would see the strategy pretty much repetitive, would find it pretty boring, and would want to start something new. Thus, the need for a refresher.

While experts expose their gaming secrets, individuals who are learning them are also discovering strategies on their own making a counter-strategy. When all seems so “usual”, their counters would be the next masterpiece in online poker playing. And the cycle starts there.

In online poker, once a strategy is learned, practiced, and perfected, a counterpart would always emerge as a winning strategy. And as the discovering of strategy and trends goes on, so does the counter-strategies. How this would end is unknown. How this started is much easier to answer – it started with one good strategy.

Tips for Online Poker

Poker enthusiasts are always in search for tips and strategies on how to have a better game in online poker. Each tip and strategy they learn would all be a part of winning the game. Simply sitting, joining and playing in an online poker room can give lots of ideas to players on how they should play poker.

The game of online poker is pretty tricky. You learn a tip here, but what you learned could also be used against you. Just like fast check. If your opponent checks instantly, it is a good sign. You could wager in a reasonable amount and possibly earn the pot. However, the experts would use this against you. They would probably check so that you’ll raise the amount in the pot not knowing they have a better hand.

Another tip that can go around against you is to wait before you put on a wager. When you got a good hand, you need to wait for the others to place a bet in order for you to place your bet and hopefully get most of your opponents’ money. The caution here, however, is to be careful for those who are also taking a longer time to bet. They might be just after the same goal as you are or they may just be bluffing.

But there are also tips that can work really well with you, whatever game of online poker you are player or whatever is your strategy. You probably have read in various websites and blogs on this one: betting patterns. A player should note the betting patterns of his opponents – when they bet high and when they bet low, and how much they bet with strong cards and weak cards. Cliché it may seem but this is one good poker tip one should take note of. It is in observing how others would play will you know how to play the game.

Basically, poker tips are just for guidance and not for strict compliance. It is not your 100% ticket to winning. It’s a matter on how one would take on the tips and use it in their online poker game.

Reference:
http://www.internet-poker.co.uk/Poker-Strategy/Top-Online-Poker-Tips/

Online Poker once again hits the TV screens

It’s one reality show after the other for online poker. After the launching of G4’s “2 Months, $2 Millions”, another poker reality TV show is set to hit the airwaves soon.

Rounders House is a new reality TV show that, like the rest of online poker reality shows, will feature poker players playing poker inside a house surrounded by camera 24/7. The concept is more of online poker playing and Big Brother in one. The show is set to be filmed in Las Vegas this autumn.

Rounders House contestants should compete and win in various online poker tournaments to qualify for the show. What’s at stake is a 4-days stay in Vegas – airfare, food, and lodging provided, play poker and receive instructions from the pool of poker pros, live tournaments, and of course, money and fame.

Every day, the qualified contestants will be faced with challenges, play poker, and win some cash for themselves and (here’s the twist!) for their chosen charity.

Online poker doing publicity to hopefully gain attention is probably one of their ways to promote online poker for officials to consider the game as “acceptable”. This might be the most credible evidence they could hand on the table to prove that there is nothing illegal with online poker gambling.However, the contestants being set to play in the show should also show the earnestness towards this goal and be responsible in the kind of gaming that they would put up in playing online poker in the show – and they should try to see what the show’s goal is. They should know that this show is for not just for the money, but also for the future of online poker in United States – even if they’ll just play pretend, it would be the least that they could do.

Online gaming laws in Italy changes

Being a worldwide concern, a big change in Italy’s online gaming laws would seem like a big leap to people’s plea on legalizing online poker.

Brought about by recent events, Italy’s online gaming regulator Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS) would be allowing operators to offer poker cash games, casino games and new forms of betting by the end of the year. Due to the earthquake that happened last April, and the failure of Italy’s ISP blocking system, the future legal changes of the country’s egaming is closely possible to fully legalizing online gambling in the country which most of the involved parties are delighted about.

According to Carlo Gualandri, chief executive of Italian poker site Gioco Digitale, in his Right to Reply written last month that this move of Italy’s online gaming regulator has come to no surprise. What they’re more concerned about is to how and when this implementation and legalization would happen. All that they need to do is “to provide a complete portfolio of online products defined in a legal and regulated form”.

These legal regulations on online gaming set by Italy would soon be copied and followed by France, but having this situation however, would not really assure an effective egaming regulation in different parts of the European market.

This issue on legalizing online gaming and gambling isn’t just an issue in Italy or in the United States, and it is not merely an issue of the government holding tight on their present laws or the people pushing their plight to change it. This is more of freedom, what people would want and knowing that there are limitations in what they are asking for. As of now, people could just settle on this stage of pushing and fighting the tug-of-war of online gaming legalization.

Oppositions on online poker legalization

If the battle in legalizing online poker in California was tough, an opposition on the said legalization is making it all tougher. Online poker legalization has been a long battle over the legislature. Online poker has been banned in 2006 through Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, together with the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act. With these, it had been difficult to online poker players based in some US states to enjoy online gambling.

Within that period until today, poker enthusiasts have been fighting for online poker legalization, and just last month, a much improved move to for legalizing online poker has been passed – the Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Protection, and Enforcement Act by New Jersey Senator Robert Mendez.

The said bill proposed for online poker legalization in US states – with that, the government is entitled to regulation online poker gambling, enforcement of these regulations, and protect online poker players against fraudulent online poker rooms. This, as said in the proposal, would help both the government and the community – the government would earn revenues as the community enjoys the privilege of playing skills games online.

But just recently, Sacramento Democrat Senator Darrel Steinberg aired out a statement stating that no version of the bill is likely to be brought before the California Legislature before the current legislative closes. He said that it would take a much more longer time to make a concrete plan on regulating online poker, and that it would also take as much time in analyzing online poker’s potential economic benefits.

Top supporters of the bill, however, fears that opposing online poker legalization would bring further delay of the bill’s approval giving the opposition a time to construct execute more campaigns in opposing the legalization of online poker gambling in some US states.