Benjamins Yarn

If you are intrigued by the world of poker, but have no idea of what a “pre-flop” or a “river” are, no one of your friends does quite qualify for the poker trainer role, and you cannot absolutely picture yourself driving to the closest bookstore, buying the latest poker guide and then reading it, you may then want to check out the free poker tutorial available in some of the major poker rooms online.

Understanding the poker lingo is an essential part of becoming a poker player, as is learning the poker rules and being able to practice playing. Online training rooms are very easy to use and take away the pressure of playing poker with real people. Instead, newcomers learn how to play poker by playing against automated trainers (robots).

A typical poker tutorial has a poker glossary and a step-by-step game play, with commentary and examples. All you need to do is to download the poker software and start playing for fun. Online poker training is easy and free. You can use the online poker training room as often as you’d like, anytime, day and night, and there is no minimum deposit required.

Once you’re ready you can then play for cash at the real money tables, you can select multi-table tournaments or sit-n-go’s, limit or no limit tables, and discover the whole world of poker . In addition, some of the largest poker rooms have their software translated into many languages to welcome players from all over the world in the comfort and convenience of their native language. So, download the software, learn the lingo, and start playing. Enjoy!

We where lucky enough to get a quick Q&A with Absolute Poker’s Gian Perroni who gives a few insights into the world of online poker rooms. He provided some great, entertaining answers and we thank him for his time.

COP - What is your history with poker and the Internet?

Gian - My background is in marketing. I owned and operated a direct mail company in the 90’s that specialized in print and postal distribution, and in 1997 I started working with Sportsbook.com and several of their other properties, producing and fulfilling CDs and other marketing materials. From that introduction I started to specialize in providing marketing services to a wide range of online gaming companies, including Absolute Poker prior to their launch.

COP - How long have you been with AP now?

Gian - I moved from Canada to Costa Rica and joined Absolute Poker full-time in July 2003 and was the 7th person to get involved, (we now have over 130).

COP - And what changes have you seen with both the company and the industry in that time?

Gian - The timing was good for Absolute Poker. At the time we launched there were less than 10 serious players in the industry, and we quickly established ourselves as one of the top sites. The industry went through incredible growth for about a year and a half, and then leveled off a little for about 4 months. It has now resumed its’ fast growth and is stronger than ever. While there are now well in excess of 300 sites, there are still less than 20 solid sites, but easily thousands of times the players as there were when we launched.

COP - Do you yourself play poker?

Gian - Absolutely! I started playing in grade 7 with a group of friends, mostly 5 card draw, and a crazy game we called in-between, (now known as Red Dog in the casinos).

COP - What is your favorite game to play?

Gian - I am one of those crazy players that loves the split games - especially Omaha H/L with a kill *smiles*

COP - And online?

Gian - Multiple SitNGos in Omaha H/L are the best, but I am also into PL Omaha of any type.

COP - I assume you can’t play at AP so where do you play and why?

Gian - Shhhhh. Stars and Party mostly - Stars has great software, and both have lots of players to keep the games going.

COP - Have you attended any of the big poker events and if so which ones?

Gian - I spent quite a bit of time at the WSOP this year, and have also been to the Ultimate Poker Challenge, WPT Bellagio, and the US Poker Championship. This year I will be attending one or two a month representing AP and hosting hospitality suites for our players.

COP - Which was your favorite?

Gian - Nothing beats the overall energy at the WSOP - total craziness!

COP - Did you get to meet any of the pros?

Gian - I have met many, including legends like TJ Cloutier.

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COP - Who impressed you the most?

Gian - While I may seem biased, I really enjoy watching our own pro, and my good friend, Mark Seif play. He has a “take no prisoners” style that is both exciting, and nerve-wrecking at the same time.

COP - Which games get the most action in your poker rooms?

Gian - Definitely Holdem, especially in the $3/6 to $5/10 range.

COP - Have you seen any significant changes in the sortt of games people play since opening and if so what would you attribute that to?

Gian - We are seeing more players in the non-Holdem games over time, and I believe that this is primarily due to players becoming more comfortable with the game, and wanting to expand their experience, and skill level.

COP - What do you feel separates AP from the rest of the online poker rooms?

Gian - Great promotions, especially with our redeposit bonuses, and more FreeRolls than any other site are definitely attractive. Our personalized icons are really only used by Stars and ourselves, and players love them. We have a reputation for excellent customer support, and for quick withdrawals, both of which add confidence to our players.

COP - Can you see any room for innervations for online poker rooms?

Gian - We have a few new innovations coming that will enhance the player’s experience, but as far as changes to the way poker is dealt, that won’t happen. The 6 or 7 major poker variations will all stay the same.

COP - What plans does AP have for the future?

Gian - We are increasing the number of tables you will be able to play at concurrently, and will be increasing the number of players that can join tourneys. Heads-up single and multi tourneys are launching immediately, and we have just released our new re-playable hand histories. Watch for new tourney lobbies, and a change from 6 player tables to 5 player.

COP - any last remakes you would like to make about AP?

Gian - Only that I joined this company because I saw a group of young, bright guys that were putting together a poker company that would be run with the highest moral and ethical standards. My instincts were correct, and I have not regretted the move for a moment. Working with AP is exciting, and we will remain one of the top sites in the business.

COP - Finally on a lighter note, who would win in fight, Phil Helmuth or Annie Duke?

Gian - Annie hands down - both at the table and in the ring *big grin*

http://www.completeonlinepoker.comComplete Online Poker

Casino Host & avid poker player, Michael Hayter is the webmaster for http://www.completeonlinepoker.com

The nuisance involved in visiting a brick and mortar real gaming hall gives us sufficient reason to drop the idea unless you absolutely must go. For the traffic, the nuisance, and task list entailed aren’t worth the toil for the mere chance of trying your luck at real gaming hall, however, if you’re the kind that is simply excited by gaming rooms then electing to go for virtual gambling in cyberspace should be an excellent option. There’s no obligation to abandon the comfort of your home to go for online wagering because you’ll do everything from your own home provided you possess a PC and a functional Internet connection. Though allowing for this, before setting out, there are many guidelines and details which you’ll definitely want to get informed about about online wagering, the more so if you are still a neophyte regarding this subject.

The top priority which any nifty Internet gambler will make certain to suss out is an online wagering host of the category which has top odds. See to it the online wagering host has a tie-up with a bona fide accounting company so as to appraise their quoted casino games payoff in a verifiable manner. Always ensure that the virtual texas holdem host is licensed verifiably, for example by searching out the ministerial operating authorization as advertised on the casino site’s webpage. If you can’t track down any ministerial operating authorization on that virtual texas holdem host, don’t even endeavor to risk a game with that web site. Don’t miss out… play the #1 casino chips games at this hot site!

Going further, another tip would obviously be to lay your bets first in lesser amounts in place of splurging great amounts of money off the cuff. Check out the health of this particular virtual texas holdem system before running some serious adversity, the more so money loss! Finally, do mind this particular guideline about virtual card-playing. It can obviously only be never to lose sight of the fact that all kinds of gambling should chiefly be concerned with amusement and not about big dollars. Betting in online casinos isn’t a chore, instead it’s a pastime which is intended to help you feel exultant and your entire life pleasurable. Thus, having observed all the infos listed above, you are free to go ahead give yourself up to the invitation of virtual texas holdem!

The hassle of physically going to a gaming hall gives us plenty of reasons to drop it altogether. It’s not necessary to move outside to go for online texas holdem or other preferred games simply because everything can be done from within your familial household assuming you own a fully functional laptop or pc and, obviously, an Internet access account. Yet, don’t hold your breath too soon because there’s a number of facts which you must first fully understand about online texas holdem or other preferred games, all the more should you happen to be a neophyte.

Test your internet online gambling here.

The foremost thing which yours truly as a savvy web risker definitely would chase out is an online texas holdem or other preferred games host of the category promoting high winning odds. Establish for certain that the online texas holdem or other preferred games host is supervised by an honest and trust-worthy bookkeeper to appraise the referenced casino games’ payout on a monthly basis. You definitely must be sure to check the virtual gambling host holds a license, such as by inspecting the ministerial license on the casino site’s pages. Should you be unable to track down any ministerial license on that chosen virtual gambling host, don’t try to place your wager at this place.

For some more advice, would obviously be to play at the start with lesser sums in lieu of disburse more than does you good on the spot. Check, first of all, the integrity and status of this virtual gambling organization before chancing some undue hazard– all the more money loss! And now, the last notable tip about online betting. It must be this: to never ignore that online casino betting should actually be about fun and pleasure rather than big dollars. Gambling in an online casino isn’t a chore, but, instead, a pastime which ought to help you feel sunny and life in general pleasurable. Once you have gone with all the guidelines expounded above, set out to defer to the magic of virtual gambling!

Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#112 - Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 4-7 SU; 5-6 ATS

Fargo’s Take The Blue Raiders will have a lot of new looks in 2006 - a new head coach, a new playing surface, new uniforms and hopefully a whole new attitude. Winning has not been a theme in Murfreesboro for the last four seasons and that led to the departure of head coach Andy McCollum and the hiring of Rick Stockstill to take his place. Stockstill has been around a long time and has worked under some of the best head coaches around so he does bring in a winning philosophy. Middle Tennessee brings back a lot on offense and should be improved in that area. Defensively, it was one of the best in the country last season but there are a lot of holes to fill this year due to graduation and injuries. The Blue Raiders have been huge underachievers over the past few years as they were talked about as being one of the best but never got it done. It will take some overachieving this year to make it work. Academic penalties have hurt the incoming class so depth could be a big concern.

Returning Starters on Offense - 7 Middle Tennessee averaged only 19.1 ppg last season as it was held to 10 or fewer points on five different occasions. Senior quarterback Clint Marks returns and he has the game to be the best quarterback in the conference but has yet to prove it. He threw only eight touchdown passes a season ago and with numerous question marks at the receiver position, he will have to step it up to be more productive. The running game looks good with Eugene Gross leading the way behind a very experienced line. Stockstill is considered an offensive-minded coach but he has served as high as offensive coordinator only once and that was with the 2003 East Carolina Pirates who ended up being one of the worst offenses around. The difference is that there is talent here.

Returning Starters on Defense - 5 A repeat performance from last year’s defense is not likely as there are simply too many losses to deal with. The defensive line took the biggest hit as there is not a senior around on the two-deep chart. The secondary is also without a senior as well but it has one of the best cover corners in the conference with Bradley Robinson. Experience is also prevalent at the safety spots. Similar to what Idaho is implementing on defense this year, the Blue Raiders are also going with speed to make up for some of the shortcomings. While the defense won’t be nearly as good, don’t expect a huge drop-off either as there is still enough around to remain competitive.

Schedule Don’t expect too much success with the schedule that is on the plate of this team as it is brutal. Non-conference games at Maryland, Oklahoma and South Carolina are next to impossible as is a neutral site game with Louisville. It will come down to the Sun Belt slate and while it certainly is not a power conference, it doesn’t set up very well for the Blue Raiders. The four toughest games in the conference schedule are on the road but this team went 3-3 away from home last season (2-1 SBC) so winning on the road might not be a problem after all.

You can bet on… A win over Tennessee Tech is a guarantee unless Middle Tennessee decides to look ahead to its game at Oklahoma the following week. The Blue Raiders have not had a winning season in five years but they have won four or more games every season showing how close they were to being a very good team. They finished with a losing mark against the number and that was due to the difficulty of getting it done at home where they went 1-4 both SU and ATS. The four losses were by a combined 23 points, so reverse those and the Blue Raiders could be defending a conference title this season. They aren’t however and it won’t happen this year either.

This is it. This is the year.

Princeton me no Princetons. Murray State me no Murray States.

This year, for the first time ever, a 16-seed is going to topple a 1-seed. Mark it down.

In a topsy-turvy world where the U.S. looks doomed in the World Baseball Classic, where George W. Bush’s voodoo has apparently worn off on the nation, and where Michael Douglas has gone on record as saying he thinks Brangelina is a bad idea (hey, Mikey, where’s your 36-year-old wife sleeping tonight?), this would be the final straw. Cats would sleep with dogs. Total chaos.

It will happen. The Jaguars of Southern University have a tough 6-9 forward in Peter Cipriano who can give Shelden Williams all he can handle, and a 40% three-point shooter named Deforrest-Riley Smith. They will rise up and shock Duke on Thursday night.

Or how about those Albany Great Danes? First of all, even the UConn mascot doesn’t stand a chance. A husky against a Great Dane? As if. Sure, Albany may have lost to Harvard, but they kept UCLA close (figure that one out). They go eight-deep, and have a really good sophomore forward named Brent Wilson who can dominate a game. Connecticut is arrogant. They think they’re all that.

And don’t forget about Oral Roberts. You think Memphis stands a chance against a university that was mandated by God? Remember back in the 1980s, when a televangelist named Oral Roberts told his viewership that if they didn’t send money, God was going to “call him home”? Well, the American public responded, and the result was a huge financial empire and a university named after that televangelist. (”Televangelist U.” just didn’t have the same ring.) Jesus loves Ken Tutt and the Golden Eagles.

And finally, the biggest lock of all, is Monmouth over Villanova. Did you see the Hawks absolutely crush hapless Hampton on Tuesday night? These guys are good. They’re a really tight defensive squad, they’ve got a 6-10 center (more than the Wildcats can say), and they’ve been practicing their finger-in-the-eye routine for 48 straight hours. Can Allen Ray and Villanova stand up to that?

No way. Mark it down. A 16 beats a 1.

Or, y’know, not.

What’s your biggest surprise of the NCAA tournament seeding process?

Greg Jorssen, BoDog.com: Where do I begin? How does George Washington, the #6 team in the nation, end up with a #8 seed? Now they will have to face Duke in Round 2, and what should be an early exit from the tournament. How does Cincinnati, a team with the fifth-hardest schedule in the nation and the 40th-highest RPI not get in, yet Air Force, a team that did not beat a team in the top 50 all season, gets in? How does the Missouri Valley get four entries, the same amount as the ACC? Are you telling me these two conferences are equal? Hofstra not making it despite beating George Mason twice in the final 10 days of the season? There are always questions on Selection Sunday; however, that said, this was the worst job by a Selection Committee that I have experienced in a very long time.

Brian Gabrielle, BG Sports: As far as the selection process goes: I put nothing past this crooked old boys’club they refer to as the Selection Committee. I’m disappointed but not surprised that deserving teams like Hofstra and Western Kentucky were left out, and I find it laughable that programs like Arkansas and Alabama were included. As far as the seeding goes: how does Winthrop rank as a 15 seed? How does Tennessee garner a 2 seed? How does Connecticut get a red carpet rolled out to the Final Four with a bracket full of creampuffs? In short: same old same old for this time of year.

What’s the right way for our readers to pick their brackets? Should they aim for a certain number of upsets in each round? Should they lean heavily on the favorites under the assumption that most of the time, the favorites win out?

BG, BG Sports: When looking for upsets, stay with teams who earned their way in as opposed to teams who were let in the back door.

RG, BoDog.com: Chances are a 12-seed will beat a 5-seed. This has happened every year for the past five years. My upset special for Round 1 is Texas A&M defeating America’s Cinderella team, Syracuse. Yes, Syracuse. The same team that was a Gerry McNamara missed three-pointer against Cincinnati away from missing the tournament altogether. The same team that last week I predicted would not make the tournament. The same team that must have read what I wrote, then proceeded to beat UConn, Georgetown, and Pitt to win the Big East. Well, I think their Cinderella story is coming to an end early and you can take that to the bank.

The way I pick my bracket is predict my Final Four teams and work my way backwards. I never have more than two 1-seeded teams in the Finals, thus this year I am going with UConn and Duke. ‘Nova is a question mark due to Ray’s eye, and Memphis does not have the experience, nor were they tested in the regular season. I then pick a few upset specials early on, especially in the second round. One really interesting fact that I heard over the past 24 hours is that in even-numbered years since 1990, a top-seeded team has been eliminated in the second round. And that’s only on even-numbered years, meaning that a top-seeded team has not lost in the second round during odd-numbered years. I don’t think this year will be different: Memphis will be sent packing early! You should also keep in mind trends, such as a 16-seed never beating a top seed. I don’t think you’ll ever see that happen in your lifetime. As well, you should also leave your heart at the door. If you hate Duke, which I do, don’t pick them to lose to George Washington in Round 2. Duke is a better team. Use your head at all times.

What are some of the best wagering or parlay-type opportunities that come around on March Madness?

BG, BG Sports: Moneyline parlay the #1 seeds is guaranteed money. Works like a charm. That ticket is 20-0 lifetime.

RG, BoDog.com: A lot of bettors come to the sportsbook for the first time during March Madness, thus they are quick to throw money down on the favorites like Duke; however they don’t do their homework on ATS records. Duke had a terrible year ATS, finishing at 13-17-1. Gonzaga finished 12-18. Teams like this are very popular for bettors, and those bettors simply drive the price up to a point where it’s higher than the actual difference in ability between the two teams. Spending the extra effort will go a long way when you factor in the spread. The second thing to pay close attention to is who the Cinderella teams are, as lines tend to shift for the wrong reasons due to the media attention they receive. Another opportunity is with the Over/Under in the early rounds. Teams that are ranked highly tend to not play their starters as much when game is out of hand, thus scoring ismuch lower in earlier rounds compared to during the later rounds when the best players are called upon to perform for the entire game. Another thing is to try to ride the team that is hot as long as you can. Betting on them to end their run may not prove to be profitable in the long run. Syracuse is as hot as they get (although I did pick them to lose in the first round about two minutes ago). Finally, always have a look at where games are being played. Some teams will have home-court advantage due to game being played near their hometown. Ohio State has an opening round game in Dayton Arena. Texas is playing in Dallas. Having the backing of your hometown fans often makes the difference when it comes to picking against the spread.

Christopher Harris is a featured writer for the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com

Gambling can be very addictive. Should the person decide to do this despite the warning then it is best to be prepared so that the player will not go over board about it.

The casino is a place that is filled with the people who are rich and famous. Being in the same establishment with such celebrities is exciting like being transported off to another universe. This effect may change how an individual looks at things and this happens even to the smartest of people.

Establishments such as these are concerned only with one thing and that is making money. The way this is done is like magic. It lets the person gives away money and win or lose, the player is enjoying it. This is done normally in a few ways,

1. Casinos turn cash into chips which are used in the game. Each of these have a corresponding value that sometimes, the player will just throw it around that usually leads to over betting.

2. Slot machines operate on putting in a token. The value of each token is twenty five cents. Should a person use twenty tokens and has not won anything, this means that in less than 5 minutes, the player just threw away five dollars!

3. Casinos usually give players drinks for free. This may help in letting the person relax for a game but it can also let the person keep on betting until there is nothing left. This could be because of the alcohol in the drink that alters the player’s way of thinking.

4. The things that happen in the casino are very fast paced. Dealers move very quickly that dollar bills leave the pocket and it’s gone.

By keeping this in mind, the person should play decisively and slowly to avoid losing that much money.

Should the person decide to spend a vacation in Las Vegas, it is best to budget how much will be used only for gambling. This should not be included as part of the pocket money for other things such as food, shopping, shows and other activities.

Once the money for both have been determined, the cash that is used for the casino should be divided based on the length of stay. That way, there is money that can be played for the duration of the vacation.

A good example was offered by a frequent visitor of Vegas who placed the money in envelopes which was dependent on the duration of the stay. For example, the trip will last 4 days and a budget of $200 has been allocated for gambling. Each envelope should contain $50.

At the casino, only one envelop will be brought out. This can be used on a variety of games and not just one to experience what the others have to offer. Should the individual win some money for that day, the money should be placed returned in the envelope and kept. This is not to be opened until returning home from the trip to resist the temptation of using the winnings the following day.

People often think that winning some money back and using it on other games is not the property of the owner. This is wrong since player just recovered what was lost in the earlier games.

Should the player be doing well, it is not a good idea to get greedy and spend more. It’s best to walk away and go home.

Claire Bowes is a successful Webmaster and publisher of My Poker Tips. Claire provides more information on her site about Poker Tournaments that you can research at home.