Part I: A Brief History of Women in Poker
The precise history of poker is one that is riddled with myths and legends. The truth is that no one historian of the game knows for certain how poker came to be the world famous phenomenon we now see every day on our TV screens. Some have speculated that because it closely resembles the Persian game of as nas, Persian sailors may have passed this game on to settlers in New Orleans while restocking supplies at the local harbor and it eventually took hold as the modern game known as poker.
Others believe that it may be an offshoot of the Irish card game Poca or even the French game poque, which is thought to be descendant of the German pochen (which essentially means to brag as a bluff.) The true origin of the game may never be known and in fact the more likely story is that somebody created poker after learning various similar games from different backgrounds.
Whether poker is a Chinese, Persian, Egyptian, French, German or Irish creation is of no consequence. What is certain is that some point in history the Persian Ganijifa (Treasure Cards) were changed from a solely Persian game into a new hybrid called poker.
French colonials are thought to have imported their beloved poque to the New World when they first arrived in Canada. The game was then brought to New Orleans in the beginning of the 18th century by a group of French Canadian settlers.
In 1834, Jonathan H. Green made one of the earliest known written references to poker when he mentioned rules to the “cheating game,” that had been gaining popularity on various Mississippi riverboats. Before people knew how it even happened, poker became the fashionable game for river-boaters all over the Mississippi. What started out as Louisiana phenomenon quickly turned into one of the most popular games in America.
At the turn of the century poker was still an illegal game in most parts of the United States. Its popularity was too wide-spread to keep its fans from playing and the game soon spread to the Old West where legends such as Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickock earned reputations as sharp card players as well as pistol slingers.
While poker became a popular mainstay among men, women soon caught on and began playing as well. The first of these women to gain a serious reputation is none other than Poker Alice, the first known professional female poker player. Born in Devonshire, England she soon moved with her family to Colorado where she married a mining engineer, Frank Duffield. After the death of her first husband Alice needed a new way to support herself. Duffield had shown her a few hands of poker and she had taken a liking to the game. After his death she began to pursue gambling as a career becoming a card dealer.
During her career as a poker player, Alice gained a serious reputation. On good nights she would earn as much as $6,000 and would gloat amongst her peers daring any newcomers to try their luck against her. Never one to be caught off guard, she was known to carry a .38 revolver with her and never hesitated to use it. By the time of her death in 1930 she had already firmly established herself as one of the most legendary poker players of all time and paved the way for future generations of professional female poker players.
During the 1920’s, there were only five games that were legal in Las Vegas and three of those were variants of poker. The legalization of gambling began in 1931 and the first legal casino license was issued to a woman, Mayme Stocker. Her husband and boys were working for the railroad and anybody caught in the gambling world who worked for the railroads would be immediately fired from their job. That is why Mayme put the license in her name instead of her husband’s. It was a good gamble for the Stockers as they quickly became one of the leaders of the casino community in Las Vegas.
Although legal in Las Vegas, card playing remained illegal throughout the rest of the United States. It was during these post-Prohibition years that poker gained its reputation as secretive game played in back alleys and garages. Doyle Brunson, one of the original Rounders (road gamblers), often talks about how taboo the game was, "I remember one time back in the fifties," he shook his head as he reminisced, "I saw an old college buddy walking down the street, coming toward me. He crossed the street so he wouldn't have to talk to me."
Gradually poker gained popularity to the point where, nowadays, almost everybody has at least played poker for sunflower seeds or M&M’s. Starting in the late 1990’s a new game started to emerge on the poker scene, that game was Texas Hold’em. Ever since the creation of Texas Hold’em, poker has become one of the most popular games in the world. Nowadays one can see more poker on ESPN than baseball and kids start playing for money as early as Junior High.
Along with the explosion of the contemporary poker scene we have seen the emergence of women as dominating figures in the game. Who are these women and just how successful are they? These questions and more will be answered in Part II!
Original source: http://biginternetarticles.com/women-and-poker-1-341161.php
Showing posts with label poker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poker. Show all posts
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Beginner's Guide To Poker Hand Rankings
You may be wondering, why discuss the Poker Hand Rankings? It's a good question. The reason is quite simple.
Beginners often don't know what will beat what in Texas Hold 'em and a lot of people who have played for some time, think they know, but possibly don't really know either.
Here is a quick reference guide for you to print out and use as a reference, just in case you ever need to check back to verify what you already know!
We'll start with the lowest possible winning hands and go up from there.
HIGH CARD ACE
For example, A-9-5-3-2 In case of a tie, then the next highest card would be determined as the winning card.
ONE PAIR
Highest pair wins, in the event of a tie then the highest card wins. Example 9-7-3-3-2
TWO PAIR
Two Pair. Example Q-Q-4-4-2
THREE OF A KIND
Three cards of the same numerical or face card rank Example: K-K-K-9-4
STRAIGHT
Five cards in sequence. Example: 7-8-9-10-J
FLUSH
Five Cards of the same suit. Example: 5-6-7-8-9 all of Hearts
FULL HOUSE
Two Cards of one rank and three cards of another.
Example: Q-Q-J-J-J
FOUR OF A KIND
Four of the same exact cards. Example 5-5-5-5-2
STRAIGHT FLUSH
Five cards in the same suit in numerical order.
Example: 2-3-4-5-6 of Clubs
ROYAL FLUSH
The most beautiful poker hand you will find! Same suit A-K-Q-J-10
Hopefully these few tips will help you the next time you sit down at a poker table and find that some of the hand rankings aren't fresh on your mind like you had hoped!
This is handy to keep somewhere close to your computer as a "cheat sheet" if you are new to the game and still want to have a little more confidence in your play.
Try using it for a while, and then you can put it away when you don't need it as a crutch anymore!
Do keep in mind; because each poker game is different, sometimes it helps to keep a cheat sheet around for hand rankings when you are playing numerous online games, especially if you have the tendency to jump in and out of different games.
The most common mistake you find new players making in Texas Hold'em is the three of a kind and straight , if you don't know that a straight beats a three of a kind , you'll remember it after it beats you a few times!
Original source: http://biginternetarticles.com/hand-poker-rankings-89143.php
Beginners often don't know what will beat what in Texas Hold 'em and a lot of people who have played for some time, think they know, but possibly don't really know either.
Here is a quick reference guide for you to print out and use as a reference, just in case you ever need to check back to verify what you already know!
We'll start with the lowest possible winning hands and go up from there.
HIGH CARD ACE
For example, A-9-5-3-2 In case of a tie, then the next highest card would be determined as the winning card.
ONE PAIR
Highest pair wins, in the event of a tie then the highest card wins. Example 9-7-3-3-2
TWO PAIR
Two Pair. Example Q-Q-4-4-2
THREE OF A KIND
Three cards of the same numerical or face card rank Example: K-K-K-9-4
STRAIGHT
Five cards in sequence. Example: 7-8-9-10-J
FLUSH
Five Cards of the same suit. Example: 5-6-7-8-9 all of Hearts
FULL HOUSE
Two Cards of one rank and three cards of another.
Example: Q-Q-J-J-J
FOUR OF A KIND
Four of the same exact cards. Example 5-5-5-5-2
STRAIGHT FLUSH
Five cards in the same suit in numerical order.
Example: 2-3-4-5-6 of Clubs
ROYAL FLUSH
The most beautiful poker hand you will find! Same suit A-K-Q-J-10
Hopefully these few tips will help you the next time you sit down at a poker table and find that some of the hand rankings aren't fresh on your mind like you had hoped!
This is handy to keep somewhere close to your computer as a "cheat sheet" if you are new to the game and still want to have a little more confidence in your play.
Try using it for a while, and then you can put it away when you don't need it as a crutch anymore!
Do keep in mind; because each poker game is different, sometimes it helps to keep a cheat sheet around for hand rankings when you are playing numerous online games, especially if you have the tendency to jump in and out of different games.
The most common mistake you find new players making in Texas Hold'em is the three of a kind and straight , if you don't know that a straight beats a three of a kind , you'll remember it after it beats you a few times!
Original source: http://biginternetarticles.com/hand-poker-rankings-89143.php
Saturday, April 4, 2009
How To Cheat At Poker
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You can cheat at poker successfully if you're careful and practice ahead of time. You can play either online or face-to-face and the way you cheat is slightly different, but each way gives you a distinct advantage that other players don't have. Let's look at both online poker and live poker since both use some of the cheats.
Working in a partnership is one method that online poker players use to sucker in others. The two may actually be one person with two separate connections or even at two different addresses with a handy cell phone, planning the next move to sucker the others into the game. You can have collusion during live poker games also. Simply enter the poker game at separate times and keep your knowledge of each other quiet. The players use prearranged signals to let the partner know the cards or whether one has a strong hand and wants increased betting.
A second method to cheat at poker is to stack the deck if you're playing a game that each person at the table gets a chance to deal. It isn't that difficult. If there are five people at the table, pick up the cards in such a way that every fifth card is one you want for your hand. Fake a shuffle. To do this you need to make it look like you're shuffling without actually doing it. When you pass out the cards, you get the best hand.
A third method is a marked card. You can mark your own cards so that you always know which one it is. A simple bend to the corner makes the card unmistakable to the trained eye. Most casinos trade cards frequently and the dealers watch for this, so this is for those backroom games that you play, not for the casinos.
You can use a software program that allows you to see the other player's cards when you play online poker. You can of course see the advantage to this. No more wondering whether the other player is bluffing, you know immediately. This type of software gives the player using it the biggest possible advantage.
Use nicks to mark the cards. Similar to bending the corner of the card, a sharpened nail can make a nick in the cards at various spots so you know where specific cards are located. You have as many potential nicks as you can remember. Again, this is for non-casino games since casinos make it their business to discard cards that have nicks.
The last possible cheat showed up at a local casino. There were two players left in the game. The first player placed a high bet and the second player called. The second player had only looked at the first five cards and not the last two. When the betting ended, the first player called that he had a straight, threw his cards in and scooped up the pot. The dealer actually took the cards of the second player and he never even knew what hand he had or saw the other player's straight. Calling the hand and scooping the chips may have been legitimate but no one ever knew because it all moved so fast. When the other player protested, the casino told him there was no way to check. This type of cheat isn't effective if used too frequently.
Choose the way you want to cheat to improve your game. Most of the time, you will learn a lot more about poker and begin to see others that cheat you in the game. Then, you have the ammunition to win those hands you should have won.
Original source: http://biginternetarticles.com/how-to-cheat-at-poker-402051.php
You can cheat at poker successfully if you're careful and practice ahead of time. You can play either online or face-to-face and the way you cheat is slightly different, but each way gives you a distinct advantage that other players don't have. Let's look at both online poker and live poker since both use some of the cheats.
Working in a partnership is one method that online poker players use to sucker in others. The two may actually be one person with two separate connections or even at two different addresses with a handy cell phone, planning the next move to sucker the others into the game. You can have collusion during live poker games also. Simply enter the poker game at separate times and keep your knowledge of each other quiet. The players use prearranged signals to let the partner know the cards or whether one has a strong hand and wants increased betting.
A second method to cheat at poker is to stack the deck if you're playing a game that each person at the table gets a chance to deal. It isn't that difficult. If there are five people at the table, pick up the cards in such a way that every fifth card is one you want for your hand. Fake a shuffle. To do this you need to make it look like you're shuffling without actually doing it. When you pass out the cards, you get the best hand.
A third method is a marked card. You can mark your own cards so that you always know which one it is. A simple bend to the corner makes the card unmistakable to the trained eye. Most casinos trade cards frequently and the dealers watch for this, so this is for those backroom games that you play, not for the casinos.
You can use a software program that allows you to see the other player's cards when you play online poker. You can of course see the advantage to this. No more wondering whether the other player is bluffing, you know immediately. This type of software gives the player using it the biggest possible advantage.
Use nicks to mark the cards. Similar to bending the corner of the card, a sharpened nail can make a nick in the cards at various spots so you know where specific cards are located. You have as many potential nicks as you can remember. Again, this is for non-casino games since casinos make it their business to discard cards that have nicks.
The last possible cheat showed up at a local casino. There were two players left in the game. The first player placed a high bet and the second player called. The second player had only looked at the first five cards and not the last two. When the betting ended, the first player called that he had a straight, threw his cards in and scooped up the pot. The dealer actually took the cards of the second player and he never even knew what hand he had or saw the other player's straight. Calling the hand and scooping the chips may have been legitimate but no one ever knew because it all moved so fast. When the other player protested, the casino told him there was no way to check. This type of cheat isn't effective if used too frequently.
Choose the way you want to cheat to improve your game. Most of the time, you will learn a lot more about poker and begin to see others that cheat you in the game. Then, you have the ammunition to win those hands you should have won.
Original source: http://biginternetarticles.com/how-to-cheat-at-poker-402051.php
Friday, April 3, 2009
Poker: Poker Download - What You Should Know About Online Poker
Poker Download: What you should know about online poker
Trying to download poker software is easy, many sites points to it. The real issue is what do you do with it and how do you maximize your potential winning in the card games thereafter you download poker?
There are some very good articles arguments for why to download poker software, it is surely the most popular of a class of online poker rooms, the news articles for players speak highly on the poker download software, especially it's resource page on the game rules, odds and statistics figures, all is given in an easy to use format for new and experienced players, outlining the chances at playing the card games and giving some some knowledge of the equipment used for poker downloadprocedures, there is also a reference on what is legal about the usage and some illustrated programs for trying the play for fun and not for real money.
This poker download for Internet betting room reviews resource and guides that tell you all the story about this online cards game, where Texas Holdem, Omaha hi/lo, stud 7 and other card games are being played. They try to evaluate the poker platform to fully supply to you a helpful tool in understanding the card games and some knowledge of the equipment used for running the online tournaments.
A completely objective poker download and unbiased analysis of this online vendor is a long one, it starts by a detailed review of the online manual for the software and the unique collection of features within it, including some of the good old fashioned ways in how to win and an online exhibition of capabilities of the poker download software.
Play online poker with free poker downloads from top-rated internet poker sites! In less than 2 minutes you can download free poker download games on your computer thatwill allow you to join low limit to high roller poker tables, and everything in between, with thousands of real poker players online! It's free, fast, and easy to start playing poker games like texas hold'em and 7 card stud in real internet poker rooms 24 hours a day, for fun or for real money. With Poker tournaments every 15 minutes, this free poker download is the best on the web.
Play real poker online
Enjoy all of your favorite poker download games including 7 Card Stud, Texas Holdem , Omaha and more. Download the state-of-the-art online poker software that lets you play real poker against real people.
Online poker
Online poker fits anyone's schedule because you can play 24 hours a day. There is no traveling time involved, and there is little or no waiting to get into a game once you are logged on. With the growing popularity of poker, if you choose to play at a live cardroom you will most likely wait hours just to get seated at a table. But with online poker, there's always a seat waiting for you.
Don't be intimidated by online poker download tables, even if you've never played the game before. You can always play poker downloads for free while you learn the basics of the game. With free poker games, there's nothing to lose. After you get the hang of the game, you may want to open a real money account and start playing for real pots.
Download poker games
Poker has gained immense popularity over the last few years. More people are interested in watching and learning to play poker downloads at home, in casinos, and even online. These days, it's not uncommon to find televised poker games on ESPN and even a few network channels, including shows like Celebrity Poker, The World Poker Tour, and The World Series of Poker. The most convenient way to start playing poker is to download real poker software for free and join virtual poker downloads online. Most online poker sites offer free downloads that take only minutes to complete, so you can start playing real poker games in minutes.
Original source: http://biginternetarticles.com/poker-online-download-1143561.php
Trying to download poker software is easy, many sites points to it. The real issue is what do you do with it and how do you maximize your potential winning in the card games thereafter you download poker?
There are some very good articles arguments for why to download poker software, it is surely the most popular of a class of online poker rooms, the news articles for players speak highly on the poker download software, especially it's resource page on the game rules, odds and statistics figures, all is given in an easy to use format for new and experienced players, outlining the chances at playing the card games and giving some some knowledge of the equipment used for poker downloadprocedures, there is also a reference on what is legal about the usage and some illustrated programs for trying the play for fun and not for real money.
This poker download for Internet betting room reviews resource and guides that tell you all the story about this online cards game, where Texas Holdem, Omaha hi/lo, stud 7 and other card games are being played. They try to evaluate the poker platform to fully supply to you a helpful tool in understanding the card games and some knowledge of the equipment used for running the online tournaments.
A completely objective poker download and unbiased analysis of this online vendor is a long one, it starts by a detailed review of the online manual for the software and the unique collection of features within it, including some of the good old fashioned ways in how to win and an online exhibition of capabilities of the poker download software.
Play online poker with free poker downloads from top-rated internet poker sites! In less than 2 minutes you can download free poker download games on your computer thatwill allow you to join low limit to high roller poker tables, and everything in between, with thousands of real poker players online! It's free, fast, and easy to start playing poker games like texas hold'em and 7 card stud in real internet poker rooms 24 hours a day, for fun or for real money. With Poker tournaments every 15 minutes, this free poker download is the best on the web.
Play real poker online
Enjoy all of your favorite poker download games including 7 Card Stud, Texas Holdem , Omaha and more. Download the state-of-the-art online poker software that lets you play real poker against real people.
Online poker
Online poker fits anyone's schedule because you can play 24 hours a day. There is no traveling time involved, and there is little or no waiting to get into a game once you are logged on. With the growing popularity of poker, if you choose to play at a live cardroom you will most likely wait hours just to get seated at a table. But with online poker, there's always a seat waiting for you.
Don't be intimidated by online poker download tables, even if you've never played the game before. You can always play poker downloads for free while you learn the basics of the game. With free poker games, there's nothing to lose. After you get the hang of the game, you may want to open a real money account and start playing for real pots.
Download poker games
Poker has gained immense popularity over the last few years. More people are interested in watching and learning to play poker downloads at home, in casinos, and even online. These days, it's not uncommon to find televised poker games on ESPN and even a few network channels, including shows like Celebrity Poker, The World Poker Tour, and The World Series of Poker. The most convenient way to start playing poker is to download real poker software for free and join virtual poker downloads online. Most online poker sites offer free downloads that take only minutes to complete, so you can start playing real poker games in minutes.
Original source: http://biginternetarticles.com/poker-online-download-1143561.php
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Strip Poker Clothing
What counts as clothing in strip poker ? Many people have a very different opinion on what counts as clothing in strip poker . Of course there are the obvious items of clothing like jeans, pants, shirts, blouses, underwear, and anything else that is pretty common. The items that bring the most debate are items like earrings, hats, shoes, socks, and rings. I personally would not count these items as clothing but everyone has their own way of playing. Before getting started on your poker game it is best to clarify what counts as clothing and what does not count as clothing.
I am going to assume you are playing to win your game of poker. So here are a couple of key things on what to wear to your poker game. First and foremost wear clothing that compliments you. You know what you look good in. Do not wear clothing that is strange unless it is a joke. It can be pretty embarrassing if you are caught wearing something out of the ordinary. Next try to wear as much clothing as possible without over doing it. The whole point is to win. One piece garments are a no-no as you will be out of the game in a hurry. Also try to wear undershirts and things of that nature, if you can get away with it. Some strip poker games have rules that limit the number of items you can count as clothing, if you happen to run across one of these games good luck.
Overall when choosing your clothing for strip poker you want clothing that compliments you. Do not wear anything with holes in it unless it is apart of your fashion look. It can be pretty embarrassing if you have holes in your underwear or socks. And make sure to have a good time and relax while you are playing strip poker .
Original source: http://biginternetarticles.com/clothing-poker-strip-506531.php
I am going to assume you are playing to win your game of poker. So here are a couple of key things on what to wear to your poker game. First and foremost wear clothing that compliments you. You know what you look good in. Do not wear clothing that is strange unless it is a joke. It can be pretty embarrassing if you are caught wearing something out of the ordinary. Next try to wear as much clothing as possible without over doing it. The whole point is to win. One piece garments are a no-no as you will be out of the game in a hurry. Also try to wear undershirts and things of that nature, if you can get away with it. Some strip poker games have rules that limit the number of items you can count as clothing, if you happen to run across one of these games good luck.
Overall when choosing your clothing for strip poker you want clothing that compliments you. Do not wear anything with holes in it unless it is apart of your fashion look. It can be pretty embarrassing if you have holes in your underwear or socks. And make sure to have a good time and relax while you are playing strip poker .
Original source: http://biginternetarticles.com/clothing-poker-strip-506531.php
Monday, March 16, 2009
Poker Is Cooking
Poker is cooking. While it is certainly a lot sexier to compare poker and coitus, such a comparison leads to an ungainly conclusion – do you really want to think of 10 un-showered old guys sitting in a smoky room and sex at the same time? Cooking is the better metaphor. • First of all, poker is a game of patience just like cooking. Even for the most aggressive of players, most of your time at the poker table is spent folding your cards and waiting. Likewise, most of your time spent cooking is time spent waiting for the right opportunity to fuss with your ingredients more. • Once the time is right, a lot of things happen all at once. In poker, you’ll fold five hands in a row then pick up pocket tens. Immediately, you have to factor in your table position, how many players are already involved in the pot, who those players are, how many poker chips you have and THEN you have to figure out how to bet. Same thing goes for cooking: you wait and wait for your skillet to heat up then you have to add two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, three minced garlic cloves, pinch of salt, a teaspoon of cumin, a little chili powder, a bay leaf, then sear the chicken but flip it before it burns, then add the white wine then simmer, cover… and wait for another twenty minutes. • A card room or a casino works a lot like a restaurant. First thing that you do is walk up to the person at the counter and put your name on a list to sit down. Then you go wait at the bar for them to call you. • Finally your name is called and someone in a suit leads you to a chair at a table. Once you sit down, someone even brings you chips just like at a Mexican restaurant. • The dealer is your server. If you cook at home, everyone usually serves themselves, but once you enter the friendly confines of a restaurant the server is there to speed your meal along and take care of any special requests you might have. The dealer will take care of your table in much the same way. The dealer also expects to be tipped. • While you can make most any dish in most any place provided you have the ingredients, cooking tends to be very different in different parts of the world. From the beans and rice of Costa Rica to the high priced gourmet of LA to the fried everything of Great Britain, food changes from place to place. So too does poker: go to Costa Rica and expect to get involved in slow Limit Hold’em and Stud, go to LA and you’ll be involved in high stakes action-packed No Limit Hold’em and go to Great Britain and get ready to play Pot Limit Omaha. • Whether you play in a home game or go to out to eat, it’s always nice to do it on a neatly set table. • Great chefs and poker masters come in all shapes and sizes – from the Mario Batali/Doyle Brunson type to the Gus Hansen/Bobby Flay type. Body type is no pre-requisite for either activity. • Movies about both tend to be awful. If you are looking for a truly awful poker movie, and there are so many to choose from, check out “All-in†with Michael “Mr. Blonde†Madsen. For a recent wretched cooking movie rent “Spanglish†with Adam Sandler. On the other hand, for a good poker flick check out the seminal "Rounders" with Matt Damon and Edward Norton. And for fine food cinema you can’t go wrong with Stanley Tucci’s all-time great “Big Nightâ€. • At the heart of all cooking there is a simple equation – change in temperature + food = cooking. Every last bit of food you ever eat has been through some derivation of this equation. At the heart of all poker there is an equally simple equation – cards + bet = pot and every cent you win or lose in poker has been done under this equation’s umbrella. Any beginner can pick up a get a seat at a table and win a pot just like any ten year old can make scrambled eggs. • Of course, to master either takes a lifetime.
Original source: http://biginternetarticles.com/poker-is-cooking-135535.php
Original source: http://biginternetarticles.com/poker-is-cooking-135535.php
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