Online Casino Games

Learn How to Play Pai Gow

admin — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:43:07 +0000

If you like poker, you’ll love learning how to play Pai Gow. Pai Gow poker is a variation of seven-card stud, based on a Chinese game of the same name played with dominoes. Learning how to play Pai Gow poker is a bit more challenging than other poker variations, but Pai Gow is a lot of fun and can pay off big at the casinos. You can learn how to play Pai Gow in an internet casino that operates on credit or point bets instead of cash; then once you figure out how to play Pai Gow, you can move up to for-money games.

The rules for how to play Pai Gow are similar to straight poker as far as winning hands go, but game play is somewhat different. You should first know that Pai Gow is played with 53 cards, the standard 52-card deck, plus one joker. This makes five-of-a-kind a possibility in Pai Gow poker. In standard poker, the highest possible hand is a Royal Flush (five cards of the same suit in sequential order from Ten to Ace); however, a five-of-a-kind will beat a Royal Flush. Also, the next-highest hand beneath a Royal Flush is a straight flush from Ace to Five. One of the most exciting aspects of how to play Pai Gow is the possibility of getting five-of-a-kind.

Another difference in how to play Pai Gow is that all seven cards are used to determine winnings. In Pai Gow, the dealer plays against the other players. To begin the game, each player puts up a stake. Then, seven cards are dealt face-down to each player. After the deal, each player other than the dealer picks up their cards and arranges them into a five-card hand and a two-card hand.

In learning how to play Pai Gow, it is important to note that players are not allowed to discuss their cards, or touch them after the split is made. The hand ranking for the five-card hand is as discussed previously, with five-of-a-kind being the highest possible. The only possibilities for the two-card hand are Pair or High Card. When players have arranged the two hands, they must then place them face-down on the table side by side, with the highest of their two hands first (so, for example, if a player has a pair of Aces and five unmatched cards, the two-card hand would be placed to the left of the five-card hand).

When all players have arranged their hands, the dealer does the same with his. At this point all hands are revealed and the payouts begin. In learning how to play Pai Gow, you should understand how winnings are awarded. Each player’s five-card hand is compared with the dealer’s five-card hand; and the same is done for the two-card hands. If both of your hands beat the dealer’s, the payout is the amount of your stake at the beginning of the game. If you win one hand and the dealer wins the other, you keep your stake and receive no further payout (this is called a “push”). The dealer wins your stake if both of his hands beat both of yours. As with most casino games, in the event of a tied hand the favor goes to the dealer. Learning how to play Pai Gow is a great way to practice poker skills for seven-card stud games with minimal financial risk. Now you know how to play Pai Gow!

Adel Awwad

How to Play Jacks or Better

admin — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 21:05:01 +0000

or Better is a variation of five-card draw poker. You can learn how to play Jacks or Better easily if you already know the rules of poker. If you don’t, learning how to play Jacks or Better is a great introduction to the game. Though draw poker variations are not popularly played in Las Vegas, you can find many internet casinos offering games like Jacks or Better. Would you like to learn how to play Jacks or Better?

The hand ranking in Jacks or Better is the same as standard poker; with the exception that the lowest winning hand possible is a pair of jacks or better–hence the name of the game. The first step in learning how to play Jacks or Better is to memorize the rank of hands. A Royal Flush, which consists of sequential cards of the same suit from Ten through Ace, is the highest possible hand. In descending order from the Royal Flush, they are: Straight Flush (any five cards of the same suit in sequential order); Four of a Kind (four same-value cards, such as four 3’s or four 9’s); Full House (three same-value cards plus a pair of another value card); Flush (five cards in the same suit, no particular order); Straight (five cards in sequential order, non-matching suits); Three of a Kind (three same-value cards and two unmatched cards); Two Pair (any two sets of same-value cards); Pair (Jacks or better: any pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces). When you learn how to play Jacks or Better, you can play just about any other variation of poker.

If you’re just starting out at poker, learning how to play Jacks or Better is a good way to get to know the game because it’s easier to get a high hand than it is in the more common stud poker varieties. In Jacks or Better, the game starts out with each player being dealt a face-down five-card hand. Players then keep as many or as few cards as they believe will make a good final hand and discard the rest. A second round is then dealt so that each player has five cards again. One strategy for how to play jacks or better is to know which cards to keep from the initially dealt hand. You should generally keep cards that would contribute to a good hand; for instance, a pair of Jacks or better; or three same-suit or sequential cards that might add up to a flush or straight.

Once you know how to play Jacks or Better, you can move on to other forms of poker. Jacks or Better is one of the easiest variations of poker to master, and knowing how to play Jacks or Better can help you hone your poker skills. Good luck in the game!

Adel Awwad

How to Play Red Dog Poker

admin — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:47:51 +0000

Red Dog Poker, unlike other card games that rely on quick wit and skill, is a game of chance. The game was originally a banking game, where players bet that their cards were in the same suit as, or higher than, the card that will be drawn from the pack of 52 cards. A variation of the in-between game, the game starts with the player placing his initial bet on the table. The game is measured by the spread (the distance of the two cards from each other) of the two cards. For example, the spread between 2 and 10 is 7. The dealer then draws two cards from the pack and places them face up on the table. The cards are considered as a push, if the two have consecutive figures. The player’s bet is then returned to him.
If the two dealt cards are equal, the dealer should draw a third card to determine the player’s winnings. If the third card is still equal to the first two cards that were drawn, the player wins the game 11 to 1. Further, if the two cards drawn are neither consecutive nor equal, the dealer should then calculate the spread and let the player decide whether to raise or call his bet. Raising one’s bet means doubling the initial bet that he placed at the start of the game while calling means simply proceeding with the play.

The third card is then drawn. The dealer then checks if the card fits or misses the spread. The card fits the spread if it comes between the first two cards. For example, the first two cards were 4 and 9 and the third card drawn is a 5. Should this happen, the player wins and his winnings are determined from the official payout table.

Alternately, the card misses if it doesn’t fit the spread. This happens when the third card doesn’t fall in between the range of the first two cards, say, the third card drawn is a 2 and the first two cards are 3 and 7. A card is also a miss when the third card matches one of the first two cards. In both cases, the player loses. Finally, Red Dog Poker is a relatively easy game to learn and play but entertaining nonetheless. While it may be a game of chance, the payoffs can prove to be very big, if the player assigns it to be such.

By Adel Awwad

How to Play Keno

admin — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:08:17 +0000

Keno is one of the easiest gambling games to play. When you learn how to play Keno, you’ll be able to find a Keno game in just about any Las Vegas casino hall or online casino. Similar to Lotto, Keno originated in China and was brought to the United States by Chinese immigrants in the mid-1800s. One of the best reasons to learn how to play Keno is the potential payout: in most online casinos, a $1 bet can pay out up to $50,000 in winnings. The rules for how to play Keno are just as simple as playing your state’s lottery.

Would you like to know how to play Keno? There are no cards involved in this simple game of chance. Keno play consists of selecting a minimum of four and a maximum of ten numbers, called spots, between 1 and 80. Your game is called according to the number of spots you select; for instance, if you pick eight numbers, you’re playing 8-spot Keno. Winning numbers for each Keno game are randomly selected, and winners are determined by how many of your numbers match the winning numbers. In some cases, such as in 10-spot Keno, payouts are given if you don’t match any of the numbers. If you know how to play the lottery, you know how to play Keno!

Generally, there are two options for how to play Keno. In most Las Vegas casinos there are Keno lounges specially designated for playing the game. Screens called Keno boards are located in the lounge and display the results of each Keno draw. Most casinos hold Keno draws every ten or twenty minutes. For players who want to participate in Keno outside the lounge, Vegas casinos have Keno screens throughout the hall to display the results, and employees called Keno runner circulating through the crowds, who will collect your ticket and deliver your winnings. Knowing how to play Keno means you’ll always have something going on when you’re at the casino!

Another method for how to play Keno is video Keno. This is the version available for online casino play. Video Keno is similar to live Keno, except you don’t have to wait ten minutes between games. Like a slot machine, you can play video Keno as many times in a row as you wish. The payouts for video Keno can be as high as $100,000 on a $1 wager. Video Keno is available at just about every online casino. So, now you know how to play Keno. See you at the boards!

By Adel Awwad

How to Play Caribbean Stud Poker

admin — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:36:45 +0000

Caribbean Stud has more in common with Blackjack than it does with poker, though the hands are scored in the same manner as poker hands. So, ultimately, if you are familiar with the scoring techniques of Poker, then you will be equally familiar with the scoring techniques of Caribbean Stud Poker. Further, because of the similarity with Blackjack, some serious poker players do not consider this game as a variant of poker. The issue is that, unlike poker, the players all play against the house and not each other and there is no bluffing. To serious players this means that the game is pure luck and any hint of skill has been removed. Finally, because the game of Caribbean Stud Poker is based more on luck than skill, it becomes an increasing difficult game to win.
The Caribbean Stud Poker begins when all players’ lay out their ante and the dealer calls for no more betting. The dealer then hands out five cards, all face down to the players. Then the dealer deals his or her own hand, face down as well. The dealer then flips their last card and indicates that it is time for the players to decide whether to stay in or fold. The players then look at their cards. Even though they are only playing against the dealer, players cannot look at the other players’ cards, nor can they discuss them with each other. If the player folds, their ante is forfeited. Finally, if the player decides to stay, they then have to double their ante.

After all players have either folded or placed their bets, the dealer reveals his or her hole card. The dealer must have an ace/king combination or higher to play. If a player’s hand beats the dealer’s, the payoff is even money on the ante and his follow-up bet pays the following:

Royal flush pays 100 to 1

Straight flush pays 50 to 1

Four of a kind pays 20 to 1

Full house pays 7 to 1

Flush pays 5 to 1

Straight pays 4 to 1

Three of a kind pays 3 to 1

Two pair pays 2 to 1

One pair or less pays 1 to 1

Finally, if the dealer does not have an ace/king combination, all bets are void and the players who did not fold will receive even money on their antes.

By Adel Awwad

How to Play Blackjack Easy

admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:46:02 +0000

Whether you call it Pontoon, 21, or an investment; Blackjack is easy to learn and even easier to play. The aim of Blackjack is to accumulate a winning hand of 21, or as close to 21, without going over (bust.) That’s all there is to it. No flushes, straights or trying to outsmart the other players, who, like you, are all just trying to beat the Blackjack dealer.
Despite its simplicity (Blackjack is truly accessible to all); some players inevitably try to complicate Blackjack. For all the talk of systems and odds, all you need to know is how to win and how to avoid losing! Here’s how it works: Two cards are dealt to every player and play moves from the dealers left – each participant elects whether to hit (take another card,) stand (play with the cards they were dealt,) or surrender, in which case they fold at the cost of half their original bet. Once all the participants have finished hitting, the dealer plays his hand and pays out to players who beat his score.

The good news is: Blackjack dealers are bound by the house rules; you’re not. For example, dealers stand on all 17’s. In other words, he’ll keep hitting until he reaches or exceeds 17. If he draws a king and a six, he’s bound by convention to play on, while you’ve got the get-out clause of an early surrender.

The better news is: you can ‘Double Down’ and double your winnings! Double your bet on a potentially winning deal, provided you can hit once and stand. You can even ‘Split Your Pairs’ and double your chances! If you’re dealt two cards of identical value, split them and play two hands for the price of one!

The best news is: in Blackjack, you can win big and win quickly. Blackjack is the name and the aim of the game. A Blackjack is a total of 21 in your initial deal; a picture card / ace combination. A blackjack can only be beaten by a dealer’s blackjack. Any other score of 21 just won’t cut it.

Blackjack is a truly elegant game: uncomplicated enough to engage players, but sufficiently captivating to keep them coming back – once you start playing Blackjack, you might just find you can’t stop. Blackjack is enjoyable, exhilarating, and instantly compelling. No wonder it’s played and enjoyed the whole world over.
By Adel Awwad

How to Play Baccarat Tips and Tricks

admin — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:57:59 +0000

Sometimes taking a back seat to some of the more prominent casino games, Baccarat is one of the most easygoing and quick to learn games in the gambling arena. If you are looking to learn how to play Baccarat, you can feel assured that the process will be quite easy. Baccarat is gaining in popularity in the U.S. after enjoying many years of success in casinos around Europe. Most players are drawn to Baccarat’s glamour appeal, as it is usually roped off in a separate part of the casino and can feature pit bosses and dealers in tuxedos. Further, with the rising popularity of online gambling, Baccarat is now accruing a whole new following among Internet players.
The way to play Baccarat is quite simple and learning how to play Baccarat does not take very long. There are two styles of play for the game of Baccarat: the full-pit version which features around 12 players and several members representing the house and who focus simply on the bets and deals. Then, there is mini-Baccarat, which is a small version of the larger game, which features one dealer, around six to seven players and less of an intense focus. The stakes are usually lower at the mini-Baccarat tables, but will usually get more people because it is less intimidating than the large Baccarat tables.

This is true of online Baccarat gambling as well. Players will tend to visit rooms where the stakes are not as high as those sites are fast-paced and often feature high rollers. Amateur Baccarat players will visit a site offering a variety of levels of Baccarat, so as to start on a beginner level and work up from that point. This is the best way to really get a grip on the game of Baccarat.

The key to learning how to play Baccarat is to learn how to choose a winning hand. There are two hands in the game of Baccarat: the player hand and the banker hand. Your job is to choose which hand will win. You place your bet and then two cards are dealt for each hand. Depending on the cards, more may be dealt; the goal of Baccarat is determine which hand is closest to nine. That is the winning Baccarat hand.

The dealer is the one making decisions for each of the hands following a required set of rules for Baccarat. Each card is assigned a numeric value and to determine the sum in any given hand; simply add up the number assigned to each card. In Baccarat, when the number is greater than 10, you drop the first number. At this point in the game of Baccarat, the player does not really have a say in how the game will progress. The bet has already been placed and it is simply a wait-and-see situation regarding how the cards will fall. The goal is to simply try and get closest to nine.

As with any game, Baccarat rules can change between the different online gambling websites and actual casinos, so verify the rules of the game before you enter any wagers. Baccarat is a simple game to learn, but a fun one to play. Its glamour and easy of play make it a popular game with the high rollers and as the Internet gambling trends continue to grow, average people are beginning to realize the value of learning a fun and sometimes exciting game like Baccarat.

By Adel Awwad

How to play 5 Card Stud Poker Game

admin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:13:06 +0000

Five Card Stud is similar to Five Card Draw, the difference being that you do not ever get a chance to replace cards in your hand and therefore do not get a chance to improve that hand. As in Seven Card Stud you get a hole card and 4 open cards for all to see. Most versions play the final card as a community card. Since there is no chance to improve your hand, the winning hands tend to be either pairs or high cards and it is hard to string people along to the final street. Some variations on Five Card Stud alleviate this by making the last card a pocket card allowing for some raises.
The Open

The hand starts with the dealer handing each player 2 cards. First cards dealt are a hole card and then the dealer follows up with an open card for each player. Wagering then begins, usually with the high open card going first and then following clockwise. This continues until betting is over. These are the first two “Streets”.

Third Street

The dealer then hands out a third card, which is another open card. This is followed by another round of betting. Betting begins again with the highest open card opening and continues until there are no more bets made. Then it is time for the Fourth Street.

Fourth Street

Again the dealer hands out an open card, which is then followed by another round of betting. Betting again continues until all call and then it is on to the Fifth Street.

Fifth Street

The Fifth Street is the final card. Usually this is an open card but some variations play this as a hole or pocket card to make the game more interesting. This variation creates more uncertainty about which cards your opponent’s hole cards could be and allows for more interesting betting opportunities. Bluffs and more creative betting make this variation more interesting than four straight open cards.

Another variation is to have both the first and second cards remain hole cards, for much the same reasons as making the fifth card a hole card. The problem with having only the first card as a hole card is that even beginning players get a feel for the odds of any particular player having a better hand than theirs, based on their open cards. Therefore it is difficult to have an interesting hand of cards as betting tends to be rather a bit more conservative as a result.

By Adel Awwad

Hardway Bets Craps How do they work?

admin — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:28:39 +0000

There are two types o hard way bets in a crap game. The single roll bets and the multi-roll bets can be made when the player has a hunch or as part of a crap playing strategy. Deuce and twelve are always single roll bets. Some casinos will accept single roll bets on four, six, eight and ten. The hardway bet on the table layout is a multi-roll bet which stays up and live until a seven is thrown or the number is rolled the easy way. They can be taken down at any time or just taken off on come out rolls. If you want them working at all times, make sure the stick man knows they are always live. Then, unless you tell them to take the hardway bets down or take them off they are always a live bet.
The odds pay off is as follows; any single roll hardway will pay 30 to one. The multi-roll hardways pay different odds. The four and the ten hardways pay 8 to one. The six or eight hardways pay 10 to one. All hardways are two dice of the same number like six and six make a hardway twelve. Deuce and deuce make a hardway four.

There are three criteria a player can use to determine if a table is warming up or remaining cold. The absences of a seven being rolled except on come out rolls and numbers being rolled. A third measure is a high number of hardway numbers being rolled during a shooters hand at the dice table. These are the first signs of a table becoming a crap player’s delight.

A hardway strategy can be played as follows. Play the deuce eleven and twelve on the come out roll. If any hit press that number and replace the lost bets. If a number is rolled, place a unit of bet on all four of the multi-roll hardways. If one of them is rolled the hardway, press that bet. If one of the hardways is rolled easy do not replace that bet. The idea is that on a hot table numbers seem to repeat and if the hardways are showing up and repeating, you can make a terrific score. My friend who plays this strategy all of the time, tells me he has seen the eleven twelve roll four times in a row. That is a significant win if the better started with a $25 dollar chip and pressed the bet each time. He also told of a hot table where the hard four repeated so many times that the pressing of the bet ran into the table limit for any one bet.

Hardway bets and a hot table is the crapshooter’s friend. They go together signaling the table is ready to give up some money.

By Adel Awwad

How to get better at Playing Poker

admin — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 14:12:58 +0000

If you are an avid poker player then you will constantly be looking for ways to improve your poker game. Gaming strategies, odds calculators, poker tutorials and more can certainly assist you in your attempts to improve your game. Plus, good old fashioned practice will help you hone your poker skills and will also help you become a sharp and formidable poker player at the tables.
First, if you are looking to improve your poker game, you will want to read every book you possibly can about the subject. Professional poker players often write books about their playing techniques. In learning about the different techniques that various poker player’s use, you can learn the techniques that work best for you and subsequently improve your poker game.

Second, when looking to improve your poker game, you will want to explore as many strategic plays as possible. This can be done at free online casinos where you can learn the different types of rules for poker variants, the different types of hands to play and you can even play against people from anywhere on the globe.
By Adel Awwad

Third, when seeking to improve your poker game, you may want to read or check out various poker game tutorials on the web. Such tutorials may provide you with some insight that you may have not otherwise had before you viewed the tutorial. You would be surprised what you might learn while viewing tutorials and you will find the learning process both engaging and fun.

Fourth, you might what to familiarize yourself with poker odds. You can memorize poker odds to increase your playing power at the tables or, if you prefer, you can invest in a poker odds calculator. A poker odds calculator can help you learn the odds of various hands and once you have mastered the odds; you will be able to place far wiser bets at the playing table.

Finally, you can learn a lot by watching the pros play. When watching professional poker players note how the intimidate other players and study their poker face. Studying the poker faces of the professionals will help you develop your own strategies for psyching out other players at the table. Let’s face it; sometimes you need to bluff, no matter what your strategy is. Nevertheless, by mastering the techniques of poker, there will be fewer times that you will be required to bluff!