Poker Reviews

What’s the first thing that enters your mind when you think of MIT, the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology: engineering genius, mathematical wizard, visionary, geek, hacker? If you chose any one of those, you would be correct. Mix them all together, add some smoke and mirrors, big-time anonymous investors, a dash of anarchy for good measure, and you get one of the best scams of all times–the MIT Blackjack Team–the ultimate in high stakes, genius-backed hacking! Infamy is nothing new to MIT. Some of the world’s wiliest hackers hailed from the hallowed halls of MIT; but when one gifted math professor and six gifted students banded together, they propelled organized hacking to dizzying heights and snookered organized gambling to the tune of millions! That was sweet music to the ears of millions who have left behind small fortunes in their quest to beat the casinos.

After school club

The MIT Blackjack team began as an after-school club held in campus classrooms where students assembled to apply their genius to card games, unwind (at least, by MIT standards), and have fun. The club eventually evolved into serious business. The team set up a complete underground system of casino mock-ups spanning apartments, warehouses, and classrooms scattered across Boston where they worked diligently to perfect their scheme. Before advancing to live play in the casino, each player had to pass a rigorous battery of tests encompassing all of the roles under simulated casino conditions, including distraction and harassment. Still, they were not ready for the big league until further honing their skills in Boston’s Chinatown before heading to Las Vegas.

Card Counting

Card counting, the heart of their system, is a proven winning technique. Blackjack odds offer the one opportunity for those with skill, dogged determination, and discipline to consistently beat the house. The casinos know that Blackjack is vulnerable (that smart, disciplined players actually have a fighting chance of winning), and that is why they ban the big winners and harass and threaten potential big winners.

Casino management further understands that it takes only one or two mistakes to turn a player’s winning system into a house win, and that is the only reason that they tolerate card counting–until it turns against them. They rely on human frailties, such as lack of discipline and distraction, to return the advantage to the house.

The MIT team used card counting as the foundation of their system; it was only one among a number of tools in their magical tool box, and even then, it wasn’t traditional card counting. It added a high-low system, based on the statistical probability of receiving high or low cards, and they added an additional technique for cutting the cards that further skewed the odds in their favor.

Team members traveled together, seemingly as total strangers. Each assumed one of a number of well-crafted fake identities, the teams included several types of players, each member playing a well-defined role. Anonymous investors provided the stake and expected a return on their investment. One such outing netted a 154% ROI after expenses. Transporting huge amounts of cash back and forth was another obstacle they overcame with ingenuity. Cash traveled in every conceivable manner: strapped to bodies, on “mules,” in hollow crutches, just to name a few.

High Tech vs Low Tech

Their reign spanned a good part of the 1990s when they traveled the casino circuit with total abandon. Their $400,000 winning weekend in Las Vegas is legendary. Casino technology was not yet at a stage where it could match wits with MIT genius. At least, it had not made its way to practical application in Las Vegas, Ironically, it would be low-tech sloppiness that brought the team down in the end.

The casinos had learned to deal with the card counters long before the MIT pikers hit the scene. When they identified a card counter, they would ensure that his play at the tables was a living nightmare, and should the card counter take the house for a large sum, they would immediately ban him. Technology in the 1990s had matured to a point where bad news traveled fast. When the card counter was detected at one casino, it became nearly impossible to escape detection at any other casino.

Profiled MIT Blackjack Team

Las Vegas casino bosses relied on a long-established profile of the Blackjack card counter, but since the MIT team ran counter to the profile, that also worked in their favor, helping them to escape detection. The profile assumed one lone card counter. The team’s nonchalant, seemingly random style of play also ran counter to the profile. But they were crazy like foxes–until they were no more.

Finally, sloppiness brought them to their knees. Eventually, they lost their discipline and their cool; the well-oiled machine built with the precision of a Swiss watch began to fall apart. They began to fraternize, and not just with the usual Las Vegas temptations, but with each other–in public. A total chance spotting of the teams relaxing and playing at a Las Vegas pool blew their cover. The tale of their unraveling wound its way back to the back streets of Boston before they finally disbanded. The odds had finally turned against them, and the stakes were far too high for even the geniuses from MIT.

The last remaining team player was escorted from the table with the parting words, “You can’t play here. You’re too good for us.”

Blackjack Team in the News

The tale of the MIT Blackjack Team doesn’t end with its demise. ABC, CNN, History Channel, and CBS’s 60 Minutes all picked up the story. Bringing Down the House : The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions (Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, 2002), by Ben Mezrich, chronicles the escapades of the team from its inception to the end of the line through the eyes of team member, Kevin Lewis (not his real name). One enterprising former member currently offers seminars based on the system.

The final irony has yet to play itself out. Kevin Spacey is producing the movie version of the book, due to be released by MGM sometime in 2006. One has to wonder if the movie will help MGM recover its losses to the MIT Blackjack Team.

Online poker is a very well-liked game which people usually play on the internet. Online poker is the main reason due to which a large number of people have started playing this interesting game. This game can be played in casinos or poker rooms which you can easily find online.

So, now let me tell you about some very good tips and tricks that can make online poker game a whole new experience for you.  

1. Polish your skills before playing the game

If you are new to this game then it would be best for you to polish your skills in handling and playing with virtual money. Online poker can be very tricky if you do not possess the full knowledge of this game. Before actually playing the games try to make your own strategies and plans which would eventually help you to know about your strengths and weaknesses.

2. Avoid Bluffing too much

New players get attracted to bluffing so much that it eventually spoils the whole game. Bluffing seems easy but is very difficult, so if you are playing online poker for the first time you should first learn the basic rules before moving on to bluffing.

3. Always keep your budget in mind while playing poker

It is very important for you to first plan out your budget before playing the game of poker. If you do not plan a budget, the game of poker can cost you more than you even have and you can even loose the money which you have won.

4. Have a knowledge of all the poker systems on the net

If you want to become the master of online poker games then it would be best for you to have a good knowledge of all the poker games that are for sale on the internet. This would definitely help you develop various good skills and tricks which you can use while playing the game.

5. Get your self registered on a good online poker site

If you really want to enjoy this game to the fullest then it would be best for you to get registered on a good online poker website. A good online site would ensure a good communication among all the players and it would always effectively monitor all the players.

I am sure these above stated tips and tricks will help you to make your poker game more interesting and thrilling.

“It seems that Texas holdem is more of a game of skill rather than luck. This is how certain masters can stay at the top of tournaments continuously.

The key to any poker game is keeping that straight poker face. Great poker players know to watch their opponent’s faces and body language to see how you react when you read your cards, or when you see other people playing their cards. If you get all excited or mad when you look at your hand then another more experienced player will play off of that.

The second smartest thing you can do when playing Texas holdem is to only play the good hands. Never waste your money trying to bluff people when you have nothing, or trying to place large bets to scare people off. Don’t make the common mistake of getting impatient. This leads to carelessness and loses your money.

Even the best lose big pots sometimes so when this happens to you, you have to recover from the loss as quickly as you can. Take a break, walk around even sit out a couple of hands. Just make sure you have recovered before you get back into a game.

One of the best things you can do when playing poker is learning how to read your opponents. You may notice a few people trying to read you but keep calm. Once you have learned how to balance both you emotions and the ability to read other opponents you will see your success rate increase.

If you don’t use effective poker strategy the game is much harder to win as you depend too much on luck. If you want to make some real money at the poker table then play more often and pay attention to the game. The more experienced you are the better of a player you are going to be.”

When the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was brought into US law, it changed the way online poker was played. Many of the online poker sites that offered gaming to the US residents stopped doing so. The US residents can still play the free online poker but are unable to go on and play the ‘real money’ games.

Some of the major online poker websites such as Titan Poker, Pacific Poker, Party Poker and many others stopped doing business with US residents.

There is some hope for the US residents wanting to play online poker as here are the top rated poker rooms and the poker sites accepting US players to this day.

Poker Stars – This online poker website still accepts US players and it is among the favorites around the globe. It is renowned for major poker players playing here. Some of the finalists of the World Poker Series play regularly here. So unless you are truly talented at online poker then this is the site for you. This is known to be one of the world most competitive and top rated poker rooms so watch out if you are only a beginner!

Full Tilt Poker – This online poker website is actually endorsed by some of the world’s best and most recognizable poker players today. You don’t have to play here if you feel you are not good enough yet, you can watch and learn tips from some of the professionals that use this website. The software that they use for the poker and the customer service is among the best available.

Absolute Poker – To play online poker here you will have to download their software which has had some improvements as of late. This makes the playing experience more comfortable for users and they are one of the few poker sites accepting US players. This site has been around quite some time now and they have recently made a push towards the American market.

Bodog Poker – this poker site accepting US players is becoming extremely popular. This website offers some great tournaments for US players and the software that has to be downloaded is of a top quality and is extremely easy to use.

Ultimate Bet – This is considered to have the top rated poker rooms around today on the internet. Not only is this poker sites accepting US players but it is also endorsed by the poker player Phil Hellmuth, otherwise known as ‘The Poker Brat’. It has been around for some time on the internet and is extremely popular among the players.

The UIGEA doesn’t actually make playing online poker illegal but in some states or tribal laws it may do for some US players. Make sure you always know the laws when you are playing online poker for real money and keep up to date with your rights.

You can still have a great time playing poker for money even if you are a US resident; you just have to know where to go!

So you know that you can obtain poker deposit bonuses? But are you aware that there are many kinds of them. It’s very important that you know their kinds so it will be easier for you to decide which of these poker deposit bonuses will suit your liking. They can even help you choose the best poker website, where you can play the most excellent poker games, while you can also use your poker deposit bonuses.

Here are some of the poker deposit bonuses that you can take advantage:

1. Loyalty poker deposit bonuses. These are poker deposit bonuses that you get for signing up or perhaps for after playing a number of games in the poker website. There are already numerous websites that offer poker deposit bonuses every time you sign up. You can even obtain these poker deposit bonuses if you can recommend a certain number of players. There are also a number of online poker sites that offer poker deposit bonuses for those people who have been placing the most number of bets. Nevertheless, you may need to keep in mind that for you to take advantage of these poker deposit bonuses you may have to play a lot, which may translate to more bets and money to spend.

2. First poker deposit bonuses. These are almost like the first one, though these poker deposit bonuses are usually equal to the deposit that you have made. These are also commonly referred to as bonus percentage. You can have as much as 100 percent for your poker deposit bonuses, but it may be difficult for you to clear them. This means that you still have to play a certain number of poker games, before these poker deposit bonuses can be credited into your account. It doesn’t also mean that you don’t have to make any deposit. If you’re starting out, you may like to begin with poker deposit bonuses that have bonus percentage of 10 percent. Another criterion that you have to consider when it comes to your poker deposit bonuses shall be the maximum deposit. This may go as much as $400 to $500. The lowest that you have to deposit to avail of poker deposit bonuses is $10.

How to Get These Poker Deposit Bonuses

Are you excited to get your own Poker deposit bonuses? Don’t worry, it’s not going to be as difficult as you think it will be. To help you out, here are some steps so you can obtain the best poker deposit bonuses for yourself and even for your family and friends:

1. Choose a website. There are countless of websites that offer a list where you can obtain poker deposit bonuses. All you need it so choose among the list. It would be best if your chosen directory will inform you beforehand the poker deposit bonuses that you will likely get so you can already decide the most ideal one for you.

2. Download the software of these websites. Some online poker websites are Flash based, which means you may not be able to play the game and avail of poker deposit bonuses if you don’t have any Flash program installed in your PC. Hence, choose the ones with a software that you can download.

Poker Books:  Whether your looking for a beginners manual or a book on improving strategy, there are numerous books available online or at the book store that any poker lover would enjoy reading. Some top picks from various sites include:

- Internet Texas Hold-Em: Winning Strategies from an Internet Pro by Matthew  Hilger  

- Harrington on Hold’em Volume I: Strategic Play

- Phil Gordon’s Little Green Book by Phil Gordon

- The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky  

- Winning Low-Limit Hold-Em (2nd Edition) by Lee Jones

- Hold-Em Poker for Advanced Players (Advance Player) by David Sklansky 

- Zen and the Art of Poker: Timeless Secrets to Transform Your Game by Larry Phillips

Poker Chips: A wide variety of poker chips are available, at an equally wide variety of costs. If you’re buying for a true Poker lover, Ceramic or Clay poker chips may be a good choice. Ceramic Poker Chips are casino grade chips. The graphics on these chips are actually part of the chip. Clay poker chips are rapidly becoming the most popular choice for chips. They have distinct feel and sound to them which is softer with a more solid sound. Also, they are not slippery like composite chips, which makes them stack better. Paulson poker chips have a distinct look and feel to them. These chips are true casino grade chips that are used by many casinos around the world, including well known Las Vegas casinos. You may also choose to customize your own chips with hot stamping, labels or full color chip graphics of your home casino logo.

Poker Chip Cases and/or Trays: There are a multitude of chip cases and trays on the market, from inexpensive plastic trays to outrageously expensive sets. Cases are typically made of Acrylic, vinyl, aluminum, leather or wood.  Acrylic or aluminum attaché cases are an inexpensive option, however If your poker player has clay chips or more expensive collectible chips, you may want to purchase a better quality case. You can also choose from different capacity chip cases, with the ability to store anywhere from 100 to 1000 chips. There are a variety of wooden poker chip case styles you can pick from, including custom cases made to your specifications. Poker cases may include chip trays or racks that can be used to protect and store your poker chips, or can be removed to stack player’s chips at the poker table. 

A Poker Table: If your poker player is serious about their game, they may enjoy their own poker table to add to their home gaming experience. The options range from $30 portable table tops that just sit on top of existing tables (such as your dining room table) to dedicated Poker tables costing hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Dealer Button / Card Protectors: Having a Dealer Button is essential for playing Texas Hold-Em Poker. This is an inexpensive way to enhance your games. A dealer button is used in Texas Hold-Em to designate the theoretical dealer for a hand of poker. Dealer buttons usually look like a big poker chip (or hockey puck) and have the word ‘Dealer’ written, stamped, etched, or engraved on one or both sides. They can be quite elaborate and cost up to $100. A plastic dealer button may be purchased for a few dollars and many poker chip sets come with a button included. You can also buy “big blind” and “small blind” buttons.

A card protector (card guard) is usually a large or unique poker chip or paraphernalia that is placed on top of your hole cards to “protect” them from being collected by the dealer or another player. Poker Card protectors make a unique gift and custom protectors make them one-of-a-kind.

Card Shuffler: An automatic card shuffler shuffles one or two full decks of cards into one. Automatic card shufflers are inexpensive ($10 to $25, generally), making this another great gift for budget-conscious shoppers.

Poker Video Games: Looking to play a little poker on your Playstation, Xbox or Nintendo? Check out these poker video games that are fun to play and make great gifts for poker fans. Some favorite picks are: World Championship Poker 2; World Poker Tour 2K6; World Series of Poker; or Stacked with Daniel Negreanu.

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It has been almost two big centuries since poker which is one of the kinds of gambling was introduced and it touched new peaks lately with the introduction of online gambling. Poker has become so popular that today we have a variety of gambling sites because of the game. Sports book was the first to be published in the Internet and this was during the 90’s. Thus online poker was not the first to enter the field of online gambling.

Micro gaming was the first kind of gambling to be introduced in the Internet and this was in the year 1994. Today it has grown to become a famous developer of gaming software.

Planet poker was the first entrant to the field of online gambling and this was introduced in the year 1998. This was followed by better and bigger gambling sites in the next few years. The rate structure of a maximum of $3 which is about 5% has been considered as the industry standard since its inception.

Currently we have Paradise poker who is leading the industry of gambling online and this was introduced in 1999. Dutch Boyd created Poker spot at about the same time is noteworthy. This was the first group to enter online gambling and they started online poker tournaments. This was a success until the group faced a problem in withdrawing the deposits of the players from their credit card partners. Players were not given their share of winnings as the group itself was not given the due funds. This consequently resulted in the closure of the Poker spot group.

There were about 700 such online gambling sites by the time Poker meted out a failure. A survey conducted in March 2001 revealed that about 800 million people had gambled their funds in the net. One year later, online casino produced its first millionaire, who received 1,594,649 dollars on 30 May, 2002.

After the misfortune that befell Poker spot, online gambling sites started using. This is known to be the system which funds the online gambling sites with huge funds. Players are freed from the trouble of using the wire transfer system or credit cards when they need to deposit in an online pokers site. The introduction of Neteller’s system had reduced frauds and improved the credibility and reliability of the industry.

The year 2001 was a welcoming year for online gambling with the2 big players, Poker Stars and Party Poker entering the field. Party Pokers became the top player in the industry after they overtook Paradise in the year 2003 with their strategic advertisements on the media

They also came up with Party Poker Million along with World Poker tour to attract people across the world and they succeeded in the US. The fascinating story of Mr. Chris Moneymaker also added to the growth of online poker gambling. It is said that moneymaker paid 40 dollars to get into the poker contest.

He became a big pot in the world’s series of pokers with his success in the tournament. He is said to have defeated 839 other people who had participated in the poker contests and was declared the winner of 2.5 million dollars. The poker tournament conducted in the year is adjudged the biggest ever held in the history of Poker’s.

Mr. Moneymaker’s success became an inspiration to many people who came forward to learn and play poker online and this led to the growth of the game in different dimension in the year 2004.

www.pokertips.org provides a lot of information about the game and also trains those who are interested. The online gambling firms made a lot of money during the year and the year saw two another entrants- Full tilt pokeralong with Nobel poker. Sportingbet acquired Paradise Poker and the business entered a success phase as the former was a listed company. It is optional for online casino to list themselves in the stock markets but it helps them acquire funds for the expansion of the business.

The UK government has passed a bill which makes internet gambling absolutely legal and contains certain regulations that makes an online poker a global phenomenon.

Some of the famous Online Gambling Sites -Poker

PlayWinningPoker.com ,

Poker Performance Psychology

Low Limit Holdem at www.lowlimitholdem.com

Poker School Online at www.pokerschoolonline.com

Ichiban Poker

Poker Pages at www.pokerpages.com

www.playwinningpoker.com

Poker Pro Association

StudStrategy

PokerStrategy.org

The Gamblers Edge at www.thegamblersedge.com

Texas Holdem Poker

Low Limit Omaha