Set of Jacks

Collusion can take the face of many different things. After all, in the wilds of the internet world, there are plenty of opportunities for two people to work together anonymously. They can be talking in instant messages or emails, they can be talking on the phone or texting, they can even be in the same room, side by side. And remember, it does not have to be just two people.

The players may just share their cards and pool their knowledge to judge everyone else’s chances, or one play may somehow distract the rest of the room. Stacking the deck can be possibly in this way. This can be done in a bricks and mortar casino, of course, but it is far easier to pull off during an online game.

Players who are working in collusion can even take the opportunity to use a different language from the rest of the players. That can allow them to discuss the game. Again, this too can be done in live play, and these days, it is not even necessary in online play, when players can talk to one another in any number of ways.

As we all know, the internet is a great thing, whether you are playing poker or ordering something. However, we also know that with the advent of the technology behind online casinos, there are lots of opportunities for cheating in online casinos. People do things that would never be allowed in bricks and mortar casinos. Playing poker online can be a helluva lot of fun, but you do need to be aware of the pitfalls.

You will run into cheaters in online casinos. The best thing you can do is familiarize yourself with some of the most basic types of cheating.

Collusion is probably one of the easiest and most common types of cheating found in online casinos. What is collusion? Succinctly, at least two players will come together to play — and cheat — at the same table. Collusion is very easy to do on the internet, and it is notoriously hard to catch because it is difficult to prove.

In the next post we will cover some of the most common types of collusion.

For the third and final installment of this series, we are just going to take a look at some of the most used but most potentially confusing poker terms used in the game.

All-In: this is when you put all of your chips into the pot. A lot of players loudly announce it so as to seem unaffected and cool. It does not work. Don’t do it.

Back Door: not what you’re thinking. This term actually applies to any hand that you made during the Turn or the River. Donks, or even DITs — donks in training — usually make these hands.

Which brings us to — Donks: diminutive of “donkey.” Refers to a player who is blatantly bad and/or weak.

Big Slick: used in Texas Hold ‘Em most often; refers to any hole cards of A through K, whether they are of the same suit or not.

You know, looking at things from a different perspective, the language of poker probably really does seem like a foreign tongue to those who are new to the game.  Since, as we have said before, Texas Hold ‘Em and similar poker variations are undoubtedly the most populer versions, I thought it would be helpful to introduce novice and inexperienced players to some of the most common terms found in those games.

The Flop: the term “the Flop” refers to three community cards.  In Texas Hold ‘Em, they are dealt after all the players receive their two cards, face down.  These three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table.  The players can use the cards to create the best hand in conjunction with their own hand.  They are collectively referred to as the Flop.

The Turn: this is the fourth community card dealt during the game.  Like the Flop, a betting round follows its appearance.

The River: this is the fifth and final community card dealt.  Again, it is dealt face up, and a betting round follows.

You know, there are a lot of new poker players coming out of the woodwork, especially on the internet.  Before you can ever get to Full Tilt or any other advanced games, you need to know some basics.  Like, it’s recently come to my attention that the language even semi experienced players speak sounds kind of like a foreign language to novice cardsharks.

Now, now, I know it might be tempting to take advantage of that fact, but c’mon, we were all new once.  Besides, it’s way more fun to be someone skilled.  We ought to let the newbies in on the more confusing aspects of your secret language.  But don’t worry, I won’t give ‘em the secret password just yet.

“Blinds,” for example.  We’re not talking about the Venetian variety here.  Blinds are actually forced bets.  They’re kind of a replacement for the amount usually placed in the ante at the beginning of a game.

There is nothing today that stops women from trying out new things. From baseball to wars there are women who represent the female gender in all fields of life. They play sports. They join the army. They are all over the place and doing a good job at it all too. But can women play poker?

For the past many years we have been witnessing a good increase of women in various poker events. They keep coming. Ask Barbara Enright, 14 years back she became the first woman to get inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame & Senior’s Poker Hall of Fame. She is the only woman who could ever make it to the final table at World Series of Poker. She made her way through the male dominated series to finish 5th in the event of 1995.She has many more recognitions and awards and prizes in her kitty.

Can Woman Be Good Poker Players? continued »

Erick Lindgren getting very lucky in the FTOPS on Full Tilt. He makes some legit plays though, and I’m not agreeing with some of the comments on the vid saying Full Tilt favours its online pros.

Full Tilt Poker really is the home of ultra high stakes online poker, isn’t it? What a great push by Patrik Antonius, and what a SICK call by Tom Dwan calling down Patrik without a straight on a 4-card straight board… Pure online poker genius sickness…

It’s a great game, isn’t it?

Full Tilt Poker Game #11760960809: $2 + $0.15 Heads Up Sit & Go (88216454), Table 1 – 10/20 – Pot Limit Hold’em – 3:14:16 ET – 2009/04/19
Seat 1: Kwilll4i (1,500)
Seat 2: SetofJacks (1,500)
SetofJacks posts the small blind of 10
Kwilll4i posts the big blind of 20
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SetofJacks
SetofJacks has 15 seconds left to act
SetofJacks raises to 60
Kwilll4i calls 40
*** FLOP ***
Kwilll4i checks
SetofJacks bets 60
Kwilll4i folds
Uncalled bet of 60 returned to SetofJacks
SetofJacks mucks
SetofJacks wins the pot (120)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 120 | Rake 0
Board:
Seat 1: Kwilll4i (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: SetofJacks (small blind) collected (120), mucked

***

Full Tilt Poker Game #11760964606: $2 + $0.15 Heads Up Sit & Go (88216454), Table 1 – 10/20 – Pot Limit Hold’em – 3:14:42 ET – 2009/04/19
Seat 1: Kwilll4i (1,440)
Seat 2: SetofJacks (1,560)
Kwilll4i posts the small blind of 10
SetofJacks posts the big blind of 20
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SetofJacks
Kwilll4i calls 10
SetofJacks has 15 seconds left to act
SetofJacks checks
*** FLOP ***
SetofJacks bets 40
Kwilll4i folds
Uncalled bet of 40 returned to SetofJacks
SetofJacks mucks
SetofJacks wins the pot (40)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 40 | Rake 0
Board:
Seat 1: Kwilll4i (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: SetofJacks (big blind) collected (40), mucked

*** Win $2 PLHE SNG with Set of Jacks! continued »

Set of Jacks is pretty much your everyday poker blog. I don’t have the arrogance to call this the next new poker hype on the interweb – and I basicly just hope my poker buddies will enjoy reading up on my strategy tips and personal poker stories I will be posting on this small-time poker blog.

I on my end of the deal promise not to spam this blog full of advertising for Full Tilt or Lucky Ace Poker; to make sure everyone can actually enjoy reading about poker in stead of being distracted by tons of poker- and gambling related advertising.

Enjoy my blog – I’m sure I’ll enjoy blogging!

-Eli