I’m only going to see other players and myself as caricatures on my screen. Facial expressions, hand gestures, body motions will all be absent, as well as eye squinting, blinking or twitching – those ‘giveaways’ on TV and why many use sunglasses. Add to this the screen names: how do I know that Tiny Tina isn’t some card shark from Vegas alluding to be female and harmless?

I’m going to have to compensate for this not-so-small handicap. Basically anybody’s poker actions are six — whether you play online or off… betting, folding, calling, raising, re-raising, or check-raising. So that’s a given. My observations are going to fall in the realm of a good site selection, a game selection (there are many tables), careful note-taking and money management.

And while all players are indeed in caricature-form, they still have behavior that can be noted. I can put their screen names under one of two lists: “tight players” or “loose players”. It will help to observe a few hands and label them before I decide to sit in. Too many tight players and I might look at another table.

Tight players are strong opponents. Even as a novice they will fold a poor deal and play a good one. When they raise, more often than not they have the cards to back it up with. I think it would benefit me to keep them to my right – that way, I get to act after they do. Loose players are often called ‘maniacs’ because they love to bet and raise with very little in hand to back it up.

As I see it, they are best if kept to my left in playing online poker. Advantages are: I get to see how the other players react to his/her betting before it’s my turn. And, at times if I check to the maniac who bets of course, this allows everyone else to call before I raise the bet and collect the additional monies. Get it?

Of course a table can also be tight or loose. Ideally I believe a loose table is better and the first sign of this would be how many players see the flop; the more the better – if many are playing to the flop, the pots are healthier. I read where 30% of the table playing all the way to the flop is a good measure. Anything less is not worthwhile sitting in.

So, it’s time now to choose a fictitious name and sign up for the best poker school where I can (as they say) become a professional in a matter of months rather than years by playing the game with “fun” money until I declare I am ready for a real investment.

Are you aiming for a poker tournament? If so, why not follow me as I write future Articles on this issue. Also share what you have learned, I’d be happy to hear from you and include your observations.

2006 Esther Smith

In order to win blackjack, players must get cards that have a total of 21 or closer to it. If the player gets a card over 21, they will end up losing the game.

In winning a game in blackjack, there is only one concept that players must bear in mind. They should always remember to utilize the right strategy.

In order to win a blackjack game, the player must know the basic strategies. This is because these strategies are considered as the vital element in winning blackjack. The player’s capability to use a line of attack and manipulate the game is the basic skills that a player must learn in order to win.

So, for people who want to win a game in blackjack, here are some ways how to do it. These things may not guarantee the players to win the game but using them will give them a good chance.

1. Players should know when to hit or stand.

Statistics show that 3 out of the 10 people who play blackjack make hits or stands without even knowing when to do it. Most of them merely rely on their instincts. Instincts can be a pretty factor in winning the game but it is not always like that. So, it is a must that a player should know when to hit or stand just by looking at the cards already dealt and the cards of the dealer.

The idea of when to stand or hit is directly dependent on the dealer’s card.

2. Players should always assume that the dealer’s down card is 10.

This is based on the theory that if the dealer’s down card is a 10 and he gets a 6, chances are he will get the card. If he gets 7, chances are he would either be busted or the player’s probability of getting close to 21 is higher.

In this manner, depending on what card the dealer gets, the player can decide whether to hit or stand. The players will then have higher chances of winning.

Winning blackjack is, indeed, dependent on the dealer’s card.