You might very well ask, “What does the game of poker have to do with Alzheimer’s disease?” Let me explain…

The other day, I was pleased to learn that researchers at the University of Southern California are hoping to beat Alzheimer’s disease. They are developing a chemical that is designed to battle beta-amyloid, the plaque that has been found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s – that terrible disease that destroys a person’s mental capabilities, their cognitive ability to think and communicate – ultimately leading to an early death.

Alzheimers

Image used for illustrative purposes only

While there have been repeated failures in this approach, Dr. Paul Aisen, director of USC’s Therapeutic Research Institute, is hopeful this time. What makes this trial stand out from earlier beta-amyloid studies is the fact that it will target amyloid in the brains of people who are in a “pre-clinical stage” of Alzheimer’s. In this stage, there’s evidence of amyloid accumulation, but no symptoms yet – a state that can last years, and even decades, leading up to the disease.

Over the years, countless millions of dollars and research hours have been expended trying all sorts of cures and means to significantly slow down or prevent Alzheimer’s – without any success. Let’s hope this will be different.

Our Poker Hypothesis

Meanwhile, I have a hypothesis for a whole new approach. I have observed that people who play poker to a significant extent apparently do not develop Alzheimer’s, and that seems — to me at least — to be unique to poker as opposed to other casino games like roulette, craps, or people who play baccarat live. Like all others, as we age, our mental abilities do decline; but, to my knowledge, no poker player that I know of has developed that dreadful disease. (How about you? What have you observed?) Admittedly, my statistics are quite limited. But I do include about 200 poker players who are or were members of our Claude Pepper Seniors’ Poker Group. While some have died over the years, to my knowledge, none ever developed Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia.

In fact, Dr. Alan Schoonmaker, a highly regarded poker psychologist, wrote about my observations in his recent book, Stay Young; Play Poker.

READ MORE: Interview with Dr. Alan Schoonmaker

Of course, none of this is substantial proof. We need much more statistical data to be gathered and analyzed.

But, if you think about it, my hypothesis is plausible. It does make good sense. Just as we exercise our bodies to strengthen our muscles to keep them strong and healthy, the mental challenges involved in playing poker can strengthen our brain functions. From what I have read, mental exercises can build healthy brain cells (neurons) and increase the synapses that connect these in our brains.

Some experts recognize that doing puzzles and playing other mentally challenging games may help. Even more reason to make the effort to gather the data and then decide if the correlation is statistically significant. For example, the Alzheimer’s Association or other non-profit could partner with the casinos to do a survey of the millions of poker players and their families.

It’s a fact that playing the game of poker stimulates our thinking process. Can it prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease? I think so.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Do you know of any former poker player who developed Alzheimer’s? Contact: [email protected].

George Epstein ad

I never know gambling thoughts what will come to mind as I lay in bed waiting to nod off. Occasionally I think of casino games like baccarat and blackjack and perhaps placing a fun wager on my favorite sports team at online betting sites, but most of the time I think about poker. The other night, I found myself solving (yes, that is right) — solving a rather basic poker-playing problem that, I’ll wager, you never thought of as a problem: How can I best keep track of my winnings – or losses – during the course of a limit hold’em session? Has this question ever occurred to you? Sure, it’s not life threatening, but it is real. I just had never thought about it before.

chart

Of course, we all want to know how well (or poorly) we are doing as the game progresses. But, as the dealer rushes the game along, we don’t usually have the time to figure it out.

Suddenly, the solution to this problem crystallized in my mind – FLASH! It was oh so simple. I wondered why I had not thought of this before. I guess I was too anxious to play and never gave it a thought – never mind a second thought.

The Old Way to Calculate Your Winnings (or Losses)

In the past I would just get a rough count of my chips stacked up on the board, subtract my buy-ins (for which I keep detailed poker notes) and estimate my winnings (or losses) at that moment. Of course, this takes some time, which is oh so valuable. It also takes my attention away from the game and my opponents, who I should be studying carefully at all times.

My New Concept

Now, with the new concept, I can have that desired information with just a glance at my chips. That quick-and-easy information saves time and is bound to make life much easier while immersed in the game. It can only help me to win more often. More fun, too. After all, what is more important when playing poker and always knowing how far you are ahead? And it makes the game all the more enjoyable.

So now, let me share my new concept with you. It’s so simple. All it takes is enough chip racks to hold your poker chips: racks to hold your starting chips (your initial buy-in plus any other chips you may subsequently buy), and other racks to hold your winning chips. When one rack is full, just add another rack alongside. Simple as that.

Place your “Buy-In Chips Racks” on the table, parallel to the padded railing along the edge of the table in front of you; and the “Winning Chips Racks” right next to them, perpendicular to the table edge. (Another plus: That will help prevent those “sneaky” chips and slick, thin hole cards from slipping under the table-top railing.)

When you find yourself over 100 chips ahead, simply place another rack alongside or on top of the first “Winning Chips Rack” and put your new winnings into it. What a great feeling!

poker chip racks

Being able to keep track so easily gives me more time to focus on the game and observe my opponents, more time to gather pertinent information and to make better decisions. As the dealer strives to speed up the hand, saving those extra seconds can help me to think a bit more as I make key decisions along the way. And that is bound to add to my chances of winning still more chips – and to my enjoyment of the game.

Try it out. How does it help you? Let me know what you think.

George Epstein ad

If you are an online gambler, you don’t need anyone telling you that there is now a wide range and diverse selection of games available to you. Not only do you have to the classic favorites like poker and blackjack, but you have access to some that you’ve likely never heard of. While most people like to stick to games that they are familiar with, it never hurts to branch out. Not only do you get to learn a new game entirely, but you might discover something that you are really good at. All that aside, one card game that has been getting a lot of attention as of late is Teen Patti.

Teen Patti

What Is Teen Patti and How Is It Played?

Teen Patti is basically Indian’s version of poker. It is a card game that resembles 3 card brag and originated from the Indian subcontinent. It is extremely popular throughout the South Asia area, but it is beginning to make a name for itself in the United States as well. The game utilizes a standard 52-card deck and takes place at a kidney-shaped table with three betting positions. Each of these betting positions will have a spot for Ante, Bet, and Pair. The game usually begins when a player places a bet on ante after the dealer hands out three cards to each of the players. All cards will be face down so as they cannot be seen. This makes things really interesting because players will then have to decide if they want to fold or call without even know what kind of cards they are holding.

Notably, this is a casino game played against the house (dealer) rather than opponents facing off against one another.

Folding, obviously results in an automatic loss, while calling will require you to place an additional wager. The wager must be at least equal to that of the ante bet, but can be more. Once all the players have made a decision as to whether they want to call or fold the cards will be turned face up. From this point will come the qualifying. Should the opponents fail to qualify with a Queen high or better, all of the participating players will be paid out their ante bet while the additional bets will be returned. If the dealer qualifies and has a higher value than yours, you’ll lose everything. If your hand is stronger than that of the dealer’s, you’ll be declared the winner on both the ante and bet wagers.

Paying Out

You can play Teen Patti with real money at a number of online sites, and the stakes can be pretty lucrative even though they will vary from provider to provider. However, it is important to know that when you are playing Teen Patti both the ante and bet stakes pay even more. Ante bonuses usually afford you a 1:1 for straights, 3 to 1 for straight flushes, and 4 to 1 for four of a kind. For three aces, you can win as much as a 5 to 1 payout. It gets even better than this with the pairs.

Why Teen Patti Is Getting More And More Popular

In all likelihood, it won’t be long before Teen Patti becomes a standard offering at most American online casinos. The game truly offers great payouts with unique and exciting competition. We are currently living in an era where more and more people are turning to online casinos for entertainment and the chance to win big money. What makes all these online casinos different from one another is the types of games they offer. If every casino offered the same slots and card games, then how could you pick a favorite, after all?

Operators usually rejoice when a new game is developed, and Teen Patti is no exception. Players seeing the game for the first time tend to be intrigued, and the games simple rules and potential to offer big winnings keep players interested and engaged in the game. Naturally, upon playing new games, these players tell their friends, word of mouth spreads, and the game increases in popularity. So, don’t be surprised if you start seeing the popular Indian poker card game Teen Patti at your favorite online casino establishment in the near future.

Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier

In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee interviews Poker Triple Crown winner and GG Poker Ambassador, Bertrand  “ElkY” Grospellier. ElkY discusses his life initially as a professional StarCraft player in South Korea, and eventually transitioning to poker. ElkY talks about his winning his two WSOP bracelets including his pursuit of the Poker Triple Crown. Additionally, Elky discusses being tested positive for COVID-19, although he was asymptomatic during his quarantine. Finally, Bertrand discusses his new role as GG Poker Ambassador and the GG WSOP Super Circuit Poker Online Series.

Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier

0:00RedChipPoker Ad
0:49Welcome to The Bernard Lee Poker Show as this week’s guest will be Poker Triple Crown winner and GG Poker Ambassador, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier.
1:43GG WSOP Super Circuit Poker Online Series is being played this month with 595 events including 18 WSOP Circuit ring events and a  $100 million guaranteed prize pool.
2:33PokerStars held “Stars Call For Action” charity tournament and was won by David Costabile, who won $100,000 to donate to World Central Kitchen.
3:16King’s Resort reopened this week with numerous safety regulations.
4:51RunGood Gear Ad
5:35Bernard welcomes Poker Triple Crown winner and GG Poker Ambassador, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier.
7:41ElkY discusses his past as a professional StarCraft player in South Korea.
16:30ElkY talks about his transition to the world of poker, including becoming SuperNova and SuperNova Elite on PokerStars.
22:26ElkY analyzes how the strategies of StarCraft related to poker.
26:37ElkY recalls winning his first WSOP bracelet in 2011 ($10,000 Seven Card Stud) and his pursuit of the Poker Triple Crown.
28:45ElkY recalls winning his second WSOP bracelet in 2019 in Europe, which had a direct effect on the 2019 WSOP POY.
35:26ShareMyPair Ad
35:58Bernard continues his interview with Poker Triple Crown winner and GG Poker Ambassador, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier.
37:16ElkY discusses how he found out he tested positive for COVID-19, including how Prague handled the COVID-19 lockdown and the testing process.
42:30ElkY states that Kings Casino will reopen with certain guidelines.
44:15ElkY talks about the contact tracing back to an Uber ride.
46:15ElkY explains that he felt completely asymptomatic.
49:02ElkY talks about playing online poker, especially on GG Poker where the GG WSOP Super Circuit Poker Online Series is being held this month.

Bertrand ElkY Grospellier

For a while now, online gambling sites have been offering sports betting and casino games in one place. It’s always been a natural combination of sorts – many punters who enjoy betting on sports also like to pass some time trying their luck on slots, playing a few hands of blackjack, or chasing their lucky numbers on the roulette wheel.

Lately though, many new casino sites have started to include another option to their portfolio: online poker. Although professional players may observe poker as a skill game and don’t put it in the same category with the games mentioned above, this isn’t the case for an average gambler. For many of them, online poker is just another way to try their luck with the added benefit of actually playing against other human beings instead of the house.

casino games

Image credit: Zynga

A Win-Win Situation

New casinos entering the already crowded and highly competitive market have the proverbial deck stacked against them. It’s hard to stand out with so many already established venues that players love and trust. So, some of them are including online poker in the mix to make their platforms more appealing to larger audiences.

This is really a good situation all around. For the operators, having an online poker room is likely to help them attract more customers. Punters enjoy having access to more games in one place instead of having to jump between the sites and deposit with multiple operators. Finally, serious poker players can find very lucrative games filled with casuals who don’t spend hours every day studying and improving their game on poker training sites.

The only downside in this approach is the fact that poker is just another game for these operators and not their sole focus. So, the software is usually not as good as that offered by pure online poker rooms, and the selection of games — especially tournaments — is usually not as diverse.

Finding Best New Casinos Offering Poker Games

If you keep up with the online gambling industry even a little bit, you probably know that there are new gambling sites opening almost every day. This can make finding the best fit a bit difficult. Depending on your preference, you can do some digging on your own or you can utilize resources already there. For example, the website New Casino Sites offers reliable reviews of new casino sites that have online poker games.

Regardless of what option you go for, you should still spend some time researching if a particular casino has what you’re looking for.

One issue with new casinos is that they’re, well, new, which means that it’s quite possible not many players have heard about them. If you’re interested in playing slots or roulette, this isn’t an issue, but if you’re also keen on playing some poker, it might be. You should probably stick to the sites that have a solid player traffic to ensure there is enough action on the tables.

It’s worth checking what kind of promotions they have as well. Often, you’ll find promos that combine casino gambling and online poker, rewarding you with tournament tickets for playing slots for example, or something along these lines. So, if you are just a casual player who wants to play a bit of poker here and there, a site like this could be a great fit.

Play Your Cards Right

If you find a good new casino that also offers online poker games you could be setting yourself up for some profitable sessions. The average level of play on these sites is usually lower than on mainstream poker rooms. So, even if the traffic isn’t as good, your win-rate could go through the roof.

Even a casual player might find more success on one of these sites as there aren’t as many “sharks” to deal with – and you could even get to play some poker for free if you pick the right site that offers these types of promos for their casino players.

So, to sum it up, don’t knock it until you try it – you might be in for a pleasant surprise.

Nate Meyvis is the co-host of the Thinking Poker Podcast with Andrew Brooks, a student of ancient philosophy, and an all-around great dude. He joins the panel and talks about a number of things including breaking down an AQ hand in early position.

Make sure to check out rec.poker/resources for all the partnerships and bonus RecPoker is offering. Specifically, Red Chip Poker is offering RecPoker listeners a free week of CORE by visiting Rechippoker.com and using the code “RECPOKER.”

Time Stamps

0:00Welcome & Introduction
0:32RecPoker “Top Two”
0:58Nate Meyvis: Welcome & “Michigander” clarity
2:35Nate Meyvis: Ancient Philosophy (Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle)
7:55Nate Meyvis: Weekend Warrior podcast series & PokerStars payout structures
16:35Nate Meyvis: Discussion of Chris’ AQ out of position hand
49:52Nate Meyvis: Studying the game today
55:00Panel discussion post-Nate
56:50Home Game Updates (including Social Distancing Series)
1:02:52RecPoker Membership Content Updates
1:05:50Closing Comments

I miss Las Vegas.

I miss playing poker in Las Vegas.

In the grand scheme of everything happening in the world right now, vacationing and playing live poker are pretty minuscule on the list of priorities, but seeing my home away from home suffering through this awful standstill saddens me greatly.

A deep diatribe into economics, politics, medicine, science, and everything else associated with this awful time isn’t what you’re reading this for, and it certainly isn’t what I’m qualified to write about, so we’ll leave that for other outlets.

Plans for a return to casinos and poker tables are starting to float around, but they seem pretty far from the Vegas we know and love, and in some rumoured cases, pretty far away in time as well.

So, for now, this is simply a love letter to the casinos and poker rooms of Las Vegas (in alphabetical order), what I miss most about each of them, and what we can all look forward to coming back to; hopefully soon. The poker is a given, but these are some of the other cool and quirky things about each property that I’ve discovered over the years.

Las Vegas

Aria

It’s only fitting that you’re first on this list, because you know you’re always at the top of my list when it comes to poker in Las Vegas. Others have tried, but no room has my heart like you do.

Besides just the outstanding poker room, I could write a whole article about why I love it at Aria. The gorgeous architecture, the luxurious guest rooms, the super cool vibe throughout, the pizza at Five50, the treats at the patisserie, and above all, the incredible staff — especially in the poker room.

And last, but not least… the watermelon juice. I mean, I’ve bought the Tropicana stuff here at home, but it’s not even close. That watermelon juice of yours is just something else!

Aria watermelon juice

My standard water / chips / juice formation at Aria

Bally’s

I miss that buffet grind.

Being able to drop in for a few hours mid-afternoon (or whenever), then head off to the Paris buffet next door on your dime is pretty sweet.

And speaking of sweet, rolling into It’Sugar in the Grand Bazzar shops outside? Oh yeah, my inner 6-year-old will always be down for a session, with a bag of jawbreakers in my pocket.

Bellagio

Ah, the home of Bobby’s Room. The elite of poker gather within your glamourous walls, and any fan of the game can play just steps away.

The very first time I played at Bellagio in the mid 2004, I bumped into Scotty Nguyen outside the room.

The Prince of Poker was cool enough to chat for a bit and take this pic with me, baby!

Since then, no Vegas trip is complete until I get a session in at Bellagio. The chance to play some $2/5 and brush shoulders with a poker legend as I walk across the room is something I’ll never pass up.

Binion’s

You were my first.

A lot has changed since I sat down in that WSOP satellite in 2004, but I’ll always love gazing at the Poker Hall of Fame photos, and walking past the Million Dollar horseshoe.

I know things are far from what they used to be, but each summer I’m still there, playing in your wonderfully structured tournament series.

It may sound like horror to some, but I proudly talk about the 15-hour day I spent at Binion’s playing razz. (You think the crowd on Fremont is interesting regularly? Try it at 5 am!)

And to be able to lay claim to two final tables in ‘the place where it all began’, that will always be special.

Boulder Station

We just met last fall on a whim, but you were unforgettable.

$4/8 Limit Omaha high. Good lord.

I suggested we make the game double-board, but that radical concept was quickly nuked by the regs who didn’t want a mockery made of their game. Okay, then.

Oh, and as for your giant-ass sign in the parking lot that turns night into day on the Boulder Strip? Holy moly, that thing is impressive.

Boulder Station marquee

Sunglasses at night in the Boulder Station parking lot? Mandatory.

Caesars Palace

I’m not quite sure what it is about you.

Maybe it’s Omnia right next door, or maybe it’s your high-traffic location smack dab in the middle of the strip, but some of the juiciest games, and most interesting characters I’ve met have been in your poker room. Some of the most fun, interesting and profitable sessions I’ve had have come at Caesars Palace.

But yeah, when the cards run cold, that people-watching outside Omnia is a top-notch diversion.

Excalibur

I love that you’re a throwback to simpler days of poker gone by. Just a smoky ‘ol pit in the middle of the casino floor, where every game feels like it’s 2005 again.

And who am I kidding? I’m hitting that Krispy Kreme upstairs at least a couple of times a session.

You may not be the hottest room on the strip, but don’t ever change. You just keep doing you.

Flamingo

You may not think it, because for whatever reason I rarely win there, but you know what? I love ya anyway.

I blame my lack of success on having too much fun thanks to various distractions.

There was the session where I was taught about those just-slightly-bigger-than-chip-sized bubbles on your tables, and the prop betting they naturally lead to.

Flamingo poker table

10 tries to slide a chip completely inside a bubble. Think you can do it?

At Flamingo, I learned how many chips wide 1 poker chip is. Take a guess! (Answer below)

There have been sessions where I’ve just blasted off for fun in that $2/4 limit game to kill time before getting into another game. The folks there just LOOOOVE the young guy coming in and 3- and 4-betting them regularly.

via GIPHY

*So, how many chips did you guess? The answer is 12! (sometimes 13 actually if they’re old and worn down)*

Golden Nugget

I miss the best low buy-in tournament series in Las Vegas, The Grand.

That schedule, man oh man! For $200, you too could sit in a No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw tourney with Greg Raymer! Cool beans.

As for your actual poker room, I haven’t done this, but if I ever want to drop $10k onto the table in a $1/2 No-limit hold ‘em game, I can!

Oh and one more thing, one of these days I’m going to stay a couple of nights in the hotel for no reason other than to spend a day at your awesome pool, riding down the water slide over and over and over and over and….

Green Valley Ranch

Last year, I had the worst summer of tournament results in my poker career.

I bricked everything. Everything. Not one result.

Oh, and the cash games? Yup, got wrecked there, too. A 6-month downswing in two weeks. Oof.

But before I flew home, tail tucked between my legs, feeling like crap and hating poker, I paid you a visit, and it was exactly what I needed.

The friendly faces and banter of the locals. The feeling of being in a poker room that wasn’t flooded by every poker-playing tourist from around the world. It was a different world.

I felt calmer than I had all trip. I had fun, I chatted with the players and the staff. It was great.

And while in that great mood, the winnings piled up. I racked up four buy-ins before the day was done.

I drove to the airport with my faith in poker renewed. I returned home and went on an upswing that lasted the rest of the year.

Thanks for that, GVR.

Harrah’s

I’ll admit, I’ve had my reservations about you for the last little while, and I’m sorry.

I stayed with you for the first time in years last fall, and I’ve gotta say, I love what you’ve done with the place! Your room renovations are outstanding, and a great value. So naturally I played a couple of sessions in the poker room.

Laid-back atmosphere, casual, fun, appealing to recreational players. Well those are all good things! Drinks flowed, pots were splashed, chips were stacked, and good times were had.

Oh, and White Castle is just steps away.

via GIPHY

Mandalay Bay

You may be a bit out of the way down at the south end of the strip, but your property and poker room are definitely worth making the effort for.

I love the warm, classy vibe your little room gives off. Like a cozy little nook of poker.

And if a break from the wannabe sharks at the table is needed, the real thing is just a short walk away in the Shark Reef Aquarium! One of the coolest tilt-walk destinations you could ask for.

MGM Grand

I miss those chairs.

I’m telling you, people, if you’ve spent the day exploring the Las Vegas Strip and need to take a load off, drop in for a session at MGM Grand. Best chairs in a poker room I’ve ever been in.

Mirage

Ever since that inaugural trip to Vegas when I pulled my first all-night session and had to be dragged out by my then girlfriend, you’ve had a special place in my heart.

I know things aren’t the same as when Mike McD mused about “Vegas and the F***ing Mirage”, but your little room and the Mirage itself are still classics in my books.

Oh, and if there’s a Golden Knights game on and I feel like playing, I know where I’m going.

splash pot Golden Knights Mirage

Golden Knights splash pots at the Mirage

Orleans

Any mixed game player out there loves you. I know I do.

You’re the mortal nuts year-round for small stakes mixed tourneys, regular Omaha 8 cash games, and a great summer tourney series.

And after a rough session of repeatedly getting your Ace-deuce counterfeited, what better tilt-buster than firing off a few frames in the bowling alley upstairs!

Orleans gators

The welcoming committee at the Orleans

Palace Station

Look, I’m not going to lie to you. I’m using you for your Oyster Bar.

But since I don’t really fire in the pit or play slots, you’ll find me in the poker room making that oyster money between sessions of shucking and slurping.

Seriously though, the Oyster Bar at Palace Station is freakin’ amazing for oysters and other seafood.

Planet Hollywood

Day or night, you’re bringing something cool to the table.

Nowhere else in Vegas can I wake up, go to a casino, have a (decent) $5 breakfast, play a few hours, then have a (really good) $5 lunch.

I’m not going to spill the entire secret, but with a little research, you can discover these gems inside the adjacent Miracle Mile Shops.

Then at night PH, it’s go-time!

I know a lot of people generally prefer a quieter room with sounds of chips riffling, some banter, and the occasional bad-beat outburst. Yah, that’s cool and all, but sometimes, I want the party!

I want the music pumping on the casino floor. I want the flashing lights. I want the go-go dancers swaying above the nearby blackjack tables.

A nighttime poker session at PH is really like nothing else in Vegas, and it might be the most fun you’ll ever have at a table.

Red Rock

Oh, Red Rock Canyon. You are beautiful.

Red Rock canyon

Okay, look. If for whatever reason you’ve only ever been to the Strip or Fremont Street while visiting Las Vegas, let me tell you, you’re missing out. I made this mistake for far too long.

The first time I rented a car and drove west through lovely Summerlin, past the edge of the city limits and into the desert, it was mind-blowing. And the fact that one of the nicest casinos to play poker in is just minutes away? What a combination!

Trust me on this one. A morning hike, followed by a profitable enough session to pay for the car rental plus a meal and a beer at the Yard House afterward? Chef’s kiss of a day right there.

Rio (During the WSOP)

It’s true. You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.

Right now, I’d happily freeze my ass off in the Amazon room, endure the full-court press from the phone charger guys in your hallowed hallways, and battle huge lines for well, pretty much everything.

Hell, I’d even play in the storage closet / bowling alley just to see you again. (Congrats, by the way, on wresting the name ‘Ivey’s Room’ away from Aria with that one.)

With maybe just one more WSOP within your walls, that might just feel as special as my first one.

I hope everyone appreciates you a little more once we’re all finally back.

Sahara

There was nowhere I was looking forward to visiting more.

We’ve flirted online, I’ve seen your pictures; you’ve teased me mercilessly.

Players rave about your staff, the games and the promotions. I’m even told your chairs are comfier than MGM Grand! I need to know for myself, and I can’t wait.

But since I haven’t actually played poker in that brand-new room yet, and these stories are about what I miss about you…

Well from Northside Café’s decadent breakfasts to Bazaar Meat’s incredible steaks; oh do I eat well when I stay at Sahara! That walk down the Strip doesn’t seem so daunting when you know you have 10,000 calories of delicious meals to burn off.

On top of that, your beds are the comfiest ever, your pools are chill and fun, and your casino floor and bars are just sexy as hell. You truly are a hidden gem right in the open, up at the top of the Strip.

And now you have a groovy little poker room too. I can’t wait.

The #SAHARALasVegas poker room is looking mighty fine this #SuperBowl 😍 Coming soon… 🚧 pic.twitter.com/DX7gcJaL9Q

— SAHARA Las Vegas (@SAHARALasVegas) February 3, 2020

Sam’s Town

Oh, the sights you’ve seen.

As a poker geek fascinated by the history of the game, when I heard about what’s happened within your walls, I had to pay you a visit.

Everyone may know that Bobby’s Room is home of the big game. But when Bobby Baldwin was president of Bellagio in the early 2000s and wanted to play in that game, he couldn’t because it might have been perceived as a conflict of interest.

That’s where you come in. The game would be relocated to this classic old Boulder Strip casino to accommodate Baldwin.

On my visit last fall, I embraced the old-school, rough-around-the-edges feel of your casino and historic poker room. It was like a trip back in time, right down to the classic slot machines lining the back wall near the poker room.

Sam's Town slot machine

Anybody got a pocketful of change for this baby?

I loved your history and was pleasantly surprised by the mystery bounty tournament that drew one of the better fields I’d seen for a daily Las Vegas tourney!

And if the Killers like you enough to name an album after you? Well you’re okay by me!

South Point

I’m always going to have a soft spot for you because of your equestrian / rodeo arena. I had a helluva fun day there a few years back, and I’m certainly not going to blame you for an unfortunate incident in the stables. That was my own stupidity for going back there in flip-flops. But I digress…

Thank you for embracing the MUGs! Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen’s meetup games have found a happy Las Vegas home within your walls, and have been more successful than ever, with a big assist from you!

Your room is always bouncing for the boys, and I hope to get back there for more bomb pots and shenanigans ASAP!

Venetian

Hi there. it’s been a while. Like, Black Friday a while. (Hi Sheldon.)

I know a lot of players still like your poker room, and I’ve read that you’ve been pretty good to your employees through all this.

So, for all of them, I wish you well.

Westgate

You’re so eager to please, and anyone that knows that absolutely loves you for it!

The nonsense your staff put up with on a night last summer, when a group of knuckleheaded mixed game players basically hijacked your room, your dealers, your servers, your massage therapists, everyone. And you loved it all and asked if there was more you could do!

You accommodated in spades when Robbie hosted his meetup game, and have been amazing hosts for other meetup games as well.

Mixed Game crew

Fun times were had (even with Robbie on my direct left…)

Oh, and you’re also the home of this little beauty…

Westgate Fruity Pebbles donut

Yup, that’s a donut with Fruity Pebbles on top. Yabba dabba doo!

And finally, three simple words: World’s. Largest. Sportsbook.

You rock, Westgate.

Wynn

Damn. I mean, just look at you.

Wynn Poker Room

Where else can a small stakes player feel like they’re playing in a glamourous high-stakes area?

I feel my t-shirt and jeans transform into a tuxedo when I step inside. My sneakers refashion themselves into patent leather Oxfords. My beer morphs into a martini (although I guess I could just order a martini).

I can only speak as a visitor, and not one of the fortunate folks who can play there regularly, but I feel special when playing at the Wynn.

So yeah, I miss you Vegas.

A lot has changed over the 16+ years we’ve known each other, and things will definitely be changing again, no time more than in the very near future.

I know it won’t be like it was for a while, and that’s okay. It’s for the best. In time, you’ll be back.

For now, I’ll be keeping a close eye on you from afar. Watching you return to your glorious, beautiful self.

I’ll be eagerly awaiting my return to you, and your return to the world.

Love,

Mike

The first half of the PokerStars 2020 Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) is now over and I was fortunate enough to have had paid work providing live updates for nearly half a dozen tournaments for PokerNews, many of which featured today’s highest-ranked online poker players.

For #poker live reporting I pretty much know what to expect but certainly cannot say the same for the #online edition.

This upcoming #SCOOP2020 coverage for @PokerNews will certainly be interesting. 7pm starting times most of the days as well, I better stock up on #coffee.

— Christian Zetzsche (@zedmaster84) April 30, 2020

It is essentially a much faster version of what I have been doing for a living on the live poker circuit for several years now, and while many things are alike, some obvious differences exist.

A Very Different Kind of Commute

There is no need to leave early from the hotel and head for the location of the tournament, which may require a walk of more than 30 minutes at times. No media credentials are required, you don’t have to open your bag for a brief inspection and then figure out if there is any table available at all near the tournament area where you can set up.

Christian Zetzsche

You also don’t have to stroll through the tournament area and check if you recognize any notable faces early on that should be tracked throughout the day. Instead, all you need is a computer and a mouse to scroll through the tournament lobby for well-known aliases and pop open their tables.

In case you miss a hand or some details of it, the hand replayer provides everything you need to know including the positions, bet sizes, community cards and all cards upon showdown. A huge advantage is the fact that we do not have to gaze three times into the stack of a player and guess whether or not those are piled up in 20s or not. Some players love to build walls or towers to keep their opponents guessing while the stack sizes at online poker are known at every point throughout a hand.

The downside comes rather quickly, too, as live poker has limitations on bet sizes whereas online poker offers a gigantic potential for randomness. As a wannabe perfectionist, I prefer to include the exact bet sizing and end up staring at the screen for 10 seconds to figure out how many digits that actually have been deep in an online tournament. Was it two-thirds of the pot, a certain preset or just a random amount based on where the slider stopped?

In live poker, you will only ever stumble over a limited number of interesting hands that warrant a post whereas online the sheer number of hands being played is gigantic. Not only as a poker player but also as a reporter the “hand selection” matters to portray what happened throughout a tournament. There can be a ton of noteworthy hands at the same time on six tables of a high stakes tournament in a matter of five minutes, whereas one single hand in a live MTT may take longer than that.

A Bittersweet Experience

There are two things I miss the most about the live poker events. The traveling that comes along with it and the social aspect. Being able to explore other countries and cultures during all the trips in the last few years certainly makes up for the long hours and near-constant stress from start-to-finish.

Heading from the living room to the kitchen and back to grab some healthy snacks during one of the scheduled five-minute breaks is not necessarily as exciting as spending more than a full day by train and plane in order to travel to the other side of the planet.

And while you can use the chat to “talk” with other players and friends that may be watching, it just isn’t the same at all as speaking with them in person. Unless the player is streaming from their home office, it is also impossible to tell any kind of emotional reaction to the action and outcome of a poker hand either. There is barely any time for that while five other tables have already dealt the next hand and beep to get your attention.

Gotta Respect the Online Grinders

One specific thing dawned on me after the first two days of live reporting. As someone who usually tries the utmost to provide as much information as possible, I had up to 10 tables open for hours and that number only increased once the field got smaller. My own online poker exploits many years ago never included more than four, perhaps five tables at the most. At the end of the day I felt mentally drained and didn’t even have to make any decision for thousands of dollars of equity.

Kudos to all those online poker professionals who can run a dozen or even two dozen tables at the same time and maintain a strong mental game if things don’t go as expected! I don’t think I would be able to do it in a profitable way, nor do I have the in-depth poker knowledge or math integrated into my thinking process to make as many quick-fire decisions over such a prolonged period.

Nine hours of #SCOOP2020 #PKO updates done for the day, time to rest the brain. pic.twitter.com/Ez9M55pMqj

— Christian Zetzsche (@zedmaster84) May 11, 2020

After the first few days of online reporting I started preparing healthy snacks — fruits or salads in Tupperware containers — and grabbed some of them during the break to stock up on energy. And as part of a deal with a friend, we also decided to run a mix of short exercises during the scheduled 5-minute breaks to create some momentum throughout the evening and night shift.

Some short bike trips or running in the nearby woods will hopefully be part of the daily routine soon as well, and the only thing I still have to figure out is healthier cooking and getting rid of the extra few pounds I have gathered during the lockdown so far.

Online gambling is among the most popular hobbies in the world, and a large number of players take part in it each day. However, with a spike in the number of online casinos out there, the fraudulent platforms are also booming, unfortunately. Hence, it becomes crucial to evaluate certain aspects before commencing with online gambling, especially if you’re a newbie.

Here, then, is a brief guide, taking you through some of the critical facets that can help you make the most of your online casino experience.

poker chips

Learn the basics of wagering

Getting the hang of the wagering jargon can surely enhance your gameplay. Understanding basic terms and techniques can assist you in the long run, leading you to master the art of wagering.

Therefore, before entering into the realm, primarily direct yourself towards acquiring an in-depth knowledge of wagering. Concerning this, you can dive into various books and videos to learn about all the ploys and gimmicks. This will assist you to brush up your skills and enjoy your online casino gameplay with each bet that you place.

Choose a reliable platform

With online sports betting Illinois thriving at a whole new pace, there are numerous online casinos aligned over the Internet—each serving with different features and working with specific programs. However, make sure to browse through all the accessible options and compare your findings before registering at any gambling platform. Besides this, assure that the casino you’re signing up for carries a certified license

Review all the top-rated casinos and finalize the one considering your choice and preferences while assessing the essential prerequisites.

Use welcome bounties and rewards

Online casinos use all the tips and tricks to attract more and more players, and welcome bonuses are one such way to get new potential customers while keeping the regular gamblers hooked to the platform.

Thus, you should leverage these rewards to make the most of the opportunities to win at your favorite games. You can also try different games offered at the online casino so as to discover what best suits your interest.

Pay heed to payment modes and methods

Check for all the banking options that the casino has to offer. Make sure; it has viable payment methods as per your accessibility. This is to ensure that you don’t struggle when it comes to withdrawing your wins or making deposits while signing up for your desired casino.

Payment Methods

Some popular online casino payment methods

Decide on a budget

Ensure that you don’t forget to set a pre-fixed budget before making your first foray into the online casino gameplay. Bet only as much as you are willing to lose without it affecting your day-to-day life. This will not only prevent you from making any major sort of financial mistake, but it will also enable you to get a lot more enjoyment out of playing online casino games, knowing that you’re just aiming to have fun and that if you lose it won’t be too big a deal.

Remember not to chase your losses while striving for the big wins. Hold back once you get to reach the limit, no matter what, because responsible gaming is the key to doing online gambling the right way.

In our last column, we talked about the different kinds of poker tables for home games. Well, now that you have your super awesome poker table, it’s time to consider what kind of poker chips you’d like to get. In this column, we’ll go through the different types of poker chips currently available in the market, and I’ll give my personal opinion ranking them from most entry level to highest in terms of quality.

Basic Poker Chips

When you first start and you go super economical, you can buy poker chips online, or maybe at a Walmart, or at a Target. If they’re something that’s super light, something like a four gram, really low-weight plastic poker chips, those are sort of your beginner novelty chips that you can get that come with a deck of Bicycle cards or something like that; And that’ll work great for something that it needs to do, which is being a poker chip.

Standard Inlay Poker Chips

As you start looking more and you’re hosting home games more often, maybe look into investing something that’s going to have a little longevity and add a little character to your home game. So in that case, the next step up in terms of quality and readily available are anything that you see is like a 13.5 gram weight all the way up to a 15 gram weight. You’ll often see them marked as inlay chips.

What gives the inlay chip a heavier feel is it usually has a piece of weight, generally a piece of metal, inside the plastic. So, those chips are primarily made of plastic on the outside coated over a metal slug to give it the weight. There’s a variety of different designs where they use a sticker to show the denomination and have different artwork designs. This is great, and they generally come from Asia. I’ve seen all kinds of poker chips.

standard poker chip set

500 pc No Brainer Chip Set For All You Zombie-Loving Poker Players. Comes With Carrying Case and Two Decks of Cards

Worth noting is that a failure points for these particular inlay chips is that if they’ve been out for too long or the grade of glue that they used is not very good sometimes the stickers may fall off after a while. That’s sort of the extent of the failure of these types of chips. And just personally, I think a 13.5 or 15 gram chip is a little overkill for the game. They feel good, but when you’ve got five hundred of them and you try to lug it around that’s maybe a 27-pound case that you’re carrying around too. It does become a little heavy sometimes.

Premium Quality Poker Chips

Now the third quality chip – my personal favorite – is 10 gram ceramic poker chips. Ceramic poker chips are really cool in that there’s no inlay, no metal inside of it. It starts as just a white ceramic base, and what they do is they use this process called dye sublimation. What this means, in layman’s terms, is that there’s changes from a piece of paper on ink, and you heat it and it turns to gas, which fuses on your blank ceramic canvas. Very cool technology. And what that yields is a product that doesn’t need a sticker. It’s able to replicate the entire color spectrum. And you’ve got some really cool artwork in this ceramic grade of chip.

classic casino poker chips

Classic Casino Style Poker Chips – Perfect For Fans of Old-School Casino Design and Available in 8 Denominations

I think the cool thing about not having the metal inlay is the lighter weight. They still feel great, like a casino chip, and some of your real casino chips only weigh 9 or 10 grams, so it’s actually on point in terms of weight. Plus you’ll get really cool graphics with it, which is why they’re my personal favorite.

The Rolls Royce of Poker Chips

Now if you have a long established game and you want to go all out, and you want to get the Rolls Royce of poker chips – the experience that you get at a premium casino – you’re generally playing with all-clay chips. You may have heard the brand Paulson before. Those chips are 100% clay. They’re also made with a mix of materials with security features built into the poker chip. A very technologically advanced product that is generally overkill for most home games, but if you wanted to go super high roller, those are kind of the cream of the crop.

The only problem with these cream of crop casino poker chips is that about four years ago Paulson and other companies stopped producing them for private consumption, so the only way to get them now would be to buy them on the second-hand market, or to get them from a casino that has shut down or rebranded. The cost of these chips are pretty expensive. Sometimes they even cost upwards of $2 per poker chip, so you might be looking at $1,000 for a 500-piece set, which makes it highly desirable and highly luxurious and premium at the same time.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Once you have a really cool poker table from BBO Poker Tables, and you’re looking at some really cool poker chips to match, that sort of covers the entire gamut of what’s out there in terms of poker chips, presently.

I hope you’ve learned a little bit about poker chips and the poker chip market. Remember you can always reach out to me at [email protected]. Until next time, this is George from BBO wishing you the best home games.

The idea that online poker might be rigged seems to still be present in some players’ minds even though the game has now been around for close to two decades. Although these players are a minority, they are a very vocal minority unafraid to make their voices heard.

Moreover, there are also many players who aren’t quite sure what to think about this whole topic. The fact of the matter is that it is hard to change someone’s mind once it is fully made up. Even, no amount of evidence will do in some cases!

In any event, for those wondering who’s right and who’s not, let me try to answer the question “is online poker rigged?” once and for all.

rigged

1. The increased number of bad beats online is just an illusion

Players will often claim they experience an unusually large number of horrible bad beats when playing online. They base these conclusions off of their experience in live games, arguing that such things could almost never happen in a live setting.

The truth is that this is an illusion created by the fact you’ll play many more hands over the same period of time when playing online. You’ll see twice as many hands at a single online table, and most players play at least two or three tables simultaneously on top of that.

Randy Lew

Randy Lew multi-tabling online (for illustrative purposes only)

This means you are able to experience a month’s-worth of live play in a single night playing online on some occasions, depending on how often you go to your local poker room or play in a home game, of course. This makes it seem like your made hands are being cracked way too often, but what really happens is that you are simply encountering more of these situations than in live sessions and are just seeing your share of bad beats.

So the next time someone types GG WP in chat and then hits his magic one outer on the river, do not assume he knew what is coming and that the games are not fair.

2. Online poker rooms operate on an RNG that can’t be tampered with.

Every poker site out there features a Random Number Generator (RNG) that is tasked with providing fair and random results for every hand. The RNG works as a shuffling machine, ensuring every card that comes out of the virtual deck is entirely arbitrary, and it is independent of the players’ hole cards, or already dealt community cards.

These RNG algorithms are usually developed by independent companies, and poker rooms don’t have the kind of access required to tamper with the code. Once it is implemented, the algorithm does its thing over and over again, without any outside influences.

secure online poker

In theory, a poker room could order a custom RNG that they would use to rig the games. However, this would be a complicated algorithm to develop, and it wouldn’t last very long. All serious operators are regularly inspected by their licensing authorities, and it wouldn’t take much to figure out that the underlying RNG isn’t truly random.

3. There isn’t a single piece of real evidence of online poker being rigged

While there are many conspiracy theories floating out there, there isn’t a single concrete proof that online poker is rigged. In fact, the results of all players who have big hand samples seem to be within statistical expectations. Again, that’s with online poker being around for close to 20 years!

This is probably the most significant piece of evidence that online poker is fair. If it were not, someone would notice things were off. If a player were losing money overall with pocket aces after playing a million hands, that would be a good reason to trigger an investigation of a particular room, for example. But this hasn’t happened as of yet.

All the “evidence” of poker sites being rigged comes from cherry-picked hands that do look “fishy” in isolation but aren’t surprising in the grand scheme of things. After all, you might lose even with flopped quads every now and then! It is rare, but it does happen. If you were to lose with flopped quads ten times in a row, that would be a red flag, but, again, it doesn’t happen.

Conclusion

So, to sum it up, if you’re wondering if online poker is rigged, the answer is no. It’s just faster than the live version of the game, and people are more prone to doing crazy stuff online because there is no one physically sitting across the table. This can create a feeling that online games are “off” somehow, but it’s all just an illusion.

So, instead of worrying about it, focus on improving your game and playing as many hands correctly as possible. You’ll see that in the long run, the online setting — just like the live one — rewards the best and most consistent players.

For an enjoyable time at the casino, nothing beats the thrill of classic card games. Although slots may often pay out more and take up more floor space, card games have always been a fan favorite at the casino. Part of the reason for their popularity is that they tend to favor skill as well as luck. But card games are also a lot of fun, and if you play your cards right, you can still land some big wins.

casino lifestyle

Playing card games online is also a great way to unlock a casino bonus. Check out Pennsylvania no deposit bonuses to discover the best bonuses for card games. You can use your bonus to play without risking your own personal cash.

We’ve put together a list of some of the most exciting casino card games. Here you’ll find some of the most popular games at any online casino. We’ll even let you know which are the casino games with the best odds.

Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the world’s most popular casino games. Sometimes known as Twenty-One, the game revolves around trying to reach the number twenty-one and beat the dealer. Its popularity is partly thanks to the skill-based element of the game and partly thanks to its very low house edge.

Unlike a lot of casino games, Blackjack isn’t is all about luck. Sure, there’s some luck involved in which cards you get. But by using strategy, players can give themselves a bigger advantage.

If you’ve never played before, the game is pretty simple to explain. You’ll start off being dealt two cards and can choose to bet, fold, or take another card. The aim is to get the highest hand possible while not exceeding twenty-one. You play against the dealer and will need to have a hand higher than theirs to win.

Baccarat

Baccarat is a little similar to Blackjack in the way that you’ll be playing against the dealer to try and get the higher hand. Unlike Blackjack, however, Baccarat involves a bit more luck. Rather than choosing to hit or stand, in most versions of Baccarat, you don’t get to choose.

Baccarat is also sometimes known as Punto Banco. While there are different versions, almost all require a player to reach a high hand as close to nine as possible. In Baccarat, if your hand value goes into double digits, the true value will be the second digit of the hand. So, for example, if you have a seven and eight to make fifteen, your hand would be worth five.

Before the game starts, you’ll be able to bet on yourself, the dealer, or a tie. That means that even if you lose a hand, you could still win, providing you bet on the dealer beforehand. Both dealer and player bets pay out even money. Some casinos may charge a 5% commission on any winnings from betting on the banker, but this option still has the lowest house edge.

Casino Hold ‘Em

Casino Hold ‘Em follows the same rule set as Texas Hold ‘Em Poker. The only difference is that rather than playing against other players, you’ll be up against the dealer. While this may not be as exciting as traditional Texas Hold ‘Em for some, more online casinos offer this game type. It’s also ideal for beginner players.

Casino Hold ‘Em gives new players a great chance to learn the game well before going up against lots of more experienced players in online Poker. You can play Casino Hold ‘Em using casino bonuses to try the game out risk-free.

Video Poker

Video Poker is a little different from the others on this list, as it isn’t played with real cards. However, most games of Video Poker use the five-card Poker rule set. Rather than playing with a deck of playing cards, this game is played on a machine.

These are perfect for beginners to play as they’re easy to follow, and the rules are very straightforward. Most Video Poker games also pay out very well should you win. There are lots of different versions of Video Poker, including Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better and Wild Poker. The most common type is classic five-card Poker.

In standard Video Poker, you’ll be dealt five cards to begin with. You can then choose to swap your cards for new ones as you try to make the best possible hand. In most cases, hand values are the same as in Poker. So, you’ll be trying to land straights, flushes and so on.