2008      Jul 14

Through movies and television programs where the characters engage in playing poker and through televised poker games, poker has soared in popularity in Germany as in other European countries. Added to this is the technology that has inspired online poker so that players can sit at home and engage in what has now become known as a sport, but it doesn’t involve any physical activity. Poker rules are simple to learn from the simple draw games to Texas Hold’Em. Omaha poker is a little more complicated but it is a fascinating game. And best of all you don’t have to play with real money if you don’t want to when you play online.

Both Texas Hold’Em and Omaha are identical in the procedure in which the games are played. The rules of these games are the same for both German and US players.

The two players to the left of the dealer put the big and small blinds into the pot to start the game. These are the only players with money in the pot before any cards are dealt. The dealer gives each of the players two cards face down. In Omaha, the players receive four cards. The player sitting next to the player that placed the big blind starts the betting when he/she looks at the cards. If this player decides that the cards are no good, he/she will throw them away and not place a bid. Then each player in turn will either bid or fold.

Once this round is complete, and there are players who have bet, the dealer throws away (burns) the top card on the deck and then places three cards face up in the middle of the table. These are the cards the players can use to match with what they have in their hand to make a poker hand. Then another round of betting ensues, after which the dealer lays another card face up. This is called the flop. After this there is another bet and then another card called the turn. The final round of betting ends with the River card and when the players show what cards they hold in their hands a winner is declared. At any time in this process, a player can decide to fold and not take a chance on losing nay more money.

The difference in the two games of poker is in Omaha high low poker. This is a split pot game in which the player with the best high hand wins half the pot and the player with the best low hand wins half the pot. If there is no qualifying low hand then the player with the best high hand takes all the pot.

Making a high hand is the same as in regular Omaha with the hands starting at the top with a Royal flush and working down through the ranks to the lowest poker hand of one pair. The player can only use two of the cards in his/her hand to combine with the community cards to form a high poker hand and the remaining two cards to use to form a low poker hand. The difference is that in order for the cards to qualify as a low hand, they must all be eight or less.

For more information on poker rules in German poker regeln as well as great poker strategy poker strategie advice and other poker related topics visit http://www.PokerTips.org

2008      Jul 14

Now that major poker tournaments are being held in Germany due to the popularity of the game, it is important for German players to benefit from tips from professionals to help them win their game. Even though many people have enjoyed the game for hundreds of years, it has exploded all over the Europe with thousands of people playing online. Whether you play at home, in the casino or online, you need to know the difference in how to play a successful game and how to play a successful tournament. In a tournament, you need to win all of the chips to be the winner. If you don’t make a bet and take a risk, you will lose your chips in paying out the blinds when you turn comes around.

You do need luck on your side no matter how much skill and experience you have. Although the televised games shown in German TV give the appearance that all the players make a lot of money, the truth is that only a small number of players actually make a living from playing in tournaments.

There is a difference between ring games and tournament games. In a ring game, a German player must collect the maximum amount of chips. In a tournament game, the same player must collect ALL of the chips within a specific timeframe and with constantly increasing blinds. This means you have to win more hands and win the chips much faster in a tournament.

The Gap Concept is one that many players in Europe are now applying to their game. This means you have to remember that you need a better hand than the person who has placed the blind than what you would need to open the betting yourself. You do need to have a really good hand to call a bet, but a fair hand would be all right for placing a bet. You do have to follow the blinds in playing the game. At the beginning you can play tight and wait for other players to make mistakes. However, as the blinds start to rise, you will need to take chances and make bets.

Don’t worry about how many German players are left at other tables. Focus your attention on the table at which you are playing. Your goal is to become the chip leader and to maintain that position until the end. There will be times when you will lose your lead, but you can bring it back up with just one good hand. Learning to read your opponents is an important skill because through observation you will learn whether or not they have a good hand. You will also be able to get an idea of how they play and this can help you outplay them when you know you have the best hand.

A good player doesn’t stick to the same plan all the time. He/She can change strategies in the middle of the game when the time is right. Position, the action of the blinds and reading other players are strategies that will help you succeed in tournaments.

For more great poker strategy poker strategie advice for German players as well as information on poker rules poker regeln and other poker topics visit http://de.PokerTips.org

2008      Apr 10

There are many vices lurking in the society today. One of which is gambling.

What’s even worse is the fact that people who are so hooked up with gambling have the tendency to get addicted to it.

Addiction is a serious social issue that society is still trying to muster. With gambling addiction, gamblers just don’t lose money but life and family as well. That is why it is extremely important to solve the problem.

In reality, there are available measures and methods so as to treat gambling addiction. Some of which are:

1. Through medications.

Usually, gambling addicts are treated through medications in the form of anti-depressants or what medical experts call as Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or the SSRR. This medication has been proven to treat pathological gamblers or those who feel the blow whenever they win.

2. Through psychological treatments.

Most psychologists contend that the problem of gambling addiction is often associated with a problem on their cognitive behavior. Hence, it would be better to let the gambling addicts undergo cognitive behavior therapy.

In this process, the gambling addicts are taught how to get rid of the negative ideas and replace them with positive ones.

3. Through group therapy.

Group discussions are also effective in treating gambling addiction. Through this method, gamblers will get to interact and discuss their own personal problems that led them to gambling.

One great advantage of this therapy is that gamblers get to listen to other gamblers stories. They will be able to understand some angles that may sound just like their very own situations but were unable to identify them because of the feeling of rejection or shame.

Gambling addiction must be stopped at once. It has already dominated the society and even perpetuated the problem among college students. In 2004, the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania has reported that 11.4% of their male students are fond of betting cards at least once a week. This was deemed alarming because they had only 6.2% on the previous year’s report, which made it an increase of 84% in just one year.

Moreover, according to the Journal of Gambling Studies, gamblers who are college students make up 1.6% of the total population. It may seem little at first but the fact that the percentage is gradually increasing is enough to cause alarm.

So, the best way to cure treat gambling addiction is to lessen the chances of playing. This is because the more people can play the greater chances they get addicted.

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2008      Mar 29

Playing fruit machines is fun and for most people provides an enjoy experience as long as the personal financial risks are minimal. The majority of fruit machine players are well able to keep the correct balance between having fun and managing the risks, but for a small number of people this form of gambling can become a big problem.

Their life can be dominated by the need to play fruit machine games well beyond their financial means. Problem gamblers will continue to play fruit machines whether they are winning or losing. Often they will use their own and other people’s money to fund their addiction. Their family life, jobs and other interests will suffer as a consequence.

Someone who thinks they have a gambling problem should ask themselves the following questions?

* Have you ever lose time from work or education because you are gambling?
* Do you gamble to pay off debts?
* Do you feel you must return to a fruit machine as soon as possible to win back losses?
* Have you ever gambled until all your money is gone?
* Do you borrow money to fund your gambling?
* Have you ever committed or considered committing a crime to fund your gambling?
* Do you ever neglect your family and friends to continue gambling?

Most compulsive gamblers will answer YES to at least FOUR of these questions; fruit machine gambling problems are more common than many other types of gambling addiction.

The perceived view is that fruit machines are on the softer side of gambling and as such are licensed in the UK at locations where you wouldn’t normally be allowed to gamble, most pubs will have at least two fruit machines on the premises and motorway service stations can have up to 20 different machines on site. You will also come across machines in bookmakers, high street arcades, airports and on ferries.

This availability of fruit machines makes it very difficult for those with a problem to avoid them in everyday life. Until very recently you could also find them in fast food outlets and taxi offices! Recently the law has been change and the number of venues allowed to install fruit machines has been reduced.

If you feel that your fruit machine gambling is becoming a problem there are a number for organizations out there to help you. In the UK GamCare is the national centre for information, advice and practical help regarding the social impact of gambling. GamCare runs a helpline manned by trained staff. They can offer counseling, information and advice to problem gamblers, family members and friends of a gambler. You can call the helpline from the UK on 0845 6000 133. You can also find support and help at gamblersanonymous which runs support groups in many cities. You can call their national helpline on: 020 7384 3040

Paul Edison invites you to find out more about fruit machines and dealing with gambling problems at www.fruitmachine.me.uk

2008      Mar 28

A compulsive gambler is a person who is not able to resist the urge to gamble. The compulsiveness leads to severe personal and social consequences. The desire to gamble becomes so difficult to control that stress can only be calmed by gambling more.

1. Walks, Talks and Breathes Gambling.

The compulsive gambler preoccupies himself with gambling. He tells story of previous experiences. The compulsive gambler often discuss with anybody willing to listen, his new schemes or next winning strategy.

2. More, more and more.

The compulsive gambler finds himself gambling more and more money. In most cases he is not gambling for a bigger prize but for an increased thrill or excitement. The time he spends gambling usually lasts longer than planned.

3. Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop.

The compulsive has repeatedly been unable to curb his gambling. Worse, he becomes irritable and restless when attempting to cut back or stop altogether. Unfortunately, gambling is a way of escaping or relieving his problems.

4. Lies, lies and more lies.

The compulsive gambler starts lying to family and friends in order to hide his habit. But lies and brags about winnings. He denies having a problem when confronted. Often becomes angry if the issue is pursued. The lies start to become a way of life for the compulsive gambler.

5. Show me the money.

He starts depending on others to help in dire financial situations. He often borrows from family and friends to support his increasingly worsening problem. Mortgages and loans are refinanced. Life insurance is cashed in, as well as his 401k. The gambler may then start committing fraud and theft to finance gambling.

6. Self Destructing

Career is jeopardized or relationships with loved ones and friends are eroding. There is a tremendous amount of shame and remorse felt after gambling. Will consider or attempt suicide due to extreme helplessness of situation.

7. Losing control.

A shift in personality often happens to the compulsive gambler. He starts being manipulative, irritable, argumentative, critical, and controlling. The compulsive gambler starts losing interest in his regular activities and hobbies. Then makes poor excuses or evades questions of his whereabouts. Often withdraws from love ones and friends. Sees gambling as a way to cope and deal with his problems.

8. No Sense of time.

The compulsive gambler begins gambling to celebrate and in crisis. He starts spending his time gambling on holidays and special events.

Prevention is difficult and will not always be likely. Counseling may help people who are more susceptible to compulsive gambling. People who know of relatives that are compulsive gambler might be at risk and must be especially wary.

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