Students Of Success

Online poker software is a poker game with real people. That’s the most important lesson you should learn from our article. We’ll be teaching you guidelines and concepts you’ll be able to use with great success, and you’ll quickly become a very good player. But, if your ambition is to become a great player, a top flight Pro, a superstar … you’ll need to really understand your poker opponents. You’ll need to get inside your opponent’s head and be able to estimate with a high degree of certainty what his check, bet or raise really means … and what hand he’s likely to be playing.

Being able to do that accurately isn’t easy. But you can do it if you’re alert, observant, disciplined and if you concentrate whenever you play (whether or not you’re involved in the pot). Using our advice and the advice of our expert collaborators, you’ll find that the “task” of unmasking your Online poker software faced poker opponents will become easier and easier.

When you’re able to put your opponent on exactly the hand he’s playing (because you know him almost as well as he knows himself) you can select the best strategy possible for that particular Online poker software situation. When you reach that level of skill, you’ll be a complete player.

That’s what Online poker software’s all about. People…and the strategy you use against them. More than any other poker game, Online poker software depends on your understanding your opponent. You’ve got to know what makes him tick. More importantly, you’ve got to know what makes him tick at the moment you’re involved in a pot with him. What’s his mood … his feeling? What’s his apparent psychological frame of mind right now? Is he in the Mood to gamble … or is he just sitting there waiting for the nuts? Is he a loser and on tilt (playing far below his normal capability) … or has he screwed down (despite his being loser) and begun playing his best possible poker game? Is he a cocky winner who’s now playing carelessly and throwing off most of his winnings…or is he a winner who’s started to play very tight so he can protect his gains?

When you can accurately answer questions like those (and there are many more like them) … and employ the other ideas, principles, rules, techniques and strategies We’ll teach you in this article you’ll be one super tough Online poker software player.

Put all of it together and your playing ability will border on being World Class. It takes a lot to play winning Online poker software at a World Class level because Online poker software is such a complex poker game more complex than any other poker game … or any other form of gambling.

For example, the difference between playing good Online poker software and playing good Blackjack is as vast as the difference between squad tactics and grand strategy in warfare. You can beat a Blackjack poker game by knowing exactly what to do in every situation…and doing it. That’s tactics. But in Online poker software you may face an identical situation twice against the same opponent, handle it two different ways, and be right both times. That’s strategy.

And that’s why there’s never going to be a computer that will play World Class Online poker software. It’s a people poker game. A computer could be programmed to handle the extensive mathematics of a Online poker software poker game. But the psychological complexities are another matter. A system figured out by computer can beat Blackjack because there the dealer has no options. He has to stand on 17, he has to hit 16.

A computer could play fair to middling Online poker software. But no computer could ever stand face to face with a table full of people it had never met before, and make quality, high profit decisions based on psychology. To do that requires perception and judgment. It requires a human mind.

The way I accumulate knowledge of a particular player is by listening to him, and looking at him, instead of talking

Nicholas Drach - Online poker software companies content writer.

And for Poker Portals: Poker Jeux Belgium and Poker Spil online - Dansk

The Best Gambling Spots Online

Gambling has always been akin to mentioning Las Vegas in one
breath. Nowhere has gambling been as lucrative and as consuming
as it is in Las Vegas. Thus, no one has called Las Vegas the
gambling capital without due cause.

However, the introduction of the internet has proven that
traditional gaming venues are becoming passe.

Thus, here is a rundown of the best gambling spots that you
could find online. A word of precaution to the buyer. . .be
careful.

Feature Check

There are some features you need to check and verify before
going into a website and loading your credit card information.

The website must be licensed. It also must have passed testing
by government regulatory agencies. Thus, it must show and prove
that it is regulated.

It must have policies against under age gambling, a code of
conduct for players and for responsible gaming.

It must also assure the privacy, security and safety of the
individual’s use. Information needs to be encrypted to keep all
client information confidential.

The games matter, thus, featured games must always be
up-to-date, interactive and challenging.

Sites to Choose From

If you are into internet gambling, some of the best spots you
can go to include:

* Sportsbetting.com is into the wagering system focused in
online sports gaming. It has been in operation for 15 years now
and one of the largest online sports gaming websites in the
world. * Sands of the Caribbean Online Casino offers a variety
of casino games such as video poker, slots, black jack,
roulette, and craps. It has been in operation, licensed and
established since August 1997. It has won several awards since
its operation began, such as the “Best Reputation” award for
three consecutive years from the Gambling Online Magazine in
2001 to 2003. It has also been awarded the “Best Payout/ E-Cash
Program” from the readers of the Casino Player Magazine. *
Winward Casino is another online casino leader since its
operations began in 1998. What Winward Casino has that others
don’t is its wireless capability that individuals can play via
their personal digital assistant (PDA) or cellular phones.

Payouts from these online casino gaming sites are within the
range of 95 percent to 99 percent each month. The customer
service is also open 24/7 to provide quality service
consistently to every player.

These are just one of the few online gambling spots that anyone
can check out. But remember, always be alert and look for the
safety features of any site before divulging your personal
information. Happy betting!

One of the classic casino games is the dice game known as Craps. Craps is a game with a rich history, and one that provides a great deal of action and excitement. This being the case, Craps was a natural to become part of the online gaming movement. Many online casinos now offer Craps. While this game may at first appear intimidating, it is actually relatively simple, and there are online resources that can help you with your Craps play, both live and online.

If you are just getting started with Craps, one site you might want to check out is www.online-craps.com. This site, sponsored by online casino Goldenpalace.com, offers a number of different Craps resources.

The first thing it offers is a Download Craps Center. Here you will find a variety of Craps software, along with some reviews to help you determine which the best one for you is. Many of these are practice programs to help you get a feel for the game before venturing into the world of real money Craps. You can download the Goldenpalace.com Casino Craps software from this page. There is also a free Craps game directly on the site which you can avail yourself of to get some practice.

You will also find a “Craps Guide” with tips and information related to the game of Craps. These tips largely revolve around the etiquette of the game, so if you plan to play Craps in a live casino at any point, they could come very much in handy.

There is also a Table Guide which provides a detailed description of who and what you will encounter at the Craps table. This guide comes with attractive, colorful photographs illustrating what is being discussed.

Another section of the site that will be helpful to you is the Craps Strategy Guide. This will give you a basic feel for what the best bets are to place to maximize your winning potential when playing Craps. This information could prove invaluable when playing for real money.

There is also a section about systems for beating Craps but this is really just an editorial on the fact that there is no system for beating Craps (assuming you are not cheating or illegally manipulating the dice in some way). The reality is the best way to beat Craps is to only take the best bets on the table and hope for a little luck to overcome the House edge.

Of course, no Craps website would be complete without a breakdown of the rules of Craps, and this site has one. An illustrated page gives you a breakdown of the basic rules and best you can make, with directions to the more esoteric bets listed in the strategy section.

All gaming experiences, online and live, are enhanced by a more complete knowledge of the game being played. This website is one way to get started on a comprehensive understanding of the game of Craps and a good step to maximizing your financial and entertainment value when playing.

Confessions of a professional poker player

This is an interview of one of Sweden’s most famous poker
players who recently won a larger online poker tournament with a
total prize pool of over $75 000. The interwiever, Eric Isaksson
owns the largest informational poker site in Sweden, Online poker information in
Swedish and also Online bingo
information, where this article was originally published.
This version of the interview has been shortened and translated
by Eric Isaksson himself. The interviewed player has asked to be
anonymous in this version of the interview. Therefore, no names
or anything else that can be used as hints or tips to find out
who the poker player actually is will be revealed in the
following interview.

You recently won an online poker tournament with over five
thousand participating players. How are you feeling after this
great achievement?

I am overwhelmed with happiness. Most of the tournament, I was
somewhere in the middle of the field and had no expectation of
winning. Finally, when we were just five people still playing, I
became the chip-leader. Not until then I actually realised I had
a realistic chance of winning. When I actually won the
tournament I stood up and screamed of joy. After this I
celebrated by taking a couple of drinks with some friends. It
took me a couple of days until I finally realised what I had
accomplished.

The prize contained a ticket to the WSOP (World Series Of
Poker), but you were too young. Were you disappointed when you
only got to participate in Monaco Millions?

No, not at all. Instead I was positively surprised. Mostly
because of the higher entrance-sum, meaning my prize was worth
even more money than it originally was supposed to have done.

Do you get nervous when playing against more famous players,
or is it nothing but an adrenalin kick for you?

Neither of above. I always comes to the larger tournaments
without any expectations since I know I will be playing against
the best poker players in the world. I have no demands on myself
to play at a certain level or reach a certain placement.

Now, I of course must ask if you consider yourself to be one
of the “more famous players”?

No, not quite yet. I’m still not fully evolved when it comes to
poker. However, I believe that if I keep playing and practising
my skills I will be among the 200 best players in the world
within a time period of 20 years. But I am not in a hurry.
Actually, I am satisfied as long as my playing evolves and I
keep making ridiculously much money.

I know since before that you also are a very talented
blackjack player. You have been writing articles for such sites
as Online Casino
Information, bj21.com and many others. What made you change
career and go into poker instead?

Well, it’s a quite simple choice really. The plus sides with
poker verses blackjack are enormous. It is a lot easier to win,
assuming you are a good player of course, and the fluctuations
in your bankroll is a lot smaller. Also, in poker, you don’t
have to face the risk of being caught counting cards by the
casino’s Super Visor and immediately getting kicked out…

The house edge, which is the commission that a gambling agent
such as a casino, a sportsbook (bookmaker), or a lottery
administrator charges, is a yardstick that measures how a
specific gambling game is fair and reasonable. It is one of the
most important factors that every player should consider
whenever he/she is engaged in any type of gambling, inasmuch as
it indicates how much of the money wagered goes to the gambling
agent’s pocket and how much is redistributed to the winners.

Indeed, a house edge cannot be zero since casinos, sportsbooks,
and lottery administrators have to make some money in order to
cover their expenses, and to make some profit as well. Yet, a
high house edge simply means that the players are unecessarily
being ripped-off, and as a result, any gambling game with a high
house edge should certainly be avoided by a knowledgeable
gambler.

In this article, we shall compare, in the simplest way possible,
the house edges of a roulette, an evens-odd betting, and a Cash
3 lottery game as representatives of the three major gambling
categories.

The Equation

The easiest way to compute a house edge is to compare the actual
winnings that are paid by the respective agents to the winnings
that would be paid in a fair game or bet. A fair game or a fair
bet is one in which no commission is involved; an obvious model
is a game between friends. Therefore, in percentage form, the
house edge is obtained by subtracting an actual game winning
from a fair game winning and dividing the result by the fair
game winning, finally multiplying by 100. Thus,

House Edge = [ (fair game winning - real game winning) / fair
game winning ] * 100

Roulette

Because of its simplicity and popularity, we shall consider the
roulette as a representative casino game. A European roulette
wheel has grooves marked by the numbers 0 to 36; the American
wheel (also called Las Vegas wheel) has an additional groove
marked as ‘00′. So, the European wheel has a total of 37
numbers, while the American wheel has 38. Internet casinos
usually make available the option to select the type of wheel
the customer prefers, but the brick and mortar casinos normally
offer only one type. The winning number in a roulette game is
the number corresponding to the groove where a spinning ball
lands.

Now, consider a fair game in which 38 friends are playing the
roulette at home, and each one selects a number and places a $1
bet on the number (no two or more players wagering on the same
number). When the ball is spun and lands in a groove, the number
marking that groove will be the winning number. The person who
has selected this winning number collects all the money on the
table thus making him win $37. On the other hand, if the game
were conducted in a casino, the winner would be paid only $35.
The difference between the two winnings applied in the above
equation gives us the house edge of a roulette game as

( 37 - 35 ) / 37 * 100  =  2 / 37 * 100  =  5.4%

This means that every time you spend a $100 on an offline or
online casino roulette, $5.40 goes to the casino and the rest is
redistributed to the winners. Evidently, there are quite a
number of casino games and the house edge varies from game to
game, many of them having a house edge less than that of the
roulette. For obvious reasons, a good gambler always prefers
games that have low house edges, while the casino itself loves
those games with high house edges. For example, the house edge
of craps is 1.4% which makes it one of the most preferred casino
games by the players.

Even-odds Sports Betting

Again, because of its simplicity, we shall consider an even-odds
betting as a representative of this category of gambling. By
even-odds we mean that the event (usually a sports game) has
equal chances of going either way. An example is a tennis match
between two competitive players each of which has an equal
chance of winning the match.

A fair bet, in this case, is just a simple bet between two
friends who just pick one of the tennis player as winner. If
these two friends wager $1 each, the winner will collect $2,
thus winning $1. If instead the bets are placed through a
sportsbook, the winner will collect only $1.91, since the odds
of an evens game at most bookies and online sportsbooks is 1.91.
If you are not familiar with the decimal representation of odds,
1.91 is the same as 10/11 in UK notation and -110 in US odds
notation. Odds of 10/11 mean that you’ll win $10 when you wager
$11; and odds of -110 mean that you have to wager $110 in order
to win $100. Anyway, since the winnings paid by a sportsbook is
only $0.91, the house edge of an even-odds betting will
therefore be

( 1 - 0.91 ) / 1 * 100 = 0.09 * 100  = 9%

So, this is how sportsbooks make a living. Since several
internet sportsbooks offer odds higher than 1.91 in order to
lure bettors, the house edge could be smaller than 9%, which is
one of the things that the bettor should be looking for when
searching for a sportsbook. On the other hand, if the bettor is
wagering on parlays the house edge would be significantly higher
than 9%; for big parlays, it could go as high as 40%.

It should be apparent by now that the gambler is better off with
casino games than sports betting. It should also be noted that
while the house edge could be a major factor to consider while
selecting a gambling game, it is by no means the only one. For
instance, one should consider the fact that casino games are
mostly games of chance, while sports betting also involves a
learned decision in selecting a pick, consequently leading to a
higher probability of winning a bet.

Cash 3

Depending on the state you are in, this lottery game may be
known by a different name such as Pick 3, Play 3, Daily 3, etc.
In this game, the player selects a three-digit number from 000
to 999, and plays the number as a straight or as a box. A
straight play is a prediction that the number will come exactly
as selected while a box is a prediction for the number to come
in any order. For instance, if a player selects the number 672
and plays it straight, he/she will win if the number drawn is
exactly 672. Instead, if the player plays 672 as a box, he/she
will win as long as the drawn number contains a 6, a 7 and a 2,
in any order (276, for example).  Obviously, a straight game
pays much more than a box game for the same amount wagered.

Now consider 1000 friends (maybe in a club) selecting a number
as a straight, each for $1, so that all the 1000 possible
numbers are covered. When the winning  number is drawn, the
person who has selected that lucky number will be deemed a
winner and will cash in all the $1000 collected, so making him
win $999. This is a fair game. In the case of state lotteries,
however, the winner will be paid only $500 in most states. Some
states may pay a little bit less, others may pay a little bit
more, but $500 is more or less the standard. The winner
therefore wins $499. The house edge for a Cash 3 game will
therefore be

( 999 - 499 ) / 999 * 100 = 500 / 999 * 100 = 50%

This house edge applies not only to the Cash 3 game but also to
all state lottery games such as Play 4, Cash 5, Mega, Fantasy 5,
Lotto, Power Ball, etc. So, whenever you are playing the state
lottery, remember that you are wagering only half of your money
on the actual lottery; the other half, you are  just giving it
away. Where this other half goes is not the gambler’s concern,
since his/her main objective is to win some money in order to
pay the ever present bills, or to get out of a miserable life,
or to change his/her 20-year-old car. As regards contributing to
education and other noble causes, there are other means of
collecting money called taxes and charities.

Unfortunately, many states do not allow casino games, and
furthermore,  sports betting is illegal in the United States.
The player is therefore left with no choice but to cross state
borders in search of a casino, or more recently, to engage in
online sports betting through the several offshore internet
sportsbooks. Nowadays, there is a plethora of trustworthy online
casinos and sportsbooks operating from Canada, the UK, Antigua,
Costa Rica, and so on.

The Conclusion

As far as the house edge is concerned, it has been shown that
casino games are the best choice for the gambler. On the other
end, any state lottery is a pretty miserable game to play.
Nevertheless, besides the house edge, there is also the
possibility of winning to consider.

Casino games, like lotteries are mostly games of chance; the
player just selects a number or numbers and waits to see what
luck brings him/her. There is absolutely no basis to prefer one
number to others. Some people try to analyze previously drawn
numbers in order to see the trend and predict the next numbers.
This strategy may work a few times, but not always. Keep in mind
that it is the players, and not the machines, who remember the
previous numbers. In short, the possibility of winning a
roulette or the lottery entirely depends on luck.

While there is little or nothing that a roulette or a lotto
player can do to initially select a possible winning number, the
situation could be quite different in the case of betting. With
a lot of information and some assistance from sports
handicappers, it is possible to predict the outcome of a sports
event with more certainty than predicting a Cash 3 number.

Think you know about poker and poker players?

This is the second in a series of poker quizzes.

For the first one, go to: http://ezinearticles.com/members/?type=pv&item=78341&author=Murphy%20James&pass=xXcshIotpgAt6

These are not questions about the best way to play a hand. Rather, these questions are about the culture of poker and the people of poker.

Give it a shot. Answers below.

1. The banker in the book, The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King

A. Howard Lederer
B. Barry Greenstein
C. Andy Beal
D. Andy Bloch

2. His neighbors in Longworth, Texas walked across the street so as not to be seen with a professional gambler

A. Amarillo Slim Preston
B. Doyle Brunson
C. Jack Straus
D. Sailor Roberts

3. The subject of the movie, “High Roller,” and the book, “One of a Kind.”

A. Phil Hellmuth
B. Stu Ungar
C. Phil Ivey
D. Chris “Jesus” Ferguson

4. The “Devilfish”

A. Carlos Mortensen
B. Dewey Tomko
C. Layne Flack
D. David Ulliott

5. The “Unabomber”

A. The boyfriend of Jennifer Tilly
B. The husband of Jen Harman
C. The chauffer of Kathy Liebert
D. The wife of T. J. Cloutier

6. His wife is a psychiatrist

A. Ted Forrest
B. Daniel Negreanu
C. Josh Arieh
D. Phil Hellmuth

7. Mom and Dad have Ph.D’s and so does this pro

A. Howard Lederer
B. Cindy Violette
C. Chris Moneymaker
D. Chris “Jesus” Ferguson

8. The first wife of Tom Cruise is a serious player

A. Nicole Kidman
B. Katie Holmes
C. Shannon Elizabeth
D. Mimi Rogers

9. Finished second to Joe Hachem at main event of the 2005 World Series of Poker

A. Mike Matusow
B. Greg Raymer
C. Steve Dannenmann
D. David Grey

10. The poker-playing son of Barry Greenstein

A. Huck Seed
B. John Murphy
C. Robert Varkonyi
D. Joe Sebok

And the answers:

1. Andy Beal is the banker in the Michael Craig book, “The Professor (Howard Lederer), the Banker, and the Suicide King (the king of hearts). This is the story of the richest poker game of all time where a team of pros took of billionaire Beal. There is some dispute about just how much money actually changed hands, but at $100,000 and $200,000 a pop, there was once $20 million dollars on the table at the Bellagio.

2. Doyle Brunson tells the story of his neighbors crossing the street so as not to be seen with – gasp – a professional gambler. In Super Systems 2, not only will you learn a great deal about how to play poker, but you’ll also learn a great deal about Brunson’s fascinating life. He has a master’s degree in education, trained to be a school principal, worked as a salesman for a time, but was making more at poker than at sales, so . . .

3. Tony Vidmer is the director of the movie, “High Roller,” originally titled, “Stuey.” You can catch this on DVD. The story of Stu Ungar is also told in a terrific book by Nolan Dalla and Peter Alson, “One of a Kind. The Rise and Fall of Stuey Ungar, the Greatest Poker Player of All Time.” This book covers Stuey’s rise and fall, to his end in a porn hotel north of the Strip, where he died, broke and alone. Friends took up a collection to pay for his funeral.

4. Englishman David Ulliott is the “Devilfish.” He wears a ring that spells out “Devilfish” (big ring). The devilfish is a Chinese culinary delicacy that could kill you if not properly prepared. Beware the “Devilfish.”

5. “Unabomber” Phil Laak hides behind a sweatshirt with the hood pulled up. He is also the squeeze of Jennifer Tilly, the Academy Award-nominated actress. Has teamed up with actor James Woods in a series of team challenges. Has come out on top twice.

6. Phil Hellmuth’s wife is a psychiatrist. Some say she needs to do a little more work on him. She has to be proud of his nine World Series of Poker bracelets. She apparently handles Phil, her own profession, and two boys well. They make their home in Palo Alto, California.

7. Chris “Jesus” Ferguson is the son of two academics. Chris got his Ph. D. in computer science from UCLA. He and his Dad publish scholarly papers on game theory. Chris says he would like to be a professor in a university someday. When not playing poker, he is into swing dancing.

8. Mimi Rogers, a former Playboy model, is a serious poker player. She is often seen on Bravo TV’s, “Celebrity Poker Showdown,” co-hosted by pro Phil Gordon. Traveled to Ireland in 2005 to open The Gaming Club World Poker Championships. Has played Mrs. Kensington in several Austin Powers movies.

9. Steve Dannenmann came in second after an exhausting heads-up battle with winner, Joe Hachem, a former chiropractor from Australia. Joe picked up $7.5 million but Steve shed no tears as this Maryland accounted pocketed $4.25 mil. Credits a book by World Series of Poker winner, Dan Harrington, as a major factor in his success.

10. Joe Sebok was about six years old when Barry Greenstein married his Mom. Joe is close to his biological father, but proudly considers Barry as his Dad. Barry dedicated his book, “Ace on the River,” to his six kids, including Joe, of course. Also known as “Joe Poker” in his articles for Card Player Magazine. Dad’s lessons are paying off: Joe made a final table at two World Series of Poker events in 2005.

How did you do?

9-10 correct.

You’re ready for the World Series of Poker. Get $10,000 together and go for it.

7-8 correct.

How about a World Poker Tour event in the Caribbean?

5-6 correct.

Stick with $2/$4 tables

4 or less.

Stick with free online games.

**

Take the quiz with you to your next poker game and see how well your friends do.

**

© Murphy James 2005

Murphy James is a freelance journalist specializing in the gaming industry. He has been published in men’s magazines, gaming publications, business journals, and newspapers. His website is http://www.murphyjames.com. His email address is murphyjames@murphyjames.com.

His most recent interviews have been with poker pros Barry Greenstein (”Ace on the River”), Jen Harman (one of the players in the richest poker game in history), and Phil Gordon about their philanthropic activities, and gambler, author, and teacher, Jerry Patterson (”Casino Gambling”), about his blackjack, craps, and roulette systems.

Catch Murphy James’ recent interview (on his website) with talk show host, Dave Congalton, KVEC, San Luis Obispo, CA. Murphy talks about the culture of poker and famous players he has interviewed.

Major League starting pitchers more than any other athlete in any other sport are creatures of habit. Most starters pitch every fifth day and have a regimented plan on what they need to do in the four days leading up to their next start. Most pitchers will soft toss one day and long toss the next day. Just about all pitchers will get their running in between starts as well. They all keep books on how they have gotten hitters out in the past. Some write it down while others keep it in their head. It is also real important that starting pitchers have a good relationship with their catchers. A good catcher can get a pitcher through a start even when he doesn’t have his best stuff.

This week we are going to highlight the major league pitchers who had the best home records last year. All results are based on how the team did in the pitchers starts. To make this list their must have a better than 2-1 win ratio and their must be more than 10 results. Of course we are only reporting pitchers who are on the same team they were on last year. Like we said earlier pitchers are creatures of habit and familiarity with the mound in their home ballpark is a big deal as well as most pitchers will make half of their starts at home.

Here are the top home win/loss team starts records by pitchers in 2005.
John Smoltz (ATL) 14-4. Chris Carpenter (STL) 13-5. Mark Mulder (STL) 13-5. Roy Oswalt (HOU) 15-4. Andy Pettitte (HOU) 14-4. Brandon Backe (HOU) 10-3. Oliver Perez (PIT) 8-3. Jason Schmidt (SF) 9-4. Jake Peavy (SD) 12-5. David Wells (BOS) 10-1. Matt Clement (BOS) 12-5. Randy Johnson (NYY) 15-4. Ted Lilly (TOR) 9-4. Mark Buehrle (CHW) 15-5. Johann Santana (MIN) 12-5. Jamie Moyer (SEA) 15-2.

The two most unlikely pitchers to hit this list are Oliver Perez who went 8-3 in his home team starts for a bad team in Pittsburgh and the ageless Jamie Moyer who went 15-2 in his home team starts for a poor Seattle team. My advise would be that you play on all pitchers on the list when they are favored by $150 or less.

Tom Freese has had winning seasons in MLB in four of the last five years. Tom cashed a combined 68% ATS with his College Basketball Conference Tournament and Big Dance releases last year. You can get all of Tom’s plays here everyday. Join in and win big with Freese.

Tom Freese is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Tom_Freese.htm

Reggie Bush had a career-defining game two weeks ago against Fresno State, when he ‘ripped’ the Bulldogs for 513 all-purpose yards. Vince Young had his national stage this past Saturday against Texas A&M but things did not go as well. Young had one of his worst games of the year against a Texas A&M defense that entered the game ranked 109th in the nation, as Texas struggled to a 40-29 win. It seems as if this year’s Heisman race will come down to where it all began, a choice between USC teammates Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. My latest Heisman update follows.

1) REGGIE BUSH (USC) Last Week: 1. I wrote two weeks ago that “I can’t imagine that even Bush’s most ardent supporters don’t feel as if the Heisman is slipping from Reggie’s grasp.” It seemed a fair statement at the time. After all, Bush had failed to top 100 yards in three of his previous four games (averaged 85.8 YPG), scoring just two TDs. How quickly things can change. Bush’s game against Fresno State was “one for the ages” and his performance likely won him the Heisman. His 50-yard TD run late in the third quarter, not only capped a 28-point outburst by USC, but left anyone watching believing that Gale Sayers had been reincarnated! Reggie’s performance defies description and is likely his Heisman-defining moment, much like Carson Palmer (2002) and Matt Leinart (2004) had in their games versus Notre Dame. Bush ran for a career-high 294 yards with two TDs. He caught three passes for 68 yards and added 151 yards in kick returns. That adds up to 513 all-purpose yards, a total that shattered the previous USC record of 368 held by Anthony Davis in 1972! The game vaulted him from No. 3 in all-purpose yards this year to No. 1, averaging 212.6 YPG. He now has more yards rushing this year than he’s had in his two previous years combined and after entering the season with just two career 100-yard games, has had seven in 2005. Reggie will try to put an exclamation point on his season against UCLA this Saturday (had 204 yards against the Bruins last year). His season stats are: 163 carries 1398 yards 8.6 YPC 13 TDs / 31 catches 383 yards 12.4 YPC 2 TDs.

2) MATT LEINART (USC) Last Week: 2. I’m a huge supporter of Leinart and give him extra-credit for all his career accomplishments but like everyone else, I was blown away by Bush’s performance against Fresno State. Leinart had a relatively quiet game, although as always, he calmly directed USC in its comeback win. He finished 22-of-33 for 200 yards with one TD and no interceptions (also ran for one score). Leinart is the unquestioned leader of this team and if he can lead the Trojans to two more wins (UCLA on Dec 3 and then in the Rose Bowl on January 4), there will few if any players in college football history, that will be able to match his career accomplishments. As of today, Leinart has led USC to 33 straight wins, the fifth-longest streak since 1900. He’s had USC atop the AP rankings for 32 straight polls, an all-time record. The team has tied a Pac-10 record with 26 straight home wins and its 23 straight conference wins, is also a new Pac-10 record. Leinart is now 36-1 as a starter at USC with a TD-to-interception ratio of 95-23! His season stats are: 233-of-351 66.4 3217 yards 24 TDs 7 INTs / 6 rush TDs.

3) VINCE YOUNG (Texas) Last Week 3. Vince Young had a national showcase on Friday afternoon at College Station, but played a very poor game and pretty much left the Heisman race to Bush and Leinart. Playing against a defense that entered the game ranked 109th in the nation in Texas A&M, Young completed 13-of–24 for 162 yards with one TD and one interception. The 162 passing yards was his second-worst performance of the season and his 11 carries for just 19 yards, extended his rushing slump to 68 yards (25 carries / 2.7 YPC) in the three games since his 267-yard effort versus Oklahoma State. Texas won 40-29 for its 18th straight win and Young moved to 28-2 in his career as Texas’ starting QB. He’s had a great season but in my view, I’m not completely convinced he deserves to be ranked ahead of Quinn and Olson. I just don’t understand the logic of people who have him ranked ahead of Bush and Leinart. Young will lead Texas against an undeserving Colorado team in Saturday’s Big-12 title game and I doubt he can to much to improve his Heisman hopes against the Buffs. His season stats are: 168-of-268 62.7 2576 yards 23 TDs 9 INTs / 128 carries 793 yards 6.2 YPC 8 TDs.

4) BRADY QUINN (Notre Dame) Last Week: 4. Quinn continues to be a record-breaking ‘machine’ this year for Notre Dame. However, those records would not have meant as much if Quinn had been unable to lead Notre Dame on that final drive last Saturday night at Stanford. The Irish, better than two-TD favorites, found themselves down 31-30 to the Cardinal with 1:46 remaining in the game. Starting at his own 20, Quinn led the Irish on a six-play 80-yard TD drive that took just 51 seconds. He was three-for-three for 67 yards and ran once for three yards. Walker’s short TD run gave Notre Dame a 38-31 win and likely assured the school of a HUGE BCS payday. Quinn, who opened the game with an 80-yard TD pass on Notre Dame’s first play of the game, finished 25-of-38 for 432 yards with three TDs and two interceptions. It marked his fourth 400-yard game this year and fifth of his career. In two years under Willingham, Brady completed just over 50 percent of his passes (50.8), throwing 26 TDs and 25 interceptions. However, under the tutelage of Charlie Weis, Quinn has spent the season re-writing the Notre Dame record book. He now has nine straight games of more than 250 yards passing, giving him a school-record 16 in his career. Two weeks ago, he went over 3,000 passing yards for the season, a first by an Irish QB. He passed Ron Powlus as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards in the game versus Syracuse (has 8,050 career yards) and his three TD passes against Stanford gives him 32 on the year, extending the Notre Dame single-season record. His school-record streak of games with at least one TD pass is up to 16 and in the five games since the USC loss, Quinn has averaged 349.6 YPG passing and thrown 18 TDs with just three interceptions. His season stats are: 263-of-405 64.9 3633 yards 32 TDs 7 INTs / 1 rush TD.

5) DREW OLSON (UCLA) Last Week: 5. Bruin fans will argue that Olson is having the best year of any QB in the city and they may just be right. Olson had three TD passes and 295 yards passing by the end of the first quarter, in UCLA’s 45-35 win over Arizona State back on 11/12. He opened the game with a 91-yard TD pass on the game’s first play from scrimmage and never looked back. He finished the game 22-of-27 for a career-high 510 yards with five TDs and no interceptions. He missed by just FOUR yards, of setting a single-game school record for passing yards (Cade McNown threw for 513 yards in UCLA’s infamous 49-45 loss at Miami in 1998). His 30 TD passes this year (just three INTs!), easily breaks McNown’s single-season record of 25, set in that 1998 season. Olson was the main QB at UCLA for the last two years when the Bruins went 12-13. Similar to Quinn, Olson entered this year without much fanfare (32 TDs and 25 INTs in his three-year career) but has been BRILLIANT! Olson’s 172.5 QB rating ranks him first in the nation. By the way, Young is third, Quinn fourth and Leinart fifth. Olson, idle since 11/12, will get his showdown with Los Angeles’ “other” QB on Saturday. His season stats are: 218-of-322 67.7 2909 yards 30 TDs 3 INTs.

Typically, I list five other players six-through 10 but it hardly seems worth it. In my final Heisman update, available on Wednesday, December 7, I will list my final top-10. Monday’s column will deal with the final BCS standings and the bowl matchups.

Larry Ness is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Larry_Ness.htm

Pai Gow Poker can be intimidating to the rank novice but it is relatively simple to play once you understand the basic rules of the game. This article takes a look at some of those rules and will help your understanding of this variation of poker.

Pai Gow can be an extremely slow game at times and may frustrate those used to a fast and frantic game of Texas Hold’em. There are a number of “pushes” which makes for a annoying game for new players. If you can understand the rules, as with any game, you can appreciate the way Pai Gow is played.

To start, place your wager. After everyone places their bets, all players receive seven cards. Usually a random generated number will determine which player takes the first set of cards. Players then try to arrange the best five-card and two-card hand. The five card hand is ranked just like any other poker hand.

The dealer or banker will then arrange the banker hand according to the pre-set rules known as the “house way”. The player’s five card hand is compared to the dealer’s five cards and then the two-card hands are compared.

During the comparison, the highest hand wins. If there is a match in both hands, it’s called a copy and the tie becomes a default banker win. If the player beats the dealer with both hands, he or she is very lucky because they get paid even money and then gets to pay the house or bank a 5% commission. If a player wins one hand and loses the other, then the hand is a push. The entire bet is lost if the player has 2 losing hands.

Here’s where it gets tricky. When setting the hands the two card hand can’t be higher than the five-card hand. If it is then it is an automatic loser. The joker can be used to complete a straight, a flush, or a straight flush, otherwise anything else the joker plays as an ace.

Keep in mind, the player can elect to be the banker on their appropriate turn. There are several advantages to the player being the banker which can vary by rules of the casino. The bank is supposed to rotate with everyone getting the chance to be the banker, co-banking is an option for those who perhaps don’t want to or can’t carry the financial responsibility for the hand.

David Walker runs free bets and UK poker websites. A free email course: “Seven Days to Better Betting” is available at both of these websites.

For those of us who are attracted to the flashing lights and the irresistible “cha-ching” of coins billowing out of a slot machine but don’t have the time or money to make a trip to Vegas, the Internet has brought the thrill to you. That’s right, thank goodness for technology because now anyone can enjoy playing the slots without the risk of upsetting a chain-smoking, plastic bucket-toting slot junky that will cut your hands off if you touch a machine that is “theirs.” Who needs the risk of loosing a limb when you can play the slots from the comfort of your computer?

Besides being able to play in your skivvies, what are the advantages to playing slots online? First, if you choose the right sites, online slots will pay out better than even the loosest Vegas slots. Second, playing in your home allows the player to exert a little more control over the playing environment. Slots found in casinos are designed to distract the player. They are obnoxiously loud and brighter than Elton John’s most ostentatious ensemble. Playing online allows you to take control over your environment by turning the volume off, for example.

Delving into the world of online slot machines can be a bit daunting for a first timer. With so many sites from which to choose, how do you know which are reputable or which offer the largest jackpots? Well, here is a quick guide to help get you started. The sites that follow offer the best jackpots and variety of games and are created by reputable firms. Remember, this is just a starting point, don’t be afraid to browse around and find what you like!

1. Vegas Slot Casino offers 151 different games. With the use of beautiful 3D graphics and digital sound, you will feel like you are in the casino. Both new players and regulars are rewarded with deals and promotions. This site offers Classic Slots, Five-Reel Slots, Multi-Line Slots and 13 Progressive Online Slots

2. Slotland Online Casino is known for its realistic portrayal of the in-casino feel, excellent payout odds and ultra-secure financial transactions. Whereas some sites require a software download, Scotland players just point, click and play. They will also match initial deposits of up to $100 to help get new players excited. Scotland offers Magic - five-pay line, Golden 8 - eight-pay line, Heavy Metal - four-pay line, Silver Kiss - two-pay line and others.

3. Golden Palace Casino is known for its “Gold Rally” slot machine jackpot that generally reaches $500,000. Also noteworthy is the “Win a Million Dollars” slot which players find rather enticing. This site will also give new players $200 for the first $100 deposit and it boasts Crazy 7, Jungle Boogie, Funky Monkey and many other slot games.

4. InterCasino is unique in that it shows users the number of current online players and is available in several different languages. It not only offers classic slot games such as Lucky 7s and High Noon, but it also offers over 80 different casino games. This site also offers a 100 percent deposit match up to $90.