Elextra & Jero Online Casino Guide

Archive for September, 2009

If you are new to slots and you are interested in playing, it will help if you familiarize yourself with slot rules. While playing slots is hardly as complicated as some of the popular table games you will find in today’s casinos, it is still a good idea to have a handle on how the game works before you actually start gambling on the game. Slot rules are fairly simple and once you understand them you can spend your time enjoying the gaming action gained from playing a game like slots.

Slot Rules # 1: Standard slots, also referred to as straight slots, are just as fun as progressive slots, but there is a significant difference between the two styles of slots. Standard slots offer a set prize: in other words the prize amount does not change no matter how many times you choose to play the game. Meanwhile, the prize or pot in progressive slots, as the name of the game suggests, grows as you play. The more you play the game, the bigger the pot becomes.

Slot Rules # 2: Not all slot machines are designed alike. There are slot machines with three reels, four reels and five reels. The three reeled slot machines are the most common. Take your chance and see if you can get three emblems in a row. If you get three emblems that are alike of any kind, you win. Of course, the more reels there are involved in a slots game, the more difficult it becomes for you to win. Nevertheless, the prize typically parallels the level of difficulty of the game. The harder it is to win a slot game, the larger the jackpot is.

Slot Rules # 3: Knowing that a bigger prize equates to a higher risk for you is important. The larger the jackpot, the lower the possibility is of you winning. Remembering that casinos are in the business to make money is a crucial step if you plan on playing slots. If you are looking to play it safe, then go for the games that offer three reels and set prizes. Conversely, if you are looking to win big and you are willing to take high risks, work with progressive slots and the four and five reeled machines.

Slot Rules # 4: Don’t become overzealous when it comes to slots. So much depends on chance with a game like slots that you are likely to wind up broke if you are not careful with your gambling. Set an amount to work with and when it is gone, stop playing slots. Chances are, if you are on a losing streak you are not going to win if you go for broke.

The word Craps, the title of the game, originates from the French way of pronouncing the word Crabs, which nicknamed Hazard’s previous game. During the eighteenth century the game developed, and Hazard was played by nobility in Europe prior to its arrival in America via Arcadia, the French colony of Louisiana.

Bernard de Mandeville from New Orleans, adapted the game of Hazard in 1813 into a more simple form, and converted it into the first issue of the Craps game. This new version of Hazard moved along the Mississippi River by steamboat, and became distributed throughout Northern America. However, there was a big flaw in Mandville’s game of Craps, and it was that the game was exposed to using fixed dice because of the rules it used in betting. The problem was solved by John H. Winn, who brought in the option for players to places bets on right or wrong in the Craps’ table’s layout, where there was also a place for bets of the Don’t Pass type. The game went through a revolutionary change due to his adaptations, which enabled participants to place bets against or for the roller by removing the efficacy of fixed dice.

If we go back further into history, there are those who think that Craps was invented by legionnaires in the Roman army during the time of the Holy Roman Empire, when they played with pig knucklebones formed into cubes. For their enjoyment they would roll the bones onto their shields.

Soldiers during the Second World War also apparently played Craps in its new mode as a form of fun, which increased greatly in popularity as a method for them to relieve themselves of war’s boredom. As casino Craps took conquered the world of gambling, even films used the game in their scripts.

During the course of time, especially in the 1990s, the Craps game became considerably less popular as casino specials such as the slot machines which started attracting the gambling majority. Just lately, the game of Craps has been displaying signals of a revival in the gambling sphere since the 21st century’s advent. The progress in technology, for instance, the possibility to play Craps on the Internet, has also aided Craps revival.

You can be certain of one thing, namely, Craps has been played for centuries and in the gambling tradition will go on maintaining a place of importance.

In order for a player to enjoy a more pleasant and memorable time at a casino, while taking precautions to minimise one’s losses, it is very important to follow a basic set of gambling tips or guidelines.

Understand the game: This may seem like a very obvious rule, but you would be surprised at how many people place bets on games they don’t fully understand. This rule may apply more to certain games (i.e. Roulette) than other games (i.e. Slots), but generally speaking, it is more advantageous for a player to fully understand the rules of a game before betting on it.

Budget your money: Place a limit on the money that you can afford to gamble with and lose. Never exceed that amount or gamble with money that you can’t afford to lose. Leaving your ATM cards and credit cards at home may be a good way to ensure that you won’t be tempted to exceed your budget limit.

Never borrow money to gamble: To fall into the habit of gambling with borrowed money is one of the most serious mistakes any person can make. Not only can one run the risk of falling heavily into debt and perhaps having to sell one’s possessions to payback the borrowed money, but the risk of alienating friends and family members, or infuriating the “money lenders” should be enough reason to avoid this practice at all costs.

Pace yourself: Avoid betting all your money in one go. Remember, the objective is to have fun and enjoy yourself. If your gambling budget is $50, then place bets of $1 or $2 instead of betting the entire $50 on one single bet, losing it and walking away empty handed. As long as the entire sum of money is not lost in one single bet, the player has a chance to win.

Know when to quit: Always quit while you’re ahead. The best time to quit is when you are ahead of the casino. Many players make the mistake of thinking that their streak of luck will last forever and continue to gamble until they eventually lose it all. This is mainly the result of overconfidence and greed.

Chasing losses: “Chasing a loss” is a term used to describe the act of trying to win back money that was lost during a previous bet. The problem with this is that the player stands to lose even more money. In this case, it is better to just accept the loss and quit or continue playing for the sole purpose of just having fun.

Maintain a low profile: Whether you are playing for fun or money, winning or losing, always maintain a low profile at a casino. The main reason for this is that one never knows what types of unsavoury characters may be present at a casino. It is in the best interest of every player not to draw attention to his/her own money or winnings.

Emotional states: Never gamble when you are angry or depressed. Emotional states such as anger and depression usually cloud a person’s judgment and impair his/her ability to play the games properly. A person who is experiencing an intense emotional state usually lacks the ability to think as clearly as someone who is not.

Don’t gamble alone: In some way, it is better to visit a casino with friends or family members if you are planning on gambling. Friends and family members will usually tell you if you are spending too much, drinking too much or not playing properly. In the very least, it is in everyone’s best interest to have a sober person in the group who can safely drive everyone home.

Take frequent breaks: As in any other activity be it reading, writing or playing computer games, one should always take frequent breaks to feel refreshed and alert. Although this may not apply to a person who places a few bets before leaving the casino floor, it does apply to gambler who intends on spending a considerable amount of time betting in a casino.

Have fun: Gambling should be viewed as a fun and exciting recreational activity as opposed to a means of making money. Even though most of us have heard of, or read about the occasional gambler who won the big jackpot that changed his/her life, this is usually not the case for the majority of players. Let’s face it. The glitz and glamour of casinos were not built on the good fortune of winners. Therefore always play for fun and never for the sole purpose of making money.

Avoid alcohol: Never drink and gamble. Not only can alcohol impair one’s judgement, but it can also inflate one’s sense of self confidence to the point where the person gambles away money which he/she would never have gambled if he/she was sober. This is one of the main reasons as to why some casinos offer free alcohol to their players.

Avoid distractions: Distractions can come in many forms from the occasional cellular phone ringing to the sexy girl walking past the table, and one should always be mentally prepared to ignore them in order to better focus on the game. Additionally, the loud sounds and flashing lights of a casino may look and sound very exciting, but they are not there to help you concentrate on the game. Try not to become distracted.

By following these basic set of guidelines, one can enjoy his/her visit to a casino and have plenty of fun while minimizing the risk of falling into any financial difficulties.

Drinking and gambling is a subject that has many opinions depending on how a player handles their booze. Most expert gamblers separate the two actions from each other on purpose. A single glass of wine or a beer is not going to interfere with most people’s play, but a steady stream of highballs could have a drastic effect coupled with a loosing streak. The problem is the liquor helps to remove fear and makes some people feel invincible. This could work to the player’s advantage if the dice table is hot or the cards are running over the player. This feeling of power which drinks give some people is dangerous when the play is not running hot. Mistakes in the amount bet or running parlays to the max can play havoc with a player’s gambling stake. A clear and sober mind is an asset for most gamblers trying to read the nuances of the trend. A person who is drinking to excess can see a trend where none exist.

There are all kinds of stories about how a gambler won a great deal of money while drunker than a sailor on liberty. They may be true, but think about what happens in any major casino. The house gives away drinks to patrons who are gambling. Why do you think they are being so kind to the players? Casinos know that drinking takes away inhibitions and the lack of control may make some players bet more than they would if not drinking. This free drink policy can backfire if the player gets hot, but over time the free drinks work in favor of the house.

The decision that a player needs to make is an individual one and should be based on the player’s own experience. Some poker players can drink like fish and their cards never get drunk. Others have a few drinks and their hands are bet like they are all winners when obviously that is not the case. Drinking players have a tendency to try to bluff more often than they should. Drinking players also are willing to call bets when the only way they can win is to make a miracle draw.

Watch the play in poker of any player who is putting them down at a steady pace.

If their play gets wilder as they drink, they are either going to kill the table of players or have a very bad night from their own drink influenced play.

To drink and play or to not to, that is the question.

Do you like math?? When it comes to calculating poker odds, math is your best friend. So,,love math,hahaha

Here is the tips to calculating poker odds:

Hand Odds

The chance of you making a particular hand in poker. Example: If you have two spades in your hand and there are two spades on the flop, then your hand odds for getting that flush are 2:1. For every 3 times that this hand comes up for you, you will get your flush once. If the odds are 3:1 then you would get your hand once every four times it came around.

To calculate hand odds, use the following formula:

X to 1 odds = you get your hand once every (X + 1) times

OR

X to 1 odds = 1/ (X + 1) = % chance of getting your hand

This translates to, for example:

3 to 1 odds = 1/ 4 = 25% chance of getting your hand

Here are your odds of hitting an out by the river:

Outs Flop% Turn% Flop Odds Turn Odds Draw Type
2 8% 4% 12 22 Pocket Pair – Set
3 13% 7% 7 14 Single Overcard Draw
4 17% 9% 5 10 Gut Shot, Two Pair – Full House
5 20% 11% 4 8 One Pair – Two Pair or Set
6 24% 13% 3.2 6.7 No Pair – Pair, Two Overcard

Draw
7 28% 15% 2.6 5.6 Set – Full House
8 32% 17% 2.2 4.7 Open Straight Draw
9 35% 19% 1.9 4.1 Flush Draw, Open+Backdoor

Draw
10 38% 22% 1.6 3.6
11 42% 24% 1.4 3.2
12 45% 26% 1.2 2.8 Flush+Gut Draw
13 48% 28% 1.1 2.5
14 51% 30% 0.95 2.3
15 54% 33% 0.85 2.1 Flush+Open Draw
16 57% 34% 0.75 1.9 Flush+Open+One Overcard
17 60% 37% 0.66 1.7

How many outs does your hand have? This is your first consideration. Outs are the cards in the deck that help you create a hand. There are thirteen cards in each suit. If you hold two of them and two more are on the flop, then you have nine outs to get your flush.

These are just the beginning considerations for hand odds in poker. Your adventure in calculating poker odds has only just begun!