Poker



21 Aug 12

Poker Basic Facts

A lot of individuals are jumping on the poker band wagon after watching World Series Of Poker a few times without very first understanding the basics. Poker requires a basic foundation just like constructing a building. Just before placing hard earned money on the table one should have built a strong foundation by studying many of the basics and understandings of poker.

As funny as this may sound, a lot of poker gamblers don’t understand the basic object of the game which is to win money by winning the pot, which has wagers produced by a number of players in the course of the hand. Basically a gambler bets in hope that they have the far better hand,or gives the impression(bluffs) that they hold the far better hand and therefore coerces the other opponents to throw (fold)their hand in. Bear in mind money saved is truly just as significant as the money won, learn to fold a hand that appears to be weak and may be beat , is just as important as understanding when to wager. Most importantly the very best combination of five cards will be the finest hand in most of the poker games.

Winning a hand is usually done by two methods:

A: Revealing (show down) the finest hand at the end of all the wagering rounds. When you will discover two or a lot more gamblers still active when all of the wagering rounds are done ,they will turn their hand up. The winning pot will go to the player who holds the highest hand throughout this face off.

B. All of the players fold their hands. This means that the players releases their claim about the pot by not matching the bet. Whether the gambler had the succeeding hand or was just bluffing doesn’t matter. The pot is theirs.

In games like 7-Card Stud and the well-liked Texas Hold em the greatest hand is often a superior hand. In games such as Lowball and Razz, the finest hand can be a reduced hand. Even so in split-pot games, two winners split the pot. Like in 7-Card Stud,High-Low Split, or Omaha High-Low Split the finest high hand and the best decreased hand split the pot. As a note while a superior hand will always be produced in a split-pot casino game, you can find times when there won’t be a reduced hand. In this case the high hand wins the entire pot.







20 Aug 12

[ English ]

Texas holdem is taking over the planet, except believe it or not there are numerous other poker games it is possible to play. Most of them fall into one of 3 categories:

- Stud Games (for instance seven card stud)

- Draw Games (for illustration 4 card draw)

- Shared Hands Games (for illustration Holdem)

You will discover also a number of other obscure games that don’t fit into these categories, a few of the additional well-liked of which are high/low pig, bid poker and guts. In almost all sorts of poker game the hands rankings are the exact same, with a quite number of minor exceptions which have become more or less "home-made" rules.

Here are brief descriptions of some various poker games:

five Card Draw Poker

Wagered by 3 – seven players. Each is dealt 5 cards and there is really a round of wagering based on the hands. After the betting gamblers can now put up to 3 cards back in exchange for new ones. (There’s one exception where a player can exchange 4 cards if he exhibits the fifth to be an ace). There is a further circular of wagering and the greatest grip wins. Draw poker was once the regular method to wager on but it has of course been overtaken by Texas hold em.

5 Card Stud Poker

Bet by 3 – 10 players. Gamblers are dealt 2 cards deal with down and one encounter up and there can be a round of wagering. Cards 4, five and six are then dealt confront up with betting on every round. The final card is dealt confront down and there is one more circular of betting before the showdown. seven Card Stud Poker is still a well-known game and is almost certainly second at the moment to Texas holdem.

Caribbean Poker

This is a poker casino game bet in a casino in between the gambler and the croupier. Just about every gets five cards and the gambler has to decide whether his card is worth wagering on after seeing the croupier’s first card. If the player has a much better side than the dealer he is paid out in a fixed odds system depending about the strength of his hand. The fixed odds range from evens for a pair or great card to one hundred to one for a royal flush.

Double-hand Poker

Pai gow is actually a fairly complicated gambling house casino game played among the croupier and up to seven players. It’s wagered having a joker which counts as either an ace or any card required to complete a flush or straight. You’ll find 2 variations in hands ranks compared to common poker rankings, the highest side is 5 Aces and the straight A2345 is ranked second to AKQJT. The gamblers and dealer are dealt 7 cards each and every which they split into 2 hands of 5 and two. The five card hand must be superior than the two card hand. The croupier then exhibits his cards and plays in opposition to just about every gambler, the croupier’s 5 card side against the gambler’s five card palm and the dealer’s two card palm in opposition to the player’s 2 card hand.

If the croupier wins both hands he wins.

If the player wins both hands he wins.

If every single gambler wins one hand there’s a "push" which means no money changes hands.

If any hands is tied the croupier wins it, so:

Dealer/Tie – dealer wins.

Player/Tie – push.

Tie/Tie – dealer wins.

Holdem

By far the most popular poker game in the world these days, most likely because it truly is extremely simple to learn but very difficult to master. 2 cards are dealt to each and every player, then three confront up within the table (the flop), a different confront up within the table (the turn), then a final card encounter up on the table known as the river. Gamblers use their own two (hole) cards and any 3 from the table to make the most effective 5 card hand. There’s a round of betting just before the flop then just before the turn and river, and finally following the river card is dealt.







17 Aug 12

Texas hold em is a type of Poker, a card game which begun in the nineteenth century. The roots of Poker are still problematic to this day, with a quantity of conflicting accounts about exactly where it came from, and who first bet it; similar games exist back to the Renaissance time period. The word ‘Poker’ really comes from the German word ‘pochen’, which implies "to knock".

Nonetheless, most accounts normally agree that it was French immagrents who very first bet Poker in New Orleans around Eighteen Thirties. It may have been shown to them by Persian traders, as it has strong characteristics with the sixteenth century Persian card casino game As Nas. The reputation of Poker meant that it speedily spread all through the USA, along the transportation routes of rivers and railroads. It became specifically popular when wagered amongst pioneers in the Ole West.

Texas hold em, is nowadays one of the most common versions of Poker in the world. Even though nobody is truly certain exactly where this version was initial bet, it seems apparent that Texas was the state of origin! A few reports say that the primary ever game was bet in Robstown in the early 20th century and it traveled to Dallas in 1925. Texas hold’em has enjoyed extensive recognition ever since.

The acceptance of Holdem was widely increased in the early 70’s. In this year, the Horseshoe Casino started up in Las Vegas by Benny Binion. Binion made the decision to take over a little invite only Poker tournament from the Riverside Casino. What as the name of the tournament? The WSOP and the game of option was Texas hold em.

Binion focused on the wagering component of the game by devising the concept of quickly growing antes and blinds, to ensure that a winner could be produced within a fairly short space of time. In Nineteen Seventy Two, 8 players took aspect in the WSOP tournament; thirty years later, the 8 had increased to 800! This once-a-year tournament is now recognized as by far the most essential in the world. In the last five years, the increasing reputation of televised tournaments means that Texas holdem has turn out to be a part of mainstream tv.

Additionally, via modern innovations in technology, Hold’em Poker has travelled off in brand new directions. Games can now be played directly via the web, or even on a cell phone! The game’s ease and massive entertainment value have contributed to its popularity, which shows no sign of decrease. Holdem is clearly the most famous Poker game in the world.







16 Aug 12

The origins of the phrase "poker nuts" are uncertain even though it is thought to have come from old jargon meaning "delightful thing, practice or experience". It is often a "delightful thing" naturally, because in Hold em the poker nuts would be the very best achievable hand that you can have at any stage in the game.

If you have the nuts, you can not be defeated…at that level in the hand. This would be the essential factor that loads of inexperienced players fail to take account of, the nuts can move from 1 player to another and your palm which was the nuts previous on can end up being crushed!

The following example must demonstrate the unpredictable nature of the cards in Texas hold em poker and how your nuts can quickly turn to pulp!

You might be betting a palm of Holdem poker and there are three players even now in the game at the flop. You receive dealt seven of clubs, 8 of diamonds; Amy has five of spades, five of clubs and Mike’s palm is King, 9 of hearts.

The flop is dealt and the cards are nine of hearts, six of hearts and 5 of diamonds. This really is a great flop for you – you have got the poker nuts! At this stage you have a straight – five, 6, seven, 8, 9 – which cannot be defeated by any other combination of cards.

Now you determine to "slow play" your hands and attempt to draw a wager from somebody which has a high pair who will like this flop, so you simply check. Amy likes the look of her hand now as she has flopped 3 five-s so she makes a bet which is known as by Mike as he now has a pair of nines using a King kicker. You like the way it’s going so you call the wager.

The turn card is Ace of hearts. Mike is now grinning to himself as he has just managed to make the poker nuts with a flush, his 2 hearts in his side plus the 3 on the table with Ace King superior now give him an unequalled hand. Mike bets as he knows he’s got the nuts but he wants to draw out the maximum cash from the table so he maintains his bet low adequate to receive called. You nevertheless feel you are winning with all the straight, in fact the Ace has increased that perception as you now reckon Mike most likely has an Ace in his hands and maybe even 2 pairs.

He’s dropped into your trap! Or so you think.

The river is dealt and it’s the five of hearts. This really is a blow to you as you’ll find now 4 hearts on view, so anyone using a heart is beating you with a flush. Mike is happy together with the five as he nonetheless feels he’s winning with the top flush, although his opponents might also have made a flush and assume they’re winning. Amy obviously may be the real winner as she has just manufactured the nuts with 4 five-s, her four of the sort can only be outdone by a directly flush or a greater 4 of the kind. There are not enough connected hearts displaying on the table to produce a straight flush and there isn’t a different pair displaying so it is not possible to produce four of a kind.

Amy captures the pot while you and Mike reflect on what should have been.

Both of you held the poker nuts at 1 level in the casino game but failed to realise that the poker nuts – as well as your fortunes – in Holdem can change totally with 1 turn of a card.







14 Aug 12

There are various poker web sites around the Internet. Even so, it truly is often hard for a few to discern what the best internet poker web site for them would be. Pacific Poker is one net poker internet site that may well be right for you. Depending on what you’re searching for, this review must help you greater understand the exact sort of poker web internet site that can best fit your needs.

Graphics are crucial to every poker room. In this respect Pacific Poker most likely comes in at a "B ". The colors and tables are clear, but the user icons leave practically nothing to the imagination. Aesthetically, the poker tables are on par with other poker rooms.

The playability of Pacific Poker is the topic of several debate. A number of say that the software program is occasionally frustrating to play. A few drawbacks are that players can only bet on one table at a time, and the actions of other players aren’t proven (so one cannot see the last hand and how a lot a player may possibly have raised pre-flop). However a lot of folks love Pacific Poker because they believe that the web page has easy cash and loose games. The computer software has also improved recently, with the website adding support for note taking on opponents and hand history statistics.

The lobby in Pacific Poker has shown wonderful signs of improvement. You’ll find now statistics offered for flop percentages at precise tables. This could be a extremely useful stat when attempting to decide which of the games are loose. There is also information readily available on the amount of hands per hour and common pot size.

Gambler numbers for Pacific Poker are very good. The web page has done well marketing itself, and so the quantity of players is usually growing. The highest visitors is discovered in Texas holdem games and tournaments. The tournaments are also really common, which means that users don’t need to wait at all for a tournament to start. Spots fill up incredibly rapidly, and the competition is quite diverse. There are several quite skilled gamblers, and then far more unskilled players.

Numerous people are worried with all the rake at precise poker sites. Pacific Poker has a very reasonable rake at low limit tables. Nevertheless, it is often the most taxing rate at superior limit tables. The maximum rake is five dollars on 50 dollars-$100 tables, that is higher than the common of the industry. On the other hand, limits below $1/$2 have a max rake of one dollar that is incredibly reasonable.

There are many promotions and bonuses offered at Pacific Poker. You will discover also a range of freeroll tournaments. Pacific Poker allows users to pay using a assortment of options. In summary, Pacific Poker has several beneficial and (like any poker room) a number of poor elements. Overall, it is really a beneficial place to bet on internet based poker.







14 Aug 12

[ English ]

Overview Within the one hand, the basics of Omaha hold’em poker are rather comparable to Holdem. Within the other hand, the game is really different.

Omaha is comparable to Texas hold em in the sense that you play with cards against the board. In Omaha hold’em you hold four cards as an alternative to 2 and there are 5 community cards. To generate a hand, you have to bet on 2 holecards with 3 board cards. The gambling strategies are the identical as those used in Hold em.

Generally, Omaha/8 is subject to the exact same rules at Texas holdem. The only rules that are distinct apply to the board. In Omaha hi-low, you need to use two cards from your hand and three cards from the board. The most typical varieties of Omaha hold’em poker are high-low splits and 8-or-better.

Starting Hands In Omaha hi-low, beginning hands are critical to winning. They exist prior to the flop and they bring a strong edge against the field when they are in place. An important rule for Omaha high: prevent weak hands and do so from the beginning; from your start. Wagering fine beginning hands and raising opponents previous to the flop are the basic winning tactics in loose-game, minimal to middle limit Omaha.

Omaha/8 hands consist of 3 of the give community board cards plus 2 cards from each player…rsquo;s hand. The ratio is often 3 of the board and 2 out of your hand to make a succeeding combination. You can use the similar or different card combinations to generate good and minimal hands.

Understanding Omaha high Values An essential point about Omaha hold’em poker: you acquire a increased percentage of your final hand sooner, receiving four cards for your hand instead of 2, as in Holdem. Seven ninths of your hand is recognized around the flop; when it comes to gambling, you also know a lot a lot more and thus can produce much more informed decisions. Compared to Holdem poker, Omaha hold’em has a great deal less to do with random outcomes. It can be a game won by interpreting data; Hold em depends upon interpreting uncertainty.

That said, what matters in Omaha poker as a lot as in any other variation: the probability of winning. In Omaha high, the quantity of cards and the combinations of succeeding hands are what count. This version of poker is about accuracy, clarity, and, we…rsquo;ll say it once more, about information. You must appear at the various combinations of one’s hand: what is the ideal mixture of three cards through the board and two out of your hand? What’s the weakest mixture? You also should look at what cards are not within the table or within your hand and use that facts to assess what hands your opponents have. As you may see far more cards in Omaha hi-low than you are able to in, say, Texas hold em or Stud poker, you…rsquo;re chances of being appropriate about the chances of succeeding using a specific hand are that a lot higher.

Why wager on Omaha high poker? Omaha eight-or-better poker is one of the greatest forms of poker for making money. It…rsquo;s mathematically basic in the sense that, if you only bet on excellent starting hands and also you discover opponents who bet on almost every hand, the odds are totally within your favor to win and you’ll be able to win quite substantial amounts, even with a small bankroll, by merely applying basic principles of probability.

Another reason to play Omaha hold’em poker just before Texas hold’em is that bad gamblers have really little chance of thriving at this version of poker. Luck plays such a relatively small part in succeeding and you’ll be able to make incredibly informed decisions about the casino game you play.

A couple of important concepts The River Game: You may well hear gamblers refer to Omaha hold’em as a river game, which is basically saying that the final card determines the succeeding hand. This theory emerged because it typically seems that only 2 players per round have viable hands. Weighing this theory as a powerful one, numerous Omaha high gamblers have been known to hold off wagering until the last card comes down.

In reality, prior to the flop, you must bet on hands that have a high expectation; you ought to manipulate the pot size and you should try to manipulate your opponents. After the flop you should begin to roughly calculate the probabilities and deduce how favorable your chances are to win. Again, you need to be working to manipulate the pot if you might have a strong hand.

Pot Manipulation: To win at Omaha hold’em poker, you need to manipulate the pot to a few extent. This means it is best to produce a determination early on whether it is worth betting snd you need to act on your determination.

Cooperation: Greedy gamblers don…rsquo;t play Omaha hi-low poker quite well. You should cooperate with your opponents to extract bids from weaker players. Greed will price you money in Omaha poker.







13 Aug 12

No limit Texas holdem Poker System – Say Goodbye to Limit Games and Win a lot more Money

NL Holdem poker system would be the critical to succeeding large and you need to employ a incredibly different approach to the system used in limit games.

Though the dynamics of the game are basically similar, using the skill level in no limits games getting higher and using the use of psychology it is possible to win more money than in any other poker casino game.

Here are the fundamental differences and advantages of no limit, in comparison to limit Hold’em:

1. NL Texas Hold em Can be a Psychological Battle

Limit Texas holdem gives you tiny edges more than your opponents to exploit, No limit Texas hold’em poker Poker on the other hand offers you much a far bigger edge to exploit. In limit Holdem, "the best hand wins".

In no limits games though, we have an intense psychological battle exactly where that you are basically betting your competition, NOT the cards.

It truly is this psychological battle that is the critical one to win in nl games. If you are able to do it, you’ll win significant.

Two. No limit Texas hold’em Can be a Additional Skilful Satisfying Game

NL Texas Hold’em features more tools for a skilled gambler to use against an unskilled opponent.

Because of the nature of a nl game, you possibly can use abilities such as bluffing, deception and varying bet size, with far greater effect to crush your opponent than in limit games.

Three. Initiative and Winning

Taking the initiative means taking control. In both limit and no limit, being on the offensive is additional favourable than becoming the caller, as limit games put a far increased premium on initiative then limit games. The reason for that is that you simply can make a big wager, or raise, to acquire handle. Because of the initiative factor, betting and raising has much more power.

Four. Chip Size

In no limit Holdem, the amount of chips that a individual has in front of them, is one of the largest factors affecting bet on against them. For example, say you’ve 2 grand in front of you and your competition has three hundred dollars. You hold an advantage over them. Nevertheless, if your competition has 2 grand and also you only have $300 then they have the advantage.

The size of your bankroll, towards your opponents, is often a consideration to consider into account that is certainly not present in limit games.

Five. The Odds Favour the Strong

Limit Hold em poker has really favourable odds, which implies that people can call you easily. That results in men and women running you down with what in a lot of instances stupid hands. This is usually because they don’t actually know how to wager on or that the odds are favourable to do so.

In no limit, you do not discover that this occurs because of larger stakes engaged. Skilful players acquire out weak hands quickly.

Six. Larger Stakes Indicates – Larger Winnings

The significant difference with nl in comparison to limit games, (wherever it is possible to generate several errors and still come out ahead), is that no limits games are not so forgiving. If even so, you know what you’re doing, it is possible to consider an challenger in one hand for his entire bankroll.

No limits games favour the skilful gambler a lot more then limit ones do.

No limit Holdem Poker – Brutal and Profitable!

If you are a skilful card gambler, then betting NL Texas Hold em poker technique offers potential to produce big profits.

Certain, it is really a brutal unforgiving casino game, except it enables much much more scope, in terms of technique and gaining a mental advantage, that is certainly just not available in limit games.







12 Aug 12

Welcome back. Hopefully the suggestions in part one of this article have already started you rolling in the poker dough. Well, do not halt there! I have much more tasty bits of info to enhance your casino game, wow your competitors and most importantly, take their cash! In case you missed part one I should let you realize that these tips came to me complimentary of my own poker coach who took my casino game from break even to money creating. You can do the same.

Here’s the guidance, take it, run with it and you’ll produce additional money wagering internet based poker.

One. Think a lot more about how very much to bet and why that you are wagering in the very first place. This is specifically true in no limit holdem. Why are you betting? Is it to find out another’s holdings? To sweeten the pot? To chase away those who are on a draw? Or to bluff the heck out of everybody else and steal the pot? You may need to know precisely why you happen to be putting chips in the pot and how a lot to put in to achieve your objective.

2. This one looks back to generating notes on your competitors.

You need to cater your wagers to your opponents. If you have been watching (and you genuinely don’t have to watch that tough) you’ll notice that a number of players are so tuned in to generating the final 3 that they will only bet on their monster hands. When it’s late in a sit n go game, this can work with your favor. The blinds are ripe for the picking, increase your opponents out of their blinds, re-raise a player who is trying to steal. When you notice that one of the gamblers is often raising when entering the pot you must assume that they are not usually having enormous hands. Re-raise them, you will be shocked what occurs.

3. When you’re entering a pot late in the round, and there are numerous limpers in front of you, you really should limp in with just about anything. Why, you might question? The pot odds are in your favor. That you are able to enter a largish pot cheaply with the likelihood of striking the flop. If the flop does not fall as part of your favor, just fold, and try again next time. Should you average out the times you might produce money from this action and the times you will not, you can end up ahead so it truly is worth it to throw a few chips at a big pot to see a flop.

Four. When you might have medium holdings, but you are not in position, do not over bet on your hands. This usually takes place where you go in pre flop, don’t hit your flop, and try to bluff the gamblers still to bet on out of the pot. Chances are, you won’t be prosperous in this venture. Here can be a lesson that all poker players need to have to understand: "It’s fine to put a few chips in the pot and then let the pot go." It is often a hard lesson for a poker player to learn, but it’s an vital one. If you do not discover this principle, you may never, ever succeed at poker.

Obviously these lessons are only scratching the surface area of what makes a wonderful poker player, on the other hand in the event you follow the moneymaking tips above you will go from just not loosing to money maker when betting web poker. Very good luck and may well all your flops fall the correct way!







6 Aug 12

[ English ]

Wherever Poker Comes From

The beginning of poker will be the subject of significantly debate. All claims, and there are numerous, have been broadly disputed by historians and other experts the world over. That mentioned, among the most legitimate claims are that poker was invented by the Chinese in around 900AD, perhaps deriving from the Chinese equivalent of dominos. Another concept is that Poker started in Persia as the casino game ‘as nas’, which included five gamblers and expected a unique deck of 25-cards with 5 suits. To support the Chinese claim there is evidence that, on New Year’s Eve, Nine sixty-nine, the Chinese Emperor Mu-Tsung bet "domino cards" with his wife. This may well have been the initial version of poker.

Cards have tentatively been dated back to Egypt in the 12th and thirteenth century and still others state that the game originated in India as Ganifa, but there may be little evidence which is conclusive.

In the United states history, the background of poker is considerably greater identified and recorded. It surfaced in New Orleans, on and close to the riverboats that trawled up and down the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The casino game then spread in different directions across the country – north, south, east, and west – until it was an established preferred pastime.

Popular Poker Terms and Meanings

Ante: a forced wager; each and every gambler places an equal quantity of money or chips into the pot before the deal starts. In games in which the acting dealer changes every single turn, it is not uncommon for the gamblers to agree that the croupier gives the ante for each and every player. This shortens wagering, except causes minor inequities if other gamblers come and go or miss their turn to deal.

Blind or blind bet: a forced bet placed into the pot by one or more gamblers just before the deal starts, in a way that simulates wagers made throughout play.

Board: (One) set of community cards in a local community card game. (Two) The set of face-up cards of a particular player inside a stud game. (Three) The set of all face-up cards in a very stud game.

Bring In: Open a round of betting.

Call: match a bet or a raise.Door Card: In the stud game, a player’s initial face-up card. In Hold em, the door card could be the initial visible card of the flop.Fold: Referred to occasionally as ‘the fold’; appears largely as a verb meaning to discard one’s hands and forfeit interest in the pot. Folding may well be indicated verbally or by discarding cards face-down.High-low cut up games are those by which the pot is divided between the gambler using the best standard palm, great hand, and the gambler with all the lowest hand. Stay Wager: posted by a player under conditions that give the option to raise even if no other player raises first.

Stay Cards: In stud poker games, cards that will improve a palm that have not been seen amongst anyone’s upcards. In games such as texas hold em, a player’s palm is said to contain "live" cards if matching either of them around the board would give that gambler the lead more than his opponent. Usually used to describe a palm that is certainly weak, but not dominated.

Maniac: Lose and aggressive player; generally a gambler who wagers continually and plays a lot of inferior hands. Nut hands: Sometimes referred to as the nuts, would be the strongest probable palm in the given situation. The term applies mostly to group card poker games where the individual holding the strongest feasible palm, together with the given board of neighborhood cards, has the nut hand.

Rock: really tight player who plays incredibly few palms and only continues to the pot with strong hands.

Divided: Divide the pot amongst 2 or additional gamblers rather than awarding it all to a single gambler is known as splitting the pot. You can find many situations by which this occurs, including ties and in the various games of intentional split-pot poker. At times it can be necessary to further divided pots; commonly in neighborhood card high-low cut up games this kind of as Omaha Holdem, where one gambler has the good palm and two or a lot more players have tied very low hands.

3 Pair: A Phenomenon of 7 card versions of poker, such as seven card stud or Holdem, it really is possible for a gambler to have three pairs, although a player can only wager on 2 of them as part of a standard 5-card poker hand. This circumstance may well jokingly be referred to as a gambler having a palm of three pair.

Under the Gun: The playing position to the direct left of the blinds in Holdem or Omaha; act initially on the initially round of betting.







1 Aug 12

Mrs. Duke mightn’t have won her 1st World Series of Poker Bracelet until ‘04 but she is still one of the most feared poker competitors at the cash games at The Bellagio in vegas. Annie’s longawaited WSOP bracelet came with success at the "cast aside game" of Omaha hi/low.

While players from the "younger crowd" of poker go wild after a big win at the tables, Annie goes back home and becomes "mom" to her four kids. She grew up in New Hampshire and raised into a family of poker players. If you don’t accept that, observe her brother, Howard Lederer, in action who coached her how to participate in the game.

However, Annie Duke is no small fry kind of girl and has won her share of difficult tables, including knocking out Howard along the way on several occasions. They’re both competitors that have the capability to win the big bucks and do it with a grin.

Mrs. Duke is a tough competitor at any table due to the fact that she is a natural poker player, but it’s a little more than just being strong at the game. Mrs. Duke is incredibly intelligent and graduated from Columbia University where she took a double major in English and Psychology.

When you sit across from Annie at the poker table you know Annie Duke is there to compete in the game and she starts "summing" you up as soon as you approach the table. If you cannot compete like a camp, then don’t waste your time.

Earning over 3 million dollars in tournament play, Mrs. Duke branched out to become a adviser to both UltimateBet.com and Hollywood actor Ben Affleck, who was looking to enhance his techniques and become a force at the tables.

You may catch a glimpse of her at the Bellagio, you’ll observe Annie on television and you may even participate against her in an internet poker match, but don’t anticipate an easy win. Unless you are a champion-in-the-making, you’ll not beat her. Although, it’d be fun to mention you played at the same table as "The Duke".