Karohemd&#39;s World

Feeling better, eh? ;oP

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There are many different versions to play, select a few a make sure you know the rules well. Texas Hold 'em is a good bet.

Probabilities; know your chances for each type of hand so that you can bet/bluff accordingly.

Be prepared to back down and lie, make sure you can poker face and change expression to suit your hands.
Or go for the deadpan throughout look, which is intimidating if you can carry it off (Think Dr.Crowley!)

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Deadpan throughout is a winner. I played my brother last Monday after a very heavy weekend and he said that he couldn't tell what I was holding as I looked completely blank for the duration of the game.

Texas Hold 'Em is probably the best bet as it seems to be the most popular of the variation. There are often full tutorials somewhere in the sports pages of tabloids as there seems to be a bit of a push to get everyone hooked on online gambling at the moment.

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There are also plenty of free to play online games as well on the pay-to-play sites - they're trying to get you hooked. But they're good for practise.

The best way to learn is to play; download a demo or play online.

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Whoops, should have mentioned we'll be playing Five Card Draw.

Probabilities/maths I'm horrible at, which is my biggest problem. At least there will be some game mechanics to help me through.

I think I can do the bluffing. The character's a bit of a meany, anyway, so that fits.

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I need to have a look but most seem to be Texas Hold'em etc.

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By probabilities I mean know what chance you have to get a hand, you just need to know vaguely how lucky you'd have to be as a guide.

The one imperitive you should know is which hand beats what so you can sound authoritive after each hand is finished.

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I know the hands and which beat which, recognising the potential of having them (or making the others think I have them) is what troubles me.

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5 card draw? There should be some; just put "5 card draw" into google, I found a few.

"5 card draw" doesn't cover the whole mechanics of the game either, learn some key phrases so you sound like a seasoned sharp (if you want to be) things like what a blind is, what a burn card is etc.

Wikipedia has good info on 5 card draw.

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I have never tried to play online. I enjoy playing for cash and always thought that online would be a little too impersonal to be able to correctly read the way the game was going.

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You have the basics then, decide a playing style (bluff or deadpan are the easiest two). If you're worried about potentials and what people can have go for the deadpan if you can manage it.
Just pracise watching funny films and keeping a straight face ;)

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How about I bring some cards tonight? :)

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One of my friends plays online a lot; but bots are becoming more common on it.

Socially speaking playing with 'real people' is more fun anyway :)

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Good idea, I have a deck, too.
Need to practice my card shark skillz. :oP

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borusa.livejournal.com

Basic poker techniques :-

Understand what "going on tilt" is, and be aware of when you are about to do so yourself.
Learn how to figure pot odds.
Learn what a check raise is.
Defend your blinds.
Watch other players - particularly watch out for calling stations.
Raise or fold, limit your calling.

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Agreed, nothing like the feeling of taking someones money... in person :)

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Cool; we can 'score' with dice or on paper or something. Money can be dodgey as people may think you're really gambling which can get the pub into trouble.

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Heh, heh.

I never was very lucky personally.

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I'll bring some dice and coloured beads.

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Like everything it's swings and roundabouts and I only really play with friends/family so nothing ever gets out of hand.

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Excellent.

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