Poker has succeeded the ranks and has become more than a little time out that people played once in a while. Poker is its own giant these days. It is amazing to turn on the TV and watch endorsed professional online poker players perform their skills. Another amazing thing about modern poker playing is the amount of players. With online websites devoted to poker playing only and with online casinos being built throughout America, poker has truly become something special. There is an upside to this mega-explosion of poker madness, and this is product sales. One can basically predict if something is a smash, the market with pick-up on it and sell great products. One of these great products that people can buy is custom poker chips.

Let’s face it, casinos are not the only professional marketers and places where an individual can enjoy playing with custom poker chips. Anyone can, no matter if you are a novice or skilled professional, log onto the internet and find some great websites that specialize in custom poker chips. We all know people you love playing poker, if it is a weekly hobby or they love the extreme risk and competition involved, they all need poker chips.

Don’t forget the easy going part of the poker population. Sometimes a nice friendly game of poker can be used as a great calmer. These calm games also deserve the company of some nice custom poker chips. Unique poker chips bring a different sense to any game – it might whisper mellow or scream challenge – now you have the control to set the mood with your chips.

So what types of choices does one have when it comes to custom poker chips? You might be presently surprised. Let’s say it is game day, and all you friends would get a kick out of seeing a football or basketball on their chips. It will enhance that competitive spirit. Of course, men are not the only ones who love poker. Women can choose among several feminine options, and of course, there are always background colors of pink, purple, and red.

Color is another important aspect of custom poker chips. Maybe you would like to be more neutral, however be more original than the typical chips – well, choosing your color might just be for you. There is another occasion which might just call for your very own custom poker chip set. How about the holidays and seasons? Just think about Halloween, everyone play that scary night might just love to see zombies or witches print on the chips. And, of course there is recalling a memory. Remember the time you spent in the tropics and you played a couple of winning hands. How about have your very own tropical paradise printed on your chips.

No matter what occasion or celebration is coming up custom poker chips can enhance a mood and overall good time. They can bring a nice little atmosphere to a friendly game between special people or they can pull the competitive spirit if the game out of people willing the bet. The important thing is that you have fun and realize you have more than one option when it comes to custom poker chips.

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The PokerNews Profile: David Benyamine (source: Pokernews.com)
David Benyamine is one of those rare individuals who, perhaps by sheer will and drive, have found success in every professional endeavor he’s attempted. Born in Paris, Benyamine was a highly ranked tennis player in his youth. Though he was… (source: Pokernews.com) – RSS and RSS Feed on Feedzilla.com

Win Your Way to Kandy Vegas
Play your poker cards right at Absolute Poker and you could be heading to Las-Vegas for a lip-smacking weekend of candy-coated bliss beginning July 24th. Read the full story at http://www.classicasinos.com/Poker_Promotions/Win_Your_Way_to_Kandy_Vegas.html

Aussie Millions 2010 – Qualify at Ladbrokes Poker
Join some of the biggest names in poker by qualifying with Ladbrokes for as little as 4. Read the full story at http://www.classicasinos.com/Poker_Promotions/Aussie_Millions_2010_Qualify_at_Ladbrokes_Poker.html

200% Extra – $500 Poker bonus Free
200% Poker Bonus on your First Deposit! Read the full story at http://www.classicasinos.com/Poker_Promotions/200extra_poker_bonus.html

Bluff Attempt at EPT Grand Final With Lex Veldhuis
Lex Veldhuis has quite a reputation at the poker table, especially after the episode aired of the 2009 World Series of Poker main event that featured Veldhuis pulling off ballsy bluff after ballsy bluff. On Day 1b of the 2010 EPT Grand Final, his…

When you are playing online poker, it is important to keep up with what is going on in the world of poker. You should want to know everything that is happening when it comes to this game as the more you are involved in the game, the more you will learn. You can even get some tips from the pros when you keep up with online poker news. The more you learn, the better equipped you will be when it comes to playing poker.

There are always new games that are starting up when it comes to poker online as well. Some of these games are hotter than ever and are a good way to get in and develop your strategy before others move in ahead of you. You can find out all about the hottest new online poker games when you keep up with poker news.

If there is a change of rules when it comes to a certain site where you are playing, you also need to know about that. Poker news will give you all of the information that you need with regard to online poker. You can even keep in touch with any new laws as well as new casinos that are opening up that offer poker for the avid poker players. You should learn how to play the new games and can even check out new casinos that are offering bonuses when you know what is going on in the world of poker online.

Bonuses are a big part of online poker and many casinos offer nice bonuses, including no deposit bonuses for those who want to play this game. You can also find out about the latest bonuses that have to do with poker when you catch up with poker news. If you play online poker, you should take the game seriously enough that you keep up with the poker news. This is easy to do as you can find out all that you need to know when it comes to the latest news regarding poker when you go online. Here you will find not only all the latest poker news, but everything you need to know about where the best tournaments and games are with online poker as well as how you can obtain the newest and best bonuses when you are playing poker online. If you play poker online, you need to keep up with all the latest developments in the game by taking a look at all of the latest poker news.

The journey towards choosing the ideal starting poker hands guide has to begin with the (potential) player working out what type of poker they are really keen on playing – as there are different types of poker, from the popular Texas Holdem rules poker to the lesser known forms of the game like ‘carbon poker.’ As it turns out then, the ideal starting poker hands guide for someone who is keen on Texas Holdem rules poker might not be the ideal starting poker hands guide for someone who is keen on say, carbon poker.

Indeed, the more specific a potential poker player can be about the type of poker they are considering playing, the better their chances of getting the ideal guide for their purposes. Someone who is really keen on Texas Holdem rules poker, for instance, will tend to discover that there is still a variety of Texas Holdem rules varieties they can specialize in, an example of which is for instance the preflop strategy; which is considered by many authorities to be the best way to get introduced to Texas Holdem poker.

Should one start out looking for a starting poker hands guide, then narrow down their search to a particular variety of poker (say poker starting hands guide for Texas Holdem), and then further narrow down their search to a particular strategy in Texas Holdem – say to a guide on the preflop poker strategy, then they have chances of getting a highly specialized poker starting hands guide that can provide them with highly specialized information, which if well practiced, can turn them into poker specialists on that particular type of poker they happen to have so gotten inducted into.

The fact that there exists highly specialized poker guides (like the preflop poker strategy guide mentioned earlier, which deals with one particular strategy in one particular form of poker) means that the starting poker hands guides are not a preserve of novices looking to learn and try their very first hands in poker, but also experienced poker players seeking to enhance their knowledge of poker – since poker is a very extensive and ‘quite brainy’ game; of which no one can honestly say they know everything about.

So the next time you see someone searching online for, or reading through a poker starting hands guide, don’t assume that they are absolute novices at the game, as they could be world champions on the game – just seeking to learn one more form of poker.

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Online Poker Weekend: ‘sistabossen’, ‘METZMAGNY’ Capture Majors (source: pokernews.com)
Another Sunday night full of online poker action saw ‘sistabossen’ and ‘METZMAGNY’ capture the night’s biggest prizes at Full Tilt and PokerStars, respectively. Overall, attendance in the biggest online events ticked upward… (source: pokernews.com) – RSS widgets and RSS feeds on Feedzilla.com

How to Play Texas Holdem – a Beginners guide (source: poker-skool.com)
Learn to play Texas holdem, Omaha hi/lo, rules of the games free download, then find the best online poker sites to practice what you’ve learnt (source: poker-skool.com) – RSS widgets and RSS feeds on Feedzilla.com

Poker is a popular card game across the world with the excitement of gambling and potential for huge payoffs. Almost integral to the poker game are the poker chips, and indeed poker does not feel like poker without poker chip sets.

The chips are small discs of various colors representing different denominations, meant as substitutes for real money, which is instead stored in a more secure place. The use of money substitutes, or token money, can be traced back through the 13th to 17th centuries in Europe. Today poker chips are often made according to themes and formats that unite a particular set of chips. This is useful in avoiding counterfeiters, even for games at home or in private.

Casino chips use many different anti-counterfeiting measures, with the most basic being chip coloration and embossed or molded patterning. Holographic inlays, distinctive colored markings on the edges and ultraviolet markings on the inlays further deter potential counterfeiters. Lastly, Radio Frequency Identification or RFID tags are used by some establishments. The latter method can be quite costly, but the establishments that use them feel the cost is justified. Given the difficulty in counterfeiting chips, poker chip frauds in casinos are rare.

If you plan to play in private though, you should be careful of frauds, especially if you are using mass-produced chips. Another reason for these security measures is to identify which casinos they came from. This is usually not a problem, since casinos usually honor only their own chips and it is more of a matter of branding. In Nevada however, casinos are permitted to honor chips from other casinos, and these identifiers make returning chips to the casinos they belong to easier.

Poker Chip Sets – Composition and Coloration

Authentic casino poker chips are made of clay, though not pure clay which is too soft. Special composite mixtures have been made, using trade-secret techniques, the confidential nature of which is yet another speed bump on the counterfeiter’s path. Sometimes, special edition poker chip sets may be bought from casinos, though generally poker chips stay in the casinos. Poker chips made for home use on the other hand may or may not be of the same quality as their casino counterparts.

For home use poker chips, ceramic and ABS plastic are the most common materials. When ceramic is used, special compositions allow them to approximate the feel of real clay while maintaining a lower price profile. Ceramic chips are also used in some casinos. ABS plastic chips on the other hand may be molded with a metal disk or slug inside, to give them some heft. For those in Europe, poker chips may come in mother of pearl, which gives them an incomparable sheen and luster. Coloration is standard for different denominations in one set, but may differ across sets. For example, in some places there are standard coloration schemes for chips, while in others there are none. Of note is the US State of Nevada, where casinos are given free rein on their chip designs and colors.

Poker Chip Sets – Sets and Themes

Since poker games often involve large amounts of money, a large number of chips are needed. Standard sets have 300 pieces, while others can have 500 pieces, and yet others reaching a stunning 1000 pieces. Some casinos sell poker chips similar to those used on the floor but with a few differences for identification purposes. This is great for those who want to emulate the feel of their favorite places of gambling at home games. Limited edition sets can be highly collectible, and there is a thriving community of poker chip collectors.

Many of the poker chips are traded via eBay, and the most special ones can go for thousands of US dollars, regardless of face value. Whole sets of these special poker chips can cost even more than the individual pieces. What really ties the members of all poker chip sets together is the design of the chips. Poker chips in one set are often of identical sizes, of consistent coloration, and having similar inlays. Colors and inlays vary according to denomination, but the idea is that chips from one set are identifiably from the very same set.

The edges and rims may also be embossed with characteristic patterns and even have colored sections made via special multi stage molding techniques. The designs may be simple and straight forward, just simple chips with numbers. They could just as well be whimsical, like having humorous or otherwise interesting prints on the inlays. A set of poker chips will often be packaged in a poker chip case or some such container such as an acrylic poker chip carrier or humidor style wooden poker chip case, in the tradition followed in casinos worldwide. One would suppose that if you are going for the authentic feel, then there’s no point skimping on the little details.

Poker Chip Sets – Elements of Authenticity

Poker chips are essential to playing poker. One can “play” poker without them, but it will not feel like poker without the chips would it? It is the feel of these poker chips that gives a tactile sense of authenticity. The clink of these poker chips as they hit the table and trade hands adds to the ambiance. The nature of these poker chips ensures that no one can weasel out of the bet that they placed, so it ensures a fair game as far as bets are concerned. Speaking of amounts, the printed or inlaid values may vary depending on where you buy your poker chip sets.

It is even possible to find manufacturers that make poker chips that reflect your country’s currency and useful denominations, though generic chips are also available. With the popularity of televised poker and TV series set in casinos, the mystique of poker chip sets has increased, and many people feel that poker chips are the only way with which to play poker. If you are the kind of person who likes taking souvenirs, then chips from the casinos you have visited make fine reminders of good and bad times alike. Poker chips are definitely the elements of authenticity in poker games.

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New Reality TV Show To Focus On Poker
Four poker players in a house … Read the full story at http://www.classicasinos.com/PokerNews/ns_30072009_277.html

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Party Gaming Signs Exclusive Poker Deal with Danish Group
Party Gaming will provide Danske Spil with a quality poker and casino platform. Read the full story at http://www.classicasinos.com/PokerNews/ns_11012010_439.html

Federal Prosecutors Target Poker Players
The US Federal Prosecutor has succeeded in freezing withdrawals made by poker players, potentially illegally. Read the full story at http://www.classicasinos.com/PokerNews/ns_11062009_243.html

Irish Open 2009
The Irish Poker Open is the longest running No Limit Texas hold ‘em poker tournament in Europe and second longest in the world after the World Series of Poker. Read the full story at http://www.classicasinos.com/Poker_Promotions/Irish_Open_2009.html

Online sportsbooks were the first to be introduced in the internet and they were followed by many, one among them being online poker. Online casinos were also introduced in the mid 90s, the same time when sportsbooks reached the internet. Microgaming, that came up in the early 90s is a good example and has now become a casino software developer.

In 1998, Planet poker entered the scene and was the first to create an online poker gambling rooms. It was the first and the last of its kind for quite long. With passage of time, many new and big poker sites reached the net carrying a maximum rate of about 3 dollars with an initial rake of five percent. The industry was recognized only in 1998 but it noteworthy that the rates have been almost the same.

In 1999, Paradise Poker was created and this has now become the leader in industry. It was around this time that Dutch Boyd created Poker Spot.

Though Poker spot is the pioneer in running poker tournaments online, they faced whole lot of problems. The group did not collect the deposits of the players from its credit card partners. The company did not remit the winnings of the players as all deposits it held, were not returned. This resulted in their fall.

The introduction of the Netellers e-cash system has reduced the repetitions of the problems encountered by the Poker spot group in other poker players. The online poker groups are provided with funds from the Neteller system. The Netellers e-cash system frees the players from the trouble of using the wire transfer or credit card to deposit money in order to enter the poker group. This has helped in the minimization of frauds and improved the credibility of the company.

In the year 2001, online poker industry welcomed the entry of the two giant firms, Party Poker and Poker Stars. Paradise was on the lead until 2003, when they were overtaken by Party Poker due to the latter?s strategic advertising. The launch of World Poker Tour along with the Party Poker Million strategies attracted a lot of people and drove the group to success.

Chris MoneyMaker also contributed a lot to the popularity and growth of online poker. He was charged with 40 dollars to enter the poker room. He won the satellite tournament conducted by the Poker stars and was qualified for the final and the main event. He won the topmost prize of 2.5 Million dollars in a game considered to be one of the biggest of the World’s Series of Poker tournaments and in which about 839 participants had contested.

The creation of the site http://www.pokertips.org made online poker more accessible to all people especially to those who were new to the field of online poker. In 2004, that is one year after the launch of the site, the game became very popular with the fascinating story of Mr. Moneymaker adding another feather to its cap. The companies pocketed huge amounts and there were other entrants like Noble Poker and the Full Tilt Poker to the industry as well.

Sportingbet, a listed sportsbook acquired Paradise Poker and this contributed to the growth of gambling industry. A lot of companies considered listing in the stock market as it helped them get funds to aid expansion of their business.

The United Kingdom has passed a legislation which states that gambling is legal.

Today we have a lot of sites that educate people who are new to the industry on the game. They aid in developing the skills of the beginners and making them professionals. Here are a few books on online poker: the Super System which is by Doyle Brunson, the Hold ‘em Poker for the Advanced Players and this is by Sklansky,Malmuth, the Killer Poker which is by John Vorhaus and Texas Holdem which is by Ken Warren. You are advised to learn the basic skills and the poker theory from experts.

Some of the best Online Poker Sites

Texas Holdem Poker
StudStrategy
Low Limit Omaha
Poker School Online at pokerschoolonline.com
Ichiban Poker
Poker Performance Psychology
PlayWinningPoker.com and playwinningpoker.com
The Gamblers Edge at thegamblersedge.com
Poker Pro Association
Low Limit Holdem at lowlimitholdem.com
PokerStrategy
Poker Pages at pokerpages.com

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Adrien ‘zlatan35′ Allain signs with PKR Poker
APT (Asian Poker Tour) Macau Main Event winner drien ‘zlatan35′ Allain is the latest up and coming star to join poker’s coolest collective Team PKR Pro. Read the full story at http://www.classicasinos.com/PokerNews/ns_08102009_329.html

Luckily thats all about to change because 5plusnet poker guide is compiled by poker industry professionals who have player interests at heart. Indeed the fact that online casinos only profit off the rake and dont actually lay claim to any of the online poker pot is reason enough to believe that casinos and poker sites actually do want people to learn to play and keep them playing by providing them with as much information as possible to keep them at the tables.

Poker tips and tricks

There are many tips which online poker players can take with them when it comes to enjoying this great game. Foremost among them is the ability to be able to control emotional urges to raise or fold, that eagerness to quickly jump in or bail out is as evident as the smile forming at the corner of a players lips when sensing imminent victory. Poker is all about control. Its about controlling those urges and playing those hands as professionally as possible without giving too much if anything away to others.

Remember that going to poker school

As players inherently do when they read online poker guides is as much about reading the information as it is about taking it in and applying it. Poker requires discipline. That comes in the form of knowing how much you can afford to wager before the gaming has started. Going in with a blank check approach is feeble. If youre not accustomed to budgeting, take a 101 course and learn to know what you have to gamble with before you lose what you dont. Luckily you can enjoy playing for free before you face real-money plays at your favorite game of poker. And online poker offers such low-limit gaming that its affordable to most everyone who wants to enjoy some good poker action. The education begins

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888day: The BIG payday!
Go all in for a monster stack on 888day with some awesome poker offers Read the full story at http://www.classicasinos.com/Poker_Promotions/888day_The_BIG_payday.html

ECPokerTour Barcelona Satellite Tournaments
Online poker players will compete for representing Titan Poker at the 500,000 Guaranteed Prize tournament, part of Europes most exclusive live poker series. Read the full story at http://www.classicasinos.com/Poker_Promotions/ECPokerTour_Barcelona_Satellite_Tournaments.html

Win Your Way to Kandy Vegas
Play your poker cards right at Absolute Poker and you could be heading to Las-Vegas for a lip-smacking weekend of candy-coated bliss beginning July 24th. Read the full story at http://www.classicasinos.com/Poker_Promotions/Win_Your_Way_to_Kandy_Vegas.html

Free Poker – If you are looking to play online poker for pure recreation, and not for money, ensure that the site you are interested in accommodates “free” players. Most online poker sites do cater to free players.

Software Download vs. Web-based – Most, if not all, online poker sites require you to download their poker client software onto your computer system to run. If you are adverse to downloading such software onto your system, then you might want to check to see if the poker site alternatively has a web-based poker interface, which allows you to play poker on the site from within your browser. Software installs run the potential risk of viruses and/or adware being loaded onto your system (although most of the reputable firms would never do that), but software installs on your computer generally run a lot faster than web-based sessions. Software installations harness the power of your local PC’s CPU, whereas web-based interfaces rely on downloading any screen real estate updates over the Internet during play. This can be slow, particularly, if you are running over a slow internet connection (e.g., a dialup line). Hence, if you are after speed, select local software installations; if you are concerned about your computer’s safety or cannot afford the disk space used by a software installation, select a web-based poker site.

Methods of Deposit/Withdrawal – If you are planning to play poker for money over the Internet, it is very important to consider the methods of deposit and withdrawal that a poker site supports. Many of these sites permit major credit cards to be used, which seem to be the universal deposit mechanism of choice. Others permit the use of bank transfer, ACH transfer, checks, and wire transfer from banks. Most poker sites also support some form of 3rd party eWallets, which provide an intermediary between banking institutions and the poker site itself. The main criteria to look at are: 1) What methods of deposit/withdrawal are supported by the poker site, and how many of these methods are supported by the locale that you live in ?; 2) Is it legal to fund/withdraw to/from a poker site, from the jurisdiction that you are playing in ?; 3) What are the fees associated with the 3rd party eWallet companies that you are able to use, and how reliable are they (this latter question can be researched on some of the poker message forum boards) ?

Locale Restrictions – Some poker sites restrict the playing for money (and even free play sometimes), based on your locale, and the laws governing gambling in your locale. You should check with the laws of your local jurisdiction and check with the poker site, to see if there are any imposed restrictions on play, based on your locale.

Support – You should definitely look at the methods of support that a poker site offers. Poker sites generally provide one (or more) methods of support that include: telephone support, fax support, Email support, and live chat support. The more of these that a poker site offers, the better. For telephone support, check and see if the poker site offers toll-free support from your playing jurisdiction or not.

Game Variety – Depending on your level of poker playing expertise and your interest in variety, it is important to determine which game types the poker site supports. Almost all of the sites offer Texas Holdem, but depending on your level of interest, you should check to see if they offer games like Five and Seven Card Stud, Omaha Poker (and all of its variations), Blackjack (not poker, but often included as a game option), Stud (and its variations), Draw poker, Tournament support, and limit and pot limit games. Tournaments in particular are very popular with online poker sites, and some site tournaments offer very large prize pools.

Bonuses – Most, but not all, of the poker sites offer some form of bonus to the player, when you initially sign up with the site. Each site’s bonus is somewhat different, but of the one’s that offer first time bonus, it is usually predicated on a minimum initial deposit. Many bonuses are also calculated based on the amount of money deposited and spent on the site. Additionally, many sites offer reload bonuses, which are bonuses that are offered to existing customers, beyond their initial deposit bonus, and as an incentive to keep you as a customer.

Graphics and Useability – This is a very important consideration. Every poker site has a different look and feel to it. If you are going to be playing poker for money, it is important that you feel comfortable with the screen graphics and your ability to navigate (via mouse or keyboard clicks) through the poker program. If you feel uncomfortable at all with the poker site, you should definitely not consider playing at it for money. You should always test a poker site out in “free” mode first, before actually considering it for real-money wagering.

Game Features – You should always consider the game features that are available with a given poker site. Game features such as hand history, multiple simultaneous playing windows, player notes, audible and visual indicators, player statistics, connection status indicator, player chat, turbo games, and screen options should always be considered.

Rake – Rake is the amount of the pot that the poker site takes (as part of its fee for doing business), from each hand. You should always be aware of how much rake a poker site takes (compared to another site). Poker sites usually use a Weighted Contribution rake method or an Average Contribution method, when calculating rake. Obviously, the lower the rake, the more money you will take home on hand wins, but this criteria by itself should not dictate which poker site you use, since all of the above factors need to be taken into consideration as well. In summary, the aforementioned criteria should always be used, when deciding which Poker site is best for you. Depending on your preferences, some of these criteria should be given more weight than others. Happy Poker site hunting !!

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Poker Hall of Fame Adds Two Players (source: about.com)
This year, the Poker Hall of Fame inducted two new members to it’s exclusive club: Harry Orenstein, who invented the hole cam that’s made poker on TV exciting, and Dewey… (source: about.com) – RSS news feeds and Widgets on Feedzilla.com

Beginners guide to poker where to play for free till you master the game (source: poker-skool.com)
Poker Skool – Beginners guide the first thing YOU need to learn is where to get $100 for free we show this and other tips and tricks, (source: poker-skool.com) – RSS widgets and RSS feeds on Feedzilla.com

Poker in Las Vegas (source: about.com)
In just a few hours, I’m heading out to Las Vegas and I can’t wait. While there’s closer poker in Atlantic City to me — there’s no place better than… (source: about.com) – RSS and News widget on Feedzilla.com