A grinder poker player is one who makes a regular profit from online games, but doesn’t necessarily make a fortune. Most grinders make a good part of their income from poker by ensuring they put in a specified number of hours and not taking too many risks. This assures them of small but fairly steady winnings, as opposed to some big-league players who make millions by taking chances. It also means that most grinders treat the game like a full-time job. The best grinders make several thousand dollars every month, and many eventually become pros after building their bankrolls at low- to middle-limit games. Bankroll management is a ...

Before plastic poker chips were invented, and way before the advent of virtual ones in online gaming, players used small coins or tokens called jetons. They were originally used as calculation tools on a board, similar to the abacus. Their use in gaming came when people started using them as substitutes for money. Eventually, as one would expect, they were replaced by modern-day plastic chips which were cheaper to mass-produce. Chips are still called jetons in some circles, especially in Europe (the term originates from French jeter, to throw). Today, jeton poker chips usually refer to European-style gaming sets made of high-quality materials, such as light wood, pearlized ...

The massive crackdown on online poker sites last April, now dubbed “Black Friday” by poker circles, have left American players without their favorite pastime, and for many, a significant source of income. Indeed, those who have been making their living from online poker for the last few years have been forced to relocate. The likes of Kevin MacPhee, Phil Galfond, and Olivier Busquet—elite players who have earned well over seven figures—were among the first to establish residency outside their native U.S. Several others have announced they are soon to follow, heading for Costa Rica, Malta, Panama, and neighboring Mexico and Canada. The exodus is becoming so widespread that PocketFives, one of the ...

Chips are a popular substitute for real money in poker games, both online and offline. As the most widely accepted currency for the game, they have evolved into a system of their own and can be used in almost all varieties of poker. They are most popularly used, however, in Texas Hold 'Em and Omaha Hold 'Em. The chips come in different colors, each of which is ascribed a certain dollar value. A basic poker set will contain five colors: white, red, blue, green, and black. White chips are the least valuable kind, at $1 per chip. Red chips are worth $5 each, blue chips are $10, and green chips are ...

No one expected a record turnout for this year’s World Series of Poker tournament, which takes place just weeks after a round of federal stings on high-profile poker sites. But the 6,865 players who showed up to the main event—the third largest turnout since the first event in 2000—is still a pleasant surprise, a sign that players aren’t quite ready to pack up their chips that yet. On April 15, a day the poker world has dubbed “Black Friday,” the U.S. Department of Justice formally accused the founders of Absolute Poker, Full Tilt Poker, and PokerStars with money laundering, bank fraud, and illegal gambling, and forced them to stop hosting games ...

As the world’s largest online card room, PokerStars offers ample opportunity for optimizing game earnings. Seasoned players know that betting isn’t the only way to make money in online poker—they also buy and sell PokerStars chips for real money. And despite the controversy in the poker world over the last few weeks, trading chips doesn’t involve any cheat software and won’t get you penalized. How does it work? Selling PokerStars chips is relatively simple because of the site’s large customer base, which includes both registered and unregistered users. Registering is highly recommended, however, as members’ confidential information (including location and account details) is protected under the site agreement. Chips are usually ...

If you’re an avid poker player, you’ve probably entertained the idea of having your own professional poker table, the kind you see in casinos and tournaments. But most of us have neither the room nor the budget for it. Besides, with prices easily going over the $1,000 mark, it’s a bit much to pay for a hobby. That’s where folding card tables come in. Smaller, lighter, and much more affordable, they’re ideal for casual to semi-serious players who just want to have a place to themselves when friends come over to play, and the option to stash it away when needed. If you have weekly games with a group of friends, ...

When Full Tilt Poker released its Android app last December, it was among the first of its kind to let users play for real money on the go. And despite a shaky start, players took to it pretty favorably, making it the top-selling poker app on the market in just a few months. But since then, there have been more and more additions to the market, catering to other mobile systems and each offering tools outside of gameplay, from bankroll management to tournament finders to practice games. The largest selection of poker apps, interestingly, can be found on the BlackBerry platform. For basic gameplay, there’s Downtown Texas Hold’em, which can be ...

Poker player Phil Ivey has announced he will not be playing in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament this year, and that he plans to sue Full Tilt Poker for not reimbursing online players after their sites were forced to shut down last April. Ivey, a longtime supporter of Full Tilt Poker and one of its main endorsers, said he was “deeply disappointed” at the company’s refusal to give players back their money. The fact that many players are unable to join the tournaments because of the financial blow also embarrassed him, he added in an official statement published on his website. According to Ivey, it was highly unfair that he ...

You’ve seen poker stars hop from continent to continent as pro tournaments fly them in, year after year. They make it look so easy—how hard can it be to hop onto the first-class cabin, crash in a five-star hotel, and face fellow pros on the velvet? Harder than you think, if you ask the pros. International travel is no walk in the park, and when you factor in the stakes of poker tours and the rigorous game schedules, the game may feel like more work than play. If you’re just beginning to travel for poker, here are some handy tips from Poker News. Pack light: Try to plan it so that all ...

Online poker is great for those of us who don’t always have the time for a live game, or when we want the anonymity, table selection, and speed of a virtual game. Ever since online poker boomed in the 1990s, our choices have grown from a few dozen to several hundred—as of 2010, there were 545 active sites, according to PokerScout.com. Here’s a look at some of the highest-rated online casino websites: Party Poker: With some 10,000 players logged on at peak hours, Party Poker is no doubt one of the biggest online poker sites—and for good reason. It’s particularly famous for its scheduled tournaments, especially ...

Poker websites are worth more than airlines, and have created a rather frightening number of young millionaires. These websites are a neutral third party that create the infrastructure and environment for poker players to take on each other. Online poker websites are getting more and more popular and are very up to date technologically. Poker wasn't the first available venue for online gamblers. It seems to be one of the nation's fastest growing hobbies and has become huge even with backgammon players, who are getting swept up in the hype. Poker is far from new, but in recent years new variations have evolved and it is currently enjoying ...

Playing poker games might be fun but can be tricky at times. If you're an inexperienced player, a beginner so to say, you will need all the help you can get in order to get by playing the game that most people have come to love.  It's always best to watch pro players and poker games.  For example -  learn from the pro poker players and follow the poker tournament schedule to give you a feel for the game and the best strategies you can use.

There are quite a variety of poker games which anyone with enough interest and willingness can opt to learn. Among such variations, the more popular ones include Texas Hold'em, ...

When you hear cards shuffling and gambling, what comes into your mind?  Poker, isn't it?  Well, the most popular card game in the gambling world is actually Texas holdem poker.  Housed in casinos and poker card rooms across North America and Europe, its popularity has made its name synonymous to gambling.  It is even available to play onlineat a live casino. Texas holdem poker originated in Robstown, Texas in the early 1900's.    It was then introduced to Las Vegas in 1967 by a group of Texan gamblers and players - these include Crandell Addington, Roscoe Weiser, Doyle Brunson, and Amarillo Slim.  From this, its fame has developed further as the birth of the World Series of Poker was presented ...