If you’ve been searching for a Suited Gold Texas Holdem Poker Table Felt on the Internet to add a little style to your poker tables, you’ve picked the right color. About six months ago, our basement was full of gold, blue, green, red, black, and about fifteen other colors of felt. Some were plain looking, some were a little out there, and some had suited diamond patterns within the felt. Obviously, you know which one we chose.

We understand you have your own designs, pictures, and everything else in your own home, but if the Suited Gold Texas Holdem Poker Table Felt is even remotely close to your colors then you’ll be extremely happy with this purchase. Regardless, we’ve got to tell you about our fifteen seconds of fame thanks to a simple little cloth we put on our Blackjack tables. We actually thought we’d be getting in trouble.

Anyway, my wife and I are in our mid thirties and have been playing poker since college. While it was fun hosting events here and there for co-workers and other friends, we were spending way too much money just to have a little fun. So we searched the Internet for ways to make money while still letting everyone enjoy their game. Evidently one word of mouth comment led to another and soon we had approximately two hundred and fifty people at our house.

My wife does hair and every client she had there brought sons, husbands, daughters, and even their friends as well. The day was like something you would see on television, and while we were on our local news that’s about as far as the fame went. My wife has this drop shipping business she works with and sells stuff on eBay so holding a real life auction with tons of products was a great idea.

To keep this short there was just about everything you could think of to make money. We had hour intervals on the Blackjack tables of which several pictures were taken, some showing the Suited Gold Texas Holdem Poker Table Felt in them. There was a bake sale that had cakes, cookies, and everything else. We had kegs for those who drink, we had a couple ten foot subs from Subway, and to put it lightly it was the best get together we ever had.

In the end, we made enough money to seriously put down on a new home if it’s what we wanted. However, the money we raised went to more tables and a Suited Gold Texas Holdem Poker Table Felt for each one. Now it’s going to become a yearly event. We’ve even got volunteers ready to step up for next year. Who would have thought this all started from looking over a bunch of felt clothes for twenty people.

The point is though, if you’re looking for something to enhance the look and feel of a poker room then we recommend the gold one. If it doesn’t seem to match anything you have, there are alternatives, and the company we found has some really low prices. Hopefully, when you’re done researching everything, you’ll enjoy it just as much as we did.

By: Brian Garvin

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A poker game is easy to set up. All you need to have are a set of playing cards and a poker chip set. Although it will not affect how the game is being played, since anything from peanuts, cigarette sticks and other items can be used, the usage of poker chips is highly recommended in order to give that casino feel to every game of poker. Because of this, a lot of people have started buying their own poker set to be used in their own homes or to be carried to a friend’s house for games.

Poker chips come in a variety of designs and choosing a design is entirely based on the person’s preference. Basically, clay and composite chips are available in single solid color, two colors, and three-colored designs. Chips may have different patterns or logos imprinted on them as well as the value assigned to the chips.

In terms of cost, the two-color and three-colored chips are more expensive because they have a more excellent look. The edge of the chips is also used for design and this adds to the unique look of the different chips available in the market. Chip edges may be designed using the following design styles:
Suited design – the edge of the poker chips are surrounded by the four suits of the standard playing cards. Diamond design – a series of diamond prints are used to design the surrounding edge of the chip. Dice design – Each side of the dice is imprinted around the poker chip.There are also a lot of casinos that sell poker chip sets that have their logos on them. However, these may cost a lot more than the regular poker chips.

Poker chip sets may also be ordered with your own exclusive designs. A lot of poker chip manufacturers offer customization of chips based on the client’s taste. Having your poker chip set customized is a great way of making your chips stand out however, you should be willing to pay for the premium of having them designed the way you like.

Among the different designs available, the three-colored designs with the diced edge is probably the most sought after because they give an authentic casino feel to the chips. So if you want to impress your friends with your home poker set-up, choose a design that will make them feel that they are playing in a casino. Remember, if your friends like your set up, then you can rest assured that they will be back for more poker nights.

By: Greg Ferguson

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If you are interested in learning all about Clay Poker Chips, one thing that you should focus on is learning how to identify the denominations of Real Clay Poker Chips. There are many standard colors that are used to identify what each poker chip represents as far as money figures when it comes to a gambling table. Now, you can learn how to identify the colors so that you can spend more time focusing on the game than the printed money amounts listed on the Clay Casino Poker Chips that you are playing with!

Step 1:

Now, you are probably aware of all those white and blue Real Clay Poker Chips floating around out there. There is a good reason for this! These are the most common colors when it comes to denominations. In all instances when it comes to Clay Poker Chips, these colors typically reflect a $1.00 denomination. If you play low stakes poker, or other games of chance, you will use these for ante, and small bets.

Step 2:

Now, on occasion, when you are playing with All Clay Poker Chips, you may run across poker chips that are pink in color. Despite the fact that they do exist, they are not as common as other denomination colors because of the fact that they deal with wholes and a half in money amount. They reflect the money amount of $2.50. You can play these as stand alone amounts of $2.50, or use them in place of Real Clay Poker Chips that stand for the amount of $5.00. Many will also implement the use of these chips in Blackjack games.

Step 3:

The next color that you should be familiar with when it comes to Clay Casino Poker Chips is red. These stand for the money amount of $5.00. These are really common when it comes to games of chance. If you are playing with Professional Clay Poker Chips, you are likely to discover this color move across the table frequently.

Step 4:

Now, if the white chips that you are playing with represent the denomination of $1.00, then it is likely that the blue chips will not be worth $1.00. In this instance, the blue chips would be worth $10.00! It is very important that you pay close attention to what the whites equal and what the blues equal. If you fail to do this, you may end up betting much more than you originally thought.

Step 5:

If you see some green Clay Poker Chips in your Clay Poker Chips Set, these will represent the denomination of $25.00. These are typically used in higher stake games. However, the amount is actually low enough that they can also be used in low stakes poker, Texas Holdem and similar games.

Step 6:

There are black colored Real Clay Poker Chips as well. These are definitely mostly found in games that have higher bets occurring. They are worth the same as $100.00 in real money. If you are looking to make some quick cash on an excellent hand, this is the color to throw out!

Step 7:

Last, but not least, Purple Clay Casino Poker Chips represent $500.00. When playing this type of poker chip, it is essential to ensure that you can put your money where your chip is!

By: Brian Garvin

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The rise in popularity of televised poker tournaments has led to a dramatic increase in the number of people who want to play poker games. If you are one of these people, but don’t want to go through the hassle of going to a live casino, you should try a goods poker website. At a poker website you can play all of the games that a regular casino offers and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. This includes such games as the widely known Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo, and Seven Card Stud. At a top poker website you can register for free and begin playing immediately.

There are always seats available and you can even try your luck at tournament play. There are single and multi-table tournaments that offer a variety of buy-in amounts for everyone from the conservative gambler to the high roller. The poker website will even offer opportunities to win a free seat at special high dollar tournaments. If you’re new to playing poker, or just want to practice a game before risking any money the poker website will let you play as long as you want in the free poker room.

A good poker website allows you to register for free and will offer incentives such as deposit bonuses and special prizes to keep you coming back. Your account is 100% secure and your privacy is always protected. You can also make your deposits with the method you prefer, such as major credit cards. Now you too can enter the exciting world of poker players. So give it a try today.

By: Anthony LeMaire

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Poker Chip Sets – The Poker Chip and Challenge to Counterfeiters

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.

By: Debbie Fletcher

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Over the years, poker became very popular and the boom of online poker has added fuel to the fire. Also the need for poker books increased, so many have been written so far, some good and some not so good. But they all teach you one thing more than they should: they teach you how to play tight and tighter than others. Although being tight is good sometimes and discipline and honest play is important, when all you do is play tight then it is obvious that you will immediately be spotted an all the others will being to fear and respect you and your hands, therefore when you do have a winning hand you won’t be able to win too much because no one calls your bets.

When you are so tight and you enter a loose game, where players play mostly for fun, then you have a problem. They will spot you game and even if you play it by the book, you won’t be able to win your pots. They might be playing for fun but still they want to play as much as they can for the money paid and that is why they will stay clear from your big hands. If they see you one time as a rock, then it is difficult to win hands with a big value.

When calling someone a rock in poker it means that player is conservative and tight to the extreme, he plays only the best hands and his reactions and actions are always accurate to the hand he is holding. On the other extreme of poker player stands the player referred to as the fish, a player that is mostly inexperienced and plays bad hands, losing most of times. The idea is not to stop hunting good hands or to play bad one, the idea is that you should take notice of your game style and if you see you are too tight to correct it. Not because you are missing some good hands that can hit, but because you are missing a lot of big pots. When seen as a rock at the poker table, you are risking the worst thing of all: you are risking to play in such a way that even the bad player know how to play against you and don’t loose. This is what becomes of a poker rock and it can be the most unpleasant thing, even more unpleasant then losing a big bet with a not so good hand.

By: John Finney

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The game of poker is cherished since a long time. It has caught a lot of publicity and fanfare in past few decades. Now there are many poker tournaments across the world and even online. Poker lovers all over the world are glued to their television channels like ESPN when these tournaments are telecasted.

Poker is not just confined to casinos or bars. In fact it has traveled back to our homes from where it supposedly originated. A surge in the popularity of the game has given rise to many different types of poker games. Like Hold Em, Omaha Hold Em, Razz, Seven Card Stud, and Eight or Better High-Low Stud etc. These games can be played by anyone who loves and wishes to play poker. If someone is naïve to this game, better start with home poker, which has the advantage of not being labeled as a form of gambling. So a young group of guys and gals can try their hands at Texas Hold Em or Five Card Draw.

The players should preferably be more than five or at least five to play the game authentically. Else the game can be played with the dealer’s choice. But before commencing the game it is necessary for everyone playing it to have knowledge of the rules and regulations of the game. If the is played domestically the information might be that perfect but if you move out to play in casinos, it is advisable to have requisite and adequate knowledge of this game.

Like every other game Poker tournaments too have certain specified rules about the structuring of prizes, fees and betting. Those who win have the opportunity to take millions back to their homes. The best place to enjoy the charming game is known to be a casino in Las Vegas. Nowadays almost all big casinos have some or the other poker tournament going on. The Caribbean Stud form of poker is adorable and acclaimed by the players. This game is derived from the Five Card Stud form of poker. It is popular because the game is for a relatively short duration of time, as it does not require an entire group to be settled before its commencement. Despite of it the pot is high for this comparatively easily comprehensible game. Besides Caribbean Stud games like Texas, hold em and seven card stud are also cherished by people.

Many casinos like Excalibur offer free demonstration classes to tutor the beginners about this addictive game. It brings to them lot of crowd and sale. The aura and charisma of the game is such that it makes many celebrities too try their hands at it. Even women are getting attracted to the widespread popularity of this game. Surveys reveal that those sports channels telecast good number of poker tournaments are most liked by people. The best show is supposed to be The World Poker Tour, which can be viewed on the Travel Channel. According to the staggering rise in the glory of this game it would perhaps be right to say –if you want to have fun, play poker once!

By: Suresh Gupta

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Learn the secret money making tips to mastering Texas Holdem Poker so you can quickly and easily ramp up your poker playing skills for more profits. Check out Freddie’s poker site at http://www.winningtexasholdempokertips.com right now for lots of free info and a special report.

According to Richard Epstein (Theory of Gambling and Statistical Logic, Academic Press, 1977), blackjack became popular during World War I, and was called “black-jack” from the practice of paying a bonus to a player who held an ace of spades with a jack of spades or clubs.

John Scarne, (New Complete Guide to Gambling, 1961, Simon & Schuster), puts the year when this curious rule first appeared at 1912, when twenty-one tables appeared in horse-betting parlors in Evanston, Illinois. According to Scarne, by 1919a Chicago gambling equipment distributor was selling felt table layouts embla¬zoned with the announcement: “Blackjack Pays Odds of 3 to 2.” I believe Epstein’s information is taken from Scarne, and Scarne states that he discovered the origins of blackjack in America as a result of his private discussions with old-time gamblers, not from any published texts that can be looked up today.

I am skeptical of much of what Scarne has written about blackjack, so I’ll quote from Mickey MacDougall’s MacDougall on Dice and Cards (Coward-McCann, 1944, NY), which was published prior to any of Scarne’s books: “Many professionals dress up the game by giving prizes for certain hands. A favorite stunt is to offer ten times the size of the wager to anyone holding a natural twenty-one with a black jack. This adds interest to the game, but it also tempts a player to increase his stakes.”

In an honestly dealt single-deck game, this gimmick bonus would give the player a substantial edge over the house, assuming the player knew basic strategy (an unlikely assumption). I would also assume that a gambling house that offered this bonus would be using any number of illegitimate methods to assure the house a healthy edge.

That curious bonus payout that gave blackjack its name, however, has long since disappeared. There may be some casino somewhere that pays a small bonus if a player is dealt a natural 21 which includes a jack of spades or clubs, but that is no longer a normal rule of the game. Today, a blackjack is simply any initial two cards that consist of an ace and any ten-valued card.

That’s when Ed Thorp dropped another bombshell. Under the auspices of their Vintage Paperback division, Random House published a revised and expanded edition of Beat the Dealer. And the most important addition was Harvey Dubner’s Hi-Lo counting system, which Thorp called the Complete Point Count, with a computer-optimized strategy devised by Julian Braun. To the casinos’ frustration, this was a system that could more easily be applied to multiple-deck games.

Thorp was keeping the casinos on the run.

Still, the casinos’ fears were mostly unfounded. The Complete Point Count was easier to use than the ten-count, but it was not a lot easier. It required players to keep two separate counts. In addition to the running count of the cards’ point total, the player had to keep a count of the exact number of cards remaining to be played. And in order to play his hand, he had to memorize a chart of 158 different strategy changes to be made according to the count.

Thorp also included a Simple Point Count in this new edition of his book, but at the time that strategy seemed way too simple to most players to gain much of an edge, or to be taken seriously by players who wanted to beat the game. Later, the power of Thorp’s simpler method of adjusting the running count, without keeping a separate count of the exact number of cards played, would be shown.

By: Christopher Skinner

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Poker chips for a casino come in many varieties and makes. One of the most important specifications can be a design that is unique to the casino. In addition, a host of other security features can be added to a casino poker chip to prevent counterfeiting.

After some research, observation, and simply asking questions for a few years, some of the mysteries and technology behind casino chips have been revealed. Available in at least six sizes (39mm to 41, 43, 45, 48 and 50mm) and up to 64 colors, it is easy to create a custom chip for a new casino. Most large chip manufacturers will not sell to the public, thus increasing the security of their chip lines. In addition to the variety of sizes and colors available the chips also have the ability to accept custom inlays in the center of each chip. These inlays have a nearly infinite ability to accept custom graphics. Yet another chip appearance variant is the ability to incorporate edge spots. Edge spots can be varied by pattern, number of spots, sizes, and color. One manufacturer has 33 different patterns, the ability to vary the number from 2 to 16, four different size options, and the ability to offer the edge spots in as many different colors as the chip (64).

The range of security features for casino grade poker chips is simply amazing. New security features are always in development. However, some existing features are UV Pigment, Laser Lock Material, customized rim, Chipsoft, UV Ink, and Alpha Dot. UV Pigment is typically used in the edge spots and causes them to appear fluorescent under a UV light. Laser Lock Material is a patented product that is generally mixed with inks, and then the materials can be revealed as green by a special laser pen. Customized rims are created by making a custom chip mold for the casino. Chipsoft is a trademarked name of a technology that embeds RFID’s in value chips. This allows poker chip management to become a science with the proper software. UV ink is typically used on the inlays to create a logo that is invisible, except under a UV light. Alpha Dot is a very unique technology involving a microscopic dot which is embedded into the inlay on the poker chip. The tiny dot will have text written on it that can be viewed by a very special lens.

Weights for casino chips often vary between 8.3 grams and 12.3 grams. Some will even include metal inserts like many poker chips created for the home market. Some large chip manufacturers offer a variety of simpler roulette style chips and even solid color hot stamped chips. The solid color chips are generally used for the lower values in the casino.

By: Brian Yates

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