Everything was so simple a long time ago, but then, the UIGEA got enacted into law, and the poker sites for US players all went into "disarray". Some folded and went out of business, some stayed, while some quit their poker business and switched to a non-gambling enterprise. So, assuming you are an American and you are still at a loss because your favorite online room has folded a long time back and you still have not found another good room, read on, this piece should help you. Remember, UIGEA or not, the situations remain dynamic, so don't give up on your poker action. Below are the payment avenues still accessible to US players: Visa/Mastercard- it is the fastest way of depositing. Diners Club International: one could deposit up to around 600$. Bankwire- this is slow, and if you do not have the virtue of patience, you would do well to choose the other avenues. Prepaid debit cards- examples would be Delta, Visa Electron, Maestro, Solo, Switch). Now, as far as I know, these online sites are still considered as Poker Sites for US Players- Absolute Poker, Carbon Poker, PitBull Poker, Bodog and of course, Full Tilt. There, one last word of wisdom- if you have given up on poker sites for US players, there is always the landbased arena.

I remember this time, about 3 years ago, my friend Menard said he would be hosting a weekend home poker game for the first time. Well, Menard is quite popular, he is the "Mr Congeniality" kind, and about 2 dozens of friends made it to the affair. Wow, what we saw and used during the party proper: a kitchen table, poker chips that were probably used by World War 2 soldiers (not the US-Iraq, the real Second WW), and cards that were so worn out everybody was so careful in handling them, for fear of the cards DISINTEGRATING in their hands. After that, nobody else made it to subsequent poker home games of his, except me, well, I am really the compassionate kind. (The next party, we- just 3 of us- played Monopoly but with true gambling). Thus, learn the lesson please from this little story on poker room supply. A few hints and tips: put in a good darts board - for those who suddenly want out of the game, for whatever purpose. If you wish to have a more permanent thing in your poker room supply, folding poker tables are the thing. Yes, they may be quite expensive, the tradeoff is that you would never lack for guests. Have you ever heard of the "Two-Fold Oval Poker Table With Padded Rails"? Give it a look, and of course, avoid the worn-out cards and the ugly poker chips. Believe me when I say, there are beautiful poker chips at afordable costs out there in the market, ask your oldest casino friend, he would know.

OPR or Official Poker Rankings serves as a Net site for poker player ratings/rankings, tourney results, player statistics, etc. Assuming you are a serious poker competitor, then I am sure that you would want to be knowledgeable on poker player ratings, as far as your perennial opponents are concerned. Check any or all of the following: poker standings, numbers, summaries, prizes, exact finish in a tourney, ROI, and still others. The poker player ratings on this site include numbers from MTTs, chosen satellites and even the SNG competitions. You would learn how friends, enemies, relatives are all doing in their online performances, and of course, you would find the fish and the sharks alike. If you are the kind who relishes battling against the sharks, then this site would surely aid you, just prepare to lose, ehr..unless you are a shark too. The good thing about this site is that realtime poker player ratings are given, they are updated online constantly, each hour, everyday. If nothing else, you would be amused with all the funny and weird names you would see, some of them seem like they came from outer space. Before I go, here is a question: "if I see losing gamblers with percentages above ninety percent, how could one lose so much yet be rates?" Answer: All gamblers below him/her have lower ratings, it is not a true score, but just a percentile indicator.

I will not say that the Poker-Edge Software is the best out there in the market, but it sure is one of the most competitive ones at present, if an online poker player database is what you really need. What does Poker-edge offer us the gamblers? Well, to name just a few, this online poker player database would permit one to know everybody's realtime statistics and style, know the most lucrative tables, self-monitring of one's own statistics, and pinpointing the veterans and the lousy players. (I hate using the word 'poor', because you might think I am referring to the financial status and not the playing strength). This online poker player database would be of great service, and why not- it would tell you the competitors' weakness, strengths, betting styles and other numbers. The database's HUD (that is Heads Up Display) would recognize the opposition and would put in the key figures next to the name, now, what could be more convenient than that? Not just that, this online poker player database would show what kind he/she is- a shark, or a fish, or whatever. If you are intent on improving your performances, track your own play, and this program has the necessary pursuits for that kind of endeavor.

In Las Poker Room Vegas (I am speaking in the general, no specific casino in mind)- there are etiquette to follow, and to break them means risking any of a multitude of repercussions- from a mild reprimand to outright ban from the premises. First, let me talk about card counting, while it is technically not illegal, this is really in that gray area which is leaning more towards "unlawful"- and why so? Security of these Vegas casinos will make it very hard for a suspected card counter to play in peace, from mild reprimands to a "suggested" leaving. Suggested is not exactly that, if you get my meaning. In Las Poker Room Vegas, the care of your valuables is another thing. If you catch a thief running over your handbag (in the act) and you yell for the security, they would come in full force to your rescue. However, In Las Poker Room Vegas, if you think it is their job to watch over your cellphone or money while you take a half-hour break outside the building, you are wrong.

Books my friends, books would be good gifts for online poker players. I mean, if you are contemplating about gifts for online poker players, you might as well think of something that would enhance his/her playing performance. "Real Poker II - The Play of Hands" would be one good choice, penned by Roy Cooke (this is a columnist). This book is an accumulation of his columns, in a span of 7 years since 1992. Another one- Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide: Tournament Edition, and obviously, this was written by not just one poker maestro. A dozen of the best in the world pooled their knowledge to come up with winning techniques via this reference. Playing particular hands is very useful, and it is found in this book. Two last things, when I say 'online poker players', I am referring to somebody whom you consider as above an acquaintance, for I know people who would give something to somebody they have just chatted with for the first time. Another, gifts for online poker players need not be expensive. Like, you could enroll him/her at an affordable site- meaning, you'll register him at an online room using your own money, right? (Take note, some rooms do not allow this, just a reminder).

A little warning, if you are not a newbie, meaning, if you have been playing poker for the past 300 years, you would die of boredom reading this, so, enough said. What are the best poker hands-10-player? Here goes, from strongest to the weakest- AA. It is also called American Airlines, bullets. Second would be the KK- there would be many times you'll win with this holding. This member of the group of best poker hands-10-player is also called cowboys. Next, we have the pair of Qs: only the Ks and the aces would dominate this. Fourth, going away from the pairs, would be the AK. Pair or not, this set is still one of the best poker hands-10-poker. Then, we go to the JJ, and as per the statistics, it would succeed twenty percent of all occasions. When you have this, the flop reveals a Q, K or Ace, be wary. Next is the AQ- when suited, this should win 20% of the time. Then, we have the KQ, it is a strong drawing hand, with the emphasis on 'drawing'. After that comes the AJ, then the KJ, and last of the best poker hands-10-player is the Ace/10. A word of warning about this holding, do not think of it as too strong, when unsuited, you might find yourself being humiliated by somebody with that Ace pair.

Do you wish to know more about the 2007 World Poker Tournament Players? If so, let me see if I can be of help, even by just a bit. Actually, this is last year's WPT North American Poker Championship, among the most prestigious Canadian gambling competitions. Big-shot names graced the event, but none of them proved to be king, (read: nobody got to the Finals)- Yukon Booth, Gavin Smith, Daniel Negreanu, Tuan Lam. The Robin Hood of Poker was one of the 2007 World Poker Tournament Players, and if you don't know him, he is known as such because he kept on donating tourney winnings to the charities, and this is one role model our youth should be aware of. The event drew more than 500 competitors, putting the prize money to $5,133,335, and after about 250 hands in the Finals, it all boiled down to Jonathan Little and Scott Clements. Now, let me give the standings when all the smoke (and the fire) have cleared up. First went to Scott Clements ($1,361,724), second went to Jonathan Little, 3rd went to Cloutier, 4th to Barry Greenstein (another bigshot by the way), 5th went to Farkye and sixth went to Jeff Garza.