Texas Holdem Poker Strategy Books

In 1995, the first internet casinos went live with over 15 online games. By 2003, the total revenue for online gambling was over five billion dollars. Most online gambling corporations are not resident in the U.S.

By establishing these companies outside the confines of the United States, online casino businesses can avoid many of the regulations and tax implications imposed by the U.S.

In order complete these international transactions, all payments are processed through an online, secured, payment processing system. Today, you can choose from approximately 1500 online gambling sites.

If you choose to take your Texas Hold ‘Em game online, you will be one of about twenty million people currently playing casino games online.

While about 85% of gamblers do play online, only about one third of those players are actually playing for real money.

Of those who play for real money, about 75% lose money online, versus the 80% who lose in brick and mortar casinos, so it would seem that your chances of winning are better in the online environment.

However, studies DO show that online gamblers will lose more money PER GAME than those who play in brick and mortar casinos. But there must be something to the idea that you can do well online and that your chances of winning are greater.

There are more than four times the number of so called ‘high rollers’ playing online today than there are in traditional casinos.

You should be aware that, because these online gambling companies are not based in the U.S., you will have little recourse if you have a problem with the casino. In light of that, your should be even more careful to choose your online casino wisely.

Be sure that your money is secured and that the casino has a good history and reputation when it comes to paying its winners and establishing online security and policies.

Unless you are inclined to do a lot of research, your best bet is to protect yourself by playing only in established online casinos with a reputable history and feedback.

Look for casinos with a broad range of tables at various price levels. Once you start playing in an online casino, you are bound to get attractive offers from other online casinos trying to woo you and your business. Avoid those casinos that are start-ups and those that offer you big bonuses to get you to jump ship.

If you haven’t heard of these businesses, their offer of big winnings may just seduce you into spending a lot of money and you may never see your winnings even if you are the big winner at the table.

The software used by all reputable online casinos provides the table with a random number generator (RNG) to determine the cards dealt and the outcome, based on an algorithm.

With billions of RNG possibilities, the results of each game are truly random and therefore it is impossible for anyone to develop a ‘system’ to beat the software.

Security – Be sure you know the security policies and guarantees the site offers regarding the safety or your credit information, your personal identity and your contact information (you don’t want the site selling a marketing list to others and ending up with a flood of email in your inbox).

Look at the site policies and FAQs that describe the safety of the site gaming conditions, the software security and how the site ensures that hackers cannot invade and compromise the software on the online casino servers. Read the fine print!

Access – Can you get into the site and get a place at the table at any time of the day or night?

Some sites become overloaded and when you are ready to play, you will be unable to find a chair, or you may get dumped by the site server because the online casino cannot handle the volume of players.

How often does the game or site crash, and how long is the site down when it DOES crash? If you are booted off, can you get back on right away or will it take your forever to get back to your game?

How long is the lag time between a move and the transfer of information to the public view?

Some problems can come from your own connection and computer, but in many cases, an online casino cannot support the connectivity you will expect so that you can play a game seamlessly without disruption.

Look and Feel – The experience of playing online poker should be a positive one. You should be able to play on a site that is attractive with tools that are easy to use and easy to find.

Can you chat with other players or turn off their chatter if you wish? Are the colors and graphics appealing and eye catching or are they distracting? Can you mute sounds etc.?

Cash and Winnings – How much money does the casino payout? Do they credit your credit card to pay winnings or pay into your bank account? How long will it take before you receive your winnings?

How easy is their site to use when it comes to calculating your winnings and understanding your financial position?

Are you charged for all cash-outs? Are there additional or hidden fees you should know about before you start playing? Will the site send you email or text confirmations of deposits and withdrawals?

Will the casino offer you a bonus or incentive or promotion to play in certain games or tournaments? These can include ten to twenty dollars to try their site, and/or matching bonuses to match your deposit.

Freebies – Can you play for free in a Texas Hold ‘Em game? Can you observe tables to watch play? Do you have to register and submit personal information and credit card information even if you are playing the free games?

Other Factors - Look at the other features on the site. Can you use an image or a picture to represent you online (an icon)? Can you easily track your statistics over a month or year?

Can you get email newsletters or online articles from professionals or other links that will help you build your skills and knowledge?

Here are some sites you may want to consider for Texas Hold ‘Em action!
These sites are well renowned and considered safe and productive by most poker players.

Ultimate Bet – This site has a good average pot size, though the number of players on the site is considerably lower than the larger sites. Pre-flop percentages can be above 45% and the site is particularly profitable for games with one to three or two to five table limits.

Now that you have the information on some of the top online casinos where you can play Texas Hold ‘Em, you should think about your own skills and preferences.

Do not limit yourself to only one online casino. You will want to play in a few casinos (4-5) to find the ones you like the best and then you can rotate among them to keep your play active and fresh and to meet other opponents.

Look for a variety of table limits and stick to the lower limits until you build your skill. Don’t be tempted to play big until you are ready. You have to learn about player behavior and get a feel for the ebb and flow of play and get better at profiling players. Stick to $1/2 up to $5/10 blinds and you should be OK.

When you begin to play, choose a stake that is fifty to one hundred times the ‘big blind’ so that you have wiggle room.

Before you jump into the fray, watch the table you choose for ten to fifteen minutes. Look at 3-4 tables before you choose one. Don’t be too anxious to lose your money! Find a table that is loose and you can then play a tight game with a good chance of winning.

Last but not least, be sure you select a position at the table that is a good one for you. Look for the person who is playing the tightest game and ‘sit’ to the left of that player.

As you become accustomed to online play, you will build confidence and begin to win more money, but only if you improve your skills and strategy.

Be a student of the game at all times, even after you become a shark. Study the odds, player profiles, positioning and learn to adjust your techniques as the flow of the game changes.