Based on changes gleaned from both operator and player feedback, Microgaming has recently launched a new software version for their online poker network. New features include usability updates as well as a new and more comprehensive ‘back-office’ reporting and bonus tool, which work well for both players and operators.

This tool allows for both the standard ‘pending’ bonus and rarer ‘instant’ bonus. In terms of the pending feature, the bonus is paid out when a pre-determined wagering amount has been met by the player. The instant bonus is paid instantly, in which case cash-out would be delayed, until pre-determined wagering requirements are met. Progress on both bonuses can be seen by the player in the client account and poker lobby, it is also an extension of the new Loyalty System. The loyalty system was launched earlier in 2011, and has been widely accepted, receiving positive reviews.

Players had requested larger cards, a new multi-table launcher, improvements for configuring of the bet-slider, configurable Auto buy-in which minimized the amount of clicks needed, nine-seat cash games tables as opposed to ten-seats, Bad-beat jackpot optimization, and additions to the ‘My Calendar’ feature so that MTT schedules may be included.

The first site to take this software live was Unibet, and this happened on the 23^rd August, 2011. There are some changes which will only take place after the widespread release of this software has been deployed to all operators. Later-date scheduled updates include the larger cards feature and change of seat tables from 10 to 9. All operators on the Microgaming Poker Networks should have had the new software deployed by October 2011.

Microgaming is and always has been, way ahead of its game, whether this be for online poker or online slots. They are constantly upgrading their products and are home to one of the most aggressive rollouts of online slots games. They are also supremely confident that the new features and enhanced software product will be well received. Unibet was delighted to have been their guinea pig, and it all goes to prove that the show is not over for online poker as yet. Although many sites have been experiencing a decline in revenues with regards to this game, companies such as 888 Poker, which have launched new software products, have been experiencing new and rekindled player interest. Perhaps the same will be experienced for these Microgaming improvements on old classics.

The first Microgaming online casino software was developed more than a decade ago – since then they have been industry leaders in across-the-board, innovative online poker and gambling products. They provide reliable, unique and versatile gaming solutions to 160 sites currently, and this gives them a pretty impressive market-share in this highly volatile industry. There are now more than 1000 variants of 500 games produced in 20 languages and multi-currency formats, for a global audience. They are a consistent, award winning developer for casino, poker, bingo, mobile, live progressives and other games.

We recently heard in online poker news, that Swedish company Entraction – based in Stockholm has signed to become a poker network provider in a joint venture partnership with a Chinese company. This is an exclusive agreement for a new network and they are planning a standalone as well as a B2B version of their software which is adapted for local markets. The fact that more European software developers and operators are looking to the Asian Market, is becoming ever more apparent. Entraction offers leading poker software which will apparently be adapted and integrated with a Chinese gaming platform – at this stage in the dealings, the new client wishes to remain incognito, so the story gets curiouser and curiouser??

Apparently this is a “groundbreaking” deal as it is their first outside of Europe, and CEO, Peter Åström said that it is both the flexibility and scale-ability of their online poker product which won them the deal. According to one industry expert; he recons they are being so secretive as they are “installing the poker software into the cockpits of China’s new stealth fighter”. Entraction numbers have not been looking good and we assume our “expert” may believe this is a rumour being concocted perhaps to encourage growth in their share price or confidence in the company – otherwise why keep information regarding partners in a “signed deal” quiet?

In another rather strange, yet interesting poker deal, the sale of Devilfish Poker to the Weather Lottery has been a bit of a turn up for the books. While the Weather Lottery could certainly use the expansion and are excited about getting into online poker; again our expert adds his two pence worth with the concept that the Weather Lottery should have kept bidding them down. This brand name, sold at virtually 10% of the value of when it was floated just a few short years ago (around £300 000, apposed to its previous worth of more than £3 million!). He recons if they had kept going lower they would have got Dave “the Devilfish” Ulliot’s poker brand for the price of a pack of cigarettes and a pint – he is right of course; we don’t know what happened there.

Even more interesting in terms of the Weather Lottery is the fact that their former CEO – Keith Milhench, together with “hench-woman” Amie Pickersgill-Smith, also a former employee; have been jointly charged with theft and fraud. They were formally charged by Nottinghamshire police on four counts of theft and seven counts of fraud. The former CEO??!! Apparently they affected this against the company to the value of £80,000 in terms of alleged misappropriation of payments to lottery jackpot winners. All of this took place between April 2008 and April 2010, when both still worked for TWL. It seems a lot of trouble to go to for only £80,000 doesn’t it? If it were me, I would have at least tried to get away with millions if I were going to misappropriate funds. Ah well…isn’t it a strange world we live in? Needless to say shares in The Weather Lottery plc on the AIM hit a new 52-week low after this news was released.

I am sure that you too, you would like to go to Las Vegas and play in one of the most famous casinos in the world. But the thing is you don’t want to lose all of your money! You have to know that if you want to have a nice time it is important to respect some rules. Las Vegas is a nice place where you can lose everything. So be careful.

So because I am nice, I will give you some advice about playing gambling games in Las Vegas without taking a loss.

Don’t play under alcohol

Even if it is cool to be in Las Vegas, it is important to not play gambling games under alcohol. Actually, if you play gambling games such as poker, blackjack or whatever, don’t drink at the same time. You won’t concentrate and you will lose. Also when you are drunk, you are more excited and your decisions are not so clear. And you know about what I am talking. If you expect to win, just keep your mind clear and concentrate on the game.

Don’t try to cheat

I think the best thing to do in Las Vegas is to not cheating. In Las Vegas, you have probably more cameras that people. It is a place where it is difficult to do something without being filmed. So, if you want to look at the cards of your opponent, it is your problem but expect after that that the casino will push you out of it. It is a rule in Las Vegas, don’t cheat. They have been dealing with these kinds of people every day and probably more professional than you. So if you don’t want to have some problem with the doorman…

Don’t swear

A lot of players think because they have their lucky thing with them. Why not, but it doesn’t make a difference. And also a lot of players because they are losing, start to be impolite and swear on everyone; they are expecting to get some luck through that but unfortunately it doesn’t work as well. Fighting the slot machine won’t change something when you lose and you will get probably the same sort than before, the Casino Bet would be happy to push out of the casino and believe me they don’t need your money to make profit.

Manage your tips

Las Vegas is the city of the tips. Everywhere you will see a number of piggy bank with tips on it. Don’t need to give to everyone. Something important to know in Las Vegas is that the croupier or dealer, they don’t get the minimum wage and they work hard. So the best thing to do is to give some money to them because they deserve it especially when it gave you a nice hand. Nevertheless the government has to manage this problem but it is another story.

Be able to play

You have to be awake when you are playing because if you are playing when you are tired could be a big problem. Actually, when you are tired you lose your concentration and you want to play faster. The thing is most of the time you lose. So be awake and plenty of energy to play at the casino.

We come across the words “tight” and “aggressive” regularly when reading about playing poker, and many poker theoreticians recommend aggressive-tight poker play always. But what does this actually mean?  

“Tight” play essentially means playing by the book, not playing hands for the sake of them and making sure when you do play that you have a strong starting hand. “Aggressive” is another thing entirely and it does not mean hitting your opponent over the head with a whiskey bottle and accusing them of cheating. It means actively betting and raising – perhaps this style should be called “active” as opposed to aggressive, but the word “aggressive” has become very much a part of poker playing lingo. 

A poker player can play “loose aggressive” too and this means betting and raising – more than likely bluffing, when they have a bad starting hand!  

Getting a reputation as a tight-aggressive player will mean that your opponents recognize you as having this style of play. So essentially you build up a reputation as having good starting hands – strong hands and actively playing. This stands you in good stead, because it may put the fear of god into opponents and get them to throw in a hand before they might normally be tempted to do so. One less opponent brings you one step closer to the prize pot! 

Having a reputation as a tight aggressive player also allows you to bluff more easily. Your opponents are always going to believe you have a strong hand if you have already built up this type of reputation, and this may help you to win if you are in a tight spot. 

A tight aggressive player almost always raises or folds, it is rare that you will see them call. The theory being that if you are able to justify calling a bet, you might just as well raise. Most poker players are tight aggressive and will raise rather than call! 

As we mentioned earlier, we also find loose-aggressive players and some of these players are really successful, but what about the loose – passive player? These players will never do well in a poker game against a tight-aggressive player, so the aim of the game is to develop a tight – aggressive poker playing style.  

Loose passive players check and call and the good players call them “calling stations”. Winning poker does not happen with checking and calling in no situation is this strategy ever recommended. It contradicts all the natural poker playing instincts of a good player where the tactics should be to be “in control” of the table. Opponents should always be on the defensive, but if you know what you are doing, checking and calling can be used to your advantage, although not in a loose passive way. 

In Omaha Hi-Lo, checking and calling is used to great effect and is routine in this game. Strong Hold ‘em tactics do not work well for playing Omaha Poker and even the best players use calling and checking in this game. Find out when it is best to call and check, and use this to your advantage, because the last thing you want is a reputation as a loose passive poker player.  

Crazy Pineapple is another one of the many variants of poker which are being thought out all the time. There are so many of these games and many of them are so obscure that they only really ever crop up in mixed games tournaments, but this is why it is so important to be an adaptable player.

Looking at all the different games of poker makes us stop to think that this is truly a thinking mans/woman’s game. Because so many pro players are involved in playing and offering online poker, not only do they keep pushing the limits for themselves, they push the limits for other players to greatly improve their knowledge and skill in the game.

Crazy Pineapple is variant of Pineapple Poker, only crazier, and Crazy Pineapple is related to Texas Hold ‘em. Three hole cards are dealt to players in Pineapple Poker, the same as with Hold ‘em; one of which must be discarded before the flop. In the Crazy version of the game the discard takes place after the flop, and on each round of betting another card is burned. The “Flop” takes place when the community cards are dealt onto the table.

Basically what happens; is after the hole cards are dealt, the players examine them and place a bet. After the bet, one of the hole cards is burned and the community cards are dealt, another betting round takes place. Another hole card is burned and a fourth community card is dealt (this is the “turn”), a last betting round takes place and the winning cards are revealed. The winner takes the pot and as Crazy Pineapple is typically played with a Hi/Lo split, if there is a qualifying Lo hand the prize pot is split. Qualifying Lo hands are exactly the same as they are in a Hi/Lo Texas Hold ‘em game.

Players find it really easy to make high hands, in this game, they say it is easier to do this than with regular Pineapple (please don’t ask me why they call this game “pineapple”?). This is because the discard is only made after the flop, so they get to see most of the community cards first before they burn a card of their own. This opens up the opportunity of building a better starting hand for the player. They also get to choose the best of their hole cards and decide whether they should play both, one or none.

You will find a couple of sites which offer Crazy Pineapple Poker and as it becomes more popular in series of mixed poker games, it will become more widely available. As pros branch out into new games and introduce them to their fellow pros, these new games slowly get into the online mix.

Because they are developed by pros and played by them, they become accepted as valid variations of poker. Eventually everyone wants to play and this is essentially how Crazy Pineapple came into being and how we will more than likely see other new poker variants come into being. Poker pros will be playing around a table and one will say, “Say, lets see what happens if we double the blinds before the river”, so they do and a new games comes to life if it works!

Body language displayed while playing poker is known as “tells” quite simply because what you are doing with your hands, your eyes, your body, can tell your opponent what kind of hand you have. This is something you don’t want them to know and this is often why poker players wear sunglasses, or peaked hats. They don’t want you to look into their eyes and see what they hold in their hand.

But it goes deeper then the eyes, tells in the angle of the head, if the feet are tapping, the slant of the shoulders. All these tells need to be read. So you say to yourself, that’s ok – when I play online poker, no other player can read, my body language, they are blind to my tells. This is not so, poker is a game of skill and strategy, it is played by very intelligent men and women and there are even familiar tells in online poker which you need to learn to read and not to display.

Although there are no bodies to betray the players’ thoughts, there are still actions which take place that do. You don’t want to inadvertently betray any information to your opponent and give them an advantage; to take care of online tells, you don’t have to be seen for these to take place.

A tell is obviously useful information and these were seen even in the cave-man days of online poker, which if you remember that far back, was actually at the turn of the century. “The Stall” is one of the most obvious and predictable of tells and it is also one of the easiest to exploit. Back then an inexperienced player would stall if they had a powerful hand. Today, experienced players use this as a bluff to make you believe that they have a strong hand, so it is not so easy to read.

The value in a stall lies when a break from a normal betting pattern takes place. If you are observant enough the stall allows you to see alterations from normal behavior and this should ring warning bells. Learning about these warning bells and speaking the language of online poker is vitally important if you are determined to take your poker playing seriously, and it means analyzing betting patterns.
In the majority online poker players are regular, and play in the same league games that you do. This is important to realize, beginners stick to beginners games and you stick your level of play or up the ante a little.

Online poker players get into habits or rhythms of play too – at least a lot of regular player do and this involves the size and speed of bets, calls or raises. These rhythms become exploitable and if you are a step ahead it becomes simple to spot deviations.
Also check out the “Rant”, the “Gloat”, the “Whiner”, the “Rocket Scientist” and other tells. Many players have carried over telling traits from playing casino or even garage poker and these can be exploited – learn how.