World cup 2006 preview - iran

Outright Odds: 750/1

Group D Winners: 14/1

Iran’s last appearance in the World Cup, back in 1998, produced a shock 2-1 victory over the United States, in what could have been described as a very diplomatic result. After qualifying emphatically for this year’s tournament, including a 2-1 home victory over Japan, Iran will be expected to more than merely make up the numbers.

Iran won nine out of their 11 matches and qualified with a match to spare, although were pipped to the top spot by Japan, who beat them in the return fixture in the final round of fixtures.

Their efforts did not go unnoticed and they ranked at an all-time high of 15 in June 2005, ahead of fellow qualifiers Ukraine and Sweden and European champions Greece. To give you some idea of their position in the world game, they were rated just one place below Italy.

Iran are blessed with a plethora of attacking talent. Veteran striker and captain Ali Daei is the most prolific ever in international football with over 100 goals to his name and he topped the Asian scoring charts with nine qualifying goals. He will be 37 in Germany and this will surely be his last major finals.

Hamburg’s Mehdi Mahdavika, who netted the decisive goal against the United States eight years ago and Bayern Munich’s Ali Karimi, who was crowned 2004 Asian Footballer of the Year will be recognisable to the domestic audience. Mahdavika has emerged as Iran’s major attacking force in Daei’s twighlight years and has been given license to support the attack rather than being restricted to his traditional spot on the right wing.

Striker Vahid Hashemian is another player with Bundesliga experience, plying his trade for Hannover 96 following a transfer from Bayern Munich, as does midfielder Fereydoon Zandi who plays for Kaiserslautern.

Iran are lead by Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic who has successfully rebuilt the side which failed to qualify for the 2002 finals after losing to the Republic of Ireland in the play-offs.

While the victory over the United States sticks in the memory, it is the country’s only victory in six attempts at the finals and overall the squad lacks experience at the highest level, especially in defence. While Ivankovic has turned Iran’s fortunes around, they will need more than good morale to see them through a tough qualifying group and their final match against Angola could be their only chance of success.

Recommended Bet:

Despite their improvement, it is unlikely Iran will get anything from their matches against Mexico and Portugal but their attacking prowess could yield a final match victory against Angola at odds-against.

Iran to beat Angola @ 6/4

Learn pai gow poker game

Let’s learn some different type of poker other than Texas holdem, 7 card stud, 5 card draw and Omaha. Yes, pai gow poker. Now you must be wondering that pai gow sounds little Chinese; yes you are right this game is a mixture of the Chinese game pai gow and our very own American poker. Definitely this is not one of the most popular forms of poker but still widely played. It can be played by up to seven players.

It is played with one deck of 52 cards, plus a joker. Interestingly, joker can be used only as an ace, or to complete a straight, a flush, a straight flush, or a royal flush. The important thing here to remember is other than the usual ranking of hands we have one more winning hand that is “Five Aces” (five aces including the joker). Surprisingly, five aces beat all other hands including royal flush.

Each player is dealt seven cards. The cards are arranged to make two hands; a two card hand and a five card hand. The five card hand must rank higher or be equal to the two card hand. Finally both of your hands must rank higher than both of your opponents hands (both five and two card hands). Further the two card hand can only have two combinations; one pair and high card.

After the cards are arranged in to two hands, they are placed on the table face down. Once you put them down, you can no longer touch them. The dealer will turn over his cards and make his hands. Each players hand is compared to the dealer’s hands. If the player wins one hand and loses the other, this is known as “push” and no money is exchanged. If dealer wins both hands then he/she wins the players stake and vice versa. Now what if there is a tie, the only advantage with the dealer here is he/she wins all ties.

After the hand is played, the next person clock-wise becomes the dealer and the next hand is played. The major disadvantage to this game is that there is no skill involved and you rely too much on luck. Also the odds are poor compared to playing with a pot.

Online poker tournaments vs. cash games

With the enormous boost in poker’s exposure over the past few years, many new players are introduced to no-limit hold’em through online poker tournaments. It’s a natural progression seeing as how many beginners have gone from the couch to the computer, learning tournament poker from professionals and fortunate amateurs on countless televised events. Many beginners even do the smart thing and immerse themselves in a no-limit poker book or two to refine their skills, and they may even have some success at Sit ‘n Gos or multi-table tournaments. However, many of these players spill over into the no-limit side cash games offered at all online sites and fail to adjust their play. While it’s true that in poker the most money is made in cash games, many players make critical errors when they try to transition into this format. My goal in this article is to help you eliminate some of those mistakes.

One of the most basic, but important, things to realize about cash games is the difference in structure to tournaments. In no-limit poker tournaments, you pay a specific buy-in and are given an arbitrary amount of arbitrary chips. Those chips have no cash value, and you can only make money by finishing in one of the top places. You can only lose your original buy-in. In cash games, you’re playing with your own money. The chips on the table – digital or otherwise – represent your hard-earned dollars. Don’t treat them like a tournament buy-in. You can lose real money real fast, and no one will be there to stop you from re-buying as many times as you’d like hoping to recoup your losses.

Another cash game mistake that many tournament players make is playing too aggressively too often. They also tend to bluff more often than cash game players, trying to use the same relentless aggression that has worked for them in tournaments. That style of play simply isn’t necessary in cash games where the blinds stay at the same level and no one is worried about being knocked out. I tend to play more aggressively and bluff more often in tournaments because my opponents tend to be more timid and willing to let go of their hands. Veteran cash game specialists can simply wait for a premium hand or trap their opponents when they have the best of it. You don’t need to play a lot of hands and combat the blinds in a cash game. Playing, and winning, one big pot with pocket Aces can make you a winner for the session. The great part about playing online is that no one will give you the evil eye when you double-up and promptly leave the table.

Also, tournament-style gameplay has become common in online no-limit cash games. Many inexperienced players have an all-in mentality that stems from loose tournament play. You’ll see hands like AK vs. JJ or AQ vs. 66 where all the money goes in preflop. This is simply unnecessary and a sign of impatience. None of these hands are a big favorite, which means that these players are willing to risk their entire stack on a coin flip. This type of play makes sense in a tournament setting where you are continually battling the blinds, you may be shortstacked and need to double-up, or you’re just looking to put the maximum amount of pressure on your opponents. In a cash game, why not wait for a better spot before getting in all of your money? Instead of going all-in and chasing out worse hands when you’ve Aces or risk going broke when you’ve got Jacks, why not make a standard raise of 3 or 4 times the big blind and re-evaluate the situation on the flop? Patience is rewarded in no-limit cash games and you’re under no pressure to accumulate chips.

Unlike in a tournament, you don’t have to play in a cash game until you either go broke or gain every chip on the table. The blinds are the cost of doing business at the table – not an ever-increasing chip monster dictating your actions. If you’re a beginning player, you should play tight and wait until you have a top hand in proper position. As you gain experience, you can begin to open up your starting hand requirements a bit. Don’t forget that in cash games, you can take your chips off the table and walk away at any time. Separating your cash game strategy from you tournament strategy can do wonders for your bankroll. Playing a straightforward, dull, and consistent game is often the best strategy to crush no-limit online cash games.

Carmen media - three new casino games raise the stakes at belle rock entertainment

• European Roulette Gold Series

This roulette game is far and away the best of its type on the Internet. Player screens that offer razor sharp visual quality, crystal clear ambient sounds that set the mood, and little details like Bet Timers and easy to use control buttons, come together to give players the authentic roulette table experience. European Roulette Gold Series is the difference between trying to recreate the excitement of the casino, and wondering why you ever bothered going to the casino in the first place.

• Double Joker 100 Play Power Poker

You could argue that multi-play Power Poker is the bread and butter of online casinos in that everybody has to have it. Of course, if that’s the case, then Double Joker 100 Play Power Poker is the strawberry jam, giving players the ability to play up to 100 hands of video poker at a time. Sitting down to play Double Joker 100 is a test of your wits, concentration, and endurance. For the person with the right mix of all three, it could also be one of the most lucrative seats around.

• Avalon Video Slot

Avalon is a 5 reel, 20 Payline video slot that holds many secrets and treasures for those bold enough to find them. With free spins, mystery multipliers, Scatter and two Wild opportunities as well as a Gamble feature where the intrepid can double of quadruple their wins, the possible payout is $105,000. That’s enough to make Avalon Video Slot an epic in its own right.

“As established industry leaders we’re in a position to push the envelope with our games, expanding and refining our core offerings so that our customers can experience the best possible gambling experience,” said Tim Johnson, Chairman of Carmen Media Group, owner of Belle Rock Entertainment.

About Belle Rock Entertainment

Belle Rock Entertainment is a group of online casinos and poker rooms. It is owned by Carmen Media Group Limited( carmenmedia. com) based in Gibraltar and is one of the most experienced and trusted online gaming operators in the world. Over the past 10 years, the various brands within Belle Rock Entertainment have become synonymous with exciting entertainment, the most advanced games and the biggest promotions. All of the Belle Rock Entertainment’s online casinos carry the eCogra Players’ Seal of Approval which testifies to fair play and responsible gaming, as well as secure and timely payouts. The group’s major brands include River Belle The Gaming Club, Jackpot City and Lucky Nugget .

Caribbean stud poker intro

It seems like only yesterday when this fun game started appearing in Casinos in the United States. As you might expect from the name, Caribbean Stud Poker got its illustrious start in the Caribbean. It eventually worked its way onto cruise ships and one day the game finally docked on U. S. shores.

This exciting game is now offered in just about every casino, both online and in the real world. It's usually considered a party game, because, like Blackjack, everyone is playing against the dealer.

Caribbean Stud Poker is played on a Blackjack-style table and seats multiple players. If you're playing the game online, you might be the only one playing-some online casinos are offering multi-player games now.

The layout for the game has three main betting areas. First, there's the Ante spot, which is where your initial wager goes. Next there's the Bet spot, which is why you bet to stay in the game-more on this later. Finally, there's the progressive jackpot wager slot. When you drop $1 into this slot, you're entered into the progressive jackpot.

Quick Game Play

In other articles, I'll go over the game play and strategy in more detail, but for now, let's run through the general game play of Caribbean Stud Poker.

Before the hand is played, you must enter a wager. The lowest betting limit I've ever seen in the real world is $5. You might find limits lower online. So, let's imagine that you placed $5 on the Ante spot.

Next, you need to decide if you want to be entered into the progressive jackpot. If so, put $1 into the slot. You can't be entered into the jackpot after the hand is dealt.

After all players have made these two moves, the hand is dealt. You'll be given five cards. This game doesn't have many big decisions. Unlike video poker, there are no draw cards, so these are the only five cards you'll get. At this point, you need to decide if you think your hand will beat the dealer's hand or not.

You can choose to fold now and lose your Ante wager, or you can stay in the hand and place a Bet wager. This new wager is equal to two times the Ante wager. So, if you made a $5 wager to start the hand, your Bet wager would be $10.

After all players have decided, the deal flips over his or her hand and bets are either taken or paid. At this time, any progressive winners are paid.

Time to Learn More

This article was just a quick intro to Caribbean Stud Poker. In other articles, I'll go further into detail about playing the game, including progressive payouts, game decisions, playing strategy and more.

For now, I hope I've wetted your appetite for this fun game.

Advantages oflearning blackjack strategies

Money, Money, Money

One of the main reasons that people play blackjack is because it's fun. Another reason could be for financial gain. If this is your reason, you will need some expertise in this field. The best way to win at blackjack is to know the ins and outs of the game. Once you know the strategies of blackjack, you will win money instead of losing it. Playing blackjack can be a good way to earn extra income on a regular basis. Although, the only way to accomplish this is to master the blackjack techniques. Everybody wants some extra pocket change. Learning how to play blackjack can help you put that extra money in your pocket. If you take the time to learn the game and its strategies, and choose where and when to play, there is no reason why you can't use your winnings to enjoy the finer things in life.

Entertainment

Another reason to learn how to play blackjack is entertainment. There are people who play blackjack as a hobby; they use the game as a form of entertainment to occupy their leisure time. Blackjack can be a very challenging game, but like anything else, the best way and usually the only way to improve your skills are to practice. You can improve your skills two ways. First, learn as much about the game as possible. Second, challenge yourself continually. By following these rules, consistent winnings are just around the corner. Some of the benefits of playing blackjack on a regular basis, and learning the strategies, are improving your reasoning and calculating skills. The extra money you make will just be a bonus. That's not too bad for a hobby.

What's More Fun, Winning or Losing?

Last but not least, the final reason to step up your blackjack playing abilities is because winning is much more fun than losing. What could be more satisfying than leaving the casino with your pockets full of their money? When you become an expert in blackjack strategies, you will enjoy the feeling of knowing that you beat the casinos at their own game. It will take a lot of hard work and diligence to become a blackjack expert. If you apply yourself, the rewards you receive will outweigh your efforts to learn tenfold.

There are many more reasons why people play blackjack. We don't need to touch on all of them. The reasons stated above should be enough to motivate you to be the best that you can be, to show the casinos they can be beaten. There are many ways to make money, none of them are easy, some of them are fun. Blackjack is a great way to combine entertainment and money making. Good luck.

Your winning tips for blackjack

If you really want to win by gambling, then you have to play smart and act smart, not only on the table itself but outside it as well. Hence, if your skills are not worth...

If you really want to win by gambling, then you have to play smart and act smart, not only on the table itself but outside it as well. Hence, if your skills are not worth anything when it comes to poker and you have the worst luck when it comes to the slot machine and the roulette wheel, then it may be time for you to switch gambling careers and focus on another game…like blackjack.

Blackjack is a very easy game to understand, play and master. More than that, blackjack is very fun to play as well, so if you haven’t tried playing blackjack yet, then you haven’t experienced all the pleasure in gambling yet.

How to Win in Blackjack

Now, before we get down to the winning tips in blackjack, let’s first recap the rules of blackjack. Remember that the main goal of all players in blackjack is to get cards that are equal to twenty one or one nearest to it like 20 or 19. Pray, however, that your cards don’t get busted by going over 21 because that means you’ve lost your bet right away.

Counting cards in blackjack is simple. 2-10 should be counted as they are. Face cards, on the other hand, should be counted as 10. Lastly, you have the option to count the ace as one or eleven. If you’ve noticed, with the exception of the ace rule, the counting system used in blackjack is very much similar to what’s used to play Lucky 9. But whereas 9 is the lucky number indeed in the other game, in blackjack, 21 is the luckiest number in the pack.

Now that we’re done recapping, here are the tips we’ve mentioned.

Don’t Make a Habit of Taking Insurance – You get the chance to take insurance if one of the cards showed up by the dealer is an ace. By taking insurance and placing a bet that’s not more than half the amount of the player’s bet, the player is able to insure that his money shall return to him in the case that the dealer has a blackjack hiding in his sleeve. But, anything beside that should warrant a victory for the dealer.

We advise you against taking insurance because your main opponent would be the dealer so it’s pointless to bet against yourself.

Go for a blackjack table on which the minimum bet is not more than five percent of your total stack.

Lastly, doubling down is the best advantage for a player in blackjack so remember to make use of this option if your cards show great potential!

Blackjack if both fun and can be very profitable. Learn it and win big next time you are at the casino.