Chicago Poker Room

Best Online Casinos for USA Players
As any seasoned internet casino player from the United States should already know, it is not easy to find a great online casino that accepts your deposits and allows you to place real money wagers. The UIGEA put an abrupt hitch in that plan four years ago. Fortunately, not everyone followed suit when the Department of Justice slung its threats around, and there are still ways to find the best online casinos for USA players.
I'll start by eliminating casino software providers that don't accept USA players. The first thing you'll want to do is avoid these software brands: Microgaming, Playtech, CryptoLogic, 888 Holdings, Net Entertainment and Boss Media. These are certainly not all of the internet casino software developers that restrict USA players, but they are the most prominent of all the major brands.
The best online casinos for USA players are powered by Rival, RealTime Gaming (RTG), Vegas Technology, Top Game and Parlay Entertainment. Each of these software brands are known for their extremely high rate of USA player acceptance.
Everyone likes a good welcome bonus when they join a new internet casino. Many of us intentionally seek out no deposit casino bonus offers to give us a bankroll boost before ever making an initial deposit. If you're a big fan of no deposit casino bonus deals, Rival and RTG both have plenty of them throughout their licensed casinos.
Rival powered Sloto' Cash Casino and Box24 Casino come to mind right away, both offering no deposit casino bonus deals of about $25 to all new members. Don't worry if the casino does not openly promote a no deposit casino bonus. A quick search around the internet should bring up a slew of no deposit casino bonus codes for Rival and RTG powered casinos.
Eluding the software aspect for a moment, another very important factor is the deposit and withdrawal methods. The best online casinos for USA players will provide a number of viable payment methods for getting your cash in and out of the casino. Credit cards are great for depositing, if they work, but if you're in the USA, you won't be able to withdrawal in this manner.
Right now, eWalletXpress is the most reliable method for USA player deposits and withdrawals. Cash transfers are another good way to move funds around at an online casino. The best online casinos for USA players will be sure to present paper checks as a withdrawal option. If for any reason you cannot withdrawal in another method, you can at least get a check in the mail.
One other thing I have to point out is the licensing jurisdiction of an online casino. There are plenty of reliable regulators out there that accept USA players, like Kahnawake or Antigua and Barbuda for example. Costa Rica, on the other hand, is not so reliable. Now don't get me wrong, there are hundreds of respectable online gambling sites licensed in Costa Rica, but the country has no real regulation on the gaming. The only rule operators must abide by is not to offer their games to citizens of Costa Rica. If an online casino does not honor its member's payouts, the country will do nothing to fix the problem.
To put it simply, if a Costa Rican online casino has been around a few years, they are perfectly reputable, but don't join a brand new casino licensed in Costa Rica if you aren't certain it is trustworthy.
Follow these basic guidelines and you should be able to find the best online casinos for USA players with no trouble at all; hopefully with some nice no deposit casino bonus offers too!

Better Way to Play Poker Using Poker Books - Gets The Attention of Beginners and Others
The game of poker has attracted many people over the years and continues to be one of the most widely enjoyed forms of casino games that still attract many. Those who have never played poker before may be intimidated because there are many different types of games that are played and the rules associated with each various type are different. There are some basic guidelines that may be very similar when it comes to poker, but this is where the similarities typically end and the wide range of differences can be nothing short of confusing for new players or those who have never played before.
For those who have been bitten by the poker bug but are having trouble getting all of the rules and variations under their belt, the better way to play poker using poker books is worth the attention and time to settle in with one of these books and see just how much knowledge they can impart to the eager learn. One thing is certain and that is that playing poker is a game of chance but also one that requires skill. The latter is something that does not happen overnight but skill can be improved upon and increased with the right poker books. There are all kinds of books on the market from the types that are considered poker for newcomers to teach the basic such as understanding values of face cards to content rich poker books that delve deeply into various strategies.
Your skill level may be moderate in poker but this is not an exemption from learning more by studying such books. Many poker books not only give in depth knowledge about how a particular strategy works but they also help individuals to understand the synergy that can be created between knowing which strategy to use and when to use it to create more winning outcomes every time a game of poker is played. These helpful study guides and how-to manuals are not just for beginners but are written for many skill levels from the person who has never played a game of poker in their entire life to those who seek to make a living from engaging in poker tournaments and contests both online and at traditional casino houses.
Electronic poker books are a step up from hard cover and paperback books because they often offer features such as animated demonstrations in their content that help learning to be more cohesive with actual strategies in motion. For those who think they don't have time to sit down and read a learning book about how to play poker, there are many condensed books that are loaded with tips, pointers, playing secrets and much more. In a very short amount of time, one or more new techniques can be memorized and put into action in the very next poker games played.
Playing to win is the result that most people come to the poker table for and by consulting some of the poker books available on the market today, not only can winning odds increase but confidence can be built and new skills can be mastered in the game of poker.

Common Ways to Win at Roulette and Why They Won't Work
Roulette is well known throughout the globe. Why it has a long history, a large player base, and a whole lot of excitement that keeps attracting people to the roulette players' fold. Given its popularity, the mass media even went so far as to associate it to casinos, with the casinos picking up on the trope and even emblazoning their brands with images of the wheel and ball and even some minute references to the game.
Of course, one cannot deny that the primary lure of roulette lies in the fact that the general perception is that the game can be won so easily. This point of view is fostered by the game's characteristic even-money bets, which are those placed on black, red, odd, even, 1-18, and 19-36 slots. These slots all pay 1 to 1, or the same amount as the bet you've placed, and have near fifty-fifty winning odds. Add to that the various roulette systems that mostly apply to even-money bets and you get the idea.
Despite the apparent ease of winning roulette, one question that keeps popping into roulette players' minds is this: How to win at roulette? There are several purported means to beat the house at its own game, but below are the most common, and the reason why they cannot work:
1. Roulette strategies.
Of all the supposed methods to win at roulette, the use of strategies is perhaps the most common. These strategies vary in the way that they guide you to play the game, making you adjust to various spin results such that you make profit in the end. However, do they guarantee a win? Not unless you play with an unlimited bankroll. The only help roulette strategies provide is to make your game seem a little less random, as well as help you manage your funds well.
2. "Calculating" the spin's results.
There aren't a few gamblers who insist that one can predict where the ball will land by computing certain variables with relation to the ball and wheel's motion. This notion was given a great boost in popularity by Derren Brown who once placed A�5000 on a single table, claiming that he's able to tell where the ball will land through his knowledge in physics - the ball landed just a number short from his bet. Now, will it actually work? Theoretically, it's possible. However, it is extremely difficult to apply in real life, so it's a miracle how Brown nearly pulled it off.
3. Playing on a biased roulette wheel.
One of the sure ways to win roulette is by finding a biased and betting on a biased roulette wheel. Yes, it will work for anyone, but only if the biased wheel can exist. In modern casinos, roulette wheels are overly engineered such that they'd work without showing the least bias, and even if they do, it will be extremely hard to find since the house habitually switches and fine tunes their wheels. Also, casinos nowadays have better surveillance, making it easy to spot whoever surveys their wheels and subsequently take appropriate action.
Now we're not saying that roulette can never be won though. Thing is, you can win the game, but only with a sufficient amount of luck. Roulette truly is random, and finding ways to exploit the game is a lot harder these days.

No Limit Texas Hold Em Poker Strategy
Slow playing a big hand is the weapon of choice for most online poker newbies. Indeed, sometimes it is the only weapon that novice players have and you can expect them to use it whenever they hit a hand. However, many players will choose the wrong hands to slow play and this can be their undoing.
Playing a hand in this manner can work to your advantage many times, but you need to make sure that you are playing a monster and not slow playing yourself into losing a big pot. What I mean by this is many players will do something like slow play top pair. Or play a straight with a flush draw on the board.
I played against a guy yesterday in a big Full Tilt tournament who slow played his pocket K's while I had pocket 9's. The Flop came J-8-T and he bet $90 into a pot of $540. With those odds, I made the call, the Turn was a 7 and I ended up knocking him out with my straight. Very simply put, if he would have made anywhere between a 1/2-pot to pot-sized bet, I would have had to fold my 9's. But, by playing this way, he gave me the odds to stay in the hand and I ended up sucking out my straight to beat him. This is just one of many instances where slow playing a hand can get you into trouble.
You also need to watch out for playing a flush when you do not have an Ace-high. A common occurrence is for a player to hit a flush on the Flop with a hand like 9-T suited and then the Turn or the River is a 4th card of the same suit. Of course, any player holding a J of that suit or better has the winning hand, so it is not a good idea to get too carried away slow playing a flush unless you have the nut flush. It won't get you into trouble every time, but occasionally it will and you will regret it big time.
Slow playing hands in a valuable tool to have in your arsenal for both online play and off. However, with the plethora of online players with little or no experience, ( as well as the ones who are experienced and understand odds and when to draw to a hand) you have to be careful about when to employee this strategy or it will end up being a losing one.

Online Texas Hold Em Multi Table Tournament Strategy
Last night when playing a large multi-table tournament on Full Tilt ($24+$2, $25k guarantee) I was reminded of a common mistake I see many players make once they get past the tournament bubble: they quickly ship their chips to someone else with some very poor starting hands. There is generally no need to do this, and a little patience will move you up in the money quickly. Just because you have reached the point of getting paid does not mean you need to double up or bust right away.
For example, this tournament started with 1373 players and the top 135 got paid. As soon as the 136th player busted out, I saw many players with chip stacks of $5000-$10,000 or even more, go all in with whatever hands they happened to be dealt. The blinds/antes were getting big, and the average stack was something like $35,000, but there is still no reason to start going all-in from out of position with hands like A-4, K-7, Q-7, J-8 etc. I saw all of these plays within a matter of a few minutes after the bubble burst.
After 4 hours+ of playing this tournament, it went from 135 players to less than 100 in about 10-15 minutes. A�I agree, you want to double up and become a factor in the tournament or get out, but you can often hang around and move up in the money just by not making reckless plays. Unless you are going to be eaten up by the blinds in a round or 2, wait for a good position against another small stack, or wait for some half way decent cards that at least give you a chance to double up. If you are going to push all in with a junk hand, then you might as well sit and be blinded off anyway. Also, you have the benefit of catching a big hand and putting yourself in good position to advance further in the tournament. A�I had a less than average chip stack in this tournament as well, but by being patient after the bubble, I was able to catch some hands and some good situations and finish 3rd netting me several thousand dollars.
Remember this when you have past the bubble: you have come this far. Spend a little more time looking for a good spot to double up and you will find that A�you at least move up a few rungs on the pay scale. You have already put the time in anyway and have nothing to lose and $$$ to gain.

Best Poker Site For Freerolls
It is no easy task to siphon through the hundreds of online poker rooms on the internet today to find the best site for freerolls. I should know; I've just spent a great deal of time doing just that. Why, you ask? Curiosity played a part I suppose, but also so that I can help other online poker players discover the best poker site for freerolls, without taking the time and effort to research it themselves.
When seeking out the best poker site for freerolls, I based my decision on several factors. First and foremost was the frequency of freeroll tournament availability. I also took into consideration the type of prizes up for grabs, and size of cash prize pools. Let's face it, free or not, if you're going to play a long multi-table tournament, you at least want to get a decent payoff, involving real cash, for your effort.
Best Poker Site for Freeroll Tournaments
The best poker site for freeroll tournaments, all things considered, is Full Tilt Poker. This online poker room offers four freeroll tournaments each and every day with a real cash prize pool of $150 for each. There are absolutely no requirements to enter - no points needed, no VIP membership required - any member of the poker site can enter.
Full Tilt Poker also offers a wide variety of regionally-restricted freerolls, accepting only entries from players who live in the UK, or Ireland, or whatever country the freeroll is open to. This set-up eliminates mass competition, making it a little easier to pocket some of those prize dollars.
Full Tilt is the best poker site for freeroll satellites as well, launching the winner(s) into a seat in a bigger tournament, including live events like the WSOP, WPT, EPT and more.
Choosing Full Tilt as the best poker site was not easy, as there are drawbacks to playing freerolls at the online poker room as well. For one, the competition is not as soft as some other poker sites. Even freerolls can get rather tight long before reaching the money bubble. Also, even though the freeroll holds up to 7,500 players, it doesn't take long for the seats to fill up once registration opens, so you'll have to be quick to grab one before they're all gone!
Best Poker Sites for Freerolls?
If Full Tilt Poker doesn't suit your fancy, or if you'd just like an alternative choice to compare to, the next best place for freerolls would be PokerStars. This online poker room is often considered the best poker sites in the entire industry in multiple categories, like highest player traffic, most weekly guaranteed prize pools, large game variety etc.
In terms of freerolls, Pokerstars does pay out a nice bit of free cash on a daily basis, but you'll need a few poker points saved up to get in on the action. There are multiple daily freerolls with $500 and $1,000 prize pools, with 10 point and 20 point entry requirements respectively.

Full Tilt Poker - Learn More About Online Poker
The last few years have seen a massive increase in the popularity of poker, you can't turn on the television without seeing poker being played these days. There was a time not that long ago that poker was considered a game for hardcore gamblers and played in seedy casinos or illegal backroom games. Nowadays everybody plays poker, from college students to grandmothers poker has enjoyed a huge renaissance.
The reason isn't hard to understand, it's the only casino game in which you actually have a chance of winning. Other casino games are based on pure chance, and the odds always favour the house, if you play long enough you will lose. That isn't the case with poker, there is skill involved and good player can win consistently more than he loses. The increased popularity of poker has also resulted in a huge flood of online poker sites like Full Tilt Poker. These sites are perfect for beginners who are just learning how to play.
The primary reason why people often prefer to use an online poker site like Full Tilt Poker is that they simply don't have easy access to a casino. Many communities don't have casinos in them and the ones that do are often located outside of town and aren't really easy to get to. Most casinos are vacation destinations, not the sort of place that you go for a couple of hours after work. The massive popularity of poker has resulted in a huge demand for games and in the absence of easily available casinos online poker has stepped in to fill the gap.
Even if you do live near a casino not everybody likes to use them to play poker. There is a lot of wasted time in getting to the casino and then invariably there is a waiting list before you can get into a game. There is also the simple fact that a lot of people are not comfortable being in a casino. Casinos are loud, there are a lot of distractions and many people feel intimidated by the other players. Playing online at Full Tilt Poker removes most of these problems, you can play from the comfort of your own home, with no waiting and no distractions.
Perhaps the biggest problem with casinos is that they don't let you play with pretend money while you are learning to play. In order to learn how to play poker in a casino you have to gamble real money, and suffer real losses. This is an expensive way to learn how to play poker. With the huge increase in the popularity of poker in the last few years there has been a huge demand for places to learn to play that won't result in losing your shirt in the process. Websites like Full Tilt Poker have started offering free games with play money so that people can learn how to play before they start risking real cash.