Fri, 03/25/2011 – 02:42 – PokerPages Staff

Betting is the term that applies to the wagers made by a player.  For a novice poker player, betting can be confusing, but if one is to be successful at poker, learning the intricacies of betting is essential.

Betting techniques and styles are as numerous as the different poker games available.  However, there are some simple basic rules that the novice poker player should be aware of, no matter what type of game is being played. 

Do not bet a bad hand just to stay in the game.  Chances are that you will not be able to make a winning hand out of junk cards.  Betting on every hand dealt is just throwing away your bankroll. It is more prudent to wait for worthwhile cards and then start betting. 

Depending on the game being played, betting can include an ante, an opening bet before any cards are dealt, a blind, also a bet placed before cards are dealt, or opening betting with the deal of the cards.  The real key to successful betting for any player is to know when to fold.  Playing a bluff is dangerous and should be used sparingly by novice poker players.

In addition to folding, which is throwing in your hand and releasing all claim to the pot, there are two other terms that relate to general betting in a poker game.  When you call a bet, it means you want to match the size of the current bet.  A raise is to increase the size of the current bet.

To learn more, check out PokerSchoolOnline, the best source on the internet for poker related learning.  Afterwards, why not test those skills by playing free at PokerStars.net.  Also, check out the PokerPages section on Poker Information and Poker Articles for more poker betting, tips, bets, and strategies.

Fri, 03/25/2011 – 03:09 – PokerPages Staff

#5 Cyndy Violette
Violette began her career as a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas.  Eventually, she moved her way to the other side of the table to become one of the WSOP top five women money makers.  After a marriage took her away from the game for a brief period, she would return and go on to become a top money earner.  Her total winnings so far are $1,023,462

#4 Jennifer Harman Traniello
Jennifer’s career in poker began at a very young age.  When she was just eight years old she was playing poker and winning real money.  She has made seven WSOP final tables and has won two gold bracelets.  She is married and has a set of twins, and is still a top competitor at tournaments and live action.  Her total winnings are $2,522,840.

#3 Kathy Liebert
Kathy started out as a Dunn & Bradstreet executive, building a nest egg playing the stock markets.  She then left the corporate world to play poker in the cardrooms of the Colorado Rockies.  This has lead to an impressive ranking as one of the top female money earners.  She won the $1,500 Hold’em Shoot Event at the 2004 World Series of Poker, claiming a $110,180 paycheck and joining the elite World Series bracelet winners.  Her Total winnings are $5,395,484.

#2 Annie Duke
Duke’s poker playing began at home, where her brothers and father cut her no slack.  When she married in her fifth year of college, the Dukes moved to Montana.  The move proved to be challenging financially and she began to play Billings backroom poker games.  In this location, she began to flourish as a poker player.  After moving to Las Vegas in 1994, she took $70,000 in her first World Series of Poker.  Her total winnings are $2,157,246.

#1 Annette Obrestad
Obrestad is the reigning champion of female money winners.  In her short career, she has finished in first place three times.  For Norwegian born Annette the study of bowling led her to take up on an advertisement for poker, where she played free money games.  Her winnings there sparked an interest to continue to play online.  Eventually she would enter live events.  Her total winnings are $3,031,989.