Tue, 02/15/2011 – 17:39 – PokerPages Staff

The game of poker is exciting and winning is even more of a thrill.  As such, ego can enter the equation and negatively influence your game.  Ego can creep into the game in numerous situations, but here we will examine two.

When playing poker, the beginner poker player will be up against all different kinds of personalities.  It is inevitable that you will come up against some personalities that you simply do not jive with.  Trash talk at the table can seriously affect your game.  Trash talk is used to get inside your head and knock you off your game.  Do not allow this badgering get the better of you.

When winning at poker, do not allow yourself these wins overinflate your ego.  Poker is a game in which losing occurs more often than winning.  Do not be naïve and believe that you are always guaranteed to win.  Being in the mindset that you can never lose will inevitably lend to poor decision-making.  When on a winning streak be gracious and keep your ego in check.  Remember that as you win, someone else loses. 

By not allowing an egotist to get under your skin or preventing your own overinflated ego, you will become a better poker player.
 
To learn more, check out PokerSchoolOnline, the best source on the Internet for poker related learning.  Then put those skills to work by playing free at PokerStars.net.  Also, check out the PokerPages section Poker Information and Poker Articles for more poker tips and strategies.

Fri, 02/11/2011 – 05:02 – PokerPages Staff

Much of poker these days is No Limit Hold’em, but there are multitudes of poker variants.  One such variant is 2-7 Triple Draw.  2-7 Triple Draw is an older variant of poker that is seeing resurgence.  For the beginner poker player, understanding the basic poker rules of 2-7 Triple Draw, including betting, is foremost.

2-7 Triple Draw is a form of lowball poker, the low poker hand wins the pot.  The game is played with blinds or forced bets.  Each player receives five cards, of which any may be discarded and replaced with new cards in three draws.  In 2-7 Triple Draw, the best possible hand 7, 5, 4, 3, 2.  Straights, flushes, pairs and trips count against you and ace is always high.  There are four betting rounds.

Alright beginner here is the breakdown of 2-7 Triple Draw play:

1.  Each player is dealt five cards
2.  Betting round one begins with the player to the left of the big blind
3.  Drawing round one, each player may discard some of their cards for new ones or stand pat
4.  Betting round two, starting with the player to the left of the big blind
5.  Drawing round two, another chance to discard cards
6.  Betting round three, player to the left of the big blind begins the action
7.  Drawing round three, last chance to discard
8.  Betting round four, player to the left of the big blind opens the round
9.  Showdown

To learn more poker rules, check out PokerSchoolOnline, the best source on the internet for poker related learning.  Then put those skills to work by playing for free at PokerStars.net.  Also, check out the PokerPages sections poker information and poker articles for more poker tips and strategies.