Best Time of Day to Play Poker Online

Best Time of Day to Play Poker Online
Maximizing your profits in online poker games involves much more than just the way that you play your cards. Finding the easiest games can make a significant impact on your success. This article looks at the types of players you will find in online poker games at different times of the day. By playing when the games are filled with more recreational players and avoiding the favored time slots of the pros that poker bankroll can only grow.
Since internet poker is an international pastime, we have included both GMT and Eastern Time. Players outside of these time zones should be able to adjust to their locality quickly and easily from these two standards.
7AM to 12 Noon Eastern (12 Noon to 5PM GMT). Not the best time of day for soft poker games. Many of the EU grinders will be starting their sessions, and the recreational crowd will be largely absent.
12 Noon to 2PM Eastern (5PM to 7PM GMT). Here we have the European 'home from work' players logging on, while many US pro grinders are just starting their day. Can be profitable, you will need to select the best tables though.
2PM to 6PM Eastern (7PM to 11PM GMT). Peak time for easy poker games, especially as we get to the end of this period. European recreational players dominate, while the US continent contributes the 'home from work' crowd too.
6PM to 9PM Eastern (11PM to 2AM GMT). Another profitable period, though for slightly different reasons. Here the balance shifts to US recreational players, while the European late night grinders remain at the tables.
9PM to 2AM Eastern (2AM to 7AM GMT). European players have all but disappeared here, while the later night US crowd tend to be the more serious players. There are soft games still to be found, however, you will need to be discerning.
2AM to 7AM Eastern (7am to 12 Noon GMT). Late night US grinders and a few EU early bird pros. This is not a great time for soft games - we recommend you try again later!
While we covered an average weekday, it is important to give a special mention to weekends - and in particular Friday night! With recreational opponents large numbers looking to blow off a little steam, Friday night can often be the single most profitable session of the week for those who know a little poker strategy.

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Learn How to Play Poker the Easy Way

Learn How to Play Poker the Easy Way
As a wise alternative to driving down the nearest casino, more gamers are looking at the Internet for playing poker games. In fact, free online casino games have risen in popularity over the past decade. This accounts for the advantages of playing online in contrast to playing in a real casino. Aside from the convenience that this alternative provides, it also presents a wide range of online poker bonus codes to choose from. One of the more popular games that are played by most online casino gamers is Texas Hold'em Poker. There is no problem even if you are just new to online casino games and you do not know how to play Texas Hold'em poker. It is very easy to learn how to play poker,and there is a wide variety of poker bonus codes to help you start your online gaming experience. In fact, it is the simplest game for a newbie to learn.
Unlike other poker games like 7 card stud and Omaha, Texas Hold'em poker do not require in-depth understanding regarding the odds and card count. In fact, you can learn how to play poker in a just a matter of minutes. Within a few hours of practice, you will surely have already mastered the rules on how to play Texas Hold'em poker.
However, if you are still having some doubts about committing a hefty amount of money in your first game, you may try online poker rooms that offer money tables where a newbie may practice and learn how to play poker through free casino games. You may learn how to play Texas Hold'em poker at such and similar online poker rooms until you are ready to move up the ladder and enjoy the fun of playing at real money tables. It is important that you practice playing at online casino games as online poker rooms involve a great deal of details that you have to master like shuffling, dealing and determining the best hand in sight.
There are several opportunities in Texas Hold'em Poker that may help you increase your chances of winning. You may use the best online casino bonus codes or apply gaming strategies in your matches. Learning strategies that you can apply before playing can also reap you great rewards. Since you are just new to Texas Hold'em poker, it is already a given that you start with playing at low limits poker games. It is necessary that you start at low limit in order to strengthen the foundation of your knowledge regarding the casino game. As you improve your gaming, you can climb up the ladder and face tougher opponents. It is relatively easy to beat low limit Texas hold'em poker. If you are serious about moving up the rank in a faster pace then it is necessary that you learn gaming strategies to help you out. Likewise, as you increase in limits, you will realize that you strategy will also have to improve and evolve.
Moreover, keep an eye for available online poker bonus codes. Poker bonus codes might help you as you progress and play bigger games. A good gaming strategy coupled with a good poker bonus code will surely help you increase your limit in the fastest time possible.

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Learn To Play Poker - How To Use Floating?

What is floating?
Floating is the term used to describe a hand which has little to no value on the flop, and then taking the pot down on the later streets from your opponent. The basic mechanics of the play are this: The player who is "floating" calls on the flop, and then bets, if their opponent checks to them on the turn, as a bluff.
Floating is an effective strategy to implement against solid poker players who are likely to make a continuation bet on the flop, regardless of their hand's actual strength but only bet the turn with made hands. Additionally, your call signifies strength, and few but the most aggressive players will fire another round at you on the turn.
To successfully use a float play the following variables must be met:
* Position is very important (floating out of position is a much riskier endeavor and should only be attempted by very seasoned poker players - you can find information on floating out of position below)
* You must be heads-up with your opponent
* You must be against an opponent who will make numerous continuation bets, and not just bet when they have hand
Things to avoid when floating:
* Avoid floating too often, this will lead your more astute opponents to recognize what you are doing and use it against you.
* Don't use the float play against players who rarely make continuation bets, since they are playing a much stronger range
* Don't float against players who fire two and three barrel bluffs along with betting their good hands -unless the player "represents" a lot of hands on the turn after they represented something else on the flop.
* Be careful of very strong players -hopefully you won't run into too many of these players-- who are aware of floating, and know how to combat it
An example of floating in a $1/$2 NLHE game:
Suppose a tight/aggressive opponent raises to $8 -which meets our first criteria to float, an opponent who is likely to continuation bet-- and you call on the button with AQ -giving you position which is the second of the three variables that must be met to attempt to float on the flop-- and both blinds fold leaving you heads-up -which is the third and final of the three necessary conditions for floating.
If your opponent makes a standard continuation bet on a J72 flop this would be an ideal situation to float, and see how your opponent proceeds on the turn. If your opponent checks to you on the turn, a bet should be able to take down the pot and end the hand right there.
Tips for effectively utilizing floating:
* Have a good read on your opponent's tendencies
* Try to float on dry boards where the flop is outside of a player's likely range with little potential for draws
* The best players to float against are the ones you have seen bet the flop, and check/fold the turn on occasion
* Don't force it, with some experience you'll recognize the spots when floating is the correct play
* If a bad card comes on the turn that is likely to help your opponent's hand -such as an Ace when you have a small pair--don't be afraid to call off your original plan to bet the turn
Floating out of Position
As I said earlier, floating out of position is possible if you are up against a player you know will only bet the turn if they have a hand. For example, if your stats on a player show you that he makes continuation bets on the flop 70% of the time, but only 30% of the time on the turn; it's safe to assume that the vast majority of his turn bets are for value. This information gives you the opportunity to float on the flop, and if he checks the turn you can bet into him on the river.
Raising on the turn
Another aspect of floating is when your opponent bets the turn when an over-card to the flop hits; "representing" this card. Many aggressive players will make a continuation bet on ragged flops -like 973-and if you call will bet the turn if any over-card hits. Against players who represent these over-cards a lot -say 60%+ of the time-you can often float on the flop, and then raise their turn bet to take the pot away from them.

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