Know your bluffing rights
In real life you cannot sit at a poker and think to yourself, ‘I am 50% probably winning, so I will bet.’ Thus up against one player in no limit hold’em before the flop, you should raise with a hand as weak as J-7 or Q-2. Against 9 opponents it needs to be as strong as
10-10, A-10 suited or A-Q. There is a table in the book and I sit with it beside me when I play no limit hold’em online.
This includes your bluffing rights. Why bet or raise with 7-2 against one opponent when you can choose a better spot? J-7 isn’t the greatest hand in the world, but it is an adequate one with which to try to win the pot two-handed.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Exeter best in top of the table Conference clash
After a remarkable weekend in the FA Cup, live football continues with Exeter City taking on Accrington Stanley in a top-of-the-table Nationwide Conference clash.
The visitors have one of the most famous names in football are sitting proudly top of the league in what is shaping up to be a successful season.
Stanley will take an eight-point lead down to St James Park but will find an Exeter side who are strong in front of their own fans.
Second-placed City are 13/10 with Bet Direct and we reckon they will get the home win that will reduce the points deficit and boost their title hopes.
Hardy looks best in Sunday thriller
There was disappointment for racing fans on Saturday when the prestigious card at Cheltenham was abandoned. However, there is plenty to look forward to across the Irish Sea on Sunday when the feature race the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown is a mouth-watering affair.
No weather problems are reported at Leopardstown where the feature race brings together Brave Inca and reigning Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace in what is being billed as a match but the presence of last year’s winner Macs Joy and Golden Cross makes it interesting.
Brave Inca beat the enigmatic Harchibald over course and distance over Christmas but preference has to be for HARDY EUSTACE whose reappearance taught us little as he started at 1/8 in a 3 runner event and won as he price indicated. Expect him to win well today as his preparations continue for a crack at a third successive Champion Hurdle at the Festival.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Wolverhampton to match Man U
Sunday’s big FA Cup fourth round tie comes from Molineux where sleeping giants Wolverhampton take on Manchester United.
This is just the sort of high-profile match where Glenn Hoddle’s men can raise their game and give Fergie’s side a torrid afternoon.
United are back on form after reaching the Carling Cup final and scoring a last-minute win over Liverpool in the Premiership but they may find the home side too much to overcome at the first hurdle - after all Burton did in the last round !
Bet Direct will give you 3/1 for the draw which is decent odds. We certainly will put a few bob on it.
Friday, January 27, 2006
More woe for Arsenal
The FA Cup fourth round has thrown up some intriguing ties and the late afternoon kick-off between Bolton and Arsenal is one such game.The Gunners are out of the Carling Cup and going backwards in the league so you would think that the FA Cup takes on a new significance for them.
Arsene Wenger, however, claims he is resting some of his top stars for what is sure to be a battle and the facts are that Bolton are excellent at home and Arsenal are dreadful away. Moreover, the Lancashire side beat the Gunners 2-0 in the Premiership last month.Sam Allardyce’s side is weakened through players being away on African Nations Cup duty but they will still be formidable at home.
Bet Direct are offering 13/8 for the home win and although some would say that would be a shock, we suggest that you lump on.
Vote home in Friday night's big match
Championship football as usual occupies the live Friday night slot and Coca Cola League One side Nottingham Forest take on Barnsley.
Both are famous old mining towns but only the former can boast two European Cup triumphs, successes that seem hardly credible only a few decades on.
Forest, mostly unconvincing this season it has to be said, are unbeaten in three games although the last two ended in draws.
Barnsley, for their part, will be buoyed by the confidence a 2-0 win over MK Dons will bring. Bet Direct think the Tricky Trees will have too much and we tend to agree.
Take 4/5 for the home win and get what is mainly an FA Cup weekend of to a positive start.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Federer wobbling in Oz
Dare we say it but Roger Federer is looking beatable in the Australian Open.At around 1.30 on the exchanges for the title – there looks some mileage in laying the world number one. For two consecutive matches he has uncharacteristically wobbled – against Tommy Haas and then on Wednesday against fifth seed Nikolav Davvdenko – eventually winning in four sets.Federer now meets Nicolas Kiefer in the semis after he overcame Sebastian Grosjean in a five set thriller. The advice is to lay Federer at around 1.30 and look to back to close the bet out at 1.60. There’s not a massive profit to be gained but any more wobbles from Federer could lock in a profit for you.
50% rule in checking
You are playing poker and sad to say do not have the absolute nuts. So far nobody else in the pot has bet. How do you make the decision whether to bet or check?You can bet or raise with absolutely any hand (it is very different when calling, then you must have something.) But that cannot be a winning strategy. Basically you should bet or raise if your hand figures to be 50% of the time better than any that your opponents hold.What that 50% means varies with the game you are playing. For example, it is not uncommon in Omaha for a drawing hand to be superior to the best made hand.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Even money Hammers best in derby
Monday night's football action sees one of the more sedate London derbies when West Ham welcome Fulham.
The Hammers should be confident enough given Chris Colemen's side are the one local rival they have managed to get the better of so far this season.
The traditionally unpredictable home side have lost to Chelsea and Charlton and drawn with Arsenal and Spurs since winning the first derby of the season at Craven Cottage.
That they are not amongst the relegation scrappers at this moment says a lot for the East Londoner’s tenacity this season but they will get a game from Fulham who have new signing Wayne Bridge going straight into their starting line-up which should give them a boost.
Significantly, however, the Cottagers still searching for their first Premiership away victory of the season but we don’t think it will come this time round.
Bet Direct are offering even money for the Hammers which is a little on the tight side but as we always say, better to win short than lose long.
