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Sports Betting Tips

Sports betting is one of the handiest ways for many to make an extra buck while having fun. After all, aren’t we all sports fans and maniacs in some ways? The biggest mistake a recreational sports bettor can commit though, is to assume that the simple fact that he/she has been following a sport he/she feels strongly about, and that he/she knows a lot about that given sport indeed, enables him/her to be successful at betting on that sport. Knowing the game is one thing, betting on it is quite another. That is not to say you can’t bet on your favorite sport as a pastime, but if you intend to make money at it, simply going with your favorite team all the time won’t really cut it.

Successful sports betting is an intricate business. I’m quite sure you’ve heard about handicapping. Handicapping helps players better approximate the likely outcome of a game, taking factual statistics into account. Handicapping in itself is an industry these days, especially online handicapping. I’m also quite sure that when it comes to your team (regardless of whether you’re a homer or not), you think you’re a pretty good handicapper, don’t you? Well, you’re probably not. A good sports bettor cannot pledge loyalty to any of the teams involved. He needs to keep an emotional distance from all parties involved, so he can be objective in his handicapping. Another thing a good sports bettor needs to be adept at is reverse handicapping. Reverse handicapping is about taking a long hard look at the match-up and the lines involved, through the perspective of the bookmaker, who creates those lines. This is where you need to have some inside knowledge on how the bookie operates. Here are a few pointers in this respect:

The bookmaker’s goal is to balance each and every match-up it offers through his lines. If – according to his handicapping – a team is more likely to win, he’ll move the spread in favor of the other team to make both sides of the bet look attractive for the public. He needs to do that in order to attract an approximately equal number of bettors onto both sides of the match-up. That way, he’ll be able to make some clean profits, as he’ll use the money lost by the losers to pay the winners and he’ll retain the vig. The wig is like the poker rake taken by online poker operators. Sounds like an ideal setup doesn’t it? The only problem is, that unlike the poker rake, the vig is not guaranteed. Sometimes, in spite of the bookie’s efforts, one side of the match-up will attract a disproportionally high number of bettors, turning the whole deal upside down. In such cases, the bookie has two options. The riskier option is to cover those extra bets from his own pockets. If the squares (those who flock onto one side of the match-up) win though, that can pretty much break the bookie as he’ll have to pay a bunch of winners out from his own pockets.

The other option is to induce undue value into the other side of the match-up in an attempt to re-establish the balance. It is this undue value that sharp sports bettors like to take advantage of. This way, the proposition, which carries a negative long term EV otherwise, turns into a positive EV one. This value is known as the hidden value, of which I’m fairly sure you’ve already heard. As you can see, it takes quite a bit to turn an EV- proposition into an EV+ one in sports betting. Still think your handicapping is good enough?

June 18th, 2010 11:23:16 AM UTC | Posted in The Basics by admin | 1 Comment

Comparing Parlay Payouts

As we review sportsbooks, we generate some data and sometimes we just dont think twice about putting it online for everyone to see. As the first effort to this effort, we took a laook at parlay payouts for the four sportsbook we recommend: BetUS, Bodog, Bookmaker, and Intertops. The three “B”s use parlay cards – meaning they offer fixed odds for side wagers (typically -110 odds) based on the number of teams you play. Intertops doesn’t have much info on their website, so we inquired further and found they treat all parlays similar to a moneyline parlay – and from that we calculated the payout assuming -110 odds for all selection to include in our table.

So – here is the data… The table shows the amount won based on a $100 bet. You will note that Intertops has HUGE advantage on large parlays. Just realize some sportsbook put caps on the amount you can win a single bet – so read the rules before placing the bets. Also, large parlays are so hard to win – even for the most seasoned handicapper they should be avoided if you are actually looking to win.

Sportsbook Payouts for Paylays

For a true odds chart, you need to win 52.36% of your bets to break even, regardless of the number of teams. On a parlay card, it is typically 52%-54% depending on the number of teams and the specific payout.

November 17th, 2009 10:28:18 PM UTC | Posted in Sportsbook Guide, Tips and Tricks by admin | No Comments

How to Play Medium Pairs when Playing No Limit Holdem

It can be very hard for beginners to play medium pairs when playing No Limit Holdem. Medium pairs from 2 7’s to 2 Jacks can be tough to play and you need to have some good judgment when you are dealt them.

If you are dealt a high pair you will want to raise when it is your time to act. If you have a pair of Jacks or 10’s you do not want to let an opponent into the pot for nothing, as low limit poker players will limp into pots with an Ace or King high hand. You do not want to let opponents with these types of hands into the pot cheaply, which will give their over card they have a legit chance to beat your hand.

Usually if you have a medium pair it may not be a good idea to re-raise, but beginner players will often call a re-raise if they are not in position with a medium pair after they have raised before the flop. So now you are in a pot that has been re-raised and an opponent has position. Medium hands should not be re-raised by you because if you are behind, a flop set will have to come out..

Conversely, when you are in position on another player who has raised it may be a good idea to re-raise them if you hold a pair of Jacks or 10’s so you can be the one who has control of that hand. Generally this will make opponents check to you on the flop. If the flop comes out and they are all over cards it may be a good idea to check rather then bet so you do not have to risk being check raised. You have to be cautious when the flop has an over pair when you have a medium pair because if an opponents acts big there is a legit chance the one pair you have is not good, even if it is the case that it is bigger then any card that is showing on the board.

It may seem like the opposite, but lower medium pairs are actually easier to play. Basically, with a lower medium pair you will try to hit a set with the flop. Generally it is not a good idea to raise with a pair of 7’s through 9’s, unless you are either in the middle or late table position. Just like with higher medium pairs a lower medium pair will not stand to be re-raised. If you are sitting in early position there are a lot of players left to act and they can re-raise you because of the hand they are holding or their position. Because of this you will not know where you stand in the hand when the flop comes out.

If you are playing heads up you should raise all medium pairs. Medium pairs are not easy to play, as many times you will not hit a set when the flop comes out. A so-so flop when you have a medium pair would be a straight draw that is open ended. In this certain situation you have to know that if the turn comes out and you hit your set there are still 4 cards to hit a straight that is still showing on the board. If you hit a straight with your hand it will not be the hand that is the nuts.

Basically, never over-value a medium pair, as you have to be careful when you play them, as they get beat often with all the high cards still out there.

May 23rd, 2009 11:33:55 AM UTC | Posted in Poker, Strategies, The Basics, Tips and Tricks by Jason Green | No Comments

Poker Tip – Beginners Keep Your Ego in Check

Poker is a very exciting game to play, as you match wits with other poker players and not just against the house like in Blackjack. In poker you can win money in the long run if you are smart and you keep your ego in check.

First of all you have to know that many people that play poker for money lose. Hey, there has to be a loser when playing poker as not everyone can rake in the pot. Also when you play poker online the house will take a rake. If every poker player at the table had the same skills everyone would end up losing money, as the house would take their rake for every hand. OK, so in order to win money when you play poker online you have to have more skill then the other players at the virtual table. You also have to have enough skill in order to beat the house rake.

You also cannot be naïve and think you can win money playing poker overnight. It takes a long time to be a good poker player and even longer to make money at it. Do not think you can read a few books and start winning money right away. This is a mistake that many beginner players make. Playing solid poker takes time and patience. One great thing for beginner players is to take advantage of the free play options that many online poker rooms offer. To read more about the advantages of the free play option click here.

If you do play well at one type of poker it does not mean that you will be great at other types. For instance, if you always are winning money off your friends when playing at home games it does not mean you will rake in the cash when you play online. Also, many players are not good in a tournament setting but they are solid when playing in table games. If you pinpoint that you are not good at a certain type of poker play you have to realize that your skills in the game are not solid enough in order to win at that type of game in the long run and you need to improve. Do not jump in to playing online poker for money before knowing how you will do to a certain extent.

Do not let you ego run your poker game, as you have to know when you can start playing for money and more importantly when you can start winning money.

May 16th, 2009 7:27:08 AM UTC | Posted in Poker, Tips and Tricks by Jason Green | No Comments

How to Play Big Pairs in No Limit Holdem

When you have big pairs it is not easy to play them when playing no limit holdem. If the flop comes out and does not help you, you still only have a good pair. The pair may be better then any card on the flop, but it does not mean you have the best hand.

When you are dealt 2 Queens, Kings, and Aces you need to try to get the most money in the pot before the flop. Generally you will want to raise from any position. If a player in front of your raises you have to re-raise them with the exception being if a player is very aggressive and you will probably play them heads up in the hand. The reason you want to get money in the pot before the flop, because you probably have the best hand.

In some situations it is a good idea to slow play before the flop you have to know why you do so. The reasons to slow play before the flop are that you think you will be playing heads up, the table is an aggressive one, and there are aggressive players to the left of you.

A lot of poker players will limp into the pot when they have pocket Aces. By doing this if a player raises them they can re-raise them when it is their turn to act. If you discover a player doing this they probably have a big pair. In the late stages of tournament play this play should be reversed because most of the hands will be raised before the flop.

If you slow play when you have a big pair before the flop you need to know that you should not stick with them all the way if the flop does not help you out. If there is a coordinated flop and a lot of players act on it there is a good chance you no longer have the best hand. Do not waste your chips if the flop does not help you out and there is a lot of action.

If you are called when you make a bet on the flop you have to be careful. If you believe a player is drawing and a card comes that does not harm it is a good idea to act and bet. If an opponent raises you when the turn comes out you may want to bail on your hand, yes even if you have pocket Aces. Not a lot of poker players will raise on the turn if they have a hand that you will be able to beat. Basically, if the turn does not help you only have a big pair.

How you act when the river card comes out will depend on your table position. If you only have a decent hand and you are first to act you may want to raise if you think your big pair is still the best hand. You need to access the flop before doing this. Around a 1/3rd of the pot is a good bet, as your opponent will not out bet you for the pot if you do check to them. If they raise you on the river you can bail the hand.

If you are sitting in the late position, especially the last to act, and a player checks it is a good idea you check as well. This is the case unless you believe a hand not as good as yours can call you, as a single pair is usually not a hand that is solid enough to get checked when the river is dealt.

May 13th, 2009 7:59:52 AM UTC | Posted in Poker, Strategies, Tips and Tricks by Jason Green | No Comments