Free Online Strip Poker

CAKE POKER NETWORK SOLD?
2011-03-23

Strong rumours that online poker publication is to be the new owner
Bluff Magazine has reported that the online poker network and software provider Cake Poker will change hands within the next two weeks...and that the rumoured new owner will be the internet poker publication PokerListings.
The sale could have conflict of interest repercussions, as PokerListings carries extensive advertising for rival online poker providers.
The independent online poker monitoring website Pokerscout.com lists Cake most recently as hosting a seven day running average of over 600 real money ring game players, and ranks it as number six among those networks that accept action from US players.
The network took a major hit to its player liquidity when Doyle's Room left it earlier this year for the Yatahay Network (see previous InfoPowa reports), and year-on-year its traffic has declined by a worrying 69 percent.
Effective February this year, Cake established an association with the Poker Pros Network, enabling players to interact with a number of big names in the global player space.
Despite the growing strength of the acquisition rumours, PokerListings and Cake Poker Network have yet to make statements.
In related news, Cake's former poker room manager, the widely experienced and respected Lee Jones, has rejoined Pokerstars as Home Games manager, according to press material from the poker giant this week.

POKERSTARS FIFTY50 AN INNOVATIVE TOURNEY CONCEPT
2011-01-04

Event ends when fifty percent of the field has been busted out
Online poker giant Pokerstars has launched a new tournament concept after some months in development and testing. The newly introduced Fifty50 Sit and Go is a type of one-table event which ends when half of the entrants have been eliminated.
For example, in a 10-player Fifty50 tournament, 5 will be paid. Half of the prize pool will be distributed equally among the 5 winners, and the other half will be distributed among those same 5 players based on the chip count percentages at the end of the event.
"The 6th-10th place finishers who have been eliminated win nothing," Pokerstars clarified this week. "So in a 10-player $10+$1 Fifty50, the prize pool is $100. Each of the final 5 finishers would receive $10 each, plus a percentage of the remaining $50 in the prize pool. As a more detailed example, in a $300+$17 tournament with ten entrants, the total prize pool is $3,000. Each player starts with 1,500 chips.
To calculate the value of Player 1’s chips, multiply half the prize pool ($1500) by Player 1’s portion of the total chips in play (4300/15000), a total of $430. Adding the returned buy-in awarded to each player who cashes results in Player 1’s total prize amount of $730 ($430+$300). As a formula, an individual’s payout would be expressed as:
payout = buy-in + (ending chip count) x (0.5 x total prize pool)
(total chips in play)
The Fifty50 tournament lobby displays the approximate amount per 100 chips to be paid out when the tournament ends. The value displayed in the Fifty50 tournament lobby is rounded down to the nearest cent, but payouts are calculated so that the entire prize pool is paid out.
Due to the unique payout structure, Fifty50 tournaments are not eligible for any Tournament Leader Board points.”

ESPN AND POKERSTARS SIGN INTEGRATION DEAL
2010-11-02

PokerStars to provide software for ESPN Poker Club.
PokerStars will be joining forces with ESPN to provide its software for the ESPN Poker Club, a free-to-play poker section on ESPN.com, reports Pokernewsdaily.com.
“ESPN.com is one of the most important online sports venues, and ESPN Poker Club is entering its fifth year on the site,” said PokerStars.net North America Regional Marketing Director Joe Versaci. “This agreement will enable PokerStars to implement its superior technology and integrity in operation, and we look forward to establishing more product innovation with ESPN in the future.”
A spokesperson for ESPN said, “We’re excited to take the ESPN Poker Club to PokerStars.net, where we will be able to provide a better offering for fans, including a greater selection of games, prize options, and an improved player experience.”
The deal comes fresh after PokerStars.net teamed up with FOX this week to create a poker room on FOXSports.com which will also offer a free-to-play poker client as well as news, tournament results and poker strategy.

PKR CELEBRATES FOURTH BIRTHDAY
2010-08-18

3D online poker site is not resting on its laurels
PKR.com, the UK-based 3D online poker website, has come a long way since its historic launch on August 17, 2006 with advanced graphics and innovative proprietary software.
In the past four years the online poker company has accumulated some impressive statistics that include more than 3,750,000 registered players on the site, a total of 15,850 people playing online at once, and $2,925,816.31 given away in freerolls.
PKR.com has also achieved recognition for its work, earning Online Poker Operator of the Year 2009 at the International Gaming Awards and Poker Operator of the Year 2009 from the eGaming Review Awards.
The company has launched its own poker magazine, started its own regular TV show, and sponsored London’s first licensed live poker venue. PKR.com has also fulfilled its community promise, introducing its own bi-annual live poker event PKR LIVE, and Team PKR Pro, which is made entirely of up and coming players from the site.
Marketing Director Simon Prodger said this week, “We’re very proud of our achievements to date. We came against a lot of pessimism for being so innovative when we launched, but our customers have shown that they enjoy playing in our true-to-life environment and really appreciate the community feel.”

Beginning Seven Card Stud
2010-06-07

Seven Card Stud is a complicated poker game that will require some unique skills in order to be successful. Unlike Texas hold’em or Omaha, which utilize community cards, Seven Card stud players have to be aware of much more than just their own cards, but everyone else’s face up cards as well. You will find that memorization is a critical skill needed in Seven Card stud. This article will lay the foundation for what is required to become a good Seven Card stud player in online poker.

Important Seven Card stud skills

Playing Seven Card stud will require you to up your memorization and people reading skills. Many decisions you make will be based directly on what cards are currently in play or have been in play. Failure to put an emphasis on this will result in a plummeting bank account and a lot of agony playing Seven Card stud. Here are some reasons why memorization and card observation are so important in Seven Card stud:

Knowing what cards are in play or have been in play (meaning they were in play but were then folded) helps you determine whether or not your hand has potential to improve, or is doomed to failure. The amount of a certain suit in play or cards of a certain rank are all critical in justifying draws such as flushes, straights and full houses.

By keeping track of the cards in play you also are better able to pinpoint what your opponent may be going for or already has.

Two other skills that are vital to Seven Card stud players in online poker are patience and discipline. These are the two factors that will most likely have the biggest influence on your profitability when you first start playing. Most low limit games you will be starting at usually have low antes in relationship to the betting limits. What this means is that you can afford to be patient and wait for the absolute best starting hands. Like Texas hold’em and other games, you want to only play the best, premium holdings. What this means of course is that you will be sitting around a lot waiting.

Discipline is another very important skill for the beginning Seven Card stud player. In addition to having the discipline and patience to wait for good starting hands, you must also be able to recognize the situations that are bad and realize you need to fold the hand, regardless of how good it might be if you complete your draw. The bottom line in Seven Card stud is that you need some pretty good conditions in order to be able to draw successfully. The size of the pot, the cards in play, the cards that have been folded and the quality of hands on the table all have a big influence on whether or not you should continue playing. Many times you won’t have all these things lined up for you and this is where your strict discipline and adherence to standards will help you out. The object of the game is to win over the long haul, not to just get lucky every now and then and take home a big pot. Where do you play online poker? Head over to www.sportsbook.com/poker and try all your skills at online poker and bet on your favorite sports teams.

MICROGAMING LAUNCHES ITALIAN POKER NETWORK
2010-03-16

Isle of Man provider joins the dedicated Italian online poker market

Online gambling software provider Microgaming has announced the launch of its new poker network dedicated to the Italian online gaming market. Having gained AAMS approval and completed a thorough beta testing period successfully, the network is now fully live, offering Italian players access to Microgaming’s world class poker tournament games.

The software company has worked in close collaboration with local Italian parties to ensure that its back-office systems and support services have been appropriately customised to cater for the Italian market. The speed at which Microgaming can integrate its software product with operator systems is further testament to the company’s technological agility. This, together with Microgaming’s commitment to ensuring they are fully compliant with all Italian regulatory standards, has proved an appealing prospect for operators.

Ladbrokes is the first operator to join the new network. Negotiations are underway with a number of other operators too, who are keen to partner with Microgaming as a means of entering or solidifying their position in the rapidly growing Italian market.

Mattia Nicelli, CEO, Ladbrokes Italia, said this week: “Microgaming has a proven track record in online poker, as it hosts the most established poker network. Our decision to join its Italian Network is a strategic move that we believe will be of great benefit to our players.
"Drawing on its wealth of global and local expertise, together with its technological prowess, Microgaming has adapted its services in a way that caters to our specific needs, as we compete in the competitive Italian market. We are confident that this partnership will prove mutually beneficial and that Microgaming’s new venture targeting the Italian market will emulate the success it has experienced around the world.”

Roger Raatgever, CEO, Microgaming, commemted: “The launch of Microgaming’s Italian Poker Network is another example of Microgaming bringing the highest global standards to local markets. We have worked tirelessly to ensure that the new poker network is fit for purpose to meet the needs of the Italian player-base, as well as the Italian regulatory standards.

"The initial offering of poker tournament games to the network’s player community represents a solid foundation upon which to build, and Microgaming is currently working within regulatory parameters to develop the poker games portfolio further.

“With the Italian market set to become increasingly open and competitive in the months to come, we are confident that we have the right resources and alliances to support our operators and help them to succeed. Italy is an important region for the future of gaming in Europe, as it has set the standard for other countries wishing to introduce gaming regulations; it is a crucial gateway for further EU expansion.

"We remain committed to the Italian market and are keen to play our part in helping our licensees take full advantage of the opportunities that lie therein, and beyond.”