Players wanting to catch some of the finest Texas Hold’em action need look no further than William Hill Poker. This is the brand that I’ve come to respect, by dint of its attention-to-detail and rich poker promotions. At William Hill Poker, players are treated to world-class service in an easy-to-use betting portal that seamlessly merges real-life gaming and online poker play. The result is a decisive victory for William Hill Poker and the players frequenting this poker palace.

What’s waiting for players at William Hill Poker?

You name the poker game, it’s there. Everything from the crowd-pleaser – Texas Hold’em to Omaha and beyond. WHP lays it on thick – especially the big sign-up bonuses and regular promotional offerings. I was pleasantly surprised to find a £400 new player bonus. It works like this: Download the software (to play hi-powered poker), receive $4,000 in first-deposit freeroll tokens and enjoy 24/7 customer support. It’s a snap at WHP – just click to pick the games you love and make a mint.

In addition to regular promotions including the $120,000 Rake Race, a Generous Loyalty Rewards Program and the Irish Winter Festival (where you can win a €2,700 package), it’s the gaming that wins top honors. This A-grade poker room offers more than $20 Million in guaranteed prizes each and every month. Plus there is a stellar line up of land based, cash games and multiple bonuses for players to enjoy. William Hill Poker truly believes that you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.

One look at NobleCasino confirms it all: this is a chic, suave and sophisticated gaming destination. There are plenty reasons why Noble and its powerful Playtech gaming platform are racking up brownie points with players across the globe. I am thoroughly impressed by the sheer variety of games – especially in the poker realm of this exciting entertainment operator. This casino den caters to the astute gambler, the player who knows precisely what it means to be rewarded for his/her patronage. The VIP Club regularly throws around words like “superior”, “first-class” and “elite”. And that’s no surprise because the feature-rich VIP Club stars Emerald, Diamond and Black Diamond status.

Top-tier casino poker games

When it comes to casino poker games then I’m bowled over by Noble Casino. Imagine being able to play the Jamaican islanders favourite – Caribbean Poker. It’s loaded with some of the most exciting game play and poker rules. This game differs considerably from traditional poker as it’s you against the dealer only. There’s no need for that poker face. And when you play progressive games of Caribbean Stud Poker, a fraction of your buy-in will go towards the kitty. This means that all players enjoying the game will be able to see the jackpot tally swelling beyond compare.

And my second choice of the day at Noble Casino would be Tequila Poker. There’s no need to down a tot or two – but hey, it’s your choice. Imagine taking an eclectic mix of games – I’m not kidding here – such as blackjack and your typical 5-card poker games. Then you add in a dollop of sheer gaming bliss and mix it all up. That’s the starting point. You’ll receive 4 cards but you must decide if you’re going to amp it up for a point total hand or a poker hand (of up to 52 points). Then you get dealt a further 2 cards. No actual tequila required – but it won’t hurt none if you indulge with a tot or twoJ.

So you’re looking to pass a couple of hours – maybe a weekend – playing your favourite game of Hold’em, Omaha or Razz. The only thing is you’re bang out of cash. For most players this would signal the end of the road. But for players at CoolHand, you’re totally in luck. That’s right poker fans: Cool Hand Poker is offering fantastic freeroll poker tournaments with alacrity and regularity.

Let’s take a look at their poker offerings. First up is the freeroll tournament that requires you to rake a hand in the previous 24 hours to earn your entry into them. The other type of tourney is 100% free and it’s to this variant that I would like to draw your attention.  These fab-freerolls allow you to play for free and you can still win money, points and invitations to various poker tournaments.

What’s on offer at Cool Hand Poker?

In a word: stacks. You can enjoy over $20k large in freeroll tournaments each and every month. Better yet these are ongoing – tournaments take place 24 times a day – once every hour. I quite enjoy the feeder freeroll tournaments because those allow you to get into bigger events. So why not start a bankroll for yourself at no cost? There are more €50 Freerolls than you can wrap your head around. And with gaming varieties like Texas Hold’em, Razz, Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo, can you afford not to play? If you’re a poker greenhorn you can always go to poker school at CHP and get up to speed before you roll.

For tournament players and cash game players

The other day I was surfing through a list of top-tier poker sites. Of course I settled on the name I know and trust, TitanPoker. A friend of mine – Jaclyn – was dazzled by Titan’s alluring offers being made available. Like many others, she couldn’t quite understand why poker rooms would pay players to sign up. To say that she was ensconced by the buzz would be an understatement.  I’d like to address several of the points she raised.

• YES it’s TRUE – you can earn whopping deposit bonuses from poker rooms. After you sign up, you are eligible for their advertised offers.
• YES it’s TRUE – you earn points from money collected in the poker rake. The more you play, the more reward points you earn and the more of your promised bonus is released to you.

Take Titan Poker for example, they’re offering all new poker pundits an offer whereby you earn 100% up to $500 in bonus cash. Remember though that you will be required to clear that bonus within a certain amount of time. Once you’re in though, you’re hot. Titan is offering entry into the APT Philippines 2010 in Manila with a grand prize package of some $5,500. They have even summer specials with $20k in monthly summer races Mon-Thurs with a grand total of $125k in cool prizes.

The golden rule is this: play as much poker as possible. And I’m not talking about going out to register on poker sites and making hefty deposits. I’m talking about playing at a wide range of free online poker rooms. Chalk up as much poker experience as you can before wagering for real money. And when you’re ready to start wagering, then shop around. There are so many poker rooms competing for your hard-earned cash that you should always get the best sign-up bonus offers.

Another important playing tip is this: know your poker hands. This can’t be stressed enough. If you don’t know what hand you’re holding, then you’re not going to know how to beat your opponents. Hand rankings are really important too. When you choose a poker room, make sure to choose only a reputable online poker gaming operator. There are many to choose from but only regulated and licensed operators should be played at.

I’ve seen lots of success with players using poker playing software. These types of programs are quick and easy to run and they can assist you in making better betting decisions. If you’re unsure of what cards to hold and what cards to fold, then these programs will certainly help you to formulate a better poker playing strategy. This brings me to the next point which is really important: bankroll management. I can’t stress it enough but managing your bankroll will be your saving grace in poker.

And yeah, don’t play every hand. You should use judgment in deciding which hands to stay in and when to fold. There’s no point throwing good money after bad cards – no matter how well you feel you can bluff.  And after it’s all said and done, remember the golden rule: play sober. Many poker fundis have lost massive bankrolls by making poor calls while under the influence. Take a peek at this video that’ll definitely lighten your mood.

It has been likened to a brawl of epic proportions and it is taking place at DoylesRoom every Tuesday and Thursday night. That’s right sports fans, it’s prime-time action in an exciting bounty tournament entitled Prime Time Fights.

Now this is what you call entertainment!

The tourney has a buy-in of $30+3 and all players will have a $5 bounty on their heads. The prize is no less than a coveted spot in The Brunson 10. What makes this exciting contest unique is the dual leaderboard system. That’s because $1000s are up for grabs to successful fighters. Ace shooters will win $250 for taking out the most poker players per week, while the shooter ‘gunning down’ the most poker players in the month will get a shot at playing a member of The Brunson 10 for up to $750.

Who are the Brunson 10?

Doyle Brunson – the Godfather of Poker – has already handpicked his crème de la crème of players. His selection include the likes of: Chris Moorman, Amit Makhija, Steve Gross, Zachary Clark, Dani Stern and Alex Kamberis. That’s 6 of the best. The other 4 slots are up for grabs. Note that if the winner of the monthly leaderboard loses the tournament he/she is still eligible for $250. The remaining 4 players will receive $100, $75, $50, $25 respectively. DoylesRoom offers players free poker software, free lessons, exciting poker tournaments, a slew of non-stop Sit-and-Go tourneys as well as ring games at all limits. This is truly where poker comes alive.