Part 2: Hold-em or fold-em?

The game of poker is not really a game, but rather a testament of will, wisdom, patience, and a little bit of luck. Okay, maybe more than just a little luck.

First things first, where do you play? Well, for simple and easy access to casinos and card rooms in your vicinity, log on to http://www.104Poker.com. With its state-of-the-art geo-targeting technology, it will automatically bring up the closest casinos to you - without having to type in your zip code! I tried it and it really worked for me. I simply logged on to 104Poker.com and it gave me a listing of all the casinos in my area, conveniently with addresses, phone numbers, and even a link to get me directions.

Okay, poker junkies, now that we know how to get there, let's prepare with a crash course on strategic play for the "Cadillac of Poker" - Texas Hold 'Em.

Pre-Flop play (Part 1)

Everyone is dealt two cards, face down. Simple enough, right? Well, looking at your cards seems like an easy task, however it will determine the entire tone set for the hand. The key is not to look at your cards until it's your turn. And don't bust out your cell phone and text your friend at the next table. Look at your opponents' reactions as they look at their cards. Did you see it? Did you see that look of disgust on someone's face, and the eyes of another player light up? Well, it's these subconscious pieces of information that you will need to determine whether to hold-em, or fold-em.

Stay tuned for Part II of Pre-Flop play, coming soon!

Pre-Flop play (Part 2)

OK poker fans, in our last installment we began to touch on the fine art of reading players pre-flop. The key is information - and speaking of information, if you need any help finding casinos or anything poker related, log on to 104Poker.com

Now, every single movement, action, reaction can be used against the player at the table at any time; in any case, we'll get into reading players later in this series. Let's deal with working on pre-flop play. The biggest deciding factor for you to either fold or hold your cards can be summed up by one word: position. Position. Position. Position.

You see that little white disc on the table labeled 'dealer'? Where that little guy is will determine how you play your hand. If you have the 'dealer' disc in front of you (term known as being 'on the button') you are in the strongest position because you get to act after everyone else; in this position, you can see how many players have already folded, who's raised, etc. Why is this an advantage? Simply put, would you rather face-off with 10 players or just 3 or 4? The higher the number of players in a pot, the higher percentage of your hand getting cracked by a potentially worse starting hand.

Here's a little cheat-sheet. You want to be as close to that button as possible, so that you can see more of your opponents' movements prior to you making your move, ultimately making your decision easier. For example, let's say you are dealt 10-J off-suit. If you were in late position and one person raised and a few people called, you would lay down this mediocre hand. However, if you are on the button and half the table has folded, then you can pounce on your opponents with timely aggression, raising the pot to try to steal blinds. And in the event the remaining player(s) call you, you will still have the luxury of acting after they do, making your decision to check, raise, or fold that much easier.

This may be a bit of information overload at the moment, so I'll let you soak that in until my next installment. In the meantime, go to 104Poker.com for all your poker needs! http://www.104inc.com