Playing poker online can be a lot of fun, and it can be very profitable, if you understand what you’re doing. We have a guide on how to play online poker for beginners, but, here, we’ll delve a little deeper into the nuances of online poker, which is much different than playing in a table game live at the casino.
Play Like a Local. The Greens offers an incredible array of Henderson slots in an inviting atmosphere. With the friendliest team members in town and the chance to rack up points on your Station Casinos Boarding Pass every time you play—here, you’ll find all of the gaming offerings you’re seeking, minus the hassle, high prices, and crowds. Station Casino is known for offering bricks and mortar casinos in several locations. However, you can also access some games online if you prefer, or if you are nowhere near any locations elsewhere. Online poker has become very popular and offers similarities with real poker without requiring the poker face necessary to try and win! Station Casino is known for offering bricks and mortar casinos in several locations. However, you can also access some games online if you prefer, or if you are nowhere near any locations elsewhere. Online poker has become very popular and offers similarities with real poker without requiring the poker face necessary to try and win!
You don’t need a poker face!
You’ll play in a ring game online, with a set group of players. Games can be played head-to-head or in groups, usually consisting of three, five or nine different players.
You’ll post an avatar and screen name, but the good news is this isn’t Skype or Zoom and players will not be able to ‘read’ your face, or look for tells. Sure, advanced players, over time, will be able to examine your betting behavior and whether or not you show your winning cards or ‘muck’ them, etc., getting valuable intel on your playing style. Most beginner and intermediate players aren’t that savvy.
Don’t get carried away bluffing
Everyone loves a good lie in poker, but some beginners and intermediate players try to do it too much. For whatever reason, even though playing online for cash is similar to a table game in terms of ‘real-ness’, people tend to play a lot more hands online. So, bluffing, or basically being deceiving and representing to the rest of the table that your hand is stronger than it really is, can be fatal at times. If you bet consistently and continue the ruse to the end, it might pay off, but any wavering in your play and an expert playing in your game will recognize it and hammer you, similar to playing in the real world.
Pick and choose your spots, and do a little reconnaissance yourself, examining the players around you. If you trust that you’re at a table with several ‘calling stations’, or people who will see everything, it might not be a good idea. If you’re playing against a lot of tight players who only bet if they have to, go for it!
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Top 10 Hands
In my personal experience, at least in the beginning, I’ll play Top 10 hands or hole cards. Statistically, these hole card pairings have the largest percentage chance of hitting a set, three of a kind on the flop, a straight, a flush, etc.
Free Casino Poker Games
If I am playing at a table with a lot of loose early action, I’ll simply fold unless I get the following hands until the rookies have cannibalized themselves:
A-A (pair of aces, or American Airlines, pocket bullets, pocket bulls, etc.)
A-K (Big Slick, a bullet and a cowboy, etc.)
K-K (pair of kings, pocket kings, pocket cowboys, pair of cowboys, etc.)
Q-Q (pair of queens, pair of ladies, pocket queens, pair of ladies, etc.)
A-Q (ace and a queen, bullet and a lady, etc.)
J-J (pair of jacks, pair of jakes, pair of hooks, etc.)
10-10 (pair of 10s)
9-9 (pair of 9s)
8-8 (pair of 8s)
7-7 (pair of 7s)
Suited connectors
Suited connectors are basically two cards of the same suit in succession. They give you a good chance of hitting a flush (five cards of the same suit) or a straight (five cards in numerical order) when involving the community cards in Texas holdem. It’s especially pleasing when you get suited connectors AND they’re a Top 10 hand, such as a Big Slick of the same suit. Having the ace is beautiful, as this gives you the best card against anyone else’s potential flush.
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Station Casinos is the largest player in the Las Vegas locals market. The company was founded in 1976. Station Casinos is majority-owned by the Fertitta family. It is currently privately held. The company hopes to go public in 2016 or 2017.
All of Station Casinos’ properties are away from the Las Vegas Strip. The closest is Palace Station, which is on Sahara Avenue across I-15 from SLS Las Vegas and Stratosphere. There are 17 Station Casinos in Las Vegas. They range from Red Rock Resort, which is a full service high end property, down to locals bars. Station Casinos also manages reservation casinos in California.
In addition to live gaming, Station Casinos operates a sports betting app and website. It uses the Sports Connection brand. It is only open to players within Nevada at the time of action.
Station Casinos was the first company to launch a regulated online poker site in the U.S. That happened on April 30, 2013. The Ultimate Gaming brand was used. This was to help customers associate it with the UFC, also owned by the Fertitta family. Ultimate Gaming failed after 19 months in the market. Its low quality software and lack of brand recognition are among the issues often cited as the cause of the failure.
Station Casinos filed for bankruptcy in 2009. It emerged in 2011 but not after being forced to relinquish control of Aliante Station in North Las Vegas. The property was renamed Aliante Casino under new ownership.
Station Casinos Properties
Red Rock Resort – Red Rock is the flagship of Station Casinos. It offers a massive resort experience. The company’s largest sports book and poker room are at Red Rock. The resort also has a bingo hall, movie theater and bowling alley. There are four table game pits and more than 3,000 machines. There are more than a dozen restaurants ranging from a quick-serve food court up to a luxurious chophouse known as T-Bones.
Green Valley Ranch – Green Valley Ranch is the version of Red Rock on the east side of Las Vegas. It is located in Henderson and is often referred to as Red Rock’s little sister. Green Valley Ranch offers a sports book, poker room and other amenities.
Palace Station – Palace Station is an older locals casino near Sahara and Las Vegas Blvd. The smaller property offers little in the way of amenities. It has a keno lounge, bingo hall, poker room, sports book and a handful of restaurants.
Boulder Station – Boulder Station is located on Boulder Highway southeast of downtown Las Vegas. It is a large casino with a movie theater, poker room and sports book. It also has two table game pits and more than 2,000 machines.
Santa Fe Station – Santa Fe Station is the largest casino floor under the Station Casinos umbrella. It is located in Henderson. There are more than 3,000 machines and 40 table games there. It also has a sports book, poker room, nightclub, bowling alley and movie theater.
Sunset Station – Sunset Station is a smaller company property. It includes over 20 table games, 1,500 machines, nightclub and a movie theater.
Texas Station – Texas Station is located on Rancho in North Las Vegas. The property has a movie theater, 22 table games and 1,800 machines.
Fiestas – There is a Fiesta in Henderson and in North Las Vegas. Both are the lowest end of the Station Casinos hotel and dining offerings. Fiestas are known for their drive thru sports betting windows. They also offer good video poker and a handful of table games. The Fiesta in North Las Vegas has an ice skating rink, one of only two in the entire Las Vegas metro area.
Wildfires – The Wildfire brand is used on a group of properties that are mostly bars. They resemble large slot parlors with a sports book and a bar.
Station Casinos Attributes
Station Casinos is known for being the major brand in the Las Vegas market. It offers $5 minimum bets at most of its casinos. Some table game minimums run as low as $3.
Table games and video poker at Station Casinos properties offer better odds than most competitors. The craps games all pay 10 times odds. All blackjack tables with a minimum bet of $5 or higher pay 3-2 on a natural if two or more decks are used. Shoe blackjack games permit surrender. The rake at poker games caps at $4. The sportsbooks take wagers as low as $2.
The video poker at Station Casinos is often full pay. There are machines at each casino that pay more than 100% when five coins are wagered and perfect play is used. Others throughout the casino floor return at least 99.5%. Full pay Jacks or Better and Bonus Poker Deluxe may be found at any Station Casinos property.
Station Casinos uses the Boarding Pass players club. This program sends players free slot play and comps. It also pays 0.3% return on all machines except the 100% games. This is part of why Station Casinos are so popular among locals. Expert poker players can give action with little or no house edge.
Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch and Palace Station are the only three casinos that are popular among tourists. The other casinos tend to offer very low hotel rates to lure players and fill hotel rooms that would otherwise be vacant. Las Vegas tourists should consider Station Casinos for the low hotel rates and better games.