How & When BlackJack Started

As with many other games, no one knows exactly the origin of Blackjack. Most agree it was introduced in French casinos in around 1700, where it was known as "Vingt-et-Un", which is french for Twenty-one.


Most believe that BlackJack is a variation of Baccarat, as the object of the game is somewhat similar, which is to add up the cards in your hand.


Another of its version called “Trente-un”, meaning Thirty-one was prevalent in Spain. The basic rule of the game was to reach a total of 31 with a minimum of three cards.


One of the popular theories states that the BlackJack was invented by the Romans. They would play this game with wooden blocks with numbers scribbled on them. All historians agree that the Romans loved gambling but that doesn’t confirm the theory in any way.

Among the various versions of the game, popularity of Vingt-et-Un’ or ‘21’ continued to grow. It gradually began popping up in North America thanks to French colonists and soon after it was widely played throughout the continent. The rules of Blackjack were quite different back then. For instance, only the dealer was allowed to double down. Also, a betting round was there after every single card that was dealt...Know More Here- How & When BlackJack Started

Indian Rummy - What You Need To Know

A huge proportion of us love playing cards, whether it's good old pairs, poker, blackjack, rummy or even just making castles out of them (We've all done that). Playing cards are a great way of bringing people together.

Have you ever played Indian Rummy? No? Neither have I, so let's take a look at the rules and what you need to know.

What is Indian Rummy?

As you might have guessed, it is a variant of Rummy and consists of making valid sets from 13 cards. Instead of starting with 10 cards like in Gin Rummy, you start with 13 and discard from there.

Indian Rummy Rules

1. 13 cards are dealt to each player and the game is played between 2 to 4 players.
2. Every player picks or discards a card from the closed or open deck to form sets or sequences.
3. The objective is to form right combinations of 4, 3, 3 and 3 cards.
4. Players are also required to have a pure sequence formed without the use of joker.
5. A player declares his hand after melding all the 13 cards in sets or sequences.

                                                                                                 

What happens with the joker?

A joker is a wild card and can be used in place of any card. The role of jokers in Indian Rummy is to complete sequences or runs.

Rummy Online

There are plenty of free real-time card gaming sites offering this variant of Online Rummy that combines both gaming and fun. Some online rummy platforms also offer detailed tutorials to help the players with the nuances of the game.

Furthermore, you don't have to worry about providing any credit card details upon registration. Isn’t it great?

And after you have practiced the basics, you can move on to the Demo rooms. One can practice for hours and are given hints at every step. Then you can move onto the live rooms to play with your friends and other players real time. So without spending a penny, you can learn all about your favorite card game. And the points you earn can be redeemed against various cash vouchers offered by online rummy sites.

In my opinion, it’s a win-win for everyone out there!

4 Best Indoor Games to Play on Apps.

1.) Card games: Online card games are the best alternative to playing in a land-based venue like casino or gambling bar. It is practical, cost-effective and safe. You just have to log in to a reliable online casino website or you can also download their apps for easy access and play your favorite poker card game right in the comfort of your home.

For instance, online poker has skyrocketed in recent years and more and more people around the world have started playing it. Many people start by playing free online poker so that they can learn the basics without spending a penny.

There are plenty of free online poker websites and apps out there. Some of them do not even ask for credit card details upon registration. And, also offer detailed game tutorials where players can easily learn the ins and outs of the games.

2.) Carrom Board: Carrom is one of the most interesting indoor games that has been created hundreds of years ago. Even today, it is played with the same wind and pace as many years ago. It can be played by two or four people and it creates a competitive environment among the players. The game contains various accessories such as Carrom board, powder, coins, striker, etc.

Thanks to the plethora of carrom apps, now players can experience the play with a real carrom board on their phones.

3.) Chess: Chess is undoubtedly one of the oldest and most-played games in the world. Chess breaks all intellectual, age and language barriers and can, therefore, be enjoyed by people from all corners of the world. In a time when old traditions are quickly replaced by new and adventurous activities, it is surprising that tens of thousands of people learn chess every year.

The love for the game is the main reason why the chess apps have evolved over time. Players can play the game anytime,anywhere!

4.)  Snooker: Game of snooker is kind of similar to pool and billiard, as it also uses cue and balls on a baize-covered tables. The table has Six pockets and the game is all about shooting the balls with the cue to drop them into the holes. Although it may sound simple, the game needs a lot of practice and detailed knowledge on how to play. Many people learn the game with the help of online snooker apps as they find it difficult to find a good coach. 

There are even more indoor games available to play on App and it's just a click or taps away to discover if they can measure up to the skills of the games above. What is best for others is perhaps not best for you, but the above list of games is played by the majority.

Poker: Position says it all

When you talk about success in Poker, Position is more vital that any other aspect of the game. 100% of the players that have played the game and been successful at it, have mastered the art of using the position play to their advantage.

It is fairly obvious that the more selective you are while choosing your Pre-Flop hands, the more success you will taste in the long run. But if you can learn to play the game in position, not only you will be able to extract maximum value out of each hand but you can play a wider range of hands and boost your profits more swiftly.

We all get dealt premium hands, some good starting hands and then some really shoddy ones. It is how we play these hands in different positions decides our Poker fate.

Below is a chart with the list of premium to good starting hands in Poker and how to deal with them, while playing the game in different positions.

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5 Weird Poker Player Superstitions

Superstitions have been part of our society since the dawn of mankind. Everyone of us to some extent do believe in some irrational, wacky superstitious beliefs. Some people convince themselves that certain rituals can bring them good luck.

Poker players are no different and there are several players who rely on several pre-event rituals or bring good luck charms to the table. Let us have a look at some of the absurd actions performed by poker players to appease Lady Luck.

Johnny Chan, two-time WSOP Main Event champion, is often seen with an orange at the poker table. He considers it as his lucky charm.







When smoking was still allowed in poker rooms, Johnny Chan used to bring an orange to the table to sniff when the cigarette smoke bothered him. The orange then became a trademark for his high-stakes wins.

Despite being a non-smoker, Sam Farha always keeps an unlit cigarette in his mouth as his lucky charm.



He doesn’t smoke. He has a cigarette because one time, during a losing session, someone offered him a cigarette and he took it despite being a non-smoker. He then immediately started winning and Sam has done it ever since. ..Read full blog here- 5 Weird Poker Player Superstitions

BlackJack: All About Aces

The majority of blackjack players have a wavering relationship with the ace. They rejoice it when they get an ace, but they dislike it when the dealer shows the ace. Why is the dealer’s upcard containing an ace is so crucial?

Clearly, when the dealer is showing an Ace, we are often in a big trouble because the dealer will rarely bust. The dealer’s probability of going bust is only 16% (assuming he doesn’t have a blackjack). This means the player is more likely to lose in this scenario.

The rest of the time, he will end up with a Blackjack like an ace with any picture, except that 7.5 % times where he will have any total between 17 and 21 but not a Blackjack.

That’s how these stats hurt the players. They trouble players and please casinos.

So how do you play blackjack in this scenario? You know the dealer's odds of busting are slim and more often than not he/she will finish with a good hand. The best thing a player can do in this situation is to play their hand in a way so as to minimise losses. Following are the strategies which can be taken into account:..Read full blog here- BlackJack: All About Aces

Think You're An Expert On Free Online Poker? Keep Reading and You'll Find Out.

Poker takes many forms. One of such forms is online poker, in which players take part over the internet. Thanks to the impressive internet availability in different parts of the world, this game has recorded large numbers of new poker players. After playing free online poker for several years, you would start to think and believe you are an expert in the game. If that is the case, continue reading to find out.

To get some things out of the way, it is worth delving into the mindset of poker players. If you are already one, then you will attest to the fact that the game is more than just observing the poker rules. One has to employ the most effective poker strategies to boost the chances of winning. In doing so, you will always have to think and seek questions about your opponents. Clearly, you will decipher a lot of information from their body language and actions.

As highlighted, experienced online poker players tend to have amassed a great deal of information about the game. Apart from thinking about your next game play or strategy, you could consider something different like taking on some quick fire question regarding the game to test your understand of the same. Here are some of the questions. You could faithfully answer each question without checking the next section that has the answers.

1. You hit “Broadway” on the River. What kind of hand do you have?
2. Which  hand has the nickname “Big Slick“?
3. What are the odds of being dealt a pocket pair?
4. What are your odds of being dealt pocket Aces?
5. At a poker table, the fishhook refers to what?
6. If you start without a pair what are the chances that you will make a pair (or better) on the flop?
7. What two down cards are known as “the dog“?
8. Is it bad etiquette to show any cards while there are two or more other players competing for the pot? Yes or No.
   
   
   Check out the Online Poker Quiz Answers here

Fun and Cool Facts about Poker

Do you love playing poker? Do you know that there is a lot of colorful history and cool facts attached to the game of poker as it has been around for a good 200-odd years. Today’s blog is about some fun and interesting facts about Poker we bet you didn’t know

Indian Mobile Game Industry & Monetization

It is very clear the Indian gaming market has witnessed a boom in the last few years, and has shifted from console gaming to mobile gaming, with improvement of wireless connectivity in the country. Not everyone has access to a computer, but nearly everyone has a smartphone.

People spend on an average of 2 hours per day on mobile games and will continue to increase as more Indian mobile users gain access to games, according to a survey. The increasing number of people using smartphones has made gaming more accessible as well as socially acceptable.

Indian Parents have always been under the perception that games are a waste of time but today they themselves enjoy playing games such as Candy Crush and Teenpatti.

India is famous for its rich culture, style, and tastes. Indian players like games that are made for them.  No wonder, card games are among the top played games in India.  Lakhs of people play card games every day. Most of us have encountered playing all sorts of card games whether it was Rummy, Blackjack, or Teen Patti, while growing up.

While mobile game downloads are booming, a big push towards monetization has yet to take place. Many of the large gaming companies are all facing monetization challenges in India.

One major obstacle is that credit card usage in the country remains low. India’s average number of card transactions is among the lowest in the world. According to the Reserve Bank of India, there are close to 350 million debit cards and 19 million credit cards among India’s population of 1.25 billion. --Read more- Indian Mobile Game Industry & Monetization

Online Casino Game Laws of The World In a Nutshell

Online casino games are famous all around the world and the craze for most famous games like online poker, slots, and rummy will never end. But over the years many countries have made strict rules for the operators and fair rules for the players who are into social casino games. Let’s take a look at some of these countries and their stand on gambling:-

Australia

Australia is one of the best countries where one can gamble legally. The Australian legal system has offered people a safe haven for gambling. Australia has favourable laws for online card game players, as well as for the online casino game websites running in Australia. The only problem in Australia was that dozens of sites were there but only a few of them offered the safe haven for players to play online casino games. However Aus based and non Non-Aus based casino websites were ordered under the Interactive Gambling Act (2001) to have customer care support and complaints based system. So if you have a social casino game website in Australia, you better have a good customer support or it's hell down under.

United States of America

The U.S. has a very flexible law for online casino games. The concept of gambling and online casino is not a new thing for USA. The law only differs from state to state, and is governed by the respective State Legal Bodies. Nevada where Las Vegas is situated, is the well known casino playing destination of the world. The State of Nevada runs only two major online poker sites (WSOP and Ultimate Poker). New Jersey on the other hand gives license to those poker sites which are originated from the State of New Jersey and only playable by the players residing in New Jersey. The online poker scene in Delaware is scarce due to the high taxes, people over there are losing interest in online casino games. Eventually Delaware will join the likes of Washington and Utah which are considered too strict about their non-gambling policies. It is said that if a person is caught running an illegal casino or playing casino games, they can land up being thrown in prison for 5 years along with $10,000/violation. Utah is just the opposite of Nevada, here there is a prohibition for both online casino and physical casino.

United Kingdom

In U.K. The Gambling Act (2005), forbids all foreigners to play and cash-out their winnings. Casinos without a Gambling Commission license are not allowed to  advertise their social casino game services to customers in the UK. The whitelist makes exceptions to the advertising ban for certain jurisdictions that prove they meet the standards set forth by the Gambling Act 2005. This act also ensures that online casino does not become a source of crime or a funding for terror. It ensures to conduct online casino in a fair fashion. It also ensures that no children or vulnerable person or a gambling addict can play in online casino games.

France and Germany

In France, the laws are more flexible to get a license for running an online casino game website.The legal system has made a very polished law about the gambling scene in the country. But an operator has to go through rigorous authorization process to start a online casino website. As Wine bottles go through tasting contest in Paris, the same happens with Online casino games here. But, on the other hand Germany has very messy online casino game regulations. The country bans most forms of online casino gameplay, although one state within Germany started issuing licenses but they were also revoked a year later.... Read full blog here- Online Casino Game Laws of The World In a Nutshell

Omaha: Not a Game of Chance

There are always two sides to a story. Any fact can be a truth for a one and very well be a myth for the other. Poker is one such game, which is always surrounded by some controversy or the other.

Although there are no two sides to the fact that Poker is clearly a game of skill. We have seen it evolve as a competitive sport over the years. But there are other variants of Poker in which, quotient of luck involved is a bit higher, as compared to the most popular variant of Poker, Texas No Limit Holdem.

In this Article, we will talk about the second most played variant of Poker, PLO Omaha. Pot Limit Omaha or as it is better known as PLO Omaha is a bit more complicated version of Poker. Every player is dealt 4 Hole Cards Face Down and just like Holdem, the Dealer unleashes the Flop, Turn and River, Community Cards Face Up. The huge difference though is that you cannot use all of these cards and have to exactly use 2 Hole Cards out of the 4 and 3 Community Cards out the 5...Read full blog here- Omaha: Not a Game of Chance

Poker: All time biggest televised pots

We all just love to catch up on some Poker action. Whether is is playing some online or live Poker or watching some exciting videos of Pros battling it out in a Tourney or Cash games.

If you really love watching Poker videos, these are sure to grab your attention, as here is the list of some of the Biggest Pots Televised ever in the history of cash games.

1. Laliberte vs Benyamine: K5 vs A8: Pot Size 1,227,900

2. Ivey vs Dwan: A2 vs 76: Pot Size 1,108,500

Watch more here- Poker: All time biggest televised pots 

Popular Types of Rummy

Rummy is one of the most popular card games. This century old game is known for its endless charm and thrill.

The love for the game among card game enthusiasts is the sole reason why the game has evolved so much. Today's blog tries to cover some of the popular types of Rummy.

GIN RUMMY

Gin rummy is one of the most eminent Rummy type which is usually played between two players. The gameplay is pretty simple and it is also one of the easiest forms of rummy game to learn. The objective of the game is to build a hand that is made up of sets and sequences.

Each player gets 10 cards.  A player start by drawing one card from the remaining deck. After a card is drawn, he must discard one card. The gameplay continues like this, with players drawing and discarding cards. In order to win, a player must score 100 points. As soon as a player reaches 100 points, the game is over...Read full blog here- Popular Types of Rummy

Playing 18 in BlackJack

The simple strategy followed by most players is that they always stay when dealt an 18. You can get an 18 while playing blackJack in many ways. And, it is known to be the most misplayed hands in BlackJack. You could either get a soft 18 or a hard 18.

First, let us understand the difference between hard and soft blackjack hands. A hard hand is any hand which doesn’t have an Ace or if it does, it will be counted as 1. For example, 8-7, ace-3-10-2, 9-7. Where as, a soft hand is any hand which contains an ace, such as A-2, A-3, A-4.

Now that we have understood the difference between the two hands, let us look at all the different rules this dicey blackjack hand can be played.

Hard 18

The strategy for a hard 18 is pretty straightforward. Always Stay. It doesn’t matter what cards the dealer has. And, the same strategy applies to other hands such as hard 17, hard 19, hard 20 and hard 21. These are pretty decent hands which give you the best chance of winning so you must always stay.

However, always winning a hard 18 is not certain as the dealer could get a higher card than you. So, don’t get all excited when you are dealt a hard 18.

Soft 18

The manner in which you play a soft BlackJack hand determines how much you know about the game. A well played basic strategy while playing a Soft 18 should be:

When to double down on Soft 18

It is ideal to double down when the dealer has a 3, 4, 5, or 6 as the dealer would eventually bust.

When to hit on Soft 18

Take a hit when the dealer has a 9, 10, or Ace.

You should always hit to try to get a better hand value than 18 to improve your chances of winning and don’t be afraid of busting...read full blog here- Playing 18 in BlackJack