The Online Poker Noob

Introduction

WassPoker is part of the Merge Gaming Network and is one of the few poker sites allowing US and Canadian Players. Until regulations are lifted even the high flyers of the online gaming world are restricting access and many players are missing out. But on WassPoker all players are instantly welcome.

Upon entering their site, you’ll see that they are different to many of their competitors. As well as offering a broad range of poker games, WassPoker gives you insight into up and coming live poker events, allowing players to both compete and read about their favorite game. It's as much a community as it is an online poker site.

WassPoker attempt to set themselves apart from other online poker sites by trying to reward their players every time they play.

Software

WassPoker uses vector-based graphics, meaning that if you resize your screen, your game will not be affected, and there is no graphical distortion. If there's one thing you don't want while playing poker online, besides a loss, it's pixelated card graphics.

To spice up the competition, WassPoker have recently added a new bonus feature where you can view your vital stats as you play. Knowing where you rank amongst other player’s means you will know who to challenge with their multi-player gaming options.

Compete against other players from across the globe and improve your ranking. The higher you rise the more bonuses you’ll receive.

Other key software features are:

Quick start – get on the game tables you want faster by creating a favorites list. That way when you log on, you can access all your favorite games.

Multiple windows – play as many games as you want at the same time. Test your mind and increase your chances of success.

Smilies – let other players know that you mean business by adding animations to your conversations.

Player tag – when you spot a player who you think is a bit fishy. Tag them so you’ll recognize them the next time you play.

Depositing Bonuses

You will not find many poker sites that will reward you every time you play or make a deposit, but WassPoker continue to offer a range of incentives:

100% up to $500 bonus on first deposit

$50,000 free rolls

Refer a friend

Back Beat Jackpot – win even when you lose. $0.50 is collected from every ring game and put into a jackpot. When a player gets a monster hand cracked, the jackpot is won and split amongst the players involved in the game, with the losing player receiving the highest percentage.

Reward points – on every match there are fixed reward points to be won. As these mount up they can be converted into cash to be used in WassPoker’s merchandise shop. You can even use your reward points to get your hotel and buy-ins covered at the next Wass live event.

VIP Club – depending on the size of your deposit receive extra cash bonuses - Wass Pro: receive 75% on 1st deposit of up to $1,000 - Highroller: receive 50% bonus on 1st deposit of up to $2,500
Reload Bonuses – you’ll be rewarded for every deposit you make - LoadWass: 25% bonuses on any reload deposit of up to $1,000

Game Variety

WassPoker offering the all time favorite Texas Hold’em, plus other popular variations such as Seven-Card Stud Hi and Hi-Lo, Omaha Hi and Hi-Lo, Razz, Five-Card Stud, Five-Card Draw, Triple Draw and Badugi. With their fast and reliable software, you can be playing within a matter of minutes and they are free to download.

WassPoker offer players the chance to compete in a wide range of stakes, ranging from 1¢/2¢ to $50/$100, you can enter betting games of all sizes, and are always guaranteed a win with WassPoker’s Back Beat Jackpot.

All games are available as heads-up, shorthanded and full tables for cash games, and tournaments are available in both multi-table and sit-and-go format.

Ring Game Traffic

At their peak, WassPoker have up to 1,000 real money players online at a time, but these numbers are increasing. With their player base growing in popularity every day, you are guaranteed to encounter good ring game traffic and when you challenge their other players to Texas Hold’Em, expect fierce competition.

Competition

Their variety of promotions and tournaments means there is a chance to win money every day, all day:

$5,000 Saturday guaranteed

$700 Midnight Shorthanded

$200 guaranteed freeze-out.

Customer Support

It's always a good sign when an online poker joint has decent customer support. To ensure that help is always at hand they offer their players: 24/7 email support; live chat support - available from 5am to 1pm, Monday to Friday.

You can also benefit from their discussion forum. The answer to your question may be hiding in there or in their previous FAQ’s.

Other contact details are available on their site.

Deposit and Withdrawal options

WassPoker offer a range of deposit options including: Visa, MasterCard, NETeller, ECO card, MoneyBookers, ePassporte, Pin Debit, Express wallet, wire card, phonelinx and Click2Pay.

Their withdrawal options are also fast to use: NETeller, ECO card, MoneyBookers, ePassporte, Pin Debit, Express wallet, check and Click2Pay.

Go check out WassPoker now!

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Commonsense tells us that even the Pro's were noobs once. If you're starting out playing poker it can be tough to get started. You can only ride your luck so far. That's why these ten handy tips may help to produce more consistent results at the tables.

Number one: Don't Play Every Hand

This is the most common mistake made by almost every single newcomer to the game. When starting out, it's a natural tendency to want to play as many hands as possible, so that you can improve, and get a better feel for the game. Unfortunately playing more hands, usually means staying in hands in which your cards aren't particularly strong.

Just because you play more hands, doesn't necessarily mean that you'll win more. In fact, the opposite is often true. Adhering to some tight starting hand guidelines will usually see you reduce the number of hands you play, as well as improve the quality of hands that you stay in.

Number two: Choose The Right Game For You

You win your first table and you're on a high, now would be the perfect time to raise the stakes a little to start winning big, right? Wrong. At a poker table you want to be the best player seated at the game. This means selecting games suitable for your skill level. By taking the step up before you're ready you'll like be sitting down among relative sharks, and they quickly rip you to shreds. Don't even consider raising the stakes until you can win consistently at the level you're on.

Number three: Don't Be Afraid To Fold

When you've dropped some coin in the pot, the temptation can be to play on, even when you know that you're heading for a loss. One of the most costly noob mistakes is to to stay in a hand just because you have money in the pot. If you're feeling like you can't win the hand, cut your losses. If you don't understand this tip, run off an have a listen to "The Gambler". It cleared things up for me!

Number four: Bluff With Caution

We've all seen the movies where the hero bluffs big time and wins. Life is not a movie. If your a noob, bluff with extra caution. Unless you have a feel for the game, the table and your opponents, the safest policy is not to bluff. For example, pay attention to the players around you. Inevitably there'll be the one player that always calls until the end of the hand. It's very difficult to successfully bluff that sort of player.

Sure, playing a cautious hand may not make you feel like a 'card shark', but trust me when I say it's not a good feeling to lose an all-in hand based on a bluff.

Number five: Avoiding The Tilt

The "Tilt" is a terms you'll start hearing a lot of once you start playing. Tilt basically describes a players psychological state, usually caused via frustration, in which they adopt a less than ideal strategy, which is usually characterized by an over-aggressive style of play. A player usually goes on a tilt as a result of a big loss or an embarrassing loss.

It's generally easy to spot a noob on a tilt, because they are the ones that lose big on a hand and then follow it up with the old 'all-in' when they are holding a pair of 2's.

The easiest way to avoid a tilt is to make a practice of folding your hand following a big loss. Give yourself a hand or two to settle down mentally, rather than rushing straight back in trying to win back what you lost. Poker is not a game you can play when your emotions have taken the wheel.

Number six: Pay Attention To The Behavior Of Other Players

Poker is just as much about the players around you as it is the cards you hold in your hand. Pay attention the behavior and actions of others. Look for patterns, pay attention to their betting patterns, take note of how they handle the raise. If you can pick up on a pattern of behavior you can use it to your advantage.

Number seven: Play The Cards

Take a look at the cards in your hand and those on the table. Consider your best hand, and then what it would take for other to beat you. Once you start doing this well, you'll have a better idea of whether you should check, call, raise or fold.

Number eight: Don't Ever Play Drunk

This really a no-brainer, and one that you should adhere to strictly unless you're prepared to handover wads of cash. Whilst I haven't read any official research, I'm guessing you'd find a clear correlation between amount of alcohol consumed, and the amount of hands lost at poker. A couple of drinks may 'take the edge off', but sometimes the edge is exactly what you need when you're sitting at the table.

Number nine: Know when to fold 'em

It is just as important to know what hands to fold as it is to recognize the hands you should play. If your hand is average at best, and there are a lot of player still in the hand, chances are that it is a hand you won't win. Fold before you get sucked in. A lot of more experienced players will spot a noob and 'milk them', raising in small increments, until before the noob knows it, half their cash is sitting in the pot and they are left holding is a pair of 7's.

Number ten: Know when to walk away

Poker is not for every one. Rather than continually losing, sometimes you just have to walk away. If you're on a losing streak take a break. If it's no longer fun, walk away.

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