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Sport
News on Friday, March 31, 2006
Crouch to score first
Struggling West Brom were unlucky to lose to Spurs last Monday and will not be relishing the visit of Liverpool. The Reds are on the crest of a wave after their 10-man derby win over Everton last week.Will the midlanders’ pull off a shock result? Sadly for Baggies fans we think White Hart Lane was indicative of the misfortune their favourites are suffering and we don’t hold out too much hope. We will take Bet Direct’s 4/1 for the on-form Peter Crouch to score the first goal.
Sport
News on Thursday, March 30, 2006
Too close to call at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace take on Watford in the Championship at Selhurst Park and what a game this promises to be despite both clubs suffering a recent set-back. The Hornets surprisingly lost to Millwall last week but remain on course for promotion while the south Londoners, who also lost to Derby, still harbour play-off aspirations. These two teams may be too close to separated on the night however and so we will take Bet Direct’s 2/1 for the draw.
Sport
News on Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Getting the job done
Sometimes in poker you make a play which, at first thought seems unsound. Examples might be not raising with Aces in hold’em before the flop, or calling just to make a middle-pin. I am not sure whether there is any equivalent in other sports. It is true you may feint going left, when you intend to go right, but that isn’t quite the same thing. In poker there is often no right or wrong move. It’s whatever gets the job done - that being to win money. If you can blow away your opponent’s mind with a small unsound play, then you may be cooking with or without gas.
Sport
News on Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Rooney to grab first goal
Manchester United are bang in form at the moment but there will be plenty of interest when West Ham United travel up to Old Trafford. It seems the FA Cup semi-finalists, inspired by United old boy Teddy Sheringham, can also do no wrong just now and their win at Wigan last weekend in the league showed why they need fear no-one. The Red Devils, however, are a different prospect than the Latics and with Wayne Rooney on form the Londoners will do well to even take a point regardless of their confidence. Straight win odds for the home side are discouraging so we will take Bet Direct’s 7/2 for Rooney to grab the first goal.
Sport
News on Monday, March 27, 2006
Embracing the weak players
In most sports you cannot avoid meeting the strongest opposition. After all, if you or your team are playing in a knockout then, as you progress to the final, the opposition becomes stronger and stronger. In poker, when playing with a table of other players, then it is perfectly natural to avoid marginal hands against strong players and embrace them against weak ones. What is more, the other strong players will be seeking to avoid you. Thus there becomes a sort of tacit agreement which may look like collusion to the outsider.
Sport
News on Sunday, March 26, 2006
Spurs to come good in second half
Monday’s match comes from White Hart Lane where Tottenham Hotspur continue their quest to clinch a European spot when they face West Bromwich Albion. Martin Jol said before the recent win against Birmingham that he believes five victories from the last nine games would be good enough to give Tottenham a place in the top four and hopefully secure Champions League football next season. This is likely to be one of those wins. The Baggies, like their midland neighbours Birmingham, look to be sinking down to the Championship. We find ourselves tempted by Bet Direct’s 10/3 for draw half-time, Tottenham full-time.
Sport
News on Saturday, March 25, 2006
Birmingham in for another hammering
Can Manchester United achieve the impossible and catch Chelsea? A prospect that was unthinkable a few weeks ago has a little more credence to it now although certainly the Red Devils will have to win every match from here until the end of the season. But a home game against doomed Birmingham - who lost 7-0 to Liverpool in the FA Cup during the week- must surely see a United win. Of course a straight bet on United offers little value so we will have Bet Direct’s 6/4 for the home side to win despite starting two goals down.
Sport
News on Friday, March 24, 2006
Arsenal to settle for draw at Fratton Park
Saturday’s action allows us to see recently-improved Portsmouth take on Arsenal at Fratton Park. Pompey looked down and out a few weeks ago but have found some form from somewhere in their last two matches and were outstanding in their recent win at West Ham. Arsenal, however, have kept their best stuff for on the road so does something have to give? Perhaps not because we reckon the draw is on the cards and will have some of Bet Direct 12/5 for the match to end level.
Sport
News on Thursday, March 23, 2006
Canaries to start punting weekend in style
Friday night’s Coca-Cola Championship football sees struggling Burnley take on Norwich at Turf Moor. While the home side are in no real danger of being relegated, the Canaries rekindled faint hopes of a play-off place with a hard-fought win over second-placed Sheffield United last week. The Clarets, who have now lost six on the bounce, are looking for some divine inspiration to stop the rot but we predict more misery for manager Steve Cotterill. Bet Direct are offering 11/10 for the away win which we will grab to hopefully kick-start the weekend’s punting.
Sport
News on Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Launch of The Sportsman
Good to see The Sportsman launch on Wednesday. For too long now the Racing Post have enjoyed a monopoly which usually spells bad news for readers and advertisers alike. Competition brings a better product and should force the Racing Post to pull their socks up and maybe even drop their cover price. The Sportsman, priced under the Post at £1, aims to cash in on the ever expanding sports betting market and also includes poker, casino, finance and novelty markets – hitherto virgin ground in the daily press. Horse racing’s market share of the betting £1 continues to diminish – so it makes sense to cater for the changing marketplace. Good luck to The Sportsman.
Sport
News on Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Maths of calling
You are considering whether to call with a hand like 7C 6C or 5D 5C. In both cases you are looking for implied odds. It is true the pair of fives may be currently winning, but you will pass if a blank comes on the flop. Received wisdom is that you should only call such a bet if you can win at least 20 times the bet you are facing.
Sport
News on Monday, March 20, 2006
Chelsea to bounce back
An intriguing FA Cup quarter-final ties from Stamford Bridge sees Chelsea take on Newcastle United with outside eyes looking closely for further signs that Jose Mourinho’s side are creaking.The Blues lost under controversial circumstances against neighbours Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday which sparked some life into a Premiership race which had looked a foregone conclusion a few weeks ago. Can Chelsea confound the doubters and bounce back in the cup? Bet Direct will give you even money for the Londoners with the home side starting a goal down which we think is decent value.
Sport
News on Sunday, March 19, 2006
Put up or shut up
One important slogan when gambling is that we are instructed to cut our losses and run our profits. In poker this is substantially because you play better when ahead. A sports team or player often has no option has no option but to follow this sound advice; they are knocked out of the event if they lose. Then it will be on to the next event a week later.
But what to do about this when we are losing at poker? The blinds will not be coming your way for some hands. A good rule of thumb in no limit or pot limit is always to have a minimum of 40 times the big blind on the table at the start of the pot. Lacking that, you should either pull up or shut up.
Sport
News on Saturday, March 18, 2006
The costs of playing
You must be very careful about factoring in how much it costs you to play poker. 40 years ago in Vegas they used to take 10% with no cap. Such a game was impossible to beat however good you were. In London it used to be 5% with no cap. That game could be beaten, but it required superman. Today typically online or in Vegas in smaller games, they take 10% from every pot, with a cap of $3. Provided the game is big enough, this becomes a relatively minor expense, but in a game where the pots seldom exceed $60, it looms very large. In bigger Vegas games and all British ones, they take an hourly charge. This may be $10 in Vegas and £10-15 in London. The former is very cheap and again is a relatively minor expense. Although you are not allowed to tip in London, the £10 or £15 quickly mounts up.
Sport
News on Friday, March 17, 2006
Cole for late goal
Sunday’s all-London clash sees Fulham take on near neighbours Chelsea. There may only be a mile or so between the two stadiums but there is a chasm between their Premiership positions. Fulham have been far better at home than on their travels this season but we can’t see Chelsea losing anything here as they continue on their way to their second title in a row. There’s no value in an away win so we’ll concentrate on the form players for the Blues. You can have 6/1 with Bet Direct for Joe Cole to score the last goal and given the contribution the England star is making at the moment, we will have some of that.
Sport
News on Thursday, March 16, 2006
Birmingham to show fighting spirit
Saturday’s tea-time action comes from the Premiership and the pressure is on struggling Birmingham City when they take on Tottenham.
The Blues are firmly in the relegation zone and need to find some form soon if they are to avoid the drop - and we reckon the fight back could start here.
Visitors Spurs are hot and cold away from the confines of North London and may just find the home side need the points more on this occasion.
Bet Direct are offering 2/1 for the home win - odds we think are too tempting to resist.
Sport
News on Wednesday, March 15, 2006
The Poker bots
Poker bots. These are poker robots where a computer has been programmed to play and is used online. Presumably they are at their most effective in limit hold’em which can be played quite mechanically. They would be even more effective in limit Seven Stud as they would remember all the cards passed, whereas many players fail to do so.
Whether using them is cheating or unethical is unclear. But it is definitely against the rules. The online poker rooms go ferreting around in your computer to determine whether a program is being used. If they find you out, they sequester all your money that you have on deposit and there is no appeal.
Sport
News on Monday, March 13, 2006
Arcalis in Champion Hurdle
Most of this year’s top-of-the-market runners have met each other before, with honours spread among them, and those who are saying the race lacks last year’s quality will feel justified if one of these ‘usual suspects’ wins narrowly from one of his fellows. But which one? Hardy Eustace is now on the edge of the age limit for past winners; Brave Inca is well exposed this season; that many races in a championship-winning year would be unusual. Where those two are, Mac’s Joy is thereabouts. If Al Eile doesn’t get it soft, he would need further. If Briareus gets it firmish, he would be a factor for a place. If, but, if, but…However, there is one horse who has done nothing wrong, except for being – wisely – pulled out of it in bog-heavy ground last time. His connections tore up the Festival-records book last year and the way this animal won the Supreme Novices was quite breathtaking.So step up ARCALIS and take the crown!
Sport
News on Friday, March 10, 2006
Arsenal and Liverpool to share spoils
After their Champions League exertions against Real Madrid on Wednesday, Arsenal face a different challenge when they take on Liverpool at Highbury in the Premiership.
The Gunners will be buoyed after their dramatic two-legged win over the Spanish which takes them into the last eight.
The Merseysiders were also on Champions League duty against Benfica in midweek however, they lost their grip on the trophy going out to the Portuguese 3-0 on aggregate.
What kind of reaction shall we get? Bet Direct will give you 21/10 for the draw and given both clubs’ circumstances and recent league form, we think that is the most likely outcome.
Sport
News on Thursday, March 09, 2006
Deception a key to poker success
Deception is probably even more important in poker than a straightforward bluff. Thus you come out betting with a drawing hand, rather than a made one. For example holding KH 10H with a flop of AH 6S 2H in hold’em. Your opponent is more likely to think you hold an Ace than the nut flush draw. Now, wonders of wonders, the turn card brings AH 6S 2H 8H. A check may elicit a bet from your opponent, because he now represents the flush that you actually hold. If he has made a flush you have nothing to fear. He will bet and you can get ready to go all-in. Nobody believes another player has a flush in hold’em when they themselves hold one.
Pointing your opponents in the wrong direction can be highly profitable.
Sport
News on Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Rovers to come good in second half
Saturday’s tea-time football comes from Ewood Park where this season’s dark horses Blackburn Rovers take on Aston Villa. The Lancashire side’s physical style has earned them a reputation as one of the league’s bully-boys but they outclassed Spurs with their passing and movement at the weekend only, ironically, to lose 3-2. However, we think Mark Hughes’s men will get their European aspirations boosted again by victory over the midland side and will take Bet Direct’s 10/3 for the draw at half-time, Rovers at full-time.
Sport
News on Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Arsenal to grab last 8 place
Britain’s Champions League hopes took a blow with Chelsea and Rangers exiting last night to Barcelona and Villarreal respectively but there remains some English interest in the competition. Liverpool face a fight to hold onto the trophy they won so dramatically against AC Milan last year after going down 1-0 down to Benfica in the first leg in Portugal. We’re not optimistic about this tie and think the Anfield men, in the unusual position of having to chase the game, could be caught out at the back with a draw probably their best hope. We will have Bet Direct’s 8/5 for Benfica to win with a goal of a start and by adding that to Arsenal’s 6/4 for a home win against Real Madrid, a decent double can be collected. The Highbury side, 1-0 up from the first leg in Spain, were devastating against Fulham at the weekend and will face a fragile Madrid side. It won’t be easy and the Gunners’ home form is relatively poor but we think they can grab a last-eight place.
Sport
News on Monday, March 06, 2006
Manchester United to hold Wigan again
Who could blame Paul Jewell and his Wigan side for looking at this game against Manchester United with anything other than fear.
The Latics have surprised everyone in their debut season in the Premiership apart from, it would appear, the men from Old Trafford.
4-0 seems to be regular gap between these two sides and all Wigan’s frailties were exposed in the Carling Cup final at the Millennium Stadium last Sunday.
We can’t see any joy this time either for Jewell and will be taking Bet Direct’s 4/1 for Wayne Rooney to get the opener as he did in Cardiff.
Sport
News on Sunday, March 05, 2006
All square at White Hart Lane
Two of the surprise packages this season, Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers, meet in the Premiership at White Hart Lane.
The much-improved home side are still on course for a European spot but Mark Hughes’ men are close behind them, not a situation you would have envisaged at the start of the season. The Lancashire men, a team of battlers if nothing else, pulled off a great result against Arsenal in their last game but we think they may do well to grab a point against the Gunners’ North London neighbours Take Bet Direct’s 11/5 for the game to end level.
Sport
News on Saturday, March 04, 2006
Crouch to score first
Charlton travel to Anfield to face on-form Liverpool in the Premiership and it’s another daunting task for the Londoners. The Koppites are on a roll. A first-half strike from Harry Kewell against Manchester City gave Rafa Benitez's men their third successive 1-0 win in the league and put them level with rivals Manchester United but still well behind leaders Chelsea. There is little value in a straight win so we will be having a punt on Peter Crouch to follow up his first international goal against Uruguay in midweek and score first with Bet Direct offering 9/2.
Sport
News on Friday, March 03, 2006
United too powerful for Crewe
Sheffield United will look to get back on track in their quest for the Premiership when they take on Crewe at Bramall Lane. The faltering Blades, still on the tail of Reading, seem to be on the television every week but they have yet to convince armchair fans that they could survive in the top flight if and when they get there. The visitors shouldn’t cause too many problems however and we think the Blades will coast to a comfortable win. Take Bet Direct’s 5/6 for United to win starting a goal down.
Sport
News on Thursday, March 02, 2006
Two lively outside bets at Lingfield
The UK racing has again been decimated on Thursday with both the turf cards been abandoned – however the Polytrack surface at Lingfield Park again comes to the rescue.
The final race at 5.10 looks a competitive affair but a little interest has been lost in the race with the news that Jake The Snake is a non –runner. The five-year-old was due to be having his first race since winning over two years ago and was well-fancied.
The best strategy may now to be to back two lively outsiders each-way – in the hope of getting one of them home first otherwise damage limitation with the place part of the bet.
KEW THE MUSIC and ALEKHINE were both trading mid-morning at around the 14/1 mark and both represent in-form trainers.
Sport
News on Wednesday, March 01, 2006
England to grab first half goals
The actual football aspect of the England versus Uruguay friendly seems to have been forgotten as every issue under the sun from the mental state of Sol Campbell to the tedious saga of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s possible replacement is chewed over.
But this is a vital match for England as they prepare for the summer's World Cup in Germany.
A strange choce of opponets one could argue. Who knows how the South Americans will treat this game?
Regardless of Uruguay's attitude, we think England will grab a few goals before the interval and the substitutions and tactical changes which will inevitably halt the flow of the match.
On that basis we suggest Bet Direct’s 9/4 for the first half to show more goals than the second.
If England’s recent friendly record is uninspiring then Scotland’s is disastrous.
The Scots have not won a challenge match at Hampden since March 1996 when Ally McCoist scored the winner in a 1-0 win over Australia.
Switzerland are the visitors and will be looking to build for their World Cup campaign and we expect them to be good enough to get a draw. Take Bet Direct’s offer of 21/10 for the stalemate.
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