Pathological Gambling

Pathological gambling is being unable to resist impulses to gamble, which can lead to severe personal or social consequences.
Causes

Pathological gambling usually begins in early adolescence in men, and between ages 20 and 40 in women.

Pathological gambling often involves repetitive behaviors. People with this problem have a hard time resisting or controlling the impulse to gamble. Although it shares features of obsessive compulsive disorder, pathological gambling is likely a different condition.

In people who develop pathological gambling, occasional gambling leads to a gambling habit. Stressful situations can worsen gambling problems.
Symptoms

People with pathological gambling often feel ashamed and try to avoid letting others know of their problem. The American Psychiatric Association defines pathological gambling as having five or more of the following symptoms:

Committing crimes to get money to gamble
Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut back or quit gambling
Gambling to escape problems or feelings of sadness or anxiety
Gambling larger amounts of money to try to make back previous losses
Having had many unsuccessful attempts to cut back or quit gambling
Losing a job, relationship, or educational or career opportunity due to gambling
Lying about the amount of time or money spent gambling
Needing to borrow money due to gambling losses
Needing to gamble larger amounts of money in order to feel excitement
Spending a lot of time thinking about gambling, such as remembering past experiences or ways to get more money with which to gamble

A psychiatric evaluation and history can be used to diagnose pathological gambling. Screening tools such as the Gamblers Anonymous 20 Questions can help with the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment for people with pathological gambling begins with recognizing the problem. Pathological gambling is often associated with denial. People with the illness often refuse to accept that they have a problem or need treatment.

Most people with pathological gambling enter treatment under pressure from others, rather than voluntarily accepting the need for treatment.

Treatment options include:

    Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT has been found to be effective.
Self-help support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous. Gamblers Anonymous is a 12-step program similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Principles related to stopping the habit abstinence for other types of addiction, such as substance abuse and alcohol dependence, can also be helpful in the treatment of pathological gambling.
A few studies have been done on medications for the treatment of pathological gambling. Early results suggest that antidepressants and opioid antagonists naltrexone may help treat the symptoms of pathological gambling. However, it is not yet clear which people will respond to medications.

Like alcohol or drug addiction, pathological gambling is a chronic disorder that tends to get worse without treatment. Even with treatment, it's common to start gambling again relapse. However, people with pathological gambling can do very well with the right treatment.

 

Poker Texas Holdem

Texas Holdem

At the beginning of a new game, each player is dealt two cards face down. (Hole Cards)

Each bet of the first two rounds of betting is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $5/$10 game, all bets and raises are $5 for the first two rounds (after hole cards are dealt and once the flop is spread in center of table).

The last two rounds of betting (turn card and river) are set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $5/$10 game, all bets and raises are $10 for the last two rounds.

One bet plus three raises (four total bets) are the maximum amount of bets allowed per betting round. This would consist of (1) a bet, (2) a raise, (3) a re-raise, and (4) a cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and cannot be raised anymore. Once any player has made the third raise (capped the pot), then players will have only the option of calling or folding.

Check-raising is allowed in all online poker games.

Dealer Button
In order to designate which player is the theoretical dealer in Texas Hold em games, a round disk is used. This disk is called the dealer button or simply "the button".

After each hand is completed, the button moves clockwise to the next active player and this player will be considered to be the dealer, and will act on his/her hand last on each betting round. This is also termed playing the button for that game.

Blinds
The player to the left of the button is first to receive a card and is required to post a small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower limit bet rounded down to the nearest dollar. The player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind. The big blind is equal to the lower limit bet. These bets are referred to as blinds because players must post them before the dealer deals any cards to the players. These blinds are similar to the ante that is required in other games such as 7-Card Stud.

Both the small and the big blinds are considered live bets. They have the option of calling, raising or folding when the betting action comes back around to their position. After the flop and after each subsequent betting round, the first active player left of the button is first to act.

When players first sit down to play, they will be required to post the equivalent of the big blind only once or they have the option to "sit out" until it is their natural turn to post the big blind. This rule is in place to ensure game fairness to all players. The rule prevents the possibility of players entering games in late position and then leaving before they are required a post the big blind.

HOW TO PLAY
The dealer deals players their own two private cards face-down.

First betting round

The dealer spreads three-community board cards face-up on the table. This is commonly called "the flop".

Second betting round

The dealer turns over a fourth board card face-up commonly called "the turn card".

Third betting round

The dealer turns over one final community board card commonly called "the river card".

Fourth and final betting round

Players show their hands. This is commonly called "the showdown".

At the showdown, players may use a combination of both, one, or none of their hole cards to make their best five card hand:

If a player uses both of their hole cards, they will use three of the community board cards; or one hole card and four of the five board cards; or all five board cards, which is commonly called "playing the board" betting.

Poker Crazy Pineapple

Crazy Pineapple

Crazy Pineapple Poker is played with a standard 52-card deck. Blinds are posted by players who sit in consecutive clockwise order from the button. Action is initiated on the first betting round by the player to the left of the person who posted blind clockwise from the button. The blinds act last on the first betting.

All players receive three cards dealt face down (hole cards) as their initial hand. The first round of poker betting occurs. Check and raises are permitted. Three cards are turned face up in the middle of the board simultaneously (flop). These board cards are community cards and available to all players. The second round of betting occurs. At this time poker players choose to keep two of their three cards hole cards from their initial hand and discard the third. The next two board cards are turned up one at a time with a round of betting after each card. After the final round of poker betting has been completed, a player may use any combination of five cards (for example, one hole card and four from the board, etc.) to determine their best hand. A player may use all of the board cards (playing the board). The winning poker hand must show both hole cards face up on the table. The best five-card poker hand wins the pot. In the event of a tie, the pot is split equally.