Two Big Issues to Watch Out for When Playing Online Backgammon

If you had to describe the game of Backgammon in as little as three words, the best fits would be the words chance, risk, and strategy. It takes a little of all three to be able to harness your abilities into consistent wins. Backgammon took off in the Twentieth Century during the mid-sixties, but its origins are even older, one might even say ancient, as 5,000 years have passed since a form of the game we now play showed up in ancient Persia. Backgammon has since outlasted every fad that the history of gaming has had to offer, and has emerged into the Twenty First Century with a strong reputation and following. It is able to do so because of how it has adapted with the times.

Most recently, online Backgammon has introduced the game to a new audience of enthusiasts as well as bored day-job workers in the mood for something to keep their minds active between mind-numbing and monotonous tasks that simply have to get done. It is also simply played for fun (or money, which can be fun). Many reputable sites now offer online Backgammon for those with an itch to play. Whether you want to take on another human being or artificial intelligence, all you really need is a computer. If you really want to have fun playing online Backgammon, search out sites that possess unique features, which can add to the flare of the game. Ratings, biographies, photos, tournaments, are just a few of the joys you can find in the online Backgammon world along with a new trove of friends who share your passion and enthusiasm for the game.

All you need is a high-speed Internet connection, and you will be honing your skills, beating the competition, and winning money in no time. But beware these pitfalls, as there is always someone who wants to crash the party:

1. Disconnected: Some players, to avoid losing at the agreed upon stakes, will crash their Internet connection before a game can be completed when their defeat is imminent. If you notice this happening a lot, then you should contact the site administrator immediately. This person does not want their rating affected, and they don’t want to sacrifice the stakes they had previously committed to. They went into the game with no intention of losing, even if it meant all they could do to stop it was pull the plug on your game. It is a very frustrating and common problem of online Backgammon.

2. Backgammon Bots: Other cheaters will use Backgammon programs, or bots, to seal their victories. Essentially, they can beat you without any skill of their own whatsoever. All they have to do is let the advanced A.I. take over and hope that you are not savvy enough to notice. These are hard to catch, so pay close attention to response times. (Bots tend to move slow at a consistent pace.)

Keep these things in mind, but do not let them ruin your experience. Playing online Backgammon is a fun way to escape the problems of each day, and it can be very rewarding.

Poker Game Rules – Play to Win

A poker game is card game with very simple rules. Many players can play at the same time. In a modern casino, you may find different variations of the poker game, but each variation is very similar to the traditional game. If you wish to learn how to play this game well, there are two components you need to be good at.

The first component is the basic rules of the game. These are your fundamentals. In the actual game, a player has to decide (at every turn) whether to hit or fold. When a player decides to fold, then the game is lost and the player has no hope of recovering the money that he had placed on the table. The decision to hit means that there is still a chance that the current hand may out rank that of the dealer’s.

What makes poker such and interesting and exciting game is that you never know what is going to happen until the very last minute. In a game, there is at least one card that is covered. That means no one knows the value of the card until the very last minute. The game is over when all 5 cards are dealt, and all remaining players must reveal their covered cards. The five cards determine the rank of the hand. In poker, the best hand that you can get is a royal flush.

A royal flush consists of cards that are in sequence. For example, 10, 11, 12, 13, and Ace make up 5 cards in sequence. That is called a straight. If you get 5 cards that are of the same color and pattern (e.g. 5 cards that are all spades), that is known as a flush. It is very rare that you get a straight and a flush in the same hand. But when you do, it’s called a royal flush and a royal flush outrank all other hands.

Of course, the odds of getting a royal flush is very low. You can get four cards – 10, 11, 12, 13 and then miss out on an Ace. Because you have a chance of getting a royal flush and win everything on the table, you may be tempted to hit during every turn. You are betting that your last card is either a 9 or an Ace that is of the same color as your current hand. Otherwise, you lose.

The secret to playing poker well is not to overemphasis on the odds. Some poker players even go as far as punching numbers into poker calculators to help them make decisions. But the expert players know better.

You see, like many other games, poker is a game that requires both luck and skills. You can playing against other human players in the game. You don’t have to have the best hand to win the game. Sometimes, you can “bluff” your way through by placing extremely high stakes. When you place high stakes, it’s an indication that you may have a strong hand. That may or may not be true, but only you know the truth.

In a way, poker is also a game of psychology. Aim to understand human players well and you stand a better chance of winning in this game.

Transformers Live Action Film Figures – Bumblebee

Of all of the characters from the Transformers film, Bumblebee holds one particular excellence over the others. The reason being that the character was the second character introduced to youngsters in the first animated series. A Transformers Bumblebee toy is a must have for each fan.
Today, though he was originally a VW Beetle car during the original animated series based on the popular figure range, his image was modified and he became a Chevy Camaro. So bringing him here in the 21st century, and now you can purchase a toy version of this Bumblebee today. There are some excellent versions of the Transformers Bumblebee toy around.
The Ultimate Bumblebee edition of this greatly popular Transformers Bumblebee toy replies to audio files when they are played and includes a range of fun lights and sounds features. These a child will be ready to use whether they’ve got the figure in its robotic or vehicle form.
The Transformers Bumblbee toy action figures are excellent for movie lovers. As discussed earlier, the Bumblebee appearing in the Transformers movies differs somewhat from the famous predecessor, but is still a vital element of the Transformers team. As with the other major characters he was on board the Autobot spaceship, the Ark which left Cybertron in order to get a new planet and new life, and which finished up crash landing on planet Earth.
As for the figure which Hasbro has brought out, this Transformers Bumblebee toy is one of the most realistic of all of the Transformer toys. It comes with great detailing as well as the electronic features I’ve discussed formerly with this article. Though it’s only a quarter scale figure of the genuine thing this toy certainly packs a lot in to its little frame. This Transformers Bumblebee toy is very to transform and roll out!

US Gold Coins

Developing a hobby of collecting gold coins can prove to be a very expensive one. US gold coins are fascinating, so you find that many people who come across them and can afford to collect, start doing so if they are interested.
Gold makes the world go round, remember the gold rush? That changed the destiny of many families. Have you seen how people react to gold? Even those who pretend to not even be remotely interested? From gold nuggets, to gold bars, golden biscuits and gold coins. Gold was actually used to make coins that were in mass circulation until it was phased out and metals and materials such as copper, nickel, silver and paper. When any trading was done with gold, it was the intrinsic value that was taken into account. With paper money however, it’s the promise of the value to be paid by the government which takes precedence.
During the depression, in 1933, gold coins stopped being minted in an attempt to take the economy out of its slump. In view of this, it was then illegal to be in possession of gold bullions or coins, and most US gold coins were recalled and melted. This is the reason for the rarity and scarcity of these coins. Those that were kept however go for ridiculous amounts. A 1933 US Saint Gaudens Gold Eagle was auctioned for seven and a half million dollars. Some US gold coins are more valuable than others, and more in demand so they don’t all cost the same.

Introduction to Replica Weapons

Sword fighting movies have a long, proud tradition in Hollywood. Even back before the introduction of colour films, movie-goers were regularly treated to great Pirate films, medieval adventures or historical epics. For the most part however, nobody was interested in the swords themselves. Only recently has the hobby of collecting prop and replica film memorabilia become a mainstream phenomenon, perhaps due to the explosive growth in home entertainment, and the ability of viewers to “own” a movie.
Today, there is a massive range of replica and prop weapons available for almost every film that features a fight scene, but the quality of these replicas varies substantially, and it’s important to understand what, exactly, you are paying for.
Perhaps the biggest difference between cheaper and more expensive swords is the type of steel used to make up the blade. The cheapest replica weapons will use some type of Stainless Steel, which is steel mixed with chromium to prevent rust, and is only ever designed for display. The main grades used for replica weapons are 420, which is the cheaper type commonly used for cutlery, and 440, which is more expensive and is used in tools such as surgical knives and razor blades. Most decent reproduction weapons will use the 440 grade, which can be sharpened, particularly 440C, which has enough carbon in its mix to make a sword blade strong and flexible.
While Stainless Steel has the advantage of resisting corrosion, and polishing easily, it lacks sufficient carbon to be heat-treated to hold a proper edge, and still retain enough flexibility. Carbon-steel blades are the “real thing” and are used in high quality replica weapons, swords used for re-enactments, and traditionally made real swords intended for martial arts training. Carbon-steel easily corrodes however, and so must be kept oiled. Traditionally, the carbon was mixed into the steel by repeatedly folding the steel, as with Japanese and Damascus forged blades, however today the carbon is almost always properly mixed as standard, so folding is only done for the aesthetic properties it produces.
Some carbon-steel swords will quote the hardness of the blade. A value of 20-30 RC is typical of “Mild Steel” and not sufficient for practical use. 30-40 RC is good enough for a cheaper sword intended for re-enactments, as the sword will dent, but not chip. 40-50 RC is a good value for most European-style swords, and the spines of Japanese and other differentially treated swords, while a value of 60RC is ideal for the cutting edge of such swords.
Finally, pay attention to the swords tang. This is the part of the blade that sits inside the handle. A full tang that runs the length of the handle is required for any sword that is intended for use. Many higher-quality display swords will use a push-tang, that runs perhaps half the length of the handle, and will stand up to light use, e.g. non-contact training. Finally, a rat-tail tang is made by welding the blade to a metal bar inside the handle, and is definitely only for display.