Wouldnt it be nice if the search engines could comprehend our impressions of search results and adjust their databases accordingly Properly optimized web pages would show up well in contextual searches and be rewarded with favorable reviews and listings. Pages which were spam or which had content that did not properly match the query would get negative responses and be pushed down in the search results.
Well, this reality is much closer than you might think.
To date, most webmasters and search engine marketers have ignored or overlooked the importance of traffic as part of a search engine algorithm, and thus, not taken it into consideration as part of their search engine optimization strategy. However, that might soon change as search engines explore new methods to improve their search result offerings. Teoma and Alexa already employ traffic as a factor in the presentation of their search results. Teoma incorporated the technology used by Direct Hit, the first engine to use click through tracking and stickiness measurement as part of their ranking algorithm. More about Alexa below.
How can Traffic be a Factor
Click popularity sorting algorithms track how many users click on a link and stickiness measurement calculates how long they stay at a website. Properly used and combined, this data can make it possible for users, via passive feedback, to help search engines organize and present relevant search results.
Click popularity is calculated by measuring the number of clicks each web site receives from a search engines results page. The theory is that the more often the search result is clicked, the more popular the web site must be. For many engines the click through calculation ends there. But for the search engines that have enabled toolbars, the possibilities are enormous.
Stickiness measurement is a really great idea in theory, the premise being that a user will click the first result, and either spend time reading a relevant web page, or will click on the back button, and look at the next result. The longer a user spends on each page, the more relevant it must be. This measurement does go a long way to fixing the problem with "spoofing" click popularity results. A great example of a search engine that uses this type of data in their algorithms is Alexa.
Alexas algorithm is different from the other search engines. Their click popularity algorithm collects traffic pattern data from their own site, partner sites, and also from their own toolbar. Alexa combines three distinct concepts: link popularity, click popularity and click depth. Its directory ranks related links based on popularity, so if your web site is popular, your site will be well placed in Alexa.
The Alexa toolbar doesnt just allow searches, it also reports on peoples Internet navigation patterns. It records where people who use the Alexa toolbar go. For example, their technology is able to build a profile of which web sites are popular in the context of which search topic, and display the results sorted according to overall popularity on the Internet.
For example a user clicks a link to a "financial planner", but the web site content is an "online casino". They curse for a moment, sigh, and click back to get back to the search results, and look at the next result; the web site gets a low score. The next result is on topic, and they read 4 or 5 pages of content. This pattern is clearly identifiable and used by Alexa to help them sort results by popularity. The theory is that the more page views a web page has, the more useful a resource it must be. For example, follow this link today -

http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_detailsq=&url=http://www.metamend.com/

- look at the traffic details chart, and then click the "Go to site now" button. Repeat the procedure again tomorrow and you should see a spike in user traffic. This shows how Alexa ranks a web site for a single day.
What Can I Do To Score Higher With Click Popularity Algorithms
Since the scores that generate search engine rankings are based on numerous factors, theres no magic formula to improve your sites placement. Its a combination of things. Optimizing your content, structure and meta tags, and increasing keyword density wont directly change how your site performs in click-tracking systems, but optimizing them will help your web sites stickiness measurement by ensuring that the content is relevant to the search query. This relevance will help it move up the rankings and thus improve its click popularity score.
Search Engines Can Use the Click Through Strategy to Improve Results
Search engines need to keep an eye to new technologies and innovative techniques to improve the quality of their search results. Their business model is based on providing highly relevant results to a query quickly and efficiently. If they deliver inaccurate results too often, searchers will go elsewhere to find a more reliable information resource. The proper and carefully balanced application of usage data, such as that collected by Alexa, combined with a comprehensive ranking algorithm could be employed to improve the quality of search results for web searchers.
Such a ranking formula would certainly cause some waves within the search engine community and with good reason. It would turn existing search engine results on their head by demonstrating that search results need not be passive. Public feedback to previous search results could be factored into improving future search results.
Is any search engine employing such a ranking formula The answer is yes. Exactseek recently announced it had implemented such a system, making it the first search engine to integrate direct customer feedback into its results. Exactseek still places an emphasis on content and quality of optimization, so a well optimized web site, which meets their guidelines will perform well. What this customer feedback system will do is validate the entire process, automatically letting the search engine know how well received a search result is. Popular results will get extended views, whereas unpopular results will be pushed down in ranking.
Exactseek has recently entered into a variety of technology alliances, including the creation of an Exactseek Meta Tag awarded solely to web sites that meet their quality of optimization standards. Cumulatively, their alliances combine to dramatically improve their search results.
ExactSeeks innovative approach to ranking search results could be the beginning of a trend among search engines to incorporate traffic data into their ranking algorithms. The searching public will likely have the last word, but webmasters and search engine marketers should take notice that the winds of change are once again blowing on the search engine playing field.
Did you find the information in this article useful Feel free to pass it along to a friend or drop us a line at comments@metamend.com.

About The Author

Richard Zwicky is a founder and the CEO of Metamend Software, a Victoria, B.C. based firm whose cutting edge Search Engine Optimization software has been recognized around the world as a leader in its field. Employing a staff of 10, the firms business comes from around the world, with clients from every continent. Most recently the company was recognized for their geo-locational, or GIS technology, which correlates online businesses with their physical locations, as well as their cutting edge advances in contextual search algorithms.
articles@metamend.com

Donald Trump has plans to begin the building of a $300 million tower on the Las Vegas Strip, in January 2005.
Trump announced his plans this summer, but in the meantime hes got company, as just recently Steve Wynn had the Desert Inn imploded to make room for his Encore, right across the street.
The 64-story hotel entitled "Trump International Hotel & Tower" - just like its peer in New York City - will be situated near the intersection of Industrial Road and Fashion Show Drive.
The tower will be 645 feet. high, and will be the tallest hotel in Las Vegas, if you ignore the 1,149-foot-tall Stratosphere Tower, about which Trump has said "that is not a building".
The tower is a 50-50 joint venture between Donald Trump and Phill Ruffin, the man who owns New Frontier.
The building that will span over as little as 3.5 acres of land, will feature 1,000 hotel-style units size from 636 square feet to 1,057 square feet, 50 apartments sizing from 3,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet a spa and restaurants. It will not have a casino. The tower condos will be sold and the owners able to lease space on a time-share basis through a Trumps management company.
"My plan is to build a super-high-end residential tower in Las Vegas that will be the talk of the town

Hi, Im Peter Owen, Director and founder of Tall Oak Limited.
We have produced this article to give you a quick insight into how to receive a second income or replace your present income. The key to securing your future and reaching your goals is called a residual income. Residual income flows into your bank account day after day, year after year for work you did 6 months ago.
Sounds Good! Great then lets look how you gain a residual income. The way I approach it is by talking about Network Marketing, I know what you are thinking thats pyramid selling isnt it

Traffic is one thing, but targeted traffic is everything.
You have no doubt seen dozens of offers similar to "10,000 hits per hour driven to your website!". This type of website traffic is completely untargeted and will undoubtedly result in a very low conversion ratio. Its basically "throw it up against the wall and hope something sticks". The big incoming numbers give the illusion of progress, but you will achieve better results with a lower volume of highly targeted traffic.
I speak from experience because in the early days of developing my home business, I went for the big numbers instead of focusing on targeting prospects. It took me a while to appreciate the importance of targeting quality instead of just going for the big numbers, but it was a lesson well learned.
Exchanging links has been an important part of generating website traffic for quite some time, but the vast majority of people looking to trade links dont understand that just wildly swapping links with any willing webmaster is not the way to go.
For the last few years, most webmasters have been in a "pleasing Google" mode since Google had such a dominant position. Now that challengers are emerging, most notably Yahoo, MSN, and Ask Jeeves, the search engine ranking landscape is becoming much more complicated than just marching to the tune Google played.
Many website owners seem to be of the opinion that the sole purpose of exchanging links is to try to improve the search engine ranking position of their website. While it is true that links pointing to your website can help your search engine ranking, the reason for obtaining inbound links goes far deeper than that.
In my opinion, the targeted traffic that relevant links pointing to your site will bring can be as important as the traffic that comes to your website from people using search engines. This is where linking philosophy comes in. If you limit yourself to exchanging links only with websites that have a theme highly relevant to your own, the traffic you receive from those links will be far more targeted valuable than traffic you might receive from links with websites that have nothing to do with your theme.
Not only do highly relevant links bring you more highly targeted traffic, but they also play a "customer satisfaction" role for visitors to your website who arrived there as a result of a search engine query. If someone arrives at your website after performing a search for, lets say "work at home" and then finds your website full of links to a bunch of off topic sites Viagra, online casinos, hotel reservations, sports betting, etc, etc the impression is often not favorable and may actually drive your visitor away before they consider whatever it is that your website itself is offering.
Keep your eye on the bullseye and develop highly targeted traffic by having good content on your website and exchanging links with highly relevant sites that also offer good content. Remember, traffic is one thing, but targeted traffic is everything.

About The Author

Kirk Bannerman operates a successful home based business and resides in California. For more details, visit his website at http://business-at-home.us

The towers of the legendary Desert Inn in Las Vegas nine-story each were imploded on November 17, 2004, in order to make room for a new construction in the "Wynn Las Vegas" project, initially planned to span over 20 acres of land.
Nostalgically described as "another chapter in Las Vegas history that is being closed beneath a cloud of dust" by Las Vegas Review Journal, the name of Desert Inn stands now by the side of other famous & former Las Vegas resorts like The Dunes, Hacienda or Sands.
Entitled "Encore at Wynn Las Vegas", the new 61 story hotel tower will feature at least 1,500 suites and full-resort amenities such as a casino area, restaurants, a spa, swimming pools, retail and conventional space.
"Encore at Wynn Las Vegas" is expected to open in 2007.
Steady plans for the Wynn Las Vegas grand opening
By that time, there are other major events to tick off on Steve Wynns agenda the man behind the whole project. The original plans for the 28th April 2005-grand opening of "Wynn Las Vegas" remain unchanged.
The date is a double anniversary for Steve Wynn - the launch of a mega-resort wearing his name and his wifes birthday. Within a few days of approximation, by the same time back in 1950, Desert Inn itself was opening its doors.
"Wynn Las Vegas" is the classic idea of a modern resort & casino, only bigger, more luxurious and certainly, more expensive.
Steve Wynns portfolio as a Las Vegas hotelier includes impressive names like Bellagio, Mirage, MGM Grand and Treasure Island. Wynns management is famous for generating high cash-flows in the first years of activity of his previously developed projects in Las Vegas.
Initially, the investment at Wynn Las Vegas was announced to rise up to $2,6 billion. With the new tower expansion, the sum changed to $3,5 billion; by either estimation, the most expensive Strip resort, up to the moment.
Inside look at Wynn Las Vegas
Apart from the "Encore" tower, "Wynn Las Vegas" will feature:
* Approximately 2,700 rooms
* 111,000 square-foot casino space
* 18 restaurants
* Ferrari & Maserati full-service & dealership
* An art gallery Sure to display - among others -

http://www.top-ten-internet-gambling-online-casino-sites.com is one of the most comprehensive guides to casinos online. Gambling online is set to become the rage of the future. With more and more people having less time there is a need for an alternative choice.
Like all choices the Internet takes precedence. Consider that there are more than a thousand sites online that feature gambling and casinos as the main selling service. Out of these thousand only a couple of hundred will be legal and safe to play at.
Sure gambling is a risk but it

There are several online poker rooms that offer Poker games against real people for real money. Millions of people from all over the globe play Poker on the web. The different players at the table are represented graphically and players can play for super small stakes such as $0.01/0.02 limits or for larger stakes such as $100/ $200 limits. Players use online payment systems to buy chips and place their wagers.
Internet Poker gives players the freedom to play anytime of the day or night, playing in the comfort of their own homes. For those wanting to improve their Poker skills, the internet provides a means of practicing and learning about Poker strategy online anytime 24/7. There are dozens of different online tournaments and hundreds of different online games going at any given moment. Internet Poker players can also take advantage of added features provided by the online poker rooms such as hand histories, detailed players stats, color coding opponents, and being able to analyze a tables stats to look at the average pot being played.
Online Poker Tournaments
Most of the Online Poker Rooms offer a wide variety of Online Tournaments, many of them with huge money payouts. From Limit Seven Card Stud to Pot Limit Omaha to No Limit Texas Holdem tournaments, there is always a huge selection of different Poker tournaments on the web for both new players and professional players alike. Online Poker Rooms offer both single and multi-table tournaments. The larger online tournaments consist of literally thousands of players. In addition, many of the larger Rooms offer their most loyal players Private Tournaments in which players can set up their own online tournament structure inviting the players of their choice.
Old School vs. New School
Some Poker players say that they find online poker just not the same experience as home games or playing in a casino. Indeed online Poker is different in many ways from the traditional game of Poker. Internet Poker is a whole new variation of the game.
The main obvious difference is that you are not sitting right across from your opponents, removing any and all ability to watch your opponents reactions and body language. The new world of playing Poker online brings a new form of Internet Poker tells in which one watches and analyzes the speed at which an opponent bets. You dont have to see a player in person to identify a tell. As with traditional Poker, the concept is still the same - get to know your opponents playing style and habits, because every action your opponent makes could potentially give you information on what kind of cards they are holding.
Although some players will still prefer to play their weekly home game, the past few years have seen a tremendous jump in the number of online Poker players - millions of people worldwide now participate in online Poker games and tournaments. The software and graphics are also becoming more and more sophisticated. With the popularity of Internet Poker growing each day, the new face of Poker is here to stay.

About The Author

Oscar Daylight
Webmaster of The Poker Play Zone

http://poker-play-zone.com

Targeting high potential markets with a direct mail marketing campaign can be a very affordable and efficient way to get new customers for most companies and entrepreneurs but how can you find a way to reach those high potential markets Using demographic data could be your solution.
In the United States, demographic data is easy to get through the US Census Bureau website. Although, understanding how to extract data from a database and segment markets in a way to identify which market would be your best target for a direct mail marketing campaign requires great knowledge of census data and market segmentation techniques. Acquiring this knowledge takes time and hiring a full time employee that is expert in market segmentation can be costly. Since the whole purpose of using demographic data for your direct mail marketing campaign is to save money and increase benefits, buying mailing lists or a market segmentation system might be the smart choice.
When purchasing a mailing list, it is important to learn about its selection process. Do you want a business list or a residential list Do you want to target markets with a household average of 40 years old or would you rather target markets with a younger population Demographic data used to build a mailing list can make a huge difference on your return on investment. Imagine having an online casino and then get a list of zip codes in which a very high percentage of people recently visited a casino and purchased online with their credit card, have a high income, no kids, etc. That would make people living in those zip codes very high potential clients for your online casino right Can you imagine using such demographic data in your advantage for a direct mail marketing campaign!
Sounds good As mentioned before, buying mailing lists or a market segmentation system based on demographic data for your direct mail marketing campaign is cheaper than hiring a full time employee specialized in market segmentation or direct mail marketing but its still an important investment that requires some research. Many companies are offering such mailing lists, market segmentation systems, specific industry solutions and direct mail marketing solutions. Its now up to you to find the right data provider for your business and achieve succesful direct mail marketing campaign using demographic data!

About The Author

Frank Levert is a graphic/web designer, multimedia artist, copywriter and marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He is now the owner of Netmar Solutions, a company offering a whole spectrum of internet and marketing services for small and medium size businesses.

In this article, Im revealing six powerful secret psychological tricks that you can use to increase the effectiveness of your advertising and marketing. What if you dont sell anything Should you ignore this information
You ARE selling something. Whether you are a Real Estate agent selling multi-million dollar homes, or a worker trying to sell your boss on the idea that you are a valuable employee, everybody is selling something. So it would be wise to learn these secret tricks and use them to achieve your own personal success.
The secret psychological tricks that I am going to reveal are not really secret. They have been used by shrewed salesman for millenium. Their existence was revealed back in 1984 by Dr. Robert Cialdini in his book "Influence : The Psychology of Persuasion".
You will recognize these tricks being used everywhere in advertising today. Now you will be able to put them to use to enhance your own personal success.
Psychological Selling Trick Number 1: Reciprocity
Reciprocity works like this: you give someone something of value for free. That individual feels an obligation to return the favor. Reciprocity is a very powerful principle.
To use reciprocity as a marketing tool, you give people something of value for free, they reciprocate by purchasing your product or service. But you would be surprised how many advertisers totally blow it. Either they dont understand the concept of "free", or they dont have total faith in the principle of reciprocity.
For example, consider the offer "get a free camera when you subscribe to our magazine for two years." Thats not free. Or, "free installation with a one year commitment." Thats not free. The customer is paying with an obligation. No sale.
Consider the offer,"receive the latest issue of our magazine absolutely free. No bill will be sent." If the prospective customer finds the magazine to be of value, they feel an obligation to subscribe. Or, "one month of free Internet service. No credit card required." If the Internet service performs well, the prospective customer feels an obligation to sign up.
The trick is to create something that has high perceived value to a prospective customer, but costs you little or nothing to produce. Free information is a good example. Here again many advertisers totally blow it. The free information turns out to be nothing more than blatant advertising.
Free samples of your product or service is another good example. Again, many businesses blow it. They either produce a cheaper version of their product to use as free samples, or they use the free sample campaign as a means to dump reject product.
The largest Internet Service Provider is well known for giving away hundreds of hours of service for free. No credit card required. The largest cookie company is famous for giving away free cookies. Reciprocity is a very powerful marketing strategy.
Psychological Selling Trick Number 2: Scarcity
Scarcity works like this: There is a limited amount of the item available. After those are gone, the item will not be available. "urgency" implies Scarcity. For example, "this offer will be honored only for a limited time".
The effectiveness of the scarcity principle is well demonstrated by the large segment of the population involved in pursuing antiques, collectibles, and memorabilia simply because these items are scarce. Scarcity is often contrived, as when a company produces a "limited edition".
For example, when Disney releases a limit edition of one of its classic stories - yes, limited to a production of more copies than they could ever possibly sell - then it goes in the "vault". And how fortunate well be a few years from now when they decide to do us the favor of taking it back out of the vault.
Note: Manufactured items, especially DVDs and CD-ROMs, cannot be "scarce". Its a simple matter to put the manufacturing dies back into production. All scarcities of manufactured items are contrived.
One popular incarnation of scarcity is the "going out of business sale". Customers somehow dont pick up on the fact that the mark-downs are not that great, or that the store has new merchandise coming in the back door to take advantage of the increase in traffic.
Scarcity is a very powerful marketing tool. There are many ways to contrive scarcity. You can create a limited edition, or for items like information products, scarcity can exist in the form of urgency by creating a limited time offer.
Psychological Selling Trick Number 3: Commitment
Commitment involves getting a prospective customer to take a tiny step towards a goal. For example, you might get them to request free information, or fill out a survey. When the prospective customer takes that first step, they have made a commitment, however tentative, towards the goal you have set out for them. They are likely to take another step.
One example of this process is the "two step" method used in mail order. When a mail order marketer runs an advertisement, they dont even try to sell the product. Instead, the advertisement offers free information. A prospective customer makes that first commitment towards purchasing the product by requesting the free information. The free information they receive is designed to entice them to take the next step.
Another example of using commitment as a marketing tool is a survey. By checking a few boxes and answering a few questions, a prospective customer takes that first step towards a commitment. The result they receive from the survey is designed to entice them to take the next step.
Yet another example of using commitment as a marketing tool is a lottery. For example, people enter their name and address on a ticket for a chance to win a new car. A salesman uses that information to contact them. By entering their name and address on the lottery ticket, the individual has made a commitment to own that new car.
The most common example of the principle of commitment are those long-winded full page advertisements in magazines. The prospective customer invests a great deal of time reading through the entire advertisement. That investment of time represents a commitment. They are likely to take the next step, responding to the advertisement.
To use the psychological power of commitment in your advertising, dont try to sell your product or service in your ad. Instead, use a survey, contest, or free information to get a prospective customer to make that first step towards a commitment to purchase your product.
Psychological Selling Trick Number 4: Consensus
Consensus involves getting prospective customers to believe that "everybodys doing it". Everybody is just waiting in line to purchase your product. Everybody cant be wrong, so the product must be fantastic!
Of course youre smart enough to know that everybody CAN be wrong. Everybody thought that SUVs were safe vehicles they roll over. Everybody thought Enron was a great investment it went bankrupt. Everybody thought Iraq had weapons of mass destruction well maybe not everybody. Youre an independent thinker.
Here are some examples of headlines using the consensus principle: "Its the new sensation crossing the country", "People are signing up in droves", "People just cant get enough of them", "Record sales", "Unbelievable response!" and "Join millions of smart consumers". Combine this with a stock photograph of a large group of people, a long line of people, or a crowd of people, and you have a powerful consensus message.
Note: Many people dont think theyre having fun unless theyre in a large, noisy crowd. Unfortunately, every large crowd contains a few lunatics. When things go wrong, the crowd stampedes and people get hurt, or killed. When I see a large crowd, I head the other way.
Fortuately, most people are not independent thinkers. They act like a herd of cattle. Use the consensus principle in your advertising, and people, like lemmings headed for the sea, will come in waves to buy your product.
Psychological Selling Trick Number 5: Authority
Authority involves getting prospective customers to believe that someone who is knowledgeable or famous uses your product or service. If a knowledgeable or famous person uses your product, then it must be fantastic!
The bigger the authority, the more powerful the advertising message will be. For example, doctors are authorities. "Most doctors prescribe Tylenol for arthritis pain". Large organizations are authorities. "The National Heart Association says - Quaker oatmeal is good for your heart." The Federal Government is an authority. "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says whole wheat bread is part of a complete diet". If only we could think of a way to use God as an authority!
Heres how to use the principle of authority in advertising: search the Internet for any references to your product or service. Find an article that alludes to your product being of value. For example, lets say you sell black T-shirts. You find an article by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that says "bees are attracted to bright colored clothing". Your copy: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture that says my T-shirts protect you from attack by stinging insects."
Most advertising using the authority principle is taken out of context and exaggerated. Some advertising uses totally fake authorities. "My dog biscuits are recommended by the International Association of Dog Nutritionists" an organization I started last week. Some advertising uses a "study" as an authority. "A recent study found that my lemonade tastes better than any other brand" my mother liked it better.
I dont recommend that you use a fake organization, a fake study, or take information out of context or exaggerate, but if you can locate a legitimate authority or study related in any way to your product and quote it without exaggeration, you will have a powerful authority message.
Psychological Selling Trick Number 6: Greed
Greed involves taking advantage of many peoples belief that there is a secret short cut to wealth. They believe that wealthy people didnt earn their wealth, instead they know a "secret".
Note: I am not recommending that you use the principle of greed because it is used by unethical scammers. Im simply informing you of its existence in order to make this series of articles complete.
The simplest method of using the principle of greed is the chain letter. You have no doubt received a chain letter at some point. A chain letter contains a chart specifying the massive amounts of money the recipient will get when they follow the instructions. The first instruction is to send money.
The multi-level or network marketing scheme works similar to a chain letter. The prospective recruit gets a chart showing the massive amounts of money they will receive when they join the network. After parting with their money, the victim is instructed to con their friends and relatives into joining.
Another method of using the principle of greed is the lottery or casino. The odds of winning most lotteries are about the same whether you buy a ticket or not. A casino allocates only a tiny portion of its customers money to winnings in order to create the illusion that the odds of winning are good. Many people dont understand statistics. In their mind, the phrase "win a million dollars" translates into "get a million dollars".
Another example of the principle of greed is the business opportunity scam. We know it works because successful scammers invest millions to run business opportunity infomercials, and they make hundreds of millions in profits. They prey on people who believe there is a secret short cut to wealth. The scammers think people who fall for their scam are stupid, lazy, and greedy, so they deserve to get ripped off.
The way to use the principle of greed is to contrive a "secret plan". Run an ad describing how the plan requires absolutely no work to make massive amounts of money. Include a few bogus testimonials and a legitimate looking chart that shows the massive amount of money the plan will bring. Some scammers include pictures of fake checks or fake bank statements.
Never divulge any details of the plan in the ad. The prospective customer is required to send money to get the plan. The typical plan instructs the purchaser to run the same scam.
The principle of greed is very powerful. People who have been ripped of by this scam a thousand times before will, like hypnotized zombies, send you their money. They think THIS TIME they will receive the REAL secret plan.
--
Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.

About The Author
CopyrightC2004 Bucaro TecHelp.
To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com.
To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to subscribe@bucarotechelp.com

His palms are sweaty and his heart is racing, but he smiles when he sees his cards.
"I cant lose this one", he says, with a big grin on his face. Poker in cyberspace is perfect for anyone not having a poker face. Johan Eriksson shows me his hand. A full house, queens full of jacks. There are 260 dollars in the pot. Jack from Ohio just folded his hand, but Hans from Norway and Steven from Australia both called Johans 20 dollar bet.
He shows me his hand again. "Cant lose this one", he says for the second time. A click on the mouse and Johan is 320 dollar richer. He was correct , he couldnt lose that one.
We are neither in Las Vegas or in Atlantic City , but in a small one bedroom apartment in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The battle is fought on the internet, where cyberspace is lightening up Johans computer screen.
The internet poker room is called BugsysClub, the server is in Costa Rica somewhere, and the players are from all over the world.
When poker online started at the end of the nineties, it created mixed feelings amongst real time casino poker players. Some took the view that it would damage real poker games in casinos by tempting regular customers to only play poker online. Others were fascinated that they could remain at home and play poker in the underwear against real people from the whole world.
Online poker was as sent from heaven for those who felt uncomfortable in a casino poker room or had a hard time finding a poker room near to home.
"You have to be careful", Johan says, in the middle of a new hand.
Internet poker is twice as fast as live poker, so the money comes and goes just as quickly.
"Damn, he caught an Ace on the river", Johann shouts. "Lost 30 bucks on that hand. Well, well, easy come, easy go"
Johan started off playing poker at high school, but unlike most of us, didnt quit playing this great game.
He has since the high school days dreamt of watching the "big boys" play, so he bought himself a plane ticket to Las Vegas at the tender age of 21. In Las Vegas he discovered the poker game of Texas Holdem.
He introduced the game to his poker buddies in Danemark, and the game of Five Card Draw was dead and buried for ever. Johan just returned from his seventh trip to The Sin City. "Its the same routine every time", he says. Straight in to the Hotel Mirage, dumping off the suitcases, and heading straight to the poker room.
He never gambles in the casino. Just plays true poker, and spends the majority of his vacation time playing tournament poker. To him, this is the best holiday any unmarried guy can have. His goal every time is to win the equivalent of airplane and hotel costs. He has managed that the last four times, but havent won a big tournament yet.

http://www.pokerrule-online.com/internet-poker.html

About The Author

Oddvar Pettersen - Webmaster of True Poker Guide.
www.pokerrule-online.com
oddvar_pettersen@hotmail.com