Immortal Romance - A Dark Tale of Love and Intrigue

A long awaited and promising 243 ways video slot that advertised a lot in the gaming industry, appeared at Microgaming casinos in December of 2011. The slot comes from the creators of Thunderstruck II. You can easily notice the similarities with Thunderstruck II, by spending some seconds to check the four bonus features, as well the Wild Desire feature, which is the same as Thunderstruck’s ‘Wildstorm’ feature.

The pay-table achievements are also exist, so you can see the combination of symbols you've unlock. If you unlock all symbol combinations, you just see your pay-table to turn gold.

Bonus features

Wild desire feature : It’s exactly the same as Thundestruck’s II ‘Wildstorm’ feature. It can appear randomly when you play. The game stops, and the reels start spinning. Then scattered wilds start to cover the reels, by a minimum of 1 reel, up to 5. We've hit some very nice Wild desire wins, when 3 reels changed to wilds. However this feature appear very rarely in the game.

The Chamber of spins bonus features : If you manage to hit 3 scatter symbols in the main game, you’re going to the ‘Chamber of Spins’ where you can select one of the four bonuses that exist. Notice that you cannot select all of them if you’re a newbie to this slot. You must start hitting 3 scatters to unlock all of Chamber of Spins bonuses (5 times hitting 3 scatters will unlock a feature).

1. Amber bonus feature : This bonus is available from the 1st trigger of the bonus feature. You’re awarded 10 Free spins, all wins multiplied by x5 and can be re-triggered. Nice multiplier in this one.

2. Troy bonus feature : Available from the 5th trigger of the bonus feature. Here you get 15 free spins with vampire bats feature. Bats can appear in those 15 free spins, at a random position in a winning combination and turn random symbols into x2 and x3 multipliers. Up to 6x multiplier can be awarded.

3. Michael bonus feature : It becomes available from the 10th trigger of the bonus feature. You’re awarded 20 free spins with rolling reels. If you have any combination in the free spins, the connected symbols will roll and change to other random symbols while the multiplier will go up by 1x at every single successful combination. A multiplier up to 5x can awarded.

4. Sarah bonus feature : Available from the 15th trigger of the bonus feature. Here you’re getting 25 free spins with the wild vine feature. When the wild vine symbol appears at the 3rd reel, it randomly transforms symbols into wild substitutes. If you hit 2,3,4 or 5 scatters as you play the free spins, you’re getting more free spins respectively by the number of scatters you've hit.

Summary

A very high variance slot, which becomes addictive after some minutes of play because have a huge potential to win big, but also needs patience and money.

Video Poker - An Introduction

In the poker game you may be familiar with, you find yourself sitting at a table, either in a physical setting or a virtual environment, and competing against the other players. You make decisions most of the time according to what the other players do, what you anticipate they’re going to do, or what they might have in their hand.

This brand of poker has a psychological element to it. While it is true that the successful player must have a strong mathematical command at his/her disposal to calculate the odds involved in the play of poker hands, the player’s instinct really has to take over, because the goal is not necessarily to compile the best hand at the table, but to beat the people around you, by whatever means is available. Indeed, there is very little you can do to improve your hand. In Texas Hold’em, for example, you get two hole cards, and then share three of the cards that are in the “flop” because they are community cards. What players do from there is up to them.

The house has no financial interest in this game other than to take a percentage, or rake, out of the pot. Of course the house is really not at any risk here, and so this is where the income is derived.

The player, then, is not competing one-on-one against the house. And so it follows that player’s skill level, relative to the skill level of the other players, is the major determinant of success or failure.

This makes the so-called “regular” poker game a different paradigm than most gambling games that are played online.

Video poker is not to be confused with that kind of game. It is a whole different animal, in fact. When you play at a video poker terminal, you are competing against the house and the house only; not against other opponents. So instead of the odds being with you or against you on a changing basis, this creates a set of static odds that you will have to overcome on any given hand. The payouts for various winning hands laid out by the house is obviously relative to the probability of those hands coming out.

You might be able to win a pot with a pair of fives at the poker table by bluffing, provided you can sell it to the other players. That’s obviously not going to work in video poker. Conversely, if you've three of a kind in video poker, you are going to be a winner, according to the pay table paid out by the casino and nothing else. It’s not a matter of getting beaten by someone else holding four of a kind, as you would at a traditional poker table.

Also – and maybe this comes as a surprise to some people – the video poker player can actually do more to improve his or her hand than the player in a Texas Hold’em game can, because while players are stuck with the cards they’re dealt in Hold’em, the video poker player can change the cards. This is an important consideration, since it gives the player a greater degree of control and is a key factor in the implementation of strategy.

There is actually not a whole lot of difference between the video poker game you’ll find in a land-based casino and what you’ll find online, because both are based on a computer program. If there’s any subtle difference, it’s that one of them (that which you’d find at the brick and mortar establishment) utilizes a touch screen, while the game you will play via your computer is of the point-and-click variety. But the outcomes in both are based on an RNG (Random Number Generator), and both are games where you are basically in control of your own decisions and the speed at which the game is played.

There are a number of different decisions you can make in the game, some of which are represented by buttons you will see on the interface:

BET ONE — This will determine the amount of money you will bet on any particular round of play. If you click it once, you will be betting one unit. Every subsequent time you click, it will add one more unit to your bet.

BET MAX — This is what you press when you want to bet the maximum number of units allowable for a game.

DEAL — You will click this button to initiate the deal, at which point you will receive five cards, displayed right in front of you, from left to right, on the interface. You will not be able to activate the “deal” until you have made your bet.

HOLD — After you have been dealt your initial five-card hand you are going to be making your decision as to whether to hold certain cards and discard others. If, for example, you have been dealt a pair of Jacks, while none of the other three cards did you any good, you will probably want to discard the other three. What you will do here is not designate the cards you want to get rid of, but rather, select the cards you want to keep, or “hold.” You click on a “Hold” button below the card to do this. Just click below the cards you want to keep – in this case the Queens – this tells the software that you want to hold those cards. The others will then be eliminated. At this point you move on to the “draw.”

DRAW — When you click this button, you are going to “draw” cards, meaning you will be getting new cards to replace the ones you discarded. The resultant hand will either be a winner or a loser. The degree to which you win on a hand will depend on what the payout chart indicates, as well as how much you bet.

Also, although this is not a “button,” per se, there is also a………

PAY TABLE — There is a “pay table” available on the machine or the interface that will tell what the payout is for the various winning hands you can get. all players are well-advised to examine the pay tables at the game they intend. No one should ever play video poker with the intention of making money and not have some sort of strategy laid out – that’s something we will get into eventually – but even the casual player should always know how much he or she is supposed to be paid.

Tips on how to get maximum value when betting

Getting a head start or knowing how to have the best chance of winning when betting online is essential information if you are to maximise the value of your bet. Online betting, whether you play on your smartphone or via a website, has become more accessible and interactive in recent years. Take advantage of the rise in betting options, made available through the development of betting, with the following tips.

Understand bookmakers’ odds

As a common rule, bookmaker odds are a reflection of what they expect the public to play rather than the actual probabilities of either outcome. In general, bookmakers will set their odds that attract betting on both sides of the odds in order to balance their liability and take a commission. This therefore provides you with the opportunity of finding a betting gem by betting on great value opportunities where public opinion is wrong In events where the number of casual gamblers may increase, this can provide a good betting opportunity. Most casual gamblers may not be as familiar or knowledgeable, and so the odds are more in your favour. Sporting events such as, Cup Finals or horse racing events offer opportunities to get the maximum value from your bet.

Value for your bet

An essential part to getting the maximum value when betting is, understanding the concept of value when placing a bet. It would be naïve to have the opinion that there is no way that team ‘X’ is going to lose this game. Although in any game there might be a legitimate favourite, you need to consider whether the probability of them winning is better than the odds being offered. It is this naivety that creates value for you as a gambler who recognises value in the market to take advantage of it. Basing your bets on instinct alone is not the best way to maximise your potential of winning in the long or even possibly the short run. Having descent knowledge of at least division and multiplication will help you figure out this “numbers game.” Since the odds are very much related to probability, your math skills can help you find some hidden gems with the biggest pay-outs.

The good, the bad and the ugly

If you have been fortunate enough to be on a long winning streak, do not let the good take over. That might give you a false sense of courage and leading you to over extend yourself and your bets. On the other hand if you have started on unfortunate losing streaks put it out of your mind and stay with your analysis. You should just stick with your plan and have faith that the wheel of fortunate will spin in your favour. The ugly bets that people shy away from can actually provide you with your own personal betting niche as you search out the bets that no-one wants to play. The less the general public likes a team, the more you should look on the team in terms of value and a missed opportunity by others. This can also be applied to a team that may have performed well over a long period of time but have had a run of 4 or 5 poor games, and you will see as the public begin to jump off them, leaving you to capitalise on their rising betting value.

It is important to remember to enjoy the experience when placing bets and to research the sport or teams thoroughly, completely engrossing yourself into the sport. Whether you choose to bet on large competitions such as, the 2014 World Cup or more niche markets, become a master of your own betting strategy. A large part of the betting experience is the rollercoaster ride as your heart beats faster when you are one goal away from your betting strategy paying off and the clock is ticking down. Keep a tab on both your wins and losses and enjoy the betting experience while getting the maximum value from your bets.

6 Reasons You’re Making the Wrong Moves at Poker

Poker is one of the easiest games to learn but one of the most difficult to master. While you are learning to play poker, you will find that there are many different ways to play the game and be successful. It is important to develop a plan of attack that fits your personality and playing style.

Even with a plan, poker players everywhere will make mistakes that lead to lost hands and even early exits from tournaments. This type of play continues to haunt amateurs and separates them from the true successful poker players. The good news is that with enough practice, many of the bad habits can be cured. Countless hours should be spent playing online poker, as this has proven to the best and easiest way to get a large volume of hands in a relatively short period of time. Listed below are some of the most common mistakes that poker players make.

1. Not mixing it up. Playing too predictably will eventually doom any poker session. As the other players at your table start to identify your habits, they will know your hands better than you will. If you are playing too tight, then you won’t get paid off unless someone gets trapped into a hand with you. If you are playing too loose, you will get called too often to be profitable. My changing up your style every once in a while, you will keep the other players on their toes.

2. Not understanding odds. This is huge issue with amateurs. Many just don’t understand that betting and calling in poker should be predicated on the potential payoff and whether or not it is worth the risk. For example, if you are sitting on a gut-shot straight draw, you should only call a bet if the potential payoff is greater than 11 times the amount of the call. This is because the odds of hitting a gut-shot straight draw are 11-1. If you the pot is less than 11 times your bet, then the payoff isn’t worth your investment.

3. Playing too many hands. Getting involved in too many hands is a recipe for disaster, as you will slowly erode your bankroll doing so. The odds of winning a hand are low enough, so why make it tougher on you by getting involved with a number of lesser hands. Granted, you should play some extra hands to keep people guessing, but playing too many will get you into trouble.

4. Not understanding position. Where you are with relation to position is sometimes just as important as your hand. Being first to speak can help you dictate action, while being last can let you represent hands you don’t have and potentially steal some pots.

5. Getting too high or too low. Playing on tilt is one of the worst things you can do. To be honest, getting on a roll and thinking you are invincible is just as bad. Doing so will put you into hands that you really shouldn’t be in, which will lead to excess losses.

6. Playing the wrong game. We aren’t talking about playing a different card game. We are referring to the fact that there are number of different options when it comes to stakes, and you should play in one where you are comfortable with the amounts being played. If you don’t, you may play scared to lose and end up playing too tight.

When Should You Split Pairs in BlackJack?

Perhaps more than most games at live and online casinos, blackjack is deceptively simple. Ostensibly, all a player needs to do to win a hand is have his or her cards come closer to 21 than the dealer’s cards do. While these basics may be enough to get a player started, one need only glance at the amount of books and other publications devoted to blackjack strategies to see that there is a lot more to the game than meets the eye. While in theory players could study for years and still not master the game, what’s certain is that they won’t get far without learning when to split pairs in blackjack.

What Does Splitting Mean in Blackjack?

Put simply, splitting is a play that can only happen when a player is dealt two cards of the same value and opts to use each of them as part of a separate hand. Upon splitting, you’ll then be dealt two additional cards, one for each new hand. This will also mean you’ll need to double your original bet, as now you’re playing 2 hands against the dealer in the same betting round. This strategy’s main advantage is that it effectively gives players two chances to beat the dealer, which of course means potential for doubled winnings.

However, that doesn’t mean that splitting a pair is always the best blackjack strategy. Here are some tips on when you should and shouldn’t be splitting pairs while playing blackjack.

Do: Split Aces and 8s

In blackjack, as in poker, a pair of aces is a welcome site for players. This is a hand that you’ll always want to split, as each ace’s maximum value of 11 means that a player will never bust out when taking another card. Splitting aces also puts you in the unique position of possibly hitting two separate blackjacks in the same hand. And as everyone knows, it’s impossible to lose with blackjack.

While a blackjack isn’t possible with a pair of 8s, splitting them does put you in a strong position to hit a big hand without fear of busting on either bet; a risk most players are more willing to take than the alternatives of hitting or standing on a 16.

Don’t: Split 5s or 10s

As the old saying goes, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. This logic definitely applies to pairs of 5s and 10s at the blackjack table. Since a pair of 10s is worth 20, it’s typically a winning hand. While it may seem like a good idea to split this hand in order to have a strong start on two separate hands, it’s a usually a better idea to stick with a winner than potentially lose double on a needless gamble. Similarly, a pair of 5s is a great hand to hit on, as you have a roughly 24% chance of drawing another 10-value card, and similarly strong chances for higher hands (18, 19, etc.)

Pay Attention to the Dealer’s Up Card When Deciding Whether of Not to Split

When a dealer is showing 8 or better, there is a decent chance that he or she could be heading for a bust out. In these scenarios, and only these scenarios, more daring players could see strong rewards from splitting lower pairs like 2s, 3s, or 7s. It’s a bold play – one that may not work out in the long run – but if you have a strong feeling that the dealer will bust, this slick strategy could double up your money when you’re playing blackjack at S188 Casino.

When Unsure If to Split, Just Take a Hit

Though it may be tempting to split every pair that comes your way, some hands simply fall into too much of a gray area to do so. When in doubt it’s probably best just to hit rather than risk confusing yourself in the middle of a hand and potentially lose twice your original bet.

How to Start a Blackjack Game

Blackjack is a hugely popular game these days and though you may have experienced a game or two in your time, there are plenty of hints and tips which can take a simple game of Blackjack and turn it into something far more rewarding. The manner in which you begin a game of Blackjack can have a huge bearing on how successful you are later in the game and can even directly affect the amount of money you have on your person when you leave the table, in real life of online. There are some very simple and yet hugely important hints and tips which can assist you when it comes to starting a game of Blackjack in the right style. In order to help you up your game, here are just a few pieces of advice which could help you in your quest to improve your Blackjack performance and keep your opponent, the house itself, in the dark as to how you’re going to bet.

Of course, it has to be noted that a game of live blackjack relies heavily on luck, but that being said, there are many ways that you can improve your chances of winning big and starting a game in the right way is of huge importance. Firstly, the size of your first bet is worth noting as betting too heavily from the outset could easily see you sitting out the next few rounds and going home with less cash on your person than you wished. So, in order to start a game of Blackjack effectively and securely, try to ensure that your first bet is a sensible one. As you might already have experienced, this can be a challenge if you are dealt an impressive hand, but as long as you keep your head, you can play for much longer and have more success than you would if you were to dive in head-first and blow your chips early on.

Observing the cards which have been dealt can also be very effective, not only at the start of a Blackjack game, but as a game progresses. In order to do this effectively, it might be useful to familiarise yourself with a typical Blackjack deck as being aware of the possibilities will help you to place a sensible bet without risking too much of your capital. Observing the cards will help you to better predict what card will be dealt next and although successfully predicting the exact card is near enough an impossibility, you can safely make an informed guess as to what is more likely to come out. Sometimes advice on Blackjack and other casino games can be a little displeasing to read as it seems to take some of the edge out of the event, but if you can start a Blackjack game in a sensible and strong fashion, you too can hugely improve the amount of success you have at any Blackjack table, be it virtual or in house.

5 Must-Know Slot Practices To Keep You Out Of Trouble

Slot machine etiquette mostly applies to land-based casinos. These are unwritten rules, but are nonetheless practice to in-still harmony among players. In case a player wants to have a feel of slots gaming in land-based ones, here are the implied rules that they must follow.

One slot at a time

Playing at multiple slot machines will cause a fight. With an avalanche of players wishing to try their luck, monopolizing these one-armed bandits is plain rude. Unless the game is played online, the act might be considered.

A short break means leaving the machine

Whenever a player takes a short break, it means that the machine is already free for all players. If someone wants to play again, he or she must advise the attendant to look over the machine. However, make sure that the short break is really a short one.

The tilted chair or coin cup

A coin cup or a tilted chair means that the previous player will return. This gesture or signal is used whenever there are no available attendants in the land-based casino.

Return the cards

Usually, a player goes back to the machine where he or she previously played to look for his or her card. The one playing should return the forgotten card instead of keeping or throwing it away. To avoid disruption, the best practice is to leave the card on top of the machine.

Yield the seats

This practice is never exclusive to cafeteria, restos and fast-food chains. This also applies to slot gaming in land-based casinos. For those who are accompanied by non-players, it is impetus that they yield their seat to those who need it.

Although the above-mentioned practices hardly apply to online casino players, still, knowing these stuff is a must. In the event where an online slot player wants to have a taste of land-based slots, these knowledge will keep them out of trouble.