How can I play - games

How To Play: Sudoku

2010-03-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

Sudoku is a game of reasoning and logic. Despite being quite simple, is fun and addictive.

- Sudoku is played over a 9x9 grid, divided to 3x3 sub grids called "regions":

Region

- Sudoku begins with some of the grid cells already filled with numbers:

- The object of Sudoku is to fill the other empty cells with numbers between 1 and 9 (1 number only in each cell) according the following guidelines:

1. Number can appear only once on each row:

Allowed

Not allowed

2. Number can appear only once on each column:

Allowed		Not allowed

3. Number can appear only once on each region:

Allowed		Not allowed

- A summary of these guidelines would be, that a number should appear only once on each row, column and a region.

How to Play: World of Warcraft

2009-05-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

Don't you hate it when you're stuck trying to do the simplest things in World of Warcraft? Never fear; this guide will help you with your basic training.

Things You'll Need

* World of Warcraft
* PC or Mac computer
* Lots of spare time
* Energy Drinks

Steps

1. Verify that your computer meets the system requirements, and then purchase and download the World of Warcraft basic game. Expansion packs, such as The Burning Crusade, provide additional content, but are not required to play. It is also possible to play using a trial version, but they come with significant limitations, and only last 10-14 days.

2. Start your game! When you log in, you'll be prompted to select a server from the following types:
* Normal: The standard game. Most players choose this option.
* PvP: The standard game is modified in that Player versus Player combat can occur at any time.
* RP: RP is an abbreviation for roleplaying. These servers have specific codes of conduct and naming guidelines. It is best to read them thoroughly before selecting this type of server.
* RP-PvP: A Player vs. Player server that follows roleplaying rules.

3. To get a feel for the basic game, start on a Normal server. You can always make a character on a different server type, or, in many cases, transfer to another server, once you're familiar with the game dynamics.

4. You should also consider server population during your selection process. Unless you have a friend on an existing server, "Medium" populated realms are recommended because they are neither deserted nor overcrowded, and tend to have a stable economy.

5. Create your first character! Pick Horde or Alliance, and then your specific race. Then, choose your class. Don't just pick a class or race "because they look cool". Read the info about them on the side, and follow your instincts. Have a reason for your choice!

6. Once you're in the game world, take some time to get acquainted with the user interface. There are add-ons that you can download to modify, or supplement the default interface. www.curse.com has a good collection of these, as does www.wowui.net. Even if the interface you intend to download says "virus scaned upon upload", always scan any such downloads with anti-virus software before installing.

7. You can move around with the WASD keys, the arrow keys, or the mouse (by holding down the left and right buttons at the same time).

8. Once you've gotten used to the controls, take a look at your action bar at the bottom left of the screen. This is where all your spells and abilities are stored. The numbers in each box correspond to one of your number keys on the keyboard.

9. When you become more comfortable with the key strokes as your character advances, you will be able to take advantage of built-in add ons such as additional action bars and key binding. Since your original action bar coresponds with the numbers at the top of your keyboard, you should consider any changes you make in your bindings to remain close to your most used keystrokes. This insures that you are not playing hunt&peck on your keyboard while you are drawing hits from the environment bent on destroying you.

10. Near the spot where you first appeared in the game world, there should be a quest giver. NPCs, or non-player characters, with quests have yellow exclamation marks above their heads. You will also see them in your display map in the upper right hand corner of your screen (or wherever your UI places it). Right click the NPC to see the quest text, read it, and then click "Accept" to accept the quest. Doing this will either send you on your way to another NPC, or direct you to perform a mission task for the NPC at which point you will see a grey question mark appear above their head.

11. When you have completed quests, those NPC's to whom you are to report with your findings, reports, or bag of collectable goodies, will have a yellow question mark above them (this too you will see in your diplay map). By selecting them, you will be able to complete your quest and gain the experience from that mission as well as any items or money they are offering as specific rewards.

12. You will also note as you adventure different collored exclamation points and question marks along the way. Grey exclamation points are to draw your attention to the fact that the NPC below it has a mission for you to perform once you meet the required level. As you advance, make sure you revisit the areas you have been to collect these quests. Green exclamation points (which will appear as the yellow ones do in your map) are new flight paths. Always be on the lookout for new flight paths. They will make traveling the map much easier. Blue question marks are reserved for continued collection missions or those that have no limit to the ammount you can turn in for XP or reward.

13. Your first fight! There should be several level 1, 2, and 3 enemies not too far away from where you start out. To begin your attack on one, right click it. You can use your spells and abilities by clicking buttons in the action bar, or by hitting the corresponding key on your keyboard.

14. That's it! Continue on your journey through Azeroth by completing quests, and by killing baddies.

Tips

* While travelling, kill any monster that is two higher than your level or lower. The experience will help.

* Before going to the next zone, try to complete every quest in the current zone until you reach level forty. You will be happy that you did, as you will gain more experience and get rewards for doing them. some of your quests will have you going to other zones, but come back to these (and get your flight path while you are there)

* When you reach level 10, you will be able to enter the Warsong Gulch battleground, in which two teams from the Alliance and the Horde play Capture the Flag against each other, however it is recommended that you wait until levels 17-19 to be able to be a considerable challenge.

* Certain quests recommend grouping with others to complete a task. Many of these are dungeon quests, but some difficult creatures out in the world are too challenging to solo until you are higher level than they are. Ask for help from your friends or guild mates, or use the LFG tool to find other players.

* If you're having trouble completing a quest, finding a certain item/NPC, there are several web sites you can go to for help. www.thottbot.com and wowhead.com are probably two of the more popular search engines. Or you can get the quest helper add-on from curse.addons/downloads you download it into the add-ons folder. You can get to the add-ons folder on a PC by going to start, my computer, c drive, my programs, world of warcraft, interface, and then add-ons. The quest helper add-on will help you save time by getting all of your quests and find the quickest route to do it in, and it shows where all of the mobs (monsters) are.

* You can add more action bars to your screen by opening up your options menu (esc), clicking 'interface', and opening up the 'Advanced' Tab.

* Familarizing yourself with Warcraft lore can help you out with quests and make your gameplay more exciting. If you can, play Warcraft 3 and its expansion and/or visit www.wowwiki.com

* If you do not have a guild or friends to play with on a particular server, you may wish to select a class that is easy to level on your own. Pet classes, such as hunters and warlocks, are easier to level than many other classes.

* If you are interested in seeing dungeon content, select a class that is in high demand: Warriors and Priests can almost always get a group.

* Make use of ingame guides such as [url=http://www.1-80leveling.info]Zygor Guide Review[/url]

Warnings

* When traveling, watch out for creatures with red-colored names. They are aggressive and will attack if you get too close.

* Be careful when starting a fight with a creature. Other enemies in the area may join in against you, which is dangerous if you are fighting enemies close to your level.

source: wikihow.com

How To Play: Magic The Gathering

2009-05-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

Magic: the Gathering is a surprisingly complex game that has a broader appeal than many people think. In fact, it requires a great deal of strategy and critical thinking. Fantasy elements aside, it is an effective and fun way for serious card sharks to hone their skills.

Knowing the Basics

Step 1

Start the game with twenty life points and a deck of cards. The cards in each player's deck are either selected from a limited card pool or a larger personal collection.

Step 2

Draw seven cards. Players are only allowed to see the cards in their own hand.

Step 3

Determine who goes first by rolling a die. The player with the higher die roll gets to choose whether they want to go first or second.

Step 4

Know you card types. There are six basic types of cards: lands, creatures, artifacts, enchantments, sorceries and instants. These basic types of cards are split into two categories: permanents and non-permanents. Lands, creatures, artifacts and enchantments are permanents. Sorceries and instants are non-permanents. The difference is fairly straightforward: permanents stay in play until they are removed from play by another effect, non-permanents leave play as soon as they have been used.

Step 5

Produce mana. Each turn a player draws one card and may play one land card. Lands produce "mana," usually of a certain color, which is used to "cast spells" (play cards). When a player uses a land to produce mana it becomes "tapped" meaning that it cannot be used again for mana this turn. This is indicated by turning the land sideways on the playing board.

Step 6

Know the phases of your turn. There are five basic phases in a player's turn: beginning of turn, first main phase, combat, second main phase and end of turn. Permanents and sorceries can only be cast during the first main phase or the second main phase. Instants can be cast at any time.

Casting Spells

Step 7

Locate a card's mana cost. Each card has a mana cost printed in the top right corner of the card. Mana costs are indicated by symbols which correspond to different colored mana.

Step 8

Determine what kind of mana you need. Mana is usually "colored." This is because certain cards take certain colors of mana to cast. For instance, green cards require green mana to cast. Green mana is produced by forest cards. So if you have two forest cards in play, and you have a card that requires two green mana to cast, you can tap your two forests for two green mana and then use that mana to play your card.

Step 9

Know when you can bring the different cards into play. Permanent cards are brought into play by casting them during either the first or second main phase by paying the appropriate mana cost. Sorcery cards are played similarly and at the same time, but go directly to the graveyard after they trigger their effect. Instants, like sorceries, go directly to the graveyard, but they can be played at any time.
Combat and Winning

Step 10

Attempt to reduce your opponent's life point total to zero. Normally a player accomplishes this by "attacking" with creature cards.

Step 11

Attack! Once a creature card has been brought into play, a player can declare that creature as an attacker during the combat phase. The defending player can declare a creature card they have as a "blocker" if they have a creature that can block (meaning that it is untapped and has the ability to block).

Step 12

Dealing with blockers. If the defending player blocks, the two creature cards deal damage to each other. The amount of damage a creature card can inflict and absorb are indicated by their power and toughness, which are represented by two numbers in the bottom right of the creature card. For instance, a creature with a power of 2 and a toughness of 3 would have 2/3 printed at the bottom of the card.

Step 13

Send "dead" creatures to the graveyard. If a creature card takes more damage than it has toughness, it leaves play and is sent to the "graveyard."

Step 14

Deal damage to your opponent. If an attacking creature is unblocked, it inflicts damage equal to its power to the defending player and the player's life points are reduced accordingly. Various spell effects from instant cards and sorcery cards, and effects from other permanents such as enchantments and artifacts can also deal damage to a player.

Step 15

Declare victory! When a player's life point total is reduced to zero, that player loses.

in ehow.com

How To Play: Volleyball

2009-05-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

Whether it’s on the beach, on the court or in the backyard, a volleyball game can bring tons of fun to any gathering. Playing volleyball doesn’t require a lot of equipment or experience, which is why it’s probably one of the most played sports in the world. It’s easy to learn, and the whole family can participate, making it a great way to bring everyone together for some friendly competition.

Things You'll Need:

* Volleyball
* Volleyball net

Step 1

Gather your equipment and set up the playing area. Set up the net and mark the playing boundaries by using string (often included in a set) or anything else to identify the perimeters. The area should be 24 feet wide and 48 feet long, with the net at the 24-foot mark of the length. You can, of course, determine your own perimeters for a relaxed backyard game.

Step 2

Divide your friends and family into two teams. An even number of people is desirable on each side. A typical game of volleyball is played with teams of two, four or six people on each team. Decide which team gets possession of the ball first by flipping a coin.

Step 3

Serve the ball. The player positioned in the back-left corner of the field serves the ball by using their hand or arm to propel it over the net. If the ball fails to go over the net on the serve, possession moves to the opposing team. Each time the serve switches teams, players should rotate to the left to change positions and servers.

Step 4

Return the ball. Three hits are allowed on each side of the net, but no player is allowed to hit the ball more than once in a row. The point is to keep the ball from touching the ground and return it to the opposing team over the net. This rallying of the ball continues until one team does not return the ball inbounds or it touches the ground.

Step 5

Score points. In volleyball, only the serving team can score points. Each time a serve and rally sequence results in the serving team keeping possession of the ball (getting the serve over the net and not allowing the ball to touch the ground or go out of bounds), the serving team scores 1 point. If the serving team does not keep possession of the ball, the opposing team does not score a point but instead gets the opportunity to serve.

Step 6

Win the game. The team that first reaches 15 points wins the game. However, a team must win the game by more than 2 points. Thus when a score is 15 to 14, the higher-scoring team does not win until their score exceeds their opponent’s score by at least 2. Play continues as normal until this occurs.

If you want to play volleyball for real, take a look into the official field measures:

How to Play: UNO

2009-05-02T10:41:00.000-07:00

UNO is easy to learn but offers players plenty of twists and surprises – making it one of the most popular card games in the world. The goal in UNO is to play all of your cards first by matching cards with the same color or symbol as the top card in the discard pile. Use Draw, Reverse, Skip, and Wild command cards to improve your chances of winning. Just remember to call 'UNO!' when you're down to your last card.

UNO is a fast-paced and exciting card game for all ages. You can have up to ten players. Get rid of all your cards first and score points for the cards your opponents still hold. The first player to score 500 points wins.

Use a deck of UNO cards. The deck has 108 cards consisting of four suits, wild cards, and word cards with directions on them.
Choose a dealer by having each player pick one card. The person with the highest number is the dealer. Word cards count as zero.
Deal each player seven cards and place the remaining cards face down in the middle of the table. This is the draw pile.
Turn the top card of the draw pile over to form the discard pile.
Take turns beginning with the player to the dealer's left and go clockwise around the table.
Place one of your cards on the discard pile when it's your turn. Your card must have the same number, color or wording as the top card of the discard pile - or be a wild card. If playing with blind or visually impaired players, announce the card that you are discarding.
Draw a card if you cannot discard. Play the drawn card if you can. If you can't, it's the next person's turn.
Announce a suit when you place a wild card on the discard pile. You can play a wild card any time it's your turn and can name any suit you wish.
Announce a suit when you place a Draw Four card on the discard pile.
Follow the directions of a word card that is played on the discard pile by the player preceding you. This may mean that you have to draw two cards, skip a turn or even draw four cards.
Say "UNO" when you have one card left in your hand. If you forget to say UNO and another player catches you, you must draw two cards.
Tally all the points when one player is out of cards. (See below for "How to Keep Score in UNO.")

When the card turned over to form the discard pile is a Wild Draw Four, put it back in the draw pile and turn over another card.

If the top card of the discard pile is a green two, for example, the next player may play either a green card, any color number two card, or a wild card.

A Wild Draw Four card causes the next player to draw four cards and forfeit his or her turn. Play this card only when you have no card of the color previously played.

The person required to draw four may "challenge" the person who played the card. The challenged person must show his or her cards to the challenger. If that person, indeed, has no cards of the proper color, the challenger must draw two additional cards. If the person does have the right color and illegally played a Wild Draw Four card, that player must draw four, and it now is the challenger's turn.

How to Keep Score in UNO

Get a score card and write each player's name down - the first person to 500 points wins!

Tally scores at the end of each game. The game is over when one player is completely out of cards. That person gets all the points.
Add the total of all the cards left in each player's hand.
Count number cards as their numeric value.
Count Draw Two, Skip, and Reverse cards as 20 points.
Count Wild and Wild Draw Four cards as 50 points.
Award all points to the winner of each round.
Start a new round.
Play until one player scores 500 points.

How to Play Variations of UNO

Spice up your UNO games by adding a few simple rules to play an UNO Variation.

Two-Player UNO

Play normal UNO, but with only two players.
Count Reverse cards as skip cards, and immediately play another turn.
Play another turn right away after you play a Skip card.
Play again after you play a Draw Two card or a Wild Draw Four since your opponent's turn is taken by drawing cards.

Save your word cards as long as you can, then play them in a straight run to win the game without giving your opponent a chance.

Challenge UNO

Play normal UNO with three or more people.
Keep track of each player's personal point total at the end of each round.
Leave the game when your personal point total reaches 500. You are "out."
Play until only two players remain. Those players play one more hand of Two-Player UNO (see above rules), and the winner of that hand wins the game, regardless of points.

Speed UNO

Play normal UNO.
Play out of turn if you have the exact same card as the card previously played. Do this only before the proper player plays the next card.
Continue play with the person to the left of the person who last played a card, even if that person played out of order.

If a red 5 is played, for example, and you have a red 5 in your hand, you can play it immediately even though it is not your turn.

On Draw Cards, the person who would have had to draw still must draw even if another Draw was played on top of it out of order. The new Draw card counts, too.

On Wild Draw Four cards, the player must pick a color before a Wild Draw Four can be played on top of it.

Do not replenish the draw pile. If the draw pile runs out, draw cards no longer cause people to draw, and if you can't play, skip your turn.

If you have doubles in your hand, you might as well play them at the same time.

in fredshead.info

How To Play: Indoor Soccer

2009-04-24T03:55:00.000-07:00

Indoor soccer is a fast-paced game that incorporates many parts of outdoor soccer, yet introduces a few new twists as well. Traditional soccer provides people with an excellent opportunity to exercise, and indoor soccer only increases the exercise potential. Learn the basic rules now so that you don't miss a chance play in this quick and highly enjoyable version of soccer!

Tips on the Basic Rules and Strategies of Indoor Soccer

Bring the right footwear. Most indoor soccer fields have very short turf that requires flat bottom soccer shoes in order to play. These shoes are conveniently known as indoor soccer shoes! However, some indoor fields have a longer turf that favors the traditional outdoor soccer cleat. So until you know what kind of turf you will be playing on, it is a good idea to bring both indoor and outdoor soccer shoes.
Understand the positions. Indoor soccer plays with the same positions as outdoor soccer (goalie, defense, midfield, and striker), but the number of players on the field at one time is reduced. The most common number of players on the field is six per side, including the goalie. However, the number of players often changes with every indoor facility because indoor fields are not all the same size.
Players in each position must always know what they are going to do when they get the ball, and must know where the opposing team is at all times.
Recognize rule changes. Indoor soccer has a few major rules that are different or not present in outdoor soccer.
- In indoor soccer, there is no offside rule.
- When the ball hits the netting above the wall or on the ceiling, a free kick is awarded to the opposite team from the place where the ball was kicked, not where it hit the netting.
- Corner kicks are awarded when a ball hits the netting above the goals.
- Corner kicks are taken from the white circle in the appropriate rounded corner of the field.
- Penalty Kicks are often replaced by a shootout between a goalie and an opposing player.
Learn the three-line rule. In addition to the half field line, there is a line on each side of the field for a total of three lines on the field. The rule is... a player behind the line on their defensive half cannot kick the ball in the air across the line on their offensive half. In other words, the ball is not allowed to pass in the air over three lines (defensive line, midline, offensive line) without touching something or someone.
Use the walls. In indoor soccer, the walls around the field should not be barriers to your success but should help to improve your game. Defensively, the walls can be used as an extra teammate. You can force opposing players to dribble to the walls instead of to the middle of the field. Offensively, the walls can be used as an extra teammate to whom you can pass. If your defender is too close to you, you can pass the ball off the wall and run around your defender to meet the ball on the other side. Don't be afraid of the walls, use them to your advantage!
Be prepared to substitute. Indoor soccer uses a substitute method known as "on-the-fly". Unlike outdoor soccer, substitutions can be made at anytime of the game and those substitutions do not require play to be stopped in order to take place. The only rule is that the substitute cannot enter the playing field until the person they are replacing has crossed a dotted line that runs in front of the bench area. Substitutions are made very quickly and require you to pay attention at all times, so be prepared.
Stay out of trouble. In indoor soccer, a red card has the same meaning as in outdoor soccer: expulsion from the game. However, in indoor soccer, the yellow card commonly used in outdoor soccer is often replaced by a blue card. The blue card is used for minor violations and results in the offending player being sent off the field for a few minutes.
Work on Control. Indoor soccer forces quick decisions in crowded areas so you must be able to control the ball quickly and effectively. Work on making swift, accurate passes and controlling the ball when it is at your feet.
Get in shape! Indoor soccer requires a high level of fitness. Whether you are looking to get in shape or looking to maintain your stamina, indoor soccer is the perfect activity. Because the pace of the indoor game is so fast, players are rarely given moments where they can walk or rest at all. Substitutions often occur at short intervals to rest players, but a high level or stamina is necessary to be successful in the indoor game.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Indoor soccer is an incredibly entertaining sport, but you will never know the benefits it offers until you get out there and play yourself! Understand these tips and you will be well on your way to becoming a successful indoor soccer player.

How To Play: Backgammon

2009-04-24T02:27:00.000-07:00

Have you wondered how to play backgammon? Here are the BackGammon Rules. Backgammon is a game, which uses checkers, dice and dice cup along with a doubling cube on a board of 24 triangles (points) as instruments in a small battle on the playing field.

The Object of the Game

The object of the game is to "bear off" all of your checkers from the backgammon board before your opponent. Each player can prevent the other from advancing. The object of the game is the same whether you play face-to-face or online.

Setting Up the Backgammon Board

There are 15 checkers of each color (a checker is a backgammon piece). You should also have four dice, and a doubling cube. The color of the dice usually matches the color of the checkers. Spaces on the backgammon board are represented by narrow triangles, and are called points. To describe the points on the backgammon board, it is common to use a numbering system. Each of the points is represented by a number; the first point in your home board is point # 1, and the last point, counting clockwise, is #24, which is in your opponent's home board. The initial board is set up as follows:

Two checkers on point # 24,
Five checkers on point # 13,
Three checkers on point # 8,
Five checkers on point # 6. /p>

Your opponent's checkers will be set up in a mirror image of yours.

Starting the game

To decide who throws first, each player throws one die. The dice must land inside the board to the right of the bar. The player who throws the highest number goes first, using the numbers thrown to make his first move. The direction of play is counterclockwise, moving from point # 24 to point # 1. At the opening stage of the game, the value of the game is one point (equal to the basic stake, which is stated in monetary terms; that is, a dollar amount). Either player can offer to double the stake by turning the doubling cube, which starts out with the number 64 showing, to the side showing the number 2. The other player can either accept the double, or forfeit the game. The last person to accept a double may double next. Doubling can dramatically raise the stakes of the game.

The Play

Players take turn rolling the dice. A player may move his or her checkers based on the number rolled by the dice. Each die has a separate value, meaning that a player may move two different checkers in one roll, as long as each checker is moved exactly the number of points shown on a die. Checkers can land on one of three types of "open" points:

an empty point,
a point occupied by the player's own men,
a point occupied by a single checker (a blot) owned by your opponent.

Landing on a blot, an unprotected checker, sends your opponent's man to the bar. When you land on a blot, the software will put your opponent's checker on the bar. The checker remains on the bar until its owner succeeds in returning it to the game, by rolling a number corresponding to an open point in the opponent's home board. If the player does not roll a number on either die which corresponds to an open space in the opponent's home board, the turn is forfeited.

If you roll doubles; i.e., both of the dice show the same number, you can move the equivalent of twice the roll. For example; if you roll a double three, you can move three points four times, instead of just twice. You may move one checker three points four times, two checkers twice each, or any other combination. There is no limit to the number of checkers that may occupy a point, as long as they are all the same color. Your turn is over when you select done or when you click on the dice.

When all of your checkers are in your home board, you can start bearing off. The first player to bear off all of his checkers wins the game. If you are hit while you are bearing off, you must reenter your checker from the bar into your opponent's home board, and move it back into your home board before you can resume bearing off. If you bear off all of your checkers before your opponent begins to bear off, you have "gammoned." A gammon earns you double the stake of the game.

If all of your checkers have been removed from the board and your opponent has not removed any and still has a checker in your home board, then the stakes are tripled. This is known as backgammon. Added to the doubling that may have been done using the doubling cube, gammons and backgammons can make a high-stakes game!

Winning Tips

Keep your checkers in pairs to protect them from hits.
Don't hit your opponent when there are two or more blots in your home board.
Stake out six points in a row to keep your opponent from progressing. Make sure not to leave any blots in the row of six. This is known as forming a "prime."
Set up protected points on your opponent's home board as potential safe places to land if you are hit. These are known as "anchors."
Start out with small stakes until you are sure of your backgammon strategy.

Types of Games

Single Play - In a single play game, you'll play one opponent, one game, and you can win as little as the stake or as much as the limit.
Match Play - In a match play game, you'll play one opponent for a certain number of points, and the first player to have that number of points (or pass it) will win a set prize. Winning more points will not raise your win.

Backgammon Glossary

The Backgammon Board

The backgammon board is the board on which the game is played; also called the backgammon table.

Points

The 24 triangles on the board are called points. The term point can also refer to the score for winning one game.

The Inner/Home Board

The inner or home board is the section of the board from which the checkers are removed from the game.

The Outer Board

The outer board refers to the two quarters of the board which are neither side's home board.

The Bar

The bar is the bar which separates the two halves of the board, and it is also called the rail. This is where checkers wait to enter the board after being hit.

Checker

A backgammon piece is called a checker or a marker.

Position

Position refers to the layout of the checkers on the backgammon board.

Pip Count

The pip count is the total number of points that a player still needs in order to bear off all his men. At the beginning of the game, each player has a pip count of 167.

To Make a Point

To make a point is to put two checkers on a point, giving you control over the point.

To Control a Point

To control a point is to have at least two checkers on a point so your opponent cannot land on it.

An Anchor

An anchor is a point controlled in the opponent's home board.

A Blot

When a single checker is on a point, vulnerable to being hit, it is a blot.

To Hit

To hit is to bump or knock off an opponent's blot by landing on it.

A Direct Hit

A direct hit is a hit using the number on one of the dice.

To Enter

Entering refers to coming into the opponent's home board from the bar.

To Bear In

To bear in is to move checkers to the home board.

To Bear Off

To bear off is to remove a checker from the board.

A Pip

The number on the die / the number of spaces the checker moves.

A Cocked Die

A die that lands badly is said to be "cocked" and both of the dice must be thrown again.

Doubles

When the dice both show the same number, it is treated as four dice with that number.

Point on a Blot / Point on a Head

When you hit a blot with two checkers and make a point.

To Split

To split is to separate two checkers that had been on one point.

To Slot

To slot is to leave an unprotected checker (a blot) on a point.

A Builder

A builder is a single checker on a point which the owner intends to add another checker to.

A Prime

A prime is a situation in which six sets of checkers are on consecutive points blocking the opponent's men who are behind the prime.

To Preclear

To vacate a high point in your home board before all your men are in your home board, in preparation for bearing off.

Gammon

A gammon is a situation in which the losing player has not borne off any men by the time the winner has finished bearing off. In this case, the winner receives twice the value of the doubling cube.

Backgammon

It is called backgammon if the losing player has not borne off any men and still has one or more checkers in the winner's home board or on the bar when the winner has finished bearing off. In this case, the winner receives three times the value of the doubling cube.

The Cube

The cube, also called the doubling cube, is a cube with one of the following numbers on each of its six sides: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64. The cube is used for one player to offer the other the option of doubling the stakes of the game.

To Own the Cube

The last player to accept the offer of doubling the stakes owns, or has control of, the cube.

To Take

To take is to accept an offer to double the stakes and get possession of the doubling cube.

To Pass

To pass is to turn down the offer to double the stakes and forfeit the game, also referred to as folding.

To Resign

To resign is to forfeit the game.

Crawford Rule

In match play, the first game in which one player is a single point from winning is called the Crawford game, and the Crawford rule states that during this game, no doubling is allowed. Game values can still be doubled or tripled in gammon or backgammon wins.

A Beaver

When a player immediately redoubles and retains ownership of the cube, it is called a beaver. His opponent may accept or refuse the redouble. This option is available in most, but not all online backgammon games.

A Back Game

When a player is behind in the race but has at least two anchors in his opponent's home board, he may play a back game strategy in which he hits a late shot and tries to contain his opponent's checker behind a prime.

Game Plan

There are three main game plans (strategies): run, block, and attack.

Running Strategy

A running strategy employs as little interaction with the opponent as possible.

Blocking Strategy

In a blocking strategy, the player attempts to build blockades.

Attacking Strategy

In an attacking strategy, the player hits and closes out the opponent by controlling the points in his home board.

A Holding Game

A holding game is a game played using a defensive, or blocking, strategy.

End Play

End play is the portion of the game when at least one of the players has started to bear off.

A Contact Position

A contact position is a point at which checkers are still engaged and still may hit or block each other.

A Pure Race

When all of the checkers are heading for home with no opponent checkers on the way and the players' goal is to move forward as quickly as possible, the game is referred to as a pure race.

Font backgammonstar.com

How To Play: Poker

2009-04-23T05:25:00.000-07:00

So you've seen Rounders, and the idea of taking Matt Damon for everything he's worth seems appealing to you. Or maybe you haven't seen the ovie and still find that appealing. Whatever your motivation, you want to learn how to play poker, a time-tested card game that has the distinction of being one of the most ancient forms of gambling. Good for you. But before you strap on the green visor and throw down your life's savings, you re going to have to know when to hold'em and know when to fold'em.

How To Play POKER

1. Understand the cards and their values
2. Learn the basic rules of the game
3. Know the lingo
4. Bet smart
5. Learn some variations of the game

Poker, at its very essence, is a simple game. Its countless versions can be quite complex, however, which is why we're going to focus on 5-Card Draw (a.k.a. "regular" poker), the easiest one for beginners to earn. Later we'll tell you about some of the other variations of the game, but for now, it's gonna be 5-Card Draw, so you're just going to have to deal.
Get it? "Deal?" Sorry.

1. Understand The Cards And Their Values
Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards (except for Ross Perot Poker, which is played with less than a full deck). The cards are ranked from high to low in the following order: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Aces are ALWAYS high. Aces are worth more than Kings which are worth more than Queens which are worth more than Jack, and so on. The cards are also separated into four suits. The suits are:

Clubs:
Spades:
Hearts:
Diamonds:

But you already knew that from playing Go Fish, right? The suits are all of equal value, meaning that no suit is more valuable than another. It's a very democratic game. Each player is dealt five cards. The object of the game is to end up with the highest-valued hand. From best to worst, hands are ranked in the following order:

Royal Flush
Straight Flush
Four of a Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
Three of a Kind
Two Pair
One Pair
High Card

Royal Flush This is the most valuable hand in all of poker. A Royal Flush is composed of 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, all of the same suit. It's the toughest hand to get. Examples: HAND 1:10 J Q K A HAND 2:10 J Q K A

Straight Flush A Straight Flush is comprised of five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit. It's not allowed to "wrap around," such as Q-K-A-2-3. This is also very rare. If you get two of these in a row, you are cheating. If there are two Straight Flushes at the table, then whichever hand's Straight Flush reaches the highest card value wins. So in the examples below, Hand 2 (which has a King) would beat Hand 1 (which only goes up to 8). Examples:HAND 1:4 5 6 7 8 HAND 2:9 10 J Q K

Four of a Kind Four cards of the same numerical rank and another random card. If there are two or more hands that qualify, the hand with the highest-ranking Four
of a Kind wins. In the examples below, Hand 2 would beat Hand 1. Examples:HAND 1:6 6 6 6 J HAND 2:Q Q Q Q 3

Full House Of the five cards in your hand, three have the same numerical rank, and the two remaining card also have the same numerical rank. Ties are broken first by the Three of a Kind, then the Pair. So K-K-K-3-3 beats Q-Q-Q-A-A, which beats Q-Q-Q-7-7. Examples:HAND 1:J J J 4 4 HAND 2:5 5 5 A A

Flush A Flush is comprised of five cards of the same suit, regardless of their numerical rank. In a tie, whoever has the highest ranking card wins. In the example below, Hand 1 (with a King) beats Hand 2 (with a Queen). Examples:HAND 1:2 4 7 J K HAND 2:5 6 7 8 Q

Straight Five cards in numerical order, regardless of their suits. Just like with the Straight Flush, a Straight cannot "wrap around." In a tie, whoever's Straight goes to a higher ranking card wins (so in the examples below,
Hand 1 beats Hand 2). Examples:HAND 1:7 8 9 10 J HAND 2:3 4 5 6 7

Three of a Kind Three cards of the same numerical rank, and two random cards that are not a pair. Examples:HAND 1:10 10 10 3 Q HAND 2:2 2 2 8 9

Two Pair Two sets of pairs, and another random card. Examples:HAND 1:7 7 J J 5 HAND 2:Q Q K K A

One Pair One pair and three random cards. If more than one person has a One Pair, then the person with the highest ranking pair wins. Examples:HAND 1:8 8 5 K 3 HAND 2:2 2 3 4 5

High Card If none of the players have anything of value, the player holding the highest-valued card wins, with the 2 as the lowest card, and the Ace as the highest. In the case of a tie, you move to the next highest card, and continue. Examples:HAND 1:2 4 5 10 Q HAND 2:2 8 9 10J

2. Learn The Basic Rules Of The Game
Now that you know what it takes to win, we can clue you in on how the game itself is played. Unlike bridge, poker is almost always played for a lofty goal: cash. Before the game begins, the players should collectively decide on a betting limit. A betting limit keeps the game friendly, and prevents people from gambling mortgages, cars, or spouses away.Now on to the action! Here are the basic rules, step by step:

First, each player places an ante or "token bet" into the pot before the cards are even dealt. The ante can be anything from a nickel (if you're a poor college student) to thousands of dollars (if you're a Vegas high roller). You need an ante because it guarantees that someone will always win something on each
hand. You also need an ante because without one, your uncle would be lonely. We'll wait . . .
Once everyone has coughed up his or her ante, the dealer deals the cards face down around the table, starting at the player to his left and continuing clockwise. The dealer (if he's playing) always deals to himself last. The dealer deals everyone their first card, then goes back around the circle to deal the
second, and so on. As soon as everyone has five cards, the remainder of the deck is placed in the middle of the table, and play begins.
Each player looks at his or her cards, and then the first player places a bet. While there are several ways of deciding who bets first, poker novices are best off letting the player directly to the left of the dealer make the first bet. Then on the next hand, the person to his left will bet first, and so on around the table for each new hand.
Players have several options as far as the first round of betting goes. If no one has made a bet yet, you have two choices:
Open: If no betting has begun when your turn comes, you may "open" the pot (an
attractive option for you Grateful Dead fans out there). This simply means that you make the first bet (any amount up to the betting limit).

Check:The opportunity to "check" only occurs if no one has yet opened the betting when it comes time for you to decide what to do. When a player checks, it means that he or she doesn't want to open the betting, but doesn't want to quit either. It basically means "I'm not going to open the betting, but I'll
stick around and see what happens."
Now let's say that someone opens the betting (at some point, it will occur). You now have three choices:
See: When you "see" another player, it means that you match their bet. So if someone bets $1 and you want to stay in the game, you have to "see"
their $1 by putting $1 of your own into the pot.

Raise: When you "raise," it requires you to first "see" the previous bet, and then increase the bet. For example, if the previous person bet a nickel and you want to bet more than that, you would say "I see (match) your nickel, and raise you (increase the bet) another nickel."

Fold: When someone else opens, you can always jump ship and cut your losses. In other words, you "fold." The act of folding is to "give up," place your cards face down on the table, lose whatever you've bet so far, and grab a beer. In other words, you give up early and lose your dough. This option is used when you think your hand is too weak to compete.
At this point, all the players who haven't folded are allowed to get rid
of the cards they don't want and take some new cards. A player is permitted to get rid of up to 3 unwanted cards and receive up to 3 new ones from the deck (as long as the player always has 5 cards total). No one sees what anyone else discarded (threw away) or drew (got as a new card). It's all done face down.
After every player draws 0 to 3 new cards, the betting begins again. You have the option of opening or checking, and once someone opens, you can see, raise, or fold. The game ends when there are no more raises (everyone saw everyone else's bet), or everybody folds (except for the winner, of course).
Now it's time for everyone to turn their cards over and see how they fared. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. Some people in this position have been known to laugh maniacally as they scoop up everyone
else's dough. If you do that, you're friends will hate you. Thus, we highly recommend it. They'll get over it.

The only way to stay in the game is to not fold. If you have a bad hand and want out quick, then you'd seriously consider folding. If you have what you think could be a good hand (if you could take a few new cards and get good ones), then you would seriously consider staying in. If you have an outstanding hand, then you'll definitely want to stay in. BUT you don't want everyone to know you have a great hand, or else they'll all fold, letting you win the tiny ante pot. The trick is to make everyone else bet a lot, and win even more money. It's all about being a good liar and a good actor.

3. Know The Lingo
By reading this SYW, your poker vocabulary has already increased tremendously. Still, we don't feel comfortable releasing you to the card sharks without further stepping up your savvy. To avoid getting taken to the cleaners - or having your knees broken over a bad bet - be sure to study up on the following terms: Bluff
Aggressive Play
Conservative play
Action
Tell Bluff "Bluffing" - or pretending to have better cards than you actually do - is a fundamental strategy of the game. A player who bluffs usually bets higher than his/her cards warrant. The desire of the bluffer is to scare the other players out of the hand by making them think he/she is
holding phenomenal cards. Aggressive play An "aggressive" player is one who bets high early and forces others to abandon their comfort zone. He or she frequently bets the maximum limit and stays "in" until the end. Depending on your skill level, aggressive play can be a quick way to cough up a lot of cash. Conservative play A "conservative" player usually bets the minimum and is quick to fold if the cards are not in his or her favor. Conservative play can be a good way to keep more money in your pocket, but many times will not win you
big pots. Why? Because if people know that you're a conservative player, they'll bail any time that you bet more than the minimum. A conservative player is often susceptible to the trickery of the bluffer. Action To those in the dating game, this word refers to gettin' busy. To poker players, it denotes the amount of betting going on at a given table. In a casino, you may hear a professional player say, "I'm leaving, there's not enough action at this table." That means that not enough money is being risked. Tell A "tell" is a mannerism that you inadvertently repeat that lets the other players know how good your hand is. No one EVER wants other people to know their tell, but everyone has one. When you lie, you inadvertently give little clues. A player may wipe his brow when he has a good hand, trying to contain excitement. Another player may grit her teeth when she has a low hand, a nervous reaction to the bluff she's about to make. Whatever it is, you should always try to figure out what the other players' tells are, and you should always try to hide yours. Try to play as stoically as possible, eliminating the possibility that someone will discover your tell. Practice that poker face.

4. Bet Smart
Betting smart may sound like an oxymoron, but there are some tricks to minimizing how much you lose and maximizing how much you win at the poker table. After all, a good poker player will still win even if he has bad cards, all
because he knows how to bet correctly. Here are some tips:

Don't be scared to fold. One of the more intimidating aspects of the game of poker is how much or how little one should bet. Eventually, as you develop a feel for the game, you will become more knowledgeable about when to bet and when to fold. As a general rule, if you have nothing in your hand, do not expect that later cards will remedy that situation. Feel free to fold frequently. It is better to sacrifice your small early bets then to rope yourself into a betting war with a seasoned pro.
Keep a poker face. We also can't emphasize enough the importance of keeping a poker face while betting, and not giving any clues about how good (or bad) your hand is. The whole point of the game is to make sure that they have NO clues, other than the bets you make.
No alcohol. When it comes to betting, alcohol can be your enemy. While beer and cigars tend to go hand in hand with poker night, alcohol is not recommended if you're going to play in a casino, especially if the stakes are a little higher. Newsflash: Alcohol makes you lose your inhibitions. If you suddenly find yourself betting the limit on a pair of twos, you've had too much to drink. Stick to Fresca.
Maintain control. The best piece of advice we can give you about betting is to bet with your head, not over it. This is the slogan for Gamblers Anonymous,
and it couldn't be more true. Betting within your means will allow the game to remain fun. Remember, very few people make their fortunes playing poker. A lot more lose theirs. We don't mean to get preachy here, but we don't want you to pawn your high school ring to pay the phone bill. We've seen it happen, and it ain't pretty.

5. Learn Some Variations Of The GameOnce you've mastered 5-Card Draw, consider trying your hand (ahem) at one of the other countless poker games that are out there. Here are four popular poker offshoots to get you started:
5-card stud & 7-card stud
Hold-em
Lowball
Video Slot Machine Games 5-card stud & 7-card stud Despite the name, stud is not played with singer Tom Jones. Instead, it is played without the option of trading your cards in for new ones. 5-card stud is played with each player receiving 5 cards, and betting based on the hand in front of them. 7-card stud
is played in much the same way except, as the name would indicate, each player receives 7 cards and must make the best 5-card hand possible out of the cards available. These games are usually played with some cards dealt face up so that players can base their bets based on what they perceive to be the strength of other players. More specifically, usually the first two cards will be dealt face down (so only you can see them), then the rest of the cards will be dealt face up, except for
the last card. Each time a card is dealt, there's another round of betting. Stud is a popular game because betting is done between every round of the deal, meaning there is the possibility that the pot can get big very quickly. Hold-em In Hold-em (also known as Texas Hold-em), each player is dealt two cards face down. At this point betting opens based on the two "pocket cards" that each player holds. After betting is complete, the dealer lays out the flop. The flop consists of several cards dealt face up in the middle of the table, used as community cards. The dealer first lays three cards into the flop, so your initial poker hand will consist of the three flop cards plus your two personal cards. There is a betting round, then another card is added to the flop. More betting, and finally a fifth card is added. The goal is for each player to make the best 5-card hand possible based on his/her two pocket cards and any three cards in the flop. This game can be expensive in a casino, and because of its complexity, should only be played by skilled players. Lowball Lowball is a game for the perpetual loser. In this game, the goal is to have the hand of the lowest possible value. In other words, the hand with the high card becomes more valuable than the hand with a royal flush. The perfect hand in a game of 5-Card lowball becomes a 2-3-4-5-7 of varied suits (you would not want 2-3-4-5-6 because that is a Straight.
Lowball is a fun game to play around the kitchen table with some buddies. If you like that sort of thing. Video Slot Machine Games The above versions are all table games, played at either a green felt table in a casino, or at home with your loser friends while the rest of the world is out partying. Thanks to modern technology, however, you can now play poker all by your little ol' self. Casinos offer video poker slot machines, where every hand is assigned a certain payout. It's just like the real game except that instead of all your money going to a live opponent, it goes into a coin slot (and eventually reaches Donald Trump). Of course, there's one crucial difference: there's no betting involved at all. You put in your money, get your 5 cards, throw out the ones you want and draw some new ones, and your payout depends on what you have in your hand. Video poker is usually an inexpensive, non-threatening way to learn your way around the poker table, just to get a sense of the different hand combinations. Or you can just rent Rounders over and over again. Look out, Matt Damon. One last word: before you hit it rich, keep in mind that while poker is great fun, many people get completely out of control while playing. Many people bet way more than they can afford. So if you feel that you are developing a gambling problem, then contact Gamblers Anonymous.

From soyouwanna.com