Even Casanova needed a hobby

Turns out the great lover was one of us when he found time for, er,  resting...

"Gambling was a common recreation in the social and political circles in which Casanova moved. In his memoirs, Casanova discusses many forms of 18th century gambling—including lotteries, faro, basset, piquet, biribi, primero, quinze, and whist—and the passion for it among the nobility and the high clergy. Cheaters (known as “correctors of fortune”) were somewhat more tolerated then than today in public casinos and in private games for invited players, and seldom caused affront. Most gamblers were on guard against cheaters and their tricks. Scams of all sorts were common, and Casanova was amused by them.

I can't believe gambling was so important in Venice 200 years ago...

What is Hold'Em Hand History?

Hold'Em Hand History is a free iPhone application for recording the details of live poker hands in order to review, discuss, and share them.

After saving the details of the hand, you can review the hand by playing the animated replay on your iPhone. Or you can share the replay with friends by uploading the hand via the app to this website and sharing the web-based replay URL with your friends. Click here to see a demo hand replayed via the web.

Watch the demo video below to see Hold'Em Hand History in action. Click here to see the demo hand replayed via the web.

Demo Video:

Another nice poker application for iPhone. Any for Android phones?

Cezanne = The First Tournament Reporter

By Pauly
Los Angeles, CA

Paul Cezanne is regarded as one of the leaders of the post-Impressionist painting movement as his extensive body of work bridged the gap between the Impressionists (like Monet) and the Cubists (like Picasso).

Cezanne's paintings fetch millions at auctions in the 20th and 21st century (his biggest seller was listed at $60.5 million 93 years after his death) but much like the majority of his peers, Cezanne struggled to make ends meet while he meticulously worked on the paintings that would someday grace the walls of museums around the world.

Artists are habitually broke. In order to supplement his income, Cezanne took a couple of menial jobs including a stint as a tournament reporter on the short-lived Aix-en-Provence Poker Tour.

Three-handed

I would never believe poker was painted by one of the most prominent artists Paul Cezanne!

Possibly not designed by a poker player...

If I had a fiver for every how-to poker guide that stressed 'no alcohol', I would be living in a house three times the size of my current abode.

It's perhaps safe to assume then, that the bright spark behind this playing cards flask is something of a stranger to the green baize.

"Nothing goes together quite like drinking and playing cards," [I rest my case] "so it's natural that someone has created a flask that holds a pack of cards.

Another amazing gadget for poker players - the cure after bad beat ;) Of course for only those who like drinking while playing and carry their own deck of cards (marked, of course;)).

iPhone App Review: PokerGauge

Today I’m crossing my love for poker with my love for tech by reviewing the iPhone application PokerGauge. You may remember my past iPhone review for one of the first games available for the device, Apple’s own Texas Hold’em game. Today I have a deeper cut from the app store which is marginally less fun, but a hundred times for useful.

PokerGauge is a mobile odds calculator that I deem the mobile odds calculator. While the marketplace for odds calculators on the App Store in no way rivals the plethora of tip calculators (seriously, who buys those?) PokerGauge isn’t the only one on the scene, just the best.

I do not have iPhone and reside in a country where iPhone apps are not accessible freely, therefore I am very glad someone is making the poker application review.

Now you can do the shuffle

If it's the self-dealing aspect that puts you off playing poker offline, particularly in pub tournaments with complete strangers, this Trademark Poker wooden deck shuffler could be the accessory you've been waiting for...

"...this battery operated card shuffler can mix one or two decks completely with the push of a button.

• Removable plastic tray for easy unloading
• Shuffles in seconds!
• Requires 4 ''AA'' batteries (not included)

Just one question. By the time you've pulled a shuffler the size of a house-brick from a plastic bag, plonked it on the table and said "don't mind me," just how much credibility do you have left?

Interesting. I wonder when Japanese will create a robot-dealer :)

Harrah's iPhone app is customized slot machine iSpin

Harrah's just released their first iPhone app -- iSpin.

Available in the iTunes App Store for free, iSpin is a 3-reel slot machine with the ability to customize reel symbols with photos from your photo album.

You can also change background skins to different casinos within the Harrah's brand, or display one of your own.

It seems Las Vegas casinos goes iPhone. Great! Hopefully it is the first, but not the last application.

The Top 25 Facebook Games for October 2009

October 1st, 2009

Wow. There’s really no other words to describe what an interesting month it has been for games on the Facebook Platform. From uncanny growth to an invasion of international game developers, all sorts of precedents are being set.

Last month, records were set by the astounding growth of Zynga’s FarmVille. However, those records have been broken again this month, and more new faces are appearing on the list — and most of them from other parts of the world. Meanwhile, older games are beginning to drop off, which begs the question: are social gamers flocking to higher quality apps?

Texas Holdem poker is No 6 in this list. 5 months ago (in May) it was No 1.