Free Online Games

Today you have  the  advantage  of  playing free games  on  the  Internet.   Free PC Games are a great form of entertainment enjoyed by all age group people, young and old. These games give you a break from your daily routine and offers good entertainment to break the monotony of life. They are a great way to unwind, relax and entertain yourself.

Few of my favorite games are –

1) Flash Arcade Games

Flash arcade games today are more innovative and exciting then the conventional arcade games. Although video games and pinball machines started off being the most popular arcade games, today with Flash there are several innovative and exciting games like Alien, Lunar Command and Black Knight among others.

2) Puzzles

A puzzle is a brain teaser where you try and reach a newer and higher level each time, not only trying to beat your opponent but your own score as well. Creating balance and harmony, aligning symmetry and putting rows, columns, blocks and balls in order is what puzzle games aim to do. Climbing a new level by beating your last, linking squares, connecting pipes and creating symmetry from chaos is what Puzzle games are all about. Tube Crisis, Paint Ball, Rings and Sticks are some of the puzzles that will stimulate your grey cells and bring you lots of fun and excitement as well.

3) Action Games

Action games are games that typically focus on speed, physical prowess of the characters involved, quick reflexes, good hand-eye coordination skill. Mortal Kombat, Quake and Tomb Raider are some examples of action games.

I am busy updating my list of favourite board games, do check this blog for more updates…

Do’s and don’ts in chess

Hey, I got some interesting articles and I would like to share with you all. After going through these rules, my confidence level has soared. Hope, it can be useful for those who find it difficult to understand the rules and strategy for playing chess. You will get more ideas on how to play and beat your opponents at chess. These are the rules of thumb to be applied throughout the entire game. Do take a good look at the following do’s and don’ts they are a real help when you need to strategise.

After every move by your opponent, ask yourself these questions :

1. Can I capture any of my opponent’s pieces to gain material?
2. What does my opponent want to do?
a) Am I in check?
b) Does my opponent want to capture any of my pieces?
c) Is my opponent threatening a tactical maneuver (i.e., fork, pin, etc.)?

• Simplify the position by trading pieces when you are ahead in material.
• Avoid doubling your pawns (placing two pawns on the same file).
• Always keep your pawns connected.
• Occupy open file(s) with your rook(s).
• Do not trade a bishop for a knight unless the position is closed (with many pawns and no open lines), or unless you gain some kind of advantage from the exchange.
• Avoid staying in pins.
• Keep your pieces on protected squares as much as possible.

Following are some points which has to be stored in mind in the begining.

• Control the CENTER (start out by putting at least one center pawn in the center).
• Develop your pieces so that they can attack the center as much as possible.
• Put your king in safety quickly by CASTLING.
• Don’t move the same piece twice (unless necessary; i.e., moving away from an attack or recapturing, etc.).
• Don’t move your queen out early (usually only after both knights and bishops are developed and the king is safe).
• Connect your rooks by moving out all pieces between them.

Below are some of things to look for after you have developed all your pieces in the middle of the game.

• Look for targets or weaknesses in your opponent’s position.
• Make plans based on the targets and your opponent’s position.
• When you have an attack going on the opponent’s king, avoid trading queens.
• Keep your king safe, usually behind two or three pawns and near the corner.
• Gain a space advantage.

These are the points which has to be monitored in the end of the game.

• Try to bring your king toward the center and in play. In the endgame, contrary to the earlier parts of the game, the king should be an active participant, at times even in the attack.
• Try to create passed pawns.
• If you have a passed pawn, advance it. Try to promote your passed pawn to a Queen.
• If your opponent has a passed pawn, make sure you can stop it before it reaches the promotion square (or at least make a counter plan).

Forms of Poker Games

Texas Holdem : Texas Hold’em first played in Las Vegas is the most popular form of poker today. It is one of the most popular Poker Variants and all time favorite of casino players.  The advent of online poker further added to the popularity of Texas Hold’em.

In this game each player has seven cards. It is similar to seven card stud, the main difference being that all the players get just two face-down cards and five face-up community cards.

The most popular texas holdem games are Limit and No Limit Hold ?em
games. If you are a beginner it is good to start playing Limit Texas Hold’em first. It is a very easy game to learn; just a few hours of practice and you can be playing fairly well.

No-limit Holdem is more popular that limit holdem. In No-Limit Hold’em you play your opponents than just playing the cards. A good hand in no limit game can make a large enough bet to discourage players from chasing a draw hand.

Seven Card Stud Poker: Seven Card Stud is a form of stud poker with three
variations – low, high and high-low. In seven-card low, the player with the lowest hand wins while in seven-card high the player with the highest-ranking wins. In the high-low game of seven card stud; players with both the highest hand and the lowest hand compete to win the pot, claiming half each. It is a very easy game to learn; just a few hours of practice and you can be playing fairly well.

Omaha: If you are familiar with Texas Holdem you can easily learn Omaha.
In texas holdem you deal with two cards whereas in omaha you get four. However, you have to use two cards though you have more hand combination. Omaha has 2 versions – Omaha High only and Omaha High-Low Eight or Better. The Hi-Lo seems to be the most popular than Omaha high only as it allows you to split the pot with the lowest
qualifying low hand.

I feel the above forms of poker are suitable for beginners.

I would keep adding more from time to time. However, I would recommend you to start playing at freerolls first and when familiar fully with the game start playing for real money.

Two player card games

Two player card games

I always had this penchant for card games.. so, I thought why don’t I write down some basics regarding them…

Two player card games are very easy to learn. There are two types of two player card games – “Classic two player games” and “Specialty deck card games”.

Classic two player games are played with a normal deck of cards.These types of games include Go Fish, Piquet, Cribbage, Speed, Crazy Eights and Bezique. In specialty deck card games, special deck cards are used. The games such as Uno and Phase Ten fall into category of specialty deck card games.

Bezique is played with 4 sets of 32 cards. The Rubicon Bezique is a most popular form of Bezique. In this game, each player gets nine cards and the remaining cards become the stock. Different combinations of cards have different points. Pinochle is also a card game, which is derived from Bezique.

Cribbage is played with a deck of 52 cards. Each player gets six cards. A player has to achieve up to 31 cards. The Cribbage Board is used to keep the scores. Each player scores points for each series. Piquet is a popular card game, which is played with a deck of 32 cards. You can score points if you have cards that are in a sequence, in highest order or in a suit

Go Fish is especially popular among children. It’s a simple game where in one player asks his opponent for cards of a particular class. The opponent has to produce all the cards of that particular class, if he doesn’t have them he‘ll say Go Fish…

Another game is UNO; it’s easy to learn but offers players plenty of twists and surprises. It is one of the most popular card games in the world and is played with a specially printed deck of cards. Each player receives seven cards. The player has to play a card that matches the special symbol of the exposed card. Draw, Wild, Reverse and Skip are the special effects in Uno and are used to improve your chances of winning.

Just don’t forget to say ‘UNO!’ when you’re down to your last card.

Phase 10 is based on a variant Rummy. It requires a special deck and can be played by two to six people. To be the first player to complete all 10 Phases is the object of the game. There are 108 cards in a deck which include 96 numbered cards, 2 Wild cards in each of the same colors and 4 blue Skip cards.

Nowadays in the world of Internet there are scores of online two player games available.

Such online game is played against an online opponent or the computer. These games have an good user interface, personalized graphics, excellent sound and scoring sound and scoring selections.

Two of the most popular online two player games are Ecarte and Euchre.

Poker Tips for Beginners

Poker is a game of skill. It requires a thorough knowledge of the game and some talent. There should be some basic poker rules that should be kept in mind before joining a table. These poker tips will help to improve your game and become a better poker player.

Learn the Poker Terminology – To play any game, one must be thoroughly conversant with its rules and terminology.  Find an online poker glossary and study the poker terms. You must understand the difference between a big blind and a little blind, raising and folding, a straight and a flush before you decide to play. It is also essential that you are completely focused on the game. You should know when to fold and when to bet.

Learn the Poker Variations – Poker has more variations than any other card game. Many poker sites allow you to practice for free Try out a few so that you know which one is best for you.

Understand your Opponents – Try to understand the mindset of your opponents. Observe their behavior during different situations at play. Study the expressions on their faces to guess what they have in their hands. Change your tactics and confuse your opponents; avoid being predictable. If you are playing online concentrate on calculating the poker odds and probabilities, and plan your poker strategy accordingly.

Play smart – Learn from your mistakes and use strategy in your game.  Manage your money wisely. Don’t gamble with money that you can’t afford to lose. If you must quit then do it.

Most importantly, enjoy playing the game. If you do not enjoy the game it is a waste of all your efforts!!!

Basic Movements of Chess Piece

Basic Movement:

Each chess piece has its own style of moving. Moves are made to vacant squares except when capturing an opponent’s piece. In the chess game except the knight, pieces can’t jump over any other piece. When a piece is captured, the attacking piece replaces the opponent piece on its square, and the captured piece is removed from the game. The King can be checkmate but it cant be captured by any other piece.

1) KING : The king moves one square in any direction, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. There is one special type of move, made by a king and rook simultaneously, called castling.

2) QUEEN : The queen has the combined moves of the rook and the bishop, i.e., the queen may move in any straight line, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.

3) KNIGHT : The knight moves to the nearest square not on the same rank, file, or diagonal. In other words, the knight moves two squares like the rook and then one square perpendicular to that. Its move is not blocked by other pieces, i.e. it leaps to the new square. The knight moves in an “L” or “7” shape (or either shape inverted) with two steps one direction, a 90° turn, and one step in the new direction.

4) BISHOP : The bishop moves any number of vacant squares in any diagonal direction.

5) ROOK : The rook moves any number of vacant squares vertically or horizontally. It can also be moved while castling.

6) PAWNS : Pawns has the most complex rules of movement. A pawn can move forward one square only if that square is unoccupied. If it has not yet moved, the pawn has the option of moving two squares forward provided both squares in front of the pawn are unoccupied. A pawn cannot move backward. Pawns are the only pieces that capture differently from how they move. They can capture an enemy piece on either of the two spaces adjacent to the space in front of them (i.e., the two squares diagonally in front of them) but cannot move to these spaces if they are vacant.

If the pawn reaches to its eighth rank, then it can be promoted or converted to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight of the same color, choice being taken as per the player’s wish. There is a possibility of promoting all the 10 pawns to a ten queen, hooks, bishops or knights.

Castling : Castling consists of moving the king two squares towards a rook, then placing the rook on the other side of the king, adjacent to it. It can be permitted when it satisfies all the following rules:

1) King and rook which will be involved in castling must not have moved previously.

2) There must be no piece in between the rook and the king.

3) The king may not currently be in check, nor may the king pass through or end up in a square that is under attack by an enemy piece.

4) King and the rook must be in the same rank.

ABC Of Chess

Chess is an interesting game played by two players, and it can also played online in which the computer will be your opponent. While playing manually, one player plays with the white piece and the other player play with the black pieces. Both players have equal pieces in the beginning: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. It will be arranged as shown in the following diagram :

Chess game is played on a square shaped chessboard, consisting of 64 squares of alternating black and white color. Alternately, players make a move starting with white piece. In this game, each piece will move on its own distinct way. The goal of this game is “Checkmate” i.e to threaten the opponents king, This one of the ways to end the game but there can be a possibility of a draw or resign. While moving a piece to the destination square, it can be either empty or captured by the opponent. Captured piece can be then removed by the board and there wont be any chances of entering the same piece into the same game.

If there cant be any possible move for any of the piece (white or black) then the respective king is said to be checkmated. If Black is not in check and has no legal moves, it is stated as Stalemate if it occurs then the game ends in a draw.

Many new chess variants have come up nowadays.  Some of the most popular chess games include Avalanche Chess, Bughouse, Chess with Different Armies, Extinction Chess, Fischer Random Chess, Grand Chess, Hostage Chess and more such varieties.

Monopoly

Playing Monopoly

Playing Monopoly as per Official Rules:

Monopoly is the game often played in homes all around the world.

Nowadays, Monopoly games have found an important place in a hobby room, bedrooms, kitchen table and living room. It can be played in your leisure time in the room of your choice. Though a single game of Monopoly takes hours to finish, it has been so popular for so long. The reason being it is a nice game.!!

There are several Monopoly variants and official rules to play this game. To make gaming experience more enjoyable it is necessary to go according to the rules. Playing according to rules would definitely speed up the game and help you play even better as you’re well equipped to play the game.

So just go according to the rules and make next round of your game better than ever before!!!