Blind Bet (or Blind) A blind bet, or blind, is a forced bet that must be posted before you see any cards. Blinds are an alternative to antes for getting money in the pot initially. Blinds are more often used in flop games like hold’em and omaha than in stud and draw games. Typically in hold’em the two players to the left of the dealer button are forced to place blind bets. In limit play, the small blind (to the dealer’s left) is typically half the size of a small bet, and the big blind (to the small blind’s left) is a full small bet. Betting then starts with the player to the left of the big blind (who is considered under the gun), who must at least call the big blind to stay in. When you sit down at a new table, it’s good to wait until it’s your turn to blind before playing a hand. See also live blind, structure, and straddle.

“Big blind” and “small blind” are also used to refer to the players who posted these bets.

I didn’t get a playable hand for over three hours, but I lost $135 in blinds.

I tried to steal the blinds with a late-position raise, but the big blind raised me back.

Learn more at http://www.pokerpistols.com/pokerglossary.php

to: zeus @ theblindbet.com

from: sevenofspades @ theblindbet.com

Subject: Another Day in Paradise

You know I’m going to win the bet Zeus so you might as well go ahead and give me the prize. I’ll be in Monte Carlo next week soaking up some sun.

Ciao,

Brax

It is commonly believed that the 4 suits in a deck of playing cards — spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs, derive from French decks of cards. In French decks, the suits represent the four classes: Spades represent nobility, hearts stand for the clergy, diamonds represent merchants, and clubs are peasants.

Learn more at http://www.freerollhaven.com/pokertrivia.html

You know you read a title like that and you assume that I will be talking about addiction as it deals with gambling. Well, I have no problems with gambling. I know when to say when.

Today I want to talk about addiction to adrealine in reading. When you read an book that gives you lots of action do you find yourself getting a rush? Does the blood zoom to your head like you are doing the things that the book describes? I know I do. That’s one of the big draws for erotic romance. I am be the most WICKED woman in the world and never leave my living room. Many studies say for women sex/orgasm start in the brain. That’s why you can seduce a woman with just words. Being a part of the action…in my head…makes me take on the persona of the heroine about to be screwed six ways from sideways by the hero. And yet I’m not cheating on my husband.  Or I’m a kicking some serious ass without breaking a nail. I can kill people and not go to jail. Or I can be the one to destroy the ring of power.

Can you become addicted to the high you get from reading a book? I know I can. If all books were free you would have to drag me from my house kicking and screaming. But since they are not, I have to go to work to pay for my fix. I know there are many of you out there who feel the same way.

Come admit to your addiction. For one winner who comments before Friday 3/20 and tells us about their addiction I will give you a free copy of one of my backlist books.

Oh…and in case you didn’t see…Stealing the Show is now on Fictionwise!!!

–Slinking back off to work… so that I can make money and feed the need to read! –

Leila Brown

The Wicked line… is really really wicked. Don’t confuse these with our erotic romances, they aren’t romances. There may be romantic moments, there will always be respect between sexual partners, but they are hot, hot, hot and fun, fun, fun. In the Stolen series, anything is possible.

You’ve read Stealing the Show and The Wine Tasting right? These two are a great introduction to Cobblestone’s sexiest line.

Life is all about risk. Financial, physical, or even emotional. We take risk everyday. Risk that either pay off big or leave us with gaping holes we think we may never be able to fill. While writing my book Stealing the Show I wanted to show the faces of risk.

My hero, Chistopher, risk physical and financial ruin pursuing risk for risk sake. He enjoys the chase. Each step is calculated but you can still see how his risk could end up costing him everything. You enjoy his risks. It makes your heart beat faster and you live it with him.

But it’s Alessia’s emotional risk which tugs at your heartstrings. She risk everything on the feelings that Christopher induces in her. She ends up losing and winning in the end but man is it a roller coaster ride for her.

So my question of the day is what risk have you taken recently? And did you end up winning, losing, or a little bit of both?

Leila Brown

Once upon a time two authors were talking on IM. Okay, so it was me and Leila. Anywho, back to the story… Leila said something about a thief and I said “that gives me an idea for a book.” After a little back and forth…

“What if there was a group of thieves?”

“And they each think they’re the best thief ever.”

“So they make a bet to see who’s the best of the best.”

“And they had to steal really rare, hard to come by items?”

“And they didn’t have much time to prepare much less pull off the heist?”

“And they meet while playing poker online. There’s a gaming website the looks totally legit from the front, but it’s also a place where the world’s top thieves meet, have anonymity, and blow off steam.”

“And they have to do something nice with the item they steal, they can’t just keep it.”

“And along the way they’ll meet someone who rocks their world. Leaves them breathless and spent.”

“Right…super hot, melt in your seat, call the fireman next door seduction. This is the Wicked line, after all.”

“What will be call it?”

“Stolen.”

“And the website?”

“Well, since they make the bet without knowing what they’re going to steal…”

“TheBlindBet.com. It’s available.”

“Grab it.”

and the Stolen series was born.

Then we pitched it to Cobblestone Press and they were really excited. We are too.

You’ll find the Stolen series is similar to great movies like The Thomas Crown Affair, The Italian Job, and The Saint. So if you like any of those, you’ll love these books.

Enjoy your stay here at theblindbet.com and be sure to watch for my Stolen release on December 5th: The Wine Tasting.

Start your engines. Place your bets. Mark your calendars.

Help yourself to a game of Blackjack or read about the thieves who call TheBlindBet.com home.

Watch for the debut book in early fall 2008.

~ Zeus