How to Play Three Card Poker

Do you want to play three card poker? Three card poker is a poker-based game which can be played in casinos or at online gambling sites. Statistically, it is said that people play three card poker the most because it is dubbed as the most famous proprietary table game when you measure it by wins generated for land-based casinos.

To play three card poker you have two modes of play. There is what is called the ANTE wager and the PLAY wager. Both wagers are made in competition on the player’s hand versus the dealers cards. There is another type of wager called the PAIR PLUS wager, which is paid on a payment mode basis that contain a pair or – even better – 3 cards of the same value. Some land-based and online casinos offer Ante and Pair Plus as an optional wager, while some establishments deem Ante wager as a compulsory/mandatory wager.

Before you start playing three card poker, the gamers will have to make an Ante and Pair Plus wager. The dealer will then give each player 3 cards to play three card poker. If a player chooses an Ante wager, he can then have a choice to fold the game or continue playing. If the player continues to play three card poker, he must give a Play wager which has equal value to the Ante wager.

Three card poker game continues with the hands being exposed and the wagers being awarded to the person with the best hand. For the dealer, his hand should be a queen or better so that he can have a hand to play. In this part of the game, if the dealer does not continue to play three card poker, then there is no action on Play wagers. The Ante wagers will then be given a 1:1 payout.

If the dealer continues to play three card poker, then the dealer and the player have to compare both hands. If the player’s hand is defeated, then the people who are betting will lose both the Ante and Play wagers. On the other hand, if the player wins, then people who bet on the Ante and Play wagers win 1 is to 1. A tie, meaning both dealer and player have the same value of cards, then there is no action on the both wager (Ante and Play).

A bonus is given and it is called the Ante Bonus. This is given to people who bet on the Ante wager and the hand that appears is straight or better.

Online Poker Tutorial: A Basic Introduction to Omaha Poker

Here is an online poker tutorial for players who want to try another kind of poker game aside from the popular Texas Holdem. This online poker tutorial will focus on what is called Omaha Holdem, Omaha Hold’em or just plain Omaha. We hope you learn something from our online poker tutorial!

Online Poker Tutorial: The Rules of Omaha

Omaha is basically a community poker card game which somehow shared the basic concept of a Texas Holdem game. A player of this Omaha game will be given 4 cards. A player must skillfully use the best hand using exactly 2 of the cards in addition to exactly 3 of the 5 community cards. The basic catch or concept in Omaha is that a player must use exactly 2 of his cards and exactly 3 of his cards to make a winning 5 card hand.

It is said that generally, you win much better in an Omaha game in comparison to a winning hand in a Holdem poker game. As a beginner in playing Omaha, you should really check and make sure that you are using exactly 2 cards from your own hand rather than three or one.

Online Poker Tutorial: Why You Should Try Learning Omaha

So, Omaha may not be as popular as its famous brother Texas Holdem, but if you try enough to learn Omaha you will see there is a great game in this type of poker play.

A lot of great Texas Holdem players also try their hand in playing Omaha. Even if these players are not so familiar with Omaha, they play their hands at high limits because they are great at Holdem poker. The problem is these players loose after just on flop. The reason is in Holdem, when you get a pair, that makes it a strong hand already. In Omaha, a pair may mean you loosing a lot of money. In Omaha poker, a player is rarely paid when he holds a pair but will often pay competitors with a higher pair, a flush or a straight.

Compared to Holdem, Omaha seems a much more technical poker game than a psychological game because you can already see if there is a best hand since there is usually a straight or may be a flush on the table and often, a player on that table will have one. So, if you are the type of player who enjoys the technical aspect of poker rather than all that bluffing, perhaps Omaha is the game for you.

Omaha is basically more simple and straightforward. And if you are great in statistics, you can count the probabilities of the card game.

How To Win a Fantasy Basketball League

Watch this video and learn how to win a fantasy a fantasy basketball league and then play at the best fantasy sports site around - Fantasy Factor

Making Money through Sports Betting Online

People make a living because they need money to get through their everyday lives. It is inevitable when individuals sometimes feel that they need to rest or take a vacation. They would even immerse themselves in browsing the Internet just to relieve themselves of the stress they have with work. Some even make money through sports betting online and make it their profession. They say that there is a formula for this and people try to find out what this is. With online work, they do not have to worry about waking up in the morning and go to work.

First thing to remember is that you have to choose a team with a potential to make you win. Check the ranking of the team to see where they are in the season’s standings. If they are top rank, then it is safe to bet on them. However, if you see otherwise, then might as well bet on their opponents. In addition, always bet those playing on home turf. The probability of a home team winning is greater. It can be quite embarrassing for a team not to win at home. Remember, the fans would be cheering for them all throughout the game and they do not want to be disappointed.

If you also want to make some money through sports betting online, you should always go for the big names. Do research on them before betting. It will help you a lot if you are updated on the status of a team's players, like if one of their star players is injured. The team would have to think of other ways on how to win if a key player is not able to play. Good perception on a team’s chemistry also enables you to make good decisions. Making the right picks can yield handsome profits.

Not all information you find on the Internet is 100% true and accurate. You have to intensive and accurate research before betting, especially if the game is crucial. You would not want to bet on the wrong team with so much at stake. Always examine the players' form when they play individually and how they perform against certain teams. Team chemistry is yet another important thing. With all of the players comfortable and trusting one another, they would have no problem carrying out the planned plays.

Keep all these in mind and you will be able to make wiser decisions when you do sports betting online. Even if you are a bettor of meager amounts, the returns can be more than you expected if you follow these tips. Still, it is very important that you keep your pacing and momentum constant to ensure more chances of winning, and winning means more money for you.

Basic Bet Tips

Betting has been part of people’s everyday lives. If you notice, individuals would bet on almost anything, even the smallest of things like who will be able to eat the fastest. Gambling is fun and at the same time addicting. The trick here is to do everything in moderation. There are a few basic bet tips that you can follow to make things easier for you.

Understanding the probability behind every bet is important. For example, if you plan to do betting on sports, you have to check a team’s rankings and statistics. More so, consider the injuries of the players as well as the location where they will be playing at. These things are vital in making your betting picks. It also helps if you check the projections for the season just to make sure that you are on track. If you fail to double check on these things, do not expect much success.

Another common bet tips is to read the odds. Countless websites can give you the odds of a particular team. Take some time off and examine them. You will be able to have an idea whether the team that you will bet on really has a chance to win. These websites give out information that bettors need to make their wagers count. In time, you will realize that everything you are doing will greatly affect your betting skills.

You also have to consider that betting systems vary for each game. This means that you can use various betting systems depending on the chosen game. For example, if you want to do betting on American football, you might as well go for the point spread system. Think about it. You can still mix things up and see what happens. Whatever betting type you use, just be sure that you will not go over your budget or else you might find yourself bankrupt in no time. There will be no way for you to win back your money since you do not have any more funds to start with.

One of the most important bet tips is that you should be intelligent. Everything should be well thought out and should never be rushed. More so, be sure that when you gamble, you are not intoxicated. Alcohol in the body will inhibit the brain from functioning properly so do not bet when drunk. Expect that you bets will not be worth it. You will lose all your money in a blink of an eye.

Going with Sports Betting Odds

Sports has taken the world by storm. Everywhere you go, you know that you will be able to find people playing their favorite sport - tennis, football, basketball to name a few. Now, people are trying to find the latest and the best sports betting odds. Individuals who would like to try their luck in winning can do this no matter where they are. Some websites allow mobile bets, which is a good thing for people who do not have time to sit down and bet over the Internet using a computer.

People who decide to do this should understand the stakes. Short odds means that the event occurring is relatively high. Odds against is when the money returned for winning is two times the first bet placed. If you remember these terms by heart, you know that you have an easier time understanding this kind of betting. At first, you may seem confused, however, you will be able to do this in time without any hassle. Patience is a virtue so try to have it.

There is also the decimal odds or the fractional odds. You have to know how this works if you want to push through with understanding sports betting odds. Fractional odds is very popular in the United Kingdom because the bettor knows how much is available and what the stakes are. People could not get enough of this because it has been a way of life for them. Everything changes when they start to experience winning. Expect them to do the betting as often as they want to because they know they may have a chance to win. There is nothing wrong here because people just want to have some fun. At a small amount, there is also that opportunity to win big so they would risk losing money with the hopes of winning it all.

In the United States, they usually use a negative or positive number. For the positive, it is how much you will be able to make for winning a $100 bet. As for the negative, it will tell you how much you need to bet to win $100. Once you get the hang of this, everything will be easy enough to understand. Time will be the one to tell you if you are knowledgeable enough in this activity. In the meantime, get busy with learning everything that you need.

Sports betting odds have always been the focus of attention for sports bettors. They need this information to know how to profit from their wagers. However, bettors should understand that in gambling, you cannot win all the time. More often than not, you find yourself on the losing end. But, a win will be able to give you that boost that you have been waiting for. With all these things in mind, surely, you will be able to do your betting smartly.

Making Money through Sports Betting Online

People make a living because they need money to get through their everyday lives. It is inevitable when individuals sometimes feel that they need to rest or take a vacation. They would even immerse themselves in browsing the Internet just to relieve themselves of the stress they have with work. Some even make money through sports betting online and make it their profession. They say that there is a formula for this and people try to find out what this is. With online work, they do not have to worry about waking up in the morning and go to work.

First thing to remember is that you have to choose a team with a potential to make you win. Check the ranking of the team to see where they are in the season’s standings. If they are top rank, then it is safe to bet on them. However, if you see otherwise, then might as well bet on their opponents. In addition, always bet those playing on home turf. The probability of a home team winning is greater. It can be quite embarrassing for a team not to win at home. Remember, the fans would be cheering for them all throughout the game and they do not want to be disappointed.

If you also want to make some money through sports betting online, you should always go for the big names. Do research on them before betting. It will help you a lot if you are updated on the status of a team's players, like if one of their star players is injured. The team would have to think of other ways on how to win if a key player is not able to play. Good perception on a team’s chemistry also enables you to make good decisions. Making the right picks can yield handsome profits.

Not all information you find on the Internet is 100% true and accurate. You have to intensive and accurate research before betting, especially if the game is crucial. You would not want to bet on the wrong team with so much at stake. Always examine the players' form when they play individually and how they perform against certain teams. Team chemistry is yet another important thing. With all of the players comfortable and trusting one another, they would have no problem carrying out the planned plays.

Keep all these in mind and you will be able to make wiser decisions when you do sports betting online. Even if you are a bettor of meager amounts, the returns can be more than you expected if you follow these tips. Still, it is very important that you keep your pacing and momentum constant to ensure more chances of winning, and winning means more money for you.

Importance of Reading Betting Online Guide

Everything in this world has its own guidelines that you have to follow. You have to follow these things so that you would know what you are doing. The same goes with a betting online guide. This is available for people to read and understand no matter how old or young the person is. It is a recommendation that they scan through this so that they would know what to do when they go betting online. It is not hard to get the meaning of the words for you will be integrating those terms once you gamble.

The guide is important as it gives you an outline on what to expect when you do betting online. For example, you need to know what kinds of betting systems are available, how much should you wager, which teams are available for betting and the like. Everything that you need to know is in that guide so you better read it and study everything. If you do not, you will feel lost in the online betting arena. Wouldn't it be nice to actually know what you are doing even if this is your first time to do it? If you have a friend who has been doing online betting for the quite some time, you can ask him to share with you some of these guidelines.

If you have no idea about the sport or betting and you go sports betting online, then you are in a heap of trouble. Now you know why reading a betting online guide is very important. It can tell you how to utilize your wagers and end up winning. You have to remember that gambling does not guarantee winning all the time. Losing is always part of it and this will happen often so try not to be too discouraged easily. The last thing that you need is having that crushed feeling after expecting too much on winning your bets. Understand that betting entails risks. There is no guarantee that a team will indeed win as predicted.

It is quite nice to know that people come to you and ask for some advice because you know the guidelines when it comes to online betting. The beginners would be more than willing to lend you an ear for this. They know that they have to learn as fast as they could so that they could profit from betting online just like you. Still, even if you are able to memorize the guidelines by heart, betting is still anyone’s ball game. You all would have to depend on the result before you can say that you are a winner.

Keep these things in mind. You would understand the importance of a betting online guide. It is still up to you whether you will read this or not. However, those who have read the guide know what they are doing once they start betting, unlike those who choose to go straight to the betting arena.

Let’s Play At Online Casino Sites

Are you an avid gamer that constantly bet in casinos around your areas as well as online casinos that you can reach in the comfort of your own home? Wherever you choose to play casino games, online casino sites has already started to sprout everywhere like mushrooms. Let us admit the fact that online casino sites had gather its set of fans today and enormously growing by the hour. So what is the hype all about exactly?

Some sites provide online casino games via download. Some you can play onsite. Online casino sites are much like the real thing – involves money, taken or given, involves other players, and a game of chance. The mechanics are the same, except of course that you can be playing while in your cozy recliner, taking a break from work and just enjoying the same casino thrill in the online world.

Most online casino sites have included pages for instructions. Some even have promotions like double your money, or we’ll give you $150 for every $200 played! Others display their proud list of all online games that everyone in the world can play or gamble into like blackjack, poker, and even slots! So there are many online casino sites you can choose for without even standing up on your sit. Here at jackpotslot.co.uk we offer a lot of varieties of online casino games from slot machine games to card games, table games and scratch card games. You would not run out of choices and that means you could not run out of enjoyment. Also, here at our site, we’ll definitely double any amount of money you will deposit when you register. So it double your chances to win.

One of the advantages of online casino sites is that you can play anywhere in the world, with anyone in the world with just a few clicks of the mouse. You can limit your spending to your content since you won’t be too tempted to stay and finish up everything – you can just click the “x” mark to exit. Plus the fare you would spend to go to Vegas or any casino capital in the world will be lessen because you can feel the same Vegas effect at the comfort of your own room.

Another is that security risks are actually minimized since your co-players can’t actually touch you or your things, they may see you online via your profile picture, if you have any, but privacy issues can be controlled based on your personal requirements. And you cannot be robbed if you chose a good online casino site that has high security for payments just like jackpotslot.co.uk.

Just imagine, the joy, the excitement, the security, the chance to ask your husband or wife to help you in a turn, or consult, or even ask your friends (while you’re at it) to help you win or to save you from a losing streak. You can do all this because you play online casino. So quit thinking. Let’s play online casino now. And where? Of course, at the best online casino site, here at Jackpotslot.co.uk

What to Look For When Playing Free Slot Machines

If you are a gambling freak, you must try to play free slot machine games because who knows, you might win too. Free slot machine games can be played at your nearby casinos and online casinos as well. However, this game is really based on luck.

Free slot machine games give you no cards to pick and no dice to roll. These slot machines simply make you put an amount of money that you are willing to lose. You pick how many rows or lines you want to bet on and pull the lever or hit the spin button. The end result of the game is purely based on where the wheel stops. If certain images line up in certain spots, then you are a winner!

Here are handful of tips and strategies when you play in free slot machine games:

1. Choosing the Right Online Slot Casino Website – Of course, the key to winning in online casinos is by choosing the online casino website you play in. Finding a good website like Jackpotslot.co.uk help you gain profit with entertainment. A good website offer you free slot machine games will practice your moves if you’re a beginner.

2. Choosing the Appropriate Slot Game For You – Online casino slots game is fun as it offers you a great time of pleasure. Look around to find out the online casino slot game that suit you the best.

3. Deciding on the amount of money you lose – Free slot machine games are really about pure luck. Before playing it, you should decide and give yourself a limitation in case you are losing your bets.

Gambling is a source of gaining unmatchable thrill and limitless excitement but it is mostly based on luck whenever you win or lose because everything is just unpredictable. The thrill of gambling has been appealing to people’s desire and will continue to do so in the future. Legal gambling industry generates more than £40 billion annually.

So, if you still haven’t tried gambling, you must at least experience the thrill of it that will blow your mind. There are many types of games being offered in land based casinos or virtual casinos also known as online casinos; roulette, poker, slot machines and others. Try the free slot machine games today.

Jackpotslot.co.uk has a vast range of high quality casino games to play. They have a couple of different cool slot machine games that you will surely enjoy.

Play Casino Online

If you’ve wanted to experience the excitement of winning big money playing in Las Vegas and Monte Carlo but do not live near them, try to play casino online.

There is a hug variety of casinos you can play online. You can play different games like black jack, roulette, slot machines and many more.

To play casino online is more convenient because you can find an online casino that suits your preferences. Online casinos mostly require a minimum deposit in order for you to open a real account. They also give bonuses and sometimes double your deposits. This is a good thing because it can help you play casino online without having to loose a lot of money on your first game.

Playing at online casinos may be convenient but there are some important things you have to remember. Making sure that the online casino is legitimate is number one. Make sure that the games are worth your time and that it has a good payout. Some casinos can delay credits to players while others can fail to pay. Read the terms and conditions before signing up and make sure you abide in them. Be cautious when giving out your personal information online. Remember, gambling is always risky whether you are playing online or not.

Joining an online community is the best way to play casino online because you can find out what other gamers have to say. These online gamers also post in online casino forums and they usually have the good ideas regarding the genuine operations and “rogue” casinos.

Playing at online casinos also give you the ability to train yourself and refine your gambling skills. If you want to play casino online, you can compete with amateur plates as well as the professional ones. They can prepare you to prepare yourself for bigger competitions.

Fantasy Baseball 2009 - New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are a member of Major League Baseball’s American League East Division. They play their home games at Yankee Stadium, in The Bronx, New York City, New York.

The team was founded in Baltimore, Maryland as the Baltimore Orioles in 1901. In 1903, they moved to New York and changed their name to the New York Highlanders. The official New York Yankees name was established in 1913. The New York Yankees are recognized as the greatest franchise in Major League Baseball. The franchise is the defending World Champion of Major League Baseball (2009) and League leader revenue earned and titles won, with 27 World Series championships, and 40 American League Pennants. They have more championships than any other franchise in North American professional sports history.

During the spectacular 1950’s decade, the Yankees won six World Series championships ('50, 51, '52, '53, '56, '58) and eight American League pennants (those six plus '55 and '57). The Yankees lineup included legends Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard (the Yankees' first African-American player), and Roger Maris.

In 1961, teammates Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris earned the nickname "M&M Boys” for slugging several homeruns early in the season. Maris finished the season with the all-time homerun record in a single season (61), beating Babe Ruth’s previous homerun record. With Mantle and Maris slugging homeruns, the Yankees won the 1961 World Series.

American League pennants won

1921, 1922, 1923, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003

World Series won

1923 New York Giants 1927 Pittsburgh Pirates 1928 St. Louis Cardinals
1932 Chicago Cubs 1936 New York Giants 1937 New York Giants
1938 Chicago Cubs 1939 Cincinnati Reds 1941 Brooklyn Dodgers
1943 St. Louis Cardinals 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers
1950 Philadelphia Phillies 1951 New York Giants 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers 1958 Milwaukee Braves
1961 Cincinnati Reds 1962 San Francisco Giants 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers
1978 Los Angeles Dodgers 1996 Atlanta Braves 1998 San Diego Padres
1999 Atlanta Braves 2000 New York Mets 2009 Philadelphia Phillies

Hall of Famers

Frank "Home Run" Baker Wade Bogg Yogi Berra Frank Chance
Jack Chesbro Earle Combs Stan Coveleski Bill Dickey
Joe Dimaggio Leo Duroche Whitey Ford Lou Gehrig
Lefty Gomez Clark Griffith Burleigh Grimes Waite Hoyt
Jim "Catfish" Hunter Reggie Jackson Willie Keeler Tony Lazzeri
Mickey Mantle Bill McKechnie Johnny Mize Phil Niekro
Herb Pennock Gaylord Perry Phil Rizzuto Red Ruffing
Babe Ruth Joe Sewell Enos Slaughter Dazzy Vance
Paul Waner Dave Winfield

MVPs

Babe Ruth Lou Gherig Joe DiMaggio Phil Ruzzuto
Yogi Berra Mickey Mantle Roger Marris Elston Howard
Thurman Munson Don Mattingly Alex Rodriguez

Rookies of the Year

Gil McDougald Bob Grim Tony Kubek Tom Tresh
Stan Bahnsen Thurmam Munson Dave Righetti Derek Jeter

Fantasy Baseball 2009 - Pittsburgh Pirates

PNC Park- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team is a member of Major League Baseball’s National League Central Division. The Pirates play their home games at PNC Park, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

History
In 1903, the Pittsburgh Pirates played and lost (to Boston) in what has been recognized as the first Modern World Series. During this period, Honus Wagner played shortstop for the Pirates, known to be the best shortstop of his time; he helped lead the team to many successful seasons and its first World Series title in 1909. The Pirates had a slump before reaching their second World Series and winning their first World Series title in 1925, defeating the Washington Senators. The Pirates made it to their third World Series just two years later, but got sweeped by the New York Yankees in the 1927 World Series.

The 1970’s was a proud decade for the Pittsburgh Pirates. During this period, the Pirates won five division titles and the 1971 World Series. The stars of the team were Willie Stargell and Roberto Clemente. Clemente was drafted by the Pirates in 1954, and grew to be known as one of the best baseball players of all time. He was awarded the National League’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1966, and won 12 golden glove awards throughout his career. The Pirates finished the 1970’s decade defeating the Baltimore Orioles in seven games in the 1979 World Series. In 1979, the stars of the team included Willie Stargell and Dave Parker.

From the 1980’s going forward, the Pirates have struggled to be competitive in MLB. They began the 80’s recognized as the worst teams in baseball, despite adding popular names to their roster, such as Bobby Bonilla and Barry Bonds. Infielder Jay Bell and pitchers John Smiley and Doug Drabek were other new additions to the roster. In 1988, the Pirates finished the season above .500 (85-75), for their best record in years. Two years later in 1990, the Pirates won the division title, stamping an end to being one of the worst teams in baseball. The Pirates would go on to win two more Divison titles, in 1991 and 1992.
Pittsburgh Pirates of the 2000’s

Since 2000, the Pirates have largely been in a period of rebuilding, searching for a winning season. The 2009 losing season for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team marks the longest losing streak (17 years) in any professional sport in North America.

In 2007, Pittsburgh hired Neal Huntington to be the new general manager and bring in a new strategy to succeed. Huntington made splashes upon his arrival, trading away many of the star players for the Pirates. In 2008, Huntington traded away All-Star Jason Bay, and in 2009, traded away Nate McClouth. He argues that the trades build a strong Pirates team, beginning with their minor league program.

Prior to the 2010 MLB season, the Pirates made a few personnel changes. They released relief pitcher Matt Capps, and signed four relievers, Octavio Dotel, Brendan, Donnelly, Javier Lopez, and D. J. Carrasco. To bolster the infield, the Pirates signed second baseman Akinori Iwamura, and shortstop Bobby Crosby, the 2004 American League Rookie of the Year. Heading into the 2010 season, the Pirates’ bats are led by outfielder Andrew McCutchen, and the Pirates pitching are led by ace Paul Maholm.

Active Roster
Pitchers
Ramon Aguero
Jose Ascanio
Brendan Donnelly
Octavio Dotel
Zach Duke
Joel Hanrahan
Kevin Hart
Chris Jakubauskas
Brad Lincoln
Javier Lopez
Paul Maholm
Daniel McCutchen
Evan Meek
Bryan Morris
Charlie Morton
Ross Ohlendorf
Ronald Uviedo
Donnie Veal
Catchers
Ryan Doumit
Jason Jaramillo
Infielders
Pedro Alvarez
Ronny Cedeno
Jeff Clement
Bobby Crosby
Argenis Diaz
Akinori Iwamura
Andy LaRoche
Steve Pearce
Ramon Vasquez
Neil Walker
Outfielders
Ryan Church
Gorkys Hernandez
Brandon Jones
Garrett Jones
Andrew McCutchen
Lastings Milledge
Brandon Moss
John Raynor
Jose Tabata
Delwyn Young

Fantasy Baseball 2009 - Washington National

Summary
The Washington Nationals are the official team of Washington DC and have competed in the East Division of the American Major Baseball League since 2005. The team has never played in the World Series and has yet to get a league title under their belt. However, hopes remain high for the team; with plans for a new stadium finally in the works.

History
Before the Nationals
The Washington Nationals is a newly formed team. Their foundation originated from the Montreal Expos. The Expos were eventually bought in 2002 by the Major Baseball League. They played their final game on September 29, 2004 in Montreal, a 9-1 loss to the Florida Marlins before 31,395 fans at Olympic Stadium. They moved to Washington the next season. In 2005 a vote was cast over the future of the Expos and the team was relocated to Washington.

The Senators
Washington had a baseball team before the Nationals named the Senators. The Washington Senators was the most famous team in the area, and they participated in the American League from its establishment in 1901 until 1972. As a reflection of their pedigree, in 1924 the team won the World Series; a feat far out of reach of the current team. The original Washington Senators was transferred to Minnesota in 1961 where the team was renamed the Minnesota Twins. A second Washington Senators (1961-1971) had a winning record only once in their 11 years. The second Senators moved to Arlington, Texas for the 1972 season and changed their name to the Texas Rangers. Washington spent the next 33 years without a baseball team.

The Nationals
The first game for the newly formed team did not go well. Proceedings opened with George W. Bush throwing the ceremonial first pitch on April 4th 2005. Despite a hopeful game opener with Brad Wilkerson batting to get the first hit for Washington, they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 8-4. Fortunately, the Nationals reclaimed some face two days later, beating the Phillies at home 7-3. They would go on to finish the season 81-81.

During the next season, the game opener had an attendance that almost matched the record-breaking figure of the first game of the previous season. This match also went better, with the Nationals beating the New York Yankees 3-2. Things looked up for the Nationals as the unorthodox approach of inviting 36 pitchers to the spring training evidently paid off, giving rise to future stars Mike Bacsik and Micah Bowie. Unfortunately, a series of injuries put the Nationals to draw on every available resource for players and resulting in a 71-91 record for the season.

Despite these decidedly indifferent seasons, the Washington Nationals entered the 2007 season with their sights set on the National League East Title. However, the team performed terribly in the early stages, going 1-8 down and soon slipping to 9-25 after an eight-match losing streak. They were hit seriously by injuries in the bowling and batting camp, as the disabled list grew to an all-time high. With their confidence clearly deflated, the team lost a record breaking 120 games in one season.

Fantasy Baseball 2009 - Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox are a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Central Division. They play their home games at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois.

Founded in 1901 as the Chicago White Stockings, they are one of the original teams of the first American League. In 1903, the club changed its name to the Chicago White Sox, after the Chicago Tribune printed the shortened name that had been used on a scorecard.

In 1917, the White Sox dominated the American League with a record of 100-54, a franchise record for wins and winning percentage. They won the American League pennant by 9 games over the Boston Red Sox, and continued on to win the 1917 World Series against the New York Giants.

After an off-year in the war-shortened season of 1918, the club bounced back to win the pennant in 1919. They entered the 1919 World Series as heavy favorites over the Cincinnati Reds, but ended up losing the series in eight games. From 1901 to 1920, the White Sox were one of the best performing teams, winning five out of a possible 19 pennants. After this period of success, the team entered a poor slump due to personnel losses. With a depleted roster, the White Sox dropped into seventh place in 1921 and would not contend again until 1936.

The White Sox finally became competitive again under popular manager Jimmy Dykes, who led them from 1934 to 1946. However, the White Sox did not completely recover from their malaise until the team was rebuilt in the 1950’s under managers Paul Richards, Marty Marion, and Al Lopez.

On December 10, 1975, Bill Veeck regained ownership of the team. Regardless, 1976 was one of the worst seasons in franchise history. By 1980, the White Sox were looking for new ownership, and Veeck sold the team to an ownership group headed by Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn.

The 80s and 90s

In 1983, the White Sox enjoyed their best success in decades. With the leadership of new, young manager Tony La Russa, the White Sox won the American League Western Division by 20 games and qualified for their first playoff appearance since 1959. La Russa went on to win the 1983 Manager of the Year Award. The club slid back into mediocrity for the rest of the 1980s.

The White Sox reached the American League Championship Series in 1993. The team was led by Frank Thomas, Robin Ventura, multi-sport star Bo Jackson, Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell and All-Star closer Roberto Hernandez. They lost the ALCS to the Toronto Blu Jays, who went on to win the World Series.

A New Millennium

In 2000, the White Sox had one of their best teams since the 1983 club. However, they could not carry its success over into the postseason, getting swept by the wild-card Seattle Mariners in the Division Series.

In 2005, the White Sox defeated the Houston Astros in a four game sweep to win the 2005 World Series.

Fantasy Baseball 2009 - Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. They play their home games at Fenway Park near Kenmore square in Boston, Massachusetts.

The team was founded as the Boston Americans in 1901. They were instantly one of the best teams, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first American League World Series in 1903. The Red Sox continued on to win four more championships by 1918. Despite the success, the team's history is most associated with their losing streak from 1918 to 2004. In 2004, the team broke their losing streak, and won their sixth World Series Championship. Since 2003, the Red Sox have competed in four American League Championship Series', and have won two World Series. In 1919, the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth, who had played the previous six seasons for the Red Sox, to the rival New York Yankees.

Red Sox fans know 1967 as the season of the "Impossible Dream." The slogan refers to the hit song from the popular musical play "Man of La Mancha." It was one of the great pennant races in baseball history with four teams competing in the AL pennant race till near the last game of the season.

Boston Red Sox fans hold the MLB record for consecutive home games 'Sold Out'. On September 8, 2008, the Red Sox set a Major League record with their 456th consecutive home-park sellout. The previous record had been held by the Cleveland Indians, who sold out 455 games.

World Series Wins

1903 New York Giants
1912 New York Giants
1915 Philadelphia Phillis
1916 Brooklyn Dodgers
1918 Chicago Cubs
2004 New York Giants
2007 Colorado Rockies

Hall of Famers

Luis Aparicio
Wade Boggs
Lou Boudreau
Jesse Burkett
Orlando Cepeda
Jack Chesbro
Jimmy Collins
Joe Cronin
Bobby Doerr
Dennis Eckersley
Rick Ferrell
Carlton Fisk
Jimmie Foxx
Lefty Grove
Rickey Henderson
Harry Hooper
Waite Hoyt
Ferguson Jenkins
George Kell
Heinie Manush
Juan Marichal
Herb Pennock
Tony Pez
Jim Rice
Red Ruffing
Babe Ruth
Tom Seaver
Al Simmons
Tris Speaker
Dick Williams
Ted Williams
Carl Yastrzemski
Cy Young

Frick Award:

Curt Gowdy
Bob Murphy

MVP Award winners

1912: Tris Speaker
1938: Jimmie Foxx
1946-1949: Ted Williams
1958: Jackie Jensen
1967: Carl Yastrzemski
1975: Fred Lynn
1978: Jim Rice
1986: Roger Clemens
1995: Mo Vaughn
2008: Dustin Pedroia Cy

Young Award winners

1967: Jim Lonborg
1986,87,91: Roger Clemens
1999.2000: Pedro Martez

Rookie of the Year Award winners

1950: Walt Dropo
1961: Don Schwall
1972: Carlton Fisk
1975: Fred Lynn
1997: Nomar Garciaparra
2007: Dustin Pedroia

Silver Slugger Award winners

1981: Carney Lansford
1983: Wade Boggs
1984: Tony Armas
1986,1989,1991: Wade Boggs
1990: Ellis Burks
1995: John Valentin
1997: Nomar Garciaparra
2001,02: Manny Ramez
2003: Bill Mueller
2004, 05,06: David Ortiz
2008: Dustin Pedroia