One of the most common mistakes that beginning poker players make is to call too frequently when out of position.
Even players who know how difficult it is to play out of position will still look at their two cards, convince themselves that they are playable, and call.

Being in position throughout a hand gives you an enormous advantage, so conversely you can imagine what happens when the roles are reversed.

When in position in a Betfair Omaha poker game, it is so much easier to extract value from your made hands, and also to bluff with your weaker hands.

Another critical point concerns pot control and, when you are in position, it is far easier to control what goes into the pot.

The benefit of position allows you to control the price you pay to play your draws and charge your opponent so much more for seeing theirs.

One of the typical scenarios that people find themselves in that results in a pot being played from out of position is when you are in the small or big blind.

Players typically see that they have put some money into the pot and then get attached to it. Instead of thinking in this way, it is better to create the habit of just folding and waiting for a better spot.

Another habit is to think you have great odds to make a call with trash when the pot is multi-way. You look at the amount in the pot, notice you have already invested your blind, and make the call hoping to hit a miracle.

But, once again, I will stress that it is extremely difficult to extract value from out of position if indeed you do hit that miracle flop.

Read more poker news or pick up the latest expert picks on the Betfair website.

Jason Spezza is refusing to say when he will be able to return to action after finally being able to take part in practice with his Ottawa Senators team-mates for the first time in 15 weeks.

The 29-year-old suffered a back injury during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in January and endured surgery for a herniated disc in his back later in the month.

It had been hoped that Spezza would be able to return to the Senators line-up in the second round of the NHL playoffs, ironically against the Penguins, but the centre insists there is no set timetable for his return to action.

“I want to play, I want to back out there,” he told NHL betting news reporters. “But I don’t want to have any pain. I wish I could the play the next game. It’s all going to be about how I respond. I’ve got to push myself.

“That’s why we’re really going to try and push forward. It might tell me that it’s not time to play and it might respond real well, but I would be lying if I tried to give you a straight answer on a return date.”

Spezza, who has been with Ottawa since 2002 after being drafted second overall the previous year, finished fourth in NHL scoring last season with 34 goals and 50 assists in 80 games.

Ottawa played well in the first round of the playoffs and surprised punters betting on NHL games, despite Spezza’s absence, eliminating the Montreal Canadiens in five games.

The Senators have got used to playing without Spezza though as he has only featured in five games this season. It was initially hoped he would be able to return to action in early April but he has suffered several setbacks during the recuperation process.

Despite collecting his fifth title since returning from a lengthy injury layoff, Rafael Nadal has continued to play down his chances of winning this month’s French Open and his eighth title at Roland Garros.

The Spaniard, playing in his seventh straight final since his return from injury, made it five titles this year with a comfortable 6-2 6-4 win against Stanislas Wawrinka to claim the ATP Madrid Open.

The king of the clay-court looked every bit the Nadal of old on his way to a routine victory against his Swiss opponents, claiming victory in just 71 minutes. Once again, Nadal showed no ill-effects of the knee problem that kept him out of action for seven months, playing some scintillating tennis on his way to a 40th title on clay.

Now ranked number-five following his prolonged absence, Nadal has played down his chances of defending the title at Roland Garros he won last year despite struggling with the injury that later ended his season following his early exit at Wimbledon.

“I’ve only played seven tournaments, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to compete to win Roland Garros,” insisted the seven-time French Open champion. “I don’t know it today. The only thinking I have is that how I have played until now has been really good. The results have been really positive.”

While Nadal will be telling the press he doesn’t believe he has a chance, there’s no way the Spaniard won’t head to Paris this month genuinely thinking this is a perfect opportunity to announce his return to the game and begin his climb back up the rankings.

Watching the ATP Internazionali BNL d’Italia? Pick up the latest betting tips and odds at http://betting.betfair.com/tennis/french-open-betting/.

It’s been a while since leading trainer, Mark Johnston, had a genuine classic contender, and, although his Windhoek isn’t even entered in the Investec Derby, he could persuade his owner to supplement him for the great race if putting up a bold display at York on May 15 in the Group 2 Betfred Dante Stakes.

The winner of his only start as a juvenile over six furlongs at Nottingham last May, Windhoek has overcome a series of setbacks to prove himself a potentially smart racehorse and made up for lost time this season with two impressive victories that suggest he could very well prove good enough to win the Dante Stakes, a traditional key trial for the Epsom Derby just 17 days later.

Stepped up to a mile-and-a-quarter for his seasonal bow at Newmarket in April in the Tattersalls Millions Trophy, the son of Cape Cross was thought to be very much in need of the run and some 30 kilos above his optimum racing weight but still proved good enough to see off another classic hopeful Greatwood by a short-head in a stirring finish.

With more experience still needed in order to prepare his charge for potential classic assignments, Johnston returned the three-year-old to HQ just over a fortnight later where he stepped up to listed company and put up an impressive display in the listed Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes, powering three-and-a-quarter lengths clear of Centurius to justify odds-on favouritism.

A win or a big run in the Dante could well persuade Windhoek’s owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad al Makhtoum to stump up the supplementary fee to run Windhoek in the Investec Derby on June 1, a race for which he is currently on offer at a top price of 16/1, according to the Betfair Royal Ascot betting tips.

Buffalo Sabres have announced that interim head coach Ron Rolston has been handed the role on a permanent basis.
Rolston had been in interim charge since 20th February when he replaced the axed Lindy Ruff.

He guided the Sabres to 15 wins in 31 matches since then, although that record was not good enough to propel Buffalo into the playoffs.

They finished in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind the eighth-placed New York Islanders.

Earlier in his career, the 46-year-old served as head coach of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and was an assistant hockey coach at Boston College, Harvard University, Clarkson University and Lake Superior State University.

During his seven-season stint with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, he became the first coach in American hockey history to lead the United States Under-18 team to three gold medals – in 2005, 2009 and 2011.

Rolston, who becomes the 16th head coach in the Sabres’ franchise history, had been the coach of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League since 2011, guiding the team to a 63-44-17 regular-season record during his spell in charge.

Since being formed in 1970, Buffalo have failed to win the Stanley Cup, although they were runners-up in 1975, when they were beaten 4-2 by the Philadelphia Flyers, and in 1999 when they lost out by the same scoreline to the Dallas Stars.

They were Conference champions in both of those seasons as well as in 1980 when the New York Islanders beat them 4-1 in the semi-finals.

Buffalo have endured some lean seasons of late though, only reaching the playoffs twice in the last six years and being knocked out at the first stage – by the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers – on each occasion.

Fancy betting on NHL? Did you know that you can get the latest picks for American hockey on the NHL betting news website?

Rising stars Ollie Devoto and Tom Dunn have both put pen to paper on new deals at Bath, as the club look to the talent that continues to rise from their academy system.

With Leicester Tigers No.10 George Ford moving to The Recreation Ground for next season, fellow fly-half Devoto will be hoping to push the new signing for a starting role at stand-off.

Devoto, like Ford, has worked his way through the England youth set-up and is now fly-half for the under-20 side, which is a good indication the 19-year-old has the potential for great things in the future.

Meanwhile 20-year-old Dunn looks set to be a future regular in the Bath front-row and the club’s management have clearly seen enough of the hooker/prop to offer him a new deal, as he continues his development.

Former England and Bath forward Danny Grewcock is now the academy director down at The Rec and he feels this pair of youngsters could have a bright future ahead of the in the Premiership.

He said to Betfair Rugby Online: “It’s great news that both Ollie and Tom have agreed new deals.

“They are both working very hard to become first team regulars for Bath, and their respective attitudes are exceptional.
“They aspire to be regular members of the senior squad here, and they both have the potential to achieve that.”

This is just another sign that Bath are moving in the right direction and with a mix of new signings and using the young talent at their disposal from the academy, the South West outfit should start challenging for silverware and Premiership playoff rugby in the coming campaigns.

Already made your picks for the Aviva Premiership? Why not try your hand at British Lions betting on the Betfair website?

The Cleveland Indians may have to do without starting pitcher Brett Myers for a while after the right-hander was placed on the disabled list following an injury to his forearm last weekend.

Although the initial hurt appeared meaningless, an MRI scan has revealed tendinitis in Myers’ elbow and a slight strain to his ulnar collateral ligament, and the veteran must sit out the rest of April as a result.

Unfortunately for Indians fans, the injury could be prolonged further should Myers fail to deal with the pain. Since spring training the 32-year-old has reportedly combatted these growing pains in
his arm and although he was never going to admit it he really should have had a restful April.

In fact, many fans in the betting world have suggested this two-week reprieve from the game could be a blessing in disguise, for Myers hasn’t exactly been on form this spring.

Maybe he was desperate to impress his new manager but the man who saved 19 games last season yet didn’t start once has had trouble adapting to a new position.

In four appearances he’s posted an 8.02 ERA from just over 21 innings, allowing 29 hits that includes 10 homers. Twelve strikeouts prove he can pitch to his old standard but sadly Myers just hasn’t got the arm he used to.

If anything, this injury could just be the first sign of his age and tendinitis is never a good thing to have if you want to play regular baseball.
Myers has never been a consistent starting pitcher and shouldn’t be fielded as one. Instead, the Indians should use his veteran nous when they need it and not strain his arm too much with innings he’ll only fail to deliver.

Don’t forget to check out bet365 for all the latest MLB betting news odds, tips, advice and expert opinion as well as the latest up-to-date betting MLB World Series markets.