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Items by DanM

WSOP

WSOP Power Patches Team Pokerati, ESPN, Loudmouth, and Tao of ...

Fetched: September 3rd, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by DanM

Good thing, too, because The Big Randy would fail to deliver on his patch-wearing duties early on Day 4 when he happened to be sitting next to Michael Mizrachi … have a quick listen to step back in WSOP-time when Pauly and I seemed to ...

"Full Tilt"

WSOP Power Patches Team Pokerati, ESPN, Loudmouth, and Tao of ...

Fetched: September 3rd, 2010, 9:01pm PDT by DanM

Incidentally, you'll notice in the clip that both he and Julie were patched up with Full Tilt. Tilt was not the only one interested in that space … when ESPN shot it (during Week 1 of the WSOP), Loudmouth didn't have their patches yet. ...

Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

WSOP Power Patches Team Pokerati, ESPN, Loudmouth, and Tao of Pokerati

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 8:51pm PDT by DanM

Enclosure: [download]
More multimedia for your Friday … Team Pokerati got some good lovin’ on ESPN this week. Good thing, too, because The Big Randy would fail to deliver on his patch-wearing duties early on Day 4 when he happened to be sitting next to Michael Mizrachi … have a quick listen to step back in WSOP-time when Pauly and I seemed to have a certain prescience about both patches and Mizrachis starting to mean something:

Tao of Pokerati
Episode 64: Big Head Randy and the Min-Cashers – Dan and Pauly hang out at the Bad Beat bar and wonder if they are coolers? Or if the Big Randy had busted out because he was not wearing a Pokerati patch. Yes, the Big Randy busted before the money bubble. The discussion shifts to the bubble strategy for PokerStars qualifiers who also have a PCA package riding on the line along with the min-cash.

Fortunately, team captain Tom didn’t disappoint (anyone but himself and his family). Schneider showed up on ESPN this week, playing the main event on the outermost feature table, and for a surprisingly funny bit with him and fellow Team Pokerati-er Julie Schneider, as Norman Chad tries to learn about cooking and/or what makes a poker marriage work:

Be sure to check out Pauly’s post about this episode — scroll down to Day in the Life of the DonkeyBomber and Pancakes with Angry Julie — for some decidedly Tao take on Tom and his Loudmouth living.

Incidentally, you’ll notice in the clip that both he and Julie were patched up with Full Tilt. Tilt was not the only one interested in that space … when ESPN shot it (during Week 1 of the WSOP), Loudmouth didn’t have their patches yet. But, you may be surprised to learn, in the 3-way bidding war for premium ESPN real estate on the Schneider family clavicles … Pokerati actually came in second, with an offer larger than the one from PokerStars.

Click here to see more of the Pokerati patch in action, er, I mean Tom on ESPN pimpin’ the short stack on the tertiary featured table … holy shit his hand holds up!

Related Posts
Load Up Your Poker iPod, Part 1 Instapoker – Video

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 6:58pm PDT by DanM
It’s a long weekend for most. For those who might need to take their poker multimedia on the road or boat … here’s some watchable and/or downloadable stuff that I’ve taken particular note of recently. You might want to, too:
Online Gambling Guy
APCW Perspectives Weekly :: Actually caught a brand new episode getting the link for this post. Thought I was gonna tip you to J. Todd’s more-than-just-poker online gambling take on payment-processor forfeitures, internet filtering, and French protectionism. But that was like so mid-August. To catch up with the times, this week it’s California protectionism FTW! for the stalemate. [Link]
Charlie Rose + Wicked Chops
This Week in Poker :: TWIP is (slowly) becoming must-watch for me. Not live … that would just be ridiculous. But definitely informative+enjoyable on the download, even if you’re just half-watching and listening in the background. This week’s ep features Full Tilt red pro (?) Jason Calcanis, Donkdown’s UB-Scrutinizer-in-Chief Todd Witteles, and Durrrr. Holy shit, it’s Durrrr!!!! Fast forward … [Link]
Poker Personalities
Under the Gun (with Jon Friedberg) :: First time I saw UTG, some guys were talking fitness and nutrition. Struck me as terrible net-TV odd, yet found it strangely compelling, watched all the way through. A few weeks later was watching a sit-down with Jean-Robert Bellande. I think UTG’s format seems to lend itself to guests who can let down their guard and shoot more from the hip. This week: Alex Outhred, recently relocated to Vegas, shit-shooting about coaching and the cutthroat poker training biz. [Link]
Artsy Euro-Fartsy
TheNutz.TV :: Have seen these dudes before, and remember thinking they were pretty good. Here they are at WPT-London interviewing Lisa Jane, the poker-artist you learned about here. Had to watch to learn more about her show, “Poker in the Eye”, and see if she’s hot. Now all I gotta do is get me one of them “like” buttons. [Link]

Related Posts
Intrastate Mobile Sports Betting Coming to Nevada Blackberry, iPhone apps to service legal, real-money wagers

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 3:14pm PDT by DanM
This is one of those stories that may not be a big deal — especially for people who don’t bet sports (like me) … but for some reason I see a lot in play here that could prove plausibly significant for the future of gambling, both live and online. You decide whether or not this is a game-changer:

Check out this article from the AP about what will be called “Leroy’s App”.

American Wagering Inc. launches their new Blackberry app supposedly like next week … in time for the NFL and college football seasons. And then in coming months they’ll have the same thing for iPhones, Droids, and other “smart” mobile devices, they say. The Blackberry version has already been approved by the NV Gaming Control Board, while the others will face similar vetting upon release.

The catch: You can bet on sports from anywhere — your home, the grocery store, a bar, middle of the desert, Pahrump whorehouse, etc. — so long as you do so somewhere in the state of Nevada.

The things I find curious about this, both technologically and, um … license-and-regulatorially(?):
- GPS tracking applied to online gambling, creating a virtual gaming wall at the state lines; makes me think of both Kentucky and California.
- Different than Cantor Gaming devices at M Resort, the Venetian, and (coming soon) the Hard Rock, as their mobile sports-betting tech only works on casino property.
- Wonder if Leroy’s app will have in-game betting, like Cantor’s casino product.
- Would love to meet Leroy. He’s got to be an interesting character.
- Wonder what this has to do, if anything, with stripping sports betting from HR 2267.
- GCB approval suggests confidence in ability to block underage bettors online. Live first-deposit at Leroy’s seems to be the key.
Here’s a little more on the forthcoming release as per the tech-biz media at cnet.com.

Related Posts

WSOP

WSOP Coming to Dallas-ish Choctaw, OK event added to Circuit ...

Fetched: September 2nd, 2010, 6:01pm PDT by DanM

The Choctaw Casino Resort WSOP Circuit event will feature 10 WSOP ring events and a total of 54 different events during the January stop. The expanded Choctaw Casino Resort features a brand-new 30-table poker lounge – housed on its own ...

Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

WSOP Coming to Dallas-ish Choctaw, OK event added to Circuit calendar

Posted: September 2nd, 2010, 5:36pm PDT by DanM
With the main event of The River at Winstar underway like right now … (and no real coverage going to follow) … WSOP officials released word of their latest stop on the WSOP Circuit — the Choctaw Casino in Durant, Oklahoma. Nifty-cool. And it was especially kind of them to schedule it in January, making it very convenient for my personal holiday travel plans — especially while visiting my folks or Gma, who live way more conveniently located near Choctaw than WinStar.

Click below for the official deets according to the WSOPress Release. And check out this video of the fancy-cool new Choctaw poker room (represented by WSOP-Ebay legend TJ Cloutier, btw) as seen by the architects before it opened up:

WORLD SERIES OF POKER® CIRCUIT TOUR ADDS NEW STOP TO 2010-11 CALENDAR; EVENT COUNTS FOR NATIONAL POINTS

CHOCTAW DURANT CONFIRMED FOR 10 RING EVENTS
FROM JANUARY 6-25, 2011

WSOP Circuit Becomes First Tour to Serve Vibrant Dallas-area Poker Market

LAS VEGAS – September 2, 2010 – Fresh off a $300 million expansion, the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma – an hour north of Dallas, Texas, will host its first-ever World Series of Poker Circuit event from January 6-25, 2011 as part of the official 2010-11 WSOP Circuit Tour.

The 2010-11 schedule now includes 13 official tour stops, with one more expected to be added soon.

The Choctaw Casino Resort WSOP Circuit event will feature 10 WSOP ring events and a total of 54 different events during the January stop. The expanded Choctaw Casino Resort features a brand-new 30-table poker lounge – housed on its own exclusive floor in the casino – and is a truly upscale, exclusive experience.

The Choctaw Casino Resort stop also marks the first time the WSOP has stepped outside the Harrah’s-affiliated properties to offer a WSOP-branded event.

“After visiting the property, it was a must that we brought a WSOP Circuit stop to Choctaw Casino Resort,” said WSOP Vice President Ty Stewart. “This is a huge poker market that has clamored for high stakes tournament poker and we’re ecstatic to be hosting a WSOP Circuit in this gorgeous property in Durant come January.”

Structures and payouts for all ring events at Choctaw will be consistent with all other WSOP Circuit events in order to keep the continuity and consistency for players travelling to multiple stops on the tour. Noted poker tournament director Jimmy Sommerfeld will serve as the event’s poker tournament operator.

Steven Loyd, Choctaw Casino Resort Director of Gaming & Hotel Operations, commented, “The vibrant poker markets in Texas and Oklahoma deserve a local to regional WSOP Circuit opportunity and Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant couldn’t be a better choice. Our location midway between Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and the large population base around Dallas/Ft. Worth puts us within easy striking distance of thousands of serious poker enthusiasts. Our beautiful new facility is poker friendly, with a best in class poker room and spacious tournament areas, great food and lodging. The Choctaw Nation is proud to be the newest member of the WSOP Circuit family.”

The revised WSOP Circuit schedule now looks as follows:

WORLD SERIES OF POKER 2010-2011 CIRCUIT TOUR SCHEDULE

TOURNAMENT DATES – TOURNAMENT LOCATION
August 19 – August 31, 2010
Horseshoe Council Bluffs (Iowa)

October 2 – October 12, 2010
Horseshoe Southern Indiana

October 15 – October 27, 2010
Horseshoe Hammond (Chicago area)

October 26 – October 31, 2010
*Emerald Casino (South Africa)

October 28 – November 10, 2010
IP Casino Resort & Spa (Biloxi, MS)

November 11 – November 23, 2010
Harveys Lake Tahoe

December 4 – December 22, 2010
Harrah’s Atlantic City

January 6 – 25, 2011
Choctaw Casino (Durant, OK)

January 27 – February 15, 2011
Harrah’s Tunica

March 2 – March 13, 2011
Caesars Atlantic City

March 11 – March 30, 2011
Harrah’s Rincon (San Diego area)

March 31 – April 13, 2011
Harrah’s St. Louis

April 14 – April 30, 2011
Caesars Palace

May 9 – May 22, 2011
Harrah’s New Orleans

*Circuit Event in South Africa does not count towards point system tabulation or cumulative event award.

Bold indicates Super Regional, with an added event, the $10K nationally televised No Limit Hold’em tournament.

Circuit schedules are subject to change. For more information on individual circuit events, including event schedules and structure sheets, can be found at each property website or by visiting www.WSOP.com

The first event of this year’s WSOP Circuit season just concluded at Horseshoe Council Bluffs in Iowa, with the newly-revamped format increasing the Main Event prize pool by more than 70%, while players were united in their praise for the creation of the $1 million National Championship, gold bracelet opportunity and points system.

The next stop on the WSOP Circuit is October 2 in Horseshoe Southern Indiana. Beginning in October, the WSOP Circuit pretty much runs non-stop through May 22, 2011, with 12 consecutive events over 8 months.

Below details the key changes to this year’s WSOP Circuit tour.

A cumulative rankings system throughout the season, awarding points for each official WSOP Circuit “Ring” open event, with four different ways to automatically qualify.

A season-ending National Championship tournament for 100 players who automatically qualify via cumulative rankings or performance-based criteria. (The televised National Championship tournament will be played at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas prior to the commencement of the WSOP and feature a $1,000,000 prize pool and award a WSOP Gold Bracelet).

Four Regional WSOP Circuit Championships with a $10,000 buy-in event plus two-hours of national television coverage per stop.

Standardized structures and pay-outs at all events; with the Main Event lowered to $1500 outside Regional Championships to encourage larger fields and more players attending multiple stops on the tour.

Related Posts
CardRunners New Instructor: Nikachu First CR Video Challenge winner

Posted: September 2nd, 2010, 11:12am PDT by DanM
A note from @CRLana in Chicago that we’re happy to pass along to Pokerati readers (emphasis added) … and congrats indeed! We should like hang out sometime and/or follow each other on Twitter:

Congratulations to Jonathon “Nikachu” Zaczek, winner of the inaugural CardRunners Video Challenge. Along with the $5,000 Grand Prize, Zaczek has also signed as a new video instructor at CardRunners. View the winning video here.

Polls were open for two weeks and voting was very close. Fewer than 30 votes separated the top 3 finishers of our contest.

Final standings of the Video Challenge are:

1st Place – $5,000 – Jonathon “Nikachu” Zaczek

2nd Place – $2,500 – Matthew Janda

3rd Place – $1,000 – Lee Przytula

4th Place – $500 – Bryce Paradis

5th Place – Chip Set ($175 value) – Johan “Roundkick” Ryning

Thank you for all who participated and please keep an eye out for future contests at CardRunners.

As always, if you haven’t done so already, give yourself an edge over someone who likes to play online poker but is lazier than you by signing up for free poker training from CardRunners.

Related Posts
2010 Hall of Fame Nominees Named

Posted: September 1st, 2010, 2:39pm PDT by DanM
It’s just a list, but a fun and important one … the Class of 2010 to be considered for the Poker Hall of Fame presented by Jack Link’s Beef Jerky. Er, wait a minute, scratch that last part. You mean there’s no sponsor plausibly affecting the outcome of how things get inked into the record books? Next thing you’re gonna tell me is there’s no Jungleman or Durrrr. Wha’? Didn’t you see him get 2nd place!?! I mean the old guy, not Jungleman. He’s not even 21 yet, so that’s understandable that he shouldn’t be eligible ’til next year. OK, anyways …

Here are the names being considered this go-round … on first glance I don’t see any insta-scratches … so all 10 get at least a shake:

CHRIS FERGUSON
BARRY GREENSTEIN
JENNIFER HARMAN-TRANIELLO
DAN HARRINGTON
PHIL IVEY
LINDA JOHNSON
TOM McEVOY
DANIEL NEGREANU
SCOTTY NGUYEN
ERIK SEIDEL
THE PUBLIC HAS SPOKEN AND CHOSEN THEIR CANDIDATES FOR THE 2010 CLASS OF THE POKER HALL OF FAME

PRESENTING THE PUBLIC’S TOP TEN NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2010 CLASS

LAS VEGAS (September 1, 2010) – After a two-month process on WSOP.com, the public has made clear who they think should be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2010. It will now be up to the current Hall of Famers and a panel of media members to determine who actually does join this exclusive club.

The following represents the Top 10 nominated individuals at WSOP.com from July 1 – August 31.

NAME

CHRIS FERGUSON

BARRY GREENSTEIN

JENNIFER HARMAN-TRANIELLO

DAN HARRINGTON

PHIL IVEY

LINDA JOHNSON

TOM McEVOY

DANIEL NEGREANU

SCOTTY NGUYEN

ERIK SEIDEL

*Listed alphabetically without correlation to amount of nominations received

Now the process moves forward with the vetting of these candidates by the Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council, who will select the final list of candidates eligible for induction in 2010. That will be followed by the voting of the final nominees by the 16 living Hall of Fame members and a 17-person media panel. Only these 33 individuals cast votes for induction.

The criteria they will consider in their vote are as follows:
- A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
- Played for high stakes
- Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
- Stood the test of time
- Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.
The 2010 Class of the Poker Hall of Fame will be inducted as part of the World Series of Poker Main Event final table festivities in November.

102 valid unique names received nominations during the public nomination process, including 44 who received multiple nominations. All of these individuals are still eligible for future consideration.

ABOUT THE POKER HALL OF FAME

The Poker Hall of Fame, established in 1979, was acquired by Harrah’s Entertainment along with the World Series of Poker in 2004. Though the Hall of Fame is virtual in nature, its membership includes poker’s most influential players and other important contributors to the game. There are 16 living members, and 38 members have been bestowed the honor of Poker Hall of Famer. The Poker Hall of Fame traditionally elects one or two members annually. The enshrinement ceremony is now held in concert with the final table of the Main Event of the WSOP, held each November in Las Vegas.
Related Posts
Postmodern Trippy Poker Pop Art on Display at WPT-London

Posted: September 1st, 2010, 9:09am PDT by DanM
Detail from “Superstar Satellite” (above) and “Big Chick, Crabs and Snowmen” (below) – Oils on canvas – by Lisa Jane.

Those Brits, I tell you what … whether talking literature, theatre, or visual high art, they just always seem to be a tick ahead of mass-America when it comes to anything culture. Not being a self-loathing Yanker in saying that … just acknowledging why it’s hardly surprising that art would be a part of September’s massive poker activities in London.

* It’s hard to tell if Jane’s paintings are being deferential to highly regarded American poker artists who preceded her, or if she’s mocking them.

English painter Lisa Jane opens her first solo exhibition in the UK today, called “Poker in the Eye” — a multi-casino show of poker-inspired works that runs through the end of the month in London’s Mayfair district. Her paintings will be on display at the Maxim Casino, in the Palm Beach Casino’s tournament room — site of the currently running WPT-London Poker Classic — and down the street at Crockford’s, the world’s oldest private gaming club and assumed venue for the biggest cash games in Europe this week. Considering that “Crocky’s” has been hosting nobility-stakes action since 1828, it kinda makes you wonder about the WPT’s London kickoff … can you really call something a “classic” when it was est. 2010?

Regardless, because we are high-minded folks at Pokerati (seriously, minored in art history and shit) and want our readers to appreciate the finer things in life, we cut a deal with some down-on-their-luck art thieves to get you a sneak peek at some of Jane’s work from the show … while yours truly tries to remember what art (and art criticism) was really all about before the days of blogging.

Click to enlarge the images below.

In her works highlighted by stark colors and whimsical story lines, it’s hard to tell if Jane, presumably a fine lady from Lewes, is being deferential to highly regarded American poker artists who preceded her, or if she is just mocking them. I mean Leroy Neiman is great and all — you can clearly see his influence in “Bluffing” — but really, after so many years and prints in the discount bin, his prize homage to the game that hangs in Bobby’s Room looks like something my parents briefly hung over the fireplace before relegating it to Dad’s woodshop in the garage.

Sure, you can argue that Nieman is more post-impressionist than impressionist in the evolution of poker art — even neo-Cloissonist to an extent — but Jane shows a willingness to push the visual expressions of 21st century Texas Hold’em to a more Dadaist extreme … all while taking playful stabs at surrealism, natch.
Detail from “Bluffing” – Oil on canvas – 70 x 100 cm
While scholars will debate Jane’s intended statement here, I’m still trying to figure out who’s the tournament photographer who got in her shot.
Jane does more than just capture historic poker happenstance on canvas. Using boldly hued situational imagery and suggestive structures, she infuses her take on a made-for-TV poker world with distinct splashes of darkness, trepidation, and even LSD. Not suggesting she was actually tripping while creating what some might call her semi-revolutionary work, but in terms of imagery progression … true patrons of the poker arts — a hungry bunch for sure — need little reminder that the closest thing they’ve seen to Duchamp’s Fountain has probably been TJ Cookier.
Unambomber and Unabombshell – Oil on canvas – 91 x 122 cm
Here, suggestions of Phil Laak as a mangled Vader behind the mask seem especially suiting after his recent wipeout, but I’m pretty sure Jennifer Tilly’s boobs are bigger in real life. Charcoal and Oil on canvas – 70 x 100 cm
This might be one of the most awesomely whimsical interpretations of Doyle Brunson’s victory ever. Such stoic grace and playful fortitude in infinite space! Pretty sure “whimsical” is still an important phrase in professional art criticism, too. Charcoal and Oil on canvas – 70 x 100 cm
LOL! Charcoal and Oil on canvas – 70 x 100 cm
Hmmm … yes … the life and death of Sailor Roberts as per two violent jacks holding up in ‘75 … Something to ponder …
“Gravy Train” – Charcoal and Oil on canvas – 70 x 100 cm
Supposedly James Akenhead has already bought this one — a testament to Jane’s skill as a visual artist and the November Niner’s purpose in life. “Superstar Satellite” – Oil on canvas – 70 x 100 cm
And here you can really tell where the acid starts to kick in … At this point it seems only a matter of time before someone calling clock starts to melt. “Big Chick, Crabs and Snowmen” – Oil on canvas – 91 x 122 cm
Oh, now I get it … Devilfish!

Overall review: good art. Better than the rubbish at Caesars or Wynn for sure.

For more of the finest poker art now showing in Europe, check out LisaJaneArt.com.

Related Posts

WSOP

Harry Reid Voices Support for Online Poker-Only Legislation Yeah ...

Fetched: August 26th, 2010, 6:01am PDT by DanM

The Real Story of Covering the WSOP, by Paul McGuire * * * Click here to purchase! Advertise on Pokerati.com. Pokerati Live Action. Poker Links … Everest Poker Bonus · Titan Poker bonus code · High Roller Online Casinos ...

Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

Harry Reid Voices Support for Online Poker-Only Legislation Yeah for poker! But kick in nards for Big Casino?

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 5:02am PDT by DanM
We’ve been saying for awhile how critical Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is for any regulated online gambling legislation to stand a chance at making its way into law. And despite non-denial denials from his office regarding plans for a forthcoming poker-only Senate bill, the Reno Gazette-Journal is reporting that Reid is now saying something more directly suggestive of his online poker intentions:

[Gaming] executives said Reid, D-Nev., told them he would support the legalization of online poker in the United States but drew the line there — he would not support any other form of online gaming — during an Aug. 16 meeting at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa [in Reno].

This falls in line with what Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) told the same paper earlier this month — that Reid’s position against online gambling had “softened dramatically” — after she and Nevada’s two other representatives made a serious push on Reid to support Barney Frank’s HR 2267. Berkley and Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) are Frank bill co-sponsors, and Rep. Dean Heller (R-NV) “cautiously supports” it.

The problem Reid’s supposedly running into now are non-Harrah’s B/M casinos in northern Nevada asserting online gambling is a threat to business and Nevada tourism … thereby costing the state jobs. And as outdated and arguably inaccurate as that argument is — we’ve heard it before, from the same Vegas ops and Indian tribes that now support online gambling — anything that opponents can spin against Reid as anti-jobs probably isn’t something the senator would want to risk heading into November, as he faces a statewide election in the state with the highest unemployment in the nation. At a minimum, wading into such waters would require a lot more money for internet ads to smear Sharron Angle out of contention.

Titus, meanwhile, is making the argument to counter the smaller B/M casinos point of opposition. Her office’s spokesman told the RJG: “This legislation will not detract from our first-rate casinos and an industry that is vital to the livelihood of so many Nevadans, but will benefit Nevada’s casinos, many of which are interested in building an online presence in the United States.”

We’ll have to reserve judgment for now on what it all means … too many possibilities with so much money, power, and potential backstabbings in play. But it does reveal for certain that somebody’s Full Tilt checks arrived! federal bills ushering in a new era of online poker are moving forward, with or without casino games.

If you’re a registered voter in Nevada, visit the PPA for contact info to voice your position semi-directly to the Senate Majority Leader.

Related Posts

WSOP

North Texas Poker Championship Underway in Oklahoma! Registration ...

Fetched: August 25th, 2010, 10:27pm PDT by DanM

So all those walls are fake, and everything takes place under something akin to the WSOP's poker kitchen but the size of five football fields? Is that by compact or something? Not to be racist, but acknowledging some Okahomans who ...

poker

North Texas Poker Championship Underway in Oklahoma! Registration ...

Fetched: August 25th, 2010, 10:27pm PDT by DanM

The Chickasaw — WinStar's backers, essentially, in alliance with ultraChristians — have spent millions in recent years opposing any efforts to legalize poker or expand gambling in Texas. Their alliance with ultraChristians made for ...

Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

North Texas Poker Championship Underway in Oklahoma! Registration fusterclucks, other news from WinStar at “The River”

Posted: August 25th, 2010, 10:19pm PDT by DanM
One of the biggest non-major tournament series of the year is underway in Thackerville, Oklahoma, promising $3 million in guarantees. “The River” — hosted by Greg Raymer and the historically storied WinStar tribe — is 9 events spread across two weeks, Aug 23-Sep 6. They’ve got some sort of overall points leader prize for a Porsche Cayenne overlay, too, worth $70k.

2009 twitpic: @EweE420 (now @EricMizrachi)

Today’s event, Event #3, happens to be $440 NLH/PLO with $40k Guaranteed. Wonder if they’re aware that Lev Serzhenko was recently crowned the World Champion of $230 NLH/PLO with a Single $200 Rebuy.

Since the main here will be more or less the regional championship in my old stomping grounds — in fact, thinking we might-should call it the North-North Texas Championship in future posts — I find myself wanting to follow these events uniquely as a fan. I’ve got tons of friends playing and would expect to see plenty of past opponents from the Dallas underground, presumably some Batfaces, lots of ole Lodge amateurs, and, I hope, a few Team Pokerati players. Also curious to see what type of pros show up.

But semi-live coverage of the River is hard to come by. Lots of future thoughts on why that is … but in the meantime, here’s where I’ll be checking for River buzz, for starters …

@WinStarWorld
@Fossilman
2+2 Tournament Circuit thread

And because Pokerati can’t be there this year (but kinda-sorta would like to be) here are some possible news stories I see shaking out, or at least stuff worth looking into for anyone who might wanna ask some questions or snap pics with their iPhone and send an email or an @reply on Twitter:

Opening Day Shutout Fiasco
Event #1 was a $330 $50k Guarantee. Supposedly without any pre-registration available, Tent management was unprepared for the flood of players who showed up. Held in the cash-game room, and not the usual auditorium? More than 100 alternates and more than 100 shut out eventually. At least that’s what I’m hearing. Not confirmed.
Guaranteed Ass-Coverage?
Last year they came up $580k short on the $3 million guarantee. So this year WinStar is promising only $2.5 million in the main event prize pool. The other $500k has been spread out across preliminary events. That’s all. Nifty. Clever. Seems like forever ago (5 years?) WinStar was getting grief for claiming “malfunction” whenever someone hit a super-big slots jackpot.
NLH/PLO Tournament
Event #3. Beautiful. Awesome. Let’s talk at length about this game. Do you guys need cut cards?
Some Players Go Deep, Others Bust
Who’s there? Any Mizrachis? November Niners? Batfaces? What about Clonie? I’m looking for my buddy John. He’s got short hair and probably a white shirt. Can you tell me how many chips he has?
Parking Lot Robberies + License Plates
I’ve heard rumors from multiple sources over the past few months (but with zero confirmation or simple police check) of high-stakes cash game players getting jacked in the WinStar parking lot. Definitely wanna find out more on this, as it was at The River a few years ago (then the Red River Roundup) where Pokerati pioneered the concept of parking-lot coverage. Also, any funny pokery license plates? Saw this one there in ‘07:

Legal (Oklahoma) Poker Coming to Texas?
The Chickasaw — WinStar’s backers, essentially, in alliance with ultraChristians — have spent millions in recent years opposing any efforts to legalize poker or expand gambling in Texas. Their alliance with ultraChristians made for formidable opponents. But will they soon be officially switching teams?

In the past couple years, the Oklahoma tribe has spent well more than $150 million buying up beleaguered race tracks and other casino-minded plots of land, er, worldwide — most recently Lone Star Park, smack-dab between Dallas and Fort Worth, and next door (by car) to both Cowboys Stadium and the Ballpark in Arlington. (Go Rangers!).

2011 Texas legislative session is right around the corner … can we expect WinStar checks to show up in the TexasPokerPAC’s paypal account? Is there a concern that a new poker room in North Texas would put WinStar’s current Tent City digs in North-North Texas out of business?

And as long as we’re going there, what about the Choctaw, the Chickasaw’s rival poker tribe down the river? Could these business enemies join forces to fight for gambling in Texas, or is that just ridiculous because you hate those guys? Is TJ Cloutier playing your events wearing their gear? He’s done well in The River main event in the past, and supposedly he’s got a deal now with Choctaw to represent at the tables in exchange for weekly buffet comps or something.
Tent City, Oklahoma
So really, what’s up with the tent? WinStar is supposedly the 3rd largest casino in the world (though that number is disputed, despite it coming from BusinessWeek) … you’ve got a hotel, restaurants, a spa, a golf course … seemingly a nice upgrade from the old Microtel for Texas’s poker refugees … yet technically you have to have your casino in a tent?

So all those walls are fake, and everything takes place under something akin to the WSOP’s poker kitchen but the size of five football fields? Is that by compact or something?

Not to be racist, but acknowledging some Okahomans who mighta had something to do with setting up Indian gambling in the area, is that based on some premise that you guys could do whatever you damn well please in your teepee? Is it the same way for the Choctaw — because their new building looks pretty fancy and made of stone — or are tent rules specific to your people?

And if it’s not WinStar, who holds the Guinness record for biggest tent in the world? Just curious …

Aren’t you guys scared of tornadoes?

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Advice on Low-Stakes Cash Game Play CardRunners presents ...

Fetched: August 25th, 2010, 10:01am PDT by DanM

The Real Story of Covering the WSOP, by Paul McGuire * * * Click here to purchase! Advertise on Pokerati.com. Pokerati Live Action. Poker Links … Everest Poker Bonus · Titan Poker bonus code · High Roller Online Casinos ...

poker

Advice on Low-Stakes Cash Game Play CardRunners presents ...

Fetched: August 25th, 2010, 10:01am PDT by DanM

Recent Comments. DanM on RE: Houston Poker Room Gun Battle ... Try recommended gaming sites for online bingo and online poker sites; now if you are going for maximum poker bonus try the PokerStars Bonus Code. ...

Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

Advice on Low-Stakes Cash Game Play CardRunners presents … Marshall28

Posted: August 25th, 2010, 9:51am PDT by DanM
Keeping with the 6-max NLHE, today we turn to Peter Jennings, aka “Marshall28″ … a low-stakes 6-max NLHE specialist who advises CardRunners students on $.50/$1 play online — instruction that seems particularly well-suited for slightly short-handed $1/$2 and $2/$5 no-limit live game players.

It’s all about stack size and subsequent implied odds, working your opponent’s subconscious, and what small bets on the flop can do to set up bluffs on the river … dependent on scare cards, of course.

Because if that’s the game you’re looking to play, you better know when to pull the plug on a triple-barrel assault with nothing.

Check out his CR blog about poker coaching here and sign up for CardRunners’ free poker training here.

Kinda funny … the other Peter Jennings used to offer journalism training here.

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Hard Rock Shuttering Poker Lounge after Detox Series [Video] Sneak peak at new downsized poker digs

Posted: August 22nd, 2010, 1:41am PDT by DanM
Part of the buzz underlying this week’s Detox Poker activity has been the fate of the Hard Rock Poker Lounge. To be sure, the luxed-out $12 million 18+table poker room that opened in 2008 — nearly two years ago to the day and possibly two-and-a-half years too late — will be closing in about a week.

According to casino personnel, almost immediately upon the conclusion of Detox, Hard Rock cash games will be moving to a more efficient 6-8 table spot connected to the main casino area — something with a smaller electric bill, more in line with plans for expanded sports-book offerings, and in view of the round casino’s famously raucous “center bar”.

The decision to downsize was final before Detox even started — and gotta say … kudos to HR Poker Director Troy Evans for presumably putting his job on the line to keep Detox. New suits above him were supposedly less enthusiastic about keeping the Matt “Savage Rocks!” late-summer mini-series on the calendar. Don’t have any hard dates for transition, but all potentially affected say it will be quick. Here’s a glimpse of what the new space next to Wasted Space will look like:

(Wasted Space is also closing, to make room for the new-and-improved sportsbook.)

The new poker room — about a third the square footage and in an arguably better location — will replace the former “Hell’s Belles” blackjack pit (hot dealers, go-go dancers, $100 minimum bets), which prior to that had been the “Peacock Lounge” (a pimped-out tribute to Jimi Hendrix). It will supposedly still have its own bar (with video poker, of course), a semi-private nook for high-stakes or VIP games, and a separate poker-player’s bathroom. Management says they’ll be bringing over the same tables and chairs, but are unsure whether or not they will keep the name “poker lounge”.

Decisions were also still pending (as of last week) about whether or not the Detox Series would be back and held in a Hard Rock ballroom. The current poker space will apparently become a restaurant.

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Advice on Playing Deep-Stacked Cash CardRunners presents …

Posted: August 22nd, 2010, 7:33pm PDT by DanM
Today’s lesson brings us back to the 6-max cash tables that action junkies just love … with CardRunners mid-stakes 6-max NLHE instructor Joey Lawrence — the Aussie online poker pro “jcl”, not the ’80s pop star — talking through a hands with an eye for extracting the most value when players are deep, and how not to tie up too many chips in places you shouldn’t. All pretty critical if you really wanna see your bankroll, um … Blossom?

If you want more Joey Lawrence, you can read his personal blog here, his Cardrunners blog here, and see his videos as an up-and-coming boy-band soloist here.

But for poker instruction to give you the best chance at some day living like you were once a Tiger Beat coverboy, the most +EV play is to sign up for CardRunners’ free poker training here.

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Pokerati Tourney Winner’s/Bustout Interview Lev gives us all NLH/PLO schooling

Posted: August 20th, 2010, 12:32pm PDT by DanM
Really quickly, before today’s poker news starts streaming in and the main event at Detox Poker gets underway … below is the video from the Pokerati tournament earlier this week. It lasted into the wee hours, not unlike this year’s WSOP Final-10-to-November-Nine … yeah, pretty much exactly the same thing.

Perhaps strangely perhaps not, I have little experience on either side of the bustout interview … but the ever-belletristic Marco from QuadJacks was on hand and presumably half-awake to discuss the finale of Detox Event #11, which saw Lev Serzhenko beat yours truly to claim the $5,184 first prize befitting the newest Pokerati (NLH/PLO) Champion.

Final hand, btw: No-Limit Hold’em, outchipped about 4:1 … I check-raise all-in when my Ace pairs the flop … Lev calls semi-quickly with open-ended straight and flush draws, and makes runner-runner trips FTW! (Dammit.)

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Dash for the Sash Inaugural Pokerati NLH/PLO Championship Tonight ...

Fetched: August 18th, 2010, 6:00pm PDT by DanM

The Real Story of Covering the WSOP, by Paul McGuire * * * Click here to purchase! Advertise on Pokerati.com. Pokerati Live Action. Poker Links … Everest Poker Bonus · Titan Poker bonus code · High Roller Online Casinos ...

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Dash for the Sash Inaugural Pokerati NLH/PLO Championship Tonight ...

Fetched: August 18th, 2010, 6:00pm PDT by DanM

Yeee. A little giddy like a school girl here … registration is open at the Hard Rock Poker Lounge for Event #11 of Matt Savage's Detox Poker Series: $230 Pokerati NLH/PLO (with single $200 rebuy) – 5 pm ...

Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

Dash for the Sash Inaugural Pokerati NLH/PLO Championship Tonight!

Posted: August 18th, 2010, 5:52pm PDT by DanM
Yeee. A little giddy like a school girl here … registration is open at the Hard Rock Poker Lounge for Event #11 of Matt Savage’s Detox Poker Series:

$230 Pokerati NLH/PLO (with single $200 rebuy) – 5 pm

Registration will stay open until, I believe, 7 pm.

The winner, of course, will earn not just the lion’s share of whatever semi-phat prize pool coagulates, but also his or her place among this website’s honored, heralded, and sometimes ballyhooed victors.

Scroll down to see who already has earned their lifetime spot in this special stratum of Team Pokerati.

(It was a tough call, but the P-board decided a few years ago that no matter how grievous an offense… you are, and always will be, a Pokerati Champion — entitled to at least a fractional percentage of the rights and privileges bestowed therein. Seriously, lifetime … like emeritus. You could be a cracked-out porn star caught disemboweling an illegal immigrant or colluding online while being blown by Russ Hamilton … and you still retain the title!)

It’s been too long … but not-so-incidentally, 2010’s $230 NLH/PLO w/1×200 Rebuy winner will be the first Pokerati Champion crowned outside of Texas, and the first to be recognized for something other than just Texas Hold’em.

Pokerati Champions

:: 2007

Austin Pete (r Strelitz)
:: Pokerati Invitational Champion

:: 2006

Tom Schneider
:: Pokerati Invitational Champion

* * *

Reggie Perry “Sarge”
:: Lodge TOC Champion

* * *

Toothless Bob (Haney)
:: Lodge Amateur POY
2005

Adam McGill
:: Pokerati Invitational Champion

* * *
Sam Agha
:: Lodge TOC Champion

* * *

Chris Como
:: Lodge Amateur POY

:: 2004

Eric Celeste “Tulsa”
:: Pokerati Invitational Champion

:: 2003

Dan Michalski
:: DSOP Warm-up (Pokerati Invitational) Champion

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This Day in Historyish: July 2006 DOJ discovers poker blogs ...

Fetched: August 18th, 2010, 4:01pm PDT by DanM

The Real Story of Covering the WSOP, by Paul McGuire * * * Click here to purchase! Advertise on Pokerati.com. Pokerati Live Action. Poker Links … Everest Poker Bonus · Titan Poker bonus code · High Roller Online Casinos ...

Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

This Day in Historyish: July 2006 DOJ discovers poker blogs

Posted: August 18th, 2010, 3:18pm PDT by DanM
I’m sure this has absolutely nothing to do with anything, obv … but was going through some old pics and came across this screen-grab from July 2006 (some two months before the UIGEA)… when I hadn’t yet discovered the purpose of labeling images more descriptively than just wsop28.jpg, and the Feds apparently hadn’t yet figured out how to hide an IP address.

At the time, Phil Hellmuth had just won his 10th bracelet, no one thought twice about playing on Ultimate Bet, everyone in poker still had money, and Jamie Gold (of all people) seemed to represent the very worst poker had to offer. Ahh, the good ole days … even Russ Hamilton was presumed innocent then.

Though I hardly recall why specifically, something about this visitor seemed peculiar enough for me to wanna preserve the moment. ith the benefit of hindsight, I’m sure I was just kidding.

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My Name in Felt Well actually, let's say Kevmath's name if any ...

Fetched: August 17th, 2010, 11:01pm PDT by DanM

The Real Story of Covering the WSOP, by Paul McGuire * * * Click here to purchase! Advertise on Pokerati.com. Pokerati Live Action. Poker Links … Everest Poker Bonus · Titan Poker bonus code · High Roller Online Casinos ...

Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

My Name in Felt Well actually, let’s say Kevmath’s name if any suits ask

Posted: August 17th, 2010, 10:16pm PDT by DanM
Though not so sure it’s the sexiest table ever, guess I’m glad to see the Hard Rock design team moving away from Ed Hardy styles in favor of something akin to … um, an Excel spreadsheet?

Still, fancy lines aside … as something of a new guy in the attaching-blog-names-to-Nevada-tournaments racket, kinda cool to leave one’s mark at least in a small way on the fabric of licensed-and-regulated corporately overseen real-money Vegas.

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PLOh My … (Hmmm) | Pokerati | Texas Hold'em and Las Vegas WSOP ...

Fetched: August 17th, 2010, 9:00pm PDT by DanM

The Real Story of Covering the WSOP, by Paul McGuire * * * Click here to purchase! Advertise on Pokerati.com. Pokerati Live Action. Poker Links … Everest Poker Bonus · Titan Poker bonus code · High Roller Online Casinos ...

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PLOh My … (Hmmm) | Pokerati | Texas Hold'em and Las Vegas WSOP ...

Fetched: August 17th, 2010, 9:00pm PDT by DanM

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Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

PLOh My … (Hmmm)

Posted: August 17th, 2010, 8:50pm PDT by DanM
The view from my room at the Hard Rock … with semi-hard-rockin’ late ’70s-early ’90s in the air (Tom Petty, Heart, INXS, Rick Springfield, The Fixx) … not exactly helping me concentrate on my Jeff Hwang, not to mention my Rolf Slotboom.

With apologies to Wicked Chops for my poor tournament PLO skills creepy zoom-lens camera-guy results … take your pick, er, I mean pic:

UPDATE: Van Halen now … off of Diver Down. So really, how much should you bet when you flop middle set on a draw-heavy board, against one big stack, and the other player a shorty? Now KISS … you can see where this is going, right? Nirvana next.

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What Are You Doing Tomorrow? Playing like a (Pokerati) champion ...

Fetched: August 17th, 2010, 8:00pm PDT by DanM

The WSOP can't really raise a stink, because not only does Harrah's not actually own the word “World”, but also, for some unknown but presumably ridiculous reason, the WSOP doesn't have a bracelet event for NLH/PLO … even though it's ...

Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

What Are You Doing Tomorrow? Playing like a (Pokerati) champion, of course

Posted: August 17th, 2010, 7:21pm PDT by DanM
Tomorrow is the second guarantee @DetoxPoker … $50k assured, for a $230 buy-in with a single $200 rebuy. That makes the math pretty hard to do for how many runnin’ rebuyers they need to avoid putting up an overlay … and potentially having one of the new suits chopping heads from the Poker Lounge staff willy-nilly. But gotta think they’ll make that small one.

Of course the real event everyone’s talking I’m thinkin’ about is tomorrow’s big Pokerati event at 5 pm. While there’s no guarantee in play beyond good times, lots of action, and a little PLO tourney experience — and its still unclear how CardPlayer intends to interpret their own rules for POY points — Event #11 is the one tournament at Detox offering a true World Championship.

I know this because I declared it so myself … and I’m pretty sure that’s how it works in poker! So as of right now, until someone declares otherwise, tomorrow’s late Detox event will be the 2010 Pokerati NLH/PLO Championshi … check that … make it the 2010 NLH/PLO World Championship!

The WSOP can’t really raise a stink, I’m pretty sure, because not only does Harrah’s not actually own the word “World”, but also, for some unknown but presumably ridiculous reason, the WSOP doesn’t have a bracelet event for NLH/PLO … even though it’s one of the most fun, challenging action games out there, and similar to the biggest games in the world being played between Durrrr, Isildur1, Ivey, and others. (Full Tilt calls the double-hold’em combo HA, of course.)

For legal purposes, obv, the full name of this title will be the $230 Pokerati NLH/PLO with a Single Optional $200 Rebuy Available in the First Three Levels World Championship, 2010, presented by Leftover Pouches of Jack Link’s Beef Jerky. But that was starting to sound a bit cumbersome … and all those letters were getting a little to fit on the winner’s sash.

So yeah, Pokerati’s NLH/PLO Championship @Detox … call it what you will, World, Galactic, Whatever FTW Championship! But show up tomorrow with a typical buy-in to the Pokerati cash game to find out who can really play this internationally popular dually … and win without running it twice!

Facebookers encouraged to RSVP here and pass it on to friends. The rest of you are encouraged to sit back and follow along while dreaming of Durrrr-like glory.

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Everybody Loves Jess

Posted: August 17th, 2010, 4:59pm PDT by DanM
Jess Welman only finished in 8th place in Event #1 of the Detox Poker Series for a $3k score. But it was the biggest of her career thus far, came with an ROI of infinity having won her seat in the media freeroll, and already she’s gotten more press than the 8th place finisher of the November Nine will likely get.

Here’s her first bustout interview with Marco from QuadJacks … and naturally she credits all her great play + rungood recently to skills acquired in the Pokerati Game:

(At least that’s what I heard … no?)

Big ups to the best red-headed co-panelist on The Poker Beat … who also happened to be the only player in Event #1 to show up with muffins.

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Kevmath Worldwide on the Ultimate Bet Scandal | Pokerati | Texas ...

Fetched: August 15th, 2010, 9:00pm PDT by DanM

Tags: Kevin Mathers, Netherlands, poker-media, Ultimate-Bet. Everybody seems to want more of him … especially in Europe, where he's arguably the most famous faceless person in poker since Isildur1/Viktor Blom. ...

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Kevmath Worldwide on the Ultimate Bet Scandal | Pokerati | Texas ...

Fetched: August 15th, 2010, 9:00pm PDT by DanM

(0); WSOP- and Poker-Related. Instapoker. (3). Posted by DanM on August 15, 2010 at 5:16 pm ... The Real Story of Covering the WSOP, by Paul McGuire * * * Click here to purchase! Advertise on Pokerati.com. Pokerati Live Action ...

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Kevmath Worldwide on the Ultimate Bet Scandal

Posted: August 15th, 2010, 8:16pm PDT by DanM
Everybody seems to want more of him … especially in Europe, where he’s arguably the most famous faceless person in poker since Isildur1/Viktor Blom.

The Dutch contingent of PokerNews Radio tracked down Kevmath — the great Googler from 2+2, Pokerati, and PokerStarsBlog — to discuss the latest in the ongoing UB Scandal (as per the recent feature from Wicked Chops).

Always providing reader-service … for those who may not have more than a few minutes to get caught up on the scandal they long got too confused about to follow … Kevmath gives the quick essentials of the current situation as seen through his insightful culling of the internet.

Check him out with @webjoker and @happyfreaked:

And if you haven’t seen it already, while listening be sure to check out the lol-laden thread on 2+2, Who/What is Kevmath?

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PLO Refresher Course CardRunners Presents … | Pokerati | Texas ...

Fetched: August 12th, 2010, 6:00am PDT by DanM

He pointed out that these are important skills to understand, and they helped mindcirkus make his way to the final table in the $10k WSOP PLO Championship this summer. Fair enough, but my game is really more half-and-half. ...

Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

PLO Refresher Course with “mindcirkus”CardRunners Presents …

Posted: August 12th, 2010, 5:06am PDT by DanM
Matthew Wheat, mindcirkus, PLO
Everybody’s getting ready for the Pokerati NLH/PLO tournament … Championship! at the Detox Series. Excited, of course, to be playing my first ever tournament session of half-pot-limit Omaha. So naturally, I went to my coaches at CardRunners for some quick pointers … and they sent me to Mindcirkus … aka Matthew Wheat.

He’s made his name amongst the online kids for dominance in 6-max PLO cash games. Now I get what they’re doing with all this wax-on-wax-off paint-the-fence shit they keep serving me … but not really what I’m looking for when I’ve got a tournament in just a week to prepare for. I already know how to play PLO cash games, obv!

“Now you don’t, Dan,” my chief keeper at CardRunners said.

powered by
He pointed out that these are important skills to understand, and they helped mindcirkus make his way to the final table in the $10k WSOP PLO Championship this summer. Fair enough, but my game is really more half-and-half. Still, they say there’s stuff I’ll be able to use from this lesson about online tells in 6-max PLO — as seen primarily in bet sizes and bet speed.

You can get free membership to CardRunners simply by letting them track your Full Tilt play with Truly Free Poker Training.

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Parking Position | Pokerati | Texas Hold'em and Las Vegas WSOP ...

Fetched: August 11th, 2010, 11:00am PDT by DanM

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Parking Position

Posted: August 11th, 2010, 10:47am PDT by DanM
Poker players are such good people … where else but outside a big poker tournament would you expect to see such an attitude in a crowded parking lot:

(Think he’s bluffing?)

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Even More WSOP License Plates | Pokerati | Texas Hold'em and Las ...

Fetched: August 10th, 2010, 2:00am PDT by DanM

You can't be sure from the 7-max tags that these guys play poker … but factor in when and where they were spotted — Rio, WSOP — and yeah … someone we know probably knows at least one of these guys … and depending how big they play, ...

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Even More WSOP License Plates | Pokerati | Texas Hold'em and Las ...

Fetched: August 10th, 2010, 2:00am PDT by DanM

You can't be sure from the 7-max tags that these guys play poker … but factor in when and where they were spotted — Rio, WSOP — and yeah … someone we know probably knows at least one of these guys … and depending how big they play, ...

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Even More WSOP License Plates

Posted: August 10th, 2010, 1:47am PDT by DanM
You can’t be sure from the 7-max tags that these guys play poker … but factor in when and where they were spotted — Rio, WSOP — and yeah … someone we know probably knows at least one of these guys … and depending how big they play, may have helped pay for the car.

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WPT Headed to Florida Brick-and-Mortars Seminole deal highlights benefits of improved, pro-poker law

Posted: August 10th, 2010, 8:04pm PDT by DanM
One of the important hedlines never written during the WSOP:

Florida Is the New France

(Apologies for not sharing this important insight with you readers. Just busy, ya know?)

It was the place a lot of WSOP dealers were saying they were headed after the Series … and some of them were already there, forgoing a summer in Vegas to set up shop near the beach early. These Pokerati card-carrying dealers began reporting near-immediately that indeed, the games were “sick”, and as a dealer it was nice to finally find a place where dealing actually paid well again.

All this because Florida passed a law legalizing poker some five years ago, and now, after a few revisions to the relevant statute, with betting limits and tourney buy-ins uncapped officially as of July 1 (and poker rooms now allowed to be open 24/7) the state has finally put itself in a position to realize the game’s potential — for them and for poker.

Also says something about the WPT’s continued effort to reclaim significance in the poker world. Can only imagine the WSOP will have a big circuit event there soon, too. In fact, might be willing to bet we’ll see one of those before we ever see an NAPT-Florida.

Below is the World Poker Tour press release about their partnership to put branded poker rooms throughout multiple Seminole casinos, and host a big televised $10k event at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida in late April/early May of next year. Early read is that this could become one of the big US tournaments of the year.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

world poker tour® and seminole gaming Strike groundbreaking poker Partnership

Changes in law lead to WPT televised events, branded poker rooms and more at Seminole Casinos across Florida

LOS ANGELES (August 10, 2010) – World Poker Tour® (WPT) and Seminole Gaming today announced a multi-year alliance, adding a televised stop in Florida to the current WPT Season IX tour schedule, several additional WPT branded events and the development of official WPT Poker Rooms inside select Seminole Casinos. For the first time, players in Florida will be able to participate in a televised $10,000 buy-in WPT tournament. WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood from April 27 – May 3, 2011.

“A WPT tournament at a Seminole Casino in Florida is a perfect addition to our television season,” said Adam Pliska, WPT President. “With the recent changes in its poker laws, this is a momentous time for the evolution of poker in Florida and we are proud to join forces with the Seminole Tribe to finally bring high-stakes poker to Florida.”

Recent changes in state law have removed caps from poker games, including tournaments, and have relaxed rules on hours of play. As a result, Florida, the fourth most populous state in the U.S., appears destined to become one of the hottest poker markets in the nation. In addition, Seminole Casino poker rooms will now be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They offer 1,360 poker seats at six Florida casinos, far surpassing other card rooms in the state.

”World Poker Tour will bring a new level of sophistication and excitement to poker rooms at Seminole Casinos,” said Jeffrey Hook, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Seminole Gaming. “We look forward to combining the WPT partnership with no-limit poker and 24-hour play to maximize the action for our players.”

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McDermott says it's “very very likely” that Online Gambling Bills ...

Fetched: August 10th, 2010, 10:00am PDT by DanM

The Real Story of Covering the WSOP, by Paul McGuire * * * Click here to purchase! Pokerati NLH / PLO. Vegas Poker Rooms. Pokerati Live Action. Advertise on Pokerati.com. Poker Links … Everest Poker Bonus · Titan Poker bonus code ...

Pokerati | Texas hold'em blog

McDermott: “It’s very very likely” Online Gambling Bill Will Pass in 2010

Posted: August 10th, 2010, 9:02am PDT by DanM
Also from Gambling Compliance … This may be kinda old news now, but something else GC made available for all us poker plebes is their July interview with Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), sponsor of HR 2268, the legislation that lays out the structure for a new federal online gambling taxing machine, and the “companion bill” for Barney Frank’s HR 2267, which, of course, sets up the bureaucracy that poker players collectively have been clamoring for.

McDermott makes a cautious prediction starting at about 4:57, saying, “It is very very likely that this bill will pass” before the end of the year. He then explains how and why he believes online gambling supporters on the Hill can win over the necessary Congressfolk, “one Member at a time”:

This interview came before the HR 2267 mark-up hearing, where the bill moved forward with a bigger margin of bipartisan victory than expected … presumably made easier by the various amendments added by representatives from across the country and across the political spectrum.

Because you can’t have McDermott’s bill, 2268, without 2267 — and 2267 means little in terms of practical application without 2268 — they totally go together. But until the two are merged, this dual-bill process also creates additional spots for cutthroat backstabbing shenanigans parliamentary maneuvers across the aisle should some influential sort not like the way the bill is taking shape for their client/big-donor’s competitive interest. I’m pretty sure that’s how it works … but to borrow a phrase from McDermott, not gonna say 100 percent.

So … watch and see?

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Gambling Compliance’s Breakdown of 2267 Amendments + more on the looming online gambling “black list”

Posted: August 9th, 2010, 10:13pm PDT by DanM
For those not familiar, Gambling Compliance is one of a small handful of uberwonk journals for executive-types in the online gambling world. With offices in London and Washington DC, GC puts out high-level industry analysis that at least a handful of insiders find worth a £3,000-£5,000 in Europe subscription fee.

But they do make some content occasionally available for public consumption by non-subscribers. One I’ve been meaning to share for a while is the perfect companion piece to KevMath’s markup of HR 2267. (Supposedly Congressional staffers charged with the official cut-and-paste need a few more days to do what KevMath got done more than a week ago.)

Check it out … I like the cool, color-coded map; but the most important stuff is probably the breakdown by industry sector, explaining who has likely been affected how by the different amendments attached to the bill being sent to the floor. The report comes with an easy to browse table of amendments, too:

HR 2267 Frank Bill Amendments

Most interesting and plausibly relevant to our little world, imho, are provisions laid out in Rep. John Campbell’s (R-CA) amendment, which creates a “black list” of non-compliant operators. in my estimation, it seems designed to specifically shut out the likes of Tilt and Stars by pegging them as “bad actors” … unless every single one of us somehow agrees to stay hush and tell the government if asked, “Nope, never transfered any money. Play for free. Didn’t you see the commercials? Skill game. Even my hat says dot net!”

Gambling Compliance explains:
Amendment 8 also calls for the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) to maintain a list of “unlawful Internet gambling enterprises,” beginning within 120 days of the
enactment of the Frank bill, in order to prevent unregulated sites from continuing to operate in the US market.

Amendment 8 defines an ‘unlawful Internet gambling enterprise’ as:

Any person who, more than ten days after the date of the enactment of the legislation:
- Violates any provision of the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act;
- Knowingly receives or transmits funds intended primarily for a person who violates the Act;
- Knowingly assists in the conduct of an unlawful Internet gambling enterprise.
The FINCEN black-list must include:
- All known Internet website addresses of the ‘unlawful’ enterprise.
- The names of all known owners and operators of the enterprise.
- Information identifying the financial agents and account numbers of the enterprise.
That third bullet might be the killer … with public records from payment processor investigations being problematic.

The language does still seem vague enough, however, to allow backroom payoffs wiggle room, particularly with online sites insisting they’ve never done anything wrong despite myriad problems with payment processors used for 10s of thousands of transactions between online sites and American poker players who otherwise wouldn’t be able to get money into or out of player accounts … you know, like you can do with every other business relying on American money transactions online.

In lieu of the above, if not shut out, it seems the biggest online poker sites in the world might be straddled with the burden of proof should they want to contest any non-favorable licensing interpretations in court … and that would likely require putting hundreds of millions of dollars and/or top executives’ freedoms at risk. Perhaps Uncle Sam learned a thing or two from all the poker on TV about forcing your opponent to make the difficult decisions …

Again, could be way off here, but even with aggressively positive press releases from the likes of Stars contending that as a super-legitimate operator they just LOVE the idea of a black list … strong means weak? bottom line is that even if everything about the future of online gambling in the US is totally fair and on the up-and-up, anyone who wants an American license is still gonna have to get in the queue!

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Posted: August 9th, 2010, 5:17pm PDT by DanM
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