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2006-09-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

The Future of Online Poker
Category: Industry
Issue: September 2006
Robert Harris - August 31, 2006

The Market Research
A latest market research by the Irish organization Research and Markets (www.researchandmarkets.com) has exposed the future of online poker as revealed by their study. The report says "Europe is the future of online Poker". It reveals a number of interesting facts and figures and predictions on the future of poker, both online and offline.

Increasing Popularity
Online Poker is giving a tough competition to offline poker, as far as popularity is concerned says their report. Some of the most popular online poker sites of the world have over 75,000 players/members playing simultaneously. The company also states that innovative ways of gambling keep coming up constantly, to ensure a steady future growth of the gambling industry. From the figures online poker seems to be the clear winner guaranteeing steady growth. It is a winning combination of two mega trends in gambling—online gambling and online poker--both of which have become very popular.

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Continued Protest over Government Interference With Online Gambling

2006-09-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

Online Casino Legislation Causes PPA to Protest

After taking in the latest arrests of top executives in the online casino world, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) has initiated a protest against the legislation, seeing their quest as an attempt to further "promote and protect America's favorite past-time". Compromised of online and offline poker players, the PPA has been one of the first organizations to support and defend the rights of online casino poker players. The PPA is supported by various poker players, online casinos, and card rooms located across the United States.

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Amarillo Slim

2006-09-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

Thomas Preston Jr., known far and wide in the world of poker as "Amarillo Slim," won the main event at the World Series of Poker in 1972. Not only is he one of the most popular players ever to grace the poker scene, he is known as a consumate gambling man who would be on anything. As of 2006, Preston has compiled four WSOP bracelets, including two in Omaha, and has won over $500,000 in tournament play. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992.

Preston's victory on poker's biggest stage in 1972 propelled him to fame, not only within poker circles but also beyond it (unfortunately, there are no longer any existing records of his 1972 world championship). He soon made the rounds of various talk shows and was given a bit part in the Robert Altman movie "California Split." Overall, Preston has appeared on The Tonight Show 11 times as well as on Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, The Tomorrow Show, Panorama, Georgia Today, and A. M. Los Angeles. Preston became so famous during the seventies that most Americans would immediately think of his name and face every time they would hear about the game of poker.

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BUZZER JOINS THE BETFAIR POKER PROS

2006-09-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

Pro will represent Betfair at international tournaments, help online poker players and star in new downloadable video project.

Betfair Poker has signed a deal with Thomas ‘Buzzer’ Bhil which formalises his position as one of Team Betfair's sponsored pros.

He joins Ben ‘Milky Bar Kid’ Grundy and Bengt Sonnert in representing Betfair at major tournaments. The three pros will also play important roles in the education of new Betfair Poker players.

“Buzzer is a very strong player with some excellent tournament results. In single table tournaments he is one of the toughest players in the world. He will be responsible for passing on his knowledge to our user base,” said head of poker, Ben Fried.

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Bombshell Poker Sends Lucky Player to Playboy Mansion

2006-09-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

Bombshell Poker, Online Poker’s Hottest Site, sends lucky contest winner to the Playboy Mansion for the night of his life. Delivering on their promise to offer members access to exclusive events and parties, Bombshell Poker sent Derek and his best friend Chris of North Carolina, along with several LA Bombshell Girls, to the “All Star Night At The Mansion” party hosted by Rodney Peete.

Los Angeles (PRWEB) August 16, 2006 -- Bombshell Poker, Online Poker’s Hottest Site, sends lucky contest winner to the Playboy Mansion for the night of his life. Delivering on their promise to offer members access to exclusive events and parties, Bombshell Poker sent Derek and his best friend Chris of North Carolina, along with several LA Bombshell Girls, to the “All Star Night At The Mansion” party hosted by Rodney Peete to benefit the HollyRod Foundation. The lucky Online Poker player and his buddy partied with over 200 Celebrities, Athletes, Playmates, Bombshell Poker Girls and 500 of LA’s Hottest women.

Bombshell Poker offers a variety of poker rooms offering the following popular games: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo 8, 7 Card Stud, 5 Card Stud, 5 Card Draw, Lowball Poker, and Mixed Games. The site is easy to navigate and offers Free Money games for those who just want to play poker for fun, as well as a wide variety of tournaments - “Win-a-Date with a Bombshell,” “Win-a-Trip to a Bombshell photo shoot,” and the “Bombshell Poker Cruise Package” – you and 100 beautiful models.

The VIP section allows members to actually meet the girls of Bombshell Poker. Members will be able to interact with the girls in a “My Space” like environment by being able to email the girls directly. VIP Members will also enjoy exclusive invites to Bombshell parties and events, and access to photo galleries, behind the scenes video of photo shoots, and special members only tournaments. The VIP section gives members a chance to view photo galleries and even meet the Bombshell Poker girls. VIP members also enjoy exclusive invites to Bombshell Parties and Events.

Contact:
Jon Orlando
EMG – 323-658-8531

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Ever wanted to know where Poker Chips came from? Besides winning them from others!

2006-08-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

The History of the Poker Chip

From the time poker was first played on earth, poker chips have been an inseparable part of the game--keeping track of the winnings. The materials used for making poker chips have been as varied as their colors and designs. The materials used for manufacturing modern chips are—plastic, amal... Click for the rest of the story!

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ONLINE POKER PLAYER GOLD HAS THE MIDAS TOUCH

2006-08-27T20:46:00.000-07:00

Bodog sponsored player cleans up to the tune of $12 million at WSOP....and beyond

The new World Series of Poker champion is Jamie Gold following a tough 14 hour slug-out at the final table (see previous Online-Casinos.com and InfoPowa bulletins) that culminated in the early hours of Friday morning Las Vegas time in a heads up between former movie star agent Gold and Paul Wasicka.

Gold had amassed a chip armoury 7 times larger than Wasickas in his aggressive and skilful journey to the top, and just seven hands into heads-up play, Gold raised to $1.7 million preflop and Wasicka called. The flop came Qc-8h-5h, and after Gold checked, Wasicka bet out $1.5 million. Gold moved all-in, and Wasicka hesitated for a moment while Gold tried to goad him into a call. Wasicka seemed to read Gold for weakness and made the call with two tens, while Gold showed Q-9 for top pair. The turn came an ace, and the river a four, offering no help to Wasicka, and Jamie Gold was the new World Champion.

Winning the $12 million grand prize of the largest and richest game in poker history is just the start for Gold, who has signed a two-year endorsement deal with gambling group Bodog.com which not only includes the standard tournament buy-ins and promotional appearances, but also a $1-million television production deal. The agreement additionally features a Jamie Gold table on Bodog.com, where Gold will play frequently, enabling other Bodog players to go up against the WSOP champ. He joins a Bodog sponsored "A Team" that includes David Williams, Josh Arieh and Evelyn Ng.

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Poker Magazine Available for Free!

2006-08-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

Want to keep up with the latest poker news and poker tips and tools, subscibe to the new poker magazine from www.StartHereForPoker.com

Poker in Asia - Industry
According to some, poker originated from Asia. One such theory points to China, where dominos was played. It is believed that Chinese dominos was the forerunner of modern poker. There is proof, that the Chinese emperor Mu-tsung played ‘domino cards’ in the 10th century with his wife. ...

Thats just one of the stories you'll find about poker in the new magazine. Get yours today!

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Texas Holdem Takes Over As THE Game To Play

2006-08-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Of course being from Texas I understand the popularity of TEXAS Holdem. :)

2006 California State Poker Championship To Be All Hold 'Em
August 23, 2006
Earl Burton

Post a comment Demonstrating the continuing trend in the tournament poker world, the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, CA, announced on Monday that the upcoming 2006 California State Poker Championship, which will run from September 5th to September 24th, will be an all Limit and No Limit Texas Hold 'Em affair.

In the past, the series of tournaments has normally held a wide assortment of events that included Seven Card Stud and Omaha, among others. With the trend continuing to move towards an entire schedule of No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em tournaments (as witnessed by the recent Bellagio Cup II in Las Vegas and many other events across the United States), the Commerce seems to be following the tide in the tournament poker world. This shouldn't affect the strong turnout that is normally associated with the event, however.

Many professional players call the southern California area home and the competition can be fierce. Current World Champion Jamie Gold is one player who calls the Commerce his home as well as WSOP bracelet holder Jeff Cabanillas, who vanquished Phil Hellmuth in an early event during the recently completed World Series. The defending champion of the California State Poker Championship is another professional player as well in Tony Ma.

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PokerNews.com and Pacific Poker to Host $7,500 UK Open Freeroll

2006-08-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

PokerNews.com (http://www.pokernews.com) and Pacific Poker (http://www.pokernews.com/ext/397) will host a $7,500 UK Open Freeroll on Sunday September 10 at 13:00 EST. The winner of the freeroll will receive a $7,500USD package which includes entry to the 2006 UK Poker Open (September 25-October 8, Maidstone, UK) and the chance to win $250,000.

(PRWEB) August 18, 2006 -- Pacific Poker and PokerNews.com have announced a $7,500 UK Poker Open freeroll which will take place on Sunday September 10 at 13:00 EST. The winner of the freeroll will receive a $7,500USD package which consists of a $5,000 buyin to the UK Poker Open and $2,500 for travel and accommodation

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Is it Wise to Invest in Online Casinos?

2006-08-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

How much more of a gamble has it become to own a piece of an Internet casino? Is it a sucker’s bet, or the chance to buy low and score a big payday?

The questions have intensified since BetOnSports, an online sports betting company traded on the London Stock Exchange, stopped taking bets from the United States after the Justice Department charged the company and current and former executives with operating an illegal gambling operation.

Investors and industry analysts, who have long said that owning shares in Internet casinos involves serious risk, nonetheless expressed surprise at the move by prosecutors. They say the development, coupled with legislation in Washington that could clamp down further on the industry, has created new cause for concern.

And yet investors keep coming.

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BetonSports: The world is yours

2006-08-17T20:55:00.000-07:00

David Carruthers improbable rise to the top of an online gambling firm with roots in Brooklyn have made the world sit back and take notice, but more so because of what could be the climatic ending.

Carruthers along with 10 of his peers from BetonSports.com, including the firm's colorful founder, Gary Kaplan, were indicted last Monday on various felony charges stretching the gamut from the Wire Act violation, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Conspiracy, interstate transportation of gambling paraphernalia, interference with the administration of Internal Revenue laws and tax evasion.

When David Carruthers was arrested last Monday night at Dallas Airport, panic spread through the online gambling industry and those industry moguls who once thought they were beyond reach of US government officials as a result of their nationality suddenly learned otherwise.

Flamboyant and outspoken Canadians the likes of Calvin Ayre announced the abrupt cancellation of his company's much anticipated conference to be held in Las Vegas starting today. Execs from British gaming firms, including Sportingbet, were thanking their lucky stars having been in the United States at the time of Carruthers arrest, fortunate enough to leave for Europe without incident.

More than Ј600m was wiped from the value of the sector as investors took fright.

And now word of a potential class action suit by investors against the online gambling giant, BetonSports.

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2006-08-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

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I was recently playing in a game of Texas Holdem, and it was the greatest game I ever played. It was one of those stories where you go from 1 chip back to the top to win the whole pot. That is exactly what heppened and it was great fun had by all.

The game was $100 per person and $3/5 blinds that raised when someone was eliminated.

I was playing with a tight style, betting when I had good or decent cards and raising when I had slightly better cards. I was losing all night. Hand after hand forced me to play tighter and tighter to prevent me from losing everything. I was waiting until I had the hand to beat all others. This is not a good idea because theu know when I got a good hand that I would bet all of my...well I really only had 5 chips left so it really didnt matter anyway.

I was down on my luck and I was the big blind so I had to go all in anyway so I put it in and I didnt even look at my cards. I saw as every player looked at there cards and continued like normal but I stood my ground and went all in blind because I had to.

When The flop came down, I saw a pair of aces diamonds and clubs and a 2 of diamods. I had a fealing that I had an ace and I could not wait to turn my cards.

The game proceded and I had a smile on my face. It was the moment of truth and we flipped our cards. I was killed when I saw that my opponent had an ace. He was betting like a feind and I saw it comming but I didnt want to throw myself down.

I turned my cards and I saw a 3 of clubs and a 6 of diamonds... That is not what I wanted to see. He was all ready to take the pot when I saw that I had a flush and all he had was a 3 of a kind. Right then I laughed my head off as I looked at the tuern and river; both diamonds. I was surprised no one else had a diamond, that was very unlikely.

So now I had $30 and I was still the underdog. To make a long story short, I slowly crawled my way to the top to take my rightful place as the winner of the game.

So the moral of the story is very corny and annoying, never give up folks because your luck will change in a snap.

History Of Poker

2006-08-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

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The history of poker is a matter of some debate. The name of the game likely descended from the French poque, which descended from the German pochen ('to knock'), but it is not clear whether the origins of poker itself lie with the games bearing those names. It closely resembles the Persian game of as nas, and may have been taught to French settlers in New Orleans by Persian sailors. It is commonly regarded as sharing ancestry with the Renaissance game of primero and the French brelan. The English game brag (earlier bragg) clearly descended from brelan and incorporated bluffing (though the concept was known in other games by that time).

It is quite possible that all of these earlier games influenced the development of poker as it exists now. English actor Joseph Crowell reported that the game was played in New Orleans in 1829, with a deck of 20 cards, four players betting on which player's hand was the most valuable. Jonathan H. Green's book, An Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling (G. B. Zieber, Philadelphia, 1843), described the spread of the game from there to the rest of the country by Mississippi riverboats, on which gambling was a common pastime.

As it spread up the Mississippi and West during the gold rush, it is thought to have become a part of the frontier, pioneering ethos. Soon after this spread, the full 52-card English deck was used, and the flush was introduced. During the American Civil War, many additions were made, including draw poker, stud poker (the five-card variant), and the straight. Further American developments followed, such as the wild card (around 1875), lowball and split-pot poker (around 1900), and community card poker games (around 1925).

Spread of the game to other countries, particularly in Asia, is often attributed to the U.S. military. The game and jargon of poker have become important parts of American culture and English culture. Such phrases as ace in the hole, ace up one's sleeve, beats me, blue chip, call one's bluff, cash in, high roller, pass the buck, poker face, stack up, up the ante, when the chips are down, wild card, and others are used in everyday conversation, even by those unaware of their origins at the poker table.

Modern tournament play became popular in American casinos after the World Series of Poker began, in 1970. Notable champions from these early WSOP tournaments include Johnny Moss, Amarillo Slim, and Doyle Brunson. It was also during that decade that the first serious strategy books appeared, notably Super/System by Doyle Brunson (ISBN 1580420818) and The Book of Tells by Mike Caro (ISBN 0897461002), followed later by The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky (ISBN 1880685000).

Poker’s popularity experienced an unprecedented spike in the first years of the twenty-first century, largely because of the introduction of online poker and the invention of the hole-card camera, which turned the game into a spectator sport. Viewers could now follow the action and drama of the game, and broadcasts of poker tournaments such as the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour brought in huge audiences for cable and satellite TV distributors.

Because of the increasing coverage of poker events, poker pros are becoming more and more like celebrities, with poker fans all over the world entering into expensive tournaments for the chance to play with them. This increased camera exposure also brings about a new dimension to the poker pro's game—the realization that their actions may be aired later on TV.

Major poker tournament fields have grown dramatically because of the growing popularity of online satellite-qualifier tournaments where the prize is an entry into a major tournament.

The 2003 and 2004 WSOP champions, Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer, respectively, won their seats to the main event by winning online satellites. Richard Henderson Semi-Professional Poker player Online Poker Rooms

Contributed by itvegas64
Posted by shab on Monday, June 26 @ 02:28:31 CDT
Match on Article's text

Never Bluff; Big Mistake!

2006-08-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

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By George Christodoulou

There are some of us out there who play so tight that they will never bluff. They will play only there good hands and spend 70% of the time folding pre flop. This is a strategy used by many people, but it is not an inteligent way to play. When you watch the wsop, you see that there is no one there because they fold every hand. They play tight yes, but they do not sit and play with a rigged style. They flow with the game and they bluff every so often.

A good strategy is to play tight, especially when you have a short stack or when you are in a mtt game. These games are long and you do not want to lose in the first round because you bluff someone holding ak. Another point I want to make clear is the way you can win playing holdem. The only 2 ways to play is by having the best hand on the table or by winning after everyone fold. When you bluff, you have a chance of getting rid of the best hand on the table and leaving your hand in second place.

Some people, who play very tight, will fold to any sort of a bluff. Tight players will not wait to the river to see if they will get the card they are waiting for.
You have to be able to differentiate your style and take chances. If you have a stale playing style, you will cause the other players to se that you only play good hands. This is not good because you always want them to be confused about your hands. Being hard to read is a fantastic advantage.

Finally, I want to leave you with a few words of advice. You have to keep the game interesting. The game is not black and white. Change your strategy, take a chance, see what works, and change it again to keep your opponents confused.

Take Your Online Poker Game To The Next Level

2006-08-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

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By: Laura Bastowe

Playing Poker online can be quite satisfying, and financially rewarding, if one uses the best possible online poker strategies. Some online poker players simply rush into games and hands without thinking about their options. This usually leaves the unsuspecting online poker player with a lot less money than he or she started with. With these four easy tips, you can help yourself avoid the pitfalls of many poker players.

1. Don’t be afraid to enter tournaments. Poker tournaments can often be the most fun and the most profitable. It has been said that tournaments depend largely on luck, but don’t let that deter you. A solid poker player can make great strides in any type of game. However, luck certainly is a factor. You should be conscious of the buy-in and be willing to lose that amount of money. As you get deeper and deeper into the tournament, the blinds will increase and you should closely monitor the flop. In some of the cheaper online tournaments, new players will lose their money extremely fast. It is important to capitalize on this if you have a good hand. Playing a tournament came can be very fun, so any serious poker player should try to enter and win at least one tournament.

2. If you must, switch your table. It is a very good idea to switch the poker table you’re playing at least once a session. This is especially important if other players at a certain table have started to notice your habits. Also, a fresh set of opponents means a fresh set of betting habits and a fresh set of money. The advantages to staying at one table are familiarity with opponents, but your poker experience will certainly be more rewarding if you switch around tables.

3. Manage your money wisely. In order to have poker success, you must be financially savvy. Set limits for yourself based on your poker ability, financial situation, and your aversion to taking risks. It is always a good idea to set a lower limit because the competition is often easier there. Some players play games at two different limits. This can be quite beneficial. Playing in an easier game just for safety, and playing in a tough game can lead to increased winnings. Also watch your betting. Never bet too high too often, because this almost always leads to trouble. Finally, be mindful of short run and long run gains. Using lower limits will lead to gains in the long run, but high limits have the potential for gains in the short run. The best idea is to play to your strengths and to not lose all your money in the short run.

4. Know when to quit. This is a very important concept to grasp. Some poker players keep playing and playing until they have serious financial issues. If you keep playing in order to “break even” then you have played for too long. Additionally, if you start to lose your focus on the game and other opponents, and you constantly think that everyone is bluffing, than you have been playing too long. Even the best poker players have good days and bad days. One element that makes a poker player truly great is that he or she knows when to stop playing. If you start to feel as if you must play just one more hand, than you should stop playing immediately. Quitting at the right time can save you quite a bit of money and will lead to more enjoyable poker experiences in the future.

Online poker can be very fun, and also has the potential to be profitable. The best suggestion is to simply play smart. Keep an eye on your bets, and don’t hinder yourself by taking on too many hands. Know when to quit and manage your money wisely. Change tables every now and than for variety. Last, but certainly not least, have fun!

About the Author:

Laura Bastowe writes about a variety of online games but specializes in online poker. Learn more at http://www.whichpoker.com

Article Source: isnare.com

2006-08-12T11:53:00.000-07:00

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By George Christodoulou

I was surfing throught the net and I found this persons post about how he wanted online poker to be banned because he loses all the time. In addition he was saying how he had the perfect hand and he lost to someone on the river.

The following is the post he made at pokerforums.org:

>>"I am officially giving up online poker. yes i am crying ...yes i am whining whatever.

I plan on emailing my congressman to make sure that the current laws are changed to either .....

A) allow online blackjack
or
B) shutdown online poker.

After reading Super sytem/ harrington/online ace/ cloutier books and trying to play online i am officially giving up.

I am sick of people saying hey thats poker. You gotta take your bad beats, blah blah blah.

There is no more skill in poker than there is in blackjack or craps or roulette. I will explain.

If in blackjack i know to split aces and hit 21 on both i KNOW for a fact that the worst thing that can happen is a tie and more likely i will be paid off. The skill comes from KNOWING to split the aces instead of just hitting.

last night i KNEW i had the best hand going in from the BB so i raised and was called. Flop came Kd/7h/8h to my A/K h. I have almost a hammer lock on the hand at this point so i raise. Long story short the money gets in the middle and he is holding ks/10c.

Now as you can identify he has a possible 2 outs. the 10h gives me a flush and therefore he needs one of the 2 remaining 10's. It hit on the river.

Dont tell me thats poker...its not....its a pure game of chance. I have read the books i applied the correct amount of pressure to get all his money in and guess what....i lose on a 95.5% chance to win hand.

I wish you all fairwell. This cookie prefers to win 51% of the time at blackjack and craps as opposed to losing 100% of the time when i have a lock hand."<<

There is so much wrong that I found with what he said. First of all who gives up a game with one bad beat. There are people out there who lose every time they play with great hands. Secondly he wants to legalize online blackjack. Thirdly he says that the game is rigged.

When you play poker online you are playing with real people who are just a little too far away from you to play in your living room. You are not versing the computer. If I versed the computer and I lost every time I played, I would be a little worried, but your versing people who will bet, raise, fold, and talk to you. Another problem was that he was playing in a low limit game. someone with a hand like k/10 will be willint to spend all there money or $10 but in a high stakes game where they have to bet $100 -$1000 the game would be played differently. People are willing to play on a gut instinct in low limit because there really is almost no risk so that explains why the other person didn't back down.

Online blackjack whould be very unpredictable. He says that there is skill in blackjack. I disagree to his statement because there really is nothing you can do unless you count cards, and unless you are a mathamatical genious, you wont be able to count cards. Blackjack, like holdem is about percentages. You have to know what your chance is of winning.

I personally have won a lot of money online playing texas holdem online. The reason why he cant do the same probably has to do with the way he plays, not "the game is rigged". What he has to do is go back to those articles he reads about texas holdem strategy and re-read them or try to do something different.

Gold Shows Midas Touch at WSOP

2006-08-11T20:53:00.000-07:00

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By Lynda Collins

Just call him Goldfinger, the man with the Midas touch.

Just about everything Jamie Gold touched the past week turned to, well, gold -- $12 million worth.

The 37-year-old Hollywood talent agent ran roughshod over a field of 8,773 players, including some of poker's brightest stars, in winning the 37th World Series of Poker's $10,000 buy-in Texas No-Limit Hold'em event at Harrah's Rio Hotel and Casino.

Gold, who won the day's first pot as well as its last, claimed his title in the wee hours of Friday morning after busting out seven of his eight opponents at the Final Table and 16 of the last 27 survivors.

En route to the championship, he methodically built the largest chip stack in WSOP history, at times more than doubling the stack of his closest opponent.

By the time he and runnerup Paul Wasicka of Westminster, Colo., who collected $6.1 million, entered their abbreviated heads-up session, Gold had 85 percent of the chips spread out in front of him.

"Phenomenal," "incredible" and "stupendous" were just a few of the adjectives observers showered on Gold.

"Unbelievable," was Gold's choice of words.

The first thing an exhuberant Gold did after hugging friends, family and fans was call his father, who suffers from Lou Gerhig's Disease and couldn't be present.

That caused obvious emotional stress as Gold lowered his head into his hands, his mood suddenly becoming reflective.

"He'd gladly give back the $12 million if it would cure his father," confided one of Gold's friends

"What I want to do in life is make great entertainment," said Gold, whose client list reads like a Who's Who in Hollywood.

"Otherwise, all I want to do is play poker.

"I'm supposed to be in charge of a major production right now, but I got two weeks off because they (his associates) knew how much this meant to me and they believed in me."

It took more than 12 hours for the first five finalists to bust out, but less than 90 minutes for elimination of the other three, including two-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Allen Cunningham of Las Vegas, the player many felt would face Gold in heads-up play.

Cunningham, to his utter dismay, finished fourth, earning $3.628 million.

A large crowd of fellow pros had turned out to lend their support, including Daniel Negreanu, Mike "The Mouth" Matusow, Robert Williamson III, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi and Jennifer Harman.

"I want Allen to win because a lot of people don't realize what a great player he is," Harman said.

Three-time WSOP champ Johnny Chan, on the other hand, served as Gold's main advisor, huddling with him often to offer pointers.

The only professional at the Final Table, Cunningham was so distraught at losing what may be his only real shot at the championship, he declined to be interviewed by ESPN, which was taping the tournament, and stiffed a large assemblage of reporters from throughout the world who had gathered in the media center.

In eliminating Cunningham, third-place finisher Michael Binger of Atherton, Calif., raised to $1,100,000 from the cutoff.

Gold called from the button and Cunningham moved all-in for $6.5 million from the big blind.

Binger folded and Gold made the call.

Cunningham showed the 10 of clubs and 10 of hearts, while Gold turned over the jack and king of diamonds.

The board came ace of spades, king of spades, eight of hearts, 7 of clubs and 3 of spades.

Binger, winner of $4.1 million, followed Cunningham out the door 45 minutes later.

Gold limped in from the button and Wasicka from the small blind.

Binger raised to $1.5 million from the big blind.

Gold and Wasicka both called and the flop came 10 of clubs, 6 of spades and and 5 of spades.

Wasicka checked, Binger bet $3.5 million and Gold moved all-in.

Wasicka folded and Binger called, displaying the 10 and ace of hearts.

Gold turned over the 4 of spades and 3 of clubs for an open-ended straight draw.

The turn was the 7 of clubs and Gold made his straight.

The river was the queen of spades and it was revealed that had Wasicka not folded, he would've won the hand with a flush.

The consensus opinion was the Coloradan simply was eyeing a runnerup finish at that point and wanted to get Binger out of the way., something which Wasicka denied during his press conference.

The 2006 WSOP became history about 40 minutes later.

Gold raised to $1.7 million and Wasicka called.

The flop came queen of clubs, 8 of hearts and 5 of hearts.

Wasicka bet $1.5 million and Gold went all-in.

Wasicka called and turned over a pair of 10s, while Gold showed the queen of spades and 9 of clubs for a pair of queens.

Fourth Street was the ace of diamonds and the river was the four of clubs as Gold's ladies held up.

Despite his record-shattering performace, there was widespread murmuring that Gold, whose previous earnings totaled just $92,000, had failed to win the respect of most professionals.

"In poker, you have to earn respect," media relations director Nolan Dalla said.

"Money is not respect.

"There are many flashes in the pan who come and go.

"I'd never heard of Mr. Gold before.

"He was an unknown in the poker world.

"It's sort of like the Kentucky Derby.

"You have a new champion every year.

"But how many Triple Crown winners have we had?

"They're the great ones.

"What Jamie Gold has done is truly remarkable and the winner deserves respect.

"He may be one of the best, but in poker you have to pay your dues and that means winning more than one tournament."

Gold's Final Table rivals weren't into dissing the champ.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Rhett Butler of Rockville, Md., who fell victim to the high price of blinds and antes.

"He forces people to make plays."

"He's a very good player who plays the big stack well," Binger added.

"He's like a vacuum cleaner and he can catch the bluffs."

Daniel Nassif was the first to bust out at the Final Table.

He was followed, in order, by Erik Friburg, Doug Kim, Richard Lee, Butler, Cunningham, Binger and Wasicka.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynda_Collins

10 Poker commandments

2006-08-10T05:23:00.000-07:00

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The following is going to be the most important post I have ever made. This is the 10 commandments of poker. If you follow these 10 commandments you are sure to....lose.

1.Play every hand. Take every hand as a blessing from the poker gods...and any money you lose as a sacrifice to the big score...

2. Play any suited cards. These are a gift from the poker gods and should never be wasted...

3. Call all in when you have an ace...even when it is with a two of clover thingies...that ace is a gift and again should not be wasted...

4. Always raise after the blinds...this shows your trust in the poker gods and they will reward you with a good flop...

5. Never let some bluff you out of the pot if you hold any of the following hands. An A with and kicker suited or not. You could catch an A on the river and squash them. That goes for Kx QX and Jx too. Any three to a flush or three to a straight. You never know. They could have nothing and you could catch runner....

6. When you the only card that helped you win on the river you must make sure to look your opponents in the eye and tell them about your master of poker and how you are blessed by the poker gods or they will not be happy...

7. Yell at your opponents when the card you want does not show up on the river. Then light a torch and continue about how they are anti-poker gods and that you have to take care of them...

8. Always check your good hands and then wait until the river to bet. For being so patient you shall be rewarded with large sums of money...

9. Every 2 cards can win so bet on them all and play all the time because when you have to wait for the game to pass you by as you fold for an hour you get bored...

10. poker is all about luck and the way the poker gods are feeling during the particular day. Make sure to ask them if they want you to play on any particular day and they will let you know....

Thanks for reading the 10 commandments of poker to make you lose.

(caution) Following these commandments may affect your life financially. Please use judgment before using. May cause feelings of being bad at poker and hate towards the poker gods.

Poker Tips - Poker Rules- Online Poker

2006-08-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

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By: FxCrow

Amarillo Slim, a professional poker player and best friend to casino mogul Benny Binion, once said, “If you can't spot the sucker within the first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker.” There are few poker rules, the more formal the setting the more restrictive the rules. If you’ve ever wanted to know how to play poker, either at a table or online poker, you’ve come to the right place.

History

Though the history of poker is debatable, it is known that a card game was commonly played in New Orleans in 1829, though only with a 20-card deck. As the game spread West along with the gold rushers, it changed a bit and eventually the English 52-card deck was incorporated, bringing the flush with it. Versions of the game like draw and stud poker were introduced during the American Civil War, along with the straight. By the early 1900’s, the wild card, split-pot and lowball poker were being played around the US.

In 1970, the first World Series of Poker was played. As poker gained popularity, books and movies about strategies began to appear. Televised poker games have added to the popularity of the game.

Terminology and Poker Rules
All-in – to place all of your tokens or money for bet
Ante – forced bet at the beginning of each game, each player plays the same number of tokens or money in the pot
Blind – forced bet by one or two players before the start of a hand, in addition to the ante. Blind players usually rotate one player before or after the button.
Bluff – to bet or raise with an inferior hand in an attempt to raise the pot and/or force others to fold
Button – a token or coin rotated around a table to mark the dealer.
Call – to accept the bet amount from previous player, without raising it
Community Card – some variations of poker call for one or more community cards, where some poker cards are dealt face up for all to use to make a hand
Dealer – person who deals cards. Poker is usually dealt in a round, dealing one card to each player until desired cards are possessed by each player. Dealer is last in the round.
Flop – when community cards are used, the first three are referred to as the flop
Four of a Kind – four cards, with or without wild cards, that are of the same value (four 3’s, four Aces)
Flush – five cards of the same suit (a 2, 5, 7, 10 and Jack of spades, for example)
Full House – three cards of one value and two cards of another value (three 4’s and two 6’s, for example)
Jackpot – the total of all money and/or tokens bet during any hand; also called the pot
Kicker – when a winning set of cards are the same (each player has a pair of Kings, for example) the kicker is used as a tie breaker. Each of the tying players use their next highest card as their kicker (a Queen outranks a 10, for example)

Limit – maximum bet allowed per game
Pair – two of the same valued card
Poker Face – a face that does not reveal anything about the players hand
Push – to put yourself all-in
Raise – to add to the bet the previous player made
Royal Flush – 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, all of the same suit
Straight – five cards in numerical succession (8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, for example)
Straight Flush - five cards in numerical succession all of the same suit (8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, all hearts, for example)

How to Play Poker

A typical poker game is a version known as draw poker. The dealer deals five cards to each player. Each player antes. Players look at but do not share information about their cards. The players bet by placing tokens or money into the pot, starting with the player to the dealers left and continuing around the table. Each player than chooses the number of cards to trade to the dealer, receiving new cards from the deck. Betting repeats. Player with the highest hand wins. If two players have winning hands, the tie is broken with the kicker. Below is a list of possible card hands, from strongest to weakest:
Royal Flush
Straight Flush
Four of a Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
Three of a Kind
Two Pair
Pair
High Card or Kicker

Player with the strongest hand wins the jackpot. Button is rotated to the left and the player possessing the button deals the next hand.

Online Poker

Online poker has become a very popular way to play cards. In addition to being easy to access, it is far less intimidating than entering a brick and mortar casino. Betting options are more varied, from penny-ante to $1000 ante. Overhead for online poker is dramatically less than traditionally casinos, the only physical space they need is for servers and for customer support. Online venues also offer security of fewer player collusion opportunities as they have sophisticated software to check IP addresses, betting patterns, past hands and table set ups.

Four World Series of Poker players started as online players, eventually winning a spot in the tournament. It was thought that online players were less skilled than table players, but when Chris Moneymaker, one of the online entrants, won the championship, that changed.

Versions

There are countless versions of poker, here are some:
Stud – either five or seven card, there are no additional cards dealt beyond the first round

Texas Hold’em – usually played with blind bets and antes; first two rounds of dealing are down (players keep cards private), then a flop of three cards, with bets after the down deal and the flop. Very common in casinos and used at the World Series of Poker.

Article Source: http://www.ezinecrow.com

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Collection Tips For The New People

2006-08-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

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Poker Tips and Tools Blog

If you have never played poker before and you want to start then here is where you are going to start. There is a vast number of questions you have to ask yourself before you can begin. This is going to help you to become a better player as time goes on utilizing different strategies.

The first thing you want to do is figure out what kind of game you are playing. For example are you playing multi-table tournament or are you a sit and go person. Have you played with others off line or is this your first time every playing. My advice for people who want to start playing online would be to play for free or you may lose a lot of money.

That brings me to my second tip; you have to manage your money or you will end up losing more money then you thought you did. Try to limit yourself to putting in a little bit of money every month or so or else you can be putting in more money then you have to spend on poker.

When you actually play there are a few rules I go by. Many people, when they start playing, will wait for a big hand to come before they bet. This is not a good idea because they will cause people around them to know that they only bet with big hands. It is not easy to spend money on a hand that is less than desired but in the long run it will change the way the players around you look at how you play. After a few bluffs, you can go back to playing tighter when you have a shorter stack because the bluffs didn’t work.

One of the best ways to learn, in my opinion, is to take your games and post them in a forum or a blog like this one. This helps you because they will be looked at and your strategies can be fixed.

Texas Hold’Em

2006-08-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

By: J Finney

There are many important things to learn about Texas Hold’Em before you play the game. One of the most crucial things you need to learn is a good basic strategy for betting. This is also a learning necessity with most other poker games and variations as well.

Fixed limit games are the most common types of Texas Hold’Em games. In fixed limit games, there are two different betting amounts, the low and the high betting amounts. For example, if you were playing Texas Hold’Em at a $10-$20 table, the first betting rounds all the bets would have to be made in $10 increments. So if the bet is currently at $10, you could only raise it to $20 or call. Dependent upon the game you are playing, at some point in the game the betting limit would double, so that all the bets would then be made at $20.

One basic strategy that can be used for betting in Texas Hold’Em is to try to focus on what cards you think the other players are holding in their hands. It will be important to watch the other players to get clues on what they may have or may be planning. One of the most important keys to betting successfully is to understand the other players at the table and try to place bets without them being able to guess your next move.

Most casinos limit the number of max raises to three or four a round. The number of allowed raises in each betting round should be a crucial element in planning your betting strategy.

A bet that is called a check is a nothing bet. Players make these bets when they don’t want to up the amount of their bet, but still want to remain in the game. If there have been no bets made during the round and play comes to you, you can check and pass play to the next player. A round of checks can be good for your poker play, assuming you have developed a good strategy. As always, you will need to study your hand well, and decide on the strength of the other players hands.

Sometimes using bluffs can be a boost to your poker betting strategy for Texas Hold’Em. It is important to remember that bluffs will work best when they are unexpected, if you bluff too often no one will fall for your tricks. On the flip side, if you never use bluffs and bet on a good hand, other players are more likely to pick up on the hand and fold rather than bet against you.

As with any poker game, you should remember that there will always be the element of luck involved, and that play may never go as you expect it to. Having a good betting strategy can tremendously help you in game play, but it is not the only part of the game you need to learn. The more you play the game, the better you should become at developing an effective strategy. Keep in mind that it is crucial to your success that you don’t become predictable in your play, as other players will be fast to pick up on it. Becoming a predictable player will make you lose far more often than you will win.

About the Author: Check out our professional poker player profiles on Howard Lederer and Huck Seed today.

Article Source: www.isnare.com

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Monster Cards All The Time?

2006-08-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

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Poker Tips and Tools Blog

What do you do when your opponent keeps getting good cards? This is not an easy thing to combat against. This happens to the best of us. One player at the table has cards that dominate every game.

They will take those cards and use them to there advantage. They will call all the time. You think that they have to bluff some times but they keep bringing out monster cards.

The worst thing you can do is take a semi good hand and verse that person. They may have the hand better then yours.

Before you decide to bet large sums of money against a person who is winning all night, you should look at the community cards, study them, see what possible hands can be made.

I doubt you can see his cards on his face because he has no pressure against him and he may or may not have good cards anymore. Since he has taken a lot of money from his good cards, he will probably check all the time and maybe raise to try and bluff.

Check to see if this person it betting with only good hands. Check for a pattern. if you see that this person never bluffs, then dont try and bluff him or you may get yourseld into a lot of trouble.

You want to play tight and try to avoid losing money to this person. Until you have more then you came in with, you really can not be bluffing because it is too risky.

I always try and see the flop with any hand. If nobody raises or if the raise is low, I continue to see the turn and river. You can never tell when your 2/4 unsuited turns into a straight trips or 2 pair ( as unlikey as they are).

The only strategy I can think of to combat the player at the table who keeps dominating every hand is to play tight because that person cant win all the time. Whem you finally get those cards you where hoping for which are also possible, try and lure that person into giving you there money.

playing on a short stack has some advantages since more people will go all in with you. Remember that that is a very powerful move. People will always want to emiminate a player.

2006-08-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

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Poker Tips and Tools Blog

By: Tarun Sharma

All the games we have looked so far involved betting against other players. But this game is different; here everyone plays against the casino or room which acts as a bank (dealer), paying out all winning bets. To win you have to beat the dealer's hand, other player's hands don't make a difference.

First each player makes an ante (initial blind bet) and is dealt 5 cards face down. The dealer receives 4 cards face down and 1 card face up. Now each player decides whether to fold or play by looking at their cards, if they fold then their ante is lost but if they continue, they have to double their ante-bet.

Now the dealer reveals his hand, but he must have an A-k or higher in order to play his hand, if not the player is paid even money on the ante and also the additional bet is not lost (See the table for odds). If the player's hand beats the dealer's, the ante is paid at evens. However, if the dealer's hand beats the player's hand then both bets are lost.

Additional Bet Payout odds:

1/1 One pair or High card (Even)
2/1 Two pair
3/1 Three of a kind
4/1 Straight
5/1 Flush
7/1 Full House
20/1 Four of a kind
50/1 Straight flush
100/1 Royal flush

If the dealer and player play the same poker hand, then remaining cards are taken in to consideration. If all five cards are equal, the hand is void. Neither the ante nor the additional bet is lost. The ranking of suits makes no difference to the hand.

Here the odds are poor; a normal game of poker with seven players will have odds of at least 6/1 which is a great deal better when compared to the minimum odds in this game which is 1/1. Also the odds paid for additional bet are poor. Again there is no skill required and you rely too much on luck. Finally remember you have much better odds of winning money when you are playing for the pot. Good Luck :)

About the Author:

Also visit http://www.pokkercards.com/pokertournaments.htmlfor upcoming free-rolls, satellites & qualifiers, speed and guaranteed tournaments.

Read more articles by: Tarun Sharma

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Stopping Beginners Shakes

2006-08-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

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Poker Tips and Tools Blog

I want to share with you my experience when I first started because it may be happening to you know as a beginner and you should learn how I overcame my problem and a few alternative solutions.

The problem I had was violent shaking. Every time I went to play live at a casino I shook like I had a some kind of nervous twitch. This is back when I first started playing in real casinos not online. The two experiences where much different from each other then I thought they would be. The lights, the sounds, the people talking, laughing, shuffling chips, looking over to watch you play, the slot machines ringing.

This was very overwhelming when I first started playing. I thought it was very exciting and I could not wait to play. When I sat down though, my hands started to shake. When I would bet from having a good hand I would shake. After time went by, people began to tell me that I shook when I had good hands. I took this into account and I noticed that I shook, but I could not stop.

So what did I do? Nothing much, I just played. From experience, I stopped. If people didn’t tell me I probably would not have stopped, but thanks to them, I have.

I brought this story up to a friend of mine, Paul Okoli, he is one of the best poker players I know, he told me a few “secrets” that I am going to share with everyone today (If you can call them secrets).

One thing you can do is learn to control your breathing. As when shooting a rifle, take a deep breath and hold it, when its time to shoot, let that breath out. Listen to yourself breath and keep focused on remembering your cards and the faces of your opponents. Don’t keep your eyes on the flop, it will always be there.

Another tip is to take a drink of some alcoholoc beverage of some sort. Now im not saying to get drunk, but it is a know fact that it is a depressant and can calm your nerves.

Finally, there is a pill called Valerian root that you can purchase that calms nerves. It is a very low dose sleep aid used for people to calm down. It is some kind of relaxing drug. I’m not an herbal specialist so just google the word and see what comes up.

That’s all he told me. Remember my strategy and the next time your in a casino just stay calm. Introduce yourself. If your playing low stakes, talk, laugh, see the flop, and just have fun. If your going in there to win big money, try to play low stakes first as practice and then move up from there.