After months of anticipation it was time to shuffle up and deal at the 2009 North Dakota State Poker Championship, and everyone was hoping to bring in the grand prize of $35,000.
"I just hope to get good cards and play well," says Canada native Barb Cuthill.
"There are a lot of good poker players in North Dakota, so if they want to get serious at the table we can get serious," says Poker Pro Robert Hainsworth.
On January 1st more than 1,300 people from 32 states and three countries made their way to the Vegas Motel to be a part of the action, a far cry from the 300 people who played in the first tournament in 2004.
"It`s becone a lot like the World Series of Poker, but not as big of course," says Tournament Emcee Mitch Schock.
Schock has seen poker grow throughout the country.
In 2006 he placed 29th in the largest poker event of all time, the 2006 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
Tournaments like this aren`t just about getting lucky, its about patience and mental toughness.
"After seven or eight hours at the poker table you`re tired, you`re hungry. It`s a long day," says Schock.
Barb Cuthill has made the trip from Canada to play in four of the five tournaments and has made the event a family affair, playing alongside her husband and two sons.
"They`re all interested in it and they come with us, we`re pretty competitive too," says Cuthill.
Taking home the title will be a daunting task, and the winner will need the perfect storm of skill, luck and most of all patience.
"It`s going to take a lot of luck. Obviously you need to play well, but you`ve got to get good cards," says Minot resident Kellen Hunter.
"For one thing it`s going to take patience, and it`d be nice to have a big stack going into the second day," says Hainsworth.
Most importantly if you have a chip you have a chair, meaning everyone has a chance to walk out $35,000 richer.
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Friday, January 2, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
UFCPOKER Comments - AssHoles in Goverment !
Now the assholes in government want to tax poker , it's bad enough we are bailing out these car dealers and banks with tax payers dollars and now want to tax poker , and i also seen an article they want to raise the tax on gas ! Maybe these assholes in goverment should give up there salaries for 1 or 2 years to help bail out the problems they created ! Instead of tax payers paying for it all again ! Let me know what u think on this subject,let ur comments below and sign guestbook !
Politics and Poker: The Next Sin Tax?
Denis Campbell
Editors' note: Contributing columnist Denis Campbell brings an independent and experienced eye to poker's political scene. Campbell has worked closely in the past with former Cabinet Secretaries in the Carter and Clinton administrations, Ambassadors and members of Congress. He offers commentary on US and UK politics for the BBC and Huffington Post. Here, Denis offers his insights on matters affecting poker. Denis' views do not necessarily reflect those of PokerNews.
Last week, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland placed himself at the front of the Obama infrastructure and state aid queue, saying his state needs an immediate infusion of $5 billion to survive a projected budget shortfall of $7.3 billion, this despite laying off 3,000 state workers.
His state, like most others, is looking to fill budget holes anyway they can. Gaming (both online and in casinos) presents tax/revenue opportunities that "sin" taxes – alcohol and cigarettes – no longer fill. Even in today's economy, cigarettes face state and local tax increases of between $.30 and $1.00 per pack raising the price to $3.00 on average and $25-$30 a carton. An addict will cut back under those types of price increases.
The urgent need for revenue has created a flood of state gaming tax proposals and could mean swift action on the repeal of UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) via legislation currently sitting in Barney Frank's House Banking Committee. Repeal under a new administration and Democratically-controlled Congress could zoom to the top of a very full list of priorities sooner rather than later. If it doesn't, states like California will move it to the top of their lists... and therein lies a danger.
States will move quickly to generate tax revenue and fees from online gaming but are not structured to handle the complexity. Can you imagine online sites setting up different rakes for each state depending on where you live, or charging you a higher per-game entry fee to play from, for example, California or Kentucky, based solely on your location? If you think you have no privacy now, can you imagine what they will need to do to charge the correct tax rate across 50 states and the District of Columbia?
Being careful what one wishes for could become the guiding rule for a return to online gaming in the US. The barriers to market entry for companies based in Malta, Bermuda, Channel or Cayman Islands could become even more difficult than they currently are.
Also, do not underestimate the power and deviousness of the American far right. While crippled in the last election, they are still a force to be reckoned with on their base's white-hot morals issues, which also include abortion, immigration, gaming, state religion (Christianity), homosexual marriage and adoption. They were, for example, unable to repeal Roe v. Wade so instead they introduced a potentially crippling rule allowing health care professionals to use their conscience and overrule their medical responsibility to provide legal health services such as abortion or birth control.
These are very smart adversaries who have learned through failure to never attack the real issue. Instead, UIGEA attacked the payment system, making that illegal, not gambling itself. If you cannot collect money, you shut down online gaming. Look for them to find and exploit a similar Achilles heel in the future.
Another problem within states is the intricate maze of controlling authorities. Historically anti-gaming Florida (except on the federally controlled Seminole Indian reservation), is a state where commercial gaming is regulated by: the Division of Pari-mutuel and Wagering within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), The Florida Lottery, and the Office of the Attorney General of Florida. I kid you not. Each has an interest in stopping gaming separate from Governor Crist's desire to raise funds. Racetrack owners and the lottery don't want competition and the Attorney General has to run for re-election in an anti-gaming state. Add in the repeal/restructure of UIGEA (at the federal level) on top of that and it becomes a volatile mix.
Also, watch for slot machine manufacturers to gain an online foothold as they eye a potential windfall. Bally Technologies unveiled a "slot machine built for two" last month at the global Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. The company is hoping the concept will catch on as "an ingenious way for people to share the casino gaming experience."
Hmm, people playing against each other online at slots, draw poker, and no-limit Texas hold'em? One could ask if the introduction was a case of suspicious timing, or was it a marketing masterstroke where quick adaptability helps to ensure one's survival? Goldman Sachs' gaming analysts already project that Bally's and other manufacturers will gain mightily as states look to plug shortfalls with wider, more accessible gaming.
So it could be a good year for online gaming, just heavily regulated and taxed. And punters can expect to pay much more for the privilege.
Editors' note: Contributing columnist Denis Campbell brings an independent and experienced eye to poker's political scene. Campbell has worked closely in the past with former Cabinet Secretaries in the Carter and Clinton administrations, Ambassadors and members of Congress. He offers commentary on US and UK politics for the BBC and Huffington Post. Here, Denis offers his insights on matters affecting poker. Denis' views do not necessarily reflect those of PokerNews.
Last week, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland placed himself at the front of the Obama infrastructure and state aid queue, saying his state needs an immediate infusion of $5 billion to survive a projected budget shortfall of $7.3 billion, this despite laying off 3,000 state workers.
His state, like most others, is looking to fill budget holes anyway they can. Gaming (both online and in casinos) presents tax/revenue opportunities that "sin" taxes – alcohol and cigarettes – no longer fill. Even in today's economy, cigarettes face state and local tax increases of between $.30 and $1.00 per pack raising the price to $3.00 on average and $25-$30 a carton. An addict will cut back under those types of price increases.
The urgent need for revenue has created a flood of state gaming tax proposals and could mean swift action on the repeal of UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) via legislation currently sitting in Barney Frank's House Banking Committee. Repeal under a new administration and Democratically-controlled Congress could zoom to the top of a very full list of priorities sooner rather than later. If it doesn't, states like California will move it to the top of their lists... and therein lies a danger.
States will move quickly to generate tax revenue and fees from online gaming but are not structured to handle the complexity. Can you imagine online sites setting up different rakes for each state depending on where you live, or charging you a higher per-game entry fee to play from, for example, California or Kentucky, based solely on your location? If you think you have no privacy now, can you imagine what they will need to do to charge the correct tax rate across 50 states and the District of Columbia?
Being careful what one wishes for could become the guiding rule for a return to online gaming in the US. The barriers to market entry for companies based in Malta, Bermuda, Channel or Cayman Islands could become even more difficult than they currently are.
Also, do not underestimate the power and deviousness of the American far right. While crippled in the last election, they are still a force to be reckoned with on their base's white-hot morals issues, which also include abortion, immigration, gaming, state religion (Christianity), homosexual marriage and adoption. They were, for example, unable to repeal Roe v. Wade so instead they introduced a potentially crippling rule allowing health care professionals to use their conscience and overrule their medical responsibility to provide legal health services such as abortion or birth control.
These are very smart adversaries who have learned through failure to never attack the real issue. Instead, UIGEA attacked the payment system, making that illegal, not gambling itself. If you cannot collect money, you shut down online gaming. Look for them to find and exploit a similar Achilles heel in the future.
Another problem within states is the intricate maze of controlling authorities. Historically anti-gaming Florida (except on the federally controlled Seminole Indian reservation), is a state where commercial gaming is regulated by: the Division of Pari-mutuel and Wagering within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), The Florida Lottery, and the Office of the Attorney General of Florida. I kid you not. Each has an interest in stopping gaming separate from Governor Crist's desire to raise funds. Racetrack owners and the lottery don't want competition and the Attorney General has to run for re-election in an anti-gaming state. Add in the repeal/restructure of UIGEA (at the federal level) on top of that and it becomes a volatile mix.
Also, watch for slot machine manufacturers to gain an online foothold as they eye a potential windfall. Bally Technologies unveiled a "slot machine built for two" last month at the global Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. The company is hoping the concept will catch on as "an ingenious way for people to share the casino gaming experience."
Hmm, people playing against each other online at slots, draw poker, and no-limit Texas hold'em? One could ask if the introduction was a case of suspicious timing, or was it a marketing masterstroke where quick adaptability helps to ensure one's survival? Goldman Sachs' gaming analysts already project that Bally's and other manufacturers will gain mightily as states look to plug shortfalls with wider, more accessible gaming.
So it could be a good year for online gaming, just heavily regulated and taxed. And punters can expect to pay much more for the privilege.
UIGEA repeal in cards for 2009?
By anyone's measure, we've just experienced a monumental year for poker. With unprecedented growth in the number of people involved in the game and the number of places where they're playing, not to mention a few scandals big enough to make 60 Minutes, the game was bigger than ever in 2008.
That sets the stage for an even bigger year ahead. Here's a look in the PokerListings crystal ball to see what's in store for 2009.
WSOP
The 2009 World Series of Poker will continue a decade-long overall trend of setting records for both the number of participants and the number of countries they come from.
In addition to growth across all the preliminary bracelet events, the WSOP Main Event will grow for the second straight year after a 2007 UIGEA-influenced drop in attendance. The entry fees of more than 8,000 players will create the second-largest tournament winner's purse in history.
That purse won't be awarded right away, however. Optimistic about the increased ratings its "November Nine" experiment generated in 2008, WSOP management will delay the Main Event final table for the second straight year.
Responding to criticisms by bloggers that the television package in November hadn't really been worth the wait, ESPN will focus on only the last six players in its three-hour coverage, creating the WSOP's first "September Six."
While Nevada gaming regulations will once again prevent the final table from being shown live, the footage will be broadcast on the same day as the winner is crowned.
For the first time, no one over the age of 30 will make the Main Event final table. All of the final nine are professional online poker players who came of age in the post-Moneymaker era.
On the day that the Main Event concludes, cards will get in the air in London for the third edition of WSOP Europe. The successful event will add another event, bringing to five the number of gold bracelets handed out overseas each year.
Rumors will swirl that the WSOP is planning to emulate its European event in a nontraditional market, but WSOP execs will stay mum on the issue through the end of the year.
WPT
After years of bleeding cash and a tumultuous 2008 that saw the company threatened with delisting by NASDAQ, WPT Enterprises will undergo a radical restructuring of its business model.
Instead of being primarily a television production company with high overhead costs, WPTE will evolve into a poker tournament production company.
By running the popular tournaments itself and hiring a third-party production company to create its TV product, the WPT will maximize the value of its new contract with Fox Sports, trim operating costs, and put itself in position to become profitable for the first time in its history.
The end result for players won't change much in the short term, but in the long term this development points toward sponsored tournaments with added prize-pool cash.
OTHER TOURS
The European Poker Tour will bolster its runaway success in 2009 by focusing on strengthening its schedule. By adding new tournaments in Finland and Estonia and adding High Roller events for several of the older events on the schedule, the tour guarantees the largest prize pools in its history and attracts players from all over the world. The prestige of the EPT only increases when two events are won by well-known pros from the U.S.
Meanwhile the international spread of online poker will continue to grow at rapid rates in the South American and Asian markets, creating widespread support for the growing Asian Poker Tour, Asia Pacific Poker Tour and Latin American Poker Tour schedules.
The buy-ins for all the tours' events will go up as a result, creating larger prize pools that begin to attract more well-known professional players from more established poker nations. All three tours add new stops for the late 2009-early 2010 season.
THE KENTUCKY CASE
The domain name seizure case in the state of Kentucky will be thrown out by an appeals court panel early in the year. Judges will dismiss arguments that a domain name is a "gambling instrument," noting that the original definition of that term referred to objects such as slot machines and roulette wheels that allowed people to take part in games of chance.
The judges will also question the state's claim of jurisdiction over companies legally licensed and operating out of other countries, without going all the way and denying the state such authority.
Several Internet advocacy groups, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, will remark that leaving that question open sets a dangerous legal precedent for governments around the world to censor Internet content of which they disapprove.
UIGEA REACHES ITS END
After years of being either ambivalent or outright hostile to online gambling, the government of the United States will finally change its approach when Barack Obama becomes the country's 44th president.
Whereas the previous administration had been populated by social conservatives eager to outlaw all forms of gambling on the Internet, the incoming administration has more pressing issues at large and doesn't need the headaches caused by UIGEA-sparked trade disputes with allies.
President Obama will sign into law two bills: Rep. Shelley Berkley's bill, approving a study of online gambling by the National Academy of Sciences in order to determine whether regulation of the industry is feasible, and Rep. Barney Frank's bill preventing the Treasury Department from enforcing UIGEA regulations.
With the exception of sports betting (thanks to heavy lobbying from the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball), the NAS study will recommend that online gambling be legalized and regulated by the United States government.
The study's authors will identify a number of areas that will require close scrutiny from regulators, including checks to ensure minors cannot access gambling sites and to provide help to problem gamblers. Limits on advertising will also be recommended. The study will also make note of the UltimateBet and Absolute Poker scandals of 2008 and stress the need for oversight to prevent cheating in online poker.
Before year's end, legislation is being drawn up to explicitly legalize the online gambling industry, and the major American casino companies begin looking into a full online presence within the U.S.
With UIGEA neutralized, the U.S. government will be finally be able to resolve its trade disputes over online gambling with Antigua and the EU with an eye to repairing its international reputation. In addition to opening up the U.S. market for competition, U.S. gambling operators are now free to operate in other countries as well.
That sets the stage for an even bigger year ahead. Here's a look in the PokerListings crystal ball to see what's in store for 2009.
WSOP
The 2009 World Series of Poker will continue a decade-long overall trend of setting records for both the number of participants and the number of countries they come from.
In addition to growth across all the preliminary bracelet events, the WSOP Main Event will grow for the second straight year after a 2007 UIGEA-influenced drop in attendance. The entry fees of more than 8,000 players will create the second-largest tournament winner's purse in history.
That purse won't be awarded right away, however. Optimistic about the increased ratings its "November Nine" experiment generated in 2008, WSOP management will delay the Main Event final table for the second straight year.
Responding to criticisms by bloggers that the television package in November hadn't really been worth the wait, ESPN will focus on only the last six players in its three-hour coverage, creating the WSOP's first "September Six."
While Nevada gaming regulations will once again prevent the final table from being shown live, the footage will be broadcast on the same day as the winner is crowned.
For the first time, no one over the age of 30 will make the Main Event final table. All of the final nine are professional online poker players who came of age in the post-Moneymaker era.
On the day that the Main Event concludes, cards will get in the air in London for the third edition of WSOP Europe. The successful event will add another event, bringing to five the number of gold bracelets handed out overseas each year.
Rumors will swirl that the WSOP is planning to emulate its European event in a nontraditional market, but WSOP execs will stay mum on the issue through the end of the year.
WPT
After years of bleeding cash and a tumultuous 2008 that saw the company threatened with delisting by NASDAQ, WPT Enterprises will undergo a radical restructuring of its business model.
Instead of being primarily a television production company with high overhead costs, WPTE will evolve into a poker tournament production company.
By running the popular tournaments itself and hiring a third-party production company to create its TV product, the WPT will maximize the value of its new contract with Fox Sports, trim operating costs, and put itself in position to become profitable for the first time in its history.
The end result for players won't change much in the short term, but in the long term this development points toward sponsored tournaments with added prize-pool cash.
OTHER TOURS
The European Poker Tour will bolster its runaway success in 2009 by focusing on strengthening its schedule. By adding new tournaments in Finland and Estonia and adding High Roller events for several of the older events on the schedule, the tour guarantees the largest prize pools in its history and attracts players from all over the world. The prestige of the EPT only increases when two events are won by well-known pros from the U.S.
Meanwhile the international spread of online poker will continue to grow at rapid rates in the South American and Asian markets, creating widespread support for the growing Asian Poker Tour, Asia Pacific Poker Tour and Latin American Poker Tour schedules.
The buy-ins for all the tours' events will go up as a result, creating larger prize pools that begin to attract more well-known professional players from more established poker nations. All three tours add new stops for the late 2009-early 2010 season.
THE KENTUCKY CASE
The domain name seizure case in the state of Kentucky will be thrown out by an appeals court panel early in the year. Judges will dismiss arguments that a domain name is a "gambling instrument," noting that the original definition of that term referred to objects such as slot machines and roulette wheels that allowed people to take part in games of chance.
The judges will also question the state's claim of jurisdiction over companies legally licensed and operating out of other countries, without going all the way and denying the state such authority.
Several Internet advocacy groups, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, will remark that leaving that question open sets a dangerous legal precedent for governments around the world to censor Internet content of which they disapprove.
UIGEA REACHES ITS END
After years of being either ambivalent or outright hostile to online gambling, the government of the United States will finally change its approach when Barack Obama becomes the country's 44th president.
Whereas the previous administration had been populated by social conservatives eager to outlaw all forms of gambling on the Internet, the incoming administration has more pressing issues at large and doesn't need the headaches caused by UIGEA-sparked trade disputes with allies.
President Obama will sign into law two bills: Rep. Shelley Berkley's bill, approving a study of online gambling by the National Academy of Sciences in order to determine whether regulation of the industry is feasible, and Rep. Barney Frank's bill preventing the Treasury Department from enforcing UIGEA regulations.
With the exception of sports betting (thanks to heavy lobbying from the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball), the NAS study will recommend that online gambling be legalized and regulated by the United States government.
The study's authors will identify a number of areas that will require close scrutiny from regulators, including checks to ensure minors cannot access gambling sites and to provide help to problem gamblers. Limits on advertising will also be recommended. The study will also make note of the UltimateBet and Absolute Poker scandals of 2008 and stress the need for oversight to prevent cheating in online poker.
Before year's end, legislation is being drawn up to explicitly legalize the online gambling industry, and the major American casino companies begin looking into a full online presence within the U.S.
With UIGEA neutralized, the U.S. government will be finally be able to resolve its trade disputes over online gambling with Antigua and the EU with an eye to repairing its international reputation. In addition to opening up the U.S. market for competition, U.S. gambling operators are now free to operate in other countries as well.
Boris Becker 'Battleship' Poker on Deck for PCA
Celebrity spokesman and former tennis great Boris Becker will take on a succession of online qualifiers when the unique "Battleship Poker" event gets underway at the upcoming PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in Nassau, the Bahamas. Always an entertaining highlight of the PCA, the event has been held annually since 2006, and features two players squared off against each other heads-up with their laptops arrayed in the manner of the classic board game.
Stars has released the names of four of the six online qualifiers, who will travel to the warmth and sun of the Bahamas, then take turns facing off against "Baron von Slam" Becker, each with a chance to defeat him and walk across the room to a seat in the $10,000 PCA Main Event. As many as six seats could be awarded, with that Main Event beginning on January 5th. Among the online qualifiers are Josh Miloy of Oley, PA and three Canadian players, Itsik Oknin (Ontario), Keith Anderson (Quebec) and Michel Dion (Quebec).
Said Becker, "Battleship poker gives you all the fast play luxuries of online poker, but also allows you to look your opponent in the eye. It's an exciting game to play and I'm really looking forward to competing against these players."
Stars has released the names of four of the six online qualifiers, who will travel to the warmth and sun of the Bahamas, then take turns facing off against "Baron von Slam" Becker, each with a chance to defeat him and walk across the room to a seat in the $10,000 PCA Main Event. As many as six seats could be awarded, with that Main Event beginning on January 5th. Among the online qualifiers are Josh Miloy of Oley, PA and three Canadian players, Itsik Oknin (Ontario), Keith Anderson (Quebec) and Michel Dion (Quebec).
Said Becker, "Battleship poker gives you all the fast play luxuries of online poker, but also allows you to look your opponent in the eye. It's an exciting game to play and I'm really looking forward to competing against these players."
Pammie all set to display her million-dollar poker skills Down Under!
Melbourne, Jan 1 : Actress-turned poker player Pamela Anderson is reportedly keen to participate in the Aussie Millions Poker Championship at Crown this month.
It is believed that the former Baywatch babe's management is in talks with event organisers for the blonde to be a celebrity player in the world-renowned tournament, reports Herald Sun.
Anderson is not the only celebrity who will be chancing their luck in the high-stakes tournament.
Former tennis ace Mark Philippoussis is desperate to take a seat in the Aussie Millions Main Event, which starts on January 18.
However, Philippoussis is reportedly not putting his own money, he is looking for a sponsor to buy him into the game.
Dannii Minogue's handsome other half Kris Smith, a former rugby player and occasional model, is also said to be looking for a sponsor to buy him into the tournament.
The Aussie Millions Poker Championship has become one of the 'must attend' tournaments on the international professional poker circuit.
It is believed that the former Baywatch babe's management is in talks with event organisers for the blonde to be a celebrity player in the world-renowned tournament, reports Herald Sun.
Anderson is not the only celebrity who will be chancing their luck in the high-stakes tournament.
Former tennis ace Mark Philippoussis is desperate to take a seat in the Aussie Millions Main Event, which starts on January 18.
However, Philippoussis is reportedly not putting his own money, he is looking for a sponsor to buy him into the game.
Dannii Minogue's handsome other half Kris Smith, a former rugby player and occasional model, is also said to be looking for a sponsor to buy him into the tournament.
The Aussie Millions Poker Championship has become one of the 'must attend' tournaments on the international professional poker circuit.
Poker Alliance Awards Congress Scores
Poker Alliance Awards Congress Scores
Ratings website allows poker supporters to access report card for their local congressman or senator.
The Poker Players Alliance's Congressional Ratings Website, Ccongressionalpoker.com, is designed to aid advocacy efforts for the poker and gambling community.
The Website allows user to enter their zip code to find the Poker Player Alliance's ratings for their local U.S. senators or congressmen.
According to the guide, a congressman receives an A+ if they have actively worked to protect poker rights. An A is achieved for being a supporter of online poker rights (co-sponsor of HR 2046, HR 2610, supporter of HR 5767 and/or HR 6870). An A- is achieved for voting against the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act (the bill that became the UIGEA) without taking any other action.
A legislator receives a B for co-sponsoring HR 2610 (the Internet gaming study bill) and/or signing a pro-online poker UIGEA regulation comment to a federal agency.
Getting a D means the legislator voted for HR 4411, but took no other action. F and F- obviously fall into the category of opposing online poker rights either passively or actively, while a question mark means the congressman has no voting record on the matter.
Data is more limited for senators, hence why far more senators than congressman receive a question mark as their grade.
An A means the senator signed a UIGEA letter in favor of the PPA. The 10 senators who voted against Sen. Kyle's anti-gambling 474* all receive A +.
Once again, an F is given to the high number of legislators either co-sponsoring ant-Internet gaming legislation or working actively against gambling (or what the PPA call "anti-poker extremists)".
Ratings website allows poker supporters to access report card for their local congressman or senator.
The Poker Players Alliance's Congressional Ratings Website, Ccongressionalpoker.com, is designed to aid advocacy efforts for the poker and gambling community.
The Website allows user to enter their zip code to find the Poker Player Alliance's ratings for their local U.S. senators or congressmen.
According to the guide, a congressman receives an A+ if they have actively worked to protect poker rights. An A is achieved for being a supporter of online poker rights (co-sponsor of HR 2046, HR 2610, supporter of HR 5767 and/or HR 6870). An A- is achieved for voting against the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act (the bill that became the UIGEA) without taking any other action.
A legislator receives a B for co-sponsoring HR 2610 (the Internet gaming study bill) and/or signing a pro-online poker UIGEA regulation comment to a federal agency.
Getting a D means the legislator voted for HR 4411, but took no other action. F and F- obviously fall into the category of opposing online poker rights either passively or actively, while a question mark means the congressman has no voting record on the matter.
Data is more limited for senators, hence why far more senators than congressman receive a question mark as their grade.
An A means the senator signed a UIGEA letter in favor of the PPA. The 10 senators who voted against Sen. Kyle's anti-gambling 474* all receive A +.
Once again, an F is given to the high number of legislators either co-sponsoring ant-Internet gaming legislation or working actively against gambling (or what the PPA call "anti-poker extremists)".
Happy New Year !
Well the new year is finally here and what a hell of a year it was,i can sit here and say alot of s**t that went on but im not going to bore all u poker fans out there , so leave me your best poker moments in the comments and hope your up coming poker year was better than mine !!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR !
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
UFCPOKER COMMENTS ! Holidays
Happy New Year to all you poker fans out there ! Dont forget to sign guestbook and leave your comments !
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
What Phil Hellmuth has to say about the online poker scandal
Phil Hellmuth and Cereus- the new software platforms for online Absolute Poker and UltimateBet.com wait in baited breath for 2008 to end quickly.
It's been more than a hard year for the company who gets itself first embroiled in an internal cheating scandal that made it to a segment of 60 minutes. The group had to pay out anyone affected by the cheating, allegedly manufactured by World Series of Poker winner Russ Hamilton.
Then over the past two weeks, the company came under fire once more, this time the controversy involved a spokesperson pro Phil Hellmuth discovered winning a lot of money via a losing hand.
It's been widely accepted that the payout was the result of a software glitch; however it appears that the poker community is shifting their angst away from Cereus and onto Phil Hellmuth following his own statement about the situation.
Phil began by justifying the event stating that in his online career ''there's probably been a hundred pots that have been shipped, maybe 50 the wrong way to them and 50 the wrong way to me.''
It was from this point in that Hellmuth began proclaiming things that were not true to the event, starting with
''What I like about Ultimate Bet is that they realized their mistake immediately''
I the real event in actual fact, the other player noticed the mistake and then contacted Ultimate Bet, demanding a refund.
Hellmuth's opponent was disconnected from the table, yet Hellmuth explains this by
''Apparently, since we were heads up, somehow my opponent left the table, right before the pot-right as the pot was being awarded.''
''And, because he left the table—and it may have been, I don't think it was his fault, it may have been the fault of the investigation, but I don’t thinks so, but he for whatever reason left the table and the pot was awarded to me.''
Hellmuth has been criticized for using a rhetorical device ''apophasis'' suggesting the truth of something by pointedly denying it. In this case, Hellmuth encourages the listener to think that it was the other players fault by saying that he doesn’t think it is.
In his statement Hellmuth goes on to proclaim that it was he who ''prompted'' the other player to check to see what had happened during the KQ hand.
Finally he gets down discussing why he played the hand the way he did.
He tells that ''The river was like a 4'' but in fact it was a 9.
Hellmuth's explanation conveys that he was paying more attention to his connectivity and not to the fact that the pot was awarded to him.
''He bet, I called. And, uh, right then and there, I could see he was having some connectivity problems. He probably connected and re-connected. He just kept popping off and popping back on. It was really weird.''
''And apparently he popped off at that exact millisecond. And the pot was rewarded to me. And then this controversy, but that's just online poker.''
Hellmuth concluded his statement by asking listeners to look on the bright side.
''The great thing was that he was actually- he did say he was very pleased that he was rewarded the pot within minutes.''
In real light of the truth the player contacted UB before 5.12 Am, then he posted that he was ''on hold'' with customer support at 5.27 Am. At 5.41 am he posted that they had given him half the pot, with a promise to give him the rest ''in a few hours.'' Helmuth's comment on this last detail…
'' I guess the CEO of UB had to go hock a few things to get the rest of the money.''
Despite the controversy of his answers Hellmuth contends about himself ''I think it's safe to say I've had a perfect reputation of honor, ethics and integrity in this business.''
It's been more than a hard year for the company who gets itself first embroiled in an internal cheating scandal that made it to a segment of 60 minutes. The group had to pay out anyone affected by the cheating, allegedly manufactured by World Series of Poker winner Russ Hamilton.
Then over the past two weeks, the company came under fire once more, this time the controversy involved a spokesperson pro Phil Hellmuth discovered winning a lot of money via a losing hand.
It's been widely accepted that the payout was the result of a software glitch; however it appears that the poker community is shifting their angst away from Cereus and onto Phil Hellmuth following his own statement about the situation.
Phil began by justifying the event stating that in his online career ''there's probably been a hundred pots that have been shipped, maybe 50 the wrong way to them and 50 the wrong way to me.''
It was from this point in that Hellmuth began proclaiming things that were not true to the event, starting with
''What I like about Ultimate Bet is that they realized their mistake immediately''
I the real event in actual fact, the other player noticed the mistake and then contacted Ultimate Bet, demanding a refund.
Hellmuth's opponent was disconnected from the table, yet Hellmuth explains this by
''Apparently, since we were heads up, somehow my opponent left the table, right before the pot-right as the pot was being awarded.''
''And, because he left the table—and it may have been, I don't think it was his fault, it may have been the fault of the investigation, but I don’t thinks so, but he for whatever reason left the table and the pot was awarded to me.''
Hellmuth has been criticized for using a rhetorical device ''apophasis'' suggesting the truth of something by pointedly denying it. In this case, Hellmuth encourages the listener to think that it was the other players fault by saying that he doesn’t think it is.
In his statement Hellmuth goes on to proclaim that it was he who ''prompted'' the other player to check to see what had happened during the KQ hand.
Finally he gets down discussing why he played the hand the way he did.
He tells that ''The river was like a 4'' but in fact it was a 9.
Hellmuth's explanation conveys that he was paying more attention to his connectivity and not to the fact that the pot was awarded to him.
''He bet, I called. And, uh, right then and there, I could see he was having some connectivity problems. He probably connected and re-connected. He just kept popping off and popping back on. It was really weird.''
''And apparently he popped off at that exact millisecond. And the pot was rewarded to me. And then this controversy, but that's just online poker.''
Hellmuth concluded his statement by asking listeners to look on the bright side.
''The great thing was that he was actually- he did say he was very pleased that he was rewarded the pot within minutes.''
In real light of the truth the player contacted UB before 5.12 Am, then he posted that he was ''on hold'' with customer support at 5.27 Am. At 5.41 am he posted that they had given him half the pot, with a promise to give him the rest ''in a few hours.'' Helmuth's comment on this last detail…
'' I guess the CEO of UB had to go hock a few things to get the rest of the money.''
Despite the controversy of his answers Hellmuth contends about himself ''I think it's safe to say I've had a perfect reputation of honor, ethics and integrity in this business.''
The closure of online poker site Zosoz.com
Today's online poker offers a competitive environment whereby sites have to constantly come up with innovative ways to bring persons into their poker rooms.
Zosoz.com appeared to have an idea that others in the industry failed to produce.
There idea was centered on having a subscription type fee for players to buy into. The players would sign up for $19.99 and would then have the ability to play in some high stakes poker tournaments throughout the year.
On the surface the idea appeared to be innovative and different from all other online poker sites. However in less than two months of opening, Zosoz.com shut down.
The site didn’t offer a reason for the sudden departure from the online casino industry.
Yet Zosoz.com claimed that all persons who signed up for membership where refunded claiming that ''circumstances beyond our control'' is the reason for the shut down , but they gave no further details.
Players were drawn to the site that was going to offer once a year $1 million tournament. That was to go along with monthly $100,000 and weekly $1,000 tournaments.
With such a short shelf life, we are left to wonder if the idea would have worked given some time.
Zosoz.com appeared to have an idea that others in the industry failed to produce.
There idea was centered on having a subscription type fee for players to buy into. The players would sign up for $19.99 and would then have the ability to play in some high stakes poker tournaments throughout the year.
On the surface the idea appeared to be innovative and different from all other online poker sites. However in less than two months of opening, Zosoz.com shut down.
The site didn’t offer a reason for the sudden departure from the online casino industry.
Yet Zosoz.com claimed that all persons who signed up for membership where refunded claiming that ''circumstances beyond our control'' is the reason for the shut down , but they gave no further details.
Players were drawn to the site that was going to offer once a year $1 million tournament. That was to go along with monthly $100,000 and weekly $1,000 tournaments.
With such a short shelf life, we are left to wonder if the idea would have worked given some time.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Doyle Brunson has a hard time accepting online poker PartyGaming's plea !
The man behind one on online poker's fastest growing rooms Doylesroom.com, in his latest blog speaks candidly about Anurag Dikshit, the man who two weeks ago entered a guilty plea for running an Internet poker firm, PartyGaming.
Doyle Brunson is having a tough time accepting the plea. This is the first of its kind for an online poker room.
Dikshit was one of the co-owners of Party Poker becoming a multi-billionaire when Party went public. Doyle Brunson senses that Dikshit should in fact feel obligation to online poker, the industry that made him a rich man. He stated …
''Instead he folded up like an accordion and pleads guilty to some guilty law and is paying a 300 million dollar fine and a possible 2-year jail terms. It certainly created some ill will from the other online poker sites. I personally can't imagine what was going through his mind when he made his decision.''
Time will tell the effect of Dikshit's decision on online poker.
Doyle Brunson is having a tough time accepting the plea. This is the first of its kind for an online poker room.
Dikshit was one of the co-owners of Party Poker becoming a multi-billionaire when Party went public. Doyle Brunson senses that Dikshit should in fact feel obligation to online poker, the industry that made him a rich man. He stated …
''Instead he folded up like an accordion and pleads guilty to some guilty law and is paying a 300 million dollar fine and a possible 2-year jail terms. It certainly created some ill will from the other online poker sites. I personally can't imagine what was going through his mind when he made his decision.''
Time will tell the effect of Dikshit's decision on online poker.
The Rake Race has been extended at online poker Lucky Ace Poker !
Lucky Ace Poker's Rake Race has been extended until January 31t.
The idea is to accumulate as much rake as possible with the winner receiving a $6,000 PokerNews Cup Alpine Package.
The Cup is heading to Europe where we there will be hosted poker tournament in a five star ski resort on the peak of a mountain in Central Europe. As the winner of the Rake Race the package grants you a private helicopter ride from the airport to the resort, ski passes, party entries, spa passes and of course, heaps of time at the tables.
Updates can be found on the Lucky Ace Rake Race Page. There are only three people on the leaderboard so anyone still has a chance to win.
While the Rake Race is running there are more prizes given away. Every Thursday (00:00 GMT) to Wednesday (23:59 GMT), the player who accumulates the most rake within that week will receive free entry to LuckyAce's next $100,000 guaranteed tournament.
The idea is to accumulate as much rake as possible with the winner receiving a $6,000 PokerNews Cup Alpine Package.
The Cup is heading to Europe where we there will be hosted poker tournament in a five star ski resort on the peak of a mountain in Central Europe. As the winner of the Rake Race the package grants you a private helicopter ride from the airport to the resort, ski passes, party entries, spa passes and of course, heaps of time at the tables.
Updates can be found on the Lucky Ace Rake Race Page. There are only three people on the leaderboard so anyone still has a chance to win.
While the Rake Race is running there are more prizes given away. Every Thursday (00:00 GMT) to Wednesday (23:59 GMT), the player who accumulates the most rake within that week will receive free entry to LuckyAce's next $100,000 guaranteed tournament.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
NoIQ Poker and Carlos Poker to be Removed from the iPoker network
iPoker has, following discussions with Tain, decided to remove Carlos Poker and NoIQ Poker from the iPoker Network. The said cardrooms will be removed from the iPoker network liquidity by January 24th 2009.
iPoker has, following discussions with Tain, decided to remove Carlos Poker and NoIQ Poker from the iPoker Network. The said cardrooms will be removed from the iPoker network liquidity by January 24th 2009.
The iPoker Network includes some of the most popular card rooms in Europe, such as Titan Poker, Bet365, Expekt, Paddy Power and others. According to www.pokersitescout.com iPoker is the largest non-U.S. network in the world and is growing faster than any of the other leading poker site.
iPoker has, following discussions with Tain, decided to remove Carlos Poker and NoIQ Poker from the iPoker Network. The said cardrooms will be removed from the iPoker network liquidity by January 24th 2009.
The iPoker Network includes some of the most popular card rooms in Europe, such as Titan Poker, Bet365, Expekt, Paddy Power and others. According to www.pokersitescout.com iPoker is the largest non-U.S. network in the world and is growing faster than any of the other leading poker site.
Poker Show Debuts Take Center Stage on Poker News Daily
Taking center stage on Poker News Daily this week has been the news that High Stakes Poker will debut on March 1st. For poker fans seeking more immediate gratification, the seventh season of the World Poker Tour kicks off on January 4th.
Poker news headlines have been dominated this week by the news that new poker programming is returning to television once again. It will be just a few short days until the seventh season of the World Poker Tour (WPT) kicks off on cable station Fox Sports Net. The show debuts on Sunday, January 4th. Poker players will have a lot to be thankful for, as 26 one-hour installments are scheduled to air. The WPT has come a long way since its launch in 2002 and has become the standard by which many televised poker tournaments are measured.
The seventh WPT season will feature a proliferation of FullTiltPoker.net logos and name-droppings, as the online poker room serves as its official sponsor. PokerNewsDaily.com columnist, World Series of Poker bracelet winner, and ambassador of poker Mike Sexton will call the action along with Vince Van Patten. Each of the recent WPT seasons has featured a different hostess and this time around, Amanda Leatherman will assume those responsibilities. She is one of the world's premier tournament reporters and also serves as the Live Updates Hostess for the WPT website. Southwest Airlines has also returned as a presenting sponsor.
Meanwhile, GSN, The Network for Games, is gearing up for the launch of High Stakes Poker, which is entering its fifth season. Filming just wrapped up at the Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas and featured a variety of poker superstars including Doyle Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, and Barry Greenstein. Also making their way to the Golden Nugget (which served as the location for filming of the first season of High Stakes Poker) were 2008 WSOP Main Event winner Peter Eastgate and poker sensation Tom "durrrr" Dwan.
A total of three days of filming took place, with the show boasting a $200,000 minimum buy-in. Brunson spoke with Poker News Daily on the phone from Las Vegas and commented, "Everybody is just getting here and we're mulling around. Everyone is ready to play. I think it's definitely a competitive atmosphere. Everybody is excited because it's for high stakes. There are literally millions of dollars on the line."
High Stakes Poker is one of the few televised cash games. The banter among the players adds to the insightfulness of the narration by A.J. Benza and "Welcome Back Kotter" star Gabe Kaplan. Thirteen episodes are slated to air as part of Season V. The show, like the new installment of the WPT, will air on Sunday nights as part of "Poker Night" on GSN. The network also owns the rights to the sixth season of the WPT.
Poker news headlines have been dominated this week by the news that new poker programming is returning to television once again. It will be just a few short days until the seventh season of the World Poker Tour (WPT) kicks off on cable station Fox Sports Net. The show debuts on Sunday, January 4th. Poker players will have a lot to be thankful for, as 26 one-hour installments are scheduled to air. The WPT has come a long way since its launch in 2002 and has become the standard by which many televised poker tournaments are measured.
The seventh WPT season will feature a proliferation of FullTiltPoker.net logos and name-droppings, as the online poker room serves as its official sponsor. PokerNewsDaily.com columnist, World Series of Poker bracelet winner, and ambassador of poker Mike Sexton will call the action along with Vince Van Patten. Each of the recent WPT seasons has featured a different hostess and this time around, Amanda Leatherman will assume those responsibilities. She is one of the world's premier tournament reporters and also serves as the Live Updates Hostess for the WPT website. Southwest Airlines has also returned as a presenting sponsor.
Meanwhile, GSN, The Network for Games, is gearing up for the launch of High Stakes Poker, which is entering its fifth season. Filming just wrapped up at the Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas and featured a variety of poker superstars including Doyle Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, and Barry Greenstein. Also making their way to the Golden Nugget (which served as the location for filming of the first season of High Stakes Poker) were 2008 WSOP Main Event winner Peter Eastgate and poker sensation Tom "durrrr" Dwan.
A total of three days of filming took place, with the show boasting a $200,000 minimum buy-in. Brunson spoke with Poker News Daily on the phone from Las Vegas and commented, "Everybody is just getting here and we're mulling around. Everyone is ready to play. I think it's definitely a competitive atmosphere. Everybody is excited because it's for high stakes. There are literally millions of dollars on the line."
High Stakes Poker is one of the few televised cash games. The banter among the players adds to the insightfulness of the narration by A.J. Benza and "Welcome Back Kotter" star Gabe Kaplan. Thirteen episodes are slated to air as part of Season V. The show, like the new installment of the WPT, will air on Sunday nights as part of "Poker Night" on GSN. The network also owns the rights to the sixth season of the WPT.
BW Wrapping Up 2008 with Exclusive Poker Bonuses
BonusWhores.com, the premier source for the world's best poker bonuses, is closing out the 2008 calendar year by offering its members exclusive opportunities on the world's largest online poker rooms. It's the season for giving, only at BW.
San Jose, Costa Rica (PRWEB) December 28, 2008 -- BonusWhores.com is always on the lookout for new and exciting poker bonus opportunities for its players. This December, players will have more than just Christmas presents to look forward to with a trio of exclusive sign-up bonuses from 888 Pacific Poker, Chili Poker, and PokerStars, among others.
888 Pacific Poker is part of the 888.com Network, which has been around since 1997, with the 888 Pacific Poker brand launching in 2002. This December, BW announced one of the largest sign-up bonuses in the history of the network. When depositing exactly $888 or $1,500 and using the appropriate poker bonus codes (bw888 or bw1500), players can get a 100% match.
The first $100 of each of the bonuses will be given instantly and can be withdrawn once players have wagered the bonus 20x. For the remaining portion, players will need to earn Bonus Points. For the $1,500 bonus, players will need to earn seven Bonus Points for each $1 in bonus money or eight Bonus Points per $1 of bonus for the $888 bonus.
Two Bonus Points are earned for each $1 in rake that the player contributes to the rake. This means that players will effectively clear the bonus at a 25%-28% contributed raked rate. The standard bonus of 100% up $400 is clearable at a 10 Bonus Points per $1 rate.
Chili Poker is one of BW's players' favorite iPoker hangouts. Its bonuses are among the best on the network and BW has sweetened the deal on its Chili Poker exclusive bonus. Now, players only have to deposit $400 instead of $750 to receive the full bonus, which is 150% up to $600 when using bonus code BW600. To clear, players only need to earn 35 FPPs for each $1 in bonus money. With up to six FPPs earned per each dealt raked hand, this bonus can clear at lightning fast speeds.
Lastly, players can't forget about the PokerStars exclusive 150% up to $75 bonus, only available until December 31st. This is a real prize at $25 more than the standard amount with a clearance rate of 6.67 FPPs for each $1 in bonus money, meaning it clears almost 50% faster than the standard bonus. PokerStars is the world's largest online poker site, so players will not have a problem finding a game to clear this bonus.
These three rooms only represent a fraction of bonuses that BW offers on an ongoing basis. Check out BonusWhores.com for the latest and greatest poker sign-up bonus opportunities on the net.
San Jose, Costa Rica (PRWEB) December 28, 2008 -- BonusWhores.com is always on the lookout for new and exciting poker bonus opportunities for its players. This December, players will have more than just Christmas presents to look forward to with a trio of exclusive sign-up bonuses from 888 Pacific Poker, Chili Poker, and PokerStars, among others.
888 Pacific Poker is part of the 888.com Network, which has been around since 1997, with the 888 Pacific Poker brand launching in 2002. This December, BW announced one of the largest sign-up bonuses in the history of the network. When depositing exactly $888 or $1,500 and using the appropriate poker bonus codes (bw888 or bw1500), players can get a 100% match.
The first $100 of each of the bonuses will be given instantly and can be withdrawn once players have wagered the bonus 20x. For the remaining portion, players will need to earn Bonus Points. For the $1,500 bonus, players will need to earn seven Bonus Points for each $1 in bonus money or eight Bonus Points per $1 of bonus for the $888 bonus.
Two Bonus Points are earned for each $1 in rake that the player contributes to the rake. This means that players will effectively clear the bonus at a 25%-28% contributed raked rate. The standard bonus of 100% up $400 is clearable at a 10 Bonus Points per $1 rate.
Chili Poker is one of BW's players' favorite iPoker hangouts. Its bonuses are among the best on the network and BW has sweetened the deal on its Chili Poker exclusive bonus. Now, players only have to deposit $400 instead of $750 to receive the full bonus, which is 150% up to $600 when using bonus code BW600. To clear, players only need to earn 35 FPPs for each $1 in bonus money. With up to six FPPs earned per each dealt raked hand, this bonus can clear at lightning fast speeds.
Lastly, players can't forget about the PokerStars exclusive 150% up to $75 bonus, only available until December 31st. This is a real prize at $25 more than the standard amount with a clearance rate of 6.67 FPPs for each $1 in bonus money, meaning it clears almost 50% faster than the standard bonus. PokerStars is the world's largest online poker site, so players will not have a problem finding a game to clear this bonus.
These three rooms only represent a fraction of bonuses that BW offers on an ongoing basis. Check out BonusWhores.com for the latest and greatest poker sign-up bonus opportunities on the net.
Inside Poker !
In the meta-game that poker can become, you are not only trying to get a read on your opponents based on their image -- playing style, betting patterns, that sort of thing -- but you also need to get a read based on the way they play against you.
The case of bluffing maniac Jamie Gold, the World Series of Poker main event champion in 2006, presents an interesting example of moves that his image demands but might require different action by other players. In this hand from the 2008 World Series of Poker $10,000-buy-in main event at Las Vegas' Rio Hotel, with blinds at $50-$100, two players limped ahead of Gold, who also limped with K-3 suited on the button.
The blinds also played, so five players took a flop of K-3-7, two spades. The original limper made an overbet of $600 into a $500 pot. The second limper folded. Gold called with top and bottom pair in position. The blinds folded.
The turn came the five of clubs. The original limper made another overbet of $2,000 into a $1,700 pot.
"There are two spades on the flop and a spade didn't come on the turn, so he thinks I'm on spades," said Gold, celebrity spokesman for ALS, the disease that killed his father. "I called because he didn't know what I had, and I knew that if the next spade doesn't come, he's going to bet again and I'm going to get him.
"No one ever believes me because I'm always bluffing. So, I knew I might get doubled up. He was the chip leader at the table and he had the chips to call my stack."
The river paired the 5. Gold's key second pair was counterfeited by a higher second pair on the board. The original limper checked. Gold checked. The original limper showed K-Q offsuit, giving him the pot with a better kicker.
"If I had raised on the turn, he still would've called me and I still would've gotten counterfeited and lost more money," Gold said. "He wasn't getting off the hand unless I went all in, which is a stupid play. What if he had a set? I wasn't 100 percent willing to go all in and put my tournament life on it.
"I know now that they're calling me, so when I get counterfeited, I can get off the hand. It's the smartest play for me, but any other player should've raised there because they can get people off one pair. No one's getting off K-Q and one pair and nothing else on the board. Not against me. They're just not, especially when there's a draw out there and I could be on the draw. You have to play the way people are playing against you."
TABLE TALK
Button: The last betting position in all betting rounds after the flop; a powerful spot because you get to see every other player act before you.
The case of bluffing maniac Jamie Gold, the World Series of Poker main event champion in 2006, presents an interesting example of moves that his image demands but might require different action by other players. In this hand from the 2008 World Series of Poker $10,000-buy-in main event at Las Vegas' Rio Hotel, with blinds at $50-$100, two players limped ahead of Gold, who also limped with K-3 suited on the button.
The blinds also played, so five players took a flop of K-3-7, two spades. The original limper made an overbet of $600 into a $500 pot. The second limper folded. Gold called with top and bottom pair in position. The blinds folded.
The turn came the five of clubs. The original limper made another overbet of $2,000 into a $1,700 pot.
"There are two spades on the flop and a spade didn't come on the turn, so he thinks I'm on spades," said Gold, celebrity spokesman for ALS, the disease that killed his father. "I called because he didn't know what I had, and I knew that if the next spade doesn't come, he's going to bet again and I'm going to get him.
"No one ever believes me because I'm always bluffing. So, I knew I might get doubled up. He was the chip leader at the table and he had the chips to call my stack."
The river paired the 5. Gold's key second pair was counterfeited by a higher second pair on the board. The original limper checked. Gold checked. The original limper showed K-Q offsuit, giving him the pot with a better kicker.
"If I had raised on the turn, he still would've called me and I still would've gotten counterfeited and lost more money," Gold said. "He wasn't getting off the hand unless I went all in, which is a stupid play. What if he had a set? I wasn't 100 percent willing to go all in and put my tournament life on it.
"I know now that they're calling me, so when I get counterfeited, I can get off the hand. It's the smartest play for me, but any other player should've raised there because they can get people off one pair. No one's getting off K-Q and one pair and nothing else on the board. Not against me. They're just not, especially when there's a draw out there and I could be on the draw. You have to play the way people are playing against you."
TABLE TALK
Button: The last betting position in all betting rounds after the flop; a powerful spot because you get to see every other player act before you.
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