$24 Million dollars in funds have been seized from banks that payout to US poker players according to the government. Looks like the poker police is at it again. The US government, over a six year investigation, has tied bank accounts from Wachovia, Regions Bank, Bank of America and Sun Trust Bank to payment of US poker players. Bodog did not comment on this scenario but obviously that is not a good thing for online poker players in the US. Calvin Ayre has long been the bane of US authorities in terms of his being at large and allegedly in contempt of US law.

Bodog sponsors a number of professional poker players like David Williams and Evelyn Ng.

Here is the response from the Mohawk Gaming Group:

An article was recently released on Forbes.com that creates several mis-impressions that the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group feels compelled to clarify for our customers.

As most of our customers already know, all operators outsource payment processing functions to third parties and these payment processors are subject to regulatory constraints wherever they operate, and, occasionally in the US, are subject to legal action because of the uncertain legal environment there.

However, the seizure of funds from these US payment processors was mischaracterized in this article, which refers to two specific legal cases against US processors. Rightly or wrongly, the article does not make a clear distinction between these cases, which, as a result, paints a misleading picture.

The facts are these: the first of these cases – relating to a seizure of funds from a processor known as JBL Services – happened some time ago and has absolutely nothing to do with the current payment processing challenges being experienced in the US. The constraints being experienced by payment processors in the US are universal in that region and not specific to any particular processor or site. Also, note that not one single player failed to get paid when this processor was disrupted.

The second case refers to a payment processor known as zippayments.com and seizure of funds from this processor’s bank accounts in Nevada. The article falsely implies – but notably does not go so far as to state - that $9.9M seized from Zippayment’s Nevada bank accounts were funds on account for “Bodog”. This is simply false.

Processing partners with whom the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group does business are sophisticated organizations that are perfectly clear as to the actual facts of these cases and their contexts. They are unfazed by such media hype and Morris Mohawk wishes to ensure that its customers are similarly informed. Customer deposits are safe and every player has and will always be paid.

Alwyn Morris
CEO
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group

Stay tuned! We have not heard the last of this.

Recently I was a couple of hours into an online tournament with an average stack of chips. My stack was at 13k and I was on the button when the action folded around to me. I looked down at a dreadful [5c][7c] and decided to just call as I had raised the blinds the last couple of hands around and didn’t want to get too greedy. The small blind folded but the Big Blind decided to raise it up to $1000. Considering the blinds were $300 / $150 this was not all that big of a raise and I was actually priced into calling so I did.

The flop came down [Xc][Xc][J]

I immediately pushed my chips in the middle after the Big Blind checked to me and was called with [A][J]os. I had already decided that I was going to either have a huge stack or I was going home at that point. I also put my opponent on either Ace rag or Ace King or Ace Queen and figured he likely missed the flop and would have to fold based on his previous play.

The turn was another Club and off to the rail he goes.

I am now sitting on $28,000 in chips and poised for another run at the Final Table. So why did I make the power move?

Well, once I saw the flop I had no intentions of folding for a few reasons. First, I knew my opponent did not have a big hand when he raised albeit I also knew he had me beat. Second, with the flop coming with two clubs on the board and knowing that I needed to accumulate chips I decided to take the risk and either get there or go home. This kind of poker power move is why I have become a more successful Sit n Go player in my opinion. Even though the tournament I am referring to had 1000 players I realize that an average stack will not last you for long when you are midway through the tournament. Early in the poker tournament there is no need to make these kind of moves. The chips value is too low. However, when you can go up to 28k with $300 / $150 blinds and take control of your destiny more you open up an array of options that simply are not there for an average stack.

Another power move I like to make is when I have connecting cards in late position after the flop and I have an open ended straight draw. Again, if it’s after the first break and I only have an average stack, which means I am behind, then I am looking for an opportunity to become a big stack. Many times you will see players get themselves into an all-in situation on this kind of flop with another player. The key to this power move for me is that there has to be at least two other players in the pot and no flush draw on the board for me to call the post-flop all-ins with my open ended straight draw. Now, if I hit my hand, I am sitting on a truck load of chips and have the freedom to see many more hands and take control of my table and build from there. If not, no big deal.

The reason for these kinds of “power moves” is that the blinds move up so fast at 15 minute intervals you have to push the edges on almost every opportunity after the first break unless you have a truck load of chips. By playing it safe and always doing the “optimal” thing you may win occasionally but you will not get to the Final Table with many chips if ever. Fast tournament structure requires fast play. Now, if you can hit a big hand and then continue to build your big stack from there you will be primed for a run at the final table and that is the only reason to play the game.

PokerStars is pulling out all the plugs in attempts to further their already size able market share. If you haven’t logged in to play today then you are in for a treat. You will proceed as usual and accept the update. Once the download is completed you are launched into an entirely new world of PokerStars.

Everything in the new software is based on a stylish black theme. If you insist on staying with the Classic look you can always click view / lobby themes and select the old one. It’s really that simple. So make sure you login and check out the new digs.

Later!

Pokerstars has a new hand replay button. Yes, you no longer have to scroll through those long hand histories to see how you and your opponents played. Now, you just click the Show Previous Hand button in the upper left hand corner and you can click through your last hand and every hand from the beginning of the tournament.

This is a really nice feature and allows players to analyze hands that have been played while still in the tournament. A very nice tool indeed and one you should make use of.

Hello Everyone,

It’s me, Curtom, coming out from behind the scenes for a second. I really wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who have subscribed to Do or Die Poker and have stayed with us as we have grown. I really appreciate your loyalty and belief that Do or Die Poker is a blog worth reading. That means a great deal to me personally. I try to give you my honest opinion pro or con on whatever the topic is at the moment. I love the game of poker and I know you guys do too. So enough of the chatter. Let’s get back to some poker!

Thanks again,

Curtom

Professional poker player Kathy Liebert is a long way from Dun and Bradstreet where she started her career in business and finance. Liebert is now one of the most respected tournament poker players in the game.

With lifetime winnings of over $4.5 Million dollars there is no doubt that Kathy has made a name for herself in the poker world. Initially Kathy began playing as a prop player in Colorado. Her success there led her to the tournament trail where she became the first female poker player to win a $1 Million dollar prize by taking down the Party Poker Millions in 2002. Since then Liebert has cashed no less than 27 times in the WSOP and has made 4 WPT final tables with 12 cashes.

Not too shabby for a finance major. Kathy enjoys martial arts in her spare time and possesses a blue belt in Karate. Kathy Liebert is one of the best female poker players in the world.

The WPT will be broadcast by Fox Sports. After traveling over a few channels the past few years the World Poker Tour has found a home at Fox Sports to broadcast 26 episodes of Season 7. The first episode will feature the final table of the Bellagio Cup IV.

A complete broadcast schedule will be announced later.

Hooray and congratulations WPT!

Now you can play poker on your Blackberry PDA. Aces Texas Hold’em for the Blackberry is the best poker software for the popular Blackberry hand held. This particular poker pda game has the best instincts of any of the hand held pda poker games. Aces Texas Hold’em is intuitive and the competition actually is worth pursuing.

Here is what you get with it:

• Excellent sound effects!
• Play up to 22 different opponents
• Customize your options with up to 4 game speeds
• Use nicknames for yourself and other players
• Easy to read display
• Best artificial intelligence of any poker PDA game

This is well worth the $15 price to download it. I would give this software an 8 out of 10.

Recommended Resources

Playing on your blackberry can be fun, but it won’t make you win big. Visit an online casino like Casino Bellini today and start winning for real!

OK, here we are again in talks with our “friends” in Antigua about the entire online poker thing and how the US backed out of the agreement. I still have no idea why the United States even bothered to send a delegation in the first place. The USA knows that if we do not stand firm on the stupidity of the UIGEA that we will come off as looking foolish and weak.

On the contrary. The United States would come off as looking intelligent and being smart enough to for once in it’s life admit that we were wrong. You cannot legislate “morality”. Even if you could wouldn’t you be going after the porn on the web first? Seems to me that this kind of content would be much more harmful to people than playing poker. Once again both sides have promised to come together for discussions again. What a joke this is and a waste of time for something that can be resolved so easily on the US side of things.

Is it just me or is this a no brainer?

We really need to get our heads out of our asses and get with the rest of the online poker world. This is a revenue stream that is not being tapped out of pure and simple ignorance.

Professional Poker Player Annette Obrestad is quickly becoming a force on the European poker scene. After winning over $800k online between PartyPoker and Ultimate Bet “Annette_15″ has become a staple in the more profitable live tournament trail.

Since her early days of dominance online Obrestad has taken down the WSOPE for a cool $2 Million and just recently placed second in an EPT tournament for another $400K+.

Obrestad is from Norway and started playing online at the age of 15. She has fit right into the hyper-aggressive image that most of the younger players have adopted with extremely good results. Although Obrestad is not quite old enough yet, next year she will be twenty-one, to play in Las Vegas it will be very interesting to see how she fares playing against the best tournament players on a regular basis.

Is Annette Obrestad the best female poker player in the world?

That remains to be seen.

Good Lord another heart breaker. I decided to play a Sunday Millions Double Shootout Satellite. My first table was just four players. Only thirty-seven entered the tournament so the numbers were very good considering they were giving away two seats. Anyhow, I proceeded to be patient and before I knew it I had won my table.

Shortly thereafter I waited for two players to bust out from the Final Table and then doubled up with my AKos. A few hands later another was gone and we were already down to six players. I played a pretty solid game at the final table. I hit sets when I needed to and pretty much just coasted in. We were three handed when I picked up K9os in the small blind. It folded around to me and I decided to push and put the small stack, $1200 in chips, to the test. I figured at worst I was a 3-2 dog so no big deal. Well, he turned up AJos instead and I got no help on the turn or river. Now I am down to $1700 and I pick up JJ. The blinds are now $150 / $75 so I push my chips in the middle only to run into Aces!

Unreal!

I was stunned. Just sitting there one seat away from the Sunday Millions and then having to bow out just short. Very frustrating. On the other hand, if I look at this rationally, I gotta be doing something right to keep getting this far. The cards have to fall my way just on the math alone. So it will be good times when it does I suppose.

Later

Hello again everyone. I hope you all are doing well at the tables and avoiding the dreaded bad beats. Lately, I have been playing absolutely out of my mind. I have cashed in six out of eight tournaments I have played this week going deep in three of them and getting bad beat out of every one. If I were not me I am not sure I would believe it.

lol

I really have been close to winning a very nice chunk of change twice in twenty dollar tournaments no less! I had to take solice in the fact that I had the best hand after the flop both times. No tears here and it just proves that I am playing as well I believed I was. So, as we all do after a beat, I marched my ass straight to the next tournament to play my way into contention again. My eyes stay on the prize

I LOVE THIS GAME!

High Stakes Poker has been renewed by GSN for a fifth season. Thank God this is all over with. Gabe Kaplan and A.J. Benza will continue hosting HSP as usual. Earlier in the year GSN had expressed an interest in catering to a “younger” demographic. Apparently someone forgot to tell them that poker is one of the most popular activities amongst the younger demographic.

Duh?!

Vanessa Rousso AKA “LadyMaverick” is one of the top female poker players in the game. This twenty-five year old Duke University and University of Miami graduate has a lot more going for her than just her looks. Vanessa can flat out play poker!

This native Floridian graduated valedictorian of her high school class and finished college at the tender age of nineteen. While pursuing her undergraduate studies at Duke she discovered a game theory class and began applying those mathematical theories to poker. Since then Vanessa has gone on to earn her Law Degree and has taken the professional poker tour by storm.

She first popped on the scene in 2006 when she mada the final table in the World Poker Tour Ladies Night Out tournament. Vanessa then went on to take seventh place at the Bellagio Five Star World Poker Classic which was good for $263k in that same year.

Now, armed with a bankroll, Vanessa continued her run by cashing in no less than five events at the 2006 World Series of Poker. She then went on to take down the Borgata on the Professional Poker Tour for another $285k.

in 2007 Vanessa made the Final Table in the PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker and took down another $700k+ adding to her steadily growing bankroll. Vanessa is still learning the game but she is off to a tremendous start and is a formidable tournament poker player among the ladies and men at the table. Vanessa is also engaged to fellow professional poker player Chad Brown.

Recommended Resources

If you want to play texas holdem like Vanessa Rousso, go to Launchpoker.com and learn how to play poker like the pros. Just click on a link and become a champ!

I have continued to play well. I have been really close to having a monster stack for the final table twice. On both hands I missed big flush draws after making the money. That has always kinda been my unwritten philosophy.

“First, make the money and then win the tournament.”

So far that kind of thinking has served me well. I could care less about just cashing. If you are going to win one of these big tournaments you have got to gamble late in the tournament to get some big chips. That is the one major adjustment I have made since tweaking my game a few months ago. Both times this weekend that I did make the final table I finished fourth instead of seventh or ninth. Still not first but definitly a better finish. That was because of one reason. I took a little more gamble late in the tournament and picked up some much needed chips. I went into both final tables with over 40k which is about where you want to be if not more.

Otherwise, I got bad beat out of almost all of the other tournaments except one where I made a really poor decision after the turn. I expect big things and they are manifesting themselves as we speak. I am making my own luck.

Later!