NLOP is back on track and it looks they have revamped their site and cash tournaments. I got a promo email yesterday and decided to stop by again to check it out. Apparently the cash tournaments are back in the mix and they also have a $1000 cash heads-up tournament against none other than Mike Sexton once a month.
The major promotion they are pushing is the $20,000 Players Championship trip to Las Vegas to be played at the Venetian hotel. There will be nine finalist and first prize is $20k. Not a bad deal for a free poker site. There are several qualifiers for both basic free members as well as paid premium members. Hopefully whatever issues that NLOP had previously have been addressed and they will continue to thrive.
I had a tough time this weekend suffering through three bad beats and crucial times in the tournament. It happens but man does it sting! I was playing in the Double Shootout Sunday Millions Qualifier when I hit a set of Jacks. I am practically raking in the pot when my opponent hits runner runner for the straight. He was holding [A][K]. How salty is that?
lol
The other situation had me on another set and my opponent hit runner runner for the flush. Again, holding [A][K] but this time they were suited. Sometimes it is just not your day. Other than that things have been moving along as usual. I have been accumulating chips rather nicely but still no breakthrough worth mentioning.
“If you cannot spot the sucker then it’s probably YOU!”
How many times have we all heard that one? Take a peek at this video to get a general feel of things you can look for when a new players sits down at your table.
The entire world is beginning to feel the effects of our financial woes here in the United States of America. A bad economy equals a lot less poker for those that play the game. Already Las Vegas has seen a fourteen percent drop in gaming revenue and now the President has finally acknowledged what the entire world already knew - we are in BIG TROUBLE!
What really makes me wonder is how the economy will affect professional gamblers. Lets face it folks. Many of the “professional” poker players we see on television are not quite as liquid as one might believe. I would venture to say that many of our favorite poker players are not living nearly as high a life style as they may portray to the public. As I understand it only about one percent of the professional poker players are making serious cash outside of playing tournaments. That means they have substantial endorsement deals with major online sites or additional means of earning revenue without playing poker. Those players are few and far between.
Guys like Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, Howard Lederer, and Chris Ferguson are rare. Each of these players has a sizable endorsement deal to subsidize their bankroll or pay for tournaments entirely. Other professional players without the benefit of such deals are reallying strictly on tournament and cash game money. Many of those players are being staked or borrowing money. Considering how poorly the economy is performing in the United States those individuals that were loaning money and staking players for tournaments will begin to dry up sooner than later. I suspect we will see smaller tournament fields in the near future until such time as the economy begins to come back around.
Carter King took down the Pokerstars WCOOP Main Event and $1.2 million dollars to go with it in prize money. Carter bested a field of 2185 players in this two day event that included several notable professional poker players.
The second Bodog Poker Oper will take place September 28th. The intial BPO ran earlier this year in March and had only six events. This time around Bodog has expanded the number of preliminary events to 13. The series will end with the Main Event featuring a $500 buy-in $300,000 guaranteed finale.
The tournament schedule for the BPOII is as follows:
Date & Time (EST)— Event Name — Event Type — Buy-In — Guaranteed Amount — Starting Chips
The last two weekends have been really interesting at the poker table. The weekend before last I had set out to play in the Pokerstars FPP tournaments for a seat into the $1050 NL Tournament Event #20. Things didn’t quite work out that way as my brother came up to surprise me. So I did not get to play any of the four satellites that were still scheduled. A little disappointing but I still had a great time hanging out with my brother.
This past weekend was entirely different. I was finally able to sit down for an extended period of time and play the Pokerstars $10 NL Deep Stacks tournament. Things did not start off well and I ended up with $3200 in chips when I finally picked up a big hand after the first break. Before that I had played several small pairs for cheap but was unable to hit anything on the flop. Anyhow, after I picked up [K][K] to double up I went on a bit of a run. Seven hours later I was sitting on $70k in chips and about $20k+ above the average. I continued to steal and take down some small pots but nothing big.
About an hour later I had [J][T] in the small blind. Prior to this play I had noticed that I needed to make a move. I was already well in the money, the tournament paid 240 places, and I was sitting in 109th place overall with 132 players left. I was also down to a little more than $60k in chips.
My thinking in the hand when Jehnova bet out after the flop was that he was on a flush draw. I was correct in that assumption. I also felt like I could push him off of the hand which turned out to be incorrect. If he had had more chips this would have been a much better play as he would have been more likely to wait for a better spot. Also, it was not an optimum play for me simply because there was a flush draw on the board. Even if I hit my straight he still had a re-draw.
The fact of the matter is that, once again, I misplayed the hand. I also felt like the big blind, samKeppler75 would simply fold after my push, wrong again although I could not put him on top pair. I was simply hoping to get heads-up with Jehnova to hit my straight and hold at worst. In retrospect this was another poorly played hand. No excuses here. I felt great and had plenty of rest. I should have waited for a better spot and got a bit impatient. On the other hand after I got the money in I didn’t feel too bad after seeing all the hands. I figured if I hold I am sitting on $160k and I am in the hunt for the promised land. I did cash and learned that I needed to be just a little more patient in that spot.
Here is how the hand played out:
PokerStars Game #20590422060: Tournament #107929927, $10+$1 Hold’em No Limit - Level XIII (600/1200) - 2008/09/21 19:05:36 ET
Table ‘107929927 122′ 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: samklepper75 (28427 in chips)
Seat 2: mportage (50630 in chips)
Seat 3: tranquilo76 (172685 in chips)
Seat 4: Jehnova77 (66718 in chips)
Seat 5: Ditchdoc720 (49092 in chips)
Seat 6: ostereo (147629 in chips)
Seat 7: xxViolatorxx (71916 in chips)
Seat 8: Blobtastic (83678 in chips) is sitting out Seat 9: Curtom (61832 in chips)
samklepper75: posts the ante 125
mportage: posts the ante 125
tranquilo76: posts the ante 125
Jehnova77: posts the ante 125
Ditchdoc720: posts the ante 125
ostereo: posts the ante 125
xxViolatorxx: posts the ante 125
Blobtastic: posts the ante 125
Curtom: posts the ante 125
Curtom: posts small blind 600
samklepper75: posts big blind 1200
*** HOLE CARDS *** Dealt to Curtom [Td Js] mportage: folds
tranquilo76: folds
Jehnova77: calls 1200
Ditchdoc720: folds
ostereo: folds
xxViolatorxx: folds
Blobtastic: folds Curtom: calls 600 samklepper75: checks
*** FLOP *** [Qd 2s Ks]
Curtom: checks
samklepper75: checks Jehnova77: bets 1200
Curtom: raises 59307 to 60507 and is all-in
samklepper75: calls 27102 and is all-in
Jehnova77: calls 59307 *** TURN *** [Qd 2s Ks] [5c] *** RIVER *** [Qd 2s Ks 5c] [8s] *** SHOW DOWN ***
Curtom: shows [Td Js] (high card King)
Jehnova77: shows [9s 6s] (a flush, King high)
Jehnova77 collected 66810 from side pot
samklepper75: shows [2d Kh] (two pair, Kings and Deuces)
Jehnova77 collected 86031 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 152841 Main pot 86031. Side pot 66810. | Rake 0
Board [Qd 2s Ks 5c 8s]
Seat 1: samklepper75 (big blind) showed [2d Kh] and lost with two pair, Kings and Deuces
Seat 2: mportage folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: tranquilo76 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: Jehnova77 showed [9s 6s] and won (152841) with a flush, King high
Seat 5: Ditchdoc720 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: ostereo folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 7: xxViolatorxx folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: Blobtastic (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: Curtom (small blind) showed [Td Js] and lost with high card King
Otherwise, I did extremely well in the single table tournaments and took down a second and third place in the two tourneys I played in. Overall, my bankroll increased another fifty bucks over the weekend.
Check out this insightful interview with Full Tilt Pro Phil Ivey. Phil discusses how temperament, strategy, and other intangibles affect his approach to the game. Phil also documents when he felt he had “arrived” as a legitimate big time player. All in all this is a very interesting snippet into the mind of one of the greatest cash game and tournament poker players of our time.
The Pokerstars 2008 World Championship of Online Poker Main Event starts today at 4:30p.m. EST This event carries a guaranteed prize pool of $10 Million dollars.
Today some of the best online poker players in the world will be battling for an estimated $1.5+ First Place prize in the $5200 buy-in WCOOP Main Event. After grinding through 32 preliminary events that range from Limit Hold’em to Stud and short-handed events today is the day of reckoning.
Several Pokerstars pros like Vanessa Rousso, Barry Greenstein, Greg Raymer and many others will be in the hunt for this tremendous pay day. This will be a two day event and we will be reporting the days results upon completion.
Many times people have asked me, “What exactly is a “prop” poker player?” Not because I am a prop player but because very few people actually know people that are prop players. Here is my answer to that question in-depth along with the pros and cons of the poker prop lifestyle.
What is a Prop poker player?
A “prop” poker player is a poker player that is employed by the casino. It can be an online casino or live casino. Seeing as this player is employed by the casino you are expected to work a typical work week just like any other employee but most times you can actually choose your hours. So if you prefer to work in the day time you can do so. If you are more of a night owl you can work that shift too as long as you are putting in at least 30+ hours per week or more.
How do props get paid?
There are typically two methods to how prop poker players get paid. One method is an hourly rate paid by the casino. This is the typical arrangement with live casinos although the terms can sometimes be negotiated depending on the relationship between the management and the player. The second method of payment is by the rake. This is typically the way online prop player get paid. The going rate is usually on a per hand basis.
Online prop players get paid based upon the rake, number of hands they play, and how many players are sitting at the table. Typically the rake deals range from 30% - 125%. Regardless of how you are paid in a land based or online casinos you will always be using your own money to play. The casino is not going to stake you to play. Player are paid just around 30% for participating in tournaments.
What are the downfalls to being a prop?
Being a prop poker player is just that. You are required to start poker games and keep them going so the casino can continue to make money. That is your job in a nutshell. So, if you are in a sweet game making every hand and raking pot after pot they may move you to another table that needs to keep the game going out of nowhere regardless to how well you are running. Again, you are an employee and therefor you are to play where you are needed and not necessarily where it is convenient for you.
How do I become a prop player?
There are a number of sites that will allow you to apply as a prop player. Usually, the sites that are seeking prop players are the newer sites or ones that are not established in the mainstream. These sites need props to start and keep games going to attract new players. When you apply to become a prop player you will likely not be told what online casino you will be playing on until your application is accepted. Until then you are given the requirements of a few poker rooms and you can choose the ones you feel best meet your needs in terms of payments and time commitment.
Being a prop player can be a lucrative endeavor but I highly recommend that you be skilled in several games before attempting to do so. The more games you play well the better your chances of becoming a prop and being a profitable prop. Don’t go into this lightly if you are seriously checking it out for the first time. Take your time and be honest with yourself and your game.
Vivek Rajkumar takes down the $1,424,500 First Prize and wins the 2008 WPT Borgata Poker Open. Vivek bested a field of 516 players and a final table that included Mark Seif.
The televised Final Table is now set for the World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open. Here are the players and chip counts:
1. Vivek Rajkumar - 6,480,000
2. Dan Heimiller - 3,360,000
3. Andrew Knee - 1,475,000
4. Mark Seif - 4,665,000
5. Jason Strochak - 1,650,000
6. Sang Kim - 3,085,000
The House Financial Services Committee passed HR6870, the “Payment System Protection Act”, which paves the way for a clear and distinct definition of what illegal online gambling is in respect to the UIGEA.
Here is a statement from the Poker Players Alliance chairman Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato:
Washington, D.C. (September 16, 2008) – Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide, today issued the following statement upon passage of H.R. 6870, the “Payment System Protection Act,” by the House Financial Services Committee.
“The PPA is pleased that the House Financial Services Committee today recognized the need to provide necessary clarification to what constitutes ‘unlawful Internet gambling’ under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) by passing H.R. 6870.
“This bipartisan compromise bill will rightfully advance the UIGEA to become immediately effective for such internet gambling that is clearly unlawful, namely sports betting. The legislation also appropriately requires a formal rulemaking, overseen by an administrative law judge, to provide the clarification requested by the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve, among others, as to the definition of ‘unlawful Internet gambling.’
“Even those who oppose internet gambling should applaud the passage of this legislation as it provides the most realistic opportunity to block truly unlawful internet gambling transactions.
“The PPA congratulates the Republicans and Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee on reaching this strong compromise bill, and we look forward to enactment of this sound public policy during this legislative session.
“We thank Chairman Frank for his continued leadership on this important issue of protecting individual rights and personal responsibility.”
Here are the day 3 chip leaders at the 2008 Borgata Poker Open:
1. Dan Heimiller - 2,870,000
2. Vivek Rajkumar - 1,756,000
3. Thayer Rasmussen - 1,413,000
4. Steven Levy - 1,317,000
5. Jason Strochak - 1,266,000
Other noteable players include:
6. Nick Frangos - 1,140,000
8. Mark Seif - 1,087,000
12. Michael Binger - 718,000
13. Steve Dannenmann - 627,000
14. Ted Forrest - 607,000
23. Nam Le - 235,000
27. Chris Bell - 165,000
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