Archive for July, 2009

Annie Duke’s Advice for Tiffany Michelle on Amazing Race

Confirmation by Poker News Daily that Ultimate Bet pro Tiffany Michelle will appear on the 15th installment of the CBS reality series “Amazing Race” has led to a flurry of excitement in the industry. Poker News Daily sat down with Annie Duke, whose appearance on the popular reality franchise “Celebrity Apprentice” helped raise well over $730,000 for charity.

Poker News Daily: We’re sure you’ve had a chance to digest the news that Tiffany Michelle will appear on the upcoming edition of “Amazing Race,” reportedly with Maria Ho. Is her appearance good for poker?

Duke: In general, it’s good for poker players to be on reality shows. One of the problems with poker is that the game is seen as fringe in the sense that people think it is awful morally and socially. That’s part of the reason that you have a block of the country that wants to stop it. The more poker gets onto these mainstream shows, the better. It takes poker out of the fringe and into legitimacy.

Having been on “Celebrity Apprentice,” I get more offers that are straight business now, where I’m asked to comment on things from a business perspective. People see me as a more mainstream person. I know there are at least a couple of poker players lobbying to get on the next season of “Celebrity Apprentice.”

PND: Will Michelle’s acting background prove useful in appearing on a reality show?

Duke: I don’t think so. The best way you can see that is to look at “Celebrity Apprentice.” You have a people who are used to being in the public eye. They’re used to the cameras and know how to handle themselves in the media. They often don’t do well at all. You can’t hide from a camera when it’s on you for15 hours a day.

After 15 hours, there wasn’t an instance of me lying on “Celebrity Apprentice.” People saw that I didn’t lie and there wasn’t a single incident of me calling Brandi [Roderick] stupid. People believed Joan [Rivers], but by the end, there was so much footage and people figured out that she was lying. So, the cameras can work either way. The producers edit the show to create a story, but they can only use the footage they get. Whatever you give them could be used against you.

PND: So how do you think Michelle and Ho will do on “Amazing Race”?

Duke: I haven’t watched tons of “Amazing Race,” but I’ve seen enough to know that regardless of how you do, a lot of people regret going on there. People look like jerks. You’d probably be better served on a show like “Amazing Race” being generous. With “Celebrity Apprentice,” one of the things I did was be up front with people about what they were doing wrong. On “Amazing Race,” it’s better to help your fellow contestants out if they have trouble finding a route marker, for example. You don’t have to go overboard, but if someone clearly needs help, you should help them.

PND: Does being a poker player give a team an advantage on “Amazing Race”?

Duke: On that show, I don’t know that being a poker player is helpful. I guess the only place poker skills might come into play is in puzzle challenges. Poker players think things through more logically. There’s some strategy in things like buying airline tickets as well, so they’ll have an advantage there. For Tiffany Michelle, it helps that she’s a pretty girl.

PND: Are poker players clamoring to be cast for reality shows after your success on “Celebrity Apprentice” and Jean-Robert Bellande’s appearance on “Survivor”?

Duke: I’m sure people saw what “Celebrity Apprentice” did for me. I think that poker players as a group are very popular. They’re very much in the American conscious at the moment, so it’s good casting. One of the things with “Celebrity Apprentice” is that they like people who are strategic. Poker players will always be strategic. That creates good television and good contrast with other people.

PND: What poker players do you think would do well on shows like “Amazing Race,” “Celebrity Apprentice,” and “Survivor”?

Duke: I’d want someone who would put the best face on poker and would also do really well. I’d love to see John Hennigan on “Amazing Race.” He’s a really good person and would be great. On a show like “Celebrity Apprentice,” my brother [Howard Lederer] would be great, although he might not be loud enough to get attention. Chris Ferguson and Rafe Furst would also be great.

With “Survivor,” I’d want someone younger. You know who would be good? Joe Sebok. He’s in great physical condition, very smart, and very physical. He’d be my number one choice. Joe would be great strategically, well-liked, and good in challenges. On “Amazing Race,” Joe would be fast. He also has solid business sense, so he’d do well on “Celebrity Apprentice.” If you had to package the all-around reality show guy, I’d pick Joe Sebok.

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Everest Poker Announces Five Year Anniversary Promotions

Everest Poker, the official on-felt sponsor of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP), is celebrating its fifth anniversary in style. The promotion is highlighted by a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool event featuring a live finale.

The $500,000 Guaranteed will begin with an online tournament on October 4th. However, its conclusion will play out under the hot sun in Las Vegas. The nine finalists who reach the Sin City component of the $500,000 Guaranteed will be invited to stay and watch the feature table of the 2009 WSOP Main Event, which will take place inside the Penn and Teller Theater at the Rio beginning on November 7th. Step tournament qualifiers for the $500,000 Guaranteed will begin in August. The final Step (#5) is worth $360 and Step 1 weighs in at just $2. Everest Poker players who reach the Las Vegas finale will receive $2,000 to cover airfare and accommodations. In addition, a special five year anniversary party will be held.

Everest Poker has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. On March 4th, 2005, the online poker site hit 10 million hands. On January 1st, 2006, it kicked off the New Year by dealing its 100 millionth hand. On April 17th, 2007, Everest Poker hit a colossal one billion hands. Now, the independent site is on the brink of recording its five billionth hand. Every player who is dealt cards in the five billionth hand on Everest Poker will receive a $5,000 cash bonus. In addition, any player who makes quad fives between July 1st and August 31st will take home 55,555 Summit Points. Only real money ring games qualify for the quad fives bonus and at least one five must be in the pocket. Players need to notify Everest Poker through e-mail in order to receive the massive Summit Point boost and include their Hand ID.

Also a part of the Everest Poker five year celebration is the Daily 5. Players who earn at least five Summit Points per day for one calendar month will qualify for a $5,000 freeroll. Players who earn five Summit Points daily between July 5th and August 4th are able to play in a $5,000 freeroll on August 6th at 18:00 GMT. Players who earn five Summit Points daily between August 5th and September 4th can qualify to play in a $5,000 freeroll on September 8th, also at 18:00 GMT. The site notes, “If you have an off day, we understand. As long as you earn 5 Summit Points 30 out of 31 days, you are still eligible for our freerolls.”

Summit Points can be exchanged for top-tier merchandise in the Store on Everest Poker. During the five year anniversary, players will see 5% to 55% discounts on select items in the Summit Point Store, making their balance go just a little bit further. Items up for grabs include Everest Poker shirts, chipsets, sports bottles, and mouse pads. In addition, the Summit Points Store also showcases an Aston Martin DB9 Coupe, a Cartier Roadster Chronograph watch, a Corum Bubble Royal Flush watch (the same manufacturer as WSOP bracelets), and a Seadoo Seascooter GTI.

Finally, Everest Poker is holding $5,000 Refer-A-Friend Freerolls. Players who refer four or more friends in July or four or more friends in August are eligible to enter freerolls on August 4th and September 2nd, respectively. Both freebies will issue the “Shuffle up and deal” command when the clock strikes 19:00 GMT. Everest Poker explains, “Players who meet the referral requirements for our $5,000 Refer-A-Friend Freerolls will be pre-registered for the tournaments.” The Refer-A-Friend Freerolls are on top of the $50 bonus regularly received per referral.

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Same Hand, Different Game: Middle Pairs

In the game of poker, sometimes the hand you hold has different capabilities depending upon the game that you’re playing: what would be a great hand in one form of poker will be mere junk in another discipline of the game. In this series of articles, we’ll examine particular hands and what strategies a player should put in place; because the same hand isn’t always the best in different games.

Middle Pairs – Tricky And Dangerous

When it comes down to the middle pairs – and in this instance, we are talking about pocket sixes through pocket pairs – you can find yourself in a very tricky circumstance. You are starting with a pocket pair, but it is very susceptible to being outdrawn. Unless you hit the set (in most games, as you will see), it is a hand that will often be beaten by players who sit on face cards or Aces. The proper approach, dependent on the game, will help you to maximize the value and, when you are in a difficult situation, get away with the least amount of chips lost.

Texas Hold’em

In Texas Hold’em, the pocket pair can be wielded pretty easily. When you have the middle pair, though, you have to delicately walk through the board. Unless you catch that set – about a one in eight chance – you have to be able to read the board correctly and judge whether you are sitting good or have to muck the hand.

Pre-flop, pocket tens through pocket eights can be played for a raise with some semblance of confidence. The pocket sevens and sixes, however, don’t have the same level of strength that a player should look for when raising a hand. This doesn’t mean that you should throw these hands away, though; all of the middle pairs are worth calling a raise unless there is a huge amount of action in front of you, and you can at the minimum take a look at the flop.

After the flop is where things can get a bit tricky. If the flop comes down with overcards to your pair – and especially if the flop contains one or more face cards or Aces – you have to definitely consider the playing style of your opponent and judge whether to continue on in the hand. This is a spot where conserving the chips, either through check-calling or folding, will work out well for your future at this particular table.

If the flop comes under your middle pair, you have to find out where you are at very quickly. A bet or raise should get the information you are looking for here and, if you are raised or three-bet, then you have to make a decision as to whether your opponent is pushing his big Ace or has actually caught a set against your pair. It is a hand that you can go to the river with but be sure to control the betting on future streets.

If you catch your set, there are a multitude of options available to you: you can either slow play the set and look to draw some more chips from your opponent or pound the board with bets (especially useful if you are against an aggressive player). Be mindful of the board texture and be on the lookout for either straights or flushes that come to light.

Omaha Hold’em

With Omaha the middle pair is even more problematic than in Texas Hold’em: in Omaha if you don’t catch a set on the flop – or at least the turn – you are looking at getting rid of the hand, because you more than likely won’t take it down with your middle pair. When you add in the factor of playing High-Low, then the decisions take on another turn.

While hitting the set in High-Low may be good enough to take the high half the pot, you really are looking for the board to pair to make a boat (and try to dodge an opponent who is sitting on their own pair that makes quads). Caution should be at the forefront of your mind here as you can get into a betting war that depletes your stack when you are sitting there with the second best hand.

If you have pocket eights, sevens or sixes, you have to take a look at your other two cards to judge whether you can make a solid low hand. Unless you have a suited Ace to go along with one of your pair cards, you shouldn’t be looking at making the low and even then you don’t have what could be considered to be a playable hand. This is a common mistake that players will make in the Omaha game – continuing to play the hand when they should have gotten out long before the river – and you should look to conserve your chips for a position where you have much better holdings.

Razz

Pocket pairs are something that definitely must be avoided in Razz. With the middle pairs, however, there are some options that open up for bluffing and/or for taking the hand outright.

Pocket tens through pocket eights should be avoided at all costs, but there is potential in the pocket sevens and sixes. You should preferably be gated – with one of your pair in your hidden cards and the other showing – and have your opponents all showing cards higher than yours to make a move on the pot. If you have your pair hidden, you would need an Ace, deuce or trey showing to be aggressive.

In Razz, however, you have to remember that you have to almost draw perfectly over the next four cards to catch the low hand. If your pair hits another like card on Fourth Street – for example, (7-7) 2-7 – then you need to quickly run away. If, however, you are drawing with a (6-3) 6-2-A, you can continue cautiously to Seventh Street to try to catch your low cards. As always with the game of poker and especially with non-community card games, be aware of the potential that your opponents are displaying and get out when it looks as though you are beaten.

Seven Card Stud and Seven Card High-Low

In these games, the middle pair can be a very effective tool, especially if it’s a hidden pair. If you are fortunate enough to be able to pull a third card on one of the streets, you can be aggressive with them and often get players who have two pair to come along with you to the river. In this instance, your payoff would be quite large. But there are some factors that you have to keep in mind before you start counting those chips, however.

If the two other cards to your pair are part of the other player’s face up cards, then you have to consider whether it will be wise to continue on with the hand. If you are holding pocket sevens, for example, and both of the sevens you covet are up, the best you are going to be able to do is two pair (barring hitting trips somewhere over the next four cards). In most cases, the middle pair is not going to be enough to win the hand, as someone else will have built a much better holding.

You also have to consider the texture of an opponent’s displayed cards and judge whether you can beat what they are showing or, in some cases, insinuating that they have. If someone is showing four suited cards or has two pair already in the up cards, your measly pair should have already been in the muck. Remember that you want to be able to have some ammunition when you hit larger hands; calling along and looking to hit aren’t going to conserve your chip stack to be able to do that.

In High-Low, you have to consider the same options that you did in Razz. Unless you catch a card to make the set and take the high, you shouldn’t be in the hand. If you are looking at the low hand, you have to have that Ace, deuce or trey in the mix to allow you to go on in the hand. Always remember your goal in a High-Low game is to scoop the entirety of the pot rather than split it, though.

Summary

The middle pocket pair can be one of the sneakiest hands in the game of poker. Played correctly, it can score a nice sized pot into your chip stack; played incorrectly, it can wreck not only your stack but your confidence. Be sure to wade into playing the middle pairs carefully, as the same hand is sometimes not the best hand in different games. In the next segment of this series, we will take a look at the baby pairs and how they can be highly useful in different games.

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I’m Going to Be a Lobbyist in My Next Lifetime

I recently returned from a trip to Washington, DC in which I was privileged to be part of the Poker Players Alliance’s (PPA) National Poker Week Fly-In. Part of this event included a gathering of 33 PPA State Directors, a handful of poker celebrities, and various lobbyists and media members. Our goal was to gain support for favorable online poker legislation and specifically for House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank’s HR 2267, which would establish federal licensing and regulation of online poker.

My first impression of Capitol Hill is that I have never seen so many men and women dressed in business attire, scurrying from one building to another, carrying files and folders, all with an agenda to fulfill. The experience of actually seeing our government at work and being part of the process was incredible.

The Fly-In started out with a working dinner at which the participants got a chance to network with each other and hear brief speeches from Alfonse D’Amato, Congressman Robert Wexler, and John Pappas, Executive Director of the PPA.  Afterwards, we were given our meeting schedules for the next two days. My list of appointments included Senators Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein, and Representatives Tim Bishop, Shelley Berkley, Dina Titus, and Lynn Westmoreland. I had been given a list of talking points and became comfortable with them through many role-playing scenarios with Jan Fisher and my brother Rich Plante, who accompanied me on the trip.

At each of our meetings, we were taken into an office or small boardroom and allowed to make a presentation about why we believe that online poker should be completely legal, licensed, and regulated in the United States. Most times, there was a lobbyist with us and two or more PPA representatives present. I actually preferred the meetings without a lobbyist, as this gave us more time to personalize our stories and yet were still able to present the persuasive positive points about our position.

Here are some of the facts we presented in our meetings to encourage support of HR 2267:
1. More than 10 million Americans play online poker.
2. If online poker sites were licensed, American citizens would be protected from scam artists who don’t operate their sites with integrity. In addition, we would have legal recourse in U.S. courts if problems occurred.
3. Studies show that approximately $3.3 billion in tax money would be raised annually if online poker were regulated.
4. HR 2267 would provide effective protection to keep underage children from gambling online.
5. HR 2267 provides help to compulsive gamblers.
6. 75% of Americans oppose a ban on internet poker.
7. Poker is a game of skill. State courts in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Colorado have recently come to this conclusion.
8. Licensing and regulating online sites would create jobs. I know many people who lost their jobs as marketing directors and party planners when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed.

We also made personal pleas to Senators, Congressmen, and staffers. For instance, I brought up how embarrassing it is that in the “Land of the Free,” we don’t have the same right to fund an online poker account and play in our own homes that citizens of most other countries in the world have. I also brought up the fact that my brother, who lives in Utah where there are no casinos, will eventually have to leave his home state if he wants to play poker unless we get the law changed. There are millions of physically-challenged and infirmed citizens who aren’t able to travel to a casino to play poker. Instead, playing online in their homes can bring them happiness in an otherwise depressing, painful life.

I believe that we helped sway opinions in a positive way through our Congressional meetings. Lots of questions were asked and answered that made it obvious that licensing and regulation is the best way to go regarding online poker. Since the Fly-In, three members of Congress (Representatives Linda Sanchez, John Conyers, and Mike Thompson) have signed on to co-sponsor HR 2267, bringing the total to 51. Many more will follow suit… it only makes sense!

The trip wasn’t all business, though; we had some time for fun in between our meetings. A special treat was lunch at the Pentagon in the Army Executive Dining Room hosted by a Brigadier General friend of mine. After lunch, we were given a tour of the 9/11 Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

I also got to play in a charity poker tournament along with 35 patients from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Celebrities in attendance included Andy Bloch, Annie Duke, Jan Fisher, Howard Lederer, Dennis Phillips, Montel Williams, and members of Congress and their staff. The PPA donated $25,000 to seed the effort and another $10,000 was raised through rebuys, bounties, and donations. My trip to Washington, DC was truly a top-ten event in my life.

***

Linda,
Nice job. Thank you so much for your efforts. You covered all the primary points that legislators need to be aware of.

Arthur

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Harlem Globetrotters, Miss America May Join Tiffany Michelle on Amazing Race

According to an article that appeared this week in The Examiner, two members of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team and Miss America 2004 may join poker players Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho on Season 15 of the CBS reality show “Amazing Race.”

Poker News Daily can confirm that Tiffany Michelle is among the cast for the 15th cycle of the reality series, citing anonymous sources inside the industry. Her rumored partner is Maria Ho, who Reality Fan Forum snapped a picture of at Los Angeles International Airport on the day that “Amazing Race” filming allegedly began. In the image, she did not appear to be donning a backpack (as is customary for “Amazing Race” teams); instead, she was pulling a suitcase. Michelle and Ho represent the last women standing in the 2008 and 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Events, respectively.

The Examiner speculates that Harlem Globetrotters members Nate “Big Easy” Lofton and Herbert “Flight Time” Lang are members of the “Amazing Race” cast. Lang attended Centenary College in Louisiana and wears #4 for the showcase basketball team. His biography found on the Harlem Globetrotters website appropriately reads, “He is a self-proclaimed reality TV junkie… What Flight Time likes about reality TV is that, even though he knows parts are staged and scripted for dramatic effect, ‘After a certain amount of time, you really get to see what people are like.’” Lang was roped into reality television after catching an episode of CBS staple “Survivor.”

Lofton attended Southeast Louisiana and grew up in New Orleans. His biography notes, “His gregarious personality and thunderous dunks entertain Globetrotter fans young and old.” A total of 26 players make up the current roster of the Harlem Globetrotters, which showcase unusual basketball skills at venues around the world. Several members of the team, including Lang, appeared on the ABC reality series “The Bachelorette” in May. The Globetrotters challenged the seven remaining bachelors to a pick-up game of basketball, with bachelorette Jillian Harris looking on intently. “The Bachelorette” wrapped up on Monday night with Harris riding off into the sunset with Ed Swiderski.

Joining Lang, Lofton, Michelle, and Ho will likely be Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap. The Examiner notes that “Amazing Race” has featured pageant winners before, as Dustin-Leigh Konzelman and Kandice Pelletier competed as part of Season 10 and All-Stars. Dunlap hails from Florida; the reigning Miss America is Katie Stern, a native of Indiana. No indication was given as to who will partner with Dunlap for “Amazing Race.”

An entry appearing on Wikipedia adds that two newscasters from the television network C-SPAN will also take part in “Amazing Race” when the 15th season kicks off in September. The show pits teams of two against each other in a race around the world. Along the way, they’ll complete various challenges as part of “Detours” (a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons) and “Road Blocks” (a task that only one team member can perform). Each leg typically consists of one Detour and one Road Block; many of the legs end with the last team arriving at the “Pit Stop” being eliminated.

“Amazing Race” will once again air on Sunday nights, debuting on September 27th for two hours. The popular reality program follows CBS News program “60 Minutes” and will serve as the lead-in for the new drama “Three Rivers.” “Amazing Race” is an Emmy-winning reality show whose reigning champions are lawyers and siblings Tammy and Victor. In seasons past, the top prize has been $1 million and to date, no “celebrity” installment of “Amazing Race” has taken place.

Other poker players who have appeared on major reality shows include Annie Duke, who finished as the runner-up to comedian Joan Rivers on the second season of “Celebrity Apprentice.” In addition, Bodog pro Jean-Robert Bellande competed on “Survivor: China,” the 15th cycle of the cornerstone CBS show. Bellande was the eighth player voted out of “Survivor: China” and served as a member of the jury.

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Joe Cada Interview with Poker News Daily

Poker News Daily: After being the victim of a one-outer against Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier, it has to feel good to be a member of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) November Nine. Tell us about your emotions a few weeks after the fact.

Cada: I’m still really excited. It’s definitely hit me now that I’m back in Michigan since everyone is talking about it. It’s kind of weird and I’m not used to it.

PND: What are people asking you?

Cada: They tell me congratulations, ask me how it was, and ask me if it was hard. Those are basically your standard questions.

PND: Would you have rather returned to the Rio to play down to a winner or are you comfortable waiting until November?

Cada: I’m cool waiting. I’ve had enough poker for a while. If you’re chip leader, there’s more hype, but if you have fewer chips, it’s no big deal.

PND: You’re fifth in chips entering the final table. Are you planning to pursue any coaching or adjust your game in any way?

Cada: I’m not pursuing any coaching. I’m trying to continue to play and improve. I guess you can play sit and gos online, but the structure will be shorter. I’m playing more live tournaments like the WSOP Europe, European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona, and the World Poker Tour (WPT) Legends of Poker in Los Angeles.

PND: We spotted you donning Ultimate Bet gear. Are there any sponsorship plans for the final table that you can share?

Cada: I haven’t negotiated deals with any sites yet. The deal with Ultimate Bet was a one-day agreement. It was something that was there to make some money on the side.

PND: Would becoming the youngest WSOP Main Event winner ever mean something to you?

Cada: The bracelet is what I want, especially the Main Event bracelet. It may be my only shot to get one. Winning the bracelet would be the bigger accomplishment, but being the youngest Main Event champion ever would mean something too.

PND: How did you get started in poker?

Cada: During the poker boom with Moneymaker. I had friends who played professionally at the time. I was always into cards and competition. Poker was fun and I went to friends for advice like Dean Hamrick, Tony Gargano, and a few people from school that were better than I was.

PND: You’re primarily a cash game player. Can you tell us what stakes you normally play?

Cada: I typically play $10/$20 heads-up. Since I made the November Nine, I haven’t jumped in stakes because I don’t feel like I’m ready.

PND: Because you play so many heads-up games online, will that give you an edge at the final table?

Cada: I feel that the more short-handed it gets, the bigger edge I’ll have unless it’s against Ivey, who has a great edge short-handed. However, over the majority of the field, I have an advantage.

PND: Is it daunting to be up against a final nine in the Main Event that includes poker pros Phil Ivey and Jeff Shulman?

Cada: I wouldn’t say so. I play against good players all the time. They are great players, of course, but it’s just like playing against other great players.

PND: Is playing heads-up a good way to build your bankroll?

Cada: If you’re a good heads-up player, that’s where the most money is to be made. You have to control your emotions and you don’t get any hands off. When you lose a few buy-ins and let it get to you, you’re sunk. It’s definitely mentally draining over nine-handed or six-handed games. I go back and forth, but I mostly play heads-up in shorter sessions.

PND: Talk about the rail that turned out to support you for the final day of the WSOP Main Event.

Cada: I really didn’t have a big rail, but my friends were loud. Tony was there to root me on and he had 1% of me.

PND: You finished second in the $150 rebuy on Full Tilt Poker just a few days removed from making the November Nine. Are you playing with more confidence now?

Cada: It’s definitely a lot easier to play now. Nothing affects me. After the recent score, I can’t complain about anything. If I take a bad beat, oh well. I just ran well in the Main Event.

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“Boosted J” Inks Deal With Full Tilt Poker

After an excellent performance at the World Poker Tour’s first stop of their eighth season at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, longtime online professional Justin “Boosted J” Smith has signed a deal to be a Full Tilt Poker sponsored professional.

Smith, who finished third at the Bellagio Cup behind runner up Faraz “The-Toilet” Jaka and eventual champion Alexandre “allingomes” Gomes, has a long history of success in the online game and has recently been transferring those skills over to the live poker world. At the most recent World Series of Poker, “Boosted J” finished with a highly respectable five cashes with his best finish an eighth place final table in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo World Championship. After his debut at the World Series of Poker Europe last year, Smith has earned almost $700,000 in live tournaments and has earned much more in the online game.

Although a young player that has been weaned on the online game, Justin has shown a propensity for all the disciplines of poker. In fact, his five cashes at the World Series ranged across the board, including Pot Limit Omaha, Seven Card Stud, Lowball and heads up Texas Hold’em. Befitting of his skills in multiple games and his new status as a sponsored Full Tilt pro, Smith has three tables of high stakes (one $1000/$2000 and two $400/$800) Mixed Game tables named in his honor.

“Boosted J” will have to drop his famous online moniker in exchange for seeing his real name in red on Full Tilt alongside perhaps the best stable of poker players in the game today. The “Friends of Full Tilt” encompass such notable celebrities as “Ocean’s Eleven” star Don Cheadle, Ultimate Fighting Championship ring announcer Bruce Buffer, “Poker After Dark” announcer Ali Nejad and author Jim McManus. There are also other levels of poker superstardom on Full Tilt Poker.

Full Tilt boasts one of the best poker training crew in CardRunners, made up of 2007 Online Player of the Year Isaac Baron, recent $25,000 Full Tilt Heads Up Poker Champion David Benefield and Taylor Caby (just to name a few). For those interested in international players, Full Tilt is the home of “The Hendon Mob,” the legendary English crew consisting of the Boatman brothers, Barny and Ross, as well as Joe Beevers and Ram Vaswani. When it comes to the Full Tilt sponsored pros, “Boosted J” will join the ranks including such players as Gavin Smith, 2008 WSOP Women’s Champion Svetlana Gromenkova and Chip and Karina Jett.

Finally, there are the players that are recognized as “Team Full Tilt.” The players who make up this group comprise thirteen of the finest players nowadays. Their combination of 36 WSOP bracelets is unequaled on any other online site and their resumes speak for themselves. Some of the players who make up “Team Full Tilt” include former World Champion Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, defending WSOP-Europe champion John Juanda and 2009 “November Nine” member Phil Ivey.

Congratulations to Justin on his new status as a Full Tilt pro and good luck on both the virtual as well as the physical poker tables worldwide.

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UIGEA Regulations Won’t Change Online Poker Industry

Coming out of National Poker Week, an effort orchestrated by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) to legalize and regulate the online game in the United States, many wondered what the future of the industry would be once the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) are fully enforced in December.

As it currently stands, the financial services industry has until December 1st to comply with the 2006 law. Despite the presence of 32 co-sponsors of HR 2266, which delays mandatory compliance with the UIGEA by one year, the bill has yet to see time in the House Financial Services Committee. In addition, Congress will be on recess during the month of August and return after the Labor Day holiday in the United States.

In an exclusive interview with Poker News Daily during the recent PPA Fly-In, poker lobbyist Mickey Leibner noted, “We hope that HR 2266, which is the bill to delay the implementation of the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) by one year – We’re hopeful that we can get something done on that as soon as we get back from the August recess. That’s the plan.” In the interim, concerned poker players are encouraged to call, e-mail, and write their Congressmen urging support of HR 2266 and HR 2267, the latter of which establishes a full licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry in the United States. Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced both measures in early May.

In order to gauge the potential effectiveness of the regulations once they are in full effect, Poker News Daily sat down with noted gambling and the law expert Nelson Rose.

Poker News Daily: What do you foresee as the status of the online poker industry in the United States come December?

Rose: I think there’s a good chance that HR 2266 will pass. Nobody likes the regulations of the UIGEA, but it’s of such little interest to members of Congress right now.

PND: You had mentioned to us in a previous interview that you doubted how effective the regulations of the UIGEA would ultimately be. Can you comment on that?

Rose: I don’t think they’re going to have any effect at all. The whole focus has changed. Instead of looking at individual transactions, financial institutions are now told not to. Basically, the whole program focuses on due diligence on new accounts. If you’re crazy enough to set up a bank account with an American bank, they’ll ask if you’re involved in illegal internet gambling. Banks are specifically told not to look at individual transactions, so it doesn’t really do much except impose an extra level of regulation and cost onto the banks. The payment processors have already figured out ways around it.

PND: Is over-blocking by companies like Visa and MasterCard a function of compliance with the UIGEA? For example, legal online lottery transactions in North Dakota and New Hampshire have been blocked.

Rose: The credit card companies stopped letting their cards be used a few years ago. It was partly because of a fear of charge backs and partly because they were afraid they were doing something illegal. The U.S. Department of Justice ran a very successful campaign of intimidation and it worked. In fact, I work with racetracks and state lotteries and they’re having a horrible time doing transactions that everyone agrees are legal.

The UIGEA is a piece of garbage, but the regulators did the best they could do with it. It’s an un-funded mandate. It’s a requirement that banks spend money for nothing and that’s not what the government should be doing right now, partly because we’re in a financial crisis. It’s also personal intrusion. The regulations would have been killed last summer, but the Republicans decided to make it into a political issue.

Visit GamblingAndTheLaw.com for more information.

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Vitaly Lunkin Shines in First 2009 WSOP on ESPN Broadcast

The kickoff event of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) on ESPN played out on Tuesday night, with Russian Vitaly Lunkin taking home $1.9 million from the record $7.7 million prize pool.

Fans of poker on ESPN noticed several stark changes in the 2009 WSOP broadcast compared to years past. 2008 WSOP Main Event Champion Peter Eastgate now appears in the opening credits of the broadcast, which are otherwise the same as last year. The show began by highlighting the 40th running of the WSOP, featuring comments by several pros, including Doyle Brunson, Howard Lederer, Daniel Negreanu, Mike Sexton, Johnny Chan, Chris Ferguson, Annie Duke, Erick Lindgren, Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, Jennifer Harman, Joe Hachem, and Scotty Nguyen. Eastgate’s banner, which hung above the Amazon Room floor at the Rio during the WSOP, was then unveiled.

Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, the presenting sponsor of the 2009 WSOP, received a slew of product placement throughout the show. The foodstuff’s logo appears on the center of the ESPN featured table, on video monitors above it, and in a bevy of graphics during the broadcast. Everest Poker’s name continues to appear in the ring of the table. Commemoration of the 40th WSOP consisted of a series of “40th Annual Memories” vignettes, which honored players who have won three bracelets in one year (Jeffrey Lisandro won a trio in 2009) and Greg Raymer’s deep run in the 2005 Main Event after winning the tournament in 2004.

The hole card camera now bears the presenting sponsor’s name and a Jack Link’s Wild Card Hand of the Day allows viewers at home to see one player’s hand, but not their opponent’s. In one, Raymer held 8-7 of hearts and raised to 250,000 under the gun. Isaac Haxton, whose cards were unknown, asked for a count and then made the call. The flop came 7-7-9 and the action went check-check. The turn came a nine, leading ESPN poker commentator Norman Chad to note, “If Isaac has a small pocket pair or an ace, he’s playing the board.” Haxton checked, Raymer led out for 350,000, and Haxton called. The river was another nine. Haxton checked, Raymer bet 750,000 after seeing his full house counterfeited, and Haxton called, showing A-Q for a chopped pot. On the Wild Card Hand of the Day, Chad noted, “That was fun. We’ve found a whole new way for me to sound stupid.”

For an event featuring a $40,000 buy-in, the average age of the final table was lower than many expected. Six of the nine players were in their 20s, while Raymer, who finished third, was the elder statesman at just 44. Noah Schwartz, who finished eighth, was labeled McLovin during the broadcast due to his striking resemblance to a character in the movie “Superbad.” Lex Veldhuis was cheered on by his girlfriend, Evelyn Ng, as well as Team PokerStars Pro member Maridu Mayrinck and Karina Jett. Raymer’s wife and mother turned out to support him, while Bodog pro Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo’s mother and stepfather rooted him on from the rails.

Two one-hour episodes aired on Tuesday night. The second focused on a prop bet by Bonomo that at least one of 43 poker players who live in Panorama Towers in Las Vegas would win a bracelet during the 2009 WSOP. Bonomo gave 7:1 odds on the bet and watched in agony as heads-up action between Lunkin and Panorama Towers’ own Haxton featured several double-ups by the player on the short stack. Besides Haxton and Bonomo, Panorama Towers residents include David Williams, Ng, Barry Greenstein, Joe Sebok, Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak, and Veldhuis.

In one of the most memorable heads-up matches in WSOP history, which left viewers on the edge of their seats, Lunkin finally prevailed and banked $1.9 million. Even Chad was rooting his fellow American along. After one double-up by Haxton with K-10 against Lunkin’s aces, Chad yelled, “Take that, you Commies!” Chants of “Russ-i-a” permeated the Amazon Room following Lunkin’s win and WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack presented the commemorative bracelet to the Russian at the end of the first 2009 WSOP on ESPN broadcast. Here were the final payouts:

1. Vitaly Lunkin – $1,891,012
2. Isaac Haxton – $1,168,566
3. Greg Raymer – $774,927
4. Dani Stern – $548,315
5. Justin Bonomo – $413,166
6. Alec Torelli – $329,730
7. Lex Veldhuis – $277,940
8. Noah Schwartz – $246,834
9. Ted Forrest – $230,317

Other vignettes included Brunson, Adam Schoenfeld, and David Plastik battling in 40th Annual WSOP Trivia during the traditional segment “The Nuts.” Nine questions in three categories were asked, including Main Men, Dynamic Duos, and Famous Firsts. In the end, Schoenfeld prevailed and advanced to the next round.

Poker News Daily has learned that future WSOP episodes will feature sponsored vignettes from PokerStars (called “Straight from the Pros”) and Full Tilt Poker (called “Deal Me In”). Pros from each online poker site will explain why they played a hand a certain way, giving the viewer unique insight. The Wild Card Hand of the Day will also continue to appear in each episode.

Stay tuned for the latest from the 2009 WSOP on Poker News Daily.

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Eric Buchman Interview with Poker News Daily

Poker News Daily: You’re second in chips to Darvin Moon heading into the final table of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Would you have rather played down to a winner in July instead of waiting until November?

Buchman: I would have rather had a short break, maybe a few days or a week, and then played it out. I don’t really worry about losing momentum. The only disadvantage is that it gives other players a chance to get better if there are any that don’t have a lot of experience. You can get a lot better in three or four months.

PND: Tell us about your preparation for November’s final table. Are you planning to receive any poker coaching or scout your opponents on television?

Buchman: I won’t get any coaching, but I might play a few more sit and gos online. Besides that, I’m not going to do too much differently. I’m still going to play cash games and if I stop playing cash, I’ll get bored. If I come in first place in the Main Event, I won’t need to play cash games at all. If I come in ninth, it doesn’t set me up for life where I can retire from cash games.

PND: We spotted you wearing a Full Tilt Poker logo during the WSOP Main Event. Are you going to wear that site’s logo during the final table?

Buchman: I had two one-day deals with Full Tilt. I didn’t actually talk to them; I talked to an agency that brought the deals to me. They didn’t handle themselves very professionally and did a lot of lying and manipulating. One of my questions was, “If I wear the logo now, can I wear another logo later in the tournament?” They said it doesn’t matter, but it really does. Other sites don’t want to approach you after you’ve worn a logo. There’s sort of a gentleman’s agreement among sites. It was hard to deal with all of that while I was trying to focus on the tournament.

PND: Are you going to wear Full Tilt’s logo, then, or did you sign with another site?

Buchman: I’m going with PokerStars. I’m very happy with them. They’re a company with high integrity.

PND: Talk about the tournament-changing pot against Jonathan Tamayo when you doubled up with A-10 suited against pocket jacks after flopping the nut flush.

Buchman: The hand happened with 28 people left and nobody wanted to come in 28th because the payout jumped. I was really not getting any cards and my stack dwindled from 4.5 million to 3 million. I was picking up nothing and when I looked down at A-10 of hearts, it was the best hand I had seen in a while. I made a big over-bet, but it was also a late position raise. I felt like if I got called, maybe I could double up, but I didn’t think I’d get called since it’d take a big hand. Tamayo, who was in the big blind, woke up with jacks. Making that move gives me a better chance to win the tournament. It wasn’t clear if doing it was a mistake, but it gave me a better chance to win the tournament. I took a chance and it paid off.

PND: Can you talk about the comments by Jeff Shulman that he’d consider throwing out the WSOP Main Event bracelet if he won?

Buchman: I don’t think he’ll actually throw it away. I saw that he took that comment back and instead said he would do something clever with it. The bracelet is worth a lot, so he won’t just throw it out. He’s entitled to do whatever he wants. I thought he was a cool guy and I liked him. He’s just pissed at Harrah’s for whatever reason.

PND: If you won the WSOP Main Event, what would be your plans for the money?

Buchman: I’d probably buy a house. It’s a lot of money. I feel like I should buy a piece of property and then probably save a portion of it. The Government will take a good chunk of it as well, but it’d still be a nice nest egg.

PND: How did you get started in poker?

Buchman: When I was a kid, I played with my uncle and my parents, but not seriously. Then, I played in a couple of clubs in New York and went to Atlantic City once in a while, but it was still just entertainment for me. When I was a senior in college, I took it more seriously and went to Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods on the weekends. I made a little bit of money and built a small bankroll. After I graduated, I’d go to Atlantic City to play and doubled my bankroll almost right away. I won a tournament for $14,000 at the Tropicana, which was its once-a-month big tournament. That was big for me.

PND: Talk about the whirlwind of interviews and other media coverage that you’ve gone through.

Buchman: So far, it hasn’t been that hectic. There have just been a few interviews here and there. I’ve haven’t been bombarded yet. I don’t mind the media, but at some point, enough is enough. I was told that the closer it gets to November, the more media I’ll receive.

PND: Is there anything you learned from last year’s WSOP Main Event final table that you can carry over into November?

Buchman: What they show on television is two hours out of a 14 or 16 hour long final table. Even though they show the key hands, you don’t get all of the information. You’re also playing against different people. You have to focus on the people you’re playing against since everyone plays differently. You really have to play the players.

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