Rio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas Offers Free Poker Lessons on One-Of-A-Kind Teaching Table
Posted on May 15, 2008
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Rio All-Suite Resort Las Vegas, home of the 2008 WSOP
New Table Felt Design is Available Exclusively at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino
With the World Series of Poker right around the corner, the spotlight on poker continues to grow. Designed for beginners wanting to learn the basics of poker room play, the Rio proudly offers free gaming lessons and has recently introduced a unique teaching table.
Developed by Rio Poker Room employees, the poker teaching table features a specially-designed felt which visually highlights the key elements of the game. Used as a unique teaching tool, the special table helps students learn the basics of poker.
Clearly depicted on the instructional table felt itself are the hand rankings, betting options and other key characteristics of the game including when to bet, fold and check.
"Most people that take lessons have either seen poker on television, or played casually online or with friends," said Poker Room Manager Jerome Stone. "These folks sometimes just want to become more familiar with the process of the game as it plays out in a poker room. This teaching felt really gives beginners a great level of confidence and comfort."
During the free lessons, students learn the basics using tournament-style play chips to simulate actual poker room play. Personable teaching dealers help guide students step-by-step through the game and answer questions along the way. Daily free poker lessons are available at Rio between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. hourly.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Rio Resort Las Vegas
June is the Month of Poker in Las Vegas
Posted on May 14, 2008
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Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas
Poker players will be wishing for clones next month. There's that much scheduled tournament poker in Las Vegas during the coming month of June. The 2008 WSOP at the Rio Resort serves as the giant magnet drawing more than 50,000 poker players from around the world for the 38th annual World Series of Poker. Last year, the 2007 WSOP registered more than 57,000 poker players from around the world for the 55 poker events offering golden bracelets. The original and longest running annual poker tournament on Earth, the WSOP. Nothing in tournament poker compares to the big poker show World Series of Poker.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Poker Room at the Venetian Las Vegas
Running from May 29 through July 16, the Venetian Deep Stack Extravaganza III. The 3rd annual Deep Stack Extravaganza offering the lower buy-in ($330 - $2,500) events. The original larger starting stacks and longer play levels format tournaments have proven to be very popular with tournament players guaranteeing large fields and nice payouts. Check out the schedule of events for the Venetian Deep Stack Extravaganza III Tournament.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Tournament Poker Room at Caesars Palace Las Vegas
Moving on to the Caesars Palace June tournament. Caesars Palace, will preview a June 1 through July 9 tournament, the Caesars Palace Mega Stack Series, held in the largest permanent poker venue in Las Vegas, the posh Caesars Palace Poker Room. Free Harrah's shuttle connects the Rio and Caesars Palace making it easy for poker players to move between the two sister properties. Playing lower buy-in ($225 to $1060) events to experience Las Vegas tournament play is a good idea. For many it will be the bargain ticket to a seat in the 2008 WSOP. Click for more details and a link to the event schedules.
A third tournament is scheduled for June. The Grand Poker Series at the Golden Nugget from June 6 through July 6. Another of the lower buy-in, full schedule tournament giving players more starting chips and longer playing levels. Buy-ins range from $225 to $1080. Players can get a special $59 room rate. Registration is currently active, for complete information call John Colville at (702) 386-8164 or (800) 634-3403. Visit the website for the event schedule.
These three lower buy-in poker tournaments offer a variety of games in addition to No-Limit Hold'em - H.O.R.S.E., Pot Limit Omaha, PLO 8 or Better - and throw in the major league playing conditions and you have a bargain tournament playing lesson. The poker excitement is already building in Las Vegas, this is when local Vegas poker rooms have an abundance of WSOP seats to fill thru satellites and freerolls. And finally, the first major controversy of the upcoming 2008 WSOP, should the WSOP Main Event final table be delayed for months?
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
2007 WSOP Poker Room at the Rio Las Vegas
New poker room opens at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon
Posted on May 13, 2008
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Bill's Gambling Hall & Saloon Las Vegas
As rumors swirl of Las Vegas poker rooms closing (ahem, Paris Las Vegas), a new poker room just opened today at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon (formerly Barbary Coast), which is owned by Harrah's (er, Caesars -- we can never get used to the new and old names).
While not actually a poker room but tables inside the casino (like O'Sheas), Bill's poker room is situated near the entrance where the big eBay slots just launched (yep, eBay slots and they're so bright with the big screens you need sunglasses). Two tables have 2/6 spread limit (a format we haven't seen since Excalibur) and no-limit with a single blind of $1 and buy-in from $20 to $200.
The tables used are the old World Series of Poker tables, complete with the PartyPoker.net ad in the middle facing the dealer and TV cameras if there were any.
Like next-door neighbors Flamingo and Imperial Palace, a jackpot will offer payouts for high hands as well as $100 for Aces cracked and $50 for Kings cracked during certain hours.
Alas, as is becoming more and more the trend, the rake is 10 percent up to $5 plus $1 for the jackpot.
Summer 2008: Poker at the Crossroads
Posted on May 13, 2008
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"It was chance created the poker beast; beancounters will kill it."
.
Economics and Poker will clash this summer among the slightly tarnished gaming glitz of Las Vegas. Dispassionate observers of the poker world realize that this may be the watershed moment in the continuation or the demise of the "poker boom" worldwide.
Let's deal with the jingoism first: the United States is not the center of the universe. However, in some areas the U.S. does lead and one of those areas is 'poker as a recreational fad'. The central elements present in the U.S. that have fueled the poker boom are: the high proportion of casinos and card rooms available to the population; a large middle class with disposable income; high amounts of leisure time to pursue gaming as a hobby; relatively lenient social restrictions on gambling. Add to this the holy trinity of: the internet, television hole card cams and Chris Moneymaker; shake and stir and you have the poker boom of the last five years birthed in the United States.
The first nail in the poker coffin was indisputably the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act in 2006. While online poker remains available to everyone who is really interested; any trend, craze, furor or fad like all good pyramids needs a constant influx of bodies to provide new fuel and new fodder. The UIGEA strangled that conduit of new poker players in the U.S. and hurt online sites globally that relied on U.S. players. While many internet sites continue to flourish, we all dream of what might have been had the wealth of new U.S. players not been shutoff.
But why will this summer be such a telling moment for poker? Well, the pieces are in place for the perfect storm of economic factors to lay bare the shaky fiscal underpinnings of the poker phenomenon. First and most obviously, the whole world will be watching the World Series, which begins here in Las Vegas in just two weeks. In fact, our first piece of evidence is the change in the WSOP schedule moving the main event final table to November. Clearly, this is an attempt to salvage the declining viewership on ESPN. Sure, sure there are other PR reasons being floated for the experiment but the television numbers don't lie.
Further evidence of the slowly failing interest in televised poker: the World Poker Tour is set to begin its 7th season with the Bellagio Cup in mid-July. At this point there is no television contract for the filming of this season's tournaments. The Game Show Network and WPT have not announced any agreement and speculation is that based on the viewer numbers for season six, the first on GSN, there may be no season seven contract for television. No television would mean few, if any, professionals would travel to the WPT events outside of Las Vegas. For more details on GSN, the WPT and High Stakes Poker check out the story on Pokerati and be sure to read the comments section for Oliver's insightful contribution.
Now there are many arguments to be made about bastardizing poker to the whims of television. Over the past several weeks we have all heard rants and raves about the benefits of television exposure. I feel no need to cover that ground again. If you would like to read two well reasoned expositions on both sides of the TV/Poker divide, I would direct you to Short-Stack Shamus for a moderated view on the whole issue and to my good friend and writing partner Amy Calistri for a sad lament on what television has done to poker.
OK, let's review. UIGEA - bad for poker. Television - good or bad for poker but ratings numbers are falling. The WSOP is about to begin, so why is this summer different from every other WSOP?
The U.S. is in a recession, well someone had to say it. Revenues at Las Vegas casinos was off a whopping 30%, first quarter 2008 compared to first quarter 2007. Fewer tourists and players are visiting Las Vegas. Those who do come are spending less on gaming, food, rooms, entertainment and shopping. Some of the smaller poker rooms in Las Vegas have closed, other rooms are limiting their hours and rumors of more closures are in the air. As the poker world turns its eyes to the World Series, everyone will be looking at the numbers.
Will the first $1,500 NLHE event on Saturday May 31st draw a monster field? Well, yes it will.
Will the main event numbers hold up? Maybe, perhaps a few more then last year or a few less.
The real numbers will come from the 53 events in between those two tournaments. How many players will make the commitment to a summer in Las Vegas this year? Sure the professionals will be here, that is not in question, this is what they do for a living. What we will discover is whether the second and third tier players still have the bankroll to play the Series in this economic climate. Will a bunch of poker buddies from Chicago still make the trip to try their skills against the best in the world or will they instead go to a local casino back in the Midwest and play some $100 tournaments? Remember when Chris Moneymaker won his bracelet in 2003 there were 36 events in the Series not the 55 there are today. Chris defeated 839 entrants in the main event not six or seven thousand players of the past several years.
So why will the summer (and one Tuesday night in November) of 2008 be so significant to poker? The World Series of Poker remains the premiere event in poker. Whether Harrah's/Caesars keeps the WSOP franchise or sells it off or moves it to a truly "World" Series by holding it in various international locations; a lot of those decisions will be based on what happens this summer. If the numbers are down, then the franchise is worth less. If the numbers are steady and the new final table format is a rating success, then we should expect more expansion and innovation from the WSOP brain trust.
What is likely to happen? I honestly don't know, I am in the reporting business not the prognosticating game but I will be here all summer bringing you news from the WSOP and from the entire Vegas poker scene. We are going to focus on background stories and player contact away from the tables. We will find out how the players think and feel about the current state of poker. Is the boom over? Who is playing more? Which players are planning for a life after poker? Is the death of poker in the wind or is the boom still booming?
Brits Mock French for Online Gaming Ban
Posted on May 11, 2008
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While nearly all of the European Union members could be and perhaps should be arguing over the myriad of byzantine online poker regulations; it appears that historical antagonists are now going to verbally spare over the dispute.
The UK House of Lords has condemned the French government and the gambling laws that protect their monopoly on gaming and poker, calling the laws "atrocious." Interestingly, the French have recently given signs of moderating their position and there are certainly more intractable members of the EU on this issue. The French government has certainly delayed its response to pressure from the EU commission on the free trade aspects around online gaming. But one wonders why now? And why point out that the punishment for online gambling is the same as for child pornographers?
Lord James of Blackheath pointed out that the punishment for a French national to place a bet with a British online bookmaker is one year in prison and a Euro 75,000 fine, the same punishment given pedophiles that download child porn.
One wonders if the European Union must now step up and actively pursue one or more countries whose online gaming laws leave them outside the statutory mandates of the EU for free and fair trade.
2008 National Heads Up Noon Today on NBC
Posted on May 11, 2008
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1996 WSOP Main Event winner Huck Seed during the 2008 Heads-Up Championship
While much of the poker industry is scrambling to stop the negative trends from two years of UIEGA, television network giant NBC continues to add viewers for its 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Played at Caesars Palace Poker Room in Las Vegas earlier this year the tournament is televised every Sunday at Noon EDT in a miniseries of two hour poker shows.
Sunday noon is the perfect time slot for the poker miniseries and it says a lot for TV poker considering this same time slot is often filled by the 800 hundred pound gorilla of TV sports, the NFL. So, how come this NBC produced poker tournament has the appeal to show viewer growth while other big time poker shows are scrambling for solutions to their rapidly declining audience?
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Orel Hershiser faces Andy Bloch
NBC makes it look easy, but remember, they've been producing sports entertainment for decades and have vast experience in packaging successful TV shows. First, NBC assured an all star cast. They invited the most talented poker stars, mixed in a few stars that play poker, added an Internet champion, and even provided satellites so a couple of players from the street could get an invite. Another important factor is the tournament format. Styled after the well known 64 team single elimination college basketball championships makes it easy for viewers to follow the action.
Flip over to NBC today at Noon EDT and settle in to enjoy two hours of entertaining high stakes poker from Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Will Orel Hershiser finally strike out? Will the WSOP Champion Huck Seed continue to flourish? Can MIT phenom, Andy Bloch, solve the equations for a win? Is this the year for Jesus to finally triump? We're down to eight; but, four must go home today. The surviving four will return next Sunday, May 18 at Noon EDT, for the three hour finale and champion of the 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Will Jesus, aka Chris Ferguson, work a miracle?
Montel Williams playing sit-n-gos all day at Golden Nugget
Posted on May 10, 2008
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Montel Williams playing in the 2007 WSOP Main Event
If you happen to be in downtown Las Vegas right now, Montel Williams has taken over the Golden Nugget poker room.
And not the Montel Williams for charity events, this is his own money, your own money, and money won won't go to any outside company.
Williams will be in the poker room all day today, May 10, playing nonstop $1080 sit-n-gos.
Levels are 20 minutes per round, blinds begin at 50/100, and players start with 10,000 in chips.
First place wins $700, second place wins $300.
Party Poker Millions VI Cruise Final Table
Posted on May 8, 2008
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A final table battle on the high seas takes place today aboard the Party Poker Millions Cruise VI. Germany’s Dominik Stopka enters as chip leader, but only by a single chip over Alexander Jung also from Germany. The final nine also include Sweden ’s 2008 PartyPoker Late Night Poker winner Andreas Jorbeck, Johannes Strassmann and Mika Paasonen. All have tasted recent success on the European circuit. Amongst those to miss out on the final table include Thomas Bihl, Mike ‘Timex’ McDonald, Florian Langmann and Christop Haller.
For a summary of all the final table action check the PartyPoker Blog.
Here are the final table players with beginning chip counts, we will add the finishers as they bust out down to the champion.
SEAT 1 – KENNETH GREGERSEN – Denmark - 44,000 9th place
SEAT 2 – RAYMOND ESTALL – UK - 187,000 5th
SEAT 3 – JOHANNES STRASSMANN – Germany - 182,000 7th
SEAT 4 – ALEXANDER JUNG – Germany - 326,000 CHAMPION
SEAT 5 – MIKA PAASONEN – Finland - 236,000 4th
SEAT 6 – DOMINIK STOPKA – Germany - 327,000 2nd
SEAT 7 – CORY ALBERTSON – United States - 90,000 3rd
SEAT 8 – PETER STEINLESBERGER – Austria - 132,000 8th
SEAT 9 – ANDREAS JORBECK – Sweden – 182,000 6th
Caesars Palace Mega Stack Series
Posted on May 8, 2008
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Poker Room at Caesars Palace Las Vegas
WSOP players looking for additional poker action during the upcoming 2008 World Series of Poker at the Rio in Las Vegas need look no further than Caesars Palace. The Mega Stack Series runs daily from June 1st through July 9th. A variety of tournaments starting at Noon have the structure favored by most tourney players. Bigger starting stacks and 50 minute blind levels lower the "crap shoot" factor found in many lower buy-in events. WSOP players are accustomed to ponying up four figures for a seat but you won't need that here. Buy-ins range from $225 to $540 and $1060 for the 3 day championship event.
A $10 staff bonus add-on will increase the starting stack for all tournaments by 2,500 chips. No add-on for the championship just 25,000 in starting chips. Event registration begins at 10 AM every day. Grab the free Caesars shuttle at the Rio, conveniently located outside the poker room, and enjoy the short ride to the largest poker room in Las Vegas.
Check out all the details on the complete schedule for the Caesars Palace Mega Stack Series.
Phil Gordon Q&A on All Things Poker
Posted on May 7, 2008
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Poker Pro Phil Gordon did a recent interview with those folks over at Freakonomics. Phil has always been an keen observer and no-holds commentator on the real life of the professional poker player. Here are a few of this comments.
Q: What percent of your success would you say is attributable to randomness?
A: Randomness, otherwise known as “variance” at the poker table is much bigger and more important than most poker players realize. I have a simple theory: change 10 river cards in any poker player’s tournament career and I would bet that they would be a losing tournament player for their career.
You might need to set aside players like Doyle Brunson here or maybe just up the number to 20 or 30 but Phil's point is correct. There are several bookkeepers and more than ten chiropractors who would be well known poker professionals today if that one river card had gone the other way. By the same token, there are a couple of guys walking around with a WSOP bracelet on their wrist who should get out before variance brings them down to their true skill level.
___________________
Several of the questions had to do with professional players and their gambling habits, I have grouped those answers together for Phil's harsh but realistic assessment of poker professionals and money management.
Q: What percentage of professional poker players would you consider to be compulsive gamblers?
A: Ninety percent of the “professional players” I know have some serious “leaks” that affect their ability to hold on to their money.
Whether it’s playing too big for their bankroll or betting on sports or casino games, these leaks have a way of keeping many of them completely broke no matter how much they win on the tournament circuit.
One of the “requirements” to be a great player is being able to divorce yourself from money and its value. Making good decisions at the poker table means that you must have the ability to “put a Ferrari” in the pot if it’s right to do so. That lack of respect for the buying power of money leads to financial problems for many of the best players in the world.
If I had to guess, I would say about 50 percent of the “name pros” you see on television on a regular basis have a negative net worth.
Q: What are the finances of some of the top pros like?
A: Some: poor, reckless, with no shot at improving long-term. Others: multi-million dollar mansions, $5-plus million a year income, and no financial worries.
As I said, harsh but true.
And some poker advice from Mr. Gordon, which might run contrary to the accepted wisdom.
Q: What skill is more important in Holdem: discipline in the range of hands you play, or the ability to read the other player?
A: Hand selection is the most important in my opinion. A blind guy who has good hand selection skills could win a world championship. A guy with 20/15 vision who picked up all the tells but played every hand might never win.
Q: What is the most dangerously deceiving starting hand for an amateur player in Texas Holdem?
A: It’s a tie … AQ, KQ, and QJ. Those are death hands to be avoided at all costs, especially if your opponent has made any aggressive move pre-flop.
And you thought he would say AK or maybe JJ, right?