Hard Rock Poker “Lounge” in Las Vegas
Posted on August 21, 2008
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The much awaiting Hard Rock Casino "Poker Lounge" opened today. In a down gaming market in Las Vegas, this is the first of several new rooms to open late this summer. The hype had been about just how different the Hard Rock room would be. Yesterday, I got a pre-opening preview.
The good news is that this is a very player friendly room. The tables have as much room between them as can be found in the best layout in town, that would be at the Venetian. The new chairs are high back and very adjustable. The room itself is... well... Hard Rock. Done in black with rock star portraits throughout, the room lends itself to a party poker atmosphere. The dark blue table felts are very nice and give lots of contrast for both cards and chips. There are bathrooms inside the poker room, always a great addition and the much publicized poker bar is just at the entrance of the room, so the party atmosphere will be "near' but not "in" the room.
The new room begins with an aggressive four tournament-a-day schedule and a full compliment of games and limit spreads. I have only one negative and even this is not an issue for most Hard Rockers. I have heard many complaints from poker players about the music in the MGM poker room. Well, if you don't like music with your poker, then the HR room is going to be an issue for you. One very good thing is that the Hard Rock music selection is 100% Rock and that made all the difference for me.
I hope the very enthusiastic poker room staff can maintain their energy over the time it takes to build a room. I would remind them that the Venetian poker room took nearly a year to draw a faithful poker following; that being said, the new Poker Lounge at the Hard Rock Casino has all the elements in place to be a very successful room.
World Series of Poker: $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship Aftermath
Posted on August 20, 2008
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ESPN showed the 2008 WSOP $50K H.O.R.S.E. event for the first time yesterday. If you haven't seen it, there is a lot of controversy about the conduct of several of the players at this prestigious final table; most notable the talk is about eventual champion Scotty Nguyen. Here are just a few points to be considered when watching the event on television or pondering the state of poker as viewed through the lens of this tournament.
Most of the conversation centers around whether Scotty Nguyen was drunk, abusive and/or an ambassador for poker and a role model for the kids. Quite frankly, it is the opinion of this writer that anyone who pays $50,000 to enter a poker tournament can act any way they want. But beyond that there are some real issues:
ESPN gets to present the "facts" of any final table in any way their editing capabilities allow. This final table lasted nearly 15 hours and ended at 5 A.M. ESPN chose to focus on the bad behavior of several players at the final table. Their choice, they paid for the television rights.
PokerNews.com, who have the exclusive rights to get in close and report all of the WSOP final tables, made a decision to not report any of the player interaction in their live internet reporting. Again, a decision based on access.
Was Scotty drunk? I don't know, I couldn't get close enough to get a blood sample.
Does Scotty use his "alleged" drinking to verbally abuse players and put them on tilt? Duh! Yes and if Michael DeMichelle did not know that before the final table, he was simply unprepared to play at this level.
Did DeMichelle get out of line with this celebration after winning some early hands? Yes, but nearly everyone blamed that on his youth. Seems the poker world has agreed that "kids" get to be jerks until they are 25.
Did Scotty use Demichelle's behavior to try and tilt him? Again, yes; this is poker folks, if you can get an edge you do it.
Was Erick Lindgren the hero for his good behavior when they got down to the nasty stuff with three players remaining? No, that was his way of taking advantage of the situation. Any edge, any time; again its poker.
Should the WSOP staff have done something to modify Scotty's behavior? Look what happened a few weeks later when they tried to reign in Phil Hellmuth, the penalty was overruled by higher ups. The floor staff know which players get a 'bye' when it comes to rule enforcement.
It is clear that this was good television. Good for poker? Who knows? But it was good TV and afterall, despite all of the lip service to etiquette and good manners; eyeballs on the tube are what poker needs these days.
Good News and Bad News for Poker Players
Posted on August 20, 2008
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Wendeen H. Eolis playing in the 2007 WSOP ME
Our favorite power poker dame, Wendeen H. Eolis, is the CEO of New York based Eolis International Group a legal/business consultancy. She can just as easily be found conferring with world leaders or sitting with the boys at a high stakes poker table. The last few years she has generously given many hours of her valuable time to the tournament poker industry and has shared her considerable political expertise in the continuing pursuit of legalizing online poker for US poker players. Now for the good news.
Eolis is a charter member of the World Series of Poker Players Advisory Counsel (PAC). PAC was established by WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack in January 2006 with the goal of providing WSOP participants with a continuously upgraded tournament poker playing experience. Many of the PAC goals were accomplished in part through Pollack's undivided attention and subsequent rapid response to PAC's suggestions and player complaints. He also promised the PAC participants, "No topics will be off limits."
Evidence of the success of Pollack's PAC was easily found at the 2008 WSOP. Most everyone at the 2008 WSOP agreed it was, hands down, the best WSOP to date. Improved food, well thought out physical layout, record crowds but no long lines, separate satellite areas, isolated smoking areas, great fan access and improved event scheduling were just a few of the enhancements.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Jesse Jones playing in the 2008 WSOP
And now the bad news. About the same time during 2006 poker professional Jesse Jones decided to establish an organization, World Poker Association (WPA), of poker players that could present a united front and empower players with control of the worldwide tournament poker industry. Unfortunately, Jones insisted that the organization strictly adhere to his personal agenda with long range goals of bringing every poker tournament under the control of his WPA.
The details of the WPA's up and down existence is detailed in the second and concluding installment of Wendeen H. Eolis' article, Inside Scoop on Poker Player Activism Part 2 of 2, now running as the feature on Poker Player Newspaper. If you missed Part 1 it is conveniently included with the article. Everyone with an interest in the behind the scenes of poker politics should give this a read, especially if you're considering contributing to or joining a poker player organization.
FYI: Power Poker Dame is the title of Wendeen H. Eolis' upcoming book.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Day 1A of the 2008 WSOP Main Event
Heads Up Michael Phelps
Posted on August 19, 2008
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OK, I first must confess that I care absolutely nothing about the Olympics. Don't watch, don't follow, don't care. Zero, Zip, Nadda. However, poker and the olympics is a different story and the golden boy of the 2008 Sportsfest, Michael Phelps, has said he would like to play in the World Series of Poker.
First, some perspective. Michael Phelps agent is receiving about 40 to 50 legitimate offers a day right now. Sponsorships, spokesperson deals, charity appearances, clothing lines, posters, bobble heads, Michael Phelps swizzle sticks. The question here is: Will a couple of million dollars to be a spokesperson/celebrity player for an online poker site even make the endorsement radar in the Phelp's Gold Rush?
You know he has an offer right? Can you say Boris Becker. I knew you could. So will Mr. Eight Gold Medals actually play some poker? Well, yes he will; because .... wait for it!
He has already been invitated to the NBC Heads Up Championship in 2009. Remember you hear it here first, unless my source has your phone number too.
2008 WSOP Poker Faces Part II
Posted on August 19, 2008
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Day 1 moments before the cards are in the air
If two hours of poker on ESPN tonight isn't enough to get the adrenalin flowing then maybe these images will help. More of Flipchip's favorite poker faces from the 2008 WSOP. The second installment of views from the tournament floor, up close and personal. I hope to replicate the views a player has from a seat in the Big Poker Show, so whether you were at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas, or not, you can experience a few photos of the view.
All of today's poker faces were photographed on day 1 of the 2008 WSOP Event #1. A dozen photos after the jump...
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
The face and the Commissioner of the WSOP, Jeffrey Pollack, opens the show
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photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Max Pescatori
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Thor Hansen
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Anna Wroblewski
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Damiel Negreanu
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Doyle Brunson
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Tuan Le
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Barney Boatman
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
David Levi
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Phil Laak
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Howard Lederer
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Humberto Brenes
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Marco Traniello
Poker After Dark returns at Golden Nugget
Posted on August 18, 2008
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Golden Nugget Downtown Las Vegas
The late-night NBC show "Poker After Dark" returns for a 5th season at the Golden Nugget.
Shooting will take place Oct. 26 through Nov. 5, with 60 new shows beginning air Dec. 29. The schedule will stay the same and 2:05 a.m. Tuesday through Friday and a one-hour "Director's Cut" wrapup after "Saturday Night Live" on Saturdays.
Staying true to the original format, tables will be six-handed with a $20,000 buy-in with winner-take-all.
Leeann Tweeden will host, with expected players including Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Chris Ferguson, Jennifer Harman, Phil Hellmuth, Howard Lederer, and Phil Ivey.
WSOP Tuesday Night Poker $50K H.O.R.S.E. on ESPN
Posted on August 18, 2008
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Scotty Nguyen raises his arms in victory
When does a world championship poker event not determine the best poker player in the world? When its the WSOP $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship. Of course, we all know this is the true race for the best poker player in the world and you don't have to go much farther than the roll call of previous H.O.R.S.E. champions for proof. In the inaugural 2006 event the player considered by many to be the best all-around poke player was winner Chip Reese. The 2007 event crowned poker professional Freddy Deeb as the champion.
Even though the two hours of coverage for $50K H.O.R.S.E. event is over shadowed by the $10K Main Event's twenty-two hours of television it remains the event that the pros consider the most difficult to win. As the name "H.O.R.S.E." implies players must be masters of five vastly different poker games - Hold'em, Omaha, Razz, Stud and Eight or better. To survive the five grueling days of intense competition requires in-depth multi-game knowledge combined with endurance. This is especially true when considering the field is composed of professional poker's who's who. The final table seat roster and chip counts with the number of WSOP bracelets each player has won shown in parenthesis:
Seat 1: Matt Glantz 1,445,000
Seat 2: Huck Seed 1,200,000 (4)
Seat 3: Patrick Bueno 695,000
Seat 4: Lyle Berman 1,430,000 (3)
Seat 5: Scotty Nguyen 3,535,000 (5)
Seat 6: Barry Greenstein 1,955,000 (3)
Seat 7: Michael DeMichele 905,000
Seat 8: Erick Lindgren 3,680,000 (1)
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Scotty Nguyen and Michael DeMichele are heads-up in the $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E. championship
A blue ribbon panel of poker players take a seat Tuesday night on ESPN at 8 PM EST. This bunch has a collection of 16 WSOP bracelets (includes the one Scotty wins for this event). Be sure to check local listing in your area for exact times of Tuesday's two hours of WSOP poker from ESPN Sports.
H.O.R.S.E.is one of my favorites to photograph with the star studded fields and a high dollar prize pool guaranteeing a prevailing air of excitement. One hundred forty-eight players began the event vying for a massive $7,104,000 prize pool. Tuesday's final table eight are playing for more than $5.25 million of the purse with the winner taking home $1,989,120 and the very special gold bracelet. This final table took 314 hands spread out over 13 hours of play to complete. You'll be seeing two hours gleaned from the actual 13 hours of the marathon final table.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Isabelle Mercier plays Day 1 of $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E.
A selection of Flipchip photos from the five days of the event are waiting after the jump...
Defending $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E. Champion Freddy Deeb playing Day 1
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Scotty Nguyen headed for the final table and championship of event #45, $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Mike Matusow playing day 1 of event #45, $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Perry Friedman playing Day 2
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Two time WSOP Main Event Champion and holder of ten bracelets, Johnny Chan
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Lyle Berman at the final table of the H.O.R.S.E. championship
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Want to risk your $50K at this H.O.R.S.E. table?
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Antonius Patrik plays Day 1of event #45, $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
David Bach plays Day 2 of event #45, $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Ultra limit player,James Bechtel, plays Day 2 of $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Gabe Kaplan plays Day 4 of $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E.
Tony G plays Day 1 of $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Gus Hansen plays Day 2 of $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Tom Schneider plays Day 1 of $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E.
photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Dewey Tomko plays Day 1 of $50K Buy-In H.O.R.S.E.
November Nine: Month One
Posted on August 17, 2008
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So we are about a month past the selection of the November Nine. Being wired into the poker media underground, I decided to remain completely inactive regarding the November WSOP final table and see what came to me. Until the last couple of days, the sum total was nearly nothing. Now we really shouldn't expect a four month blitz of news and interviews; I mean the Super Bowl and the World Cup combined can barely muster a month of meaningless news bytes. But many in the poker world feel the silence has been deafening.
Every player seems to have had a flurry of local newspapers, radio and television interviews; and slowly the various poker websites have begun their obligatory November Nine player pieces. We also expect ESPN to begin to amp up the noise once the early days of the main event begin showing in September.
But let's talk about the one simmering topic that has been making the rounds:
"The November Nine is going to be a flop because it is a table of nobodies."
First, the obvious---yes everyone involved was hoping that one or even two big names or at least recognizable names would make the final table. There were audible expletives muttered as first Hellmuth, then Matusow went out on Day Six and then the last hope, Tiffany Michele, went down in a blaze of sponsorship greed and harassment on Day Seven.
But let me pose a question and then direct you to some discussion on this whole idea of "The Unknown Nine". Outside of insiders in the poker world, the last four final tables have basically had one "known": Lee Watkinson (2007), Allen Cunningham (2006), Mike Matusow (2005), Dan Harrington (2004). Today, however, most of us "know" not just: Jerry Yang, Jamie Gold, Joe Hachem and Greg Raymer, but also Hevad Khan, Paul Wasicka, Steve Dannenmann, Raymond Rahme, Michael Binger, David Williams and perhaps a few more final tablists. So the question is:
"Are these nine players really unknowns?"
We invite you to join a discussion on this topic by clicking here.
Party Poker Den
Posted on August 15, 2008
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Some people call it the toughest cash game in the world. Others say it is the most fun. Whatever it is, great poker television comes out of the Party Poker-Poker Den. The Den involves handful of the most-seasoned professional poker players fighting it out in a marathon high-stakes cash game in front of television cameras. Poker TV doesn’t get any better than this.
The poker pros set to make an appearance are some of the most colorful personalities in the game. Scheduled to play are Phil Hellmuth, Dave "Devilfish" Ulliot, Tony G, Jamie Gold, Brian Townsend, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, Jennifer Tilly, Andrew Feldman, Sammy “Any Two” George, Robert Williamson III, Phil Laak, and Antonio Esfandiari.
This year the Den is going to be even more interesting for the players and the audience. While the first two Den Games were 24 hour events, this year, the Big Game will run for 36 hours straight.
Eddie Hearn, head of online gaming at Matchroom Sport said:
“The Poker Den has come a long way since we started back in the summer of 2005, the Big Game has been such a huge success, and the two series so far have attracted the best players in the world.”
Players will sit down with a minimum of $10,000 but no more than $20,000 and play with $25-$50 blinds. As usual, there will be a lot of straddling, guaranteeing a lot of action. Players are free to leave the table at any time; up, down or busted.
The show will be filmed September 30 and October 1; and will be shown on Channel 5 in the U.K. next year. Commenter Jesse May will be present during the entire duration of the event. To learn more about the cash game, go to Match Room Poker.
Bodog Poker Open II Announced
Posted on August 15, 2008
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Bodog poker tournaments just keep getting bigger
With their biggest poker tournament ever, the $250,000 Guaranteed, having just finished, Bodog is keeping the steam up with the announcement of the Bodog Poker Open II and it's even bigger guaranteed prize pool of $300,000.
The BPO II Main Event will have a $470 + $30 buy-in and happens October 5 at 4 p.m. ET.
BPO II qualifiers are now running daily with buy-ins starting at as low as 50 Bodog Poker Points.
Last March saw the inaugural BPO won by phatcat who walked away with the main event's first place prize of $76,280 and an Omega Speed Master watch valued at $4,400. The 596 player field got a great value as Bodog added $25,000 to the prize pool.
Similarly to last year there will also be a week of preliminary events preceding the Main Event with buy-ins ranging from $44 - $350. Preliminary event can be expected in early September.
You won't want to miss this tournament series as it's shaping up to be a classic. Get more information on the BPO II to find out how to win your seat to it.
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