| Prop bet between Ivey and Dwan comes to an early end |
While they agreed the prop bet would last for a period of one year, Phill Ivey recently called Tom Dwan to tell him the deal was off. As a punishment to the early ending of the prop bet, Ivey had to pay Dwan a nasty fine of $150.000.
The agreement with this prop bet was that Ivey wouldn't eat "anything that moves" for a period of 1 year. If he could manage, he would win a massive amount of $1.000.000. On the other hand, if he did eat meat, he would lose the same amount to Dwan.
Prop bets are common under poker professionals. The usually are aranged in ongoing poker tournaments, to break the monotonous rhythms. |
| Posted on 29-03-2010 | comments (2) |
| Play poker with your friends with new Enterra Poker Facebook application |
Software development company Enterra announced that they have succesfully integrated their own product into Facebook, the most famous social networking sites internationally. Enterra Poker is free to play, and contains only the necessary features to enjoy a nice game of poker. The design is basic, but smooth; it reminds me of Full Tilt poker.
Play Texas Holdem, Omaha Holdem, Omaha H/L, Stud or Stud H/L against people from all over the world, or create your own password-protected room to dare your friends for a private game. Multitabling is also one of the options provided. |
| Posted on 29-03-2010 | comments (0) |
| Gene Gioia of realdealpoker giving live webcast right now! |
Gene Gioia, founder of realdealpoker.com, is giving a live webcast at this moment (25-03-2010 20:00 CET). While i'm listening, i am sensing this man is on a mission. He talks with passion about his invention, the online poker real deal shuffling machine.
The shuffling machine itself is not connected to the game directly, but shuffles ahead while the game gets underway. Thats a good thing, because if one machine breaks down, it won't affect the current game.
In his presentation Gene showed some statistics how current poker players think about online poker rooms. The most concern is about the honesty of the poker rooms. They believe that some of the rooms are rigged, or at least favorable against players who play wild or deposit much. Poker rooms make money from the amount that gets into the pot, so any player who puts a lot of chips in, is a good thing.
Anyway, i have been anxious about realdealpoker since the first messages came in about their plans to start this new poker room. I hope they will succeed and finally deliver a healthy environment for online poker players to play a nice game of poker, online!
An exact date when the room will be opened is still unsure, but it will be soon, thats clear.
Visit www.realdealpoker.com for more information. |
| Posted on 25-03-2010 | comments (0) |
| Reading online poker players by analyzing the avatar |
If getting a read on a live player is hard, then getting one on a online player is impossible...or?
When playing a live game you can get a read on a player by observing body language, facial expressions, and other odd looking twitches. When playing online you can't observe any of these characteristics.
In online play there are some other options you can observe. For instance, you can observe the way a player checks, betts or raises (Analyzing betting patterns can tell you a lot of the players poker style). Besides betting patterns, another option is to observe their avatar. Currently almost every online poker rooms allow players to have choose from a set of avatars.
Avatars are used as a physical representations in a virtual environment. It's not uncommon for individuals to create avatars that look a lot like they do in real life. Because most online poker rooms only allows players to choose from a limited set of avatars, the player will most likely pick the image that will represents his poker style the best.
Got experience in getting a read on online poker players? Please feel free to share your experience in the comments. |
| Posted on 24-03-2010 | comments (0) |
| Small amount of stolen money in german poker robbery recovered |
A small amount of the loot of the German poker robbery has been returned. One of the suspects gave back 4000 euro of a total loot of 242.000 euro.
According to the German public ministry this suspect had only a 5000 euro share in the total loot and used the money in the escape. A german inspection team searched a garage on Saterday night, after the got a tip that the money was held there for a short period after the robbery.
The total loot was not equally divided among the thieves. Word goes that the leader of the group grabbed a total of 100.000 euro from the bag. |
| Posted on 23-03-2010 | comments (1) |
| Interview with Barry Greenstein : I play poker to earn a living |
Many people call him the Robin Hood of poker. Barry Greenstein, Age 55, father of 6. He earns millions by playing poker, but donates most of his winnings to charity.
In his past live Barry Greenstein was a software developer who involved in the early stages of anti virus company Symantec. He quit his job at age 36 back in 1991 to become a full time poker player.
Why does someone with your background become a full time poker player. Couldn't you have earned a lot more if you just kept your job at Symantec?
My salery then is nothing compared with what i earn now playing poker. I didn't do bad, but i could make much more by playing poker.
Is money sill the most important reason to play ploker?
I really don't play poker for the sociability. Poker is my profession. I have to do it to earn a living.
So you don't have fun playing poker?
No, it's not like that. I do enjoy playing poker. But if fun was the only reason, i wouldn't spend so much time on doing it. In my oppinion poker would be very boring without the money.
What is the big difference between poker now and 20 years ago?
It has become a sport. Poker is a game, but i call it a sport because we got spectators now. It is televised and we get a lot more respect.
You are also known to win much money with betting. Does that make you a professional gambler?
This may sound a bit strange for outsiders, but for me betting is very normal and i don't see it as gambling.
I believe that one person canbe better in betting then another person.
What is your secret?
I am mathematics minded and i have the twitch to calculate odds with everything i do. Not only playing poker, or placing a bet, but also in daily life. Even when my youngest son has to confess something, i calculate if he speaks the truth.
Are your winning changes at a poker table bigger, because you are a famous person?
I think it has a little effect, but to little to have a big influence. The opponents of Tiger Woods don't lose to him because they are impressed, they lose because he is much better.
What are the odds that you have quit playing poker in 10 years?
That change is less then 5 percent. I am healthy and i expect to play poker the next thirty years. |
| Posted on 23-03-2010 | comments (0) |
| Poker tournament in the Austrian snow starts on monday |
Many professional poker players are participating in the Austrian Saalbach-Hinterglemm EPT Snowfest starting on monday.
Among the top contenders are dutch poker pro's (and celebrities) Fatima Moreiro de Melo, Lex Veldhuis, Jorn Walthuis, Pieter de Korver, Rob Hollink and Jasper Wetemans.
Besides the dutch pro's, also Bertrand 'Elky' Grospellier and Daniel 'Kid Poker' Negreanu participate. Besides the poker fun, they combine their stay with some skiing. |
| Posted on 21-03-2010 | comments (0) |
| Finnish government ignores european law on the free movement of goods and services |
While the European Commission put out a warning towards Finland back in 2006, Finland keeps ignoring the gambling legislation put up by the European commission.
Finnish gambling monopolies where in contradiction with the european law on the free movement of goods and services. A recent study shows that the Finns didn't learn a single thing.
RAY, the Finnish slotmachine association, got the exclusive rights to offer online poker to Finlands citizens. Besides RAY, also Veikkaus Oy, the Finnish lottery organisation, got permission to offer online poker and casino games.
In reaction to the Finnish decision to give these two companies the exclusive rights, the European Commision is shocked. |
| Posted on 21-03-2010 | comments (0) |
| Gambling crazy Asia bans online poker rooms |
I can't think of any other part of the world where people love to gamble more then in Asia. In countries like China and Thailand you can gamble on anything you would like, anytime you like.
Knowing these facts, it is at least a bit strange that Asia have made statements that they do not want online poker in there territory.
On the Chinese official internet portal there are many statements about their intentions to conduct major operations to try and ban all of the online poker rooms from there internet. Besides poker rooms, also banks are part of the investigations because they provide a way to transfer funds into the poker players account.
The reason China and other Asian countries do this, as they say, is to block funds flowing over to other countries. |
| Posted on 21-03-2010 | comments (0) |
| Third pokerthief apprehended, fourth still on the loose |
Two weeks after the brutal poker robbery in Berlin the german police have apprehended a third suspect. The 20-years old Mustafa U. was apprehended on saterday after he was landed on the airport of Tegel.
The other two apprehended suspects (20 and 21 years old) are allready in jail, while the fourth and final suspect is still missing.
The last thief goes under the name Jihad (?) C. from the Berlin area called Kreuzberg. Rumours go that he's taken 40.000 euro and took of to Libanon. |
| Posted on 21-03-2010 | comments (0) |
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