Poker Player Newspaper Online

Prisoner Of Poker: The Coin Flip

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Heads I win, tails you lose.-the coin flip trick

[This is a work of poker fiction set ten thousand hands in the future. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.]

The pipe bomb rolled into the poker room and under Ben Parsons' chair.

All-in for all his chips, Parsons turned over quack quack, 2c-2h.

His opponent flipped over Oil Slick, Ac-Ks.

'Over cards versus pocket pair, a coin flip,' said the dealer as the fuse burned down to the explosives.

The flop was As Ad Kh. Parson stood up, 'One day I'll get even,' he said, kicking his chair backwards and sending the pipe bomb rolling back out of the poker room, where Winston Smith was thrown onto it.

The emergency room was filled with victims of the fire on the Mississippi riverboat casino Calamity Jane. One of those victims was Peggy Smith, whose husband Winston sat in the waiting room worrying himself to death. Anyone s... Continue reading Prisoner Of Poker: The Coin Flip

Amir Lehavot (Weston, FL) is the Chip Leader from Day 2

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Official Report

Event #57

World Championship

World Series of Poker Main Event

No-Limit Hold'em

Buy-In: $10,000

Number of Entries: 6,494

Players Remaining: 1,436 from Day 2-B / 607 from Day 2-A = 2,044

Total Net Prize Pool: $61,043,600

Number of Places Paid: 648

First Place Prize: $8,546,435

July 3--November 10, 2009

Tournament Highlights:

The Main Event Continues

-- The 2009 WSOP Main Event continued with the second of two flights of the jointly designated 'Day Twos.' Day One was played over the initial four days of the tournament, which began on July 3rd. Day 2-A and 2-B (Day Two) were played July 7-8.

-- Day 2-A began with 1,478 players. The day ended with only 607 survivors. Day 2-B began with 2,922 players. The day ended with only 1,436 survivors. This means 2,044 players remain in contention for the 2009 world poker cha... Continue reading Amir Lehavot (Weston, FL) is the Chip Leader from Day 2

Good Player? Stop Losing!

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0500

I've changed the name of the column to embrace players of all poker games-not just stud. Accordingly, here's a column that applies to good poker players of all games, at all levels.

Good players lose money playing poker. Often. And I'm not talking about variance-the natural swings of profit and loss that cannot be avoided due to the vagaries of chance. Good players lose money because of avoidable and therefore correctable mistakes in judgment. Let me highlight the five biggest reasons good players lose and provide some suggestions for remediation.

They play in games with too many good players. Good players often sabotage their profit while stroking their egos in games that are needlessly tough. There is no special award for losing the least to the toughest opponents. With so many games available in person and on line, game selection is a key part of consistent winning play. Seek out the softies, take pride in winning their money, and leave the toughest gam... Continue reading Good Player? Stop Losing!

Thunder and Lightning

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0500

I'm in Jacksonville this week to audit a corporate client, and yesterday I was treated to something I just don't see in California: a thunderstorm. Now practically every summer afternoon in Florida there's at least the threat of a thundershower, but in Southern California they're few and far between. Yesterday's storm was, according to my client, the strongest in a year or two.

You may be wondering how this relates to poker. Well, every so often something occurs at the table that's so unexpected we have to sit back and think, 'Why in the world did that happen?' Mick related such an incident to me last week.

Mick was sitting in a $1-$2 no-limit hold 'em game in Las Vegas. Most players had around $200. The game was a typical mixture of all different player types: good and bad, loose and aggressive, tourists and locals.

Mick was in the big blind and was dealt 9cf-Qa. The under-the-gun player folded but everyone else limped. Mick elected to just... Continue reading Thunder and Lightning

World Series of Poker Continues With Start of Day Two

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Official Report

Event #57

World Championship

World Series of Poker Main Event

No-Limit Hold'em

Buy-In: $10,000

Number of Entries: 6,494

Total Players Remaining: 607 (+ 2,922 for Day 2-B) = 3,530

Total Net Prize Pool: $61,043,600

Number of Places Paid: 648

First Place Prize: $8,546,435

July 3--November 10, 2009

Tournament Highlights:

The Main Event Continues

-- The 2009 WSOP Main Event continued with the first of two flights of the second round, which are jointly designated as 'Day Two.' Day One was played over the initial four days of the tournament, which began on July 3rd. Day 2-A and 2-B (Day Two) are played July 7-8.

-- Day 2-A began with 1,478 players. The day ended with only 607 survivors.

-- This is the 41st day of the WSOP. Play continues for eight more days, plus the finale to be played in Nov... Continue reading World Series of Poker Continues With Start of Day Two