There's one way to gauge how much more room the World Series of Poker has left to expand on ESPN. It hasn't gotten big enough to where Chris Berman has demanded a part of the show.

But who's to say that's not in the cards.

The network that since 1988 has given credibility and visibility to the pursuit of a royal flush as a sports-slash-entertainment spectacle launches a new round of WSOP Main Event shows Tuesday, starting with back-to-back hour-long episodes at (5 and 6 p.m., followed by dozens of repeats for the next eight weeks.

It doesn't matter that a month ago, Temecula's Jerry Yang won the $8.25 million final table in a 14-hour event that was shown live on pay-per-view. Channel surfers will invariably lock in on this stuff as if it's a "Seinfeld" re-run, even decades later as it ferments over on ESPN Classic. Play $500 match poker bonus.

What's now? Poker. Same as what was then.

"It's an odd fish," admits Norman Chad, the former sports media writer for the Washington Post who parlayed his love for card playing into an ESPN colorman/quipster gig that he may never be able to escape. "It's part reality show, part sitcom, part docudrama. And the results, as we see, don't even matter. The viewers don't care.

They just want to see the episode again where two guys argue over who put the ante in.

"In sports, live is the key element, but this doesn't even pretend to be. And it can't really be, because a table can run from four to 12 hours. It's like indoor cricket. But the taped shows continue to hold up to the satisfaction of ESPN and the viewers. That's unprecedented in sports viewing."

Poker playing on the Online poker over the last few years has not only kept the competition fluid, but those sites - even moreso since federal legislation has relaxed - fuel TV coverage with ad revenue for competing shows that stay afloat on FSN, NBC, GSN and the Travel Channel (the latter of which is in its final year with the World Poker Tour, allowing the Game Show Network to take over). In a survival-of- the-fittest TV world, the WSOP remains the baddest outlaw of the Vegas brunch bunch, and ESPN continues to cash in the chips.

"One of the first things I did when I got here was strike a new deal with ESPN that takes us through 2010," said Jeffrey Pollack, the de facto WSOP commissioner who two years ago left NASCAR's new media division to take charge of the event owned by Harrah's properties. Download poker wallpapers.

"The tone and structure of our deal is no different than a deal ESPN has with the NBA or Major League Baseball or NASCAR. We are partners in production, programming and promotion, and no one produces poker (better) than ESPN. The World Series of Poker on ESPN says something about where we fit in the sports and entertainment landscape. And we're evergreen programming."

The technological development of the lipstick cam under the table to show viewers the cards each player was trying to keep secret took the shows to a new level of entertainment a couple of years ago. Miking up players & women poker players to hear them banter is another TV tweak that has paid off, helping to develop personalities. The latest innovation for the upcoming broadcast is having it all delivered in high definition.

"For poker?" asks Chad, going back into a media critic mode. "We need to see high def on the queen of hearts? She looks good even in black and white. High def would have been great for Neil Armstrong planting a flag on the moon. But for the flop on a 3-6-10? Maybe I'm behind the curve."

And by the way, both Pollack and Chad know poker is as much of a sport on ESPN's programming schedule as the World Stacking Competition (which airs today at 10 a.m.) or the Scrabble Championship (Saturday at noon). But did ESPN devote 40 cameras to them as they did with the WSOP? That's more than it used on the Kentucky Derby.

"It's non-athletic competition," Pollack admits, "but I think we're a sport in that we're what sports fans like to watch. Our demos fit with ESPN's demos." Play online poker.

"The sports question to me is stupid," says Chad. "No, it's not a sport. It's a competition, or a game. It doesn't need to be a sport to be on ESPN. MTV stopped showing all videos years ago and HBO stopped showing all movies long ago. ESPN still has 65 different sports, and poker.

"It's a game people love to watch. Poker is in the sports section of USA Today, with the lottery numbers. That's where logic dictates. Not the purple section or the green section. It's the red section. That says enough."

Poker News Source: Whittier Daily News

Irish Bookie Makes Roland De Wolfe and Phil Ivey Favourites for Barcelona and Los Angeles Tournaments

Irish bookmaker, www.paddypower.com, today announced new betting markets on two of the biggest poker tournaments in the world - The European Poker Tour Barcelona and the World Poker Tour Legends of Poker.

The Barcelona event, Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, 2007, is the first on the EPT circuit, and traditionally attracts many of the best players & women poker players in the world. Last year Phil Ivey was defeated heads-up for the title by Norwegian Bjorn-Erik Glenne from a field of 480 runners.

EPT events have made superstars out of relative unknowns and last season’s winners will be trying to prove themselves with repeat performances this year. Roland De Wolfe has won both EPT and WPT titles and is the favourite to win again in Barcelona. Marty Smyth, who beat De Wolfe heads up to win the paddypowerpoker.com Irish Open in April is quoted at 175-1. Download poker wallpapers.

EPT Barcelona Outright Betting*
Roland de Wolfe (EPT3 Dublin Winner) 66-1
Gavin Griffin (EPT3 Monte Carlo Grand Final Winner) 80-1
Vicky Coren (EPT3 London Winner) 150-1
Magnus Petersson (EPT3 Scandinavian Open Winner) 175-1
Andreas Hoivold (EPT3 German Open Winner) 175-1
Bjorn-Erik Glenne (EPT3 Barcelona Winner) 200-1
Thang Duc Nguyen (EPT3 Baden Classic Winner) 200-1
Peter Willers Jepsen (EPT3 Polish Open Winner) 200-1

Running almost simultaneously in the U.S. is the WPT Legends of Poker, Aug. 25 to Aug. 28, 2007. The fourth event in season six of the WPT is held in the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles and with a $10,000 buy-in it is a favourite with top U.S. professionals. This is reflected in the betting which includes most of the biggest names in the game. Play online poker.

WPT Legends of Poker Outright Betting*
Phil Ivey 33-1
JC Tran 50-1
Phil Hellmuth Jr 50-1
Allen Cunningham 66-1
David ‘Chip’ Reese 80-1
Doyle Brunson 80-1
Jamie Gold 125-1

European poker has exploded in size and reputation in the last twelve months with fields to match those of the WPT. Last year the EPT Barcelona attracted a then record of 480 players. By the season finale, the Monte Carlo EPT Grand Final would attract a European record of 706 players. That record lasted only one week with the Irish Open selling out to a capacity 708 players the following weekend. Online poker.

Fields and prizepools are expected to increase again this year and paddypower.com will continue to offer markets on all major local and international poker tournaments.

Poker News Source: Card Player

Anyone who has played more than a few hands of No-Limit Hold'em has undoubtedly heard the mantra: "Position is critical."

But few truly understand why it's so important - or more specifically, in what situations and in what ways position most impacts a No-Limit Hold'em game.

You'll find several situations in No-Limit where the relative position of the players & women poker players in the hand has a significant impact - both on the way the hand is played and on the outcome. In particular when:

• Flopping a set
• Playing drawing hands
• Playing difficult or trap hands (controlling the size of the pot)
• Looking for bluffing opportunities
• Playing the turn

If you want to be a successful No-Limit Hold'em player, understanding position is absolutely essential. So with that in mind, it seems appropriate to devote a series of articles to some of the subtleties of positional play. This is the first in a five-part series.

Part I: The Impact of Position When You Flop a Set

For the sake of simplicity, we'll restrict our analysis to heads-up pots and discuss some of the differences in the play of the hand depending on whether you are in or out of position. Play $500 match poker bonus.

Building a Pot When You Are Out of Position Is Tricky

Generally speaking, the worst time to try and play a small pocket pair is in one of the blinds facing a raise from a player in late position. Heads-up, in a raised pot, it's difficult to win enough money when you do flop a set to compensate for the money you lose when you don't.

So if you are fortunate enough to flop a set but are out of position, how do you build the pot? There's no easy approach.

If you check-call the flop, it will tend to signal more strength to your opponent than simply calling in position. If you check-raise the flop, you may scare off your opponent altogether and will only earn one small bet.

If you do decide to check-call the flop, you still have to figure out the best course of action on the turn. Checking may lead to your opponent checking behind you, getting no more money into the pot. Check-raising the turn (if your opponent bets) will signal strength, and likely only win you a modest-sized pot. The only other reasonable alternative is to lead out on the flop. Play route 66 poker.

Unfortunately, many good players are now familiar with this move and may proceed cautiously. Even if betting out on the flop does get your opponent to raise, if you call all sorts of alarm bells will be going off. Similarly, if you lead out on both the flop and the turn, it also looks suspicious.

Simply put, there is no reliable way to get a lot of money into the pot when you're out of position. Generally, when faced with this situation, I would advocate betting out and then, (possibly) trying to check-raise the turn.

If You Were the Pre-flop Raiser

It's somewhat easier to get money in the pot if you're the pre-flop raiser. Imagine you raise from the cut-off with pocket eights. The button calls and the flop is J-8-3. Your goal, of course, is to try and maximize the size of the pot. So how can you do that?

Since you raised pre-flop, the most natural play is to bet the flop. Typically, bet the same amount as you would with a normal continuation bet - somewhere around half to two-thirds of the pot. This may get your opponent to raise if he thinks you've missed the flop.

But let's assume your opponent only calls and the turn is the 6.

As is often the case in poker, choosing the best course of action depends on your read of the hand your opponent is most likely to have. Typically, on this sort of flop, your opponent will have one of three types of hands: top pair (usually with a modest kicker, such as J-9 or J-T, since he didn't raise on the flop), a pocket pair lower than the jack, or some type of straight draw (usually the T-9).

If you bet again, will your opponent call with top pair and a medium kicker? How about with a medium pair? If you check, will he bet?

Generally speaking, it's hard to get paid in this sort of scenario. You don't want to give a free card on the straight draw, but you also don't want to scare off an opponent with a medium pocket pair or top pair and a modest kicker (as the former has two outs at best and the latter is now drawing dead).

Flopping a Set in Position Is Far More Profitable

When you flop a set in position, it's much easier to get money in the pot. Consequently, it's also way more profitable to play small and medium pocket pairs from late position.

But there's another reason to prefer playing pocket pairs in position - you can more accurately judge when the pot will be multi-way rather than heads-up. It's still generally profitable to play most pocket pairs heads-up (when in position), but it's far more profitable to play them against two or three opponents.

The primary reason for this is not, as many players tend to think, because more people are putting money in the pot pre-flop and you're getting better odds to flop a set. It's because the size of the bets on the flop, turn, and river tend to be multiples of the pot.

If four players see the flop instead of two, the bets on the flop and turn will tend to be much larger.

If You Raise Pre-Flop

If you raise pre-flop and flop a set in position, you're obviously in a very profitable situation.

Let's suppose once again you've raised with pocket eights and the flop comes J-8-3. If your opponent bets, you have two good options to build the pot: you can put in a normal raise, or call and wait until your opponent acts on the turn.

If your opponent bets again, you'll have to decide whether it's best to raise on the turn (it usually is if there's any draw on board), or simply smooth-call again and wait to see how things develop on the river. Play online poker.

In either case, you don't have to worry about scaring off your opponent by firing two (or three) barrels from out of position, or by check-calling the flop and then betting (or trying to check-raise) the turn. Instead, simply let the action come to you.

If Your Opponent Raises Pre-Flop

This is one of the most profitable scenarios in Hold'em. Your opponent raises pre-flop and you call in position. You flop a set and your opponent must act first. Because your opponent was the aggressor pre-flop, he'll typically make a continuation bet on the flop. This gives you a couple of good options to build a pot.

Against a solid, aggressive player, it's sometimes best to raise immediately on the flop - especially if the flop is ragged, with no high cards. This will sometimes get your opponent to try and represent a big pair and shut you out with a large re-raise. Download poker wallpapers.

Of course, if he actually has the big pocket pair, he will also typically re-raise. This approach will generally work best against a good, aggressive player. Another attractive option is to simply smooth-call the flop and wait for the turn to make your move.

Remember, flopping a set with a pocket pair is one of the most profitable situations in Texas Hold'em. Being slightly more selective with your small and medium pocket pairs and utilizing strong positional play, you can maximize your profits and potentially eliminate a costly leak in your game.

Poker News Source: Poker Listings

Who gets to cover the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour? Technically, anyone who is approved for a press pass and travels with a laptop and wireless card. Download poker wallpapers.

But who gets unfettered access to the events in question? These days, that depends on who pays the most.

Card Player Media - undoubtedly still stinging after a public spanking from pro player and PokerNews owner Tony G for allegedly stealing exclusive chip counts from his site at this year's WSOP - is the latest media organization to purchase freedom of the press by signing a contract the World Poker Tour to provide exclusive coverage of its Season 6 poker tournaments.

It's hardly terra incognita for the poker media giant: Card Player made a similar deal with the World Series of Poker in 2006, enjoying such privileges as exclusive access to hand reportage at a tournament's 15-table mark and audio rights. The specifics on the new WPT deal have yet to be announced, but in a news release Thursday, Card Player Media CEO Barry Shulman said the new contract will expand coverage of WPT events.

Part of bargain is exclusive rights to up-to-the-minute chip counts and hand-by-hand coverage of all Season 6 WPT tournaments. Other media organizations will receive the information in summarized news feeds from the WPT on the hour. Play $500 match poker bonus.

The deal was enough to set WPT CEO Steven Lipscomb spinning about how limiting media access to its events will benefit the company as it attempts to reach new markets worldwide.

"(W)e wanted to further develop our Live Updates online reporting capabilities so we can continue delivering the most robust tournament news and information to our fans," he said in the release.

Whatever the official position, I challenge any CEO to say with conviction that limiting press access to an event or story will improve the content people receive or help information reach a wider audience. Play online poker.

Though it can't be argued that limiting press rights in an entertainment industry such as poker is akin to putting boundaries on the news media, the announcement is troubling for, well, mostly other media sources, but also people who like to get their tournament information from multiple Web sites and publications.

On the whole, diversity is healthy for both the customer and the corporation. The New York Times is an internationally recognized newspaper, and yet if it weren't for the Post, some people wouldn't read the news at all. Competition is also key to ensuring quality of reporting; if one source is granted unmatched access to an event, where's the motivation to produce only top-quality content? Monopolies test resources and more often than not, one organization fails to perform as well as many could. Women poker.

Further, buying exclusive media access doesn't guarantee the most knowledgeable staff in the business and could mean shutting out people whose talents and understanding of the game could draw a larger or more appreciative audience to poker. Play route 66 poker.

Still, the WSOP and its 2007 partner, Bluff, were eager to expound how the "consolidation of digital-publishing rights" would create a better international product when the deal was inked in March.

The result? Certainly not disastrous, but reviews of the earth-shattering and compelling 2007 World Series of Poker coverage have yet to hit my doorstep. Nonetheless, it's a deal that will last three more years under terms of that contract; poker and exclusive media rights, however, are starting to look like comfortable bedfellows.

Jeffrey Pollack and Steve Lipscomb can toe the party line all they want, but there is no convincing argument for how limiting media access to poker tournaments will be good for the game. Because it's not actually about what's good for poker. Like the game, it's all just a means to make money.

Poker News Source: Poker Listings

Poker News: Team Romania has snagged its spot in the World Cup of Poker IV finals. Last Sunday, Teams Romania and Hungary played to a tie in the Division finals. Today, PokerStars hosted a heads-up match to decide which of the two teams would head to Barcelona. Play online poker

Team Romania's captain took a pass on the tie-breaker and put Tardeea in the chair to fight for his country's spot. He went head-to-head with Hungary's captain Belabacsi. Read poker blogs

After a hard-fought match, Team Romania watched its player come out with the win. Now, Romania will join Teams Iceland, Mexico, Portugal, Canada, Germany, Ireland, and USA in Barcelona's live finals next month. Play route 66 poker

With the final team in place, here's who we'll be watching play for the World Cup of Poker IV championship. Play $500 match poker bonus

Poker News Source: cardplayer

In the last decade, the ability to read body language has become the new psychometric testing. You can barely switch on the TV these days without seeing a programme exposing the nonverbal signals we send each other – everything from eyebrow flashing (a sign of sexual attraction) and hair touching (a sign of sexual attraction) to thrusting the hips to and fro while offering a thumbs up signal (care to guess?). Play online poker

It's the kind of pseudoscience any keen poker player would do well to study, given the main difference separating a top pro from a club player is the ability to read bluffs and tells with Derren Brown-like accuracy. Which is where World Championship Poker 2 comes in, as it purports to simulate poker playing behaviour in a realistic manner. Read poker blogs

It's a nice idea but one that, perhaps predictably, is executed poorly. We say predictably because getting a humble PSP to simulate the subtleties of human expression to the extent where we can intuit the nuances of tells, bluffs and double bluffs is the equivalent of asking an orang-utan to perform keyhole surgery. Play route 66 poker

The idea is that you carefully observe your opponents as they play their hands, noting patterns of behaviour which may indicate a bluff, or alternatively a strong hand. But in practice, this boils down to overt signals such as – we kid you not – the gleeful rubbing of hands, slumping in the chair or the kind of exuberant victory celebrations we haven't seen since the Ricki Lake Show. Play $500 match poker bonus

Poker News Source: pocketgamer

Poker News: At least two county sheriffs in western North Carolina accepted cash bribes to protect an illegal gambling business, an accused ringleader told an undercover investigator, according to court papers. Play online poker

James Otis Henderson, 42, is one of several defendants charged by federal prosecutors with operating an illegal gambling business and bribery of a law enforcement official, among other charges. Read poker blogs

Rutherford County Sheriff Jack Conner was working with federal authorities in December 2006 when he agreed to take $10,000 from Henderson, according to court papers filed Tuesday. Henderson had asked Conner to provide protection for houses where he located his video poker machines, and agreed to pay Conner an additional $1,000 per month. Play route 66 poker

Henderson told Conner during a videotaped conversation that other sheriffs in nearby counties were also taking bribes, according to a judge's order to detain Henderson pending trial. He said one sheriff wanted $100 per machine per month for protection, while another sought monthly installments. Play $500 match poker bonus

"The acts of the defendant show involvement in a widespread criminal conspiracy which has the potential to corrupt the criminal justice system in the Western District of North Carolina and this state," wrote U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell in his order. Play full tilt poker

Poker News Source: wral

Each week, Everest Poker hosts its largest regularly-scheduled guaranteed poker tournament, offering players & women poker players their share of $100,000. 759 players participated in the most recent event, which is held each Sunday at 14:30 GMT.

Everest Poker www.everestpoker.com today announced the winners of the most recent $100,000 guaranteed holdem poker tournament, held each Sunday at 14:30 GMT. These tournaments are the online poker room's largest regularly-scheduled Texas Hold 'em poker events.

"These weekly poker tournaments consistently bring some of the best online poker action to our tables," said Jonathan May, Everest Poker property manager. "Thanks to our loyal players, we're going to keep offering them!"

This week's first-place winner was arno330001 from Italy, walking away with $221,000; running second was barthozzz from The Netherlands, who received $12,000 for their efforts; third place and $9,000 went to 77moy77 from Spain. The remaining top ten players were as follows: Dr_Sanoj from Germany ($7,000); chrisof75 from France ($5,000); smuc from France ($4,000); SpankR from Sweden ($3,000); chico176 from The Netherlands ($1,750); KnuellerK from Germany ($1,500); bukta from Hungary ($1,250). Play $500 match poker bonus.

"With daily satellites featuring buy-ins of $12, we've made it easy for players will smaller bankrolls to win part of the $100,000 guaranteed prize." May added. "That's exactly the sort of community we foster at Everest Poker." Play route 66 poker.

Poker News Source: PR Web

Doyle Brunson will be making his way across "the pond" in September to take in a little poker at the World Series of Poker Europe and to promote the launch of DoylesRoom in the United Kingdom and Europe.

The poker legend, who has been a staple in poker since before the inception of the World Series of Poker, will be looking to make history again with a bracelet win in London. He already has 10 bracelets from the WSOP, two of which were consecutive Main Event wins in 1976 and 1977.

The first every World Series events outside of the United States will be historic in itself, plus the poker pros showing up to play are sure to make the event memorable. For that reason, Doyle Brunson is also taking advantage of it to help promote his poker site in the region. Online poker.

"It's the perfect time to launch the new-look DoylesRoom," Brunson said. "I have watched poker evolve for over 50 years now and continue to play in some of the biggest games in the world."

He continued saying, "Right now, London is buzzing about the upcoming WSOP hitting Europe - if you want to go heads-up against me, register with DoylesRoom and look out for my screen name TEX_DOLLY."

Poker players & women poker players will also have the chance to go heads-up against the Texas Dolly through DoylesRoom's Summer Freerolls.

The poker site is offering number of weekly freerolls through the summer, building up to the Finale Freeroll with a $25,000 prize pool. On top of that, the winner will get to play Brunson heads-up for an additional $25,000 prize. Download poker wallpapers.

Don't be too surprised if that player gets schooled by Brunson though. He's taught players around the world how to play the game through his books Super/System, Super/System 2 and his latest release, My 50 Most Memorable Hands.

Of course, at the poker site you can get plenty of practice playing before you take on a pro. The site offers poker tournaments, cash games, sit-and-goes and more for players of all skill levels and bankrolls. You can also get advice from Mike Caro, founder of the first permanent poker school.

DoylesRoom is also offering seats to the European Poker Tour event in Barcelona taking place at the end of the month. There are satellites running now for players to win their way into the Grand Final qualifier taking place Sunday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. Play $500 match poker bonus.

The winner of the final will be awarded a $14,000 prize package that includes the buy-in for the EPT event as well as money for travel and accommodations.

If that still doesn't entice you to the site, maybe a 110% bonus for signing up will. DoylesRoom offers all PokerListings.com players a $660 sign-up bonus at 110% deposit match. All new players at the site also receive a free $55 tournament entry. Stay tuned to our poker blog for latest updates.

Poker News Source: Poker Listings

Poker News: The China Leisure Sports Administrative Center has tied the knot with World Poker Tour Enterprises (WPT) to promote “the sport of poker, by helping to create, expand and commercialize China’s first ever national poker competition,” the Associated Press reported today.

Well, something like poker, at least. Play online poker

The Chinese authorities look askance at gambling, much as their soul mates at the American Department of Justice (DOJ) do. As such, no betting will be allowed. Since the stake involved determines much of the strategy and psychology of the game itself, it’s hard to understand how this would qualify as “poker” or, even more importantly for the WPT, just why anyone would want to watch. Read poker blogs

Poker is what is known as a game of imperfect information, as opposed to a game like chess where the allowable moves are there for all to see, and as such it is beloved of game theory theoreticians. It also includes an element of active disinformation concerning a number of the 45 unknown cards, which is information communicated by the wager itself. It just is not the same without the stake. Play route 66 poker

Still, the move gives the WPT at least a toehold in the ever-enticing Chinese market, and does provide the opportunity to promote something resembling the game to a huge new market. The Chinese decided to define the game of poker as a sport a few years back, something resembling the various American attempts, which have generally failed, to define the game as one of skill. Play $500 match poker bonus

Poker has generally been perceived to be a potential breakthrough in American internet gaming law due to the element of skill involved; as many have observed, there are no professional roulette players. Poker is also something of an American tradition - even the Supreme Court had a weekly poker game until relatively recently. Play full tilt poker

Poker News Source: theregister

"PIC-Club.com will be providing both our PIC-Club and PIC-PAY services to all 13 poker rooms that are current members of the Dynamic Gaming Systems (DGS) network, as well as the four additional rooms that they will soon be activating" says Chuck Kidd, founder of United States Poker Players Inc. (USPPINC). “This will provide explosive growth for our company, allowing us to expand even further the unique services that we currently provide our membership,” he added.

PIC-Club.com is the branding recently created by Players Investment Company (PIC), a USPPINC subsidiary, to re-open the U.S. market to on-line Poker Rooms. PIC is poised to become the preferred method of deposit, both for U.S. and international players & women poker players, by offering a range of financial services never before available.

Mr. Joey Jevaney, President of DGS, recently stated, “Other networks pulled out, but we made a commitment a year ago to support the U.S. market - the home of Texas Hold’Em. Because so many poker sites and networks abandoned the market we know there is room for tremendous growth there.”

Mr. Kidd responded, “… and we made a commitment to re-open the market to U.S. players. By making their deposits through the PIC-Club U.S. poker players will be using securities based transactions for banking, following the guideline for exemptions created by UIEGA last year. Simply put, we will be the best method for U.S. players to play on-line poker at these sites.” Jevaney and Kidd echoed similar sentiments in stating that their biggest job will be to secure the trust of the U.S. players. Both companies have pledged to be responsive to player’s needs. PICClub and PIC-PAY currently offer 24/7 support services to their respective clients.

PIC-Club.com members will manage their on-line bankrolls with features such as Instant Transfers between Poker Rooms, Player-to-Player Transfers, Members Only Freerolls and Poker Tournaments, deposit bonuses and more. The company also has plans to add branded ATM cards, an on-line bill pay service, investment portfolio management and other financial services.

Kidd also stated that PIC would offer other services and features that no other company currently provides specifically to the on-line poker community. He said that even brick and mortar poker rooms will have reasons to affiliate with his company as on-line players will be able to pay for their play at traditional casinos with their branded ATM debit cards, a product that will create immediate access to funds.

“While we have seen a steady growth in membership these first three months of operation, this month has shown a marked increase in our rate of growth,” Kidd continued. “People are liking what we offer now, but when they have ten times the number of places to play, they will really appreciate the services of the PIC-Club!” Play route 66 poker.

PIC-Club software and hardware are currently in use by both Eurolinx Poker, a member of the MicroGaming Network and Wingows Poker, on the DGS network. Besides the impending influx of DGS rooms, two others have already signed contracts with PIC and several more are in earnest negotiations to use this securities based system of transactions.

With software integration already underway, DGS and PIC are both aiming at a mid to late August launch for all DGS network rooms to be utilizing both the PIC-Club and the PIC-Pay services. Meanwhile, those who wish to play and try out the new banking software at PICClub. com, are invited to sign up now and test their poker skills at either Eurolinx Poker or Wingows Poker.

Several well-known on-line poker sites have already partnered with DGS on their poker software platform. DGS is best known for their poker software and principal franchise, Jungle Poker. Well-known and colorful U.K. poker personality, Bob “The Butcher” Clarke, also has a site at DGS called Butcher’s Poker. Download poker wallpapers.

Among the poker rooms on the DGS network are Wingow’s Poker, 444NutsPoker, 10 Large, Big Juicy Odds and Live for the Flop. Some of the sites have recently moved to DGS from previous poker software platforms in an effort to increase their player base, while others have been affiliated with DGS since it’s inception.

Other on-line poker rooms or networks that would like more details about Players Investment Company, The PIC-Club or the PIC-Pay service should visit www.pic-club.com, or contact Mr. Kidd directly at chuck@usppinc.com. A live, on-line support staff is available 24/7 to answer all questions for players who may wish to join. Stay tuned to our poker blog for latest updates.

Poker News Source: All in Mag

The key to succeeding in poker tournament play is being able to handle the ups and downs,
because it's not always going to go perfectly. Your chip stack is not always going to shoot upwards, which means you'll often need to make good decisions when you don't have a lot of chips.

Many players get frustrated when they have a short stack. They look down and see Ace-rag, King-Queen, King-Jack or some similar hand and they just focus on their own cards instead of seeing the whole picture. That kind of short-sightedness can quickly make a short stack even smaller and put the player on the rail. Download poker wallpapers.

Successfully playing a short stack takes a lot of determination. I believe it's like a mental war when you have the short stack because it isn't fun when you look around and everyone has all those chips. They're getting to play fun hands like 9-10 suited and Jack-10 suited and you don't have enough chips to play those hands, so you're just sitting there watching while everyone else is playing poker.

I was playing in a $1,500 No-Limit poker tournament at the World Series of Poker* when I
raised under the gun with pocket Kings. It was Day Two of the tournament and it was the first hand I'd played after about 90 minutes of folding. Another player went all-in behind me and it was one of those situations where she didn't take her time to properly evaluate what had transpired so far. After not playing a single hand, I had raised with 40% of my stack in the earliest pre-flop position, which usually signals a monster. She pushed anyway with KJ and I think if she'd taken her time, she might have made a different decision.

You need to have patience when you're short stacked. You can't let poor results from
previous hands affect you. Instead, I think it's really good to tighten up after losing a pot so that you can regroup. To recover from being short stacked, you really have to take your time and evaluate every situation. Who cares if you're taking longer than anyone else at the table? Play route 66 poker.

Before the words “all-in” escape your mouth, take a couple of deep breaths, take 20
seconds and take a look at where the raise is coming from, how much it is for, and how much the person has behind. So many times I see people coming over the top of other players & women poker players and not realizing their opponent is already committed and that their chips are going in the pot. Before you push all of your chips into the middle on a call with a short stack, look at the person you're playing, re-evaluate your hand, the raise, and what position it's coming from at the table. You have to remember that as long as you have chips you have a chance to climb from the bottom of the ladder to the chip lead.

That brings up another key point: I don't care what anyone else has in the tournament because when I start worrying about how many chips other people have, I'm not focused on the task at hand, which is increasing my chip stack. Short stacked or not, I own my chips until I push them into the middle; it's up to my best judgment to determine the best time to commit them to a pot. Play $500 match poker bonus.

Being on the short stack demands that you make the right decision every time you play a pot because making the wrong one will bust you. Don't be in such a hurry to shove those chips in. Find the right spot. Don't get frustrated by a string of poor starting hands. At some point, you might have to take a gamble and push if you can open the pot, but until that time, you control your own destiny. Effectively reading the table and the situation before you act will help you survive and, quite possibly, even win.

Erica Schoenberg Team Fulltiltpoker.net

Poker News Source: Swiss Poker

The World Poker Congress (WPC) has announced the dates and venue for the second annual World Poker Congress. The WPC will be held on the 29th and 30th November 2007 at the Westin Dragonara resort in Malta. A number of well known poker industry leaders will be speaking at the congress. The World Poker Congress is the only event that examines synergies between land based and online poker rooms.

The Westin Dragonara resort is based in the idyllic seaside town of St Julians, and is less than a minutes walk from the Dragonara Casino. This casino being one of the venues in Anthony Holden's best selling poker book "Big Deal" where he chronicles his one year tour on the poker circuit.

Speakers include Jeffrey Pollack from Harrah's Entertainment, who will be one of the speakers giving the Opening Keynote Address. Jeffrey is the Commissioner of the World Series of Poker. The other speaker for the Opening Keynote Address is Steven Lipscomb from WPT Enterprises. Steven Lipscomb is the founder and CEO of the World Poker Tour. Other speakers include, Matt Savage the well known Tournament Director, who will be moderating a number of sessions. Paul Barnes who will be giving a case study on the Factors for Success and Failure of an online poker room. Play $500 match poker bonus.

This impressive lineup of poker insiders will mean all attendees at the WPC will:

# Learn from the experts in both sectors as they discuss critical issues and ideas.
# Network with high-level executives from the most prominent companies service the fast-growing poker industry. Women poker.
# Expand their product range, improve efficiency and understand their customers better with services specific to poker.

Stay tuned to our poker blog for latest updates.

Poker News Source: Poker Pages

The recent World Series of Poker prompted this week's LuckyDog questions.

* I'm glad we have a new WSOP champion. I didn't like that Jamie Gold character very much from last year. What was up with him? -- Jack M. of Moline

You're not alone, Jack! Many players I know came to dislike Gold, especially after watching the ESPN final-table broadcast and reading about the lawsuit over his reported broken promise to share the $12 million prize. Download poker wallpapers.

My first impression watching Gold in Las Vegas last summer was positive. He was invincible. But at the time, I didn't know about his apparent rules violations -- showing his cards and telling opponents what he held while hands were in progress.

I also think his frequent chats between hands with 10-time bracelet winner Johnny Chan were questionable. We don't know exactly what was said, but poker is a game of gathering information and acting accordingly -- actions normally relegated to the player while the game is in progress. Play route 66 poker.

Can you imagine the scene if every finalist had a coach or scout standing nearby to convey tips on the spot?

Enter Jerry Yang, a freshly-minted poker player who may have more positive impact on the game's image than most champions before him.

The 39-year-old Yang's persona bears little resemblance to what we usually see from players on TV. A devout Methodist, Yang wears his faith on his sleeve and is quick to give credit to a higher power for his victory.

"I've seen the miracles of God with my own eyes," Yang said after winning $8.25 million and the champion's gold-and-diamond bracelet against a field of 6,358 players & women poker players. "I did a lot of bluffing, also."

Among those miracles, Yang no doubt counts his six children, as well as his transition from a poor member of the Hmong people in Laos to a successful psychologist in Temecula, Calif., determined to help others through social and missionary work.

Days before final-table action began, Yang pledged 10 percent of his winnings to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children, the Ronald McDonald House and Loma Linda University, his alma mater.

No lawsuit will be needed for Yang to keep his promise. Play $500 match poker bonus.

Yang's poker playing, meanwhile, whether a product of divine guidance or dumb luck, was simply amazing. Poker experience wasn't much of a factor because Yang, who won his WSOP seat in a $225 satellite tourney, only has been playing the game for two years.

Nevertheless, Yang aggressively stormed from next-to-last in chips at the start of the final table into a dominant chip position. Along the way, he eliminated seven of the eight other final-table competitors himself. When heads-up play began for the title against pro Tuan Lam, 40, of Mississauga, Canada, Yang led in chips, $104.5 million to $23 million.

The end came when Lam moved all-in with A-Q suited and Yang called quickly with 8-8. A flop of Q-9-5 gave Lam a pair of queens and a big lead in the hand. As Lam waived a Canada flag and Yang's supporters chanted "USA, USA, USA," the final two board cards were a seven and a six, giving Yang the "miracle" straight. Online poker.

After the dust settled, a gracious Yang said he will "be happy to serve as an ambassador for poker" and spread the word about "what a great game this is."

He won't be bluffing about that.

* Why isn't ESPN televising the WSOP Omaha high-low world championship (Event 36)? -- William R. of Appleton, Wis.

ESPN's announced TV schedule includes 11 of the 55 WSOP events, with 32 hours of programming in two-hour blocks on Tuesday nights. Eight of those 16 weeks will be devoted to the main event, starting Aug. 21. Stay tuned to our poker blog for more updates.

As you know, William, Event 36 was won by John Guth, 26, of Vancouver, Wash. He eliminated pros Mike Matusow, Todd Brunson and Annie Duke en route to the victory and $363,216.

Poker News Source: Daily Journal

Poker News: Two men posing as police officers have stolen gaming machines from convenience stores across North Texas. They walked into stores, told clerks the machines were illegal and pretended to confiscate them, police say. Play online poker

Dallas police filed a theft charge against one of the suspects in the scheme on Tuesday night but have asked that his name be withheld to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing investigation. The man was arrested on an outstanding theft warrant out of Collin County. Read poker blogs

John LeBlanc was working the register at the Mobil gas station at Garland Road and Lochwood Boulevard in the White Rock area when the impostors showed up on July 22. He was busy with customers when the impostors told him that because his video poker machines paid out real money, they were illegal and would be confiscated. Play route 66 poker

"They started playing with my mind," Mr. LeBlanc said. One of the men carried handcuffs, acted very authoritative, wore a T-shirt with a police logo and fiddled with some sort of radio. Play $500 match poker bonus

Video poker machines, also known as eight-liners, are illegal when they pay out cash. Play full tilt poker

Poker News Source: dallasnews

With the 2007 Senior League World Series loaming, the District 3 Little League is rapidly making last minute accomodations for crowds that will be visiting from throughout the world.

The World Series is a great experience for everyone involved. It promotes a world peace message that countries from around the world can come together to compete in athletic events.

For the women poker players who will be playing in the event, they have the opportunity to do something that they may never have the opportunity to do again -- experience different cultures.

With ESPN coming to the area, it will give the region, as well as a female sports, some well-needed exposure. The baseball Little League World Series has been televised for as long as I can remember and now they are finally including the female equivalent. Play online poker.

The national sports media typically ignores female sports on all levels. Look at the WNBA compared to the NBA. The only thing that gets some decent coverage is tennis.

It's is nice to see that they are going to put 13 and 14-year-old girls softball in the national spotlight, but things could be better.

ESPN is only going to broadcast the Championship game on TV. The Little League World Series from Williamsport, Pa. gets full coverage of numerous games throughout the poker tournament. They do little question and answer sessions and fluffy featurettes on the boys, but I don't think they will have time to do these covering just one game.

I suppose this is a step in the right direction for girl's athletics, but so much more could've been done.

I will most likely be in attendance for the championship game and will not be able to watch the telecast on TV, but I hope that ESPN provides the same coverage of the girls as they do for the boys. Play route 66 poker.

It would be a shame for these girls to get shortchanged when they are going to be involved in a once in a lifetime experience. How often do you have the chance to play in a world tournament?This is something that the girls can talk about for the rest of their lives.

If ESPN covered more games then the championship, they would have a higher chance for a lifetime memory. But this is ESPN, the same network that shows scrabble, dominoes, poker and many other questionable sports. All they need to do is postpone the 85th showing of 2007 World Series of Poker for a week and fill it with some live and new sports.

Women's sports have always been overshadowed by men's sports in our country. Now, it appears that it has reached the level of children's sports as well. We can only hope the one-game coverage gets great ratings and that ESPN will be back next year to broadcast more games. Play $500 match poker bonus.

Poker News Source: Delmarva Now

Player wants to create Internet gambling agency

An online poker player well known as a jokester in the Internet gaming community is wheeling and dealing for state government to set up an online version of the popular card game, with a huge pot on the table — Californians' pocketbooks.

The secretary of state's office late Friday cleared Anthony Sandstrom of San Diego, known as "Tuff Fish" in YouTube poker comedies, to circulate petitions putting his proposed initiative on a statewide ballot, where voters could create an Internet poker gambling agency. Play route 66 poker.

By Monday, as they said in the Old West days of the game, the stakeholders had knocked over the table and were drawing their (political) six-guns over the proposal.

Fellow Internet poker enthusiasts were divided, with comments on numerous blogs ranging from "good work" to "give me a break."

Flatly opposed were card rooms in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area, anti-gambling-expansion activists and educators, who fear diversion and loss of lottery funds. Play $500 match poker bonus.

Sandstrom acknowledges his initiative isn't aimed at solving some big social problem.

It would mostly allow Internet poker gambling at a time when federal law has thrown the activity into a legal gray area, posing a possible court challenge in which the state would have to defend Internet gambling. Download poker wallpapers.

"I am just a guy who wants to play poker at home when I don't feel like making an hour drive to a card room or casino," Sandstrom said on his initiative Web site.

"I am going to make a mighty effort to make safe, legal, and accessible play online poker possible."

Sandstrom, who did not respond to attempts to contact him directly, says the proposal also would provide money for repair of potholes on city roads.

"A pox on the initiative," said Fred Glass, a spokesman for the California Federation of Teachers, whose members depend partially on the flow of funds from state-run lottery. Women poker.

Analysts were cautious over whether Sandstrom could collect the required signatures — about 430,000 — by Christmas. One cited the kickoff day for recalling former Gov. Gray Davis, when most experts said the initiative didn't have a chance.

The wild card in the game is the Internet. Sandstrom is trying to collect the signatures via the Internet, where he's better known as "Tuff Fish." Supporters can download the petitions for gathering of signatures. Stay tuned to our poker blog for latest updates.

Numerous Web sites addressing Internet poker and the "Tuff Fish" initiative included players asserting that his version of the game to be placed before voters is so flawed it would not be self-sustaining.

Poker News Source: Inside Bay Area

The state could be in the Internet poker business next year, if a petition drive catches on.

A proposed initiative to create a state-owned Internet poker game drew attention Tuesday from the existing gambling community — including Indian casino tribes — and support from independent experts.

"It's silly for the state not to get into the business," said I. Nelson Rose, a professor and attorney at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa. "Billions of dollars are being spent on the game here, and the state isn't getting one penny."

California is the world's online poker capital, analysts said. The government is missing out by not legalizing, regulating and taxing it.

Rose, a nationally known gambling expert, said that "ultimately California is going to legalize Internet poker," but said he is uncertain whether the new proposed initiative is the vehicle.

The proposal would allow Indian casinos and other gambling establishments to set up revenue-sharing deals, which would serve as an incentive to wealthytribes to gather voter signatures needed to put the measure on the February ballot. Play $500 match poker bonus.

Initiative supporters must collect about 430,000 signatures by the end of the year to qualify the measure for the ballot.

"We will take a look at the initiative and discuss it," said Garry South, a consultant to the California Tribal Business Alliance, made up of some of the tribes who own the largest casinos.

Even card rooms — which want to attract more players — have expressed interest. Download poker wallpapers.

Aides to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who negotiates gambling compacts with tribes, declined comment.

The proposed initiative would order the state to establish a state-owned Internet poker site within 150 days of the proposal's adoption, lays out game rules, and restricts players & women poker players to being at least 21 years of age.

The measure says "the state may enter into revenue and player base sharing agreements with other states, localities and California federally recognized Indian tribes."

Howard Dickstein, an attorney representing several casino-operating tribes not part of the tribal alliance, was skeptical. An operation such as the one outlined by the initiative would be "an extremely ambitious and complex project," he said.

Dickstein and other experts foresee possible court battles among gambling stakeholders. Federal law also is fuzzy on the issue of state-run Internet poker sites. Play route 66 poker.

Anthony "Tuff Fish" Sandstrom, a maverick online gambling enthusiast who authored the measure, said he included what he hopes will be a further incentive for passage — a relatively small stream of money from "net revenues" to cities and counties to fix local roads.

Poker News Source: Inside Bay Area

Poker News: An Indianapolis man shot while trying to disarm one of two robbers who crashed a Noblesville poker game was released from Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis on Tuesday morning with a minor injury. Play online poker

"Definitely very fortunate," Noblesville Police Capt. Brad Arnold said of Davis J. Nicoson, 35. "It was apparently more of a flesh wound than anything else." Read poker blogs

Meanwhile, police are looking for the two men who fled with an undisclosed amount of money from the overnight card game at a home in the 12200 block of Lindley Drive. Play route 66 poker

Play strip poker. Arnold said the gathering of less than 10 men and women was interrupted about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday when the robbers, with guns drawn, walked into the house through the front door.
After they ordered everyone to the floor and began taking their wallets and money, he said, Nicoson tried to disarm one of the men. Play $500 match poker bonus

Poker News Source: indystar