Episode #157: Chris in Connecticut

MAIN TOPIC
Chris calls in from the land of pink carpet and princesses (can't make that up if I wanted to) to give us the lowdown on Mohegan Sun's new electronic-only poker room (live poker returns Sept. 1) and his usual ringing endorsement of Foxwoods. Click here to listen to the show.

OTHER TOPICS

World Series of Poker: Kenna James cashes, Jerry Buss busts in time to catch his Lakers, another Man vs. Machine is scheduled and a doctor abandons his stack to help a fallen player.

Mixed games mania: The Imperial Palace in Vegas is dealing a $3/$6 limit mixed game at 7 p.m. on Sundays. Some crazzzzzy games being offered. We love it.

Gas up at the Commerce: Commerce Casino in L.A. is randomly dropping $50 gas cards into poker pots in July.

Sinatra's home game: Who played in it? It was a fun one: Jack Lemmon, Angie Dickinson, Gregory Peck and more.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: The Seminole Hard Rock Tampa bad beat jackpot is hit for $564,912. Glen Upchurch of Clearwater wins $282,452 for his losing quad 6s, while William Lewicke of Winter Haven takes $141,227 (and the pot) with a straight flush. The other eight players at the table won $17,654 each.

One Minute Mystery: We make the call, and take down the pot when our opponent shows K-6 for top pair, weaker kicker.

HAND OF THE WEEK
It's a Crazy Pineapple hand! Dan, a fellow journalist from Greeley, Colo., offers us a home game no-limit high-only hand with loose players who have been hitting the sauce.

He's dealt K-K-7, pops it 5x and gets two callers. The flop is K-8-6, two spades, and Dan bets pot but can't shake either opponent. He dumps the 7, and the turn is an Ace. With just $5 left, he checks (Chris would have pushed, I kinda like the misdirection), but one opponent bets $2 and both players call. The river is a 6, completing the flush but also filling Dan up. He gets it all-in and takes down a nice pot against two smaller boats.

- SCOTT

Introducing: Laredo

At last year's WSOP Ante Up Meetup at Binion's, a dealer introduced us to the game of Juarez, which is played like Omaha 8, but with these differences: Each player gets five cards, there are two flops and two turns (as in Double Flop), then a common river for both boards. The best high and best low split the pot, and you must use two of your five cards (you can use different two-card hands to make your high and low). Ever since this was introduced into the home game, I have been calling it Laredo for some reason. Laredo and Juarez are both on the U.S.-Mexico border, but on different sides and 700 miles apart.

So, here's the game of Laredo, just invented, so I can stop calling things by wrong names. It is another Omaha 8 variant. Each player gets three cards. Round of betting. Two flops, round of betting, then all players discard one card. Two turns, betting, then the shared river as in Juarez, and a last round of betting. Best high and low split the pot, but you can use one or both cards to make your hand (but not zero). This is LAREDO. Is it a workable game or just a silly novelty?

MIKE

Episode #155: Poker music

MAIN TOPIC
St. Pete Times pop music critic Sean Daly, who also co-hosts the Stuck in the '80s podcast, rocks our studio to talk about the best music to play for your home game and the best tunes to fire up your iPod with at the tournament table. Click here to listen to the show.

OTHER TOPICS
We're TV stars: If you missed our appearance on TV this week, here's your chance to catch it.

AIPS: Congrats again to rascony for winning the wild, wild rebuy event. Remember, razz is next!

WSOP: The World Series of Poker gets started on Friday with a $10,000 World Championship event (pot-limit hold'em). An eco-friendly poker table will be on display this year, and we wonder aloud about the quality of dealers in Vegas for the next couple of months with a bouquet of other tournament series in town at the same time.

Hotline: PokerGeek says Ante Up helped him through recent tornadoes in Minnesota (glad to hear everyone is alright), and Sharkey gets his aces cracked.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: The bad beat jackpot at the Seminole Hard Rock casino in Tampa is north of $400K, and One-Eyed Jack's in Sarasota is launching new WSOP guarantee tournaments.

One Minute Mystery: Columbo gets cold feet and checks his A-7 down. Good thing. His opponent had played 9-9 - poorly.

HAND OF THE WEEK
Nicholas from Australia sends us a stud8 hand where he starts with buried aces and a 6 door card. He caps the action on 3rd Street, pairs his 6 on Fourth but can't chase anyone away.

It's bricks around on Fifth, and it's bet, call, call. But on Sixth, the original frisky bettor pairs his door card (7) and the action gets capped. On 7th, everyone slows down, which is good for our hero, who loses the high half of the pot to Aces and sevens. Ouch.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW
TBA

- SCOTT

Episode #153: Justin Bonomo

JustinBonomo.com

MAIN TOPIC
Pro Justin Bonomo, aka "ZeeJustin," gives us a ring to talk about his meteoric rise in the poker world, his string of recent final tables, his new affiliation with Team Bodog and, yes, his past and how he's dealing with it. Click here to listen to the show.

OTHER TOPICS

Race for the Hundy: Chris is still out of breath from his prop bet win against Fasso. If you missed it, check out the story and video.

AIPS: Event #5 (NL hold'em rebuy) is just a week away. Click here for all the details.

MySpace poker: That's right - this hideously hard site to read has started a poker room. You can even order virtual beers. (Well, not Chris. He's doesn't even drink virtual booze).

Trump does it again: This time, The Donald will install 12 electronic poker tables in the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City by June. Booooooo!

Get your stock on: CNBC has launched a stock-picking contest. One of the prizes? A seat in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event.

More on the WSOP delay: Scott is hung up on just how success or failure will be determined in the World Series' biggest gimmick of the year. Give it up. (Or, keep the debate alive).

Hotline: A caller lets us know of a soccer player named Ante Razov. Close, but no banana ...  and Roger calls in to let us know we can catch NBC's National Heads-Up Poker Championship on the Internet.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Help out a good cause and get a legitimate reason to say "boobs" by participating in the Bikers4Boobs & Walkers4Boobs Poker Run and 5K Walk on June 8. Click here for the details.

One Minute Mystery: Columbo is on vacation, no doubt solving a crime. He'll be back soon.

HAND OF THE WEEK
Alright, we took a chance (you know what that means). It was our first single-draw no-limit 2-7 lowball HOTW. Neither Chris nor I nor Justin, who stuck around to help us out, have played this version of lowball.

Jan, an Ante Upper playing in a loose 5-person dealer's choice low-limit home game, is in the big blind with 2-3-4 and two paint cards. Everyone limps, and Jan checks. The small blind draws three, Jan two and the rest of players: two, two, three.

Jan improves to 8-7-4-3-2, and after the small blind checks, he bets 6 units into a 5-unit pot. He gets one caller, and then the small blind check-raises to 20 units.

The bet smelled fishy to us, and Jan called, just as we would have. Good move. His 8-7 beat his opponent's rougher 8-7.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW
TBA, but in two weeks, St. Pete Times' rockin' music critic Sean Daly joins us to talk about music and poker.

- SCOTT

Episode #152: Dissecting a HORSE tournament

Associated Press

MAIN TOPIC

Hey, we finally did it! Here's the long-awaited (or at least long-promised) show dissecting a HORSE tournament. We'd like to think SickBrain80 for his e-mail that spurred the topic. In a HORSE tournament, you need to be able to adjust to the different games, as well as the changing table. It's the most challenging type of tournament out there. Click here to listen to the show.

OTHER TOPICS

Ante Up shenanigans: I treat Chris to a Threshers game, and he blows four of my bucks with weak launch-a-ball tosses ... a plastic banana is up for the taking for any and all Ante Uppers who officially name their baby "Ante" or "Ante Up," or have their kid's name legally changed to it ... Race for the Hundy is Saturday, so get your picks in for a chance to win a really cool coffee thermos.

CardRunners wants to train you: ... if you make it to the final table of the World Series of Poker's Main Event. The online poker training community will pick one of the final tablists this year and offer he/she free tutoring.

Casino Player gems: The May issue has an interesting column by gambling expert I. Nelson Rose on why Barack Obama's election is the best chance for legalized online poker, and it also has a brain teaser from the Mad Genius of Poker Mike Caro on what is the lowest-ranking hand that's guaranteed to win.

Mississippi Stud: Here's a new table game in which you're dealt two cards and have three community cards. You can fold or raise 1x, 2x or 3x on each street. If you get a pair of jacks or better, you win. Wizards of Odds Michael Shackleford breaks it down for you.

Hotline: Jeremy, and his adorable daughter, call in to make fun of Cosenza ... and Jen from Canada (via Australia) needs help dealing with the pain of bubbling out.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: If you're looking for a semi-serious group of players in Pasco County who play for fun, check out www.pascopokerplayers.com.

One Minute Mystery: Columbo goes into the tank, but he tosses his Q-Q. Good thing, too. He was up against A-A.

HAND OF THE WEEK

Longtime listener Tom Turley writes in with an Omaha 8 hand from a recent CHIMPS event.

It's three-handed, and Turley completes his small blind with 10s-3c-2s-5s - a dubious hand no doubt, but arguably playable three-handed, especially as chip leader. All three remaining players see a flop of Qc-6s-7c.

Tom check-raises the button, and gets the big blind to fold.

The turn: 4s

With a made straight and the third-nut low, Tom bets out and reraises his lone opponent. Too aggressive, perhaps?

The river: 8s.

Tom's strong straight turns into a weak flush, and his low doesn't improve. Check-call situation in our opinion, but Tom bets out, is raised and gets scooped. Ouch.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

Internet phenom Justin Bonomo, the newest member of Team Bodog, calls in.

- SCOTT

Episode #151: World Series of Poker preview

MAIN TOPIC

Responding to the day's big story, we called an audible and devoted this show to a look-ahead to the upcoming World Series of Poker, which begins May 30, and the announcement that the final table of the Main Event will be delayed 117 days to build anticipation. We summarize a media conference call led by WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack, and also include a recording of that entire call at the end of the show. Click here to listen to the show.

OTHER TOPICS

Sweden doesn't mess around: Two guys who lacked the proper permits to host a poker tournament in Sweden have six to eight months to reflect on that mistake - in a Swedish jail.

Hotline: Listener BitGuru calls in with a buffet of comments, including a question about whether the Mirage keeps those dollars they collect from the Texas Hold'em Plus redraws. Nope - they go straight into the pot.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: I ventured out to Lucky's at Tampa Greyhound Track, and was surprised to find not one limit game going at all, and that you can buy into the $1/$2 no-limit for as little as $20. If you're in a charitable mood, help out the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hernando County in a $100 tournament on May 18. For details, call (727) 233-1018.

HAND OF THE WEEK

A new listener Trey writes in with a hand from Ante Up!'s official game - razz.

He starts perfect - 2/3 underneath, with an Ace up. He completes, gets raised and reraises. We like it so far.

On Fourth Street, he picks up a 7 and keeps the pressure on. A Q/6 and a 3/8 come along.

On Fifth Street, the bricks start falling. He gets a J, keeps the pressure on, but can't shake the Q/6/4 or 3/8/K.

On Sixth Street, it's a mixed bag. He gets a 9, but the 3/8/K/5 is stubborn.

The river improves him to an 8 low, and he's lucky he's not raised by his opponent, who takes down the pot with a 7-5.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

We're beginning to sound a little like Jimmy Kimmel ("... our apologies to Matt Damon") each week as we delay yet again our Dissection of a HORSE Tournament show. We'll try again next week.

- SCOTT

A night of poker potpourri

Monday night is Reality Show Night at the Cosenza household, so I tend to play poker while Mrs. Ante Up watches her Dancing With The Stars and Bachelor. I'm still trying to get Shannon Elizabeth (pictured) on the show, but she must have a gag order on or something because none of my emails to her or her agency has been returned.

Last night I had one of those sessions where you just hang on for dear life and watch your stack go up and down more times than a ride at Busch Gardens. I began by playing NLHE heads up for cold hard cash. We exchanged a few jabs here and there and he kept rebuying for the full amount whenever he would dip below the max buy-in. What do you think of this strategy?

Anyway, the ultimate hand came when I had 7♣8♣ on the button and raised 3X. He called and the flop came with 10♣ 8♥ K♣. He checked and I bet pot. He called. The turn was a 7♥. So I had two pair and a flush draw. He bet out and I raised. He shoved and I was pot-committed. He showed Q♣7♣! I had him crushed at that point, but the river was a club and he felted me. Grrr!

Next I moved on to a $.10-$.25 NLHE 6-handed table. The player on the button during my BB kept raising when it got folded to him, and twice he did it with Ax. So the next time it happened I had K♣ Q♣. I decided to call his 3X raise and trap him. Flop came Q♦ 4♦ 7♥. I checked and he bet pot. I raised pot and he called. The turn: 2♥. So now there are two flush draws out there and I don't want him to get there, so I bet pot again and he shoved. I had to call (again) and he turned over A♦8♦. All he had was an overcard and diamond draw. Can you guess what came? I'm screaming at the computer: "NO BLUE!!! NO BLUE!!!" (Yes I have my screen set to the Lucky Charms colors, as you can now see in this post) A 5♦ on the river gave him the flush and just like that I was down $75 after playing at two tables.

I had been on such a fine streak online that I started to feel like the demons had finally decided to leave me alone. But alas, they returned.

I found another six-handed ring game ($.50-$1) where they were seeing a lot of hands and averaging about $35 per pot. I never really know if that last figure means they're maniacs or if someone just got stacked. But as soon as I sat down I knew they were there to gamble. I made it three-handed and my first hand on the button I was dealt JJ and raised to $3.50. The SB thought long and hard then folded, as did the BB. I think to myself that he's thinking I'm a stealer. The very next button hand for me I get 10-10. I raised the same amount and this time the SB re-raised 3X my bet. I just knew he had a middle pair or some sort of weak ace. I shoved and he waited and waited and waited. Then he called with ... 99. My 10-10 held up and gave me a profit for my session.

That's when Ante Up! National Rant2112, who was railing me and seeing all of these suckouts, said: Want to play heads up? I said sure. We decided to play a $5 HU-NLHE-SNG, and I got some great cards and opportunities. I beat him pretty quickly and then took a break.

When I returned I decided to play $.25-$.50 H.O.R.S.E. I started with $5, fell to $1.50 and then won a decent pot to get back to like $6. That's when another Ante Up! National, I Like Ike, joined the table. We chatted a little as I went on a huge rush, turning my $5 buy-in into almost $25. He wasn't as lucky and left down a bit. But it was great playing with him and chatting.

Finally I returned to heads up play again. I sat down at a $50 table with a guy who already had like $69. We went back and forth for a while, and I was getting the best of him when the following hand came up. On the button I got 9♦10♦. I raised to $1.50 and he called. The flop came K♦ 7♦ 8♥. He checked and I bet pot. He called. The turn was the 4♦. Now he bet pot and I shove. He instacalled with A♦A♥. I have him dead to a diamond and I'm screaming in my head "NO BLUE!!!! NO BLUE!!!" Can you guess what came on the end? It was blue, and so was I. Then he left.

Just like that, all of the profit was gone again, and I never got my money in bad. I was confident my reads of their styles and betting patterns were spot-on, so I continued playing. In my last match of the night I sat down with $100 vs. a guy who had $128 at a $.50-$1 NLHE HU table. In the beginning he was super-aggressive, raising every button, reraising my button raises, punishing my button limps. I started to think he was better than me and should get out of the table while I still had most of my buy-in. But then I adjusted and started trapping. The final hand we played came down like this: On the button I had K♥9♥. I raised to $3.50 and he called. The flop: J♥ 9♠ 10♥. He checked and I bet $4. He called. The turn: 7♥. I had the second nuts. Now he bet out $5. I minraised to $10. He reraised to $40, leaving him only $32 left. I said to myself, "If I shove here and he calls with a naked A♥ and hits, I'm going to throw this computer in the dumpster!" So I shoved, thinking he couldn't fold no matter what he had (hoping he had an 8). He thought and thought and typed in A8, then folded. So he had the straight, but likely not the A♥. I won $90 from him and called it a night, turning a nice profit during a very tumultuous session.

Let's see what happens tonight while Mrs. Ante Up! watches American Idol.

-- Chris

Episode #150: More poker camps

MAIN TOPIC
Chris steered the Family Truckster over to Orlando to check in on our good friend Kenna James and the Amateur Poker League. While there, he nabbed some great interviews about poker camps with Steve Berman, co-founder of the WPT Boot Camp, and online pro Nick Brancato. Be sure to check out Ante Upper Lee Childs' new Web site, too. Click here to hear the show.

OTHER TOPICS

Texas Hold'em Plus: The Mirage in Las Vegas is testing this new variation. Don't like one of your hole cards? Simply slide it with a chip equal to the small blind to the dealer and you'll get a shiny new card.

PPA update: The Poker Players Alliance (now with more than 1,000,000 members) has formed a new political action committee called PokerPAC.

Housekeeping: Starting next week, Ante Up! will be posted to the Web on Thursdays ... And listen to the show on Rounders Radio on Saturdays ... Don't forget about AIPS this Saturday and on May 22 ... Join Fasso and me in Las Vegas during the World Series of Poker. Click here for early details.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: A One-Eyed Jack's regular wins a huge pot o' gold in Europe ... Florida Senate Bill 1006 would expand hours for cardrooms and allow for high-stakes and charity/celebrity tournaments, but don't get excited, as it's stalled in the House.

One Minute Mystery: Columbo decides he's likely beat, so he mucks his second pair. Turns out, his opponent was on a brazen bluff with a weak flush draw and gutter.

HAND OF THE WEEK
An anonymous caller rings in to tell us about a no-limit hand where he called a min raise with 7-3 in the big blind and saw a pretty darn nice flop of 7-7-7. He got his opponent to bet the entire way, taking down a very nice pot. Getting paid off on a monster is one of the hardest things to do in poker. We share some tips.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW
Until Chris changes his mind again, it'll be our rescheduled Dissection of a HORSE Tournament.

- SCOTT

Limping as a plan of attack

I continue to have moderate success at the microlimits with four straight modest winning sessions. I have discovered I win more when I find a table that likes to limp, but not for the reasons you may think. I love to play short-handed, and I love to see flops. Most "aggros" get to a table that's full of limpers and "play the opposite" as the table is playing because that's what we are told to do. That's a great strategy when you know they'll fold or if you can outplay them. But I do consider myself a player generally better than the ones I'm facing at microlimits. So when someone joins the table and tries to take control I usually have a few tricks up my sleeve to keep him/her at bay when I'm in a pot. But I have to admit I've taken a shining to limping at passive tables and turning on my aggression when it's needed. I like to try to outplay them on later streets, but right now I don't have the gumption to try it at the higher stakes unless I'm playing live.

Limping in lower-stakes games lets me see more flops, plus helps define their hands because it forces them to raise a higher amount than usual with the extra bet in the pot. Also, I can outplay them later because these players tend to check when they miss and then often can be bluffed if I sell the story. And, this method can work for you just like the aggro method works. Aggros raise all of the time whether they have the hammer or the nuts. If you limp with 78 or with AA they won't know and can't put you on a hand. And yes, you can't put your opponents on hands either, but how often can you put an aggro on a hand? So it works both ways.

Don't get me wrong, I still like playing larger stakes when I play live, but I'm pretty firm on sticking with microlimits for my experimentation and strategy lessons. And right now, open limping has been paying off at these levels. And I do believe aggression is the best way to go, but sometimes I choose to use my aggression later, rather than preflop.

Also, I played two heads-up matches last night in PLO and won them both pretty handily. In fact, the first one I won before we got to the second level. I was amazed at how poorly they played the game, but again it was microlimit so they may have still been learning. I enjoy heads-up poker because there's only one person to worry about and I can totally concentrate on him.

I don't mind winning at this level as it sustains my bankroll without having to reload and lets me try things I might not want to try at higher levels. And it prepares me for Saturday's AIPS PLO tournament at noon ET.    

Hanging with Kenna

As I alluded to in yesterday's post, Jeanne and I made the trek to Orlando (about a 90-minute drive with traffic) so I could introduce her to Kenna James. I was also there for Ante Up!, interviewing one of the co-founders of the WPT Boot Camps, Steve Berman, and one of Kenna's fellow instructors, Nick Brancato. The WPT has forged a relationship with the Amateur Poker League and it was on hand to host a minicamp during the APL's National Championship tournament. I brought my recorder so I have those interviews for either this week's show or next week's, but for the most part we were just there to hang with Kenna. I also brought my camera but I forgot it in the car. D'oh!

As many of you know Kenna has always been a very generous poker pro, even going so far as to play in one of our AIPS events. Now, I know I had posted a little while ago about privacy and how it's sometimes difficult to deal with as a host of a podcast. But what I saw this past weekend was absolutely remarkable, and Kenna handled every minute of it with class and dignity. I sat at his reserved table and impartially watched as the Boots (camp partcipants) all came up to him one by one (and sometimes two by two, etc.) asking for photos and autographs. He turned down no one and was a perfect gentleman. He was extremely gracious, signing two, three even four things per person sometimes, and every time he signed it wasn't just: Kenna James. He made sure he took his time, signed something personal (asking their names and how to spell them) and posed with a great smile on his face every time. The amount of time he had to dedicate to make those people happy was astounding. He easily signed his name 300 times in a span of 2 hours. At one point I leaned over and said "You are easily going to heaven." He laughed. Then he sang karaoke (a rendition of YMCA for fun and then a moving version of He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother).

When the festivities settled down we went to Steve's suite at the International Plaza Resort and Spa for some quiet time and talked poker for about an hour before the inevitible happened: We played Badugi! But there was just one hitch, however: We had no chips! So Jeanne kept track on a pad and we played a sick game with a $5 ante. You could drop after the second draw, but if you went for the third draw you were committed to $10. I finished ahead $10 in about 20 minutes (That's a better ROI than what I made after six hours in Gambit's game on Friday!) and Kenna won $30 (Sorry Steve, though no one paid me so I guess I'll write it off on my taxes). I actually captured the session on my digital recorder (with their permission, of course) and I edited it down to like 12 minutes. I will tag it on at the end of either this or next week's show. There were some funny moments in there, like Kenna talking about something Steve "left" for him in the bathroom, the incredibly boring aspects of the movie There Will Be Blood, Kenna's struggle to remain awake at 1 a.m. and Steve's inability to grasp the concept of Badugi as Kenna kept changing the rules to our make-shift game.

One of the unexpected highlights of the night came from Nick Brancato. I had read his Bluff column for more than a year but had never seen him on TV (he's an Internet pro) and never met him at any of the other events I covered. I also never heard him on the podcasts he's appeared on so I didn't know what to expect. He was hilarious, and so sharp. The man plays EIGHT tables at once online for high stakes and he doesn't miss a trick. He held three conversations at once and completely grasped every one of them while doling out advice and amusing anecdotes. His interview was really strong and that will be coming up soon on the show. When I approached him I got a pretty big surprise. Now remember we had never met and I never talked to him. I walked up to him while the "Boots" were asking for autographs and I easily could've just been one of them for all he knew. I said "Nick, when you get a chance can I talk to you out in the lobby? I'm Chris Cosenza from ..." and before I could finish the sentence he said "I know you!! I've listened to your show. I'm friends with Lee Childs and he always talks about you guys!" That was awesome. It's good to know our show is making headway with more pros now, too.

He had us laughing all night, spilling his drink on himself not once but twice, and impersonating someone to a T. But alas it got to be pretty late and we still had a 90-minute drive home, so we said our goodbyes and left a little after 1 a.m.

-- Chris

Poker, poker and, oh yeah, more poker

As you can tell by the title of this post there were a lot of poker happenings over the weekend for me. But first I'd like to direct you to the poll I created on the right-hand side of the blog. Who will win the race between Fasso and me? Vote for your winner now! And let me just say I've been taking this very seriously and have run three of the past four days (and I mowed my ever-growing plush St. Augustine lawn with a push mower on the day I didn't run!) so be aware of these facts before you vote!

Now for some poker talk: Friday night I returned to Gambit's home game for the first time in like three months and had another one of those up-and-down sessions. I was down to $9 from my original $40 buy-in but rallied to post a $9 profit for the night. Funny thing is only the losing hands stick out in my mind. I won a lot of small pots to grind my way back to profitability, but here are two hands that made the difference between me winning a ton and just barely making a profit.

The first hand came early (and I had already won a decent pot so I was up about $10) in limit hold 'em. We play $.50-$1 blinds, $1-$2 betting rounds, so it's not exactly The Big Game, but it can add up. So I'm dealt A♦ 8♦ on the button and there were two limpers ahead of me. So I called and saw a 5-handed flop of: A♥ 9♦ 2♦. A guy in early position bet and it got folded to me. I raised because I want to build a pot if I hit and I know he's not going anywhere. He just called. At this point I put him on a naked ace, which I know he'll take to the end. We get heads up when the turn brought the 8♣. Okay, I have two pair plus a redraw to the nut flush. He bet at me again (do we have the same hand?), so I raised; he three-bet and I capped it. I'm thinking he may have the same hand, a bare ace or a set. But would a set really just call with the diamonds out there and my willingness to raise? Anyway, the river was a blank and he checked. Normally I'd take this for weakness, but in this case I was overcome with this feeling that I was beat so I checked behind and he turned over A♠ 9♥ for top two. SICK! So there went all of my earlier profit and then some.

I spent the next 4-5 hours grinding my way back and then had about a $15 profit when this hand came up: It was NLHE (which is sort of a misnomer because we play it with $.25-$.25 blinds and a $20 cap. It should be called CHE, as in Cap Hold 'Em, but I digress). So someone in middle position raised to around $1 and I called in position with K♠ J♦ (my signature hand for this game!). However, Gambit called behind me so he had position on me. The flop came J♦ 9♠ 4♦. The first raiser made a standard continuation bet of like $1.50 and I raised to $4. That's when Gambit thought it over and made it $8 to go. The first guy folded and I started to think about how Gambit plays. I dismissed a flush draw because he usually has the goods with this type of move. And then I remembered our Ante Up! home game a while back when, in a raised pot, he got it all-in with J10 vs. Scott "my K-10 must be good here" Long on a jack-high flop. So, with that info fresh in my head I capped it. Gambit thought it over for a few seconds and called with QQ. D'oh!!!! There goes my profit again!!! He slow-played QQ into a multiway pot and got the perfect flop. Wow! Very nice. Ballsy, but nice.

Ultimately I had a few big hands in 5-card draw and NLHE to claw my way back. And for the first time Badugi was called in our game, and I did really well in that, which, as it turns out, played a HUGE role during my SATURDAY poker adventure in Orlando with Kenna James, WPT Boot Camp co-founder Steve Berman and Joyzey's Nick Brancato. But I'll post about that tomorrow. I need to save my posts because Scott is in Vegas and I'm holding down the Ante Up! fort.

-- Chris

P.S. Don't forget to vote in the poll at the right! 

Episode #147: Joe Navarro returns

MAIN TOPIC

Ex-FBI agent Joe Navarro, our favorite expert on nonverbal communication, swings by the studio again to dish on some more tells you should look for at the poker table (hint: look at the thumbs). He has a new book, What Every Body Is Saying, and is still heavy on the poker academy circuit. Click here to hear the show.

OTHER TOPICS

Chris gets a gift: Annie Duke's book has made it to the Dollar Tree!

Chris gets a scoop: So, have you heard about the high-stakes poker player who has been using high-priced call girls? You'll never believe who it was.

Chris gets a lawyer: Well, not yet, but he and other members of the Poker Players Alliance can now get legal advice on poker laws in their hometowns through the PPA's Litigation Support Network.

Chris goes to Washington: Well, again, not yet, but if he had, he would have heard testimony on Capitol Hill this week about how the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is a bear to enforce. Ante Upper Short-Stacked Shamus covered the hearings, and he also has a new podcast.

Chris gets a bracelet: Okay, now I'm really stretching the fantasy. But if he wants a bracelet, Harrah's says cash buy-ins to the World Series of Poker this year of $3,000 or more will have to come with a Social Security or Tax ID number. Also, the Golden Nugget plans a monthlong tournament during the World Series, and check out David Matthews' blog Gambling in Space for some good reviews of Vegas card rooms.

Hotline: StatikKling is relieved to learn that our Omaha analogy was to a stool, not, um, stool. And John from Texas wants to know how people fit all those multitabling tables on their computer screen.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: The Florida Senate has passed a bill allowing quarter horse racing, which could lead to several new Florida poker rooms if the House and governor go along with it. One-Eyed Jack's is now running Daily Doubles, and help out the students at St. Petersburg Catholic High School by playing in their $200 charity tournament.

One Minute Mystery: Columbo makes the call with his rivered wheel on a board that has flush possibilities, and is rewarded for his bravery as his opponent had just two pair.

HAND OF THE WEEK

Alan (aka BigAl) sends us a hand from a $2/$5 no-limit cash game from Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls.

An early position player, new to the table and believed to be tight aggressive, bumps it to $20, and Alan calls with Js-Jc. The loose button calls as well.

The flop: 3h-Ks-6c.

The raiser bets out $30, Alan calls and the button folds.

The turn: Ac.

Check-check.

The river: Ah

Raiser bets $30 into the $127 pot, Alan calls and takes down the pot against pocket 9s.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

Dissecting a HORSE tournament. A member of the Ante Up Nation sent us the strategy he uses to attack HORSE tournaments, and we'll share ours. Send us yours, too.

- SCOTT

My return to the home game

After a month of recovery from surgery (and then a week of work) I finally got to play some poker with the guys as Scott's home game resumed, and it was great to be back.

I lost almost half my buy-in after about 30 minutes (missed draws, TPTK vs. overpair). I stopped the bleeding for a while but then I kept making the second-best hand and was growing very frustrated. I had the guys laughing pretty hard when I dropped a few "Unbelievables!" and the occasional "Unreal!" But my ensuing expletives really got them rolling on the floor, and that's when I realized I was minus-$63, down from $100 at noon to $37 by 2:30 p.m. That's also when I knew they'd think I was on tilt, which I wasn't. I like to vent my frustration when I play, but it doesn't always make me play less than optimally. At this point I remember thinking that I was just glad to be there after what I went through and that I was determined to have a winning session. So I bought another $60 in chips and buckled down.

I went on a rush that got me almost back to even when the following hands came up, and they're partly the reason I'm posting. The game was Juarez (pronounced War-ehz). Not familiar with it? It's a hybrid of Omaha/8 and Double Flop Hold 'Em. We were taught this game by a dealer at Binions during our Ante Up! Meetup in Vegas last summer.

Everyone gets five cards and, like Omaha, you MUST play two from your hand. But here's the twist: There are two boards, four cards on top, four on the bottom, and then only one river card is dealt and it's used with both boards. There's just one high hand and one low hand overall, and you must play each board individually without combining cards. So here's an example and I won't use suits to keep it simpler:

Your hand: A-3-Q-Q-J
Top Board: 2-4-7-9
Bottom Board: Q-5-9-4
Community River: 4

You've made the nut low (A3 makes a wheel on the top board and there's no low on the bottom board to compete with it) and you've made the nut high, your queens full on the bottom can't be beat on either board. Now, there's just one overall high and one overall low, so you would scoop. If someone had the case nines in their hand they'd have a boat on both boards but neither is strong enough to beat your boat, so you win the lone high. Still confused? Sorry. Maybe we'll do a show on it someday.

So here's the first hand:

I have K♣ K♥ J♥ 10♠ 9♦. It's not a fantastic hand in that I can't scoop if there's a low, and in Juarez there's almost always a low because there are two boards. But I was in a blind and got to see the flops for free. The bottom board was inconsequential but did make a low. The top board came K-4-8 rainbow (or something similar). I flopped top set, and like I said the other board didn't have a pair or an ace so I had the nut high at the moment. I bet and I got a few callers. The turn was another 8 on my board so now I have the nut boat. I bet and again got like two callers. The community river card was an 8 as well. I made a mistake here and bet out. I got raised and then there was a call. So I knew someone had the nut low, but I was hoping the raiser had the low as he's apt to bet out when he has the nut low in split games. So I just called and said: "You have the 8?" And of course he did. One-outer. Cost me a bundle. I didn't know his other cards, so it's hard for me to criticize, but I hope he had something like a wrap or a low draw on the other board to stick around to catch the 700-1 shot to beat my high. I think I said "Sick!" at that point, which made everyone chuckle again. But I was cool because I was about even at that point and knew if I continued playing my game I'd be a winner by the end of the session.

One rotation later this hand came up, and again it's still Juarez:

I'm dealt A♣ 2♣ A♦ K♦ 3♥ on the button. This is a MONSTER hand in Juarez. I have two nut-flushes covered plus the nut low and a backup in case I'm counterfeited. So a few players limped and I raised. Why did I raise? Well, Scott mentioned it on Friday's show: You raise to thin the field or to build a pot. I did it to accomplish both of these tasks, and it worked. I got the blinds to fold and the limpers called. Then I got dream flops, and I may not have the exact cards right but it won't matter: 4♣ 7♣ 10♥ came on one board and I flopped a set of aces on the other board. That board never paired, however. Anyway, it got checked to me so I bet and got called in a couple of spots. The turn was the 5♣ giving me the nut low-flush-high hand on both boards and a chance at a steel wheel (A-5 straight flush). I can't remember if someone bet out or if it got checked to me again but the betting was heavy. The river was a blank so I had both nuts, or so it seemed. I said "I got the nut low and the nut high flush, both on this board." I thought I was scooping a huge pot and that's when Steve said "You have the nut flush? I have the nut flush." And he turned over the 6♣ 8♣. It could've been some other combination but he made a straight flush to beat my ace-high flush. I took the low and split it. Another one-outer cost me again essentially because if any other club comes I have the nuts, but that one club cost me half the pot. My set of aces on the other board likely would've been good for high even if no club came.

This beat was easier to take because (1) I still won half the pot, unlike the other hand and (2) I was just grateful it wasn't NLHE. But these two hands were brutal and could've set me off completely. Instead I just stayed the course and continued to play good poker. Ultimately I won $60 on the session, which isn't too bad considering my start and those brutal beats. There were some other beats and second-best hands that cost me pots as well (plus I had AA in the BB once when it got folded around to the SB and we were on automatic-chop mode all day) so it could've been an incredible session, but I'll take it regardless.

This is the type of session I'm most proud of because of a few reasons: In the old days I would've just donked off my whole stack and left. Or, I might've re-bought and continued to spiral down to an inevitable losing session. But I was able to vent, make the guys laugh, have fun and still turn a negative start into a positive session, and all of this while suffering some pretty horrendous beats.

I may not be a pro, but at least I'm still getting better.

Are there any sessions you're proud of? How did you do over the weekend?

-- Chris

Episode #144: Tax expert Russ Fox

MAIN TOPIC

Russ Fox, an enrolled agent for Clayton Financial and Tax in Irvine, Calif, and a poker author, calls in to offer us tips on how to handle our winnings and losses on our income tax returns. For more answers, check out his blog, and he also welcomes e-mails - though hr reminds you that this is his busy season. He's the author of three poker books, including his latest called Winning Strategies for No-Limit Hold'em, which deals with deep stack cash game play. Click here to listen to the show. (And our IT folks continue to work on the iTunes feed).

OTHER TOPICS

Help the animals: Jennifer Harman is hosting a charity tournament on Full Tilt at 9 p.m. Eastern this Sunday. The $5+$5 no-limit hold'em tournament benefits the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. A long list of Full Tilt pros and celebrities will be playing. The tournament is listed under the tournament tab and called "Animal Lovers."

Poker on TV ... and around the world: Chris continues his bed-ridden assault on The Best Damn Poker Show, and reminds us that the World Poker Tour debuts on GSN this month. Also, check out Ante Up celebrity Lee Childs in a new ad for the WPT Boot Camp, coming to magazines near you soon. PokerStars in May launches the Latin American Poker Tour, and the India Poker Tour gets under way, too. And there's more grumbling in Europe about the U.S. stance on online gambling.

Hotline: Blazman calls in with his own unique look at playing A-J, and John from Dallas wants us to delve deeper into how to avoid being quartered - or worse - in Omaha 8. We offer tips from Super System 2 and Winning Omaha 8 Poker. Both are good books that should be on the shelves of every Omaha 8 player.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: The Seminole Tribe of Florida has announced when the new Class III games will make it to Tampa. Slots will be here this summer, with card games (blackjack, baccarat and pai gow) coming in the fall. The tribe is hiring more than 3,000 dealers. Want a job? Click here.

HAND OF THE WEEK

James from OZ offers us a hand from a $.05/$.10 no-limit ring game on Full Tilt.

UTG, he's dealt Js-Jd and raises to 35 cents. He gets one caller.

The flop: 2c-10s-5c.

He bets out 90 cents and gets a quick call.

The turn: 8c.

He bets $1, and is immediately raised all-in to $7.50.

James decides to fight another day and folds.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

Steve Heston, one of the authors of the new poker strategy book Kill Everyone, tells us about the book.

- SCOTT

Episode #143: Martha Frankel, author of Hats & Eyeglasses

MAIN TOPIC

Writer Martha Frankel joins us to discuss her new book, Hats and Eyeglasses: A Family Love Affair With Gambling. Martha comes from a New York family in which card games were a big part of growing up. She learned a lot from watching her father and his pals, and later from a cousin and a Wednesday night game with the "guys." After putting her poker skills to work in the card rooms of Atlantic City and L.A. to make some serious money, the Internet came along and the wheels came off. Martha explains her addiction to online poker and how she kicked it but still plays live for enjoyment. And she's a big 7-card stud fan, so that makes her a champ in our book. Click here to listen to the show (we're trying to resolve a problem with the RSS feed and iTunes).

OTHER TOPICS

The Invalid: Cosenza calls in from his sickbed, giving a rare dramatic reading. Plus, he's angry about something. Is anyone surprised? And he helps me evaluate a couple of NL hands that I played passively, i.e., poorly.

Call for Interns: Card Player is accepting applications for reporter-interns at the WSOP. Deadline is March 15. Info is here.

Full Tilt: A clarification from Scott, but please don't ask him to say "clarification."

Really Big Shews: Send questions on taxes and SNG strategy to poker@tampabay.com. We've got some experts coming up: tax guy Russ Fox for Show #144 and Steve Heston, author of the latest Kill Phil book, for Show #145.

Hotline: We claim another convert to the Church of Razz.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Thanks to Nordic and Blaz for submitting a new theme for this segment. Sharp! On the local tournament scene, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has a $600,000 Poker Extravaganza scheduled for April 25-27, with a $1,000+$100 buy-in and lots of satellites. There's a link to their poker calendar here. And friend of Ante Up! Sam Minutello is running his Pros vs. Joes II tournament this weekend, with the likes of the Jetts, The Grinder and Chris Bell. One-Eyed Jacks has a Web site here.

One-Minute Mystery: Columbo decides his Royal Flush draw is good enough to shove with, and his opponent slinks away like a little lamb.

HAND OF THE WEEK

What is worse than getting quartered in Omaha 8? Getting "16.66 percented." Our friend Aquaman knows. He plays Ad 2h 2c Th in a low-limit ring game, flops a flush, makes a nut low, and still ends up underwater. The moral? That hand isn't all that.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

Tax expert Russ Fox.

MIKE

Episode #142: Heads Up With Michael Craig

MAIN TOPIC

Full Tilt "red pro" Michael Craig joins us from Las Vegas to assess the field for NBC's National Heads-Up Poker Championship, which begins today. Michael will be covering the tournament on his excellent blog. He named a guy I've never heard of as a possible winner. Where is Chris when I need him? Chris would have heard of this guy! Craig also has some tips for playing limit heads up and recounts his very good day on Full Tilt this week. How good? Let's just say he puts my cash in Full Tilt's $26 token frenzy to shame. Click here to listen to the show.

OTHER TOPICS

Chris: Who? Oh yeah, him. The painkillers are working, and he's still got a few one-liners left in his trembling frame. Seriously, he's doing fine, resting at home, and we miss him. Kind of.

Daytona: Scott and another one of his gearhead adventures. But with a poker ending.

Full Tilt:  Uncle Tilty has made it easier for Scott to replenish his account. Either that, or they were going to have to start offering 23-cent sit-n-gos. Plus some other good changes at our favorite, totally random, poker site.

21: Mark your calendars for March 23, opening day for a movie about the MIT blackjack card counters that looks pretty good.

Hot Line: We have a call from a listener with a good technical suggestion involving PSP and RSS and some other stuff. Most of you will understand it. Scott, however ... He actually said this before today's show while staring at a laptop: "Where's the 'on' button?"

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Scott tries a NL O8B tournament, and a knucklehead tries my patience.

HAND OF THE WEEK

I am weak-tight, so I don't even play Ac8s in middle position, but fearless JLBSox raises it up at the final table of the AIPS Main Event and gets called by the button (Zerkaboid). The flop is 2h 5h 3d and our hero's continuation bet is met with a min-raise. Me, I'm done, but JLB thinks his opponent has nothing and calls. Turn is 2s and JLB bets big. Zerk raises all-in, putting in his last 965 chips, and JLB says, "I figure I'm crushed when he moves in." Turns out Zerk has Ah6h. River comes 9d and our hero wins a 76K pot with deuces, A-8 kicker. These guys are good.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

We interview Martha Frankel, author of Hats and Eyeglasses, a memoir on gambling addiction. And change the keys to the studio so Chris can't get in.

- MIKE

Full Tilt photo

Episode #141: Poker Moment of Truth

Fox

MAIN TOPIC

Fox's newest game show, The Moment of Truth, inspired us to dig deep into our poker souls and expose our darkest card-playing secrets - while trying to bluff each other. Fasso is the host for this revealing look. Click here to listen to the show.

OTHER TOPICS

He flopped quads! Fasso, famous for saying he's never flopped quads IN HIS LIFE, does so not once, but twice in one week. And neither time was online, you conspiracy theorists!

AIPS recap: Well, not so much, since we had to tape in advance of the big event. But if you're reading this post, then you know who won because you read the previous post, right?

Scott's Rant o' the Week: Folks, wash your hands when you're in a dirty poker room. Your mom never showed you how? This Times file photo gives you a clue. (You'll also be happy to learn that most restrooms stock free soap.)

Annette, we want you ... to be on our show. But it hasn't been easy to book the European teen phenom Annette Obrestad.

SpadeClub launches: CardPlayer gets into the monthly membership poker site business. Just imagine the competition we'll have if the federal government decides to regulate online poker.

Hotline: SickBrain submits some musical possibilities, and Chicago Jason has some fun with Fasso and a former guest.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Scott says the small difference between a $2/$4 Omaha 8 game and a $3/$5 Omaha 8 game can be significant here in Tampa Bay, Land of Everyone to the Flop.

One Minute Mystery: We decide to fold, and are relieved when our opponent turns over his pocket rockets. Dodged that one.

HAND OF THE WEEK

Ross from Indiana is fond of Stud 8, but is working on his Stud game in order to round out his HORSE abilities (you're a winner already, Ross). He submits this stud hand for our analysis:

He starts out rolled up with Queens, with two Aces on board. He slow plays on 3rd Street, and doesn't need to get frisky as it's completed, raised and reraised by other players.

On 4th Street, he continues the ruse, just calling the single bet.

On 5th Street, danger lurks its ugly head. A pair of 9s with an Ace bets out, and our hero raises. A player with three to a flush sticks around, and we're reraised and then cap it.

On 6th Street, our hero boats up, and he drives the action. He's raised by the now-fourth diamond, and reraised by the 9s, and Ross caps it.

On 7th, Ross quads his queens, raises and caps it after it's reraised.

And then heartbreak: He loses to a steel wheel.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

TBD.

- SCOTT

Episode #140: Poker Night Food

Times photo

MAIN TOPIC

Times food editor Janet Keeler joins us to offer some tips on how we can bag those stale old chips and bland pretzels at our home poker games and feature tastier fare for the fish who swim in our pond. Click here to listen to the show.

Some highlights: Nothing wet or sticky (think finger sandwiches), stuff that can be eaten in a bite or two, a good variety (not just junk food), salt slows you down (not good for marathon games) and bring out the grub in stages (great for marathon games). Ante Upper David (aces88ss) offers this tip: players in his game must give $10 to the host, who's responsible for putting out a killer spread (think ribs, salmon, smoked turkey, deer, pheasant - even heart of bear!).

Two recipes from Janet's kitchen:

Smoky Bacon Wraps
1 pound sliced bacon
1 (16 ounce) package miniature smoked sausage links
1 cup packed brown sugar

Cut each bacon strip in half widthwise. Wrap one piece of bacon around each sausage.

Place in a foil-lined 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until bacon is crisp and sausage is heated through.

Source. www.allrecipes.com

Fumbo (Faux-Gumbo)2-3 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 cups cooked chicken , cut into bite-sized pieces
1-2 cup cooked white rice
1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes

6 cups chicken broth
1 green pepper , diced
1 red pepper , diced
1 medium onion , diced
3 garlic cloves , minced
2 stalks celery , diced
1 potato , diced (yukon gold or red)
to taste cayenne pepper
to taste salt & pepper , to taste
1 tablespoon sugar

Saute onion, peppers and celery for 3 minutes.  Add garlic and sautee 1 more minute.  Pour in diced tomatoes, chicken broth and potatoes. Stir, bring to a low boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 30 minutes.

Add chicken, rice, cayenne pepper (the amount you use depends on your family's tolerance for spicy food - I usually give about 4 dashes), salt & pepper and sugar.  Let cook for another 20-30 minutes to bring flavors together.

Serves 6.

OTHER TOPICS

O.J.'s poker game delayed: The Naked Gun star was supposed to host a poker game on a January night ... until he was hauled off to Vegas by a former bailbondsman. Here's the Associated Press image from Jail, the TV show that reported it.

Best damn ... Poker Show on TV? That's what this Phill Hellmuth vs. Annie Duke reality poker show claims to be. Chris isn't buying it, Scott isn't watching it.

Big money in membership sites: PurePlay is offering a $10,000 tournament.

AIPS reminder: It's Thursday night on FullTilt. Click here for details.

Hotline: We get a call from Middle America about how much luck is involved in poker. Short term? Lots. Long term? Not so much.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Poker room receipts are were up 54 percent in December. The new stakes are attracting players!

HAND OF THE WEEK
Russ (Vindice) submits a hand from a recent No-Limit Hold'em CHIMPS event.

Stakes are 200/400 with a 50 ante.

UTG calls, and Russ calls with Kd-Qc. Two callers, plus the BB, so five to the flop.

The flop: Js-Jh-Ks.

It's checked around to our hero, who bets 1200. Folded around to the UTG, who calls.

The turn: 7d.

Checked around.

The river: 2c.

UTG bets 3000, our hero pushes for 4709 and loses to a boat (pocket Kings).

Our advice: The two Jacks on the flop were scary, and there wasn't a reason to push the final 1709 in on the end.

Better luck next time Russ. Send us your address for some swag.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

It's a good one: Fasso joins us to moderate our own version of The Moment of Truth. The show has already been taped, in anticipation of Chris' surgery. He'll be out for up to a month. Fasso will fill in, and wish our good buddy a speedy recovery.

- SCOTT

Episode #139: Sen. Alfonse D'Amato of the PPA

MAIN TOPIC

Former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato joins us to chat one year after taking over at his new gig: chairman of the Poker Players Alliance, a grass-roots lobbying group that works to promote poker-friendly legislation.

We asked the senator about the PPA's agenda, how the federal government really works, poker sentiment at the federal level, the presidential candidates, 2+2 Forum's criticism of the PPA and much more. Click here to listen to the show.

Associated Press

OTHER TOPICS

Mourn the passing of ... Chris' blue and green shirt, that pretty much was his Ante Up! uniform, his work uniform, and - rumors say - his wedding tuxedo. He's been hitting the potato chips hard lately, went to reach for a Pizza-flavored Pringle and split the shirt. The best part? Someone stole it out of this trash can. (Was it Blazman?) Some people are really sick. And so is the person who stole the shirt (unless it WAS Blazman. He's cool).

Home game report: When you get as old as we are, strange things happen when you decide to have a home game that stretches past midnight on a school night. How much does it hurt when you misread your hand? Ugh. Kids, when you get tired, just walk away. Chris did a new chip trick: He made his shirt disappear.

Stimulate the poker economy: Congress is sending us each $600 - even more if you have ankle-biters around the house. Are you spending your rebate on poker? Yeah, we know you are. Maybe Chris' BFF Freddy Deeb will buy Chris a new shirt.

Macau gets hold'em: The craze finally makes it to the Chinese gambling mecca in a live-game form. Four tables are planned initially. Might want to get your name on the wait list ASAP.

Brunson blogs: I highly recommend taking at look at Doyle Brunson's blog. It's a bittersweet mix of personal torment and great poker stories.

Hotline: The FullTilt RCG gives us another ring. You just have to feel bad for it.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: The Hard Rock is introducing NASCAR collector chips and is advertising a $77,777 bad beat jackpot for hold'em ($7,777 for cool kids like us who prefer Omaha or stud). Over at The Silks at Tampa Bay Downs, compete in the Tampa Bay Poker Challenge for your share of $100,000 in cash. Plus, new non-hold'em tournaments once a month and tableside massages!

One Minute Mystery: We decide to slow down on the scary turn, and then check down the river which proves to be a mistake. Our opponent takes the pot with 9-9. Next week's mystery? Did Amarillo Slim Dumpster Dive for Chris' shirt?

HAND OF THE WEEK

We pick apart a no-limit hold'em cash game hand that Chris previously posted on this blog - a post that drew more than 60 comments. (You guys really should quit indulging him). Turns out, Chris gets felted by 9d-6d - a most unlikely holding. While there's probably not a lot Chris could have done to avoid his fate, I said I would have checked the flop with the intention to check-raise. Same result, different path.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

Fasso returns to moderate our own version of