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

Episode #156: AJ Benza

MAIN TOPIC
AJ Benza calls us all the way from Hollywood as he waits for the unlikely news that GSN will pick up High Stakes Poker, the hugely popular show he co-hosts with Gabe Kaplan, for another season. We talk cards, and he dishes on celebrities, pasta and The Godfather. Click here to listen to the episode.

OTHER TOPICS

World Series: The WSOP has begun. Attendance is breaking records, and pros are faring well. We'll update the blog after each event when the WSOP certifies the results as official.

UB scandal: Many of you asked us to address the latest scandal at Ultimate Bet. We do, but caution again: online poker is the wild, wild West.

PPA ups the ante: The Poker Players Alliance wants to turn its free members into dues-paying members by offering perks for those who do.

Deadbeat dads: If you're a parent who's walked on out child support, shame on you. But if you have no shame, you might want to avoid casinos in Colorado and West Virginia. Those states will look for you there.

Hotline: We have a little fun with Mike from New Jersey, who finds out how hard it is to analyze a hand on the fly.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Derby Lane is sending four players to the WSOP. Good luck to them, and all the other bay area players who have or will qualify in local card rooms.

HAND OF THE WEEK
Adam from Dedham, Mass., gives us an excuse to revisit strategy for FullTilt's cheap Knockout tournaments, where you get money for each person you felt. He calls a raise with As-10s, and the flops a royal flush draw. Try to take it down quickly? Or wait to hit your hand, figuring that early in a tournament like this you'll get paid off? He chooses the latter and is put to the test when he doesn't improve on the turn but two players move all-in. He calls, hits and goes on to cash - picking up bounties along the way.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW
Chris is on the road, and unlike Scott who goes to wild and exotic and different locations on each vacation, he's going back to Connecticut yet again. Let's hope he has time to make it over to Foxwoods and even Mohegan Sun.

- SCOTT

We have a new hero

Photo courtesy of WPT

Not sure how this got by me when I was up there, but this is Rich Meli, and clearly he has his priorities in order. What's more important to him ... winning the Foxwoods tournament or winning a banana? This man knows the importance of the yellow fruit! If you don't know who Rich Meli is, don't worry, neither do I. But he has one WPT cash for $27K (19th @ Foxwoods). I remember watching him play but I didn't know who he was. I came across this shot while scanning through WPT photos. I think I'll try to get him to play in the next AIPS event.

-- Chris

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

ZeeJustin on Show 153

The once-controversial (but always talented) poker player Justin "ZeeJustin" Bonomo will be on Ante Up! for Episode 153. The 22-year-old pro just signed with Team Bodog and we'll be sure to ask him all about it. But what would you like to know? You may think he's all about NLHE, but he was the youngest player left standing in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event at the 2007 World Series of Poker so he'll fit right in with the Ante Up! Nation. Please post your questions here, and time permitting we will do our best to ask them.

-- Chris

Photo courtesy of Bodog

A Little error in judgement

This happened a while back, but I haven't had a chance to post about it. Jonathan "Fiery Justice" Little, who had only just signed with Full Tilt Poker a few months back, was recently fired by the online gambling site. He was a FTP-sponsored pro (you may be seeing him during the ongoing NBC National Heads Up Poker Championships coverage) and he's a WPT champ (and POY). But this error in judgement proved costly. Full Tilt, which pays its Red Players to play on its site (plus sponsors them in tournaments, etc.), axed the young star because he was letting other players use his account. This was a violation of Full Tilt's contract (here is a link to a statement). Jonathan apologized on his blog. Now he can't play on Full Tilt and he basically threw away thousands and thousands of dollars that would have been a huge lift off his shoulders. There are thousands of players (and pros) who would give their right arm to never have to worry about tournament entry fees and getting paid to play. 

But now I ask you, should he have been fired? There are reports of other pros "getting caught" doing this but no such action has taken place. Does this fall under the gray area of "What happens on the Internet stays on the Internet," such as Joint Sessions and Poker Tracker? Or was this really unethical? I'd love to read your thoughts on this. I'm not sure how I feel about it just yet.

-- Chris   

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

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

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 #148: Delay the WSOP Final Table?

MAIN TOPIC

It's just a rumor, but hey, that's what rumors are for - to debate endlessly. Chris and I take a point-counterpoint approach to whether Harrah's should consider delaying the final table of the World Series of Poker's Main Event for 90 days. I chose the right side, and Chris chose "in favor." And the only Ante Upper to play in a WSOP Main Event Final Table, Lee Childs, calls in with his opinion. Click here to hear the show.

OTHER TOPICS

New host for Poker After Dark: It's LeeAnn Tweeden, who also hosts NBC's National Heads-Up Championship, which begins airing this weekend.

CardPlayer tidbits: Take a tour of Phil Hellmuth's house (he has heated floors in his office!), get a glimpse of Larry Flynt's high-limit stud game at the Hustler Casino and tipping is back in the news.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: One-Eyed Jack's is holding new Friday night WSOP qualifiers, and the Top Jack at OEJ's, Sam Minutello, is once again running the charity tournament at the Playboy Mansion.

One Minute Mystery: Columbo is taking a well-deserved break and will return soon.

HAND OF THE WEEK

Jerry (loser64) offers up a $1/$3 no-limit hold'em cash game hand from Sam's Town in Tunica, Miss.

The under-the-gun player is a retired local with $250, and the small blind is a maniac with $180. Jerry is in mid to late position with $95.

UTG makes it $9 to go, and Jerry and the SB call.

The flop: 2d-2s-3h

SB bets out $10, UTG and Jerry call.

The turn: 9h

SB bets out $10 again, UTG raises to $35, Jerry and the SB call.

The river: Kc

SB bets $35, UTG raises to $70 and Jerry calls. SB folds, saying he had 7-7.

UTG turns over 3-3 for a flopped boat.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

Scott calls in live from Las Vegas!

- SCOTT

Wasicka at it again?

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Remember when we had the discussion about Paul Wasicka's Bluff article on Joint Sessions? Well, he's written about another controversial topic that I have to bring up here. Poker players are very sneaky by nature, but sometimes their sneakiness can be misconstrued as angle-shooting. Paul discusses his play on his blog here. Basically he "calls" a raise from a loose UTG raiser. But wait!!! What's this?!?!?! He has mistakenly put out a few too many chips, and it constitutes a min-raise! This tricks our UTG raiser who can now re-reraise. Paul, meanwhile, had AK, so was it unintentional? Hmmm, yes it was. Alas, the Poker Karma Gods rained their fury down on him for not counting correctly and the raiser had AA, who promptly called his all-in. Paul says this was an honest mistake, and I believe him. But it does raise questions. A lot of people saw a chip leader at last year's WSOP Main Event do the same thing, but intentionally, and he nearly got all of another guy's chips with the move. Wasicka says on his blog that he is adding this "misclick" to his repertoire. 

Is this ethical? And for that matter, are there ethics in poker?

-- Chris

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

Gustav and the ladies

Photo courtesy of NBC

Just how did NBC come up with this lineup? Five women and Gus? What are they trying to say? Poker After Dark has another new episode this week and it features, from left: Vanessa Rousso, J.J. Liu, (host Marienella), Gus Hansen, Clonie Gowen, Beth Shak and Erica Schoenberg.

Here are some interesting facts you may not know about these players:
Vanessa Rousso: "Lady Maverick" holds dual citizenship in the United States and France and speaks three languages.
J.J. Liu: She has $1.7-million in tournament winnings and narrowly missed winning the 2007 WPT Bay 101 tournament, finishing second to Ted Forrest.
Gus Hansen: While on his way to winning last year's Aussie Millions, Gustav recorded every hand and thought process into a recorder and will be coming out with a book detailing the tournament win. It's called Every Hand Revealed, and it's due out this year.
Clonie Gowen: Her real name is Cycalona and she's involved with chapters of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and United Cerebral Palsy.
Beth Shak: She's a mother of five kids ranging from 11-20 years old, and her husband is poker pro Dan Shak, who was bested by one of our loyal listeners, John Silva, during the 2007 WSOP Shootout event.
Erica Schoenberg: She's engaged to French poker pro David Benyamine and once studied with members of the MIT Blackjack team, earning most of her money as a blackjack player before focusing on poker.

Other poker on TV:
The second stop for the WPT, The Bellagio Cup, airs tonight at 9 ET on GSN. It's the first part of a two-parter so don't expect to see the winner. This table features Mike "The Mouth" Matusow among a couple of other well-known Internet stars.

Also, has anyone else been watching the Aussie Millions Cash Game Invitational on FSN? In the show's second week (last Saturday) Tony G flopped a royal flush and won the minimum. Just sick. He held K♦J♦ and, of course, the board came A♦Q♦10♦. But what blew ANY chance of him making a dime was the turn card was the 9♦!!!! John Juanda rivered a set of queens but HAD to lay it down. Tony G made a 6-card Royal Flush!!

Anyway, it airs Saturday nights at 11 ET. It's been entertaining so far with Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, Eli Elezra and Patrik Antonius. I truly appreciate cash game poker a lot more than tournament poker. Last week's heads-up finale on PAD was SO boring I nearly fell asleep, but if they were playing for real cash I would've been riveted. And it certainly didn't live up to its "Jam Up" title.

-- Chris

Episode #145: Kill Everyone author Steven Heston

MAIN TOPIC

Steven Heston (Kim Lee), co-author of the latest Kill Phil book Kill Everyone, joins us to talk about how applying equilibrium thinking can improve your tournament game, especially on the bubble. Click here to listen to the show.

OTHER TOPICS

Go to school: If you have $850 burning a hole in your fanny pack, check out the U.S. Poker Tour's first "Q-School" at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas May 11-16.

Go shopping: Chris used his time off to clean up the Ante Up! Store. Buy something.

Go to the movies: The Grand debuts this weekend, and 21 is in wide release.

Go get a life: Chris whines yet again about The Best Damn Poker Show.

Red Sox gambling: Jonathan Papelbon cleaned up playing cards on the team's flight to Japan.

Will the madness stop? Once again, the heavy hand of the law (or risk management) has denied a worthy charity of money that would have been raised in a poker tournament. The victim this time? Nourish International, a charity that would have benefited from a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tournament that the college's lawyers advised shutting down. Boo. Click here for CardPlayer's story.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Derby Lane offers a ladies tournament, and Tampa Bay Downs, Tampa Greyhound Track and Sarasota Kennel Club are doing World Series of Poker qualifiers.

One Minute Mystery: Columbo decides to swing his big stack around, pushes all-in, runs into Kings, but spikes a Queen on the river.

HAND OF THE WEEK

Chris has had plenty of time to play poker during his recuperation, so he offers up a no-limit hand that's the root of the latest in a looooooooooooooooong line of recent epiphanies for him.

In a $1/$2 no-limit cash game on FullTilt, he's dealt As-9s on the button. With one limper, he raises 4x and gets heads-up.

The flop: 9h-4s-5s.

It's checked to Chris, who bets $10, which is called.

The turn: 2d.

His opponent bets out $7, and Chris, sensing weakness, raises to $30. His opponent then shoves, which would put Chris all-in. Trusting his read, and considering his outs if he was wrong, Chris makes the call.

His opponent had flopped a set of 5s, the spade doesn't get there, and Chris goes broke.

The epiphany? He needs to stop making these borderline calls. He wasn't even getting 2-to-1 on his money.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

Omaha.

- SCOTT

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 The Moment of Truth, Fox's new game show where it pays to tell the truth. Who can outbluff the other more - Chris or me? E-mail your suggested questions to Mike.

And on Episode #140, we'll welcome Times food editor Janet Keeler to the show to suggest some better food than those stale chips and pretzels that all of us serve at our home games. E-mail your suggested questions to us.

- SCOTT

Episode #138: Mailbag!

MAIN TOPIC

Yes, we know we promised Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, but the new chairman of the Poker Players Alliance had to postpone again, this time to stump for Sen. John McCain. We're reskedded for next week. (So keep those questions coming!)

So we present our latest installment of everyone's favorite ace in the hole: Mailbag!

Click here to listen to the show, where you'll hear our answers to questions that delve into adjusting to table changes, restealing, mixed games at home, the differences between tournament play and live play, online etiquette, tournament satellites, variance, the Chimps series, bingo and much, much more.

OTHER TOPICS

Windy City: I recap my fab time in Chicago, and we share some clips from the Ante Up! MeetUp, courtesy of Chicago Mike. Thanks Mike!

Pot odds: Raise your hand if you're surprised that we had an error or two on last week's attempt at pot odds redemption? We try to set the record straight.

It's all about timing: I endured a run of bad timing last night at Derby Lane, but the only timing that counts is the last.

QuickDraw freerolls: Doyle's Room is offering these new tournaments. They're freerolls, but you can rebuy for a juiceless $1. Scott's intrigued, Chris is yawning.

WPT news: The World Poker Tour is now offering