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I just got an email from AJ Benza and he said he just got word that High Stakes Poker will be back for another season!!
I don't have any of the details and since I'm on vacation I won't be digging for any, but the good news is the Ante Up Nation came through for the best show on television! Ante Up . . . ain't it a bitch!
-- Chris
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
One of our listeners, Michael Weber, is a producer for Channel 10 news and recently visited our studios and produced a news segment on us. It just ran on the news, but here is a link so you can check it out.
-- Chris
Photo courtesy of NBC
Last night I watched the first episode of Analysts Week on Poker After Dark and I have to admit it wasn't easy. These guys were all talking up a storm, which is fine because that's really what the producers want. But one end of the table would talk about one story and the other end of the table would talk about another one. I'd start listening to one story and then the mikes would get turned up on the other end of the table and I'd lose track of the first story. And even the players were getting ticked off at Ali Nejad. He took like three minutes to act whenever he had a hand, and it was mostly because he was TALKING!
But nothing was worse than when Chad Brown was trying to tell a story of a prop bet with Mike "The Mouth" Matusow and he couldn't finish his story because Robert Williamson wouldn't shut up. Williamson kept talking and saying he knew what the prop bet was and that he had heard it already. WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY? I sat there and paused the TiVo and SCREAMED at the television for RWIII to SHUT UP!!! And wouldn't you know it, when he finally let Chad tell the story the damn episode ended and he never finished!!
I didn't tune in after 2 a.m. this morning to see if they actually let the rest of the story be broadcast or if it ended up on the cutting room floor. I couldn't find the episode online yet, so I'll have to wait till I get home. But if that story isn't completed I'll be ticked off ... almost as mad as I am at David Goldhill of GSN!!!
Regardless if I get to hear the rest of the story, I can't decide if this was a brilliant piece of editing or just a terrible mistake. If I wasn't such a die-hard fan of poker I might be discouraged enough to say "Screw this show!" and not watch it. It was a very frustrating episode.
UPDATE: OK, so I had a chance to watch the second show and they returned to Chad Brown's story about his prop bet with Matusow, and they even made a point of having the substitute announcer (a job I COVET) say "And now Chad Brown continues telling his prop bet story." So, my final verdict is this editing job was both brilliant and horrible. Brilliant because it got me to write about it today (and I'll likely talk about it on the show) but horrible because of how ticked off it made me and obviously others since people posted here with the same feelings. In the end it was a good move for PAD because any publicity is good publicity and I fell for it. Oh, and by the way, the story was a HUGE letdown.-- Chris
To: David Goldhill, new CEO of Game Show Network
Dear Mr. Goldhill,
My name is Christopher Cosenza and I represent a very powerful group: the Ante Up! Nation. I'm writing this letter to help you understand the importance of High Stakes Poker on Game Show Network. True, poker isn't a game show, and so under that argument you win, but it is a game ... of skill. Of course I'd argue Love Connection isn't exactly a game show either, but I digress.
Word is you may dislike having HSP on your network because it's "gambling." Well, I'm here to tell you poker is less like gambling than nearly every show on your schedule. Let's take Press Your Luck for instance. Aside from some mindless trivia to earn a spin, those contestants are merely playing an oversized antiquated slot machine. There's no skill involved. Sure, they may have a strategy when deciding to pass or press, but let's be fair: There's no skill in Press Your Luck. In fact, I would venture to say 95 percent of all of your shows are based on chance and luck (hell, it's right there in the title!). And don't get me started on BINGO AMERICA!
Poker, on the other hand, is a test of skill, cunning and psychology. Sure, large sums of money are involved, but what game show doesn't have large sums of money these days? Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Again, it's right there in the title. And if we're being completely honest, your job is to secure ratings and revenue, is it not? Name ONE other non-poker show where contestants put up THEIR OWN MONEY? You can't. Sure, the poker players get paid a nominal fee to be on your show, but that merely adds up to one big blind for these talented indivuduals. And, your overhead must be extremely small on a show like this: The set is all but provided by the casino, the cameras are at most a handful and the salaries of the hosts are minimal. Sure, there's a crew and production, but what show doesn't have that? It's part of running a network.
On behalf of the Ante Up! Nation and all TV poker fans out there, I'm asking you to please pick up the phone and call Mori Eskandani and order another season of High Stakes Poker.
-- Chris Cosenza, Ante Up! co-host and High Stakes Poker fan
I awoke this morning to news that High Stakes Poker on GSN may be in trouble. Numerous sites are reporting the HSP folks haven't filmed a new season yet and there doesn't seem to be plans to either. Pokerati.com quoted AJ Benza in its report as well, and AJ doesn't seem happy: "Far as Gabe and I know ... the show isn't coming back." Also CardPlayer talked with Mori Eskandani of POKER PROductions and he confirms that GSN hasn't ordered any new episodes yet. Here is the story.
Dennis Oehring at Poker PROductions emailed me today and here's what he said: "Many decisions about poker are currently being made by GSN, which is under new leadership since the departure of ex-CEO Rich Cronin. But I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that POKER PROductions has never been notified of the show being cancelled, despite what you may have read from the so-called pundits out there. I suspect we will know a lot more about the course of GSN's future programming after next Saturday (May 24), the deadline for them to decide whether to renew the WPT's contract for Season 7. Once we hear, I will be sure to let the poker community know."
If this news becomes official I'll be handing in my digital cable box ASAP! GSN is the only reason I got the box in the first place. For those of you who haven't listened to our latest show yet, I mentioned High Stakes while I talked to Justin Bonomo. Will HSN go the way of Courtney Friel, Sabina Gadecki and Shana Hiatt by joining the curse of Ante Up? For the first time I truly hope not.
Sad day for poker if this is true.
UPDATE: Mori has gotten back to me and he apparently read the blog because here's his response when I asked him if GSN cancelled his show: We have gotten no such a notice. Our relationship with GSN remains as strong as ever. We respect any decision that they make regarding poker in general and HSP in particular. Last time I spoke to them, the network was trying to figure out if poker can work/exists in the direction that they like to take their future programming. It is totally possible that we get a call tomorrow and receive an order for more seasons. NO ONE KNOWS. Please don't return your cable box just yet.
-- Chris
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
Last night I had a chance to finally watch Monday's WPT event on GSN. It was the Mandalay Bay tournament from the 2007 season and I decided to watch with Joe Navarro's eyes. Instead of watching for enjoyment or seeing what sick hands would be dealt, I focused on tells. It's not as simple as it may seem because the editing of the show takes away from seeing their reactions when they see the flop, etc. I picked up a few, but there was one very clear tell displayed when the tournament got heads up, and I truly believe it was the difference between winning and losing.
Jared "TheWacoKidd" Hamby, pictured, was about even in chips with Shawn Buchanan when the following hand came up: Hamby had something like A-10 (yes, I know, the Cosenza) and raised preflop. Buchanan called with 33. The flop came somewhat ragged, but I think a queen was in there. Here's where it gets interesting: Hamby, an online pro with a lot of live success as well, bet out fairly quickly and Buchanan called. That's a tell in itself because he's trying to make Buchanan think his hand is so strong he doesn't even have to think to bet. Buchanan may have picked up on this, but that's not the tell I want to discuss. As soon as Buchanan called, Hamby stopped chewing his gum (something he did almost feverishly throughout the match) and when the turn paired Hamby fired out a huge bet. THEN he covered his mouth with the back of his hand. He NEVER did this throughout the whole broadcast. He looked so very nervous when he made that bet. Buchanan had to pick up on this classic tell because he called him all the way down and won with 33!!! This tell is often brought up by Mike Caro, especially in his Book of Tells. When someone is bluffing sometimes they cover their mouth in an effort to "stop the lie" from being told or to cover a smirk. Right after that HUGE hand he did it again later on when he had air. It was classic and something he should work on when he's under stress. He was visibly upset at that point, getting up and pacing and complaining to his horde in the audience that he couldn't believe he called the turn there. "I knew he was weak!" He said. Actually, Jared was the one who was weak, in the Tells Dept.
They both played very well and it was this little tell that probably made the difference between winning and losing. Kudos to Buchanan for picking up on it and cashing in on the title. But if you haven't read Caro's book you should. And of course pick up any of Navarro's books as well. And if you have ANY tells you've seen please list them here I'd love to read about them.
-- Chris
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
OK, after further investigation, CNBC will be airing NBC's National Heads Up Poker Championships' individual (and uninterrupted) episodes a week late. So if your NBC program is being pre-empted (like it is here in the Tampa Bay area) and you don't get to see the entire episode (or any at all for that matter), then tune in to CNBC the following Saturday and you'll catch the repeat. My TiVo wasn't picking up this selection because I had eliminated CNBC from my channel settings (I mean, who really watches this channel anyway, right?). After I reset the channel setting then the option for a season pass was revealed. My episodes are being broadcast twice on the ensuing Saturdays at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET. It may be a week late, but at least it's not clipped.
-- Chris
The people over at Poker After Dark have heard our cries and have responded. The 6-person, winner-take-all format has been successful, but as Scott and I had pointed out before, we would love to see them mix it up a bit. Now, they aren't playing mixed games (not yet anyway) but they are introducing two new formats for Season 4: Heads-Up play and CASH GAMES! Yep, Mori and the boys are taking a page from their GSN show High Stakes Poker and are going to have a $200-$400 NLHE cash game format for two of the Season 4 episodes. The 12 players participating will be Howard Lederer, Dee Tiller, Gabe Kaplan, Patrik Antonius, Doyle Brunson and Eli Elezra during one week, and Guy Laliberte, Phil Hellmuth, Tom Dwan, Allen Cunningham, Mike Baxter and Antonio Esfandiari in the other.
The Heads-Up double-elimination format will be for one week only and will pit the past four winners of NBC's National Heads-Up Championship. I won't spoil who won the most recent one, for those who don't know, but it will of course feature Phil Hellmuth, Ted Forrest and Paul Wasicka as three of the players.
Finally, as we've reported before, Leeann Tweeden will be the new host. Remember she was a highly successful model, a regular on FSN’s Best Damn Sports Show Period, a sideline reporter on FSN’s Mansion Poker Dome series and is currently hosting of the 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship.
The order of telecast for PAD’s fourth season is TBD, but the first match will air the week of July 14.
-- Chris
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
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
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
Well, it's not that Scott really needs saving, but maybe the World Poker Tour can lead my stubborn co-host back to watching TV poker. I think the WPT (and maybe it was GSN's idea) hit on something last night. Whether it be out of necessity or an attempt to mimic ESPN's coverage of the more important tournaments (WSOP Main Event, $50K H.O.R.S.E., U.S. Open), the WPT broadcast the Bellagio Cup III, but it was just the first of two parts (I mentioned this yesterday). I'd imagine the small blinds and large stacks made it practically impossible to edit this show down to two hours, and that's likely why the WPT cut the broadcast into a pair of two-hour episodes to be shown over two weeks. I think Mike Matusow summed up my feelings on this with one quote at the final table: "I love deep-stack poker!"
It was so nice to see flops and watch how these guys think. To actually see raises and reraises without there being a shove was pure gold. The WPT will do this one more time this season with the World Poker Finals. I hope this becomes the norm and not the exception.
What would it take for the Ante Uppers out there who gave up on watching TV poker to come back? I'm a glutton for punishment, but I know there are a lot of you out there itching to watch again.
-- Chris
P.S. Matusow had another classic line last night: "Poker, poker it's all fun, after an hour you'll want a gun."
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
After a little more than a month away from the office, it's great to finally be back blogging. My surgery went very well and my recovery is still progressing, but I am healthy enough to return to work, so here I am. I want to again thank everyone who sent me well-wishes, and to those of you who had fun at my expense with breast-implant jokes, etc., I won't forget it. Thanks to Mike Fasso for filling in for me and keeping the Ante Up! machine cranking along.
So, what better way to return to the blog than with a Poker on TV post? Tonight there will be a lot of new poker to take in, starting with the World Poker Tour making its debut on GSN at 9 p.m. ET. Phil Ivey makes his seventh WPT final table, but can he finally close the deal at the Mirage?
Also, Poker After Dark returns after a few weeks of reruns. It's being billed as "Jam-Up Week" because these players like to play loose and let the chips fly. I'm not so sure I agree with that after watching all of these guys play for years on television, but this week's tournament may change that. From left: David "Mr. Bling" Williams (who definitely jams it up), Howard "Mr. FTP" Lederer (who has NEVER been accused of throwing the chips around), Mike "The Mouth" Matusow (Sure, he blows up a lot, but he doesn't really jam it up THAT much), Barry "Bear" Greenstein (He's just superior and throws them around when he needs to), Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari (He mixes it up, but I wouldn't call him a Jam-Up player) and Eli "Queen-Deuce? Raise it up!" Elezra (Now HE likes to jam the pot!). I suppose these episodes may change how I feel if they play loose for large pots, but generally, these guys don't gamble it up THAT much. And something interesting happens early on that bumps the prize pool to a $140,000 winner-take-all match, so stay tuned.
Finally, I think the Best Damn Poker Show will wrap up tonight on FSN, but I could be wrong judging by the way they've dragged it out this far. At least I hope it ends tonight. It should run at the same time as the WPT at 9 so be sure to TiVo one and watch the other if you're interested.
-- Chris
Photo courtesy of NBC
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
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
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
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
After about a two-week hiatus Poker After Dark will be back on Monday with World Champions Week. Phil Hellmuth has been on fire this season, winning two PAD titles. Can Hellmuth, who won the WSOP Main Event in 1989 by beating Johnny Chan (denying him three straight with 99 on the final hand) make it three? Can Chan exact some small revenge and end Hellmuth's streak? Hellmuth and Chan (1987, 1988) will battle Chris “Jesus” Ferguson (2000), Berry Johnston (1986), Jamie Gold (2006) and Huck Seed (1996) in the winner-take-all match. These champions have accumulated 36 WSOP bracelets and won lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $41 million. Just in case some of you may not know who Berry Johnston is (are you kidding me?) here is a link to his Hendon Mob page. Man's got game people. Players shouldn't have to be NLHE tournament punks for you to know who they are.
-- Chris
Photo courtesy of NBC
MAIN TOPIC
You asked for it, we cried, but we gave it to you. We tried our best to improve upon our previous infamous "pot odds" show. How'd we do? Click here to listen to the show.
To calculate pot odds, first figure the ratio of the money you need to bet to the money that's in the pot. if there's $30 in the pot, and the bet is $3, that's 10-1. Next, figure out how many "outs" - cards that will help your hand - exist, and divide the number of unseen cards by that number. Let's say you've flopped four to the nut flush. Nine remaining cards complete your flush. There are 47 cards, divided by nine is 4.22-1.
Generally speaking, if the first number (10-1, in this case) is larger than the second number (4.22-1, here), then you call. If it's lower, you fold.
We also briefly touch on "implied odds," which is when you can factor in future bets you expect to win if your hand improves.
There are a gazillion good resources on the Web, but we suggest you find a pot odds chart and study it. Just having a basic idea of whether a call, or fold, is the right move will improve your game immensely.
OTHER TOPICS
Just shut up! No, not you. (Well, yes you if you're as whiny as the guy on Scott's left this week). Seriously folks, no one wants to hear bad beat stories or constant crying at the poker table. Grow up.
Chicago is our kind of town: Thanks again to the Chicago Poker Club for keeping us atop their podcast rankings, and come by the Billy Goat on Sunday to rib Scott for not always talking clearly into the mic.
Show!, no you show! No, you show! A playground confrontation between Phil Hellmuth and Jean-Robert Bellande took place on Poker After Dark this week, and listen in to get the real scoop on who was right from Sam Minutello.
Be Chris' social network friend! Chris has joined the new Poker Players Social Network, kinda like a Facebook or MySpace for poker players. It's pretty new, but is picking up steam quickly, all by word of mouth.
What's on your Poker Bucket List? Let us know.
Poker pitchmen on wheels: Online gambling site 888.com has joined up with cabbies in London to promote its site. When you climb into a cab, a cabbie might try to get you to talk about poker. If you do, then he might try to convince you to play on 888.com. Hey, what else are you going to do on the average 16-minute cab ride in London?!?
Hotline: Ross from Indiana calls, suggesting that we use our "card dead" periods to pay attention to action and try to steal in optimal situations. We agree.
One Minute Mystery: Columbo makes what he says is a reckless call, and it works out as his opponent was making a move with 2-2.
HAND OF THE WEEK
To demonstrate our proficiency in pot odds (pause for laughter), we break down a hand from the Ante Up! Home Game where Chris tiptoed on the border of correct odds to win a no-limit hold'em hand.
It's a six-handed table, with blinds of .50/1 and a 50-unit cap. UTG+1 raises to 3, and Chris calls on the but-ton with Ad-Kd, as does the SB.
The flop: 3s-8d-4d.
The SB checks, the original raiser bets 6. Chris figures he's getting 2.7-1 on his money, and his odds of improving are 3.1-1. He makes the borderline call, and the SB check-raises to 15. The original raiser folds, and now Chris is getting 4.1-1 to call, and his new odds are 5.875-1, since he has to assume some of his previous "outs" are no longer good with a player showing strength. That's not enough to call, but Chris reasons he has enough implied odds to make the call profitable.
The turn: 10c.
SB bets 12, which gives Chris 5.3-1 on his money. When considering the cap, Chris makes the call, hits his flush on the river and extracts a value bet out of the SB, who had 3-3.
NEXT WEEK'S SHOW
Former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, now chairman of the Poker Players Alliance, calls in to field our questions on what the PPA is up to these days and to give us an update on the legislative climate for poker. Have a question for the senator? Post it here.
- SCOTT
The list of invitees to the NBC National Heads Up Championship has reached 60 people. Some of the new invitees include Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), our good friends Tom Schneider, Bill Edler and Jean-Robert (Don't call me Bobby) Bellande. One of the shocking names on the list (and there are quite a few, Mr. George Costanza) is Orel Hershiser. Remember the former Dodger pitching ace? They called him the Bulldog in his playing days. Wonder what they'll call him in poker .. Bull shark? Can't understand this pick. I think NBC would get more viewers if they picked Scott Long or me to be honest. Do you think I'll ever be able to parlay this blog into a shot on any NBC poker show? Of course not! Anyway, here's a link to the latest release for this event.
-- Chris
MAIN TOPIC
Fasso returns to the studio after a largely successful visit to Tunica, Miss., site of a World Series of Poker Circuit event and a World Poker Tour event. Fasso learned to tame the SNGs but was helpless against an unknown health ailment. Click here to hear the show.
OTHER TOPICS
Bluff likes us! Well, Bluff readers do. We thank our listeners for helping us become "Best Podcast" in Bluff magazine's annual Readers Choice Awards.
AIPS: The third season gets off to a record start - 155 players! Fasso turns 400 chips into a final table appearance, but Zerkaboid gets the banana. Congrats!
WSOP on the radio: WSOP Radio has debuted, and you can listen in live on Mondays from 8-10 p.m. Eastern.
Chris is a newshound: Chris breaks some news on this very blog, reporting that the Mirage has pulled out of the World Poker Tour. Is Mandalay Bay next?
Players of the Year: The only POY that matters - AIPS - was crowned in December, but a couple other magazines take a crack at it anyhow. Bill Edler wins in Bluff's rankings, and David "The Dragon" Pham wins CardPlayer's honor.
Hotline: Bradford from California calls in to ask us what the best way is to get money in an online poker room. "E-Check" is the new hot way (on PokerStars), and we've heard it's in beta-testing on FullTilt. Outside of that, try a VISA debit card. No dice? Keep trying on the options listed on the poker room's site.
Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Some folks in Clearwater got nabbed for the fuzz, who accuse them of running a high-stakes illegal poker game; Tampa Greyhound Track offers a $80 no-juice tournament every Sunday with a bounty on Sam Minutello; and the Hard Rock will host a charity tournament benefiting the Brandon Foundation.
HAND OF THE WEEK
yzerman13 sends us a hand from AIPS III Event #1.
Joe24Pa raises UTG, and yzerman calls UTG+1 with 3d-3c. carbidexxx calls from the big blind.
The flop: 3s-Ad-10c.
carbide checks, JoePa bets and yzerman raises.
carbide folds, and JoePa calls.
The turn: 8h.
JoePa checks, yzerman bets, JoePa calls.
The river: Qs
JoePa bets out, confounding yzerman. But yzerman decides to raise, JoePa reraises, yzerman caps it and JoePa calls.
JoePa turns over Kc-Jc for the straight and takes down a nice pot.
Certainly a lot to criticize for JoePa's call on the turn, though Scott meekly takes a stab at defending it, depending on what the read was. But we all agreed yzerman played it too aggressively on the river.
NEXT WEEK'S SHOW
Brace yourself. You've asked for it, and asked for it and asked for it. Now we're ready (we think) to take another stab at Pot Odds. Poker gods help us.
- SCOTT
Though the schedule for Season 7 of the World Poker Tour has yet to be released, there's one event that won't appear in 2008: The Mirage Poker Showdown. After receiving a tip late last night I contacted Donna Harris, director of poker operations at the Mirage, for confirmation. “Because of a scheduling conflict we won’t be holding our event,” Harris said. When asked about the Mirage’s agreement with the WPT (it's in the middle of a 10-year pact), Harris said there are no penalties for not remaining on the schedule. “We, or they, can opt out at any time without penalty. But we fully intend to be back next year.” The event is always a cornerstone on the WPT slate and usually kicks off its season. So what does this mean? The WPT says it is still firming up its schedule for 2008 and wouldn't confirm or deny this report. My efforts to get someone at MGM/Grand regarding the Mandalay Bay event were met without substance as well. I will update if they return my call. This may be tied to WPT scheduling problems during the months of May-June but the WPT will only say that it hasn't been able to solidify its schedule and would not comment on any production or scheduling problems.
It's not hard to see the scheduling dilemma. The WSOP and Venetian Deep Stack tourneys have a stranglehold on the poker revenue in the summer. Where would the $10K buy-ins come from if the Mirage, et al, had to continually hold an event so close to these other major tournaments? Stay tuned.
UPDATE: I have heard back from the MGM people and they are feverishly working on a release that will address this issue. Don't be surprised if the Mandalay Bay event is pulled this year as well. They wouldn't confirm that fact for me right now on the record, so when they come to a decision they will call me. It makes sense that both events would be pulled since they are always so close to one another and if one can't handle a "scheduling conflict" then the other likely can't handle it either. Stay tuned again.
Chris Cosenza
Times Staff Writer
MAIN TOPIC
It's that time of the year - when Chris and I commit to improve our lives through poker ... and then see how long it is before we fail. Click here to listen to the show.
We spice things up this year by including some very good resolutions shared by our listeners, as well as a few from pros, courtesy of CardPlayer magazine. But here are ours:
CHRIS
1. To play in a non-hold'em live tournament with a buy-in of at least $50.
2. To win an AIPS banana and make a serious run at AIPS Player of the Year.
3. To play more live and less online.
4. To bluff more.
5. To play more tournaments.
SCOTT
1. To not feel that he HAS to buy-in directly to a major tournament.
2. To get better at no-limit cash games.
3. To commit to hosting a home game once a month.
4. To blog about all WPT and WSOP Circuit tournaments.
5. To keep having fun playing poker.
OTHER TOPICS
Poker After Dark: Dream Week on PAD provides us a lot of material, from the freeroll winner's play to a wrenching Scotty Nguyen story.
A tip from Fergie: Chris Ferguson takes a stab at a frequent Ante Upper question: How do you handle it when you're running bad? Read his whole answer at FullTilt.
Scott's $1 menu: Scott rants about the Hard Rock dropping a buck rake on every hand, even if there's no action, and then Scott and Chris argue about a ruling at Tampa Bay Downs when Scott didn't hear that the bet had been made $5 straight, mucked his hand, but had to keep the dollar he called with in the pot.
Housekeeping: New photos have been added to the Ante Up! Gallery, and the first AIPS event is open for registration.
Hotline: Ante Upper Jeff calls in, wondering when you should play a guarantee tournament. Divide the buy-in from the guarantee, and that'll determine the number of entrants needed before the overlay evaporates. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide whether it's worth taking the risk for the reward of the overlay.
Tampa Bay Poker Replay: One-Eyed Jack's second Pros and Joes tournament is unofficially slated for March, with lots of new poker stars slated to attend.
One-Minute Mystery: Columbo is on hiatus. He'll return shortly.
HAND OF THE WEEK
It's a gem from the Ante Up! Home Game, during the $1/$1 pot-limit hold'em ($30 cap) rotation.
Scott opens for pot ($4) UTG with K-10 off. Chris rightfully ridicules him for playing such a weak holding from early position, but Scott says he was hoping his complete absence from the pot-limit rotations would garner respect, plus he was sitting on a deep stack.
It's folded to Gambit on the button, who calls with J-10 off. The blinds fold, and we're heads-up to the flop with $10 in the pot.
The flop: Js-9s-2x.
Scott makes a pot-sized ($10) continuation bet. Chris suggests a smaller bet. Gambit reraises cap and Scott calls, saying, "OK, I'll gamble with you."
Cards are turned up, an