Category Archives: Poker

Dear Powers That Be,

When the World Series of Poker Online schedule was released this year, I couldnt help but notice that there was only one, single, mixed-game event. One solitary, lonely, Omaha eight-or-better event that was originally, incorrectly listed as its degenerate cousin with a gambling addiction, pot-limit Omaha.

The schedule didnt even have a stud eight-or-better event, and I know you have the software capacity to run it. I live in New Jersey and have seen your Stud tab. There have even been rumors of the occasional stud cash game running on the site. To say I was disappointed about the lack of mixed games is an understatement.

I implore you to reconsider your sentiments towards mix games. Now, I understand that mix games may not have the allure and big prizes as no-limit holdem. I even understand that the clientele may not be desirable. I know the mix game community has its fair share of complainers, but I promise you they mean well. Since you already muted the chat, you wont have to hear them complain anyway.

The whole point of this open letter is to lay out why I think it is a mistake not to give poker players the opportunity to compete in other disciplines outside of big bet games.

But seriously, are you f#%ing kidding me? Only one mix game? Surely you can do better than this, and heres why you should.

Learning More Games Opens Up More Opportunities

At the beginning of my career, my goal was to be able to play whatever the best game in the room was. That meant any game, whether it be $50-$100 no-limit holdem or $400-$800 stud. At the time, I only knew how to play limit holdem. Thats only 20 percent of H.O.R.S.E., let alone any game in the room. I knew I had a long way to go. but I was determined.

Fast forward five years. I learned eight more games and was on my way to being able to accomplish this goal. I was always playing in the best game on the right side of Borgatas poker room, but that side of the room was dedicated to the limit games. I still was unable to play any game.

I started coming in on my days off to play $2-$5 no-limit holdem. I needed experience to learn the game that would one day allow me to play with one of the biggest celebrities on the planet. Fast forward another few years and now its 2018. I was playing on the right side of the room when I heard that Kevin Hart was on his way to play no-limit holdem. I quit my game of $80-$160 OE to secure a seat at $10-$25.

I had to wait. And wait some more. But sure enough, in walked Kevin Hart, along with four security guards. This was it, the moment I had been waiting for. I could without a doubt say that I was playing in the best game in the room.

The game escalated quickly. It started out with blinds of $10-$25, but it wasnt long before half the table had blinds out and we were playing $10-$25-$50-$100.

I wish I could tell you I crushed this session or even that I booked a win, sadly I cannot. While being able to play the best game in the room is making the most positive expected value decisions for your bankroll, it doesnt guarantee youll come out a winner

Mix Games Are Good For Development

I could very easily make the argument that mix games prepare players for the future of poker. Every year a new game comes out that threatens the stronghold no-limit holdem has on poker.

If there is even the slightest chance that players will like the new game, you learn it. I know its tough to remember because the internet wasnt really around back then, but there was a time when limit holdem was the most popular game in poker rooms. Before that, it was stud. You cannot stop poker evolution, you can only grow with it.

Right now, the game of choice is clearly no-limit holdem. Its been like that for nearly two decades. Thanks Moneymaker. Maybe try winning a limit tournament next time. However, there is no reason to believe no-limit holdem will reign supreme forever. At some point, you either learn the new game or watch the game pass you by. Youll still have solitaire though if nobody wants to play no-limit with you.

Each new game expands a players perspective on poker. Even after 15 years of playing professionally, I still find spots Ive never seen. I truly believe that learning these games has allowed me to develop my overall poker strategy into a profitable creative one.

Learning on the fly and being prepared to take on new challenges is a life skill that not many poker games offer.

Mix Games Develop Reliable Poker Instincts

Mix game players are forced to evolve with the game. We are constantly challenged to not only learn new games but learn them faster than everyone else. Kids these days are spoiled by solvers and charts. In some of the newer, more complex games, equities are almost impossible to calculate. I can find a basic no-limit holdem odds calculator with a simple google search. I dare you to find one for badeucy.

As games become more complex games as specialists evolve, players must trust their natural poker instincts. With no answer in the back of the book, poker becomes a battleground for heuristic math and poker intuition.

Playing one game becomes monotonous and players become complacent. No one wants to be that person who used to be good but got passed over by the game. If you play mixed games, fear not this fate.

Mix Games Develop Self Awareness

All players that excel in poker, will do so in at least one variant. The specialists, however, learn that one game and stick with it. They become the best player in the game and they grind out a solid win rate.

Few will ever know how it feels to be out-classed. They study all the different spots in one game and they make sure that their game is solid. They will be very hard to exploit in their game of choice.

Mixed games, on the other hand, can and will humble almost any player. No mix is created equally. If you get a seat at a table that is playing a mix of games, instead of just one, you will sometimes find yourself in a mix that is not your best but is still favorable.

Three other players will have more experience and more volume in 70 percent of the games. The two fun players bring the game to an acceptable level of profitability to play, but still, you will find yourself in gross spots versus the professionals. It is a feeling of humility that is arguably necessary for a player to truly reach their potential.

Mix Games Build Character

Live mix games players are forced to overcome obstacles other players will never face. There is no ladder to move up and hone your skills while building a bankroll. If you want to play bigger, you must either take shots at bigger games or build a bridge between stakes.

To build a bridge between stakes means you must bring players together and form a new limit. Building a bridge between stakes requires networking and hard work. It requires focus and determination. Mix games teach you at an early age that a good personality and some polite manners will get you into the games you want to be in.

There are no micro-stakes for mix games. To be perfectly honest there arent even mid-stakes for mix games. It takes a certain amount of fortitude, character, and just enough gamble to get to the top with that landscape. The players that are able to get to the top had to take huge risks along the way and certainly deserve to be there.

Promoting mix games online can provide another avenue to players who are interested in learning mix games. Online poker allows players to play more hands per hour, thus allowing them to gain experience faster than in a live environment. No-limit holdem has already shown that this path of volume leads to the breeding of new legends every day.

WSOP, please. I fear for the future of poker players. Please consider shifting a minimum amount of focus to mix games. I promise it will be good for both your bottom line and the poker world.

Every renowned poker room has a big limit mixed game. If you are trying to become the premier online poker site that boasts WSOP bracelets and prestige, wouldnt you want to follow the same business model?

Lastly and certainly not least, mix game players have a vicious reputation for being degenerates. No one peels cards harder than a 2-7 triple draw player holding 2-3-4-5 and peeling a three spotter (6-7-8) on the third draw. If you run more online events, we might go off in your casino. Think about it.

Sincerely,

Melissa Burrrrrberry Burr

Melissa Burr is a seasoned high-stakes mix game professional. In her spare time she enjoys the occasional 30-minute craps roll, sports betting, and short reasonable walks on the beach. Find more adventures on her twitter @burrrrrberry.

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An Open Letter To The WSOP: Why Mixed Games Are Good For Poker Player Development - Poker News - CardPlayer.com

NBC Sports Chicago recently caught up with six-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu to talk about the type of player he's evolved into and a key moment from the beginning of his career.

Negreanu, who was promoting the subscription streaming service PokerGO, has cashed in 112 WSOP events, earning $14,908,224 in them.

"There's two ways of playing. One is called the Game Theory Optimal approach and the other is Exploitative," Negreanu said over the phone. "So the Game Theory Optimal approach is designed so that if you're playing against the perfect robot, there's one specific play or one way of playing a hand that is correct. And now, when you play exploitatively, you might know that but you go, 'I know this would be correct, but this guy here, he always folds. So I'm going to bluff him. More than I should.'

Related: Why Daniel Negreanu thinks betting 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs is 'huge wildcard'

"So what I learned over the last couple of years is how to incorporate both Game Theory Optimal play and Exploitative because I was purely one-hundred percent Exploitative until the last few years that I learned it was important to have some balance of myself because when you do veer from Game Theory Optimal you do become exploitable yourself and some of the top players are doing that against me."

Negreanu, now forced to play online like many others, is trying to eliminate the tendencies he sometimes displayed earlier in his career.

Related: WSOP's Daniel Negreanu says no questionable algorithm in online poker sites

"I wouldn't describe them as risks, I would say that I've had tendencies that if somebody is paying attention... So for example, as simple as this, when I bet all my chips on the river, I'm not bluffing. If my top opponents know that, now they can start making really big folds and their exploiting a weakness in my lack of balance in the situation because what you want to have, on the river you want people to think like, 'Well, alright... he could be bluffing, he could have it.' When they know specific things about what you'll do in a situation, they can take advantage of you," Negreanu said.

Daniel won the first WSOP event he ever played in, the $2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em event in 1998 when he was 23. As he pulled all the chips in, Negreanu became the youngest player to ever win a WSOP bracelet at the time.

Related: Why Daniel Negreanu thinks Phil Ivey is the best poker player in the world

"I was just happy to be in the money, then I was at the final table and I was like, 'Wow, this is cool.' All of a sudden, I found myself heads up in a form called Pot Limit Hold'em, which I never really played before. ... In the final hand, we both had about even chips and I had ace-queen of hearts and he had the jack-10 of clubs and the flop came queen, jack, four with two clubs and one heart. So I had the top pair, he had the second pair, but he had a four card flush, a three card straight... He had a ton of outs.

"The turn card was a blank, the river was a little black card and I couldn't even see it because I was just so emotionally invested, but I did see some people cheering for me, raising their arms. I was like, 'Alright, that means it's not a club.' And it was the six of spades. I won on the very last hand. An absolute what's called a 'coin flip' situation. The odds of me winning the hand right after the flop were around fifty-fifty."

Related: How WSOP's Daniel Negreanu uses someone's appearance as a tell

PokerGO is showing classic moments from the World Series of Poker every night at 7 p.m. ET.

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Why Negreanu thinks Ivey is the best poker player in the world - Comcast SportsNet Chicago

Facebook researchers have developed a general AI framework called Recursive Belief-based Learning (ReBeL) that they say achieves better-than-human performance in heads-up, no-limit Texas holdem poker while using less domain knowledge than any prior poker AI. They assert that ReBeL is a step toward developing universal techniques for multi-agent interactions in other words, general algorithms that can be deployed in large-scale, multi-agent settings. Potential applications run the gamut from auctions, negotiations, and cybersecurity to self-driving cars and trucks.

Combining reinforcement learning with search at AI model training and test time has led to a number of advances. Reinforcement learning is where agents learn to achieve goals by maximizing rewards, while search is the process of navigating from a start to a goal state. For example, DeepMinds AlphaZero employed reinforcement learning and search to achieve state-of-the-art performance in the board games chess, shogi, and Go. But the combinatorial approach suffers a performance penalty when applied to imperfect-information games like poker (or even rock-paper-scissors), because it makes a number of assumptions that dont hold in these scenarios. The value of any given action depends on the probability that its chosen, and more generally, on the entire play strategy.

The Facebook researchers propose that ReBeL offers a fix. ReBeL builds on work in which the notion of game state is expanded to include the agents belief about what state they might be in, based on common knowledge and the policies of other agents. ReBeL trains two AI models a value network and a policy network for the states through self-play reinforcement learning. It uses both models for search during self-play. The result is a simple, flexible algorithm the researchers claim is capable of defeating top human players at large-scale, two-player imperfect-information games.

At a high level, ReBeL operates on public belief states rather than world states (i.e., the state of a game). Public belief states (PBSs) generalize the notion of state value to imperfect-information games like poker; a PBS is a common-knowledge probability distribution over a finite sequence of possible actions and states, also called a history. (Probability distributions are specialized functions that give the probabilities of occurrence of different possible outcomes.) In perfect-information games, PBSs can be distilled down to histories, which in two-player zero-sum games effectively distill to world states. A PBS in poker is the array of decisions a player could make and their outcomes given a particular hand, a pot, and chips.

Above: Poker chips.

Image Credit: Flickr: Sean Oliver

ReBeL generates a subgame at the start of each game thats identical to the original game, except its rooted at an initial PBS. The algorithm wins it by running iterations of an equilibrium-finding algorithm and using the trained value network to approximate values on every iteration. Through reinforcement learning, the values are discovered and added as training examples for the value network, and the policies in the subgame are optionally added as examples for the policy network. The process then repeats, with the PBS becoming the new subgame root until accuracy reaches a certain threshold.

In experiments, the researchers benchmarked ReBeL on games of heads-up no-limit Texas holdem poker, Liars Dice, and turn endgame holdem, which is a variant of no-limit holdem in which both players check or call for the first two of four betting rounds. The team used up to 128 PCs with eight graphics cards each to generate simulated game data, and they randomized the bet and stack sizes (from 5,000 to 25,000 chips) during training. ReBeL was trained on the full game and had $20,000 to bet against its opponent in endgame holdem.

The researchers report that against Dong Kim, whos ranked as one of the best heads-up poker players in the world, ReBeL played faster than two seconds per hand across 7,500 hands and never needed more than five seconds for a decision. In aggregate, they said it scored 165 (with a standard deviation of 69) thousandths of a big blind (forced bet) per game against humans it played compared with Facebooks previous poker-playing system, Libratus, which maxed out at 147 thousandths.

For fear of enabling cheating, the Facebook team decided against releasing the ReBeL codebase for poker. Instead, they open-sourced their implementation for Liars Dice, which they say is also easier to understand and can be more easily adjusted. We believe it makes the game more suitable as a domain for research, they wrote in the a preprint paper. While AI algorithms already exist that can achieve superhuman performance in poker, these algorithms generally assume that participants have a certain number of chips or use certain bet sizes. Retraining the algorithms to account for arbitrary chip stacks or unanticipated bet sizes requires more computation than is feasible in real time. However, ReBeL can compute a policy for arbitrary stack sizes and arbitrary bet sizes in seconds.

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Facebook develops AI algorithm that learns to play poker on the fly - VentureBeat

August 02, 2020Chad Holloway

On Sunday night, the partypoker US Online Network PKO Series wrapped with the conclusion of the Phase Multi-Flight $75,000 GTD Main Event. Players had qualified all week long via $35 buy-in qualifier flights, and there was to be a $320 direct buy option for Day 2. However, a software glitch at the start prevented the expected late registration period, meaning only 79 players got in.

By the time the error was discovered, play was well underway, so partypoker US officials opted to continue the tournament as was, and given there was only $27,604 in collected buy-ins, those players enjoyed a juicy overlay thanks to the $75,000 guarantee. Not only that, because the usual payout structure remained and some players had already busted, everyone in the tournament received a minimum payout of $218.

After six and a half hours of six-handed play, "pay4medsch00l" emerged victorious to claim the title and $13,597.50 first-place prize. The series was open to New Jersey players on the trio of online poker sites that comprise the partypoker US Network partypoker US, Borgata Poker and BetMGM Poker.

Others to cash the tournament were "monge" (7th - $2,363), Brian "TopCreature" Sherrier (9th - $1,275), "Allyoucaneat" (17th - $660), BorgataPoker.com Ambassador Michael "Gags30" Gagliano (22nd - $488), Clayton "claytonfletcher" Fletcher (25th - $413), Mike "MistaMenzer" Menzer (45th - $300), Ryan "Whosyourdoddy" Dodd (52nd - $270), and Daniel "leinad" Buzgon (68th - $233).

At the final table, "pay4medsch00l" got to work with five left, which is when they picked up two black nines and held against ace-eight suited to send Anthony "Flawlessbinkage" Maio out the door. "pay4medsch00l" then began using the big stack to their advantage by moving all-in frequently to put the smaller stack to big ICM decisions. Eventually "IReadYrSoul" dispatched "ELITEMALESSO" in fourth place, and then "pay4medsch00l" woke up with aces to eliminate "IReadYrSoul," who check-jammed after flopping middle pair.

"pay4medsch00l" began heads-up play with a big lead and closed it out after calling "Ozzy_Rocks111's" three-barrel bluff.

In side event news, some recognizable names claimed titles. Interestingly, for the second series in a row, Eric "alwaysliquid" Vanauken emerged victorious in back-to-back tournaments. In the last series, he won Event #5: $7,500 GTD Green Chip Bounty for $3,145.30 and the next day took down Event #6: $2,500 GTD R&A NLH for $1,124.05.

This series, he won Event #3: $15,000 GTD PKO Bounty for $6,393.44 and the following day Event #4: $12,000 GTD PKO Bounty Boost for $5,691.

Click here to sign up for Nj.partypoker.com!

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Error in partypoker US Online Network PKO Series Finale Results in Nearly $50K Overlay - PokerNews.com

August 02, 2020David Lappin

You wait an entire year for the World Series of Poker Main Event to roll around. You register. You find out that youre on the feature table. You take your seat. Person, woman, man, camera, TV. I mean lights, camera, action.

You look down at Aces. You flop top set. You turn a boat. Chips are being shoveled into the pot. Your victim is on the hook... or so you think.

Top boat versus quads in level 1 of the Main Event - its a poker players nightmare. It was also Vanessa Selbsts reality in 20178 when she faced off against Gaelle Baumann in one of the most famous WSOP hands of all-time.

In the latest animated strategy video from The Chip Race, Dara OKearney and guest analyst Daiva Byrne (@baltic_blonde) break down the hand on every street, ultimately making the case that Selbst could and should have gotten away.

Let us know what you think?

The Chip Race is a weekly podcast sponsored by Unibet Poker (@UnibetPoker), available on Apple Music, SoundCloud and Stitcher. The 13th Season kicked off last week with a show featuring Lon McEachern and Dan Smith. The next show will star Isaac Haxton and Patrick Leonard.

Follow @daraokearney, @dklappin and @thechiprace on Twitter and, if you want even more from two of the games best and most prolific content creators, be sure to check out their hilarious new spin-off YouTube web show The Lock-In. The last two shows featured Jamie Kerstetter and Luke Vrabel and are available to watch here.

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FULL-HOUSE VS QUADS in the WSOP Main Event! Could Selbst have gotten away? - PokerNews.com

Full Episode Description Todays guest on the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast is the host of the Thinking Poker podcast and author of Play Optimal Poker 1 and 2 Andrew Brokos.Andrews another one of those human beings who makes you consider your personal beliefs.Recently on Twitter in a thread about the Daniel Negreanu WSOP software meltdown Andrew left me with a this statement, One last thought for you specifically, very few people have chased poker greatness as successfully as Daniel Negreanu and this is where it got him.Which I equated to throwing a grenade and leaving the room.With that thought in mind I just want to make absolute certain one persons version of poker greatness does not have to be yours. Its a personal aspiration that each and every one of us, myself included, should consider deeply.I genuinely hope that through this podcast, if nothing else, you will gain the necessary tools needed to answer this question for you and you alone.And its my ultimate wish that you take special care on your emotional, physical, and spiritual as you endeavor to chase your version of poker greatness.With that said, in todays episode youre going to learn: - The surprising why behind the beginning of Andrews poker career.- Why Andrew has found poker attracts the kinds of souls he tends to enjoy spending time with.- An awesome tactic he uses to measure his level of play in live tournaments.- And much, MUCH more!So, without any further ado, I bring to you podcaster, author, and thinker Andrew Brokos.

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Chasing Poker Greatness: #68 Andrew Brokos: Co-Host ThinkingPoker Podcast & Author of Play Optimal Poker - Pokerfuse

The Venetian poker room is installing plexiglass dividers to allow eight-handed games.

Ten tables already have dividers, and all 32 tables in the room will be fitted with them in the next two weeks. The poker rooms Twitter account provided the information, and a casino spokeswoman confirmed it was accurate.

Traditional poker tournaments will resume at The Venetian on July 24. The room has been hosting shootout-style tournaments over the past few weeks that require players to defeat their entire table before moving on to the next table. In traditional tournaments, tables are balanced throughout as players are eliminated.

The Venetians tables that dont have plexiglass yet will continue to host five-handed games, per guidelines from the state Gaming Control Board.

Sahara Las Vegas is now hosting seven-handed games after installing plexiglass, poker operations manager Steven Pique said on Twitter. The room will also start hosting shootout-style tournaments July 25.

The Aria, the Bellagio, MGM Grand and The Orleans are hosting six-handed games with plexiglass. Caesars Palace, the Flamingo, the Golden Nugget and the South Point are hosting five-handed games without plexiglass.

Contact Jim Barnes at jbarnes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0277. Follow @JimBarnesLV on Twitter.

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Venetian poker room going to 8-handed tables - Las Vegas Review-Journal

At present, only a few individuals would be disputing the fact that Phil Ivey happens to be the greatest poker player ever.

Phil Ivey has the propensity to emphasize more on games that generate cash and less on the tournaments, which make his accomplishments much more impressive in the long run. If Phil Ivey ever decides to play tournaments full-time, there will be not much doubt in many people that he would be ranking at the very top of the tournament money list ever.

According to the players who have played cash games against Phil, he happens to be the most gifted player they have ever come across, having mastered every game. As per his colleagues, Phils thorough knowledge in every single variant of poker helps to make him the very best.

Younger players, older players. Professional players, as well as casual players, have one thing in common. Nearly all of them regard Ivey to be the most gifted poker player on the planet.

According to some individuals, names likeDoyle BrunsonandChip Reese should be listed before Phil Ivey; however, these people happen to be few. The general opinion is that Phil Ivey happens to be the best poker player ever in the world.

It is quite difficult to argue with the results of Phil Ivey. According toPhil Hellmuth, Ivey is a triple threat he is outstanding in tournaments, outstanding in online cash games, and exceptional in live cash games. It is very difficult to come across a player who dominates all three settings.

At present, Phil Ivey has got almost $15 million in net lifetime tournament cash, and this places him in 2nd spot on the list of all-time money earners. Moreover, it should be mentioned here that Phil does not appear on the tournament circuit regularly.

Since January 2007, almost $20 million has been won by Ivey on Full Tilt Poker. It is probably the highest amount of cash that any single player has been won since the introduction of online poker in the early part of the 2000s.

As per the players playing regularly with him, Ivey happens to be amongst the most effective live cash game players ever. Apparently, Phil is a big lifetime champion in Las Vegas in the Big Game.

Phil Ivey has as many as 10World Series Pokerbracelets despite being only 35 years of age. Phil has succeeded in picking up his pace only recently, mainly because of the introduction of hefty bracelet prop bets. Earlier, Ivey could play only a few World Series Poker events since better action was available in the lucrative high take cash games.

When looking at all his skills, one has no other option but to provide Ivey the nod for the most gifted poker player ever. None else comes close to him while taking into consideration live cash games, live tournaments, as well as online cash games.

Phillip Ivey was born in February 1977 and has succeeded in winning 10 World Series Poker bracelets, 1 World Tour Poker title while appearing at 9 World Tour Poker final tables. He had been designated to the Hall of Fame of Poker In the year 2017.

Phil IveyEarly Years

In the initial phases, Ivey started developing his poker skills by combating against his colleagues at a telemarketing firm in New Jersey in the latter part of the 1990s. He got a nickname, which is actually derived from the counterfeit ID card that was secured by him for playing poker in New Jersey during his adolescent years. Phil was provided with another nickname in the year 2002 after he won 3 World Series Poker bracelets. He is also called Pokers Tiger Woods.

2017 had been a sluggish year for Phil, who focused on Asia, particularly Hong Kong, and ended up missing all the major global events in the western part of the world because he wanted to play the greatest games in Asia. In a conference, Phil announced that he would be returning to the main circuit for the year 2018.

World Series Poker

Phils most significant tournament accomplishments consist of winning 3 bracelets at World Series Poker in the year 2002, tying Ted Forrest, Puggy Pearson, and Phil Hellmuth for the maximum number of wins in World Series competitions in just one year. Ivey likewise has got bracelets from 2000 as well as 2005 in Pot Limit Omaha. He had been the first individual who defeated Amarillo Slim In the year 2000 at a table for the WSOP finals. The victory of Ivey over none other than Amarillo Slim had been for his initial career bracelet. Apart from his 10 bracelets in the World Series, Phil was also successful in the Main Event at WSOP. Between the World Series Poker held in 2002 and the World Series Poker held in 2009, he had been placed at the top 25 for as many as 4 times. In the year 2002 Phil finished 23rd, in 2003 10th, in 2005 20th, and on 2009 7th.

World Series Poker Hall of Fame

Ivey ended up winning the 6th bracelet of his career in the year 2009. He managed to defeat as many as 147 players for catching his bracelet. Phil succeeded in winning a very long combat against a player named John Monette. Following this, he won one more bracelet in the $2,500 Omaha Hi/Lo event defeating as many as 376 individuals. He succeeded in defeating Ming Lee as well. While emerging the victor in the event, he likewise managed to be placed in the 22nd position in the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event despite playing only at the time of the breaks.

In the World Series Poker in the year 2010, Phil succeeded in receiving the maximum Tournament of Champions votes.

At the WSOP in the year 2010, Phil won his 8th bracelet n a table that comprised of other distinguished players, including Bill Chen, John Juanda, Jeff Lisandro, as well as Chad Brown.

Phil finished amongst the top 25 gamers between 2002 and 2009 in the Key Event for as many as 4 times in pitches, which varied from 500 entrants to under 8,000 in size. In the Main Event at WSOP held in 2003, Ivey finished 10th and 7th in the year 2009. Ivey ended his Main Event in the year 2009 after winning $1,406,002

Having as many as ten World Series Poker bracelets, Phil is presently tied with Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson for the 2nd maximum all-time. Moreover, at 38 years of age, he happens to be the youngest gamer who has ever won 10 bracelets (in fact, Phil Hellmuth had been 42 while winning his 10th bracelet). Furthermore, you will not come across any other player who has accumulated ten bracelets more quickly. Phil took just 12 years from winning his 1st bracelet to the 10th (Phil Hellmuth took 17 years). Ivey likewise holds the all-time record for winning the maximum number of bracelets in the non-Holdem events. His win in the year 2010 helped him to lead Billy Baxter. Phil likewise has won the maximum number of mixed-game bracelets; in fact, he has won as many as 5 in his illustrious career. He succeeded in winning one in the year 2002, another in the year 2009, one more in the year 2010, in the year 2013, and in the year 2014.

World Tour Poker

Phil has also succeeded in reaching nine final tables during hisWorld Tour Poker. He had been eliminated during several WPT events while he held the identical starting hand every single time, a queen plus an ace. Ivey has been able to cash in an event at the WPT 9 out of the 12 times. Ivey succeeded in making the final table in the year 2008 at the LA Poker Classic during the 6th season of the WPT at the Commerce Casino, the final table comprised of Nam Le and Phil Hellmuth. Phil eventually captured the first prize worth $1,595,100, which ended his run of 7 final tables at the WPT without securing a victory. In fact, Ivey has succeeded in earning approximately $3 million in cash at the WPT. In September 2006, he made his appearance for the first time on the European Tour Poker. Although coming as the chip leader to the ultimate table of 9, he finally finished second to Norways Bjorn-Erik Glenne.

Other significant tournaments

Ivey took part in The All-Star Challenge held in London in the year 2006. Phil ended up finishing 7th and accumulated 6,700. Ivey won the first prize of $1,200,000 at a competition held in Monte Carlo in 2005. The next day, another $610,000 was won by him for winning The FullTiltPoker.Net competition in Monte Carlo. Phils six rivals had been Gus Hansen, Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow, Chris Ferguson, John Juanda, and Dave Ulliott.

In the year 2007, Ivey succeeded in winning the $126,000 Earphones Please competition, where he defeated Andy Bloch, Hellmuth, Tony G, Matusow, and Sam Farha. On 15th April 2007, Don Cheadle defeated Ivey in the very 1st sound at the National Heads-Up Poker Championship. It had been the third successive year where Phil had been eliminated in the very 1st round of the particular competition. However, this streak was ended in the year 2008, while he succeeded in advancing to the semi-finals, where he lost to Ferguson, the eventual winner. Phil participated in 3 and 6 seasons of the High Poker Stakes of GSN.

Ivey won the Australian Millions $240,000 High-roller competition on 29th January 2012, where he defeated Patrik Antonius for prize money worth A $ 2,500,000. Ivey was likewise positioned 12th for prize money of A$120,000 at the Aussie Millions main event.

Ivey ended up winning the 2014 LK Boutique Aussie Millions $255,000 Challenge on 10th February 2014 for a sum of AU$4,500,000 this had been the biggest single cash in his entire career. He succeeded in winning the Australian Millions $255,000 Challenge once again in February 2015 this time, he earned AU$2,210,000, which made him the only gamer in the tournaments history with two successive championships within a period of 4 years.

The net live tournament earnings of Phil are more than $26,240,000 as of 2018. Millions have also been won by him playing in cash tournaments as well as online. More than $6,800,000 of his net earnings have been derived from the winnings at WSOP. Presently, Ivey is in the 7th position on the money list of all-time.

Ivey regularly participates in the $4,200-$9,000 cash game in the city of Las Vegas at the Bellagio. Ivey succeeded in winning more than $16,200,000 over a span of 3 days at the time of a match held at The Wynn Resort. Phil had been competing for The Corporation which happens to be a team of professionals that took turns while combating Beal after pooling their cash. The Corporation had been beaten by Beal earlier in the month out of more than $14,000,000.

Phil Ivey Video Master of Poker Bluffs:

Phil Ivey AndOnline Poker

Ivey belongs to Full Tilt Pokers initial management department. Ivey had filed a lawsuit in Clark County in 2011 claiming that his contract had been breached by Full Tilt. More than $150,000,000 was asked by the suit for damages and for Ivey to be free from his agreement with Full Tilt. Ivey voluntarily withdrew the suit on 30th June.

In accordance with HighStakesDB.com, $2 million had been won by Ivey on FullTilt in the year 2007, $7.35 million in the year 2008, $6.34 million in the year 2009, as well as $3.2 million in the year 2010.

Edge-Sorting Lawsuit

It was reported that Phil had won 7.2 million in the year 2012 while playing the casino game Punto Banco in acasinoin UK; however, he had been declined payment beyond the initial 1.1 million stakes because of using edge sorting. Ivey issued a statement through his legal practitioners denying any kind of misbehavior. In April 2014, Ivey was sued by the Borgata Casino located in the Atlantic City, claiming that he used a flaw in the making of playing cards to his advantage and defrauded at baccarat. Incidentally, the identical type of cards is used by Crockfords along with the Borgata.

In October 2014, a court in the UK claimed that Phils methods at Crockfords actually constituted dishonesty.

On 29th November 2015, Phil had been granted the consent to make an appeal after a judge found that the case actually raised a vital question of regulation and had a genuine possibility of success. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on 3rd November 2016 by upholding the previous conclusion that the method actually resulted in cheating. Another appeal made to the UK Supreme Court resulted in an undisputed judgment delivered on 25th October 2017 and found in the casinos favor. The court concluded that the actions of Ivey actually constituted dishonesty.

In the month of January 2019, the Borgata was permitted by a judge to pursue Iveys assets in Nevada for recouping in excess of $10 million, which was won by him at the gambling den by making use of edge-sorting.

On 27th June 2019, an execution writ was served to the World Poker Series by the United States Marshals Service, and it seized the 2019 winnings of Ivey for paying The Borgata.

On 10th July 2020, it was reported by Card Player publication that Ivey had given consent to a settlement of the claim made by the Borgata.

Personal life

As mentioned earlier, Phil Ivey arrived in this world in 1977 in California, USA; however, he later relocated to Roselle in New Jersey. He developed an interest in the poker card game when he had been an adolescent. Ivey learned many things from his grandfather, who educated him regarding the Five-Card stud to prevent him from gambling. However, Phil started playing for cash when he was 16 years of age, and when he was 18, he played at thelive tables in the Atlantic Cityfor pretty long durations.

At present, Phil lives in Las Vegas. He is likewise a huge follower of Los Angeles Lakers, Buffalo Bills, as well as Houston Rockets. Hes observed putting on basketball jerseys from time to time. Phil loves to play games, including golf, video games, plus prop betting, while not playing poker. Apart from this, he is also known for his charitable causes as well as philanthropic pursuits. He has donated thousands of dollars to charities intended for those children who happen to be underprivileged. A charity has also been co-founded by Ivey under the name ofBudding Ivey Foundationfor continuing his grandfathers benevolent work.

The rest is here:

The Phil Ivey Of Poker - HBCU Buzz

The recent proposal for special legislation to be introduced in New Jersey relating to poker was undoubtedly great news for fans of the game in the state.

However, for players in neighbouring New York it is highly likely that the announcement will have left them feeling just a little deflated.

While New Jersey officials continue to be proactive in embracing the gambling boom, their counterparts in New York are still dragging their heels.

Read on as we take a closer look at the latest state of play for poker in New Jersey and assess how developments there may affect New York in the future.

NJ Aiming to Declare Poker a Game of Skill

Players already have plenty of online casino NJ opportunities for real-money games and their options would be widened if the new legislation is passed.

The bill aims to have poker classified as a game of skill and bluff and would therefore not be a form of gambling that is restricted by the provisions of the New Jersey Constitution.

This would mean that permit holders for racetracks in the state could establish a poker room at their venues on the basis that they retained a portion of the amounts wagered.

The games would fall under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement rather than the New Jersey Racing Commission.

Why Does the Bill Matter?

Establishing poker as a game of skill rather than a form of gambling is an important distinction to make and would have much wider reaching implications.

It would create new opportunities for the live poker industry and generate extra revenues for the various racetrack operators.

The latter point is a particularly pertinent one, with some venues in New Jersey currently struggling to make ends meet in the current financial climate.

Although there may be opposition from some Atlantic City casinos, the bill could have a good chance of passing as it is limited to the game of poker.

NJ Poker Boom Continues Apace

Online poker revenues continue to boom in New Jersey, highlighting the lucrative potential of the game in the state and elsewhere.

More than $3.5 million was generated by regulated operators there during June 2020 almost double the figure reported for the same period last year.

With revenues in April and May also showing a significant year-on-year increase, it is easy to see why officials in New Jersey are eager to cash in.

Allowing poker to be played at the racetracks would serve to heighten the games popularity and generate even greater revenues in the state.

New York Players Look on With Envy

While New Jerseys gambling boom is great news for players, operators and state finances, the situation is very different in New York.

The state has historically had some of the strictest gambling laws in the United States and has been reluctant to let off the brakes in recent times.

Although it is not illegal for New York residents to participate in online gambling, they have to use the services of operators located elsewhere.

However, the success of regulated online gambling in other states has left many NY players yearning for new legislation to be introduced in their jurisdiction.

Addabbo Leading the Poker Charge in NY

The push in New Jersey to have poker declared as a game of skill and bluff could have a major knock-on effect in New York.

Officials in the state have been trying for seven years to legalise online poker in the state, and they will be keeping a watchful eye on events in New Jersey.

A bill from Senator Joseph Addabbo to remove poker as an illegal game of chance has appeared back on file and may have a greater chance of succeeding than previous incarnations.

Passing new legislation for poker would not only be a positive move for NY players, but would also prove to be hugely beneficial for the state in terms of tax revenues.

NY Ready to Join the Poker Party

Given the difficulties many industries are facing in the current climate, it makes perfect sense for New York to ease the restrictions on poker.

The figures generated in New Jersey highlight the popularity of the game and operators are queuing up to replicate that success in New York.

The key to breaking down the barriers may well lie in the proposal in New Jersey to have poker declared as a game of skill and bluff as opposed to a form of gambling.

If that bill is passed, it would be no surprise to see Addabbos proposal rubber-stamped and that would be fantastic news for poker fans in New York.

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NJ Special Legislation and the Impact on Online Casino Players in NY - Blog - The Island Now

July 20, 2020 July 20, 2020 Paul Butcher https://plus.google.com/116893384630351018637

Being successful in poker involves a lot of tough decisions, including carefully choosing which poker table to play. It is important that you consider this aspect seriously especially if youre just starting to build your bankroll.

Remember, in order to crush the tables, you must play with players that are not as skilled as you, or simply those just within your range. When it comes to real money online poker, selecting tables is a difficult job. First, youre competing against players from different parts of the world and theyre hiding behind screen names, which means their true identity are concealed.

You need to consider a lot of factors, and this is where we can help you with. Weve listed some of the relevant statistics that you must watch carefully before hopping in any table to play.

The stakes in a table refer to the size of the small and big blind, and also the bets involved. So if you have a 5c/10c table, the small blind is 5 cents, while the big blind is 10 cents.

Each table allows a certain number of players to participate. You must put this into consideration, as well as the how many players are actually playing. A 5/9 table indicates that the table can accommodate a maximum of 9 players, but only 5 are actually competing. This means 4 seats are currently vacant.

This refers to the average winning pot available for a particular table. This stat also gives you an insight as to the kind of table youre looking at. Other important determiners to consider are the limit, table speed, and the wait list.

When choosing a table to join, take note of the number of players who are not folding pre-flop these are the players who see the flop. In a table comprised of 10 players, if there is 50% player per flop, this tells you that 5 players see each flop, meaning the pot has at least 5 big blinds.

The table that will give you a higher win rate is the table full of weak players, or those referred to as fish. They are the players that arent very skilled and are prone to losing pots.

How can you tell if a table is joined by a lot of fish players? Simply check the player per flop stat in each table. A higher figure indicates a higher number of weak players competing in that table. These type of players tend to chase losses that result in poor hand selection. So if youre wondering which table to join, look at the player per flop. A 20% player per flop table would be a good place to start.

Read more here:

Key Points To Consider When Choosing Online Poker Tables - Top10PokerWebsites