Bodog Poker Open II Announced

Date: Fri, Aug 15, 2008

photo courtesy BodogLife.com

With their biggest poker tournament ever, the $250,000 Guaranteed, having just finished, Bodog is keeping the steam up with the announcement of the Bodog Poker Open II and it's even bigger guaranteed prize pool of $300,000.

The BPO II Main Event will have a $470 + $30 buy-in and happens October 5 at 4 p.m. ET.

BPO II qualifiers are now running daily with buy-ins starting at as low as 50 Bodog Poker Points.

Last March saw the inaugural BPO won by phatcat who walked away with the main event's first place prize of $76,280 and an Omega Speed Master watch valued at $4,400. The 596 player field got a great value as Bodog added $25,000 to the prize pool.

Similarly to last year there will also be a week of preliminary events preceding the Main Event with buy-ins ranging from $44 - $350. Preliminary event can be expected in early September.

You won't want to miss this tournament series as it's shaping up to be a classic. Get more information on the BPO II to find out how to win your seat to it.

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Bodog Poker Software Update Officially Released

Date: Thu, Aug 14, 2008

photo courtesy BodogLife.com

There has been a lot of time and lot of love poured into the latest incarnation of the Bodog Poker Software. And now, after months of beta-testing, the software is officially live and ready for download.

The main feature that they worked on for this latest poker software upgrade is the resizable tables.

You can also resize and remove features like the chat window, statistics, notes, profiles, game details, etc. which opens up the view of the table.

There are rumored to be more updates in the works so expect to see the limit to the number of tables that can be played at once increase.

You can download the Bodog Poker client yourself and tell us what you think.

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Venetian Poker Room Announces Deep Stack Extravaganza IV

Date: Wed, Aug 13, 2008

courtesy of venetian las vegas

Venetian resort's wildly popular Deep Stack Extravaganza poker tournament series has announced the fourth and final tournament for 2008. Scheduled for November 1 - 25, the Deep Stack Extravaganza IV (DSE) will feature 25 No-Limit Hold'em events with Buy-ins from $330 up to $2,500 for the Championship final.

The best part of these events is the very reason they named them "Deep Stack." Its all about the number of starting chips and the extended time of play levels. Even the $330 buy-in events start players with $10,000 in play money, plus an optional staff bonus add-on will get you even more bullets. Players in the $1,060 and $2,500 final event begin with $12, 500. Playing in the DSE is no different than entering one of the big major poker tournaments, with one big major exception, you don't need to take out a second mortgage to cover the buy-ins.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Kathy Raymond, director of poker operations for The Venetian, best sums up the Deep Stack Series.

"We are thrilled with the amount of excitement our Deep Stack Extravaganza series creates on the casino floor and throughout the poker community. The quality and experience of our staff along with the high starting chip counts and structure of the tournaments continues to draw players from different skill levels and from all over the world."

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Make your plans now to become a part of poker history as a player and champion of the the Deep Stack Extravaganza IV. The poker world will be focused on the luxurious Venetian poker room during the 25 days of big time Deep Stack poker. The final table of the championship event will take place 2 days before Thanksgiving, so what better way to start your holidays than a trip to the most copied poker tournament format anywhere, the Venetian's Deep Stack Extravaganza.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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WSOP Europe Online Qualifiers

Date: Tue, Aug 12, 2008

photo courtesy BodogLife.com

With all the talk about the WSOP final table and the November Nine it's easy to forget that there will be four other bracelets awarded before the nine even sit down.

The WSOP Europe is happening in London in September and October with the Main Event running September 27 - October 2.

Bodog is currently running daily WSOP Europe online qualifiers that can get you a seat in their Two Seats Guaranteed WSOPE Semifinal running September 7.

Bodog WSOP Europe prize packages include the buy-in (worth over $20,000 USD), plus roundtrip airfare, high-end car service to and from the airport, luxury hotel accommodations and £500 spending money. Plus, Bodog has been known to show it's players a pretty good time so who knows if they've got anything else up their sleeves.

Last year saw a Bodog player, Matt McCullough, take third place and claim the title of Last American Standing. His finish was good for $760,000.

Get the complete details on Bodog's WSOP Europe online qualifiers.

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Tuesday Night Poker Coming Your Way on ESPN

Date: Sun, Aug 10, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Tuesday night is poker night on ESPN. Even when the world's attention is turned into synchronized swimming, badminton, saber dueling and BB gun shooting some of you would rather be watching a few card players doing battle for a large pile of money. This week's, Tuesday August 12th, 2 hour installment, episodes 7 & 8, of exclusive coverage of the 2008 WSOP offers WSOP Event #5, $1,000 Buy-In No-Limit Hold'em with rebuys.

With a prize pool of $2,894,094 at stake the 766 starting players did a total of 2,258 rebuys. The top 72 players get paid at least $8,103. The winner takes home $636,736 and a gold bracelet. The Day 1 crowd included many well known pros including a number of past WSOP Main Event champions. By the end of the second day the crowd had been reduced to the final table nine, a final table without a single WSOP ME Champion.

The action begins at 8:00 PM EST on ESPN; but, be sure to check local TV listings for exact times in your area. Take a break from the "other" sporting event happening in China and enjoy some high stakes poker. Another dozen Flipchip photos from the three days of the event after the jump...

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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Bodog Releases $250K Poker Props

Date: Sat, Aug 9, 2008

photo courtesy BodogLife.com

Bodog loves those poker props. They had dozens up during the WSOP and now they're keeping the ball rolling with their big upcoming $250K tournament and its own set of props.

They have put odds on how well the players will do pitting the top 10 from their current yearly poker tournament leader board against each other as well as the top 10 from last year's leader board.

A few names should jump out at you immediately on there, especially the ones who appear on both yearly TLB's like "thatsNice", "daisyxoxo", "Killa_Tyven"

Head over to the Bodog Sportsbook for all their poker props including their odds on the WSOP Final Table.

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Bodog $250K Guaranteed Tournament this Sunday

Date: Fri, Aug 8, 2008

photo courtesy BodogLife.com

This Sunday Bodog is taking its weekly $100K guaranteed poker tournament and injecting with some serious cash to make it $250,000 and the biggest guaranteed prize pool in Bodog Poker history.

The $250K event has a $270 buy-in and runs Sunday, August 10th at 4 p.m. ET. First place will win over $50,000. They are also juicing the pot by giving every single player who enters $25 in credit to be used on Bodog Live.

Bodog Live lets you bet in real time on sports like baseball and football where you try and guess what will happen next.

They are also offering plenty of way to get in cheap including a 100 Seat Guaranteed satellite that is happening on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. The buy-in is $29.

There are also two ways to get into the 100 Seat Guaranteed tourney using nothing more than Bodog Poker Points. Find out more about their PTS satellites.

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Politics of Poker

Date: Fri, Aug 8, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Newsflash ... A recent independent study has determined that government (i.e. US Congress) funded studies serve no useful purpose other than to create even more confusion and results are generally ignored. Studies are great tools that allow politician to put off any commitment that could affect re-electability - "We'll study this issue until the elections are over." So, what does Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-NV, want to do? A study, of course. We'll do a one year study of Internet Poker, after all, it starts with a "P" and that rhymes with "T" and that stands for trouble!

Rep. Pete Sessions, R-TX, introduced a bill, H.R. 6663, just before the summer recess that would provide an exemption for on-line poker from the poorly defined Internet Gambling Ban (UIEGA) rammed through by former Senator Frist, R-TN. Now all the poker friends and foes are squaring off against this simple Sessions solution. Even the Poker Player Alliance (PPA) has publicly come out against the Session's bill because it would be the same as admitting that on-line poker was illegal. Right, the "same as" but not exactly the same. The basis of this PPA rejection is the bill would not clear up the confusion about the definition of unlawful Internet gambling. Perhaps we need another study to define "definitions."

The American Gaming Association, Nevada casino lobbyist, stated they are neutral on the Session's bill but would oppose any move to add it to their legislation of choice, the Shelley Berkley study. Please note, the Sessions bill would keep on-line sports betting as an illegal activity and Nevada casinos are really big on sports betting. I can open an account at a Las Vegas sports book then pick up my phone and wager on the sporting events of my choice; but, I can't fire up my computer and do the same thing. Which end of the egg is the right end to crack? Sounds a bit silly doesn't it?

You have to look far and wide to find anyone (other than the millions of US poker players that want to play on-line poker and bet on sporting events around the world without fear of arrest) that would support this legislation; but, one such person does exist. Jay Lakin, owner of Poker Source Online, has come out in favor of the bill. He said, since Nevada is the only state that allows sports betting the impact of the ban under the bill would be minimal.

And finally, why do the learned [sic] D.C. powers insist that poker and sports betting on-line be considered an evil entity. Because the Frist bill defined it as such? The truly simple answer here would be the repeal of the Frist bill and the legalization of online poker and sports wagering. Is there a sane person in the house? Paging Barney Frank, (D-MA), your seat is open in the poker room located right next to the sports book.

Wendeen H. Eolis has posted the first installment of "Inside Scoop on Poker Player Activism, Part 1" For those that don't know Wendeen just consider her to be one of the major poker industry powers and a poker player's best friend. Click on over to Poker Player Newspaper Online and read the real story.

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Excalibur to make poker room all-electronic

Date: Thu, Aug 7, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Four Winds casino in New Buffalo, Mich., was the first casino to launch with a WPT poker room sans dealers. All tables are PokerTek electronic tables, with players depositing and withdrawing to cards at an in-room cashier.

Players have a love/hate relationship with the tables. On the one hand, it doesn't feel like a real poker game without the dealer controlling the table (not to mention no chips or cards). On the other hand, less rake and no tip is always good.

Mostly because of a delay in getting approved, Las Vegas hasn't seen the poker e-tables yet, but by the end of this month, one casino will be converting to all dealer-less tables.

Excalibur informed dealers that they will close their poker room on Aug. 18, then reopen Aug. 21 with all e-tables. Floor staff will be kept to a minimum, and obviously -- no dealers.

R.I.P., Excalibur. We remember you fondly when you were in the sportsbook area, we could get a free hotdog buffet in late afternoons, and we could spin the wheel.

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2008 WSOP Poker Faces

Date: Wed, Aug 6, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

I'm continuing work with the 2008 WSOP images so today's offering is more photos from the Big Poker Show. Most are up-close moments of concentration from some familiar faces and some not so familiar faces. This gives me an opportunity to display some of my favorite shots from the 47 days of big-time poker at the Rio resort in Las Vegas. All photos were taken at the 2008 WSOP at the Rio Resort Las Vegas.

Another dozen pics after the jump...

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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Poker Chips Will Kill You?

Date: Tue, Aug 5, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Apparently the past rumors of poker chips containing lead are indeed true. Although the results of testing for lead content that was performed for a Phoenix TV station could not be duplicated and the dangerous levels they reported was never confirmed; but, it has been determined that lead is present. How much is too much? How about when it creates health problems?

The public was in an uproar when lead was discovered in children's toys coming from China and the government quickly decided that any lead was too much since "safe" levels have never really been defined and government standards continue to be lowered. Unfortunately, lead monoxide, PbO, is an excellent material to mix into ceramic products, especially ones that are going through a pill press and into a sintering oven or are mixed with an epoxy. They add weight, lubricate the dies, provide color, and react at low temperatures. Sounds like an ideal constituent for a poker chip material mix.

So are the poker chips at your favorite poker room going to kill you? You're more likely to die of clogged arteries from too many potato chips; but, you can practice a bit of lead exposure safety. When handling chips always wash your hands throughly and often, especially before eating or smoking. Never put chips in your mouth and never take them home or let the kids play with them. Adolescents are much more susceptible to lead exposure than adults.

Beginning November 1st, poker rooms in California will have to post signs stating informing customers that casino chips on the premises contain lead, a metal known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other health problems. This is the results of a settlement of a lawsuit filed by the Center for Environmental Health against Gaming Partners International, previously known as Paulson Gaming, the Las Vegas based casino chip manufacturer.

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WSOP Poker on ESPN Tuesday Night at 8 PM EST

Date: Sun, Aug 3, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Prepare yourself for another two hours of poker from the 2008 WSOP at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas. This weeks offering of installment #3 features Event #4 - $5,000 Buy-In Mixed Hold'em. For those that don't know the mix its alternating levels of Limit and No-Limit Hold'em. Listed by starting chip count with seat number in parenthesis, Tuesday night's final table will showcase - (3) David "Chino" Rheem 885,000 - (6) David Williams 678,500 - (7) Justin Bonomo 517,500 - (9) Erick Lindgren 345,000 - (1) Howard Lederer 324,500 - (2) Roland de Wolfe 194,000 - (8) Andrew Robl 162,000 - (5) Isaac Haxton 115,500 - (4) Pat Pezzin 108,500.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The event attracted 332 hopefuls vying for a prize pool of $1,560,400. The winner will receive $374,505 and a coveted gold bracelet. With the likes of Howard Lederer, David Williams, and Erick Lindgren this final table promises to be a tough road for the eventual champion.

Erick Lindgren is often referred to as the world's best poker player without a WSOP bracelet; but, that all changes on this night. As the saying goes, "Every dog has its day," and this day belongs to E-Dog. Even though Justin Bonomo began heads-up play with a 1,983,000 to 1,340,000 chip advantage he couldn't overcome the hard charging Lindgren and had to settle for second place and $230,159.

More photos after the jump of some of the well known players that didn't make the final table

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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2008 WSOP Champions Gallery Now Available

Date: Fri, Aug 1, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The first 2008 WSOP Flipchip Photo Gallery is finally available. The 54 winners of the events can be seen in living color and hi-rez quality. For your convenience we've included the amount of prize money carted away by each of the 54 bracelet winners.

As always, all of the photos in the Flipchip Photo Galleries are available and offered per our Creative Commons License. Click the handy link above and check out the 2008 WSOP Champions. We'll be adding the final championship photo of the 2008 Main Event Champion on November 11th.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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Best Las Vegas Poker Tournament Directory

Date: Thu, Jul 31, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Are you in Las Vegas, planning a trip to Vegas or looking for an excuse to enjoy some live action poker in Las Vegas? Look no further than the Poker Prof's Las Vegas Poker Tournament Directory. It is the most up-to-date, comprehensive guide to Las Vegas poker to be found anywhere. Unlike print guides that offer month old info printed in a format guaranteed to confuse the Prof's schedules are updated daily so the information is as fresh and accurate as possible.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Need another reason to make the Prof's Poker Tournament Directory your exclusive poker planning tool? How about the easiest to use search functions currently available anywhere? Choose your input parameters - calendar dates, days of the week, clock times, casinos, formats, buy-ins - and and then quickly zero in on the events that fit your preferences, schedule and wallet. You can even custom tailor the resultant data in an easy to understand style of your choice.

It's time you stop squinting at the fine print of old fashioned poker tournament directories filled with out-of-date info. Use the Poker Prof's Las Vegas Poker Tournament Directory and the only squinting you'll be doing will be recording the flash of your opponent's hole cards.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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