While the uninitiated might think of poker as just “playing cards,” for many it is a game of warfare that demands strategic thinking. Some tomes discuss optimal strategies, but few address chip usage. A new trend in tournament poker is sparking discussion, to the point that it could come up at the 2026 meeting of… Read more »
This is what is known as the “lull” in the tournament poker calendar. It is after the completion of the World Series of Poker, but it is before any real tournament action has resumed. Thus, we get sidetracked by little things like this, a playful spat between World Poker Tour Executive Tournament Director Matt Savage… Read more »
It is a question that has puzzled some of the greatest minds in tournament poker. Just how much is TOO much? How many buy-ins should be allowed, how many chips should be used, and how to deal the cards (yes, the “slide” has now taken over from the “pitch” method). But the biggest one is… Read more »
In about two weeks, Event #92, the $1979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty tournament, will take place during the 2025 World Series of Poker. As a matter of ceremony, the newest inductee for the Poker Hall of Fame will be named before the start of the tournament (for which all Hall members have a free… Read more »
The 2025 World Series of Poker continues to motor along through the steamy June days, but one thing has been determined. Following input from the public, the nominees for the 2025 Poker Hall of Fame have been announced. Ten people have been selected, but only one person will be announced publicly just ahead of the… Read more »
After several years away from the spotlight, one of poker’s most iconic tournaments is making its highly anticipated comeback. The Bay 101 Shooting Star, the tournament that pioneered the bounty format craze, will return to the World Poker Tour (WPT) schedule this October with a $5,000 Main Event and the signature bounty system that made… Read more »
Gather around, kids, as we look back to a day in poker when – SHOCKER! – you only got one shot at a poker tournament. Yes, there were those days when you laid down your buy-in and, through your guile, luck, or fortune, played your way either to a big stack or down to the… Read more »
This afternoon, Caesars Entertainment and World Series of Poker officials announced the eleven people who are the nominees for induction into the Poker Hall of Fame. The 2023 class is split almost equally between players who have had a long history on the felt versus those who have contributed from off the velvet baize. It… Read more »
Earlier this week, Caesars Entertainment and World Series of Poker officials announced that the 2023 Poker Hall of Fame nominations were live. Under this format, the fans get to nominate one person (per email address) for induction into the Poker Hall of Fame (provided they meet the qualifications – you think I’m joking? One year… Read more »
In the 21st century, our digital lives have become almost as important as our physical ones. We’ve begun to lean on many applications – or “apps” – that borderline a dependency (when is the last time that someone just DROVE somewhere without asking for directions?). It is the wave of the future, but there are… Read more »
Not resting on its laurels from the stop at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles for the Legends of Poker, the World Poker Tour has jumped back on the horse immediately. Traipsing from one side of the country to the other, the WPT has landed at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa,… Read more »
The fan ballots have been tabulated and the results are in. Yesterday, World Series of Poker officials announced the ten people who have been nominated for the sole induction into the Poker Hall of Fame this year. It is a mix of those who have been down this road before, along with a few newcomers… Read more »
With the 2022 World Series of Poker in action, it also means that it is time for the Poker Hall of Fame to consider expanding its rolls. To get that process started, the Poker Hall of Fame has opened its public nomination process today that will establish the roster of contenders for 2022. In reality,… Read more »
The nominees for induction into the Poker Hall of Fame for 2021 were announced last week and as is usual for the nominees, it was an incredibly special list. Any and all of the men nominated would be viable inductees, with obvious qualities that would set them apart. As my friend and colleague Dan Katz… Read more »
If the 2021 World Series of Poker is going on, that also means that the nominations are open for the 2021 Poker Hall of Fame. The Poker Hall of Fame, which has recognized poker greatness since 1979, has cracked the seal on their online nomination portal. Every person with a qualifying e-mail address can nominate… Read more »
2020 is pretty much a “lost year” in many aspects of life and sports. Major sports leagues did crown champions, but it just did not seem like those achievements were really earned. Poker had a similar situation, without any of the usual events associated with the game. Thus, it was announced recently that the Global… Read more »
In an announcement over their Twitter feed on Thursday, Caesars Entertainment and World Series of Poker officials announced the list of nominees for induction into the “mythical” Poker Hall of Fame (I will save my “physical” Poker Hall rant this year). The ten men on the list are no strangers to having been nominated and… Read more »
When Caesars Entertainment and the World Series of Poker postponed the 2020 WSOP, one of the things that also seemed to be postponed was the induction of new members of the Poker Hall of Fame. Usually held simultaneously beside the final table of the $10,000 Championship Event, the WSOP looked to be bypassing that during… Read more »
The COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent shutdown of pretty much all activity has come as a surprise to many businesses. Although the World Poker Tour has seen their live tournaments around the world shut down, they have been able to tread water well. How? By shifting their attention to online activities and working on improving their… Read more »
After an extensive vetting and nomination process, the Global Poker Index has announced the nominations for the 2020 Global Poker Awards. Now in its second year (and following the success of the American and European Poker Awards), the Global Poker Awards looks to honor achievements in the game by the organizations, players and industry personnel… Read more »
The World Poker Tour has moved to the sunny climes of Jacksonville, FL, and the bestbet Jacksonville card room for their WPT bestbet Bounty Scramble. Now the only bounty tournament on the WPT schedule – the Bay 101 Shooting Star used to be the other until it was dropped from the WPT schedule in 2017… Read more »
After the second ever final table deal at a World Poker Tour event – after years of claiming that there weren’t any “deals” in a WPT tournament – Executive Tournament Director Matt Savage has admitted there is a problem. In an attempt to correct this issue, Savage has opened up discussion on the subject on both… Read more »
When it comes to cinematic efforts about the poker world, there are some standouts on both the good and the bad side. Lucky You, despite a scintillating star turn by tournament director Matt Savage, isn’t considered one of the masterpieces of poker moviedom. Same goes for such films as Deal and the online poker themed… Read more »
The World Poker Tour’s stop at the Borgata Poker Open came to an end late Friday night, but to call it an ending that was deserving of one of the marquee events on the tour’s schedule would be a stretch. After five days of action that started with 1156 entries, three men – Donald Maloney,… Read more »
One of the colorful legends of the Irish poker scene, ‘Mad’ Marty Wilson, has succumbed in his battle with pancreatic cancer. The legendary gaming and poker professional was 62 years old when he passed on Friday. Remembrances on Both Sides of the Atlantic Wilson, who was a fixture at the Irish Poker Open (the second… Read more »
