Friday, March 14, 2008

Poker News - Women's Poker Spotlight: Jennifer Harman-Traniello Hosts SPCA Charity Events

Women's Poker Spotlight: Jennifer Harman-Traniello Hosts SPCA Charity Events
In a time when it seems stylish to play in and support one's favorite charity poker tournament, Jennifer Harman-Traniello rises above the rest, putting on not one but two events in support of her favorite cause, the Nevada Society...

Huck Seed wins Canadian Open
Huck Seed, the 1996 World Series of Poker main event champion, won the 2008 Canadian Open Poker Championship in Calgary, Alberta. Seed wrapped up the win on Sunday for the $100,000 first prize. The win comes on the heels of his third-place finish at the 2008 ��...full article

230px-huck_seed.jpgHuck Seed, the 1996 World Series of Poker main event champion, won the 2008 Canadian Open Poker Championship in Calgary, Alberta.

Seed wrapped up the win on Sunday for the $100,000 first prize. The win comes on the heels of his third-place finish at the 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship

According to wickedchopspoker.com:

The tournament was a $5,000 buy-in event featuring 128 players competing in a heads-up format. Among the big name pros who competed were Bill Edler, Mel Judah, Gavin Smith, Antonio Esfandiari, Greg Mueller, Phil Laak and Jennifer Tilly, a woman.

Seed, who first/last hit it big when he won the 1996 WSOP Main Event, was up against Canadian poker pro Brad “Yukon” Booth at the final table, and came away the victor, if you some how didn’t read between the lines of this post. For the win, Seed takes home $100,000. Booth cashes $50,160.

“This was an amazing tournament in terms of both structure and quality of players” said Seed after his win. “I love it when the cream rises to the top and I get a chance to play with the best in the world. I am so happy that I finally won a heads up tournament!”

Whole thing here.

Gavin Smith took fourth in the event, and 2005 WSOP Main Event champ Joe Hachem finished sixth.

For more on the tournament go here.



#371 – NBC Heads-Up Championship #21 – Queens Rule – Match Two - Ferguson
Cards were in the air for Match #2 in the best-of-three format at about 7:45 PM. Andy Bloch was responsible for me meeting Penn Jillette and Jimmy Carter on the same day. Chris used to be an avid basketball and...

PokerStars.net EPT Warsaw, Day 1b: Pedersen, Schulze Top Day
Day 1b at the PokerStars.net European Poker Tour Polish Open featured an even more star-studded field than Day 1a, with former World Champion Greg Raymer joining his Team PokerStars teammate Luca Pagano and European tournament...

‘60 Minutes’ may do Absolute Poker scandal story
Nat Arem, one of the people who investigated and uncovered the Absolute Poker superuser scandal, wrote on his blog that “60 Minutes” may be doing a story on online poker and AP. While the story is far from a sure thing, Arem believes the show is ��...full article

absolute_logo2.jpgNat Arem, one of the people who investigated and uncovered the Absolute Poker superuser scandal, wrote on his blog that “60 Minutes” may be doing a story on online poker and AP.

While the story is far from a sure thing, Arem believes the show is in the middle of working on it, and he thinks it may have a negative tilt/impact on online poker.

(more…)



#359 – NBC Heads-Up Championship #10 – Spades Wrap-Up
We’re less than an hour from starting the second round (a/k/a “round of 32”) and I still want to post a preview of the coming matches, so let me summarize very briefly how the Spades bracket sorted itself out last...

New WSOP rule limits celebration in 2008
The floor shows of the likes of Hevad Khan and Humberto Brenes most likely won’t be on display at the 2008 edition of the World Series of Poker. If they do, they might find themselves on the rail. Harrah’s Entertainment released the 2008 edition of its ��...full article

wsop-chip1.jpgThe floor shows of the likes of Hevad Khan and Humberto Brenes most likely won’t be on display at the 2008 edition of the World Series of Poker. If they do, they might find themselves on the rail.

Harrah’s Entertainment released the 2008 edition of its rulebook, which included this entry, which is obviously aimed at stopping the ridiculous yet entertaining outbursts on the poker room floor during WSOP events:

“Excessive celebration through extended theatrics, inappropriate behavior, or physical actions, gestures, or conduct may be subject to penalty. Any player that engages a member of the tournament staff during the celebration or utilizes any property of Harrah’s will be penalized in accordance with Rules No. 31 and/or 51. Harrah’s property includes but is not limited to chairs, tournament tables, and stanchions.” ? Rule No. 36

Here are some other interesting rule changes, listed at cardplayer.com:

“Floor People: Floor People are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process. Unusual circumstances can on occasion dictate that decisions in the interest of fairness take priority over the technical rules. The floor person’s decision is final.” ? Rule No. 44

“A player who is disqualified shall have his or her chips removed from play and no refund will be provided to that disqualified player. Any player who forfeits play for health or other personal reasons after the start of a tournament will have his or her chips blinded off accordingly.” ? Rule No. 52

Nixed Rule:

Last year’s controversial rule that stated, “At the end of a hand, if a player exposes one hole card, he or she must also show the other hole card if asked to do so by any player,” has been removed. Players will now be allowed to show only one card, but only after the hand is over.

Cell Phones and Electronic Devices:

The cell-phone rule is further clarified in that they cannot be used unless the player is at least one table-length away from his assigned table. Players who use the phone at the table will have their hand killed or receive a missed-hand penalty if not involved in a hand. Players should also take note that electronic devices are prohibited that can access the Internet, send or receive SMS texts, or have communication devices. Blackberrys, iPhones, iTouch, and Treos will not be allowed at the table.

Whole thing here.

You can find a listing of all the rules for 2008 here.



Congressman calls for details of WTO internet gambling settlement
In a move that could affect internet gambling, Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) asked the U.S. Trade Representative to disclose trade concessions made to foreign trading partners without Congressional approval, according to a press release issued by the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. The move means ��...full article

generic_laptop_shooting_money4.jpgIn a move that could affect internet gambling, Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) asked the U.S. Trade Representative to disclose trade concessions made to foreign trading partners without Congressional approval, according to a press release issued by the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative.

The move means Congressional intervention may be on the horizon regarding internet gambling, perhaps voiding commitments the USTR gave to the European Union, among others. Previously, the U.S. had policies to keep European and other foreign internet gambling ventures out of the United States.

According to the release:

In a letter circulated to all members of Congress last week, DeFazio encouraged his colleagues to join him in calling for the USTR to provide a copy of the concession agreement between the United States and the European Union. The USTR had recently rejected a Freedom of Information Act request for the same document, claiming the agreement was classified for national security reasons. “There is a concern that the USTR may have been ambitious in its use of a ‘national security’ classification to avoid any publicity of which new business sectors are to be subject to the GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) treaty,” said DeFazio’s March 6 letter.

And later:

Congressman DeFazio’s request is an indication that the Administration’s unilateral action to attempt to resolve the WTO Internet gambling dispute is in jeopardy. “Congress should have been consulted before the US agreed to these trade concessions,” said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. “We hope that Mr. DeFazio’s colleagues will join him in demanding more transparency, communication, and consultation from the Administration on Internet gambling. A non-discriminatory market for Internet gambling in the United States will restore integrity to the international trading system.”

The request is the latest in a series of actions regarding U.S. policy toward foreign gambling interests.

According to the release, last year, Antigua successfully challenged the regulation of Internet gambling in the United States with the World Trade Organization. The European Union announced earlier this week that it will open an investigation into a possible international trade violation by the US on this issue.

Legislation introduced by Representative Barney Frank (D-MA), the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2046), if passed would change U.S. policy on Internet gambling — allowing regulation — and it would resolve the international trade dispute.



Jennifer Harman to host charity tournament on FTP
Poker pro Jennifer Harman is hosting a $10 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament on Full Tilt Poker this week to benefit the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Half of the proceeds from the event, to be held this Sunday, March 16 at 9 ��...full article

jen_harman1.jpgPoker pro Jennifer Harman is hosting a $10 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament on Full Tilt Poker this week to benefit the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Half of the proceeds from the event, to be held this Sunday, March 16 at 9 p.m. EST., will go to the organization

According to cardplayer.com:

As one of the founding Team Full Tilt members, Harman has rounded up a few other teammates to play in the event, including Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, John Juanda, Phil Gordon, Erick Lindgren, Erik Seidel, Clonie Gowen, Andy Bloch, Mike Matusow, Gus Hansen, Allen Cunningham, and Kristy Gazes.

Also scheduled to compete in the event is professional motocross champion Jimmy “BTNFLY” Button, professional snowboarders Jeff “SMAKEbreak” Brushie, Ross Powers, and Kris “WheatSApuff” Swierz, as well as X-Games wakeboard medalists Parks “pbpbpb” Bonifay, Shane “jeanyes407” Bonifay, and Danny “d9bigtime” Harf.

Half of the prize pool will be donated to the NSPCA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting humane education and making referrals for lower-cost spay/neuter and vaccination services. The no-kill sanctuary fights to save animals from eradication, and the Animal Lovers event is looking to enhance the organization’s ability to expand facilities and services in order to protect hundreds of animals.

Whole thing here.

Registration for the tournament is already open. If you want to join FTP to play in the tournament, you can use the referral code “ANIMALLOVERS” to benefit the NSPCA.


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