Lucky Dog Poker from Creators Syndicate

Reader Shares WSOP Thrills, Another Asks About 'Guts' for 07/07/2009

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

This week a reader in Wyoming tells of his experience at the World Series of Poker and a reader in Florida wants to know about the card game "guts." Let's check them out.

Q: I got to play four hours in Event 39 at the World Series and had a great time. I misplayed my pocket aces but won a big pot with pocket queens. I learned a few things that I will use to get closer to the mo ...

Updated: Tue Jul 07, 2009

It's Time for a Pro to Win Back Poker's World Champion Title for 07/14/2009

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A pro — perhaps even one whose name you'd recognize — figures to be crowned champion at the 2009 World Series of Poker.

That hasn't happened since 2001, when Juan Carlos Mortensen won the title. Two key factors have pushed amateurs to victory the past seven years: luck, which no one can control, and the "Moneymaker Effect," which sent the main event spiraling out of ...

Updated: Tue Jul 14, 2009

Phil Ivey Steals the Headlines for 2009 WSOP's "November Nine" for 07/21/2009

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Compelling storylines for the 2009 World Series of Poker main event are guaranteed to build anticipation to a fever pitch by the time the final table is contested in November.

With cheering crowds jammed close to the action last week at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas, this year's "November Nine" emerged into the bright glare of poker's biggest stage, each assured of at least a $1. ...

Updated: Tue Jul 21, 2009

Fresh Poker Shows on TV Have Readers Ready for Action for 07/28/2009

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Poker on TV gets refreshed this week with the launch of a new show on NBC pitting amateurs heads-up against big-name pros, plus the start of 16 straight weeks of World Series coverage on ESPN. LuckyDog Poker readers spoke up about the new offerings.

Q: The new "Face the Ace" poker show on NBC sounds interesting, but what will viewers think of the amateur who risks big money to ...

Updated: Tue Jul 28, 2009

Reader asks: When is it correct to chase? for 08/04/2009

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A reader in Atlanta wants to know when to "chase" a hand, and an online player seeks advice on which type of tournament to enter. Let's try to help.

Q: I had A-7 of spades and the flop was J-9-5 with two spades. My stack was 9,655 chips and the pot was 3,800 after an all-in. I would have had to call for 3,000. I folded. Should I have chased after the flush for that amount? I so ...

Updated: Tue Aug 04, 2009

Four New Rules Adopted By Tournament Directors Group for 08/11/2009

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Beyond pre-set betting limits, many home poker games among family and friends don't follow a long list of rules. That's fine as long as players know what to expect.

That same informal approach, however, would cause chaos in proper card rooms, which bring together strangers of varied backgrounds and experience levels.

Enter the Poker Tournament Directors Association. Formed in 2001 ...

Updated: Tue Aug 11, 2009

Luckydog Runs Good, Then Bad in Online Charity Tournament for 08/18/2009

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

As the 2 p.m. starting time approached for last Saturday's online charity hold 'em tournament to benefit people in Darfur, Africa, I realized two things:

— My prediction that the anticipated $100,000 prize pool for the Full Tilt Poker event actually would grow to twice that size was coming true.

— My chances of winning the $48,274.97 for first place were sketchy.

< ...

Updated: Tue Aug 18, 2009

Player Asks: How Do You Play Spread-Limit Texas Hold'em? for 08/25/2009

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Readers this week ask about spread-limit hold 'em tournaments and the new TV show "Face the Ace." Let's deal out some answers.

Q: I saw an ad in Card Player magazine for a series of tournaments this month at Bay 101 Casino in California described as "spread-limit hold 'em." I've played both fixed-limit and no-limit hold 'em, but what is "spread-limit hold 'em?&qu ...

Updated: Tue Aug 25, 2009

Was Ol' Luckydog Cheated in This Online Tournament Hand? for 09/01/2009

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Let's begin with this: I believe that, by far, most poker games played live and online are honest. That said, I also believe I recently was a victim of collusion in a hand during an online tournament.

Which online poker site hosted the event isn't at issue here, so there's no need to identify it. Truth is, the site has a great reputation, and it quickly agreed to investigate.

Stil ...

Updated: Tue Sep 01, 2009

Texas Player Asks If All-In Move With Pocket Jacks Was Correct for 09/08/2009

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A reader in Texas questions his play with pocket jacks in a tournament after being re-raised by an opponent in the small blind. Let's sort through his options.

Q: Early in a tournament with blinds at 10-20, I raised to 75 with pocket jacks and the small-blind player re-raised to 275. My initial reaction was to just call and then move all-in after the flop if no overcards came, which they ...

Updated: Tue Sep 08, 2009

New Card Room Player Should at Least Know Basic Hold 'em Odds for 09/15/2009

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

This week, a newcomer to card room poker asks how important math is in playing Texas hold 'em. Let's crunch some numbers.

Q: I've been playing poker in home games for years, but just started playing hold 'em in a local card room about a month ago. I hear players talking about odds and outs at the table, but just how important is that stuff? — Brian H. in the Illinois Quad-Cities.
Updated: Tue Sep 15, 2009

Man's Victory in Ladies Poker Tourney Not Good for the Game for 09/22/2009

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

People climb Mount Everest because it's there. They parachute out of perfectly good airplanes because they can. I get all of that.

What baffles me is why a man would play in a ladies poker tournament. It happened again Sept. 11-12 in Atlantic City, and would have been worth only a tournament footnote except he won the danged thing.

Abraham Korotki, a 65-year-old semi-retired real ...

Updated: Tue Sep 22, 2009

Readers Ask About TV Poker and Online Cheating Incident for 09/29/2009

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

E-mails about televised poker and Ol' LuckyDog's experience against probable cheaters in an online stud tournament highlight readers' inquiries this week.

Q: When will we be able to see new episodes of "High Stakes Poker" on the Game Show Network? It's one of my favorite shows. — Susan G., no hometown given.

A: Although the announcement seemed to come late, Poker P ...

Updated: Tue Sep 29, 2009

Barry Shulman's Win in Europe Adds Big Subplot to WSOP for 10/06/2009

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The World Series of Poker just gained an extraordinary subplot for its main event final table coming in early November.

In an epic heads-up duel that lasted until nearly daybreak last Friday in London, poker media mogul Barry Shulman defeated popular pro Daniel Negreanu to claim the WSOP-Europe main event bracelet and set the stage for a possible unprecedented finish next month in Las Ve ...

Updated: Tue Oct 06, 2009

LUCKYDOG POKER for 10/13/2009

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

This week, readers in Florida and Texas ask about the dealer's "tap" and how to handle a maniac at the table. Let's try to help.

Q: The poker room where I play does not require that dealers tap the table before dealing burn cards in flop games. This has caused premature turn and river cards, which then must be reshuffled back into the deck. They say the tap slows play. Is there ...

Updated: Tue Oct 13, 2009

WSOP Floor Supervisor Seeks Respect for Poker's Traditions for 10/20/2009

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Spend a little time with Don Naifeh, and you'll be struck by his passion for poker, golf and the traditions linked to both games.

Indeed, if you have played in a qualifying satellite at the World Series of Poker, or if you read golf books, you may already know these two things about Naifeh (pronounced NAY-fee):

— As a World Series floor supervisor, he perhaps has welcomed mo ...

Updated: Tue Oct 20, 2009

Phil Ivey -- aka 'Tiger Woods of Poker' -- at WSOP History's Doorstep for 10/27/2009

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Phil Ivey says he doesn't deserve the label branding him the "Tiger Woods of Poker." But is he right?

Ivey's presence at the World Series of Poker main event final table, which plays out Nov. 7-9 in Las Vegas, has created a buzz like never before. The acknowledged greatest player in the game going after poker's biggest prize is a storyline for the ages.

Media coverage of ...

Updated: Tue Oct 27, 2009

Ol' LuckyDog Sorts Through World Series Final Table to Pick a Winner for 11/03/2009

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

With the highly anticipated World Series of Poker main event final table set to play out Saturday and late Monday, then aired on ESPN Tuesday night, an interesting question arises:

Which of these outcomes would benefit the game most?

— Is it a victory by popular Las Vegas pro Phil Ivey, the acknowledged best player in the game, which would thrill poker fans everywhere and br ...

Updated: Tue Nov 03, 2009

Youth Prevails Again at Record-Setting World Series of Poker Finale for 11/10/2009

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

When the cheers finally subsided early Tuesday morning inside the Penn and Teller Theater at the Rio, the poker world was left with an unmistakable message: Youth WILL be served on the game's highest stage.

For the second straight year, the World Series main event produced its youngest champion ever when online poker pro Joe Cada of Shelby Township, Mich., completed a remarkable surge fr ...

Updated: Tue Nov 10, 2009

Reader Believes WSOP Main Event Was Just a 'Luckfest' for 11/17/2009

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Last week's rousing finish at the World Series of Poker main event stirred questions from readers. Let's answer them.

Q: It seems to me that all you have to do to win the WSOP is get your chips in bad and then get lucky. Joe Cada wasn't the best player, just the luckiest. Do you agree? — Jody N. in Geneseo, Ill.

A: There's truth in your assessment, Jody, but that's not the ...

Updated: Tue Nov 17, 2009