Lucky Dog Poker from Creators Syndicate

Players Reveal What Poker Has Taught Them About Themselves, Life for 02/14/2012

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Many poker players apply math and people-reading skills at the table. The better they do at both, the greater chance they have to beat the game.

But what, in return, has poker given them?

At a recent charity hold 'em tournament, I asked 10 players this question: "What have you learned about yourself, and about life, from being a poker player?"

Here's what they sai ...

Updated: Tue Feb 14, 2012

WSOP Eyes More Records With Added Events and Tables for 2012 for 02/07/2012

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Raise your hand if you were surprised last year when the World Series of Poker broke the overall record with 75,672 entries.

Yeah, me, too.

The 2011 total prize pool was a staggering $191,999,010 — also the largest ever and no doubt a shocker for even die-hard WSOP fans.

For one thing, online poker evaporated in the U.S. after the Department of Justice indictments on ...

Updated: Tue Feb 07, 2012

To Win $10,000 WSOP Seat, Inexperienced Players Need a Plan for 01/31/2012

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

The range of poker skills at this weekend's charity tournament in Rock Island, Ill., will be as wide as you can imagine.

Consider this email from Tom S., a local amateur player:

"The tournament you wrote about last week seems too good to pass up, even though I play very little poker. You didn't offer much strategy, however, and I could use more help!"

So, here are ...

Updated: Tue Jan 31, 2012

$10,000 World Series Seat up for Grabs at Quad-Cities Poker Fundraiser for 01/24/2012

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

The biggest Quad-Cities poker event since casino boats with card rooms floated into town 20 years ago is just a few days away.

Unofficially, the Texas hold 'em fundraising tournament on Feb. 4 at the Jumers Casino Event Center in Rock Island, Ill., will:

— Attract the largest local tournament field ever — 400 players — if it maxes out the tables for two qualifyin ...

Updated: Tue Jan 24, 2012

Angelo's ‘Rubber Band Story' Wraps Great Poker Tips in Eloquent Writing for 01/17/2012

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Tell a beginning poker player to fold more hands for better results, and you'll likely get a return stare that screams, "I want to play, not watch!"

Now consider how poker coach and author Tommy Angelo conveys that same message to players in his 2011 book, "A Rubber Band Story and Other Poker Tales."

"I played poker for 10 years before I discovered folding ...

Updated: Tue Jan 17, 2012

Despite WSOP Fame, Darvin Moon Stands Out As a Regular Guy for 01/10/2012

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Darvin Moon is a throwback.

In today's frantic poker world — where youthful aggressors dominate, where the game's icons become villains — Darvin Moon stands out as something else: a down-to-earth guy comfortable playing the smallest game in the room.

That's what happened Friday night when Moon and two buddies — en route to north-central Iowa to hunt white-tailed ...

Updated: Tue Jan 10, 2012

Will 2012 Mark Your First Card Room Visit? Here's What to Know for 01/03/2012

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

It's here, 2012 — the year you've resolved to finally play poker in a real card room!

Sure, you've played for pocket change on the kitchen table or tried online games, but now you're ready for "real poker" with professional dealers, top-quality tables and strangers who want to win your money.

First, you need a plan and a little strategy advice updated from LuckyDog ...

Updated: Tue Jan 03, 2012

Poker Pros' Playing Tips Join Holiday Gifts This Season for 12/27/2011

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

'Tis the holiday season, so some gift-giving seems in order. How about a few tips from pros?

This collection of can't-miss suggestions to make you a better player is updated from LuckyDog Poker archives, based on interviews with some top players:

— From Greg Raymer, World Series of Poker main event champ in 2004:

You need to practice, and you need to learn more. To pr ...

Updated: Tue Dec 27, 2011

Poker Survey Seeks to Define Who Players Are, What They Want for 12/20/2011

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Poker players are hard to pigeonhole.

We come in all ages, shapes and backgrounds. We play our favorite game for a variety of reasons. We are blue collar, white collar and no collar.

We're night owls, parents, students, competitors, gamblers, conservatives, risk-takers and a 60-70 million block of citizens whose beliefs, in the aggregate, encompass every side of every political, s ...

Updated: Tue Dec 20, 2011

$1 Million Buy-in Tourney Now Official WSOP Bracelet Event for 12/13/2011

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Twenty years passed before the World Series of Poker main event awarded $1 million for first place (1991). Online poker's first million-dollar top prize happened just nine months ago.

Can you say "chicken feed"?

Coming in early July at the 2012 WSOP is a no-limit hold 'em event that costs $1 million — just to enter! That's a record for poker.

As of last week ...

Updated: Tue Dec 13, 2011

Sizing Up Recent Poker Headlines: Are They Good News or Bad? for 12/06/2011

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Recent poker headlines left players wondering: Was that good news or bad news for the game? Let's see how they score.

— Headline: "U.S. Rep. Barney Frank won't seek re-election in 2012."

My first reaction was that losing the longtime Massachusetts Democrat — poker's staunchest and most active ally in Congress — had to be bad.

After all, from 2007 ...

Updated: Tue Dec 06, 2011

Player's Mistake a Learning Moment, Not Just an Embarrassment for 11/29/2011

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

A "dumb mistake" during a no-limit Texas hold 'em tournament and a question about local charity poker events get attention this week.

Q: Normally I check my hole cards on every street, but on this one hand I didn't. Don't know why. I lost almost all my chips and busted out a little later. What do you say to that? — Bob R. in Davenport, Iowa.

A: Two words, my friend ...

Updated: Tue Nov 29, 2011

Fallout From Poker's ‘Black Friday' in April Still Impacting Players for 11/22/2011

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

For most poker players, this week's Black Friday launch of the Christmas shopping season won't be nearly as traumatic as April 15's Black Friday, which knocked the poker world for a loop.

Seven months ago, most players weren't at all ready for the startling U.S. Department of Justice indictments that effectively shut down online poker in the nation and separated players from their frozen ...

Updated: Tue Nov 22, 2011

WSOP Ladies Champ Visits Home, Ready to Share Winning Formula for 11/15/2011

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

When Marsha Wolak returns to the Quad-Cities to visit family and friends for Thanksgiving, she will bring a new piece of jewelry acquired this summer — the 2011 World Series Ladies Poker Champion gold bracelet.

At a stop-and-say-hello public party while in town — set for 8:30-10 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve at the Edje nightclub at Jumers Casino — the Rock Island, Ill., native ...

Updated: Tue Nov 15, 2011

What Would You Change About Poker to Improve the Game? for 11/08/2011

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

If you could change something that would improve poker, what would it be?

I wondered how players would answer that wide-open question, so I corralled a few as they arrived Friday at the convention center in Bettendorf, Iowa, for the annual United Way Texas hold 'em fundraiser.

"What would I change? Me losing," said Paul, with a grin. "That's probably not what you' ...

Updated: Tue Nov 08, 2011

Poker About to Crown New Champ, So Don't Forget Your Prop Bets for 11/01/2011

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700

The 2011 World Series of Poker main event final table reconvenes Sunday before a cheering live crowd in Las Vegas, and almost live on a TV or computer near you.

Meanwhile, get your prop bets ready.

Yes, in a WSOP first, you can make proposition bets on several outcomes at poker's biggest tournament, which plays from nine competitors down to three on Sunday, then crowns a world cha ...

Updated: Tue Nov 01, 2011

15-Minute Broadcast Delay Could Change WSOP Final-Table Dynamic for 10/25/2011

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

A dramatic change in televised coverage of the World Series of Poker final table, plus finding places to play during holiday travel, are on readers' minds this week.

Q: I see that every hand of the WSOP "November Nine" will be televised, with hole cards. Isn't that a bit much? — James S. in Dallas

A: Yes and no, James. It depends on how big of a poker fan you are a ...

Updated: Tue Oct 25, 2011

Ol' LuckyDog Happy Canterbury Park Keeps Stud Tourney Alive for 10/18/2011

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

After signing up for last week's seven card stud tournament at Canterbury Park's Fall Poker Classic in Shakopee, Minn., I went straight to tourney co-director Jan Phillips to say thanks for keeping my favorite game alive.

"You're welcome," she said. "We hear that from other players, too. They're glad we still offer stud in our tournament lineup."

Not that long ...

Updated: Tue Oct 18, 2011

Iowa Player's Bluff Required Poker Face, Telling a Believable Story for 10/11/2011

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Is the art of a well-timed bluff getting shoved aside by the aggressive raising and re-raising tactics used today by so many no-limit Texas hold 'em players? Not for this tournament player in Iowa.

Q: "I really wasn't catching great cards the other night, but I still took first-place money thanks in part to a few well-timed bluffs. This means my game is improving, right?" &mdas ...

Updated: Tue Oct 11, 2011

Poker's Charitable Side Embraces Victims of Deadly Joplin Tornado for 10/04/2011

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Pick almost any day of the year, and there probably are hundreds of fundraising poker tournaments happening across the nation.

Some of these events are in high-traffic casino locations such as Las Vegas or Atlantic City, but most are in Everytown, U.S.A., at the local community center or American Legion hall.

Some are high-end tournaments featuring top pro and A-list celebrities t ...

Updated: Tue Oct 04, 2011