WOOT!

Big poker tournaments have been broadcast for years but were not highly publicized until millions of people tuned in to watch the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event. Earlier tournaments did not employ the ‘card cam’, a small camera implanted in the table that allows the viewer to see a player’s cards during a hand. This change completely revolutionized televised poker, as commentators no longer had to blindly guess as to what hands the players were holding. At the same time that the ‘card cam’ technology was implemented, the two players mentioned above won back-to-back tournaments, inspiring thousands to take up the game and buy their way into the WSOP.

Yet, the no limit hold’em main event has a buy-in of $10,000, making it one of the more expensive events to enter. Even though all of the tournaments have grown in popularity, none have expanded as much as the main event. Why don’t amateurs enter into the smaller events, where the buy-in is smaller and the chance of winning greater? It’s because the main event is the pinnacle of poker competition, even if it is in name alone. The winner is named ‘World Champion’ for a year and gets his/her name emblazoned alongside past greats who have won the event. Imagine being able to buy yourself a spot in the Super Bowl and have a chance to make the winning kick at the end of the game; this is what it is like to play in the World Series of Poker Main Event, where the player really does have a chance to win it all. Although the immense swell of poker players has recently subsided, the game will retain its newfound increased popularity as long as amateurs continue to compete – and win – in the biggest tournament in the world.

Read it right here: Atlantic City: Where to Play Poker

(photo below - borgata poker room!)

Aah the terror of No Limit Hold’em.

Way to go Scotty, send the Shark home!

I like the respect Sammy shows to Daniel in the end. Two top players.

Anyway, I’m under the gun with KJ and as it was a very passive table I decided to limp. Five players limped behind me and the blinds call/checked. Seven players in the hand — no raise.

The flop comes KK4 rainbow. Excellent flop for me obviously and I bet out 70% of the pot in third position assuming SOMEONE will have a pocket pair or a 4 to give me some action. I get called by 3 players.

The turn brings a Jack, giving me the nuts. I check to make them think I may have been stealing on the flop and one guy behind me bets. Button moves all-in right away, I just call, and get a call behind me. The river is a ten. I move all-in and get called by K-10, cold deck for him. Button shows aces.

Slowplaying aces and then paying off with SEVEN players in (chances someone has a king are huge). BADBADBADpoker.

Daniel Alaei has KK, Jamie Gold has jack sh*t, and Alaei lays it down. Congratulations Jamie, you’re the BEST in poker!

[edit] video was removed from YouTube — bah!

So are we, Jamie. So are we…

(more on Jamie Gold on JamieGold.net!)