In the past decade or so, it has become common practice for a certain percentage of a tournament prize pool to be withheld for dealers. By definition, a tip is an optional payment, usually to express appreciation for excellent service. As it relates to tournament poker, tips have traditionally been left to the discretion of individual players. But in the past decade or so, it has become common practice for a certain percentage of a tournament prize pool to be withheld for dealers.
Daniel Alaei is primarily a high-stakes cash-game player, though he has more than $1.5 million in tournament winnings to show for his limited time on the circuit. In the summer of 2006, Alaei won his first World Series of Poker bracelet when he defeated a final table that included tough competitors like David Williams, Men Nguyen, and Allen Cunningham to take down the $5,000 buy-in no-limit deuce-to-seven lowball event.
This is my first column for Card Player magazine. I'd like to thank those of you who have followed my blog on CardPlayer.com, and to those of you who haven't, what's up with that? This column will discuss interesting hands from both tournaments and cash games that are somewhat controversial. The column will present multiple viewpoints from different pro players. I will be collaborating with Michael Binger, who will discuss the mathematical analysis of each hand.
At only 27 years old, Gavin Griffin already holds one of the most impressive collections of poker's most prestigious titles. The former poker dealer won the $3,000 buy-in pot-limit hold'em event at the 2004 World Series of Poker, a win that, at the time, bestowed upon him the record as the youngest bracelet winner in history.
Despite its relatively young four-year existence, the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship can now lay claim to a little historical significance in the poker world. Two opponents, best known for being the bridesmaid, not the bride, stepped into the spotlight of the final table for yet another shot at redemption. Chris "Jesus" Ferguson made his third trip to the finals in four years, but had yet to claim the title.
In the middle decades of the 20th century, while presidents, generals, and scientific geniuses were playing poker to unwind after earthshaking workdays, reporter Allen Dowling and his newspaper cronies were doing much the same thing. The stakes of their jobs may not have involved the survival of civilization, but the dollars and bragging rights they competed for were just as important to them, as they were to the millions of other folks playing in kitchens and basements, fire stations, and VFW cardrooms.
We've been adding a slew of new writers to the mix here at Card Player in 2008, and I hope that you have enjoyed the new insights that these players have brought. From Gus Hansen talking tournament poker intricacies, to a dissection of winning pot-limit Omaha strategies, to the biggest cash-game players in the business sharing profitable live-game strategy, all of us at Card Player hope that these quality additions aid in your development, and increase your profits, as a player.
Recently, 665 of us began play in the L.A. Poker Classic at Commerce Casino in L.A. This World Poker Tour event featured a $10,000 buy-in and a $1.6 million first-place prize. I was extra motivated to play my best poker, for several reasons. First, despite a pretty good track record, I have never won a WPT event, and the new players like to remind of that little fact. Second, I skipped this event last year, and I really regretted missing it--as it really is a "classic."
We recently wrapped up the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. While almost every player in the tournament was a top-notch pro, I was still hopeful that I could draw a celebrity player or an online qualifier. I wasn't so lucky, as I drew Scott Fischman. As I said, most everyone there was tough, but I know that Scott is mainly an online player, which means that he most likely plays a lot of heads-up no-limit hold'em.
Recently I was asked by a wannabe pro what style of hold'em I recommend. He had read several books offering different advice. One recommended that he play very tight-aggressive, even to the point of folding hands with which he thought he had the best of it and try to make his money by moving on pots after he had gained the respect of his opponents.
