A Few Changes at Card Player

I am pleased to report that we at Card Player are trying to roll with the momentum that the entire poker industry is experiencing. To begin with, this is the first issue of Card Player that will appear on the newsstands. We aren't everywhere yet, but we are working diligently to get Card Player into airports and some of the large bookstore chains, such as Barnes and Noble and Borders.

We have also changed the "look" of the cover of the magazine. In the future, most Card Player covers will feature a player or a celebrity who plays poker. Some covers will continue to feature casinos, but the new focal point will be toward featuring players. Thus, winners of the World Poker Tour events, the World Series of Poker champion, and the Card Player Player of the Year will appear on the cover. So, a big win will not only get you cash and TV exposure, it will also get you on the cover of Card Player.

I was a little concerned at first that the same players would appear on the cover throughout the year, but then I realized that Michael Jordan made the cover of Sports Illustrated many times. Also, tournament fields are so large now that it will become more difficult to make final tables and achieve the ultimate goal of winning. Yes, it is more difficult to win, but Chip "less" Jett pointed out something interesting to me in Aruba when he said, "These days, you need to win only one big tournament a year instead of three."

And Card Player covers now contain short phrases about articles in the magazine to grab the attention of new readers and provide a glimpse into what is in the magazine. Additionally, the magazine's theme line has been changed from "For Those Who Play to Win!" to "The Poker Authority." This change was made due to the importance of having the word "poker" on the cover for newsstands and for Internet search engines to find Card Player.

On a very sad note, Jim Albrecht passed away a few weeks ago. Bellagio will host a $540 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament on Dec. 17 in which 10 percent of the prize pool will go toward helping to pay Jim's medical bills prior to his passing. If you are at Bellagio for the Five-Diamond Poker Classic but won't be able to play in the event, you can make a donation to help the cause by giving it to Doug Dalton or Jack McClelland.

Now that I am wrapping up this column, I am noticing that it hasn't contained one ounce of humor and I haven't alienated any of my friends. So, I guess I will attack my father while I still have a few words to kill. I think it is funny that he finished fourth in the Ultimate Poker Classic and now thinks he is Stuey Ungar. So, I must say: Dad, before you get too cocky, try learning how to read the board in hold'em and try to play one session without knocking your chips all over the table.

Good, I am back to my old self.