Recently, the World Poker Tour announced that, starting with Season Seven, their final table broadcasts would air on Fox Sports Network and its affiliates. Such a move could sever as a bounce-back for the struggling poker franchise. After their long and successful five-year run on the Travel Channel, their move to Game Show Network did not garner them as much attention as founder Steven Lipscomb had previously enjoyed. Even when the channel paired the WPT final table shows with their broadcasts of High Stakes Poker, their ratings numbers suffered. This setback, along with the failure of their Professional Poker Tour series, forced WPT executives to make a move.

With their new partnership with FSN, combined with their relationship with the MGM/Mirage casino chain, WPT is taking dead aim at the combined forces of the World Series of Poker Circuit, Harrah’s and ESPN. The widespread coverage offered by FSN will attract many non-poker sports fans in ways that neither the Travel Channel nor Game Show Network could provide.

For the regular touring players, such competition could result in more opportunities for exposure, which could lead to more endorsement and sponsorship deals available outside of poker.

For the Joe-Average player who want to live his dream of playing at a TV final table, more exposure could lead to more chances to realize that dream and more satellite tournaments to help pave the way.

For the host casinos, more TV time inevitably leads to more foot traffic through the doors. The hopes of these casino executives lie in having these poker players, students and fans of the game stop on their way to the tournament room to sit down at the slot machines or blackjack tables.

For TV viewers, it gives us a chance to see more of our favorite players at their best (or worst), glued to our screens, hanging on every move.

Has it really been five years since Chris Moneymaker’s miracle run at the World Series of Poker Main Event? Most players, especially those introduced to the game through those broadcasts, remember where they were when they saw the pudgy Tennessee accountant face down the slick, experienced pro Sam Farha.

After watched that display of skill, luck and fearlessness, many young men (and a few young ladies) put down their toys and picked up poker chip sets. Cards flew around kitchen tables and frat houses across the country. Travelers to Las Vegas who would normally confine their explorations to the glitzy Strip casinos soon began to venture through the grimy confines of Fremont Street and took a seat at Binion’s, as if stepping into the batter’s box at Yankee Stadium.

In the months and years following Moneymaker’s triumph, the popularity of no-limit hold’em tournaments exploded:

• World Series of Poker reruns on ESPN continue to draw in viewers.
• The World Poker Tour was established and grew into the Travel Channel’s #1 show during its run on that network.
• On the heels of the WPT’s success, Harrah’s established their own tour, the World Series of Poker Circuit, at its own casinos around the country, with the final tables taped for ESPN.
• Hollywood stars jumped on the hold’em bandwagon with Celebrity Poker Showdown on Bravo.

At this year’s Main Event, for the first time ever, tournament officials have delayed the start of the Final Table until November 10th. Why the wait of over four months?

Four letters: ESPN.

Instead of having viewers watch a Final Table from months earlier, the cable network plans to air the action on November 11th. The idea, according to some, is to maintain interest in the outcome. “If Joe Channelsurfer already knows who’s going to win,” the reasoning goes, “why should he watch?”

Such a delay, built in expressly to enable both Harrah’s and ESPN to stoke the embers of the TV poker fad, can serve only to hurt the participants. While some players may lose that needed adrenaline edge after such a long layoff, others may be tempted to win by compromising the integrity of the game. Four months is more than adequate time to set up an elaborate cheating system or a collusion arrangement. If such unscrupulous behavior ever came to light, it would damage everyone involved. Most of all, viewers would lose faith in what they were watching. If Harrah’s and ESPN aren’t careful, their carefully honed product could become a “sports-entertainment” joke with outcomes having as much credibility as the next WWE pay-per-view.

Like many modern pro sports leagues, Harrah’s and WSOP officials have sacrificed themselves and their integrity to the gods of the flickering screen. As players and fans of the game, we only can hope that the November Nine choose not to lay their ethics on that same altar.

Up until recently, the poker media have portrayed veteran pro Thuan “Scotty” Nguyen as a pleasant, fun-loving character. Famous for his boisterous laugh, gold medallions and referring to everyone he meets as “Baby”, Nguyen often came across as one of the most enjoyable players to watch. Even when playing against him, opponents often found themselves caught up in his ability to turn the tense atmosphere of a major tournament into a home-game-style party.

That image has suffered since the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event. With the final two tables in play, Nguyen was the chip leader. By all accounts, he should have made the final table and stood a very good chance of joining Moss, Brunson, Ungar and Chan as the only multiple Main Event champions. Instead, he attempted to force his will on European pro Philip Hilm, who refused to be intimidated by the former champion. Nguyen’s ego and recklessness cost him his final table berth and earned him an eleventh-place finish.

At this year’s World Series of Poker, Nguyen won the prestigious $50,000 buy-in HORSE event. Most poker experts consider this to be the toughest tournament in the history of the Series: the field is almost exclusively made up of experienced pros, the buy-in keeps out all but the most elite players and the mixture of games requires the highest skill levels of the participants. Nguyen’s victory under such circumstances, especially after his flameout in last year’s Main Event, should have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

Instead of displaying the class and dignity befitting his stature as the “Prince of Poker”, Nguyen chose to behave so disgracefully that his fellow pros have questioned both his state of mind and his sobriety. Some examples of his outlandish behavior:

• During a seven-card stud hand, Nguyen showed his hole cards to the crowd.
• In another hand, he left the table to high-five audience members before the action had finished.
• He hectored young pro Michael DeMichele on his behavior while acting worse by the moment.
• His repeated use of foul language at the table while calling for more cocktails did not draw a penalty from tournament officials, unlike in previous years with players such as Mike Matusow and Sean Sheikhan.

Many players have speculated that Nguyen’s behavior at the HORSE tournament reflects a “hangover” from last year’s Main Event failure. Nguyen also issued an online apology to his fans, though that statement did not mention Lindgren, DeMichele or World Series staff.

Nguyen’s talent for the game is undeniable. He will go down in history as the first man to win both the World Championship and the David “Chip” Reese Memorial Trophy. The question remains: will the Prince of Poker become an admired leader like Henry at Agincourt, or will he still be the loutish Prince Hal throwing back beers with Falstaff?

Let me tell you a story about a guy named Phil.

No, not that Phil. No, not that Phil, either. Not that one, either. Definitely not that Phil.

This Phil.

Phil Gordon is a man of many talents: author, TV commentator, teacher, video producer, movie star and, on occasion, poker player.

He is also a man given to extremes: he is extremely intelligent (graduated from Georgia Tech at age 20), extremely rich (made millions in the dot-com years), extremely tall (at 6’9”, even LeBron James looks up to him) and extremely charitable (his Bad Beat on Cancer charity has raised millions of dollars for cancer research).

For players who are looking to improve their game, especially at the final table of a big tournament, I recommend his Final Table Poker DVD. The production values and visual presentation are top-notch, as opposed to most poker videos that look like they were made in someone’s basement. His narration takes you through his thought process as he navigates through his opposition to make the best decision during each hand. He includes guest players like UFC announcer Bruce Buffer and former World Champion Chris Ferguson. He also uses actors to portray characters that may or may not resemble certain famous pros.

Phil Gordon’s books also contain a lot of sound poker advice. His first book, Poker: The Real Deal, features great stories and insights into the lifestyle of the touring poker pro. His Little Green Book and Little Blue Book, modeled after golf instructor Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book, carry excellent tips for players at all levels in all situations.

Most people recognize Phil from his hosting duties on Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown. His astute analysis and conversational tone helped to make that show one of the highest rated programs in the history of the channel.

Recently, Phil landed a role in the film The Grand with Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines and Ray Romano. Going against type, Phil gives a stellar performance as a TV poker commentator (what a stretch!) who doesn’t always get along with his co-host.

A certain old saying goes, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” Phil Gordon is a rare example of a player who “can do” and who “can teach”.

While these nuggets of wisdom may not compare with stone tablets from on high, they’ll be of much more use at the poker table and should be a lot easier to remember. These rules are also useful for any and all poker games, not just no-limit hold’em.

I: Thou shalt play good starting cards.
In hold’em, that means you should stick with high pairs and high suited aces (A K s, A Q s). In Omaha/8, that means double-suited low aces (e.g. Ah2hAc3c), which should give you better opportunities to scoop the pot rather than playing for a split or, worse yet, a quarter. In razz, that means you should play only when you have three to an eight-low or better. When you start out with a weak hand, you’re playing uphill the whole way.

II: Thou shalt not chase cards.
This rule doesn’t mean that you should fold all your open-ended straight draws or ace-high flush draws. It means that you should choose your drawing hands carefully. It means that you shouldn’t chase draws that will still leave you with a second-best hand.

A number of inexperienced players who come to the game by watching TV tournaments think that the game is all about brave bluffs and lucky draws, but the best players know better. If the odds are against hitting your draw, or if your draw could lead to a “sucker straight” or a low flush, fold your hand and fight another day.

III: Thou shalt play within thy bankroll.
From both a financial and an emotional perspective, this is the main rule to remember. If your bankroll is only a few hundred dollars, then stick to the lower limits and weaker opponents before trying to tackle that 25/50 no-limit hold’em table.

Poker is not like craps or roulette or a slot machine. By its nature, poker is a long-term game that rewards patience over impulse and good decision-making over reckless gambling. When you play within your bankroll and win, you’ll increase your stake in steady, measurable increments. When you lose and play above your means, your roll can vanish before you can blink.

Keep these three rules in mind. Better yet, print out this page and keep it in your pocket. Either way, it’ll be a lot easier than carrying two heavy stone tablets down a mountain!

My Poker Hero

Chris “Jesus” Ferguson is one of the most accomplished tournament poker players over the last ten years. He is also one of the most boring to watch on TV. He won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2000, the National Heads-up Poker Championship in 2008, three WSOP Circuit titles and over thirty WSOP cash finishes in the last five years, more than any other player. He has never belittled an opponent, trumpeted his manhood or wrecked a racecar. He doesn’t dress up like a general or a jester, favoring his basic black hat, jacket, shirt and sunglasses. He doesn’t curse, jump, scream or yell. All he does is win.

I had the pleasure of meeting Chris at last year’s WSOP (see photo). I told him that I was the Houston affiliate for FullTiltPoker.net, the site he endorses, plays and helped to develop. He gave a warm smile, a firm handshake and said, “Oh, cool!”

(Start Goofy Fanboy Moment)
Heh, heh. My poker hero said I was “cool”. Heh, heh.
(End Goofy Fanboy Moment)

Chris has been playing poker online since the days of Internet Relay Chat. In those days, today’s young online poker “superstars” were still playing on jungle gyms at recess. Chris also has made his own internet legend by starting from literally nothing and growing his bankroll to over ten thousand dollars. His perserverance and force of will have inspired me to start a similar challenge.

Many poker TV commentators have noted on how Chris maintains such a calm, serene manner at the table, even in the most pressure-packed tournament situations. He never gives off a tell, never shows his emotions and never makes a silly mistake. He’s stiff, he’s unexciting, he’s not prone to dramatics and, physical appearance aside, he makes for boring TV. So why is Chris Ferguson my poker hero?

All he does is win.

With bar league tournaments under intense scrutiny, home games becoming victims of robberies, and private games raided by police , many Texas players are taking a trip across the Sabine River to the numerous riverboat casinos in Louisiana. If you were to visit any casino poker room in Louisiana, you’re likely to hear as many Texas twangs at the tables as you’ll hear Cajun accents.

Of course, many players are familiar with Harrah’s New Orleans from their World Series of Poker Circuit televised tournaments of the last few years. While Harrah’s holds their tournaments in their spacious theater, cash games are another story. The poker area (only a low rail separates the poker tables from the casino floor) holds twenty-five tables crowded closely together. For no-limit cash games, the house takes a six-dollar rake from each player every half-hour instead of raking the pot for each hand. Just to add to the adverse conditions, a genuine (and genuinely loud) New Orleans brass band parades through the casino every hour. Just try reading your opponent after hearing “When The Saints Go Marchin’ In” for the sixth time!

One of the better casinos in Louisiana is Coushatta Casino Resort near Kinder, LA. Their recently renovated poker room features twenty-three tables, numerous cash games and a variety of weekly and monthly tournaments. At noon on the last Saturday of every month, they have a “Half-and-Half” tournament: alternating rounds of no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha. Coushatta is one of the few casinos in the country to offer this type of tournament. Also, on the last Sunday of the month, Coushatta holds U.S. Poker Tour tournaments. Winners can earn points toward their National Points Championship.

Less than a half-hour from the Texas line in Lake Charles, LA, is the local franchise of the Isle of Capri chain. This room holds twenty-five tables and takes up the entire third deck of one of the two docked riverboats. While the scenery and accommodations may leave something to be desired (unless you happen to like staying next to a chemical plant), the poker action is fast and furious. From $3/$6/$12 limit hold’em to $25/$50 pot-limit Omaha, the cash games at Capri Lake Charles are loud, loose and lots of fun!

So put away the chicken fried steak and pick up some jambalaya, we’re going to play some Louisiana Hold’em!

Poker players soon learn that one of the most important skills they can have is to have a poker face. “Poker face” is an expression often used, but what is a poker face and how do players use one to their advantage over a game of poker?

A poker face means keeping all expression hidden behind a facial mask. Grins and smiles can reveal a good hand just as a frown or sour expression might indicate a less than perfect hand. Experienced poker players show nothing, no expression of any kind.

The next step is how to develop the skill of keeping a poker face.

First, concentrate on the game. Watch the cards; know when to hold cards and when to discard them. Think about the game, not about possible wins or losses.

Next, stay calm and don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Excitement over what seems to be a great hand, disappointment over poor cards, or eagerness to win all can reveal more than you should to your opponents. A good poker play never wants his or her opponents to know what cards he or she has and if he or she is bluffing.

Third, don’t fidget. Telltale signs of nervous stress like tapping fingers or feet can give an opponent the advantage. Whether your hand is a potential winner or a big loser, be calm and still. You just might bluff a win over someone who had a better hand but folded in the face of your icy calm.

Last, if keeping a bland poker face is too difficult, think about using sunglasses, a hat with a low brim, or tinted cosmetic glasses that hide your eyes.

Body language is a big part of keeping a poker face, so be still, keep emotions under check, and play to win!

Poker is a classic American game of cards, a popular pastime whether it is played by a group on Friday nights or taken more seriously at a casino table. Unlike most games of chance, poker was created in the United States, in the rowdy seaport of New Orleans some time around the start of the 19^th century. Poker most likely has roots to both a French card game called Poque (although the game itself is quite different from poker) and a British card game Brag. Brag is the most similar to poker of other card games that predate poker in the United States, but the final game, the poker we know today, has elements not found in either of the earlier games.

By the mid to late 1840’s, the game of Brag vanished, apparently assimilated into the new game of poker. Poker became common almost everywhere within the United States by the time of the Civil War, and soldiers on both sides who played during that conflict spread it further.

The original game was draw poker but stud poker, said to be a cowboy version, showed up around the mid 1860’s. Another version originally called Jackpot poker appeared in Hoyle, the official manual for card players everywhere, by 1875. Today, many games still use the Jackpot theory which is that players must have “Jacks or better”, meaning at least a pair of Jacks, to play in the game.

Official poker rules first appeared in a New York newspaper in 1904, and the following year the first book about the game of poker debuted, “Practical Poker” by author RF Foster.

Poker remains one of the most popular games, and the newest version is Texas Hold ‘em.

One of the hot things that is happening in the online poker world is poker leagues.

And one of the leaders in online poker leagues is Poker Source Online.

Recently, Poker Info Page was able to catch up with Maria del Mar Gomez from Poker Source Online and ask her a few questions

Q: What does it cost to join a league?

A: Joining the league is free. Each event has a buy-in of $5 + %0.50.

Q: Is it legal for U.S. players to play in your leagues?

A: Yes it is, PokerStars is open to all players worldwide.

Q:How many players play in your leagues?

A: About 70.

Check out the poker leagues. It may be a great place for you to meet some new people and sharpen your card sharp skills.