Poker Blog and Poker Gossip

Many people have been talking about this hand between Doyle Brunson and David “Raptor” Benefield (Cardrunners and Full Tilt Poker pro) on Poker After Dark’s Pros vs. Online Players episode.  Here is how the hand went down:

Benefield (56 diamonds) bets 4500
Doyle (KJ off suit) calls

Flop: 66K

Benefield: raise 10k
Doyle: calls

Turn: 8

Benefield: bets 15k
Doyle: calls

River: J

Benefield: bets 25k
Doyle: reraise +40k

Benefield: Folds – WTF?

Here is what Raptor had to say in his blog:

“Before talking about food, I want to address the 56 vs KJ hand I had on Poker After Dark. I am getting a lot of questions about my thought process during that hand, so I suppose I should talk about it a little bit. Before I say anything, I want to say that I think Doyle is a super awesome guy, a great ambassador for poker, and just an overall nice person that is impossible to hate.

This video pretty much sums up the entire situation:

This makes me want to go to Full Tilt Poker and play this guy.

Just under a month ago, Pokerstars has decided to expand their Latin America operation, by sponsoring one of Argentina’s most popular futbol (or soccer as North Americans like to call it) teams, River Plate.  I had remember hearing about this, but it wasn’t until yesterday when I actually went to a River Plate game that I really noticed it.  The jerseys have a Pokerstars.net logo on the sleeves and I am really tempted to pick one of the black ones up.  River Plate had a pretty bad last year, but with the new addition of Striker Cristian Fabbiani River is already tied for first in the league 3 games in.  Anyway, I decided to google this story a little more, and found some great pictures from the press party with Pokerstars and some River Plate girls.  They really should start sponsoring more South American futbol teams!

You can see the rest of the pics on the River Plate fan site.

Vamos River Plate!!!

Since Full Tilt Poker seems to run their big FTOPs tourneys every few months, Poker stars has decided to bring add a new line of major tournaments since their WCOOP only comes once a year.  This means HUGE guaranteed prize pools for players ($30 Million to be exact), and more titles for players to add to their resumes.  Here is the 2009 SCOOP schedule:

2009 SCOOP Schedule

Event 1 – 2 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – NL Hold’em with Rebuys [6-max]

• 01-L: $5.50 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 01-M: $55 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 01-H: $530 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 2 – 2 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – PL Omaha Hi/Lo

• 02-L: $11 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 02-M: $109 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 02-H: $1,050 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 3 – 3 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – PL 5-Card Draw

• 03-L: $11 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 03-M: $109 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 03-H: $1,050 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 4 – 3 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – NL Hold’em [2X Chance, turbo]

• 04-L: $16.50 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 04-M: $162 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 04-H: $1,575 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 5 – 4 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – NL Hold’em Shootout [10-max]

• 05-L: $16.50 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 05-M: $162 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 05-H: $1,575 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 6 – 4 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – PL Omaha [1R1A, 6-max]

• 06-L: $22 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 06-M: $215 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 06-H: $2,100 buy-in, $400,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 7 – 5 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – H.O.R.S.E.

• 07-L: $109 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 07-M: $1,050 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 07-H: $10,300 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 8 – 5 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – NL Hold’em [2-day]

• 08-L: $33 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 08-M: $320 buy-in, $1,500,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 08-H: $3,150 buy-in, $3,000,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 9 – 6 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – FL Triple Draw 2-7

• 09-L: $22 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 09-M: $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 09-H: $2,100 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 10 – 6 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – NL Hold’em [Heads-Up Match Play]

• 10-L: $16.50 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 10-M: $162 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 10-H: $1,575 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 11 – 7 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – Mixed Hold’em [6-max]

• 11-L: $33 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
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• 11-M: $320 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 11-H: $3,150 buy-in, $800,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 12 – 7 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo

• 12-L: $22 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 12-M: $215 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 12-H: $2,100 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 13 – 8 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – FL Razz

• 13-L: $22 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 13-M: $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 13-H: $2,100 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 14 – 8 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – NL Hold’em [6-max]

• 14-L: $55 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 14-M: $530 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 14-H: $5,200 buy-in, $1,250,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 15 – 9 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – 8-Game

• 15-L: $44 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 15-M: $425 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 15-H: $4,175 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 16 – 9 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – 7-Card Stud

• 16-L: $33 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 16-M: $320 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 16-H: $3,150 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 17 – 10 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – NL Hold’em [1R1A]

• 17-L: $33 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 17-M: $320 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 17-H: $3,150 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 18 – 10 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – PL Omaha

• 18-L: $55 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 18-M: $530 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 18-H: $5,200 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 19 – 11 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – FL Omaha Hi/Lo

• 19-L: $55 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 19-M: $530 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 19-H: $5,200 buy-in, $400,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 20 – 11 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – FL Hold’em [6-max]

• 20-L: $55 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 20-M: $530 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 20-H: $5,200 buy-in, $400,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 21 – 12 April 2009 @ 14:30 ET – NL Hold’em [Heads-Up Match Play]

• 21-L: $270 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 21-M: $2,600 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 21-H: $25,500 buy-in, $800,000 guaranteed prize pool

Event 22 – 12 April 2009 @ 16:30 ET – NL Hold’em Main Event [2-day]

• 22-L: $109 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 22-M: $1,050 buy-in, $3,000,000 guaranteed prize pool
• 22-H: $10,300 buy-in, $5,000,000 guaranteed prize pool

To qualify for any of these tournaments, visit Pokerstars.com today, and use marketing code BRB50 for $50 FREE on your first deposit!!!

Well, it is tough to actually call it cheating, but many players have started to work together to win the milestone hands that are part of Pokerstars’ 25 Billionth Hand Celebration.  Today I witnessed 2 players doing this and this led to them both winning a combined total of over $3000!!!!!

The players I witnessed doing this were using screen names GreenEyes017 and natisfinest.and were working together on roughly 22 heads-up NL Holdem tables.  The players were both from a city called West Chester as seen here on one of their many tables:

What they would do is open the 20+ tables and sit out until it got near to the milestone hand.  When it was close they would play on all tables and just keep folding the blinds each time.  Their plan actually ended up working on hand # 24,928,000,000 on a table called verbiest.  Since natisfinest was at supernova level and GreenEyes017 was only a Platinum star, when it came time to play the milestone hand GreenEyes017 folded it over to Natisfinest because he had a higher bonus multiplier.  Natisfinest earned $2750 and GreenEyes017 received $800 for their scam.  Of course after the milestone had hit, they both sat out.  Here is a screenshot of the table afterward:

To participate in the 25 Billionth hand celebrations, visit Pokerstars.com

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UPDATE: Shortly after making this post Pokerstars stepped in and suspended ALL HEADS-UP CASH GAMES until after the promo is complete!  Nice work Pokerstars for stepping in so quickly with this issue!!!  See here:

Vanessa Rousso managed to make it into Sports Illustrated’s coveted Swimsuit Edition…. well, kinda.  She wasn’t picked because of her beauty, but rather was part of a paid insert by Pokerstars.com.  Though I am sure we would all rather see Vanessa over say Greg Raymer, though I think the Raymer one might be a little funnier.  Nah, I’m just playing around… Vanessa isn’t THAT bad.

Thanks to BEAT FARMER on 2+2 we have the SI Swimsuit Edition pictures here:

Hopefully next time Pokerstars does something stupid like publicize that she is going to be in the SI Swimsuit addition then do it in paid ad format, they will at least put her smoking hot mom in there too!  Or maybe they could go the Maxim route and use a shitload of photoshop and make something nice like this (originally posted by TheJubilantMale on 2+2):

If you are still inclined to play with Ms. Rousso, you can do so at Pokerstars.net!

Right now Pokerstars is counting down to their 25th BILLION hand dealt in a cash game on their site. Ever since yesterday around 1pm they have been handing out cash to players in million-milestone hands which happen every 15 minutes or so. Here is how it works from their website:

Milestone Hands will be announced on the table with a pop-up message, before play is paused to ramp up the excitement. A host will then arrive at the table to explain exactly what’s happening. Players involved in every millionth hand dealt during the 25 Billion Bash will win the following:
Limit /  Winner / The Rest
Micro / $300 / $125
Low / $750 / $250
Medium / $1,250 / $500
High / $2,500 / $1,000

There will also be a VIP multiplier, with bonuses for the following VIP tiers:
VIP Tier / Multiplier
SilverStar / 15% Bonus
GoldStar / 30% Bonus
PlatinumStar / 60% Bonus
Supernova / 120% Bonus
Supernova Elite / 200% Bonus

For example, if you are dealt into a Milestone Hand on a Medium stakes table and win the hand, you’d receive $1,250. If you are also a Goldstar VIP, you’d receive an additional $375 (30% Bonus).

Here is what happens after one of the hands I witnessed yesterday:

Oh ya, and if you are in the 25th Billion Hand… you are gonna win some nice stuff.  Here is what the winner of that hand will get:

• $100,000 in cash
• European Poker Tour Monte Carlo Grand Final package
• PokerStars Caribbean Adventure package
• World Series of Poker* package
• World Championship of Online Poker Main Event ticket

In addition to the milestone hands, Pokerstars is also upping the Sunday Millions tournament to $2.5 Million and the Sunday Warm-up to $1.25 Million along with some great reload bonuses.  So, if you aren’t playing at Pokerstars now, this is definitely one of the best times to check them out!  (Use pokerstars marketing code BRB50 for $50 FREE on your first deposit!)