Poker Blog and Poker Gossip

Andy Bloch headed back to college last week. Not to finish any degrees or change careers but to talk to a group of UNLV students about his experience as a member of the infamous MIT Card Counting Team. He had several thoughts to share regarding the move released earlier this year, aptly called “21” and based loosely on the real world story of the team.

He dragged on about how the hand signals used during the movie were not the real hand signals they used in real life. From there however, he did mention several areas where the movie was very accurate in its portrayal of the team.  The one highlight of the speech was a cool story about one of the kids on the MIT Team that stole a big shield from the Excalibur, hanging it in his dorm room.

He went on to field questions from the near empty room about problem gambling, his life as a poker pro, and other areas. Surprisingly, no one asked why he wears those gay cowboy hats to every event. It’s assumed afterward that all of them went back to their dorms to play online at Full Tilt Poker. Though, it’s likely a safe bet that none of them had a shield from the Excalibur in their room.

As much as I could care less about Greg Raymer, I think almost anyone in the poker world knows who he is.  Check out the pic on Jerry Yang’s facebook profile where he tags Greg Raymer as Allen Cunningham:

In the midst of so many scandals rocking the online poker world (Absolute Poker, Ultimate Bet, multi-accounting at Poker Stars and Full Tilt) here comes another one. Straight from the proverbial horses mouth, Eli Elezra stated ON CAMERA (and in front of major shareholder at Full Tilt, Howard Lederer) that he has 17 names (accounts) on Full Tilt Poker.

The statement was made on national television and the look on Howard’s face when Eli says “I’ve got 17 names on Full Tilt” is priceless. What would have been even more priceless was to see what was said off camera because there’s no question Howard would have asked him about it.

You can hear the statement (Eli is off camera but you can see Howard) at the 45 second mark on this video.

Original version of picture above from PokerWire.com

I didn’t know whether to title this post “How to play 64 offsuit out of position” or “Are Full Tilt Pro’s Psychic” or maybe “How to win 100k playing online poker”, but with hands like this, all I can say is Mr. Degenyamine, you are a sicko!

Check this hand out (with added thought bubbles) where David Benyamine takes well-known high stakes player, Genius28 for a ton o cash over at Full Tilt Poker!:

Full Tilt Poker Game #8467634589: Table Quimby (deep hu) - $300/$600 - No Limit Hold’em - 2:23:55 ET - 2008/10/13
Seat 1: Genius28 ($71,948.50)
Seat 2: David Benyamine ($48,049)
Genius28 posts the small blind of $300
David Benyamine posts the big blind of $600
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Genius28 raises to $1,800 (Crap he raised me and I only have 64 offsuit)
David Benyamine calls $1,200 (Well, my 6 high is probably the best hand, so whats another $1200)
*** FLOP *** [Qd 2h 5c]
David Benyamine checks
Genius28 checks
*** TURN *** [Qd 2h 5c] [3d]
David Benyamine bets $2,400
Genius28 has 15 seconds left to act
Genius28 raises to $7,800 (OMG OMG OMG - He is reraising my nuts!)
David Benyamine has 15 seconds left to act
David Benyamine has requested TIME
David Benyamine raises to $16,800
Genius28 has 15 seconds left to act
Genius28 has requested TIME
Genius28 calls $9,000
*** RIVER *** [Qd 2h 5c 3d] [Kh]
David Benyamine has 15 seconds left to act
David Benyamine has requested TIME
David Benyamine bets $29,449, and is all in (Time to overbet and make it look like a bluff!)
Genius28 has 15 seconds left to act
Genius28 has requested TIME
Genius28 calls $29,449 (Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
*** SHOW DOWN ***
David Benyamine shows [6s 4s] a straight, Six high
Genius28 mucks
David Benyamine wins the pot ($96,097.50) with a straight, Six high (This should keep Erica with me for one more week)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $96,098 | Rake $0.50
Board: [Qd 2h 5c 3d Kh]
Seat 1: Genius28 (small blind) mucked
Seat 2: David Benyamine (big blind) collected ($96,097.50)

Full Tilt really needs to rethink that slogan “Learn with the pros” if this is the kind of poker they are trying to get their pros to teach!

In a lame attempt to get more old folks to play slot machines at their Seminole Casino Hollywood, the management thought they’d revive the old strip poker concept. Only this time it doesn’t involve real people stripping down. Nor does it really involve live poker.

Instead they’re giving old coots that join their Players Club the chance to pick envelopes that are stuck to a larger than life image of a hot chick on the wall behind some slot machines. To be 100% politically correct they also have a guy version as well. If your name is pulled from a random drawing you get to pick five envelopes from the poster sized hot chick on the wall. Inside the envelope is a poker hand and based on the hand (pair, two pair, flush, etc) you can win up to $75,000.

So far nothing naughty has been uncovered on the image and it appears that they are wearing underwear and a bra. I’m sure the old folks would freak out to see a boob or perhaps the dude’s manscape anyway so the tamer version is likely appropriate. So if you find yourself driving by this place and think “hey, it’s strip poker!”, just keep driving on home and fire up a real game somewhere like Poker Stars. At least there you can strip down all you like.

Ilari Shahamies (better known as Ziigmund to the online poker world) has probably set the record for most money on a cash table at Full Tilt Poker. Earlier tonight he was sitting in with over $1 Million dollars on the table. According to rail birds, Ziigmund bought in with $200k and grinded his stack to over $1 Million dollars. Eventually he started to lose a bit back but still managed to walk away from the table with around $828k which still isn’t a bad session.

If he can sit at a table with $1 Million, this really makes me wonder: How big is ziigmund’s bankroll?!?!?!?!

Here is a shot with him and the million:

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