The World Series of Poker is the biggest and most well known of all the poker tournaments in the world and has played a large part in making the game what it is today. The tournament got its start in the seventies when it was a much more modest affair. Las Vegas Legend Benny Binnion thought it would be a good idea to bring together the top poker players in the world to see who was the best. The first tournament had just one table, the event has grown to the point where now there are thousands of entrants playing a variety of different games.

When people refer to the World Series of Poker you have to be sure that you are clear on what they are talking about, there are actually several different events these days. The event that everybody wants to win is the Main Event, this is the one that attracts the most competitors and the one that has by far the biggest prize. The amount that you can win will vary from year to year based on the number of people who enter but over the last few years the prize has been in the ten million dollar range.

While the Main Event is the one that attracts most of the attention there are dozens of other events at the World Series of Poker. These involve a variety of different types of poker and usually have a lower entry fee. The winners of these events are also considered to be World Series of Poker champions and they receive a bracelet but it is not the same as winning the main event. Nevertheless any World Series of Poker bracelet is a major achievement for a poker player.

The World Series of Poker has become so popular that there are now satellite events that are played around the world and online on internet poker websites like Party Poker. The main appeal of these events is that they allow participants to win a spot in the main tournament. The entry fee for the Main Event is more than most people can afford to pay so winning your way in through a satellite tournament can be a popular option. These satellite tournaments offer cash prizes as well which in some cases can be quite significant. Nevertheless getting into the Main Event is the primary reason that most people play in them.

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Well done Patrik — Maya is a wife to be proud of!

Photos below from the ’08 WSOP!

She so pretty — Maya Geller I loves you!

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I’ll probably be doing a couple of small-number player satellites hoping to get in on the cheap and I’ve started putting 5% profit asides from this month on. I’ll keep you up to date of my progress. Wish me luck!

The KK read was excellent — and even though the KJ 100k call pre-flop against Demetriou was a litte ambitious, he played the rest of the hand perfectly.

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I mean you just have to love Luske when he’s himself — flipsides sunglasses, suit, jokes and expecrt poker play: he’s the MAN!!!

The rules of Chinese poker are straightforward. Each player is dealt 13 cards and has to arrange them into two hands of five cards and one of three that’s it, really. The game has huge variance because of the luck factor being substantial in this game,

Though Chinese poker is a game where you really are in the hands of the poker gods with the luck of the draw, there is a skill to setting the hands. There are often multiple decisions to be made. (Do I break up two pair to make a flush? Do I break up my second full house to give myself a pair in front?) Skilled, experienced players will have a better idea what to do in these situations and will also factor in their opponents’ tendencies, creating an edge (albeit a small one) for themselves. In fact anyone who has bothered to read any Chinese poker strategy guides will be at a distinct advantage. So before you decide to play with real money I would suggest practicing with a few buddies. Maybe on an aeroplane, but maybe not for $2000 a point.