December 2012 poker podcasts

December 2012 poker podcasts
If you aren't in the habit of listening to poker podcasts, this is your golden opportunity. From news, strategy, interviews, and everything in between, it's all covered. Below you'll find a library of shows from December 2012.

Give yourself the gift of sound fundamentals in 2013

Give yourself the gift of sound fundamentals in 2013
Last year I profiled the Top 10 Poker Training Sites Online, which are subscription-based services. Each of these pay-for-training sites offer a handful of videos for free to allow potential customers a preview of the content they offer. I've also written about poker content on YouTube a couple times (see here and here), a study method advocated by tournament professional Alex "AP" Phahurat. What if you don't want to spend the money on a subscription-based training site, and you don't know where to look for good training videos on YouTube? Never fear...

WSOP Circuit Series returns to Choctaw Durant Jan. 3-21

WSOP Circuit Series returns to Choctaw Durant Jan. 3-21
The World Series of Poker tournament circuit returns to the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant from Jan. 3 through Jan. 21. Including satellites, a total of 51 events will be conducted over 19 days. Buy-ins range from $100 to $1675, with satellites as low as $70. A total of 12 events are classified as ring events, which qualify for points toward the WSOP National Championship.

2012 Reindeer Games results

2012 Reindeer Games results
The Reindeer Games poker tournament series concluded Sunday, Dec. 16 at Cherokee Casino in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. The tournament consisted of 13 poker events spanning six days, with buy-ins ranging from $100 to $330. Six of the events were $50 buy-in mega satellite events, where the winning player earned a seat into the main event. Results from the 7 non-satellite events are shown...

Silent auction items for Briscoe benefit dinner announced

Silent auction items for Briscoe benefit dinner announced
A silent auction will be held at 8:30 p.m. during the Briscoe Defense Fund benefit dinner. In all, over $2,000 worth of goods and services will go up for bid. The list of donated items to be sold has been announced...

Tulsa poker community organizes benefit dinner for Joe Neal Briscoe, Jr.

Tulsa poker community organizes benefit dinner for Joe Neal Briscoe, Jr.
A benefit dinner has been announced to aid in the legal defense of Joe Neal Briscoe, Jr. The event will take place on December 20th from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm at The Tropical Restaurant and Bar, located at 8125 E. 49th Street in Tulsa. Donations of $25 per person will be accepted at the door, which will include a buffet-style dinner and soft drinks.

Tulsa poker room manager arrested

Tulsa poker room manager arrested
Joe Neal Briscoe, a poker room floor manager for River Spirit Casino in Tulsa, was arrested this morning for negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. According to the charges filed November 28, Briscoe was driving a white 2011 Chevrolet Malibu east on 101st Street South between between 177th and 193rd East Avenues on October 10th when he struck a bicyclist, Earl Eugene Teske, 71, of Broken Arrow. Teske, who was not wearing a helmet, died of his injuries at the scene.

2012 Hard Rock Poker Open begins November 23

2012 Hard Rock Poker Open begins November 23
For the ninth consecutive year, northeast Oklahoma's largest poker tournament will return to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Catoosa. Previously known as the Scotty Nyugen Poker Challenge hosted at the Cherokee Casino, the event was renamed in 2009 as the Hard Rock Poker Open following a $155 million renovation and the rebranding of the venue, which now includes a fully redesigned, first-class poker room...

Daniel Negreanu is back with a 'Lederer Files' rant

Daniel Negreanu is back with a 'Lederer Files' rant
Daniel Negreanu, poker's most popular and outspoken personality, has released his first "rant" video since the World Series of Poker, and this one is by far his best yet. This time Daniel focuses his attention on Howard Lederer's interviews with Poker News and Two Plus Two podcasters. Drawing from sources across the pokernet, he analyzes the story as told by Lederer, pulling in snippets from many other podcasts and articles by poker journalists and bloggers, including former Full Tilt Poker employees.

Hard Rock Tulsa opens its all new poker room

Hard Rock Tulsa opens its all new poker room
The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opened its brand new poker room last month. I spent the last two nights checking it out and playing NLHE. In short: the new poker room is a contender for the best poker room in Tulsa.

Howard Lederer a no-show for Diamond Flush interview

Howard Lederer a no-show for Diamond Flush interview
Howard Lederer, the former president and board member of Full Tilt Poker, has backed out of a promised interview with DiamonFlushPoker.com, stating the "whole interview process has been 'much harder on [he] and his family than he expected.'"

The biggest pot I ever played: Tim B.

The biggest pot I ever played: Tim B.
This hand comes from Tim B., a Tulsa regular. The action took place at the Rio in Las Vegas, Nevada during the World Series of Poker in 2010. He was playing $5/$10 Pot Limit Omaha with a $25 button straddle and started the hand with just over $2,600...

10 indicted in Oklahoma City for illegal gambling

10 indicted in Oklahoma City for illegal gambling
An an indictment was unsealed revealing a staggering 81-count federal indictment against ten defendants, including seven Oklahomans. The indictment was a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Unit. The government seeks a forfeiture order for over $8.1 million in cash and property as the alleged proceeds from illegal activity...

The biggest pot I ever played: Josh M.

The biggest pot I ever played: Josh M.
This hand comes from Josh M., a Tulsa regular. The action took place at the WinStar casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma in 2010. He was playing $5/$10 No Limit Hold'em and started the hand with around $5,000.

TwoPlusTwo interviews Howard Lederer

TwoPlusTwo interviews Howard LedererThe folks over at TwoPlusTwo.com sat down with Howard Lederer for an extended interview with the beleaguered former owner of Full Tilt Poker...

Howard Lederer ends his silence about Full Tilt Poker

Howard Lederer ends his silence about Full Tilt Poker
On September 8, 2012, Howard Lederer sat down with Matthew Parvis of PokerNews for a marathon 7-hour interview. Originally intended to be published as one or more print articles, Lederer agreed to an on-camera interview "so nothing would be lost in translation."

Northeast Oklahoma poker rooms

Last year I made up a list of the poker rooms in northeast Oklahoma. This year, a few rooms closed and others went through renovations, so I updated the list.

Northeast Oklahoma poker rooms
Are you a poker player visiting northeast Oklahoma? Or perhaps you're a regular at one casino and want to try a new location...

The biggest pot I ever played

The biggest pot I ever played
Every poker player remembers the biggest pot they ever played--even if it didn't have a happy ending. This is the first in a series of stories from Tulsa Poker Players about the biggest pots they ever played...

An interview with Alex 'A.P.' Phahurat

An interview with Alex 'A.P.' Phahurat
Tulsa players who were around four years ago will remember A.P. as a regular at the old Creek Nation Casino. He started with $3/$6 Limit Hold'em but quickly moved to $1/$2 No Limit and kept climbing. I had the pleasure of playing with him often when he first started, and he was a lot of fun to play with. He always had a cheerful attitude, and never showed an ounce of ego at the table. As a poker player, he carried himself in such a way that allowed him to fly under the radar--never seeming to be a threat until it was too late and he was taking your chips...

Pokerstars settles with DOJ, announces purchase of Full Tilt Poker

Pokerstars settles with DOJ, announces purchase of Full Tilt Poker
Press releases from both Pokerstars and the Manhattan U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York confirm a deal has been struck to settle the Money Laundering and Forfeiture Complaint against Pokerstars. Included in the deal are terms ensuring the repayment of funds to former Full Tilt customers worldwide. In addition, the settlement allows Pokerstars to return to the U.S. market once a regulatory framework is established at either the state or federal level.

Tulsa poker websites - updated

Tulsa poker websites - updated
Aside from doing my own legwork at Tulsa casinos, I also rely on websites for Tulsa poker news, events, and information...

Cash game strategy: Trouble hands

Cash game strategy: Trouble hands
No one asks for advice about how to play the nuts (the best possible hand based on the board cards)--they just try to get as much money into the pot as possible. No one asks for advice about how to play a no-pair/no-draw hand--they fold without a second thought. It's everything in between the nuts and nothing that poses a problem...

Could a judicial review void the UIGEA?

Could a judicial review void the UIGEA?
Including term definitions, the UIGEA is a mere 11 pages in length--and yet few beyond its sponsors had even read it when it was signed by President Bush. While it has been challenged by many experts in the media, it has never been challenged in court. All of the defendants thus far adjudicated have taken the route of plea agreements, which circumvents the judicial review process...

Poker content on YouTube: Poker Superstars interviews

Poker content on YouTube: Poker Superstars interviews
Poker Superstars Invitational was a poker tournament show aired on Fox Sports Net from 2004 to 2006. Structured as a series of preliminary tournaments or "rounds" from which the winner would advance to a season finale tournament, the producers invited top pros to participate who put up their own entry fees and competed for the grand prize...

Epic Poker League: $7.855M loss over 14 months

Epic Poker League: $7.855M loss over 14 months
Based on the analysis by CardPlayer's Justin Marchand:

The company managed to earn just $37,052 in income over a 14 month period while racking up $7,892,242 in total liabilities.

April 4th "Weekly Rant" from Daniel Negreanu

For years, Daniel Negreanu kept a written blog on his website, Full Contact Poker. But this year, he's switched to keeping a video blog. He started off with a weekly installment, but his regularity has fallen off over time.  I put the Weekly Rant in quotes, because honestly, it's mostly a sales pitch and there is no rant.

April 4th "Weekly Rant" from Daniel Negreanu
Every Wednesday, Daniel Negreanu releases a new episode of his video blog, The Weekly Rant on YouTube. In this week's vlog, Daniel begins with a story about Howard Lederer and Annie Duke that is simply not to be believed. I don't want to give it away, so just watch the video...

What's stronger than a continuation bet?

What's stronger than a continuation bet?
In a full ring cash game, you are in middle position, the action folds to you and you look down at AhQh. You raise to 5 BBs. The CO and BTN both call, as does the BB. The four of you see the flop, which comes K75 with one heart. The big blind checks. What do you do?

Judge Kaplan displeased with SunFirst vice chairman John Campos plea agreement

Judge Kaplan displeased with SunFirst vice chairman John Campos plea agreement
Poker news highlights from March 2012, published March 29th, included a report regarding John Campos, former vice-chairman and part-owner of SunFirst Bank. His trial was to begin April 9. Instead, Mr. Campos reached an agreement with the DOJ to plead guilty to a single misdemeanor charge to settle the case. Without the agreement, Mr. Campos would be facing six felony charges. At the time of that report, the plea had not yet been presented to the judge...

Chad Brown Challenge begins April 19th at Choctaw-Durant

Chad Brown Challenge begins April 19th at Choctaw-Durant
Choctaw Casino in Durant is hosting the second annual Chad Brown Challenge poker tournament series from April 19th through the 30th. Two of the events (Event 22 on 4/26 and the Main Event on 4/27) qualify for Player of the Year points for Card Player Magazine.

All-in: The Poker Movie is coming to Tulsa

All-in: The Poker Movie is coming to Tulsa
All In: The Poker Movie is a poker documentary being released after over three years of development and refinement, and it's coming to Tulsa April 20th. It won the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary when it premiered at Dennis Hopper's Cinevegas in 2009. The film is both an advertisement of the game as national past time, and a behind-the-scenes look at the industry...

Becoming a professional poker player

Becoming a professional poker player
One of the perks of writing a poker column is the many opportunities it gives you to discuss the subject with people of disparate opinions. With my e-mail address displayed in the footer of every column I publish, people often write to ask questions. One of the most common has to do with what it takes to go pro...

Keeping records

Keeping records
Many poker players, especially recreational ones, have no idea where they stand in terms of overall winnings or losses. And if you're a recreational player with all the money you will ever need, that's fine. But for everyone else, it's a good idea to keep track...

Poker news highlights for March 2012

Poker news highlights for March 2012
Ever since Black Friday (April 15) last year, poker news has been a somewhat depressing experience for the players. In the last week, though, a few things have happened worth noting.

Poker and Sun Tzu

Poker and Sun Tzu
Fifteen years ago I bought a copy of the 1996 translation by Ralph Sawyer, at a time when I was self-employed as a software development consultant. I can tell you from experience that studying this text is a great way to clear the fog of uncertainty and find an unencumbered approach any problem...

Six ways your brain works against you at the poker tables

Six ways your brain works against you at the poker tables
The most dangerous element at play in a poker game is human stupidity. (Or the world for that matter, just ask any former resident of Chernobyl.) It turns out the human brain is inherently bad at interpreting data and is instead predisposed to making decisions based on emotional input. As a result, your poker game is hampered by logical fallacies, like...

Gamble responsibly

Gamble responsibly
Gambling addiction is real and if you or someone you know suffers from it, they need your help. I encourage you to contact Gambler's Anonymous to find out what you can do...

Playing for fun

Playing for fun
I started playing poker full-time online in March of 2009. By that time, I'd taken up LHE as my game of choice, having decided that I had not yet developed the proper mindset for withstanding the big swings of no-limit games. You'd think that after playing for real money for so long that my days of playing for "play" money would be over. But in fact, I still play at the play money tables three or four times a week...

Table talk

Table talk
One of the fun (and useful) things about live poker is the table talk. I'm not talking about the socializing or the commiseration over bad flops or bad beats. I'm talking about verbal exchanges between players during a hand.

Tulsa's freeroll poker tournaments

Tulsa's freeroll poker tournaments

If you love to play poker but can't afford the tournament buy-ins at casinos, don't sweat it. You can still play the game you love for cash prizes, without the buy-in fees. A tournament is hosted most every night of the week with anywhere from $100 to $200 paid out to the winner(s). A larger freeroll has been held monthly or bi-monthly (depending on venue participation) where the prize pool climbs as high as $1000...