Featured Articles Archive - Page 512

The Mouth has mellowed out

LAS VEGAS, Nevada –- Mike Matusow has mellowed, which may disappoint the legion of poker fans who have come to cherish his well-documented profantity-laced meltdowns, verbal tirades and constant chattering at the table which earned him the nickname "The Mouth." They may also be surprised to know that Matusow is a happier person because of the change. Matusow, 41, has earned more than $6 million playing poker since the mid-1990s...read more

Playing It Smart: Blackjack can have a low edge, but you have to know how to lower it

House edge in blackjack arises because the dealer goes last. Players who bust by exceeding 21 lose, no matter what later befalls the dealer. The inherent advantage of this effect would make the game unworkable without provisions to curb it. One way this is done is to impose restrictions on dealers' actions...read more

Cantu survives exhausting final table

LAS VEGAS – Less than 15 hours after capturing his second-career World Series of Poker bracelet in one of the most riveting final tables of the year, Brandon Cantu looked like one drained and exhausted poker player on Sunday afternoon. Nonetheless, the 28-year-old pro from Washington was back inside the Rio's Amazon Room at 2:15 p.m...read more

Lack of TV presence drops WSOP's H.O.R.S.E. field to 95 players

LAS VEGAS – As he watched the action of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship early Saturday night, World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack had a wide smile on his face as he motioned to the crowd hovering along the rail. The fans were standing two and three deep in most spots and the amount of camera bulbs that were flashing made it look like a red carpet at the opening of a blockbuster motion picture. "How can anyone stand here and see this and say that this event isn't already a spectacular success," Pollack said...read more

LA Lakers owner takes his shot at poker's elite

LAS VEGAS – Of all the people that entered this year's $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship at the World Series of Poker, the guy in the purple jacket probably had the least to gain. Sure, the first-place payday of $1.2 million would have been nice, but when you're Jerry Buss – owner of one of the most illustrious franchises in all of sports – you aren't sitting at the poker table for 12 hours a day for the money...read more

Hot run at Bellagio helps Raymer buy into H.O.R.S.E. Championship

LAS VEGAS -- The numbers were down for the World Series of Poker's $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship that began on Friday, with just 95 players in the field after attracting nearly 150 in the previous three years. And if it weren't for a missed alarm clock call on Thursday morning and an late hot streak at the Bellagio poker room early Friday morning by Greg Raymer, the field would have been also been missing one of the most popular and recognizable players in the game. Fan-favorite Greg Raymer won $29,000 at the Bellagio poker room early Friday morning in a span of 45 minutes. Raymer, the 2004 Main Event champ who placed 14th in last year's H.O.R.S.E...read more

Deal Me In: Nominate your candidate for the 10 best bets in the casino

Dear Mark: A column of yours in the past mentioned some of the best bets in the casino. One such bet was the six or eight in craps. Although I have never played the game of craps before, it seems like fun and would be interested giving it a try, especially since some of the group I go gambling with weekly do play it...read more

What factors help teams cover the spread? -- Iskoe's books explain

The nagging question of which factors impact whether or not a team might cover the spread is asked each year by beginners and old pros alike. Not everyone will agree about the answer, but Andy Iskoe's two annuals, the Pro Football Statistical Pattern Report ($10, 8x11, stapled, 18 pages) and the companion work, College Football Statistical Pattern Report ($10, 8x11, stapled 16 pages), should help clarify it for everyone. Iskoe's pro book is a 21-season study of more than 5,000 games...read more

Lisandro making a run at WSOP history by winning his third bracelet this year

Jeffrey "The Iceman" Lisandro continued his dream run at the 2009 World Series of Poker Wednesday night by capturing his third bracelet of the Series. And this time he was so dominant there wasn't even a speck of suspense. The former real estate broker who wears a signature black fedora at the poker table ran roughshod through the 315-person field of the $2,500 Seven-Card Razz tournament (Event #44) to take home the $188,390 prize and his fourth-career gold bracelet. While the soft-spoken Lisandro departed the tournament area quickly after his win, explaining he was both tired and hungry, his performance spoke volumes...read more

Heard it on the river: Pearl River offers new club card program

It's not an easy thing to change over a players club reward system and come up with an improved program but Pearl River Resort has done just that for its Golden Moon and Silver Star casinos with increased benefits under its new tier approach. "The Tier Card is an exciting and important enhancement to our rewards program, " said Susan O'Connell, general manager of Pearl River Resort...read more