GOIN' DEEP - Ante Up Magazine

TM

MISSISSIPPI: HOYT CORKINS WINS WPT SOUTHERN POKER CHAMPIONSHIP PG. 25

FLORIDA CHAD BROWN IN JAX

LOUISIANA STATE TITLE ANYONE?

BORGATA OPEN FLORIDIANS DOMINATE

WEST VIRGINIA DARVIN MOON CHALLENGE

+GOIN’ DEEPFlorida’s Chris Torina has built his DeepStacks company into a poker instructional powerhouse.

SOUTHanteupmagazine.comMARCH 2010 YOUR POKER MAGAZINE

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Change is coming. This isn’t a flashback to Barack Obama’s presiden-

tial campaign. It’s a prediction. Change is coming to the southern poker scene, and

not a moment too soon. Whether through legislation in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Kentucky or in a court-room in South Carolina, change is coming. … but it may not all be good.

It doesn’t matter if this movement is sparked by de-pleted state budgets, a struggling economy, the fight for freedom or standing up for American civil liberties; the point is, poker will evolve in our corner of the country this year one way or another.

In Florida, under pressure from parimutuel interests and poker players, both sides of the aisle came together in January to “decouple” the provisions of last year’s Senate Bill 788 that aimed to free parimutuel poker from its cuffs while giving the Seminole Tribe an exclu-sive compact. That bill failed miserably. But the 2010 legislative session begins this month, and right at the top of the docket will be to hammer out an uncapped pok-er deal, as well as expanded gambling throughout the state. Getting Gov. Charlie Crist to sign these changes into law may be a struggle, but he’d like to leave the mansion knowing his state is better off than when he first took office … and adding millions in found revenue certainly is a way to do that.

Georgia, like Florida, is desperate for money, and what better way to get it than to amend the state consti-tution and propose commercial gambling? The path to legal poker here lay within two proposals: a full-blown casino in Atlanta or parimutuel horse racing, which would no doubt welcome poker rooms. If either passes, Georgians will vote on their fate in November.

In Kentucky, Gov. Steve Beshear, thinking he’s pro-tecting his state’s horseracing industry, came off as a hypocrite when he tried to seize 141 gambling site do-main names last year. An appeals court brought some normalcy back to the Bluegrass State at the end of the year when it overturned a lower court’s decision to grant Beshear’s wish. Beshear, who almost immedi-ately pushed the case to the Supreme Court, has sent a chill through Internet poker and many sites have stayed

away until the waters calm. According to Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association, the or-ganization fighting this case, a ruling from the state’s highest court could come as early as March 18. Some-thing that seemed so trivial in the beginning, and served as fodder for many pundits, may bring the online poker world to its knees.

Five poker players in South Carolina wonder if they’ll remain free after cops busted their home game in April 2006. In October of that year a judge ruled Texas Hold’em was a game of skill, therefore proving it isn’t illegal gambling under South Carolina law. Ultimately he ruled in favor of the players, who were guided by the Poker Players Alliance. Now the state’s attorney general is appealing the ruling. The implications will be heard ’round the country as other cases face similar arguments, including the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. There is no timetable for when the appeal will be heard.

Finally, in Rocky Mount, N.C., assailants barged into a home game, shot and killed the host, then followed one of the fleeing players across the street and shot him and a neighbor. The gunmen are still at-large. No mo-tive has been established, but most of these tragedies almost always point to robbery. If that’s the case, what if these players had a different option to explore? The nearest casino in North Carolina is Harrah’s Cherokee, some 300 miles west of Rocky Mount, where the crime occurred. But if casinos and cardrooms were legal in the Tar Heel State, perhaps these guys would’ve been playing in a secure poker room close to home, instead of inviting trouble into their home.

Change is coming, and you can help. Whether you want freedom at the table, or freedom away from it, you should contact your local representatives and give them an earful. Don’t know who your local rep is? Go to theppa.org and click on its resources tab at the top of the home page. There you’ll find everything you need to let your politicians know how you feel. You’ll be glad you did.

We’ll see you at the tables.

Christopher Cosenza and Scott Long

UN

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N FROM THE PUBLISHERS

SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE

PUBLISHERSChristopher Cosenza

Scott Long

CONTRIBUTORSDr. Stephen Bloomfield

Lee ChildsMarc DunbarJohn Lanier

Bryan OultonDr. Frank Toscano

Tristan WadeLETTERS

Got a gripe? Bad-beat story falling on deaf ears? Drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us about it. Leave your name and location.

FORUMCrave some immediate feedback? Log on to anteupmagazine.com/forum to talk poker.

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ADVERTISINGRates start at $250. Send an email to [email protected] or call (727) 331-4335.

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BORING STUFF• All material in Ante Up is copyrighted and all rights are reserved. • Any reproduction of material in this magazine without consent of the publishers is forbidden.• We do not endorse services or products advertised, nor are we responsible for ad copy.

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PERSPECTIVE

anteupmagazine.com

10 | MARCH 2010

Darvin Moon returned to Wheeling Island Casino’s poker room for the Darvin Moon Challenge, a series of four no-limit hold’em tournaments. The player who earned the most points in the series faced off heads-up

against Moon for a cash prize. 32

West Virginia

West Virginia

Florida

MississippiHoyt Corkins, the Alabama Cowboy, wins the Southern Poker Championship atBeau Rivage, his second WPT title. 25

. . . Chad Brown hosted a no-limit hold’em tournament at Orange Park Kennel Club as it made Florida television history. 22-23

• Harrison Gimbel of Jupiter recently won the PokerStars.net Caribbean Adventure. Now meet the youngest PCA champ in history. 18• Record cold temperatures may have hit the Sunshine State last month, but the tourna-ment trail certainly heated up with big events at the Isle, Hard Rock Hollywood and . . .

Lights, camera . . .

Complete SPC coverage, 25-30

ON THE BUTTON

COVER STORY

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DEEPHE’S IN

Florida’s Chris Torina is the founder of DeepStacks,

a company that is redefining poker education and training.

By Christopher Cosenza

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CChris Torina’s house may be in Altamonte Springs, Fla., but his

home is anywhere a poker student needs help. This sentiment makes his DeepStacks poker training company float

to the top among a sea of other poker educational options. “I had the idea during a WPT preliminary event at the Mirage,”

said Torina, 33. “During one of the breaks I heard some of the pros talking about some of the other boot camps and academies and how they weren’t going into the other cities, just doing Atlantic City, Ve-gas and L.A. I was like, ‘Why don’t we just bring poker training into people’s back yards?’ It would be affordable for them; they wouldn’t have to fly and spend a lot of money to get to these places.”

Torina, a former cop who began playing poker in 2003, wasn’t exactly a household name. He had cashed a couple of times in smaller recognizable tournaments while grinding out a living online and at the live cash tables. But, like so many other poker players, Torina was a former athlete who needed a fix, and he channeled that drive into his passion for poker and poker instruction.

“Playing sports in high school and college I just developed a love for anything competitive,” he said. “I fell in love with poker watching it on ESPN. I figured if I wanted to play for a living and make it my life, I’d have to start a business around it. So that’s what I did.”

Thus, in 2007, DeepStacks was born. By 2008 the business was crawling, but by Torina’s own admission it didn’t start taking baby steps until it figured out how to balance itself.

“In ’08 we tested the business model of the preview-to-workshop-camp seminar. … But there were always two things missing: contin-ued education and the big names.”

That’s when Torina revamped his company, splitting it into two entities: DeepStacks Live and DeepStacks University.

“In 2009 we basically spent (the whole year) developing both. We developed an online platform for developing education (DeepStacks

University), while taking the name recognition (DeepStacks Live) and building that as well. … There aren’t many companies if any, that actually do both. … That’s how we got Mike Matusow.”

Matusow and Torina are now partners in DeepStacks Live, the company that brings the training to your area. And “The Mouth” headlines a roster of instructional pros he handpicked that’s second to none: Tom McEvoy, T.J. Cloutier, Vanessa Rousso, Adam “Rooth-lus” Levy, Justin “Boosted J” Smith, Tristan “Cre8ive” Wade, Alex Outhred, among others.

“I’ve been playing poker for more than 20 years,” said Matusow, who owns three World Series of Poker bracelets. “And I enjoy teach-ing poker. This is something that I can now say is my own. I am strictly here to really teach people what I know. … People have faith in me. They know what kind of person I am, and when I tell them we’re going to sell people a good product they believe in me. The people who know the real Mike Matusow know I’m a good person to learn poker from.”

Matusow, a.k.a. The Dean of DeepStacks, is so dedicated to this company he has severed all ties with other poker instructional “camps.”

“I like talking with people, if you don’t know that by now,” Matu-sow said with a snicker. “I love having fun with people. … There’s going to be an asterisk on it. If you don’t like being made fun of and being called names by Mike Matusow then don’t join up.”

Matusow and Co. took their act “Live” in late January by bringing its free preview seminar to Tampa, where hundreds of players con-verged on Embassy Suites for a chance to meet and learn from poker giants. Then two weeks later the intensive two-day training seminars for the paid customers commenced. Players could pay for one day at $999 or $1,599 for both days.

“You’re getting hands-on one-on-one analysis, strategies and tips,”

Torina said. “But you’re also getting a breakdown to a buildup, mean-ing most organizations do lecture-based training. You sit in a chair and watch a Power Point presentation and you don’t really get the ‘oomph’ from it. Ours is customizable. We break you down and then build you up. It’s like the military. They break you down to make you a U.S. soldier. Everyone has holes in their games. Even our pros have holes, but they’ve been able to plug them and identify those holes. Many people aren’t honest with themselves. … For every table we have there’s a pro that stations that table. Everyone has a seat; no one stands. And it’s 90-10 ration, 90 percent at the tables, 10 percent lecture.”

And, as Torina said, what makes DeepStacks unique is once your live training comes to an end, you can still have the same pros teaching you online through “Reactive

Training Technology.” It’s a subscription-based education on deep-stacks.com that’s customizable to any form of training. Interactive videos respond to your every move and guide you through scores of scenarios. This way the DeepStacks education stays with you wher-ever you have access to the Internet.

“They always say players play and teachers teach,” Torina said. “I like to consider myself a player, but I find a tremendous amount of

pleasure seeing someone who has learned from my company ap-ply it and do well. We’re one of a kind. The way we teach and the types of players we bring to teach our curriculum is one of a kind. We’re the

only poker company in Ameri-ca doing what we do.”

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Matusow teaches a group at a recent preview in Tampa.

T.J. is the most success-ful live tournament player in history, includ-ing six World Series of Poker bracelets.

Tom won the WSOP Main Event in 1983 and has authored more than a dozen books of poker instruction.

Vanessa won the EPT High Roller event t Mon-te Carlo in May 2009 for $750K. She also owns Big Slick Boot Camp.

Known as Boosted J on-line, Justin is one of the most feared high stakes players in the world. See his Q&A on Page XX.

Adam, a.k.a. Roothlus, is a monster online and has made numerous fi-nal tables live, including a WPT event in 2008.

MEET THE FACULTYMembers of Team DeepStacks (but not limited to) include Tristan “Cre8ive” Wade, Andrew “Browndog19” Brown and Alex Outhred.

T.J. CLOUTIER TOM McEVOY VANESSA ROUSSO JUSTIN SMITH ADAM LEVY

MEET THE DEAN OF THE U: MIKE “THE MOUTH” MATUSOW

Mike is one of the DeepStacks Live owners and helped pick the roster of stars that make up the Team DeepStacks constellation. He has three WSOP bracelets and a WSOP Tournament of Champions title from 2005. You can hear numerous interviews with Mike on the Ante Up PokerCast at anteupmagazine.com.

Go Deep, young man Chris Torina has turned his passion for poker into a one-of-a-kind poker-education business called DeepStacks. 40-41

You’ve just been Boosted! Online poker phenom Justin Smith, the Orlando-area on-again off-again resident, explains his nickname (Boosted J), the tragic accident in high school that turned him into a poker player, and his recent successes on the live felt. 60

The Isle Casino at Lake Charles has announced it will host the first Louisiana State Poker Championships in April. Among the six events are two bracelet tournaments. 34

LouisianaSouthern poker players enjoyed fantastic success at the Borgata Winter Poker Open, but none more so than Floridians, who won five titles. 36-37

Around the Nation

Checking is OKYou always hear checking is a weak play, but Lee Childs says checking in position keeps the pot size under control. 47

Don’t be a boob, ignore the tubeIf you’re in a tournament where the final table will be televised, don’t be distracted by the TV bubble. 45

Which ‘A’ game is yours?Doc Bloomfield says there are four types of playing styles, and each has a chance to succeed. 48

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DATES FOR FLORIDA MILLION ANNOUNCEDAs first reported in Ante Up in its February is-

sue, six Florida poker rooms have teamed to host a multiday tourna-ment that will feature the largest poker prize pool in Florida history: a guaranteed $500,000 that could reach $1,000,000. The statewide event will culminate at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg on April 10-11. The participating rooms are Mardi Gras Casino in Hallandale Beach, Daytona Beach Kennel Club and Poker Room, Naples-Ft. My-ers Greyhound Track in Bonita Springs, Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach and Orange Park Kennel Club in the Jacksonville area.

Each room offers multiple “Day Ones” of the $500+$50 buy-in tournament. Each Day One must have at least 50 players, but no more than 150. Play will continue until the top 10 percent of the field remains, and those players will advance to the championship in April with their existing stacks. Players who do not make the top 10 percent are permitted to enter additional Day Ones until they qualify. Players start with 15K units and levels are 40 minutes, and the tournament is

conducted under TDA rules. For more informa-tion visit flmillion.com or see the corresponding ads throughout this issue.

Feb. 28 Daytona Beach 1pMarch 6 Naples-Ft. Myers noonMarch 6 Palm Beach 1pMarch 7 Mardi Gras noonMarch 7 Daytona Beach 1p March 13 Palm Beach 1pMarch 13 Derby Lane 2pMarch 13 Jacksonville 2pMarch 14 Mardi Gras noonMarch 19 Derby Lane 2pMarch 20 Palm Beach 1pMarch 20 Derby Lane 2pMarch 27 Naples-Ft. Myers noonMarch 27 Palm Beach 1pMarch 28 Daytona Beach 1p* Additional dates TBA.

Here are the winners of the Ante Up cruise tournament, from left: JimDonnell from Naples, Dieter Fiebig from Cape Coral and Norman Silvermanof Naples. On the end is tournament director David Hudgins.

Naples-Ft. Myers Greyhound TrackMike Paulk pocketed

$500 by winning the No-vember monthly event at Boots N Buckles in Lakeland, where 125

players participated.Second-place finisher

Billy Norris, who made a roy-al flush at the final table, earned $200. Jean Medbury won $75 for third.

Here are the rest of the top 10 finishers: Bev Nist, $50; Gary Greenhow, $50; Rut La-Clair, $25; Ken Kunkel, $25; Bob Fuller, $25; Vince Valin, $25; and George Rae, $25.

In the January Deep Stack event at the Imperial Swan in Lakeland, Matt “Chicken Wing” Rockhold won the tournament and $1,200, besting more than 170 players.

Ken Kunkel won $500 for second, followed by two-time deep-stack champ Jim Slemons ($250).

Here are the rest of the top 10 finishers: Anita Miller, $150; Eric Custred, $100; Glen Stanlick, $75; Barry Bailey, $75; Gary Green-how, $50; Dave Elkin Jr., $50; and Jeremy Yawn, $50.

Players Choice Poker

Rockhold Kunkel

Amanda Ashmore won the monthly event on Dec. 12, besting about 50 players for the trophy and $500 gift card.

Keith Gridley won the next monthly event on Jan. 16 in Casselberry, taking home a 32-inch flat-panel TV. Ritchie Hut-son won the quarterly on Jan. 31 in Orlan-do, beating about 60 players for a two-night stay in Daytona and a $150 gift card.

• On March 27 the ABC Schoolhouse charity event will be at 7:30 p.m. For more info visit appliedbehaviorcenter.com.

All in! Poker SeriesThe Law En-

forcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olym-pics Florida will co-host a series of charity tour-naments with Derby Lane in St. Petersburg.

The dates are Feb. 26, March 12 & 26 (all dates are Fridays). Registration for the $50 event begins at 6 p.m. with the tournament beginning at 7. The buy-in gets you 3,500 chips ($20 rebuys can be made for 1,500 chips), a 14-ounce mug good for $1 drafts and soft drinks at the bar. Top 10 percent of the 100-player-max field will cash.

For more info go to pokerdawgs.net or email [email protected] to lock up your seat.

Derby Lane

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From left, Debbie Colton, Pete Vega (the winner), Cliff Pizzi and John Dolci share the spoils of winning the Ante Up Team Tourna-ment at the Silks Poker Room on Jan. 19.

Eight teams participated, and Team Ante Up was a spectacular loser, with Scott Long, John Lanier and Donny Campbell exiting be-fore the heads-up round.

But Ante Up’s pinch-hitting “ringer” Jere-my Culnen won his first match with a straight flush. He lost the next two on river suckouts.

Tampa Bay Downs

Jacob Leach beat more than 100 players at Mur-phy’s in Tampa to win the monthly event and a 40-inch TV. He was fol-lowed by Nelson Wright, Cory Pagan, Stephanie McCready, Justin Ballard, Ron Paar, Shawn Dickman, Matt Carroll, Doug Gorr and Fabian Baugh.

BATTLE OF THE BARS: D.J. O’Connor, playing for Azara’s in Clearwater, won his second BOB title, defeating Eddie’s.

Treasure Chest Poker

Seasons 4 and 5 came to a close with Mark Senac, above, and Randy Smith winning the respective finales. Smith bested nearly 220 players on Jan. 23 at Holiday House in Venice for his title.

SEASON 4: Mark Senac, $650; Marie LeFave, $350; Jerald LeFave, $250; Ron Springman, $125; Jack Connolly, $125; Gary Meadows, $100; James Emery, $100; Leonard Polejewski, $100; Vince Coleman, $100; Rich Mastin $60; Betty Coleman, $60.

SEASON 5: Randy Smith, $650, Betty Coleman, $350; Bob Cunningham, $250; Jackie Cook, $125; Dave Brad-ford, $125; Margie Welch, $100; Rich Mastin, $100; Keith Burgolt, $100; Jeff Lally, $100.

Randy Smith with dealer Joseph Sidoti

ChARITy EvENT AT DAyTONA Club Poker League

Ocala Poker & Jai-Alai

Ante Up publishers Chris Cosenza and Scott Long recently busted out of a tour-nament at Ocala Poker and decided to try their hands at jai-alai. Let’s just say they won’t be quitting their day jobs.

Cloutier to teach DeepStacks course at Silks on March 24

Tampa Bay Downs is celebrating March Madness with a 64-player heads-up tourna-ment and four-hour DeepStacks Live instruc-tional course from T.J. Cloutier on March 24.

Cloutier, a six-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, will teach his $495 course and then play in the $120 heads-up tournament.

All matches in the tournament are best two out of three. The top eight earn cash, with the winner earning $2,375 in a sold-out field. For more information call the poker room.

Central FloridaPoker Scene

The Venetian Deep Stack Charity Clas-sic will be May 16 at Daytona Beach Kennel Club, with the grand prize an $8,500 Venetian Resort package.

The tournament, expected to be the largest for charity in Central Florida, has a $140 buy-in with rebuy and add-on options. Registration opens March 15. The event ben-efits C.B.T. (Congregation B’Nai Torah) and its affiliated charities. New this year will be an

invite-only tournament May 15, featuring 2009 WSOP runner-up Darvin Moon

and Mike Matusow, who will each play in the May 16 event. For more go to deepstackcharityclassic.com.

Ante Up is an official spon-sor and will give away prizes

weekly until the event. The final week’s drawing will be for a seat in the in-vite-only event. For more

details or to enter, visit anteupmagazine.com.

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South FloridaPoker Scene

The Main Event series at Seminole Hard Rock’s Paradise Poker Room in January drew a player from Belize, and he didn’t waste the trip.

Pierre Bou-nahra of Belize City, Belize, won $26,250 and the beautiful glass trophy after surviving the 74-player field in

the $1,100 Heavyweight Division. In the $350 Middleweight Division, Anthony Ruberto

of Everett, Mass., bested a field of nearly 100 players to win $10,200.

Ryan Baroff of Weston won the $575 Cruiserweight Division, beating 92 players for $15,807.

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Hard Rock’s Spring Open features $360K guarantee

The Paradise Poker Room at Semi-nole Hard Rock Hollywood continues with its seasonal-theme series with the Spring Open, which will have a $360K prize pool for its 15 events March 9-22. Here’s a look at the schedule:

DATE TIME BUY-IN GUAR.3/9 6:30p $150 $15K3/10 noon Invite only $10K 3/11 6:30p $180 $10K3/12 11a $150 $25K3/13 11a $350 $30K3/14 noon $150 $15K3/14 6:30p $75 $8K3/15 6:30p $300 $25K3/16 6:30p $150 $15K3/17 6:30p $75 $8K3/18 6:30p $180 $10K3/19 11a (1A) $1,100 $150K3/20 11a (1B) $1,100 $150K3/21 11a, main event final day3/21 6:30p $75 $8K3/22 11a $75 $6K3/22 6:30p $300 $25K

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Last month Ante Up reported on Harrison Gimbel’s record-setting PCA victory. AU correspondent Garrett Roth was on the scene in the Bahamas and caught up with Gimbel after his remarkable victory.

While most teenagers are making minimum wage, Harrison Gim-bel is making millions.

Gimbel won the PokerStars.net Caribbean Adventure’s main event for $2.2 million in January. ... not bad for a kid who just graduated high school.

Gimbel, 19, was born in Boca Raton and now lives in Jupiter. He started his poker career like many other players, with the Moneymaker boom in 2003, when he wasn’t even a teenager yet. He began playing $5 and $10 home games while sharpening his skills, but soon began to play online, where he was known as gibler123.

As soon as he was old enough to play in lo-cal cardrooms he jumped in and won the Florida State Championship at the Isle Casino at Pom-pano Park, pocketing nearly $68K.

He hasn’t strayed from his online roots. He had a massive amount of earnings online in 2009, having final-tabled virtually every ma-jor tournament, including the Stars $1K Super Tuesday ($57K), Stars Sunday Million ($47K), Stars Sunday 500 ($25K), Full Tilt $1K Monday ($45K), Full Tilt Sunday Brawl ($17K) and a handful of other titles on other sites.

“I’ve only played a few live tournaments in my career, and never a $10K buy-in,” Gimbel said moments after his victory in the Baha-mas. “Live is more fun than online, though, because you can get facial reads on people and you can interact with them a lot more.”

He had planned on buying directly into the main event, but won a $1K satellite just a few days before the tournament.

Gimbel’s confidence was evident throughout the tournament as he steamrolled to the chip lead, increasing his stack to about 1.5 million after the first few days. But it was a hand with another young gun on Day 3 that helped make Gimbel the youngest PCA champ in history.

“The most crucial hand of the tournament for me was a hand I played against Justin Bonomo,” said Gimbel, who once attended the University of Alabama.

Gimbel held AC-JC on a board of 4C-9C-6C. Bonomo bet 70,000 on the flop, 190K when the 7D dropped on the turn, and then moved all-in for 700K on the river when the board paired with the 9D. Gimbel just called on all streets and Bonomo mucked his hand. Gim-bel won a 2.5-million-chip pot with the ace-high flopped flush.

“This hand gave me the chip lead and pro-pelled me to the final table where I never lost focus,” he said, “I had played with most of the players before and was extremely confident that I was going to win.”

Ultimately, Gimbel’s pocket 10s held up against Tyler Reimen’s pocket eights when they were heads-up for the title. They both made sets

to add a little more drama, as if the moment needed it.Gimbel says he plans on spending more time traveling the circuit

and playing in the biggest events around the world. “I hope at the time this article gets published, I will have found a

sponsorship deal,” he said.That shouldn’t be too difficult to accomplish given his past suc-

cesses. About the only thing he can’t do in poker is win a World Series bracelet, but that’s only because he’s not old enough yet.

GIMBEL’S GAMBLE PAYS OFFHarrison Gimbel of Florida started playing poker before he was a teenager. Now, at 19, he reflects on his remarkable $2.2 million PCA win.

By Garrett Roth

Gimbel after winning the

2009 FSPC at the Isle.

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$900 Main Event1. Steven Karp, N. Miami Beach, $55,8542. Raj Vohra, Lake Worth, $32,7423. Daniel Shiff, Aventura, $21,1864. Terry McKerchie, Davie, $13,4825. Farhan Madhani, Miramar, $9,6306. Nigel Murray, Miami Gardens, $8,2827. Omar McFarlane, Lake Worth, $6,3568. Larry Kusch, Plantation, $4,6229. Soren Morales, Miami, $4,43010. Bobby Binsky, Halandale Beach, $4,23711. Peter Striano III, Parkland, $4,04512. Uri Kadosh, Davie, $3,85213. Charles Bury, Boca Raton, $3,65914. Steven Dockswell, Lake Worth, $3,46715. Bradford Borrelli, Margate, $3,27416. Jose Ricardo, Coral Springs, $3,08217. Robert Perry, Highland Beach, $2,88918. Josh Heiman, Boynton Beach, $2,69619. Srinivasa Yarlagadda, Sarasota, $2,50420. Scott Zakheim, Davie, $2,31121. Howard Appledorf, P. Pines, $1,960 22. Clark Brzozowski, Ft. Lauderdale, $1,960 23. Rick Semander, P. Pines, $1,96024. Hosney Boutros, Ft. Lauderdale, $1,96025. Ira Silverman, Boca Raton, $1,960 26. Thom Millward, Boca Raton, $1,600

$550 Event

1. Marc Levy, Boynton Beach, $10,5062. Howard Becks, Plantation, $9,0003. Keith Ingham, Boca Raton, $9,0004. John McCafery, Lake Worth, $9,0005. Danie Genachte, Deerfield Beach, $9,000 6. Randy Zane, Ft. Lauderdale, $2,9257. Russ Marco, Pompano Beach, $2,2828. Mike Favor, New Jersey, $1,6979. Jerry Kielian, Ft. Lauderdale, $1,40410. Ory Hen, Cooper City, $1,28711. Lou Rosen, Boca Raton, $1,22912. Bill Ryan, Palm Beach, $1,170

$330 Bounty Event1. Danny Heimbender, Boynton Beach, $6,504 2. James Hamburger, Delray Beach, $5,400 3. George Colli III, Suffield, Conn., $5,400 4. Shimon Mordechai, Boca Raton, $5,400 5. Cinda Goodale, Ft. Lauderdale, $1,8236. David Albertson, Margate, $1,548 7. Amir Ashmawy, Boca Raton, $1,135 8. Keith Ingham, Boca Raton, $826 9. Hosney Boutros, Ft. Lauderdale,$791 10. Larry Kusch, Miami, $757 11. Barry Chazen, Ft. Lauderdale, $722 12. Jason Seaton, Pembroke Pines, $688 13. Sonia Sanchez, Hallandale, $65414. Paula Holder, Pompano Beach, $619 15. David Evans, Ft. Lauderdale, $585 16. Ira Silverman, Boca Raton, $55017. Jay Sinterce, Coconut Creek, $516 18. Martin Jorgensen, Pompano Beach, $482

$230 Event

1. Robert Transue, N. Lauderdale, $6,241 2. Thomas Cuce, Boca Raton, $6,241 3. Devon Shalmi, Boca Raton, $6,241 4. Jeff Morrison, Parkland, $2,418 5. Ruth Gaskins, Green Acres, $1,860 6. Daniel Genachte, Deerfield Beach, $1,395 7. Hubert Ganter, Tamarac, $1,023 8. James Hamilton, United Kingdom, $744 9. Farhan Madhani, Miramar, $713 10. Bob Panetta, Jupiter, $682 11. Paul Shafran, Boca Raton, $651 12. Joe Conti, Boynton Beach, $620 13. Dave Henry, Coral Springs, $589 14. Georgia Felger, Lantana, $55815. Karin Powsner, Ft. Lauderdale, $527 16. Roland Garcia, Pembroke Pines, $496

$150 Bounty Event1. Linda Lipkins, Boca Raton, $1,955 2. Moises Natanel, Boca Raton, $1,955 3. Martin Baybutt, Boca Raton, $1,1004. Keith Ingham, Boca Raton, $1,1005. Alex Fusco, Sunny Isles Beach, $1,100 6. John Amrhein, Coral Springs, $1,100 7. David Albertson, Margate, $800 8. Jeff Balsewich, Boynton Beach, $500 9. Rick Semander, Pembroke Pines, $257 10. Eric Andrews, Lake Worth, $246 11. Mauro Negerada, Sao Paulo, Brazil, $235 12. Neal Freeman, Boca Raton, $224 13. Noris Barcimanto, Coral Springs, $212 14. Bob Binski, Hallandale, $201 15. Trevor Samuels, Miami, $190

2ND ANNUAL ISLE POKER CLASSICJAN. 11-17, 2010 • ISLE CASINO AT POMPANO PARK • POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA

Steven Karp

$720 Seven-Deuce: Jan. 24

1. Mohammad Masoud, Homestead, $9,8792. Raymond Millard, Boca Raton, $9,8793. Gil Nagar, Cooper City, $9,879 4. Eric Riley, Lake Worth, $4,0825. Chaim Halpern, Halandale Beach, $2,980

Who will emerge as the star this year? In the 2009 Battles at the Beach 19-year-

old Hayden Fortini of Vero Beach won both $900 events to capture nearly $110K in prize money.

This year the Battles series, which runs March 5-15, has added four events to the

lineup for a total of seven tournaments, in-cluding a $150K guarantee main event that

has a $900 buy-in. The main event will take place over three days, with survivors

from Days 1A (March 12) and 1B (March 13) returning for Day 2 on March 14.

Also on March 14 will be a High Heels Poker Tour event that features a $150 buy-in.

All of the events will be no-limit hold’em, including the $575 128-player heads-up tournament that runs March 5-7. There will be a Day 1A (March 5) and 1B (March 6) with the remaining players returning on March 7. For the full schedule see the ad on Page 17.

Isle’s Battles at the Beach has $300K guarantee

Winners Danny Diaz and Don Silvestri pose with ex-NFL star O.J. McDuffie after the tournament at the Isle Casino, which raised more than $3,000 for McDuffie’s Catch 81 Foundation.

Catch 81 Foundation Charity Event

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Michael Lucas, a Miami native who has been playing in the Flagler’s Magic City Poker Room for about five years, will never have a day like this again.

On Jan. 13 his table was the chosen “Hot Table”and he won the hand. He split the $500

jackpot with his tablemates, and the karma paid off just 40 minutes later when he hit the Big Slick

Royal Flush progressive jackpot for nearly $195K.

In case you’re wondering, this is the largest royal flush jackpot paid in Florida. But the larg-est jackpot of any kind that was hit in a Flori-da poker room came in 2008 at the Seminole Hard Rock poker room in Tampa, where the bad beat was $543K, and the winner got nearly $283K.

Just a few days later on Jan. 16 the Big Slick hit again as Denis Kanashiro, at right, won $104K.

Flagler Greyhound Track

SOUTH FLORIDA

Rina Aserov from Aventura poses with the Big Easy Poker Room Custom Harley-David-son Fat Boy won on Super Bowl Sunday.

Mardi Gras Casino

Ft. Lauderdale’s Dillard Brock and wife Allison pose with the 50-inch TV they won Feb. 6.

Dania Jai-AlaiAll In Free PokerDeb Trigoboff of

Coral Springs won season finale Jan. 10, earning entry into the Isle at Pompano Park’s $900 main event.

The tournament drew 180 players, though the final table met at Smokey Bones in Ft. Lauderdale on Jan. 15. Trigoboff was followed by Wendy Middleman-Miller, Adam Gold-stein, Troy Parra, Justin Huntsman, Sean Lavery, Mary Maguire, Sharon Aziz, Larry Fitzpatrick and Flo Horne.

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Three days, 213 players and a short stack at the final table couldn’t stop Andy Chitty from capturing the first Chad Brown No Limit Texas Hold’em Championship and the $53K payday.

“That’s a lot of money,” the Georgia resident said with a smile. “I think I’ll pay some bills.”

The tournament featured Brown and his wife, Vanessa Rousso, the Team Pok-erStars Pros.

“Everyone was very excited to see the field for this tournament,” organizer and tournament director Ant Furnier said. “The entire company, with the help of Chad Brown, worked very hard to provide the players with a great tourna-ment experience all the way around.

“We all look forward to working more with PokerStars and to providing the best possible tournament experience for our current and future poker players.”

Adding to the exictement of this $880 event was the prospect of playing at the historic televised final table, the first for a land-based cardroom in Florida.

The event, hosted by Ante Up, is ex-pected to air on Bright House Sports Network on March 28-29 and eventually on Comcast in selected markets around the country.

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ORANGE PARK KENNEL CLUB, JACKSONVILLE

CHITTY GOES BANG-BANGAndy Chitty from Savannah, Ga., captures the inaugural Chad Brown NLHE event at Orange Park.

1. Andy Chitty, $53,0702. Fremio “Eli” Gomez, $34,2403. Ken “Chilli” Williams, $19,688 4. “Mo” Gottlieb, $11,1255. Barry Price, $8,5606. Thomas Conner, $6,8457. Horace Thomas, $5,9908. Josh Doody, $4,9659. Jacob Harding, $3,93510. Dave Rittenhaus, $2,91011. Jonathan Westra, $1,71212. Andrew Dykeman, $1,712

13. Rod Rentz, $1,712 14. Reece Crews, $1,712 15. Jimmy Lai, $1,20016. Roger Lacharite, $1,20017. Rick Trowbridge, $1,200 18. Andrew Taylor, $1,20019. Randy Burden, $1,200 20. Gary Petro, $1,200 21. Sean Winter, $1,200 22. Pete Mecca, $1,200 23. Edna Green, $1,20024. Pom Souvannasuth, $1,200

Vanessa Rousso exited a few spots before the

money bubble.

Host Chad Brown gives winner Andy Chitty the enormous check for $53,070 after Chitty’s victory.

Brown was eliminated on Day 1.

Donnie Vann played but didn’t cash.

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HCHAD BROWN NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM TOURNAMENT

ORANGE PARK KENNEL CLUB, JACKSONVILLE

The crew that made the television production possible.

ANATOMY OF A POKER SHOWPutting a TV show together takes a lot of hard work and coordination. Here are some snaps

from behind the scenes as the crews from Fallah Productions, Orange Park Kennel Club and Ante Up Magazine work hard to bring Florida its first

land-based televised poker show in history.

This broadcast premieres on Bright House Sports Network on March 28 at 10 p.m. with additional broadcasts March 29 (11:30 p.m.), May 9 (10 p.m.) and May 10 (11:30 p.m.). The

show is expected to be shown on various Web sites and Comcast systems around the

country. Check anteupmagazine.com for updates in the coming months.

A last-minute mike check before the final-table players arrive.

The hosts follow the action at the table.

Vanessa Rousso on the mike.

Ante Up discussing a final-table hand.

A production meeting to discuss procedure.

Crowd gathers when it’s three-handed.

Ant Furnier

Cameras jockey for position.

Getting that B-roll footage.

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NORTH FLORIDAPensacola Greyhound Track

It’s been a long time coming, but the poker room at Pensacola Greyhound Track finally had its grand opening on Jan. 27. The room was packed with 22 live tables running.

Jerry Watterson says he likes the Mega Stack events at St. Johns Grey-hound Park in Jackson-ville. Actually, he loves them.

And why not? With a second-place cash in the $330 Poker OctoberFest Main Event for $6,500 and a first-place finish in the $330 December Mega Stack Main Event for $6,400, Watterson has good reason to love the format.

After getting edged out by a good friend of his in October, Watter-son headed to the final table of the 60-player field on a mission. He was behind 3-to-1 in chips against a very tough player in Diane Casino when it got down to heads-up. He overcame the chip lead and on the final hand Watterson held A-K to Casino’s A-Q. An ace came on the flop and Watterson’s king kicker won the tour-nament and the $6,400 first prize. Casino won $3,400.

St. Johns Greyhound Park

Pleasure Island PokerBill Fendley, left, won the

October monthly on Jan. 8 at Fantasy Lounge in Ft. Wal-ton Beach. He defeated more than 60 players for the seat at a tournament in Biloxi, Miss.

About two weeks later Fendley almost repeated as monthly champ, but was edged by Loria Walters, right, when play got to heads-up.

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Gulf Coast Poker Scene

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SOUTHERN POKER CHAMPIONSHIPJAN. 7-27, 2010 • BEAU RIVAGE • BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI

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Courtesy of World Poker Tour

JUST A GOOD OL’ BOYHoyt Corkins, the Alabama Cowboy, keeps the Southern Poker Championship in The South by winning his second World Poker Tour title and nearly $714K.


Hoyt Corkins came to the final table of the World Poker Tour Southern Poker Champion-ship at the Beau Rivage as the chipleader. He left the final table in the same fashion.

Corkins, of Glenwood, Ala., captured his second career WPT title after besting Jonathan Kantor heads-up to win $713,986, a WPT bracelet and a seat in April’s WPT $25K World Championship at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

“It’s a big thrill to get two WPT titles,” said Corkins, who has six career WPT final tables (two firsts, two seconds, a third and a sixth). “There’s only a select group that’s got two titles.”

He joined Daniel Negreanu, Gus Hansen and Phil Ivey as the only players to have 4,000 WPT points (He has 4,300).

On the final hand Kantor limped and Corkins moved all-in. Kantor called with K-10 vs. the A-7 of Corkins. The flop paired Corkins’ ace and it was all over as the turn and river gave Kantor no help. He received $366,643 for his second-place fin-ish in the $10K main event that drew 208 players. Kantor of Tulsa also won Event 27 ($2,100 NLHE) for $68,443.

“He’s a very tricky-style player so he was tough to handle when the blinds got high,” Corkins said of Kantor.

Corkins’ first WPT title came in November 2003 at the World Poker Finals at Foxwoods in Connecti-cut. He has more than $5 million in career earnings, and he said winning at the Beau was very special.

“That was my home casino. I played at Biloxi from 1993-95. As a matter of fact I drove back to Alabama

after I (won). It’s just three hours’ drive. So yeah, it’s a big thrill.”

Other southern players at the SPC final table included James Reed of Newnan, Ga., who came to the table as the short stack but went out

fifth ($106,134), and Tyler Smith of Smithdale, Miss., who exited sixth ($86,837).

But there were other tournaments at the Beau, too. The Southern Poker Championship is a monthlong series filled with 32 undercard events as well, and quite a few stories came out of those tournaments, including the Binger brothers (Nick and Michael) who each won a title, Dwyte Pilgrim of Brook-lyn, who won two titles, and Laurie Scales of Flowery Branch, Ga., who was the only women to win an open event, taking No. 29, a $340 no-limit hold’em tournament that attracted 460 players and earned her nearly $27K.

The following pages include all of the results and images from the 32 leadup events.

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EVENT 1: $340 NLHEWINNER: David McElroy

EVENT 5: $550 NLHEWINNER: Dwyte Pilgrim

EVENT 9: $340 NLHEWINNER: Joseph Hebert

EVENT 13: $345 NLHEWINNER: Dwyte Pilgrim

EVENT 2: $340 STUD/8WINNER: Tim Burt

EVENT 3: $550 NLHEWINNER: Ronnie George

EVENT 4: $340 LHEWINNER: Mitch Mitchner

EVENT 6: $340 OMAHA/8WINNER: Jerome Myer

EVENT 7: $550 NLHEWINNER: Ryan Lenaghan

EVENT 8: $340 H.O.S.E.WINNER: Matt Fitzgerald

EVENT 10: $340 PLO w/RBsWINNER: Galen Kester

EVENT 11: $345 NLHEWINNER: Steve Cooper

EVENT 12: $550 LHEWINNER: Jeramy Govert

EVENT 14: $340 STUD 8/O8BWINNER: Avner Levy

EVENT 15: $345 NLHEWINNER: Scott Culver

EVENT 16: $340 STUDWINNER: Charlie Townsend

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EVENT 17: $550 NLHEWINNER: Jared Jaffee

EVENT 21: $550 SENIORSWINNER: Dennis Otto

EVENT 25: $1,070 NLHEWINNER: Jason Mercier

EVENT 29: $340 NLHEWINNER: Laurie Scales

EVENT 18: $1,070 H.O.R.S.E.WINNER: Jason Stern

EVENT 19: $550 NLHEWINNER: Nick Binger

EVENT 20: $340 LADIESWINNER: Linda Keenan

EVENT 22: $340 PLO/8WINNER: James Newberry

EVENT 23: $550 NLHEWINNER: Johnny Landret

EVENT 24: $550 PLOWINNER: Michael Binger

EVENT 26: $340 OMAHA/8WINNER: Jesse Rios

EVENT 27: $2,100 NLHEWINNER: Jonathan Kantor

EVENT 28: $1,070 LOWBALLWINNER: James Van Alstyne

EVENT 30: $5,130 PLOWINNER: Scott Clements

EVENT 31: $3,120 NLHEWINNER: Chris Bell

EVENT 32: $230 NLHEWINNER: Manny Minaya

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Event #1 – $340 NLHEPlayers: 369 • Prize pool: $107,0571. David McElroy, Pass Christian, Miss., $28,9942. Steven Curtin, Charlotte, N.C., $16,1073. Ron Crabtree, Mount Juliet, Tenn., $9,4494. Jim Petzing, Chicago, $7,3025. Troy Lee, Brighton, Tenn., $6,2286. Ryan Gentry, La Jolla, Ca., $5,1547. Keith Richeson, Cincinnati, $4,0808. Don Crabtree, Mount Juliet, Tenn, $3,0079. John Cofhlin, Ft. Pierce, Fla., $1,93310. Chris Brauch, Tallahassee, Fla., $1,50311. Ricky King Jr., Biloxi, Miss., $1,50312. Samuel Whitt, Lima, Ohio, $1,50313. James Johnson, $1,28914. Sisoukchith Sounth, $1,28915. Kevin Dennis, $1,28916. Larry Bradbury, $1,07417. Warren Simon, $1,07418. Perry McGinnis, $1,07419. Kirk Banks, $85920. Terry Obrien, $85921. Andrew Claytor, $85922. Larry Plummer, $85923. James Evans, $85924. Thomas Zilahi, $85925. Benjamin Mentz, $85926. Steven Scott, $85927. Ronald Wellman, $85928. Bruce McPhillips, $64429. Martin Berchenko, $64430. Douglas Carli, $64431. Rebecca Montague, $64432. Justin Jones, $64433. James Mankowski, $64434. John Willis, $64435. Robert Comitalo, $64436. Galen Kester, $32237. Richard Hensarling, $322

Event #2 – $340 Stud/8Players: 74 • Prize pool: $22,9821. Tim Burt, Grenada, Miss., $8,2762. Richard Katz, Pittsburgh, $4,5983. Richard Clemons, Hazard, Ky., $2,9894. Johnny Livingston, Selma, Ala., $2,0695. Thomas Pullens, Picayune, Miss., $1,6026. Bob Brown, Tampa, Fla., $1,3797. John Gates, Winnsboro, S.C., $1,1498. Ed Sojack, Dunedin, Fla., $920

Event #3 – $550 NLHEPlayers: 345 • Prize pool: $167,3251. Ron George, Douglasville, Ga., $50,1922. Davis Weaver, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., $26,7723. David Diaz, Memphis, Tenn., $15,0594. Matt Lischke, Athens, Ga., $11,7135. Matt Lansdon, Montgomery, Ala., $10,0406. Moh. Morini, Gulfport, Miss., $8,3667. John Napoli, Daytona Bch, Fla., $6,6938. Bob Beck, S. Rosa Beach, Fla., $5,0209. Kenny Milam, La Place, La., $3,34710. Barry Morrow, Crestwood, Ky, $2,34311. Michael Barbaree, Banks, Ala., $2,34312. Vittario Iemolo, Sarasota, Fla., $2,34313. John Simmons, Tickfaw, La., $2,00814. Ricardo Ebhardt, Tampa, Fla., $2,00815. Paul Harris, St. Louis, Mo., $2,00816. Jeter Brock, Birmingham, Ala., $1,67317. Sonny Bunce, Kissimmee, Fla., $1,67318. Thuy Djedjos, Jackson, Miss., $1,67319. Ron Germany, $1,33920. Peter Ruszkeiwikz, $1,33921. Trent Lewis, $1,33922. Thomas Ballow, $1,33923. Carl Whitefield, $1,33924. Ryan Brown, $1,33925. Dwight Lemoine, $1,33926. Keith Graham, $1,33927. Mark Samples, $1,339

Event #4 – $340 LHEPlayers: 98 • Prize pool: $28,5181. Mitch Mitchner, Bonner Sprgs., Kan. $10,2672. Matthew Colvin, Dallas, $5,4183. Jerry Yoder, Hickory, N.C., $3,4224. Dave McElroy, Quincy, Fla., $2,2815. Art Young, Biloxi, Miss., $1,9966. LaDarryl Alexis, N.O, La., $1,7117. Kris Anderson, Terre Haute, Ind., $1,4268. Joe D’avanzo, Palm Harbor, Fla., $1,1419. Kevin Gute, Warrensburg, Mo., $856

Event #5 – $550 NLHEPlayers: 418 • Prize pool: $192,7301. Dwyte Pilgrim, Brooklyn, $52,0402. Dan Furnari, St. Augustine, Fla., $28,9103. James Maddox, Spartanburg, S.C., $16,9604. Dustin Williams, Shelby, N.C., $13,1065. Jacob Naquin, Houma, La., $11,1786. John Cofhlin, Ft. Pierce, Fla., $9,2517. Tom Franklin, Gulfport, Miss., $7,3248. Rick Crandell, Overland Park, Kan., $5,3969. Benny Champlin, Jonesville, La., $3,46910. Noble Simpson, Jena, La., $2,69811. Thomas Gray, $2,69812. Steven Lechner, $2,69813. Donna Reid, $2,31314. Keith Crouch, $2,31315. Melyan Dai, $2,31316. Rolando Lozano, $1,92717. Patrick Heneghan, $1,92718. Stanley Combs, $1,92719. Arthur Hatcher,$1,54220. Loren Zens, $1,54221. Jonathan Holsonback, $1,54222. Ryan Gafford, $1,54223. Bobby Gauthier, $1,54224. Frank Bravata, $1,54225. Tyler Dixon, $1,54226. Galen Kester, $1,54227. Jack Clark, $1,54228. Michael Macelhose, $1,15629. Ronnie Hope, $1,15630. Ed Bridges, $1,15631. Robert Thornhill, $1,15632. Kevin Cox, $1,15633. Larry Daigle, $1,15634. Anthony Spera, $1,15635. Douglas Carli, $1,15636. Leslie Meeks, $1,156

Event #6 – $340 Omaha/8Players: 176 • Prize pool: $51,2161. Jerome Myer, Daytona, Fla., $16,9012. David Eller, Port Orange, Fla., $9,3213. Dwight Lemoine, Lake Charles, La., $5,1224. Jim Rolz, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., $4,0975. Jordan Stone, Fayetteville, Ga., $3,0736. Richard Estep, Lake Chales, La., $2,5617. Sue Friedman, Boca Raton, Fla., $2,0498. Mike Shands, Birmingham, Ala., $1,5369. Robert Reardon, Nantucket, Ma., $1,02410. Shirley Graham, Dallas, $71711. David Pacheco, $71712. Salah Levy, $71713. Samuel Whitt, $61514. Mike Husar, $61515. James Sale, $61516. Victor Marzoug, $51217. Otis Williamson, $51218. Brent Carter, $512

Event #7 – $550 NLHEPlayers: 205 • Prize pool: $98,9401. Ryan Lenaghan, New Orleans, $32,6532. Chad Melerine, Slidell, La., $18,0073. Joe Phelps, Diamondhead, Miss., $9,8944. Matt Lawrence, Tulsa, $7,9155. Mike Schneider, Covington, Ga., $5,9366. Leo Boothe, Ferriday, La., $4,9477. Rich Dombrowski, Gulfport, Miss., $3,9588. Nick Visconti, Boca Raton, Fla., $2,968

9. Troy Lee, Brighton, Ill., $1,97910. Dave Mcleroy, Pass Christian, Miss., $1,38511. Brian Anderson, $1,38512. Douglas Bruce, $1,38513. Donald Yaughn, $1,18714. Daniel Walker, $1,18715. Sue Whigham, $1,18716. Dustin Skarra, $98917. Hanh Nguyen, $98918. Wendell Arrington, $989

Event #8 – $340 H.O.S.E.Players: 94 • Prize pool: $28,8091. Matt Fitzgerald, Houston, $8,6432. Ken Aldridge, Pleasant Gar., N.C., $4,8983. Hoyt Verner, Melbourne, Fla., $3,4574. Patrick Squire, Hoover, Ala., $2,5935. J. Spadavecchia, Light. Pt., Fla., $2,0176. Chuck Barker, Richardson, Texas, $1,7297. Steve Underwood, Syracuse, N.Y., $1,4408. Dan Walsh, Powder Springs, Ga., $1,1529. Ky McPherson, Austin, Texas, $86410. Martin Shapiro, Clearwater, Fla., $86411. Robert McCay, Waller, Texas, $57612. Mike Nobles, Houston, Texas, $576

Event #9 – $340 NLHEPlayers: 341 • Prize pool: $99,2311. Joseph Hebert, Metairie, La., $29,7682. Norm Ketchum, Lowes Park, Ill., $15,8773. Pete Ruszkiewicz, N. Prairie, Wis., $8,9314., Ben Thomas, Baton Rouge, La., $6,9465. Colen Beck, Valley, Ala., $5,9546. Dom Spadavecchia, Boca Raton, Fla., $4,9627. Gary LaDuca, Atlanta, Ga., $3,9698. Al Krux, Fayetteville, N.Y., $2,9779. Graham Wheldon, England, $1,98510. Lacey Coffey, $1,38911. Charles Haynes, $1,38912. Nancy Birnbaum, $1,38913. Paula Halata, $1,19114. Eddie Rayl, $1,19115. Andrew Moon, $1,19116. Raymond Blanchette, $99217. Jae Chung, $99218. Neil Davanzo, $99219. Michael Ellis, $79420. Ryan Cox, $79421. Robert Moore, $79422. Patricia Till, $79423. Glen Ballenger, $79424. Sid Webb, $79425. Nathan Schier, $79426. Thomas Schaaf, $79427. Samuel Kennedy, $794

Event #10 – $340 PLO w/RBsPlayers: 72 • Prize pool: $63,1471. Galen Kester, Senatobia, Miss., $22,7332. Walt Chambers, Baton Rouge, $11,9983. Brent Carter, Oak Park, Ill., $7,5784. Robert Salaburn, San Antonio, $5,0525. David Nowakowski, Voorhees, N.J., $4,4206. John Spagnuolo, Alpharetta, Ga., $3,7897. Todd McKellar, Lake Charles, La., $3,1578. Ronnie Mapes, Destin, Fla., $2,5269. Dan Clemente, Hernando, Miss., $1,894

Event #11 – $345 NLHEPlayers: 475 • Prize pool: $99,2311. Steve Cooper, Atlanta, Ga., $33,2752. Joe Andrulot, Pan. City Bch., Fla., $17,9523. Peter Palisi Jr., Madisonville, La., $10,2584. Shane Howeth, Lake Kiowa, Texas, $8,4635. Grady Yeager Jr., Cape Coral, Fla., $7,1816. Sam Broadway, Galveston, Texas, $5,8987. Ryan Cox, New Orleans, $4,6168. Karen Hayden, Louisville, $3,3249. Jerry Zehr, Florence, Ky., $2,05210. Scott Decker, Defuniak Sprgs., Fla., $1,79511. David Smith, $1,79512. Theanne Sergeant, $1,79513. Thien Hoang, $1,539

14. David Harfield, $1,53915. Bruce MacGregor, $1,53916. Philip Scurria, $1,28217. Ronald Surenkamp, $1,28218. Rick Sherrill, $1,28219. Marco Jansen, $1,02620. Joe Defilippo, $1,02621. Larry Plummer, $1,02622. Thomas Pullens, $1,02623. Jacob Markowitz, $1,02624. Richard Florestan, $1,02625. Zachary Answorth, $1,02626. Jennifer Leago, $1,02627. Christopher Aaron, $1,02628. Andrew Hansen, $76929. Timothy Moore, $76930. Michael Bradford, $76931. John Eyer, $76932. Ludek Sisak, $76933. Brandon Jarrett, $76934. Jay Weeks, $76935. Sherrie Aiken, $76936. Gordon Ransom, $76937. Curtiss Siegal, $57738. Anthony Bellao, $57739. Fred Hill, $57740. Robert Flowers, $57741. Anuj Chandna, $57742. Robert Deppe, $57743. Anne Amato, $57744. Luke Gardner, $57745. Jason Bruce, $577

Event #12 – $550 LHEPlayers: 31 • Prize pool: $15,0351. Jeramy Govert, Atlanta, $6,7652. Justin Booth, Atlanta, $3,7593. Mike Davis, Friendswood, Texas, $2,2554. Trent Lewis, Loganville, Ga., $1,5045. James Wethington, Raleigh, N.C., $752

Event #13 – $345 NLHEPlayers: 400 • Prize pool: $106,4001. Dwyte Pilgrim, Brooklyn, $28,7332. Kay Jones, Villages, Fla., $15,9603. Jesus Cabrera, Atlanta, $9,3634. Thuan Bui, Lenoir, N.C., $7,2355. Don Hall, Biloxi, Miss., $6,1716. Chris Brauch, Tallahassee, Fla., $5,1077. Henry Pena, Houston, $4,0438. Ted Barrick, Ocean Springs, Miss., $2,9799. Jason Cluxton, Seattle, $1,91510. Thaddeus Layton, $1,49011. John Bazley, $1,49012. Anthony Pellegrini, $1,49013. Lacey Coffey, $1,27714. Ryan Gafford, $1,27715. Justin Allen, $1,27716. Ronnie Hope, $1,06417. Larry Plummer, $1,06418. Edward Jones, $1,06419. David Depena, $85120. Gio Rocca, $85121. Shawn Lytle, $85122. John Keith, $85123. Larry Conners, $85124. Douglas Bruce, $85125. Christopher Pierce, $85126. Douglas Gambel, $85127. B.J. McBrayer, $85128. Joshua Wilcox, $63829. Matthew Powell, $63830. Al Krux, $63831. Rohan Long, $63832. Michael Smith, $63833. Tae Lee, $63834. Roger Barlow, $63835. Mark Dumas, $63836. Gregory Wanzer, $638

Event #14 – $340 S/8-O/8Players: 110 • Prize pool: $31,6901. Avner Levy, Westville, N.J., $9,603

2. Paul Honas, Las Vegas, $5,4423. Tony Hartmann, Minneapolis, $3,8414. Carey Troell, Kingwood, Texas, $2,8815. Dave Grubb, Wildwood Crest, N.J., $2,2416. Bo Toft, Yardley, Pennsylvania, $1,9217. Eric Napolean, Austin, Texas, $1,6018. James Rosser, Harvest, Ala., $1,2809. Jean Sparrow, Lake Cormorant, Miss., $96010. Timothy Burt, $64011. Yaron Limor, $64012. Aaron Lasater, $640 Event #15 – $345 NLHEPlayers: 460 • Prize pool: $123,8601. Scott Culver, New Haven, Ky., $32,1452. David Diaz, Memphis, $17,3403. Dan Clemente, Hernando, Miss., $9,9094. Joe Tehan, Las Vegas, $8,1755. Eddie Rayl, Fitzgerald, Ga., $6,9366. Taj Zipperman, Canton, Ga., $5,6987. Kris Cannatelli, Gulfport, Miss., $4,4598. Michael Williams, Lebanon, Ky., $3,2209. Patrick D. Everett, Dayton, Tenn., $1,98210. James Wethington, $1,73411. Ronald Bartlett, $1,73412. Rodney Baker, $1,73413. John Bindner, $1,48614. Matthew Blach, $1,48615. Deborah Lavigne, $1,48616. David Lovins, $1,23917. Rolland Young, $1,23918. Michael Wood, $1,23919. Michael Schneider, $99120. James Murray, $99121. Kyle Milam, $99122. James Nickell, $99123. Bob Riley, $99124. Raymond Engheben, $99125. Michael Bradford, $99126. William Straiti, $99127. Stephen Beining, $99128. Clyde Clerencer, $74329. Jeffrey Coutroulis, $74330. Joseph Mattingly, $743

Event #16 – $340 StudPlayers: 110 • Prize pool: $11,3491. Charlie Townsend, Dagsboro, Del., $5,1082. Trent Lewis, Loganville, Ga., $2,8373. Tennyson Phillips, Moultrie, Ga., $1,7024. Jason Eskridge, Armuchee, Ga., $1,1355. Kai Landry, Biloxi, Miss., $567

Event #17 – $550 NLHEPlayers: 343 • Prize pool: $166,3551. Jared Jaffee, Brooklyn, $49,9042. Drew Kutler, San Antonio, $26,6173. C. Pelton, College Station, Texas, $14,9724. Pat Heneghan, Chicago, $11,6455. Charlotte Turner, Calabash, N.C., $9,9816. Mervin Sturdivant, Birmingham, $8,3187. Shane Smith, Hiram, Ga., $6,6548. Scott Clements, Mt. Vernon, Wash., $4,9919. Frank Jordan, Nashville, $3,32710. Manny Minaya, Tampa, Fla., $2,32911. Dwayne Clanton, $2,32912. Pejman Niyati, $2,32913. Jeter Brock, $1,99614. Michael Copeland, $1,99615. Ronald Marks, $1,99616. Thomas Pullens, $1,66417. Red Miller, $1,66418. Matthew Lassiter, $1,66419. Frederick Smith, $1,33120. Ryan Gafford, $1,33121. John Terry, $1,33122. Paul Matthews, $1,33123. Joseph Mattingly, $1,33124. Michael Pilarski, $1,33125. Pascal Boutineau, $1,33126. James Hatfield, $1,33127. Shane Howeth, $1,331

SOUTHERN POKER CHAMPIONSHIPJAN. 7-27, 2010 • BEAU RIVAGE • BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI • OFFICIAL RESULTS

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Event #18 – $1,070 H.O.R.S.E.Players: 38 • Prize pool: $36,8601. Jason Stern, San Jose, Ca., $13,2702. Jim Wheatley, Harrisonburg, Va., $7,3723. Tyler Peterson, Everett, Wash., $4,7924. Jim Newberry, Poolesville, Md., $3,3175. Brian Jordan, Houston, Mo., $2,5806. Timothy Burt, Grenada, Miss., $2,2127. Ernest Vidal, Nutley, N.J., $1,8438. Chuck Barnes, Houston, Texas, $1,474

Event #19 – $550 NLHEPlayers: 300 • Prize pool: $281,0001. Nick Binger, Las Vegas, $84,3002. Dwyte Pilgrim, Brooklyn, $44,9603. Scott Culver, New Haven, Ky., $25,2904. Robert Kalteux, Seminole, Fla., $19,6705. Josh Palmer, Daphne, Ala., $16,8606. Mark Livingston, Albany, N.Y., $14,0507. Justin Harrell, Tampa, Fla., $11,2408. Paul Distefano, Plaquemine, La., $8,4309. David Kruger, Slater, Mo., $5,62010. John Bindner, Louisville, Ky., $3,93411. Walter White, $3,93412. Dale Eberle, $3,93413. Douglas Carli, $3,37214. John Spagnuolo, $3,37215. Joe Golias, $3,37216. John Lee, $2,81017. Fred Sigur, $2,81018. William Spangler, $2,81019. Ryan Gentry, $2,24820. James Arruebanena, $2,24821. Bruce McGregor, $2,24822. Bach Vu, $2,24823. Ky McPherson, $2,24824. Joseph McGuire, $2,24825. Robert Toye, $2,24826. Rolando Lozano, $2,24827. Christopher Braugh, $2,248

Event #20 – $340 LadiesPlayers: 127 • Prize pool: $36,9571. Linda Keenan, Mandeville, La.,$12,1972. Cindy Manning, Tyrone, Ga., $6,7263. Judy Bass, Baton Rouge, La., $3,6964. Cynthia Byrd, Mobile, Ala., $2,9575. Faith Giordano, New Orleans, $2,2176. Nina Jennings, Riverdale, Ga., $1,8487. Lori Bender, Houston, $1,4788. Marsha Normand, Beaumont, Texas, $1,1099. Linda Machi, $73910. Lorna May, $51711. Kathryn Lewis, $51712. Denise Kelley, $517

13. Peggy Joyner, $44314. Natalie Valdwia, $44315. Michelle Myers, $44316. Rita Hazlip, $37017. Jena Delk, $37018. Sharon Weaver, $370

Event #21 – $550 NLHEPlayers: 460 • Prize pool: $85,8451. Dennis Otto, Victoria, Texas, $28,3292. Gregory Maynard, Houston, $15,6243. Perry McGinnis, Douglasville, Ga., $8,5854. M.R. Schroeder, Covington, Ga., $6,8685. David Moore, Alpharetta, Ga., $5,1516. Phillip Wads, Conyers, Ga., $4,2927. Steve Nousiainen, Crestview, Fla., $3,4348. Vincent Phan, Mobile, Ala., $2,5759. Morris Barrett, Ryan, Okla., $1,71710. Tony Bruno, Boynton Bch., Fla., $1,20211. Judy Rhodes, $1,20212. Ann Champlin, $1,20213. Roston Stokes Jr., $1,03014. Michael Wommack, $1,03015. Gregory Blair, $1,03016. Edward Jones, $85817. Richard Dombrowski, $85818. Colen Beck, $858

Event #22 – $340 PLO/8Players: 138 • Prize pool: $40,1581. Jim Newberry, Poolesville, Md., $13,2512. Sam Bonifield, Keller, Texas, $7,3093. Walt Lustgraaf, Queen Creek, Ariz., $4,0164. Joe Didonato, Slidell, La., $3,2135. Billy Mann, W. Monroe, La., $2,4096. Robert Wachtel, Atlanta, $2,0087. Jordan Stone, Faveteville, Ariz., $1,6068. Warren Davis, Gulf Breeze, Miss., $1,2059. Yuval Bronstein, Atlanta, $80310. Henry Paloci, $56211. Chan Pelton, $56212. Dan Walsh, $56213. David Pacheco, $48214. Michael Schneider, $48215. Willie O’Reilly, $48216. Robert Mariano, $40217. Ky McPherson, $40218. Joe Brandenburg, $402

Event #23 – $550 NLHEPlayers: 269 • Prize pool: $130,4651. Johnny Landreth, Lanett, Ala., $39,1332. Gary LaDuca, Atlanta, $20,8743. Adam Lippert, $11,7424. Gordon Alberti, Pan. City Bch., Fla., $9,1335. Bruce Van Horn, $7,828

6. Robert Iverson, Gulf Breeze, Fla., $6,5237. Ryan Dangelo, $5,2198. Van Undergriff, Southlake, Miss., $3,9149. Michael Usakowski, Belton, S.C., $2,60910. Nicole Williams, Dallas, $1,82711. Jesse Rios, $1,82712. Edward Corrado, $1,82713. Joseph Andrulot, $1,56614. Stephan Raphel, $1,56615. Terry Garner, $1,56616. Len Emmanuel, $1,30517. Brennan Benglis, $1,30518. Jonathan Kantor, $1,30519. Ronnie Bardah, $1,04420. Bob Kalteux, $1,04421. Kris Hawkins, $1,04422. Christopher Braugh, $1,04423. Allie Prescott, $1,04424. Seth Foster, $1,04425. Don Hall, $1,04426. Michael Blanovsky, $1,04427. Kathy Fleck, $1,044

Event #24 – $550 PLOPlayers: 54 • Prize pool: $113,4901. Michael Binger, Las Vegas, $40,8562. Robert Williamson III, Dallas, $21,5633. Chee Chen G., Florida, $13,6194. Seamus Cahill, Dublin, $9,0795. Jason Mercier, Ft. Laud., Fla., $7,9446. Brian McKain, Madison, Ind., $6,8097. John O’Shea, Dublin, $5,6758. Scott Clements, Mt. Vernon, Wash., $4,5409. Gene Bauerlein, St. Pete, Fla., $3,405

Event #25 – $1,070 NLHEPlayers: 190 • Prize pool: $184,3001. Jason Mercier, Ft. Laud., Fla., $60,8182. Manny Minaya, Tampa, Fla., $33,5433. Scott Evans, Forney, Texas, $18,4304. Seth Fischer, Palm Harbor, Fla., $14,7445. Tyler Petterson, Everett, Wash., $11,0586. Barry Wiedemann, Las Vegas, $9,2157. Preston Burge, Slidell, La., $7,3728. Jon Westro, Gainesville, Fla., $5,5299. Liv Boeree, London, $3,68610. Gabriel Costner, $2,58011. Seth Foster, $2,58012. Daniel Clemente, $2,58013. Jacob Bezeley, $2,21214. Michael Caruso, $2,21215. Steven Crain, $2,21216. James Maddox, $1,84317. Mike Phan, $1,84318. Michael Smith, $1,843

Event #26 – $345 Omaha/8Players: 49 • Prize pool: $23,7651. Jesse Rios, Salida, Ca., $10,6942. Sam Bonifield, Keller, Texas, $5,9413. Donald Jacoby, Philadelphia, $3,5654. Timothy Burt, Grenada, Miss., $2,3775. Keith Ray, Hurley, Miss., $1,188

Event #27 - $2,100 NLHEPlayers: 98 • Prize pool: $190,1201. Jonathan Kantor, Tulsa, $68,4432. Mike Degilo, Port St. Lucie, Fla., $36,1233. Darryll Fish, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., $22,8144. Chander Jain, Houston, Texas, $15,2105. Seth Foster, Shreveport, La., $13,3086. Daniel O’Brian, Las Vegas, $11,4077. Chad Brown, Margate, Fla., $9,5068. Chad Burns, Spring, Texas, $7,6059. Derric Williams, Harvey, La., $5,704

Event #28 – $1,070 LowballPlayers: 14 • Prize pool: $13,5801. James Van Alstyne, Las Vegas, $6,7902. Mark Gallagher, Houston, Texas, $4,0743. Michael Binger, Las Vegas, $2,716

Event #29 – $340 NLHEPlayers: 460 • Prize pool: $88,7551. Laurie Scales, Flowery Branch, Ga., $26,6242. Mike Windham, Slidell, La., $14,2013. Jared Jaffee, Brooklyn, $7,9884. Carl McGowan, Pearson, Ga., $6,2135. Jack Clark, Trenton, Ga., $5,3256. John Riola, Biloxi, Miss., $4,4387. Timothy Burt, Grenada, Miss., $3,5508. Jim Wroten, Winston-Salem, N.C., $2,6639. Terry Davis, Hattiesburg, Miss., $1,77510. Ronnie Hope, $1,24311. Dawn Marsala, $1,24312. Thomas Pullens, $1,24313. Robert Allen, $1,06514. James Knox, $1,06515. Timmy McDermott, $1,06516. Boikien Mitchell, $88817. Daniel Klein, $88818. Martin Zentner, $88819. Jackie Watts, $71020. Ronnie Bardah, $71021. James Guinther, $71022. Loren Zeus, $71023. Vernon Farr, $71024. Mark Springer, $71025. Earl Merritt, $71026. Robert Georato, $71027. William Spangler, $710

Event #30 – $5,130 PLOPlayers: 23 • Prize pool: $111,5501. S. Clements, Mt. Vernon, Wash., $55,7752. Ben Roberts, London, $33,4653. David Callaghan, Dublin, $22,310

Event #31 – $3,120 NLHEPlayers: 116 • Prize pool: $327,5601. Chris Bell, Raleigh, N.C., $117,9222. Gary Clark, Jackson, Miss., $62,2363. Robert Kalteux, Seminole, Fla., $39,3074. Michael Binger, Las Vegas, $26,2055. Jon Tamayo, Humble, Texas, $22,9296. Mike Degilio, Port St. Lucie, Fla., $19,6547. Nick Ceci, Peach Tree City, Ga., $16,3788. Chris Harder, Annapolis, Md., $13,1029. Jess Yawitz, St. Loius, $9,827

Event #32 – $230 NLHEPlayers: 352 • Prize pool: $68,2881. Manny Minaya, Tampa, Fla., $18,4392. Dave Burroughs, Atlanta, $10,2433. Chuck Scandrett, Mequon, Wis., $6,0094. Carl McGowan, Pearson, Ga., $4,6445. Mike Tockgo, Atlanta, $3,9616. Trey Brabham, Austin, Texas, $3,2787. Rhonda Palassie, Marrero, La., $2,5958. Chris Monroe, Sterrett, Ala., $1,9129. Robert Spann, Midlothian, Texas, $1,22910. Paul Fleck, Stockbridge, Ga., $95611. Fred Vyhnalek, $95612. Lucian Loyd, $95613. Cameron Ainsworth, $81914. Peter Lockwood, $81915. Duplynn Rhodes, $81916. Dwayne Clanton, $68317. Thomas Darce, $68318. Joe Andrulot, $68319. Charles Arnold, $54620. Thomas McCormick, $54621. Brian Cospolch, $54622. Richard Dodge, $54623. Scott Lemon, $54624. Donald Virash, $54625. Cherilynn Romano, $54626. Douglas Gibson, $54627. Hannaya Vaknin, $54628. Garry Sides, $41029. Scott Culver, $41030. John Riola, $41031. Ron Brown, $41032. Geoffrey Lay, $41033. Ted Barrick, $41034. John Finnan, $41035. Ivan Milicevic, $41036. Andrew Taylor, $410

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$10K Main EventPlayers: 208 • Prize pool: $1.93 million1. Hoyt Corkins, Glenwood, Ala., $713,9862. Jonathan Kantor, Tulsa, $366,6433. Jerry VanStrydonck, Rochester, N.Y., $196,8294. Jared Jaffee, Brooklyn, $135,0795. James Reed ,Newnan, Ga., $106,1346. Tyler Smith, Smithdale, Miss., $86,8377. Andy Philachack, Garland, Texas, $67,5408. JJ Liu, Las Vegas, $48,2439. Daniel O’Brien, Las Vegas, $28,94610. James Guinther, Boston, $25,08611. Ayaz Mahmood, Houston, $25,08612. Ken Harbaugh, Atlanta, $25,08613. Justin Smith, Los Angeles, $19,39714. James Mackey, Columbia, Mo., $19,39715. Vitor Coelho, $19,39716. Narinder Khasria, Milton, Ont., $15,43817. Tommy Vedes, New York, $15,43818. Shawn Quillin, Charlotte, N.C., $15,438

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By Craig Fleck

Kent Walter may not know the experience of winning the World Series of Poker Main Event like Joe Cada did in 2009, but he has one thing in common with the world champ: He beat Darvin Moon heads-up.

In January the Wheeling Island Hotel and Ca-sino hosted the Darvin Moon Challenge, which consisted of four tournaments (a fifth event dur-ing the week was for a WSOP qualifier and didn’t have any bearing on the Moon Challenge).

At the conclusion of the events the overall points leader faced Moon for an additional $2K. Points were awarded to the top 20 players in each tournament, which had buy-ins ranging from $125 to $550. Walter captured the points title by virtue of his victory in Event 2 ($125 with one re-buy) and won the right to face the 2009 WSOP runner-up.

“I wasn’t nervous,” said Walter, who had pock-eted $6,262 for his earlier victory. “I just enjoyed playing him. He was a heck of a nice guy. We chatted like we were old buddies He was a real down-to-earth guy that didn’t let his winning get to his head.”

The heads-up match was Jan. 18, which is an interesting date for Walter. Four years to the day, he appeared on the game show Ohio Cash Explo-sion, winning $32K.

Walter hails from Alliance, Ohio, where he’s a heating and air-conditioning contractor. He’s been playing poker for four years, sticking with no-limit hold’em, and frequents the West Virgin-ia casinos. He used a very famous quote to sum up his approach to the game.

“Poker is not a card game played with people, but a people game that is played with cards.”

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Kent Walter, left, and Darvin Moon stand in front of the table that’s dedicated to Moon at Wheeling.

WALTER ShOOTS ThE MOONDarvin Moon Challengeat Wheeling Island CasinoEVENT 1: $125 buy-inPlayers: 167 • Prize pool: $16,7001. Keith Stewart, $5,3372. Paul Mitchell, $2,6723. John Roth, $1,670

EVENT 2: $125 buy-in (one rebuy)Players: 123 • Prize pool: $19,5801. Kent Walter, $6,2622. Dan McClasky, $3,1333. Jerry Humphrey, $1,958

EVENT 3: $230 buy-inPlayers: 100 • Prize pool: $20,0001. Randy Jones, $6,4002. Derek Dempsey, $3,2003. David Lipkin, $2,000

EVENT 4: $550 buy-inPlayers: 81 • Prize pool: $40,5001. Lee Erlwein, $14,5772. Ron Haun, $7,4933. Richard Robrecht, $4,658

EVENT 5: $130 WSOP satellitePlayers: 257 • Prize pool: $25,7001. Mark Spano, $16K package2. Chad Putrow, $4,8493. Richard Wright, $2,425

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Louisiana Alabama

Steve Bass of Lincoln took down All-In Alabama Poker League’s January title after defeating “Cowboy” Tony Casey of Vincent. The final hand during heads-up play was a true cooler as Bass’ pocket aces held up against Casey’s pocket kings.

All poker players would like to be recognized as the best rounders in their state, and now those in Louisiana will get their chance.

The Isle of Capri Casino in Lake Charles will host the Louisi-ana State Poker Championship on April 19-25, highighted by two bracelet events: the $335 pot-limit Omaha championship (April 22) and the $1,060 no-limit hold’em main event (April 24-25).

“This tournament series is a tremendous step forward for the poker room at the Isle of Capri in Lake Charles,” said the room’s manager, Matthew Dodd. “Louisiana, a state with a ton of great poker players, now has a championship of its own.”

The series will have six events overall and each will have a $10 optional dealer add-on. Registration for all events begins 90 minutes before start time and alternates will be allowed through the third round.

EVENT 1, APRIL 19: A $120 mega-satellite into the LSPC main event. The event starts at 6 p.m. and is capped at 150 players (1 in 10 win a seat).

EVENT 2, APRIL 20: This $120 NLHE event has a $5K guarantee, will be capped at 150 players and starts at 6 p.m.

EVENT 3, APRIL 21: A $225 NLHE tournament with a $10K guarantee, it’s capped at 150 players and begins at 6 p.m.

EVENT 4, APRIL 22: This $335 pot-limit Omaha championship is a bracelet event that begins at 6 p.m. and will be capped at 150 players.

EVENT 5, APRIL 23: There’s a $15K guarantee attached to this $335 NLHE event. It begins at noon and will be capped at 150 players.

EVENT 6, APRIL 24-25: The main event costs $1,060 and will be rewarding a bracelet to its winner. This field is capped at 130 players and the event begins at noon.

For more information on this tournament series call the poker room at 337-430-2407.

STATE ChAMpIONShIp IS COMINg

AROUND THE SOUTH

AROUND THE NATION

EVENT 1, $400 NLHE, 1,563 ENTRIES30. Angel Llauger, Kissimmee, Fla., $2,016; 61. Patrick Alan Whitmore, Martins-burg, W. Va., $1,327; 78. Mark Commesso, Lake Wales, Fla., $1,061; 98. Joseph Paul Collis, Martinsburg, W. Va., $849; 102. Daniel Wellborn, Fairfax, Va., $796; 104. Mark Walters, Clifton, Va., $796; 119. Brian Bick-more, Lorton, Va., $796.EVENT 2, $560 NLHE, 368 ENTRIES1. Robert Perry, Highland Beach, Fla., $51,759; 6. Michael Miller, Woodbridge, Va., $8,924; 23. Adel Jo, Miami, Fla., $1,071.EVENT 3, $400, PLO, 131 ENTRIES1. John Binns, Tamarac, Fla., $13,698; 3. Brandon Paster, Arlington, Va., $4,225; 5. Lisa Vanlanding-ham, Nashville, $2,668.EVENT 4, $770 NLHE, 325 ENTRIES11. Phuong Hong, Falls Church, Va, $2,869; 23. Ron-ald Katz, Aventura, Fla., $1,324.EVENT 5, $400 H.O.S.E., 178 ENTRIES9. Donald Rawlins, Charlotte, N.C., $1,360.EVENT 6, $1,090 NLHE, 452 ENTRIES1. William Beasley, Hollywood, Fla., $125,482; 15. Al-bert Winchester, Falls Church, Va., $4,165; 26. Justin Levy, Boynton Beach, Fla., $2,411; 29. Saulo Pena, Chesapeake, Va., $1,842; 30. Timothy Pendergrass, Raleigh, N.C., $1,842; 43. James Morton, Barbours-ville, Va., $1,622.EVENT 7, $400 OMAHA/8, 220 ENTRIES20. Michael Hodson, Hopewell, Va., $560.

A look at how Southerners fared outside The South

The Borgata Winter Open in Atlantic City always draws a ton of players because of its smaller buy-ins and great structures. And this year’s event, which ran Jan. 20-Feb. 5, was no different as Floridians dominated, winning five events, including two by Robert Perry of High-land Beach. The only other Southerner to capture a Borgata title was Steven Curtin of Indian Trail, N.C., who won Event 22, a $400 NLHE tournament that paid him $26,175 for his victory.

Here’s a look at all of the southern cashers at the Borgata, but if a tournament isn’t listed that means no one from The South cashed.

FLORIDA’S pERRy SNAgS TWO TITLES AT BORgATA

a

Robert Perry won Event 2 for nearly $52K, then won Event 24 for $15K.

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EVENT 8, $350 NLHE W/REBUYS, 261 ENTRIES23. Timothy Williams, Falls Church, Va., $570.EVENT 10, $560 NLHE, 727 ENTRIES4. Barry Wiedemann, Orlando, Fla., $23,800; 11. James Romoser, Raleigh, N.C., $4,584; 24. Steven Buckner, The Villages, Fla., $1,587; 26. Jerry Sales, Win-chester, Va., $1,587; 32. Robert Fikac, Sterling, Va., $1,340; 46. Greg Thorson, Miami Beach, Fla., $987; 64. Ray Shackelford, Fredericksburg, Va., $881.EVENT 12, $450 NLHE 6-HANDED, 196 ENTRIES4. Ronald Hicks, Garner, N.C., $5,323; 8. T.J. Shulman, Boynton Beach, Fla., $2,281.EVENT 13, $400 SENIORS NLHE, 261 ENTRIES6. Randy Hudson, Greenville, N.C., $4,430; 23. Robert Hinkle, Fairfax, Va., $665.EVENT 14, $200 NLHE W/REBUYS, 1,100 ENTRIES13. Dwayne Sullivan, Fredericksburg, Va., $1,723; 38. Eric Rockwell, Chesa-peake, Va., $580; 45. Ranson Nelson, Fredericksburg, Va., $580; 69. Max Tyson, Glengary, W. Va., $399; 72. Gregory Best, Burke, Va., $399; 76. James Kinney, Matthews, N.C., $363, 95. Zackary Woolum, Greenville, N.C., $291.EVENT 15, $350 PLO, 92 ENTRIES4. Lisa Vanlandingham, Nashville, $2,409; 6. Brandon Paster, Arlington, Va., $1,606; 9. Robert Sheen, Springfield, Va., $803.EVENT 17, $350 NLHE, 349 ENTRIES6. Oktay Altinbas, Dania Beach, Fla., $5,078; 15. Barry Pevner, Cooper City, Fla., $1,016; 30. William Humphreys, Fishersville, Va., $508; 32. William Thornburg, Mechanicsville, Va., $508.EVENT 18, $1,625 NLHE, 339 ENTRIES

1. Daniel Garon, Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., $143,041; 3. Phillip Vera, Ashburn, Va., $40,939; 5. Christopher Bell, Raleigh, N.C., $29,595; 17. Thomas Livia, Boca Raton, Fla., $3,453; 20. Randy Lowery, Atlanta, $2,959.EVENT 19, $400 OMAHA-STUD/8, 141 ENTRIES15. Brandon Paster, Arlington, Va., $814.EVENT 21, $450 NLHE, 209 ENTRIES

2. Donald Freeman, Star, N.C., $13,786; 3. Frank Dagostino, Franklin, Tenn., $7,582; 6. Vincent Lee Housden, Stanley, Va., $4,055; 25. Henry Bajer, Mechan-icsville, Va., $608.EVENT 22, $400 NLHE, 257 ENTRIES

1. Steven Curtin, Indian Trail, N.C., $26,175; 10. Joseph Defilippo, Indian Trail, N.C., $1,135; 13. Duane Cummings, Fairfax, Va., $960; 18. Chad Stell, Clinton, N.C., $785; 19. Allie Prescott, Memphis, $654; 22. Eric Rockwell, Chesapeake, Va., $654; 23. Kelly Armentrout, Alexandria, Va., $654.EVENT 23, $350 NLHE, 276 ENTRIES21. William Beasley, Hollywood, Fla., $602; 22. Robert Perry, Highland Beach, Fla., $602; 25.

Allie Prescott, Memphis, $602.EVENT 24, $230 NLHE W/REBUYS, 261 ENTRIES1. Robert Perry, Highland Beach, Fl, $15,190; CHAMPIONSHIP (EVENT 20), $3,500 NLHE, 766 ENTRIES14. Lee Childs, Alexandria, Va., $23,294; 17. Joshua Mancuso, Mandevilee, La., $14,712; 31. Robert R. Stevanovski, Cornelius, N.C., $9,317; 33. Dao Bui, Ster-ling, Va., $9,317; 37. Joshua Hillock, Palm, Fla., $7,846; 43. WIlliam Thornburg, Mechanicsville, Va., $7,846; 52. Sang Kim, Leesburg, Va, $6,866; 58. Raj Vohra, Lake Worth, Fla., $6,375; 60. Robert Kalteux, Seminole, Fla., $6,375; 66. Ray Shackelford, Fredericksburg, Va., $6,130; 67. Kris Adam Kawohl, Merritt Island, Fla., $6,130.

AROUND THE NATIONA look at how Southerners fared outside The South

NOTHIN’ BUT ’NET JOHN LANIER • A look at Southern online players and beyond

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$5 LOAN SpARKS ShARKEy’S CAREERWhat is AIPS?

The Ante Up Intercontinental Poker Series (a.k.a. AIPS) is our PokerCast’s fan tournament series on PokerStars.com. Square off against the Ante Up Nation, including Ante Up publishers — Scott “OffDeadline” Long and Chris “aun2112” Cosenza.

Don’t have a PokerStars account? No problem. Go to anteupmagazine.com and click on our online poker rooms link. Use marketing code ANTEUPMAG and signup code STARS600 to get a 100 percent de-posit bonus up to $600!

Jeff “jshark4” Sharkey from West Palm Beach, Fla., is a new face on the Internet poker scene. He won a PocketFives Triple Crown last year and has had an incredible three-month run, grabbing second in the $750K Guarantee on Full Tilt Poker in December for $104K, first in the Turbo $50K Guarantee on Tilt a few days later ($18,950) and another second in Janu-ary in the $40K Guarantee on PokerStars ($24,245).

A $5 loan from a friend earned him entry into a home game, setting up his poker career. It was a poor first showing, but he says he’s so competitive he went home and learned as much as possible just to show his friends he could play.

He also has received some help from his girlfriend, fellow poker player Julie “JRisk17” Risk. She’s seen her presence online grow. In September 2009 she took down the PokerStars $25K Guarantee for $5,600, about the same amount she earned for capturing the Tilt $21,000 KO Guarantee.

AIPS IS BACK: The fifth season of the Ante Up Inter-continental Poker Series on PokerStars has gotten un-der way and there are two events this month: March 10, 9 p.m. ET, no-limit hold’em and March 27, noon ET, pot-limit Omaha. The password for these events is anteup2010, plus there are exclusive satellite freerolls

that award 10 seats to the next event. Registration for these freerolls opens two hours before their start. Go to anteupmagazine.com for details.

POKERSTARS: Here’s your chance to experience the excitement of playing poker on TV. … by winning an EPT Barcelona prize package. Qualify online and you’ll be invited to audition for Royal Street Poker, the show where you play against celebrities for huge prizes. To find out more, check out the Royal Street Poker page on the PokerStars Web site.

POKER NORDICA: A new site that accepts players from the United States, Poker Nordica is your destination for some of the largest freerolls anywhere.

The site offers a $50,000 freeroll on the last Sun-day of every month for players who have accumulated 5,000 comp points during that month. Every Sunday, Poker Nordica holds a $10,000 freeroll for players who have earned 2,500 comp points in the 168 hours lead-ing up to the event. It’s a great perk for just playing.

Nordica, run on the Merge Gaming Network, offers a futuristic table with easy-to-read cards. Each player is labeled with their action in hand, such as “Folded” and “Shows.” Its lobby has a tabbed interface for us-ers to toggle between game types and details for each table.

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DEEPHE’S IN

Chris Torina of Florida is the founder of DeepStacks,

a company that is redefining poker education and training.


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CChris Torina’s house may be in Altamonte Springs, Fla., but his

home is anywhere a poker student needs help. This sentiment makes his DeepStacks poker training company float

to the top among a sea of other poker educational options. “I had the idea during a WPT preliminary event at the Mirage,”

said Torina, 33. “During one of the breaks I heard some of the pros talking about some of the other boot camps and academies and how they weren’t going into the other cities, just doing Atlantic City, Ve-gas and L.A. I was like, ‘Why don’t we just bring poker training into people’s back yards?’ It would be affordable for them; they wouldn’t have to fly and spend a lot of money to get to these places.”

Torina, a former cop who began playing poker in 2003, wasn’t exactly a household name. He had cashed a couple of times in smaller recognizable tournaments while grinding out a living online and at the live cash tables. But, like so many other poker players, Torina was a former athlete who needed a fix, and he channeled that drive into his passion for poker and poker instruction.

“Playing sports in high school and college I just developed a love for anything competitive,” he said. “I fell in love with poker watching it on ESPN. I figured if I wanted to play for a living and make it my life, I’d have to start a business around it. So that’s what I did.”

Thus, in 2007, DeepStacks was born. By 2008 the business was crawling, but by Torina’s own admission it didn’t start taking baby steps until it figured out how to balance itself.

“In ’08 we tested the business model of the preview-to-workshop-camp seminar. … But there were always two things missing: contin-ued education and the big names.”

That’s when Torina revamped his company, splitting it into two entities: DeepStacks Live and DeepStacks University.

“In 2009 we basically spent (the whole year) developing both. We developed an online platform for developing education (DeepStacks

University), while taking the name recognition (DeepStacks Live) and building that as well. … There aren’t many companies, if any, that actually do both. … That’s how we got Mike Matusow.”

Matusow and Torina are now partners in DeepStacks Live, the company that brings the training to your area. And “The Mouth” headlines a roster of instructional pros he handpicked that’s second to none: Tom McEvoy, T.J. Cloutier, Vanessa Rousso, Adam “Rooth-lus” Levy, Justin “Boosted J” Smith, Tristan “Cre8ive” Wade and Alex Outhred, among others.

“I’ve been playing poker for more than 20 years,” said Matusow, who owns three World Series of Poker bracelets. “And I enjoy teach-ing poker. This is something that I can now say is my own. I am strictly here to really teach people what I know. … People have faith in me. They know what kind of person I am, and when I tell them we’re going to sell people a good product they believe in me. The people who know the real Mike Matusow know I’m a good person to learn poker from.”

Matusow, a.k.a. The Dean of DeepStacks, is so dedicated to this company he has severed all ties with other poker instructional op-portunities.

“I like talking with people, if you don’t know that by now,” Matu-sow said with a snicker. “I love having fun with people. … There’s going to be an asterisk on it. If you don’t like being made fun of and being called names by Mike Matusow then don’t join up.”

Matusow and Co. took their act “Live” in late January by bringing its free preview seminar to Tampa, where hundreds of players con-verged on Embassy Suites for a chance to meet and learn from poker giants. Then two weeks later the intensive two-day training seminars for the paid customers commenced. Players could pay for one day at $999 or $1,599 for both days.

“You’re getting hands-on one-on-one analysis, strategies and tips,” 40

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Torina said. “But you’re also getting a breakdown to a buildup, mean-ing most organizations do lecture-based training. You sit in a chair and watch a Power Point presentation and you don’t really get the ‘oomph’ from it. Ours is customizable. We break you down and then build you up. It’s like the military. They break you down to make you a U.S. soldier. Everyone has holes in their games. Even our pros have holes, but they’ve been able to plug them and identify those holes. Many people aren’t honest with themselves. … For every table we have there’s a pro that stations that table. Everyone has a seat; no one stands. And it’s 90-10 ration, 90 percent at the tables, 10 percent lecture.”

And, as Torina said, what makes DeepStacks unique is once your live training comes to an end, you can still have the same pros teaching you online through “Reactive

Training Technology.” It’s a subscription-based education on deep-stacks.com that’s customizable to any form of training. Interactive videos respond to your every move and guide you through scores of scenarios. This way the DeepStacks education stays with you wher-ever you have access to the Internet.

“They always say players play and teachers teach,” Torina said. “I like to consider myself a player, but I find a tremendous amount of

pleasure seeing someone who has learned from my company ap-ply it and do well. We’re one of a kind. The way we teach and the types of players we bring to teach our curriculum is one of a kind. We’re the

only poker company in Ameri-ca doing what we do.”

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Matusow teaches a group at a recent preview in Tampa.

T.J. is the most success-ful live tournament player in history, includ-ing six World Series of Poker bracelets.

Tom won the WSOP Main Event in 1983 and has authored more than a dozen books of poker instruction.

Vanessa won the EPT High Roller event at Monte Carlo in 2009 for $750K. She also owns Big Slick Boot Camp.

Known as Boosted J on-line, Justin is one of the most feared high stakes players in the world. See his Q&A on Page 60.

Adam, a.k.a. Roothlus, is a monster online and has made numerous fi-nal tables live, including a WPT event in 2008.

MEET THE FACULTYMembers of Team DeepStacks (but not limited to) include Tristan “Cre8ive” Wade, Andrew “Browndog19” Brown and Alex Outhred.

T.J. CLOUTIER TOM McEVOY VANESSA ROUSSO JUSTIN SMITH ADAM LEVY

MEET THE DEAN OF THE U: MIKE “THE MOUTH” MATUSOW

Mike is one of the DeepStacks Live owners and helped pick the roster of stars that make up the Team DeepStacks constellation. He has three WSOP bracelets and a WSOP Tournament of Champions title from 2005. You can hear numerous interviews with Mike on the Ante Up PokerCast at anteupmagazine.com.

anteupmagazine.com

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SAIL FROM TAMPA TO COZUMEL ABOARD ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS!

POKER CRUISEMARCH 25-29, 2010

T. J. CLOU TIER SAILING WITH ANTE UP!The poker legend, in association with DeepStacks University, will teach a 4-hour course aboard the Ante Up Cruise for an optional $199! Price includes initiation into DeepStacks University’s online school.

LAST CALL!

POKER CRUISE

All prices are per person, based on double occupancy, cruise only and include taxes and gov’t fees. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Ships Registry Bahamas

CONTACT MARY KOLB AT GO TRAVEL (727) 733-3498 • [email protected]

WWW.ANTEUPMAGAZINE.COM//CRUISE

BOOK FOR JUST $479!

Royal Caribbean International reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement on all guests if the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel exceeds $65.00 per barrel. The fuel supplement for 1st and 2nd guests would be no more than $10 per guest per day, to a maximum of $140 per cruise; and for additional guests would be no more than $5 per person per day, to a maximum of $70 per cruise.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTSTHURSDAY5 p.m.: Open-bar welcome aboard cocktail party!7:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m.: Room open for cash games/SNGs1:15 a.m.: $30 Blue Shark Optics turbo tournament(Pair of Blue Shark Optics added to the prize pool!)

FRIDAY9 a.m.-3:30 a.m.: Room open for cash games/SNGs9 a.m.: Free entry satellite for Ante Up Poker Tour event11 a.m.: $199 T.J. Cloutier instructional campGet great tips from a World Series legend!Registration limited to 50 players.Book your seat when you book your cruise!7:30 p.m.: $100 T.J. Cloutier Team Tournament(One camp attendee will be chosen to be T.J.’s teammate!)1:15 a.m.: $30 The Poker Depot turbo tournament(Ante Up merchandise added to the prize pool!)

SATURDAYEnjoy beautiful Cozumel!7:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m.: Room open for cash games/SNGs1:15 a.m.: $30 Desjgn turbo tournament(Decks of Desjgn playing cards added to the prize pool!)

SUNDAY9 a.m.-3:30 a.m.: Room open for cash games/SNGs9 a.m.: Free entry satellite for Ante Up Poker Tour event1 p.m.: $350 DeepStacks University Ante Up Poker Tour event(Earn Ante Up Player of the Year points!)

Cruisers can enter ONE of the Ante Up Poker Tour satellites for FREE!

LAST CALL!

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CALDER CASINOJan. 91. Onin McCalle, Miramar2. Anna Calder, Hallandale3. Rich Kelleher, Coral Springs4. Andre Bryan, Miami5. Luis Cristobal, Coral Gables6. Declined points7. Paul Mendelsohn, Hollywood8. Declined points9. Howard Steinberg, Coral Springs10. Garcia Francisco, Miami

DANIA JAI-ALAIJan. 21. Bob Capps, Weston2. Robert Jones, Miami3. Nigel White, Hollywood4. Ken Charles, Quebec, Canada5. Carl Johnson, Sunrise6. Paul Sawyer, Miami7. Charles Taylor, Hollywood8. Jean Capps, Weston9. Davis Johnson, Coral Springs10. Omar Recuero, Hollywood

FT. PIERCE JAI-ALAI & POKERJan. 161. Joe Fiorito, Palm City2. Sean Dannullo, Vero Beach3. Howard Darnold, Ft. Pierce4. David Cohen, Ft. Pierce5. George Sanders, Stuart6. Vinny Piazza, Vero Beach7. Vincent Mack, Palm Bay8. Eric Laneve, Port St. Lucie9. Lucky Rock, Stuart10. Hien O’Grady, Port St. Lucie

GULFSTREAM PARKJan. 161. Kevin Payton, Aventura2. Yves Fequiere, Miami3. Merom Raoul, Aventura4. Peggy Penning, Miami Shores5. Jim Wahl, Miami Shores6. Gerard Amsalem, Aventura7. Parry Johns, New York8. Billy Greisman, Weston9. Donald Penning, Miami Shores10. Mitchell Abrahams, Miami

ISLE CASINOJan. 121. Danny Heimbender, Boynton Beach2. James Hamburger, Delray Beach3. George Colli III, Suffield, CT4. Shimon Mordechai, Boca Raton5. Cinda Goodale, Davie6. David Albertson, Margate7. Amir Ashmawy, Boca Raton8. Keith Ingham, Boca Raton9. Hosney Boutros, Ft. Lauderdale10. Larry Kusch, Miami

MARDI GRAS CASINOJan. 211. Luis Castillo, Miami2. Jdyn Howland, Reading, PA3. Wanda Dry, Oak Ridge, TN4. Omar Recuero, Hollywood5. Declined points6. Steven Frezer, Ft. Lauderdale7. Stan Cooper, Toronto8. Carlos Dorca, Doral9. Allan Rudolph10. Jacques Gravel, Quebec

MELBOURNE GREYHOUND PARKJan. 231. Matt Saintsing, Rockledge2. Chet Bickle, Melbourne3. Charles Hill, Cocoa Beach4. Don Bostrom, Cocoa Beach5. Joe Lavis, Fellsmere6. Fred Pike, Brevard7. Robert Duras, Brevard8. Michael Dorf, Viera9. Robert Veta, Palm Bay10. Greg Schebel, Orlando

NAPLES-FT. MYERS GREYHOUNDJan. 141. Jean Sebastian Laurent, Naples2. John Monti, Naples3. Russell Bucks, Ft. Myers4. Lou Cheffy, Naples5. Vinny Antonio, Ft. Myers6. Frank Sloboda, Naples7. Jeff Novatt, Naples8. Brian Woodworth, Estero9. Bill Vosney, Ft. Myers10. David Shorty, Estero

OCALA POKER & JAI-ALAIJan. 301. Luras Toro, Gainesville2. John Guidabon, Nashua, N.H.3. Chad Calabro, Harmony4. Guy Bodos, Ocala5. Charles Driggers, Eustis6. Barry Chase, Tampa7. James Murray, Sanford8. John Clements, Jacksonville9. Chris Brolek, Gainesville10. Declined points

ORANGE PARK KENNEL CLUBJan. 151. Armando Cisnero, Jacksonville2. Jerry Brunke, Jacksonville3. James Nighbert, Hilliard4. Robin Davis, Miami5. Wally Eadeh, Jacksonville6. Edna Green, Jacksonville7. Tim Null, Orange Park8. Kent King, Savannah, Ga.9. Jim Harris, Hilliard10. Bob Anderson, Orange Park

PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUBJan. 231. Ken Berman, West Palm Beach2. Bill Shope, West Palm Beach3. Jerry Weinberg, West Palm Beach4. Jeff Morford, West Palm Beach5. Mike Cadda, West Palm Beach6. Joe Vaccaro, West Palm Beach7. Steve Doiyker, West Palm Beach8. Antonio Pinzari, Lake Worth9. Randy Gould, West Palm Beach10. Jason Barker, West Palm Beach

SARASOTA KENNEL CLUBJan. 301. Dominic O’Connell2. Lenny Theriault3. Dan Murphy4. Richard Lopez5. Isabella Loiacono6. Randy Spain7. Ray Ward8. Sam Hayes9. Porter Harris10. Parry Shaw

SEMINOLE H.R. HOLLYWOODJan. 301. George Mobassaleh, Miami2. Alcides Gomez II, Miami3. Timothy Morgan, Pompano Beach4. Soo Han, Boca Raton5. Ory Hen, Cooper City6. Rich Blanchar, Lauderdale By The Sea7. Hans Winzeller, Miami8. Declined points9. Declined points10. Raymond Milliard, Tamarac

SEMINOLE HARD ROCK TAMPAJan. 231. Omar Arroyo, Haines City2. Ryan Belz, Tampa3. Declined points4. Ben Weissman, Gainesville5. Johann Castrillon, Orlando6. Stanley Blacker, Tampa7. Eugene Stone, Tampa8. Fabian Foster, Orlando9. Dante Dalere, Lakeland10. Paul Dell, Tampa

SEMINOLE IMMOKALEEJan. 21. Sam Semaan, Naples2. Gloria Anez, Immokalee3. Sal Lanzieri, Cape Coral4. Bill Vosney, Ft. Myers5. Bob Seifert, Ft. Myers6. Jim Seabasty, Naples7. Michael Tufano, Ft. Myers8. Jeff Green, Ft. Myers9. John Lallo, Ft. Myers10. Willams Rodriguez, Lehigh

ST. JOHNS GREYHOUND PARKJan. 311. Jamie Wood2. Joy Pozeck, St. Simons Island3. John Mason4. Herb Gartner, Jacksonville5. Tom Workman, Jacksonville6. Declined points7. Declined points8. T.J. Harris, Jacksonville9. Debbie Shoemaker, Jacksonville10. Declined points

TAMPA BAY DOWNSJan. 171. Ralph Franco2. Stan Eleff3. Declined points4. Larry Hawley5. Tom Nguyen6. Pedro Suarez7. Mark Sahoury8. Declined points9. James Lavine10. Emilio Full

Ante Up Player of the Year bracelet provided by Madison Jewelers. Go to www.madison-jewelers.com.

Race for the BraceletPoints are earned by finishing in the top 10 and are distributed as follows: 1,000, 700, 500, 300, 250, 200, 175, 150, 125 and 100. Players also receive a 100-point bounty for eliminating an Ante Up publisher from an event. Here are the Ante Up Player of the Year leaders as of press time. For complete, up-to-date results be sure to log on to anteupmagazine.com

Upcoming events

JANUARY RESULTS

Feb. 27: Hard Rock Hollywood, 11a, $1,100 Feb. 27: Ocala Poker and Jai-Alai, 2p, $100Feb. 27: Sarasota Kennel Club, 6:30p, $100 Feb. 28: Derby Lane, 1p, $100Feb. 28: Miami Jai-Alai, 2p, $165 March 6: Dania Jai-Alai, 12:30p, $150 March 6: Seminole Immokalee, 7p, $225 March 7: Ebro Greyhound Park, 2p, $100 March 13: Calder Casino, 11a, $100 ($5K guar.)March 13: Naples-Ft. Myers, noon, $225 March 13: Melbourne Greyhound, 2p, $120 March 17: Isle Casino, 2p, $350 ($30K guar.)March 19: Orange Park K.C., 2p, $100 March 20: Hard Rock Tampa, 10a, $100 March 20: St. Johns Greyhound Park, 2p, $125 March 20: Ocala Poker and Jai-Alai, 2p, $150 March 20: Ft. Pierce Jai-Alai & Poker, 3p, $150 March 20: Gulfstream Park, 6:30p, $150 March 21: Palm Beach K.C., noon, $100 March 21: Tampa Bay Downs, 1p, $350 March 25: Mardi Gras, 6:30p, $100 March 27: Hard Rock Hollywood, 11a, $1,100 March 27: Sarasota Kennel Club, 6:30, $100 March 28: Derby Lane, 1p, $100March 28: Ante Up Cruise, 1p, $350March 28: Miami Jai-Alai, 2:30p, $165

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1. Walt Strakowski Jr., West Palm Beach 6,100 2. Luis Cristobal, Coral Gables 2,925 3. Jay Roden, Estero 2,600 4. Ken Basilio, Ft. Lauderdale 2,575 5. Tomas Singson, Orange Park 2,500 6. Mitchell Abrahams, Miami 2,425 7. Raj Vohra, Lake Worth 2,150 8. Robert Beyra, Hollywood 2,000 9. Omar Diaz, Coconut Creek 1,90010. Glen Blumberg, Alachua 1,800 11. Carleen Heath, Belleview 1,700 11. Ronnie Browne, Gainesville 1,700 11. Eddie Rosenberg, Miami Beach 1,700 11. Matt Ridley, Jupiter 1,700 15. Peter Nadeau, Gainesville 1,625 16. Alberto Dominguez, Hollywood 1,500 16. Steve Mitchell, St. Augustine 1,50018. Manny Leon, West Palm Beach 1,42519. Brian Capobianco, Tampa 1,40020. Scott Long, Safety Harbor 1,35021. Raymond Witt, Lake City 1,300 21. Glenn Fullone, St. Petersburg 1,300 Full leaderboard at anteupmagazine.com

Updated schedule at anteupmagazine.com For our new readers, don’t worry, the AUPT will expand throughout The South on June 1.

Ocala Poker’s final table. The winner was Luras Toro of Gainesville. ... he’s the guy in the striped shirt.

If you see any mistakes or omissions please let your poker room manager or tourna-ment director know. Or you can feel free to contact us at [email protected].

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SOUTHERN DRAWInsight and analysis on poker in The South

SCOT T LONG

KEEp yOUR EyE ON ThE pRIZE, NOT ThE TvYou’ve heard it all before.

Steven Lipscomb used Henry Orenstein’s lipstick cameras to turn the World Poker Tour into a television phenomenon, dispatch-

ing Dick Van Patten’s wide-eyed effusiveness and Gabe Kaplan’s hole-card guessing to the dustbin of TV’s archives.

The show, and the technology, spurred dozens of poker shows, from ESPN’s slick coverage

of the World Series of Poker, to Heartland Poker Tour’s spotlight on poker’s everymen, to NASCAR drivers and hip-hop artists open-raising with jack-trey off.

The South is no stranger to the glare of the bright lights. Harrah’s Tunica and Har-

rah’s New Orleans are stops on the WSOP’s circuit with ESPN, and the Beau Rivage recently

concluded its Southern Poker Championship with a main event taped for broadcast by the WPT.

Most recently, Ante Up teamed with Fallah Productions, producer of the successful Windy City Poker Championship TV show in Chi-cago, to film the final table of the Chad Brown No-Limit Hold’em Tournament at Orange Park Kennel Club near Jacksonville (see pages 22-23).

“Windy City Poker Championship events that are televised attract fields that are at least 20 percent higher than non-televised events,” said Kirk Fallah, creator of the Windy City Poker Championship.

Orange Park Kennel Club had expected about 150 players for its event. It got 214, an impressive number for an $880 buy-in in North Florida, which doesn’t have the poker population of, say, South Flor-ida or Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. TV can’t account for all of that, of course, but judging by the cell phone calls overheard as you walked through the poker room, players were eager to make the TV cut, and tell their friends and families to look for them.

So just how does a TV camera change the dynamics of a poker tournament?

When my co-publisher, Chris Cosenza, and I arrived in Jacksonville at noon on Day 2 of the tournament, 63 players remained. About six hours later as the dinner break arrived, the tournament was just bust-ing through the money bubble, the notoriously longest part of most tournaments. That’s a kill rate of about six players an hour. Play was scheduled to continue until reaching the TV table of six players that night. It ended at closing time five hours later with more than a dozen still standing.

The tournament picked up at noon the next day, and didn’t reach the TV table until more than five hours later. The kill rate had dropped to one per hour.

In other words, everyone wanted to be a TV star. Not that we can blame them. For most of these players, this was

their first real chance at seeing themselves on the small screen. Not for the $10,000 the World Series of Poker charges, but for a modest $880. And no one wanted to be the one making the call to the wife or the boyfriend or the grandkids to say, “Sorry, I didn’t make it.”

Good poker players tell the rest of us, “Don’t play to cash; play to win.” I suspect good poker players would also tell the rest of us, “Don’t play to make it on TV; play to win.” So I wonder how many of the players in this tournament, or any televised tournament, miss out on important chips because they don’t size up the situation, put their TV ego on the backburner and apply constant pressure to those who nervously fidget, looking at the TV show’s set being built, imagining themselves being fitted for a tiny microphone.

Ante Up is working to bring more TV tournaments to The South, and no doubt many other options are in the works. So when you find yourself in the home stretch of one, you might be best served to keep your eye on your prey at hand, not on the feast for which everyone else is hungry. — Email Scott Long at [email protected]

It’s hard not to be distracted by the bright lights of TV.

Photo by Hollmann Hollis

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MARC DUNBAR • What’s going on with our government

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pOKER pROFITS ARE Up IN ThE SUNShINE STATEIf you’ve read my past couple of columns you know 2010 is a year

where Florida is at a crossroads. The day-cruise industry, a long mainstay for poker players around the state, is hanging by a thread, seeing its ranks dwindle from nearly 20 to fewer than five. Its flagship company Sun Cruz, which also has a ship in South Carolina, finds

itself along with a number of others in the industry in bankruptcy liquidation. One can only wonder if that industry will still be dealing cards on boats leaving

from Florida at the close of 2010.While one industry segment is seeing con-

siderable contraction, another is seeing growth. The parimutuel cardrooms are on the upswing. The first half of the state fiscal year indicates a healthy 7 percent growth in the state’s poker handle, which bodes well for

the industry when viewed in light of a contin-ued increase in Florida’s unemployment num-

bers and other recessionary indicators. A new room opened in Pensacola and new permits for poker rooms were issued in North Florida and Ocala. Applications are pending for a couple of other locations in the Jacksonville area and Homestead.

Despite these favorable overall statistics, there are facilities strug-gling. The state regulators issued their first shutdown order for a poker room. Citing a host of operational violations, Jefferson County Kennel Club’s poker room was the subject of an emergency shutdown order

until its operational issues were remedied. This room, which has long been the state’s lowest producer in terms of poker handle, is expected to remedy the issues and reopen, but it still faces a number of market-place challenges impacting its success. Hamilton Jai-Alai continues to see declining handle since the entry of Ocala Jai-Alai’s poker room into the north-central Florida marketplace.

Where 2010 will take the industry is anyone’s guess. The Legisla-ture killed the gaming compact between the governor and the Semi-nole Tribe, which sets off a showdown of sorts involving the federal government, the Florida Legislature and the Seminole Tribe. Until a determination is made by the National Indian Gaming Commission on the legality of the Seminoles’ blackjack operation, all indications are we will sit at stalemate on the changes to Florida’s poker laws to in-crease the operating hours and lift the betting limits on Florida’s poker rooms. While rumors are rampant of an imminent shutdown ruling from the NIGC, nothing has happened since federal officials came down to Florida to inspect the parimutuel electronic blackjack games.

With the 60-day legislative session beginning March 2, things will begin to move quickly on the legislative front. In the meantime, check www.floridagamingwatch.com, which keeps you up to date on the lat-est news affecting the gambling industry in Florida.— Marc W. Dunbar is a shareholder with Tallahassee law firm Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar, P.A. He represents several gaming clients before the Florida Legislature and teaches gambling and parimutuel law at the Florida State University College of Law.

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ACUMEN POKERLEE CHILDS • Learn to play the Acumen Poker way

LE E C HILDS

Position and pot control are two of my favorite topics as the more I’ve learned the more I’ve seen how powerful they can be when

they work together. When you play pots in position, you have much more control over the size of the pot and how much it’s going to cost you to get to showdown. Since most of your hands are not monsters,

you’ll often want to check at least one of the betting streets so you’re not playing a pot that’s too big for the relative strength of your hand. The most common street I find myself doing this is on the turn since I’m almost always the preflop

aggressor in a hand and will be making a con-tinuation bet on most flops. That being the case, whether I hit the flop or not, my hand is usually not that strong to want to bet the flop,

turn and river, so I’ll often check behind my opponent on the turn.This move allows me to get to showdown for the

same price it would’ve cost me just to see the river (or less). Since the pot is the same size on the river as it was on the turn, this means any bet I (or my opponent) make is typically going to be about the same size as it would have been on the turn. If I bet the turn, I may get check-raised and be forced to make a tough decision. Plus I may face a much larger bet on the river because the pot bigger.

Checking the turn allows sets up my opponent to bluff the river. When I show weakness by checking the turn, my opponent will often take that as an opening to steal the pot on the river and will bet a variety of missed draws, second pairs or even make a stone-cold bluff. Unless I improve my hand, I’m usually just going to call their bet as I really just have a “bluff-catcher” hand. It’s likely good, but I can’t be

too sure my opponent didn’t river two pair or a set, so by simply call-ing, I get value from those hands I’m beating and I lose the minimum to hands that beat me.

I recently had a deep run in the Borgata Winter Open main event and played a hand where I failed to use these tools and paid the price. I was dealt A-A and after I raised only the big blind called.

The flop was 4-6-9 rainbow. My opponent check-called my contin-uation bet. The turn was a 10. This is a great spot to check-behind as I’m usually way ahead or way behind. I made the mistake of making another bet and my opponent moved all-in. I further compounded the mistake by calling. My opponent had 7-8, a.k.a the nuts!

Why would I make this play? I know better than this, but I fell victim to the preflop beauty of those pocket aces. I didn’t consider the relative strength of my hand and use the power of position to control the size of the pot. I was clearly in a way-ahead or way-behind situa-tion and should’ve checked the turn and likely just called a reasonable bet on the river.

Learn from my mistakes and take the time to use position and pot control to your advantage. If you have a hand that’s likely best on the turn, think about checking when they check to you. You’ll see the river and likely get to showdown much cheaper.

You’ll find yourself getting value out of the weaker hands that try to bluff you and you’ll lose less on those hands in which you’re beat by an unsuspected higher kicker, higher set, two-pair or even a well-disguised monster!

Decide to win!— Lee Childs is founder and lead instructor of Acumen Poker. He also is a Lock Poker Pro and an instructor with the WPT Boot Camp. Check out his site at www.acumenpoker.net.

ChECKINg IN pOSITION DOESN’T MEAN WEAKNESS

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CHILDS FLOP RIVERTURN OPPONENT

Stephen Bloomfield, a.k.a. the Doc, is one of Florida’s leading psychologists. He wrote Head Games in the late ’80s to help competitors of every type use the skills he had learned about

the effects of the mind on performance.

DON’T CRACK UNDER PRESSURE!ASK THE DOC!

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After five years of playing poker in Florida, Mississippi, Las Vegas, Connecticut and occasionally online, Doc is sharing his skills with Ante Up readers through periodic columns, titled Head Games.

Doc offers support to some of the region’s best professionals and ama-teur players with one-on-one advising sessions and group workshops.

Email your questions to [email protected]

HEAD GAMESDR. STEPHEN BLOOMFIELD • Poker psychology

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Poker is a complex game of luck and skill, people and probabili-ties. I want to throw another factor into the mix: Poker is about

risk, and personality influences how you handle risk.Some personalities try to manage risk; some enjoy freefall dare-

devil poker; some like the rollercoaster ride (as long as the car stays on the tracks); and some avoid risk altogether.

Each of us has what we call risk capacity and risk tolerance. These are products of our

personality, our styles and the situations. Risk tolerance is the amount of risk you want to take. Risk capacity, on the other hand, is the amount of risk you need to take.

Poker means continual decision-making based on incomplete information confounded

by personality and probability. Skill plays a sig-nificant part and those who say they’d rather be lucky than good are shortsighted risk-takers against whom I love to play. Making decisions in an uncertain environment is one of the hardest tasks we face, and poker players do it voluntarily, continually and enjoyably. The more proficient we get the more we understand we’re engaged in situational decision-making.

Poker risk-taking is different from investment, health care and even military risk (all of which have been extensively studied) be-cause we take risk in a microcosm. We make continual decisions, and we don’t have the time for complex computer analysis or meet-ings. There are no life lines.

Colin Powell may have said it best when asked about how he made key military decisions. Even the most difficult, important and life decisions, such as sending troops into combat, are made using a two-part formula: Part 1: Use the formula P =40-70, in which P stands for the probability of success and the numbers indicate the percentage of information acquired. Part II: Once the information is in the 40- 70 range, go with your gut. Powell understood many decisions are situational and based upon incomplete information.

I imagine that 40-70 percent of the information is about right, but going with your gut is often misunderstood (see previous col-umn on grokking for a full explanation at anteupmagazine.com). Real gut risk-taking is not a wild guess, or impulsive, tilt-based de-cisions. It’s the culmination of experience, skill development and personality.

Everyone has styles, personality traits and comfort levels, which defines us as avoiders, adapters, adventurers or attackers. To play at your peak you have to be able to use each risk capacity/tolerance style and put your opponents in a style.

I have characterized risk capacity and tolerance into four styles. Each style is useful depending on different situations and the table. The percentages are just guidelines. Getting a handle on this will let you bring your “A” game.

All poker is situational. To achieve peak performance one has to be able to move through these personality styles and move outside their comfort zone. Each situation calls for a different style and the peak performer can play each style.

Know your risk-tolerance and capacity and keep your head in the game.— Dr. Stephen Bloomfield is a licensed psychologist and avid poker player. His column will give insight on how to achieve peak performance using poker psychology. Email questions for him at [email protected].

yOUR ‘A’ gAME CONSISTS OF FOUR STyLESAVOIDERS: 5-15% OF THE TIMEThis is a weak style of play that’s been called tight–pas-sive. This person is a rock who only plays premium hands and plays them weakly. This player is more concerned with preventing loss and protecting his stack than win-ning. Often this is a recreational player who enjoys the poker room; doesn’t work on his game and just wants to have fun. If this player gets a decent hand he can’t be moved off of that hand or be bluffed. Play this style against a table of attackers, and then move to a more aggressive style.

ADAPTERS: 30-40% OF THE TIMEThis was the traditional “best” style, advocated by more experienced players until the Adventurers swooped in. Typically a tight and aggressive player. This player is com-fortable with adapting to the situation and not defining the situation. He plays a smaller range of playable hands but will raise and reraise and doesn’t stick to premium hands. This player calculates the odds and tends to try to read the table and adapt to the situation. This player misses some opportunities because of the tight range of hands and misses big pots because when good oppo-nents are watching he doesn’t get called much.

ADVENTURERS: 30-40% OF THE TIMETraditionally the loose aggressive player likes to gamble when the situation calls for it. This style has really taken center stage, fueled by aggressive Internet styles and much younger players, who by personality, tend to play more aggressively. Not adverse to taking chances and playing a wider range of hands, this player likes to dominate the table and define the situation, making the adapter meet his/her demands. This player is a proactive one that raises and reraises and doesn’t like to limp. This player controls with aggression. He knows the math and tries reads but would sometimes rather be read.

ATTACKERS: 5-15% OF THE TIMEThe player looks like a maniac and plays any two cards strongly until he loses and then retreats to a more passive style as he gets felted. He may look like he’s on constant tilt. Similar to the loose and passive player, but doesn’t see the risk, doesn’t weigh the risk factors. Attacks at the wrong time and tries to be the aggressor with very weak hands. Mostly calls with a wide, wide range of hands. Play this player tighter and look for opportunities. Play this style when the table is full of Avoiders.

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Sponsored by Deepstacks.com

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By Tristan “Cre8tive” Wade

I recently played the Borgata Winter Open’s main event. It was a slow-structured tourna-ment with 75-minute blinds and a wide array of players. I got involved in a very interest-

ing hand early in Day 1. We started with 30K chips. I had been fairly active and I’m sure I had a crazy image. I was min-raising blind under the gun, every time, for the first two levels. On this hand the blinds were 75-150.

I was in third position and raised to 400 with 6-6 and a stack of 35K. It folded to the player on the button (30K), who called. The small blind (45K) and big blind (50K) called as well. The button played solid until this hand and hadn’t gotten out of line post-flop. The small blind was one of the tighter players at the table but still active. The player in the big blind was the most active player at the table. He was a thinking player and capable of any-thing. At this point everyone’s range (different hands opponents are capable of having at any given time) is quite wide.

The flop came A-6-8 rainbow. I flopped bottom set on an uncoordinated board. The blinds checked to me and I bet 900 into a pot of 1,200. The button folded and the small blind called. The big blind then re-raised to 2,200. With what range of hands would the big blind raise here? His raise was fairly small and there were two people left in the pot. I eliminated bluffs from his range because he was giving both of us good odds to call. I also eliminated A-A from both players’ range because they would’ve three-bet preflop. Therefore, the big blind must have a pretty strong hand such as AJ-AQ-A8-88. Since the big blind was fairly active and my image was a little nuts, I reraised him and made it 4,700, which was 2,500 more. I wanted to build the pot and allow him to make a mistake.

The small blind, who had called my initial bet on the flop, went into the tank. He thought for a little bit and then counted out chips for a raise. He decided to raise 4,800 on top of my 2,500 raise, making it 9,500. The big blind thought for a while and folded.

We were heads-up and I held the third nuts. I immediately ran through his range in my head. What was the small blind’s range? I had been given a lot of information on the flop. With all of the action in front of him, the small blind’s range was very polarized. He wasn’t the type of player who would be bluffing in this spot with 7-9 or another straight draw. He also wouldn’t play two pair (A6-A8-68) like that. The only hand that made sense in this player’s range was 8-8.

It’s not easy to fold a set. I had a crazy image. I’m a young Internet player. Nobody ever believes I have anything! I still had to follow through with the information I was given. I said: “You have to have 8-8 here. I don’t think you can have anything else,” and I folded. Once the hand was over the big blind asked if he had 6-6? The small blind said, “No. He was right,” and he pointed at me. He then turned over 8-8.

This is one example of being able to define your opponents’ range and then make the cor-rect call or fold. Though I had been active and probably had a loose image, I still had to take into account the action in the hand and the opponent. To be successful in poker you have to be able to assign ranges to players, and constantly update that range on later streets. Take the information that’s given to you and eliminate hands your opponent can or can’t have. Once you get their range down to a group of certain hands, it will make poker a lot easier. Also be prepared to follow through with your analysis of their range. If you can add these elements to your game it will make you much tougher to play against.

— Tristan “Cre8ive” Wade is a professional poker player with more than $1 million in online tournament winnings. He’s a member of Team DeepStacks, the No. 1 team of poker instructors in the world. You can find him and other Team DeepStacks pros at DeepStacks.com. Email him at [email protected].

DEFINE YOUR OPPONENT’S RANGE, ACT ACCORDINGLY

WANT A DEEPSTACKS PRO TO TEACH AT YOUR

POKER ROOM? CALL 727-331-4335

FOR DETAILS.

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A HEALTHY BETDR. FRANK TOSCANO • A look at how to stay healthy at the poker table

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TO hAvE hEART, yOU NEED A hEALThy ONE FIRSTI really enjoy playing in live multitable tournaments. I love the chal-

lenge of trying to navigate a large field, and if I can make a deep run, the financial and psychological rewards are superb.

I didn’t always feel this way. Years ago when I entered my first big tournament I was pretty nervous. I just knew I’d make

novice mistakes that would advertise my lack of ex-perience. As I waited for the tournament to begin,

I studied the blind structure while I nursed an espresso in the food court.

My most awkward moment in the tour-nament came just after being moved to a new table. I was dealt a pair of kings under the gun. As I calculated a raise I thought, “This is a great opportunity. Don’t mess it

up.” As I reached for my stack, I noticed my hand was trembling slightly. I dribbled out a

few chips and then tried to hide my excitement by crossing my arms and leaning on them. I could feel my

heart racing against my hand. Part of my skills set as an ER doctor is being able to estimate heart rate without looking at a watch. I’m sure mine was going at least 120.

So why does this happen? And why so fast? Is it something we can control? Is it dangerous?

First, a few definitions: An arrhythmia is secret doctor-talk for ab-normal heart rhythm. The seriousness of an arrhythmia can range from “no big deal” to “call for help” to “Oh my God! You’re dead!” When you feel your heart beating abnormally, it’s a palpitation.

You can usually feel your pulse by pressing lightly on the underside of your wrist near the bone at the base of your thumb. You can also try to find it in your neck just underneath the angle of your jaw. Don’t press too hard. Count for 15 seconds and multiply by four. A solid regular rhythm between 60 and 100 is good.

My racing heart was caused by a number of factors. I was nervous and I had just picked up a big hand that I didn’t want to screw up. My stress produced surges of adrenalin that cranked up my heart rate. A shot of espresso-strength caffeine compounded the matter.

Heart rates in the 120 range are usually not a major problem, espe-cially if you can identify and correct the cause of the extra adrenalin.

Anger, stress, caffeine, lack of sleep, dehydration, smoking and some drugs (legal and illegal) can cause adrenalin surges.

Drink some Gatorade, put out the cigarette and take a deep cleans-ing breath to see if you can make your rate go down. Resolve to get more sleep and stop using those nasty stimulants. If these easy fixes don’t work, see your doctor. A host of more serious medical problems such as thyroid disease, blood clots in the lung, anemia and fever also can produce a persistently elevated heart rate.

Once you start hitting rates of 140 or more, it’s time to call for help. Commonly, rates that high aren’t caused by a simple gush of adrena-lin, but by a short circuit in the heart’s electrical wiring. Your friendly paramedics carry a medication that usually works well to reset the cir-cuit. Young, healthy hearts generally can sustain rapid rates without suffering long-term damage. But older, weaker tickers can quickly get overwhelmed by rates that high. Don’t hesitate to call 911.

Irregular rhythms are a different story. Usually a few “skipped beats” here and there are inconsequential. It would be wise to have them investigated, but don’t panic. The usual adrenalin-producing culprits are probably at fault. But a completely irregular rhythm with no pattern whatsoever is a cause for alarm. Atrial fibrillation (more secret doctor-talk) needs to be controlled and corrected as soon as pos-sible. Visit your local ER doctor. This is not a problem you should put off until tomorrow.

So let’s summarize the “no big deal” and “call for help” groups. If it feels like your heart is thumping hard or fast, try to check your pulse. If your rate is mildly rapid or you feel a few skipped beats, think about the various things that could stimulate an adrenalin surge. If your rate is really high or completely irregular, call 911.

Next month I’ll cover “Oh my God! You’re dead!” and discuss how you can improve your chances if you get hit with “The Big One.”

In case you’re wondering, my kings ran into an ace on the flop, the button shoved and I ran away. I got blinded down by weak play and I eventually fizzled out. I don’t play like that anymore and I’m no longer nervous about big tournaments. I still, however, like my espresso.— An avid poker player, Frank Toscano, M.D. is a board-certified emergency physician with more than 28 years of front-line experience. He’s medical director for Red Bamboo Medi Spa in Clearwater, Fla. Email your poker-health questions to [email protected]

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Allen should apologize for columnI’ve read Chaz Allen’s article for the second time today. I have to

say his “methods” of teaching dealers on how to count is very poor. That method of placing chips of a basic count is ridiculous. It main-tains what we call in the industry a weak dealer. I would actually be surprised to expect anyone from any poker room from anywhere to call him for this instruction.

He really insulted the poker employee community by insinuating our knowledge was weaker than this improvement. As an experienced instructor he should have accessed before enrollment whether students could count and do math by using their brains. The math being done is on a first- and second-grade level. The dealers should know how to handle and cut chips to a great degree. As being a pro Class 3 casino table games dealer this is extremely important. If the casino is having problems getting the dealers to keep count of the rake instead of their tokes, then those dealers should be fired. Whoever hired those dealers didn’t properly access the dealer upon auditioning. I think Mr. Allen needs to apologize to all of us reading his column.

Marvin Rosen, via emailFormer Bally’s employee of 18 years

Ante Up keeps hitting it out of the parkGreat job guys with the new format and layout. I just looked at

the new issue online and it’s great. I’m so glad you’ve moved beyond Florida poker. You guys fill a void in the poker world in The South and with the Average Joe or occasional player. So many of the other publi-cations and podcasts talk to you like you’re on their level and can be so critical of someone if they’re not a known “pro” and make a bad play. Like the way ESPN ripped apart Darvin Moon in its podcast. Keep up the outstanding work and thanks for all the advice and help.

Everett Clark, Tennessee

• • •I listened to the Ante Up PokerCast twice this weekend (well, the

interview with Greg Raymer at least). I just have to say he is my new favorite interview ever (11-20-2009).

Man, I learned so much from that interview about Badugi and poker in general. I’ll even actually listen to it again probably. And it is a rare occurrence that I listen to a podcast episode more than once, let alone more than twice. Thank you guys for having him on, and thank you, Greg, for coming on. I wish more poker pros could interview like he does especially with strategy.

Of course, having Lee Childs on for the Hand of the Week is great, too. Thanks for having Raymer on and for getting Childs to partici-pate so much. These are the things that make your PokerCast so much better than everything else out there. Hands down.

Justin Huerkamp, via email • • •

After almost five years you guys are a big part of my Friday. I love what you guys are doing and I’m so happy the magazine has been ac-cepted and other avenues are taking off for you. In particular, thank you for taking the time to add the Easter Eggs at the end. I really love them and recognize it takes more time editing, so thank you.

Nick a.k.a. Slickcity, via email

FREE LEAGUE, FREE ADVICEBRYAN OULTON • Learning poker etiquette

By Bryan Oulton

P laying bar poker, besides a nice night out and having fun, allows you to explore other “careers” to improve your game, such as be-

ing a farmer … a data-farmer that is.What is a data-famer? Well, you might

have noticed some players ask a lot of ques-tions. Some just do that because they want to know everything about everyone. However, there are others who practice this vital meth-od to gain information to use against you.

Phil Hellmuth wrote the forward in Ante Up columnist Joe Navarro’s book Read ’em and Reap that you are a profiler. When playing the game, you want to constantly gain informa-tion about people and then analyze that data to come to conclusions during key hands.

In everyday society, stereotyping is wrong. But in poker, stereotypes are an important starting point when profil-ing players. A 250-pound male attorney with a pinky ring is probably

going to have an aggressive personality and style of play. Utilize ste-reotypes and then massage the data. As you play against a particular player more than once, maybe they have a different feel for you. Try to understand others will have a preconceived notion of you based on appearance, stated profession, etc. Use this information to your benefit.

Then throughout play, continuously gain data, not just through your own questions, but the conversations of others. Some of the info may be superfluous due to the established relationship of the players conversing, but you can always pick up on things. Just as in life, the more you know the better chance you give yourself.

As you continue your growth as a player, you’ll always utilize this tool, so continue to develop it. You might have noticed some more experienced players you know seem to take a keen interest in oth-ers, especially new players. This isn’t because they truly want to know about these players; they’re data-farming.

As you transition into real money events in casinos, or expand your buy-in levels, this will be a major assistance to your success.

— Bryan co-owns All In Free Poker, a league based in Pompano Beach, Fla.

Farming isn’t just for vegetables anymore

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VERBAL IS BINDINGEmail us at [email protected] if you have something to say. Be sure to give us your name and hometown and we just might print it.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORCorrespondence from the Ante Up Nation

anteupmagazine.com

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GOING GLOBALSNAPS FROM THE ANTE UP NATION

Email a photo of yourself with a copy of Ante Up somewhere cool and if we print it you’ll win something cool. This month our winners

will receive an “Ante Up” shirt from High Roller Clothing. Get your High Roller

Shirt at highrollerclothing.com or call (877) 272-2983.

Bobby Gorman climbed to the roof of the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, Miss.

to show off his Ante Up.

Here’s Al Katzwill

of Kissim-mee reading his Ante Up

while riding the White

Rail Train in Alaska.

G, a dealer at Ocala Poker in Florida, took his copy of Ante Up to the Commerce Casino in L.A.

Mike Cantor holds Ante Up in front of the Palm Beach Casino in Cannes,

in the South of France.


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Subscribe online with a credit card at www.anteupmagazine.com/subscribe or send a check or money order payable to: Ante Up Publishing LLC • 2519 McMullen-Booth Road • Suite 510-300 • Clearwater, FL 33761Yes, please sign me up for 12 issues of Ante Up Magazine. Enclosed is $30.

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Y FLORIDALOCATION TOURNAMENTS JACKPOTS EVENTS/PROMOTIONSCALDER RACE COURSEPhone: (305) 625-1311www.calderracecourse.com/poker

DANIA JAI-ALAIPhone: (954) 927-2841www.dania-jai-alai.com

DAYTONA BEACH KENNEL CLUBPhone: (386) 252-6484www.daytonagreyhound.com/pokerroom

DERBY LANEPhone: (727) 812-3339 ext. 7www.derbylanepoker.com

EBRO GREYHOUND PARKPhone: (850) 234-3943www.ebrogreyhoundpark.com

FLAGLER GREYHOUND TRACKPhone: (305) 649-3000www.flaglerdogs.com

FT. PIERCE JAI-ALAI & POKERPhone: (772) 464-7500www.jaialai.net/poker.php

GULFSTREAM PARKPhone: (954) 457-6336www.gulfstreampark.com

HAMILTON JAI-ALAI & POKERPhone: (800) 941-4841www. hamiltondownsjaialai.com

ISLE CASINO AT POMPANO PARKPhone: (954) 972-2000 x5123www.theislepompanopark.com

JEFFERSON COUNTY KENNEL CLUBPhone: (850) 997-2561www.jckcpokerroom.com

MARDI GRAS CASINOPhone: (877) 557-5687 x3167www.playbigeasypoker.com

MELBOURNE GREYHOUND PARKPhone: (321) 259-9800www.mgpark.com

MIAMI JAI-ALAIPhone: (305) 633-6400www.miamijaialai.net

MICCOSUKEE RESORTPhone: (877) 242-6464www.miccosukee.com

NAPLES-FT. MYERS GREYHOUND TRACKPhone: (239) 992-2411www.naplesfortmyersdogs.com

OCALA POKER AND JAI-ALAIPhone: (352) 591-2345www.ocalapoker.com

ORANGE PARK KENNEL CLUBPhone: (904) 646-0002www.jaxpokerroom.com

PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUBPhone: (561) 683-2222www.pbkennelclub.com

PENSACOLA GREYHOUND TRACKPhone: (850) 455-8595www.pensacolagreyhoundpark.com

Guarantee of at least $1K every day except Fridays, including $5K Mondays ($150, 7p, $50 bounties) and $5K Saturdays ($100, 11a).

Daily ($25-$150), including $15K guarantee Fri-days, ($100, 6:30p); Omaha/8 on Thursdays ($70, 5:30p). Minis: $30, $50, $100, any time.

Daily, including Wed. Ladies ($25) at 1 p; Sat. deepstack ($225, 2p) and PLO/8 ($120, 7p). SNGs: $40-$220.

Daily, (1p, 4p and 7p Su-Th and 2p, 6p and 8p F-Sa), including daily Florida Million satellites.

Big Stack Sundays, ($100, 2p); Mon. & Wed., ($40, 3K chips, 7p); Thurs., ($20, 3K chips, 7p); Tue. & Sat., ($10, 3K chips, 7p).

Sundays, low-rake bounty event ($40, 1p). Monday night is a $75 NLHE event (7p).SNGs: $65-$800

Mon. ($75, 7p); Wed. ($100, 6:30p); Sat. ($100, 1:30p); Sun. ($55, 4p). Deepstack third Sat. every month ($150, 3p). SNGs: (Thu.-Sat., $65-$110)

Daily, ($60-$150, 6:30p), including bounties M-W-F, plus the Saturday Special, ($150, 8K units). SNGs: $60-$120 (10 players, pays three spots).

Super Bounty Sunday ($35, $10 bounties,100-player cap, 2p); Rake Break Saturday ($40, no rake, 5p, 2K chips, $20 add-on gets 2K more)

Daily ($40-$720), including bounty events (T, Th, Sa. & Su., 7p) and $10K guarantee Tuesdays ($230, 2p, 13K chips, 30-min. blinds). SNGs: $60-$225

Operations have been temporarily suspended. Please call the room for an update.

Omaha/8 Tuesdays ($100, 6:30p, 5K chips); Deep-stack Thursdays, ($100, 6:30p), 10K chips but 5K more for $40 add-on. SNGs: $25-$110.

Daily, ($65-$120), including Saturday Super Stack ($120, 2p, 10K chips) and the Sunday 150 ($65, 1p 2,500 chips). SNGs: All day, buy-ins vary.

($20-$165), including a $10K guarantee (Feb. 28, $165, 2:30p) that features 8K chips and 30-minute blinds.

Fridays ($65, 8p). Super Saturday no-limit hold’em tournament ($65, 8p) gets you 3K chips.

Sun. bounty ($125, 2p); Mon. ($65, 7p); Tue. ($50, 7p); Wed., ($65, 7p); Thurs. ($65, noon & $50, 7p); Fri. ($65, 7p). Deepstack is every other Saturday, ($225, noon).

Daily ($30-$500); SNGs: ($45-$500). World Poker Tour satellite for April’s WPT World Championship, March 14 ($250, noon)

Daily ($30-$150), but Mega Stack (March 6, 2p), is $225, which gets you 10K chips and 30-minute blinds. Also HHPT event March 6 ($150, 2p).

Daily ($30-$120), noon & 6:30p Sun-Thurs.; 1 & 6:30 Fri.-Sat. Fla. Million super sats. March 3, 10, 17, 24 ($30, $20 rebuy), plus SNG sats. daily (3p & 8p, $65).

Weekly ($65-$120). Every Saturday ($120, 2p) and Sunday ($120, 3p) will be a $5,000 guarantee.

Royals pay $500 (double if flopped) and Mega Bad beat is any quads; mini is aces full of jacks.

High hands pay $50 hourly 1-8p; royals $500 (Omaha $250). Bad beats paid in cash games only.

Check Web site for details on high hands and bad beats, including the NL $100K Bad Beat Countdown.

Daily royal flushes and mini bad beats. Full calendar of jackpots vary-ing day-to-day. See Web site.

Royal flushes. Also, the bad beat is quad deuces.

High hands pay $150 all day; non-heart royals win $1K, heart royals pay $2,500.

Bad beats are aces full of queens in hold’em ($23K at press time), quads in stud and quad jacks in Omaha.

Bad beat: aces full of jacks; hourly high hands, M-F, 2-10p, starting at $250 ($500 4p, 6p, 8p); royals: $500

Spades royal pays $1K (mini royal is $100). Bad beat is aces full of kings and pays $5K.

$30K drawings on Feb. 28 (see site for details).

High hands, $100 hourly, 8a-2a, $50 3a-8a, double in no-limit. $500 at noon, 3p, 6p, 9p & midnight.

Bad beat is only in hold’em and requires aces full of jacks be beaten by quads or better.

Progressive royals and rolling quads of the day progressive; see Web site for more information.

Spade royal flush pays $16K as of press time.

Royals pay $1K (diamonds, $5K). Mon. & Wed. high hands, $200 every two hours. See site for more.

See Web site for continuously updated information on high hands and bad beats (quads).

Royals $250 (spades $500); Bad beats for mini and full. See Web site for details, plus a Super High Hand.

Visit Web site or call for information on daily high hands and bad-beat payouts and qualifications.

Hold’em and stud bad beats (any quads) and in Omaha (quad jacks).

AUPT, March 13 ($100, 11a). Aces cracked, first 10 starting at noon ($100 in limit games, $200 no-limit).

$50K guarantee, March 20 ($320, noon), see ad Page 16 for details; AUPT, March 6 ($150, 12:30p). WSOP satellite, March 21, ($150, 1p). Florida Million satellites, March 7 and 28 ($550, 1p).

Florida Million satellites, March 13, 19 & 20 ($550, 2p); AUPT, March 28 ($100, 1p).

Bonus Days ($100 paid to high hand every 15 minutes) March 5, 12, 19 & 26.

$500 progressive hot table paid at 3p & 9p; Big Slick Royal pro-gressive (details on Web site).

Ante Up Poker Tour, March 20 ($150, 3p). See Web site for list of new promotions.

Ante Up Poker Tour, March 20 ($150, 6:30p, 8K units); $50K Cash is King series (See ad, Page 13).

First to Hit pays players who are first to hit certain high hands dur-ing the day. Details on Web site.

Battles at the Beach, March 5-15, see ad Page 17. AUPT, March 17 ($350, 2p, $30K guar., $100 bounties).

Florida Million satellites, March 7 & 14 ($550, noon); AUPT, March 25 ($100, 6:30p).

Ante Up Poker Tour, March 13 ($120, 2p, 10K chips); Also, Wed. is Ladies Night at Club 52. Hourly $100 high hands (win three in a day get extra $500).

Call for information.

Fla. Million satellites, March 6 & 27 ($550, noon); AUPT, March 13 ($225, noon). Best hand day March 11.

WSOP Main Event satellite, March 20 ($150, 2p); Ante Up Poker Tour, March 27 ($100, 2p). Florida Million satellite, March 13 ($550, 2p); Ante Up Poker Tour, March 19 ($100, 2p).

Florida Million, March 6, 13, 20 & 27 ($550, 1p); AUPT, March 21 ($100, noon).

Mon.-Fri. 1st 20 full houses or better, $25-$200. Plus, at 7p, Tue., Thurs. & Sun. first 75 full houses or better.

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LOCATION TOURNAMENTS JACKPOTS EVENTS/PROMOTIONSSARASOTA KENNEL CLUBPhone: (941) 355-7744 ext. 1054www.skcpoker.com

SEMINOLE CASINO BRIGHTONPhone: (866) 222-7466 ext. 121www.seminolecasinobrighton.com

SEMINOLE CASINO COCONUT CREEKPhone: (866) 222-7466www.seminolecoconutcreekcasino.com

SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOLLYWOODPhone: (866) 502-7529www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com

SEMINOLE HARD ROCK TAMPAPhone: (866) 502-7529www.seminolehardrocktampa.com

SEMINOLE HOLLYWOOD CLASSICPhone: (866) 222-7466www.seminolehollywoodcasino.com

SEMINOLE CASINO IMMOKALEEPhone: (866) 222-7466www.theseminolecasino.com

ST. JOHNS GREYHOUND PARKPhone: (904) 646-0002 www.jaxpokerroom.com

TAMPA BAY DOWNSPhone: (813) 298-1798www.tampabaydowns.com

TAMPA GREYHOUND TRACKPhone: (813) 932-4313www.luckyscards.com

Daily, plus Fri. ($100, 1p, 25K chips, 25-minute blinds); Sat. $12K guarantee with minimum of 10 spots paid ($230, 2:30p). SNGs: $35-$300.

Mondays and Wednesdays, ($20, 6:30p) with an optional add-on. SNGs: $25, $65, $110.

Friday bounty ($150, 7:30p), bounties are $50 and players start with 8K chips and 20-minute blinds.SNGs: $55, $85, $135.

Daily ($75-$1,100), including the Big Slick (Feb. 27) & $360K Guarantee Spring Open (March 9-22, see ad on Page 11 for details). SNGs: $60-$1,050.

Daily ($100-$550). SNGs: $125-$1,075.

SNGs: $50-$100 and are now jackpot eligible.

Wed. ($35, 7p); Thurs. ($50, 7p); Fri. ($60, 7p); Sat. KO event ($50, 1p) & DeepStack ($115, 7p, 25K chips, 25-min. blinds); Sun., Winner Take All ($30, 7p)

Daily ($30-$150), plus a two-day $330 Mega Stack (March 27, 2p) that gets you 20K chips, 30-minute blinds).

Daily ($20-$540), including team event third Tues-day of month (March 16, $240 per team, 6:30p). SNGs: $100 and up, starts with four players.

Daily ($45-$200), at 1p and 6:30p, including $115 Sunday Challenge (Last Sunday of month, 1p, 14K chips). SNGs: $65-$200.

High hands $599 Fri. & Sat.; progressive jackpots in all games. Bad beat is quad fours ($160K).

Quad aces ($50), straight flushes ($100), royals win min. of $1K. Mega-Bad Beat (quad 10s).

Mega-Bad Beat (quad 10s) was $367K as of press time.

$500 (no-limit) or $250 (limit) added to high hand (Sun-Thurs., 10a, 1p, 4p & 7p). Mega-Bad Beat (quad 10s).

Mega-Bad Beat (quad 10s). Royal flushes on weekdays pay all players at table $50, but $250 in spades.

Mega-Bad Beat (quad 10s).

Mega-Bad Beat (quads 10s), plus Immokalee players get $100 if Mega hits at any Seminole room.

Royals $250 (spades $500); Bad beats for mini and full. See site for details, plus a Super High Hand.

All quads and higher win cash all the time. Look for double- and triple-multiplier times and days. Quads ($75), straight flushes ($200) and royals ($599). Spade royal pro-gressive. Call for more details.

Ante Up Poker Tour, March 27 ($100, 6:30p).

Wed., Rolling Cash Fever, 8p,10p & midnight drawings for up to $1,500; St. Patrick’s Day drawing for $500.

See Web site for details or call poker room for current offers.

AUPT, March 27 ($1,100, 11a); March 10 (free, noon) Player Ap-preciation $10K Invitational.

Ante Up Poker Tour, March 20 ($100, 10a). Win a “Man Room” in March; call for details.

In-house bad beat is aces full of jacks beaten by quads. Starts at $2,500, capped at $10K.

Ante Up Poker Tour, March 6 ($225, 7p, $1K added and winner receives Ante Up cruise package for two).

Ante Up Poker Tour, March 20 ($125, 2p).

AUPT, March 21 ($350, 12:30p); TJ Cloutier DeepStacks camp, March 24 ($495, story Page 14).

Friday Bounty ($150, 7:30p, 8K chips, 20-minute blinds). Aces cracked noon-2p pays $100. C

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AMELIA BELLE CASINOPhone: (985) 631-1745www.ameliabellecasino.com

BELLE OF BATON ROUGEPhone: (800) 676-4847 www.belleofbatonrouge.com

BOOMTOWN NEW ORLEANSPhone: (800) 366-7711 www.boomtownneworleans.com

COUSHATTA CASINOPhone: (800) 584-7263 x7336www.coushattacasinoresort.com

CYPRESS BAYOU CASINOPhone: (800) 284-4386 www.cypressbayou.com

ELDORADO CASINO SHREVEPORTPhone: (318) 220-5274 www.eldoradoshreveport.com

HARRAH’S NEW ORLEANSPhone: (504) 533-6000www.harrahsneworleans.com

HORSESHOE CASINO BOSSIER CITYPhone: (800) 895-0711www.horseshoebossiercity.com

ISLE OF CAPRI LAKE CHARLESPhone: (337) 430-2407www.lake-charles.isleofcapricasinos.com

PARAGON CASINOPhone: (800) 946-1946 x1975 www.paragoncasinoresort.com

OAKLAWN RACING & GAMING Phone: (501) 623-4411 www.oaklawn.com

SOUTHLAND PARK GAMING & RACINGPhone: (870) 735-3670 www.southlandgreyhound.com

ARABIA TEMPLE NO. 12Phone: (757) 487-1614 www.takeitdownpl.com

THE POKER PALACEPhone: (757) 488-4912 www.thepokerpalace.net

VICTORY POKER LOUNGEPhone: (757) 472-1203 www.victorypokerlounge.net

MOUNTAINEER RIVER POKER ROOMPhone: (304) 387-8458 www.mountaineerpoker.com

TRI-STATE RACETRACK AND GAMINGPhone: (800) 224-9683 www.tristateracetrack.com

WHEELING CASINOPhone: (304) 232-5050 www.wheelingisland.com

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YBad beat (aces full of tens beaten by quads) was $92K at press time,

Bad beat (any quads) was $162K at press time.

Bad beats in hold’em, stud and Omaha.

Bad beat was $35K at press time.

Bad beat: quads.

Bad beat: quads ($104K at press time).

Bad beat: quads.

Bad beat: quads ($41K at press time). Plus mini-bad beat pays 10% (aces full of 10s).

Bad beat is $50K; “Minor Jackpots” pays quads ($25), straight flush ($50) and royals ($125), 24/7. Call for details.

Loosest bad beat in the state: Aces full of eights. In Omaha straight flush must be beaten.

Bad beat paid on all hold’em cash games. Call for details.

Bad beat is aces full of jacks beaten by quads.

Call about the bad-beat details.

Bad-beat qualification decends from aces full of jacks when jackpot reaches $10K.

Bad beat is kings full of nines ($7K at press time).

Bad beat (aces full of kings) was $103K at press time.

Bad beat totals vary by game, but hold’em (aces full of jacks) was $49K at press time.

Bad beat was $56K at press time.

Call for information. Promotions tied to state approval.


Check Web site or call for promotions information.

Seven Clans Poker Cup, March 23-27 (Buy-ins: $200 (3/23); $300 (3/24); $1K (3/25) and events are at 10a. Aces cracked, first Thursday of the month (noon-10p); Tournament of Champs (June 5), call for details.

Royal flush progressives pay by suit. Fridays is Aces Cracked, 4a-6p, pays $100.

Aces cracked Wednesdays and Thursdays. Call for details.

Numerous promotions that change daily. Call for details.

Splash Sundays: $100 each hour, noon-2p, 4-6p and 8-10p. High hands pay $50 M-Th. (mid.-4a).

High hand pays $50 every half-hour Wednesdays (noon-2:30p and 9-11:30p).

$100 high hands paid every three hours (Sun-Thurs., 11a-1a).

Player Rewards cards offer comps based on play and 10% gift shop discounts. Call for offers.

WSOP Satellite location, check Web site for details.

Call for information/promotions.

There is a nightly $200 high hand.

$30K Invitation Only freeroll (March 14, 11a), first place wins $10K guaranteed. Call for details.

Call for details.

Full House Frenzy Sundays: Each player with a full house gets a ticket entered into a $400 drawing.

Schedule pending state approval in mid February.Tournaments will be Saturday-Tuesday, and will generally cost $60.

No tournaments yet, but $4-$8 limit and $2-$5 no-limit hold’em cash games.

Tue. (11a) freeroll for players with 20 hours of play in the room, otherwise it costs $10; Wed. ($35, 7:30) and Thurs. pot-limit Omaha (7:30p, $50)

Daily ($15-$230), including Tue. ($15, 6:30p) with rebuys & add-ons; Thurs. ($85, 7p); Fri. ($20, 7:30p) with rebuys, and Sat. ($230, 2p).

Wed. ($40, 6:30p); Saturday Super Bounty, ($60, 3p) with two $20 rebuys and two $20 add-ons. Bounties are $20 and Super Bounties are $100.

Daily ($50-$125), including Saturdays ($125, 11a) and Tuesday rebuy event ($75, rebuys are $25-$50 with $25-$50 add-ons at first break, 6:30p)

Wednesdays ($120, 11a)

Daily ($100-$400), including last Saturday of month ($300, 10:30a) and last Sunday ($400, 2p).

Tuesday ($90, 6p); Friday ($60, noon) and shoo-tout, $6K guarantee, ($140, 7p); Saturday ($225, noon). Mondays ($20 w/rebuys, 7p), Thursday bounty event ($20 with $15 unlimited rebuys, 7p) and Fridays ($60 with one $50 rebuy, 7p)

Daily, including SNGs ($30), on PokerPro tables.

Mon.-Tue.-Wed. & Sat. ($20, 2p), 3K chips and 15-minute blinds.

Mon.-Wed.-Thurs.-Fri. ($25-$105), including freerolls and SNGs at 6:15p and Olde Town Classic ($105, 25K chips, 20-min. blinds) on Fri., 7:30p.

Tuesdays ($50, 7:30p) and Saturdays ($65 plus rebuys, 1p; also $75 plus rebuys, 7p).

Wednesday.-Thursday.-Friday., including SNGS ($30, $50 and $125).

Daily at 12:15p and 7:30p ($50-$225). WSOP satellite, Feb. 28 ($125, 2p, 8K chips, 20-minute blinds)

Generally events are Sun. (2p), Mon. (1p), Tue. (7p) & Wed. 7p and buy-ins vary ($40-$125). Big Stack is last Sunday of month ($560, 10K chips, 2p).

Sun-Fri. ($40, 10a); Sat. ($150, 3p, 6K chips), plus tournaments every night ($40-$65, 7p).

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MISSISSIPPILOCATION TOURNAMENTS JACKPOTS EVENTS/PROMOTIONS

GEORGIA

AMERISTAR VICKSBURGPhone: (601) 630-4996 www.ameristar.com/vicksburg

BEAU RIVAGE RESORT AND CASINO Phone: (228) 386-7092 www.beaurivage.com

BOOMTOWN CASINO BILOXI Phone: (228) 436-8999 www.boomtownbiloxi.com

GOLD STRIKE CASINO AND RESORTPhone: (662) 357-1136 www.goldstrikemississippi.com

HARD ROCK BILOXIPhone: (228) 374-7625 www.hardrockbiloxi.com

HARLOW’S CASINOPhone: (662) 335-9797 x144 www.harlowscasino.com

HARRAH’S TUNICAPhone: (800) 946-4946, x33760www.harrahstunica.com

HOLLYWOOD CASINO BAY ST. LOUIS Phone: (866) 758-2591 x4026 www.hollywoodcasinobsl.com

HOLLYWOOD CASINO TUNICA Phone: (800) 871-0711 x5005 www.hollywoodtunica.com

HORSESHOE CASINO TUNICA Phone: (662) 357-5608 www.horseshoetunica.com

ISLAND VIEW CASINOPhone: (228) 314-2230 www.islandviewcasino.com

IP CASINO RESORT & SPAPhone: (888) 946-2847 x8554 www.ipbiloxi.com

ISLE OF CAPRI BILOXIPhone: (228) 436-7967 www.biloxi.isleofcapricasinos.com

SAM’S TOWN CASINO TUNICA Phone: (800) 456-0711www.samstowntunica.com

SILVER SLIPPER CASINO Phone: (866) 775-4773 x3766 www.silverslipper-ms.com

SILVER STAR CASINO (PEARL RIVER) Phone: (601) 650-1234 www.pearlriverresort.com

DIAMOND CASINO SAVANNAH Phone: (912) 897-3005 www.diamondcasinosavannah.com

EMERALD PRINCESS II Phone: (912) 265-3558 www.emeraldprincesscasino.com

HARRAH’S CHEROKEEwww.harrahscherokee.comPhone: (828) 497-7777

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YThursdays, ($70, 7p) with one optional add-on.

Daily at noon & 6p ($120-$340), including $120 Super Stack on Friday (noon) and Mon.-Thurs. (6p), with 10K chips, 15-minute blinds.

Mon.-Wed and Sat. ($45-$65), plus last Wed. of the month features a bounty event ($100, 7p).

Daily ($60-$340). $10K guarantee first Sun. of the month ($340, 1p), 10K chips, 30-minute blinds. Third Sat. is $5K guarantee ($100, 6p, 8K chips)

Daily at 3p ($25-$55). Chip stacks, bonus chip offers and blinds vary. Web site has all details.SNGs: $75, $125, $235, $550.

Tuesdays, USPT event ($65, 7:30p); 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month ($100, 5p); first Friday of month ($250, 8p).

Daily at 1p & 6p ($60-$105), including Deep-stack Fridays ($105, 6p) featuring 15K chips and 20-minute blinds.

Daily ($30-$55) including a pineapple tournament on Thursdays ($45, 6:30p) with 2,500 chips, 20- minute blinds.

Daily ($10-$70), including Sunday $1K guarantee ($10 gets 500 chips, $5 dealer toke gets 1,500 chips, $10 rebuys and $20 add-on for $10K, 2p)

Daily ($55-$550), including first Sat. of the month’s$10K first-place guarantee ($550, 4p) with 12K chips and 30-minute blinds.

Fridays ($50 with $25 rebuys, 6:30p)

Daily at noon ($60, 4K chips). Earn extra chips by playing live action between 8a-11a to receive an extra 1K chips for each hour played.

Daily ($15-$50), including bounty rebuy event on Saturdays ($30, 3p), featuring 3K chips, 20-minute blinds, $20 rebuys, $25 add-on and $20 bounties.

Daily ($20-$80), including a $3K guarantee on Saturdays ($20, 7p).SNGs: $60-$120.

Thursday bounty ($75, 7p), 2K chips, 15-minute blinds, $25 bounties.SNGs: $45, $65 (2K chips, 10 players).

Daily, ($35-$60), including a $2,500 guarantee on Saturdays ($85, 2p). Events on M-T-W-Th start at 7p; F-S-Su start at 2p.

Friday (night cruise) and Saturday (afternoon and night cruises), $110.

Texas Hold’em Saturdays, call for details.

Tournaments and cash games on PokerPro tables.SNGs: Tuesday and Sunday ($115).

Mini bad beat (quads over aces full) pays 10% of full bad beat (any quads), $61K at press time.

Royals pay $200 but spades wins $500.

Bad beat is aces full of kings (More than $50K at press time). Mini pays 10% (aces full of jacks).

Call for current bad beat and royal flush jackpots.

Bad beat is aces full of queens beaten by quads ($126K at press time). Full house drawing Feb. 28.

No jackpots.

No jackpots.

Bad beat and mini bad beat avail-able. High hands win $50 Wed. & Thurs. (10a-6p). Call for details.

Hold’em bad beat (quads or better) must be in $3-$6 or higher ($59K) and there’s a new Omaha jackpot.

Bad beat (quads) in hold’em was at $100K at press time.

Straight flush progressive Fridays (7:30p-8a). Bad beat is aces full of queens. Call about Beat the Dealer.

High hands pay $75 hourly Tue. & Thurs. (midnight-4p). Hands must be at least a full house.

Bad beat available in numerous games, but hold’em (aces full of queens) was $81K at press time.

Bad beat is any quads ($32K at press time).

Bad beat is $75K in hold’em, $2K for Omaha. Mini is aces full of deuces ($550 to loser).

Bad beat in hold’em (quads), Omaha (quad 7s) and stud (quads).




Call for details.

Spring Break Classic, March 26- April 11 (See ad on back page for details and schedule).

Aces cracked (Tue., Thurs., Fri. & Sun.) pays $50 (11a-midnight), plus player entered in $500 drawing.

Delta Gold Classic (Feb. 25-March 10). See site for details. High Heels Poker Tour, Feb. 27, $230, 11a.

Royal flush wins Hard Rock Poker Room jacket; straight flush wins Hard Rock Poker Room hat.

Call for any promotions.


Aces cracked on Tue. (10a-10p) wins $100 or $150 progressive up to $200. Ask about Funday Sunday.

Aces cracked Wednesdays and High Hands Thursdays spin the prize wheel ($25-$500).

Hourly high hands in hold’em can win $25-$500 depending on the hand made. Call for details.

Splash the Pot daily ($25 every 30 minutes, 10a-6p) and $50 high hands Mon-Thurs., Sun. (7p-mid.).

Aces cracked pays $100 (Tue.-Wed 4p-mignight). WSOP satellite com-ing in April, call for details.

Royals win jacket; aces cracked (Mon & Wed., 10a-mid.) wins $50 or wheel spin.

SNG bad beat is aces full of sixes and is $2K at press time, but in-creases $200 every day it’s not hit.

Aces cracked can earn you from $50-$150 depending on the day and time. Call for details.

$3,500 freeroll is last Sunday of every month (5p). Check Web site for details.




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@ AN T E U P M A G A ZI N E.CO M

Justin Smith, a.k.a. Boosted J, is a member of Team DeepStacks and one of the most feared poker players online ... and on the felt. He talked with Ante Up’s Chris Cosenza to discuss the tragic motorcycle accident that sparked his poker

career, dog massages, torn ACLs, his love of clothes and his lofty goals for 2010.

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There’s a very compelling reason why you started playing poker. Can you share that story with our readers? Yeah, I was in a motorcycle accident. Actually I had been watching the WPT and World Series of Poker whenever it was on TV, I was like a fan. But I really didn’t know much about it. I didn’t know a pair vs. ace-king was 50-50. I thought ace-king was like 80 percent. (laughs) … It was a pretty tragic motorcycle accident my senior in high school, so I had to quit my part-time job. I just hung around the computer all day long. I didn’t even really go to high school very much in the last semester of my senior year because I had all of my credits done. So I was talking to an old friend of mine and he was talking about how he was making a couple thousand dol-lars a month playing online poker and he would teach me. I put some faith in him and I had like $50 or whatever any broke high school kid has. (laughs) I put it online and he taught me how to grind it up play-ing, you know, I started playing 1-cent/2-cent limit hold’em full ring, and kind of mastered that game before moving up. And I guess I’m still moving up. (laughs)

You made the final table of the WPT Bellagio Cup V and finished third for nearly a half-million. Though that was in July, TV viewers only just saw that broadcast recently. What happened to your knee during that final table? (In my accident) I tore my right ACL and had surgery. I also broke my ankle very badly and had to have metal implants and screws put into it. But what they didn’t know was I partially tore my left ACL, so that never got worked on. So at the final table (my friend Mike Matusow) pushed me around a little bit (in celebration) and got me off-balance. … I just stepped the wrong way and I heard a loud snap. I didn’t know how bad it was going to be and I was just waiting for the pain to ensue. … I kinda just hobbled back to the table and kept it elevated with some ice on it. I still haven’t gotten it fixed. I can walk fine, not much pain.

But when I find a free three-four weeks in my schedule I’m going to try to get it operated on.

Do you need to carry one of those medical cards that says you have metal in your leg so you can get through the metal detectors at the airports? No. I got a card from my doctor but (the detector) never goes off.

You had a lot of success online before you turned 21. How psyched were you to finally turn 21 last year and get to play in live casinos? That was a big thing coming up to my birthday, turning 21. Most kids like to turn 21 to be able to go drink and go party, and that’s all great. But my big thing was I could finally go play live. I went to the Commerce to play before when I was like 19 … but I actually got kicked out of the Venetian one time. There was an amazing game too, and that was back when I was 19, too, and I was trying to play $200-$400 no-limit with Ja-mie Gold and David Williams. It was a pretty amazing game and I couldn’t play.

So what was the first legal live poker you played in the States? It was the WPT (Southern Poker Championship) in Biloxi. That was the very first event I played.

How did you get your nickname Boosted J? There’s no special or unique story really. It’s just one of my friends from the car scene, I was really into cars before poker, and boosted applies to like a turbo-charged car, and I like turbo-charged cars. And the “J” obviously stands for Justin.

You live in Florida and in L.A. Was the move west to be closer to the live ac-tion? Yeah, and the lifestyle in general. I live in Hollywood and there’s always stuff going on, great restaurants, clubs, nightlife, shows.

What’s the biggest difference between live and online play for you? Live there’s so much more information to decipher. You’ve got people’s body language. Dynamic is huge. There’s a completely different dy-namic playing live than online.

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Casinos, Poker Rooms, & Poker Leagues

The Official Store of

Licensed Gaming Wholesale Distributor and Manufacturer

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Playing Cards - Poker Chips Tables & Felts - Accessories

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Continued from previous page

ON THE BUTTONNational Spotlight on Justin “Boosted J” Smith


Was it tough making the transition when you turned 21? Well, I had played live at the (PokerStars.net Caribbean Adventure) for two years so I had some experience. We had some huge cash games there during those two tournaments. So I wasn’t completely new to it. I pretty much knew what to expect.

What’s your favorite game and what limits? Deuce-to-seven triple draw. … As of this past World Series we started playing pot-limit triple draw, which is an extremely sick game. (laughs). Very, very, very, very sick, for very, very, very, very sick limits. Very sick game for very sick limits. We played as high as $500-$1,000 blinds, so the pots got up to $500,000.

And who’d you play with? Well, the people I can tell you about are Dur-rrr (Tom Dwan), Freddy Deeb and Viffer (David Peat).

How do you rank being named FTOPS III player of the year in your career? That was big when I was like 19, but now I’m on to bigger and better things. I’m trying to be WPT player of the year this year.

And what would that mean to you? That would mean a lot. I would rather win something but hopefully I win a WPT and THAT makes me player of the year. That would be ideal. I’m trying to win a WPT and a World Series bracelet this year.

How many events will you play at the Series this year? I played like 23-24 last year, and I did a lot of multitabling. So I had the $10K heads-up, the $5K PLO and the $2,500 H.O.R.S.E. going all at the same time.

How’d you do that with the heads-up since you get a hand every few minutes? I just played the heads-up and just blinded off the other two. And every time I came to PLO I just shoved all-in and in H.O.R.S.E. I just played a little bit loose.

I hear you have more clothes than your wife, Anita … is this true? Yeah. That’s what I spend money on. I’m pretty tight with money like in cer-tain ways, but like I’m very loose with money in other ways. I just like clothes. I like to look good I guess.

Is she envious? A little bit. She actually just went shopping yesterday. She feels like she needs to step up a level.

The shopping in L.A. must be incredible. Yeah, it’s ridiculous. I always go to Beverly Center or Rodeo Drive. But mostly Beverly Center. Most of the people in the stores are familiar with me. (laughs) They always call me and say they have new stuff in.

Does your dog really have his own bed? Like a mat, like a nap mat like when you were in kindergarten. … I live in Hollywood, and people there are very picky about their pets. Like you can buy a suite and your dog can have a suite with a TV. It’s a little bit crazy. I don’t do that, but you can do whatever you want to do (for your pets). … You can get your dog massages and facials. (laughs) It’s crazy.

You have a very healthy diet. How difficult is it to keep up with that when you’re traveling or spending tons of hours in the cardroom? It’s not as tricky if you have a wife. (laughs) First thing she does is goes to the grocery store and as long as we have a refrigerator then we’re pretty much set. … She finds out where she can get me like a chicken wrap because I’m allergic to soy flour so I can’t eat much bread. … I just like to eat healthy in general. It keeps me sharp poker-wise and I’d like to live a long time. (laughs)

Is it true if you bust someone or take a big pot online that you type “You got Boosted!” into the chat window? I sorta used that at one time.

Well, now that you’re playing live poker, would you say that to someone across the table from you? Because you’re not really a big guy. I think I’ve probably said it being funny to friends. And I know for sure people always sat it to someone at the same table as me, and be like “Yo! You just go Boosted!” But I would almost never say anything maliciously.

You’re starting to get a lot more exposure now. How hard is it to have the lime-light thrust upon you considering you started in poker out of necessity and not with the aim of being famous? There’s additional scrutiny toward you as a person and a player. Just like anybody in the public spotlight you have to be very limited in exactly what you say, or how you say it, or how you play I guess. I mean I don’t care how anybody thinks I play. I hope people think I’m a bad player.

Justin Smith started his career playing for pennies;

now he stares down the greatest players in the world.

IMPD

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