Main Headlines
The Global Poker Index Expands Coverage with Revised Ranking Formula
160,000 players’ live tournament results will be tracked under the new formula.
- The GPI’s rankings will be expanded to cover over 160,000 players.
- One major change is that all events which meet the GPI standards will now be eligible for points.
888poker New Jersey Offers 80% Rakeback
Players who qualify will receive rakeback on cash games until the end of April.
- 888poker New Jersey is fighting back in the battle for market share with a promotion that offers 80% rakeback until May.
- As operators respond to the early lead taken by PartyPoker/Borgata New Jersey traffic in January should be substantially higher than it was in December.
Gavin Smith, Christian Harder Become Free Agents
A pair of high profile poker professionals announced, via twitter, an end to their respective sponsored affiliations as both Gavin Smith and Christian Harder let it be known that they both will not be patched up for their respective sites.
- Fan favorite Gavin Smith and newly launched bitcoin based online poker site, Infiniti Poker, both released carefully crafted statements confirming that they were parting ways.
- Harder had major scores in high profile events at the World Series of Poker and on the World Poker Tour, the kind companies usually reward. Perhaps it just does not pay to be a patch wearing Team Ivey Pro.
Picks from F5 Poker:
Watch Out — “It’s A Trap!”
Poker-reporter-turned-bracelet-winner offers strategy tips. Chad Holloway made headlines of his own last summer when the PokerNews scribe took down the $500 Casino Employees Bracelet Event at the 2013 World Series of Poker at the Rio this past summer. In his syndicated article he offers a peek into his mindset on how he set a trap for his final opponent and took home the title.
Former Nov. 9er James Akenhead Reaches The End Of Professional Poker Career
Having left poker, Akenhead finds peace. In a really nice article for Poker Player Magazine, 2009 World Series of Poker November Niner James Akenhead, opens up about what happened to his poker playing career in the 4+ years since he took 9th place in the WSOP Main Event for over $1.26 million dollars.
Home Game Essentials— Send Your Buddies Home Broke
Get what you need to turn friends into enemies. There’s nothing worse than showing up to a home game and having it be a bunch of doods with nacho stained cards and the pretzel sticks are both the stakes and the snacks. Get it together BRO!
WSOP.com Continues Your Table Talk Education
“Talk Like You Have A Pair” Part III You know them, you love them. It’s the WSOP.com online commercials where attractive women and obviously very mentally unstable men teach you about the most basic poker terminology.
Unidentified Frenchman Wins 30k, Makes It Rain…With All Of It
Reports have the birthday boy launching cash from a balcony. Timing is everything. If you happened to be at the Moby Dick bar in Uruguay this past weekend then maybe you were in the right place at the right time. As reported by The Independent, a French gambler hauled in $30,000 from a casino while celebrating his birthday and was in such a good mood, he decided to make it rain.
Poker Podcasts and Training Vids:
Podcast: 01/15/2014 Poker Action Line Poker Action Line
Tony Dunst, commentator of the “Raw Deal” segment on the World Poker Tour Shows, joins BIG Dave and Joe. Tony talks about his major role in the recent poker documentary “Bet Raise Fold” and his recent victory at the WPT Caribbean event in November.
Podcast: PokerNews Podcast #198: PCA Recap PokerNews Podcast
The crew recaps all of the biggest stories from the 2014 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, including the conclusion of the Main Event, Vanessa Selbst’s impressive results, and Ole Schemion’s new nicknamed, the “Bart Simpson of Poker.”
Podcast: Online deal and larceny Ante Up! Pokercast
PartyPoker.Com has a deal with the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers for $10 million, plus a poker celeb is facing larceny charges.
Training Video: TCOOP Prep Live Sweat with DannyN13 Tournament Poker Edge
TCOOP is coming and DannyN13 has recorded a live sweat to help you prep for this turbo mega series. Check out how he crushes the turbo game. This is a 7 part series.
Training Video: The Micros to the Majors: Part 2 Drag The Bar
In this second introductory video to the series, I go into detail with my plan to learn no limit holdem. I discuss which books and videos I will use; how I will approach playing, reviewing, posting, and analyzing hands; coaching and teaching; independent research; and finally heads up play.
Training Video: Search and Destroy 2: Arizonabay Part 4 Deuces Cracked
Josh and Bryan conclude their four-part Search and Destroy review. The focus of this episode is on out of position play, and river play following 2-barrel situations, as well as ramping up aggression in small pots.
Exclusive Articles on pokerfuse PRO:
New Jersey Online Poker Traffic Ramps Up
Early January figures look to be around 20% better than December for New Jersey operators. The first New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) revenue numbers for regulated online gaming have been seen as disappointing, but the cash game traffic for the first half of January suggests that the second set of numbers will be better.
Under the Gun
Selected highlights of live and online events starting in the next week. Live Tournaments
UK POC Bill Enters the Final Stretch
The UK Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill has moved to the ultimate stages in the legislative process in the House of Lords. The UK Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill has received its first line-by-line examination in committee in the House of Lords. Following a report stage it will receive a third and final reading in the UK’s upper chamber before final consideration of any amendments and the Royal Assent which will finally enact it in law.
Regulation in Review: US
A review of the latest developments in gaming regulation. This week: New Jersey, California, Iowa, and the anti-online gambling juggernaut. New Jersey by the Numbers