Tag: online poker

America’s Cardroom to Host Double Guarantees Weekend

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America’s Cardroom has announced the weekend of January 5 – 8, 2012 will be a Double Guarantees Weekend. That means that all the prize pools to all the guaranteed tournaments America’s Cardroom has scheduled for that weekend will be doubled.

So instead of $5,000 in the $5k Guaranteed Tournament, the prize pool will be $10,000. Instead of $7,500 in the $7.5k Guaranteed Tournament, it will jump to $15,000. And instead of $15,000 in the $15k Guaranteed Tournament, players will vie for $30,000.

This is a four-day weekend spectacular, lasting Thursday through Sunday and comprising some hundred or so tournaments, including deepstack events, short-handed events, turbos, bounties, rebuy/add-on events, freezeouts, even guaranteed tournaments in Pot Limit Omaha.

In the meantime, players can whet their appetite with a feast of holiday promotions already in full swing, including the Secret Santa, $45k worth of Holiday Freeroll Tournaments, December’s $65K Points Race and FPPs Gone Wild, in which players can now buy in to any America’s Cardroom Sit and Go with Frequent Player Points. For more information on all of these, browse back to earlier posts here of the last couple weeks.

America’s Cardroom is the new face and name of the online poker room formerly known as Doyle’s Room Poker. New players at America’s Cardroom can currently claim a 100% first deposit bonus up to a maximum of $1,000 as well as a free seat in a New Depositor Freeroll with a $250 prize pool.

The Sunday Million On PokerStars Sets An Impressive Record

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PokerstarsPokerStars is well-known for their constantly running top notch cash games, and their massive online poker tournaments as well.  This one sets the bar to a new standard though, as their 10th Anniversary Sunday Million tournament offered players a $10 million guarantee.  On top of that, there was also a $2 million payday for the first place winner of the event as well.  Even more exciting about this huge opportunity for players though, is that the buy-in for the Sunday Million is only $215.  PokerStars was in a tough spot here, because in order to hit the guaranteed prize pool of $10 million, they would need to have over 46,000 entrants into the event, which would be unheard of.

This is why it was a shocker when the prize pool ended up being $12,423,200, which is well past the guarantee.  This meant that Pokerstars didn’t have to put any additional money into the tournament, and also that there was an insane amount of players playing in this.  To be exact, there was 62,116 players when all was said and done.  The prize pool of over $12.4 million topped the old record of $12,215,000 that was set during the WCOOP Main Event as well.  And for those of you who are curious what the number to make the money was; well, the top 7,000 players got into the cash of this one.

As you might imagine from a pool this huge, the final table didn’t have the big named players, but it did have a pretty excellent score for one player.  The winner of the event was a Canadian player named Kyle “First-Eagle” Weir, who is actually unemployed, and his old biggest cash was a $4k win.  The final six players in the event decided to do a six way chop, which gave everyone at least $580k.  In an interesting situation, the second place finisher, “unstoffable” actually took home the least amount of money out of everyone, while the fifth place finisher got a payday of almost $1 million because of this chop.

The following is the final table, with the top six players taking part in the six way deal:

  1. Kyle “First-Eagle” Weir – $1,146,574.65
  2. Unstoffable – $580,724.34
  3. BLAABAR – $709,896.78
  4. tunafish919 – $627,317.26
  5. Dimedroll – $995,996.85
  6. SkunDen – $758,986.42
  7. fireballdio– $182,406.00
  8. kaalen – $119,866.80
  9. yokouno1980 – $86,512.56

January is Rake Free Tourmament Month at Party Poker

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For the entire month of January 2012, Party Poker is suspending the tournament rake for all tournaments at the site.

The tournament rake is the fee listed after the buy-in cost, such as in $20 + $2, the $2 is the rake. In most sites, this is called the tournament “fee”. In any case, that amount will be added into the respective tournament prize pools rather than be taken out by the site as a fee or rake. So in the above example, the full buy-in for that tournament in January of 2012 will be $22 still, but 100% of that cost will be in the prize pool, rather than only $20 of it. When you consider how many players enter each tournament, that little bit adds up to a much bigger potential prize pool from the same tournaments.

As part of this promotion, Party Poker is also giving players two extra ways to boost their bankroll for these tournament deals and only one eligibility requirement to earn both. The first is a 100% reload bonus up to $100. Minimum eligible deposit is $50 and you must use the bonus code: RAKEFREE to claim the bonus. Claim this bonus and you’ll also gain free entry into a $50,000 Depositor’s Freeroll. That event takes place at 11:00 ET on February 5, 2012.

Remember, all Rake Free promotions–that’s the Rake Free Tournaments, 100% Reload Bonus and $50K Depositor’s Freeroll–are valid from midnight January 1 to the minute before midnight on January 31.

Holiday Countdown at Bovada Poker

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There’s a Holiday Countdown happening at the new Bovada Poker (formerly Bodog Poker) and it features weekly cash prizes and tons of entries into weekly tournaments with $100,000 guaranteed prize pools.

The Holiday Countdown promotion at Bovada Poker runs from December 19th to January 1st. During this time, play as much as you can at Bovada’s tables, earning Poker Points as you play. The two-week promotional period is divided into two 1-week periods: December 19th to 25th and December 26th to January 1st. Earn at least 50 Poker Points in any one of these weeks and win $15 cash. Do that both weeks and win $15 x 2. Earn at least 100 Poker Points in any week and the prize $30, or $60 if you do it both weeks.

Also, between Monday and Friday of each of those periods: that’s December 19th to 23rd and December 26th to December 30, Bovada Poker will also be giving away seats in a $100,000 guaranteed tourney. In all the site will be giving out 250 such seats in each weekly period. The first period’s prizes are for the December 25th $100K GTD and the second period’s prizes are for the January 1st $100K GTD.

The third and final part of Bovada Poker’s holiday promotional calendar is the Holiday Countdown Draw, a chance to win an entry into every Sunday’s $100K GTD event for all of 2012. Earn 5 Poker Points on Christmas Eve Day, December 24th, and 5 Poker Points on Christmas Day, December 25th, and you’ll be entered in the drawing.

Bodog Poker Revamped Into Bovada Poker

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The operators of Bodog Poker have given the site a complete revamping and the extreme Bodog makeover reveal has occured. The new site is called Bovada and it promises to help you “Raise Your Game”.

Existing Bodog Poker players can log in to Bovada Poker using their same account info. New Bovada Poker players can earn themselves a welcome bonus of up to $1,000 for signing up now. New members also get free entry into a $100K New Player Qualifier.

Part of Bovada Poker’s regular promotional schedule is the weekly King of the Felt contest. All you have to do is place in at least three Sit and Go tournaments in a given week (that’s come in first or second) and you qualify for a chance a $1,000 heads-up grand prize. Here’s how it works: everyone whol places in three Bovada Poker SNGs gets a ticket in a drawing, the winner of which goes up one-on-one against the reigning King of the Felt from the week prior for a $1K winner-takes-all prize. That player then becomes the King of the Felt for the following week’s raffle winner to beat and so on. Each time the reigning King of the Felt wins the crown for another week, he or she gets another $1K prize. Any player who remains King for 10 weeks in a row will receive a free seat in the 2012 WSOP main event. Place in more than 3 SNGs and you also become eligible to compete in $2,500 worth of weekly freeroll guarantees.

Bovada Poker Holiday Countdown

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bovada pokerBovada Poker, the new brand name of Bodog Poker in the USA has an exciting Holiday promotion for all you United States players.  Bovada poker will host weeday freerolls December 19-23, and again December 26-30.  the top 25 players in each of these freerolls will win entry to the $100k Guaranteed the following Sunday.  So, if you win a ticket December 19-23 you MUST play the December 25, 2011 $100K Guaranteed tournament.  The next week’s winners must play the January 01, 2012 $100k guaranteed.  You can only win one ticket per week, and they must be used that week.  Players not able to play the corresponding tournament are encouraged to not play.  There will be no cash value and the tickets are not transferable.

For those who do have time on Christmas Day and New Years Day, these freerolls are a great chance at playing a big tournament with no real bankroll impact.

The Holiday Countdown continues.  Bovada Poker is giving their loyal players cash bonuses for playing on a couple of the historically slow weeks of the year.

Earn Poker Points during the week of Dec. 19 – 25 and Dec. 26 – Jan. 1, and qualify for one of two different bonuses each week.

Level 1: Earn 50 Poker points within a week and get $15 cash

Level 2: Earn 100 Poker points within a week and get $30 cash

You get the highest bonus you reach for each week so no double dipping.  But it is cash not a 20x rollover bonus like some sites.

The last Bovada Holiday Poker Countdown event is a drawing for free entry to every $100K Guaranteed tournament of 2012.  That is fifty-three $162 entry fees paid by Bovada.

To get entries to the drawing just earn 5 poker points on December 24 and again on December 25.  Earn more points both days and gain more entries.  the more you play, the better your odds of winning.

Happy Holidays to all and Good Luck

Party Poker Launches WPT Venice Satellites

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Party Poker, home of satellite series’ all year long for various World Poker Tour main events, has now launched its satellite series for the tour’s next stop: WPT Venice.

The Party Poker WPT Venice satellite series runs from December 19, 2011 to January 22, 2012. It features five weekly satellites where $10,000 prize packages will be awarded. Prize packages include the $6,700 buy-in for the WPT Venice main event, 6 nights of accommodations at the Casino di Venezia, the site of the tournament, and $1,100 cash for expenses. Weekly WPT Venice satellites take place on Sundays at 15:20 ET for a direct buy-in of $530. One prize package is guaranteed to be awarded at each, with one package going out for every $1,100 collected in the prize pool.

You can skirt the direct buy-in by winning a daily $58 satellite qualifier. They take place at 13:45 and on Sundays are Turbo events. WPT Venice sub qualifiers for $2 and $6.50 will be held daily to seed players into the satellite qualifier. Both sub qualifiers are speed events and the $2 event includes a rebuy.

You can even get into the WPT Venice main event for free, with daily freeroll tournaments awarded entry into the $2 sub qualifier to the 25 top finishers of each freeroll.

The 2012 World Poker Tour Venice main event takes place from February 6 to 11 in Venice, Italy. By participating in this satellite series you are affirming that you can accept the award and attend the tournament if you win. Prize packages are not transferrable nor can they be redeemed for cash.

Americas Cardroom adds $50k Guaranteed this Sunday

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Just when it looked like the poker world was winding down for the holidays, Americas Cardroom is kicking things into overdrive. The US-friendly online poker room is hosting a $50,000 Guaranteed online poker tournament this Sunday, December 18th at 6pm ET and packing its schedule with low buy-in satellites to help players get into it.

The $50,000 Guaranteed No Limit Hold’em tourney includes the option of one re-buy and one add-on, and costs $75+7.50 to register. On Friday, Americas Cardroom will host 13 satellites per day to help players win a seat. On Saturday December 17th and Sunday, December 18th, the day of the tournament, Americas Cardroom is packing the satellite schedule with even more qualifiers.

Over the last few months, Americas Cardroom has continuously increased the guarantees of its big weekly tournaments and added even larger monthly tournaments like Sunday’s big event to the mix.

The online poker site attributes being able to offer more attractive guarantees to the healthy growth of their community, a sign that online poker in the United States is thriving.

“This weekend’s $50,000 tournament represents a big part of our growth in 2011,” stated Americas Cardroom spokesman Julius Maxwell. “We’re closing out the year with some big promotions including a $65,000 Points Race and special holiday freerolls. But it’s what’s in store for 2012 that’s really going to get players excited. Stay tuned.”

PokerStars and Well-Known Poker Pro Joe Hachem Part Ways

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Joe HachemPokerStars is one of the most well-known online poker sites today, and it is definitely the largest out there currently.  Those are two of the key reasons that make this bit of news so shocking to many people.  Joe Hachem, who is one of the most popular and well-known poker players in the world, was one of the biggest Team PokerStars Pros on their site.  This was until we found out today that Hachem has decided not to resign any sponsorship deal with the massive online poker site.

Hachem had some incredible results in his career, but none was bigger than his win at the 2005 World Series of Poker Championship Event, which was one of the largest fields in WSOP history.  The news was not negative for either side involved, as Hachem simply said that he was excited to “spend some downtime with my family”, and also to pursue “other career opportunities”.  PokerStars on the other hand stated that they appreciated his time and that he was  “terrific endorser” for the site.

What makes this news even more interesting is that PokerStars is fresh off of their decision to make a few other cuts to their roster, including well-known names like Tom McEvoy (World Championship winner in 1983), Dennis Phillips (2008 November Niner), and Bill Chen (two time gold bracelet winner).  The site also failed to work out a deal with Greg “The Fossilman” Raymer not too long before that.

Simply put, Hachem’s results spoke for themselves.  After winning the World Championship in 2005, he went on to pull in four cashes at the 2006 WSOP, including two final tables and a runner up finish in a No Limit Hold’em event that year.  That wasn’t the end of the run for Hachem though, as he also won a World Poker Tour event before the year came to an end.  As far as his total career numbers go, no one can shake their head at his top 10 total lifetime earnings of $11.4 million, and also the fact that he has won over six figures in every year since 2005.

Of course Hachem will be missed by the PokerStars community, but we assume that we’ll still be seeing quite a bit of him at the big time poker tournaments, and also hopefully still pulling out impressive results in the online poker world as well.

Cake Poker’s Final Aussie Millions Qualifier December 18

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This Sunday, December 18, 2011, will be Cake Poker’s final Aussie Millions 2012 qualifier. This is the December Aussie Millions $16,000 Final for a $16K prize package that includes the $10,600 AUD main event buy-in, a ticket to the Aussie Millions 10th Anniversary VIP Player Party and some spending cash to help out with travel and accommodation expenses.

The event starts at 5 pm EST and has a $250 + $18 direct buy-in. Players can still win seats in this event through satellites if they hurry. There are still Aussie Millions $16K Super Satellites running for as little as $0.20, as well as $2.20 and $6.50 semi-qualifiers, $11 satellites and $40 semi-finals. Many of these events have rebuys and add-ons.

The next Aussie Millions takes place in Melbourne, Australia from January 12 to 30, 2012 and features an estimated $2 million AUD grand prize for the first place finisher. The estimated total prize pool for this upcoming event is $20 million AUD.

Also taking place now at Cake Poker is a similar satellite series to qualify players for the 2012 Super Poker Event of Europe, taking place at Citywest Hotel in Dublin, Ireland between February 25 and 26, 2012. Also happening in Dublin next year is the 2012 Irish Open, happening April 5 to 9. And as it happens, Cake Poker satellites for the Irish Open 2012 start on December 18, 2011; yes, the same date as the last chance to get in on a 2012 Aussie Millions Final Qualifier.