Category Archives: Poker

September 28, 2021Calum Grant

A total of 1,689 World Series of Poker Gold Bracelets have been awarded in the competition's existence and is often the first bit of hardware that poker players aspire to win at the beginning of their careers.

However, there are a host of top name players who have found it difficult to etch their name in the history books of the WSOP. PokerNews last looked at the best poker players not to win a bracelet back in 2018 and since then, the likes of Stephen Chidwick, Shawn Buchanan and Ari Engel have taken their names off of that list with their bracelet event triumphs in 2019.

As a result, there are now some free spaces in the top ten who have yet to win at the WSOP and you can find out who made the cut by reading to the bottom. One entry to the list could be seen as controversial so stick to the end to find out who that could be.

Note: This list looks at primarily poker tournament players or who are regular names in the tournament circuit. This excludes the likes of Tom Dwan and popular high stakes cash game players like Garrett Adelstein and Andy Stacks.

Read More: Five (Non-Poker) Things to do in Las Vegas During the WSOP

It should be no surprise that Dan Smith's name should appear at the top of the list. The fifth-placed player on the Hendon Mob All Time Money List, Smith has over $37.5 million in total live earnings and has added a further four career wins to his resume, winning a PokerGO Tour, World Poker Tour, Super High Roller Bowl Online and Poker Masters Online title, since this topic was last discussed.

The High Roller has eight podium finishes in WSOP events including two second-places and although Smith has downplayed the importance of winning his first WSOP bracelet, despite three PokerNews staff members tipping him to break his duck in 2021. Despite these feelings, if Smith is able to capture a win on at the WSOP, he would become just the tenth poker player to have completed the triple crown (titles in the WSOP, WPT and EPT) and further his case as being the best poker tournament player of all time.

A jaw-dropper of a name that has yet to taste WSOP glory, Jason Koon's best finish in an event stretches all the way back to 2012 being the runner-up in WSOP Event #3: 3,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em / Pot-Limit Omaha.

As listed on his WSOP.com player profile, Koon's long term poker goals are WSOP Bracelets. A natural competitor, stemming from his days as a State Champion sprinter in high school and college, Koon will no doubt like to join the trio of Chidwick, Buchanan and Engel in relieving himself of his WSOP hoodoo.

Since 2018, Koon has broken the top ten on the all-time money list with just over $32.5 million won which includes the $2.13 million won in WSOP events. Like Smith, Koon has added a host of career wins to his name including titles in the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in both No Limit Hold'em and Short Deck Poker.

By the end of 2020, Steve O'Dwyer eclipsed the $30 million mark in lifetime earnings, becoming just one of twelve players to achieve the feat.

O'Dwyer has just added one extra WSOP cash since the last approach to this topic. That score came just a few months later at the 2018 World Series of Poker Europe in Event #9: 100,000 King's Super High Roller, taking home a payday of 161,587 which was also his highest payday in a WSOP event.

DON'T MISS: Unlimited Attempts at WSOP Main Event Seats for $49.99 at ClubGG

Now with over $3 million in WSOP earnings alone, Isaac Haxton has been a staple at the WSOP for over a decade. Despite not winning a bracelet so far in his career, the poker player added a career-high result of $3,672,000 following his victory in the 2018 $300,000 Super High Roller Bowl.

Following that event, Haxton told PokerNews that "This is my biggest score ever and easily the best accomplishment. This is the highlight of my tournament career.

The first new name to enter this list, Jake Schindler has $27,127,090 in total live earnings, amassing $12.7 million of that since 2018 alone. Since his first recorded result in 2009, the United States player has gone on to have 24 career wins, just one less than both Smith and Koon.

One difference between Schindler and the aforementioned players on this list is that the former actually has WSOP Circuit win to his name. However, it is surely the case that Schindler would like a bracelet to go along with his ring.

The United States national's best performance at the WSOP came at the 2014 WSOP in Event #39: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em. His third place finish, his highest ever at the WSOP ($212,373), netted the player his first of four six-figure WSOP scores.

Similarly to Haxton, Schindler's biggest career cash was in the 2017 $300,000 Super High Roller Bowl. His performance over the course of the five-day event was awarded with a $3.6 million prize for his second-place finish. Coincidentally, Schindler would lose during heads-up play to the next player who makes this list.

The 2017 Super High Roller Bowl winner Christoph Vogelsang is another name that shocks people when they discover he has yet to deck his wrist out with a gold bracelet. With six WSOP final table appearances and over $8.5 million in WSOP earnings, a WSOP title to go along with his extensive list of career wins is surely only around the corner.

The German benefits in being able to play in both the WSOP and WSOP Europe so it may be just a matter of time before he adds his name to the extensive list of German players who have reigned supreme in WSOP events.

Sam Trickett had a series to remember back in 2012, the Englishman and poker veteran came second in Event #55: The Big One for One Drop - $1,000,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $10,112,001. It would be Antonio Esfandiari who would trump Trickett to the title and first place spoils. He would then narrowly miss out again, coming up short to Kahle Burns in the 2019 WSOPE 25,500 No Limit Hold'em - Platinum High Roller.

Trickett is now less active on the tournament circuit nowadays, but following the latest news regarding the US/UK travel ban on November 1, Trickett could make an appearance in Las Vegas towards the tail end of the poker festival.

Read More: Common Poker Tells To Look For at the 2021 WSOP

For those unfamiliar with Maurice Hawkins, your best bet is to think of him as the Phil Hellmuth of the WSOP Circuit Events. Hawkins has won an unmatched 14 WSOP Circuit Rings, his first coming in December 2008 and his latest in January last year, however a bracelet has stayed out of reach during his career.

The closest Hawkins has come to a bracelet win was in 2017 where he had two deep runs at the WSOP in Vegas finishing sixth in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em MONSTER STACK for $213,591, and ninth in the $2,620 MARATHON for $54,356.

A skilled poker broadcaster and poker player, Maria Ho has been a renowned name in the community for a long time now. With 64 WSOP cashes to her name, which has amassed to a total of $1,739,550 in WSOP earnings, many would like to see Ho obtain WSOP greatness before she calls a day on her career.

Her career-high result came in the 2011 edition of the WSOP, winning $540,020 for her silver medal finish in Event #4: $5,000 No-Limit Holdem. Ho has also made the final table of a WSOP event five more times which includes a sixth-place finish in 2017 WSOPE Main Event.

The last and by no means least name on this list is none another than Sean Perry. A polarizing figure in the poker world, this addition may cause a stir but there is sound reason for his inclusion.

Perry's first recorded result only came in March 2017, but in his fledgling career has gone on to win a total of $4 million in live earnings. In that time there have been seven career wins and 13 six-figure results. Perry has become a regular name on the PokerGO Tour playing a plethora of $10,000 and higher buy-in events and has shown he can go toe to toe with the most elite poker players on the planet. In such a short space of time, which is rare to see nowadays in poker, Perry has become one to watch out for and will no doubt want to secure his place in the poker history books.

Notably, Perry is the son of WSOP Bracelet winner Ralph Perry. Perry Senior's bracelet win came in 2006 in Event #26A: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha, four years after he finished in third place in the 2002 Main Event. The pair have even battled at the tables with each other before and with his father's legacy to uphold, Perry will no doubt be going all-in on securing his maiden WSOP victory.

WSOP 2021 Schedule Released: 88 Bracelet Events, Sept. 30 - Nov. 23

Live poker statistics and poker's all-time money list rankings courtesy of The Hendon Mob.

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Who Are the Best Poker Players Without a WSOP Bracelet? - PokerNews.com

September 27, 2021Breinfuel

Every player looks for an edge at the table. This is why we spend countless hours training, learning, and playing. We study ourselves, we study other players, and most importantly, we look to stay on the forefront of innovation in the game.

The rise of the GTO model and the Independent Chip Model furthered the games complexity and cognitive depth while introducing a new competitive advantage for those who were wise enough to pick up on these strategies early on.

Now, with the 2021 World Series of Poker beginning in only a few short days, players around the world are finalizing their strategies and training before diving into the grueling stages of the event.

We spoke with a pair of the games greats, Jonathan Little and Phil Hellmuth, to discuss what they do differently to maintain focus, mental agility, and endurance through the event.

Through our conversations, one commonality reigned supreme - at WSOP, the players who see longevity in the tournament are those who have not only mastered strategy, but also become the master of their own mind. Thats right, on top of all the nuanced strategy; nutrition, sleep, and mindset can be your greatest advantage.

Both mental athletes referred to a new performance drink, Breinfuel, as their partner in performance at this years WSOP.

Breinfuel helps me think clearly and make good decisions, said Little. Jonathans A Little Breinfuel Youtube series has become a popular fixture for the renowned poker coach.

Phil, whos known for his rambunctious outbursts at the table, described how Breinfuel helps him keep that in check. Ive won a lot of money playing with Breinfuel, the even caffeine spread over 10 hours makes it perfect for poker players, perfect for those who need to stay stable, although I am the Poker Brat, noted Hellmuth. Hellmuth went on to note that hell be drinking Breinfuel every day through the two-and-a-half-month event.

No matter what your competitive advantage will be, self-awareness is key to uncovering it. If you struggle with long-term concentration, focus, or cognitive endurance at the table, ditch the coffee for Breinfuel at this years event. The difference may be more drastic than you can ever imagine. Oh, and be sure to use our discount code, POKERNEWS for 15% off your order on breinfuel.com. Best of luck at this years event! Although, with Breinfuel by your side, you wont need all that much luck.

Developed by Dr. Gerald Horn, a Lasik surgeon with a background in pharmaceutical science and disruptive drug development, Breinfuel combines highly researched ingredients with an extended release that is designed to support performance and wellbeing. Breinfuel is sold online and in select CVS stores nationwide. It comes in four delicious flavors including Citrus, Peach Mango, Fruit Punch, and Mixed Berry. Each bottle of Breinfuel features a proprietary blend of highly researched ingredients, including: natural caffeine from green coffee beans and green tea (along with their extracts), D-ribose sugar, collagen protein, MCTs, vitamin C, vitamin E, beet root, L-theanine, creatine, and zinc. Breinfuel is designed to provide mental clarity and focus throughout the duration of a high performers day, with no crash or defects when the going gets tough.

Sponsor-generated content by Breinfuel

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For WSOP, Poker Legends Are Finding Their Competitive Advantage - PokerNews.com

September 28, 2021Chad Holloway

Its been nearly two years since Justin Bonomo played a live poker tournament. A couple of days ago he returned by competing in a $50K, which he followed up by being one of 21 players to renter the $300,000 buy-in Super High Roller Bowl VI.

Its good to be back, said Bonomo, who in the meantime hasn't slowed down winning online. I was a little bit nervous that I wouldnt really feel it, but you know, 20 years of doing this its like riding a bike. You get right back into the flow.

The flow for Bonomo is pretty good, especially in SHRB events. Back in 2018, he topped a 75-entry field to win the Super High Roller Bowl China for HK$37,830,000 ($4,823,077) and then followed it up by navigating a 48-player field to win the $300,000 Super High Roller Bowl IV for $5,000,000.

As if that wasnt enough, Bonomo didnt let the pandemic slow him down as he took his game online by beating a 50-entry field to win the $102,000 buy-in 2020 Super High Roller Bowl Online for $1,775,000.

Bonomo, who currently sits second on pokers all-time money list with a staggering $53.2 million, has a chance to become a four-time SHRB champ, though even he admits it wont be easy.

Its a tough tournament. These are long grueling days. Youre up against tough players who have very different styles of play. Im just trying to stay focused and play my best game.

Indeed, Bonomo is up against some tough competition, but fortunately for him, he has experience with them all.

Ive played with everyone here a ton, he said. There are some people Ive only played with online, like Chris Brewer. Ive only played with him online until now, but I know hes a very tough player. I think I have a good feel for how everyone plays.

Check out our profile on Chris Brewer here

While Bonomo is focused on the SHRB, PokerNews did ask about his plans for the upcoming World Series of Poker (WOSP).

I wont be there the whole time, he revealed. Right after this Im flying to Greece for a wedding, but Ill be back eventually. Probably mid or late October Ill start playing some events, and then there are some really good high rollers that Im definitely going to play, but Im not going to be playing 50 events or anything like that.

Finally, PokerNews couldnt help but ask about Bonomos hairdo, which was no longer dyed bright pink.

I feel like I made the statement that I wanted to with the pink, he said. It came to be this thing where I didnt want to be known as the pink hair guy, I didnt want that to be my identity. I had some fun with it but I moved on.

Bonomo was still in contention for the SHRB VI title with eight players remaining at the time of publication. PokerNews will offer a recap after the conclusion of Day 2 as well as a winner recap on Wednesday.

Remember, the Super High Roller Bowl is only available to PokerGO subscribers. If youre not currently subscribed, you can get a monthly subscription for $14.99, a three-month plan for $29.99, and an annual subscription for $99.99. You can also save $10 off an annual subscription by using promo code PokerNews at checkout.

*Images courtesy of PokerGO.

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$300K SHRB VI Marks Justin Bonomo's Return to Live Poker After Nearly 2 Years Away - PokerNews.com

Seven Card Stud

Benny Glaser: / / Jesse Klein: / /

Benny Glaser as the bring in called following the completion by Jesse Klein. Another bet by Klein followed on fourth which Glaser called with 275,000 behind. Klein then picked up the low suited draw and bet once more. Glaser could all but smile and eventually called it off.

Klein had an ace in the hole and spiked a gutshot straight flush draw on sixth while Glaser found some equity with a pair of kings. Klein peeled the four for two pair, reducing Glaser's outs to the two last kings. He only found a nine and had to settle for second place and a payday of $341,274.

The Brit was denied a fourth bracelet while Klein earned his maiden one and was almost immediately on a video call with the family. He earns the top prize of $552,182 and joins the WSOP winner's circle in one of the most challenging tournament formats.

A recap of today's action is to follow.

More:

Benny Glaser Eliminated in 2nd Place ($341,274) | 2021 World Series of Poker - PokerNews.com

The UK has long been the prime example of gambling regulation done right. Thanks to government bodies like the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, all gaming venues, both land-based and online, have to guarantee safety and fairness to players if they wish to operate.

While this provides players with an extensive selection of regulated gambling sites, youll still have to sift through hundreds of websites. Here, we pinned down and reviewed the best poker sites in the UK to help narrow your search results to those with the best offers.

Online Poker Sites in the UK - Review Roundup

888 Poker

Only for new UK players. First deposit only. 20 free bonus will be rewarded in Tournament Tickets continuously for 7 days after claiming: Full Terms and Conditions apply. Every Tournament Ticket expires 24 hours after granting. Additional 100% bonus up to 300 with WELCOME100 code: Full Terms and Conditions apply.

Pros and Cons:

+ Wide selection of games

+ No deposit bonus

+ Reputable operator

- No live chat

Were kicking off with one of the oldest poker websites in the UK. 888 Poker was launched in 1997 and has since accrued over 20 million players. The site is operated by 888 UK Limited, a company that holds both a UKGC gambling license, as well as one issued by the Malta Gaming Authority.

The array of games available at 888 Poker make it a great choice for beginners. Aside from Texas hold em, you can play 7-card stud and Omaha Hi/Lo. Additionally, the site features some unique poker games like Snap, a fast-fold poker table.

888 Poker offers two exclusive bonuses. First, newcomers can redeem a 20 no deposit bonus just by registering. The no deposit bonus is granted in the form of tournament tickets - 50 tickets of $0.1buy-in and 20 tickets of $1buy-in.

Like with other premier poker sites for UK players, the first deposit bonus here is equally generous. The online casino poker welcome promotion offers a100% match on your initial deposit, up to $400. There is no wagering requirement, but you get access to bonus funds as you accrue bonus points.

The main downside to 888 Poker is the lack of live chat support, which can be extremely frustrating. The only way to contact support is via email. Alternatively, you can find the answer yourself in their online knowledge base.

Unibet Poker

For new 18+ users only. 10 minimum deposit amount. Money will be returned as a bonus for a first losing bet. Sportsbook betting requirements: 3x at minimum odds of 1.40 (2/5). Casino wagering requirements: 35x. The sportsbook bonus must be used before the casino bonus, if not forfeited. The bonus will expire 7 days after joining. Deposits not necessary for NI players. To claim, call 08081699314. Full Terms and Conditions apply. Begambleaware.org.

Pros and cons:

+ High stake tournaments

+ 20 welcome bonus

+ 6% rake

- No tournaments on Android app

This is another venue ranked highly by players, but it lacks a no deposit bonus. On the other hand, just like 888 Poker, Unibet has been around for years, gaining quite a following among British players.

This online poker UK site is, of course, licensed and regulated by the UKGC. The operator behind the site, Platinum Gaming Limited, also has a gambling license from the government of Gibraltar.

When it comes to games, Unibet offers UK poker rooms with Texas hold em, Omaha, and Banzai - a shallow stack variant of Texas hold em. Similarly to most of the best real money poker sites in the UK, Unibet also regularly holds high-stake poker tournaments like Satellites, Pot Limit Omaha Tournament, and Sit & Go.

Unibets welcome offer rewards you 20 extra to play with and a 500 play-through bonus. As usual, these funds are rewarded in the form of tournament tickets. The rake on Unibet is pretty low, sitting at 6%, with a 3 cap per pot. Theres also a very generous VIP program in place that rewards progressive rakeback to loyal players.

During our UK poker review, we were impressed by the speed of transactions at Unibet, both for withdrawals and deposits. You can use debit cards, as well as through a plethora of e-wallets. The minimum deposit amount is 10.

William Hill Poker

The bonus is usable only once by new customers and requires a minimum first deposit of 10. Terms and Conditions and game restrictions apply. Twister Discovery Pack: 1 Tournament Ticket worth 6, 3x 1 Age of the Gods Twister + 3X 1 Twister. Collect WH Points to earn 100 in bonus money which expires in 45 days. Bonus Spins require x40 wagering and expire in 14 days, maximum return 20. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Pros and cons:

+ One of the oldest poker sites

+ Plethora of poker games

+ Unique welcome bonus

- Bonuses could be bigger

Youd be hard-pressed to find a more recognizable UK gambling brand than William Hill. With roots dating back to the 19th century, William Hill is one of the pillars of the old guard.

The online casino poker site is a member of the extremely popular iPoker network, which practically serves as a guarantee of quality. Also, the site holds gambling licenses from both the UKGC and its Gibraltar counterpart, meaning you can rest assured that your money and data are safe here.

As one of the biggest poker sites around, William Hill Poker has a huge variety of poker rooms, including Texas hold em, Six-plus hold em, Omaha Hi/Lo, and 7-card stud. The number of available tournaments is equally impressive, with nearly 15 of them being held on a regular basis.

William Hill Pokers welcome promotion is both generous and unique. You only need to place a 10 deposit in order to be treated to 100 in rewards. These rewards include a combination of various tournament tickets, as well as some free casino spins thrown in for good measure. The rake here is 5%, which is pretty standard for UK poker sites. If you choose to stick around, youll get a chance to opt-in to the sites loyalty program and earn progressive rakeback.

We were also impressed by William Hills customer service, which is available across all channels: email, live chat, phone, and thorough a contact form.

Paddy Power Poker

For newly registered players from Ireland and the UK. If you bet 20. you receive 50 worth of bonuses over the next 5 days. Paddy Powers Standard Promotional Terms apply.

Pros and cons:

+ 4 rake cap

+ Member of iPoker network

+ No transaction fees

- Limited PayPal use

If it isnt already obvious from the name, Paddy Power is one of Irelands online poker sites and a leading brand in the global gambling market. The site is incredibly popular throughout the UK due to its great bonuses and top-notch marketing.

The operator running the site is PPB Counterparty Services Limited, which holds gambling licenses from the UKGC and the Malta Gaming Authority. Just like William Hill, Paddy Power is a member of the iPoker network, meaning theres always going to be a significant amount of people to play with.

It comes as no surprise that established platforms such as Paddy Power, offer a vast selection of games. These include Omaha, limit Omaha, pot-limit Omaha, Omaha hi-lo, Texas hold em pot limit/no limit, Texas hold em head-to-head, 7-card stud, 7-card stud hi-lo, and 5-card stud, as well as a few unique proprietary games.

The welcome offer at Paddy Power is similar to those at other UK online poker sites. Once you play 20 worth of tournaments, youll receive a 40 tournament ticket bonus, as well as a free entry into a 1,000 freeroll tournament. The rake cap is 4 - standard for online poker sites.

Paddy Power supports the usual string of transaction options, with the minimum deposit being only 5. On top of that, the site doesnt charge you any transaction fees.

Betfair Poker

Intended only for new customers. The minimum deposit amount is 10, while the maximum first deposit bonus reaches 1200. Full Terms and Conditions apply.

Pros and Cons:

+ Two gambling licenses

+ Huge number of tournaments

+ Unique in-house games

- Dated visuals

Before entering the poker market, Betfair built a name for itself as one of the most popular sportsbooks around. Its foray into poker was more than successful, making it an even more established platform in the process.

Like most respectable platforms, Betfair holds two gambling licenses - one from the Malta Gaming Authority and the other from the UKGC.

Betfairs site isnt exactly pretty, but it gets the job done. The overall design looks dated, and the interface is somewhat cluttered. On the other hand, the sheer amount of information on the homepage means you can find everything you need without having to access other pages. The downloadable poker app is definitely a superb option, and most players should stick to it when possible.

The available games include Texas hold em, Omaha, Omaha high/low, as well as a unique in-house game called Speed Poker. Betfair wouldnt be on our list if it didnt have a large number of tournaments available as well. There are Sit & Go and MTT tournaments, as well as Multi-table ones, among others.

The welcome bonus at Betfair is two-fold. First, it matches your initial deposit by 200%, up to 200. Second, you receive 500 in Sunday freeroll tickets. The minimum deposit required for this bonus is 10.

In case you face any issues when you play poker online at Betfair, you can contact their support team via email, live chat, phone, or social media.

Bet365 Poker

Players who create an account receive a Welcome Package after logging in. The bonus of 365 is claimed in installments depending on the Status Points collected. Tickets and prize spins expire after 7 days. Exceptions and Terms and Conditions apply.

Pros and Cons:

+ Generous welcome bonus

+ Great desktop app

+ Superb visuals

- Occasional lack of poker players

Bet365 is not just one of the biggest sites on the UK scene, but is also an international powerhouse. While it initially stuck to sports betting, Bet365 recently expanded its offer to include poker games.

As you would expect, Bet365 is fully licensed by the UKGC to run both sports betting and poker gambling operations. The site has more than 22 million active players, so youre at no risk of running out of people to play with.

Poker can be played either through Bet365s website or via the downloadable mobile and desktop apps. Bet365 puts most poker sites to shame with its modern-looking interface and superb optimization. The downloadable client is equally well-designed and is widely considered to be a standard by which other poker apps are judged on.

Newcomers are treated to a 365 bonus, which is rewarded in smaller installments as you earn Status Points by playing. Additionally, you get access to a welcome prize wheel spin through which you can earn valuable rewards. There is also a 1 Twister ticket thrown in as a threat.

Customer support is top-notch at Bet365. Theyre quick, knowledgeable, and polite - you can reach them via live chat, email, and phone.

partypoker

Offered only to new UK players. Players are required to deposit a minimum of 10 into their account. Terms and Conditions apply.

Pros and Cons:

+ $2 rake cap

+ Tournament variety

+ Instant Play

- Slow customer support

If youre on the lookout for places to play poker online in the UK and would like to find a site with some star power, look no further than partypoker. This venue was famously promoted by Mike Sexton, the host of the World Poker Tour.

The site is owned and operated by ElectraWorks, a company with multiple successful gambling sites under its belt. They are fully licensed and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.

When it comes to poker game diversity, partypoker does not disappoint. Some of the games you can play are Texas hold em, pot-limit Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, and 7-card stud, which should be enough to satisfy even the most demanding players. As for tournaments, there are plenty of choices, including Multi-Table Tournaments, Sit & Go tournaments, Shoutouts, and Bounty.

Another reason why many people find partypoker to be their preferred site of choice is the welcome bonus. The new player promotion matches your deposit by 100%, up to 400 and gives you six days of free tournament tickets worth 40.

The incredibly low rake is capped at only $2, which is only surpassed on high-stakes games.

GGPoker

Offer redeemable for new players over 18 years of age. Two welcome bonuses are available to choose from after depositing $20. Terms and Conditions apply.

Pros and Cons

+ Two welcome bonus options

See more here:

Best Poker Sites in the UK: Fair, Regulated, Secure - HeraldScotland

A blend of ingenuity and deep connection with its local player base fostered since its launch in 2016 has enabled Pokermatch to gain a substantial foothold in the igaming market. Ruslan Bangert explains more to iGB

Ruslan Bangert, CEO of Pokermatch International since 2018, has been working in gaming for 12 years since first entering the industry back in 2009. He started out as a professional poker player and subsequently retrained as a manager in the poker industry. Prior to joining Pokermatch, Ruslan worked as a journalist, affiliate manager, commercial director of the largest Russian-speaking poker website gipsyteam.ru, PR director and COO at Pokerdom.

While online poker is regarded as one of the oldest forms of igaming, the rebound of the market in recent years shows no signs of slowing down, with competition for customers remaining fierce and new names entering the space all the time.

In 2016, the conditions in Ukraine for the development of online poker were highly favourable, said Ruslan Bangert, chief executive of Pokermatch International. The big players paid much less attention to the market than before, but the poker lovers in the country didnt go anywhere. They needed a quality gaming offer.

In addition, that very year, Pokermatch gathered a particularly motivated team of enthusiasts with tremendous expertise, both in the world of poker in general and in Ukraine in particular. That is how this project was created, and the depth of interaction with the client base distinguishes it from others.

As chief executive, I personally communicate with players in the chat room. Can you say this happens anywhere else? You can compete with the giants not having even 10% of their budgets only through ingenuity and immediate adjustment to market conditions. I am convinced that we have achieved a certain success in this.

Building brand loyaltyBangert said that this drive to differentiate the operator from its many competitors has been a major focus for Pokermatch over the past five years or so. Much of this has been based around building a strong and loyal rapport with customers via a range of methods and techniques.

According to Bangert, Pokermatch is keen to respond to the changing needs of the market and its customers, with the operator carrying out endless market research among its own players and the wider industry to ensure it is delivering what users want from an online poker website.

We ask ourselves questions; who is our customer? What do they want? What can we give them? How are their tastes changing? Weve assembled a team of different ages and cultural backgrounds and this helps us better understand the needs of our audience, Bangert said.

People dont want to compete anymore; they want personalised challenges and were giving it to them at Pokermatch. People want to communicate with the support team not in a chat room on the website, but in a messenger, and we have that.

Players want a dialogue; they no longer want to consume some service in a no-contact way and one that they do not feel a part of. The human being is a social creature and for this reason, the player needs company.

He added: The online poker community needs more like-minded people and this is why we are building the strongest community in the industry. Its very kind and united and thanks to this, we achieve the level of loyalty unattainable for many.

Playing the short game for the long-termAside from how people interact with an operator and each other when playing online poker, Bangert said there also has to be commitment to changing game types and formats in order to both retain existing customers and attract new users.

Bangert said Pokermatch has experienced a significant shift in the number of users playing shorter games rather than the more traditional long games, as well as the amount of players that are not playing as regularly as before. This, he said, is a sign of the evolving market that operators must adapt to.

People still want quality service, but they dont need 12-hour tournaments anymore, so the game needs to be accelerated and this is what we are doing at Pokermatch, Bangert said.

It also used to be considered that a player who did not appear in your project for 14 days or more was already lost. But this is not the case now; for many players, pauses of a month or more are normal, and you dont have to nudge them during this time.

Then there is the issue of why people play; Bangert said that the focus has very much changed from playing to make money, to simply wanting to have fun and interact with other players of the same mindset.

After playing responsibly, this is generally one of our most important strategies, Bangert said. Do not come to make money; instead just come to have a good time. Dont spend your last buck on the game and dont get your expectations up; we see that this understanding is forming more and more among the audience.

The desire to be part of a community rather than a loner has grown strongly. To be involved in the companys business. To know more about its projects and motivations. We give all this to our players.

Online poker has always been very conservative, and Im convinced it shouldnt be. It is time for the industry to start acting simpler and friendlier, and not be afraid to seem ridiculous or silly because times have changed, and the market has moved on.

International ambitionsPokermatch is now turning its attention to rolling out the model that has proved so successful in Ukraine into other territories, reveals Bangert, who describes international markets as an intriguing and important area of interest for the poker operator.

Its been five years since we founded the brand always striving to be a big company though continuing to act like a small one, a principle well described in the book Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. This means that as a big brand, we often behaved like a startup, with quick reactions to market changes supported by aggressive marketing campaigns and agile shifts in product direction. But there is one area where we never behaved this way, which is operating in the international market.

But Pokermatchs international ambitions will be managed carefully, says Bangert . You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so we conduct our work in the international arena very calmly and thoughtfully. We are aware that European gambling traditions are special. They are more mature and have their own rules. So we are taking our time.

The operator is currently preparing for international expansion by optimising its product and offers for European players, integrating payment systems, undertaking market research, establishing contacts with European colleagues, visiting exhibitions and conferences, and bringing its reporting to European standards.

As a result, in the next two years, we are planning to join one of the existing global poker networks to provide our players with access to the best tournaments and cash games.

We have already made some progress in this direction, but again, we are not in a hurry and want to approach this as thoughtfully as possible and with respect for the market traditions. We are also considering obtaining one of the EU licences, which will undoubtedly benefit our brand.

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The beating heart of online poker | Poker - iGaming Business

October 02, 2021PokerNews Staff

In 2019, 27 amateurs and 27 of the worlds best pros competed in the biggest buy-in event in history. Now, the Triton Million - A Helping Hand for Charity poker tournament is being released as a 10-episode series on Triton Poker's YouTube Channel.

A total of 54 players stumped up the seven-figure entry fee with 50,000 of each buy-in going to benefit 15 different charities. As a result, this saw 2.7 million going to a plethora of good causes as well as generating a staggering 54 million ($73,993,800) pound prize pool.

Here's a look at five of either the biggest or most interesting hands from the second episode, which can be viewed in full below.

With blinds at 3,000/6,000/6,000, Ivan Leow opened up the action with a raise to 15,000, holding the in early position with a starting stack of 1.3m, Chin Wei Lim three-bet to 46,000 from a stack of 634,000 from the cutoff, and Leow called.

The dealer placed on the flop, and Leow check-raised to 85,000 with the airball, which Lim called. The turn was the and Leow continued his aggression with a bet of 110,000, which Lim also called.

The floated down the river, leaving Lim with the best hand, but that didnt deter Leow, who bet 260,000. It did the trick as Lim folded.

After missing out on a value bet in the previous hand versus Leow, Haralabos Voulgaris looked down to see the from the first position and raised to 13,000. Sitting to his immediate left was Lim, who three-bet to 40,000 with the . After everyone else folded, Voulgaris made the call.

The flop was terrible news for Lim when it landed . Voulgaris check-raised to 90,000 after Lim bet 28,000 and Lim called. The landed on the fourth street and Voulgaris went into defense mode, check-calling a 135,000 Lim bet. On the river, Voulgaris made a crying call after Lim moved all in for 155,000 for the boat.

Cary Katz opened the action with a 13,000 raise from under the gun holding the , and Lim called in the big blind having the inferior . The flop of catapulted Lim into the lead with two pair, and he checked-raised to 46,000 after Katz bet 15,000. Katz made the call.

The landed on the turn to give Katz the dominant two-pair hand, but he only called after Lim bet 105,000. The was the final card on the board and Lim moved all in for 685,000.

Sure feels like a set of fives, said a pained Katz, who was the shorter stack. I can only beat a bluff.

Despite having the best hand, Katz folded, and Lim picked up a big pot with the worse hand.

Dusk till Dawn owner Rob Yong opened to 25,000 from first position holding the , and then shifted enough chips across the line to put the Kings Casino owner Leon Tsoukernik all in after he had three-bet to 80,000 holding a pair of black queens.

Tsoukernik was a single card away from a double up on a run out until the hit the river to send Tsoukernik packing. Yong ended the day as the chip leader of the non-pro side of the draw with more than 2 million chips.

Ok, what was going on in the mind of Liang Yu in this one?

Yu limped into the action from the button holding , Wai Kin Yong did likewise with from the small blind, and Leow made it a threesome with his in the big blind.

The flop of missed everyone, but Leow tried to pick it up with a 10,000 bet. Yu stuck around with the call after Yong folded.

Leow continued to try and pinch it when betting 22,000 on a turn, but Yu again called with his queen-high. The final card was the , Leow waved the white flag with a check, and with the whole world expecting a Yu bet, he checked behind to take it down with queen-high.

Coverage of the 50,000 Triton Million Charity event continues at - million.triton-series.com.

*Images courtesy of Triton Poker/Joe Giron

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Five Big Hands from Episode #2 of the 1050000 Triton Million Charity Event - PokerNews.com

Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency present a lot of potential for the poker industry to tap into its utility. While currently there isnt much awareness about the use case of cryptocurrency in poker, players in the space are slowly getting acquainted with the idea of it.

PokerFi.Finance is a project with the objective of uniting users and players in the crypto and poker spaces together. It is also working on bringing more awareness about cryptocurrencies to the poker players by providing them with a system to earn a passive income thereby incentivizing users.

PokerFi.Finance or Poker Finance token is linked to BEP-20 on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). It aims to provide innovation in financial transactions in live and online poker.

Users who store the PokerFi.Finance token in their wallet would get the chance to get a 6% fee for each transaction where a 3% share is distributed automatically every 12 hours to all token holders who hold more than 35,000 coins in their wallet.

PokerFi.Finances platform is built on the foundation of three ideas,

The PokerFi.Finance token has a total supply of 10,000,000,000 with a 56% share set aside for its launch, 30% share for its pre-sales, 5.5% for the wallets development and, a 3.5% share for marketing.

A 3% share is reserved for investors whereas the last 2% is for repurchasing.

The token is based on the pay-token pattern of dividends, meaning that all the profits from BUSD contract are divided in a proportionate manner according to the number of tokens in their portfolio.

As mentioned previously, PokerFi.Finances system automatically informs token holders about the amount due, and the 6% transaction fee of the token gets divided further into a 3% share as passive income for token holders and 2% as liquidity.

The remaining 1% would be sent to an awards portfolio.

Players on PokerFi.Finances website would get the chance to get up to 70% cashback which would be paid weekly in $BUSD. The PointFi rewards program is accessible to everyone who joins the PokerFi website. For every $1 raked in cash game fees or tournaments, players get 1FP.

In order to grow the tokens value, a 2% share of the total rake generated on the website would be used to buy PokerFi.Finance. Users and token holders would also get a chance to receive airdrops every month as rewards.

Additionally, token holders who are qualified would get a 5% share of the total rake generated on the PokerFi.Finance website.

PokerFi.Finances mission to provide innovation in financial transactions in the poker industry is a promising one. With good playability and rakeback offers, the platform is giving its players an opportunity to earn passive income while holding their tokens.

PokerFi.Finance is going to be listed on Pancakeswap on 6th October, giving users a chance to become a part of their ecosystem. It will also be listed on WhiteBIT after their launch.

For more information on PokerFi.Finance, please check out their website.

Disclaimer: This is a paid post and should not be treated as news/advice

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Bringing together poker and crypto with PokerFi.Finance - AMBCrypto News

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Poker Online Free | Free Texas Holdem Game

How to Play Arkadium's Texas Hold'Em: Tournament

Texas Holdem is a complex game for beginners, but it's easy to learn after a few hands. Luckily, this game includes in-game tutorials on how to play and win big. To play a hand, you must offer a minimum bet and "call" the highest bet by any player. If you're feeling good about your cards, you can "raise" the bet and see if your AI opponents are just as confident in their cards. Alternatively, if the round is getting too rich for your blood, you can "fold" and play again in the next round. Now, if you're really feeling lucky, you can go "all in" and bet all of your chips on your hand - this is only recommended for skilled players or risk-takers. So, are you ready to win Arkadium's Texas Holdem Poker tournament?

Texas Hold 'Em is one of the most-played card games of all time, and for good reason - it has the ideal mix of luck, strategy, and skill! Knowing when to hold em and when to fold em will certainly keep you in this tournament longer than your AI opponents. It's time to place your bets.

Enjoying Texas Hold'Em: Tournament? Try your hand at our other free online casino games - good luck!

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Arkadium's Texas Hold'em: Tournament | Play Online Free