Their registration process is a bit antiquated for tournament play with a 10-15 minute wait in line to be expected for about eight people ahead of you. They require your MGM card, a picture ID and cash. You need to sign and date a form in two places and only then are you given your table card. Be prepared to play 10-handed at your table, something I had thought ended after the COVID-19 pandemic waned. So, those were a couple big differences I noticed versus tournament poker in Vegas.

Tournament #1: Money Goes Poof!

In my first tournament I was completely card dead. In 90 minutes of play I only picked up one ace (A4) and no pocket pairs. I counted exactly nine times a picture card showed up in my hand, and it was never two at the same time. And never suited connectors. Typical holdings were 73, T6, 95, etc. Tournament poker is a game of patience. With constantly rising blinds, you can’t wait for premium hands forever, but you do have to make strategic moves as well as just be fortunate enough to have playable holdings from time to time. In my final hand I was dealt 55 and ended up against 88. I lost, and it was goodbye to my first tournament. It happens to all of us and we need to move on.

Tournament #2: That’s More Like It

In my second tournament I fared better. In one hand I went all-in with AK, to be called by two players with AK and AJ. I was expecting a chop with the other AK but the board ran out with four hearts. Luckily, I was sitting with the only heart on the table, and as such managed to triple up with the nuts.

With the field of 64 down to 12 and nine players making it into the money, I was presented with a problem. I was second in chips at my table. I was dealt KQ unsuited. The massive chip leader at the table bet 3BB. I called and the flop came JQK rainbow, giving me top two pair. The chip leader now bet out for 50K, which was 2/3 of my stack. My predicament was that I could potentially be drawing dead, or at least way behind to a flopped set or straight, and thus miss making the money, despite having strong holdings.

I looked around the table and saw two others with small stacks. At the other table, there were also a few players with small stacks. So late in the tournament, blinds and antes were very high, and it occurred to me that many players would be forced to go all-in within the next couple of hands. So, opting to go for the “sure thing”, I folded and sure enough within five minutes three players busted to leave the final nine all in the money.

Unfortunately, I busted out shortly thereafter, in 8^th place, with my AK all-in pre-flop vs JJ, and no ace or king showed.

Until Next Time

Over the course of the rest of my Atlantic City tournament vacation, I ended up playing in another four daily tournaments. I only made it to the money in one of them, but had a great time trying. Plus, a 33% “cashing rate” is nothing to sneeze at! Hopefully I’ll do even better next time around.

Growth of women in poker is difficult to quantify, however, as most tournament operators do not provide gender breakdowns.

The World Series of Poker hosted 95 live tournaments in the summer of 2023, with several dozen more online. The WSOP Online contingent never provides gender breakdowns. The WSOP’s live series is hit or miss. In 2022, I received the number of male and female players in the Main Event and for the entire live series. This year, I asked for both but only received the Main Event number. That makes it very difficult to gauge progress – or lack thereof – for women in poker.

Since the Main Event number is something that the WSOP provides year after year, we can see the trends with women in that $10K buy-in tournament.

First, let’s look at the actual number of women in the WSOP Main Event in each of the last six years. The number itself grew consistently prior to the pandemic, dropped in 2021 (during the F-it-lets-try-it-despite-Covid-wear-a-mask year), and then jumped back into place in 2022. This year, there were 395 women in the Main – 20 more than last year.

From a different angle, we can see the percentage of women was on a solid upward trajectory… until this year. Even in the unusual 2021 circumstances, the percentage of women grew in relation to the overall field. Growth slowed a bit last year and then dropped this year. The record-setting WSOP Main Event attendance left the percentage of women to fall 0.4%.

• Good news? More women played the Main in 2023.
• Bad news? A lower percentage of women played the Main in 2023.

Polling the Public

When Joey Pigtails asked what can be done to positively impact the number, I decided to ask women.

Great question. Women who play…what would make you more interested in playing the $10K Main next year? (Money and time, obv, but what could be done to make it feel accessible?) https://t.co/xegSnRNFyN

— Jennifer Newell (@WriterJen) July 13, 2023

I tracked the answers on Twitter, and I asked the same questions in two popular women’s poker groups on Facebook. I received hundreds of responses, most public but some private.

A Lot of Money

Most women in poker are not full-time professionals, and very few play at the highest buy-in levels of the game. While the WSOP Main Event is not often considered a high-stakes tournament, it does require a $10K buy-in. That is, in fact, a lot of money for one tournament.

That was the most common theme from women’s responses: They can’t afford a $10K buy-in.

These were the most common comments, paraphrased:

• My bankroll doesn’t justify a $10K buy-in.
• If/when I have $10K, I’d rather play more events with smaller buy-ins.
• The WSOP Main is a bucket list item, not a realistic or justifiable expense.

There were other big concerns as well.

• I can’t afford the 7-10 day trip to Vegas.
• If I have to choose between Ladies Week and the Main, I choose Ladies Week.
• I can’t get away from work/family/children for 7-10 days.
• Taxes on winnings for Europeans and Canadians are prohibitively high.
• I don’t like the idea of playing in a male field with 4% or less women.

It’s important to note that time is a factor in the WSOP Main Event like in no other poker tournament. There are four starting flights and two “Day 2” iterations before players combine. And the money bubble may burst late on Day 3 or – like this year – into Day 4. Even if a player competes in Day 1D, they would need to book a six-day stay just to ensure they could play into the money and not have to worry about flight changes until they ran deep enough into the payouts that an airline fee wouldn’t be a second thought. Add on travel days to the beginning and end, and a player could be away from home for 7-8 days at a minimum to play one tournament.

Solutions Abound

Women were quick to include suggestions for ways to solve some of the above issues.

Since the primary hurdle to playing the Main Event is the buy-in itself, the most common suggestion was more satellites. That broke down into a variety of ideas:

• More low (less than $1K) buy-in satellites like step satellites
• More satellites outside of Las Vegas – across the US and around the world
• More online poker satellites
• Home game leagues with money contributed weekly/monthly to a Main Event seat
• Ladies-only satellites
• Satellites at WSOP Circuit event stops
• More satellites through women’s organizations like FLIP, WPA, PLON, etc.
• Some satellite wins that include money for travel expenses and accommodations
• More staking opportunities

Poker League of Nations (PLON) was quick to note that they offered satellites for women to win their way to the Main Event. PLON also offers staking opportunities via its Facebook group.

Staking has been offered on various terms. Some are shared investments (typically going back to the staking fund to support #MoreWomen), or at varying percentages, some are 100% to the player! Depends on who’s offering the staking, and what agreement is in any particular case.

— PokerLeagueOfNations (@PokrLeagNations) July 14, 2023

Some women noted that those who are newest to the game may not be familiar with all of the different women’s groups in poker, nor do they have the time to peruse long Facebook threads or scroll Twitter. They don’t know about staking opportunities, how to organize home games live or online, or how to find the online poker sites that offer sanctioned satellites. Some don’t even know how satellites work and why they are so popular.

Mo Problems, Fewer Solutions

There are, of course, issues for which there are no easy solutions.

First, an oft-mentioned concern is the sexism and misogyny still present in poker. Obviously, this is a problem the world over, well beyond poker, but it is more pronounced when women are such a minority at the tables. When a woman knows that she will likely be the only woman at her table at any given time, it can decrease the desire to play that event.

Further, if women are not confident that any sexism or harassment will be met with swift consequences by the tournament staff, it further deters women from wanting to play.

Second, there is the high tax for players from the European Union and Canada, among other parts of the world. For example, Canadian women mentioned a 30% tax off the top of any winnings exceeding $5K, which would be a min-cash in the Main Event. Add to that a plethora of paperwork to apply for some of that money to be reimbursed in the next year or more, plus an unfavorable exchange rate for US currency for everything from hotel to buy-ins, and it becomes a complicated, prohibitive mess.

I know many Canadian women who came down for the Series and I’m not sure why I never thought about the exchange rate…but it’s not $10k to them! If money is a barrier, so is exchange rate. They told me they really had to choose wisely due to that. pic.twitter.com/xVDPS4EVs2

— Malia Miranda (@JMaliaMiranda) July 13, 2023

Third, there is the loneliness that can accompany a journey to Las Vegas and playing the Main Event. If a woman does not have a family member who can afford to also make the trip to Vegas or if the woman has no poker-playing friends, the journey through the Main Event can be a lonely one.

Finally, comments from women expressed a need for child care references in Las Vegas, more education about staking and satellites, a forum to connect with women for traveling in pairs or groups, and online poker satellites in parts of the USA and world that have no WSOP-affiliated options.

There are some groups in poker that address some of these issues, with the exception of child care and online poker satellites. Some Facebook groups provide the space for women to network and connect. Pocket Queens is a group that focuses heavily on game education. PLON and WPA focus on community.

Women can find most of what they seek. However, there is trial and error in finding the right group with the right resources, the one(s) that will benefit them the most.

100%. Hard to believe QQ is just 1 year old, eh? Next year will be even more amazing, as the count down to WSOP 2024 begins today. Time to hit the lab, sisters! https://t.co/HDEWpE043k

— Victoria Livschitz (@VictoriaL_64) July 26, 2023

Perhaps, though, women will never flock to the WSOP Main Event in big numbers. They may stick to lower buy-in events and cash games. Some will always prefer women-only tournaments.

Time and the availability of resources will tell.

What might not be so well known about Canada is that it is also a great place for poker.

There are poker rooms across this mighty northern nation – from Vancouver, British Columbia and Dawson City, Yukon Territory in the west, to Moncton, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia on the east coast – and in all of the provinces in between.  I’ve played in many of those rooms. But the province with the richest concentration of poker is surely Alberta, where I’d never been.  So I planned a poker trip there. I’ve just returned home after staying and playing for six days.  Let me tell you, the poker in Alberta is great!

Alberta is the province just to the east of British Columbia.  It is bordered to the east by Saskatchewan, to the north by the Northwest Territories, and to the south by Montana.  It includes the famously beautiful Banff and Jasper National Parks.  It is known for its ranching, farming, and for its enormous deposits of natural gas and petroleum.  It has two principal (and rival) cities: Edmonton and Calgary.

Though I had never been to Alberta, I had surely heard about it – especially its great hockey teams, the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames.  I also knew about one of the largest rodeos in the world, the Calgary Stampede.  But other than that, Alberta was a tabula rasa.

But First, Poker in Ottawa

I found a great airfare online from Ottawa, Ontario to Edmonton, driving the seven hours from my home in Boston to take advantage of it.  It gave me an opportunity to play poker at Lac-Leamy Casino, just across the river from Ottawa in Gatineau (formerly Hull), Quebec.

I arrived in Ottawa early on a Saturday morning, and made my way over the river to the casino.  The 9-table poker room opens at 10 in the morning.  But if you want to play, I suggest signing up at 8:45, when they start taking names on the phone.  I was lucky to get in the game.  Though I arrived at 9, and the game started at 10, there was already a list of eight players There was only the one $1/2 game going during my two hours, with no seats opening up.  So I got in the game by the skin of my teeth!

The venue is a beautiful building of glass and steel – looking more like a modern art museum than a casino.  The room itself was nothing fancy, but a neatly kept room with well used chips, comfortable chairs, and experienced dealers.  My game was populated by a full table of friendly local players, playing tightly and timidly.  They seemed chiefly interested in hitting the enormous $1.2 million bad beat jackpot, bucking a $8 + $2 rake to do so.  The bad beat took beating Quad 10s and hadn’t been hit in a century or so.  Good luck, guys!

I managed a $250 win in my two hours of play, thanks to stacking a couple of short stacked calling stations.  I’d gladly return, even though the rake was a bit daunting.

Poker in Alberta Awaits

The Edmonton Poker Scene

I eventually went back to the airport to catch my late flight to Edmonton.  I arrived in this northern Canadian city at 10:45 PM.  And it was still light!  I rented a car and drove to my spectacular base of operation for three days – the beautiful, luxurious and spacious River Cree Casino and Convention Center.  This is an amazing place, well worth a trip in and of itself.

The River Cree, as it is known, is more than just a full-service casino – though, with many table games, slots, restaurants, and a beautiful hotel, it is surely that.  It is also a convention center and hub for big Las Vegas acts.  I noticed they had scheduled adult-oriented comedian Anthony Jeselnik, musicians Bret Michaels and Ricky Skaggs, an Elton John tribute band, and a stage version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  While I was there, they also had the nationally famous Enoch Powwow.  The lobby and elevator were regularly filled with people in native attire.  I never made it to any of the performances, but I heard they were excellent.

This convention center is also used by First Nations across Canada for their legislative meetings, conferences, votes and the like.  I noticed many meetings going on while I was there.

But not to be distracted, I was there for the poker – which was plentiful and constant, with a 24/7 room on weekends (11 am to 2:45 am during the week). The River Cree is known for wild action, especially late at night.  I witnessed it.  Weary though I was, I twice played late into the wee hours – and there were never fewer than five games going – one $2/5 no limit hold’em game, three $1/2 games., and at least one $4/8 limit dealer’s choice game.  The rake here is the standard for the Edmonton and Calgary rooms – 10% up to $7 plus $2 for the player-funded promotions.  Their bad beat, requiring Quad 9s beaten, was up to over $500,000.

The room also hosts many tournaments throughout the week.  Their schedule changes regularly, so you should check it out on Poker Atlas.  They currently spread $100 tournaments during the day and at night, and host large tournaments quarterly.

I enjoyed the poker immensely, and recommend the room to serious players and gamblers alike.  As it turned out, there were many inebriated, young, gambling players in my game (and in others I observed).  With my typically tight aggressive play I was able to score a $250 profit in a couple of hours.

There are multiple food options near the poker room, from fast food to fine dining, including Italian, seafood, and steak – that will be brought into the room upon request.  I left to have a terrific, inexpensive but ample prime rib dinner.

I could easily have enjoyed three great days of poker and dining without leaving the premises.  But leave I did, to sample the other two rooms in Edmonton.  There are two, both run by the Pure Poker Casino.

I played first at Pure Casino Edmonton.  It’s a clean, well-run, 12-table room, with $1/3 and $5/5 no limit hold’em games.  They also have daily $80 tournaments, one of which I entered and won on my first day in town.  It lasted seven hours and awarded a $1500 first prize.  It was a nice way to start my trip!

I returned later in my stay, but did not do as well in my cash game.  I found the players of mixed ability, with two who claimed to make most of their living from their play.  I’d think it would be a tough job, with a stiff rake of $7 + $2, but who knows.  I’m sure of this though: the wonton noodle soup with extra wontons was excellent and a bargain!

I also played at 13-table Pure Casino Yellowhead, on the north end of the city.  As it turns out, this is now a Pot Limit Omaha only room.  And what a PLO room it has turned out to be!  When I visited, there were four, count them, FOUR PLO games (as well as the no limit hold’em tournament that I had entered – and busted out of in an hour).  Their structure may be unique.  I have never seen it before.  Players may buy in for anywhere from $50 to $500.  There is a single $5 blind.  Though I didn’t play in the game, I did watch it for about 50 minutes, as I waited for the tournament to start, and then again after I busted out.  During the Wednesday evening that I was there, I watched three different tables.  All had a similar type of game.  Two or three players at the table were hyper-aggressive.  It was not atypical for at least one player to be all in pre-flop.  The river often had four players all in.  Stacks were mighty for this size game – with multiple players per table with $2k or more in chips.  If I knew how to play this game I might make a regular trip from Boston there, just to participate in the sick action.

According to the shift supervisor, the PLO has cannibalized all of the NLHE action – killing it and leaving the room as a PLO-only haven (except for daily NLHE tournaments).  Players interested in NLHE cash games now go either to the sister Pure Edmonton property or to the River Cree.

The Calgary Poker Scene

I spent the last two and a half days of my journey playing poker in Calgary.  It’s about three hours south of Edmonton.  I happened to be there during their huge annual event, the Calgary Stampede.  It is one of the largest rodeos anywhere – and it takes over the city for a week or so.  I had to stay about 30 minutes away at the airport, not able to find a reasonably priced room anywhere in the city itself.

The Stampede is to Calgary what the Kentucky Derby is to Louisville, Kentucky or the Rose Bowl is to Pasadena, California – only larger.  It describes itself as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. It may well be.  The city’s population swells from 1.3 million to nearly 3 million, with rodeo fans and participants coming from all over North America.  It also produces spinoff events like the Stampede Concert Series, filling four stages with headliners during the 10 days of the Stampede.

The poker action is at its sickest during this time.

I had planned on visiting the room at the hub of the action, the Cowboys Casino, figuring I’d get my fill of stampeding fish to fillet.

I did everything right, sleeping late into the day, and going over well-rested for the 10 PM to 3AM shift, when I figured wild, gambling and drinking players would be at their loosest and most profitable (for me).

Alas, such was not to be, as I proceeded to drop money to the local sharks who were there for the same reason as I.  This turned out to be no easy aquarium!  Considerably poorer, I left for gentler waters.  I scored first at the more sedate Aces Casino near the airport.  I slept for a few hours then enjoyed a free breakfast and soft morning action at the Pure Casino Calgary, followed by a profitably tight and timid table at the Deerfoot, and finally some excellent $4/8 with a kill limit hold’em at the grand old Elbow River poker room. All were perfectly acceptable rooms, well run, with a line-up of regulars, similar promotions, food, rake, and promotional drops.  I missed only one Calgary room in the area during my stay, the Grey Eagle, as it only opened on the weekend.

I ended my trip to Calgary with a visit to a very late-night eatery, the U & Me Restaurant in Chinatown, where I celebrated my victories with some delicious and inexpensive noodle soup.

I drove back to Edmonton, but not without stopping halfway in Red Deer at the Cash Casino for their 2PM tournament.  I did not enjoy the Asian beef I ate before the event, but can’t speak to the rest of the food there.  I did enjoy the tournament, however, though I didn’t fare well in it.  The players at the table were regulars, mainly seniors, and had a refreshing dry sense of humor.  I realized, as they told me of their pre-retirement professions, that Calgary and Edmonton were, despite their relatively conservative reputations, a land of gamblers.  Oil, gas, farming, ranching, insurance, and other financial services are all gambling professions, the locals assured me.  It’s no wonder that this area is the heart of Canada’s poker scene.

I highly recommend a poker trip to Alberta, Canada.  It’s scenically beautiful, filled with many things other than poker to see and do, and rich in poker rooms and beatable players.  I’m eager to return.

But this isn’t just restricted to the online sports betting industry. When online casinos and card rooms started out, it used to be you against the machine. But now the very best sites offer live casino games, where you get to play against real players with real dealers on real games that are live-streamed to your screen. This trend is one that is becoming hugely popular in the world of poker.

The rise of live online poker games has revolutionised the poker industry, it gives players the opportunity to experience the excitement and competitiveness of poker from the comfort of their own homes. They can participate in real-time games, interact with professional dealers, and compete against other players in a virtual environment. Let’s take a look at how you can get started.

A behind-the-scenes view of what an online casino’s live dealer studio looks like

Choose a Reputable Online Poker Platform

First, you need to select a reliable and reputable online poker platform that offers live poker games. Make sure that the platform is licensed, secure and provides a user-friendly interface for a great and seamless gaming experience. It’s always good to research and read reviews to find one that suits your needs and preferences.

Create an Account and Make a Deposit

Once you’ve chosen a platform, sign up and create an account. You simply need to enter the details required and agree to the platform’s terms and conditions. Once this is done, you need to deposit money into your online poker account. Most sites offer a variety of payment options such as credit/debit cards, e-wallets, or bank transfers. Pick the one that is most convenient and secure for you.

Open the Live Poker Section

Once you have money in your account, open the live poker section of the platform. The live poker games are usually found in a separate section – and at the best sites, you will find a number of variations such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or Stud Poker.

Choose a Live Poker Game

Select the live poker game that you want to join. Remember, different tables could have varying minimum and maximum buy-ins, so make sure you choose a table that suits your bankroll. You should also consider factors such as table limits, number of players, and game format (cash game or tournament) when making your choice.

Familiarise Yourself with the Interface

It’s always good to take a few moments to familiarise yourself with the online poker platform’s interface. Before starting, make sure you understand the buttons, features, and options available to you during the game, such as placing bets, making decisions, and chatting with other players or the dealer.

Interact with the Live Dealer and Players

One of the best things about live online poker is that you can chat and interact with the live dealer and other players. Make sure you use the chat feature to get involved in conversations, ask questions, and enjoy the social aspect of the game!

Understand the Game Rules and Strategies

This is obviously essential… Make sure you have a solid understanding of the poker game you are playing including its rules, hand rankings, and basic strategies. Generally, live online poker games are played with the same rules as traditional in-person poker, so if you’re new to the game, it’s a good idea to study poker guides, read statistics, watch tutorials, or even join online poker forums.

Manage Your Bankroll

Effective bankroll management is vital to your long-term success in poker. You don’t want to run out of money after just having started. Set aside a specific amount of money for your poker bankroll and don’t play with more than you can afford to lose. Stick to your limits and adjust your bets based on how much money is left in your bankroll.

Practise Makes Perfect

Poker is a game of skill that requires you to keep practising, learning and improving. Study different poker strategies, read books, watch instructional videos, and analyse your gameplay to identify areas for improvement. Ultimately, poker is a game of both skill and chance, and winning outcomes are never guaranteed.

A couple days ago, Poker.org released Moneymaker 20 Years Later, a documentary that explores Moneymaker’s win in the WSOP Main Event and how that win changed his life. It is definitely worth a watch for any fan of Moneymaker or those interested in the history of the modern era of poker.

Beer, Sports Betting, Accounting, and Poker

The first thing that stuck out about this documentary was the style. It reminded me a lot of some of the poker documentaries that came out around the start of the Poker Boom. While this isn’t PokerGO-esque level production, if you want an honest look into the life of the WSOP’s most famous champion, this is the interview to watch.

Like many documentaries, this one started with Moneymaker talking about his childhood. The highlight of the opening segment, in this reviewer’s opinion, was Moneymaker speaking about his relationship with his Dad. From there, the documentary switched to Moneymaker’s college years.

We learned about how Moneymaker discovered beer and sports betting. He also talked about how he started a career in accounting despite being “too dumb” to work at some of the top accounting firms. He split his time between work and poker, quite literally, and that eventually led to his run in the WSOP Main Event.

Most of us know the story about Moneymaker’s run as ESPN presented it back in the day, but in this interview, we hear more of his story. We also learn about some of the “creative liberties” that ESPN took in presenting the 2003 WSOP Main Event. This part of the documentary was fun, honest, and gave a fresh look at the Moneymaker run.

What If… Moneymaker Was a Full Tilt Pro

Imagine a world where Chris Moneymaker was an investor in Full Tilt Poker. According to Moneymaker, that almost happened! One of the more revealing sections of the documentary detailed Moneymaker’s contracts with PokerStars.

He started out making $5,000 a month “to do nothing.” After a year, Isai Scheinberg decided to 5x his contract. Scheinberg’s generosity earned Moneymaker’s loyalty, which was soon tested. While Chris was renegotiating his contract with PokerStars, Howard Lederer offered Moneymaker the chance to invest in Full Tilt Poker.

Moneymaker declined the offer, which he initially felt was a -EV play. Ultimately, it proved to be one of his smartest moves. Of course, it does make one wonder what the poker world would have been like if Full Tilt Poker had Moneymaker’s services. Fortunately, we will never have to find out.

The Future With America’s Cardroom

The last few minutes of the documentary gave insight into how Moneymaker signed on with ACR Poker. He spoke about how Black Friday impacted his life, his ability to play on PokerStars, and his future in poker. At one point, he revealed that he was considering retirement from poker. (We all know just about how long poker retirements generally tend to last.)

While some may see this as a backdoor plug for the website, it is still an important part of Moneymaker’s story. Listening to Moneymaker talk, you get the impression that ACR Poker is on a similar trajectory as PokerStars back in 2003. The right amount of time was spent on this topic. It covered his transition to ACR Poker without making the documentary seem like an infomercial.

Moneymaker Documentary: A Fun Look In

Moneymaker 20 Years Later is an entertaining look into the life of poker’s most famous World Champion. The interview helped to paint a complete picture of the man behind the legend.

The best parts of the interview focused on Moneymaker’s mindset while going through the Main Event and the realities of being the first mainstream poker ambassador. Unless you lived through those years as a part of the poker community, it is hard to imagine what the early days of the Poker Boom were like. This documentary helps to paint a clearer picture of that time.

As far as critiques, because poker fans have gotten accustomed to A+ level production from the likes of PokerGO, my principal gripe was with production quality. I felt that there was a bit too much reliance on stock photos and music, plus the background music just seemed unnecessary and could have been eliminated.

With that said, overall this is still a feature worth watching, particularly for any Moneymaker fan or anyone wanting to learn more about the early days of the Poker Boom. You can watch the documentary for free below, courtesy of Poker.Org’s YouTube channel.

Photo credit: PokerNews

Surprisingly, David wasn’t sure if he’d even be playing in the Main Event at all! “I really was 50/50 on actually playing. Would have been fine with me to see Amanda make a deep run. But this was a ‘no regrets’ kind of decision: largest Main Event in history. I played two satellites and didn’t get through. Then I played in a $5/10 cash game the night before Day 2 and had an incredible run… I made just enough to register, so I strongly considered parlaying those winnings. It still seemed crazy, but Amanda and I do well together. And her mother gave me permission to take my best shot. So I did a late reg on Day 2 and started around 3 PM.”

When asked how he felt actually playing the Main Event, David’s answer was insightful: “I didn’t start very well as I went from 60K to 20K in just an hour of play and had work to do. I felt surprisingly comfortable. Seemed to me that everybody else had more fear on their faces than I did, so I played a more aggressive game. Players seemed to think an older guy never bluffs or 3-bets light, so I took advantage. Once we were close to the bubble, I just shut it all down until it burst. Folded J-J twice and A-K until we made sure we got through. Then it was pure joy.”

Once the bubble burst, David went to look for his daughter and they gave each other a big hug in a beautiful moment that captured the fascination of the poker world.

“That moment was just pure love and relief and joy. What a victory! The dream is alive and real, for BOTH of us!”

We made it!! Dad & I are in the money of the World Series of Poker Main Event! https://t.co/EaVdBYQxti pic.twitter.com/JMZ7RiNP1T

— Amanda Botfeld (@amandabotfeld) July 10, 2023

From the Felt to the Rail, Cash in Hand

David was eliminated on Day 4 and finished in 1,166th place, cashing for $17,500. Amanda advanced to Day 5 and eventually finished in 341st place, earning her personal-best result of $44,700.

When asked if he would play the Main Event again or if it was a one time thing, David’s reply was unequivocal: “I would play again. Thought I didn’t have what it really takes to play the fabled Main Event before entering, but I left thinking that I could into the future. Amanda is a pretty competent coach, and I actually learned quite a lot from her.”

It’s funny how sometimes the coach becomes the student. David had taught Amanda how to play poker 17 years ago. But who taught him to play? What was it that attracted him the most to poker in the beginning?

“My father was actually a national bridge champion, and his mother was the real card shark in the family. I played a lot of poker in high school and partially put myself through college playing in Gardena in the 70s. I really loved it all, but got a “real life” and didn’t play again until No Limit Hold’em started surging in popularity around 2000.”

As for whether David himself was a good poker teacher, he replied honestly: “Amanda actually lost a lot of money when she first started, and so we needed to get her familiar with the basics of how to play Texas Hold’em. She had a real aversion to the math at first as well, and so she made her own set of poker flash cards to begin to memorize the odds (33% chance of hitting a flush draw after the flop, things like that). I’m a numbers guy, so once she had basic competence in that arena, she could then became a real student of play and began to educate herself. These days often times I will text her to get her opinion about plays I’ve made, and her analysis is sharp and spot on.”

This is my dad teaching me how to play poker with lime green chips. 15 years later, we have made the final table together in the @wsop Tag Team Tournament.

Love you dad, and couldn't have done it without you. #fatherdaughter #poker @joinpokerpower pic.twitter.com/Mb04y3KaEJ

— Amanda Botfeld (@amandabotfeld) November 2, 2021

In the world of poker, women have historically been in the minority. As such, we were interested in David’s take on how that might perhaps negatively affect Amanda at the tables. “I know she loves the game, and that is the most important thing. Many times I would go to poker clubs with her to make sure that nobody gave her a hard time, but at the end of the day she had to learn how to handle herself and deal with challenging situations. She will often nowadays surprise other players with her astute play, and they will then back off quickly when they recognize she is nobody to be taken lightly. I love that she can be a dangerous player, and making those astute plays is what she loves.”

As for Amanda’s Main Event run in particular, David was practically beside himself reflecting on the rollercoaster experience from his perspective. “First she loses Nadya Magnus‘ Twitter contest, only to then get put in by Scott Ball. At some point, she’s the chip leader… Then she finds herself on the ‘freeroll of all freerolls’ after Bill Perkins bought some of her action midway through the tournament. Meanwhile, we both end up cashing the darn thing. This whole experience has just been surreal and incredible.”

A Proud Poker Papa

Asked for his thoughts on Amanda’s growth as a player, writer, content creator, and teacher, David said that “For me, playing the Main Event is like your daughter playing at Wimbledon. Best in the world. How could I miss seeing her play? She is a great writer, too, and her social media presence is always entertaining. She also learned a lot by being a trainer/teacher at PokerPower, where she has worked with women to play better poker. They say many times the teacher is the one that learns the most, and she has become a very skilled coach in doing so. Her deep run was no accident, and I truly believe she has the intelligence and love for the game to be a force to be reckoned with in the future. I would love that more than anything.”

David during the 2021 Tag Team / Photo credit: PokerNews

As for what it was like to experience that magical run to third place in the 2021 WSOP Tag Team Event together with his daughter, David responded that “The Tag Team is a little different than other tournaments. It’s great to be able to take a break when you need to. And it was an incredible experience to make a deep run together. Then again: who plays the Tag Team with their daughter/father? We were such an unusual commodity that we got people rooting for us. And they still are!”

Finally, we asked David about the Botfelds’ future in poker, specifically what other achievements he would like to experience together with Amanda now that they’ve both cashed in the Main Event together. In response, David said that “We know there is a certain magic that happens when we play together. I think at this point we are open to suggestion.”

One thing’s for sure, that whenever and wherever the Botfelds make their next magical run, the poker world will be watching and rooting them along!

I miss the ambience of my shabbat table, and the feeling of not being “the only one” treating it as “not just another regular day of the week.”

I miss my Dad.

I miss the ability to make myself hot food in the oven, on the stove, and having a microwave to heat up leftovers instead of leaving food to heat up in the 100-degree sun. Yeah, that’s a thing when you’re in a hotel on a summer shabbat.

I miss my home poker game friends.

To be sure, there’s plenty I DON’T miss…

But above all I really just miss actively being a husband and daddy, and I’m “ready” to go home.

But even after almost three weeks in Las Vegas, it’s STILL so hard to say goodbye to this magical place.

I’m going to miss walking into any poker room around the city and knowing I’ll recognize at least one friend (usually more) and have a hug waiting for me.

I’m going to miss being tapped on the shoulder by someone asking “hey, are you Robbie?”, and sharing that they listen to the podcast I host.

I’m going to miss wanting to play poker and knowing that a game is just minutes away instead of days away. That’s a biggie… I was able to play more and improve more during these three weeks than I do in an entire year back home.

I’m going to miss a great kosher restaurant called Mother Falafel that’s literally open 24/6 – perfect for an orthodox Jew like me – including at 3:30 am after winding up a poker session.

I’m going to miss being in “poker environments”, where people really understand me and what I do.

I’m going to miss looking into the distance and seeing the bright lights of the Strip, or further into the distance and seeing majestic desert beauty.

I’m going to miss meeting new and interesting people all the time, with whom I might have relatively little in common, and yet share so much more in cultural commonality than the overwhelming majority of people at home outside the little bubble I’ve created for myself in Israel.

I’m going to miss not paying attention to the news and being too busy and active doing, working, and playing versus “just sitting in front of my computer all day” with forced breaks to run to the supermarket or walk outside to pray on the balcony just to make sure I get out a little.

A Live Straddle, Worlds Apart

Perhaps I’m too open, emotional and public about the challenges I face. It’s not difficult to step back for a minute and realize just how fortunate I am… quite literally having the ability to live and experience “the best of both worlds.”

But simultaneously living in two worlds is very, very, VERY hard.

At home in Israel, I record and send audio files out into the ether. I click Publish only to feel like I can be productive and knock something off my to-do list. I send newsletters advertising a Mixed Game Festival and can barely find a soul who gives a damn.

Here in Las Vegas, my words resonate and are impactful. People listen. People read. People care. And they let me know! And they circle dates on their calendars and literally schedule trips around events I promote! All of that equals the most incredibly fulfilling professional feeling.

Here I have the exquisite privilege of rubbing shoulders with Hall of Famers and getting invited to attend Honors ceremonies… but I never have a “plus one”, as my queen, prince, and princesses are just so far, far away in the castle.

“When’s the next event, Robbie? When will you be back?”

I don’t know.

I just need my wife right now. I need my kids right now. And while I’ll miss this place and I’ll be missed here, I know my absence is felt where it matters most.

Having all the professional success, poker chips, diamonds, clubs, and spades in the world just isn’t the same as being flush with heart.

And home is where the heart is.

The #WSOP has kicked off in Las Vegas and I’m ready for some action! #WSOP2023 #TheYearOfNacho pic.twitter.com/d9eZaazAJ5

— jose ignacio barbero (@nacho_barbero) June 12, 2023

In this Poker Profile, you will learn about the life and career of José Ignacio, who currently ranks first in the Global Poker Index and in the GPI “Player of the Year” ranking.

A Movie and a Trip

Nacho was born on February 15, 1982 in Buenos Aires and grew up on the outskirts of Campana, Argentina. When he was 18 years old and finishing high school Nacho saw the movie “American Beauty” which made him think about his future. He didn’t want to be 40 and regret how he lived his life. He also did not want a job, to get married, or have kids. He wanted to see Europe and have the freedom to do what he liked.

After high school, Nacho studied Law and worked with his father, but he did not enjoy it. In 2001 Argentina had a major political crisis and a friend offered to buy Nacho a ticket to fly to France . Nacho did not hesitate for a second. He left for Europe at the age of 22.

Nacho Barbero Moves From Magic to Poker

At the age of 17 Nacho started playing Magic The Gathering and became very good at it, entering competitions around the world. In 2001 he earned his first Grand Prix, placing 16th at the Yokohama Pro Tour and winning $16K. With that he returned the ticket money to his friend and set up his bank account. Nacho says that the Magic helped him prepare to play head’s-up poker, read his opponents, and anticipate their actions.

In 2002 a friend from Magic, Gabriel Nassif, showed Nacho how to play poker online on PartyPoker and he decided to try playing. That night he lost the $850 that his friend had in his account and couldn’t sleep because he felt bad for losing all of his friend’s money.

Nacho decided to learn how to play poker and began to study with what little he could find online at that time. In 2003 he was already playing more online poker than Magic. By 2004 most Magic players had switched to poker, as there was more money to be won in poker than in Magic The Gathering.

In 2005 José discovered live tournaments at the mythical Paris Aviation Club. His first tournament was a Limit Hold’em game that he didn’t cash. The next day he played his first No-Limit Hold’em event and unbelievably won the top prize. The buy in for the tournament was €500 and he cashed for €19K and first place. In September that year Nacho attended EPT Barcelona and came second in a €500 event, winning €27K.

The following year Nacho Barbero traveled to Las Vegas for the first time and made his first two WSOP cashes, winning $5.5K in total. Afterwards, he made it a point to attend the WSOP every year and soon earned his first Main Event cashes, placing 496th in 2007 for $25K and 89th in 2008 for $64K.

Mr. LAPT

Just as Phil Hellmuth is Mr. WSOP and Darren Elias is Mr. WPT, Nacho Barbero is Mr. Latin American Poker Tour for the success he has achieved on that circuit. Nacho holds the LAPT record for cashes (15), main event final tables (7), titles (3) and earnings ($917K).

His first title was obtained in the 2010 Punta del Este , earning $279K , then in Lima he was also crowned champion, earning $250K. His third trophy was won during 2016 in São Paulo , adding another $100K to his bankroll. Nacho is the only three-time LAPT champion.

In the below compilation you can see some of the hands with which Nacho won titles in the LAPT:

From Bankruptcy to Bracelet

2022 generated a roller coaster of emotions for Nacho. In May, the Terra LUNA cryptocurrency had a sudden drop losing almost all its value. May’s crypto downturn was bad news for Barbero, who had 95% of his bankroll in Terra LUNA, leading him to lose millions of dollars. This event affected many poker players and people known to dabble in the online gambling space. To lessen the likelihood of your finances being so negatively affected by events in the online gaming sector, it pays to expand your iGaming knowledge at Casinocrawlers.com and find the best places to try and spin up your money.

Anyhow, Nacho was depressed after this loss, and had a tough time bouncing back. But since he was about to start the WSOP, he concentrated on poker to try to win back his bankroll by winning tournaments. Nacho started meditating, going to the gym and eating healthy, and avoiding alcohol and going out at night.

Concentrating 100% on tournaments, Nacho had deep runs in several WSOP events, scoring five cashes early in the series. In Event #67 – Super Turbo Bounty $10K Nacho won a long-awaited WSOP bracelet, along with a prize of $587K. Two months before he had been bankrupt and now he was fulfilling his dream as a poker player. He closed out the 2022 WSOP with 10 cashes and earnings of $690K.

He declared after his triumph: “It feels amazing. I’m so happy. Literally, my dream in poker was to win one. I’ve been coming since 2006, so many close ones and I never could close it out. And, finally” he added, “the South American rail is the best. All of my friends came. The vibe was amazing. I felt like I wasn’t going to lose any hands, and it kind of went like that, actually. I ran super pure and everything went perfect.”

One of Nacho’s last trips in 2022 was to Qatar to see the Argentine team in the FIFA World Cup. Nacho had predicted on the Jeff Gross Podcast that Argentina would be the champion, and so they were. Nacho had witnessed the final that Argentina lost in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but this time he was able to celebrate his team and watch the game live.

#TheYearOfNacho

Nacho started 2023 in the Bahamas,   playing the PokerStars Players Championship $50K. He started the final table as chip leader, but in one of the first hands he got distracted and lost 20 big blinds when he did not see a raise from another player.

And we're already off to a very odd start…

A mistake from @nacho_barbero sees him lose 20BBs right off the rip!

This final table is now WIDE open

: @PokerStarsLIVE pic.twitter.com/Yjky4XJqhN

— PokerNews (@PokerNews) February 3, 2023

He says “It was the worst mistake I made in my career and in my life. It is a mistake that can cost me between $200K and $300K. I was talking to the public and I didn’t hear that the other player had raised. Luckily I didn’t go all-in, as I could have lost even more chips”. The Argentine was eliminated in fourth place, yet won the biggest prize of his career: $1,551,300.

In March, Nacho traveled to Vietnam to play in the Triton Super High Roller Series, where he won Event #2 for $600,000 and placed second in Event #8 for $460,000. He then returned to Las Vegas , where he made five final tables and claimed a PokerGO Tour title.

In April he was in Monte Carlo playing the European Poker Tour, where he made four cashes and two final tables. In May he traveled to Cyprus to play the Triton Super High Roller Series, taking a second place and two cashes, earning $721K.

In the first five months of this year he already has 17 cashes, 12 final tables, 3 second places and 2 trophies, with earnings of over $4M. Those numbers have led him to the top spot in the Global Poker Index in the GPI “Player of the Year” ranking. He also rose to first place on Argentina’s All Time Money List with $9.6M and is currently the highest earning player from Latin America.

The hashtag #TheYearOfNacho is trending on social media due to his great moment and he was chosen by CardPlayer magazine for their latest cover. Nacho Barbero is the second Argentine to be on the cover after Damián Salas for his victory in the 2020 WSOP Main Event.

Nacho’s next destination will be the 2023 WSOP, where he will look to continue his hot streak and try to win the second WSOP bracelet of his career. He also told Dan Cates that he was going to face him in the Poker Players Championship $50K to prevent Dan from winning it for the third time in a row. Will he be able to do it? In the #YearOfNacho everything is possible.

More Profiles:

• Alejandro “Papo MC” Lococo
• Martin Jacobson
• Alexander “Assassinato” Fitzgerald
• Michael Addamo

That is why we’ve made some selections of what we think are the best poker novels for you to read and enjoy at home, on a trip or on vacation.

Here are the poker novels I enjoyed the most and recommend you to read:

“The Only Way To Play It” – Peter Alson

It tells the story of Nate Fischer, a former painter who begins to play the clandestine cash games in the clubs of New York City, those shown in the movie “Rounders”. He must try to balance the game with raising a young daughter, as well as his father with whom he does not have a great relationship. You can check out Cardplayer Lifestyle’s review, by Amanda Botfeld.

“CARDS” – Jonathan Maxwell

A must read for cash game players. It shows the harsh reality of those who spend the whole day in casinos playing live tables fighting against variance. The protagonist also takes trips to Las Vegas and to France, where he plays at the Aviation Club in Paris. You can check out Cardplayer Lifestyle’s interview with the author, by Ben Saxton.

“Shut Up and Deal” – Jesse May

Published in 1998, it is one of the most classic, realistic and recommended poker novels. The main character is Mickey, who tries to make a living from playing cards and, to do so, he grinds through long sessions in the casinos of Atlantic City, California and Las Vegas.

“King of a Small World” – Rick Bennett

Joey is one of Maryland’s best live players in Washington. But his life will change when he is offered to become the boss of a casino, a rival commits suicide and his ex-girlfriend gets pregnant. Realistic and entertaining. The digital edition is only $3.

“The Cincinnati Kid” – Richard Jessup

The novel on which the classic 1965 movie starring Steve McQueen was based. I think it is one of the best poker movies of all time and the book is almost always better than the movie, so I can’t stop recommending it.

“Drawing Dead” – Rick Fuller

In this funny poker novel, a famous player dies before playing a final table at the WSOP in Las Vegas. The detective will have to get into the Rio Hotel & Casino to investigate the possible suspects and solve the case. You can download this book for free from the author’s website.

“The Big Blind” – Lavie Tidhar

A quick (80 pages) and entertaining read about a nun with poker skills who sneaks out at night with the habit of playing cash games. When the convent is in danger of closing, she enters a major European tournament to try to save it.

“The Dark Side of the Felt” – Tyler Nals

The book I enjoyed most by prolific author Tyler Nals. By reading it you will be able to accompany the protagonist as he plays cash games and illegal tournaments in very dangerous places. Very entertaining, and the first part of a trilogy that was made into a movie script.

“Final Table” – Dan Schorr

This book was published in 2021 and combines different interesting topics such as social networks, sexual abuse, labor relations and a high stakes poker tournament in a disreputable country.

“4 Bullets” – Tylar Nals

The biographical novel tells the incredible story of Costa Rican gambler Steven Thompson, who won $500K in live tournaments, but due to his addictions lost everything and ended up being shot four times for not returning borrowed money.

“Rounders” – Kevin Canty

Did you know that the movie Rounders has its own book? It is based on Brian Koppelman‘s screenplay and adds some facts to the plot, like the ending, where the author writes about what became of Mike’s life after beating Teddy KGB at the New York Club.

“The One Knight Stand” – Marek Garcia

Chuck feels that he is living two different lives: by day he is a diligent student and by night he becomes a great poker player. He will find it difficult to live both lives and will have to choose between poker and studying.

More recommendations: “Broke” – Brandon Adams, “The Picasso Flop” – Vince Van Patten,  “Mystical Glasses” – Jack Kregas, “We Run Bad” – John Curry, “This Is Where You Fold” – Robert Needham, “The Home Game” – Liam Teller and “A Poker Story” – Greg Winick.

All of these poker novels can be found on Amazon, both in paper and digital versions, which are cheaper and can be read on any device. I invite you to put aside your social networks for a while and immerse yourself in the pages of a good poker book. Enjoy the reading!

As the clock continues ticking down towards my impending flight, six more days of anticipation feels like an absolute eternity. I sit in my living room half a world away, desperately trying to feel that summer poker vibe pulsating throughout Sin City.

Even as I run my own poker media site, I can’t help but embrace my inner poker fan, following WSOP coverage nearly every waking moment of my day. Poker is everywhere I look: from the streaming coverage on PokerGO and YouTube to live updates on PokerNews to instant coverage on PokerOrg. There’s a never-ending stream of posts in the poker-oriented Facebook groups I participate in, as well as updates from a ton of players and fellow poker media members I follow on Twitter. Even my daily exercise walks have poker “flowing right into my veins”, courtesy of the PokerGO and PokerNews Podcasts.

It’s like I’m there… but I’m still here, over 7,500 miles away.

And I know I’ve got almost three whole weeks there coming up, my longest ever continuous stint in Las Vegas. Yet, that’s still not enough. I want to be there RIGHT NOW! I wanted to be there last week, two weeks ago. How can so much poker be going on without me?!

So, I turn to my home game for solace. Somehow, I manage to rack up about 12 hours of play over three sessions since the start of the World Series of Poker. A dozen hours of blissful mixed game poker action, of joy despite ending up in the red for two of the three sessions.

Ah, mixed games. My muse.

How much time and effort I’m pouring into the upcoming Mixed Game Festival. It’s the fifth one I will have staged in under two years. That’s just awesome. And it’s a lot of hard work! But I love it. I love coordinating the logistics with Resorts World; I can’t wait to see all the great people who work there. They’ve become my friends; not just my “poker friends.” And I love corresponding with all the Mixed Game Festival sponsors. It’s incredible how supportive they all are of what I’m trying to do: provide a space for mixed game poker to grow at a purely grassroots level. And I can’t wait to see all the regulars who’ve attended multiple festivals, and to meet “new people”, the future mixed game lovers of our poker world. It’s going to be amazing.

And yet, even that which I love is still work at the end of the day. I want more! To PLAY poker!

Six freaking days until I get on that plane! ARGH!

I want to play in tournaments. I never have time for tournaments. It’s always been cash games. This time, finally, I’ve MADE the time. I’ve played in perhaps a dozen or so tournaments in 20 years since turning 21 years old. I want that tournament poker glory so badly.

I want the winner’s photo! I want to find a goddamn bag! Hell, I just want a HendonMob profile. I came this close in my last tournament, over four months ago. Such “simple”, natural things that it feels like every poker player on the planet has, save me. Because I live half a world away. In a place with no casinos. No poker rooms. Just my beloved home game.

I can’t just hop over to Vegas for the weekend on a lark. Like everyone else.

I can’t just hop into a $5K or a $10K. How does everyone have so much goddamn money to fire armory-loads of bullets at every tournament under the sun? Where does it come from? What am I missing?

My humble four-figure bankroll has been painstakingly built over years of occasional $.25/$.50 home games and the rare trips abroad where I “move up” to $1/2 and $1/3. I’m not poor, thank Gd, but what I earn must go towards supporting my family of five, and life’s REALLY expensive in Israel. I’ve been a lifetime winner in poker, and I’m damn proud of the bankroll I’ve managed to accrue without having to ever dip into my personal funds.

To be sure, I’ve had the chance to take some amazing shots. I’ve played in two $1,500 bracelet events. I’ve even played in the famed $80/$160 mixed game, surrounded by the sharks. Multiple times.

But I want more. I want to be in the thick of it. I want to fill the gaping holes in my poker resume. And I can. Because I’ve proven that I’m a winning player. And I know that I’ve got what it takes to win.

The Poker Time Has Come

And now, at long last, at age 41, the circumstances are such that I’m finally able to make the time! It’s been such a long road. So much waiting. So much patience. So much impatience.

My kids are 15, 13, and almost 11. My wife, Miriam, has always been beyond amazing to me. She said I could have the extra week away, but she wasn’t really thrilled. Almost three weeks away from home is a long time, even with relatively independent kids. There’s always a cost, a price to pay.

I’ve been present though. I’ve made the right decisions year after year. I matter critically in the lives of the four most important people in my life. And my absence will be felt. And I will miss them all, too. But it’s time. It’s my time. And I must make it count.

Will I win a bracelet? No. I’m not even planning to play in any bracelet events. I want to mix it up, and there are some great mid-three-figure buy-in mixed game tournaments that have my name on them, set to run over the final week of June. And I’m going to be there. And I’m going to have a seat at the table.

And I’m going to run pure.

And I’m going to prove something that I’ve always believed in all these years: I’ve got the chops to play and to win.

And it’s just a few little mixed game tournaments over a stretch of a few days… but what a magnificent few days they will be.

Life-changing money doesn’t have to be millions. Even just a few thousand dollars of proof that I can do what I believe I can do goes a LONG way towards ensuring that this “first time” will hopefully be the first of many other times. Proof that I’m destined to play more poker and fulfill heretofore unfulfilled dreams.

Six more days until I get on that plane.

Every dream I’ve chased in life, I’ve thankfully and blessedly been able to catch.

Now, it’s time to chase the elusive one.

LET’S PLAY POKER!