WPT Innovation

	We reckon it’s going to be the most entertaining table game going.

Tired of losing your cash at the house-favouring roulette table? WPT has the solution: WPT All-In Hold’em, a new table game that recently made a test appearance at the Bellagio and a few other casinos across America.

Having now been approved by the Nevada Gaming board, it will be returning to the Bellagio – as well as Treasure Island and The Mirage – before the end of the year.

Developed by renowned poker author and strategist, David Sklansky, along with Bradley Berman of Lakes Entertainment, the table apparently doubled projections during its field trial, effectively emptying the three-card poker tables.

As with most casino table games, you play against the dealer, each person receiving two hole cards to combine with the board to make the best five-card hand. Before receiving your hole cards you get the option to place ‘bonus’ bets against your hole cards’ strength, as well as the final hand you hope to make – both with varying payout odds.

After receiving your hole cards, you must either make a raise of five or 10 times your original ante, or fold. The dealer can only play against you if he ‘qualifies’ with either a pocket pair or cards totalling more than 13 (calculated in Blackjack style) to continue on a 5x bet, or 17 on a 10x bet. If your final hand beats the dealer’s, your antes and ‘raises’ are paid off, along with any ‘bonus’ hands you made with your hole cards or final hand (final hand examples – 6/1 for a flush; 4/1 for a straight). The house still enjoys a 1.5 percent advantage (equivalent to Blackjack but better than Roulette) but we reckon it’s going to be the most entertaining table game going. Look out for it in your local club.

Player of the Year

The race for the Poker Player of the Year is drawing near. Vote for your favourite from Annie Duke, Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson, Joe Hachem, Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow, Daniel Negreanu and Men Nguyen, on our website www.pokerplayer magazine.co.uk/awards

Dodging Bullets

The action in the high stakes cardroom at Harrah’s Tahoe casino, Nevada, took a turn for the wild worst when guns were drawn over the table. Harvey Ex, a 53-year-old with previous arrests who died at the scene, shot two law enforcers and sent the high-rollers scampering for cover. ‘People were leaving their chips on the table. It was just crazy,’ one punter told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Team Spirit

PokerRoom.com has released a teamplay format, which will enable groups of friends and colleagues to join forces and battle other gangs online. Up to 10 players can unite to play others in leagues or heads-up matches. It could even replace paintball as the new teambuilding exercise, which would be great except you won’t get the chance to shoot Geoff from accounts in the back by ‘mistake’.

Channel 5 is bringing hours of card action to your TV after signing a sponsorship deal with PartyPoker.com. You’ll now be able to watch cards on the box even when you visit Gran who, unless you’re related to a technominded OAP, is unlikely to have Sky. Over the next year Channel 5 will screen three tournaments, including PartyPoker.com’s World and European Opens.

British Bulldog

A big ‘well done, my son’ to Sean Scott from Hull who finished 50th at last month’s World Poker Tour tournament at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, USA. Scott beat the likes of Greg Raymer, Evelyn Ng, Mike Caro and Men ‘The Master’ Nguyen to pick up $14,000 in his first live tournament. The tattoo parlour owner won a freeroll at www.WPT.com to claim his place at the table.