Steve Martin playing poker at Lumiere

   So i met Steve Martin today at Lumiere Casino, I didn't know he played poker.  But from his betting patterns and nervousness on the table, I can tell that he was new to Texas Holdem.  He might have played 5 card draw or Stud back in the days like what we did with our parents, but Holdem is the now and Steve wanted in the fun.  It was surprising to me how shy he seemed at the poker table.  He didn't talk much, he was almost incognito with his Fedora hat, one you would see Indiana Jones wearing, and stylish black glasses.  I don't know him in real life, all i know is his personalities on Father of the Bride and The Three Amigos.  An outgoing energetic comedian that made me laugh when i was younger.  It seemed to me that he really didn't want too many people knowing he was playing.  I guess it didn't help when he was sitting next to the loudest guy at the table.  Who called his wife to say "honey, you'd never guess who is sitting next to me at the poker table.  It's Steve Martin, yes the actual Steve Martin."  I thought to myself, "Oh boy how embarrassing.  Just leave the poor guy alone."  Steve did pretty well for a novice player, winning a couple hundred bucks and playing for 4 hours.  I'm not sure if it was skill or just the poker players being star struck, but I guess everyone now has a story to tell.

Doug Lovelace of Saint Louis Wins Circuit Event #7

ST. LOUIS, MO. – Doug Lovelace, a 40-year-old financial advisor from Richmond, VA is the winner of Circuit Event #7 at Harrah’s St. Louis.  Lovelace describes his style of play as a bit unorthodox as he willing to risk substantial amounts of chips with marginal hands in order to see more than his share of flops. He says that, mixed with making the right-sized bets with the best hand led him to success in the $400 (+50) buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament.  Event #7 attracted a field of 230 players and generated a total prize pool of $89,240.

The WSOP Circuit Events at Harrah’s St. Louis have been a success so far through seven events. Event #1 attracted a field of 675 players and was the largest poker tournament ever played in the state of Missouri. Field sizes remained strong with the weekday $350 buy-in events drawing an average of 292 players.     Players have lauded the tournament structures, quality of the dealers and the overall poker playing experience.   Day One of Event #7 ended around 1:15 am with the final nine remaining players returning the following day to play it down to a winner.   Along with Lovelace, another financial analyst at the Final Table, Perry Ernest of Naperville, IL, was in position to move up a notch in the race for a record fifth Circuit Event Ring as he looked to pick up his third WSOPC win.   The chip leader heading into final table play was poker pro Patrick Fogleman.  written by wsop staff

WSOP Circuit Event @ Saint Louis Big Hit

This is the 1st year that the WSOP Circuit Event has been to Saint Louis.  If you've never been to a Circuit Event, it's a spectacle to see professional photographers and videographers walking around.  Who knows, maybe one of the events will be aired on ESPN.  Hopefully they will come year after year to host the Circuit Event.  Based on first tournament, it has drawn almost 700 people, the biggest tournament in Saint Louis.  First place was almost 50k and buyin for the tournament was $340.  The tournaments will go on for 2 weeks, their are 12 scheduled tournaments including the $5000 buyin tournament.  This  should bring in some famous faces like Doyle Brunson and Daniel Negraneau.      

Vote for Mike Eise to play in Tournament of Champions

Ameristar taking $2.00 for Bad Beat

If your on the button and its just you and the blinds, don't raise because if they fold the dealer will take a dollar and you win the big blinds money.  A dollar will be taken from every hand no matter the size of the pot for the badbeat jackpot.  And if the pot is 40 dollars or more, then 2 dollars will be taken out for the badbeat. So if your heads up and you put 20 dollars in and your opponent puts in the same, 2 dollars is taken out for badbeat and 4 dollars for the rake so you make 14 dollars, 13 after you tip.  This is either a stroke of genius to get people in to play for the badbeat or devastating to hard core poker players.  Time will only tell and who knows, we may get the 1st million dollar badbeat. 

Carnahan, Clay push for online gambling

Figg Tree Charity tournament 2/27/2009