River City to host Heartland Poker Tour

On March 2nd the Heartland Poker Tour will be making a stop in Saint Louis for ten days to promote its 100th event. It was last hosted by Ameristar in 2010, but the tour decided not to return due to the lack of attendance. This year, River City and Lumiere will host the event hoping to bring in poker players from all over the Midwest to showcase its poker room. River City will host the tournaments and Lumiere will run sit and go's and satellites to the Main Event. The tournament schedule is listed on HPT website. There will be several daily tournaments ranging from $100 to $230 and a $1650 Main Event entry fee. The Final Table will also be televised on Charter's network, please contact River City or Lumiere for more info.

Greatest Poker App

Has anyone downloaded the Bravo Poker App? It's one of the greatest app created for poker players that play at casinos. No more calling your local casino to find out what games are running. Now you can look up poker games on any casino that uses the Bravo poker software. About 80% of all poker rooms use the Bravo software for guest waiting list, tournament structure, dealer rotation, exc. It uses the gps satellite in your phone to find the closest casino and it displays current live games. This app is great if your traveling, you can pull up games at any city at any time of the day. You can find info about the casino, address, contact number, promotions, and tournament info. The App is free and is available for both Android and Iphone. Just go to the market and search for BravoPokerlive.

Could this be so, I hit River City's Bad Beat Jackpot

A little over 2 weeks ago, I wrote an article on the bad beat Jackpot at River City. Since the poker room's existence, local poker players could not solve the mystery in hitting the Bad Beat Jackpot, going strong for 1.5 years. At the time, it was the highest Jackpot of any of the 4 casinos. Personally, i was hoping it would go up to 400-500 thousand before anyone hit it for the 1st time. But, 220k was good enough Thursday night at 10pm when yours truly hit the Jackpot for 110k. This is how it went, I was dealt pocket 10's in the Big Blind as everyone limped for $3. Normally, i would raise in this situation but decided to see the flop cheaply. The whole night, I was always getting 2nd best, I would get Aces and KQ would out flop me for 2 pairs, so i was a little gun shy. There was 8 players at the table, a player was out at lunch and another re-buying, and 6 players called to see the flop. The flop was 10c,8d,7h rainbow, one diamond. I hit top set, but worried that i was 2nd best if someone was holding J9 for the straight. I checked and one of the players, Richard, bet out 15 or 20 dollars holding J7 of diamonds. Another player holding JQ called and i called hoping for the board to pair so i can hit my full house. Turn card was a 9 diamonds so the board was now 7h 8d 9d 10c, which was a scary board for me, knowing someone had made there hand. Rich hit a straight with his Jd7d, with a re-draw to the straight flush if a 10d hits. The other player in the hand hit the nut straight with JQ and I had my set, not looking good knowing i was behind. So i checked and Rich bet out $65 and the other player thought about it and decided to just call with the nut straight. This was very important because if he would have raised big to $165 or more, which most players in his situation would do, i would have folded knowing i was behind. So i called the $65 and the river came a 10d, which hit both Rich and I. I had quads and he had hit his straight flush. In my mind, i thought i had the nuts, not knowing there was a straight flush possibility. I was already counting my winnings when Rich bet $165 on the river and the other guy in the hand went in the tank with a straight knowing Rich had a Flush. He thought and thought for what seemed like 20 minutes as i waited excited to go all in and take down this massive pot. I looked at the board and then realized the straight flush possibility as the other player reluctantly folded his straight. I couldn't push my chips in the middle fast enough as i turned my cards over and said, "I hope you can beat me" half joking. Rich said, "I can" and turned over his Jd7d for a straight flush. There was a long pause as the tabled glanced at the board and our hole cards simultaneously as i shouted out, "That's the Bad Beat Jackpot! Bad Beat Bad Beat!" And then the whole table erupted as i jumped out of my chair in shock. Oh my gosh, I had just won 110k and Anna was sitting next to me with her jaws dropped not knowing if this was a dream. Anna and i planned on coming to River City for dinner and had no plans in playing poker. Anna had sat behind me as my chip stack declined as fast as the stock market the last few days. She complained that she was bad luck and had planned on leaving shortly as i thought about switching seats. I had moved once previously and the person who sat in my seat went on a rapid tear doubling up and cashing out a big winner. I wasn't going to let that happen in this seat, as I decided to stay, knowing that i was probably going to donate as i had done all night. I was right, i was 2nd best again, but this one was different. I lost my entire stack but being 2nd best was worth 110k.

Best Poker Room in Saint Louis

As you walk in to River City poker room, you wouldn't know that it's owned and operated by the same company as Lumiere. There is a big difference in not only the quality of the room but also in the attention to details. The room is enclosed, away from all the smoke. It's big, bright and surprisingly very quiet, no sound of the slot machines ringing in your head. Also, the dealers and supervisors have a more professional looking wardrobe that's very appealing to the eye. River City also caters to tournament players, adding a variety of tournaments at different hours. Pending gaming approval, they will host a midnight NLH tournament on Saturdays and also a PLO tournament. The tournament clock lists remaining Aces cracked, dealer rotation, and tournament payouts. Another feature is the automated announcement when blinds go up in the tournament. Lumiere will always get the crowd and the crazy action since it's located downtown, with players coming in before and after Rams and Cardinals game. But if i had my choice to play, I would drive the extra mile to play at River City.

River City tops Bad Beat Jackpot in STL

River City is now the king of the Bad Beat. Harrahs, Ameristar, and also Lumiere Bad Beat Jackpots has all been hit and River City stands alone with a jackpot of over 220k. On September 4th, Henry Pheil dealt quads over straight flush, shortly after noon, as regulars at Lumiere shared 100k Bad Beat Jackpot. One player had stood up to use the bathroom when the Bad Beat was dealt, but was compensated by the winner of the Jackpot. River City has been opened for one and a half years and no one has cracked the Bad Beat. The question still remains, How high will River City's Bad Beat go before it's hit?

Harrahs St Louis High Stakes Cash Game

Thanks to Paul Harris, radio host for The Final Table on 590 KFNS, Harrah's Saint Louis will entertain it's first high stakes NLH poker game. It's not what you would see on the GSN network but for locals, it's a pretty big thing. The largest NLH game in Saint Louis is Lumiere's 5-10 game held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and now Saturdays. The blinds for the NLH high stakes game will be $25-$50 with a $10 ante and 15k minimum buy-in. The game will include some of the very best Saint Louis players along with players with deep pockets from the surrounding cities in Kansas and Oklahoma. The game will be held on the weekend of the 28th of October. There will be a maximum of 2 tables to keep the tables filled and also a 10-20 NLH game as a feeder. Hopefully this event brings a-lot of new faces to Saint Louis and if succesful, this may turn into a monthly event and can be huge for Harrahs. Stay tuned for updates on this event.

Casino Open 24 hours 7 days a week

Starting July 1st, Missouri casinos will be allowed to remain open for 24 hours 7 days a week.  Missouri gaming has approved this move to possibly help increase slagging revenues.  With the economic downturn, casinos all over have been hit hard.  Missouri gaming has been criticized for being the strictest state and with these changes, hopefully we can bring in more visitors.  So now you can wake up at 4am and play at your local casino.  If you do so, you might want to get checked out for a gambling problem.  

High Stakes Home Game Robbed

If you ever have thoughts in joining a poker home game, make sure its low stakes and only bring enough money that you can literally lose.  A 10 player home game was recently robbed for approximately $35k.  It was the 1st scheduled 5-10 No Limit home game and may be the last.  The assailant was let in through the front door and then roughed up the delivery boy.  He apparently had a gun but no other information was given to the description of the culprit.  The game had no security or any other system to keep the unwanted out.  Rumor has it that it was an inside job and someone playing was involved.  So be careful the next time you step into an unfamiliar poker game.

How to get to the WSOP Main Event

Fulltilt poker has the best tournaments to win your way to the WSOP Main Event.  The 7 step sit n go tournament is probably the best way.  There are 9 players in the step tournament and if you come in 1st or 2nd in the tournament you advance to the next step.  If you come in 3rd or 4th, you can replay the tournament at no charge and if you come in 5th or 6th, you take a step back.  The 1st step is only $8 or you can jump in any of the 7 steps by paying the entry fee.  And if you win a seat to the Main Event and place in the money, Fulltilt will send you back the following year to the 2011 Main Event.  And if you win the tournament, they will give you an additional 10 million dollars.  So good luck and hope to see you in the WSOP Main Event.

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

Ashley House Charity Tournament Big Success

Thanks to all who participated, including Dennis Phillips, Rams kicker Josh Brown, Bo Matthews from WIL, ESPN's Brian Stull and WSOP bracelet winner Mike Eise, in this years 1st annual Ashley House Charity Tournament.  This Ashley House Foundation raises money to those affected by down syndrome.  This was a big success and also congratulations to this years winner, Raj, who won the Las Vegas package.  He will be going to Las Vegas to play a bracelet event.

Register for the Ashley House Charity Tournament

Prepay $100, its more expensive at the door!

Post Disptch on Frank Pang hitting the Bad Beat

Lumiere BadBeat Hit Tuesday night

Three days after Harrahs Bad Beat was hit for $400k, Lumiere Casino's Bad Beat was hit for $220k.  It happened on a 1-3NLH game at 2am.  Dean Adams dealt the bad beat, the third in 2 years.  Congratulations to those involved.  The backup bad beat is $180K, still respectable.