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The online poker boom continues and some live elements of the game are also returning. For fans, that includes huge online series options as well as a favorite televised poker show returning.

November’s Chip Chatter once again takes a look at some of the news from the poker world. From Polk-Negreanu to High Stakes Poker to the World Poker Tour, there have been plenty of card-crushing headlines. Here’s a look at some of those.

Checking in on the Negreanu-Polk showdown

For those who may not know, the high stakes matchup between Doug Polk and Daniel Negreanu is underway. The action kicked off Nov. 11 with 200 hands of live play streamed on PokerGO.

While Polk may have the upper hand online, Negreanu came out on top in that first round. However, after moving online to WSOP.com, Doug Polk took command and led the series up $101,793.

The two were expected to battle again on Monday as well. Poker fans can find complete coverage at the USPoker Negreanu-Polk Central landing page. Readers will find:

• regular updates
• complete information on the matchup
• streams to watch the action
• PokerGO videos with preview and coverage of the live play
• links and more

‘High Stakes Poker’ returning to PokerGO

Speaking of PokerGO, it looks like the streaming service is bringing back an old favorite. High Stakes Poker is set to return to the platform in December. 

The show has been filming in the PokerGO Studio at Aria in Las Vegas recently. High stakes pro Tom Dwan spilled the beans about the return on Twitter.

High stakes poker coming back guys. Hope I run as good as last time pic.twitter.com/m8auOjG2ic

— Tom Dwan (@TomDwan) October 27, 2020

 

Some of those participating in the action included Phil Hellmuth, Ben Lamb, Phil Ivey, Jean-Robert Bellande, Bryn Kenney, and others.

For those who don’t remember, High Stakes Poker was one of the first televised cash games. The show debuted in 2006 on GSN (Game Show Network) and ran until 2011.

The series featured AJ Benza and Gabe Kaplan calling the action with Kara Scott later stepping in for Benza. Norm Macdonald replaced Kaplan in the show’s final season and original episodes are available on PokerGO.

 

Fans loved the action and seeing some of the biggest names in the game like those including Doyle Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, Mike Matusow, and others.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars exchanged hands in a single night. Viewers loved seeing how these card sharks played their hands for such big sums.

The banter among players also stood out and brought viewers back to check out the action. 

The show was filmed at the Palms, Golden Nugget, and South Point casinos. Fans are in luck with the high stakes returning after being off the air for almost a decade. New poker episodes debut on PokerGO on Dec. 16 at 8 pm ET.

Author pitches in at PokerStars to offers tips on improving those bad beat tales

Bad beats – everybody has one. But not everyone wants to hear others’ tales of Aces cracked or sad runner-runner whatever cards.

The crew at the PokerStars blog recently decided to offer some advice on improving those tales of poker depression.

The site invited best-selling author and poker player Matthew Dicks to explain how to tell a good bad beat story. He advises players how to make that next bad beat less painful and more entertaining for others to hear.

Dicks offers some differing ideas on shifting the focus of a story about math and probabilities to more player-specific revelations.

“I used to think that player across the table was an idiot, but it turns out that I was the idiot,” he offers as an example.

Some humor and suspense also help. It’s a fun read and may have players rethinking those dull no limit narrative accounts.

Eagle Cup brings big Sunday winners at Global Poker

Players outside states offering legal online poker may want to check out sweepstakes poker options. Global Poker is the biggest of those and continues to offer players massive tournament series.

The Eagle Cup is currently underway and runs through Nov. 22 with an overall 1.2 million Sweeps Coin guarantee. This virtual currency can be exchanged for real cash prizes and gift certificates.

The series features Low, Medium, and High events with 104 Sweeps Coin tournaments. Winners also win a trophy, Global swag, and qualify for the Tournament of Champions on Nov. 22.

That event awards a $5,000 package to play a live event representing Global Poker. A look at Sunday’s action shows what players are in store for at this site.

Event 17-M: SC 110 NLHE Deepstack featured a SC 25,000 guarantee. The tournament attracted 354 entries and cracked the guarantee with a SC 34,300 prize pool. Connecticut player “Fatbeast” came out on top, winning SC 6,565.

In the SC 218 High version of the tournament featured a SC 55,000 guarantee. The tournament topped that with a SC 70,200 prize pool with 351 entries.

New Jersey’s “LuckboxLuke” took the title for SC 13,436 with another Garden State grinder taking second. “Cmefly80” earned runner-up for SC 10,004. Plenty of Eagle Cup action remains on tap.

ClubWPT series gives players opportunity at live televised final table in Las Vegas

Players at the World Poker Tour’s ClubWPT sweepstakes poker site now have some extra incentive to get in the game. Last week the site unveiled the $200,000 ClubWPT TV Challenge.

The event allows players to go from online grinder to televised poker star. The challenge starts this month and will play down to six finalists. Those players will then compete for a $50,000 first-place prize at HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas.

ClubWPT will host monthly finals through April featuring limited fields of 500 players. Qualifiers run all month, giving subscribers numerous opportunities to advance. The Las Vegas final table will be broadcast across multiple WPT platforms. 

“The World Poker Tour is pleased to give six players the opportunity of a lifetime to play at a WPT final table,” WPT Vice President of Online Services Jeremy Clemons said. “ClubWPT continues to expand its prize pools for our loyal players and the $50,000 first-place prize marks the largest in ClubWPT history.”

All final table players are guaranteed at least $10,000 and also receive a $3,000 Vegas travel package. The HyperX has been the home of WPT televised final tables since 2018-19 with seven champions crowned in the venue.

The new challenge highlights the tour’s continued transition to online poker. That has numerous events in partnership with partypoker over the last year. The tour recently announced the WPT Montreal is heading online this year.

“WPT’s online pivot continues heading into 2021 and this new initiative on ClubWPT will allow us to offer the same quality WPT experience online, similar to what players have come to expect from a live WPT event,” company CEO Adam Pliska said.  

Wire Act decision may be further delayed

A federal appeals court heard arguments in the Wire Act case in June. That issue may be delayed further with the recent death of the presiding judge in the case.

The case may have a major impact on online gaming as the Department of Justice has argued the law applies to more than just sports betting. The gaming industry is hoping a decision further clarifies the issue.

A negative ruling for the industry would put interstate compacts in doubt. WSOP.com currently runs the only shared liquidity market in Nevada and New Jersey with 888poker in Delaware.

World record tournament for GGPoker

Guinness World Records recently awarded GGPoker with a noteworthy accomplishment.

The site was awarded the record for “largest prize pool for an online poker tournament.”

GG’s World Series of Poker Online $5,000 Main Event produced a prize pool of $27,559,500 on Sept. 6. Guinness official adjudicator Michael Empric gave GG rep Daniel Negreanu the good news.

* High Stakes Feud photo courtesy PokerGO

The post CHIP CHATTER: Negreanu-Polk, High Stakes Poker Returns, WPT TV Challenge, Wire Act, & Much More appeared first on .

The growing Twitch medium has become more and more important to growing the game. Streamers on the site host nightly games and that presence has grown even larger in recent months.

Poker sites like PokerStars, partypoker, and Global Poker have taken advantage of the Twitch Poker. The sites’ stable of streamers not only promote the online game but also these online poker platforms. 

Creative players around the world continue adding new and unique poker content. Here’s a look at the platform and a few streamers to check out.

Following the action online via Twitch

Twitch is owned by Amazon and is the world’s leading live streaming site for gamers. It has also become the leading site for live streaming of online poker players.

Poker sites host streamers to educate and entertain players around the globe. Use of the platform hasn’t come without some controversy however

Twitch made headlines over the summer with bans on some big name streamers. The site suspended top streamers such as Dr. Disrespect and poker streamer Daniel Negreanu.

Negreanu threatened a viewer in a fit of rage during one of his World Series of Poker online bracelet event streams. The ban was eventually lifted and Kid Poker apologized for his actions.

Poker streamers come in all varieties. Some focus on entertainment value, while some show how  to successfully use strategies for today’s game.

Other streamers are just trying to get their feet wet in the Twitch universe. As the medium continues to grow, here are some poker streamers poker fans may want to tune in.

Poker streaming top dogs 

These streamers have climbed the Twitch ladder and grown a community around their platforms.

Spraggy

Ben Spragg is part of Team PokerStars and is one the most popular streamers currently on Twitch. His streaming career started out with a bang.

While behind the mic, Spraggy took down a $7.50 tournament. he went on grinding up until he reached high stakes success. He keeps his audience entertained through jokes and fun stories.

Lex Veldhuis

Also a member of Team PokerStars, Lex Veldhuis budgets about $60,000 a month in online tournament buy-ins.

This high stakes tournament crusher from the Netherlands currently has 247,000 Twitch followers.

I can’t believe what happened yesterday. Two stream-related dreams come true for me.

Breaking the Twitch Poker Viewer Record by 20k viewers, setting it at 58.534
Nr 1 stream on Twitch globally.

Also winning $62.000 in the process. Dream come true. Thank you all so much pic.twitter.com/zquO3xNLcE

— Lex Veldhuis (@LexVeldhuis) May 20, 2020

Ssome Twitch strategy sessions

Doyle Brunson said that he caught a lot of flack for publishing Super System: A Course in Power Poker. The book was the first modern strategy guide.

Many professional players didn’t like the fact he was selling the secrets of the game. Flash forward to 2020 and one the fastest ways to learn the game is by watching streaming video.

This allows players to not only watch, but engage by asking direct questions to the streamer. Here are a couple who do well spreading some strategy advice to the poker masses.

Jeff Gross 

A member of Team partypoker, Jeff Gross regularly discusses strategy on his stream. He has $5 million in online winnings and players love bouncing online strategy questions off him.

For Gross, streaming and online poker have become a business beyond just hitting the poker tables. He markets clothing and merchandise, and also has sponsorship and partnership deals. His talent at the mic and the table seem to be paying off.

As WPT.com notes: “With a Twitch online stream, YouTube podcast, and other ventures, Gross has turned his love of poker into much more than just a card game.”

GodsBigToe

Nevada resident Jarred Gabin has been playing online since the poker boom of the mid-2000s. He even represented team USA in the 2009 PokerStars World Cup.

Every Saturday, Gabin hosts a strategy session live on Twitch to discuss the current state of the game. Grab a notebook to jot down a few concepts.

Hitting the poker table and playing for fun

These streams aren’t poker legends or high-stakes rounders. However, they bring a sense of fun and excitement to the tables.

PlayUSA

Some Twitch sites have shown strength in numbers, with multiple players adding to the fun. PlayUSA took advantage of that and offers a team of streamers that play for fun and make it exciting.

Streamers like “Eatahoagie” and “Vinny Goombatz” keep the channel entertaining through dance parties, bad jokes, and off the wall costumes. 

Women in poker streaming the action

Only a small percentage of poker players are women. Players like Vanessa Kade and Courtney Gee are trying to change that via Twitch. Both players mix their unique personalities and skills to attract other women to the tables. 

Courtney Gee

This player from Canada is a part of Team partypoker and has a science degree from the University of British Columbia. After being introduced to the streaming world, Gee decided to make it into a weekly hobby.

“CourtieBEE” has now been streaming for over four years and has a loyal fan base online known as the “Swarm.” She now streams multiple days a week with the goal of keeping her channel fun.

A tournament player, she’s made some deep runs in some major events– with the Swarm following along. 

Vanessa Kade

This Canadian streamer originally worked for BioWare, Disney, and LucasArts before transitioning to Twitch Poker. Kade turned a hobby into a passion and her unique personality makes her stream enjoyable.

That includes sporting her favorite outfits on stream – often entailing a onesie. Vanessa has more than 16,000 followers on Twitch and more than $140,000 in live tournament winnings. 

So close to so many good scores today… couldn’t get the job done, but still a good day. This run on @GGPokerOfficial in the $125 Sunday Special (32k for 1st) was the best run of the day. AK < JJ to bust.

Happy to grind with Cero, Canada’s best poker coach. pic.twitter.com/iiKTZYYnxL

— Vanessa Kade (@VanessaKade) September 21, 2020

New kid on the block

Once upon a time you needed advanced computer skills to produce a streaming channel. Now anyone with a decent computer, camera, and access to self-help videos on Youtube can get started easily. 

Chef Will

This upcoming streamer is highlighted weekly on the GlobalPokerLive stream. His twitter profile reads: “Retired chef turned poker player, amateur poker player … ” Will keeps his streams entertaining with hard rock and a carefree attitude that attracts plenty of new fans.

Twitch remains a growing powerhouse for poker with new streamers jumping online every day. According to a Syracuse University report, online gaming is now outpacing most sports in hours watched by younger demographics.

As the platform continues to grow, poker remains a big part of that. This offers an even bigger opportunity to bring more players into the game.

Looking to get into online poker? Click here to learn more about the US market as well as some exclusive bonus offers.

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Blow out that candle. This week PokerStars PA marks the completion of one full year dealing virtual hands to Pennsylvania online poker players.

With the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono as its retail partner, PokerStars PA spent its entire first year as the only operating online poker site for Pennsylvania players.

It was a year highlighted by numerous tournament series and other events, all serving to establish PokerStars PA’s primacy at the start of the new era of online poker in the Keystone State.

PokerStars returns to PA after nearly nine years away

On Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, PokerStars Pennsylvania launched both its online casino and online poker room. After a couple of “soft launch” partial days under the watchful eyes of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the site went 24/7 on Nov. 6.

Those downloading the client gained access to both the online casino and online poker room. Also, for sports bettors the FOX Bet Sportsbook was just a click away.

It was the first time since April 2011 online poker players in Pennsylvania were able to play on PokerStars. Early indications revealed they were enthusiastic to play on the site again.

There was another factor likely affecting players’ eagerness to sit down at the virtual tables. It had taken two full years for the first online poker site to launch after PA legalized online gambling in late 2017.

A warm welcome to the Commonwealth

PokerStars PA marked the occasion right away with a 50-event Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker series starting at the end of November. Turnouts were larger than expected with prize pools routinely exceeding events’ guarantees. In fact in some cases, the prize pools doubled or tripled them.

That encouraged PokerStars to up the guarantees for several of the later PACOOP events. What had been $1 million in total guarantees was increased an extra $225K. Ultimately the series awarded nearly $1.56 million.

Thus began what evolved into a regular series of announcements regarding new tournament series throughout 2020. Indeed, it seemed there was always either a series happening on PokerStars PA or a new one just around corner.

Tournament series central to site’s year one strategy

It makes sense that PokerStars PA kept the tournament series coming. As turnouts for series’ events consistently demonstrated, they were giving PA players what they wanted.

While a few scattered tournaments had overlays, the majority again bested guarantees. Also, in every case the series’ overall prize pools exceeded the events’ total guarantees.

Here’s a summary showing how PokerStars PA’s major tournament series went during the site’s first year.

PokerStars PA first year tournament series stats

PokerStars PA Tournament Series	Events	Total Guarantees	Total Payouts
PACOOP (Nov. 30-Dec. 15, 2019)	50	$1,225,000	$1,559,767
Winter Series (Jan. 25-Feb. 1, 2020)	30	$675,000	$828,205
Bounty Builder (Feb. 20-Mar. 1, 2020)	32	$500,000	$668,241
PASCOOP (Apr. 4-20, 2020)	100	$2,000,000	$3,232,461
Summer Series (Jun. 18-28, 2020)	38	$757,000	$1,175,464
Bounty Builder (Jul. 12-26, 2020)	70	$1,502,000	$1,968,721
PACOOP (Sep. 19-Oct. 5, 2020)	50	$1,500,000	$2,039,133

Year One PokerStars PA tournament highlights

As shown, tournament series participation peaked in April with the PokerStars PA Spring Championship of Online Poker. Awarding over $3.2 million altogether, PASCOOP culminated with a huge Main Event featuring a $368,200 prize pool.

At the time, that was the largest prize pool ever for an online poker tournament in Pennsylvania. PokerStars PA would go on to break that record on a couple of occasions with special one-off tournaments called Pennsyl-MANIA.

Both Pennsyl-MANIA tournaments were $200 buy-in, two-day events allowing up to five entries. The first Pennsyl-MANIA in May more than doubled its $250K guarantee, drawing 2,774 total entries and creating a $515,964 prize pool to set a new all-time high.

The second Pennsyl-MANIA in August came with a $350K guarantee. That one attracted 2,026 total entries and awarded $376,836.

The focus on tournament series will no doubt continue into PokerStars PA’s second year. Indeed, they’ve already announced another one, the 35-event PokerStars 1st Anniversary Series with $1 million in guarantees happening Nov. 8-16.

Strong spring revenue numbers highlight of first year

In terms of the site’s overall performance, those spring months were by far the strongest for PokerStars PA.

Being the only online poker site operating in the state was already a plus for PokerStars PA. But the forced closure of live poker rooms starting in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic no doubt increased online traffic even further.

Even when PA casinos started to open again in June, poker rooms remained closed per state regulators’ COVID-19 Casino Reopening Protocols. Some casinos started submitting reopening plans for their poker rooms to the PGCB last month, and by now a few have reopened with extensive safety protocols and limited capacity.

In terms of overall revenue, online poker exceeded PokerStars online casino (slots and table games) until May. Online poker revenue peaked in April 2020 at just over $5.25 million when online casino brought in $5.20 million.

More recently, monthly totals for online have settled back closer to what the site earned during its first months, while casino maintains momentum made during the pandemic closures. PokerStars Casino revenue peaked in May with $6.29 million, and these verticals have brought in $37.74 million in revenue in year one (through September). Compare that with $32.74 million for online poker.

Here’s a month-by-month overview of PokerStars PA revenue totals for its first year, with the October figures still pending.

PokerStars PA Year One revenue

Month	Revenue	State/local tax (16%)
November 2019	$1,965,494	$314,479
December 2019	$2,473,137	$395,702
January 2020	$2,157,266	$345,162
February 2020	$1,830,356	$290,752
March 2020	$3,133,019	$500,384
April 2020	$5,253,304	$837,550
May 2020	$4,596,418	$729,851
June 2020	$3,240,917	$509,590
July 2020	$2,986,498	$477,840
August 2020	$2,729,199	$436,672
September 2020	$2,376,045	$380,167
Total to date:	$32,741,652	$5,218,150

PokerStars PA looks ahead to year two

Looking ahead, PokerStars PA will no longer enjoy its Pennsylvania online poker monopoly during its second year. Having cleared regulators’ hurdles, other online poker sites are expected to launch in the state in 2021, among them WSOP.com and partypoker.

Meanwhile the new year may also see PokerStars launching an online poker site in Michigan to go along with its sites in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It will be interesting to find out if PokerStars positions itself to enjoy a headstart in MI much as it was able to in PA.

It will also be interesting to see how PokerStars PA fares in year two, as well as how Pennsylvania online poker players react when new options arrive in 2021.

Image via Dreamstime/Paul George Bodea

The post Happy Anniversary, PokerStars PA: Highlights from an Eventful First Year in Pennsylvania appeared first on Play Pennsylvania.

When it comes to training, Jonathan Little is one of the most recognized names in poker. The two-time World Poker Tour champion becomes the first player in this new strategy feature.

The Online Poker Strategy Session series offers some quick advice for players to work on their skills. With millions in winnings live and online, Little brings big skills and experience to the virtual tables.

He’s also the founder of PokerCoaching.com and the author of the new book Excelling at Tough No Limit Hold’em Games. Little offered readers some things to consider next time they take out the laptop for some online action.

Picking up online tells and taking notes

Physical tells at a live table may offer some information on how certain people play. Those same concepts can also be picked up on at an online table.

How can players actually pick up tells online? Are there any to watch for

“There are not a ton of non-technical tells available online beyond timing tells, which are often quite inaccurate due to people playing multiple tables at a time or being distracted,” Little says.

“However, bet sizing tells certainly exist, allowing you to make substantial adjustments based on the specific sized bets your opponent makes, assuming they use various sizes, such as deviating between betting 700 and 722 into a 1,000-chip pot.”

How important is using online note taking features many sites offer?

Little says those notes can certainly help when you see that same player again even in another event. A quick glance offers some insight on that person plays.

“You should definitely keep notes on all your opponents, both live and online,” he says. “Whenever you see someone make an abnormal play, take note and adjust accordingly.”

For success online, Little recommends working on playing fundamentally sound poker. Many players move online and feel the need to “mix it up” more than in their live games. That can be a foolish move.

“If you approach online poker with the idea that you’re going to play lots of pots and try to outplay your opponents by making big folds and big bluffs, you are almost certain to fail,” he says.

“Given you will have almost no reads on your opponents, you should play a fundamentally sound strategy and adjust to what your opponents do incorrectly only once their mistakes become clear.

“While getting out of line and crushing your opponent’s spirit may feel nice, playing well is what wins the money at the end of the day.”

Online satellite success and more

Satellites are a great way to gain entry into a bigger event. Little offers some advice for jumping in one of these events hoping to make your way through the field.

How should players handle online satellites? How can players adjust their tournament strategies in these events?

“Satellites certainly require a different strategy than normal multi-table tournaments because the payout structures are drastically different,” Little says.

“Survival is often prioritized in all tournaments, but it is especially prioritized in satellites because you do not have to win all the chips to collect a substantial prize.”

And what can online and Texas Hold’em players get out of Little’s new book?

“I have the amazing opportunity to interact with many of the best poker players in the world on a regular basis, but I realize many people do not,” he says.

“So, I put together Excelling at Tough No-Limit Hold’em Games to help the readers learn to think like the best players in the world by hearing their thoughts about their specific areas of expertise.”

USPoker readers can click here to take advantage of a free course at PokerCoaching.com. Little says the course will help learn the basics of fundamentally sound play and adjusting to what opponents do incorrectly.

★★★ Ready to get in the online poker game? Click here to find out more information and take advantage of several exclusive online poker bonus offers. ★★★

Photo courtesy WPT/Joe Giron

The post ONLINE STRATEGY SESSION: WPT Champion Jonathan Little Offers Advice to Bolster Your Skills appeared first on .

With three sessions in the book, Doug Polk has taken command in the first two online sessions. That included a nice run on Monday and Polk has asserted his heads-up skills so far.

For more of the Day 3 action, check out the updates just below the links. This page updates the action as the Daniel Negreanu-Doug Polk matchup as it plays out over the next few weeks.

The High Stakes Feud kicked off on Nov. 4 with live play on PokerGo and then shifted online. Here are all the match details and updates.

Negreanu versus Polk – complete details

• Dates – begins Nov. 4 on PokerGO
  • Look for 3-5 days per week online
  • Next date is Monday, Nov. 9, at 5:30 ET
• Online site – WSOP.com
• Game – Heads-up No Limit Hold’em
• Stakes – Blinds set at $200/$400
• Number of hands – 200 live and 25,000 total with option to quit at 12,500
• Number of tables – 2 (online play)
• Where to watch the live poker – PokerGO app and Youtube, Facebook channels
• Analysis – Click here for insight and picks from several poker pros
• Where to watch online – Polk and Negreanu may be streaming on their own channels as well during online play throughout the series
  • Doug Polk stream
  • Daniel Negreanu stream
  • GGPoker stream
• Hands played so far – 1,006
• Leader – Doug Polk is up $268,032

Tracking the action on the felt

Day 3: Nov. 9 – Doug Polk extends his lead

The High Stakes Feud action resumed on Monday between Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk. After one live session won by Negreanu, Polk again won in the second online session at WSOP.com.

The pair got in another 382 hands and Polk came out on top for an additional $166,239. This moves his total up to a positive $268,032.

Monday’s action began well for Polk after his 25 hit two more fives on the flop early in the match. He got paid off on the river for almost a $27,000 pot.

 

However just after that, Negreanu raked his own $29,000 pot on the second table. He added another $10,000 pot a few minutes later with a flush.

There was plenty of three-bet action early. About 15 minutes into the match, Negreanu also picked up a $93,000 pot after picking off a Polk bluff. He seemed to be rolling through the second online session.

Polk turns it around and turns it on

That momentum would change however. About a half-hour in, Polk moved all in for $42,000 on a board of J734. This came after Negreanu three-bet pre-flop and then bet the flop and the turn. Polk took the $34,000 pot instead.

Several five-figure pots continued to go his way. Polk picked up a $16,000 pot when his K-J hit a King on the river. Polk’s stacks on both tables continued to grow.

He raked a $25,000 pot at about the one hour, 15-minute mark. After three-betting pre-flop, he check-raised the flop and bet big on the turn to draw a fold.

A few hands later, Polk raked a $12,000 pot after betting $17,000 on the river. More pots would go Polk’s way including two simultaneous pots for about $30,000, both of which Negreanu had three-bet.

Polk methodically took control and continued to over-bet often on river cards. Negreanu was put in numerous tough spots and a critical hand came late in the match.

With $13,000 in the pot and a board of K7385, Polk moved all in for $81,000. Negreanu tanked before eventually making the call.

Polk tabled K7 for two pairs with his opponent showing K5 for a smaller two pairs. The $96,000 pot was sent to Polk after a tough cooler for his opponent.

Inside the third day of play

After 1,006 hands played so far, Polk looks to be in control. However, there is plenty of poker left to be played. Polk’s lead looks hefty at more than a quarter of a million dollars. However, players start each session with $40,000 and Polk noted his lead isn’t large in this kind of challenge. 

“I will say this though, just cause the number is big doesn’t mean Dnegs is down that much,” he noted on Twitter. “He is down a little under seven buy-ins. That is a completely normal result over 1,000 hands of heads-up no limit.”

The two foes are about 4% through the challenge and Polk looks to be in command online so far. His river aggression on Monday seemed constant and gave Negreanu some trouble. Polk did note that Negreanu faced some tough hands.

At the end of the challenge ill give my thoughts on Negreanu’s play, but until then not going to say much.

I will say he is obviously running bad in a bunch of standard cooler spots. His game does have some issues though.

— Doug “Truck Driver” Polk (@DougPolkVids) November 10, 2020

Negreanu said the big two pairs versus two pairs hand was indicative of how things went. He still seems pleased with how he’s played and believes he’s on the right path overall.

“I was very happy,” Negreanu said on the GGPoker stream after the day’s action wrapped up (see complete stream replay above). “I felt like I ran kind of bad in the last session … but in this one I was quite certain I ran worse. I generally felt pretty comfortable, pretty good.”

Can Kid Poker turn it around? There are plenty more online sessions and USPoker will be tracking all the action.

• Hands played: 1,006
• Total: Doug Polk up $268,032
• Next match: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 5:30 pm ET

Day 2: Nov. 6 – online action begins, Polk storms ahead

After battling on PokerGO live, the action shifted to WSOP.com on Friday. The heads-up game is Polk’s forté and that came through in the first session online.

When it comes to usernames, Polk brings some humor – going with “MicroStakes” as his moniker. Negreanu goes with “DNegs” at these virtual tables. Here is all the action below via the GGPoker stream.

There was plenty of action right from the beginning with Negreanu scooping a few pots early . Then almost simultaneous $20,000-plus pots developed on both tables within the first 10 minutes.

Negreanu won the first for $120,698, then action shifted to the second table. That hand produced some fireworks.

With Polk on the $200 small blind, Polk raised to $918 and his opponent three-bet to $4,140. Polk made the call and the flop brought 624. Negreanu then bet $6,210 and Polk called with the 10 landing on the turn.

Kid Poker checked and Polk bet $6,830. Negreanu, on a stack of just over $56,000, then moved all in. Polk snap-called with almost $29,000 left in front of him – producing a $92,205 pot.

With the call, Negreanu held J9 for a flush draw. Polk flashed 46 for two pairs. The river brought the A and Polk raked the massive pot.

Inside the second day of play

That’s the kind of day it would be for Polk on Day 2 online. He completely flipped the table from the first session – winning $218,292.78 after 424 hands.

I won 200k but I still feel bad because I made more misclicks in my session than a man 2 tabling in a recliner

— Doug “Truck Driver” Polk (@DougPolkVids) November 7, 2020

 

“Felt good today,” Polk added on Twitter. “Obviously ran hot in some important spots. Much happier to be back on the online felt.”

A few coolers ran Negreanu’s way and he wasn’t disappointed with his play.

“I’m playing against a really great player,” Negreanu said after the match on the GGPoker stream. “It’s going to be tough and put you in really tough spots. Overall I think I played pretty well.”

• Hands played: 624
• Total: Doug Polk up $101,792.78
• Next match: Monday, Nov. 9, at 5:30 ET

Day 1: Nov. 4 – kicking things off on PokerGO

The two combatants got things started at the PokerGO Studio at Aria casino in Las Vegas. The live component was a late addition but added extra excitement to the series to get fans even more interested.

Ali Nejad and Kane Kalas called the action as the series, known as High Stakes Feud, got underway. Those looking for some contentious banter wouldn’t find it on PokerGO.

While they may trade barbs on social media, Polk and Negreanu were friendly and even wished each other good luck.

I was happy that despite our history, and with all the divisiveness in the country right now, that @DougPolkVids and I could be civil and put on a show that the poker community could both be proud of and enjoy the fireworks.

Online Friday 2:30pm PST

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) November 5, 2020

The action began with Negreanu raising to $1,000 with K4 and Polk called with A4. Both players continued checking on the flop of K29 and turn of 6.

Negreanu then fired a $1,500 bet on the river with Polk raising to $8,500. After some thought, Negreanu made the call and jumped out to a lead of $9,500.

“How many hands left?” he said as he got up from his seat. The joke drew a laugh from his opponent.

That run would continue and the two continued talking poker and other topics throughout. Both players even needled Phil Hellmuth a bit.

 

Negreanu finds some big hands to take lead

Some poker fans may have preferred more combative conversation. However, even the friendly chit chat made for better viewing. High stakes players simply staring at cards hasn’t made for great viewing.

Negreanu even mentioned his new chair for the online portion of the match – complete with built-in massager.

By Thursday morning, High Stakes Feud had been viewed more than 260,000 times on YouTube. At the table, Negreanu seemed in control in the first match.

An early win with a flush saw Polk dip below half his starting stack and add $30,000. Negreanu kept a small advantage of $10,000 to $15,000 for much of the early play.

Polk reversed Negreanu’s lead after a break in the action. He flopped a flush while Negreanu hit the nut-flush draw. Polk ultimately raked a pot of $11,600 for his first lead in the match.

That lead disappeared soon as Negreanu took a few big pots and found a lead of about $50,000. One of the biggest hands then came right before the end of the night.

Polk raised the action to $900 with QJ and Negreanu three-bet to $4,000 with 106. Polk made the call and the flop brought 6K6.

Negreanu then bet $1,600 and Polk called. The river brought the 8 and he then checked. Polk fired $7,600 and Negreanu called.

The 2 fell on the river and Negreanu checked again. Polk continued the bluff moving all in, swelling the pot to more than $70,000.

Negreanu called and raked a massive pot with Polk adding another $50,000. The match would come to a close a few hands later with Negreanu finishing up $116,500 for the first session.

Reflecting on the first day of action

In his post-match interview, Negreanu spoke about how the live game was to his advantage.

“I’ve got 20 years of playing under the lights in this scenario, but unfortunately for me that’s just a very small portion of the match,” he said. “I know that we’ve got a long road ahead and we’re going to be walking into his arena, which is online.

“I felt like I played well and executed my strategy. It was really important to me to get off to a good start and I want to make this match competitive.”

Negreanu did just that. With action shifting online, Polk is in his element and it will be interesting to see how things play out.

“I had some spots that I thought were good to bluff – they weren’t,” Polk said about the live play element. “Just really didn’t get things going my way.”

Felt good about my play tonight despite going -$116,500. Couple hands were slightly loose (first hand of the night I misread the board to be totally honest lol)

Looking forward to not getting stacked bluffing into trips next session.

— Doug “Truck Driver” Polk (@DougPolkVids) November 5, 2020

Online poker included in Negreanu-Polk chit chat

The ins and outs of real money US online poker became a topic of conversation late in the match. Polk spoke about some struggles making a large deposit on WSOP.com.

“I always feel bad [for the sites] because it’s not their fault,” Negreanu noted about regulations legal operators faced. “It’s all politicians just doing their best.”

The site, however, apparently made some moves to facilitate the large deposits. WSOP.com has also designated two cash game tables for the match.

“It was pretty cool they made it work for us,” Negreanu noted.

Kid Poker went on to detail some of the frustrations the industry initially faced in Nevada. The two continued discussing the state of online poker and now take the game to the virtual tables.

After the loss, Polk to Twitter to offer an interesting post-match note as the action heads online.

Getting ready for bed and I get a text from my dad “Doug had a rough night, lost 100k”. Then texted back, oh wrong person.

Thanks dad.

— Doug “Truck Driver” Polk (@DougPolkVids) November 5, 2020

★★★ Looking to get in the action at WSOP.com? Click here to learn more about the site and qualify for some exclusive USPoker bonuses. ★★★

Photos courtesy of PokerGO

The post NEGREANU-POLK CENTRAL (Day 3): Doug Polk Extends Lead; Next Match Wednesday   appeared first on .

Each summer Daniel Negreanu makes a point of watching the entire Rocky saga. If the poker world is correct, he’ll be playing the role of the famed underdog palooka in his own heads-up battle with Doug Polk.

Many in the poker world aren’t giving Negreanu much of a shot in this High Stakes Feud. USPoker spoke with several players across the poker spectrum for their own insight.

The matchup is set to begin Wednesday, Nov. 4, with the first 200 hands live on PokerGO. The event then heads online at WSOP.com and should add some nice momentum to US online poker.

Our selectors don’t give Kid Poker much of ashot and Polk seems to be the clear-cut favorite. Here are some picks from several players as well as their analysis of the matchup.

“The guy is completely delusional” – @DougPolkVids

“When you see him in person he’s much softer, that’s very typical for online trolls” – @realkidpoker

High Stakes Feud | Wed. Nov. 4 5pm PT/8pm ET

on #PokerGO pic.twitter.com/yM5tB2lruS

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) November 3, 2020

Darren Elias

Four-time WPT champion

Pick: Doug Polk

“It’s just a format Doug has much more experience in, which is reflected in the betting lines. Daniel would have to put in a lot of prep work to win this match. If he got out to an early lead I think it would help a lot psychologically and make things more interesting.”

Phil Hellmuth

15-time WSOP bracelet winner

Pick: Daniel Negreanu

“I think it will be much closer than most people think. I bet $15,000 on Daniel at 4 to 1, and Mike “The Mouth” Matusow bet $10,000 at 4 to 1. Doug is amazing at heads-up NLHE, especially online. However, Daniel is being trained by some amazing coaches. I spent a few hours with these coaches, and they were perfectly aligned with what I thought about heads-up NLHE.

“Then I sent them to my agent, who sent them to Daniel. Daniel worked with them for months. Although I believe they are on to something, because I have won 24 out of my last 25 heads-up matches, I didn’t use these coaches except for a couple hours the day we met.

“There is fundamental math in heads-up NLHE. Two years ago no one knew the right math. Most still don’t. Daniel does. And Daniel has amazing talent, especially when he trusts his instincts. Thus, I’m predicting Daniel will win.”

Jamie Kerstetter

$682,000 in live tournament winnings and poker commentator

Pick: Doug Polk

“My money is on Doug, he’s intelligent and gets tunnel vision when he wants to succeed at something.”

Chance Kornuth

Two WSOP bracelets and poker coach

Pick: Doug Polk

“Doug across the board. For Daniel to succeed, just don’t be afraid to play his game instead of trying to emulate the solver.”

Shaun Deeb

Four WSOP bracelets

Pick: Doug Polk

“No one will pick Daniel. Not even Daniel himself.” What could Negreanu do to lose less? “Allow preflop charts and use one himself.”

Ari Engel

WSOP bracelet winner

Pick: Doug Polk

“Polk’s a huge favorite according to all including Daniel Negreanu. Polk is a heads-up specialist. Betting market says Polk is a huge favorite.”

Katie Stone

partypoker US Network sponsored pro

Pick: Doug Polk

“Polk is my choice to win. He’s previously been the No. 1 heads-up player in the world and even though he hasn’t played in a while, a match like this makes it easy and exciting for him to get back to study and play. I think his experience of being elite in this format will be very beneficial.”

Calvin Anderson

Two WSOP bracelets

Pick: Daniel Negreanu

“Polk is a clear favorite. It’s probably more interesting to say at what odds would I take Negreanu. That answer is probably anything above 5 to 1. As controversial as it is to say, I really like both of these people and what they have done for poker. Personally I’d like to see Negreanu win

“Negreanu is an OG that has invented and adapted to many games, strategies, and styles of poker. He’s someone who is humble and aware enough to know where he stands and smart to know what he needs to do to specialize in anything. Nowadays with programs and coaches a person as skilled, resourceful, and hard working as Negreanu is can hold his own against anyone including Polk. Fortunately, we can bet and get 3 to 1 on our money, which pushed me on the side of Negreanu.”

Isaac Haxton

$27.7 million lifetime tournament winnings

Pick: Doug Polk

“Heads-up No Limit Hold’em is a super technical game and not forgiving of imprecision. The specialist has a big edge.”

Nathan Gamble

Two WSOP bracelets including 2020 WSOP Online

Pick: Doug Polk

“At this stage of the game, my money is on Doug Polk to win due to his years of experience in heads-up NLHE. Thankfully it’s not a personality contest though because we’d be looking for a third party to come in and steal the votes as they’ve both been acting like buffoons.”

Ben Yu

Three WSOP bracelets

Pick: None

“I find the whole thing tremendously petty, so not going to give an answer. You can publish I said that though.”

Tana Karn

Founder of RunGood Poker Series

Pick: Daniel Negreanu

“This feels like the Mayweather versus McGregor fight all over again. Fans may be chanting Polk, but come Round 6 Negreanu pulls ahead and finishes the rivalry on the felt.”

Grant Hinkle

WSOP bracelet and WSOP Circuit winner

Pick: Doug Polk

“Sadly, it reminds me of our presidential election. Neither are desirable choices and leave me longing for a viable third party option. I will pick Polk so I am not accused of wasting my vote.”

Maria Konnikova

Poker player and author of bestselling book The Biggest Bluff

Pick: Doug Polk

“I’m on Team Doug. Heads up was always his strong suit, and he is an online player, unlike Negreanu. As a side note, I took Doug’s heads-up masterclass for Upswing in the months before the 2018 PCA, [PokerStars Caribbean Adventure] when I wanted to work on my heads-up play. I credit it in part with my eventual victory – so I have strong admiration for Doug’s heads-up chops and way of thinking. Sure, the ranges change, but the critical thought process stays the same.”

Alex Livingston

Finished third place in 2019 WSOP Main Event

Pick: Doug Polk

“I’d say Polk just because he has the online and heads up experience. But I do think Negreanu is good at adjusting and figuring stuff out on the fly, so the longer the match goes the more he gives himself a chance.”

Allen Kessler

Three WSOP Circuit rings

Pick: Doug Polk

“Polk, but I don’t think it will happen,” he said of the matchup. What can Negreanu do to improve his chances? “Play aggressively but trap in spots. Also deny any outside help.”

Catena poker team members make their picks

A few members of the Catena Media poker team also offered their selections this week. Here’s a look at their analysis.

Alex Weldon

Writer at OnlinePokerReport

Pick: Doug Polk

“Polk. DNegs is good at exploiting average players, especially in a full ring environment. Polk made a career of battling the best in the world heads up.

“Arguments about who is the best overall poker player are meaningless because poker is in fact many different games. However, assuming they’re doing this as a typical heads-up challenge, then Polk is the clear favorite.

“Just like how arguments about whether boxer A is a better ‘fighter’ than UFC guy B are meaningless. If you put them in a boxing ring, the boxer will win. If you put them in an MMA match, the UFC guy will win.

“Obviously there’s more variance for poker, so the worse person will win sometimes, but if they played infinitely many hands, Polk would almost certainly come out on top.”

Anthony Cicali

Writer, USPoker and PokerScout

Pick: Doug Polk

“I’m going with Polk. Online poker is his arena and we already saw Negreanu having multiple freakouts online this past summer and that was only one table at a time. If this was live poker then Daniel would have the edge, but my money is on Polk.”

Bart Shirley

Evergreen Content Writer

Pick: Doug Polk

“I’m going with Polk. Negreanu seems to be in his own head about online poker in general, and much of Polk’s experience is online. Although DNegs is an all-time great, he may have bitten off more than he could chew here.”

Sean Chaffin

Pick: Daniel Negreanu

Site runner and head writer, USPoker and PokerScout

“Doug Polk is an amazing player, but I kind of like the underdog just to be different. But I’m not betting a dime.”

For more details on the matchup, click here.

Photos courtesy WPT, partypoker, WSOP, PokerStars, PokerGO

The post POKER PICK-IT LINE: Poker World Weighs In With Selections, Analysis of Negreanu-Polk Battle appeared first on .

November marks a milestone for online poker in Pennsylvania. PokerStars launched in the state one year ago and has announced a new series to mark the occasion.

The PokerStars First Anniversary Series runs Nov. 8-15 with an overall guarantee of $1 million across 35 events. The $100 Main Event highlights the series and guarantees a $200,000 prize pool. It should be another nice festival for Keystone State grinders.

Celebrating a year of PokerStars in PA

PokerStars remains the only operator in PA although others have now been approved in the Keystone State. The site has seen plenty of nice fields in the first year including major tournament success since the Coronavirus pandemic.

The site has offered some of its traditional series like the Bounty Builder, Summer Series, and Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker (PACOOP). There have also been two Pennsyl-MANIA events, centered solely on PA and generating major prize pools.

The Anniversary Series now adds to some of that momentum while celebrating the platform’s first year in the state. The series should appeal to players of every level with buy-ins ranging from $10 to $500. A few other events to watch out for include:

• $100 Sunday Special – Nov. 8 with a $100,000 guarantee
• $500 High Roller – Nov. 9 with $50,000 guarantee
• $20 Mini Thrill – Nov. 12 with $17,500 guarantee
• $20 Mini Main Event – Nov. 15 with a $25,000 guarantee
• $50 Phase tournament – runs throughout the series and guarantees $50,000

Here’s a look at the complete schedule:

Freerolls and satellites planned for PokerStars Anniversary Series

PokerStars has plenty of added value in store for Pennsylvania players throughout the series. Second Chance Freerolls will offer $10,500 in tournament tickets across seven freerolls.

Players can also qualify for events for as little as $1. Satellite events are already underway.

Over the past year, PokerStars has awarded millions of dollars in prize money. PACOOP was the first series to run in the state last December.

After a successful year, PokerStars hopes to offer even more in its second year. The First Anniversary series becomes the kickstart for even more action.

NJCOOP tops $1 million guarantee

PokerStars players also recently racked up nice prize pools in the New Jersey Championship of Online Poker (NJCOOP). The series closed on Oct. 26 after awarding more than $1.1 million, topping the $1 million guarantee.

The two week-long series featured 9,743 entries across 54 events. A few players even scored multiple titles. 

In the $300 Main Event, “DabledoreNJ” took the title for $22,445. “Dabledore” also won Event 25 and reached seven other final tables.

The series also featured a three-time champion. “loxonbagel”  hit the trifecta and scored more than $13,000 in the process. That moved “bagel” to second place on the all-time NJCOOP/NJSCOOP winners list with 12 titles overall.

Dan “AvaGray” Lupo, of Lopatcong, NJ, leads that list with 16 titles and added another during this series. In 2019, the recreational player and architect also won five titles in the NJ Spring Championship of Online Poker (NJSCOOP).

Eight other players secured two NJCOOP wins during the series: BurntBagels, JohnnyMania, ISlowRollYou, coldandwarm, DabledoreNJ, TobogganM.D., laura33188 and Scooby-D0O.

★★★ PokerStars offers legal, regulated online poker in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. For a complete review and exclusive USPoker bonus offers, click here. ★★★

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