Full Tilt Poker are doing satellites to the WSOP Main Event for just one dollar! 

The $1 tournaments take place every Sunday at 13:30 ET up until 26th June 2011.

At least three $12,000 packages to the WSOP Main Event are guaranteed each week.   On the final weekend of April, May and June six packages are guaranteed per tournament.  The package includes 5 days of accomodation at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, as well as the buy-in for the event.

If you are interested in qualifying for the WSOP Main Event for such a small amount then sign-up to Full Tilt and also receive a deposit bonus up to $600.

The largest online gambling company in the world that is stock exchange listed has just been created.  Party Gaming (owners of Party Poker) and Bwin have merged.  The new company is called bwin.party Digital Entertainment.    They are traded under the code BPTY on the London Stock Exchange.

There will be joint CEOs.  Norbert Teufelberger from bwin and Jim Ryan from Party Gaming.   Poker will be provided via the Party Poker brand (with bwin Poker players coming over to Party Poker).  This will leapfrog them over the iPoker network into being the 3rd largest online poker site.   Other synergies are expected such as bwin’s Sportsbook being expanded out across the whole new company.

Most importantly from a poker perspective it increases the number of players on Party Poker thus increasing the amount of action and the size of tournament prizepools. If you are interested in checking out the new busier Party Poker then visit Party Poker Review

Full Tilt recently introduced a new reward system called Black Card.  It is essentially orientated towards higher volume players, offering them a string of benefits for playing at Full Tilt.

To get Black Card access you need to earn an average of 500 player points (FTPs) over a 100 day period (ie 50,000 points over 100 days).  In cash games 10 points get awarded to the table per dollar rake (divided evenly amongst dealt in players).  In tournaments 10 points get awared per dollar buy-in fee.  So earning 500 points is pretty easy, especially for cash players.

The main benefits to Black Card status are a dedicated Black Card store, special tournaments, double the normal player points, and a dedicated support team (being allocated your own Full Tilt rep).  At the Black Card store, notably you can cash in player points directly for cash bonuses, as well as a wide range of electronics, and luxury goods.

Some of the cash bonus you can get using your player points are:

$5000 in cash for 1,100,000 points
$2000 in cash for 460,000 points
$1000 in cash for 240,000 points
$500 in cash for 125,000 points
$250 in cash for 65,000 points
$100 in cash for 28,500 points
$50 in cash for 15,000 points

If you are a regular player the points sure mount up very quickly so it’s nice just to be able to convert them to cash if you dont actually want to buy physical store items with them.

The Black Card status is fairly flexible once obtained.  Even if you drop below the 500 FTPs you will be given 50 days for you get the average back up. 

If you are an even more high volume player and average 1500 FTPs a day you will get 3 times the points.  And if you are a real sicko and average 3000 FTPs a day, you will get 4 times the points.

If you are interested in taking advantage of these rewards and also Full Tilt rakeback then sign-up to Full Tilt and get a $600 bonus plus rakeback

This season’s FTOPS Main Event at Full Tilt was the first we have seen since the introduction of Multi-Entries to certain tournaments. This lead to a hugh field of 14,479 entrants (the biggest ever) with the $3 million guarantee being well and truely smashed. The prizepool came to $8,687,400 and the top prizes were huge:

1st: $1,326,044.74
2nd: $890,458.50
3rd: $629,836.40
4th: $451,744.80
5th: $321,433.80

1890 places won some money in total.

WSOP Bracelet winner Blair Hinkle had a great run and had a sizeable chip advantage with 3 players left.

The players negociated a chop which saw Hinkle secure over $1.1 million of the max possible ~$1.3 million. As it played out though, GIAMPP took the title, even though Hinkle was still the biggest money winner (despite finishing in 2nd place).

1. GIAMPP - $877,949.74*
2. blur5f6 - $1,162,949.74* (Blair Hinkle)
3. SirMad - $805,440.26*
4. Nayza - $451,744.80
5. WiLDmAn75 - $321,433.80
6. J NOCK - $230,216.10
7. 425wedabest - $165,060.60
8. beerocrat - $121,623.60
9. Colonel Mustard - $86,005.26

Up to 6 entries were allowed per person in the tournament, and many players took up that facility, including Hinkle who entered 6 times (and many other pros and higher rollers did likewise). None of his other entries cashed, but he sure made up for that with the entry that did. GIAMPP entered just once, proving that the principle of quality over quantity still applies and that there isnt really any huge advantage to playing multiples beyond just having the opportunity to play 6 very big tournaments rather than 1. SirMad entered 2 times out of the maximum of 6, just to complete the summary of the top players.

The chop by Blair was particularly good when you look at 3rd place. He secured around half a million dollars on top of the scheduled prize payout for the next to bust. Perhaps technically speaking it would be wiser for the 2 shorter stacks to play on or negociate harder. But that’s easy to say from a distance. Few can deny them the desire to lock up that extra 200K or so.

Next on the agenda for Full Tilt is to run the same 45 FTOPS Events, but at a 10th of the original buy-ins (the so called “MiniFTOPS”). If you fancy giving some of the events a try then sign-up to Full Tilt and receive a $600 bonus.

A very interesting Sunday Warm-up just took place on Pokerstars with mig.com (WSOP Bracelet winner James Mackey) getting down to heads-up with Pokerstars Pro Liv Boeree (EPT Winner).  Liv emerged the winner after a real battle heads-up lasting over an hour.

1st Liv Boeree $147,780.96
2nd mig.com $109,743.00
3rd Aduobe4 $77,715.00

There were 4710 entrants, each paying a buy-in of $215.   A total of 675 places got paid.  The tournament took around 10 hours to complete.  Another well known pro Daniel Negreanu finished in 22nd.

Here is the winning hand:

 PokerStars Game #57250953564: Tournament #405020016, $200+$15 USD Hold’em No Limit - Level XXXIX (400000/800000) - 2011/02/06 23:49:53 ET
Table ‘405020016 300′ 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Liv Boeree (28655078 in chips)
Seat 6: mig.com (18444922 in chips)
Liv Boeree: posts the ante 80000
mig.com: posts the ante 80000
mig.com: posts small blind 400000
Liv Boeree: posts big blind 800000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
mig.com: raises 800000 to 1600000
Liv Boeree: raises 26975078 to 28575078 and is all-in
mig.com: calls 16764922 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (10210156) returned to Liv Boeree
*** FLOP *** [5s Qh 9s]
*** TURN *** [5s Qh 9s] [5c]
*** RIVER *** [5s Qh 9s 5c] [Qc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Liv Boeree: shows [7c 7s] (two pair, Queens and Sevens)
mig.com: shows [Ad 6c] (two pair, Queens and Fives)
Liv Boeree collected 36889844 from pot
mig.com finished the tournament in 2nd place and received $109743.00.
Liv Boeree wins the tournament and receives $147780.96 - congratulations!
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 36889844 | Rake 0
Board [5s Qh 9s 5c Qc]
Seat 1: Liv Boeree (big blind) showed [7c 7s] and won (36889844) with two pair, Queens and Sevens
Seat 6: mig.com (button) (small blind) showed [Ad 6c] and lost with two pair, Queens and Fives

If you fancy competing in online tournaments like these then sign-up to Pokerstars and get a $600 sign-up bonus

The 19th Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) starts on Sunday.  There are 45 events in total with over $30 Million in Guaranteed Prizepools.  Please find the full schedule below.  If you fancy taking a shot at one of the events then sign-up to Full Tilt and receive a $600 bonus.

Event #1
Sunday Feb 06 16:00 ET
$200 + $16 NL Holdem
$1,000,000 Guaranteed

Event #2
Monday Feb 07 14:00 ET
$200 + $16 PL Omaha Hi/Lo
$200,000 Guaranteed

Event #3
Monday Feb 07 17:00 ET
$300 + $22 NL Holdem Rush (Multiple Entries Allowed)
$250,000 Guaranteed

Event #4
Monday Feb 07 21:00 ET
$1,000 + $60 NL Holdem 6-Max
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #5
Tuesday Feb 08 14:00 ET
$200 + $16 PL 5 Card Draw 6-Max
$75,000 Guaranteed

Event #6
Tuesday Feb 08 17:00 ET
$300 + $22 NL Holdem Shootout 6-Max Turbo
$300,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #7
Tuesday Feb 08 21:00 ET
$200 + $16 HORSE 
$100,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #8
Wednesday Feb 09 14:00 ET
$500 + $35 NL 2-7 Single Draw 6-Max
$100,000 Guaranteed

Event #9
Wednesday Feb 09 17:00 ET
$240 + $16 PL Omaha Hi Rush Knockout
$250,000 Guaranteed

Event #10
Wednesday Feb 09 21:00 ET
$100 + $9 NL Holdem 6max Rebuy (Multiple Entries Allowed)
$500,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #11
Thursday Feb 10 14:00 ET
$300 + $22 7-Game 
$150,000 Guaranteed

Event #12
Thursday Feb 10 17:00 ET
$207 + $9 NL Holdem Rush Super Turbo
$300,000 Guaranteed

Event #13
Thursday Feb 10 21:00 ET
$200 + $16 7-Stud Hi/Lo 
$100,000 Guaranteed

Event #14
Friday Feb 11 14:00 ET
$200 + $16 NL Hold’em 1r1a
$500,000 Guaranteed

Event #15
Friday Feb 11 17:00 ET
$310 + $12 NL Holdem Super Turbo (Multiple Entries Allowed)
$350,000 Guaranteed

Event #16
Friday Feb 11 21:00 ET
$300 + $22 Razz 
$100,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #17
Saturday Feb 12 14:00 ET
$500 + $35 PL Omaha Hi 6-Max
$350,000 Guaranteed

Event #18
Saturday Feb 12 16:00 ET
$100 + $9 NL Holdem Rebuy
$500,000 Guaranteed 

Event #19
Saturday Feb 12 17:00 ET
$10,000 + $300 NL Holdem Heads Up (2-Day Event)
$500,000 Guaranteed

Event #20
Saturday Feb 12 18:00 ET
$200 + $16 NL Holdem Rush
$400,000 Guaranteed

Event #21
Saturday Feb 12 21:00 ET
$300 + $22 2-7 Triple Draw 6-Max
$100,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #22
Sunday Feb 13 14:00 ET
$120 + $9 NL Holdem Knockout (Multiple Entries Allowed)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #23
Sunday Feb 13 16:00 ET
$150 + $13 NL Holdem Rebuy
$800,000 Guaranteed

Event #24
Sunday Feb 13 17:00 ET
$300 + $22 NL Holdem (Multiple Entries Allowed)
$1,500,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #25
Monday Feb 14 14:00 ET
$200 + $16 PL HA 6-Max
$150,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #26
Monday Feb 14 17:00 ET
$200 + $16 NL Holdem Rush Turbo
$350,000 Guaranteed 

Event #27
Monday Feb 14 21:00 ET
$1,000 + $60 NL Holdem (Multiple Entries Allowed)
$750,000 Guaranteed

Event #28
Tuesday
Feb 15
14:00 ET
Ryan Daut $100 + $9
PL Omaha Hi
Rebuy $300,000 View Current Satellites 

Event #29
Tuesday Feb 15 17:00 ET
$200 + $16 NL Holdem Cashout Turbo
$100,000 Guaranteed

Event #30
Tuesday Feb 15 21:00 ET
$500 + $35 9-Game 6max (Multiple Entries Allowed)
$200,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #31
Wednesday Feb 16 14:00 ET
$500 + $35 NL Holdem 3xShootout
$350,000 Guaranteed

Event #32
Wednesday Feb 16 17:00 ET
$200 + $16 Holdem Limit Rush
$150,000 Guaranteed 

Event #33
Wednesday Feb 16 21:00 ET
$300 + $22 NL Holdem 6-Max Rebuy
$1,000,000 Guaranteed

Event #34
Thursday Feb 17 14:00 ET
$1,000 + $60 10-Game 6-Max
$200,000 Guaranteed

Event #35
Thursday Feb 17 17:00 ET
$300 + $22 PL Omaha Hi Heads Up
$150,000 Guaranteed

Event #36
Thursday Feb 17 21:00 ET
$200 + $16 7-Stud 
$100,000 Guaranteed

Event #37
Friday Feb 18 14:00 ET
$200 + $16 NL Holdem 6max (Multiple Entries Allowed)
$500,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #38
Friday Feb 18 17:00 ET
$515 + $20 NL Holdem Super Turbo Knockout
$400,000 Guaranteed 

Event #39
Friday Feb 18 21:00 ET
$200 + $16 Omaha Hi/Lo Limit
$150,000 Guaranteed

Event #40
Saturday Feb 19 14:00 ET
$2,000 + $100 NL Hold’em 6max Antes (2-Day Event)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #41
Saturday Feb 19 16:00 ET
$100 + $9 NL Holdem Rush Rebuy
$600,000 Guaranteed

Event #42
Saturday Feb 19 17:00 ET
$500 + $35 NL Holdem Heads Up
$400,000 Guaranteed
 
Event #43
Saturday Feb 19 21:00 ET
$200 + $16 Badugi
$50,000 Guaranteed

Event #44
Sunday Feb 20 14:00 ET
$240 + $16 NL Holdem 6-Max Knockout
$1,000,000 Guaranteed

Main Event
Sunday Feb 20 17:00 ET
$600 + $40 NL Holdem (Multiple Entries Allowed)
$3,000,000 Guaranteed

Following the departure of Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke, Ultimate Bet (UB) Poker has been freshening up it’s stable of stars and their latest arrival to join is WSOP Bracelet winner Prahlad Friedman.   Friedman is a well known online cash player and also has a couple of million dollars worth of tournament cashes to his name.   He is probably best known (somewhat ironically) as one of the biggest affected by the Ultimate Poker super-user controversy, something which he was heavily compensated for after investigations into the issues.    I guess he thought he was well looked after then and therefore will be well looked after now. 

Friedman is also quite well known for his poker raps, and for getting into several controversial arguements at the tables. He is certainly one of the slightly wilder members to join Team UB.   When teaming up alongside the likes of Tiffiny Michelle, Maria Ho,  and Brandon Cantu it certainly gives UB Poker a younger more edgy feel.  

 If you interested in giving UB Poker a go and also checking out some of their unique features then sign-up to UB Poker and receive a bonus up to $1110

In the 2nd of the Superstar Showdown games at Pokerstars Isildur1 took on Tony G in 2500 hands of Poker (half PLO, and half NLHE).  It was a close game throughout, until the very end with Isildur1 eventually winning with $44,820 profit.  The game took a good 8 hours or so, with only very short breaks.  Tony G put on a good performance, but towards the end tried to gamble it up a little more to pull back the deficit towards a victory, only to end up increasing the deficit.   As Tony himself said, he had to go for it for the sake of people who had prop bets on him.

 Here are the final details of Isildur’s win:

After 625 hands at table Showdown1 (NLHE), both players were even.
After 625 hands at table Showdown2 (NLHE), Isildur1 earned $500.00 profit.
After 625 hands at table Showdown3 (PLO), Isildur1 earned $158,470.00 profit.
After 625 hands at table Showdown4 (PLO), Tony G earned $114,150.00 profit.

You can watch the Superstar Showdown challenges at Pokerstars. Join Pokerstars and receive a $600 sign-up bonus

Following the recent signing of Isildur1 to Pokerstars a challenge series of heads-up showdowns has been created where anyone can challenge Isildur1 to a heads-up match of 2500 consequtive hands with each player bringing $150,000 to the tables.

Isaac Haxton was the first to take up the challenge and after 625 hands at each of 4 tables (2500 hands in total) Haxton emerged as the victor, being up by $41,701. Haxton had adopted a min-raise strategy which appeared to frustrate Isildur1 a little. Following many tos-and-fros Haxton just edged it but there is already talk of a rematch at some point after a few more contestants have taken a shot.

You can watch the challenges (or even take part!) at Pokerstars. Join Pokerstars and receive a $600 sign-up bonus

Full Tilt have introduced a load of new poker games. There are as follows:

5-Card Draw (available in NL, PL, and FL)
2-7 Triple Draw
2-7 Single Draw (available in NL and FL)
A-5 Triple Draw
Badugi

They are also expanding out their mixed games to include a new 10-Game rotation! Those 10-games are: NL Holdem, PLO, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo, Razz, Omaha Hi-Lo, FLHE, Badugi, NL 2-7 Single Draw, and FL 2-7 Triple Draw.

These are exciting times at Full Tilt. If you fancy a shot at some of the new games then join Full Tilt and receive a sign-up bonus of $600