PokerRoom Opening in Anticipation of US Online Poker Legalization?

PokerRoom Opening in Anticipation of US Online Poker Legalization?

Poker players everywhere are rejoicing at the rumors that PokerRoom.com will once again be offering cash poker games. This online poker site that was a staple for online poker players starting in 1999 was forced to close its doors in 2009 due to underperformance.

The question that has everyone talking is why would PokerRoom revamp its presence after stopping operations almost 2 years ago? While there is no official word that PokerRoom will be re-opening, the speculations are that PokerRoom is joining OnGame network once again in anticipation of the US legalizing online poker once again. The fact that PokerRoom has opened up a Facebook and Twitter account are also alluding to the fact that PokerRoom is strongly considering re-opening.

OnGame network, which is the network that PokerRoom would belong to once again if they decided to open, is ranked number 5 in the world right now. OnGame network does not serve the United States as of right now due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that was passed in 2006, but should online poker be legalized in the US once again, they would definitely be granted permission to operate there once again.

The ultimate decline to PokerRoom occurred when they decided to pull out of the US as soon as the UIGEA was passed. Regardless of their pulling out and ultimately declining, PokerRoom has remained one of the most well respected online poker sites in the world. Before closing their site, PokerRoom received approval from the Ecogra, a London based player protection organization.

Well respected as well as the first online poker site to create a Mac client, PokerRoom is a household name when it comes to online poker playing. This reputation will prove to help PokerRoom become popular and profitable once again should online poker playing once again become legal in the US.

Poker players both past and present will be more likely to play online poker with a reputable name like PokerRoom. Both players that played on PokerRoom before its closing in 2009 as well as new players who most likely are aware of the trustworthy reputation of PokerRoom will more than likely turn to PokerRoom for their online poker playing.

PokerRoom’s reputable past will prove to make it even more reputable in the future. It might not instantly become a top 5 site, but it will definitely be a top runner, giving other US poker rooms a run for their money.

horryclutch wins Sunday Night H.o.r.s.e. Poker

The March 6th edition of Sunday Night HORSE drew a crowd of 167 players, easily making its guarantee and creating a prize pool of $33,400. Twenty four places were paid and $9,185 went to first place.

Several Full Tilt red pros turned out for this event, including Cyndi Violette, Brandon Adams, Artie Cobb, Lacey Jones, and Miami John Cernuto. None were fortunate enough to make the money and Toto Leonidas was the high pro of the night, finishing in 36th.

Nutznbolz missed a 2nd straight final table after dropping out in 16th. CHAZZandJIMMY fell in 14th while former champion msueagles40 fell in 13th. Micon made another deep run in this event, but fell short of the final table in 12th place.

Horryclutch, tenmile, and 8-SnipeR-8 all made the final table of this event. Deron Good was the chip leader heading into the final table. Here is how the final eight started play at the final table:

Joseph Kneht 65,957

Deron Good 130,718

8-SnipeR-8 39,166

what is 7×6 68,350

horryclutch 61,791

tenmile 36,810

kda281101 80,088

Jayhawks4Ever 18,120

Jayhawks4Ever three-bet pre-flop during Omaha hi lo and was called by both Deron Good and what is 7×6. On a flop of Jh-10d-7c, what is 7×6 bet out for 3k and Jayhawks4Ever raised all-in for 4,620. Deron Good called, and what is 7×6 three-bet for 7,620. Deron Good called and then check-called a bet of 6k when the turn fell the 2h. He then checked the river Kc and what is 7×6 did the same. What is 7×6 showed Ah-Jc-4s-7s for jacks up, and neither opponent could beat it. Jayhawks4Ever finished in 8th place.

Joseph Kneth was was down to just 15k by Razz and he put the rest of that stack to risk on fifth street showing a pair of fives with seven. What is 7×6 was showing aces with a ten. He made the call and showed a 3-8 in the hole for a pair of aces and Joseph Kneth had another five with a 4 for trip fives. He improved to just a pair of fives on sixth and what is 7×6 improved to a jack. Joseph Kneht paired his seven on the river to leave himself with just a pair of fives and was eliminated in 7th place.

A few hands later, 8-SnipeR-8 had the rest of his 33k stack at risk during the Razz round in a huge pot that included both kda281101 and Deron Good. By the river, kda281101 held a seven low to the 9-6 low of Deron Good. 8-SnipeR-8 never showed his cards, and was knocked out in 6th place.

Both tenmile and Deron Good were eliminated just two hands later in another huge pot with what is 7×6. Tenmile was all-in by fifth and Deron Good was all-in by sixth. On sixth, what is 7×6 had a made 7-6 low and both of his opponents had a chance to outdraw him. However, Deron Good caught a queen on the river and tenmile caught a king. Tenmile was eliminated in 5th place and Deron Good was out in 4th.

Play then continued three-handed for over 100 hands. Finally, what is 7×6 was down to his last 23k during Hold’em and moved all-in with A-2 on a K-10-10 flop. Kda281101 called with J-9 for a gutshot straight draw. The turn queen gave kda281101 his straight, but a river jack would give what is 7×6 the hand. The river fell a seven, and we were heads-up.

Horryclutch was in the lead 379,179 to 121,821 over kda281101 at the start of heads-up play. Kda281101 asked for a chop, but was not granted one. The two plodded through Hold’em with both wanting to get to the Omaha round as both felt they had an edge there. Kda281101 found his stroke during Omaha as he was able to pull back to even with horryclutch and then even took the chip lead.

Horryclutch didn’t give up and wound up retaking the chip lead during the Stud round. Then a huge hand where horryclutch took a 275k pot with aces and sixes left kda281101 with only 821 chips. He doubled up twice, but it still only left him with about 3k in chips. They all went in with K-8-5 against the split aces of horryclutch. He picked up a straight draw on the turn, but failed to hit. As such, horryclutch is our champion. He took $9,185 for his strong finish. Congratulations.

horryclutch 2009 HORSE win

Funkii win the SUNDAY NIGHT H.O.R.S.E.

The February 27th edition of Sunday Night HORSE just barely broke its guarantee with a total of 155 player participating. First place received $9,300 and 16 players were paid. Only five Full Tilt Poker red pros played in this weeks event and Cyndy Violette was the high pro of the week. More about her finish in a minute.

Dfunks222 min-cashed this week, finishing in 16th. Big Dutchie finished in 11th place and mini-FTOPS winner loldazzlements was the final table bubble boy, finishing in 9th. Cyndy Violette headlined this weeks final table, but she started as a severe short stack. PTownDrunk had a nearly 2 to 1 chip lead over the rest of the field going into final table play. Here is how the final table started play:

nutznbolz 51,146

andinista 41,805

Edlar3 78,982

Cyndy Violette 6,460

PTownDrunk 144,904

rlk123 75,889

Funkii 38,699

Payton3434 27,115

Cyndy Violette couldn’t get anything going and was down to 5,535 during Omaha. She put the last of her chips in with Ah-10h-10d-7c and Payton3434 called with 6s-6h-5h-2s. The flop fell 3-4-K to give Payton3434 an open ended draw and the turn fell the 2d to give him a six high straight. Violette was drawing dead at the point and was out of the event in 8th place.

Payton3434 was down to 15k during the Razz round and was all-in on third street after capping the pot with Eldar3. Payton3434 started with 7-4-2 and was against A-2-4 from Eldar3. Eldar3 made a 7-5-4 on sixth and Payton3434 had a chance to outdraw him on the river. The river became irrelevant for Payton3434 as Eldar3 caught a six to give him a six low and send Payton3434 out in 7th.

Rlk123 was down to 27k during seven card stud and put most of his stack in on third street of stud with split kings. He was all-in by fifth with the same kings against an open ended draw from andinista. Sixth street also gave andinista a flush draw to go with his straight draw. On the river, rlk123 picked up a second pair but it was not enough as andinista caught an ace to complete broadway and eliminate rlk123 in 6th place.

Play continued five handed through the remainder of the stud round and through the Stud 8 round. Finally, a big pot went down between PTownDrunk and Funkii. After three-betting to 24k pre-flop during Hold’em, PTownDrunk called to see a flop of J-J-A. PTownDrunk checked-called a bet from Funkii. On the turn 4s, PTownDrunk checked raised all-in for 22k and Funkii made the call. PTownDrunk was ahead with A-10 against the Q-10 for Funki. Unfortunately for PTownDrunk, the river fell a king to give Funkii broadway and send PTownDrunk to the tank in 5th place.

Nutznbolz capped the pot pre-flop during Omaha and was all-in for 33k. Funkii made the call and showed Kh-5h-Qd-6d, Nutznbolz held Ah-6h-9d-9c against Funki. Three diamonds on the flop gave Funki a 2nd nut flush and nutznbolz needed running cards for a straight or full house The Ac on the turn left him drawing dead since he had not low draw and nutznbolz was out in 4th.

Andinista fluctuated wildly during three handed play. Finally, he was all-in during razz for his last 35k against both Eldar and Funki. By fifth street, Funkii bet out Eldar and showed a made ten low. Andinista had a King with a queen and needed running cards to outdraw Funki. When andinista paired his king on sixth, he was drawing dead, and was out in 3rd.

Heads-up play was a lopsided affair with Funkii leading Eldar3 383k to just 81k. Eldar3 suggested a deal, but naturally it was refused. Eldar3 never got above 99k and went to war during razz with a nine showing against a jack showing for Funkii. Eldar3 bet every street and at the river, he bet his last 13k showing Q-9-7-3. Funki was showing K-J-3-A and made the call. Eldar3 showed a Q-10-3 as hole cards to finish with a queen and Funki showed Q-7-3 to finish with a jack. As such, Funkii is this week’s champion.

Funkii started the day as one of the short stacks and never gave up. In fact, at one point during five handed play, he said he would deal, but only if he was given 8k. He was the 2nd short stack at the time. That confidence mixed with a little well timed luck allowed him to come back take the title and the $9,300 top prize. Congratulations.