WSOP Main Event: Rahme rolls on

Team PokerStars Pro Raymond Rahme may play online but the live poker environment is his home turf. Whether it's in South Africa, Australia, Monte Carlo, San Remo, the World Series or anywhere else the South African has cashed, the live poker scene is this man's front room and his triumph in it must rank as one of the more successful stories of a hobby making a profitable retirement - one worth $3.3 million since his third place finish here in 2007.

But what of today? Well, Rahme sits with more than 40,000 thanks to a tried and tested playing style that flings mud in the eye of extravagance, gives the finger to youthful exuberance and when the action comes thick and fast still leaves him time to nip out for a cigarette.

It's not the modern approach but it works. Most of the time. You can't win them all and sometimes the kids get the better of you.

When the young button on his right bet pre-flop Rahme, sitting in the small blind, bumped things up a bit, making it 7,150, slapping down the insolence. Until his opponent moved all-in. Crucially each player had about the same. To call and lose was to condemn yourself to either a painful existence or a quick exit. To win though and the 80k would see you nicely into day two next Tuesday.

Rahme moved his hand from the back of his next to the top of his head, like he was chasing a sudden throbbing in his brain, thinking things through. He turned to ask his opponent something but was met with silence. Nothing, the kid wasn't playing that game. Finding out what he had would have to be done the hard way.

A few minutes of thinking followed but the hand was over for Rahme. He passed as play goes deeper into the last level of the day.

*****

HAND OF THE HOUR
Jason Alexander has chips. He has a lot of chips. Here's how he got them.

A player in late position made it 1,150 and Alexander made it 3,200 behind him. Call. The flop came [jd][2d][5d] and Alexander led out for 6,000. The other player shoved for his final 26,000 and Alexander made the call. The Seinfeld star was behind at this point, though. Significantly behind. He flipped [10d][10h], for second pair and the flush draw. But his opponent had [8d][6d] for the made flush. Sometimes, though, you have to get lucky -- and the [jh] on the turn was followed by a [js] on the river to fill Alexander's boat and set him sailing past about 90,000 and a very enjoyable day at the office so far.

*****

STAT OF THE HOUR

The final number of entrants for day 1a has been confirmed. That number is 1,116

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World Series Main Event: PokerStars' movie star

I can't pretend any different: I was first interested in tracking down the PokerStars qualifier Bill Murray because his name is Bill Murray. Not many of the names appearing on our long list stand out at the moment -- huge stacks are yet to develop and we don't yet know the identities of the new Moneymakers. But Bill Murray, well, it's Bill Murray isn't it, and if nothing else there was huge potential for puns and headline writing centred on the hugely quotable movies of his movie-star namesake.

Bill Murray

Imagine he stole the blinds twice in consecutive hands: we could unleash some Groundhog Day references! And what about if he received a phone call at the table? "Who you gonna call...?" Etc., etc., and so forth.

I'm happy to report, however, that all that padding isn't going to be necessary. I swung by Murray's table moments ago to find him making it 1,500 pre-flop, getting one caller and then checking the [qs][7s][3s] board. His opponent bet 3,000 and Murray announced raise, bumping it up to 10,000. That was good. "I didn't like the spades," Murray confided later. "I had a set of queens."

Murray also filled in a few biographical details. He's from Cottonwood, AZ, where he plays the only game available in the casinos: a capped hold 'em game for stakes significantly lower than he's playing for today. He plays online at PokerStars "too much" (in his own words), but one suspects there'll be no such thing as "too much" should he be able to translate his $80 total outlay in a satellite into a major payday here. He's in Las Vegas with his wife and two children, staying at the Palms Hotel alongside all the other PokerStars qualifiers and is "having a blast". Murray's children are not quite that: both are in their teens, which must be a frustrating age to be in Sin City. They're old enough to know how much fun is going on with those chips and cards, but not allowed yet to join in.

Still, Murray met the family during the recent break for some dinner and a few stories from the opening exchanges of his first World Series. It's all going according to plan. He has a few thousand more than his starting stack and is easing into the biggest game in town. We'll check back on Murray's progress through today and hopefully into day two, where it will be almost exactly the same as today, only with different personnel and action. It will be like Groundh... No. I said I wouldn't.

* * * * *

CALL TO THE WIFE OF THE HOUR

Unknown player outside the Amazon Room: "The flop was queen, three, four and I had five six. I only needed a two or a seven, so I went all in. (Pause). Well, he had pocket queens."

* * * * *

QUOTE OF THE HOUR (from the Well, That's Cleared That Up department)

Benjamin Gallen, French media reporter: "How many players do you think will play tomorrow?"
Unnamed poker reporter one: I think there will be the same or more than today.
Unnamed poker reporter two: Or less.
Unnamed poker reporter one: Yeah. Or less.

* * * * *

NOTABLE HAND OF THE HOUR

Steve Paul-Ambrose has two short-stacked former champions sitting at his table. Both Johnny Chan and Jerry Yang are down below 10,000 chips apiece. Yang came in for a raise to 900 and Paul-Ambrose re-raised to 2,150.  Yang made the call, not leaving himself much behind. The flop came down [8h][Kc][2s]. Yang checked, Paul-Ambrose led out, and Yang moved all-in for a nominal amount more. Paul-Ambrose made the required call and flipped over [9c][9s].  Yang proudly turned over [8c][8s] for the flopped set. The turn and river didn't produce a nine and Yang got the courtesy double-up. Paul-Ambrose still has around 45,000.

* * * * *

JOE GIRON'S PICTURE HOUR

Jason Alexander ponders a tough call. Brad Garrett, foreground, doesn't

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Team Bodog Represented in 2009 WSOP Main Event
Day 1A

The players are just now heading out of the Amazon Room for their dinner break (4:30pm is a bit early for us) after two rounds of play here during Day 1A of the 2009 WSOP Main Event, and we've had a chance to stroll the room looking for notable players and Team Bodog members. At ...

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y-1a-98241.html

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WSOP Main Event: Shorthaul

It may be the first time in World Series history that players had a problem eating on their dinner break because the restaurants hadn't started seating yet. The tournament directors made a decision this morning to only play four levels. That means the dinner break officially began at 4:30pm.

The good news is that the players won't have to endure long Day 1s and should be ready for bed by 11pm.

Players have now returned from their 90 minute lupper break and are setting in for a shorthaul two levels before breaking until next Tuesday.

While the action may be a bit subdued now, we are assured a raucous time in the coming days. If you need a little adrenaline to get you through the evening, check out this video of our wacky Brazilian team and what they can do with a little car.

Watch WSOP 2009: Go Karting!!! on PokerStars.tv

* * * * *

STATISTIC OF THE HOUR

An official count of Day 1A players has not yet been officially released, but unconfirmed reports put Day 1A at around 1,100. Word on the street is, registration for the first two days is pretty light, but the final two days should have more than 2,000 players apiece.

QUOTE OF THE HOUR

Brad Garrett while sweating the board: "Give me a ten! Oh, I'm urinating again..."

JOE GIRON PHOTO HOUR

A dealer readies his table for the WSOP Day 1A

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Goldman Sachs thinks Online Poker will be Legal
soon

Goldman Sachs thinks Online Poker will be Legal soon

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/do-or-die-poker/~3/hkGXEIrR4tk/

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WSOP Main Event: Mercier on course as Spindler
spun

His rise from young internet pro to becoming one of the game's biggest names took a little over a year for Jason Mercier. The Team PokerStars Pro has had a thrilling last 12 months. Beyond his EPT San Remo win back in season four, Mercier has made final tables, won the EPT London High Roller and most recently his first World Series bracelet, in the 1500 pot limit Omaha last month.

So he's allowed to dress like Mike TV. White baseball cap twisted off kilter slightly, white plastic framed sunglasses, white shirt. Benny Spindler sat on his left isn't Augustus Gloop and there's no Willy Wonka reference for Pavel Blatny either, but it's a table worth noting anyhow, a tough one as Mercier admitted himself as he sat down at the start of play.

But as Mercier adds to his stack it's Spindler who seems most involved action wise. He made a pre-flop bet which seemed to be called by Matt Vengrin, a big American with a proven WSOP track record, only he took a couple of reminders to pay the exact fare, eventually flipping in an extra chip to satisfy the dealer and Spindler, who'd looked like he'd caught Vengrin trying to pick his pocket.

The flop came [ad][7s][9d] which Vengrin quickly bet at, 800 total which Spindler re-raised to 2,000. Vengrin called, a quick flick of his wrist fast enough not to disturb his riffling. [4s] on the turn and both players checked, making way for a [js] river card. No betting here either as Vengrin turned over [as][2s], Spindler leaning over to look, disappointed, slightly annoyed, and ready to muck his cards.

When Mercier won in San Remo his defeated opponent was Anthony Lellouche. The Frenchman has a strong record in Europe and the World Series and found himself at the rough end of the table draw today, sitting alongside this year's PCA winner Poorya Nazari. But Nazari has gone and now Lellouche has on his left Mark Teltscher, who at times looked like he was being massaged against his will, and a player on his right playing with a permanent smile on his face.

But while Lellouche and Teltscher may represent the big guns on the table both seem eager to keep out of the way with one hand showing a little of the unpredictability of a day one. With four to a club flush on the board two players were sweating the river. The seat nine player Jason Grad had made a bet and his opponent two to his right had the decision to make.

"I have a big hand here" he'd said, asking if Grad would show if he folded. He got no response and folded his hand face up, showing the queen-high flush. It was either a hero fold or a massive mistake, but Grad's face gave nothing away, although he did show the jack of clubs. That kind of thing can hurt, and linger.

"Will you show me tomorrow?" he asked, getting no reply. Teltscher interrupted.

"He had you crushed" he said, in some part trying to ease the man's burden, but also to change the subject. "Just give yourself a pat on the back and move on."

*****

STATISTICS OF THE HOUR

Number of WSOP bracelets held by Johnny Chan: 10
Johnny Chan's lifetime earnings: $4,799,259
Price of Johnny Chan's headphones: $7.99

*****

ODD EXCHANGE OF THE HOUR

Member of the media: "Are you Dutch?"
Player: "What?"
Member of the media: "Dutch?"
Player: "No, but I speak German."

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World Series Main Event: Mercier on course as
Spindler spun

His rise from young internet pro to becoming one of the game's biggest names took a little over a year for Jason Mercier. The Team PokerStars Pro has had a thrilling last 12 months. Beyond his EPT San Remo win back in season four, Mercier has made final tables, won the EPT London High Roller and most recently his first World Series bracelet, in the 1500 pot limit Omaha last month.

So he's allowed to dress like Mike TV. White baseball cap twisted off kilter slightly, white plastic framed sunglasses, white shirt. Benny Spindler sat on his left isn't Augustus Gloop and there's no Willy Wonka reference for Pavel Blatny either, but it's a table worth noting anyhow, a tough one as Mercier admitted himself as he sat down at the start of play.

But as Mercier adds to his stack it's Spindler who seems most involved action wise. He made a pre-flop bet which seemed to be called by Matt Vengrin, a big American with a proven WSOP track record, only he took a couple of reminders to pay the exact fare, eventually flipping in an extra chip to satisfy the dealer and Spindler, who'd looked like he'd caught Vengrin trying to pick his pocket.

The flop came [ad][7s][9d] which Vengrin quickly bet at, 800 total which Spindler re-raised to 2,000. Vengrin called, a quick flick of his wrist fast enough not to disturb his riffling. [4s] on the turn and both players checked, making way for a [js] river card. No betting here either as Vengrin turned over [as][2s], Spindler leaning over to look, disappointed, slightly annoyed, and ready to muck his cards.

When Mercier won in San Remo his defeated opponent was Anthony Lellouche. The Frenchman has a strong record in Europe and the World Series and found himself at the rough end of the table draw today, sitting alongside this year's PCA winner Poorya Nazari. But Nazari has gone and now Lellouche has on his left Mark Teltscher, who at times looked like he was being massaged against his will, and a player on his right playing with a permanent smile on his face.

But while Lellouche and Teltscher may represent the big guns on the table both seem eager to keep out of the way with one hand showing a little of the unpredictability of a day one. With four to a club flush on the board two players were sweating the river. The seat nine player Jason Grad had made a bet and his opponent two to his right had the decision to make.

"I have a big hand here" he'd said, asking if Grad would show if he folded. He got no response and folded his hand face up, showing the queen-high flush. It was either a hero fold or a massive mistake, but Grad's face gave nothing away, although he did show the jack of clubs. That kind of thing can hurt, and linger.

"Will you show me tomorrow?" he asked, getting no reply. Teltscher interrupted.

"He had you crushed" he said, in some part trying to ease the man's burden, but also to change the subject. "Just give yourself a pat on the back and move on."

*****

STATISTICS OF THE HOUR

Number of WSOP bracelets held by Johnny Chan: 10
Johnny Chan's lifetime earnings: $4,799,259
Price of Johnny Chan's headphones: $7.99

*****

ODD EXCHANGE OF THE HOUR

Member of the media: "Are you Dutch?"
Player: "What?"
Member of the media: "Dutch?"
Player: "No, but I speak German."

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New online poker site: Lucky Ace Poker

I recently joined LuckyAce affiliate program and just wanted to let you people know that scatmann'z poker blog is now officially following and promoting an online poker site called Lucky Ace Poker!

Want to know whether they accept online poker players from United states of America? Then read full post here: New online poker site: Lucky Ace Poker

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WSOP Main Event: The new European force

Las Vegas still hosts poker's flagship tournament series -- at least on this side of the Atlantic. But regular readers of PokerStars blog will know all about the European Poker Tour (EPT), which recently finished its fifth record-breaking season and is now preparing for its sixth.

Our friends in the United States would be wise to keep an eye on the EPT, as its winners often offer an indication of the emerging talents on the international scene. Seasons one through four were bossed by players from Scandinavia, for example, and then Peter Eastgate came to Vegas to become the new World Champion. No one should have been surprised. For the trend-watchers out there, the EPT's fifth season belonged to the Germans, with three victors and numerous other high-placed finishers heading back to Deutschland with pots of cash. Be warned: Germany is very well represented in the Amazon Ballroom today, and all seem equipped with formidable talent.

The standard bearer is Sandra Naujoks, who delighted home fans in Dortmund in March when she finished top of a German one-two-three and won more than a million dollars. She became only the second woman ever to win an EPT event, but remarkably the second from what were then known as PokerStars.de ShootingStars to win in the same season, following Sebastian Ruthenberg's victory in Barcelona.

Sandra Naujoks

Naujoks is sitting pretty in these early stages of day 1a, likewise her Team PokerStars Germany Pros (as those ShootingStars should now be known) George Danzer, Johannes Strassmann and Jan Heitmann, who you heard a little about earlier.

Also engrossed in day one action is Katja Thater, who needs little introduction in these parts. Thater has long been an integral member of Team PokerStars Pro and won a bracelet at the 2007 series.

Katja Thater

Her husband Jan Von Halle, who has 12 WSOP cashes to his name, also played today, but was one of the early fallers. Then we have Benny Spindler (third at the PCA) and Marc Gork (second to Naujoks in Dortmund) also playing, the latter a PokerStars qualifier in this event.

*****

TABLE MOVES OF THE HOUR

The Jason Alexander and Nelly show has been split up by the breaking of their table. But the parties continue: Nelly is now sitting next to Jonas Klausen and Roland de Wolfe, while Alexander is no doubt exchanging sitcom tales with Brad Garrett, of Everybody Loves Raymond and 'Til Death fame.

And within the past hour, the empty seat at Team PokerStars Pro Steve Paul-Ambrose's table was finally filled ... By Johnny F'n Chan.

*****

QUOTE OF THE HOUR

"I don't bluff. I'm English." -- John Duthie, Team PokerStars Pro. And Englishman.

*****

CONSPICUOUS "IS THAT A CAMERA?" MOMENT OF THE HOUR

"All in and a call on table 60." This came from the dealer, Doug, who as instructed announced this little pocket of excitement to the room. At first it seemed the only purpose was to attract Phil Laak from a nearby table short of a bit of action. But then the cameras arrived, and a woman with a clipboard. Maybe Laak knew this all along. What they saw was is likely to be among the first of the players destroyed by aces, not that those same aces won't self destruct once or twice. A traditional "bullets-against-ace-king" scenario to pump the adrenaline, between two players not on the list of notables. The aces held to shrink the field a little more.

*****

HAND OF THE HOUR

But aces giveth and aces taketh away. "Did you get that?" asked Australian Mark Vos? He wanted a hand he'd just played written down and the events recorded, so he'll be remembered when he's gone. His stack just plummeted to around the 7k mark after his aces crumbled in front of his eyes.

It began by him raising to 500 only to get re-raised by the seat one player. Vos then made it 6,000 and was called for a [9c][qh][3c] flop. Vos made it 4,400 and was check-called for a [jd] on the turn which both checked. After a [7h] river card the bet was 10,000 to Vos, two orange chips, which he reluctantly called. The headshaking began when the seat one player showed pocket jacks. Vos turned over his aces, then got ready to start explain to anyone who'd listen.

*****

SPONSORSHIP PUSH OF THE HOUR

Men the Master Nguyen just sat down next to John Duthie. Duthie picked up Nguyen's nutrition drink and spied it suspiciously. It obviously was not Nguyen's normal drink of choice.

"What, are you looking for a new sponsorship?" Duthie cracked with the drink in hand. Where was the beer?

"Too early," Nguyen said. "After dinner."

*****

JOE GIRON'S PICTURE HOUR

Jeffrey Pollack welcomes the world's media to the World Series 2009

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The 2009 WSOP Main Event Starts Today

[caption text="Six weeks of preliminary events, a lot of hype and the now the day has finally arrived. Day 1A of the 2009 WSOP is set to get underway in just a few minutes and the dealers are all seated, the hallways outside are filling up and the prognostication as to the number of entrants ...

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http://beat.bodoglife.com/poker/the-2009-wsop-main-event-starts-today-68012.html

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