Royal Poker Blog

If you're not following the 2006 World Series of Poker coverage on the Tao of Poker...

START!

I posted earlier about CheckNRaise Poker canceling nine WSOP ME seats due to lack of funds. Poker.com has gratiously stepped up and will be covering the entry fees of the previously unlucky nine. Poker.com is deservedly getting some good press on this one!

-----

Anyone playing the WSOP and not already affiliated with an online site might want to check out the offer this offer on Full Contact Poker.

Basically you agree to wear FCP gear during all your WSOP events and you get to share in a portion of Daniel Negreanu's WSOP winnings. This seems like an okay deal for someone paying their way into one or two WSOP events.

-----

Softball team is 7-1. Last year we were 3-9 overall. Same league, same team, WTF?

-----

Not much poker for the next week as I'll be away for work.

Lots of overlay this weekend in all the Sunday events. Is this a sign of increased competition or merely a Father’s Day syndrome? There have been overlays on both Party and Stars the last two weeks.

In case you’re wondering, the family flew home to visit grandparents while Mrs. Royal is still on maternity leave. I’m not sure even Father’s Fay would buy me this much Sunday poker!

Blogger Tournament on Poker Stars:

I gained a few chips early and then got knocked out big the bigger stack donkey who thought his A3 looked pretty good on a JJ4 board vs. my TT.

In the middle of four tournaments and with another ready to start this bust was just fine.

Poker Stars Million Guaranteed:

4299 entrants and I bust in the low 800s with the money at 600. At the time I was in around 200^th place with a slightly below average stack. Middle position makes a standard raise which is called by the cut-off. I find AK suited on the button and push. After much deliberation the cut-off makes the choice call with AQ and I’m starting at a top 30 stack until he flops the straight.

That hurts a little.

Bodog 100K Guaranteed:

With just over 600 entrants the overlay was ~35K. I threw down the $109 entry fee and ended up busting in 30ish place for the second level payday ~$350.

Full Tilt 200K Guaranteed:

I won a seat for this Sunday morning. A doubled up early and could get nothing going after the first break.

$530 WSOP Qualifier:

One seat guaranteed, but when we reached top 3 a deal was cut to give a 10K seat for 1^st, 2K for 2^nd, and 1K for 3^rd. It’s still too painful to recall the exact details, but at one point I had ~65% of the chips and yet I bust in 3^rd.

That hurts a lot.

I'm still mostly playing tournaments as opposed to ring games. I'm continuing the emphasis on WSOP satellites, particularly low entry fee or high overlay events. I am also adding on some other cheap satellite and low budget tournaments with decent overlay.

Here’s what I’m playing in this week:

$1,500 WSOP Preliminary Event – Wednesday $55 buy-in (I’m two for three in $5.50 satellites for this event giving me a small profit and a seat in the $55 tournament)

PokerStars Million – Sunday $215 buy-in (I played two $16 turbo double shoot-outs and won one)

$13,000 WSOP ME – Sunday $530 buy-in (There is one seat guaranteed. I’m one for one in $27 satellites)

PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker – Sunday Free

Hold ‘em Poker $13,500 WSOP freeroll – Saturday Free

I’d like to also qualify for the Sunday Party Million. So far I’m zero for three in $11 turbo satellites.

-----

Apparently CheckNRaise Poker is experiencing some financial difficulties as they’ve reneged on at least 10 WSOP seats. Here is the thread on PocketFives.

-----

The softball team is off to a blazing 4-1 start. Dats crazy man!

Local monthly tournament is this Saturday.

This made the rounds a month or so ago, but in case you didn't get a chance to see the video here is a link:

http://www.ready-up.com/khan/

Pokerstar's player RaiNKhAN shown in a video playing 24+ SnGs on only a laptop screen. It really shows how the Pokerstar's table priority system can be your friend.

A very intertaining watch.

...to my friend Joe who qualified for the WSOP Main Event yesterday!

Awesome job buddy!

Back when IntertopsPoker was gnat skin on the PartyPoker network they used to be one of the best places to play a freeroll. Several times a day they had $100, $250 and $500 freerolls with little to no hand requirements. Best of all the skin was so underplayed that there would usually only be a few hundred people with 50% of those sitting out. Add in their $1,000 monthly freerolls and guaranteed events with low turnout and you have an excellent recipe for overlay.

mmmmmmmm overlay

Like PokerNow they were acquired by Party and you had the option of merging your accounts. Well, they now are back as part of the Prima network. Time will tell whether they bring back the excellent freeroll options. New poker sites typically have the best freerolls and now might be a good chance to check them out.

I was sent an email about a special bonus if you deposit through the Sportsbook and then transfer your money to their poker room.

-----

Players receive a 50% up to $100 extra match up bonus on their first deposit into Sportsbook. Players can then transfer funds to IntertopsPoker.com and begin playing.

Terms & Conditions:

1. The player is eligible for this bonus only with a minimum deposit of $50 or more.

2. The bonus is active only on the first time deposit.

3. The bonus amount would be credited to the player's account after the raked hand criteria is met.

4. Maximum bonus is $100.

5. This offer is exclusive only to IntertopsPoker.com and cannot be used for IntertopsCasino.com or Intertops Sportsbook.

6. By accepting the bonus, you agree to adhere to the terms and conditions and the wagering requirements mentioned.

7. Bonus is valid 30 days from making the first deposit.

8. Discrepancies, if any are subject to the final decision of Intertops.com

Wagering requirements:

1. Seven times the bonus amount in raked hands in USD.

2. Raked hands would be calculated only from $1/$2 tables and higher.

3. As soon as the raked hand criteria are met, bonus would be credited within 48 hours.

-----

You could do a lot worse that $100 at 7x hands on the Prima network.