Dario Minieri - Poker's Italian Stallion

Yes Ladies, we should be swooning - it's nice when eye candy sits across us at the poker table hu?

Dario Minieri -

A young poker talent who has made waves as he has translated his online poker success into live action tournament final tables. This talented young poker player has made appearances in the World Series of Poker, cashing in every event he's participated. His highest WSOP achievement was placing 27th in event 8 of the 2007 series. However, his biggest cash came in event 55 of the same year, placing 96th and cashing in for more than 67 thousand dollars.

Last year as a member of Team Poker Stars, Dario cashed 5 times contributing the most significant part of Italy's representative 133,900 plus, bringing the country a solid foothold in the world of competitive poker.

Lets be honest about this 20 something poker player. He will draw in railbirds for many reasons. Talent, poker strategy, and his undeniably incredible Mediterranean good looks.

He has been elected as the first Poker Hunk in our new weekly feature -- got a hunk to nominate? He needs to be a poker player, and of legal age with at least one thing to separate him from the crowd - yes good looks are a must !

Online Poker in the US?

In a thread at Pocket 5's the poker talent is watching the online gaming legislation in the United States. The country that is notorious amongst online poker players for denying their citizens personal liberties and the opportunity to chose where to play poker online. There is speculation about the timing about a legal online poker room in the US.

The way the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is written any online gambling establishment based outside the United States is unlawful. It does not cover any statutes with in the boarders. Should an US casino establish an online gaming venue, they would be considered legal, on the federal level. The complication comes when players in various states are involved with the games, as specific states and specific counties have laws regarding online gambling, some making this form of entertainment a violation and a felony.

Ok, but we're talking about online poker right? There is a difference between online poker and roulette. This is where pocket 5er's contribute some valid points for the politicians to consider.
First of all - the UIGEA is against their own basis for law, the constitution.
Second - There would be no real need to recreate or change the UIGEA as poker is a game of skill and should be exempt as are other cards games such as Hearts and Spades. These games of skill are permitted to charge entry fees to tournaments and more legally, as would be needed for any poker event.

This blog could easily turn into a rant. So we are going to end this here.

Online Poker Etiquette

The ethical code of behavior applicable to members of a specific community or profession is called Etiquette. Etiquette is something that touches every aspect of life, including poker, online and off. Thus if you want to play the game, you should make yourself aware of the expectations.

Lets sit down at the poker table, get some chips, and start the game. Feel free to trash talk from time to time, but keep it clean. This is applicable to online poker events, as well as live poker events.

Strategy can include how fast or slow you play your game. Excessively slow play can become a nuisance. This can be considered incredibly rude, particularly to the online poker professional you're competing against.

Should you sit down at a poker game in a casino, or start a game in the online poker rooms, make sure you know your game. Players hate an interrupted game that is not a Sit n Go. This online poker approach is deplorable and will be noted when other players are looking for tables, you may become an avoided player.

Do you like NoLimit Texas Hold'em? Don't over use the All-In strategy. Although this can be a very persuasive tool. This can be used excessively thus is perceived unnecessary, and incredibly poor strategy, even for a new player.

Largest PKR Tournament

They have done it again! PKR.com is forging new ground every day with their unique design, and incredible format. This online poker room is creating their own monthly tournament with incredible attention to player desire for competitive pots. PKR Masters is a 75 thousand dollar tournament. With the largest PKR prize pool to date, the first place card shark will win no less than 18 thousand. This event will keep the attention of virtually every online poker competitor who can appreciate PKR.com’s unique format. This will further solidify PKR as the home of online tournament poker.

“The PKR Masters offers players an exciting new prize pool to aim for in a highly playable format that allows the cream to rise to the top. We’re really excited about this and are looking forward to offering players ever increasing guaranteed prize pools as PKR’s player base continues to grow.” PKR.com Cardroom Manager, Neil Wright stated during the announcement.

The buy in for PKR Masters is 250 dollars. This event will be held the last Saturday of every month at 20 GMT or 8 pm EST for Canada and the US. Daily satellites will be available for this mega payout event starting as low as $1.30. The chips begin deep with 5,000. PKR Masters will have a 20 minute clock with broader blind structures than many of their other tournaments. With out a doubt, this tournament is designed for the best poker competitors online.

UK Gaming Act Reviewed

The regulation of the UK gambling market has be incredibly beneficial and prosperous. Making the adjustment across an entire industry has come with a high price tag. For the first quarter of 2007 the cost to begin the transition was already totaling more than 14 million UKP.

The Gambling Commission which employs more than 218 individuals brought the final tally for the first quarter of 2007 to 14.4 million UKP. The commission regulates all of the casinos, bingo halls, lotteries and gaming machines.

The last time the Gambling Commission had significant policy changes to implement, it was 1968, so this past year they had a lot to work on in order to update their systems, policies and employees. As the implication date drew near, the UK Gaming Commission had to recruit new employees and move their primary offices out of London to Birmingham. It is obvious this process is costing the citizens some real pocket money.

Online gaming operators of casinos and poker rooms are having mixed emotions pertaining to the extensiveness of the Gambling Commission's authority in the online gaming industry. Although many countries and companies based outside Europe and the UK have been white listed to entertain and cater to the UK population, there have been obstacles to the process. Some of the companies are being forced to become licensed separately with in the UK. Some gaming companies and online poker rooms have even moved to tax haven islands to avoid the 15% tax being applied to the off shore companies. Additionally the new laws require all small stakes poker leagues across the UK to become licensed as casino's. This hurdle will cause the corner pub to stop offering the card game in league or tournament format, thus their draw will decrease significantly with the end of the live poker events.

To back up the new policies, the Gambling Act has an outline of specific codes, practices, and guidelines that will force online operators and others to comply with the position. The date for complete compliance was Jan. 1st 2008. The natural alternative is court rendered prosecution as well as imposition of limitless fines. Keep in mind this act came with both beneficial applications as well as obstacles. It will be a year in September 2008. At that time there will be clear indications as to the full impact the new laws will have on the online gaming market.

Poker is not just for men anymore

In a field dominated by incredible poker players, men hold a place in the competitive history that is only now being challenged by women on a large scale. The World Series of Poker 2007 proved that women are going full steam ahead into the tough ranks of competitive poker.

There have been many women over the years to make a lasting impression, but none as much as the first lady of poker Annie Duke. She has held many positions as a professional poker player. She is a World Series of Poker Bracelet holder. She is an incredible spokes woman for the Poker Players Alliance, as well as an educator of Poker Technique for the World Series of Poker Circuit lessons. Her incredible talent has been evident as she consistently cashes in nearly every event she enters, and still finds time to spend with her family. The fact that she is able to do this shows that she is a real spirited player, one who you don't want to play against across the poker table, unless you have some money to lose.

Katja Thater, another incredible poker woman, made headlines when she won the Open RAZZ event in the World Series of Poker 2007. She already had a number of cashes in the World Series of Poker, even finishing 3rd in a separate event last year. When she made the final table at the RAZZ open event, she maintained a steady pace, and a focus that no one else was able to maintain for that length of time. Because of her incredible skill and impressive poker talent, Katja Thater became only the second woman to win a bracelet from an Open Event during the World Series of Poker.

Then the most notable woman of poker for 2007 made waves that started in London and swept the globe faster than wild fires burning during a drought. Annette Oberstrad, aka Annette_15 brought home to Norway the first World Series of Poker Europe bracelet. Taking with her the respect of the poker world, and proving that women are here to stay. She is holding her solid place in history as the youngest bracelet holder in the history of the World Series of Poker, as well as the third women to ever win an Open Event of the same. This is only part of her impressive stand, adding to her place in history, something that will not be broken in the United States live poker events, she is the youngest World Series of Poker Bracelet winner.

These three notable women are not the only ones to be making headlines in the Poker world, just the three to be shouting from the roof tops as part of 2007. Look out boys, we're here to stay!