Poker Blog & Poker Forum

When you decide its smart to play it in the middle of a bull ring with an angry bull running around you!  I was watching one of those “World’s Wildest Videos” shows and came accross the sport of Bull Poker, or Cowboy Poker.  The rules of the game are a bunch of players get in a ring with a pissed off bull running around.  If the bull hits your chair, you are eliminated and have to leave the ring.  The last person standing (well, sitting in this case) is the winner.  The downside of this game is you can possibly get killed, or have the side of your head ripped off like this guy:

WARNING: It gets a little graphic near the end…

People come up with some pretty creative usernames for their online poker accounts. If they can manage to get past the security checks you can find some real gems out there. Here are some great usernames found on poker tables online:

In reference to Jamie Gold's patented line

One of Patrik Antonius' biggest fans.

Nobody really did like Bush.

Sometimes it can be really hard to tell!

Say this one with an Asian accent.

And lastly, my personal favourite:

According to the Phil Hellmuth in his blog, himself, Brandon Cantu, Clonie Gowen, Layne Flack and a bunch of other poker players flew down to Pheonix to play a tournament.  Along with them for the ride was one of the founders of TASER, Tom Smith.  When the event started, Clonie Gowen made a last longer with Cantu saying the winner could tase the loser.  Cantu reluctantly accepted the bet and the two proceeded to play.  The tournament was a rebuy and Cantu quickly went through 3 buy-ins after going all-in with Q3os twice, and J3os.  On his 4th buy-in, Cantu went all-in in a 3-way pot, with pocket aces this time.  The aces held and Cantu took a massive chip lead.  Gowen started to worry with about 1/4 the chips that Cantu held, but all was not over yet.  Gowen finally got all her chips in with J9 against Cantu’s A7.  The flop came AJJ and didn’t improve for Cantu making them almost tied in chips.  Fortunately for Gowen, Cantu ended up busting just before the bubble losing the prop bet.  Here is the video of the tasing as posted by Phil Hellmuth on twitter:

Lately the poker community has found someone fun to mess around with, Full Tilt Poker Red Pro: Alan Boston.  Some people discovered that Boston really hates his his “Alien” looking avatar (see on the right) and have decided to really have some fun with this.  Boston has gotten so pissed off with all of the wisecracks that he has even started “crying to mom” (AKA Full Tilt) and having them ban peoples’ chat priveledges.  Well, here are some of the best moments where people sacrificed their chat:

Alan Boston: lol who is going to lose their chat privilages if they dont shut up
BowChikiWow (Observer): hostility
rBobbinao (Observer): xD
Alan Boston: you started
BowChikiWow (Observer): i guess u did not come in peace

Stay_Onee (Observer): Alan how much money did you make for starring in E.T

wsop_caddy (Observer): Can i ask you question?
Alan Boston: only if it is not mean spirited
wsop_caddy (Observer): Is you kid as Ugly as you.
Alan Boston: say goodbye to youf chat
wsop_caddy (Observer): What?
wsop_caddy (Observer): You look like MR clean

jiroz (Observer): boston you been getting harrased by 2+2ers ?
Alan Boston: yes but they are running out of chats
Alan Boston: fk them
jiroz (Observer): lol
lind25 (Observer): fk?
Alan Boston: yes fk
Alan Boston: them
jiroz (Observer): all of them?
lind25 (Observer): ?????
Alan Boston: only the ones that give me a hard time
lind25 (Observer): fk means…???
Alan Boston: no idea
jiroz (Observer): & & % %
Chat Monitor (Support): jiroz has been warned about abusing their chat privilege. Inappropriate language is not tolerated.
max_em87 (Observer): lol
jiroz (Observer): boston you do coke right?
Alan Boston: hey monitor he is ok
jiroz (Observer): could you hook up an 8ball?
Alan Boston: not anymore
jiroz (Observer): ahh damn
jiroz (Observer): thats good man
Alan Boston: have not done coke since 91
lind25 (Observer): alan what does fk mean??
jiroz (Observer): think about it
Alan Boston: keep questions to poker

LakeyTheKidQB (Observer): hi alan, just how challenging was it battling predator

QUESTION FROM 1428-elmst: who are you
ANSWER FROM Alan Boston: I am a human being.

QUESTION FROM Accalon: alan, in what year did your hair start thining?
ANSWER FROM Alan Boston: When i was 25. It is horrifying. I found a way to deal with it, just shave it off.

QUESTION FROM lettstradamus: man even your avatar is ugly
ANSWER FROM Alan Boston: It is. but it is a ****ing avatar. Deal with it.

QUESTION FROM mattyd86: so…who are you?
ANSWER FROM Alan Boston: am a ****ed up depressed middle aged sports better who ventures off to play poker on occasion. I am in sick shape physically> I am smart as ****. I teach extremely well. I hate myself.

Not Turkdaddy (Observer): how come when alan boston wears a turtleneck he looks like a broken condom?

boleracea: was being an ftp pro ur make a wish?
Alan Boston: i suggest you not type another word

icaludwn (Observer): TAKE ME TO YOUR LEDERER

For more great Alan Boston moments check out this video where he self implodes:

Friendly competition is what makes this world the most enjoyable.  When two friends get together on the golf course, or an ice rink, or especially at the card table, nothing ignites the spirit and soul like a friendly battle of skill and determination between the two equally qualified and skilled players.  And its normally a great time by all who participate.  Same can be said for the two largest poker sites, PokerStars and FullTilt, when they competed against each other this past weekend in trying to set a new record for the largest online tournament ever held.

PokerStars had set the bar ealier this year when they hosted an $11 tournament that drew a record of 35,000 players.  FullTilt decided to go for the record and organized a $5 buyin event that 50,000 players!  In addition to that prize pool, FullTilt added an additional $250,000 in overlay, bringing the total prize pool to half a million dollars!    However, PokerStars is not one to take the threat lightly, and decided to host a $1 event that capped at 65,000 players as well as additional overlays to boost the pot.

Both sites hit their target seating numbers, blowing away the previous record, however it was PokerStars who came out on top and retained the title of hosting the largest online poker tournament in history.  You can be sure FullTilt is already planning another assault on this title in the near future.

Each site had their fair share of issues though.  It took FullTilt over 15 minutes alone to get all their players seated for the tournament, and both sites had issues with numerous timeouts having to be declared as well as complaints about slow running software.  I’m sure the recent changes FullTilt installed were a direct result of some of  these issues, and you will see big improvements in the next round when these two titans of the online poker industry declare war again.

I’m sure there are a hundred thousand reasons why either site wanted to host such an event, and every one of those reasons would be preceeded with a $ sign, but that aside, I think its great to see the two largest organizations trying to one up the other by hosting such events.  Not only does it increase traffic to their site, but it also is a great way to highlight areas to improve their service and offerings in the future.  Hopefully, both sites learned valuable information on how they can improve to draw more players in the future, and this is good business management.

So who won anyway?  Well, the FullTilt winner was ‘breo40‘ who pocketed over $45,000 US for his victory over the 50,000 player field, while ‘ 004′ over at the PokerStars game won $13,000 US for his domination of the 65,000 player field.  Both have earned the right to declare they participated and won the largest online tournaments in history, and thats quite the accomplishment.

Expect to see more huge online tournaments in the months and years ahead.