2010 World Series of Poker running thread

I think it has a lot to do with the players. I just don't like Durr and that italian kid and the wreckless players they have on their now. I liked it when it was guys like Negranu, Farha, Esfandiari, Elegra, Brunson, etc. They were fun to watch, listen to. HSP is just not as interesting to me anymore. Negranu is my favorite player though, and if he's not there, I won't even consider watching anyway.

 

I write and maintain a poker blog for the Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star, spotlighting national stories and highlighting area players. Give it a look.

http://blogs.pjstar.com/ontheriver/

 

Good stuff, CI. Very good stuff.

 

Thanks, o_t. It's appreciated.

 

I thin Dwan's fun to watch play, but 'High Stakes' was better with Benza. I can't believe I'm saying anything in history was ever better with A.J. Benza, but it's true.
Obviously, Kaplan is the star, but using him by himself doesn't work. Much the 'Chinese Restaurant' episode of 'Seinfeld,' when Elaine suggests that Jerry could go see 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' by himself. 'What am I gonna make sarcastic comments to myself?'
Kaplan needs a foil. It's not banter if there's no one with whom to banter.
It doesn't have to be Benza, but Kaplan needs a partner.

Further, this might be blasphemous to some, but Chad's schtick is tired to me. I find it difficult to watch WSOP shows because his cracks seem so tired. I've liked a lot of the guy's work. I consider myself a fan, but the broadcast commentary on poker seems played out for him.

 

I agree on Chad. It's all shtick with no attempt to provide any actual analysis of the poker.

 

Did Joran Van der Sloot qualify and if so, will he be allowed to leave jail and participate?
I hear he's a killer card player.

 

Wow, I'm not sure what to say about that one

 

Here is my problem with High Stakes poker - all of the dealmaking that goes on "let's run it twice" or "let's run it three times" or "give me insurance"

The game is about risk, it is about the gamble, it is about the excitement of the 55-45 race. All of the dealmaking assures there are no really big -- and thus not many interesting -- hands to watch.

 

A good point, Zag, but the real problem is that TV poker gives such a false impression of the game. Poker is all about patience. TV is all about impatience. So now you have a TV-influenced WSOP where players come in and be TV, taking huge risks on the theory it might work, but for sure, you'll get an ESPN camera.
A real poker TV event would show guys pissing in their empty soda or beer bottles.

 

Thing with High Stakes Poker is that 90 percent of the players at the table are winning/losing more with the bizarre sidebets that go on.

Funniest one I can remember is a couple years ago, where if you took down a pot with 7-2; everyone gave the winner $500.

I think it was Matusow that took down Hellmuth with nines or tens or something like that.....Mouth shows the 7-2, and Hellmuth goes stupid.

 

That's exactly what happened, Chef2. I think Hellmuth had 10s.

I haven't watched too much of High Stakes, but I stumbled upon that episode.