Well, I haven't been around as much, but have still been writing about Poker.  After my last post, I went on to do a 5 page feature article on the $25-50 Pot Limit Omaha game here in Calgary.  It was published nationwide, including store rack sales, in Poker Pro Canada (PokerproMedia).

Trying this out, PDF my Canadian Poker Player Magzine "Facts From the Felt".  Was very cool to talk to Matt Savage.

 

https://acrobat.com/?d=MeC*yPd4FocHiMMgxOkhPQ

 When I started fooling around with forum postings and blogging with SpadeClub Kenny, Ken "drcheckraise" Calis and April Peerless, I had a blast talking cards and making new friends, while we built  a tight player community.  When SpadeClub used a few "Tips and Tales", I was super stoked.  When Doc made me admin, I felt very privelaged.  By that time had spent many hours listening to advise and ideas from Danielle Adams Benham AKA "Hot Aussie Chick"  of Australan Poker Weekly.  Her, Ken and Jack MacAdoo of PokerPodRadio were plugging away happily and also looking after things in Poker Pro Magazine.

When SpadeClub Kenny mentioned "Jontm" in his 2008 highlights, I was speechless and beaming.  I did not think I would have a more important blogging momment until Vince and the boys gave me blog of the month to play with last year.  It was awesome!  Soon after Big Slick Poker Tour gave me some rope and I was thrilled to work with Brian Kessler and Brad Booth.  I kinda dropped out of writing for awhile, though I also started networking and posting hard for World Poker Showdown and the Canadian Poker Tour. 

 Daniellle took on bigger and bigger roles (Head of Global Publc Relations for Cybertech Holdings) and I was thrilled when her an her peeps moved thier blogs here.  It was awesome to see her as blog of the month in February and before that the Poker Princess's as well.  Jack took alot of my questions and calls and Doc started his own Podcast "Poker Joe ad the Doc". 

A friend and amazing player Todd Hunter was featured and again in a kind gesture they mentiond my work with the CPT.  Last week my first articles in Canadian Poker Player Magazine were publshed and I felt pretty happy to see my name at the top of the contributing writers list.

The man responsible, Ron Campbell, then pointed out my new position with them.  Social Media and Networking Manager. Right in the front of the magazine!  In another aweome twist, Lacey Jones gave my wife Brenna a shout out in her center spread and first CPP article.  On a poker high, I took down a 56 player home game for $700, hosted by Lissy's Poker Club. ( A huge local poker network on Facebook).

A little while before I had noticed an Australian Poker Weekly cover of Lacey Jones being the new face of the CPT.  I asked Danielle if it was her handy work.  She just winked and when I asked Lacey she said HAC was a sweetheart when they put it together.

Then I get a link to my wall from Danielle about PokerPodRadio.  She tells me to have a listen.  Her and Jack had gone out of their way to mention the great work I have been doing in bringing Canadian Poker news aound the globe.  All the way to Australia.  I was floored then and words can't describe at all the great things my poker friends have done for me.  I feel like a million bucks. Show #138 03/03 and the link has alwys been on my sidebar, should anyone want a listen >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

I go out to play tonight and get a message from Lissy's club.  A mass e-mail blast to 400 peeps, congradulating us on Saturday's game and giving all this a shout out.

Damn am I feeling the love! 

Next week big things start happening!  A few doors have opened in all this..........

 

 

Todd Hunter is a Canadian Player Player who finished on day 5 of the WSOP in 2009, on his first attempt.  I have written a short article on him and he is featured on a Poker Joe and the Doc Poker Pod Cast.  This up and comer already is well known in the top player community.  Follow this link to hear the interview and read the article @: http://www.drcheckraise.com/phorum/read.php?93,19590#forum

He is also one of my picks to win the Great Canadian Poker Freeze out this weekend at Cash Casino in Calgary.  This 2 starting heat, 400 player event is $760 buy-in with the top 10% moving on to the final day and money on Sunday.  Lacey Jones is one of the bigger names that will be playing for the almost 400k prize pool.  There are a few well known players that have won this back to back and 3 that have taken 200k or more from this event.

I have listed them and started an opinion poll and commented on who my favorites are and why at these links: http://www.pokerknights.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11897   or  http://www.pokerforum.ca/f7/who-will-win-place-show-gfc-%40-cash-casino-weekend-21844/

Lacey is one of the 10 players in the poll.  Check it out, participate if you wish and you will also have a chance to visit one of the larger Canadian forums and a very popular local forum for a city of 1 million and change.

888 Poker has been right in the trenches with canadian poker players, at some Big Slick Poker Tour events, with World Poker Showdown in Costa Rica and partying and the Canadian Poker Tour Invitiationals.  A true grass roots approach and that I respect.  A young and former Absolute/UB employee, Steve Spindler, the 888 poker Canadian Marketing Manager has played at the freeroll bar leagues, offering a healthy bounty on his own head. Steve partied it up in Costa Rica, plans on doing the same on the cruise and did shots with the best of them here in Calgary.  While 888 isn't yet a top 10 online site,I find mostly European and Canadian Players and I don't mind if it isn't mainstream at all.  For a couple of good reasons......

They have been running sats for the WPS/CPT Poker Supercruise with 4 steps.  The first is pretty easy, the second as well. It starts at $3 for a $12, then $48 and the final step ringing in just under $200.  But like in the summer for the HardRock Series, the 5k package often has a fat overlay.  So does SPOTlight poker.  Worth checking out, I have posted it hours before game time in forums and several people walked through the fields and straight to their poker holiday.  Get to know the schedule and pop in to check the odds.  I have been able to get alot of play in, running a modest 10-15% ROI and keeping the bankroll at par.  One in 4 get a step ticket, any left over funds in the prizepool goes to the bubble boy.

This year for WSOP they have introduced 8 ways to get there, some that are perfect for the blogging and networking poker community. In no particular order:

1) "Persistence Pays"...Rake the most hands.  2) " Race Your Way"....Earn the most status points.  3) "Bring Your Buddies"...Refer as many people as possible (aka, blog it!) 4) "Social Success"...for Youtube, Twitter and Facebook Fans 5) "Cards and Coins"....for the true degenerate, earn the most casino and poker status points 6) "Bounty Hunter"....knock out poker celebs or win first in one of the tourneys 7) "Tourney Lovers".....Race to Play the Most Tourneys with the biggest buy-ins (consistent can do well here) and.....

8) "One for the ladies"...Ladies only race for the most status points!!! I have a banner on the side bar for those that want to check the entire promotion out, or use this link: http://888poker.com/wsop/?sr=359358

To view the cruise details you can vist www.worldpokershowdown.com or help me populate the Facebook fan page by searching "Canadian Poker Tour" there.  In the event listings you will find the guest list and some links.  If it helps, Lacey Jones is going........

So, haven't been here in a bit, but pokering it up all out on both sides of the felts.

With Big Slick Poker Tour, ran 70 events and 3 finals and met 300 cool new players around town and others from across alberta.  Many of those started playing our home games, which are now hitting 60 people (and are capped at that crowd). 

Took a few road trips, the Regina Harvest Classic was a great time and made a few friends in the top 50 for the Canadian Poker Tour.

I have been concentrating on staking my wife (screen name "jonswife") and it has been working out well.  Between the 2 of us we are finishing $9500 in the green for 2009.  She is off to a good start having made $1700 in a few quick sessions during last weeks Canadian Poker Tour Invitational and 2010 kick-off.  Then we put her in the $550, which she was the last woman standing and 27th and the $225 which well, didn't go too bad.....I sold half her action for the $550 for $280 and it was a nice buffer.  All in all we retained $800 and that was only half the party.......

Lacey Jones did all the interviews for the championship and was a blast to hang out with.  Josh Spicer shot some wicked video for the online poker tv network which should be up and going in 30 days tops.

The truley amazing story was Richard Webb winning the 100k sponsership in the top 50 play off for the second year in a row!  5 other sponsership contracts worth 25k were awarded, including one to my friend and 5th place finisher James Werry.

During the event we collected $2385 dollars from the generous players at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino for Haiti and we have challenged another Casino and CPT event in another city to out do it. 

Next stop, a poker cruise in April/May which I will write more about later.  Gotta run, but here are a few pics (sorry about sizes, just how they uploaded......)

                       

   

 

 

Working hand in hand with www.888poker.com, the Big Slick Custom Made Enterprises has created and launched a VIP area for it's members to enjoy.  The new site features a players blog area, news and promos for 888.poker, leaderboards, videos from the Big Slick Poker Tour and other special events and a soon to come players blog from none other than "Yukon" Brad Booth himself!

www.bigslickvip.com also rewards players supporting the tour with VIP points and FPP from 888, that can be redeemed for swag and other incentives, up to your very own Big Slick Custom Made poker Table.

What is also very cool is that through this new avenue we have been able to work with World Poker Showdown and the Canadian Poker Tour in offering exclusive satellites on 888 to events like the Costa Rica Series in November and we can keep members posted on micro and low stakes "steps" allowing newer players an atainable method to get to these exotic poker holiday destinations.

With our network and alliances consisting of the international poker brand of World Poker Showdown, our own medium/high Stakes Canadian Poker Tour that will bring over 400 sanctioned live events in 2010 and our live freeroll and online league of 30-50 events per week , I would say this is starting to go places!

Ksino clothing and Who'sYourDaddy Energy drink have also jumped onboard to take care of organizing some of the player's parties, starting with Herb Van Dyke's birthday bash at Jazz Casino.  Leo Margets, last woman standing at WSOP is said to be just one of the highlights to expect down at the Costa Rica poker getaway, as well as being the party being hosted by "the hottest girl in poker", Lacey Jones!

As a Canadian Poker Player and enthusiast, blogger and forum frequenter, this is great news that I am so stoked about!

The online poker tv network will feature past events that have been taped around the country over the last 4 years, documentry style reports and bio's and future events will also be broadcast.  It is not only exciting for the top players on the Canadian Poker Tour, with the strong World Poker Showdown alliance in place, this is awesome for both the top unknowns and the many TV personalities that have been turning up for events.

The plans look to also include footage from other tours with a common goal.  To entertain and keep player in the loop.  Even the recreational player like myself will have oppurtunities for a little 15 seconds of fame.  No 10k buyin required. 

With events being hosted not only in Canada but Vegas, Costa Rica,the Dominican, an upcoming poker super cruise and many other exciting locations to be announced (not just yet . 

The site, "CanadianPokerPlayer.tv" is not live yet, but the final details and launch date will be announced in the fourth quarter of this year, as will the fun begin.  I have started a blog here at Pokerwebblogs under the name CanadianPokerPlayer, it does have a few videos up now. Or visit www.canadianpokerplayer.com for quick peek at the features to come.

There will be a social community, chances to log in to win and the site will stay fresh.  I plan to be a big part of that.  When the press release went out yesterday, the responce was nothing short of amazing in my opinion.  Poker news sites are throwing it up everywhere, bloggers are posting it and the eager questions are rolling in.  I just can't wait to get some interviews going, have a little fun and keep guessing on which poker personality, whether big or small, will be featured next!

Stay tuned, literally

Jon

Last one today, but if you are checking it out, please read this and the two proceding blogs to put it all together.  "Bar League Poker" and What IS the catch, No nothing is free.

So subscription sites.  http://www.spadeclub.com/ and http://www.pureplay.com/ are the two most popular and trusted.  Spade Club is owned and operated by http://www.cardplayer.com/

I love these sites as a way to practise and as far as ROI goes, they are untouchable to a good player.  You can truley freeroll a bankroll without spending a dime.  They have gotten pretty saturated though and some bad apples have fallen from this poker site model.

Because they operate on a points system and award players real money and prizing, like bar leagues and instant bankrolls, they are such good training, with a friendly community and a great transition for players looking to get into real money games.  They are also legal in places with strict gambling laws. 

During a subscription site beta version or at the ground level of growth, we have discovered these to be pretty easy money and some alot of sharks flock to the softest fields on the net.  But that is where the flip side lies.

To get going the site must offer some great overlays.  Since the model is based on that x amount of players paying a set low rate per month will only be able to win a certain percentage of the time, eventually the subscriptions wil far exceed the money being paid out.  But in order to make it a true "sweepstakes site" and legal, play must also be offered at no charge.  A percentage of games and services offered that is.

But who is going to sign up unless it looks great and is better than the rest?  So the prizing has to be significant.  So good players keep it a secret and beat up the fish and accumulate a ton of money early.  This is worth the time away from money sites as the ROI is just insane.  If the fish get pounded to hard, they won't pay the money to upgrade to membership and the money being paid out exceeds whats coming in.  Some of the good players upgrade, but they also are taking their dues out ten fold.

If the company running the site can't sustain these loses, the checks bounce.  The players bail.  Or, it gets so saturated as other good players flock and freerollers turn up on basic memberships that the time invested as compared to the field size and payouts become less attractive.  It becomes lost revenue for those players even if they are winning as their skill level can make them more money elsewhere.  If a player is dominating 40,000 others but only making under 10k a year playing full time, they really must consider why.

 So now the site is forced to cut profits again to adjust.  In the end it works out as the site levels off with enough fish winning just enough to keep paying.

And this is how it turned into a scam for many sites.  They know they can bring in good players who will pay the dues with money won during Beta.  The reputation for easy money and huge prizepools with few players for subscription sites is now out there more.  The membership builds faster, lightning fast.  So in a few months the money pumps in as players haven't even tried to cash out, they are too busy winning, while others are pushing and shoving to get in.

At this point, some sites have been known to take the money and run, blaming lack of paid or upgraded memebership to cover the costs of the prizepools.  If they are overseas or offshore, tough luck and kiss your winnings good by.  It happened alot in late 2008-2009 and like other new poker ideas, there are just so many that are catching up with info that the suckers keep pouring in.

http://www.drcheckraise.com/ was able to recover alot of player funds initiallly, but the scaming sites are getting trickier to corner and keep up with.  My advise, keep an eye out and don't miss out but follow the player threads as to what is hot and what is shady.  If you have the time.

Sometimes it's just not worth it.

By now most players have heard of this.  I am suprised how long I knew about it before I really looked into what it is all about.  I asked the same question.  How the hell can free poker give away prizing and will players treat it like a real game with nothing invested?  Is it real poker?

While bar league poker is pretty new in Canada, Australia has an enourmous freeroll league that is quite prestigue to be on top of.

As for quality of play, there are those that gamble and those that play cards.  I have witnessed this at all levels, with infinite amounts of money involved.  Adapt to those that do not fear loss or lose to them.  Bar league poker may be the most import game a new player can play.  Dodge the traps and pitfalls of personality types and lack of monetary attachment and you will be a top player.  Talking to my mentors, I find the $1500 WSOP events are just a freeroll to the worlds top players.  Tourney play is really a freeroll to many top players.  25-50 PLO players do make the call with only a gutshot.  500-1000 players bluff with 4 high. To blame loose play by others is the worst and hardest leak to face.  Be better.  This is a great place to start.

In the USA many states don't allow poker or with strict gambling laws in place it is the only and much welcomed option.  It is nothing new and again there is no real secret.  No.  Nothing is free.

Do you have to pay to play then?  Absolutly not.  It wouldn't be a freeroll if you did. And in many places it would be illegal or fail miserably as telling someone it is free then charging woudn't be looked on kindly.

So back to the question.  Who pays for the prizing?  The bar tour does.  Why would they give something for nothing?  Well, my last blog should have cleared that up.    Many business are willing to pay for advertising to the right market or have new customers.  The tour gets it's money from "sponsership."  Sponsership pays for prizing.  It is a legitimate business like all others.

What is crazy is all this info is readily available, although don't expect anyone to sit down and teach you to build the competition.  How do major money tours make their money?

If you checked out their investor sites or stock portfolios, they are willing to share their model.

The players do make some money for tours through admin fees, but is that what generates the revenue?  Barely, sometimes if at all. 

Just like the bar league it is the advertising spots, branded products, new customers in varius industries, etc that make the money.

How many players own something that says PokerStars, WPT or WSOP?  How much did that product cost as compared to make?  I own tons.  Did anyone ever ask me to buy it?

I ran out to and was tickled pink when I found alot of it.  I pride myself on my brand selection, maybe sometimes define myself.  Shallow?  LOL.  What kind of car, jeans, ketchup etc do we all buy and why?  We are what we are. Consumers.

So again ,while it seems to good to be true, the answers are really not tricky or shady.