Home Game Antics – What Are Friends For?

I was part, as many of us over the years have been, of a dedicated weekly home game. It was great camaraderie, great poker and an event that the whole group looked forward to each week. This is a tale of a particular hand of seven card stud which was played seven handed. It was the very first hand of the evening.

I was sitting to the right of the dealer. What does every stud player hope to see on third street but only does about once every 425 deals? You guessed it, being rolled up with Aces no less! As I looked around the board, the only other interesting card was a King across the table from me. The 3 of clubs was the forced bring-in. There were several players to my right and I decided to slow-play my rolled-up Aces, a true monster in the making. The three brought it in, I called, and so did everyone else! All seven players were in making it a family pot.card cheating

Fourth street didn’t bring anyone any real help. There were no pairs, but the lowly three of clubs caught the four of clubs - interesting. I checked my Ace, the King picked up the bet, and everyone called. Everyone, all seven players! This was really unusual.

Fifth street brought a King to the King, a third club to the 3 and 4 of clubs, but not a connector, and I caught the fourth Ace. I was showing Ace-blank-Ace and figured that the field now would be narrowed. I was thrilled to have trapped so much dead money thus far. I bet, received two calls, the Kings raised, the three of clubs re-raised, and it was two more bets to me after the players in between just called. I raised again and everyone called! I couldn’t believe it – we were still a family pot after a triple raise on fifth street! This was a home game and a little looser than your normal $15-$30 casino stud game, but these guys weren’t maniacs.

Sixth street didn’t appear to help anyone and I was still high with a pair of Aces (and two in the hole). I bet, and after a few calls, the Kings raised. This couldn’t be true, I said to myself, but it was. Everyone called to me; I re-raised the Kings and everyone called. I was thinking that this was going to be some night if this, the first hand of the night, was at all indicative of the way things were headed.

The river card was dealt and someone said, “It’s on the Aces,” and all eyes were on me. I said something like, “I guess I need some help,” and proceeded to take a peek at my river card. In fact, I took two or three peeks at my river card because it was an Ace! After the shock of realizing that it really was an Ace sank in, I thought about how I could have possibly misread my hand on third street. So, I proceeded to take a peek at my first two hole cards which hadn’t been touched since my very first adoring glance at them back on third street. Sure enough, this pro hadn’t misread his hand – I did start off with rolled up aces. The problem was that I now had five Aces – there were two Ace of spades!

I was sitting there in a bit of shock when I heard the voice again, “It’s on the Aces”. I finally blurted out, “I think we’ve got a problem fellas”, to which I heard, “Like what, five aces? Happy April Fools’ Day!”marked cards

My buddies, my pals, my fellow card smiths had spent the day plotting this prank just to jerk my chain for April Fools’ Day. Well, I didn’t know whether I should be angry or flattered. Everyone had a good laugh and then the monster pot was equally divided among all seven of us. I finally understood why everyone was in the hand all the way to the river. I guess the lesson here is; if you’re playing poker with your buddies on April Fools’ Day, then be aware – be very aware!

Online poker sites shut down and charged with fraud in US crackdown

The founders of three of the world’s largest poker websites have been charged with fraud and may be ordered to repay $3bn (£1.8bn) of “illegal” gambling profits.marked cards

US investigators said the websites, two of which are registered in the UK, had “concocted an elaborate criminal fraud” to trick and bribe banks into “massive money laundering and bank fraud”.
The founders of Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and Absolute Poker could face up to 20 years in jail if found guilty of breaching US anti-gambling and money laundering laws.
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) seized the companies’ bank accounts and took control of their US websites, which now display an FBI warning about the illegality of online gambling.
It is against the law for US citizens to gamble online, but many Americans have continued to bet via foreign websites operating illegally.
Analysts said the DoJ probe was “great news” for British gambling companies that have not sought to circumvent US laws because authorities are likely to “reward” them if and when regulated online gambling is introduced in the US.
Warwick Bartlett, chief executive of Global Betting and Gaming Consultants, said: “The likes of Bwin.Party, Betfair, Ladbrokes and William Hill, which have not illegally taken bets in the US, are more likely to win licences there.”
British poker sites are also expected to see a return of big-spending European poker players, known as whales, who had been attracted to Full Tilt, PokerStars and Absolute because it gave them the chance to play against America’s most famous players. “Now that the big American whales won’t be there, Full Tilt and the others have lost one of the key attractions,” said a gambling industry source.
Online poker chat rooms suggest European players are already withdrawing funds from the affected sites. British websites expect to experience a big uplift in players tonight, traditionally the biggest night of the week for online poker. Preet Bharara, a US attorney, said: “These defendants are alleged to have concocted an elaborate criminal fraud scheme, alternately tricking some US banks and effectively bribing others to assure the continued flow of billions in illegal gambling profits.infrared contact lenses

“Moreover, as we allege, in their zeal to circumvent the gambling laws, the defendants also engaged in money laundering and bank fraud.”
The DoJ alleges that the companies and 11 men charged in connection with the crime, tricked, lied and colluded with banks to transfer the stakes and proceeds of gambling.
“These defendants, knowing that their business with US customers and US banks was illegal, tried to stake the deck,” said Janice Fedarcyk, the head of the FBI’s New York office.
Raymond Bitar, chief executive of Full Tilt, said yesterday he was “surprised and disappointed” by the decision to bring the charges and said he looked forward to his “exoneration”. The other companies did not comment.
The other defendants include Isai Scheinberg, the 64-year-old founder of PokerStars; Paul Tate, a PokerStars employee; Nelson Burtnick, of Full Tilt Poker and Scott Tom and Brent Beckley of Absolute Poker.

The Grand Bahamas Island Offers A Vegas-Style Casino And A New York Style Nightlife

When the sun goes down on the Grand Bahamas Island the action begins at the tables and slots at the Treasure Bay Casino, or if the casino is not your liking then hit the clubs where the night life goes on for hours.  Nestled between the Our Lucaya Reef Village and the Our Lucaya Radisson is the newly renovated, and only gambling facility on the Grand Bahamas Island, the Treasure Casino.  Just across the street from the Our Lucaya is the Port Lucaya Marketplace; where the night life is filled with live music in Count Basie Square.card cheating

Spend Mother's and Father's Day On The Grand Bahamas Island And Enjoy An All-inclusive Vacation
Flirt with lady luck and roll the dice at the all new Treasure Bay Casino. This casino has had a complete makeover and is now under new management, so if you had stayed to the Our Lucaya Reef Village before and went to the Isle of Capri Casino, check out what is new. The gambling facility is the only casino on the Grand Bahamas Island, and boast of 20,000 square feet for gaming and entertainment.

This Vegas-style casino has offers loads of gambling excitement; choose from over 3oo slot machines ranging from $1 to $25 plus a Wheel of Fortune. Or try your luck at the gaming tables in Black Jack, Mini Baccarat, Craps, and Three-Card Poker to Caribbean Stud Poker.  Along with the gaming and slots, the casino also has live entertainment, on Friday nights enjoy a local live band perform and Saturday nights it is Karaoke.

When you have had your fill of the tables or the slot, maybe it is time to some Caribbean air at the Count Basie Square at the Port Lucaya Marketplace.  The square is named after Count Basie who used to own a home on the Gran d Bahamas Island. marked cards contact lenses


The live music starts around 7:30, and the night's entertainment goes on until the wee hours of the morning.  Starting with Monday evening enjoy the Golden Oldies, and Tuesday nights is Karaoke then Wednesday through Saturday various local musicians celebrating local customs; and when Sunday rolls in the music slows for an afternoon of Gospel.  Enjoy steel drum bands and small Junkanoo Groups.  Sip an island specialty drink and enjoy the music or get up and dance.

The Grand Bahamas Island has a bar and lounge to match your mood or taste.  The largest and most popular nightclub on the Island is Club Amnesia.  Dance to top 40 hits, Bahamian rhythm and the pulsating beat be prepared for hour of fun and excitement.

If you are staying at the Our Lucaya Radisson or at the Our Lucaya Reef Village, you can find the Prop Club right on the resort.  Burn off some island energy at this Grand Bahamas hotspot; experience the night with Karaoke, live Bahamas bands and Junkanoo-style nights.

Whether you enjoy gambling, live entertainment or dancing, the Grand Bahamas Island has a nightlife to fit any mood or taste.  The Treasure Bay Casino and Count Basie Square may not be the reasons you came to on a Bahamas vacation, but they may be a reason to stay up after regular bedtime.