Our coverage of 2024 Ladies Poker Week – in collaboration with the Women’s Poker Association – is drawing to a close. We’re wrapping things up with some notable moments and highlights from the $1,000 buy-in WSOP Ladies Event, as well as a look back at “the week that was”.
2024 WSOP Ladies Event
Just prior to the kickoff of the WSOP Ladies Event, dozens of excited ladies met at the Mon Ami Gabi restaurant in Paris Las Vegas, to enjoy a yummy breakfast as well as each others company.
The calm before the storm 😁
Just before the $1,000 @WSOP Ladies Event, dozens of excited players gathered together for a special breakfast @ParisVegas‘ Mon Ami Gabi.
In <1 hour, every single one of these ladies are going to be trying to take each other’s chips!
Cc: @WPAGlobal pic.twitter.com/SqN2Y3pLpo
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 28, 2024
WPA President Tara Smith and Vice President AJ Rudolph
While the field didn’t eclipse last year’s record 1,295 players, a very strong 1,245-player field ended up entering this year’s event, and they all came to play. A who’s who of poker’s most decorated and experienced players competed, but to name names would only serve to unintentionally leave “notable” players out, so we won’t do that here. That said, we will point out one cool license plate that we spotted in the Horseshoe parking lot:
There were also plenty of recreational players and even a few first timers in the field, and WSOP Vice President Jack Effel introduced four such first timers – all writers for mainstream media publications – to the assembled masses for the official “Shuffle Up and Deal” prior to their taking their seats in the event.
It’s @WSOP VP @JackEffel getting things underway at the Ladies Event.
4 special guests from mainstream media outlets – who have NEVER played poker before, until last night! – had the “shuffle up and deal” honors.
600 exuberant ladies (and counting!) are ready to rock n’ roll! pic.twitter.com/NVSVfb9BZM
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 28, 2024
While the focus was understandably on the players, we noticed a familiar face in the box, dealer Sandie Selzer, who is making her 20th consecutive appearance at the World Series of Poker. That’s certainly worthy of highlighting, and it was a pleasure to notice plenty of folks engaging with our post about her.
On a day in poker that’s all about the ladies, let’s all give some love to Sandie Selzer.
She’s here dealing for her 20th summer at the @WSOP. pic.twitter.com/nWzosnLq3r
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 28, 2024
By the end of Day 1, only 187 players remained from the original 1,245 and having made the money they were guaranteed a mincash of $2,006 from the total prizepool of $1,095,600. The Day 1 chip leader was Irene Carey, but she busted right at the end of Day 2’s play, as players learned they’d be competing for a top prize of $171,732 as well as the coveted World Series of Poker Bracelet.
Jennifer Shahade and Kasey Lyn Mills made day 3 only to bust shortly after play began, with heavy hitters still in contention, including Marle Spragg, Nadya Magnus, Cherish Andrews. In the end, play came down to Jamie Kerstetter and Japan’s Shiina Okamoto, the Day 2 chipleader. Okamoto notched the win, which marked an improvement on her runner-up finish in last year’s WSOP Ladies Event.
🏆| We caught up with Shiina Okamoto after she won the Ladies No-Limit Hold’em Championship for $171,732. An incredible achievement after coming 2nd in the same event last year. pic.twitter.com/uZLdWYnJ4Z
— PokerNews (@PokerNews) July 2, 2024
$150 PLON Omaha 8 event at Westgate
The final Ladies Event that closed out 2024 Ladies Poker Week also took place yesterday, namely the Poker League of Nations (PLON) $150 Omaha 8 event. Heather Kimel emerged victorious from a field of 40 players. The total prizepool was $4,800 with eight players guaranteed a return of their buy-in with a mincash of $150, while the winner took home $1,440 for her efforts.
| Player | Payout |
| 1. Heather Kimel | $1,440 |
| 2. Jennifer Johnson | $990 |
| 3. Felicia Johnico | $720 |
| 4. Marielizzette Acoba | $585 |
| 5. Lynn Bennett | $405 |
| 6. Debbie Rolland | $360 |
| 7. Kristi Bailey | $150 |
| 8. Shannon Moe | $150 |
No Tilt Poker Tables Players of the Day
Picking just a single Player of the Day from among the legions of lovely ladies competing in the WSOP Ladies Event would be impossible, so what we’ll do here instead is turn the tables by highlighting our Player of the Day sponsor themselves, No Tilt Poker Tables.
I’ll speak very openly and plainly: back in April, the idea of providing ongoing, in-person coverage of Ladies Poker Week was just that; an idea. It had never been done before, and though my discussions with the Women’s Poker Association were productive and we were excited about the possibility, we both agreed that it couldn’t happen without a sponsor.
In and up stepped No Tilt Poker Tables to provide that support. Don’t get me wrong, folks. I’ve always been a strong ally and as supportive as possible as an advocate for the ladies in our poker community. It’s been my absolute privilege and pleasure to zip around the numerous Las Vegas casinos over the last week, watching you all play your hearts out at the felt. But devoting that amount of time, effort, and attention to the cause without any backing whatsoever would simply be impossible.
For that reason, I’m supremely grateful to No Tilt Poker Tables for so kindly agreeing to sponsor Cardplayer Lifestyle’s coverage, throwing their full support into ensuring that the ladies in our game can get due spotlight and media attention.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the stories of the many Players of the Day that we were able to bring to light over the past week throughout our coverage at MGM Grand, Orleans and Resorts World, The Venetian, South Point, Aria and the Golden Nugget, Westgate, and of course the Horseshoe and Paris for the WSOP.
Naturally, I encourage you to please check out the No Tilt Poker Tables website and strongly consider getting your next poker table from them.
2024 Ladies Poker Week: What’s Next?
As mentioned at the outset of this article, this will conclude Cardplayer Lifestyle’s exclusive coverage of 2024 Ladies Poker Week.
I’d like to encourage you to please share your feedback on our coverage with the Women’s Poker Association Board of Directors. We hope to be able to continue providing coverage of Ladies Poker Week in the years to come, and you can rest assured that we’ll aim to improve on said coverage based on that valuable feedback.
I’d like to express sincere thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read our articles over the last week, as well as engage with them on social media and share them with your friends and family. It’s my firm belief that increased media coverage and exposure of poker, and women in poker in particular, will help grow the game we all love overall, and specifically bring more women to the felt.
Our coverage is brought to you courtesy of No Tilt Poker Tables, which produces custom, handcrafted poker tables for families, card rooms, and casinos all over the world.
Our coverage of 2024 Ladies Poker Week continued on Thursday June 27 with another doubleheader (check out our first doubleheader, from a few days ago). This time around, a pair of Ladies Events were held at Aria and Golden Nugget, the former on the Las Vegas Strip, and the latter in Downtown Las Vegas. The Golden Nugget’s $250 Ladies Event carried a $10,000 guarantee and attracted 96 entries for a total prize pool of $18,720. Aria’s $500 buy-in Ladies Championship event featured a $75,000 guarantee and brought in a whopping 351 entries for a total prize pool of $147,420.
Kicking off today’s Ladies Poker Week event coverage at the @ARIAPoker Classic, where the $500 Ladies Championship ($75K Guarantee) has gotten underway with 170 entries and counting! pic.twitter.com/x8Pt3264qk
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 27, 2024
And — just like that — we’re (also) at the @GoldenNuggetLV for their $250 Ladies Event. 😁
Things kicked off here with 56 entries chasing the lion’s share of the $10K GTD prize pool. pic.twitter.com/YIJIz1ex1T
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 27, 2024
Full-Throated Support from Aria’s Top Brass
While at Aria, I spoke with the terrific trio of Ryan Kirk (Director of Poker Operations at Aria), Paul Campbell (Aria’s Tournament Poker Manager and PokerGO Studio Manager), and Sean McCormack (Director of Poker Operations at MGM Resorts International), all of whom have demonstrably been strong advocates for women in poker throughout their time in the poker industry.
“We’re really excited that we get to host this Ladies Event,” said Kirk. “We’ve worked with the Women’s Poker Association to make sure that we have a spot on the calendar that provides this event, and we are very proud of the fact that we have put together a $75K guarantee on this event. It’s the biggest guarantee on the Ladies Poker Week calendar this summer and we’re proud to be hosting it here at Aria.”
“The Ladies Championship is one of my favorites to run here at Aria because you have the camaraderie among the players,” said Campbell. “So many of the tournaments we run are cutthroat; nobody’s there to make friends, and it’s all just about the money. These ladies are of course here to compete against one another, but beyond that they also support each other, so it’s a fun dynamic to watch, to hear the table talk and the support that they give each other, all while taking each other’s chips.”
McCormack then summed up the conversation by saying “As we know, poker is not without the need for growth in certain areas, and we know that events like ladies events bring more women into the game and make them feel comfortable and welcome playing in an environment among other ladies. In any field, representation is key and the number of women we have in our game is not yet where any of us want it to be. Working on, promoting, and engaging with events like this both in person and online through social media and other channels just speaks to our efforts to grow the game we all love both for women and in general.”
No Tilt Poker Tables Players of the Day
As with our previous doubleheader, with two Ladies Events on the docket, we selected a pair of No Tilt Poker Tables Players of the Day: Jennifer Dennis at Aria, and Hagit Movshovitz at the Golden Nugget.
Jennifer Dennis
A 42-year-old mother of triplets — Jackson, Adelaide, and Maverick — who lives in Norman, Oklahoma, Jennifer runs a restaurant as her full-time work. Last year was her first time attending Ladies Poker Week, and she’s here once again in 2024 to give it another shot. “It feels like summer camp and I love being out here to meet all the ladies with whom I usually only get to socialize online; it’s great to put faces to names and get to hang out and strengthen friendships,” she said.
Jennifer’s father introduced her to poker when she was a teenager. “He used used to play in a Monday night home poker game – all the crazy games, draw, stud, etc. – with a bunch of his friends from synagogue, for nickels, dimes and quarters. He said ‘if you bake us chocolate chip cookies we’ll let you watch and we’ll teach you; and if you bring us beer, we’ll let you play.’,” she recalled.
Jennifer’s first foray into live poker at a brick and mortar venue was back in 2011, and she’s been playing recreationally ever since. She counts her 3rd place finish in event #12 of the 2019 WSOP, Super Turbo NLHE Bounty event for $102,010 as her biggest poker achievement to date. “I’ve never won a big tournament; only online events, so my first live win would be great – I’m really looking forward to the picture. My husband’s not here, so if I do win one out here, I’ll have to Photoshop him in.”
In a parting message, Jennifer encouraged “any women out there who might feel too intimidated to come out and play live poker to just put yourself out there and try to meet ladies in the poker community online. Everyone is super friendly, and just from participating in the Facebook groups you can develop so many great friendships that way! Don’t wear headphones, find and use any opportunities you get to communicate and converse with all the ladies at the table.”
Hagit Movshovitz
A 53-years-old divorcee from Shoham, Israel, Hagit is a longtime self-employed owner of a real estate agency. That gives her the freedom, discretionary income and time to be able to play. She learned how to play poker just two years ago “August 31, 2022 — I’ll never forget that date,” she says, upon enrolling in the Israel Poker Academy.
“I knew NOTHING; poker was a whole new language to me, but also completely enchanting and I had a hunger for knowledge to try and quickly improve at and succeed at the game. I always loved gambling and playing casino games, but I was looking for something a little bit more interesting and challenging; that’s how I found poker. It’s a magical, amazing world that opened up to me, and now I’m ‘all in’ on poker.”
Hagit mostly plays tournaments in underground poker rooms in Israel, occasionally cash games too. Beyond the actual gameplay, what interests her most is “the behavioral psychology on full display, so poker was immediately right up my alley. I’m studying people at the tables all the time, learning from their mannerisms and behavioral patterns. It’s a perfect match for my personal interests, and it fills me with excitement to play and engage with other poker players.”
As part of her ongoing poker journey, Hagit reached out to Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra last year. “Eli has taught me so much and has introduced me to the entire live poker world here in Las Vegas.”
She is elated to be playing in the WSOP Ladies bracelet event for the first time. Last year she was at home in Israel over the summer. One of her friends made a deep run to finish in 50th place in the Ladies event, and Hagit then continued watching the live stream and saw Tammy Abraham win the bracelet. “At that moment I told myself next year, I HAVE to play in that event. It would be pretty amazing to make the final table.”
In her second Vegas poker summer, Hagit is clearly having the time of her life. She loves poker and feels like she’s in absolute Paradise here in Vegas. She hopes to keep coming back a couple times a year for a few weeks at a time to just play lots and lots of poker in the future. And skills-wise, she certainly feels like she has a good chance to achieve success at the felt. “Having developed friendships with a number of other lady poker players in Israel through practice and study, I feel like the skill level of players from our country is pretty solid.”
But there’s just one thing… hand in hand with her month-long stay in Las Vegas, and all the joy she’s experienced, Hagit has been wearing a yellow ribbon on her heart and on her clothing. “It signifies support for the hostages being held by Hamas. People are asking about the ribbon, so I feel like I have the opportunity and obligation to share what that’s about, and what it’s like to be living in Israel with all the craziness going on right now. I’m playing with a heavy heart, knowing what’s going on back home. I watch the news from back home every day and cry. But at the same time I feel compelled to be an ambassador for my country and for the hostages. I pray every day that everything will be OK with them and for everyone back at home.”
Payouts, Final Tables and Winners
Aria’s event brought in a total of 351 entries, with 46 players cashing for a minimum of $737. The winner, Ayaka Muraishi took home $30,219 for her efforts.
| Player | Payout |
| 1. Ayaka Muraishi | $30,219 |
| 2. Faye Hall | $20,934 |
| 3. Samantha Lake | $14,005 |
| 4. Thi Ngo | $8,993 |
| 5. Mary Kim | $6,781 |
| 6. Liping Zhang | $5,602 |
| 7. Dianne Hull | $4,570 |
| 8. Haven Werner | $3,686 |
| 9. Jessica Shu | $3,096 |
Meanwhile, the numbers over at Golden Nugget tallied up to 96 entries and a total prize pool of $18,720. The winner, Chris Read, took home $5,940. Below is a picture of the players who made the final table. Unfortunately, we couldn’t manage to get their names by press time, but we did manage to track down Chris’ winner’s photo.
2024 Ladies Poker Week: What’s Next?
Cardplayer Lifestyle’s exclusive coverage of 2024 Ladies Poker Week continues on Friday June 2827 with the $1,000 WSOP Ladies Championship bracelet event — the marquee event of Ladies Poker Week — which begins at noon at the Horseshoe/Paris Las Vegas.
Our coverage finishes off on Saturday June 29 with the $150 PLON Omaha 8 event at 2pm at Westgate.
Our coverage is brought to you courtesy of No Tilt Poker Tables, which produces custom, handcrafted poker tables for families, card rooms, and casinos all over the world.
Our coverage of 2024 Ladies Poker Week — in collaboration with the Women’s Poker Association — continued on Wednesday June 26 with the Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) $400 National Championship at the South Point Hotel and Casino Las Vegas. The event already surpassed its $40K guarantee by the time cards hit the air. By the time registration closed a few hours later, 253 entries had been recorded, generating a $86,020 prize pool.
Our 2024 Ladies Poker Week coverage continues today here at @SPPokr, where 136 ladies (thus far) are battling it out in the $400 @LIPS_Tour National Championship.
The $40K guarantee has already been met and registration is open until approximately 3pm. pic.twitter.com/cJEfClNKWk
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 26, 2024
“We’ve been hosting the LIPS National Championship for quite a few years now,” said South Point Poker Room Manager Jason Sanborn. “This event during Ladies Poker Week is one that we really get the most excited about here. The ladies come out to have fun and a good time, and there’s always such great camaraderie among them at and away from the tables. That’s why we love supporting it. We pride ourselves here at South Point on being a comfortable place to play, so any ladies coming out here for the first time will find a very welcoming environment,” Sanborn continued.
LIPS Founder Lupe Soto: A Celebration 20 Years in the Making!
LIPS founder Lupe Soto was overjoyed at the turnout and took a moment to reflect on the National Championship’s 20-year journey. “It’s not a given that we’re still here 20 years later. Where it used to be compared to where it is right now is unbelievable,” she said. Our very first champion, Kim Fontes, who won our inaugural National Championship back at San Diego’s Ocean’s 11 Casino, is here playing in our 20th! That’s amazing. Women really love poker and that’s why they come support us. The operators know we want events like these to run, so they give us the space to come out and enjoy ourselves at the tables.”
Props to @LIPS_Tour founder @PokerLupe.
You don’t get to a 20th annual National Championship Event milestone without lots of hard work and passionate effort.
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 26, 2024
No Tilt Poker Tables Player of the Day: Trey Johns
Our No Tilt Poker Tables Player of the Day is Arlinda “Tray” Johns. Thus far this summer, Tray has competed at Ladies Events at the Wynn, Venetian, Resorts World, and MGM in addition to South Point. She is a 50-year-old grandmother who lives in Haines City, Florida, who specifically flew out to Las Vegas for the Ladies Week events.
“I love Ladies Events because that’s where I feel most comfortable playing poker. Against men, they’re ‘playing against a woman’, where as against woman, they’re ‘playing against me’ and I like that,” said Johns.
With regard to her poker playing history, Johns revealed that “I learned how to play when I was a kid. I was born not with a silver spoon in my mouth, but rather a deck of cards. My grandmother taught us how to play 5 Card Stud, told us to get all our coins out from our piggy banks, then just won it all. We also played cribbage and lots of other card games; I always loved the cards.”
Despite playing poker throughout her life, the switch from cash games to tournaments was a recent one for Johns. “This is my second year of playing tournaments; up until then it was exclusively cash games. Last year was a horrible year for me tournament-wise. I didn’t study; I just played them like I played in the cash games. I had played cards my whole life, so I figured success would come easily, but nothing could have been further from the truth! I was a terrible tournament player! Tournaments are totally different.”
It was a difficult thing for Johns to “admit that I needed coaching because I’ve player poker for so many years. But I did, and over the past year I have put in almost 200 hours of study. I watch a lot of poker vlogs on YouTube and also use Pokercoaching.com, especially the weekly quizzes. Thankfully, all that study has paid off with some good results.”
As far as on-the-felt successes, Johns is most proud of having won a Moneymaker Tour $400 side event last month in West Palm Beach for almost $4,500. “That’s where I feel like I finally broke through after having made quite a few final tables over the past few months.”
Retired from having served in the Navy as a fireman for a few years, Johns was also a welder and machinist. She ran track and played basketball in college, and still exercises a lot today in order to stay in good shape; “all the exercise helps me out a lot as far as my endurance at the tables.”
We ended our conversation with Johns telling me that “I dream about winning the WSOP Ladies Event bracelet. I played in that tournament for the first time last year and I’m looking forward to taking another shot at it this year.”
Notable Names and Faces in the Field
As mentioned, the event got a total of 253 entries, and 36 players got paid a minimum of $946. The winner, Marcy Paulson, took home $17,554 for her efforts.
Below is a listing of the players who made the final table along with a photo, plus one of the tournament winner.
| Player | Payout |
| 1. Marcy Paulson | $17,594 |
| 2. Rachel Sawyer | $10,796 |
| 3. Ranae Warren | $7,011 |
| 4. Julie Thomas | $4,602 |
| 5. Jolene Krawczak | $3,398 |
| 6. Thuy Kawaro | $2,968 |
| 7. Sheila Raine | $2,581 |
| 8. Toni Bisconti | $2,237 |
| 9. Marci Miles | $1,935 |
2024 Ladies Poker Week: What’s Next?
Cardplayer Lifestyle’s exclusive coverage of 2024 Ladies Poker Week continues on Thursday June 27 with another doubleheader.
The $500 Aria Ladies Championship starts at 12pm and the Golden Nugget’s $250 Ladies Event will begin at 1pm in downtown Las Vegas. There’s also a $150 LIPS Mega Satellite taking place at South Point at 6pm.
On Friday June 28, the $1,000 WSOP Ladies Championship — the marquee event of Ladies Poker Week — will begin at noon at the Horseshoe/Paris Las Vegas.
Our coverage finishes off on Saturday June 29 with the $150 PLON Omaha 8 event at 2pm at Westgate.
Our coverage is brought to you courtesy of No Tilt Poker Tables, which produces custom, handcrafted poker tables for families, card rooms, and casinos all over the world.
Tuesday June 25 saw the Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) roll into Venetian to stage their $600 Ladies Championship. The event carried both the highest buy-in and guarantee ($50,000) of 2024 Ladies Poker Week thus far ahead of the $1,000 WSOP Ladies Championship bracelet event to be held on Friday June 27.
With action getting underway at 11am, the guarantee was already broken before the first hand even got dealt. By the time registration ended at 5:15pm, this event ended up attracting the largest field thus far of 2024 Ladies Poker Week; 296 entries.
Kicking things off here at @VenetianPoker for the $50K GTD $600 @LIPS_Tour Venetian Ladies Championship 💋 with 124 players on hand for the “shuffle up and deal”.
As per @PokerLupe “it’s pretty awesome to have already beaten our guarantee before the event even started!” 🥳 pic.twitter.com/wrpz80bpKn
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 25, 2024
Multiple times today while walking around the Venetian poker room, I noticed floor staff, dealers, and cage personnel all doing their jobs super professionally and with a smile. It’s clear that they’re welcoming and extremely hospitable not only to the lovely ladies playing in today’s event, but to all poker players who come to visit the room.
LIPS Founder Lupe Soto: Very Happy with the Turnout!
With LIPS celebrating its 20th anniversary, I spoke with its founder, Lupe Soto at length. “It’s an opportunity for us to have a benchmark as to where we were versus where we are now, it’s night and day. When I first started there were maybe 2-3 events all year round for women, whereas I think it’s unbelievable that there are over 100 Ladies events on the calendar for 2024! It’s overwhelmingly exciting,” said Soto.
She continued, “This year in particular, Ladies Poker Week features quite a few higher buy-in events and I believe women have come prepared for that, but overall we try to spread events with a variety of different price points so as to attract players at all levels of the game.”
Speaking about LIPS’ longtime relationship with the Venetian, Soto expressed that “they’ve been supportive from the get-go, for over 10 years. Starting from back when Kathy Raymond was the Director of Poker here, and now with Tommy Larosa, they’re always so genuinely happy to support what we do with LIPS. They want to make sure we have a premier event every year.”
Soto is bullish on Ladies Events in general at the moment, saying that “when they’re running and hitting their guarantees, that’s a very good metric to look to, as that strongly indicates that women want these events and are prepared to show up for them. We want everyone to succeed, and we want both players and operators to make the events memorable so that they can continue to happen every year.”
Having been actively promoting the advancement of women in poker for 20 years, Soto reflected that “There has never been a time like now, when all of the operators are all-in to make sure they have a ladies program in their room. I’m excited and I think it’s only upward from here. Operators are listening and they can help not only grow the game for women, but also how women are perceived, which is important.”
No Tilt Poker Tables Player of the Day: Jean Anne (Jan) Osta
Our No Tilt Poker Tables Player of the Day is Jan Osta. A 78-year-old poker player from St. Simon’s, Georgia, Osta couldn’t stop smiling when talking about how much she loves poker. That love dates back to when she was a teenager, having learned the game from her parents. “My father would take me to his friend’s house when their home game needed one more player, so that’s how and where I started learning. They played 7 Card Stud. 5 Card Stud, and 5 Card Draw poker.
“I also play duplicate bridge, so I like cards and I like the challenge, and when I win, I like the money.”
Jan Osta
All those decades of poker experience notwithstanding, Osta gave a surprising answer when I asked what she felt her biggest poker achievement was. “Actually, that happened just a couple days ago, when I finished in 2nd place at the MGM Grand’s Ladies Event for $7,140.”
Osta plays about once every other week, traveling across state lines to Jacksonville, Florida, for her games. Not content with just playing, she revealed that she recently began studying and reading poker books. “The books really help,” she said, “and I figured I’d start studying because especially at my age I just felt this is the time to push.”
Osta also expressed her love for Ladies events “because they’re so friendly. At that MGM Grand event a couple days back, the lady who busted on the bubble got up and wished everyone else good luck. That’s not something you see too often. Even the floorman was surprised that the lady was in such positive spirits despite busting!”
Osta has a dream of being able to make it into the money of the WSOP Ladies event, and intends to work towards that dream when hopping in later this week. We wish her the best of luck!
Notable Names and Faces Fill the Fiery Field
With close to 300 entries, the field was guaranteed to be just about as diverse as you can get. In particular, the final tablists hailed from a whopping seven countries: New Zealand, United States, France, Japan, Canada, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.
Some notable faces in the crowd here at @VenetianPoker for the $600 @LIPS_Tour Venetian Ladies Championship, as we pass 180 entries:@KristyArnett, @Halltxholdem, @MarleSpragg and Poker Hall of Famer Barbara Enright
Late registration open until 5:15pm
CC: @WPAGlobal pic.twitter.com/EYk5wLwBiJ
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 25, 2024
More faces in the crowd here at @VenetianPoker for the $600 @LIPS_Tour event:@JenShahade and @Angelajordison find themselves among the 117 remaining players. pic.twitter.com/NjWXnqXeeI
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 26, 2024
A total of 296 entries generated a big prize pool of $149,480, with the winner Natalia Rozova receiving a $30,481 payday. Of that field, 37 players cashed for a minimum of $1,254
| Player | Payout |
| 1. Natalia Rozova | $30,481 |
| 2. Samantha Gonzalez | $21,501 |
| 3. JoAnn Miner | $15,439 |
| 4. Sarah Ramirez | $11,290 |
| 5. Aoi Oyama | $8,411 |
| 6. Tracy Rouse | $6,385 |
| 7. Andrea Quadros | $4,942 |
| 8. Marle Spragg | $3,901 |
| 9. Lacey Jones | $3,141 |
Ladies Warming Up for the World Series of Poker
Just down the street form the Venetian, at the Horseshoe, 171 ladies took to the felt for a $150 buy-in “warm up” event meant to serve as a “test run” for the upcoming $1,000 WSOP Ladies Championship bracelet event that’s set to begin on Friday June 28. Below is a picture that was sent to us by Maureen Bloechlinger, pictured center along with her fellow final table-mates.
We didn’t cover this particular Ladies Event in depth, but got word from WPA President Tara Smith that the final eight players agreed to chop for $1,625 apiece, while Monica Mejia (pictured below) ended up winning the trophy; her first ever. The remaining players who took part in the chop were: Sherry Pluskota, Anne Eastey, Patti Zarosky, Heather Kimel, Maureen Bloechlinger, Sheila Stimson, and Ruth Hall.
2024 Ladies Poker Week: Remaining Events
Cardplayer Lifestyle’s exclusive coverage of 2024 Ladies Poker Week continues on Wednesday June 26 with the $400 LIPS National Championship, which begins at 10am tomorrow and carries a $40,000 guarantee.
In case you missed it, be sure to check out our recap and highlights of yesterday’s Ladies doubleheader at Orleans and Resorts World.
On Thursday June 27, we’re expecting another doubleheader, with the $500 Aria Ladies Championship starting at 11am and the Golden Nugget’s $250 Ladies Event set to begin at 1pm in downtown Las Vegas. There’s also a $150 LIPS Mega Satellite taking place at South Point at 6pm.
On Friday June 28, as mentioned, the $1,000 WSOP Ladies Championship — the marquee event of Ladies Poker Week — will begin at noon at the Horseshoe/Paris Las Vegas.
Finally, Saturday June 29 sees a $150 PLON Omaha 8 event run at Westgate, beginning at 2pm.
Our coverage is brought to you courtesy of No Tilt Poker Tables, which produces custom, handcrafted poker tables for families, card rooms, and casinos all over the world.
Monday June 24 saw our first doubleheader of 2024 Ladies Poker Week, with a pair of stellar events taking place in Las Vegas, at the Orleans and Resorts World, respectively. The $400 Orleans Ladies Championship kicked off at 11am, while the show got underway at Resorts World at 1pm for the $360 PLON Crystal Cup. Both events carried a $40,000 guarantee, and as part of our partnership with the Women’s Poker Association, Cardplayer Lifestyle was on hand to cover both.
Orleans Poker Room (left) and Resorts World Poker Room (right)
$400 Orleans Ladies Championship
“The Ladies Championship is one of my favorite events every year,” said Orleans Poker Room Manager Eric Ewing. “Poker, in general, brings together people from all different walks of life, but when it’s a Ladies event it’s that much more special; for them to have their own event to just have fun. We like to welcome all sorts of groups here at Orleans, be it Hold’em, mixed games, ladies; you name it, and we want everyone to feel as welcome as possible.”
The @OrleansPokerRo1 $400 buy-in $40,000 GTD Ladies Championship is now underway, with 64 players having showed up for the “shuffle up and deal”.
Ladies who make the final table get a @WPAGlobal gift bag, with the winner receiving a special enhanced gift bag and the trophy. pic.twitter.com/kISYK9IxgO
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 24, 2024
One of the Orleans dealers, 25-year-old Brandon, was eyeing all the gift bags and the WPA trophy, and asked “what’s all this extra stuff?” When I explained, telling him about the Women’s Poker Association and what they do to help promote women in poker, his response was “That’s really cool! I’m going to tell my stepmom about this! She wants to learn the game and that seems like a perfect way for her to do that.”
$360 PLON Crystal Cup at Resorts World
“We are very pleased to welcome back the Poker League of Nations Ladies Event,” said Leon Wheeler, Director of Poker Operations Resorts World. “This is our fourth year, and all have been highly successful. I have always been an advocate for promoting women’s events and will continue to do so. So far, we have had a great turnout and look forward to next year.”
The @PokrLeagNations (PLON) Crystal Cup is now underway at @PokerRoomRWLV!
130+ ladies have registered thus far for this $360 buy-in $40K GTD tournament.
Registration open until approximately 5:30pm
cc: @WPAGlobal pic.twitter.com/NcLp0jBnwX
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 24, 2024
Here’s what 183 ladies (and counting!) are playing for at @PokerRoomRWLV today, the PLON Crystal Cup. 🏆
The champion will also receive a special @TiffanyAndCo Bracelet 💎
(and thousands in prize money 💰, of course 😀) pic.twitter.com/hxrjyDjR2l
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 24, 2024
No Tilt Poker Tables Players of the Day
With a pair of Ladies Events attracting a total of over 400 combined entries, it’s only fitting that we recognize two of No Tilt Poker Tables Players of the Day, Jennifer Solomon at the PLON Crystal Cup and Christina Black at the Orleans Ladies Championship.
Jennifer Solomon
Jennifer is PLON’s Travel Ambassador, having originally gotten into poker when Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 WSOP Main Event. “I like the rush when I play, and it’s actually very relaxing for me,” she remarked. Away from the felt, Jennifer works as a travel agent, with poker being her favored pastime. “What I like the most about Ladies events is the camaraderie; getting together, seeing my friends, and it’s much more relaxed. Just a very friendly environment.”
Jennifer also shared a special announcement with players just prior to the “shuffle up and deal” — namely a special “Ladies Week at Sea”, with back-to-back WPT at Sea cruises departing from Miami on November 10-15 and then November 15-21. While it won’t be a full ship takeover like this past March’s WPT Voyage, passengers on Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady will enjoy a few bespoke Ladies Events will be added to the tournament schedule as part of the cruises.
Rather than a particular tournament run or memorable cash game session, Jennifer shared that she felt her marquee achievement after 20+ years of being into poker has been recently getting involved in the industry side of the game. “I’m just getting started and I hope to have many years ahead of me,” she beamed.
Christina Black
Christina is a Women’s Poker Association (WPA) Board Member and functions as the Program Director for the organization’s Raise It Up initiative, which helps get poker rooms and managers to elevate the overall level of respect for ALL players. She happens to have an additional connection to the Orleans poker room, as she’s married to one of their Tournament Supervisors, Zach Black. Besides the obvious appreciation for the Orleans, Christina likes the room because it’s “open, friendly, and has lots of action. The players and staff are great, tournaments are great, and you always have a good time here.”
When I asked her what she loves about poker, Christina’s face positively lit up: “I love the competitiveness and the strategy, to be able to outthink your opponents. What I love about ladies tournaments in particular is that every single time I look around at another table I see a friend! Poker brought us together, but all our personality types, that’s what keeps us friends away from the table as well. We’ve been through everything together — divorces, remarriages, babies, kids’ graduations — all these life milestones together. And we always cheer each other on at life but we’re extremely competitive at the poker table.”
Christina went into the tournament’s dinner break on a high, with close to double the average chip stack, after her two red kings somehow managed to make a flush against her opponent’s two black kings. This is the first time she’s ever won a hand in a tournament against a player having the same holdings due to a fortuitous board runout, “and I feel pretty good right now.”
Payouts, Final Tables and Winners
Both of today’s Ladies events exceeded their respective $40,000 guarantees. Below you’ll see the payouts for the top 9 finishers who made the final table of each event.
A total of 147 entries generated a $49,980 prize pool at the Orleans Ladies Championship with the winner Svetlana Gromenkova receiving a $13,491 payday, and 18 players cashing for a minimum of $950 apiece.
| Player | Payout |
| 1. Svetlana Gromenkova | $13,491 |
| 2. Carolyn Gardner | $7,797 |
| 3. Galya Zhekova | $4,998 |
| 4. Lorena Sanchez | $3,649 |
| 5. Deepa Alban | $2,949 |
| 6. Anne Bui | $2,399 |
| 7. Veronica Rivera | $1,974 |
| 8. Janet Berry | $1,649 |
| 9. Elizabeth Huey | $1,399 |
Meanwhile, a total of 259 entries generated a $79,254 prize pool at the PLON Crystal Cup at Resorts World, with the winner Amy Mynderse receiving a $19,023 payday, and 27 players cashing for a minimum of $880 apiece.
Player | Payout |
| 1. Amy Mynderse | $19,023 |
| 2. Ada Lang | $11,888 |
| 3. Hayley Hochstetler | $7,925 |
| 4. Loni Hui | $5,487 |
| 5. Megan Chapman | $3,844 |
| 6. Laurie Clouse | $3,099 |
| 7. Micaela Yanigro | $2,536 |
| 8. Raechel Whetstone | $2,140 |
| 9. Katherine Stahl | $1,823 |
2024 Ladies Poker Week: What’s Next?
Cardplayer Lifestyle’s exclusive coverage of 2024 Ladies Poker Week continues on Tuesday June 25 with the $600 LIPS Venetian Ladies Championship, which begins at 11am tomorrow and carries a $50,000 guarantee.
In case you missed it, be sure to check out our recap and highlights of yesterday’s $20K GTD Ladies Kick-Off event at MGM Grand.
Our coverage is brought to you courtesy of No Tilt Poker Tables, which produces custom, handcrafted poker tables for families, card rooms, and casinos all over the world.
The 2024 Ladies Poker Week kicked off at 11am at the MGM Grand poker room in Las Vegas to much excitement and fanfare. The “Ladies train” will be making over half a dozen additional stops throughout the upcoming week all over Las Vegas, and — as part of our partnership with the Women’s Poker Association (WPA) — Cardplayer Lifestyle will be on hand to cover the action.
All set to kick off our Ladies Poker Week coverage here at @MGMGrandPoker 🎉
Today’s $250 buy-in event has a $20K guarantee and looks like about 70 players have showed up on time, with legions of ladies yet to stream on in and play their hearts out.
Best of luck, everyone! pic.twitter.com/tjCeC52mMH
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 23, 2024
“We are really proud and excited to kick off Ladies week,” said Director of Poker at MGM Grand Las Vegas, Steven Pique. “MGM Grand is committed in offering a space for ladies to spread positivity and poker awareness. We hope that our group of lady poker players have a home here for years to come,” he added.
One legend of the game in particular stood out among the field, Barbara Enright. Memorably, Enright is the last woman to have made it to the final table of the WSOP Main Event, having accomplished the feat way back in 1995.
Spotted playing at the $250 @MGMGrandPoker Ladies Event:
3x WSOP bracelet winner Barbara Enright pic.twitter.com/yLeFDihYMG
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 23, 2024
To Be the (Wo)man, You’ve Gotta Beat the Man!
Not for the first time, and likely not for the last time, another participant also stood out in this Ladies Event for all the wrong reasons; i.e., a man decided to enter the tournament. Springing into action, Amanda Wheeler decided to begin collecting $10 contributions from interested players to put a bounty on his head.
A total of $240 was quickly amassed… and won shortly thereafter, to the delight of the assembled crowd. The gentleman, who will not be named, didn’t even make it to the first break.
So long, buddy!
The gentleman has now been eliminated, and the field erupted in cheers for Sira, who did the honors. https://t.co/qiylxErB6o pic.twitter.com/ujOMd2xHoj
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 23, 2024
No Tilt Poker Tables Player of the Day: Kristin Brotherton
Our No Tilt Poker Tables Player of the Day is Kristin Brotherton. Kristin just got into Las Vegas two days ago from Austin, Texas. Considering herself to be a semi-pro player, she started off the summer with a flourish, finishing in second place out of 269 runners at the WSOP Daily Deepstacks, cashing for approximately $6,000 in last night’s $200 buy-in 8pm event.
Despite very few hours of sleep, Kristin decided to play in the MGM Ladies tournament “to come and show support” after her friend Maureen Bloechlinger told her about it. She was unaware of it being “Ladies Poker Week” but, now that she’s heard about it, thinks it’s a really cool concept.
Kristin will be here in Las Vegas for three weeks, with plans to play the WSOP Ladies Event, the Mini Main Event and “hopefully the WSOP Main Event, if I can find my way in.”
“This game is amazing,” said Kristin. “Both the mental and intuitive aspects of it are very unique and the game gives you amazing life skills to have; you learn a lot from poker.” She went on to say that “there’s nothing quite like a Ladies event; it’s very unique in the play style. I’ve never been 4-bet and 5-bet more in my life! They’re incredibly aggressive, and it’s not what you would think at all. This is a great way to prep for the WSOP Ladies bracelet event on Friday!”
Payouts, Final Table and Winner
A total of 204 entries ponied up the $250 buy-in to create a prize pool of $41,820. The top 26 players got paid out a minimum of $310 with the lion’s share of the prize pool (hey, it IS the MGM Grand, after all 😉) $10,315 going to the winner.
2024 MGM Grand Ladies Event Final Table | Photo credit: Ruth Hall
Natalja Howel emerged victorious atop the field to collect the big payday, along with the WPA Trophy for her win. Below you can find payouts for the top 9 finishers who made the final table.
Player | Payout |
| 1. Natalja Howel | $10,315 |
| 2. Jean Osta | $7,140 |
| 3. Laurie Willett-Turner | $4,285 |
| 4. Laura Westfall | $2,605 |
| 5. Kristin Brotherton | $2,015 |
| 6. Sarah Wasch | $1,670 |
| 7. Ruth Hall | $1,420 |
| 8. Rosalind Badger | $1,225 |
| 9. Barbara Enright | $1,030 |
2024 Ladies Poker Week: What’s Next?
Cardplayer Lifestyle’s exclusive coverage of 2024 Ladies Poker Week continues on Monday June 24 with a doubleheader. The $400 Orleans Ladies Championship begins at 11am with a $40,000 guarantee, followed by the PLON Crystal Cup $360 buy-in event starting at 1pm at Resorts World, which also boasts a $40,000 guarantee.
Our coverage is brought to you courtesy of No Tilt Poker Tables, which produces custom, handcrafted poker tables for families, card rooms, and casinos all over the world.
The summer of non-stop Las Vegas tournament action has been sizzling and as if things weren’t incredible enough with options for players throughout the city, yet another amazing series is about to dive into the pool. But even with so many tournament series on the go, you’re not going to want to miss the next Moneymaker Tour stop!
From June 28-July 6 the Moneymaker Tour takes over the MGM Grand at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana Avenue for a week and a half of action, headlined by the tour’s second-ever $1,000,000 guaranteed Main Event, along with almost $300,000 guaranteed in side events.
The fledgling tour, founded by legendary Poker Hall of Famer and 2003 WSOP Main Event champion Chris Moneymaker, with the tour’s Executive Manager Tony Burns at his side, has been a hit from its inception just over a year ago in May 2023, regularly crushing guarantees and providing a first-class experience for its players.
“Las Vegas is the beating heart of the poker world. It’s where the game’s legends and stories, including Chris’, have been made. To host an event in the same city that Chris won the 2003 Main Event in is a full circle moment. We are excited to partner with MGM Grand this summer and look forward to being a part of their festival on June 28th-July 6th,” said Moneymaker Tour Executive Manager Tony Burns.
Since its debut, the Moneymaker Tour has awarded over $4,000,000 in Main Events alone with buy-ins ranging from $1,500-$2,500. The MGM Grand Main Event, with a trio of opening flights starting on July 2nd comes with a $1,700 price point and with $200 milestone satellites running alongside it.
Besides the Main Event, a litany of Deepstack, Bounty, and Pot-Limit Omaha side event tournaments will be running concurrently with $300-$400 buy-ins and guarantees ranging from $15,000 to $50,000.
The Moneymaker Tour’s mission statement of “getting back to grassroots poker but also not forgetting the higher-level players as well; keeping the spirit of the original poker boom intact” has certainly been shown in its first year of existence led by the man who started that boom just over 20 years ago.
“I am super pumped to see our tour grow. We offer players an affordable and dependable tour to play. We are going to continue to expand our footprint with Vegas being an amazing starting point out west and the MGM being a great partner and brand to do it with,” said Chris Moneymaker.
A look at the list of Moneymaker Tour Main Event results shows the mission statement well represented by WSOP and WPT title holders along with online crushers and recreational players.
Previous Moneymaker Tour Main Event Results
- May 2023 (inaugural event): Palm Beach Kennel Club (PBKC) – 262 entries / $589,500 prizepool / Mike Rossi def. James Carroll for $134,265 first prize
- August 2023: Daytona Beach – 379 entries / $511,650 prizepool / Michael ‘Dion’ Jagroo def. Ricardo Eyzaguirre for $102,222 first prize
- September 2023: Hard Rock Cincinnati – 788 entries / $1,040,160 prizepool / Joseph Bakun def. Ian Richardson for $208,034 first prize
- October 2023: PBKC – 342 entries / $461,700 prizepool / Bryce McVay def. Ian O’Hara for $98,074 first prize
- January 2024: Texas Card House Houston – 198 entries / $267,300 prizepool / Han Fang def. Brad Ruben for $54,100 first prize
- February 2024: PBKC – 214 entries / $500,000 prizepool / Pavlos Kasselouris def. Ian O’Hara for $121,485 first prize
- April 2024: Daytona Beach – 296 entries / $399,600 prizepool / Aaron Speer def. Roger Thompson for $87,790 first prize
- May 2024: PBKC – 329 entries / $444,150 prizepool / Jordan Scheider def. Chad Summer for $95,421 first prize
With its success quickly established, The Moneymaker Tour is now eager to build on it and continue to show its ambition as one of the premier mid-major poker tours on the calendar.
Excited to announce the @MoneymakerTour will be part of the @MGMGrandPoker Summer Series. We are making our Las Vegas debut pic.twitter.com/1GhCdBEYhk
— Chris Moneymaker ⭕ (@CMONEYMAKER) April 26, 2024
The Las Vegas debut at MGM Grand won’t be its only one this year, as along with returns to tour staples Palm Beach Kennel Club and Hard Rock Cincinnati, the tour is set to head to the sunshine of the Caribbean with a series at the Casino at the Aruba Hilton this fall.
Upcoming Moneymaker Tour Stops
- June 28-July 6: MGM Grand Las Vegas – $1,000,000 guaranteed $1,700 Main Event
- September 17-30: Hard Rock Cincinnati – $1,000,000 guaranteed across 15 events
- October 4-6: Casino at Aruba Hilton – $200,000 guaranteed $1,500 Main Event
- October 23-November 4: Palm Beach Kennel Club – Details coming soon
While players have a plethora of choices to spend their tournament buy-in dollars on during the heat of the desert summer, there may be no hotter stop than the Moneymaker Tour’s Las Vegas debut at the MGM Grand.
With its huge guarantees, highlighted by that $1,000,000 in the Main Event, it’s truly going to be a series living up to its namesake.
For all the details of the Moneymaker Tour at the MGM Grand, the tour’s history, and its growing future schedule, visit Moneymakerpt.com.
Zach Elwood is most well known for his series of poker tells books, which includes Reading Poker Tells (2012), Verbal Poker Tells (2014), and Exploiting Poker Tells (2017). His first book is most well known around the poker industry and has been translated into eight languages. After producing the trilogy, Elwood then produced a video series. That’s the subject of this article, as we’ll be reviewing the entire Poker Tells Video Series series below (bottom line: we recommend!) and we’ll also give you an exclusive discount code that you can use to get 20% off your purchase.
Poker Tells Video Series: The strengths
In the past, one of our contributing writers had shared his feedback on the Poker Tells Video Series, saying that it provided “clear, compelling content. Elwood takes great care to go into not just ‘what to look for’ but also the psychology behind the action. You won’t just gain a few tips and tricks – you’ll have a deeper understanding of a critical aspect of live play.” In this review, we’ll be diving a little deeper on the series, which you can find in full on Elwood’s website here: https://readingpokertells.video/.
Generally speaking, Zach’s video series is very helpful, going into all sorts of granular detail about specific behaviors in specific situations. He also words things in very easy-to-understand, down-to-earth ways. The fact of the matter is that while much has changed in the field of poker study, namely the advent of GTO (Game Theory Optimal) play and the proliferation of poker training sites over the past decade, what hasn’t changed is fundamental human behavior.
Thus, the Reading Poker Tells Video Series uniquely stands the test of time, even as poker theory continues to evolve. Considering the uniqueness of this material, and the strength of it, this is a valuable purchase for anyone serious about gaining an edge at live poker. At the very least, this series will help you recognize potential behavioral leaks you might have and help you minimize the edge other players might have on you in those areas.
What people really liked about Zach’s first book, Reading Poker Tells, was the focus on how different behaviors can mean different things in different situations. In this video series, Zach continues this theme by analyzing behaviors by situation. So, for example, there’s a video on eye-contact (and other eye-related behavior) from players making significant bets later in the hand. There’s also a video on “ostentatious” behaviors from non-aggressors (checkers, callers) early in the hand. So, besides a focus on a specific behavior, he gives a situational framework.
Something else that has always made Zach’s work stand out, both in book and video format, is that both amateurs and skilled players seem to get a lot from them. This review, for instance, is written by a serious amateur player, to which I imagine most of you reading this can relate. Similarly, our social media coordinator Chad McVean also enjoyed the series.
Before heading off to my main job, did some work for jobs 2 & 3, then had a little study time left over.
Love this Reading Poker Tells Video Series from @apokerplayer.
Go to https://t.co/gnFnIjNnD2!#pokerlife #PSPC pic.twitter.com/sxLjQ1UuBY
— Chad McVean (@Veaner85) October 19, 2022
On Elwood’s site, he shares some reviews from some well known poker playing professionals. Here are a couple examples:
“I bought these recently as part of my WSOP prep and I think they’re absolutely brilliant.”
– Dara O’Kearney, pro player and host of The Chip Race podcast
“WSOP Main Event preparation today, rewatching [Zach Elwood’s] tells videos. Pretty sure my EV has gone up a fair bit in the last two hours. Great content. Have been recommending [this] to my students who play live for a long time.”
– Matthew Hunt, pro player, coach, and co-host of the MidStakes Living podcast
Poker Tells Video Series: A closer look at the content
As of this writing, all the videos in the Poker Tells Video Series total up to more than 13 hours of footage. The bulk of this series consists of fairly bite-sized videos (10-15 minutes long), each on specific behaviors in specific situations. These are highly scripted and formal. Then, on top of that, comprising 2-3 hours of the total content, there are some longer-form, more informal videos (for example, one in which he goes through some tournament footage, talking off the cuff a bit), and also a Q&A about poker tells that he did with veteran poker coach Alex “Assassinato” Fitzgerald.
Zach offers two packages: a regular package (just the video series) and a larger package that includes the video series and all his ebooks. Notably, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of savings involved in buying the larger package, for what it’s worth; in other words, it wouldn’t matter much if you bought the ebooks and video series all together in the bigger package or bought them all separately. In fact, you’d probably be better served to get an ebook or two first to get a sense of Zach’s approach and see what you get out of it before moving on to the video series.
What kinds of footage does Zach Elwood use?
Zach uses footage from both cash games and tournaments, from a range of stakes. One of the strengths of the series is the wide variety of real game footage Zach pulls from to create his videos. If you’re curious to get a sense of what the videos are like and what kind of poker footage they use, you can check out his YouTube channel, which has various samples from the series there.
How often does Zach Elwood make content?
Based on the recent history, Zach doesn’t often create new videos, but he’s also very open about that fact. The cost of the Poker Tells Video Series is not based on any sort of subscription-model; it’s a one-and-done cost, and it has slowly risen over time since he released the series back in 2015 (when the series only had a few hours of content). As Zach points out (a bit tongue-in-cheek): because the price does rise over time as content is added, it’s “always the best time” to get the series, as you receive a lifetime membership. The series was $80 when it was first released in 2015; now it retails for $350 (but you can still score a 20% discount with our exclusive code; see end of this review).
Poker Tells Video Series: Criticisms
One weakness (which Zach does address) is that the behavioral patterns covered do seem a bit lacking when it comes to tells from players making big bets (i.e., indicators of whether players making big bets are either bluffing or value-betting). To point, there are tells discussed in Zach’s books that aren’t discussed here.
As Zach explains, this is due in large part to the fact that a lot of poker footage cuts away after players bet to focus on the opponent(s), which is quite unfortunate as this directing/editing approach can make it hard to get clear, uninterrupted shots of players after having made big bets.
Often that footage, even when present, is scattershot and interrupted, making it hard to get a clear sense of what happened. He does have some during-bet and post-bet tells (you can see the behaviors examined in the series on his site) but it’s just that, as he says, in a perfect world he’d have more of those situations to analyze and use.
Get a discount on the Poker Tells Video Series
After reading our review, we hope you have no doubt in your mind that even as modern day poker continues to evolve, the Poker Tells Video Series continues to stand the test of time. In a nutshell, we highly recommend it. Plus, if you’d like to get 20% off your purchase, we invite you to use this link and enter the code ‘CARDPLAYERLIFESTYLE’. A 20% discount will be applied to your total upon checkout.
The 2024 World Series of Poker is now in full swing, and poker players the world over, both recreational and professional, are descending upon Las Vegas to take their shot at glory and riches. One player who has managed to claim for himself quite a bit of both over the years is Dan “Jungleman” Cates. The 2-time WSOP bracelet winner has close to $15 million in career live tournament earnings, countless millions more online, and is looking to boost those numbers over the summer in Sin City.
In Cardplayer Lifestyle’s first ever interview with Dan Cates, we see what the Jungleman has been up to over the last while leading up to the 2024 poker summer and explore his current goals as a player and content creator in the industry space. In particular, we dive deep to better understand the mindset of one of poker’s most intriguing personalities, and what makes him tick.
DAN CATES INTERVIEW
Over the past six months or so, your last four poker tournament cashes were recorded in South Korea, the Bahamas, Brazil and Cambodia. Generally speaking, how have you been spending your time over the last half year? What’s the day-to-day like for Jungleman? How much of your time these days is dedicated to studying and playing poker vs. other pursuits?
I recently finished a trip in Nepal and Tibet, which was the perfect place to help prepare myself mentally and physically for the WSOP. From attending singing bowl healing therapy to participating in the puja ritual (providing relief from problems, fears, stress and ego), I also hiked 32 miles up Mount Kailash at 5,600m altitude and didn’t sleep for three days.
Throughout the year I haven’t been studying much and playing a little here and there (maybe 40% compared to what I’m used to). My days consist of working out a lot, reading, and trying to start a business in the form of a poker community.
Looking through your impressive list of HendonMob cashes, it’s clear that you have a preference for playing in the highest buy-in tournaments. Having had a stellar career at the felt, you now have the luxury of playing in pretty much any poker tournament you want. What guides your decision-making as far as which tournaments to play and where in the world to travel and play them? To what degree do you just prefer to play live and online cash games?
The money matters a lot for my decisions for where to go, followed by how much I like the area and convenience.
A thought occurred to me… Poker is a bit of an equaliser, in that it provides a venue for people who want to pursue good habits to win the money from people with bad ones
Thoughts?
Also, for the people who make more mistakes there are more opportunities to win back their…
— Daniel Cates 🇺🇸 🌎 (@junglemandan) March 24, 2024
Back in March 2022, you launched the “Winning the Game of Life Podcast”. It’s been over two years now, and you’ve recorded nearly 100 episodes thus far along with having generated a significant following across multiple platforms. There are lots of podcasts out there in the poker space. What has been your overarching goal throughout the life of your podcast and in what ways do you feel that WTGOL is unique and stands out from the pack?
What inspired me at first was I wanted to expand my career beyond poker and connect with different kinds of people. I wanted to use it to find a way to better the viewers’ lives, but as time progressed I decided to focus on content that should largely help the aspiring poker player.
Super excited to announce that my podcast called “Winning the Game of Life” launches today!!
Today @phil_hellmuth is my guest
Check it out now, wherever you listen to podcasts or check it out on YouTubehttps://t.co/vZfgTZNn1E
— Daniel Cates 🇺🇸 🌎 (@junglemandan) March 19, 2022
How do you decide which guests you’d like to have on the show, and what does your preparation process look like ahead of each hour-long conversation?
The guests are a combination of entertaining + have a high profile or have unique insight. A huge thank you to my podcast team – Ben Zeis (Editor), Marin Stanimirov (Social Media & Marketing), Sarah Goddard (PR & Guest Booker), Brandi Lilley & Jenny Guidry (Operations), Tyler Jackson & Jordan Ryan (Graphic Designers).
You’ve been an elite coach with Run It Once Training since September 2021. Why did you decide to get involved in the poker training space in the first place? With all the great programs out there, what made you decide to specifically become a coach with Run It Once?
A bit of timing, actually, and I always liked the Run It Once guys. It helps expands my career, but also I have recently decided to more actively help the poker market. This is just one part of it.
Welcome to @junglemandan‘s Masterclass, coming soon! 🦁🧙♂️🦅 pic.twitter.com/gcWD3DX2Di
— Run It Once Training (@RunItOnce) April 1, 2022
It’s undeniable that plenty of poker players and Run It Once students have gained tremendously from your training videos. What do you feel that YOU have gained from the coaching experience thus far, and in what ways do you feel your own game has improved as a result of prepping the lessons and engaging with students?
It’s forced me to do some analysis of my own. Sometimes actually I find leaks of mine from helping students, lol.
From outward appearances, you seem to have an interesting relationship with money, certainly having had some massive up and down swings over the years. What does money mean to you? Was this always the case (e.g., when you were growing up) or did your relationship to/with money change once you became a professional poker player and saw success (and how)?
Poker definitely made me less risk averse, and my ideas towards risk changed with time. It’s not my main motivator, which is instead experience and positive impact.
Sooo manila didn’t go well, only lost about 38m hkd(5m usd)… Gonna play some 5/10 online and take another shot
— Daniel Cates 🇺🇸 🌎 (@junglemandan) August 13, 2015
You’re in a special place on the Venn diagram of poker playing professionals, in that you play ALL the games for the highest stakes; i.e., not just No Limit Hold’em. Thus, your skill set seems uniquely suited to chase WSOP Player of the Year. Why has that seemingly not tempted you over the course of your career? What sort of poker accolades DO matter to you?
I don’t really like the tournaments that much. I was more in it for the money and freedom, that is until I realized that there was a pretty big opportunity in the realm of positive impact with it.
I have an idea
Through interactive community, I am facilitating adhoc employment for those that need it at lower stakes.
This will:
-Let higher stakes players leverage time for money
-Give lower stakes players with time but little money opportunity
-Create more…— Daniel Cates 🇺🇸 🌎 (@junglemandan) January 23, 2024
Your pair of WSOP bracelets are widely acknowledged as your most impressive poker accomplishments. Winning back-to-back titles in the $50K Poker Players Championship (2021, 2022) against the best all-around players in the world is certainly up there in the pantheon of the game’s most remarkable achievements. What do those wins mean to you in retrospect? How do those victories compare to your other notable poker successes, such as your two WPT titles or your higher dollar scores at Triton and EPT events?
They have more clout for sure, and otherwise signify my success in all the games. They make some crazy stories also that hopefully have some meaning.
Lastly, we’d be remiss if we didn’t ask you a bit about Dan Cates’ “playful side”. Something else you’ve become notable for in recent years has been your choice of cosplay outfits. Whether it’s been “Macho Man Dan”, the Lord of the Rings’ Saruman, or other colorful characters, you certainly cause a stir when you get all dressed up for poker play in front of the cameras. What do you most enjoy about doing this, and what influences your decision making about what character to dress up as next?
I try to make the costumes on theme and fun. They definitely bring a different element to the game. Stay tuned for more costumes at this year’s WSOP…
What’s @junglemandan‘s best $50k PPC look? pic.twitter.com/OJyQKGw0Wp
— Run It Once Training (@RunItOnce) June 30, 2022
- Instagram: @thedancates
- Twitter: @junglemandan
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.
com/@JunglemanDanCates
Millions of players around the world enjoy card games. Poker is the most popular card game for leisure or gambling as it has the most players and enthusiasts. The techniques and skills required to play are players’ greatest drivers as they constantly seek to upgrade. Learning advanced techniques is important to win more games, whether you are playing casually or professionally. This article discusses some advanced techniques that you can use to improve your poker skills. These 7 techniques have been chosen because they are easy to learn but very effective.
Bluffing
Despite its simplicity, bluffing is one of the best ways to upgrade your poker gaming experience. At its core, poker is a battle of wits between you and your opponents. Players who can outsmart their opponents will always win. You should always look out for playing styles, vulnerabilities, and tells. Every player has a distinct way of behaving when they have different hands, which is the key to beating your opponent. Inversely, you should also learn how to control your emotions to not give away anything to your opponent. Incorporate bluffing techniques and other mental tactics into your game to throw your opponents off. This will allow you to get an advantage as you become harder to read and predict.
Pot Odds and Implied Odds
Pot odds and implied odds are two concepts that determine how players should measure risk and reward. Pot odds are the potential winnings a player might get compared to the risk involved. This is a rough calculation players should make to determine if a bet is worth calling. On the other hand, implied odds are the future value of the pot a player might win as the game progresses. It weighs the future possibility of you making a strong hand and the probability that you will be able to beat the other players based on your present hand. Therefore, pot odds evaluate the present while implied odds assess the future.
Pocket Pairs and Suited Connectors
This strategy is very effective in multiway pot games. The more players there are, the more likely one of you is going to hit a strong hand. When a pot is likely to go multiway, it is in your interest to play hands that can better the river or make two pairs. This is where pocket pairs and suited connectors come into play. Learning how to play pocket pairs and suited connectors is a great asset to have in friendly or competitive games. In multiway games, pocket pairs have an 11.8% chance of hitting a set on the flop while suited connectors have a 26.3% chance of getting a strong hand or draw. This technique requires practice so you know when you use it and when to hold back. With proper training, you will develop an eye for spotting the best scenarios to execute.
Bet Sizing
Choosing how to size your bets is an underrated skill in Poker. Knowing when to press your advantage by overbetting and when to scale back can determine whether you win a hand or not. Bet sizing works on boards where you have a better range than your opponent(s). Bet sizing is a technique that is best paired with bluffing as it throws off other players. When overbetting, your range should be polarized, and consist of strictly strong hands and bluffs. The most effective use of overbetting is when it limits your opponent, most likely strong hands. You should learn more about this technique in detail before using it in a competitive game.
Hand Selection
The decisions you make before the flop determine how the game will go. This is why hand selection is a very crucial part of any poker game. The first thing to learn is the difference between playable and unplayable hands. It is a common mistake among beginners to overplay poor hands and this leads to a majority of their losses. It is tempting to want to participate in every round but recognizing when you should take a step back and when to press on will improve your win percentage. It is also important to note that some hands that may appear weak at the onset might grow to become stronger hands. Knowing the difference is the key to hand selection.
Backdoor Draws
Backdoor draws can be used if you have an unpaired hand and the betting initiative. If you find yourself in a position of advantage over your opponent then you should consider using this technique. The backdoor draw is effective in these two scenarios:
- When the turn brings you a flush draw: Up your aggression with a double barrel bet.
- When the turn completes a lot of draws: Bet on cards that complete draws and force your opponent to over-fold.
Playing backdoor draws is a delicate technique that only the most advanced players use. You are encouraged to practice this technique in friendly games until you know how to properly implement the technique.
Check Raises
Check raises are important in poker and they are used for various reasons. Using them efficiently can give you the edge you need to beat your opponents. You can decide to check raise for value or as a bluff to rattle your opponents. You should not check raise each draw but add an element of surprise to throw your opponents off guard. When they do not know when to expect a check raise, it makes it harder for your opponent to predict your moves.
Playing poker using advanced techniques will give you an edge against opponents. Just like anything in life, practice makes perfect. You should practice these techniques frequently to learn how and when to use them. You can also check out other advanced techniques to add to your inventory as having a variety of techniques improves your chances of winning.
It used to be the case that I was afraid to step into the Bellagio Poker room. You might be surprised to learn that what kept me away up until a few years ago was plain old fear. See, I’m positive that I’m not the only one out there who believes that the Bellagio Poker Room has a reputation for being one of the – if not THE – top places to play poker in Las Vegas. “Only the best play there”, “watch out for the sharks”, and “you better have a LOT of money on you if you don’t want to feel out of your depth”, are some of the various things I’ve heard about the room over the years.
Bellagio Poker: Whither the Recreational Player?
All of the aforementioned sentiments were of course meant in a very reverential way, so kudos to the regulars who’ve earned the room such a stellar reputation; you’re certainly the cream of the poker crop. On the other hand, however, it leaves recreational players and weekend warriors like me potentially feeling awkwardly out of place; like we don’t “possess what it takes” to step foot on the hallowed ground. No home game hero wants to get smoked or feel like they’re playing out of their comfort zone. The fact of the matter is that to many poker players, the Bellagio Poker Room feels like the major leagues when we’re all minor leaguers. In short, the place is awesome to behold, but it’s intimidating.
I finally got over my fear of playing poker at Bellagio about six years ago, and wrote about that here. Lest you think my worries were without merit, those jitters I had were quite real. When I arrived at the room, it was packed to the gills. Hundreds of players sat hunched over large stacks of chips. I recognized many of them; these were pros, grinders. While walking around the room, I noticed many a player either counting out hundreds or pulling large wads of cash out of their pockets. Sure – it was WSOP season, but first impressions are hard to shake.
While my fears eventually proved completely unfounded, still the “stigma” persists; many recreational players out there just don’t feel they’ve “got what it takes” to set foot in the Bellagio poker room for a cash game session.
Well, we’re about to flip that notion on its head.
Introducing Craig Larson, Director of the Bellagio Poker Room
Many of you have seen our announcement that Mixed Game Festival VIII will be held, for the very first time, at the Bellagio. We’ll be bringing all the low-stakes dealer’s choice cash game goodness you know and love to one of the finest properties not only on the Las Vegas Strip, but in the entire world. I’d like to thank Craig Larson, Director of Poker at Bellagio, for kindly agreeing to this interview. He shares with us what we can expect to find when we descend upon one of poker’s most legendary venues.
You started out working at the Bellagio in 2010 and became their Poker Room Operations Manager back in 2017. For the last two years, you’ve been the room’s Director of Operations. Please describe what your responsibilities used to be in your previous position, and what they currently are.
First, let me say that I consider myself the luckiest person in the poker industry! I am leading such a distinguished poker room located in an iconic property. As Director, I find myself more involved in other aspects of the Bellagio Casino than before while still representing as the face of our esteemed poker room. The Operations Manager handles more of the processes behind the scene to help things run smoothly.
What sort of evolution/changes have there been to the poker room and its clientele over your 15-year tenure at the Bellagio?
What a good question! Bellagio poker has evolved so much in the past 15 years and will continue to do so. Black Friday, the dramatic swings of Cryptocurrency, and Covid have all had a dramatic impact on the diversity of our guests. Our goal is to have enough variety in game offerings to remain relevant in any financial climate.
Yours is certainly a top-notch poker establishment; sort of like entering the First Class lounge to play poker – replete with Leroy Neiman-commissioned artwork, etc. Would you say that your room caters more to those with larger bankrolls or also to those with more limited means to play poker? Why?
Bellagio poker caters to ALL guests! One thing I continue to stress to our new hires is to treat ALL guests the same. Whether a guest has a buy in for $100 or $100k they all come to Bellagio expecting an exceptional guest experience. As they should!
You’ve been at the helm of the Bellagio Poker Room for over two years now. What would you say is the defining characteristic that sets it apart from other Las Vegas poker rooms?
We offer luxury and value that no other poker room can offer. We offer fair rake and time collections while still taking care of our guests to the best of our ability. The amenities Bellagio can offer are unmatched not only in Las Vegas but in the poker world.
The Onion ran a story a while back indicating that I’m not necessarily the only one who used to be afraid to sit and play poker at the Bellagio. Obviously I know we’re dealing with The Onion here, but there’s always a kernel of truth to good satire. What’s your response to a piece like that?
The first time I played at the Bellagio poker room, I was intimidated as well. Visualizing the legends who have played here on a regular basis was daunting. We have and will continue to focus on guest service ensuring players of all levels feel welcome. This is the transformation our room has been through and one I am very proud of.
In what way would you say the room’s action is different during peak poker season than versus the rest of the year? Would you say that recreational players have a better chance at protecting/growing their bankrolls over the summer or in other seasons?
The easy answer is game selection. During the summer season and major tournaments, we have run up to 15 different types of games to choose from. Outside of those seasons we still have the best variety of games in Las Vegas with Limit, NLH, Mix, and Reserved games running almost daily.
Anytime is a good time to grow and protect your bankroll at Bellagio poker. We always have a large number of poker enthusiasts who come from around the world just to say the have played here.
When you and I were discussing the possibility of staging Cardplayer Lifestyle’s upcoming Mixed Game Festival VIII at Bellagio, you had some interesting things to say about low-stakes mixed games in general. Can you kindly elaborate on this for our readers?
Mixed games offer the next real growth opportunity in the poker world. There is a reason a large number of players at the highest levels play mixed games. NLH has so many good players at every level where the learning curve for mixed games is harder. Having all of the steps, or levels, for players to take as they learn mixed games and grow their bankroll is important and a goal of mine.
Bellagio Poker is excited to welcome the Mix Game festival from June 16th through the 20th. pic.twitter.com/8Aw3a3FqUL
— Bellagio Poker Room (@BellagioPoker) June 1, 2024
Las Vegas poker seems to be consolidating, with the smaller rooms closing and the larger rooms growing. What are your goals and hopes for the Bellagio Poker Room over the next few years beyond the obvious of “keeping the room as full as possible 24/7”?
My goal is to continue to grow our diversity of games while maintaining the highest level of guest service in the industry. We will also grow our tournament portfolio seeking to be a leader in that area as well. This is how I see Bellagio Poker remaining a destination for poker players of all levels and from all over the world.
Image credit: Poker.org
Give the Bellagio Poker Room a Try!
At the end of the day, $1/3 No Limit Texas Hold’em is played the same way no matter where it’s spread. And they spread plenty of $1/3 tables at the Bellagio poker room. Plus, of course, we’ll be staging Mixed Game Festival VIII there from June 16-20, where the primary game being spread at our tables will be fixed limit $4/8 dealer’s choice. You could easily sit at the table for hours with your initial $200 buy-in and get tons of play value for it. On top of that, you might win free merch, and even possibly a $400 seat into a Moneymaker Tour side event just for answering a trivia question about Chris Moneymaker correctly!
With most Las Vegas venues offering a large slate of tournaments during peak summer season this year, the Bellagio is “zigging while the others zag”; being a strictly cash game-only poker room hub throughout the summer. It’s the perfect place to come, chill, and take a break from the tournament grind.
Sure, Craig Larson’s job is obviously to make sure that the room caters to all sorts of players and he doesn’t want to scare anyone away, but I can assure you that his answers are 100% genuine. He’s witnessed the Bellagio poker room action on a daily basis for over a decade and a half. His is a word we can trust, as the room’s high roller clientele and low-stakes regulars alike would surely confirm. 🙂
Image credit: PokerNews
The game of poker has changed a lot over the years. Strategies have evolved, computers have entered the scene in a big way with the introduction of solvers, and many things we once thought were correct have been completely debunked or heavily modified.
In all of this, however, one thing has remained constant: poker odds.
How different hands stack up against each other is at the very core of poker, and every strategy, no matter how complex or advanced, refers back to these essentials.
This is very important for those picking up the game today. It is easy to fall into the trap of focusing on advanced strategies while disregarding the essentials. The first thing you should learn after the basic rules is fundamental poker odds, and there are some great poker odds calculators that can help you with that.
Image credit: pokeronamac.com
Poker Odds: A Fundamental Block in Your Learning Process
At its very core, poker is a game of math and numbers. Everything you do at the tables is based on the assumption of your opponent’s ranges (i.e., cards they’re likely to hold), and how your hand performs against those ranges.
For example, if you have a set and you think your opponent has a flush draw, you need to know how likely they are to hit one of their cards. This number will tell you how to properly size your bets and make it not profitable for them to call.
As you play and accumulate experience, pot odds and other numbers will become second nature to you. However, to start with, you need to spend some time playing with an odds calculator and learning at least about some of the most common situations.
I’ll admit that this isn’t the most exciting thing in poker, and you might be itching to get in the action. But without learning these basic odds, you won’t be able to achieve the results you’re looking for, and that’s a guarantee. Investing a little bit of time in it today will pay off massively in the long run.
Essential Poker Odds You Need to Know
There are no mysteries when it comes to poker odds. You can compare any two cards to each other, and you’ll get a number expressed as a percentage. If a calculator tells you the number is 70%, that means that you’ll win a particular hand 70% of the time and lose 30%.
Of course, it would be crazy to try and remember every single possible scenario. Instead, you should start by learning some common spots and take it from there. From this knowledge, you’ll be able to extrapolate some solid guesses about other spots that you may not necessarily know by heart.
Basic Preflop Odds
| Your Hand | Opponent’s Hand | Odds of Winning |
| Higher pair | Lower pair | 80.3% (ex. AA vs. 99) |
| Two higher cards | A pair | 55% (ex. AK vs. 88) |
| Higher + lower card | A pair | 28.6% (ex. A8 vs. 99) |
| Two lower cards | A pair | 17.3% (ex. 89 vs. JJ) |
| Two higher cards | Two lower cards | 63% (ex. AQ vs. 78) |
Just like preflop odds, you should know how different hands stack up once the flop is dealt. This tells you how likely you are to hit your draws and how likely your opponents are to out-draw you when you have a made hand.
Crucial Postflop Odds
| Your Hand | Opponent’s Hand | Odds of Winning by the River |
| Pair | Naked flush draw | 63% |
| Pair | Open-ended straight draw | 66% |
| Pair | Gutshot straight draw | 80% |
| Set | Naked flush draw | 75% |
| Set | Open-ended straight draw | 75% |
| Set | Gutshot straight draw | 85% |
Numbers in these tables are approximation, as percentages can change slightly depending on whether you’re holding same suits and similar factors, but they should give you a pretty solid idea of where you’re at in a hand and how to proceed.
It’s a Long Road Ahead
If you’re just learning poker odds, there is a long road ahead before you become a winning player. However, you’re taking a very important first step and one that many casual players never really take. This is one of the reasons there are players who have been playing the game for decades and still make very basic mistakes time and time again.
Learning poker hands odds isn’t hard or particularly time-consuming, and poker can teach you a lot of additional skills for everyday life. Yet, the difference between knowing and not knowing is huge, so don’t skip on this essential step on your journey to learn poker!