Robbie Strazynski

On my recent trip to Las Vegas to attend the WSOP for the second time, I made sure that a visit to Poker Central headquarters would be a part of my itinerary. After having met some of the good folks there, I came away indelibly impressed.

Here, then, is the story of the people who work so hard at Poker Central to bring you top-notch poker entertainment 24/7.

Anyone who has ever been to the WSOP knows the sounds and sights of the Rio’s hallways. Along with the throngs of poker players bustling about, there are numerous salespeople hawking items to passersby. It turns out that many of them are Israeli.

These people are more than just vendors though. They’re hardworking people, each with their own stories. Being American-Israeli myself, I decided to get to know them better and bring their stories to light. Perhaps you’ll look at them a bit differently after reading this article.

I’ve often “lurked around”, watching Daniel Negreanu play at live poker events. I’ve also particularly enjoyed the Kid Poker documentary produced about his life. The reason? Well, frankly I’ve just found him to be an inspiring individual.

Eventually, after hanging around watching him for so long, you have a “story” like this one that you want to share with people.

James Taylor is the man responsible for producing Daniel Negreanu’s daily vlogs at the 2017 WSOP. He was kind enough to grant us an interview during which we got an exclusive behind-the-scenes picture and description of the work involved in putting together the final product we see each day.

We hope you enjoy listening + a transcript is provided for your convenience.

The wait is over! After years of only having been able to purchase WSOP-branded goods and paraphernalia in person at the temporary souvenir shop set up at the Rio each summer, poker fans can now order WSOP-branded merchandise online all-year-round, right from the comfort of their homes.

Visit shop.wsop.com today to place your orders!

Pretty much any and every poker fan, no matter how casual, recognizes the name Doyle Brunson. The unmistakable cowboy hat sitting atop that ever-smiling face; poker’s living legend truly is one-of-a-kind.

I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to be introduced to Mr. Brunson. I’d just like to reflect on and share what that was like. In a nutshell: incredible. I’m grateful for a memory that will last a lifetime.

It would take a very unique set of circumstances for me to ever consider “hitting and running” at a poker table. As fate would have it, the stars aligned for a very unique set of circumstances, which led me to play poker, though I hadn’t planned on doing so.

I’m glad I did, as my one-hand session left me with a story I’ll never forget. I figured it’s something you’d all enjoy, so I’ve decided to share it with you.

Get to know World Series of Poker Tournament Director and Caesars’ Vice President of International Poker Operations Jack Effel a little better in this in-depth video interview about his storied career as well as his personal life.

A transcript is also provided for your convenience. Enjoy!

Poker writer Eileen Sutton had already had a distinguished career prior to her “landmark article” that was published on Salon.com, entitled “Poker for Girls: In New York’s male-dominated world of underground poker, I found my true strength.”

That article went viral, however, catapulting Eileen to near-instant fame. My Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast co-host, Bruce Briggs, and I were delighted to have Eileen join us in episode #287 for an interview.

Sometimes poker can be the conduit for some of the best, most heartwarming stories. Last night, after deciding on the spur of the moment to head out to the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, I had the good fortune of bumping into a long lost friend and mentor who I hadn’t seen for over a dozen years.

This is the incredible story of how a poker room was the setting for me reconnecting by pure chance with someone who helped shape my life, Coach Paul Young.

Poker fans already know of Joey Ingram’s long love affair with the great game of Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), but it’s a special privilege to actually sit at a live poker table and mix it up with the grand papi himself.

I had the good fortune of being able to do just that. Let’s just say it was an extremely GTO move. The laughs and memories will stick with me forever. Join me as I fill you in on all the details of what went down.

For far too long melancholy has prevailed with regard to the state of the game of poker. We’ve become so used to pining for the glory days of old that we’re forgetting to take a step back and see that things aren’t so bad anymore.

In fact, as far as we can tell, poker seems to be booming once again. At the outset of the 2017 World Series of Poker, it’s time to take stock, appreciate the buzz surrounding our game, and enjoy the ride!