Von Flue mixes martial arts and poker
By Arnold Warner

After seeing mixed martial arts (MMA) icon Chuck Liddell playing at the featured table of last year’s WSOP Main Event, we couldn’t help being intrigued about other connections between fighters and the felt. A recent elevator ride at Fresno’s Club One Casino introduced us to one such fighting poker player.

He was on the second season of Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter” and been featured in the ring at many MMA bouts; however, you may not have realized the guy with the chiseled jaw was Jason Von Flue when he was sitting at your poker table. click here to read the whole article!

Casino Marysville celebrates first year
By Barbara Engler

Casino Marysville was the happening place to be on Feb. 15 when General Manager Peter Phong hosted a party celebrating the one year anniversary for the once-small cardroom (formerly known as Rooney’s) that has transformed into the hottest spot in town.

All of the poker tables were buzzing with action. They were also dealing Las Vegas style Blackjack with private high-limit seating. The house was packed with poker players, partygoers, lovely ladies, and people hanging out in the full-service sports bar with nine 42-inch plasma HD TVs. click here to read the whole article!

NorCal Poker Ambassador
Leave the pro's life to professionals
By Randall Rapp

As much as your Ambassador enjoys having the honor of representing Northern California as I hop from one cardroom to another (usually over the course of a long weekend), it also leaves me with a better appreciation of what it takes to truly play this game professionally. By the end of the weekend, I’m usually ready for a break from the poker tables (granted, only a short break).

While the time spent is always enjoyable and meeting new people at the tables is one of the great perks of the position, I find myself thinking that playing poker day in and day out to put food on the table really must be, as they say, “a hard way to make an easy living.” click here to read the whole article!

The Champ's Perspective
Poker, family, charity and business
By Jerry Yang

Recently, I’ve been asked by poker fans and friends, “What is Jerry Yang doing nowadays,” or “Does Jerry Yang still play poker and how often?”

Well, I’m happy to announce that I still play poker, but mostly in charity events. As you may recall, I’m heavily involved in charity work since my win at the WSOP. In addition, I’ve gone into some personal businesses which require a great deal of my time. When this article goes to press, I will have played the WSOP Circuit event in Lake Tahoe, the L.A. Poker Classic, the WPT Invitational at Commerce Casino, and NBC‘s Heads-Up Poker Championship. I will also be playing in the Bay 101 Shooting Star tournament in March, and then getting ready for the 2009 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. click here to read the whole article!

Kamikaze Corner
Extracting value in no-limit poker
By Davin Anderson

Dear Davin,

I read your article on strategy for small tournaments in The Cardroom and think it is well thought out. What strategy needs to be followed when one is playing in very small tournaments with, say, only 20 people playing? How different would it be from what you have described in your article?

As a beginner, I am trying to learn to play better poker.

Thanks.
Ameen Paul

Thanks for the email Ameen. You bring up some very important points and questions. First of all, my strategy isn’t the only good strategy, but all good strategies should be well thought out. click here to read the whole article!

Tales from the Floor
No prop bets here
By Johnny Coldeck

Let’s be clear on this point: side bets are not legal in our state. Poker can be a tedious activity at times, though, and nothing can stop players from doing what they want. None of these things actually happened. That’s my story.

Lottery Pool

The previous custodian of our unofficial player-and-staff lottery pool was River Rat Ricky. A former blues vocalist of some repute, he performed all over the Midwest until he was finally ousted from performing, presumably for aesthetic reasons. Ricky the Rat, as we fondly remember him, was here every night for several years, playing poker very poorly and collecting a five-dollar bill from anyone he could get to join in the weekly lottery pool. He always had some new money-making scheme for all of the players and staff to decline, but we all played the lottery with him. click here to read the whole article!