2015 Adelaide Poker Schedule

For poker players in Australia looking for some of the best tournament action, Adelaide offers a full slate of tournaments year-round, boasting a wide variety of tournament structures and buy-ins. From the casual-playing amateur to the seasoned professional, Adelaide holds tournaments sure to appeal to every level of competitor. Check out some of the highlighted tournaments taking place in Adelaide this year:


Poker SA Classic, April 15-19, Maylands Hotel

One of the two largest tournaments offered annually in Adelaide, the Poker SA Classic combines great hospitality with high-intensity poker action to make an unforgettable poker tournament.

Spanning from Wednesday-Sunday, the Classic hosts events for all kinds of poker enthusiasts, with enticing prize pools. Take a look at the tournament schedule:

Wednesday, April 5: $250 6-Handed Pot Limit Omaha Event, 4pm

Thursday, April 6: $300 8-Handed Texas Hold 'Em Event, 4pm

Friday, April 7: $290 Terminator Event, 4pm
Saturday-Sunday, April 8-9: There are no free bets in this tournament which is a $1600 Poker SA Classic No Limit Hold 'Em Main Event, 12:30 pm 

Sunday, April 9: $2400 No Limit Hold 'Em High Roller Event, 4:30 pm

All of the tournaments in the Poker SA Classic boast deep starting stacks and slow-climbing blind levels, allowing plenty of time on the felt for players, as well as plenty of room to manoeuvre. This isn't the place for free bets however, there is stellar food and beverage service provided with all of the tournaments, and included in tournament entry fees. Each event has a premium meal and drink service, while the Main Event and High Roller Event offer a full silver platter food service during breaks.

Poker SA Diamond Series, October 21-25 Maylands Hotel

The other major tournament series held in Adelaide is the infamous Diamond Series. This series offers a similar mix of poker games, with even more tantalising prize pools. Check out the tournament schedule:


Wednesday, October 21: $320 6-Handed Pot Limit Omaha, 4pm

Thursday, October 22: $440 8-Handed Texas Hold 'Em, 4pm

Friday, October 23: $340 Terminator Event, 4pm

Saturday-Sunday, October 24-25: $2400 Poker SA Diamond Series Main Event, 12:30pm

Sunday, October 24: $3700 No Limit Hold 'Em High Roller Event, 3:30pm


From a bounty tournament (Terminator event) to PLO and NLHE tourneys, the Diamond Series offers the same eclectic mix of tournament action as the Poker SA Classic, with slightly higher buy-in fees, meaning higher prize payouts. The tournament offers the same great dining options as the Poker SA Classic, including premium food and beverage services, that are inclusive in the tournament entry fees. The weekend tournaments offer silver platter service, with inclusive premium meal options, such as chicken and prawn, or pork rib eye.


Weekly Tournaments, Year-Round

In addition to the two major events held at the Maylands Hotel in Adelaide, there are weekly poker tournaments held year-round, offering guaranteed action on the felt five or six days a week. Here's a look at the weekly staples:

Mondays: This is the closest tournament for providing free bets at $50 No Limit Hold 'Em Tournament, 7pm

Tuesdays: $160 No Limit Hold 'Em, $4k Guaranteed, 7pm

Wednesdays: $100 No Limit Hold 'Em, $3k Guaranteed, 7pm

Thursdays: $130 No Limit Hold 'Em Re-Buy Tournament, 7pm

Fridays: $100 No Limit Hold 'Em, 7:30 pm

Sundays: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Terminator Events (Varied)


Sunday tournaments at the Maylands don't occur every week, so check the schedule for specific dates: http://pokersa.com.au/psa-calendar/
The special Sunday tournaments offer increased buy-ins and prize pools, as well as the Mayland Hotel's famous food and drink service to keep you going throughout your tournament action.

To learn more on how to qualify for these events, visit www.freebets.com.au.

Poker SA Classic at the Maylands Hotel

This past week, the team at Poker SA announced the schedule for their biggest tournament of the year - the four day Poker SA Classic Series, running April 15-19 at the Maylands Hotel, in May lands, South Australia.

This series is packed with action, offering a variety of tournaments over the four-day span that are sure to include something for every poker enthusiast.

The SA Classic kicks off on Wednesday, April 19 with a $250 6-handed Pot Limit Omaha event at 4pm, to start a thrilling five days of poker action. The 6-handed tournament offers a $25k starting stack for all players, a deep stack that is typical of SA Classic play, along with 25 minute blind levels. This deep stack format allows players plenty of time to manoeuvre, and guarantees that all players will see plenty of time on the felt.

Thursday's SA Classic slate offers a $300 8-handed Texas Hold 'Em event, with the same format as Wednesday's PLO event - $25k starting stack, and 25 minute blinds. Players will be allowed a maximum of one re-entry into the tournament, up until the first break, when late registration cuts off as well.

Friday is the SA Classic Terminator event, a thrilling No-Limit Hold 'Em poker contest with a twist. Entry to the 4pm tournament is $290. From that $290, each player will have a bounty on them of $80, and for every player you knock out of the tournament, you collect their $80 bounty, in addition to the main prize pool. Starting stacks are once again $25k, with 25 minute levels and one optional re-entry.

Saturday marks the start of headlining event of the Poker SA Classic - the $1,600 No-Limit Hold 'Em Main Event at 12:30pm. This two-day tournament draws a huge field annually, ensuring the winner will take home a big cash from this hefty prize pool. The Main Event is the deepest stack tournament of the series, offering $35k starting stack, 45 minute blind levels and no re-entries. The Main Event will surely test the skills of its entrants, with players chasing a big-time payday. 

The Poker SA Classic rounds out on Sunday with its No-Limit Hold 'Em High Roller Event starting at 3:30pm. The High Roller Event boasts a $2,400 buy-in for serious poker players, with $25k starting stacks, 25 minute blind levels, and no re-entries. 

If all of this great poker action wasn't enough, the Poker SA Classic Series is notorious for its stellar food and beverage services. Every tournament on the schedule comes with premium meals and drinks service, inclusive in the tournament entry fees. The Main Event and High Rollers Event go even beyond that, offering a full silver platter food service during breaks, which is also included in the tournament entry fee. Last year's silver platter even included such delicacies as prawns and lobster tails! 

Players come from across the world to compete in the Poker SA Classic Series, a testament to the fantastic hospitality and tournament action offered at the Maylands Hotel for this series. It is the first of two major events being held by Poker SA this year, with the popular Diamond Series scheduled to run in October.

This article is written by John Hawthorne who writes for www.odds.com.au. When he's not writing about poker or horse racing he can be found at the race track applying his master knowledge about how to break even.

Adelaide Casinos and Other Poker Playing Options

Fortunately for us, we’re not in America and online poker in Australia is legal everywhere. That said, there’s always something appealing about the riffle of real chips and the social interaction you get at a live poker table.

Let’s face it, it can get a little lonely on the keyboard, so meeting some face-to-face poker players is nice. You can a little interaction and banter with your game and watch your opponent’s faces for tells. Something you don’t get to do often online unless you play with a webcam.

If you’re in Adelaide and you want to set down that mouse and take to the real, rather than virtual, felt then what are your best bets? There are some great spots to play poker, and we’ve looked at some of the best below.

SKYCITY Adelaide – Adelaide’s largest casino

The obvious port of call is SKYCITY Adelaide in the historic Railway Station building. South Australia’s premier casino destination is the city’s tenth largest employer and the main venue for live poker in a professional setting you’ll find in Adelaide.

In SKYCITY Adelaide you’ll find the appropriately-named Poker Zone. Located on the casino’s first floor next to the Grandstand Bar, this poker venue offers both cash games and tournaments all week. Their flagship tournament series, the Adelaide Casino Poker Championship, is a highlight of the casino’s tournament offering and features a $2,400 buy-in Main Event.

Other tournaments on offer range from $20 rebuys to a $125 deepstack freezeout and the monthly “Big $2,500 Tuesday”, guaranteeing a first place prize of $2,500 for a $125 buy-in. The tournament calendar keeps things varied, so phone ahead to find out what events are coming up when you plan to head down.

Cash game players will find Hold ’em, Omaha, and Crazy Pineapple on offer. Typically these are $2/$2 blind games with a minimum buy-in of $40 and a cap of $200. You’ll also find a refreshing “Express Table” option with a 20-second shot clock on all decisions – no more twenty-somethings taking six minutes to check back the river! These tables are $2/$3 or $5/$5 for Hold ’em, or $1/$2 for Omaha games. High rollers can find bigger games on occasion, with $4/$8 up to $5/$10 No Limit and $10/$20 Limit running on an irregular basis. Occasionally, $10/$20 No Limit games will run.

Note that the Poker Zone is closed on Sunday and Monday (so you can get your Sunday tournament fix online without missing any live action) and open from 18:00 – 03:30 on weekdays, 18:00 – 05:30 on Friday and Saturday.

Other Adelaide poker games

Fancy something a bit more cheap and cheerful, perhaps away from the bustle of a big casino?

Rivered Poker Thursdays at the Verve Bar & Kitchen, run by the Rivered Poker League, take place at 17:30 each week with a $25 buy-in. Alternatively, 888 Poker Thursdays for $20 at Watermark Glenelg kick off at 19:30, while on Wednesdays the Seaford Hotel runs a $10 game, as does the Emu Hotel.

It’s well worth looking for local poker groups on Facebook – you’ll find many smaller tournaments such as the above running throughout the week.

If your penchant is cash games rather than tournaments then you may not be out of luck, as many cash games tend to spring up around the tournaments above as the early bust-outs get together for more poker fun.

Start your own home game!

Your last recourse is obviously to take matters into your own hands – why not add to the poker games going on around Adelaide?

All you need is a deck of cards, a set of chips, and a table – it doesn’t even need to be a specialised table, though if you want to add to the atmosphere and professionalism of the game it wouldn’t hurt to lay down some green felt, or even buy a poker table if you can.

A few home game tips – if you’re hosting a tournament, make sure to use a sensible blind structure; that is to say, one that doesn’t accelerate too quickly but also won’t take all night to reach the ante stages. It’s helpful to look at the WSOP or similar tournament structures and take inspiration from there.

Also, remember when it comes to chips that less is more – there’s no sense having chips worth $1 and $2, so try to go up in increments of four or five: $1, $5, $25 chips should cover any low stakes game. The less is more mantra also applies to the quantity of chips. It might look cool to have hundreds of chips in each stack but it fast becomes a nightmare to count and stack pots.

Any deck of cards will serve, though ones with large indexes (big numbers) will help. Make sure everyone is familiar with dealing, and remember to have the player to the dealer’s left cut the deck before each round – it’s traditional and safe.

After that you of course need people – again, Facebook is a great resource for finding likeminded players if you don’t have a group of friends interested in playing.

Top 5 Australian Pro Poker Players

Some of the world’s top poker pros call Australia home, and the title of the best is always up for grabs. To help interested players like you, we went through all of the contenders to put together the definitive listing of the top five poker players from Australia. The players that appear on this list are either currently living in Australia or grew up there and moved away later. They are also all current players, so there’s no reason to go and dust off those history books!

We’re sure there will be some people that disagree, but this list is for the Aussie player. We tracked down tournament stats, player reports, and took a good hard look at player potential to make a list that will stand the test of time. Some of these players really obviously fit into this list, but there may be a name or two that you’re not familiar with. Ready to see for yourself? Read on to see who the best poker players in Australia are!

#1 Joe Hachem

The number one spot on this list has to, without a doubt, be awarded to Joe Hachem. His disciplined play style and unwavering poker face led him to become the first Aussie to ever win the WSOP main event (2005). One year later, he followed this up by pulling down another 2.2 million when he took the World Poker Tour title and, in process, he quieted any doubters.

With over $11 million in lifetime tournament winnings, no other player from down under can claim as much prize money. Even when compared internationally, his poker tournament winnings are the 10^th highest on the planet! Impressively, he runs a mortgage company when he’s not cleaning up in Las Vegas, and he’s got a happy family with four children.

#2 Mel Judah

Mel Judah has won two separate WSOP bracelets in Seven Card Stud events (1989 in the $1,500 event AND 1997 in the $5,000). In 1997, he sat at the main event table and came in third place, winning $371,000. With over $3 million in tournament winnings spread out over the course of his long career, the Silver Fox is probably the most consistently successful long term player in Australia - and his 36 cashes at the WSOP support that. Interestingly, Judah credits some of his success to the psychological insights he gained in his previous profession as a hairdresser.

#3 Jeffrey Lisandro

Lisandro is a familiar face at the World Series of poker. He’s won over $1 million just from the five WSOP bracelets that he’s received and he’s sat at a dozen of the main event final tables. Perhaps his most notable achievement of all is the fact that he was the first person to win a bracelet in all three 7-card varieties in the same WSOP series (Stud High, Stud High-Low, and Razz). Today, after $4.4 million in career winnings, he has moved to Italy and continues to play professionally - both online and off.

#4 Tony G

Tony G was born in Lithuania and moved to Australia at the age of 11. As a child, he won the Rubik’s Cube championship in Lithuania, but he didn’t really put that big brain to use until he started playing poker at age 18. His $1.5 million in prize money can largely be credited to his loud-mouthed, trash talking play style - and with fifteen money finished in the WSOP, it must be working! Apart from his poker success, Tony G has also held a number of positions in the Lithuanian national basketball team, including manager and vice-president.

#5 Mark Vos

With over $1 million in winnings, this South African born Aussie player is one of the names that simply had to end up on this list. He started playing online in 2004 and then, just two years later, he jumped into the spotlight when he took down the WSOP $2,000 NLH event. Vos is often known as Pokerbok and, at the age of 30, he still has a lot of promise for future success. At this point, he splits his time between living in South Africa and Australia (where he has spent much of his life).

Where to Play in Adelaide (updated 2013)

The great thing about poker is that it can be played in a variety of different settings
depending on how much money you are willing to risk and whether you prefer a casual game or a serious one.

If you're looking for a live local game in Adelaide then it’ll be worth your time to consider some of the pub poker leagues that operate in your area. For example, the Australian Poker League, the National Pub Poker League, and the 888 Poker League all host weekly poker games in South Australia. The best aspects of these games include that they have a casual atmosphere, that games are held often, and that you can often win prizes (even in the free games). Unlike trying to organise a tournament at home, you won’t have to worry about finding enough people to play – some pub poker games routinely attract 100+ players each night. You will also experience the benefits of a professionally run tournament and high quality equipment without the cost that comes with playing at a casino. When you’re ready you can also play in some of the games that require you to buy your way in so that you can play for some serious cash.

Check out the poker league websites below – they have large lists of games, so you should be able to find a nearby tournament.

Australian Poker League - http://www.playapl.com/

National Pub Poker League - http://www.nationalpubpoker.com.au/

888 Poker League - http://www.888pl.com.au/

Home Games

Running a game at home is a great option if you have a group of friends who like to play poker or who are willing to learn. You are in control - you can determine the strictness of the rules and you can also decide how much money you are going to play for. Hosting a game can be cheaper than leaving the house when costs for food, drinks, and travel are considered. However you’ll need your own equipment – and if you don't have good quality poker gear (including table, chips, and cards) then you will notice a significant difference between playing at home and playing at a pub or the casino.

The Casino

SkyCity is Adelaide's casino and is the best place to go if you are confident in your abilities. Drawbacks include a less casual atmosphere than you would find at home or at the pub, however, this is the best quality live poker experience you will find and is also the place where you can win the most money.

Online Poker

Just a few years ago you could only play poker at a casino or at home. Thanks to modern advancements you can now play poker online from wherever you are. The great thing about being able to play online is the large number of tournaments that are offered and that you won’t find a shortage of players to play against.  Most sites offer some games that you can play for free as well as multiple price levels for you to advance through as your skills develop.

You also get the benefit of being able to play multiple tables at once, which means that you won't have to keep waiting for the next hand to begin. However, when playing online you miss out on the personalised nature of live poker and the physical reactions that can help you to read your opponents.

Jeffrey "Iceman" Lisandro

If you sit down at a seven-card stud table and you hear an strange accent coming off of a man others are referring to as “Iceman,” I’d be sure of what I’m doing before dropping my chips on the table, cause chances are they will all end up with him.

Jeffrey “Iceman” Lisandro was born in Perth, Australia and his mother taught him the game of poker when he was just five years old. Since then he has used that knowledge to put some serious skins on the wall, having won multiple World Series of Poker Championship bracelets, earning an impressive bankroll, and having beaten some of the very best in the world including Daniel Negranu, Nick Frangos, Phil Ivey, and Howard Lederer.

Now living mostly in Italy and occasionally in Santa Barbara, California, Lisandro, who is known primarily as a cash game specialist, has become a well known face on the touring poker tournament circuit and is well regarded as one of the best at seven card stud. During the 2009 World Series of Poker he was the first person to ever pull off a trifecta, winning all three seven-stud tournaments Stud High, Stud High-low, and Razz. That nifty feat also earned him the title of Player of the Year. He has also won a bracelet playing Pot Limit Omaha.

If you are a fan of the World Series of Poker, you may remember one incident involving Lisandro from back in 2006. Prahlad Friedman accused Lisandro of not putting in his ante during a hand and started to berate him, calling him a thief. The dealer noted that it was not Lisandro, but another player who had mistakenly forgot to add his ante in with his blind, but Friedman continued his assault, leading to a lot of friction between the two players and Lisandro threatening to “take his head off” at one point in the debate. Cooler tempers eventually prevailed and Lisandro placed 17th in that World Series, while Friedman placed 20th.

So the next time you settle in to your seat in Vegas or Atlantic City, belly up to the felt and call for chips, make sure to take a good look around at those sitting with you. Lisandro commonly wears a black fedora and chews gum at the table to help reduce the number of tells he gives away, and as his nickname of “Iceman” implies, he is not known for being very talkative at the table, and seeming quite cold and calculating. Don’t come back with empty pockets saying you weren’t warned.

This has been a guest post from Australia's latest betting news source. Check it out if you want to stay up to date on the latest poker news.

Adelaide Player Profile

Adelaide isn’t exactly known as the nexus of poker, but it has bred some top players. Let’s have a look at one of the best to have come out of the SA capital, James Obst.

Starting out as a teenage chess champion, Obst began playing at the (illegal) age of 14 online. Because he had no access to a credit card at the time, he got other players to transfer him small amounts to get his bankroll going. By grinding it out and building his bankroll gradually.

He eventually made a name for himself by winning a $10 rebuy tournament, taking out the first prize of $17, 000. From there on it was on to bigger and better things, making 5th place at last year's $100, 000 challenge at the Aussie Millions. His career winning to date exceed $2.4 million.

One interesting fact about his career is that another online player snitched on him when he was 17 years old (due to his underage status) and Obst was banned from online play for a year. Keeping his cool until he could play again, Obst used this time offline to focus on his studies, health and his other obligations. This left him free to get back into poker full time by the time he was 18.

James was invited to join Team Victory at the popular site Victory Poker in 2010, a testament to his skill level. His contemporaries in the Victory Poker stable include Antonio Esfandiari and Danny Wong.

A true Adelaide Crows supporter, James’s online handle is “Andy McLeod” after Andrew McLeod, one of the greatest indigenous players of all time and also considered by some to be the best Crows player of all time.

Being a hometown boy at heart, James still resides in Adelaide to this day.

Archie Raweed is a content writer at pokie.com.au, where he tries his best to cover the latest in the Australian pokies scene. In between articles, he likes to fit in a few hands of poker both online and offline.

Internet Poker Is Less Aggressive Than Casino Gambling [Guest Post]

One of the great things about gambling online is how much more relaxed it can be. The feeling of winning some money in the comfort of your own home is something that can tempt a lot of people, and because of the large amount of competition between internet gambling sites there are large numbers of relatively cheap places to play anything from bingo to poker. Many sites offer large bonuses when people first sign up to play; quite often this can extend to free bets, and games free of charge if you're browsing through poker and bingo sites. Because of this it really does feel like the ball is in your court to a much greater extent than if you walk into your local bookmakers or bingo hall.

In fact, due to the large amounts of online providers, you can quite easily find a social site which is regularly used by many like-minded people. There are so many different niches; often filled by the same operators in order to gain as many customers as possible; you're bound to find a place to make some friends.

Another advantage of internet gambling is that it's convenient. Though you can lose your money in an instant if you don't place sensible bets online or in traditional brick and mortar bookies, the journey there and back can be so long that it leaves a black cloud over your day, and the opening hours can be difficult to work with depending on your job. It's quick and easy to find a good online bingo room, or a fast poker iGame, and as other people can't see you the pressure to lose your money quickly just isn't there.

Online gambling can be relaxed and social, and a few pence can easily last you an entire evening if you're less bothered about winning big and more bothered about having a chat and passing the time doing something fun.

Attitudes to online gambling are changing; even countries that are traditionally harsh with gambling, like the United States, are coming around to the idea of online poker and betting. In some States gambling is still illegal, but that looks to be changing soon in places like Illinois, and the United Kingdom is one of the few places where gambling in various forms really is part of our cultural heritage, so you really have nothing at all to worry about when you are visiting online poker and bingo rooms.

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Stephen has played poker with friends from being a teenager, but is new to the world of online poker. He joined iGame last month and is enjoying the experience.

Simple Tips For Playing Online Poker

Playing online poker for the first time can be an exciting experience. With the recent poker boom more people without easy access to brick and mortar casinos are turning to online gaming. Playing from the comfort of home while being able to trust that the money deposited online is safe is very appealing. People ranging from beginners with small bankrolls to experienced pros with larger bankrolls all have equal access to the same game selection. Playing online poker is easy but there are a few tips to remember in order to ensure a pleasurable and secure experience.

Choose a SAFE login password

There have been many cases of people breaking into online poker accounts and either changing bank account information or transferring money to their own account. In order to ensure your money is safe be sure to use a secure password that only you will know and do not share your login information with anybody.

Practice Disciplined Bankroll Management

This is probably the biggest mistake that poker players make. Many of them play way above their bankroll. Poker may be a game of skill but there is also luck involved and if you hit a string of bad luck and are not playing the appropriate limits in relation to your bankroll then you can lose your money fast. When deciding which game to play you should never sit with your whole bankroll on the table. Choose a game that you sit with no more than 20% of your bankroll. You should also have a daily loss limit and if you reach that limit you should quit. Far too many poker players go broke by not practicing proper bankroll management.

Play Smaller Stakes When Learning a New Game

There are many different forms of poker from Texas Hold 'Em to Omaha to Stud and more. If you are an experienced player at one of these games and feel confident enough to try and learn another be sure to step down in stakes in order to develop your skills. For example if your regular game is $5/10 No Limit Hold 'Em and you are interested in learning Pot Limit Omaha you should try playing $1/2 PLO. This allows you to practice and become experienced at a new game without risking too much of your bankroll.

Do Not Collude

Most online poker sites block two players from playing at the same table from the same IP address but if you wish to play against your friends from different IP addresses for fun be sure to keep the integrity of the game and play the same way against them as you would any other player. Believe it or not poker sites track hands and if they see suspicious play among two players they could freeze your account, ban you from playing and confiscate the funds in the account for violating their policy.

Playing online poker can be just as much of a rush as playing live in the casino. Stay safe, stay disciplined and stay honest and you can have a very enjoyable experience playing online poker.

Consider Free Poker Games

If you would like to enjoy online poker without risking your own hard-earned money, we highly recommend trying SandzPoker, a Free Texas Hold'em Poker Game played with virtual chips. The beauty of SandzPoker is that it's highly addictive! In fact, it has tons of cool social features that are integrated into the game. You can chat live with players at the table, befriend them and exchange virtual gifts and drinks. You can also earn achievement points and increase your level to be able to play with more experienced players. SandzPoker is also a great way to learn poker for beginners.

Poker for a Living

Its easy to get romanticised by thoughts of quitting your job and becoming a professional poker player. The truth is, its not glamorous as it may seem and its certainly not as easy as you might think.

One time when I was playing the $4/$8 limit Hold'em at Adelaide Casino, I got talking to this young guy who I'd often seen at the tables and who's play was pretty solid. He was a poker enthusiast, as I was, and he told me that he played every night after work for a total of about 40 hours a week, pretty much equivalent to a full time job. I asked him how much he makes from playing poker and he said around $400/ week. Not exactly a glamorous wage... but there is an alternative. The world of Online Poker can be much kinder.

Online Poker

If you want to honestly make a run at turning poker into your full time profession then online poker is without a doubt your best bet. Here's why:

• Lower Rake- The online poker rooms have much lower expenses than their real world equivalents so they can afford to take a much lower rake and let you keep more of your winnings!
• Wider Range of Stakes and Games- With literally thousands of players online at any one time, you can find people to play with at the games and stakes you prefer.
• Automated Dealing- The shuffle, deal, chip movements and other actions usually performed by a dealer are controlled by the poker software and fast as lighting with no mistakes so you can play many more hands per hour. If you are a winning player, this means more money in your virtual pocket.
• Multi-tabling- Another thing that can help you increase your hands played per hour is to play on several tables at one time. There are some videos on Youtube of people playing 10 or more tables at once! Playing this many tables would probably affect your ability to play but you can certainly maintain an edge playing 2 or 3 tables.
• Assistance- There are many software programs that can help to improve your game by calculating odds, analysing players and giving you advice to help you do better at the tables. Obviously this kind of assistance would never be allowed in a real life establishment.
• Play Anywhere- The beauty of the internet is you can use it almost anywhere which means you can play poker almost anywhere as well. This includes outside on a beautiful sunny day via mobile internet or at home in your underwear.

Benefits of Live Poker

While I encourage you to embrace online poker if you want to be a serious player, it doesn't mean you should leave live poker behind entirely. Playing live poker can be a great way to get out of the house, meet other poker players and practice the finer points of reading players at the table. Adelaide Casino has a number of great poker ring games and tournaments throughout the week.

Adelaide Casino Gambling

I've recently noticed various advertisements around Adelaide for our beloved casino but something struck me as odd. I couldn't put my finger on it at first, then it dawned on me... 'Adelaide Casino' was what was being advertised, not 'SkyCity Adelaide' as we've come to expect. Apparently the name reverted back in 2009 but I guess I didn't notice until now. Its nice to have the original name for the casino back I must day :).

Casino Game Odds

If you don't play poker, why not stick with the games that you have the best odds of winning.

• Big Wheel- This used to be my game of choice at the casino, its just so easy to play. But, it has some of the worst odds in the casino. Every bet your place on the spin of the wheel has a house advantage of 7.69%.
• Roulette- Pay no attention to those standing around the wheel recording whether the previous spins were red or black as they previous spins have absolutely no baring on future spins. The house edge for all roulette bets is 2.70% , not as bad as the Big Wheel but still pretty bad.
• Blackjack- This is a very unique game as, unlike roulette and big wheel, previous hands in the game DO have an effect on future hands. Its also a game where the player has a lot of control over their chances of winning. The optimal system of play is called Basic Strategy. Playing Basic Strategy at Adelaide Casino will give the house a very small edge of 0.69%.
• Poker- As you know, this is now my game of choice. In poker you play against other players rather than the dealer so the house doesn't have any edge. They do, however, take a percentage of each pot which is known as the 'rake,' this is how they make money from poker.

Online Casino Gambling

The online casino is a different beast all together! The online casinos have no expensive venue to pay for and no hundreds of dealers, pitbosses and security personnel to pay. That means they can offer a much better game with much more favourable odds for the player and still make a sizeable profit for themselves. The best online casinos also offer all sorts of bonuses, competitions and other incentives to make your playing experience better. You also don't need to worry about driving, parking or getting dressed up, you can even play in your underwear if you like!

Australian Government to Ban Online Gambling?

There is already legislation in place to prevent online gambling in Australia. The legislation is similar to that in the US which prevents financial institutions from processing funds that are to be used for online gambling.

From the Australian Gambling article: Australian Government to Ban Online Gambling?:

The Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) 2001, is the law that is in question. Until now the rules have been relatively relaxed and have not been enforced. If recent reports are proven to be correct, then this will be enforced. This law is similar to the UIGEA in America, in that it is seeking to stop online gambling as an attempt to raise revenue.

The IGA does not make it illegal for individuals to gamble online, that would be very difficult to regulate. The law specifically targets online gambling sites and is designed to make it significantly more difficult for Australians to find places to play.

Most online poker sites are located offshore, making it unlikely that they would honour the Australian law without significant pressure (as was applied to enforce the UIGEA in the US), so Australian poker players have been able to continue playing online unmolestered.

However, the Government's proposed filtering plan, if imposed, would make it significantly easier to enforce the IGA and leaked copies of the AMCA's blacklist of blocked sites seems to confirm that thats what they intend to do.

From the No Clean Feed website:

The Australian Federal Government is pushing forward with a plan to force Internet Service Providers [ISPs] to censor the Internet for all Australians. This plan will waste tens of millions of taxpayer dollars and slow down Internet access.

Despite being almost universally condemned by the public, ISPs, State Governments, Media and censorship experts, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is determined to force this filter into your home.

So what should you do? The IGA is already law but I suggest you join me in opposing the proposed filtering plan or 'Clean Feed.' Here's some relevant website you should check out:

No Clean Feed

Somebody Think of the Children

Is Playing Poker Legal in South Australia?

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. Please consult your own legal professional before taking any actions or making any decisions relating to poker in South Australia and/or the content of this article.

If you don't want to read through the entire post, here is a summary:

• For profit (where a rake or fee is taken) private and public games are, and have always been, illegal in South Australia.
• Not-for-profit private games with or without stakes are legal.
• Not-for-profit public games without stakes are legal.
• Not-for-profit public games with stakes appear to be legal with the recent court ruling but this could change in the future.

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This is an issue thats been up and down over the past four years ever since the APA's 3rd South Australian Poker Championships were raided by Police and the attendants and organisers charged with unlawful gaming.

The law, as I understand it, is that playing games of chance (including poker) where something of value is bet or wagered, in a public place, is illegal in South Australia except in SkyCity Adelaide Casino who have an expensive and strictly regulated license to conduct these games.

However, the recent decision in a test case relating to the charging of those from the APA suggests that poker is not included in the games of chance referred to in the law. The South Australian law uses the specific wording "wholly a game of chance" which appears to be the clincher in the decision.

From the Addisons Lawyers article: Is Poker a Game of Chance? - The Australian Position:

...the Court appeared to accept the expert evidence that, despite an element of chance existing in respect of the manner in which cards are dealt, skill was a determinant element in the outcome in the game over time.

This certainly sounds like a victory for poker players in South Australia but what does it mean specifically for those wanting to organise games outside the casino?

From the Poker Network article: APA Claims Legal Victory For Poker in Australia:

The judgment by Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos effectively gives the green light for poker players in South Australia to organise private, not for profit, poker games. According to the judgment, Texas Hold’em is not considered an illegal game under South Australian legislation. Nor is the holding or organising of poker events in which the proceeds are returned to a prize pool of some form.

This is a little less clear as it is my understanding that not-for-profit private games have always been legal. The Poker Network article also mentions Texas Hold'em specifically, but doesn't mention the case for other forms of poker.

The definition of a 'private game' seems to be somewhat uncertain. If its on private property and not open to the public then I would say its a private game. If its in a public venue and/or open and advertised to the public then it might be considered a public game.

More recently, perhaps in retalliation to the court decision, Pub Poker has come under fire from none other than SkyCity Adelaide Casino who asked the State Government to review the games as they might be illegal.

SkyCity Casino has previously had a monopoly of public poker games in Adelaide and it appears they are scared of losing that. However they do pay big money and have to put up with heavy regulatory scrutiny in exchange for their gaming license so its understandable that they'd want to protect that.

As I have argued before, I think the Pub Poker system of offering bonus chips for buying drinks and food exploits a loophole in order to run what would otherwise be an illegal poker game. They are effectively running a freeroll with rebuys where the rebuys cost money and have a rake or fee taken from them. It is my understanding that this would be considered illegal but the sneaky drink card system hides the true nature of the game.

In Summary:

• For profit (where a rake or fee is taken) private and public games are, and have always been, illegal in South Australia.
• Not-for-profit private games with or without stakes are legal.
• Not-for-profit public games without stakes are legal.
• Not-for-profit public games with stakes appear to be legal with the recent court ruling but this could change in the future.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. Please consult your own legal professional before taking any actions or making any decisions relating to poker in South Australia and/or the content of this article.

Cool Hand Poker

I was bombarded with Ads for this new online site 'Cool Hand Poker' as I watched lateish-night TV the other night. You may or may not have seen the ads or heard of the site but their slogan is "NO PROS! NO HUSTLERS! NO SHARKS!" which made me cringe as I heard it again and again and again.

The website address is http://www.coolhandpoker.net and its a free, play money site. Advertising on TV isn't cheap so my guess is they'll try and lure you over to their real money site: http://www.coolhandpoker.com. How they plan to do that remains to be seen as I couldn't find any direct links from the '.net' website to the '.com.' I couldn't be bothered signing up and downloading the software so the answer probably lies somewhere within.

The marketing of the site is very new-user friendly so you'll probably find the real money games a bit softer than those on other sites which is a good thing for those in the know.

Poker Warning For Pubs

From the ABC Adelaide website article: Poker warning for pubs:

The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) says pub owners need to be aware of the legalities of running poker games.

AHA general manager Ian Horne says the Adelaide Casino has raised the issue from a commercial perspective, questioning if the games are legal.

Mr Horne says he understands free games run in pubs are legal, but venues should be careful of offering games involving cash.

"We're simply saying don't take the advice of the promoters, because if there is a prosecution, the promoter doesn't get prosecuted, the venue gets prosecuted," he said.

"So hotels and clubs that are going to have this buy-in poker, which is where cash is involved, they really need to take their own independent legal advice to assure themselves that they're not breaching any laws."

Clubs SA says it is not aware of any of its members running the cash buy-in games.

Clubs SA deputy president Bill Cochrane says poker games are run purely as free entertainment, not as a money-making operation.

"We would be very disappointed if there was any club participating in this type of game," he said.

"As an association we've reminded all our membership of their responsibility in regards to compliance to their operations with this type of tournament, we've stressed that there shouldn't be any buy-in games operating in any club in this state."

Update: Another article on this issue from OnlineCasinos.com: Poker in Pubs Under Fire In South Australia, with some additional information.

Beware of the Cardinal

I was invited to a home game a few months ago by some basketball mates where I was introduced to a hold'em variant that I hadn't come across before, they called it 'Cardinal.' Cardinal is a form of wild card poker where the two advertising cards and the two jokers are left in and are wild, to be used as any card you like.

The addition of these wild cards or "Cardinals" turned the semi-respectable home game into absolute rubbish and that's not just because I came last in both of the $5 tournies we played. The presence of wild cards totally messes up the odds of the game, raising the level of luck to that of any number of games of pure chance. The fact that there was a whopping four wildcards, and around 6 players, meant that barely a hand went by where they didn't spew their influence on the game.

Bottom line: stay away from wildcard poker and be especially aware of the Cardinal. If you're looking for a way to spice up the game consider starting up your own league with points awarded each week and a final at the end of the season. You can offer a bounty, cash prizes or extra points, for claiming the scalp of the previous game's winner or this week's host.

History of Poker in Adelaide

February 2009: The inaugural PokerStars ANZPT - Australia New Zealand Poker Tour - kicks off in the delightful capital of the Australian state of South Australia, Adelaide.

From the ANZPT Website:

For the first event of Season 1 the PokerStars.net Australia and New Zealand Poker Tour comes to Adelaide. Adelaide is the perfect place for discovering vineyards and unspoilt bushland.

Other useful links:

ANZPT Adelaide: Train stations, churches and red wine

ANZPT Adelaide: Online qualifier triumphant


July 2008: APA Adelaide Organisers and Players Found NOT GUILTY in test cases

From the PokerNetwork Forum thread: APA Adelaide Organisers and Players NOT GUILTY:

Decision handed down by Magistrate Kossiasvelos 15th July 2008. Both organisers and players not guilty, here decision is 49 pages. Both defendants are now seeking full costs from the police and this has been adjourned until early September. Police have 21 days to appeal decision. APA is now seeking to get its members property back.


November 2007: Teenager Daniel Booth Wins $96,000 Adelaide Holdem Championship Poker Tournament

His win made news in the Advertiser and a number of online publications both national and international. From the Associated Content article: Teenager Daniel Booth Wins $96,000 Adelaide Holdem Championship Poker Tournament:

A teenage college student from Australia won the Adelaide Holdem Championship poker tournament. Amazingly, after cashing in a $96,000 first place win, the youth went back to work at his job stocking shelves at the local grocery store.


June 2007: Pub Poker comes to South Australia

From the CasinoCity Times Article: Poker Craze Hits South Australia:

Texas Hold 'Em – the poker phenomenon that's become a TV hit – is coming to Adelaide pubs. The National Poker League will start free Texas Hold 'Em tournaments in South Australian locals from the end of this month.


August 2006: APA Adelaide Closes its Doors

From the PokerNetwork Forum thread: APA Adelaide has closed until further notice:

APA Adelaide under directions has closed its branch.APA Adelaide will be working closely with other members of the Adelaide poker fraternity to fight the current charges its members face in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in Adelaide.A sad day for poker in Adelaide!!!


May 2006: Winter Poker Tournament at SkyCity Adelaide

First major tournament since poker returned to the Casino.


July 2005: Poker Returns to Adelaide Casino

From the PokerNetwork Forum thread: Poker at the Adelaide Casino:

We're excited to be able to tell you that Texas Holdem, Omaha and Manila Poker will be at SKYCITY from Wednesday 20th July.To kick off, we're holding a Texas Holdem tournament and we're giving you the opportunity to be one of the first to play Poker at SKYCITY in 4 years.


June 2005: Adelaide Poker Championships Raided By Police

From PokerNetwork Forum thread: SA Championships raided by Police!:

The SA Championships have been raided by the police on the first night of action.All players have been questioned and all games cancelled after 25-30 police stormed the premises and halted action.


Sometime Between 1999 and 2005: The APA South Australian Branch starts running poker games in Adelaide once more.

From the PokerNetwork article, 'Adelaide Pilgrimage – The Home of Oz Poker?':

And then there is the revival of Poker in Adelaide with the first APA Adelaide Championships. Resurrected by Judge Joe and Glen Gofor under the auspices of the Australasian Poker Association (APA).


1987- 1999: Adelaide, "the true home of Australasian Poker"

From the PokerNetwork article, 'Adelaide Pilgrimage – The Home of Oz Poker?':

For many years 1987 to 1999 it (Adelaide Casino) was the true “Home of Australasian Poker” and a Mecca for interstate players once or twice a year. Tournament Poker was in its infancy at the time and for many years “Adelaide was the only true Game in Town”.

Where to Play Poker in Adelaide

There are a number of different options for poker players in Adelaide of a range of different skill levels. Keep in mind that playing games of chance (or part chance, including poker) in a public venue for money is illegal in South Australia, although this seems to have been relaxed somewhat with the recent poker craze. However, its still a serious offence if you try and make any money from such games such as a commission or rake, this also includes private games.

Pub Poker

Great way to learn the game with friends in the familiar environment of your local pub. Not so good if you're past the learning stage and want to improve your game. Check out the Pub Poker post for more information and strategy.

Home Game

Probably the best way to hone your skills if you have a bunch of mates looking for regular games. Encourage your players to bring their friends so you get a chance to play different people. Home games have a wide range of skill levels depending on how long the players have been playing for.

In order to keep the game friendly we recommend sticking to tournaments which will limit the amount that can be lost each game. Stakes should be high enough that players aren't totally reckless but low enough that its no biggy if they lose. Read our guide to setting up your own home game for more information.

Private/ Public Game

This is usually a private game looking for more players outside their own friend circle or one or more good players trying to improve their games and possibly make some money. Usually held in someone's home or at a clubhouse or business after hours. Expect the caliber of players to be higher than those at your average home game.

These are the sorts of games that we will try and list here on the website, otherwise you can find these games by searching on Facebook, theres a number of private groups which you can request membership for to get into the game. Otherwise you might have to know someone to find/get into these games.

These are great games to take your skills to the next level. However, always remember to consider your safety first. If you don't know anyone in the game it might be a good idea to meet with the host beforehand and/or take a friend along with you. Anytime money and strangers are involved theres a possibility of friction, especially as you raise the stakes.

SkyCity Adelaide

The Adelaide Casino, owned and run by SkyCity, is now open everyday and they offer a range of different games. They provide a professional playing environment, efficient dealer and security which are all especially useful for higher stakes, but for that they take a commission or rake which will cut into your bottom line.

On Friday and Saturday nights there will be plenty of drunk people just waiting to give their money away but during the week and at other off peak times keep an eye out for the regulars, many of which have a lot of hours under their belts and have a high standard of play.

The Casino is the best place to practice playing real people at stakes that matter. Don't expect to make a living playing at the casino, although there are some that do it. Keep an eye on your bankroll, read up on strategy and practice practice practice online to make sure you're staying ahead of the competition.

Online Poker

All the suggestions so far have been for live games in Adelaide. I have listed them approximately in order of skill level required although there is plenty of overlap. Online games are in another category and have games to suit players from all the different skill levels and bankrolls.

Most poker sites have a play money option which is roughly equal to pub poker, a good place to start but don't stay there too long if you want to improve. With Online Poker you can play multiple tables at once and many more hands per hour than even the casino as all the dealing and chip handling is done automatically which also means a lower rake. If you have an edge over your opponents, your expected earnings from online play will far exceed that of live play. However, that also means if you're not up to the general skill level or if you are prone to go on tilt (which is much easier in the privacy of your own home) you can lose a lot of money very quickly.

Make sure you stick to stakes that you can afford and only move up if your bankroll allows (500 big bets is a good bench mark).

Pub Poker

Pub Poker is a good way for beginners to get to know the game, learn the rules and meet some like minded poker enthusiasts in their area.

Pub Poker is bad if you seriously want to improve your game. Don't get me wrong, any playing experience and practice that you can get will help to improve your game and if you get that experience for free, as with pub poker, then all the better. Just remember that the type of players and plays you will frequently encounter at pub poker will not be found in higher level games and you may pick up some bad habits if you play too often and/or don't keep your witts about you.

If you're ONLY looking for fun then I'd say have at it. If you're looking for more than just fun, and the fact that you're on this website suggests that you probably are, I'd play Pub Poker in moderation.

I certainly wouldn't suggest traveling any significant distance to get to a game so check out the following leagues to find a venue in your area:

APL - www.playapl.com

NPL - www.npl.com.au

NPPL - www.npplpoker.com.au

Pub Poker - www.pubpoker.net.au

PPN - www.playpokernights.com.au

UPT - www.ultimatepokertour.com.au

PokCh - www.pokerchallenge.com.au

There are a number of different Pub Poker leagues or your local might even run their own league, but the basic premise is pretty much the same. You show up at your local pub on the designated night and register for the tournament at which point you will get a "drink card" or something similar. Simply registering for the tournament gets you free entry and the starting chip bank (say $1000 worth of tourny chips) but if you buy drinks and food at the pub before the game starts and during the initial period you can get your drinks card stamped which entitles you to additional chips over and above your starting bank.

There's usually prizes for the winners which can be anything from a bottle of wine to vouchers to cash. Depending on the venue and the league they are registered for, theres likely to be some form of points table which you can track on their website. Each time you play a tournament at a venue participating in that league you will gets points with more points going to those who finish higher. At the end of the season the highest point scorers will play off in the finals touranament/s where the prizes can be quite significant.

Playing poker for money (that is risking your own money or something of value in a poker game) in a public venue, outside SkyCity Casino, is illegal in South Australia. Pub Poker provides a legal loophole to avoid this law and let establishments still profit from poker games.

Pub Poker Strategy

If you don't buy drinks and food to qualify for extra chips and most others do, you will find yourself short stacked from the get go. This is another reason why pub poker can be such a negative influence on your game. If you came looking for free practice to help improve your game, don't buy drinks. If you find that puts you at major chip stack disadvantage you'll have to make a value call as to whether pub poker is the right option for you.

In Pub Poker tournaments you will typically find the players extremely loose and often unpredictable. Most people have been drinking and since the tournament is free they have nothing to lose. In addition, the 'drink card' system means that those who are the most drunk also have the most chips, adding to the mayhem.

New players typically overvalue every hand and will happily call you down with bottom pair. Drunk players will usually take more risks which could mean more bluffing or more calling (or both) depending on the person.

A typical stratety for this type of environment would be Tight Aggressive (TA) and I do mean aggressive. With a good hand, high pair, AK, AQ your aim should be to narrow the field down to one (1) caller, if that means going all in, then go all in. You should never be calling, if your hand is good enough to call then you should raise if its not good enough to raise you need to fold.

The starting stack and blind structure does not suit playing tight as often you won't have enough time to catch a good hand before being blinded out so you'll have to open up your starting hand requirements. You're looking to build your stack up quickly so you can survive the steep blind increases and last til the final table. Its better that lose out early playing aggressively than playing passively and sitting on your chips because although you might last longer you will rarely make it past the middle of the tournament.

If you're lucky enough to be on a tight table, play your position aggressively.

Please add your own Pub Pokers results, strategy tips and info about your local venue's games and leagues in the comments below.

Adelaide Poker Meetup

I have recently just starting the Adelaide Poker Meetup (APM): http://poker.meetup.com/1200/ it is a great medium for bringing poker enthusiastis from around Adelaide together to do everything to do with poker.

There is going to be a $10/yr membership fee to cover the costs of running the website as well as promotion etc to attract new players. Our first meetup will be in early March, so get on over to the website and sign up to be a member. The website features include message boards, file and photo sharing, calender and email updates.

Hope to see you there!

Update August 2009: I discontinued this meetup some time ago. If you want to set one up for yourself, check out the Adelaide Poker Meetup Waiting List for a list of interested people.