Poker may not be acting like a sport, but poker management negotiations with players certainly are beginning to look just like their pro sport counterparts. The most recent mirror image involves Josh Arieh – out at Bodog. Why, Josh? Why now so close to the WSOP that made him famous?

You remember Arieh’s performance at the 2004 championship final table. He was a jerk, right? (He’s not really) That act put everyone watching on tilt. The players, especially Greg Raymer with all the chips and the crocodile glasses, seemed pretty unfazed. That was the table where David Williams made the call of his life with 4’s and 2’s all-in against Dan Harrington to help give Arieh 3rd place money of $2.5 million.

Soon after the Series, Calvin Ayre of Bodog signed both Josh and David to his newly formed stable of players. At that time Evelyn Ng came along for the beauty of it. She was the most requested celebrity endorsement in the business. Then she quite winning…but EvieBaby is still on the Bodog team and Josh Arieh is history. Seem strange to you, too? Does the founder Calvin Ayre’s retirement have anything to do with the move?

It’s always suspicious in sports when a player is released. Especially when the press release says the decision was mutual. Really? Josh walked away from free tournament entries, travel expenses and exotic locations? Ok. Would you like to tell me something I’ll believe? Surely a site as rich as Bodog could have afforded to keep Josh, plus the two newer members: Jean-Robert Bellande (there’s a sure winner) and Justin Bonono.

Here’s a look at the tournament winnings of Josh Arieh since his fabled WSOP final table in 2004.

The Wynn Classic /
Event #14 - Pot Limit Omaha / 1st $59,364 12-Mar-08

Grand Casino Tunica Poker Tournament - WSOP Circuit Event / Event #22 - WSOP Circuit No Limit Hold'em Championship / 17th $12,318 19-Jan-08

Harrah’s New Orleans Winter Bayou Poker Challenge-WSOP Circuit Event Event #10 - WSOP Circuit No Limit Hold'em Championship /
2nd $130,050 5-Dec-07

Legends of Poker / WPT Event Season 6 /
WPT No Limit Hold'em Championship / 44th $16,005 30-Aug-07

38th Annual World Series of Poker /
Event #5 - WSOP Pot Limit Omaha & 7 Card Stud Hi / Lo / 9th $11,658 3-Jun-07

EPT Grand Final /
EPT No Limit Hold'em / 29th $34,797 28-Mar-07

37th Annual World Series of Poker /
Event #25 - WSOP Shootout - No Limit Hold'em / 48th $4,805 16-Jul-06

National Heads Up Poker /
Heads Up - No Limit Hold'em / 14th $25,000 6-Mar-06

Goldstrike World Poker Open / WPT Season 4 /
Event #8 - WPT No Limit Hold'em Championship / 13th $31,464 23-Jan-06

Borgata Poker Open - WPT Season 4 /
WPT No Limit Hold'em / 41st $12,489 22-Sep-05

36th Annual World Series of Poker /
Event #12 - WSOP Pot Limit Omaha / 1st $381,600 13-Jun-05

Borgata Poker Open - WPT Season 3 /
WPT No Limit Hold’em 3rd $286,900 22-Sep-04

Sure, Josh Arieh has totaled ONLY just over $1 million in earnings since his WSOP finish. That isn’t spectacular anymore for three plus years in tournament poker. But I’d suggest there is more to this story than failure to meet lofty expectations. Bodog didn’t lose any money on Josh Arieh.

What do you think?

Love

Mike Paulle

Email: mikepaulle@aol.com

Please look for this blog on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Double Trouble when the Board Double Pairs

by TJ Cloutier

I entered the $2500 No-Limit Hold’em event at the World Series with high hopes of breaking through another big, tough field to the final table. During the first two levels, I managed to win a few small pots (pocket jacks was my biggest hand), and was able to build my stack up to $4200 before we took our first break.

On the very first hand after we returned from the break, everyone passed to me on the button. I looked down at the second-best hand I’d had all day - pocket 10s - and pushed in a raise. The player in the big blind had been playing all kinds of hands and, as a consequence, he was kinda short on chips (about $2100). It didn’t take him long to make his move: “All in!” he announced. “I know I’ve got the best hand here,” I thought, so I called him.

He turned over an A-8 offsuit, the type of cards he’d been playing all along. Now here comes the interesting part of this story. The flop came K-K-J. Then a 5 on the turn. Then a jack on the river. That jack took my pair of 10s out of the picture — and the Big Blind’s rag ace held up!

A Poker Rarity

When the board double-paired, I had a fairly big pair in my hand. In my experience, it’s very rare that this happens. It seems that when the board double-pairs, it’s usually when you’ve got something like deuces, treys or fours, not a big pair. To catch kings and jacks on the flop, you’ve gotta be a little unlucky.

Losing this pot hurt me but it didn’t kill me. On the next round of play, I didn’t get dealt anything playable until I was on the button again. This time I had the Ad Qd. A guy sitting up front with only about $350 in chips made it $200 or so to come in. Brad Booth moved in behind him. He had me covered by a coupla dollars, but I thought I had the best hand so I shoved the rest of my chips to the center. As in all tournaments, I always want to get my money in right; that is, when I believe I have the best hand or when I have the best situation.

Deja Vu

The first guy threw his hand away and Brad turned his cards face up — A-9 offsuit. And then deja vu — the same ole stuff happened that’s happened to me before — a 9 came on the flop to beat me. A-Q against A-9 is not too happy for me. But that’s poker; it’s all a part of the game.

I headed for the long hallway home, disappointed yet looking forward to the $10,000 Omaha tournament I’d be playing the next day.

More Ways to Win at PSO

Stop by on Saturday for two chances to create a SP nest egg. For the early birds, at 10am CST we're hosting a Sponsorship Point - No Limit Hold'em Tournament. For 5 Sponsorship points, play against your pals in this event. First prize has been upwards of 50 Sponsorship Points in these early events, so be sure to stop by and get a piece of the pie!

Later on Saturday evening the price of poker goes up with a 10 Sponsorship Point Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo Multi Table Tournament at 8pm CST. Registration opens 24 hours in advance so secure your seat today!

For those of you who qualified in last month's No Limit Hold'em PSOC Shoot out, be sure not to miss the PSOCS Monthly qualifier on Saturday at Noon CST. The top 100 players from last month's leader board square off in this match for a chance at a sponsored seat into the WPT circuit event of your choice. If you earned a seat, be sure not to miss this event!

See you at the tables!