However, news broke the other night that both players would be leaving Ultimate Bet in order to pursue other opportunities. Hellmuth finally confirmed what had been rumored for two months when he tweeted, “Making a BIG move….leaving UB. Truly lots of great memories, but it’s time to move on…..Mutual decision…..Looking forward to BRIGHT future!”

Duke told the poker world that she’d be leaving UB through a blog post that read, “I’ve sincerely enjoyed wearing the UB patch, but it’s time for me to move on. So why am I leaving UB? In a nutshell, personal and professional growth. I’m going to explore and pursue other business opportunities on a full-time basis.”

Both Duke and Hellmuth left the company on good terms, but wanted to see what else is out there for them. Some poker insiders have speculated that Hellmuth left because he will become the face of WSOP.com; however, this is just a rumor at this point. Duke left UB because she wants to pursue non-poker business opportunities.

In the past few years, Duke has appeared on 1 vs. 100, Celebrity Apprentice and Deal or No Deal. Perhaps she’s going to pursue something in TV or even more traditional business endeavors seeing as how she finished second on the Celebrity Apprentice.

Whatever these two poker stars do in the future, the rest of the poker community will be anxiously waiting to hear. Hellmuth and Duke leave the Ultimate Bet promotional efforts to the younger players there including Tiffany Michele, Adam Levy, Bryan Devonshire, Maria Ho and Joe Sebok.

The grape vine reports that Vanessa Selbst has won the Mohegan Sun Poker Tournament for the second time. This is part of NAPT history. A notoriously difficult fit means that this is the time to celebrate the wonderful achievements of this unique player. In terms of fame, this ranks at the very top of the poker circles and many people will be interested in the future that is likely to await this interesting player. There are so many great dynamics that you can look at in terms of sending the game to the next level of competency. It must be said that Vanessa Selbst is right up there on the map.The context of a great poker tournament

In looking at the things that Vanessa Selbst has been able to do, we can look at her technique as well as the hype that will inevitably follow if a lady is able to win these great tournaments. Nonetheless it must be stated that she is a solid player off the ground and has posted some significant wins over the years. This latest tournament is the crowning glory of an astonishing career. It also represents years of hard work and commitment. The game needs people like Vanessa Selbst to add star quality to the tournaments. The industry needs a boost after the recent scandalous events surrounding USA payments.

Contrasting the wins with other poker players

The High Stakes Poker Season 7 did not give Vanessa Selbst the chance to fully display her talents. Anyone watching those games might be forgiven for thinking that she could not win the games. In these times it appears that she has done something very great indeed. There are indicators that the flashes of brilliance that have been in the WSOP events will continue to put her career on the correct path. The resume means that she has a total of $4.1 million in winnings from the tournaments. That is a tidy sum even if she chose to retire at this moment. Looking at the win, it is hardly likely that she is going away any time soon.

Fighting Dan Shark to win the poker tournament

In the heads-up section, Vanessa Selbst was facing Dan Shak. This is the player that won the 2010 Aussie Millions High Roller event. Of course we know that he was formerly married to Beth Shak. At the beginning Dan Shak had a 3-1 chip advantage over Vanessa Selbst.  Using big pots to maximum effect, his female component was able to pile on the pressure and win the game. The final path to victor was rather straightforward when compared to all the strategic planning that would have been required in order to keep the game going.

How the figures added up on the poker circuit

The first prize went to Vanessa Selbst at $450,000. Dan Shak was to settle for $254,000. In the 3^rd place we had Tyler Kenney at $170,000. The 4^th place was to go to Thomas Hoglund Jr. at $170,000. In the 5^th place, Vincent Rubianes took $90,000 while Joe Tehan took $70,000 on the 6^th place.

Erik Seidel has been fairly successful season but the challenge is whether he can keep up the winning streak. There are plenty of commentators that are waiting for the streak to end so that they can write the customary negative articles on queue. It must be said so far that he is holding up very well with one hundred straight tournaments. He has recently been the victor at the WPT Hollywood Open.A great player among the many great players in the tournament

It must be pointed out that the draw had no less than ninety seven players who were vying for the top prize. For Erik Seidel to make the winning grade is a testament to the tenacity with which he has been approaching the game. It also points to a resilience that will likely take him to the very top of the rankings. The final table was set aside with the masterful way that Erik Seidel has on the game. Mike Scarborough presented the local challenge. That came to an end due to the deficit of 4-1. With 12 hands, Scarborough was able to put away his man. The end place is not bad at all considering the type of competition that he had to deal with in order to get to the final.

The win for Erik Seidel gives him plenty to celebrate about

Although he was the runner up, Erik Seidel continues to have very good standings in poker circles.  The year has been absolutely spectacular for this player. The 2^nd place earns him $155, a substantial amount of money but dwarfed by the career winnings of $14.85 million. He then moves beyond Daniel Negreanu who has career winnings worth $14.15. The leader board is still firmly in favor of Erik Seidel even with a minor setback such as a second place finish on a great tournament schedule.

Some context for the great players of poker

The money is just an indicator of the greatness of the player but there are other events that can be included in the equation. It has been reported that Erik Seidel has participated in many tournaments even if they do not bring in a lot of money. That alone would qualify him as a great figure within the world of online gambling at the moment. The other players must be mightily jealous of this success that shows no signs of falling to pieces in the short run. That is how you sustain a winning streak in poker.

Eight months to the greatest year

There are still 8 months in which Erik Seidel can make the shortfall of $400,000 in order to become the greatest annual player. That is something that is a distinct possibility if he continues with the way that he has been playing at the moment. The results give Erik Seidel the chance to challenge Negreanu for the title of the greatest live poker year. In 2004, Negreanu set the standard with earnings of $4.7 million. The $4.3 million that Erik Seidel has earned so far is not far off.

Given the seriousness of the charges against the companies which accepted payments from USA players without authorization, it seems that there will be a lot to pay. The problem stems from the fact that the USA has inconsistent and often punitive restrictions on players. In order to avoid some of these problems, some casinos are simply not able to accept wagers from USA players. It seems that some greedy corporations decided that this is the ideal opportunity to enter the market and make the difference. They used fictitious companies in order to accept payment so that the USA banks were able to comply with the payment requests.How the penalties might be divided for the poker scandal

The headline figure for the punitive elements is $3billion. This is a significant amount of money but it needs to be broken down in order to fully understand how it all fits in. PokerStars will be getting a fine of $1.5 billion. Full Tilt Poker is going to get a fine of $1 billion. The Cereus Network which runs Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet will have a charge of $500 million. Financially speaking these figures are enough to put the companies in question. It will take many years for them to get back to the level of success that they enjoyed before.

The FBI moves in to freeze the accounts and assets

It has been reported that the FBI is freezing the accounts held by the culprits in this poker fraud. It has been estimated that seventy five bank accounts were frozen in the immediate aftermath of the discovery. Furthermore there are five internet domains which were frozen. This means that the accused have very limited financial means until the court decides what to do with the assets in question. Some commentators might be inclined to believe the hype to the effect that these players are being taught a lesson as a deterrent to other potential crimes. In reality this is punishment for egregious behavior that takes a laissez faire attitude to the gambling rules in the USA.

The fallout from the poker fraud continues to grow

It has been reported that live tournaments on the PokerStars website at NAPT and Full Tilt have been cancelled. People that intend to visit the Onyx Cup which promised bonuses of between $100,000 and $300,000 can expect that these will not take place. The sponsored broadcasts on ESPN are also on hold. Speculation is rife that the “Poker after Dark” event is going to be cancelled as well as the High Stakes Poker event. The mid season will look significantly altered if these cancellations go ahead as indicated in the press reports.

Members of the poker fraternity are distressed

As expected the Poker Players Alliance or PPA is not too pleased with the developments. Everyone is worried about the implications for future games. The business rivals already coming out to take the customer gap which will be created due to the difficulties which these establishments are facing at the moment.

It seems that some poker establishments have been rather lax in their adherence to the law. This laxity is coming back to bite them. It all started with the US banks which were not willing to process payments. The poker companies then decided to get round this problem using fraud. Federal law defines the circumstances under which payments may be investigated or rejected by the relevant authorities. Of course the prosecution of a company is enough to completely destroy any reputation that it has built over the years. This is no exception in as much as it exposes the companies in a very public way.The dirty tricks that brought poker companies down

Given the fact that certain USA institutions were unwilling to or unable to process payments, the poker companies in question decided to trick them. A case in point was presented where the companies or entities called Isai Scheinberge and Paul Tate worked for Poker Stars to complete the scheme. Raymond Bitar and Nelson Burtnick were working for Full Tilt Poker. Scott Tom and Brent Beckley worked for Absolute Poker. The money that was received from USA players was disguised as payments to merchants that did not exist. The fictitious merchandise which they presented in the case includes golf balls and jewels.

A clever poker scam that got too clever

The banks continued to process the payments without knowing that there were legal restrictions or that the transactions never existed in the first place. About 30% of all the fund that were processed ended up going to the Poker Companies using the funding account. The rake charged to players was one of the key features of the fraudulent transactions and it has been one of the critical components of the investigations. Nearly every hand that was played involved the scam without the players necessarily understanding the implications.

The role of the payment processers

It appears that the payment processors that worked for the poker houses lied to the banks. They did not disclose the nature of the financial transactions in question. There were multiple strands in the lies in an attempt to cover up what was really happening on the ground. The creation of phony corporations was an aggravating feature of the crimes and also indicated the laxity with which these regulations were being implemented on the ground. The internet played a role too with phony websites.

Acknowledging the presence of the poker fraud

Evidence that was being presented to the grand jury included a document from the PokerStars website which seemed to indicate that they had received money from USA gamblers. According to the indictment, the prosecutors will be seeking $3 billion in civil money laundering penalties and also forfeiture of any ill gotten gains. That will be a devastating blog for the poker companies involved.  For the defendants, there is every chance that they will be spending the next couple of decades in a federal prison. The gambling industry is not shocked given the inconsistent USA gambling laws.

It has now been reported that the “Poker Black Friday” is in full swing. On the 15^th of April it was widely reported that owners of some of the major companies were facing fraud charges. The companies in question included Poker Stars, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet. Sometimes poker sucks. Bank fraud was one of the main charges but they were also held on account of money laundering. More grandly, they were accused of crimes against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act or UIGEA. This is worrying news for the industry but the competitors will be pleased to see that “another one bites the dust”.Dramatic scenes in the world of online poker

The American market has stopped taking on the companies which have been indicted for fraud. Perhaps this is a cautionary measure but it means that the industry has to take note of the way that they deal with the legislation at hand. There are strong indicators on how the market might shift depending on the outcomes in the court cases. Often the industry tries to go back into a cautious mode when they feel that there has been one of the good and great who have been busted by the FBI. The news will be a body blow to the owners of the company as well as the players that have so much trust invested in the process.

The financial implications of the FBI investigation

The law is likely to be very harsh on the executives of the poker houses which have broken the rules. It is estimated that the executives of the companies in question are likely to face up to 35 years in prison. The fines can go right up to $3 billion. To say that the industry is in trouble is an understatement. Perhaps the companies will try to mitigate some of the penalties that are likely to be imposed by the state. The important thing is to note that this is not reflective of the entire industry but rather a few bad apples that are spoiling everything for everyone.

The implications on the industry as a whole

The events that have touched the industry in such a personal way are likely to have ramifications for an industry that is already viewed with suspicion by many states. The executives were ultimately very careless with the way that they handled the game. Consequently they are going to pay a rather hefty price for failing to follow the rules. Any sympathy for them is largely misplaced. Everyone knows that the poker or casino industry is highly regulated and the IRS is practically breathing down the necks of most companies.

Other poker houses need to be wary

This is a lesson for all the poker houses that have been playing fast and loose with the system. There are important lessons for individual players. Do not go for tournaments which are run by shady houses. The reputations of the specific companies involved will take years to rebuild. In fact they might never regain the reputation they once had within the industry. That would be a great shame for the industry as a whole.

Sin City is presenting the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament as one of the great tournaments that we expect this year. The prize pool is going into millions. That means that even where your strategy is going to the dogs, there is every chance that you will end up winning something. The critical point is to learn how to play the game instead of letting the game play you. They dynamics of the game at the moment are excellent and you have good chances of winning one of the advertized prizes without sweating too much. In addition there are many satellites that are being run by Carbon.How tracking software might help you to win the tournament

There are no explicit bans on tracking software but you might get noticed at the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament. For example you might be able to expose a leak using this technology. Make sure that you read the contractual position on these instruments before you commit. There could be a hefty price to pay if you continue to ignore the dimension of the game in favor of a direct approach. The program can be used in practice without any need for permission. It will give you a series of scenarios and the ways in which you can escape a tight spot.

Try to analyze your game before attending the event

There are always chinks in your game which you need to address as part of the player development program. It does not help if you ignore problems on the basis that they will eventually go away. Instead you need to be prepared to play the game with some diligence. This means that you can move across the strategies according to the needs which you have expressed. The extracted money can be invested into the various games that are on offer. It is imperative that you are organized in the way that you handle the games at hand.

The event will involve plenty of over-pairs and nuts

It is important that you watch out for the AA nuts. The pre-flop is a system used to reduce the risks associated with playing poker. If the flop comes down then the aces are no longer part of the best hand. Therefore you need to ensure that you are not giving up the competitive advantage that your strategy gives you. The game keeps changing the dynamics but you should not lose sight of the basic strategies which you are going to use. Likewise you need to be very wary of variations in the game which do not give you the control that you need in order to become successful.

The leader of the pack

This might sound somewhat parochial but there is a leader of the pack when it comes to playing the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament. It is important that you identify this leader quickly so that you can get on with the business of playing. There is no point in just following and hoping for the best from the game. Those are the dynamics that you look at right from the beginning.

The qualifiers can be booked for the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament if you visit the Carbon Poker Lobby. The satellites tab will be clearly visible under the section for the tournaments that are making their way at the moment. Try to sort through the satellites in order to find the right entry fees. The prices that are advertised at the moment range from $2 to $60 depending on the type of play that you have in mind. This is the perfect opportunity to get to grips with the tournament before exercising your skills.

Will the double barrel work on the WSOP event?

The word out on the street is that the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament will encourage barrels depending on the tables that are used by the players. Do not follow the crow by firing a shot on the flop. Likewise other players tend to give up on the turn. The barrel is there for you to see whether you can change the dynamics of the game. It is possible for you to call a flop bet on the draws. Watch out for the over-cards to ascertain that they do not represent dangers for you. A barrel might take down all those dangers.

A well rounded player will be required for the Carbon WSOP event

There are multiple skills that you will need in order to have any chance to win the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament. The standard is to learn Texas Hold’em but that will not take you too far if you have forgotten all the other games which will inevitably be on offer. The popularity of the games does not necessarily mean that you are going to win them. For example you might try the Omaha 7 cards game to see whether it will change the odds of winning. The variants are absolutely important if you are going to be a major feature on the tournament circuit.

The opponents you are likely to meet at the WSOP event

It is highly likely that the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament will have a great deal of experienced players. That means that you need to improve your skills in such a way that you can play the game on your terms. This will happen without worrying about the things that they bring to the table. As an exercise in preparation, you can try to classify your opponents. For example you might look at how aggressive they are in order to set up a strategy that is going to defeat them in the long run. It is important that you have the right classification tools so that you do not end up making silly mistakes concerning the challenge that you will be facing.

Try to learn from the experts

According to the press reports, the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament is likely to have great players flocking to the seats. Make sure that you learn from them. Even where you lose the game, there is still room for you to learn more about poker in general. These skills will help you down the road when you need to challenge for bigger prized events such as the Grand Slam.

It is important that you pay attention to the bets that you make in the qualification period. They might be essential for your chances to win. The qualifier will start on the 16^th of May and the buy in has been set at $460. The odds are pretty good because they say that one out of every thirty players on the event will end up winning some sort of WSOP prize package. The satellites will have easier entry requirements as well as simpler requirements for running the seats that are on offer. When you get there you will need to be extra careful about the strategic plans you have made.Keep the bets in control at the WSOP event

Given the significant of the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament in the calendar, it is inevitable that you will get nervous. If you see strays in your betting patterns, it is back to plan B. Raising aces and kings has some advantages but it carries serious risks for the new players. Aggression is likely to be the order of the day for the event. Consistent betting will get you a safety margin but it will remove some of the fun that is typically associated with this event. The last thing is to spend ages on the game without getting any enjoyment from it. Instead you will need to look at the patterns to ensure that they are given the right placement on the table.

The control pots for the event have to be prepared in advance

If you are going to play the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament, make sure that you watch out for the pot odds. There is a difference between the odds on the table and the ones that apply to the hand. It is up to you to make sure that the hand matches the odds on the pot. That will give you the leeway to win the game in due course. You cannot look at the opponent’s hand but you can make some conclusions based on their current behavior or how the cards have been falling. This observation is at the heart of good poker playing and the resultant techniques.

Will you be keeping control of the nuts at the poker event?

The best possible hand on every street is your Holy Grail. Before you make a bet make sure that you know what the best hand is. The next stage is to make a determination on the likelihood that the opponent has the requisite hand in order to beat you. These calculations can take place in a split second but you need to be prepared to adjust them accordingly. A raised pot on the JJ Street will need to compete with a sequence of Q-J-10 in order to have any chance of winning significant amounts of money.

The law of diminishing returns in poker

Even as you watch the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament, it is important to note that the laws of diminishing returns will apply. There are winning streaks but there is no guarantee that you will consistently win the game in this way. Instead you should be prepared for variations in the way that the game is played.

If the poker news outlets are to be believed it is just one month to the largest poker event. The WSOP represents some of the very best elements of the game. There will be different prizes for the main events as well as the traditional satellites which garner so much attention. Resident writers are coming up with some tips on how you can become part of the winning circle. The Carbon is meant to take place on the 16^th of May and there are reports that a free seat worth $10,000 is available. The tips that you use for your daily poker will certainly come in handy for the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament.Make sure that you have profitable hands for the WSOP Game

The hands that are suggested for the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament tend to take variations depending on how you will be seated. You should aim to for the top 20% of the hands so that you are not dumped in the mediocre sections. Loose playing is unlikely to make the cut on the event. Perhaps you can tighten up as the even progresses so that you have a chance to increase the amounts of profits which you can make in one sitting. The event promises to bring in some of the big names of the game and you need to be absolutely prepared for a great fight.

Get your bankroll management right for the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament

It is likely that you will go broke at some point as you participate in the game. This is not something that you should be worried about. In fact it is better if you embrace the concept and use it for your advantage. For the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament it is recommended that you have between 30 and 50 buy-ins for the games that you select. For example the scheme might include a $2 bet for the Texas Hold’em games to the tune of $200. The recommended bankroll for the game should be between $6000 and $10,000.

Study the weeks for the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament

Each week will have different swings which you need to cope with. Therefore you will need to watch the particulars of the game even if you do not have a specific strategy to deal with the variations in the game at the time. The downward swings are not likely to affect you negatively if you have taken the time to prepare for the game well. They are only catastrophic if the preparation has not been up to scratch.

Your rhythm for the game is essential

When you first sign up for the Carbon WSOP Poker Tournament, there will be limited scope for the rhythm that you are looking for. Instead you will need to put up with the variations in the game. That means that you have to get the body eventually used to the tournament until you are ready to rock and roll. The long periods will get your confidence back.