2007 December | All Africa Poker Blog

December | 2007 | All Africa Poker Blog

Aussie Millions coming up soon!

Dec.31, 2007

Since 1997, Australia’s top Poker Tournament has not only grown exponentially attracting some of the best international players but made a considerable amount of very rich winners. 2007 Aussie Millions winner, Gus Hansen, banked a whopping $1,500,000. And lets not forget South Africa’s very own poker star at this event, Ryan Brauer, who placed a solid 30th earning him $40,000. With a prizepool growing at $ 2,430,000 in the short space of 6 years the crown casino’s tournament is home to the largest prizepool played in the southern hemisphere with an impressive attendance of 263 players. Australia and players from other countries alike, therefore eagerly await the commencement of January 2008’s Aussie Millions Tournament. With a variety of No Limit Holdem, Heads Up and the high stakes $100,000 Holdem events (with a guaranteed prizepool of $1 000 000) to keep the players occupied and supplying poker action for the FSN cameras who will be broadcasting the tournament to an international audience. Big names expected to attend the tournament include: Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, the “Tiger Woods of poker” Phil Ivey, as well as some well known Hollywood celebrities like: Jennifer Tilly and Shannon Elizabeth.

Who do you think will walk away with the 2009 Aussie Millions Poker title?

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Category: Aussie Millions 2007

2007 Card Player Poker Player of the Year

Dec.27, 2007

Card Player has announced their 2007 Poker Player of the Year (POY), congratulations goes to David “The Dragon” Pham. Pham, who holds the POY title for 2002, has made history by joining the ranks of the only two other poker player’s with multiple wins, Men Nguyen and T.J. Cloutier. Pham had been at the top of the leader board since August but clinched the title with a win at the WPT 5 Diamond World Poker Classic NL Holdem Event 8 tournament. Previous Player Of the Year title holders include poker legends such as Daniel Negreanu, Michael Mizrachi, Men “The Master” Nguyen and T.J. Cloutier.

Who is your Player Of the Year?

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Category: All Africa Poker Info

Win your way to the WSOP 2008 with the All Africa Poker Tournament.

Dec.20, 2007

The WSOP 2008 will be the 39th edition of the worlds most prestigious and talked about poker tournament. From the first WSOP tournament where there were fewer than 50 poker tables in the whole state of Nevada to a world renowned tournament which is internationally broadcasted and is home to over 8000 poker players, who flock in the masses to the Nevada desert yearly to take their seats at the esteemed event. The All Africa Poker Tournament is the only poker tournament in Africa that offers packages to international tournament such as the WSOP. The 12th All Africa Poker Tournament, which is being from the 28th of February to 2nd March 2008 at Piggs Peak, Swaziland, is offering 2 packages to the WSOP 2008 in Las Vegas valued at R150 000.
Have you played at the World Series Of Poker?
Do you have any advice to offer to players who are going to play in the WSOP 2008?

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Category: AAPT 2007

Greg Ronaldson, reigning All Africa Poker Champion, plays at the EPT in Prague.

Dec.19, 2007

Ronaldson made his way to Prague to further his poker career and pit his skill against international poker stars at the first EPT be held in the Czech capital. Whilst Greg did well to make it as far as he did, he was knocked out halfway through Day 1. Arnaud Mattern, went on to win the tournament.

Greg will be returning home with one thing on his mind, to defend his All Africa Poker Tournament Title. And with all the international experience he is getting, he will be a strong contender at the R3 Million All Africa Poker Tournament taking place from the 28 February to 2 March 2008 at Piggs Peak Casino, Swaziland.

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Category: All Africa Poker Info

Ray Rahme, WSOP 2007 finalist, taking part in The Asia Pacific Poker Tour Sydney 2007

Dec.19, 2007

They haven’t coined the saying “Aces Cracked” for nothing and no one knows this better than Ray Rahme who exited The Asia Pacific Poker Tour Sydney 2007 after his Ah As were cracked by Grant Levy’s set of Queens.

The action went down as follows:

The flop of Js 7d Qs lead to Rahme betting 3500 and Levy raising it to 10,000. Rahme the re-raised it to 40,000 which prompted Levy moved all-in. Rahme called for all but 1000.

The turn revealed Qh and the river of the 3d’s sealed Rahme’s fate.

Ray will be hitting our shores again early next year when he takes his rightful place at the 12th All Africa Poker Tournament being held from 28 February to 2 March 2008 at Piggs Peak Casino, Swaziland.

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Category: All Africa Poker Info

Heads-Up Poker Tips

Dec.18, 2007

Heads up play is probably one of the most difficult forms of poker to master. You can be last two standing in a tournament or even if you’re playing a heads up ring game, knowing the proper strategy will give you the edge. Here is how some of the best players in the world look at heads up play.

Aggression is Key. You always want to be the aggressor. It is indispensable to understand that in heads up play weak hands should be considered decent hands. Middle pairs would therefore be great cards. Top pair is huge and bottom pair is not bad either. You also need to know what hands to play? The trick is to see as many flops as you possible can almost playing just about every hand. When your challenger bets you should call. Card like 8 3 is not just a bad hand simply because your opponent raised the pot.

The majority of heads up play is a battle to see who has the better of an average hand. It is rare that either player is actually making monsters. Most of the time it is a battle of who has the worst hand. Did I mention you want to be the aggressor? Middle pair is not a folding hand. If your opponent bets into you when you have the middle pair most of the time you have the best hand. Unless he puts a lot of pressure on you with your pair a re-raise will tell you what he has. But now that you’re the aggressor you also have to know when to let it go. Don’t bluff off your whole stack and by any means don’t be afraid to lay a pot down. Bluffing is important but knowing when to lay it down is even more essential. Heads up play is the battle of junk and aggression and the person to pick up the most pots will usually end mentally tiring their opponent into a big mistake.

Here is a quick tip sheet on heads up play.

• Be the aggressor

• When you are the first to act bet, don’t call

• Don’t bluff your whole stack away on one pot

• Its ok to slow down every once in awhile

• Just about any two cards can be played

• Don’t slow play your monsters, bet them

Are you an experienced heads up player?

Do you have any secret strategies to share?

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Category: All Africa Poker Info

And the winner is … Let’s Play!

Dec.18, 2007

The Super Saturday Charity Poker Championship, an inaugural event, took place on December 4. The original field of players was whittled down from the finest ten in the ultimate quest to find the best Super Saturday poker player.

Many were praying for Terry “The Macaroni Kid” Paine to chalk up a proud win on behalf of his fellow in-mates at his retirement village, although he would have needed to out-twit his fellow Super Saturday presenters. To read further or see photos of this fun charity event,

On his debut poker game Owen ‘Rugga Kid’ Nkumane took an impressive second place, which makes him a force to be reckoned with in future. Singing sensation Ed Jordan and part-time Poker Celebrities, Rod McCurdy, Julie Alexander and Grant “Skidder” Stephens also took part in hopes of winning the coveted recyclable and environmentally friendly ankle bracelet (hand picked by Cliffie Jennard). Super Sister was present in all her mysterious glory and certainly gave the boys a run for their money.

The vastly experienced Neil “Chunky” Andrews, who has played at two previous World Series of Poker events in Las Vegas, and the Aussie Millions in Melbourne, was the ultimate winner on the evening and handed over his winning prize of R20,000 to the SuperSport Charity “Let’s Play” initiative.

Let’s Play is a corporate social responsibility initiative developed by SuperSport and partners in response to a National need. “Our children are becoming alarmingly inactiv. They can’t catch balls or walk on a balance beam. 20% of our children are overweight and physical education has almost been entirely eliminated from government school curricula. Family activities follow the path of “least resistance” as parents and kids opt for “sedentary play” activities. This has to change!”, says Vaughn Bishop for Let’s Play, Supersport.

“We are delighted to be able to participate in this very deserving initiative to achieve the target of collecting a million soccer balls by 2010. Donating money to charity should always be this much fun!”, remarked Wendy Graaf, Group Marketing Manager of Piggs Peak, Swaziland.

To see photos of this fun charity event Click Here.

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Category: News 2008

Piggs Peaks Ray Rahme takes 3rd position at 2007 World Series of Poker

Dec.13, 2007

Piggs Peak Swaziland’s All Africa Poker Finalist, Raymond Rahme has overcome all odds with his phenomenal performance at the 2007 World Series of Poker being the first South African to not only make the final table, but to finish in 3rd position earning himself a whopping $3,048,025 !

The platform from which Rahme was elevated into this highly prestigious status, was the 9th All Africa Poker Tournament, hosted by Piggs Peak in Swaziland in June 2007. Piggs Peak made it possible for him to participate at the World Series of Poker 2007, by sponsoring his seats as well as all related costs

Shortly before he played his final hand Raymond went over to Jack Effel, the WSOP Tournament Director and asked: “Do you know who Nelson Mandela is?” “Yes I do” Jack said. “This is going to be on ESPN, yeah?” This Jack confirmed with a nod of his head. “Well you send a message and let him know that I’m going to bring the bracelet home for Africa!” Raymond said with confidence and a smile.

When play resumed, Jack granted Ray’s wish and lead the crowd in wishing Mandela a happy 89th birthday.

Ray may not have brought home the bracelet – but he certainly kept South Africa’s name high!

In his exit interview Ray had the following to say about the Piggs Peak Team: “The Piggs Peak Swaziland team kept me going and supported me all the way! Thank you Piggs Peak”.

“We can never lose site of what Ray has achieved – he has beaten out more than 6300 players to achieve a brilliant 3rd place finish in the biggest poker Tournament in the world!”, said Wendy Graaf, Group Marketing Manager of Piggs Peak Casino

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Category: News 2008

Poker stripped

Dec.12, 2007

One of the most unexplored variations of poker who has received a huge amount of attention is strip poker. Aside from the intrigue derived from the Hollywood, exposure to the game (and obviously, the infamous student strip poker parties) the term, “strip poker” is one of the most searched poker phrases on the net.

Once you’ve finished cringing over the image of Allan Goehring or Chris Ferguson wearing nothing but their unmentionables… One has to admit, that Strip Poker is one of the most adventurous and creative ways to test your poker skill. I mean, if you can hold your pose, concentrating on nothing but your game play when there is a reasonable amount of unease –not to mention the obvious distraction, then you’d probably fare well in a tournament.

Though most of us, don’t quite have the balls –then again, lack of class- to organize a strip poker session with your friends (though you’ve got to admit, the invitations would be a hoot, seeing as most of them would think you’re playing a practical joke on them) or to –in a temporary bout of insanity- take a drive down to a nudist colony/clothing optional club (one is forced to imagine, what on earth they’d have left to take off… Seeing the majority of the players would already be stripped). As an after thought, at least you won’t have to worry what to wear, seeing as anyone sensible would wear as much as possible.

The testing bit aside one doesn’t want to explore the reasons, of why people would participate –use your imagination- in strip poker, unless everyone agrees to draw the line at some point and to preserve the integrity and decency as much as possible. So unless you can pin it down to ‘innocent fun,’ best leave the Strip Poker, to the Playboy bunnies.

Have you ever played it? Share your strip poker stories with us.

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Category: All Africa Poker Info

Channel Shuffle – All Africa Poker shuffles up to 393

Dec.03, 2007

Multichoice has announced that from 1 October, all channel numbers on the DSTV bouquet will be changed to three digit numbers. All Africa Poker channel will be shuffling through to DSTV Channel 393.

First of all, there has been some development in the software to create space for more channels and channels will be grouped into their correct genre. This will be achieved through amongst other, the allocation of three digits to all channel numbers, as opposed to only on or two digits, which many of the channels had in the past. The bouquet will then start with Channel 100, and has much more room for new channels and more entertainment.

Naturally, your favorite 27/7 poker channel will now also be re-shuffled from Channel 121, to Channel 393, to reside under the “Consumer” genre. All details pertaining to these changes, will be published on DSTV’s website from the 10th to the 20th of September, or can be viewed on the current Channel 199. If you experience any problems viewing your favourite poker channel, you should reboot or rescan your decoder or contact 011-289 2222.

So don’t miss out on your piece of the All Africa Poker Action – be sure to click over to Channel 393 from the first of October!

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Category: News 2008