HighStakesReport.com

Filed in archive Internet Poker on July 25, 2007

High Stakes Poker has become a very popular viewing selection for the Game Show Network fans. The nightly poker battles between "popular" pros and a couple of wealthy amateurs throwing a few mortgage payments around like they were paying back a friend for a couple of extra value meals at McDonald's make for good TV. The show was so popular, GSN went out and got the rights to air the World Poker Tour from the Travel Channel where I'm sure the currently stagnant ratings will blossom under the new station.

Ever wonder where those pros make their money to throw $10,000 bricks of cash into the middle while chasing a flush? Sure, some are/were businessmen/women or got lucky with real estate or stock holdings. But most of the time it's the cash games like the ones glamorized by High Stakes Poker where the pros make their nut and keep those bankroll flushed enough to play WPT and World Series of Poker type events.

Online high stakes games go on nightly and can pop up at anytime, $1/$2 HORSE games at Full Tilt, or the increasingly popular $200/$400 Pot Limit Omaha games where pros like Gus Hansen and Phil Ivey frequently participate. Since these games attract several rail birds, why not report on it?

Enter HighStakesReport.com where the author(s) report on big hands of the night in these games where six figures pots are the norm and names get called out for dropping or winning six figures in a night (or sometimes in one hand).

Here's a sample of the posting:

"seda1″ Surprises With $127K Win Over Ivey
Over on Full Tilt table Vasari, the brave soul behind the handle "seda1″ faced off against Full Tilt team member Phil Ivey in some heads-up $200/$400 NL Hold'em. Despite taking down two of the three largest pots, it was Ivey who would end up throwing in the towel as "seda1″ managed to rake in over $127K from his opponent during their two and a half hour battle.

HAND A
Full Tilt Poker Game #3047697631: Table Vasari (heads up)
$200/$400 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:47:27 ET - 2007/07/24
Seat 1: Phil Ivey ($35,194.50)
Seat 2: seda1 ($44,795.50)
Phil Ivey posts the small blind of $200
seda1 posts the big blind of $400
The button is in seat #1
*** hole cards ***
Phil Ivey raises to $1,200
seda1 calls $800
*** FLOP *** [4h As 3c]
seda1 checks
Phil Ivey bets $1,600
seda1 calls $1,600
*** TURN *** [4h As 3c] [Kd]
seda1 checks
Phil Ivey bets $4,800
seda1 calls $4,800
*** RIVER *** [4h As 3c Kd] [8h]
seda1 checks
Phil Ivey bets $14,400
seda1 calls $14,400
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Phil Ivey shows [Kc 3h] two pair, Kings and Threes
seda1 mucks
Phil Ivey wins the pot ($43,999.50) with two pair, Kings and Threes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $44,000 | Rake $0.50
Board: [4h As 3c Kd 8h]
Seat 1: Phil Ivey (small blind) collected ($43,999.50)
Seat 2: seda1 (big blind) mucked

HAND B
Full Tilt Poker Game #3047983609: Table Vasari (heads up)
$200/$400 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:16:50 ET - 2007/07/24
Seat 1: Phil Ivey ($39,376.25)
Seat 2: seda1 ($40,584.75)
Phil Ivey posts the small blind of $200
seda1 posts the big blind of $400
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Phil Ivey raises to $1,200
seda1 calls $800
*** FLOP *** [8h 4s 6s]
seda1 checks
Phil Ivey bets $1,600
seda1 calls $1,600
*** TURN *** [8h 4s 6s] [4h]
seda1 checks
Phil Ivey bets $4,800
seda1 calls $4,800
*** RIVER *** [8h 4s 6s 4h] [Qd]
seda1 checks
Phil Ivey bets $14,000
seda1 calls $14,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Phil Ivey shows [4c 7c] three of a kind, Fours
seda1 mucks
Phil Ivey wins the pot ($43,199.50) with three of a kind, Fours
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $43,200 | Rake $0.50
Board: [8h 4s 6s 4h Qd]
Seat 1: Phil Ivey (small blind) collected ($43,199.50)
Seat 2: seda1 (big blind) mucked