The Poker Blog

COOL HAND POKER ROOM

REASONS TO JOIN
• 100% deposit match up to $350
Cool Hand’s sign up offer gives you 100% matches on every single deposit until you’ve deposited a total of $350! This Means you could make 7 x $50 deposits and get 7 x 100% match bonuses.
• No sharks
Cool Hand Poker is tailor-made for the new and casual poker player. Table limits, bonus offers and promotions are geared towards the everyday poker player. This means your money lasts longer, the promotions and bonuses are achievable and you can relax with the peace of mind that you’re not about to be shark bait.

• Excellent support
An “exceptional player experience” is what Cool Hand’s support team is all about. The support staff are fast, friendly and professional, all while doing their best to make you feel like their number 1 player.
• Merchandise giveaways and Freerolls
Cool Hand knows that, for the casual poker player, earning tens of thousands of points for massive loyalty prizes is not always the best way to go. Regular freerolls offering mp3 players, digital cameras and online shopping vouchers as prizes are open exclusively to Cool Hand players.

SIGNING UP
• Downloading Cool Hand software is quick and simple. The install file is a tiny 384kb. Once opened, the software download and installation takes approximately 1 minute on a standard broadband connection
• The registration process should not take more than a minute either, capturing your vitals efficiently and allowing you the chance select either USD or EUR as your payment/withdrawal currency. Play can be carried out on tables in both Currencies- note that your balance in the software will always be reflected in USD.
• Cool Hand Registration allows swift and simple alias creation, with an availability checker to save time.
• After registering the alias, you are redirected to the ‘deposit’ banking page where a list of payment options is available to you -based on the country you selected on registering; offering you quick and easy initial deposit transactions.
• Your account number is clearly displayed several times during registration, allowing you the chance to make a note of this for future logins.
• ‘Help’ feature available in the software will assist you in learning the game, as well as understanding the terminology used within the software and in the game of poker as a whole.
• We offer a wide selection of free tables with 2000 play chips (refreshed every 20 minutes if you lose), for those that are still getting into the swing of things and are new to the world of online poker.
SOFTWARE
Cool Hand Poker is powered by Microgaming software, providing players with the best poker software money can buy. Cool Hand Poker’s software features include:
• Simple lobby layout, which makes for easy navigation through the software.
• “Playcheck” facility to view game history
• Resizable tables
• Table chat facility
• Promotions tab makes it easy to view the status of offers you are currently enrolled in
• 3 different lobby views to suit your table selection process
• Easy access to banking
• Play up to 10 tables at the same time.
• 1 click access to casino games
RING GAMES
• Game types
Cool Hand offers Texas Hold’em and Omaha ring game tables. Ring game tables are available as 6 or 10 seaters.
• Table limit types
Texas Hold’em is available in No Limit & Fixed Limit variations, whilst Omaha tables are available Pot Limit
• Beginner Tables
These tables are ideal for new poker players. Learning the ropes at stakes as low as 0.02/0.04 and a buy-in of only $0.80 is a great way to improve your game
• Max Limits
To help your bank roll last longer, Cool Hand’s maximum table limits are:
$10/$20 (or €) at Fixed Limit tables
$2/$4 (or €) at No Limit tables.
TOURNAMENTS
The tournaments at Cool Hand are designed to be enjoyed, the payout structures fair and the prizes worth all the work put in at the tables!
The following tournaments are available exclusively to Cool Hand’s players:
• New Roller Freeroll
An invite-only tournament held every 2 weeks to welcome new players to Cool Hand Poker
• $2500 Sunday Fun Day
Qualify for this tournament by playing the buy-in or freeroll feeders and satellites during the week or buy-in directly for $20+2 for your piece of $2500. Unlimited Re-buys and 1 Add-on for 1500 chips in first hour.
• $500 Added Cool Points Tournament
Use your Cool Points to buy-in to the $500 added tournament. (See “Loyalty Promotions” for more info on Cool Points)
• $300 added Cool Points Tournament
Buy-in is 100 Cool Points. 1000 starting chips. Unlimited Re-buys and 1 Add-on (1000 Chips) available for 50 Cool Points each hour. 6 minute levels. Values of cool points are added to the prize pool.
• $50 Daily Freeroll
Another tournament exclusive to Cool Hand players. Get your bankroll started for FREE.
• Survivor Freerolls
New tournaments where you do not need to get all the chips, just enough to STAY ALIVE! It’s free to enter.
• IPod Tournaments
$3.0 + 0.30 buy-in. Win your seat through feeders and satellites, or simply buy in.
SIT N GO’S
• Beginners tables
With buy-ins beginning as low as 12 cents (or Cool Points), you can get a lot of practice at these special tables. Play is fast and FUN! Levels are 2 minutes, and tables are easily recognizable in green.
• Single table
5 &10 seater Sit n Go’s available at a wide range of buy-ins. From as little as €0.50+€0.10 all the way up to €100+€9. When playing Sit n Go’s you’ll have the choice of playing Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 5 Card draw and Omaha Hi/Lo
• Multi-table Sit n Go’s
These are available as 18 or 20 seaters at buy-in ranging from $2.50+0.25 to $100+9. Currently, the Multi-table Sit ‘n Go’s are only available in Texas Hold’em format.
• Double Up
In these SnG’s, players who make it into the payouts have their buy-in doubled. Everyone else get’s nothing. Payouts in 6 seater tables are top 3 and top 5 at 10 seater tables.
• Extreme Sit n Go
These single table tournaments offer fast paced action with a 1500 chip starting stack and blinds increasing every 2 hands, you’re guaranteed plenty of poker thrills.
• Super Turbo
These single table tournaments offer 1500 chip starting stack and blinds increasing every 5 hands. Poker only for the brave!
• Rounders
Players compete in Rounders tournaments by playing Sit n Go’s at 5 levels. A player is able to play their way through the levels or simply buy in to the level they like. Finish well and you move up a level, place near the top and get another shot at the same level. Get knocked out and you’ll still get a shot at the final with the chance to re-enter at a lower level.
SUPPORT
Cool Hand Poker strives to provide a helpful support desk, which is clearly evident from the speedy replies to emails and informative responses. There is a high level of customer support that is quick to respond to any queries that you may have. The support staff is friendly and answers all queries as best they can. Players are able to contact support via live chat and email 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
BANKING
There are many ways to fund your account. Bank cards, Neteller, Moneybookers, UKash, ClickandBuy and Click2Pay are just some of the options available depending on your region. All payment options available for deposit and withdrawal are safe, secure and well established in the online poker world.
STANDARD OF PLAYERS
Cool Hand is for the casual poker player, and that’s exactly who you’ll find at the tables. The competition ranges from college students to retirees who’ve played the game around kitchen tables for years. The safe, relaxed environment also attracts a number of newer players. For these players, Cool Hand made an extensive Poker School available and offer strategy and game play tips in its newsletters.

LOYALTY PROMOTIONS
The $350 in deposit match bonuses is a pretty good reason to keep coming back for more. Now, add to that the “Cool Points” program and the “My Poker Challenge” and you’ve got even more reason to be a loyal Cool Hand Poker player.
Cool Points are earned simply by playing real money poker. Currently you’re able to use these points to buy in to most Cool Hand daily tournaments and the $500 Added Cool Points monthly tournament, but keep an eye out for the Cool Points store coming soon where you can use points to buy Cool Hand merchandise and other goods.

My Poker Challenge is not like most leader board promotions you see out there. It’s a personal challenge to see how much extra bonus cash you can earn at the end of each calendar month. The top prize in the My Poker Challenge is a cool $10,000 - and that’s on over and above your regular prize of up to $1250! It’s pretty clear that loyalty pays at Cool Hand.
SUMMARY
Cool Hand Poker is all about Poker for the People. Low to medium buy-ins means no sharks, pro’s or hustlers so a player is free to relax and enjoy some good poker.
With bonus offers, daily freerolls, outstanding customer support and special weekend promotions, Cool Hand Poker really does seem to cater for everyday people. And they do this, all while striving to offer the best player experience possible.
This is a poker room that’s going to be around for a long time. With none of the pressure of playing with the sharks and hustlers, while offering a decent game for intermediate players, Cool Hand Poker has found the balance that the casual poker player is looking for.

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Play the Mad Genius and Brunson Ladies in Doyle’s $50,000 Bounty - Wednesday at 9:30pm ET

Doyle’s Bounty is your weekly chance to chat, hunt and win against legends of the game and special guests including A-list celebrities and poker pros.

Tonight´s Bounty: Mike “The Mad Genius” Caro, Pam “Queen_Kitty” Brunson and Anjela “Russian_Chick” Brunson are taking on all challengers shooting for over $50,000 in prize money!

You practically play for free because at the end of the tournament, first time players can request a full refund on this page and we´ll return every penny of your $27.50 buy-in - win or lose!

Register From the Poker Lobby:Tournaments > Scheduled > DOYLE’S BOUNTY > 6505999

Circus Poker is pleased to announce the launch of ECOOP V, The European Championship of Online Poker. The finals will be played over 14 days between 23rd of November to the 6th of December 2009 and satellites start on the 21st September.

All tournaments feature guaranteed prize pools. In total, an astonishing $4.55 million in prizes are guaranteed during the competition.

This year ECOOP V will also be presenting the winner of each event with an exclusive Tag Heuer watch with the nickname and event name engraved on the back too!

Lots of different poker games

ECOOP is a unique set of tournaments that include events played in several popular poker variations:

• no-limit holdem
• fixed-limit holdem
• pot-limit Omaha
• pot-limit Omaha high-low

Of course, for all players who don’t want to put up the entire buy-in, Circus Poker offers a range of satellites. You’ll be able to play both Sit-N-Go and multi-tables satellites to all the fourteen ECOOP V events.

Online poker tournaments to mirror live festival

paddypowerpoker.com today announces the Irish Winter Festival Online, a series of online tournaments scheduled to run concurrently with the Irish Winter Festival of Poker in Dublin, Ireland. The tournaments will take place from October 23rd through 26th and include freerolls and money-added events.

Passwords to the IWF Online freeroll tournaments will be posted on the official Irish Winter Festival blog two hours before the start time of each, and players will be encouraged to follow the live action in Dublin via the blog and live stream at the same time as playing online.

“Even though our main focus of attention this weekend will be the live event of the season, the Irish Winter Festival, we’d never forget our loyal online players” said Paddy Power, Communications Manager for paddypowerpoker.com. “The IWF Online allows players to take part in what will be a great weekend of poker, both online and off, and take advantage of the cash we’re adding to each tournament!”
Irish Winter Festival Online tournaments can be accessed via the poker software lobby; select the ‘Tournaments’ tab in the left-hand column and click on ‘PPP Exclusives’ to find the tournament you want to register for.

25% Reload Bonus + Up to 10 Free WPT Doyle Brunson Classic SNG Tickets.

Doyles Poker Room are celebrating Doyle’s long overdue induction by giving away bonus cash and WPT Doyle Brunson Classic SNG Steps Tickets.

Deposit this Friday through Monday using promotion code HallofFame25 and receive 25% in bonus up to $100 + up to 10 free steps tickets!

To claim this limited time offer, you must use the promotion code at the time of your deposit via any of their convenient methods.

Deposit $100 or more and receive 10 WPT step 1 tickets
Deposit $30 - $99 and receive 5 WPT step 1 tickets

Don’t miss out, this offer lasts only through Monday. Deposit now and reap the rewards!

Thomas Rolfe is celebrating a €100,000 windfall thanks to Ladbrokes Poker.

FREE entry Thomas Rolfe was celebrating after coming through a mammoth five and a half hour final table to land the Ladbrokes Irish Poker Festival €100,000 first prize, last weekend.

The Nottingham-based player (alias ‘r0lfus’) plans to invest his biggest ever win in property after capturing the six-figure sum when his AQ vs. AK hit the flush to consign local favourite Emmet Gough to the runners-up spot. The four day festival attracted over 750 players.

Rolfe said: “I’m really pleased to have won this event. It’s a big stepping stone and a chance to invest in a new house.”

The 22-year-old, who won his place at Killarney in a rake race on Ladbrokespoker.com, added to his joy by securing the first Ladbrokes Poker Cruise IV package.

Satellites for the cruise are due to start in December, exclusively online at Ladbrokes Poker.

Kate McLennan, Head of Poker, said “This tournament has once again been a huge success and is a fitting place to launch the Poker Cruise. It’s nice to see familiar faces and also welcome some first-timers.

“We’re already planning next year’s Irish event, though I think it’s going to take 12 months to recover from the weekend’s festival!”

An additional package for the ship was won in the Ladbrokes qualifiers’ prize draw-selected by Boyzone’s Shane Lynch-by Laddies legend Richard Clarke. (Alias ‘KrackedKings’, formerly ‘richlizard’).

Lynch and Irish football legend Ronnie Whelan were on hand to impart their pearls of poker wisdom to proceedings at the event.

Ladbrokes Pro’s Jonas ‘Nebuchad’ Danielsson and Jon ‘Skalie’ Kalmar represented Scandinavia and UK respectively in the fun showcase tournament held on stage – with Nebu taking the prize and the bragging rights in the UK vs. Scandi vs. Irish team competition.

Multi table tournament king and recent Vegas casher ‘daddymac’ won the festival’s €300 side event and picked up €18000.

23rd November – 6th December

With over $4,500,000 guaranteed across 14 events, the European Championship of Online Poker is back!

Massive prizes are on offer and all event winners will also receive an individually engraved Tag Heuer watch.

Qualify now for all ECOOP V events by participating in bet365Poker’s wide range of great value satellites. You could claim a seat for just $1.10. Direct buy-in is also available for each event.

The full ECOOP V schedule is displayed on their website along with all upcoming scheduled satellites. More options are available in the Sit & Go lobby.

 And dont forget, their……

Opening Bonus

Open a Poker account at bet365 today and enjoy the benefit of our fantastic $500 New Player Bonus. We’ll give you a 100% bonus on the amount of your first Deposit/Transfer up to a maximum of $500.

It’s easy to open an account, so get involved now and don’t miss out on your free chips! Your bonus is released at a rate of $10 for every 1,200 Merit Points earned on the poker tables.

New Depositor Freerolls

There’s a great opportunity to claim some extra bonuses when you make your first Deposit/Transfer to Poker at bet365. We’ll credit your account with a Tournament Token for our weekly 100,000 Merit Point New Depositor Freeroll.

With a prize-pool of 100,000 Merit Points, this tournament is the perfect chance to boost your Merit Point balance and get off to a great start with bet365. The cash equivalent of 100,000 Merit Points is $1,350. You can exchange your Merit Points for cash and Tournament Tokens as part of our VIP Scheme.

OMG it’s Omaha October on Devilfish Poker! If you are a four card specialist and you thought they’d forgotten you then think again!  This month they have a mouth watering €30,000 up for grabs in their Omaha VIP races, with cash prizes available on both the High-Roller and Low-Roller leaderboards. Only VIP points earned on Omaha tables count towards the leaderboards so give two fingers to your mates playing with two cards because these prizes are only for four card fanatics.

With more than 50 cashes in international Pot Limit Omaha tournaments, and a reputation as one of the most feared Omaha cash game players, Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott didn’t think twice when asked should they run a Hold’em or an Omaha promotion this - “Four cards good, two cards bad” was his answer. Nuff said.

To make things fair the €30,000 prizepool is split across two leaderboards - the €20,000 High Race and €10,000 Low Race making the prizes accessible to both high and lower rollers alike.

The High Race
Payouts: Top 15 with €6,000 for first.
VIP Points: VIP Points earned on Omaha tables with blinds of €0.50/€1 and higher will count toward this leaderboard. (Including all limits of Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo).

The Low Race
Payouts: Top 10 with €3,500 for first.
VIP Points: VIP Points earned on Omaha tables with blinds from €0.02/€0.04 to €0.25/€0.50 will count toward this leaderboard. (Including all limits of Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo).

As if that wasn’t enough to get you excited Devilfish are also offering a 100% up to €500 reload bonus in October.  This bonus is open to players of all games and all Poker VIP points will count towards clearing the bonus.

Simply enter the code OCTO500 when making a deposit and you then have 30 days to clear the bonus.  The bonus is paid out at a rate of €5 for every 100 VIP points earned.

This November, Phil Ivey will be playing for his first Main Event title and the $8.5 million prize for first place. Claim your Piece of Ivey by playing in the 5% of Ivey Main Event.

On Friday, November 6th at 10:00 ET, Full Tilt Poker will hold a drawing awarding seats to an exclusive nine-person Sit &Go with players competing for a share of a prize pool equal to 5% of Phil Ivey’s Main Event winnings. Win your tickets for the drawing by playing in your favorite real-money games from October 8th through November 5th.

Earn Your Tickets

Here’s how you can earn tickets for your chance to play in the 5% of Ivey Main Event:

• Ring Games: You will receive five tickets for each Full Tilt Point earned in a winning hand during ring-game play
• Tournaments or Sit & Gos with at least 30 players: Players will receive 20 tickets for each Full Tilt Point earned in a tournament with at least 30 players when they finish in a paid position; players who finish in a paid position at the final table of a tournament or Sit & Go with at least 30 players will also receive a bonus of 50 tickets
• Tournaments or Sit & Gos with fewer than 30 players: Players will receive five tickets for each Full Tilt Point earned in a tournament or Sit & Go with fewer than 30 players when they finish in a paid position

Every ticket that you earn will be entered into the 5% of Ivey Main Event Drawing – the more you play, the more tickets that you’ll earn for the drawing. All tickets earned over the entire promotion will also be entered into the 1% of Ivey $50K Freeroll drawing and the Daily Cash Draw for the day they are earned.

Participate to Win

Follow these steps to participate in the 5% of Ivey drawing:

• Log in to Full Tilt Poker
• Click on the Cashier button and select My Promotions
• Select Piece of Ivey and click Participate in this Promotion

The 5% of Ivey Main Event will take place on Saturday, November 7th at 14:00 ET. This nine-player Sit & Go will award total prize money equal to 5% of Ivey’s Main Event winnings, with the winner receiving 3% and second and third places each receiving 1%. Prize money will be paid directly into winners’ Full Tilt Poker accounts within two business days of the completion of the WSOP* Main Event.

Winners will be notified by email – make sure that your personal information is up to date. You can find and edit your personal information by clicking on the Cashier button in the game lobby.

For more information, please see the Piece of Ivey Rules page.

* World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah’s License Company, LLC (”Harrahs”). Harrah’s does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with Full Tilt Poker or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.

Play Online Poker

RedKings have one of the most unusual and rewarding Points Races starting 16th October and running for 2 weeks – It’s the only points race where EVERYONE has an equal chance of winning!

More of a Points Challenge than a Race its now being rolled out to all countries after proving a huge success when tested in Finland last month.

The objective of the Point per Day Race is to reward all RedKings players who play daily but can never do enough to finish at the top of a normal points race. You know the races where the top prizes are usually taken by the same top players every time.

Its not about being a big grinder its all about being consistant. You can win in RedKings “Point per Day” Race by just earning 50, 100 or 300 player points per day. The twist is that you have to do that for at least 13 days during the campaign period of 16th October and 31st October.

Don’t worry, if you cannot play for 13 days at RedKings, they have added a couple of Sprint Races for you to accumulate Race points faster.

Participating is as easy as 1, 2, 3

• First you choose your level by thinking how many points can I make in a day?
• There are 3 points races /levels for you to choose from, 50 RedKings player points a day, 100 points a day or 300 points a day
• After you have decided, just register at RedKings Poker and start earning points… Daily!!!