HIgh Stakers Poker / The Big Game / Poker After Dark Cash Game

In another thread about poker there are a few people stating they think these shows are fake.

If you think the money is real please put real. For the record. I'm not asking if its their own money. For example they may be playing staked but for real money.

If you vote Fake. You think there is a scenario where there is no real money. Its a Hoax a Scam a Fraud. We are watching no real money being exchanged.

I put Other in there because of some other conspiracy theories.

As I mentioned in the other thread, there is no reason for players to run pots several times, and for the shows to allow this, unless the stakes truly mattered to the players. Running pots multiple times is bad TV - it's confusing to the common viewer, and a split pot is far less dramatic.

Voting on this is like voting on how long the king of China's nose is.

The money is totally real money my friend. If the casinos are authenticated and well reputed the then the money offered by that casino will surely be real, but if the casino is fake and it is just made for the spamming or cheating purpose then just don't go for it. It will only cheat you with money, won't give you any real money.

100% real.
The stakes you see on the tourney are nothing to these people. $20,000 buy-in for a tourney is probably even paid for by the sponsor for wearing the shirt/cap.
The reason they run it twice, or even more times is they actually want to split the pot. These guys are paid $1,500 an hour to appear on High stakes poker, so if they can lose less than this, they are in profit. I dare say they might reimburse a good friend for a particularly bad beat behind the scenes, but I think the likelihood of that is slim. These guys know what they are doing. They regularly play on-line for the kinds of stakes you see in the cash game, and they don't get paid $1,500 an hour to do that..

Quote: Paradroid

Running pots multiple times is bad TV

Not only that but it has dramatically slowed down our home game at times as some guys insist on running twice now to be cool.

Quote: slyther

Not only that but it has dramatically slowed down our home game at times as some guys insist on running twice now to be cool.

As much as I admit there are some people that run it twice "to be cool"... but it is actually good deal on both parts.

If I make a play with a draw, and get called... as an underdog, I would want two shots at hitting. The player that is the favorite, unlikely he or she will lose both lowers risk of getting sucked out.

Lets say there is a fair amount of money in the pot preflop... If I have a draw, and just KNOW a person has a strong hand... but also know that the person will make a deal (run it twice)... then I can make a play at it and try to get lucky.

Other people try being cool and show a card. This is an example from when I used to play poker:

UTG put in a minimal raise. I look at AK suited and three bet it. it folds to him. Then he shoves all-in. Normally, I would just fold here... but I had history with this player. He could show a bluff... anything. He shows me a Q. and I snap called.

Worst case, player has QQ.. in which case it is a flip.
I either have him dominated, or it is a flip.

We ran two boards, and I bricked twice.. loldonkaments

Unfortunately I found (at least one of) these shows too contrived, annoying and just plain boring to even see one episode through.

FWIW, while it's obviously a lot higher stakes than I'm playing, considering the limited timeframe we are talking about that is basically low stakes in the world of serious poker. Games with million bankrolls and tourneys with multi-million prizes, that is high stakes.

Also, FWIW, IMHO running it twice is the second most retarded invention in the world of poker after "bad beat jackpots".

I find these games boring, but the poker banter is classic. I'm guessing only here but along with being paid hourly the also may be free rolled or close to it (kick back from sponsors). Why else would these players sit with each other at those stakes? My guess is to show the IRS how much they loose.

Poker After Dark is the most idiotic TV show ever devised by man, and that includes "American Idol" and "Gilligan's Island". The action is contrived--no one really cares what's happening. These "pros" aren't playing poker the way you are I would play it--the money means absolutely nothing to them. You get to see one hand, and then there's a commercial. One more hand, and another commercial. And every time they break away, you have to hear that stupid UHHHHH-UHHHHH-UHHHHHH "music". Yeccccchhh!!!!

Quote: mkl654321

Poker After Dark is the most idiotic TV show ever devised by man, and that includes "American Idol" and "Gilligan's Island". The action is contrived--no one really cares what's happening. These "pros" aren't playing poker the way you are I would play it--the money means absolutely nothing to them. You get to see one hand, and then there's a commercial. One more hand, and another commercial. And every time they break away, you have to hear that stupid UHHHHH-UHHHHH-UHHHHHH "music". Yeccccchhh!!!!

Are you crazy? That show was awesome. Oh wait never mind Shana Hiatt stopped hosting it.

Quote: mkl654321

Poker After Dark is the most idiotic TV show ever devised by man, and that includes "American Idol" and "Gilligan's Island". The action is contrived--no one really cares what's happening. These "pros" aren't playing poker the way you are I would play it--the money means absolutely nothing to them. You get to see one hand, and then there's a commercial. One more hand, and another commercial. And every time they break away, you have to hear that stupid UHHHHH-UHHHHH-UHHHHHH "music". Yeccccchhh!!!!

Would tend to agree with your assessments for the most part, very well stated.