The PokerListings Daily 3-Bet is a bulkhead seat, a complimentary neck pillow and smooth skies all the way across the afternoon poker news flight path. Today in the 3-Bet we find the Vanessa Selbst story hitting the friendly skies, Daniel Negreanu weighs in on the recent PokerStars changes and Jennifer Tilly amps things up on the latest episode of Shark Cage.
1) Vanessa Selbst in Hemispheres
You know who's a captive audience to introduce the game of poker to? People stuck in an aluminum tube 35,000 feet in the sky. Fliers on United Airlines this month are pretty lucky, though, as the poker story they're getting dealt in their in-flight magazine Hemispheres is a good one.
Vanessa Selbst is the winningest female poker player of all time, as we all know, but she's also just simply one of the best and brightest players in the game. A Yale Law School grad with a passion for social justice and a decidely non-stereotypical poker background/lifestyle? Also a great thing to showcase the varied and charismatic range of people who play the game.
Journalist Steve Freiss, who lived in Vegas for 10 years, handles the poker stuff well too while making it accessible to the average flier clocking some miles between Schenectady and Coral Gables. A great read for poker players, too. Read the full piece - with page flipping sound effects no less - in Hemispheres.
2) Negreanu: It's Imperative to Attract New Players
Remember those PokerStars changes we referred to last week that met with some signifiacnt dissatisfaction from some full-time poker grinders? As expected PokerStars' flagship pro Daniel Negreanu responded with his take on things and, while not dismissive of players' concerns over the changes, made it clear he's aligned with the company's vision for the future:
"PokerStars has, and always will look to be regulated in more and more markets, and depending on different government regulations that can be both costly and create some barriers. PokerStars is regulated in more countries than any other online poker site, and I don’t believe it’s even close. It’s always been the company's policy that regulation is a good thing, despite the cost.
"The other area that has helped PokerStars remain #1 for as long as it has, has been the company's ability to attract NEW players. As I wrote in a previous blog bringing new recreational players to the game, poker games simply die. It’s imperative that we attract new players and I do believe the company's strategy will do that.
"If that strategy works, that could mean more profit for online grinders in the long run. Of course, that remains to be seen over the next couple years, but I’m confident in the company's vision and I am fully aligned with the direction they are going. I have met with the new owners and I think they have some really exciting and innovative ideas to attract more casual players to the game."
Agree or disagree, Negreanu's never one to shy away from a discussion.
3) Tilly, Jaka, Jorgensen Get Wild on Shark Cage
It's not everyone's cup of tea but the latest episode of PokerStars' Shark Cage is a barnburner featuring the unsinkable Jennifer Tilly, Theo Jorgensen, Philipp Gruissem, Faraz Jaka and the inimitable Scotty Nguyen. Lively banter, wild play, a penalty cage, a slightly overwhelmed online qualifier angling for a shot at $1m and the ever-present under-the-table bluff/value button - what's not to like there? Episode 2 below; Episode 3 w/ Maria Ho, Vicky Coren, David Williams and Gus Hansen (!) soon.
