Russian mob poker game busted in Brooklyn

Never play poker with Russian mobsters. If you do, and lose, don't claim that the game is rigged and refuse to pay your $70,000 tab.

These valuable lessons were recently learned by a New Yorker who sat down at the wrong poker table - and lost. The game was busted by the police and three people stand accused of extortion.

According to court papers, the illegal poker game was held at Rasputin's, a Sheepshead Bay supper club, which until recently was owned by brothers Michael and Alex Mitselmakher.

The owners helped themselves to a percentage of every pot, but their game was busted when the unnamed player who refused to pay his gambling debt alerted the police.

Reputed Russian mobster Arkady Seifer was arrainged in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday along with the Mitselmakher brothers. All three are accused of extorting the disgruntled player.

The trio was held without bail, and also accused of threatening another player who they claim encouraged the loser not to pay the $70,000.

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