Daily 3-Bet: PStars Pays More, $10m Millions, Galfond RIO-K

Got a hot tip for a future 3-Bet? Tell us about it in the comments or on Twitter.

Today in the 3-Bet we find PokerStars stretching out its tournament payouts, partypoker brings the dough to MTL and Phil Galfond gives a non-update update.

1) More Paid on PokerStars

Interesting announcement by PokerStars this morning re. future tournament payouts.

In a nutshell: As of September 11, most tournaments (around 70% of them) on PokerStars will now have deeper payout structures. So:

• Tourneys that paid 12% now pay 14%
• Tourneys that paid 14% >> 16%
• Tourneys that paid 16% >> 18%
• Tourneys that paid 18% >> 20%

For about 30% of the weekly tourneys, payouts will stay the same including in the Progressive Knockouts, most high buy-in events and tournaments that already pay 20%. Says PokerStars:

"Changes will be subtle and most players will only notice when they realize that they're experiencing the thrill of cashing a little more often."

Read the full explanation of the changes here. Ostensibly, of course, this means more money returns to the hands of poker players.

Which is a good thing, right? Or is it? Give us your thoughts below.

2) $10m partypoker Millions Comes to Playground

Speaking of paying out more players ... this looks like another big move from the surging partypoker Live with a huge $10m Millions event now planned for May:

Wow! A $10,000,000 GTD @partypokerlive Millions announced for May @PlaygroundPoker. This is massive!!! pic.twitter.com/lgJMMQBwv4

— Kristen Bicknell (@krissyb24poker) September 2, 2017

If you've yet to hit the Playground Poker Club in Montreal, much like Sao Paulo it's a must visit for poker players with amazing hospitality and great amenities - not to mention just outside one of North America's best cities.

Get a taste of the venue and the vibe with the playdown of the $10,000 World Cup of Cards happening right now; More info on qualifying at partypoker via our review page.

3) Run It Once Still In Progress. Also: More Coming

When Phil Galfond announced in September last year he was launching his own real-money, RunItOnce poker site, the hardcore poker grinding community were overjoyed. His mission statement certainly hit the right chords:

"A poker site should value poker players. It should value the casual player for the money he's willing to put on the line to play a game he loves. For choosing poker over other hobbies, and for choosing their site over other sites.

 

"It should value the enthusiast and semi-professional for the liquidity they provide and for growing the game. For spreading the word, across different mediums, about their favorite site...

 

“I want a fair, honest, transparent poker site that believes in the dream that I have lived. I'm going to give it my best shot.”

A year down the road, however, the project hasn't quite moved along as quickly as hoped ... and still has a ways to go, as Phil explained on Twitter in a poker-industry special pre-announcement of future announcements:

1/ Hey all. I've been asked many times for updates on @RunItOnce Poker. Unfortunately, there still isn't much to update on right now.

— Phil Galfond (@PhilGalfond) September 6, 2017

2/ I mentioned in my last update that I'd let you know when we're approaching a date we're sure of.

— Phil Galfond (@PhilGalfond) September 6, 2017

3/ That's still true, and that time has not yet come. Trust me, nobody wants us to get there ASAP more than I do.

— Phil Galfond (@PhilGalfond) September 6, 2017

4/ The reason for this non-update update is that we have some unrelated projects in the pipeline which I'm excited to announce when ready.

— Phil Galfond (@PhilGalfond) September 6, 2017

5/ I don't want you to take my enthusiasm for these future announcements to mean I've forgotten about the project you've been waiting for.

— Phil Galfond (@PhilGalfond) September 6, 2017

6/ The overwhelming majority of our resources have been and will remain focused on RIO Poker.

— Phil Galfond (@PhilGalfond) September 6, 2017

7/ Thank you for your patience. Hopefully you'll share my excitement for everything we've been working so hard on!

— Phil Galfond (@PhilGalfond) September 6, 2017