TOP 5 POKER LEGENDS

Every sport, every game, everything that begets competition has some of the best shine through and garner their own fandom. However, there are a few superstars who have out shined everyone and have pretty much won with amazing frequency. We take a look at some Poker stars. Here are the top 5 poker legends in the world:

1. DAVID EDWARD ‘CHIP’ REESE

Really, with a nickname like ‘Chip’, did you expect him to be bad at the game? Chip had pretty much played all across the world, made millions on the poker table and was regarded as a legend in the poker playing community. He passed away unfortunately, but his legacy continues and Chip is still addressed as the greatest poker player of all time.

2. DOYLE BRUNSON

Brunson is what one would address as a copy-book poker player. He was methodical and extremely due-diligent in his pursuit of a clean victory. Having won multiple World Series of Poker tournaments, his influence on the world of poker is immense. Brunson also authored a number of books on poker and gaming methodologies. Even to this day, Doyle Brunson continues to play and win. Looks like this legend’s love for poker wasn’t a bluff.

3.  STU ERROL UNGAR

Stu Ungar’s name is shrouded in infamy and notoriety due to three dreadful Ds – Drugs, Divorce, and Debt. These three factors had drastically brought down this star of the poker table, and took a toll on his personality. Prior to being plagued by problems, Ungar was deemed invincible and practically unbeatable at poker. Having won the world series three times, Ungar was already a superstar. However problems hit and his status took a beating. Ungar recovered though and emerged to play and again. However, his success was short lived as he got back to drugs and died due to a heart condition caused by years of drug abuse.

4. JOHNNY MOSS

Moss, the grand old man of poker, was the first ever winner of the World Series. In the year that followed, with a winner takes all stipulation at the world series, Moss won again, cementing his status at the top of the food chain in the world of poker. Moss continued playing poker till the time he died.

5. PHIL HELLMUTH

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Phil Hellmuth “owns” the game of poker. He has won the World Series a record 14 times. He was only 24 when he won his first world series. Hellmuth has created a number of videos to help budding poker players, has hosted and commentated in various poker related shows, created apps about the game, and published books about it as well. Looks like he really does like giving back to the game that has given him so much.

Note that we haven’t rated these players in any particular order. They are not listed here by any particular benchmarks such as highest earnings either. Opinions are subjective and this is one by our writer. If you think we have missed out on any other legends, write to us at info@intuitgaming.com

ONLINE POKER MYTHS

To call Online Poker a rage would be an understatement. There are millions of players across the globe, who are online, bluffing, calling them out, and winning. Luck for several players is an important factor and when luck is involved, it is but natural for myths to be flagged off. Poker Ninja aims to debunk a few popular myths. Thank us later because you’ll be a better player after reading these!

1. Cash out and invite peril: A number of poker players believe that their winning streak will last only until such time that they cash out their earnings. Not true at all. There is no special BI embedded into a Poker gaming site that determines that you deliberately get a slew of bad hands once you cash out. And as for luck, well, fortune favours the brave. Be brave, and be patient. The fabled bad beats actually appear if you pay too much and too fast. It is only logical that playing too many hands frequently is likely to give you the impression that you’re having a bad run.

2. It increases propensity to do wrong: We always LOL at this one. Playing Poker doesn’t goad you to do wrong. Nor do car theft and other violent games motivate you to do that either. Relax. It’s a game played in the virtual world. The only thing real are your competitors and the cash outs.

3. All my opponents are bots: Nope. Your opponents are very much like you – homo sapiens looking to have fun playing the game they love and make some money while at it. In fact Poker Ninja emphatically states that you play with real people, not bots.

4. Not seeing your competition is a disadvantage: We admit to partially agreeing with this one. Being able to read reactions is a key skill that international poker stars possess. That said, with Poker Ninja, everything is even stevens. Just as you don’t see your opponents, they don’t see you (and the fact that you’re probably playing in your boxers). Use strategy, logic, and math – these are real skills.

5. Beginner’s luck is a compulsion: Not quite. Again, we cannot reiterate enough that we don’t have any inbuilt AI or BI that will deliberately give you a good or bad hand to ensure that you win or lose. Dispensing a hand is randomized to ensure equality and a good, competitive game of online poker.

Did these help? Are there more myths that you’d like debunked? Write to info@intuitgaming.com and we’ll get to hammering them out of the park like the Ninjas that we are.

 

EAT SLEEP PLAY REPEAT !! POKER GRASPING THE NATIONS YOUTH

INDIA…

 

A country with over 1.3 billion people. The number increasing rapidly every year.

 

50% of this population is between the age group of 20 – 45 years. The most active, advanced & experimental of the lot.

 

Within this massive population, over 562 million people are daily internet users & out of those over 470 million people are daily mobile internet users. India has become the 2^nd largest smartphone market in the world in terms of active unique smartphone users.

 

The Indian Online Poker Industry is valued at a whopping $120 million and is expected to grow exponentially in the years to come.

 

So why are these numbers important? These numbers indicate one simple rule that applies to any industry within India. And that rule is that if the Indian population is given a new & exciting idea, product, platform, etc. and if they grow an affection towards it, they give it everything they got, to make it larger than life. Cricket, Entertainment, Movie stars, Sports, and lately Poker are just a few examples that show us what a strength of 1.3 billion can do for your product.

Not too long ago, India went through a phase of complete digitization. The Indians were exposed to the age of the internet & smartphones, which made their lives more connected and easier. This resulted in a boom of the online gaming industry & before anyone knew it, Poker was one of the fastest growing sports in the Indian Market.

Poker for the longest time has been an unwelcomed guest in most of India. That’s because it’s largely considered a game of chance, and gambling is not only frowned upon, but illegal in most jurisdictions. Only in the last 4 or 5 years, has it started receving widespread acceptance as a game of skill. There’s a push from sites like Poker Ninja among others, along with the players to get the game reclassified as one of skill and eventually give it the status of a sport, just like so many others in this country.

Understanding the potential that the Indian market holds for a game like Poker, and owing to the legality issues that are still prevelant, many new online Poker websites have come in to play, in order to tap the gold mine of players that they have been sitting on. The youth especially in the recent past has shown a significant inclination towards the game & the number of players joining the online poker bandwagon is gradually picking up pace with each passing year.

On an average, a regular player spends about 6 – 8 hours playing on these sites. Ofcourse these players end up losing money as well, but the occassional hefty wins are motivation enough for these players to keep coming back for more. That coupled with the exciting promotions that each and every website continously offers to the players, it’s hard to keep your hands off the game. Poker is attracting not just the game lovers but many new players who cant seem to get enough of the game.

Mr Sachdeva*, an IT Consultant by the day, was looking for a new hobby when he got introduced to the game of Poker at a friend’s card party. He instantly took a liking for the game & thereafter spent months trying to learn the nuances of the game. He grew so fond of Poker, that he decided to try his luck in the online world that didn’t require him to wait till the weekends to get on the felts. He got introduced to Poker Ninja, where he started off with playing freeroll tournaments in order to get a hang of the online formats of Poker. In a couple of months he found himself playing more and more freeroll tournaments and one fine day he managed to grab the first place in one of these tourneys. Mr Sachdeva now made about Rs. 250 with an investment of Rs. 0. As small as the amount was, this little incentive made him a regular ninja, trying his luck out, in not just tournaments but some small cash games as well. 80% of his last win, Sachdeva decided to invest in a tourney which could win him a ticket to play in one of the bigger tournamnets – Vampire Slayer, a tourney with high buy ins, tougher contenders & a bigger prize pool. As luck would have it, he went on to win himself that lucky ticket. Turns out, Mr Sachdeva actually had a knack for Poker, that gave him his very first BIG win! He finished ITM(in the money) in the main event and took home a massive prize money. And there was no looking back. Today, Mr Sachdeva is a regular player not just on Poker Ninja but in many live games as well and has gone on to win many cash games and tournaments.

Such is the power of the game and the youth today recognise this true nature of the game. Many players both old & new are looking at Poker as not just as a hobby or a recreational activity but many have taken up the sport as a full time career choice. India is churning out some very strong and good Poker players that are competing against professional players from all over the world and putting India on a global map.

So as they say, for some, Poker is not just a game, it’s a feeling! Sometimes you win and sometimes you loose, but you always keep coming back for more!

 

Written By

Meeta Khatri

LAS VEGAS – THE MECCA OF POKER PLAYERS

‘Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!’

One of the most famous calls of glorious victory in the world of Poker came from none other than the Poker Capital of the world, Las Vegas! The legend tells that years ago every casino in Las Vegas had a three-piece chicken dinner with a potato and a veggie for $1.79. A standard bet back then was $2, hence when you won a bet you had enough for a chicken dinner. !” So, the call of glorious victory rang out “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.

And just like this, Las Vegas ever since has known to give many such legends & a touch of glamour to the world of Poker. Of course there are many other cities around the world that are known to be the hotspots of the game, yet nothing in the world matches the excitement that one feels when you hear the pilot announce, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, we’ve now begun our descent into McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas,” and you look out of the tiny airplane window and see the brilliant neon of Las Vegas light up the desert night. And the plane is flying nearly 500 miles an hour, yet your heart is going faster, preparing itself for the whirlwind that’s about to commence.

The thrill & the exhilaration that this city provides to the millions who visit the place round the year is something that no other place on Earth can match up to. For decades, this city that never sleeps has been entertaining audiences from all over the globe with not just a world class gambling environment but with some of the hottest clubs, most distinguished shows & mouth-watering cuisines, something that any other place can only attempt to replicate.

The Sin City, as it is also known, home to over 150 casinos, hosting over millions of players, generating revenues of over $6.376 billion (in 2016), naturally attracts the top Poker games as well as some of the best players from around the globe every year. And that’s not all, Las Vegas is the birth place of one of the most prestigious tournaments in Poker, known as the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the longest-running, largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world, dating back 43 years to 1970, and having paid more than $1.6 billion in total prize money to date. In 2012, the WSOP featured 61 different poker events over 50 consecutive days. Every year between June & July, thousands of Poker lovers head to Vegas to experience this one of a kind event and to get a chance to grab their share from the massive prize pools that the tournament offers each year. While the WSOP, since its inception, has crowned & honoured plenty of champions from around the world, the entry into the tournament is always restricted to those who can afford the big bucks!

Well, the team at Poker Ninja, after a lot of planning & hard work, brings a once in a lifetime opportunity for the poker players in India to win their lucky seat in this esteemed tournament. Poker Ninja has always gone out on a limb to try & get the Indian players the best platforms to prove their metal. They started out with taking a contingent of 60 players to Prague to play at the Spanish Poker Festival earlier this year in February. The players had a learning & a fun experience at the King’s Casino in Rozvadov (Prague) and some of them even managed to top the main event at the festival taking home the prestigious trophy and a big chunk of the prize pool.

Yet again, the Ninjas have worked up another fantastic opportunity that will put the Indian poker players on the world map and give them an opportunity to bring home the most respected award of the poker fraternity. Between February 2017 to May 15^th 2017, Poker Ninja was running several promotions on their site that included participating in both cash games as well as tournaments with buy- ins ranging from as low as Rs. 10,000 up to Rs. 3, 00,000 with an aim to give everyone an equal to chance to win that lucky ticket on the plane to the Sin City. After searching & scouting for 3 whole months, the Ninjas have finally selected the top 30 players from these promotions who are on their way to becoming the world champions of Poker.

Co-founders Praveen Dwarkanath & Shobhit Kapoor are ecstatic at the kind of response their players give them every time they go out & try something unique & different for their players. “At Poker Ninja, we are always looking at broadening our horizons and going an extra mile to give our players the platforms & opportunities that no one else can give them. After Prague, we were on the lookout for something bigger & what better platform than the WSOP, to put our own talents out there with the best of the best players from all around the world”.

This opportunity is surely exciting enough for all the players to bring their best game along, but like always the Ninjas have also planned a fun filled time for the lucky lot to look forward to. The sweet CA-CHING sound of a winning slot machine, the “Cocktails?” solicitation by scantily-clad cocktail waitresses, shouts of joy at a roulette wheel, the tension on the felts in a Poker game, the pumped in oxygen, flashing lights, and high-fives with strangers at a blackjack table – after all there’s nothing like the sights and sounds and pulse-pounding excitement you feel when you step into the Mecca of the poker players…LAS VEGAS!

 

Written By: Meeta Khatri

GET SET…VEGAS !!

The Ninjas are all set to fly to the city that never sleeps!

In recent times, the poker fever is slowly but surely gripping not only the sharks but many new fishes in the Indian Poker circuit as well. With an influx of a number of websites and live clubs offering a number of cash games as well as tournaments, the players are nothing but spoilt for choices when it comes to the game of Poker in India.

LIVE VS ONLINE POKER

Poker is a game of skill and bags the top position when it comes to most popular card game worldwide. It is so popular that people have moved from the underground dingy places to worldwide televised Tournaments. In Live poker or Physical Casino, the most popular form of poker played is Texas Hold’Em Poker.

BEING A WOMAN POKER PLAYER, IN A MALE DOMINATED SPORT !!

BENEFITS OF PLAYING POKER ONLINE

Playing poker has been a trend in this millennia and has become a highest paid card game in the history of Mankind. People are adopting the baller’s lifestyle and are making money out it.

INDIA SERIES OF POKER

A one of its kind event by Poker Ninja

Bangalore, February 2017: Poker Ninja entered the Indian Poker Industry at a time when the market was booming & buzzing with a dozen other online poker websites, all vying to attract the best poker players to their tables. In a bid to help grow the sport in
India & outshine their competitors, Poker Ninja took up the challenging task & entered the market with a series of some fabulous & varied promotions all unique in its nature that caught the eye of many of the top players of the industry.

In keeping up with this tradition, the ninja team decided to take one of their biggest flagship tournaments, India Series of Poker (ISOP), to the next level, in its latest edition held from January 20^th– January 22^nd, 2017.The Indian poker circuit witnessed some exhilarating & power packed action for these 3 days on the Ninja site. From pre flop all ins to gut shot calls to some very bad beats, more than 400 players battled it out through various tournaments and finally the lucky 20 who topped the tables of the main event on each of the 3 days will continue their final tables in Prague, Europe at the King’s Casino in Rozvadov. & that’s not all! Another team of 40 cash players were selected through various other promotions that were running on the Ninja site all throughout January.

 For the first time ever in the history of the Indian Poker Industry, a new & upcoming site has managed to not only successfully organize an international event on such a large scale but also plans to finish off the series with a bang in Prague all set to take place in the next few days. For the first time ever, the biggest contingent ever, i.e, 60 Indian players (all winners of various promotions held by Ninja) will represent their country at the Spanish Poker Festival, held at the King’s Casino, in a fully sponsored trip by Poker Ninja. The Indian contingent is only the 2^nd largest to be participating in this festival after the European contingent of 102 players. As tough as the game is going to be, all the Indian players are ready and have packed their A games, to bring home the Spanish trophy and make everyone back home including the team who has worked so hard to make this possible, happy and proud!

Speaking for the whole team, who’s efforts have given that extra push to turn Poker away from gambling & into a sport in a difficult market like India, Co-founders Shobhit Kapoor & Praveen Dwarkanath are very confident that with their continued determination & efforts, they will contribute to making Poker a fully legal & acceptable sport for all those Indian players out there.

Shobhit & Praveen, “We started off at Poker Ninja with an aim to grow the sport in India. All our marketing activities since the beginning are directed towards providing an opportunity, a platform & immense value to our players. We are ecstatic to see the love & support that we receive from the players in our circuit over & over again and this is what keeps us going. We hope that our efforts will one day give Poker its due credit & the status of a sport in the country.”

Ask the players that are off to Prague about the efforts of the Ninja team & they are all in praises for the Ninjas on taking up the initiative to organise this event on such a large scale.

Vineet Kumar, a regular player in the Indian circuit & winner of the ISOP Low main event, says, “Poker Ninja is the best at promotions amongst its competitors. The concept of the ‘Player’s Party’ & ‘Fly to Europe for the final table’ are the best kinds of promotions that I have seen in the Indian Poker Industry. I am very excited for the upcoming trip to Prague with so many poker player colleagues/friends & to represent team India at King’s Casino and ship the main event trophy of the Spanish Poker Festival back home”

Abhineet Jain, a high stakes cash player &winner of the ISOP High Main event, feels, “This was one of the best & the most unique promotions that I came across since I started playing Poker in India. It provides players with a one of a kind opportunity to travel & play poker and participate in international events. I am looking forward to the trip and hope to do well in the Spanish poker league”

Apart from regular players, the series saw the participation of some new & amateur players as well who managed to reach the final table of the main events.

Dinesh Singh, one of these new players, said, “Ninja has provided an awesome opportunity to amateur players like me who can interact and learn from the experience of other pros who will be there on the trip. I only played the low main event and luckily reached the final table to win the Prague trip. This is like a dream come true for me”

The Ninjas are giving another chance to players back home to be a part of the action that is about to take place in this beautiful little city Rozvadov. The final table of the ISOP High main event will be streamed live on 10^th February, 2017 straight from the King’s Casino. For more details head to http://bit.ly/2q1MP7m

It’s great to see how Poker Ninja is slowly and steadily taking the game of Poker in the direction of making it a sport. The spectacular marketing efforts put in by the team at Ninja are laying solid ground for the future of the game in the Indian circuit. We wish good luck to all the players who will be at the felts in Prague and we hope that our contingent will bring home the Spanish trophy and prove our prowess in the international markets as well!

PRAVEEN DWARKANATH – THE TRUE NINJA !!

January 2017: 2016 has been a great year for the co-founder of Poker Ninja, Mr. Praveen Dwarkanath both on the felt as a player as well as on the business front with his latest venture Poker Ninja.

With an immense love & passion for the game, Praveen has managed to make his presence felt both in the domestic as well the international Poker circuit. He has managed to finish ‘in the money’ in almost all of the last few tournaments that he has played. For Praveen, this journey from being a ‘serial entrepreneur’ to a ‘serial winner’ has been an incredible one.

Putting his Ninja skills to use, Praveen managed to bag some of the top spots in a number of tournaments:

1.      Wynn Casino Recurring Tournaments, Las Vegas Placed 1st

The year started on a very good note for Praveen, when he managed to take home the title of winning one of the most prestigious tournaments in Las Vegas at the Wynn Casino with a buy in of just $200. The prize money was a huge sum of $9894.

2.      Hi5 Poker Tour, Kolkata Placed 1^st

After a thrilling 12 hour play & defeating 48 players, Praveen emerged as the winner of the Hi5 Poker Tour 50K Main event held in Kolkata in November 2016. Praveen managed to consolidate a high stack right from the early stages of the game giving him an advantage to reach the final table.

 

3.     Deltin Poker Tournament 60K High Roller, Goa (DPT) Placed 6^th

Praveen managed to bag the sixth place after an action packed two day play in the Deltin Poker Tournament in Goa held in November 2016. With a massive payout of Rs 3, 31,000, Praveen managed to maintain his winning streak in this game as well.

 

4.     Asian Poker Tournament, Macau (APT) Placed 8^th

Praveen had a good run throughout the 3 days of this exciting tournament. Emerging as the chip leader at the end of day 2, Praveen entered day 3 with much hope to bag one of the top places in the tournament, which he managed to do by the end of it. He ranked 8^th and took home a massive $70,800.

Ending 2016 on such a high note, Praveen Dwarkanath is surely hoping for another successful year in 2017 & is looking forward to participate & display his Ninja skills at the felt in the upcoming tournaments.