Ben Affleck wins a Ca. state poker championship-going to World Series

[underpants]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/afplifestyle_us_people

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Movie star Ben Affleck may be unlucky at love, but he is lucky at cards, winning 356,000 dollars and a place at the World Poker Tour Championship in April, officials said.

Affleck outlasted a field of 90 players in the 10,000 dollar buy-in event, including fellow film actor Tobey Maguire, who bowed out on the first day of the three-day tournament at Commerce Casino, near Los Angeles.


Coming in second was poker pro Stan Goldstein, who collected 204,930 dollars, while movie executive Chuck Pacheco, who founded Castle Rock Entertainment, pocketed 106,920 dollars an third place.

Affleck fought his way to victory after starting the final table with the second-to-lowest chip count among the nine players, Friedman said.


The victory earned Affleck a 25,000-dollar seat next year at the World Poker Tour Championship at Las Vegas' Bellagio hotel, the first movie star to do so, according to the casino.

[sniffa]

1. hopefuLLy... this is my next job

professionaL card pLayer.

[pansypoo53219]

2. unfortunately my game

is sheepshead, and we usually play for nickels.
although i did hear las vegas has it now.

[underpants]

3. Eeeeh sort of

You can lay down $50 and play at Binions but it is an all or nothing deal. If you finish in the top two at the initial table you move up to the next level (in THE room as seen on TV) and then there is another level and if you win there you are in the Championship.

Some other casinos have games but you play with $1 chips and the max raise is 3X so there is no bluffing really and that whole component is taken out of the game. The Palms has a room that seemed to have some lively games in there but you are on call to get in, I am not sure if they have the $1 3X rules stated above-it looked more serious.

[Skittles]

4. I wonder if there is more to this story

I mean, Ben seems like such a DIP.

[underpants]

5. Celebrities playing poker is the new "thing"

A few years ago it was flying your own plane but for the younger crowd it seems to be playing poker. Affleck, MacGuire, Ed Norton, David Schwimmer, etc.

Affleck seems like a pretty cool dude to hang out with to me. :shrug:

[Lavender Brown]

6. I read he won a huge sum once

and just gave it away to the hotel staff. Lucky them.

[underpants]

7. I remember hearing that too

I don't know if he gave it ALL away but he apparently tipped everyone and well.

[WI_DEM]

8. he is a better poker player than an actor

[OKNancy]

9. He's a good Democrat, so I don't care!!

He worked for Gore, and I know he spoke out at Harvard for increasing the minimum wage.