2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

Borgata Winter Poker Open Side Events

Event 9: Local Grinder Lynne Mitchnick the Hero of the Ladies Event

Chad Lepes Surrendered the Last of His Chips to Lynne Mitchnick, as Well as a Certain Level of Pride for Party Crashing the Ladies Event
Chad Lepes Surrendered the Last of His Chips to Lynne Mitchnick, as Well as a Certain Level of Pride for Party Crashing the Ladies Event

We missed the bustout hand that ended Chad Lepes' tournament life, but according to the ladies still left in contention, it was Borgata regular Lynne Mitchnick who dispatched the dastardly dude.

As the only male with the stones to take a seat in Event 9, which is supposed to be a Ladies-only tournament fit for the fairer sex, Lepes was the subject of scrutiny throughout the day.

When he ran his {A-}{5-} up against Mitchnick's {A-}{A-}, the young man confronted the mother of all poker hands, and you know what they say about a mother scorned.

A brief round of applause went up around the room when Lepes went bust, and despite falling short of the money herself, Mitchnick can take pride in defending her hometown casino's honor.

Tags: Chad LepesLynne Mitchnick

Event 9: Olga Varkonyi Still Hanging Tough in the Ladies Event

Olga Varkonyi Headlines the Final Four Tables at the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open Ladies Event
Olga Varkonyi Headlines the Final Four Tables at the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open Ladies Event

As the wife of a former World Series of Poker Main Event champion, Olga Varkonyi is accustomed to her husband Robert receiving the lion's share of the coverage when the happy pair decides to play a tournament series.

Today, however, it's Olga who has managed to outlast her bracelet sporting hubby, as she has survived to reach the final four tables of Event 9 ($300 Ladies Deep Stack No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry).

Although she is currently short-stacked at the moment with around 38,000 chips (less than half of the average at this point in the night), her spirits remain high. After all, she knows better than most that anything can happen when a Varkonyi has a chip and a chair.

Tags: Olga VarkonyiRobert Varkonyi

An Interesting Dichotomy Shaping Up in the Side Events

The Ladies in the House Today Can Be Forgiven for Avoiding Poker Faces Like This in the Seniors Event
The Ladies in the House Today Can Be Forgiven for Avoiding Poker Faces Like This in the Seniors Event

While we've already covered the phenomenon of men playing in the Ladies event, and there are obviously plenty of Seniors competing in that tournament as well, we haven't seen a single woman competing in today's Senior event.

Perhaps the words of Alyson Parker proved to be prophetic, as she explained that most women prefer to play in the company of the fairer sex, rather than endure the pressure of a patriarchal environment.

Nonetheless, the fact that few - if any - women sat down to try their hand against the boys club struck our eye, so we'd like to pass along that nugget of information to readers.

Tags: Alyson Parker

Pigskin, Passing and Poker

The Crowds Here at the Borgata Winter Poker Open Are More Focused on Football Than Flops at the Moment
The Crowds Here at the Borgata Winter Poker Open Are More Focused on Football Than Flops at the Moment

While most major poker tournaments like the Borgata Winter Poker Open are defined by intense concentration, as players stare silently ahead and say little more than "nice hand" or "so sick."

Today, however, the mood is different on the tournament floor, what with the National Football League's Conference Championship games being broadcast on massive projections screens in all corners of the room. The tournament staff has graciously allowed for the full sound to be turned up as well, drowning out the usual eclectic mix of radio-friendly tunes serenading us from above.

After the New England Patriots recent defeat at the hands of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, the mood in the room is a bit somber at the moment, what with the region's residents largely aligning itself with their neighbors to the north. The NFC Championship game is set to start at any minute now, and we expect to hear cheers, shouts and catcalls throughout the next few hours that have nothing to do with the action on the felt.

Tags: Peyton Manning

Event 9: There's Always One Bad Apple in the Bunch

Chad Lepes, the Lone Wolf in the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open Ladies Event
Chad Lepes, the Lone Wolf in the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open Ladies Event

The concept of restricted tournaments open only to certain groups of people has always been controversial in the poker world, but Seniors and Ladies events have become increasingly accepted as a tremendous outlet for recreational players to enjoy the game.

Of course, the modern American concept of enforced equality means that these tournaments are not truly exclusive, as casinos must allow men to compete against the ladies for fear of discrimination-based litigation.

With that in mind, spotting a man among the masses of women playing in Event 9 ($300 Ladies Deep Stack No-Limit Hold'em) was not much of a surprise, but the sight is still a bit jarring to say the least.

Today, there is one outlier in the crowd, clad in a blue hooded sweatshirt as he tries to conceal the fact that he does not really belong. When asked for his name, the young man appeared agitated and shooed us away without divulging his identity, but that's to be expected. After all, crashing an invitation-only event is the ultimate party foul.

Tags: Chad Lepes

Event 6: David Arsht Wins $500 H.O.R.S.E. ($14,796)

David Arsht - 1st Place
David Arsht - 1st Place

David Arsht outlasted a field of 113 to take down the $500 H.O.R.S.E. tournament here at the Borgata Winter Poker Open and win a $14,796 prize. Arsht, who has a World Series of Poker bracelet on his resume from a limit hold'em event in 2012, sat down and answered a few questions for PokerNews.

So, how did the final table go for you?

"I got lucky in hold'em and made a few big hands. People started putting each other, and I just sat back and watched. All of a sudden, I had all of the chips."

Talk a little about your poker history.

"I'm a recreational player. I won a bracelet in 2012 in $1,500 Limit Hold'em."

How would you rank your ability to play the games?

"Hold'em's my best game. I also play OE (Omaha Eight-or-Better and Stud Eight-or-Better mix) twice a week. I played stud as a kid. There's really no Razz any more."

Is Razz your worst game then?

"Yes. I play Razz conservatively. It's also the game I enjoy the least."

Plans for the rest of the tournament?

"I'll play the Omaha Eight-or-Better."

Tags: David Arsht

Event 9: Ladies No Good... in This Hand Anyway

There's More to Poker Than Just Cards Here at the Borgata Winter Poker Open's Ladies Event
There's More to Poker Than Just Cards Here at the Borgata Winter Poker Open's Ladies Event

Leanne Rosenblatt found a pair on the {3-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{7-Clubs} flop with her {A-Hearts}{5-Spades}, and with no big cards in sight, the hand looked to be worth playing.

After a series of bets and raises, the chips got their way into middle, but Rosenblatt discovered that her opponent had her beat with {Q-Diamonds}{Q-Hearts}.

When the {7-Diamonds} arrived on the turn, Rosenblatt's chances seemed bleak indeed, but when the dealer dropped the {5-Diamonds} on the river, her hand had materialized into winner. As is the custom in the Borgata's ladies events, Rosenblatt's tablemates offered her sincere congratulations for finding a way to stick around, and she now sits with around 17,000 chips midway through the day.

Tags: Leanne Rosenblatt

Event 9: It's Ladies Night, and the Feeling's Right

Alyson Parker Showing Off Her Poker Face at the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open Ladies Event
Alyson Parker Showing Off Her Poker Face at the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open Ladies Event

For more than a 100 women who turned out to play Event 9 of the Borgata Winter Poker Open, today's tournament is their Main Event.

While events with bigger buy-ins and large prize pools are being played right now, featuring tables of grim-faced men silently trying to stack one another, the atmosphere in the $300 Ladies Deep Stack No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry event is decidedly different.

Players are laughing, joking, swapping stories and getting to know one another, all while enjoying a great game of cards. As Alyson Parker, one of the more experienced women competing here today, let us know, "this is the only game in town where somebody can put a bad beat on you, apologize for it... and actually mean it."

The spirit of camaraderie and kinship is palpable during a walk through the room, with pots being contested without malice or mistreatment. For a grizzled veteran of the tournament scene, the scene is refreshing indeed, showing that poker doesn't have to be a painful experience to endure.

As Parker puts it, "Ladies events are so important for poker because this is the biggest demographic out there with new players interested in learning the game."

She continued by telling PokerNews that most women breaking into poker are naturally intimidated by the prospect of playing with seven or eight young men, who in their minds, consider the table be their domain. Having a tournament for ladies only creates an inviting feeling, allowing women to play the game without the added pressure applied by today's current generation of stone-faced, headphone-clad young male players.

While today's turnout was a bit below the Borgata's lofty standards, the hope is that positive word of mouth and proactive coverage of such an exciting, accessible event will help spread the good word.

Tags: Alyson Parker

Borgata Winter Poker Open: Things To Do at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

The 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open is underway here in Atlantic City, New Jersey, kicking off with a $560 no-limit hold’em reentry event on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Taking place at one of the finest gaming destinations Atlantic City has to offer, the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is a definite crowd pleaser featuring a luxurious spa, a variety of fine-dining restaurants, and a stylish nightlife to help get your mind off the bad beats taken at the poker tables.

There are a number of different dining options available inside the Borgata making it convenient to never require leaving the hotel. Whether you are looking for something quick and easy, or something a bit higher-end, the Borgata has a taste to satisfy and meet your needs.

Bread + Butter is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon bite serving up sandwiches and gourmet beverages. One perk is the breakfast menu left as an all-day selection, making it a great spot for those late-night craves. The classic grilled cheese is a patron favorite, or you can also try the Portobello and provolone griddled sandwich, both of which — along with most of the menu — are $10 or less and won’t break the bank.

As a man who has revolutionized the culinary industry, Wolfgang Puck has served up bold and innovative cooking for years and now offers contemporary American cuisine in an upscale setting at the Borgata, as part of his first East Coast venture. Enjoy truffled potato chips, spicy lamb chorizo pizza, or a prime burger from the tavern menu as a less-expensive dinner option. Or you can treat your taste buds and choose one of the many options from the main course on the fine dining menu.

Once you’ve had your fill of the action at the poker tables, take the time to sit back, relax and enjoy a glass or two of your favorite drink.

Gypsy Bar specializes in tequila but also offers an eclectic beer selection and compliments your drink with a roaring atmosphere of live music. The intimate space has seating at the bar, traditional pub tables, and comfortable armchairs for a lounge-type feel. Low lighting also helps to keep the mood mellow. Oh, and don’t be afraid to get a little crazy. Gypsy Bar comes complete with a dance floor allowing you to move your feet to the best sounds in town.

Never been to the Atlantic City or to the Borgata? Then MIXX is the first place to check out because it fully captivates what the Borgata is all about. As a performance-driven dance club, MIXX is home to some of the most renowned DJs and official concert after-parties. With its high ceilings, two levels, and plenty of VIP tables, MIXX has more of a mega club feel than its local counterparts. You will find trapeze artists swinging from the rafters, and celebrities passing through on any given night.

OK so maybe the club scene isn’t for you. Don't worry, because Borgata comes fully equipped with the most luxurious of spas on the east coast. Dedicated to undoing the effects of your day, Spa Toccare offers relaxing treatments guaranteed to exhilarate. It is definitely the place where tensions melt and knots disappear. Sounds like a typical effect from a 12-hour poker session. So emerge yourself into the comforts of their many services and elevate your well being, if even just for an hour or two.

Surely, whatever you choose to do while staying at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, you will be surprised to have a Las Vegas experience with an East Coast twist.

For a full schedule and more information about the venue, visit theborgata.com.

Article written by PokerNews' Pamela Maldonado