Borgata Winter Poker Open Side Events Day 6 | 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

01-19-2014 11:28 UTC-4

Multiple Events Scheduled to Start Here at the Borgata Winter Poker Open

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Go All In at the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

Today there are multiple events scheduled to start here as the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open rolls onward.

Event 7 ($340 Seniors 50+ No Limit Hold’em Re-Entry) kicks of at 10 a.m. local time, and at noon Event 9 ($300 Ladies Deep Stack No limit Hold’em Re-Entry) will be underway.

Basd on the turnout here so far at the Borgata, we have no doubt today will provide a full day of poker action, with a mix of well-known pros and local grinders trying to take their shot at big time paydays.

Keep it here throughout the day as PokerNews brings you continuous coverage of these events live from the floor of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.

01-19-2014 13:39 UTC-4

Event 7: The Usual Suspects

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Men "The Master" Nguyen is Mixing it Up With the Seniors Here at Event 7

With a Event 7 being a Seniors event, open only to players over the age of 50, the field is predominately comprised of local regulars enjoying a nice Sunday diversion.

Men "The Master" Nguyen is here today, however, as the 60-year old seven-time WSOP bracelet winner looks to exploit every edge he can find. While the vast majority of his competition is simply here to play a friendly card game, Nguyen will be looking (as he always does) to get over on the competition.

Tags: Men Nguyen

01-19-2014 13:45 UTC-4

Event 7: Robert Varkonyi, 2002 WSOP Main Event Champion, in the House Today

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Robert Varkonyi (Seen Here at the Sight of His 2002 Main Event Victory) is Here Today Taking on the Seniors in Event 7

Robert Varkonyi will always be remembered for winning the last World Series of Poker Main Event nobody remembers. That's not to say his accomplishment was not remarkable or significant, it just so happened to come one year early.

Varkonyi took down the biggest title in all of poker in 2002, just before the advent of online poker turned an everyman named Chris Moneymaker into a household name, and transformed poker from a niche sport to a worldwide phenomenon.

With a relatively unsophisticated field here today in Event 7, its a safe bet Varkonyi is the most experienced and skilled player in this area of the tournament floor, but as he should know better than most, a few fortunate cards can change anything, for anybody.

Tags: Robert Varkonyi Chris Moneymaker

01-19-2014 13:50 UTC-4

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

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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

01-19-2014 15:24 UTC-4

Event 6: Chris Tryba Headlines Final Table Lineup for $500 H.O.R.S.E.

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Chris Tryba at the 2014 Borgata Winter Open Evcent #6 HORSE Final Table

Here is the final table lineup here at Event 6 ($500 H.O.R.S.E.):

Seat	Playe
1	Laurence Wolf
2	Steven Husted
3	Shawn Ryan
4	Sal Pipitone
5	David Arsht
6	Daniel Barrett
7	Chris Tryba
8	Karl Tretter

Tags: Chris Tryba David Arsht Laurence Wolf Shawn Ryan

01-19-2014 18:36 UTC-4

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

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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

01-19-2014 18:47 UTC-4

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

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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 flop with her , 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 .

When the arrived on the turn, Rosenblatt's chances seemed bleak indeed, but when the dealer dropped the 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

01-19-2014 18:53 UTC-4

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

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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

01-19-2014 19:05 UTC-4

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

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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

01-19-2014 19:55 UTC-4

Pigskin, Passing and Poker

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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