2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

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

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

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