Forums have their value but so do these books, often written before poker strategy forums became such a driving force in educating wannabe ballers. So if you’re ready to unplug the laptop and finish reading the latest “Heads Up for Rollz” thread from the morons at 2P2, try checking out Google or Amazon for some of the Best Poker Books to add to your collection.

Take Phil Hellmuth’s book, you can read all about how he’s made sick reads and crushed inferior opponents over the years. In the process, you may learn the best starting hands for Texas Hold’em as well. While we only recommend this book for the noobest of noobs, there’s still a case to be made for trying out a book or two vs. keeping your head stuck in Internet forums all day.

NOT.

This guy only plays the highest games available online, usually playing the $500/$1000 No Limit tables. The hands that go down at this level are sick, without a doubt. But Tom is as sick as they come and thrives at limits that would even make Donald Trump wet his pants. He never looked back and now has a bankroll larger than the combined bank accounts of the Big 3 Automakers in Detroit (not sure if that’s an insult or not).

There’s a rumor that Tom’s twin brother Tim is looking for a “heads up for rollz match” with Phil Hellmuth dealing the game. No word on whether a date or location has been set for this match.

So what happens when you (apparently) win some cash online playing poker while dipping and taking pain killers? You guy buy this gay ass pistol, that’s what!

LOL - pistolaments

Hellmuth got run over by a Cowboy

At a final table on TV.

You may not believe in Alabama Cowboys,

But as for me and Hellmuth, we believe.

Phil would wonder how he’d keep shovin’

With what could not have been too much.

But when Phil finally had the guts to call him,

Hoyt would calmly show him the stone cold nuts.

Phil knew it had to just be awful timing,

That soon enough he’d catch Hoyt with rags.

But in the end the Poker Brat was ranting

And Hoyt walked out dragging money bags.

Hellmuth got run over by a Cowboy

At a final table on TV.

You may not believe in Alabama Cowboys,

But as for me and Hellmuth, we believe.

Now Phil went off and planned his vengeance,

Telling all who’d listen Hoyt’s a fish.

One day he’ll be able to trap him,

And Phil would be the one walking away rich.

They met at several final tables,

And many crucial hands were dealt.

The Cowboy stuck to shoving all-in,

And knocking Hellmuth’s stack down to the felt.

Hellmuth got run over by a Cowboy

At a final table on TV.

You may not believe in Alabama Cowboys,

But as for me and Hellmuth, we believe!

You can find PokerTek tables at many casinos from coast to coast in the US as well as any ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet. You may also see the exclusive, World Series of Poker heads up tables in select bars and restaurants that offer “play money” games to patrons. Now you’ll see them at the Boomtown Casino and Hotel in Bossier City, Louisiana. Players that miss the slower paced live poker games will now have to head to another casino to appreciate the tactile feel and pace of “regular poker”.

Is this the signal of a sea change in a culture that has deep roots dating back hundreds of years? Will we soon see electronic tables on ESPN for the WSOP? While that scenario may be years away, it’s not something that can be ruled out with certainty. An informal poll of Internet players indicates that they wouldn’t mind these tables. If you were to ask someone such as Doyle Brunson what his thoughts are however, you may hear a different take.

Regardless, the tables are here to stay and according to the PokerTek website, their stock is trending upwards on the NASDAQ stock exchange. That’s a clear indicator that more than just a few folks are gravitating towards this new form of live poker.

Party Gaming

Party Gaming went public in 2005 with an initial price of 125.50 pence but lost a third of its value a year later when the UIGEA was passed and the company had to close its doors to its American business. As of January, the company was trading at 29 pence, the company then consolidated their stock which added 10 times the value to the stock price. The Party Gaming stock price then jumped to a high of 312 pence due to rumors that the company was close to settling with the US Department of Justice. A settlement was never made and the stock is now trading at 124 pence.

World Poker Tour Enterprises

2008 has been a tough year for World Poker Tour Enterprises who has faced set back after set back. First, its online gambling site didn’t take off as expected and was closed this fall as a result. The company was also forced to take a less than lucrative TV contract with FSN after GSN opted not to renew their contract. The WPTE was told this summer by NASDAQ that it may lose its spot on the exchange due to its trading price falling below $1 for more than a month. Because of the financial crisis, the action against the company was suspended until May 2009. WPTE stock is currently trading at 36 cents though it start

Ladbrokes Poker has announced that they have signed a sponsorship contract with Peter “Zupp” Jepsen to represent the room. He will sport Ladbrokes gear at many offline events to include the European Poker Tour and World Poker Tour tournaments as well as all the Ladbrokes events.

The announcement which came yesterday out of Copenhagen stated that the agreement will officially begin on January 1, 2009 and last initially for one year. Peter is a young and motivated poker player who is a tough competitor that does very well in both high stakes cash games as well as multi table tournaments online.

The announcement is comes as no surprise as Jepsen is good friends with fellow Ladbrokes Poker pro Jonas “Nuchbad” Danielsson. Ladbrokes has found itself with two young and talented players who define the profile of a Ladbrokes Pro. Jepsen will have his own online promotions to include Heads Up tournaments and multi table tournaments at Ladbrokes where players will have the chance to challenge and take down the new pro.

“Peter Jepsen was our main target to become our new Danish sponsored player and we are very pleased to have secured his signature. Peter is one of the best online poker player’s in Europe and has also proved that he is a good player in live tournaments after his EPT win in Warsaw last year.” said Edward Ihre, Ladbrokes Poker Managing Director.

Until the next installment, follow the yellow brick road to Aced. Dorothy did!

Michael Knight could play live poker and KITT could help him through that little earpiece thingie that they used. He would know every players hole cards, obv.

KITT could play as bot online easily. No question what that outcome would be. In fact, if I was going to own a bot to dominate online poker it would have to be KITT. A cool ass poker bot that doubles as a black Trans Am that shoots out flames and shit? Sign me up.

I’m sure by now KITT is integrated with Google Maps, probably has all of the newest iPhone apps built into his little center console thing, and of course can Twitter so everyone knows what’s up.

Enough said.