Team Professional Poker?? It's Coming.

dajebriza · #1 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 06:37 AM

Hmm, I just read this article by Bernard Lee. He writes a regular poker collumn for ESPN. He describes a new event to be televised next year - team professional poker.

Teams of professional poker players from regional leagues duke it out in a series of tournaments to determine which team is left standing.

Of note - it seems the only real banned strategy is the use of signaling, but I read this to mean collusion is encouraged, just not overtly. Dumping chips or bringing multiple players into a hand to tip the odds in a team-members favor would be valuable strategies.

Sounds like it would add a new element to the game which might be very exciting.

Here's the link. What do you think?

ESPN - United States Poker Bowl - Poker

gpc · #2 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 09:03 AM

I don't like the idea. The idea of teams is very bad for the game. I have heard several stories of from friends that have sat down at a table and did not feel comfortable with 2-4 at the table that seemed to be working together. This is just taking TV poker too far IMO.

xtwalker · #3 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 11:20 AM

Not a team sport. The last thing that we need is commentators telling the home audience all about the chip dumping that just happened in the middle rounds of a tournament and explaining the ways the staff are watching for signalling, and what typical techniques are used.

XT

links_slayer · #4 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 12:59 PM

Sounds like a terrible idea. They might as well just give all the team's chips to one player and have 'em go heads up and split the money between team members.

Why do they need to try to do this anyway? Poker's fun enough to watch the way it is.

JM · #5 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 01:10 PM

well its only 2 team members per table so not much chip dumping to go on. Sounds like a poker version of a bridge game.

I find it interesting that D'Agostino is on the NY team, while during the Boston-NY poker challenge run by NESN, he was on team Boston. I guess these guys can pick whatever region they want to play in.

kyle9 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 09:51 PM

If they want team poker, they should have heads up matches. Each team has an odd number of players, and each player plays a player from the other team heads up. The team that wins the most matchups wins.

ipgyst · #7 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 11:06 PM

This is a wonderful idea...

...for me to poop on.

If I was an established pro with name recognition, you wouldn't catch me dead near this lame-brained idea. Team poker is illegal/unethical in every cash game and tournament game I know of, but now we're going to make a show about it? This is galactically stupid. (Name the movie)

dad604 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007, 02:51 AM

Poker, a team sport?

Are they going to have downs, periods or innings? How about referees? Is full contact allow?

VARoadstter · #9 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ipgyst

I know of, but now we're going to make a show about it? This is galactically stupid. (Name the movie)

I think this is from Night Shift (I think that's the name of the movie). Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton, and Shelley Long. I'm gonna guess it came out somewhere around 1983-1986.

ipgyst · #10 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VARoadstter

I think this is from Night Shift (I think that's the name of the movie). Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton, and Shelley Long. I'm gonna guess it came out somewhere around 1983-1986.

Haven't seen Night Shift. I was thinking of when Demi Moore was trying to convince Tom Cruise to put Jack Nicholson on the stand. "Should we or should we not, follow the advice of the galactically stupid?" One of the best movie rants ever, from A Few Good Men.