Dream Team Poker

How do you make a poker game different? It's you, your cards, your ability, our luck, and in the case of tournament poker, stamina. The first big difference I saw in poker began in 2002 with the poker Renaissance. Within a few years our poker world had grown by unprecedented numbers. That was a change but poker was still poker, no matter the number of players.

Today, there really is a new concept for poker competition: Dream Team Poker. I have played on poker teams before but it was always a two-person team, playing off the same stack of chips, and "tagging" each other out or changing every round. I didn't much like that; what was one to do when not playing in the tournament? I believe the idea for the house was for that person to be playing live. Dream Team has really taken poker to a new level and now it really fits into the category of a "sport."

Each team consists of three players and everyone plays at the same time (the entire tournament), but not at the same table. As players are eliminated, they receive a score for their finish. Say the field is 300 and you are knocked out (on a bad-beat for sure) at #232. Your score is 232. At the end, team scores are accumulated and the team with the lowest score wins. Actually, the best two scores of any team is what is counted. The lowest is used in the case of a tie. Not only does the team win but also individuals so in essence, a player could win first place and his team could win so he wins twice.

I had the privilege of being asked to play on Barbara Enright's team who was sponsored by the PIC Club (Players Investment Club.) Our other team member was Chuck Kidd, CEO of PIC. Sadly, I was the first one out for our team, but it was a fun concept. Team names were used and each team member wore a sports jersey with their team name on it.

I want to assemble a team of strong poker playing women and call us "The Nut Crackers."

It was fun and I look forward to trying this new concept again some day.