Battle of Malta Nominated for Best European Poker Event of 2013

The record-breaking 2013 Battle of Malta has made the elite long-list of nominees for Best European Event of the Year at the upcoming GPI European Poker Awards.
Valuing creativity and overall feel of the event the high-profile award represents the most noteworthy and talked-about individual poker events (not complete tours) of the year.
With a phenomenal 888 entries and a €440,000 prize pool that obliterated the €200k guarantee, the 2013 BOM was selected by a team of industry veterans and European poker marked cards experts at the Global Poker Index.
Joining the Battle of Malta among the nominees are well-established events including EPT Barcelona, the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo and WPT Cyprus.

BOM Just in Second Year, Big 2014 Planned

Jungleman just one of the BOM converts.

“We feel extremely honored to be nominated in this elite category,” PokerListings CEO Martin Carlesund said, “and very proud of the product we have put together.
“In just its second year the Battle of Malta surpassed all expectations and the response we got from players was overwhelming and contagious.
“We’re already preparing a jaw-dropping product full of surprises for 2014 with even more of the 'poker holiday' feel everyone has loved.”

The 2013 Battle of Malta is also officially in the record books as the biggest poker tournament ever held on Malta. With its growing reputation the BOM is now entrenched as a must-attend event for low- to mid-stakes players.
More information about the PokerListings Battle of Malta and how to register for 2014 here.
The 13th Annual GPI European Poker Awards will be presented January 29, 2014 at the Casino Barriere in Deauville, France as part of EPT Deauville. The full list of nominees and awards can be found in the next couple of weeks here.

Wrap

In Omaha, a wrap is a straight draw with more outs than an open-ended straight draw (OESD). In other words, wraps
marked cards are straight draws where you have more than 8 outs. The most powerful wrap draw typically has 20 outs.
EXAMPLE “I was holding A-3-4-5, and the board came K-6-7. This is said to have a “wrap”, as any 3, 4, 5 or 8, would complete a straight.”
You have to be careful with wrap draws, however, since you can be chasing the sucker end of a straight, and there is the possibility that another player is flushing.

Consulter les règles du Poker 21-Black Jack Parisian Style

Game play

Before every new hand, the dealer shuffles six decks of cards and one of the players cuts the deck before dealing. The player must not touch the cards, nor can he cut during the play. The first five cards of the shoe are burnt. Before every new hand is dealt, the player must bet on the betting line in front of him. Then the dealer gives each player two cards, and deals only one card to the bank. After this first round of dealing, the player can either stand (“Stand”) or ask to draw one more card (“Card”). If the total is above 21, the player loses and is eliminated.

Once all the players have their final hand, the dealer draws for the bank, as long as its total is inferior or equal to 16. As soon as the bank is at 17 points or more, he cannot draw anymore. The player wins if his hand value is higher than the bank’s, and below 21, if the bank is over 21 or if the player has scored 21 with two cards. If bank and player’s scores are even, the player takes back his bet.

The player hits 21 (or “Blackjack”, in casinos) if he has 21 with only the two first cards (Ace + a card with a value of 10). If the bank also has 21, the hand is even, and the other players lose marked cards.

Payments

• hand higher than the bank’s : 1 time the bet

• 21 in two cards : 1,5 time the bet (ex : if player bets 20€, you win 30€ and takes back his 20€ bet)

Side-bets

The player can also make various plays, if he wants to :

• Double-down : if the player’s hand looks interesting (for example, if the bank has first drawn a 3, 4, 5 or 6 whereas the player already has a total of 10 or 11) after the first two cards, he can double his bet. Then, he only can draw one more card.

• Split : if the player has two similar cards, he can split his hand and thus double his bet. If he gets a third similar card, he can even play a third hand, by placing the same bet one more time. A player can split as long as he gets similar cards. Regarding Aces, the player can only split it with one Ace on each hand. Thus, if the player gets a 10 as a third-card, he does not hit a “21” even if his total is 21, because he has not got it with the first two cards.

• If the player bets on the “POK” line, he can play for the special bonus. Payments for the POK line are the following :

—    1 pair, Jacks minimum, (1 time the bet)

—     2 pairs  (2 times the bet)

—     Trips (3 times the bet)

—     Straight (4 times the bet)

—    Flush (5 times the bet)

—    Full  (7 times the bet)

—    Quads (20 times the bet)

—    Straight flush (50 the bet)

Royal straight flush (100 the bet) 

Game play

Before every new hand, the dealer shuffles six decks of cards and one of the players cuts the deck before dealing. The player must not touch the cards, nor can he cut during the play. The first five cards of the shoe are burnt. Before every new hand is dealt, the player must bet on the betting line in front of him. Then the dealer gives each player two cards, and deals only one card to the bank. After this first round of dealing, the player can either stand (“Stand”) or ask to draw one more card (“Card”). If the total is above 21, the player loses and is eliminated.

Once all the players have their final hand, the dealer draws for the bank, as long as its total is inferior or equal to 16. As soon as the bank is at 17 points or more, he cannot draw anymore. The player wins if his hand value is higher than the bank’s, and below 21, if the bank is over marked cards lenses 21 or if the player has scored 21 with two cards. If bank and player’s scores are even, the player takes back his bet.

The player hits 21 (or “Blackjack”, in casinos) if he has 21 with only the two first cards (Ace + a card with a value of 10). If the bank also has 21, the hand is even, and the other players lose.

Payments

• hand higher than the bank’s : 1 time the bet

• 21 in two cards : 1,5 time the bet (ex : if player bets 20€, you win 30€ and takes back his 20€ bet)

Side-bets

The player can also make various plays, if he wants to :

• Double-down : if the player’s hand looks interesting (for example, if the bank has first drawn a 3, 4, 5 or 6 whereas the player already has a total of 10 or 11) after the first two cards, he can double his bet. Then, he only can draw one more card.

• Split : if the player has two similar cards, he can split his hand and thus double his bet. If he gets a third similar card, he can even play a third hand, by placing the same bet one more time. A player can split as long as he gets similar cards. Regarding Aces, the player can only split it with one Ace on each hand. Thus, if the player gets a 10 as a third-card, he does not hit a “21” even if his total is 21, because he has not got it with the first two cards.

• If the player bets on the “POK” line, he can play for the special bonus. Payments for the POK line are the following :

—    1 pair, Jacks minimum, (1 time the bet)

—     2 pairs  (2 times the bet)

—     Trips (3 times the bet)

—     Straight (4 times the bet)

—    Flush (5 times the bet)

—    Full  (7 times the bet)

—    Quads (20 times the bet)

—    Straight flush (50 the bet)

Royal straight flush (100 the bet)