It seems that the poker and non-poker public love hearing about cheating scandals, even alleged ones. The recent bizarre hand between Garrett Adelstein and Robbi Jade Lew has captured the imagination of the poker community and has spread virally much further afield. The story has appeared on websites far and wide, including featuring on the news section of the BBC. On October 7, 2022, the alleged cheating appeared on the BBC programme, Have I Got News For You.
Have I Got News For You is a long-running satirical new quiz, featuring teams captained by Ian Hislop and comedian Paul Merton. On October 7, the two-time European Poker Tour Main Event champion and former member of team PokerStars, Victoria Coren Mitchell, hosted the show.
EPT London Returns After Eight Years; Two $30,000 Platinum Passes To Be Won
Lots of fun stories in the news at the moment, and some terrifying ones. Seems like a good week for #HIGNFY! No dou… https://t.co/POV3ZjJg2j
— Victoria Coren Mitchell (@VictoriaCoren)
“I can’t believe this wasn’t the opening story,” Coren-Mitchell quipped as the audience laughed. Of course, Coren-Mitchell has two EPT Main Event titles under her belt, including the EPT London Main Event.
“In my view, this women is definitely not cheating,” Coren-Mitchell said. Ciren-Mitchell went on to explain how the hand played out, but was interrupted by Merton who joked, “Is there much more of this?” to much laughter.
“You’re interested in the comedy industry, I’m interested in this hand,” said Hislop.
“Well, make the rest of us interested in it then,” replied Merton. “Imagine you’ve got an audience listening to this!”
Befuddled Garrett Adelstein Loses to Wildest Poker Hero Call You’ll Ever See
“I think it’s interesting because what people are accusing her of is having a hidden vibrating device, like the anal beads,” explained Coren-Mitchell, the last comment relating to the ongoing elite-level chess cheating scandal involving 19-year-old Hans Niemann and grandmaster Magnus Carlson. “I don’t think any of it’s true. I don’t think the chess player did either; I think he had an earpiece.
“But where did he have the earpiece, that’s what everyone wants to know,” was the hilarious response from Merton.
Coren-Mitchell on the Adelstein/Lew Hand: “It’s a Perfectly Makeable Call”
It is no surprise that many people have contacted Coren-Mitchell for her views on the ongoing Adelstein/Lew saga. After all, Coren-Mitchell has a brace of EPT Main Event titles to her name, and a long and illustrious poker playing career.
Coren-Mitchell does not believe Lew cheated. Indeed, according to a tweet last week, such a call is perfectly makeable with jack-high, in the opinion of Coren-Mitchell.
Lots of people asking my opinion on the “cheating scandal”. My instinct is: it makes most sense if the player misre…
— Victoria Coren Mitchell (@VictoriaCoren)
Coren-Mitchell recently hinted that she will be gracing the upcoming EPT London stop with her presence. She last cashed in a live event in May 2022, when she finished 54th in the €3,000 No-Limit Hold’em Second Chance Mystery Bounty event, a result that took Coren-Mitchell’s live poker tournament lifetime winnings north of $2.5 million.
There are tons of classic card games, but poker is unequivocally the classic card game. It’s not like Chess, Go, or Backgammon, which all have thousands of years of history. It is much more modern, dating back to 16th century Persia. But in that time, it has proven to be intuitive, exciting, and layered in a way that few games can be.
What makes poker so special is the fact that its players operate under two limitations: Chance and limited information. Today, we are going to explore how to play poker in casinos, the different types of poker you can find, and where to play poker online.
Poker Hands Ranked – What Beats What in Poker?
How to Play Poker for Beginners – Useful Basics
To begin with we need to make it clear that we are going to talk about Texas Hold ‘em first. This is the type of poker played in most casinos, and it is the type of poker you will usually find at “no limit tables”. A “no limit table” will let you bet as much money as you want.
Poker games are done in phases called “hands”. Each hand is divided into the Hole, the Flop, the Turn, and the River. The best way to learn how to play poker is by learning these parts.
The Hole
Poker will start with the dealer handing each player two face-down cards, called “the Hole”. If you have ever heard the phrase “ace in the hole”, it is poker-speak for “ace in the hand”. Players should not show their cards to other players, though there technically isn’t a rule against it. This is hidden information, so saying “ace in the hand” means “ace where other players can’t see it”.
Whenever anything happens in poker, players are allowed to adjust their bets. A poker table will usually have an “ante”, or “minimum buy-in”, which is the minimum amount of money required to participate in the game. However, most tables (though not all) will only require players to put this forward once they have looked at their cards. After that, there is a phase of betting.
So, the initial cards are dealt with, and buy-ins are made. Most tables will also have a phase of bets after the buy-ins (sometimes at the same time as the buy-ins) before the next step in the hand.
If a player does not wish to buy in, they say they “fold”. If they want to bet more, they say they “raise”. And if they want to stay in the game, but not bet more, they “check”. If they want to match someone’s raise, they say they “call”. And if the bets are getting too confident and a player wishes to cut their losses, they say they “fold” there too.
The Flop
Once everyone has their bets placed on their initial cards, the dealer then lays three cards out on the table face-up. Everyone can see these cards, and everyone has access to these cards. What does it mean to “have access” to these cards? That means that these three cards are all part of a player’s “hand”, and the player with the strongest hand wins the game.
But we’re not there yet. Because after the flop has been revealed, players have another opportunity to place bets. And this is where the real psychology of poker comes in. No one knows what’s in your hand. All they can see is your bets and the flop.
Imagine that you’re watching someone play poker, but you cannot see their hand. Their cards are dealt, and they place a moderate bet. The flop is revealed, and it contains an ace. That player then makes a huge bet. The question is: Does the player have an ace in the hole?
Of course, there are three cards in the flop. That means they could be confident for a huge variety of reasons, depending on things like if the cards are the same suit, royalty, and so on.
The Turn
After another round of bets, one more card is revealed. This is called the Turn. After this, there is one more round of bets. Remember, rounds of bets continue until players are not making any other actions. You can have an extremely short round of bets or a drawn-out battle.
Because the Turn is a single card, a player’s intent will be a lot more transparent. If the Turn is a king, for instance, and a player suddenly goes all-in, then it is like he has a hand that benefits a king. You can also take the Flop into consideration alongside this. If there is a king on the Turn and a queen and a jack on the Flop, he might have an ace and a ten in the Hole.
Once bets on the Turn are complete, you go to the final card in the hand.
The River
Once bets from the Turn are settled, next comes the River. The main reason the River is interesting is because of how poker strategy works. Players, generally speaking, are aware that if someone makes a bet on the Turn, then the Turn gave them exactly the card they need.
For that reason, a player might wait until the reveal of the River to make the bet that they would have made on the Turn. Of course, they might also have nothing, or the River might give them the card they really needed. And it’s totally possible that a player puts a bet on the River that they have been wanting to place since the Flop, but have kept hidden.
After the River, there is one last round of bets. Once this round is done, the dealer will call for a show of cards. Players reveal the cards in their hand and the dealer measures them to show which one is the winner. But which hands are the best? And what happens if there is a tie?
How do Poker Hands Work?
Learning how to play poker is part of learning the lingo and rhythm of the game and part of learning the hands themselves. There are nearly infinite possible hands in poker, but only a few hands that are actually worth anything. The value of a hand is determined by the number of cards, the suit of the cards, the sequence of the cards, and the amount of the cards.
The Numbers
The number of the cards refers to the number printed on the cards, not how many of those cards you have. There are 52 cards in a deck used in poker, and each one is unique. The numbers 2 through 10 will be printed on 36 of them. If one player has a 2 and a 3 in the hole while the only other player in the game as a 4 and a 5 in the hole, the second player wins.
Simply put, higher numbers are more valuable. Except in the case of an Ace. The Ace is the card replacing something labeled as 1, and it is considered more valuable than anything. A card might also have a King, Queen, or a Jack printed on it. These are more valuable than a 10, with the Jack the least valuable of the three, the King the most valuable, and the Queen in between.
The Suits
The Suits of a card are represented by the symbol printed on the card. There are four suits: Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, and Clubs. None of them are more valuable than the others, but these are the reason why a deck can have more than one number in them.
For example, there will be a 4 of Clubs, a 4 of Diamonds, and so on. That means you can have a pair of 4s in the hole and find another 4 on the Flop, and then the last 4 on the Turn or the River. That would give you “4 of a kind”, which is extremely valuable.
One of the middle-value hands you can have is a “flush”. This is when you have two of the same suit in the hole and three of the same suit on the table. If you have an ace of hearts and a 4 of hearts in the hole and there are three cards of hearts on the table, that is a flush.
The Sequence
When we say, “the sequence”, we simply mean when cards of sequential value are next to each other. If you have a 2 and a 3 in the hole and there is a 4, 5, and 6 on the table, that is a “straight”. If you had an ace on the table rather than the 6, that would also be straight.
Straights are essentially measured by sequential value. Remember how the Jack is less valuable than the Queen, and the Queen is less valuable than the King? That is part of their “sequence”. You can get straight from a 9, a 10, a Jack, a Queen, and a King.
The Amount
We mentioned this already, but we will go over it again to be sure: You can also have a winning hand through the sheer amount of cards you own of a specific number. The higher the number or amount, the more valuable a hand, with the amount trumping the number.
That means that a 3-of-a-kind of 2s is more valuable than a 2-of-a-kind of Kings.
What are the Most Valuable Poker Hands?
Now that you know what makes a hand valuable in poker, you are probably wondering which hands are the most valuable. Nine times out of ten, the value of a hand is determined by how improbable it is. But since most players are familiar with probability, we’ll break it down simply.
High Card
If it comes time to show hands and every player somehow has nothing greater than a pair, flush, straight, or anything else, then the winner is the player with the highest value card. As we talked about before, the 2 is the lowest value card, and the Ace is the highest value card.
The suit of a card does not impact its value.
Pairs and Two Pairs
Above high card is a two-pair hand. This can be two pairs in the hole, or you can have one card in the hole that matches with another card of the same number with a different suit on the table.
Right above a pair is two pairs.
Three of a Kind
Just like with a pair, this is when you either have a pair of a card in the hole or one card in the hole while the other or others of different suits are on the table.
Straight
This is where things get confusing for players. It makes sense that a pair is valuable, and a three-of-a-kind is more valuable than a pair. But a straight is more valuable than either a pair or a three-of-a-kind, but less valuable than anything else.
A straight is when you have a five-card sequence of cards. If you have a four-card sequence, then it doesn’t matter, and a six-card sequence won’t make the straight better. It’s five cards or nothing. If two players have straights, the higher number value straight wins.
Flush
Right above a straight-in value is a flush, which is when you have five (no more, no less) of the same suit between your cards in the hole and on the flop.
Full House
After a flush is a full house. This is when you have three of a kind of one number and two of a kind of another number. An example of this is if you have a King and an Ace in hand, and there is one King and two Aces on the table. That would be a “full house, Aces full of Kings”.
Four of a Kind
New players are generally surprised to see that there is such a large gap between the value of three of a kind and the value of four of a kind. The best way to remember the hands in poker is to remember that there are three types of hands between three of a kind and four of a kind.
Straight Flush
After four of a kind is a straight flush, which is a combination of a straight and a flush. That means you have five cards in sequence that are also all of the same suit. So, a 2, a 3, a 4, a 5, and a 6 that are all also spades is a straight flush. It is very hard to get this hand and hard to beat it. In fact, there is only one type of hand in poker that beats it.
The Royal Flush
Technically speaking, you automatically win if you get a royal flush, as it is definitionally impossible for another player to get a royal flush at the same time. A royal flush means you have a straight of a 10, a Jack, a Queen, a King, and an Ace. They must also all be the same suit. It is impossible for another player to get this because it is so exclusive.
For this hand to happen, you need to have at least one of those five cards in the hole. And if you have one of those in the hole, then that disrupts the sequence for another player. For example, if you have a 10 of hearts in the hole and the Jack, Queen, King, and Ace, all of hearts, are on the table, then no one else can have a royal flush since it would require the 10 that you have.
Where to play online poker?
After you have learned the rules of how to play poker, as well as the hands needed to win at poker, then you can start looking for a place to play it. And for that, you have a ton of options.
Ignition Casino
One of the biggest and most reliable places to gamble on the internet, Ignition allows you to play Texas Hold ‘Em, Five Card Stud, and a few other variations of these games with a variety of different gambling rules. That means you can bet in small amounts, or huge amounts.
They also have pages that detail the rules of their poker games specifically. That means that if they do use any slight modifications (some poker games throw in a Joker as a wild card, for instance), they will tell you about it beforehand.
America’s Cardroom
Probably the best place to play online poker that features a mobile app. They also have poker tournaments, so if you are really confident in your skills you can go to the big leagues here.
Just remember that the people playing in those tournaments will usually be making an income off of poker. So, don’t bet anything you can’t lose against the literal pros.
Juicy Stakes
If you want a broader casino experience, then try Juicy Stakes. Not only do they offer the largest variety of poker games (and other casino games), but they also have a “rake back” policy. That means that while there is a buy-in for many games and tournaments, you can actually get that buy-in back by playing for long enough. That way, you always get a little money back.
Of course, there is a slight drawback in Juicy Stakes having so many games. It means that you can easily get into a poker game with slightly different rules than you are expecting. There is far more variety among their slot machines than their poker games, so this is unlikely. But still, make sure you are playing the kind of poker you mean to be playing when you use them.
How is Online Poker Different from Live Poker?
The biggest difference between online poker and live poker is the ability to read players.
Something we brought up while discussing how to play poker was the different strategies that emerge at the different stages of the game. In live poker, these strategies are employed a lot more often. People have to hide their reactions and intentions better in live poker. If you get cards dealt to you and make a positive-sounding noise, people will notice.
If you see the flop and sigh heavily, if your shoulders tense on the River, these are things that will alert a person to the fact that you are not perfectly confident in your hand. Even if you do have a good hand, a person can take mental note of how you react to it.
All of this goes away in online poker. When poker is done remotely, you suddenly have to focus a lot more on how a person bets.
Poker Etiquette
Generally speaking, it is a good idea to know these rules inside and out before you even sit down at a table to play in-person poker. Some poker might be done in dead silence, where the players mostly or completely play with hand signals to the dealer.
That does not mean silence is required. In that case, players are using the hand signals rather than speaking to cut down on the amount of information they give others. Speaking with a stammer, a higher voice, or a shaky voice can indicate fear and uncertainty.
Online poker is great for practicing the understanding of the rules and rhythm of the game. In general, the faster you play, the better.
FAQ
Can you play poker with two people?
You can absolutely play with just two people. In fact, many games come down to a one-on-one duel by the time it gets to the flush. It is recommended that there be an independent dealer, however.
What is the highest hand in poker?
The highest hand in poker is the Royal Flush, containing a straight of a 10, a Jack, a Queen, a King, and an Ace. They must also all be of the same suit.
What is a small blind in poker?
A “small blind” is a rule in poker which says that you can only take part in the game if you are willing to be half of the largest bet or more. A “big blind” rule states that you can only take part in the game if you are matching the largest bet. Not all tables use these rules.
Is it safe to play an online poker?
It is only truly safe to play online poker under two conditions: One, you only bet money you can lose. And two, the game is regulated by a government agency of some kind. If there is no regulation, then it can be much harder to claim your winnings from a game of online poker.
What is a wraparound straight?
A wraparound straight is when you have a straight that starts with a Jack or higher. That means your straight is a Jack, a Queen, a King, an Ace, and a 2. A 2 is less valuable than an Ace, but it is still the next number in the sequence. Going forward in the sequence wraps around to the lower numbers, making it a wraparound straight.
Conclusion
Poker can be thrilling fun and win you a lot of money. It can also be incredibly stressful and lose you just as much money. Be sure you know what you are willing to lose and how you plan to win before you put any real money forwards. And don’t go chasing losses trying to win money back.
Land casino game designer TCSJohnHuxley has announced the release of a new land casino blackjack game that they’re dubbing ‘Sweet 16’, which brings a lucrative side bet to the classic card game.
The game will pay out to players who put in for the side bet and are dealt a 16 with their initial two cards. The payouts will be as follows:
Mixed Color 16- 6:1
Same Color 16- 12:1
Suited 16- 16:1
Sweet 16 (Ace of Hearts + 5 of Hearts) 160:1
Blackjack in the game pays 3:2. Dealers will stand on 17 and hit to 16. The game’s house edge varies between 4.82-4.91%.
The game will be distributed on a black table with pink accents on the felt.
Sweet 16 is available to be sold and integrated at land casinos around the world.
TCSJohnHuxley is based out of Stoke-on-Trent in the UK, and has offices in Las Vegas, Spain, South Africa, Australia, Macau, and Singapore. They’ve built a name for themselves by providing land casino games like blackjack, roulette, craps, and more. The group has had a limited foray into the iGaming industry having partnered with Evolution Gaming.
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Buffalo is one of the most venerable and popular slot machine series on the casino floor. Since the original game hit the casino floor, a variety of sequels and brand extensions have followed, all with some basics remaining the same throughout the series.
This post is a roll-up of the various Buffalo topics I’ve written about over the years, broken into game write-ups, deep-dive questions and Slot Moments. Even with all the content that follows, there are Buffalo games I’ve yet to write about, although I’m sure I will at some point.
Games in the Buffalo Series
Let’s start by looking at the games I’ve written up as part of the Buffalo slot machine series.
Buffalo
Even over a decade old, the original still holds up remarkably well, which explains why the game is still found on casino floors across the country. This is the starting point and basis for the various brand extensions and sequels that would follow, but on its own, Buffalo remains a fun game.
Cash Express Gold Class Buffalo
Moreso a feature add-on than an outright sequel, Cash Express Gold Class Buffalo was one example of a feature and a game that would become more intertwined with time, as the Cash Express Luxury Line series would provide.
Buffalo Gold
Out of all the Buffalo games that have come around over the years, Buffalo Gold is perhaps the perfect sequel, thanks to the specific enhancements this version adds to make the original game even more exciting. It did so well that Buffalo Gold itself has received its own sequels.
Buffalo Gold Revolution
If Buffalo Gold is the perfect sequel, Buffalo Gold Revolution is perhaps the perfect sequel’s sequel. It enhances just the right things and adds a bit more to the gameplay, keeping the momentum of this series of games going strong.
Buffalo Gold Max Power
The latest Buffalo Gold sequel, Buffalo Gold Max Power adds in the twist of variable sized reels, which can change each spin, yielding more or less ways to win. This adds newfound volatility to an already volatile series, and adds a sixth reel for potentially larger pays in the process.
Buffalo Diamond
With progressive free games that have an open-ended up side, there’s a huge amount of potential for Buffalo Diamond, but it can also be very punishing.
Buffalo Chief
Buffalo Chief takes a page from Buffalo Gold’s element of upgrading the reels, but adds more volatility in the process with a bigger reel set and a wheel to determine how many additional white buffalo heads will be added.
Buffalo Link
This game combines the link mechanic, very popular with Aristocrat itself, with the Buffalo theming and structure, and just to up the volatility even more adds a wild on reel 5 with the chances to now multiply wins by 81 vs. 27. Buffalo Link definitely has potential, but can also be a brutal game when it’s not paying.
Wild Wild Buffalo
Wild Wild Buffalo is another example of Aristocrat combining a popular mechanic, the Wild Wild series, with the Buffalo theming and ruleset, and blending in the jackpot wheel element from Buffalo Grand. It’s another toughie, but can be quite the fun ride when it’s in a generous mood.
Deeper Slot Tutorial Dives
Here’s a couple of posts that look a bit deeper into the design of games like those in the Buffalo series.
Can You Get a Full Screen of Buffalo on the Aristocrat Game?
With the diversity of games in the roster, there’s not a completely one-size-fits-all answer, but in the case of many of them, the answer is actually no. Here’s why!
Does Getting 4 or 5 Bonus Symbols Mean a Bad Bonus is Certain to Follow
On some games, getting 4 or 5 bonus symbols makes players feel like a bad bonus is going to follow. On the Buffalo games, getting more coins means more spins, and on games like Buffalo Gold, more games can be a critical difference in payouts thanks to the ability to collect more buffalo heads and more retriggers.
Slot Moments on the Buffalo Series
Aristocrat makes all sorts of games that can yield to outlandish wins even on nominal bets, but the Buffalo series has more than its share of epic wins. Here’s examples I’ve highlighted in the Slot Moments series.
Slotaholic Gets 15 Gold Buffalo Heads
The first Buffalo Gold video I highlighted in the Slot Moments series, Slotaholic’s 15 gold buffalo heads was a pretty phenomenal example of what’s possible on the game. It certainly wouldn’t be the last.
Neily 777 Lands the Grand on Buffalo Extreme
Buffalo Extreme is a Class II game, so I have never been able to personally find it and play it, but Neily 777’s grand on the game, which has its ties to other games in the Buffalo series, shows off the unexpected and the awesome in one shot.
250 Buffalo Chief Symbols Leads to a 1000x Jackpot Handpay
If you get 10 upgraded coins on Buffalo Chief, you get all 250 Buffalo Chief symbols added to the reels, which amps up the payback opportunity. This slot moment shows what can happen when you make that possibility a reality.
Buffalo Gold 15 Head Handpay for Under $1
Here’s another 15 gold buffalo head outcome, but this time the wager is under $1, and yet again it’s another knockout outcome.
A Super Win on Wild Wild Buffalo Slot Machine for Neily 777
Neily 777 has always done well on the Wild Wild game series, so it’s not surprising that he had a strong outcome playing Wild Wild Buffalo.
Over 1000x Buffalo Gold Jackpot Handpay on Wonder 4 Tall Fortunes
Various Buffalo games have been integrated into other Aristocrat endeavors as well, such as the Wonder 4 series of games, with four boards present and the ability to select games. Buffalo Gold is on Wonder 4 Tall Fortunes, and this more than 1,000x win is a great example of what’s possible.
Slot Cats See Live Lengthy Run on Buffalo Link Machine
The Buffalo series is one that’s predisposed to lots of retriggers. It’s one of the things that makes the games fun. So The Slot Cats having a lengthy run live on Buffalo Link shows how you can get a lot of play time without having to wager.
Chico Scores 2800x Win on Buffalo Gold
If you needed more evidence as to what was possible with Buffalo Gold, check out Chico’s 2,800x win on the game in this slot moment.
Slot Queen Goes from Wager Saver to the Major on Buffalo Link
Here’s an epic turnaround courtesy of Slot Queen, who went from a wager saver to winning the Major progressive on Buffalo Link.
Buffalo Max Bonus Handpay on $4 Bet
Buffalo Max takes the base Buffalo game and adds on upgrades when players bet higher. All Casino Action’s Sarah took a $4 bet to a handpay as part of a Buffalo Max bonus.
Slot Queen Finally Achieves 15 Heads on Buffalo Gold with Wonder 4
Buffalo Gold and Wonder 4 strike again, this time with Slot Queen, who got 15 gold buffalo heads and an epic win on the Wonder 4 Boost Gold version of the series.
First Handpay Live for Brian Christopher, On a $3 Buffalo Gold Bet
It took Brian Christopher quite awhile to secure his first live handpay during a live stream, and based on the list of slot moments here, I’m sure it’s not surprising to learn it was on Buffalo Gold at a $3 bet.
Euro games stand out from more pedestrian board games because Euros tend to have a lot less luck involved, and even when Euros do feature luck, they usually offer some way to hedge against a bad outcome. When I reviewed Khora, I lauded how nicely that game provided you with a way to buy your way out of bad dice luck. Plutocracy takes things one step further, eliminating all luck. The game features no chance whatsoever—no dice, no cards, etc…—the closest you can get to the luck of the draw is if you choose the optional starting conditions that randomize prices and players’ starting planets.
Games with zero luck in them tend to be dry and themeless—think Chess as the Urspiel here—but from the moment you open the box, Plutocracy’s board (a colorful solar system on the black background of deep space) makes the game pop with intrigue: ooh, what is this game?
Gameplay Overview
The Tagline for the game is “Space is Time is Money is Power” and that does a pretty good job of summarizing what Plutocracy turns out to be: a fancy Pick-up-and-Deliver game with some interesting wrinkles.
Each player represents an interplanetary corporation headquartered on the planets beyond Earth’s orbit, each vying to control the Plutocratic Council (“The PC”) on Pluto. You get control by old-fashioned bribery (along with a bonus based on what you have in your inventory if you pay timely visits to Mother Earth) and you get money from carefully planning space flights to maximize commercial opportunities across the five productive outer planets (Mars through Neptune). Get the most Power by getting the most Money by using Time most efficiently as your travel through Space and you’ll probably win Plutocracy. Luck certainly won’t be an issue.
Game Experience
Over the course of the game, you fly your spaceship through the solar system, buying and selling goods and choosing the right moment to siphon off some of your working capital to buy seats in the parliaments of the five outer planets, which increases your chances of getting votes in The PC. It might sound a little like an old-school Hanseatic League trading game, but Plutocracy has two super-cool twists that definitely put the game into outer space, thematically, and also give it a unique and intriguing mix of mechanics.
The first is how Plutocracy uses a Time Track. If you’ve played Uwe Rosenberg’s Patchwork, for example, you’ve encountered the Time Track concept. Players move their tokens forward on a track or perhaps a rondel, and whoever is last in line takes the next turn. If that player is frugal in her use of time, so she is still last in line after spending the next time increment, she can take another turn, and keep going until she finally uses up so much time that she passes someone; the turn then passes to whoever is now at the back of the line. Players must choose whether to take the best available action, even if it would consume so much time they have to wait (seemingly forever) for their next turn, or instead to take a potentially lesser action so they can take another turn right away. Ah, the sweet tension of tough choices.
The first modern Euro game to introduce this neat mechanic seems to have been Peter Prinz’s “Jenseits von Theben” (Beyond Thebes), released in 2004 by Queen Games. Many games have used it since because it’s a nice mechanic generally, but Claudio Bierig, Plutocracy’s designer, has innovated on this mechanic by adding three neutral action tokens onto the time track, and each one triggers when all players have passed it on the track, as if they were players themselves. After this, each moves a certain number of time spaces forward, ready to trigger again in the future. This lets the players control when the prices will reset, when the planetary parliaments hold elections for The PC, and when the entire board rotates. When the WHAT?
Yes, that’s the other cool feature of Plutocracy that sets it apart from run-of-the-mill Hanseatic League simulators, and really takes advantage of being set in space. Because the game takes place in a rotating solar system, every piece on the board is transiting around the sun at a different speed. The clever Time Lord will take advantage and travel 6 “time” to where Jupiter will be when the rotation occurs, saving 6 time over traveling 12 “time” away to where it is now and then sitting idly while the next rotation brings you half the way back. Manipulating these celestial orbits becomes the key to distinguishing yourself from the other Monarchs of the Supply & Demand Curve.
Beyond those two hooks, Plutocracy is very simple: each planet sells one good and demands a different one. Each purchase raises prices for everyone else; each sale lowers prices, but another one of the neutral events (triggered on the Time Track) will offset the impact of player sales, raising potential profits three times per game.
You can plow your profits back into the next commodity and travel to the next planet, but eventually, you need to turn Money into Power. Seats on each Planetary Parliament translate into votes in The PC, with an election three times during the game, again based on a time token. So do you buy one more Plant on Neptune and sell it for more profit on Uranus, or spend that money instead to buy a seat in Neptune’s Parliament, in hopes of winning Neptune’s vote on The PC in the upcoming Solar Elections? Ah, the dilemmas of modern space corporate management.
The game adds in some other elements to encourage you not to just buy/sell/bribe the whole game. You can swing by Earth and get as many as 12 votes in The PC based on meeting certain goals, but only the first two players to meet each (and get to Earth) will get those benefits.
As each player’s time token approaches the end of the time track, you really need to get your money and goods converted into votes on The PC before the final vote, which can often mean planning ahead to land on Earth just prior to the final token triggering THE END so you can claim enough of the bonus seats on the Council to tip the scales in your favor. Mess up, and you’ll be cursing Hades himself. Time it right and it’s heavenly.
I desperately wanted to love Plutocracy because it is so darn clever. I adore the way the board rotates and the extremely cool mechanism for having the game’s events triggered by the player’s own choices of how far to travel along the time track. As a small-time designer myself, I wish I could come up with cool concepts like these for my games. But despite these, I found the game itself was good but not… wait for it… stellar. Perhaps because there was no luck involved, no dice, no cards, etc., it almost felt to me like Plutocracy was the engine of a bigger game, but the bigger game had been stripped away, and all that had shipped in the box was the extremely cool timing function of some larger grandiose game by a designer like Alexander Pfister or Vital Lacerda. I wanted to draw a card when I landed on Neptune to trigger an event or gain a randomly assigned specialty that let me fly faster or trade Oxygen cheaper, or just give the game a little more texture. Instead, it was like playing the inside of a Swiss Watch. So pretty, so elegant, but ultimately a little cold to the touch.
Final Thoughts
Upon reflection, I realize what I wanted from Plutocracy was to be able to play it against other people but also when I was alone. If something is going to be an extreme exercise in efficiency, it’s not what I necessarily want to invite my neighbors over for, for Sunday afternoon gaming. But by myself, say, via an online, turn-based gaming system like Yucata.com, where I can plan out each move taking as long as I want, Plutocracy could be an enjoyable exercise in Vulcan logic, where I can let my inner Mr. Spock out.
Rare are the times when I’ve managed to lure someone else to play games with me in person, and when I do, I want our games to have more spice to them. Plutocracy offers the joy of a perfectly planned move, but it seems like a dish better served when everyone is playing from their respective planetary bases and/or households. I’d encourage the folks at Doppeldenkspiele to develop an online outlet to connect their gamers together this way.
Final Score: 3.5 Stars (Though if you happen to be a Vulcan, consider it a 4!) – This is a beautiful clockwork robot, amazing to see in action, but less fun to play with than it would seem on first blush.
Hits:
• I love the innovations on the Time Track Plutocracy brings to the table.
• The rotating board is extremely cool.
• Everyone who saw it thought the board was awesome.
Misses:
• The game’s perfect information and lack of luck made for a cold experience as a face-to-face game.
• Intellectually more interesting than fun.
• Perhaps designer Claudio Bierig could bolt additional game onto Plutocracy to make something warmer and more fun, adding some flesh and blood to the extremely cool mechanical skeleton of Plutocracy.
This December, the record-breaking WPT World Championship gets underway at the Wynn in Las Vegas and has got the pokersphere buzzing due to it having the the largest guaranteed prize pool in live poker history.
The WPT World Championship, a $10,400 buy-in no-limit hold’em event, runs from December 12-20 and — get this — promises at least $15 million in prize money will be awarded.
And what is even better is that you can book your spot at the table for a fraction of the price with the amazing A Seat A Day promotion that runs exclusively on WPT Global.
How to Win a WPT World Championship Package
The folks at WPT Global are all about their players and they’re getting rewarded again by being able to get their hands on one of the many guaranteed seats to the WPT World Championship. The promotion, which runs until November 20, will send one player every day from Monday to Saturday to the record-breaking event and a further eight players every Sunday.
By taking down one of the $550 WPT World Championship Qualifiers, you’ll win a huge package worth $12,400!
The WPT World Championship package includes:
A $10,400 WPT World Championship entry
$2,000 travel stipend
WPT Global merchandise
A special WPT Global Player Experience during the WPT World Championship
Prospective players can also satellite their way into the various $550 World Championship Qualifier from just $5! These step satellites then feed into the $55 qualifier which then award tickets to the aformentioned $550 direct satellite.
A full schedule for the daily mega satellites can be found at the bottom of this article.
WPT Global Wants You to Turn $5 Into a Shot at a $15M Prize Pool
WPT World Championship Qualifier Schedule
Day
Time (UTC)
Type
Buy-In
Guarantee
Daily
01:15
$550 World Champ. Qualifier
$550
1 $12,400 Package
Sunday
01:15
$550 World Chap. Qualifier
$550
8 $12,400 Packages
Five Reasons Why WPT Global Isn’t Like Other Real Money Poker Sites
Don’t Miss Out on a Welcome Bonus Worth Up To $1,200
What better way to start your WPT Global journey than by helping yourself to a welcome bonus worth up to $1,200. Download WPT Global via PokerNews, create your free account, make a deposit of at least $20, and WPT Global matches your initial deposit 100% up to a maximum of $1,200.
The bonus money releases into your playable account balance in $5 increments each time you contribute $20 to the cash game rake or pay in tournament fees; you have 90 days to release as much of the bonus as possible.
Time (UTC)
Type
Buy-In
Guarantee
16:40
$550 Hyper
$55
1 $550 ticket
17:40
$55 Hyper
$5
2 $55 tickets
18:40
$550 Hyper
$55
1 $550 ticket
19:40
$55 Hyper
$5
2 $55 tickets
20:40
$550 Turbo
$55
1 $550 ticket
21:40
$55 Turbo
$5
2 $55 tickets
22:40
$550 Normal
$55
1 $550 ticket
23:40
$55 Normal
$5
2 $55 tickets
00:40
$550 Turbo
$55
1 $550 ticket
01:40
$55 Turbo
$5
2 $55 tickets
02:40
$550 Hyper
$55
1 $550 ticket
03:40
$55 Hyper
$5
2 $55 tickets
04:40
$550 Hyper
$55
1 $550 ticket
05:40
$55 Hyper
$5
2 $55 tickets
06:40
$550 Turbo
$55
1 $550 ticket
07:40
$55 Turbo
$5
2 $55 tickets
08:40
$550 Normal
$55
1 $550 ticket
09:40
$55 Normal
$5
2 $55 tickets
10:40
$550 Turbo
$55
1 $550 ticket
11:40
$55 Turbo
$5
2 $55 tickets
12:40
$550 Turbo
$55
1 $550 ticket
13:40
$55 Turbo
$5
2 $55 tickets
14:40
$550 Hyper
$55
1 $550 ticket
15:40
$55 Hyper
$5
2 $550 tickets
Editor & Live Reporter
Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum’s proudest poker achievement is winning the only tournament he has ever played in Las Vegas, the prestigious $60 Flamingo evening event.
I recently got some time on a number of new Everi games. One of them was Star Wild Olympus, one of two themes in the Star Wild game series, which features wilds with multipliers, a frenzy mode and a free games feature with expanding reels.
This game’s got a lot going on, which may make it a bit complex for some, but once it’s broken down it’s not necessarily complex, it just helps to know what’s happening. So let’s break things down a bit.
The Basics of Star Wild Olympus
The diversity of the game starts with the bet panel. This is one of the first games I’ve seen from Everi with a distinct more/better type of bet. The game’s name sake is the star wilds, which fly over the reels. When a star lands it can award a multiplier or a jackpot.
The range of multipliers available, however, depend on your bet. The top row, which is a lower bet increment, offers 2x and 3x multipliers. The bottom row, the Super Star Wild bet options, make accessible 3x, 4x and 6x multipliers.
The multiplier or jackpot is only awarded if the star is directly inclusive in a line hit. The game is an all ways pays game, so only the ways in which the multiplier is directly involved.
More than one multiplier can land and be awarded on a given spin; they multiply together. So a 3x and a 4x makes a 12x total multiplier.
Clearly, the Star Wilds are a volatility element in this case, and the higher bets for higher multipliers amps that up. The same goes for clumped symbols in an all ways pays configuration – there’s definitely some money in the line hits.
Star Frenzy Bonus
This is another of Everi’s timed event bonuses. It is triggered by landing the Star Frenzy symbol on reel 5.
During the Star Frenzy bonus, star wilds are on the reels more frequently. The counter starts at 60 seconds, but if Star Frenzy lands on reel 5 again, the counter resets back to 60 seconds and continues. If Free Spins are awarded during the Star Frenzy bonus, the Star Frenzy bonus concludes immediately and goes into the Free Spins.
Free Spin Bonu
Getting the bonus symbol on reels 1, 3 and 5 trigger the free spins bonus. Six free spins are awarded. You can retrigger with two symbols for three more spins, or three symbols for six more spins, up to a maximum of 18 free spins.
Expanding reels are active on each game of the free spins, with reels 1 and 5 being able to expand up to 5 spaces tall, and reels 2, 3 and 4 being able to expand up to seven spaces tall.
Given this is an all ways pays game, it improves the ability for things to line up, and for star wilds to land. Jackpots don’t appear on the star wilds during the bonus, and Jackpot Wheel and Star Frenzy cannot be triggered during the free spins either.
Jackpot Wheel Bonus
Aside from appearing on the stars, the Jackpot Wheel feature can be triggered anytime a Star Wild symbol appears, as long as the spin doesn’t trigger Free Games or Star Frenzy mode, or are in the middle of either of those features.
There are two rings on the wheel. An outer ring spins among the jackpots available. The inner section starts with three Award and three Upgrade wedges. If it lands on Award, it will pay the tier that the outer ring lands on. If it lands on Upgrade, the wedge selected and all wedges beneath it are removed, leaving the higher prizes.
The Upgrade wedge converts to an Award wedge; as such, up to three upgrades are possible before a prize must be awarded (meaning four total wheel spins). If the wheel lands on Grand, it cannot be upgraded and will instead simply be awarded as that’s the top progressive.
Prefer a Picking Bonus?
The sister Star Wild game, Star Wild Egypt, skips the wheel for a more traditional picking bonus, so if that’s more your speed, look for its sister game. The picking bonus works identically to the Smokin’ Hot Stuff Wicked Wheel bonus, complete with the ability to remove up to the three smallest progressives. It’s also predetermined.
Jackpots and Progressives
The jackpots and progressives, six in all, can be awarded either on the stars or in a jackpot award feature that can happen anytime a Star Wild symbol appears and a Free Spins or Star Frenzy is not triggered (or the game is in the middle of either of those features).
There are only two actual progressives that are available at all bet levels; the other four are flat jackpot prizes proportional to bet, that do not get multiplied in any sense by Star Wilds and so on.
The Coin Bowl and Lightning Wings accumulators are just for show; per the pay table, they do not indicate that a jackpot or progressive is due to hit. The odds of winning jackpots do increase by bet level.
Conclusion
Like other recent Everi games like Cashnado and Gold Hills, there’s a lot going on here, which keeps things active for players. The more/better bet adds a different wrinkle, and the game play is diverse thanks to the expanding reels on the free spins and the star frenzy mode. The game’s worth a go given the potential there for some good wins!
