Chess and poker

COMPARING chess to poker is like comparing oranges and apples. The relationship is strong, but the difference is obvious. While chess demands a lot of brains, poker requires a lot of guts.


They say that watching a chess game is like waiting for paint to dry and so is poker, that is until the pocket camera came along.



Once we see the actual cards dealt to the players on TV we have big time drama knowing the money at stake.


Watching a poker expert on TV fold or raise can be easily understood by the average viewer but most have no idea behind a chess grandmaster moves.


This fools people into thinking they could be a poker champion, which is why so many people play poker now.


There is a poker revolution all over the world, with millions of dollars at stake every day.


Cebu has also caught up with the fever.


Cebu City now hosts top of the line clubs—All-in, Diamond and Metro Card and Tulip in Mactan.


My favorite is Diamond Club along Archbishop Reyes Avenue primarily because of its accessibility and affordability.


A lot of beautiful lady players also congregate there to name a few--Cindy Yap, Jacqueline Flores, Noriza Ken Son and Myshel Paredes.


The dealers are also top of the line—Danica, Ayen, Joy ,Daisy, Katrina and Precy.


The club manager is Edward Uy and is assisted by Poppy and Joanna.


Buy-in is P100 every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and P500 every Tuesday and Thursday. On Saturdays the buy-in is P1,000.


PokerStars is the sponsor of the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Cebu 2010. The series will take place at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort from Nov. 12 to 16 with a string of side events.


Pokerstars is the world’s largest online poker room.


APPT Cebu started last Wednesday and yesterday, with a P5,000 No Limit Hold’em event (P1,000,000 guaranteed).


Here’s the full 2010 PokerStars APPT Cebu Schedule (buy-ins in pesos):


Nov. 12: P100,000 APPT Main Event Day 1A


P20,000 No Limit Hold’em


Nov. 13: P100,000 APPT Main Event Day 1B.


P20,000 No Limit Hold’em KO Bounty


P5,000 Ladies No Limit Hold’em


Nov. 14: P10,000 No Limit Hold’em Six-Handed.


P30,000 Pot Limit Omaha


Nov. 15: P40,000 No Limit Hold’em Six-Handed


P200,000 High Roller Event (Two-Day)


Nov. 16: P20,000 No Limit Hold’em


“We’re delighted to be taking the APPT back to the Philippines, and Cebu in particular,” said Jeffrey Haas, President of the APPT. “Last year’s event in Cebu was a definite highlight and offered further evidence of the continued passion for poker in the Asia Pacific region.”


The tournament director is Danny McDonagh, while the founder and executive producer of the local tournament is Alan Escano.


BACK TO CHESS. The Lapu-Lapu tournament will take place on Nov. 13 at the Lapu-lapu Basketball Court starting at 8:30 a.m.


The categories are Kiddies (14 years and under) and Juniors/Seniors (Lapu-Lapu residents only).


Format for Kiddies is 6 rounds Swiss with 30 minutes time control, while the format for the juniors/seniors section is 7 rounds Swiss with 30 minutes time control.


For details, contact Jun Olis at 09103476907.


(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 12, 2010.