My new role at Royal Vegas Poker

Al Schoonmaker · #1 11-03-2003, 12:30 AM

Starting 5 PM Pacific time, Wednesday, November 5 I will be playing and coaching players during and after Royal Vegas Poker's "Play the expert" tournaments. One of the prizes will be my analysis of players' style, strengths, and weaknesses, plus recommendations for improvements.

My alias will be the one people have given me on these forums, "Dr_Al."

As my profile on these forums states, I am not an expert player, and I don't give advice on how to play a particular hand. However, I am qualified to look at the way other players — especially non-experts — play their hands and do the sort of analysis and recommendations I've mentioned. I've been writing on these subjects for years.

That's what I'll be doing at Royal Vegas Poker, and I'd like to invite you to visit us and talk to me during these tournaments. A number of highly regarded experts will be playing, and there will be bounties and other incentives for knocking out the experts.

Since the arrangements are not complete, I won't mention names or give the details about these tournaments. I'll just say that some excellent players will be there, and you'll probably enjoy meeting them.

Hope to see you there.

Regards,

Al

P.S. I have never broken Two Plus Two's policy against advertising. Mason and discussed this issue, and he agreed that this announcement is acceptable.

Mason Malmuth · #2 11-03-2003, 03:08 AM

Hi Everyone:

It's our policy at Two Plus Two not to allow ads to be initiated in the posts. However, it's also our policy to steer our readers towards those events and information which will help their poker games. Since, this should be one of those, so we gave Dr. Al permission to make this post.

Over the last few years I have gotten to know Dr. Al quite well and the bottom line is that he knows his stuff. I suspect that those of you who are able to take advantage of his counsel will benefit significantly from it. This is especially true if you are relatively new to poker.

Best wishes,
Mason

Cyndie · #3 11-03-2003, 04:53 AM

Miah · #4 11-03-2003, 05:57 PM

Is this a one time event?

Sounds good, I think I'll give it a shot.

Thanks Dr. Al!

Al Schoonmaker · #5 11-04-2003, 12:10 AM

Im sorry, but I don't understand the question. Will you please explain it.

Thank you,

Al

clovenhoof · #6 11-04-2003, 01:17 AM

...don't you have concerns about their business practises?

The requirement that, in order to cash anything out, you send them scans of your credit card and driver's license is, by itself, a little frightening. The fact that they don't tell you that in advance is concerning. The fact that the Kahnewake Band (who owns and operates Royal Vegas and the related 6 other online casinos and poker sites) has long-standing ties to organized crime makes it an easy "stay away" for me. It's almost giving them a license to commit identity theft. (In fairness, the strength of those long-standing ties is someone in dispute.)

Too paranoid?

'hoof

Cyndie · #7 11-04-2003, 01:54 AM

All the policies regarding NETELLER transactions and more have been relaxed...thanks to the efforts of pokerplayers!

Mason Malmuth · #8 11-04-2003, 06:26 AM

Hi Clovenhoof:

I'm not familiar with their business practices. My comments only pertain to Dr. Schoonmaker.

Best wishes,
Mason

squiffy · #9 11-05-2003, 07:08 PM

This is a terrific idea and can only be good for poker. I hope that Mason, David, Al and others will publish more and make more tv appearances. The idea of having online poker instruction like this is excellent.

With the WPT being so successful, they should invite authors on to give brief analysis of famous or instructive hands. This would be a wonderful and instructive feature.

I cannot even begin to tell you how absolutely thrilled I am that a game I have loved all my life is enjoying such tremendous popularity in recent years.

One of the great disappointments of my life has been the fact that chess and poker, games I have always loved playing, have not been as widely played and as popular as I would like.

At least things are changing for poker. And I hope that this poker Renaissance lasts for a good long while!!!! I count myself lucky to be living during this GOLDEN AGE of POKER!!!

Al Schoonmaker · #10 11-06-2003, 07:38 AM

I know nothing at all about their business practices. I have joined them because the role they offerred me is one I can perform well, and because I trust Lou Krieger. I must add that some other people I know and trust are also involved in somewhat different roles: Matt Lessinger, Bob Ciaffone, Max Shapiro, and Barbara Enright.
Regards,
Al