A preview of the European Deepstack Poker Championship

Gary Clarke, 29/01/08 | Print this article

Green Joker poker play host to the European Deepstack Poker Championship From February 2-10.

Something very different is upon us this February. Something which is not just a first in Irish poker, its a first in European poker and basically world poker too. This February Ireland will play host to the biggest starting stacks, the best structures and the ultimate test in what will be a landmark tournament for the poker industry. With big names already registered and more likely to follow, this could be the tournament that changes it all. The Green Joker festivals have influenced the way poker tournaments have been run in the past and it is entirely possible they will do it again. Introducing the European Deepstack Poker Championship (EDPC). 

From February 2-10. Green Joker Poker will host the inaugural running of the EDPC. Held in the Drogheda poker club in County Louth, this will be the third festival held by the team fronted by their poker correspondent Mike Lacey. Having championed play-friendly structures in the past, it appears they have taken this adage and brought it another step forward. Mike Lacey explains:

“Basically we looked at what was around and saw that most companies had copied our structure. Some even took our whole festival schedule and just halved the buy ins. Obviously we are flattered that they have done this and it shows we were thinking correctly. However it left us looking for something to stand out from the crowd again. No one seemed to have ran a tournament with this big a starting stack and we decided to give the players something totally different. The tournament should suit all playing styles. The structure will only give the players time to play whatever game they decide. They will not be forced into a push or fold game.”

50,000 starting stack, blinds start off at 25/50 and a 1-hour clock, this will be unique for sure. Throw the poker book out the window. Dan Harrington’s instructional analysis on the red and orange zones cannot help you now. This is deep stack play. It’s real deep and real different.  The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is essentially the world championship of poker. In level one of the WSOP your stack will be 100 BB’s deep. However in Drogheda level one will have 1000 BB’s, which is rather astonishing. A whole new strategy book is needed. If this event is a success, it could pave the way for poker tournaments of the future. Perhaps Mr. Harrington will have to write volume IIII possibly entitled “Essential strategies for ultra-Deepstack tournaments”!

It will no doubt be a weird scenario. Players will have to adopt new strategies and approaches to their game other than those used in previous tournaments. Even the pro’s that may well be seasoned in events such as the Irish Open or the European Poker Tour will have to adapt. Mike Lacey explains: “I don’t think you really can prepare yourself. Most good players do not come with a set strategy to a tournament, they adapt to the table. This will be no different. It is possible though that we will see the first 8 bet all in with air in tournament poker!”

The event has proved popular with plenty of pre-registered players paid up and day 1B touching capacity. With players travelling from Norway, Sweden, Holland, Czech Republic, Malta, Germany and 20 from France, this will very much be an International poker tournament. Many name players have already shown their support too. Hendon mobsters Barney Boatman and recent Poker Million VI/GBPT final winner Joe Beevers will be in attendance along with Ludovic Lacay, Arnaud Mattern and Joe Grech. Also participating is Julian Thew who could be the player most feared. Very much the “man of the moment” thanks to his second GUKPT title in Brighton on Jan 17th and a recent EPT win in Baden means his opponents may well be biting off more than they can (!).....

With interest building and expectations rising, this could well be the event of the year for Irish poker enthusiasts. The argument of luck versus skill in tournament poker will truly be tested and the champion could well be the best poker player also. Ironically, this has become an unusual occurrence. Mike Lacey is confident that this is the tournament to do just that. He’s just disappointed that it won’t be him.

“It will be the best test of NL holdem tournament play. The field will be littered with good players and if this structure does not make for more skill prevailing than any other tournament then we should give up and go back to 1k starting stacks. I am kind of annoyed I cannot play myself.”

Finally, with not long to go before the festival is under way Mike gave his thoughts on whom he thinks the champion may be.

“There are too many players that I would have a bet on this tournament. If you want me to name a few then Jen Mason, Rob Taylor, Andrew Grimason, Adam Fallon, Ludovic Lacay.”

If that were the case, then we would have a worthy champion indeed.

Gary Clarke can be contacted at gary.clarke@pokerireland.ie

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