POKER NEWS

Nordic poker players are entering the worldwide poker scene at fast and furious rate. From Sweden, Erik Sagstrom and Bengt Sonnert have quickly become recognized as two of the world's best players. Norwegian star Johnny Lodden has earned a similar reputation for his ultraaggressive style, while Finland's Patrik Antonius is now a regular at the Big Game in Las Vegas and is widely considered to be one of the most feared live players on the planet.

This year alone 23-year old Norwegian player Andreas Walnum and Danish stamp collector Christian Grundtvig have taken down WPT titles, while Swedish online qualifier Erik Friberg made the final table of the WSOP main event.

Gus Hansen Developed Math Skills for Poker Through Backgammon

Poker pro Gus Hansen has signed on as a commentator for Season 2 of the World Series of Backgammon. Gus was a professional backgammon player before he switched to poker and stated "..there is no doubt that it (backgammon) will develop your math skills thereby improving your decisions at the poker table."

Game of Skill

A municipal court in Denmark has ruled that poker tournaments are not a form of chance-based gambling, deciding that competence in the game is vital to success, a skill-based criterion.

Late in 2006, charges of illegal gambling were filed against Frederik Hostrup, chairman of the Danish Poker Association. Hostrup was cited for arranging poker tournaments with an entry fee, which was a violation of Danish gambling laws. Hostrup and his lawyer, Henrik Hoffmann, decided to fight the charges and attempt to prove that poker is a game of skill, not of luck.

"I had a good feeling in the stomach, when we left the office a couple of weeks ago," Hoffmann said. "I sensed that had we succeeded in convincing the judge that poker, to a high degree is a game, which is due to competence and only a little on coincidences."

While an appeal is likely, the decision, if it stands, may create an important legal landmark for use throughout the European Community. Pro-poker forces may use the verdict to show how the game is being ruled as a game of skill and not of luck and by that degree, remove it from the clause of 'illegal gambling."