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Fresh decks are shuffled, eager for the deal. PROJECTRICH ALSUP PRIME EXAMPLE Dec. MSPT Mag Chips are stacked, anticipating the action. THAT HARD WORK PAYS OFF Contenders converge on the big, smoke-free, 22-table JOB NO. FK-26185 BY CHAD HOLLOWAY Poker Room. Bets land. Cards unmask. The river flips. COLOR In this issue, you’ll get the opportunity to read about Richie Alsup, who Vol. 2/No. 2 You’re in the money. Get ready for your game face. 4/c has proven to be one of the tour’s biggest stars. While he failed to capture a FireKeepers is all-in for poker 7 days a week. title in 2016, Alsup still managed to win our Season 7 Player of the Year race. President and Publisher SIZE Amazingly, it came one year after he finished runner-up to Mark Hodge in the Bryan Mileski In fact, we’re as serious about poker as you are. 8.375” x 10.75” same race. [email protected]

BLEED It was a testament to Alsup’s hard work, dedication, and persistence. For Editor-in-Chief .25 much of the year Alsup lingered toward the back of the leaderboard only to Chad Holloway MSPT RETURNS SPRING 2017! come on strong at the end and the title from Carl Carodenuto by making [email protected] a deep run in the last event of the year. $300,000 GUARANTEED Event Manager MAIN EVENT PRIZE POOL With $309,508 in 13 MSPT cashes (tied for eighth all time), of which seven Eric Anderson have been final table appearances (ties him with Kou Vang for third all time), MAIN EVENT MAY 18 – 21 Alsup currently sits third on the tour’s all-time money list. In Season 6, he won Art Director Carolyn Borgen QUALIFIERS BEGIN IN MARCH his first and only title when he won the MSPT Meskwaki for $101,229. In Season [email protected] Visit FireKeepersCasino.com or call the Poker Room 7, he cashed six times, a record he shared with former champ Jason Seitz and directly at 269.660.5631 for more details. Hodge. Advertising Information We really can’t laud Alsup enough. Not only has he shown he’s one of the [email protected] Midwest’s best players on the felt, he’s also one of the nicest and most genuine Story Ideas guys off it. [email protected] “Best Overall Gaming Resort” Congratulations to Rich Alsup on becoming the MSPT Season 7 POY! Our Mission “Best Casino” • “Best Hotel” MSPT Magazine is a monthly Casino Player & Strictly Slots Magazine magazine dedicated to serving poker players and gaming facilities through MSPT news, results, tour- nament schedules, player profiles and professional tips. Coupled with our website, msptpoker.com, we are the Nation's #1 Poker Tour.

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FK-26185_Dec_MSPT_Mag_8.375x10.75.indd 1 11/15/16 12:45 PM PAGE 4 Mid-States Poker Tour FEBRUARY 2017 Event Preview MSPT HEADS TO RUNNING ACES FEB. 11-19 FOR $200K GTD MAIN EVEN

BY MSPT POKER STAFF

or the first time in Season 8, the Mid-States Poker tableside dining and bar service. Regardless of your level of Tour (MSPT) is heading to Running Aces Casino in play, they’ve got a table for you. FColumbus, Minnesota – just 20 minutes north of the In addition to being a fantastic card room and entertainment Twin Cities. From February 11-19, the MSPT will host a destination, Running Aces offers live summer harness horse series of $65 and $250 satellites culminating in a $1,100 buy- racing. The venue has reinvented the simulcasting section of in, $200,000 guarantee Main Event the weekend of February their floor plan just in time for the live racing season. With 17-19. over 20 new HDTVs and two picture-perfect 80-inch feature The Main Event, which requires players be just 18 years screens, the beautiful, state-of-the-art Race Book facility of age to participate, features two starting flights beginning offers a perfect view of the finish line at Running Aces’ own Friday evening with Day 1A at 4 p.m., followed by Day 1B at track. the same time on Saturday. The remaining players from each Running Aces also recently announced their 2017 live flight will combine on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. and play racing schedule, which will run 52 days. The season will be until a champion is crowned. extended three weeks into September to better accommodate "This marks the 11th time in eight seasons that the MSPT those traveling from other states and extend the season will visit Running Aces, which has been a staple on our for local horsemen and race fans. Live racing will open on schedule dating all the way back to Season 1," said MSPT Saturday, May 20, 2017 and will race through September 16, President Bryan Mileski. "From great promotions to juicy 2017. Races will run Tuesdays at 7 p.m. with 6 p.m. races on cash games, Running Aces is one of the Midwest’s best places Saturdays and Sundays. to play poker.” In addition, Running Aces offers live music and comedy Last season, the MSPT visited the property twice. In April, shows, as well as their one-of-a-kind Trout Air Fishing cash game pro Luke Arora topped a field of 347 entrants, Experience inside their “You Catch’em, We Cook’em” facility, including MSPT Pro Matt Alexander in heads-up play, to which is truly an unbeatably-fresh dining experience. capture an $83,773 first-place prize. In September, Jeremy More than 650 dedicated employees have been serving up Dresch bested 344 entrants to win $83,045 and his second the best in food, cards, simulcast and entertainment since MSPT title. 2008. Open 24/7, Running Aces is located one exit past the 35E Others who've captured titles at Running Aces over the and 35W merge, just 20 minutes north of 694. years include Peixin Liu (Sept. 2015 for $85,498), Erv Bjerga For more information, visit runaces.com. (Feb. 2015 for $91,941), Ken Pates (Sept. 2014 for $87,698), Mark Sandness (Feb. 2014 for $90,913), David Gonia (Feb. 2013 for $93,940), Rodger Johnson (Feb. 2012 for $79,185), Jason Seitz (Feb. 2011 for $56,295), and Joe Matheson (April 2010 for $51,349). The poker room at Running Aces is unmatched in providing constant, fast- paced action with the best service—you’ll never have to skip a hand with their

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PAGE 8 Mid-States Poker Tour FEBRUARY 2017 Event Recap CRAIG TROST WINS WISCONSIN’S LARGEST EVER FOR $63,252 BY MSPT POKER STAFF

eason 8 of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) kicked off in early SJanuary with a $350 Regional Event at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It proved to me a massive affair as 1,228 entries (291 on Day 1a; 410 Day 1b; and 527 Day 1c) packed the ballroom over three starting flights. That surpassed July’s field of 1,169 entrants to make it the largest poker tournament in Wisconsin state history. After two days of play, 32- year-old Craig Trost, a professional in the life sciences field, emerged victorious to capture the title and a $63,252 first-place prize. “I ran like Usain Bolt,” Trost quipped after the win. Prior to the win, Trost had just two documented cashes. The first came in 2014 when he finished 291st in the World Series of Poker Monster Stack for $6,368, and in 2015 he placed sixth in the inaugural MSPT Wisconsin State Poker Championship for $21,289. Trost, who is a respected member of the online Madison Poker Community, is now the winner of the biggest poker tournament ever held Craig Trost in Wisconsin. at the mortgage, and maybe make an upcoming vacation a “It feels pretty good to win the MSPT Poto Regional, little longer.” especially now knowing that it’s the largest poker tournament Trost, who started playing poker in high school, began in Wisconsin history,” Trost said after the win. “At my previous to take the game seriously a year before the “” MSPT final table, I didn’t run very well or play my best, so when Robert Varkonyi won the 2002 World Series of Poker it felt a little redemptive to get this one. I had a blast too. I Main Event. A college kid in Madison at the time, Trost didn’t played with several very tough players over the two days, and have trouble finding a game. I think it really made me raise my game.” “I picked up a fair amount of live tournament experience He continued: “Nothing too exciting planned for the in college playing around Madison, and was a regular in the money, I’m pretty boring in that regard. After Uncle Sam gets early years of free tournament series called Badger Poker,” his chunk, I’ll probably play a few more events, throw some he explained. “I also played cash tournaments around town,

MSPTPOKER.COM FEBRUARY 2017 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 9 Potawatomi Casino and moved to playing a bit online where I had a fair amount of success until Black Friday. Now I play the occasional Potawatomi Casino tournament, as well as a semi-regular home game in Buy-in: $350 ♣ 1,228 Entrants Madison. I’ve always enjoyed tournaments better than cash, but it’s hard to find good tournaments like this one.” Place Name City, State Prize Interestingly, Trost almost locked up first-place money with 1 Craig Trost Madison, WI $63,252 seven players still in the tournament. 2 Thomas Scarber Streator, IL $39,198 “I had half the chips in play and everyone was relatively 3 James Prodzinski Oak Creek, WI $28,508 even,” he said. “I said I’d take first-place money and everyone 4 Jordan Kumm Stevens Point, WI $21,773 else could split the remainder. Almost everyone was on board, 5 Brian Davis McFarland, WI $16,392 but during the talk, Thomas Scarber won a flip to eliminate 6 Erika Obst New Berlin, WI $12,470 a player and then he wanted to continue to play. It obviously worked out better for him than the deal would have. Since 7 Mikiyo Aoki Bozeman, MT $9,621 I had a fairly sizable chip advantage, I didn’t feel any real 8 Pawel Markowicz Harwood Heights, IL $7,483 pressure to make a deal.” 9 Lenard Adams Park Forest, IL $6,058 On Day 2, 201 players (49 from Day 1a; 63 Day 1b; and 89 Day 10 Francisco Ramirez Round Lake, IL $4,989 1c) returned to action including Day 1a chip leader Tommy Vo (282,000), Day 1b leader Al Wolfensberger Leazer (550,500), and Day 1c leader Eddie Wood (388,000). Among the 135 players to cash the event were Season 6 (50th - $1,033), Jeff Grimes (29th - $1,497), Ryan Leng (23rd - MSPT Potawatomi champ Dan Goepel (134th - $606), MSPT $2,351), Michael Kreitzer (15th - $3,920), and Dan Crawford Season 4 Ho-Chunk winner Josh Reichard (91st - $748), (12th – $4,989). Wolfensberger Leazer (78th - $820), start-of-the-day short stack The tour will return to Potawatomi April 1-9 for an $1,100 Howard Hankin (67th - $855), David “The Maven” Gutfreund buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed Main Event.

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GrandCasinoMN.com PAGE 12 Mid-States Poker Tour FEBRUARY 2017 POY Feature Interview A YEAR AFTER FINISHING RUNNER-UP, RICH ALSUP CAPTURES MSPT SEASON 7 PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS BY MSPT POKER STAFF ince its establishment in Season 3, the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Player of the Year race has consistently Scome down to the yearend finale at Canterbury Park. In Season 7, Rich Alsup needed to finish in 27th place or better in December’s Canterbury Park Main Event to take the title from his good friend Carl Carodenuto. He took 26th. Amazingly, it came one year after Alsup finished runner- up to Mark Hodge on the Season 6 POY leaderboard. In that race, which also came down to the MSPT Canterbury Park, Alsup needed to finish seventh or better at the final table. He busted in ninth place. This season, Alsup came on strong late with three cashes inside a month. Throughout the year, Alsup had six cashes in Season 7 for $126,639 and three final table appearances. That included a runner-up finish to Carodenuto in the MSPT Golden Gates for $68,919, fourth in the MSPT 2016 Wisconsin State Poker Championship for $34,280, and sixth in the MSPT Running Aces for $13,287. For his accomplishment, Alsup will receive POY recognition and an $1,100 Main Event seat to the Mid-Season Championship at The Venetian in Las Vegas as well as $400 cash toward airfare. He will also receive $250 to every Mid- States Poker Tour (MSPT) Main Event in Season 8 (up to Rich Alsup $5,000). In addition, Kondler & Associates, CPAs will provide Alsup with free tax services for all his winnings. a week at his townhouse loft.” Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the 32-year-old After getting his feet wet in a serious game, Alsup headed Alsup is one of four children born to Dan and Darlene Alsup, to nearby Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota to take a who were a school teacher and probation officer respectively. shot in their $6/$12, $8/$16, and even $15-$30 games. Upon graduating from Wayzata High School, where he played “The games at Canterbury ended up being a lot tougher baseball and basketball, Alsup worked several jobs in the than my local home game at the Hobb's house, but I was hospitality and insurance industries. However, when he determined to keep playing and become a better player,” turned 23, he quickly found that poker was his true passion. says Alsup. “It took me a few years of grinding it out before “I was 12 years old playing against my neighbor Aaron I had enough confidence to start winning enough to support Tallbot,” Alsup says when asked how and when he learned myself without a regular job.” poker. “We played a variety of games such as Stud, five-card A few years ago, Alsup began playing on the MSPT and , wild cards, and played for $5 a match. This went on for notched two cashes in Season 5, including his first final table. a couple summers until I kind of lost interest and moved on to Then, in Season 6, he had five cashes, including a runner-up other activities. When I turned 18, I got back into poker when finish in the MSPT Meskwaki, a tournament he would go on my good friend, Dan Hobbs, started hosting a game 3-4 nights to win eight months later. It was a great overall performance

MSPTPOKER.COM FEBRUARY 2017 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 13 Player of the Year second only to Hodge. optimistic, which as time went on turned to confidence. I love “After coming so close in Season 6, then to come back and the blind structure of the MSPT because it really gives me win it in Season 7 was pretty surreal,” says Alsup of his two time to utilize the skills I have developed over the years.” incredible years. “Having fun playing poker and supporting Carodenuto, the tour’s only three-time champion, had myself were my primary drivers, but winning Player of the been friends with Alsup for many years, and while they had Year was a true thrill and just made the year even better. I a friendly rivalry going, he was quick to congratulate Alsup. hope to carry on my winning streak next year.” He even invited him to come check out his new digs down in Capturing the title wasn’t easy though as Carodenuto held a Florida. 100-point lead over him heading into the last stop of the year. As for Alsup, he’s already looking ahead to the future. Six others were also within striking distance of the title, but “I will be on tour in Season 8 playing as many tournaments when most of them failed to make Day 2 of the tournament, as I can, both in Minnesota and throughout the country. I a feat Alsup accomplished on Day 1A, he knew it was his to haven't set my New Year’s goals yet, but I am sure that winning lose. the title next year will be included.” “I had a good chip count and felt confident, but I know Congratulations to Rich Alsup, the MSPT Season 7 Player how quickly things can change,” he explains. “Overall I felt of the Year!

Rich Alsup (center) with MSPT Pro Blake Bohn (left) and Season 6 POY Mark Hodge (right)

MSPTPOKER.COM canterburypark.com canterburypark.com PAGE 16 Mid-States Poker Tour FEBRUARY 2017 Event Preview MSPT HEADED TO TROPICANA EVANSVILLE FEB. 18-26 FOR $350 REGIONAL EVENT

BY MSPT POKER STAFF rom February 18-26, Season 8 of the Mid-States Poker a combination Evansville hotel & riverboat casino owned Tour (MSPT) will continue with a $350 buy-in, $50,000 and operated by Tropicana Entertainment. The property is Fguaranteed Regional Event at Tropicana Evansville in a $212 million entertainment complex, located on the scenic Evansville, Indiana. A series of satellites will feed into the banks of the Ohio River, in southwestern Indiana. It includes Regional Event, which will take place February 23-26. a 2,700-passenger riverboat casino featuring over 1,000 slot The Regional Event will feature three starting flights games and 40 table games, including a dedicated poker room. beginning with Day 1A at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23. Day Accommodations include the Tropicana Evansville Hotel 1B will take place at the same time on Friday, Feb. 24, while with 243 standard rooms and 10 suites and the Le Merigot Day 1C will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25. The boutique hotel with 91 Standard Rooms and five suites. surviving players from each flight will then return for Day 2 Additional features include a conference center, riverfront at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday to play down to a winner. pavilion, entertainment district, and a 1,660-vehicle attached The latest MSPT Tropicana Evansville Regional, the second parking garage. held at the venue, will be the 15th Regional Event since their The property showcases nine dining options, eleven bars inception at the beginning of 2015. The Regional Events are and nightclubs and a gift shop. One of the most popular designed to offer players the opportunity to play MSPT’s dining options is Cavanaugh’s, which serves the finest cuisine lauded “Chainsaw-Approved” $1,100 Main Event structure at paired with sweeping river views—the perfect place for the a more affordable price. perfect dining experience. The casual upscale atmosphere In the first MSPT Regional at Tropicana Evansville, which of Cavanaugh’s is the ideal place to meet friends or clients. took place in January 2016, Adam Thomas topped a field of Enjoy signature martinis, delicious appetizers or indulge 416 entrants to win a $30,674 first-place prize. in Cavanaugh’s full dinner menu. You can also enjoy live “Tropicana Evansville is one of the most scenic stops on entertainment nightly at Cavanaugh’s piano bar. the tour that sits right across the river from Kentucky,” said For a full list of dining and entertainment options, visit MSPT President Bryan Mileksi. “Our tournaments get bigger tropevansville.com. each time we visit Indiana, and we expect the upcoming Regional Event to put last year’s number to shame. No poker tournament out there will give you more bang for your buck, so it’s not to be missed.” Each August, Tropicana Evansville hosts the $1,100 buy-in MSPT Indiana State Poker Championship. Earl Potter took down the last state title by outlasting a 340-runner field to take the largest share of the $340,000 total prize pool, earning $82,450 for the win. Tropicana Evansville is Earl Potter - 2016 Indiana State Poker Champion

MSPTPOKER.COM FEBRUARY 2017 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 17 Tropicana Evansville

MSPTPOKER.COM come play Poker - Simulcast - Racing - Dining Now Offering One Card Poker Two Card Poker Three Card Poker Ultimate Texas Hold’em Pai Gow Jacksonville Orange Park 201 Monument Road 455 Park Avenue www.bestbetjax.com | 904-646-0001 FEBRUARY 2017 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 19 Industry Insiders NATHAN “CAGE” YANCHUNIS ON POKER AT GOLDEN GATES IN BLACK HAWK, COLORADO

BY MSPT POKER STAFF f you’ve been to Golden Gates Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado, there’s Ia good chance you’ve met Nathan “Cage” Yanchunis. He’s lived in town even before gaming was approved in 1991, at which time he worked in Jazz Alley, which no longer exists (it’s now Golden Gulch), as a dishwasher. In the years that followed, he worked in numerous casinos throughout town before getting a gig as a brush at the Gilpin Casino poker room in 2003.

MSPT: How did you come to work at Golden Gates? Cage: The poker room manager at the time was previously a floor supervisor at the Gilpin where I had trained. I was in need of a job, so I sent him a message. I asked if I needed to audition, and his reply was, “Cage doesn’t audition.” I was hired that Wednesday. That was six years ago. What sort of duties does your job entail? Cage: I do scheduling, hiring/firing, auditions, reviews, tournament directing, tournament schedules, blind structuring, table felting, Bravo repairs, promotional initiatives, coordinating with MSPT, floor meetings, corporate stuff, tech support, some light coding, and I still try to do a couple shifts a week out on the floor. What sort of amenities does Golden Gates offer? Why should respectively. This is on top of $2 for food comps which, if players play there? you’re keeping count, is upward of 70% investment towards Cage: We offer free parking; everyone comes and parks in our players. Not to mention that we have the largest and best our garage. We are in the process of building a new restaurant tournaments in Colorado. at our sister property across the street that is expected to be Speaking of which, how do your players feel about the MSPT? four-star. The crab cakes are supposed to be phenomenal. Cage: I have heard nothing but good things from the What sort of promotions does the Golden Gates offer poker players. It is a very well-structured event, and the staff do a players? phenomenal job by being accessible and available to take Cage: Our Rakeback promotion is our signature promotion. feedback and responding to players in a timely fashion. You 20 hours, 30 hours, and 40 hours can get you $100, $200, $300 guys put a lot of work into your tour and it shows.

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Strategy presented by Jonathan Little KEN PATES CALLS OFF W/ A10 SUITED, BUT WAS HE RIGHT TO DO SO? BY CHAD HOLLOWAY

n the Season 7 Mid-States Poker Tour How about Pates calling off his remaining 94,000 with ace-ten? finale at Canterbury Park, an interesting Pates had to call 94,000 into a that will be 250,000, meaning he needs Iand took place just inside the money. to win 37.6% of the time. There are payout jump implications, so perhaps he ALL DAY With 31 players remaining in the tournament needs to win closer to 41% of the time to justify the risk. Versus a reasonable and the blinds at 5,000/10,000/1,000, Ken Pates range, he will win 45% of the time: was sitting with 121,000 and Devi Berkowitz Since he will win EVERY DAY barely had him covered with 128,000. Pates 45% of the time and kicked things off with a raise to 27,000 from the he only needs to win cutoff and was met by an all-in three-bet from 41% of the time to Berkowitz in the small blind. Pates called off have a reasonable SUN: 8am-3pm $50 Splash Pots (every 15 minutes) and the cards were turned up. edge, he has an easy *Football Splash Pots February 5th call. When you raise Berkowitz: K Q ♥ ♣ and face an all-in for Pates: A 10 ER MON: 8am Start $50 Aces Cracked & $25 Splashed ♠ ♠ 15 big blinds or less, $1,500 Minimum Payout Berkowitz needed to improve to eliminate you should usually TUE: 8am-3pm High Hand the MSPT champ, but that proved easier call with all your $100/$50/$50 Hourly said than done as the board ran out a lowly decent hands. 3♦5♦4♥7♦3♣. Pates doubled on the hand while Do you think either 12am - 11:59pm Spade & Club VIP Appreciation Berkowitz was left with just 7,000. player should have $25 added to all Poker Promos We had the opportunity to speak with two- played this hand WED: 8am - 3pm $50 Splash Pots time World Poker Tour champ and noted poker different? coach Jonathan Little to get his take on the I think both players Every 15 Minutes hand. played their hands THU: 8am Start High Hand What do you make of Berkowitz’s shove from perfectly. A♠10♠ is $100/$50/$50 Hourly the small blind with king-queen? Is this a hand certainly a strong you’d shove with? enough hand to raise. FRI: 8am Start $50 Aces Cracked & $25 Splashed Especially from the small blind, you should KQ's only decent $1,500 Minimum Payout go all in or fold most of your playable hands option is to go all-in, SAT: 8am - 3pm High Hand when you have a 13-big-blind stack. If you call and the A10 is getting with the intention of check-folding when you the right odds to call. When situations like this arise, someone is going broke. $100/$50/$50 Hourly do not improve on the pot, you will lose 2.8 big Neither player did anything wrong, but one player is sent packing while the EVERY DAY: Bounty Bonus Board blinds too often to justify calling. Instead, if other gets to keep playing with a nice chip stack. Many players dislike this you go all in, you will have some preflop fold aspect of tournaments, but if you consistently grind up your stack by winning 3pm - 1pm Win Your Share of $1,450 equity. When your opponent is raising with lots of small pots, you will have to lose two all-in confrontations before going

DAILY POK DAILY PROMOTIONS hands like weak aces, suited connectors, and broke while your opponents will only be able to lose one. LATE NIGHT $50 High Hand Progressive Board small pairs, and when you get called, you will For more on Little, follow him on Twitter @JonathanLittle. usually have a decent amount of equity, as he EVERY NIGHT M-F: 1-8am | S&S: 2-8am Every Night: 1-8am PokerCoaching.com is an interactive poker learning experience from two-time *Bonus Splash Pots for MN games played on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. did here. WPT Champion Jonathan Little. Try it for free at PokerCoaching.com/mspt.

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