Whether or not you think delaying the final table of the Main Event of the World Series of Poker is a good idea or a bad idea, one good trend that began last year and continues this year is that the WSOP has a lot of non-Texas Hold'em events. While obviously the big main event is the classic, cadillac of poker, no-limit Texas Hold'em, a much higher percentage of the preliminary events are other poker games. Here are the rules & how-tos for some of the other poker games to be played when the 2008 World Series of Poker kicks off:

• Seven Card Stud High
• Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo
• Razz
• Omaha
• 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball

Of course, there's also the H.O.R.S.E rotation poker tournaments which require skill at at four of the above variations PLUS Hold'em. I can't wait.

Recently, it was announced that the final table of the main event of the World Series of Poker will be played in November, a delay of month after the final table is set and the rest of the World Series has ended in July. Some players think it's the "worst. idea. ever" while others think it's a good thing. What do you think of it? Vote below!

Poll: What Do You Think of Delaying the WSOP Main Event Final Table?

• It's a good idea
• It's a bad idea
• It has good and bad points to it
• I don't think it will make a difference
• I don't know or care
• View Results

Allen Cunningham, one of my favorite poker pros, has just won a tough final table to win a World Series of Poker circuit event at Caesars in Las Vegas. How can you not root for a guy who once brought his tablemates a bunch of scones during a tournament? Despite starting heads-up play down by a 4 to 1 stack margin, he managed to fight back against 24-year-old Ben Fineman and win the tournament and the $499,162 prize.
_{Photo (c) Toby Bochan}

An email I just got from the WSOP people confirms a rumor that had already been swirling around: The final table of the main event at the World Series of Poker will be played months and months after the rest of the World Series has ended, in November. According to the press release:

“Our intent is to provide an even bigger stage for our players,” said Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the World Series of Poker. “Now fans and viewers will ask ‘who will win’ our coveted championship bracelet instead of seeing ‘who won.’ The excitement and interest surrounding our final nine players will be unprecedented.”
The Main Event will begin on July 3rd, with the Final Table being determined on July 14th. The nine players who advance to the Final Table will return to the Rio on November 9th to play down to just two players. The final two, will go head-to-head late in the evening on November 10th to determine the champion and winner of poker’s ultimate prize.
The winner of the Main Event is expected to be crowned in the early hours of November 11. ESPN will edit the two-day Final Table action and televise it in a two-hour program from 9:00-11:00 PM ET on Tuesday, November 11 just hours after the winner is crowned.

While Daniel Negreanu, is quoted as being "very excited about this decision" I can't say I feel the same. I feel like part of the feat of the World Series Champ is the marathon endurance of surviving so many days of non-stop play. Also, it seems to me the time in between will allow players to learn about any poker pros at their table they may not have before. For instance, if Dan Harrington makes the final table and someone there hasn't read his outstanding books on No-Limit Hold'em, it gives them months to read the books, study his game, and change the way they play against him. What do you think of this news?

Related links:

• World Series of Poker Central
• WSOP Main Event Champs
• Updated 2008 WSOP schedule

Poor Shannon Elizabeth is having a rough week. After facing bad reviews for "Deal" she had to then deal with getting voted off "Dancing with the Stars" last night. She wasn't the lowest-scoring "star," but I guess rumors of a show-mance with her dancing partner weren't enough to get fans to call in for her. Ah well, Shannon, there's always the poker.

Related Resouces:

• Shannon Elizabeth Profile
• Reviews for Elizabeth's poker movie 'Deal'

If you think you're an expert on poker legends and professionals, try our quiz on poker pros and prove it.

Related Resource: Profiles of the Poker Pros

Yet another poker movie, "Deal," is coming out this week, and based on its limited release schedule, I don't have a good feeling about it. It's not a good sign if a movie isn't opening anywhere in New York City. It does have Burt Reynolds in it, but that may not save it from being added to my list of the Worst Poker Movies Ever, a list I expect to only grow each year.

Chris Ferguson (pictured), Andrew Bloch, Annie Duke, Phil Gordon, and Howard Lederer announced yesterday that they have settled a lawsuit against WPT Enterprises, the people who run the World Poker Tour. The five pros filed the suit in July, 2006, because they believed the WPT's player's release violated antitrust laws. According to the press realease,

"In settling their dispute, WPTE and the poker players agreed to implement a new standard form release that will be provided to all players at all WPT tournaments and events going forward. WPTE continues to deny any liability or wrongdoing, but wants to settle its differences with the players so that the tour can focus on its continued growth rather than litigation. No monetary compensation was exchanged between the parties as a result of the settlement. "

So the good news for all is that the new players release will apply to anyone playing in a WPT event, and that we'll see these five return to these tournaments.
_{Photo (C) Toby Bochan>}.

If you're just starting out at poker, the very first thing to learn are the hand rankings, or what beats what in poker. The same list applies to all high-hand poker games from five-card draw to Texas Hold'em. So read up on the one-pager of the 10 best Poker Hands, or if you're a visual person, check out the Poker Hand Rankings From Best to Worst illustrated guide.

_{Photo (c) Toby Bochan}

Poker legend Erik Seidel is perhaps best known to the public by his loss to Johnny Chan in the 1988 World Series of Poker, which was featured in the movie Rounders, but among poker people, he is known as an amazing player who has won 8 WSOP bracelets since that fateful match. Late last week, he finally added a World Poker Tour win to his impressive bio, beating a final table at Foxwoods which included fellow pro Ted Forrest. But after an 11-hour batter, Seidel beat Robert Richardson for the $967,390 prize, which is his biggest tournament win to date.

Read more:

• Erik Seidel Profile
• Johnny Chan Profile
• Ted Forrest Profile
• World Poker Tour 101

_{Photo of Erik Seidel (c) Matt Law}