So it goes for the upcoming Bellagio 5-Diamond event in April — which features a ridiculous 17 rebuy tournaments as its preliminary events. Seriously, someone has lost it here, right? We’ll see if we can’t get a comment from Tourney Director Jack McClelland on what’s the thought process behind this. Because right now, the best we can deduce arbitrarily surmise is that maybe it would be contractually better for him to get fired as opposed to resigning?

Some players were so incensed by this rebuy-crazy sked, supposedly, that they began circulating a petition to change the schedule back to its original set-up — a scheduling revolt supposedly led by Scott Clements. And in it, they proposed an alternative that seemed to make more sense. However, according to 2+2, the Bellagio has said thanks-but-no-thanks to the suggestion — leaving some players already talking about skipping this series, and a few media types excited about the pending collapse.

(The basics of the beef: the blinds move too slow early, and too fast in the middle of the tournament.)

Should be extra interesting to see these issues in action tomorrow for the start of the WPT Festa al Lago $15k main event. Not only are stack sizes in relation to the blinds in play, but also — and I’m pretty sure this part is new — players will be allowed to late-register (with a totally fresh starting stack) well into Day 2!

For a better explanation, WPT Lead Tournament Reporter BJ Nemeth breaks it down a bit more. Says BJ:

There are currently 40 players registered for this WPT event, & there is only one starting day (tomorrow).

Like the December tourney, this one will let you register anytime during the first *eight* levels. [So] they’re letting players register until 5:00 pm on Day TWO.

This tourney begins with 60,000 in chips (4x stack) and blinds at 50-100. That’s 600 big blinds. (Though I still expect someone to bust in the first level or two.)

If you skip Day 1 and show up at the start of Day 2, you’ll have 75 big blinds to work with. If you wait as long as possible and begin play at the start of Level 9, you’ll have 37.5 big blinds in your stack.

Hmm, OK … we’ll have to see if this adds fuel to Andy Bloch’s fire, or satisfies those who pony up the $15k buy-in enough that complaints about overly deep stacks fail to grow any teeth. Word is that tournament-side WSOP officials will be watching closely at how it plays out.

Click below to see Bellagio’s venerable TD Jack McClelland’s blind structure for tomorrow’s big event in its entirety:

General Rules:

1. Players will start with $60,000 in tournament chips.

2. Each level will last 90 minutes.

3. 15 minute break at the end of each level.

4. 3% of prize money will be withheld for poker room staff.

5. NO RE-BUYS: Your chips will be confiscated and you will NOT RECEIVE A REFUND OR COLLECT ANY PRIZE MONEY.

6. Management reserves the right to change or cancel tournaments.

7. Winners will be paid in casino chips.

8. Tournament champion will receive a $25,500 + $500 entry for the 2010 WPT Championship event.

9. 10/21/09-Day 1-play 5 levels, 10/22/09-play 5 levels, 10/23-play 5 levels, 10/24-play 5 levels, 10/25-play to final six players, 10/26-T.V. final table.

10. Residents of foreign countries without a U.S. tax treaty will be subject to withholding.

Blinds

Level 1: 50-100
Level 2: 100-200
Level 3: 100-200 (25 ante)
Level 4: 200-400 (25)
Level 5: 300-600 (50)
Level 6: 400-800 (75)
Level 7: 500-1,000 (100)
Level 8: 600-1,200 (100)
Level 9: 800-1,600 (200)
Level 10: 1,000-2,000 (200)
Level 11: 1,200-2,400 (300)
Level 12: 1,500-3,000 (400)
Level 13: 2,000-4,000 (400)
Level 14: 3,000-6,000 (500)
Level 15: 4,000-8,000 (500)
Level 16: 5,000-10,000 (1,000)
Level 17: 6,000-12,000 (1,000)
Level 18: 8,000-16,000 (2,000)
Level 19: 10,000-20,000 (2,000)
Level 20: 12,000-24,000 (3,000)
Level 21: 15,000-30,000 (4,000)
Level 22: 20,000-40,000 (4,000)
Level 23: 30,000-60,000 (5,000)
Level 24: 40,000-80,000 (5,000)
Level 25: 50,000-100,000 (10,000)
Level 26: 60,000-120,000 (10,000)
Level 27: 80,000-160,000 (15,000)
Level 28: 100,000-200,000 (15,000)
Level 29: 120,000-240,000 (20,000)
Level 30: 150,000-300,000 (25,000)
Level 31: 200,000-400,000 (25,000)
Level 32: 300,000-600,000 (50,000)
Level 33: 400,000-800,000 (75,000)
Level 34: 500,000-1,000,000 (100,000)

The first open event at the WSOP also has the highest buyin for a no-limit holdem event. Event #2, the 40th Anniversary $40,000 NL Holdem starts at 12 noon. Players will start with 300 BBs (120,000 in chips), so don’t expect too much action on day one of the four day event. What will be highly anticipated is the number of entrants for this event. Most are expecting around 225-300 to try and get themselves on the ESPN final table on Sunday afternoon.

My first over/under prediction didn’t go so well, as I was over 200 off and was below the WSOP Staff Guide’s projection for the Casino Employees event. I’ll try to get myself to 1-1 by stating that the field will be well over the 150 projected by the WSOP, with a final field size of 237. More updates to come as the day progresses.

(And the way the FIDPA 80 work … they leave room for adjustments, so theoretically you could go to a tourney and the TD woulds say, “We’re using FIDPA rules today, except for #47, where we’re going to let you blah blah blah” or “… and we have one extra rule of our own: no coughing.”)

The WPA meanwhile, seems to have moved their rules agenda to the backburner, focusing instead on tournament rake — pushing for more sponsorship/commercial money to be added to major event prize pools, a la the PGA:

It’s a disgrace that tournament poker players for the most part do not share the revenue generated by their participation in events (e.g. television, sponsorship, etc). In most or all events players put in all of the prize money via the buy-in, have 6-10% of their money taken out, and only a small number of participants make a payday. Any revenue generated by sponsors or other means is not shared with you the players.

This is something we must change.

This is the WPA’s principal focus. This is why you joined the WPA. This is why we need your support.

Yeow! I’m not so sure I agree with the not-shared part … those waters they put on the table ain’t free, ya know! But the All In Energy Drink is!

Though I suppose both operations ultimately wanna become the FIFA of poker, it looks like their going about it in two kinda different ways

Hmmm. Where have I heard that before? Oh, never mind…

The IP Rules have been created in cooperation with the Tournament Directors Association, Bob Ciaffone’s Robert’s Rules of Poker, and Jack McClelland and Doug Dalton of Bellagio, among others. There are a total of 80 rules, procedures, and policies that will be announced at a later date.

Note to self: This sounds an awful lot like the World Poker Association (WPA)!

Click the “more” button to see the entire press release:

Las Vegas, Nevada (PRWEB) July 18, 2008 — Professional poker players Marcel Luske, “The Flying Dutchman,” and Michelle Lau introduce The Federation Internationale de Poker Association (FIDPA) and “The International Poker Rules” (IP Rules), for tournament play, to promote poker as a sport and unite the poker industry on a global level.

In collaboration with leading industry professionals, Luske and Lau created the IP Rules to provide uniformity in card rooms and tournaments worldwide. With cooperation from the Poker Tournament Directors Association (TDA), Bob Ciaffone, author of Robert’s Rules of Poker, Jack McClelland and Doug Dalton of Bellagio, and many other leading authorities and resources from around the world, the IP Rules allow the players and the industry to learn, play and operate by a single set of complete tournament rules to provide worldwide consistency.

The IP Rules consists of 80 technical rules, policies and procedures for tournament play, that reference and incorporate the latest version of the TDA’s 40 rules. The IP Rules provide a standardized set of tournament rules that are fully modifiable by a tournament director, tournament organizer or card room management. The IP Rules allow card rooms and tournaments to modify the rules in accordance to House Rules, State, Federal and Country Gaming Commission laws and regulations and/or the Tournament Director’s procedures and policies. All modifications made to the IP Rules will be provided to the players and will take precedence in that venue for the tournament.

The IP Rules serve as the official resource for players, dealers, floor people, tournament directors and the entire poker industry. The IP Rules were written in a player-friendly language and provide basic information for new, novice and professional players to learn and understand the fundamental rules needed for tournament play. The IP Rules also provides the industry with the essential information to train and operate with the necessary consistency.

Luske said, “As poker has exploded, the beauty of having one set of rules that everyone can learn and follow is such a big step for the game and as a sport. New players and professional players finally have a resource from which to learn and play. Poker is a game that requires skill and knowledge and should be played with fairness and integrity.”

FIDPA will promote and implement the IP Rules by endorsing card rooms and poker tournaments worldwide. The FIDPA endorsement recognizes the leaders in the poker industry and acknowledges their commitment to excellence, professionalism and fairness. The FIDPA endorsement also represents their effort to unite and strengthen the poker industry through the use of the IP Rules.

Lau stated, “With the support of Doug Dalton and Jack McClelland at Bellagio, one of the world’s finest card rooms, FIDPA and the IP Rules are off to a great start. We still have a lot of ground to cover but the fact of the matter is that there really is no reason why a card room or tournament should not use the IP Rules as a base. A standardized set of rules are desperately needed, as a professional poker player traveling around the world to play in tournaments, there is absolutely no way to know the different rules in every country or even from venue to venue. By allowing tournament directors to make and disclose any necessary modifications prior to a tournament, we can now know the rules, simply note the changes and be able to ensure the rulings are made are fairly.”

Bellagio is the first FIDPA endorsed card room in the world. FIDPA’s mission to unify and strengthen the industry begins with the education and implementation of a standardized set of rules. Known as the world’s No. 1 poker room, Bellagio has set the benchmark for the entire poker industry. Bellagio has adopted the IP Rules in conjunction with Bellagio Cup IV and the World Poker Tour’s main event which began Friday, July 11.

Jack McClelland, Director of Poker Tournaments at Bellagio, said, “We have a large number of international poker players who compete in our tournaments on a regular basis. We want to make sure they are comfortable with the rules and hope to maintain consistency in rulings worldwide. Bellagio is happy to support both domestic and international tournament efforts which in turn will strengthen our position as the leader in the industry. We look forward to a successful partnership with FIDPA.”

ABOUT FIDPA

In 2002, as the founding father of the International Poker Federation (IPF), Marcel Luske successfully created and developed a governing body for the European poker world, raising standards and bringing awareness to the sport of poker. With the international growth of poker, Marcel Luske decided to restructure this European organization to expand his vision worldwide and the former IPF has reemerged as FIDPA. In 2008, Marcel Luske, Founder and President and Michelle Lau, Co-Founder and CEO, began their mission to broaden and increase participation by ensuring the game is played with fairness and operated with professionalism in player friendly environments.

As an international organization, FIDPA connects the poker industry, organizations, federations, and its players by providing support, information, and communication, to elevate, educate, and connect the poker world on a global level. www.fidpa.com will be launched in late 2008.

Contacts: Michelle Lau, (702) 308-2808

FIDPA, fidpa.com@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Scott Ghertner, (702) 650-7565

MGM MIRAGE Public Relations

The $1,500 NL Holdem final table just completed and it was down to a Woo and a Wood for the bracelet (w00t!). David Woo from Atlanta, GA defeated Matt Wood from Whitby, Ontario, Canada to win just over $630,000 and a coveted bracelet. Wood has the consolation of taking home almost $390,000 US back to the Great White North. Woo was bolstered when he knocked out the 2nd and 3rd chip leaders (Thom Werthmann and Curtis Early) with 6 left on the same hand, when he flopped the nut straight against top two pair and an open ended straight draw.

Other tournament action on the next page:

The $2,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball event is down to 10, with 6 moving to the final table. Billy Baxter has won 7 bracelets, all in lowball events, and started today in 30th out of 30 remaining. Baxter showed his true greatness today, as he won pot after pot to at one point he was chip leader. At this time he has settled into 3rd place at the moment behind John Phan and Robert Mizrachi. Other notable names remaining: Steve Sung, David Sklansky and Mike Wattel.

The only tournament today, the $1,500 NL Holdem Seniors World Championship, set a record with 2,218 participants, of which about 500 are remaining. Among the leaders: Tom Franklin, Men Nguyen, Tom McEvoy and Bellagio tournament director Jack Mclelland.

The other tournament on the floor today, the $1,500 Mixed Holdem event, has 31 remaining in the field as they play down to their final table. Not many notable names remain, but you can go hereto follow the action.

More to come later tonight from Dan/Jen, and I come back tomorrow with more exciting stuff…

Bellagio tourney director Jack McLelland introduced a little democracy to the WPT today — responding to some complaints on Daniel Negreanu’s blog* — by putting his show-one-show-both rule to a vote among the remaining players, who overwhelmingly supported this seemingly sensible mid-tourney change. The short-stack lobby, however, was unsuccessful in persuading the Bellagio’s Dear Tourney Leader to lower the blinds.

From the WPT Live Updates:

Rule Change!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 12:15 PM PDT

Before the start of play, Daniel Negreanu and Jack McClelland stood up on the stage next to the featured table to make an announcement.

McClelland talked about Negreanu’s blog, stating that Negreanu’s complaints about the show one card, show both rule may be valid, and that he would like to put it to a vote.

So he asked the room if they would be opposed to a rule change. The response was overwhelming to say the least. Nearly every person in the room voted to change the rule.

McClelland responded with, “In the words of Steve Lipscomb, “Ahh…. F#%K it,”" and just like that the rule was changed.

Players are still not allowed to flash a card in the middle of the hand, however. The rule only allows you to flash a card after the hand is over.

After McClelland gave himself a 20-minute penalty [for language], he did warn the players that he has been training the dealers for three years to turn both cards over, and that they should be patient with them as they learn the new rule all over again.

*NOTE: Still looking for a direct link to the post McClelland was referring to. If anyone has it, please pass along. Thanks.