Yes, we are closed, and we think – as do you too, hopefully – that is highly regrettable. However, … there is nothing to prevent you from honing your casino skills at home, or from trying out your best poker face in the mirror. Casino games in quarantine – for something a bit different …

Because the aim is not to arrange a casino evening at home, of course, we are focusing on solo activities. A nice game of cards is indispensable in this case.

By the way, did you know that the Chinese invented card games? The first traces of paper playing cards date from the seventh century. According to tradition, Emperor Mu-Tsung played ‘domino cards’ with his wife. Symbols such as a horse, crow, pheasant, fish, or rabbit were depicted on these cards.

Card games were first introduced into Europe in the fourteenth century. The first cards were made by hand, but that was very time-consuming and costly. The printing press was what gave an impetus to card games.

In films you often see artists at work shuffling a deck of cards in the most ingenious manner. Is that something you can practice yourself?

Or would you rather stick with your poker face? As you are no doubt aware, in many cases non-verbal rather than verbal communication is more important. Look out for sudden movements of the eyebrows and lips. That is an indication of nervousness. And if you begin breathing more rapidly, your smart opponents will notice something is up. This can happen when the flop (the first three cards), the turn (the fourth card) or the river (the fifth card) is shown. Your breathing can express excitement or disappointment when the cards are shown. Incidentally, touching your nose or ears is not a good idea either when playing poker. This indicates a certain level of unease that is at odds with the concept of ‘adopting a poker face’.

So find your perfect poker face. Perhaps you can practice during one of our favourite poker films. We are happy to propose a selection for you:

Casino Royale
James Bond and villain Le Chiffre take their seats around the poker table in Montenegro. The stakes are sky-high and the tension great. A rollercoaster with special effects that has a surprising climax in Venice.

Rounders
Matt Damon and Edward Norton shine in this poker film from 1998. Two shrewd poker fanatics play to pay off Norton’s debts. He has just been released from prison and is being pursued by a gang of heavy-handed creditors.

Maverick
Maverick, played by Mel Gibson, is a gambler who wants to compete in a well-known championship on a riverboat. It is a high-stakes ‘Winner Takes All’ poker game. In order to participate, he needs USD 25,000. To increase his chances, he forges a pact with a female poker player (played by Jodie Foster).

The Cincinnati Kid
The Cincinnati Kid, notorious in 1930s New Orleans, is a true classic. ‘The Kid’ (played by Steve McQueen) takes on the legendary champion ‘The Man’ in a high-stakes poker game. What follows is a tremendously exciting poker game to decide who will become the poker king of New Orleans.

Photo ⓒ MomoFotografi

Mauvaise passe pour les Français puisque le tenant du titre Laurent Polito n’est plus dans le coup.

Laurent a précédé Vincent Londez et Nicolas Faure de quelques secondes dans le rail.

Davor Anticevic a lui aussi quitté ses camarades, tout comme le Néerlandais Albert Hoekendijk et l’Américain Maxime Broyer.

Ils ne sont donc plus que 40 en lice dans le Main Event alors qu’il ne reste plus que 33 minutes dans le niveau 2500 – 5000 (500). Le floor vient de demander aux croupiers d’annoncer les tapis quand ils sont payés.

Après une ouverture, Barry Gallo (photo) 3-bet à 23 000 jetons du bouton. Fred Leonetti porte alors les enchères à 60 000 jetons en petite blinde et provoque un fold du relanceur initial.

L’ancien responsable du Casino Viage entre dans le tank et se fait timer. Il call quelques secondes avant que sa main ne soit brûler pour découvrir un flop  .

Fred Leonetti pousse son tapis et son adversaire jette rapidement, préférant se garder 70 000 jetons derrière.

Le Français grimpe lui à 400 000 jetons.

Morten Mortensen aura joué moins d’un level dans ce Jour 2 du High Roller WPT DeepStacks Brussels.

Dernier enregistré du tournoi, le Danois s’incline avec   contre   chez Matthias De Meulder pour un pot de 35 blindes.

Le Belge grimpe à 220 000 jetons à l’issue de ce coup.

Il reste moins de 10 minutes de jeu dans ce premier niveau de la journée, il y aura ensuite un rapide chiprace et les blindes passeront à 1500 – 3000 (500).

Pieyre Maggi has won the WSOP Circuit Main Event in Brussels for €100.000! As a shortstack he survived several all-ins, after that he got the deal done. Ricardo Manquant and Adrian Garcia Galipenso became second and third.

The WSOP Circuit €1.675 Main Event started today at 1pm for the final. €100.000 and WSOPC ring were on the line. Ricardo Manquant from France started as the chipleader.

They started with the last two tables, two of the remaining players would miss the final table. Shota Bobokhidze knocked out on the 11th place for €6.385. After Pierre Tilmant lost with K Q against the 5 5 of Ricardo Manquant, the final table was set.

Seat 01 – Zurab Beradze – 247.000
Seat 02 – Marc Janssen – 1.160.000
Seat 03 – Adrian Garcia Galipienso – 1.199.000
Seat 04 – Aleksandre Maisuradze – 1.204.000
Seat 05 – Ricardo Manquant – 2.260.000
Seat 06 – Julien Sitbon – 1.179.000
Seat 07 – Pieyrre Maggi – 918.000
Seat 08 – Paul McLoughlin – 316.000
Seat 09 – Mick Heder – 317.000

Mick Heder (9th, €9.250) from Denmark had a very short run on the final table. In the first hand he lost with  7 7 against the 9 9 of Adrian Garcia Galipienso, and didn’t got any help from the board. Shortstack Zurab Beradze (8th, €12.400) lost his last chips with Q 9 to Garcia Galipienso, who hit a six on the flop holding T 6.

The Spaniard was responsible for the bust of Julien Sitbon (7th, €15.780). On A J 6 2 5  Sitbon was put all-in by Garcia Galipienso. After a long tank, the call came with A Q. It’s was not enough to beat the A J of Garcia Galipienso.

Some moments later Marc Jansen (6e, €19.000) was at risk with A K against the 7 7 of Manquant. Another 7 appeared on the flop which left Janssen no chance.

Paul McLoughlin (5th, €23.000) check-raised all-in with Q J on T 9 7, Garcia Galipienso called with K K. No help for the British player on turn or river.

Aleksandre Maisuradze (4th, €31.000) was the next player to leave the tournament. On A K 3 Q 4 he lost with 9 9 to the nutflush of Manquant, who played Q J.

After that Adrian Garcia Galipienso (3rd, €43.000) some big pots in a row and became the shortest stack. He lost his stack with 2 2 when Manquant called with A 3. and the board A K Q 8 J was.

The heads-up became a battle between Ricardo Manquant and Pieyre Maggi. The Belgian was the shortest with 2 million chips, Manquant played 6,8 miljoen .

Maggi doubled early on and gained the chiplead. Manquant went all-in with A 5 and was behind to the A J of Maggi. The board  9 7 2 6 2 got dealed in favor of the Brussels resident.

Ricardo Manquant (2nd, €68.000) had  great run in Main Event but ended as the runner-up. Pieyre Maggi (1st, €100.000) became the winner of the WSOP Circuit Main Event. Good game, sir!

Result WSOP Circuit Brussel Main Event:

Pieyre Maggi has kept the title in Belgium! In a fast and furious heads up he mangaed to defeat Ricardo Manquant and grab the WSOP ring!

It all went in preflop in the deciding hand with Manquant behind playing    against the   from Maggi.

The board didn’t gave Manquant enough help, running out .

Manquant had to settle for second and €68.000, while Maggi took home a cool €100.000!

Pieyre Maggi – 7.800.000

Ricardo Manquant – Exit

The tables have turned as Pieyre Maggi just doubled up into the chiplead.

Maggi threebet preflop from 135.000 to 355.000 and Ricardo Manquant made the call.

Flop   

Maggi checked and Marquant fired 400.000. Maggi then went all-in for at about 3 miljoen! Marquant shrugged and made the call.

Maggi    
Marquant  

Straight away on the turn the fell to fill Maggi’s straight and river sealed the deal.

Pieyrre Maggi – 6.900.000

Ricardo Manquant – 1.900.000

After seeing Ricardo Manquant take most of the pots heads-up with his agressive play, Pieyre Maggi just managed to score a double.

Maggi bet 150.000 on flop , after which Manquant jammed all-in. Maggi called right away with  and was in good shape against  of Manquant.

Turn  and river  could not prevent Maggi from doubling and so he takes a step in the right direction towards balancing the stacks.

Ricardo Manquant – 6.300.000

Pieyre Maggi – 2.600.000

Ricardo Manquant – 6.800.000

Pieyre Maggi – 2.000.000