Arizona Poker Information Grand Canyon State residents are understandably proud of their casinos, which all operate on Native American Indian reservations. Although online poker is not regulated within the state, you can still prove your poker skills against regulars in more than 20 poker rooms.
After navigating an enormous field which saw 1,460 entries and reentries recorded over three starting flights, Arizona's Robert Tanita captured the crown in his home state’s premier poker tournament. Tanita’s only recorded cash prior to his big win was a $694 haul in 2012 — with that sum representing just over half of the $1,100 buy-in needed to compete in the Arizona State Poker Championship — and his $257,690 payday proved once again that tournament poker provides every participant with a genuine chance at gold and glory.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Tanita | $257,690 |
| 2 | Jerry “Wolf” Sanchez | $175,200 |
| 3 | Brayden Quackenbush | $131,400 |
| 4 | Steve Buell | $98,550 |
| 5 | Matt Affleck | $83,950 |
| 6 | Mark Atanovich | $69,350 |
| 7 | Huy “Spike” Le | $54,750 |
| 8 | David Williams | $40,150 |
| 9 | Kenna James | $25,550 |
| 10 | Pierce McKellar | $18,250 |
- The Suns passed on the point guard from Slovenia to take the one-and-done All-American out of Arizona with the top pick in the 2018 draft. Ayton’s averaged a double-double in his two NBA seasons, but hasn’t become an All-Star, first-team All-NBA pick or led his team to the playoffs like Doncic has in Dallas.
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Hosted by the dedicated staff of Casino Arizona’s Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, the 10th incarnation of the Arizona State Poker Championship exceeded all expectations in terms of turnout. Boasting a $1.1 million guaranteed prize pool, the event attracted more than enough interest from regulars and touring pros alike, with the final tally creating a total kitty of $1.46 million to be claimed by the 150 players fortunate enough to make the money.
Among the notable names to deal their way to a few dollars in the desert were Dylan Hortin (11th - $7,884), Leif Force (22nd - $4,745), Thomas “Thunder” Keller (23rd - $4,745), Jimmy “Gobboboy” Fricke (35th - $4,380), Karina Jett (41st - $4,015), Mike Wattel (51st - $3,650), the son of 1993 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jim Bechtel, James Bechtel Jr. (61st - $3,577), and Max Steinberg (74th - $3,431). With none other than the “Poker Brat” himself on hand, as 13-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth took a shot before sticking around to emcee the proceedings, what began as a local event held in a dusty tent 10 years ago secured its spot on the national tournament schedule.
When the final table reconvened on Tuesday morning — following three starting flights and a full Day 2 play down — Tanita found himself rubbing elbows with a trio of highly-trained tournament assassins. David Williams — who nearly won the WSOP Main Event in 2004, finishing as the runner-up to Greg Raymer — was lying in wait hoping to snag his biggest score in more than four years. Another WSOP Main Event mainstay in attendance was Matt Affleck, a young pro who has accumulated more than $1.3 million in live earnings thus far in his career. Rounding out the professional ranks was “Cowboy” Kenna James, a member of poker’s “old school” who has been chasing cashes to the tune of $3.5 million in live earnings during nearly two decades on the felt. In the end though, it was the local boy who made his home state proud, as the young Tanita topped the talented final table and defeated Jerry “Wolf” Sanchez heads-up to earn a truly impressive score.
The action at the final table began in earnest and the first elimination occurred just 15 minutes after cards were in the air, when a short-stacked Pierce McKeller made his stand with pocket tens before succumbing in 10th place ($18,250). It was a “Cowboy” who hit the old dusty trail next after James’ was ran down by Affleck’s when the latter made a Broadway straight on the turn. James pocketed $25,550 for his ninth-place run. Only a few minutes later, Affleck was at it again, wielding to dispatch fellow pro Williams in eighth place ($40,150). The chips were all in before the flop and Affleck’s big slick bested Williams’ on an runout. Despite entering the final table with the third largest stack in play, Williams lost a big chunk on a busted bluff against chip leader Steve Buell early on before sending the rest to Affleck.
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Only 20 minutes later and Huy “Spike” Le became the next casualty, exiting in seventh place for $54,750 after losing a big flip to Mark Atanovich. Le’s was safe through the turn against Atanovich’s , but the river brought the dreaded ace from space to stack Le. The remaining six players elected to take a 10-minute break after Le’s departure, and at that point Tanita was sitting in dead last with his 1.5 million-chip stack good for just six big blinds at the time.
Coming back from break Tanita quickly doubled through Sanchez when his held against the latter’s , and just an orbit later he turned the trick again, doubling through Sanchez when his flopped a set on the to down . Atanovich went broke in the meantime (sixth place for $69,350), while Tanita continued to tear through the table while mounting an impressive comeback. All comebacks are created with a combination of fortitude and fortune, and in Tanita’s case the run good came after he semi-bluff jammed with the on a two-club board of . Buell correctly hero-called with the to find himself in great shape, but an offsuit eight dropped on the river to give Tanita the winning pair — and 15 million of the 38 million chips in play.
Soon afterward, Affleck hit the rail in fifth place ($83,950), losing a flip when his fell to Brayden Quackenbush’s on the runout. Buell’s run came to end in fourth place ($98,550) when his was outraced by Tanita’s after the latter flopped a set.
Armed with the chip lead, Tanita continued to crush, and he sent Quackenbush to the rail in third place ($131,400) when pocket kings prevailed over eights in the hole.
Beginning heads-up play with a 3-1 chip lead, Tanita made short work of a short-stacked Sanchez, and after just 10 minutes of play a champion was crowned. Sanchez shoved with only to run into Tanita’s dominating , and the final board came to preserve the pocket pair. Sanchez earned $175,200 for the runner-up result — not a bad payday considering he began the final table ninth out of 10 in terms of chips.
Tanita’s victory marked the 10th time Arizona has crowned its state poker champion, and after pro Joe Kuether took down the title last year, his accomplishment gives amateurs across the Southwest region plenty of reason to remain hopeful.
Tags
David WilliamsJoe KuetherPhil HellmuthRelated Players
Phil HellmuthDavid WilliamsJoe Kuether
CURRENT LOCATIONS:
O'Kelly's Starts Saturday 10/24/20
Boston's Starts Thursday 10/15/20 & Fridays 10/16/20.
They Will Start Saturdays on 10/24/20
**Due to the current pandemic we are unable to host a large tournament like the Top 200.
Therefore the Top 200 Tournament will be held in January.
All points will be combined for the year into one session.**
$1100 Seat For 1st place
Where: The Bench in Tempe
When: Saturday January 9th, 2021 at 1pm
Who: The Top 200 players on the Leaderboard (25 alternates).
Prize: $1,100 Seat to the AZ State Poker Championship
Other cash prizes for 2nd - 8th
Bonus Chips:
Based on your Leaderboard Standings
1st - 10th get 1500 extra starting chips
11th - 50th get 1000 extra starting chips
51st - 100th get 500 extra starting chips
Tuesdays at 7:30pm
$100 CASH 1st Place
Located on the S/E corner of 7th St & Thunderbird
Now Saturdays at 3:30 & 8:00pm
CASH Prizes for 1st Place
S/E corner of McClintock & Baseline in Tempe
Arlie's now on Sundays at 7:00pm!
$100 CASH for 1st Place.
Double Stack - Bounty Tournament
Located across from Hob Nob near the I-10 & Chandler Blvd
The New Copper Still location
will be doing poker on
Sundays at 7:00pm
Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Fridays at 8 & 11pm
Saturdays at 7 & 10pm
Tuesdays 7 & 10pm
Wednesdays 7 & 10pm
Saturdays 2 & 5pm
N/W corner of Dobson & Guadalupe
The Bench
BILLIARDS - BAR - GRILL
Now on Saturdays!
3:30 & 6:30pm
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Also:
Sundays 2, 5, & 9pm
Mondays 6:30 & 9:30pm
Thursdays 9:00pm
Fridays 6:30pm
(S/E corner of McClintock & Baseline)
CASH for 1st Place
Good Time Charli's
Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 9:00pm
Poker Tournament Directors Association
The PokerTDA is comprised of poker room personnel from around the world whose objective is to draft a standardized set of rules for poker tournaments. The TDA has developed the following tournament poker rules, which supplement the standard or 'House Rules' of this card room/casino. If there is a conflict between these rules and the rules and regulations of the applicable gaming agency, the gaming agency rules apply.
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- Floor People
Floor people are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process. Unusual circumstances can on occasion dictate that decisions in the interest of fairness take priority over the technical rules. The floor person's decision is final. - Official Language
The English-only rule will be enforced in the United States during the play of hands. English will be used in international play along with the local or native language. - Communication
Players may not talk on the phone while at the poker table. House rules apply to all other forms of electronic devices.
- Random Seats
Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned. Accommodations for players with special physical needs will be made when possible. - Breaking Tables
Players going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights and responsibilities of the position. They can get the big blind, the small blind, or the button. The only place they cannot get a hand is between the small blind and the button. - Balancing Tables
In flop and mixed games when balancing tables, players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position, including taking a single big blind when available, even if that means the seat will have the big blind twice. Worst position is never the small blind. The table from which a player is moved will be as specified by a predetermined procedure. In stud-only games, players will be moved by position (the last seat to open up at the short table is the seat to be filled). Play will halt on any table that is three or more players short. - Number of Players at Final Table
In flop games, the final table will consist of ten (10) players. In stud-type games, the final table will consist of nine (9) players.
- Declarations
Cards speak. Verbal declarations as to the content of a player's hand are not binding; however, any player deliberately miscalling his or her hand may be penalized. - Face Up
All cards will be turned face up once a player is all-in and all betting action is complete. - Killing Winning Hand
Dealers cannot kill a winning hand that was tabled and was obviously the winning hand. Players are encouraged to assist in reading tabled hands if it appears that an error is about to be made. - Showdown
At the end of last round of betting, the player who made the last aggressive action in that betting round must show first. If there was no bet, the player to the left of the button shows first and so on clockwise. In stud games, the player with the high board must show first. In razz, the lowest board shows first. - Odd Chips
The odd chip will go to the high hand. In flop games when there are two or more high hands or two or more low hands, the odd chip(s) will go to the left of the button. In stud games, the odd chip will go to the high card by suit. However, when hands have identical value (e.g., a wheel in Omaha/8) the pot will be split as evenly as possible. - Side Pots
Each side pot will be split separately. - Playing the Board
A player must show both cards when playing the board in order to get part of the pot. - Disputed Pots
The right to dispute a hand ends when a new hand begins. (See rule #18.)
- Chip Race
When it is time to color-up chips, they will be raced off with a maximum of one chip going to any player. The chip race will always start in the No.1 seat. A player cannot be raced out of a tournament: a player who loses his or her remaining chip(s) in a chip race will be given one chip of the smallest denomination still in play. Players are encouraged to witness the chip race. - Deck Changes
Deck changes will be on the dealer push or level changes or as prescribed by the house. Players may not ask for deck changes. - New Limits
When time has elapsed in a round and a new level is announced by a member of the tournament staff, the new level applies to the next hand. A hand begins with the first riffle. If an automatic shuffler is being used, the hand begins when the green button is pushed. - Re-buys
A player may not miss a hand. If a player announces the intent to rebuy before a new hand, that player is playing chips behind and is obligated to make the re-buy. - Calling for a Clock
Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and a clock is called for, a player will be given a maximum of one minute to make a decision. If action has not been taken before time expires, there will be a 10-second countdown. If a player has not acted by the time the countdown is over, the player's hand will be dead. - Rabbit Hunting
No rabbit hunting is allowed. Rabbit hunting is revealing any of the cards “that would have come” if the hand had not ended.
- At Your Seat
A player must be at his or her seat by the time all players have been dealt complete initial hands in order to have a live hand. A player must be at his/her seat to call time. - Action Pending
A player must remain at the table if he has a live hand.
- Dead Button
Tournament play will use a dead button. - Dodging Blinds
A player who intentionally dodges any blind when moving from a broken table will incur a penalty. - Button in Heads-up
In heads-up play, the small blind is on the button and acts first. When beginning heads-up play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure no player takes the big blind twice in a row.
- Misdeals
In stud-type games, if any of the player's two down cards are exposed due to dealer error it is a misdeal. In flop games, exposure of one of the first two cards dealt is a misdeal. Players may be dealt two consecutive cards on the button. - Four-Card Flop
If the flop contains four (rather than three) cards, whether exposed or not, the dealer shall scramble the 4 cards face down. A floor person will be called to randomly select one card to be used as the next burn card and the remaining three cards will become the flop.
- Verbal Declarations / Acting in Turn
Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Players are required to act in turn. Action out of turn will be binding if the action to that player has not changed. A check, call or fold is not considered action changing. - Methods of Raising
In no-limit or pot-limit, a raise must be made by (1) placing the full amount in the pot in one motion; or (2) verbally declaring the full amount prior to the initial placement of chips into the pot; or (3) verbally declaring “raise” prior to the placement of the amount to call into the pot and then completing the action with one additional motion. It is the player's responsibility to make his intentions clear. - Raises
A raise must be at least the size of the largest previous bet or raise of the current betting round. If a player puts in a raise of 50% or more of the previous bet but less than the minimum raise, he or she must make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed (see exception for multiple same-denomination chips Rule 33). In no-limit and pot limit, an all-in wager of less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted. - Oversized Chip
Anytime when facing a bet (or blind), placing a single oversized chip in the pot is a call if a raise is not first verbally declared. To raise with a single oversized chip, a declaration must be made before the chip hits the table surface. If a raise is declared (but not an amount), the raise is the maximum allowable for that chip. When not facing a bet, placing an oversized chip in the pot without declaration is a bet of the maximum allowable for the chip. - Multiple Chips
When facing a bet, unless a raise is first declared, multiple same-denomination chips is a call if removing one chip leaves less than the call amount. Example of a call: preflop, blinds 200-400: A makes it 1200 (an 800 raise), B puts out two 1000 chips without declaring raise. Placing chips of mixed denominations in the pot is governed by the 50% standard in Rule 31. - Number of Raises
There is no cap on the number of raises in no-limit games. In limit events there will be a limit to raises even when heads-up until the tournament is down to two players; the house limit will apply. - Pot Size
Players are entitled to be informed of the pot size in pot-limit games only. Dealers will not count the pot in limit and no-limit games. - String Bets and Raises
Dealers will be responsible for calling string bets and raises.
- Chips on the Table
Players must keep their higher denomination chips visible and identifiable at all times. - Chips in Transit
Players may not hold or transport tournament chips in any manner that takes them out of view. A player who does so will forfeit the chips and will face disqualification. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play. - Unprotected Hands
If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to a refund of bets. However, if a player had raised and the raise had not yet been called, the raise will be returned to the player.
- Penalties and Disqualification
A penalty MAY be invoked if a player exposes any card with action pending, throws a card off the table, violates the one-player-to-a-hand rule, or similar incidents take place. Penalties WILL be invoked in cases of soft play, abuse, or disruptive behavior. Penalties available to the TD include verbal warnings and “missed hand” penalties. Except for a one-hand penalty, missed hand penalties will be assessed as follows: The offender will miss one hand for every player, including the offender, who is at the table when the penalty is given multiplied by the number of rounds specified in the penalty. For the period of the penalty, the offender shall remain away from the table but will continue to be dealt in.Tournament staff can assess a one-hand penalty, one-, two-, three-, or four-round penalties or disqualification. A player who is disqualified shall have his or her chips removed from play. Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties.
- No Disclosure
Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Therefore, players, whether in the hand or not, may not:- Disclose contents of live or folded hands,
- Advise or criticize play at any time,
- Read a hand that hasn't been tabled.
- Exposing Cards
A player who exposes his cards with action pending may incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand. The penalty will begin at the end of the hand. - Ethical Play
Poker is an individual game. Soft play will result in penalties, which may include forfeiture of chips and/or disqualification. Chip dumping and/or all other forms of collusion will result in disqualification. - Etiquette Violations
Repeated etiquette violations will result in penalties. Examples include, but are not limited to, unnecessarily touching other players’ cards or chips, delay of the game, repeatedly acting out of turn or excessive chatter.