When you’re talking about live poker tournaments on Twitter, the only thing for sure is that Allen Chainsaw Kessler will be involved and likely disagreeing with popular opinion. That’s the case this week, as a prop bet has arisen over, of all things, the definition of overlays.
Hey @jasbral ill use this event for our prop bet.
You and @TheJustinHammer claim an overlay. I say only reduced rake.
The arbitrators are @mac_verstandig and @ToddWitteles
If both agree to either side, one of us wins. If they disagree its a push.
Any amount up to $1,000. https://t.co/VSEvCM8iBq
— Allen Kessler (@AllenKessler) November 24, 2019
The good-natured but polarising dispute was sparked by Tournament Director Justin Hammer tweeting out a nice overlay for the players at Thunder Valley’s TV Poker Room Main Event.
The added money seems to follow me wherever I go. $22,960 overlay at the @TVPokerRoom Main Event. Players love it, but it’s getting tougher to find work…
Kidding of course, but it IS great to work for places that always honor their guarantees. #OverlayTD— Justin Hammer (@TheJustinHammer) November 24, 2019
With a buy-in of $1500 and 356 entries, that comes to $534,000 says Kessler, an extra $34k over the guarantee – so, no overlay, but rather a reduced rake for players.
Hammer’s sums, however, make it 356 entries at $1340, which equates to $477,040 towards the prizepool, the extra $160 considered rake and split between $120 entry fees and a $40 staff payment as seen below…
…and therefore not part of the prize fund, hence the overlay claims.
Although not a tournament player by any means, your writer for one would recognize Hammer’s version as being correct, and he had plenty of support…
https://twitter.com/jonestownjammer/status/1198686543973478400?s=20
You can even check out the VIP Grinders definition and how you can benefit from them here.
Kessler, of course, is a live tournament expert, noted for his massive number of cashes on the poker circuit. He also regularly offers and is even asked for, his input to improve tournament structures, for example.
‘Chainsaw’ has some support in the Twitter discussion, although again it might not cover the most recognized definition of an ‘overlay’…
https://twitter.com/coolbriz7777/status/1198626068841656320?s=20
Of course, it would be rare for a poker player to turn up the chance of a bet on the outcome of anything, and so it proved, with Kessler booking several wagers that his version of ‘overlay’ is correct.
Todd Witteles, known mainly for his Poker Fraud Alert site, and Mac Verstandig, the poker-focused lawyer who is currently suing Mike Postle on behalf of dozens of pros, were roped in to arbitrate the bet.
Just for clarity: are @ToddWitteles and I permitted to confer? And can we agree that both charities will be 501(c)(3)s supporting a cause backed by the majority of Americans? I don’t want to be accidentally responsible for a $100 donation to the Flat Earth Society.
— Mac VerStandig (@mac_verstandig) November 24, 2019
We’ll try to update you when the official verdict is delivered, but Kessler was already quickly on to a new gripe – his hotwire hotel booking far from up to scratch…
This is a pathetic corporate response from hotwire customer service.
I hope someone high up @hotwire sees how they handle good customers https://t.co/lpdZ4rUWYY
— Allen Kessler (@AllenKessler) November 25, 2019
Rumour has it that Allen is now on the lookout for an empty house to start an argument in!
