With about 10 days to go until the start of the OnePass Poker tourney, it’s time I begin to think about just how big this event is. Imagine … 21 million OnePass miles. In future blogs, I’ll break down the miles into an understandable grid of possible redemptions. But for now, I’m getting my game face on. On a recent international business trip, I did stumble onto the movie 21 playing so it got me into the gambling attitude and for those who have seen that movie, you’ll notice my tribute to the “winner, winner, chicken dinner” mantra from the film included in the heading for this blog. But one movie is not enough, so with my good friend Google I found a listing of The Game’s the Thing – 10 of the best card playing and poker movies. The author notes: “Hollywood often uses gambling, and less often card playing, to add a flavor to a movie. Unfortunately most of these movies have silly scenes (House of Games) or stink (Honeymoon in Vegas) or both (Maverick).”

Netflix proved to be invaluable for me collecting these 10 movies to watch and here’s the link to the best card playing scenes in the movies.

The Game’s the Thing

Here’s the guide to the official rules to the OnePass tourney – along with my observations.

Q: How much do I have to bet?

You must bet a minimum equal to the Big Blind.

(if you have to ask these questions, then you better be prepared to come with a “Dummies Guide to Texas Hold’em“)

Q: How much can I bet?

This is a No-Limit Hold ‘em, so you can bet as many chips as you have at any time you desire.

(he-he-he! This I got to see when the chips – or the miles – are really on the table.

Q: How much can I raise?

You must raise at least the equivalent to the most recent bet made; and you can raise as high as you desire.

Q: Can I pick my seat?

Seats are drawn randomly at the time of registration.

(Heck, there goes the fun of sitting across from the guy wearing the sunglasses…)

Q: If I am not sure how to bet or if it is my turn, what can I do?

The dealers are neutral and you may ask them any procedural questions you like; however they cannot provide advice on any playing decisions.

(Might be a little late to be asking for advice like that, but then again, I’ll be available to tell you how much you could possibly lose on the hand…)

Q: Will we have break times?

Yes, there will be scheduled breaks in the tournament.

Q: If I need to leave the table will I be penalized?

No, you may miss as many hands as you like with no penalty; if it comes to be your turn in the small or big blind, then the dealer will take the appropriate number of chips from your stack to pay those blinds.

(I don’t know about you but I hate it when others touch my chips. I really, really hate it.)

Like every good game, you’ve got to have some rules. Here’s the ones that are in effect for the OnePass Texas Hold ‘em Tourney.

1. Tournament director is to consider the best interest and fairness of the game when making all decisions.
2. Players must be at the table when it is their turn to act or their hand will be considered dead and folded by the dealer.
3. All cards will be turned face up once one or more players is all-in and all other action is complete.
4. There is only one player per hand; solicitation of help is not permitted.
5. There will be an English language only rule at the tables during the course of play.
6. Players must keep their highest denomination of chips in plain view at all times.
7. Players that expose their card(s) during the course of play may incur a penalty but will not have their HAND declared dead.
8. If two or more players go broke during the same hand, the player who started the hand with the most chips will finish higher in the tournament than the other player(s) who also went broke during the hand.
9. Golden Nugget casino management reserves the right to disqualify any tournament participant whose behavior is considered detrimental to the game. Foul and abusive language and other misconduct will not be tolerated.
10. Tournament Directors decisions are final.
11. Enjoy the tournament and have fun.

When the tourney was originally announced, Continental said that they would pay a U.S. withholding tax for the top “8” winners. They have recently amended that to announce that they will now pay a U.S. withholding tax for the top “9” winners.

So if the fear of taxes has been holding you back, worry no longer and get in there to go “all in.”

(Latest update on withholding tax question)

Watch this little clip courtesy of the folks at fulltiltpoker.net and it pretty much explains what is in the chips for the OnePass Poker tourney:

We Play For Big Pots, Small Stakes and the Chance to Say …

Read ‘em and Weep.

OK, the attention has been on the actual Texas Hold ‘em Tournament itself and the grand prize of 21 million miles. However, if you’re anywhere close to Las Vegas on Sat. Aug. 9th, there will be a slot tournament for any OnePass member, not just those playing poker.

The good, well, actually great news is that this tournament will be free and there will be prizes up to 70,000 OnePass miles.

The details: Held at the Golden Nugget, registration will be from 11a.m. to 12 noon by the Golden Nugget staff in the Slot Tournament area on the casino floor. The actual tournament will begin at 12 noon.

Hot tip: The entry for this event will be free to all OnePass members … and their “guests.”

Travel lightly, but bring someone lucky with you.

Of those OnePass members who have entered the poker tournament, probably not one of them has given any thought to what 21 million frequent flyer miles would get them. I’m sure they are more focused on “pocket aces” than the miles at this point. So, I’ll do the math for them.

21 Million OnePass miles could be redeemed for:

• 35,000 years of a subscription to Conde Nast Traveler magazine (to the year 37008).
• 13,125 years of a subscription to Business Week magazine (to the year 15133).
• 6,363 years of a subscription to The Wall Street Journal (to the year 8371).
• 840 cross country train rides in business class on Amtrak.
• 518 Loge box seats (MVP section) to see the New York Yankees play the Boston Red Sox in August at Yankee Stadium (the last year for this renowned baseball park). P.S. there really aren’t that many of these loge box seats in the stadium .
• 840 domestic coach class tickets at the current 25,000-mile SaverPass level (that is 1,680 times you’ll have to take off your shoes by request of the TSA).
• 420 domestic first class tickets at the current 50,000-mile EasyPass level.
• 280 first class tickets to Hawaii.
• 95 Around-the-World tickets in first class.

As well, if the winner is thinking of his/her poker friends and family, they would be able to redeem miles (4,225,000 miles) to take everyone along for a trip domestically, that is, redeem a whole plane – 14 friends would be able to fly in first class while the other 141 friends or family, would be able to fly in coach. This would reserve Continental’s most popular aircraft (737-800) for a flight.

As well, if more exotic destinations are in mind to celebrate the poker win, using 11,825,000 miles (they could do this trip twice!) would get you an entire 777-200 Continental airplane to fly the friends and family to Hawaii and back, 48 of them in BusinessFirst (first class) and 235 more in coach.

So you see, winning the miles just might be the easy part. Picking which of their friends or famly members to go along on any of these trips is likely to be much more difficult.

Upgrades? Why upgrade when you can buy the whole plane with miles!!!

(caveat: it’s likely that not all the seats this winner will seek will be available at the SaverPass award level, but we can hope can’t we – straight flush comes to mind, which beats the all in and all gone scenario)

OK, one of the visitors to this blog wanted to know what this might be in their own programs’ measure of kilometers. So, with trusty iPhone calculator in hand, and if you are more familiar with the metric system: The winner earns 33,796,224 kilometers.

OK, it’s clear that you haven’t been able to qualify for a kitchen pass to attend this event in Las Vegas, either to try the mini-Slot tourney or to take your place at the table and just for the rush on the first deal, yell … “All in.”

But I’ve got something for you to humor yourself and play pretend.

Looking to the left of this blog near the top, you’ll see a image of a slot machine with the words “OnePass Slots Practice.” Clicking that image will bring up a new window with a very real sounding slot machine for you to pretend with or practice, either because you are coming to Las Vegas or just to get in shape for the next opportunity if this thing catches on.

Play as you want and enjoy the sounds and the sights of our version of “You Are There.”

Just one thing – don’t try signaling me for another free drink, my shift is over in just a few minutes.

Short of hanging out at the airports across America looking for passengers bound for Las Vegas with a lucky rabbit’s foot hanging from their computer bag, I actually found a few of the upcoming players for this tourney to chat with and here’s their story:

Q: OK, as a poker player, have you adopted or been given a nickname, such as “Big Money” or anything like that from your poker playing time?

Dean: No nickname… sorry.

J.: Trick question; accountants don’t play poker.

Michael: Weatherboy.

Stephanie: HAHAHAHAHAHA! Anyone who has played with me will tell you I’m a horrible poker player.

Q: What’s your favorite card game outside of Texas Hold’em?

Dean: Omaha Hi low. It’s insane with both a high hand winner and a low hand winner.

J.: House – as in building one of said cards.

Michael: I love blackjack. And can play blackjack for eight hours at a stretch easily. And occasionally do!

Stephanie: 21- I am a horrible poker player and generally only play charity events.

Q: Do you play online?

Dean: Never. Too much risk of collusion. You can’t tell if two guys have three different Internet connections each, and they are playing every hand at the table except yours. It is unbelievably easy to cheat. Plus, they have software to track your play. They aren’t playing you alone. They have help. And there is no real regulation of the Web sites. Big risk on getting your money out. The tribes supposedly regulating or third world countries… what a joke. Go try and get your money. And it is illegal in the USA. But, ultimately, lets see computer boy beat me face to face.

J.: Yes, there’s this horrible site called FlyerTalk where I’ve played away an egregious amount of time!

Michael: I tried playing poker online (within AOL’s free gaming area –so nothing serious) last week. Other than that, I’m a newbie when it comes to poker.

Stephanie: No.

Q: How long have you been an active poker player?

Dean: Over 15 years.

Michael: I’ve never ever played poker; walking into the poker pit for the OnePass event will be the very first time I’ve ever played (outside of the online practicing I’ve tried to do over the last week). I’m a loyal blackjack player …and will step over to the slots once in a blue moon. Otherwise, I never venture into other areas of the casino –especially the poker rooms. To me, they’re somewhat mystical and confusing. And based on how poorly my practice runs have been online, I don’t know if that view will change much this week.

Stephanie: Since college – so I’m dating myself here – 23 years.

Q: Do you typically play for fun, low stakes or high stakes?

Dean: Depends on how you define “High stakes” doesn’t it?

Michael: I gamble for fun; some spend money on going to the movies, I save up my disposable cash for casino action.

Stephanie: Low stakes and for fun.

Q: What are your plans for the 21 million mile jackpot?

Dean: I have seven children. So taking my family anywhere, is nine reward tickets right there!

J.: With 21 million OnePass miles – and Platinum status – I think I’d use them to get oh-so-sweet revenge on revenue management. “Oh, there’s no saver awards on the flight? I see. Well than how many seats are left for sales…173 you say…great! I’ll take all of them as I might need to go, and am deeply, deeply, worried about being bumped (hence the extra seats!) but the in the worst case I can always refund them the day of travel should my plans change. What’s that you say? Something’s opened up at the standard level? Excellent! In that case I’ll just take one reward.”

Michael: I bought a first class ticket on Continental from the east coast to attend the event; with those fare bonuses and my OnePass Platinum status, this trip will net me 11,456 OnePass miles. As much as I’d love to win 21 million miles, the only miles I’m “betting on” returning home with are those 11,456. In the extraordinarily unlikely event I do win miles, including 21 million, I’ll donate a chunk to one of OnePass’s charity partners …and use the rest to facillitate a lifetime of free leisure travel on Continental and it’s soon-to-be Star Alliance partners.

Stephanie: If I was playing; which now I’m not (I’ve had to pull out because I had a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City that I had to go to and there was no way out  The only upside is flying BusinessFirst to Hong Kong!); I would have taken the winnings and taken my entire family in BusinessFirst to Australia then had lots of miles left over for fun travel for the upcoming years.