The Australian media reported on the debut of the land equivalent
of turbo tables this week. Speed poker, the newest, made-for-TV variation
of the grand old card game, made its Australian debut at Melbourne's
Crown Casino.
The new game, which pits six players against two dealers and a 15-second
clock, with up to 100 hands dealt an hour, is the brainchild of Keith
'Bendigo' Sloan - better known to some as Mr Poker.
The new game has attracted plenty of interest ahead of this weekend's
inaugural World Speed Poker Championship at Crown. Almost $300,000
worth of prize money will be available in this tournament, including
$100,000 for the winner.
Billed as a "Poker Roller Coaster Ride", the speed version
of the game aims to combine the pace of Internet poker with the thrill
of the live game, where face-to-face, the elements of bluff, strategy,
psychology and showmanship all come into play.
Games typically last for four to five hours, with up to 100 hands
per hour played in that time.