New Record on PokerStars Play Money Tables

Although play money games never attract nearly as much attention as those where real cash is at stake, they still get their place in the headlines from time to time. This is one of those occurrences, as a new record for the biggest ever play money pot has been set at PokerStars.

The hand in question took place at the 10M/20M tables between ‘viziato1991’ of Italy, Canadian ‘MoXpade,' and none other than the 2003 WSOP Main Event champion and poker boom creator, Chris Moneymaker.

Chris wasn’t really involved in the hand as he folded before the flop, but it is a pretty cool fact that he was at the play money tables. He is not the only big name to frequent these either, as Barry Greenstein has also been known to make an appearance in play money cash games and tournaments.

By the time two players reached the river, the board read 810j79 and ‘MoXpade’ was put to a decision for his last 2.2 billion. He made the call, only to find out that his Queen-high straight was no good against his opponent's rivered baby flush and ‘viziato1991’ dragged in the pot of 6.4 billion.

With that win, the Italian surged to the top of the all-time leaderboard, surpassing the previous winner, ‘Sabz.wp,' whose 5.2 billion win is now in second place. Play money king ‘viziato1991’ had a really good day at the free play tables as he has also claimed the third spot on the leaderboard, winning a pot of 4.9 billion. Once again, ‘MoXpade’ played the donor role.

Play chips do not have real money value in a sense that you can buy stuff with them, but PokerStars sells the chips in their store for real money at the rate $99.99 for 75M chips. Converted at that rate, the pot in question equals about $8.5k. Of course, the chips cannot be exchanged and it is forbidden to sell play chips. But it is just way more fun to look at it through the glasses of real money value.

While play money games continue to confuse real money players who fail to understand why anyone would compete (and even pay) for something that has no real life value, the games continue to thrive and PokerStars has introduced new, higher play money limits on a regular basis.

Some people just enjoy the thrill of big pots instead of grinding 10 or 20NL and who can blame them? If poker represents something they enjoy doing to pass the time or they simply love the competition without being concerned about having money on the line, good for them.

And from what I hear, those ultra high stakes play money games are not at all soft.