I'm gathering a roster of local names who are headed out to Las Vegas for the events. I can't go myself -- maybe next year -- but in the meantime, the more contacts I have, the better I can follow it -- and the more I can root vicariously for everyone else.

So, send me an email at nsortal@sun-sentinel.com if you're going to play, as well as any contact info you're willing to include.

Meanwhile, I'm working on a story about Palm Beach Kennel and the Isle giving away World Series of Poker main event seats to their tournament winners. If anyone has any observations or thoughts on what they're doing -- which has been offered for years at other casinos across the U.S. -- email me.

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Beginning Tuesday, April 1, the Hard Rock will have a $100 tournament at 11 a.m. Mon.-Tues.-Weds. with an option: two $100 add-ons.

Hard Rock officials said the structure will give players an option of adding on twice during the first three levels. Each add-on, and the starting stack are 3,000 units each.

They point out that they are "add-ons," not "rebuys," meaning it's not necessarily a move you have to wait to be knocked out of in order to make the buy. In similar tournaments, such as the Saturday $575 tournament with a $500 add-on, about 60 percent of the players make the add-on.

The main reason: a way to build the prize pool without forcing people to pay the higher price.

Which brings up my strategy question: When would you go for the add-on? Always? Or only if you have a good stack and want to give yourself a chance to win? Or if you're down to the felt?

My thinking -- and I admit I'm not a great player -- is that if I'm down to a very short stack anyway, why throw another $100? But if I have a chance to make money in a tournament, I'll pay the $100 twice with the idea of going for the win.

What do you think?

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I've been holding off on writing about these guys until we get some space in the print version of the Sun-Sentinel, but now I kind of have to. As Leonardo DiCaprio said in Titantic: Hey, I'm involved.

I listen to Poker Talk America on WBZT almost every day from 4-5 p.m., getting tips and insight from the hosts, including Frank Greentree and Antonio Pinzari.

Antonio always says stuff I don't know, and he does seminars that I'd think would be pretty good. (Although I'm also partial to the WPT Boot Camps, which I sat in on once and heard Clonie Gowen and Alex Outhred.)

So earlier this week, he's giving away seminars. Just answer the question: If you have 2 suited cards, what are the odds of flopping a flush?

I knew: it's 118 to 1. Frank had said it the week before.

So, I'm taking the seminar ASAP. And I'll have them start posting their programming stuff each week, because, if you're like me, you need all the help you can get.

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I'll do a lengthier response to Taimy's post below in a day or two, but my first reaction was to steer her toward bar poker.

It works like this: a bar needs entertainment. Instead of a karaoke machine, they bring in a company that has poker tables and dealers. People come in and play for free -- often at non-peak hours, say at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays or Saturday afternoons -- with the implication that, hey, maybe you'll buy a beer or two or some food.

Good deal all the way around; usually involves a $5 dealer tip, but still a cheap way to play with live cards, learn protocol and make reads. (You also pick up bad habits, but that's for another post.)

So, I'd like to list all the bar poker organizations on this blog somewhere. If you run such an operation, please respond to this and we'll set up the links for potential players to shop for a game.

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