FREEDOMThe new Cyber Security Act, Patriot Act, DISCLOSURE Act and a plethora of other laws that infringe on our rights as Americans has jeopardized what our country stands for. Why? How has this come about? What is the answer? The following is a A MUST SEE VIDEO
Posted by Alliance on 2010-06-27 10:43:56 0 Comments
Game ToniteI am in need of a few more players to make a game for tonight. Apparently everyone has a graduation to go to, or they are starting the summer with a vacation, or they are just too scared!
I am going to clarify one thing to make it more appealing to you all. I said the MINIMUM buy in is $20. I doubt anyone in this group will buy in for $20. In fact, everyone that has confirmed so far will probably buy in for 40 or 50 or 100.
If we don't get enough by 6:30 I will let you know that the game is off.
So far I have the following players confirmed, but I am sure there are more to come.
Paul
Rick
Darrin
Steve (8:30)
Don
Ken is a maybe.
I would be happy to have as many as 20 players. If you are coming, please let me know asap so the game does not get cancelled.
Thanks!
Paul
512.567.1510
Posted by Alliance on 2010-06-05 07:41:12 2 Comments
CPPA is looking for a HostMy greatest fear has reared its ugly head. I have been informed that certain circumstances have forced the current host to be unable to continue hosting poker for the next PY.
It should be obvious that I will no longer be hosting for the next year.
If any one can step up and desires to host the CPPA, please let mike know at the next game. If not, this season will be the last season for at least 1 yr.
Posted by Alliance on 2010-05-03 21:42:35 2 Comments
The Austin Poker Alliance was mentioned in the write-up on KXAN news 36 in Austin ( KXAN Link Video and Write up ). The video piece covers a robbery that occurred in Austin on 9 Dec 2009. Mike Lavigne (PPA Texas Director) was interviewed for the piece also and took center stage in the video piece.
Gunmen rob high-stakes poker game
They allegedly stole thousands, assaulted players
Updated: Monday, 21 Dec 2009, 6:21 PM CST
Published : Monday, 21 Dec 2009, 5:17 PM CST
•Jenny Hoff
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Catered food, high-profile players and thousands of dollars on the table set the scene for an armed robbery in Southwest Austin.
Sources said gunmen broke into a high-stakes poker game around 11 p.m. Dec. 9. Wearing masks, they entered the apartment, assaulted some of the players and then took off with more than $20,000 in cash.
APD confirms there was an aggravated robbery at the apartment that night involving two suspects and the investigation is still open.
"From what I understand, investigators are at a stalemate," said Commander Chris Noble with APD's organized crime division. "The victim is not being cooperative."
But, Mike Lavigne, the Texas State Director for the Poker Players Alliance , blames antiquated laws for the robbers' success and the unsolved crimes.
"A lot of times people don't even call the cops if these places get busted by a thief because it's not legal for them to be necessarily running that room in the first place," Lavigne said.
Poker becomes illegal in Texas when the House makes a cut. In the case of these underground games, poker hosts can pocket hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for putting together the events. The nights usually involve catered food, free massages and, in some cases, extra security.
"It's not seen as a crime in most parts of the world," said Lavigne. "It just happens to be the leftovers from some old laws in Texas. It's not clear what's legal or illegal in our state right now."
Participating in an illegal poker game is a Class A misdemeanor. But, even with the minor criminal penalty, police said players and homeowners are reluctant to report an attack or a robbery.
"There's no incentive, if you will, for the victim to cooperate with the police," said Noble.
Cooperating with police involves identifying the players, which will then lead to an investigation - minor questioning, at the very least. And, that will likely kill a house's customer base.
"These players don't consider themselves criminals," said Lavigne. "They just want to be able to play with their friends in an environment without being hassled."
Tim Kelly, who founded the Austin Poker Alliance , is another avid fan of the game. Kelly, however, only participates in legal games and often sets up several tables at his own house.
"We'll fill up the place," Kelly said. "But, it's secure. When they come into the house there is a set time when registration is basically over and you're not really going to get into the house unless you break in."
Kelly adds that many of the players are licensed to carry concealed handguns.
"If they do break in, the criminals are risking their lives," said Kelly.
Kelly agrees that poker laws should be loosened in Texas, but said defying the laws in place now is too great a risk.
"I won't affiliate with it simply because of the danger that you're asking about," he said, referring to games where the house gets a cut. "I won't have anything to do with it."
There were similar robberies of poker games in Houston and Dallas in the last month. In both cases, the robbers were caught.
"You don't know what you're walking into until you walk in," said Lavigne. "You know, the fact of the matter is, eventually someone is going to come through that door with a gun - whether it's a cop or a robber."
In the case of the Gaines Ranch Apartments, APD said there are still no suspects in custody and they are working on getting more information from the victim.
Posted by Alliance on 2010-01-08 23:54:08 0 Comments
By-LawsDirector: Russ (RebuyRuss)
Director: Tim (Alliance)
Director: Darrin (notlad)
Aug 2009 through June 2010
CEDAR PARK POKER PLAYERS ALLIANCE (CPPA) By-Laws
1. BUY-IN: Weekly buy in will be $20 (main pot) with an additional $5 (optional/non-refundable) from each player going to the CPPA League Championship Final (LCF) game pot.
2. SERIES: Each Series will consist of 12 games, to be played on Friday, at one of three homes over the series term. Three (3) series will conduct in Fiscal Season 2010 (7 Aug 2009- 7 May 2010).
3. ELIGIBILITY: Only players in the CPPA are eligible to enter into the CPPA LCF game and must have played in (4) of the scheduled series games with at least 1 $25 buy-in. Each player must pay $5 for each of the 12 games over the series by playing in each game or providing the balance at the time of the CPPA LCF. e.g. 12 games total and players 6-10 only played in 9 games, players 6-10 must buy in to the final game for $35. Each eligible game entry is $5 therefore, the number of games missed must be paid for in order to comply with the Texas Gambling Law… “except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risk of losing and the chances of winning were the same for all participants”. The Optional $5 simply pro-rates the total entry fee of the CPPA LCF over the series total games.
4. POINT STRUCTURE: Points are awarded on a Points up/down system. Points go up as the players are knocked out e.g. 20 players, 1st knocked out gets 1 point, 2nd gets 2 point etc… Additional points (5) are awarded to players that pay the full entry fee of $25 plus an additional $500 chip. Points are used in order to determine the top (6) players that will be selected to move to the A.P.A Final. A player does not have to be seated in order to acquire points, buying in and sitting out is an acceptable points management option, but a non-seated player will not seat at the final table for that game. The remaining chips will be returned to the house and monies will remain in the main pot.
5. LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: At each CPPA LCF game, 2 seats will be allocated for the Austin Regional inter-league Tour (ART) Championship game. Entry fee is $20 plus an additional $5 per missed game during the regular season. No points are awarded at the LCF as not all players are eligible for entry.
6. LEAGUE WILD CARD GAME: DELETED NO WILD CARD GAMES are AUTHORIZED in the CPPA.
7. A.P.A. REGIONAL SEATING: The ART seat buy-in ($100 per seat) will be deducted from the CPPA LCF pot in order to pay for the seats to the ART. The remaining monies will be the prize pool for the CPPA LCF game.
8. A.P.A. ENTRY TICKET: At any time, ANY player that has a CPPA seat to an APA event may sell his seat to the next eligible member of the CPPA. Sale of the seat is between the buyer and the seller and requires a signed statement between the 2 parties. The signed statement must be delivered to the director of the CPPA League no later than 2 hours prior to the start of any final game.
9. POINT DISCREPENCIES: A player has until the beginning of the following league game to ask for a re-evaluation of points awarded. Once the following game begins, if no objections have been raised, the prior games points are considered official and will not be adjusted. In the case were it is evident that a legitimate accounting error has occurred by the upload of points, the directors will encode the proper points and send an immediate email to all members of the league or post the change to the main page of the league.
10. SUBSTANCE USE: Use of alcohol at CPPA league games is highly discouraged for many reason. Primarily, safety to the surrounding community is of the utmost importance. Secondarily, sound and accurate play is reduced when consumption is occurring. Illegal drugs & narcotics is strictly forbidden. Use/possession of the items on the premises is grounds for permanent removal from the league in addition to citizens arrest pending police intercession.
11. CONDUCT: The CPPA and A.P.A are to be considered organizations that have been developed in order that fun and fairness is ensured. Although personalities vary, one should never allow poor play or a bad-beat to over-ride a professional attitude. Many leagues are short-lived due to personality conflicts. These typically occur in subsequent games were a player had a bad beat the game before. It behooves each player to come to each game forgetting about the past and prepared to win in the present. Stay positive and don’t steel other peoples enjoyment.
12. DESCISION MAKING: Roberts Rules of Poker Apply in all circumstances. When an agreement cannot be made, time will stop and the rules will be consulted. A CPPA Director will make the call based on RRoP. In the case were rules are not covered e.g. personality disruption, the Director will determine the proper recourse. Once a director has made a decision to remove or bar an individual from play, a secret ballot will be administered were 2/3rd majority must approve and over-ride the original decision.
13. LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP FEE: Annually, based on the calendar year, a CPPA league membership is offered to all players. Membership fee is $25 and garners an addition 12 points to the player in the session which they pay. All proceeds from the membership fee go towards equipment and supplies for the league. The decision on what to add to the league is by majority vote. In the rare case of an emergency, an additional membership fee may be offered to replace a broken or destroyed piece of equipment.
14. MAKE-UP GAMES: On occasion, a game may have to be postponed. The directors attempt to allow ample time for make-up games through-out the year. In some rare cases, the game may not be made up on the normal playing day (Friday). When this occurs, the directors will schedule the make-up game on a Saturday far enough in advance for all players to react.
15. QUARTERLY TOURNAMENTS: The CPPA, with APA oversight, conducts a quarterly tournament in January, April, July and October. These tournaments vary in structure and are a great avenue by which new players can see how we conduct our league play. These tournaments are out-side of the League structure and no points are awarded.
CPPA League Series: 20 pl, 12 gm, $5 each, 20 pl, 1 gm $20 each = $1600
CPPA LCF(3): $1600 - $200 =$1400 w/6 ART seats
CPPA Wild Card: DELETED
Button will only be replaced to 1st seat at the convergence to the final table
4) Remove: "...plus an additional $500 chip."
Further review of the current law leaves liability due to the fact that not all players have a equal chance of winning because additional chips are given to players that buy-in at the full amount.
"...except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risk of losing and the chances of winning were the same for all participants”.
6) Add: ... unless, due to circumstances beyong the control of the directors, the league is unable to seat the correct number of players to the APART NLHE Championship event.
7) Add: All players that play in the CPPA LCF agree with this action upon buying in the the LCF.
12) Change Roberts Rules of Poker to read: Tournament Directors Rules for Tournament play and Roberts Rules of Poker for any Cash/non-tournament play. Cash games are managed by the players and not the CPPA leadership.
15) Delete entire paragraph: The CPPA does not conduct these events.
Posted by Alliance on 2010-01-08 22:57:17 0 Comments
