The Poker Lounge at the Hard Rock played host to a new poker tournament that involves team play. Called Dream Team Poker, the tournament awards an overall winner as well as winning teams.

Three players make up a team, and the team score is derived from the position in which players are bounced out. It brings a new kind of excitement to the game, with players sticking around even after they have busted to see how their teammates are doing, and to offer advice in situations where it is allowed.

The biggest selling point for the tournament is that it is a valuable player development tool. While the big tournaments attract professional and semi-professional players almost exclusively, the team aspect makes the game more approachable to the average player. It also keeps them sticking around after they are knocked out because they want to see how their team performs.

“Singularly, when you play in a tournament—call the pilot and get me the next plane out of this place,” said Ed Fishman, a tournament co-founder. “Now, I’ve still got a shot so I’m going to hand around longer. It’s party time.”

The tournament attracted a number of celebrities and professionals, including 2006 WSOP Main Event winner Jamie Gold, professional Jean Robert Bellande, “Poker Babe” Erica Schoenberg, Mekhi Phifer, Roger Cross from 24 and Holly Montag of The Hills.

(Full disclosure: Casino Connection Managing Editor Greg Jones participated in the tournament as part of the Media Maniacs team, along with Jason Feinberg of Fox 5 and Basil Nestor of Casino Player. The team finished ninth overall, with Feinberg going out in 28th position, Jones going out in 26th and Nestor going out 16th. The winning team was comprised of three staffers at Bluff magazine. Go figure.)

By Casino Connection Staff