The 5-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) Bracelet winner has earned more than $9 million in live poker tournaments over the course of his sensational career, but in the last year, Ivey has raked in an astounding $7.54 million on Full Tilt Poker. These incredible profits place Phil Ivey at the very top of the Full Tilt Poker Profits list for 2008.

Coming in a close second is Phil “OMGClayAiken” Glafond, whos online poker exploits have earned him more than $6.97 million at Full Tilt Poker. It would be interesting to discover just how much of those winnings came from the 3rd place finisher, Tom “Durrrr” Dwan, with an impressive $5.36 million finish.

Claiming the 4th spot is Di “Urindanger” Dang, cashing in for a little over $3.68 million, followed closely by his brother Hac “trex313” Dang, finishing 5th with $3.45 million. In the 6th position comes ex-Full Tilt Pro David Benyamine at $2.93 million.

Rounding out the top ten finishers of 2008 are “howsitfeellike” in 7th with $2.66 million, the UK’s Richard “CHUFTY” Ashby in 8th with $2.36 million, “La Key U” in 9th at $2.14 million and finally FullTilt.net Pro Patrik Antonius bringing up the rear in 10th place with $1.9 million.

Full Tilt Poker Biggest Winners of 2008

Phil Ivey – $7.54m
OMGClayAiken – $6.97m
durrrr – $5.36m
Urindanger – $3.68m
trex313 – $3.45m
David Benyamine – $2.93m
howisitfeellike – $2.66m
CHUFTY – $2.36m
La Key U – $2.14m
Patrik Antonius – $1.90m

There is a flip side to every coin, and in this case, it is the biggest losers at Full Tilt Poker in 2008. The interesting story here is that 5 of the top 10 losing accounts are rumored to belong to the same person – the not-so-frugal billionaire Guy Laliberte. The 5 suspect accounts are “lady marmelade”, “patatino”, “elmariachimacho”, “Bleachbum” and “noataima”, amounting to a grand total of more than $17 million in losses. These same 5 accounts racked up a $24.8 million loss on Full Tilt Poker in the previous year.

Full Tilt Poker Biggest Losers of 2008

lady marmelade – $6.6m
patatino – $4.32m
elmariachimacho – $4.16m
Bleachbum – $1.09m
SteveSung – $1.01m
PostFlopAction – $999k
noataima – $990k
John Juanda – $988k
MSampoerna – $945k
ahtata – $926k

PokerStar.com is currently the world’s largest online pocker room, in part due to its unwavering commitment to US player acceptance.  According to the guidelines of the UIGEA, however, it is unclear what exactly the effect will be on playing online poker for real money over the Internet from within the United States.

The UIGEA guidelines state that all online gambling operations, as well as financial institutions that facilitate monetary transfers to/from online gambling sites, have until December 1, 2009 to comply with the newly implemented regulations.

Does this mean PokerStars will exit stage left by the end of next year, leaving behind a substantial number of its clientele; those being US online poker players? No statement has been released from any of the major online poker brands – PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, etc. – but thousands upon thousands of Americans are left with the burning, as yet unanswered, question.

Bodog Poker players are privileged to some of the most interesting, well thought-out and perfectly expressed poker guides on the Internet. Click over to Bodog Poker’s “How To Play Poker” section, and even if you’re not a member of the online poker room, you’ll discover not just how to play each poker game, but extremely detailed strategies and advice on how to win your way to professional status.

The Bodog ‘Poker Guide’ starts out with the most basic, but irrevocably important ‘Table Selection’, where poker players learn how to pick the most suitable (and profitable) table by examining their bankroll, all aspects of the game and the gaming style players you’ll be competing against.

The next step is to teach players the importance of ‘Position’ – early, middle and late – and the advantages/disadvantages of being the blind. Bodog Poker details exactly what hands a player should go into such a position with. Folding, Checking and Calling are detailed carefully, directly relating to a player’s starting hand and position.

With the modern technologies of online poker came the ability to actually take notes on your opposition while playing poker; something a poker player would be laughed out of the casino for in a land-based game! Can you imagine the Legend Doyle Brunson pulling out a little tablet, putting a star by Gus Hansen’s name every time he Raised on the Button, licking his fingers to flip through the pages before deciding whether to call an all-in? Certainly not! But such is the world of online poker.

Bodog Poker dedicated a complete chapter to observing the behavior of your opponents, along with these exceptional note taking abilities and how to use them to your advantage. Bodog Poker goes over what to look for and how to read online poker tells to make the most of each and every chip you toss into a pot.

Most novice poker players assume that poker is a game of “highest hand wins”. You’d have to be very lucky to get the best hand often enough to actually win the table, right? Bodog Poker explains how poker is not just a game of getting the best hand, but making everyone else think you’ve got the best hand – known globally as ‘Bluffing’. The ability to pull off a successful bluff is imperative in any successful poker strategy.

Last but not least, Bodog.net explains proper online poker etiquette. Maybe you can sit around with the guys at home and exchange various 4-letter words, become overly emotional after a few too many and make lewd jokes about each other’s significant other, but Bodog Poker expects a little more maturity from its members. While it’s not exactly a poker strategy, it is a very important aspect to the integrity of online poker community. By quickly learning the right way to behave at online poker tables, players can avoid embarrassing removals and ensure a much more enjoyable experience for everyone at Bodog Poker.

In a casino, you don’t just walk up to a table and sit down. When you enter the poker room, you must sign in at the desk. You tell the host what game you are interested in playing. If there is an opening, you will be seated immediately. If the table is full, they will take your initials and call you when there is an opening. Some casinos have a large board where they will write your name or initials or they will write your name on a list. Either way you will be called when it is your turn.

When your name is called, the Poker room host will show you to your table. In some rooms, the host will ask you how much you would like to buy in for and get you your chips when you are seated. At other casinos, you will purchase the chips from the dealer when you sit down. You are allowed to bring chips from other games. All games have a minimum buy-in which for most low limit games is usually around $30.

Table Stakes
In casino poker, you play for table stakes. This means that you play with the chips that you have on the table. You�re not allowed to go into your pocket for more money in the middle of a hand. If you run out of chips, you announce that you are �All IN� and you will only be eligible for the money in that pot up to that point. Any additional bets made by others will be put in a side pot. You will not be eligible for this pot even if you have the best hand.

Once in the game you want to observe proper table etiquette and be careful not to make any of the common beginner mistakes. Here are a few of the common mistakes made by new players when they sit down to play casino poker for the first time.

1) Betting Out of Turn
You must wait until the player to your right acts. If you bet out of turn this could give an unfair advantage to a player that did not act yet. If you raise out of turn a player that might had called could fold. Or if you fold out of turn, you are giving an advantage to the player on your left who now knows you won�t raise.

2) Making a String Bet
If you are going to raise you should announce �raise� when it is your turn. If you don�t announce a raise, you must put the bet and the raise in at the same time. If you put in the bet and then go back to your stack for the raise, you can be called for a �string bet� which is not allowed and your raise will not be honored.

3) Not knowing what the bet is.
You have to know what the bet is when it is your turn. You must pay attention to amount of the bet made by the first active player. Then you must be aware if the bet was raised.

4) Folding instead of checking.
Sometimes if the player does not like the next card dealt he will immediately fold when it is his turn. If you are first to act you can check. If everyone else checks, you get to see the next card for free. The same is true if everyone checks before it is your turn, you should also check instead of folding your cards. The free card may just make your hand.

5) Throwing chips into the pot.
Place your bet in front of you. This way the dealer sees that your bet is correct. He will scoop them into the pot. You don�t throw them into the pot like you would at home.

6) Not protecting your cards.
It is up to the players to protect their cards at all times. Place your hands or a chip on top of your cards. If another player�s cards mix with yours when they throw in their cards your hand will be declared dead. You will see some players bring a special weight or “Lucky Charm” to place over their pocket cards. It doesn’t matter what you use as long as it is not so large as to interfere with the play of the game

7) Throwing a winning hand into the muck. (Discards)
The cards speak for themselves. Don�t immediately throw in your cards if someone calls out a better hand. The dealer will declare the winner of the hand. Sometimes you may have a better hand than you thought you had. There is also the possibility that the player calling his winning hand has misread his own hand. Let the dealer declare the winner before mucking (throwing way) your hand

Losing control of your emotions.
Keep your emotions in check. The table is not the place for foul language of temper tantrums. It will not be tolerated. Besides it makes you look foolish. Veteran players as well as newcomers make this mistake. It is one that should not be made by anyone!

9) Playing Too Many Hands
Many players crave the action. They feel that if they are not involved in the hand they aren�t really playing the game. Successful players play fewer hands. It takes patience and discipline to wait until you have a proper starting hand. If you can practice these traits, you will be on your way to becoming a winning player.

10) Playing Too Long.
Playing winning poker takes concentration. You must be aware of the game and people around you. If you play too long, you may get tired or even bored. This can cause you to make mistakes or play marginal hands. If you start to get tired, leave the game.