Gutshot Poker

As all seasoned poker players know, a gutshot draw is one in which a player needs a middle card to make a straight, but Gutshot also refers to a poker club and collective of players that are currently in the limelight because of a continued battle with the law.

The bricks and mortar Gutshot club at Clerkenwell Road in London is a veritable oasis in the City for poker enthusiasts. In addition to all of the poker games, which we'll discuss in a moment, the club also boasts a very stylish bar (open midday to midnight) and versatile restaurant facilities including a Deli Bar serving from 12pm onwards and an a la carte restaurant (open from 5:30pm until 2:30am on weekdays and from 1pm until 2:30am at weekends).

Whilst it's well worth visiting the Gutshot club purely for the food and drink it offers (we highly recommend plentiful but responsible consumption of both) it's the poker that most people come here for. And as excellent as all the other facilities are, it's the poker that makes Gutshot a must-visit venue.

Gutshot Poker offer a variety of tournaments and cash games. You can buy into a rebuy tournament from as little as £5, but if you are more experienced you'll also be interested in the more expensive buy-ins. The £30 rebuy tournaments are a good challenge for virtually anyone, and give you the chance to test your ability without breaking the bank. The more ambitious could try their hand at a freeze-out tourney – there are several that take place regularly with buy-ins from £20 to £300.

The cash games are similarly varied so that there is something to appeal to players of every level of ability. For the new club player who has only previously played at home or via the internet, Gutshot's £25 buy in Pot Limit Hold'em games are probably the best starting point. More experienced players who want to dig deeper into their pockets can choose to play No-Limit Hold-em, Omaha or Dealer's Choice, with no-max buy-in games ensuring you'll never be left wanting more.

Now matter type of game you choose to play, the environment is a delight. It's clean, smart, classy, and staffed by some of the friendliest and most professional (and prettiest) individuals we've had the pleasure of encountering. In a nutshell, if you don't enjoy playing poker at Gutshot, you're unlikely to enjoy club poker anywhere.

To play at the Gutshot Poker you will need to become a member. However, because the old rule about waiting for 24 hours before playing as a new member of a gaming establishment no longer applies, you can join and play the same day. Even better – and somewhat surprisingly considering the quality of this place – membership to Gutshot is free.

Gutshot Online:

If you really can't make it to the Gutshot club in person, the next best thing is to play online at www.gutshotgaming.com. As you would expect, this site aims to reproduce the bricks and mortar experience in a virtual environment, and although there are some aspects that are obviously missing (namely the food, drink and staff) the poker here is as enjoyable as it gets online.

Again, you can play a wide variety of games here, including Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo, 5 Card Stud and tournaments. Stakes are varied to suit all budgets, and there are daily freerolls for those who want to get some tournament experience in without shelling out. For more seasoned poker players there are higher level cash games and daily guaranteed tournaments ($500, $1,000 and $5,000) as well as a sumptuous $25,000 guaranteed weekly tournament.

Graphics and audio are implemented nicely here, and the bottom line is that Gutshot online really is the next best thing to playing at the Gutshot club in London. Just remember to provide your own food and drink!

The Gutshot Shootout:

Although the Gutshot club in London has always kept the law informed about their activities, David Kelly, the Chairman, was charged with contravening the Gaming Act of 1968. The Act, which many, including Kelly, view as being outdated and irrelevant to modern society, states that it is illegal for anyone to charge others for gaming, or to put a levy on stakes or winnings.

Kelly has entered a plea of not-guilty, and argues that poker is fairly unique among card games because it involves skill. The more skilful the player, the more chance they have of overcoming the element of luck that may be involved. Many believe that because of this important observation, poker should be viewed as a game of pure skill, and therefore be outside the jurisdiction of the rules concerning the provision of gaming. Kelly may also argue that the charges made for playing poker are of benefit to the players themselves, not least because they are required to keep the club going.

A pre-trial review of the Gutshot case has been set for December 4, 2006. Regardless of how the case turns out, the close scrutiny of gaming laws in the UK is long overdue, and it looks inevitable that Gutshot's legal battle will be instrumental in bringing that fact to public attention. We here wish David Kelly the very best. May all your cards be suited!