Poker in the Park V

The world’s greatest free poker festival is back. Poker in the Park V takes place on 2nd and 3rd September at the new venue of Hanover Square, a stone’s throw from Oxford Circus.

As well the usual mix of live SNGs running around the clock in two massive Poker Domes, organisers have introduced a wider variety of skill-gaming, with tents spreading rummy, chess and backgammon tournaments all day long. On top of that the organisers are going for the record for the biggest Mah-Jong tournament ever held in the UK in the Mah-Jong Festival Dome.

Meanwhile, the Pokerfarm Lecture Marquee will be offering free strategy lectures and Q&A’s from some of the UK’s top players, including Neil Channing, Sam Trickett, JP Kelly and James Mitchell, while Paul Zimbler leads the Bluff Europe Poker Academy tuition tent offering some one to one advice.

The addition this year of the PokerStars.com Main Stage will provide a true festival atmosphere, helped along by a fully licensed bar. The Swinging Little Big Band, one of the UK’s most exciting live acts, will be belting out Rat Pack style jazz, while an array of magicians and “card ninjas” will be wowing the crowds with their card manipulation.

At 3pm on Saturday, the main stage will host the British Poker Awards, emcee’d by comedian Lucy Porter. The ceremony will include a charity auction to raise money for Peace and Sport (www.peace-sport.org). Among the items to go under Lucy’s hammer will be Barcelona and Arsenal shirts signed by the teams.

They say you have to pay for a poker education, but this weekend they’re giving it away for free!