So we're agreed, we all know how to play hold'em (ahem). But hold'em is not the only variation of the game to make us scratch our heads from time to time.

The mark of a good player is often their ability to master games beyond those in our hold'em comfort zone, and then play them all in "mixed games" to a high standard.

If this sounds like something you might want to try for yourself then you might want to tune into the PokerSchoolOnline Twitch Channel this week, when mixed games will be the topic of conversation as another member of Team Online takes to the airwaves.

Adrienne "talonchick" Rowsome knows a little about this. It might sound disingenuous when asked "what's your favourite variation of poker?" to reply "all of them," but that's Rowsome, a popular member of Team Online who juggles work and a young family in the same way she juggles hold'em, Omaha, stud and draw.

Adrienne "talonchick" Rowsome

What's more talonchick will be Twitching this Thursday, October 22 at 15.00 ET on the PokerSchoolOnline Twitch Channel. You can watch her play, send questions and learn a little of what it takes to master what to some might seem close to impossible.

So if you're looking at ways to become a better mixed game player, want to know which strategies to use, or if you're new to the whole concept of what a H.O.R.S.E. is, this will be a great place to watch and learn. And in talonchick you'll have an excellent guide, as this video goesto a little way to demonstrate.

As we mentioned last week, PSO has a number of Twitch streams, each designed to pick up on various elements of the game and help players of all abilities to improve their game. Check out what's on offer, and at the same time don't forget the live training on PSO. It's a great resource for new and experienced players alike.

And if you're one of the former you can open your own PokerStars account in just a matter of minutes by clicking here.

So watch Twitch this Thursday at 15.00 ET then tweet us at @PokerStarsBlog to let us know how you get on.

It turned out to be the defining image of EPT 11 Malta in March, if not the entire season. A man, who had every right to be enjoying perhaps one of the most joyous moments of his life, instead chose to console the man who, by virtue of being beaten, felt the exact opposite.
Jean Montury proved not only a worthy winner, but also a gallant one.

Jean Montury comforts Valentin Messina

While Montury would get to celebrate, collecting a first prize of €687,400 as well as the winner's trophy, the man whose face was obscured in that image later came to reflect more positively on what a great achievement finishing runner up had been. That man was Valentin Messina.

As the EPT prepared to touch down on the Mediterranean island this week Frenchman Messina is already preparing his next Malta campaign. Having lived on the island for two years now it's the pace he calls home, a place where his poker career as developed and bloomed, and now at least, where the memories of last season are now happy ones.

The man beneath the hood: Valentin Messina

For one thing Messina has already won his seat for the Main Event, and while personal obligations keep him away from the IPT Main Event (coverage of which begins tomorrow on the PokerStars Blog) he'll be there in a bid to repeat his efforts last time around, or who knows, go one better.

"I'm very confident about my game," he said. "I have no pressure because I know very well the difficulty to repeat such a performance. Obviously I would like to make a back to back but the task will be difficult!"

Messina has what he considers another advantage - the home field kind.

"During a deep run it's super important to be able to go home after each day to my wife. It helps me to be calm and relaxed, an essential element!"

That, coupled with the 2,000 hands he plays every day ("mainly in NL200 and NL400") put him in good stead ahead of the Main Event which starts on Sunday.

I really want to [put in] an excellent performance," he said. "And why not imagine doing better than last time?!"
Regardless of what happens this time around, the image of Messina, head down on the table, beaten and exhausted, is one of the Tour's most iconic. No one would begrudge him going one better this month.

For details on this season's EPT Malta festival go to the EPT homepage where you'll find tournament schedules and other usefl information. You can follow all the action from Portomaso Casino in Malta, along with the progress of Messina, on the PokerStars Blog from tomorrow.

What a week it's been here for the ANZPT7 Melbourne Main Event!

Records broken, history made and after four days of play at Crown Melbourne a champion has emerged. Ultimately is was Lin Shi who reigned triumphant, overcoming Peter Matusik in a short heads up battle late into Level 29.

Shi started heads up as the overwhelming chip leader and it didn't take him long to seal the deal. The final hand saw Shi limp from the button for 100,000 and Matusik check his option in the big blind. Both players quickly checked on the [9h][Jc][Tc] flop before the dealer turned the [Qc].

At that point Matusik lead for 350,000 and Shi pushed all in over the top with enough to cover his opponent. Matusik gave a shrug and called off for his tournament life.

"Do you have a flush?" Shi asked before seeing he had Matusik Drawing dead.

Shi: [Ah][Kh]
Matusik: [Qd][8d]

Matusik had flopped a straight but the turn saw Shi overtake him with Broadway. With the bottom end of the straight there was no way Matusik could catch up as the inconsequential [2s] rolled off. So close to winning himself a second ANZPT title, Matusik would have to settle for a $174,489 payday.

Before the two heads up players found themselves in the final battle for glory, things got off to a flying start earlier in the day.

The first to find the exit was Mile Krstanoski not long after play began. He got his money in with [Qc][Qd] against the [Ac][Kd] of Lin Shi but wasn't able to fade the overcards. Shi would flop top two pair and hold to eliminate Krstanoski in ninth place.

Next out the door was George Balandinos when he found himself all in and at risk with pocket eights against Peter Matusik's pocket nines. The flop would bring Matusik top set and Balandinos exited eighth for $26,650. Following Balandinos was seventh place finisher Carl Knox who, after being crippled in a flip with Nicolce Trajkovski, got his last two big blinds in three-way with [Kh][Qs] but came up short against Shi.

Erich Stadler would finish sixth after a bad beat from Manny Stavropoulos left him heading to the cashier. Stadler got his shortstack all in good with [As][Kd] and Stavropoulos called off from the big blind with [Ah][6c]. Stavropoulos would ultimately find a six on the river to scoop the pot and send Stadler to the rail.

Joining Stadler was Kenn Langcake who finished fifth after running his [As][Kh] into the [Ks][Kd] of Matusik. Langcake couldn't improve and received $55,965 for his efforts here this week. It would take about an hour and a half for the next player to fall, but Nikolce Trajkovski was eliminated by a nasty river after calling his shortstack off with ace-high for his tournament life.

It was over an hour into three-handed play when whispers of a deal began. Eventually those remaining would look at the numbers and in the end an agreement was reached. An ICM chop was decided upon with $20,000 and the trophy put aside to play for. The deal saw chip leader at the time Matusik lock up $174,489, Stravropoulos guaranteed himself $171,910, and Shi ensure a $150,641 return.

Of these three it was Stavropoulos who fell by the wayside before heads up play began. He exited in spectacular fashion after a preflop flip with Shi lead to his opponent turning a Royal Flush. It was a fair fight with Stavropoulos holding [3h][3d] against Shi's [Ac][Qc] but he couldn't avoid elimination on the [Jc][7h][Tc][Kc][Qh] run out.

In the end Shi used those newly accumulated chips to put the pressure on Matusik and finish things off. After the deal with the $20,000 first place bonus Shi earns himself $170,641 and the last-ever ANZPT Main Event title.

ANZPT7 Melbourne Final Table Results
1st: Lin Shi (Australia) - $170,641*
2nd: Peter Matusik (Australia) - $174,489*
3rd: Manny Stavropoulos (Australia) - $171,910*
4th: Nikolce Trajkovski (Australia) - $71,960
5th: Kenn Langcake (Australia) - $55,965
6th: Erich Stadler (New Zealand) - $45,305
7th: Carl Knox (New Zealand) - $34,650
8th: George Balandinos (Australia) - $26,650
9th: Mile Krstanoski (Australia) - $19,120

* indicates a three-handed deal

It was a record 520 player field and $1,066,000 prize pool for the last ANZPT Main Event ever - what a way to end this seven-year legacy! Congratulations to Lin Shi and thank you for joining our coverage of ANZPT7 Melbourne.

And then there were three!

It's been five hours since play began today and now we've reached our final three.

After the first three players found the rail in quick succession, Erich Stadler was next to go when he was eliminated in sixth place. Stadler moved all in for his last 340,000 in chips from the hijack and Manny Stavropoulos would call off the shortstack from the big blind.

Stadler: [As][Kd]
Stavropoulos: [Ah][6c]

Stadler was in great shape to double up and avoided danger through the [7h][8d][Qs] flop. The turn, however, landed the [6h] as Stadler dropped his head into his hands. With only a king able to save him it wasn't to be as the [5c] river arrived sealing his fate. For his sixth place finish Stadler picks up $45,305.

Fifth place would go to Kenn Langcake after a cooler found him searching for an ace to stay alive. After an under the gun open from Stavropoulos, Langcake moved all in for 670,000 from the cutoff. Peter Matusik called to put him at risk and Stavropoulos got out of the way.

Langcake: [As][Kh]
Matusik: [Ks][Kd]

The [7d][Ts][Js] flop gave Langcake some extra outs with a Broadway draw but the [4c] turn and [6s] river would see Matusik hold and Langcake hit the rail. For his fifth place finish Langcake scores himself $55,965.

Play slowed down dramatically at this point as everyone tightened approaching the top three spots. It would take more than a full 75-minute level before another player would hit the rail. That was Nikolce Trajkovski who ended up in fourth place for a healthy $71,960 payday.

In the hand that saw him eliminated, Trajkovski found himself all in for his last 200,000 in chips after calling for his tournament life in the big blind from Shi's small blind jam.

Trajkovski: [Ac][7d]
Shi: [9d][8c]

The call proved good and Trajkovski was looking set for a double up as the board came down [2c][3h][Jd][jc]. Only needing to fade an eight or nine on the river he couldn't do it as the dealer turned up the [8s] and Trajkovski headed to the exit in fourth place.

So now there are only three left in the hunt for the ANZPT7 Melbourne title and the $261,200 first place prize. Who will navigate their way past the other remaining two players and emerge victorious here tonight? Stay with us as we find out!

Well it didn't take too long to see our first final table casualty here.

Mile Krstanoski found the rail first in today's proceedings at the hands on Lin Shi. The action began with Shi opening to 65,000 from middle position and when it folded around to Krstanoski on the button, he pushed his last 455,000 into the middle. The players in the blinds threw their hands away and Shi called it off to put Krstanoski at risk.

Krstanoski: [Qc][Qd]
Shi: [Ac][Kh]

It was a flip with Krstanoski trying to dodge an ace or king to stay alive. The [Ah][Jd][Kc] saw him lose the lead but meant he could still peel a queen for a set or a ten to make Broadway. The [8s] turn and [2d] river bricked off and Krstanoski headed to the exit in ninth place. He collects $19,120 for his efforts.

Following Krstanoski out the door almost an hour later was George Balandinos. After taking a hit in a recent hand with king queen against pocket aces, Balandinos found himself all in for his final 370,000 after jamming from the hijack. Peter Matusik made the call from the button and with the other players out of the way, the two tabled their cards.

Balandinos: [8s][8c]
Matusik: [9s][9h]

Balandinos was in trouble and things only got worse as the [9d][5s][2h] flop saw Matusik spike top set. Needing running straight cards to stay alive Balandinos couldn't catch them as the [Qs] turn and [Ah] river landed. For his eight place finish Balandinos pockets $26,650.

And our latest evictee was met with elimination shortly after when New Zealander Carl Knox earned himself a seventh place score. After losing a big flip with pocket nines to Nikolce Trajkovski's ace-ten suited just prior, Knox got his last two big blinds into the middle. Both Peter Matusik and Lin Shi called from the blinds before the cards went on their backs.

Knox: [Kh][Qs]
Matusik: [Js][Th]
Shi: [8d][7h]

The two players still with chips quickly checked down on a board of [3d][8s][2s][Ah][6h] and Knox was presented with the bad news. Shi had flopped an eight which was good enough to eliminate Knox in seventh place for $34,650.

That's the action so far this afternoon. It's been a fast-paced start and we'll see if it stays that way or if things slow down as players approach the podium. Stay with us!

It's go time here at Crown Melbourne as the final nine take to the felt. They'll have their eyes on snagging the last-ever ANZPT Main Event title and the $261,200 first place prize.

We've already seen three days of exciting play in the poker room here. When it all began the field reached a total of 520, breaking the previous ANPZT Main record of 516 and making history with a $1,066,000 prize pool.

The man leading the charge into the final table is Peter 'Chewing Gum Pete' Matusik. The 2011 ANZPT Gold Coast Main Event champion has had a great few days on the felt and starts today as the only player with over two million in chips on 2,430,000.

Matusik took charge about half way through play yesterday, winning pig pots and sending players to the rail. He would ultimately eliminate Day 1B end-of-day chip leader Hyeong Wook Choi in the dying stages last night, spiking a set on the flop and fading a spade against Choi's flush draw.

He may have the chip lead now, but taking down the title will be no mean feat as Matusik sits among a tough final nine. In Seat 1 is reigning Aussie Millions champion Manny Stavropoulos. Bagging up 1,570,000 last night, Stavropoulos finds himself third in chips to start the action this afternoon. With this final table appearance Stavropoulos has guaranteed himself the honour of ANZPT Player of the Year.

Also hitting the felt today is 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event third place finisher Mile 'The Shadow' Krstanoski. He started Day 2 with only nine big blinds but managed to run it up and push on to the final table. Krstanoski now finds himself with 525,000 at the beginning of play for currently eighth in chips.

ANZPT7 Melbourne Final Table Draw
Seat 1: Manny Stavropoulos (Australia) - 1,570,000
Seat 2: Kenn Langcake (Australia) - 650,000
Seat 3: Mile Krstanoski (Australia) - 525,000
Seat 4: Carl Knox (New Zealand) - 860,000
Seat 5: George Balandinos (Australia) - 990,000
Seat 6: Erich Stadler (New Zealand) - 490,000
Seat 7: Peter Matusik (Australia) - 2,430,000
Seat 8: Lin Shi (Australia) - 1,865,000
Seat 9: Nikolce Trajkovski (Australia) - 800,000

The action has just kicked off here! Don't miss a thing as we witness the exciting conclusion of the last ANZPT Main Event ever and prepare to crown a champion. We'll follow every elimination today on the PokerStars Blog and for more in depth coverage on the action you can check out the live reporting on PokerNews. Stay tuned!

The final table is set!

While the cash tables were buzzing with players chasing the royal flush jackpot, those on the tournament floor were looking for a huge score of their own.

When play began we had 63 poker hopefuls return to the Crown poker room and we were off to a flying start as the shortstacks gambled for their tournament lives.

After eight and a half hours of play we've finally made it to our last-ever AZNPT final table. Those lucky nine will be back tomorrow before we crown a champion!

The plan starting the day was to play down to seven but when time lingered on and the action slowed down as we approached the end, a decision was made to conclude things nine handed.

Play would conclude only a few minutes into Level 24 when start-of-day chip leader Kenn Langcake eliminated Adam Monaghan. It folded around to Monaghan on the button who pushed all in for his last 195,000 in chips. Next to act Langcake moved in over the top with enough to cover and with the big blind out of the way the cards went on their backs.

Monaghan: [Qh][8h]
Langcake: [Ad][4c]

Monghan needed help and he celebrated after finding it on the [Qs][3h][Ks] flop. He was trying to fade an ace to stay alive but couldn't do it as the [Ac] turn rolled off and the [9c] river bricked. Monaghan would have to be content with his 10th place finish for $11,725 while the other nine guaranteed themselves $19,120.

Leading the way for tomorrow's return after a great day on the felt is Peter Matusik. The Brisbane local emerged as chip leader about half way through proceedings and is currently out in front with 2,430,000.

Matusik put a stop to Day 1B end-of-day chip leader Hyeong Wook Choi into the late stages of the night after the dealer fanned out an action flop. The [3c][8s][6s] board saw a jam from Choi and a snap-call from Matsusik before players revealed their hands.

Matusik: [6h][6d]
Choi: [Qs][9s]

It was Matusik's middle set up against Choi's flush draw and with the [Kd] turn and [Td] river appearing Choi would fail to spike one of his outs to instead find the rail. Matusik would continue chipping up as play went on before ultimately finishing with the lead going into the final table tomorrow.

Following Matusik on the chip stack podium are Lin Shi (current second place) with 1,865,000 and reigning Aussie Millions champion Manny Stavropoulos (third place) on 1,570,000. By reaching the final table here this week Stavropoulos has already guaranteed himself the ANZPT Player of the Year title and will be hunting for the last ANZPT Main Event title to top it off.

ANZPT7 Melbourne Final Table Draw
Seat 1: Manny Stavropoulos (Australia) - 1,570,000
Seat 2: Kenn Langcake (Australia) - 650,000
Seat 3: Mile Krstanoski (Australia) - 525,000
Seat 4: Carl Knox (New Zealand) - 860,000
Seat 5: George Balandinos (Australia) - 990,000
Seat 6: Erich Stadler (New Zealand) - 490,000
Seat 7: Peter Matusik (Australia) - 2,430,000
Seat 8: Lin Shi (Australia) - 1,865,000
Seat 9: Nikolce Trajkovski - 800,000

So that's all for tonight! The remaining nine players will return tomorrow from 12:30pm to battle it out for the ANZPT Main Event title! You can find all about the final nine when we have their player bios posted up later in the evening. Stay tuned!