Erlend Wiborg plays poker against Odd Oddsen
Political poker

Norwegian Politician took the challenge to play with a poker professional and lost

Norwegian politician Erlend Wiborg and Norwegian poker expert Ola “Odd Oddsen” Amundsgaard played in a poker clash this Saturday. The politician wasn’t up to it, though, and he left the table defeated within 1 day.

The 10,000-hand battle was supposed to go on for five months, but instead it ended the same day. Wiborg lost around 26 buy-ins over the initial 1,056 hands.

The purpose of the challenge initiated by Amundsgaard was to demonstrate that poker is a game of skill and smart strategies, not a game of luck. He officially addressed a defiance to any lawmaker in the country willing to play with him. The poker genius wanted to prove that the definition of gambling applies to poker and the game should be regulated.

The challenge required the players to play $0.50-$1 pot-limit Omaha for 10,000 hands. The announced award was one million kroner ($170,000), promised by Amundsgaard if his opponent won.
casino table manners casino tables manners. He was ever gracious in defeat, too, saying: “Ola was simply too tough. His superior skills clearly showed, and I didn’t have a chance. No million for me, but we clearly demonstrated the core principle here, namely that poker is a skill game.”

Amundsgaard added: “I was in total control and I feel I accomplished what I wanted; demonstrating that poker is a game of skill. Erlend never had a chance to win, and my million (deposited for the challenge) was never threatened.”

Amundsgaard is one of 2013’s largest winners on the web. He won around $3 million, so naturally he wants to bring the issue for discussion, because currently online and mobile casinos are not allowed in Norway.