World Poker Finals at Foxwood
by Nolan Dalla
From: nolandalla@aol.com (NolanDalla)
Date: Mon, Dec 8, 1997 13:48 EST
World Poker Finals (Trip Report) - part 1
INTRODUCTION: When I partake on an extended poker sabbatical, I routinely
try to plan things well in-advance. I make a written schedule, which
includes (1) travel arrival and departure times, (2) anticipated hours
played (to ensure that there are enough hours on the trip to guarantee the
modest one big bet per hour expectation in covering the vig of expenses,
plus profit), and (3) sleep and meal times. Naturally, I try to maintain
flexibility when the unforeseeable occurs (which always does).
PRE-TRIP: A major disappointment comes when my anticipated roommate for
the venture, JIM RANKIN is called-out of the country at the last second
and cannot come to Foxwoods. Jim's always flying off to one of those
countries in Africa nobody has ever heard of (except for RUSS POPPELL,
maybe). Don't tell anyone, but I suspect he works for the CIA. Jim is a
high-limit player who was very eager to take part in the WORLD POKER
FINALS side action, including several of the events. I hope Jim returns
in time to enter some of the later tournaments, that is assuming he can
get away from his ( ahem ) "consulting duties."
PERSONAL: The WORLD POKER FINALS (heretofore "WPF) was a
big event for me personally. It's the first tournament I've played (I generally
do not play in major events) since the U.S. Poker Championships a year
ago in Atlantic City.
My bankroll was sufficient to justify the expenses of my second flight to
Providence, RI within three weeks -- plus hotel and assorted costs. and I
liked the prospect of playing in up to FOUR major tournaments for the
bargain basement price of only $1,520 (Actually, if you don't rebuy in
the $500 hold'em event, you could cut the cost down to $1,020. I also
believe(d) I was ready emotionally to make a commitment to take my game to
the next level. Therefore, taking a "nothing ventured -- nothing gained"
approach, I viewed my WPF experience as a watershed moment in trying to
kick down the glass ceiling which pervades over middle-limit ring game
players like myself.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4 (Day One):
***Planes, Trains, and Automobiles***
4:00 am: Wide awake (note: last time I followed this exact same routine
of waking-up early to attend FARGO, I never seemed to "catch-up" on my
sleep and sleepwalked through the entire event in a zombie-like
trance.....so I was determined NOT to get started off on the wrong foot
again on this trip). I had gone to bed at 8:00 PM the night before. 5:00
am: Taxi to Washington, DC's Union Station. I took advantage of an
airfare which was only 1/4th the cost of flying out of National Airport.
Only problem was I had to fly out of Baltimore. 6:15 am: Train to
Baltimore Airport 7:15 am: Flight to Providence, RI (nearest major
airport to the Foxwoods Casino in CT) 8:15 am: Arrive in Providence.
10:00 am: Bus to Casino (shuttle bus runs between airport and casino
three times per day for $30 R/T). 11:15 Arrive at Foxwoods Casino. Now,
"the fun" begins.
***Satellites***
One of the best things about a major poker tournament, in addition to the
side action which increases four-fold, are the single-table satellites
which run almost around the clock. Essentially for those who do not know,
you pay a relatively low entry fee to play a freeze out against 7-9 players
for the combined total of the fees (the house takes a few extra dollars
for expenses). The $500 satellites each cost $78....the winner gets a $500
lamer (entitling the player to play in an upcoming event, but which has no
cash value). The winner also gets $50 in cash. Many times, these
satellites are accompanied by a rash of action-Jackson side wagers between
players who want to see who can last the longest. They usually are in the
$10-20 range. The $500 satellite events were attractive to me because I
anticipated using the lamers to play and re-buy in the $500 hold'em event.
However -- there were also $200 and $300 satellites for those who didn't
want to pay a cash entry for those tournaments.
Things do not start-off exactly as I had planned:
$500 7-card stud satellite...................loss of $78
$500 Limit hold'em satellite..................loss of $78
Two hours burned. Down $156 total.
Since there is so much action in the room, but the lists are very long, I
placed my name on virtually every list to ensure not standing around
looking at the wallpaper. $15-30 hold'em...............win $238 $20-40
hold'em...............win $273. Of interest to some within RGP may be the
following side note: I was surprised to see the one and only DON LARRIMORE
(or is it LATTIMORE, I don't remember?) in attendance at the WPF. I have
never actually met him via a formal introduction, but I was very disturbed
-- as many were -- of his treatment of RGP's beloved TOM SIMS during SIMS'
attempt to track and record every WSOP hand for posterity. Apparently
back in May, LATTIMORE wasn't all too comfortable with SIMS invading his
turf. SIMS', always a gentleman, never voiced any disparaging words about
this, but I'm not quite so gentle- manly about the incident. Ever since
I've heard that story, it's been a sore issue with me personally. Anyway,
the stone-faced LATTIMORE was seen throughout the four days I was there,
yet I never spoke with him in any way. I did manage to -- and was almost
stuck by disbelief -- when I (apparently) saw LATTIMORE * smiling * and
* laughing * from my vantage point across the room. But again, this fact
cannot be actually be confirmed. UFOologists are investigating the
alleged "smiling sighting." If such was actually the case -- one can only
presume LATTIMORE's rooster is having a good run at the cockfights.
Back to the satellites again:
$200 7-card stud satellite..............loss of $40
$500 No-limit hold'em satellite..........loss of $78
At my table is HERB BRONSTEIN, a renowned world-class player. BRONSTEIN
impresses me a rather quiet person and is always very well-behaved at
the table. BRONSTEIN is from Montreal, and is fluent in both English and
French.
He is a warm and rather humble person who is the consummate professional
when it comes to poker. Of course, I'm knocked-out of this satellite by
that dirty SOB (just joking, Herb). In the SB, I have K-8 off suit and see
the flop for free. Flop is K-8-6. I come out betting (about $100).
BRONSTEIN moves all his chips into the pot. I call. BRONSTEIN shows trip
6's . $1000 No-limit hold'em satellite..............WIN $1080 BRONSTEIN
must be following me around (after all, he knows a mark when he sees one).
I enter the NL satellite for $118. BRONSTEIN is two seats to my right.
Across the table is another big gun, JIM BOYD from Martinsburg, West
Virginia. BOYD is among the nicest people you will ever meet in a poker
room. And, a great player. I crush those two pathetic sods and take two
$500 lamers plus $80 in cash More about JIM BOYD later.
Back to the ring action:
$15-30 7-card stud H/L.................win $195.
$15-30 hold'em................loss of $20
$10-20 hold'em..................win 55
$20-40 hold'em..................loss of $250
The $200 buy-in Omaha H/L events begins at 6:00 PM.
More to come.................
Subject: World Poker Finals (Trip Report) -- pt. 2
(When you were last tuned-in, the HERO of the story was about to enter the
$200 Omaha H/L8 event)
6:00 PM: Foxwoods has the room arranged very nicely, in full view of the
rest of the casino (so passersby will be attracted to the excitement of
tournament poker). I also noted several signs around the casino touting
the WPF (essentially screaming to rank amateurs, that "you too can become
a poker champion for the cost of a nice dinner and show tickets."). FW
management impressed me with their obvious dedication to poker in
conducting the events and in the set-up amenities, with only one major
exception (to be noted later). Tournament Director, Mike Ward was right
there on-site to deal with the details. Also, I was surprised at the
high-level of competency of the poker dealers. Mike told me that he
pulled several dealers from the floor and that FW encourages
"cross-training" of its employees. Unlike some tournaments, I rarely saw
players or floor people have to correct dealer mistakes. Strange as it is
to say, it is my view that a good dealer is someone who isn't
"noticed"....kind of like the referee in football. If you never have to
think about the dealer, then he/she is probably doing his job well (with
apologies to all dealers for the impersonal nature of these comments)
I consider Omaha H/L to be my best game (*** insert flames here ***) and
because of the emphasis on calculating hand values, I find the game more
enjoyable to play, certainly more than stud, anyway. So, I went into the
event in a confident manner and was especially pleased to see JIM BOYD
(noted in pt. 1) on my immediate right. This is a perfect spot for me, as
the BOYD influence will allow me to act immediately after the best player
at the table acts. BOYD is one hell of a nice person. I just can't say
enough about him. He is extremely cordial and even tells stories at the
table (I think if a vote was taken, BOYD very well might win the "most
popular" award among his colleagues). We had been playing about an hour,
when BOYD who was short-stacked managed to get back to even. As he raked
in the pot which got him back to the $500 level (in chips) BOYD chuckles
and says, "Well, now that I'm back to even, I guess I'll have to start
playing solid again." He did more than that.....he went on to make the
final table among 222 entries (note: He may have won the event, but I
simply don't remember at the time this is being written).
Another funny thing happened at the table. Across the table from BOYD is
some loudmouth (who supposedly manages a cardroom...God knows where). He
was constantly the source of annoyance for those around him with his
distracting comments. He was especially pathetic when he was trying to
win BOYD's favor by (now get this) inviting BOYD to come play in his home
game. The CLOWN stated he had a $10-20 game on weekends at his home,
dealer's choice and that BOYD "might find the game interesting." I'm
thinking to myself..... who is this CLOWN? He wants to invite one of the
top poker players in the world to his home game? I guess this is where we
see that the pros make a substantial amount of money on the side by taking
up such offers from such gullible fools. Look for a house and car to be
on the market soon in an area near you.
Nothing much to say about the HERO of this story, except that he busted
out midway through with the event. Since the tournament continues, there
is no satellite action (no dealers) and I am limited to side action.
$20-40 Hold'em....................loss of $250
Not a good way to end an otherwise pleasant day. Better luck tomorrow.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5th
The big day begins. The crowning moment of the trip will be the $500
limit hold'em event (with one optional $500 re-buy). The event starts at
6:00 PM, so I have several hours to play satellites and ring games.
$10-20 Omaha H/L8.............loss of $135
$20-40 Hold'em.........................win $445.
(mandatory table change)
$2-40 Hold'em......................win $105
The deck runs over me in just 45 minutes.. I consider staying in the
game, but I want to play more satellites (I can always find a ring game,
but these satellite freeze-out events are a rare treat)
$500 7-card stud satellite.................loss of $78
$500 Hold'em No Limit satellite.............win $450
(I make a deal with another player and give him $100 cash).
This satellite was notable because two seats to my left was MIKE LAING,
the Las Vegas pro (forgive me if I misspelled Mike's last name). LAING is
widely regarded as one of the best hold'em tournament players in the world
and this was my first occasion to play with him. I put a particularly bad
beat on LAING when we were down to three-way action. I had A-5 suited on
the button. I made a small raise, which only LAING called (he was the
SB). The flop is rags......T-3-2. Not that bad a flop for me, however
with the inside straight draw. I have a 2-1 chip advantage over LAING.
LAING bets a small amount and I RAISE (semi-bluff) all-in. To my dismay,
LAING calls. The 4 on the river saves me (gut-shot straight) and LAING
just looks at me as he mucked the hand (never saw what it was). Later I
approached him and he said he liked the move. He again reiterated that
sometimes you just have to get lucky. Also on this table was another pro
(who busted out). I forgot the first name, but his last name is SAAB
(Doug, Dennis perhaps?). He was very quiet (especially for a Southerner)
and proudly wore his WSOP bracelet, although very few people knew he who
was or seemed to notice the bracelet.
On to more satellite action:
$500 Hold'em satellite................loss of $78
$500 Hold'em satellite..............loss of $78
$500 7-card stud satellite............loss of $78
I have 3 $500 lamers and use one for the buy-in for the $500 Limit Hold'em
event. I anticipate using another lamer for the optional re-buy. I sell
the remaining $500 lamer for $480 at the sign-up window.
6:00 PM: The $500 Limit Hold'em event begins right on time, and I have
JOHN BONETTI two seats to my right. More about BONETTI and more in this
report to come................
Subject: World Poker Finals (Trip Report) - pt. 3
(When we left off in the last report, the HERO was about to enter the $500
limit hold'em event. But first, I want to make a few remarks. I will
admit to not being the best speller. I also never edit or proofread my
posts before sending them in, so you will see often mistakes throughout
the text. The reason I do this is because if I were to start running
spell checks and editing, I would essentially never be happy with the
finished product (sort of like writing a column) and it would take me
considerably more time to compose a final draft. So, I just write what
comes to mind from memory and without the benefit of any notes (except for
poker records: type of game, amount W/L, etc.). Unfortunately, this
"spontaneity" is the cause of some annoyance -- as one of RGP's finest
just sent me an e-mail which essentially said the following: "How can a
poker writer not even know how to spell SATELLITE (I must have spelled it
incorrectly in the first two posts)" Well, for the record, I do know how
to spell SATELLITE....please read closely......S-C-R-E-W--O-F-F
(sorry to those I've offended)
Let's move on.
Before talking about JOHN BONETTI, let's discuss some fellow RGP comrades.
I was very pleased to see a good turnout of RGP/FARGO people this last
week. I was honored to be in the presence of DAVE TAHAJIAN, MING LEE, and
WARREN SANDER in a pre-tournament lunch at THE BISTRO downstairs. This
impressed me as a great place to get a solid Italian meal.....and I tasted
the best wine in my life on this day.....a glass of NAPA RIDGE MERLOT.
Marietta (for those who do not know is Mrs. Dalla). and I are in the
midst of an 11-week wine tasting course which has introduced us to one of
the great pleasures of life. Any ways, to make a long story short, this
wine was simply phenomenal. It gets 5 stars from the Dalla sommeliers.
This lunch was also particularly noteworthy for me because I got to find
out more about MING LEE and what a nice person he is. I already knew
SANDER and TAHAJIAN fairly well, but to date my path with MING LEE had
never crossed (just one of those things). This was a nice bonus and again
reinforces the notion that just about everyone within the RGP community
is first-rate so far as personality and friendship goes and brings to mind
that time simply does not allow us to indulge ourselves in pursuing so
many what otherwise would be close friendships.
More RGP personalities to follow.......
Now, let's talk about the tournament. I had been playing No-Limit hold'em
(satellites) and came into the tournament the mindset that it was NL (I
was just in a trance I guess, or maybe it was the Napa Ridge Merlot). The
first hand, I'm dealt A-K and raise, not $30 as required, but $50. The
Asian woman next to me starts laughing In fact, she's downright
contemptuous.. DEALER: Sir, you can only raise $30. NOLAN: Sorry, I've
never played one of these before. ASIAN WOMAN: We'll help you through
this. NOLAN: Thanks, I really appreciate it. JOHN BONETTI: (turns palms
upwards and shrugs as if to say....What the hell is wrong with you?)
One more thing about BONETTI. This is a man who is really something of a
living legend. His presence strikes fear in opponents. I find him to be
one of the nicest and most cordial people personally, but I know he is
also something of a tempestuous personality who can really blow off steam.
Before the tournament started, I spoke with MRS. BONETTI -- who goes with
JOHN to most tournaments. MRS. BONETTI is a really sweet lady from
Seymour, TX and how she and JOHN ever met is anyone's guess (maybe the
subject of a future column -- who knows? JOHN is being treated for a
life-threatening illness and with God's help will win the biggest "event"
of his life. I told JOHN that there were a lot of people praying for him
and that despite what he may think, there is a lot of love for him from
the people in this room. (Oh by the way...one more thing: BONETTI went
on to WIN the tournament and $49,000. .....he was heads-up against a
player I know (he lives in nearby Bethesda, MD named GREG PAPPAS. GREG is
noteworthy for his long gray hair and appears youthful despite the hair
color. GREG had done well in the previous tournament, made final table,
and playing heads-up against BONETTI the two players go off to the side
and make a deal. PAPPAS has $57,000 in chips to BONETTI's $56,000.
PAPPAS says he will take an even split -- at $37,000 plus change a piece.
BONETTI scoffs at the idea and knows PAPPAS has a backer. BONETTI uses
this knowledge to work a better deal (this is pro poker folks). He knows
the backer will want to make a deal at all costs. BONETTI, despite a very
slight chip disadvantage....suggests that he will take a split, plus
$1,000. This is kind of a salt-in-the-wound offer.....sort like saying,
YOU KNOW I'M A BETTER PLAYER THAN YOU ARE, and I KNOW
I AM A BETTER PLAYER THAN YOU ARE SO LET'S JUST MAKE
DEAL ON GET ON WITH IT. Pappas makes the deal. And, Pappas is one
hell of a poker player folks (I played against him in the 7-card stud event the
next day-- where you will read more).
Not too much to note in the tournament. I blow out on two hands. About
an hour in, I am dealt Q-J of hearts. Not the best hand, but I'll see a
flop with it. Flop is 8h - 9h - 2 ( small card). So I have a straight
flush draw. Not bad. ASAIN WOMAN bets $50. I raise. ASIAN WOMAN raises
again. I call. Turn is trash. ASIAN WOMAN checks (???). I check behind
her. River is trey, no heart. I completely missed. ASIAN WOMAN checks
again and I decide to fire away at the pot....A $100 chip hits the clay.
ASIAN WOMAN calls. Bong! Nolan was caught with his pants down. Woman
shows a pair of 9's and rakes half of "my" stack.
20 minutes later, I'm getting low on chips and have to take a stand
somewhere. I'm dealt 8-8. This is as good a hand as any to double through
on. The flop is some God-awful nightmare like A-Q-J...I don't remember
exactly as soon as the pint hit the boards I had my coat on and one
foot headed out the door. Nolan is gone and it's time to get serious.
I immediately head for a NL hold'em satellite and am delighted to see
fellow RGPer MATT TREASURE. TREASURE posts fairly often, and I think I
know him from some of his writings. However, to date we have spent very
little time together. This entire weekend, I think I spend more
cumulative hours with TREAURE than anyone. Again folks, here is another
first-class act. TREASURE and I talk often about poker. life, and the
musing of RGP and are seated together in a $500 NL hold'em satellite.
TREAURE kicks ass and is the chip leader throughout the satellite. I make
something of a comeback and actually manage to take the chip lead. After
TREASURE has busted out yet another victim, it is the RGP contingent
heads-up! TREASURE and the HERO decide to do the prize money by chip
count and TREASURE takes $240 in cash, while I take the $500 lamer, plus
$50. It's a real delight for two RGPers to crush the competition and make
a deal which is mutually satisfying.
More to come......
Subject: World Poker Finals (Trip Report) - pt. 4
(In the last episode, the HERO had just busted out of the $500 limit
hold'em event)
Oh yeah! I almost forgot. Remember, I had stated my intention to rebuy
in the tournament and had another $500 lamer prepared. I had busted-out
just short of the time when we were allowed to rebuy and had the option.
However, re-buying at that stage would have been a very poor decision on
my part. YES, it would have given me another stack -- but it also would
give me a small stack that would have been insufficient given my table
image thus far (or lack thereof) and my solid competition (my table was to
be one of the last to break, so I would be with the same crowd as long as
I survived). I think my decision to save $500 was definitely a wise one.
On to more satellites:
$500 Hold'em satellite.................loss of $78
$500 Hold'em satellite................loss of $78
$1000 Hold'em no-limit satellite........................won $1080
(Made deal with very young and solid kid who played one hell of a good
game. I was up 60-40 in chips and offered him $400 in cash. I was glad he
took it because I never could figure him out. Every time I bet he would
come over the top of me) $500 Hold'em satellite.....................loss
of $78
On to ring games:
$20-40 Hold'em.....................loss of $260
Get me off of this table! I threw away my profit from the satellite in
half an hour. $10-20 Omaha H/L8.....................win $320 This was a
fun table because there were several familiar faces in the game, including
SCOTT BYRON. BYRON has my highest respect as a person and as a player (I
would rank him among the top five players within the RGP community -- just
personal opinion). I have played many hours with BYRON in the last three
years and find him to be a gold mine of information (warning: just don't
get him started talking about sports!). BYRON is very helpful in that he
candidly says what he thinks so far as poker strategy goes -- and more
than once I have run a hand through his head to hear his view. Anyway,
BYRON says some wonderful things about MARIETTA which makes me a bit
nostalgic for her presence (MARIETTA did not attend the event with me). I
seem to recall a few other RGP people but memory is starting to fade now.
There were also two other Atlantic City regulars -- JOE ENKEN (the blonde
Howard Stern look-a-like) and half-shaved and perpetually bad breathed
MICHAEL (last name unknown). More about MICHAEL (and the skunk breath)
later.
At 5:00 am, I retire to bed and this concludes DAY TWO.
*** SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6th ***
$500 Hold'em satellite...............win $180
(I make a deal with two other players for a three-way split)
From this game, one other pro player I now want to tout is JIM BUCCI, who
is from Maryland. BUCCI is another "Mr. Nice Guy." But he plays one hell
of a fierce game (check his tournament record). BUCCI was really nice in
that he approached me before the satellite began and we had the following
exchange: BUCCI: I didn't know you that you knew how to play no-limit
(BUCCI had seen me win two of the NL satellites the day before). NOLAN:
"I don't." BUCCI: Yeah, you played that really well yesterday. (Other
players at the table hear this exchange. I pretend not to hear one player
tell another......"I don't know who HE is, but BUCCI just told him he
plays a good game" -- I got a laugh from that.) After BUCCI busted out, he
tells me: BUCCI: Good luck Nolan, I'm gonna go over and talk to a friend.
NOLAN: You mean you've actually got "a friend?" (BUCCI was laughing, and
so was I). Later, BUCCI buys one of my $500 lamers and INSISTS on giving
me the full price. I stated that I didn't mind selling at a discount the
going rate is 90 percent up to $480 (if you can get that). BUCCI, a
class-act says he will give me the full price and adds..."what are friends
for?" I tell BUCCI, "Man, you DO INDEED have a friend." What a super
person.
It's Saturday and the RGP contingent is on parade: ANDY LATTO and I
agreed to a room share and I give him the key. I told LATTO a few weeks
ago in private e-mail that I was really impressed with his game as I
witnessed him just crush a $20-40 game (at FARGO). I took note that LATTO
is anything but a predictable player. My previous characterization of him
had the been solid studious type who would never make a calculated error,
but which also had the drawback of being semi-predictable (note: this is
a viable strategy for some games, and I am not knocking it). LATTO, as it
turns out, is anything but predictable. Fortunately, we never sat down
together in a game all weekend (which accounts for some of my success
perhaps).
More to come...including the next three reports which will be HIGHLIGHTS
of the trip: The 7-card stud tournament, The 7-card stud super-satellite,
and finally the greatest $15-30 7-card stud H/L8 game that I have ever
seen.
(Note: I thought I could do this in three segments.......WRONG! If I
were a construction contractor, I would be way over budget by now)
Subject: World poker Finals (Trip Report) - pt. 5
It's Saturday and I've prepared myself to play an allnighter. 24
straight hours of poker non-stop. Due to the higher than average overhead
on this trip, 8-10 hours days at the table are unrealistic. So, I got a
sufficient amount of sleep Friday night (5:00 am to Noon) to give me the
stamina I would need for the next 24 hours.
$20-40 hold'em...............................win $130
This game was noteworthy for several reasons. First, across the table is
KATHY LIEBERT (spelling?), who based on my most recent calculations was
the top female player for 1997 (article will come out in CPM within next
few weeks on this rating system). LIEBERT and I had played against each
other the night before in a satellite (I didn't know who she was at the
time, but she showed up with TOM MCEVOY, who was selling his books
throughout the room). There is also an Asian woman, young -- very
aggressive player whom I have seen before but can't remember where (perhaps
in LV or CA). Also in the game is JOHN BREWER and solid local player (and
ATLARGE attendee) as well as EDDIE (one of the Atlantic City twins). The
Asian girl is in the BB and I have the button. Here it goes: I have Jh-8h
and attempt a steal of the blinds. NOLAN: Raise to $40 ASIAN GIRL:
Calls. Flop comes..............A-Q-3..........all clubs! My cards are
red. ASIAN GIRL: Bets $20 (Knowing she is very aggressive), I raise. She
calls. Turn is Tc.......four clubs on board now. ASIAN GIRL Bets $40
(remember I have no club...but I just ***know *** she does not have a
club!). I RAISE! ASIAN GIRL: Calls. I certainly don't like her call
here. as I expected to take the pot with my raise. River
comes...........red King. So the board has FOUR CLUBS, but I have hit an
inside straight draw! ASIAN GIRL: Checks. I check also, knowing that
since my bluff attempt failed on the turn it would almost certainly fail
now. I reveal Jh and the table almost goes ballistic! ASIAN WOMAN gets
mad and says something which is not printable (even for RGP). Oddly
enough, ASIAN GIRL reveals a pair of pocket Jacks...no club, which also
makes her a straight. We take out money back. LIEBERT sees all this and
is in total shock.... LIEBERT: I thought that a Card Player columnists
would play more solid than that. NOLAN: (Smiling, no reply) LIEBERT: I
just can't believe you didn't have a club. NOLAN: (Smiling, no reply)
ASIAN GIRL: Next time we're gonna know how you play. NOLAN: Good, now
deal the cards. (Note: I'm sure RGPers would be horrified at the sequence
of events cited above, but I essentially was calculating that the ASIAN
GIRL had to give me credit for a big club, and I just knew she didn't have
one herself. This had to be the strangest hand I played all weekend).
$1000 Hold'em No-Limit satellite...............loss of $145
(we played 8-handed)
$500 Hold'em satellite.....................win $330
(my notes and memory are blurred here...I must have cut a deal)
$500 Hold'em satellite....................loss of $78
The $120 7-card Stud Tournament is about to begin. There is a massive
turn-out of 521 players. I have only played in one other tournament of
this magnitude (number of entries) which was at the Gold Coast 3-4 years
ago. Such a field requires a different approach than what otherwise might
be employed. The key elements being patience and discipline. I draw
another prime seat, with HERB BRONSTEIN two seats to my left.
Fortunately, I am at table #8 which is directly in front of the board that
shows time and table bust-outs. So, I watch and get a small adrenaline
rush every time the tournament director takes the felt tip market in his
hand and marks an "X" through one of the table numbers...which essentially
means 8 more players have been eliminated.
BRONSTEIN gets high-carded off of my table (he had the early big stack)
and there is a sigh of relief. Who replaces him 15 minutes later?
............BILL SEYMOUR. For those who do not know, SEYMOUR won best
all-around and $95,000 in the WPF last year. He's as tough as they come.
Fortunately, SEYMOUR is also RGP-friendly and attended FARGO with us.
This is the third time I've sat with SEYMOUR in a tournament (we had
played the Resorts tourney a few months ago when SEYMOUR, RAY DIDONATO and
I all made a final table -- which was memorable).
It's important that I convey a little bit of history here, because a major
element of drama is about to occur and it's important that the reader know
the facts:
At FARGO, SEYMOUR was on my immediate left in the 7-card stud event.
SEYMOUR was very gracious and actually coached me on a couple of fine
points of the game. He stressed the importance of raising early on an
early round to find out where your opponent is at. NOTE: I had take a
pair of kings vs. SEYMOUR all the way to 7th street facing his trip
queens. SEYMOUR pointed out that had I raised early to find out where he
was at, I would have saved my stack from smooth calling his practically
insurmountable hand. IMPORTANT: I didn't forget this advice, and neither
did he (we're going to get into some mind games here, folks...look out!)
So, as I said, we started with 521 players. Now, we are down to about 150.
Here it goes:
SEYMOUR has a decent stack and we are at the $200-$400 level with $50
antes. I only have about $1600 remaining. SEYMOUR: X - X - Q (Queen up)
NOLAN: A - 8 - 8 (8 up) Queen leads the way with a $200 bet. I raise
(following Bill's previous advice). Bill re-raises. OK, so he must have
the queens (or his he just playing games with me based on the previous
conversation?)
Next card:
SEYMOUR: X - X - Q - 6 (apparently no help)
NOLAN: A - 8 - 8 - 9 (no help)
SEYMOUR bets $200...I call (calling one more small bet is probably the
right move with pot odds)
Next card:
SEYMOUR: X - X - Q - 6 -6 (A freaking 6! Now, I've got to give him two
pair) NOLAN: A - 8 - 8 - 9 - 7 (no help) SEYMOUR bets $400 and I only
have $800 remaining...here's where I have to take a stand. I decide that
I must commit myself somewhere and that I cannot play with $800 in chips
at the $200-400 level and have any realistic shot. If I win this pot
however, I'll have over $3000 and be back in business. I call.
Next card:
SEYMOUR: X - X - Q - 6 - 6 - 2 (it was a total brick, something like a
deuce, but I really don't remember exactly) NOLAN: A - 8 - 8 - 9 - 7 - 6
( catch on of Bill's 6's -- but look! Now, I have a outside straight draw
as well as a hidden over card which can make me higher two pair -- higher
than Bill's Q-Q, 6-6...This 6 was not a bad card at all!) SEYMOUR bets
$400, enough to put me all-in.
Down card comes...........
SEYMOUR: A blank.
NOLAN: .................an 8! Nolan hits trip 8's to take town SEYMOUR
who is livid. Bill chastises me for making the call on 5th street and
adds the comment, "I love you , but that was a horrible call!" My view is
that since all of my cards were live (outside straight draw, a hidden ace,
and he small chance that Bill was playing mind games with me and didn't
really have queen)...that my call was indeed a good one. This was
confirmed in a very detailed later conversation with two 7-card stud
aficionados -- LARRY BERNSTEIN and TIGER whom I respect a great deal so far
as stud ability goes (their private lives would be quite another thing).
Having people like LARRY and TIGER to discuss this with is akin to being
OJ SIMPSON and having Shapiro and Cochran on your defense team (we'll put
Tiger in the Cochran role). I wasn't so much looking for reinforcement
from them...I earnestly wanted to determine if I had made an error. My
bewilderment was compounded by the fact that the criticism came from BILL
SEYMOUR whom I respect a great deal. When SEYMOUR says I played the hand
wrong, well by God, I gave that opinion some validity.
But, it looks like my call was correct given all the factors. I consider
SEYMOUR almost as father figure for his kindness and helpful advice in the
past. But, he was visibly angry upon being knocked out of the tournament
moments later. The cards flew. Perhaps we should frisk and search BILL
SEYMOUR before he attends another RGP event in case he decides to pack
some heat to go with that temper.
More to come.......
Subject: World Poker Finals (Trip Report) - pt. 6
(Did I post 6 trip reports, or only 5? Well -- to tell you the truth --
I've kind of forgotten myself in all of this excitement)
NOTE: Thanks to AOL for knocking me off-line which resulted in my loss of
this entire chapter before I could post it. Five minutes ago, I'm getting
ready to hit the SEND button and I hear this terrifying series of clicks,
followed my a message which says "GOODBYE" The entire document vanishes.
So now, it's back to square one. I'm changing ISP's, as I'm tired of
having this happen.
So where was I? "Just like starting over.........
In the 7-card stud event, I get assigned to a new table and we are down to
5-6 tables and about 50 players. I've been short-stacked all-day long --
and now would be a really nice time to start catching some cards. Among
the RGP contingent, only SCOTT BYRON is still alive. BYRON has a decent
stack and it looks like he will make it into the money. I, on the other
hand, will need some help -- and fast!
Around this time, I see TIGER, who has been checking-in from time to time.
TIGER witnessed the BILL SEYMOUR incident that I posted in the last report
(unless AOL canceled that one too). TIGER is a great person to have
watching the game -- as you know that if you make a mistake, you are going
to hear about it later (sort of like having big brother standing over you
at all times). So in my mind I couldn't care less about the prize money
$19K for first....I just don't want to embarrass myself in front of the
TIGER.
Another close RGP colleague is milling around at the time -- RAY DIDONATO.
RAY, for those who do not know him, is a big jolly guy who has blossomed
into one hell of a poker player. RAY's record in tournaments this last
year -- and particularly satellites has been phenomenal. In fact, it was RAY
who talked me into playing more satellites at this WPF than side games.
Thanks to RAY, I followed his advice. One thing I admire about RAY is his
calm demeanor at all times. I've NEVER seen him get mad or angry at the
table. Now get this: If anyone had a right to be angry during the WPF
stint this last week, it was RAY.
Re-wind the video tape for just a minute: Lights, camera,
action..........
FRIDAY NIGHT: $1580 super-satellite.......the $1580 entries go to the top
three places, with a $1000 lamer for 4th, and a $500 lamer for 5th. RAY
finishes 6th.
THURSDAY NIGHT: In the $230 Omaha H/L tournament (222 entries).......18
places are to be paid. RAY finishes 19th.
RAY DIDONATO....a class act. Another player who can teach us all
something (especially me).
Let's move on to another RGP personality, FARGO's organizer BILL ALAN. In
the tournament, BILL survives on a short stack and actually joins me at
the same table. BILL is a "tell it like it is" kind of person (Is that
the gross understatement of the century?) who isn't afraid to take a position
on matters of controversy. Certainly, that is to be respected. I thought
BILL's efforts on behalf of the FARGO contingent were exemplary --
particularly in light of the fact that he had to "sell" an unknown entity
like FARGO to Foxwood's management, who really were not in any mindset to
make favorable deals given their position and monopoly over New England
gaming. Again, If I'm OJ Simpson and going to trial -- BILL ALAN is my
F. LEE BAILEY.
We're down to about 50 players now, and I get assigned to a seat with my
friend GREG PAPPAS (the player with the long gray mane). Remember, PAPPAS
made a deal with BONETTI yesterday, and today has the tournament chip
lead, so far as I can tell.....looks like he's the class of the
tournaments in the three that I have seen based on his remarkable
performances. In one memorable hand I witnessed, PAPPAS nearly destroyed
himself when the following occurred:
KID: X - X, with up cards of K - K - blank - blank
PAPPAS: (to make it easy. I'll just tell you what he has)
2-2-2-J-J - blank
THIRD PLAYER: A flush
So, it's sixth street. PAPPAS had a nice full house (but it's deuces
full) and the THIRD PLAYER is sitting there drawing dead. The KID bets.
PAPPAS raises. The KID re-raises. PAPPAS calls. By now, PAPPAS thinks he
has committed himself (I would have folded, giving the KID credit for a
higher full house -- after all, PAPPAS still had monster chips and was
just throwing them away here).
Seventh street doesn't change anything. The KID fires $2000 into the pot.
By this time, there is so much money in the pot that whoever wins will
become the tournament chip leader. PAPPAS calls and the KID flips over
four kings. PAPPAS can't believe it. I talked to PAPPAS later and stated
that I was surprised he called as the KID's hands were shaking in a seizure
mode as he lifted his chip to bet. It was obvious the KID had a
monster.....Kings full at a bare minimum. PAPPAS assured him not to worry
about it. Sure enough, the KID eventually lost all the chips back and
PAPPAS regained the chip lead an hour later. So -- what the hell do I
know?
The HERO busted-out around 50 which was a disappointment in that I
couldn't catch any cards that would prolong my survival later in the
tournament. It was particularly distressing that I played nearly 6 hours
and had nothing to show for what I thought was solid play, for the most
part (SEYMOUR might take exception there). I guess I'll have to talk to
RAY DIDONATO about how to get over the emotions of being busted out when
you get really close. I'm sure he would tell us all..."give it your best
shot, then don't worry about it" -- or something to that effect.
At the very instant I'm stomping out of the poker room like a wild horse
(just busted out), I make contact with someone who wasn't paying attention
to what he was doing. We slam into each other and hot coffee goes all
over the front of my white shirt (so, if paisley designs ever make a
comeback, I've got one hell of a nice fashion statement). The clod
doesn't apologize and neither do I. Then, I realize that he too had just
busted out! Must have been a sorry sight to watch -- the two of us losers
with coffee all over us bickering like to old bats over who had the right
of way. Next time, I'll pack some heat when I come to the poker room and
teach that ignorant clod a lessen about clearing a path for the wild bull
when he's busted.
So now it's Saturday night at 10:00 PM, and the sign-up boards for ring
games read like watching the movie credits of "Schindler's List" $20-40
hold'em.................followed by a list of 40 names $10-20
hold'em.................another 35 names. On and on.
$20-40 hold'em...........................loss of $245
I manage to connive my way into a $20-40 seat and drop two and a half bucks
in 20 minutes. Serves me right. Playing when I'm emotionally distraught
and didn't legitimately obtain my seat in the game. Justice prevailed. I
got what I deserved.
I hear an announcement that a 7-card stud super satellite is about to
begin, and I abandon the hold'em game, since I'm still on a stud "high"
from the tournament.
More to come.............
(I'll try to wrap this up in two more reports)
Subject: World Poker Finals (Trip Report) - pt. 7
Thanks for all of the e-mail messages so far, folks. I'm really touched
by the outpouring of support. I doubt that I would have continued this
far were it not for the encouragement and warm thoughts of my many RGP
friends. I'll be posting a thank you list later....along with a few
thoughts about each of the RGPers in attendance this previous week. So,
hold your breath.
I've caught up on my rest now, and this makes writing the trip report a
bit easier and more enjoyable for me personally...although the memory
fades after a few days. MARIETTA went out tonight and bought us a bottle
of the NAPA RIDGE cabernet sauvignon I raved about (not the Merlot, which
was out of stock)....again, this is the best $10 bottle of wine I've ever
had.
With cabernet fumes in the air and the Cowboys out of the playoffs (wasn't
that a pathetic performance on MNF last night?) I can now focus
exclusively on bringing this trip report to a furtive and dramatic
close...and best of all, I might even concentrate more on my spelling and
punctuation.....then again, Maybe not.,
Let's move on......
The HERO gets himself into a 7-card stud super satellite which gets about
100 entries. Like TIGER stated in his illuminating prose posted earlier
today -- there was a chorus of re-buys within the first 30 minutes REBUY,
RE-BUY, REBUY!!!!.....put the rebuy girl on the Dallas offense line, she's
obviously in better physical shape. All of these rebuys made the prize
pool more respectable......3 - $1580 entries, 1 - $1000 lamer for 4th,
and 1 - $500 lamer for 5th.
About half way through, MATT TREASURE and I are assigned to the same
table. TREASURE goes on a nice rush and gets the tournament chip lead.
Down to two tables, we are the only RGP contingent remaining. TREASURE
proposes that we trade-off some action -- which from my perspective seems
like a good deal. I like what I have seen of TREASURE's play thus far and
he also has a nice chip position. He proposes 10 percent, I counter propose
25 percent (hey, pushing my edge since he has me in chips). We agree on
10 percent (see TREASURE, you should have taken the 25 percent offer -- as
he busted out just short of the final table)
The HERO gets to the final table in second chip position and sees an ASIAN
PLAYER with a massive stack. I don't know what happened but this young
guy with a great haircut (jealous here) must have just smashed the table.
It just looks like this guy has at least one of the seats locked-up. I
mean he can't possible lose. That is, if he plays it right. I've got
about $10,000, while the ASIAN has close to $15,000.....everyone else at
the table has around $3,000-$5,000. So, I obviously am in a good spot.
I'm close to a position where I don't need to play any hands, but with the
$300, then $500 antes, my stack starts dwindling and I am forced with the
realization that I will eventually have to play a hand. Later, with 5
players still in (so we are guaranteed at least $500), I see what I think
is an ace in the hole and an ace on top (this is the only hand I misread
the entire four day periods that I can recall). I play the hand fast, then
on sixth street realize that I misread my pocket cards ***insert flames
here*** At this point, there's just no way I lay this down. Oddly enough
the AISIAN player is playing his hands like he is in a ring game and the
chips move steadily downward. If I lose the hand, we are all about equal
in chips... but a win puts me in overwhelming top position. As TIGER
wrote, I caught a miracle inside straight to win the pot. From then on,
I've got a $1580 entry.
The rest of the players trade chips for a while until the ASIAN PLAYER is
down to his last $5,000. He again, brings it in with a raise and I look
at my cards which are A-A-T. I haven't played a hand in 35 minutes, so
this looks like a spot to put a stop to all this nonsense here and now.
There's no way I fold in this spot. I don't care what the book says. I
raise and tell ASIAN to put all his money in the pot. To everyone's
delight, the ASIAN PLAYER complies. By this time there is a large crowd
gathered around the roped-off area. Behind me are pony-tail MICHAEL and
TIGER. Having TIGER behind me in this spot is comforting because it's
really nice to enjoy success with a close friend. If MARIETTA couldn't be
with me here, I'm glad it was TIGER. We stand up and the cards are dealt.
To my dismay, the ASIAN PLAYER hits a second pair. My last card is face
down. There is tension in the air. Everyone is watching the board. I
need and ace or need to pair one of my cards to make higher two pair. The
drama is really great.......I slowly turn the card over........it's a 3,
to match one of my threes on board! The HERO wins! The world is saved!
RAY DIDONATO helps me out with a firehouse sale of the $1580 entry. Since
I can't stay through Monday I cannot play in the event and have like 5
minutes to cut a deal with someone. The going cash rate for the $1580
entry is right at $1250. I try to work a deal where I give him the $1500
entry and I take the $80 cash, but he balks (he knew I was not negotiating
from a position of strength). The $1580 entry is sold at a $330 discount
and MATT TREASURE takes 10 percent as agreed to -- for $125.
LARRY BERNSTEIN, TIGER, and KATHY (one of TIGER's friends) coach me on the
nuances of stud for about 20 minutes (which was very beneficial as my mind
was focused and able to grasp what was being said). The bar is closed, so
there's only one logical thing to do......
BACK TO THE POKER ROOM!
It's 2:00 am and the HERO has about 10 hours left to play before heading
home. Obviously this has been a good trip financially and I feel in top
form to play the rest of the way. I sit in a $20-40 game for about 1
hour: $20-40 hold'em............................win $125 (BILL ALAN comes
over and we chat awhile)
Then, I transfer to a $15-30 H/L8 game with a half-kill.
ATTENTION! This is the maybe the best live stud game I've ever seen of
its kind and has loads of great stuff for a trip report. I could very
well write 8 chapters on this game alone!. Get ready to laugh tomorrow,
when I will post the concluding chapter of this trip report.
Now, I'm going to polish off the NAPA RIDGE and get some rest. I think
you'll like the final chapter best of all among what has been posted so
far (there will be something to offend everyone)...and then finally, I'll
add some remarks about our RGP comrades to wrap up the report.
More to come............
Subject: World Poker finals (Conclusion) - pt. 8
Before wrapping up poker's version of "War and Peace" here, I wanted to
point out one thing that I believe might improve the quality of the WPF in
future years. Recall that I was highly complimentary of Foxwoods and
particularly the job MIKE WARD had/has done in this tournament. For the
most part, the events have started on time and have been run with the
utmost professionalism. However, one thing that is a major drawback is the
way the FINAL TABLE is set-up.
THE WPF has followed the lead of the USPC and the WSOP in holding the
final table of each event on the following day at 12:00 noon. The final
table is in the poker room in the center of the facility placed up against
a wall. There is a roped off area where spectators can - given Herculean
efforts- SOME of the action. However, for the most part, the final table
is very spectator unfriendly and in my view discourages poker followers
from watching the experience of a big time tournament final table. Recall
that in the WSOP and in other events, the area are roped off which allows
people to circle the table. At the WSOP, bleachers have even been set-up
with TV screens. However, the WPF limits the standing area to one-half a
side of the table, leaving spectators crunched together to see the
sequence of events. This all made for a rather poor experience in my view
(I am strongly in favor of better coverage and interest in such events).
Had FW been restricted due to space or logistics, this is not a matter I
would bring up. However, given the massive amount of floor space allotted
for the tournament (well done, by the way), it would be prudent to allot
and SPECIAL area which is more spectator friendly for the final table.
Take this as constructive criticism.
On to the final few hours on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7th (rightfully, Pearl
Harbor Day):
After winning the $1580 satellite I had a significant mount of cash
winnings for the trip and essentially was guaranteed to leave with a smile
on my face. I felt well enough to reach just a bit by sitting in a $40-80
7-card stud game. I normally do not play this high (especially in stud)
but thought that my aggressive tendencies combined with my level of
confidence justified a shot. My previous highest level of play in stud had
been $30-60 and so far as moving up to the $40-80 level I just was not
that comfortable with the prospect of calling $160 raises with multiple
cards to come. I have no problem playing high-limit poker, and have
plenty of hours in PL and NL to prove it, but playing $40-80 is a bit
different for me because you can't really push people out of a pot with a
massive raise, and the fluctuation were of concern (one could easily run
through $1000 in the game). One other thing prompted me and that is that
on my previous trip to FW three weeks earlier, LINDA JOHNSON and JAN
FISHER (both excellent stud players) had touted the $40-80 at FW as
perhaps the best stud game (on a day-to-day basis) that they had ever
seen.
So anyway, the HERO finds himself in the $40-80 game and buys in for
$1,000. Not much drama here, I played fairly tight and never made much of
a hand. Drawing to straights and flushes at this level is obviously a
no-no, and heads-up it would be downright foolish. Accordingly, I played
far fewer hands than average and after an hour found myself bored, but
oddly enough -- bored playing in the biggest stud game I have played-in to
date. Try to figure that one out!
I guess I drew a bad table, as there were no shoot-em-up types in the
game...just a lot of old stud curmudgeons who probably had me in combined
stud experience by at least 120 years.
I cash out down about $130 and look for the next opportunity. I find it
in the best $15-30 hold'em game in the history of mankind.
Here it goes:
I sit down at about 3:00 am (I'm guessing here) and there are two RGPers
in the game. SCOTT BYRON is playing his solid game in the number 3 seat.
BART DELUCA is also in the game and has a massive number of racks (four, I
think?). The game is good at this point -- 7-8 on a scale of 10. There
are lots of loose callers and the games goes pretty much according to
standard for the first two hours.
Then, tempers start flaring. A woman in the number one seat who never
seems to see a hand she doesn't like has a nut high nut low and turns her
cards face up. However, she cannot see across the table (she's an older
lady with glasses). The goof ball next to me has been chattering in my ear
all night, trying to impress everyone with his bad beat stories and
announcing more than once to the table that he "whipped" BARBARA
SAMUELSON in a tournament one time. The good thing about this, was
the poor clucks was just bleeding ships. He was hemorrhaging. He bitched and
moaned that he had been dealt split kings 9 times (which translates into the
* reality * that it was more like 3-4 times) and lost with all of them. He flips
up trip kings against the lady and announces "trip kings!" The lady doesn't
hear him. "What do you have," she asks. The man sees that she has the
nuts and just becomes livid. "We'll, I've got my cards all face up on the
table, and she's asking me what I got!", he fumes.
These two exchange some more words and the CHATTERBOX keeps on
berating the woman for asking him what he had (while she had the stone-cold
nuts for high and low).
By this time, SCOTT BYRON has moved out of the game (why he left I don't
know -- maybe he was tired). He is replaced by the RGPer who took second
in the FARGO hold'em event (I'm sorry, but I've forgotten his name). He
plays with those marble balls (like Captain Queeg in the Caine Mutiny) and
plays an extremely solid game. So having CAPTAIN QUEGG join the game in
place of SCOTT BYRON was no improvement.
Now, some funny stuff:
A player many of the Atlantic City people may know comes up behind me. He
is MICHAEL who plays about 8 hours a week at the Taj/Tropicana and pulls
in probably $15,000 living on cold cuts and Big Macs. Michael -- how say I
say this kindly -- is a "disheveled " individual who looks like he plays
poker 80 hours a week and lives off of Big Macs.
I personality like MICHAEL. But, my God, that man has some bad breath.
MICHAEL is sweating me and pulls a chair right up behind me where he can see
my hole cards (I have no problem with this by the way). Every time
MICHAEL speak this crude stench of micro-organisms seem to permeate into
the atmosphere. I mean it is F***ing nauseating.
To mask some of the odor, I repeated fire up cigarette after cigarette, as
the acidic smell of blue death is preferable to MICHAEL. It's a funny
thing, because about this time I think about something I saw once in one
of those war documentaries about Vietnam. Anytime a Viet Vet is
interviewed he always alludes to the smell of war -- the burning flesh and
the corpses.....with the afterthought that this is a smell you never
forget. So far as comparisons go, I wasn't in Vietnam so the only thing
I can remember smelling worse was a German woman who was sweating garlic
sausage out of her pores on a hot summer day three years ago in Cologne.
I'm getting way off the subject now.
TO wrap this up, MICHAEL is constantly making suggestive sexual comments
at the cocktail waitress. He finally comes up with what I think is most
disturbing question I've ever heard:
MICHAEL: What do you think I would have to do to go to bed with her?
NOLAN: (thinking -- buy a toothbrush!)
By this time, I'm the only RGPer left in the game...and the game has
become extremely wild. I'll give you just one example. We are playing
with a half kill, so the game is pretty much a $20-40 every hand, since
every pot is over $150. I'm dealt A-A-5 (the ace is up). I raise trying
to limit the field. Two more people raise and its' capped with 7 way
action. Everyone has high cards. The 4th street card is dealt and still
everyone has cards above a 9......I catch a 8....so in sense I'm still
alive for the low so I'll see one more card. It's capped again.
5th street gives me a Queen, and I'm out.
OK, here's where the story gets good. 6 players stay to the river...and
there is no apparent low on board!!! In other words, they are all playing
for high! The pot is stacked up and there $1730 in the pot........($1730
in a $15-30 stud game, folks). On sixth street I see the most hilarious
thing.. ....the player on my left bets and then re-raises with absolutely
nothing, but where is drawing to an 8 low (if he catches the perfect
7th street card to make a low). He misses. When the hand is over, I ask
him why he bet 6th street -- then re-raised...he said he was "betting for
value."
I'm thinking, is this a good game or what?
CHATTERBOX thinks he has a legitimate shot at this monster pot and shows
(hold your breath) two pair -- 7s and 2s.
(Hold your breath again).......CHATTERBOX wins the pot with 7s and 2s..
Everyone else was on a straight or flush draw an missed! Can you
possibly imagine?
There are a number of quacky hands like this and I count up the amount of
money t the table and it's like $14,000. There isn't a player in the game
who knows what he's doing and this nonsense continues for the next four
hours. Apparently some pros saw what was going on, but a seat is never
vacated and we play with the same loosy-goosy crowd until 9:00 am.
There's no brilliant climax to the story, the hero didn't walk away with
multiple racks or anything...just his initial buy-in plus about $380 in
profit. I could recount several more wacky hands like above, about you
get the idea. One of us should hire a private investigator to find out
when the next time these people come out of the woodwork again.
Well, it's over.
I go to the jewelry store and buy MARIETTA some Indian jewelry and head
back home.
Since this report is running long, I'll add an addendum with my final
thoughts about the RGP contingent, with some personalized remarks
guaranteed to be of interest.
More to come...........
Published with the permission of the author.
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