WSOP 2005 Part 3 - Tournament and Bellagio

I went to bed around 4:00 AM, and since I had less than 5 hours sleep the previous night, I should've slept like a baby. But I was wired from the night's action, and worried that I might wake up late. I planned to wake at 10:30, shower, get lunch, and head to today's event which started at 12:00. I woke up around 9:30 and decide to just stay up. I had planned to wear a Hawaiian shirt at the tournament, because then I would look cool if I got on TV. But the entire week, I had been wearing khakis and solid color button-down shirts, and I felt like it gave me a conservative table image which I like to have. A Hawaiian shirt says "Hey, let's party! I raise!" I prefer that players fold when I raise, so that's not a good image for me. I choose another solid, boring shirt.

I follow my plan and arrive at the Rio around 11:40. It's actually 113 degrees today. But it's a dry heat. :)

Playing in this event is my goal for this trip, and I am really excited to be there. I take my seat and wait for other players to arrive. The first is an older man, wearing a black silk shirt. He looks like a tight player. The next player, in Seat 4, is quite a character. He is like a cartoon character of a stereotypical New Yorker. He's Italian, but short, about 5'5". He exudes that "No, fuck you!" attitude. He has huge biceps and a snake tattoo on the left, and he's wearing a shirt that has four aces on the front. His card covers are two large, steel nuts. (A plethora of bad jokes ensues..."Want to see my nuts?", "Want to hold my nuts?") He seems arrogant and keeps finding the new players amusing and chuckles to himself. It seems that he's trying to be intimidating.

Seat 7 is sort of an artsy looking guy, and so is his wife who is standing nearby. They are probably around 30. A young Asian guy, probably about 25, is sitting to my immediate right in seat 8. A young guy is in Seat 2. He's one of the typical internet players - sunglasses, goatee, looks like he's about 16 years old. As a bonus, he's wearing a Unabomber-style hooded sweatshirt, with the hood up. Seats 1 and 3 look like regular guys, about 30ish, probably computer programmers or something like that.

The other two players are missing. The tournament starts without them. In fact, there are quite a few absent players, probably an average of 1 per table, so there are only about 9 players per table. It's inconceivable to me to be late, because I'm dying to play in the event.

Our dealer is a young woman, probably of Middle Eastern descent, with black dreadlocks all the way down to her knees. Most of the dealers that I encountered this week (probably dozens) were foreigners, and many of those were Vietnamese. All of the dealers did a great job with just a few exceptions that I noted in my reports.

While waiting for the tournament to start, we see John Myung take a seat, then the actress Jennifer Tilly. Tilly actually won the Ladies' Hold'em event and won $160,000! It turns out that Tilly is dating poker pro Phil Laak, also known as the Unabomber for the hooded sweatshirt he wears. When he makes a play and doesn't want his opponent to get a read on him, he pulls the drawstrings on his hood and completely disappears. Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak are best friends, so Laak and Tilly probably went to dinner with the Esfandiaris last night. If I had asked to come with, which I almost did, I would've been hanging out with Tilly and Laak too!

The tournament structure is that you have $1000 in chips, the blinds start at 25 and 25, then 25 and 50, then doubling every level. Each level is one hour. You don't start with very many chips compared to the size of the blinds, but one hour levels are decent. So you need to be a little aggressive, but not too aggressive, unless you have a short stack.

The game starts and a pattern is quickly established. A few people fold or limp, someone raises 50 or 100, and everyone folds.

The first two hands I was involved in were on my blinds. There was a 50 raise to my SB (and the BB was one of the missing players, so he's out of the hand), so I should pretty much call with anything since I'm getting 2.5 to 1 pot odds. I call with my 64 offsuit, miss the flop completely, and fold to his bet.

On my BB, I call a 75 raise (this time getting 2 to 1 odds) with Q9 offsuit. I again miss the flop and fold to the bet.

Shortly after that, I'm in late position, and I'm the first limper with J8s, but the BB raises 100 and I fold.

The next hand, which I was not involved in, was unbelievable. The New Yorker raises preflop, and Seat 7 calls. The flop is AJ3. Seat 7 fires 100 or so at the pot, which the New Yorker calls. The turn is another ace, Seat 7 fires again, and the New Yorker calls. The river is a 3, making the board A-A-J-3-3. Anyone with an ace has aces full, and anyone with a 3 has threes full. This time Seat 7 declines to bet, and the New Yorker goes all-in for about 500 more. The other player has about that many chips left, and goes into the tank for awhile. He thinks and thinks, and in the meantime, the New Yorker is staring him down, really trying to be intimidating. The New Yorker even sighs at one point, as if to say, "Boy this is taking a long time." I think Seat 7 should call, because the staredown is usually a ploy to get a player to fold when you have a weak hand. He folds, and the New Yorker turns over pocket aces - he has four aces, JUST LIKE ON HIS SHIRT. It was amazing. I think the other player probably had a jack and not a three. He was very lucky to not call that, but he busted out shortly thereafter. I was taking a lot of notes during the entire tournament, and he said "Write about that in your little book!", to which I replied, "Where can I get one of those shirts?"

The entire table joked about the hand and completely loosened up. The New Yorker turned out to be a pretty nice guy. His earlier intimidation tactics now seemed like an act. I chatted with him a little bit during the break and he was pretty friendly.

Shortly after that, I limped with KQs and folded to a raise. Then I folded to raise with KTs. I felt like I played those pretty weakly, but I really just wanted to get in cheap. I would have to raise about 100, and only had about 800 in my stack.

In another hand, Seat 6 raised and Seat 7 called. The flop had an ace. Seat 6 checked, Seat 7 bet about 7, Seat 6 raised 125, and Seat 7 reraised about 200, then Seat 6 went all-in. Seat 7 thought for awhile, then folded. Now he had a short stack which led to the next hand.

The first elimination occurred when Seat 7 (the victim of the quad aces) bluffed all-in on the river when his flush draw missed, and Seat 10, who had just been calling his bets all along, called - he had pocket 9s and there was a 9 on the board, giving him trips. Right after that, on my BB, Seat 10 raised 75 and I called with 84o. The wonderful flop came 842, giving me top two pair. He checked, I bet, he raises all-in, and I call. He's got pocket aces, the board doesn't pair and no ace comes, and I double up. Now I have a decent stack and don't have to worry about pressure from the blinds for a little while.

The next time I make a note of it, the blinds are 25 and 50 and I have 1200. On my next hand, I raise 100 in second position with AT suited, and everyone folds. Next, a short stack bets, the New Yorker goes all-in, and the short stack calls. The short stack has JJ and the New Yorker has AQo. An ace comes on the board and the short stack is eliminated.

We get another dealer (they change quite often, this is probably the third or fourth). He proceeds to put the entire table on tilt. A player is counting out his chips behind his cards, contemplating a call, and the dealer says "At some casinos, you can't do that - it's considered a call." There may be a rule like that somewhere but obviously not at the Rio, which is where we are! He didn't disagree with that, but he and some of the players kept arguing. Seat 5 said "Just deal" and the dealer gets pissed and says "Don't ever talk to me like that - you have no right to talk to me like that". All the players are looking at each other like "Ohmigod what's this all about" and start saying stuff like "let's play", "we're just here to play poker", and "let's change the conversation". The dealer's remaining time is uneventful and we are happy to see him go.

On my small blind, I raise 100 with QJ offsuit after everyone else folded, and the big blind calls. The flop has a queen, giving me top pair, I bet 300, he thinks for a little bit, then folds.

Shortly after that we had a 15 minute break. After the break, the blinds will be 50 and 100. During the break, I see Humberto Brenes in the hallway.

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Bust out alert!

If you don't like sad endings, stop reading! :)

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The next hand is going to break your heart. I'm on the button and raise to 300 with AQ suited. The small blind goes all-in and the big blind folds. I call immediately for the rest of my chips, and I'm thrilled to see that he has AT offsuit. He probably thought I was stealing, so called with his ace. The only way he can win is to get a ten or a flukey straight, about a 25% chance. A ten flops as well as an ace, and now I'm the underdog - only a 15% chance of getting a queen on the turn or river. It doesn't happen and I bust out.

I was really disappointed, but not devastated like I thought I would be. I'm thrilled that I had a good read on my opponent, assuming he didn't have much of a hand, and that I got all my money in there when I was 3 to 1 to win the pot.

So it's about 2:30 and I'm out. I go to the WSOP store and buy some shirts, then head back to the Gold Coast to write this report. Now I'm probably going to get some dinner, try to decipher the bus system, and head to the strip and look around. I'll probably go to the Bellagio, where I hear all the pros are playing.

I'm tempted to play in one more $125 satellite for a shot at tomorrow's $1000 event, and catch a later flight on Wednesday (or Thursday), but I still haven't decided.

Assuming I don't play in tomorrow's event, I'll check out the strip some more and maybe go over to UNLV to see the NBA Summer League.

It takes me quite awhile to write this report, then I get a quick hotdog at the Gold Coast. I take the free shuttle from the Gold Coast to the Barbary Coast on the strip. I haven't seen the strip in 9 years, and it's really changed. The Bellagio, Paris, Mandalay Bay, and The Venetian have all been built since then and dramatically change the strip skyline. The Bellagio is a beautiful place.

I walk around the Bellagio poker room to see if I recognize anyone. There are a couple of players that I've played with in some satellites and cash games. The only pro I see is TJ Cloutier. I get on the list for 4-8 limit hold'em. 4-8 is the lowest limit that I've seen spread in a limit hold'em game at the three places that I've played: Rio, Gold Coast, and Bellagio. I'm usually more comfortable in a 3-6 game, but here it doesn't make any difference.

I watch the games, but don't see anything, like a bunch of loose players, or some sharks salivating over my arrival. My name is called, I buy $200 in chips, and sit down. I've got 5 stacks of 20 whites ($1) and 1 stack of 20 reds ($5). There are several players at the table with about 10 stacks or more of various colors. They are probably winning, since a $200 buy-in would be typical for this game. You want to buy into a limit game for at least 20 big blinds, which would be $160 here. You need to have enough money for the inevitable ups and downs of the game, and you don't want to be short-stacked when you have a monster hand.

There is one player that I recognize at the table - it's the old man for whom I saved half a pot at the Rio. I call a few times and raise once or twice, maybe see a turn or river, miss all my draws, and never see a showdown for about 90 minutes, and I'm down to $130.

I have TJ (seems appropriate since I just saw Mr. Cloutier) and limp in. The flop comes 89J and I have top pair and an open-ended straight draw. I bet, the old man calls, and there are one or two more callers. The turn is a blank, I check, the old man bets, everyone else folds, and I call. I'm thinking "Would he play QT in that position? Maybe." The river is a blank, I check, he bets, and I think about it for awhile. He is a tight player and usually doesn't bet unless he's really got it. So I fold, and due to my good poker karma, he flashes me the QT.

Then the greatest thing happens that has ever happened to me at a poker table. I go on a huge rush and obliterate the table.

Some old Chinese ladies have joined the table and only bought in for $100. They are loose passive, and limp in for three bets all the time, and call all the way to the river with just top pair, bad kicker. It's just too easy.

I start getting some hands and I'm up to $345. Soon I flop an ace high straight, bet all the way and get called by the old man, but a ten hits on the river to pair the board. I should realize that he must be calling with something (like two pair), but I bet anyway, he raises, and I call. He shows KT for 10s full of kings. He had two pair on the flop and had only 4 outs. I don't lose too much on that hand.

One problem with this loose table is that no one will fold to a preflop raise, especially if you are in late position. If 5 people have called, it's a mistake to raise with AQ because you're just sweetening the pot for all those draws. I keep getting good cards in late position, but usually don't raise because there are so many limpers. I get AQ, some callers, flop an ace, and win the pot. At least two other players called on the river but don't show their cards. I'm surprised at how often the players don't show down when they lose. I want my opponents to see that I might call with a pair of kings when there is an ace on board, so they won't want to bluff at me.

The very next hand, I get AQ again, and flop a queen. Even better! I win and I'm up to $420. There are some other new players at our table: a young Asian woman, another loose passive woman, and two Asian men. One of the Asian men raises before the flop, then bets all the way to the river. He shows down a pair of pocket deuces, but there are four clubs on board to give him a flush. He subsequently plays several hands exactly the same way. He raises with every pocket pair and bets all the way. I have a good read on every player at the table. There are two players that are good, and the rest are terrible and mostly loose passive. Four people at the table are drinking. It's funny, I always drink at my weekly poker game, but I haven't had a single alcoholic drink since I've been here. They keep sitting down and buying in for only $100, then rebuying for $50. I'm up to $520 now.

I have 77 and call. The Asian guy (who raises with any pockets) raises. The flop is QQ2, he bets, and I'm going to fold, then I remember how aggressively he plays his small pocket pairs, and I call. He bets the turn and I call. He surprises me by checking the river and I check. He has nothing and I win the pot.

Several people order these strawberry drinks, like smoothies. They look good and I'm tired of drinking Diet Coke, so I order one. It is soooo good! And it seems like a much better deal than a cup full of ice and a tiny squirt of Diet Coke for the $1 tip you give the waitress.

I get awesome cards for quite awhile. In one sequence, I have KK, AKs, QQ, and AQs in four hands. I actually manage to steal two pots at this totally loose table when I bet some scary flops, and everyone folds. I'm up to $575 now. I have a stack and a half of reds, and 21 stacks of whites. I have so many chips that they are really getting in my way.

Then the table changes. Several people leave because of me (at least four people left with no money). A couple of tight players sit down and I can't run over the table any longer. On my last hand at the Bellagio, I am dealt pocket fives. There are three callers, and the flop comes Q-5-4, giving me a set of fives. This is the first time in six hours that someone has flopped a set. I should check and slowplay, but there is a straight draw, and this table has been so loose that I'm sure everyone will just call. To my dismay, everyone folds! I throw down my cards face up and announce "Presto!" and take the smallish pot. "It's definitely time for me to go", I announce, and gather up my chips. I need four racks to get them all. I'm down to Fahrenheit $451, but very happy since I started with $200.

I cash out and catch the shuttle back to the Gold Coast. It turns out that it is 12:15 AM, and this is the last shuttle. I almost missed it because as usual, I didn't think it was so late.

At the Gold Coast, I look for something interesting to play, and there is a Pai Gow dealer whose nametag says "Debbie - Illinois", so I sit down to chat with her. To make a long story short, it turns out that her father lives a block away from where my mom lived for 10 years, and she lives in my current hometown for five years before moving to Las Vegas. It's a small world. She is very nice, so I play Pai Gow for a couple of hours, breaking even. Pai Gow is a strange game. It's like poker, but you play against the house. You get 7 cards, which you break up into a 5-card poker hand and a 2-card hand. The other players and the dealer do the same. Your 5-card hand must be better than your 2-card hand. There are a lot of rules about how the dealer must split up their hand. Anyway, it's not too hard to break even and for the first time the entire week, I had an alcoholic drink, a Newcastle Brown Ale.

At about 3:30, I quit and get steak and eggs in the restaurant. It's really good and with toast and hash browns, it is a great deal for $3.49. Then I head to bed.


- schneid