Microcosm of my Career

A wild day of poker.

I went to the hotel brunch at around 1. Doyle Brunson and Billy Baxter were eating and discussing their online poker site with a couple younger guys just a table away. I ate leisurely while eavesdropping. Two women in their forties at another adjacent table asked me if I was old enough to be drinking the champagne that came with the brunch. I laughed and offered the usual “these young looks will start paying off in about ten years” line. I declined to tell them that I would be spending five thousand dollars to play in a poker tournament later that afternoon.

Ted Forrest was in the elevator on the way down to the cab. Now there is a guy who has seen some bankroll swings. Really the prototypical professional poker player and he looks the part as well. I rolled out of my cab at the casino at about 4:17, really feeling like a professional on a business trip and excited about my prospects.

I was back in a cab returning to the hotel fifteen minutes later.

My first WPT tournament lasted a grand total of four hands.

For those who don’t know poker that well:
I found myself in an unavoidable, unlucky, difficult situation. My opponent played the hand with great cunning and trickery and ate me alive.

For those who know poker-speak:
With blinds at 25-50 my 10k starting stack was already down to 9k. UTG raised to 150 and got four callers. I called with JJ on the button and so did the BB. The flop came J98 rainbow and everyone checked to me. I bet 1100 and one player called. The turn was a 3 and he checked. I bet 2000 and he moved all-in. I called my last 5500 and he had QTs, the nuts. The board didn’t pair and that was it.

I would really like to ask a world-class player how they would have played this hand. It was so hard for me to get away on the turn with that much money in the pot and top set. Middle or bottom set I think I would have folded. But since my opponent could have those hands, or two-pair, or even a hand like JT, I thought I had to call with that much money in there rather than fold what could be the best hand and try to come back with a short stack. I also felt like I had to protect/value bet my hand on the flop and turn. Perhaps I will ask Mr. Forrest his opinion the next time I see him in the elevator.

Twenty minutes later I was back in the hotel room on Party Poker. I got down about 1k and was starting to wonder if I’d ever win a big pot again.

Then the deck stepped up and hit me full-force right between the eyes.

(For those who don’t know the expression getting “hit in the face” by the deck is a very good thing in poker).

Eight hours later I had broken every significant cash-game record I’ve ever had including biggest pot, biggest stack, and biggest win. I won a truly obscene amount of money and feel great about getting knocked out of the tournament.

Someday I will break through in a WPT or WSOP tournament. Until then, there is always Party Poker.