Posts - June 2008
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Double Dipping
June 29, 2008I’ll tell you straight out – I don’t get it. There are a few players today playing in the $10,000 PLO Championship that have another commitment today – a final table in the biggest event in poker.
Barry Greenstein and Erick Lindgren are in the field today. They are going to play in the PLO as long as they can until its time to go play at a final table where the top prize is just under $2 million dollars.
In addition, Kirill Gerasimov, who is third in chips at the final table of the $2,000 No Limit Hold Em Event (first prize $700,000+) is also in the PLO field.
Focusing is a big deal in poker, and I know, speaking for myself, that if I was playing PLO, it might distract from my focus about playing for the $2million later in the day. One of my PokerNews colleagues noted that it might be worth ‘sacrificing’ the $10k on the PLO to these guys so they could be distracted for a few hours.
I asked Kirill why he chose to play both, and he noted ‘because it (PLO) is my favorite game.’
Fair enough, but I can’t imaging playing until 2am (or 5am in Kiriil’s case), and then thinking “I’d like to get in a couple hours of PLO before I play the biggest final table of the year. I don’t get it, but then again….that’s why I cover, and that’s why they play. -
Electricity
June 25, 2008It’s kinda like playoff Hockey. It’s just not the same as the regular season. Sure, you can still enjoy the regular season games, and often times, you’ll see some great hockey. But, when playoff time rolls around, it just feels different. You could be in the arena hours before game time, but…you can still feel a difference in the air.
The same comparison holds true for the H.O.R.S.E. event. I got a chance to sit right in the middle of the floor as the event came together, and the feeling was really exciting. This is more than a poker tournament to many of these guys – this is the poker tournament. To some of the players in this field, playing in this tournament is a badge of honor. No matter how you got the buy in – you’re here, among the legends, and at least on some level – you belong.
It’s really nice to be able to enjoy watching a poker tournament again. You can’t help but get a little burned out at times doing this. Watching people you have no connection to play a game like Stud/8 until 3 in the morning can seriously sap your soul.
So I made it a point to take a couple hours out and just walk around the tournament area. As I strode around, the feeling was noticeable. These players had been marking their calendars, and now the big dance was upon them. It’s just not the same as the regular season.
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The TV Dilemma
June 16, 2008We have had some really great final tables so far this year at the WSOP. In my four years at the Rio, I can’t remember more than one Final Table per year with the Star Power we have had so far on three different occasions.
Our latest ‘big shot’ table included Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Johnny Chan, John Juanda, and PLO whizzes David Benyamine, Phil ‘OMG Clay Aiken’ Galfond, and Kirill Gerasimov. This table had 28 WSOP bracelets to its credit….a number larger than any final table I can recall upon first inspection.
Unfortunately, ESPN is on their annual dark time here at the WSOP. Every year, ESPN comes out at the beginning of the series, films a few events, and then leaves until the $50k HORSE (or around there). In the last couple years, viewers have missed out on a couple big moments, but overall, the ESPN viewing audience probably feels like it got plenty.
But, this year, the so-called ‘year of the pro’ has produced some fantastic final tables, including the Matusow/Lindgren/Greenstein/Be nyamine/Tony G/Schneider/Lisandro final table we had earlier in the week. It would be interesting to see how these final tables would play out on TV. Sure, you have big names, but you also have games that the viewing public at large doesn’t understand. The Matusow table mentioned above was in Deuce to Seven Draw, a game that, at best would be mildly confusing to the average poker fan. I can just hear the following in dens across America “Wait, you man they get to draw new cards? When do they go all in??”
So, we have had some great final tables at the WSOP this year. If the schedule could be modified so the TV could stay here while the events that are more likely to be big name events ($5k + rebuys does tend to limit the field), it would be interesting to see if it clicked. Would the US viewing public rather watch players they know play a game they don’t understand, or watch nine players they don’t know play a game they know a lot about.
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A New Record, and Another Great Event
June 14, 2008Today is an interesting day here at the WSOP. I broke the record for a $1,500 Event. At each $1,500 event, I walk through the rows of tables, looking for a face I recognize. Now, since I’m out of the ‘front lines’ these days, I’m sure my recognition skills are less than they should be.
Still, I broke my own record today. When I happened upon Bill Edler in seat 9 at his starting table, his was the 16th table I had looked at. Bill’s was the first face I recognized. My prior record of ‘tables before I recognize someone’ stood at 13, from the first $1,500 event of the 06 WSOP. Its an interesting statement on who plays these events, and – maybe more interesting – who does not play these events.
The second event today is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. The $5k with rebuys PLO. This is sort of the new version of the $1,000 w/rebuys, where the atmosphere is light, and the field small(er). This is the event where the elite players play fast and loose and have a lot of fun.
The final table of this event could be another really star packed final table. The field for this event will be bigger than the $5k deuce to Seven field for sure, but by how much will be an interesting question.
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Great Final Table
June 11, 2008In my last blog, I talked about the fact that my favorite event on the WSOP calendar is the $5k Deuce to Seven with Rebuys. The field is small but mighty for this event, and the strong field has produced what will be, in all likelihood, the highest profile final table we will see at this WSOP.
Although I did not do much research, I would assume this is the only final table in recent years where every participant has a WSOP bracelet, or a WPT title*. At this final table, we have 8 WSOP bracelets, 6 WPT titles*, a WSOP Circuit win, a WSOP player of the year, and a WPT player of the year.
Without a doubt, this will be the most intriguing final table we'll see this year. Its highly doubtful we'll see a more consistently packed final table as mentioned above. But, I think the thing that makes this final table the most interesting is that the game is not a game the players play very often, and its being played in the no limit format. I'd be willing to bet that half of these guys don't play Deuce to Seven any other time all year other than the two events they play here at the WSOP. Which means, despite the loaded final table, there probably will be times when these guys aren't super comfortable, as they don't face the situations this game presents more than a few times a year. So, even though this table is bereft of any ‘rookie’ players, the vets won’t be as comfortable as they usually are.
These players got to where they are by constantly assessing ‘where they are’ at the poker table at all times. It should be a great final table.
* Ok, so Tony’s WPT title was not an open event (The Bad Boys of Poker), but it sure makes for a pretty statement as to the strength of this event.
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Elite Field Today
June 09, 2008Today is my favorite event on the whole WSOP Schedule. While the $50k HORSE certainly gets the press as the event for ‘elite’ players, the $5,000 deuce to seven triple draw No Limit event that starts at 5pm today may actually have a more elite field, on balance.
Sure, it helps that deuce to seven is my favorite game, but you gotta have some serious gamble in you to play this game No Limit. Today’s field will probably be the smallest of any event on the schedule, cause players know if you want to be competitive, you better bring at least $25k, or $30k…and be ready to gamble.
Freddie Deeb once told me in an interview that the biggest gamble game he had ever played in was at the Commerce casino one night, where the game of choice became deuce to seven, no limit – single draw.
Players get three draws in this format, but the game play is fascinating, and the stakes, and strategy involved are second to none at the WSOP, in my opinion. Check this game out, and check our coverage out if you’re in the mood for some serious poker education. I’m going to try to guest in on the blog to chime in my two cents on the event.
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ESPN 360 Today – Check it
June 07, 2008I’ll be co-hosting the ESPN.com ‘pre-game show’ today. I will make predictions, and wax philosophic about today’s final table. I was originally supposed to host yesterday with Ali Nejad, but technical things got in the way of that, so I will be hosting with Nick Geber today.
It should be an interesting experience, as the set looks like a real TV set, and all I wanted to be growing up was a sportscaster.
I’m not sure where you can find it, but it is part of ESPN’s ‘360’ coverage of the WSOP. It will air 30 minutes before the final table begins. Come and cheer your boy Schecky on.
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Observations From The Amazon Room
June 05, 2008The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades (when playing Six Handed)
I am aging myself with the title, but I promise it relates to the topic.
I had an observation last year, which I chose to follow up on this year with actual data collection.
I think the six handed event has the most sunglass wearing players of any event on the Schedule. I know, I know…earth shattering stuff here.
So, I had someone get me a small sample. Of the 50 tables in the Blue section of the Amazon Room, 104 players were wearing sunglasses. Considering many of the tables were down a player, that would relate to just under 40% of the players wearing sunglasses.
What does that say about the players in this field?
Commerce Has Gas
Sometimes in this business, you get some funny press releases. Either ‘News’ that isn’t worth the cyber paper its not printed on, or releases written by folks who you get the idea may not have English as a first (or second) language.
So, it was with a little mirth that I opened my e-mail today and found this from the Commerce Casino in LA.
“Commerce Casino Relieves Gas Pressure In July”
At least they’re owning up to it now
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The ‘Middle Guard’
June 05, 2008There are many people out there who are convinced that it’s only a matter of time until the ‘new guard’ of young internet players completely dominate the game (I don’t know that I agree, but many feel this way). It seems every year, more and more of these ‘youngins’ emerge and challenge the throne of the ‘old guard’.
So, that got us to talking about Lindgren. Is he part of the ‘new guard’….not really. Erick is 31, certainly young, but he’s not what we now think of as a young gun – these days it seems like if you are over 26 or 27, you can’t be a young gun. Ok, so Lindgren is ‘old guard’, right? Definitely not. That perch is reserved for guys like Doyle, TJ, Dewey, and some of the greats of the game.
It wasn’t three or four years ago that Erick and his contemporaries (Daniel, Ivey, Allen Cunningham, etc) were referred to as the ‘new guard’. That doesn’t seem right these days, with the youngest US bracelet winner being just a week or two legal at the time of his win (Steve Billirakis), and the youngest WSOP bracelet winner on any continent still too young to play in the USA (Annette Obrestad).
So, Daniel, Erick, Phil, Allen…..Welcome to the Middle Guard.
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Rhythm
June 03, 2008Working the WSOP is a lot like being on tour with a rock band – something I did a fair bit of in my prior life. The beginning of any tour is the most stressful time on the tour, as new employees and new systems are established. Or at least old systems are re-established.
The beginning of the WSOP is also frantic – although much less so this year as noted in an earlier post of mine. You have a ton of new employees, a mass of humanity in front of you, and all you want to do is make some semblance of order.
On tour, you have dates and times that are much more stressful than others. New York and LA shows suck. Period. The whole world is there, they all think they are the most important people in the world and they all want tickets cause their dog goes to the same dog whisperer as the drummer’s dog. Oh, never mind all the record company people, national press, and music biz VIPs….who, of course can be some of the highest maintenance people of all.
The WSOP has its own versions of ‘New York and LA shows’. The $50k HORSE, for example. The pressure and the attention is much heightened at this event, and its definitely something you mark on your calendar. As a fan of poker, you can at least enjoy watching the elite field ply their skills in games that not everyone plays all the time. The HORSE event has its positives – it’s not completely like the New York shows, where you just can’t wait until you are on your way to Hartford, or Philly the next night.
On tour, you look forward to the Tuesday nights in Indianapolis, as you look forward to the four event days at the WSOP where the last event is a Stud/8 tournament you know will be 25 tables, tops – our version of a Tuesday night in Indy.
The point is…once you are on tour, you begin to find a rhythm. Your sleep clock changes, the times of day when you need to really be ‘on your game’ changes, the people you deal with (co-workers on tour) become your temporary friends, while your permanent friends back home know it’s a couple months before you can have lunch, a drink, or even a meaningful (over 2 minute) phone conversation with them.
This morning, I woke up for the first time in this years WSOP feeling like I was starting to get into the rhythm. Today is the first in a ten day (or so) string where we have 5 or 6 events each day – a reporting team’s nightmare. I wonder how I will be on the other side of that stretch. How many nights until Indianapolis?
