No Limit Hold em at Ocean's Eleven in Oceanside

Last Saturday I returned to Ocean's Eleven Casino in Oceanside, California to play in a no limit holdem ring game. It was the first time I had played "live" no limit other than in tournaments. As I have written, I have temporarily "retired" from online poker until all this nonsense about legality is determined. It would be just my luck to hit a big win and then have the online poker room refuse to pay me because I live in the good ole US of A... But I digress...

I have to admit I was nervous but pleased when I sat down to see a table of all men. As any serious woman player can tell you, we much prefer to play against men than women. It's just plain easier to beat men at "their own game". There is always at least one guy at the table who has to "show the little lady" she has no business playing and once you determine which player that is - usually takes less than two minutes - you can clean his clock unless he's having a Jamie Gold lucky streak. And as everyone knows, that kind of streak almost never happens.

This time I was surprised. There was not a classic poker asshole in the bunch; every guy at the table was respectful of my play and nobody was trash-talking or letting their emotions run wild. I had to pinch myself a couple times; I'm not used to so many nice players at one table - hell rarely are there that many nice players in the entire casino.

I came in behind the button and didn't have to post; another surprise. I got to play a round free until my blinds - I threw every hand away until I was on the button. And I got lucky, pocket tens. The blinds were $2.00 - small and big - and I raised $10.00. I got one caller but not before a couple of the players commented on how quiet I had been and that "women never bluff". The flop was connected rags and I bet $20.00 and my one caller went away.

I established my image as tight and aggressive and never once showed my cards if I weren't called and every time I was called, I had the winning hand. I lost one hand with top two pair and lost to a flush but I didn't show my hand.

Finally I was able to use my image. I had QJ of hearts on the button with a $10.00 raise in front of me. I wasn't too worried, this player raised before the flop every time he stayed. I raised $10.00 and he called. The flop was K 10 of hearts and a rag. I had an open-ended straight flush draw. The guy bet $20.00 and I called without hesitation. The turn was another K and that bothered me, a lot. He bet $20.00 and I took along time to think but finally called. One of the other guys commented that I was thinking about raising - assuming I had a hand. The river was a rag and the guy checked to me. I bet $40.00 and after making me sweat, he threw his hand away. A couple hands later, he asked "You did have the King, right?" I lied and told him I did and that's why it took me so long on the turn - I was afraid if I raised then; he'd run. He relaxed.

After a couple more wins I had doubled my stack and I left less than an hour after sitting down. It was near dinner time and the table was down to six players and I figured I had won all the money I could at the table and ran the risk of losing it with loose play at a short table.

My husband came along for the ride and had a drink in the bar - he said they pour a good solid martini, which with the tip set him back $10.00.

On Hiatus Until US Laws Are Figured Out

With the passage of the Internet gambling ban, hidden inside the Port Security Act, I have uninstalled all my poker programs and will be on hiatus as far as online poker is concerned.

The next time I play live, I will update - but until them contact your Congressmen and tell them how you feel. Also vote them all out in Novemeber; the best way to express your displeasure.

September 29, 2006. 3 Online Tournaments Won in the Past 12 Days.

I have been on a mini-rush the last two weeks. I have made 12 final tables and won 3 tournaments. I haven't changed my style and have followed Doyle's Super System faithfully; but I have also been getting the cards and hitting my draws when I need them. And yes, I have had my share of suck-outs. But you have to hit your draws to win consistently. My thanks to the Poker Gods for smiling down on me as I build my bankroll to make my run at winning a seat to the 2007 WSOP Main Event. Only 9 months to Viva Las Vegas and the Rio...

Thursday, September 14, 2006. Ocean’s Eleven Casino, Oceanside, California.

I have not played “live” poker since July, 2002, and I was not sure what to expect; or how I would stack up against other players. Ocean’s Eleven Casino in Oceanside has a daily tournament, which on Thursday is no-limit holdem with a $35.00 buyin and no re-buys. Seemed like a cheap way to get my feet wet.

In preparation for war, I rose early; showered; groomed myself and even polished my nails. I carefully chose my clothes – nothing too fancy; but not too grungy, either. I wore perfume; I just hate sitting next to players reeking of B.O. I pulled my hair up and secured the top and sides with a barrette and wore diamond studs and Tabra chandelier earrings.

I went to great pains to choose just the right card protector, which was my father-in-law’s cremation tag that had come with his remains. Norman loved to talk cards and poker, although I don’t think I ever saw him play in the more than two decades I knew him.

I headed down the 5 freeway, husband in tow, to test the waters. When I had called the night before, a casino rep had told me they usually had 3 or 4 tables. I liked my odds. Not a lot of money to win, but not a large field to try and outlast. A few more than 3 or 4 tables of folks decided to show-up and we had 14 tables of 10. A larger field than I had expected.

I played through 9 rounds and lasted almost two hours and NEVER had a pocket pair nor Big Slick. Somehow, I was able to stay afloat. The small pots I won were played strictly from position and because I chose a tight persona, I picked up a few blinds here and there. But I just never got the chance to try and do anything fancy. The blinds began to kill me and I fell quickly below the 10x ratio.

In the big blind, I was forced to go all-in with a 97 off-suit against pocket Aces and pocket Kings. I sucked out for a straight on the river and tripled-up. That kept me alive a bit longer and finally staring down $3000 in blinds next two hands, (and only $2500 in chips), I went all-in with AQ off-suit and was called by pocket 5s. The flop was 5-2-2 and I was done.

I placed 27^th out of 140 and felt I held my own. I was surprised by two things; the players were not nearly as formidable as I feared and the dealers were un-polished and made lots of mistakes.

Next week, I’ll return to play in a no-limit cash game – that should be more fun…

Four Tournaments and Four Final Table in One Day and a Warning About Mansion Poker

I played in four NL Holdem tourneys yesterday - all with more than 250 players and made the final table in all four - 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th places. I have been "religiously" studying and using the Super System strategy and Doyle's theory on playing the next hand after a win (in case you are on a rush) really worked for me yesterday...woo hoo!!

My poker buddy, Nik, posted this comment about Mansion Poker - depositors beware!!

When you get back Lady - warn your readers that Mansion Poker is a major rip off. They take your money and demand you to send them your passport ID or Driver's License ID copy to withdraw. This is not told to you at time of deposit - unless you count reading the fine print before downloading the software. In today's day and age, I do not like the idea of sending that information to people half way around the world - who cannot use the information for what they claim they need it for. They could be either selling the ID's or stealing the money - or both!

Poker Happens...but not while moving...

We've sold our house and not much time for poker. I'm playing in a couple of freerolls tonight - if anything happens...

And Today's AHOTD Award Goes To...

Bugsys Club Player, "IndianaFlip" from Jeffersonville, who while not criticizing everyone else's play, made the following comments "I'm the best"; "I won 138K in Tunica in 2001"; I'm gonna win a bracelet in 7 card-stud while just teaching my wife how to play"; "I've won this tournament 3 times and make the final table everytime I play in every tournament".

I just have one question, "Somebody married this guy?"

Kudos to Tropical Poker

Thursday I played in a $200.00 guarantee NL Holdem Tourney and right before the first break; my program froze and I was never able to get back on the site. The buy-in was only $1.50 and although I was sorry to lose it; I made no effort to complain.

Instead I packed an overnight case and my husband and I went to spend a couple days at the beach.

When we returned today, I was plesantly surprised to have an email from Tropical Poker apologizing for the problem; refunding my $1.50 and inviting me to a private freeroll with a $200.00 guarantee.

Thanks Tropical - I really appreciate the effort and good customer service!!

WSOP Winner Chip Envy

I read hours of entries on blogs regarding Jamie Gold's WSOP Main Event win and was forced to face a fact that my husband has contended as the reason he doesn't play "competitive" poker...most poker players are total A**holes.

Those who thought Jamie Gold did not deserve the win; was a donkey; a troll; idiot, etc. outnumbered those with kudos by at least 10 to 1. A few even made disparaging remarks about his mother.

One blog entry I read ridiculed him for winning the final hand with a Q9; I guess that person is not aware that the reason a "10 2" hand is called "the Dolly" is because that is the hand that Doyle Brunson was holding when he won BOTH of his WSOP Main Event bracelets.

Perhaps because I am a "newbie"; novice, etc. I don't understand the nuances of Gold's game and I confess that I did not watch the PPV.

But this I do know; no one can play twelve to fourteen hours a day for ten days and make the final table without a combination of both luck and skill. And anyone who says otherwise is a fool.

WSOP PPV

I tried to get the PPV, but our cable didn't carry it and it didn't seem worth it to have it on the computer.

Last year I did listen to the webcast on cardplayer.com, but this year; there's no free ride.

I'm reading the hand-by-hand account, but it's hardly the same.

Oh, well.

The Final Table is Set at the WSOP Main Event

What every poker player waits for - the final table is set as follows:

Seat 1 - Richard Lee - $11,820,000

Seat 2 - Erik Friberg - $9,605,000

Seat 3 - Paul Wasicka - $7,970,000

Seat 4 - Dan Nassif - $2,600,000

Seat 5 - Allen Cunningham - $17,770,000

Seat 6 - Michael Binger - $3,140,000

Seat 7 - Doug Kim - $6,770,000

Seat 8 - Jamie Gold - $26,650,000

Seat 9 - Rhett Butler - $4,815,000

Player resumes at Noon tomorrow and will contnue until 83million chips are sitting in front of one player.

Allen, Allen, he's my man - if he can't do it - someone else will...

There Are Twelve Millionaires Playing Poker in the Amazon Room

The guys are at dinner and everyone of them is now officially a Millionaire (if they weren't already).

Here' s the payout for the final 12:

1 - $12,000,000

2 - $6,102,499

3 - $4,123,310

4 - $3,628,513

5 - $3,216,182

6 - $2,803,851

7 - $2,391,520

8 - $1,979,189

9 - $1,566,858

10 - 12 - $1,154,527

I Qualified for the Qualifier - Woo Hoo!!

Tropical Poker has a $15K freeroll this week that requires qualification or $200.00 buy-in.

I qualified for the daily qualifier - so many levels - but hey, hey!!

Also finished in the $$ on another tournament at Tropical today.

Played with tcob and nh_gg - and their "jerkness" continued...some things never change. I put tcob out of the qualifier which just proves there is a poker god and he has a sense of humor.

Is Rhett Butler his real name?

Play is over for the day at the WSOP Main Event - they are down to 27 and tomorrow they will play until they have the final table set.

Rhett Butler, can that possibly be a real name?, is in fourth with 6.4million.

Jamie Gold is holding his chip lead with 13million; Erik Frieberg is in second with 7.7million chips.

Allen Cunningham is still in the hunt with 2.65 million in chips.

Four players are short-stacked with 700K or less in chips.

The final 27 have almost a one in 2 chance of winning a million since the final 12 will each win at least $1,000,000.00.

Tick Tock - Down to 30 and counting...

Jamie Gold continues his march with more than 14million in chips.

Allen Cunningham has improved to 11th place with 2.9million in chips.

Humberto Brenes has been eliminated in 36th place; however, he won $329K for his efforts.

This has nothing to do with poker...but I don't understand why "Management" felt they needed a sign...

Why Is It?

There's always a player at the table that claims skill when he/she gets lucky; but when you do the same, calls you a donkey?

Just a thought...

Please post your one word description of a type player you have spotted...

Here's mine: The Professor: Not to be confused with Howard Lederer, this player has to explain odds and all the other intricacies of the game that everyone else at the table is too dumb to understand.

Day 5 Ends with 45 Players in Contention for the Gold...

And one of them really is Gold - Jamie Gold - sitting at the top of the chip count with 7.3million chips, a little less than 10% of the chips in play. Ironic when you know he was once a Hollywood Agent, representing Felicity Huffman and James Gandolfini, who lived his life for 10% of the "chips". Of course, this time, he's out to get it all. Incidentially, he learned to play poker from Johnny Chan when they worked together on a television series.

Humerto Brenes made a bit of a comeback but is only one of 9 players with less than 1million chips at 560K.

Allen Cunningham, the only other pro I am following, has 1.29million in chips.

Play resumes at Noon today and play will continue till only 27 players remain.

You Don't Have to be a Gentleman to Play Poker...

Duh!

I am on a big rush and have eliminated two players who, of course, had to tell me how terrible a player I am: calling me a troll, a donkey, etc.

Well these guys are not gentlemen and obviously have not read Mike Caro: Tcob_crew1 (previous AHOTD Award winner); 6queen9; and the guy I just mentioned as having a ool screen name, nh_gg_gl_fu (but not a cool head).

And today's AHOTD Award goes to all three.

Best screen name of the day

I'm playing in a $200.00 guarantee tourney at TropicalPoker.com right now (not well, I might add)...and the player next to me has this screen name:

nh_gg_gl_fu

Screen name of the day!!

It Looks Like There's Going to be a New Sherriff in Town...

Allen Cunningham and Humberto Brenes are hanging on by their short ones with 500K and 430K respectively.

Jamie Gold continues to march toward the final table with 5.2million chips. Erik Frieberg is sitting in second place with 4.3million chips. 34 other players are over 1million in chips but with 83million on the tables and antes at 3K and blinds at 10K/20K, a million just doesn't go as far as it did yesterday.

65 players remain.

Annie Duke Busts Out in 88th Place

Annie Duke, the last, great female hope has been eliminated from the Main Event.

Mid Day Update - Day 5 Main Event WSOP

93 players are still in the hunt with 29 players stacking more than 1million in chips. Jamie Gold is still chip leader with 3.6million; 2 other players have crossed 3million and only one has more than 2million.

I just noticed that the player in 15th place is named Rhett Butler...

Allen Cunningham is having a good day - now at 900K chips in 37th place; Humberto Brenes has 615K chips and the only female pro still standing, Annie Duke, is in 65th place with 519K.

Met TropicalPoker.com's Qualifier at the Tables Today

Congratulations to Bullmer, one of the two TropicalPoker.com qualifiers to the WSOP Main Event.

His Day1 was, unfortunately, his only day - but he qualified!! No easy feat. I didn't, though goodness knows I tried...

I asked to interview him and am hoping to hear from him.

He did tell one story - he palyed the same day as Phill Hellmuth and when Hellmuth was eliminated, the room erupted in cheers - not expressing their respect for the guy - glad to see him out!!

Oh well, poker players, as a lot, are not the most charitable group in the world...

Day 4 Comes to an End With 135 Players Left

Visions of $12Million are dancing in their dreams as they rest and prepare for day 5.

Jamie Gold ended the day with 3.7millionn in chips, second place is more than a million chips behindat 2.3million chips; and 18 others had 1million chips or more.

The three notables remaining are Annie Duke with 919K; Humberto Brenes with 835K and Allen Cunningham has 503K.

Willie Annie become the first woman to win the Main Event. the only woman to make the final table was Barbara Enright in 1995 who finished 5th. Go Annie!!

Of the 135 players remaining 27 are PokerStars.com online qualifiers with Kyle Bowker 4th in the chip count. More than 100 online qualifiers from PokerStars.com have cashed in the Main Event.

159 Player Remain as Day 4 Draws to an End

There are now 17 players with more than 1million chips and Jamie Gold is the current chip leader with a little over 3 million chips.

Annie Duke is sitting in 32nd place with 750K chips; Humberto Brenes is 45th with 660K; and Allen Cunningham has dropped to 146th with 175K chips meaning a new poker star will most likely be born.

Dinner Break - Hachem & Negreanu Eliminated

Joseph Hachem eliminated in 238th and Daniel Negreanu at 229th.

11 players are over the 1million chip count; Annie Duke sits at 704K; Humberto Brenes has $645K; Allen Cunningham has $465K and Ted Lawson has $245K.

Play resumes a little after 8 PM with 228 players still dreaming of $12Million...

The Dangers of Gambling...

Bryan Micon was all-in with another player contemplating a call. Micon reaches in his pocket and pulls out pamphlets that Harrahs publishes warning about the dangers of problem gambling. He begins reading the warning signs to his opponent who finally calls. Micon prevails and doubles up.

Chip Leaders Cross $1Million Mark at WSOP Main Event

Six players have accumulated more than 1 million chips as more ros are hitting the streets...

Humberto Brenes is sitting at 540K; Annie Duke is sitting pretty at 408K (and is the last high-profile woman alive); Allen Cunningham has 310K; Ted Lawson 225K; Daniel Negreanu is still hanging in there with 60K.

Eliminated so far today were: Mark Vos (457th); Susie Isaacs (424th); Ted Forrest (408th); Cyndy Violette (400th); Allyn Shulman (396th); Tom McEvoy (371st); Hoyt Corkins (364th); Surinder Sunar (324th); Kathy Liebert (275th).

Quote of the Day

A player at a SitnGo at Tropical Poker - whose name is being withheld to protect the guity - made the following comment: "Trying to get a tourney going around here is like trying to re-marry the ex-wife".

Hats off to anonymous - have you noticed how many clever things Anonymous has said over the span of time?

Bugsysclub.com - What's with the IT problems?

It's very annoying to be in a tourney when the server goes down...especially when your playing with hard-earned cash.

It has happened at Bugsys several times over the past few days and the site chat is getting hostile.

Busgys - get your act together.

Online Qualifiers Update:

I visited several online sites looking for info on which sites still had players in the action. Sadly, either I was not clever enough to find the information (so I could bring it to all online players who dream of making it to the Main Event) or only PokerStars.com is providing such stats.

PokerStars qualifiers update:

5 of the top ten chip leaders are pokerstars.com qualifiers and from the original 1600+ PokerStars players 42 have cashed and 48 are still in contention, including WSOP Main event champs Joe Hachem and Tom McEvoy.

Day 3 – WSOP Main Event Re-Cap

Joseph Hachem threw out the first deck and then did the “Shuffle Up and Deal” honor just after noon with 1,159 entries left. All were very aware that the money bubble being less than 300 eliminations away.

Chip leader changed by day’s end from PokerStars.com qualifier, Dmitri Nobles to Jon Lane.

Pros and celebs that ended their run for the chips included Chris Ferguson, Tony Ma, John Gale and David Pham.

Still standing: Annie Duke, Allen Cunningham, Ted Forrest, Mark Vos, Daniel Negreanu (who made the comeback of the day from a short stack of $20K to over $100K and ensuring a Day 4), Joe Hachem, Hoyt Corkins, Ted Lawson, Tom McEvoy, Kathy Liebert, Cyndy Violette, Susie Isaacs, Cecilia Mortensen and Allyn Shulman.

481 players advanced to Day 4.

Play resumes at noon today with the question, "Will skill outlast luck at the 2006 WSOP Main Event?"

Day 3 - Folks are cashing at the WSOP Main Event.

595 players remain. Players are on break...

Cash occured at 530pm and then immediately several players went all-in causing 11 payers to split the first 8 cashes and receiving $10,616.

At this point Nam Le and Peter Feldman have been eliminated and Daniel Negreanu is hanging by a very short thread.

Dmitri Nobles is still ship leader with $653K; notables still in the tournament are Humerto Brenes - $420K; Allen Cunningham - $295K; Ted Forrest - $230K; John Gale - $220K; Annie Duke - $156K; Tony Ma - $120K; Cyndy Violette - $103,500; Susie Isaacs - $93K; Joseph Hachem - $89K; Ted Lawson - $84K; Tom McEvoy - $80K; Kathy Liebert - $78K; Mark Vos - $67,500; Cecilia Mortensen - $48K; David Pham - $30K; Daniel Negreanu - $24K.

Day 3 - WSOP Main Event - Mid-Day Report

At 4pm PDT there are 907 players left - or 32 still will end up out of the money - cash bubble is 873.

PokerStars.com qualifier, Dmitri Nobles is still chip leader with $555K; Jason Strasser si 2nd with $451K.

Disappointing eliminations of the day so far include: Layne Flack, Carlos Mortensen, Phil Ivey, David Grey and Josh Ariel.

Top 50 chip leaders include: John Gale - $309K, Daniel Negreanu - $295K, Humberto Brenes - $256K (who gave Spanish lessons earlier today), Allen Cunningham - $247K.

Josephe Hachem is 54th with $157K; Cyndy Violette is 78th with $91K; Hoyt Corkins is 82nd with $87K; Annie Duke is still in the hunt at 84th with $81K ; Tom McEvoy is 92nd with $70K; Kathy Liebert has $57K;David Pham has $53,500 and Susie Isaacs has $46,500.

Short Stacked are : Freddy Deeb - $10K, Mark Vos - $36K, Chris Ferguson - $39K.

There aren't too many pros left to bring it home...

Play will continue until there are 600 players remaining.

We're off to a birthday party for my Brother-in-Law, Mike, who staked me in the PokerStars 150 guaranteed seats to the WSOP Main Event. Thanks and Happy Birthday!!

The 3pm Freeroll at Tropical is being brutal to Magpie1950...

I'm struggling at table 43185 but there are some fun and nice folks at the table; especially saltee15.

Saltee15 was at the WSOP Main Event last Friday and saw Annie Duke; said she needs an image consul consultant - said she looks "downright scary". Umagumma wanted to know if she had taken a bath; because she looks so bad on TV.

I say give the girl a break - darn, she has kids, a husband, a huge house with a pool, endorsements to tend to, lots of bucks to invest and watch and plays poker for a living - it isn't easy being Annie...

Well, I'm not struggling anymore - I'm out; but I'm not down...

You might recall that I made fun of Umagumma for his derisive comments about Raymer. Well, he visited this blog and told me he stands by his comments. I admire a man who sticks to his guns!! Umagumma gets the Poker Happens "Salute of the Day" and also...

The quote of the day "My hands look like feet." - I have no idea...

But I do know that Poker Happens!!

The Tropical Poker AHOTD (A**hole of the Day) Award* goes to...

Tcob_crew1 - congratulations - you really deserve it!! You have obviously not read Mike Caro...

I just played in a $5.00 turbo SitnGo with ddenver5; zilla34; Rgb89; and AHOTD Award Winner Tcob_crew1.

I had an incredible run of excellent hole cards with flops that helped and was raising and playing my "Doyle" game. Tcob_crew1 decided I was bluffing and went all in; I called and hit 3 Kings and he told me I was not only a donkey, but I played like sh*t. A few hands later Rgb89 put him out of his misery and Rgb89, who is always a gentleman at the table, and I played heads-up and my lucky streak held. (For those of you who are following my quest to win my way to the 2007 WSOP Main Event, this is 3 wins in 3 days - woo hoo!!)

*AOTD Award is simply a reflections and opinions of the blog editor and protected by the First Amendment.

Yep, Poker Happens!!

This $100 freeroll is wild and we're only 20 minutes in...218 starting players and already down to 132...dropping like flies...

I had 6 3 os in the big blind with no raises; flop is 3 3 K. I bet the pot and get a raise and a call. I re-raise (no pre-flop raise - so must be a K and another pair, right?); Guy goes all - in and gets two calls. I was right, he had a King but the other guy had A 3 - I was crippled... 200 chips left but I have doubled up twice and now am back to 1100 chips...woo hoo!!

Picked up another small pot - sitting at 1625 chips. Chip leader has 9200 and short stack is 130. Unfortunately, Tropical does not give us an average chip count.

Eliminated - 83rd - flopped top set with possible flush. Bet the pot; got a raise; went all-in - got called and the guy sucked out the flush on the river...Poker Happens!!

Good day at the Poker Tables

Tropical Poker has been very good to me the last couple day. As reported here, I won a SitnGo yesterday and repeated with another win today in a SitnGo Turbo.

Tonight, I entered the $50.00 freeroll at 6pm PDT and out of 201, I placed 4th, winning four big ones. Not exactly the WSOP, but I'm pleased. While writing this I am in the 9PM $100.00 freeroll at Tropical and hoping for another cash today.

The best day I have had was finishing 3rd - 3 times in one day - is that a "threepeat"?

I played at Bugsys today and finished in the top 10% of two tourneys but did not cash. Boo hoo!!

Trivia: After winning the WSOP Main Event in 1981, Stu Ungar was asked what he would do with the winnings and his reply was, "Lose it!!" with a giggle.

Day 2B comes to an end

Chip leader after Day 2B - Dmitri Nobles - pokerstars.com online qualifier - $553,000 - woo hoo!!

Friday, August 4th, the WSOP Main Event will finally have all the players at tables in the Amazon Room, at the same time with a total of 1184 still standing. The "cash bubble" is 873 which means all but 311 of the players starting today will win a minimum of a little over $14K. I suspect early play today is going to be tight except with the short stacks whose WSOP Main Event lives are literally on the line. A day off give all the players 24 hours to sweat and dreams of $12,000,000.00.

Eliminations since my last update included: Steve Zolotow and Peter Tran who was a chip leader coming into the day; "there'll be time enough for counting..."

Notable "Survivers" include: Meng La - $15K; Susie Isaacs - $37K; Kathy Liebert - $55K; Freddy Deeb - $58K, Tom McEvoy - $60K; Minh Nguyen - $72,500 - still wondering if he did a re-buy after no-showing Day 1A?; Nam Le - $63K; Josh Ariel - $82K; Cyndy Violette - $85K; Peter Feldman - $93,200; Ted Forrest - $125K; Joseph Hache - $142,200; John Gale - $170K; and Daniel Negreanu - $331K.

My thanks to both pokerstar.com and cardplay.com for their coverage which allows me to update my blog with authenticity and accuracy.

2006 Main Event Pay-out Schedule:

From cardplayer.com, here is the official pay-out schedule:

1 - $12,000,000

2 - $6,102,499

3 - $4,123,310

4 - $3,628,513

5 - $3,216,182

6 - $2,803,851

7 - $2,391,520

8 - $1,979,189

9 - $1,566,858

10 - 12 - $1,154,527

13 - 15 - $907,128

16 - 18 - $659,730

19 - 27 - $494,797

28 - 36 - $329,865

37 - 45 - $247,399

46 - 54 - $164,932

55 - 63 - $123,699

64 - 72 - $90,713

73 - 81 - $65,973

82 - 126 - $51,129

127 - 189 - $47,006

190 - 252 -$42,882

253 - 315 -$38,759

316 - 378 -$34,636

379 - 441 -$30,512

442 - 504 -$26,389

505 - 567 -$22,266

568 - 621 -$20,617

622 - 666 -$19,050

667 - 720 -$17,730

721 - 774 - $16,493

775 - 819 - $15,504

820 - 873 -$14,597

Magpie Multi-Tasks...

I am updating the blog with WSOP Main Event news from cardplayer.com; watching the 1st final table of the Professional Poker Tour (on the Travel Channel) and playing in the freeroll I mentioned earlier. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that all three tasks involve poker - yeah, right...

Twenty minutes into the freeroll and have gone from 1500 starting chips to 3900. Chip leader has 9500. We started with 226 and already down to 145 players. Make that 144...

Meanwhile at the real poker tournament...Robert Williamson III, Aaron Kanter, Robert Varkonyi, have all been eliminated,

Josh Ariel has been penalized for dropping the F-Bomb and Freddy Deeb escapes a penalty for the same offense when all the players at his table defended him following the "reporting" of the F-Bomb by a nosy player at a nearby table. Tattle-tale...

Notables still in the action: John Gale, Daniel Negreanu, Peter Feldman, Joseph Hachem, TEd Forrest, Cecelia Mortensen, Nam Le, Minh Nguyen, Tom McEvoy, Josh Ariel, Meng La, Allyn Jaffrey Shulman, Freddie Deeb, Kathy Liebert, Susie Isaacs.

Meanwhile back at the Trop Freeroll, I have built my stack to 5800 chips with 97 players remaining - woo hoo!! Since Umagumma busted out, not much chat...spoke too soon...Runelord and Spankdog7 have decided to become the poker police and criticize player who made a bad call in their "expert" opinions...classy language, too. Their mommas must be proud.

And Magpie has been eliminated in 78th position. Made a all-in bad; thought it was a good call untill I saw I was cripped with AQ suited against pocket QQ and no A came and I was out on my A...oh, well as Scarlett O'Hara would say - I'll worry about it tomorrow...

Day 2B - Greg Raymer Eliminated Before Dinner Break.

There are 790 player still seated and just before the Dinner Break, 2004 Main Event winner, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, was eliminated.

While writing this, I am playing in a $100 freeroll at Tropical and a guy at the table "Umagumma" is busy telling us how terrible a player Raymer is ("Raymer blows" to quote the genius) - hmmm. Raymer won $5million at the WSOP and "umagumma" is playing in a freeroll - even I can do that math...

Only 5 minutes into a freeroll and Umagumma has already been eliminated. So does that mean Umagumma blows?

Day 2B Off to a Big Start!!

The day started with 1,637. Barely 4 hours later and 575 have already hit the slots outside the Amazon Room of the Rio!!

Adam Schoenfeld, Patty "Machinegun" Gallagher (remember she's the one at the 2004 WSOP who bragged that all the guys call her "The B**ch" and then flipped the bird at the remaining players when she was eliminated - such a lady...), Joe Cassidy, Huck Seed, Dave Rogowski have all been eliminated.

Kathy Liebert has doubled-up three times today and Daniel Negreanu is at the TV featured table.

Magpie Wins SitnGo!!

Cha-Ching - won a $5.00 SitnGo at Tropical Poker this afternoon; every donation for the 2007 Main Event kitty is appreciated... only 353 days left on my 2007 WSOP pokerlogical clock...tick tock!!

Day 2A Ends with chip leader, Jon Lane, stacking $405K.

Kem Jacobs ended the night with $395K and Jason Strasser at $330K; there were 14 players with more than 200K in chips. Phil Ivey finished the night with a short stack of $20K - but not doubt he's still got a chance; if not he'll be hitting the links more than he planned.

Notables eliminated during Day 2A play included: Kristy Gazes, Padraig Parkinson, Jeff Madsen, John Juanda, Men "The Master", Barry Greenstein, Bill Gazes, Chris Reslock (2006 Circuit winner in A.C), David "Devil Fish" Ullioot (I don't know why, but that guy gives me the heebie geebies), Andrew Black from the 2005 final table, Eric Froelich, David Williams (2004 runner-up to Fossilman), Mike Caro and Pamela Brunson.

578 players remain and will after Day 2B plays today, where the reamining players from Days 1C and 1D resume play today at Noon.

Dinner Break - Day 2A

769 still standing at dinner break. Devil Fish Ullioot, David Sklansky and Kristy Gazes have been eliminated.

Players will be back at 830pm.

PokerStars.com "A**hole of the day" Award Goes to...

"Payupscrubs" from Cleveland.

When a guy has to tell you how great a poker player he is, it usually means he isn't...and Payupscrubs not only had to tell everyone at the table how great he was but he also had to tell everyone else how "stupid" and "retarded" we all were. "Lagartixa_br" from Brazil kept outdrawing Payup and he was a major jerk about it. Hey, Poker Happens!!

(The opinions expressed on this website are nothing more than your humble correspondent's First Amendment-protected opinions.)

They're Dropping Like Flies...

Only 4 hours into Day 2a and lots of big names are busting out: Mike Sexton; Men "The Master" Nguyen; Eric Froehlich; John Juanda; Barry Greenstein; Bill Gazes; Andrew Black - 5th place in 2005 Main Event - this may drive him back to the Buddhist Monastery.

Of the 980 still standing today are Humberto Brenes, Allen Cunningham, Daniel Alaei, David Grey, Chris Ferguson, David Sklansky, Layne Flack, Mark Vos - he overslept and was almost 2 hours late, Carlos Mortensen, David Pham, Annie Duke,Hoyt Corkins, Devil Fish Ulliott, Kristy Gazes, Scotty Nguyen and Phil Ivey.

One player has passed 220K in chips: James Crowshaw with 229K chips.

The Final Twelve Players Will All Be Millionaires!!

The final twelve entries will all be instant millionaires and the last person standing will win more than $12,000,000.00 - woo hoo!!

Women Make up 3% of the 2006 Main Event Entries

270 women entered the 2006 Main Event or 3% of the 8,773 field.

Ladies, unite - we have to increase that number for the 2007 Main Event. Remember our pokerlogical clocks arre ticking!!

Day 2A 2006 WSOP Main Event has begun.

Players from Day 1A and 1B began Day 2A a little after noon and already Pamela Brunson, Mike Caro and David Williams have been eliminated.

Day 1D of 2006 WSOP Main Event

Well it's official - 8,773 total entrants in this year's Main Event making First Place money at least $11,500,000. Jeffrey Pollack says the official prize pool and amounts will be released sometime today.

Day 4 of Day 1 Re-Cap:

• 2,160 entries for Day 1D heat.
• Six previous Main Event Winners were playing in the 1D heat: Joseph Hachem (2005), Chris Moneymaker (2003), Robert Varkonyi (2002), Huck Seed (1996), Johnny Chan (1987 & 1988) and Amarillo Slim Preston (1972).
• Pros and celebs in today's heat include Lennox Lewis, Dean Cain, Marcel Luske, Cecelia Mortensen, Mihn Nguyen* (wonder if he had to re-buy after no-shoing on Day 1A), Kathy Leibert*, Hank Azaria, Freddy Deeb*, Toto Leonidas*, Alan Goehring, Isabelle Mercier, John D'Agostino, Scott Fischman*, Ted Forrest*, Chip Reese*, Susie Isaacs*, Cyndy Violette*, Joe Cassidy, Robert Williamson III*, Sam Grizzle, Eric Lindgren, Erik Seidel*. *Indicates WSOP bracelet winners.
• Early departures include "Sean Sheikhan (I don't like that guy - woo hoo!!) - eliminated in the first hour of play, Erik Seidel*, Lyle Berman*, Erick Lindgren, Joe Awada*, Lennox Lewis - he was KO'd by a girl - Cecelia Mortensen, Max Pescatori, Sam Grizzle, Chip Reese*, Vince Van Patten. *Indicates WSOP bracelet winners.
• The top five chip counts at the end of Day 1D are: Wesley Wilburn - $122,200; Ken Jacobs - $119,100; Paul McCaffrey - $110,650; John Kincaid - $107,500; John Fuhriman - $98,250.
• Notable Chip Counts: Robert Varkonyi - $70K; Ted Forrest - $58K; Freddy Deeb - $57K; Huck Seed - $29K; Joe Cassidy - $28,800; Marcel Luske - $21,500; Cyndy Violette - $21,500; Robert Williamson III - $16K

My thanks to cardplayer.com for their excellent reporting and frequent updates.

Joe Sebok Makes his Final Costume Change...

Joe Sebok arrived at 430pm this afternoon at the Main Event dressed as Wonder Woman!!

Dinner Break Day 4 of Day 1 at the WSOP Main Event.

• A player was disqualified when he was caught putting chips in his pocket which is a really big no-no. He claimed he was "transferring" them, but the floorman said it was still cause for disqualification. The first disqualification of the 2006 Event. (Same thing happened in 2005).
• WSOP Main Event Winners were out in force today: Amarillo Slim Preston (1972), Chris Moneymaker (2003), Robert Varkonyi (2002), Johnny Chan (1987 and 1988), Huck Seed (1996).
• Pros and celebs in today's heat include Lennox Lewis, Dean Cain, Marcel Luske, Cecelia Mortensen, Mihn Nguyen* (wonder if he had to re-buy after no-shoing on Day 1A), Kathy Leibert*, Hank Azaria, Freddy Deeb*, Toto Leonidas*, Alan Goehring, Isabelle Mercier, John D'Agostino, Scott Fischman*, Ted Forrest*, Chip Reese*, Susie Isaacs*, Cyndy Violette*, Joe Cassidy, Robert Williamson III*, Sam Grizzle, Eric Lindgren, Erik Seidel*. *Indicates WSOP bracelet winners.
• Early departures include "Sean Sheikhan (I don't like that guy - woo hoo!!), Erik Seidel*, Lyle Berman*, Erick Lindgren, Joe Awada*, Lennox Lewis - he was KO'd by a girl - Cecelia Mortensen, Max Pescatori, Sam Grizzle, Vince Van Patten. *Indicates WSOP bracelet winners.
  

Day 1C WSOP Main Event Re-Cap

On day 3 of day 1, Penn and Teller threw out the ceremonial first deck and 2,160 folks, all eager to win the gold bracelet - the money means nothing - yeah right, sat down in the Rio's Amazon Room as the dealers shuffled up and dealt. This brings the 3 day total of entries to 6,480 with another 2,000+ expected on Monday, the final day of the first day heats.

By day's end, there were only 867 entries left sitting bringing the 3 day total of entries making the first cut to less than 2,600. And that translates, folks, into $37 million in "dead money" and the will rise another $13 million on Monday. That's a lot of cannolis....nearly $50 million in dead money when round one concludes on Monday. It looks like the total number of entries will be between 8,400 - 8,600 bringing the first prize to at least $11,000,000 - woo hoo!! Sure wish I were there!! Only 361 days to the 2007 WSOP Main Event according to my pokerlogical clock which is ticking loud and clear.

Day 1C seemed to have more premier professional players than the previous two days: Greg Raymer, Steve Dannenmann, Sammy Farha - who has already won a bracelet this year and Josh Ariel. These four all made the final tables in 2003, 2004 and 2005 with Fossilman winning all the cannolis in 2004.

And now to Poker Happens!! re-cap:

• Play started at 12:05 with 2,160 players including the internet qualifiers, satellite winners and many pros including: Daniel Negreanu, Liz Lieu, Thunder Keller, Hasan Habib, Jennifer Harman and hubby Marco Traniello, Phil Laak and sexy girl pal, Jennifer Tilly, The Magician, T.J. Cloutier, John Phan, Mike "The Mouth" (my personal choice to win) Matasow, Jeff "Happy" Schulman, Hasan Habib, John Robert Bellande, John Gale, Phil Gordon (probably one of the best who has still not won the big one along with T.J.), Bobby Baldwin, Harry Demetriou (conspiracy on the Rio's part???), Tuan Le, Adam Schoenfeld, Nam Le, Mark Seif.
  
• Pros who failed to make it to Day 2A included Mike "The Mouth" (be sure and read his e-mail regarding his elimination which is in previous posting here), Thunder Keller, Sammy Farha, both of the Jennifers - actually "Mennifer" and "Pennifer" all failed to make the cut, The Magician's magic was exposed, T.J., Happy Schulman, Steve Dannenmann, Bobby Baldwin (I hope he didn't quit his day job), Mark Seif, Steve Zolotow, Jean-Robert Bellande, Jim Meehan, Karina Jett, Keith Sexton, Barbara Enright.
• Joe Sebok, continuing to pay off his Circuit bet with Gavin Smith, showed up dressed as Spiderman.
• Chips leaders at the end of Day 1C are: Adam Jones - $123K; William Thorsson - $115K; Brendan Lewis - $112K; Dario Minieri - $103K and Danio Minieri - $103K.
• Notable chip counts included: Daniel Negreanu - $78,500; Greg Raymer - $48,900; Adam Schoenfeld - $46,500; Josh Ariel - $35K; Tom McEvoy - $32,000; John Gale - $30K; Aaron Kanter - $16,000.
  
• Play was called at 2:58 am and will resume at Noon today when many questions will be answered, the most important being - "how much if I win?"

Even though I can't be there, cardplayer.com has done an excellent job of making feel apart of the proceeding and I thank them.

Just Received This E-mail from Scott Matasow...

From: Mike Matusow
Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2006 9:08 PM
Subject: Early exit this year for Mike

Well, had to happen sooner or later, a stone cold donkey putting most of his chips in with 8 outs in the deck and hitting it against Mike’s trips.

Called large raise to with kj suited pre flop as well, pretty bad, lol..

Some of you might not like Helmuth, but the guy is right about today’s so called “Poker players”

This is the modern era of large tournament poker, where bad players think they can play and never fold,

Which is the reason the pros have formed their own pro league, which will make its impact beginning next year.

You have to avoid getting unlucky, stay out of big pots against morons unless you got the nuts, and even then, there are more and more “Aaron Kanters” out there every year that will call off all their chips on draws, and a few hit them, which is the reason why we do not expect a top pro to win ever again the main event..

I’d like to add that last years champ, Joe Hachem is NOT A DONKEY and a worthy title holder. He might be the last ever good player to win with the fields not only getting larger, but attracting the worst poker players on the planet, LOL!!

Mike is really not upset, he expected something like this to a degree to happen and cannot complain because last year on day one, he was the donkey putting all his chips in pre flop with 33 against QQ and hitting the 3 on the flop.

Anyways, I am writing for Mike because he is extremely busy, and Mike will also be playing more events, as there are those “ 2^nd chance” events during the main event in which they do award Bracelets for, as Phil Helmuth informed us today, which we were not aware of so….

Anyways take care;

Scott

P.S;

To note, notice that Mike rarely gets knocked out of tournaments making bad calls, when he does he rarely sucks out. Mike might be the most unluckiest player on the planet,(playing hands that is, been lucky to have a nice career out of it) and that’s no joke J a bit more luck, Mike would be near 5 to 10 bracelets by now.

Joe Sebok Arrives to Day 1C...

dressed today as Spiderman as he pays off his Circuit bet with Gavin Smith...what will 1D bring - my guess is Superman!!

And who says poker players are no fun...

Trivia: Bobby Baldwin's best-seller "Bobby Baldwin's Winning Poker Secrets" was actually written by Mike Caro.

Day 1C WSOP Main Event Players "Mini" Update

The Main Event has been underway for nearly five hours today and as of this writing there are 1,860 of the 2,160 who began playing a little after noon.

Just a quick update of the action so far today:

• Celebrities and pros in the Amazon Room today include Jennifer Tilly who won a bracelet at the Ladies Only NL Event in 2005, Daniel Negreanu, T.J. Cloutier, Adam Schoenfeld, Harry Demetriou - evidently they let him back in after escorting him out over the Re-Buy/No Re-Buy issue a few events back, Phil "The Unabomber" Laak, Mike "The Mouth" Matasow, Aaron Kanter - who made last year's Main Event Final Table, Keith Sexton, Steve Zolotow, Tom McEvoy - Winner of the 1983 WSOP Main Event, Bobby Baldwin - 1978 WSOP Main Event winner before becoming Casino Exec, Steve Dannenmann - last year's Main Event runner-up, Mark Seif- back-to-back bracelets at the 2005 WSOP, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer - 2004 Main Event Winner, Josh Arieh - final table player at the 2003 Main Event - made one of the greatest lay-downs I've ever seen, Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari, Marco Traniello - Jennifer Harman's other half, Jean-Robert Bellande, Phil Gordon, Jennifer Harman - Marco Traniello's other half, Tuan Le, "Minneapolis" Jim Meehan, Card Player's Jeff Schulman, Karina Jett, John Bonetti, Liz Lieu, Sam Farha, Thomas "Thunder" Keller Hasan Habib and John Phan.
• Those already out the door included: John Gale, Jennifer Tilly, Sammy Farha, Thomas Keller, Liz Lieu, Hasan Habib, John Bonetti, John Phan, Jeff Schulman, Tuan Le, Jennifer Harman, Jim Meehan and Mike Matasow - bummer - he was my pick to win the Main Event.

Trivia: Tom McEvoy has cashed 84 times in major tournaments since 1979 and his nickname is "PokerChump". (Trivia courtesy of pokerpages.com - home of BugsysClub.com, one of my favorite places to play.)

Day 1B - WSOP Main Event Re-cap

Day 2 of Day 1 began with Texas Dolly throwing out the first deck; followed by Commissioner Pollack announcing "Shuffle up and deal". With that 2,182 players began the second heat of the 2006 WSOP Main Event. Combined with Day1 players of 2, 138, the estimated tournament toal now edges toward 9,000.

Early estimates had pegged the entries at 8,000 which would have meant a $10million payday for the last person standing on or about August 12th. With 9,000 entries that number is climbing closer to $11.5 million and the bracelet.

If the winner makes the statement that the money doesn't matter, "I only want the bracelet"; then this humble blogger will be more than happy to relieve him/her/undetermined gender person of the burdens that the money brings...

Registration for the Main Event runs through Monday, July 31st, at which time the prize pool will be announced.

Here are the highlights of Day 1B:

• First hand of the day brought the first elimination as well with Pocket Aces vs. Pocket Kings. Kings did not crack the Aces.
• In keeping with his own tradition (after all, "it's all about Phil"), Hellmuth who was seated at the ESPN featured table showed up 2 hours late. Three hours later, Hellmuth was gone when his A-Q did not improve against Pokets 7s. And because he was at the featured table, it's all on tape for eternity. I'm sure be bowed out with grace...
• Joe "The Cub" Sebok followed up his Day 1A appearance as Batman's Robin, costumed in a bear suit, complete with a diaper. During Circuit play, he lost a bet to Gavin Smith and it was time to pay off the bet. Wonder what Day 1C will bring. You might recall that Gavin Smith made another huge bet at the A.C. Circuit with another player that could have cost Gavin $100K for 10 years or $70K for the other participant. (Neither won so all "bets were off".) Like Ted Forrest and Robert Williamson, III, evidently Smith will bet on anything.
  
• Noteworthy players for Day 1B in addition to "The Poker Brat" included Phil Ivey, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Gavin Smith, Med Judah, Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett - who had roasted Doyle Brunson earlier in the week and continued his poking fun at the table*, Shannon Elizabeth - making her second consectutive appearance, Paul Darden, Mike Caro, David Williams, John Juanda, Annie Duke, Greg Mueller, Howard Lederer, "Miami" John Cernuto, Doyle's daughter Pamela Brunson (is there a Brunson who doesn't play poker?), Humberto Brenes (I wonder how he likes that "all-in" button?), Allen Cunningham, and Card Player CEO, Barry Schulman.
  
• Among the eliminated pros and celebrities were Brunson, Gavin Smith, Mel Judah, Brad Garrett - who ironically was eliminated by Doyle's grandson (payback is a b***h), Shannon Elizabeth, Dewey Tomko, Phil Hellmuth, Ron Jeremy (porno star?), Tiffany Williamson - had another clock called on her this year; but this time she made the wrong decision, Barry Schulamn, Joe Sebok, Howard Lederer, Todd Brunson, Randy Jensen (was it during the 12 minutes?) and Paul Darden.
  
• Play was called at 3:12am with about 860 players advancing to Day 2A where they will combine with Day 1A in the next elimination round.
• Chip leaders for Day 1B: Eric Stonstegard - $83K; Theo Tran - $82,950; Al Barbieri - $82K; Allen Cunningham - $81K; Nicholas Montuori - $80K.
  
• Chip count of other notables: David Williams - $50K; Humberto Brenes - $30K; Annie Duke - $26K; 2004 Omaha H/L bracelet winner Ted Lawson - $24K; Mike Caro - $23K; 2004 Main Event Final Table's Al Krux - $22,700; Bill Gazes - $20K; Phil Ivey - $16K (any news on his perennial "fan club"?); John Juanda - $11,500; Pamela Brunson - $10, 450.

My thanks to cardplayer.com , the WSOP official Magazine for live updates,for its coverage and my source for this report.

*A smoke alarm went off during play and Brad Garrett shouted "Dolly, turn off your oxygen" getting a laugh in Rio's Amazon room.

World Politics at the Online Table...

I'm in a NL tournament at Bugsy right now and we are actually having a legitimate discussion about the events in the Middle East. There are 3 of us, all Americans, who believe Israel has a right to defend herself and an Italian living in Switzerland who disagrees. Kimber45 just called the news channels Al-CNN, Al-NBC, Al-ABC, etc. And Devoloman, from Switzerland, hates US Television, especially Fox. Everyone is being polite and defending their positions well - unusual for most poker players...

Just checked cardplayer.com and Phil Hellmuth has been eliminated (hope it's on video.). Actor, Brad Garrett, was eliminated by Doyle Brunson's grandson!!

Day 1A - WSOP Main Event Recap

• 2,138 players began play at 12:10pm. James Garner (Maverick) threw-out the first deck and WSOP Commissioner announced "Shuffle up and deal".
• Main Event introduced new "All-in" button as an alternative to using all that pesky extra energy pushing your chips into the pot. It maybe more efficient; but it's a darn site less dramatic than watching Humberto Brenas shove his chips in with his signature flourish. It's getting a little too close to the "All-in" button at Poker Stars.
  
• First player was eliminated in less than 7 minutes. That's about $1425.00 per minute of play.
• PokerStars.com had more than 1600 qualifiers; about 500 more than at the 2005 Main Event.
  
• Day 1A players included Scotty Nguyen (at the ESPN featured table), Mike Sexton, Norm McDonald, Minh Nguyen (not to be confused with Men "The Master") , Carlos "The Matador" Mortensen, Mike "The Grinder" Mizrachi, Clonie Gowen, "All-in Dan" Harrington*, Toby "Spiderman" Maguire, Hoyt Corkin, Layne Flack, Andy Bloch, Barry Greenstein and boxer, Antonio Tarver.
• Marquee players eliminated in day 1a were Dan Harrington* (eliminated by WPT's Mike Sexton in a flush vs. flush situation), Gus Hansen, Dutch Boyd, Chip Jett, Clonie Gowen, Mike "the Grinder", Andy Bloch, Norm MacDonald, Toby Maguire, Wil Wheaton, James Garner, Juha Helppi, Mimi Tran, and Lee Watkinson.
  
• There were 4 "no shows" and the most-noted was Minh Nguyen - $10K buy-in and you "no show" - what's with that? All 4 had been eliminated by just after midnight and Day 1A ended at 3:12 am with less than 800 players still standing. $13million in dead money was at the tables Day 1A.
  
• Chip leaders at end of Day 1A: Paul McCaffrey - $111,800; Mark Vos - $93,000 (has already one a bracelet this year); Cuong Do - $86,000; Jeffrey Lisandro - $79,000; and Pete Falk $68,200 (Colombo?)
• Chip count on notable pros: Hoyt Corkin - $50K; Layne Flack - $45K; Mike Sexton - $42K; Barry Greenstein - $34.5K (he's playing for the kids); David Sklansky and Andrew Black - each with $26K (Black made the 2006 Final Table); Scotty Nguyen* - $24K; Jim Bechtel* - $22,000; John Hennigan - $12,400; Kristy Gazes - $9,700; Carlos "The Matador" - $8K.

And I still don't get the 4 no-shows - wouldn't the WSOP Main Event be at the top of their "To Do" List for July 28, 2006? As I like to say, "Poker Happens".

My thanks to cardplayer.com , the WSOP official Magazine for live updates,for its coverage and my source for this report.

H.R. 4111 - 2006 Online Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act

As many of you know, the US Congress is working to make online gambling illegal for American citizens to gamble and play poker online. The Poker Players Alliance is staging a rally at the WSOP today to show solidarity that online poker is not a game of chance but a game of skill. The argument used in California to get poker rooms approved in the 60s and 70s.

Relying heavily upon Guinnessandpoker.com's "Sample letter", I sent the following letter to Senators Feinstein and Boxer of California:

Open Letter to:

Senators Diane Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer
United States Senate
Washington, DC

Re: Online Gambling

Dear Senators:

Recently the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4111 (PCS) "Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act" and has sent the bill to the Senate to be considered, voted upon and made "the law of the land".

I confess that I do not understand exactly what this bill would mean if it becomes "the law of the land"; but I do believe that the reason Congress is considering passage of this bill because it isn't getting a piece of the action.

That's right, in my humble opinion, the only real reason Congress cares about online gambling is because online gambling is not generating any tax revenue.

I wish just once Congress would be honest with the people and admit "We want money; we want more money; that's all we really care about." Instead, under the guise of " Congress knows what is best for the people, because the people are too darn stupid to know what is best for themselves", our elected Representatives pretend they want to protect us from all things "bad".

If indeed Congress cares about protecting us from all things "bad" then, I suggest the following:

(All statistics cited below are for the United States only.)

1. The Cheeseburger Preparation, Selling and Consumption Prohibition and Enforcement Act of 2007 - Americans are getting fatter. According to The American Heart Association 65,000,000 have high blood pressure; 13,000,000 have coronary heart disease; 5,000,000 died from heart failure between 1999-2002 (last statistics available); 5,000,000 had strokes. The AHA concludes cardio vascular disease was the underlying cause of 37.3% of all deaths in 2003; and a contributing cause in 58% of all deaths in 2003. And what causes CVD? High Cholesterol. And what causes high cholesterol? Cheeseburgers.

2. The Tobacco Growing, Manufacturing, Selling and Consumption Prohibition and Enforcement Act of 2007 - According to the CDC more than 400,000 people die every year as a result of smoking. And, by passing this act, you won't need to consider the Second Hand Smoke Prohibition and Enforcement Act of 2007. Two birds with one stone.

I realize you're worried about the loss of tax revenue you get from tobacco products but if you make H.R. 4111 The Internet Gambling Regulation and Taxation Act, you'll more than cover that deficit.

3. The Sara Lee Purchase and Consumption Prohibition and Enforcement Act of 2007 (aka The Sugar Prohibition Act of 2007) - Americans are getting fatter. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes contributed to 224,092 deaths in 2002 and the economic cost of diabetes was more than $130 Billion that one year. And what causes diabetes? Sugar. And who manufactures the tastiest sugar? Sara Lee. Of course, Sara Lee will scream foul so you might as well prohibit sugar in all forms; raw, refined, etc. But you know what is best so I, for one, trust you to work it out to be fair to all people who manufacture and/or consume Demon Sugar.

4. The Alcohol Manufacturing, Selling and Consumption Prohibition and Enforcement Act of 2007 - I know, Congress tried it before and it didn't work. Now is the time to get tough; after all, more than 75,000 people in the United States died last year as a result of alcohol consumption.

Also, by passing this act, it would make all those pesky DUI laws obsolete. If they can't drink; they can't drive drunk.

On the negative side, it will eliminate designated drivers and loss of that job market. But, you can pass The Re-Training of Designated Drivers' Act of 2007 enabling them to pursue careers as bath tub inspectors (we wouldn't want any bath tub gin creeping back into society.)

But heck, that's what you're there for - to pass Acts and make our lives better. But I digress...

5. The Automobile Elimination Act of 2007. This one is a biggie. While it would limit our going places whenever we feel like it; it would eliminate our dependence on foreign oil and we could thumb our noses at all those countries that sell it to us. And by using bikes and feet, you would be forcing us to get healthier and we all know Congress knows what's best for us... Much pollution would go away. The benefits from this Act are enormous - you really have to consider this one. By the way, more than 40,000 people died in automobile accidents last year.

Wow, the lives saved yearly by passing these laws are starting to add up and a life saved is a life that can vote!!

6. The ACLU Elimination Act of 2007. Why not? In my constitutionally protected opinion, the ACLU is just a bunch of annoying, pinko Commies. Of course, the ACLU would be forced to protect my right to voice this opinion - ironic, isn't it?

7. The Sex Outside of Marriage Prohibition and Enforcement Act of 2007 - Recently it has been proven that promiscuous sex causes HPV (human papilloma virus) which causes cervical cancer. Last year alone, thousands of women either died or suffered from cervical cancer. If you prohibit Americans from having "bad" sex, then cervical cancer will go away along with all those other nasty STDs, including AIDS. And, as many in Congress personally know, marital infidelity leads to marital discord which leads to divorce. BAM!! No more divorce.

8. The Illegal Drug Enforcement Act of 2007 (Please note I omitted "Prohibition") - Because Congress is out there fighting the "War on Drugs", complete with a Drug Czar, this Act only needs to address the problem of enforcement. The cascading effect of enforcing the prohibition of illegal drug sales and usage is beyond the comprehension of my humble mind; but I know you can do it.

Let's see; what needs to be done? Stop the importation of illegal drugs might be a place to start. You might consider bombing Columbia off the face of the earth.

And after that, round up all the gangs and give them Hawaii. We won't need it once the Sara Lee/Sugar Prohibition Act is passed.

Carry-on.

Sincerely,

WSOP Main Event Fever and Full Tilt Poker Tips From the Pros

In case you've been in Outer Mongolia, the 2006 WSOP Main Event tosses the cards in the air and shuffles up and deals at Noon today in Vegas at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino. The "first" day of play is scheduled to run four days with 2000 entries laying down $10K each for a chance at the anticipated first prize of $10 million (based on 8000 total entries). And if the winner happens to be an online qualifier from Full Tilt Poker, then that man/woman/undetermined genderperson will win a bonus of another cool $1 million.

I don't think even Mike Matasow could blow through that money without some serious help. Now don't get me wrong, I happen to be a big fan of Mike and really respect the guy; he's been really up and he's been really down and everyone who knows him loves him. I get his email musings and can tell you he wears his heart on his sleeve and is the first to admit when he has a Mike Matasow meltdown. Also his brother, Scott, has been very generous in answering my questions regarding poker etiquette such as tipping the dealer at the WSOP, etc.

Poker trivia - Mike's first really big poker payday was when he staked (1/3 of the entry fee) Scotty Nguyen in the 1998 WSOP Main Event and collected $333,000 of Scotty's first prize money.

Speaking of cold...each first day of play will end when the 2000 daily entries have been whittled down to 800...now that's a s**tload of all-ins.

If you aren't getting the Full Tilt Poker "Tips From the Pros" newsletter, then you're missing out on a great learning tool. The most recent is "Managing the Short Stack" by Mark Vos who won a 2006 WSOP bracelet in a $2K NL event. He says that most of that event he played from a short stack position and he tells how he managed his way into winning.

My Freeroll NL at Absolute just started...first hand 23 os in the big blind and I stole the pot at the river - go figure...playing with "lilafish" from Ottawa who keeps telling everybody to "gfy" and "Sitter2" from Leiden who calls everyone "B**tard" and then when he sucks out says "nanana" - always really classy folks at Absolute...

My 2007 WSOP Main Event Pokerlogical clock is ticking - only 365 days to go...before my cards are in the air...

Third time's the charm as Phil Hellmuth wins record-tying 10th WSOP bracelet!!

Congratulations to Phil Hellmuth for winning his 10th WSOP bracelet in the early hours of today - tying with Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson. This is the 3rd time at this year's WSOP that Phil has gone heads-up trying to win and in the $1,000 w/re-buys NL Holdem, he grabbed the gold and more than $700K!! I'm sure he would have won earlier using his own quote of "If it weren't for luck, I'd win every hand."

My own quest for a WSOP seat in 2007 will be slow-go until escrow closes on our house at the end of August; but I plan to play tonight and will update you on my day at the virtual tables...

Entourage and poker

The family reunion was a family reunion - three generations - lots of food - lots of conversation... and a lot cooler at the beach than inland SoCal...next year - it's Utah...

Got up early to watch Tiger win the Open Championship. What an emotional ending - so glad to see a man unafraid to cry.

I'm multi-tasking again - watching HBO's Entourage and playing in a NL Holdem at Bugsy while I play NL Holdem.

The way I figure it - another year of online poker; reading, eating and sleeping all things poker - and I'll be ready for the WSOP. Stranger things have happened. Let the games begin!!

We sold our house and are moving to the beach. My husband grew up at the beach; but I've never lived there. The cat has never lived at the beach either; wonder what he'll think...

Before I go...anyone watch HBO's Lucky Louie? Speaking of "pushing the envelope" - I can't decide if I like it or am repulsed - I guess we're back at that train wreck analogy...

More on the flip side of the flop....

M

Breakfast at the Open Championship - 5am

The only sport I like more than poker is golf; so I set my alarm clock for 4am to get up and watch the third round of the 135th Open (British Open for those who don't follow golf). However, unlike poker, with golf I am only a spectator and for good reason. If I can't be good, why bother? With poker, I have a shot; with golf, yeah, right.

And, of course, with spectator golf, you can always play poker online. I just signed up for a NL freeroll at Absolute that starts at 545am. Multi-tasking at its best.

Spaulding is asleep on my desk blotter; he's the tomcat that runs the house and calls most of the shots. "Spaulding Grey" is a grey-striped tuxedo cat that moved in last summer and decided to let us stay and hang around the house with him. Our first encounter (before his taking possession of the house) resulted in a tetanus shot for me. However, fool that I am, continued to feed him. And what a reward, after a year he walked into my office, jumped up on the chair by my desk and went to sleep. The beginning of a great friendship. Spaulding follows in the steps of some great cats...when I know you better, I'll tell you about Mike Tyson, our street fighter, R.I.P.

545am The Freeroll is starting with 1455 players...cards in the air; shuffle up and deal...

Hand 1 - Q3 os - I fold.
Hand 2 - Pocket Js - There are 3 ways to play pocket Jacks and they're all wrong... but this time I got lucky and won 450 chip pot.

There's a guy at the table "McUnanan" from Canberra whose ID pic is Hitler. Another person asked him if he was a Nazi and he started a barrage of Jewish slurs. I chatted that I'm Jewish and he chatted back calling me a "National Zionist, Jew Bas***d" - what a guy. His momma must be proud. Anti-Semitism alive and well in Canberra. I should block his chat; but like a train wreck, I have to look.

6am - the field is already down to 905 - that's a freeroll for you - should be called "all-in holdem".

Nasty table - lots of players calling each other a**es and the Nazi keeps shouting "Sieg Heil"...once more proving that poker happens...

I'm getting lousy cards - haven't played a hand since the pocket Jacks...and almost every hand, someone goes All-in.

The Nazi just got eliminated - went all-in with a 92 os... I know I'll miss him. I do regret that I wasn't the one to put him out.

Sheese...I can't even bluff with these cards...brb...gotta refresh my coffee...

615am - down to 553 players and I still haven't played (even in the blinds) since the Jacks... gonna have to start moving soon. The leader has 29K chips...

OK, I'm the button with a J9 os - raised to 240 and, of course, someone goes allin...I fold...allin had KQ os - got one call - also a KQ - they split the pot and I would have lost.

Cut-off - I have AJ suited - raised again...3 calls - rainbow flop with an Ace - woo hoo!! Someone ahead has gone allin - here we go - I call. Allin had QT os - I won!!

Following Super System, played next hand (in case I'm on a rush) with A2 os - flopped gut straight; turn 3 spades (I have 2 of spades). I bet half the pot - everyone folded. 3 hands - 3 wins. Wish every game was like this.

Called bb with 73s - no help on flop - I folded - rush is over. But I've got 4300 chips...

Meanwhile, back at the Open, almost time for the final pair to tee off - Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.

AQ os under the gun - raised 3 times the BB - two calls. No help flop - for anyone - one call. No help on the turn - bet 1K chips - won the pot.

AJ os - hit A on the river - lost a few chips to a set - another rush comes to a tragic end...

98suited - sb - limped in - flopped middle pair - but there's an allin - I folded.

630am - only 391 players left.

Since the Nazi got knocked out, the table has become civil in terms of chat. Still a lot of allin fools...

Even if I get lucky, I have to leave about 730 - we're going to a Family Reunion at the beach and I forgot to refill my xanax Rx...gonna be a long day...

Open update - nothing exciting yet. Senden Aced 13; but other than that; not much happening - good or bad...Tiger in the fairway on 1. Sergio is having a good day; he made an eagle early and is creeping up the leaderboard...

Funny story. JD Holmes was having dinner on the patio of a local restaurantin Liverpool. In a store window across the street, a woman stripped buck naked and saluted the diners. Evidently she makes a habit of it...JD said, she really shouldn't - not because he's a prude, but because she didn't have the body to make it worth the look.

AJ suited in sb - raised 300 chips - one call. Flopped J - bet pot - won.

Moved tables - a player has his nickname "Lickmyballs" - another class act...

On break and only 291 players left - dropping like flies...

Would love to get a rush and build some chips... then sit out while at the Family reunion and hopefully cash - lol.

Pocket 9s - raised 3 times the bb - guess I'm predictable - gotta mix it up - 2 called - flop K55 - bet - everybody folded - woo hoo!!

74 os - limping in in case I'm on a rush...big raise - I folded...so much for my rush...

Meanwhile back at the Open - Sergio is making a move and is now tied with Tiger and Ernie for the lead at 11 under...Furyk and DiMarco are 1 back. Sergio is 6 under for the day and Furyk is 5 under...

7am - the field have narrowed to 263 - folks are playing more cautiously - after all, 1st place is $10 bucks.

Moved again - at the table with chip leader - he's got 46K and I got 4600.

Pocket As - allin against the leader - lost to River flush - poker happens...

I'll check in after the reunion...stay cool today...

Magpie

Stop whining! Poker happens!

It happens over and over; everyday that you play; the more you play; the more it happens.

Get used to it; Poker happens!!

I love everything about poker; the ups and downs; the players; the suck outs and I even love the bad beats...when I'm the one giving them!! I just gave one in a tourney at Bugsys. Sucked out a straight on the river against two pair. Woo hoo!!

I also hate everything about poker; the ups and downs; the players; the suck outs and I especially hate the bad beats when I'm the one getting them!! I just got one in a tourney at Bugsys. Flopped the nut straight and got sucked out by a river flush - the guy was holding 83 suited. Poker happens!!

In fact, I'm playing in a freeroll while I write my first blog post.

Like most of you, I started playing poker with friends at home. In the early 80s we had a regular Saturday night game and played for pennies, literally. My first casino play was at the old High Sierra at Lake Tahoe. I played in a 3/6 Stud game and won $22.00. I was hooked for life.

Since then, I have played poker, rarely well, all over the United States and in 1996 became a regular at the The Spa Casino in Palm Springs where I learned Texas Holdem from a terrific retired doctor, Nick, and his girlfriend, Sharon. Those may have been my halcyon days; but I'm hoping they're still to come.

Flash: Tournament update: Just flopped two pair, Qs & Js; bet the pot; got one call. Turn made a possible straight. I went all-in. Yep, he hit the straight - I'm done. Turn me over.

I've played in a few live tournaments and my best finish was sixth - my first "final table". Tom McEvoy and Glenn Couzen's (1995 WSOP Main Event runner-up) were at an early table I played and watched me lose down to one $5 chip; a bad beat, of course. What a comeback!! Barbara Enright made the final table also; finishing seventh. She taught me the art of wearing sunglasses; big Dior-style sunglasses.

Now days, I mostly play online and have won a few sitngos and won a few freerolls and made quite a few final tables; but I'm still learning. Last Sunday I finished 404th in the Poker Stars 150 guaranteed seats to the WSOP Main Event. I don't remember the hand that put me out but I'm sure it was a bad beat. Oh well, poker happens!!

I'm not sure where I am going with this blog; but I hope to include humor, irony and lots of sarcasm as I wander blindly through the wonderful, painful world of poker.

After all, it's the jouney and not the destination; unless of course you win the Main Event - then it definitely was the destination.

Hope you'll wander with me.

Magpie