Mike at WSOP #5: The Morning After

In the cold, hot light of morning, I guess I can't complain. I had four hours of the worst cards in memory and made it to the dinner break. Level One, ante 5, with a 5 bring-in and 15-30 limits, I had no hand and no bring-in for the first half-hour. I then completed with an A2/7 and bricked/folded when a guy caught an ace for a two-low board.

Level Two: 5/10/30-60. I have 1,840 chips. In a multiway pot, a player with an open pair of aces checked along, and I managed a rough 8 for a chop. I brought in with 63/3, made two pair on fourth, bricked on 5th, and folded (it must have been a scary board, because this sounds wrong, especially if my notes are correct that the 3s and 6s were live). I reached the break with 1,700, down 15 percent from the starting stack.

Level Three: 10/15/50-100. Got a 245 and brick/folded. I lost 150 after starting with three suited babies; drawing to a rough 8 after fourth, I bricked 5th. At 7:44 p.m., our table broke. This was a golden opportunity wasted, because at least three players had no idea what they were doing. The Binion's tournaments were by far tougher. My new table at WSOP was a bit tougher, but people were giving action, so I still felt I could chip up quickly with some good hands. Not to be. I tried a steal on the bring-in with 23/K of diamonds, he defended, I made kings up to his boat. This was a typical stud hand in which you are given just enough reason to keep calling, and you call yourself out the door. By the middle of Level Three, I was down 50 percent, to 1,000 chips. Played A2/6 two-flush, got heads up, caught a 7 on fourth and won, bringing me to 1,320. This was the first real pot of the tournament, and it came nearly three hours in.

Level Four: 15/25/75-150. I start with 1,225. I am certain that a little rush will safely extend my tournament life, so I am by no means in panic mode yet. They announce that there are 668 players, 64 will be paid, and the first payout is $2,067. At 8:30 Jennifer Harman shows up. She has her iPod, and after folding one hand she calls out to Perry Friedman at the next table to play rock-paper-scissors. There are comments from our table like, "Jennifer, it is an honor to play with you; this is my lifetime dream," and, "Jennifer, I just texted my friend; he wants to know if you'll marry him." Jen deadpans: How old is he, and what does he do for a living? To Jennifer Harman, I said nothing. Then we got into the pot that crippled me. I brought in with 38/3, Harman completed with an Ace, and it was folded back to me. With about 1,100 chips, it cost me an extra 50 to see fourth street and go heads up. I called. But before you say that is a terrible call (I am aware of that), know that Harman had previously completed with a nine -- a nine! She built a big pot and won it with a straight; she had started with 789. So by no means did I think I was drawing dead here, although it was entirely possible she had another ace in there. I hit a low card on fourth and she bricked. She bet; I called. On fifth street she hit an ace; I hit an eight. She of course bet; I leaned forward and looked into her eyes; it was possibly the most intimidating stare I have ever seen, all the more so because it was not put on. It was sweet, sweet death looking back at me. I twiddled my purple 500 chip with my gray 100 chip; that's all I have left. I have two low pair, no real draws to speak of (need runner-runner for a low), and am facing aces, maybe even three. What I should have done is jammed the pot; what I did was fold. Getting knocked out by Jennifer Harman beats getting knocked out by a nobody, and doubling through Jennifer Harman is even better. There were no bad options except the one I took, folding because I figured I was drawing thin. When our table broke, I tapped her on the shoulder and said it was a pleasure playing with her. She thanked me and wished me good luck.

After the dinner break, I started Level Five with 575 chips at the 100-200 level. I completed with Q8/Q on the very first hand, isolated the bring-in, and got all the chips in the middle with the best hand. The woman in the one seat made two small pair on seventh street and I was gone.

I was sitting next to two Bodog girls in the ESPN Thunderdome grandstand when Cosenza called me from the tarmac. One of the girls had just asked me about HORSE, and I was explaining that, yes, there were five different games. You see, in razz, it's the worst hand that wins. Thanks, Chris. You couldn't get a cab?

MIKE

Comments

[Erwin Blonk]

The real bad beat came after busting out.
Et tu, Chris?

[Aquaman]

Wow talking to Jen Harman and Bodog Girls. That's a playable hand :) I would not have answered the phone :)

[Scott Long]

Per our agreement, I believe I'm entitled to 5 percent (pretax) of your time with Jennifer and the Bodog girls.

But seriously, Mike, great effort. You took the hardest route - the first of us 3 to pony up big money for a WSOP event. Chris and I will be wise to learn from your refusal to stare sweet, sweet death down. See you kids in about 15 hours.

[Erwin Blonk]

Mike, I just re-read that last paragraph for style. Have you ever thought of being a writer? I'm serious, you know how to translate an atmosphere into words. It read like I was sitting there with you.

[Paboo]

Ahh.. to think you could of gotten a VIP ride on the Bodog bus. :)

Wish I was out there *sigh*. I'm sure you are have great times.

Paboo

[The Razz Singer]

Mike, do you think it was correct to limp in with a mediocre hand like 83/3 when Harman is behind you with an Ace up?, perhaps subconsciously you wanted to get in a hand with her but perhaps that was not really the best play.

I think once she has a pair of aces showing I agree you probably have to fold, so that was a disciplined laydown.