Episode #157: Chris in Connecticut

MAIN TOPIC
Chris calls in from the land of pink carpet and princesses (can't make that up if I wanted to) to give us the lowdown on Mohegan Sun's new electronic-only poker room (live poker returns Sept. 1) and his usual ringing endorsement of Foxwoods. Click here to listen to the show.

OTHER TOPICS

World Series of Poker: Kenna James cashes, Jerry Buss busts in time to catch his Lakers, another Man vs. Machine is scheduled and a doctor abandons his stack to help a fallen player.

Mixed games mania: The Imperial Palace in Vegas is dealing a $3/$6 limit mixed game at 7 p.m. on Sundays. Some crazzzzzy games being offered. We love it.

Gas up at the Commerce: Commerce Casino in L.A. is randomly dropping $50 gas cards into poker pots in July.

Sinatra's home game: Who played in it? It was a fun one: Jack Lemmon, Angie Dickinson, Gregory Peck and more.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: The Seminole Hard Rock Tampa bad beat jackpot is hit for $564,912. Glen Upchurch of Clearwater wins $282,452 for his losing quad 6s, while William Lewicke of Winter Haven takes $141,227 (and the pot) with a straight flush. The other eight players at the table won $17,654 each.

One Minute Mystery: We make the call, and take down the pot when our opponent shows K-6 for top pair, weaker kicker.

HAND OF THE WEEK
It's a Crazy Pineapple hand! Dan, a fellow journalist from Greeley, Colo., offers us a home game no-limit high-only hand with loose players who have been hitting the sauce.

He's dealt K-K-7, pops it 5x and gets two callers. The flop is K-8-6, two spades, and Dan bets pot but can't shake either opponent. He dumps the 7, and the turn is an Ace. With just $5 left, he checks (Chris would have pushed, I kinda like the misdirection), but one opponent bets $2 and both players call. The river is a 6, completing the flush but also filling Dan up. He gets it all-in and takes down a nice pot against two smaller boats.

- SCOTT

We have a new hero

Photo courtesy of WPT

Not sure how this got by me when I was up there, but this is Rich Meli, and clearly he has his priorities in order. What's more important to him ... winning the Foxwoods tournament or winning a banana? This man knows the importance of the yellow fruit! If you don't know who Rich Meli is, don't worry, neither do I. But he has one WPT cash for $27K (19th @ Foxwoods). I remember watching him play but I didn't know who he was. I came across this shot while scanning through WPT photos. I think I'll try to get him to play in the next AIPS event.

-- Chris

Episode #128: Foxwoods interviews

MAIN TOPIC

Chris got some awesome interviews while prowling around Foxwoods this month. Click here to hear the whole show, which includes interviews with:

• Bill Edler: When is he "Bill"? And when is he "William"? And man, he really loves his wife.
• Freddy Deeb: Chris' BFF talks about his big HORSE win, those colorful shirts and why the poker boom will never be over.
• Lee Childs: Ante Up's resident pro chats about how his life has changed now that he's on the pro tour, and why playing online is tougher than playing live.
• Eugene Todd: Trust us, you will be on the floor rolling after this interview, bro.

OTHER TOPICS

Episode guide: Many, many thanks to Ante Upper Nikademus, who's compiled an amazing resource of past Ante Up! shows. Click here to see it.

"Foreign" happenings: First, some U.S. congressmen are fightin' mad that the U.S. Trade Representative isn't asking them for help in dealing with the ongoing World Trade Organization disputes over online gambling. Also, Harrah's is pondering entering the online poker business in Europe.

Knockout tournaments: Don't call them "bounty" tournaments, Full Tilt says, but the online poker site has started "knockout" tournaments where you earn a prize every time you felt a player.

Hotline: Two great calls this week: one about dealing with a bad run of calls and one about unfortunate muckage. (Is that a word? I guess it is now).

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Derby Lane has rolled out a number of changes, including later hours. Click here for the details.

HAND OF THE WEEK

Nick from Jersey phones in an audio HOTW.

In a $1/$2 no-limit game in an underground card room, he's looking at a $5 straddle and a mess of callers with his 4-4 on the button. He limps in, and hits his set on a flop of 4-5-J. Checked around to him, and he puts in a bet of $25, which chases everyone out but one.

The turn is a 9; he bets $65 and is check-raised to $165. With $320 left, he decides to call.

The river is a 5, and his opponent puts him all-in. Somehow he has the strength to lay this hand down. Good thing, too: His opponent had J-5.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

On a special Tuesday edition, Chip and Karina Jett visit the Ante Up! studios to tout One-Eyed Jack's Pros vs. Joes event and to talk about a whole lot more.

- SCOTT

Episode #127: Jean-Robert Bellande

CBS photo

MAIN TOPIC

Jean-Robert Bellande, recently booted off the hit reality show Survivor, gives us a ring to chat about the show, poker and how the two worked together. This spring, he has a book coming out, Broke and Living Like a Millionaire, and he gives us a preview of some of the humor that'll be in it. And check out the exhaustive, and entertaining, interview with him in Bluff. Click here to listen to the show.

OTHER TOPICS

AIPS: Congrats to two-time banana winner C furbee, and mark the calendar for the Main Event on Dec. 15. Click here for details.

Conn home game: Chris shares some more details from the Ante Up! MeetUp home game in Connecticut.

Don't eat these chips!: The state of Arizona says there is too much lead in Paulsons.

Hotline: Listeners call in to chat about the possibility of a daily show ... as long as it isn't in a parking garage. You, too, can be on the show. Just call toll-free 1-866-371-9605.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Scott recounts his experience at the Vinny Lecavalier charity tournament, including an odd encounter with Ante Upper and WSOP bracelet winner Don Baruch; the first Battle of the Bay goes to the Silks Cardroom at Tampa Bay Downs; and we chat briefly about the Seminoles' compact with Florida.

One-Minute Mystery: Did you make the call? Well, you're on the rail then, as our opponent had K-10.

HAND OF THE WEEK

SamRiver57 does us the pleasure of letting us break down a pot-limit Omaha High hand.

With an early position min raise, and a call from the cut-off, our hero makes the call from the SB with 10s-7d-10c-5h, and the BB bails. We're not a fan of entering this pot out of position with such a weak holding.

The flop is 10h-6c-Ks, so we hit middle set, but that's dangerous in Omaha, especially with a straight draw on board. Our hero bets out pot, gets the raiser to fold, but the cutoff calls. Ouch.

The turn is 9h, completing two straights and adding a flush draw, none of which we have. But our hero bets out big again, and is raised big by his opponent. Seeing erratic play from his opponent previously, SamRiver moves all in for a small raise and learns he's up against the nut straight. The river is no help.

Our advice: Position is huge in Omaha, and you need a monster - or redraws - to bet confidently out of position. Second set doesn't cut it.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

Chris shares his interviews with pros from his trip to Foxwoods

- SCOTT

Episode #126: Poker boom over?

Bloomberg News photo

MAIN TOPIC

Chris calls in from Foxwoods and the World Poker Tour's World Poker Finals with a startling conclusion: Is the poker boom over? Click here to listen to the show.

Chris says the mood at the event is different than in the past, the number of spectators is way down and the number of entrants has trailed off a tad. Certainly, this is one small piece of the larger discussion, but it's something to think about. Scott poses an interesting, er, "captivating," question: So what if the boom is over? Of course, Ante Up! grew and continues to feed off poker interest, but maybe it's time for a natural market correction, where the worst shows fail, the worst books don't sell and the only quasi-interested players move on to another hobby. What do you think?

OTHER TOPICS

AIPS: Second-to-last event of the year is at 9 p.m. Thursday. Come get your banana! For details, click here.

Gambling bust: WSOP "divisional" champ (darn sloppy media!) Paul McKinney was pinched in a Tennessee poker game raid. They even took his pills.

Phil Ivey's one and only tip: The elusive Tiger Woods of Poker (aren't you glad that silly name has faded away?) finally offers up a tip for FullTilt players, and Scott loves it: Phil says read about poker all you want, watch all the poker you want, listen to all the poker you want, but when you're at the table, play your own game. Ahhhh, music to Scott's ears. Chris, of course, was sorta unimpressed.

This is ... "exhilarating!" Longtime listener and frequent e-mailer Mary "The Opus" offers Scott a "inspiring" list of synonyms for "interesting."

Vinny can play hockey ...: but can he play cards? Scott will find out in Monday's Vincent Lecavalier Charity Poker Tournament at the Hard Rock in Tampa.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Scott reviews the Hard Rock in Tampa. Bottom line - 24/7 is a great thing.

HAND OF THE WEEK

Engstrok becomes a member of the HOTW's Three-Timers Club (you know what that means everyone - send us some HOTWs!) with a hand where he can't bet a monster.

In a $5.50 45-person SNG on PokerStars, he's dealt Jc-7h in the BB of Level I. The button had min-raised, and our hero calls, as do four others. The flop comes Js-7s-Ah. It's checked around, and the turn is a beautiful Jd. Our hero bets out a tiny 60, which is min-raised by the button (an appropriately named JiveTurkey7). Engstrock just calls, and checks the river 4s. JiveTurkey bets 120, engstrock calls and loses to A-J. Ouch.

It's almost impossible to put Jive on A-J here (who would let four players get a free turn card with flush and straight draws on board?!?!), but alas, anything is possible in low-level online tournaments. The good thing for engstrock: He lost as little money as is humanely possible here.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW

Chris' interviews from Foxwoods, plus Jean-Robert Bellande!

- SCOTT

Heading out for last time

I'm getting ready to head out of Foxwoods, and it's a little bittersweet because I really think that, unless some unusual circumstances arise, this will be my last WPT event I cover here. The first time I came it was for the thrill of it and it was out of necessity. Our show was still relatively new and making contacts was very important to the longevity of our product. But now that we've made all of these contacts through the WPT and the WSOP and through basic word of mouth, I just don't know if I need to come here anymore to secure guests and interviews. Each time I come back my stay at Foxwoods shortens. This time I only came for 2 days. Plus I'm doing this on my own time, and if it's not absolutely essential, why should I burn my vacation on this? Right? I didn't even play one hand of poker while I was here. I know I'll be playing in the home game tonight, but to come all the way to Foxwoods and not sit down at $2-5 or $1-2 NL? That's never happened.

I interviewed Freddy Deeb and Bill Edler today, and both guys were very personable and gracious, so that should make for a good show next week, combined with my other interviews and of course Jean-Robert Bellande. It could be one of our best.

As for an update on Lee Childs' dad, Bill, he's at around 110K with the blinds at 800-1600. I'll have Lee keep me posted and will let you know how he finishes up. Deeb is one of the chipleaders and the field is down to about 180 players.

It's been fun Foxwoods, but I must bid you adieu.

-- Chris

Lee Childs ... OUT!

Lee came into Day 2 with less than 24,000 chips so he didn't have much wiggle room. He suffered a setback earlier when he tried to represent an ace on the turn but his opponent wouldn't have any of it and called him down. So with about 11K left David Fox raised preflop to like 3K from UTG and Lee, in the BB looked down at 22. He shoved, forcing Fox to actually have a hand, and he did, AK. A king on the flop ended Lee's run. He says he might play the $5K event at Borgata on Sunday.

But, that doesn't mean the Childs name is done for at Foxwoods. Lee's dad, Bill, is having a great Day 2, soaring to at least 150K right now. One hand I watched he had 89 and turned the aboslute nuts with a board of 6-7-3-10. The player on his left, Paul Spitzberg (you may remember him from this year's coverage of the WSOP main event) shoved for 35K more, and after a little deliberation (we're not sure why) Bill called and Spitzberg turned over 45 for a smaller straight. It took Bill three hands to pile all of his chips.

Other Day 1B notables still alive that I hadn't mentioned earlier: Justin Bonomo and John Juanda.

More later, but I will be talking to Freddy Deeb on the next break.

-- Chris

Day 2 - Foxwoods WPT

I just sat down for the start of Day 2 and a few more players showed up than I thought. Some big names survived Day 1B (Josh Arieh 46K, Freddy Deeb 108K, David Benyamine 80K, Farzad Bonyadi 15K, Mike Binger 37K, Haralabos Voulgaris 20K, Alex Jacob 81K, Al Krux 112K, Nam Le 71K, Kathy Liebert 20K, Jeff Madsen 34K, Eugene Todd (Bro) 31K - and he says he just needs to win the first hand he plays and he'll be right back in it; Isabelle Mercier 28K, Chris Moneymaker 49K, Victor Ramdin 90K, Erica Schoenberg 42K, Nick Schulman 76K, David Singer 21K, - I just talked to him and he's as calm as ever; and David Williams 62K). There are more names, but I didn't want to just fill this post with a list. You can find coverage on CardPlayer if you want it.

I have to stand corrected when it comes to the number of entrants dwindling. The late signups and constantly running satellites made the total number of entrants jump to 575. That's a decent tournament, to say the least, despite still being less than last November's event here.

Do I still think the poker boom is over? Yes. But it's good to know there are a lot of big names here , and there are about 350 players left, so there's still some good poker to be played. One of the best stories for the Ante Up! Nation is Lee Childs' father, Bill. He came up here to play a little blackjack and follow his son. But Lee convinced him to play in a single-table satellite to try to win a seat. After 4 hours (now THAT is one long SNG) he won a spot for Day 1B and today he stands as one of the chipleaders at 71K. Pretty remarkable.

Looking forward to the home game tonight with the Ante Up! Nation and I'll give a report on that sometime in the next few days.

I'll try to have some updates throughout the day before I have to leave for JLBSox's house tonight.

-- Chris

Final Day 1A update

OK, it's 12:30 a.m. and I just got home from Foxwoods. As you may or may not know, Lee Childs made it to Day 2, which will be played Friday. He has around 23K in chips (he rallied to about 40K at one point but a couple of bad beats knocked him down late in Level 5. Even though that stack is under the average and below his original starting stack of 30K, he still feels he doesn't have to panic since he still will have roughly 30 big blinds left.

I talked with Tom Schneider a few times and he finished up at around the mid 30s, as did Bradley Berman. You can see all of the chip counts on CardPlayer, since they are the official media outlet of the WPT (remember how mad they got at me this morning?)

Tomorrow is Day 1B, and I may or may not make it. Though I do enjoy covering the WPT occasionally, this is my vacation too, and I haven't seen some of my friends. So I haven't decided if I am done with Foxwoods or if I'm returning. I'm looking forward to Friday's home game, though I may go to Foxwoods in the afternoon before heading over to JLBSox's house.

Couple of small tidbits before I sign off: I saw Chris Moneymaker playing $25-50 NLHE and I saw Allen Cunningham signing in with his girlfriend, Melissa Hayden. Also saw Paul Darden playing $150-300 Stud/8 (man I wish I could sit in that game!). And the best part of the night, Eugene Todd (Bro) invited me back to his room and I got the greatest interview in the history of Ante Up! The censor beep will be working overtime next week. I can only hope he doesn't tell the same story on Sebok's show (though he probably will).

OK, that's it for now.

-- Chris

Sick beats at WPT

I have seen some really sick beats today, almost as sick as the ones I have had recently. HAHA.

Here's one: J.C. Tran is involved in a hand with a guy and flops trip 9s. JC bets, the other guy shoves and JC calls. The other guy, who was bluffing, folds and starts to walk away. The cards never actually hit the muck and the dealer pulled them out. He dealt the rest of the board and the guy made runner-runner straight to survive. JC wasn't happy.

Here's another one: Hoyt Corkins has QJ and is in a hand with another guy. Flop comes AAJ and they get it all in. The other guy has JJ. Turn was an A blank and river was an ace. They split the pot. Just sick.

Lee finished Level 4 with 24K but has rallied as of late. This is the final level and he's over 40K. Barring a "disaster" he will make Day 2 on Friday.

-- Chris