The Legends of Poker Celebrity Invitational ~ Confessions of a Poker-Pro Wannabe...

During my lunch break on July 29, 2009, I was goofing around on the internet and decided to check my Facebook account. I noted that I received a message post from Eveliene Dullaart, from the Bicycle Casino. She was inviting me to attend the Bike’s silver anniversary celebration and grand opening of its newly remodeled Event Center and to play in the Legends of Poker Celebrity Invitational & Media charity poker freeroll.

I accepted her invitation, jumped out of my chair and headed straight to the Bike. The charity poker event started at 3:00 but I wasn’t able to hit the road until 2:15 - which was cutting it close since I was traveling from my office in Newport Beach to Bell Gardens (just off the I-710 near the 105 freeway interchange). I arrived just 10 minutes before game time, and lucky for me they were running behind schedule. I checked in right afterJamie Gold and poker novice-in-training, Jayde Nichole (the 2008 Playboy Playmate of the Year). I found myself sitting with them at Table 9, Jayde was immediately to my left in seat 8 and Jamie was assigned to Seat 1. Next the the lovely Jayde, I look like a washed-up old lady!!!

Also in attendance were notable poker pros Annie Duke and Van Nguyen (aka Mrs. Master) as well as well known celebs., J.K. Simmons, Camryn Manheim, Ken Davitian, Joseph Reitman (Annie Duke's man), and Christina Lindley. While not necessarily celebrities, the very well liked amateur poker player Scott Diamond was playing for his charity Fallen Heroes and the ever popular poker writer/photographer/blogger Stephen Hall (http://www.pokergossip.com/) was seated directly across from me in seat 3. Both Scott and Stephen made great showings. Scott came in fourth in the winner-take-all event, but no worries, Jamie Gold agreed to add Fallen Heroes to the Jamie Gold Foundation!

I played well, but was pretty card dead. I was stuck at around 5K in chips and the 20 minute levels were not condusive to a short stack. I managed to knock out one celebrity, but then got chipped down as the blinds went up. It was difficult to play a larger range of hands because there were a few amatures at the table that pretty much played any two cards - regardless of the raise or board. I tried to make a few moves when the table appeared distracted but got caught one time when Jayde pushed all-in behind me for just 200 more (my bet was already 600). She was talking to Jamie right after the break and I was certain she was just going to throw it away because she had not been watching the action. Nope, she picked up J/10 suited, and with only 800 chips and the blinds at 200, what would you do? Of course, even on a move - I can't get away from my hand for just 200 more. She flopped a Jack and pulled in the pot - Darn it! The blinds were at 300/150+50 when I picked up A/Q. Of course I pushed - of course I ran into pocket Kings! Does my Ace hit? Nope - - no “one time” Ace for me, just bricks. Jayde managed to survive an hour longer and made it to the final three tables. I'm happy that she had a great experience for her first live tournament. Good for her!

There was a comedian named Reggie who was not much of a poker player, but liked to play the game. He was in Seat 5 at my table and I swear he must have keistered a horseshoe because he played almost every hand and if he didn’t hit the flop, he sure caught up on the turn and river (including hitting a straight flush – which is a rare hand to catch). It was Calling-Station Reggie who single handedly knocked out the majority of the players at Table 9, including Jamie Gold, and found himself at the final table seated to the right of Annie Duke. While many poker players say they would rather be lucky than good, it would take all the luck in the world to get past Annie Duke’s monster poker skills. Needless to say, Annie took it down and earned $2K for her charity, Ante Up for Africa.

After the event, I wandered off to the main floor and found Johan playing satellites. He chopped two satellites which was enough to buy into the inaugural $100K Guarantee event and have some change left over for me to play a satellite. I played the last satellite of the night and played absolutely solid. I paced myself well, chipped up nicely, then took down the chip leader in two monster hands. In the end, I agreed to chopped half and half when it got to heads-up, which puts me in for the $300K event scheduled for August 1-3, 2009.

Johan played Event #3 all night and made it to Day 2, he even caught his first tournament Royal Flush at level 6 for a double up. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the last level of Day 1, he got into a big hand when he limped under the gun with A♥Q♥ then called the small blind’s all-in squeeze play. The small blind (who appeared to be short-stacked) turned over pocket 6s. He expressed his disappointment that he was called by Johan's huge overcards, then nearly had a heart attack when the flop came K♥J♥#. How many outs is that? A bizzillion? In this time of recession, half the deck was gainfully employed by Johan's hand. However, this would not be an “unfortunately” story if there was good news. The board went runner-runner fives (totally heartless), and that was that. The worst part of it all was that the Small Blind looked short stacked and before calling the all-in, Johan asked for a chip count. The inexperienced dealer (just out of dealer school) counted out the chips then announced that it was 16K to call the all-in. Johan had over 40K and had put the small blind on a small pair, the call was a no brainer. After the hand, the dealer recounted the chips. She then told Johan he owed the small blind 26K. I can sum in up what happened next in one word, "FLOOR!"

After about 15 minutes of arguing with the Floorman, the ruling was that the dealer was suspended but an all-in is an all-in, the chips were in the pot and the small blind gets the pot - - period. After Johan surrendered over half his chips he promptly went card dead until the end of the night. He said he almost threw up when he bagged his last four chips at the end of the night. With the blinds at 3000/1500+500, Johan will have to return for Day 2 (his 35th birthday no less) with 12K in chips. But, I’m hopeful that the Poker Gods will grant Johan the gift of good hands that hold up for his birthday. If anybody can take 4-chips and a chair to the final table, it’s Johan.

Although it wasn’t a perfect day, I am so thankful for the great day it was. I had a wonderful time and poker was fun for the first time in a long while. I look forward to many more days like that.