Ten Days in the Desert Days 9&10: Las Vegas is a Manhandler
Cambodian Slick
Slept in again. My early in the week routine of getting up early and
running three miles is now just an inside joke, as I have given in to
staying up all night gambling and hanging out. Last night I was up at
the Shoe until about 4am, and didn't get to sleep until really like
7am. We met up for lunch at the Horseshoe at 2pm.
Those of us who were left in Vegas had lunch at the Golden Nuggett,
where we struggled to find anything non-poker to discuss, since Josh
was in one of his bad beat moods after burning through 1200 the night
before. Wayne and I argued about whether or not bukkake (or group sex
in general) is considered intimacy since other people are involved.
Bonus Bet talked about how much he loved Aerosmith, and I struggled to
think of a band I thought were worse. I seriously strained to think
of one the entire lunch and couldn't come up with anything. Aerosmith
is total shit. Period. But it was so perfect that Bonus Bet loved
them so much, since lately it seems that he and I have the most
clashing tastes and personalities. Yesterday he even confessed to us
that he was in an Accappella group in college.
You have to understand, Bonus Bet is Rob's roommate who only recently
got interested in poker after we started having a weekly pot limit
game at Rob's house. This was his first trip to Vegas with us, and he
was essentially being hazed in. Most of the members of this random
and weird collection of poker players are total freaks, but Bonus Bet
is a whole new kind of freak the likes of which we have yet to run
around with. I mean the guy tried out for American Idol for
chrissakes. I'm always uncomfortable around him, worried I will say
the wrong thing and offend his middle sensibilities in some way. But
mostly I'm just worried that I will laugh a little too hard and a
little too long when he confesses things like his participation in an
Accappella group, and he will take it as mocking, instead of good ol'
fraternal affection.
After lunch we went to the Horseshoe to get in action and to watch the
final table. Josh, who was broke, had asked me if he could borrow
some money to play in the 10-20 game and win some of his money back.
I obliged, and he lost it within an hour. He was pissed off and kept
trying to get me to get up out of my game to go somewhere with him. I
was playing in the 5-10 pot limit game and up about $75 so I decided
to oblige and we went to the Bellagio to watch the Spurs/Mavs game
with Peter and Matt. (interesting side note: while playing in this
game, someone was playing with one of the Wendeen Eolis $5 chips and
he remarked "Look at this one, who is that?" and he passed it around
the table. No one knew who she was, and someone even erroneously said
she was the first woman to enter the World Series. I saw Wendeen at
that moment and pointed her out to them and said "She's right over
there." They didn't believe that it was her, and lucky for me, as
Wendeen walked by, she was wearing around her neck a giant blown up
Medallion of the chip. Everyone at the table got a good laugh at her
expense, and I felt like a good ambassador for New York poker.)
At the Bellagio sportsbar we were definetly out of our element. The
place was populated by gel-headed college boys with their shirts left
unbuttoned and well-groomed men in dapper suits. Peter of course was
lugging his bookbag around with him like he always does, and had a
book on C++ under his arm. He had been carrying this particular book
under his arm since the morning, yet I had not seen him open it to
read it once. I asked Peter why he didn't just carry his book inside
of his bookbag, and he said it was in case he wanted to read it while
he was "waiting."
I bet $60 on the Spurs, and the crowd was definetly going Mavs. I was
one of maybe four Spurs fans in the house. Peter says "Dave, you're a
little outnumbered here." I said, "That's just the way I like it,
Peter. I thought you knew that about me."
The Spurs routed the Mavs, and I took delight in shouting out
"Genobli!" every time he touched the ball. Matt left the sportsbook
before halftime to go back to the mirage to play 3-6 since, as he put
it, "I don't even like sports all that much." I guess he needs more
harmonizing and finger-snapping to get his juices going. I wasn't too
sad to see him leave, since the whole first half he and Josh played
with their little magic tricks they bought at the magic shop. At one
point our waitress came over to our table and said "How are you guys
doing…..Actually…. WHAT are you guys doing???" Josh at that point was
putting things in Peter's hands and holding his arms akimbo, and Matt
was rubbing two coins together between his fingers in a very David
Copperfieldish faggy way. I have to say it was quite a weird sight to
the unfamiliar. I told the waitress they were doing magic tricks, and
she smiled awkwardly and moved on to the next table. We are SO out of
our element here.
After the game it was back to the Horseshoe for me. I left Josh and
Peter at the Mirage where they were going to hit the tables AGAIN.
You have to admire Josh, he just keeps on hitting it even when the
chips are down.
The tournament was shaping up at this point, although I knew it would
go on until the early morning hours. This year there was more media
there than ever before. One of the new additions that I am very happy
with is that they put a PA system downstairs in the viewing section
and broadcast the internet play by play commentary. This was much
more interesting to watch for hours on end than just five guys sitting
at a table and Matt Savage merely reading the boards and bets to us
whenever players contested a pot once every half hour.
They had a lot of interesting poker personalities taking shifts on the
commentary. My favorites had to be Adam Schoenfeld and Diego Cordova.
Not only were they funny, but they also did a lot of analysis of the
play and talked about what was going through each player's head during
each step of the action. It was miles away better than the commentary
we are forced to endure during the World Poker Tour broadcasts, which
are much more interesting on mute. It was actually thoughtful and
pretty dead-on. Most of the time when one of these guys predicted the
action, they were right.
They were joined at one point by Dave "Devilfish" Ulliot, who, if you
could understand him, was funny as shit. Chris Moneymaker, who was
running over the table, was doing lots of betting. Devilfish, after
Chris showed down a nut straight after he had bet it strong on the
flop, said "This guy plays really straightforward, bets all his hands.
I suppose no one told him about the ‘trap-checking' situation."
Phil Gordon and Rafe Perry took a turn on the mic for a while at
three-handed. I didn't think they were very good at giving us the
play by play, at times they would totally forget to even read the
board or say how much was being bet, who the action was on, etc… but
it was still fascinating to listen to. It was like eavesdropping on
two buddies talking about the game. In classic Tiltboy fashion, Phil
and Rafe argued over the odds of goofy propositions, like whether or
not someone had an Ace, or whether so and so would raise on the button
this hand. Then they started making proposition bets with each other.
"Phil, what do you think are the odds that Houston Sammy will raise
this pot?" "I don't know, I think its probably pretty strong."
"Would you bet a dollar on it?" "Ok sure, you're on." Houston Sammy
passes. "You owe me a dollar." "Ok, lets double up on whether or not
Chris Moneymaker wins this hand." "Ok, you're on." And on and on.
After their commentary Phil came down and sat with us in the galley,
and he continued this chatter with the fans downstairs… laying odds,
reading hands. He seemed a little drunk, but was still pretty jovial.
He said at three-handed that Houston Sammy was a 3-2 favorite to win
the tournament, so when Chris Moneymaker busted Harrington out and
took a 3-1 chip lead over Sam, I asked Phil if he still was offering
3-2. He first said no, but before I could needle him with "Don't be
such a pussy, Tiltboy" he blurted out "whatever, my 3 to your 2 ok?"
"Ok, you're on."
At two-handed they ceremoniously brought out the cardboard box full of
money. This is always such a spectacle. Its like nothing you've ever
seen before at a poker tournament, or anywhere for that matter. They
bring out the money in bundles of hundred dollar bills and stack it on
the table. It is so surreal, because usually in poker, you play for
chips. And its hard sometimes to make the logical connection between
your stacks of chips and the real money they represent. As Adam
continually reminded us during his commentary, "In poker, money is how
you keep score." Whover said that the guy who invented poker was
smart but the guy who invented chips was a genius, he was referring to
how the use of chips induces people to do more gambling than if they
play for cash, because then their brain understands the value of a
lost pot or a raise much more clearly than when it is done with chips.
Having all that money on the table is quite a site, and must really
affect the players. I think they should put the money out there the
entire time, not just at two-handed, and see if it motivates the other
players to play harder.
You know there was a lot more money out there than prior years because
they brought it out with not one, but THREE shotgun-toting guards. "I
like to call them ‘peacemakers'," Diego says. Adam responds in all
seriousness, "The peacemaker is really a good choice of weapon for
this job, because if there is any trouble and you have to use it, in
one shot you can take down 50 or 60 people."
There is a lot of chatter about the amateur/professional showdown.
About how Houston Sammy probably spends $600,000 on shoes. About how
the money means more to Moneymaker, and the title means more to Sammy.
About how a professional with a 2-1 chip deficit is still a favorite
over an amateur. About how Chris Moneymaker is used to internet
tournaments where you play more hands, so he should excel heads up.
It was all just talk, though. Because despite both players commenting
before the action that "this won't take long," insinuating that they
were going to play fast and aggressive, it actually went longer than
many thought, and Sammy played more conservative than he let on.
I can't wait to see the ESPN broadcast though, because I'm dying to
see what Sammy folded after about 10 minutes of deliberation over an
800,000 pot when he checked the river and Moneymaker bet all-in. That
was a big turning point in the match.
Moneymaker showed no fear or intimidation, and rarely checked. The
commentators continually praised him and his skills, and even
contrasted him favorably to last year's amateur champion, Robert
Varkonyi, by remarking that Moneymaker was in this spot without having
caught the same rush of great cards Varkonyi used to build his
dominating chip lead at last year's final table.
Right before they started play, Chris went over to Sammy and offered
him a deal to chop it all up right there, and Sammy stubbornly
refused. Minutes afterwards someone chastised Sammy for not taking
the money (it was a goddamn gift! He's outchipped 3-1!! The kid is
being gracious and showing him respect!) and before he could
reconsider, Moneymaker announces to the crowd "There's no deal, we're
going to play it straight up." And the crowd roared with applause.
Fuck. Sammy kicks himself hard under the table.
An interview with Moneymaker's dad was pretty hysterical. He told the
crowd that Chris started playing poker after watching the movie
Rounders, and that he plays exclusively online and in a couple of
private games in the Nashville area. This, to me, sounded typical.
It's strange how much that movie did to introduce people to poker.
And after this tournament, and with WPT, I'm sure online poker is
going to swell (and maybe come under more scrutiny from the
government) and dump even more talent into the game. Its got me on my
toes, feeling like I better sharpen up my game now, because the field
is about to get much bigger.
Brandon comes over to tell me about how great his 10-20 game is, how
loose it is, how there is a player who raises every hand and plays
hands blind and how he dances around the table when he wins a pot. He
says that he played A-6 against the guy and the flop came 5-5-6. They
both got in four bets on the flop because Brandon doesn't put the
maniac on a 5. The turn is a 6, and they dance through five bets on
the turn. The river is an Ace, and the maniac puts all his chips,
$300, in front of him and says "I'm just going to put it all in."
Brandon says "I can't do that, I'll just call $100." Of course the
guy just had a 4-5 and Brandon had what was, for all practical
purposes, the nuts. When I asked Brandon why he didn't take all the
guy's money, he said "I just couldn't do that to him, I felt sorry for
him." What a colossal pussy.
The 4-5, as it turns out, would become the storied hand for the trip,
as Jim Chonko lost a huge pot to an old man in a 3-6 game who played
it strong for a runner runner full house. The charming old man told
Jim "I love to play this hand. I call it the ‘Manhandler'." I love
that hand, too, and I loved the name even more. But the final hand of
the World Series would immortalize it when Moneymaker came into the
pot with it and the flop came J-4-5, giving Sammy top pair and Chris
two pair, and the world championship.
As the crowd is streaming out and I'm waiting for Brandon to rack up
his chips, I notice that little weasel Phil Gordon trying to sneak out
the side doors. I run to the rail and say "Hey Gordon, where's my
three dollars?" He looks startled that I caught him trying to skip
town with the money he owes me, and fished out $5 from his pocket. He
looked like he was waiting for me to give him change, but instead I
just smiled at him and said "better luck next year Gordon" and walked
away into the crowd.
The few of us who were left stayed up all night drinking coffee at the
Mirage café and talking about poker and las vegas and our friends. We
talked about friends going on tilt, friends gambling more than they
should, friends who didn't gamble enough, and started planning next
year's trip.
All-in-all, I'm pleased with this year's world series trip to Vegas.
Despite the fact that we had fewer adventures than before, and despite
the fact that our RV fell through the second year running, and despite
the fact that I lost the UWSWSOP bracelet. I think I learned a lot
about my own game, and can now see a trajectory for myself to improve
in both live play and tournaments. I think I played with some top
class players and held my own, and watched them play and learned from
them. I also think I figured out the right questions to ask to
improve the holes in my game.
I also learned that my love for the city of Las Vegas, as true as it
is, has everything to do with gambling. I now understand why people
who don't like to gamble or party all night don't enjoy Las Vegas. I
could see the seedy side of Vegas I was blind to before. The hookers
and the homeless and the poverty and the gaudy excess. I could see
the tastelessness of the city, and it made me feel a little ashamed.
And poker, for all we do to dress it up as a skill game played by
brilliant minds, is still gambling, and we gamblers. Don't get me
wrong, I love being a gambler. It makes me feel good to gamble, and
that's just written into who I am. My mother and father and my
grandparents before them were all gamblers. I come from that kind of
prole pedigree.
I still love Las Vegas, despite its flaws, and still feel a strong
attraction to the city. Like Jim McManus said in his book, I can't
stand the thought of all those planes every day that leave LaGuardia
for Vegas without me.
Sexy or not, me and Vegas is stuck with each other. And I can't wait
to get out there again.
I'll post pictures and stuff on our website as soon as I can, and I'll
let you guys know.
Thanks for all the kind comments about my reports. I'm glad you all
enjoyed them. And I hope you don't hold my editorial liberties
against me. I've always felt that it was the entertainment value of
the story that was more important than the facts. Maybe next time
I'll carry around a little book and take notes, but as it was I didn't
have you guys in mind all day long. Hey, I never claimed to be a
journalist. Read these reports at your own risk.
Until next year,
Marcstar
back.
_________________________________________________________________
Posted using RecPoker.com - http://www.recpoker.com
Octo the Genarian
throughout the post.
BTW, when did you go to UT and what did you major in? I'm there now. You
seem very P2 to me.
"Cambodian Slick" <sp...@ureach.com> wrote in message
news:72056a57.0305...@posting.google.com...
> doing...Actually.. WHAT are you guys doing???" Josh at that point was
> board or say how much was being bet, who the action was on, etc. but
> it was still fascinating to listen to. It was like eavesdropping on
> two buddies talking about the game. In classic Tiltboy fashion, Phil
> and Rafe argued over the odds of goofy propositions, like whether or
> not someone had an Ace, or whether so and so would raise on the button
> this hand. Then they started making proposition bets with each other.
> "Phil, what do you think are the odds that Houston Sammy will raise
> this pot?" "I don't know, I think its probably pretty strong."
> "Would you bet a dollar on it?" "Ok sure, you're on." Houston Sammy
> passes. "You owe me a dollar." "Ok, lets double up on whether or not
> Chris Moneymaker wins this hand." "Ok, you're on." And on and on.
>
> After their commentary Phil came down and sat with us in the galley,
> and he continued this chatter with the fans downstairs. laying odds,
Phat Mack
"Octo the Genarian" <octothe...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> That was a wonderful series. I love the titles and the way you work a theme
> throughout the post.
I agree. Some of the best trip reports I've seen in a while.
>
> BTW, when did you go to UT and what did you major in? I'm there now. You
> seem very P2 to me.
Plan II? My guess is no. If he is living on the UWS, he probably has a
job. If he has a job, he couldn't have been plan 2. Unless, of course,
he's in grad school...
Octo the Genarian
> >
> > BTW, when did you go to UT and what did you major in? I'm there now. You
> > seem very P2 to me.
>
> Plan II? My guess is no. If he is living on the UWS, he probably has a
> job. If he has a job, he couldn't have been plan 2. Unless, of course,
> he's in grad school...
Lol. What is the UWS anyone?
(I'm a PII drop-out, you see).
Octo the Genarian
>
> Lol. What is the UWS anyone?
>
Errr... "anyway".
NChrisH
From: sp...@ureach.com (Cambodian Slick) >><BR><BR>
Really great reports Dave.
<< Slept in again. My early in the week routine of getting up early and
running three miles is now just an inside joke, as I have given in to
staying up all night gambling and hanging out. >><BR><BR>
Bartender, by that man a double!
Chris H.
Adam Schramm
from each year and send them to ConJelCo or 2+2. It would be the next
book on my list to buy.
Phat Mack
"Octo the Genarian" <octothe...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Lol. What is the UWS anyone?
> >
>
> Errr... "anyway".
>
>
Upper West Side?
footsteps
Really enjoyed reading about your trip.
All the best.