Champions, Satellites, and a Tribute

My latest stops on the tournament trail included a Card Player cruises trip to Alaska, immediately followed by my sixth trip to Casinos Europa in Costa Rica, and then back to Las Vegas for the Orleans Open. I had a great time on the Alaska cruise, but saved my serious poker playing for Costa Rica. Fellow Card Player columnist Adam Schoenfeld ran away with the best all-around player award by finishing second twice and winning a third event, beating yours truly in the finals. I told Adam that it would have been a much better story if he had come in second three times, as I've never heard of anyone doing that before. But, he messed up the story (and my chance of winning the tournament) by winning virtually every pot after we got heads up.

In his first outing in a Costa Rica tournament, current World Champion of Poker Robert Varkonyi won the limit hold'em championship event, topping a field of more than 200 players. Just like trifecta betting at the horse races, players could wager on who they thought would be the top three finishers (with 10 percent deducted for administrative fees). Amazingly, nobody bet on Varkonyi in that particular event, meaning that he was a "field" pick. Go figure!

In my series of columns on modern trends in tournament poker, I mentioned that the satellite system is one of the primary reasons that the number of tournament entrants has escalated so dramatically in recent years, and promised to follow the series with a few satellite strategy tips. Of course, I am a big believer in the satellite system, having gotten into the 1983 World Series of Poker via a satellite and then winning the title. In a nutshell, here are some of the one-table satellite strategies that I discuss in more depth in Tournament Poker. If you are on a limited budget, entering a satellite may be the only sensible way to get into a tournament that you are anxious to play. The question is, how many satellites should you play? I usually am willing to play up to three satellites for a tournament to which I don't believe I can justify buying in. With a winner-take-all format, survival skills are not nearly as important in satellites as they are in the tournaments themselves. You simply have to scramble around more. You have only 15- or 20-minute rounds before the blinds and antes go up, forcing you to gamble more and look for situations where you can be the aggressor – especially if you are the first one into the pot. The trick is to try to take command, win a few pots, and then sit back and pick your spots.

Some of the situations that you are looking for in these fast-paced satellites are hands that you can gamble with in a multiway pot – such as small pairs and suited connectors in hold'em, and live three-flushes and small pairs (with a big kicker, preferably an ace) in seven-card stud. I realize that these hands are marginal, but if I win just one multiway pot, I will be in great shape for the rest of the satellite and can then be a lot more selective about which hands I play. I am looking to win just one pot with this strategy. If you fail and lose, say, 25 percent of your stack, you will then be looking for another multiway pot or a heads-up situation. If you can't find either one, simply tighten up and wait for one good, solid hand, and push it for all it's worth and hope for the best. If your hands hold up and you win the satellite, maybe you and I will meet at the final table of the main event.

In closing, I would like to pay tribute to Brian Saltus, who recently passed away. I spoke with Brian while sitting next to him during a World Series of Poker tournament in April, and he frankly stated that his cancer had returned and the prognosis was grim. He was remarkably composed and calm about it, commenting on what a great life he had led. Of course, the highlight of his poker career was winning the Tournament of Champions last year, beating the legendary T.J. Cloutier in the finals and besting several other world champions at the final table. Brian was a genuine asset to the poker community and one of the bravest people I've ever met. It was a pleasure and an honor to know him.

Editor's note: Tom McEvoy is the author of Tournament Poker and the co-author with T.J. Cloutier of the Championship series of poker books, all of which are available through Card Player. Visit www.pokerbooks.com for more information.