Female Fascination on the Felt - Men Need Not Apply

Jennifer Tilly shows off her gold bracelet.

Do Not Disturb

At this stage of poker development, given men hold no advantage over women at a poker table, should we continue to have "ladies only" events? Many believe the end of closed tournaments is imminent and correct. I posed the question to 15 of the 601 ladies who entered the $1,000 ladies no-limit hold'em World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament on June 26. The score of my small, random sampling was 9-6 in favor of status quo. I subsequently asked 15 men. The results were the same. I say, "Let the ladies go at it."



No Small Affair

The whopping number of lady hopefuls should come as no surprise. In 2005, players have flocked to the spacious Amazon ballroom at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas to go for gold. In addition, the nearly threefold

increase over last year's 201 entrants is partially attributable to the change from limit to no-limit hold'em, the hottest

game known to man (and woman).



Inside Out
In this report, I'll concentrate on early play and the end game. I'm focusing on early decisions because throughout

this WSOP I've observed many immediate miscues. I'll report on late play because I'm sure you want to know who

won the event. Hint: She's a mega star.



Nowhere to Go but Up
The blinds begin at $25-$25 (small and big blind, respectively). Each level will be 60 minutes until players reach the final table, when levels will become 90 minutes. At the WSOP, players receive chips-for-dollars, thus when the buy-in is $1,000, each competitor receives $1,000 in chips. At random, I select seven players to watch (see photos).

Second Best

I also decide to roam around and stop at tables when I see lots of chips being pushed into pots. That happens almost immediately. Two players get all of their money in on a flop of A-9-2 of different suits. The all-in bettor has A-K. The caller tables A-J. The top-kicker hand prevails. Incredibly, we lose a player who committed all of her chips with one pair and third-best kicker six minutes into play. I continue to see these loose calls during the first four levels of play. Here's my theory: Many new players are emulating the strategy they view on World Poker Tour (WPT) final-table telecasts without considering the different variables involved in the different stages of play.



Life Classes

For newer players, let's contrast the participants' situations and objectives during the first limit of this $1,000 tournament with what we see on the WPT: STACK SIZE DISPARITY: The chip differences are relatively slight early on at the ladies event. In comparison, any final table can begin with huge stack-size differentials. Players' decisions are often dictated by their relative stacksize. For example, the short-stack player may need to make an immediate all-in move at a final table.

Erika Obst, Gina Saladino, Lacey Jones, Beth Fischman, and Daniella Shpak.

BLIND STRUCTURE: There is no urgency of commitment when the big blind is less than 3 percent of your stack (the case as play begins today). At final tables, the substantial blinds and antes, based on percentages of chips in play, can force players to act aggressively with weak holdings. Opponents, realizing that, often make calls with marginal holdings.

NUMBER OF OPPONENTS: The ladies event opened ninehanded. Final tables of WPT events typically start sixhanded. Preflop hand selection standards become looser as the number of players at your table diminishes.

EDITING: Viewers see (depending upon the total number of hands played in an event) approximately 20 percent of

the hands contested at a WPT final table. The hands are chosen for story line and interest. Many new players aren't

aware that they are seeing the most "lively" hands available o the production crew.

OPPONENT FAMILIARITY: When the ladies sat down today, very few recognized each other. At final tables, many of the players have been competing together for days. The more you know about an opponent, the more likely you will be able to make a correct decision against him or her.



OPPONENT TYPES: Based on player tendencies, the ladies were up against a veritable gamut of opponents. From

top professionals to those playing their first tournament without a mouse in hand, every type of player was represented. Some played "big ball" poker (moving in frequently), while others went into survival mode and stayed that way, folding hand after hand waiting for aces or kings. At a WPT final table, you are seeing predominantly aggressive, "take no prisoners" type players who make money with moves. Rarely do tight players make a WPT final table.



Scorchers

So, how should the women play early on? For that answer, I watched Karina Jett, Cyndy Violette, and Kathy Liebert. They were patient during the first two levels, and obviously had categorized their opponents into those who didn't want to tangle with the pros and those who were feisty. The stars utilized reads and position. They didn't seem concerned with picking up the blinds unless they held good cards or their big-blind opponent was a snug player. However, each was very interested in picking up raised pots. They came over the top frequently and were rewarded when opponents decided they wanted to avoid being outplayed on the flop.



The Cat's Meow

I also watched Cecelia Mortensen use the same strategy. She appears to have studied the powerful right-arm movements of her husband and 2001 World Champion Juan Carlos Mortensen. He and I watch Cecelia play during level two until his tournament begins. Carlos appears pleased with her excellent play.



The Getaway
I watch Jennifer Tilly play for 40 minutes during the third level. She is quiet and observant, playing 18 percent of her non-blind hands. When she enters a pot, she raises. She made one excellent laydown and won two pots uncontested on reraises. She appears to be playing well. To play well is controllable. To be the benefactor of fate is something that simply happens. Tilly catches a terrific break just before her table breaks. An assistant tournament director approaches Jennifer's table with seat cards (designating table changes for each player). He hesitates momentarily when a spectator approaches him with a question. The interruption is just long enough for the dealer to get out another hand. Tilly goes up against a medium stack and flops a set of sevens. Her opponent can't get away from top pair (kings) with an ace kicker, thus the well-known actress and poker devotee picks up some valuable checks and knocks out an opponent.



Far From Home

With many hours to go, Jennifer appears to be in the top five as she moves to her new seat at table 15. We talk about timing and fortune as we walk. When I interviewed Tilly at the Five-Diamond World Poker Classic II (Vol. 18/No. 1), I liked her immediately. She is easy to talk to and responds in depth to any question. I watch her build her stack by playing excellent "bully" poker. She is clearly aware of strategy changes dictated by relative stack size.

Jean Gluck, Krisha Augerot, Jennifer Tilly, Cecelia Mortensen, and Carolyn Ancheta.

Bullets Over Broadway
Players often utter, "That's poker," when asked about how they feel after losing all of their chips as a big favorite in a hand. The fortunes of players can ride a seesaw during certain hands. As the fifth level concludes, I watch a tall, well-dressed lady move all in with the K Q. Her opponent beats her into the pot and reveals the A A. The flop comes J 10 9. The A-A hand is dead to running help. Yep, a 9 comes on the turn and an ace arrives on the river.



Shadow of the Wolf
Alas, we lose "my partners" Erika, Gina, Lacey, Beth, Krisha, and Jean before the money. But, Daniella survives. She has a solid game and lively personality. Just after midnight, Shpak succumbs 13th (outlasting 588 players) and takes home $4,920.



Nearly four hours later, the day one curtain comes down. Only four remain. Play will resume at 3 p.m. on June 27.



THE CREW:

Seat Player Chips

1 Ann Le $88,900

2 Cecelia Mortensen $36,300

3 Carolyn Ancheta $31,500

4 Jennifer Tilly $449,600



The Muse

Tilly has 74 percent of the chips in play. Her pivotal pot occurred sixhanded against the dangerous Theresa Chang, then second in checks. Tilly made a straight with pocket sevens to take down Chang's pocket queens and commandeer all of her chips.



Home on the Range
What will the players' final-four strategies be? We know first place pays $158,625; second is $83,675; third takes $43,755; and fourth-place money of $38,285 is assured. Given Tilly's enormous lead, we must speculate on who

will be satisfied to move up the pay scale (as opposed to playing to win).



Let it Ride
We don't know how Tilly's opponents will react if Jennifer plays a "large stack bully" game. Will they fold relatively strong hands if Tilly puts them in? Will they look her up in an attempt to double through? Ann Le and Carolyn Ancheta are unknown to me, but I'm sure Cecelia Mortensen is not playing for second. The congenial, but fiercely competitive, Spanish lady will risk finishing fourth to give herself the best shot at first place.



Perfect Opposites

Cecelia, the most experienced player at the table, may come out firing in an attempt to rattle Tilly and the other players. She will be on the button when Tilly is in the big blind. Conversely, Mortensen will be in the big blind when Tilly is on the button. Will early fireworks occur in these situations? Each player has a terrific coach (Tilly has Phil Laak and Carlos works with Cecelia). Neither lady has backed down from confrontation during this event.



Liar Liar

HAND NO. 1: For the next 22 minutes, the ladies will be playing with $1,500-$3,000 blinds and each will ante $400.

Mortensen folds. Ancheta folds from the button. Tilly raises to $21,500 from the small blind. Ann Le gives way.

Jennifer Tilly gets a congratulatory hug from boyfriend Phil Laak.

Monsters, Inc.

HAND NO. 2: Tilly tries for two with a raise to $25,000, but Cecelia objects. She moves all in. It's only $10,500 more

to Jennifer, who, getting more than 5-to-1 odds, shrugs, calls quickly, and reveals the 4 3. Cecelia's K J survives. As expected, these two are willing to dance.



Hollywood North

HAND NO. 3: Le, a San Jose resident, raises to $12,000 from the button and wins uncontested. Cecelia, dressed in

a black shirt, blue jeans, and sunglasses, takes 45 seconds to fold. She is appearing at her second WSOP final table.



Jericho Mansions

HAND NO. 4: All rooms are filled when Carolyn completes our cycle by moving all in. She raises to $12,000 from the button and wins uncontested. Three hands later, the Edgewood, Washington, resident moves over the top of Cecelia's raise to $10,500 and wins again. She doubles through from the button in the ninth hand when her pocket sevens hold up against Jennifer's A-8. Tilly, playing aggressively, wins the fifth and sixth hands by raising prefl op. She wins the eighth hand when everyone folds to her big blind (known as a walkover or groundskinner).



Remote Control

HAND NO. 10: After Carolyn and Jennifer muck, Ann raises to $23,000 from the small blind. Five seconds later, Cecelia moves all in with the 9 9. Ann is faced with a $32,900 decision. She decides to gamble with the A 3 (a 70-to-30 underdog). Incredibly, the Vietnam native snags a straight on the flop of 5 4 2. Cecelia picks up a flush draw when the dealer burns and turns the K, but another king falls on the river. Cecelia is out and Ann has $136,000.



Piece of my Heart

HAND NO. 11: After Tilly picks up another groundskinner, Assistant Tournament Director Jack Effel gives us his approximate chip count:

Seat Player Chip Count

1 Ann Le $136,000

2 Cecelia Mortensen Fourth place

3 Carolyn Ancheta $77,000

4 Jennifer Tilly $400,000

Embrace of the Vampire

HAND NO. 12: The blinds have escalated to $2,000-$4,000 and the antes are now $500. Carolyn has the button. She is first to act and pushes her $77,000 forward. Jennifer asks for confirmation of the $77,000. Jack, who now travels the WSOP Circuit tour, verifies the amount as Tilly pushes her cards around from side to side and observes Carolyn, who is motionless. After 46 seconds, Tilly calls. Did Ann wake up with a big hand? The attractive, diminutive competitor, making her WSOP debut, seems interested. She folds after 24 seconds. Carolyn has the K J. She trails Jennifer's A 7. Ancheta falls far behind on the flop of A 8 7. She picks up a straight draw when the 10 turns, but a second 10 comes on the river. Carolyn heads for the cashier's cage and we are heads up. Tilly has a commanding $477,000 to $129,000 advantage (my unofficial chip count).

Ann Le and Paul Reeves

High Spirits

During the break, I chat with Ann's husband, Paul Reeves. The upbeat, articulate software company executive informs me that, based on Ann's excellent results and desire to play professionally, they recently sold her business. She has won many online events and does well in local cardrooms. An aggressive player, Ann has adapted nicely to no-limit tournaments. She now arrives on the scene looking very calm. The 27-year-old tells me she became interested in the game from watching televised events, she loves poker, and she's really excited to be here and doing so well.



Bird of Prey

HAND NO. 16: After winning the first three heads-up hands, Tilly now folds from the small blind. I like this play. Rather than demonstrating a dominating style, Tilly may be attempting to encourage reciprocation because she wants to play her big-blind hands without being raised or win them uncontested. Often, inexperienced players will imitate a more experienced opponent during heads-up matches. At worst, the play cost Tilly a chance to win $4,000, but assuming she had a very weak hand, Jennifer lost precious little in equity. A positive by-product of Tilly's fold is that she will be given more credit the next time she raises.



Moving Violations

HAND NO. 17: Ann raises to $24,000 from the small blind/button. Jennifer calls and takes the lead on a flop of

J7 3. Her $30,000 bet moves Le away.



Play it to the Bone

HAND NO. 20: After a pair of walkover hands, Tilly raises $23,000 from the button. Le quickly moves in. It takes Jennifer less than two seconds to call. She shows the A 7. Ann needs help for her K J. The board comes 10 6 5 8 4, giving Jennifer a straight. Tilly has defeated 600 players to capture a WSOP bracelet. She rushes to Ann Le, hugs her, releases Ann into Paul's arms, and turns to the audience and jumps up and down as they clap and shout.



Bound
Effel gets the champ to sit and adorns Jennifer's wrist in gold. She excitedly and proudly poses behind the bundles of cash and the A-7 hand that served her well today. The press and her many fans swarm the stage to snap photos. Tilly smiles, shows off her bracelet, does a few goofy faces, turns to give everyone an angle, and genuinely appears to be having a great time entertaining us. When Jack hands her the microphone, she is funny, animated, and creative, displaying excellent ad lib capability. She tells us, "It's been an amazing ride, actually better than winning an Oscar."



Deluxe Combo Platter
After signing autographs every few feet, Jennifer finally comes to me (I cleverly volunteered to watch her cellphone,

purse, and bags of snacks). We discuss what this hard-earned victory means to her in general and in relation to her incredible acting accomplishments [Jennifer has appeared in more than 60 films, received an Academy Award nomination (for Bullets Over Broadway), performed in numerous television series, and starred in countless theatre productions].



LEE MUNZER: What are you feeling right now?



JENNIFER TILLY: I'm just so happy and thrilled. I loved playing and meeting all of these amazing women. You know how when something's so good, you can hardly believe it's happening to you? That's how I feel.



LM: Does your acting training help you more in reading opponents or throwing them off your hand?



JT: That's a good question – maybe a little of both. I was representing a lot of good hands and I didn't get called too much. I can also tell who's scared and who wants to fire back at me sometimes. I think because of my persona, people sometimes underestimate me a little bit. And sometimes they want me to be entertaining when I play. At first I was very social, but I discovered it was really too hard to do all the things I need to do to play well and be entertaining at the same time.



LM: Compared to your major fi lm and theatre awards, can you rank the gold bracelet?



JT: I think it's right up there with the Oscar nomination. (Reflecting) It really is, because it shows we can be anything we want in America. I was playing a World Series computer program and I thought to myself, "One day I'm going to go to the real World Series of Poker and win a real gold bracelet." I think it just shows us that we can follow our dreams and do what we want to do. I knew I could do it, but everybody was laughing at me – I mean, you know everybody was. But, the thing is, you can't let other people dictate your destiny, you just have to go out and grab it.



LM: Can you relate poker to anything else you've experienced in life?



JT: Yes, I'm really happy when I play poker, and I loved getting a chance to meet people like Kathy Liebert and Johnny Chan. Playing reminds me of when I first came to Hollywood and was selling sandwiches on the street and building sets. I was super happy even though I had no success. I was trying for parts some days, and I just knew I was going to be an actress. If you want to do something, go for it; don't allow yourself to think of reasons why you can't do it.



Tilly's self-confidence and perseverance have served her well in life.



Final results were as follows:



Place Final Table Player Prize

1 Jennifer Tilly $158,625

2 Ann Le $83,675

3 Carolyn Ancheta $43,755

4 Cecilia Mortensen $38,285

5 Angel Wood $32,815

6 Theresa Chang $27,345

7 Suzanne Carpenter $21,875

8 Beth Shak $16,405

9 Janis Numan $10,940



You know how when something's so good, you can hardly believe it's happening to you? That's how I feel.