Big-Time Poker!

Crown Casino, Melbourne, Australia

As I write this, I'm down under in Australia for the Aussie Millions poker tournament. Let me tell you, they're playing some big-time poker down here. In addition to the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em championship event (with more than 420 entrants), there was also a special $100,000 buy-in tournament to determine the "speed poker" champion. That's right – $100,000!



Crown Casino in Melbourne is truly a first-class facility. It's as nice a poker venue (hotel, poker room, restaurants, well-run tournaments) as there is anywhere in the world. And poker players are truly appreciated here. Crown Casino is extremely hospitable to the American and European players who travel down here to play in its event, holding golf outings and various parties for the players.



It's my third trip to Austalia to play poker. I love it down under and I'm sure everyone who comes down here feels the same way. Last year, I won the special $20,000 buy-in speed poker championship. I suppose inflation took over, as this year's buy-in was bumped up to $100,000 Australian, which is about $75,000 U.S. Stu Ungar once said to me, "Sexton, anybody can win a poker tournament. Defending, that's where it's at." Well, I wanted to defend my title, so I went for it.



Speed poker is just that – fast! And it's great!! You have 15 seconds to act on your hand. If you haven't acted in 15 seconds, your hand is dead. It takes two dealers to deal the game as one shuffles while the other deals (meaning you don't have time to even stack your chips before the next hand is out). Another attractive element of speed poker is that it's pot-limit before the flop and no-limit after the flop. This brings far more skill into the game because you can't move all in before the flop. You have to play poker after the flop. (I wish we used this format in the United States at all championship events.)



Needless to say, with a $100,000 buy-in, the field was small – and tough! It consisted of 10 players, and the event was winner-take-all – a million dollars for the winner and zippity-doo-dah for everyone else! Five players started at each table and the remaining three from each table advanced to the final table (which will be seen on Fox Sports Network in the next couple of months) and took their chips with them.



My starting table consisted of Phil Ivey, Barry Greenstein, Tony Bloom (a top player from England), Tony G (yes, the guy who likes to aggravate everyone), and me. This was going to be fun. It was obvious that the fans were loving it, as they were lined up three-deep to watch the action.



The structure was excellent. We started with $100,000 in chips, the blinds started at $100-$200, and each level was 40 minutes long. With two dealers (one shuffling and one dealing) and everyone playing fast, we got lots of hands in at each level.



On the third hand of the tournament at our table, an amazing hand developed. Tony G made it $700 to go, Phil Ivey reraised $1,500 more, and Tony G called. The flop came Q-7-4 with two hearts. Tony G checked, Phil bet $2,000, and Tony G. moved all in! Wow! Ivey had the A Q (top pair and top kicker). What would you do now if you were in Ivey's seat? You're playing for a million bucks, you haven't gotten situated in your chair yet, and your opponent moves all in on you for your entire stack.



Well, Ivey didn't hesitate. He called. They turned up their cards and Tony G showed the 3 2. That's right, the guy moved all in for $100,000 with a 3-high flush draw! You may think he is nuts, but you have to admit, he's got heart. The A came on the turn (giving Phil the top two pair and Tony a wheel draw as well as a flush draw), and then – wham! – the 8 popped off on the river. Tony G made a flush (and a lot of noise) and won the pot. Bye-bye, Phil Ivey (a 20-hour trip and a three-minute tournament).



I felt bad for Ivey. He made the right call. He knew his opponent didn't have him beat, or he wouldn't have bet anywhere near that amount. I must admit, however, that I didn't mind seeing Ivey report to the rail (although I'm sure the fans watching and the people at Fox Sports were greatly disappointed to see him go). Hey, come on now. Ivey's the best there is, and we're playing for a million smackeroos!



We now had four left at our table, with three advancing to the TV table. Tony G apparently used up all of his luck against Ivey, as nothing went right for him after that. In fact, after doubling up immediately, he was the next guy out of the tournament. Things went well for me, though, as I not only was still alive and moving on, but was the chip leader at the final table with $275,000.



Advancing from the other table were poker sensation John Juanda (in second chip position with $225,000), and two top Australian players, Jeff Lisandro and Jason Gray. Even though they are all great players, with my chip count, I felt good about my chances.



The atmosphere then changed dramatically. We moved away from the enthusiastic crowd of the casino poker room to the TV set, where no fans were allowed to watch. And the personalities and stakes were such that nobody said anything at the final table. It might well have been the quietest final table ever. (All you could hear were the teardrops of the losers hitting the floor as they exited.)



Tony Bloom was the first to go. Juanda raised with two fives and Bloom reraised with two jacks. Juanda called, and the flop came 5-2-2! Juanda checked and called when Bloom bet. An 8 came on the turn, and they got the rest of their money in the pot. There were now five left and Juanda had taken the chip lead.



Although Juanda can outplay most people without having good cards, on this day, he was picking up the best cards. He had lots of big pairs, including aces twice in the big blind when he got walks. When I'd pick up two eights, he would have two queens. When I'd have two nines, he'd have two kings. Phew! Talk about a thorn in my side. Even with Juanda holding over me, I was still OK and maintaining my stack size.



The blinds were now $1,000-$2,000 and Jeff Lisandro (a very solid player) made it $7,000 to go. I was in the big blind with the A Q and opted to just call him. The flop came 8-7-2 with two spades. I checked, Jeff bet $15,000, and I raised to $40,000. He called my raise and went all in for $130,000 more. Ouch! It was time to think.



If I played and lost, I'd have $95,000 left (down, but not out). If I played the pot and won it, I'd have more than $450,000 with four players left. I opted to pitch my "time button" into the pot. (This is a button that all players got to allow them another 30 seconds to think about a hand. It could be used only once, and I decided that this was the hand for me to think a little longer.) I put Jeff on two jacks, meaning I thought I had two overcards and the nut-flush draw. I didn't see how I could lay it down. I decided to go for it, and called.



Jeff had a little better hand than I thought, two kings. The turn card was a queen, giving me two more outs, but the river card was a blank. Damn! Oh well, I was down, but not out. One thing was certain: I didn't want to ante myself broke. With $90,000 left, I raised to $20,000 preflop with J-10. Juanda was in the big blind and called after the others folded. The flop came 8-7-7. Juanda checked, and I moved all in, hoping to win it right there. Unfortunately for me, he had an 8-7 in his hand and had flopped a full house! I headed for the door thinking, "Where is an ace or a spade when you need one?"



It was a great event, and although I didn't win, I enjoyed it thoroughly, and I'll be back. Oh, yes, congratulations to the new speed poker champion – John Juanda.