CP The Inside Straight

Family Matters: Poker Life After Katrina
As the City Slowly Comes Back, So Does Poker
BY BOB PAJICH

While walking through the French Quarter one night in May, the only signs I saw that a major hurricane had barged through there less than a year ago were the T-shirts that hung in the novelty shops on Bourbon Street criticizing FEMA. The French Quarter is one part of New Orleans that's actually above sea level, and the floodwaters that covered almost 80 percent of the city when the levees broke after Hurricane Katrina came ashore never got there. The French Quarter is open for business, something that many of the top poker players in the world saw when they played in the World Series of Poker Tournament Circuit event at Harrah's in May, and the workers in the bars and restaurants there want everyone to know it.

New Orleans is far from being back to normal. The Superdome still looks like it was sandblasted. Hundreds of rusting cars still sit under Interstate 10, waiting to be towed. The Lower Ninth Ward and parts of Lakeview near Lake Pontchartrain still look like blast sites.

Houses are either simply missing or mashed together in a mass of splintered wood and awnings. New Orleans lost more than half of its population after Katrina. Hotels and hospitals remain closed. It makes sense that the people of New Orleans repeated two messages: The French Quarter is open, and we still need help.

But there are signs that the city's coming back. Workers are fixing the Superdome roof. The New Orleans Jazz Festival took place in May, the PGA Tour recently stopped there, and the first convention since Katrina is scheduled for June. And, of course, the WSOP Tournament Circuit event took place in mid-May, which Harrah's worked hard to promote. Billboards with the now-famous black, white, and red WSOP logo dotted the city's landscape, and the casino's PR department sent releases to media outlets all around the country, many of which picked up the story.

"We really believe that the World Series of Poker will be part of that message to the nation that we're ready to go," said Jim Hoskins, general manager of Harrah's New Orleans.

90 Days

Harrah's New Orleans was lucky, in that it wasn't deluged by the floodwaters that covered most of the city. Besides some wind damage, the massive casino survived the storm completely intact, but there was no question that it would take more than a few months for the casino to open. So, instead of focusing on the casino, Harrah's focused on its displaced employees.

Immediately after the storm, Harrah's created an employee recovery fund and seeded it with $1 million. The fund would eventually swell to about $300 million. Recovery centers were opened in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Gulfport, Mississippi, which also was devastated by Katrina. Harrah's quickly announced that its 6,000 employees who were put out of work would receive their salaries for 90 days. Harrah's employees everywhere were also given the option of having the company deduct donations directly from their paychecks, and many did.

"The first 90 days was literally figuring out how to get organized and take care of our employees," Hoskins stated.

Chip Chatter
This could be any poker room in the United States, except for two things: Most of the players have a Louisiana drawl as thick as syrup, and about twice an hour, the conversation turns to the hurricanes.

"Every player you talk to has a story to tell," said dealer Darrell Guillory.

Players and fans of TV poker may recognize Guillory from the WSOP Tournament Circuit event in New Orleans last year, or the PokerStars Caribbean Poker Classic, where he dealt both final tables. He calls himself a "poker ambassador," and despite the hardships he's been through, he glows with optimism and friendliness that are contagious.

He's lived in New Orleans since 1988. Four years ago, he built a house in Slidell, a town that's about 30 minutes outside New Orleans. Katrina walloped Slidell. Guillory's entire neighborhood was flooded with 5 feet of water. His dog drowned in his garage. His house wasn't completely destroyed, but people who have seen what 5 feet of water can do to a house understand why Guillory decided at first to move his family back to his hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana. He even accepted a transfer to Harrah's Lake Charles casino, where he attended one orientation meeting before his family had to evacuate to Arkansas because of Hurricane Rita, which came on Sept. 24. When he returned, he found the house that he just rented had a tree in the middle of it. For the second time in a month, a hurricane cost him his job. After a month in Arkansas, he and his family decided to return.

"We knew it wasn't going to be an easy job. We knew we would have to work our butts off," he said. "Now, I'm extremely, extremely happy to be back, knowing that the city is coming back."

Next, he needed to get back to work. He said that he kept calling the casino to see if they could use his help, and Feb. 17 couldn't get there fast enough for Guillory. He needed to see the people he worked with and the regulars he dealt for. He needed to know who had stayed in town and who had left. He needed to know who had made it through the storm and who hadn't.

'Swamped'
The employees at Harrah's really didn't know what to expect the day the casino reopened. Some doubted the place would be half-full, but others, like Guillory, thought the place would be "swamped." It turned out that Guillory was right. By midday, all 23 poker tables were full of players swapping stories, shaking hands, and shedding both kinds of tears. They found out that one of their co-workers, Cynthia Adams, had died during the storm. She was the only Harrah's employee in New Orleans to do so. Guillory also said that about six regulars didn't make it through the storm, and it's always hard to hear about them. There have been times when players have had to step away from the tables after hearing that one of their poker buddies will never be back. The pain doesn't stop people from talking about it, though.

"You have to talk about it. It's healing for the soul," he said.

There are plenty of charities that are still accepting charitable donations for use in hurricane-damaged communities. Here are five of them: American Refugee Committee, (612) 872-7060; The Baton Rouge Area Foundation, (877) 387-6126; United Methodist Committee on Relief, (800) 554-8583; Habitat for Humanity, (866) 292-7892; and North Shore Animal League, (877) 4savepet.

InterPoker.com Lands One Big 'Fisch'
Scott Fischman is Latest Player to Sign With Online Poker Site
BY BOB PAJICH

Scott Fischman, the young professional poker player and Card Player columnist, has joined the InterPoker.com Extreme Team. He joins Juha Helppi, Kathy Liebert, Robert Varkonyi, and Pete "The Beat" Giordano as InterPoker.com pros.

Fischman will be more than a pretty face at InterPoker.com, and he has big plans for his new role with the company as a consultant. InterPoker.com is giving Fischman a block of time when he will run whatever tournament he wants, and he said he's already had meetings with company directors about how to make the tournaments at the site better.

He said the site has plans to launch a new type of online poker tournament that will "revolutionize" the game.

"It's going to be a brand-new type of online tournament. I can't wait until it starts," he said. "InterPoker seems to have welcomed me with open arms, to let me really get down in the trenches and tell them what I want to do."
The site also hired Fischman to attract some of the more serious higher-limit online players, he said. He's also bringing some of the players from his site, thefishtank.com, over to InterPoker.com. Previously, his site was associated with DoylesRoom.com. Since contracts weren't yet signed, names of the players who will follow him weren't available at press time.

Fischman writes the popular "In the Tank" feature, which can be found in the "Inside Straight" section of Card Player and at http://www.cardplayer.com/. He is one of the best young tournament and online players in the world. His lifetime winnings in tournament poker alone are $1,370,582. He also owns two World Series of Poker bracelets, which he won in 2004.

The Extreme Poker Team competes in poker events designed to test stamina and willpower, as well as poker prowess. Helppi won the first Extreme Poker title last year by winning a tournament that was held underwater. Varkonyi recently won another that was held on an Arctic ice shelf.

The next InterPoker.com Extreme Poker event is scheduled to take place sometime this summer. The plan is for the players to play in an airplane. Players who get knocked out will have to parachute to the ground.

Liz Lieu Takes on Erik Sagstrom at the Venetian
BY LISA WHEELER

May 7 marked the beginning of a three-day affair between poker's engaging Liz Lieu and online rival Erik "123" Sagstrom. Over Cinco de Mayo weekend, they went heads up in a $600,000 freezeout series of three $200,000 matches with a $2,000-$4,000 limit structure. The event was fittingly titled "Beauty vs. the Beast."

Lieu plays at MartinsPoker.com, an online gaming site supported by a global team of elite poker professionals. She's secured her professional status over the past four years by playing high-stakes cash games, but since entering the 2005 World Series of Poker, she's ridden the tournament dragon with impressive results.

Sagstrom plays online as "Erik 123" at 66Poker, and is widely considered as one of the best online players in the world. He also possesses respectable live-tournament results.

The match came about as a result of a little "trash-talking" while playing online. Sagstrom called Lieu a fish (although he said it in Swedish). Lieu then challenged him to compete in a live game. They pitched the idea to poker management at the Venetian, who was all too willing to host the event.

With big-name professional endorsements and the MartinsPoker.com team rooting her on, Lieu got "down and dirty" on the felt with Sagstrom at the Venetian.

Day One - Round One
Both players started with $200,000. Lieu swung into the lead early, then went into overdrive, leaving Sagstrom dangling on the ropes.

At one point, Sagstrom was severely short-stacked but doubled up, much to Lieu's chagrin. "I got him down to $60,000 three times," said Lieu after the match. "But he's like a cat with nine lives; he never dies."

Sagstrom performed another great escape, making three sixes on the river when he was the clear underdog.

"Sick!" exclaimed Lieu with her tiny, innocuous voice.

The two battled it out until midnight, and Sagstrom had taken the lead, $245,000 to $155,000.

Day Two - Round Two
Both players agreed to put the first match on hold and start fresh with the second. Each was given another $200,000 in chips.

Lieu came out swinging again, and the early action put her up almost 3-to-1. It wasn't long before Sagstrom was shuffling his last $19,000 in chips going into the final hand of the match.

Sagstrom had his remaining chips in the pot when the flop came J 7 6. He had paired a jack, but Lieu turned over the 9 8 for flush and open-end straight draws. When the A fell on the turn, Sagstrom was drawing dead.

Liz Lieu - 1, Erik Sagstrom - 0

Day Two - Round One Continued
They then started where they left off in the first match, with Sagstrom in the lead, $245,000 to $155,000.
Sagstrom came out aggressively, winning two major pots in a row. Within 20 minutes, Lieu was down to her last $40,000. Ten minutes later, she was all in for $12,000. She went on a rush, but it was short and sweet, and soon Sagstrom had her back against the wall. It was clear from the beginning that this was Sagstrom's match.

Liz Lieu - 1; Erik Sagstrom -1

Day Three - Round Three
Word spread about the match, and although the WSOP Tournament Circuit at Caesars Palace was drawing to a close and The Mirage was five days into its 2006 Poker Showdown, fans swarmed the Venetian poker room for the final shootout.

Both players started with a fresh $200,000 in chips.

It almost ended when Sagstrom won two monster pots. Within the first hour, Lieu was down to her last $26,000.

Both Lieu and Sagstrom appeared worn-out, and after two long days of battle, Lieu was looking for a second wind.

It didn't take long for her to turn the tables. Sagstrom was down to his last $70,000, which he maintained for several hours, but Lieu went on a rush.

Meanwhile, John Phan had just returned from The Mirage Poker Showdown, where he had finished the day as the chip leader going to the next day's final table. While waiting for the Sagstrom versus Lieu saga to play out, he put his name on the list for the $1-$2 no-limit hold'em game. (Yes, that's $1-$2.) Needless to say, his table became another popular spectator event, giving the Venetian poker room all the comedy and drama it could hope for.

When Lieu had Sagstrom down to his last $50,000, the final hand ensued.

The flop came Q-8-4 and both fired away. A 5 came on the turn. There were more bets and raises, and the river gave Lieu her dream card, a 3. It was the nail in the coffin for Sagstrom. He turned over pocket threes for a set, but Lieu had A-2 for the runner-runner straight and the win.

Sagstrom was gracious in defeat, and warmly congratulated Lieu on her impressive comeback and fearless challenge.

FullTilt Mob Set to Roll
BY MICHAEL FRIEDMAN

The beginning of May has been very active for team FullTilt. In a move that should help cement FullTilt's global recognition and brand, the group joined forces with the UK's Hendon Mob.

The Hendon Mob is possibly the most well-known European poker team, and now that its members have joined with U.S. poker giants like Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, and Erick Lindgren, its popularity will most likely grow in the United States.

FullTilt's shrewd move will give it a strong presence in Europe and will help it to develop its international business strategy. Already firmly established as "legends" in the European poker community, the Hendon Mob and its members are a perfect fit for FullTilt, especially considering that its players' images match perfectly with those of the Mob. Both groups sport similar black and white clothes and have capitalized on the Quentin Tarantino Reservoir Dog look in past promotions.

Considered by many to be ambassadors of the game, the Hendon Mob is made up of four players who have collectively won 37 titles and made final table after final table. Mob members Barny Boatman, his brother "Rocky" Ross Boatman, Joe "The Elegance" Beevers, and Ram "Crazy Horse" Vaswani will now play online at FullTilt, giving the site an international flavor.

According to Barny Boatman, joining the FullTilt team brings a fusion of styles and international advertising demographics. "We are excited and honored to have been chosen by FullTiltPoker to represent them on the European tournament circuit and beyond. We are longtime admirers of the software, the style, and, of course, the incomparable team of top-flight pros who make up FullTilt," Boatman said in a recent press release.

There is also a lot of enthusiasm from the FullTilt crew as they welcome four new members to the team. "Having the Hendon Mob join the FullTiltPoker family is very exciting for team FullTilt, and will afford players on the site a unique chance to play and chat with some of the best players and ambassadors in the poker world. We are very pleased," said FullTilt leader Howard Lederer.

Dates for World Series of Poker H.O.R.S.E. Event Changed
The New Event is Moved Up in the Schedule
BY BOB PAJICH

The dates for the $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event at this year's World Series of Poker have been changed. Previously scheduled to begin on July 25, the three-day H.O.R.S.E. tournament will now take place July 12-14. The two-day $5,000 buy-in deuce-to-seven draw lowball tournament, originally scheduled to begin on July 12, will now be held July 25-26.

The events were switched to accommodate TV coverage.

The H.O.R.S.E. event features the most expensive buy-in ever offered by the WSOP. This mixed game was added after players complained that the Series was dominated by no-limit hold'em. The game rotates between limit hold'em, Omaha eight-or-better, razz, seven-card stud, and seven-card stud eight-or-better, with the final table being no-limit hold'em only.

Tips From 'The Circuit'
Sit-and-go tournament strategy

CardPlayer.com's hit radio show The Circuit brings you updates, interviews, and strategy from the biggest names in poker.

The Circuit broadcasts from all World Poker Tour events.

The following is a discussion between host Scott Huff and guest Scott Fischman on sit-and-go tournament strategy, as broadcast on The Circuit from the L.A. Poker Classic.

Scott Huff: What is optimal sit-and-go strategy?

Scott Fischman: It's pretty clear that when you're playing poker, the optimal thing to do is play the opposite of what your opponents are doing. But that doesn't really work in sit-and-gos, because there's a set number of chips on the table and there's a set strategy. And if you risk losing any of your chips in the beginning, you're really risking your equity in the sit-and-go. So, I really do prefer the normal … but there are some tweaks. I have some different strategies, but normally it's tight, tight, tight - loose, loose, loose. That's the way it goes.

SH: Is there a lot of shoving in?

SF: At the end, yeah.

SH: Or minimum raising? Because I've heard that a lot of times you can get people off a hand in a sit-and-go just by minimum raising when you get shorthanded. What do you think of that? How much pressure do you have to put on people?

SF: There are three stages. During the late-middle stage, I will be raising two and a half times the blind with certain hands against certain players, and it has nothing to do with the cards. It has everything to do with the size of the stacks. So, sit-and-gos are all about the chips in play, the blinds, and position.

Tune in to The Circuit and put it to work for your game.

Tom from England has …

Hi, this is Tom from across the Atlantic in London. I had to e-mail because I had no clue how to phone. Every now and again, someone does something right … Bill Hicks … Otis Redding … God … Scott, Gavin, and Joe!

I love the show, especially the insights you guys provide about seemingly routine tournament situations. I just wanted to let you know that you have support worldwide now, so you can't ever stop.

Keep up the good work.

Ask Jack
Want to know how a multimillion-dollar poker tournament is run? Have a question about a specific tournament poker rule or past ruling you've encountered?

Card Player is giving you a chance to pick the mind of one of the game's finest - Bellagio Tournament Director Jack McClelland. You can send your questions to [email protected], and McClelland will share his 25-plus years of industry experience with you.

Dave, Grand Forks, North Dakota: I really appreciate this chance to use your knowledge. Being a tourney director myself, I was curious how you would handle "hand-for-hand" action between two tables when you are paying only 10 spots. Obviously, when you reach 11 players, the process begins. I've seen the tables alternate hand-for-hand until a player goes out, and I've also seen the tables play a hand simultaneously until a player drops. How would you do it? I know Bellagio usually pays the top nine in its smaller tourneys to avoid hand-for-hand action.

Jack McClelland: When you reach 11 players, I would start the hands simultaneously and continue this way until a player is eliminated. In the event that two players, one on each table or both at the same table, are eliminated on the same hand, they would split 10th-place money.

Pete: What is the ruling when the dealer reveals a card before all of the players have had a chance to act? For example, there are three players in a hand after the flop, and the dealer accidentally turns over the turn card after the first two players have checked but the third player is still deliberating.

JM: The turn card is put to the side. The betting round is completed and the river card becomes the turn card (fifth street replaces fourth street). The exposed card is then reshuffled into the deck, and without a burn card (it is already there from the error), the new river card is dealt. This way, if the exposed card was important to someone, he still has a chance to catch it.

Ross Warren, Cheltenham, England: I recently ran a small charity tournament that attracted 51 players. However, I struggled when it came to coloring up the chips. What is the accepted system for changing up everyone's odd chips?

JM: In a chip race for each odd chip (for example, you have two $100 chips), a player receives a card for each chip. If there is a total of 12 $100 chips, two different players with the highest cards by suit each receive a $500 chip. If there is a total of 13 $100 chips (50 percent or more of the next highest chip), three different players with the highest cards by suit each receive a $500 chip. Remember, a player can win only one chip, even if he has the A and the A.

Tip From Tournament Poker and The Art of War

"To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself." These words, written more than 2,000 years ago by Chinese general Sun Tzu, have served as a blueprint throughout the centuries for kings and warriors engaged in battle. These same words create the foundation of a solid strategy for players sitting down at the felt for a no-limit Texas hold'em tournament.

Tournament players must balance two competing goals - survival and chip accumulation. While this is always a delicate task, in no-limit hold'em tournaments, striking the right balance becomes all the more difficult. Since players can attack with their entire stack at any time, one mistake may mean elimination. To help you find the proper balance, let's study the words above.

"To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, …" In order to survive, you must avoid mistakes. Play smart, disciplined poker to protect your chip stack. Do not take unnecessary risks. In the early levels, there is no need to be overly aggressive to win the meager blinds. Use cards and position for both offensive and defensive measures. Don't squander chips by limping in from early and middle positions hoping to see a flop cheaply.
Don't chase draws when it is expensive to do so. Every chip wasted weakens your position and strengthens your opponents'. By avoiding needless confrontations, you do not give your opponents the opportunity to defeat you. Remember that their goals are identical to yours.

"… but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself." As you are protecting your own chip stack, look for cracks in your opponents' armor. Study your opponents closely in order to pick up betting patterns and tendencies. Attack weakness in whatever form. Short stacks, overly cautious players, and predictable opponents are all prime targets for your devastation. Use those chips you did not squander to go after these targets.

Ultimately, there is not a specific blueprint for any one player to follow. Poker is extremely situational. Additionally, every player must find a style that suits his or her game best and optimizes individual ability. However, in searching for the right balance between survival and chip accumulation, take heed of Sun Tzu's advice to stake your ground. Play your cards to survive. Play your opponents to accumulate chips.

David Apostolico is the author of Tournament Poker and The Art of War and Machiavellian Poker Strategy.

Scotty Nguyen Poker Challenge II Set for June 8-19

In less than two years, Cherokee Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has established itself as one of the top places to play poker, as it's recognized for its player-friendly atmosphere, comfortable poker room, and gracious hospitality.

It's why renowned poker champion Scotty Nguyen chose it to be his "poker home" and headquarters for one of the fastest-growing poker events in the country - the Scotty Nguyen Poker Challenge II, taking place this year June 8-19.

"To the person who really loves to play poker, I can't think of a more competitive or fun event than my Poker Challenge," said Nguyen. "Imagine it, 19 poker tournaments over a 12-day period, with a little bit of everything for everybody. Texas hold'em, Omaha, Omaha eight-or-better, seven-card stud … this challenge has them all.

"Combine that action with playing in the most comfortable poker room I've ever been in, and players will have one of their best poker experiences ever," said Nguyen. "Cherokee Casino Resort is beautiful, and the staff is so pleasant to be around.

"All players will love Cherokee's hospitality. It's like nowhere else in the world."

Events will begin on June 8 and will culminate with a main event celebration on June 17, including a Scotty Nguyen "meet and greet" and a kickoff party for main-event players. The main-event tournament is a two-day event, Sunday and Monday, June 18 and 19.

In the finest tradition of championship poker events, the winner will receive not only a share of the prize pool, but also a one-of-a-kind gold, diamond, and ruby champions bracelet, designed exclusively for the Scotty Nguyen Poker Challenge II.

"We like to say at Cherokee, 'Play like you mean it, baby,'" Nguyen observed. "Well, baby, here's your chance!"

Details on participation in and registration for the Poker Challenge and all of its tournaments can be found on the Cherokee Casino Resort web site at http://www.cherokeecasino.com/.

Poker Superstars Invitational III Enters Last Two Elimination Rounds
Ted Forrest, PhilIvey Among Those in Danger of Missing the Cut
BY BOB PAJICH

Players in the Poker Superstars Invitational III have only two qualifying matches left to earn enough points to make it into the second round of 16, and there are several big-name players who are in danger of being among the first eight players cut.

Phil Ivey (9 points), Greg Raymer (5 points), Ted Forrest (3 points), Mimi Tran (7 points), Jennifer Tilly (7 points), Gus Hansen (11 points), Joe Hachem (12 points), Chris Ferguson (10 points), Jennifer Harman (11 points), and Mike Sexton (11 points) all need to do well in their last matches to give themselves any hope of advancing.

Hansen did nothing to improve his chances in his fourth elimination match, being the first player knocked out and earning zero points. He and all of the other players on the bubble will need to finish in the top three during their remaining matches to make it through.

But points could come fast, because a first-place finish is worth 10 points and second place is good for seven, and they add up quickly. Players just need to look at Mike Matusow as an example.

After holding sole possession of last place with zero points after two matches, Matusow racked up a first and second place in his last two matches, for 17 points with one match to go, and all of a sudden, it looks like he'll make it to the next round of 16 players.

Players who will most definitely make it to the next round are Daniel Negreanu (23 points), Card Player CEO Jeff Shulman (22 points), Antonio Esfandiari (22 points), Erick Lindgren (27 points), and Phil Hellmuth (20 points). There is also a handful of players sitting near 20 points who also should make it through, barring a major meltdown of two last-place finishes.

The first round will end in seven weeks. In the next round, the remaining players will play a single-table match consisting of four players. The winner of each match receives $15,000 and advances to the next round with $600,000 in chips. Then, the other three players play each other again. The winner receives $15,000 and advances to the next round with $400,000 in chips.

The remaining eight players will play in a winner-take-all single-table tourney for $500,000. They will be split up into two groups of four and will play until two players are eliminated from each group. Once it gets down to two in each group, the players will go heads up in a best-of-three match.

The last two players standing will play a heads-up best-of-five match. The winner will receive $400,000 and the runner-up, $140,000.

The PSI III is aired on FSN at 8 p.m. local time each Sunday. Times change in certain areas, so check listings before tuning in.

The Beginning of Heads-Up Poker on NBC
BY LISA WHEELER

NBC aired the first National Heads-Up Poker Championship two-hour show of the six-week series on Sunday, April 30. An analysis of the first three weeks of national TV ratings reveals that the series has generated more viewership than any Sunday afternoon sports programming except PGA golf, NBA basketball, and NASCAR.

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship, the brainchild of Jamie Horowitz, has been in existence for only two years, but already has established itself with poker pros as a marquee event.

Card Player sat down with Jamie Horowitz to discuss the event's quick jump from idea to major championship.
Lisa Wheeler: When did you first think of this tournament?

Jamie Horowitz: In 2004, I was working on the Poker Superstars Championship and saw how much the drama intensified when play got down to heads up. I took the format of the NCAA basketball tournament - the event I grew up associating with dramatic sports moments - and applied it to poker. I made up a mock bracket and showed it to Erick Lindgren, Josh Arieh, and David Williams to see if the players would be interested. When they immediately started debating who would be a favorite, whom they would want to draw, and whom they wanted to avoid, I knew the tournament would be popular among players.

LW: How did the tournament go from idea to reality?

JH: When I came back to New York, I wrote up a memo detailing the tournament I believed would make great television. I pitched the show as Poker Madness, like March Madness. I was very fortunate that Jon Miller (senior vice president of NBC Sports) saw my vision and made it into a great television event. Without Jon, this tournament would have been just another good idea that never came to be.

LW: How did you choose the players for the first tournament?

JH: We get a lot of questions about how the players are chosen, and we know the selections are bound to create controversy. Unlike the NCAA basketball tournament, there is no consistent body of work by which to judge a player. If UConn [University of Connecticut] goes 26-2 and Boise State goes 14-14, it's clear that one team should get in and the other shouldn't. But in poker, it's tricky. We wanted to include players who had recent tournament success, historical tournament success, and cash-game prowess, players who had made major contributions to the game, and a couple of celebrities who had legitimate poker skill. No one is saying that these players are inarguably the best 64 in the world. But then again, no one even argues that the NCAA selects the top 64 basketball teams; in this year's tournament, no one thought Penn was better than Florida State. Both last year and this year, the selection committee chose 64 of the biggest names in poker. We had 21 new names this year, so I can guarantee that there were at least 21 players who felt they were unacceptably passed over this year, and many others who also felt jilted. And in one form or another, each had a legitimate point. But there are only 64 spots. Not everyone can be invited, so there are bound to be some disappointed players each year. To be honest, having a lot of players who want to be in the tournament is a good problem to have.

LW: Why do you think poker makes good television?

JH: One of the first lessons I learned at NBC was that the key to good television is good storytelling, and I think poker in particular lends itself to storytelling. In many ways, each hand is a ministory. You need to put the pieces of the story together quickly - who has what, who bet what, who might be bluffing - to understand the hand. Think about the first rule of poker tells: If your opponent acts strong, he's probably weak; if he acts weak, he's probably strong. That's great TV. Anyone who doubts that poker is good on television should listen to Matt Vasgersian's call of the first-round match between Johnny Chan and James Woods last year. Woods had Chan all in, and with just the river to come, Chan was drawing to just a queen or a heart. I can still hear Matt's call: "Only a queen or a heart will save him … queen of hearts." To me, that was as dramatic as any last-second call in any sport.

LW: What do you see as the future of the Heads-Up Poker Championship and poker in general?

JH: I think poker on television is here to stay. I also think that in a few years, there will be two tournaments that stand above all others: the World Series main event and the Heads-Up Championship. There is no doubt that every serious poker player dreams of winning the main event. And I think we'll see the day when 10,000 people enter. But Heads-Up stands apart in a different way. If the main event is like the U.S. Open in golf, where anyone can win, then Heads-Up is like the Masters - where just the best of the best play. While most tournaments hope the big names advance to the final table, the Heads-Up Championship has a marquee matchup at every table in every round. I think last year we saw that it's great television to watch Joe Hachem best a field of almost 6,000 players, but it's also great TV to watch Phil Hellmuth and Chris Ferguson battle it out one-on-one for the Heads-Up title. I think these two tournaments will remain a part of the poker world for a long time, and the only thing I'd enjoy more than producing these two events would be to play in them.

Jamie recently left NBC Sports to become senior producer of ESPN Original Entertainment, where he will help oversee the World Series of Poker for ESPN.

Celebrities and Sports Stars Poured Into Pechanga
Winner Took Home $20,000 and More Fame
BY BOB PAJICH

The Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California, welcomed a cross-section of celebrities and sports stars to its poker room recently for the Pechanga Celebrity Poker Challenge, a tournament with a $50,000 prize pool that was filmed and will be aired on stations in San Diego sometime this summer. The winner of the event received $20,000, which was donated to the Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego.

The 16 stars who competed in this event were Grant Show from Melrose Place, Ed Marinaro from Hill Street Blues, tennis star Ivan Lendl, Richard Karn from Home Improvement, Alfonso Ribeiro from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, former baseball greats Rollie Fingers and Kurt Bevacqua, pro football player Seth Joyner, Jack Wagner from Melrose Place and General Hospital, Nate Kaeding, kicker for the San Diego Chargers, NHL stars Grant Fuhr, Jeremy Roenick, and Luc Robitaille, actor C. Thomas Howell, actress Nancy Sexton, and former NFL great Mark Rypien.

Phil Gordon hosted the event alongside local sports radio hosts. The tournament will air in four segments on FSN, and Cox 4 in San Diego, starting June 3, and will run into July. Check local listings for airtimes.

New Activision Poker Game Debuts
Chris Ferguson Acts as Mentor
BY BOB PAJICH

Activision recently debuted its newest poker simulation, "World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions," at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles.

"World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions" features a layered story line that casts a player as a newly turned poker pro who's building his career under the tutelage of Chris "Jesus" Ferguson.

Gamers advance their careers by competing against top pros in the premier WSOP Tournament Circuit events, hoping to qualify for the winner-take-all, invitation-only Tournament of Champions, which is held at the Rio Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The game will be available this fall for the Xbox 360, as well as other platforms. A release date has not yet been set.

"World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions" is another game to be added to the list of video poker games created for stand-alone video game systems. Activision already has one WSOP-licensed game on the market, which, not surprisingly, is called "World Series of Poker."

The World Poker Tour also has its own video game, as do several of the most popular players, such as Daniel Negreanu and Howard Lederer.

Burt Reynolds is the Real Deal
He Just Finished Filming a Poker Movie in May
BY BOB PAJICH

Isabelle "No Mercy" Mercier glances over and watches as Burt Reynolds - yes, Burt Reynolds - eyeballs her through a pair of smoked-lens glasses under the glaring lights of the World Poker Tour set. She looks over the actor slowly before committing all of her chips to the pot with one of those French Quebec all ins that make the boys stir in their seats.

Reynolds must have a hand - or a read on Mercier - because, in a voice that sounds like a bag of gravel, he says: "Call." Unfortunately, this matchup won't appear on the Travel Channel anytime soon.

Reynolds is starring in a new movie called Deal, which will be released sometime this fall. The movie recently wrapped filming in New Orleans, and Card Player got to see how the final scenes, which took place at a WPT championship, unfolded.

Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Greg Raymer, and Chris Moneymaker appear in the movie. However, Mercier and Scott Lazar, who finished sixth in the 2005 World Series of Poker main event and is a poker technical consultant on the film, were the only non-actors to make it to the final table.

Look for a feature story on this film in Card Player as time draws closer to the release date. We were on the set, watching the action. Reynolds even told a story about playing poker with Milton Berle during a break from shooting.

Here's a teaser: Berle was such a good mechanic, they never let him deal.

Peppermill Casino Poker Room
The Peppermill Hotel and Casino in Reno, Nevada, has been a longtime favorite of the local residents of the Reno/Tahoe area. Now, after being named one of the top 10 casinos in the country by a nationwide poll, the word is clearly out on this incredible property and poker room in Reno.

The Peppermill has a very friendly and comfortable 12-table poker room that is completely nonsmoking and open for play 24 hours every day. The room features an electronic check-in board, so you may choose from the best available games. Plasma television screens are also scattered throughout the room. Food may be ordered to the table from a players menu with special prices that features sandwiches, soups, burgers, and salads. The friendly and courteous staff also provides basic lessons for novices of the game upon request.

The Peppermill also hosts daily tournaments. Inasmuch as the times and buy-ins vary, call ahead for specific information. In addition, the Peppermill also hosts company or group poker tournaments. Contact the poker room for additional details.

Future plans for the Peppermill include a poker room expansion that will add four additional tables, as well as an increased focus on larger poker tournaments and events in the near future.

How to Play Big Slick From Late Position
Big slick has the reputation of being a monster hand that most players love to get dealt. And that's with good reason, because it has a ton of potential.

If you have big slick and a king or ace hits the board, you've automatically got top pair with top kicker. Since big slick is connected, it also has the potential to become the highest straight on the board.

Then again, if you're an experienced poker player, you know that big slick is often highly overrated by most amateurs and beginners. This is because by itself, big slick is not a good hand. It's just an ace high with a king.

It can be beat by just about anything - from a flush to a three of a kind to a pair of deuces. What big slick has is the potential to be a great hand, but that doesn't mean it is a great hand. And this distinction is very important in order to learn how to play A-K properly.

If you play big slick the right way, you can win with it a majority of the time. If you play it the wrong way, you'll end up losing all of your chips and whining about your bad beat. The decision is yours.

So, let's approach our strategy for big slick with late positioning: Since the hand can get run down easily, your strategy is to get rid of as many players as possible before the flop. In other words, scare away everyone who doesn't have a pair or facecards. If you let too many players stay in, someone with rags is bound to catch a better flop.

But if you go up against players with facecards, you have the advantage and the odds are in your favor. This is accomplished, of course, with a preflop raise.

Here's an example:
I was in a $1-$2 no-limit hold'em cash game with some friends, and got A-K on the button. Dan was first to act and he made it $7 to play. The action went around the table, and three of the next five players called. Now, the action was to me. How would you handle this situation? Call, reraise, or fold?

The correct answer is reraise. "Make it another $30," I say. And here's why: Let's say I call. That means there are five guys in the hand. Amateurs might say, "Oh, that means there's more money in the pot." Wrong. What seven players (including the blinds) means is that I am virtually guaranteed to have my A-K run down - because even if I catch a king or ace, there's a good chance someone else will hit a flush, straight, set, or two pair.

And besides, calling doesn't give me any idea of where I stand in the hand, and it doesn't enable me to know what to put my opponents on.

So, I make the preflop reraise. All the players fold except Dan, and he calls. That means I know that he has a real hand, and wasn't just bullying the table. It also means he probably doesn't have cowboys or rockets, because if he did, he would've come back over the top of me, maybe all in.

So, now I've got a read on my opponent, and I've forced out all the other guys, which means I don't have to worry about someone getting "lucky" on the flop.

I've also taken control of the table. Instead of Dan coming out firing after the flop, he'll probably check to see what I do. This gives me control. If I miss on the flop, I can either see a free card or represent a made hand.

The flop comes 9-4-2. What an ugly flop, right? Actually, I kind of like this flop, because I'm pretty sure it didn't improve Dan's hand. He could be holding pocket nines, but I can't put him on fours or deuces because of my strong preflop reraise. I'm putting him on two overcards or a wired pair.

Anyway, now it's time to find out, because Dan checks to me - just as I expected. I could see a free card here, but I'd rather play this aggressively and find out exactly where I'm at.

If Dan calls a strong bet from me, he's probably got a set or a high wired pair. If that's the case, I'll back off after the turn card and minimize my losses.

I throw out a $50 chip with my ace high. Dan decides to muck his pocket eights. Little does he know that his eights had me beat and I just stole a nice pot.

That's how you play big slick from late position. You've must:
1. Scare away as many players as you can before the flop.
2. Take control of the board and action.
3. Find out where you're at in the hand.

Even if Dan came back over the top of me after my preflop reraise, I'd be OK. That's because I could put him on aces or kings, muck my big slick, and live to see another hand without catching a "bad beat."

Maybe next issue I'll discuss how to play A-K from early position. In the meantime, sign up for my free e-mail tips at http://www.freepokernewsletter.com/.

John: I was playing $2-$5 no-limit hold'em at my regular game in my hometown with all the regulars. I had been playing some great poker, laying down big hands like A-K and A-Q to this one particular player who is an above-average tight-aggressive player. These laydowns were in fact correct, and had I called, I would have lost my whole stack, so, needless to say, I was feeling confident. Well, I had K-K in the small blind and this guy was under the gun and made a $40 raise. Everybody folded, I reraised, and he called. The flop was 8-6-2 and I fired out $100. He called. The A fell on the turn, I checked, and he bet $400 into a $360 pot. I folded, figuring him for an A-K or A-Q. I turned up my two kings and he looked at me and said, "John, don't ever show me weakness," and flipped over two eights. Did I play the hand right? I actually lost sleep because I could have busted this guy, but I was afraid of giving back the $750 I was up. Please help.

Scott: I would generally say that folding K-K when an ace hits the board, in a cash game, is never that bad of a play. Since the blinds never go up and you have unlimited ammo, you can find a better spot for your money than kings with an ace-high board. However, I believe that you did make a couple of mistakes in this hand. The largest one was that you folded mainly because you were afraid of giving back the $750 you were up. You must try your best not to let results affect your play. Also, each hand is independent in and of itself. Make your decision based on as many factors as you can possible identify in the current hand, and not on abstract things like results. A few of the things you should have been looking at instead may have been his overbet and his range of hands. Most of the time, a bet larger than the size of the pot shows weakness. Another thing you might want to rethink is your read on his hand. When he raises from under the gun, then calls a reraise, and also calls a big bet on a rag flop, it screams pair to me, not A-K or A-Q. Without going too much deeper, I probably would have put him on a middle pair, and then realized that once I checked the turn after the ace hit, my opponent would jump on the sca