New Orleans is Back

In mid-May, several thousand poker players went "way down yonder" to New Orleans to play in the World Series of Poker Tournament Circuit event at Harrah's. Many of us expected to find New Orleans devastated and in ruins. While some shops and buildings were still boarded up, most of the city seemed to be alive and well – and the French Quarter (home of the Mardi Gras) was certainly back in full swing.



Each day during the dinner break, many of us strolled the few blocks from Harrah's up Canal Street to Bourbon Street, in the heart of the French Quarter. Apparently, that area had survived the storm very well.



Whenever you walk down Bourbon Street, day or night, you become part of the party atmosphere; it's sort of a perpetual Mardi Gras parade, with all sorts of people of all ages. There are lots of bars and sidewalk cafes – many blaring wonderful Dixieland music. A block over on Royal Street, which is parallel to festive Bourbon Street, you can stroll through a dozen blocks of art galleries, antique shops, and great restaurants (try the famous Court of Two Sisters).



Last year's tournament attendance here was the largest of the WSOP Tournament Circuit events held in 2005. And this year, notwithstanding Katrina, the attendance at the first three tournaments was up from last year.



In the first tournament, I had the dubious honor of losing most of my chips to the eventual winner, Bach "B" Vu. He won the third event, also! He was obviously sizzling hot.



Twice during the second tournament, I found myself using a "draw play" strategy. A very aggressive player who frequently raised before the flop was sitting two seats to my left. With the blinds at $100-$200, I picked up pocket aces. The first player to act, on my right, made it $400 to go. What would you do in this situation, assuming that you and most of the other players had several thousand dollars in chips?



I like a call here. I think it is wrong to reraise and tip your hand, especially with a bull behind you whom you would love to trap with your aces. I smooth-called, and sure enough, he came over the top, raising it to $2,000 to go. The poor guy in front of me was delighted to call the bull, but then got caught in the middle when I pushed in my stack, making it $5,500 to see the flop.

The bull called me, and I managed to gain about $8,000 in chips with that move.

About a half-hour later, with the blinds at $150-$300, two players folded to me, holding the K Q. I smooth-called, and the bull made it $800 to go. Everyone folded around to me. Again, I simply called, although I suspected that I had the better hand.



A great flop hit the table, K-Q-4. I checked to the bull, who bet $1,700. I had about $12,000 in chips and he had slightly more than that. What would you do here?



Although there is something to be said for making a big check-raise, which would probably win the pot, I think it is right to risk losing the pot in order to increase your yield here. So, I simply called – hoping that nothing bad would happen. The turn card was a 3. I checked, hoping that he would try to force me out with a big bet. But, he bet another $1,700. I had noticed that he usually doubled his bet on the turn. Was he trying to lure me in?



Well, whatever he was doing, I had him beat unless he held an unlikely set. It was time to spring the trap, so I raised all in. He hemmed and hawed, and then said, "I think you might have me beat, but I'm gonna call you anyway." So, he called the $8,500 raise and turned over A-K. The operation had been a great success, as I would win a huge amount of chips unless an ace came up on the river.



Unfortunately, the patient died, as an ace did come on the river, and I was out. But at least I had the consolation of knowing that I had played it right.



Even though I was rather unlucky in the tournament, I otherwise had a great time and was very pleased to see that New Orleans was still there. As WSOP Media Director (and my old friend) Nolan Dalla stated, "All of these poker players are spending money in bars, restaurants, hotels, and so on, and are helping this city make a comeback. That's part of the recovery. Other conventions cancelled here, but the WSOP Tournament Circuit came back and goes on. We poker players are used to challenges."



I'm looking forward to returning to New Orleans next year, and hopefully will have time to play in all of the events.