Event 1

Shuffle up and deal were heard for the first event in the 2008 World Series of Poker in the Amazon room at the Rio. Turn out for the 10k pot limit holdem was decent with 352 players. The field was one of the toughest I have played in to date. With each table packed with great players. My table started with Vanessa Russo, Jeff Lasandro, Duey Tomkeo, and as players busted out they were replaced with such notables as main event winners Chris Moneymaker and Tom McEvoy, Humberto Brennes, Anna Wroblewski, Alexander Kostritsyn (2008 Aussie Millions Winner), Bill Chen, Noah Jefferson and several others. I struggled as a short stack till just before the dinner break when I finally doubled through Kostritsyn with JJ vs. A8. I was going along fine until about 40 minutes until the end of play for the day and I raised under the gun with KK and was called by the button. The flop came 862 rainbow and I led with a pot sized bet. After being raised, I re-raised committing about 2/3s of my chips. When he moved all in, I folded and showed my kings and he revealed his set of 6s. Two hands later, it was a five way limped pot and I have A9 in the small blind. The flop comes A35 and is checked around. The turn brings another ace, Chen bets 10k and I smooth call with what I believe to be the best hand and player to my left moves all in for 30k more. I only have 28k remaining at this point. Chen called as did I. Chen shows A6 and the player to my left pocket 3s for a full-house. I get no help from the turn or river and finish in about 80^th place.

I really feel like I played well all day long, never had a flush, straight or set the entire day but to adapt a line from Martha Stewart, when poker gives you lemons, you've got to make lemonade. It's always disappointing getting so close but I guess that's just poker. I would like to thank those of you who sent me well wishing emails. I'll be playing the second start day of event 2 on Sunday and will figure out what to do tomorrow.

For more information on Roy Winston, you can visit his website: www.oraclepoker.net or send him an email: [email protected]