A Full Tilt Sunday, Hellmuth at the WSOP

Yesterday I spent the day playing on Full Tilt. Sunday would seem to be the big online day on many sites. I did well in the one million guarantee and the $100 re-buy. I went well into the money but couldn't get to the final table. In the million I was slightly below average in chips and lost KK to AA, all in pre-flop. In the re-buy I finished 19^th and lost 77 to KJ all in pre-flop again. I also enjoy most of the chat, a lot of well wishing fans, but I can't understand why some players get so nasty. In one hand someone raised 3 big blinds in mid-position with A 10 suited and I called from the big blind with 8 9 suited. I flopped a 9 and won a nice pot after he bluffed at it and I called. He then berated me for calling with 8 9 suited. First of all I think 8 9 suited is a pretty good starting hand and I was in the big blind and had only to call an additional two BB's getting better than 2.5 to 1 on my money. I would much rather be playing a hand like 8 9 suited over A 10. Now I realize that all in pre-flop I'd like to have the A 10, but my game is playing after the flop, so give me 8 9 over A 10 any day.

I was sitting around talking with a few friends about this year's WSOP and a few items came up that I thought I would share. To begin with I think the improvements in this year's event were excellent. The dedicated satellite room, the color coded table sections, moving tournament registration outside, and no more tent. The planning and organization necessary to spool up and run an organization like the WSOP with its enormous staff and let's not forget how demanding poker players are is nothing short of remarkable.

Now for the areas I think need improvement. First of all I think the players on the WSOP advisory committee should represent the players. Poker has become way to vertical. By that I mean the group at the top represent themselves, not "The Players." The WSOP is about thousands of players from around the world coming together and playing poker. It is not about the elite few, it is about the average player. To that end the interests of the average player should be represented. For instance, allowing late registrants to start with a full chip stack is a measure designed for a few players. If you sign up early and show up late you are blinded off, but for registering and showing up late you get a full stack. Another positive was the cell phone rule, which finally made sense.

Now one item which I feel has to be addressed is the Phil Hellmuth penalty, or lack there of. The day he was penalized he was warned numerous times about abusive behavior at the table. When he was finally assessed the penalty at the end of the day's play. A special meeting was then held and the penalty removed. First of all I wonder what average player wouldn't have been penalized much sooner and perhaps more severely. Futhermore, what would be the likelihood of some "lesser" player getting the penalty removed?

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