Joe Navarro in Toronto, Stout at Foxwoods

I am once again en route, this time from Toronto to New York City. The good news is I will not have to travel again for the next ten days and the FTOP’s are going on Daily on Full Tilt, which should keep me occupied.

I spent the weekend at the Canadian Poker Expo in Toronto, and it was really great. It was the first time for this event and with minimal marketing the turn out was larger than expected. Full Tilt ran single table satellites into a free-roll online event every couple of hours on about 30 tables. There were several of us from Full Tilt, including Lee Watkinson, Greg Mueller, Gavin Smith, Scott Montgomery and a great player whom I met for the first time, Mike McDonald. We played as bounty’s in the satellite sessions and were given strict instructions not to win any of the shoot-outs. It was not a problem until the last one, when no matter how bad I put it in, I kept winning. Finally at three handed I had over 80% of the chips and the other two players made a deal. I hope I can run that well in the next event I play.

I gave a couple of talks for the WSOP Academy, which was really pretty enjoyable. Unfortunately both days I followed Joe Navarro, whom is a hard act to follow. I have of course read his book, which I think is great, but this is the first time I heard him speak live and he was impressive. His years of experience as a master interrogator for the FBI are put to an interesting use as a poker behavioral analyst. I find I pay attention to many of the things he recommends and should pay more. I spent a considerable time one on one with him and picked his brain about several patterns I have noticed. I could not have been more impressed with him. I don’t think I would have wanted to be interrogated by him back in the day. I did take courses in resisting interrogation when I was in the Navy and I am extremely glad I never had to put any of it to use for real. Although I like to think of myself as tough in those ways, I am sure I would have cracked like a glass dropped on a hard floor. I could go off on a rant here about the Bush administration and water boarding, but I will control myself and move on.

The talks I gave were mostly on the transition from online to live play. Interestingly enough I am one of the players that went the other way. I had never played a hand of online poker until just over two years ago, after the WSOP. You could make a case for the pros and cons of beginning with one or the other, but either way there is an adjustment period. It is curious that although it is the same game, very few players excel in both arenas. One question that all of us were asked all day long, was who would win the WSOP main event. None of us picked correctly, I was sad to see my picks, Phil, Kevin and Jeff, eliminated relatively early, although I heard all of them got it in good and were sucked out on, but hey that’s just poker. I always think of what Tom Hanks said in the movie, A League of Their Own, when one of his players starts crying after he yells at her about a bad play, “There’s No Crying in Baseball.”

Last night I got back to my hotel and fired up my computer to play a little. I looked for something starting right away and noticed a $250 super turbo, which had almost 500 runners so off I went. By the third level I had accumulated well above average chips and lasted until 13th place. I lost a couple of races at the end, but I had won my share early so I can’t really complain. It is an interesting format starting with 300 in chip and 3 minute levels. My initial reaction was “Roy No Like” but I have come to really enjoy the format, both for satellites and tournaments. You have to adjust you play style considerable and many times your only decision is all in or fold. I do believe that this format takes some getting use to and the skill difference between the good and let’s just say not so good players is wider than the average tournament.

Before going to bed I did notice that the Foxwoods main event was down to 27 players. Among them were a couple of good friends, which is always nice to see. Lee Markholt is 2nd in chips and Matt Stout (All in at 420) was well above average as well, and although on the short side Kenna James was still alive. I would love to see all 3 and Grinder make the final 6. I might just have to make the drive up to Foxwoods for that table. Rut row just got home and checked to see Grinder out 11th, Stout chip leader with double average, Markholt short with half average which leaves Kenna James about in the middle. Good luck to all and to all a good night.