Day 2

Wow, what a smooth day for me today. The first 90 minutes was rough with Vinny Vinh going crazy behind me. That guy plays so fast, he must be on drugs! He outplayed me for awhile, as I held my ground chip wise. Then In was drawn to another table. Part of me wanted Vinny, because I wanted to get even with him, but another part was glad to switch tables.

Every A-K held up, all day long. My start was when the button player opened for $3,000, and I made it $12,000 to go with A-K in the big blind. He called, the flop was 9-9-3, and I checked. He bet $12,000, and I called. I checked in the dark on the turn, another 9 came off, and he checked as well. The next card was a king, I checked, and my opponent bet $40,000, which I called immediately. He said, "You win." This was the pot that launched me!

I have $530,000 in chips, but I never won more than $60,000 from any one hand all day. Small pot poker. I was lucky that I won every time I had queens or kings or aces--all day long. One hand I reraised Andy Black, making it $12,500 to go with K-K, the flop was Kc-6s-5s, and he bet out $20,000. I smooth called, trying to give the impression that I was weak. The turn was bad though (9s), and when he checked, I bet his last $35,000 or so. Another hand I had Q-Q, I reraised a played, the flop came down Q-4-3, and now he check raised me for about $20,000. I smooth called, and he bet out $30,000 more on the turn. I moved him all-in for his last $28,000, but he folded.

I called Chan to chat after the tournament and he called me back later to say, "Phil, I'm really starting to love you. I want you to know that I'm pulling for you this week." That made me really happy, because I always pull for Chan and Brunson. And now I know that they pull for me as well. I am going to just play my hands on day 3, nothing fancy. I will leave the fancy to the others, and try to induce them to bluff me as I always do. It is a tough style when you smooth call with K-K, Q-Q, and A-A like I have often done this tournament. Many times you have to fold your hand along the way vs. winning the pot before the flop. But when it works, oh baby, risk free chips by the bundle!!!