Another Day in the Office - Part 2

By Neil Channing - June 2005

When I last updated I'd just gone from the $1500 NLH to the Boardwalk to write this nonsense. The cab drivers always seem to be surprised at that destination but it's the cheapest place close to the Bellagio to use the internet and has a good cafe. (as The Camel can confirm).

From there I popped into the Bellagio. The poker room has been extended considerably, (along where the "o" box office was), presumably to compete with the large room at the Wynn. I was surprised to see one of my %s Dave Barnes in the room and even more surprised when he told me he was down to the last 16 in the afternoon $1000 freezeout. Given that this started at 2pm and he'd been in the WSOP event at noon (started on time today), I must have had a great run for my money.

I got back to the Rio for the Late Night 2nd Chance. The registration problems (and queues) were receding and this got over 200 players. I failed to take KK against AJ on a J high flop and was out about 80th. I decided to have an early night ready for Saturday's event.

I got up early and got to the Rio a bit too soon for the $1500 PLH. It gave me a chance for some people watching. The convention centre is way at the back of the casino and is huge (about 4x the size of Benny's Bullpen). The walk from the front entrance is a good 10 minutes. Watching poker players ploughing relentlessly down the large corridors is very reminiscent of my favourite zombie film : George Romeros' Dawn of the Dead.

As I walked to my seat I saw a familiar looking cart (the type that old people have) and had a quick look about for Doyle Brunson. Obviously though it belonged to Robin Keston whose leg is still in plaster. (probably caused by everyone pulling it). Robin told me the cart was essential and he'd rented it for the duration.

Jac Arama had gone one better. His motorised kids scooter, essential due to a metal plate in his leg (a London cab driver did a rather amateurish job of running over it some years back), was going to be $70 a day. Jac decided it made economic sense to buy it for $250. When Rory took it for a joyride it looked pretty nippy, but I couldn't help thinking that if Jac was concerned about economic sense he might want to stop playing in every one of the one table sats that they begin here.

The tournament was again slightly uneventful for me. 1000+ runners meant it would be fast, although below 1500 meant just a two day event. I started playing VERY fast and succeeded in losing half my stack. KK v JJ got me back into it but I never got to the front by far. I played a 55 v AQ in a way that might have worked, if only an ace hadn't have flopped. In the end I got it in with a hand that I figured was unlikely to be dominated. Maybe I should have remembered that J9 suited is also pretty crap.

My one highlight was a 4,5 offsuit where I raised preflop and JC Tran called, flop was AA6. I bet this monster and he check-called, which wasn't in the script. On the turn a deuce came and he check-called again. When he check called the trey on the river his face showed some bemusement.

I got to sit net to JJ Lui (formerly Bortner) for much of the day. She's a VERY aggressive player who reminded me that we first met on the Isle of Man where she lost a pot that lead to Mr Duthie becoming a millionaire. I asked her how many seats she had won in the supers in 2003 (I knew it was a lot) and she said 14!! When I told her Betusa.com were betting on the top woman at the WSOP she seemed interested (I think I put her at 33/1).

Padraig was on the table behind me and he was having some fun. He was reminding Kirsty Gazes (on my table) of how he'd wound up Mel Judah in a recent PPT event. Pacific Poker had paid a group of players $3000 to wear shirts with logos during the event and Padraig and Kirsty had got Mel to think that the others were getting 5k while he got 3k. Those of you that know Mel can imagine how much this would upset him. When Padraig suggested to Donnacha that he was getting 5k Don didn't flicker and said

"They told me I was the only one on five".

We laughed when Marcel's nearby table (which was five deep at the rail) called for a ruling. I pointed out that they probably needed to draught in new spectators. Padraig commented that it's amazing how wearing your sunglasses backwards can pass for a personality over here. A bit harsh.

After the event I went to the excellent fish restaurant they have here with Jeff and Dave Barnes. Dave had split the Bellagio comp for $25k and was pleased. The night before his flight he'd "popped into" the Vic to buy $$ and done most of his holiday money in an Omaha game. He couldn't tell his Mrs that he'd "gone off" the idea of going so he came over, but was a bit short.

I then went off to play in the 2nd Chance which is running much slicker now (as is everything generally) and got 300 players. I suffered a horrible ruling which cannot happen in Europe . Where we deal the flop one card at a time, they count out three cards face down and then spin them over. Our dealer managed four while I was busy taking 10,10 up against Q4. None of the four were Qs or 4s and there were no flush or straight draws. The ruling they gave was that the four cards should be shuffled into the deck. Naturally I made trips while the guy made a straight the second time. They said they do that as it's not always clear which the burn card is. Felt a bit robbed. I was also not really sure how the Q4 called - he thought I was at it.

I got an early night so that I could get up and move from the Alexis Park to the Gold Coast. This is good in some ways as I can answer the ubiquitous "where are you staying?" question with a place people have heard of. On the other hand, I quite liked having a room with a kitchen and a fridge in it. It was a bit like being at home the amount I used them.

Then went to play a one table sat before sitting in the Rio very expensive business centre to write this.

Two quick stats on the day:

36% - My guess on the number of people in the $1500 nlh that spent longer playing in the event than they did queuing for it.

4.5 - Padraig's figure for the under/over on plh final tablists that cannot routinely calculate how to bet the pot (obviously includes the dealer)

Neil Channing is sponsored by Betusa.com