Poker Recap
Posted: 2008-04-08 15:47:03
By: Shawn Rice
This had been a long and eventful 2 months. The LA Poker Classic was a really fun time. A group of 20 or so UB players and qualifiers made it to LA and Victor had us all set up to go to a LA Kings Hockey game on a big bus Vs the St. Louis Blues. I made a small bet with Debo and my friend Paul from Burbank. I took 3 to 2 on the money and took the Kings and I don't remember the final score but the Kings killed them and it was a blast as Debo and Poker Ho were betting the others that the next player to score would have an even numbered jersey, and they must of won like 5 in a row. We got to go to the players benches and be introduced at intermission and go on the ice after the game for more pics. The hospitality suite they set up for us was really awesome with free food and drinks and after the game a few of the Kings players showed up for some meet and greet. Victor you did a great job sir on making this all happen and a great time was had by everyone.
The 10k main event didn't go to well for me as I was in the 4th level with about 20k in chips and I raised 600 UTG with 88 with blinds 100 and 200. Eric Seidel called from an early seat along with a super aggressive player in the big blind. I don't know much about this player other than he was wearing a wsop bracelet and had lots of people I know coming over and saying hello to him. The flop come AK8, It was a dream flop for me as I am sure someone who flopped a pair vs my set will be in really bad shape. The player in the BB makes an over bet of 2500 into a 1900 pot. I have 2 decisions to make here as no way I am folding. I can give this really aggressive player enough rope to hang himself and try and win a big pot or raise there and more than likely take the pot down there. I took the gamble for playing for a big pot and called the 2500 as Eric also called behind me. The turn card now brought the 10 of clubs and now 2 clubs on the board, This aggressive player checked and I thought about betting at the 9400 pot but I thought if I check here it would force Eric to bet to try to take the pot down as I put him on a hand on the flop he would want to protect vs a straight card coming or a possible club. He fell for it and bet 7000 and the aggressive player folds and this leaves me with a little under 10k in chips left so I push all in and he and Eric calls with QdJd for the broadway straight . If I bet the turn here and he raised me I might of not of gotten broke here, but I in no way put him calling me from an early seat with QJ suited. I am not sick of my play, just of the results.
At dinner break we get a table of like 8 of us downstairs and Victor mentioned that the Lakers where playing the Clippers tonight and the game started at like 7:30 and I said if we leave now we have a good chance of making it. Last thing you want do is play poker when you get knocked out of a 10k event, so off to the basketball game we went. We saw some scalpers trying to sell some tickets and they didn't have any good seats so we get to the ticket window and ask for something I would never say to a scalper. "What are the most expensive tickets you have and where are they?" They had 2 courtside seats 2nd row for $650 each. I told them to ship them as I was still on tilt from the poker loss. If this was a Lakers home game the tickets would have been cheaper but the Clippers get more for their courtside home games, I was kinda shocked to hear that but I went for it anyway. These are by far the best seats I ever had at a professional basketball game and it was an unreal experience being so close, We saw a few celebs and even Kareem was sitting by us. I have my share of double crown and cokes to help with the poker pain. The Lakers killed the Clippers and Kobe is just unreal to watch. He has so much talent he just far and above outshines all the other players. They looked so solid. I am not sure who I will bet on to win the NBA Championships but I would hate to bet against the Lakers this year.
R_A_Y, an Ultimate Bet qualifier, along with Phil Hellmuth both made the final table of the LA Poker Classic. I was a guest of Phils along with Layne Flack and Keith Woernle who made another super funny (part 2) video about UB . Check it out here. . Keith is super talented and a great guy to hang around. R_A_Y and Phil didn't fare to well as they finished 5th and 6th.
I stuck around for the WPT Celebrity Invitational tourney and while I was in LA I got to watch Pearl Aday and her band Pearl play as she opened up for Metal Skool. It was great seeing Pearl and Scott Ian onstage doing what they do best, rocking the whole place and everyone really got into it. If you get the chance check out her music. Annie Duke and Joe Reitman were also there supporting our friends. Scott was even asked during the Metal Skool set to jam with them onstage. Metal Skool is California based glam metal parody band that is a total blast to watch. I would love to see them at out party in Aruba . I also got to check out my friends in Opiate for the Masses play in LA as there where practicing for their concert at the Roxy on Sunset. If you like a really talented Tool, NIN influenced band. Check them out too here. They have had videos on MTV's Headbangers Ball and songs on the Saw soundtracks. Seven might be the best drummer you could ever see, he is worth the price of admission alone.
The Invitational was a really fun tourney to play It didn't take long before the whole table was drinking and ordering shots. After a few hours of play Sam Simon, one of the creators of The Simpsons, was on my left and we both got super desperate and made a deal to chop the tourney winnings but you had to show up at the celebration party to collect. Well, It was a no bet as we both didn't last very long as we didn't chip up.
After Los Angeles it was off to Canada to teach poker seminars in our UB Cross Canada Tour with one weekend in Toronto with Phil Hellmuth and the next in Montreal and Ottawa with Annie Duke. All the seminars went really well as Alex Outhred helped KK, Poker Ho, Debo and myself teaching poker situations. I never get tired listening to Annie as she is the best teacher out there. I am so glad I was apart of this as she helped me with apart of my game and I have had 3 really nice wins on UB in the past month, winning the 30 rebuy, the main event seat for Reno and Sunday the 20K guarantee. This has been super for me as I have not had a lot of chances to play with all the travel.
After Canada it was time to head to Reno for the WPT's World Poker Challenge, This was another fun event UB had for about 30 of us who had chances to win cash on go cart racing, a video shooting machine along with a longest drive and closest to the pin competition, along with free food and drinks. There was only 260 players for this event that will be the last one in Reno as the WPT will not schedule another next year. This was filled full of many fun times getting to see old friends but I didn't cash here either and that's always a little disappointing. No real key hands do I really remember here other than I get knocked out when I raise on the button with 55, I get reraised by the small blind, I knew I should of probably folded as this guy was playing really solid and flop comes 234 and he lead off with a bet about one third the size of the pot and I pushed with 10 outs twice and get called by 10 10 and out the door I went after dinner break. I should not of called preflop and showed him the respect he deserved and with a flop like that, I am somewhat trapped.
On the flight home I had Gavin Smith on my flight and we played a little Chinese Poker and donated to a worthy cause. I never win at this game and maybe that why I enjoy playing it so much as I find it to be a good challenge for me. No telling how much Debo and Ho have beat me out of, I think I have won twice in thirty something plays.
I am back home now and off to Vegas on the 12th and I am going to take half of Sassy's action in the ladies event at the Bellagio. Later that week, I have been asked along with Ho and Debo to be apart of the WSOP Advanced NL Holdem Academy along with Annie, Howard Lederer , Paul Wasicka, Phil Gordon, Andy Block Alex Outhred and Joe Navarro the FBI profiler. This will be a really great camp to attend if you are really serious about bettering your poker game. You can get more info here. The night of the 19th, the plan is to see Van Halen at Mandalay Bay about with Debo his wife, Scott Ian and Pearl along with 3 other friends and to not party so hard as the next day I will be playing in the $25,000 buyin Bellagio WPT Championship. I think I am on top of my game and after these seminars I should come out of it with tons of confidence and will need it vs the worlds best whom will all show up for this event. With the WSOP main event being super hard for not only a pro, but anyone to win this tourney should be won by a professional is my guess. Then the UB team is back off to Canada for 2 more stops in Calgary and Vancouver on the 26th and 27th of this month. If in the area do yourself a favor and come to the camps, you know what they say about the day you think you have poker figured out is the day you stopped learning. Here is a link to the official site of the Cross Canada Tour and come by and say hello and cant wait to see many of you who rob me and take advantage of my good nature online.
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
