It Takes a Village

Sorry for the pun, but it does. I fully understood the group of players that were waiting for me in Tunica this past weekend. The $500 weekend is the same each year. It is a hoard of players vying to fullfill their dreams. I was one of them not too long ago. Taking a shot at the fun I saw on TV.

I will not deny that in 2000 at the first WPO, the $500 event was my dream waiting to happen. I walked in and won a $70 single table, a $100 bounty for knocking off Amarillo Slim (from John Bonetti), had the entry chip and was ready to play. I didn't make the first break. I was a village member. I was not a player. Some say that maybe I am still not a player. Bah! This past weekend I saw stupid moves, was the glad recipient of at least two donations of chips.

It takes a village...............

A village of idiots.

I am not a superstar player, just read the archives and that will become clear. But I know that I am a very good player. A player that you do not want at your tournament table. I cause havoc and outplay most players I run up against in the $200-$2500 events. I know that I will have to increase my ability further to compete on the world stage in the future. But right now, I know that I am a very good player struggling to keep a tournament bankroll together.

Using an analogy of golf, I would say that I am a scratch poker player. I was an 18-handicap in 2000 in NL tournaments. It has consistently gotten better and now I would say that I am scratch. In the long run, the tournament professionals on the circuit would more than likely destroy my game as it is right now. A scratch golfer cannot play on the PGA Tour. Just does not happen. But they can cause havoc in smaller events and beat a pro on any given day. A scratch golfer today also becomes the touring pro of tomorrow.

So anyway, I go down to the $500 weekend and as I said before, I am not surprised at what I see. People trying to acheive their dreams, but without the tools to obtain those dreams. Problem is, they will trip up some of those (us) that are capable of winning these events. This one point illustrates the excitement of poker. In any given event, regardless of the game, I could beat Phil Ivey. That point cannot be argued. Luck plays a part, the size of that part is open for debate. However, over several events, he would perform better than me, without debate. He is a pro, with the skill and ability to beat anyone in the world at this game, especially players that are merely scratch players.

I went 1-7 in single table satellites (5 $120 and 2 $230) events. I never finished worse than fifth. The play was horrible, but in the six that I did not win, I got the best of it only to get knocked out by suckouts.

I went 0-2 in Multi-Tables. The $500 event was described in the previous event. I also played in the $330 event at the Gold Strike on Sunday and go knocked out in the seventh round after having the chip lead for most of the first two hours.

This post is not to spew about bad beats I received from bad play from bad players. I take that aspect of tournament poker with a grain of salt. I am talking about the entire tournament room. Every where I turned I saw amateur moves, impatient action and just plain stupidity. It is quite a phenomenom how poker has drawn such numbers to the game. I guess action junkies, compulsive gamblers, and addicted personalities are drawn to certain portions of the world. I think that this flame of poker will always draw the moths of the world, and the bigger the flame, the more moths.

I honestly love this game. It is my passion. I look forward to the combat at the felt. I just sometimes wonder if this village of $500 players understands just how impossible their dreams were this past weekend?

Thanks for the attention to my rant. I am going back to the $1500 WPO event on Saturday. I will also play no more than 3 single table satellites Friday night. WPO satellites for sure, because their structure is so much better.

Until next time,

Good Luck and See You at the Felt.......................