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Hand of the Week: Win the War, Not the Battles
During the 2003 WSOP, poker pros Freddy Deeb and Marcel Luske had been really working me, bluffing me out of hands a combined 17 times in a single event! Yes, they outplayed me many times that day, but their wins were relatively unimportant battles — really just a bunch of small pots.
My plan was to win the war.
That same year, at the Bellagio’s World Poker Tour Doyle Brunson Classic, I faced off against Freddy Deeb once again. This time, though, I wasn’t in the mood to let him run his bluffs against me. Freddy started things off in a similar fashion, tossing in huge raises with the blinds at $100/$200, but once I started calling his game I had him dominated. Obviously, when a person bluffs continuously and successfully, they’re getting away with something and need to be put in their place. It was time for me to step in.
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Bahamas
Beautiful Bahamas! I’m in paradise this week drinking scotch, smoking cigars, and eating red snapper while gearing up for PokerStars PCA. Staying with a friend, and the view couldn’t be better! Clouds reflecting in the pool with beach, Caribbean Sea, palm trees and sun streaking through the clouds. Ahhhhh.
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Family Ties
This year marked my first win in our annual holiday Family Poker Championship! Here’s our traveling bracelet: sterling silver with initials engraved on the back. Do you think I can count this as WSOP #14?
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Poker News Interview
By Tatjana Pasalic, via Poker News…
Tatjana Pasalic: Hi Phil and welcome! How was your experience in China?PH: I love it here! I mean, from a poker point of view, I sat down at the small blind five hours late, busted on the big blind. I lasted one round! I did take an incredible beat. It was a dream come true scenario – blinds were 150/300, I open for 1k. I had already come over the top once. This is my 5th hand. The guy behind calls, button makes it 2900. I call with JJ. The other guy starts studying and studying…and I think: ‘God, I hope he moves in!’. He looked like he wanted to call and he did. Then came 2, 3 7, with the 7 and 3 of clubs, excuse me the 7, 2 of clubs, 3 of spades. I checked, the other guy checks. The button bet 5300 and I am studying and thinking. My mind says I have to fold this as I do not want to jam 60 BB but I just won the WSOPE and my instincts, I have all my bracelets on my instincts, so I have to go with them. I feel like he does not have AA or KK. I am really good at reading those hands.
I start talking to him and I see he is nervous. He doesn’t even have queens. I ship it! 10300 more and the other guy folds right away and it gets back to him and he starts studying. The minute 10 seconds pass, I am like alright, he does not have queens but once 20 seconds passed I knew he did not have queens and I am thinking ‘This is beautiful! I have the best hand and I am proud of the way I played it.’
I started joking, I walked over to Matt Savage and Adam Pliska from the WPT and the director of the casino, Andrew Steel. They are all standing there and I say, ‘God, I can’t believe I moved all in for 60BB with JJ already. So unlike me! But now I am about 95% sure I have the best hand.’
I go back to the table and it has been announced that I am all in, a big crowd gathers around and I say to the guy, ‘Hey, you can be famous if you call and bust me.’ He flips over the J2 of diamonds. I was in shock! It can’t get better than this. He can’t even make a backdoor flush. He’s drawn to a duck! I mean, it is so beautiful; I am a 1:11 favorite.
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From the Archives
Madison (WI) Magazine, 1990. I haven’t aged a day, right?
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Calligraphy from Royalty
This progression shows a nephew of the last Emperor of China doing Calligraphy (a Dragon) for me. Such an honor to meet him and to receive this gift.
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