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Howard Lederer
I had a dream’I had a dream that Howard Lederer (known as “Bub” to his friends) would win the Party Poker Million in 2002. But Howard left the boat after only about five minutes on board in 2002. Why did I have that dream” It wasn’t like Howard has won very many limit Hold’em tournaments, and it’s not like I dream of players winning very often, so who knows…
In 1999, “London” Ali Sharkasheik had a dream that I would win the European Poker Championships in Vienna. He was right, sort of’you see I did win the European Poker Championships, but in 2000-one year later. Therefore I was expecting the same thing with Howard. I dreamed he would win in 2002, therefore I thought that he would win in 2003, since he didn’t win (or even compete) in 2002. I finally bet him at 4 to 1 with three players left when he was short chipped. I should have bet Howard from the very beginning (at perhaps, 40 to 1), but I didn’t want to focus on anything but myself-and I was in there after the first two days of the tourney when the prices were high.
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Big Hand in Atlantic City
I first heard about this hand from Scotty Nguyen in December (2002), and most recently from Layne now in April. Scotty was pretty upset, and so was Layne; Erik Seidel was the only happy camper to emerge from this hand, which he won, incredibly, with ace-high; this, despite the fact that Scotty would have made four tens with his pocket 10’s.
By the way, I am writing this hand at Ted Forrest’s house in Vegas (I forgot my laptop!) with Layne at my side. I will let you know what Layne has to think of this hand as I write. Five minutes into day two of the Taj Mahal’s US Poker Championship $7,500 buy-in Championship no limit Hold’em tournament, with the blinds at $300-$600, and the antes at $100 a man, Layne opened for $1200 with 6-6, Tony Van called, and now Erik Seidel made it $5,200 to go on the button with As-Jd.
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The Sky is Falling
While hanging around with some of the top pro poker players recently, the following statement came up regarding Alan Goehring, Robert Varkonyi and Jimmy White; who won, in order first to last mentioned, the World Championship (WSOP “Big one”), the $25,000 World Poker Tour (WPT) Championship event, and the Poker Million–the Masters: “The Sky is Falling!” I mean, Varkonyi is an amateur who competed against the best poker players in the world, and had to be at least a 5,000 to 1 underdog to win the five-day long WSOP: Goehring is another amateur who had to be at least a 1,000 to 1 underdog to win the five-day long WPT Championship: and White is a very inexperienced poker player who plays Snooker for a living, and claimed in the press later that it sure helped his “game” to play online poker.
In all three cases, these players played hands that anybody who knows anything about poker wouldn’t have played. Maybe they’re onto something new regarding no limit Hold’em strategy. Seriously, it looked like the they played so badly, that perhaps we should disregard traditional poker philosophy and tactics. They either were incredibly lucky or they played so far above the rim that no one knows exactly how they each won.
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Call Down with K-10 High
In the 2003 World Series of Poker’s (WSOP) $2,500 buy-in limit Hold’em tournament, I found myself heads up with Young Phan. In 2001, I was heads up with Scotty Nguyen in Omaha 8/b with a chance to win my eighth title; I lost. In 2002, I was heads up with Johnny Chan in no limit Hold’em with a chance to win number eight; I lost–instead Chan won #7 to tie me. This time I needed to win! Especially because I was at the peak of my poker powers. Unfortunately, I don’t seem to reach the peak of my poker powers too often, therefore when I do, I need to go ahead and use all of my powers to win!!
I was playing great poker, and I was ready to win, but Young wasn’t going for it! Back and forth we battled, 100 hands, then 200 hands, then we crested 300 hands of one on one poker, and neither one of us would back down. When we were playing $3,000-$6,000 limit when the following hand came up; and gave me the confidence to win–and perhaps took a little steam out of Young Phan’s sails. I raised with K-10 off suit before the flop, and the flop came down 2s-4s-7h.
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Please Hold’em!
In the $3,000 buy-in no limit Hold’em tournament at the World Series of Poker recently, I managed to win my ninth bracelet, which tied me with Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan for the all-time lead. $410,000, a WSOP Championship, and the all-time lead, oh happy day! I am still feeling really blessed and happy.
It was almost as smooth a sailing as it has ever been with me, except for when Erik Seidel started running me over like I was a Hyundai, and he a Mack truck. I would open for $8,000 – $15,000, and he would reraise me $30,000 to $50,000 more. Time and time again this happened, so that finally I decided to make a stand with A-J for his $50,000 raise.
But then, as I was about to move all-in, I thought better of it. I thought, “I know he has it this time, and if I move all-in he’s going to show me Q-Q. Patience Phil, patience; I know were down to $120,000 from over $400,000, but the blinds are only $2500-$5,000.” I kept thinking, Erik has nearly $800,000, but show them a hand, don’t panic, and you’ll still have a chance to win.
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Did I Deserve Better?
Here comes an article that I have been dreading writing for the last couple of weeks. I’m going to tell you exactly how I went out in the “big one” this year. First, I would like to say, “Please don’t feel sorry for poor old nine-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) Champion Phil Hellmuth jr.!” After all, I don’t even feel sorry for myself.
You see, I feel blessed with great health for me and my family, a hot new book, nine WSOP wins, etc'(Jeff Shulman cut me off here!)
First off, after winning two Hold’em bracelets at the 2003 WSOP, I liked my chances in the big one. You see, I don’t always play great poker, and sometimes I don’t even feel like a great poker player, but occasionally I play spectacular poker for a month or two. And the WSOP in 2003 was my time to play spectacular poker!
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