And why careless whispers can lose you poker dollars!
$1.1 MILLION FOR LOSING? One million, one hundred thousand dollars for losing a game of poker sounds fairly extraordinary even in today’s cash-crazy online environment but it’s still true! One of our players at dailystarpoker.com pointed out to me that Julian “The Kid” Gardner was the youngest ever player to win over one million dollars at poker just for being the runner-up in the 2002 World Series of Poker Main Event. Incredibly, he was also the only British player to finish in the money at the Main Event three years on the trot. The Kid from Manchester is widely thought of as one of the most skilful young players of his generation. Of course, the runner-up in this year’s WSOP Main Event is more likely to be taking home a fistful of millions, let alone one, but Julian’s not jealous. “After all, I was once a “question” on TV’s the Weakest Link. It doesn’t get much better than that.” I think the Kid needs to get out more.
A CARELESS CARD Why is it so important to keep your hand a secret even if you’re folding? It’s very important. Here’s why. Suppose another player, still in the game, has been attempting to pair a card that he can see you are tossing into the muck? He’s now much more likely to fold, disadvantaging another remaining player at the table who will be seething in your general direction. It’s even worse if you make a remark like, “I’ve just folded the Ace!” throwing a spanner into the potential future betting. Generally, never reveal your cards at anytime, but at the very least wait until all the action has ceased.
GUTSY WINNER With this year’s WSOP Main Event final table drawing ever closer it’s a good time to look at just how gutsy last year’s Champ Joe Hachem was when he went heads up for that final seven and a half million dollar hand. How about this? Joe was dealt a Seven and a Three as his hole cards. Could it be any worse? His opponent Steve Dannenmann had received Ace-Three and was considerably happier. Dannenmann immediately smelt blood and raised to seven hundred thousand pre-flop against Hachem’s three hundred thousand dollar big blind. Chip leader Hachem had only to double his blind to see the flop which produced the insanely fortunate Six-Five-Four he must’ve been praying for. An Ace at the turn trapped Dannenmann completely and he was committed to his hand. End of story. Hachem cleaned him out and floated his wheelbarrow full of bucks all the way to Oz where the tax authorities let him keep the lot. Bonzer! Makes you want to live the there. Almost.
