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Ever wonder what it’s like to win an online satellite
to a big-time terrestrial poker tournament? Well, so
did I – that is, until I had the pleasure of playing
on Team Bodog (www.bodog.com) at the 2005 World Series
of Poker. Part of the allure of poker is that anyone
is just one big tournament win away from poker superstardom.
And now here I was, playing for a record $7.5 million
top prize and my very own chance at the big time.
TEAM BODOG
Team Bodog consisted of 75 players including pros Josh
Arieh and David Williams, Hollywood celebrities Shannon
Elizabeth (Nadia from American Pie, Nick Gonzalez (from
the hit show the OC), and DJ AM (pro DJ and Nicole Ritchie’s
fiancé), and, of course, satellite winners of
all shapes and sizes, representing the best of the best
from BoDog Poker. One of the coolest things about playing
on Team BoDog was meeting other players with whom I’ve
played all year online, but never met. One in particular,
Ari, who many agree is the best NL Hold’em player
on BoDog, wasn’t at all what I expected –
he must have been barely 22 years old – yet you
can find him consistently cleaning up at the $5/$10
NL tables. It was very interesting to put faces to screen-names.
BODOG PARTY
I had arrived at the Rio in Vegas on Wednesday. Day
1 of the WSOP was broken up into three flights running
over three days. I soon found out that I would be playing
on the second Day 1, Friday. I was glad not to be playing
Thursday, so I could enjoy the bash BoDog was putting
on at Rain – located at the Palms. Nothing gets
you ready to play in the biggest tournament of your
life like an all-night bash at the hottest club in Vegas.
Every year, BoDog holds their Poker and Sports Marketing
Conference where the who’s who of the online sports
and poker industry show up to lecture, learn, and, of
course, have a little fun. The party has become kind
of an institution within the industry, and this year
each member of Team Bodog had an invitation. So, assuming
I made it back to my room by 4am, that would give me
a full 31 hours to recover.
In true BoDog style, this was the bash to be at on
this night. The club was packed; there were Brazilian
dancers everywhere, and special guests included hall-of-famers
Reggie Jackson and Mike Ditka. To be honest, I don’t
remember a whole bunch, so needless to say, I was glad
I wasn’t playing the next morning.
BODOG GEAR PACKAGE
Part of BoDog’s WSOP package was $2,500 for travel
expenses, which was promptly deposited into my BoDog
account, and an insane assortment of accessories, that
included a custom BoDog mini-iPod, Oakley sunglasses,
various BoDog shirts embroidered with your screen name,
BoDog caps, and a high-end heavy duty BoDog travel bag.
Everything a poker players needs. All I had to bring
with me to Vegas was pants and shoes, and I was ready
to play.
PLAY BEGINS… AND ENDS
Friday finally arrives. I decide to go with only the
BoDog cap today, so as not to appear too much like an
internet player. I’ll save the bright red Bodog
shirt with my screen name on it for Day 2, when most
of the internet players are gone, and it’ll be
to my advantage to tell other players that I’ve
never played in a live tournament (not true).
Play began at 11:00am. Starting chips were 10,000.
To my relief, there were no big name players at my table.
I was surrounded by about five other satellite winners,
including a fellow Team Bodog player, and Mimi Rogers
(actress, ex-wife of Tom Cruise, and avid poker player),
which was kind of cool. Lance, the Bodog Poker Room
Manager, continuously made the rounds checking on Team
Bodog chip stacks.
The other Bodog player and two Poker Stars players
came out really aggressive, and I had to tighten up
a little. I actually got dealt a good number of playable
hands, but couldn’t hit a flop, and it was too
risky at that point to try and bet these guys off their
hands. Eventually, my tight table persona allowed me
to steal some sizable pots, including a 7,000 chip pot
on a busted straight when I was actually just playing
the board. My stack built to about 16,000 and my confidence
was high, but then the table broke.
My new table, again, had no name players. I was just
getting accustomed to my new opponents, taking down
some decent pots, when the guy to my left busted out.
The seat was filled with none other than Chip Reese,
and he had a decent sized stack. I engaged Chip in some
small talk, and watched as he didn’t play a hand
for 30 hands, while he patiently watched the other players
at the table. Then bam! He starts putting in 5x raises
and re-raises on everyone that tries to play a hand.
I’m forced to lay down top pair twice after he
re-raises me. Another guy tried to make a stand against
this apparent bullying, re-raising all-in with top pair,
only to have Chip call and turn over pocket aces. Chip’s
stack was now over 100,000. My stack was down to about
7,000. The guy two seats to my right had stolen my big
blind three times in a row. On the fourth time, I called
his 4x raise with K-Q off. The flop came out Q-J-5 rainbow.
I made a pot sized bet, which he immediately doubled.
“Does this guy really have it this time? Has
he had it every time? Probably not. Hmm... I know he’s
been watching me lay down every time Chip re-raises
me. I don’t think he has it. All-In!”
He looked a little flustered, and on top of that, I
commented on how it wasn’t that much more for
him to call. Maybe he’ll put me on two pair, or
a set. After a minute or so, he called and we turned
up our cards. He shows pocket kings. “Crap!”
The turn is another king, and I was drawing dead…
out of the WSOP.
So my 2005 WSOP lasted a mere eight hours. Josh Arieh
and David Williams also busted out on Day 1, but so
did about 75% of the field. Shannon Elizabeth actually
made it to Day 2. In total, seven members of Team Bodog
cashed with Alexander Morales AKADOMDEREK being the
highest finishing BoDog player (77th), bringing home
$107,950. All in all, it was a great experience. Nothing
left to do now, but start playing satellites for the
2006 WSOP.
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