The Jew that Ruined Easter; My First Vegas Poker Tournament
I came to Vegas to start a new life, but to also play
poker. I loved poker. I was good at it, and I was going to show my
mettle in Vegas. Unfortunately having
only $400 and losing $275 the first night, makes the dream a little harder to
achieve. With only $125 left in my
bankroll, I had to give up poker and get a real job. But of course before Monday came, there was
Sunday. And being in Vegas and all, I
decided to let it ride.
The tournament at Binions cost $130. My roommate Anthony Fiorino put up half that
for me, and would split half the winnings.
I don't remember what I was thinking on my way to Binions, but it should
have been, “Richie, what the heck are you doing?!?!?”
It was Easter of 2006, and the turnout was only 17
people. Normally a lot more players play
that tournament. This was good because I
had a greater percentage to win, but of course the top prize of $750 wasn't
going to be life changing. But I
guarantee no one needed that money more than
me.
I remember starting off well. I didn't double up, but I was winning some
decent pots and playing very well.
Anthony was struggling and short stacked. I was glad we were at separate tables as I
just wanted to put all my focus on me.
But I got switched to Anthony's table after around the first hour. He was immediately to my left which was good
because I could steal his blind or give him mine. There were a lot of enemies there that
morning, no reason for me and Anthony to mix it up with each other.
However Anthony got eliminated and I felt the pressure of
the world on me. I know the stakes don't
seem all that high, but for me this is all the money I had. I needed to win this thing. But not just for the money. For the trip.
My trip was a four-day hell ride.
I hyperventilated, almost died, and was a total mess. I was in the west coast for the first time in
my life, and I felt I was on the other side of the world. I missed New York terribly and though I was
enthused, I couldn't really have that initial rush because I had no money to do
anything. Basically, I needed something
good to happen to me.
The tournament was down to its final table. There were nine of us. The top three got paid, but third place paid
so little, it was hardly worth it. No, I
needed to win this thing.
I remember this old lady.
She had never played Texas Hold Em before and she paid off
everybody. She never folded. So I have K/Q hearts and three hearts hit the
board. I remember thinking, “This old
lady is going to double me up.” I
couldn't believe when she folded.
Some poker players say it doesn't matter if you win a small
pot, as long as you win. Always remember
this. Poker players lie. Winning a small pot when you have the nuts
(best hand possible) sucks. And though
there was one hand that beat me, (and Ace high flush) I felt I left some chips
off the table.
The tournament grinded down and I was in decent
position. I remember feeling nervous yet
confident. Or maybe confident yet
nervous. Finally it got down to three of
us. The old lady, and this tight
27-year-old.
The old lady was dominating.
Not because she was good, but because the blinds were so high and she
was raising every pot. It was a good
strategy, but it was more luck than anything.
The tournament has scheduled breaks and I remember going
into the bathroom and seeing Anthony. I
needed a pep talk and he gave me one.
This was my moment, not theirs!
I was going to win this thing.
But I needed cards and I was right in the middle of the
attack of the bad card brigade. I had
nothing. I was on the button (meaning
first to act when you're three-handed) and I remember saying to myself, I am
going all-in. I am pushing all my chips
to the middle no matter what. I was
hoping just to steal the blinds. So I
look at my cards and I see the dreaded 2/3 off-suit. The two lowest cards in the deck. But I pushed all-in hoping my opponents would
fold. The extremely tight player
called. Great, I was done. And then of course the old lady called. Doubly done!!
But I didn't realize something. I had $100 more chips than the tight guy
($100 was the lowest chip in play. It
means we basically had the same amount).
So if the old lady wins the hand, I come in 2nd, not 3rd. This was good news, because I would receive
2nd place money, not third.
The tight guy had pocket 7's, and the old lady had A/K. I was around a 13% favorite to win the
hand. The flop came and I hit a
two. This may seem like good news but
its really not. I wanted the 2, but I
also wanted an Ace or a King. Because I
was still behind the pocket 7's, and the 7's were ahead of the old lady. I needed the lady to beat the tight guy so I
would come in 2nd. But that
all changed on the turn when a magical 3 hit the felt!!! I was now in the lead!!! I remember Anthony going, “YES!!!!!!” The crowd from the incoming tournament went
nuts. But I was sitting there like
someone killed my dog. There is a Poker
God and he doesn't like players that celebrate too early. There were a lot of cards in the deck that
could hurt me. The two remaining 7's,
and if the board paired the other two non 2,3 I was done. I don't remember what hit on the river. I think it was a harmless 6. But I had won the hand!!! I took my two cards, turned to the crowd and
said, “I only play the nuts!!! (which was a joke since I had a horrible hand
when I put all my money in). Anthony
suggested I make a deal with the old lady and give her an extra $100 bucks to
end the tournament now. I agreed and she
did as well. She got the t-shirt that said
she won, I got the free entry into a tournament at a later date. We hugged and Anthony and I went to eat. He was paying. I was the hero.
I remember Anthony driving and I was high on life. I was cursing that Arizona mountain that
nearly killed me, and calling all my family and friends telling of the story of
my first win.
We went to the restaurant and Anthony told the waitress I
was a hero. He was right. I thought I needed something good to happen
to me. I was wrong. I needed something great. And it happened. I was the Jew that ruined Easter!!
Glanzer 1
Vegas 0
(pic of random poker game, not Vegas)
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