Subject: Reno Hilton World Poker Challenge - Day 1
From: greatbrit <pwestley@pacbell.net>
Newsgroups: rec.gambling.poker
Date: Sun, Jan 6, 2002 1:36 AM
Message-ID: <3C381AA2.19FC4FEF@pacbell.net>

I knew it wasn't going to be a good day when I got a wrong number call
at midnight.  I called the operator to get a 'do not disturb' on the
phone, then at 3am I was woken up by another wrong number.  I called the
operator and then she tells me they've had problems with the do not
disturb system, duh!

Today was the first event, the $330 Limit Holdem, I played BAD.  Well
actually I started off with my usual bad beat syndrome, notably the very
first hand where QQ was shot down in flames by the ever dominating 92o,
and I was soon down to half my chips (started with 1000).  Then a long
while later I hit a couple of good hands and was back to 1300, then I
played two hands really badly and was out soon after.  With both I had
the best hand going in (AA and TT), the story of my life, but the thing
was it was so obvious from the betting that I was beat that I should
have released both of them early and lived to fight another day, I have
to stop getting married to the best hand pre-flop, it doesn't mean much
after the flop.  Later I played 2 satellites, split one with the always
nice and great to play with Chris Bigler, went down in flames in the
other.

Only 295 players, down from 440 ish last year, but still plenty of
satellite and ring action and the hotel is extremely busy, at the final
table tomorrow are Men and Barry.  There was some buzz about a hand Men
played, I don't know the real story, but I got one version from rgper
WenMax who heard it from someone at the table, and another from a guy
who was at the table but couldn't remember the details, I think an rgper
may have seen it happen too.  Men had (I think) QT, he called  a
pre-flop raise from a guy with AA.  Flop was something like K83 and Men
came out firing, the AA raised and Men at least called (maybe raised and
called a reraise).  Turn was an Ace, the story is they capped the
betting there!  Then the magic Jack on the river and another capped
round.  I hope someone knows the full story on this one (was Men maybe
four suited on the turn?).

PartyPoker sponsored the first event, Linda Johnson introduced the
promotion and I think it went very well (they may be back for more!).
The clock ran great until I accidentally moved the level back from
150-300 to 100-200 while I was entering the prize payouts, oops.
Luckily the players saw it right away and I ran for cover after fixing
it.  Then with 3 tables left the laptop went nuts, the display went
completely haywire, I rebooted and it did it again soon after.  I was
thinking a bad memory chip or something then I realized the PC was
sitting pushed right up against a cloth backdrop blocking the air vent,
it was probably overheating, I'll know for sure tomorrow.

In the nightime super-satellite Spencer Sun, minus hat, came second!
Well done Spencer.  Talking to Spencer was Lee Jones, a very nice guy
who I finally got to meet, and I also met Chuck, an rgper, equally
friendly to talk to.

Tomorrow is the $330 Pot Limit Holdem, I have to play this or I may not
be allowed re-entry into England, plus of course the embarrassing
headline in the Daily Star ('Brit refuses to play pot limit game').

IGSleepN

Paul