Danny Tang's Fast Climb to the Top of the Poker

www.CardPlayer.com Vol. 33/No. 14 July 1, 2020

DANNY TANG’S FAST CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE POKER MOUNTAIN WSOP BRACELET WINNER, TOP PERFORMER ON HIGH ROLLER CIRCUIT HAS $8.5 MILLION IN WINNINGS

All-Time Tournament Cashes Justin Bonomo Wins Pot-Limit Leader ‘Miami’ John Cernuto $1,755,000 And His Third Omaha Hi-Lo Discusses His Storied Career Super High Roller Bowl Title Fundamentals

PLAYER_33_14_Cover.indd 1 6/10/20 10:11 AM PLAYER_14_GlobalPoker_DT.indd 2 6/11/20 12:29 PM PLAYER_14_GlobalPoker_DT.indd 3 6/11/20 12:29 PM PLAYER_14_TheBike_DT.indd 4 6/11/20 12:29 PM PLAYER_14_TheBike_DT.indd 5 6/11/20 12:29 PM Masthead - Card Player Vol. 33/No. 14

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004_Masthead.indd 6 6/10/20 10:03 AM PLAYER_TalkingStick_FP.indd 3 6/11/20 12:42 PM Table of Contents - Card Player Vol. 33/No. 14 24 16

Features Strategies, Analysis Also In this Issue 24 & Commentary 4 Danny Tang’s Fast Climb To The Top Of 28 About Us The Poker Mountain COVID-19: As Poker Rooms Reopen, 34 28-Year-Old Poker Pro Talks High Roller It’s Okay To Be Selfish Tournament Schedules Scene, WSOP Bracelet Win, And Seven- By Greg Raymer Figure Cash Game Pots 38 By Julio Rodriguez 29 Poker Leaderboards True Tales From A Hollywood Poker Hustler: Spider-Man’s Fist Fight At The The Inside Straight Viper Room And Other Poker Brawls We Tournament 10 Would Love To See By Houston Curtis Hand Matchups Poker News Recap 22 15 32 Common Poker Mistakes Vicent Bosca vs. Christopher Hunichen Player Of The Year Update By Jonathan Little 29 16 33 Rob Lipkin vs. Mark Davis Table Talk: All-Time Tournament Cashes Contracts And Poker: Exculpatory Clauses 31 Leader ‘Miami’ John Cernuto Discusses By Scott J. Burnham Daniel Dvoress vs. Vicent Bosca His Storied Career By Erik Fast 37 20 Christopher Hunichen vs. Viktor Blom Poker Strategy: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Fundamentals With Randy Ohel By Steve Schult

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008_TOC.indd 8 6/11/20 12:03 PM PLAYER_14_ACR_FP.indd 9 6/11/20 12:45 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT

the INSIDE STRAIGHT News, Reviews, and Interviews From Around the Poker World LAS VEGAS POKER OPTIONS LIMITED DURING CASINO REOPENING “Poker rooms were not allowed to By Steve Schult spread a game with more than five

Nevada casinos reopened for busi- players at a table until the Nevada ness June 4 but fi nding a poker game Gaming Control Board loosens its social wasn’t easy in Las Vegas. Silver State casinos were closed for distancing restrictions.” more than two months after Gov. Steve Sisolak declared a state of emergency in mid-March and shut down all “nones- sential business” in response to the spread of coronavirus throughout the state. With the state in the second phase of its reopening plan, Sisolak gave the casinos approval to reopen with several restrictions in place, including a limited amount of seating available at all table games. Poker rooms were not allowed to spread a game with more than fi ve players at a table until the Nevada Gaming Control Board loosens its social distancing restrictions. With these safeguards in place, many prop- a poker room, but the other fi ve will Martin. “We are waiting to open and erties opted to keep its poker rooms keep poker rooms closed. make decisions from there.” closed until further notice. Bellagio’s Director of Poker Mike e Venetian will be the only place In mid-May, Wynn Resorts Williams told Card Player that its on the Strip where gamblers can fi nd announced that it would not reopen poker room will reopen when regula- a poker game. e Las Vegas Sands- its poker room when it opens its pair tors allow more players at the table. owned property announced last month of Strip properties, Wynn and Encore. “ e poker room will not be open- that it would open its poker room on Other major operators are taking a ing ... with the rest of the casino June 5, a day after the reopening of similar approach. due to ... restrictions handed down the casino. Both MGM Resorts and Caesars by gaming,” said Williams. “We are e room will only be open from Entertainment opened three of its in contact with [Nevada Gaming 9 a.m. until 1 a.m. and will spread Strip properties in the fi rst two days Control Board] trying to get those four-handed cash games and winner- of the reopening process. Caesars restrictions altered to six-handed or take-all single table tournaments on reopened Caesars Palace, Flamingo, greater. We are anxious to open but demand. and Harrah’s, while MGM reopened want to be sure it is safe for our e only other Sin City poker Bellagio, New York-New York, and guests.” rooms that were opened for business MGM Grand. e two gaming giants John Martin, the poker room early on are off the Strip at South will open the rest of its Strip casinos in manager at Caesars Palace, echoed Point and e Orleans. Shortly there- a gradual manner as executives mea- Williams’ sentiment. after, the Golden Nugget became the sure both demand and safety. “ e casino opened on June 4, fi rst downtown Las Vegas property to New York-New York doesn’t have but poker will be behind that,” said spread poker again. m

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010_News.indd 10 6/10/20 1:46 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER DEFAULTS ON LOAN FOR NEWEST LAS VEGAS STRIP CASINO By Steve Schult

e tallest building on the Las Vegas Strip will likely Construction was put on hold when lenders backed out stay empty and abandoned instead of becoming the area’s of the deal in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. e newest casino after the developer defaulted on loan pay- property was purchased by billionaire Carl Icahn in 2010 ments. for $150 million, who spent $10 million per year to have According to Business Korea, e Drew Las Vegas resort it sit empty on the north end of the strip. Icahn sold it to development project has “suspended principal and interest Steven Witkoff in 2017 for $600 million. payments” on the property since May 8. e casino, named e Drew, after Witkoff’s late son e default likely came as the project experienced a who died from a drug overdose in 2011, was initially setback when construction was paused in March due to the scheduled to open in 2020, but several setbacks pushed COVID-19 pandemic. e Witkoff Group-owned building the opening date to 2022. Even as recently as January, it secured $2 billion in loans at the start of the year to fund looked like the completion was just a matter of time and further construction costs of turning an abandoned build- not money. ing into a casino. At the start of the year, Witkoff convinced regulators in More than half of the funding came from major Carson City that the project would be finished. He said he American investment banks, and the rest came from South spent “$10 million in research” to determine that it would Korean investment firms Mirae and NH Investments & be a profitable venture to complete the casino. Securities. According to a January report from CDC Gaming, According to the Korean media outlet, the deferred Witkoff dispelled rumors about the unfinished project and payments are applied to the U.S. banks, but if those enti- the Nevada Gaming Control Board found his group suit- ties decide to scrap the project, take some losses and sell able to run a casino. the assets they acquired in the real estate deal, the Korean “ is is essentially a high-end renovation project,” said investors will take heavy losses. Witkoff at the meeting. “We’ve x-rayed the entire building.” e site of the proposed casino is considered by many in Last November, Witkoff hired poker royalty to help run Las Vegas to be cursed, an eyesore, or both. the casino when he announced that hall of famer Bobby Miami-based developer Turnberry Associates broke Baldwin would become the Drew’s first CEO. Baldwin was ground on the 68-story building in 2007 in hopes of creat- also named Vice Chairman of the Witkoff Group in that ing the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a recreation of the upscale same announcement. Even if the casino isn’t built, Baldwin Miami Beach hotel. will continue working for the group. m

010_News.indd 11 6/10/20 1:46 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT - News, reviews, and interviews from around the poker world

Judge Dismisses Charges Against Alleged Poker Cheat Mike Postle U.S. District Judge Also Dismisses Charges Against Justin Kuraitis And Stones Gambling Hall By Steve Schult

"The ruling all but puts an end to the $30 million lawsuit surrounding one of the biggest cheating scandals in recent poker history."

In a decision that will undoubt- they thought Postle cheated. The Shubb agreed and pointed to edly anger poker players across the consensus from Brill and others was Kelly v. First Astri Corp., a 1999 world, a United States District Judge that somehow, Postle was receiving case involving blackjack players in Sacramento has ruled in favor information about his opponents’ suing a casino for using marked of Stones Gambling Hall, Justin hole cards. However, it was unclear cards, to make his point. The casino Kuraitis, and Mike Postle in early to them exactly how he was doing it. won that lawsuit as well. June, opting to grant their motions Veteran gaming attorney Mac “California’s strong public pol- to dismiss pending civil lawsuits VerStandig took Brill on as a client icy against judicial resolution of stemming from Postle’s alleged and filed a suit against the three civil claims arising out of gambling cheating on Stones’ live stream. defendants. He also added more disputes mandates the dismissal In a 24-page opinion, Judge than 80 other poker players to the with prejudice of plaintiff’s claims William B. Shubb of the Eastern list of plaintiffs, all of whom played against Postle for fraud, negligent District of California, dismissed all with Postle on-stream. misrepresentation, negligent mis- charges against the three defen- Between the three defendants, representation, and unjust enrich- dants. The ruling all but puts an there were a combined 14 complaints, ment,” wrote Shubb. end to the $30 million lawsuit sur- all of which were dismissed by Shubb. All of Postle’s charges were dis- rounding one of the biggest cheating He dismissed complaints of missed with prejudice, meaning that scandals in recent poker history. negligent misrepresentation, fraud, VerStandig would have to file an In mostly small-stakes, live- unjust enrichment and a Racketeer appeal in order to continue the legal streamed cash games in the Influenced and Corrupt Organizers battle against the alleged cheater. Sacramento-area casino, Postle won Act (RICO) claim against Postle. Shubb left an opening to con- roughly $250,000 throughout an Kings Casino, the parent com- tinue the fight against both Kuraitis improbable winning streak where pany of Stones, had all six com- and Stones, however, as some of he booked victories in nearly every plaints dismissed, including negli- those charges were “dismissed with session he played. After about a year gent misrepresentation, negligence, leave to amend.” of consistently booking winning ses- constructive fraud, fraud, and a libel “Plaintiffs are granted 20 days sions while implementing an erratic claim against Brill. Kuraitis was fac- from the date this Order is filed to strategy, former Stones employee ing complaints of fraud, negligent file an amended complaint against Veronica Brill aired her concerns misrepresentation, and negligence. defendants King’s Casino and last October that Postle was cheat- In its last filing for dismissal, Kuraitis if they can do so consistent ing the game. the legal team for Stones argued with this Order,” wrote Shubb. Brill and several other prominent that per California law, gambling According to a tweet from members of the poker world broke losses can’t be considered damages. VerStandig, it is apparent that an down countless hours of live-stream Kuraitis made similar claims in his amended complaint will be filed. footage to illustrate when and how filing. There is no word about an appeal. m

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010_News.indd 12 6/10/20 1:46 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT Justin Bonomo Wins $1,755,000 And His Third Super High Roller Bowl Title By Erik Fast

“Bonomo remains in second place on poker’s all- time money list with $49,135,608 in career live cashes.”

e Super High Roller Bowl moved online for the first player to hit the rail. He got his last chips in ahead with Ao time ever in 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Qm against the Ap Jo of Pauli Ayras, but a jack-high flop e event became a 28-event series hosted on partypoker, and no improvement for Loeliger on the turn or river saw with 27 preliminary events capped off by the marquee him bow out in sixth place ($250,000). $102,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event. e center- Dan Shak had surged to the top of the leaderboard ear- piece of the series attracted a total of 50 entries, creating a lier after busting Sam Greenwood, but had fallen down the prize pool of $15,000,000 to be paid out amongst the top chip counts since. He ultimately got his last chips in with seven finishers. In the end, the largest share of that money Ao Kp up against the 10m 10n of Bonomo. e pocket was awarded to Justin Bonomo. e 34-year-old American pair held up and Shak’s run came to an end in fifth place poker pro took home $1,775,000 and his third career Super ($325,000). High Roller Bowl title. e next major all-in confrontation also involved a is online event does not count towards Bonomo’s preflop race with a pocket pair up against A-K. is time career live tournament earnings total. He remains in second it was Pauli Ayras who has the overcards up against the 4o place on poker’s all-time money list with $49,135,608 in 4p of Addamo. e Qn 6o 5m 3m 9m runout was no help career live cashes. to Ayras, who earned $487,500 as the fourth-place finisher. e marquee event of this year’s SHRB Online series ran With that Addamo overtook the lead, with Bonomo over the course of two days, June 1-2. e first saw the field in second and 2016 Card Player Player of the Year award narrowed to just 13 players, with Ali Imsirovic holding the winner David Peters on the short stack. Peters more or less chip lead when play ended. It took over two hours for the committed himself preflop with Ap 5o, raising to 900,000 field to be narrowed down to the final table, but the final from the button and leaving himself just 225,000 behind. eight would not all make the money. Orpen Kisacikoglu Addamo called with 10n 10p and then lead out for the rest was ultimately knocked out on the money bubble when of Peters chips after the flood came down 7o 6n 5n. Peters he ran Ao Kn into the Km Ko of two-time World Series called and was in need of an ace or a five. e Qm turn of Poker bracelet winner Michael Addamo. Kisacikoglu and 3o sealed his fate. Peters was awarded $762,500 for his failed to improve and his elimination locked up at least a third-place showing. $212,500 payday for the other seven at the virtual table. Addamo took 9,707,000 into heads-up play against e next player to be knocked out was Sam Greenwood. Bonomo, who sat with 5,293,000. e two traded the lead Facing a cutoff min-raise from Bonomo and a small-blind multiple times, but it was Bonomo who held nearly a 2:1 shove from Dan Shak for around 30 big blinds, Greenwood advantage by the time the final hand was dealt. Addamo called all-in with 7m 7o for about 26 big blinds. Bonomo limped in from the button for 300,000 and Bonomo shoved bowed out and it was Greenwood’s pair against the Ap all-in holding Kn 5o. Addamo quickly called for his stack Kn of Dan Shak. e flop brought a king and Shak never of 5,200,000 total with Qm Qp. e board ran out Ko looked back from there. Greenwood took home the previ- 10n 3n Kp 3o and Bonomo made a full house to secure ously mentioned sum of $212,500 for his deep run. the pot and the title. Addamo earned $1,187,500 as the Swiss online poker star Linus Loeliger was the next runner-up. m

010_News.indd 13 6/10/20 1:46 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT - News, reviews, and interviews from around the poker world

World Series of Poker Global Casino Championship Moved Online In 2020 By Erik Fast

e coronavirus outbreak is once again resulting in a major change for the live tournament poker scene. e latest event impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic is the World Series of Poker Circuit’s season-ending Global Casino Championship. e event, which features a $1 million guaranteed prize pool and awards a WSOP gold bracelet, was slated to run from August 11-13 at Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina. e WSOP announced late on Friday, May 22 that the event would now be held online at WSOP. com on Sept. 13. More than a dozen WSOP Circuit live events have been postponed or canceled due to the ongoing pandemic. e WSOP has announced that it will be hosting a new Season taking place and are encouraged to contact WSOP opera- Finale Online Circuit series, with 12 gold ring events. A total tions manager Johnny Hernandez at jhernandez1@Caesars. of 13 guaranteed spots into the Global Casino Championship com for more details on registration logistics. will be awarded, with each of the 12 ring-event winners and Players have been qualifying for this event throughout the WSOP Online ‘Casino Champion’ earning a spot. this WSOPC season in the following ways: “We want to do right by our players and see the promised • By winning a designated WSOP Circuit main event title prize money put up for grabs,” said Ty Stewart, Executive • By accumulating the best performance total across Director of the WSOP. “Hopefully the choice of an East all 12 ring events at a given stop (known as the ‘Casino Coast or West Coast destination makes it more viable for Champion’) qualifying players. Our Online Circuit events have been • By being one of the top 50 cumulative point earners huge successes to date and WSOP.com is a viable alternative across domestic WSOP Circuit events for the last qualification spots and this year’s championship. • Players who won a WSOP Circuit ring or those that We look forward to returning to Harrah’s Cherokee in 2021 finished in the top 100 of the WSOP Player of the Year but until then, the show must go on… online.” rankings are eligible to buy-in to the event for $10,000 All of the players who have already qualified for this e Season Finale Online Circuit will not award rank- year’s Global Casino Championship will be able to play in ing points, which means that the current top 50 in the this online version of the event but must be physically pres- points race are “considered locked for the Global Casino ent in the states of New Jersey or Nevada in order to partici- Championship” according to the WSOP’s release. pate. Qualifying players need to create and/or verify their Here is a look at the schedule for the Season Finale WSOP.com account ahead of the invitational tournament Online Circuit series:

Date Event Buy-In Guarantee Re-Entries Start Time

Wednesday, June 3 Online Finale Circuit Kick-Off $215 $100,000 2x 4 p.m.

Thursday, June 4 Online Finale No-Limit Hold’em $320 $100,000 2x 4 p.m.

Friday, June 5 Online Finale NLH Turbo Deepstack $250 $100,000 2x 4 p.m.

Saturday, June 6 Online Finale Circuit Big 500 $500 $150,000 3x 2 p.m.

Sunday, June 7 Online Finale Circuit Monster Stack $525 $200,000 3x 2 p.m.

Monday, June 8 Online Circuit Freezeout $320 $100,000 N/A 4 p.m.

Tuesday, June 9 Online Finale Circuit High Roller 6-Max $1,000 $150,000 2x 4 p.m.

Wednesday, June 10 Online Circuit No-Limit Hold’em $215 $100,000 2x 4 p.m.

Thursday, June 11 Online Circuit No-Limit Hold’em $320 $100,000 2x 4 p.m.

Friday, June 12 Online Circuit NLH Monster Stack $320 $100,000 3x 4 p.m.

Saturday, June 13 Online Finale Circuit Double Stack $320 $150,000 2x 2 p.m.

Sunday, June 14 Online Finale Circuit Main Event $525 $300,000 3x 2 p.m.

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010_News.indd 14 6/10/20 1:46 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT As of 6-4-2020

A Look At Players Making Waves On Place Players Points Final Tables Winnings The Live Tournament Circuit Trung Pham - 1 Vincent Wan 2,280 1 $909,420 23 23rd Place (1,490 points) With two titles and five final- 2 Farid Jattin 2,177 6 $1,205,493 table finishes accrued in the early months of 2020, Trung Pham cur- 3 Anton Suarez 2,100 1 $1,000,000 rently sits just three spots outside of the top 20 in the 2020 Card Player Player of the Year race. 4 Cary Katz 2,095 8 $2,420,543 The Temple, Texas resident rang in the new year by taking down a 5 Kahle Burns 1,956 6 $2,923,988 $300 buy-in event at the Million Dollar Heater festival at the Beau Rivage for $13,847 and 125 points. Less than a week later he finished fifth 6 Ngoc Hoang 1,900 1 $909,420 from a field of 1,404 entries in a $1,100 buy-in event at the Lucky Hearts Poker Open at the 7 Aaron Van Blarcum 1,896 8 $1,854,522 Seminole Hard Rock to add another $57,739 and 400 points to his totals. He then went on to finish ninth in the $1,700 World Series of Poker 8 Sam Greenwood 1,881 6 $1,357,807 Circuit Choctaw main event for another $28,034 and 90 points. Trung secured his second title 9 Tim Adams 1,857 6 $5,904,777 of the year in February by topping a field of 177 entrants to win a $400 buy-in event at the Wynn Spring Classic. A week later, Pham 10 Brian Altman 1,848 3 $542,866 secured the second-largest score of his live tournament career by placing second in the $1,700 WSOP Circuit Rio Las Vegas main event 11 Michael Addamo 1,806 5 $2,143,310 for $129,305 and 760 points. With that, Pham surged into 23rd place in the overall rankings, 12 Pablo Silva 1,800 1 $1,000,000 with 1,490 points and year-to-date POY earnings of $240,628.

13 Christian Rudolph 1,750 1 $620,000 Christopher Puetz - 29 29th Place (1,260 points) 14 James Romero 1,736 2 $745,000 Germany’s Christopher Puetz emerged victorious in the World 15 Erik Seidel 1,686 5 $669,649 Poker Tour Germany main event, overcoming a field of 510 total 16 Eric Afriat 1,680 1 $394,120 entries in the €3,300 buy-in no-limit hold’em event held at the King’s Resort, Rozvadov. The 23-year-old 17 Alex Foxen 1,597 6 $1,603,559 defeated Laszlo Papai heads-up to secure the title and the first-place prize of $292,802. Puetz 18 Nino Ullmann 1,540 2 $370,609 had some tough competition to contend with late in this event, including reigning WSOP main event champion Hossein Ensan (7th -$43,378), 19 Stephen Chidwick 1,537 6 $1,043,973 Gianluca Speranza (5th - $73,743), and Joep van den Bijgaart (3rd - $135,556). Puetz earned 1,260 points for the win in that event, which was 20 Gareth Pepper 1,520 1 $690,000 enough to propel him into 29th place in the overall POY standings on its own.

015_POY.indd 15 6/10/20 10:05 AM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT - table talk

TABLE TALK: INTERVIEWS WITH POKER'S TOP TALENT Card Player sits down with the game’s well-known, up-and-coming, and most notorious players for insight into what it takes to make it in the poker world.

ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT CASHES LEADER ‘MIAMI’ JOHN CERNUTO DISCUSSES HIS STORIED CAREER Three-Time Bracelet Winner Reflects On Four Decades As A Poker Professional

By Erik Fast

John Cernuto is one of wild if mom was dealing, and tens the most accomplished tour- were wild if grandma was dealing. nament poker players in the Aunts, uncles, cousins, and parents history of the game. e man were all players, and it was fun. known to many as “Miami I continued playing in college John” holds the record for live and while I was in the US Army. tournament cashes, with more I was a private on a $100 a month than 500 to his name. e paycheck, but I collected $400 a 76-year-old has 65 recorded month in payday stakes playing for live tournament titles, includ- quarters. As an air traffic control- ing winning three World ler, we played $1 poker in home Series of Poker gold bracelets. games, but it wasn’t until I moved Cernuto was born in Jersey to Las Vegas in 1982 that I learned City, New Jersey in 1944. He that all of my previous skills would graduated from Florida State not suffice in my new world. My University with a degree in aggressiveness was very good but Finance. He was working as my ranges were far too loose. an air traffic controller before Without much poker material at the 1981 strike resulted in my disposal in those years, I learned Cernuto deciding to try his from newly acquired friends and hand at being a professional the school of hard knocks. I played poker player. with the Vegas pros for four years, but I was an amateur for e move paid off, as Cernuto has accumulated more two of those years. I did well, but realized changes had to than $5.8 million in live tournament earnings over the be made in my game. e first two years I made as much nearly four decades he’s been on the circuit. Across that as I did as an air-controller, but when I made only half of span of time, Cernuto has maintained an impressive level that in my third year of playing at the Stardust Casino, I of consistency. In fact, he has managed to cash in a WSOP knew I needed to approach this game in a more professional bracelet event at least once each and every year for 28 years, manner. with an unbroken streak reaching back to 1992. CP: What games, formats, and stakes did you play back Card Player recently spoke to Cernuto about how he then? found his way to poker, the tournament scene of the ‘80s, JC: In those formative years I played only limit hold’em how he got his nickname, his longevity in the game, and and no-limit hold’em. We played $10-$20 limit hold’em, more. and $20-$40 when the tourists were in town. My no-limit Card Player: Do you remember the first time you ever hold’em game was beginner level at that time, and I was played poker? playing against much better players like Johnny Chan, Stuey John Cernuto: My first poker experience was in Italian Ungar, and many other good no-limit players. family games. We played seven card stud. Deuces were CP: You mentioned that you were an air traffic controller

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016_Q&A_MiamiJohn.indd 16 6/10/20 1:47 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT Winning the no-limit bracelet was the biggest thrill of all. It’s the most money I ever won.

before becoming a poker pro, which is consistently listed as slower, but you couldn’t do much with your stack. I also one of the most stressful jobs you can have. Can you tell me liked the low juice which you don’t see anymore. $100 events about how you came to make the career change? were $100+$10 and $500 events were $500 + $15. Every year JC: During the 1981 Professional Air Traffic Controllers they added $5 to the juice. It is out of control now. Maybe Organization (PATCO) strike I had decided that if I lost my after this pandemic, they might go down for a while. We job, I was going to play poker for a living. A fellow controller used to have rebuys that were a separate fund and could not Gary Lashbrook had pointed out to me that people actually be vigged. Not anymore. ere weren’t any re-entries back did this for a living and they played in Vegas. then which took away the advantage of today’s players using During a PATCO convention in 1979 I went to Vegas their wallets rather than their survival skills. for the first time. I played in some of the local games as a CP: Can you talk about your early memories at the tourist. It was fun and I fell in love with the casino lifestyle. WSOP? So, in January of 1982 I sold my cars and moved to Vegas JC: In the ‘80s I was introduced to the WSOP and I quite happily, but I did not have any idea of what I was get- played my first event in 1984. I had a small bankroll at the ting into. ere were hustlers and sharks waiting for me. I time and my rule was to play two satellites for each event still went to a bank and they kept their money in a box. I that I had an interest in. If I won the seat, I played the event, missed my job a lot, but it was out of my hands now. I was and if I failed, I played cash games. on my own. My first event I played in at Binion’s Horseshoe was a CP: Can you share the story of how you got your nick- ‘non-pro’ no-limit hold’em, which was full of pros (laugh). name, ‘Miami John’ Cernuto? I was devastated as I hit the dead bubble. I probably only JC: My nickname came about when I decided to use played in six WSOP events prior to my first cash in ‘89 and ‘Miami John’ the day I won my first big event. It was a seven three months later I won a major limit hold’em event at the card stud event at the Amarillo Slim’s Super Bowl of Poker Bike. at Caesars Palace. I entered as ‘Miami John’ and won this After that event, I had a bankroll to play in any event event, going wire-to-wire and only that I wanted to. I enjoyed a losing two pots. It was like magic, streak of winning one event at so I kept the name. I didn’t want to “If you want to play almost every venue I attended tempt fate. for nearly two decades. Back in e origin of the name actually a long time in this those days we only had a base came from a young lady I had met of about 50 players that would from USC while partying at Sam’s industry, you need to pony up $1,000 buy-ins. Town Casino. I was playing at the CP: You won your first WSOP Stardust and back then we didn’t learn from mistakes bracelet in 1996 in stud eight- have cell phones, we were always or-better. Can you tell me about paged. She didn’t know my last and not repeat them.” that achievement and what it name. I’ll never forget this page that meant to you at the time? came over the loudspeaker: “Line 1 JC: Winning my first brace- phone call for Miami John Baby Doll.” I dropped the baby let was surreal. I was a prop player for the LV Hilton poker doll, of course, but kept the ‘Miami John.’ I am not a super- room and I quit the job because they wanted me to prop a stitious person, but why rock the boat? $15-$30 stud eight-or-better game. I didn’t like the game at CP: At what point did you start playing tournaments the time and I kept losing at it. I had a new appreciation for it seriously? after winning my first bracelet in it. I wasn’t that skilled at it, JC: I was involved in daily tournaments at the Stardust. as I was more aggressive than smart. I have since learned the In 1983, however, they had a promotion that if you were game and play it fairly well now. I went on to make several the best overall player you received a $1,000 entry into the final tables playing the game for three years in a row. Stairway to the Stars. e only catch was this promotion CP: I see that you won $147,000 for the title in that event, made you play two events per day, six days a week, for nine while third place got only $36,750. Were payout structures months. I won the no-limit category and got second place in just generally more top-heavy back then, in your experience? the limit hold’em. JC: Payouts were more top-heavy in those days, but the It was a lot of money back then, and I wouldn’t do it fields were also smaller to wade through. Once the fields again, but the experience in tournaments I gained was got larger, they started to flatten the payouts. at was a invaluable to me. I played with some of the best players in major cause of debate as many skilled players wanted the big the world. We got drop-ins too and some were the likes of payouts. Eventually, the house got its way and stretched out Ungar, Chan, and ‘Treetop’ Jack Straus. the payout percentages. It does put more money back into CP: Can you share with me more about how tournaments the tours as opposed to the top three spots getting the lion’s were different back then? share. If you play enough of them, such as I have, it kind of JC: I liked the tournaments of old. It’s true we only got evens out. dollar for dollar [for starting stacks] but we used $1 chips CP: You won two more bracelets, one the following year and we started out 5-10 limits. Obviously, the structure was in no-limit hold’em, and another five years later in limit

016_Q&A_MiamiJohn.indd 17 6/10/20 1:47 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT - table talk

“Maintaining longevity in this business is not an easy task.”

you’ve shown across the decades? JC: Maintaining longevity in this business is not an easy task. e first 20 years were all about the money, and all the traveling I got to do. I played from LA to London to Kiev. I was so fortunate to meet so many wonderful people as I grew in the game. Loving the competition is huge when it comes to firing oneself up for each and every tournament. But the biggest factor to maintain longevity is writing and teaching poker to others. Helping others has been inspiring to me, but the constant search for knowledge and learning new strategies has really kept me fresh and curious. CP: You have cashed in a WSOP bracelet event each and every summer for 28 consecutive series. How have you Omaha high. Which win was the most exciting or meaning- ensured that your game remains competitive across that ful for you? incredible span of time? JC: Winning the no-limit bracelet was the biggest thrill JC: Keeping my game competitive was easy from age of all. It’s the most money I ever won. Phil Hellmuth came 40 to 70. I spoke, ate, and loved poker, and don’t forget I to the stands and watched as I controlled the table. [Hans] loved the competition. However, I could feel myself slipping “Tuna” Lund had coached me and said when you get a pair around age 69. My aggression had turned into compassion. of tens or similar put in a big fat raise and see how they like Instead of winning strategies, I took a path of least resistance their hands. Sure enough, I got pocket tens and had reraised and played more not to lose. I could feel it slipping away as huge, but two of my opponents went all-in. e short stack many opportunities went astray due to this fear factor that had A-6 and a hefty stack called off 250,000 with K-Q. e age had allowed to creep into my game. To be honest, I ace hit, but I won the huge side pot and I never looked back met a player about 22 years younger than I who played in after that hand. Shortly after that year I played much more the same games and tournaments that I loved. is player Omaha, stud, and H.O.R.S.E. events and drifted away from challenged me on all levels of skill and aggression. For two hold’em, but that no-limit hold’em championship was my years we spoke and lived poker many times. Suddenly, the proudest day. light came back on and my finishes went from min-cashing CP: Last year you took the lead on the all-time live tour- to many top-three showings. At 76, I feel I have most of my nament cash list, with more than 500 under your belt. What skills intact. It was truly a wake-up call. does it mean to you to have set this record, and where does CP: What WSOP event would you most like to win, out- it sit for you on your list of accomplishments? side of the main event of course? JC: Getting the award for most cashes was a proud JC: Actually, I no longer will play the main event. I can- moment. It is up there with a few others. Besides my bracelet not do seven days of main event after 35 days of non-stop wins I had few other accomplishments that stand out. At tournaments. If the main was on May 31, I might try it. e the Bike, I had won four events during the Legends of Poker Poker Players Championship would be the nuts for me to win. series. At the time only a few had won three tournaments in CP: What motivates you to still go out and play so much a single series, but to do four was pretty incredible. Another these days? one was, while playing day 2 of a no-limit event at the JC: e only thing that motivates me to play 100 events Trump Taj Mahal I decided to support the stud event and a year is simply to earn money and make a good life for my only played it on 15-minute breaks and the dinner break. special needs daughter. She is everything to me. Of course, After dinner, I had the chip lead in both tournaments. my son and granddaughter are important to me too. e staff moved the two final tables together and I played CP: What advice would you have for younger pros and them simultaneously and won both. at was special to get even serious amateurs who’d like to follow your example and two Trump watches on the same day. live the poker life? Another thing I am also proud of is that there was a JC: If you want to play a long time in this industry, you period of time where tournaments were trending downward, need to learn from mistakes and not repeat them. You need but myself and a group of about 50 continued to support to make good return-on-investment decisions. You need them while most others were understandably supporting to make good deals that are favorable to you. Speaking of cash games. In a sense, we became the new pioneers of the which, I am working on a book with Card Player columnist tournament industry and held it together until it got very Dr. Alan Schoonmaker about getting the best of it in poker fashionable to play tournament poker again. Now, it’s big when negotiating deals at final tables. But the best thing business. I can say is to be good money managers and make good CP: Can you talk about the longevity and consistency financial decisions in poker and in life. m

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CP_Sub_23_FP3.indd 3 6/11/20 12:59 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT - poker Strategy

POKER STRATEGY Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Fundamentals With Randy Ohel

By Steve Schult

The World Series of Poker is the one time of the year where all of poker’s variants, not just no-limit hold’em, are on display at the highest level. Randy Ohel is a fixture in those other games. He is a successful regular in the high-stakes mixed game scene, both in tournaments and in cash games. Ohel has a WSOP bracelet from his victory in the $2,500 2-7 triple draw in 2012, and has cashed in several other variants, including runner-up finishes in the 2018 $10,000 2-7 triple draw, the 2016 $10,000 seven card stud hi-lo championship, and the 2014 $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship. The Florida native and Las Vegas resident has more than $2 million in live tournament earnings, almost exclusively in mixed events. Ohel has delved into the coaching realm of poker and is currently taking students to learn non-hold’em games. He can be found on Twitter @RandyOhel. In an effort to provide readers with a solid fundamental strategy of mixed games, Card Player sat down with Ohel to break down a pot-limit Omaha hi-lo hand from the $10,000 pot-limit Omaha hi-lo championship at the 2019 World Series of Poker.

The Hand Nick Schulman Bryce Yockey

A A A 4 A K 3 2

A K A A A 4 3 2

Bryce Yockey Nick Schulman 1,575,000 2,525,000

J 3 2 K 9

Blinds – 25,000–50,000 • Players Remaining: 8

Bryce Yockey raised to 125,000 from under-the-gun and calling? Nick Schulman called from middle position. Yockey bet 175,000 RO: His hand is a premium and I can’t imagine ever on the op and Schulman called. On the turn, Yockey checked, not three-betting that. ere’s probably some weird ICM Schulman bet 675,000. Yockey called. Both players checked the (Independent Chip Model) factors in play, but that is a really river. good hand. I don’t know what the other stacks are at this point, Steve Schult: Let’s just start with prefl op. Is Bryce’s hand but I think that the hand is too strong not to three-bet. considered a bluff ? I can’t imagine it plays very well post-fl op, SS: When we talked about the limit version of this game, but it clearly blocks a lot of good hands. you brought up the push-pull theory where sometimes you will Randy Ohel: It’s sort of a bluff . His hand fi gures to be the just call to keep more players in the pot versus three-betting best hand at the table because when you block three of the aces, because the hand plays better heads-up and you’ll have a bet- it’s hard for someone to wake up with a premium hand. So, it’s ter chance of scooping. Does that concept apply in pot-limit not a bluff because it actually fi gures to be the best hand at the as well? table. It fi gures to just win the blinds a ton. People won’t often RO: Much less so because you’re much less likely to invite have hands that they can be defend. a multi-way pot. e issue in this case, as opposed to a hand And let’s say you get called by the big blind. He is going to like A-2-3-4, is that its hot and cold equity just isn’t that good. have a very weak range and you’re going to just win the pot on You wouldn’t not three-bet A-2-3-4 because you want to get a lot of boards against a big blind defense or something. It’s a more people in. It’s because it is a hand where its equity will be pretty mandatory open, and you wish that third ace was a dif- dramatically impacted by what comes on the fl op. ferent card, but you’ll win the pot a lot. e equity in that hand is nowhere near static across all SS: Nick’s hand seems very strong. Is there going to be a fl ops. Rather than getting money in with 49 percent now or percentage of time that he three-bets this hand instead of just something like that, you just get all the money in later with a

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020_PokerStrategy.indd 20 6/11/20 1:03 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT “You wouldn’t not three-bet A-2-3-4 because you want to get more people in.”

lot more than that. Whereas the A-K-2-3 has good hot and cold but now, instead of a situation where there is an SPR (stack- equity. It’s better on more flops because it has a king in it. If an to-pot ratio) of like 4 or 5, you could’ve had an SPR of like 1. ace or a king comes, it’s a much better hand. ere’s no chance or trickiness. But also it’s a hand where sometimes you’ll end up against It just creates a much better situation. And the funny thing something like A-2-3-4 and you may not know it, but your is, is that Bryce would’ve been happy with that. Bryce has a A-K high is good and you may get bluffed or not pump as hand that flops terribly because he has three aces in his hand. much money as you should into the pot. So, you sort of want Bryce hates when he gets flat-called, but Nick still made a to see a whole board. When you have A-2-3-4, you’ll almost mistake by just calling. never get bluffed because if you don’t make anything, you only SS: I guess calling is standard if you are going to take this have A-4 high or like bottom pair. route preflop? But with A-K, maybe you make top pair or maybe you have RO: e SPR is like 4 or 5. You can’t just go all in with A-K high. Both of which could be good. It’s more possible to bottom two pair. get bluffed. It’s also a favorite against most hands except for SS: What SPR would you want to have in order to get it all something like good aces, so you just want to push the equity. in on the flop with bottom two? SS: We get to the flop and Bryce bets 175,000, just over RO: I’d say 2. half-pot. Is that a fairly common sizing? SS: Let’s say we added clubs to go with Nick’s bottom two. RO: Tournaments and deep in tournaments, especially, are So, he has nut clubs, instead of spades. Would he then want different from a lot of other things. For the circumstances that to raise and get it in? Or is it too weak to go with it without a they are in, this is a totally reasonable sizing. In cash games, the low draw. sizings are going to tend to be bigger on a board that have two RO: ere’s two things about having the nut flush draw. wheel cards and a flush draw or something like that. One is that it improves your equity, but it also dramatically ere is a lot of peeling against smaller bets in a cash game. improves your playability. at just doesn’t happen in tournaments. In all forms of poker, You kind of have to weigh both of those against each other. the sizing is smaller in tournaments. Now, Nick is in position and drawing to the nuts. ere are SS: Are there going to be any hands where he would want also a lot more good cards to come for Nick than there are with to go for a pot-sized bet? his present hand. And of course, he also has a lot more equity. RO: I would say no. Not on this texture. Full pot in these Additionally, you’re taking the Ac card by itself, taking it away tournaments is going to be reserved, more often, for when there from Bryce, makes it much harder for him to want to get it in is a made low on the board. I would also say, by the way, that without that card. this flop is a large part of why Nick should’ve three-bet this ere are also a lot more hands that Bryce would’ve preflop. checked had the Ap not been in his hand. Having the Ap SS: Why? makes you want to bet this flop, regardless of whether or not RO: Because when you see the other guy’s cards on their you have the nut flush draw. back, you can’t screw up this flop. Or the turn for that matter. SS: Just for barreling purposes on later streets? What happens if Bryce bets and Nick calls, the turn is a four RO: Just because there is less that your opponent can call and now Bryce bets again. What does Nick do? He gets bluffed with and you have more bluff options when it hits. And there off two pair. He had Bryce in jail and he got bluffed because he are fewer high-equity hands that you can be up against. If Nick didn’t see his cards. had the nut flush draw, yeah, Bryce would’ve bet this particular SS: He has Bryce in jail on this flop? hand, and I guess Nick would’ve gone all in. RO: No, no, no. In that exact situation where a four comes But at deeper stacks, Nick would be less inclined to raise on the turn, he has him in jail. I’m saying that what if a four because of the playability. e playability importance goes up comes and Bryce bets again? Nick is going to fold and he had when you have deeper stacks. him in jail. SS: Bryce checks the turn. He still has the nut low draw to I’m not saying that this would happen, but I am saying that go with his overpair, so why is he checking the turn? this is the sort of thing that could happen. at’s the point that RO: He’s trying to play a little bit of pot control. If he bets, I’m making. is is the sort of accident that happens when you he’s certainly not bet-folding, right? And when he bets and just call pre. Yeah, you get a chance to make some good plays, gets raised, he is in trouble. So, it’s not that he thinks he is in but you also give yourself the chance to make some really bad trouble. It’s that when he bets and gets raised, he is in trouble. plays. You can still make a pretty good case for betting. I don’t is is a spot where it’s not like he wants to get all in with know what I would do exactly, but you can definitely still bottom two pair. But he also doesn’t want to just fold it. So, bet. And the shorter the stacks are, the more you want to bet. Bryce bets and see a safe turn card. But when it’s not a safe turn Tournament situations almost always favor these defensive card, now what do you do? And Bryce has the dry ace, so he’s kind of strategies. going to bluff any club and Nick is not going to know that he’s SS: Nick bets pot on the turn. Why is he using this sizing? getting bluffed. It’s just a really bad position he’s in. RO: is is another case of when to bet full pot. He isn’t If he had three-bet pre, against Bryce’s total range of hands, afraid of a check-raise because Bryce is close to all in. And Bryce either folds and Nick wins. at’s fine. Bryce re-raises I don’t think Bryce would have any check-raise range here and that’s fine because Nick has A-K-2-3 or he calls and that’s because I don’t think Nick is going to bet here too much. Bryce fine too because Nick has A-K-2-3. And okay, let’s play a flop, is definitely expecting Nick to check back.

020_PokerStrategy.indd 21 6/11/20 1:03 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT - poker Strategy “There is a lot of peeling against smaller bets in a cash game. That just doesn’t happen in tournaments. In all forms of poker, the sizing is smaller in tournaments.”

SS: If Nick were to check back, is Bryce going to bet for that if a high club hits the river, he’s going to bluff the remain- value on blank rivers? der of his stack. RO: ere are no real blank rivers. ere are either lows or SS: I was going to get to that. Does he have enough fold cards that make stuff. equity to turn his hand into a bluff if the 9p comes on the But on the turn, Nick doesn’t have hands that he could river. bet very often because he didn’t raise the flop. Also, a king RO: is is Bryce Yockey. He’s bluffing that river. ere’s shouldn’t hit Nick very hard because he didn’t three-bet pre. A no doubt about it. lot of the hands you three-bet preflop with have a higher per- He’s in a really difficult spot when Nick pots it though. centage of A-K in them. And a lot of the hands you call with Which on the one hand, makes a good argument for having bet have a lower percentage of A-K in them. But Nick doesn’t play it himself, but on the other hand, Nick really doesn’t bet here that way, apparently. a lot. is is a really tough spot that I’m really not sure about. SS: Bryce check-calls the turn, which seems pretty standard SS: Both players check the river. What about this river given his hand. would make Nick want to check behind after potting the turn RO: You could make an argument for… See, this is why for value? I’m not sure I like his check on the turn. I like it because Nick RO: It’s not that his hand strength changed on the river. usually checks. So, it’s got that going for it. But the problem is He just doesn’t have all these draws to get value from that bet. that once Nick bets, Bryce has to be pretty confident that he is All of those flush draws, those low draws. ose hands don’t beat right now for high, so he’s going to want to just call. But exist anymore. You’re only betting if you think you can get on that note, if you’re that confident that you’re beat for high, worse to call. maybe you want to just fold. Will Bryce call on the river with aces? Probably not given It’s a weird situation. Because if you have the best high a that he didn’t raise the turn. And Bryce probably doesn’t have decent percentage of the time, you should want to go all in. any two pair because he didn’t bet the turn. It’s just unlikely But he doesn’t expect to have the best high very often. I’m not that Bryce has anything that he can call with. He is checking exactly sure. It does help that he has the Ap in his hand, so and very much expecting to win. m

ANALYSISAnalysis TOURNAMENT HAND MATCHUP e inaugural Super High Roller Bowl Online series 2020 Super High Roller Bowl Online featured a total of 28 high-stakes tournaments spread across the ﬁ nal week of May. e ﬁ rst $25,500 buy- $25,500 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller in no-limit hold’em event of the series attracted a total of 54 entries, with the top seven players making Vicent Bosca Christopher Hunichen the money. Before this hand was dealt, Timothy 878,000 chips 2,100,000 chips Adams had already been eliminated in seventh place, ensuring that the remaining six all locked up at least J 10 K Q a $67,500 payday. is hand began with one of the Winning Percentage Winning Percentage

Before Flop: 61.0% medium stacks at the table in Vicent Bosca raising

Before Flop: 38.0% with J-10 suited as the second to act. Christopher

J 10 Q After Flop: 29.0% K After Flop: 71.0% After Turn: 20.0% After Turn: 80.0% Hunichen fl at called with his K-Q off suit from the button and promptly fl opped top pair with a king kicker. Bosca had fl opped an open-ended straight PREFLOP draw but was out of position against an aggressive big stack with a possible fl ush draw. He decided to With six players remaining and blinds of 20,000-40,000 with a 5,000 check-call Hunichen’s bet of roughly a third of the ante, Vicent Bosca raised to 84,000 from the hijack. Christopher size of the pot with his draw. e turn gave Bosca a Hunichen called from the button. pair of jacks to go along with his draw and he decided to check again. Hunichen elected to check behind, perhaps deciding that his one pair hand was best suited for targeting just one street of value against Q 9 5 J 9 Bosca’s fl op check-calling range. e river brought n

FLOP the 9 to pair the board and Bosca checked a third TURN

RIVER time. Hunichen cranked up the size of his bet on

J 9 9 5 Q this street, ﬁ ring 288,000 into the pot of 428,280. Bosca ultimately decided to fold facing the bet that Bosca checked. Hunichen Bosca checked. Bosca checked. represented approximately 40 percent of his remaining bet 85,140. Bosca called. Hunichen Hunichen bet 288,000. stack, and Hunichen raked in the pot to move into a checked. Bosca folded. virtual tie for the chip lead.

NOTE: WINNING PERCENTAGES DO NOT INCLUDE TIES. ODDS PROVIDED BY CARDPLAYER.COM/POKER-TOOLS/ODDS-CALCULATOR/TEXAS-HOLDEM

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CP_PokerSchool_1_FP.indd 1 6/10/20 10:00 AM DANNY TANG’S FAST CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE POKER MOUNTAIN 28-Year-Old Poker Pro Talks High Roller Scene, WSOP Bracelet Win, And Seven-Figure Cash Game Pots By Julio Rodriguez

erhaps no player had a quicker ascent up the rank- would become a favorite of his. e very next year, he ings of the tournament poker world than Danny returned to Prague and this time took down the main event, Tang. e Wrexham, Wales-native is only a few earning $449,580. Incredibly, he nearly defended his title years removed from grinding out mid-stakes events, in 2018, falling just short in fourth place for $225,401. e taking the occasional shots in bigger buy-in tournaments, former Chinese takeout worker ran deep in the 2018 World P st but he closed out 2019 as one of the top performers on the Series of Poker main event, pocketing $230,475 for 31 place, high roller circuit, cashing for $5.5 million on the year to and also narrowly missed out on the final table of the EPT bring his lifetime total to nearly $8.6 million overall. Barcelona main event. Tang was first introduced to the game by his brother and, Despite his success, Tang had trouble breaking into the after finding it again in college, the game consumed him. It high rollers at first. He didn’t have much of a track record wasn’t long before he was dreaming of one day sitting head- in the $25,000 buy-in events, and the shots he had taken in to-head with the likes of Phil Ivey or Tom Dwan. Now, less the past had not worked out, so it was hard to sell action. than a decade later, the 28-year-old Tang is a regular in their He ultimately secured backing, however, and broke through games, and has traveled with the pair on private jets to and at the Triton Montenegro series, where he final tabled the from high roller series and high-stakes cash games. six-max HK$500,000 (~$64,000) buy-in no-limit hold’em e Hong Kong resident first began grinding the circuit event. He rode that momentum into the HK$1 million heavily in 2016 after a runner-up finish at the WPT National ($127,000) buy-in main event where he lost heads-up to UK for $130,263. He also picked up small side event wins Bryn Kenney for second place and $1,833,000. at the Asia Championship of Poker, and EPT Prague, which At last summer’s WSOP, Tang topped a field of 123 in

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024_CoverStory.indd 24 6/11/20 1:05 PM the $50,000 high roller event to earn his first gold brace- in that tournament. All the biggest names at the time were let and a massive $1,608,506 payday. He then closed out playing. I was lurking around, and I saw J.C. [Alvarado]. I the year with a third-place showing at the EPT Barcelona had met him in Macau. €100,000 buy-in high roller for another $940,803, along He was like, ‘What are you doing?’ I was like, ‘Ah, I’m with another four final tables at EPT Prague. not sure I want to play, blah blah blah.’ He was like, ‘Are you Tang’s run caught the attention of online poker site kidding me? It’s a no brainer, you have to jump in, look at Natural8, which decided to add him to their roster of spon- the field!’ Now I understand, but at the time, there was 300 sored players. Tang was recently featured on Card Player’s players, and I felt like 250 were better than me. But I played, Poker Stories podcast, highlights of which are below. and I still owe him a steak dinner for that. I had a pretty dry Card Player: Can you talk about how you discovered year in 2017, right up until November. I took quite a hit, but poker? that tournament helped a lot. Danny Tang: [During the first poker boom], it was still CP: What about the prestige of winning? How did it feel illegal for me to play. I wasn’t one of those wizards who to be an EPT champion? started playing when they were 15 online. I picked up poker DT: I rang my mom up after the tournament and told her, when I was about 20 years old, and it took me many years ‘Mom, I’ve done it!’ (laughing) It was quite a big thing for to get okay at it. me at the time. EPT €10K events were a big thing. A lot of I played in a couple of home games when I was in Hong people that I hadn’t spoken to in a long time messaged me Kong. My brother introduced me to the game with his after that win. finance colleagues. I was always hooked on gambling games CP: In 2018 you ran deep in the WSOP main event, fin- and card games. Something like pineapple, big 2, or mah- ishing in 31st place. It was a nice score of nearly a quarter of jong. I was 15 and playing with adults for small amounts a million dollars, but it had to be disappointing when you of money. were eliminated. Eventually, I went to Manchester for university. I spent DT: e biggest thing I learned from that tournament was the first year and a half partying, and eventually I ended that I needed to control my emotions and improve my short up in a casino, gambling money away. en I found poker stack [play]. I got some big takeaways from that tournament. again, and thought to myself, ‘I’m familiar with this.’ I knew Yes, it was bittersweet, and maybe I’ll never get that close I was losing money at a much slower rate at poker than I was again in the main event, but I think I still benefited from at baccarat. I started watching High Stakes Poker, and EPT that [experience]. coverage, and I was super buzzed to be a part of it. CP: Can you talk about the transition to high roller CP: How did you find it moving up in stakes and growing events? your bankroll? DT: I would say that I’m on the luckier side of the high DT: I started traveling to local casinos to play tourna- rollers. Ever since I’ve stepped my feet into the high roller ments. I found it very hard to move up in the ranks when I community, I’ve just been blessed enough to shoot to the was in Europe. You had to be extremely good. I remember top. I’ve had an easier road than most people. seeing someone like Luke Schwartz in London, playing a I knew Paul Phua, but we didn’t have a close relation- cash game, something like £25-£50. I went back to Asia for ship. en one of my friends [re-introduced] us at Triton a short holiday, and I noticed that the stakes were way high- Montenegro. He offered to take pieces of my action for that er and the skill levels were not equivalent. I quickly moved stop, even though he didn’t really know me at the time. I back to Asia to continue my poker career, and my read was came in eighth in the HK$500K buy-in six-max event. I right. I started playing these €10K high rollers, taking shots was already thinking, ‘As long as I only fire one bullet in the in tournaments, and I was able to build a bigger bankroll main event, I can’t lose that much for the series.’ Luckily and take bigger shots. enough, I came in second in the main event, which is the CP: Do you remember when your career started to take biggest score of my life to date. It gave me an opportunity to off? work closer with Paul. Now the sky’s the limit. DT: e one that really helped me was EPT Prague, where CP: Not only did you have a massive win in Vegas last I chopped the €10K high roller with Sergio [Aido]. At the year, but you did it at the WSOP to pick up your first brace- time, I remember that I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to play let. Was winning a bracelet on your poker bucket list?

Tang’s 10 Best Live Tournament Cashes May 2019 Triton Montenegro HK$1,000,000 NLHE 2nd Place $1,833,000 July 2019 WSOP $50,000 NLHE 1st Place $1,608,406 Aug. 2019 EPT Barcelona €100,000 NLHE 3rd Place $940,803 Dec. 2017 EPT Prague €10,000 Main Event 1st Place $449,580 Oct. 2019 WSOP Europe €100,000 NLHE 7th Place $293,528 Nov. 2019 Caribbean Poker Party $25,000 Short Deck 2nd Place $250,000 July 2019 WSOP $100,000 NLHE 10th Place $230,801 July 2018 WSOP $10,000 Main Event 31st Place $230,475 Dec. 2018 EPT Prague €10,000 Main Event 4th Place $225,401 May 2019 Triton Montenegro HK$500,000 6-Max NLHE 8th Place $183,300

024_CoverStory.indd 25 6/11/20 1:05 PM “I tend to think about the game in terms of big blinds, which I think benefits my game a lot. But afterwards, I will think about [the real money involved]. I remember making a HK$1 million hero call with king high. I was wrong, but I was thinking about it in terms of big blinds. There was a good enough frequency of bluffs [in his range] that king high could be good.”

DT: I never thought about the bracelet. Even when I had DT: Nothing huge, I’m quite a safe guy. Oh, actually, that success [before], I just never really thought about it. e maybe something in the pit. But still not huge. Maybe just first time I went to Vegas, I actually final tabled a shootout over $100K, nothing ridiculous. Lucky for me I doubled up. event. Even then, I wasn’t thinking about the bracelet, I was I don’t even know if I want the whole world to know about just thinking about laddering up and making more money. this, but I was at Aussie Millions. e [casino] really looked Any time you play in an event, it’s something like at least after us. We had cars pick us up at the airport, and we had 1,000 players. So, you don’t even dare to dream about the our rooms sorted. We were just going to go [to the baccarat bracelet. tables], just to say hi, just to play a little while. But the ses- is time, it was a much smaller field, obviously, but sion started south. I was set to lose an amount of money that you are competing against the very best in the world. I the entire Aussie Millions series wouldn’t have cost me. So, it just didn’t think about it, even at the final table. Brandon was going to be a very bad first day, but I ended up doubling Adams had a lot of chips, Adrian Mateos is a guy I have a up and was fine. lot of respect for, Sam Soverel was going for high roller of CP: Are you superstitious at all? the year, and Michael Addamo is one of the best players in DT: I pretend that I’m not superstitious, but I am. I think the world, in my opinion. So, I was just thinking, let’s just you must have noticed by now that there’s a couple of hood- ladder up and see what happens. ies I always wear, [that are in my rotation.] It’s not because I was so nervous, that on the river, I didn’t even realize I don’t have any other clothing with me, it’s because I feel I had won. He turned the three on me, and when the ace like I’m running pretty good and don’t want to mess it up. dropped on the river, I didn’t realize I had counterfeited I also hate getting my shoulders tapped. People used him. I’m a professional poker player (laughing), but you can to think it was a joke and would do it on purpose, but my tell in the video that I had a delayed reaction. ‘Wait, I won?’ reaction has been crazy enough for them to not do it again. CP: Can you talk about the biggest pot you ever won or I have a buddy that didn’t change his underwear for three lost? days in a row. He did win that tournament, however, so I’m DT: I was playing a cash game in Macau and I won not going to fault him. a HK$12 million pot ($1.54 million). We were playing CP: You’ve really only been a poker pro for about five HK$20K-HK$40K, so HK$4 million to sit down, but we years or so, and yet now you are jet setting around the world both had just over $HK6 million each. I five bet jammed with the very same players you used to look up to. Does it A-K and he called off with A-10 offsuit. ever feel surreal to you? CP: How does it feel to win one pot that’s almost as big DT: It’s become a more frequent thing, but the first time as your largest tournament score? I was in a private jet I was with Tom Dwan, Phil Ivey, and DT: Oh, it’s insane. I wasn’t thinking about my biggest Tony G. We went to Lithuania to drop Tony G off and visit tournament score, because obviously I have different pieces a little bit, and we played some five-plus Omaha. Tony G in tournaments than I do in cash games, but it kind of made ended up cleaning us out. me feel sick, [a pot worth] two properties in Hong Kong. I can’t understand what it’s like to be them. No matter I tend to think about the game in terms of big blinds, how famous I get in poker, I’ll never be Tom Dwan or Phil which I think benefits my game a lot. But afterwards, I will Ivey famous. Rui Cao, myself, and Tom were at an airport think about [the real money involved]. I remember making in Japan. Someone came over, handed us a camera, and a HK$1 million hero call with king high. I was wrong, but asked us to take their photo [with Tom]. I’ll never be that I was thinking about it in terms of big blinds. ere was a famous. good enough frequency of bluffs [in his range] that king When I was just getting into poker, it was the Phil Ivey high could be good. But there goes about $125,000 U.S. and Tom Dwan days. ey were the guys that were super- with king high... stars at the time. So, it feels insane to have all these guys CP: m

What about your biggest non-poker wager? numbers on my phone now. Holdings) Intellectual (Rational PokerStars ©

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024_CoverStory.indd 26 6/11/20 1:05 PM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary

COVID-19: As Poker Rooms Reopen, It’s Okay To Be Selfi sh By Greg Raymer “If you want your poker room to stay open, do your part, wear your mask, and follow their safety rules.” Poker rooms around the U.S. are starting to reopen, and when I’m out in public, I have no idea about anyone else, and many are open already. None of them are business as usual, and the chance that one of them has this virus. erefore, we all we probably won’t see the old normal for quite a while. need to behave as if we have it, at least in public. It’s fi ne to not All the poker rooms are doing enhanced cleaning of the wear a mask outdoors, as long as you stay apart from others. All tables, cards, and chips to reduce the risk of surface transmis- this mask-shaming in the media, and by individuals, of some- sion. Most are also screening employees and customers for one not wearing a mask outdoors, is stupid. If we don’t stand symptoms such as fever and coughs. Most are limiting the near one another for more than a brief period while outside, number of players at the table, some to 8, 6, 5, and even 4. there is no real risk. Some are modifying the poker tables to include physical bar- But indoors, even with social distancing, it is critical we all riers between players and dealers (usually plexiglass, like the wear masks. ere is a plethora of good research indicating that sneeze guards at buff ets). Many are requiring staff and players social distancing really isn’t enough when inside. If the room to wear masks, and to engage in regular hand washing or hand is small enough, compared to the number of people, then the sanitizing regimens. And there’s much, much more. microscopic water droplets we are all creating will tend to fi ll As we move through this process, it is important that we all the space, and potentially infect others. In addition to size of do our best to keep one another safe. If you want, you can even space, air fl ow is also a big factor. In any indoor public space, you be selfi sh, as even selfi shness will guide you to the best behavior should take the new-normal precautions. Wash your hands regu- for everyone. e thing is, if you don’t follow these procedures, larly, and don’t touch your face. Most importantly, wear a mask, for whatever reason, you are increasing the chances of spread- and avoid places with other people if they’re not wearing a mask. ing this virus. And if these newly opened poker rooms become ere is nothing political about this. You are not on one hotspots for virus transmission, they will be shut down. side of the political spectrum, or the other, because you wear a While casinos are an important source of tax revenue for mask, or refuse to. Yes, your political beliefs might be behind many states and local governments, poker rooms are not as your decision, but that doesn’t mean the same is true for anyone important. If poker rooms are thought to cause spreading of else. e science of this disease indicates that mask-wearing is the virus, you can say goodbye to your newly reopened poker the best thing we can all do to reduce transmission. Sure, a room, and goodbye to live poker for a long time. If you selfi shly vaccine would be better. But I can’t do anything about that. want live poker to be available, then do what you have to do to Nor can you. But you can do your part by following the current help make it happen, and to keep it happening. best practice guidelines from the CDC or other scientifi c and ere have been some changes these last few months. We health organizations. had been very concerned about surface transmission. In the If you want your poker room to stay open, do your part, last week or so, new research suggests surface transmission is wear your mask, and follow their safety rules. is will make actually not that common. As I write this, the leading cause of it more likely that you, the staff , and the other players don’t spread seems to be the microscopic water droplets we all expel catch this virus. It will also make it more likely your poker when we breathe, talk, shout, and sing; and especially when we room will remain open. Hard to have fun playing poker if the sneeze or cough. Wearing a mask only appears to help a little poker room gets closed. So, do it to be good, do it to be safe, in keeping you safe from catching the virus. However, if you or do it to be selfi sh, but wear your mask indoors (especially at happen to be a carrier of the virus, wearing a mask signi cantly the poker room)! decreases the chance you will infect somebody else. Wearing a Good Luck, Be Safe, and Play Smart! m mask dramatically decreases the amount of microscopic water droplets that you expel into the room. And with so many of the Greg Raymer is the 2004 WSOP world champion, people who catch this virus being asymptomatic, you can never winner of numerous major titles, and has more be sure you are clear. Even if you get tested, and are negative, than $7 million in earnings. He recently authored you could be a contagious carrier just a few days later. “FossilMan’s Winning Tournament Strategies,” If you’re like me, you hate wearing a mask. It tends to be available from D&B Publishing, Amazon, and other hot, humid, and uncomfortable. However, when I need to go retailers. He is sponsored by Blue Shark Optics, out, such as to the grocery store, I wear it. Even though it is YouStake, and ShareMyPair. To contact Greg please tweet at him using @ unlikely I have the virus, I can’t be sure. More importantly, FossilMan or go to www.FossilManPoker.com.

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028_S&A.indd 28 6/11/20 1:06 PM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary

TRUE TALES FROM A HOLLYWOOD POKER HUSTLER: SPIDER-MAN’S FIST FIGHT AT THE VIPER ROOM AND OTHER POKER BRAWLS WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE By Houston Curtis

Have you ever wondered why we never see fi st fi ghts break out at the poker table during coverage of the diff erent poker tours? Sure, there’s occasionally some trash talk, but I can’t recall seeing one single brawl bust out in all the years I’ve been watching televised poker. Perhaps we should be thankful. Given everything going on in the world today, our chosen profession seems to be a peaceful one for the most part. As I write this column from Phoenix, Arizona, the entire state is on a lockdown curfew surface the next. of 8 pm due to the riots and looting that occurred on the I’ve often noticed that in times of struggle, many people heels of the horrifying death of George Floyd. No matter look to their heroes for inspiration. And in today’s world, I what your political view might be, it’s safe to say that as a believe that professional poker players make just as good a society, we can often be violent, inconsiderate, and act in role model as any other sporting fi gure out there. haste. Having said all this… am I the only one who can admit At the same time, as an American, I’m proud to say that I would absolutely love to see a giant fi st fi ght break out that we can also come together during some of the darkest one day during ESPN coverage of a fi nal table on the World moments and lift one another up. Let’s face it, depending Series of Poker? Poker has been compared to actual war! Yet on the circumstance, people have horrifi c fl aws that that I’ve seen more violent outbursts on the golf course than I can rear their ugly head one day and incredible courage, ever have during a televised poker event. generosity, and understanding that makes its way to the And let’s face it. We all know that fi ghts happen. In

ANALYSISAnalysis TOURNAMENT HAND MATCHUP Mark Davis defended his big blind with 7-5 suited 2020 Super High Roller Bowl Online against the button raise of Rob Lipkin and fl opped a $25,500 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller straight fl ush. at must have been quite a good feeling, given the tough competition and the high stakes of this $25,5000 buy-in event. With the absolute nuts on the Rob Lipkin Mark Davis fl op and essentially no fear of his opponent drawing out, 902,000 chips 959,000 chips Davis was in an incredible situation. He checked from out of position on the fl op and Lipkin made a minimum K Q 7 5 Winning Percentage bet of 40,000. Davis was holding blockers to both the Winning Percentage straight and fl ush draws in his hand. With the chances

Before Flop: 62.0% Before Flop: 38.0%

of his opponent holding a strong draw decreased, K Q 5 After Flop: 0% 7 After Flop: 100.0% After Turn: 0% After Turn: 100.0% checking to entice them to continuation bet with their holdings that missed the ﬂ op makes sense. Davis made the call and the turn paired the board. With quads and PREFLOP full houses now possible, Davis elected to lead out. With such a massive hand, the instinct to start trying to build With six players remaining and blinds of 20,000-40,000 with a 5,000 the pot is very understandable. While leading would ante, Rob Lipkin raised to 80,000 from the button. Mark Davis called indeed allow Davis to get a ton of chips in when Lipkin from the big blind. improved to a very strong hand like a full house on the turn, it does have the drawback of shutting down any second barrels from Lipkin when he has a hand such as the K-Q suited he held in this instance that had not 8 6 4 6 connected at all with the board. It seems likely that, if

FLOP Lipkin had indeed improved on the turn, he would be TURN

fairly likely to bet his hand himself given the straight

6 6 4 8 and fl ush draws possible. As it was, Lipkin’s king-high with no draws made for a quick fold facing Davis’ turn Davis checked. Lipkin bet Davis bet 95,700. bet and Davis took down the pot. Lipkin went on to 40,000. Davis called. Lipkin folded. fi nish fi fth in this event for $87,750, while Davis earned $205,875 for his third-place showing.

NOTE: WINNING PERCENTAGES DO NOT INCLUDE TIES. ODDS PROVIDED BY CARDPLAYER.COM/POKER-TOOLS/ODDS-CALCULATOR/TEXAS-HOLDEM

028_S&A.indd 29 6/11/20 1:06 PM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary OH, TO HAVE BEEN A FLY ON THE WALL THE NIGHT PHIL HELLMUTH STEPPED OUTSIDE THE CASINO AND

Phil Hellmuth Sam Grizzle FOUGHT SAM GRIZZLE!

the ‘90s when I was grinding it out at Hollywood Park, sion rises seems to always be a head up challenge. It’s like there was at least one fight a night going on in the lower our version of arm wrestling, I guess. I actually scoured the limit games. I’ve seen tables get turned upside down, chips internet recently looking for a “poker fight” and the best thrown across the casino, and full-blown brawls erupt out I could find was a brawl that busted out one night at the of nowhere. Talking Stick in Arizona. I even saw a dealer damn near knock someone out one I’ve played in many private games over the years, where night after he cracked a pair of aces. Aces that were then you could pretty much feel danger in the air so thick it torn in half and thrown in his face. But of course, none of would make you sweat quicker than New Orleans at high this ever gets televised, and is always swept under the rug noon in the summertime. But the bigger I started playing, before any of us degenerates can start getting bets down on the more friendly the games seemed to become. at is until who is going to win. one night when I was at the Viper Room playing high-stakes ink I’m crazy for expecting a fight? Every other major hold em with Tobey Maguire. sporting event on television has had its share of fisticuffs. Tobey had been working out every day due to his Basketball, football, baseball, you name it! ere’s at least upcoming scenes for Spiderman 3. But even though he one great fight per season. And professional hockey used looked prepared to handle himself in a fight, he certainly to have more punches thrown per game than a Sugar Ray wasn’t expecting one might arise the night he asked his Leonard fight! then-girlfriend, Jen Meyer to stop by and bring him some is begs the question, could professional poker be the vegan treats. most civilized game currently airing on television? Here is a play-by-play excerpt of that fateful night roughout history, some pretty epic confrontations straight from my book Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist, have gone down at the poker table. ere’s the story about which can be purchased on Amazon, or directly from my Doc Holiday shooting a guy who tried to look at his dis- website KardSharp.com. And be sure to check out the link cards! Doyle Brunson’s Super System shares some great at the bottom for a new video that I hope you will find stories about him, Sailor Roberts and Amarillo Slim getting entertaining in terms of poker fight legend and lore. robbed and having guns drawn on them while rounding ------their way across the country. And of course, there’s the One time, Tobey phoned his girlfriend Jen from the legendary story of the Dead Man’s Hand, aces and eights, game. He’d left in a rush that night and forgot to bring his which Wild Bill Hickok was holding when he was shot vegan dinner. (I know - rock ’n’ roll huh?) So Jen agreed in the back of the head by Jack McCall in the town of to bring it by but after an hour still hadn’t showed. All of Deadwood on Aug. 2, 1876. a sudden Tobey’s cell stars buzzing. On the line was a very Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t have some twisted upset Jen screaming at Spider-Man that the bouncer just desire to see a gun fight commence in the middle of a told her the only way she was gonna be let in the door was final table… but I would be lying if I told you that a fight if she got on her knees and blew him. Oh Fuck! breaking out between Tony G and my pal Phil Hellmuth We sent Molly to sort out the situation and Darin fol- wouldn’t be a stellar ratings winner! lowed her, ready to chew this guy’s ass out. Meanwhile Oh, to have been a fly on the wall the night Phil Tobey looks at me with wide eyes and says, “Fuck, does this Hellmuth stepped outside the casino and fought Sam mean I’ve gotta go fight this dude?” Grizzle! (I know for a fact that Phil won the fight by the When the doorman came back in, he was holding a way, in case anyone had heard different.) I wonder how dozen red roses he must have bought at the corner of the many tickets would sell for a pay-per-view featuring a gaunt- market, got on his knees, professed how deeply sorry he was let style cage match featuring the more prominent members to Jen, and then swore to her and everyone in the room that of the poker community? ere’s a chance it could give the he was secretly gay and was just trying to protect the privacy UFC a run for its money! of the game at all cost. If poker can sustain Ponzi schemes, god modes, and live You could have heard a pin drop… before everyone stream cheaters, then surely we could handle a few black started laughing. Tobey slapped him on the back, (instead eyes and fat lips right? of punching him in the face) and what could have been a In the ‘80s we had break-dancers settling their disputes tricky situation was nipped in the bud. with a dance battle. Poker players these days aren’t much It gave me a new level of respect for Darin Feinstein different. e first thing that gets threatened when the ten- because I knew that was entirely his way of saving face for

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028_S&A.indd 30 6/11/20 1:06 PM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary

Could professional poker be the most civilized game currently airing on television?

the Viper Room — and it worked. Tobey was off the hook, Until next time fi ght fans… stay sharp. Stay Kardsharp! m Jen was satisfi ed, and we went back to making it rain. Hell, the doorman who asked Jen to blow him even got his usual Houston Curtis, founder of KardSharp.com C-note tip at the end of the night. and author of Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist ------has lived a successful double life as both a at was a fun night, but I can’t help but wonder how producer and card mechanic for nearly 30 exciting it would have been to see Tobey being forced into years. His credits include executive produc- doing what his movie persona Spider-Man would have done, ing gambling related TV shows such as The and defend the honor of his girl by throwing down with this Ultimate Blackjack Tour on CBS, The Aruba Poker Classic on GSN, and dude in a straight up bar room brawl! We will never know pioneering the poker instructional DVD genre with titles featuring who would have won, but it wasn’t like this guy was a big, poker champion Phil Hellmuth. Barred for life from Las Vegas Golden burly dude. It would have been a pretty fair fi ght, I think! Nugget for “excessive winning” at blackjack, Houston is one of the Send me comments on Facebook or to stacked@ world’s most successful card mechanics and sleight-of-hand artists KardSharp.com on who you think would be the ultimate of the modern era. Curtis, who rarely plays in tournaments, won a poker pro brawl to be caught on camera during a fi nal table! 2004 Legends of Poker no-limit hold’em championship event besting (Or better yet, a fi ght that breaks out on the bubble.) Scotty Nguyen heads-up at the final table before going on to co-found And be sure to click this link https://www.kardsharp. the elite Hollywood poker ring that inspired Aaron Sorkin’s Academy com/cardplayer if you want to learn about the most danger- Award-nominated film Molly’s Game. Curtis resides in Phoenix, Arizona ous night of poker I’ve ever witnessed. I call it, Russians, where in addition to running a production company and independent Guns, a Jack, and Four Aces. record label, he is also a private gaming/casino protection consultant And while you are there do me a favor and subscribe to to clients across the globe seeking insight into master level card my YouTube channel, hit the bell and give me a like! Just a cheating tactics via advanced sleight-of-hand technique. To reach few more thousand hours of watch time and Youtube might Houston for a speaking engagement, consulting or production ser- actually start to pay me! vices send email to [email protected]

ANALYSISAnalysis TOURNAMENT HAND MATCHUP Daniel Dvoress has been one of the hottest players 2020 Super High Roller Bowl Online on the super high roller circuit in recent years. He cashed for more than $8.5 million in live events $25,500 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller in 2019, including winning the Super High Roller Bowl Bahamas event for $4,080,000. In this hand Daniel Dvoress Vicent Bosca he demonstrates his ability to apply maximum 819,000 chips 865,000 chips pressure, putting the pedal to the metal with a creative and aggressive multi-street bluﬀ . Dvoress A 7 Q 9 picked up A-7 oﬀ suit on the button and made a Winning Percentage Winning Percentage min-raise. Vicent Bosca defended his big blind

Before Flop: 58.0% Before Flop: 42.0% with Q-9 oﬀ suit and ﬂ opped top pair on a board

A 7 9 After Flop: 16.0% Q After Flop: 84.0% that featured a fl ush draw and multiple possible After Turn: 14.0% After Turn: 86.0% straight draws. Dvoress had just ace-high for showdown value, but the 7p in his hand did help block some of his opponent’s possible straight PREFLOP draws and gave him some backdoor outs. Bosca checked and Dvoress backed his prefl op aggression With six players remaining and blinds of 20,000-40,000 with a 5,000 up with a continuation bet of 152,000 into the pot ante, Daniel Dvoress raised to 80,000 from the button. Vicent Bosca of 210,000. Bosca called and the turn brought the called from the big blind. 10m. Bosca checked a second time and Dvoress bet 232,000. Bosca called yet again, sticking to his bluff -catching approach with top pair and a gutshot straight draw of his own. e 5n on the river Q 8 6 10 5 prompted a third check from Bosca, and Dvoress was left with 343,000 remaining in his stack and FLOP

TURN

RIVER 978,000 in the pot. Dvoress opted to keep his

10 5 8 6 Q foot on the gas and shoved all-in. Bosca made the call with top pair and his nine kicker, which helped in blocking some of the most likely straight Bosca checked. Dvoress bet Bosca checked. Bosca checked. Dvoress possibilities for Dvoress. With that Dvoress was 152,000. Bosca called. Dvoress bet 232,000. moved all-in for 345,000. eliminated in sixth place, earning $67,500 for his Bosca called. Bosca called. deep run in this event.

NOTE: WINNING PERCENTAGES DO NOT INCLUDE TIES. ODDS PROVIDED BY CARDPLAYER.COM/POKER-TOOLS/ODDS-CALCULATOR/TEXAS-HOLDEM

028_S&A.indd 31 6/11/20 1:06 PM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary

Common Poker Mistakes By Jonathan Little

When I fi rst started playing poker as an 18-year-old kid, I was terrible. “Most amateurs develop a default I only wanted to put my hard-earned money in the pot when I knew I had strategy based on what they are the absolute nuts. I eventually learned that waiting for the nuts is actually a comfortable with, and then stick great way to go broke. If you are not a winning poker with it for their entire player, you have glaring holes in your poker strategy, just as I did when I fi rst poker-playing careers.” started. Let’s discuss some common fl aws amateur poker players exhibit, then outline steps you can take to ensure you are on the road to poker mastery. Most poker players think they are much better at poker than they actually are. is is likely because most people who stick with poker for any extended period of time experience at least some level of success. Very few people keep playing if they lose the fi rst 20 times they play. ose players quit and move on to something else. played. If someone constantly re-raises you, e people who experience immediate Another common mistake of ama- instead of getting annoyed and trying short-term success are the ones who teur poker players is that they play in to show him who is boss, implement keep playing indefi nitely. is initial games that are much too large for their an ideal strategy to take advantage success leads most amateurs to be bankrolls. Most professional tourna- of his aggression. Do not think that overconfi dent in their skills. Instead of ment players know to keep at least poker is a game about who can act the working hard to improve at poker, they 100 buy-ins. is means if they play most macho. assume they must be great at the game. $500 buy-in tournaments, they keep Always ask yourself why you do If you want to become an excellent at least $50,000 in their bankroll. On the things that you do, especially if poker player, realize that you have to the other hand, many amateurs keep you are not getting the results you spend your time at the table diligently a relatively small amount of money want. If you want to win money from paying attention, and your time away devoted to poker. is often results in poker but you lose in the long run, from the table studying all aspects of amateurs caring way too much about something needs to change. To be sure the game. the money they risk. If you have a you are thinking about poker in a way Most amateurs develop a default $2,500 “poker bankroll” and risk $500 that will lead to you winning over the strategy based on what they are com- of it, I completely understand how the long run, I just created a new series fortable with, and then stick with it for pressure would be unbearable. If you that will ensure you are thinking like their entire poker-playing careers. is instead risk $500 out of your $50,000 a pro and playing well. Check it out at usually leads them to bluff way too fre- bankroll, you will be able to think PokerCoaching.com/fundamentals. m quently, or way too infrequently. ey clearly and make sound, unemotional tend to think in defi nitive statements, decisions. Jonathan Little is a such as “I always call with top pair,” e sooner you stop thinking emo- two-time WPT cham- “I always hit my draws,” or “Michael tionally when playing poker, the bet- pion with more than always bluff s.” inking like this leads ter. It is well known that when poker $6 million in tourna- them to make huge blunders because players have things on their mind ment winnings. Each in reality, calling with top pair is only besides poker, such as an argument week, he posts an sometimes correct, you will hit your with their spouse, fi nancial troubles at educational blog and podcast at Jona- draws as often as the odds dictate, home, or anything else that demands thanLittlePoker.com, where you can get a and Michael only occasionally bluff s. a large amount of their attention, they FREE poker training video that details five Instead of thinking like this, the best tend to play worse. ose who take things you must master if you want to win players make the right play based on their opponents’ actions personally do at tournament poker. You can also sign up the exact situation they are in, not the worse than those who simply make the for his FREE Excelling at No Limit Hold’em situation they were in last time they best possible play in each situation. webinars at HoldemBook.com/signup

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028_S&A.indd 32 6/11/20 1:06 PM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary

CONTRACTS AND POKER: EXCULPATORY CLAUSES By Scott J. Burnham

As casinos re-open, will it be business as usual in the In some jurisdictions, enforceability might also depend on poker room? Casinos must be asking, what can we do to try whether the party knew what they were getting into. Is the to prevent the spread of the virus? In legal terms, they would clause written in plain language and does it alert the person be asking, what is enough to avoid liability for negligence if to what they are agreeing to? I recall seeing a whitewater raft- we are sued by a patron who was exposed to the virus on our ing contract that, in order to satisfy the requirements of that premises? jurisdiction, went on for pages describing all the catastrophic As any fi rst-year law student could tell you, negligence events that might happen to you while rafting! arises when you fail to exercise ordinary care when you owe It also depends on the bargaining positions of the parties. someone a duty. Knowing the conditions that can cause the A sophisticated businessperson who has bargaining power spread of the virus, casinos might be liable for negligence if when negotiating a contract can probably agree to exculpate they failed to take reasonable measures to prevent that from the other party from its negligent acts. But most of the time happening. an ordinary person is faced with a take-it-or-leave-it situation A casino might enforce social distancing, but that would – if you want to engage in the activity, you have to agree to be problematic at the poker table. Players could be required the clause. In that situation, in most jurisdictions enforceabil- to wear masks, but dealers would have to be prepared to ity depends on whether the activity involves a strong public translate a player’s “mumble-mumble” into “Raise -- 500.” interest, one that you can’t just walk away from. And with the dealers themselves likely wearing masks, com- In one California case, for example, a patient was being munications at the table could become like the game of wheeled into a hospital on a gurney when the hospital got Telephone. Masks would be very helpful in preventing the him to sign an exculpatory clause. When he later sued the spread of the virus from bodily fl uids, but chips passing from hospital for negligence, the court had no trouble determin- hand to hand might also create exposure. Even prior to the ing that because medical care is the kind of public service present situation, many tournament chips look like labora- that is a necessity for most members of the population, an tory petri dishes. exculpatory clause is not permissible in such a situation. If there is a risk that whatever measures they took might Similarly, in residential housing, a landlord can’t ask a not pass muster in court to defend against a negligence claim, tenant to agree to an exculpatory clause in a lease. In fact, casinos might try to pass that risk back to the customer. ey in the usual case there is nothing wrong with a party put- would do that by having the customer agree to what is called ting an exculpatory clause in a contract; even if it is found an exculpatory clause – a provision in a contract by which to be unenforceable, that is the only consequence. But in the one party agrees not to hold the other liable for its acts of case of residential housing, in most jurisdictions it is illegal negligence. If you have engaged in a potentially dangerous to put it in the contract and there can be consequences for activity such as sky-diving or bungee-jumping, that form the landlord who violates the rule. Activities like whitewater they made you sign before you engaged in the activity doubt- rafting and horseback riding probably lack public interest, less contained such a provision – as you doubtless know since so in most jurisdictions, exculpatory clauses in those areas you read it thoroughly. are probably enforceable. If signing a release proved awkward, the casino could try So where on the spectrum is poker playing – an area to bind you less formally; for example, they could put a sign involving a great deal of public interest like housing and by the entrance that stated something like, “By entering this medical care, or an area lacking public interest like bungee card room you agree not to hold the casino liable for negli- jumping and skydiving? ere is something to be said for gence.” But courts might well conclude that by engaging in the public interest aspect of poker. After all, unlike other that passive action, the patron did not consent to a binding casino pursuits, there are those who depend on the poker contract. table to earn their livelihoods. For those individuals, there If there is assent to a contract that contains an exculpatory is a strong interest in making the activity available. But for clause, is the clause enforceable? Like most legal questions, most of us, poker is merely entertainment, and the activity the answer is, “It depends.” What does it depend on? For would probably be found to be lacking in public interest. one thing, it depends on the jurisdiction, that is, the state in My guess, therefore, is that if a poker room asks you to which the activity takes place (and note that Indian reserva- agree to an exculpatory clause before you play, it is likely to tions within a state might have diff erent rules). A couple of be enforceable. at is, you bear the risk if you are harmed jurisdictions, notably Louisiana and Montana, do not enforce by the casino’s negligence. Whether casinos will actually any exculpatory clauses. ask you to enter into such an agreement For another thing, it depends on what acts the clause remains to be seen. m purports to excuse. It is unlikely, for example, that you can agree not to hold a party liable for what are called intentional Scott J. Burnham is Professor Emeritus at torts, such as battery, or even for gross negligence, like fail- Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, ing to take any reasonable steps to prevent the harm. So we Washington. He can be reached at are talking about ordinary negligence – simple careless acts. [email protected].

028_S&A.indd 33 6/11/20 1:06 PM Schedules - major tournaments

FOR COMPLETE TOURNAMENT RESULTS AND LISTINGS, VISIT CARDPLAYER.COM

JULY July 6-13 Summer Open Bay 101 • San Jose, CA

July 22-Aug. 3 Potomac Summer Poker Open MGM National Harbor • Oxon Hill, MD

July 23-26 Card Player Poker Tour Ocean’s Eleven Casino • Oceanside, CA

July 26 No-Limit Hold’em Tournament Lucky Chances • Colma, CA

AUGUST Aug. 9-16 Summer Poker Round-Up Wildhorse Resort & Casino • Pendleton, OR

Aug. 22 No-Limit Hold’em Tournament Lucky Chances • Colma, CA

SEPTEMBER Sept. 4-20 Commerce Hold’em Series Commerce Casino • Commerce, CA

Sept. 10-19 Card Player Poker Tour Card Player Cruises • Eastern Caribbean

Sept. 27 No-Limit Hold’em Tournament Lucky Chances • Colma, CA

Sept. 28-Oct. 20 Card Player Poker Tour Bicycle Casino • Bell Gardens, CA

OCTOBER Oct. 8-11 MSPT Michigan FireKeepers Casino • Battle Creek, MI

Oct. 23-25 South Dakota State Poker Championship Silverado Franklin • Deadwood, SD

Oct. 29-Nov. 1 MSPT Wisconsin Potawatomi Hotel & Casino • Milwaukee, WI

NOVEMBER Nov. 6-16 Card Player Poker Tour Seneca Niagara Casino • Niagara Falls, NY

Nov. 6-22 L.A. Poker Open Commerce Casino • Commerce, CA

Nov. 13-23 Gold Rush Poker Series Lucky Chances • Colma, CA

AO-Add On B-Bonus CP-Crazy Pineapple H.O.R.S.E.-Hold’em, Omaha Eight-or-Better, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Eight- or-Better R.O.S.E.-Razz, Omaha Eight-or-Better, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Eight-or-Better KO- Knock Out or Bounty LH-Limit Hold’em MP-Mexican Poker NLH-No-Limit Hold’em O H/L-Omaha Eight-or-Better PLO-Pot-Limit Omaha RB-Rebuy SH/L-Seven-Card Stud Eight-or-Better SLH-Spread-Limit Hold’em ARIZONA BAY 101 - SAN JOSE ($2.5K Guarantee) MONDAY WEDNESDAY 9:30 a.m. NLH, $130 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $20 TALKING STICK RESORT - SCOTTSDALE TUESDAY ($2K Guarantee) MONDAY 9:30 a.m. NLH, $130 5:00 p.m. NLH, $65 AO $20 11:15 a.m. NLH, $125 WEDNESDAY ($2.5K Guarantee) 7:15 p.m. NLH, $170 9:30 a.m. NLH, $150 THURSDAY TUESDAY THURSDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $20 11:15 a.m. NLH, $125 9:30 a.m. NLH, $130 ($2K Guarantee) 7:15 p.m. NLH, $200 FRIDAY 5:00 p.m. NLH, $80 AO $20 KO $25 WEDNESDAY 9:30 a.m. NLH, $150 ($2.5K Guarantee) 11:15 a.m. NLH, $125 SATURDAY 8:00 p.m. MP, $30 RB $10 AO $10 7:15 p.m. NLH, $170 9:00 a.m. NLH, $250 ($1.5K Guarantee) THURSDAY SUNDAY 10:00 p.m. NLH, $60 RB $50 AO $40 11:15 a.m. NLH, $125 9:00 a.m. NLH, $150 KO $10 ($2K Guarantee) 7:15 p.m. NLH, $170 FRIDAY FRIDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $20 11:15 a.m. NLH, $125 BICYCLE CASINO - BELL GARDENS MONDAY ($2K Guarantee) 7:15 p.m. NLH, $200 12:00 p.m. NLH, $70 AO $20 KO $20 4:00 p.m. NLH, $40 AO $30 SATURDAY ($2K Guarantee) ($5K Guarantee) 11:15 a.m. NLH, $240 5:00 p.m. NLH, $75 ($2.5K Guarantee) 5:30 p.m. NLH, $65 AO $50 SUNDAY TUESDAY ($5K Guarantee) 11:15 a.m. NLH, $160 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $20 7:00 p.m. NLH, $90 AO $70 CALIFORNIA ($2K Guarantee) ($5K Guarantee) 5:00 p.m. NLH, $30 RB $10 AO $10 10:00 p.m. NLH, $60 RB $50 AO $40 KO $10 ($2K Guarantee)

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034_Schedules.indd 34 6/10/20 10:10 AM Schedules

SATURDAY 9:30 p.m. NLH, $70 AO $20 MONDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $65 AO $50 ($1K Guarantee) 6:15 p.m. NLH, $150 ($20K Guarantee) THURSDAY WEDNESDAY 2:00 p.m. NLH, $90 AO $70 12:15 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $40 6:15 p.m. NLH, $185 ($20K Guarantee) ($4K Guarantee) SATURDAY 4:00 p.m. NLH, $115 AO $90 6:45 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 KO $25 11:00 a.m. NLH, $185 ($20K Guarantee) ($6K Guarantee) SUNDAY 10:00 p.m. NLH, $60 RB $50 AO $40 9:30 p.m. NLH, $70 AO $20 1:00 p.m. NLH, $235 KO $10 ($2K Guarantee) ($1K Guarantee) SUNDAY FRIDAY OCEAN’S ELEVEN - OCEANSIDE 12:00 p.m. NLH, $40 AO $30 12:15 p.m. NLH, $90 ($4K Guarantee) MONDAY-THURSDAY ($10K Guarantee) 6:45 p.m. NLH, $115 RB $50 10:00 a.m. NLH, $55 AO $5 1:30 p.m. NLH, $65 AO $50 ($30K Guarantee) ($3K Guarantee) ($10K Guarantee) SATURDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $55 AO $5 3:00 p.m. NLH, $90 AO $70 11:00 a.m. NLH, $50 RB $20 ($3K Guarantee) ($10K Guarantee) ($5K Guarantee) FRIDAY 3:00 p.m. NLH, $100 RB $50 10:00 a.m. NLH, $55 AO $5 CHUMASH CASINO - SANTA YNEZ ($5K Guarantee) ($3K Guarantee) MONDAY SUNDAY 6:00 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $5 10:15 a.m. NLH, $40 12:15 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 KO $25 ($5K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. PLO, $0 AO $20 ($5K Guarantee) SATURDAY TUESDAY 3:00 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $40 10:00 a.m. NLH, $230 AO $10 10:15 a.m. NLH, $40 ($3K Guarantee) ($20K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. NLH, $60 7:00 p.m. NLH, $55 AO $5 WEDNESDAY KO $20 ($3K Guarantee) 10:15 a.m. NLH, $40 HUSTLER CASINO - GARDENA SUNDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $50 MONDAY 10:00 a.m. NLH, $90 AO $50 THURSDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 AO $40 KO $25 ($10K Guarantee) 10:15 a.m. NLH, $50 KO $10 ($2K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. NLH, $40 TUESDAY FRIDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $80 RB $40 10:15 a.m. NLH, $40 ($2K Guarantee) CONNECTICUT 7:15 p.m. NLH, $150 WEDNESDAY SATURDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 AO $40 KO $25 FOXWOODS - MASHANTUCKET 1:15 p.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) ($2K Guarantee) MONDAY SUNDAY THURSDAY 10:00 a.m NLH, $100 1:15 p.m. NLH, $100 KO $25 7:00 p.m. NLH, $80 RB $40 6:00 p.m. NLH, $120 ($3K Guarantee) ($2K Guarantee) TUESDAY FRIDAY 10:00 a.m NLH, $120 COMMERCE CASINO - COMMERCE 7:00 p.m. NLH, $80 RB $40 2:00 p.m NLH, $100 KO $25 MONDAY-THURSDAY ($2K Guarantee) 6:00 p.m. NLH, $120 ($10K Guarantee) 12:00 p.m. NLH, $65 ($2.5K Guarantee) SATURDAY WEDNESDAY 6:00 p.m. NLH, $65 ($3.5K Guarantee) 3:00 p.m. NLH, $80 RB $40 10:00 a.m NLH, $100 FRIDAY ($2K Guarantee) 2:00 p.m NLH, $120 KO $50 12:00 p.m. NLH, $65 ($2.5K Guarantee) 6:00 p.m. NLH, $120 ($15K Guarantee) 6:00 p.m. NLH, $150 KO $50 LUCKY CHANCES - COLMA THURSDAY ($5K Guarantee) MONDAY 10:00 a.m NLH, $120 KO $25 SATURDAY 9:30 a.m. NLH, $120 AO $10 FRIDAY 1:00 p.m. NLH, $150 ($15K Guarantee) ($3K 1st Place Guarantee) 10:00 a.m NLH, $100 SUNDAY TUESDAY 2:00 p.m NLH, $100 KO $25 1:00 p.m. NLH, $65 RB $50 9:30 a.m. NLH, $200 AO $10 6:00 p.m. NLH, $160 ($8K Guarantee) ($10K Guarantee) ($4K 1st Place Guarantee) 8:30 p.m NLH, $100 WEDNESDAY SATURDAY GARDENS CASINO - HAWAIIAN GARDENS 9:30 a.m. NLH, $120 AO $10 9:00 a.m NLH, $60 MONDAY ($3K 1st Place Guarantee) 11:00 a.m NLH, $180 ($8K Guarantee) 12:15 p.m. NLH, $30 RB $10 AO $10 THURSDAY 5:00 p.m. NLH, $140 ($5K Guarantee) ($8K Guarantee) 9:30 a.m. NLH, $120 AO $10 8:30 p.m NLH, $120 KO $50 6:45 p.m. NLH, $10 RB $10 AO $10 ($3K 1st Place Guarantee) SUNDAY ($3K Guarantee) FRIDAY 9:00 a.m NLH, $60 TUESDAY 9:30 a.m. NLH, $120 AO $10 12:00 p.m. NLH, $140 12:15 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 ($3K 1st Place Guarantee) 5:00 p.m. NLH, $230 ($5K Guarantee) SATURDAY 6:45 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 KO $25 9:30 a.m. NLH, $120 AO $10 MOHEGAN SUN - UNCASVILLE ($5K Guarantee) ($3K 1st Place Guarantee) MONDAY WEDNESDAY SUNDAY 10:00 a.m NLH, $85 KO $25 12:15 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 KO $25 9:30 a.m. NLH, $250 AO $10 2:00 p.m NLH, $75 ($5K Guarantee) ($8K 1st Place Guarantee) 6:00 p.m NLH, $100 6:45 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 TUESDAY ($5K Guarantee) OAKS CARD CLUB - EMERYVILLE 10:00 a.m NLH, $75

034_Schedules.indd 35 6/10/20 10:10 AM Schedules - Daily tournaments

2:00 p.m NLH, $85 KO $25 6:00 p.m. NLH, $120 ($10K Guarantee) RGC POKER (for locations see RGCPoker.com) MICHIGAN WEDNESDAY DAILY 10:00 a.m NLH, $75 1:00 p.m. NLH, $40 FIREKEEPERS CASINO - BATTLE CREEK 2:00 p.m NLH, $85 KO $25 5:00 p.m. NLH, $80 MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 6:00 p.m. NLH, $100 6:30 p.m. NLH, $40 12:00 p.m. NLH, $40 6:30 p.m. NLH, $40 THURSDAY SATURDAY 10:00 a.m NLH, $75 2:00 p.m NLH, $180 THURSDAY 2:00 p.m NLH, $85 KO $25 12:00 p.m. NLH, $40 6:00 p.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) 6:30 p.m. PLO/NLH, $60 FRIDAY LOUISIANA FRIDAY 11:00 a.m NLH, $75 12:00 p.m. NLH, $40 2:00 p.m NLH, $100 COUSHATTA CASINO & RESORT - KINDER 6:30 p.m. NLH, $60 AO $20 AO $20 6:00 p.m NLH, $120 TUESDAY SATURDAY 6:30 p.m. NLH, $125 KO $25 SATURDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 11:00 a.m NLH, $150 THURSDAY SUNDAY 5:00 p.m NLH, $120 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 12:00 p.m. NLH, $140/$240/$500 6:30 p.m. NLH, $40 SUNDAY FRIDAY 11:00 a.m NLH, $200 KO $50 7:00 p.m. NLH, $120

5:00 p.m. NLH, $120 SATURDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $200 NEVADA FLORIDA SUNDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $100 BESTBET - JACKSONVILLE VENETIAN HOTEL & CASINO - LAS VEGAS MONDAY MARYLAND MONDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 12:10 p.m. NLH, $150 ($8K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. PLO H/L, $125 KO $25 LIVE! CASINO & HOTEL - HANOVER 6:10 p.m. NLH, $125 KO $25 ($4K Guarantee) TUESDAY MONDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $150 12:15 p.m. NLH, $120 KO $25 TUESDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $125 KO $25 ($3K Guarantee) 12:10 p.m. NLH, $150 ($8K Guarantee) 6:10 p.m. NLH, $200 KO $50 WEDNESDAY 7:15 p.m. NLH, $140 ($4K Guarantee) ($9K Guarantee) 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 TUESDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 12:15 p.m. NLH, $140 ($3K Guarantee) WEDNESDAY 12:10 p.m. NLH, $150 ($8K Guarantee) THURSDAY 7:15 p.m. NLH, $120 KO $25 6:10 p.m. NLH, $125 ($4K Guarantee) 12:00 p.m. NLH, $125 KO $25 ($5K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. NLH, $50 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 12:10 p.m. NLH, $150 ($8K Guarantee) FRIDAY 12:15 p.m. NLH, $150 ($3K Guarantee) 12:00 p.m. NLH, $150 7:15 p.m. NLH, $130 ($15K Guarantee) 6:10 p.m. NLH, $125 KO $25 ($6K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. NLH, $240 KO $100 THURSDAY SATURDAY 12:15 p.m. NLH, $160 KO $50 FRIDAY 12:10 p.m. NLH, $200 AO $100 12:00 p.m. NLH, $155 ($3K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. NLH, $155 7:15p.m. NLH, $150 ($5K Guarantee) ($20K Guarantee) SUNDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $150 12:15 p.m. NLH, $200 ($5K Guarantee) 12:10 p.m. NLH, $340 ($25K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. NLH, $50 7:15 p.m. NLH, $140 ($5K Guarantee) 6:10 p.m. NLH, $125 ($4K Guarantee) SATURDAY SUNDAY PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUB - W. PALM BEACH 11:15 a.m. NLH, $100 ($10K Guarantee) 12:10 p.m. NLH, $250 ($15K Guarantee) 6:10 p.m. NLH, $125 ($4K Guarantee) MONDAY 7:15 p.m. NLH, $130 12:15 p.m. NLH, $70 ($2.5K Guarantee) SUNDAY 6:30 p.m. NLH, $70 ($2K Guarantee) 3:15 p.m. NLH, $130 ($15K Guarantee) NEW YORK TUESDAY 6:15 p.m. NLH, $130 12:15 p.m. NLH, $70 SENECA NIAGARA - NIAGARA FALLS 6:30 p.m. NLH, $70 MGM NATIONAL HARBOR - OXON HILL MONDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 ($2K Guarantee) WEDNESDAY MONDAY 12:15 p.m. NLH, $100 ($3K Guarantee) 11:15 a.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) TUESDAY 6:30 p.m. NLH, $100 ($2K Guarantee) 7:15 p.m. NLH, $235 ($10K Guarantee) 10:00 a.m. NLH, $45 7:00 p.m. NLH, $45 THURSDAY TUESDAY 12:15 p.m. NLH, $100 ($2K Guarantee) 11:15 a.m. NLH, $240 ($10K Guarantee) WEDNESDAY 6:30 p.m. NLH, $100 ($1.5K Guarantee) 7:15 p.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) 10:00 a.m. NLH, $80 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 ($2K Guarantee) FRIDAY WEDNESDAY 12:15 p.m. NLH, $120 ($10K Guarantee) 11:15 a.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) THURSDAY 6:30 p.m. NLH, $40 AO $20 7:15 p.m. NLH, $200 KO $50 10:00 a.m. NLH, $60 7:00 p.m. NLH, $60 ($8K Guarantee) THURSDAY SATURDAY 11:15 a.m. NLH, $150 KO $25 FRIDAY 12:15 p.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) ($5K Guarantee) 10:00 a.m. NLH, $80 6:30 p.m. NLH, $40 AO $20 7:15 p.m. NLH, $125 ($5K Guarantee) SATURDAY 10:00 a.m. NLH, $20 ($1K Guarantee) ($5K Guarantee) SUNDAY 11:15 a.m. NLH, $350 KO $100 11:00 a.m. NLH, $150 ILLINOIS ($20K Guarantee) SUNDAY 10:00 a.m. NLH, $60

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034_Schedules.indd 36 6/10/20 10:10 AM Schedules

6:00 p.m. NLH, $125 ($2.5K Guarantee) SUNDAY HARRAH’S - CHEROKEE 1:00 p.m. NLH, $35 TURNING STONE - VERONA MONDAY MONDAY 7:00 p.m NLH, $80 SOUTH DAKOTA 12:00 p.m NLH, $50 10:00 p.m NLH, $50 SILVERADO FRANKLIN - DEADWOOD 7:00 p.m. NLH, $65 TUESDAY THURSDAY TUESDAY 7:00 p.m NLH, $80 12:00 p.m NLH, $50 10:00 p.m NLH, $50 6:30 p.m. NLH, $88 7:00 p.m. NLH, $15 ($1K Guarantee) WEDNESDAY SATURDAY WEDNESDAY 7:00 p.m NLH, $100 KO $25 2:00 p.m. NLH, $44 12:00 p.m NLH, $65 KO $10 THURSDAY SUNDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $65 7:00 p.m NLH, $80 3:00 p.m. NLH, $33 THURSDAY 10:00 p.m NLH, $45 12:00 p.m NLH, $65 KO $10 FRIDAY TEXAS 7:00 p.m. NLH, $15 ($1K Guarantee) 5:00 p.m NLH, $135 FRIDAY SATURDAY CELEBRITY CARD CLUB - ODESSA 12:00 p.m NLH, $100 KO $25 11:00 a.m NLH, $250 7:00 p.m. NLH, $50 SUNDAY TUESDAY SATURDAY 10:00 a.m NLH, $80 7:00 p.m. PLO, $50 12:00 p.m NLH, $65 2:00 p.m NLH, $250 THURSDAY 4:00 p.m NLH, $100 KO $25 7:00 p.m NLH, $80 7:00 p.m. NLH, $60 7:00 p.m. NLH, $25 10:00 p.m NLH, $45 SUNDAY WISCONSIN 12:00 p.m NLH, $50 OREGON 6:00 p.m. NLH, $30 POTAWATOMI - MILWAUKEE WILDHORSE - PENDLETON TUESDAY EASTERN POKER TOUR TUESDAY 6:15 p.m. NLH, $80 PUB POKER EVENTS, NEWS, RANKINGS 6:30 p.m. NLH, $35 AND UPDATES CAN BE VIEWED AT EAST- THURSDAY THURSDAY ERNPOKERTOUR.COM 6:30 p.m. NLH, $55 6:15 p.m. NLH, $125 SATURDAY SUNDAY NORTH CAROLINA 1:00 p.m. NLH, $75 12:15 p.m NLH, $150

ANALYSISAnalysis TOURNAMENT HAND MATCHUP Making a correct hero call is one of the best feelings 2020 Super High Roller Bowl Online in no-limit hold’em. Christopher Hunichen must have been on top of the world when he did just that $25,500 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller against Viktor ‘Isildur1’ Blom in order to secure the Christopher title in this prestigious super high roller event. e Viktor Blom hand began with Hunichen raising from the button Hunichen 2,912,057 chips with A-9 oﬀ suit. Blom three-bet with J-7 oﬀ suit, likely 5,200,000 chips trying to draw folds from the weaker hands amid A 9 J 7 Hunichen’s likely very wide button raising range. Winning Percentage Winning Percentage Hunichen strapped in for the ride and made the call.

Before Flop: 63.0% Before Flop: 37.0% e two saw a ﬂ op of 4-4-2 rainbow and Blom ﬁ red

A 9 7 J After Flop: 22.0% After Flop: 77.0% out a continuation bet of 320,000 into the pot of 1.3 After Turn: 86.0% After Turn: 14.0% million. Hunichen made the call with his ace-high, likely thinking that this particular fl op was unlikely PREFLOP to have interacted with most of Blom’s three-betting range. e turn brought the Qo and Blom fi red a With two players remaining and blinds of 40,000-80,000 with an ante of second barrel of 640,000, for about one-third the size 10,000, Christopher Hunichen raised to 160,000 on the button. Viktor of the pot. Hunichen made the call yet again and the Blom three-bet to 640,000 from the big blind. Hunichen called. river brought a third 4 on the board. Blom shoved all-in for 1,302,057, having arrived at the river with nothing but jack high for showdown value. Hunichen’s ace-high could of course only beat bluff s. Blom’s line of 4 4 2 Q 4 three-betting pre-fl op and then fi ring all three streets from out of position on this board texture would most FLOP TURN

RIVER likely be taken as a polarized range made up of his very

Q 4 4 2 4 strongest holdings and his bluﬀ s. Hunichen decided the chances of this case being the latter were high enough Blom bet 320,000. Blom bet 640,000. Blom moved all-in for and he made the call to take down the pot and the title. Hunichen called. Hunichen called. 1,302,057. Hunichen Blom earned $320,625 as the runner-up ﬁ nisher, while called. Hunichen was awarded $479,250 as the champion.

NOTE: WINNING PERCENTAGES DO NOT INCLUDE TIES. ODDS PROVIDED BY CARDPLAYER.COM/POKER-TOOLS/ODDS-CALCULATOR/TEXAS-HOLDEM

034_Schedules.indd 37 6/10/20 10:10 AM Poker Leaderboards MOST ALLTIME TOURNAMENT PRIZE MONEY AWARDED BY STATE

Rank Player WSOP Cashes 1 Nevada $5.18 billion The United States of America is far-and-away the world’s 2 California $962 million leading country when it comes to the amount of all-time prize money awarded in live poker tournaments. In fact, 3 New Jersey $547 million the top international country’s total prize money awarded 4 Florida $490 million (Spain - $463 million) would only place fifth among American 5 Connecticut $257 million states when it comes to the amount paid out in live events. The runaway leader among the states is, of course, Nevada. 6 Mississippi $205 million Las Vegas and the annual World Series of Poker has paid out 7 Oklahoma $194 million $5.18 billion in tournament prize money. The 2019 running of 8 Indiana $167 million the WSOP alone contributed more than $293 million to that total, which is more than the all-time totals for every state 9 North Carolina $81.5 million in America outside of Nevada, California, New Jersey, and 10 Minnesota $52.4 million Florida. California is home to several of the largest poker rooms in the world, with many of them hosting massive tournament series all year round. As a result, the Golden State has earned the silver medal for prize money awarded with $962 million. New Jersey has also made the podium, and with $547 million awarded is the only other state in the union with more than half-a-billion in prize money awarded.

SWEDISH ALLTIME MONEY LIST CAREER LIVE TOURNAMENT EARNINGS

Sweden has produced a number of world-class poker tal- Rank Player Career Live Earnings ents, with plenty of renowned cash game and tournament 1 Martin Jacobson $17,024,917 players hailing from the Scandinavian country. Sweden’s 2 Chris Bjorin $5,111,478 clear all-time live tournament earnings leader is none other than 2014 World Series of Poker main event champion Martin 3 Michael Tureniec $4,659,147 Jacobson. The $10,000,000 he earned for defeating a field of 4 Martin de Knijff $3,608,925 6,683 entrants in that $10,000 buy-in event would be enough on 5 William Thorson $3,180,513 its own to make him the county’s top earner, but he has added more than $7 million in additional earnings on top of his win 6 Viktor Blom $2,938,255 in the big dance. Viktor Blom is infamous for his nosebleed- 7 Johan Storakers $2,836,571 stakes online cash game exploits under the screen 8 Erik Friberg $2,786,960 name ‘Isildur1’. While Blom is still primarily focused on online cash games, he has managed to earn 9 Anton Wigg $2,774,896 more than $2.9 million in live tournaments, mak- 10 Kent Lundmark $2,275,303 ing him Sweden’s sixth-highest earner. In late May of this year, he cashed for over $1.5 million across six scores in the preliminary events of the ongoing Super High Roller Bowl Online series. Those cashes don’t count towards Blom’s career live totals, though, as the festival was moved online this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

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