World Series of Poker to Award 85 Online Bracelets in 2020 Poker World Has Mixed Reaction

www.CardPlayer.com Vol. 33/No. 16 July 29, 2020

WORLD SERIES OF POKER TO AWARD 85 ONLINE BRACELETS IN 2020 POKER WORLD HAS MIXED REACTION

High-Stakes Poker Pro Preparing For 2020 Dan Smith Talks Online High The World Series of #wouldbeWSOP Rollers And Poker Ecosystem Poker Online Edition

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CP_Sub_25_DT.indd 5 7/7/20 4:19 PM Masthead - Card Player Vol. 33/No. 16

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Features Strategies, Analysis Also In this Issue 20 & Commentary 4 World Series of Poker To Award 85 Online 26 About Us Bracelets in 2020 The 2020 #wouldbeWSOP 34 By Card Player News Team By Melissa Burr Tournament Schedules 29 38 The Inside Straight Preparing For The World Series of Poker - Poker Leaderboards 10 Online Edition By Greg Raymer Poker News Recap Tournament 13 30 True Tales From A Hollywood Poker Player Of The Year Update Hand Matchups Hustler: Side Betting With Poker Pros, 27 14 Con Men, And Movie Stars Michael Addamo vs. Justin Bonomo Hand History Rewind: Peter Eastgate By Houston Curtis vs. David Peters Wins 2008 World Series of Poker 33 Main Event 29 Playing 9-2 In The $10,000 Caribbean By Card Player News Team Poker Party Main Event Michael Addamo vs. Justin Bonomo 16 By Jonathan Little 31 Poker Stories Podcast with Jesse Martin Justin Bonomo vs. Michael Addamo By Card Player News Team 36 18 Justin Bonomo vs. Michael Addamo Table Talk: High-Stakes Poker Pro Dan Smith: “The Bigger The Money, The More Prestige” By Steve Schult

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008_TOC.indd 8 7/8/20 5:52 PM PLAYER_16_ACR_FP.indd 3 7/7/20 4:18 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT

the INSIDE STRAIGHT News, Reviews, and Interviews From Around the Poker World

NEW JERSEY GOV. BANS SMOKING AND DRINKING IN ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS By Steve Schult

Atlantic City’s largest and most profi table casino is stay- ing closed after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced right before the July 4 holiday that he was postponing the resumption of indoor dining. Murphy also banned smoking and drinking inside Atlantic City’s casinos until he feels it is safe to resume. Prior, Murphy announced that Atlantic City’s nine casinos could reopen on July 2, the same day that indoor dining was scheduled to resume. e properties were to only be allowed to operate at 25 percent capacity and adhere to several health and safety guidelines that included social distancing measures, enhanced sanitization measures, and mandatory masks for both players and staff . With the move to ban food, drinks and smoking inside gambling establishments, the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa “Our guests expect a special decided to keep its doors shut until offi cials decide that it is safe to resume those services. experience when they come to our “Our guests expect a special experience when they property and if we cannot provide come to our property and if we cannot provide that level of hospitality, we feel it best that we remain closed until that level of hospitality, we feel it such time that the governor lets us know it is safe to off er food and beverage,” MGM Resorts, the parent company of best that we remain closed.” Borgata, said in a press release. “ e health and safety of our employees and guests are at the center of all that we do, and we regret that, at this time, we are unable to welcome back the thousands of employees who are anxious to return saw a record-high number of new cases last week. to work. We look forward to a time when it is safe to wel- Murphy ordered Atlantic City casinos to temporarily come everyone back.” shutter on March 16. It is one of the few states that has yet At the time of writing, Borgata is the only New Jersey to reopen its gaming market. casino to react to the news. e eight other casinos in While the brick-and-mortar establishments have been Atlantic City are expected to open when eligible. closed for more than three months, online casinos have Murphy’s decision came in response to coronavirus carried the revenue burden for the state. In May, online infection rates spiking in some states that had already casinos set all-time highs in recorded revenue. In April, begun reopening their local economies. Texas Gov. Greg Garden State online gaming operators saw records in online Abbott recently “paused” the state’s reopening process as it poker revenue. m

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010_News.indd 10 7/7/20 4:08 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT LAS VEGAS CASINO EMPLOYEE DIES FROM COVID-19, CULINARY UNION SUES By Steve Schult “According to the lawsuit, since March 1, 2020, at least nineteen A Las Vegas casino worker has passed away after testing Joint Board members and positive for COVID-19. According to the local CBS affiliate, an employee of a Caesars Entertainment casino passed away in dependents have died from the late June after having tested positive for the virus. disease.” It is still unknown which property the employee worked at or what that person’s job entailed in the casino. “Sadly, we can confirm that one of our colleagues has Signature at the MGM Grand, Sadelle’s Café at Bellagio and passed away after testing positive for COVID-19. We are Guy Fieri’s Las Vegas Kitchen and Bar at e LINQ. e heartbroken by this development and are expressing our deep- lawsuit alleges that companies did not properly warn workers, est sympathies to their family and friends,” said the company disinfect the work area or force a quarantine for employees in a statement. “While we have not been able to determine after it discovered that there was a staff member in the kitchen how the employee contracted the virus, once the employee who had contracted the virus. informed us about testing positive, the company implemented “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of every- its protocols to determine who had been in close proximity one inside of our properties,” MGM Resorts said in a state- with this individual at the direction of the Southern Nevada ment regarding the pending litigation. “We have worked to Health District.” train our managers in our incident response protocols and we e statement went on to say that those employees who work very closely with the health department officials in their were found to be in close quarters with this person were placed efforts to contact trace. e nation is in the midst of a public on paid leave and began to self-isolate. e company said that health crisis and we are relying on all of our employees to fol- they will not allow those employees to return to work until low CDC guidelines both at work and at home.” they test negative for the virus. According to the lawsuit, since March 1, 2020, at least e development happens just as the Culinary Union nineteen Joint Board members and dependents have died from Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 filed a lawsuit the disease. against “major Strip venues,” over “unreasonable rules and A casino employee died at a tribal casino in Arizona in mid procedures for addressing the spread of COVID-19,” accord- June. In response, the tribe opted to shut down operations at ing to the suit filed June 29. all three of its casinos for two weeks while it sanitized the entire e lawsuit is centered around the conditions at e property. m MASSACHUSETTS CASINOS WILL REOPEN WITHOUT POKER, CRAPS AND ROULETTE

By Steve Schult

Massachusetts hasn’t given a definitive timeline for when it many players can sit at a table. will reopen its three casinos, but when it does, options will be Slot machines will be cleaned at least once every four hours extremely limited for Bay State gamblers. and will be spaced out throughout the casino. Gamblers will Regulators from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission be required to wear masks or face coverings while on the finalized the minimum guidelines necessary for casinos and gambling floor. slot parlors to reopen in mid-June after deciding that gamblers Massachusetts is home to three commercial casinos and would not be allowed to carry drinks around the casino. numerous racinos, that only allow slot machines. It is still a When casinos reopen, operators will not be allowed to relatively young gambling market as Encore Boston Harbor, spread craps, roulette, and poker games. According to CBS the state’s most profitable casino only opened in 2019. MGM Boston, Blackjack tables will be capped at three players per Springfield, the only other casino with a poker room in table with plexiglass dividers used to separate players from one Massachusetts, opened two years earlier. another and the dealer. e Bay State is following similar measures taken by Plexiglass dividers have been implemented at several poker Michigan, which houses three commercial casinos in Detroit. rooms in Florida and at the Bellagio’s recently reopened Gaming regulators in Michigan announced earlier this month poker room in Las Vegas. Based on the abundance of caution that poker will be banned until further notice at those proper- exercised by Massachusetts regulators, it’s likely that MGM ties, which will operate at 15 percent of its total capacity. Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor will be forced into Gov. Gretchen Whitmer still has yet to announce a time- using these partitions in their poker rooms as well. line for the reopening of Detroit’s casinos. Massachusetts, on Poker, craps, and roulette will be permitted once regulators the other hand, initially said it could open as early as June 29, feel the environment is safe enough for it and relax the guide- but Gov. Charlie Baker hasn’t released any plans yet and all lines a bit. ose games will likely have restrictions on how casinos were still closed as of July 1. m

010_News.indd 11 7/7/20 4:08 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT - News, reviews, and interviews from around the poker world Newest Las Vegas Casino Will Be An Adult-Only Property By Steve Schult

When Las Vegas’ newest casino opens later this year, it will be the first Vegas property to enforce an adult-only policy. e Circa Resort & Casino announced on its Facebook page that it will only allow those 21 and older to enter the Downtown Las Vegas casino. e announcement came in the form of an advertisement that the property is beginning to take reservations for its December 2020 grand opening. At all other Nevada casinos, the age restriction is reserved only for the gaming floor, not the entire property. “Once Las Vegas held a certain mystique as this fabulous place where only grown-ups could play,” read the Facebook post. “Call us old-fashioned, but we think adults need some of that mystique back in their lives. Book your room starting June 24 at 9 a.m. for Circa Las Vegas, a 21+ experience.” e property is owned by the Stevens brothers, Derek and Greg, who also own e D and Golden Gate Casinos in Downtown Las Vegas. e resort will be home to a 777- room hotel tower, six different pools, five restaurants and the longest outdoor bar all on the northwest corner of the Fremont Street Experience. seating and have the “biggest screen in sportsbook history.” e casino’s biggest attraction will be its sportsbook, It will overtake e Westgate Las Vegas as the world’s larg- which will be three stories tall with two levels of stadium est sportsbook.m CASINO OWNER SPLITS OFF ONLINE OPERATIONS, TAKES GOLDEN NUGGET ONLINE GAMING PUBLIC By Steve Schult

A casino owner is separating his the US,” Co-Chairman of Lancadia casinos. online gambling venture into a sepa- II and CEO of Jeffries LLC, Rich Golden Nugget has been operating rate company and taking it public. Handler, said in a statement. “We at online since 2013, became profitable Tilman Fertitta, the Houston- Jeffries couldn’t be more thrilled to in 2016, was the first online gaming based billionaire who owns the Golden partner with Tilman and bring this company to launch Live Dealer games Nugget Casino brand, announced in great opportunity to public markets.” in the U.S. and also has obtained regulate June that he has entered into an With the COVID-19 pandemic latory approval from Pennsylvania and agreement with Landcadia II, a special crippling the brick-and-mortar casino Michigan, two other regulated online purpose acquisition company that is industry, areas where online gaming is gaming markets. sponsored by Fertitta’s entertainment legal saw increased demand. America’s “Golden Nugget is one of the most company and publicly traded on the entire casino industry shut down in time-honored brands in the gam- NASDAQ for his online operations. mid-March and New Jersey online ing business today,” said Fertitta in a According to the press release, casinos set records. statement. “When customers hear the when the deal is completed, Landcadia New Jersey online casino operators name Golden Nugget, they know they II will change its name to Golden set a record for online gaming revenue in are dealing with a trusted online gam- Nugget Online Gaming Inc. It will May. Garden State online poker rooms ing business.” trade on the NASDAQ under the saw all-time revenue highs in April. e $745 million valuation that ticker symbol “GNOG.” e deal is Golden Nugget’s online operations was agreed upon was calculated by expected to be finalized in the third grabbed the biggest piece of the New taking 6.1 times GNOG’s estimated quarter of this year and will value the Jersey online market share during the revenue of $122 million. Fertitta will company at $745 million. surge. In May, the company generated serve as Chairman and CEO of the “GNOG is one of the best posi- $29.1 million in revenue, which is company and will hold a controlling tioned companies to capitalize on this about a third of the $85.9 million won economic and voting interest in the massive online gaming opportunity in from New Jersey gamblers by online new, combined company. m

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010_News.indd 12 7/7/20 4:08 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT As of 7-1-2020

A Look At Players Making Waves On The Place Players Points Final Tables Winnings Live Tournament Circuit Steve O’Dwyer - 1 Vincent Wan 2,280 1 $909,420 42 42nd Place (1,078 points) Steve O’Dwyer has been a consistent 2 Farid Jattin 2,177 6 $1,205,493 performer on the live tournament circuit over the last decade. He has finished inside the top 50 in the Card 3 Anton Suarez 2,100 1 $1,000,000 Player Player of the Year rankings in seven out of the past ten years, with three top-ten finishes made 4 Cary Katz 2,095 8 $2,420,543 along the way. His best showing came when he finished fifth in 2013. O’Dwyer is at it again in 2020, having 5 Kahle Burns 1,956 6 $2,923,988 made three big POY-qualified final tables in live poker tournaments before the coronavirus brought the international circuit to a halt. Just a week into 6 Ngoc Hoang 1,900 1 $909,420 the year he finished fifth in the $25,000 buy-in high roller at the partypoker MILLIONS UK festival for $75,000 and 140 POY points. Nine days later 7 Aaron Van Blarcum 1,896 8 $1,854,522 he placed third in the $25,000 AUD high roller at the Aussie Millions, which drew a massive field of 169 total entries. The deep run added another 8 Sam Greenwood 1,881 6 $1,357,807 $321,844 and 728 points to O’Dwyer’s totals for the year. He then went on to place fourth in yet another $25,000 AUD buy-in event, this time at the 9 Tim Adams 1,857 6 $5,904,777 Australian Poker Open series. The $84,525 and 210 points he earned were enough to see him move into 42nd place in the overall standings, with 1,078 10 Brian Altman 1,848 3 $542,866 points and $481,369 in year-to-date earnings in POY-qualified events.

11 Michael Addamo 1,806 5 $2,143,310 Craig Varnell - 48 48th Place (1,052 points) 12 Pablo Silva 1,800 1 $1,000,000 Colorado-based poker pro Craig Varnell is a World Series of Poker bracelet winner and World Poker 13 Christian Rudolph 1,750 1 $620,000 Tour main event champion. The 37-year-old got off to a strong start in 2020, finishing fifth in a $5,000 14 James Romero 1,736 2 $745,000 buy-in event at the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood in late January. 15 Erik Seidel 1,686 5 $669,649 Varnell took home $25,450 and 140 points for his strong showing in that event. In March Varnell became one of the last players to 16 Eric Afriat 1,680 1 $394,120 win a live tournament title when he was declared the champion of the Bay 101 Shooting Star $5,200 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event. The tourna- 17 Alex Foxen 1,597 6 $1,603,559 ment was already underway when the coronavirus outbreak began to shut down much of the live poker scene. On the final day there were ten 18 Nino Ullmann 1,540 2 $370,609 players remaining, who all ultimately agreed to do a chop based on the Independent Chip Model (ICM) numbers. Varnell was the chip leader at the time, 19 Stephen Chidwick 1,537 6 $1,043,973 and as such was awarded the title and the largest payout of $159,710. The 912 points he earned as the victor catapulted him into 48th place in the rank- 20 Gareth Pepper 1,520 1 $690,000 ings with 1,052 points and $185,160 in live earnings so far in 2020.

013_POY.indd 13 7/7/20 4:09 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT - This Week's Big Winner THIS WEEK’S BIG WINNER Hand History Rewind: Peter Eastgate Wins 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event

By Card Player News Team

The 2020 World Series of Poker was scheduled to take place in Las Vegas this summer, mark- ing the 15th year that the main event has crowned a champion at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. (The 2005 main event was finished at Binion’s Horseshoe.) That streak is now in jeopardy because of the pandemic that has put a pause on live poker tournaments all over the globe, but officials hope that the series, or at least a main event, can be played out in the fall. With that in mind, we thought it would be fun to look back at the first main events held at the Rio. We first revisited Jamie Gold’s dominating run in 2006, and then Jerry Yang’s win in 2007. This issue, we’ll look at Peter Eastgate, who won it all in 2008 for $9,152,416. Eastgate was a month shy of his 23rd birthday at the time of his victory, becoming the young- est champion in poker history. The previous record holder was Phil Hellmuth, who was 24 when he won in 1989. Eastgate would later be surpassed by both Pius Heinz (22) and Joe Cada (21). The Danish pro traveled the circuit for another couple of years, scoring a big runner-up finish at the 2009 EPT London main event for $844,285, and winning a PokerStars Caribbean Adventure side event for $343,000 before deciding to quit playing poker full time. The self-described introvert gave up his online poker sponsorship and opted for a more private life. In 2010, he auctioned off his main event bracelet for charity, eventually raising $147,500 which was donated to UNICEF. In the years since, he has only played in the main event a couple of times, and has largely sworn off the gambling industry entirely, in part because of some seven-figure sports bets that didn’t go his way during the World Cup. Here are five key hands from the final table.

Tournament: 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event Buy-In: $10,000 • Prize Pool: $64,333,600 • No. of Entries: 6,844 • First Place Prize: $9,119,517

of the three remaining kings in the deck, or running cards Rheem Gets Unlucky To Bust In o n Seventh Place to survive. e turn was a brick in the 9 , as was the 4 on the river. Rheem banked $1,772,650 for his main event A Q A K performance, his fi rst of two seven-fi gure scores in 2008, and fi ve overall.

Montgomery Exits A er Dramatic A A Q

K River Card Peter Eastgate Chino Rheem 22,850,000 4,350,000 6 6 A 3

Q 7 5 9 4

6 6 A 3

Q 7 5 9 4 Peter Eastgate Scott Montgomery 38,925,000 7,850,000 Blinds – 250,000-500,000 with a 50,000 ante

A Q 4 A 6

A A 4 6 The Action Q A short-stacked Rheem moved all in for his last nine big blinds and Eastgate made the call with An Qo. Rheem had m p him dominated with A K , but the dealer produced a ﬂ op Blinds – 250,000-500,000 with a 50,000 ante of Qm 7o 5m, giving Eastgate the lead. Rheem needed one

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014_TWBW_ PeterEastgate.indd 14 7/7/20 4:10 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT

The Action The Action After losing a big prefl op confrontation to Demidov to Eastgate raised to 1,500,000 from the small blind and see him drop from second place to short stack, Montgomery Phillips defended from the big blind. e fl op fell Jp 4o 3m, moved all in and was called by Eastgate. Montgomery was and Eastgate made a continuation bet of 1,500,000. Phillips behind with Ao 3o against Eastgate’s pocket sixes, but the responded by shoving all in for 14,550,000, and Eastgate fl op of Ap Qm 4o vaulted him to the lead. e Am on the made the automatic snap call with a set of threes. Phillips turn further solidifi ed his stranglehold on the pot, leaving was caught with nothing but a runner-runner straight Eastgate with just two outs. Unfortunately for him, the river draw, and was left drawing dead by the turn. He earned was the 6o, and Eastgate fi lled up. A stunned Montgomery $4,517,773 for his third-place run. headed to the rail to collect his $3,096,678 payout for fi nishing in fi fth place. Eastgate Turns Wheel To Take The Title Schwartz Picks A Bad Time To B l u A 5 4 2

5 5 A 10

A 5 4 2

Peter Eastgate Ivan Demidov

5 5 10 A 120,550,000 16,350,000 Peter Eastgate Ylon Schwartz K 3 2 4 7

46,450,000 18,125,000

K 2 4 7

K 8 2 K 5 3

2 K 8 K 5 Blinds – 500,000-1,000,000 with a 150,000 ante

Blinds – 300,000-600,000 with a 75,000 ante The Action After four hours of heads-up play, Eastgate limped in on The Action the button and Demidov checked his option. e fl op fell Eastgate raised to 1,500,000 from under-the-gun and Km 3n 2o and Demidov checked. Eastgate bet 1,250,000, Schwartz called from the small blind. e fl op came down and Demidov called. e turn was the 4p and Demidov Kn 8n 2m and both players checked. e turn was the checked once again. is time Eastgate bet 2,000,000. Ko and Schwartz checked. Eastgate bet 1,750,000, and Demidov check-raised to 6,000,000, and Eastgate called. Schwartz made the call. e river was the 5o and Schwartz e river was the 7m and Demidov moved all in for his checked for the fi nal time. Eastgate bet 4,600,000, and fi nal 7,950,000. Eastgate quickly called him with Ao 5m, Schwartz check-raised all-in. Eastgate made an easy call having turned a wheel, and Demidov’s two pair was second with pocket fi ves for a rivered full house, and Schwartz best. He earned $5,809,595 for his runner-up fi nish, while could only turn over An 10p for a complete bluff . Schwartz Eastgate picked up the bracelet and the $9,152,416 fi rst- pocketed $3,794,974 for his fourth-place fi nish. place prize.

Final Table Results

Phillips Goes Down Swinging In 1. Peter Eastgate $9,152,416 Third Place 2. Ivan Demidov $5,809,595 3 3 10 9 3. Dennis Phillips $4,517,773

4. Ylon Schwartz $3,774,974

3 3 10 9

Peter Eastgate Dennis Phillips 5. Scott Montgomery $3,096,768 63,250,000 16,125,000 6. Darus Suharto $2,418,562 J 4 3 A 9

7. Chino Rheem $1,772,650

A J 4 3 9 8. Kelly Kim $1,288,217

Blinds – 300,000-600,000 with a 75,000 ante 9. Craig Marquis $900,670

014_TWBW_ PeterEastgate.indd 15 7/7/20 4:10 PM Card Player Podcast

POKER STORIES PODCAST

With Jesse Martin

Poker Stories is a long-form audio podcast series that features casual interviews with some of the game’s best players and personalities. Each episode highlights a well-known member of the poker world and dives deep into their favorite tales both on and off the felt.

To listen, visit www.cardplayer.com/poker-podcasts or download it directly to your device from any number of mobile apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, or Spotify. Catch up on past episodes featuring notables such as Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Justin Bonomo, Nick Schulman, Barry Greenstein, Michael Mizrachi, Bryn Kenney, Mike Sexton, Brian Rast, Chris Moneymaker, Maria Ho, Joe Cada, Freddy Deeb, and many more.

Age: 40 From: Northborough, Massachusetts Live Tournament Earnings: $3.2 Million

Top Live Tournament Scores Date Tournament Place Winnings June 2014 WSOP $50,000 3rd Place $594,570 Poker Players Championship April 2007 Five Star World 1st Place $289,740 Poker Classic $2,500 NLHE June 2013 WSOP $10,000 2-7 1st Place $253,524 Lowball March 2017 LA Poker Classic 5th Place $230,380 $10,000 Main Event June 2015 WSOP $10,000 2nd Place $180,114 Limit Hold’em

Jesse Martin is a highly-respected poker pro and sports gambler from Massachusetts. Although he started out as a cash game player and has always competed in high-stakes mixed games, Martin has also done quite well on the tournament circuit, racking up more than $3.2 million. He has also won millions online playing under the name ‘MazeOrBowie,’ and had a fourth-place finish in the SCOOP main event for $401,600. Martin has several final-table finishes at the World Series of Poker, including a third-place showing in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship for $594,570, along with two bracelet wins. His first came in the 2013 $10,000 No-Limit Deuce-To-Seven event, where he won $253,524. His second title came in 2017, when he pocketed $130,948 for taking down the $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw event. In the last few years following the birth of his son, Martin has started playing less poker and while devoting more of his working time to daily fantasy sports. In December, he beat a field of 180 in the DraftKings Fantasy Football World Championship in Miami to earn a massive $2 million payday. Highlights from this interview include catching poker right before the boom, Syracuse to TurningStone, Red Sox and Phish, talent vs. hard work, chasing a fish into a H.O.R.S.E. game, a painful finish at the LAPC, bracelet or watch?, $3,000-$6,000 game in Bobby’s Room, dirty looks from Gus Hansen, thriving in crazy games, one hand at $200-$400 no-limit, getting paid by Chino Rheem, barbershop quartet conventions in Austria, being bad at bagels, Larry Bird words, what winning $2 million feels like, Joey Chestnut, running good/bad against John Hennigan, 175 concerts, why you shouldn’t compliment his stack size, and how Rudy Gobert gave him a big COVID-19 win. © WPT.com ©

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016_Podcast_JesseMartin.indd 16 7/7/20 4:10 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT

The Transcript Highlights

On His Painful Finish At The L.A. Poker Classic Main Event

Julio Rodriguez: Let’s talk about close calls. e biggest one, obviously, was fi nishing third in the $50k Poker Players Championship for $600k. You also have a runner-up in the $10k limit hold’em, runner-up in the $10k stud, fi fth place at the LAPC, third place in a stud eight-or-better… Which one is the most painful? Jesse Martin: at’s a fair question. Number one, the most painful would be the LAPC main event. I was in such a groove in that tournament, I was feeling so good. I still look back to the day of the fi nal table… e way the LAPC is set up if you are a Los Angeles resident is awesome, because it starts at noon, and ends at 8:30 or 9 p.m. So you miss traffi c both ways, and get to sleep in your own bed, get plenty of rest. I was just loving it, loving the [easy] commute. en the day of the fi nal table, you’re doing interviews in the morning, and it doesn’t start until 4 p.m. For whatever reason, that threw me off . I went to get a haircut before, and got new sunglasses, and all of a sudden had this whole mindset at the fi nal table. Overall, I was frustrated with the way I prepared for that day. ere were no huge mistakes that I feel like I made. In fact, I think I made a few good plays, including a tough fold. But I look back and just wish I had the whole day to do over again. I went in 3 of 6, feeling good about everything, but ended up coming in fi fth. So that was a rough one.

On High-Stakes Games In Bobby’s Room With Gus Hansen

JR: What is the biggest game you’ve ever played in? JM: I played $3,000-$6,000 in Bobby’s Room, so I guess that’s defi nitely the answer. I didn’t have all of my self, I had about half, but it was still playing big. I played $1,500-$3,000 a lot, but even then, I didn’t have all of myself. e most I’d have was about 70 percent. So playing $3,000-$6,000 with half of myself was pretty wild. e game was exceptional, so it was kind of one of those things where someone says, ‘Who wants to kick it up?’ I object once, and maybe get a dirty look from Gus Hansen. So the second time it gets brought up, I don’t say anything and just text a friend [asking to buy more action.] JR: Does it feel any diff erent when there’s more money on the table or is everything the same decision to you? JM: No, it feels diff erent for sure. Basically, you want to play… It’s hard. e old cliché that if the money is meaningful to you, then you are probably playing too big. e money should just be like bullets to you. All that in theory might be true, but if you stumble upon a $2,000-$4,000, and you have the money in your box and the game is exceptional, sometimes you are going to play above your head. It’s gambling with an edge, and you hope you win. But when you lose it hurts. While you’re in the pot, you can’t ignore how much it’s going to hurt if you lose. But as a professional gambler, you try to ignore that stuff and do the best you can.

Winning Big With Coronavirus And Rudy Gobert

JM: I was playing a ton of NBA [daily fantasy sports] and doing well with that. e NBA is kind of what transitioned us into some of these lockdowns and really, in a lot of ways, changed the world. Rudy Gobert for the Utah Jazz was diagnosed with coronavirus right before a game started in the middle of March. I was playing heavy DFS at the time, and that night, I was lucky enough to have players in four of the six games in my main line up. e two games that I didn’t really have any players in were the two games that were canceled. JR: Oh wow! So that worked out for you, other than losing your source of income. JM: It was a great send off . I ended up winning $100,000 that night. I came in fi rst in a bunch of big tournaments, and came in second in the biggest tournament by only like half a point. ere was a fi nal three-pointer at the buzzer that didn’t go in. I would have won an extra $80,000 or so. It was just one of those nights where everything went right. Basically, I would create like fi ve diff erent lineups, and one of them would be my main lineup, and go into every single tournament on the site, the $1,500 all the way down to the $4 tournament. So if you hit, if lightning strikes and that lineup goes off , then you are winning all of these tournaments. m

To listen to all Card Player Poker Stories Podcasts for free, visit www.CardPlayer.com/link/podcast Catch up on previous episodes and subscribe to have new episodes automatically appear in your podcast app so you can listen on the go.

016_Podcast_JesseMartin.indd 17 7/9/20 9:30 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.

HIGH-STAKES POKER PRO DAN SMITH: “THE BIGGER THE MONEY, THE MORE PRESTIGE” American Pro With Nearly $37 Million In Lifetime Earnings Talks Online High Rollers, The Poker Ecosystem, And Poker Post-COVID-19 By Steve Schult

e COVID-19 pandemic put live poker on pause in mid-March. While live, short-handed cash games are slowly Dan Smith has starting to return across the country, tournaments don’t have a return date been succeeding at in sight. e numerous problems that sur- poker’s highest level round hosting a live tournament with the looming threat of a potentially deadly for more than a virus has forced even the game’s biggest decade and has just events to be moved online. e World Series of Poker announced an 85-event shy of $37 million schedule split between a 54-event international schedule and a 31-event sched- in live tournament ule for Americans that can play online in earnings. New Jersey and Nevada. Even the game’s highest stakes have been moved online as the Super High Roller Bowl hosted a series that wrapped don’t have comparable skill sets. it doesn’t take very much change [in up earlier this month. American pro “I agree with the premise that online the inputs] at all for a hand to go from Dan Smith has been succeeding at pok- poker and live poker are very different a pure check to a pure bet,” said Smith. er’s highest level for more than a decade games,” said Smith. “I view online poker “Sometimes it might even be literally and cashed for more than $1 million as an acuity test where, for the most part, one combo about whether your oppo- over the course of the 28-event series. it’s about trying to play the best strategy nent calls the flop with 5-5 on A-7-3 Smith, who has just shy of $37 million that you can and just see how it holds about whether or not to choose to bluff in live tournament earnings, finished up. I think live poker gives you a lot the river with 4-5. third on the series leaderboard with his more wiggle room and the opportunity “I would think in almost all situ- nine cashes and 780 points. to be creative.” ations, my intuition is worth more e New Jersey-native has online e abundance of work with solvers than narrowing a range down by one success dating back to the pre-Black has lessened the edge for many players combo. Despite the fact that everyone Friday days of online poker and is well- online, but that wiggle room is where is getting good, the live element of a versed with playing on the virtual felt. the 31-year-old believes that the best face-to-face poker tournament is very But not every American regular playing players can gain an edge in the live much a real thing and sometimes there these stakes live has that kind of track arena. are just going to be some people who record. In Smith’s view, the two variants “If you ever look at a solver output, have a knack for guessing right when

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018_Q&A_DanSmith.indd 18 7/7/20 4:10 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT

Despite the fact that everyone is getting good, the live element of a face-to-face poker tournament is very much a real thing and sometimes there are just going to be some people who have a knack for guessing right when the money is very big.

the money is very big.” some tournaments are cool, for sure. But and online. His win-rate isn’t in jeop- But with the tournaments being generally, my opinion is that the bigger ardy. For him, it’s a matter of playing played on a computer and not in a the money, the more prestige.” whichever variant he enjoys more. It’s casino, the online players must have the Ultimately, there will always be play- not surprising that he enjoys them both. edge while the pandemic is weighing ers willing to gamble for the highest “Online you get to multi-table. A down the live poker world. stakes. at was never a real concern typical day of live poker means I get to ey might. But Smith thinks that about those games dying. e bigger play one tournament,” he said. “A typi- over a few months of online tourna- threat is at smaller stakes where many cal day online, I get to play 15. And that ments, there won’t be enough data to low- and mid-stakes pros who are forced does help to smooth out your variance deduce who the best player is. to play online after making a living play- even though the edge might be smaller. “I don’t think the results of the ing in the brick-and-mortar realm. And of course, there are benefits to not online games will be that relevant,” he In Smith’s limited view of the having to travel the world.” said. “Just because of the sample. If you American online landscape, those Sometimes, however, traveling the play a few $10K’s, a few $25K’s. Let’s players shouldn’t have too much world is a perk of playing the high say over a few months, you play 50 of trouble adjusting. After a friend of roller schedule. each. at sample size is going to be Smith’s wanted to learn how to play, “On the other hand, the tourna- really small. If you looked at a variance he began hearing hand histories from ments are generally at lovely places and calculator, the odds of ending up down $5 tournaments. there is something cool about going to would be very high. And then you con- “I can honestly say that I was Jeju with 40 people you know and com- sider the fact that some of these tourna- shocked at how bad the play was. I peting. You could be playing and comments are very small fields without a was under the impression that even peting with someone all day and then very big edge for the best player. e smaller games had gotten pretty pro just go out for a nice dinner,” said Smith. best player could be winning sub-10 filled, but there were many players At the end of the day, nothing gets percent in some of the games that are that were calling all in with like 10-3 Smiths’ juices flowing like a high-stakes going to be running online. e swings offsuit and stuff.” live tournament. are going to be outrageous.” at being said, he believes that “I find the most fun in playing a For the poker world, however, the those same players aren’t going to be able very big live tournament,” said Smith. online games allow American poker to find similar success online at the same “I enjoy the live aspect. I think there fans to get a glimpse of some of the stakes they were playing in a casino. is something romantic about having best from around the globe. Russia’s “If you play in a live game that to look at somebody after you make a Artur Martirosian won just shy of $1.8 typically plays deep and is really juicy, decision for huge money and then they million and ran away with the overall maybe that skill set won’t carry over,” decide or you decide. I think it’s really leaderboard for the Super High Roller said Smith. “Let’s say you play $10-$20 cool. I find that I get into more of a flow Bowl online series and heralded Swiss at the local casino and it’s a good spot. state [live], as opposed to online where pro Linus Loeliger finished fifth. You might not have a place you could I’m constantly thinking. And live I can “[Loeliger] has been playing the big- win at that level online.” sometimes loosen up a bit and just play, gest games on PokerStars for a few years For those pros that are transitioning, though I would say that the tougher the and he’s transitioned to super high roll- having a big enough bankroll to where table, the less true that is.” ers live,” said Smith. “Artur is a great they aren’t sweating the day-to-day, Despite it being his preferred tourna- player. Very aggressive. He’s been put- week-to-week, or even month-to-month ment setting, Smith’s outlook for live ting in huge volume and his results have swings is going to be key to surviving. tournament poker is grim at best. If the been great.” “For a few years, my impression of stars align, a vaccine is developed, and Before 2011, the online poker com- poker has been that it’s a pretty good the world goes back to normal, then munity was vibrant, competitive, and spot if you don’t need it for the bills Smith thinks there could be a some huge bragging rights were up for grabs with and you’re comfortable,” said the World fields when live tournaments return. every big series on either of the major Poker Tour champion. “If you need low “I don’t know what poker is going to sites. Now, not so much. One silver variance money where you are very look like in the future,” he said. “I think lining to the pandemic could be the likely to win, I don’t think those spots this pandemic could go on for a while return of prestige to some of the bigger exist. But on the other hand, I think the and I think people will be hesitant to online series. EV [expected value] is quite high. And at open up. But on the other hand, let’s just “I think I’m the wrong person to ask higher stakes, that means the best play- say that in a year and a half, the world about it,” said Smith. “I think I view ers are making more money.” is back to normal. If it’s the first stop in poker a little bit less romantically than Smith doesn’t need to transition. He a very long time, I think people will be most. In the sense of prestige, winning has beaten the highest stakes both live itching to play.” m

018_Q&A_DanSmith.indd 19 7/7/20 4:10 PM WORLD SERIES OF POKER TO AWARD 85 ONLINE BRACELETS IN 2020 Poker World Has Mixed Reaction To Moving Poker’s Most Prestigious Series Online By Card Player News Team

In April, the World Series of Poker announced that the grabs will be a dramatic increase from the planned total 51st running of the largest and richest poker tournament of 14 that were originally to be awarded this year. series of the year would be postponed due to the ongoing The very first WSOP bracelet awarded for an coronavirus outbreak. e schedule for the live WSOP event played online was handed out in 2015. Anthony at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino was supposed to Spinella outlasted a field of 905 total entries in the feature a record 101 gold bracelets, with the marquee $1,000 buy-in event that was primarily played on the $10,000 buy-in main event planned for July 1-14. internet. The final table of this event was held live and In an alternate universe, this year’s poker world cham- in-person at the Rio. Spinella earned $197,743 and his pion would have already been decided by now. Instead, first bracelet as the champion while writing his name the live version of the WSOP remains indefinitely post- in the history books. poned, with no further announcements about specific e WSOP used the same format the following year, target dates for rescheduling this fall or winter. In an with the tournament playing down to a final table online attempt to help fill the void left by the missing live series before switching to live. All online bracelet events from in Las Vegas, the first-ever World Series Of Poker Online 2017 on have been played entirely online, however. A was announced on June 8. total of 18 online bracelets have now been awarded, with “It wouldn’t be summer without the WSOP,” said the nine won in 2019 being the most for any single year WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. thus far. e inaugural online-only series will award a total Of the 85 online bracelets to be awarded as a part of of 85 WSOP gold bracelets, which will run from July this series, 31 will be competed for on WSOP.com dur- 1 through Sept. 6 across two separate online sites. e ing the month of July. A bracelet will be awarded each unprecedented amount of online bracelets now up for and every day of the month, with buy-ins ranging from

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020_CoverStory.indd 20 7/7/20 4:10 PM as low as $400 all the way up to $3,200. e champi- “No matter how many heats there are... you will only onship event of the series is a $1,000 buy-in no-limit get to play three times. You get one shot, a mulligan - hold’em tournament that is set to kick off at 3:00 p.m. two shots, and then it’s three strikes, you’re out,” said local time on Friday, July 31. Negreanu. “ e $10,000 main event is the historic ver- All 31 events will feature either no-limit hold’em or sion that has been held since 1970, this is the online ver- pot-limit Omaha, as some of the non-flop, mixed games sion. Having said that, we would love to see the $10,000 commonly spread at the live WSOP are not currently main event happen at the Rio later this year if things cool offered on the online site’s poker client. down with what is going on in the world.” Players looking to participate will need to be within is statement was likely prompted by speculation on the borders of Nevada or New Jersey in order to play in social media amongst poker pros that the event could the WSOP.com bracelet events, but need not establish have more than 20 starting flights, which would make it residency there. Delaware shares online poker player possible for a player to be in for six figures worth buy-ins liquidity with New Jersey and Nevada, but does not have in this $5,000 event if they were to play every starting a WSOP-branded poker platform. Players located within flight. the state will not be eligible to compete in the bracelet Some of the other notable events announced included events. a $100 buy-in no-limit hold’em kickoff event called ere are now a total of six states in the U.S. now fea- e Opener that features a $2,000,000 guarantee, a turing licensed and regulated poker, with Pennsylvania $1,111 buy-in charity event title Every 1 for COVID being the fourth state to have Relief that will award $111 from operational poker sites avail- each entry to the Caesars Cares able to consumers. Michigan fund, the $400 buy-in Colossus and West Virginia both recently event with a $3,000,000 guar- passed legislation to license and antee, and the $1,500 buy-in regulate online poker at the state Millionaire Maker, which has level, but neither has opened for “The inaugural WSOP a guaranteed $1,000,000 first- business yet. Michigan’s gov- place prize. Another staple of ernor signed the bill in ques- online-only series will the live WSOP that made the tion into law back in December schedule was the $10,000 buy- of 2019. e Great Lakes State award a total of 85 in heads-up no-limit hold’em has only just recently begun to championship. accept applications for gaming WSOP gold bracelets, e largest guarantees out- licenses, and it is expected that side of the main event belong it will take a year or more for an which will run from to the $25,000 buy-in no- online poker site to be operation- limit hold’em Poker Players al there. e state-by-state push July 1 through Sept. 6 Championship ($10 million for licensed and regulated poker across two separate guaranteed), the $500 buy-in has been slow-moving, and it is mini main event ($5 million unclear if and when more states online sites.” guaranteed) and the aforemen- might be able to participate in tioned Millionaire Maker ($5 future online events. million guaranteed). While the first 31 bracelets e most surprising addi- will be awarded domestically on tions to the schedule were the WSOP.com, the remaining 54 four People’s Choice Bracelet events will be held on interna- Events, events 47-50. e initial tional-facing online site GGPoker from July 19 through schedule announcement didn’t include much informa- Sept. 6. e centerpiece of the whole series is set to be tion about these events, their buy-in levels, or how par- the $5,000 buy-in WSOP no-limit hold’em main event, ticipants will be chosen. e schedule does indicate that which will feature a record-breaking $25 million guar- this info is expected to be announced soon. anteed prize pool. Players that make WSOP Online final tables during e largest prize pool in online poker tournament the international segment of the series will be required to history prior to this event was the 2018 partypoker play under their real names for the sake of the poker fans MILLIONS Online, which paid out $21,780,000. at following along with the live-streamed action. e real high-water mark is set to be surpassed when this event names of players that finish in the money are also going kicks off on Aug. 16 with the first of several starting to be reported. e WSOP Circuit series held on the site flights, according to the release. earlier this year did not include real names attached to “ e single biggest guarantee in the history of online the results. poker is exactly what this once-in-a-lifetime event An 86th online bracelet will be awarded this year, deserves,” said Stewart in the press release detailing the but not as a part of this series. e WSOP Circuit’s schedule. season-ending Global Casino Championship event, which e total number of flights has not yet been released, features a $1 million guaranteed prize pool and awards but six-time bracelet winner and ambassador for the site an official WSOP gold bracelet, was slated to run from Daniel Negreanu communicated through a Twitter video Aug. 11-13 at Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina. e that the event would only allow players to enter a limited WSOP moved the event online to WSOP.com, with a number of times. new start date of Sept. 13.

020_CoverStory.indd 21 7/7/20 4:10 PM HERE IS A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE FOR THE WSOP ONLINE SERIES:

EVENT START DATE NUMBER BUY-IN OF DAYS $500 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Kick-Off 7/1/2020 1 $500 $1,000 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Eight Max Deepstack 7/2/2020 1 $1,000 $400 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em 7/3/2020 1 $400 $500 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Super Turbo 7/4/2020 1 $500 $1,000 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout 7/5/2020 1 $1,000 $600 WSOP.com Pot-Limit Omaha 8 Six Max 7/6/2020 1 $600 $800 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Knockout Deepstack 7/7/2020 1 $800 $500 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout 7/8/2020 1 $500 $1,000 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Six Max 7/9/2020 1 $1,000 $600 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em MonsterStack 7/10/2020 1 $600 $500 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Turbo Deepstack Six Max 7/11/2020 1 $500 $500 WSOP.com The BIG 500 No-Limit Hold’em 7/12/2020 1 $500 $1,500 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout 7/13/2020 1 $1,500 $3,200 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em 7/14/2020 1 $3,200 $1,000 WSOP.com Pot-Limit Omaha Eight Max 7/15/2020 1 $1,000 $500 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Turbo 7/16/2020 1 $500 $777 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em 7/17/2020 1 $777 $1,000 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Turbo DeepStack Eight Max 7/18/2020 1 $1,000 $1,111 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Covid Relief 7/19/2020 2 $1,111 $100 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em $2 Million GTD [DAY 2] 7/19/2020 2 $100 $400 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em 7/19/2020 1 $400 $525 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Super Turbo Bounty Six Max 7/19/2020 1 $525 $500 WSOP.com Pot-Limit Omaha Six Max 7/20/2020 1 $500 $5,000 GGPoker.com Pot-Limit Omaha 7/21/2020 1 $5,000 $777 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Six Max 7/21/2020 1 $777 $1,500 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em FIFTY STACK 7/22/2020 1 $1,500 $500 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Turbo Deepstack 7/22/2020 1 $500 $1,050 GGPoker.com Pot-Limit Omaha Bounty 7/23/2020 1 $1,050 $500 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Knockout 7/23/2020 1 $500 $400 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Eight Max 7/24/2020 1 $400 $600 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack Six Max 7/25/2020 1 $600 $500 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em 7/25/2020 1 $500 $1,500 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em 7/26/2020 1 $1,500 $2,500 GGPoker.com Pot-Limit Omaha 7/26/2020 1 $2,500 $400 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em COLOSSUS $3 Million GTD [DAY 2] 7/26/2020 3 $400 $400 GGPoker.com Pot-Limit Omaha POLOSSUS $1M GTD [DAY 2] 7/26/2020 3 $400 $500 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em 7/26/2020 1 $500 $400 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout 7/27/2020 1 $400 $10,000 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Short Deck 7/28/2020 1 $10,000

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020_CoverStory.indd 22 7/7/20 4:10 PM $1,000 WSOP.com Omaha 8 Six Max 7/28/2020 1 $1,000 $2,500 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Six Max 7/29/2020 1 $2,500 $600 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Turbo Deepstack Six Max 7/29/2020 1 $600 $840 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Bounty 7/30/2020 1 $840 $500 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Seniors 7/30/2020 1 $500 $1,000 WSOP.com No-Limit Hold’em Championship 7/31/2020 1 $1,000 $500 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack 8/1/2020 1 $500 $1,000 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Short Deck 8/2/2020 1 $1,000 $1,500 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Millionaire Maker $5 Million GTD [DAY 2] 8/2/2020 3 $1,500 $500 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack Turbo 8/2/2020 1 $500 $2,100 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Bounty 8/4/2020 1 $2,100 $400 GGPoker.com Pot-Limit Omaha 8/5/2020 1 $400 $1,000 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em 8/6/2020 1 $1,000 $800 GGPoker.com Pot-Limit Omaha Double Stack 8/8/2020 1 $800 HK$8,000 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em HK$8 Million GTD [DAY 2] 8/9/2020 2 $1,032 $150 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout $1 Million GTD 8/9/2020 1 $150 $10,000 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Heads Up (No Late Reg; 128 max) 8/9/2020 2 $10,000 $5,000 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Six Max 8/11/2020 1 $5,000 $2,500 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Double Stack 8/12/2020 1 $2,500 $525 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Bounty Six Max 8/13/2020 1 $525 $300 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack Six Max 8/15/2020 1 $300 $1,500 GGPoker.com Pot-Limit Omaha 8/16/2020 1 $1,500 $500 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em $5 Million GTD [DAY 2] 8/16/2020 2 $500 $840 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Bounty Super Turbo 8/16/2020 1 $840 $600 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack 8/18/2020 1 $600 $800 GGPoker.com Pot-Limit Omaha 8/19/2020 1 $800 $500 GGPoker.com Limit Hold’em 8/20/2020 1 $500 $500 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack 8/22/2020 1 $500 $1,500 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Marathon 8/23/2020 1 $1,500 $25,000 GGPoker.com Poker Players Championship $10 Million GTD 8/23/2020 2 $25,000 $50 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em BIG 50 $1 Million GTD [DAY 2] 8/23/2020 2 $50 $1,500 GGPoker.com Limit Hold’em 8/25/2020 1 $1,500 $1,000 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Six Max 8/26/2020 1 $1,000 $1,500 GGPoker.com Pot-Limit Omaha 8/27/2020 1 $1,500 $300 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Double Stack 8/29/2020 1 $300 $400 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em FORTY STACK 8/30/2020 1 $400 $5,000 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Main Event $25 Million GTD [DAY 2] 8/30/2020 3 $5,000 $1,000 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Six Max Turbo 8/30/2020 1 $1,000 GGPoker.com TBA People’s Choice Event (Most Popular) 9/1/2020 1 $0 GGPoker.com TBA People’s Choice Event (Pros Vote) 9/2/2020 1 $0 GGPoker.com TBA People’s Choice Event (Spin the Wheel) 9/3/2020 1 $0 GGPoker.com TBA People’s Choice Event (Most Popular) 9/5/2020 1 $0 $1,050 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em Beat the Pros Bounty 9/5/2020 1 $1,050 $10,000 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em $5 Million GTD 9/6/2020 2 $10,000 $100 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em $2 Million GTD [DAY 2] 9/6/2020 2 $100 $500 GGPoker.com No-Limit Hold’em 9/6/2020 1 $500

020_CoverStory.indd 23 7/7/20 4:10 PM Ryan Fee “Online poker is every bit as legitimate a discipline as live, if the Series were invented today, it could conceivably all be online. They should update to keep with the times.” - Ryan Fee

POKER WORLD RESPONDS TO ALL-ONLINE WSOP

When you are putting together an ing that [online winners] don’t deserve buying the argument that the bracelet online poker series in response to a something, but where do we draw the had been devalued, or at least felt that global pandemic that shut down your line?” ship had sailed long ago. original plans, you are going to have “I think it’s an awful brand deci- “ey’ve given out 29,216 Olympic a hard time pleasing everyone. After sion,” said Daniel Zack (@dan_zack), medals. Somehow the medals have announcing a geographically-limited who made three final tables and won retained a modicum of prestige,” online series, consisting of mostly low his first bracelet last year. “[I’m] try- pointed out British poker pro Sam buy-in, no-limit hold’em tournaments, ing to care less about these things, Grafton (@squidpoker). the WSOP took some heat from those but I got into poker as an 11-year-old “Everyone [is] complaining about who felt the product was no longer watching WSOP on TV, and the past the WSOP diluting bracelet value and the same. few years have been the first ever to that online bracelets shouldn’t count, dampen the magic of the series.” yet somehow are still in agreement “It’s over,” joked three-time brace- to definitely count the bracelet when let winner Daniel Idema (@danode- John ‘Aces Up’ Smith beat eight peo- ma). “You’ll get a WSOP bracelet for a ple to win a five-card stud tourney 7 card 21 playing blackjack in the pit in 1981,” joked Michael Gagliano (@ next year.” gags30poker), who won his bracelet in 2016. Greg Merson David Baker

Brandon Shack-Harris

Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Brandon Shack-Harris kicked things off with a self-proclaimed “rant” on social media. Shack-Harris was fine with having an online series, but felt that awarding bracelets was “short- sighted.” Even two-time bracelet winner “I worry I will find myself more Greg Merson (@gregmerson), who David Baker (@dmbakes), who apathetic to attending events if our won the 2012 main event for $8.5 has two bracelets, once boycotted the most revered brand isn’t concerned million, had some harsh words for the WSOP for other issues, but even he about their own image and value,” he series. doesn’t feel like the bracelet argument wrote. “I had been tweeting about stuff holds water. e post proved to be popular like this for the past four to five years “I don’t feel like my achievement with many members of the poker as [the series] increased rapidly and has been reduced in any way,” said community, who shared Shack-Harris buy-in size decreased while expanding Baker. “Were people from the old sentiments. total event size considerably each year. school complaining when the WSOP “I feel like the exclusivity and pres- I have lost most of my love for the expanded? I’m happy there are more tige of a WSOP bracelet needs to stay WSOP brand and I always considered people and more events. I’ll be satis- intact,” said mixed-games pro Melissa myself a lifer of the series.” fied with my wins no matter what.” Burr (@burrrrrberry). “No one is say- Others, however, either weren’t Not only did some feel that live

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020_CoverStory.indd 24 7/7/20 4:10 PM THE INSIDE STRAIGHT

bracelets were not devalued, but they Shaun Deeb Jon Turner also felt that online bracelets should be given the same respect as those won in the traditional brick-and-mortar arena. “Online poker is every bit as legitimate a discipline as live, if the series were invented today, it could conceivably all be online,” pointed out Ryan Fee, who won a tag-team event bracelet in 2016. “ ey should update to keep with the times.” “Why shouldn’t the WSOP adjust to meet their customers’ needs, like many other companies that are pre- play the other games. is all about.” vented from normal operations right “It’s also not a WSOP with only WSOP Executive Director Ty now?” asked Katie Stone (@katiestone- flop games!” wrote Randy Ohel (@ Stewart told the LVRJ that they didn’t poker). “Also, [the] WSOP operating, randyohel), who won his bracelet in anticipate having to move everything in general, is good for poker.” triple draw, and also has final tables online, and as a result, were not able Criticisms that the series was only in H.O.R.S.E., stud eight-or-better, to get other games ready for the sched- available to those within Nevada or pot-limit Omaha, and dealer’s choice ule, adding that “there is simply not New Jersey were quickly snuffed out. events. enough demand” for those variations After all, in a normal year, players “It’s a joke to run a WSOP with vir- outside of the series. would still be required to travel to Las tually no mixed events,” agreed former Despite his criticisms, Deeb plans Vegas to compete. One criticism that online poker standout Jon Turner (@ on traveling to nearby New Jersey and the WSOP hasn’t been able to shake is pearljammed). then abroad to once again compete for the new online schedule’s commitment “ e WSOP missed the ball here,” the WSOP Player of the Year title, an to no-limit hold’em. While hold’em is four-time bracelet winner Shaun Deeb award he won in 2018 and narrowly always the most popular poker variant said to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. missed out on again in 2019. at the series, the schedule traditionally “ ere’s a lack of different games, “I’m going to play, but I’m going offers plenty of options for those who which is what the World Series of Poker to hate it.” m

020_CoverStory.indd 25 7/7/20 4:10 PM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary

THE 2020 #WOULDBEWSOP By Melissa Burr

As the darkness of 2020 loomed over us, it looked as After a week of eating horribly at 4 am, I would reach though the COVID-19 pandemic was going to change life as the point where I decide to eat healthier. It’s absolutely we knew it. Especially in the poker world. imperative to be as healthy as possible while you’re making Early in March, poker players stormed the virtual betting some of the most crucial financial decisions of your life. field to jump at the chance to lay 20:1 that the World Series At the Rio, that’s tough to do. Playing deep into the of Poker would in fact take place, live, and inside the Rio as night and waking up late for a 2 pm start time results in a scheduled. breakfast of champions, a $7 banana and a $12 latte. Fast forward to June 29, 2020 here I am tweeting with Every single year I have ever attended the WSOP, I have the hashtag ‘wouldbeWSOP’ and many players are cashing been infected with what is affectionately known as the “Rio in those virtual tickets. e Series will definitely take place, flu.” It entails three days of a 102-degree fever, throbbing online, and the best outcome most players can hope for, is a headaches, a runny nose, and a sore throat. rescheduled live series at the Rio in the fall. I couldn’t ever expect certain results, but I could always For many players, this would have been their first ever count on one guaranteed prize year in and year out, that summer series. I thought about my inaugural WSOP and sub- nasty virus. However, by the sounds of it, I would happily sequent trips. I had the great privilege to experience the highs take the “Rio flu” over COVID-19. and the lows of many grueling summers, which spurred me to write about my inaugural 2014 journey in a series of 280-character tweets, and as a result, #wouldbeWSOP was born. I don’t know if my followers simply loved watching me win or lose huge amounts of money, virtually sweating my $50,000 Poker Players Championship final table run, or watching my incredibly awkward social interactions with my friends. But many poker fans have tuned in frequently to see how I am doing on my “would be” journey. So here we go. Follow along on Twitter @burrrrberry. I love all my friends, and I love seeing them during this time. However, with all of our hectic schedules, it makes it somewhat difficult to get together. I swear, every year, my friends would find the most inopportune time to try and get together. I would bust out of a tournament early and that’s the day everyone is suddenly free and wants to hang out. On this day, they would want to go to the pool at 3 pm in the afternoon in Las Vegas. It’s at least 110 We have all been here. You see Mr. Fish and Mr. Whale in degrees and my friend won’t stop recounting his “horrific the game, they are demanding to play $400-$800 straight stud beat” that sent him packing in the Big 50. eight-or-better and they want to play short-handed. Mr. Whale It is just not how I would want to spend the rest of is blowing lines and Mr. Fish is stuck from high limit slots. my day. I remind them about how I just got over the Rio How could you possibly turn down a spot like this? Flu and tell them I need a little more rest. en I would Answer: Because it’s the third day of the WSOP and you open up Bravo and see what cash games are running on allotted a certain amount of money to go to cash games. the strip. at last tournament buy in isn’t going to win Playing this game would put 80 percent of your total money itself back. into play. It’s reckless and irresponsible. at being said, almost all of my best and bravest decisions were made after I threw caution to the wind. It’s okay to laugh and reflect on our impulsive and arguably worse financial decisions of our career. e WSOP makes us all do crazy things.

If you play mixed games, then you are familiar with this situation. rough no fault of their own, the dealers at the WSOP struggle with dealing mixed games. at summer I was playing the dealer’s choice and defended my big blind in 2-7 triple draw with 2-7-X-X-X.

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026_S&A.indd 26 7/8/20 8:17 AM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary

ere was a raise and four people called. I called from the think to myself “I just paid $10k and I’m down to nothing big blind and pushed three cards out, indicating I would without seeing a river. Why are these structures so fast?” like three new ones please. Everyone behind me discards as well. e dealer would burn a card, like you normally would, but before I could stop him, he put out a ﬂop. e board read 3-4-5. I stared in disbelief at what should have been my three new cards, my complete “wheel.” With my previously dealt 2 and 7, the 3-4-5 ﬂop would have given me the best possible hand anyone can have, the unbeatable “nuts.” I had to stay calm because I didn’t want to reveal the contents of my hand, but I swear a small piece of me died while I watched that unfold.

ere are three things that are guaranteed in life. Death, taxes, and Allen Kessler complaining about structures. Wait. Maybe I left one thing off that list of things that ose complaints are amplified during the biggest poker are guaranteed in life. Along with death, taxes, Kessler series of the year. complaining, you can bet that it will feel like you’re playing A WSOP just wouldn’t be complete if Allen Kessler a tournament in January. Outside. In Alaska. didn’t find at least a few structures to complain about. Anyone who has ever played any event at the WSOP However, about half the time, I would end up agreeing with knows that the air conditioning is outrageous. Even with him. Like clockwork every year, I would get to a level and thousands of players packed in the amazon room, it is still

ANALYSISAnalysis TOURNAMENT HAND MATCHUP is hand from the 2020 Super High Roller Bowl Online’s marquee $102,000 buy-in tournament features 2020 Super High Roller Bowl Online three of the most accomplished tournament players $102,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller in the world, who have more than $95 million in combined lifetime live tournament earnings between Michael Addamo David Peters them. Two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner 4,355,230 chips 2,030,034 chips Michael Addamo raised as the ﬁ rst to act with J-10 oﬀ - suit. ree-time bracelet winner Justin Bonomo looked J 10 K J down at pocket threes in the small blind and made the Winning Percentage Winning Percentage call. 2016 Card Player Player of the Year award win-

Before Flop: 33.0%

Before Flop: 22.0% ner and bracelet winner David Peters defended his big

J 10 J After Flop: 16.0% K After Flop: 23.0% After Turn: 10.0% After Turn: 85.0% blind with K-J off suit and the three saw a fl op. None of them improved very much with the fi rst three cards and action was checked around. e Ko on the turn gave PREFLOP Peters top pair, while also putting three diamonds on Justin Bonomo board. Bonomo and Peters checked to Addamo, who 6,178,541 chips With four players remaining and blinds of elected to turn his gutshot straight draw with no dia- 3 3 60,000 - 120,000 and an ante of 15,000, monds into a bluff . As the prefl op raiser from under the Michael Addamo raised to 240,000 from gun, his range should include some hands that involve Winning Percentage o

Before Flop: 42.0% under the gun. Justin Bonomo called from the A for the nut ﬂ ush draw. Bonomo got out of the

way and Peters check-called a bet of 260,000 with his 3 After Flop: 61.0% 3 the small blind. David Peters called from After Turn: 5.0% the big blind. top pair, pot controlling with the medium-strength hand from out of position. e river brought the Jo 9 6 5 K J and Peters checked again. With the pot now sitting at 1.3 million, Addamo elected to leverage his perceived

FLOP TURN

RIVER range advantage and maximum pressure on Peters by

K J 6 5 9 betting enough to put Peters all-in. Despite having two pair, Peters’ hand can really only beat a bluﬀ with Bonomo checked. Peters Bonomo checked. Peters Peters checked. Addamo four diamonds on the board. He ultimately folded and checked. Addamo checked. checked. Addamo bet 260,000. bet 1,520,000. Peters Addamo’s late-street aggression earned him the sizable Bonomo folded. Peters called. folded. pot without showdown.

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

026_S&A.indd 27 7/8/20 8:17 AM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary

I had the great privilege to experience the highs and the lows of many grueling summers, which spurred me to write about my 2014 journey in a series of 280 character tweets, and the #wouldbeWSOP was born.

a sub-arctic temperature. ere are few things that remain Bless the hearts of all our relatives who don’t understand unchanged at the WSOP but this is one of them. It is a lock poker. ey are forever rooting for us to win with no real that you will feel like it is 28 degrees. understanding of how it all works. Both of my parents have advised me to quit tournaments in level 3 because “that’s a lot of money and you should just take your winnings NOW.”

I think we can all agree that the WSOP is a special time in everyone’s poker career. Particularly for the fi rst-timers, that excitement can sometimes manifest itself at some inopportune times. Who doesn’t enjoy a little chip porn? We have all done it, taken selfi es with mountains of chips. It’s all very understandable but, let’s all get better about having Maybe one day I will fi nd out the real reason the fl ash on while you’re taking these pictures. Hash House was never open during the WSOP. David Tuchman and I came to the same conclusion that they must just hate money. ere really isn’t any other justi- fi ed reason why the restaurant, smack dab in the middle of the WSOP, is never open. I think about this every year. e WSOP is an amazing experience that everyone should have at some point on their poker journey. ese are just a few things that I have come to love and love to hate about this event. From sub-arctic temperatures to fi nal tables in the under Dome, the entire experience is unforgettable. In 2014 I took for granted the things I would dearly miss in 2020. I remember walking down that long-ass For the love of all that is good and holy. To all the hallway feeling the excitement grow as I would hear no-limit tournament players, please do not wear your the chips shuffl ing louder as I approached. I will always headphones at a level that prevents you from following the remember taking that cheesy selfi e underneath the big action. In almost every no-limit hold’em tournament I have World Series of Poker banner right before I would step played, someone has their headphones on and asks, “How into the cash game arena. much is the bet?” e reality is, every WSOP that I attended, to me, was is is basic common courtesy and a hill that I am pre- a yearly work trip where I was able to see friends from pared to die on. all over the globe. Now in 2020 I realized I was living a dream that so many chase. I had the opportunity to play against the top players in the world for a prize that is coveted by almost every person who has ever touched a deck of cards, a WSOP gold bracelet. m

Melissa Burr is a seasoned high stakes mix game professional. In her spare time she enjoys the occasional 30 minute craps roll, sports betting, and short reasonable walks on the beach. Find more adventures on her twitter @burrrrrberry

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026_S&A.indd 28 7/8/20 8:17 AM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary PREPARING FOR THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER - ONLINE EDITION By Greg Raymer

I keep a list of article ideas, so as my deadline approach- guarantee you don’t feel the pain when it happens. But it es, I can always pull one out to write up. (Accordingly, if will be easier to handle if you go into each event with the you have an idea for me, please send it over.) One idea on attitude of having fun. my list was preparing for the World Series of Poker. I was On a related note, expect bad things to happen. going to give some advice on things you can do to improve You aren’t going to get through a huge field of players your experience in Las Vegas, as well as increase your without suffering some setbacks. Ask any bracelet winner, chances of booking a win. However, COVID-19 killed and they will tell you they had to bounce back from one, that, at least for now. and probably several, bad beats and coolers. If you go in However, I realized I should write the article anyway, with the understanding that this stuff will happen, when with a new focus on how to improve your experience if you it does you will handle it smoothly, and keep playing your are going to compete in the WSOP online bracelet events. best. It is this mindset that will make it more likely you Whether you live in or plan to travel to Nevada or New mount a comeback. You sometimes see a player on tilt get Jersey, or overseas for those events, here are some things to lucky and win back the chips they lost. But when a player keep in mind. makes a comeback, it is much more likely they didn’t tilt, First, make sure you are committed to having fun! and got their remaining chips in smart. Even if you do this for a living, there is no point to play- Most of the online bracelet events offer reentry. Plan in ing poker if you don’t enjoy it. Make up your mind, before advance if you will reenter, and how many times. you are dealt a hand, that you are going to maintain a posi- By making this decision in advance, you are less likely to tive mindset, and do your best to enjoy the experience, even do something you will later regret. You are making it now, if you take nothing but bad beats. Easier said than done, I with no emotion, rather than in the moment, right after know. We all hate it when we run bad. Doing this won’t getting busted. You can change your mind in the moment,

ANALYSISAnalysis TOURNAMENT HAND MATCHUP e heads-up battle for the title of this event between Michael Addamo and Justin Bonomo featured a num- 2020 Super High Roller Bowl Online ber of exciting bluff s and hero calls. In this hand, the $102,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller two opponents both picked up fairly weak holdings. Despite looking down at the measly 10-3 off suit, Addamo opted to limp in from the button. Bonomo Michael Addamo Justin Bonomo was content to check his option with 10-6 off suit in 2,900,000 chips 12,100,000 chips the big blind and the two players saw a rainbow fl op of J-8-3. Bonomo had no pair and no immediate draw 10 3 10 6 to speak of and checked to Addamo, who checked Winning Percentage Winning Percentage behind with his bottom pair and middling kicker. e

Before Flop: 21.0% Before Flop: 43.0% turn gave both players an open-ended straight draw

10 3 6 After Flop: 82.0% 10 After Flop: 12.0% and made a backdoor fl ush possible, although neither After Turn: 75.0% After Turn: 7.0% player had two spades in their hand. Bonomo seized the chance to semi-bluff with his newly gained equity, betting 160,000 into the pot of 360,000. Addamo PREFLOP called with his pair and draw. e Am on the river completed the backdoor spade draw and Bonomo, With two players remaining and blinds of 80,000 - 160,000 and an ante with the key 10m blocker in his hand, elected to make of 20,000, Michael Addamo limped in from the button. Justin Bonomo an overbet of 1,380,000 into the pot of 680,000. Card Player contributor and WSOP bracelet winner Ryan checked from the big blind. Laplante has previously shared some insight on this type of bet. “When I’m looking to overbet someone, I’m not looking for a specifi c hand or a specifi c board to do it. I’m more focused on what their range looks J 8 3 9 A like,” said Laplante. “What I’m trying to look for is

FLOP when [my opponent] has a fairly weak and capped TURN

RIVER range.” Addamo’s hand certainly seems to ﬁ t the

A 9 8 3 J criteria in this instance, as he limped in from the button, checked behind on the ﬂ op, and only called the Bonomo checked. Addamo Bonomo bet Bonomo bet turn. Bonomo looked to draw folds from a bad pair checked. 160,000. 1,380,000. or a weak draw. Addamo made a quick hero call with Addamo called. Addamo called. his bottom pair, earning the key pot to get back above 25 big blinds.

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

026_S&A.indd 29 7/8/20 8:17 AM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary

but make sure that decision is a calm, rational choice, not Can they provide emotional support and cheer you on if an emotional one. you start to go deep? Expect their full support while you’re Create a set up where you can comfortably sit and play playing, and be prepared to support them in their activities for long hours. when you are not playing. Don’t enter an event, and then Have a comfortable chair, desk, couch, or whatever remember you promised to do something with your spouse works for you. Arrange your meals in advance, plus snacks or child. I promise you won’t be able to play your best in the in case your energy lags. Be sure to have reliable internet middle of family ﬁ ght. before you enter, and have a backup plan in case you suf- Have fun, and play smart! m fer an outage. My backup plan will be to tether to my cell phone. You could also see if a neighbor has a diﬀ erent Greg Raymer is the 2004 WSOP world champion, service provider, and if they will let you use their WIFI in winner of numerous major titles, and has more an emergency. than $7 million in earnings. He recently authored Get support from your family ahead of time. “FossilMan’s Winning Tournament Strategies,” Let them know which events you want to play, exactly available from D&B Publishing, Amazon, and other when those events happen, and that you might want some retailers. He is sponsored by Blue Shark Optics, help from them. Are they able to run minor errands for YouStake, and ShareMyPair. To contact Greg please tweet at him using you, such as bringing you a fresh drink, or even a full meal? @FossilMan or go to www.FossilManPoker.com. TRUE TALES FROM A HOLLYWOOD POKER HUSTLER: SIDE BETTING WITH POKER PROS, CON MEN, AND MOVIE STARS By Houston Curtis

In my last column I talked about a prop bet TV pilot I hey… we were having fun. Cocktails were coming, and produced that never aired starring Phil Hellmuth. Today, cards were being chased. So I said, “Sure, red or black on I want to continue on my mini prop bet series by sharing a the fl op Phil?” couple of the crazy bets I’ve made, won, and lost over the Phil picked black. e fl op came out with one black ace years with celebs and pros alike. in the window… followed by a fi ve and seven of hearts. One thing I fi nd most fascinating about the prop bet Phil, who had been jovial, laughing, cutting up, and telling experience is how it brings out a “buddy’ vibe in just about jokes all night, suddenly changed. It was as if the life had all those who partake. And let’s face it… sometimes it’s just just been sucked out of him all at once. fun to watch your buddy writhing in pain from the loss of Meanwhile, Antonio took immense pleasure in grabbing a side bet while at the poker table. the $25k brick of cash in front of Phil and casually tossing it Case and point: I’m at the over to me. Phil just stared out into Commerce in a $25-$50 no-limit nothing as Antonio yelled, “Look at game along with Antonio Esfandiari him… look at the regret! You just and his good pal Phil Laak. Everyone crushed his soul!” while the entire who knows Antonio and Phil under- “Sometimes a side table laughed along and cheered stand what I’m talking about when with delight. it comes to the satisfaction derived bet can be made as I could only imagine what the from seeing a good friend suff er after instantly depressed Phil Laak was losing a stupid bet that he shouldn’t a dual incentive.” saying to himself. “Why???… why do be making in the fi rst place. I always let him talk me into this shit?” Antonio had been egging on the But it was too late. e money was Unabomber all night to make side mine, and Antonio got just what he bets, but hadn’t had any luck. Finally, Antonio says, wanted, a good laugh at his friends’ expense. And Antonio “Houston, do you think Phil has the balls to do a coin fl ip never let up after that. e rest of the night he kept making with you for $25,000 in cash?” comments about how Unabomber was so good at making Note: Phil and I both had about $25k in cash on the wise decisions at the poker table. Each comment only stuck table along with our chips. I asked Antonio why he wanted the knife in a little deeper. “me” to do the fl ip instead of himself. Antonio exclaimed Of course, that was pure gambling, but sometimes a side that he would simply take immense satisfaction in watch- bet can be made as a dual incentive. Like the time I made ing the Unabomber go catatonic with regret when he loses a $100,000 weight loss bet with a character by the name to me because I didn’t often play in the casinos and would of Big Al. Mike Sexton recently reminded me how Big Al make the odds of Phil getting his money back from me that played such a fun role in my Hollywood poker game and much higher. was surprised I didn’t write about him in my book, Billion I had zero edge, and knew it was a stupid gamble, but Dollar Hollywood Heist.

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026_S&A.indd 30 7/8/20 8:17 AM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary

When he brought it up, I was pissed at myself because $20k! I guess if felt like a win for both us, which is definitely Sexton was right. Big Al, the tall Vegas gambler who was not the case for this next side bet story. involved with Doyle’s Room amongst other things in the Around the same time as my weight loss bet, I also had poker world, was in fact a lot of fun to play with. a long running side bet going with Tobey Maguire. Tobey e conditions of this six-figure bet were simple. I had and I prided ourselves on seeing who could win the most six months to lose 40 pounds of weight I had put on after sessions in a row without a single loss. I had just come off having a back surgery in 2006. We brought in the scale, and a $3 million dollar winning streak with no losses when we even did an official weigh in. decided to do a modified version of the old “last longer” About two months later, Al was back in town and we wager. e bet was $25k to see which one of us could win were hanging out at the hot new club Villa that became the most times out of 10 sessions. famous when Leonardo Dicaprio showed up on its opening is little side wager brought out our competitive spirit night. A few others and myself were investors in the club and would prove to be a great bet for both of us in the long and it was a fun place to hang out before or after the game. I run… although I think Tobey ended up enjoying it much had starved myself to lose 20 pounds by that time, but I lost more than he should have. I remember Molly Bloom ask- it in the first month and had been at a complete stand still. ing me why I cared so much about a $25,000 side bet with But since Big Al lived in Vegas and only played on Tobey when he and I were winning hundreds of thousands occasion, he hadn’t seen me since we made the bet. When of dollars per session every time we played. I explained I saw him, I bought him a drink and got to work. I started that it wasn’t about the money, it was about enjoying a thanking him for encouraging me to get healthy. I told him little bit of the old, bust-your-buddy pride that didn’t come how I hadn’t even started trying until a few weeks ago and along very often, and being able to rub it in his face for an was already down over 20 pounds. I reminded him of what eternity. he said when we first made the bet, which was, “I don’t even And believe me, Tobey was keen on the rib jabs even want to win… I just want to see you get healthy.” And then more than I was. With Tobey, a bet was never quite that I thanked him from the bottom of my heart. simple as he was a stickler on setting all sorts of small en, as if it were on the shot schedule for a major parameters that would obviously be in his favor. For Hollywood film, Al stepped up and offered, “I’ll buy out of instance, he liked to show up late to the game and always it right now for 10 grand!” left at a certain time. I, on the other hand, would show up I quickly agreed to the deal, which of course felt like a early enough to see the first hand dealt and if the game was major win considering my weight loss had already plateaued good I would play until the sun came up as long as I knew and I was a big underdog to complete the bet. at’s when I was getting the best of it. Al broke the news to me that he would have settled for Knowing this, Tobey made a rule stating that a win or

ANALYSISAnalysis TOURNAMENT HAND MATCHUP Overbetting the river has become more common in recent years. e tactic most often sees bet sizing 2020 Super High Roller Bowl Online between just over the size of the pot to two times the $102,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller amount of chips in the middle. In this hand, Justin Bonomo unleashed a river overbet shove for just shy of Michael Addamo six-times the size of the pot. He did so with an unim- Justin Bonomo proved 8-3 oﬀ suit and managed to get his opponent 8,904,771 chips 6,095,224 chips Michael Addamo to fold trip deuces. Bonomo started the hand by limping in from the button with his unex- 8 3 J 2 citing hole cards. Addamo had been dealt a similarly Winning Percentage Winning Percentage unappealing hand of J-2 oﬀ suit. He checked his option

Before Flop: 40.0% Before Flop: 59.0% and the two saw a ﬂ op of Q-9-5 with two hearts. Both

8 3 2 After Flop: 29.0% J After Flop: 71.0% players checked and the 2p on the turn gave Addamo After Turn: 14.0% After Turn: 86.0% bottom pair. He checked from out of position and Bonomo, with no pair and no draw, elected to begin bluffi ng. He bet 250,000 into the pot of 450,000 and PREFLOP Addamo made the call. e 2n on the river completed the fl ush draw from the fl op and also gave Addamo With two players remaining and blinds of 100,000 - 200,000 and an three of a kind. He checked yet again and Bonomo ante of 25,000, Justin Bonomo limped in from the button. Michael elected to bet 5,620,000, enough to put his opponent Addamo checked from the big blind. all-in. Addamo had already correctly hero called against Bonomo during heads-up play, picking off a bluff of twice the size of the pot on the river with bottom pair. In this instance, he held trips for a much stronger show- 10 9 5 2 2 down value in a vacuum. With this board, though, his hand was still only a bluff catcher. With full houses and FLOP

TURN ﬂ ushes possible, Bonomo would not be shoving any-

RIVER thing worse than trips for value on the river. His bet was

2 2 9 5 10 polarized to just very strong hands, and bluﬀ s. Addamo declined to risk his tournament life on the huge overbet Addamo checked. Bonomo Addamo checked. Addamo checked. being a bluﬀ this time and laid down his hand. Bonomo checked. Bonomo bet 250,000. Bonomo went all- took down the pot and chipped up to over 9.4 million, Addamo called. in. Addamo folded. while Addamo was left with just over 5.6 million.

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

026_S&A.indd 31 7/8/20 8:17 AM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary

Phil Laak We had determined that totals were calculated based on what you had in front of you, not what was in the middle during a pot. But I didn’t think I had anything to worry about because it had to have already been past midnight when we started playing the pot. I looked at my watch. en, in disbelief, I looked at my phone! Sure enough, it was 11:58 pm. Which means that if Bobby stalled me on his call until after midnight, I would lose the bet with Tobey. I now know what had happened. Tobey was waiting around just hoping to get me into a position where he could distract me and win the bet. Not only did Bob wait until 12:01 but then he called. e fl op came three hearts. Of o p Antonio Esfandiari course, I had the A A . Bobby pushed for the rest of his stack. I had him cov- ered, but I would only have about $10k left if I lost. You loss was only valid during the time he arrived, and the bet can never tell with him, so I called. He was on a draw… had to end when one of us quit for the night or by 11 pm, and of course he peeled it off right on the damn turn like whichever came fi rst. He knew that I would always play he always does. I went from being up about $50K to being longer than him, so If I happen to be down one night when down over six fi gures, as well as losing the additional $25k he decided to leave, even if I won by the end of the session, to Tobey. Much like Antonio was with Phil Laak, Tobey it would only count based on whether I was up or down enthusiastically celebrated his side bet victory while I stared when he called it a night. at the felt with steam coming out of my ears. I countered by proposing that if I was down before he Have you ever made a prop bet or side bet with a friend showed up to the game, my total would start from the that got overly competitive? If so, I would love to hear about amount of chips I had on the table as opposed to how deep it. Leave a comment on my Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube I was on paper. I also negotiated a minimum stop time of channel. midnight which he countered on as well. He gave me till Also be sure to visit https://www.kardsharp.com/card- midnight to play if I was stuck, but negotiated a stop time player for this week’s supplement video where I’ll be shar- by 11pm for himself if he wanted to quit early. Of course, ing more about the I’ll Take at Bet pilot hosted by Phil I could stop at 11 pm too, but he knew that I would rarely Hellmuth, as well as featuring one of the greatest side bet stop that early. card hustles of all time performed by the late, great Ricky e fi rst time we did the bet I won nine sessions in row Jay. Not only will you see Ricky hustle numerous people in to Tobey’s eight, winning me an extra cool $25k and brag- what seems to be a pretty straight forward showdown, but ging rights for at least the next 10 sessions while we repeated at the end of the video you’ll have the opportunity to learn the bet again. At week 10 of the second $25k side bet… it exactly how he did it from yours truly! was a close race! By 9 pm Tobey was up over $200k and anks for reading my column, I hope you all have a decided to sit on his chips until his clock ran out at 11 pm great week at the tables whether it be a home game, online, leaving him, with a win rate of nine out of 10 sessions. I had or in Las Vegas with giant plastic walls between you and the won eight and was stuck, but still had time on the clock to next guy. No matter where you play or who you play with make it a tie! just remember… stay sharp! Stay Kardsharp! m Tobey decided it would be fun to stick around and try to distract me from getting even until my clock ran out at Houston Curtis, founder of KardSharp.com midnight. ankfully, by 11:45 pm I entered a huge pot and author of Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist with 8-8, fl opped a set and went from being stuck $125k to has lived a successful double life as both a being up $48k for the session. producer and card mechanic for nearly 30 I took a break and was determined to call it a night. A years. His credits include executive produc- tie would be fi ne by me! Tobey seemed to be a good sport, ing gambling related TV shows such as The shook my hand, and started talking about how it was a Ultimate Blackjack Tour on CBS, The Aruba Poker Classic on GSN, shame for both of us to quit while the game was so good. and pioneering the poker instructional DVD genre with titles featur- en he pointed out that cards were still coming to me and ing poker champion Phil Hellmuth. Barred for life from Las Vegas I was on the button. Golden Nugget for “excessive winning” at blackjack, Houston is one I sat back down, checked my hole cards and was staring of the world’s most successful card mechanics and sleight-of-hand at A-A. In my mind, we had already agreed to a tie and artists of the modern era. Curtis, who rarely plays in tournaments, even if I ended up stuck at the end of the night, the bet was won a 2004 Legends of Poker no-limit hold’em championship locked in! ere were two limpers and a $10k raise before event besting Scotty Nguyen heads-up at the final table before the action got to me. going on to co-found the elite Hollywood poker ring that inspired I popped it up to $50k. One call, one fold, and now Aaron Sorkin’s Academy Award-nominated film Molly’s Game. Curtis the original raiser was going into the tank. It was Bob Safi . resides in Phoenix, Arizona where in addition to running a produc- Bobby had cracked my aces for six-fi gure pots so many tion company and independent record label, he is also a private times in the past it would take both hands and at least one gaming/casino protection consultant to clients across the globe foot to count them all. seeking insight into master level card cheating tactics via advanced en Bobby says, “So Tobey, this bet between you and sleight-of-hand technique. To reach Houston for a speaking engage- ment, consulting or production services send email to stacked@

Houston, what is the rule if he’s involved in a big pot when WPT.com © the clock strikes midnight?” And that’s when my heart sank. Kardsharp.com

32 CARDPLAYER.COM FOLLOW US ON TWITTER CardPlayerMedia

026_S&A.indd 32 7/8/20 8:17 AM Strategies, ANALYSIS & Commentary PLAYING 9-2 IN THE $10,000 CARIBBEAN POKER PARTY MAIN EVENT By Jonathan Little

cent of the time. While 18 percent is less than 20 percent, when I make a straight, my river bet will occasionally get called, and even if I miss my draw, I may be able to win the pot on the river some portion of the time. e real question is whether or not I should raise. e problem with raising is that I will occasionally get re-raised all-in, forcing me to fold, making it impossible for me to real- ize my equity. When you are getting excellent pot odds, it is usually best to not do anything that could potentially mess that up. I called. e river was the 10o and my opponent checked. At this In November, I traveled to the 30,000-60,000 blinds with a 60,000 point, I have no showdown value, Bahamas to play the Caribbean Poker big blind ante. I had twice as many but if you consider my overall range, Party, which is always an amazing chips as him. I could easily have a ten, weak Jack, experience. e online poker host, Everyone folded to him in the or eight that would like to value bet. partypoker, does an excellent job of small blind and he limped. I was in Because of that, I get to bluff some qualifying hundreds of players into the big blind and looked down at one portion of the time. I decided to their $10 million guaranteed main of the worst hands in the game, 9m bluff 150,000 into the 300,000 pot, events, which in turn attracts all the 2p. While raising to 2,300,000 as thinking that my opponent would best players in the world. So, the a total bluff against generally weak, call almost any bet with an eight or fi eld in the main event ends up being passive players is a strong move that better made hand and would fold most of the best players in the world will often steal the pot, I was quite most hands worse than an eight to plus a bunch of recreational players sure my strong opponent would use a any bet. who got into the $10,000 buy-in limping strategy that included many After some thought, my opponent event by winning a $100 buy-in sat- hands he could limp and then go folded, which is a great result for me! ellite or similar. all-in with over a raise, so I opted Unfortunately for me, after getting I made it through the fi rst day of to check. up to seven starting stacks, I ran play with 2.7 starting stacks, which e fl op came Jp 10p 4m and we trips into a full house and then lost was a nice increase. On day two, I both checked. While I could take a a big fl ip to bust before getting in found myself at a table with mostly stab at the fl op, it is too likely my the money. world-class pros, which is obviously opponent has a marginal made hand Sometimes you are just destined not where I wanted to be. like 10-6 that will not fold or a draw to lose, but if you can turn 9-2 off - When at a tournament table that that will stick around. If I bluff the suit into a winner every once in a is abnormally tough, take a look to fl op, the plan should usually be to while, you’ll have more good days see when your table is scheduled to bet the turn and river as well, which than bad. m break. If it is scheduled to break I was not looking to do against a soon, it is often best to play a rela- strong opponent who may be will- Jonathan Little is a tively conservative strategy in order ing to hero-call off his stack with two-time WPT cham- to get a new table draw (that will middle pair. pion with more than $6 presumably be softer) in the near e turn was the 8m, giving me an million in tournament future. My table was scheduled to open-ended straight draw. My oppo- winnings. Each week, break soon, so I did not plan to get nent bet 60,000 into the 180,000 he posts an education- too out of line. pot. Due to my excellent pot odds, al blog and podcast at JonathanLittlePoker. Everyone else at my table seemed folding is out of the question. My com, where you can get a FREE poker train- to have the same idea besides one pot odds dictate that I need to win ing video that details five things you must especially loose, aggressive world- the pot at least 20 percent of the master if you want to win at tournament class player on my direct right, who time to break even, [60/(60+60+180) poker. You can also sign up for his FREE just lost a large pot with a bluff to = 20 percent], and I know I will Excelling at No Limit Hold’em webinars at leave him with 1,300,000 chips at improve to a straight about 18 per- HoldemBook.com/signup

026_S&A.indd 33 7/8/20 8:17 AM Schedules - major tournaments

FOR COMPLETE TOURNAMENT RESULTS AND LISTINGS, VISIT CARDPLAYER.COM

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

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. 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. 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

MONDAY ($10K Guarantee) ARIZONA 12:00 p.m. NLH, $70 AO $20 KO $20 1:30 p.m. NLH, $65 AO $50 ($2K Guarantee) ($10K Guarantee) TALKING STICK RESORT - SCOTTSDALE 5:00 p.m. NLH, $75 ($2.5K Guarantee) 3:00 p.m. NLH, $90 AO $70 MONDAY TUESDAY ($10K Guarantee) 11:15 a.m. NLH, $125 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $20 7:15 p.m. NLH, $170 ($2K Guarantee) CHUMASH CASINO - SANTA YNEZ TUESDAY 5:00 p.m. NLH, $30 RB $10 AO $10 MONDAY 11:15 a.m. NLH, $125 ($2.5K Guarantee) 10:15 a.m. NLH, $40 7:15 p.m. NLH, $200 WEDNESDAY 7:00 p.m. PLO, $0 AO $20 WEDNESDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $20 TUESDAY 11:15 a.m. NLH, $125 ($2K Guarantee) 10:15 a.m. NLH, $40 7:15 p.m. NLH, $170 5:00 p.m. NLH, $65 AO $20 7:00 p.m. NLH, $60 THURSDAY ($2.5K Guarantee) WEDNESDAY 11:15 a.m. NLH, $125 THURSDAY 10:15 a.m. NLH, $40 7:15 p.m. NLH, $170 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $20 7:00 p.m. NLH, $50 FRIDAY ($2K Guarantee) THURSDAY 11:15 a.m. NLH, $125 5:00 p.m. NLH, $80 AO $20 KO $25 10:15 a.m. NLH, $50 KO $10 7:15 p.m. NLH, $200 ($2.5K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. NLH, $40 SATURDAY 8:00 p.m. MP, $30 RB $10 AO $10 FRIDAY 11:15 a.m. NLH, $240 ($1.5K Guarantee) 10:15 a.m. NLH, $40 SUNDAY 10:00 p.m. NLH, $60 RB $50 AO $40 7:15 p.m. NLH, $150 11:15 a.m. NLH, $160 KO $10 ($2K Guarantee) SATURDAY FRIDAY 1:15 p.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $20 SUNDAY CALIFORNIA ($2K Guarantee) 1:15 p.m. NLH, $100 KO $25 4:00 p.m. NLH, $40 AO $30 ($3K Guarantee) ($5K Guarantee) BAY 101 - SAN JOSE 5:30 p.m. NLH, $65 AO $50 COMMERCE CASINO - COMMERCE MONDAY ($5K Guarantee) 9:30 a.m. NLH, $130 MONDAY-THURSDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $90 AO $70 12:00 p.m. NLH, $65 ($2.5K Guarantee) TUESDAY ($5K Guarantee) 9:30 a.m. NLH, $130 6:00 p.m. NLH, $65 ($3.5K Guarantee) 10:00 p.m. NLH, $60 RB $50 AO $40 FRIDAY WEDNESDAY KO $10 ($2K Guarantee) 9:30 a.m. NLH, $150 12:00 p.m. NLH, $65 ($2.5K Guarantee) SATURDAY 6:00 p.m. NLH, $150 KO $50 THURSDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $65 AO $50 9:30 a.m. NLH, $130 ($5K Guarantee) ($20K Guarantee) SATURDAY FRIDAY 2:00 p.m. NLH, $90 AO $70 9:30 a.m. NLH, $150 1:00 p.m. NLH, $150 ($15K Guarantee) ($20K Guarantee) SUNDAY SATURDAY 4:00 p.m. NLH, $115 AO $90 9:00 a.m. NLH, $250 1:00 p.m. NLH, $65 RB $50 ($20K Guarantee) ($10K Guarantee) SUNDAY 10:00 p.m. NLH, $60 RB $50 AO $40 9:00 a.m. NLH, $150 KO $10 ($2K Guarantee) SUNDAY GARDENS CASINO - HAWAIIAN GARDENS BICYCLE CASINO - BELL GARDENS 12:00 p.m. NLH, $40 AO $30 MONDAY

34 CARDPLAYER.COM FOLLOW US ON TWITTER CardPlayerMedia

034_Schedules.indd 34 7/7/20 4:11 PM Schedules

12:15 p.m. NLH, $30 RB $10 AO $10 9:30 a.m. NLH, $250 AO $10 ($8K Guarantee) ($8K 1st Place Guarantee) FLORIDA 6:45 p.m. NLH, $10 RB $10 AO $10 ($3K Guarantee) OAKS CARD CLUB - EMERYVILLE BESTBET - JACKSONVILLE TUESDAY MONDAY MONDAY 12:15 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 6:15 p.m. NLH, $150 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 7:00 p.m. PLO H/L, $125 KO $25 ($5K Guarantee) WEDNESDAY 6:45 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 KO $25 6:15 p.m. NLH, $185 TUESDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $150 ($5K Guarantee) SATURDAY WEDNESDAY 11:00 a.m. NLH, $185 7:00 p.m. NLH, $125 KO $25 12:15 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 KO $25 SUNDAY WEDNESDAY ($5K Guarantee) 1:00 p.m. NLH, $235 12:00 p.m. NLH, $50 6:45 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 THURSDAY ($5K Guarantee) OCEAN’S ELEVEN - OCEANSIDE 9:30 p.m. NLH, $70 AO $20 12:00 p.m. NLH, $125 KO $25 DAILY ($1K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. NLH, $50 10:00 a.m. NLH, $55 AO $5 FRIDAY THURSDAY 12:15 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $40 12:00 p.m. NLH, $150 ($4K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. NLH, $240 KO $100 6:45 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 KO $25 CONNECTICUT SATURDAY ($6K Guarantee) 12:00 p.m. NLH, $155 9:30 p.m. NLH, $70 AO $20 7:00 p.m. NLH, $155 ($1K Guarantee) FOXWOODS - MASHANTUCKET SUNDAY FRIDAY MONDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $150 12:15 p.m. NLH, $90 ($4K Guarantee) 10:00 a.m NLH, $100 7:00 p.m. NLH, $50 6:45 p.m. NLH, $115 RB $50 6:00 p.m. NLH, $120 ($30K Guarantee) TUESDAY PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUB - W. PALM BEACH SATURDAY 10:00 a.m NLH, $120 MONDAY 11:00 a.m. NLH, $50 RB $20 2:00 p.m NLH, $100 KO $25 12:15 p.m. NLH, $70 ($2.5K Guarantee) ($5K Guarantee) 6:00 p.m. NLH, $120 ($10K Guarantee) 6:30 p.m. NLH, $70 ($2K Guarantee) 3:00 p.m. NLH, $100 RB $50 WEDNESDAY TUESDAY ($5K Guarantee) 10:00 a.m NLH, $100 12:15 p.m. NLH, $70 SUNDAY 2:00 p.m NLH, $120 KO $50 6:30 p.m. NLH, $70 12:15 p.m. NLH, $75 AO $40 KO $25 6:00 p.m. NLH, $120 ($15K Guarantee) WEDNESDAY ($5K Guarantee) THURSDAY 12:15 p.m. NLH, $100 ($3K Guarantee) 3:00 p.m. NLH, $50 AO $40 10:00 a.m NLH, $120 KO $25 6:30 p.m. NLH, $100 ($2K Guarantee) ($3K Guarantee) FRIDAY THURSDAY 10:00 a.m NLH, $100 12:15 p.m. NLH, $100 ($2K Guarantee) 2:00 p.m NLH, $100 KO $25 6:30 p.m. NLH, $100 ($1.5K Guarantee) HUSTLER CASINO - GARDENA 6:00 p.m. NLH, $160 ($8K Guarantee) FRIDAY MONDAY 8:30 p.m NLH, $100 12:15 p.m. NLH, $120 ($10K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 AO $40 KO $25 SATURDAY 6:30 p.m. NLH, $40 AO $20 ($2K Guarantee) 9:00 a.m NLH, $60 ($8K Guarantee) TUESDAY 11:00 a.m NLH, $180 ($8K Guarantee) SATURDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $80 RB $40 5:00 p.m. NLH, $140 ($5K Guarantee) 12:15 p.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) ($2K Guarantee) 8:30 p.m NLH, $120 KO $50 6:30 p.m. NLH, $40 AO $20 WEDNESDAY SUNDAY ($5K Guarantee) 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 AO $40 KO $25 9:00 a.m NLH, $60 ($2K Guarantee) 12:00 p.m. NLH, $140 5:00 p.m. NLH, $230 ILLINOIS THURSDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $80 RB $40 ($2K Guarantee) MOHEGAN SUN - UNCASVILLE RGC POKER (for locations see RGCPoker.com) DAILY FRIDAY MONDAY 1:00 p.m. NLH, $40 7:00 p.m. NLH, $80 RB $40 10:00 a.m NLH, $85 KO $25 5:00 p.m. NLH, $80 ($2K Guarantee) 2:00 p.m NLH, $75 6:30 p.m. NLH, $40 SATURDAY 6:00 p.m NLH, $100 SATURDAY 3:00 p.m. NLH, $80 RB $40 TUESDAY 2:00 p.m NLH, $180 ($2K Guarantee) 10:00 a.m NLH, $75 2:00 p.m NLH, $85 KO $25 LOUISIANA LUCKY CHANCES - COLMA 6:00 p.m. NLH, $120 ($10K Guarantee) MONDAY WEDNESDAY 9:30 a.m. NLH, $120 AO $10 10:00 a.m NLH, $75 COUSHATTA CASINO & RESORT - KINDER TUESDAY ($3K 1st Place Guarantee) 2:00 p.m NLH, $85 KO $25 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 TUESDAY 6:00 p.m. NLH, $100 THURSDAY 9:30 a.m. NLH, $200 AO $10 THURSDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 ($4K 1st Place Guarantee) 10:00 a.m NLH, $75 FRIDAY WEDNESDAY 2:00 p.m NLH, $85 KO $25 7:00 p.m. NLH, $120 9:30 a.m. NLH, $120 AO $10 6:00 p.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) SATURDAY ($3K 1st Place Guarantee) FRIDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $200 THURSDAY 11:00 a.m NLH, $75 SUNDAY 9:30 a.m. NLH, $120 AO $10 2:00 p.m NLH, $100 12:00 p.m. NLH, $100 ($3K 1st Place Guarantee) 6:00 p.m NLH, $120 FRIDAY SATURDAY 9:30 a.m. NLH, $120 AO $10 11:00 a.m NLH, $150 ($3K 1st Place Guarantee) 5:00 p.m NLH, $120 MARYLAND SATURDAY SUNDAY 9:30 a.m. NLH, $120 AO $10 11:00 a.m NLH, $200 KO $50 ($3K 1st Place Guarantee) 5:00 p.m. NLH, $120 LIVE! CASINO & HOTEL - HANOVER SUNDAY MONDAY

034_Schedules.indd 35 7/7/20 4:11 PM Schedules - Daily tournaments

12:15 p.m. NLH, $120 KO $25 11:15 a.m. NLH, $150 KO $25 NEVADA ($3K Guarantee) ($5K Guarantee) 7:15 p.m. NLH, $140 ($4K Guarantee) TUESDAY 7:15 p.m. NLH, $125 ($5K Guarantee) VENETIAN HOTEL & CASINO - LAS VEGAS 12:15 p.m. NLH, $140 ($3K Guarantee) SUNDAY MONDAY 7:15 p.m. NLH, $120 KO $25 12:10 p.m. NLH, $150 ($8K Guarantee) 11:15 a.m. NLH, $350 KO $100 ($5K Guarantee) 6:10 p.m. NLH, $125 KO $25 WEDNESDAY ($20K Guarantee) ($4K Guarantee) 12:15 p.m. NLH, $150 ($3K Guarantee) TUESDAY 7:15 p.m. NLH, $130 ($15K Guarantee) 12:10 p.m. NLH, $150 ($8K Guarantee) THURSDAY 6:10 p.m. NLH, $200 KO $50 12:15 p.m. NLH, $160 KO $50 MICHIGAN ($9K Guarantee) WEDNESDAY ($3K Guarantee) 7:15p.m. NLH, $150 ($5K Guarantee) 12:10 p.m. NLH, $150 ($8K Guarantee) FRIDAY FIREKEEPERS CASINO - BATTLE CREEK 6:10 p.m. NLH, $125 ($4K Guarantee) 12:15 p.m. NLH, $200 ($5K Guarantee) MONDAY-WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 7:15 p.m. NLH, $140 ($5K Guarantee) 12:10 p.m. NLH, $150 ($8K Guarantee) SATURDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $40 6:10 p.m. NLH, $125 KO $25 11:15 a.m. NLH, $100 ($10K Guarantee) 6:30 p.m. NLH, $40 ($6K Guarantee) 7:15 p.m. NLH, $130 FRIDAY THURSDAY SUNDAY 12:10 p.m. NLH, $200 AO $100 3:15 p.m. NLH, $130 ($15K Guarantee) 12:00 p.m. NLH, $40 ($20K Guarantee) 6:15 p.m. NLH, $130 6:30 p.m. PLO/NLH, $60 SATURDAY 12:10 p.m. NLH, $340 ($25K Guarantee) FRIDAY 6:10 p.m. NLH, $125 ($4K Guarantee) MGM NATIONAL HARBOR - OXON HILL 12:00 p.m. NLH, $40 SUNDAY 12:10 p.m. NLH, $250 ($15K Guarantee) MONDAY 6:30 p.m. NLH, $60 AO $20 AO $20 11:15 a.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) 6:10 p.m. NLH, $125 ($4K Guarantee) 7:15 p.m. NLH, $235 ($10K Guarantee) SATURDAY NEW YORK TUESDAY 6:30 p.m. NLH, $125 KO $25 11:15 a.m. NLH, $240 ($10K Guarantee) 7:15 p.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) SUNDAY SENECA NIAGARA - NIAGARA FALLS WEDNESDAY 12:00 p.m. NLH, $140/$240/$500 MONDAY 11:15 a.m. NLH, $120 ($5K Guarantee) 6:30 p.m. NLH, $40 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 ($2K Guarantee) 7:15 p.m. NLH, $200 KO $50 TUESDAY THURSDAY 10:00 a.m. NLH, $45

ANALYSISAnalysis TOURNAMENT HAND MATCHUP When facing an overbet on the river from tough compe- tition, one is often in a situation where your opponent 2020 Super High Roller Bowl Online will have a polarized range. e overbet is most often $102,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller representative of either a monster or a total bluﬀ . If your opponent’s hand had medium showdown value, they would be more likely to just show down their hand Justin Bonomo Michael Addamo at the river without bloating the pot so dramatically. 7,500,000 chips 7,400,000 chips In that situation, something as weak as queen high is often more or less equivalent to a pair in relative hand 9 8 Q J strength. Despite that, making a hero call without any Winning Percentage Winning Percentage pair or even an ace in your hand just feels more excit-

Before Flop: 66.0% ing. at is precisely what happened in this hand. Justin

Before Flop: 33.0% Bonomo limped in from the button with 9-8 oﬀ suit

9 8 J After Flop: 23.0% Q After Flop: 70.0% After Turn: 80.0% with the two players more or less even in chips. Addamo After Turn: 14.0% picked up Q-J suited and raised from the big blind. Bonomo came along and the two saw a fl op of K-3-3 with two hearts. Addamo continuation bet small, fi ring PREFLOP 400,000 into the pot of 2,060,000. Bonomo decided to fl oat and made the call. e turn was the 7p and both With two players remaining and blinds of 125,000 - 250,000 and an ante players checked. e 2p on the river was another blank. of 30,000, Justin Bonomo limped in from the button. Michael Addamo Addamo checked and Bonomo made a pot-sized bet of 2,860,000. Bonomo could have limp-called some hands raised to 1,000,000 from the big blind. Bonomo called. that include a three to make trips. Addamo’s range was less likely to have made three of a kind or better unless he had made a full house after raising pocket kings or pocket sevens from the big blind. Bonomo looked K 3 3 7 2 to buy the pot with the sizable bluff on the end, but Addamo sniff ed out the polarized range and decided FLOP

TURN

RIVER his queen-high was suﬃ cient to beat Bonomo’s bluﬀ s

7 2 3 3 K on this board. In this case, he was right, and the big call earned him the pot and the lead in the heads-up battle. Bonomo went on to win the match, though, earning Addamo bet 400,000. Addamo checked. Addamo checked. his record-setting third Super High Roller Bowl title Bonomo called. Bonomo checked Bonomo bet 2,860,000. and $1,775,000. Addamo cashed for $1,187,500 as the Addamo called. runner-up ﬁ nisher.

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

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034_Schedules.indd 36 7/7/20 4:11 PM Schedules

7:00 p.m. NLH, $45 6:00 p.m. NLH, $30 THURSDAY WEDNESDAY 6:30 p.m. NLH, $55 10:00 a.m. NLH, $80 SATURDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $100 ($2K Guarantee) EASTERN POKER TOUR 1:00 p.m. NLH, $75 PUB POKER EVENTS, NEWS, RANKINGS THURSDAY SUNDAY AND UPDATES CAN BE VIEWED AT 10:00 a.m. NLH, $60 1:00 p.m. NLH, $35 7:00 p.m. NLH, $60 EASTERNPOKERTOUR.COM FRIDAY 10:00 a.m. NLH, $80 SOUTH DAKOTA SATURDAY NORTH CAROLINA SILVERADO FRANKLIN - DEADWOOD 10:00 a.m. NLH, $20 ($1K Guarantee) 11:00 a.m. NLH, $150 THURSDAY HARRAH’S - CHEROKEE 6:30 p.m. NLH, $88 SUNDAY MONDAY 10:00 a.m. NLH, $60 SATURDAY 7:00 p.m NLH, $80 6:00 p.m. NLH, $125 ($2.5K Guarantee) 2:00 p.m. NLH, $44 10:00 p.m NLH, $50 SUNDAY TUESDAY 3:00 p.m. NLH, $33 TURNING STONE - VERONA 7:00 p.m NLH, $80 MONDAY 10:00 p.m NLH, $50 12:00 p.m NLH, $50 WEDNESDAY TEXAS 7:00 p.m. NLH, $65 7:00 p.m NLH, $100 KO $25

TUESDAY THURSDAY 12:00 p.m NLH, $50 7:00 p.m NLH, $80 CELEBRITY CARD CLUB - ODESSA 7:00 p.m. NLH, $15 ($1K Guarantee) 10:00 p.m NLH, $45 TUESDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY 7:00 p.m. PLO, $50 12:00 p.m NLH, $65 KO $10 5:00 p.m NLH, $135 THURSDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $65 SATURDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $60 THURSDAY 11:00 a.m NLH, $250 12:00 p.m NLH, $65 KO $10 SUNDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $15 ($1K Guarantee) 10:00 a.m NLH, $80 WISCONSIN FRIDAY 2:00 p.m NLH, $250 12:00 p.m NLH, $100 KO $25 7:00 p.m NLH, $80 POTAWATOMI - MILWAUKEE 7:00 p.m. NLH, $50 10:00 p.m NLH, $45 SATURDAY TUESDAY 12:00 p.m NLH, $65 OREGON 6:15 p.m. NLH, $80 4:00 p.m NLH, $100 KO $25 THURSDAY 7:00 p.m. NLH, $25 WILDHORSE - PENDLETON 6:15 p.m. NLH, $125 SUNDAY TUESDAY SUNDAY 12:00 p.m NLH, $50 6:30 p.m. NLH, $35 12:15 p.m NLH, $150

034_Schedules.indd 37 7/7/20 4:11 PM Poker Leaderboards

WSOP ONLINE BRACELET EVENT EARNINGS LEADERBOARD Rank Player Career Live Earnings 1 Brandon Adams $413,550 The World Series of Poker awarded its first official 2 Tara Cain $402,811 gold bracelet in an event held online in 2015. A total of 18 bracelet events have been played on WSOP.com, with the 3 Chance Kornuth $343,439 first two online events having their final tables play out 4 Jason Gooch $332,318 live and in person at the Rio in 2015 and 2016. There are 5 Thomas Cannuli $326,743 currently set to be 86 more bracelets awarded online in 2020, with 85 during the WSOP Online Series and another 6 Nicholas Baris $324,751 at the Global Casino Championship. Brandon Adams is 7 Nabil Cardoso $253,643 currently the all-time leader in earnings in online WSOP 8 Nipun Java $246,750 bracelet events heading into this summer, with $413,550 in total cashes. Almost all of that came from his victory 9 Ryan Tosoc $240,898 in the $3,200 buy-in online event held in 2019. Playing 10 David ‘Bakes’ Baker $236,752 under the screen name ‘DrOctagon’, Adams topped a field of 593 entries in that event to win $411,561 and his first WSOP gold bracelet. The second-highest earner in WSOP online bracelet event history is Tara “BeatrixKiddo” Cain. She has finished as the runner-up in two massive online bracelet events. She earned $201,408 as the second-place finisher in the $3,333 buy-in event held in 2017. She added another $187,530 for making it down to heads-up play in the $1,000 buy-in online championship event in 2019. Her two opponents in those heads-up matches, Thomas Cannuli and Nicholas Baris, are both among the top ten in earnings as well.

FEMALE WINNERS OF MULTIPLE WSOP BRACELETS

There are only eight women in poker history to have Player(s) WSOP Bracelets Won won multiple WSOP gold bracelets. Vanessa Selbst is the Vanessa Selbst 3 only female player to ever win three open-field events. Selbst emerged victorious in the 2008 $1,500 pot-limit Barbara Enright 3 Omaha event, the 2012 $2,500 10-game six-max mixed event, Nani Dollison 3 and the 2014 $25,000 no-limit hold’em mixed max event. Jennifer Harman 2 Those three wins account for more than $1.3 million of her $2.1 million in career earnings in bracelet events. Selbst Susie Isaacs 2 also holds the record as the highest-earning female player Starla Brodie 2 in live tournament history, with just shy of $10.9 million in Loni Harwood 2 total cashes. Barbara Enright was the first woman to ever win three bracelets. She won the women’s seven-card Kristen Bicknell 2 stud event in both 1986 and 1994. She was also the first woman to ever win an open-field event, which she achieved by taking down the $2,500 buy-in pot-limit hold’em event in 1996. Nani Dollison won the women’s limit hold’em and seven-card stud event in back-to-back years in 2000 and 2001. She earned her largest career payday in 2001 by taking down a $2,000 buy-in limit hold’em event for $441,440.

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038_Leaderboard.indd 38 7/7/20 4:27 PM PLAYER_16_OceansEleven_FP.indd 3 7/7/20 4:18 PM PLAYER_16_Bike_FP.indd 3 7/7/20 4:18 PM