Nation's #1 Poker Tour June 2016

NATION'S #1 POKER TOUR JUNE 2016

JUNE 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 3 Letter from the Editor FROM THE MSPT TO THE WSOP

BY CHAD HOLLOWAY

y the time this issue hits the stands, the 2016 World Series of Poker will be underway, and Season 7 of the Mid-States Poker Tour will either be in Bthe midst of wrapping up this summer's MSPT Venetian stop—which will Vol. 1/No. 2 run from June 6-10 and feature a $2 million guarantee—or on our annual summer President and Publisher hiatus. Bryan Mileski The MSPT will return July 9-17 with a $350 Regional Event at Milwaukee's [email protected] Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, with the next Main Event—the Iowa State Poker Championship—taking place July 16-24 at Meskwaki Casino in Tama, Iowa. Other Editor-in-Chief stops on the horizon are the Indiana State Poker Championship at Tropicana Chad Holloway Evansville from August 13-21; the MSPT Grand Falls Casino near Sioux Falls, [email protected] South Dakota from August 20-28; and a return to Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells Art Director from September 3-11. Carolyn Borgen However, until then we realize all eyes will be focused on Las Vegas. [email protected] With that in mind, we devote a large part of this issue to the WSOP including an Advertising Information interview with Millionaire Maker champ Adrian Buckley, talking to MSPT Pros and [email protected] regulars about their summer plans, and a special strategy contribution by Blake Whittington, one of the circuit's hottest players in the first half of 2016. Story Ideas In addition, we catch you up on an incredibly rare title defense, introduce you [email protected] to one of the Midwest's most respected poker room managers, and highlight our Our Mission recent stop at FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan. MSPT Magazine is a monthly magazine dedicated to serving Bryan Mileski Chad Holloway poker players and gaming facilities MSPT Founder MSPT Magazine Editor-In-Chief through MSPT news, results, tournament schedules, player profiles and professional tips. Coupled with our website, msptpoker.com, we are the Nation's #1 Poker Tour.

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Mid-States Poker Tour is published on or near the first of each month. All claims or guarantees are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. All comments and views of contributing writers are their own and do not reflect official policy of Mid-States Pok- er Tour which assumes no liability for any advertisement not supplied camera ready by the advertiser. Reproduction or use in whole or in part without written consent from the publisher and Copyright owners is prohibited.

JUNE 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 5 Q & A CATCHING UP WITH 2015 WSOP MILLIONAIRE MAKER CHAMP ADRIAN BUCKLEY

BY CHAD HOLLOWAY

ess than a year ago, 27-year-old Adrian Buckley of Westminster, Colorado topped a field of 7,275 entries— Lthe sixth-largest live tournament of all time—to win the 2015 World Series of Poker Millionaire Maker for $1,277,193. Buckley, who holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado, had an interesting story on his way to winning that event. On Day 2, he bagged just 80,000, which made him the third-shortest stack among the 142 survivors. He somehow managed to survive Day 3, albeit dead last in chips among the final 17 players that included Andrew "Lucky Chewy" Lichtenberger, Mike Sexton, Erick Lindgren, and Olivier Busquet. "I came here this year with a limited bankroll, and I told myself I'm going to play in 10 events and see how I do," Buckley said after the win. "I've been trying every once in awhile, because I've been a young kid just trying to get through school, and I've never really had the bankroll to actually play poker. I've done really well in cash games and stuff. I've been Adrian Buckley a cash game grinder for a long time, but never had the money to play in some big events." all my student loans, which is fantastic. I can live life the way Buckley was recently at the MSPT Golden Gates stop in I want now. I hit the jackpot, it's a dream come true man. Black Hawk, Colorado—where he bubbled the final table It's a touchy subject, action? in 11th place for $7,239—so we took the opportunity to catch Buckley: I had 95% of myself, and the gentlemen who had up with the Millionaire Maker champ heading into the 2016 5% of me does not really want people to know [who he is]. I had WSOP. almost all of my action. It was my eighth of eight tournaments MSPT: What have you been up to since your big win? I was going to play at the WSOP last year. I pretty much went Buckley: It's been crazy. I've been traveling all over the bankroll bankrupt you could say. It was my last tournament world. Went to Ireland, went to Germany for the WSOP and I was just going to go home and work again to save up Europe. We've been all over the country. I've been able to do some money. I got lucky in my last tournament, it's crazy. what I love doing. It's been fantastic. What are your plans for the 2016 WSOP? You say we. Who do you mean? Buckley: I got a house with a bunch of grinder buddies. Buckley: People that come join me. I'll invite people to We're going to stay out in Vegas and grind the whole series. come travel with me and such. Not everybody comes, but Hopefully play as many events as possible, or as few events as some people will join me. I had a really good friend go to possible [laughs], one of the two. Ireland with me, had a good time there. Now I'm back home Finally, what is it about the MSPT that keeps you coming back? until the WSOP. Buckley: I actually love the structure of the MSPT. The way Have you made any big purchases with your prize money? it's run, the way you're able to register, there aren't a lot of Buckley: No. I'm kind of a nit in life, which is the opposite tables up here in Black Hawk unfortunately so you can't get a of poker [laughs]. Pretty agro in poker, pretty nitty in life. I huge crowd, but the MSPT seems to structure it perfectly. It's bought a house, but it's for a rental. I have a couple of houses my favorite tournament that comes through here each year. now, so that's nice. I'm able to do what I want to do. I paid off The updates are fantastic. I have no complaints at all.

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JUNE HIGHLIGHT: Other Upcoming $50,000 GUARANTEED NLH TOURNAMENT Events: JUNE 22 - 26 $250 BUY-IN • 20K CHIPS • 30 MINUTE LEVELS TAG TEAM NLH June 9, 2016 $250 Main Event 1-A Wed 6/22 6:30 PM • 1-B Thurs 6/23 6:30 PM TWIN CITIES POKER OPEN 1-C Fri 6/24 6:30 PM • 1-D Sat 6/25 10:30 AM August 2016 1-E Sat 6/25 6:30 PM • Day-2 Sun 6/26 2:00 PM $65 Qualifiers ULTIMATE $100K Top 20% win 200 lammers+$50 cash September 2016 Thurs 6/16 6:30 PM Tues 6/21 6:30 PM Live Racing Now - September 17

www.canterburypark.com • 952-445-6870 • 866-MN-POKER • 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee, MN 55379 Mid-States Poker Tour MSPT PLAYERS DISCUSS THEIR SUMMER LAS VEGAS PLANS Every summer, the entire poker world turns its attention to Las Vegas. As such, we thought we'd catch up with some MSPT regulars to find out their plans for the MSPT Venetian and 2016 World Series of Poker. Here's what they had to say…

"The plan for me this summer "I'm going out to start is playing the good value with the MSPT Venetian tournaments, including a few then pretty much playing bracelet events and the MSPT all WSOP events. I'm Venetian. Additionally, I will be doing a little less than I playing in some of the PLO cash have in the past because games. I learned that one of the I want to enjoy summer. keys to success in the summer I get to have July 4 at is having adequate rest—a home for the first time in good work/life balance— five years."– MSPT Pro and just having some fun, so Matt Kirby hopefully there's plenty of that as well." – Nick Pupillo

“To me, the WSOP is like a combination of a high school reunion and a modern day gold "I'll play the MSPT rush. The buzz from the Venetian. I'm not excitement is enough going to play the to keep you up for days. Colossus. The Seniors I plan to 'heat up' on Championship and the tables through the WSOP Main Event are summer, then come back the two I really want home to cool down on the to play. Other than lake.” – Johnny “Gstaks” that it's up for grabs." Hayes – MSPT Season 6 POY Mark Hodge canterburypark.com

"I'll be there June 2-14. JUNE HIGHLIGHT: I plan on playing the Other Upcoming Colossus, MSPT Venetian, $50,000 GUARANTEED NLH TOURNAMENT Events: and Millionaire Maker. JUNE 22 - 26 The Goliath too at Planet $250 BUY-IN • 20K CHIPS • 30 MINUTE LEVELS TAG TEAM NLH Hollywood. Those are my June 9, 2016 set-in-stone plans right $250 Main Event now." – Jeff Fielder 1-A Wed 6/22 6:30 PM • 1-B Thurs 6/23 6:30 PM TWIN CITIES POKER OPEN "I'll be in live cash 1-C Fri 6/24 6:30 PM • 1-D Sat 6/25 10:30 AM August 2016 "I just fly out and play it 1-E Sat 6/25 6:30 PM • Day-2 Sun 6/26 2:00 PM by ear. My plan is to play action all summer. I'll all the 11 a.m. no-limit also play some $1,000 "First thing is to play the MSPT $65 Qualifiers ULTIMATE $100K hold'em events and a lot of tournaments, and September 2016 Venetian, then the WSOP Millionaire Top 20% win 200 lammers+$50 cash satellites. I find value in the then of course the Maker. Those are the two I have in Thurs 6/16 6:30 PM satellites and sit-n-goes." WSOP Main Event." Tues 6/21 6:30 PM mind, but there are tons of tournaments – MSPT champ TJ Live Racing Now - September 17 – MSPT Pro Matt Alexander to play all over the city." – Rick Syverud Ryan www.canterburypark.com • 952-445-6870 • 866-MN-POKER • 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee, MN 55379 MSPTPOKER.COM PAGE 8 Mid-States Poker Tour JUNE 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour

Carl Carodenuto CARL CARODENUTO SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS MSPT CANTERBURY PARK TITLE BY MSPT POKER STAFF

n its seven-season history the Mid-States Poker Tour has and created a total prize pool of $376,000, nearly double the experienced some noteworthy records including a back- advertised $200,000 guarantee. After an unusually speedy Ito-back winner, six two-time champs, and the first female Day 2, 31-year-old Carl Carodenuto, who topped a field of 470 champ. However, until April 24 no one had successfully entrants to win the same event in December 2015, once again defended his or her title. walked away with the title and a $90,805 first-place prize. The MSPT Canterbury Park Main Event in Shakopee, "I'm pretty mesmerized," said Carodenuto, who qualified Minnesota attracted 376 entries (184 Day 1a; 192 Day 1b) for the tournament via a $250 satellite." "I'm in shock. It hasn't

MSPTPOKER.COM JUNE 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 9 Canterbury Park completely hit me all the way, but I'm just really proud of myself." Canterbury Park Carodenuto added that he will be in Las Vegas this Buy-in: $1,100 ♣ 376 Entrants summer, but can you expect him back at Canterbury Park at the end of December? Place Name City, State Prize "Absolutely, I've got to try to defend again," he said. 1 Carl Carodenuto Bloomington, MN $90,805 With the win, which also made him the tour's seventh two- 2 Gennady Shimelfarb Minneapolis, MN $54,483 time champ, Carodenuto brought his lifetime tournament 3 Jeff Taylor Eden Prairie, MN $35,341 earnings up to $305,106. 4 Adam Friedman Gahanna, OH $24,699 Day 2 saw 64 players return to action, which meant 28 needed to go before the money was reached. Among those 5 Jason Song Crystal, MN $18,524 to leave empty handed were MSPT Pro Blake Bohn, high- 6 Pete Bigelow Moose Lake, MN $14,529 rolling businessman John Morgan, and the MSPT's all-time 7 Tim Signore Oak Lawn, IL $12,349 money winner Peixin Liu. 8 Justin Thurlow Cottage Grove, MN $10,170 Among those to cash were brothers Tony & Ryan Hartmann 9 Scott Johnson White Bear Lake, MN $8,717 (31st and 35th respectively); father-and-son combo Brett & 10 Dan Hendrickson Faribault, MN $6,902 Josh Reichard (13th and 30th); as well as the last woman standing, Jay Philips (27th—$2,906), two-time MSPT champ Johnny Hayes (23rd—$2,906); MSPT Potawatomi champ Travis Lauson (18th—$3,632); and World Series of Poker The "Crazy Carl" show saw his opponents hit the rail one bracelet winner John Reading (17th—$3,632). by one until he was heads up holding a significant chip lead There were some interesting storylines at the final table against local cash game pro Gennady Shimelfarb, who had including the appearance of bracelet winner Adam Friedman previously made a MSPT final table on three occasions, never and former champ Dan "DQ" Hendrickson, though all eyes finishing better than eighth. were focused on Carodenuto, who began the final table as Shimelfarb held his own for a bit, but ultimately fell when chip leader and proceeded to steamroll the competition. his king-queen was flushed by Carodenuto's ace-jack suited.

Final table

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PAGE 12 Mid-States Poker Tour JUNE 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour POKER PRO AARON MASSEY WINS LARGEST MSPT EVENT EVER HELD OUTSIDE OF VEGAS

BY MSPT POKER STAFF

he record-breaking Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) FireKeepers—the tour's largest Main Event outside of TLas Vegas—attracted 820 entries (165 Day 1a, 310 Day 1b, and 345 Day 1c) and created a $820,000 total prize pool. On Sunday, 167 players returned to action, and 15 hours later, Aaron Massey emerged as champion to capture his first MSPT title and a $174,658 first-place prize. "I'm feeling really good," said Massey. "Perfect timing right before the summer, great for my morale. I'm heading down to New Orleans tomorrow and the World Series of Poker is after that. I thrive in these big fields over my career. I do really well in the mid-majors. That's my bread and butter. I'm just really happy to close it out in such a big field." Massey, a top pro with nearly $2.9 million in lifetime earnings, broke through back in 2012 when he topped a field of 1,394 to take down the Winstar River Poker Series $4 Million Guaranteed event for $651,559. Since then, he's continued to dominate by finishing third in the 2014 WSOP Event #55: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em for $255,209, runner-up in the World Poker Tour Borgata Open $500 Big Stack Reentry for $219,209, and a win in the 2014 Heartland Poker Tour East Chicago for $177,502. Aaron Massey Prior to this event, Massey, also a former HPT Player of the Year, only had one MSPT cash on his poker résumé—155th in the MSPT Venetian for $2,512. Now he's the winner of the MSPT's largest-ever event outside of Vegas. FireKeepers Casino With 81 players slated to cash, 86 players needed to hit Buy-in: $1,000 + $100 ♣ 820 Entrants the rail before the money was reached. Among those to leave empty handed were former champ Ryan Dykhouse, Place Name City, State Prize reigning MSPT Player of the Year Mark Hodge, defending 1 Aaron Massey Chicago, IL $174,658 champ Michael Ferrarotti, and 2009 World Series of Poker 2 Ronald Kruk Osceola, IN $106,383 Main Event champ Joe Cada, who fell three spots shy of the 3 Rodger Johnson Grand Forks, ND $69,228 money after running pocket fives into the nines of MSPT Pro Matt Kirby. 4 Jason Smith Ferndale, MI $47,952 Once the bubble burst, the eliminations came at a rapid 5 Christopher Blik Grandville, MI $34,932 pace and included Dan Heimiller (67th—$2,223), Tom 6 Richard Bai Schaumburg, IL $26,834 Midena (59th—$2,540), Kirby (57th—$2,540), Nick Pupillo 7 Alfred Singletary II Okemos, MI $22,150 (54th—$2,937), Mark Johnson (43rd - $3,334), and Adam 8 David Berman Solon, OH $18,498 Lamphere (19th—$5,002). 9 Brian Brenneke Fort Wayne, IN $14,847 Jason Smith began the final table as the chip leader, but first blood would go to MSPT Season 3 Running Aces champ 10 Ryan Lally Rockford, MI $11,354 Rodger Johnson, who on the fourth hand picked up pocket

MSPTPOKER.COM JUNE 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 13 FireKeepers Casino tens and survived Ryan Lally's ace-queen. Lally earned outlast Johnson, $11,354 for his tenth-place finish. who fell in third That's when Smith got to work eliminating players in back- after shoving his to-back hands. First, he sent Brian Brenneke to the rail in short stack with ninth place after flopping a set of threes to vault past tens, and a weak ace only in the next hand he called David Berman's shove with ace- to run into Kruk's three, which flopped two pair to pull ahead of his opponent's pocket jacks. Smith ace-jack. Neither the turn nor river helped Berman, and he followed him out had to settle for eighth place and an $18,498 payday. the door one hand Not long after, Al Singletary, who had been extremely later. aggressive, opened for 500,000 in Level 29 (40,000/80,000/10,000). That set up a Smith pushed back with a three-bet to 1.2 million, Singletary heads-up match moved all in for 2.8 million, and Smith called. Both players between Massey held ace-king, but Smith's were suited diamonds. The and Kruk with the flop brought two diamonds and the river one more to send former holding a Singletary out the door in seventh place. little less than a 2-1- After Richard Bai bowed out in sixth place—his queen- chip lead. The two eight failed to get there against the ace-ten of Ron Krux— jostled back and Jason Smith newlywed Chris Blik hit the rail in fifth place after shoving forth for awhile, his short stack with ten-nine and running into two players but before long it came to a head with Massey holding Big with pocket pairs. Interestingly, Blik was married on Friday, Slick and Kruk the inferior ace-queen. Massey's hand held and the best man at his wedding was none other than Casey and Kruk had to settle for runner-up. Carroll, who was less than a week removed from winning the "The fact that it was such a big field, it does make me feel HPT Ameristar East Chicago for $174,469. good," Massey added. "It feels more prestigious to me. The Four-handed play lasted awhile, and that is when Massey MSPT is fantastic. You offer a great product, and I can speak came on strong. Eventually he and Smith collided in a cooler for me, my brother, and my friends, we're always thrilled to be hand, and Massey doubled big when his kings held against able come out here and compete for a good amount of money Smith's queens. Smith was crippled but still managed to for a reasonable buy-in. It's definitely something special."

Final table

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JUNE 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 15 Potawatomi Casino MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MSPT POTAWATOMI REGIONAL FROM JULY 9-17 BY MSPT POKER STAFF

rom July 9-17, the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) will Milwaukee," said MSPT owner and operator Bryan Mileski. return to Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee, "Potawatomi Hotel & Casino is a luxurious property with FWisconsin for the second $350 buy-in, $100,000 unlimited gaming options. As such, it's no surprise to see guaranteed Regional Event of Season 7. The stop, which our events there attract players from throughout Wisconsin, requires players be 21 years of age to play, will host more Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota." than a dozen $50 ad $90 satellites for the Regional Event, Indeed, the last time the MSPT rolled into Milwaukee for which will feature three starting flights. a Regional Event was back in January when 904 entries—a Day 1a will kick off at 5:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, July record for Regional Events—took to the felt to battle for a 14, while Day 1b will take place at the same time on Friday, $58,964 top prize. Oscar Arndt walked away with the top prize, July 15. Then, on Saturday, July 16, Day 1c will get underway while the likes of David Gonia (3rd—$20,965), Jason Bender at 2:00 p.m. The survivors from all three flights will then (7th—$9,303), and Travis Lauson (18th—$1,493) all walked combine at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 17 to play down to a away with some cash. winner. Speaking of Lauson, he returned to the property in April Players are allowed a max of one reentry per starting flight and won the MSPT Potawatomi Main Event for $129,077. during the standard registration process. Each starting flight What's even more amazing, he did it after finishing runner-up will play 16 levels that will last 30 minutes each. in the same event in the fall of 2015. "Few poker markets thrive as well as the one in and around Here's a look at the upcoming MSPT Regional schedule:

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RunAces.com PAGE 18 Mid-States Poker Tour JUNE 2016 Industry Insiders POKER MANAGER KELLEY BAILEY PULLS BACK THE CURTAIN ON FIREKEEPERS CASINO'S SUCCESS BY CHAD HOLLOWAY

ireKeepers Casino Hotel, located in Battle Creek, FMichigan, opened in August of 2009. The venue features an 111,700-square foot gaming floor with 2,900 slot machines, 70 table games, multiple restaurants and lounges, a live poker room and bingo room. Kelley Bailey In addition, FireKeepers, located just off Interstate 94 at Exit 104, opened the doors on its 243-room resort-style hotel complete with indoor pool, exercise facility, full service restaurant named Smoke ‘n Fire, and business center in December 2012. In less than a decade, FireKeepers has not only established itself as one of the Midwest's premiere gaming destinations, but one of the best places to go for poker action. That was FireKeepers’ first MSPT in March 2013 to complete my new evidenced in early May when the Mid-States Poker Tour hire paperwork and got my overview of the Poker Room and rolled into town and attracted 820 entries, which was a record property during this inaugural event. I got my first taste of for a Main Event held outside of Las Vegas. the high skill level, attention to extraordinary standards and It was a massive turnout, and credit goes to the hard work property emphasis on guest service then that I have since and preparation by the FireKeepers staff, led by Poker and learned are part of the great expectations at FireKeepers Bingo Manager Kelley Bailey, who has worked in the poker that started from the day the property first opened on August world for the past 30 years. The last 15 have been spent in 5, 2009. From its inception, the Poker Room has both created management running poker rooms in Nevada and California and built a solid reputation as the place to play in Michigan, before heading to Michigan, where she's been for three years. with the best dealers and floor staff. Here, service, attitude Bailey, who has two children and grandchildren, was kind and teamwork mean everything! enough to chat with us about what makes FireKeepers Casino It seems FireKeepers has developed as a well-balanced room so special. between cash and tournaments. Would that be accurate? MSPT: How did you come to work at FireKeepers? Bailey: It was during my first interview for the Poker Bailey: I have always sought exciting challenges. I came to Manager’s position that Table Games Vice President Lance Michigan as a new adventure, knowing it would be an entirely Allen let me know that he wanted to build our tournament different experience. The Midwest poker community and the structure to increase our appeal to a larger pool and variety ever-changing weather here have helped provide some of of poker players. We now offer poker tournaments every day. those unique differences for me in my capacity as the Poker They range from $40 to $400 depending on the time of year as and Bingo Manager at FireKeepers. well as our MSPT Super Satellites and Main Event qualifiers It was baptism under fire in a way as I arrived during six weeks prior to the start of each tour stop.

MSPTPOKER.COM JUNE 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 19 Industry Insiders

Are there any employees who've been with the room since its inception? Bailey: Illustrating that FireKeepers is the “Employer of Choice” in the Midwest, the Poker Room has eighteen “Day One” Team Members. Those of us who are fortunate to work here know just how amazing this company is. There are more than 400 “Day One” Team members who remain in all areas from that grand opening nearly seven years ago. You seem to have a strong team in the poker room. What can you tell us about the poker team you've assembled and get to work with on a daily basis? Bailey: The great pride exhibited by FireKeepers’ staff is uncommon and I feel privileged to work with this team. We have a dedicated group of people who are truly assets and work together, taking ownership of all they do to make FireKeepers the special place to which our guests routinely return. That the MSPT keeps setting new records here each year is proof that this unique property has attributes that Bailey: Every day I have the opportunity to see something brings additional poker players yearning to play here. It’s not I’ve never witnessed before. This provides many different just that the dealers know most players names—and spend time talking to them. They have built strong relationships experiences that once could characterize as unusual but in that serve as the underpinning to the Poker Room’s growth. the casino and poker world might be classified as ordinary or expected. What sort of promotions does your room offer? Bailey: Some of our promotions are a Bad Beat Jackpot; five What do you envision for the future of the FireKeepers Poker “High Hand” payouts daily; a Tournament of Champions with Room? a $50,000 prize pool; miscellaneous MSPT seats and custom Bailey: We are going to continue to grow and develop card protector and cash drawings. FireKeepers Casino’s Poker Room and ride the waves of What's the strangest thing you've ever seen happen in your success that come with vision, carefully planned evolution to poker room? maintain the progress that has been our trademark.

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File Name Bleed Size (w x h) Designer Account Executive GCS-16-86369_MSPT_Grand-Classic-BlackJack_(8-375x10-75)_b01 8.875x11.25 Ben Laura/Heidi Creation Date Final Size (w x h) Copywriter Proofreader 05/17/16 8.375x10.75 Andy Erin Modified Date Color(s) Creative Director Production May 17, 2016 5:07 PM 4c Dean Due Date Vendor/Publication JUNE 2016 Mid-States Poker Tour PAGE 21 Strategy GRAND CLASSIC TOURNAMENT TIP: LEVERAGING STACK BLACKJACK SIZES WHEN PLAYING SHORT-HANDED TOURNAMENT BY: BLAKE WHITTINGTON his hand comes from my victory with one pair if the river bricks out. If I had gone with a more $8,400 guaranteed purse! in the $350 MSPT Regional at standard sizing of somewhere in the 450-650k range, he would Tbestbet Jacksonville. I arrived probably be inclined to continue with his pair-plus-straight at the final table with 35% of the chips draw hands, and I didn’t want that to happen considering how in play but faced a lot of adversity poorly my hand was doing against that range. As it turns out, for the first few hours, eventually he folded A♠7♠ and I took down a crucial pot. becoming the short stack with five Although it may seem unnecessary to risk so much on the players left. Let’s set the scene. Three turn, I was confident enough that my sizing was extremely people remain between me and my likely to inspire a fold given all the factors that were involved goal, and after being relatively even four handed. It’s important to keep your opponents guessing stacked with the others for a few orbits, I finally started to by throwing them an occasional curveball, and when it gain some traction. worked, I got the added benefit of sending a message to the Then, in the last hand of the 50k/100k/10k level, I am in three remaining players that I was there to win. the small blind with 3.9 million. The two players before me In this scenario, it benefits me if the other players at the table fold, I raise to 250,000 holding the A♥3♥, and the big blind are less inclined to play pots with me. I would much prefer to (BB), who has 2.8 million, calls, making this scenario a good just play small ball and chip away slowly by exercising my spot to apply pressure on the person who is sitting second in postflop advantage rather than get involved in high-variance chips. On the Q♣J♥10♦ flop, I lead for 225,000 and the BB calls. situations. Winning that pot was huge for my momentum, and This flop is an automatic continuation-bet given my range fortunately I managed to carry that momentum to the end and advantage being the aggressor preflop. When he calls, I think close out the tournament for $45,492. his range includes a lot of Ax, Kx, and pair-plus-straight-draw hands such as Q8, J9, KJ, T8, etc. The turn is the 7♣ bringing a club flush draw. Here is where I choose to do something a bit unorthodox based on Thursday, June 23 some hands the BB has already played (on breaks I had a • Grand Casino Hinckley close friend of mine that was watching the stream giving me • Registration starts at 3 p.m. — info on key hands). The BB had shown a propensity to play first come, first served. his big hands fast on the flop, so when he just called on the flop, I immediately removed K9, 98, QJ, QT, and JT from his Follow us • $30 original entry & re-entry fee. • Space is limited to 280 entries. range (and of course AK and sets, but those hands most likely Must be a Grand Rewards Member. Membership is reraise preflop). free & easy — see Grand Rewards to sign up today! So with 990k in the pot, and with 3.5M in my stack and 2.4M in his, I bet 1,030,000. The turn doesn’t change the board online texture much except for bringing a backdoor flush draw. I went with this sizing because of my leverage due to the other two stacks being shorter than him (they were 2 million and 1.4 million respectively). The bet is designed to discourage him from continuing with his pair-plus-straight-draw hands. Even if he has a hand like KQ, I believe he would fold to @MSPTPoker this sizing on the turn because it represents almost half his stack and he is not going to want to end up facing a decision

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JUNE 20-22 $3,500 NLH A+B+C EVENT, $3 MILLION GTD PRIZE POOL

JULY 17-19 $5,000 NLH A+B+C EVENT, $2 MILLION GTD PRIZE POOL

VIEW COMPLETE SCHEDULE AT VENETIAN.COM/DEEPSTACK AND FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION AT VENETIANPOKERROOM.BLOGSPOT.COM THE BEST POKER ROOM IN LAS VEGAS DeepStack Extravaganza III Nearly $16 Million in guaranteed prize pools May 26th - July 24th, 2016

Event # Registration Registration DATE GTD Prize Restart Times for GTD Prize Open Until Open Until 12PM Events (unless noted) Pool Day and Evening Events Event # 7PM Events (unless noted) Pool Thur May 26th 1 $400 NLH Day 1A 4:20 PM 2 $200 NLH Bounty $10K 9:10 PM Fri May 27th 1 $400 NLH Day 1B $150K 4:20 PM 3 $200 NLH (1) Rebuy $20K 9:10 PM Sat May 28th 1 $400 NLH Day 1C 4:20 PM 4 $300 NLH Bounty $15K 9:10 PM 5 $400 Omaha 8/B @ 11am $20K 3:20 PM Sun May 29th #1 restart @ 11am 7 $300 NLH Survivor $15K 9:10 PM 6 $300 NLH SuperStack @ 2pm (1Day) $20K 5:10 PM Mon May 30th 8 $600 NLH SuperStack Day 1A 4:20 PM #5 restart @ 11am 9 $300 NLH Bounty $15K 9:10 PM $150K Tues May 31st 8 $600 NLH SuperStack Day 1B 4:20 PM 10 $400 NLH Bounty $20K 9:10 PM Wed June 1st 11 $400 NLH Bounty (1Day) $40K 3:10 PM #8 restart @ 11am 12 $400 HORSE @ 5PM $20K 9:40 PM Thur June 2nd 13 $400 NLH (1Day) $40K 3:10 PM #12 restart @ 5pm 14 $300 NLH Bounty $15K 9:10 PM Fri June 3rd 15 $600 NLH Bounty (1Day) $60K 3:10 PM 16 $600 PLO @ 5pm $60K 9:40 PM Sat June 4th 17 $600 NLH Day 1A @ 11am 3:20 PM #16 restart @ 5pm NO EVENT $250K Sun June 5th 17 $600 NLH Day 1B @ 11am 3:20 PM 18 $600 PLO 8/B @ 5pm $60K 9:40 PM #17 restart @ 11am $1100 NLH Day 1A 6:30 PM NO EVENT Mon June 6th 19 #18 restart @ 5pm $2 MILL Tues June 7th 19 $1100 NLH Day 1B 6:30 PM NO EVENT Wed June 8th 19 $1100 NLH Day 1C 6:30 PM NO EVENT Thur June 9th 20 $600 NLH $200K 4:20 PM #19 restart @ 11am 21 $1100 NLH Turbo @ 5pm (1Day) $75K 9:20 PM Fri June 10th 22 $600 NLH Bounty (1Day) $60K 3:10 PM #19 & 20 restart @ 11am 23 $300 NLH Survivor $20K 9:10 PM Sat June 11th 24 $600 Omaha 8/B @ 11am $50K 3:20 PM 25 $400 NLH Bounty $30K 9:10 PM Sun June 12th 26 $600 NLH Day 1A @ 11am 3:20 PM #24 restart @ 11am 27 $400 NLH Bounty Turbo $30K 9:10 PM $200K Mon June 13th 26 $600 NLH Day 1B @ 11am 3:20 PM 28 $600 Omaha 8/B Day 1A @ 5pm 9:40 PM $100K 29 $600 NLH Seniors Day 1A @ 11am 3:20 PM #26 restart @ 11am 28 $600 Omaha 8/B Day 1B @ 5pm 9:40 PM Tues June 14th $250K Wed June 15th 29 $600 NLH Seniors Day 1B @ 11am 3:20 PM #28 restart @ 5pm 30 $400 NLH Bounty $30K 9:10 PM Thur June 16th 31 $600 NLH SuperStack @ 11am $150K 5:30 PM #29 restart @ 11am 32 $1100 NLH Turbo @ 5pm (1Day) $75K 9:20 PM Fri June 17th 33 $1100 NLH Bounty (1Day) $200K 6:30 PM #31 restart @ 11am 34 $400 NLH Mega Sat to $3500 5 Seats 10:10 PM Sat June 18th 35 $1100 NLH (1Day) $100K 6:30 PM 36 $400 NLH Mega Sat to $3500 5 Seats 10:10 PM Sun June 19th 37 $1600 PLO (8) Max $150K 10:35 PM 38 $400 NLH Mega Sat to $3500 10 Seats 10:10 PM Mon June 20th 39 $3500 NLH Day 1A 10:35 PM #37 restart @ 12pm 40 $400 NLH Mega Sat to $3500 10 Seats 10:10 PM Tues June 21st 39 $3500 NLH Day 1B $3 Mill 10:35 PM 41 $400 NLH Mega Sat to $3500 10 Seats 10:10 PM 39 $3500 NLH Day 1C 10:35 PM Wed June 22nd NO EVENT 42 $400 NLH Mega Turbo @ 10am 1 Seat 12:10 PM Thur June 23rd NO EVENT #39 restart @ 12pm 43 $1100 NLH Turbo @ 5pm (1Day) $75K 9:20 PM Fri June 24th 44 $600 NLH Bounty (1Day) $60K 3:10 PM #39 restart @ 12pm 45 $1100 NLH / PLO @ 5pm $100K 9:40 PM Sat June 25th 46 $600 NLH Day 1A @ 11am 3:20 PM #45 restart @ 5pm 46 $600 NLH Day 1B @ 4pm $250K 8:20 PM $250K Sun June 26th 46 $600 NLH Day 1C @ 11am 3:20 PM 47 $400 NLH Bounty $30K 9:10 PM Mon June 27th 48 $1600 NLH Day 1A 10:35 PM #46 restart @ 11am 49 $1100 PLO 8/B Day 1A @ 5pm 9:40 PM $150K Tues June 28th 48 $1600 NLH Day 1B $1 Mill 10:35 PM 49 $1100 PLO 8/B Day 1B @ 5pm 9:40 PM 48 $1600 NLH Day 1C 10:35 PM Wed June 29th #49 restart @ 5pm NO EVENT 50 $300 NLH Mega Sat Turbo @ 10am 1 Seat 12:10 PM Thur June 30th 51 $600 NLH Bounty (1Day) $60K 3:10 PM #48 restart @ 12pm 52 $400 NLH Bounty Turbo $30K 9:10 PM Fri July 1st 53 $1100 NLH Day 1A 6:30 PM #48 restart @ 12pm 54 $1100 PLO / PLO 8B / BIG O @ 5pm $100K 9:40 PM Sat July 2nd 53 $1100 NLH Day 1B $500K 6:30 PM #54 restart @ 5pm 55 $400 NLH Bounty $30K 9:10 PM Sun July 3rd 53 $1100 NLH Day 1C 6:30 PM 56 $400 NLH Survivor $30K 9:10 PM Mon July 4th 57 $600 NLH Bounty (1Day) $60K 3:10 PM #53 restart @ 11am 58 $400 NLH Bounty $30K 9:10 PM Tues July 5th 59 $1100 NLH $250K 6:30 PM 60 $600 BIG O @ 5pm $50K 9:40 PM #59 restart @ 11am 61 $1600 NLH Bounty $250K 10:35 PM Wed July 6th #60 restart @ 5pm NO EVENT Thur July 7th 62 $400 NLH Ladies @ 11am (1Day) $30K 2:10 PM #61 restart @ 12pm 63 $1100 NLH Turbo @ 5pm (1Day) $75K 9:20 PM Fri July 8th 64 $1100 NLH (1Day) $200K 6:30 PM 65 $600 NLH Bounty $40K 9:10 PM Sat July 9th 66 $600 NLH Bounty (1Day) $60K 3:10 PM 67 $400 NLH Bounty $30K 9:10 PM Sun July 10th 68 $400 NLH Bounty (1Day) $40K 3:10 PM 69 $400 PLO Bounty (1Day) @ 5pm $30K 9:20 PM Mon July 11th 70 $600 NLH Bounty (1Day) $60K 3:10 PM 71 $400 NLH Bounty $30K 9:10 PM Tues July 12th 72 $600 NLH SuperStack $100K 6:30 PM 73 $200 NLH Mega Sat to $1100 10 Seats 10:10 PM Wed July 13th 74 $1100 NLH Day 1A 6:30 PM #72 restart @ 11am 75 $200 NLH Mega Sat to $1100 10 Seats 10:10 PM Thur July 14th 74 $1100 NLH Day 1B $1.5 Mill 6:30 PM 76 $200 NLH Mega Sat to $1100 10 Seats 10:10 PM Fri July 15th 74 $1100 NLH Day 1C 6:30 PM NO EVENT Sat July 16th 77 $600 NLH Mega Sat to $5000 10 Seats 3:10 PM #74 restart @ 11am 78 $600 NLH Mega Sat to $5000 10 Seats 10:10 PM Sun July 17th 79 $5000 NLH Day 1A 3:20 PM Day2 #74 restart @ 11am 80 $600 NLH Mega Sat to $5000 10 Seats 10:10 PM Mon July 18th 79 $5000 NLH Day 1B $2 Mill 3:20 PM Day2 81 $600 NLH Mega Sat to $5000 10 Seats 10:10 PM 79 $5000 NLH Day 1C 3:20 PM Day2 Tues July 19th NO EVENT 82 $600 NLH Mega Sat Turbo @ 10am 1 Seat 12:10 PM Wed July 20th 83 $400 NLH Bounty @ 2pm (1Day) $30K 5:10 PM #79 restart @ 12pm 84 $300 NLH Bounty $15K 9:10 PM Thur July 21st 85 $400 NLH SuperStack Day 1A 6:30 PM #79 restart @ 12pm 86 $300 NLH Bounty $15K 9:10 PM Fri July 22nd 85 $400 NLH SuperStack Day 1B $200K 6:30 PM #79 restart @ 12pm 87 $200 NLH (1) Rebuy $20K 9:10 PM Sat July 23rd 85 $400 NLH SuperStack Day 1C 6:30 PM 88 $200 NLH Bounty $10K 9:10 PM Sun July 24th 89 $300 NLH Bounty (1Day) $20K 3:10 PM #85 restart @ 11am 90 $200 NLH Bounty $10K 9:10 PM Follow all the action all summer long at VenetianPokerRoom.blogspot.com

Must be 21 years of age or older and have a Grazie card to participate. Complete listing of rake, staff fee, starting chips, and length of levels can be found on the back of this schedule, or by visiting us at Venetian.com GET READY TO MEET THE CHAMPION

CLIENT FireKeepers Casino Hotel

PROJECT June MSPT Mag

JOB NO. FK-26179

COLOR A RECORD-BREAKING $820,000 PRIZE POOL! 4/c

SIZE 8.375” x 10.75”

BLEED CONGRATULATIONS .25 TO OUR MAIN EVENT WINNER! MAY 15 AARON M. $174,658

MSPT RETURNS TO FIREKEEPERS FALL 2016! MICHIGAN STATE POKER CHAMPIONSHIP $300,000 GUARANTEED MAIN EVENT PRIZE POOL MAIN EVENT OCTOBER 13 – 16 QUALIFIERS BEGIN AUGUST 26 For more details, visit FireKeepersCasino.com or call the Poker Room directly at 269.660.5631.

GET READY. GET SET.

I-94 to Exit 104 | 11177 Michigan Avenue | Battle Creek, MI 49014

Must be 21 or older. Schedule subject to change. Management reserves all rights.

FK-26179_June_MSPT_Mag_8.375x10.75.indd 1 5/17/16 3:16 PM