Poker News

Peter ‘The Poet’ Costa

I don’t know about you, but the logic that I used to apply to certain situations in poker - has gone out the window. Having played a few of the events here at the Bellagio - I must confess to being confused by some of the play. Did I say confused? Make that totally dumbfounded!

Some of the calls made by players in the late stages of big tournaments defy any logic whatsoever. I will describe two that were actually made by the same player. Although there were many other examples, some even worse these two involved a lot of chips at a crucial time. I just hope the player in question doesn’t get a hold of this copy. But just in case, I would like to add that he was a great sport and a real gent also.

Anyhow, he joins our table to my immediate left with what is the chip lead on our table (if not the tournament). He settles in by playing a hand or two - nothing dramatic here. I definitely would not call him a loose player. He then takes his time and gets to see how everyone is playing - so that’s not in question.

OK, the blinds are 300-600 and under the gun (UTG) raises to 2500. I am just two to his left and come in with a re-raise to 10,500 - leaving myself with another 7,000 or so. Now, UTG is second chip leader and playing very selective. Also, I have not played a hand since his arrival. He almost immediately announces all-in. Obviously, I’m not good enough to lay down K-K here to the obvious A-A. Imagine my delight when he turns over T-T! Not too much damage here but now only our second chipleader.

Theblinds increase to 400-800 and our friend raises to 4,000 with A-K and gets called by the new chip leader (our UTG friend from the above hand). The flop came down A-J-6 - all hearts! Although he does not have the Kh to go with his Ace - he leads out and bets a cool 10K from his remaining 50K . Flopping a set of Sixes here our chip-leader declares all-in and gets an immediate call by the A-K.

These two hands should have perhaps cost a total of 4K which was the initial raise with the A-K. O.K, I suppose he needed to make a bet with his A-K to find out how he stood in the hand. Being out of position during this hand was always going to be difficult. But I guess by calling all-in, it simplified it a touch.

As I stated, these examples are just a couple of the many bad calls I noticed from what you would call, non-pros. So even though these types can spread the beats about they also spread the chips just as regularly. Just as importantly, at the Bellagio they have added greatly to the prize pool.

By the way, I would like to congratulate Arnold Spee for his WPT win in Reno. Arnie is a very solid and calculating player that deserved his win. Having made the late stages of the event I happen to witness some rather unnecessary or unjustified gambling by some players. This does not apply to the winner who made some great calls during the event.

Until next time - play well, get lucky and enjoy life.

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