Poker News

Susie Isaacs

When I first got involved in competitive poker some 17 years ago I would get so upset about the bad beats. Likewise I would be thrilled with the taste of victory. As the years went by I got to the point that today the bad beats hardly faze me. I guess after so many years and so many bad beats and so many yahoos playing poker, one becomes immune.

I also lost the zest - that surge of excitement that happens when a tournament director announces, “Shuffle up and deal.” The most extreme experience was last May when I played the WSOP big one. I knew no one at my table, and they played like it was a $20 tournament at the Orleans. I felt as if the reverence for this once “greatest show on earth” was gone. I had a fear that I was burned out. The thrill was over. I was ready to be put out to pasture with my laptop.

The Pro Poker Tour changed all that. With this coveted opportunity I began to study my game again. I felt as if I had gone straight from a junior college softball team to the major leagues.

On February 8 at the Commerce, I got to play my first Pro Poker Tour event. I recalled my virginal experience at the 1998 WSOP main event. I was awed. I hadn’t been that nervous in many years. Apprehension, fear, and excitement — I was having a kaleidoscope of emotions. The whole experience reminded me of the old days of the Big Dance. The atmosphere was electric. Like in 1998 my heartbeat was rapid and I had to tell myself, “Breath in, breath out, steady girl. Concentrate! These opponents are the cream of the crop.”

The whole experience made me remember why I wanted to become a good poker player in the first place; to win money, of course, but also to be able to mix it up with the best in the world and have that rush of adrenalin with each and every play. That’s what it’s all about. To so respect your opponents and their tremendous talent that it almost takes your breath away.

My next PPT event was at Bay 101. I steadied myself and wasn’t as nervous as my first PPT event. I played my very best and this go around, I lasted 59 minutes. A hand came down that was a multi-way pot. I was under the gun with a pair of nines. I limped, as did six other players. The flop brought A-9-J. I loved it … until the river when I was all-in with nines-full only to be squashed by aces-full. I hated that I had to leave the table but I was not upset because some yahoo did something extraordinarily stupid to beat me. A great player took me down.

My next stop was the Reno Hilton. Amazingly, Charles Williams, the cardroom manager and his staff magically took their little seven-table poker room to a 70-table mega poker arena. One notable difference in this PPT event was the opening ceremony. Charles announced that since poker has become a major league sport, he wanted to begin the competition with the NationalAnthem. Linda Machi sang it as beautifully as I have ever heard. I had goosebumps on top of my goosebumps.

This time around I got into my game ending the day with a very respectable $42,000. This was my first time to make the second day. I again played well, and had great visions of making the money … and then I stepped in a bear trap. I flopped aces-up only to be facing a set of sevens, which turned into quads! I was18 players away from the winner’s circle this time around.

I have two more opportunities to make a mark in the PPT. To say the thrill is back is an understatement!

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