Poker News

Jan Fisher

I just returned from my first visit to the Wild Horse Poker Round Up in Pendleton, Oregon. Roland Waters and his excellent staff directed it and I want to give you a quick run down of my experiences before setting the record straight about the TDA and the many misconceptions surrounding it! I guess those misunderstandings will continue until those who are truly interested in setting the record straight do their homework before directing blame at a great organization that has made huge strides in improving tournament conditions. But I digress… back to the Round-Up!

I was only able to visit for a few days, long enough to play some HORSE and two tournaments where I managed a 13th place finish in the Omaha/8 event. The playing structure was very player friendly and the event well run. In addition to the poker, the casino hosted the players to some off-property fun stuff. They took us on a city tour of Pendleton, a sleepy little town with a long history of Wild West proportion! We saw “the underground,” the blanket factory, the Rodeo Hall of Fame, and enjoyed a picnic lunch in one of Pendleton’s lovely parks. Linda Johnson and I gave a seminar prior to the ladies event and it was well received. There were many more live games this year than in the past as well as free player buffets every day. Because the restaurants were being remodeled during the event, the dining options were cut short, but that made the gratis buffet even nicer!

There was a beautiful display of WSOP bracelets of many players in attendance, photographs of past champions, copies of poker books autographed, and also a beautiful memorial to recentlydeparted popular poker player Pat Flanagan. We shall miss him and his infectious smile. The casino really spares no expense and adds money to every prize pool. In one event, the pool had reached $97,000; Roland asked, rhetorically, if anyone minded the casino rounding it up to an even $100K, which they did!

On a funny note… my Dad Peter Fisher was in attendance, as generally he is. A retired physician, he always seems to be needed for medical services. It was his blind when a man collapsed at a table near him. Immediately someone asked “Is there a doctor in the house?” and like clockwork my Dad answered “Sure, as soon as I play my blind, I’ll be right there!” Of course, Peter went over immediately and the man was fine but it was a funny reply! Guess you had to be there. Photographer Lori Averett offers picture service and has made many beautiful collages for players over the years. (She will also be back at the Oasis Open May 10-14 in Mesquite.)

Change of subject… there is lots to say about the TDA and it will encompass parts of my future columns. Primarily, let me mention a few more things the TDA is blamed for that is not their doing. There is NO TDA rule stating show one, show both. This is confused with the house rule of show one, show all. They are different rules and are not covered in the TDA. Also, the “F” bomb rule is NOT a TDA rule, it is a house rule and each casino can use its own judgment in how to react in these instances.

There is so much more to say but I’ve run out of space. Til next time, moving right along…

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