ON THE BUTTON: Swimming with Sharks at the WSOP

The problem with competing against the best poker players in the world is that you are competing against the best poker players in the world

June 22, 2007

By Nick Lanteri
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

Be careful what you wish for, right?

I finally swam with the sharks at the World Series of Poker. I wanted the sharks. I wanted to play with the best. Here’s who I tangled with: Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson, David Plastik, Clonie Gowen and Liz Lieu. Holy shit! And those are just the pros I recognized! There were others, too, including some internet whiz kids, and your typical aggressive maniacs.
 
I guess I got what I wanted.
 
Besides the poker pros there were your usual gaggle of WSOP weirdos including one guy to my right who would ask his Magic 8-Ball what to do when faced with a tough decision. I'm not fucking kidding. This nutjob would shake his Magic 8-Ball and do whatever the goddamn thing said. Was it effective? Unfortunately it was, but more on that next week.

My first shot at a WSOP bracelet took place June 6th in Event No. 10, a $2,000 buy-in which attracted 1,531 players. It was a nine-hour grind, but it was worth every penny even though I didn’t finish in the money. I got close. I was able to keep my head above water most of the day, then went card dead for two levels and finally busted out short of the money after the dinner break.
 
The following is a timeline of my WSOP experience at the Rio in Las Vegas:
 
12:05pm
A total mob scene. I’m still looking for Table 122, Seat 1 when Annie Duke, who is standing on a podium with actor Don Cheadle, announces: “Shuffle up and deal.” I finally ask someone: “Where the hell is Table 122” and I am directed to a tent set up outside in the Pavilion.
 
12:10pm
I finally find my table and I make it to Seat 1, but all heads turn to Seat 5, where Clonie Gowen has just arrived, looking as hot as ever. Tilt! Then I see Shannon Elizabeth at the table next to us. Tilt!

12:30pm
Midway thru Level 1 (25-50 blinds), Gowen raises the pot for the first time, gets two callers, including myself with 7-7 in the hole. Gowen makes the continuation bet after a Queen-high flop. I fold, but she is check-called to the river by someone who is holding pocket 10’s. The river is a 6, and Gowen again bets it strong, and she is called. Gowen tables pocket 6’s. She made a set on the river. I think to myself: “If the pros are gonna catch cards, I am fucked!” Gowen’s stack is up 8,000 (we started with 4,000 chips).
 
12:40pm
Yay, I win my first hand at the WSOP. A big blind special, sort of, after a flop of 10-4-2 and I have 10-5 in the hole in an unraised pot with four players. I bet 200, and get one caller. Turn is a Jack which also brings a third diamond. Check, check. River is a 2 and I bet 250 into a 400 pot, and this guy calls me with … King high!

1:20pm
Level 2 (50-100 blinds), my chip count at 3,800: I pick up A-Q suited spades in middle position and make the standard 3x-the-big-blind raise to 300.

Gowen had me sweating for many different reasons. (AP)

Gowen calls in position. Me and her tangle heads up for first time. Flop is K-x-x, no spades. Miss the flop as usual, and I check. Clonie plays with her chips and I figure that she will buy the pot right here. But she checks. I fired 500 into a 750 pot maybe one-half second after the turn card, another blank. She makes me sweat this one, because she starts moving chips around and counting out the 500, then she starts stacking chips and I am almost certain that a raise is her next move. Finally, she folds. I win a small pot, and my stack (4,250) is above where we started for the first time.
 
2:10pm
We return from first break and our table is broken up. I am moved to a table in the corner of the pavilion near the doors. I sit down in Seat 10, and notice David Plastik in Seat 3, Liz Lieu in Seat 7 and Aaron Lerner in Seat 8. First hand -- bam! -- pocket queens, baby. The rush begins!

Next week: Limping with aces, and Jesus puts the fear of God into me!

PHOTO: Clonie Gowen at the 2007 WSOP.