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Phil Hellmuth专栏
World Series of Poker Europe
In Late September almost every great poker player on the planet descended on the Empire Casino—in Leicester Square--in London to try to win millions of dollars and a WSOPE (World Series of Poker Europe) bracelet. The poker world pretty much unanimously agreed that each of the four WSOPE bracelets would count as a coveted WSOP bracelet, and almost every great poker player wants bracelets baby! The main event was a 10,000 pound buy in, or around $16,000, and it paid over $1 million for first.
I pulled my usual shenanigans and rode 10 blocks through the heart of London--from Waterloo to Leicester Square--in a chariot, dressed as Caesar! It was pretty weird, and way over-the-top, to be riding through the streets with double decker busses whizzing by, thousands of people on the streets snapping photos and wondering what was going on, and paparazzi running alongside…And yes, I did feel a bit stupid, and I felt like it was too much, but I manned up and played Caesar because I think my entrances are fun, good for me, and good for poker. When I arrived at the Empire I was walked into the tournament by 11 models in white Roman dresses, and that part was a lot of fun! There are videos and pictures up of my entrance at all of the poker sites.
Upon my arrival I turned my mind from playing Caesar to playing great poker, or I should say that I tried to turn my mind towards playing great poker. You see, I just haven’t been playing my best poker, primarily because I have been trying different tactics over the last year or two. I have migrated away from tight patient tactics, and gone towards looser more aggressive tactics with mixed results. I still managed to make six cashes at the WSOP this year, but I made zero final tables for the first time in like ten years, ouch! The problem with calling raises and reraises with the 8c-7c is that you put yourself in a tough position most of the time, and playing these types of hands puts you in a spot where you have to make more decisions. Do you call a big bet when it comes down J-8-2, or fold? Of course, occasionally the 8c-7c yields a huge winning result, but more often you can get buried with this hand. There is no doubt that playing these suited connectors causes huge swings. I don’t like huge swings. I like being a steady rock! I like showing my opponents super strong, sometimes unbeatable hands when I put my big chips into the pot. I like to play from a position of strength, not weakness or uncertainty.
Meanwhile, at the WSOPE I raised it up with 10s-7s under the gun, and was called by 4 players. The flop was 10c-9d-6s, and I opted to bet out $1,500 into the $3,000 pot. The gentleman behind me made it $3,000 to go, everyone else folded, and I decided that I had to go with this hand, as I only had $8,500 more, and this gentleman was a very loose player. Thus I moved all in, and he called me and showed me 10-9, ouch! I now needed an eight or two spades to hit on the next two cards. The turn was the miraculous 8s, and now my opponent couldn’t even win with the nine of spades as it would make me a straight flush! When the river was another harmless eight, I felt very fortunate to still be in the tournament. I also reevaluated this style of play. I used to be able to go days without ever being all in, and with this style I was all in on Day One! So now I am going back to my super tight “Classic Phil” strategy, and look out poker world, you’re going to need some dynamite to knock me out of a poker tournament the next few years! |
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lay Poker like the Pros") on poker strategy and tactics, and I 