Tao of Poker

Saturday Razz

It's Get Kicked in the Junk Day at the WSOP with the Razz event schedule for Saturday. There are quite a number of pros playing in the event along. Poker Wire Jen went deep last year and took 15th place. She's one of my favorites to make the final table. Chris "Triple Draw" Fargis has never played Razz before and was giving it a shot.

Michael Craig got Razz lessons from Huck Seed and Ted Forrest last night. Craig quoted me in his journal this morning about my thoughts on the Razz event. Just walking around the room, I see that Razz snarl on the faces of all the players. Only true junkies and sadists play Razz.

Yesterday Gentleman John Gale won his first WSOP bracelet in the $2,500 PL Hold'em event. Congrats to John who survived a tough final table that included WPT runner-up Alex Jacob, WSOP Champion Joe Hachem, and Lee Markholt.

Joe Hachem made his second final table at this year's WSOP and would bust out on another suck out. Hachem came form behind to bust Lee Grove in 6th place. At that moment, it looked like Hachem was picking up steam especially after he busted Alex Jacob with the Hilton Sisters. But then he ran into John Gale.

With K-9, Hachem hit a flop of K-3-4. Gale called Hachem's pot-sized bet with A-3. Hachem moved all in on the turn when a rag fell. Gale pondered a call for several minutes. Hachem was reported as muttering, "I've got you beat, you're my friend, please do not call. I do not want you to suck out on me."

Gale knew Hachem was telling the truth but called thinking he still had outs. He caught an ace on the river to send Hachem to the rail. Hachem took down $90,482 for 4th place and busted out of another final table via a suckout. A couple of weeks ago it was Dutch Boyd. On Friday, it was John Gale.

Gale blew a huge edge over Maros Lechman when they battled heads up. Lechman took the lead at one point but Gale battled back. On the final hand, Gale's K-9 prevailed over Lechman's A-6. Gale won $374,849 and his first bracelet then retreated to the Tilted Kilt Pub to celebrate with his friends that included Harry Demetriou, Neil Channing, Mel Judah, Steve Hall, Joe Beevers, and a few other Brits.

Erick Lindgren made the final table of the Short-handed NL event. Phil Gordon, Josh Arieh, and Gavin Smith were sweating him. They seemed more focused on playing Chinese Poker in the bleachers than cheering on Lindgren.

Stephen Noh has an interview with Harry Demetriou. Take a peek.

Otis and I have been playing HORSE in the media room with basketball rules using an empty water bottle. It's tied H-O to H-O. Stay tuned for more details.