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 ales of Team Carborundum
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The discussion of the
no-limit hand that lost Layne Flack the Reno tournament has me agog. It sounds
like a damn ace-king coffee clutch and not one edified writer in residence is
remotely interested in talking about what was really
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 8th Apr 2003 |
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| Jesse May |
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| Jesse May, multiple
author in the gambling field and sometimes dubded the "voice of poker", writes
a regular column. |
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Most people know Jesse as "the voice of poker" from his
colourful commentary in CH4's late Night Poker. Jesse is also the author of the
widely respected novel, Shut Up And
Deal, which looks deep into the poker playing life. Its the hard faced
21st Century Cincinnati Kid.
Jesse is
also the creator of The Gambler's Guide to
the World, an insiders look at the action and games around the
world. |
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Email :
Jesse
May
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Go to Special Bets |
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instructional from this
play.
Layne was tired. Without being there, I can certainly say that
fatigue was the most contributing factor to Layne making a mistake in the hand.
Layne might have all the talent in the world, but until he takes his
conditioning seriously he will never, ever, win a four day event. The extra day
in the World Series of Poker final puts the world championship completely out
of reach for a fellow who by all accounts has the most talent in the game
today.
It’s amazing how blasé most top name players take
the big event. They actually believe that after playing a World Series of Poker
tournament every day for twenty-five days straight and blowing their minds out
until 7am at OG’s, they think that they’re gonna show up on Day 4 of
the World Series of Poker with their A-game intact. I tell you what, they are
living in la la land, and it is only a testament to how big their egos are and
how lollygagged their backers swoon with stars in their eyes and continue to
pony up the dough for men with less than no chance.
Two years ago I saw
Phil collapse on Day 5, and I saw Daniel Negreanu give out on Day 4. Not
criticizing their games in the slightest. But if you saw the freshly lit fire
in Carlos Mortensen’s eyes on the walk down the red carpet through the
throngs and the lights on his way to the final table, and you then saw the
baggy worry lines falling off of Phil’s face, the result was written in
stone. Phil was so tired it took him three months to come up with an excuse.
And everybody keeps talking about how the unknown faces who keep showing up at
the final tables of the main event point to some broader coalition of newfound
skill and luck in the World Series of Poker. Malarkey. I can tell you from last
year about Julian Gardner, who came to Las Vegas for one reason and that was
it. To play in the $10,000 World Series of Poker. Scott Gray, same story. The
live ones were your baggy eyed favorites, my friend. It’s amazing that the
same people who call poker a sport are running around plying themselves ragged
with drink the night before the big one starts. That’s just how big their
ego is, and that’s why they need to claim the winners are only lucky, they
need it like they need a doctor on day three when the pressure gets so intense
that they crack open like a can of sardines and start emitting that foul smell
that pervades the whole room. I walk around the day before the final starts
with a notepad, and I just start crossing names off. I know who’s not
gonna win the World Series of Poker, and with all deference to John Juanda, it
includes every sucker who insists on playing the five card triple draw until 4
o’clock in the morning when their destiny awaits them. |
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Exchange betting prices for
the 2003 WSOP are posted on www.betdaq.com. Layne Flack is currently 150-1. Daniel
Negreanu 170-1. Exchange markets are a chance for everybody to put their money
where their mouth is, and if you’re not rich you don’t have to be shy
either. The real favorites are rightly people like Erik Seidel, Phil Ivey, and
perhaps even the suddenly svelte figure of Howard himself, people who take
themselves seriously enough to care.
By the way, I’m all too
aware of glass houses. I will be covering Binion’s final event in all its
gory detail as I have done the last two years, on www.thegoodgamblinguide.com.
However, last year I was drunk throughout most of the event and by the final
day I couldn’t even get a pen to paper. This year I will be calling it
like I see it, through 120 hours straight of unbleary eyes fueled by naught but
Starbucks and corned beef, and I expect to arrive at the final table perched on
a bucketful of steam. I don’t know who’ll be there with me, but
I’ll definitely bet on who won’t.
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Editor's note
People playing on BetDaq
and entering the registration code PP1 will get 20 pounds back if their first
bet is a loser. |
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