Then and Now

As I am writing this column, half of the events have been concluded at the World Series of Poker. A few days ago, I was leaving Binion's Horseshoe when Puggy Pearson handed me a VCR tape of the 1973 WSOP championship. Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder produced the video and did the narrating. It was very entertaining. Some of the recognizable names in the 1973 no-limit hold'em championship were Puggy Pearson (he won), Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim Preston, Bobby "The Wizard" Hoff, Bobby Hooks, Sailor Roberts, Johnny Moss, and Jack Straus. These guys were all dressed well and had the 1970s' look. For example, "The Wizard" had long hair and a longer mustache. It was great watching the video and seeing how much tournament poker has progressed in the last 30 years. In 1973, 13 men bought in for $10,000; at the time, it was the largest field ever. Don't forget, $10,000 then was worth much more than it is now, and the tournament was played as winner-take-all. Puggy told me that he can't play in tournaments today because he lacks the endurance to play the long sessions. He then asked me a question: "Why would I want to beat all of these donkeys, have all of the chips in front of me, and win only 40 percent of the prize pool?" I agree with his point when there are 13 players, but a winner-take-all tournament is a little difficult with a 500-player field. I wonder how many players would put up $50,000 or $100,000 today for a winner-take-all event. I would think it would be around 30 players, at the most.

Until recently, players were able to turn their cards over in no-limit hold'em to see how another player would react. For example, Puggy had pocket nines against Jack Straus. Jack made a large bet on the river when there was a pair of eights and a queen on the board. Puggy turned his pocket nines faceup on the table and began to gab at Straus, saying that he thought his pocket nines were good. I am sure it is difficult to act calmly on a bluff when the opponent shows you the winner. These days, it is illegal to show holecards in a tournament because it could induce action, and it slows the game down.

Now, let's fast-forward to 2002. A few weeks ago, I received a voice mail from a man who plays poker in Atlantic City. He complained that he along with 50 other Atlantic City players thought my WSOP player groupings from a few issues ago were a complete joke because Phil Ivey made the list. According to him, Phil isn't even one of the top 50 players in his apartment building. Prior to the start of the Series, I told this to Ivey, who laughed, told me to save the message, and said, "That's special." Phil informed me that he was so focused this year that he couldn't wait to start playing. Since that conversation, the teenage sensation (OK, he is a little older … 25) has made four final tables and won bracelets in the $1,500 stud and $2,500 stud eight-or-better events – and we are only halfway through the tournament. Phil has now won three bracelets in his young career and seems to get better daily. That is pretty impressive for someone who "accidentally got lucky to win an Omaha tournament a few years ago when he didn't know how to play." So, now I say to the man on the voice mail, you are right – Phil stinks! He is clearly the best overall player at the WSOP at this point in time, and is only 30 points behind Huck Seed in the Card Player Player of the Year Standings.