Borgata, Taj, Laurene, and Bellagio

A total of 235 players entered the $5,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em championship at Borgata in Atlantic City recently. You have to admit that it is great to have a chance to win about a half million dollars with a $5,000 buy-in. A few years ago, $5,000 buy-ins would barely bring the winner $150,000. The final six players who made the World Poker Tour TV taping of the event were Noli Francisco, Charles "Scotty Warbucks" Shoten, David Oppenheim, Carlos Mortensen, Mickey Seagle, and Randy Burger. Noli, the only player representing the East Coast, ended up beating Scotty to win $470,000.

A few days earlier, Trump Taj Mahal hosted the 2003 United States Poker Championship, in which 99 players paid $10,000 each to compete in the championship event. Mark Appleman, Ray Lin, Ken Jacoby, Trong Le, John Hennigan, Frank Russomanno, Phil Hellmuth, Erik Seidel, and Toto "The Ripper" Leonidas made the final table. Toto ended up winning and taking home more than $388,000. I noticed a trend in this championship. John Juanda took second place two years in a row, and then his great friend Erik Seidel finished second the last two years. If history repeats, Erik's best buddy, Howard Lederer, should take second the next two years. I mentioned this to Howard, and he asked, "Wow, is that a good thing?"

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the sign of a champion. In poker, it is incredible to win the money that second place usually pays, yet it sometimes seems to be disappointing because everyone wants to win. Sure, you get twice as much money if you win, but the fame is more important to most. The reason I am mentioning this is because all great players eventually start thinking about winning events versus just making it into the money. Don't forget that most of the prize money is paid to the top few spots. Go for it!

When I first started playing poker a few years ago, I went on a Card Player cruise and sat next to Randy and Laurene Holland at dinner. Randy was an attorney who became a poker pro, and he has had tremendous success in tournaments. Laurene, a nurse, was just learning how to play at that time. It was only a matter of time until Laurene would be considered better than Randy – and the time is now. Laurene recently won her first event, the $200 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament at the Four Queens Poker Classic. I am sure Randy was as happy to see Laurene win as he was winning one of his World Series of Poker bracelets. Good job, Laurene!

Recently, I played in a Friday night $500 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament at Bellagio. Poker is growing so much that about 100 players play in this event each week, and I recognize only a few people each time. After I busted out in about five minutes, Jack McClelland told me I would have the opportunity to blow $500 every day in December, because Bellagio will have daily supersatellites during the Five-Diamond Poker Classic tournament (Dec. 1-18, with satellites starting Nov. 29) for the $10,000 buy-in championship event.