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Two months ago, a life-long friend of mine died in a gunshot accident. His name was Lynn Wolf and he was born July 11th (7/11), 1947. If you were to do a search of "risk-taker" on your computer, you would no doubt find his name and picture. He emerged from so many close scrapes with disaster that I often called him "Horseshoe." This is the story of my most exciting day in tournament poker, at the Horseshoe Casino in Tunica, Mississippi. For those who have the interest, I will also include a few memories that I shared with Lynn. I will put the non-poker information in italics so that those who want to "skip it," can. In event #8 ($500 Pot-limit Holdem, with multiple re-buys for the first three hours), I had the kind of day that every recreational player dreams of when entering a major tournament. This was the "Jack Binion World Poker Open" and many of the "greats" of poker were on hand. But, let me start at the beginning... The night before the event I was unsure whether to enter or not. I knew I would not re-buy, and I did not like my chances against the best players in the game, who figured to re-buy as required during the first 3 hours. I decided to take a fling at a $120 one-table, and let the result make my decision for me. I was fortunately able to get down to heads-up play with Chris Bigler (new co-owner of Pokerpages.com), and Chris, gracious as usual, agreed to split the two $500 entry chips with me. Thanks again, Chris! I can't recall many of the players who were at my first table, but two stick in my memory. One, who's name I still don't know, I will refer to as AA. This does not stand for two aces. Instead in refers to, "Anything in Any" position. The other is a name a little more recognizable, T. J. Cloutier. My strategy was to play only big hands in late position and hope to survive the interminable 3 hour re-buy period. I don't recall any big pots, but my stack grew steadily, and at the close of "re-buys" I found myself with more than $3000. I was one of the top three at the table, along with AA, who had acquired a similar "stack" by showing down some unusual hands. The third was TJ, who used a more "conventional" method. My first "Big" encounter was with AA. He raised on the "button", and I called with QJs. I checked the "flop" (Q T 2), he bet, and I raised. The "turn" was another Q, and I checked/raised him again. He called and the "river" was a blank. I bet the rest of my chips and AA went into a "huddle". After a minute or so he called. "I've got a pair of Duces", he says, and my heart sank. I figured he had 2's full of Queens, and I said "that's good" and turned over my hand. Stunningly, "AA" shows a single duce and mucks his hand! It was around this time that I felt a taste in the back of my mouth coming from my lower regions, as if something metallic had been inserted in the wrong orifice. During the early hours of a Sunday morning, Lynn was driving our mutually owned Ferrari home from a party in the country, when a policeman flashed his lights and turned around to take up the chase. At speeds of 150 mph+ Lynn left the officer far behind. There was another "drunk" on the road who was unprepared for the "rocket" approaching in his rearview mirror. The other driver tried to move to the right lane at the same moment that Lynn tried to pass on the right! The collision sent Lynn through a gas station, narrowly missing the pumps, across a cross street, and into a ditch. Lynn was knocked unconscious, but awoke to the smell of fire, exited the car and crawled up the bank just before the gas tank exploded. The policeman, who had been more than 10 minutes behind, greeted Lynn as he got to the top of the ditch. "Was anyone else in the car?" The other driver was "life-flighted" to the hospital, but made a full recovery. Lynn, who was unscathed, would not even admit that he was driving, refused the breath test and was headed for the longest misdemeanor trial in Houston's history. (More later) I bet with pocket jacks when TJ raised me pre-flop. I called and we saw a board of "rags" (three cards under a seven). I checked, he checked. The turn brought another small card. I checked, he bet, and I raised. TJ then moved all his chips into the pot! Later TJ would tell me that he "put me" on exactly the hand that I had. "This guy is too good a player to lose all his chips with two Jacks", and "I thought I could move you off the pot". He was wrong on both counts, and I called. He had pocket tens and I was "in clover". Our table broke and I was moved to another table. With more than $10,000 I was tournament leader and found myself at the same table with Phillip Ivey. One of the young stars of poker, Phillip had the second largest stack at our table. There was an early bet with three callers when the action got me. I again had pockets Jacks. I decided to put my "stack' to work, and I raised the "pot". Phillip re-raised and greed got in the way of good sense. I hoped that he had AK or something under Queens and I tried to move him off his hand (AA) with another pot-sized bet. He, of coursed raised with all his chips and I knew I was in trouble. I had over committed myself with a weak hand and called with the almost certain feeling that I needed to get lucky. A jack was the first card off and I had more chips than I have ever had this early in a tournament. Displaying the "coolness" that contributes to his playing abilities, Phillip got up and left without comment. David "The Dragon" Pham replaced Ivey and was also in possession of a nice stack of chips. A few minutes later, I had the Aces. I bet and was raised pre-flop by David. I merely called and once again the flop was something like (227). I led into him and he raised all in. I had an auto-call and David turned over TT. Whoo-hoo! At the trial, Lynn did not take the stand, but his lawyer took 6 days challenging everything but the prosecutor's hairstyle. Never the less, the jury found him guilty. When the foreman was asked by Lynn's attorney, "What was the reasoning behind the verdict"? He replied, "After seeing pictures of the burned car, we figured that anyone who survived that, MUST have been drunk". During the sentencing phase of the trial Lynn was required to take the stand. The prosecutor tried for more than 3 hours, but Lynn would not even admit to being the driver of the car. The most illuminating testimony that Lynn supplied required more than 45 minutes of questioning. It was established that the beer cup that he had been drinking from that afternoon was a "regular" cup of "average" size. After Lynn's testimony his lawyer said, " If I knew you could lie like that, I would have put you on the stand and we wouldn't have had a punishment phase!" No worries! Lynn's conviction was over turned on appeal. It seems that you can't be convicted in Texas on the unsubstantiated testimony of a single police officer. A great young player named Chip Jett took Pham's place, and it was not too long before we had our encounter. Chip was in early position on my immediate right and raised pre-flop. I smooth called with KK and the trap was set. Jett checked a ragged "flop". I checked as well, and a Queen fell on the "turn". Chip bet all his chips, I called, fearing a "set" of Queens (3). No, he had 99 and one more moved to the rail. I now had $45,000 and my 15 minutes of fame began! Spectators and friends would pass by the table and make comments like "How did you get those chips?" and "You're a cinch to win this, easy!" The question that I was asking myself was "Is there any way I can play badly enough to not make the final table?". As a spectator, I have seen many players with large chip leads go "dead" in the late stages of a tournament. And I have had a disturbing tendency to "tilt" on a bad beat in similar circumstances. I figured that I could "coast" to the last nine. I can't recall any specific hand that I played, but somehow when I got to the final table I had reduced my chips to $33,500 and was in second chip position. The final table was:
On my way out of the tournament area, I engage Tony Ma in a brief conversation. "Good luck tomorrow. I'm pulling for you to get 2nd". Tony responds with a smile and says "If we get down to the two of us we will chop it up". If it could only be so! (sigh) With the exception of Martin De Kriff, Mickey Seagle and Leo Booeth, I knew the other final table contestants. All three of these gentlemen made more than one final table in this tournament. The others are multiple winners at the WSOP and other major events. I planned to sleep late (11:30 am), get a massage (1 PM), and have a late and lite breakfast (3 PM). All went according to schedule and I strode confidently into the tournament area at 4 PM sharp! "Looks like I'm the first one here" I said to Jack McClelland as I approached the final table area. "Didn't you hear my announcement last night? The final table doesn't start until 5 PM today." Oh well! I can fret for another hour. I returned to my room and turned on the TV. I have not looked at a newspaper or watched a newscast in several days. It seems that we are close to a war with China and the stock market is crashing. These trivial facts can not hold my interest and I turn off the TV and engage in the more productive activity of staring out the window. The appointed hour finally arrives and I go downstairs to do battle! Jack always introduces the players and usually comments briefly on each contestant's poker accomplishments. My introduction seemed unique in its brevity; "In seat 3 we have Stan Mazza". He could have added "former tournament chip leader," or something! As play commenced, I swallowed hard, and once again felt the metallic taste in the back of my mouth. As you may have noted, yesterday I had a good deal of success with any hand that contained a Jack. Today would start out in similar fashion. Leo Boothe raised all-in on the very first hand with 99 and I called with AJ. Jack on the flop, and we were down to eight. A few hands later, the ever-dangerous John Bonetti raises pre-flop with TT and I called out of the big blind with 44. The flop was 245 and I checked. John bet I raised and he called. "I flopped a set", I said. "You got me!" Mr. Bonetti replied with his customary growl. The board ragged out and I felt a sense of relief. I was grateful that such a difficult player was no longer on my left. Pete Velandos, another fellow Houstonian and fixture on the poker circuit, was eliminated next. He had to forfeit most of his chips to a "river bet", when he apparently missed a "draw." He then went "all-in" with a weak Ace against Tony Ma's AK. This met with a predictable result and we were six handed. Alex P. was "short-stacked" went to the felt with A6 in early position and I in the big blind drew the "sheriff" responsibility and called him with A7. We turned over our hands as required and waited on Jack to come an announce the hand. Cecil, a good friend of mine who has no interest in tournament poker, had made a rare visit to the tournament area, and was seated directly behind me. "If that's the kind of hands y'all are playing, I'm buying in!" Cecil's opinion of tournament poker can be summed up with this one quote: "What a terrible game. You win $50,000 and have to stay there until you lose it all!" But I digress. I spiked a 7 on the "river" to ward off a possible split pot with a board of KK93 and we were down to five. Rod Peate was on my immediate right had a lot of chips, and was one of the two "famous" players left. I, with 8d, 7d called a pre-flop raise by Rod. The "flop" was Ad, 8s, 6d and Rod bet into me. I took a few moments to consider the situation. His previous raise marked him with a probable "big ace" or a pair. His bet is almost mandatory, with or without an Ace. If he checks and I represent an Ace before he does, he will have to fold. If he has a "pocket pair", I'm certain that they are not Aces. With any other pair, the Ace on the "board" has to be a "scare" card for him. Even if Rod has AK I have a few "outs" (any dia, 8, 7, or runner-runner straight). I say "raise" and Rod mucks before I can get the chips counted out. Tony Ma then outruns Rod's AK with A3 by catching two to a "wheel" (A2345). Rod, forced to play anything, is eliminated soon thereafter. We were 4 handed now. Mickey Seagle and I are the short "stacks", with me having a few more chips than he. I again have AJ and we get most of the money in before the flop. After a flop of 3 small cards, he bet the remainder of his chips. I had at best 2 "over-cards" but he would bet that board just to be first. I called (my hand did have a Jack in it!) and we turned over our hands. Mickey has 99. Jack was called over to the table and during the brief pause; Tony Ma looks at me and says "Ace/Jack, very good cards for you." Not one, but two Jacks appear on 4th and 5th streets and an unlucky foe settles for 4th. The chips were now pretty evenly distributed, with Tony actually being in 1st, Martin 2nd, and I being a close 3rd. We had previously determined that we all were amenable to a "deal" and a "water break" was called. A chip count was calculated and an agreeable split assured everyone better than 2nd place money, with Tony and Martin getting a little more than I. We left $6000 for 2nd and $10,000 for first. The first few minutes of three handed play saw Tony Ma, playing aggressively, increase his chip lead. He now had an amount approaching 50% of the chips. There was a lot of "position" betting (stealing) going on, and I was determined to get stubborn in defense of my blinds. With Kh5h, I called Martin's raise and we saw a flop of K75. We both checked the "flop" and the "turn" was a "blank." I bet on the fourth card and Martin raised an amount that put him "all-in." I called and when our hands were exposed Martin had 99. A somewhat irrelevant K comes on the end and Martin finishes third. With the addition of Martin's chips, Tony and I are about even. Tony gives me a signal that indicates that he is willing to "chop up" the rest of the money and I nod my assent. Tony then tells Jack about the deal and we play on for the Trophy. It was the opening day of deer season, and Lynn and I were going to "The Ranch"(1800 acres on Lake Travis). Lynn arrived at my house 3 hours late (as usual), and was drunk. I had to drive, and with the 55 mph speed limit I decided to stay on country roads. I thought this would help eliminate the possibility that the police might stop us. Lynn was an avid gun collector and had a Class 3 license that permitted him to have automatic weapons. He had, of course, brought the machine guns, but had failed to bring his license. There were enough guns in the car to start a small revolt! As if we weren't taking enough risk, Lynn also had some marijuana. This was in the days that this was a BIG felony, and prison terms were mandated for this offense. I had the cruise control set at 58 mph and was surprised when the Highway Patrol turned on his beacon and siren. "Oh Shit! I forgot about that bad taillight," Lynn said. I quickly exited the car and met one of the two officers at the rear of the car. "This is not my car, I am driving because my friend has been drinking." The other officer slowly circled the car with his flashlight probing the interior. I said everything I could think of to distance myself from Lynn, and HIS car. I could see disaster on the horizon! By some miracle (Horseshoe lucks out again!), they gave me a warning ticket and let us continue our trip. For the next 10 miles or so I berated Lynn on his stupidity. "You almost ruined our lives, you idiot. Do you understand how close that was?" Lynn, who would "argue with a stump," took all my verbal abuse quietly, and said nothing. After my rage was spent he sheepishly nodded and said, "Yeah, you are right. For a minute there, I thought I was gonna have to kill them!" HEAVEN HELP ME! Tony is playing aggressively and is raising almost every pot. I can't catch a hand to compete with and fold a series of extremely weak hands. With Tony now having a chip advantage, his style of play will "eat me up." I have few illusions that I can out-play Tony Ma and I decide to "catch a hand" and go with it. Almost the next hand, I get Ajo in the big blind. Tony raises and I re-raise with a pot-sized bet. Tony calls quickly and the flop is JT5. I now hope he has AK or an under-pair, so I bet the rest of my chips. Tony thinks for at least a minute and I say, "Come on in Tony, it's a good time to bust me!" He smiles and calls, turning over pocket tens, which gives him a "set." The forth card is a King and I have 4 outs. I need a queen for a straight. The "river" brings a "rag" and Tony Ma has won yet another championship. I am disappointed of course, but it is hard to be unhappy when you turn $120 into $55,000+. I was a little puzzled by Tony's actions on the last hand. Why had it taken him so long to call with his 3 tens? I have played with Tony many times and I know him to be the consummate gentleman. His delay could not have been a "slow-roll." The only explanation that I can think of is that he was considering the possibility that I might have 3 Jacks. I and most anyone else would have had their chips in the pot in a "flash." The fact that Tony took the time to carefully consider all possibilities is a "clue" to his successes. Lynn and I were extremely close friends for 35 years. Together we survived many "scrapes" with death, disaster, and imprisonment. At the funeral there were many others who had taken a "wild ride" with Lynn at one time or another. The stories that were related by this group would fill up a McMurtry novel. Lynn was a prodigious "collector". He owned substantial collections of guns, knives, records, antiques, and sports memorabilia. Of all the possessions that Lynn had, I believe he left me the most important item: his Horseshoe. Goodbye Lynn, it saddens me that you are no longer walking the planet! I collected my winnings, was interviewed for the tournament report, and went to the pay phone to call my wife and tell her the good news. Beverly was excited and I'm sure that a substantial sum was spent on long distance calls that evening. How could it be any better than this? I had "turned a toothpick into a lumberyard." In the process, I had "up close and personal" encounters with several of the most famous players on the planet. My experience demonstrates what makes tournament poker so much fun. Even an average player can "catch the deck" and have a chance to win. It could be you next!
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A Tale of Two Horseshoes
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