World Poker Open in Tunica
By Debbie Burkhead

Susie Isaacs and I arrived in Memphis a day before the ladies event, early enough to spend some time in Memphis before moving on to Tunica. I suggested doing some sight seeing, and to my surprise, Susie confessed she had never been to Graceland. and would really like to take the tour. I had visited Elvis's estate several years back but decided it was worth a second trip to save Susie the embarrassment of being from Nashville and having to admit to anyone she had never been to Graceland. We rented a car, did the Graceland thing, then headed for Tunica.

I had always heard of southern hospitality but had not experienced it in the poker world until my visit to Tunica for the Jack Binion World Poker Open and I must say they did it up right. The tournament was held at the Gold Strike Casino right next door to the Horseshoe. This was my first opportunity to play poker in this part of the country, and what I expected was entirely different from what I experienced. I assumed the casino would resemble a river boat. Wrong. I also thought it would be on a river and I never saw water. The casino was beautiful and very similar to many in Las Vegas.

The place was full of familiar faces and the tournament room was wonderful. There was plenty of space, good lighting and things seem to be running very smoothly. I was impressed and delighted.

I bought in to the ladies event the following morning along with 131 other entrants. Just before the tournament began I overheard one of the dealers turn to another dealer and say, "This is the way poker should be." The management had obtained special permission to allow the female dealers to participate, which I thought was very nice. The tournament began with the legendary Jack McCelland at the helm. We started with $500 in chips and were playing $30-$60. My first playable hand was QQs and I raised in late position and had one caller. The flop came all rags, I bet and my opponent folded. Off to a good start!

Several deals went by and the next hand I picked up was AAs. I raised and again had one caller. The flop came K-J-rag, I bet and she called. The turn card came a K, I bet again, she called again. The river was a blank, I bet she called. I showed her the AAs and she threw her cards in the muck.

I didn't play any more hands until the break. I had $650, not bad, I thought. We started after the break at $50-$100. I picked up A-Q on the big blind. There was a first position raise and I just called. The flop came Q-8-9, all hearts. I didn't have the A of hearts. I checked, she bet and I just called. The turn card came A of spades and I decided to bet and see what happens, she just called. Well she must not have the hearts! The river came K of hearts, now I had to check, and to my surprise, she checked too. She showed me A-J offsuit, no heart. I won with As and Qs. Wow! I now have $900.

In the next hand I got involved in I raised with K-J offsuit in late position and the big blind called. The flop was A-K-rag, she checked, I bet, she folded. I won again. "I like this," I told myself.

When we got back to my big blind and I had 6-4 off suit. Nobody raised, the flop came with a six, the small blind checked, I checked. She checked the turn and I bet and won the pot. The very next hand I was in the small blind with A-7 offsuit. No raise to me, so I just called the $25 to see the flop. The flop came A-7-3 rainbow, I loved it. I checked, one player bet, another raised, and then I reraised. The first raiser went all-in for a total of $175 and the other player folded. Turn card was a blank, the river was a three. I won, and knocked out the player in seat seven.

Next hand, I was in late position and made a call with 10-J of spades. The small blind raised, seat one folded after making the initial call, and I decided to call the raise. Flop cames A-9 of spades and the 4 of clubs. I checked, she checked. Turn card came 4 of spades, I bet she folded. "I must be on a rush!" I told myself as I picked up the K-Q of diamonds. I won the pot. I wasn't even sure how the hand came down because I was trying to stack chips and finish writing down the previous hand.

Tables were starting to break, some were short and I got moved to another table. "Bummer, I was having fun at this one!" I couldnt get comfortable in my new seat before the cards were dealt. I picked up A-2 of diamonds right under the gun and decided not to get involved in any hands until I could evaluate the other players I was up against.

Once I got acclimated to the table, I was on the big blind with A-Q offsuit. No one raised and the small blind called. The flop came K-K-K, she checked, I checked. Turn card came a rag, I bet thinking I had the best hand and I was right, she folded. I didn't see another hand to play until it came back to my big blind. I picked up A-10 of diamonds. Everyone folded and the button raised, I called. The flop was A-Q-rag, rainbow. I checked, she bet and I raised, she called. "That's good news." Turn card came a J and I bet, she called. River card was a rag, we both checked, I showed AAs, she mucked her hand, I won.

Things had slowed down a little and I could finally count my stack. I had $2325, not bad. Now if it only keeps going in this direction. The limits go up and we're playing $100-$200. The next hand I found to play was 10s in middle position. I raised to $200 and got one caller. Flop came A-J-rag. She checked to me and I bet $100, she called. I didn't like it. The turn came a K, she checked, I checked. The river was a rag, she checked again, I still didn't like it and I was right, I checked and she showed me K-J. She had two pair. I wonder why she didnt bet the river, was she waiting for me to bet so she could check raise? Sorry, maybe next time.

I slowed down now and didn’t see any playable hands for a while. I picked up J-9 of hearts on the button and decided to raise. Maybe I could steal the blinds. No way, they both call. Flop comes Q-rag-rag, I bet, they both folded. Thank goodness!

Im now being blinded off and not finding any playable hands. I limp here and there and nothings flopping for me. I try raising in late position to pick up the blinds and thats not working either. We’re getting close to the money and I need to hang on and wait for a good hand.

They're paying 18 places and we are down 19 players, Im one out of the money and struggling to hang in there. I only have $600 and the blinds are now $200-$400. A player at my table only has one chip left. I find myself on the small blind and can't play the cards I’m dealt. The next hand is my big blind, I'm all in with $400 and everyone folds to the small blind. She looks at her cards and tosses them in the muck, what a lucky break for me. I have no idea what I had, it didnt matter I was all-in.

The player with one chip is now all-in on her big blind and loses. I made the money with $400 in chips. We redraw for seats and I get lucky again, I get the ace of spades on the draw for the button. I can look at seven hands before Im forced to play.

First hand I look at is 9-7 offsuit. You know where those cards went.

Second hand I pick up is J-7 offsuit. Those also went in the muck.

Third hand I pick up is 9-7 offsuit, again. This does not look good. In the muck with those too.

Fourth hand, finally, I see J-J. I put myself all-in and to my surprise I get three callers. Flop comes 10-2-7. Turn card is a 7 and the river is a 3. I win, Im alive again.

Fifth hand is 5-7 offsuit. Back to mucking cards again.

Sixth hand is A-9 offsuit. Well here we go! I raise and the big blind calls all-in. Flop comes K-9-rag, make a long story short she wins with K-rag. On to the next hand.

Seven hand is no good, and I toss it in the muck.

Now I'm on the big blind with 10-7 offsuit and the small blinds raises, I fold.

Maybe I'll get something in the small blind, not a chance, 7-8 offsuit. It was raised and I folded.

I'm back to $400 and I really need to win a pot. But at least I can look at seven more hands again.

Very next hand I pick up 7-8 offsuit again, I fold of course. We lose a player at this point, were down to 17.

I look at my second hand, its Q-10 diamonds. Player to my immediate right with a very big stack raises and I fold. I still have five hands to look at before I’m all-in, anything could happen.

The other table loses a player now were down to 16 players. I'm still hanging on.

Third hand is A-2 offsuit and it was raised so I folded that also.

I'm dealt my fourth hand and look down and find a pair of threes. The player and chip leader to my immediate left raises again and this time I decide to go with it. Flop comes J-10-7, it could be worse except she raised with J-Q. I need a three. The turn is a four, the river is a K, I lose.

It was a small victory, but at least I gave it my best shot. And by the way the player who knocked me out went on to win the tournament, her name is Lucy Rokach. Congratulations, Lucy.

I had a great time and I hope to do it again next year.

My next ladies event will be May 14, 2000 at the World Series of Poker. Wish me luck!

Now go out there and show 'em you can play poker.