May 14 Was a Sad Day
By Debbie Burkhead

The World Series of Poker 2001, is over and I must admit in some ways I am relieved and in other ways I am disappointed and sad. My relief comes from the amount of stress the World Series can put on a tournament player with a limited budget. My disappointment results in a close but no cigar finish in the ladies tournament and my sadness is the result of not winning a seat in the "Big One". Having played in the Big One twice, it is very difficult to be on the outside looking in knowing it will be another year before you have that opportunity of a lifetime again.

I will never forget the first time I played the main event, it was in 1998 and I had won a seat early in one of the Super Satellites offered at Binion's. My partner, Susie Isaacs had been coaching me for about six months on no-limit hold'em prior to the World Series starting and she suggested we go to Binion's and try one of those Super's. We both entered the satellite, took our seats and about 15 minutes into the satellite I was beside myself. I got out of my seat, went to where Susie was playing and said, "This is crazy! And a waste of money. They are pushing all-in on every hand and rebuying like there is no tomorrow." She said, "Calm down, all you have to do is double through one time and wait for the rebuy period to end." I went back to my seat and within a hand or two I had done just that, and then, as instructed, I waited until the rebuy period was over. From that point on I never looked back. I sailed to the final table that night with the chip lead. They were giving away five seats and I knew my name would be on one of them. I played only one hand at that final table and that was pocket rockets against a very short stack.

A couple weeks later Susie won her seat, so we couldn't have been happier. We were both going to get to play the Big One for the first time. That was exciting and we were prepared to play our best. We both made it through day one and I had doubled through. Susie was struggling but still in the game. On day two, I held my own throughout the day and was nine out of the money when I misplayed a hand and was sent to the rail finishing 33rd. I felt horrible and would have given anything to have had another chance at replaying that fateful hand but of course, that was not to be. I still lose sleep over that mistake but that's another whole story.

Now the hard part came, Susie was still in and I needed to get over my disappointment and sweat her into a win. That was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do but it had to be done. Things worked out pretty good, Susie took 10th that year. The following year, 1999, neither of us won a seat and we were both disappointed but we moved on.

In 2000, again I won my seat fairly early and Susie was again struggling for a seat. On the day of the event she split a one-table satellite and with that and a lot of quick deal making we managed to get her in right under the wire. That we decided, was not the way to go and we would never let that happen again.

The year is 2001, the place is Binion's Horseshoe, the time is the World Series of Poker and I have a plan. I decided to concentrate on Super Satellites. My plan was to win one seat and then play for the $10,000 cash. Well neither of those things happened. This year Susie won her seat with time to spare and I was struggling. She assured me I had plenty of time and she was right but time slowly crept up on us and I still hadn't managed to conquer a seat. I was now getting worried and things were not looking good. We tried up until the night before the main event without any luck. I was to be left behind. May 14, was a very sad day for me. Once you have a taste for the competition of the Big One, not being able to participate is extremely difficult. It is heartbreaking to sit on the sidelines. I have said before it is the most addictive tournament I have ever played and literally feels like withdrawals when you can't..

I will never give up and maybe next year will be my year!