Donkey to Pro Blog

• Only Andy Black and Mike Matusow remain going into the final episode of the week. Theme-”Close But Not Cigar” (players who made the final table at the “World Series of Poker” but just fell short of winning it)
• Black (Jd/8c) calls and Matusow (10h/9c) checks. The flop (6h/8d/3s) gives Black a pair of eights and Matusow a gut-check straight draw. Black bets $3,000 and Matusow calls. The turn (5d) helps neither player. Matusow bets $4,000 and Black calls. The river is Jc giving Black the winning hand of two pair. Matusow bets $10,000, Black goes all-in, and Matusow gives him $18,000 of his chips.
• Black (6s/6c) limps in and Matusow (Js/9s) raises to $4,500. Black calls. The flop is Ad/10s/Qc and Matusow bets $5,000 with just a straight draw. Black lays down.
• Matusow (Ad/2d) calls against Black’s Js/5c. The turn is 10h/10s/6d and Black bets $1,600. Matusow quickly calls. The turn (9c) doesn’t help either player but Matusow bets $3,400. Black folds.
• Black (Qd/Qc) raises to $3,600, Matusow (7s/6h) calls. The flop is 10c/Jc/7c giving Black a flush draw and Matusow a pair of sevens. The turn is 8h and both players check. The river (2h) doesn’t help Matusow and Black has the pot won. He bets $2,500 and Matusow lays down.
• Matusow currently leads Black in chip count $68k to $52k.
• Matusow (Kc/3h) calls and Black (Qs/8h) checks. The flop is 3d/2s/Qd giving both players a pair. The players check and the turn is 10c. Black quickly bets $2,000 and Matusow calls. The river is 9s. Black bets $4,000 and Matusow folds.
• Black (5d/2s) calls and Matusow (Kc/10d) checks. The flop is Jd/5h/8h giving Black a pair of fives. He bets $2,000 and Matusow lays down.
• Matusow (Ah/Kh) raises to $4,800, Black (As/8s) calls. The flop is 9h/6h/Qc giving Matusow a nut flush draw. He bets $5,000 and Black gets out.
• Matusow (As/Ah) raises to $4,800 and Black smartly gets out.
• Black (7d/3s) calls and Matusow (Kh/5c) checks. The flop is 7h/3c/3h giving Black a full house right off the bat. Both players check until the turn when Black bets $1,600. Matusow calls then Black bets $5,000 after the river. Matusow calls and Black takes the $16,400 pot.
• Matusow (6c/4c) calls and Black (9d/2c) checks. The flop is 10s/2d/Kd giving Black a pair of twos. He bets $1,600 and Matusow raises to $4,500. Black gives up his hand.
• Black (10s/8c) calls and Matusow (5c/3h) checks. The flop is 10h/5d/4s giving both players a pair (Black-tens, Matusow-fives). Matusow bets $1,600 and Black calls. The turn is 6d giving both players a straight draw. Black bets $2,500 and Matusow calls. The river is 6c. Black bets $4,000 and Matusow lays down.
• Black has now taken over the chip lead.
• Matusow (Ah/Qc) raises to $5,300, Black (Qd/3d) gives up his hand.
• Black (Kc/6h) calls, Matusow (Ad/10d) raises to $5,600. Black lays down again.
• Matusow (Ah/Kd) raises to $5,800, Black (7d/7c) raises to $15,000. Matusow goes all-in and Black calls. The flop is 9d/8s/10d (giving Black a straight draw), the turn is 6d (Black now has a straight, Matusow has a flush draw), and the river is Jc. Black wins and takes a commanding $114k to $6k lead.
• Matusow goes all-in with Jc/5s, Black calls with 8c/7c. The flop is 7h/Ah/4d giving Black a pair. The turn is 5h giving Matusow a pair of fives. The river is 5c giving Matusow a set and $11,800.
• Matusow (As/Ad) calls, Black (10c/5h) goes all-in. Matusow can’t believe his luck and calls. The flop is Qd/2c/4d, the turn is Kh, and the river is 7d. Nothing helps Black and Matusow doubles up again.
• Black (Ac/8h) raises to $7,000, Matusow folds.
• Matusow (8s/4s) calls, Black (Jd/10d) checks. The flop is 7c/8d/2h giving Matusow a pair of eights. He bets $2,000 and Black calls. The turn is 6c, Matusow goes all-in and Black lays down.
• Matusow has crawled back to $36k compared to Black’s $84k.
• Black (Ad/5d) raises to $5,500, Matusow (As/3d) goes all-in. Black calls. The flop is 9h/3s/9d, giving Matusow two pair and the lead. The turn is Kd, giving Black a flush draw. The river is Kh, leading to a tie.
• Matusow (Qs/8h) calls, Black (Kh/8d) checks. The flop is Js/6d/7c. Matusow bets $2,000 and takes the pot.
• Black (Js/3d) raises to $6,000, Matusow (Qs/8s) calls. The flop is 5d/Kd/6s, missing both players. Black bets $10,000 and Matusow lays down.
• Black (Jh/4d) calls, Matusow (Ac/Qd) raises to $8,000. Black gives up his hand.
• Matusow (Jd/10c) calls against Black’s 6d/3h. The flop of 4d/Kc/3c gives Black a small pair. The turn (9h) gives Matusow a gut-shot straight draw. Matusow bets $2,,500 and Black calls. The river is Jh, giving Matusow the winning hand. He bets $4,000 and Black calls. Matusow takes the $17,000 pot.
• Black (Ah/6h) calls, Matusow (6d/6c) raises to $8,000. Black calls. The flop is 8d/Qc/2h, Matusow goes all-in, Black calls. The turn is 7d and the river is 9c. Matusow takes over the chip lead.
• Matusow (Ah/8s) calls, Black (Qh/7s) checks. The flop is 2d/4s/7h giving Black a pair of 7’s. He bets $5,000 and Matusow calls. The turn is 2s. Black goes all-in and Matusow lays down.
• Black (Kd/Jc) raises to $7,000, Matusow (As/6d) goes all-in. Black calls. The flop is 5s/9d/5h, the turn is 7c, and the river is 8d. Matusow wins his very first “Poker After Dark” tourney and isn’t very modest about it either.

National Heads-Up Round 1 (PokerStars):

• Just before this tourney began I made my first final table. Sure it was just a 90-player Full Tilt Poker play money sit ‘n go tournament but I’ll take it.
• This tourney is off and on for me. I started off with a nice $800 pot then lost on an all-in. I then climbed back to my original $1,500 and eventually doubled up to $3,200. I then began shedding chips again, down to $2,500.
• I was all the way down to about $1,000 before winning two consecutive all-in hands. The first I won with three aces and the second was courtesy of a pair of queens.
• I once again got into trouble (only about 90 out of 600 players had less chips than me) but doubled up with another three aces.
• Lost a boatload of my cash when I bet rather stupidly with pocket twos.
• Finished 439 out of 4420, only 239 places from qualifying for round 2.

• This week’s remaining players: Andy Black, Lee Watkinson, and Mike Matusow. Theme-”Close But Not Cigar” (players who made the final table at the “World Series of Poker” but just fell short of winning it)
• Black (As/4c) calls and Watkinson (Ac/Jh) raises to $3,900. Matusow calls with 6s/6c and Black folds. The flop is 10d/Ah/Qs giving Watkinson a pair of aces and a straight draw. The turn (7h) helps neither player but Wakinson bets $5,000. Matusow gives him the $13,600 pot.
• Watkinson (2h/2d) raises to $1,600 and Matusow and Black give up their hands.
• Black (Qd/10h) calls and Watkinson (10d/5h) checks. The flop (5c/8c/6d) gives Watkinson a pair of fives. The turn (As) helps neither player but the river (Qh) gives Black a pair of queens. He bets $1,200 and Watkinson gives up on the hand.
• Black (Qd/Qc) raises to $2,300 and Matusow (As/Ah) re-raises to $6,500. Black goes all-in and Matusow calls. The flop is 4d/9h/7c, the turn is 3h, and the river is Kh. Matusow doubles up to $70,800.
• Current standings: 1) Matusow-$71k, 2) Black-$28k, 3) Watkinson-$21k
• Watkinson (6d/4h) raises to $2,000, Matusow (Kd/Jc) and Black (9h/8h) call. The flop is Jd/Qd/4c giving Matusow a pair of jacks and Watkinson two fours. Matusow bets $2,500 and his opponents give him the pot.
• Watkinson (Ks/Qc) calls and Matusow (6h/3s) checks. The flop is 2c/7c/Kd giving Watkinson a pair of kings. The turn is Js, Watkinson bets $1,000, and Matusow lays down.
• Mike Matusow has been the post impressed with Gavin Smith on “Poker After Dark” because of his patience.
• Watkinson (Ah/5c) raises to $2,000, Matusow (10s/10h) raises to $10,500. Black (Kc/Qh) considers playing but lays down as does Watkinson.
• Matusow (Ah/6h) and Black (3c/2d) call and Watkinson (Kc/8c) checks. The flop is 3s/5d/9c giving Black a pair. All three players check and the turn is 8h. Watkinson takes the lead with a pair of eights and bets $1,500. Both of his opponents lay down and Watkinson wins another small pot.
• Black (8s/7d) calls and Watkinson (10s/7h) raises to $2,300. Black gets out giving Watkinson the pot.
• Watkinson (Ks/Kd) calls and Matusow (Qs/4c) checks. The flop, 2h/6h/2c, helps neither player and both check. The turn is 4s giving Matusow a pair. He bets $1,300 and Watkinson raises to $4,000. Matusow folds.
• Watkinson (Kd/6c) raises to $2,000, Matusow (Qh/3h) folds, and Black (Ac/5d) calls. The flop is 4c/10c/6s. Watkinson bets $3,000 with his pair of sixes and Black folds.
• Watkinson (9s/8h) calls and Matusow (6d/2d) checks. The flop is 9d/Kc/4d giving Matusow a flush draw and Watkinson a pair of nines. Watkinson bets $2,000 and Matusow calls. The turn is 7c and both players check. The river is 6s and both players check. Watkinson takes the $6,400 pot.
• Watkinson (Qs/10d) raises to $3,000 and Black (9s/9c) goes all-in. Watkinson lays down.
• Black (As/2s) calls and Watkinson (10s/3s) checks. The flop is 9h/5c/7c helping neither player. Both check and the turn is 9c. Black bets $1,200 and Watkinson gets out.
• Watkinson (Kc/5c) calls and Matusow (Ah/7d) checks. The flop is 7h/Ac/6c giving Matusow a pair of aces and Watkinson a nut flush draw. Watkinson bets $1,200 and Matusow raises to $2,500. Watkinson calls and the turn is Jc giving Watkinson a flush. Matusow bets $5,000 and Watkinson goes all-in. Matusow calls. The river is 7s giving Matusow the winning hand of a full house. He takes the $49,100 pot and Watkinson is eliminated in 3rd place.
• Matusow currently leads Black $96k to $24k. Blinds are now $600/$1,200.
• Black (10c/6s) calls versus Matusow’s Qh/6h. The flop is 9h/10d/9s giving Black a pair of tens. The turn (2s) helps neither player and Black bets $1,500. Matusow gives up his hand.
• Matusow (Kh/5d) calls against Black’s Js/9h. The flop is 5h/8s/9c giving Black a pair of nines and Matusow two fives. Matusow bets $1,200 and Black raises to $4,000. Matusow lays down and gives Black his third straight hand.
• Black (Qc/7d) calls against Matusow’s 10c/5d. The flop of 10d/5s/10h gives Matusow a full house. He bets $1,600 after the turn and Black lays down.
• Matusow (Ac/6h) raises to $3,100, Black (5s/3c) lays down.
• Black (Jh/2h) calls and Matusow (7c/4s) checks. The flop is 7s/Ks/10h giving Matusow a pair of sevens. Black bets $2,000 and Matusow calls. The turn (2d) gives Black a pair. The river (Ad) helps neither player so Matusow wins the $6,400 pot.
• Black (Ac/4h) raises to $3,600, Matusow (Jh/3h) lays down.
• Matusow (Ks/2s) calls and Black (As/9d) raises to $3,700. Matusow calls. The flop is 7c/6d/6h helping neither player. The turn (4h) also fails to help. The river is Ac giving Black a pair. He takes the $7,400 pot.
• Black (6h/3h) calls and Matusow (Js/10h) checks. The flop is 4c/Ac/8c, which is of no help to either player. The turn (Ah) also helps neither. Black bets $1,500 and Matusow lays down.
• Matusow (10c/9s) raises to $3,600, Black (Ac/Jh) raises to $10,000. Matusow gives it up.
• Black (Jh/9h) calls and Matusow (Ac/10h) raises to $4,700. Black gives up his hand.
• Matusow (Ac/9c) raises to $3,600, Black lays down.
• Black (3d/3c) calls and Matusow (7c/4s) checks. The flop is 9s/8c/5c giving Matusow a gut-shot straight draw. Black bets $1,500 and Matusow folds.
• Matusow (Jh/5h) calls and Black (Kd/9c) checks. The flop is 3c/6c/7d, which helps neither Black nor Matusow. The turn is 6d but Black bets $1,500 with nothing. Matusow folds again.
• Black (As/4h) calls versus Matusow’s Kh/5h. Jh/8c/6h is the flop giving Matusow a flush draw. He bets $1,200 and Black gives up his hand.
• Matusow (Jc/7h) calls and Black (8s/3s) checks. The flop is Ah/8d/2c giving Black a pair of eights. The turn is 10d and Black bets $1,200. Matusow raises to $4,000 with his gut-shot straight draw. Black folds.
• End of the episode.

• This week’s players: Andy Black, Lee Watkinson, Dewey Tomko, David Williams, Allen Cunningham, and Mike Matusow. Theme-”Close But Not Cigar” (players who made the final table at the “World Series of Poker” but just fell short of winning it)
• Matusow (Kd/7d) raises to $1,800 and the rest of the players get out.
• Black (10d/10c) raises to $2,000 and Cunningham (Qh/Qd) re-raises him to $6,000. Black goes all-in and Cunningham does as well. The flop (Kd/6s/2d) and turn (Jh) miss both players but the river is a miracle 10h, giving Black the $48,000 pot and sending Cunningham home.
• Watkinson (Qs/9h) raises to $1,800 and Black (Kc/10c) calls. The flop is 10h/7h/Ac giving Black a pair of tens. The turn and river help neither play and Black wins the hand with a bet of $1,500.
• Black (Ad/6h) calls, Watkinson (Ac/3c) raises to $2,600, and Black folds.
• Black (Kc/9c) raises to $1,600 and Watkinson (Qh/Qd) goes all-in. Black considers calling but folds and gives Watkinson the $15,550 pot.
• Watkinson (10h/9h) calls and Black (7d/3h) checks. The flop is 5s/Ad/8s helping neither player. The turn and river also fail to help. Watkinson bets $1,000 and Black gives him the $2,500 pot.
• Matusow (Ac/8d) raises to $1,800 and Watkinson (Jd/7d) calls. The flop is 9s/10s/4h giving Watkinson a gut-shot straight draw. The turn is a Jh, giving Watkinson a pair of jacks. He bets $2,000 and Matusow gives it up.
• Current standings: 1) Black-$72k, 2) Mautsow-$30k, 3) Watkinson-$18k
• Black (Kd/10c) calls and Watkinson (9s/9d) raises to $1,700. Black calls and the flop is 4s/7d/2h. Watkinson bets $2,000 and Black folds.
• Watkinson (As/Qc) limps in but Matusow (8s/2d) raises to $2,300. Watkinson goes all-in and Matusow gives up on the hand.
• Watkinson (Ac/Js) raises to $1,200 and takes yet another small pot.
• Matusow (Ad/5s) calls and Watkinson (Kd/6s) checks. The flop is Qs/As/5c giving Matusow two pair (fives and aces). The turn (Kc) gives Watkinson a pair. Matusow bets $1,600 and Watkinson calls. The river is of no help to either player and Matusow bets another $1,600. Watkinson gives it up and Matusow takes $6,300.
• Matusow (Ah/Jc) raises to $1,800 and Black (10h/8h) calls. The flop is Qd/Ks/Qc giving Matusow a straight draw. He bets $1,800 and Black folds.
• Current chip count: 1) Black-$68k, 2) Matusow-$31k, 3) Watkinson-$21k
• Black (10c/8s) and Watkinson (Ah/Jd) call and Matusow (7c/5h) checks. The flop is Kc/5c/6s giving Matusow a pair of fives. Everybody checks and the turn is 10h. Black takes the lead with a pair of tens and bets $1,500. Watkinson lays down but Matusow calls. The river is Jh. Black bets $1,500 and Matusow folds.
• Matusow (Ah/8h) raises to $1,800 and Black (Qc/9c) calls. The flop is 7d/Kc/Kh and the turn is 6d. Matusow bets $1,600 with his ace high and Black gives his hand up.
• Black (Ah/7d) calls and Watkinson (6s/4c) checks. The flop (Jh/2d/4h) gives Watkinson a pair of fours. Black bets $700 and Watkinson calls. The turn (9c) and river (Jd) help neither player. Watkinson takes the $2,600 pot.
• Black (Qc/10s) raises to $2,000 and Watkinson (8h/8c) re-raises to $10,800. Matusow (Ks/Kc) goes all-in and Black folds. Watkinson considers calling before giving his hand up.
• Matusow (Ad/6d) raises to $2,400 and Watkinson (Ac/Kc) goes all-in. Matusow gives him the pot.
• Watkinson (Ks/Jh) and Matusow (Ah/4h) play. The flop is 5s/4s/9c giving Matusow a small pair. Matusow bets $800 and Watkinson gives it up.
• Current standings: 1) Black-$66k, 2) Matusow-$41k, 3) Watkinson-$13k
• Black (As/7s) calls and Watkinson (7c/3c) checks. The flop is 3s/10s/9s giving Black a flush. Watkinson bets $1,000 and Black calls. The turn (8s) and river (6c) don’t affect the game. Black bets $3,000 and Watkinson lays down even with a straight.
• Black (Ad/2s) and Watkinson (Kc/5s) call and Matusow (7c/5c) checks. The flop is 4c/Qh/6c giving Matusow a straight draw. He bets $1,200 and the other two get out of the hand.
• Watkinson (Kc/8s) raises to $3,300 and takes a small pot.
• Watkinson (Qd/Jd) calls and Matusow (10h/9s) checks. The flop is 5s/2c/Kh and the turn is 7d. Matusow bets $1,100 even though he has nothing. Watkinson gives up the better hand.
• Watkinson (Ad/Kc) raises to $3,000 but nobody wants to play.
• Matusow (10d/9d) raies to $2,200 and Watkinson (Kc/Qd) goes all-in. Matusow wants to call but knows he is 38% on the hand (exactly right). He gives it up and Watkinson takes the pot.
• Black (As/9c) raises to $2,300 but neither Watkinson or Matusow want to play.
• End of the episode.

• Publisher: Mumbo Jumbo
• Developer: Funkitron
• MSRB: Teen
• Features: 4 Game Modes, 12 Poker Superstars
• Price: $19.99

While “Poker Superstars III: Gold Chip Challenge” isn’t a bad poker game, there are a few too many problems for me to recommend it. The “season play” mode is fun but A.I. problems make the game too frustrating to enjoy for an extended length of time.

“Poker Superstars III” comes with four modes of gameplay. The biggest of the four is obviously “season play” where you play in a series of qualifying tournaments and win points based on how you finish. If you are good enough, you might just make the finals. The other three modes are challenges (where you play poker in different ways, almost like minigames), single round (a quick, one-round game), and limit play (aka limit poker where there are limits to how much you can bet in each round). I personally thought the challenges were pointless and I barely played the single round or limit play modes at all.

Read it all..

• This week’s players: Andy Black, Lee Watkinson, Dewey Tomko, David Williams, Allen Cunningham, and Mike Matusow. Theme-”Close But Not Cigar” (players who made the final table at the “World Series of Poker” but just fell short of winning it)
• Williams (9s/7s) raises to $1,000 and everyone but Black (Ah/Qh) gets out. The flop is Kh/6c/7h so Black gets a flush draw while Williams picks up a pair of sevens. Williams bets $1,000 and Black raises it to $3,000 (Williams calls). The turn is 6s (no betting) and the river is 5d. Williams wins $8,200 with his two pair of sevens and sixes.
• Cunningham (6h/6d) raises to $1,200 and takes a quick pot.
• Williams (Jc/10s), Black (7c/5c), Watkinson (Ah/Js), and Tomko (Qs/9s) all call. The flop is 4c/Kh/8h missing everyone. The turn (2h) also fails to help anyone but Watkinson bets $1,200. Everybody else gets out and Watkinson takes $2,800.
• Matusow claims to be the unluckiest player in the world.
• Black (As/Ah) raises to $1,100, Watkinson (5s/5c) calls. The flop of 6c/9d/8c helps neither and both check. Th turn is Kc so Watkinson bets $1,500 (Black calls). The last card is a 6h so Black wins $5,800.
• Current Standings: 1) Watkinson-$29k, 2) Black-$22k, 3) Cunningham-$22k, 4) Williams-$17k, 5) Tomko-$16k, 6) Matusow-$14k
• Williams (Ac/9s) raises to $1,200, Cunningham (As/6s) raises to $3,300. Williams gives it up and Cunnigham takes $5,100.
• Williams (Ad/7c) raises to $1,200 but nobody wants to play.
• Black (3s/3d), Tomko (6c/5h), and Williams (Qc/5c) call. The flop is 7s/Ac/8c giving Williams a flush draw and Tomko a straight draw. Black bets $500 and both opponents call. The turn is Qh giving Williams a pair. The river is As meaning Williams has the best hand with aces and queens. He bets $1,000 and only Black calls. Williams takes $4,700.
• Blinds are raised to $300/$600.
• Watkinson (Ad/10d) raises to $1,800 but nobody calls.
• Williams (Ad/Js) calls and Black (Qd/Qc) quickly raises to $6,800. Williams goes all-in and Black quickly calls. The flop is Kc/Ks/6s, the turn is 4c, and the river is 3s. Williams gets no help and is eliminated in 6th place. Andy Black takes over the chip lead.
• Current Standings: 1) Black-$41k, 2) Watkinson-$31k, 3) Cunningham-$22k, 4) Matusow-$15k, 5) Tomko-$11k
• Watkinson (As/8s) raises to $1,800, Cunningham (6s/6d) calls. The flop is 7h/6h/10s giving Cunningham trip 6’s and Watkinson a straight draw. Cunningham bets $2,500 and Watkinson gets out (Cunningham wins $7,000)
• Black (Kh/7d) calls and Watkinson (5d/4c) checks. The flop is As/Ks/Ah giving Black two pair. The turn (2d) and river (Qd) don’t help Watkinson. Black bets $800 and Watkinson folds. Black takes the $2,000 pot.
• Watkinson (As/Ad) raises to $1,800 but nobody plays.
• Watkinson (Ks/Jd) raises to $1,800 and wins yet another small pot ($2,700).
• Current chip count: 1) Black-$41k, 2) Watkinson-$30k, 3) Cunningham-$24k, 4) Matusow-$15k, 5) Tomko-$10k
• Tomko (8d/7d) and Cunningham (As/4s) call and Matusow (8h/3s) checks. The flop is 3h/Qs/9c giving Matusow a pair of threes. Tomko bets $1,000 and knocks the other two players out.
• Tomko is wearing earplugs so he doesn’t have to listen to The Mouth.
• Matusow (6c/3c) calls and Black (Jd/6s) checks. The flop (9d/8c/Ks) helps neither player but Black bets $800. Matusow gives him the $2,000 pot.
• Matusow (Ah/6s) raisies to $1,800 but nobody wants to face him.
• Cunningham (Kd/Qc) raises to $1,600 and takes the pot.
• Watkinson (Qs/10c) raises to $1,800 and takes a quick pot.
• Matusow (Jh/Jc) raises to $1,800 and Watkinson (Ah/9c) re-raises him to $5,100. Matusow goes all-in and Watkinson calls after a long deliberation. The flop is Jd/Ad/6c, giving Matusow a set of jacks and Watkinson a pair of aces. The turn (6d) and river (4s) are no help to Watkinson andMatusow takes the $31,500 pot. Matusow calls Watkinson’s hand a piece of (expletive).
• Black (As/10c) raises to $1,900, Tomko (Jd/Jc) re-raises to $5,850. Black quickly goes all-in and Tomko does as well. The flop is Ah/Ac/4h giving Black trip aces. The turn (8h) and river (Qd) don’t help Tomko and he is eliminated in 5th place.
• Current standings: 1) Black-$51k, 2) Matusow-$31k, 3) Cunningham-$23k, 4) Watkinson-$15k
• Watkinson (Js/9d) raises to $1,800 and Matusow gives up his K/4 suited. Watkinson wins the small pot.
• Cunningham (8d/8c) raises to $1,600 but gets no takers.
• End of the episode.

• This week’s players: Andy Black, Lee Watkinson, Dewey Tomko, David Williams, Allen Cunningham, and Mike Matusow. Theme-”Close But Not Cigar” (players who made the final table at the “World Series of Poker” but just fell short of winning it)
• First hand of the night. Watkinson raises with Ace/King off-suit and Tomko calls with the same thing. Both pick up a King on the flop. Watkinson bets $1,000 and Tomko calls. The turn brings a fourth heart (which helps neither) but Watkinson still bets (this time $1,500). Tomko folds even though he had the same hand. Watkinson takes the $5,000 pot.
• Cunningham raises to $600 with 6/4 of clubs. Black calls with Ace/7 of spades. Neither get any help on the flop but Cunningham bets $1,000 and Black folds, giving Cunningham the $2,300 pot.
• Tomko (Ace/4 of spades), Williams (7/2 of hearts), Matusow (8 of diamonds/6 of hearts), Black (King of diamonds/6 of spades) call before Watkinson (Ace/King off-suit) raises to $1,200. Everyone except Black calls. The flop is 5c, 5h, Kc giving Watkinson a pair of kings and fives. Everybody checks and the turn is an 8h. Williams bets $2,500 with a heart flush draw and Matusow lays down with a pair of eights. Watkinson raises to $7,500 and Tomko lays down. Williams folds giving Watkinson a $15,000 pot.
• Tomko (Ah/Qh) raises to $700 and Williams (pair of Jacks) calls. The flop is 10d/7d/9h. Williams bets $1,000 and Tomko gets out.
• Black (8s/8h), Watkinson (Ah/Jh), Tomko (6s/6d), Williams (5c/2d), and Cunningham (7h/4d) all play. The flop is 8d/10s/2h giving Black a set of eights. Everybody checks and the turn is Kc. Black bets $800 and everybody lays down ($1,800 pot).
• Williams (Jc/5h) raises to $600 and everyone but Matusow (Jh/9c) gets out. The flop helps nobody and neither does the turn or river. Williams bets $700 and Matusow folds. (pot=$2,000)
• Tomko (pair of 5’s), Williams (pair of 4’s), and Black (Ac/Kc) all play. The flop is a 6s/6h/Ah giving Black two pair. Tomko bets $1,100 and Williams calls (Black folds the top hand). The turn or river don’t help Williams and Tomko wins the pot of $3,500.
• Williams (Kc/4c), Matusow (9h/7h), Black (3s/2d), and Watkinson (Kd/Jc) all play. The flop is Jh/7h/9h giving Watkinson a pair of Jacks and Matusow two pair. Matusow bets $1,500 and everyone folds. Matusow picks up a $2,700 pot.
• Williams (10d/9c), Black (Kc/Qs), Watkinson (7d/5c), and Tomko (Qd/2d) all call. The flop is 9s/8s/7s giving Black a flush draw, Williams a pair of 9’s, and Watkinson a pair of 7’s. Williams bets $800 and everybody gets out.
• Black (Qd/9s) calls but Watkinson (As/Ah) raises $3,000. Black gets out and Watkinson takes the pot.
• Tomko (Ac/Qd) raises to $800 and Cunningham (5h/5c) calls. The flop is 3h/4s/Kd, both check. The turn is 2s and Cunningham bets $1,200. Tomko gets out and Cunningham wins a $3,250 pot.
• Williams (9h/8s) calls as does Black (Ah/4s) and Watkinson (Ah/Js). The flop is Kd/7c/4d giving Black a pair of 4’s. He bets $500 and the other two get out (pot-$1,400)
• Mike Matusow’s pet peeve is when players (including Phil Hellmuth) ask you how many chips you have when they intend to go all-in anyway.
• Matusow (As/Qd) raises to $900 and takes the $1,350 pot.
• Matusow (2s/2d) and Williams (Ah/3c) are the only ones to play. Williams raises to $1,200 but Matusow calls. The flop gives Williams a pair of Aces. Both players check the rest of the hand and Williams takes the $2,350 pot.
• Black (Jh/10s), Watkinson (Jc/10c), and Williams (Ac/2h) all call before Cunningham (Ks/Js) raises to $1,800. Everybody lays down and Cunningham wins the pot.
• Matusow tells us that he is reinventing himself. One day he won $60,000 then quit and took a walk. He returned and started playing again and promptly lost $27,000 and began throwing things at the wall.
• Matusow (7h/7c) raises to $1,200 right off the bat. Black (10h/10c) calls as does Williams (Kd/Jd). The flop is Js/Ah/Qc giving Williams a pair of Jacks. Black bets $2,500 with his gut check straight draw and both of his opponents get out (pot-$6,500).
• Watkinson (Ac/Kd) raises to $1,200 and everyone gets out.
• Watkinson (5c/4c) raises to $1,200 but nobody plays.
• Williams (10h/9d), Matusow (Jh/10d), Black (Jc/3h), and Watkinson (8c/2s) all call. The flop is 8s/2c/Ac giving Watkinson two pair but missing everybody else. Williams bets $1,200 and Watkinson raises to $3,500. Williams gives it up and Watkinson takes a $6,300 pot. Watkinson has now broken the $30,000 mark.
• Williams (10s/6s) calls and Black (Ad/Js) raises to $1,100. Williams calls. The flop is 7h/3s/8s giving Williams both a flush and straight draw. The turn is Kc, helping neither player. The river is a 7c. Williams bets $2,000 and Black calls. Black wins the $2,800 pot with Ace high.
• Black (Ks/Qc) raises to $925 off the bat and nobody calls.
• End of episode.