World Poker Tour Hollywood Invitational

The WPT Hollywood Invitational gives the poker world a chance to play with celebrities in a $200,000 freeroll. With poker being what it is today, that sentence should actually read... The WPT Invitational gives celebrities the chance to play with the poker greats. Tonight's episode was entertaining to say the least. I loved it.

The final six were Phil The Unabomber Laak, Humberto Brenes, Joe Cassidy, John Juanda, Harry Demetriou and Antonio Esfandiari. It definitely was not the best poker, but the show was great. Phil Laak had me laughing throughout the event (when I saw it live and on TV). His behavior might be inappropriate most of the times at a final table event, but considering tonight's event was a freeroll AND the other players were joining in on the fun, I thought his antics were harmless. I also think this show will bring a lot more future players to the casinos.

On the first hand, Phil raised to $41,000 with deuces and all of the other players folded. He then proceeded to tell each player, "you are going down," "you are going down" and "you are going down". This started the show with a bang.

Joe seemed to play a solid game throughout the event (questionable final hand, but we will get to that later). He raised to $23,000 with AJ and Antonio reraised him to $63,000 with 96 and Joe called. Antonio raises with a lot of hands and it was nice to see somebody stand their ground with him. The flop was AAT and both players checked. The turn was a nine and Joe bet and Antonio folded. Antonio was obviously finished with this hand as soon as Joe called preflop. He did not attempt to make a move for the pot when his nine showed up on the turn. Antonio ended up losing on the next hand shown when he moved all-in with pocket threes and Phil called with pocket tens. Phil was calling for a three for his friend and ex-roommate. He even picked up the remaining of his chips and said, "I am coming back when the three comes." The flop was J64 and the turn was a two giving Antonio more outs, but the river was a nine and he left in sixth place.

Again, Joe showed he was not going to be pushed around at the table when he called in the small blind with Q8 and Phil checked his 85. The flop was QJ7. Joe bet $20,000. Phil raised to $60,000 and tied up the hood of his sweatshirt to cover his face completely. Joe reraised all-in and Phil folded.

I mentioned that tonight's poker was not the best in the world and the following is just one example. Harry raised to $30,000 with pocket aces and Phil moved in with KT. I am not sure what Phil was thinking on this hand, but Harry has a reputation for being a tight player and he was living up to that reputation. I saw this show in person and saw how many times he laid hands down. Making a move like Phil did is fine, but NOT against the tightest player at the table when he has shown he is chip committed on the hand. Harry called the all-in bet and doubled up on the hand.

Humberto managed to get a few of the chip leader's chips when he called with KJ and John checked his 76 of clubs. The flop was QT9 with two clubs. Humberto made a good bet of $14,000 with his nut straight and John raised all-in with his straight flush draw and Humberto called. The turn was an ace of hearts and the river was a ten of diamonds.

Harry finished in fifth place when he raised to $35,000 with KT of spades, Joe reraised to $85,000 with AJ and Harry moved all-in. I suppose Harry thought it was time to stand his ground, but it didn't work out for him. The flop was QJ3 giving Harry a lot of outs, but the turn was an eight and the river another eight.

Luck was definitely on Phil's side on a lot of hands including flopping a king pairing his hand of K7 against John's pocket jacks. John had raised the $12,000 blind to $36,000 and Phil moved all-in for $197,000. If luck was on Phil's side, then bad luck was on John's. The next hand shown he lost another all-in bet when he held KJ. Humberto moved in with A6 for $77,000 and John called. The flop was A74 and the turn was a ten giving John the gutshot straight draw. The river was not the queen he needed, but a four instead.

John Juanda Antonio Esfandiari

Joe was playing a great, solid game and for some reason, he decided to move all-in with his pocket fives against just the blinds. I am not sure what he was thinking on this hand because he had a decent amount of chips. The move was not necessary and if he thought it was, why would he want to risk his WHOLE stack? Phil also made a questionable move when he called the all-in bet without hesitation with AT. They both committed on hands that were at best coin flips and at worst in BIG trouble. The flop was KQ7 with two diamonds and the turn was a six of diamonds giving Phil a higher flush draw. The river was an eight of diamonds and Joe was left with only $19,000. Once he put his $2,000 ante in the pot, it was almost a sure thing he would move the rest of his chips in with any hand. He did make the move with Q4 of spades and both blinds called. John and Humberto checked the hand down and John won the pot with a pair of sixes. Joe finished in fourth place.

John's luck did not improve when he called an all-in bet of $156,000 by Humberto. John held KJ. John turned the jack, but Humberto spiked an ace on the river. Humberto managed to double up on the next hand we see when he raised to $60,000 with pocket fours and Phil called with Q9 of clubs. Phil said, "I check as I can not win" before the flop was even put out. I am not sure what that was about. If I ever check a weak hand blind, then it is time for me to give up poker. Humberto moved all-in on the flop and Phil called after he said, "It's wrong, but I am doing it." He had a lot more outs than he gave himself credit for. A queen, a nine or any club would win the pot, but none came.

Phil Unabomber Laak

Phil got some more of John's chips when he called with T7 of clubs on the button and John checked with 32. The flop was 776. John bet $35,000. Phil doubled the bet, then laid his head on the table trying to hide. John reraised to $120,000 and Phil called. The turn was a six, not that it mattered. John had already figured out his three high was not going to win the pot. He laid his hand down after Phil bet a measly $30,000. John was eliminated the next hand when Phil raised to $100,000 with KQ of hearts, Humberto folded A7 and John moved all-in with A4. Phil quickly called and he flopped the queen. John finished the tournament in third place when neither the turn or the river was an ace.

I figured Humberto was in a great position to win the tournament if he showed patience. He won the next hand two hands and took the chip lead. The first hand, Humberto called with JT and Phil checked in the big blind with pocket eights. The flop was T94. Phil bet $30,000 and Humberto called. The turn was a four and both players checked. The river was a six, Phil checked, Humberto bet $100,000 and Phil folded. This was probably Phil's best move of the night. He lost the pot, but he managed to only lose a small amount of money with his pocket eights. The second hand, Phil moved all-in with Q7 and Humberto called with pocket threes. The flop was JT4, the turn was another ten and the river was a nine. Humberto doubled up and won $860,000.

Humberto did not show patience on the following hand and it cost him the tournament. Phil moved all-in with A2 and Humberto called with K8 of clubs. The way Phil was playing, I am sure he could have found a better situation to commit his chips. The flop was QJ8 giving Humberto a pair. The turn was a six, but the river was the dreaded ace! In an interview for Ron Rose's book, Ron asked Phil: "What is your *most memorable* poker experience?" Phil's responded:
It was the ace on the river. Humberto Brenes and I were the last two (of 192 entrants) in the LA Celebrity Invitational freeroll... The Ace on the river was my biggest suckout to date. Instead of 38,000 I went on to win 125,000 [including the $25,000 seat into the WPT finals]. It turned out to be the $87,000 dollar Ace. Initially I collapsed in amazement. Later, all I could think of was all the times that they sucked out on me and how now I was not only even with the universe but actually handily ahead. I, of course, drove extra careful that week, as I was not planning on letting the universe re-level the playing field.

Humberto took the whole thing in stride and showed a lot of class when the ace showed up. He even went over and gave Phil a bear hug from behind.

The final hand Humberto decided to move the remaining of his chips with J2! Phil looked down and saw the AK of clubs and made an easy call. The flop was Q94, the turn was a four and the river was a king. Phil showed so much excitement when he saw the king. I was happy to see it come. I believe this particular episode and Phil's antics (although unconventional and some might even say "unsportsmanlike") will bring even more players into the game. I just hope I don't see players imitate him. One Phil Laak is charming, but twenty would drive me nuts!

Also see the Season One and Season Three reports

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Poker Games My Journal	Hollywood Invitational 2 World Poker Tour Report by Shirley Rosario
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His behavior might be inappropriate most of the times at a final table event, but considering tonight's event was a freeroll AND the other players were joining in on the fun, I thought his antics were harmless. I also think this show will bring a lot more future players to the casinos. On the first hand, Phil raised to $41,000 with deuces and all of the other players folded. He then proceeded to tell each player, "you are going down," "you are going down" and "you are going down". This started the show with a bang. Joe seemed to play a solid game throughout the event (questionable final hand, but we will get to that later). He raised to $23,000 with AJ and Antonio reraised him to $63,000 with 96 and Joe called. Antonio raises with a lot of hands and it was nice to see somebody stand their ground with him. The flop was AAT and both players checked. The turn was a nine and Joe bet and Antonio folded. Antonio was obviously finished with this hand as soon as Joe called preflop. He did not attempt to make a move for the pot when his nine showed up on the turn. Antonio ended up losing on the next hand shown when he moved all-in with pocket threes and Phil called with pocket tens. Phil was calling for a three for his friend and ex-roommate. He even picked up the remaining of his chips and said, "I am coming back when the three comes." The flop was J64 and the turn was a two giving Antonio more outs, but the river was a nine and he left in sixth place. Again, Joe showed he was not going to be pushed around at the table when he called in the small blind with Q8 and Phil checked his 85. The flop was QJ7. Joe bet $20,000. Phil raised to $60,000 and tied up the hood of his sweatshirt to cover his face completely. Joe reraised all-in and Phil folded. Windows - Mac I mentioned that tonight's poker was not the best in the world and the following is just one example. Harry raised to $30,000 with pocket aces and Phil moved in with KT. I am not sure what Phil was thinking on this hand, but Harry has a reputation for being a tight player and he was living up to that reputation. I saw this show in person and saw how many times he laid hands down. Making a move like Phil did is fine, but NOT against the tightest player at the table when he has shown he is chip committed on the hand. Harry called the all-in bet and doubled up on the hand. Humberto managed to get a few of the chip leader's chips when he called with KJ and John checked his 76 of clubs. The flop was QT9 with two clubs. Humberto made a good bet of $14,000 with his nut straight and John raised all-in with his straight flush draw and Humberto called. The turn was an ace of hearts and the river was a ten of diamonds. Harry finished in fifth place when he raised to $35,000 with KT of spades, Joe reraised to $85,000 with AJ and Harry moved all-in. I suppose Harry thought it was time to stand his ground, but it didn't work out for him. The flop was QJ3 giving Harry a lot of outs, but the turn was an eight and the river another eight. Luck was definitely on Phil's side on a lot of hands including flopping a king pairing his hand of K7 against John's pocket jacks. John had raised the $12,000 blind to $36,000 and Phil moved all-in for $197,000. If luck was on Phil's side, then bad luck was on John's. The next hand shown he lost another all-in bet when he held KJ. Humberto moved in with A6 for $77,000 and John called. The flop was A74 and the turn was a ten giving John the gutshot straight draw. The river was not the queen he needed, but a four instead. Joe was playing a great, solid game and for some reason, he decided to move all-in with his pocket fives against just the blinds. I am not sure what he was thinking on this hand because he had a decent amount of chips. The move was not necessary and if he thought it was, why would he want to risk his WHOLE stack? Phil also made a questionable move when he called the all-in bet without hesitation with AT. They both committed on hands that were at best coin flips and at worst in BIG trouble. The flop was KQ7 with two diamonds and the turn was a six of diamonds giving Phil a higher flush draw. The river was an eight of diamonds and Joe was left with only $19,000. Once he put his $2,000 ante in the pot, it was almost a sure thing he would move the rest of his chips in with any hand. He did make the move with Q4 of spades and both blinds called. John and Humberto checked the hand down and John won the pot with a pair of sixes. Joe finished in fourth place. John's luck did not improve when he called an all-in bet of $156,000 by Humberto. John held KJ. John turned the jack, but Humberto spiked an ace on the river. Humberto managed to double up on the next hand we see when he raised to $60,000 with pocket fours and Phil called with Q9 of clubs. Phil said, "I check as I can not win" before the flop was even put out. I am not sure what that was about. If I ever check a weak hand blind, then it is time for me to give up poker. Humberto moved all-in on the flop and Phil called after he said, "It's wrong, but I am doing it." He had a lot more outs than he gave himself credit for. A queen, a nine or any club would win the pot, but none came. Phil got some more of John's chips when he called with T7 of clubs on the button and John checked with 32. The flop was 776. John bet $35,000. Phil doubled the bet, then laid his head on the table trying to hide. John reraised to $120,000 and Phil called. The turn was a six, not that it mattered. John had already figured out his three high was not going to win the pot. He laid his hand down after Phil bet a measly $30,000. John was eliminated the next hand when Phil raised to $100,000 with KQ of hearts, Humberto folded A7 and John moved all-in with A4. Phil quickly called and he flopped the queen. John finished the tournament in third place when neither the turn or the river was an ace. I figured Humberto was in a great position to win the tournament if he showed patience. He won the next hand two hands and took the chip lead. The first hand, Humberto called with JT and Phil checked in the big blind with pocket eights. The flop was T94. Phil bet $30,000 and Humberto called. The turn was a four and both players checked. The river was a six, Phil checked, Humberto bet $100,000 and Phil folded. This was probably Phil's best move of the night. He lost the pot, but he managed to only lose a small amount of money with his pocket eights. The second hand, Phil moved all-in with Q7 and Humberto called with pocket threes. The flop was JT4, the turn was another ten and the river was a nine. Humberto doubled up and won $860,000. Humberto did not show patience on the following hand and it cost him the tournament. Phil moved all-in with A2 and Humberto called with K8 of clubs. The way Phil was playing, I am sure he could have found a better situation to commit his chips. The flop was QJ8 giving Humberto a pair. The turn was a six, but the river was the dreaded ace! In an interview for Ron Rose's book, Ron asked Phil: "What is your most memorable poker experience?" Phil's responded: It was the ace on the river. Humberto Brenes and I were the last two (of 192 entrants) in the LA Celebrity Invitational freeroll... The Ace on the river was my biggest suckout to date. Instead of 38,000 I went on to win 125,000 [including the $25,000 seat into the WPT finals]. It turned out to be the $87,000 dollar Ace. Initially I collapsed in amazement. Later, all I could think of was all the times that they sucked out on me and how now I was not only even with the universe but actually handily ahead. I, of course, drove extra careful that week, as I was not planning on letting the universe re-level the playing field. Humberto took the whole thing in stride and showed a lot of class when the ace showed up. He even went over and gave Phil a bear hug from behind. The final hand Humberto decided to move the remaining of his chips with J2! Phil looked down and saw the AK of clubs and made an easy call. The flop was Q94, the turn was a four and the river was a king. Phil showed so much excitement when he saw the king. I was happy to see it come. I believe this particular episode and Phil's antics (although unconventional and some might even say "unsportsmanlike") will bring even more players into the game. I just hope I don't see players imitate him. One Phil Laak is charming, but twenty would drive me nuts! Also see the Season One and Season Three reports
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