Being a Pool Boy and Dream Team Poker

I am unsure how many of you have ever been a pool boy, but it is not all the glitz and glamour you see on TV. I was fired this past Friday due to “grooming and attire” whatever that means. Either way I made a cameo in my former boss’ “High Stakes Living” video to remind me of the good ole days. http://www.cardplayer.com/tv/36747
Poker has been pretty rough for me as of late. Despite a final table in the nightly 100R on PS I have still found a way to be down for the week. I went to the Bellagio to play some cash games, but found myself not playing very good, so I decided to play the daily 1K tournament. I won a couple coin flips early to keep me alive. After a table change I was able to raise close to 50% of the time without much resistance. I went from 10K to 30K without showing a hand. Then Jimmy Tran opened UTG to 2200 with the blinds at 400/800. I found KK on the button and reraised to 7K total. He had about 14K left so I fully expected a push or a fold. But to my surprise he just called. The flop came 8s6s5h and he pushed in his remaining 9K. I of course called and he showed Ac8c. I know Jimmy to be a good player, but I did not understand this move at all. Calling 3 bets out of position with a weak hand and not being aware of stack sizes, are some of the biggest mistakes amateurs make. He may have read me as weak and decided to do a stop and go, but I really don’t think that was his intentions. Either way I’m sure I am just bitter that I lost the hand to a river 8. After losing so more money at the 25/50 game I went over to Caesars to register for the Dream Team Poker Tournament. One of my teammates and I proceeded to try and drink all of the liquor in the casino. Not only did we fail, but we each lost all of the remaining cash we had on us playing Bacarat (which might be the dumbest game ever). I awoke hungover, but a good meal and some bloody marys later I was ready for action. I had Maria Ho, David Williams, Frank “Spike” Gallas, and a table full of absolutely horrible players. The media buzz around the tournament attracted players you would normally find at a 1/2 game. I ran my stack up nicely till I flopped top two on a J105 board. I lead and got one caller. Turn was an 8, putting two hearts on board. I bet 2/3 of the pot and he called again. I figured he had a decent jack or KQ. River was a beautiful 2c. So I bet exactly half of his stack (about half the pot). He tanked for about 2 minutes and announced all in. I called happily till he showed the nut and Q9. Soon after with the blinds at 300/600 a couple very weak players limped in. Mario Ho raised to 2100. She is good enough to raise very light here with the dead money in the middle. So I shipped 10K without looking. She made a nice call with AJo, but the board ran out 7 5 10 4 Q giving my mystery cards of 86o a straight. Then I raised to 1450 with 9d3d UTG and got the BB as a caller. Flop came Jh3h2d and I bet 2150. He called and the 2c hit the turn. He immediately shoved all in for 4500. I made a questionable call and he tables A4o for the gutshot. River as a 4 and my hero call was punished. After that I lost AK vs KK, K5 vs JJ, and finally 33 vs 55 to put me out of my misery.
I absolutely loved the tournament though. It was new and innovative and attracted poker fans to play against big names for only $500. I would love to see this run again during the WSOP.

Justin “robert07” Young