I had been playing 'cards' since about 6 when I remember going to my grandfathers home and playing with him and my brother. At 16, my buddies Rick and Jeff would come over and we would play all kinds of card games. There was no Texas Holdem then and we would play home games like Acey Ducey, Follow the Queen, Black Mariah and our favorite, Guts. Not long after that, Jeff and I, both underage, would venture out to a real card club, like the Bicycle club and we were scared as could be, but would finally muster up enough nerve to sit at a low ball game (now called Razz) or a stud game (why I like to play horse) and we got good at them pretty quick, making a little money and thinking we were big shots. We would have many homes games or if we couldn't get a game going, we would just play heads up. In those days, we were gamblers and if we tired of cards, we would go out in the driveway and shoot free throws for a dollar a shot, or head down to the golf course and finish the day on the putting green, putting for a dollar a shot. We didn't care, we were kids and had freedom and life was good. After we started working part time it took some of that freedom away, but we would get a group of about 5 or 6 buddies and head to Vegas after work (leaving about midnight) and all getting one room at the Westward Hotel next to Circus Circus. We'd play all night, usually losing, and then just crash on the floor or where ever you could find a spot in a small room with 6 guys in it. I discovered online poker in 2004 when I joined Party Poker. I guess I was one of those millions influenced by Chris Moneymaker and started playing without much success. I would jump around from cash to tournaments and all over, not really knowing what my game was. I didn't have good bankroll judgement and would have to reload more than I would like to ( you could say I was a donkey) . I took some time off and then had the time to just think about poker without many other distractions. I entered a $30 multi tournament at Party Poker and I grinded out a 2nd place finish for about $7000 and I was hooked. I now had a bankroll and was determined to keep it. I started playing higher limit ring games and had success there too. In 2006, I decided to play some satellites for the WSOP, as I was feeling confident that I was a real player now and won a seat for the main event in 2006. About this same time, I ran into a guy at work, Casey (donkeyherder) and it turned out he was a poker player too and we would talk about our experiences. I found out he was a sit n go guy, playing $30 single tables and having great success. Our discussions fueled both of our interest in poker even more and when I told him about me winning the main event, I encouraged him to try for it also, and he won one too. This was GREAT. It was to be our first major tournament, one with any real meaning and we were totally excited to just be having the experience. Party was a first class operation and put us up at the MGM Grand in very nice rooms and when we got to our rooms, there was a welcome package of Samsonite luggage, Tommy Bahama shirts, a palm pilot and a bunch of other stuff. Very nice.....they also had a note that they would be having a private party at studio 54 that night...sweet. The party was off the hook, with food, drinks, shows, dancers and it was officially ON. The main event turned out to be (and still is) the largest live poker tournament ever played, so not only our first, but we were part of history too. As far as we were concerned, we were already winners, having all this fun and hadn't even played yet. There were just under 9,000 players and it started over 4 days, and we both started together, I think on day 3. The Rio was absolutely nuts with people, and every online site had a VIP room for their players to get away from the crowds and have a little sanity for a few minutes. I think this helped greatly, looking back. Donkeyherder and I had discussed 'crewing' it up, meaning we agreed to split anything we won. We had actually agreed on doing this a few months earlier and he had won money in a couple of smaller events and to this point in our 'crew' he had only paid me and was probably thinking he had made a mistake partnering with me. So, prior to day one, we were taking in the experience, everywhere you looked you saw a name pro that was easily recognizable. We just told ourselves, let's get to the first break and and we did. We then said, let's get to dinner break and we did. Our girls, Amanda and Ceci, were there for us every minute and would get us tables early so we wouldn't have to wait. They were great. Our next goal was to stay alive for day one, and what do you know, we did that too. We had started at noon and it was now 2:30 a.m. and we were putting our chips in the bag, I can't even describe what a feeling that was.
When day two arrived, we set the same goals, let's both get to dinner break and we did, then let's get to day 3 and we did that too. OMG, we were real poker players after all, having played over 25 grueling hours with the top players in the world. We got through day 3 as well and now we were talking about making the money...WHAT....man, we just wanted to brag about playing in the WSOP and making history in the largest tournament ever and here we were, talking about making the money. The money started at $14,000 and since we had both qualified in $200 sattys, that was a serious payday. The money started at around 765 players and when it was down to the bubble, the excitement and tension in the room was like nothing I have ever felt before or since. When the bubble burst, there was complete celebration in the room and with the one exception of the poor guy walking out with nothing after all this time, we were high fiving and ordering rounds and both Casey and I had done it, what seemed impossible to us before. Casey made it to another pay hike and finished in the low 700's, cashing over $17,000 and I stuck around and made it through another day. It was at this table that well known pro David Chiu came and took a seat with one of the tournaments largest stacks. I was a short stack with about 20 k and I told the guy next to me, Chiu is going to try and run us over. I had terrible position as he was two to my left, so he would be the big blind when I was button. Not too long after, I got K Q on the button and it folded around to me and I limped, small blind folded and instantly, Chiu says 'all in'. I looked knowingly at the guy next to me and said 'call' He turns over A 4 off and I nail a Q and double up. The table broke soon after and I was moved to the table of another monster, Humberto Brenes. I had played pretty tight and the stack was shrinking and I get A J from early position, make a raise and Humberto, with his little toy shark, starts his shenanigans and says, 'be careful my friend' and pushes all in, snapping his little play shark into the pot as well. You see him do that stuff on TV and think 'what an assclown' but you know realize these guys love the publicity . I fold the hand and he shows me the Q Q. Nice hand Humberto ! One orbit more and again in early position, the guy to my right limps under the gun (always a red flag) and I have 7 7. I think about it and decide to take my chances with my short stack and move all in. It folds around to the limper and he calls with K K and I am out in the low 300's for $33,000. What a great run and although I am not happy, I am proud of the feat. It is at that point, Casey starts believing in the 'crew' as well.
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