DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Winning is not everything – but making the effort to win is.”

Back from Montana! I’ll never complain about hot weather again. It was 3 degrees on the mountain my grandson lives on, along with 8 inches of snow. That cold cut through me like a knife. We had talked about having the Brunson Christmas at my place on the Flathead Lake but they can scratch that!

There are so many deer in upper Montana that you to be super careful not to hit one while driving. I saw 6 bodies on the side of the road on a 20 mile trip. There is all kind of wildlife. My friend has a large pond stocked with fish. He told me the eagles and osprey take 60-70 fish a day out of it. I had better be careful letting Casper run around outside because one of those big eagles could pick him up and fly away with him. I’ll bet Casper would get one good bite of that eagle if that happened.

I was there for the Todd Brunson Montana Challenge poker tournament. The weather was so bad we had less than 100 players but everyone had a good time. I told Todd to have his next on in the summertime. Of course, my daughter Pam was the “Last Brunson Standing.”

No disrespect intended, but these poker shows are awful. Full Tilt’s “Face the Ace” and Poker Stars “Million Dollar Challenge” are so bad, it’s embarrassing. There is no skill involved in either show and I can’t imagine getting an audience that will watch the shows. As I travel around, the High Stakes cash games are the ones all the fans talk about and I agree with them that they are by far the most interesting. Speaking of that, I read where A.J. Benza is being replaced on GSN’s High Stakes Poker show. That’s too bad, I like A.J.’s subtle sense of humor. Vanessa Rousso is named as his likely replacement. I’m pro-Vanessa so I think she will fit in nicely with the old comic Gabe Kaplan.

The golf-poker tournament in Orlando with David Leadbetter has been postponed because of some complications. I’m glad because along with Mike Caro, Daniel Negreanu, Todd Brunson and Dewey Tomko, I was one of the poker instructors. To tell you the truth, I’m traveled out! I look forward to staying home for a while. Harrah’s has asked me to do a few things in conjunction with the WSOP final table that I’m glad to do, but it would have been a tight fit to be back from Orland in time to do them.

My autobiography is supposed to be out November 10th and I’m doing a book signing right after the final table is completed. I’m having a special edition that I’m going to give to the final  nine. Also, at the book signing, or right afterwards, we are having a press conference to announce the signing of the 5th player to the Brunson 10 at DoylesRoom.com  I’m really pleased at the selection of this young man, as I am with the previous four.

I’ve started reading blogs. Again, I find the blogs about poker hands extremely boring. The same thing with the tweets on Twitter; does anyone really care about the hand by hand update of a poker tournament? If it was a real poker game and someone tweeted they had just won a million dollar pot, it would interest me.  But I guess some folks like the updates, that’s why they make chocolate and vanilla – different tastes.

After saying I want to stay home, I’m leaving in the morning for Abilene, Texas. My University is inducting me into their athletic Hall of Fame. After being turned down for 40 years I have mixed feelings, but all my old teammates will be there, so I’m going down and will be on my best behavior.

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “There are lots of ways to go forward, but only one way to stand still.”

A few months ago, I had dinner with some prospective investors in High Stakes Entertainment. They were also poker players and wanted to go to the high-stakes poker room at the Bellagio to play poker. When we got to Bobby’s Room, there weren’t enough high limit players to start a game. A nice looking kid in his early 20’s walked by and someone said there’s that guy that just won two tournaments, back to back. So I ran outside and asked the young man if he was interested in playing with some tourists. He said he wasn’t comfortable playing so high so I took half his action and he made a nice win for us. That’s how I met Alec Torelli and he impressed me with his play.

DoylesRoom has taken a new direction with signing up young internet players to represent the site. When I saw Alec’s name on the list of prospects, I immediately called the marketing director and told him to be sure to sign Alec, which he did. Alec justified our confidence by making the final table at the Bellagio Cup V. Congrats Alec, we expect big things from you in the future.

The action at Bobby’s Room is beginning to wind down. The Finnish players are still here for 2 more days and there has never been a nicer group to play with. I think all 3 of them are winner so I’m sure they will be back. Unfortunately, the biggest games have been PLO and I’ve played in just a few but come out small winner. The Chinese Poker games have been great and is one of my better games because Chip Reese and I played countless hours battling each other!

I miss Chip!!

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

In the words of Marlon Brando when he was playing the Godfather, “How did we ever come to this?”  Good Googa Mooga, I never saw anything like the different comments about my “challenge” to play anyone the poker game of my choice.  I saw David Sklansky at Bobby’s Room last night and he told me that the games I’m going to list are not fair.

So what, I’m not trying to be fair, I am what I am, and what I am is a poker professional who loves to play and wants to win.  I believe I can win with this list of games to choose from.  I’m not trying to win any accolades, praise or titles, I’m not trying to compete with Durr’s challenge.  I’m not going to play PLO with him and I don’t think he will be playing my games.  I really like the post one guy put up on a forum.  He put a distance race in his games…LOL.  If it was 55 years ago when I was the best miler in Texas, I would try him.

Let’s have a quick review of how this got started. Patrik Antonius said in an interview, that CardPlayer printed, that he would play me any game for any amount.  The reason he said that, was that he had read I said I would swim a river to play with him.  I have always respected Patrik’s game and I didn’t say that, but he challenged me and it peeved me because I’ve played the high limits now for 53 years and I’m almost certain I know more games than him or almost anyone.  I think Patrik was talking about H.O.R.S.E. plus one or two other games.  If that was the case, I would have let it drop because that would be a tough game.  But that’s not what he said so here is my list:

1) I’ll start with lowball, my favorite.

Any lowball game I choose can be played with 3 different lows, the best hands being 7-5-4-3-2, A-2-3-4-5, A-2,3,4,6.

• 5 Card Draw, Limit or No Limit.
• 7 Card Razz, Limit or Pot Limit.
• 6 Card Razz, Limit or Pot Limit.
• 7 Card Razz, shuck one & draw if you want.  Limit or Pot Limit.
• 6 Card Razz, same as 7 Card shuck.

2) 5 Card draw High, Limit or Pot Limit.

3) Hi Low split, 7 card no qualify, Limit or Pot Limit.

• Eight or better,  7 cards, Limit or Pot Limit.
• Ten or better, 2-7 low, Limit or Pot Limit.
• Six card eight or better, Limit or Pot Limit.
• Six card ten or better, 2-7 low, Limit or Pot Limit.

4) STUD

• 7 Card stud, Limit or Pot Limit.
• 6 Card stud, Limit or Pot Limit.
• 5 Card stud, NL or Pot Limit.

5) Badugi

3 choices of low, Limit or Pot Limit

6) Omaha 8 or Better Limit or Pot Limit

• Omaha 10 or better 2-7 low, Limit or Pot Limit
• Poppyha.  We played this game with George the Greek for months.  FUN Game.  4 hole cards, only two cards on the flop, then the turn, then the river.  Tricky game!

7) Hold ‘Em, Limit, NL, Or Pot Limit.

• Greek Hold’Em – Must play both hole cards – Limit, NL, or Pot Limit.

OK, there they are.  At Sklansky’s suggestion, I refined the list a little.  I’ve played every game listed, in a Las Vegas Casino for high stakes.  If someone wants to play, come to Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio.  We’ll play, have fun and if someone beats me, I’ll shake their hand and tell them good game!

I also heard I defended Russ Hamilton in the UB scandal.  I remember saying, “yeah Russ is innocent”, on High Stakes Poker, but it was a tongue-in-cheek remark.  I don’t know if he is guilty or not, but the evidence does look bad.  However, I’ve heard all sorts of stories about poker players, including myself, that were out and out lies.  So, I’ll wait until all the evidence is in before I make any positive statement about Russ.

The producer of Two and a Half Men, the popular TV show starring Charlie Sheen, watches High Stakes Poker.  He heard me say I really like his show so he sent me Season 3 and Season 4 on DVD.  Thanks Mr. Lorre. Actually, I already had them so I loaned them to David Benyamine. That’s ironic because the High Stakes announcer, Gabe Kaplan, asked why I was looking at David when I mentioned Two and a Half Men.

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.”

This beautiful weather continues.  Every day is perfect with almost no wind.  I wonder if Al Gore’s warning about global warming is responsible for such unusual conditions.  Whatever the reason, if you live in the Las Vegas area, you should try to get out of the house and enjoy the great days.

I’ve been down to Bobby’s room at the Bellagio twice in the last week.  There is absolutely nothing going on, not even a game with lesser limits.  Looks like we are going to have to go to the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles to stir up some action.  Besides the tournaments, online playing, and the economy, high stakes poker really misses Chip Reese.  Chip would always be willing to start games along with Eli Elezra and myself.  If you start one, you will probably get players to play but for some strange reason I’ve never understood, poker players are reluctant to be the first to sit down at the table.

I’ve been a fan of the old TV series, “Dallas”.  I’ve got all 10 seasons on DVD and have started watching them again.  What a great cast!  Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing is absolutely terrific in his role as a powerful independent oil man.  It seems like I remember it was the longest running series in TV history.  Dallas was produced by Lorimar which was headed by Irwin Molasky and Merv Adelson.  Irwin is a local real estate developer and Merv was the producer of the recently closed, “Real Deal”, which featured the local poker pros.  The thing I notice most about the re-runs is that all the women are extremely good looking with lots of curves.  Not one “Twiggy” on the show and I like the healthy look a lot more.

On a sad note, the teenage girl with untreatable cancer, from El Paso, Texas, died this morning from pneumonia.  It seems a lot of really sick people die from that because their immune system weakens.  I really regret I never got to speak to Margaret because I was waiting for her to recover from pneumonia.  I will remember her for her courage and strength towards the end of her young life.  She didn’t want anyone to pity her and she accepted her fate admirably well.  R.I.P. Margaret Hussmann!

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “The most valuable gift you can give another is a good example.”

One thing for sure, Anurag Dikshit is appropriately named!  Dikshit was one of the owners of Party Poker and became a multi-billionaire when Party went public.  It looks like he would feel a sense of obligation to online poker, the industry that made him a rich man.  Instead, he folded up like an accordion and plead guilty to breaking some kind of mystery law and is paying a 300 million dollar fine and a possible 2-year jail term.  It certainly created some ill will from the other online poker sites.  I personally can’t imagine what was going through his mind when he made his decision.

The Brunson family had a great Christmas, but as usual, everyone had way too many gifts.  My wife and I gave specific instructions to our children and relatives to not give us any presents.  We threatened to give any gifts that were given to us to the Salvation Army.  At least we slowed down the gifts, but there were stacks of presents for the rest of the family.  I got one present I’m not giving away, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th seasons of “Two and a Half Men”.  That show cracks me up.

I’ve already got a “football headache”.  Even Casper won’t stay in the same room with me when the games are going.  I can’t believe how dumb some of the football coaches are.  They need to have a gambler on their staff to advise them.  After all the pro games and bowl games I’ll be lucky if Louise doesn’t throw me out of the house.

Speaking of my dog Casper, he charges the front door every time the bell rings.  He sleeps on my desk and jumps off when he hears someone at the door.  He has dislocated a front leg and a back leg landing on the hard floor.  I’ve got to put some padding on the floor where that won’t happen again.

We had another cash game on High Stakes Poker.  Again, I can’t talk about it but I will say I’ll be going for my 15th straight win on the TV cash games next time I play.  I read somewhere that I play too tight in the games.  Hello!  I thought the object was to win the money, not put on a show to please the viewers.

Daniel:  Did I hear a Mexican golfer got shot yesterday?
Caddy:  Yes sir, They call it a hole in Juan.

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