DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Be slow in choosing a friend, be even slower in changing friends.”

Sometimes you hear things that make you appreciative. A lady came up to me to get an autograph and told me her husband had died a couple of months ago. She said he was my biggest fan and had asked that a picture of him and me be placed by his coffin. We had made the picture at the 2008 WSOP. Of course, I couldn’t remember it but I was touched by the thought. The lady said, “You were with him even to the end.” Wow!

The Champions Tournament is over with Tom McEvoy winning it. Tom broke me in the 8th position with me missing a flush draw with an overcard on his two jacks. I was happy to see one of the older players win and there was only one young gun at the final table. Hoorah for the old guys!
This picture of all the winners will be poker history.

Speaking of old timers, I had a nice long visit with Amarillo Slim. I’m now completely sure that the charges of “child molestation” were false. In fact, nothing like that was ever in Slim’s indictment, only referring to inappropriate actions. Anyone who knows Slim knows he cannot be embarrassed about anything and almost always says things that would make a normal person (including me) blush. Slim and his family are intact again, more evidence it was a trumped up charge against a famous guy.

I thought it was hilarious that my cousin sent me an e-mail about colonoscopies, because I am going to have one after the WSOP. Everyone over 50 years old should have one every year and it’s been 7 years since I had one. This is the truth – the doctor who did it was named Dr. Goldenrod so help me. So here are some of the comments I’m going to tell my Dr. when he puts me in the stirrups letting people walk around and shredding all dignity. There were 12 sayings, I’ll put the next 6 in my next blog.

1. “Take it easy Doc, you’re boldly going where no man has gone before.”
2. “Find Amelia Earhart yet?”
3. “Can you hear me now?”
4. “Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?”
5. “You know, in Arkansas, we’re now legally married.”
6. “Any sign of the trapped miners?”

I really don’t mean to keep writing about Casper, but he got number 47 on his bite list. With Louise being gone, I hired a model who isn’t working right now to babysit him. She is my nephew Ken’s girlfriend and she has been around Casper and Casper loves her. But Casper is getting old and Sasha tried to move him while he was asleep. Bam, #47. Please beware of the Brunson dogs if you come to my house.

Jenny Woo, who writes for gambling911.com, picked me as the sexiest poker player for the second straight year. Obviously, she picks me because I’m the only one that won’t bring heat on her. It’s pretty obvious that Jenny and I haven’t been intimate because if she had seen my naked body, she would be even more embarrassed than me. Thanks anyways Jen, it’s good for my image. What is really funny is she had Patrik Antonius #2. I’m probably the most heterosexual person God ever put on earth, but Patrik is so handsome, when I look at him I go hmm-

-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: “Some poker players drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.”

I’m flattered so many people read my blog.  I’ve had tons of e-mails, phone calls (mostly anonymous), talk on the different forums, etc.  There seems to be some confusion so I’ll clarify a few things.

First, unless I specify it, any comments I make about poker don’t include internet poker.  So when I said I never saw a poker game that I couldn’t beat, I meant 6 or more players sitting down at a table.  I don’t mean on the internet where players might be talking on the phone or sending IMs.  I don’t care if you find the top 6 or 7 NLH in the world; I believe I can find a way to win.  Also, I don’t care if I can beat anyone heads up.  Why?….I don’t play heads up for a living, only ring games.  I’ve never gone around “bragging” about being the greatest player, only that I’ve played high-stakes poker longer than anyone.

Aggression?  Anyone who has read Super System knows I invented that way back in the 70’s.  These young kids have taken it to a new level.  So you have to keep changing your game, just as I had to do after S/S came out.  Nowdays, you have to pick your spots to bluff and you try to trap the over aggressive players.  Everyone keeps talking about how tight I play on the TV cash games.  If you watch these games closely, you’ll see a lot of the guys, kids mostly, making plays strictly because they are on TV.  Any professional poker player would certainly be wrong to shoot it out with the maniac players.

It amazes me.  I’ve won 14 or 15 straight times in the TV cash games.  I love them and I love playing against the young “superstars”.  The main idea of playing is to win, right? Watch Barry G and notice how he plays on these shows.  Entirely different than when he plays in a tough cash game.  The older players certainly know how to make plays but we won’t make a lot because we know how to adapt to any situation.

Another thing that pisses me off is when these “know-it-alls” talk about the old time poker players not being any good.  I’d like to see any of the “greats” go back and play Johnny Moss, Pat Renfro, Sailor Roberts, James Roy, Doc Ramsey and a host of other guys that made their living playing NLH.  Of course that can’t happen so we’ll never know. I’ve played against both worlds and I think the old guys would chew up these young guns.

I’m getting old, there is nothing I can do about that, but I’m still willing to play anybody “Doyle Sez”, where I can name the game and change to another game when I want to.  If any of the internet stars, that don’t play live, want to play, I’ll give them half their money back if they lose if they play 8 hours a day for a week.

Everyone also asks about the match between Patrik Antonius and myself and what happened.  First, I want to say I’m not interested in playing Patrik because he is a weak player. On the contrary, I think he is a great player and I make him and Daniel Negreanu the favorites over anyone to still be playing 30 years from now.  Patrik wants a list of the games, which I’ll provide him.

I just feel I can find a game against anyone that I can beat them at. I know this means I’ll have to play heads up, which I hate, but I can’t back down now.

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Life is one sweet song. Enjoy the music.”

I hope this football season gets through soon.  I only leave my desk and TV to go play poker when there is a game.  I thought I had the football needle out of my arm but it’s so much fun to bet and watch, I can’t help myself.  Anyway, in the NFL I think Pitt and Carolina will be in the Super Bowl.  And if Florida doesn’t beat Oklahoma by more than 3 points, I may be in the bread line.

It looks like golf may be the favorite gambling game among the poker players.  David Benyamine, Patrik Antonius, Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu are all playing and willing to play for big money if they think the games are close.  David and Patrik are amazing the way they have improved.  A year ago, neither one was much of a golfer but both being ex-tennis players, are great athletes.  Also, they have had good instructors and both guys are going to be able to break 80 before this summer is over.

I saw on the news last night that President elect Obama, who is an avid poker player, may introduce a new bill to legalize internet poker after he takes office.  Our country could certainly use the revenue in taxes that would be raised.  Obama faces the greatest challenge a President could imagine with the economy and terrorist threat.  I know Ivey and Negreanu both met Obama and he knew them by name so he for sure has an interest in poker.

There is a 15-year-old young lady named Margaret Hussman, a niece of a longtime friend, who has untreatable cancer and has less than 90 days to live.  My ex-roomate in college, Ray Hibler, called and asked me to write her an encouraging letter recounting my “terminal” battle with cancer 55 years ago.  Margaret is a poker enthusiast and I’m certainly going to call.  She is trying to spend her remaining days doing something new and enjoyable.  Send Margaret an e-mail at anne@ddgoose.com  I know she will appreciate it.  For all of us, there is no promise for tomorrow.  Happy New Year and lets all have a great 2009!

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “The future that we expect and plan for, begins today.”

I tried one more tournament today. The $5,000 Mixed Hold’Em seemed to be a good spot and I was well rested after my day off. It was also a 5 p.m. start, which isn’t too bad, but I was knocked out the second hour. Oh well, Daniel Negreanu was at my table and he went out before I did. At least I’ll get to bed early and be ready to play the next tournament I choose. Also, I got to sit next to Isabelle Mercier, which was nice. She is such a great gal. My next event will probably be Wednesday when the mixed games start at 5 p.m. This should be one of my strongest tournaments, so I’m going to rest up for it.

I had a lengthy interview with ESPN before I started today. It was a little different than most interviews because they asked unusual questions. They asked me if I could be any poker player for a day, who would I be and why. I answered Patrik Antonius because, if I looked like him, I could get all the girls in town. Then they asked, if I could play with any three poker players, dead or fictional, who would it be. I replied, “Doc Holliday, Maverick, and my old pal Chip Reese”. I sure would like to see Jack Strauss and Sailor Roberts, also.

Harrah’s has a VIP room that charges $2,750 for the entire tournament and $1,000 goes to charity. Quite a jump from the $1,000 they charged last year, but I think it is well worth it. There’s been a lot of complaining about the food because the food was fabulous last year and only sandwiches have been put out this year. It’s a great place to relax though, and they are bringing in a pool table and putting green.

Todd was the first person in Team Brunson to cash in an event. He came in the top 300 in the $1,500 NHL. There were 4,000 entries in that one, so maybe that will get us going. Shannon Elizabeth isn’t back yet, but I expect her tomorrow.

I was driving my scooter back to my car when a lady came screaming up to me and literally knocked me out of the scooter onto the floor. She was from Idaho and said she watches every poker show and I was her favorite player.
That’s nice, but please be more gentle! – DB

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