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: “The biggest problem you will ever have watches you from the mirror every day.”

The Main Event is still going on at the WSOP. The pros are getting fewer and fewer but that’s what makes a great tournament, anyone can get lucky and win.
I did my very best to at least go deep but just couldn’t hang on. I understand only too well that survival is the key for the first two days in a big field like the WSOP. But as day 1 wound down, I was sitting on a little under $30,000 and flopped a set against a player who had re-raised. To my surprise, my opponent didn’t just bet, he moved in on me. There was no straight or flush possible, so I had to call. Turns out he was drawing at a straight and made it and the board didn’t pair. Out the first day for the 3rd year in a row. How do you play “small ball” poker when that happens?

The good news is that the cash games at the Bellagio are really, really good. In fact, I haven’t seen games like the ones going on for years. There are millions of dollars on the two tables in Bobby’s Room every night. The high action games have even moved out into the main poker rooms because there are so many of them. I saw two 4-8 thousand mixed games, a 3-6k mixed game, a 2-4 mixed and a 2-4k blind pot limit Omaha going at the same time. There are lots of Europeans playing with the local players and huge amounts of money are being won and lost. A French business man seems to be the big winner but it’s hard to be accurate on winners and losers. I know myself that I’m small winner but have played 3 pots with a million dollars in the middle. I won one, lost one, and split a huge pot with Patrik Antonius when we dealt the turn + river 4 times. I had a set against 2 pair bigger than my set and a flush draw. But the biggest disappointment was when Gus Hansen hit runner-runner with all the cash in on the flop. Oh well, the games are good and will be there for another week or so.

If you like Chinese poker, the games have accelerated to 10K a point. That is the biggest Chinese games I’ve seen with half a million or more swings every night. I played a couple of time with not much of a result but I’ve played Chinese poker hundreds of hours, so I’m a very good player. The secret is how you play your bad hands; everyone plays the good hands properly.

I’m amazed at how well I’ve held up this past 6 weeks. I did lots of interviews, played several tournaments, did 4 seminars with Mike Caro, took care of everyday problems at home with Louise being out of the country and played a few cash games before I was knocked out of the WSOP. Then I caught the “flu” or whatever was going around at the tournament but just kept going because the cash games were so good. I even changed my sleeping hours where I could stay up all night. I’ve averaged playing 12-14 hours a day and have completely recovered from the illness. I feel strong and thank God I inherited the stamina from the Brunson genes.

Speaking of the genes, Pam Brunson, my daughter, outlasted Todd and I in the Main Event to win the “Last Brunson Standing” for the 3rd year in a row. I can’t remember the last tournament she didn’t outlast both of us (and Hoyt Corkins). Now Todd and I have to listen to her for another year. Just kidding Pam, nice going, I know you are getting better and better.

I saw the list of nominees for the Poker Hall of Fame. There are some great players, 10 were nominated, but my vote has to go to Mike Sexton or Barry Greenstein. Some of the others are too young and some don’t fit the criteria that are required for being elected. Phil Ivey is one that is a cinch to be inducted, but not this year because of his young age. Of course he is still alive in the Main Event and if he somehow wins, I’ll vote for him now.

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Poker don’t make the world go round, but it makes the ride worthwhile.”

Every year about this time, some sicko feels the need to spread the news that I died. Doug Dalton was the first to call and I had several calls after that. I was tweeting on twitter and Howard Lederer spread the word that if I was dead, someone was twittering on my account. When I do die, hopefully years from now, everybody will have to check to see if it’s true.

Speaking of Twittering, I told Louise, who has been in Hawaii for two months, asked what I was doing. When I told her I was tweeting on my twitter she thought it was a sexual innuendo. I laughed at her and she told me the same thing my sister told me. “Doyle, I think you are going crazy.” Actually, I’ve always suspected I might be a little crazy, so they could be right.

Looks like the guys are playing golf every day. Daniel tweeted me that Ivey, Patrick, E-Dog and him were out every day. Man, am I jealous. The most fun I’ve ever had is when 15-20 guys gather at a good golf course and everybody tries to play high and make fair games. With the WSOP so close there is no reason to try to join them because everyone will be in the poker room next week. It looks like if Eli Elezra and I don’t start the poker games at Bobby’s Room, they don’t get started. I’ll never understand why players are reluctant to sit down and start, the games almost always fill up.

Mike Caro and I are doing 6 seminars during the WSOP.  They are on May 30/31, June 13/14 and June 27/28. Mike does all the hard work with his bullet points and presentation. He is the best at these things, he really does a good job. I do a 20 minute Q&A at the end of each one which is really pretty easy.  Everyone should come if they can make it.

I signed on with Poker Royalty yesterday. Poker Royalty represents quite a few poker players in making deals for their endorsements, etc. I’ve heard nothing but good things about them. I’m a terrible businessman and deal maker so I’m glad to be able to turn over all that stuff to them. As I recall, they have a suite right outside the tournament area that will be handy for bathroom breaks. That will be cool because it’s hard to get to the bathroom during the WSOP. All the fans want pictures and autographs and you seem like a jerk if you don’t talk to them.

It’s been weeks since I’ve played poker. If it hadn’t been for the NBA playoffs, I would really be climbing up the wall. Louise has been gone for 2 months now due to her allergy problems and I’ve been babysitting Cutie and Casper. I haven’t even been to the golf course. I’ll say one thing, because of this I’ve got a fire in my belly I haven’t felt for years. I’m really anxious to get to the poker table and I’m going to see if there are any wins left in this old man. I’m going to win a bracelet this year!

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “You are never a loser unless you quit trying.”

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the article, “100 Most Likely to Die in 2009.” It has me listed as the number 16th celebrity most likely to die this year. I got a phone call from the author, Mack Rawden, and we made a $10,000 – $1,000 bet about my demise. Naturally, I took the over, and to Mack’s credit, he said he hopes he loses. (That makes two of us.) The winnings go to the American Cancer Society. I’m planning on going out at the age of 102 in honor the 10-2 poker hand that is named after me. An interesting note is Mack has President Obama listed at number 10. The reason? Foul play.

We certainly don’t know when the Grim Reaper is going to strike. If you haven’t heard, Key Fechser, Jack Binion’s nephew, passed this week from a heart attack at the young age of 55. Key was a terrific guy, a good friend who would do anything for you, a good father and he will be missed.

I’m really pleased with the DoylesRoom poker room. We moved to a new network and we have more players in U.S. primetime than we had at our other provider. There are lots of sportsbook customers that play, which makes for looser and better games.

There have been several articles written about my son Todd’s financial problems. Todd had lots of investments and the declining economy has definitely affected them. But, who hasn’t been affected by the declining economy? I know it knocked tail feathers out of me and my various holdings. I’m not worried about Todd; he has a good head on his shoulders. As long as we can find poker games, the Brunson families should be o.k.

It’s Super Bowl time and I’m betting on Arizona +7 points. This is one of my favorite times of the year and I’m going to the Super Bowl Party at the Bellagio. I’ll take a look at all the “prop” bets that are offered and make bets that favor the Arizona players. One thing about it, the food alone will make this a memorable day. It is awesome!

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “If you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can always depend on the support of Paul.”

It seems there are two or three charity poker tournaments every week.  Most all of them are for worthy causes and we should support them.  However, because there are so many, it is impossible to play in all of them.  DoylesRoom (online casino games) almost always donates books, caps, shirts and different paraphernalia to the worthy charities that have poker tournaments.  Even after you decline, those sponsors never give up.  Last week, one of them called me saying Matt Damon said he would come if he could play at my table.  I never thought for a minute Matt really said that, but I went anyway just to see.  After I got there, not only was Matt not there, none of the A-list celebs were.  Matt is probably too busy with Sarah Silverman

On the positive side, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino had two tournaments this past week announcing the opening of their card room.  The room is ultra nice with the most comfortable chairs I have ever seen.  I wish every card room manager in Vegas would drop by and see them and put the same chairs in their rooms.  There was a big turnout for their 1st tourney with every seat taken and over 100 alternates waiting.  First prize was a custom made Harley motorcycle that had never been ridden.  Guess who won it?  It was a Brunson, but not me or Todd.

My daughter Pam came through the 250 player field to win.  Poor Todd lost another $1,000 to Pam on their last longer bet they make each time they both enter a tournament.  With 19 players left, there were 3 Brunsons still in.   Pam, Todd’s wife Anjela, and me.  We had to listen to that same old, “I’m the last Brunson standing”, from Pam.  She has outlasted both of us the past 7 or 8 tournaments we all played in.  She also bets Hoyt Corkins, but Hoyt only bets $20.  Good thing because she has beat him several in a row.  Congratulations Pam, you must be playing really good poker!

It’s almost time to head out to London for the WSOP Europe.  It’s a long way to go but I’m committed to go so I plan on playing in the HORSE, PLO and Main Event.  I’m going to try to “really” focus on playing and give it my best shot.

Daniel N – “That can’t be my ball.  It’s too old!”
Caddy – “It’s been a long time since we teed off, sir.”

DB

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