Many congrats over in Vegas- it hurts to come kind of close to the money and not make it I know, but I hope you’re really happy with the way things went.

Thanks for letting us know about your experiences, especially in such an honest way. So many interesting hands went down, and there is alot to talk about. This is the case I think in any poker tournament; it hurts a little at first, but it’s great to go back after and think about the hands.

I think the most interesting thing you touched on is the first thing- that to be a great player, you have to be prepared to take a big risk, and to put your life on the line. There are lots of artificial barriers in poker tournaments- making the second day, making the money (sometimes for me making the dinner break!). People concentrate too much on these barriers, and I believe it stops them making the optimal plays.

In this respect, I belive the biggest mistake made by most tournament players is that they put TOO much value on their “tournament life.” Tournaments are not a challenge to survive, they are a challenge to make chips. However, almost every player finds it difficult to make the kind of brave decisions that do risk it all. There are all kinds of emotional factors involved as well- people have travelled a long way and looked forward to the event, it’s embarassing to put yourself out of a tournament on a bluff. Most of all, people just want to play!

The greatest challenge of tournament poker is to put aside all these emotional factors, and just to try to make each time the optimal play. It’s something that I don’t think I’ve managed yet, and something that is especially very tough to do in the World Series Main Event! One lady at our table was faced with an all-in decision in the third levle of play, thought for about three minutes before an eventual call, and turned over aces! Needless to say, her opponent wasn’t too happy, but she just really didn’t want to have the risk of going out!

You have a great philisophy on the game mate, and I’m sure all these things will come together quickly for you. I thought maybe I would comment on a couple of the hands. I’ve written my report as well, and would love you and the readers to leave their comments. Unfortunately, my experinece was not as long, but there were a couple of real toughies for me!

First of all, the exit hand is really unlucky! Nothing you can do obviouisly, to lose to a runner runner flush like that really sucks.

The hand with the jacks against Schoefeld- this is a really tough spot, especially against a world class player. It made me wonder about a technique which I really like when that second ten hits, and is all to do with pot control. When the turn comes a second ten, I think you have a great situation to check behind. It is impossible to know whether you are ahead or not, and a check on the turn effectivaly minimises the damage that this confusion creates.

If he bets on the river, you probably have to call, but will lose only one bet; if he checks the river, you can bet knowing that your hand is good. You have the added advantage that it looks like you’re bluffing, because you have checked the turn. You have misrepresnted your hand, and he may well call you with a weak holding. This check behind uses the great advantage of position, and is something well worth looking out for in a lot of spots.

The great danger in this check behind is that you might give away a free card, and turn your better hand into a losing one. However, in this situation the following is probably true: you are either behind and will remain so unless you hit a miracle 2-outer, or are ahead, and have him drawing to just two outs with one card to come. The other factor is that there is very little chance he is drawing to a hand, as the flop came with no threatening flush or straight draw. All these factors are really worth looking out for; if they are in place, it can be a great idea to make a pot controlling check.

I’m sure you made a good laydown on the end- you did well to resist the temptation to make a crying call, and you left yourself in a good situation in the tournament. I think it’s important not to think at all about bluffing with your hand. I know that it is tempting when it looks you might be behind, because it gives you an opportunity to win the pot regardless of your hand. However, pocket jacks is a really difficult hand top bluff with; whenever you bluff, you always have to think “what hands am I trying to make fold?” and this range is very narrow when you have a strong hand yourself.

For all that the first day went smoothly, the deck was cruel to you on the second day. You did well again to lay down the queens when you got check-rasied on the ace-high board. Too many players sigh, and throw their last few chips in. You gave yourself an opportunity to stay alive.

The only hand in my WSOP experience that I was happy out came when I laid down queens before the flop. I would be interested it if everyone could have a read of my experiences, and let me know their thoughts, in particular about my killer hand!

So, many congrats mate! I hope you really enjoyed the experince, and to make the second day on your first try whilst plaiyng some great poker is a real achievement.